Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, Twitter, and The Boring Co., is routinely near the top of the Forbes billionaire list. That makes his net worth hundreds of billions of dollars, but is that the whole story?

For background, he almost went bankrupt in 2008, with Tesla’s balance sheets looking terrible and SpaceX having difficulty launching its Falcon1 rockets.

That misfortune changed after a series of big business moves.

NASA decided that SpaceX was exactly what it needed to take supplies into space, and Tesla had a successful initial public offering.

So, crisis averted, but how high is Musk’s net worth nowadays?

So, what is Elon Musk’s net worth?

Short answer: $140 billion

At the end of 2020, Elon Musk had a net worth of $24.6 billion. Tesla’s stock skyrocketed, making his net worth closer to $170 billion a year later.

With the help of Tesla stock, Musk’s net worth peaked at around $320 million in November of 2021. But 2022 hasn’t been as great for Elon’s net worth.

As of December 2023, Elon Musk’s net worth is around $140 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time net worth tracker.

READ MORE: How old is Elon Musk?

As Bloomberg notes, Musk’s net worth has decreased by more than $130 billion, or around 48%, in the last year.

Much of that decrease is due to Tesla’s falling stock prices. Musk owns an estimated 25% of Tesla, and he uses many of his stocks as collateral for loans.

He also owns around 47% of SpaceX, which carries a value of about $125 billion. That adds another $50 billion or so to Musk’s net worth after adjustments.

Musk recently purchased a major stake in Twitter for $44 billion. Musk owns an estimated 79% of the company, with much of that value tied to the $44 billion purchase price.

Bloomberg includes an estimated $4.6 billion liability in its net worth calculation tied to the Twitter purchase.

That, along with the alleged $17.8 billion cash used in the purchase, technically brings Musk’s net worth down, but that could change as Twitter’s value fluctuates.

As a note, net worth estimates like this are nothing more than estimates. The exact numbers for Elon Musk’s net worth are unknown. These figures are gathered from public information to estimate the number.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Where is Elon Musk from?
• Did Elon Musk found Tesla?
• Jack Dorsey says he trusts Musk with Twitter
• Elon Musk says a Tesla robotaxi is coming in 2024

The post What is Elon Musk’s net worth? appeared first on KnowTechie.

It’s safe to say that many of us spend a lot of time on our phones.

Whether it is texting friends and family or mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, our phones are rarely very far from us.

This begs the question, how much time are we spending looking at Reddit, Instagram, and other apps that call our phones home?

It’s fairly easy to do this on an iPhone, but what about Android?

How to check app usage time on Android

If you want to know how much time you spend on apps like Facebook, Spotify, and Twitter on your Android phone, the answer depends on which handset you own.

If you have one of Google’s Pixel range, you can use the Digital Wellbeing app to see all the stats you want about app usage, notifications, and other on-device stats.

If you own any other Android, you’ll have to use one of the third-party apps that fill the same need.

On a Google Pixel device, it’s super easy to check your app usage stats:

1. Scroll down to Digital Wellbeing and tap on it
2. Open up the Settings app
3. You’ll then see an overview of your app usage stats. Tapping on any of the names gives you a more in-depth view of your usage of that app, including when you used it most during the day.
4. The Dashboard option shows information about Unlocks, Notifications, and App Usage. You can also set timers to limit your use of a particular app during the day.
5. If you scroll down to the bottom of the Digital Wellbeing page, you can toggle a switch to show the app in your app drawer. That’ll stop you from having to scroll through the Settings app every time you want to look at your stats

How to check app usage on other Android devices

If you don’t own a Pixel, it’s time to head over to the Google Play Store, where you can find several app usage tracking apps.

Here are some of our favorites:

Quality Time

Quality Time is one of the most-downloaded time trackers (over a million installs and counting), probably because of how well everything is laid out inside the app.

You’ve got a daily timeline that shows which apps you used each hour, with total time, daily usage overviews, and individual app overviews over a longer period.

You can also set daily usage alerts, custom profiles that ban certain apps when applied, and the Take a Break mode, where your smartphone turns into a dumbphone with calls only while set.

App Usage

App Usage is also a great option, and the most like the Digital Wellbeing app for Pixel devices, with some useful additions.

It also has a chronological timeline of app usage, a “per-category” view in case you spend too much time on social media.

In addition, a handy battery history tracking screen that shows battery drain overlaid on your app usage stats.

There’s also a handy widget for your home screen, so all the stats about your app usage are just a tap away.

Things to keep in mind

Due to Android system limitations, any method you use will only be able to track usage when apps are in the foreground.

So, make sure you keep this in mind as you try to get a handle on your tech habits

That means the app has to be in use with the screen on. That makes tracking how much time you spend listening to Spotify in the background impossible.

What apps do you use to track your smartphone activity? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Twitter lets you go live with guests – Here’s how to do it
• How to easily delete the recordings associated with your Alexa account with just your voice
• Sony’s PSN name change service is now live – Here’s how to change it
• How to stay safe online when watching Netflix

The post How to check how much time you spend on Android apps appeared first on KnowTechie.

The Oculus Quest 2 is immensely popular and could become the hardware that finally pushes VR mainstream.

Now, you might be wondering if you’ll be able to charge your headset quickly.

With upgraded specs and immersive experiences, you’ll want the battery to last so you can keep playing, right?

Quest 2 quick charging would help, so it’s easy to think that would be an option with the Oculus Quest 2 headset, right?

Well, we have some bad news.

Does the Oculus Quest 2 offer a fast charge?

Short answer: No

How long does an Oculus Quest 2 take to charge?

According to Meta and confirmed by our testing, the Oculus Quest 2 takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge from an empty battery.

READ MORE: Does the Oculus Quest 2 require a PC?

Oculus Quest 2 charger wattage

Quest 2 charger wattage runs at 5V, 2A, which works out to 10W max power charging.

A helpful Redditor on the r/OculusQuest subreddit did some testing and found the max power the Quest 2 draws is 9W.

KnowTechie also confirmed this in our testing. But, sadly, that’s far from a quick charge.

READ MORE: What’s the Oculus Quest 2’s battery life?

With Meta seemingly capping the power input, there’s no point utilizing a higher-wattage charger.

In fact, using an aftermarket Quest 2 adapter or charger might even damage your device, which is what Meta refers to in its support pages.

So there you have it, the Oculus Quest 2 does not offer any fast or quick charging. Maybe we’ll see that in the Meta Quest Pro?

READ MORE: A Quest 2 Pro VR headset might be coming later this year

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can I use the Oculus Quest 2 with Steam games?
• Where do I find the serial number of my Oculus Quest 2?
• Can Oculus Quest 2 controllers be used on the original Quest?
• Apple’s anticipated AR/VR headset might not arrive until the end of 2022 now

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Does the Oculus Quest 2 support quick charging? appeared first on KnowTechie.

One of the most important parts of your Oculus Quest 2 is the controllers.

They control your interactions with games, apps, and other experiences, and gesture control helps with your immersion.

You might get too immersed though, and accidentally hit or drop one of your Oculus controllers, breaking it.

If this happens, you’ll need to figure out a solution, as the controllers are a major component of the VR headset.

Here’s what to know about getting a replacement controller for your Oculus Quest 2.

So, does Oculus sell replacement controllers for the Quest 2?

Short answer: Yes

Replacement controllers for the Oculus Quest 2 cost $74.95 each; ideally, you can get them directly from Meta.

Previously, Meta’s Quest store had displayed them as out of stock for months, leaving customers frustrated and disappointed.

But here’s some good news: the stock drought is finally over.

READ MORE: How to switch from a Facebook to Meta account on Quest

Oculus Quest 2 controller replacements are back

Thankfully, The Meta Store now has both the left and right controllers in stock, with delivery dates roughly a week from ordering time.

They are also available from overcharging third-party sellers on Amazon, but we don’t recommend you do that unless it’s cheaper.

How much are Oculus controllers? Meta Quest 2 controllers normally run $79.95 a pop.

Previously, resellers were charging $200 when Meta had them out of stock, so you might as well buy a full Quest 2 headset pack for $299.

READ MORE: Where are all the Meta Quest 2 controllers?

If you get one from the Meta Quest store, you’ll want to ensure you’re on the correct ordering page for the replacement controller.

That’s because the controller that the Oculus Quest 2 uses isn’t quite the same as the one that came with the original Oculus Quest.

Don’t forget to unpair the old, broken controller (if possible) and manually pair the new replacement when it arrives.

READ MORE: Does the Oculus Quest 2 have expandable storage?

One last note, while the controller for the Oculus Quest 2 is better for battery life than the one that shipped with the Rift CV1; they’re not as robust.

The tracking ring at the top sticks out and isn’t the thickest plastic.

Maybe before you need a replacement controller, consider buying some silicone covers to cushion any inevitable knocks.

Editor’s recommendations:

• Which Oculus Quest 2 should you buy?
• Are Oculus Quest 2 controllers rechargeable?
• 8 of the best VR games that you can try on your new Oculus Quest 2
• Where do I find the serial number of my Oculus Quest 2?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Can you buy a replacement controller for the Oculus Quest 2? appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you have a new Microsoft console and want to take your gaming experience to the next level, setting up a soundbar for Xbox Series X or Series S is a great first step.

Your TV speakers are passable at best and will not blow you away. Adding a soundbar to your system will take your audio experience to the next level.

Additionally, the best gaming experience is enhanced by a soundbar, especially if you get one that supports the Xbox Series X|S’s best audio feature – Dolby Atmos.

When coupled to your TV and console, an Xbox soundbar that supports HDMI ARC, or eARC, will turn your battlestation into a cinematic masterpiece.

How to connect a soundbar to your Xbox Series X|S

To start, you’ll need an HDMI ARC-enabled soundbar, a TV, and your Xbox Series X or Series S:

When Microsoft designed the Xbox Series X|S, they opted to go without an optical port.

According to the company, gamers weren’t using the port. So this helped save space on the new consoles.

With that out of the way, let’s get started connecting a Dolby Atmos soundbar to your Xbox Series X or Series S.

That’s all you have to do to get your soundbar hooked up to your Xbox Series X|S. Now it’s time to set up surround sound.

How to set up surround sound on Xbox Series X|S

Setup varies depending on your connection method and which types of surround sound your soundbar can support.

For a non-Dolby Atmos soundbar, open Settings on your Xbox. Then, navigate to General > Volume & audio output.

Then choose your audio format based on your hardware configuration:

• Soundbar without surround: Choose Stereo Uncompressed
• Soundbar with surround and HDMI: Select either 5.1 Uncompressed or 7.1 Uncompressed
• Soundbar with surround and optical: Select Bitstream Out, then choose either DTS Digital Surround or Dolby Digital as the format

About Dolby Atmos

You’ll need the Dolby Access app from the Microsoft store installed on your Xbox to get Dolby Atmos working.

Once installed, ignore any prompts to buy a license – that’s only for some Atmos-enabled headphones.

Go back into Settings > Volume & audio output and look for Speaker audio.

Select Bitstream out, then choose Dolby Atmos for Home Theater as the format.

Add a soundbar to take your Xbox gaming experience to the next level

If you value your entertainment and want to get the most out of your nice TV and game console, a soundbar is a relatively affordable way to improve the experience.

It gets even better when your soundbar is connected and working with Dolby Atmos.

So if this is an option, don’t hesitate to set up a soundbar with your Xbox Series X|S.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can Xbox Series X and PS5 gamers play together?
• Can the Xbox Series X lay on its side?
• How do you enable 120 Hz mode on your Xbox Series X?
• Will Xbox Series X controllers work on PC?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post How to connect a soundbar to your Xbox Series X appeared first on KnowTechie.

The $349 Finalmouse Centerpiece is the shape of any standard keyboard, but that’s where the comparison ends.

Are you ready for it? The keyboard features a screen underneath the keys that can show videos or respond to key presses.

To achieve this, the Centerpiece uses transparent mechanical switches and keycaps. That’s similar to how macroboards like Elgato’s Streamdeck work.

How it’s different is that the key switches are mechanical.

As a result, Finalmouse will offer two variants, a standard linear Cherry MX-style switch and a hall effect switch that utilizes magnets for actuation.

While regular switches only have an on-and-off state, the hall effect enables analog input.

In any case, Finalmouse’s hall effect keyboard switch has the ability to convey a range of information, similar to the triggers on a gaming controller.

Unfortunately, the company hasn’t said if the hall effect switches are set up for analog input. It’s possible they are using them to register digital on/off states.

Most importantly, the screen displays interactive animated visualizations. According to Finalmouse, the keyboard can store three skins at one time and doesn’t require a program running on your PC to work.

Equally important, the skins are powered by Unreal Engine 5, thanks to the keyboard’s onboard CPU and GPU. Additionally, it’s a 65 percent layout, so you get arrow keys but no F-row.

The Finalmouse Centerpiece costs $349. Previous products have dropped as short-run, hard-to-get items, and we expect this keyboard will follow that pattern.

The company says it will release early next year.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Review: Nuphy Air60 wireless mechanical keyboard
• Cherry MX’s new keyboard switch is a throwback to 2011
• The best gaming keyboards (2022)
• Review: Das Keyboard 6 Professional mechanical keyboard

The post Finalmouse’s latest keyboard is basically a mini-TV for your hands appeared first on KnowTechie.

Ars Technica reports that the gamers’ lawsuit “echo[es] many of the FTC’s concerns.” Those include reducing the competition in the gaming market, consumer choice, and raising prices.

The last point we’re not so sure about. Xbox has been putting every game from its studios onto Game Pass as part of a monthly subscription fee.

Even if you want to purchase the games outright, most Xbox releases are still $60. PlayStation 5 titles are $70 at launch.

Ars uploaded a copy of the complaint, and we immediately found it striking that eight of the ten gamers in the lawsuit play on PlayStation, and only two say they own an Xbox.

Are Sony stans worried about losing access to Call of Duty?

Why is Microsoft the only one getting sued?

While Microsoft purchasing Activision-Blizzard would be the biggest gaming merger in history, it’s simply the latest link in a long chain.

The gaming industry is full of developer acquisitions, including the ones Activision made to get its market position.

CEO Bobby Kotick took control in 1990 and built Activision’s developer portfolio.

The first significant purchase was Raven Software, developer of Heretic and Hexen: Beyond Heretic.

Then came the two studios that made most of the Call of Duty series, Treyarch Invention and then Infinity Ward.

Activision then merged with Blizzard without any outcry about becoming one of the biggest game companies.

Nobody blinked when the merged companies bought King Digital in 2016 for $5.9 billion.

Sony has also been on a buying spree, with more studio acquisitions planned. Isn’t that what Microsoft is doing by buying Activision-Blizzard? Sony tried and failed to do the same.

The other thing is that many Sony studios only make games for PlayStation. So far, Microsoft’s purchases are still making multiplatform titles.

This probably won’t be the last lawsuit

The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 allows any American to file a lawsuit against a company they believe is engaging in anticompetitive behavior.

Even if this lawsuit against Microsoft fails, any American citizen could potentially bring their own suit against the company.

It’s possible that this merger could be tied up in court for years, which could potentially benefit Sony as it would be able to continue to grow and release first-party exclusives uninterrupted.

As for this specific lawsuit, it’s now awaiting its day in court.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Sony’s new DualSense Edge falls short with poor battery life
• Sony reportedly working on modular PlayStation 5
• Could Netflix be Microsoft’s next acquisition target?
• Microsoft is exploring an ad-supported Xbox Game Pass tier

The post Microsoft sued by Sony stans to block Activision purchase appeared first on KnowTechie.

If you need to download a game on your Xbox One but don’t want to leave the console running, you have options.

You may have heard that your Xbox can supposedly download and install games while you’re not using it, but the first time you tried – you woke up to the same install percentage as the night before.

What gives?

With this in mind, you might wonder, “do games still download when the Xbox One is off?”

The answer is yes, they do. But your console probably isn’t set up to allow downloads when it isn’t in use. So, let’s fix that.

Do games download when the Xbox One is off

Short Answer: Yes (but you’ll need to dive into the Settings menu to enable it)

Your Xbox One needs to be set to Instant-on to download games while it’s off. That keeps it in a low-power state, ready to switch on at a moment’s notice.

It also keeps the network connection and hard drives running. Here’s how to enable it.

How to download games while your Xbox One is off 

You’ll first need to set your console to Instant-on mode to get your Xbox One to download games while it’s off.

READ MORE: The best Xbox controllers

Doing this, the console is in a low-power state and keeps the network connection and hard drives running, so it can quickly switch on when needed. Here’s how to turn it on.

Grab your controller and do the following:

That’s all you need to do. Now when you turn your Xbox One off via the controller or it goes to sleep after inactivity, it’ll keep downloading games to install or update.

Download games while your Xbox One is off with the right settings

Once you have the correct settings, your Xbox One console will download games while it’s off.

This is a great way to download your games without keeping your console on the entire time. Just start a game download, and you can let the console go to sleep or turn it off yourself.

When you return, the game will either still be downloading or finished, so you can hop in and start gaming.

And yes, you can still play games while they’re downloading on the Xbox One, just in case you were wondering.

What do you think? Plan on using this feature on your Microsoft console? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can the Xbox One play Blu-ray movies?
• How to connect PS4 or Xbox controllers to the iPhone
• Can you speed up an Xbox One’s loading time with a new hard drive?
• How to expand your Xbox One’s game storage

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

The post Can you download and install games while your Xbox One is off? appeared first on KnowTechie.

According to Reuters, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is considering acquiring the entertainment company. The reporter presents the argument for this potential acquisition

The biggest reason is that it “make[s] strategic sense” as the two companies already work together.

Microsoft is Netflix’s ad partner for its ad-supported tier. The Netflix board has one seat taken up by Microsoft President Brad Smith.

A merger would enable the two to keep creating what they already do. It would also give Netflix a larger pot of money to create original content with.

Microsoft Azure servers could host Netflix, removing its reliance on Amazon Web Services. It would also provide a platform for game streaming, something Microsoft wants to bring to every platform.

Will this prediction come true? We can’t see any reason not, other than Microsoft cutting spending as a hedge against a recession.

Microsoft could still have anti-trust issues

Microsoft is currently trying to clear regulatory hurdles in its purchase of Activision Blizzard for the modest price of $69 billion.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken the unusual step of suing to block the merger.

That lawsuit came mere days after Microsoft offered a ten-year contract to keep Call of Duty games on PlayStation consoles.

Will the FTC succeed in blocking the merger? We don’t know, but it can’t be counted out.

The baffling thing is that Xbox is in third place in the console wars. Sony is the market leader, and they’re the ones saying Call of Duty could break them.

The level of hypocrisy is staggering. Sony has long used market dominance to force developers into time-gated or exclusive content.

Bungie, the maker of the Destiny series, still has content for those games that are only accessible on PlayStation consoles.

Sony even owns the developer, paying $3.6 billion for the company earlier this year.

Microsoft used to own Bungie, and they created the flagship Halo game for the original Xbox launch. Then it went independent before signing a ten-year contract with Activision.

Is Sony really worried about the market, or are they just unhappy they didn’t try buying Activision-Blizzard first?

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Xbox is going to win the console war without even selling any games
• Netflix is reportedly making a push to acquire Roku
• Netflix finally lets you log out of individual devices remotely
• Disney streaming services now match Netflix subscriber numbers

The post Could Netflix be Microsoft’s next acquisition target? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Six Colors first noticed the change in Apple’s Self Service Repair Store.

Now the M1 iMac, M1 Mac mini, Mac Studio, and the Apple Studio display all have limited replacement parts available.

The expansion only covers the US program for now. We expect European countries to get access at some point, but Apple hasn’t provided a timeline.

In addition, Apple will also rent you the tools you’ll need for $49 for seven days. However, Apple will place a hold on your credit card for the cost of the entire tool kit if you don’t return it.

Unlike Apple service centers, the company will not offer insurance to replace your device in the event of any problems

You can now self-repair your Apple iMac but should you?

While Apple allowing self-service repairs on its devices is a step in the right direction, it falls short of true repairability. For instance, Apple products are notoriously difficult to take apart.

Take the M1-powered 24-inch iMac, one of the newest desktops Apple just added to the repair program. It’s a sleek, slim, all-in-one machine with all the fixings, including the screen, in one housing.

iFixit took one apart to see how repairable it was and gave the iMac a 2 out of 10. The biggest hurdle is that the only way to get inside is to peel off the glue that holds the screen together.

Then you have to deal with Apple’s usual soldered-on memory and storage. That means no path for upgrades, forcing you to buy a new device if you need more.

Maybe Apple’s self-service repair program appeals to you. Maybe it doesn’t. But for our money, we’ll keep paying for AppleCare+, which covers most repairs for free.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Apple will now let you buy parts to repair your iPhone
• Apple’s new self-repair service sounds like an absolute nightmare
• New Acer Chromebook is eco-friendly and repairable
• Apple finally expands self-repair program to cover MacBooks

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Apple extends self-service repairs to iMac, Mac Studio, and more appeared first on KnowTechie.

The change means that a “significant portion” of its flights will feature free WiFi without needing to be part of Delta’s SkyMiles reward program.

Delta has been running pilot programs to test its free WiFi offering. The Thrifty Traveler reported last month that the airline was running tests with anyone with Delta Medallion Status.

Now the site reports anyone with a Delta SkyMiles reward account can get online for free. A recent speed at 36,000 feet found that it had a download speed of 60 Mbps.

That’s plenty of speed for streaming video or catching up on work.

The upload speed paled, by comparison, at a rate of 1 Mbps. That’s not enough for video calls, although it is plenty to back up your photos or send emails.

The other thing to note is that Delta prominently advertised the free service. Screens in the departure lounge had instructions to connect, and signs on the plane reminded passengers of free WiFi.

Something to keep in mind, the planes offering free WiFi on require customers to sign up for Delta’s SkyMiles program.

When free in-flight WiFi is rolled out more widely next year, it’s unclear whether the company requires a SkyMiles membership. Then again, it’s free to join.

We’ve all paid large sums of money to have one device connect to WiFi on domestic flights.

Delta Air Lines hopes that free WiFi will increase customer retention when the aviation industry is hurting.

Delta also plans to bring free WiFi to some international routes by the end of 2024.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Delta’s new AI-powered screen shows personalized flight info
• One German airline has banned AirTags on checked bags (updated)
• Future American Airlines plane can fly from LA to Hawaii in 3 hours
• Authorities used an AirTag to find airline thief who stole thousands

The post Delta Air Lines will reportedly offer free in-flight WiFi in 2023 appeared first on KnowTechie.

In a blog post from CTO Andrew Bosworth, the company defends doubling-down on the metaverse.

“These are the moments that truly test people’s belief in the future,” he says. The company is unwavering in its focus on developing the metaverse.

Despite the worsening economic conditions, he says the company is thinking long-term. It doesn’t want to cut currently-unprofitable projects that have future potential.

That’s unfortunate for the Portal video calling devices and the unannounced smartwatch. Those devices were axed in November as Meta aligned spending on core products.

Things like advertising revenue will affect the amount of money Reality Labs gets. This means that Meta is committing a set percentage of its resources to improve its metaverse ambitions.

The Meta-metaverse is still on track

Virtual and mixed reality is far from a passing fad. They have been the “next big thing” since the 80s, but the technology is finally catching up with the grand vision.

Meta’s blog post also confirms that the Quest 2 VR headset’s successor will be released in 2023. The company’s last quarterly earnings report said as much, with a “later next year” timeline for the Quest 3.

Meta hasn’t confirmed full-color passthrough on the new headset, which will be an important piece of VR in the future.

It first released that feature on the Quest Pro, a premium mixed reality headset for business users.

One other piece of technology needed for the metaverse is eye and facial expression tracking. Again, the Quest Pro features this, but it’s unlikely to transfer to the lower-cost consumer headset in 2023.

The biggest takeaway from this is that Meta won’t abandon the metaverse. VR is here to stay.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Meta brings Twitter-like Notes feature to Instagram
• Apple VR headset: Release date, features, and price
• New Pico 4 VR headset goes head-to-head with the Meta Quest 2
• How and where to preorder Sony’s PS VR2 headset

The post Meta is doubling down on the metaverse appeared first on KnowTechie.

Even if you aren’t part of that group, it’s wise to change your DraftKings password. In the data breach notification, DraftKings said that the credentials used in the attack came from other websites.

Once in an account, the attacker did an initial $5 deposit, then changed the password and the phone number used for two-factor authentication. Then they withdrew money from any linked bank accounts.

BleepingComputer says that the compromised accounts cost $10 to $35 each on an online marketplace for hackers. The seller even included step-by-step instructions on how to drain the accounts.

DraftKings has cut off access to the hackers

DraftKings says it has reset the password of all 67,995 accounts it identified as breached in the latest attack. Any customer funds taken in the attack will be replaced.

A credential stuffing attack compromised the accounts in November. That’s when hackers automate bots to try millions of username and password combinations to gain access to online accounts.

The data in these attacks usually comes from other data breaches sold on hacker forums.

How to stay safe online

The best defense against hackers is unique passwords. Use a password manager like the one built into your browser and generate long, individual passwords for every online account.

That keeps your other accounts safe when one is breached.

Use two-factor authentication (2FA) methods wherever possible. The safest is an authenticator app, but even SMS 2FA provides another layer of defense.

Okta, a leading identity and access management provider, says credential-stuffing attacks are rising. The problem is so widespread that they say one in three sign-in attempts on sites they manage is fraudulent.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Android users: remove these apps ASAP, they contain malware
• A viral TikTok trend is spreading malware
• Netflix officially cracking down on password sharing in 2023
• Comcast report proves people still don’t care about cybersecurity

The post DraftKings hack exposes 67,000 users’ personal and financial info appeared first on KnowTechie.

Called Tumblr Live, the social media site is also planning a global release and the ability to go live on the desktop site.

While Tumblr has allowed some mature content back onto the site, the livestreaming feature is strictly clothes-on. Any violators of the community standards will be banned.

The same goes for copyrighted music. It’ll lead to strikes against your account and the removal of your stream. Do it too many times, and your account will disappear.

Livebox powers the livestreaming feature on Tumblr. The Meet Group, part of the dating app company ParshipMeet Group, owns the service.

Viewers can tip the streamers in a virtual currency called Diamonds. Streamers can also give moderation tools to trusted viewers, and Livebox has AI-powered moderation tools included, as well.

Tumblr Live uses Livebox to power its livestreaming

We fired up the iOS version of the app to investigate and found a total of five livestreams. Then again, it is early in the US, and the feature isn’t live on everyone’s devices yet.

Only your main blog account can go live. That might be a problem for creators with multiple side blogs attached to their main account.

Tumblr already had limited livestreaming capabilities. An update earlier this year added the ability to share streams from YouNow, YouTube, Kanvas, and Upclose to your blog.

Diversification for creators is never a bad thing. Tumblr adding its name to the list of monetizable livestreaming services could open creators up to new audiences.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• TikTok is now testing a full-screen horizontal mode
• Mastodon surges past 2 million users as Elon Musk ruins Twitter
• Meta brings Twitter-like Notes feature to Instagram
• ‘Post’ wants to be Twitter without the character limit

The post Tumblr adds livestreaming to Android and iOS app appeared first on KnowTechie.

Things are rapidly changing at the company. Musk fired the executive suite, making himself the company’s sole director, with unrestricted control.

In addition, moderation policies will likely be getting relaxed, as Musk has clarified he prefers a free-speech approach where everything goes.

Those changes will likely create more harassment of minorities, LGBTQIA+, and anyone Twitter trolls target.

We know that’s a lot to process. But you’re not alone. News of Musk’s Twitter takeover has prominent power users jumping ship.

If you’re looking for a ticket out of Dodge, we’ve rounded up some alternative Twitter replacements to flee the hellsite we all love. Here are all your options to use instead of Twitter.

Twitter alternatives to check out

Whether you use Twitter for your news, talking to friends, or microblogging, we’ve scoured the internet to find you some options.

All these Twitter-like replacements have moderation policies in place and, in most cases, mobile apps to go along with their website.

cohost

Cohost is a new social site that looks like Twitter and Tumblr had a baby. You can post, repost, or like other posts, and it has a very soothing material design.

It’s microblogging pared back to the essentials, and we’re all for it. The only issue right now is that there’s a waitlist if you sign up.

That’s only a few thousand people long right now, but expect that to grow as the site gets more coverage.

Counter Social

Created by a famed hacker and hacktivist, The Jester, Counter Social runs on a customized Mastodon instance.

It features tools to create communities, ways to watch news programming, and the ability to video chat.

The big draw here is that it promises “No trolls. No abuse. No ads.” and so on. Of course, you’d expect that from an anonymous hacker that served four “operational tours” in the U.S. Army.

Discord

Discord started life as a way for players of the popular MMO Final Fantasy XIV to communicate and organize in-game content. It’s since morphed into a social site with 150 million monthly active users.

Think of it as more early-internet chat rooms or Slack but for fun, and you’re not far off. You can text chat, voice chat, broadcast your gameplay, and more.

Mastodon

Mastodon is immediately recognizable for any longtime Twitter user. It copies most of the UI, except you send “toots” instead of “tweets.” Take that however you will.

The key difference is that Mastodon is open-source, with multiple servers at your disposal. There are no ads, and no one person can decide to pull the plug.

Reddit

Ahh, Reddit, the self-styled “front page of the internet.” If Twitter is for people to find you, Reddit is for you to find your people.

It’s more of an online forum with added social features organized into subreddits.

A subreddit could be organized around anything, from famous people to computer tech to complicated ideas broken down into toddler-sized explanations.

TikTok

One of the most popular social media sites, TikTok, rose to fame with remixed short videos of dances. Now the platform serves news, how-to tips, cooking recipes, and more in a familiar, never-ending stream.

The downside? ByteDance owns the site, who is located in China. You might be swapping from one authoritarian social media owner for another.

Post

Essentially, Post is yet another Twitter clone, but admittedly, this one does look extremely clean. Unlike Mastodon, navigation and connection seem easier, and the UI is much more reminiscent of Twitter.

That said, the platform is already making some big promises, many of which are unrealistic. The main one asking us to remember when social media was “fun.”

The platform offers some interesting features. There are no character limits, and posts feature the usual comment/like/share prompts.

However, the real intriguing part of Post comes in how it plans to deliver the news.

The plan here is to provide users a way to buy access to individual articles that are normally behind a paywall. Additionally, users can tip creators directly from the platform for content they enjoy.

There’s no direct replacement for Twitter

Finding a decent Twitter replacement isn’t easy.

While you can try to fit that bird-sized hole in your heart, there’s no direct alternative to Twitter. Nowhere else in social media can show you the news while conversing with strangers about the events.

That’s also true for emergencies, with government agencies at all levels using the platform to keep citizens informed.

There is also nowhere you can get instant replies from a wide range of experts. You might say Reddit is a good place for this, but Twitter currently verifies its experts.

LinkedIn is good for experts and networking, but we all know people who have gotten their best jobs from Twitter.

Even if you plan on sticking around, it’s a good idea to back up your Twitter data. You never know what might happen in the future.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• New Primetime Channels adds streaming services to YouTube
• Twitter is reportedly working on a Vine reboot
• This secret Facebook tool removes your phone number and email
• TikTok now shows creators who favorited their videos

The post Quitting Twitter? Try any of these 7 alternatives appeared first on KnowTechie.

The planned removal of the service is in mid-February of 2023, according to a support article Nvidia posted on December 16. GameStream has been available for nearly a decade at this point.

GameStream allowed users to stream games to their Shield devices in up to 4K 60fps.

Think of it as an in-home self-hosted version of the company’s cloud game streaming services, GeForce NOW.

The game streaming service didn’t require a monthly subscription to use. Instead, users needed a powerful gaming PC with an Nvidia graphics card on the same network.

The PC would run the game and stream it to the Nvidia Shield device.

The company has also opted to remove GameStream completely from Shield devices and the GeForce Experience app on PC that handled the streaming side.

Nvidia says users can replace it with Steam Link, Valve’s built-in game streaming service inside Steam. While that is true, some users say that Steam Link is inferior in quality to GameStream.

We wonder what this means for the Nvidia Shield family of devices. Is this the start of Nvidia phasing those out?

The tablet hasn’t been sold for some time now, and the latest Shield TV device came out in 2019.

We commend Nvidia for supporting its older devices for so long. That can’t be cheap, especially when bringing new device features.

Users can possibly avoid the mid-February update to keep GameStream for a little longer. But there’s no guarantee it won’t stop working entirely at some point after that.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Amazon Luna game streaming comes to Samsung smart TVs
• Will game streaming finally kill single-game purchases?
• Xbox is working on a Roku-like device for game streaming
• Streamer tackles seemingly impossible Elden Ring challenge

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Nvidia ends GameStream support after nearly a decade appeared first on KnowTechie.

You might think you’re literally throwing your money down the drain, but you get a lot of tech to make you more comfortable.

Kohler first showed off the Numi 2.0 at CES 2019. It’s taken years for the log jam to be loosened, and now you can buy one for your home.

You probably never knew you wanted Alexa to be part of your toilet routine. So, what do you get for that wad of cash?

There are a bunch of helpful features here. The toilet has a built-in bidet that can wash all your bits in temperature, pressure, and position-controlled comfort. But that’s only the start

Kohler Numi 2.0 smart toilet features

UV lights keep the bidet section germ-free, and the whole process is hands-free. The toilet mists the bowl to avoid cling-ons. Additionally, it auto-deodorizes, warms the seat up, and dries you afterward with warm air.

It will also auto-flush for you, so you never have to look back in the bowl. The lid even auto-opens and closes.

The Numi 2.0 also has RGB and underglow lighting. Finally, the smart toilet also has a surround sound speaker setup. Nice if you’re the type to hum while doing your ablutions.

If you don’t want to use the Alexa features of the smart toilet, you can control things with the Kohler Konnect app or a small wireless remote control.

The Kohler Numi 2.0 will be available to buy in the coming days.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Amazon uses Alexa to target ads, lawsuit claims
• Why is Alexa flashing blue and green?
• Amazon Games set to publish new Tomb Raider game
• Review: SmartBidet SB-3000 electric toilet seat

The post This Alexa-powered toilet can be yours for $11,000 appeared first on KnowTechie.

The iPhone is known for its awesome camera. Every year, Apple improves them, and they provide consistently good results. But which iPhone has the best camera?

It’s easy to assume that the newest iPhone has the best camera. But is the more expensive Pro version really that much better than the base version?

How much of an improvement does the latest model provide over the previous year’s iPhone?

If you are looking to snag a new iPhone and value camera quality, don’t worry. We’ll explain which iPhone has the best camera and what makes it great.

So, which iPhone has the best camera?

Short answer: The iPhone 14 Pro

Without a doubt, the iPhone with the best camera is the iPhone 14 Pro.

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are the stars of Apple’s iPhone lineup. And both phones have the same camera, so you can save a little money by purchasing the iPhone 14 Pro instead of the Pro Max.

READ MORE: How to turn on your iPhone’s camera flash

The camera in the iPhone 14 Pro is a real powerhouse. The triple-lens array is what really accelerates the camera, with standard, ultra-wide, and telephoto configurations.

The 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max feature a 48MP wide-angle camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 3X 12MP telephoto lens.

The camera on the iPhone 14 Pro features a macro function that can focus on objects as close as 2 cm away from the lens. The telephoto module has a 3x range, which is the same as the iPhone 13 Pro.

READ MORE: How to change iPhone alert sounds and ringtones

Additionally, the camera’s low-light abilities and night mode have continued to improve. Overall, the iPhone 14 Pro camera system is a decent step up from last year’s iPhone 13 Pro.

While the iPhone 14 Pro Max is technically the best phone that Apple has to offer, it doesn’t include any improvements to the camera.

That means the iPhone 14 Pro offers the best iPhone camera today at a more appealing price than the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

What do you think? Interested in the iPhone 14 Pro for its camera quality? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• When was the iPhone 14 released?
• Does the iPhone 14 have USB-C?
• How much is the iPhone 14?
• Does the iPhone 14 have Touch ID?

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Which iPhone has the best camera? appeared first on KnowTechie.

We first heard rumors about the modular PlayStation 5 refresh in September. That report stated Sony would replace the current PS5 models with one PS5 console and a detachable disc drive accessory.

Now, one industry insider reports that Sony has sent out test kits of the modular PS5. They also state it “works flawlessly,” and an official announcement is not far off.

The new console reportedly has a new USB-C port on the back of the chassis. It looks identical to the digital-only version apart from that new port.

The port connects to an external Blu-Ray drive, meaning users no longer have to choose between a disc or disc-less console. They’ll be able to add the external disc reader at any time.

As of June 2022, Sony has shipped 21.7 million PlayStation 5 consoles. Insider Gaming‘s sources say Sony has set a target to ship out an additional 30 million consoles in their 2023 Fiscal Year.

According to the same sources, the modular PlayStation 5 console will start production early next year. The current plan is to release it to the market in September 2023, in time for the holiday period.

The existing chassis options for regular PS5 and Digital Edition PS5 will reportedly stop production by the end of 2023.

The reason for the change is likely to simplify manufacturing. With supply chain issues everywhere, Sony will be trying to avoid more delays.

As for the next generation of PlayStation, the PS6 is expected to release in 2028. Before that, a PS5 Pro seems to be targeted for 2023/4, according to a presentation by TV maker TCL.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Razer’s new customizable PS5 controller is coming for your wallet
• When is The Witcher 3 coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X?
• Valve plans screen and battery improvements on Steam Deck 2
• Microsoft commits to 10 years of Call of Duty on Nintendo

The post Sony reportedly working on modular PlayStation 5 appeared first on KnowTechie.

The existence of this tech surfaced by Gamesual, who noticed a patent filed by Microsoft early this year. The patent’s name is “Providing Personalized Content for Unintrusive Online Gaming Experience.”

That’s a long way to say, “we’re putting advertising in your games.” Earlier this year, a report from Business Insider said Microsoft was working on in-game advertising for free-to-play titles on Xbox.

This patent’s existence would back that report up, as the application was filed before the reporting. The patent mentions one possible use as advertising boards around a soccer field.

It’s a perfect match, to be honest. Sports games should have relevant advertising shown. It feels weird when the only in-game ads are for imaginary products.

Other in-game advertising uses might be on in-game radio stations. The patent also mentions billboards in urban locations.

Whatever your feelings on in-game advertising are, the inclusion of real-world products will make games feel more immersive. Advertising is everywhere in the world we live in.

Should the escapism of video games be immune? Or does bringing real-world products into game worlds anchor them in our shared experience?

We can’t decide, but there seems to be a place for tastefully done in-game advertising.

Xbox isn’t the only console working on in-game advertising. Sony’s PlayStation group is also working on in-game ads for free-to-play titles.

It is important to note that these in-game ads are one possibility. It’s also good that the programs only mention free-to-play games, which somehow have to recoup their development costs.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The best Xbox controllers
• Valve plans screen and battery improvements on Steam Deck 2
• Amazon Games set to publish new Tomb Raider game
• Microsoft commits to 10 years of Call of Duty on Nintendo

The post Xbox explores in-game advertising with new patent appeared first on KnowTechie.