Know someone that would love a new console this holiday season? Yeah, so do we. Figuring out what to buy them, though, can be tricky. Should you go next-gen or stick with something cheaper from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One era? There’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on your budget and what, if any, kind of hardware your loved one already owns. If you’re still flummoxed by the seemingly-endless options, fear not: we’ve assembled a guide to choosing and gifting a console in late 2020.
Microsoft or Sony?
First, some reconnaissance. Does your friend or family member already own a console? Maybe they live with a DualShock 4 surgically attached to their thumbs, or spend every night chatting about Sea of Thieves and Gears of War 5 on Xbox Live. If they fall into either camp, there’s a good chance they want to stay in their current ecosystem. They might have an established friends list and a growing library of games that they want to keep playing on next-gen hardware. If that’s the case, you can narrow your decision-making down to a single console maker.
Be warned, though: there’s also the possibility that someone bought them the ‘wrong’ console last time, and they’re itching to switch platforms. It’s also possible they want to change over so they can play another system’s exclusive titles. If your loved one has an Xbox One, for instance, they might be clamoring to play some Sony-owned software such as God of War (2018) or Ghost of Tsushima. Acquiring this knowledge will help you out massively. But if you can’t — maybe they love a variety of systems, or haven’t owned a console in years — you’ll need to consider both manufacturers and come to a decision on your own. So let’s break down your options.
Sony
Sony is currently the king of gaming. The company has sold over 110 million PlayStation 4s, which is almost double the Nintendo Switch — a console that’s less than four years old, admittedly — and higher than Xbox One estimates. It also owns a bunch of studios, such as Naughty Dog and Santa Monica Studio, which make critically-acclaimed exclusives such as The Last of Us Part II and God of War (2018). A few of the system’s tentpole titles are now available on PC, such as Horizon Zero Dawn and Detroit: Become Human. But in general, PlayStation hardware is still required to access some of the best games from this console generation.
Can play PS5 exclusives such as Demon’s Souls Remake
Will play the best version of cross-gen PlayStation exclusives such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Will run most PS4 games via backwards compatibility
Supports physical games and media
Cons
Expensive
Larger than the PS5 Digital Edition and PS4 Pro
Can’t play Xbox-exclusive titles
Sony’s best console, the new PlayStation 5, is capable of playing games at true 4K resolution. It also ships with an 825GB SSD, which can load software faster than the PS4 Pro and deliver new gameplay experiences like the world-hopping seen in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. The system also supports 3D audio, an object-based spatial sound technology, and comes with a new DualSense controller that features adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, and a built-in microphone. Unlike the PS5 Digital Edition, it also comes with a disc drive that can read physical games and play 4K Blu-rays.
Can play PS5 exclusives such as Demon’s Souls Remake
Plays most PS4 games via backwards compatibility
Cons
Still more expensive than the Xbox Series S
Can’t play physical games
Can’t play pre-owned games
Can’t be used as a DVD, Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray player
Doesn’t offer Xbox-exclusive titles
The Digital Edition is almost identical to the standard PS5. It has the same CPU, GPU and 825GB SSD, which means it can also run games at true 4K resolution. The only difference is the disc drive, or lack thereof. I know what you’re thinking: does a disc drive really cost $100? Absolutely not. Sony is offering a steep discount because it knows the eventual owner will have to buy all of their games through the PlayStation Store. You should think long and hard, therefore, about whether the person receiving your console will miss the option of physical discs. Over the course of a generation, they’ll easily buy enough digital titles to make up the difference. Or that’s the theory, anyway.
Some people are ready to embrace the all-digital lifestyle: the PlayStation Store is a convenient option, after all, if you have a decent internet connection and want to play something new at 4AM. Sony’s marketplace runs regular sales, too, that are competitive with bricks-and-mortar retailers. And some players are ready to go all-in with digital subscription services like PlayStation Now and EA Play. If you opt for the Digital Edition, though, the recipient won’t be able to buy pre-owned games or physical copies that have been discounted by retailers such as Amazon.
Will likely drop in price once the PS5 has been released
Can play all of the PS4’s best titles
Will play some of Sony’s upcoming exclusives, including Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Cons
Can’t play PS5-exclusive titles such as Demon’s Souls Remake
Won’t offer the best versions of cross-gen games such as Horizon Forbidden West
Over time, developers will release fewer PS4-compatible games
The PS4 Pro still costs $399 on Sony’s website, but we expect a flurry of cheaper deals to emerge once the PS5 is readily available. It’s an older system, but one that can play a massive library of generation-defining games including Marvel’s Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 5 Royal, Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Last of Us Part II. If your loved one hasn’t played a game in a while, they’ll still be floored by these experiences. Some of the PS5’s most anticipated titles, including Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West, are coming to the PS4 too. So the recipient shouldn’t feel like they’re missing out on anything for a while.
Microsoft
Microsoft is itching for a comeback. The Xbox One launch was a catastrophe, emphasizing media features that few people cared about and pushing a DRM policy that would have restricted game sharing. Fans were understandably furious and Xbox quickly changed course, focusing on games once again and reversing all of its controversial disc-lending policies. Slowly but surely, the Xbox One has won fans back with Game Pass, a stellar subscription service that includes xCloud streaming, some excellent accessories and massive studio acquisitions including Bethesda, Obsidian and Ninja Theory.
The Xbox Series S and X are a chance for Microsoft to start a new chapter. And unlike the PlayStation 5, the two variants have dramatically different innards that will affect how games look and run on a living room TV.
Will play the best version of cross-gen games such as Halo Infinite
Supports Xbox Game Pass
Can play many Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles via backwards compatibility
Cons
Expensive
Larger than the Xbox Series S
Won’t play Sony-made exclusives such as Gran Turismo 7
The Xbox Series X is capable of running games at true 4K resolution and 120 frames per second, with more realistic lighting via Direct X raytracing. It promises “an unprecedented 12 teraflops of GPU power”, which is slightly higher than the PS5, and a 1TB SSD to store and load next-gen games. The bundled controller has a couple of new features, like an improved D-pad, and officially licensed Xbox One accessories should still work just fine. Game Pass is the big sell, but you can also buy titles a la carte and take advantage of the console’s backwards compatibility, which extends to the first Xbox from 2001.
Can play many Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles via backwards compatibility
Cons
Can’t play games natively at 4K
Has a smaller SSD than other next-gen systems
Can’t play physical games
Can’t play pre-owned games
Can’t be used as a DVD, Blu-ray or 4K Blu-ray player
Can’t play Sony-made exclusives such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales
The Series S is Microsoft’s “smallest Xbox ever.” That could be important if your loved one is short on space in their bedroom or living room. Regardless, the console’s cheaper price is worth considering. The box should happily run games at 1440p resolution at 60 frames per second, with support for up to 120 frames per second. It can also upscale games to 4K, which could be enough for people with smaller monitors and TV sets. Like its larger sibling, the Series S also supports backwards compatibility, though it will be running One S — not One X — versions with better texture filtering and frame rates, among other improvements.
Can play many games marketed for Xbox Series X and S, including Halo Infinite
Supports Xbox Game Pass
Can play many Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles via backwards compatibility
Cons
Can’t play games natively at 4K
Underpowered compared to both the Xbox Series X and S
Future Xbox titles, such as the next Forza Motorsport, might not be compatible
The Xbox One X has been discontinued, so if you want something cheaper than a Series S…it’s the older One S or nothing. The system might be tempting — especially if you can get a few games thrown in for free — but we wouldn’t recommend it. The One S simply isn’t powerful enough, at least not by 2020 standards. It can access a huge library via Game Pass, but everything will run natively at 1080p, or 4K via upscaling. If you can, go for the Series S instead. Your loved one will appreciate the system’s higher native resolution (1440p), as well as the superior processor and faster SSD.
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The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.
“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.
The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.
However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”
Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.
A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.
“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.
“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”
The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.
At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.
A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”
Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.
Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.
Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.
Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.
While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.
Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.
The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.
— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.
LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?
It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.
Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:
Apple
The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.
For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.
You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.
Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.
Google
Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.
When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.
You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.
There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.
Facebook and Instagram
Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.
When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.
The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.
You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.
TikTok
The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.
Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.
X
It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.
Passwords
Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?
Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.
But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.
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LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.
The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.
“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”
San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.
Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”
“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.
The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.
