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Valve is handing Team Fortress 2 modders the keys to the kingdom, as long as they don't try to make any money from it. The company has added the client and server game code to the Source software development kit (SDK), allowing fans to create new games and experiences based on TF2. "Unlike the Steam Workshop or local content mods, this SDK gives mod makers the ability to change, extend or rewrite TF2, making anything from small tweaks to complete conversions possible," Valve explained. Modders will be able to publish their creations as new games on Steam if they wish. The main catch is that Valve is offering the TF2 source code on a non-commercial basis, so any mods or content therein that are based on the SDK have to be available for free. The company also notes that much of the content that's in players' inventories most of the in-game items, in fact were created by the Steam Workshop community. "To respect that, we're asking TF2 mod makers continue to respect that connection, and to not make mods that have the purpose of trying to profit off Workshop contributors' efforts," Valve said. "We're hoping that many mods will continue to allow players access their TF2 inventory, if this makes sense for the mod." On top of adding the TF2 source code to the SDK, Valve is making other updates to its other multiplayer games that run on Source, its old game engine. Those include 64-bit binary support, a scalable heads-up display/user interface and prediction fixes for the likes of Day of Defeat: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, Half-Life Deathmatch: Source and Counter-Strike: Source. It's not too surprising that Valve is handing over the TF2 source code at this point. The game has largely been in maintenance mode for a long time as the company focused on other projects. It took the company years to remedy a major bot invasion, indicating just how low TF2 is on its list of priorities. Giving fans the client and server code could be a sign that Valve is ready to wind down official support for the game. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/valve-hands-the-team-fortress-2-source-code-to-modders-183223667.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
The embattled EV truck maker Nikola is going kaput. The company just announced a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and a plan to sell off assets. These assets will be sold at an auction, pending court approval. Nikola noted it has $47 million in cash on hand to fund the bankruptcy proceedings and begin the sale process. The company has reported between $500 million to $1 billion in assets, but liabilities totaling $1 billion to $10 billion, according to a court filing. Like other companies in the electric vehicle industry, we have faced various market and macroeconomic factors that have impacted our ability to operate, said Steve Girsky, President and CEO of Nikola. Those market and macroeconomic factors are real, as EV adoption growth rates have slowed a bit. However, Nikola is a special case. The company has been embroiled in numerous scandals in recent years, so this news caps off a particularly dire fall from grace for the once-buzzy EV maker. Nikola was founded in 2015 with a mission to create zero-emissions heavy trucks. The company secured a lucrative partnership with GM in 2020, but things fell apart soon thereafter. It was credibly accused of fraud, thanks to a report by short-selling firm Hindenburg Research. This report even included a video showing a Nikola truck rolling down a hill to simulate driving. Our investigation of the site and text messages from a former employee reveal that the video was an elaborate ruse $NKLA had the truck towed to the top of a hill on a remote stretch of road and simply filmed it rolling down the hill. pic.twitter.com/n2NLDGInzR Hindenburg Research (@HindenburgRes) September 10, 2020 This elaborate ruse caused the SEC to begin an investigation which led to founder Trevor Milton stepping down as board chair and CEO. Later, he was arrested and indicted on fraud charges. Milton was found guilty and sentenced to four years in prison. The company settled with the SEC for $125 million. It goes without saying that GM backed out of that partnership. The company did go public in 2020 and began shipping its first trucks in 2021. However, reports indicated that Nikola was losing hundreds of thousands of dollars on every truck it sold. All told, the company only made around 600 vehicles, many of which were recalled due to a variety of defects. This subpar performance caused the stock to crater, stumbling from a high of over $1,000 per share to, as of this writing, $0.47 per share. I guess only one company named after the guy who invented alternating current (AC) energy is allowed to consistently fall below expectations without making a dent on its valuation.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ev-truck-maker-nikola-has-finally-called-it-quits-172516625.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
The new iPhone 16e is designed to get Apple Intelligence into as many hands as possible. Apple recently began activating its AI features by default during iOS setup, suggesting a harder push to spur adoption and establish iOS as an AI-first platform. Putting the companys suite of AI tools on a $599 iPhone should do the trick. Apple Intelligences arrival on an entry-level iPhone is thanks to one of its biggest upgrades from the SE: the A18 chip (the same processor from the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus). That makes it Apples cheapest AI-equipped model by $300. However, that's quite a bump up from the (now-retired) iPhone SE's $429. Fortunately, theres no skimping on the Apple Intelligence features for the cheaper model; you get all the AI goodies found in the more expensive iPhones. That includes AI writing tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT integration and notification summaries. Apple The phone has a much bigger display than its predecessor: 6.1 inches, up from the 2022 iPhone SEs mere 4.7 inches. Its also the first entry-level model to adopt modern iPhones full-screen design with Face ID. (Pour one out for the now-retired home button.) However, it doesnt have the Dynamic Island found on recent higher-end models. It also gets the Action button, the customizable physical shortcut on the phone's side. It debuted in the iPhone 15 Pro series and is found in all iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 16e also complies with EU standards by switching from Lightning to USB-C, which is probably the least surprising thing about it. It also lacks MagSafe charging, sticking with standard Qi wireless charging at up to 7.5W. A list of geeky tech specs doesnt tell the whole story but can still serve as a starting point. Heres how the new entry-level iPhone compares to Apples previous model and its two biggest Android-running rivals: the Google Pixel 8a and Samsung Galaxy A35 5G. (Although the A35 isn't quite in the same price range, it serves a similar niche in Samsung's lineup.) iPhone 16e iPhone SE (2022) Google Pixel 8a Samsung Galaxy A35 5G Price $599 / $699 / $899 $429 / $479 / $579 $499 / $559 $400 Dimensions 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches) 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches) 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm (6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches) 161.7 x 78 x 8.2 mm (6.37 x 3.07 x 0.32 inches) Weight 167g (5.88 ounces) 144g (5.09 ounces) 188 g (6.7 oz) 209 g (7.37 oz) Screen size 6.1 inches 4.7 inches 6.1 inches 6.6 inches Screen resolution 2,532 x 1,170 (460 ppi) 1,334 x 750 (326 ppi) 1,080 x 2,400 (430 ppi) 2,340 x 1,080 (389 ppi) Screen type OLED Retina HD LCD 60Hz Super AMOLED up to 120Hz SoC Apple A18 Apple A15 Bionic Tensor G3 Exynos 1380 RAM N/A 4 GB 8 GB 6 / 8* GB * Non-US only Battery "up to 26 hrs video playback" 2,018mAh 4,492 mAh 5,000 mAh Storage 128 / 256 / 512GB 64 / 128 / 256 GB 128 / 256 GB 128 / 256* GB MicroSD up to 1TB * Non-US only Rear camera(s) 48MP, f/1.6 Wide: 12 MP, f/1.8 Wide: 64 MP, f/1.89 Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2 Wide: 50MP, f/1.8 Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2 Macro: 5MP, f/2.4 Front camera 12MP, f/1.9 7 MP, f/2.2 13MP, f/2.2 13MP, f/2.2 Water / dust rating IP68 IP67 IP67 IP67 Wi-Fi WiFi 6 (802.11ax) 802.1ax Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Bluetooth v5.3 v5.0 v5.3 v5.3 OS iOS 18 iOS 18 Android 15 Android 14 One UI 6.1 Colors / finish Black / White Aluminum Midnight / Starlight / (Product)Red Aluminum Obsidian / Porcelain / Aloe / Bay Navy / Lilac This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-16e-vs-the-competition-171306115.html?src=rss
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