Tag Archives: graphics

Apple Launches Ambitious iOS18

September 17, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

Apple has just officially launched iOS 18, a major update that is set to redefine the iPhone experience with enhanced personalization, new capabilities, and seamless integration for gaming and entertainment. Available for download starting today, iOS 18 promises to bring a whole new level of interaction and performance for iPhone users starting with the older generation Xs and up to the latest 16 Pro.

Key Features of iOS 18

– Revamped User Interface (UI): iOS 18 introduces a more customizable interface, with dynamic widgets, a redesigned lock screen, and adaptive app layouts, making the experience more personal than ever.

– AI-Powered Personalization: Leveraging advanced AI, the system learns from user preferences, adjusting app recommendations, notifications, and even battery optimization to match individual habits. This feature promises a smarter, more intuitive user experience.

– Interactive Widgets: For the first time, iOS users can engage with widgets directly from the home screen. Whether it’s checking game stats or adjusting settings, this allows for quicker access to essential functions.

– Performance Boost: Apple has integrated the A18 Bionic chip into the latest iPhones, resulting in faster processing speeds, optimized graphics, and better multitasking capabilities. This is especially beneficial for gaming, where users will notice smoother graphics and higher frame rates.

– Expanded Gaming Capabilities: iOS 18 introduces Game Mode, a dedicated feature that optimizes performance while playing online games by reducing background processes and enhancing network stability. Users will experience faster response times and less lag, which is critical for real-time multiplayer games. This is coupled with Enhanced AR support, bringing online games to life in ways previously unseen.

– Cross-Device Connectivity: With iOS 18, gaming moves seamlessly across Apple devices. Game progress can now be synced across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, allowing users to pick up where they left off, regardless of the device they’re using.

Comparison with Previous iOS Versions

– Performance Gains: Compared to iOS 17, iOS 18 offers up to 30% faster app launches and a 20% increase in battery life for gamers. This is a result of the new battery optimization algorithms and improved processor efficiency.

– Gaming Improvements: The introduction of Game Mode and AR-enhanced experiences is a leap from previous iterations, positioning iOS 18 as the ideal platform for mobile gaming enthusiasts. Apple’s new Metal 3 framework [MetalFX upscaling first seen in an impressive 2022 demo showcasing Resident Evil Village running as a Mac port- see video below CP] also enhances the gaming experience with more detailed textures and faster loading times.

Impact on Online Gaming

iOS 18’s Game Mode and improved connectivity features ensure that mobile gamers can enjoy uninterrupted, high-performance gameplay on online platforms. This feature helps tackle a longstanding challenge of latency and performance dips during competitive play.

“iOS 18 transforms the online gaming landscape by making iPhone not just a communication device, but a full-fledged gaming console in the palm of your hand. With its advanced features, smoother gameplay, and seamless cross-device experience, iOS 18 is a game-changer,” said Vadim Khrulev, Founder and CEO at thesolitaire.com.

With iOS 18, Apple is once again pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a mobile device. For gamers, content creators, and everyday users, the new OS offers unmatched personalization, performance, and cross-platform experiences. As the gaming industry continues to expand, iOS 18 ensures that iPhone remains at the forefront of the digital entertainment world.

Gaming

Playstation 5 Pro Debut Will Increase Daily Playing Times

September 11, 2024 The Silo Leave a comment

September, 2024 – Tokyo, Japan – Sony Interactive Entertainment has officially announced the release of the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro), set to hit the market on November 7, 2024. The PS5 Pro builds upon the success of the PlayStation 5 with significant upgrades in graphics performance, ray tracing, and AI-driven upscaling technology, positioning itself as the most powerful gaming console available today. Preorders for the PS5 Pro will begin on September 26, 2024.

Key Features of PS5 Pro:

– GPU Upgrade: 67% more compute units and 28% faster memory than the PS5.

– Advanced Ray Tracing: Provides 2x-3x faster reflection and refraction of light.

– AI-Driven Upscaling: PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution enhances image clarity with machine learning.

– Game Boost for Backward Compatibility: Applies to over 8,500 PS4 and PS5 titles.

Predicted Market Impact:

Based on previous console launch trends, the PlayStation 5 Pro is expected to capture a significant share of the console gaming market. Analysts predict that 15-20 million units of PS5 Pro could be sold globally within the first year of release. Early adopters and PlayStation loyalists are likely to make up the majority of these sales.

1. Demographics:

– Early Adopters (Ages 18-35): The core demographic, consisting of competitive gamers and tech enthusiasts, are expected to drive early sales.

– Casual Gamers (Ages 25-45): As the console matures, more casual gamers are anticipated to upgrade for the enhanced gaming experience, adding to overall sales.

2. Global Reach:

– North America and Europe will account for 65% of sales, with the U.S. alone expected to see 7 million units sold by the end of 2025.

– Asia, particularly Japan and China, will be major markets for growth due to strong console gaming cultures. Japan is expected to account for 3 million units sold.

– Impact on Rival Consoles:

The PS5 Pro is expected to attract current Xbox owners seeking better performance, with projections showing 5-8% of Xbox users considering switching to the PS5 Pro. The PS5 Pro’s launch, combined with exclusive titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, could lure high-performance gamers away from Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch.

Table: Console Market Share Projections for 2024-2025

Console	Projected Units Sold (2024-2025)	Market Share
PlayStation 5 Pro	15-20 million	45%
Xbox Series X	12-15 million	30%
Nintendo Switch OLED	10-12 million	25%

Sources: Market analysts at Statista and NPD Group

Predicted Impact on Daily Life and Gaming Habits:

With its enhanced performance, the PS5 Pro is expected to increase daily gaming time for players. According to previous studies, the average PlayStation user spends 2.6 hours per day gaming. With the PS5 Pro’s superior graphics and smoother gameplay, experts predict this number could rise to 3.2 hours per day, especially for competitive and multiplayer games, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Expert Commentary

Vadim Khrulev, CEO of The Solitaire online gaming, shares his perspective on the PS5 Pro’s expected impact:

“The PlayStation 5 Pro is not just an incremental upgrade; it’s a leap forward in gaming technology. Its advanced hardware will attract early adopters and high-performance gamers, positioning Sony to further dominate the console market. I anticipate that the PS5 Pro will likely capture 40-50% of the console market within a year, stealing market share from Xbox and even cutting into Nintendo’s casual gaming audience. The enhanced performance will undoubtedly increase daily playtime and keep players more engaged, which also opens the door for developers to push the limits of game design.”

Availability and Pricing:

– Launch Date: November 7, 2024

– Price: MSRP of $699.99 USD/ $952.41CAD [exchange rate at time of article posting], £699.99 GBP, €799.99 EUR, and ¥119,980 JPY

– Storage: 2TB SSD

– Preorders Begin: September 26, 2024

The PS5 Pro will be available at participating retailers and through PlayStation’s direct online store, direct.playstation.com.

About PlayStation:

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a global leader in digital entertainment and the PlayStation brand is synonymous with innovation in gaming hardware, software, and services.

Sci-Tech

Video Producers Using Unreal Game Engine For AR Graphics And Sets

September 28, 2020 The Silo Leave a comment

LAS VEGAS — A couple of years ago, ChyronHego announced a partnership with leading game developer Epic Games to integrate the Unreal Engine with ChyronHego’s family of augmented reality (AR) graphics and virtual sets solutions. With the integration, news broadcasters and other customers of ChyronHego’s Neon and Plutonium software will be able to leverage Unreal’s industry-leading rendering and real-time special effects capabilities to add powerful new photorealistic and hyper-realistic elements to their on-air virtual sets. Only a decade ago, editDROID and other Laserdisc based systems were still commonly in use with a much more rudimentary set of effects possibilities- this new Neon and Plutonium software system is an industry wide ‘game changer’.

Here is a look at 2017’s ChyronHego’s live use demo-

“In an environment that’s more competitive than ever, our broadcast news customers are on a constant search for innovative ways to tell a better story and captivate viewers,” said Olivier Cohen, senior product manager, virtual solutions, ChyronHego. “Virtual sets that harness the amazing graphics capabilities of world-class gaming engines are the wave of the future for news, sports, and weather broadcasting, and Epic Games is the perfect partner to take us there. The integration with Unreal is just the latest link in our CAMIO Universe strategy to place the industry’s most powerful storytelling tools at news producers’ fingertips and drive template-based, unified news and weather workflows.”

“Since we launched Unreal Engine 4, it has become one of the world’s most powerful rendering engines for the game industry — but its flexibility, real-time performance, and robust set of tools make it ideal in just about any type of content creation workflow,” said Marc Petit, general manager, Unreal Engine Enterprise at Epic Games.

“ChyronHego’s AR and virtual set solutions for broadcast production are the ideal match for Unreal Engine. By partnering with one of the leading broadcast graphics providers, we can continue to expand our presence in the broadcast, film, and entertainment industries.”

ChyronHego will work to integrate the CAMIO graphic asset management server with Unreal Engine, including creating broadcast-specific camera movements. Unreal’s 3D graphics engine enables producers to generate AR graphics through the templated workflows of the CAMIO Universe. Via custom user interfaces built with ChyronHego Live Assist panels, producers can then present the AR graphics on air using ChyronHego’s Plutonium and Neon virtual set and robotic camera tracking solutions.

Cohen added, “As one of the world’s most powerful rendering engines from one of the world’s foremost gaming companies, Unreal will bring new levels of openness and scale-ability to our virtual set solutions. Unreal Engine is easily customizable and expandable, and five million users around the world will benefit from Epic Games’ vast reach across the global community of gamers and game developers. It means news broadcasters will be able to render effects in their virtual sets that rival anything their viewers have seen in the gaming world, with special effects like real-time shaders, bumps, sliders, and highly photo-realistic objects.” For the Silo, Lyndsey Albright.

Supplemental- The Revolutionary Video Toaster and Amiga Computer system 1991.

Gaming

Powerful Mac Gamer External Graphics Solution

April 4, 2018 The Silo Leave a comment

Sonnet Technologies recently announced the eGFX Breakaway™ Box 650, the latest and most capable model in the company’s series of Thunderbolt™ 3 to PCI Express^® (PCIe^®) eGPU expansion chassis for professional graphics and gaming applications.

The Breakaway Box 650 is designed and qualified specifically for large, power-hungry video graphics processing unit (GPU) cards, including the AMD Radeon™ RX Vega 64 and overclocked NVIDIA^® GeForce^® GTX 10 series-based cards. The AMD-approved Breakaway Box 650 is equipped with a 650-watt power supply, which provides ample power for GPU cards with high transient peak power requirements.

“With the introduction of AMD’s Radeon Pro and RX Vega Series cards, we have experienced a high demand for an eGPU chassis capable of supporting the higher standards of these GPU cards,” said Robert Farnsworth, CEO of Sonnet Technologies. “The eGFX Breakaway Box 650 meets the demand, enabling users to tap the compute power of even the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 and Radeon Pro WX 9100 cards while still providing up to 87 watts of upstream Power Delivery to support popular notebook computers.”

The eGFX Breakaway Box 650 provides a single slot for connecting any size Thunderbolt-compatible GPU card, and features enough room for many high-performance water-cooled cards — making it ideal for professionals and gamers who need to run bandwidth-intensive graphics applications on their eGFX-compatible notebook, all-in-one, or other small-form-factor computers. The unit is equipped with a 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 port that enables data transfers up to 2750 MB/s, and supports all Thunderbolt-compatible GPU cards — such as AMD Radeon R9, RX, RX Vega, and Pro WX models; and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 9 and 10 series, Titan X and Xp, V, and Quadro^® models. In addition, the Breakaway Box 650 includes two eight-pin auxiliary power connectors and provides 87 watts of upstream power (Power Delivery), useful for powering and charging a connected notebook computer that supports Thunderbolt 3 charging.

The eGFX Breakaway Box 650 (part number GPU-650W-TB3) is available now from Sonnet Technologies and its dealers at an MSRP of $449 usd. Featured image via egpu.io

About Sonnet Technologies

Sonnet Technologies Inc. is a leading provider of Thunderbolt™ 3 to PCIe^® card expansion systems; external graphics (eGFX) solutions for pro users and gamers; pro media readers; docks and adapters; and network, storage, and other interface cards for pro users in the audio, video, and broadcast industries. Sonnet’s Thunderbolt expansion products enable the use of pro audio I/O and DSP cards, pro video capture and transcoding cards, GPU cards, network and storage interface cards, and other high-performance PCIe cards with Thunderbolt technology-enabled computers. For 30 years Sonnet has pioneered and brought to market innovative and award-winning products that enhance the performance and connectivity of Mac^®, Windows^®, and other industry-standard computers.