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  • Which Companies are Leading the Race for First Driverless Car?

    Which Companies are Leading the Race for First Driverless Car?

    The future of commuting is looking ever more and more like a driverless one. Maybe someday driving cars will be as quaint a pastime as riding horses or hopping in a horse-drawn carriage. However, that reality isn’t upon us yet: there are a number of kinks that need to be worked out of the technology before it has the green light for mass commercial production. Not to mention, there’s the question of affordability and accessibility. So, let’s take a look at the companies leading the pack in the race for first driverless car.

    Renault-Nissan Alliance 

    Nissan’s Japanese cars feature the ProPILOT technology, a software suite that drives for you on the highway. The company plans to roll the feature out in the American market soon, and they plan to further add features to it as they are finalized. Features are meant to be incremental additions until the cars are fully driverless, and the company plans on this being the case by 2020. 

    While the 2020 deadline may seem a bit soon, Renault-Nissan has faith in their ProPILOT technology. The company claims their driverless features are all nearly ready now. Now, they just need a bit more safety testing to be road-ready. 

    General Motors 

    After acquiring Cruise Automation, GM has been full-steam ahead on driverless technology. The company has been championing their Chevy Bolt, an electric driverless car likely to see mass market soon. GM has expressed their desire to test their cars in a wide array of different conditions in order to ensure maximum safety for passengers and other drivers.  

    GM CEO Mary Barra has been quoted regarding GM’s safety testing saying: “A lot of the conversation has been about, ‘Oh, we have this many miles,’ but it’s not as much about the miles as it is about the experiences that the car learns.” This is in seeming contrast to companies like Waymo. Waymo has dedicated thousands of hours to safety testing, but almost exclusively in sunny and dry regions like Arizona. 

    Ongoing Focus on Driverless Car Technology: Ford 

    Ford has been quietly pursuing driverless technology for more than a decade now. In 2005, Ford joined the DARPA Grand Challenge, kicking off their public interest in the burgeoning technology. Ford invested a ton of money in a lidar manufacturer called Velodyne in 2016, and has promised to invest over one billion (!) dollars in an AI company called Argo AI.  

    Ford’s fleet of autonomous cars has been delivering on the promise of these investments. Ford recently partnered with Lyft, who also plans to use a driverless fleet for their ride-hailing service. All of this points to Ford’s ongoing dedication to pushing forward with driverless tech. Which of these companies will be the first to mass-market with a driverless car? Or will it be another company altogether? Only time will tell. 

  • H1Z1 Open Beta Begins on PS4 (Finally)

    H1Z1 Open Beta Begins on PS4 (Finally)

    The zombie-shooting survival game that metamorphized into a battle royale shooter finally hit PS4 in open beta. If you’ve somehow missed the battle royale craze, it’s a genre of shooting game where a large number of players are airdropped onto a map and fight to see who will be the last man standing. Based on the popular Japanese novel (and then movie) Battle Royale, the genre was first popularized by a game called PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds. PUBG was followed by the absurdly popular Fortnite, which is itself a zombie survival game that split off to become a battle royale shooter. 

    What’s the Hold Up? 

    If the name H1Z1 sounds familiar, it might be due to the game’s somewhat complex development cycle. Beginning its life as a zombie-themed survival-shooter in the same vein as Left 4 Dead, the game experienced several delays. The game’s popular mode King of the Kill would come to be repurposed as a standalone battle royale game. The original, once called H1Z1, is now called Just Survive and is an entirely different game from this. 

    Seeking to follow in the footsteps of PUBG and Fortnite, H1Z1 is finally available in Open Beta on the PS4. It’s been on Windows in Early Access for a few months now, but this marks its first console outing. It is slated to receive an Xbox port later this year. 

     

     Murderous Mayhem 

    The controls, which have been described as “sluggish” on PC, have received a bit of a face lift on PS4. Sporting tighter and more responsive controls, the game is as fun as ever with the DualShock 4 controller. This is great news for any concerned that the switch from mouse and keyboard would lead to a worse overall experience for players. The fast-paced action H1Z1 is known for remains intact on PS4. 

    The game sees groups of 100 players (or more) parachuting to a remote location to fight it out. Your choice of strategy will influence your odds of coming out on top: do you choose to find a big gun and go hunting for players? Or will you lay low with a long-range rifle? Or will you (like me) hide in a building with a shotgun and hope no one finds you? The answers to these questions will shape the ever-unfolding action! 

    How Does it Stack Up? 

    Compared to its main competitors, H1Z1 is a fine game. Featuring more realistic graphics like PUBG, but more arcade-style shooting like Fortnite, H1Z1 strikes a great balance. Central to the late-game section of the battle is the presence of numerous vehicles. Teams can often hop in a battle wagon and take off looking to ride down any stragglers, leading to intense, Mad Max-style showdowns. If you like fast-paced and frenetic action, as opposed to the more plodding style of PUBG, this game has you covered. 

    H1Z1 features a somewhat bare-bones crafting system. While you won’t be building any Fortnite-style bases, you can make bandages and other small supplies. These won’t be making any huge impact on the game, but they’re interesting for those inclined to building.  

    Will You Come Out on Top in H1Z1? 

    H1Z1 is available now on PS4 as an open beta. If you think you’ve got what it takes to come out on the top of the heap, go give it a shot! It’s completely free, so you’re a download away from getting into the action! 

  • Ten Things You Didn’t Know You Can Do With Your Chromecast!

    Ten Things You Didn’t Know You Can Do With Your Chromecast!

    Your Chromecast is pretty handy. In fact, it’s so handy, it’s probably got a ton of functionality you’re not even familiar with. How is this possible? Well, that’s Google for you: they cram every bit of functionality you can imagine into their products. Without any more delay, let’s dive in: what are the top ten coolest things your Chromecast can do that you don’t know about? 

    Remote Control 

    Photo Credit: The Good Guys 

    If your TV supports HDMI-CEC, you can use your phone to completely replace a TV remote! HDMI-CEC TVs can use a feature that allows them to match the input from their HDMI port. In short, with CEC online, when you start casting, your TV will automatically switch to it. No need to manually adjust the input! This one isn’t game-changing, but it’s a neat little quality of life feature! 

    Google Slides 

    Photo Credit: Gtricks 

    Need to give an impromptu presentation? Google Slides is great for putting presentations together on the fly. Even better, if you don’t have a thumb drive or some other transfer device, or just need to give the presentation from your phone, you can Cast your slideshow.   

    When you go to “Present,” just select “present on other screen.” Boom, like that, you’re a tech wizard and you’ve got a presentation on your big screen! 

    Daydreaming 

    Photo Credit: Amazon 

    Using a virtual reality headset makes you look pretty silly to onlookers. Since the people in the room with you can’t tell what exactly you’re seeing, you tend to just look like you’re flailing around. If you want to share your VR experience with your friends, though, you can cast from your Daydream View. This way everyone can see the obstacles you’re dodging through your Chromecast. (This works for Gear VR, too!)  

    Maybe this somewhat alleviates how silly you look with that VR headset on. 

    Use Your Home Sound System for your Music 

    Photo Credit: PCMag 

    If you have an awesome sound bar and really wish you could play your music through it, you can! Just get the Google Play Music app and cast to your Chromecast. If you pay $10 per month for a Play Music subscription you can even play Google’s streaming radio and vast library of artists.  

    LocalCast 

    Photo Credit: Shutterstock 

    Does your new smart TV have no audio out? This isn’t terribly uncommon. But what should you do when you want to watch something on your big screen but not disturb others in the house? Try LocalCast. LocalCast lets you send the image to your Chromecast but keep the audio on your smartphone.  

    This lets you get the picture quality of your TV but not wake up any sleeping housemates! A really handy functionality of your Chromecast, staying courteous is always a good thing! 

    CastPad 

    Photo Credit: Google Play Store 

    Available on Android devices, CastPad lets you draw in live time on your device and see it reflected on your TV through your Chromecast. The applications for this are pretty obvious at first glance, allowing for tons of fun with doodling. If you like Pictionary but don’t have any paper on hand, CastPad! If you want to have drawing contests with your friends, CastPad!  

    The possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Go ahead and invite some friends over and have fun drawing! 

    Watch Your Old DVDs 

    Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

    Well, sort of. This one is a bit of a workaround. Using the Disc to Digital service from Vudu, you can stream movies that you own the DVDs of. First you scan the UPC code on the DVD box, then you pay a small fee. It’s about $2 for a standard definition movie and $5 for an HD movie. Once you’ve paid, you can stream the movie to your Chromecast! 

    This one is great for people interested in de-cluttering their living room. Scanning your DVDs and then having a garage sale can help minimize the amount of physical clutter, which is great for minimalists and digital enthusiasts! 

    Link with Google Home 

    Photo Credit: Google Store 

    This one takes a little bit of setup. If you connect your smart device, Google Home Speaker and Chromecast all to the same wi-fi they can all sync up. Then you go through some quick settings menus and link all three of the devices to each other. Once you’re set up, you can use your Google Home voice commands to fire up things like Netflix.  

    It might sound like a bit of overly-complicated setup to get going, but once it’s all together it’s super handy! It’s great whether you prefer voice command to remote controls for convenience or just like minimizing coffee table clutter. It also can impress the socks off your house guests when you tell your TV what you want to see, and it happens! 

    Speaking of Guests… 

    Photo Credit: Flipkart 

    If you want your guests to have the option to use your Chromecast, but don’t want them to have to connect to your wi-fi, you might be a little flummoxed. Luckily, your Chromecast has a guest mode! While in guest mode, your Chromecast can receive casts from nearby devices without needing a wi-fi connection. 

    Our Favorite Off-the-Wall Chromecast Use: Heads-Up Display 

    Photo Credit: Google Play Store 

    If you’re looking to get all the information about the world that you need at a glance, you can check out Dashboard Cast. This super-handy functionality turns your TV into a heads-up display with customizable widgets. Want to see the weather, an RSS feed and the stock market? You got it. Want a clock, a news feed, a calendar and a traffic report? You got it.  

    This one is seriously awesome for its customization and functionality. You’ll feel like Captain Kirk on the bridge of the Enterprise getting status reports on all critical systems. Not to mention just how awesome it is to have all the info you need right at hand when you glance at your display. 

  • Companies to Watch in Artificial Intelligence

    Companies to Watch in Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence is the future of technology. Because of this, several companies are all vying for supremacy in the race to create the best AI, and the race is only heating up. In the next few years, we’re likely to see tremendous leaps in the functionality and intelligence of AI constructs. So, let’s take a quick look at companies to watch in the field of AI development. 

    Google 

    With their ever-advancing Google Assistant tech at the forefront of their brand, Google is prioritizing AI. For instance, take Google’s strong backing of their AI team. Google’s team at Google Brain are performing long-term AI research behind-the-scenes, pushing the envelope in new and exciting ways. The scientific community at large has a great deal of respect for scholarly articles from the team at Google Brain. This illustrates Google’s continued dedication to AI research and development going forward. 

    Facebook 

    Yes, that Facebook. The one where you look at funny cat videos and argue with your racist uncle. Facebook’s AI initiative, called FAIR, is comprised of almost all PhD-holding super-scientists, which is kind of impressive. Because of the nature of their employer, FAIR is primarily focused on language-based AI research. Namely, FAIR has released papers related to Turing Testing and question-answering algorithms primarily. This all makes sense, given Facebook’s primary function as a social media platform. So it will be interesting to see what they bring to the table. 

    Microsoft 

    The tech giant responsible for Windows wouldn’t have dared sit this race out. Ironically, Microsoft’s own Halo series of video games is where a large number of sci-fi enthusiasts of a certain age first encountered AI. Halo’s AI character Cortana even lent her name to Microsoft’s virtual assistant pre-loaded into Windows. However, younger researchers are not the norm at Microsoft’s AI Research department: it is comprised mostly of highly experienced faculty. This has led to them somewhat missing the boat on the deep learning initiatives found at most other AI research facilities. However, this doesn’t mean anyone should be counting Microsoft out yet! 

    Artificial Intelligence Company to Watch: Deepmind 

    Highly respected and for good reason, Deepmind is the preeminent name in AI research at the moment. Largely staffed by Cambridge and Oxford grads, the London-based company maintains a close relationship with the popular tech community. The company’s public image has benefited greatly from their young, vital staff and excellent community-engagement. Papers released by Deepmind are tremendously popular on social sites like Reddit in the sub-communities that follow popular science. For dry, scientific content, this is high praise. Whatever the future of AI, Deepmind is sure to be at the forefront

  • Restaurant Review App Roundup: Let’s Eat!

    Restaurant Review App Roundup: Let’s Eat!

    Are you looking for a great new place to grab a bite? Look no further than a good restaurant review app! Which review app is the best to use though? We’re getting meta, today, and reviewing the reviewers! 

    Zagat 

    The well-respected Zagat name is also attached to a fine restaurant review app. This app is pretty no-nonsense, getting right into the reviews in a way that is almost too abrupt. However, if you just want the highlights and don’t have time to go in much deeper, this app is great. Zagat has separate scores for décor, service and food, allowing you to see the different aspects of reviewed restaurants. 

    Uniquely, Zagat sports a selection of professionally-reviewed and expertly recommended restaurants. If you want to spend less time browsing and more time fine dining, look no further than Zagat. 

    Urbanspoon 

    Urbanspoon is a slick, stylish and polished app. Made with urban explorers in mind, it lets you browse restaurants by a number of criteria. You can compare restaurants by popularity, cuisine, overall rating and more! If you’re in a new city and looking for something to eat, this is a good app for you. 

    Urbanspoon even has some practical functionality. You can make reservations from the app, saving time when you’re getting ready to go get dinner! 

    Foursquare 

    Featuring some really cool social functions, Foursquare is a popular app for circles of friends. Foursquare allows you to share your favorite places with your friends, and you can see your friends’ recommendations too! Your friends can suggest menu items at their favorite restaurants and you can tell the app which friends’ tastes you trust.  

    Foursquare also lets you tailor your own results by telling it what kinds of things you like. This helps you exert tighter control over search results and make sure you can find great new places that you like. Foursquare is a great pick if you like to see what your friends are eating! 

    Our Favorite Restaurant Review App: Yelp 

    While Yelp has grown to encompass much more than just restaurant reviews, it’s still the best app for searching for new places to eat. With tons and tons of reviews submitted by users and professionals alike, it’s hard to go wrong with Yelp. Easy to use and full of tons of great search functionality, we can’t recommend this one enough. 

    Notable features for Yelp include the option to search for local deals, find great little hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and tons of pictures of every restaurant reviewed. You always know what you’re getting into with a new place when you check it out on Yelp first! 

  • Need a Ride? Check out Our Favorite Ride Sharing App List

    Need a Ride? Check out Our Favorite Ride Sharing App List

    If you’re looking to hitch a ride, there’s no shortage of great ride sharing apps for you to try out. Which one is the best, though? Well, that’s subjective. But we can certainly tell you which one is our favorite! 

    Juno 

    Juno is a ride sharing app that focuses, first and foremost, on paying its drivers well. The idea is that better paid drivers will deliver a better experience for the end users of the app. This is pretty sound logic, all considered! However, Juno is still in a soft-launch window, so it’s hard to say how this will play on a large scale.  

    That being said, the app is clear and concise, cutting straight to the important stuff. The app has options for normal rides and an SUV option for when you and a bunch of pals need a ride. The app is pretty good about estimating the fare and giving ETAs, which are common but appreciated features. Keep an eye out for this ride sharing app when it goes into a full release! 

    Lyft 

    Lyft is the second-largest ride sharing app in the US, which is unsurprising. Featuring pricing comparable to Uber, Lyft is often used by people looking to compare and try to find the best rates for rides. Many drivers actually do the same thing, but in reverse, driving for both services and seeking fares that pay the most from each.  

    Lyft offers the standard ride sharing app features of normal-sized rides or “Lyft Plus” for large groups. The Lyft Line service is also available for those looking to keep the price of their fare down. It accomplishes this by having multiple users share one ride, somewhat like a city bus. This is great for keeping the price down during busy times of day! Speaking of, unlike Uber, Lyft caps its demand-based price escalation at 400 percent. Which is still a lot. But it’s good to know there is a cap, unlike Uber’s service. 

    Our Favorite Ride Sharing App: Uber 

    You may have seen this one coming, but we really like the original. Uber has gotten as big as it is for good reason: it’s a really great app! Pioneering all the ride sharing app features we’ve come to expect, Uber has had time to really hone its service. The end-user experience is really just top-notch.  

    Options for choosing what kind of car you want to ride in (sedan, SUV, luxury car) are present, as you would expect. Additionally, like Lyft, you can call an UberPOOL ride, allowing you to split the fare with strangers to keep the price down. The coolest thing that Uber offers that competitors don’t is UberASSIST, a specialized service for mobility-impaired people. ASSIST drivers are trained to help wheelchair users, and their vehicles are equipped to accomadate them as well! 

    There you have it, our favorite ride sharing apps. Next time you need to catch a ride, keep these apps in mind!  

  • Senate Passes Bill Overturning FCC Repeal of Net Neutrality

    Senate Passes Bill Overturning FCC Repeal of Net Neutrality

    In a surprising, but welcome, turn of events, the FCC has been dealt a blow in the battle for net neutrality. The Senate passed a bill that would preserve Obama-era neutrality rules, preventing FCC chair Ajit Pai’s personal crusade to crush net neutrality. For the uninitiated, net neutrality encompasses a series of protections for internet traffic. Namely, monetization of priority websites and equal footing for all content are controlled by net neutrality legislation. Ajit Pai primarily represents the interests of companies like his former employer Verizon. Huge telecom companies like Verizon and Charter stand to gain quite a bit of money from the repeal of net neutrality rules.  

    What’s Next for Net Neutrality? 

    This isn’t even close to the end of this fight, unfortunately. As it stands, Pai’s disastrous repeal is still on track to take effect on June 11th. That’s not a lot of time for the bill to be brought to a vote in the House, and even it is brought there, it still has to get past the Republican majority there. 

    So You’re Saying There’s a Chance? 

    There is, technically, a chance. Pai himself, and the FCC, seem convinced that the bill will die in the House, thus allowing Net Neutrality to finally be repealed. This would be a bad thing. Thankfully, there is a solid chance that some Republicans in the house are conscientious of how disastrous voting in favor of a neutrality repeal would be for their chances of reelection. This contingent of Republican legislators could lead to the bill passing the House, too.  

    Then This is Over, Right? 

    Not quite. After the House, it goes to the desk of the President of the United States. Which is troubling, to say the least. Trump isn’t exactly a predictable guy, and Pai was his pick for FCC chair. The odds seem good that if this bill gets to him, he’ll simply kill it there. But we can hope. For right now, net neutrality is still a possibility for the future. But the future is looking grim. 

  • Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    Microsoft’s New Adaptive Controller Makes Xbox Gaming More Accessible Than Ever

    For many gamers, the controller isn’t a portal into another world, but is a hindrance keeping them from enjoying the game. Microsoft seeks to alleviate that problem with their new adaptive controller. Retailing for $100, the adaptive controller looks pretty simple at a glance. The front face sports two big buttons and a directional pad. There are a few menu buttons, and some USB ports. It looks incomplete. And that’s purposeful, because it kind of is incomplete before its end-user gets their hands on it.  

    Accessibility Through Adaptivity 

    On the side of the controller are a series of 3.5mm jacks, each wired to be an Xbox controller button. This might seem very odd to some readers. Why 3.5mm jacks? What is this? The Adaptive Controller is an officially sanctioned version of something many gamers have been using for some time now. Accessibility rigs like this one have been the norm for years for limited mobility gamers, using 3.5mm jacks to customize their experience. Binary, on-off buttons are commonly plugged into the jacks to act as different controller inputs. Some of the jacks even support standard-style josticks. The adaptive controller also sports two side USB ports.  

    One Size Does Not Fit All 

    By releasing an eminently-customizable controller and making no assumptions about the end-user, Microsoft has made something truly special. Officially recognizing the existence and unique struggles of mobility-limited gamers is refreshing. Many hospitals and non-profits have been helping gamers with rigs like this for some time. Seeing it officially condoned and supported by Microsoft is truly exciting for the future of accessibility in gaming.  The unassuming adaptive controller will certainly be a boon to those gamers who want to enjoy their experience without a standard controller holding them back. 

    Adaptive Controller Affordability 

    By making this type of controller widely available for this price, Microsoft changes the game for limited-mobility gamers. Custom-built rigs like this are often prohibitively expensive. Broadened Horizons, a hardware maker, is somewhat similar to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, but has no large face buttons out of the box. It actually requires several add-ons to match the XAC’s functionality. Microsoft has certainly changed the face of this type of technology. The XAC will be compatible out of the box with all Xbox One systems, and a tiny bit of set-up gets it rolling on most Windows PCs. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come, and more accessibility options will be opened up because of this first step. 

  • Wearable Tech: Which Tech Items are Must-Haves?

    Wearable Tech: Which Tech Items are Must-Haves?

    The hot new trend of wearable tech has gotten a ton of traction lately. Apple Watch, FitBit and countless others have made wearables hot-ticket items. They’re stylish, functional and cool all at once. Which ones are our favorites? Which ones are must-haves? Check out our roundup of the coolest wearable tech out right now! 

    Rocket Skates 

    Oh yes, these are real. Sort of like a combination of Heelies and an electric scooter, these sci-fi action-hero shoes can propel you at up to 12 mph. That’s super impressive for being shoes with wheels. These cool shoes also come with a phone app to track your route, mileage and battery.  

    These aren’t easy to use, to be sure, but if you’re looking to turn heads and jet around on freaking rocket skates, these are awesome. Just be careful not to crash into any walls or anything. 

    Lenovo Vibe Band 

    At least one smart watch had to make the list! The Lenovo Vibe Band is a stylish little device. Sporting a unique e-ink display, the Vibe looks great in direct sunlight and has a discreet display. It functions as a fitness and sleep tracker and does it all with 7 days of battery life.  

    Even better, the Vibe Band is priced under $100, giving you a ton of features without having to pay Apple Watch or Android Wear prices.  

    Bio Sport Smart Ear Buds 

    These ear buds double as biometric sensors and fitness trackers. Pretty neat, huh? They have great sound quality thrown in, too, which is always a plus for working out! These neat little ear buds can be tossed in a bag and stored easily, and they appear very discreet when in-ear. If you want a fitness tracker but don’t like wrist-mounted devices that get in the way or draw attention to themselves, then the Bio Sport Smarts are for you! 

    The Coolest Wearble Tech Device: Nixie 

    This incredibly cool little drone wraps around your wrist like a watch when not in use. When you command it, however, it unfolds and takes off. It can then snap pictures, usually selfies, before swooping back down to your wrist. It looks like something Tony Stark would have and it is amazing.  

    While it might not be the most useful wearable in the world, it tops this list for just being so cool. It’s just incredibly impressive to see it unfold, take off, and do its thing before landing back where it started. This one is still in development, so it won’t be available just yet. Hopefully it’ll get a full release soon! 

  • OnePlus 6 Coming May 22nd: What’s New?

    OnePlus 6 Coming May 22nd: What’s New?

    China-based smartphone maker OnePlus launches its newest flagship, the OnePlus 6, on May 22nd. The hotly-anticipated phone will be able to participate in the Android P OS beta and sports a host of new features.  

    Phone Notch, For Better or Worse 

    Love it or hate it, the phone notch is here to stay. The OnePlus 6 features an iPhone X-like notch at the top of its edge-to-edge display. This odd aesthetic feature houses some necessary hardware. Namely, the front-facing selfie camera and the speaker for actually taking, y’know, phone calls. Interestingly, much like other Android phones that sport the notch, there is an option in the software setting to hide it. The screen to either side of the notch darken, making the phone appear to have a more traditional screen. 

    Overall Design 

    The OnePlus 6 has a back made of Gorilla Glass 5, meaning it should be pretty sturdy. It’s also somewhat water resistant, although OnePlus urges you don’t toss it in the pool. It should be able to survive a bit of rain or maybe being dropped in the dishwater, but any real prolonged submersion wouldn’t be good for it. On the camera side, it has an interesting dual-camera setup on the back, allowing for tons of neat features. Namely, image stabilization and blurred-background portrait photos. 

    One Plus 6: Great for Gaming 

    The OnePlus 6 is awesome for playing games on the go. With options to mute incoming notifications while gaming, and de-prioritize background apps, the phone was made with gaming in mind. Anyone who’s been interrupted in the middle of a game of PU:BG by an untimely phone call knows how awesome it is to mute incoming notifications. Additionally, you can display the games in low or high resolution and disabled auto-brightness while gaming, so you can save battery life.