Tech
Does TikTok Have More ‘Dreams’ Up Its Sleeves?
Serendipity and all of these efforts made “Dreams” the first catalog hit revived by TikTok, which over the past year-and-a-half has consistently broken new songs, such as recent Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers “Mood” by 24kGoldn (featuring iann dior) and “Savage Love (Laxed — Siren Beat)” by Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo. The 1977 single, which also topped the Hot 100 over 40 years ago, has now been used in nearly a half-million TikTok videos, and on-demand audio streams on Spotify and other services have almost quadrupled (while Fleetwood Mac’s overall catalog of streams doubled). Warner may have made over $250,000 in incremental revenue on “Dreams” — plus another $250,000 on the increased popularity of the rest of the...
HHW Gaming: The COVID-19 Pandemic Forces Sega To Sell Its Arcade Business
Source: Pola Damonte via Getty Images / Getty It should come as no surprise the arcade gaming industry has taken a hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the biggest names in the arcade game business, Sega, is officially taking its quarters and going home. Eurogamer is reporting that Sega Sammy Holdings Inc, the parent company of Sega Entertainment, has felt the sting of COVID-19, like many other companies that rely on human foot traffic. In a statement, the company revealed it has sold 85.1 percent of its Japanese arcade business to the amusement machine company Genda. Per Sega: “As Amusement Center Operations area in Entertainment Contents Business is strongly affected by COVID-19, utilization of facilities has declined remarkably, and a significant loss was recorded at 1Q of the fisca...
HHW Gaming Review: Microsoft Is Closing The Gap Between PC & Console Gaming With The Xbox Series X
Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz It’s almost time to level-up (pun intended) to the next level of gaming, and Microsoft will be the first company to release its next-gen consoles, the Xbox Series S|X. I got the opportunity to play with the Series X ahead of its launch, and now it’s time to share my experience with the console. I must admit, I do a lot of my gaming on PS4, and I rarely gave my Xbox One S any attention, so it was like being in a foreign land for me once I powered up the Xbox Series X.BUT, once I pressed the power button, it didn’t take long for me to realize what kind of gaming experience that Micorosft is offering gamers who choose to game on consoles. The company is a mission bridging the gap between PC and console gaming. [embedded content] Design and Hardware Sour...
HHW Gaming: Sony Says Don’t Bother Going To Stores To Cop A PS5 On Launch Date
Source: Sony / PlayStation We are literally just days away from the launch of both PS5 and Xbox Series X. The thirst is still real for a PlayStation 5 following pre-order jig, and if you plan on hitting a physical store in hopes of getting a console, Sony has some news for you. In a blog post, Sony told gamers to stay home on the PS5’s launch date, November 12 (November 19, depending on what region you live in), because there will be no consoles being sold in-store. The company explains that its decision to keep sales strictly online only keeps gamers, retailers, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per Sony: “Hi, all – the launch of the PlayStation 5 console on November 12 (or November 19, depending on your region) is almost upon us! In the interest of keeping our gamers, retailer...
HHW Gaming: Mileena Takes A Bite Out The Competition In ‘Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’ Gameplay Trailer
Source: WB Games / NetherRealm Studios Finally, we get to see Mileena in action, and her trailer doesn’t disappoint at all. Since Mortal Komat 11’s initial launch in March 2019, fans have been screaming at Ed Boon to bring back Mileena. Boon waited for the perfect moment to bring back the product of Shang Tsung’s diabolical cloning experiments, which is the arrival of next-gen consoles, the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Wednesday (Nov.4), our favorite hot girl, Megan Thee Stallion, brought Mileena to life in an MK 11 Ultimate sponsored social media post, pretty much hinting that Mileena’s gameplay trailer was on the way. As expected, Mileena’s fatal combination of speed, acrobatic prowess, and raw savagery complemented by her signature sai and sharp claws are on full display. Mileena’s sign...
HHW Gaming: ‘NBA 2K21’ Next-Gen Ditches The Neighborhood For The City
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K21 The Visual Concepts team wasn’t kidding when they said NBA 2K21 nextgen is a completely new experience built from the ground up. Thanks to series of Courtside Reports, we have been methodically learning what to expect from NBA 2K21 next-gen. We learned about the innovations coming to player animation, collision, AI behavior, how the PS5’s new DualSense controller will work with the game, and so much more. We also got to see the game in action, showing off the new rail cam presentation, graphics and introducing the new color commentary team. It was recently revealed that NBA 2K21 will now allow players to create their own fully customizable WNBA player and experience a WNBA career on and off the court in the newThe W, The W Online, and MyWNBA modes. ...
Real Cosplay Sh*t: Megan Thee Stallion Teams Up ‘Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate’ To Celebrate Mileena’s Return
Source: Megan Thee Stallion / Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate If you didn’t know, Mileena is back, and WB Games and NetherRealm Studios teamed up with Megan Thee Stallion to celebrate the occasion. Megan Thee Stallion’s love for all things nerdy is no secret, so it should come as no surprise that she was down for this idea. The leader of the Hot Girls and anime fan dropped a video on her Instagram account, and in it, she is getting her cosplay on, dressed up as the deadly half Tarkatan blood and Edenian clone of Princess Kitana. While cheeked out, Megan is rocking Mileena’s drip and while holding her signature deadly twin sais. Megan even has the Mileena’s frightening Tarkatan grill. Mileena was announced alongside other Kombat Pack 2 DLC characters Rain and Rambo back in October. They...
CloutPods: Apple To Drop Updated Entry-Level AirPods & 2nd-Gen AirPods Pro: Report
Source: Apple / AirPods Apple’s new iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro is already in the hands of customers, and reportedly some new AirPods are on the way as well. Bloomberg reports that the company that Job’s built is working on an updated version of the entry-level AirPods and a second-generation version of the AirPods Pro with hopes of releasing them next year. According to the report, the new AirPods will be similar to the current AirPods Pro due to a smaller stem and replaceable ear tips. But that’s where the similarities stop because it will not have the noise-canceling feature, which will help Apple sell them at a lower price. The second-generation AirPods Pro will be more compact than ever, according to sources. Bloomberg states that the new AirPods Pro will be stemless, and the design w...
HHW Gaming Review: ‘Watch Dogs: Legion’ Continues To Take The Franchise In A Positive Direction
Source: Ubisoft / Watch Dogs: Legion With the Watch Dogs franchise, Ubisoft has a unique situation on its hands. The first game didn’t quite live up to expectations, while the follow-up was vastly better. Could the studio keep the success going with Watch Dogs: Legion? Before I answer that burning question, let’s just set the scene for the third game in Watch Dog’s growing franchise. When you hit, start you find yourself in near-future London. The famed hacktivist group, Dedsec, has been outlawed after being framed for a terrible terrorist attack by an unknown enemy that rocks the home of Big Ben. As a direct result, London turns to a private military group called Albion to snuff out Dedsec. Source: Ubisoft / Watch Dogs: Legion With the arrival of the evil mercenary group, London is now tu...
Netflix Raises Price of Its Most Popular Plan To $14, Premium Tier Now $18
Source: SOPA Images / Getty Netflix & chilling and binging just got a tad bit more expensive after the streaming service just raised the price of its most popular plan. Thursday (Oct.29), Netflix announced the price hikes for US subscribers bumping the price of its standard plan from $13 to $14, a $1 increase. Those who enjoy the premium tier also saw an increase, with their monthly subscriptions jumping from $16 to $18. If you happen to enjoy using Netflix’s basic plan, your fee remains $8, so you can breathe a sigh of relief. New subscribers will be the first to experience the new pricing while current customer’s subscriptions will be adjusted over the next few weeks. Netflix’s decision comes as no surprise to industry insiders, being that there are so many more options for customers...
YouTube Reports Revenue Up 32%, Paid Music & Premium Subscribers Top 30M
CFO Ruth Porat acknowledged the increase in advertiser spend for Alphabet’s Search and YouTube groups in a statement. Alphabet does not break out YouTube’s non-advertising revenue, which comes from subscriptions and other entertainment transactions, like movie rentals. Those revenues are reported as part of the “Google other revenues” line item, which contributed $5.5 billion during the period. Alphabet began disclosing YouTube revenue in February of this year when it announced that the world’s largest ad-supported video platform had brought in $15 billion in advertising in 2019. The company also shared updated subscriber figures for its music and premium services, now topping 30 million paying customers and 35 including those on free trials. A version of this...
HHW Gaming: ‘Minecraft’ Will Be Getting Into “Good Trouble” With Free Lesson Featuring Late Rep. John Lewis
Source: Mojang Studios / Minecraft Live Video games aren’t just tools that entertain. They can also be used to educate. Minecraft is using the recently announced Minecraft: Education Edition lesson to honor and educate students about the late John Lewis. Wednesday (oct.28), Mojang Studios revealed that the first lesson in Minecraft’s “Good Trouble: Social Justice Movements Around the World” learning series called “John Lewis and Social Movements Around the World” will be released on November 5. The free content which will be available via both the in-game Minecraft Marketplace and Minecraft: Education Edition “is designed to help educators explore crucial topics and ideas about social justice and fair and equitable participation in society ...
