Finally! A worthy YouTube update!
It’s been a minute since we had the opportunity to praise YouTube. That might have less to do with our burgeoning cynicism than Google’s decisions, but alas. That’s changing today after the platform announced it would be making key how-to videos more accessible, specifically in the realm of first-aid and emergency care advice.
It’s doing so by partnering up with various health organisations globally and making it “even easier to find step-by-step explainer videos for basic first-aid and emergency care made by authoritative health organizations.” For example, when searching up something like “how to perform CPR”, YouTube’s recommendations will pop up first, alleviating any need to sift through the platform’s less-than-helpful content in a potentially time-sensitive situation.
YouTube’s ‘first-aid information shelves’ involve several topics, namely: CPR, Heimlich, Bleeding, Heart attack, Stroke, Seuizure and Opioid overdose. Thanks to partnerships between YouTube, Mass General Brigham, and the Mexican Red Cross, these shelves are currently available for users in English and Spanish in the US as of today.
It didn’t mention an expansion, though we’re guessing it won’t be long before the project expands to more territories and languages.
DualSense V2 might be real (and it probably is)
It’s no secret that PlayStation’s controllers are some of the best in the game. We’re of course referring to the DualSense controller that launched alongside the PlayStation 5 back in 2020, which has since become a major player among the PC Master Race. It just had one problem: an exceptionally short battery life.
If the “leaked” listing of a ‘DualSense V2’ that appeared on Best Buy Canada (via r/GamingLeaksandRumours) overnight is correct, PlayStation is finally fixing that. Rather than the six or so hours the current DualSense offers the new model would double that figure, raising it to a twelve-hour battery life. That’s… rad. As is the listing’s mention of a DualSense Charging Station included with the new controller.
Still, it’d be a good idea to temper those expectations. Neither Sony nor PlayStation has confirmed the V2’s existence. There’s a chance it’ll stay that way for a minute, with the controller’s release possibly tying into the release of the long-rumoured PS5 Pro that could be hitting shelves closer to the end of 2025. Or we’ll get lucky and see the controller announced at the next State of Play. Either way, we’ll be queuing up for one.
DStv secures AFCON broadcaster rights
After what’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a week for African football fans, DStv has some good news. In the late hours of Wednesday, MultiChoice — DStv’s owners — confirmed that SuperSport would indeed be broadcasting all 52 matches of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) live. You know, a week after the broadcaster said it had failed to nail down the rights for the African tournament. Oh, how the turn tables.
SABC, too, confirmed that AFCON would get airtime on SABC 1, SABC 3, SABC Sport, and through its multitude of radio stations.
MultiChoice was able to strike a deal with the tournament’s broadcast rights holder — New World TV (NWTV) — in the nick of time, just two days before the first match kicks off on Saturday, 13 January, before coming to a close on 11 February 2024. “We are delighted to be able to showcase the best of African football live to our viewers,” said SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha.
“By securing the rights to CAN 2023 under the leadership of Dr Patrice Motsepe, SuperSport and NWTV prove that nothing is more important than the happiness of Africans who wish to follow the exploits of their favourite team during the biggest football competition in Africa,” said Nimonka Kolani, NWTV’s managing director.
PlayStation’s going Extra
It’s that time of the month already. Time for Sony to unveil the next slate of games hitting PS Plus Extra and Deluxe (also known as Premium everywhere else) on 16 January 2024 — both of which already include more than 400 titles in the service’s catalogue of “free to play” games.
The highlight of the month is easily Resident Evil 2, Capcom’s 2019 remake of the 1998 title, though Lego City Undercover is another standout. It’s joined by the Borderlands spin-off, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands – Next Level Edition which was released back in 2022, and one of our favourite series ever — Just Cause. The third one, specifically.
Finally, we’ve got those titles that Sony’s thrown in as filler content. First up is Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong, then Surviving the Aftermath, Session: Skate Sim, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, and Hardspace: Shipbreaker (only available on the PS5).
That’s it for the service’s Extra titles, which can be accessed at any time with an Extra or Deluxe subscription from 16 January. As for the titles hitting the Deluxe corner’ of the service are a couple of Classics. Personally, we’re keen to dive into Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection, but could do without the other additions; Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace, Rally Cross, Legend of Mana, and Secret of Mana.