Tech
The PlayStation 6 could ditch the built-in disc drive
The next generation of PlayStation consoles might not appeal to people who enjoy building physical game collections.
A hardware leaker known as KeplerL2 posted in the NeoGAF forums this week (via WCCF Tech), claiming that the still-unconfirmed PlayStation 6 will not have a disc drive built in.
In a reply to another user's inquiry, KeplerL2 also said the base PS6 would come with just 1TB of storage space on its internal SSD. For reference, that's exactly the same as most PS5 models. Typically, specs like that only get better over time, but it seems like Sony might make a lateral move at best for storage capacity this time around.
That's almost certainly because of the AI-driven global RAM shortage, which was recently rumored to potentially cause the PS6 to miss its intended late 2027 launch date. All things being equal, Sony might be inclined to put a 2TB drive in each base PS5, but that might not be feasible right now.
As for the lack of a disc drive, that's going to ruffle feathers for a multitude of reasons.
Yes, the PS5 has had a no-disc-drive variant since its launch in 2020, but Sony also sells a standalone attachable disc drive unit in case users want one. Obviously, Sony could do the same with the PS6, but we don't know that yet. And while a large majority of video game sales happen in digital marketplaces as opposed to physical retail stores, plenty of people still like to own their games, whether it's out of concern for digital storefronts eventually shutting down, or just to build a nice collection of physical media. And, of course, sometimes you get good discounts on used games.
Needless to say, if this is true, it will be controversial.
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Have your Instagram posts been turning black and white without your consent? You're not alone.
According to Engadget, some users on Facebook and presumably elsewhere (though I wasn't able to find a lot of complaints on X) have complained that photos uploaded to the Instagram app in color were being automatically and unintentionally turned black and white at some point in the uploading process.
It was enough of a problem that Instagram confirmed its existence to Engadget, explained what the problem was, and claimed it had already been fixed.
"Earlier today, a technical issue caused some HDR photos to appear incorrectly as black-and-white for a subset of accounts,” Instagram told Engadget, before saying the problem was already being fixed.
According to the Instagram spokesperson, anyone still experiencing the problem should simply wait a few hours for the photos to automatically go back to their original, intended state.
In the meantime, if you want to avoid anything like this happening in the future, there's a way to turn off HDR photos on an iPhone. By default, your iPhone will turn on HDR automatically when it's called for, but if you go to Settings, then Camera, then turn off Auto HDR, you can avoid any HDR-related mishaps going forward.
Tech
The Sony XM6 earbuds are the best audio product Ive tested this year — and theyre back at their lowest price ever
Save $31.99: Take 10% off the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds at Amazon as of April 20. This brings them down to $298, instead of their list price of $329.99.
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As a headphones reviewer, I get plenty experience testing out the latest and greatest audio has to offer. As a budget-buys lover, I don't always see the point of increasingly high price points.
Then, I tried the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds. At $329.99, these earbuds aren't cheap, sitting at an even higher price than Bose's flagship earbuds and the Technics EAH-AZ1000, another Mashable favorite. However, as of April 20, the Sony buds are down to a slightly better $298, marking a return to their lowest price ever.
Don't get me wrong — I get that $300 isn't exactly chump change. That said, I consider these earbuds an investment for anyone who wants the absolute best blend of sound, comfort, and noise cancellation. To be clear, I still think the Bose QC Ultra 2 buds lead the category on the comfort scale, but between the best noise cancellation and sound I've tried on a pair of earbuds, I get why these are priced the way they are.
As these are Sony buds, the companion app also offers great customization, with a 10-band equalizer for finding the sound that's just right. At eight hours per charge, their battery life is also competitive with other noise-cancelling favorites of Mashable's, like the Apple AirPods Pro 3.
I loved the XM6 earbuds when I first reviewed them earlier this year, and I continue to love them months later. Unless the audio space throws a real curveball, I imagine these will be one of the best releases of the year.
SAVE 20%: As of April 20, you can get the Sony QD-OLED 77-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV for $3,999.99, down from $4,999.99. That's a 20% discount or $1,000 savings.
Hooking up a PlayStation 5 to a mediocre screen is a quick way to ruin the graphics you paid for. If you want your games to look the way they were intended, you need a TV that can keep up with the console.
Right now, you can get the Sony QD-OLED 77-inch BRAVIA XR A95L Series 4K Ultra HD TV for $3,999.99 at Amazon, down from $4,999.99. That's a 20% discount, or $1,000 in savings.
Since Sony makes both the console and the TV, you'll get exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping that optimize the picture quality while you play. It has HDMI 2.1 for 4K gaming at 120Hz, so you don't have to deal with lag, and there's a dedicated Game Menu to adjust your settings on the fly. When you put the controller down, the QD-OLED screen gives you pure blacks and bright colors for movie night, with Google TV built in so you have all your streaming apps in one place.
Dive into the Magic: The Gathering Secrets of Strixhaven expansion with this discounted booster box
Why Instagram was turning some users photos black and white
The Sony XM6 earbuds are the best audio product Ive tested this year — and theyre back at their lowest price ever
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