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Syeda Laiba Alam

At Tech4Gamers, I streamline helpful guides from my personal experience, ensuring swift resolutions for your PC or gaming console. My expertise extends to crafting beginner-friendly How-To Guides for everyday tech devices. Let’s get you back to gaming without delays!

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At present, it is possible to view and interact with digital elements in our physical world. Be it through Augmented Reality or VR simulations, we have given space to newer technologies in our everyday environments.

What Is Phygital Convergence?

With the rapid advancements in technology and the growing number of digital devices, we have entered a new era shaped by the convergence of the physical and digital worlds. This is known as Phygital Convergence (Mele et al., 2023).

Technologies like Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and holographics blur the boundaries between the physical and digital realms. These innovations create immersive experiences that redefine how we live and interact with our environment. The Metaverse is a prime example of how quickly we embrace and adapt to phygital concepts.

How It Benefits Our Lives

Integrating digital elements into our physical space has made life easier in many direct and indirect ways. For instance, AR technology allows us to visualize how furniture, cars, and other items will look and fit in our surroundings. Hence, it helps us estimate the measurements to plan house renovations more accurately.

In addition, phygital has tons of benefits in professional learning. Phygital tools can visualize surgery simulation, organ structure, and surgical procedures. Doctors can practice difficult surgeries in the VR environment before performing them on a real patient to reduce the chances of error. Similarly, pilots can understand the intricacies of aviation using interactive flight simulations to test their skills under different situations. 

Smart homes are another excellent example of how phygital convergence has made our lives more convenient. It allows us to seamlessly control our smart devices, like refrigerators, air conditioners, music systems, and TVs, with our voice or remotely using mobile apps. Smart home technology also allows us to save energy and related costs (Wilson et al., 2017).

When setting up new stores, owners can visualize how the space will look once the products are added. With phygital tools, they can evaluate the correct placement of products and shelves to enhance customer experience and improve the overall look of the space. Mishra et al. (2021) found that retailers who rely on phygital platforms build better customer relationships, resulting in greater customer satisfaction.

Holographic technology can be used in educational settings to enhance the conceptual learning. For instance, instructors can display a 3D structure of molecules to strengthen the understanding.

Risks Attached To Phygital

The era of phygital is already here. However, it is important to consider the privacy and confidentiality risks of large-scale phygital implementation.

Like everything online, phygital is associated with risks to data and privacy. It feeds on your data to bring you information from the digital world. Phygital devices collect data about user behavior, patterns, and online usage to provide more relevant results.

Fingerprints, facial recognition, verbal interactions, visited locations, and smartphone activity are tracked and stored digitally to personalize our phygital experience.

With so much of our personal information already present online, fraud and hacking attempts are becoming more common. Multilayer encryption systems, up-to-date software, strong firewalls, and regular security checkups can be effective in safeguarding user experience in the phygital world.

A Road Toward Safer Phygital Spaces

To build a more secure phygital environment, regulatory authorities, like cybercrime units, must strictly monitor data transfer over the internet. Companies responsible for data leaks should face heavy fines, so they allocate enough resources to prevent such mishaps in the future.

Moreover, consumers and citizens should be aware of the privacy and security concerns attached to providing their data online. Phygital convergence brings benefits in multiple ways, but we need to draw a line to prevent the mishandling of our data.

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Sajjad Hussain

As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.

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Seeing the success of GTA 5 developers after nearly a decade are moving on to GTA 6. The game was said to be released in 2024 but later got delayed to 2025 as seen in the latest trailer.

As seen in the past rockstar games have consistently pushed the boundaries of open-world gaming. There are many leaks, rumors, and speculations floating around the game, including it being set in two different periods. Let’s dive into the features I am most excited about in GTA 6 and am sure you will enjoy when the game is released.

Expanded, Diverse Map and Leaks On Vice City’s Return

One of the most anticipated features of GTA 6 is the rumored extended map. According to the information I gathered, the map of GTA 6 will build over time. What this means is that the map will not stay the same over the life of the game.

New cities and areas will be added now and then to keep things interesting. Players tired of Los Santos will be able to explore more areas and thus will enjoy more. 

It has also been rumored that Vice City will also be included in the game. Gamers and fans including myself are especially excited about this. It has been quite a while since the first screenshot of GTA 6 was released. Since then, many rumors have gathered regarding the return of Vice City and gameplay clips have also been leaked. 

Expanded Online Multiplayer Experience

In the past, GTA Online has been a major success, and Rockstar Games is expected to build upon this success in GTA 6. There will be an extended online multiplayer mode with new activities, missions, and events.

This will create endless entertainment and is one of the biggest GTA 6 features that I am excited about apart from the map. The inclusion of this feature will undoubtedly engage players with the game.

Main Characters

The first time we saw the concept of multiple protagonists in a GTA game was in GTA 5. The game had three main characters Micheal De Santa, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips.

The new installment, however, will not see three main playable characters. GTA 6 features two main characters as far as recent reports suggest. The story revolves around a female character Lucia and a male character Jason.

The game will also see the first female protagonist in the series. As in GTA 5, the new installment will also allow to shuffle between the main characters. 

Enhanced Graphics and Realism

Rockstar games have always been at the forefront of graphical innovation in gaming. By seeing leaks and trailers it is obvious that GTA 6 graphics will look very lifelike. The reports and leaks also suggest that the game might be locked at 30FPS and will make use of photorealism.

Using new technology it is quite obvious that GTA 6 will see amazing breathtaking visuals. Everything from the weather patterns, day and night patterns, and characters will be extremely life-like to create player immersion.

Dynamic NPC Behavior

In the previous GTA games, NPCs added a layer of realism and unpredictability to the world. GTA 6 is rumored to take this a step further with more responsive and dynamic NPCs. 

It is highly likely that by using advanced AI technology the game will become much more immersive and life-like. I mean imagine witnessing a street fight, protest, accident, or a collective celebration in the game, and it’s all a possibility.

Innovative Heist Missions

Heist missions were a standout feature in GTA 5 and one that many players enjoyed. Different operations that require careful planning and execution will make things all the more interesting. GTA 6 is expected to introduce even more complex and hard missions possibly involving multiple cities and more objectives that will hook players.

Last Thoughts

There is no doubt in my mind that GTA 6 will be one of the best open-world games out there after it finally releases. With many rumors at the moment, it’s hard to say what fact and what’s not, nonetheless, the game looks good enough in the trailer utilizing Unreal Engine 5. I for one am very excited to see what becomes of the game and at this point, all we can do is wait to see what features we get.

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Syeda Laiba Alam

At Tech4Gamers, I streamline helpful guides from my personal experience, ensuring swift resolutions for your PC or gaming console. My expertise extends to crafting beginner-friendly How-To Guides for everyday tech devices. Let’s get you back to gaming without delays!

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Shortly after its release, I discussed how GPT-4o is gonna change the AI landscape big time. So, I thought to put its abilities to test by prompting it to review my academic research paper based on a particular structure.

The Prompt

Being a student of Psychology, writing research papers is something I cannot escape. Every semester, we have to write multiple research papers for our courses. While I cannot use AI to write my research papers for me, that would be super unethical and my professor will probably grade me an F on it, I can definitely use it to my advantage in other ways. 

So, after finalizing my work, I headed to GPT-4o and uploaded the document there. Good thing that this AI chatbot now supports input in the form of documents (Word and PDF files). A little note before proceeding, all research papers in the field of Psychology need to follow a particular format provided by the American Psychological Association (APA). 

I began with the prompt “I wrote a research paper on the topic “Financial Stress and Life Satisfaction: A Correlational Study.” Review my paper and make sure it follows the APA format.” 

Thorough Analysis Of My Paper

GPT-4o analyzed the PDF down to the minute details, from the title page to the references. The response was divided into 3 sections.

The first section provided a general outline of the key areas of APA formatting standards, while the second section highlighted what I did correctly in each part of the paper and the rules that should be followed in APA style. For example, “The abstract is well-placed, but ensure it’s between 150-250 words.”

Lastly, the third section provided direct instructions on the changes needed to ensure my paper follows the required APA structure. One of the suggestions was “Add a running head (e.g., “Running head: FINANCIAL STRESS AND LIFE SATISFACTION”) and page number on the title page.” I realized that I had overlooked a crucial section of my research paper, which could have affected my grade.

The same section guided me toward the correct style of writing references in the APA format, something that I had lowkey messed up in my paper.

The Experience

Before the release of GPT-4o, I had done the same thing with the previous version of chatGPT and it was not really helpful. Three reasons for that.

One, uploading documents was not an option in the earlier versions. Two, it never understood my prompt, nor was it aware of the APA format of writing research papers, hence it only guided me with the general guidelines. And three, the analysis seemed superficial, and the response lacked specificness to the content of my paper.

I was thoroughly impressed by how effectively this advanced version assisted me with my academic needs in such a precise and tailored manner and was honestly not expecting such.

Thanks to GPT-4o, I learned the mistakes and important aspects I had missed out on in my work. Such detailed responses also ensured that I would remember to structure my paper correctly in future.

Can You Rely On GPT-4o Responses For Academics?

While the responses were definitely correct, there’s no harm in double-checking using the relevant official websites. After incorporating the suggested changes, I went to the APA website and searched for its format. To my surprise, everything GPT-4o suggested was accurate as per the official format.

I would say that with time, chatGPT has improved massively and become more advanced in aiding users. So you can rely on it, but keep it limited to proofreading and reviewing, acting as a second eye for your work. Other than that, it is important to ensure authenticity and originality in all your work.

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Syeda Laiba Alam

At Tech4Gamers, I streamline helpful guides from my personal experience, ensuring swift resolutions for your PC or gaming console. My expertise extends to crafting beginner-friendly How-To Guides for everyday tech devices. Let’s get you back to gaming without delays!

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“Optimize your PC by cleaning junk and cache files, all within a single click.” As a PC user, I have often encountered such claims in the form of ads and pop-ups. I am sure you must have seen them too. Developers prompt you to install such PC cleaner apps with exaggerated claims, but are they really as effective as they claim to be?

What Are PC Cleaner Apps?

PC cleaning apps are software tools, often third-party applications, that you need to download and install on your PC through their online websites or the official store. CCleaner is one of the most common examples of such software. It claims to “help you clean up your Windows computer, optimize performance, and maintain your online privacy.” In reality, such apps hold little to no practical advantages for the user.

Most PC cleaning apps, including CCleaner, offer Premium versions where you have to pay a certain amount to access their “enhanced features.” My advice? Never fall into this trap! You will pay extra for features already built-in with your Windows PC. Windows utilities do the exact same tasks as these cleaner apps.

Why You Should Never Rely On PC Cleaner Tools?

Another reason for avoiding such tools is that they make us believe that corrupt and old registries are the culprits behind our PC’s slow performance. Scanning a PC with these apps will suggest that you need to eliminate registries to boost the PC’s performance. Don’t trust these results.

Microsoft officially does not recommend cleaning the Windows Registry. Third-party apps damage the existing registry needed by the OS to function smoothly. Consequently, this can lead to system instability, higher CPU utilization, prolonged shutdown times, and, in some cases, reinstalling the Windows OS might not rid the PC of these dangerous aftermaths.

Disk Cleanup is a pre-loaded Windows feature that rids the hard disk of unnecessary system logs, temporary cache files, old and junk data, and more. Why download third-party tools when Windows can do that at absolutely no cost?

An Independent Advisor at Microsoft Community commented not to use PC optimizer apps since developers “cannot keep up with all the changes to the system files and the registry and have been known to corrupt the registry or delete necessary system files, and can cause BSODs.”

My Experience

To test it out, I installed CCleaner on my Windows PC. The first thing it did was spam my screen with pop-ups to upgrade to the Premium version. I ran a Health Check, and it took a while before showing me the results—probably a gimmick to make one believe in its authenticity. Nonetheless, it detected 4905 items to be cleaned, including cookies, browsing history, and temporary internet files.

Next, I checked out the Performance Optimizer section and did a free scan. It was no surprise that it required me to upgrade to the paid plan to clean the problematic files. The tools include options for a disk analyzer, registry, drive wiper, and more. 

Even after running these scans and proceeding with relevant actions, I found no difference in my PC’s overall speed and performance. Therefore, I would rather use the official tools in the OS than resort to this suspicious third-party software. 

Run the chkdsk code in the Windows Command Prompt to scan and repair the hard drive for better performance. For instance, enter the code “chkdsk d: /f” to check and repair Drive D. You can also use Microsoft Defender and Windows Protection to keep the system safe against malicious files.

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Moiz Banoori

At Tech4Gamers, he is recognized for his insightful features and opinion pieces, where he blends his passion for gaming with a keen understanding of technological trends. His work, marked by depth and accessibility, makes him a respected voice in the tech and gaming community.

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Pokémon has profoundly impacted the gaming industry since its debut in 1996. Many games today include elements of Pokémon’s gameplay, especially the creature-collecting aspect. This isn’t bad because Pokémon created a fun and satisfying gameplay loop that other games would be smart to follow.

Monster Hunter Stories and its sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, are good examples of games inspired by Pokémon. Originating in 2004, the franchise challenges players to hunt and defeat monsters strategically. These games showcase their Pokémon influences, offering a similar experience of capturing and hunting creatures.

Gameplay Mechanics And Creature Interaction

In both Monster Hunter Stories and Pokémon, the gameplay revolves around discovering, hatching, and forming bonds with creatures. The Monster Hunter Stories series gameplay revolves around discovering and hatching monster eggs through dedicated Stables.

Once hatched, these monsters become the player’s “Monsties,” signifying a special bond and distinguishing them from ordinary creatures. Each Monstie can participate in combat, with some even serving as mounts.

This aspect of Monster Hunter Stories draws inspiration from the Pokémon series, where players similarly collect and train various Pokémon they encounter, each possessing specific types and moves that influence strategic gameplay.

Similar to Pokémon, battles in Monster Hunter Stories are turn-based. Players can command their Monsties to perform various actions, including attacks, skills, and special moves. In battle, both the player character and the Monstie participate. The player can use weapons and items, while the Monstie uses its own abilities.

Creature Abilities, Exploration, And Strategic Combat

Each Monstie has unique abilities and elemental affinities in Monster Hunter Stories, much like Pokémon, which have different types and moves. Players must strategize based on these traits to win battles.

Both games feature exploration elements where creatures can assist in navigating the world and accessing new areas. Some Monsties can be ridden, allowing players to explore the world more effectively.

These mounts can also help players access new areas or solve puzzles, similar to how certain Pokémon can use HM moves to interact with the environment.

Furthermore, players undertake various quests that often involve battling wild monsters or other riders. These encounters are reminiscent of wild Pokémon battles and trainer battles in Pokémon games.

The turn-based combat systems in both games require strategic planning based on the abilities and types of the creatures. Building strong bonds with creatures and effectively training them in both games are essential for overcoming challenges and progressing.

Creature Elemental Affinities

Furthermore, in the Monster Hunter Stories series, the elemental affinity system for Monsties is an important aspect of gameplay, similar to how it works in Pokémon. Each Monstie’s elemental affinity influences its strengths and weaknesses in battle. For instance, a Fire-affinity Monstie is strong against Ice but weak against Water.

In Pokémon, each Pokémon comes with a predetermined elemental type (such as Fire, Water, Grass), which cannot be changed. In contrast, Monster Hunter Stories allows players to modify their Monsties’ elemental affinities and color through the Rite of Channeling.

Despite the difference in how affinities are assigned or changed, both systems fundamentally work the same way: elemental affinities determine combat effectiveness by establishing strengths and weaknesses against other elements.

Therefore, It’s not bad that Monster Hunter Stories takes inspiration from Pokémon. This gameplay style is popular and fun for many players. By using Pokémon’s successful formula and adding its own unique twists, Monster Hunter Stories creates a fresh and enjoyable experience.

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Syeda Laiba Alam

At Tech4Gamers, I streamline helpful guides from my personal experience, ensuring swift resolutions for your PC or gaming console. My expertise extends to crafting beginner-friendly How-To Guides for everyday tech devices. Let’s get you back to gaming without delays!

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In recent days, many old technologies and concepts have made a comeback. Flip phones and retro games are back with all the hype, and so is transparent technology. But do I look forward to its revival?

What Is Transparent Technology?

Transparent technology refers to devices with see-through designs that let us peek into the interior architecture and mechanics. Gadgets with transparent plastic cases have been resurfacing in the 2020s.

They were all the hype back in the 1990s when everybody was obsessed with the idea of a clear design. “Clear Craze” was the term given to this obsession.

It reminded me of how I once came across a box from my cousins’ treasured childhood who grew up in the mid-90s. I was surprised to find a transparent Nintendo Game Boy that gave me a crystal clear view of its green circuits. Although fascinating at first, I found it odd compared to the tech I have grown up with.

Boombox, Apple iMac G3, and Motorola Pager are some of the nostalgic see-through devices that made rounds in the 90s. There were even transparent shells for PlayStation 2 consoles and controllers to add a trendy touch. In this video by The Weekly Warp Pipe, Russ Lyman and Nes Addict go back to the old-school transparent technology, reminiscing the nostalgia.

Use Of Transparent Tech In Prisons

Transparent gadgets are primarily used in prison facilities to add an extra layer of security. Television sets, music players, and other devices have transparent plastic casings to prevent inmates from smuggling contraband into the prison.

Matthew Schechmeister from WIRED toured San Quentin Prison in the U.S. in 2010. There, he witnessed transparent gadgets, ranging from CD players and headphones to typewriters and more. Although widely used, transparent tech doesn’t exactly come as a “fashion statement” for the inmates.

Comeback Of Transparent Tech

With the launch of Nothing Phones, transparent tech has been making waves once again globally. Its see-through back, made out of gorilla glass, is one of a kind in the world of smartphones. To me, it looks extra flashy, yes, but also a bit suffocating. I would pick Matte and Glossy backs, like those in Samsung or iPhones, over transparent any day. However, the concept doesn’t look so bad on Nothing Ear.

Retro Fighters released a limited edition of The BattlerGC Pro with a crystal clear transparent shell. Only 2000 of these designs were made, which are already out of stock. Fun fact: the controller hasn’t even been officially released yet and will be out in October 2024. 

However, this particular controller looks distracting and you should agree. I might lose my focus if I glance at this controller during my gaming sesh- maybe because it reveals too much?

Leaving behind every other company, LG developed the most innovative transparent device in 2024. The LG Signature OLED T is a transparent TV screen that is so sleek you can fit it anywhere in the room.

Recently, Post Malone collaborated with Backbone to launch a limited edition green translucent controller. Featuring a glow-in-the-dark logo, this controller meets modern style standards.

Apart from these, Beats Studio Buds+ also features a translucent design, increasing their visual uniqueness. Transparent accessories like USB cables, adapters, keyboards, and mouse are also gaining more attention. 

Is It Here To Stay?

Transparent technology is still gaining popularity despite not being a fresh concept. It could be because the revival of this idea brings back memories of a simpler time for those who grew up in the 90s. Therefore, for the millennials, I would say there is more of an emotional connection than using it as a fashion statement.

Personally, I don’t believe the trend will last long—maybe 3 or 4 years before it becomes outdated. Clear devices will not appeal to the younger generation, especially Gen X, who have grown up with all sorts of technological advances around them. However, it will be interesting to see how the trend plays out.