Author: News Polite

New book tries to explain how the NFL really does and doesn’t work

In his new book, Playmakers, Mike Florio sets out to pierce readers’ misconceptions about how the NFL really does and doesn’t work.

Over the last 20 years, Mike Florio has distinguished himself as one of the most prominent names in NFL analysis. Through his blog ProFootballTalk, and as an analyst on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. there is hardly anything that has happened in the league in the last two decades that he has not commented upon.

Now, Florio has written his first book, Playmakers: How the NFL Really Works (And Doesn’t), attempting to make sense of the shifts and changes in the NFL during that period, offering a capsule history of the league since the turn of the century. However, while the book does indeed cover these transformative moments, it fails to offer the necessary perspective that would make it an insightful work.

The book is split into 10 sections, each featuring about 10 chapters. The sections all cover broad topics from “The Draft” to “Owners,” from “Healthy and Safety” to “Off-Field Player Misconduct.” In the chapters, which focus on individuals or specific events, Florio’s experience as a blogger and radio host is evident. Nearly every single one of them is three pages long, prizing brevity and quick-hitting takes over depth. Also, the writing itself feels almost adversarial, with each page filled with argumentative statements. However, it is not always clear just what readers are to be convinced of.

Playmakers is a book where trite statements like “The fact that a Tom Brady became buried so deep in the [NFL Draft] process shows that ultimately no one really knows what they’re getting when it’s time to put names on draft cards” are delivered as if they are revelations. Who does not know this? Take this excerpt from the introduction:

“We’ve become conditioned over the years to think it’s glitz and it’s glamour and it’s riches and it’s luxury and it’s whatever else is good and enviable to play in the NFL. It’s not. It’s pain and it’s agony and it’s surgeries and it’s pressure and it’s stress and it’s everyone you know wanting some of what you have, and it’s a far cry from the fun, thrilling life that a resentful nation of fans believes to be.”

I do not know anyone who still believes these things. In a post-Kaepernick, post-Ray Rice, post-League of Denial world, these beliefs about the NFL being a glamorous or relatively moral enterprise have long been untenable. It simply feels like Florio is late to the party, sharing opinions that may have been provocative a decade ago, but feel staid and commonsense now.

The book does function as a tribute to the NFL’s elasticity. It’s too big to fail. As he writes, “The game is a multibillion-dollar business that continues to thrive in many respects because of itself, and in many more despite itself.” The league “never seems to be very far from actual or potential scandals” but continues “making more and more money” regardless. On the whole, such scandals, despite their prevalence and seriousness, “never seem to do much damage to the ever-rising bottom line.”

It’s a bleak statement that is certainly correct, but it’s also one that Florio seems ill-equipped to explore or take to its logical conclusion. He analyzes the NFL’s issues through an amoral lens, caring ultimately about how they affect the league. While he purportedly does this to critique the league, or show the issues inherent to it, it ultimately means he performs the same task he appears to criticize.

Government oversight maybe what the NFL fears most

There are some interesting statements near the end of the book about how what the NFL fears most is governmental oversight. Florio appears to believe that such oversight and regulation is not certain, but it is likely, especially with gambling establishing a stronger foothold nationwide. As he seems to see it, the struggle to avoid this will be the defining story of the next several years in the NFL.

If the NFL wants to stave it off, they need to do a better job of enforcing rules and increasing accountability. However, as he acknowledges, the NFL has historically been “far more reactive than proactive,” an issue that has caused and exacerbated a number of the problems detailed throughout the book. Can the NFL break that habit?

In one way, Playmakers compares unfavorably to Ben Detrick and Andrew Kuo’s much more enjoyable The Joy of Basketball. Both books attempt to make sense of their respective sport’s recent past, though structurally, Florio’s book is organized topically rather than alphabetically. However, while The Joy of Basketball clearly relishes the NBA and the game of basketball, possessing a clear point of view that can help cast well-known players and teams in new lights, Playmakers lacks that distinctiveness and that delight. Common are chapters where Florio simply recounts an event or topic of conversation from years past, but without offering any new insights or opinions on it, prompting this reader to wonder what they were supposed to take from it.

Playmakers is a disappointing book that contains a lot of information and a handful of strong opinions but never adds up to anything solid. Though it offers a broad look at the NFL of the last 20 years, it is lacking in depth. Perhaps there are football fans who will enjoy reliving these past two decades with Florio, or more casual fans who want to familiarize themselves with the league that will find this useful, but on the whole, it does not seem clear who this book is for. There are many better books on the modern NFL and while Playmakers may cover more topics than most, the best of its competitors make up for this by featuring stronger research, greater depth, and better prose.

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Cloudflare Manages to Block Massive DDoS Attack on Unnamed Crypto Platform

Cloudflare, a company that specialises in web security has confirmed that they have successfully stopped what they believe to be one of the largest distributed denial-of-service or DDoS attacks on record, which targeted an unnamed cryptocurrency company. The attack was detected and mitigated automatically by Cloudflare’s defense systems, which were set up for one of its customers on a paid plan. At its peak, the attack reached a massive 15.3 million requests-per-second (rps) which, according to Cloudflare, makes it the largest HTTPS DDoS attack ever mitigated by the company.

The attack reportedly lasted less than 15 seconds and targeted a crypto launchpad, which Cloudflare analysts in a blog post said are “used to surface Decentralised Finance (DeFi) projects to potential investors.”

The blog post adds that the botnet used by the attacker comprised of about 6,000 unique bots that originated from more than 1,300 different networks in 112 countries around the world, with about 15 percent of the traffic coming from Indonesia. Other countries generating the most traffic included Russia, Brazil, India, Colombia and the US.

Cloudflare researchers didn’t name the botnet but said it was one that they’ve been watching and had seen attacks as large as 10 million rps that matched the same fingerprint.

As described by Cloudflare, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is essentially an attempt to “maliciously disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of Internet traffic.”

“DDoS attacks achieve effectiveness by utilising multiple compromised computer systems as sources of attack traffic. Exploited machines can include computers and other networked resources such as IoT devices,” adds Cloudflare.

In an HTTPS attack – such as the one used this time to target the crypto platform, the botnet attempts to overwhelm the target’s server with a massive number of requests, with an attempt to consume compute power and memory with the same goal of making it near impossible for legitimate users to access the website.

“HTTPS DDoS attacks are more expensive in terms of required computational resources because of the higher cost of establishing a secure TLS encrypted connection,” the Cloudflare threat-hunters wrote. “Therefore, it costs the attacker more to launch the attack, and for the victim to mitigate it. We’ve seen very large attacks in the past over (unencrypted) HTTP, but this attack stands out because of the resources it required at its scale.”

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All You Need to Know About Niacinamide

As busy mamas, we don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to our skincare routines. That’s why it’s great to have some “go-to” natural beauty products that maximize our time and give us great benefits—ones that not only give us glowing skin but are also quick and easy to use.

Niacinamide is one skincare ingredient I recommend making a part of your natural skincare routine.

What Is Niacinamide?

This nutrient, also called nicotinamide, is one of the forms of vitamin B3, niacin. It’s a water-soluble vitamin that is found in meat in the form of niacinamide and plant foods as nicotinic acid.

Because niacin is water-soluble, we need it daily. Water-soluble vitamins are absorbed quickly and are not stored by our bodies, so we need to replenish them each day.

What Is Niacinamide Good for?

The body needs it to convert the food you eat into energy. Niacin also helps with important processes in the body, like creating hormones. It’s an important nutrient for metabolism, which means it’s also important for the growth and repair of the body’s tissues.

That’s especially evident in its ability to promote well-nourished, beautiful skin. After all, skincare starts on the inside with good nutrition.

How to Get Niacinamide

Niacin and niacinamide are widely found in food and are typically added to fortified grain products to ensure we get the recommended amount—around 14-18 mg per day. It is also available in supplement form. You can also use it topically (as a lotion, gel, or serum) for a variety of skincare concerns.

Niacinamide in Foods

Red meat, chicken, and fish are some foods with the highest amounts of this vitamin, along with peanuts and coffee. Barley, wheat, beans, soybeans, potatoes, and rice have moderate amounts, while fruits and vegetables have lower amounts.

If you have a compromised gut, you may have a hard time absorbing niacinamide from food, and supplements may be more helpful to get the amount you need.

Niacin (also called nicotinic acid) can cause a “niacin flush” because of its effects on blood vessel capillaries. It causes the capillaries to expand quickly, increasing the blood flow to the skin’s surface, which causes redness, warmth, and itchiness in that area of the skin. That’s why I prefer the niacinamide form of this B-vitamin.

Niacinamide in Supplementation

A niacinamide nutritional supplement may help improve skin conditions, protect the pancreas in Type 1 diabetes, and support the kidneys.

Besides supporting kidney and pancreatic health, the main health benefit of taking this supplement pertains to skin health:

  • Anti-inflammatory – when taken as a supplement and applied to the skin. A review study found it to be helpful in both acne and rosacea.
  • Reducing acne – and breakouts (which I still get from time to time).
  • Anti-aging – helps slow the aging process and has an anti-aging effect.
  • Protective against skin cancer – A 2015 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that supplementing (500 mg twice daily) reduced precancerous skin damage in people who had been diagnosed with skin cancer in the past five years.

Niacinamide in Skincare

Many products use niacinamide as a skincare ingredient. You can find it in cleansers, toners, gels, serums, creams, eye creams, and moisturizers. It helps with many different aspects of skin health, including improving the skin barrier, hydration, evening out skin tone, and protecting against damage.

Skincare products like cleansers and makeup removers that wash off probably don’t offer enough contact time with your skin to make much of an impact. It’s better to use products that stay on the skin, like serums, moisturizers, or creams.

Dermatologists recommend a topical application of niacinamide for some specific skin issues as well as general skincare. Here are some specific problems that it helps with:

Hyperpigmentation 

Hyperpigmentation is a condition where you develop darker patches on your skin and is caused by the skin creating more melanin. In a clinical study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, a group used niacinamide moisturizer for four weeks and found that hyperpigmentation significantly decreased.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can be an issue as we age or based on the climate that we live in. If you have dry skin, you might want to try it. A study of patients with dry skin who applied nicotinamide cream twice daily to their face over four or eight weeks showed a significant decrease in the loss of moisture in the skin and an improvement in their dry skin condition.

Rosacea

A 2011 review study notes that dermatologists have used nicotinamide for over 40 years for rosacea and other skin conditions. A randomized controlled trial conducted in 2005 tested a moisturizer in patients with rosacea. The cream, applied twice daily for four weeks, improved the skin barrier and improved the condition in rosacea sufferers.

Anti-Aging (fine lines and wrinkles)

In a study of 50 women with signs of aging (including fine lines and wrinkles), a 5% concentrated product was applied to half of their face twice daily for 12 weeks. On the other half of their face, they used a placebo product.

At the end of the study, the sides of the faces that used the treatment showed significant improvement overall, including a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, more even skin tone, improved color (less yellowing), and better elasticity.

Acne/Blemishes 

This skincare ingredient can also help with acne and blemishes. In reducing the severity of acne conditions, one study of 4% nicotinamide gel found it was comparable to a 1% clindamycin gel (the standard antibiotic treatment).

Skin Cancer

Niacinamide’s anti-aging effects may also help prevent skin cancer. In a 2019 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, researchers pointed out that aging is a major risk factor for the development of skin cancer.

The body needs niacinamide to produce NAD+, a coenzyme that protects the skin from gene-damaging toxins. When genes are damaged, it can lead down a path toward cancer. The depletion of NAD+ in our bodies is often associated with the diseases of aging, which include cancer.

That’s where replenishing niacinamide in the skin, whether through supplements or skincare products, can help keep skin healthy and youthful.

What Is Niacinamide Serum?

A serum is a light, quick-absorbing skincare product that delivers a concentrated dose of niacinamide. The concentration in the gel-like liquid can be anywhere from 2% to 10%. A typical dosage is 4%.

When used topically, this nutrient can help promote the growth of the skin’s ceramide (lipid) barrier. This helps prevent water loss and retain moisture.

Niacinamide is helpful for all skin types, whether your skin is oily, dry, or a combination. If you’re concerned about sensitive skin, it is very soothing, as long as there aren’t other ingredients in the product that can irritate your skin.

When looking for a skincare product, like a cleanser, serum, or gel, pay attention to what else is in it. You’ll want to make sure it’s free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances.

If you want to make your own skincare product with niacinamide, here’s a recipe for a DIY silky moisturizer I love!

How to Use a Serum

It’s best to use the serum after cleansing, toning, and exfoliating. Then you can work with a clean palate. Apply it evenly over your face rather than just using it on target/problem areas.

Follow up your niacinamide product with any moisturizers or sunscreen products you want to apply.

It is an ingredient you can use year-round. You won’t have issues applying it before going in the sun, and there’s no reason to take breaks unless you’re experiencing side effects.

Risks & Side Effects

There are a few potential risks or side effects to consider when using this powerful B vitamin:

Internal Supplements

Potential side effects of taking supplements include:

  • Stomach upset
  • Gas
  • Dizziness
  • Rash or itchy skin

These aren’t common, but if you start experiencing some of these shortly after adding a supplement form, try removing it and see if the symptoms improve.

Taking excessive amounts over time could lead to diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and liver damage. You’ll want to make sure your vitamin B levels are within a normal range when you get your yearly bloodwork done.

Topical Niacinamide

Potential side effects from using a topical version are usually noticeable right away and include:

  • Mild redness
  • Itching
  • Slight burning sensation

If you use a concentration of 5% or under, these tend to be uncommon and mild when they occur. Higher concentrations are more likely to create issues.

FAQs: Can You Mix Niacinamide and _________?

As you’re putting together your natural skincare routine, you might wonder about combining different products or ingredients. I’ll cover a few of those frequently-combined ingredients below and the best order to use them so you get the most out of them.

Niacinamide & Retinol Serum

Retinol is a common antioxidant serum used on the face. Retinol is stronger than nicotinamide and is known to cause irritation, dry skin, and redness. You can use retinol and niacinamide simultaneously, but ideally, you’d apply retinol first and follow it with niacinamide. This is because the retinol tends to be a bit irritating to the skin, and following up with niacinamide helps soothe the skin and help it to heal.

Read this post to learn more about retinol/retinoids. Be aware that retinoids may cause sun sensitivity, though.

Niacinamide & Vitamin C Serum

If using a vitamin C serum, apply it at a different time than the niacinamide skincare product. It can prevent the vitamin C serum from working as it should, inactivating it. If exposed to heat, vitamin C may react with niacinamide, turning it into niacin (nicotinic acid) and irritating the skin.

Ideally, use the niacinamide serum in the morning and the vitamin C serum at night.

Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is another skincare ingredient that can pair well with niacinamide. Both work to add moisture to the skin, lower inflammation, stimulate collagen production, and generally promote healing.

These two ingredients are often found together in skincare products. They complement rather than compete, and each enhances the other’s moisturizing properties. The hyaluronic acid is great for improving moisture and tightening the skin, and the niacinamide adds a wonderful natural radiance.

If applied separately, use the hyaluronic acid first since it can draw water into the skin, keeping it moist all day. Then add the niacinamide, which helps protect the skin’s surface and maintains a healthy level of natural oils.

Niacinamide & Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid can work well alongside niacinamide, as it works as an astringent, cleaning out the pores and helping to treat acne. Niacinamide then adds back the moisture that the drying, sometimes irritating salicylic acid may remove.

If you use them together, apply the salicylic acid first and then use the niacinamide serum.

This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board-certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Have you tried niacinamide skincare products? How does it work for you? Do you combine it with other serums or ingredients like the ones mentioned? 

Sources:
  1. Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington. (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1998. 6, Niacin.
  2. Hill, L. J., & Williams, A. C. (2017). Meat Intake and the Dose of Vitamin B3 – Nicotinamide: Cause of the Causes of Disease Transitions, Health Divides, and Health Futures?. International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR, 10, 1178646917704662.
  3. Ods.od.nih.gov. 2011. Office of Dietary Supplements – Niacin.
  4. Jacobson T. A. (2010). A “hot” topic in dyslipidemia management–“how to beat a flush”: optimizing niacin tolerability to promote long-term treatment adherence and coronary disease prevention. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 85(4), 365–379. https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)60429-1/fulltext
  5. Hegyi, J., Schwartz, R. A., & Hegyi, V. (2004). Pellagra: dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea. International journal of dermatology, 43(1), 1–5.
  6. Niren N. M. (2006). Pharmacologic doses of nicotinamide in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions: a review. Cutis, 77(1 Suppl), 11–16.
  7. Surjana, D., & Damian, D. L. (2011). Nicotinamide in dermatology and photoprotection. Skinmed, 9(6), 360–365.
  8. Ying W. (2008). NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH in cellular functions and cell death: regulation and biological consequences. Antioxidants & redox signaling, 10(2), 179–206.
  9. Chen, A. C., Martin, A. J., Choy, B., Fernández-Peñas, P., Dalziell, R. A., McKenzie, C. A., Scolyer, R. A., Dhillon, H. M., Vardy, J. L., Kricker, A., St George, G., Chinniah, N., Halliday, G. M., & Damian, D. L. (2015). A Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Nicotinamide for Skin-Cancer Chemoprevention. The New England journal of medicine, 373(17), 1618–1626.
  10. Hakozaki, T., Minwalla, L., Zhuang, J., Chhoa, M., Matsubara, A., Miyamoto, K., Greatens, A., Hillebrand, G. G., Bissett, D. L., & Boissy, R. E. (2002). The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer. The British journal of dermatology, 147(1), 20–31.
  11. Draelos, Z. D., Ertel, K., & Berge, C. (2005). Niacinamide-containing facial moisturizer improves skin barrier and benefits subjects with rosacea. Cutis, 76(2), 135–141.
  12. Soma, Y., Kashima, M., Imaizumi, A., Takahama, H., Kawakami, T., & Mizoguchi, M. (2005). Moisturizing effects of topical nicotinamide on atopic dry skin. International journal of dermatology, 44(3), 197–202.
  13. Shalita, A. R., Smith, J. G., Parish, L. C., Sofman, M. S., & Chalker, D. K. (1995). Topical nicotinamide compared with clindamycin gel in the treatment of inflammatory acne vulgaris. International journal of dermatology, 34(6), 434–437.
  14. Bissett, D. L., Oblong, J. E., & Berge, C. A. (2005). Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 31(7 Pt 2), 860–865.
  15. Fania, L., Mazzanti, C., Campione, E., Candi, E., Abeni, D., & Dellambra, E. (2019). Role of Nicotinamide in Genomic Stability and Skin Cancer Chemoprevention. International journal of molecular sciences, 20(23), 5946.Rolfe H. M. (2014). A review of nicotinamide: treatment of skin diseases and potential side effects. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 13(4), 324–328.

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Tata Play Dhamaka Offer Unveiled for Tata Play Binge+ and Tata Play HD Connections: Details

Tata Play (formerly known as Tata Sky) has unveiled the Dhamaka offer for HD and Binge+ connections. With the latest offer, the direct-to-home (DTH) operator is offering Tata Play HD set-top box and Tata Play Binge+ set-top box for free for customers. Customers can avail free HD set-top box by recharging with a one-time amount of Rs. 4,000. Similarly, a recharge of Rs. 6,000 is required to get the Binge+ set-top box. The Tata Play Binge+ Plus Dhamaka package comes with over-the-top (OTT) content access from select streaming services on compatible devices.

As per the Tata Play website, with the new Tata Play Dhamaka offer, customers making a lumpsum recharge of Rs. 6,000 can enjoy Tata Sky Binge+ set-top box connection. With a one time recharge of Rs. 4,000, interested users can get Tata Play HD set-top box connection for free.

Existing HD customers and viewers with standard (SD) connection can also upgrade to Binge+ by making a single recharge of Rs. 6,000 or more in their Tata Play account. The company is offering one year warranty with the Dhamaka offer. 

Currently, the price of the Tata Play HD set-top box is Rs. 1,699. The Binge+ set-top box plan cost Rs. 2,199 and it offers satellite TV content and allows streaming from select OTT platforms including Eros Now, Hungama, Disney+, ShemarooMe, and Zee5. The offer was first spotted by TelecomTalk.

Recently, the company launched the Binge Starter pack for accessing OTT content on mobile devices. The Tata Play Binge Starter come with a price tag of Rs. 49 and has 30 days of validity. It includes a seven-day free trial and users will get access to OTT content across three mobile devices simultaneously through the Tata Play Binge app. Tata Play’s Basic and Premium packs are available at Rs. 149 and Rs. 299, respectively.

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Chris Paul Leads Suns Past First Round With Perfect Shooting Night

Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns are advancing to round two of the playoffs after the Point God put together a perfect shooting night to help lead Phoenix to a 115-109 win over the Pelicans.

Paul scored 33 points on 14-14 shooting from the field, went 4-4 from the free-throw line, and sank his one and only attempt from beyond the arc. He also hauled in five rebounds and dished out eight assists. The 12-time All-Star became the first player in playoff history to make all 14 of his shots as he led the Suns back from a double-digit deficit.

“It’s unbelievably special; you have no idea how special it is for me,” said Paul, per ESPN. “I had no clue (hadn’t missed). At halftime, I realized I might need to shoot a little bit more.”

CP3 scored his 33 points on seven different defenders, asserting his will on the Pelicans’ defense with his signature midrange jumper. Paul made 11 shots outside the paint, none more important than his 10-foot pull-up with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Phoenix a five-point lead.

With Deandre Ayton as his pick-and-roll partner, Paul and the Suns erased a 10-point deficit in the third quarter after knocking down 13 of their first 14 shots. Paul hit six jumpers while Ayton (22 points, seven rebounds, and four assists) made two.

“I don’t believe in heat checks, I don’t shoot enough to take a heat check, and once I miss, I might be cold,” Paul said. “They were sort of letting me get to my spots.”

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Paul and Ayton shot a combined 24-26 from the field, the highest combined field goal percentage (92.3 percent) by a pair of teammates in a playoff game in the shot-clock era.

The Suns and Dallas Mavericks are set for a second-round showdown that begins on May 2 in Footprint Center.



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Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale to Begin From May 4 With Deals, Discounts on Smartphones

Flipkart is hosting its Big Saving Days sale starting May 4. The online sale will be live until May 9, and customers can expect to see deals, discounts, and offers on smartphones and other consumer electronics during the sale. Offers on popular smartphones such as the Galaxy F12, the Realme C20, the Poco M3, and iPhone models have been teased by the company ahead of the sale next week. Flipkart Plus members will have access to deals 24 hours earlier than other customers, as is the case with most sales on the e-commerce platform. Meanwhile, shoppers can also avail of a 10 percent instant discount for SBI Bank Credit Card and EMI transactions, according to Flipkart.

The e-commerce website shared details of the upcoming Flipkart Big Saving Days sale on a microsite that shows a list of smartphones that will be discounted during the sale. Smartphones from Poco, Redmi, Samsung, Vivo, Realme, Infinix, and Moto will be sold at lower prices, according to Flipkart. As with previous sales, the upcoming Big Saving Days sale will also bring limited time deals for customers, available only at specific timings.

Here are some of the best deals on smartphones you can avail of when the Flipkart Big Saving Days 2022 begins on May 4.

Flipkart Big Saving Days sale: Deals and offers on mobile phones

Samsung Galaxy F22

Flipkart will sell the Samsung Galaxy F22 at a discounted price of Rs. 9,999 during the sale, down from the listed price of Rs. 14,999. The discounted price will be inclusive of offers, according to Flipkart. The smartphone is currently on sale for Rs. 11,999 on the website. The Samsung Galaxy F22 (Review) is equipped with a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, is powered by a MediaTek Helio G80 processor, and sports a 48-megapixel triple camera setup.

Buy now at: Rs. 11,999 (MRP Rs. 14,999)

Poco M4 Pro

The Poco M4 Pro is being sold at Rs. 16,499, which is lower than the MRP of Rs. 19,999. According to Flipkart, the smartphone will be priced at Rs. 13,999 during the Big Saving Days sale, inclusive of offers. The handset runs on Android 11-based MIUI 12.5 for Poco, powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC along with 6GB of RAM. The smartphone sports a 6.43-inch AMOLED display, features a 64-megapixel triple rear camera setup, and packs a 5,000mAh battery.

Buy now at: Rs. 16,499 (MRP Rs. 19,999)

Redmi Note 10s

Flipkart is currently selling the Redmi Note 10S at Rs. 13,999, down from the listed price of Rs. 16,999. During the upcoming Big Saving Days sale, the smartphone will be available for purchase at a discounted price of Rs. 11,999, which also includes offers, according to Flipkart. The Redmi Note 10S (Review) is powered by a MediaTek Helio G95 processor, paired with 6GB of RAM. It features a 6.43-inch AMOLED display and runs on a 5,000mAh battery. It is equipped with a 64-megapixel quad camera setup, along with a 13-megapixel front-facing camera.

Buy now at: Rs. 13,999 (MRP Rs. 16,999)

Realme GT Neo 3, Realme Pad Mini, Realme Buds Q2s to go on sale

In addition to the smartphones listed above and other deals that will be revealed by the company ahead of the upcoming Flipkart Big Savings Sale, the newly launched Realme GT Neo 3 will go on sale for the first time on May 4, when the sale begins. Pricing starts at Rs. 36,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. Meanwhile, the Realme GT Neo 3 150W model is priced at Rs. 42,999 for the sole 12GB + 256GB variant. As part of the launch offer on May 4, customers can avail of a Rs. 7,000 instant discount via Flipkart on SBI debit card, credit card, and EMI transactions.

On May 2, the newly launched Realme Pad Mini will go on sale on Flipkart, along with the Realme Buds Q2s. Realme Pad Mini price in India begins at Rs. 10,999, while Realme Buds Q2s is priced at Rs. 1,999. Customers will be able to avail of a Rs. 2,000 discount on the Realme Pad Mini until May 9, when the Flipkart Big Saving Days sale ends.

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IGN UK Podcast #642: Overwatch 2 is a Playable Thing that Exists

The Overwatch 2 beta is live, so of course, we’re going to talk about it. To do just that are Cardy, Matt and Alex who delve into just how new it feels. We also have impressions of Switch Sports and Richard Linklater’s latest film, Apollo 10 ½. Then there’s the stuff you care about, such as milk, out of date chocolate, and father and son bonding stories.

Want to get in touch to talk about digging graves? Or maybe about chocolate? Feel free to send us an email at ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast #642: Overwatch 2 is a Playable Thing that Exists

Overwatch 2 PvP Beta Screenshots

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Airtel Rs. 999 Prepaid Plan With Amazon Prime Subscription Launched

Airtel has launched a new Rs. 999 prepaid plan that comes with Amazon Prime Subscription, free access to any one of the select Xstream channels, among other benefits. The development comes 10 days after Airtel halved the validity of Amazon Prime membership available with its postpaid plans. Instead of a year’s subscription, users are getting Amazon Prime access for six months now. The change was brought to Rs. 499, Rs. 999, Rs. 1,199, and Rs. 1,599 Airtel postpaid plans.

Airtel has launched the Rs. 999 prepaid plan as an unlimited pack that offers Amazon Prime subscription for 84 days, access to one Xstream channel (SonyLiv, LionsgatePlay, ErosNow, HoiChoi, ManoramaMAX) for 84 days, 2.5GB data per day, unlimited talktime, and 100 SMS per day. It is to be noted that Amazon Prime membership fee for 90 days is Rs. 459. The plan is listed on the telecom operator’s site.

Other benefits include Rs. 100 cashback on FASTag, free Hellotunes, 3 months of Apollo Circle membership, Shaw Academy courses, and Wynk Music. Gadgets 360 was able to spot the plan listed on Airtel website, and the company confirmed it was launched on Thursday. The new plan’s listing was first spotted by OnlyTech.

A few days ago, the telecom giant revised the validity of Amazon Prime membership available with Rs. 499, Rs. 999, Rs. 1,199, and Rs. 1,599 Airtel postpaid plans. Airtel cut the subscription duration from one year to six months.

Earlier this month, Airtel expanded its prepaid portfolio by launching the Rs. 296 and Rs. 319 recharge plans. The Rs. 296 Airtel prepaid recharge plan offers unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS messages per day, and a total of 25GB data for 30 days. The Rs. 319 Airtel prepaid recharge plan comes with unlimited voice calls, offers 100 SMS messages on a daily basis, and 2GB high-speed data per day for a month. Other benefits include three months of Apollo 24×7 Circle, and a Rs. 100 cashback on FASTag. The plans also come with free access to Wynk Music.

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Blockchain projects aim to disrupt the music industry

Music is a tricky business. The industry has its fair share of controversies, from monopolies to the limited earning potential for upcoming artists. While Web2 brought many positive changes, the industry still has a long way. Because of this, projects are trying to utilize blockchain technology to provide new solutions to the age-old music market.

In the last ten years, the industry has changed drastically because of the internet and social media development. Artists have new mediums to share their songs, and fans have many new ways to engage with and support their favorite musicians.

However, like most things within the Web2 sphere, a select few own the assets in the industry, and large corporations profit more than the users and artists. While they are still in their early stages, some blockchain projects are trying to take a shot at changing the industry from within.

Bringing fair payment to musicians

Tune.FM, a platform powered by Hedera Hashgraph, claims to be able to give musicians 90% of music streaming revenue, which is approximately ten times more than stream earnings on mainstream services. Artists can earn digital tokens every time their music is streamed within the platform.

In an announcement, Andrew Antar, the co-founder of Tune.FM pointed out that there were many independent musicians that suffered after the pandemic. “With the likes of Spotify not paying them fairly, many were struggling to get by. We are the antidote for the millions of creatives that are not being paid fairly by the big streaming services,” Antar said.

Allowing fans to co-own songs

Andreessen Horowitz-backed music marketplace Royal continues to let fans have shared ownership of songs from their favorite artists through nonfungible tokens (NFT). After dropping NFTs for prominent rapper Nas, the platform recently released tokens for American DJ and songwriter Diplo.

American rapper Nas with his daughter Destiny Jones. Source: fromthestage.net

In a blog announcing the Diplo drop, Royal co-founder Justin Blau wrote that the platform’s aim is to “empower artists to maintain control over their work” while providing fuel for their careers. Blau also believes that by co-owning music, fans “establish a deeper connection” and help them be independent when it comes to creativity.

Powering music collaboration through NFTs

A project called Squad of Knights lets its NFT owners form six-person squads, with each person assigned their own roles in the music production process. Unlike working with traditional music labels, the platform lets its community members own 100% of the music they produce.

Music producer Illmind on his studio. Source: native-instruments.com

Founder and award-winning record producer Ramon ‘Illmind’ Ibanga Jr. said, “Finding people to work with is tough. Finding the right people to work with is even tougher.” He noted that the project’s goal is to bring producers, engineers, music artists, and managers together, both within the real world and the metaverse.

Related: Grammys 2022: NFTs hot topic of discussion among musicians and industry experts

Providing decentralized audio to the metaverse

Solana-based streaming platform Audius provides an array of decentralized audio files to the metaverse. The platform works with metaverses like the Portals Metaverse to give music to their users. Due to its decentralized nature, Audius allows anyone to pull content from the platform and use it when building their own projects.

In a Cointelegraph interview, Roneil Rumburg, the CEO and co-founder of Audius, said that the platform is a “decentralized repository of content with clearly defined rights so third-party developers can pull from the platform’s catalog without any issues.”

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PS Plus Subscription Stacking Now Unavailable Ahead of June Revamp

PlayStation Plus prepaid code redemption and new purchases have been disabled for existing subscribers, preventing users from “stacking” their subscriptions to the paid service for PlayStation owners. The move to block gamers with an active PS Plus subscription from adding on additional months comes ahead of Sony’s scheduled revamp of its PS Plus service in June. The Japanese company recently announced three subscription tiers — PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra, and PS Plus Deluxe — and revealed that gamers would be upgraded to an equivalent tier for the duration of their longest active membership.

Users on Twitter and gaming forum Resetera first reported the inability to stock up on their PlayStation Plus subscriptions, as spotted by Pushsquare. Users attempting to redeem repaid promo codes are shown an error code that states: “The pre-paid card could not be redeemed. Please try again later.”

According to the report, even purchasing a PS Plus subscription via the PS Store, on the browser and on the console, while already on an active membership shows users an error message that reads: “Can’t purchase. Can’t add to cart. You’ve already purchased this item.” Previously, gamers were able to purchase a subscription even if they already had an existing one, which would effectively be “stacked” over the existing subscription.

Gadgets 360 has independently verified that PS Plus subscriptions cannot be stacked. We received the same error as above.

Shop To, a retailer that has temporarily stopped selling PS Plus prepaid codes, responded to a customer stating codes will not be redeemable until mid-June while on an active subscription. Sony had disabled stacking subscriptions to stop players exploiting the carrying over of subscriptions, according to Pushsquare. Sony is yet to officially admit whether the stacking of subscriptions has been blocked until the new subscription service is introduced in June.

Announced in March, Sony’s revamped PS Plus subscription service will be launched first in Asian markets, followed by the Americas and Europe (including India). The PS Plus subscription will be available in three tiers — PS Plus Essential, PS Plus Extra, and PS Plus Deluxe. The highest tier offers cloud streaming access in select markets, where it’s known as PS Plus Premium.

Earlier this week, Sony also revealed pricing for the new PS Plus service in India. The lowest tier, PlayStation Plus Essential, will be priced the same as PS Plus today, starting at Rs. 449 a month. The middle tier, PlayStation Plus Extra is priced at Rs. 749 a month. Finally, the highest tier, PlayStation Plus Deluxe will cost gamers Rs. 849 a month. Quarterly and annual plans are also available.

The new PlayStation Plus is set to launch on June 22 in India.



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