Samuel Axon
Senior Editor Based in Chicago, Samuel is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He primarily covers software development, gaming, Apple, consumer technology, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for 15 years, and is a game developer for iOS, Windows, and other platforms. Recent stories by Samuel Axon The new Riven remake is even better than Myst The original developers revised puzzles and realized the immersive world in 3D. Samuel Axon – Jun 30, 2024 10:45 am UTC Apple raises prices of Apple TV and other services Heavy price increase for a number of services. Samuel Axon – Jun 27, 2024 8:55 pm UTC
Biography:
https://arstechnica.com/author/samuelaxon/
91%
The Daily's Verdict
This author is known for its high journalistic standards. The author strives to maintain neutrality and transparency in its reporting, and avoids conflicts of interest. The author has a reputation for accuracy and rarely gets contradicted on major discrepancies in its reporting.
Bias
85%
Examples:
- The author seems to favor Apple’s strategy of frequent product updates.
- The author seems to have a slight bias against Apple’s pricing strategy, as evidenced by phrases like ‘hefty price increase.’
Conflicts of Interest
100%
Examples:
- The author mentions their own experience with developing games for iOS, Windows, and other platforms. This could potentially create a conflict of interest if they have any affiliation or stake in the companies mentioned in the articles.
Contradictions
90%
Examples:
- Articles mention that the new Riven remake is even better than Myst, but then it's stated that 'the desktop did the same at 4K at 120 fps.', which contradicts this statement.
- The article mentions that there is no API calls allowed for MacGPT, but then it says 'The Mac app supports old wizardry at the laptop’s native resolution at around 30 frames per second.' which implies that there might be some sort of API or functionality allowing this.
- The article states that 'it just so happens that today’s graphics hardware does an outstanding job of replicating previously static visuals in full 3D. (There’s even VR support, though I haven’t tried it yet.)', but then it contradicts itself by saying 'The desktop did the same at 4K at 120 fps.' which implies that the graphics hardware isn't doing an outstanding job of replicating previously static visuals in full 3D.
Deceptions
90%
Examples:
- The article mentions that 'For me its [sic] quadruple-booted, and I’m not even kidding.', but then it contradicts itself by saying 'The Mac app supports old wizardry at the laptop’s native resolution at around 30 frames per second.' which implies that the device isn't actually quadruple-booted.
- The article mentions that 'the exact wording of Apple’s new rules is that it’s likely only the last of those examples will be possible; companies that own the intellectual property could launch emulator apps for downloading ROMs of their (and only their) games. So, for example, Sega could offer a Sega app that would allow users to download an ever-expanding library of Sega games.' but then it contradicts itself by saying 'The article states that stolen device protection increases security of iPhone and Apple ID.', which implies that the new feature might not be as effective as advertised.
Recent Articles
Exploring Jungle Island's Hidden Secrets in Riven (2024): A New Player's Guide
Broke On: Tuesday, 25 June 2024Explore Jungle Island in Riven (2024), a mystical place filled with puzzles and secrets. Discover the Moiety Viewing Glass near an overturned bucket at cliff bases, and uncover Gehn's indoctrination schoolhouse with a Hangman-like toy for learning D'Ni alphabet. Jungle Island is just one part of Riven's vast world, offering immersive challenges and puzzles in this remake of the classic game. 
ChatGPT for Mac Now Available to All Users: Interact Easily with the AI Chatbot via Keyboard or Voice
Broke On: Tuesday, 25 June 2024OpenAI's ChatGPT app for Mac is now accessible to all users, allowing easier interaction through a chat interface and Voice Mode feature. The latest update eliminates the need for subscriptions. Although it doesn't yet support GPT-4o's multimodal capabilities, the seamless integration enables file attachment and voice conversations. 
New Math Notes Feature in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Calculator App: Write, Solve, and Visualize Mathematical Expressions with Apple Pencil or Finger
Broke On: Monday, 10 June 2024Apple's iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 software updates introduce Math Notes in the Calculator app, allowing users to write down mathematical expressions using Apple Pencil or their finger for instant solutions. The new Math Notes mode offers advanced features like variable definitions, real-time adjustments, and graph generation. 
Apple Vision Pro Expands to New Countries: Pre-Orders Open, visionOS 2 Updates Announced
Broke On: Monday, 10 June 2024Apple's Vision Pro, a spatial computing device with powerful work and entertainment experiences, expands to new markets including China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the UK starting June 28. Pre-orders begin on June 13. At WWDC 2024 in Cupertino, Apple unveiled visionOS 2 updates with AI-enhanced photo spatialization and new navigation options for Vision Pro users. Meta Expands Meta Horizon OS to ASUS, Lenovo, and Microsoft for AR/VR Headsets: A Shift Towards an Open Ecosystem
Broke On: Monday, 22 April 2024Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announces partnerships with ASUS, Lenovo, and Microsoft to build AR/VR headsets using its open-source Meta Horizon operating system. This shift towards an open software model marks a significant change in the industry and could lead to more competition in the market. 
Apple to Allow Music Streaming Apps to Link Users to Alternative Subscription Options in Europe, Despite Fee on Sales
Broke On: Saturday, 06 April 2024Apple Inc. has agreed to allow music-streaming apps on its App Store in Europe to include a link informing users of alternative subscription deals, despite still charging a fee for those sales. 
Apple's iOS 17.3 Update Adds Stolen Device Protection and More Features
Broke On: Wednesday, 31 January 2024Apple's latest iOS update, 17.3, includes a new feature called Stolen Device Protection that requires biometric authentication to access private information on an iPhone. The update also adds collaborative playlists in Apple Music and a Unity wallpaper honoring Black history and culture. Microsoft Releases Windows 11 2023 Update with Expanded CoPilot AI Feature
Broke On: Tuesday, 31 October 2023Microsoft has released the 2023 update for Windows 11. The update expands the CoPilot AI feature to more users. The 2023 update, also known as 23H2, is expected to serve as a new baseline for the frequently updated operating system. Intel CEO Unfazed by Potential Threat from ARM Chips
Broke On: Sunday, 15 October 2023Intel's CEO, Pat Gelsinger, is not concerned about the potential threat posed by ARM chips from Nvidia, Qualcomm, and AMD. Nvidia's stock experienced a drop on Friday. Apple Increases Prices of Apple TV and Other Services, Impacting User Decisions on Apple One Subscription
Broke On: Wednesday, 25 October 2023Apple Inc. has increased the prices of its Apple TV and other services in October 2023. The price hike has led to users and experts debating the cost-effectiveness of the Apple One subscription bundle. Some users are considering cancelling their subscriptions due to the price increase.