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Sony PlayStation Showcase 2020 Afterthoughts | Gaming

Last Wednesday Sony held their PlayStation 5 showcase showing off some upcoming titles for the upcoming console as well as revealing the price and release date of the #PS5.

Thoughts

After watching the event I cant help but feel it fell a bit flat. The games they shown off were good but it turns out most of them are multiplatform or, they will be available for the PS4 that you already have. They few exclusives that did preview wont release until next year and so on. Where Sony nailed it was the pricing. $399 is a nice price for a full blown next gen console. I'm not really sure how they can justify selling the Blu-ray drive version for $100 more but the pricing is till in the fair range. 

Sony PlayStation 5 | Trash or Cash?

The Sony PlayStation 5 will release on November 12th 2020 for $399 and $499.

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Apple Fall 2020 Keynote Round Up | Tech News

 Apple held its Fall 2020 Keynote today, and unveiled 2 new Apple Watches, as well as upgrades to 2 of their iPads. #AppleEvent #AppleWatchSeries6 #iPadAir #8thGeniPad 

View post on imgur.com

Apple Watch Series 6 - Meet the Apple Watch Series 6. Apple has been dominating the wearable tech genre every since they announced the original Apple Watch. Now here we are 6 generations later and they still have little to no competition. The Newest addition to this generation of apple watch is the Oxygen Sensor. With this your Series 6 Apple Watch can monitor your blood oxygen level, to help you better understand your overall wellness. The Apple Watch Series 6 will be available this Friday September 18th 2020, for $399 & $499 (with cellular). 

Apple Watch SE - Meet the Apple Watch SE. In theory the apple watch SE is re-branded Apple Watch Series 4 with some aesthetic changes. The Apple Watch SE will also launch running the latest OS 7. The Apple Watch SE will be available September 18th for $279 and, $329 (Cellular) 

8th Generation iPad - Meet the 8th GEN iPad. The new iPad keeps the same form factor that we have grown found of over the years but bow its super charged with a A12 Bionic chip. By the numbers the 8th gen iPad is 40% faster when it comes to CPU performance and 2x the GPU performance compared to the 7th gen iPad. The new iPad will be available September 18th 2020 Starting at $329. 

iPad Air 2020 - Meet the new iPad Air... Its sporting an new A14 Bionic Chip. Put simply this is basically an iPad Pro with out the 120Hz promotion display. It also comes in a plethora of colors. Look for the new iPad Air in stores this October starting at $599.   

Last but not least iOS and iPadOS 14 will be coming out of beta and releasing tomorrow for most current devices.

For more info check out... 

Apple

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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Launches Today | Gaming News

That dream of playing your favorite Xbox Games anywhere just fell into reach with today's launch of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. #Xbox #gaming #XboxGamePassUltimate

What is it?

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is basically Microsoft's version of Netflix for Gaming. You play a monthly subscription for a measly $15 a month and you get...

Xbox Live Gold

Access to over 100 Games 

Ability to Play on PC, Xbox, & Android Devices (via cloud) 

EA Play - this winter (Formally EA All Access) 

You cant really beat this deal. 

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Apple's September 15th Event Predictions

Its that time of year again where apple announced their new tech that should be available this October. We aren't expected anything too game changing... #iOS #Apple #Mac #iPadOS #iPad

iOS & iPadOS 14

While the beta build has been out for a while now you can expect that iOS & iPadOS 14 will be dropping soon. Guesstimating as soon as tomorrow and as late as October. 

iPad Air 2020

Rumors of a remodeled iPad Air has been circulating all year and Apple will most likely unveil it tomorrow. It will most likely resemble the current iPad Pro with the button-less screen. It will probably retail at $499. 

Image from PhoneArena 

New 5G iPhone

While Apple may just go with the name iPhone 12 there still a chance that they may return to the "S" upgrading system. Regardless you can expect a 5G capable phone with mild spec increases. They may also add the LIDAR sensor like they did with the iPad Pro 2020.   It will also probably release sometime in October. 

New MacBooks

Apple Unveiling their MacBook & MacBook Air (non-pro) running on Apple Silicon. Apple will most likely toe-dip the a Mac running on their own chip-set before releasing it to their "Pro" line. 

Join us for a special #AppleEvent. Watch on September 15 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Watch on https://t.co/tkb3KTIxTd.

— Apple (@Apple) September 8, 2020

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Xbox Series S Confirmed by Microsoft | Gaming News

 Meet the new Xbox Series S... Rumors suggest it will retail at $299.99 and it will it is already confirmed to release on November 10th 2020. #XboxSeriesS #Xbox #Gaming

Microsoft is definitely tying to get the jump on Sony now by announcing the release date of its upcoming console the Xbox Series S. The Xbox Series S will be releasing November 10, 2020 . I also guesstimating that the Series X will be releasing around the same time.  

Highlighted Features - 

Smallest Xbox Ever | The Xbox Series S will be nearly 60% smaller than its bigger brother the Xbox Series X.

Custom NVME SSD | The Xbox Series S will sport a custom 512GB SSD. There is no word whether it will ship in a terabyte SKU. 

All Digital Gaming Experience | There will be no optical drive on the Xbox Series S which is no surprise. 

1440p Gaming with a variable refresh rate up to 120fps

Direct X Ray-Tracing 

Ultra Low Latency 

4K media streaming 

4K upscalling for games 

Stay tuned for more updates...

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Sonic The Hedgehog 2 HD Project (Fan Game) - Is it any good?

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is a fan favorite when it come the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise, and its a bit of a shame that Sega hasn't graced us with a HD remake of the game. Thanks to a few very talented fans we can get a taste of what it may actually be like. 

#Sonic2 #Sonic2HD #Gaming

What is it?

Simply put Sonic The Hedgehog 2 HD is a fan made interpretation of the game Sonic The Hedgehog 2 which released on the Sega Genesis back in 1992 (28 years ago). For a more in detail description here is what the developers said... 

Sonic 2 HD is an unofficial overhaul of SEGA’s franchise classic for the modern world. It is made for fans, by fans, with no financial gain whatsoever.

From the very beginning of the project, Sonic 2 HD has focused on maintaining the feel that has made Sonic the Hedgehog 2 a classic while using new tools to reimagine the original as it could have been were it made today. The game’s art direction reflects this, but Sonic 2 HD has also given equal attention to unseen essential elements in the physics and audio. The result of this is an unprecedented re-interpretation in high definition graphics, music and gameplay of Sonic 2, which continues to set quality standards to this day.

We firmly believe 2D artwork is the foundation of Sonic’s retro roots. With this in mind, our goal was to produce a similar shading style to the Japanese original concept artwork and set it in motion with hand-drawn animations. Now, 25 years after Sonic 2’s release, Sonic 2 HD can faithfully represent the original’s cast of characters and environments in a world where technology no longer imposes artistic limitations.

Is it any good?

In a short answer; Yes, its really good. The game reminds me of what CAPCOM did with the Street Fighter II HD. The game is completely re-worked. The colors pop and the character sprites & animations are top notch. It is hard to believe that this is a fan made game. 

What are the downfalls?

Off the top of my head I would have to say, the game plays a bit different than the original. The mechanics are mostly all there but if you played Sonic The Hedgehog 2 as much as I have, you notice a few things. All in all I am beyond impressed with how it plays. Another thing to keep in mind is that this is a demo, and you will only get to experience 3 levels (Emerald Hills, Chemical Plant, and the Hill Top Zone). Lastly from what I heard the game is a bit demanding to run on hardware without a dedicated GPU. I haven't tested this myself yet but ill update my findings. 

Final Thoughts

I am stoked to see what the devs do with the rest of this game. Hopefully Sega or Sonic Team picks them up to make this an official project to be ported to the major consoles as well as PC (Similar to what they did will Sonic Mania).

For More info on Sonic The Hedgehog 2 HD check out Sonic2HD

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Yashahime Is Coming This October

 An Anime / Manga series that started over 2 decades ago is getting a follow up sequel in Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. 

#Anime #Manga #Yashahime #InuYasha #VizMedia

  Background: Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is a spin-off / sequel to the popular anime / manga series by Rumiko Takahashi "InuYasha". The series will follow Setsuna and Towa (Sesshomaru twin daughters). As well as Moroha (InuYasha and Kagome's daughter). 

The anime’s been announced, but now you can sink your canines into some more juicy tidbits about the show. The anime stars Towa and Setsuna, the twin daughters of Sesshomaru who get separated in a forest fire. Towa ends up in modern times and is raised by Sota Higurashi, Kagome’s little brother. Ten years later, they are reunited, but Setsuna is a demon slayer with no memories of her sister. Joined by Moroha, Inuyasha and Kagome’s daughter, they set off on an adventure to regain their missing past. ~Viz Media

Rumors suggest that Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon will start to air on October 3, 2020. For more information follow Viz Media. 

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PlayStation 5 Reveal Live Stream | News

Sony's Playstation 5 Reveal Live Stream

Check out Sony's upcoming PlayStation home console.

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Papers.CO Wallpapers HD Review | App Review

Papers.CO Review

Your one stop shop for dope wallpapers that will fit your iPad. 

Papers.co Wallpapers HD

Developer: ?

Platform: iOS, iPadOS

Price: Free With ads | Paid for $3.99

Genre: Customization

What is it? 

Papers.co is a Wallpaper customization app for iOS / iPadOS. It features high quality wallpapers for both platforms. 

Pro: 

High Quality Wallpapers

Free

Wide selection of images to choose from

Cons:

No Auto-Rotate

The non-d version is $4 USD 

Ads are intrusive

Papers.co when you enter the app

Thoughts

I like the app but, find the ads especially video ads intrusive and annoying. Also, what is it and Apple apps and their fragmentation. How come this app doesn’t auto-rotate?

Papers.CO when you open the slide out menu. 

Recommendation

I recommend getting this app to download the Super Saiyan Blue Goku wallpaper than uninstalling it (joking). Seriously though, this is an app, and if they decide to fix the cons I mentioned, it could be a great app. 

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Jungle Cruise Trailer | Film

The only kind of Cruise i want to see in 2020 will be this one staring Dwyane Johnson. #Disney #JungleCruise #JungleCruise2020 #TheRock

"Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance." ~ Disney

Look for Jungle Cruise in theaters July 24th, 2020

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New Black Widow Trailer | Film

Scarlett Johansson is back reprising her role as Natasha Romanoff in upcoming #Marvel movie #BlackWidow.

" In the film, Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger." ~ Disney

Look for the Black Widow Film in theaters May 1st 2020.

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Sonic The Hedgehog 2020 - Film Review

Sonic The Hedgehog is nearly 30 years old and only now making his premiere on the big screen in new movie by Sega and Paramount.

#SonicTheHedgehog #Sonic #SonicMovie 

The blue blur is back but this time he isn’t staring in a mediocre gaming adventure or even in a cartoon T.V series. He is starting in a new big screen film along side Jim Carrey. 

Pros

•  The Redesigned Sonic CGI model

•  The Chemistry between Sonic and Tom works

•  Jim Carrey from the 90s returns 

•  Sonic lore Easter eggs are every where

•  Trailers didn't spoil the film 

•  The end credits were masterfully done

Cons

The middle of the film needed more substance

Conflict needed more development 

Predictable plot

Story: 4

The movie opens up with Sonic at a very young age in Green Hill Zone. He is racing through the level like you would while playing the original Sonic The Hedgehog game. He eventually makes it back to his home when he meets up with Long Claw (A Owl who is acting as a maternal figure to him). Soon after the are attacked by what appears to be the echidna clan. They basically Bambi Sonic before he escapes to Green Hill Montana were the majority of the movie takes place. Sonic spends years here unseen by most humans but eventually starts feeling lonely which leads to the events that sets the movie's plot into motion. 

Animation 4.5

I have to hand it to Paramount, they definitely saved face here. The original Sonic CGI model they came up with was horrifying and should have never left the drawing boards. The new CGI model is almost perfect. The one slight flaw is that Sonic’s arms are blue. If you look at all other media of Sonic besides Sonic Boom, Sonic arms match the color of his stomach and mask (maybe there is a reason why they chose this version of sonic to go with...?). Beyond the Sonic The Hedgehog model everything just looks great. 

Audio / Sound 3.5

Ben Schwartz did a awesome job as the voice of Sonic. Originally, I was hoping that they just casted Roger Craig Smith (being that he has been the Voice of Sonic for a while now) but Ben did a great job. Jim Carrey is Dr. Robotnick, and i cant imagine any other actor portraying him now. (Live action wise). He even sounds like him in the final scenes of the film. 

Besides some nostalgic musical cues here and there the music wasn’t that memorable throughout the movie which kinda sucks, being that Sonic games are know for the tunes that you can get out of your head. 

Replay 3.5

This is the type of movie that you want to see more than once, especially if you are a long time Sonic The Hedgehog fan. It is really hard to catch all of the Easter Eggs that they thrown in there for long time fans after a single watch. 

Final Thoughts

Being a long time fan of Sonic The Hedgehog (heck I played all the games or the Genesis on up) I knew I was going to see the movie no matter how bad it is. In the end I was pleased that it wasn’t a train wreck. Was the movie spectacular? No, but i had low expectation from the get go. Sonic The Hedgehog is currently my favorite Video Game Movie to date (Wreck-It Ralph doesn’t count). The only movie i can really compare it to would be Detective Pikachu, and I would give the edge to Sonic The Hedgehog. 

Rating 

15.5 / 20

76%

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Square Enix Releasing another Kingdom Hearts PS4 Bundle | Gaming

Damn Square, how many of these bundles are you gonna push to the PS4? Maybe consider getting the one out to the Xbox platform so the users who brought kh3 over there can catch up.

This Kingdom Hearts bundle will contain all the Kingdom Hearts HD Re-masters so far as well as Kingdom Hearts III. You’ll be about to pick a hard copy up from GameStop on March 17, 2020 for $49.99. 

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Cloudy | Review

Great Weather App for #iOS and #iPadOS

Cloudy App Review

Developer: Ciprian Redinciuc

Platform: iOS / iPadOS

Price: Free w/ Premium Options {Plus = $4.99 a year, Premium = $5.99 a year}

Download Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cloudy-weather-forecast/id1274112191

What is it?

Cloudy is a weather app for iOS and, iPadOS. 

What’s Dope?

-       Free Version of the app without obtrusive ads

-       Clean and to the point

-       Support for the Apple Watch (Requires the premium version) 

The Nope…

-       No Auto Rotate for iPadOS? 

-       Notification Requires Premium version of the app

Design

Overall there isn’t much to complain about when it comes to the design of the app. The colors pop while staying subtle. I’m not sure why the app doesn’t auto rotate on the iPad though.

Features

While I wouldn’t consider this app feature rich, it has everything you will need in a basic weather application. The Plus version of the app gives you access to a few nice additives like Apple Watch support. 

Value

As a free weather app, you cant really ask for more here. It will give you all of the information you need without annoying ads everywhere. At $6 a year it isn’t really a bad deal either for the highest priced version. 

Verdict

This app is dope. Apple doesn’t ship the iPads with a apple weather app, what it shipped with is a weather widget. The weather widget isn’t bad but it basically just a quick link to the weather.com. Cloudy is a good option if you want a free option with out annoying ads. 

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Life Is Strange 2 Full Season Review | Game Review

Once upon a time in a wild, wild, world. There was a story driven game that wasn't perfect but, was well worth the play through none the less.

#LifeIsStrange #LifeIsStrange2 #Gaming

Life is Strange 2 Review

Development Team / Publisher: DONTNOD Ent / Square Enix 

Console: PS4, Xbox One, PC/Steam 

Release Date: Final episode (5 in all) released on December 3rd, 2019

Price: $39.99 

Where to buy: Amazon

Product Description: “After a tragic incident, Brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz run away from home. Fearing the Police, and dealing with Daniel's new telekinetic power, the boys flee to Mexico for safety. Suddenly, sixteen year-old Sean is responsible for Daniel's safety, shelter, and teaching him right from wrong. Sean's choices shape the fates of the Diaz Brothers, and the lives of everyone they meet. The road to Mexico is long and filled with danger. This is the trip that could bond Sean and Daniel forever…or tear their brotherhood apart.” ~ Amazon  Pros: • The Story • Unapologetic about expressing viewpoints from a culture within a tough political time. • Your decisions will matter to the overall plot and the conclusion of the story. • Landscapes and backdrops are a pleasure to the eyes • Recap sections are beautifully done and well narrated Cons: - Graphics and overall character models aren’t anything special. - Voice acting is hit or miss sometimes - Issues with stability and glitches -      Currently no mobile version.. (Android, iOS, Or Nintendo Switch)

What is it? Short answer; It’s like an interactive novel about 2 displaced kids of fall into a series of unfortunate events. In the end your decisions as an older sibling will shape your adventure. Long Answer; In Life is Strange 2 you take control of a teenage Hispanic boy name Sean Diaz, as he looks over his younger brother Daniel Diaz after a series of unfortunate events leads to their father’s death and as well as a death of a police officer. The fear of being caught and blamed for the death of the police officer sends them on the run to their father’s home in Mexico. *** The following may contain plot spoilers; I’ll try to keep them to a minimum *** 

Story: 5

For a game like this to be successful you would have to have a compelling story that will keep the viewer interested in seeing what happens next, especially that they are released in episodes a few months apart. DONTNOD excelled in this aspect, with the first episode alone. Episode 1 introduces the Diaz brothers as well as their father. Right away you are thrown into situations where you must build your character. You will soon see that your younger brother Daniel is always watching. Things start to pick up quickly which force you and Daniel on the run which starts your adventure. Episode 2 will have you seeking refuge at your grandparent’s house. Episode 3 will have you working in the woods on an illegal marijuana farm with a group of misfits. Episode 4 you are separated from Daniel due to the events of episode 3, and it’s your job to do whatever it takes to be reunited with him. Episode 5 is the conclusion.  In Life is Strange 2 you will be forced to deal with racial issues that may hit home for some, or that may cause some to question why they are harboring on political issues. Personally, I love that they did this, because regardless what some may think people deal with issues like this daily.

Graphics: 3.0

Visuals are a mixed bag here, on one side of the spectrum you have gorgeous landscapes, and beautiful hand drawn sections when recapping previous episodes. On the other side you have last gen foreground and character models.   

Audio: 4

Voice acting has its highs and lows, but it isn’t as cringe worthy as the first Life is Strange game. I feel the narrated sections at the beginning of episode 2-5 are some of the best of the series. The Indie music isn’t exactly my cup of tea, but it fits so I have no complaints here.

Gameplay: 3.5

While not the most fluid experience it is still the best compared to the other Life is Strange games. I had a few glitches during my original playthrough like; loosing save data after episode 2 hand having to start all over again, Getting stuck in the Christmas Market in Episode 2, Frozen Camera, as well as lots of character clipping. I have to say now that I’m not experiencing this anymore.

Replay: 4.5

With a total of 7 different endings plus a few different collectables to pick up along the way there are plenty of reasons to step back into the world of Life is Strange 2. I am currently on my 3rd play-through trying to get all the Xbox Achievements and I’m still loving the story.

Final Thoughts

Life Is Strange is a series I never pictured myself coming back to, due to the first one not resonating with me. I was wrong… Life is Strange 2 was so worth the time and money I spent on it. I like how the game focused the story more on Sean and Daniel’s relationship rather than on Daniel’s telekinetic abilities. I also like how they didn’t shy away from social issues dealing with race, and religion, due to the political climate we live in today, rather they chose to embrace it and use it as a driving force for the plot.  I never expected an episodic graphic novel type game would be one of my favorite games of 2019, but it is. Great work guys!!!

Recommendation:

If you like story driven games that will send your emotions all over the place, this game is perfect for you. This game is also great for those who enjoy decision-based games, or for those who enjoyed the first Life is Strange.

Score: 

20/25

80

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Bersem Paper-Like (For iPad 2018 12.9) | Review

Yo! iPad Artist, you need this...

#iPad #Apple #iPadstuff #Bersem #Paperlike

Bersem Paper-Like Film Protector

Platform: iPad Pro 2018

Manufacturer: Bersem

Price: $33.99 | Amazon Price: $20.99 (Currently on sale plus you get an extra 10% off now on Amazon) – Purchase Link

What is it?

Paper-Like as the name implies, is a paper like film that you can place on your iPad / iPad Pro to make it feel like paper. This film protects your iPad from scratches as well and diffuses reflections due to its Matte Finish.  

Pros:

·       It feels like paper.

·        You receive 2 films in the package.

·       There is a slight resistance when writing and drawing with the apple pencil.

·       This film has a matte finish that diffuses reflections so you can enjoy your iPad in brightly lit areas.

·       Doesn’t interfere with the iPad or the Apple Pencil features.

Cons:

-          Not the cheapest screen protector out there.

-          Applying the screen protector requires time and patients.

-          The iPad display doesn’t seem as vibrant as it was before I applied the screen protector. (This may just be me) 

Thoughts

From someone who is used to drawing with mechanical pencils and a $8 sketch book from Wal-Mart, there was a learning curb picking up an iPad and drawing on it. The screen was too smooth and leaving a slight disconnect between me and, the drawing experience. I looked for solutions online and a Matte screen protector seem to be what most recommended. Paper-Like was the most popular, so I invested. All in all, Paper-Like work just fine. I like the slight resistance I get while using the Apple Pencil as well as the Anti-Glare screen protector.

Recommendation

This is a must for iPad artist, unless you don’t like the feel of Paper. 

Rating

****

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AMD Announces Workstation Grade Graphic Card | Technology

AMD has really been shaking up the PC Market with its processors and graphics cards. Now they are pushing Workstation grade graphic cards. 

"The AMD Radeon Pro W5700 graphics card is powered by Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise 19.Q4, AMD's enterprise-grade software that is stress-tested to be ready for demanding 24/7 environments, with extensive OEM platform testing and comprehensive ISV certification testing delivering the quality professionals demand." ~ AMD

Thoughts

If Intel and Nvidia didn't take AMD too seriously in the past, they are watching wide-eyed now. AMD has been killing it lately with its products, by making them competitive performance wise (sometimes even besting Intel and Nvidia) as well as undercutting the price that are offered by Intel and Nvidia. Team Red is taking over... 

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