Latest news with #NintendoGameBoy
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariffs hit retro gaming: Anbernic suspends console shipments to US
US tariffs are having tangible effects in consumer tech, with handheld console maker Anbernic announcing it will suspend shipments to the United States. 'Due to changes in US tariff policies, we will be suspending all orders shipping from China to the United States starting today,' Anbernic's website said. Anbernic produces retro handhelds, including several models heavily indebted to the design of classic Nintendo Game Boy models. The consoles are manufactured in China, making them subject to Donald Trump's newly announced 145 per cent tariff on imported goods. While some consumer tech categories, such as smartphones and laptops, have been granted a temporary 90-day exemption from the tariffs, game consoles are notably not included. It's not game over for US fans of Anbernic's popular handhelds. The company still operates a US-based warehouse and advises American customers to choose this delivery option when ordering. 'We strongly recommend prioritising products shipped from our US warehouse, which are currently not affected by import duties and can be purchased with confidence,' Anbernic said. However, this is only a temporary workaround, as the consoles stocked in Anbernic's US warehouse are still manufactured in China — and therefore still subject to the tariff. Anbernic distributes its products through other retailers, including Amazon, in the US and the UK. It's not the only retro handheld maker affected by the tariffs either: just last week, rival brand Retroid announced limited availability of its new RP Classic console for US buyers. 'All shipping agencies will not accept US-bound packages from China, starting 4/25/25. What does this mean? Suppliers are being overwhelmed with "emergency orders" from all businesses. As such, we will not be receiving our orders for the Teal, Kiwi and Berry shells, prior to 4/25/25,' Retroid wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 'This means that US customers will not be able to receive their orders for these colourways.' One X user asked whether the paused US shipments will be temporary, to which Retroid's account replied: 'We really don't know.' Retro handheld makers offer a compelling case study in how tariffs impact consumer tech. Unlike major categories like smartphones and laptops, these devices weren't granted a 90-day exemption, and, crucially, their development cycles tend to be much shorter than those of industry giants like Samsung, Apple, or Nintendo. It's a fast-moving, highly competitive market where pricing is critical. But what about the handheld generating the most buzz — the Nintendo Switch 2? After initially delaying US pre-orders, Nintendo has confirmed that it won't raise the base price of the Switch 2 for American buyers, at least not yet. However, accessories haven't escaped the impact of tariffs. The Switch 2 dock price has increased from $110 (£82) to $120 (£90), while a pair of Joy-Con controllers now costs $95 (£71), up from $90 (£67). Switch 2 is primarily manufactured in China, but it's estimated that around a third of the inventory is being produced in Vietnam. Reports suggest a million units were shipped from Vietnam to the US in early 2025. While China remains subject to a steep 145 per cent tariff under the latest US trade measures, Vietnam briefly faced a 46 per cent rate, announced by Trump, before the increase was delayed on April 9. For now, Vietnamese-made goods are subject to a standard 10 per cent tariff, making Vietnam a strategic production alternative for Nintendo.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo remembers 48-year-old gorilla, fifth oldest in US before passing
DENVER (KDVR) — The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo had to say goodbye to a longtime friend and familiar face, the 48-year-old gorilla Roxie, who was humanely euthanized on Tuesday due to her age affecting her health. Roxie, who the zoo called their 'Gorilla Icon,' was the fifth oldest Western lowland gorilla in the U.S. and the third oldest female among the species. She was the zoo's oldest animal companion and had spent her whole life alongside generations of gorilla friends, staff and visitors alike after being born at the zoo in 1976, four years before CDs, camcorders and the Nintendo Game Boy. Your love for the Nuggets may cause your password to be leaked: Study The zoo said Roxie never had the opportunity to be a mother but became the perfect 'cool aunt' that was integral to the cohesiveness and upbringing of the gorilla troop, whose species is critically endangered. Roxie became the aunt to a 32-year-old female, Asha, and loved to wrestle and play with her when she was a baby. She also became a pillar for 32-year-old female Kwisha, who was relocated to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo after her birth mother didn't accept her at eight months old. Her love for Asha manifested in a new generation when she was able to love on and play with Asha's offspring, her daughter Tumani and her son Dembe, who were eventually relocated to another Association of Zoos and Aquariam accredited zoo. She also played matchmaker by helping to integrate Goma, a male silverback, into the troop. The zoo said her calm, gentle but respectable dominance helped Goma learn how to interact with the other females of the troop, as well as allowing the females to see her interacting in a positive way with Goma to relieve fear. 'She was the first gorilla we ever saw have a tickle fight with Goma,' said Primate World keeper Ashton Asbury in a press release. 'Goma and Roxie shared a special relationship. She gave him grace and reacted calmly to his natural displays, which helped the troop's level of calmness during some of those introductions, but she also banded with other females to help him learn limits.' Roxie was known for her ornery nature, constantly tapping on her troop's behinds when trying to initiate play. The zoo said even in her old age, she would beat her chest, clap and make excited grumbles when the keepers would come train with her. 'I think about how much her life and world changed over the years, and how much our profession has advanced in terms of animal welfare during Roxie's life,' said Debbie Fenton, senior keeper in Primate World. Fenton has worked with Roxie for 20 years. 'She taught us that you can teach an older gorilla new husbandry tactics and make things better together. She became quite the expert at participating in her own care.' The day Roxie passed was a heavy day, not only for the zoo staff but for her troop as well. Gorillas are highly intelligent and social creatures who will feel the void left by Roxie. After she had passed, the keepers brought Asha, Kwisha and Goma to her to try and help them understand the absence of Roxie. Keepers said they are going to closely monitor the troop as they adapt without Roxie, whose legacy will carry on with the troop of three. Of The Trees confirms rumors of new music festival in Colorado mountain town The zoo said it wants to have the public honor her legacy and the lives of the endangered species by having visitors recycle small electronic devices at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. More information about the zoo can be found on the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
29-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Hyundai facing legal action over car that can be stolen ‘effortlessly in seconds'
The motor manufacturer Hyundai faces legal action over allegations it failed to warn its customers that one of its most popular models of electric cars could be stolen 'effortlessly in seconds'. Elliott Ingram, an expert in digital security, was stunned when a CCTV camera installed at his home recorded a hooded thief stealing his Hyundai Ioniq 5 car in less than 20 seconds. The thief is believed to have used a device, available online, to mimic the car's electronic key. It is the latest in a spate of thefts involving the vehicle, and many owners now resort to a steering lock. Ingram's car was later recovered by police, but he is terminating the lease and seeking compensation from the motor company. He says the South Korean car giant should have alerted customers to the security vulnerabilities. 'This security system has been completely blown open, so anyone can attack it,' he said. 'It's no longer fit for purpose.' Hyundai promotes the convenience of its digital and smart keys, which allow motorists to lock or unlock the doors and start the engine while carrying just a key fob or digital key. The new technology includes several security measures but can be defeated by criminal gangs. Ingram discovered a key emulator device being marketed online for €15,000 (£12,500), which claimed to be able to gain entry to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and a number of other models. The physical appearance of the device is based on the Nintendo Game Boy games console, and it can be operated in either English or Russian. 'The device records the signal from the car and within 10 seconds to two minutes completely [duplicates] the native one,' says the website promoting the device. 'The key can be stored in the device's memory. Open, close, start and go at any time.' The Observer revealed last year that the car industry ignored warnings more than a decade ago that keyless technology risked a surge in vehicle thefts. Experts warned keyless systems could be 'successfully undermined' and vehicles stolen without forced entry. Ingram, 38, who lives in north London, says Hyundai had warned him of other modifications the vehicle required, but failed to alert him and other motorists that its security systems were compromised. He intends to file a claim against the company over the theft unless he receives compensation, citing a breach of the Consumer Rights Act. In a letter to Hyundai, he wrote: 'The thief was able to enter the vehicle and steal it effortlessly in seconds. Had I been informed of this specific security risk, I could have taken additional deterrent measures, such as installing a secondary immobiliser or using a steering lock.' He said the motoring manufacturer should 'urgently inform' its customers of the vulnerability and ways to avoid theft until the security risk is remedied. Hyundai said in its response to Ingram that there was an industry-wide issue of organised criminal groups deploying electronic devices to illegally override smart key locking systems. It said it was working with police to understand more about the devices and track vehicles as possible. Hyundai said its vehicles met all the required security standards for the UK market, and it was developing updates to reduce the risk of keyless thefts. It said vehicles sold from February 2024 have the latest updates to 'mitigate' risk and it was working on offering retrospective action to customers with cars placed in the UK market before February 2024. Car thefts in England and Wales have risen from 70,053 in the year to March 2014 to 129,127 in the year to March 2024, a rise of 84%. According to the 2022 to 2023 Crime Survey for England and Wales, remote devices were used by offenders in 40% of vehicle thefts. Under the crime and policing bill currently going through parliament, a ban on the electronic devices used to steal vehicles with keyless ignition will be introduced. Under the new laws, anyone who is found in possession of such a device, or to have manufactured, imported or distributed them, could receive five years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Ministers hope the new laws will disrupt the distribution of car theft devices to organised crime groups. The RAC says car thefts are driving higher insurance costs and the new laws 'cannot come soon enough'. Ken Munro, a founding partner of Pen Test Partners, a cyber security testing house, said car manufacturers were improving car security, but there was a lucrative criminal industry in designing products that exploit 'cracks' in the technology. 'The average car thief doesn't need to be a hacker,' he said. 'They just need to buy a product that allows them to hack and steal a car.' Hyundai said it was working hard to combat the thieves, but was not planning a recall of any vehicles. 'The software and hardware updates that we have and are implementing will significantly reduce the risk of this particular form of vehicle theft occurring in the UK,' said a spokesperson. 'However, this is a race against very determined, well-funded individuals who stop at nothing to steal vehicles for multiple purposes.'
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The YouTubers who brought Pokémon to Chorleywood
Chloe Webb was explaining how she recently sold a Pokémon card in her shop for £40,000 when a young boy and his dad politely interrupted to ask for her since the 31-year-old quit her office job and opened Collector's Cardhouse in the picturesque Hertfordshire village of Chorleywood in April, it has become a destination for fans around the world."Every week we have an international visitor - Japan, America, United Arab Emirates - I've made so many friends all over the world, which is crazy to me because I never used to leave my little bubble when I had a normal job," she says."I live, breathe, and eat Pokémon." "I've travelled everywhere around the world, made lifelong friends," she adds. "It has completely transformed every part of my life and I've got a really successful business now because of it." The Japanese franchise started life in 1996 on the Nintendo Game Boy, with players having to catch, train and battle virtual monsters called Pokémon. When it arrived on UK shores in 1999, it had evolved. There was an animated series and packets of trading cards were available at most newsagents across the country. That's when Mrs Webb, from Watford, became a began a business with her husband, Harry, selling the cards online just before the pandemic. During lockdown, it "really blew up". Mrs Webb started making YouTube videos under the name "PokiChloe" to reach new couple joined forces with another Youtuber, Dean Leander - AKA PokeDean - to open a physical her Youtube channel, which mostly shows daily life in her Chorleywood shop, has more than 118,000 subscribers. In recent years, Pokémon cards have become valuable collectors' items and many shop visitors hope they too could be sitting on a gold year, a Nottinghamshire man made £55,000 when he sold a collection of cards from the 1990s and a collector from Suffolk failed to sell his fourth print Charizard card when it did not reach it's reserve of £8, Webb explained: "It could be anything that makes a card collectable. "It could be that they're rare... It could be that it's a really popular Pokémon."Sometimes overnight prices change on cards and I can't tell you why that card is now valuable." Sometimes cards worth up to £100,000 have been brought into the shop, although PokiChloe admits the big sums no longer surprise her. "It's going to sound really awful: I'm very used to it now," she says. "It is very surreal to think that this little bit of cardboard is worth that sort of money because to some people that's a deposit for a house - that could buy them two or three cars."But with what we do now we're exposed to it. Often it's just another day and another Pokémon card." Many of the visitors who arrive at Collector's Cardhouse come with large binders tucked under their arms filled with cards they stashed away in their childhood. Many of these collections are, unfortunately, not worth anything. If, however, PokiChloe does deem a card valuable, it then has to be "graded".The process involves sending the card to a grading company who analyse it for signs of wear and then award it a graded score, usually out of 10, which denotes its quality and potential compared those cards that get a 10 to "gold dust"."It has to be completely clean," she says. "There can't be scratches on the holographic part, there can't be any whitening or damage on the back, it can't be creased. It has to be perfect like it's never been touched before."We had a Charizard that was graded a 10. It was a special card that was given out to employees at Creatures, who own Pokémon. I think there's only 300 of them and we had a 10 and we sold it for just under £40,000." Mrs Webb said a common misunderstanding is that a card has to be old to be valuable."There are packs that you could open today from the shop that cost you about £30," she says."If you got the best card in the set and it was graded a 10, you'd be looking at a couple of thousand."And they're cards that only came out a few years ago. So they're not even what we would call vintage. They're modern cards."A graded card, regardless of how damaged it is, is sealed in plastic to preserve its condition. Mrs Webb said: "We get people that send off cards that aren't in good condition. They just want to encapsulate it and keep it as a memory. So that's quite nice to see."I know the money is a big part of it and obviously people are blown away by the prices, but for some people it's about the memories, the nostalgia and just having some memories from when they were kids." Next year Pokémon is celebrating its 30th anniversary. PokiChloe has ambitious plans for the future of Collector's Cardhouse."I want to keep this growing," she says."If you'd asked me about this five years ago I wouldn't have believed it. I used to work in an office, I had a very normal job before this, and now this is my life... So, as long as people enjoy it, I'm going to keep doing it." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
