Some Steam Deck customers are calling on Valve to alter the packaging that the console is delivered in after reports of consoles seemingly disappearing during shipment. As reported by PC Gamer , Reddit user u/Defenex created a thread detailing their package having been marked as 'delivered' by FedEx, despite it never arriving at their property. They say that "After a couple of days Fedex comes back and says that their research is complete, their records indicate the package was delivered, and to contact the shipper (Valve) to initiate lost package procedures"
The same thread was later updated to reflect that the Steam Deck finally arrived after an investigation into its disappearance, but it did spark a conversation about similar incidents, during which it was suggested Valve should update the packaging for the console to help conceal its contents.
We should note that there's no evidence to suggest that this particular customer was the victim of attempted theft. Shipments go missing or get delayed for numerous reasons, so while it's reasonable to worry about an expensive gadget disappearing during transit, the fault may lay more with ordering systems, logistics or plain human error rather than theft.
There are numerous unboxing videos for the Steam Deck online that show lithium battery and "fragile electronics" logos, indicating that a potentially expensive gadget is inside. The only official reference to the Steam Deck, or even Valve, on the packaging however, is a discreet Companion Cube that featured in the Portal franchise, located alongside other safety information on the side.
Some users are claiming that Valve originally shipped the Steam Deck out in packaging that displayed the handheld on the box art, though we can't find any evidence that this style of packaging was used. If you're facing a scenario where your Steam Deck has disappeared despite being marked as delivered then you should file a support ticket with Valve as well as contacting the courier service. In the above case, Valve refunded the customer in full before their Steam Deck was eventually delivered, but we're unclear if there's a specific procedure to follow if your own package goes missing. We have reached out to Valve for additional information.
Analysis: don't misdirect your frustrations
It's easy to jump to the worst conclusions when a delivery you've been waiting on fails to arrive, but any mass fulfillment is rarely achieved with zero issues. While the Reddit user who started the original thread was initially displeased with the outcome, Valve really isn't the party at fault.
After raising the issue with the Steam Deck manufacturer, they received a full refund for the value of the product, and while a replacement unit would have been more beneficial to the customer, we don't know if Valve actually has a surplus of these to send out in these circumstances (and fortunately their console did turn up). Valve explained: “We have been working hard to increase the number of Steam Decks we can produce this year, and we now have more clarity on our longer term production schedule".
The packaging is also pretty inconspicuous, minus the Companion Cube along the side. We certainly wouldn't advise that safety messages regarding the contents being fragile and containing li-ion batteries be removed, as that brings more risk that the devices could arrive broken, and could pose safety issues for anyone handling the packages.
Still, if you have to re-order a Steam deck using refunded cash, you're going to be waiting for some time to get your hands on it, as it's likely that any fresh reservations will get a Q4 2022 or even 2023 delivery date .
Why aren't Netflix's Marvel shows available in 4K on Disney Plus?
Disney has revealed why the Netflix Marvel shows launched without 4K and Dolby Atmos support on Disney Plus.
With Netflix's Marvel TV series migrating to Disney Plus on March 16 , fans had been looking forward to streaming Daredevil, Jessica Jones and company with the best picture and sound quality possible. However, many were left disappointed when they opened Disney's streaming platform to find that the six former Netflix shows are only available in HD with Dolby 5.1 audio support.
Frustrated by the move, fans took to social media – including Reddit and Twitter – to voice their displeasure. Given that most of the Marvel movies are available to stream in IMAX Enhanced mode , and MCU shows including Loki are viewable in 4K, this seems like an oversight on Disney's part.
We reached out to Disney directly to find out why the Netflix Marvel shows had not launched with 4K and Dolby Atmos support. And, while Disney declined to provide an official statement, the world-renowned entertainment corporation told TechRadar that there was one major reason why all six series weren't yet available in UHD.
In order to release the shows as early as possible on Disney Plus, the decision was taken to add Netflix's Defenders-Verse – now known as The Defenders Saga – to the streaming service with HD/SDR support only.
Disney added that it would introduce full UHD/4K and Dolby Atmos support soon, but declined to offer a concrete launch date for these features. It seems that this is the company's official line on the matter, too, with the Disney Plus Help Twitter account offering a similar response to online fan queries:
Analysis: when will Netflix's Marvel shows get 4K support on Disney Plus?
It's unclear when the Netflix Marvel shows will finally receive 4K and Dolby Atmos support, but we don't suspect it'll be a long wait. Such features are already available on numerous Disney Plus Originals, including The Mandalorian and Hawkeye . And we'd be shocked if upcoming shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Moon Knight aren't similarly supported.
It'll be interesting to see if any other non-Marvel Studios productions will follow suit, too. Currently, movies starring Marvel characters like Deadpool and Wolverine – who aren't part of the MCU yet – haven't been made available to stream on Disney Plus. Given that Disney owns the rights to these characters again following its acquisition of 21st Century Fox in March 2019, though, non-MCU films including the X-Men movies should work their way to Disney Plus in time.
If they do, we'll be curious to learn if Deadpool 1 and 2, plus Fox's X-Men flicks, are made available in 4k/UHD as soon as they land on Disney's streaming service. If they are supported from the get go, it'll make Disney's decision to release the Netflix Marvel shows without 4K and Dolby Atmos support all the more baffling.
For more Marvel-based content, check out the Ms Marvel release date and trailer announcement (if you somehow missed it). And read up on what we consider to be the 30 best superhero movies of all time .
3 and a half big iPhone 14 design changes that rumors have us excited for
We've been hearing non-stop iPhone 14 leaks and rumors, which is pretty curious because the phone is only expected to launch in September - months and months away.
But the spring showers of iPhone news has been good for one thing - it's given us an early indication as to what changes Apple could make from its last devices, the iPhone 13 family, when making the new quartet.
You're a busy person, so you don't want to wade through countless pages of iPhone 14 news to find out about the new devices. That's why we've come up with this list of three rumors which sound pretty likely - as well as one that's still quite up in the air.
The notch is off
The first is the most divisive - the notch could go.
The notch is the bump at the top of the screen that houses the front-facing cameras and Face ID sensor, you can see the iPhone 13 Pro Max 's above. Most Android makers have been on a quest to reduce the amount of front-phone real estate that isn't taken up by screen, and it sounds like Apple could be joining in.
Since the notch takes a huge chunk out of the screen, lots of people complain about it - but it sounds like Apple could follow suit from Android makers by losing it, and instead using a punch-hole camera. You can see what this looks like on the Samsung Galaxy S22 below.
Leaks suggest the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have a pill-shaped one to hold multiple Face ID sensors, and a few brands like Huawei and Motorola have done something like this before. There may also be a smaller circular cut-out. It's a solution which cuts lots of the space out of the display, but not as much as a notch.
Note that most leaks suggest the standard iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Max will still have a notch though.
Bigger rear camera bump
It sounds like the iPhone 14 camera bump will be bigger than the one on the iPhone 13 series, but for quite a good reason - it sounds like Apple will bump its 12MP main sensor up to a 48MP one.
Those pixels all need somewhere to go, which is why it sounds like the iPhone 14 camera bump will get the size increase. Rumors suggest the rear bump that houses the lenses will be both thicker and wider, while keeping the square shape.
This will be most noticeable on the Pro phones, which already have pretty big camera blocks, but perhaps the other cameras will get a downgrade to balance this out. This is another change that might only come to the Pro models.
Mini in the bin(i)
Pour one out for the iPhone 13 mini , because it sounds like Apple is pouring it... out of its iPhone range.
That's right, plenty of rumors say the iPhone mini is getting ditched, after just two years in the family. It's apparently getting dropped to make way for an iPhone 14 Max, which will have the same specs as the iPhone 14 (and therefore the same that the mini would have had) but be the size of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
We get the thinking - this means that when you pick your new iPhone 14, you choose what size you want it to be, and what spec configuration you want it to be, and easily get handed one. You don't need to wrangle all the different specs and sizes of the devices.
And people who want the iPhone 14 mini could just get the iPhone SE (2022) instead, which is also a small and powerful iPhone. Sure, it's not great looking, but it's cheaper too.
Bonus point: a titanium phone?
An iPhone rumor from the distant past - by that we mean mid-2021 - suggested that the iPhone 14 Pro models could be made of the super-strong metal titanium. It's worth pointing out that the iPhone 13 hadn't launched when we heard this.
A titanium iPhone would be incredibly strong against drops and knocks, as the metal is a hardy premium one - according to David Guetta you can shoot it and it won't fall (I think he was using it as a weird metaphor there though).
However a strong material comes at a high price, and we'd imagine a titanium iPhone would come at quite the premium - Apple does make titanium Apple Watches and they're the priciest of the lot.
Plus, although this was one of the earliest iPhone 14 design rumors we heard, it's actually the only time we heard it. All the other information we've discussed hear has been mentioned ad nauseam by loads of sources, so this seems a little bit dubious - that's why it's a bonus point.