Pocket-lint Daily - Samsung S23 Ultra & the end of E3?

Hello there! By Chris Hall | Tuesday January 31 2023 Hello there. - If you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [Facebook]([Twitter]([Instagram]( [Website](  Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photos join a growing list of leaks as launch nears UNIVERSEICE What's happened? Samsung is set to announce the Galaxy S23 lineup in a day's time but the phones continue to [leak like crazy]( ahead of time. Why does it matter? Samsung has the new Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra up its sleeve, all set to be announced on 1 February. But, those phones haven't been quite far enough up that sleeve, with leaks happening left and right. What's my take? Samsung is about to unveil its 2023 flagship phones but we're wondering how much there will be to reveal. The images shared are now of such high quality, that there's no doubt about their authenticity. But, the hands-on photo is certainly eye-catching. It looks like the Galaxy S23 Ultra is basically going to be the same as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. As good as it looks, with ever-demanding fans be happy with what Samsung offers? That's the danger with leaks: while there's plenty of get excited about, it's too easy to reach a conclusion before anything is actually confirmed.  Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox will not be at E3, claim reports SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT What's happened? The big three videogame companies with major consoles to their name are apparently [all planning to skip this year's E3 conference in LA](. Why does it matter? This is the first time in a few years that E3 will actually be a physical show, after a lengthy pause initiated by the first wave of lockdowns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it could be a bit of a blow. What's my take? COVID has had an impact on lots of physical events and E3 seems to be suffering. It was, at one time, the most exciting computer games show in the calendar. But, companies have realised they can draw huge captive audiences of fans online - without the barrier of having to get to a show in LA. Of course, media outlets bemoan the democratisation of events, but at the same time, many are also now used to covering events from the office. The downside is that access to some of these games for previews might not be as extensive, but for the companies involved, they know that the money they spend on an online launch is all for them - rather than having the overhead of being at a trade show and competing with rival brands.  Apple HomePod (2nd generation, 2023) review POCKET-LINT What's happened? The original HomePod was announced in 2018, following Amazon's Echo and Alexa in 2014 and Google Home in 2016. It was late to the party you could say, so it should have been super-smart to compete. But, despite Siri being the first personal assistant (launching in 2011) - and arguably funnier than both Alexa and Google Assistant - it had limitations. This meant the HomePod smart speaker wasn't as smart as its competitors, even if it sounded fantastic. So, can the 2023 HomePod deliver more with its feature set, as well as sound quality this time around? Our quick verdict If you want one of the best sounding smart speakers out there - if not the best - the Apple HomePod more than delivers. If it's the smart features you're after though, Google Assistant and Alexa speakers are simpler and have greater compatibility, even if that could very well change for Apple with Matter in the future. [Read our review.](  In Case You Missed it Nothing phone (2) [confirmed]( for a US launch in 2023. --- Is [Uncharted 5]( in development after all? --- There's $400 off the LG 55-inch 2022 QNED85 4K TV, [coming in at $996.99](instead of $1399.99. You'll save 29% the TV with a 120Hz refresh rate that has Alexa built-in, Dolby Vison IQ and Dolby Atmos.  From The Gear Loop DEUTSCHE BAHN AG GEORG WAGNER Taking the train to the ski slopes: [A greener way to getting your piste fix](.  And finally... PARAMOUNT Follow the journey of the Dutton family from 1883 to the present day with our comprehensive [watch guide for Yellowstone](.  Have you checked out our weekly podcast that comes out every Friday? It's packed with news, interviews, and top things to get. You can subscribe to the Pocket-lint Podcast via [iTunes]( and [Spotify](,  or access it on the web via [Acast](. We chew over the news of Goldeneye 007 coming back, look forward to Galaxy Unpacked, and give our opinions on the MacBook Pro, Surface Pro 9, and more. [Listen to the latest episode today.]( Thanks for reading - if you're enjoying the email, why not get a friend to sign up too, so they can also be in the know? Get them to [sign up here.]( [The Trust Project] [Why you can trust Pocket-lint]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL}. Click here to modify your [preferences]( or [unsubscribe](.