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by Billy Steele on (#6EVG7)
When Apple previews the upcoming version of iOS at WWDC, we expect to see all of the new features that will improve the iPhone. However, it's not guaranteed that the company will take that opportunity to also update its popular wireless earbuds. But, alongside the arrival of iOS 17, a firmware update adds a few new features to the second-gen AirPods Pro, most of which will automatically adjust to your environment or activity so you don't have to touch the earbuds or reach for your phone.The headline addition is Adaptive Audio, a tool that automatically and dynamically" blends transparency mode and active noise cancellation (ANC) based on your surroundings. Apple says it will change the noise control settings continuously throughout the day, making the proper adjustments as you move to different settings. Thanks to the H2 chip in the AirPods Pro, the earbuds use a combination of computational audio and machine learning algorithms that can discern between consistent and transitory noise. The technology inside of the earbuds also accounts for whether you're stationary or in motion, and if you're listening to music or taking a call when making its automatic adjustments.The whole idea is for this to happen without you really noticing. When there's a change in your surroundings, Adaptive Audio gradually starts tweaking the blend of ANC and transparency. So if you enter a loud coffee shop or sit near a noisy A/C unit, AirPods Pro gently increases the level of noise cancellation to combat the clamor. The point is to smooth the transition, so the change in cancellation level doesn't become a distraction itself.Indeed, unless you're really listening for the fluctuations or you encounter loud noise, you won't notice them. It gradually increased ANC when I was washing dishes at the sink or grinding coffee to keep the audio where I could hear it clearly. But it also swung back to the transparency mode I previously had active when I ventured into a quieter spot. It works very well and it's not jarring at all thanks to the gentle, but still quick, transition.Photo by Billy Steele/EngadgetBefore, you could switch between transparency mode and ANC by pressing and holding the AirPods Pro stem. You could also reconfigure one of those to just turn noise control completely off. Apple will allow you to swap one of the options that are accessible on the earbuds with Adaptive Audio, but the company is keeping it to only two settings via the on-board controls. As you might expect, Adaptive Audio is accessible through the Control Center where the AirPods options have been re-organized. There's a noise control section that expands to give you access to transparency, Adaptive Audio, ANC and off just below the volume slider.The next new feature is Personalized Volume. This uses machine learning to understand environmental conditions and listening preferences over time to automatically fine-tune the media experience," according to Apple. It's another layer of hands-off adjustment that AirPods Pro will do when you move from one place to the next. However, the over time" part means I haven't used it long enough to really notice a difference. After only a few days of testing, I can't say I've encountered a time where the adjustment was obvious. Maybe the feature needs more time to learn my preferences or maybe Apple's claims that you'll barely notice the difference are true. Either way, I'm not comfortable weighing the merits just yet. Personalized Volume is enabled via the AirPods Pro settings menu, just above the option for Loud Sound Reduction.A handy new tool that I can see quickly becoming popular is Conversation Awareness. When you start talking, this feature automatically lowers the volume or pauses, focuses on voices in front of you and reduces background noise. It's similar to Sony's Speak-to-Chat, only that it completely pauses media when it detects your voice. Here, Apple reduces volume when you're listening to music and pauses things like podcasts and audiobooks. The main issue with Sony's version is it's easily triggered by light coughs or clearing your throat. After a few days of testing, Conversation Awareness is less susceptible to false positives, unless you're really hacking. And if you find you don't like it, you can disable it entirely in the AirPod Pro settings.I was skeptical at first, but I quickly got on board with Apple's decision to reduce volume rather than stop a song completely. It's certainly less jarring, and the feature returns to your previous volume about three seconds after it no longer senses your voice or the person you're speaking to. I'm sure there are some users who'd prefer a complete pause for all media, those who don't want to talk over something in the background. But this is meant for quick convos rather than extended chats, and for that reason I'm OK with Apple's implementation.The only issue currently with Conversation Awareness is volume reduces on podcasts first when you start talking and pauses a few seconds after. It's a bit clunky, and I think it would be smoother to just gently decrease the volume to zero. Thankfully, it works outside of Apple Podcasts with apps like Pocket Casts so you don't have to worry if you're not 100 percent in Apple's ecosystem.All of the features so far are exclusive to the second-generation AirPods Pro with the H2 chip. However, Apple is making improvements to other models too. For both versions of the AirPods Pro, third-gen AirPods and the AirPods Max, Apple improved automatic switching between the company's various devices. This means faster and more reliable changeover between listening to music on your Mac and taking a call on your iPhone, for example. This update also requires iPadOS 17 and/or macOS Sonoma, depending on your stable of devices, for you to notice the difference. I do not have an iPad or Mac running those yet, so I was unable to test Apple's claims here.Photo by Billy Steele/EngadgetApple also added a mute function to the most recent AirPods, both models of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Simply press the stem or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max to mute or unmute yourself during calls. It's straightforward, but it's also a welcome update. You'll see a banner and hear a chime every time you change the microphone state, so Apple will make it clear which setting you're on via two cues on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Developers working on video- and voice-calling apps will be able to implement this functionality as well through CallKit on iOS. So in addition to being able to press to mute with Phone and FaceTime, you will be able to do so on other popular apps like Skype, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and WeChat. Apple says a Mute API will be available for macOS apps as well.Apple doesn't typically offer such a robust update to AirPods alongside the annual iOS refresh. However, the additions of Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness expand the toolset of the most recent AirPods Pro so that you spend even less time physically pressing buttons to interact with them. And you can decide whether or not you even want to use them at all. I'll bet you will though, especially at times when your hands are full or you might've stepped away from your phone.The new AirPods Pro features are now available in the iOS 17 public beta. If you're okay waiting, the official release of the AirPods Pro firmware update will be available later today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/airpods-pro-adaptive-audio-preview-automatically-adjusting-to-your-day-130051605.html?src=rss
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by Devindra Hardawar on (#6EVG8)
These days when we talk about what's next for chip design, we focus on things like cramming in more cores, increasing clock speeds, shrinking transistors and 3D stacking. We rarely think about the package substrate, which holds and connects those components. Today Intel, in the midst of its reinvention as a foundry company, has announced it's made a major breakthrough in substrate materials-and it's all about glass.The company says its new glass substrate, which is set to arrive in advanced chip designs later this decade, will be stronger and more efficient than existing organic materials. Glass will also allow the company to cram more chiplets and other components next to each other, something that could lead to flexing and instability with an existing silicon package using organic materials."Glass substrates can tolerate higher temperatures, offer 50% less pattern distortion, and have ultra-low flatness for improved depth of focus for lithography, and have the dimensional stability needed for extremely tight layer-to-layer interconnect overlay," Intel said in a press release. With these capabilities, the company claims glass substrates will also lead to a ten-fold increase in interconnect density, as well as allow for "ultra-large form-factor packages with very high assembly yields."IntelWe're slowly beginning to see what Intel's future chips could actually look like. Two years ago, the company announced its "gate-all-around" transistor design, RibbonFET, as well as PowerVia, which would let Intel move power delivery to the rear of a chip wafer. At the same time, Intel also announced it would be building chips for Qualcomm and Amazon's AWS service.Intel says we'll see chips using glass substrates in areas in high performance areas first, like AI, graphics and data centers. The glass breakthrough is another sign that Intel is ramping up its advanced packaging capabilities for its US foundries, as well. That's something TSMC is reportedly stumbling on with its Phoenix, Arizona plant, which will require shipping chip materials back to Taiwan for advanced packaging.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/intel-seems-pretty-excited-about-glass-substrates-130016423.html?src=rss
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by Nathan Ingraham on (#6EVG9)
When Sonos released its first portable speaker, the Move, four years ago, it was an anomaly. Previously, the company had looked down on Bluetooth as low-quality and unreliable, and all of the speakers it sold required a power outlet. The Move, on the other hand, used Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and had a 10-hour battery.In 2023, these tricks have proliferated across the Sonos lineup. The more affordable Roam speaker brought the Move's feature set to a much smaller device, while recent home speakers like the Era 100 and 300 both support Bluetooth, as well. As such, the recently-announced Move 2 doesn't suggest a new direction for future Sonos products - it simply brings the company's latest tech and design cues to an existing product.And, as usual, it's more expensive - at $449, it's the same price as the Era 300, which is capable of spatial audio playback. It's also more expensive than buying an Era 100 and a Roam. Given how Sonos has changed since the original Move, I've been trying to figure out what place - if any - the Move 2 has in the company's lineup.What hasn't changedAt first glance, the Move 2 looks nearly identical to its predecessor. It's a chunky and rather heavy speaker, weighing just over 6.5 pounds, and it's noticeably bigger than the Era 100. That said, it's identical in size and weight to the original Move, despite having redesigned internals. Given the speaker's size and weight, I still see its potential use cases the same as four years ago: you can lug it around the house with the built-in handle and get loud, quality sound anywhere, or bring it outside to power a party in the backyard. But it's clearly not a speaker you'll take with you anywhere, like the tiny Roam, which you can tuck in a bag and mostly forget about.As before, and like all other Sonos speakers, the Move 2 can stream audio over your Wi-Fi network from dozens of services through the Sonos app. If you have other speakers, you can stream the same music to all of them at once, or play different things on each. If you have two Move 2 speakers, you can set up a stereo pair. And for when there's no Wi-Fi, the Move 2 has Bluetooth.The Move 2 also has built-in microphones so you can command the speaker with either Alexa or Sonos' own voice assistant. These also let the speaker automatically tune audio output to optimize sound quality. This auto Trueplay feature first arrived on the Move four years ago and is now available on many of the company's products. In my experience, it definitely improves the speaker's output, so I always turn it on. It's particularly useful on a portable speaker that is constantly used in different spots.Finally, the Move 2 is built to withstand the elements; its IP56 rating means it is dust- and water-resistant. You can't actually drop it into a body of water (unlike the smaller Roam, which can survive a dip in the pool), but it's just fine getting hosed down. It can also withstand a wide temperature range - Sonos said the first Move worked between 14 degrees F and up to 131 degrees F (-10 to 55 Celsius) and confirmed that the Move 2 has the same weather resistance as the original. That's not something most people will need to worry about, but the Move 2 should survive a night outside in the winter if you forget to bring it in.Photo by Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetWhat's newWhile you'd be forgiven for mistaking the Move 2 for the original, there are some significant changes on the inside (and some subtle ones on the outside). The speaker's top touch controls have been redesigned to match the layout Sonos introduced earlier this year with the Era 100 and 300. Flanking the play / pause button are track forward and back buttons. Previously, you had to double-tap the play button to skip songs, and this is definitely easier. The volume controls are now a slider, but you can also tap the left or right side of the volume area for little adjustments. Finally, there's a button to mute the speaker's microphones. And for extra security, there's also a physical switch on the back of the speaker that cuts power to the mics entirely.There's also a USB-C port in the back that can be used for charging or, with the right dongle, as a line-in jack. I hooked the Move 2up to my turntable with no issues, same as I did with the Era 100 and 300. My slight annoyance at needing a dongle is more than tempered by having this option at all - a year ago, only the $550 Sonos Five speaker had line-in, and now it's available on most of the music-focused speakers Sonos sells.Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetOh yeah, and the Move 2 comes in olive green in addition to black and white!Ultimately, there are two big changes that define the Move 2: an improved battery and all new speaker components. Sonos says that the Move 2 should last for up to 24 hours" - and it seemed to blow past that in my testing. I had the speaker playing music over Wi-Fi for 22 hours and 50 minutes when I went to bed, and the speaker still had a whopping 46 percent of its battery left. When I checked in again 10 hours later, the battery was depleted, so it died sometime between those check-ins. But it's safe to say you should get the 24 hours Sonos promises and more. That's more than double the old Move, and more than sufficient for a speaker like this. I'm still testing the Move's battery and will try and be awake when it dies next time so I can get a better handle on just how long it lasts.Sonos again included a charging ring" that you can just place the Move 2 in to power it up. It's an elegant solution that requires no fiddling with cables. At first, I considered that it might be good to have two of them around the house, but honestly the battery lasts so long that I didn't find it necessary to set up two home base" spots. And you can charge it via USB-C, too. It's not as clean and aesthetically pleasing as using the charging ring, but useful in a pinch.The new speaker components seem to be inspired by the Era 100. Like that speaker, there are two angled tweeters to provide a semblance of stereo sound, as well as one midwoofer. The original Move, on the other hand, had a single downward-firing tweeter and a midwoofer. Thanks to the two tweeters, the Move 2 is technically a stereo speaker - but as with the Era 100, it's nothing like the stereo separation you get from a pair of speakers. The fact that there's no left-right balance control in the app for the Move 2 indicates that there's only so much true separation between the two channels here, a fact of life given how close together the two tweeters are.My go-to track for testing these stereo capabilities is Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, and the ping-ponging electronic intro and hard-panned vocals that jump between the left and right channels still more or less sounded like they were coming from a single spot. There's a little space between them, but it doesn't sound all that different from playing the song through the mono Sonos One speaker.That quibble aside, the two tweeters in the Move 2 provide improved clarity over the original. It's a clear, well-balanced speaker that faithfully reproduces sound across all ranges of the spectrum. Bass is prominent but not overdone, and the high end is distinct and detailed, especially compared to the original Move, which could get muddier than I liked. The Move 2 replicated the intricate details in delicate albums like Daughter's Stereo Mind Game and End, the latest from Explosions in the Sky, and dance floor tracks like Dua Lipa's Don't Start Now" and Tove Lo's No One Dies From Love" had plenty of low end power.It's also a very loud speaker - inside the house, I never really needed to turn it above 50 percent, except when I simply wanted to hear what it could do. Going much above 70 percent gets downright startling. But as with the old Move, Sonos gave this speaker extra oomph for outdoor spaces where sound dissipates much easier.The main issue with the Move 2 is that you still sacrifice sound quality for portability. The Move 2 costs $449, the same price as the Era 300. That speaker has four tweeters and two woofers and can play back audio in Dolby Atmos. The whole spatial audio experience can be hit-or-miss depending on the quality of the mix, but even without that, there's no doubt in my mind that the Era 300 is a more capable speaker.Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetAnother way you could spend that $449 would be to get an Era 100 ($249) and Roam ($179). That gets you an indoor speaker that sounds just as good as the Move 2 plus a portable speaker that's much smaller and easier to take with you. To be clear, the Move 2 is far more powerful than the Roam, with better sound quality and the volume to fill a large outdoor space. The Roam, on the other hand, is for portable, personal use. It comes down to what you think you'll need more: portability or power.Despite my feelings that the Move 2 is somewhat of a niche device, a quick look at the market shows there are plenty of competing products with similar price points and features. Speakers like the JBL Boombox 3, Ultimate Ears Hyperboom and Bose Portable Smart Speaker all offer similar feature sets to the Move 2, and the Move 2's vastly improved battery life means it should fare better than the earlier device in these comparisons.Photo by Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetWrap upDue to its price and size, the Move 2 isn't the ideal portable speaker for everyone. But that's OK, because it does succeed as a speaker that you can rely on for high-quality and seriously loud audio. It's well-suited to being your main speaker inside the house as well as something you can take to the porch or backyard to power a party. And while it won't comfortably slip into a backpack, it should make a good road trip companion. I could definitely see tossing it in the car and bringing it on my summer vacation with me.The battery and speaker upgrades make it a worthy improvement over its predecessor, as well, though I am disappointed to see Sonos raise the price yet again on one of its products. But if you're looking for one speaker that can cover as many bases as possible, the Move 2 fits the bill - and it'll be that much more useful if you have other Sonos products to pair it with.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonos-move-2-review-better-sound-and-battery-life-comes-at-a-cost-130015983.html?src=rss
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by Mat Smith on (#6EVDH)
Apple is prepping a software update for the three-year-old iPhone 12s after French regulators alleged the phone exceeds proper radiation levels. France stopped selling the smartphone after recommendations from the country's radiation watchdog (ANFR).The software update won't adjust radiation levels but will accommodate the protocol used by French regulators." (I am not sure how that works, either.) Apple believes the software patch will be enough to allow the iPhone 12s to sail through future radiation tests, saying it looks forward to the iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France."Belgium and Denmark don't have the same worries as France. Belgian minister for digitalization, Mathieu Michel, said local tests were reassuring" and recommended against a suspension on sales. Denmark's Safety Authority followed suit, suggesting it had no concerns regarding the iPhone 12's radiation levels.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedThe first-ever party-based RPG is getting a serious faceliftApple isn't perfect on environmental issues, but it's depressingly ahead of its peersThe best gaming mouse in 2023Amazon's Echo Pop smart speaker drops to $23The Morning After: The iPhone 15 kills off Lightning. Plus, AI-generated CokeThe week's biggest news meets Engadget's lens.Our spin-off video series continues to let Mat do his thing, whether that's throwing his iPhone at the camera, complaining about '00s movies or writing about himself in third person. Our short-but-sweet edition this week covers iPhone 15, the return of movie rentals (kind of), and Sony's Aibo dogs getting a second chance. There's a new video every Saturday morning.Watch it here.Spider-Man 2 is following Sony's sequel playbookA two-hour demo showed off new tricks.SonyHow do you outdo a well-received open-world game with its sequel? Engadget's Nathan Ingraham played two hours of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 at a press event earlier this week, and it seems the answer is go bigger. That's the same tactic used by Sony's cadre of development teams for The Last of Us, Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War.Because the world of New York in this game is almost twice as big as the original, with the addition of Brooklyn and Queens, finding new ways for players to get around was a major focus for developer Insomniac. Enter the web wings, a tool for gliding around the city, catching wind tunnels and updrafts that sling you at high speed. It's not meant to replace the core web-slinging mechanic but augment it. And gliding seems to be the new having a horse in video game trends.Continue reading.Meta starts testing Horizon Worlds on mobile and the webA small number of mobile and web users can now access Meta's metaverse.Meta has announced Super Rumble, the first game out of its in-house studio Ouro Interactive, is now available to a small number of mobile users through the Meta Quest app on Android. It's also making its way to the app on iOS devices in the coming weeks. When Meta launched the first-person shooter, it said Super Rumble would be one of the first worlds available when its new app came out. It also said the game will feature cross-platform play on mobile, the web or a VR headset.Continue reading.Engadget Podcast: iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 hands-onWe also dive into our review of Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6.This week, Cherlynn gives us her on-the-ground thoughts from Apple's iPhone 15 launch event. It turns out the iPhone 15 Pro's titanium case is noticeably lighter. (Which we hope was the point.) Engadget's Malak Saleh also joins to discuss her review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Dyson's ridiculous Zone air filter mask/headphones.Listen hereThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-preps-software-update-to-address-iphone-12-radiation-concerns-111610283.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6EVDJ)
Amazon is having a second sale this fall exclusively for Prime members as it did last year, and though we knew it was happening in October, we didn't yet have an exact date. Now, Amazon has announced that the sale will happen on October 10 and 11, and even gave it a new name: Prime Big Deal Days.As ever, Prime Day gives members access to thousands of deals, so many folks wait for the sale to get the best possible deals on pricey products like laptops, phones, memory cards, cameras and more. Knowing that, Amazon uses the event as a way to boost sales and, more importantly, Prime subscriber numbers. At the same time, some select deals are available to non-Prime members as well.Amazon detailed a few early deals on Amazon devices and more. You can save up to 65 per cent on a three-pack of eero Pro Mesh Wi-Fi, select Fire TV devices, Kindles and more. Amazon is promising a $15 credit to Prime members who download its Photos app and upload their first photo, between now and October 7. You'll also find deals on Prime Video, a longer free trial of Amazon Music and more.Last year's October Prime Day saw a plethora of deals on devices ranging from Sony's WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones to the MacBook Air to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 to Roomba 694 robot vacuum. It's also a good way to grab some Christmas presents cheap and avoid the rush.Besides electronics, the sale is likely to cover clothes, shoes, household items, appliances. If you're looking for some savings, it's best to get ready by making lists and bookmarking a price tracker. For more on how to prepare for Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, check out our post on the subject.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-will-hold-its-prime-big-deal-days-sale-on-october-10-and-11-105533193.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6EVA2)
Last week, Unity dropped a bomb on developers with a new runtime fee on its game engine that would be charged each time a title is installed - summed up by one developer as an "abysmally catastrophic decision." Now, the company appears to be backtracking, promising changes to the policy that will be revealed shortly."We have heard you. We apologize for the confusion and angst the runtime fee policy we announced on Tuesday caused," the company said in a post on X. "We are listening, talking to our team members, community, customers, and partners, and will be making changes to the policy. We will share an update in a couple of days. Thank you for your honest and critical feedback."
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by Terrence O'Brien on (#6ETE5)
It's always good to see companies delivering updates and new features to devices long after they've launched. And Roland's TR-8S and TR-6S were already pretty capable to begin with. But with the latest firmware updates they're picking up two huge new additions, including one that that I'm personally quite excited about.TR-8S 3.0 and TR-6S 2.0 add an ACB model of the CR-78 CompuRhythm and a chromatic TR-808 mode for building basslines. The ability to play an 808 kick chromatically greatly expands the flexibility of the two drum machines. While you could tune drum hits and samples on the to create some melodic elements it wasn't exactly an easy or pleasant experience. This opens up the 8S and 6S well beyond strictly percussion, but does so in a way that seems natural. The 808 emulation was already part of their feature sets. And, especially in the world of hip hop, it's a staple for creating basslines, not just drum grooves.The CR-78 emulation is another huge addition. It was the world's first programable drum machine and my personal favorite of Roland's classic rhythm boxes. In fact, I called out the lack of a CR-78 model in my review of the TR-6S as its one glaring omission. (I'd like to believe I had something to do with the decision, but I know better.) All of the sounds from the hardware are represented, as are most of the original preset rhythms, plus a few new ones. But what's particular exciting is the ability to use the more modern programming features and sound design tools available on the TR-6S and TR-8S to tweak the CR-78 for more modern productions.In addition to the two new sound engines, the TR-Editor app on Mac and PC is getting an update with some usability tweaks and new compact UI for easier use on small displays. All these updates are available now for free directly from Roland.com.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roland-adds-cr-78-percussion-and-808-bass-to-the-tr-8s-and-tr-6s-drum-machines-195628859.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ET75)
Bill Willingham, the creator of the comic book series Fables, says you now own his work, fully and for all time. Willingham has released his work, which served as the basis for Telltale Games' The Wolf Among Us, to public domain - mostly because he can't afford to sue DC Comics. In a lengthy post on his Substack page, the artist went pretty in depth in explaining his beef with the publisher. He said the people he negotiated with 20 years ago had already been replaced by people "of no measurable integrity, who now choose to interpret every facet of [their] contract in ways that only benefit DC Comics and its owner companies."Based on Willingham's account of what happened, DC would routinely overlook his input on things like artists for covers or formatting for new collections. That's pretty innocuous compared to his other allegations, though, including getting royalties late or DC under-reporting royalties so as not to pay him what he's owed. But the artist said that the company recently went beyond these "mere annoyances" and tried to forcibly take Fables' ownership from him.He mentioned Telltale Games in particular, when he talked about how DC execs allegedly admitted that they believe they could do anything with the property. That's including not protecting the integrity of its stories and characters from third parties - Telltale Games, in other words - that want to radically alter them. Further, he apparently gets no money from DC licensing his work to third parties.While Willingham knows that he's still bound by his contract with DC and cannot release anything Fables related without the company's consent, he argued in his post that you're not. "[Y]ou have the rights to make your Fables movies, and cartoons, and publish your Fables books, and manufacture your Fables toys, and do anything you want with your property, because it's your property," he said.DC, however, has disagreed with Willingham and his interpretation of their contract and copyright law. "The Fables comic books and graphic novels published by DC, and the storylines, characters, and elements therein, are owned by DC and protected under the copyright laws of the United States and throughout the world in accordance with applicable law and are not in the public domain," the company told CBRin a statement. "DC reserves all rights and will take such action as DC deems necessary or appropriate to protect its intellectual property rights."It's unclear if this development will have any effect on Telltale's The Wolf Among Us 2, which is scheduled for release in 2024. The game was supposed to be available this year, but the developer chose to push back its launch, because it needed time to switch from using Unreal Engine 4 to 5 and that involved changes to personnel and the development process.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/creator-of-the-wolf-among-us-universe-releases-it-to-public-domain-130010929.html?src=rss
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by Malak Saleh on (#6ESS0)
Google will pay $93 million in a settlement it reached with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, resolving allegations that the company's location-privacy practices violated the state's consumer protection laws. The California Department of Justice claimed that Google was collecting, storing, and using their location data" for consumer advertising purposes without informed consent.The complaint alleges that Google continued to collect consumer data related to a user's location even when a user turned the location history" feature off. The company settled similar lawsuits in Arizona and Washington last year for illegally tracking consumers.In addition to paying $93 million, Google agreed to deter future misconduct." This settlement, which won't really hurt Google's deep pockets, is important because the tech giant generates the majority of its revenue from advertising and location-based advertising is a critical feature of its advertising platform."Consistent with improvements we've made in recent years, we have settled this matter, which was based on outdated product policies that we changed years ago," Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told Engadget.Moving forward, the California AG is asking Google to provide additional transparency about location tracking by providing users with detailed information about location data it collects. The company must also provide disclaimers to users that their location information may be used for ad personalization.Update, September 16, 2023, 2:26 AM ET: This story has been updated to add Google's statement.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-settles-california-lawsuit-over-its-location-privacy-practices-190859183.html?src=rss
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by Lawrence Bonk on (#6ESP5)
Apple is prepping a software update to address alleged radiation concerns regarding the three-year-old iPhone 12s after French regulators alleged that the phone exceeds proper radiation levels. France stopped selling the smartphones after recommendations from the country's radiation watchdog (ANFR), but Cupertino denies the allegations and seems to place the onus on the European nation's testing protocols, as reported by Reuters.To that end, Apple has reiterated that this isn't a safety concern and notes that the phone was certified by multiple international bodies as compliant with global radiation standards. The software update won't adjust radiation levels, as that would be a hardware issue, but it will accommodate the protocol used by French regulators." So it looks like Apple thinks the software patch will be enough to allow the iPhone 12s to sail through future radiation tests, saying it looks forward to the iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France."France did change its regulations back in 2020. It added consideration for extremities, like hands, when testing for radiation levels and the rate of radio-frequency energy absorbed by the body by using a particular piece of equipment. This is called the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR.) During the country's recently-instituted SAR tests, regulators found that the iPhone 12s exceeded normal levels of energy absorption when holding the phone, despite acing the test when considering the head and body.Belgium and Denmark have both come to Apple's aid here, with Belgian minister for digitalization, Mathieu Michel, saying that local tests were reassuring" and recommending against a suspension on sales. Denmark's Safety Authority followed suit, suggesting it had no concerns regarding iPhone 12s radiation levels. Industry experts have also weighed in, stating that the findings indicated no risk of burns or heatstroke emanating from the phone's radiation.France says Apple's software fix should be adequate and that they'll resume testing as soon as it arrives, which was spelled out in a French press release unearthed by TechCrunch. Apple regularly drops software updates for its iPhones, so it should show up in the near future. In the meantime, the company's focusing its energy away from the three-year-old iPhone 12 and onto the new hotness that is the iPhone 15.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-will-release-software-update-to-address-iphone-12-radiation-concerns-173345891.html?src=rss
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by Will Shanklin on (#6ESP6)
Amazon Prime members can save big on security cameras today. The retailer has a bundle including the Blink Video Doorbell and three Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras for 61 percent off. Usually $424.95, you can pick up the four-camera collection for $164.98.You can connect the Blink Video Doorbell to your existing in-home chime or use it wirelessly. The device records in 1080p during the day and infrared at night. It supports two-way audio so you can hear and talk with whoever shows up on your front step.Meanwhile, wireless Blink Outdoor cameras can alert you to motion or people in your yard, allowing you to check in from your phone or Alexa devices. The outdoor cameras have a 143-degree field of view and on-device computer vision to help with nighttime recording. The Outdoor 4 also supports two-way audio.Each camera in the bundle uses two AA batteries (included), which Amazon estimates will last up to two years. The collection also ships with four mounting kits and the Sync Module 2, a hub that connects the cameras to your Wi-Fi network. You can bring your own USB drive for local storage or subscribe to a Blink Subscription Plan ($3/month or $30/year) for cloud storage. You can choose between black or white options for the cameras, although there's no mixing and matching colors within the bundle: It's all one or the other.The deal only lasts through the end of today, wrapping up at midnight PST. Remember that you'll need a Prime membership to take advantage of the deal. If you don't have one already, you can subscribe for $15/month or $139 / year.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-members-can-save-61-percent-on-a-blink-camera-bundle-170504326.html?src=rss
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by Jeff Dunn on (#6ESP7)
Apple may have dominated this week's tech news cycle, but our featured tech deal of the week comes courtesy of Valve: The company has discounted its Steam Deck handheld by up to 20 percent, matching the all-time low for what we consider the best portable gaming PC for most people. Elsewhere, the Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 is $200 off with $50 gift card, severalAnkeraccessories are cheaper than usual and both Disney+ and Paramount+ are running special offers for new subscribers. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.Valve Steam DeckTo celebrate Steam's 20th birthday, Valve has discounted its Steam Deck handheld by up to 20 percent. The entry-level model with 64GB of eMMC storage is down to $359, while the 256GB and 512GB versions with faster NVMe SSDs are on sale for $450 and $519, respectively. Each deal represents an all-time low. This is only the third discount we've seen for the Steam Deck since it arrived in February 2022, so this is a rare chance to save. Valve says this offer will last through September 21.We gave the Steam Deck a review score of 81 at launch, and we currently call it the best portable gaming PC for most people in our gaming handheld buying guide. It's chunky, and some newer AAA games are starting to push its technical limits, but it offers far more power on the go than a Nintendo Switch, and its SteamOS software makes it much simpler to pick up and play than competing Windows devices. If you'd like to connect it to a TV, Valve's official Steam Deck Docking Station is also 20 percent off at $71.Steam game dealsBeyond the Deck, a handful of sales have brought several games we like down to lows or near-lows on Steam and other platforms. From our list of the best couch co-op games, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is down to $10, the platformer It Takes Two is down to $14, while the puzzler Portal 2 is down to a dollar. From our best PC games guide, the stylish roguelike Hades is available for $12, the VR shooter Half-Life: Alyx is available for $20, the sci-fi action game Control is available for $10 and the oddly zen driving sim Euro Truck Simulator 2 is available for $5. Other standouts include the Resident Evil 4 remake for $40 and the classic FPS Titanfall 2 for $3. Elsewhere, the action-RPG Final Fantasy XVI is down to $50 at Amazon, a $20 drop for a PS5 exclusive that arrived in June.Anker accessory dealsA few notable chargers and USB-C hubs from Anker are also discounted this week. The Anker 621 Magnetic Battery, which snaps onto the back of a MagSafe-compatible iPhone wirelessly and delivers a 7.5W charge, is down to a low of $30. The Anker 321 MagGo Battery is a bit thicker and slower to recharge, but it has the same 5,000mAh capacity, and it's down to $21 with a 15 percent coupon. The 715 wall charger, a compact option with a 65W USB-C port, is available for $30 with a 40 percent coupon. That's about $20 below its usual price. If you need to add more ports to a computer, the 7-in-1 Anker 341 USB-C Hub is $11 off at $24. The 5-in-1 Anker 332 hub, meanwhile, is down to $16 with an on-page coupon. That's $9 below its typical street price, though the deal is only available to Prime members.Disney+ (3-month)New and returning subscribers can still grab three months of Disney+ for $6 total. That's a 75 percent discount. The catch is that this offer only applies to the service's "Basic" tier, so you'll have to deal with ads. Your subscription will also be set to auto-renew by default, so you'll have to remember to cancel if you don't want to pay beyond the discounted period. Still, if you've been meaning to check out Ahsoka, Andor or just old Simpsons episodes (again), this deal lets you do so on the cheap.Paramount+ (1-year)Along those lines, new users can take 50 percent off an annual Paramount+ subscription. The deal applies to both the ad-supported Essential plan, which is down to $30 with this deal, and the ad-free "Paramount+ with Showtime" plan, which is down to $60. As its name implies, the latter includes Showtime content, plus support for offline downloads and the ability to stream your local CBS station live. If you don't see the discount right away, use the code FALL at checkout. In general, Paramount+ isn't the most vital streaming platform, but its library is decent, with Champions League soccer, originals like Star Trek: Lower Decksand a bunch of shows from CBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and other Paramount networks. Again, just remember that the service will auto-renew unless you cancel.Logitech G203 LightsyncThe black version of the Logitech G203 Lightsync is down to $21 at Amazon, which is about $9 off its typical street price. Just clip the $5 coupon to see the full discount at checkout. The G203 is the budget pick in our guide to the best gaming mice, as it offers a relatively sturdy design, accurate enough tracking, responsive main buttons and tasteful RGB lighting. It's on the smaller side, its scroll wheel feels a bit mushy and its rubbery cable isn't detachable - but at this price, it's hard to do better if you just want something competent for as little money as possible.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5Best Buy is bundling the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 with a $50 gift card for $800. That's $200 off the foldable phone's list price. If stock runs dry, Amazon has the same discount without the gift card. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 only went on sale last month; we gave it a review score of 88, and we now call it the "best foldable for selfies" in our guide to the best smartphones. The big upgrade is a larger cover display, which makes the phone more useful for checking notifications, using apps and, yes, taking selfies when it's folded. You'll still have to be delicate with it, and its camera performance isn't on par with the best flagships, but the rest of the hardware is impressive. If you want a flip-style foldable, it's your best bet.Samsung Galaxy Tab S9In other Samsung deals, the 256GB version of the Galaxy Tab S9 is also down to $800 at various retailers. That's a price we've seen for most of the last month or so, but now you can get this model with a $100 Amazon credit for no extra cost. Just use the code PDHMT3LPAACC at checkout. At Best Buy, meanwhile, the tablet is available with a $100 digital gift card. This upgraded SKU also includes 12GB of RAM; for reference, the base model comes with 8GB of memory and half the storage.The Galaxy Tab S9 series is the top Android pick in our guide to the best tablets. Like the larger (and pricier) Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra, the 11-inch Tab S9 offers a gorgeous AMOLED display, IP68 water resistance, S Pen stylus support and excellent performance thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. It's still expensive, and Android remains less optimized for larger screens than iPadOS. Nevertheless, this is a luxurious piece of hardware for those who want a high-end tablet but want to avoid Apple land.SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL WirelessThe SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless is on sale for $200, which is $50 off its usual going rate and only $10 more than its all-time low. This is a feature-rich, tenkeyless gaming keyboard we plan on recommending in a future buying guide. Its linear switches use magnetic Hall effect sensors, which let you adjust the actuation point of individual keys. That means you can make the keys faster and more responsive while gaming, then set them to be less sensitive while typing. A "rapid trigger" feature lets you re-actuate a switch mid-press, so you can repeat presses faster - handy for online shootouts where you're strafing back and forth. You can also bind two actions to one key based on how far it's pressed. For instance, you could lightly press Ctrl to crouch, then hold it down to go prone.SteelSeries isn't the only keyboard maker to implement features like these, and clearly, not everyone will need them. Plus, while the overall build quality of the Apex Pro TKL Wireless is good - with PBT keycaps, an aluminum top plate, a useful multifunction OLED display and multiple connection options - there are nicer typing experiences available for less. But some of these tricks can be genuinely useful if you spend lots of time in competitive-minded games, and this is one of the few wireless models to include them. The device also comes with a magnetic wrist rest.Garmin Forerunner 745The Garmin Forerunner 745 is available for $300, which is about $80 off its usual going rate. This is the "best for triathletes" pick in our guide to the best GPS running watches: It's a few years old, and its UI generally isn't as intuitive as Apple's watchOS, but it's easy to wear, it tracks distance accurately and it has a host of useful coaching and training features.Jabra Elite 3The lilac version of the Jabra Elite 3 is on sale for $49 at Amazon, which is a $20 or so drop from its typical street price in recent months. We highlight this pair in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, and we gave it a review score of 88 back in 2021. Its modestly bass-boosted sound still impresses for the money, while its compact design and snug fit make it a nice companion for workouts. The downside is that it's fairly basic in terms of features, as it lacks wireless charging, multi-device pairing, wear detection and active noise cancellation. If you don't like the lilac finish, the dark grey model is available for $60, but that's not as strong a deal.Amazon Echo PopThe teal and lavender versions of the Amazon Echo Pop are down to $23. That's $5 more than the discount we saw during Amazon's Prime Day event in July but still $17 off the semi-circular speaker's list price. This is the new entry-level model in Amazon's smart speaker lineup. It doesn't sound as full as the spherical Echo Dot, and it lacks that device's motion and temperature sensors, so it's not as useful for pausing music by hand or controlling smart thermostats. However, if you just want the cheapest route into Alexa possible - and you can't wait for Amazon's next big sale - it still gets you most of the way there at a lower price.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-steam-deck-returns-to-an-all-time-low-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-164403780.html?src=rss
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by Kris Holt on (#6ESJN)
Ascendant Studios, the developer of the first-person-shooter-but-with-magic title Immortals of Aveum, is laying off nearly half of its team only a few weeks after releasing the game. CEO Bret Robbins confirmed that the company would be letting go of around 45 percent of its workers. According to Polygon, which first reported the news, that's around 40 people."This was a painfully difficult, but necessary decision that was not made lightly; nevertheless, we have to make this adjustment now that Immortals of Aveum has shipped," Robbins wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Ascendant will offer the laid-off workers severance packages and help with finding a job elsewhere. The remaining team members will continue to support the game for the time being.
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by Daniel Cooper on (#6ESJP)
During its iPhone 15 event this week, Apple released a sketch where CEO Tim Cook and VP Lisa Jackson bragged about the company's environmental goals with Mother Nature, played by Octavia Spencer. It was a flex to help bolster the marketing around the Apple Watch Series 9, some versions of which are sold as carbon neutral. It's the first product to carry the branding, but others will follow as Apple pushes toward its goal of becoming entirely carbon neutral by 2030. It was after the event, however, that I wondered how much of this was Apple smugly congratulating itself for work that it's meant to be doing.There are plenty of companies in the mobile space, and none are as adept at making regular decisions look pious as Apple. So, I figured I'd read all the companies' sustainability reports from the last year to see if that bluster was worth puncturing. But, much as we may want to sneer at Apple, it turns out no major manufacturer is close to matching its claims. In fact, I've had a fairly miserable few days learning how little, even now, some of the biggest names in the space are doing.Apple's goals are aggressive, and they are matched by some of its domestic rivals, although they have far smaller hardware businesses. Facebook owner Meta, at one extreme, which is primarily a services company, achieved net zero in its global operations in 2020, and wants to reach net zero across its entire value chain by 2030. Microsoft's goals are even bigger, as it pledges to become a carbon negative company by 2030. Google, meanwhile, is hoping to reach carbon-free energy in every place it operates by 2030 but it believes it'll only halve its emissions by that same deadline. And Amazon, which has been the highest-profile laggard in addressing sustainability, has pledged to reach net zero by 2040.Before we dig in, it's worth noting there's no guarantee of consistency between different companies' reports and the figures aren't always comprehensive. And we can't ignore the big financial disparity between Apple and its largest competitor in mobile, Samsung. Similarly, the financial gap between Samsung and the lower-end players in the market is stark, and caring about the environment costs money. But, even so, the limp pledges made by these companies aren't even as good as they appear to be. (Earlier this year, the New Climate Institute gave Samsung's climate pledges a failing grade for transparency and integrity, and called out the paucity of its ambition.)I won't bore you with every statistic - although I really could - but Apple is standing head and shoulders above pretty much everyone. Take e-waste, where Apple claimed to direct more than 40,000 tons of disused gadgets to recycling rather than landfill. It doesn't get into specifics of how much was recovered from that, but it's a fairly standout figure nevertheless. Samsung seems to have collected about a quarter of that figure, and by my wonky math, recovers around 80 percent from that to be reused.Meanwhile, Xiaomi, the third biggest mobile player in 2022, proudly reported that it had directed 4,500 tons of e-waste to recycling. That figure looks good compared to Oppo, the world number four, which managed to do the same for just 195 tons. Transsion, the parent company of TECNO and Infinix, has merely pledged to run recycling programs. It's worth remembering that the WEEE Forum predicted, across 2022, that up to 5.3 billion mobile devices would fall out of use, essentially becoming trash.I was surprised at Apple's willingness to even mention emissions from supplier factories since it contracts out its manufacturing. It would have been easy enough to launder its dirty emissions onto other companies' balance sheets and point to its corporate usage alone. Instead, it has received commitments from many suppliers pledging to use 100 percent renewable energy. Apple says its supply chain now has 13.7GW of renewable energy, with a further 6.3GW due in the near future. Samsung, meanwhile, says that it's looking to move to 100 percent renewable energy at all of its business sites by 2027, and that it already uses green power for 31 percent of its needs. Xiaomi doesn't appear to have made a commitment to making a firm transition to renewable energy, while Oppo believes that it's not yet hit its carbon emissions peak until next year.If there's one place that Apple still lags alongside the rest of the industry, at least for right now, it's in repair. Until we know how easy it is for an end-user to replace common components on the iPhone 15, at least, then Apple remains as bad as everyone else. Its self-service repair platform remains frustratingly complex, and it's still overcharging for basic repairs. (Or just refusing to repair devices as a precursor to getting buyers to replace their devices.) Samsung made a fairly big deal about repairability in its own report, pointing to the Galaxy S23 as an example. It's worth noting that the gurus at iFixit rated the S23 a 4/10 for repairability, given that while the battery is replaceable, it's also glued into place.NIC COURY via Getty ImagesFor its part, Apple is making some fairly bold claims about how the Watch Series 9 deserves its classification. It says the device comprises 30 percent recycled or renewable materials, including a case made out of 100 percent recycled aluminum. The watch was created in factories using 100 percent renewable energy and at least half of them are shipped by sea, rather than air. The company added it's not just paying for clean energy for its devices to be made, but has also invested in power generation equal to what users may consume while charging it, too.The company said that its baseline for the timepiece's manufacturing emissions was 36.7kg based on its own metrics. From there, it's managed to reduce the emissions cost from energy altogether, as well as reducing the materials and process emissions. The Series 9, as far as Apple is concerned, only emits 8.1kg into the atmosphere, which is then offset with carbon credits.In its materials, the company cites the Restore Fund, a project Apple founded, which invests in high-quality, nature-based carbon removal projects." Restore Fund is operated in partnership with Conservation International, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, but it isn't entirely philanthropic. Goldman's own website describes the fund as designed to be profit-bearing, offering a future potential financial return from harvesting activities and the sale of properties."It's worth being cynical about offset purchasing, especially since the industry isn't as clean as you may hope. Earlier this year, The Guardian published an investigation into Verra, the body which verifies carbon offset programs run by a wide variety of big corporations. It found many of the credits bought by companies to reduce their emissions did not translate to real-world action at all. The report suggested that of the 94.9 million carbon credits purchased, there were only real emissions reductions of 5.5 million MTCO2e (metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent). Verra disputed these findings.It's worth reiterating that Apple is in something of a privileged position here, given it has a staggering amount of cash on hand. It can use that power to make the sorts of headline grabbing investments in renewable energy its competitors may not have. But its wealth is also a target for progressive critics, including bodies like Population Matters, who point out the company's annual marketing budget alone could bring clean water to the UN's 46 least developed countries.But, from a general view, there's only one company in the mobile devices space that can stand head and shoulders above Apple in the green stakes: Fairphone. It's still a relatively niche player, but has made building an ethically and environmentally responsible device its guiding mission. The big question is how long it'll take for all of the biggest players to catch up to where this one small company is right now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-isnt-perfect-on-environment-isues-but-its-depressingly-ahead-of-its-peers-160051378.html?src=rss
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by Lawrence Bonk on (#6ESJQ)
Wizardry took the gaming world by storm when it was released for the Apple II back in, gulp, 1981, and now it's coming back to enthrall new generations of RPG fans. Developer Digital Eclipse is remaking the turn-based title, which is now called Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.The remake is a modernized version of the 1981 RPG and its built right on top of the original Apple II code, so you can easily swap from the old-school interface to the brand-new graphics, similar to how the 'Halo 2: Anniversary' edition handled things, or the just-announced Tomb Raider remasters for the Nintendo Switch.Modern visuals are nice, but Wizardry is over 40 years old, so the gameplay's likely a bit dated. To that end, the developers promise a number of quality-of-life improvements, including a revamped party management system, new spellcasting options and navigation tools, among other minor upgrades.Wizardry is generally considered to be the first party-based RPG ever released for computers or consoles and inspired countless modern franchises, including Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. It's not the first Dungeons & Dragons style RPG to grace computers, but it did invent many mechanics that are still active in JRPGs to this day. It was an instant hit when it launched for the Apple II and was ported over to numerous other systems including the Mac, C64 and even the NES and Game Boy Color.This is not Digital Eclipse's first remake rodeo. The team has helmed a number of retro compilations, including Atari 50 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, among others.Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is available today as an early access build via Steam and GOG. The game costs $30, but the developers say that price will likely increase as we get closer to an official release.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-first-ever-party-based-rpg-is-getting-a-serious-facelift-153737569.html?src=rss
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by Nathan Ingraham on (#6ESJR)
Spider-Man is easily one of the most recognizable fictional characters of the last 50-plus years, appearing in countless iterations across comics, movies, cartoons, video games and other media I am surely forgetting. Fans will argue about the best iteration - but for my money, the Spider-universe Insomniac Games introduced in 2018 on the PS4 with Marvel's Spider-Man is an all-time great. It spent no time rehashing Peter Parker's origins, throwing the player into a vibrant and massive rendering of Manhattan. The city felt alive, with tons to do investigate and a horde of Spider-Man's most famous villains to contend with. It also skillfully introduced a world in which Parker would eventually fight side-by-side with a second Spider-Man, Miles Morales.But, most importantly, Marvel's Spider-Man was an absolute delight to play. Insomniac nailed the mechanics of swinging around the city and fighting bad guys to such a degree that I think web-slinging around Manhattan is up there with my all-time favorite game mechanics.As I've contemplated with other single-player, story-drive masterpieces from Sony like The Last of Us,Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War: What the helldo you dofor an encore? I played about two hours of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 at a press event earlier this week, and it seems the answer is go bigger." That's the same tactic used for the sequels to those three games I mentioned earlier, and the results were always impressive, if not a bit overstuffed. Of course, it's too early to say whether Insomniac got the balance right, because we've seen plenty of open-world games that simply try and do too much. But based on Insomniac's history and the excellent ingredients it has to work with, I have high hopes for the latest spider-adventure.Insomniac GamesMy demo started well into the game's narrative - which I won't spend too much time on, as I didn't get the whole picture of what was going on. I do know that classic villain Kraven is hunting another iconic Spider-Man bad guy, Dr. Curt Conners (better known as the Lizard), and Peter and Miles are both trying to defend the city from Kraven's hunters while also finding a cure to turn the Lizard back into his mild-mannered human form.In a demo like this, getting a feel for the gameplay is a lot more important than digging into story beats, and Spider-Man 2 had plenty to show me. Because the world in this game is almost twice as big as the original, with the addition of Brooklyn and Queens, finding new ways for players to get around was a major focus for Insomniac. Enter the web wings, a tool that allows you to glide around the city, catching wind tunnels and updrafts that sling you around at high speed. It's not meant to replace the core web-slinging mechanic, but augment it. Given how amazing swinging around Manhattan felt in the original games (and still feels here), that's a tall order. But it didn't take me long to get the hang of gliding through long stretches of the city, and mixing in web-swings to regain height.Insomniac GamesThe web wings are also particularly useful in places like Central Park or Queens, where there aren't nearly as many tall buildings to swing from. Getting around Central Park always felt a little awkward in the first game, so this is a welcome addition that makes traversing different terrain much easier. It's also great for getting across rivers - or doing battle on them. Gameplay footage revealed earlier this year showed both Spider-Men chasing the Lizard down a river while also being chased by Kraven's hunters (both on the river and in the sky), and the web wings were crucial for catching up and dispatching the massive crew of baddies.Another side mission saw me controlling Miles as he chased down one of Kraven's drones - to keep up with it, you had to use the web wings to draft behind it while downloading data from it. Once you got all the data downloaded, you could take it down, but getting all that data takes a while. So you need to stay right on its tail, twisting and turning throughout the city. There's definitely a learning curve to making tight turns and quick ascensions with the web wings, and I bounced off numerous buildings that slowed me down enough that the drone made its escape.I got the hang of it after a few tries, but even then I was on the edge of my seat trying to keep pace - it almost had the feeling of a racing game. Challenges like this are a smart way of introducing these new mechanics and schooling players on how to best use them, though.Unsurprisingly, combat has also gotten a few tweaks, though anyone who played the previous Insomniac games can jump right in here and start beating up the countless goons roaming New York City. Both Parker and Morales have four special moves that correspond to the four face buttons on the controller - holding L1 and pressing one of those buttons activates a special attack. When I was playing as Peter, they all involved the symbiote suit going wild, while Miles had variations on the electrical attacks introduced in his game. They charge up as you fight, and you have to wait for them to replenish; I assume you can also learn and slot new ones as the game progresses.Insomniac GamesIn the first games, mashing the circle button to dodge was a big part of combat, but Insomniac mixed things up here. Now, there are some enemies whose attacks you have to parry by pressing the block button at just the right moment - dodging won't keep you safe. Other attacks require a dodge, as they can break through any parry or block you try. These different attacks are represented by a color flash above the enemy, indicating when it's the right time to throw up a block or dodge away. Dealing with these attacks threw a wrench into the familiar gameplay, as it took me a while to remember that my old habits from prior games weren't going to be enough to keep me alive here.The gadgets both Spider-Men carry got a big improvement over the older games, too. Before, you could hold down R1 and switch from your standard web-shooters to various other hardware to help you in battle. But now, R1 defaults to web-shooters, always, a change I appreciated. From there, you can hold R1 and select a face button to activate a specific gadget.This gives you immediate access to as many as four gadgets at once, plus your web shooter. Truth be told, I didn't dive into the menus to find out much about the tools at my disposal, but they're things like web bombs that wrap up multiple enemies or shock traps that zap everyone around you. Naturally, all these abilities can be leveled up with skill points you accumulate through the game, and there are the expected skill trees here as well.It's going to take more than just a few hours of playing to see just how well these new additions fit into the core game, but one thing was undeniable from the start: Spider-Man 2 is a visual feast. It's the first game of the series developed exclusively for the PS5, and it shows in everything from the sunsets and water on the river to the details of the different spider-suits I tried on. Character models also look impressive, perhaps none more so than the Lizard himself, with glistening fangs and incredibly textured green skin. The amount of detail in that model was stunning, but Peter's symbiote suit is a close second. When it gets hurt, it writhes in pain and truly feels like a living creature. Even when it's just serving as a Spider-Man suit, the variety of textures and details is impressive - it's a lot more than just a black outfit.Insomniac GamesPerhaps the most exciting thing about this sequel, though, is the fact that you can control both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. When you're in the open world and not directly in a main story quest, you can swap between the two Spider-Men at will by going to your communicator and holding down a button, GTA V style. Each character has their own main quests, and the game will move you back and forth between the two depending on what's next on the docket, but there's plenty of freedom to pick your character and explore NYC.There are also parts of the story that'll bounce you between both characters as things progress. We saw a look at this in the aforementioned gameplay preview a few months ago, but I got to play it out this time. The battle started with me playing as Peter, beating up some thugs in a Queens neighborhood, but then it switches to Miles across the city so you can get the jump on more hunters before they track the Lizard down. Peter eventually joins you, all hell breaks loose, and then you're flying down the river taking out hunters on jet skis as Miles and bringing down a massive chopper as Peter.All these changes were fluid and natural (but also very scripted) and the basic experience of controlling both Spiders-Man is similar enough that it didn't throw me off. I am hoping that there are missions where you can decide which character you want to use, or flip between both depending on what play style you're feeling at the moment. Regardless, having missions where you play as both significantly expanded the scope of this epic set piece.Insomniac GamesThe preview ended with Peter uncharacteristically going off on his own to track the Lizard down after he escapes into the sewers - he's clearly showing some symbiote-inspired darkness that Miles says is totally out of character for him. But the demo didn't stop, and I instead was treated to the only true boss battle" of the demo, with Peter squaring off against Conners. This was a positively huge, multi-stage showdown that required me to use all the skills I picked up over the prior two hours, including a lot of well-timed dodging and all the special attacks I had at my disposal.As with the big battles in prior Spider-Man games, there were multiple tricks I needed to figure out to make the Lizard vulnerable - just trying my standard set of attacks wasn't going to be enough. I died a handful of times trying to get the hang of it, but fortunately these deaths didn't feel cheap. Usually, it was a case of me not recognizing the need to dodge rather than block, or some other variation on me not executing a skill the game had taught me. Once I got the hang of things, I made semi-quick work of the Lizard. At least, I thought I did, until the demo ended on a big old cliffhanger that made me think Peter might pay a bit of a price for going rogue.Fortunately, I won't have to wait long to find out how things turn out - Spider-Man 2 will be out on the PS5 on October 20. We'll have to wait to do a full review before we can give it a full recommendation, but I think anyone who enjoyed the first games will want to check this one out. And if you haven't tried them before, you should be able to jump right into this new one without much trouble. While I enjoy the stories Insomniac has crafted for the two Spider-Men, the delight of swinging and fighting around NYC is still one of my favorite gaming experiences out there, and it's one that doesn't require an encyclopedic knowledge of Spider-Man's history.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spider-man-2-following-sony-150058057.html?src=rss
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by Kris Holt on (#6ESFA)
These days, you don't need to break the bank to add a smart speaker to your home setup. Thanks to one of Amazon's current deals, you can snap up such a device for less than usual too. The Echo Pop, Amazon's latest addition to its lineup of Alexa-powered audio devices, has dropped from $40 to $23 as long as you opt for the teal or lavender color options. While that's not quite the lowest price we've seen for it yet (it dipped to $18 for Prime Day), it's a solid discount all the same.The Echo Pop is now Amazon's entry-level smart speaker. At the standard price, it's $10 less than the $50 Echo Dot. It has a half-globe look and borrows two key features from the most recent Echo Dot: a AZ2 Neural Edge processor that can handle machine learning tasks on-device and the ability to act as a WiFi extender for those with an Eero mesh router system. Amazon says the Echo Pop can extend the range of your home network by as much as 1,000 square feet. There's Bluetooth connectivity too.Of course, you can ask Alexa to play audio from a range of services on the Echo Dot, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora and Sirius XM. You'll be able to ask Alexa for information and use it to control your smart home devices. There's a blue light bar on top of the Echo Dot that only turns on when Alexa is listening, which is a good visual indicator of whether the voice assistant is paying attention to you. There's also the option to switch off the speaker's microphone.The Echo Pop could be an intriguing option for anyone looking to dip their toes into the world of smart speakers or those who are interested in expanding their current setup with low-cost devices. Thanks to this discount, you'll be able to add the Echo Pop to your home for less than usual, which could make the decision whether to pick one up somewhat easier.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-echo-pop-smart-speaker-drops-to-23-143951155.html?src=rss
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by Devindra Hardawar on (#6ESCD)
This week, Cherlynn gives us her on-the-ground thoughts from Apple's iPhone 15 launch event. It turns out the iPhone 15 Pro's titanium case is actually noticeably lighter! We're all also intrigued by Apple's new double-tap gesture in the Watch Series 9. (Don't be surprised if it ends up training us how to use the Vision Pro's gesture commands!)Also, Engadget reporter Malek Saleh joins to discuss her review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, as well as Dyson's ridiculous Zone air filter mask/headphones.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!Subscribe!
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by Julia Mercado on (#6ESCE)
You can take a screenshot on your iPhone, your MacBook, your iPad, you name it. But what about your Apple Watch? If there's an alert you want to keep safe, or you want to show off your personalized watch face to a friend, you can easily do that without whipping out your iPhone to take a picture of your watch. The Apple Watch has a built in way that makes taking a screenshot more accessible - it just takes a few steps to enable. Here's how to take a screenshot on an Apple Watch.How to set up the screenshot feature on an Apple WatchTo take a screenshot on an Apple Watch, you first have to enable the feature, which you can do directly from your wearable. Just go into the Watch's settings and select general, then scroll to screenshots. Toggle on the enable screenshots option.Photo by Julia Mercado / EngadgetHow to set up the screenshot feature from an iPhoneYou can also use your iPhone to set up the screenshot feature for your Watch. Go into the Watch app, select general and scroll down to toggle the enable screenshots option.Photo by Julia Mercado / EngadgetHow to take a screenshot on the Apple WatchTo take a screenshot on the Apple Watch, press the Digital Crown and the side button simultaneously. They will go right to your Photos library.How to view Apple Watch screenshotsYou can find Apple Watch screenshots in the Photos app on your iPhone under media types in the screenshots folder. If you would like to see those screenshots on the Watch itself, you can sync the album from your iPhone to show them on your watch. To enable this, go to your Watch app, tap Photos and select photo syncing then tap sync album to link the album of your choice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-take-a-screenshot-on-apple-watch-120036396.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ESCF)
European authorities have found that Twitter had violated General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules when it comes to how it processes its younger users' personal data. Along with its decision, the regulator has revealed that it has slapped the social network with a 345 million ($368 million) fine. As the regulating body where TikTok is headquartered and where its first data center is located, the Irish Data Protection Commission investigated whether TikTok adhered to its privacy protection obligations for users between 13 and 17 years old between July 31 and December 31, 2020.The regulator said it found that TikTok set child users' - or users that fall within the aforementioned age bracket - profiles to public by default. That means their information was easily accessible, especially since the videos they posted were also made public by default and anybody could comment. Further, TikTok didn't make Duet and Stitch opt in features for their accounts, so anybody could take parts of their videos to create new ones.In addition, the regulator found that TikTok allowed child users' accounts to be paired with adult users', without verifying whether that person is their parent or guardian. It even allowed that adult user to enable direct messaging for both of them, when the feature shouldn't be available for the underage user.The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) fined TikTok 12.7 million ($15.75 million) earlier this year for misusing children's data, as well. To be exact, it found that the service allowed 1.4 million UK children to sign up even when they were under the age of 13. The Irish Data Protection Commission didn't establish whether TikTok had violated GDPR rules with regards to letting kids under 13 sign up. However, it did find that TikTok was in violation of GDPR for not implementing the proper measures and allowing anybody, regardless of their age and including kids 12 and below, to view content on its platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/european-regulators-fine-tiktok-368-million-over-failing-to-protect-the-data-of-young-users-120008357.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ESCG)
Meta has taken a step towards achieving its goal of making Horizon Worlds more accessible by bringing it to the web and to mobile devices. The company has announced that Super Rumble, the first game out of its in-house studio Ouro Interactive, is now available to a small number of mobile users through the Meta Quest app on Android. It's also making its way to the app on iOS devices in the coming weeks, while those who want to play on desktop can access it - or request access to it - through Horizon's official website.When Meta launched the first-person shooter, it said that Super Rumble would be one of the first worlds to be available when its new app comes out. It also said that the game will feature cross-platform play, so people can enjoy it with their friends, whether they're also on mobile, the web or a VR headset. It looks like Meta has stayed true to its word. The company also announced that it's rolling out more worlds over the next few months to give people a way to hang out, chat and even enjoy free concerts in the metaverse, regardless of what device they're using.Meta explained: "The metaverse should be available to everyone - no matter what device they're on. And while Quest headsets are the most immersive way to access the metaverse, we believe there should be multiple entry points. Bringing Worlds to more surfaces is a step toward delivering on that vision and opening up the experience to more people."Since each device has a different interface, though, Meta had to optimize the game's controls like mute and pause for mobile devices and computer. It's unclear how the experiences across platforms differ from each other, but Super Rumble on mobile and the web is still in the testing phase, so players could encounter bugs and other issues.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-starts-testing-horizon-worlds-on-mobile-and-the-web-114028350.html?src=rss
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by Mat Smith on (#6ESA1)
This week, Nintendo's Direct livestream showcased a bunch of new games for the Switch, and an awful lot of them featured the company mascot (and movie star) Mario, if not his brother Luigi,Princess Peach and moreDonkey Kong. And this is all on top of the incomingSuper Mario Wonder.To start, the company is bringing another classic Mario RPG to the Switch. The company plans to release an updated version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Dooron the console in 2024, 20 years after the original game debuted on the GameCube. That's not the only game getting remade: Mario vs. Donkey Kong, originally a GameBoy Advance game, is on its way and we're waiting on Super Mario RPG's remake too.NintendoNintendo revealed it's also bringing back one of its oldest hits, space racer F-Zero, but with a twist. F-Zero 99 is the first new game in the series in nearly 20 years. We've had battle royale Tetris and Mario. Now, it's F-Zero. 99 cars on a single track - chaos ensues. It's available to play now for Switch Online subscribers.And if you're more a PlayStation gamer, then Sony's State of Play revealed new PS5 colors and a Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release date - and trailer!- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedThe new COVID-19 vaccines are here for the fallFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth will hit PS5 on February 29, 2024Baby Steps inches toward a summer 2024 releaseBose debuts QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Earbuds with spatial audioYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!This is apparently an electric microscooterHonda's Motocompacto will retail for under $995' this November.HondaThis is Honda's Motocompacto, a throwback all-electric rideable inspired by the short-lived Honda Motocompo scooter of the '80s. Yes, it looks like Muji toaster or something. Honda says its aluminum frame and wheels keep it lightweight," but at 41 pounds, it's firmly in the same weight class as regular e-bikes. And with a range of up to 12 miles," it's not getting you very far either. After you've used its 12-mile range, it takes 3.5 hours to rejoice.Continue reading.How to update your iPhone to iOS 17When Monday comes around.After several months of betas, iOS 17 is about ready to launch to the public. The new software, landing Monday, September 18, includes significant upgrades to Messages, FaceTime, keyboard and more. FaceTime adds video voicemails, so you can let your friends see you as you leave them a message. iOS 17 also works with tvOS 17, so you can take FaceTime calls on Apple TV, using your iPhone or iPad as a camera. The update also includes a new StandBy mode that transforms your iPhone into a smart display when it's charging on the horizontal. Meanwhile, Contact Posters give you customizable full-screen profiles that flash on your phone's screen when friends and family call.Continue reading.Samsung's Galaxy Watch 6 reviewMore of the same.EngadgetSamsung's Galaxy Watch 6 is a modest upgrade from its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 5. There are some health tracking improvements and a slightly sleeker design. The caveat is that the Watch 6's predecessors, dating back to the Watch 4, will have access to all these updates. So, if you have one of the previous two models, you might not need to upgrade.Continue reading.The Angels face the Marlins in MLB's first regular-season virtual ballpark gameThey just made baseball even duller.Major League Baseball is ready to test its virtual ballpark for a regular-season game. Fans can enter the digital stadium on Wednesday, September 20, to watch the Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Angels.The league debuted the digital park earlier this summer for a celebrity softball game, but next week's game will mark the first non-exhibition game to deploy the metaverse-like digital park. The entire setup sounds like something you'd eventually use with a VR or AR headset, like the Meta Quest or Apple's upcoming Vision Pro. While it may be a precursor to those more immersive experiences, you'll access this game on flat screens through a web browser.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-nintendos-direct-showcase-marks-the-return-of-a-classic-111519036.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6ESA2)
X has launched government ID verification for paid X Premium subscribers, after clues emerged in August that the feature was coming, TechCrunch has reported. The service, which appears to be optional, has launched in "numerous countries" including the US, but is not available for now in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom.In a new help center page, X said the verification is for "safety and security purposes" and to "prevent impersonation." It may also be used to screen age appropriate content in the future. Meanwhile, users will receive benefits like prioritized support, along with a visible label that shows your identity has been verified (though only if someone clicks on the blue checkmark). Down the road, X plans to expedite Premium reviews for users who verify with ID.The social network partnered with Au10tix, an Israeli-based company specializing in identity verification. X requires you to check a consent form allowing "X and Au10tix [to use] images of my ID and my selfie, including extracted biometric data, to confirm my identity and for X's related safety and security purposes, including preventing impersonation." Au10tix may store such data for up to 30 days.After Elon Musk purchased X (then Twitter), he announced that the verification program would be revamped and badges only given to paid users. The new program experienced problems from the get-go, though, thanks to issues like rampant impersonation and checkmarks being assign to scammers and bots. The program was later modified to give verification marks to large organizations and users with millions of followers.X doesn't conduct ID checks itself, apart from safeguards for verified organizations. Meanwhile, Au10tix advertises "8-second verification without even partial human involvement" and "first-of-a-kind tech detecting synthetic fraud patterns globally." The company says it has previously worked with companies like Google, PayPal and Uber.Last month X changed its policy adding the ability to capture certain user information, but it has a checkered history in terms of privacy. The FTC recently said that Elon Musk "may have jeopardized data privacy and security" at X and has reportedly been investigating the company and Musk since March.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-attempts-to-fight-impersonation-with-government-id-verification-104016771.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6ES7W)
The US Senate Armed Services Committee is investigating Elon Musk's decision to not extend Starlink satellite internet coverage to enable a Ukraine attack on Russian warship near Crimea, Bloomberg has reported. "The committee is aggressively probing this issue from every angle," said chairman Jack Reed in a statement, adding that the incident exposed "serious national-security liability issues." The panel is still gathering information, and has not yet launched a formal investigation.The Ukraine Starlink incident was revealed in an Elon Musk biography by Walter Isaacson, via a disputed excerpt stating that Musk deactivated Starlink access close to the Crimean coast to prevent a Ukrainian attack on the fleet.However, Musk said that Starlink was not active in those areas because of US sanctions on Russia, so SpaceX had nothing to disable. In a recent podcast, he said would have extended Starlink to Crimea if President Biden had ordered him to do so - but he didn't receive any such order.Rather, Musk said he denied Ukraine's request to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol. "If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation," Musk wrote on X. (The disputed excerpt will be changed in future copies of the book.)Nevertheless, senators questioned why the decision was made by Musk, rather than government officials. "Neither Elon Musk, nor any private citizen, can have the last word when it comes to US national security," Reed said. At the time of Ukraine's request, SpaceX received no US payments for its Ukraine Starlink operations, but it now has Pentagon funding.The probe was announced just ahead of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the US and meeting with President Biden, set for next week. On top of Starlink, SpaceX is a major US contractor, launching spy satellites for the Defense Department .This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-us-senate-wants-answers-over-starlinks-ukrainian-satellite-internet-denial-091047225.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ES7X)
Threads was missing a few features when it launched for the web back in August. One of those is the ability to quote other people's post, which would be the equivalent of a retweet in a pre-X world. Now, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri has announced that Meta has rolled out the ability to quote posts on desktop. All they need to do is click on the familiar repost icon at the bottom of a post, and then choose the option "Quote." By doing so, they can repost someone else's thread while adding commentary of their own.In addition, Mosseri has announced that users can now follow the responses for a specific thread on mobile by turning on notifications for 24 hours. To do that, they only have to tap on the bell icon at the top-right corner of a post.Meta released Threads from the start with a bunch of missing features, at an opportune time when X users were getting frustrated by the company's attempts to make the service less useable for non-paying members. It's only earlier this month, two months after the service went live, that Meta added the ability to search keywords and find content. Even so, this latest update shows Meta is working to add the features people want, which it frankly needs to do if it's looking to get the users who've lost interest in the social network to come back.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-now-lets-you-quote-posts-on-the-web-083759052.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ES61)
Before CD Projekt Red releases Cyberpunk 2077's Phantom Liberty expansion, it will first roll out an update that brings massive changes to the action role-playing game. The developer has announced that update 2.0 will be available starting on September 21st, and it will be free for everyone who already owns the title. This patch adds new skill trees and perks that weren't previously seen in the game. It also gives the universe's police system a revamp, so that it operates on what the developer describes as "clear, simple rules."Criminal activity in the game is punished, with cops going after runners and killing individuals afflicted by cyberpsychosis with no questions asked. The game's interface will now show how likely the cops are coming after a player through a Heat system displayed on screen. Those who reach the maximum level of Heat - 5 stars - will encounter a Max Tac mini-boss experience. If they choose to run from authorities, they'll get into car chases and road blocks that they'll have to escape. In case the cops manage to catch them, they will not be able to surrender peacefully or bribe their way out. But if they manage to shake off the cops, then they'll know when they're no longer being chased when NPCs start leaving the scene.Update 2.0 also gives players new ways to take out enemies from their vehicle. They can now shoot their weapons from the back of their motorcycles and through their car's windshield or out of its side window. They can also use new mounted weapons for certain nomad cars. Meanwhile, netrunners can hack and take over their enemies' cars and make them explode. In addition to all those, the update also comes with UI and UX improvements, new loot, crafting changes and new radio stations.
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by Karissa Bell on (#6ES1N)
The Supreme Court has temporarily halted a lower court ruling that prohibited White House officials from communicating with social media companies. The temporary stay, from Justice Samuel Alito, is the latest twist in a controversial attempt by two states to challenge content moderation policies at social media platforms.The case stems from a lawsuit, brought by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, that claimed federal officials overreached in their dealings with social media companies - namely Meta, Google and Twitter - as they shaped moderation policies to handle election and COVID-19 misinformation.A lower court had previously issued an injunction that barred White House and other federal officials from communicating with social media companies. An Appeals Court decision last week eased many of the initial restrictions, but left in place a provision that banned the surgeon general, CDC and White House officials from pressuring" social media companies into making decisions. That order, as CNN reports, was set to take effect September 18.That ruling is now on hold, thanks to Alito's temporary stay, as the two sides continue to argue the case. As Bloomberg points out, the stay will be in effect until September 22, though it could be extended.In a filing ahead of the stay, the Solicitor General argued that the injunction would impose grave harms on the government and the public" and that that government officials had committed no wrongdoing in their interactions with social media companies. Rather than any pattern of coercive threats backed by sanctions, the record reflects a back-and-forth in which the government and platforms often shared goals and worked together, sometimes disagreed, and occasionally became frustrated with one another, as all parties articulated and pursued their own goals and interests during an unprecedented pandemic."While the current hold from Alito is another temporary measure, the case seems to be headed for a longer legal battle. The Justice Department is now laying the groundwork for a Supreme Court appeal, which could drag the case out even more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/supreme-court-pauses-court-order-preventing-government-contact-with-social-media-companies-011730960.html?src=rss
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by Sean Buckley on (#6ES00)
The easiest way to gussy up your PlayStation 5 is to buy a customizable console cover - which PlayStation helpfully sells for $55 each. Now the company is getting ready to launch a premium option: a set of three metallic colors it's calling the "Deep Earth Collection."PlayStation is calling the three new colors Volcanic Red, Cobalt Blue and Sterling Silver, and says all three draw "inspiration from the beautiful and powerful hues found in the depths of planet Earth." A metallic finish sets the new colors apart from the other console covers available from PlayStation Direct. It may also be why they cost more: each of the new covers will sell for $59.99, a $5 premium over the regular price. DualSense controllers will also be available in the new colorway, selling for $74.99.Pre-orders for the new colors begin on October 4, with the hues themselves launching in waves: Volcanic Red and Cobalt Blue colorways will be available on November 3, with the Sterling Silver accessories arriving on January 26.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playstations-deep-earth-collection-will-outfit-your-ps5-in-metalic-red-blue-and-silver-000418501.html?src=rss
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by Kris Holt on (#6ERX1)
The second installment of Square Enix's ambitious Final Fantasy VII remake saga has a release date. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will arrive on PlayStation 5 on February 29.Sony provided another look at the sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake during its latest State of Play showcase in the form of a new trailer. The search for Sephiroth continues after Cloud, Yuffie et al escape from Midgar. They go on a globe-trotting adventure in which they tear across grassy fields on a Chocobo, explore new environments and [checks notes] cover ground on a Segway?To give you a sense of the scope we're dealing with, Square Enix will release Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on two discs. The publisher also revealed that there's nearly 100 hours of gameplay here. Even so, the game will only take players up to the midpoint of the original Final Fantasy VII.If you haven't played the previous game, you might be interested in picking up a "twin pack" of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (the upgraded version) and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Pre-orders are open now, and the bundle includes instant access to the first entry in this trilogy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth-will-hit-ps5-on-february-29-2024-215911405.html?src=rss
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by Jessica Conditt on (#6ERX2)
Baby Steps, an indie game that generated a ton of buzz when it was announced in June, is coming out in summer 2024 for PC and PlayStation 5. This update is a smidgen better than the original reveal, which teased a general release window of 2024. It did so using a Death Stranding pastiche featuring a grown man in a onesie trying his hardest to put one foot in front of the other, and today's news comes alongside a new, silly video that ends in Star Wars-style font.Baby Steps comes from QWOP and Getting Over It creator Bennett Foddy, and Ape Out developers Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch. It's essentially a narrative-driven, 3D version of Foddy's original extreme walking simulator, where players control each of the main character's steps independently.Baby Steps looks just as hilarious and strange as the creators' previous works, and the new trailer highlights the various moans, groans and mumbled curse words of the main character, Nate, as he struggles to learn to walk. Apparently, those sounds all came from the developers themselves, since they're handling voice-acting duties firsthand.Here's how Boch described the recording process: "The developers themselves are handling voiceover duties, recording and experimenting until they discover the humor of each scene. This seat-of-our-pants approach comes through thanks to the unconventional editing, which leaves in giggles and breaks, as well as the playful rapport between Cuzziilo and Foddy, together lending Baby Steps a slacker-comedy feel."Baby Steps is being published by Devolver Digital.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/baby-steps-inches-toward-a-summer-2024-release-214145080.html?src=rss
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by Kris Holt on (#6ERX3)
It emerged last week that Robloxwould finally make its bow on PlayStation some time this October, and Sony revealed the exact date during its State of Play showcase. You'll be able to hop into the ultra-popular sandbox on PS4 and PS5 (albeit through backward compatibility) on October 10. There will be full cross-platform support, so you should be able to check out the many, many experiences Roblox has to offer with your friends, even if they access it via mobile, PC, VR or Xbox.Sony had been opposed to having Roblox on PlayStation for some time owing to safety concerns (most of Roblox's 66 million daily active users are younger players). But court documents that emerged during the recent FTC and Microsoft legal battle indicated that Sony's stance on the issue softened as of last year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roblox-is-coming-to-playstation-on-october-10-212727224.html?src=rss
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by Malak Saleh on (#6ERX4)
If you're a premium subscriber to the social media site X, formerly Twitter, you now can hide your likes tab from the public, the company said in a tweet.When enabled, the tab for likes is supposed to disappear completely from an X Premium user's profile. The new feature can be turned on when you change your preferences through the early access period.
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by Will Shanklin on (#6ERSH)
Major League Baseball is ready to test its virtual ballpark for a regular-season game. Fans can enter" the digital stadium on Wednesday, September 20, to watch the Tampa Bay Rays host the Los Angeles Angels. The league debuted the digital park earlier this summer for a celebrity softball game during this year's All-Star Game activities. Next week's game will mark the first non-exhibition game to deploy the metaverse-like digital park.The game will include a 3D representation" of on-field avatars corresponding to the game's real-time action, tracked using the same Sony Hawk-Eye cameras used for the league's Statcast data. In addition, participants who prefer a traditional view can watch the game's television broadcast on the virtual park's giant Jumbotrons floating around the field and parking lot. There should be plenty to keep you occupied if the on-field play gets dull: The stadium supports spatial audio, and you can talk with nearby fans, play trivia games and take part in a scavenger hunt to win NFT collectible cards."The entire setup sounds like something you'd eventually use with a VR or AR headset like the Meta Quest or Apple's upcoming Vision Pro. While it may be a precursor to those more immersive experiences, you'll access this game on flat screens through a web browser. MLB says a desktop or laptop provides the best experience, but it recommends Safari on iOS or Chrome on Android if you want to tune in on mobile.The experience begins at 6:40PM ET on September 20. You'll need to create an MLB profile to join. After that, you can head to the park's webpage to create a custom avatar (rocking your favorite team's apparel) and start exploring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-angels-face-the-marlins-in-mlbs-first-regular-season-virtual-ballpark-game-202934979.html?src=rss
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by Andrew Tarantola on (#6ERSJ)
The CEOs of leading AI companies - including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, Tesla's Elon Musk and Open AI's Sam Altman - appeared before Congress once again on Wednesday. But instead of the normal bombast and soapboxing we see during public hearings about the dangers of unfettered AI development, this conversation reportedly took on far more muted tones.In all, more than 20 tech and civil society leaders spoke with lawmakers at Wednesday's meeting, organized by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to discuss how AI development should be regulated moving forward. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Todd Young (R-IN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) who were also in attendance and reportedly working with the majority leader to draft additional proposals.The word of the day: consensus. First, I asked everyone in the room, Is government needed to play a role in regulating AI?' and every single person raised their hands even though they had diverse views," Schumer told reporters Wednesday.But as Bloomberg reports, "areas of disagreement were apparent throughout the morning session" with Zuckerberg, Altman and Bill Gates all differing on the risks posed by open-source AI (three guesses as to where old Monopoly Bill came down on that issue). True to form, Elon Musk got into it with "Berkeley researcher Deb Raji for appearing to downplay concerns about AI-powered self-driving cars, according to one of the people in the room," Bloomberg reports.Some people mentioned licensing and testing and other ways of regulation ... there were various suggestions as to how to do it, but no consensus emerged yet," Schumer said following the event.That's probably the worst wedding to try to do seating for," Humane Intelligence CEO Rumman Chowdhury said of the event as an attendee. She also noted that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg did not interact and sat at opposite ends of the room-width table - presumably to keep the two bloodthirsty cagefighting CEOs from throwing down and Royal Rumbling the esteemed proceedings.The meeting participants generally agreed that the federal government needs to help to deal with what we call transformational innovation," one unnamed participant suggested. That could entail creating a $32 billion fund that would assist with the kind of stuff that maximizes the benefits of AI," Schumer told reporters.Following the seven-hour event, Facebook released Mark Zuckerberg's official remarks. They cover the company's long-standing talking points about developing and rolling out the technology "in a responsible manner," coordinating its efforts with civil society leaders (instead of say, allegedly fomenting genocide like that one time in Myanmar) and ensuring "that America continue to lead in this area and define the technical standard that the world uses."In a departure from his rhetoric in recent years warning of perceived growing threats from China, Zuckerberg pointed to a new boogieman: "the next leading open source model ... out of Abu Dhabi." This appears to have been a thinly-veiled reference to the UAE's recent entrance into AI development.Elon Musk, famed libertarian and bloodsworn enemy of the FTC, warned reporters corralled outside of the hearing about the "civilizational risk" posed by AI. He wants a Federal Department of AI to help regulate the industry. He reportedly envisions it operating similarly to the FAA or SEC (two more agencies Musk has been variously scolded by) but did not elaborate beyond that. I think this meeting could go down in history as important to the future of civilization," he told reporters.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-tech-leaders-make-all-the-right-noises-at-cozy-closed-door-senate-meeting-194505318.html?src=rss
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by Will Shanklin on (#6ERSK)
Sony is hosting a State of Play livestreamed event today. Sony says the announcement will include something for everyone," focusing primarily on indie and third-party titles and promising updates on flagship games and PS VR2.The State of Play follows the Nintendo Switch Direct from earlier today. Upcoming titles revealed in that event included the Switch games Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Princess Peach: Showtime, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Dave the Diver.The PlayStation State of Play stream starts at 5PM ET today and will be available on PlayStation's YouTube, Twitch and TikTok accounts. Or you can watch the embedded video below.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-sonys-latest-state-of-play-here-at-5pm-et-193021890.html?src=rss
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by Lawrence Bonk on (#6ERSM)
The Steam Deck is on sale again, for those on the fence about purchasing the ubermensch of portable gaming consoles. This is part of Steam's 20th anniversary celebration and new buyers get 10 to 20 percent off, depending on which model you choose. The bare-bones 64GB version now costs $360 instead of $400, the mid-level 256GB iteration costs $450 instead of $530 and the baddest of the bunch, the 512GB behemoth, sets you back $520 instead of $650.This matches a sale from earlier this summer for the console. Previous discounts have capped out at around ten percent, so a deep cut of 20 percent for the 512GB model is nothing to sneeze at. You'll have to wait one to two weeks to get your precious portable console, but early adopters had to stand by for months and months, so consider yourself lucky.The Steam Deck is a powerful portable console that plays AAA titles like Elden Ring and even Baldur's Gate 3, in addition to hundreds upon hundreds of unique indie games. Some of the more popular releases that excel on the platform include Hogwarts Legacy, The Witcher 3 and, of course, Vampire Survivors.Valve's anniversary sale also extends to games, with deep discounts on self-published titles like Half Life 2 and standout hits from the past 20 years, such as Counter-Strike and Left 4 Dead. Newer games are also getting in on the fun, as Resident Evil: Village, Valheim, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and other modern classics are on sale. The discounts stop on September 19th, so grab your games or console while you can.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valves-steam-deck-is-up-to-20-percent-off-right-now-190052126.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6ERSN)
Blackmagic Design has unveiled the Cinema Camera 6K, its debut model with the L-Mount alliance and first full-frame camera. It comes with an all-new 24.6-megapixel sensor (6,048 x 4,032), shoots up to 6K and has dual native ISO for "incredible low-light performance," the company said. Instead of using Canon's EF mount as it has in the past, it will work with L-mount lenses from Panasonic, Leica, Sigma and other partners in the L-mount alliance. As with other Blackmagic Design cameras, it's designed for cinema shooting so it lacks basic features like continuous autofocus and built-in stabilization."With the new Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K, we wanted to create the most portable camera possible for high end, large format cinematography," said CEO Grant Petty. "That's why we took the Pocket Cinema Camera platform but completely re-engineered the electronics inside around a full frame sensor and L-Mount."Blackmagic DesignThe new sensor offers a number of advantages for film shooters, namely shallower depth of field and better performance in low light. To that end, the company is promising 13 stops of dynamic range and dual ISO performance up to 25,600. With the L-mount, it's also Blackmagic Design's first mirrorless style mount, with a relatively short flange distance that makes it slimmer than past models. The disadvantage to that, though, is that there's no room for the built-in ND filter found on past models.The Cinema Camera 6K can shoot in all standard resolutions and frame rates up to DCI 4K and 6K, and stills at up to 24.6 megapixels. 6K open gate (3:2) is available at up to 36fps, or 60fps at 6,048 x 2,520 (2.4:1) and 60fps at 4,096 x 2,160 (4K DCI). "Customers can even work in true anamorphic 6:5 at much higher resolutions than other cameras using anamorphic lenses in 4.8K 24fps at 4,838 x 4,032," the company said. The maximum 120fps frame rate is available in HD.Blackmagic DesignIt comes with a very bright 1,500 nit 5-inch tilting (but not fully articulating) HDR touchscreen that makes it possible to check HDR video straight from the camera, even in bright conditions. Blackmagic offers the usual shooting aids like histogram, focus peaking, levels, frame guides and more. You can also apply your own 3D LUTs for monitoring. It has the Blackmagic's touch interface that's intuitive and pleasant to use.Video is recorded in the 12-bit Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) or H.264 proxy formats, either to CFexpress B or an SSD via the USB-C port. Other features include a wide range of audio ports, including a locking XLR port, an HDMI output, NP-F570 batteries (along with a locking DC power connector) and an optional BMPCC Pro Grip. The Cinema Camera 6K is now on sale for $2,595 - making it the lowest-price full-frame cinema-specific camera out there.Blackmagic DesignAlong with the Cinema Camera 6K, Blackmagic Design debuted the Blackmagic Camera iPhone app that gives users cinema-like camera controls and looks. "Customers can adjust settings such as frame rate, shutter angle, white balance and ISO all in a single tap. Or record directly to Blackmagic Cloud in industry standard 10-bit Apple ProRes files up to 4K," the company wrote. It also works with Blackmagic Cloud, letting creators collaborate with other users. It's now available on the App Store as a free download.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blackmagic-design-unveils-its-first-full-frame-model-the-cinema-camera-6k-185049016.html?src=rss
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by Malak Saleh on (#6ERSP)
A new lineup of COVID-19 vaccines are now becoming available in the US. The updated shots will arrive at select pharmacies as retailers continue to receive inventory. CVS says it expects all of its pharmacies to have the new vaccines in stock by early next week, and some stores appear to already have the latest shot. Appointments at Walgreens will start opening up scheduling today, with appointments beginning for the public starting Monday.The CDC is urging most Americans to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, however, it does not specify if at-risk populations or immunocompromised people should get priority access. The CDC does mention that vaccination will reduce chances of suffering the effects of Long COVID." This CDC recommendation comes in light of an eight percent uptick in COVID-related hospitalizations this week.Availability follows the FDA's decision to authorize Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty and Moderna's Spikevax shots for emergency use earlier this week. Novovax's booster was recommended for use by the CDC, but is still awaiting emergency use authorization by the FDA. The jabs being made available are essentially updated versions of existing Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and that have been formulated to protect against the recent omicron subvariant called the Omicron variant XBB.1.5, the current dominant strain circulating in the US.CDCThe CDC has also launched a Bridge Access Program, which earmarks $1 billion to ensure continued free coverage for COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured Americans.The FDA says the timing and number of doses to get will depend on previous COVID-19 vaccines received. The FDA anticipates that COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated annually and will likely be revised like seasonal influenza vaccines. Side effects from the vaccine may also vary from individual to individual, however the CDC notes that the most common side effects from COVID-19 vaccination include pain at the injection site, fatigue, muscle aches and headaches.Later this week, the CDC says vaccines.gov will be updated with COVID-19 availability information as the vaccine is distributed. This government site can show which boosters are being offered at which local pharmacies using an interactive map.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-new-covid-19-vaccines-are-here-for-the-fall-184029568.html?src=rss
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by Billy Steele on (#6ERSQ)
Thanks to an August leak, Bose's new lineup of QuietComfort headphones aren't exactly a surprise - at least in terms of their appearance. However, the key feature of the headphones and earbuds wasn't tipped until now. Today, the company officially announced the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, both of which pack in Bose's stellar active noise cancellation (ANC) but also feature the addition of the company's new Immersive Audio.Bose says Immersive Audio makes spatial sound "accessible to all." That's because the company's take on the listening format doesn't require specialized content. The QC Ultra devices rely on virtualization and can work with any streaming service to put you in the "acoustic sweet spot,' using a combination of onboard components and new digital signal processing. Immersive Audio has two modes, Still and Motion, that are designed for use when you're sitting or moving. Motion utilizes head tracking to keep the sound in front of you at all times. And of course, you can opt to turn Immersive Audio off completely for just the stock Bose sound.In a brief demo with the spatial audio tech on the QC Ultra Headphones, I was impressed with what Bose is able to do without dedicated immersive content. I experienced both Still and Motion modes in a tightly controlled demo with a live band and with a small selection of songs on a connected phone. There is a big difference in Immersive Audio and the standard Bose tuning and I'll bet most people will keep it active during movies and music. Sometimes you don't notice a major improvement with spatial sound, but with Bose's tech, everything was more dimensional and punchier with more clarity and detail. What's more, the company's robust ANC is as effective as ever, silencing simulated street noise without me ever noticing it.The company is debuting a new design on the QC Ultra Headphones, one that has elements of both previous QuietComfort models and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. The biggest change is to the headband where the company has replaced some of the placed with metal for a more premium look. This addresses a key criticism we've had of Bose products in the past, but it does so without adding unnecessary heft that sacrifices comfort.Another big change is the new volume control. In the past, Bose opted for physical buttons, but here there's a capacitive touch strip that you swipe to adjust volume levels. It's right on the edge of the earcup, easily accessible with your thumb. There's still a physical multi-function button for playback control, changing listening modes and answering calls. The 3.5mm audio jack remains for wired listening and the QC Ultra Headphones charge via USB-C (there's no audio over USB-C though).That new Immersive Audio tech does impact battery life. Bose says you can expect up 18 hours of use with it and ANC active. If you disable it, that figure jumps to 24 hours - still with active noise cancellation turned on. The company also says you can expect upgrades to call quality as the QC Ultra Headphones can pick out your voice from 360 degrees of ambient noise. The mics also help with improved ANC overall, as well as Aware Mode with ActiveSense for tuning into your surroundings.When it comes to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, Immersive Audio is once again the headline feature. However, Bose says it also improved call quality with dynamic microphone mixing and adaptive filters. The company explains that the setup works in real time to prioritize which earbud is getting the least wind noise while also selecting from a number of noise filters to keep you sounding your best.The design of the QC Ultra Earbuds has also been slightly refreshed, with a dash of silver on the outside touch panel. Bose also redesigned the stability band (or fit wing) to wrap around the underside of each earbud. That component also locks in place now, so you'll know they're properly installed. Once again, Immersive Audio affects battery life as the QC Ultra Earbuds will last up to four hours with it on. The company says you can expect two more hours of use with that spatial sound disabled. Bose will also offer an optional wireless charging case cover with these new earbuds, but it will cost you can extra $49.Bose is also replacing the QuietComfort 45 headphones with new QuietComfort Headphones. Here, you get that classic QC design, Bose's powerful ANC, up to 24 hours of battery life and Bluetooth multi-point connectivity. These headphones, as well as both Ultra models, support Bose SimpleSync that allows you to pair them with select soundbars and speakers "for a personal listening experience."All three new models are available for pre-order today. The QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are $429 and the QuietComort Ultra Earbuds are $299. Both will ship in early October. The QuietComfort Headphones will be available on September 21 for $349.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bose-debuts-quietcomfort-ultra-headphones-and-earbuds-with-spatial-audio-183032611.html?src=rss
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by Will Shanklin on (#6ERSR)
TikTok and Billboard are collaborating on a pop music chart. TikTok Billboard Top 50 Chart is a new weekly roundup listing the most popular songs on the social platform in the US. The list debuts with the track SkeeYee" by Sexyy Red taking the inaugural top spot.TikTok and Billboard describe the collaboration as the first official chart in the US to provide the most accurate record" of the hottest songs on the platform. As TikTok has proven it can even revive the fortunes of four-decade-old classic rock tunes, the company says its chart combines creations, video views and user engagement by the US TikTok community to tally the top hits. The list will be updated weekly on Thursdays.Following Sexyy Red's top spot is Doja Cat, with Paint The Town Red" at number two. August" by Taylor Swift, who has six songs in the top 50, lands at number three. The list includes one startling entry: Convicted sex offender R. Kelly somehow appears at number 45 with his unfortunately titled song It Seems Like You're Ready."I am so excited that so many of my songs are charting on TikTok and Billboard's new chart," said Sexyy Red. I always knew I would be a #1 type of artist, so I want to thank all my fans on TikTok for running my music up! I'm just being me on TikTok and people love it."You can check out the weekly charts in the TikTok app by selecting the round icon on the screen's bottom corner and then tapping the Music Charts" button on the top right. Alternatively, you can view the Top 50 chart on Billboard's website.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/billboards-latest-top-50-chart-pulls-the-biggest-tracks-from-tiktok-181120151.html?src=rss
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by Steve Dent on (#6ER5C)
Caesars Entertainment reportedly paid "tens of millions of dollars" to hackers who threatened to release company data, Bloomberg has reported. The attack was reportedly perpetrated by a group called Scattered Spider (aka UNC 3944), a group skilled at using social engineering to bypass corporate network security. It's the second notable attack of a Las Vegas casino group, following a hack that caused a cyber outage at MGM Resorts.Members of the hacking group are reportedly located in the US and UK and are as young as 19 years old. They began targeting Caesars as early as August 27th, and obtained access to an outside vendor before entering the company's network, according to the report. Caesars is expected to disclose the attack "imminently" in a regulatory filing.Scattered Spider has reportedly been activate since May of 2022, and has largely attacked telecom and business outsourcing organizations, according to Trellix. The group is known to impersonate IT personnel and uses social engineering to persuade company officials to rum remote monitoring and other tools. From there, they exploit vulnerabilities and use tools like "Stonestop" to evade security software. Security Week describes them as a "financially-motivated threat actor."The group has been implicated in the MGM Resorts cyber outage as well, though another ransomware group called ALPHV/BlackCat also took credit. ALPHV also claims to have used social engineering to get inside, saying it took just a ten minute conversation to gain access. MGM has reportedly declined to pay the demanded ransom.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/caesars-reportedly-paid-millions-to-stop-hackers-releasing-its-data-081052820.html?src=rss
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by Mariella Moon on (#6ER43)
Mac users who want to play Baldur's Gate III on their computers only have to wait a few more days: Larian Studios has announced that the full version of the game will be available for Mac on September 21. It has been available for the OS for quite some time, but as a limited, early access version. Fans can only play the first act of the game and can't go any further than what the developer previously described as "approximately 25 hours of self-contained content." Soon, Mac gamers will be able to continue playing until they reach the Moonrise Towers and until secrets are revealed in the third act.
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by Sean Buckley on (#6EQXC)
Wondering what you'll be playing on your PlayStation 5 this fall? Sony has some ideas. The company announced that its next State of Play stream will take place at 5PM ET on September 14, hosted on PlayStation's YouTube, Twitch and TikTok accounts. While the stream's announcement promises to have "something for everyone," including updates on major releases and PS VR2, don't expect a lot of big reveals: Sony says that the showcase will have a strong focus on indie and third party titles, and will primarily feature updates to previously announced games.If you can't bear to wait until Thursday evening, however, you may be able to get some clues from the Nintendo Direct stream happening earlier that same day. While the Switch-focused stream won't give you any clues about PlayStation's flagship updates, there's a good chance some of the third party announcements featured on the Nintendo Direct will be at Sony's showcase, too. If nothing else, the State of Play should give us a good idea of what fans might be playing on the upcoming PlayStation Portal streaming device when it launches this fall.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playstation-is-hosting-a-surprise-state-of-play-on-september-14-000143525.html?src=rss
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by Will Shanklin on (#6EQRC)
Bethesda has updated Starfield with bug fixes while promising new features are on the way. The developer says features in the pipeline include native DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) support, an HDR calibration menu, a field of view slider and more.Today's update to version 1.7.29 is limited to stability fixes. Bethesda says it specifically targets Xbox Series X/S glitches and adds various performance improvements to reduce crashes and improve frame rates. In addition, it fixed several issues that could prevent players from finishing three quests (All That Money Can Buy," Into the Unknown" and Shadows in Neon"). Our priority initially is making sure any top blocker bugs or stability issues are addressed and adding quality-of-life features that many are asking for," the developer wrote in the update's notes.But the future Starfield additions Bethesda teased today are more likely to catch players' attention. DLSS support on PCs will be a welcome addition, as the technology could boost resolution and improve stability for people with NVIDIA cards. (AMD's gaming boss Frank Azor had already suggested last month that nothing is contractually stopping the developer from adding NVIDIA's rival upscaling tool.) Various community mods can already implement unofficial DLSS support, but gamers will be pleased to know official support is coming.BethesdaBethesda says other features in development include brightness and contrast controls, an HDR calibration menu, a FOV slider and 32:9 ultra-wide monitor support for more immersive exploration. It even says it's working on an eat button for in-game meals, and it may add better maps. Finally, Bethesda says it's working on adding built-in cross-platform mod support for early 2024.The developer stresses that it's working closely with" NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel on driver support and that future Starfield updates will all include stability improvements for individual hardware. That statement could be viewed as a response to a recent technical report from Digital Foundry saying the game had disproportionately poor NVIDIA and Intel performance."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/starfield-will-add-dlss-and-other-pc-features-missing-at-launch-191530723.html?src=rss
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by Lawrence Bonk on (#6EQMK)
AI is just about everywhere lately, but nobody expected it to be used as a salvo in the ongoing cola wars. Coca-Cola, however, has other plans, as it just launched a new flavor co-created by artificial intelligence. The company's calling it the soda from the future" and it's available for a limited time in both regular and zero sugar varieties, as reported by CNBC.It's called Y3000, which is certainly a futuristic-sounding name, though it calls to mind Skynet and its army of evil Terminators more than a refreshing beverage. Coke hasn't released any information as to how it actually tastes, but testers describe it as resembling a raspberry slushy. The company did release info on the creation process. It all started with researchers collecting flavor preferences from consumers, looking for trends to understand what the future tastes like." Next, this data was fed into a proprietary artificial intelligence system to help create the flavor profile. Before you know it, a new baby soda was born. What a mitzvah.Doing its best Secret Invasion impression, Coke also tasked AI to help design the artwork on the slim can. The cans have a beachy, neon-purple vibe that absolutely calls to mind an image generation platform like Dall-E or Midjourney. There are also traditionally-sized bottles filled with the futuristic fluid.Y3000 is described as a limited edition flavor, but Coke hasn't said when the soda would head to the scrapheap to join other futuristic foods, like Dippin' Dots freeze-dried ice cream and the transparent (and awful) Crystal Pepsi. It should stick around through the fall, though, as Coca-Cola also announced a partnership with luxury streetwear brand Ambush to release a Y3000-themed clothing collection later in the season.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/coca-colas-ai-generated-soda-tastes-like-marketing-184556330.html?src=rss
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by Malak Saleh on (#6EQMM)
Today, Google unveiled a range of software updates for Android Auto and vehicles equipped with Google integration. At the forefront, Google says its drivers will now be able to join WebEx or Zoom meetings, a feature it previously announced at I/O 2023. The apps will only work in an audio-only capability, which Google says will make it easy and safe" for drivers to quickly join scheduled meetings from car displays.Beyond enhancing productivity, Google is also attempting to expand its audio and visual entertainment offerings with its rollout of Prime Video on the Google Play app. This feature, which will appear on the display for parked entertainment," will only be available for select vehicles - namely Renault, Polestar and Volvo Cars. Eventually, Google says this will appear in other brands. In addition to streaming, Chrome-based internet browsing will be available starting today. Internet browsing is already available in some cars on Google Play through the standalone app, Vivaldi.GoogleWhile keeping drivers productive and entertained, Google is also expanding the functionality of the display by making the Weather Channel app available for hourly forecasts, and a follow-me alert safety feature that allows third parties to track your vehicle. A Trip View" radar will also display live maps -mainly for severe weather events.Lastly, Google's digital car key - which allows drivers to use their phones to lock and unlock their vehicles - will finally be available in select Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia models in the US and Canada for those with compatible Pixel and Samsung devices. The tech will also allow drivers to share digital keys with family and friends wirelessly. Digital keys will have already been available in several European countries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-autos-latest-updates-let-you-take-zoom-and-webex-calls-on-the-road-180048081.html?src=rss
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by Will Shanklin on (#6EQMN)
Amazon is launching a new AI tool that generates product listings for sellers. The feature uses a large language model (LLM) trained on large amounts of data" to make it faster and simpler for vendors to describe their products. The company describes the tool as distilling the significant work" of creating titles, bullet points and descriptions down to just one step."Amazon says its Generative Listing Content tool only requires sellers to provide a brief product description in a few words or sentences. From there, it will generate high-quality content for their review" - including a title, product description and bullet points - which sellers can peruse before refining or submitting as is. The company says many sellers have already tested the tool during the last few months, and their feedback indicates most of them use the generated content directly without revisions.These new capabilities will help sellers create high-quality listings with less effort and present customers with more complete, consistent, and engaging product information that will enhance their shopping experiences," Amazon VP Mary Beth Westmoreland wrote today in an announcement blog post.AmazonWith our new generative AI models, we can infer, improve, and enrich product knowledge at an unprecedented scale and with dramatic improvement in quality, performance, and efficiency," Robert Tekiela, Amazon VP of selection and catalog systems, wrote today. Our models learn to infer product information through the diverse sources of information, latent knowledge, and logical reasoning that they learn. For example, they can infer a table is round if specifications list a diameter or infer the collar style of a shirt from its image."The new tool joins Amazon's AI-generated review summaries, launched earlier this summer. That feature uses generative AI to train on a product's reviews and spit out one-paragraph recaps, including clickable keywords. The company teases that it's still getting started with incorporating generative AI into its storefront: This is just the tip of the iceberg on how we plan to use AI to help improve the seller experience and help more sellers succeed." CEO Andy Jassy said last month that, from now on, generative AI is going to be at the heart of what we do."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-encouraging-sellers-to-use-ai-generated-product-listings-174755381.html?src=rss
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by Lawrence Bonk on (#6EQMP)
Cadillac just unveiled the 2025 CT5 luxury sedan and it ships with a tech-forward feature that's certain to annoy the back in my day, cars were for driving" crowd, a 33-inch 9K touchscreen display. The dashboard-based LED screen curves toward the driver in a single, continuous screen" that spans the entire viewing area.Like most in-car displays, this is a customizable user interface that you can access in a number of different ways. Cadillac has partnered up with Google, so many of the company's apps are built-in to the display, like Google Assistant and Google Maps. This allows for live traffic updates, podcasts, music streaming, hands-free communication and more. The inclusion of Google Play lets you shop around for all kinds of apps to help pass the time during that annoying commute.Cadillac has been teasing this display for a while, after it first showed up at CES in 2021 as part of the Lyriq EV concept car. However, the 2025 CT5 is far from a concept vehicle, as it likely releases next year. It seems as though automobile manufacturers are in a race to push out the widest and more versatile screen, with BMW recently introducing full-width displays on windscreens that are also set to launch with 2025 models.Of course, the Cadillac CT5 is also a car, and not just a big metal house for a touchscreen display. The CT5 refresh boasts a 2.0L turbo engine, upgradeable to 3.0L, with 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, along with dual exhaust tips. The company promises a quiet, smooth and effortless" ride, thanks to all-wheel drive, Super Cruise drive assistance technology, and something called the Drive Mode Selector that uses a full range of sensors to automatically adjust responses depending on the surface and weather conditions.Cadillac says the 2025 CT5 will be manufactured at GM's assembly facility in Michigan, with production beginning in the spring. We'll have to wait for pricing and availability details, however, as the company says more news will be announced in the future. In the meantime, we can all live in terror at the prospect of a child accidentally breaking that touchscreen during a particularly grueling and anxiety-inducing road trip.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cadillac-put-a-33-inch-9k-touchscreen-in-its-new-ct5-luxury-sedan-173057311.html?src=rss
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by Kris Holt on (#6EQMQ)
Apple TV+ has some intriguing TV series on hand to keep you occupied this fall. Along with the return of The Morning Show and the debut of a show that features Godzilla, the captivating For All Mankindis about to set sail on its fourth season. New episodes of the drama, which offers an alternate perspective on the space race, will start streaming on November 10.Apple also released a teaser for the 10-episode season, which jumps forward eight years from the events of season three to 2003. Much of the action will take place on Mars, where astronauts stay busy by mining for resources. The teaser is in the form of a recruitment ad narrated by Ed Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) that encourages people to sign up to work on the Red Planet.As it happens, Apple just announced new iPhones that will soon be available to pre-order. If you snap up one of those - or another new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch - you'll get three months of Apple TV+ access at no extra cost.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/for-all-mankind-returns-to-apple-tv-on-november-10-171532673.html?src=rss
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by Devindra Hardawar on (#6EQMR)
When I saw one of the first 49-inch ultrawide monitors from Samsung five years ago, I found it to be a curious creation. I was no stranger to the world of ultrawides, but that screen was a bit much. It was too unwieldy, and its odd resolution wasn't tall enough for my tastes. Since then, though, the 49-inch category has evolved: They're cheaper, have newer display technology and are better equipped for gaming. Sure, you'll still need to have a lot of room on your desk (or a very sturdy mounting arm), but these days they could actually be considered practical.LG's 49-inch Curved UltraGear is a prime example of how much things have changed. Starting at $1,300, it offers 49-inches of glorious screen space with a sharp 5,120 by 1,440 resolution; an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time; and AMD FreeSync Premium support. It's LG's largest and most immersive gaming monitor yet. And after spending several weeks with the UltraGear 49, it has finally made me a convert of for the 49-inch ultrawide life.Of course, one does not simply decide to buy the 49-inch UltraGear. You need to have the space to fit its bulky frame, which measures 46-inches across. You need to make sure all of your accessories can still fit on your desk (it's particularly annoying if you regularly use cameras and large microphones). And, last but not least, you also need to ensure the games you play the most can take full advantage of the UltraGear's wide 32:9 aspect ratio.That any game can run at 5,120 by 1,440 pixels is a testament to just how far the ultrawide monitor movement has grown over the last decade. A typical widescreen TV has a 16:9 aspect ratio with a 1,920 by 1080 (1080p), 2,560 by 1,440 (1,440p) or 4K resolution. Ultrawide displays stretch those proportions a bit with a 21:9 aspect ratio, typically running at either 2,560 by 1080, or 3,440 by 1,440 pixels. These days, it's rare to find a new PC title that doesn't support those ultrawide resolutions. And when they don't, as in the case of Elden Ring, developers often argue it's done to avoid giving ultrawide players any advantage. (Of course, as is often the case with PC gaming, modders will find a way.)Photo by Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetOfficial support for extreme ultrawides like the 49-inch UltraGear is more rare, but it's not unheard of. I was able to play several hours of Halo Infinite, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky, Armored Core VI and the recently released FPS Sprawl at the LG's full 5,120 by 1,440 resolution. You'll still need the GPU horsepower to actually get decent framerates, of course, but the UltraGear's native resolution is still less demanding than 4K. (For the record, I tested the UltraGear 49 on my personal PC equipped with a Ryzen 7800 and an NVIDIA RTX 4090.)Starfield (below) was the first new game to spoil my extreme ultrawide fun. It supports 3,440 by 1,440 , but it can't stretch out to 32:9 resolutions. That meant I spent my first 10 hours of the game with black bars on the sides of the screen. It was still playable, but I think anyone who buys a monitor this size will be disappointed with the restrictions. You could easily hack Starfield to support wider resolutions, but there's no guarantee those solutions will work forever.In many ways, the 49-inch Ultragear is emblematic of PC gaming itself: Owning one puts you right on the bleeding edge, but the experience isn't always perfect. Incompatibility risks and other issues are simply a fact of life if you want a screen that can completely consume your peripheral vision. And to its credit, the Ultragear still looks and feels like a typical gaming display. Setting it up was just a matter of assembling the sturdy stand and slapping the screen on the rear mount. The stand also supports vertical, swiveling and tilting adjustments, letting you dial in just the right viewing angle.Compared to Samsung's monstrous 55-inch Odyssey Ark, the 49-inch UltraGear is far easier to use for both gaming and regular productivity tasks. Sure, it can't rotate to be completely vertical, but that feature always felt like a gimmick on Samsung's screen. Instead, I appreciated the simple things, like being able to have two browser windows opened up alongside Slack while I was doing research. While recording podcasts, I could simultaneously keep an eye on my audio timeline, as well as have windows dedicated to a video chat with my cohosts, a Google Doc with shownotes and a browser for research.For the multitasker who demands as much usable screen space as possible, the 49-inch UltraGear is heaven. Just be prepared to stretch your neck more than usual to see the extreme edges. You could always push the monitor back a bit to avoid that, but that also hurts immersion, which is the whole point of buying this thing.Based on several hours of gameplay, as well as watching clips from 4K HDR films and plenty of other video content, the 49-inch UltraGear was just as bright and bold as I'd expect from a modern monitor. It can reach up to 1,000 nits of peak HDR brightness, and it covers 95 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut. While the images didn't exactly leap off the screen as they did with Alienware's phenomenal QD-OLED display, a more expensive 34-inch screen, the sheer size of the 49-inch UltraGear made me feel like I was actually driving around Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, or exploring alien planets in No Man's Sky.While the screen doesn't really give you an advantage in FPS titles like Halo Infinite, since your view is basically cropped from what 16:9 players see, I still enjoyed having an extra wide view of every match. You may have to tweak field-of-view settings in some titles though, as the monitor's large 1000R curve can lead to distortions along the edges of the frame. (This could also be a problem when it comes to photo editing, or any task requires exact measurements.)While I reveled in having such a vast amount of screen space available, using the 49-inchUltraGear led to some awkward adjustments outside of the screen. To record podcasts, I had to push it down to its lowest position and maneuver my rear desk-mounted microphone over the display. With my own 34-inch ultrawide monitor, there was enough room for the microphone to fit along the right side of the screen. I also had to push my large desktop speakers even further away to fit the 49-inch UltraGear on my desk. If you're actually considering this screen, it's worth thinking seriously about how it will fit in your space and alongside your other accessories. (You could also attach it to a wall or a monitor arm that fits a 100 x 100 mm VESA mount.)The 49-inch UltraGear is clearly a gaming focused monitor: it includes features like a built-in crosshair, FPS counter and requisite RGB LED lighting. There aren't any speakers attached (because really, who uses those?) but you can plug in headphones for DTS HP:X virtual surround sound. (That sounded fine in my testing, but I stuck with Windows' Dolby Atmos upmixing while playing with the Arctis Nova Pro headset.) There are also 2 USB 3.0 ports along the rear for accessories, but for a monitor in this price range I expected even more connectivity.Given that 27-inch 5K screens like Apple's Studio Display sell for $1,599, the 49-inch UltraGear's $1,300 retail pricedoesn't seem so bad. But with great 16:9 gaming monitors going for around $300, it's still a hefty price to stomach. And if you're ready to pay more than $1,000 for a monitor, it may be worth holding out for an OLED screen that can deliver better contrast. (The Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED is now available for $900 with AMD's FreeSync Pro, while LG's UltraGear 45 ultrawide OLED goes for a whopping $1,700.)Few people actually need a 49-inch monitor. But LG has built one that's laser-targeted at the people who demand that much screen. It does everything you want a gaming monitor to do: It's bright, colorful and can play titles at incredibly high frame rates. And it does it all while consuming your entire field of view. When it comes to sheer immersion, the UltraGear 49 is the next best thing to putting on a VR headset.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-49-ultragear-gaming-monitor-review-ultrawide-nirvana-171512885.html?src=rss