Last year, WhatsApp released a series of new updates to make sending voice messages an overall better experience, and now it's bringing the whole group in on it. The messaging app has released a beta version of voice chats - a feature that creates an ongoing group audio conversation, reports WABetaInfo. The first sign of voice chats came earlier this year under the name audio chats but didn't provide much other info than its mere existence.WABetaInfoThough it sounds similar, this update isn't exactly the same as starting a group call, giving a much more Discord-like feel than when you typically give your friends a ring. Anyone with the update should see a waveform symbol in the upper right corner of their group chat. Pressing the icon starts a group voice chat and will say voice chat opened with a microphone to its left and a red X to its right. Everyone else in the group will receive a push notification, the same as any message, instead of their phone ringing. They will see a banner at the top of the chat box letting them know how many people are chatting now and giving them the option to connect.Voice chats are protected by end-to-end encryption just like any other messages sent and also shut off if no one has been active in it for an hour. WhatsApp voice chat only appears to be available in beta for Android users right now but will allegedly appear for more people in the coming days.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/whatsapps-latest-feature-lets-you-jump-in-and-out-of-group-voice-chats-121045597.html?src=rss
It's wild to me that a phone costing north of a grand is somehow midrange, but that's the mad, mad world of foldables. The Morning After's own Mat Smith reviewed Motorola's new 2023 Razr, a lower-end device below the flagship Razr+, and found it wanting in so many ways. Performance isn't great, the cameras are poor and the cover display is so small it's unusable.In the UK, this handset is retailing for around $1,025, and while currency conversions aren't an exact science (well...) that figure is officially Too Much for Smith's wallet. He says that, when the handset arrives in the US, if it isn't priced under $800, then don't even think about it. And, even if it is, is the joy of a folding display really worth the underwhelming package that surrounds it?- Dan CooperYou can get these reports delivered daily, direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedFederal judge narrows scope of antitrust case against Google ahead of trialDevolver Digital will proudly delay a bunch of games in its next showcase YouTube's enhanced 1080p playback option is rolling out to Premium users on the webThreads is getting a web version and a search function 'in the next few weeks'FDA approves first oral postpartum depression pillCoinbase wants its SEC lawsuit dismissed, arguing it doesn't deal in securities GameStop's NFT wallet will shut down in NovemberCall of Duty is publicly shaming cheaters in the kill feedIf you're caught using exploits, you will be named and shamed.I'm no fan of a culture too quick to name and shame - we're all running the same race but carrying baggage of varying weights upon our backs. But Activision feels there's an exception for those folks playing Call of Duty online with cheat software running in the background. The latest update to its Ricochet anti-cheat system will detect users playing less than fair, boot them from the game and let everyone know they've been dealing with a cheater.Continue Reading.A $2,490 wireless podcasting kit is absurd, but at least Nomono's sounds greatIt's a beautifully packaged all-in-one studio but... you know.Photo by Devindra Hardawar / EngadgetNomono's all-in-one podcast studio has a list of features long enough to get Devindra Hardawar to spend time playing with it. For $2,490, you get an egg-shaped charging case with four wireless lavalier microphones and a space recorder for capturing room tone. Once you're done bantering, the audio is instantly uploaded to a cloud server for easy editing, but that's not ready to go right now. If you're a budding podcaster with the better part of three grand to spare and are curious if you should pick one up, read all of Devindra's review to find out more.Continue Reading.Google's latest bid to push hybrid work is a $99 rate at its on-campus hotelFancy paying to skip the commute?Google has always gone the extra mile to keep its employees on its campus for as long as possible. Now, as it tries to claw people back to the office, it's offering cheap nights in its campus hotel to encourage people to ditch working from home. Because, you know, the thing great companies value is the quality of your presenteeism, not the quality of your work.Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-motorolas-new-razr-is-not-a-good-phone-111521672.html?src=rss
Now's the time to snag a new Google phone without paying full price. The tech company's Pixel 7a smartphone is 11 percent off right now - down to $444 from $499 in all available colors. This deal is the best we've seen for the Google Pixel 7a 128GB since it first launched in May.Google's Pixel 7a is one of our favorite mid-range smartphones and scored a 90 in our review due to how much it works like a Pixel 7 but for a lower price. For starters, it lasted 17 hours and 41 minutes during our video rundown test, just 13 minutes short of its older sibling. It also has a 6.1-inch OLED screen, a 2400 x 1080 display and a 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 7a features a high-res 65-MP rear camera and a 13-MP selfie camera.A few other devices in the Google Pixel family, such as the tablet, are also on sale. A 12 percent discount drops the Google Pixel Tablet (equipped with a charging speaker dock) down to $439 from $499. Plus, the Google Pixel Buds Pro and A-Series have sales running, with the Pro model dropping 30 percent to $139 from $200. If you want something even cheaper, the Google Pixel Buds A-Series are down to $60 from $100 - a 40 percent discount.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/googles-pixel-7a-falls-to-a-new-all-time-low-at-amazon-104528189.html?src=rss
If you've still been hemming and hawing about whether Sony's PlayStation 5 is worth dropping half a grand for, you're in luck. One of the best gaming consoles on the market is having a nice sale to start your week off right. Right now, Sony's PS5 disc model is down to $449 from $500 - a solid 10 percent discount. Sure, it's not a massive chunk of change, but $50 can buy you a game or two or even an extra controller.Sony's PS5 was a solid choice when it first came out in 2020 (we gave it an 87 at the time) and has seen active improvements in the few years since. Most recently, a software beta update has added more accessibility options, like the ability to use a second controller for assistance in games. It also doubled M.2 SSD limits from 4TB to 8TB and added Dolby Atmos support to increase the number of devices you can play sound through.Whether you go for the console or have one already, you can take advantage of some accessories also being on sale. The DualSense Wireless Controller is down to $49 in almost every color, from classic White to Galactic Purple. Sony's PlayStation Pulse 3D Wireless Headset is even at an all-time low price in its Gray Camouflage model, down to $70 from $100. All in all, this is a very good time to hop fully on the PS5 train.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/sonys-disc-based-playstation-5-falls-back-to-449-093647320.html?src=rss
America didn't get around to really addressing child labor until the late '30s when Roosevelts New Deal took hold and the Public Contracts Act raised the minimum age to 16. Before then, kids could often look forward to spending the majorities of their days doing some of the most dangerous and delicate work required on the factory floor. It's something today's kids can look forward to as well.InHands of Time: A Watchmaker's History, venerated watchmaker Rebecca Struthers explores how the practice and technology of timekeeping has shaped and molded the modern world through her examination of history's most acclaimed timepieces. In the excerpt below, however, we take a look at 18th- and 19th-century Britain where timekeeping was used as a means of social coercion in keeping both adult and child workers pliant and productive.HarperCollinsExcerpted fromHands of Time: A Watchmaker's History by Rebecca Struthers. Published by Harper. Copyright (C) 2023 by Rebecca Struthers. All rights reserved.Although Puritanism had disappeared from the mainstream in Europe by the time of the Industrial Revolution, industrialists, too, preached redemption through hard work - lest the Devil find work for idle hands to do. Now, though, the goal was productivity as much as redemption, although the two were often conveniently conflated. To those used to working by the clock, the provincial workers' way of time appeared lazy and disorganized and became increasingly associated with unchristian, slovenly ways. Instead time thrift' was promoted as a virtue, and even as a source of health. In 1757, the Irish statesman Edmund Burke argued that it was excessive rest and relaxation [that] can be fatal producing melancholy, dejection, despair, and often self-murder' while hard work was necessary to health of body and mind'.Historian E.P. Thompson, in his famous essay Time, Work-Discipline and Industrial Capitalism', poetically described the role of the watch in eighteenth-century Britain as the small instrument which now regulated the rhythms of industrial life'. It's a description that, as a watchmaker, I particularly enjoy, as I'm often regulating' the watches I work on - adjusting the active hairspring length to get the watch running at the right rate - so they can regulate us in our daily lives. For the managerial classes, however, their watches dictated not just their own lives but also those of their employees.In 1850 James Myles, a factory worker from Dundee, wrote a detailed account of his life working in a spinning mill. James had lived in the countryside before relocating to Dundee with his mother and siblings after his father was sentenced to seven years' transportation to the colonies for murder. James was just seven years old when he managed to get a factory job, a great relief to his mother as the family were already starving. He describes stepping into the dust, the din, the work, the hissing and roaring of one person to another'. At a nearby mill the working day ran for seventeen to nineteen hours and mealtimes were almost dispensed with in order to eke the very most out of their workers' productivity, Women were employed to boil potatoes and carry them in baskets to the different flats; and the children had to swallow a potato hastily ... On dinners cooked and eaten as I have described, they had to subsist till half past nine, and frequently ten at night.' In order to get workers to the factory on time, foremen sent men round to wake them up. Myles describes how balmy sleep had scarcely closed their urchin eyelids, and steeped their infant souls in blessed forgetfulness, when the thumping of the watchmen's staff on the door would rouse them from repose, and the words Get up; it's four o'clock," reminded them they were factory children, the unprotected victims of monotonous slavery.'Human alarm clocks, or knocker-uppers', became a common sight in industrial cities.* If you weren't in possession of a clock with an alarm (an expensive complication at the time), you could pay your neighborhood knocker-upper a small fee to tap on your bedroom windows with a long stick, or even a pea shooter, at the agreed time. Knocker-uppers tried to concentrate as many clients within a short walking distance as they could, but were also careful not to knock too hard in case they woke up their customer's neighbors for free. Their services became more in demand as factories increasingly relied on shift work, expecting people to work irregular hours.Once in the workplace, access to time was often deliberately restricted and could be manipulated by the employer. By removing all visible clocks other than those controlled by the factory, the only person who knew what time the workers had started and how long they'd been going was the factory master. Shaving time off lunch and designated breaks and extending the working day for a few minutes here and there was easily done. As watches started to become more affordable, those who were able to buy them posed an unwelcome challenge to the factory master's authority.An account from a mill worker in the mid-nineteenth century describes how: We worked as long as we could see in the summer time, and I could not say what hour it was when we stopped. There was nobody but the master and the master's son who had a watch, and we did not know the time. There was one man who had a watch ... It was taken from him and given into the master's custody because he had told the men the time of day ...'James Myles tells a similar story: In reality there were no regular hours: masters and managers did with us as they liked. The clocks at factories were often put forward in the morning and back at night, and instead of being instruments for the measurement of time, they were used as cloaks for cheatery and oppression. Though it is known among the hands, all were afraid to speak, and a workman then was afraid to carry a watch, as it was no uncommon event to dismiss anyone who presumed to know too much about the science of Horology.'Time was a form of social control. Making people start work at the crack of dawn, or even earlier, was seen as an effective way to prevent working-class misbehavior and help them to become productive members of society. As one industrialist explained, The necessity of early rising would reduce the poor to a necessity of going to Bed bedtime; and thereby prevent the Danger of Midnight revels.' And getting the poor used to temporal control couldn't start soon enough. Even children's anarchic sense of the present should be tamed and fitted to schedule. In 1770 English cleric William Temple had advocated that all poor children should be sent from the age of four to workhouses, where they would also receive two hours of schooling a day. He believed that there was:
"A $3,000 podcasting kit, in this economy?" That was my first thought when I learned about Nomono's portable recording setup last year. Since then, the price has dropped slightly to $2,490. But my main concern remains: Who needs this thing when you can get a small audio recorder and lavalier mics for far less? Still, I was intrigued.Nomono's kit includes four wireless lav mics, as well as a space recorder for room tone and spatial data, all of which charge in a portable carrying case. Your recordings are automatically uploaded to Nomono's cloud service, where you can optimize their audio quality (and eventually edit them in your browser). As someone who's been podcasting regularly since 2008, the notion of an all-in-one kit that can easily tackle local recordings sounds like an absolute dream. Nomono's kit has the potential to be something the podcasting industry has needed for years, but can the company justify its incredibly high price?Clearly, this isn't a product aimed at everyone - it's certainly not for beginners, and I'd argue it's far beyond the scope of what most podcasters actually need. But after testing Nomono's kit for a few weeks, I can see how it could be helpful for recording studios and companies that need flexible podcasting solutions. It doesn't require much training to use, it delivers high quality recordings, and it can be deployed just about anywhere. For those folks, spending $2,490 on Nomono's kit may make more sense than having an engineer dedicate time to every single recording. Add in a cloud subscription, which can cost as much as $29 a month, and it definitely doesn't seem like something for mere podcasting mortals.You can tell Nomono is striving for Apple-level design simply by looking at its hardware. Even though everything is made of plastic, nothing feels cheap. The egg-like charging case has a cloth handle at the top as well as a USB-C port. Its two halves snap together with secure clasps - flip those open, take off the top and you're presented with four lavalier microphones around the space recorder. It's like an adorable podcasting bird nest.Photo by Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetThe space recorder serves as the hub for the entire Nomono experience: It's a rectangular device featuring omnidirectional microphones for capturing room tone with spatial information (it can tell where everyone is located during a conversation). There's a small screen at the top displaying the battery levels of all the connected lavs, as well as prominent recording and directional buttons. On the side, it features a USB-C port and a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. As you're capturing audio, the space recorder takes in data from the lav mics and uploads it to Nomono's cloud once your session is done.The lavaliers aren't nearly as unique: They're small, indiscrete square pucks featuring four LED colors (helpful for distinguishing each track). They grip onto your clothes with small magnets - making them easy to put on, but potentially just as easy to slip off. The lavs never fell off during my testing, but I constantly worried about knocking one off and losing the tiny magnet. (Nomono includes some additional magnets in its bundled accessory kit, which also has windscreen sleeves for the lavs and space recorder.)Photo by Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetSetting up Nomono's hardware was relatively straightforward: After charging the case, I downloaded the Nomono Companion app, created an account, and paired the kit to my phone. The app shows battery levels for the lav mics and space recorder. To capture audio, you just need to remove the space recorder and at least one lav, then hit record. That process was surprisingly fast and reliable - I was typically able to get recordings started in under 30 seconds.Wrapping up a session is mostly dependent on your internet connection. It took under 60 seconds for a 90-minute recording to get uploaded, and then I had to wait a few more minutes for Nomono's cloud to process the upload. It was far faster for short recording tests, just be prepared to wait a bit if you're planning to push lots of audio. Nomono's hardware delivers 16-bit 48kHz WAV files for each lavalier, as well as an ambisonic WAV file (with up to four tracks) from the space recorder.The quality of those recordings are crisp and detailed even in slightly noisy outdoor spaces. The lavs don't sound nearly as rich or nuanced as a premium dynamic or condenser microphone, but I didn't really expect them to. I'd consider them on-par with other wireless lavaliers I've used during video production (our podcast editor, Ben Ellman, described the sound as being ideal for video shoots). A conversation with my wife also sounded surprisingly clear, with none of the crosstalk issues or echoes I've encountered with cheaper multi-mic solutions.NomonoTo give your recordings a bit more polish, Nomono also offers three levels of enhancement through its cloud platform: on the light end, it features a high-pass filter, cross-talk reduction, notch EQ filter, de-noising and de-essing (for removing harsh "S" sounds and other sibilants). Medium enhancement adds loudness normalization, a tone-shaping EQ and adaptive level, while full enhancement goes even heavier on the latter two features. While you can still download pure, unfiltered tracks, these enhancements are useful for the less audio savvy.Eventually, you can choose to spatialize your recording through Nomono's online platform, which makes each audio track sound like they're coming from different directions (depending on where the space recorder was placed during the session). That feature wasn't available while I was testing the kit, and to be honest, it's also not something I'd ever consider using in a podcast.Nomono's full audio enhancement did a decent job of cutting down highway sounds and other street noise while I was recording in front of my local Starbucks (see above), but it also made my voice sound a bit tinny and compressed. Basically, don't expect any miracles. While It's useful to have simple ways to cut down background noise, you'll still need to find a relatively quiet recording space to capture the best audio. (Otherwise, why even buy such an expensive podcasting kit?!)The company plans to launch its online editor by the end of 2023, which could also potentially include the ability to edit spatial recordings. Since this isn't exactly a consumer solution, I'd bet that most people buying Nomono's hardware already have more sophisticated ways to edit audio.Here's a comparison of Nomono's lavalier versus the Rode Procaster XLR microphone:While Nomono's hardware mostly impressed me, its online platform made it tough to deal with larger files. It took over five minutes for it to prepare a 90 minute track for download (including its bundled spatial audio file). And that didn't include the time it took to actually grab the file, which would be dependent on your internet connection. I understand the appeal of a seamless online audio solution, but it's annoying when I know it would be faster to just grab a file from a device sitting right on my desk.The space recorder didn't show up on my Mac or PC when I connected to it, unfortunately. Nomono representatives say the company is planning to make offline features available next year, but for now, it's focused on a cloud-based workflow because they believe it's the "most convenient and time-efficient" solution for users. That also means livestreaming is out of the question with this kit, though it may show up in a future Nomono product, the company tells me.I'd have a much easier time justifying Nomono's high price if I knew I could use its hardware without relying on a website. This isn't my first time at the gadget startup rodeo: What good is this $2,490 recording kit if the company goes out of business in a year or two?Photo by Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetIt's clear that Nomono has developed something special, but it's hard to imagine this recording kit being the only solution for an audio-savvy company. You'll still need to have a dedicated podcasting space with hard-wired microphones. What Nomono offers is flexibility: What if you need to record in another room, in someone else's office, or at a hotel? In those situations, a self-contained $2,490 podcasting kit might not seem so wild.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-2490-wireless-podcasting-kit-is-absurd-but-at-least-nomonos-sounds-great-140053574.html?src=rss
Viewers might see a new option in YouTube's dropdown resolution menu on the web if they're paying for the video hosting platform's Premium subscription service. According to The Verge, YouTube's 1080p playback option with "enhanced bitrate" is now available on desktop around the world. It's located above the ordinary 1080p option in the menu, and clicking on it will prompt users to pay for Premium if they're not currently a subscriber.YouTube started testing 1080p Premium earlier this year, describing it as a "version of 1080p which provides more information per pixel that results in a higher quality viewing experience." The higher bitrate, which is used as a measurement for the amount of video data transferred within a certain timeframe, it provides could give viewers a better quality without having to watch in higher resolution. Yes, 4K is available for some videos, but that means having to stream a larger file that not everyone's connection can handle and could eat up a significant portion of some people's data allowance.The service also rolled out enhanced 1080p on iOS a few months ago, but now more people will have access to it. That said, YouTube recently raised the prices for a Premium subscription from $12 a month to $14 and from $120 a year to $140. It does eliminate ads from the viewing experience, though, and it comes with features other than enhanced 1080p, including offline viewing and background playback.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtubes-enhanced-1080p-playback-option-is-rolling-out-to-premium-users-on-the-web-130058566.html?src=rss
Threads users will soon get one of the most requested features for the text-based social network: A web version. Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg has announced on the app that in the next few weeks, Threads is getting both a web version people can use to access the service on desktop, as well as a proper search function.While it's possible to view Threads posts on desktop at the moment, clicking on the reply, repost, like and send buttons merely brings up a QR code that links to the app. Similarly, Threads' search function is currently limited. As 9to5Mac notes, it can only surface other accounts and can't be used to look for particular posts.Meta pushed Threads out the door at an opportune time, when X users were reeling from major changes to the platform formerly known as Twitter. It became available shortly after X restricted the number of posts users can see on the website/app due to "extreme levels of data scraping [and] system manipulation." Non-paying users were the most affected and were initially limited to seeing 600 posts a day.People flocked to Threads after it came out, and it easily reached 100 million users in under a week. However, Meta released Threads without a bunch of features people have come to expect from a social network like it. The company's higher-ups promised that the Threads team was working on those features, and over the past couple of weeks, it released a chronological feed and built-in translations. Threads' engagement has plummeted from that blockbuster first week, but the new features coming out could entice those early adopters to take a peek and become active users.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-is-getting-a-web-version-and-a-search-function-in-the-next-few-weeks-101220107.html?src=rss
Biogen and Sage Therapeutics' collaboration to develop Zurzuvae has proved fruitful. The FDA approved the oral pill specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD), making it the first of its kind in a class of antidepressants intended specifically for new mothers. According to research by the CDC, one in eight women will experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Symptoms of PPD can occur quite intensely after birth and can be dangerous because it can interfere with a new mother's ability to function. The long-awaited approval comes thanks to two randomized, double-blind studies that proved the efficacy of the drug.A key hallmark of Zurzuvae is that the medication is expected to work within just a few days and is meant to be taken for up to two weeks. Before this once-daily oral pilll, the most common treatment plan for PPD required an IV injection. That meant administration by a healthcare provider in a hospital or healthcare facility was necessary. With this approval, Zurzuvae will be able to expand access and reach to more women on their way out of hospitals.The catch is the drug can impact a patient's ability to drive and cause extreme drowsiness. Additionally, the warning label for the drug highlights that, like most antidepressants, the drug can cause an increased risk for suicidal ideation. To top it off, Zurzuvae may also cause fetal harm. Patients on the drug should use contraception while taking the pill and for one week after taking Zurzuvae.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fda-approves-first-oral-postpartum-depression-pill-063216439.html?src=rss
Google just won a partial reprieve in one of the antitrust cases leveled against the company. Federal Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and key states can't claim that Google is protecting a monopoly by promoting its own products in search results over alternatives. The plaintiffs haven't proved there's an "anticompetitive effect," according to the decision. Judge Mehta also tossed antitrust allegations regarding Android's compatibility and anti-fragmentation agreements, Google Assistant, internet of things devices and the Android Open Source Project.The DOJ can still make its remaining arguments, Judge Mehta says. Notably, officials claim Google is abusing its power through deals that require Android manufacturers to both pre-load Google apps and make Google the default search engine in their mobile browsers. The DOJ and states are concerned this prevents rivals like Bing and DuckDuckGo from gaining significant adoption.In a statement to Engadget, Google President of Global Affairs Kent Walker says the company welcomes the judge's "careful consideration" when dismissing the search issues. He maintains that people choose Google only "because it's helpful," and that the firm would show at trial that its other practices are both competitive and lawful. We've asked the DOJ for comment and will let you know if we hear back.The DOJ and partner states filed the lawsuit in 2020. They didn't advocate for specific penalties at the time, but punishments could include fines, business restrictions and splitting divisions into separate companies. At the time, Google defended itself by arguing that it still had to negotiate partnerships and had competitions from services like Twitter (now X) and Expedia.This isn't the only antitrust case against Google, including in the US. An alliance of states sued Google in 2020 over allegedly anticompetitive ad pricing. However, the narrowed scope might make the case more difficult, not to mention limit the potential damages.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/federal-judge-narrows-scope-of-antitrust-case-against-google-ahead-of-trial-202837725.html?src=rss
Devolver Digital has cultivated a name for itself over the years as a publisher with an offbeat approach to marketing games. To that end, it has announced a Devolver Delayed event, which it calls the "first-ever showcase celebrating games that are courageously moving into 2024." It seems Devolver will try to have things both ways by pushing back some release dates and, at the same time, poking fun at the never-ending spate of game delays. You'll be able to watch the stream below at 11AM ET on August 7th.The publisher has a bunch of intriguing games currently slated for the rest of the year. I'm really looking forward to Skate Story, which has already blown many people away with its ultra-stylish visuals, so I hope that one isn't pushed back until 2024. The same goes for The Plucky Squire, an utterly adorable-looking adventure game that sees you switching between 2D and 3D environments.Other titles on Devolver's books for 2023 include "gritty noir-punk action-adventure" Gunbrella. The publisher confirmed that game hasn't been delayed, but will feature in the showcase. The fate of the likes of Wizard with a Gun, The Talos Principle 2 and Pepper Grinder remains to be seen. However, Baby Steps (which looks like a 3D version of QWOP with a man-baby for a lead character) is already scheduled for a 2024 debut.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/devolver-digital-will-proudly-delay-a-bunch-of-games-in-its-next-showcase-194526991.html?src=rss
Google thinks it has a way to get more hybrid workers into the office: eliminate the commute when they do need to leave home. CNBC says it has learned of a summer promotion that lets full-time staff book stays at the Bay View campus' hotel for $99 per night through September 30th. The offer is meant to help employees "transition to the hybrid workplace," according to the offer. Workers can theoretically have the benefits of both the office and home while never having to travel far.We've asked Google for comment. A spokesperson talking to CNBC says the firm routinely offers employee specials for its facilities.The catch, as you might guess, is that employees have to pay for the hotel stays themselves. While the roughly $3,000 per month needed to take up the offer isn't out of line with apartment rentals and includes full service, it still amounts to paying to live at work without a substantial discount. Google team members have to either forego a home of their own or effectively pay rent for two places. The hotel offer is also only truly useful for people working at Bay View, which primarily houses ad-related teams. Those who still have to work at the older campus can't benefit.The hotel special comes as Google steps up pressure on remote workers it wants to come back. The tech giant started returning some employees to its offices in 2022, when it mandated three days a week for affected people. Some balked at the prospect, though, arguing that in-person work led to high living costs and reduced productivity. Google wasn't deterred, though, and this June started considering office presences in performance reviews.The escalating tensions now come with the prospect of regulatory action. YouTube contractors who voted to unionize have accused Google and its contracting firm Cognizant of abusing return-to-office policies to stifle labor organization, and filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-latest-bid-to-push-hybrid-work-is-a-99-rate-at-its-on-campus-hotel-193058151.html?src=rss
Global ransomware attacks are on the rise, according to a report issued by Malwarebytes. The study shows a massive surge from July 2022 to June 2023, with the United States bearing the brunt of these attacks. The organization noted that of the 1,900 reported ransomware attacks collected, over 43 percent originate in the U.S, an increase of 75 percent from last year's findings.Germany, France and the UK also experienced an uptick in deployed ransomware, but at a lower rate than the United States. The report details 48 separate ransomware groups that attacked American companies, governmental organizations and garden variety consumers during the aforementioned time period. Even worse? Healthcare and educational institutions were disproportionately impacted. For instance, dental insurer Managed Care of North America (MCNA) experienced a breach back in March and the New York City Department of Education was hit in June.It's worth noting that the study conducted by Malwarebytes shows only reported incidents, so the actual number of attacks could be much higher than 1,900. The whole point of a ransomware attack is to, well, exact a ransom, so some organizations make the payout and keep things quiet.What exactly is a ransomware attack? It's malware expressly designed to deny users and organizations access to files on a computer. The software locks everything up tight and when you pay the ransom, you receive a decryption key to regain access to the files. It's a digital shakedown.The biggest global offender is a ransomware gang called Clop, long-suspected to have ties to Russia. The criminal organization has evolved in the past year, capitalizing on zero-day software vulnerabilities to amp up the scope of its attacks. Back in June, the group took advantage of one of these vulnerabilities in enterprise file transfer software to breach the servers of hundreds of companies, including the largest US pension fund.Malwarebytes says this transition to zero-day software exploits, instead of phishing emails and virus-laden downloads, could signal a change in the game" and explain the increase in reported incidents.As for the rest of the world, France's numbers doubled in the past year, with a disproportionate number of attacks levied at governmental institutions. The UK experienced 200 attacks from 32 separate groups with an alarming uptick in frequency. Last year, the country reported a single ransomware attack per month. In this most recent year, it was eight per month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/global-ransomware-attacks-at-an-all-time-high-and-the-us-is-the-primary-target-191550845.html?src=rss
While Motorola's pricier Razr+ beat Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 5 to the punch with its expansive external display, the Razr (named the Razr 40 in other regions like the UK) was pitched as a more budget-friendly foldable. For now, pricing and availability in the US haven't been confirmed, but in the UK it's priced at 800 (roughly $1,025) while the Razr+ retails at 1,050 in the UK and $999 in the US.The new Razr is cheaper, but it's also more limited. In screen terms, it's comparable with foldable phones from a few years ago. But it has a bigger battery and seemingly better cameras. As the fanfare from Samsung's Unpacked reveal dies down (and we get to grips with the Z Flip 5), the Moto Razr begs the question: What do you really get from a cheaper foldable phone?Design and displaysLet's start with some Razr family resemblances. Both the Razr and Razr+ have the same body and internal flexible 6.9-inch display, and there is no more Razr chin' on either device. No corners have been cut on the foldable screen, with a crisp 413 pixels per inch and up to 1,400 nits of brightness. This is a flagship display. Internally, at least.However, the cheaper Razr has a much smaller 1.5-inch external panel, which puts it somewhere between Samsung's original Z Flip and the Z Flip 3. You know it will feel constrictive when it's smaller than the first two Samsung flip smartphones. This is all exacerbated by the fact that its own sibling the Razr+ has a 3.6-inch external screen.The Razr's panel takes up about 20 percent of the lower front of the device, with a 64-megapixel and 8MP camera duo to its right. It has an IP52 rating, which is better than nothing, but won't protect against more than a weak splash or light rain.I do like the Razr's vegan, faux leather texture, so much so that despite my fear of breaking or damaging foldable devices, I risked using the phone without the hard shell case that came in the box. I particularly liked the grey-green sage colorway, too. Like the Razr+, Moto's middleweight phone folds completely closed, with no gaps when looking at it from the side.Photo by Mat Smith / EngadgetThe small external screen is limited to basic phone functions. You can swipe sideways through your calendar, weather forecasts, while a drag up from the clock will show all your notifications. Swiping down gets to quick toggles for things like WiFi and Bluetooth. It's functional, but a little dated. This is what we got with the very first flip smartphones; I need a little more. Even compared to last year's Z Flip 4 - likely to be discounted to a similar price as this Razr now that its successor is here - Samsung's device offers more to do and see on its external screen.The Razr's second screen is most helpful when you're using exterior cameras for selfies. Double pressing the power button quick-launches the camera app, and you can tap to capture images with a timer, swipe up and down to switch between the ultra-wide and standard lenses and swipe sideways to swap between video, photo and portrait modes. You can even summon a cartoon character to distract children when taking photos, in both unfolded and folded modes.The Razr's 2,640 x 1,080 screen can refresh at up to 144Hz, a little shy of the Razr+'s 160Hz. That said, if you're coming from smartphones with refresh rates of 90Hz or less, you're still going to sense the improved smoothness. The panel is bright, responsive - it's a smartphone screen. Anyone serving in the Crease Police, yes it's there, but compared to older foldables, running your finger over it doesn't feel like it's testing the screen's durability. Foldable hinges (and the screens covering them) continue to get better but if you're looking for visible hints of a folding display, they're still there.Performance and softwareWith a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip, the Razr shows its midrange hand a little. It's not a flagship processor, but this is not a flagship foldable. I noticed the Razr lagged a little when I was trying to edit a lengthy video file, but it eventually managed to complete the task.A pleasant surprise with this Razr was its 4,200mAh battery. This is much larger than the 3,800mAh battery in the Razr+ and the Galaxy Z Flip 4's 3,700 mAh cell. In our video rundown test, it lasted just beyond 18 hours, a good three hours longer than the Razr+ and better than last year's Z Flip 4.Photo by Mat Smith / EngadgetThe Razr can also fast-charge at 30W with the included adapter included (outside of the US at least). I was able to get the Razr to reach 100 percent in under an hour. There's also support for slower 5W wireless charging, but alas, no reverse charging, if you were hoping to top up any wireless earbuds.I've already noted the limited utility of the Razr's external display, but software-wise it's just not good enough. Customization options only extend to different fonts and colorways for the clock. It's especially jarring given that we know Motorola is capable of more, thanks to the Razr+.CamerasOne of the big spec differences between Motorola's duo of foldables this year are the cameras. While the Razr+ has a pair of 12MP cameras like the Galaxy Z Flip series, the standard Razr has a 13MP wide-angle lens alongside a 64MP primary lens with optical image stabilization. Ah, so this will be where the Razr shines, right? Sadly, no.In almost every shot I took, the Razr didn't reach the standards of the Razr+ or even last year's Galaxy Flip 4. Motorola's claims of ultra-fast and accurate laser auto-focus don't really bear out in reality, especially with video. The Razr twitches and struggles to keep consistent focus. I struggled to see many images where the 64MP sensor outperformed the pricier devices, either. I wasn't getting notably more detail, in fact I was getting less. Turns out, unless you activate high-res capture mode (which is hidden away in the furthest reaches of the camera's menu), the primary 64MP sensor is aggressively pixel-binned, stripping away detail without improving overall image quality all that much.Wrap-upPhoto by Mat Smith / EngadgetAre foldables going to be the new smartphone normal? Doubtful. Motorola's bid for a cheaper (if not that much cheaper) flip phone tries to broaden their appeal, but sadly misses the mark. Its external display simply lacks enough utility in 2023. And I'm not sure who is willing to spend this much money on a phone that's already two years behind the curve.However, Motorola has yet to announce pricing or a launch date in the US. If the Razr were to cost $800 or lower, which would be closer to a Galaxy S23 or iPhone 14, it could find an audience. But for most people intrigued by a foldable flip-phone, they would be better served hunting down a discounted Galaxy Z Flip 4.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/motorola-razr-2023-review-a-midrange-foldable-that-underwhelms-190025514.html?src=rss
Coinbase has filed a motion to dismiss a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit in which the agency accused the company of illegally running an unregistered national securities exchange, broker and clearing agency. Coinbase claims that, because it doesn't deal in securities, the SEC has no authority over its operations."Our core argument is simple - we do not offer 'investment contracts' as that term has been construed by decades of Supreme Court and other binding precedent," Coinbase's chief legal officer Paul Grewal wrote in a series of tweets. "By ignoring that precedent, the SEC has violated due process, abused its discretion and abandoned its own earlier interpretations of the securities laws. By ignoring that precedent, the SEC has trampled the strict boundaries on its basic authority set by Congress."
GameStop is pulling the plug on its crypto locker after only a year. An alert posted this week to the company's website (viaGame Developer) says GameStop Wallet will be no more after November 1st. The retailer says its decision was due to the regulatory uncertainty of the crypto space."The gaming retailer's iOS and Chrome Extension lockers, billed as a self-custodial Ethereum wallet," will be removed on November 1st. The retailer recommends that customers have access to their Secret Passphrase to retrieve their NFTs by October 1st. Any customer with access to their Secret Passphrase has the ability to recover their account in any compatible wallet," the company wrote.Like many companies in 2021 and 2022, GameStop invested heavily in NFTs in hopes of essentially printing money through digital collectible sales. Backed by a $100 million fund (in partnership with Immutable X) to provide developer incentives, the retailer aggressively pursued a Web3 future under then-CEO Matt Furlong.But the effort sputtered as consumer backlash grew towards nonfungible tokens. The retailer forged an ill-fated partnership last September with the now-defunct FTX, only to be terminated two months later when the exchange collapsed. GameStop announced additional layoffs in December with Axiosreporting that its cryptocurrency division was hit hardest. The company simultaneously backpedaled from its NFT marketplace, with Furlong reassuring investors that it had proactively minimized exposure to cryptocurrency." However, he did leave some wiggle room by saying the retailer continued to see a long-term future for digital assets in the gaming world." Furlong was fired in June.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gamestops-nft-wallet-will-shut-down-in-november-164252057.html?src=rss
Arturia has officially begun its annual summer sale, offering steep discounts on a vast array of digital instruments, effects and sound bank packs. The average discount is 50 percent, so you can pick up the well-regarded Pigments synthesizer for $100 instead of $200 or the infamous Dist Coldfire distortion effect plugin for $50 instead of $100.The sale applies to nearly every standalone digital instrument and effect, so check the site to find something up your alley. The sale also includes sound banks, which are basically packs of presets available in a number of musical genres. You can pick up a pack of 32 presets for just $5 or a more extensive pack of 150 presets for $15.However, this sale is only for individual instruments and effects, so it doesn't include combo packs like the V Collection 9. Each synthesizer within the collection, like the Solina V and Vox Continental V, is on sale, but buying the whole pack at full price is still the better deal, as each synth is $100 and the pack is $600. The same goes for effects bundles.The sale also doesn't include hardware instruments, like the PolyBrute or the MatrixBrute. Those are still full price via Arturia, though you could find deals at retail outlets. Arturia's summer sale lasts until August 15th, so make haste if you want to catch some discounts. The company does regularly offer similar site-wide sales if you miss out. The next one will likely be for the holidays.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/arturias-summer-sale-is-here-with-deep-discounts-on-instruments-and-effects-161851712.html?src=rss
VR technology has come a long way from the early Virtuality systems that inhabited our local malls in the 80s and 90s, with modern headsets offering 4K resolution, Dolby Atmos surround sound, and motion-sensing controllers. But even the most convincing optical and auditory illusions can't fully fool our inner ears.If you want to feel these big sensations, you've got to have the infrastructure first," University of Chicago PhD student, Romain Nith, told Engadget. You've got to go to theme parks, ride roller coasters, or you need bungie cords pulling you from the ceiling." And while the sensations are really like what they're simulating (because you're really being thrown around), you can't have that in your living room."The JumpMod Haptic Backpack prototype, on the other hand, can effectively fool its user's sense of proprioception to make jumping in VR feel much more lifelike with a device the size of, well, a backpack. It has been developed by Nith and his research team from the University of Chicago's Human-Computer Integration Lab, which is headed by Pedro Lopes, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science. The HCI Lab's research focuses on using technology to borrow parts of the body for input and output, rather than adding more technology to the body" and, as such, has generated a veritable menagerie of novel devices exploring that concept.I think the next generation of devices is not going to be defined by how small they are, or how implanted they are in the body... but more about how deeply they integrate with your body," Lopes told Engadget. He points to the functional issues of dealing with Google Maps in 2007 - specifically the need to physically print them out for them to be useful. Now when that runs on your smartphone, the device that can move with you, in your pocket, you can access information anywhere, anytime," he said. All of a sudden that makes a lot of sense. So every jump of these paradigms allows you to do something new."We're looking at the body and trying to create technology that really hybridizes with you," Lopes continued, using smartwatches as an example, which rely on small spinning motors to create the notification vibration. That is one of the reasons smart watches are so big."Instead, a small electrical charge can elicit the same tingling sensation without the need for a big rotating mass type of device," Lopes explained. The sensations, the functionality, ends up being the same and the device looks very different."JumpMod takes a similar approach, rapidly shifting the position of a weight worn by the user to fool their senses rather than hoist the user wholesale to practically recreate the sensation. The untethered device is designed to modify the user's sense of jumping, when used with a VR program, by rapidly lifting and lowering a 2-kilogram weight (which doubles as the device's power cell) in time with their physical movement. Adjusting the speed of weight's motion impacted the user's perceived jump momentum, enabling the team to create sensations of higher and broader jumps, softer and harder landings and being pulled up or down.The device itself is completely untethered and can operate both indoors and out. In the demo above, the researcher team used the backpack to improve its user's timing when jumping rope and even took JumpMod to a basketball court to show how it could be used to help (or hinder) players in a game of one-on-one. The current iteration is built to generate as much force as comfortably possible, in order to maximize the generated sensation, so it does tend to be rather loud and heavy.We probably don't have to drive it as fast, which generates less noise, and probably don't even need all the weight that we have, which would make for a slimmer backpack," Lopes said. Where does that sensation start to occur? Is that at 100 grams, is it at 300 grams? We optimized it for maximum power, rather than for a minimal device. That's the kind of stuff one would do if one were to commercialize [the technology]."Technically, the device doesn't even need to be worn, it could theoretically be implanted into the backs of theater seats. I think that the tension here in VR is really interesting," Lopes said. If you go to the Disney theme park, they play these super-immersive VR scenes, you're on a motion platform and when the scene jumps, the motion platform goes up." Lope argues that a similar sensation could potentially be produced at a fraction of the infrastructure requirements using JumpMod.There's lots of proto-motion platforms for VR, some with special shoes, some move around, some rotate but none of them have really paid off," Lopes said. It's a really difficult challenge where, if you want to create an involuntary force and involuntary movement, you need a big infrastructure. We are interested in whether that's possible, but honestly, we don't even know if it is.The involuntary" aspect of these devices and technologies is an ethical sticking point for the field, and one which Lopes' lab has studied frequently. His students have developed passive systems that allow one user to dictate the hand motions of another, or use electrical muscle stimulation to improve the users' dexterity - artificially boosting their reaction speeds and shaping their finger positions on a guitar fretboard. They can even be controlled through an exoskeleton to properly form the words of American Sign Language. However, all of those devices require the user to relinquish some degree of control over their bodies to let the machines do their things.We call it optimizing agency,'" Lopes said. For most of the projects in his lab, agency is not super critical." Stakes are low when allowing a robot to guide your finger positionings when learning to play guitar or have one physically guide your head using electrical muscle stimulation during a workplace safety training experience. We apply the [EMS pads] to the neck muscles," Lopes reassured Engadget, which gently buzz the user to make them look around their office space, so they know where the fire extinguisher is, where the fire exit is."Lopes does concede that physically instigating a user to turn their head by externally stimulating their nervous system could be construed as making people completely lose their sense of agency," however he notes that his lab consistently includes user overrides for all EMS-related devices. In all these, we design some form [of override] to keep you in control. For example, in the case of [the head actuation study], if you push against the device, it senses that you're pushing against the direction that it's starting to move your head and turns off."I think there's more research to be done there, more complex ways to tackle this," he continued. Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are really interesting because you can kind of detect what people are thinking, what their goal is, and then you don't even have to activate the system if it's not needed."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-jumpmod-haptic-backpack-makes-virtual-leaps-more-realistic-160003718.html?src=rss
Call of Duty cheaters are now being named and shamed in real-time when they're kicked out of a game. The latest season of CoD: Modern Warfare II and CoD: Warzone season five went live this week, and the update includes an addition to the Ricochet anti-cheat system.When Ricochet detects and removes a "problem player," the game will notify everyone in the match of such an occurrence right in the kill feed. That will let all players know for sure that they've been dealing with a cheater and also that Activision's systems were able to spot that person and boot them from the game.
This week's best tech deals include Apple's MacBook Air M2 falling back to an all-time low of $949. While Apple may announce a new Air later this year, the top pick in our best laptops guide is still a strong value at this price if you need a new notebook today. Beyond laptops, several Amazon devices are available for the same prices we saw during Prime Day last month, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $25 and the Echo Show 8 for $60. Google's Pixel Tablet has received its first major discount, while a few wireless earbuds and gaming accessories we like are also on sale. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.Apple MacBook Air M2Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air with an M2 chip is down to $949 at B&H and Best Buy, matching the lowest price we've tracked. Apple normally sells this 8GB RAM/256GB SSD configuration for $1,099, though we've often seen it go for $50 less elsewhere. Regardless, this is the top pick in our guide to the best laptops, and it earned a review score of 96 last year. It continues to offer almost everything we look for in a mainstream notebook: a thin design, a bright and accurate display, long battery life, a comfortable keyboard, useful speakers and dependable performance for most day-to-day tasks. The storage in this config is technically slower than higher-capacity models, but that shouldn't be a major hindrance unless you plan on doing more intense tasks like media editing.The older M1-based MacBook Air is still available for an all-time low of $750 if you want to pay as little as possible for a competent MacBook, though you'll have to deal with a more dated design and a mediocre 720p webcam. There's an important caveat to both of these deals, too: According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple could launch an updated 13-inch MacBook Air with a new M3 chip as soon as this October. The current models are still strong values if you need a notebook right now, but if you can afford to wait for the latest and greatest, you may want to hold off.Anker 622 Magnetic BatteryThe Anker 622 Magnetic Battery is a pocket-friendly wireless power bank that we've recommended in the past. Right now it's down to $40, which isn't quite an all-time low but is still $20 off its typical going rate.This 5,000mAh (19.25Wh) battery can't fully refill most iPhones from nothing, and it only charges at 7.5W, so like many wireless models, it won't be as fast as using a cable. It can also get hot. Still, its slim frame snaps easily onto the back of any MagSafe-compatible iPhone, and it can deliver around an 80 percent charge to a standard iPhone 14. It also has a built-in kickstand, so it can prop your phone up when you're not using it. If you really want the convenience of a fully wireless charger, it's a fine value.Note that Anker sells an "upgraded" version of the 622 with a USB-C port on the side instead of the bottom, though that's a bit more expensive as of this writing. If you're willing to trade some thinness for more power, the 10,000mAh Anker 633 is also worth a look. Just be aware that all of these won't work if you use a case that isn't MagSafe-compatible.Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K MaxA number of Amazon devices are available for the same prices we saw during the company's Prime Day sale last month. This time, however, the deals are only available at non-Amazon retailers.The Fire TV Stick 4K Max, for instance, is back down to $25 at Lowe's, Target and Best Buy. That matches the best price we've seen for the 4K streaming stick and comes in about $20 off its average street price. While we generally prefer Roku and Google's streaming platforms over Amazon's Fire OS, the 4K Max is still a suitable option for casual streaming. It supports just about all the major apps and HDR standards, it has Alexa voice controls built into its remote and it's fairly quick to load menus.You'll get the most out of any Fire TV device if you already use Amazon services like Prime Video or Alexa, as Fire OS tends to prioritize the company's own offerings throughout the UI. You'll have to deal with ads as well, and there's no support for Apple AirPlay or Google Cast. For $25, though, those issues might be easier to look past.Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)If you're looking to add streaming functionality to an older 1080p or 720p display, note that the 1080p version of the Google Chromecast with Google TV is on sale for $20 at various retailers. That's $10 off the streaming dongle's typical going rate and within $2 of its all-time low.This model is effectively identical to the 4K Chromecast we recommend in our media streamer guide, only it maxes at a 1080p resolution, comes with 0.5GB less RAM and doesn't support Dolby Vision HDR. Otherwise, it provides the same extensive app support, impressive search and intuitive interface. Like the 4K model, you'd get this if you want a streamer that's more proactive about recommending shows and movies you might like based on your viewing history. Just note that, unlike Roku's streamers, there's no AirPlay support. You can read our review for more details.Amazon Echo Show 8The Echo Show 8 is down to an all-time low of $60 at Lowe's, Kohl's, Target and Best Buy. That's $70 below Amazon's MSRP and $15 below the price we usually see when the device is on sale.The Echo Show 8 is the top Alexa pick in our guide to the best smart displays and earned a review score of 87 in 2021. If you already prefer Alexa over the Google Assistant for smart home matters, this should be the best balance of price and utility: It's cheaper and less cumbersome than the Echo Show 10, but its 8-inch display and 13-megapixel camera are much better suited to streaming, glancing at information and making video calls than the diminutive Echo Show 5. It's a clear upgrade in the sound department as well. If you do want a smaller display for a bedside table, though, the 5.5-inch model is also back at its Prime Day price of $45.Amazon Echo DotFor a more affordable Echo device, the latest Echo Dot is back at its all-time low of $23. The Clock variant, which includes an LED display for displaying the time and other basic info, is also down to a low of $30. The globe-shaped Dot is the "best under $50" pick in our smart speaker buying guide, as it offers all the Alexa functionality you'd expect, plus balanced sound quality for its size. A set of useful tap controls let you whack the speaker to pause music or snooze alarms as well. There's no 3.5mm jack to connect to larger speakers, and no always-listening device like this will ever be ideal for the privacy-conscious. But if you're already sold on the usefulness of smart speakers, this is one of the better bargains in that market.Amazon Fire HD 10The Amazon Fire HD 10 is on sale for $75 at Target and Best Buy, matching another Prime Day discount. For reference, this 10.1-inch tablet has normally sold around $140 in recent months. Though it's a few years old at this point, the Fire HD 10 remains the best value for those interested in a Fire tablet. Its 1080p display is large and sharp enough for enjoying video, its processor is just powerful enough for casual streaming and web browsing, and it gets a solid 10 or so hours of battery life.You'll still have to deal with the usual trade-offs of a Fire slate: The app selection is severely limited compared to iPadOS or Android, with no Google services; you'll see lock screen ads unless you pay an extra fee; and the OS goes out of its way to steer you toward Amazon services. Still, if you just want a cheap slate for browsing the web, using Alexa and consuming Amazon e-books and media, there isn't much better for less than $100.SK Hynix Gold P31If you want to speed up the storage performance of an older desktop or laptop, the SK Hynix Gold P31 is a well-regarded internal SSD that's received highmarkselsewhere for its power efficiency. Right now, both the 1TB and 2TB models of the drive are down to new all-time lows: the former at $50, and the latter at $93. This is a PCIe 3.0 drive, so it's not the absolute fastest model available, nor is it compatible with the PlayStation 5. For most people looking to load up games or transfer large files, though, it's a great value at these deal prices. It also comes with a five-year warranty.Google Pixel TabletThe Google Pixel Tablet has dropped to $439 for a 128GB model, which marks the first significant discount we've seen for the 11-inch slate since it arrived in June. That's $60off its list price. If you need more storage, the 256GB model is $80 off at $519. We think Samsung's Galaxy Tab devices work better purely as Android tablets, but the Pixel Tablet's big hook is that it can attach to an included speaker dock and double as a Nest Hub Max-style smart display. If that functionality sounds useful to you, it may be worth grabbing. We gave the device a review score of 85 last month.Logitech G203 LightsyncThe white version of the Logitech G203 Lightsync is available for $20 at Amazon when you clip a $5 on-page coupon. That's roughly $10 below its usual street price. The G203 is the top budget pick in our guide to the best gaming mice thanks to its reliable tracking and sturdy, lightweight (85g) frame. There are a couple of customizable buttons on the side, and the overall shape should work for both righties and lefties. It's certainly on the smaller side, its scroll wheel is somewhat mushy and its rubber cable isn't super flexible, but for $20 it's hard to do better.HyperX Cloud Alpha WirelessThe HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is down to $152 at Amazon, which is about $30 lower than its average street price in recent months. If stock runs dry at Amazon, it's available for $2 more at Best Buy. The Cloud Alpha Wireless is the top wireless pick in our guide to the best gaming headsets, mainly due to its astounding battery life, which can last more than 300 hours on a charge. Its microphone and bass-heavy sound profile aren't nearly as class-leading, but they're fine, and the whole thing is comfortable to wear for hours at a time. The big catch is that you shouldn't bother with HyperX's companion software, as there've been variousreports of it introducing significant latency. The headset only works over a USB dongle, too, not Bluetooth or a cable, and it's not compatible with Xbox.Anker Soundcore Motion+The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is back down to $80 at Amazon and Soundcore when you use the $20 on-page coupon. That's $10 more than the lowest price we've seen but still $20 below Anker's list price. We recommend the Soundcore Motion+ in our guide to the best portable Bluetooth speakers: It's not especially small or light, but it can get loud enough to fill a crowded room, and it delivers a more spacious sound than most speakers in this price range. Its IPX7 water-resistance rating means it can survive in the pool or shower, and it has a 3.5mm input for connecting other devices. The 12 to 15 hours of battery life is a plus as well.EarFun Air Pro 3Along those lines, the EarFun Air Pro 3 is available for $60 with an on-page coupon at Amazon. We saw these wireless earphones go for $10 less on Prime Day, but this is a $20 drop from EarFun's list price all the same.The Air Pro 3 is the runner-up pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds. It has a similar feature set as our top pick, the Soundcore Space A40, with serviceable active noise cancellation, support for wireless charging and multipoint connectivity, IPX5 water resistance and a stable fit. While its excited sound isn't for everyone, it does gives hip-hop and electronic music an intense bass response. Its battery life and ANC aren't quite as impressive as the Space A40's, but if you want to save some cash or just prefer an AirPods-style "stem" design, it's a strong alternative.Nothing Ear StickThe Nothing Ear Stick is an honorable mention in that same guide, and it's now down to $79 at Nothing's online store. That's still a bit pricey for open-style earbuds that inherently lack deep bass, but it's $20 less than usual.We recommend the Ear Stick to those who hate the feeling of truly in-ear headphones, as that open design rests on the concha instead of going all the way into the ear canal. While the $50 Amazon Echo Buds are a better overall value, the Ear Stick has a more fashionable design, with a transparent case that twists open like a tube of lipstick. Its audio quality is solid for this style of earbud (and can be customized if needed), while the AirPods-style touch controls are easy to use. Battery life is passable at 6-ish hours per charge. Just remember that this type of design barely blocks outside noise, so it's not ideal for a flight or crowded office.Apple AirTagThe Apple AirTag is back down to $25 at Amazon and Walmart, which is only a modest $4 discount but nevertheless matches the lowest price we've seen this year. The AirTag is the "best for iPhones" pick in our guide to the best Bluetooth trackers, as it leverages Apple's giant Find My network and ultra-wideband wireless tech to locate lost items accurately.Bluetooth trackers like this have certainly faced their share of scrutiny in recent years, as there've been numerouscases of bad actors using the devices to track unsuspecting victims, prompting Apple and Google to develop new anti-stalking measures. The device can be unintentionally overactive about sending alerts, and on a much less serious note, it lacks a ring hole or built-in adhesive to easily affix the device to something like a keychain. All that said, if you own an iPhone and just want some extra peace of mind in case you lose your wallet, keys or whatever else, the AirTag is one of the better options available.Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 + Z Fold 5 pre-ordersAmazon still has a number of pre-order deals for Samsung's upcoming crop of foldable phones and smartwatches. The 512GB Galaxy Z Flip 5 is available with a $150 Amazon gift card for $1,000, while the 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 5 is bundled with a $200 gift card for $1,800. When those phones become widely available on August 11, they'll start with half the storage space. The $300 Galaxy Watch 6 and $400 Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, meanwhile, are each available with a $50 gift card. We'll have reviews for all these devices in the near future, but if you already know you're going to get one, consider this a PSA. For early impressions, you can read our hands-on previews for the Z Flip 5, Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Watch 6.49-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 (G95SC)If you want to go all-out on your next monitor, the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a mammoth 49-inch display that's excessive in almost every way. Its curved QD-OLED panel has a 32:9 aspect ratio, 240Hz refresh rate, 5,120 x 1,440 resolution and dual built-in speakers alongside the usual color, contrast and response time benefits. We haven't tested the device ourselves, but otherreviewsaroundthe webhave been glowing.The downside is that it costs $2,200. That's a lot! Right now, though, the device is $400 off. Clearly, that's lightyears from cheap, and even at that price, the panel won't get as bright as the best non-OLED options. But if money is no object, this looks to be as high-end as ultrawide monitors currently get, and now it's a smidge less expensive.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/apples-macbook-air-m2-drops-to-an-all-time-low-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-154028563.html?src=rss
There hasn't been a big Pokemon news update since February, but don't worry - you're about to get up to speed. The Pokemon Company has announced its next Pokemon Presents event for August 8th at 9AM Eastern. The creators aren't saying much, but you can expect 35 minutes of info when the presentation streams through the company's YouTube channel.The event might include plenty of video game news. There's still much to learn about Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's first DLC, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero. You might also hear more about Detective Pikachu Returns ahead of the adventure's October release. Don't be shocked if you hear more about content updates for Pokemon Go, Pokemon Unite and other titles. We wouldn't rule out surprises like remakes of classic games, and you could see more of streaming shows like Netflix's Pokemon Concierge.
Johnson & Johnson's Medical technology arm received FDA approval for a new workflow that will make it safer for medical professionals to treat atrial fibrillation, a condition that makes your heartbeat irregular and can cause stroke or heart failure. Several products developed by Biosense Webster, which is part of J&J MedTech, got the OK for a "zero fluoroscopy workflow" from the FDA, meaning live X-ray imaging will no longer be needed during catheter insertion procedures. Instead of using X-rays to insert Biosense catheters, medical professionals can now use ultrasound to guide treatments.Using fewer X-rays, or fluoroscopy, lowers radiation exposure for both patients and medical professionals. Currently, doctors and medical staff who work in treatment rooms that specialize in treating relevant heart procedures often get too much exposure to radiation over time, which can lead to problems like eye issues, cancer, and bone injuries. This FDA approval helps address the recurring occupational hazard. Providers working in cath labs also won't have to wear heavy protective gear like lead aprons anymore when applying the newly approved workflow, reducing the risk of long-term muscle and bone pain.This move by the FDA marks the first and only approval of its kind. The thumbs up was based on data from clinical trials and research from the REAL AF Registry, or the real-world evidence registry in the electrophysiology field. The data backed how well the treatment works in real-life situations. The new method will only apply for Biosense products like the THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF catheter, the most commonly used ablation catheter, among others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/johnson--johnson-gets-fda-approval-for-heart-treatments-that-dont-require-x-rays-150913343.html?src=rss
Just like pretty much every other major tech company, Amazon is placing a heavy focus on generative artificial intelligence. CEO Andy Jassy noted on Amazon's latest earnings call that every division has multiple generative AI projects in the works."Inside Amazon, every one of our teams is working on building generative AI applications that reinvent and enhance their customers' experience," Jassy said. "But while we will build a number of these applications ourselves, most will be built by other companies, and we're optimistic that the largest number of these will be built on [Amazon Web Services]. Remember, the core of AI is data. People want to bring generative AI models to the data, not the other way around."To that end, Jassy said that AWS provides services and infrastructure that can help its customers power generative AI apps, as The Verge notes. The AWS CodeWhisperer system, for instance, aims to speed up developers' workflows by suggesting snippets of code they can use directly in the code editor.As for the ways that Amazon plans to use generative AI in its consumer-facing products and services, Jassy was slightly more coy, but underlined the importance of the technology to all facets of the company moving forward.The projects "range from things that help us be more cost effective and streamlined in how we run operations in various businesses to the absolute heart of every customer experience in which we offer," he said. "And so it's true in our stores business. It's true in our AWS business. It's true in our advertising business. It's true in all our devices, and you can just imagine what we're working on with respect to Alexa there. It's true in our entertainment businesses, every single one. It is going to be at the heart of what we do. It's a significant investment and focus for us."We might learn more about some of Amazon's consumer-focused generative AI efforts when it reveals new devices on September 20th. The company will inevitably have a range of Alexa-powered products to show off. Meanwhile, considering what Google and Microsoft have been doing with gen AI chatbots, it wouldn't be a shock to see Amazon start offering one of its own on its storefront.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/every-amazon-division-is-working-on-generative-ai-projects-142836534.html?src=rss
QuakeCon is returning to an in-person event on August 10th, and id Software might have a re-release to mark the occasion. Historically reliable leaker billbil-kun claims id will unveil a remastered version of Quake II when QuakeCon kicks off next week. Details of the upgrade aren't available, but the classic sequel would make its way to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Switch. The title would be available through Microsoft's Game Pass on launch.An enhanced version of Quake from 2021 might provide some clues as to what to expect. That remaster added support for widescreen resolutions as high as 4K, new character models and upgraded visual effects like dynamic lighting, depth of field and antialiasing. The refresh also bundled every official expansion while adding a new campaign created by Wolfenstein: The New Order developer MachineGames.This won't be the same as Quake II RTX, provided the rumor is accurate. The 2019 tweak was meant to showcase NVIDIA's newer computer GPUs with ray-traced lighting and improved textures, but didn't include truly new content or hardware-agnostic visual improvements.Quake II was originally released in 1997 and represented major strides forward in technology and gameplay over its predecessor. It introduced a semi-open world, objective-based gameplay and visual effects upgrades like colored lighting. The very first release was heavily focused on the single-player mode (competitive online play even took place on single-player maps), but it quickly became a go-to game for multiplayer thanks to updates and third-party upgrades like ThreeWave's Capture the Flag.An introduction won't be surprising.given that a Quake II Remastered game went through South Korea's game rating authority in June. Billbil-kun also saw documents for North American (ESRB) and European (PEGI) ratings. As it stands, id, Bethesda and Microsoft have incentives to keep producing Quake remasters - they keep the first-person shooter in the limelight and make it playable on modern platforms without resorting to unofficial modifications and ports.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/quake-ii-remaster-might-debut-at-quakecon-next-week-141123462.html?src=rss
If you've got a trip coming up to close out the summer and are dreading the idea of hearing a crying baby or loud group the whole way there, then you're in luck: Sony's WH-XB910N Extra Bass Noise Cancelling headphones in Black are currently at an all-time low price of $105, down from $250. Yes, a wonderfully large 58 percent discount means you can block out fellow travelers (or even your family at home) and have enough money left over for an upgrade, or to buy a second as a gift. The cheapest we've seen them previously is $123, so it's a significant drop. Just be aware that the discount appears to only show up for certain accounts; some may see a discounted price of $148 instead.Sony's WH-XB910N ANC headphones are a solid option - especially at this price point - that provide you with nice mid- and high-range sounds, great noise canceling and a respectable 30 hours of battery life. If you forget to juice them up, a 10-minute charge will give you a solid four and a half hours. The WH-XB910N headphones are also equipped with a powerful bass, Alexa and Google Assistant voice control support, and Sony's 360 Reality Audio, which works with streaming services like Amazon Music HD.If you're on the go and want to be a bit more aware of your surroundings, the headphones have an ambient setting that will give you a bit more perception. Plus, they can amplify your voice if you pass down a busy street while on a call. Once you're done, just tuck them into the included carrying case, and off you go.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/sonys-wh-xb910-anc-headphones-fall-to-a-new-all-time-low-131556093.html?src=rss
When Major League Soccer (MLS) announced plans to deploy AI-powered tools in its recruiting program starting at the tail end of this year, the eyebrows of skeptics were raised. The MLS will be working with London-based startup ai.io, and its aiScout' app to help the league discover amateur players around the world. This unprecedented collaboration is the first time the MLS will use artificial intelligence in its previously gatekept recruiting program, forcing many soccer enthusiasts and AI fans to reckon with the question: has artificial intelligence finally entered the mainstream in the professional soccer industry?There's no doubt that professional sports have been primed for the potential impact of artificial intelligence. Innovations have the potential to transform the way we consume and analyze games from both an administrative and fan standpoint. For soccer specifically, there are opportunities for live game analytics, match outcome modeling, ball tracking, player recruitment, and even injury predicting - the opportunities are seemingly endless."I think that we're at the beginning of a tremendously sophisticated use of AI and advanced analytics to understand and predict human behaviors," Joel Shapiro, Northwestern University professor at the Kellogg School of Management said. Amid the wave, some experts believe the disruption of the professional soccer industry by AI is timely. It's no secret that soccer is the most commonly played sport in the world. With 240 million registered players globally and billions of fans, FIFA is currently made up of 205 member associations with over 300,000 clubs, according to the Library of Congress. Just days into the 64-game tournament, FIFA officials said that the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand had already broken attendance records.Visionhaus via Getty ImagesThe need for more players and more talent taking on the big stage has kept college recruiting organizations like Sports Recruiting USA (SRUSA) busy. "We've got staff all over the world, predominantly in the US ...everyone is always looking for players," Chris Cousins, the founder and head of operations at SRUSA said. Cousins said he is personally excited about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on his company and, in fact, he is not threatened by the implementation of predictive analysis impacting SRUSA's bottom line. "It probably will replace scouts," Cousins added, but at the same time, he said he believes the deployment of AI will make things more efficient. "It will basically streamline resources ... which will save organizations money." Cousins said that SRUSA has already started dabbling with AI, even if only in a modest way. It collaborated with a company called Veo that deploys drones that follow players and collect video for scouts to analyze later.Luis Cortell, senior recruiting coach for men's soccer for NCSA College Recruiting, is a little less bullish, but still believes AI can be an asset. Right now, soccer involves more of a feel for the player, and an understanding of the game, and there aren't any success metrics for college performance," he said. "While AI won't fully fill that gap, there is an opportunity to help provide additional context."
High-end earbuds are not typically impulse buys, but Wellbots is offering a significant discount on Google's Pixel Buds Pro earbuds that just about does the trick. The online retailer is selling the well-regarded earbuds for $140, that's $60 off the regular price of $200. All you have to do is head to the sales page and enter the code ENGPIXEL60 at checkout.The Pixel Buds Pro are well-reviewed across the board and even made it into our list of the best earbuds. These are far and away the best wireless earbuds Google has ever made, with deep and punchy bass, decent ANC performance, near-perfect touch controls, wireless charging and more. The IPX4-rated earbuds are also optimized for Android and Pixel devices, allowing access to Google Translate Conversation Mode and other amenities.The battery gets 11 hours of use per charge and there's three microphones included inside of each ear, for making voice calls. The earbuds are available in a handful of colors, including black, gray, green and red. The buds also ship with a wireless charging case and a variety of different-sized tips.The Wellbots code of ENGPIXEL60 has another use beyond picking up a pair of Pixel Buds Pro earbuds. Use the same code to get $60 off when buying a new Google Pixel Watch, bringing the price down to $290 from $350.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/googles-pixel-buds-pro-are-back-on-sale-for-140-140027801.html?src=rss
While our reviewers spend time testing the numerous Samsung devices that were just announced, this episode Cherlynn and Sam dive into the relatively slow week in tech. Of course, we can't escape the onslaught of news coming from X-Twitter-Musk land, just like how residents from a building across from the company's San Francisco headquarters were unable to escape from blinding lights this weekend. We also go over some updates from Meta and Google and discover why Cherlynn loves clowns.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 podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!Subscribe!
TikTok is undergoing massive changes for users in the European Union in order to meet the August 28th deadline the region's authorities gave companies to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). Perhaps the biggest change users will encounter is the ability to decide whether or not to let algorithms power their For You page (FYP). "Soon," the service announced, users in the region will be able to switch off personalization. If they do, then their FYP will be populated with popular videos within their location and from around the world instead of content tailored to them.When they search for any subject in particular, the results will also be comprised of popular videos in their region and content in their preferred language. They can still head to their Following and Friends feeds to see posts by people they follow, but both will now show a chronological timeline instead of one based on their profile. Under the DSA, "providers of very large online platforms," of which TikTok is included, are required to to ensure that users can "enjoy alternative options which are not based on profiling" as part of their "recommender systems." That means they have to offer an option that presents their content to users in a way that doesn't use their personal data.As TechCrunch notes, it'll be an enormous shift for TikTok, seeing as most of its success is credited to the algorithm that powers its For You Page. Its scrollable format filled with videos targeting specific users is what makes the app so addicting.In addition to introducing an alternative FYP, TikTok is rolling out an additional reporting option for European users for content they believe shouldn't be allowed on the platform. If the service decides that it doesn't violate its general guidelines upon review, a new dedicated team of moderators will then take a look at it to see if it violates laws in the region. TikTok can then restrict access to the reported video within that country or region only.The social network will also start giving users in Europe more details about its content moderation decisions, such as why posts with false information aren't eligible for recommendation. Finally, it said that it will no longer serve personalized advertising to users in Europe ages 13 to 17 based on their activities.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-will-let-european-users-decide-whether-they-want-a-personalized-for-you-page-120548491.html?src=rss
Security researchers believe they have found a hardware exploit to unlock upgrades to a Tesla that normally require plenty of extra cash. By messing with the voltage of the infotainment system, they were able to inject their code, bypassing its normal security. That enabled them to access personal data, including GPS tracking and call logs, as well as the car's encryption key. That, the researchers claim, could be the key to unlocking paywalled features, like the mode known as Full Self-Driving, which you presently have to pay extra to use.That's not the only slice of bad news on Tesla's breakfast plate today; it also stands accused of fraud. A recent Reuters expose alleges the car company was far too generous with its range estimates, and that it had quietly set up a team to stymie range-related complaints. In the wake of that report, three Californians have proposed a class action lawsuit accusing Tesla of false advertising. If successful, the lawsuit will cover every Tesla owner in the state, which wouldn't be as much of a problem if California hadn't taken the EV company to its heart.- Daniel CooperYou can get these reports delivered daily, direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedZeebo, a Latin American console from the Wii era, is getting an emulator Apple services are making more cash than ever, but revenue shrank for the third quarter in a rowStar Trek: Strange New Worlds breaks into songThe best mirrorless cameras for 2023 The best video streaming services in 2023 Instagram is cracking down on DM spamGoogle is making it easier to remove your private information from SearchFCC issues record $300 million fine for auto warranty robocallers The Ayaneo 2S is the company's best gaming handheld, until the next oneASUS' ROG Ally might have already been dethroned as the best Steam Deck competitor.Photo by James Trew / EngadgetThe Steam Deck's blend of power, portability and price gave new life to PC gaming handhelds, traditionally a niche within a niche. The latest kid on the block is Ayaneo's 2S, which has just spent the last few weeks in James Trew's firm grip while he put it through its paces. It may be more expensive than its nearest competitors, but the improved features more than make up for it. You'll have to read the full review to learn all about the changes, but it might be time to tweak what you're asking for on your birthday list.Continue Reading.Why Baldur's Gate III is an accidental PS5 console exclusiveAt least, it is for now.Baldur's Gate III will arrive on the PlayStation 5 on September 6, but there's no word yet on when the title will hit the Xbox. That's because developers Larian Studios are struggling to make the new game work for both the (powerful) Series X and (not so powerful) Series S. Until it can, the game will remain a PS5 exclusive, with developers blaming Microsoft's insistence on feature parity for the two consoles. But I think it's pretty gratifying that Microsoft is looking out for gamers who might not have the cash to spend big on a flagship system.Continue Reading. Is decentralization the future of social media?The Musk-ization of Twitter might have sparked a revolution.X/Twitter's implosion has created a surge of interest in alternative platforms less easily destroyed on a billionaire's whim. Mastodon is the standard bearer for the fediverse, a decentralized network of independent servers that embrace the early web's DIY ethos. But even Threads, Meta's not-quite Twitter-killer, has pledged to leverage the fediverse's open protocols. If you want to learn more, read Karissa Bell's excellent deep dive into decentralization, federation and why you should care about this sort of thing.Continue Reading.Nintendo sees record first quarter profit thanks to Zelda and the Mario movie18.51 million copies of Tears of the Kingdom have been sold since May.Nintendo knows a thing or two about creating an experience you'll enjoy enough to pay top dollar for. It's reporting record profits in its first quarter on the back of both The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The former is the first movie this year to break the one billion mark, while Tears of the Kingdom has sold a whopping 18.5 million copies since it launched in May.Continue Reading.Patreon is fixing canceled payments and inaccessible funds for creatorsIt comes after several creators reported massive drops in income.Patreon says it has fixed an issue that caused several high-profile creators to report massive drops in income. It appears a billing address being moved to Dublin caused a large number of transactions to be flagged as fraudulent. The company told Engadget it was working with its payment processing partners to resolve the issue and believes the currently broken patron accounts will be restored in due course.Continue Reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-tesla-jailbreak-could-enable-full-self-driving-for-free-111530274.html?src=rss
If you've been eyeing the new Google Pixel Tablet but didn't want to drop half a grand on it, today might be your lucky day. The smart home-cum-mobile device is currently having its first big sale, with its 128GB model down from $499 to $439 - a 12 percent discount. If you want a bit more storage, the Google Pixel Tablet's 256GB option is 13 percent off, dropping its price from $599 to $519.The Google Pixel Tablet first came on the scene in June and scored an 85 in our review. We were especially impressed with its included charging speaker dock and smart home features, such as how easy it was to see no matter how light the room was (while still not being too bright). The Pixel Tablet is Google's first model with the Google Tensor G2 chip built in and has an average battery life of 11 hours. It also has an 11-inch screen with 2560x1600 resolution, giving you solid quality while on video calls or watching shows through Chromecast. Speaking of video calls, the camera is unfortunately not your friend on the Pixel Tablet, with an awkward angle only slightly improved by an auto-framing feature - but it's exclusive to Google Teams.If you're as clumsy as I am, it might be worth looking at Google's Pixel Tablet bundle, which includes a case. The 128GB Google Pixel Tablet with a case is 10 percent off, bringing its price from $578 to $519, while the 256GB model has an 11 percent discount, dropping from $678 to $598. The cases come in an identical color to your tablet (available in Hazel, Porcelain or Rose) and fit right into the charging port without needing to remove it.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/googles-pixel-tablet-with-charging-speaker-gets-its-first-big-discount-094504760.html?src=rss
Last month, around 80 Google Help subcontractors employed by Accenture - who recently voted to unionize with the Alphabet Workers Union-Communications Workers of America (AWU-CWA) - found out that they will be laid off. Now, the union has filed a complaint against Alphabet and Accenture with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleging retaliatory layoffs in violation of labor laws, the AWU-CWA wrote in a press release."When my coworkers and I announced our union with overwhelming support, Google and Accenture management refused to acknowledge us," said general writer at Accenture and Google, Anjail Muhammad, in a statement. "A few short weeks later they announced their response - that they would be laying off dozens of employees. These jobs aren't going away though, we're just being asked to train our replacements abroad."Alphabet effectively washed its hands of the issue when the layoffs were first announced, saying that "Google does not control [the contractor's] employment terms or working conditions" and that the situation was "a matter between them and their employer, Accenture." It reiterated that position to Fortune, adding that the layoffs were for savings and efficiency and no other reason, and that it "chooses its partners and staffing agencies carefully and reviews their compliance with its Supplier Code of Conduct."In their original union application, workers listed Google and Accenture as joint employers "due to the direct role both companies play in shaping working conditions," they said in the original unionization announcement. "We had exercised our right to organize as members of the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA in order to bring both Google and Accenture, a Google subcontractor, to the bargaining table to negotiate on several key demands, including layoff protections," said senior writer and union member Julia Nagatsu Granstrom back in July.The team, which largely works in content creation, will be reduced from 130 people to around 40. They were reportedly instructed to train replacements working from India and the Philippines. Since 2018, the majority of Google employees have been contractors.In April, YouTube Music contractors voted unanimously to unionize, after winning a landmark legal victory with the NLRB forcing Google to the bargaining table to ratify their union contract. However, Alphabet indicated that it would still not negotiate with workers, saying it doesn't consider them as employees - meaning the issue is likely to wind up in a federal court.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-contract-workers-accuse-alphabet-and-accenture-of-violating-labor-laws-085100869.html?src=rss
At its Product Vision event in California, Fisker unveiled no less than three EVs and also announced pricing and more details of the previously teased Ronin. The new models include the Alaska electric pickup, Pear EV priced at $29,900 before incentives and the Force E, a rugged off-road version of the Ocean.First on the docket, however, is the Ronin - a four-door supercar EV that the company teased last month. Fisker previously showed only a brief glimpse of it, promising a 600 mile range and sub-$200,000 price tag. Now, the company has unveiled it in full on the outside only (no interior shots), but CEO Henrik Fisker is still being guarded about the technology - and the price has roared way past its previous estimate.Mike Blake / reutersFisker said it'll hit 60 MPH in under 2.0 seconds thanks to three electric motors delivering 1,000 horsepower via an all-wheel drive setup. As for the battery back, "we are looking to integrate the cells into the structure of the body and that will give us our goal of getting to 600 miles of range," Fisker said in a not-exactly-definitive statement. The company is giving itself some time to get there, though, citing a delivery window near the end of 2025.The price, though, is a shocker. Fisker didn't mention it at the event, but a new reservation page says the Ronin will start at "$385,000 before any incentives," or nearly double what the company originally mentioned. Luckily, interested parties will only need to put down a $2,000 deposit which is just 0.5 percent of the purchase price.Mike Blake / reutersThe most interesting vehicle is the Alaska electric pickup. It's based on the Ocean (and built on the same platform), but has a pickup truck bed and midgate that lowers to extend the bed into the cabin - allowing it to haul longer cargo than the shortish bed would suggest. That's much like Chevy's new Silverado EV, which it strikingly resembles.The Alaska will start at $45,400 (it will be US-built and qualify for EV incentives) with a range of around 230 miles between charges, less than the Ocean. However, the company is promising a more expensive model that can go up to 340 miles between charges. Because it's based around the Ocean which is now in production, the company expects it to go on sale as early as December 2024 - sooner than the Pear or Ronin. Henrik Fisker is much better at designing vehicles than estimating prices and production schedules, though, so take all those numbers and dates with a large grain of salt.Mike Blake / reutersThe Pear electric crossover will be Fisker's budget offering, coming in at under $30,000 with all-wheel drive, dual motors and range of about 300 miles. While just a bit smaller than the Ocean, it will be built on a new platform that allows a 35 percent reduction in parts and thus a lower price. It will come in five- or six-seat layouts (the latter via a front bench seat), and offers what looks like an attractive but basic interior for the price.Other touches include a "Houdini Trunk" lift gate designed to simplify cargo loading, along with a frunk (or "froot" in Fisker's nomenclature). It also offers LED lighting and a "lounge mode" that lets you move the seats around to maximize comfort. Fisker plans to build the Pear at Foxconn's Lordstown plant so it's eligible for tax incentives, with production estimated around mid-2025. Again, treat those price and production estimates skeptically.Mike Blake / reutersFinally, Fisker unveiled the Force E, an offroad/adventure version of the Ocean. It comes with 33-inch off-road tires and 21-inch aluminum wheels, along with a large roof rack and wide fenders. It offers more ground clearance, front, rear and underbody skid plates, and improved offroad handling. The package is available to new buyers, but existing Ocean owners can also upgrade their vehicles, It's set to arrive in Q1 2024, with pricing to be announced around then.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fisker-unveils-the-alaska-electric-pickup-and-sub-30000-pear-ev-071051468.html?src=rss
Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, the couple who were arrested last year for the massive 2016 Bitfinex hack involving billions of dollars of cryptocurrency, have pleaded guilty in court. Lichtenstein has admitted that he used multiple advanced hacking tools and techniques to gain entry into the cryptocurrency exchange's network. He then authorized 2,000 transactions to move 119,754 bitcoins to wallets he controlled. To cover his tracks, he said he deleted access credentials, logs and other digital breadcrumbs that could give him away. Morgan, his wife, helped him move and launder the stolen funds.If you'll recall, the Justice Department seized 95,000 of the stolen bitcoins at the time of their arrest. Back then, that digital coin hoard was worth a whopping $3.6 billion and was the largest financial seizure in the agency's history. Authorities were able to trace more of the stolen funds after that to recover an additional $475 million worth of cryptocurrency.According to the DOJ, Lichtenstein and Morgan used false identities to set up online accounts on darknet markets and cryptocurrency exchanges. They then withdrew the funds and distributed the bitcoins from there by converting them into other forms of cryptocurrency and keeping them in crypto mixing services. By doing so, they obfuscated the coins' sources and made them harder to trace. The couple also set up businesses in the US to make their banking activities look legitimate - Morgan had a TikTok where she talked about establishing a "multimillion dollar business" with "zero outside funding" - and they apparently used the stolen money to purchase physical gold coins that Morgan then buried.
Brave's search engine no longer requires that you jump to Bing or Google just to find photos or videos. The company has introduced image and video queries to Brave Search, helping you find media while maintaining the same levels of privacy and freedom of access. You won't have to worry about being profiled through your picture hunts, or risk missing politically sensitive content (if unintentionally) pulled from another engine's index.You'll still have the option of continuing searches through competitors, at least for a while. Brave notes that some search features, such as filtering by aspect ratio or license, aren't ready yet. The choice helps you get the results you're looking for, so long as you don't mind using a major engine. It's more important to have a "clear alternative" than absolute feature equality, Brave argues.BraveAnyone can use Brave's search engine in the web, although it's set as the default in the company's browser. The firm hopes to expand its reach by asking users to contribute to an anoynmous Web Discovrey Project.The relative newcomer launched its homegrown search in 2021, but has stood out from similarly privacy-oriented challengers like DuckDuckGo by trying to avoid the use of third-party indexes. Brave stopped using Bing's search index in May. That cut seven percent of results, but also gave Brave more control over its results.This won't necessarily lead to a surge in market share. Brave doesn't even register in StatCtounter's browser market share statistics - it's not in a position to upset heavyweights like Chrome, Edge and Safari. However, this does eliminate a major objection if you're an enthusiast determined to minimize data collection at much as possible.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/braves-privacy-focused-search-engine-can-now-find-images-and-videos-211548516.html?src=rss
Apple's financials continue to be in an ever-so-slight slump. Just as we saw the last two quarters, the company suffered minor declines in revenue in its fiscal Q3 2023 - but these are minor blips for a company that is still raking in absurd amounts of money every quarter.As has often been the case, revenue that Apple made from its Services segment (things like paid iCloud plans, Apple Music, AppleCare, the App Store and numerous other offerings) hit an all-time high of $21.2 billion. That's the company's second-largest product category behind the iPhone, and it grew eight percent year-over-year. But iPhone, Mac and iPad revenue all declined compared to a year ago, the same as it did last quarter.In the case of the iPhone, that decline was slight: revenue of $39.7 billion in the quarter was down about two percent compared to a year ago. iPad (down 19.8 percent) and Mac (down 7.3 percent) sales declined more significantly. But given the fact that Apple hasn't refreshed any iPad hardware since last fall, it's not too surprising to see a drop there. Wearables (like the Apple Watch and AirPods) and accessories were another bright spot, as revenues grew a little over two percent, the only product category besides Services to do so.Overall, revenues of $81.8 billion represented a less than two percent drop year over year, while profits actually increased about two percent to $19.9 billion.As usual, Apple is holding a call with CEO Tim Cook at 5PM ET, and there's more to discuss this quarter than usual. Beyond Apple's normal product categories, this is the first earnings since the ambitious and wildly expensive Vision Pro headset was announced, so it's likely investors may want to hear about how that new product is progressing. And there's the ever-present talk of potential AI-related projects hanging out in the background, too. We'll be updating this post with any details Cook shares on the call.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-services-are-making-more-cash-than-ever-but-revenue-shrank-for-the-third-quarter-in-a-row-205545482.html?src=rss
An enterprising developer is working on reviving a lost piece of gaming history. A YouTuber using the handle Tuxality has posted a video (viaGamesRadar) showing early work on an emulator that can play the games from an obscure rival to the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 that only launched in two countries.There's a good chance you've forgotten - or never heard of - the Zeebo gaming console. The Qualcomm-backed system (costing around $170 in US dollar conversions) launched in 2009 with a grand plan to target markets like Brazil and Mexico, where imports of its much-better-known rivals were priced out of reach for most people. It had cellular 3G functionality built in and supported around 40 games. Companies including Activision, Capcom, EA, Disney Interactive Studios and id Software lined up to develop software for the upstart system.Launching the same year as the iPhone App Store, the Zeebo eschewed discs and cartridges, instead earning a footnote in gaming history as the first console that exclusively used digital downloads. Think of it as a precursor to homebound mobile-game consoles like the also-defunct Ouya.ZeeboHowever, the strategy didn't go as planned, and the company announced the end of its operations in its only two markets by 2011. Although its website teased information about future launches in China and Russia and an upcoming Android-based system, nothing ever materialized. The company was never heard from again. Today, the URL that once served as the system's online home is now the landing page for a supplements ad.As you can see in the video below, Tuxality demonstrates early progress in loading the Zeebo's operating system and firing up Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D. The emulation shows numerous graphical hiccups, typical of early emulator builds. However, the fact that a talented software engineer is eyeing the system as a personal project should be welcome news for video game preservationists. Even obscure and short-lived projects like the Zeebo played a part in the relatively brief legacy of gaming hardware, and - like any history - its library is better conserved than erased.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/zeebo-a-latin-american-console-from-the-wii-era-is-getting-an-emulator-202555511.html?src=rss
Baldur's Gate III is available right now - partially. To be clear, the game itself is complete, but its rollout is fragmented, with different release dates for each of its planned platforms. Following a lengthy Early Access period, the PC and Mac version of Baldur's Gate III went live today, August 3, while the PlayStation 5 version is due out on September 6. The game's developer, Larian Studios, hasn't provided a release date for the Xbox Series X and S edition.This isn't a wholly unprecedented situation. After all, plenty of games come out at different times on various platforms, determined by licensing and exclusivity deals, or simply developer priority. In the case of Baludr's Gate III, though, something went wrong - specifically with the Xbox version.We have no exclusivity deal that prevents us from launching on Xbox," Larian Studios director of publishing Michael Douse said on X in July. The issue is a technical hurdle. We cannot remove the split-screen feature because we are obliged to launch with feature parity, and so continue to try and make it work."Larian StudiosLarian is having trouble fitting Baldur's Gate III on the Xbox Series S, the lower-priced and lower-powered console in Microsoft's ninth-generation lineup. Microsoft requires all games to run, feature-complete and without changes in quality or mechanics, on both the Xbox Series X and Series S. With Baldur's Gate III, this parity rule means the game will be console-exclusive to the PS5 for four months, at least.We have quite a few engineers working very hard to do what no other RPG of this scale has achieved: seamless drop-in, drop-out co-op on Series S," Douse said on X. We hope to have an update by the end of the year."Baldur's Gate III is a highly anticipated role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, offering familiar classes and abilities in an expansive high-fantasy world. The original Baldur's Gate landed in 1998 to critical and commercial acclaim, and Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn followed in 2000. The series spawned spin-offs and enhanced editions, but Baldur's Gate III is the franchise's first mainline installment in more than 20 years. Reviews for the PC version are already rolling in, and they're looking good overall.PS5 players will get to try out the console version on September 6, but Xbox Series X/S players will have to wait. Though Microsoft's parity requirements have been in place since the Xbox Series consoles came to market in November 2020, Baldur's Gate III is the ecosystem's highest-profile loss directly attributable to these restrictions.Larian StudiosLarian's issue is likely to be related to RAM. While both the Xbox Series X and PS5 have 16GB RAM, the Series S has just 10GB, running at a slower speed than the other consoles, which dramatically lowers its total memory bandwidth. (The Series S' GPU is also significantly underpowered compared with the PS5 and Series X, but it's much easier to turn down the graphics" than to recode your game.) Clearly, there is potential for Microsoft's parity requirement to limit the availability, scope and quality of games on the Xbox Series X.The debate over this potentiality hit a fever pitch last year, with players asking whether the Series S was holding back" the ninth console generation overall. There weren't a ton of concrete examples to prove this theory, and the Digital Foundry team argued against the idea, citing the existing variance in the PC market and saying that lower targets could actually help games run even better on higher-powered consoles. Still, a handful of developers from the indie and AAA space went public in late 2022 with their frustrations around the parity rule.MANY developers have been sitting in meetings for the past year desperately trying to get Series S launch requirements dropped," Bossa Studios VFX artist Ian Maclure tweeted at the time. Studios have been through one development cycle where Series S turned out to be an albatross around the neck of production, and now that games are firmly being developed with new consoles in mind, teams do not want to repeat the process."Rocksteady senior character technical artist Lee Devonald similarly tweeted about his experience building Gotham Knights - a game that shipped on consoles with a framerate locked at 30 fps and no performance mode. According to Gamerant, Devonald said that multiplatform developers had to optimize for the lowest performer," and, we have a current-gen console that's not much better than a last gen one," referencing the Xbox Series S."[An] entire generation of games, hamstrung by that potato," Devonald tweeted.Larian StudiosWith the Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft pivoted away from the traditional console-upgrade cycle and instead focused on establishing its wider gaming ecosystem, which centers cloud play in a post-hardware future. Sony, meanwhile, stuck to tradition - its pitch for the PS5 is more power, faster loading, better graphics and smoother animations than the PS4. This has largely worked out for Sony: It's leading in console sales, with more than 40 million PS5s in homes around the globe. Xbox said at a Brazilian game festival in June that it has over 21 million players on Xbox Series X and Series S consoles.Regardless of whether the Series S is restraining the entire video game industry, Xbox parity requirements are literally holding back Baldur's Gate III, and this system has accidentally created another console exclusive for the PS5, for now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/why-baldurs-gate-iii-is-an-accidental-ps5-console-exclusive-200521291.html?src=rss
While the jury is still out on whether Meta's new Threads will be a Twitter killer, the app could still upend how we think of social networks. Not because of how many users it has, but because of Meta's promise to integrate ActivityPub, the decentralized protocol that powers Mastodon and other fediverse apps, into Threads.Though that functionality hasn't been built yet, there are hints about it sprinkled throughout the service. For now, the most prominent clue is the threads.net" URL at the top of each user's profile. It currently links to a brief message that hints at what's coming. Soon, you'll be able to follow and interact with people on other fediverse platforms, like Mastodon," it reads.For close watchers of the fediverse - the collection of decentralized services that run on ActivityPub - those 15 words could be the start of one of the most consequential moments for the technology. While interest in the fediverse has been growing over the last year, it's still not widely understood, even by some who are active on places like Mastodon. But Meta's entry into the space could expose a lot more people to the power, and perils, of decentralized social networks.What even is decentralized social media?For enthusiasts, the rise of decentralized platforms represents an opportunity for a more open web - a chance to tear down some of the walled gardens that have become the norm on mainstream social media platforms. It reminds me of the early, heady days of the Internet, when the web was happening," Mike McCue, a former Netscape executive and current CEO of Flipboard said. I believe that this is where the entire social media space will go."Because they are open source and not controlled by a single entity, ActivityPub and other protocols allow users to interact with each other's content, regardless of where it originated. The concept is often compared to email, which also relies on foundational protocols that most people don't think much about.I can email somebody with a random .com address from my .edu address and it just works, the servers talk to each other and the email is delivered," explains Ross Schulman, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's decentralization fellow. Decentralized social media promises a similar experience, he says. Instead of exchanging little short messages that we call emails, they exchange little short messages that we call social media, or images or likes, or replies."Right now, this kind of experience is limited to Mastodon and other, more niche services that make up the current fediverse. That's not starting to change as larger and more mainstream platforms begin to experiment with ActivityPub.Tumblr has said it plans to support ActivityPub. Blogging platform Medium started its own Mastodon instance last year, and now offers membership as a premium "perk" to paying subscribers. Mozilla has also started its own Mastodon instance, calling it a long-term investment" in the future of social media. The BBC recently announced the start of a six-month experiment with Mastodon. News aggregator Flipboard is even more invested. The company has started its own Mastodon instance, promised to adopt ActivityPub and added integrations with Bluesky, another decentralized platform that uses its own protocol.Why now?Despite the recent surge in interest, the idea of the fediverse and decentralized, protocol-based social media is far from new. The ActivityPub protocol was officially established in 2018, but the idea of federated platforms is even older.ActivityPub is another instantiation of the basic idea of the internet ... every node should be able to talk with any other node at the simplest level," says Sorin Matei, communications professor and associate dean at Purdue University.Though Mastodon gained some notoriety in 2017, much of the fediverse remained relatively obscure - until Elon Musk announced his plan to take over Twitter. The acquisition represented a tectonic shift" for decentralized social media, Matei tells Engadget. New users began to flood Mastodon in the days immediately after his bid was announced, and there have been regular surges that coincide with controversial decisions he's made since. The service currently has just over 2 million active users, according to founder Eugen Rochko.Bluesky, another decentralized platform, has also notched early success. The service, which began as an offshoot of Twitter but severed all ties with the company last year, has racked up hundreds of thousands of users in its closed beta. Unlike Mastodon, the team behind Bluesky is developing its own federated protocol, the AT Protocol. For now, the only instance of Bluesky is the closed beta, but the company has said it plans to start testing federation.And while the AT Protocol and ActivityPub are separate standards, the visions behind them are similar. Already, there are projects to bridge" the two, and some fediverse enthusiasts suspect the distinction between the two will matter less as both Mastodon and Bluesky mature. The most important thing is the first principles built around both these protocols are identical," McCue told Engadget. The most important thing is there's an open protocol - actually two - to build the federated social web."For now, the number of people using the federated social web, though, is still small compared with more established platforms. Yet smaller and mid-size companies are investing in the protocols and the platforms they power because they see the surging interest as an opportunity to bolster their own communities. They think it will actually create a better experience for their users," Schulman told Engadget. Whether that's the promise of an even larger reader pool or access to more people to follow."Meta, which already operates some of the most dominant social networks, may have different motivations. While Zuckerberg has championed interoperability" in the past, Meta hasn't historically been welcoming to potential competing networks. Yet the company has talked glowingly about the promise of the fediverse. Our vision is that people using compatible apps will be able to follow and interact with people on Threads without having a Threads account, and vice versa, ushering in a new era of diverse and interconnected networks," the company wrote in a blog post announcing Threads.Schulman notes that Meta may have more self-serving motivations. They're trying to portray themselves as not anti-competitive," Schulman said, pointing to recent regulatory scrutiny.It's still unclear how long it will take Meta to actually add ActivitySupport for Threads. Instagram's top exec has cautioned it will take time. In addition to technical complications involved, there are also serious moderation issues associated with the fediverse, where communities are responsible for setting their own rules and norms. Researchers have recently flagged the prevalence of CSAM on some servers. Bluesky, which does currently have centralized moderation, has also dealt with some controversies surrounding its handling of trust and safety. Meta will need to ensure that Threads, which has the same content policies as Instagram, is interoperable with the fediverse while keeping out content that doesn't align with its rules.The stricter approach may also explain why some fediverse backers were not excited about the prospect of Meta joining their ranks, even tangentially. Some Mastodon servers have pledged to block Threads in order to wall off their users from the Facebook owner. Mastodon's Rochko alluded to the discontent in a blog post after Threads' launch, assuring users that Meta won't be able to serve ads or access the data of Mastodon users. But he made clear he was broadly supportive of Meta's efforts.We have been advocating for interoperability between platforms for years," he wrote shortly. The biggest hurdle to users switching platforms when those platforms become exploitative is the lock-in of the social graph, the fact that switching platforms means abandoning everyone you know and who knows you. The fact that large platforms are adopting ActivityPub is not only validation of the movement towards decentralized social media, but a path forward for people locked into these platforms to switch to better providers. Which in turn, puts pressure on such platforms to provide better, less exploitative services. This is a clear victory for our cause, hopefully one of many to come."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/is-decentralization-the-future-of-social-media-194554192.html?src=rss
Researchers say they have found a hardware exploit with Tesla's infotainment system that could unlock paid upgrades for free, including Full Self-Driving (FSD) and heated rear seats. They used a technique called voltage glitching, which involves tinkering with the supply voltage of the infotainment system's processor.If we do it at the right moment, we can trick the CPU into doing something else," Christian Werling told TechCrunch. It has a hiccup, skips an instruction and accepts our manipulated code. That's basically what we do in a nutshell."Werling is one of three doctoral students at the Technical University of Berlin who found the exploit with the help of an independent researcher. The team will present its work at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference next week.Since it's a hardware exploit, the process requires physical access to a Tesla vehicle. The jailbreak could enable FSD and certain other features, including in regions where Tesla has not yet made them available, the researchers claim. However, they noted that more work would be needed to test those possibilities.Still, the researchers claim to have obtained the encryption key that authenticates the car over Tesla's network, which could lead to them being able to unlock more features. They noted that they were able to obtain personal information from the test car too, including its recent GPS locations, contacts, call logs and calendar appointments.For several years, hackers have been attempting to unlock paywalled Tesla features, and some efforts have been successful. More recently, one discovered a so-called "Elon Mode" for hands-free FSD operations. Tesla has been playing a game of cat and mouse with these hackers for years.However, it would be much more difficult for Tesla to revoke this exploit, according to the researchers, given that it's a hardware-based approach. They claim the company would need physical access to the car. Tesla does not have a communications department that can be reached for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-reveal-tesla-jailbreak-that-could-unlock-full-self-driving-for-free-190431645.html?src=rss
Nothing has only been around a few years, racking up successes in that time frame, and now the company is launching a sub-brand dedicated to affordability. Speaking during the company's latest community update video, CEO Carl Pei announced CMF by Nothing, which promises a new range of products that make better design more accessible" via low pricing.CMF stands for Color, Material and Finish" and already has a couple of products in the works, including a smartwatch and a pair of earbuds. Both items are set to arrive later this year, with actual details promised for the coming months. Pei says that CMF will set itself apart from its parent brand by focusing on clean design" that's accessible," whereas Nothing prioritizes a premium" feel and design innovation."Pei also noted that CMF is being run by a different team, so it won't take too much attention from the primary brand's line of smartphones, earbuds and thingamajigs. This is not the CEO's first rodeo in the world of affordable sub-brands. Back when he was with OnePlus, Pei kickstarted the Nord sub-brand, which is still around and regularly releases budget-friendly smartphones, earbuds and smartwatches.It's worth noting that Nothing already wades in the waters of affordability. The Nothing Phone 2 is $600, which is much lower than rival flagship offerings, and the Ear 1 earbuds originally launched for $100, before the price raised to $150 due to increased material costs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nothing-announces-budget-friendly-sub-brand-readies-new-smartwatch-183712114.html?src=rss
Patreon said today it has fixed the root cause of a problem that led to creators and patrons seeing widespread rejected payments this week, and it's still working to solve the larger problem. The funding platform confirmed to Engadget that financial institutions have flagged a slightly higher-than-normal number of patron payments" as fraudulent. In addition, some creators said they're unable to access their funds, which Patreon describes as an unrelated problem stemming from a partner update.The company describes the inability to access payouts as only affecting creators using a single payment partner," which its system status page identifies as Payoneer. It says it's working actively with Payoneer to restore payouts" and expects to see the transactions restored today.The problem gained attention after various Patreon users posted on social channels about losing supporters en masse. Many reported that Patreon's billing information appeared to have recently shifted to Dublin, which some users speculated was the root cause of banks flagging the transactions as fraudulent. I just checked and have lost 80% of my patrons," Dr. Brooke Magnanti, author of Secret Diary of a London Call Girl, posted on Bluesky today. Awesome."Meanwhile, Reddit user u/Competitive_Fruit901 wrote on Wednesday that they lost 300 patrons. Billing messed up way more than usual this month," u/Koratl replied. A lot of people's cards flagged Patreon as fraudulent." Redditor u/arzen 353 chimed in, Not only that, there's no way to re-try payment once you authorize it with your bank. People can't re-subscribe even if they want to. Apparently you just have to wait for patreon to un-fuck itself."
After a months-long investigation, the FCC has decided to go ahead with its proposed record-setting $300 million fine against the largest illegal robocall operation" the agency has ever encountered. This is the heftiest fine ever issued by the FCC, due to the massive scope and illegality of the robocalling operation.The agency issued the fine to an international network of companies" that executed a scheme to make more than five billion robocalls to 500 million phone numbers during a three-month span in 2021. There are only 330 million people in the USA, so it's likely you received one or many of these auto warranty scam calls. Additionally, the FCC concluded that the criminal enterprise violated federal spoofing laws by using more than a million different caller ID numbers to trick victims into answering the phone. In related news, answering the phone sucks.The list of violations keep coming. The operation, run by Roy Cox, Jr. and Michael Aaron Jones via their Sumco Panama company, skirted prohibitions by sending pre-recorded voice calls to mobile phones without consent, placing telemarketing calls without consent and even dialing numbers included on the National Do Not Call Registry. The nefarious group also failed to identify callers at the start of conversations and voice messages and refused to provide call-back numbers to allow consumers to opt out of future communications. They basically turned 500 million smartphones into scam machines.The FCC originally proposed the monumental fine because the robocalling met the criteria for egregious violations" of current laws. Consumers have described the calls as incessant" and harassment." To that end, Sumco Panama even participated in practices like calling health care workers from spoofed hospital numbers. It also changed its name when needed, to keep the subterfuge going, using company monikers like Virtual Telecom, Davis Telecom, Geist Telecom, Tech Direct, Posting Express and many more.As previously mentioned, the enterprise had been selling fake auto warranties since 2018. In addition to the fine, Cox and Jones were issued lifetime bans against making telemarketing calls. Last year, the FCC directed all United States voice service providers to cease carrying traffic associated with the pair and its entities. The agency gave the parties a chance to defend themselves, but they haven't responded. If they don't pay the gigantic fine in a timely fashion, the whole matter will be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fcc-issues-record-300-million-fine-for-auto-warranty-robocallers-171431348.html?src=rss
Google has announced several updates to Search aimed at making it easier for people to control information about them that appears in results. The company released a tool last year to help people take down search results containing their phone number, home address or email. Now, the company has updated the "results about you" tool to make it more effective.A new dashboard will become available in the coming days that will let you know when such personal information pops up in Search. When you get an alert, you'll swiftly be able to ask Google to remove those results.Earlier this year, the company debuted a Google One feature that can scour the dark web to see if your information has been included in a data breach. This "results about you" update seems to work in a similar way. The fact that it proactively finds results containing your personal info and helps you remove them should make it easier to protect your privacy.GoogleYou can access the tool from the Google app by tapping your profile photo and selecting "results about you" or from a dedicated webpage the company has set up. It's available in the US in English for now, but Google plans to offer the tool in other languages and regions soon.Along similar lines, Google is updating a system that aids users in taking down explicit photos of them. The company has long provided the option for people to request the removal of non-consensual explicit images from search results. It's now expanding that policy to include consensual imagery.Perhaps you uploaded explicit content of yourself to a website at one point, but decide you no longer want it to be available. If you delete the imagery from that website, you can now ask Google to remove it from search results if it has been published elsewhere without permission. The company notes that the policy doesn't apply to any content you're still commercializing.It's not exactly rare for owners of websites that deal in explicit imagery to report content from elsewhere. Removing such content from Google Search results won't scrub it from the web entirely, but that may make it more difficult for people to find. You can search for "request removals" in the Google help center to get started.GoogleOn top of all that, Google is rolling out updates for parental controls and SafeSearch. Starting this month, Google is blurring explicit imagery (which it defines as adult or graphic violent content) in search results by default, a move it announced earlier this year. You'll be able to turn off SafeSearch blurring from your settings, unless a school network admin or a guardian has locked the setting on your account.Last but not least, it'll now be much easier to access parental controls from Search. Punch in a query like google parental controls" or google family link" and you'll see an information box that explains how to adjust the settings.GoogleThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-making-it-easier-to-remove-your-private-information-from-search-170025085.html?src=rss
Instagram is making it difficult to flood your DM inbox. The social network is rolling out stricter DM request policies that, among other things, limits senders to a single message if you don't follow them. You'll have to accept the chat request before they can send anything more. DM requests are now limited to text, too. Creeps and spammers can't send photos, videos or voice messages, in other words.The company started testing the new DM restrictions in late June. The company already has some tools to combat spam, including a "Hidden Words" tool that hides messages with objectionable keywords and emoji. There are now filters for scams and spam. You can also safeguard against surges in DM requests, although that won't stop the occasional spammer from getting through.Instagram characterizes the move as a safety measure, particularly for women. The firm explains to TechCrunch that women frequently receive unsolicited nudes in their DMs. This effectively halts the practice, although it won't stop harassers from sending crude text.The addition comes as parent company Meta is facing pressure from politicians and critics to improve its anti-abuse measures, particularly for teens. A Senate bill would require parental consent for teens wanting to use social media apps, for instance, while Arkansas recently enacted a law requiring age verification. That's on top of longstanding concerns that its anti-harassment policies haven't always done enough to protect some demographics. Efforts like this theoretically head off some of the complaints that Meta is letting abuse through.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-fights-dm-spam-with-limits-on-text-and-photos-165013992.html?src=rss
The base model of Apple's 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip has returned to a record low of $949 at B&H Photo and Best Buy. The price has dipped this far before, but this is still a rare sale - and a good buy as the 13-inch Air is our current favorite Apple laptop. The list price for this configuration is $1,099 (Apple dropped the MSRP by $200 when the 15-inch MacBook Air came out earlier this summer), making this a tidy, $150 discount. You get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD and Apple's latest M2 system-on-a-chip, which improves both the machine's speed and battery life. The discount applies to all four colorways, instead of just one or two.While the M2 chip is currently Apple's latest processor, it's worth noting that new M3-equipped Macs will probably debut this fall, along with the expected iPhone 15, both of which we anticipate hearing about in September. As the company has done in the past, Apple will likely keep the M2 machines in its lineup, though the price may come down even further. That said, if you're in the market right now for a solid ultraportable for college or nomadic work, this is a good deal.Despite the release of the 15-inch MacBook Air, we still think the 13-inch model is the best Apple laptop for most people, and it's the top recommendation in our guide. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar gave it a high score of 96 in his review, praising it's speed and versatility. The quad speakers can fill a room without distortion and the three-mic array does a good job of clearly picking up your voice on calls. The M2 chip makes it plenty fast enough to handle streaming and cloud gaming and does a great job with Apple Arcade games.Despite being less than a half-inch thick, the M2 MacBook Air retains its headphone jack, provides two Thunderbolt ports and a MagSafe connector for charging. And the battery lasted for 16 and a half hours in our rundown tests. We think it's a great laptop for everyday use and standard productivity, though if you want to do intensive video editing, you may want to step up to a Pro model. The base model of that machine is $200 off at B&H Photo, but will still run you $1,799.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/apples-macbook-air-m2-drops-back-to-a-record-low-of-950-161530350.html?src=rss
We only just reviewed the ROG Ally, and it's already been dethroned as the most powerful handheld gaming PC yet." Or at least, it's going to have to scoot over a little and let the Ayaneo 2S squeeze in. The two portable PCs have a lot in common: They both have 7-inch displays, they both run Windows 11, they both sport Zen 4-based AMD APUs and they both want to draw your attention away from the cheaper, older, bigger, but fan-favorite Steam Deck.The Ayaneo 2S does best the ROG Ally in a few important areas though. The displays might be the same size, but the 2S has a 1200p resolution (ASUS's is 1080p), the 2S has a larger battery (50Wh vs 40) and the Ally is only available with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Ayaneo 2S is available in multiple configurations that start where the Ally does and go right up to 64GB RAM and a cavernous 4TB of storage. It's important to note, though, that even the most affordable Zen 4-based Ayaneo starts at $999 (or $699 if you're quick enough to bag an early bird) compared to the Ally's relative affordability (starting at $699).While Ayaneo competes with the likes of Valve and ASUS on a technical level, in most other ways, the company is more of an upstart in the world of gaming hardware. But one that has earned a dedicated army of fans thanks to its spec-heavy approach to product design.The Ayaneo 2S isn't just the Ayaneo 2 with a new 7840U processor, but that is by far the most important difference. Cosmetically the two are almost identical bar some larger vent holes on the 2S. There's also a minor tweak to the triggers that stop them making a noise when fully depressed and an improved fingerprint reader. Most of the other upgrades are to do with cooling, including a graphene patch that has been added and the aforementioned airflow design.Photo by James Trew / EngadgetEither way, the new, more powerful processor is really what makes the 2S interesting. ASUS entering the handheld space has added credibility to the portable PC gaming space, perhaps creating a stepping stone between the dependability and smoother UI of the Steam Deck and the tech-heavy, but less refined experience of Ayaneo products. So when ASUS announced the ROG Ally, Ayaneo probably didn't like losing a superlative claim (of being more powerful than Valve's competition).A new processor is only as good as the performance boost it brings, and even that has to be weighed against any extra tax on the battery (which remains the same 50.25Wh capacity as the original Ayaneo 2). The short version is, there are good gains to be had, but if you were considering the 6800U-based Ayaneo, that's still a capable performer - and now a more affordable one.In general the gaming experience on the 2S is superior, as you would hope, to that of the original Ayaneo 2. Broadly speaking, both can handle most games, even demanding AAA titles at very playable frame rates. The difference is more in the power profile/TDP you need to get that enjoyable experience. For example, on the 2S, I was able to get The Witcher 3 to run at a steady 60 fps (Steam Deck" settings at 800p) with an 11W TDP setting. I could even dial it down to 8W and it'd hover between 55 and 60 fps. For the Ayaneo 2, I had to dial it up to around 15W to achieve a steady 60, or 10W for almost" 60. This represents a modest, but important upgrade in performance - but every game is different.With games like Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, the difference is more pronounced. The Ayaneo 2 was able to serve up around mid-20 fps for both of these games at 15W TDP at 1200p. The 2S was able to crank out closer to 40 peak fps with a minimum over 30 at the same power setting. Dial the 2S up to 22W TDP and you can expect over 60 fps no problem.Photo by James Trew / EngadgetIt's hard to do several side by side comparisons for all games and different situations, but it's easy to see that the 7840U presents a significant upgrade in performance at the higher end. Some benchmarks even suggest that the Ayaneo 2S consistently bests the performance of the ROG ALLY with like for like settings. This could simply be down to differences in drivers for the new chipsets, but as YouTuber The Phawx points out, modern games often require a lot of VRAM, and APUs like the 7840U lean on system RAM for that, making the higher spec of the Ayaneo a clear advantage.If you're less worried about playing heavyweight games, and prefer indie titles or older/lighter games then the 2S really shines, being able to run things like Hades, Trine, Return of the Obra Dinn, Hotline Miami and so on at full/high quality settings without even flinching. Importantly, you'll be able to do so at a much lower TDP - even as low as 5W for many of the above titles.It's with these less-demanding titles where the new processor's efficiency most noticeably translates into extra battery life. With the Ayaneo 2, at lower TDP settings battery life seems to hover a little over the four hour mark (depending on the game being played). With the 2S, it's possible to break the five hour mark if you're frugal - of course this also means disabling wireless, lowering the screen brightness and so on, but it's a marked improvement.Sadly, those gains don't seem to scale up at the high end. Once above 15W I didn't notice significant gains in battery life. That said, if you're now able to play a game at 15W that needed 20W of power on an older model, there's obviously an inherent power saving there, but at like-for-like wattages, these Windows handhelds are still incredibly power hungry.Ayaneo has been broadly praised for its hardware and performance since it entered the scene, it's the software side of things where people seem to have the most complaints. It doesn't take long with the 2S before you're reminded that you're basically holding a desktop. Especially if there's a launcher between you and the game - as EA/Rockstar/Ubisoft titles tend to have. On the Steam Deck, for example, these are handled slightly better, but on the Ayaneo platform it can be ugly with different windows popping up.The Ayaspace launcher itself rarely gets much praise, but I've always found it functional and a nicer experience than just launching titles from the desktop. It doesn't do an amazing job of hiding Windows from you - you'll regularly find yourself navigating the desktop with the analog sticks or touchscreen. For the most part you can boot up and get into a game quickly, but the specter of Microsoft's operating system is never far away.Photo by James Trew / EngadgetThe better news is that Ayaneo has just made version 2.0 of its launcher available for download and it looks promising. The general user interface seems much slicker and more lightweight which feels much more in tune with what you might expect from a console experience. I was only able to spend a short amount of time with it, but aesthetically it feels like an improvement with more controls and settings closer to hand.Perhaps the bigger problem for the 2S, or Ayaneo owners in general, is that... even in the time between starting this review and finishing it the company's lineup has changed. The Ayaneo Air 1S, a more compact 7840-based handheld, has been announced. That's not to be confused with the Air Pro and the Air Plus. Then there's the Ayaneo Kun, a new, new flagship that's all new, including an 8-inch display and Steam Deck-like touchpads. Not to mention the dizzying amount of different configurations within each of those, meaning Ayaneo probably has more SKUs than all of its competitors put together.Predictably, the Ayaneo 2S is a great gaming handheld that outperforms most of its rivals in several key areas. It'll handle almost any game you throw at it, and likely do so surprisingly well. But there's still the matter of price. $999+ for a gaming handheld is a huge spend for most people. One of the reasons the Steam Deck has remained so popular despite new, superior" competition from Ayaneo and ASUS etc. is that it's relatively affordable.Ayaneo looks set to continue to cater for those who are willing to pay for the latest and greatest, but it's also at risk of alienating those users by making their $1,200 handheld feel last-gen in just seven months. At the moment, the company's fans appear to enjoy the rapid-fire approach to releases. Just as they're about to stop salivating over the latest product, another one pops up on the horizon. There is, of course, a question mark over how long Ayaneo can keep this up without alienating its fans, or even over-stretching its own resources. At least, for now, the next APU refresh from AMD isn't set for another year or so, so perhaps that's a chance for Ayaneo to catch its breath. Or not.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ayaneo-2s-review-160047194.html?src=rss
Folks on the lookout for the best wireless earbuds around should definitely consider what Bose has to offer. That's especially true if you want to block out as much environmental noise as possible when it's time to focus. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are your best option for noise cancellation right now and, as luck would have it, they're on sale. You can pick up a pair for $249, which is $50 off the regular price.That's the same discount that was available during Prime Day last month, but it's not quite the lowest price we've seen. The earbuds briefly dropped to $229 during last year's holiday shopping season. However, the current discount is still a good deal on a pair of high-quality earbuds.We gave the Bose QC Earbuds II a score of 87 in our review last September. Along with excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), the earbuds boast good sound quality. We found that the smaller size compared with the previous model made for a better fit, while Bose improved the ambient sound.The QC Earbuds II lack multipoint connectivity and wireless charging, which might be dealbreakers for some. We found call quality to be somewhat mediocre too. Still, if ANC is your top concern, these earbuds are worth your attention.Elsewhere, Bose's QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones are also on sale. They have dropped to $279, which is $60 off the usual price of $329.We gave the headset a review score of 86. These cans also deliver great ANC performance, along with clear and balanced audio. They have a long battery life (over 22 hours on a single charge in our testing) and Bose says a 15-minute charge adds three hours of listening time.Although the QC45 headphones are comfortable to wear, the design isn't much to write home about, while the lack of automatic pausing and some niggles with multi-device connectivity may cause some frustration. Those are relatively minor quibbles, though, given the overall performance.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-bose-quietcomfort-earbuds-ii-are-back-on-sale-for-249-152721106.html?src=rss
Tesla is already facing the fallout from a report that it exaggerated EV ranges and tried to muffle complaints. Three owners in California have launched a proposed class action lawsuit accusing Tesla of false advertising. The trio claims their cars fell well short of their estimated ranges, and that they've had no success lodging complaints. The customers either wouldn't have bought their cars or would have paid considerably less for them, according to the suit.The owners allege Tesla committed fraud, violated warranties and conducted unfair competition. If the lawsuit gets class action status, it would cover all people in California who bought a Tesla Model 3, Model S, Model X or Model Y. The plaintiffs are hoping for unspecified damages. Tesla has disbanded its communications team and isn't available for comment.The lawsuit follows a Reuters report that Tesla began modifying EV ranges about a decade ago. Its cars would supposedly show inflated figures when fully charged, and would only start showing accurate numbers under a 50 percent charge. To head off complaints, the automaker is said to have created a "Diversion Team" that would persuade users to drop range-related support calls.It's not certain that Tesla still uses these purported exaggerations. The Environmental Protection Agency did ask the company to trim its range estimates from the 2020 model year forward, and South Korea recently issued a $2.2 million fine over an alleged failure to adequately inform customers that EV ranges would drop in cold weather.Tesla isn't alone in boasting EV range estimates that don't hold up in real conditions. An SAE International study found that electric cars tend to fall about 12.5 percent short of their advertised ranges. The report and lawsuit suggest Tesla's figures are less accurate than for other brands, however, and that the company may have tried to silence unhappy customers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-sued-for-false-advertising-after-allegedly-exaggerating-ev-ranges-151034923.html?src=rss
The last few months in the camera world have been tumultuous, to say the least. Since our previous guide, we've seen numerous new models from Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon and Panasonic with better shooting speeds, autofocus and higher resolution video. That's exciting if you're after the latest cameras, but it also means that deals can be found on great older models, as well.If you're confused about which models have the best AF capabilities, stabilization or other features, don't worry. Our 2023 guide will catch you up on all the latest models and deals, so you can select the best camera whether you're a vlogger, sports shooter or wildlife photographer.What to look for in a mirrorless cameraTo learn more about mirrorless tech and why it's taken over the digital camera world, check out our previous camera guide for an explanation, or watch our Upscaled video on the subject for an even deeper dive.Why get a camera when my smartphone takes great photos, you may ask? In a word, physics. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Where smartphones have one f/stop, cameras have many, which gives you more exposure control. You also get natural and not AI-generated bokeh, quicker shooting, a physical shutter, more professional video recording, and so on. Smartphones do have impressive AI skills that help make photography easier, but that's about it.With that settled, mirrorless is the best way to go if you're shopping for a new camera. Both Canon and Nikon recently announced they're discontinuing development of new DSLR cameras, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a recent video. With putting all their R&D in mirrorless, that's where you'll find the most up-to-date tech.Steve Dent/EngadgetCompact cameras still exist as a category, but barely. Panasonic has built a number of good models in the past, but recently said it would focus only on video-centric mirrorless models going forward. And we haven't seen any new ones from Canon or Nikon lately, either. Only Sony and Fujifilm cameras are still carrying the compact torch, the latter with its $1,400 X100V model, which has become famously hard to find. Most of Sony's recently compact models, like the ZV-1F, are designed for vloggers.Now, let's talk about features you need in a mirrorless camera. The one that affects your photography (and budget) the most is sensor size. The largest is medium format, but that's only used on niche and expensive cameras from Hasselblad, Fujifilm and Leica, so we'll skip over those for this article. (See my Fujifilm GFX 100S and Hasselblad X2D reviews for more.)The most expensive category we'll be discussing here is full-frame, largely used by professional photographers and serious amateurs. Models are available from all the major brands except Fujifilm, including Sony, Canon, Nikon and Panasonic. That format offers the best image quality, low-light performance and depth of field, with a starting price point of around $1,000. With the right lenses, you can get beautifully blurred backgrounds, but autofocus is more critical. Lenses are also more expensive.Down one size are APS-C cameras, offered on Fujifilm, Sony, Nikon and Canon models. Cameras and lenses are cheaper than full-frame, but you still get nice blurred bokeh," decent low-light shooting capability and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size equivalent to 35mm movie film, it's ideal for video recording.Steve Dent/EngadgetMicro Four Thirds, used by Panasonic and Olympus, is the smallest mainstream sensor size for mirrorless cameras. It offers less dramatic bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, it's harder to blur the background to isolate your subject, but focus is easier to control.The next thing to consider is sensor resolution. High-res cameras like Sony's 61-megapixel full-frame A7R V or Fujifilm's 40-megapixel APS-C X-H2 deliver detailed images - but the small pixels mean they're not ideal for video or low-light shooting. Lower-resolution models like Panasonic's 10.3-megapixel GH5s or Sony's 12.1-megapixel A7S III excel at video and high-ISO shooting, but lack detail for photos.Image quality is subjective, but different cameras do produce slightly different results. Some photographers prefer the skin tones from Canon while others like Fujifilm's colors, for example. It's best to check sample photos to see which model best suits your style.What about handling? The Fujifilm X-T5 has lots of manual dials to access shooting controls, while Sony's A6600 relies more on menus. The choice often depends on personal preferences, but manual dials and buttons can help you find settings more easily and shoot quicker. For heavy lenses, you need a camera with a big grip.Video is more important than ever. Most great cameras deliver at least 4K at 30 frames per second, but some models now offer 4K at up to 120p, with 6K and even 8K resolution. If you need professional-looking results, choose a camera with 10-bit or even RAW capability, along with log profiles to maximize dynamic range.In-body image stabilization, which keeps the camera steady even if you move, is another important option for video and low-light photography. You'll also want to consider the electronic viewfinder (EVF) specs. High resolutions and refresh rates make judging shots easier, particularly in sunny environments.Other important features include displays that flip up or around for vlogging or selfie shots, along with things like battery life, menu system, the number and type of memory card slots, the ports and Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity. Lens selection is also key, as some brands like Sony have more choice than others. For most of our picks, keep in mind that you'll need to buy at least one lens.Now, let's take a look at our top camera picks for 2023. We've divided the selection into four budget categories: under $800, under $1,500, under $2,500 and over $2,500. We chose those price categories because many recent cameras slot neatly into them. Manufacturers have largely abandoned the low end of the market, so there are very few mirrorless models under $500.Best mirrorless cameras under $800My top pick in the "budget" mirrorless camera category is Canon's brand new $680 24.2-megapixel R50, an impressive model for beginners considering the price. It can shoot bursts at up to 15 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at up to 30p with supersampling and no crop. It has a fully articulating display, and unlike other cameras in this category, an electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon's Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode, and even has a popup flash. The only drawback is the lack of decent quality lens that's as affordable as the camera itself. Pre-orders are open with delivery set for spring.Your next best option is an older model, the 20.7-megapixel Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, as it offers the best mix of photography and video features. You get up to 15 fps shooting speeds, 4K 30p or HD 120p video, and it's one of the few cameras in this price category with built-in five-axis stabilization. It's portable and lightweight for travel, and the lenses are compact and affordable. The drawbacks are an autofocus system that's not as fast or accurate as the competition, and a small sensor size.If you're a creator, Sony's 24.2-megapixel ZV-E10 is a strong budget option. It can shoot sharp, downsampled 4K video at up to 30 fps with a 1.23x crop (or 1080p at 120 fps) and uses Sony's fantastic AI-powered autofocus system with face and eye detection. It also has a few creator-specific features like Product Showcase and a bokeh switch that makes the background as blurry as possible so your subject stands out. Another nice feature is the high-quality microphone that lets you vlog without the need to buy an external mic. The main drawbacks are the lack of an EVF and rolling shutter.Another good creator option that's better for photography is Panasonic's Lumix G100, on sale right now with a 12-32mm lens. As with the ZV-E10, it can shoot 4K video at 30 fps (cropped 1.47x), though 1080p is limited to 60 fps. Unlike its Sony rival, though, the G100 has a 3.68-million dot EVF and 10 fps shooting speeds. Other functionality includes a fully-articulating display, and 5-axis hybrid image stabilization.Honorable mentions go to two models, starting with Nikon's 20.9-megapixel APS-C Z30, another mirrorless camera designed for vloggers and creators. It offers 4K using the full width of the sensor, 120fps slow mo at 1080p, a flip-out display and AI powered hybrid phase-detect AF. The drawbacks are the lack of an EVF and autofocus performance that's not on par with Sony's devices. And finally, another good budget option is the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, a mildly refreshed version of the M50 with features like a flip-out screen, tap-to-record and focus, plus 4K video with a 1.5x crop.Best mirrorless cameras under $1,500Your best option overall in this category is Canon's 32.5-megapixel APS-C EOS R7. It offers very fast shooting speeds up to 30 fps using the electronic shutter, high-resolution images that complement skin tones, and excellent autofocus. It also delivers sharp 4K video with 10 bits of color depth, marred only by excessive rolling shutter. Other features include 5-axis in-body stabilization, dual high-speed card slots, good battery life and more.Full-frame cameras generally used to start at $2,000 and up, but now there are two new models at $1,500. The best by far is Canon's brand new EOS R8 - basically an R6-II lite. It has Canon's excellent Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition AI, and can shoot bursts at up to 40 fps. It's equally strong with video, supporting oversampled 10-bit 4K at up to 60 fps. The R8 also offers a flip-out display, making it great for vloggers and amateur filmmakers. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization. It's now on pre-order with delivery set for spring.A better choice for video is Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds GH5 II. It's one of the least expensive models with 10-bit, high data rate 4K 60p video. It also offers effective image stabilization, pro inputs, dual high-speed card slots and a flip-out screen. Negative points are the small Micro Four Thirds sensor and relatively low 20-megapixel photo resolution.Several cameras are worthy of honorable mention in this category, including Canon's 30.3-megapixel EOS R, still a great budget option for 4K video and particularly photography despite being released over four years ago. Other good choices include the fast and pretty Olympus OM-D E-M5 III and Sony's A6600, which offers very fast shooting speeds and the best autofocus in its class. Finally, Nikon's 24.3-megapixel Z5 is another good choice for a full-frame mirrorless camera in this price category, particularly for photography, as it deliver outstanding image quality.Best mirrorless cameras under $2,500This category currently has the most choices, with the Sony A7 IV leading the charge. Resolution is up considerably from the 24-megapixel A7 III to 33 megapixels, with image quality much improved overall. Video is now up to par with rivals with 4K at up to 60p with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality. Autofocus is incredible for both video and stills, and the in-body stabilization does a good job. The biggest drawbacks are rolling shutter that limits the use of the electronic shutter, plus the relatively high price.The next best option is the EOS R6 II, Canon's new mainstream hybrid mirrorless camera that offers a great mix of photography and video features. The 24.2-megapixel sensor delivers more detail than the previous model, and you can now shoot RAW stills at up to 40 fps in electronic shutter mode. Video specs are equally solid, with full sensor 4K supersampled from 6K at up to 60 fps. Autofocus is quick and more versatile than ever thanks to expanded subject detection. It's still not quite up to Sony's standards, though, and the microHDMI and lack of a CFexpress slot isn't ideal.If you're OK with a smaller APS-C sensor, check out the Fujifilm X-H2S. It has an incredibly fast stacked, backside-illuminated 26.1-megapixel sensor that allows for rapid burst shooting speeds of 40 fps, along with 4K 120p video with minimal rolling shutter. It can capture ProRes 10-bit video internally, has 7 stops of in-body stabilization and a class-leading EVF. Yes, it's expensive for an APS-C camera at $2,500, but on the other hand, it's the cheapest stacked sensor camera out there. The other downside is AF that's not quite up to Canon and Sony's level.Video shooters should look at Panasonic's full-frame S5 II. It's the company's first camera with hybrid phase-detect AF designed to make focus "wobble" and other issues a thing of the past. You can shoot sharp 4K 30p video downsampled from the full sensor width, or 4K 60p from an APS-C cropped size, all in 10-bit color. It even offers 5.9K 30p capture, along with RAW 5.9K external output to an Atomos recorder. You also get a flip-out screen for vlogging and updated five-axis in-body stabilization that's the best in the industry. Photo quality is also good thanks to the dual-gain 24-megapixel sensor. The main drawback is the slowish burst speeds.The best value in a new camera is the Fujifilm X-T5. It offers a 40-megapixel APS-C sensor, 6.2K video at 30p/4K 60p 10-bit video, 7-stop image stabilization, and shooting speeds up to 20 fps. It's full of mechanical dials and buttons with Fujifilm's traditional layout. The downsides are a tilt-only display and autofocus system that can't keep up with Sony and Canon systems. If you want to go a step up with better video specs for a bit more money, Fuji's X-H2 has the same sensor as the X-T5 but offers 8K 30p video and a flip out display.Honorable mentions in this category go to the $2,000 Nikon Z6 II, which offers excellent image quality, solid video specs and great handling. For budget options, take a look at Sony's compact full-frame A7C, along with Fujifilm's older, but still great X-T4.Best mirrorless cameras over $2,500Finally, here are the best cameras if the sky's the limit in terms of pricing. At the apex is Sony's 50-megapixel stacked sensor A1, a stunning high-end camera with a stunning $6,500 price. It rules in performance, with 30 fps shooting speeds and equally quick autofocus that rarely misses a shot. It backs that up with 8K and 4K 120p video shooting, built-in stabilization and the fastest, highest-resolution EVF on the market. The only real drawbacks are the lack of a flip-out screen and, of course, that price.For a bit less money, the Nikon Z9 packs a 45.7-megapixel stacked sensor that's so fast, it doesn't even have a mechanical shutter. It has Nikon's best autofocus system by far, and delivers outstanding image quality. Video is top notch as well, with 8K 30p internally and 8K 60p RAW via the HDMI port. The main drawbacks are the lack of an articulating display and high price, but it's a great option if you need speed, resolution and high-end video capabilities.Tied for the next positions are Sony's A7S III and A7R V. With a 61-megapixel sensor, the A7R V shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that's much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. If you don't need the video, however, Sony's A7R IVa does mostly the same job, photo-wise, and costs a few hundred dollars less.The 12-megapixel A7S III, meanwhile, is the best dedicated video camera, with outstanding 4K video quality at up to 120 fps, a flip-out display and category leading autofocus. It also offers 5-axis in-body stabilization, a relatively compact size and great handling. While the 12-megapixel sensor doesn't deliver a lot of photo detail, it's the best camera for low-light shooting, period.And if you want a mirrorless sports camera, check out Canon's 24-megapixel EOS R3. It can shoot bursts at up to 30 fps with autofocus enabled, making it great for any fast-moving action. It's a very solid option for video too, offering 6K at up to 60 fps in Canon's RAW LTE mode, or 4K at 120 fps. Canon's Dual Pixel autofocus is excellent, and it offers 8 stops of shake reduction, a flip-out display and even eye detection autofocus. The biggest drawback for the average buyer is the $6,000 price, so it's really aimed at professionals as a replacement for the 1DX Mark III DSLR.Honorable mention goes to Canon's 45 megapixel EOS R5. For a lot less money, it nearly keeps pace with the A1, thanks to the 20 fps shooting speeds and lightning fast autofocus. It also offers 8K and 4K 120p video, while besting Sony with internal RAW recording. The big drawback is overheating, as you can't shoot 8K longer than 20 minutes and it takes a while before it cools down enough so that you can start shooting again. Another solid option is Panasonic's S1H, a Netflix-approved mirrorless camera that can handle 6K video and RAW shooting.You're now caught up, new models have been arriving thick and fast, including potential rumored APS-C models from Canon. Another known model coming in May is Panasonic's S5 IIx, which offers the same features of the S5 II plus internal SSD recording and live streaming for just $200 more. We'll have full coverage of those when they arrive, so stay glued to Engadget.com for the latest updates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-mirrorless-cameras-133026494.html?src=rss
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