Waymo only just reached Los Angeles earlier this year, but that isn't stopping it from expanding further. The company is expanding its Waymo One ride-hailing service to Austin. The first phase starts this fall, with completely driverless operations and public rides coming in the months ahead. The coverage will be "truly useful," Waymo claims - it should cover major stretches of the Texas capital, including the downtown core as well as well-known areas like Barton Hills and Hyde Park. You can join a waitlist today.The deployment is a homecoming of sorts, as Waymo chose Austin to conduct some of its first self-driving tests beyond its hometown of Mountain View. The company also made history by offering the first completely autonomous ride on public streets in 2015. The Alphabet-owned brand has been testing its self-driving SUVs in the city since the spring.Austin will represent the fourth city to get Waymo One following Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The firm is also operating in New York City, although it hasn't announced plans to offer commercial service in the region. While rides have typically only been available in limited sections of these cities, Waymo recently doubled its operational area to include larger swaths of the Phoenix area and San Francisco.The announcement reflects Waymo's strengthened focus on ride-hailing. The company recently pushed back its autonomous trucking plans to help it concentrate on passenger service. Waymo wants One to be a commercial hit first, and that means expanding operations as well as securing permission to take paying customers. There's pressure to move quickly when competitors like Cruise and Aurora are testing in Texas.There are some obstacles to overall growth. Officials want to stop or slow robotaxi deployments in San Francisco over safety concerns, for instance. Vehicles from Waymo and GM's Cruise have blocked traffic, interfered with first responders and otherwise created issues. Other cities and states haven't greenlit self-driving cars, either. Texas' openness to the technology may help, though, and Waymo notes that Austin's rapidly growing economy (the second-fastest for a major US city) could help its chances.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/waymo-is-bringing-its-driverless-ride-hailing-service-to-austin-133949180.html?src=rss
Acura, Honda's luxury and performance vehicle brand, has released a teaser for its first electric vehicle. It doesn't really show much of the the all-electric 2024 ZDX - it's just a silhouette of the car with an illuminated grille in the shadows - but it comes with the announcement that the EV is set to debut on August 17th during Monterey Car Week.The 2024 ZDX was designed at the Acura Design Studio in southern California, and it retains some of the external elements the company used for the Precision EV Concept it showed off during the same event last year. It's based on GM's Ultium battery platform and could perhaps be one of the few, or the only, Acura models to use the modular EV architecture. Honda previously said that future EVs will use its in-house e:Architecture platform instead, with the first models based on it slated for release in 2025.Acura announced back in June that the ZDX will come with built-in Android Auto and other Google products. Owners will have access to an enhanced version of Google Maps, which can plan optimized routes with charging stations along the way and can estimate the charging time required to reach their destination. They'll also have access to Google Assistant for hands-free controls, as well as to Google Play, so they can download third-party apps to their infotainment system. Acura revealed last month that the EV will be equipped with a Bang & Olufsen audio system, as well.The automaker will exclusively sell the ZDX and ZDX Type S performance EVs online starting early next year. Emile Korkor, assistant vice president of Acura National Sales, said in a statement that the ZDX Type S will be "the most powerful and quickest accelerating SUV in the brand's history."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/acura-teases-the-zdx-its-first-electric-vehicle-130051990.html?src=rss
The following article contains spoilers for Subspace Rhapsody."At some point in the 90s, it became law that all genre shows with a certain flexibility in their premise must do a musical episode. Xena, Ally McBeal, Buffy, Psych, Grey's Anatomy and Scrubs have all done one, as has Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, 7th Heaven, Supergirl and The Flash. Now, it's Strange New Worlds' turn to make its characters spontaneously burst into song as it drops Subspace Rhapsody" as the penultimate episode of its second season.It's clear from the start that Strange New Worlds was well-suited to do a musical given how broad its range is. In the last four weeks alone, we've had goofy comedy served up back to back with serious meditations on empathy and redemption. This is the first live action Trek of the streaming era to remember the franchise gets better when it allows itself to be goofy. The only surprise is that this is coming so early on its run; this is just the nineteenth episode of the series overall.Musical episodes serve several purposes: It allows the cast to show off their hidden talents and lets the production crew indulge their latent musical theater nerd. They're also, in many cases, a useful narrative crucible, forcing characters to reveal secrets they'd otherwise never let out. It's an old trick to use the primary colors of a rousing number to drop something deep and dark on an audience. This comes in handy given the number of running storylines in the back of each episode, which get resolved more or less all in one go.Michael Gibson/Paramount+Uhura's opening narration informs us the Enterprise has discovered a large subspace fissure. Spock believes it could be used to speed up communication over long distances, but despite several tries, he and Uhura can't make it work. Not until Pelia suggests they test the system using music, so Uhura fires up Anything Goes and sends it into the ether. Before you can say that's-a-good-macguffin, a large subspace wave hits the ship and sends everyone singing.As this is happening, Pike and Batel - who I can't believe Pike didn't dump after arresting and prosecuting his first officer - argue about holiday destinations. Chapel has received word she's been accepted for a prestigious fellowship with a high-profile academic. She'll be away for a while but declines to share her news with Spock after the fraying of their relationship last week. And, to further complicate matters, James T. Kirk is back on board to shadow Una in preparation for his own promotion. But when they start spouting technobabble as lyrics and feeling the urge to dance, we're straight into an acapella rendition of the theme tune.I've pointed out, too frequently this year, the confidence Strange New Worlds has in its own execution. This is the second time in three weeks that it's not just screwed with its format but also its packaging in the form of its opening credits. It's evidence of a show that knows it has the patience from its audience to play around with its formatting.Urged on by Pike, stuck firmly in his eyebrow-raising sick-of-this-malarkey mode, the team find they're trapped in a state of quantum uncertainty. They're in a universe that follows the rules of a musical, so when emotions are high, people are likely to burst into song. That's bad for La'an, who is struggling to contain her feelings with her alternate-history beau on board, especially since she's prohibited from talking about it. Pike, too, starts to confess his misgivings about the holiday he and Captain Batel have been planning. La'an gets a solo about being emotionally shut off from the rest of the crew, followed soon after with a duet with Una talking about why it's good to open up.The improbability field starts to expand, encompassing more starships in the area and reaching Klingon territory. They soon dispatch a cruiser to shut it down, but the Enterprise crew discover that shooting the fissure will release enough energy to wipe out the quadrant. Uhura posits that, if they're in a musical, their behavior might have to follow the tropes of the genre. Armed with a tricorder, she drags Spock to the bar where he bumps into Chapel, who then dumps him with a full-cast song-and-dance number about the importance of her career. He responds by singing his own solo in engineering in which he talks about his abandonment of logic and reason for love, a mistake he won't make again.La'an, who has spent more and more time with Kirk, decides to open up a little bit only to find her advances rebuffed. Not because he doesn't feel similarly, but because he's in an on-again, off-again relationship with a scientist called Carol. And that Carol is currently pregnant with Kirk's child, who we might not get to see again until Kirk looks a lot more like William Shatner. (This episode has more than a few moments where it's consciously drawing attention to its evolution" into The Original Series.)Spock's judgment may be clouded but Uhura, whose awareness of musical tropes has been key all episode, spots the solution. In order to pop the uncertainty field, the whole crew needs to do a big full-cast finale, but not before Uhura gets her own solo. At Pike's urging, Uhura gets on the ship's PA and inspires the whole crew - complete with dancing redshirts and balletic starship dances to produce a showstopper climax. We even get a blast of the Original Series' theme to underpin their victory, while Spock goes off to smooth things over with the Klingons and get over his split with another round of heavy drinking.Much as the ending is ostensibly happy, with everyone learning the lesson to be more honest and authentic with each other, there's trouble on the horizon. Batel has to cancel her holiday with Pike, she's being sent on a top secret mission which, I'm sure, is our lead in to the finale. Spock's nursing his grief, and the rest of his supersized emotions, while La'an has to deal with the ramifications of her not-quite-requited love.Michael Gibson/Paramount+It's almost pointless to try and judge a musical episode by the standards of its peers given how different it is from the norm. The script, credited to Dana Horgan and Bill Wolkoff, efficiently and effectively works in the musical universe concept without a lot of setup. Demott Downs' direction blends the closed nature of Strange New Worlds' standing sets with the necessary scope a musical demands. And the songs, from Letters to Cleo's Kay Hanley and Tom Polce, are perfectly fine. Musical lovers will have a greater appetite for enjoying each track on a loop, but as a casual enjoyer of the artform, I'm not sure how many would enter my regular Spotify rotation.Obviously, much of the dramatic weight of the episode hangs on the shoulders of the cast members who can sing. Christina Chong, Jess Bush, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck and Celia Rose Gooding all get showpiece numbers and boy, can they all sing. But that's not to shade the names not on that list, especially those who are getting by with the help of autotune. It's hard enough to sing and dance even if you've got years of experience behind you, let alone if you're dropped into the deep end in an acting job. Now, onward to the finale!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-breaks-into-song-130044077.html?src=rss
For all the hype around folding phones, there's plenty of anxiety concerning how well those bendable screens survive long term. Depending on who you ask, they're either weaker than spider silk or hardy enough to make your average lumberjack weep with envy. That's why Sam Rutherford took matters into his own hands, spending the last year running his own durability test. He's been using his Z Fold 4 without a case, leaving its factory-installed screen protector as the only defense.At the dawn of the Z Fold 5, Rutherford is now ready to reveal how well he got on with its predecessor. Turns out that while the frame is now chipped and scratched, the screens still look great," with Samsung's work in this area paying off. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for a similar experiment undertaken on a Z Flip 4, the more pocketable handset in the lineup. In that case, it might be wise to make sure you live close to an authorized service center, so you're not left without a phone for a week at a time.- Dan CooperYou can get these reports delivered daily, direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedAlienware announces a new-look Aurora R16 desktopXbox gamers can now stream directly to DiscordMeta releases an open source AI kit that creates audio from text prompts Google's Chrome updates bring improved search to mobile and simpler desktop downloadsNintendo brings 'Mario Kart 8' and 'Splatoon' for Wii U back online August 3rdByteDance sued for allegedly collecting biometric data without consent The Sonos Move 2 will reportedly offer stereo audio and 24-hour battery lifeThe IRS wants to phase out most IRL tax documents by 2025 AI-assisted cancer screening could cut radiologist workloads in halfChina considers limiting kids' smartphone time to two hours per dayIt's another initiative to reduce smartphone addiction.Draft legislation proposed by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) would further limit phone use for under 18s. It's part of the country's attempts to curb smartphone addiction, which already sees limits on when kids can play games each week. This proposal would see 16- to 18-year-olds get two hours of use per day, while kids from eight to 15 get an hour - hard luck for the under eights, who'll get 40 minutes a day, plus limits on what they can access.Continue Reading.Canon's new security-focused SPAD camera can capture color video in complete darknessIt uses a SPAD (single-photon avalanche diode) sensor.CanonIf you have $25,000 and a passion for nighttime photography then Canon's new MS-500 is the gadget for you. It's a camera that, the company promises, can shoot clear color video in light as low as 0.001 lux, which, for the non-technical among us, is pretty darn dark. This particular unit is designed as a security camera for high-security facilities, but the novel sensor that enables its nighttime powers will, surely, come to other hardware as the technology matures.Continue Reading.Kickstarter projects will soon have to disclose any AI useThe platform is taking a stand against the risks of automated plagiarism.Kickstarter projects submitted on or after August 29th must disclose if they've used AI. The platform's head of trust and safety said the crowdfunding site wants to ensure creators aren't making bank on the back of stolen work. Creators who are using AI will also have to state they have the proper credit and permission to use those outputs.Continue Reading. IBM and NASA teamed up to build the GPT of Earth sciencesAn open-source climate model will leverage millions of terabytes of NASA data.In 2024, NASA expects to generate a quarter million terabytes of data from its Earth science experiments alone. So impossible would it be to wrangle that amount of information that the agency has turned to IBM and HuggingFace for help. The trio has constructed an open-source foundation model, which will form the backbone of an AI to track deforestation, predict crop yields and log greenhouse gas emissions.Continue Reading. X Blue subscribers can now hide their shame and checkmarksMission... accomplished?Imagine getting so worked up at a fraud-prevention tool you spend $44 billion to undermine its use. Now imagine other people being so worked up about that tool that they spend $8 a month to undermine its use. How darkly funny would it be if, having spent all this time, money and effort to get what they perceived as a badge of honor, suddenly realized it wasn't at all. You'd probably laugh if they then all opted to hide the badge they craved for so long, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?Continue Reading. Elon Musk says he'll ask Tim Cook to lower App Store fees for X subscriptionsCan Elon succeed where (checks notes) pretty much everyone else has failed?Good luck with that one, buddy.Continue Reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-are-samsungs-folding-screens-sturdy-enough-111557475.html?src=rss
Elon Musk and X, the site formerly known as Twitter, are in more legal trouble. The Agence France-Presse (AFP) is suing X for not engaging in discussions about payment to the French publisher in exchange for its articles appearing on the platform. In 2019, France passed neighboring rights legislation, extending copyright law to content produced by news publishers, such as text and videos, for two years after release. The law requires any sites that share this work to negotiate with the publishers about remuneration instead of sharing it without compensation for its creators.
No matter the level of success a tech company has seen for certain products, at least one device always fails to meet expectations after launch. Amazon experienced this for its quickly discontinued Fire phone, and Meta is seeing it for everything from disinterest in the Metaverse to, reportedly, Ray-Ban Stories, its smart sunglasses. According to an internal Meta document viewed by The Wall Street Journal, less than ten percent of people with Ray-Ban Stories regularly use the product.Ray-Ban sold about 300,000 of the glasses between their launch in September 2021 and February 2023 - when Meta conducted the report. At that time, there were only 27,000 monthly active users, with the company citing issues such as poor connectivity and issues with battery life. Yes, these people already bought the sunglasses, so that's something for the companies, but the low retention doesn't exactly instill confidence in continual sales. Meta's Reality Labs division, which the Ray-Ban partnership falls under, isn't doing well either, with an almost $8 million loss over the first half of 2023.However, Meta is set to release a new generation of Ray-Ban Stories in either the fall or spring. Apparently, the new glasses will have improved battery life and cameras and be available in more than the current three sunglass models. While the first generation is available for $299, there's no word yet on how the next version of Ray-Ban Stories will be priced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-memo-admits-its-ray-ban-stories-smart-glasses-arent-getting-much-face-time-094549256.html?src=rss
IK Multimedia is back with a refresh for its well-regarded Uno Synth Pro flagship keyboard, the Uno Synth Pro X. Just like the original, this is a three-oscillator paraphonic instrument with plenty of bells and whistles, but with some new features to set it apart. The Pro X features an entirely new layout and a unique sound engine. It also ships with some new effects, including true analog overdrive, shimmer reverb and a vibrato/chorus based on the famous Uni-Vibe pedal.All told, there are over ten studio-quality" effects and you can stack them for unique sound design options, via three modulation slots. The dual-filter design and three-oscillator sound engine allows for plenty of sonic possibilities, and there's 256 preset slots to save your creations. Additionally, the Pro X boasts a 64-step paraphonic sequencer, with step and real-time recording options, and a 10-mode arpeggiator with a pattern designer. This arpeggiator allows for your typical legato, mono and paraphonic modes, but even includes a brand-new bassline mode.One big change over the original Synth Pro is that this version is extremely light, weighing less than a kilogram, and intended for portable use. This is fantastic news for those who like fiddling with synthesizers on airplanes or in the bathroom, but it comes with a cost. There's no actual keybed here, so you have to use the integrated multi-function buttons or plug it into a MIDI keyboard. There are many more hands-on control options available, however, when compared to the OG model.On the topic of connectivity, the Synth Pro X offers much to be excited about. There's USB-C, 5-pin DIN MIDI, balanced stereo outputs and a dedicated stereo headphone out. These connections make it easy to integrate with other synthesizers, effects processors, DAWs and just about anything else. Once plugged into a computer, the expanded sound editor opens up in your DAW of choice for further adjustments.IK Multimedia's Synth Pro X can be powered via USB-C or the included standard PSU. You can order one right now directly from the company for $500.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uno-synth-pro-x-offers-high-end-sound-design-in-a-portable-package-090003950.html?src=rss
Nintendo just announced its highest first quarter profit ever thanks to sales of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The company earned 185.44 billion yen ($1.3 billion) on sales of 461.34 billion yen ($3.2 billion), easily battering its previous fiscal Q1 record of 144.7 billion set in 2020, the company revealed in its latest earnings report.The numbers on those two properties are impressive. Around the world, 168.10 million people watched The Super Mario Bros. Movie, netting the company $1.349 billion as of July 26th - the highest ever for an original film based on a video game, and the second-highest for an animated film.Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold 18.51 million copies since it launched in May, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 1.67 million units last quarter. "Sell-through of this one title [Zelda] constitutes approximately half of the first-party software sold this fiscal year," Nintendo said.Switch sales were actually up over the same quarter last year to 3.91 million in the last quarter (compared to 3.43 million units last year), with 2.83 million of those being the more expensive OLED model. That rise might be powered in part by Zelda, as buyers sought either a new or better console to play the game. The company has also continually stated that its goal is to put more than one Switch in every household, and could be starting to deliver on that. At the beginning of its fiscal year, Nintendo called its sales forecast of 15 million Switch consoles "a bit of a stretch," but is on track to achieve that number so far.It may be tough for Nintendo to maintain that momentum, though. Upcoming games include the side-scroller Super Mario Bros Wonder (October 20th), Detective Pikachu Returns (October 6th), WarioWare: Move It! (November 3rd) and Super Mario RPG with updated graphics on November 17th. There are no marquee games in that list like Breath of the Wild, though, and sales of that game (and movie profits) are bound to keep dropping off.As for the Switch, it's now six years old, and Nintendo has yet to announce its replacement. Rumors have swirled that a next-gen Switch arrive in 2024, but none have much substance behind them.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-sees-record-first-quarter-profit-thanks-to-zelda-and-the-mario-movie-075718094.html?src=rss
X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, is now letting users download videos from its website, as long as a couple of criteria are met. First, the creator must explicitly allow downloads for the content they post. Also, the ability to save videos from the website is exclusively available to verified users comprised mostly of people paying for Blue subscription. Elon Musk has announced the new feature on his account and explained that a verified user can download content by tapping the ellipsis (...) menu on the upper right corner of the screen when a video is in full screen mode. Musk also said that X will soon make it easy to download videos on mobile simply by tapping and holding the content on the screen.Previously, people have had to use to third-party websites and apps to be able to save videos. Of course, non-paying users still have to use those tools if they want to download content from X. That doesn't come as a surprise, seeing as the company has been releasing new features specifically for paying members while making the website less usable for the rest of its userbase. It announced in July that it will limit the number of DMs non-paying users can send to address its spam issues, and it also previously limited the number of posts non-verified users can see to 600 a day.Meanwhile, X gave verified users the ability to publish posts with up to 25,000 characters and allowed them to post videos up to three hours in length. More recently, it also gave Blue subscribers the option to hide their blue checkmark in case they don't want to make it obvious that they're paying for the service. For those interested to see how X has evolved since Elon Musk took over Twitter, company CEO Linda Yaccarino has just published the list of changes it has implemented right here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-blue-subscribers-can-now-download-videos-from-the-website-065336710.html?src=rss
Meta has teamed up with UFC to bring live mixed martial arts (MMA) in VR to Horizon Worlds, the company announced in a Quest Blog post seen by The Verge. The experience, launching in November, will let UFC Fight Pass subscribers (via Xtadium and YBVR streaming) watch MMA action at 4K resolution and 180-degree VR capture on Horizon Worlds. "Enjoy the action alone or with friends and switch camera angles throughout the fight to get the best view of every matchup," Meta wrote.Users will also be able to discuss UFC with other Horizon Worlds users, check out a virtual version of the Octagon and compete in single player and multiplayer in-world games to gain unlockable rewards - all with the goal of becoming a UFC "Hall of Famer."The new experience is one of a number of ways Meta is attempting to lure users to Horizon Worlds. Recently, the company added Quests to keep users returning to the site, including mini-games like Giant Paddle Mini Golf,Arena Clash and Bad Roommates. It also recently introduced Rumble World, the first of many next-gen Horizon Worlds games featuring improved graphics and more complex gameplay.Meta said it latched onto UFC due to the "engagement and passion of this audience," noting that fans enjoy not just the fights but also sharing the experience with other fans. "We tested this technology successfully with a handful of MMA events last year, and now we're going further," says MMA chief content officer Craig Borsari. "We're just scratching the surface of how we can use this technology to create greater fan engagement and grow this sport."UFC also makes sense on Meta given CEO Mark Zuckerberg's apparent interest in the sport (though his cage match with Elon Musk seems doubtful at the moment). In any case, live sports may be a potent way to attract new users to the reportedly flagging service, so it'll be interesting to see if Meta adds others along with UFC.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-launching-a-ufc-themed-vr-experience-in-horizon-worlds-060904144.html?src=rss
Now might be your chance if you've been in the market for a new gaming computer but haven't found the right one. Alienware has announced the launch of its Aurora R16 desktop, an updated version of its flagship computer. Though the Aurora R16 is being released less than a year after the Aurora R15, it features a different design and features than its predecessor.At a quick glance, you'll notice that the line's former triangle shape is gone in favor of the rectangular Legend 3 design Alienware rolled out with its gaming laptops earlier this year. Yet, the Aurora 16 is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor while maintaining the same internal volume and, thus, upgradability. It also debuts the Alienware Command Center for desktops.Additional features of Alienware's Aurora R16 desktop include 20 percent lower acoustics, seven percent lower temperatures and up to ten percent lower CPU than the Aurora R15. It also brings larger air intakes and exhausts, with a 54.5 percent larger open ratio. Plus, the Aurora R16 has two M.2 PCIe slots providing up to 8TB of storage and supports Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 Gbps ethernet. Alienware's Aurora R16 desktop is available now for $1,750. It will offer RTX 4070 or RTX 4070 Ti in the US and Canada, while European and Asian markets will also have RTX 3050 and RTX 4080.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alienware-announces-a-new-look-aurora-r16-desktop-070153737.html?src=rss
NASA estimates that its Earth science missions will generate around a quarter million terabytes of data in 2024 alone. In order for climate scientists and the research community efficiently dig through these reams of raw satellite data, IBM, HuggingFace and NASA have collaborated to build an open-source geospatial foundation model that will serve as the basis for a new class of climate and Earth science AIs that can track deforestation, predict crop yields and rack greenhouse gas emissions.For this project, IBM leveraged its recently-released Watsonx.ai to serve as the foundational model using a year's worth of NASA's Harmonized Landsat Sentinel-2 satellite data (HLS). That data is collected by the ESA's pair of Sentinel-2 satellites, which are built to acquire high resolution optical imagery over land and coastal regions in 13 spectral bands.For it's part, HuggingFace is hosting the model on its open-source AI platform. According to IBM, by fine-tuning the model on labeled data for flood and burn scar mapping," the team was able to improve the model's performance 15 percent over the current state of the art using half as much data."The essential role of open-source technologies to accelerate critical areas of discovery such as climate change has never been clearer," Sriram Raghavan, VP of IBM Research AI, said in a press release. By combining IBM's foundation model efforts aimed at creating flexible, reusable AI systems with NASA's repository of Earth-satellite data, and making it available on the leading open-source AI platform, Hugging Face, we can leverage the power of collaboration to implement faster and more impactful solutions that will improve our planet."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ibm-and-nasa-teamed-up-to-build-the-gpt-of-earth-sciences-040116377.html?src=rss
Elon Musk says he plans to ask Tim Cook to adjust the App Store fees X pays on subscriptions as part of a plan to boost creators earnings on the platform that was, until recently, known as Twitter. The remarks are the latest example of Musk calling out the App Store tax" Apple takes from in-app purchases.Musk framed the ask as part of a broader effort to help creators get paid more for paying subscribers. While we had previously said that would keep nothing for the [first] 12 months, then 10%, we are amending that policy to keeps nothing forever, until payout exceeds $100k, then 10%," he tweeted. Apple does take 30%, but I will speak with @tim_cook and see if that can be adjusted to be just 30% of what keeps in order to maximize what creators receive."
Microsoft is rolling out Windows Copilot in preview today. Windows 11 Insiders in the Beta Channel can install a preview build that offers the first semi-public availability for the AI-infused sidebar announced at Build 2023. This first preview focuses on our integrated UI experience, with additional functionality coming down the road in future previews," the company wrote in a blog post today.Windows Copilot is a system-level version of the browser-based Copilot the company began previewing in February. Microsoft views the tool - also coming to Microsoft Office and Teams - as representing a monumental shift in how customers interact with Microsoft software. AI is going to be the single largest driver of innovation for Windows in the years to come," Panos Panay, Microsoft Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, told Engadget's Devindra Hardawar in an interview at Build 2023. It's going to change the way you work, change your interaction models to make it easier. It's going to understand so much about what you need."Microsoft says the preview's controlled feature rollout" will hold back some of Copilot's full functionality for future builds. The company also cautions that new Windows Insiders joining the Beta Channel today won't be able to install this update. It says even some established Windows Insiders may not see the build immediately, but it will increase the rollout in the coming weeks." The rollout follows Microsoft's release of a Copilot Preview in late June for developers running preview builds.MicrosoftOnce you have the correct preview installed (Build 22631.2129 or higher), you can activate Windows Copilot by clicking the corresponding button on the taskbar (a blue ribbon ring with a yellow PRE" badge) or typing the shortcut Win + C. Windows Copilot will appear as a side bar docked to the right where it won't overlap with your desktop content and will run unobstructed alongside your open app windows, allowing you to interact with Windows Copilot anytime you need," the company wrote.Microsoft listed some examples of queries Copilot can handle in this early stage. For example, you can ask it to perform basic Windows tasks like Change to dark mode" or Turn on do not disturb." In addition, it can summarize active websites in the Edge browser, compose stories and generate AI art. The company says an ellipses button at the top right of the Copilot sidebar lets you submit feedback.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsofts-ai-infused-sidebar-rolls-out-to-windows-11-beta-testers-211546573.html?src=rss
Keychron is one of the better-known names in the customizable keyboard space, but it hasn't directly targeted gamers - until now, that is. The company has launched a gaming division, Lemokey, whose first product is the crowdfunded L3 keyboard. The full-length peripheral supports a 2.4GHz wireless connection with a responsive 1,000Hz polling rate, but the real attraction is a tough, customizable aluminum body that can reportedly survive the rigors of competitive gaming.You can choose from three different keycap color schemes, remap any key and create macros for both any key command layer as well as a dedicated macro column. You can easily remove and replace components to tailor them to your liking. The Lemokey L3 can pair with up to three devices over Bluetooth 5.1, but there's also a wired option if low latency is your main priority.The company currently expects to deliver the Lemokey L3 in October. You need to pledge at least $189 for the barebones kit (no caps or switches), but you'll more realistically want to commit $209 for a fully assembled version. The project has already met its funding goals.The L3 won't be appealing if you prefer 60 percent keyboards or are otherwise more interested in space saving than a compact footprint. This won't necessarily appeal to top-tier esports players, either, as they may insist on a wired link or use a favorite design. For many other gamers, though, Lemokey's offering might strike a balance between personalization and performance.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/keychrons-first-gaming-keyboard-is-the-customizable-lemokey-l3-204239893.html?src=rss
A newly published study in the the Lancet Oncology journal has found that the use of AI in mammogram cancer screening can safely cut radiologist workloads nearly in half without risk of increasing false-positive results. In effect, the study found that the AI's recommendations were on par with those of two radiologists working together.AI-supported mammography screening resulted in a similar cancer detection rate compared with standard double reading, with a substantially lower screen-reading workload, indicating that the use of AI in mammography screening is safe," the study found.The study was performed by a research team out of Lund University in Sweden and, accordingly, followed 80,033 Swedish women (average age of 54) for just over a year in 2021-2022 . Of the 39,996 patients that were randomly assigned AI-empowered breast cancer screenings, 28 percent or 244 tests returned screen-detected cancers. Of the other 40,024 patients that received conventional cancer screenings, just 25 percent, or 203 tests, returned screen-detected cancers.Of those extra 41 cancers detected by the AI side, 19 turned out to be invasive. Both the AI-empowered and conventional screenings ran a 1.5 percent false positive rate. Most impressively, radiologists on the the AI side had to look at 36,886 fewer screen readings than their counterparts, a 44 percent reduction in their workload.These promising interim safety results should be used to inform new trials and program-based evaluations to address the pronounced radiologist shortage in many countries, but they are not enough on their own to confirm that AI is ready to be implemented in mammography screening," lead author, Dr Kristina Lang, warned in a release. We still need to understand the implications on patients' outcomes, especially whether combining radiologists' expertise with AI can help detect interval cancers that are often missed by traditional screening, as well as the cost-effectiveness of the technology."Cancer detection has been an aspirational goal for computer vision researchers and AI companies for years now. I mean, who doesn't want to be the company to build the tricorder that infallibly spots cancerous growths in their earliest stages? Machine vision systems designed for these screenings have improved steadily in recent years and in specific cases have shown to be as reliable as human clinicians, with the likes of IBM, Google, MIT and NVIDIA investing in similar cancer screening research in recent years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-assisted-cancer-screening-could-cut-radiologist-workloads-in-half-193427969.html?src=rss
Most taxpayers will have the option of going entirely paperless starting with the 2024 filing season. The IRS said today that it aims to achieve paperless processing for all tax returns" by 2025. The agency says the IRS Paperless Processing Initiative will eliminate up to 200 million pieces of paper annually, cut processing times in half and expedite refunds by several weeks." The project is funded by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.The IRS expects the changes will solve the annoyance of transmitting digital documents in some cases but still having to mail paper ones in others. For decades, taxpayers had to respond to notices for things like document verification through the mail, and IRS employees had to manually enter numbers from paper returns into computers one digit at a time, creating significant delays for taxpayers and challenges for IRS staff," the US Treasury Department wrote today.Starting next year (2024 filling season), taxpayers can digitally submit all correspondence - including many non-tax forms. The IRS says at least 20 additional e-File tax forms will be available digitally starting then. It estimates that over 94 percent of individual filers will never have to mail another tax form or document. The initiative will spare taxpayers from sending approximately 125 million paper documents annually.By the 2025 filling season, an additional 150 of the most used non-tax forms will be available in digital, mobile-friendly formats." (The IRS cites research showing that around 15 percent of Americans rely solely on their phones for internet access.) It says all paper-filed tax and information returns - an estimated 76 million paper documents per year - will be processed digitally as soon as it receives them. Similarly, half of paper-submitted correspondence, non-tax forms and notice responses (another 60 million paper docs) will be recorded digitally. Finally, the IRS also plans to digitize up to one billion historical documents, making accessing older filing data easier for customer service agents and taxpayers.The IRS says its Paperless Processing Initiative will help eliminate errors from manual data entry, speed up processing and let the agency pour more resources into taxpayer support. Customer service employees do not currently have easy access to the information from paper returns and other correspondence submitted by mail," the Treasury Department wrote. Digitization and data extraction will give them access to that information they need to better serve taxpayers."The agency also expects digitization will help them to hold billionaires and corporations accountable. When combined with an improved data platform, digitization and data extraction will enable data scientists to implement advanced analytics and pattern recognition methods to pursue cases that can help address the tax gap, including wealthy individuals and large corporations using complex structures to evade taxes they owe."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-irs-wants-to-phase-out-most-irl-tax-documents-by-2025-192105265.html?src=rss
The original Sonos Move stood out as one of the few fully connected portable speakers when it debuted in 2019, but technology has moved on since then - and so, apparently, has Sonos. The Vergeclaims to have leaked details of a Move 2 speaker that promises major upgrades to the outdoor-friendly device. Most notably, it should upgrade from mono to stereo sound. If you thought the first version didn't sound as good as conventional speakers, you may be happier this time.The new speaker's battery life reportedly leaps from 10 hours on the Move to a full 24 hours of playback You could easily host an all-day party without plugging in. The power pack is said to still be replaceable, and reduced idle power consumption could make it easier to use the speaker over the course of a weekend.There will reportedly be smaller but still useful upgrades. Like the Roam, the Move 2 will let you share Bluetooth audio across the home. Bluetooth 5.0 and WiFi 6 support will also help the speaker keep up with modern devices. You'll need a USB-C adapter (as with the Era 100) for line-in audio, but the same port can also charge your phone during a camping trip. The IP56 dust and water resistance hasn't changed, but that's still good enough to survive the rain or a windy day.Other touches may include revised controls, a mic cutoff switch and a detachable power adapter on the base station. You can't use Google Assistant for obvious reasons, but Alexa and Sonos' own voice controls would be available.Sonos is said to be launching the Move 2 at the end of September for $449, or $50 more than its predecessor. That makes it as expensive as the spatial audio-capable Era 300. As before, though, the portability might justify the premium. You're buying a speaker that can be useful in both your living room and the backyard, saving you the trouble of getting two devices as long as you're willing to haul a speaker around.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-sonos-move-2-will-reportedly-offer-stereo-audio-and-24-hour-battery-life-181950125.html?src=rss
The unconventional sports sim What the Golf is officially coming to PS4 and PS5 consoles later this year. The release is set to include all current updates, which is always nice, and has been optimized for Sony consoles. This includes haptic-based DualSense support so you can really feel the impact of striking a ball, a cat or an entire planet toward a hole (it's a weird and funny game.)What the Golf takes the basic notions of a golf sim and upends them entirely. There are plenty of ludicrous golf-adjacent minigames and the rules change on a dime, leading to hilarious multiplayer matchups. Some levels take you to space, while others transform the golf ball into an office chair, among many other objects. The absurdity on display has made the game a hit, even among those who have little interest in golf.The game originally released on Apple Arcade, but was eventually ported to the Nintendo Switch. To that end, the Switch version is getting a beefy update tomorrow, August 3rd, that features a crossover with murder/snitch simulator Among Us. The update includes a new overworld and 35 new levels. These levels already launched for Apple Arcade back in April, but this is the first time they'll be available on a dedicated gaming console. The PC version is also getting some Among Us love.Developer Triband has also announced seasonal updates dropping over the course of the next year. These will include new stages and other surprises, coinciding with holidays like Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. All versions of the game will have access to these free updates, including Switch, PC, PS4 and PS5. It all starts with the Halloween-themed Beware of the Bogeyman, which is available from October 23rd until November 5th.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile-hit-what-the-golf-is-coming-to-playstation-soon-175141459.html?src=rss
Activision is bringing dogs (and one Dogg) back to Call of Duty. A decade after the debut of Riley, the faithful canine companion in Call of Duty: Ghosts, you can now take Merlin, the good boy pictured above, with you for quality companionship and savage finishing moves in season five (BlackCell) of CoD: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0.Activision says Merlin the Dog is an optional companion in multiplayer, battle Royale and DMZ modes. [Merlin] provides the unparalleled benefit of companionship along with a devastating Finishing Move," the announcement blog post reads. Strangely, players strap the canine to their belts when he isn't in use. You can glimpse one of Merlin's brutal finishes in the trailer below.Activision stresses that tactical pets" like Merlin can't be harmed in the game. And since he's only there for finishing moves and friendship, he doesn't appear to provide a competitive advantage.ActivisionIf you're less into canines and more into D-O-Double Gs, Activision also has you covered. Snoop Dogg returns to the franchise, joining fellow hip-hop powerhouse Nicki Minaj, after his last appearance as an add-on for Call of Duty: Vanguard in 2022. A new season five operator bundle (including two skins) lets you play as the Long Beach rapper and cannabis connoisseur with a loadout that includes a Toke Force 141" SMG, Snoop Hustle" finishing move and High Rider" hatchback vehicle skin.Season five of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 is available beginning today across all platforms. The BlackCell tier of Battle Pass, required to enjoy canine companionship, costs $30.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dog-of-duty-makes-a-triumphant-return-in-modern-warfare-ii-173538176.html?src=rss
ByteDance is facing a class-action lawsuit over claims that its CapCut video-editing app is vacuuming up data from its more than 200 million active users without consent. Among other things, the lawsuit, which was filed in Illinois, claims that CapCut violates the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) by collecting data like face scans and voiceprints without informing users or getting express permission.The app also allegedly collects details about a user's location, date of birth and gender as well as their photos and videos. Much of this is said to be in service of delivering targeted ads. In addition, the suit claims that the app is capable of harvesting data from user devices, including the MAC address and SIM serial number.The lawsuit, which The Record unearthed, asserts that CapCut's privacy policy was designed to make it hard for people to understand or to give the app meaningful, express consent." One plaintiff who started using the app while in the seventh grade was allegedly able to use CapCut without having to sign up for an account, reviewing a privacy policy or having parental consent.Moreover, the suit points out that, since ByteDance is headquartered in Beijing, the company may be compelled to share CapCut data with the Chinese government. It claims that a former ByteDance official revealed publicly that the Chinese Communist Party can use a backdoor channel code" to access data on users based outside of the country, including those in the US.ByteDance, of course, owns TikTok, which has long been the subject of claims that the Chinese government can access US user data. The company has been trying to convince US regulators that TikTok doesn't pose a threat to national security. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew claimed at a congressional hearing earlier this year that "ByteDance is not an agent of China or any other country."Since last year, TikTok has been routing all US user data to Oracle servers based in the country. That initiative, called Project Texas, also included the goal of removing US users' private TikTok data from ByteDance's own data centers.Nonetheless, Montana legislators have passed a bill to ban TikTok outright in the state. Many other jurisdictions, including the federal government, have prohibited the app on nearly all state-owned devices. The Justice Department is reportedly looking into claims that four ByteDance employees used TikTok to snoop on the locations of two US journalists.The class-action suit asks a district court to block ByteDance from sending CapCut user data and content to China, and from collecting users' biometric information and other data without consent. The plaintiffs asked the court to compel ByteDance to delete any user data and content it unlawfully obtained through CapCut as well. In addition, the suit seeks unspecified damages.Engadget has asked ByteDance for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bytedance-sued-for-allegedly-collecting-biometric-data-without-consent-172411924.html?src=rss
It took several months, but you can finally play the Wii U versions of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon online. Nintendo has confirmed that both titles will once again be available for multiplayer as of August 3rd. The company has fixed the security vulnerability that prompted the shutdown of online service in March.Nintendo still hasn't detailed the flaw. However, enthusiast and tinkerer OatmealDome claims the last-gen console is vulnerable to an "ENLBufferPwn" attack that lets intruders take over the console when it goes online. The company reportedly fixed the bug last year for affected Switch titles well as Mario Kart 7, but didn't make a similar effort for the Wii U versions until now.You'll need to update both games to resume online play. The months-long wait isn't completely surprising when the Switch has been Nintendo's current system for several years, and is clearly more popular. Still, this is good news if you're not in a rush to replace your Wii U - you won't have to stop using the older system if you still enjoy the affected titles.With that said, there's little doubt that Nintendo wants to wean gamers off the earlier console. The company shut down the Wii U eShop this spring, limiting users to re-downloading existing purchases. Unless you grab physical copies, your game library is frozen in time unless you move to the Switch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-brings-mario-kart-8-and-splatoon-for-wii-u-back-online-august-3rd-165434085.html?src=rss
Google has reportedly been working for years to separate the Chrome browser from Chrome OS, that's how entangled they are, and it looks like this project is ready to bear fruit. The solution seems to be a new-ish standalone Linux-based browser, named Lacros, that would replace the current Chrome OS-based browser. What's more? Lacros is nearly ready for primetime, according to About Chromebooks. Why does this matter? As it stands, you need a full Chrome OS update to make any changes to the browser. This isn't the most efficient means to issue browser patches, thus the years-long search for a decoupling solution. Additionally, older Chromebooks lose access to system updates, so this move could potentially make these machines more secure.You can already use Lacros, but it launches alongside the built-in Chrome browser and requires a fair bit of know-how to get going. About Chromebooks found some small code changes that suggest that Lacros is set to release as the default browser for Chromebooks, potentially eliminating the current browser altogether. This means that new Chromebooks would feature Lacros as the browser directly out of the box, allowing browser-specific patches and updates without involving the operating system.Also, these changes look to be coming soon, like real soon. All points indicate the very next system update, Chrome OS 116, will bring Lacros into the mainstream. Chrome OS updates hit around once a month, so probably at the end of August or the beginning of September. It remains unclear if the system update will make Lacros the default browser or if it'll just remove restrictions to using Lacros instead of the default browser.In the meantime, recent Chrome OS updates have included Android app streaming and a robust video editor.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-could-be-taking-the-chrome-out-of-chromeos-164057852.html?src=rss
Sometimes a revamp is nothing more than bells and whistles, and other times it completely changes your experience. Google is gunning for the second, announcing new updates for Chrome on mobile and desktop that focus on integration and efficiency. New mobile features concentrate on improving your search process, while Chrome for desktop is streamlining how you download and access files from the web.On Chrome mobile, a new webpage should now show a category called "Trending searches," and as you type, ten versus the previous six recommendations will appear. Similarly, say you're on a site about the best pizza places in New York - if you click on the URL up top, related searches will appear below in a new category called "Related to this page." You can also tap on a word in that article, like a neighborhood in New York it discusses, and use Touch to Search to see other topics you want to explore, such as hotels in that area. Touch to Search is exclusive to Android and has already existed in browsers as a way to find specific words.As for your Chrome for desktop, say goodbye to the clunky download bar that pops up at the bottom of your screen (and having to close it yourself). Moving forward, downloads will appear on the top right of your browser, just next to your account image. When you go to save something, a circle will appear around the icon, turning blue as it finishes the download. You can click the button to view anything saved in the last 24 hours, open the folder containing a specific file and retry, pause, resume or cancel your download. While this will be the default placement for everyone moving forward, it might have been live for some people already. Google will still warn you if a download seems suspicious and let you drag and drop downloads as needed.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-chrome-updates-bring-improved-search-to-mobile-and-simpler-desktop-downloads-160003908.html?src=rss
Meta is making it easier for artists and sound designers to produce audio using only AI. The Facebook owner has released an open source AudioCraft kit that bundles three existing generative AI models for creating sounds from text descriptions. AudioGen and MusicGen respectively produce sound effects and music, while EnCodec compresses sounds to produce higher-quality results. A musician or sound designer might have everything they need to compose pieces.The release includes pre-trained AudioGen models for those who want to start quickly, and tinkerers will have access to the entire AudioCraft code and model weighting. The open source debut gives pros and researchers a chance to train the models using their own data, Meta says. All the pre-trained models use either public or Meta-owned material, so there's no chance of copyright disputes.The tech firm characterizes AudioCraft as a way to make generative AI audio simpler and more accessible. Where AI-produced images and text have been popular, Meta believes sound has lagged "a bit behind." Existing projects tend to be complicated and frequently closed off. In theory, the new kit gives creators the opportunity to shape their own models and otherwise stretch what's possible.This isn't the only open text-to-audio AI on the market. Google opened up its MusicLM model in May. Meta's system also isn't designed for everyday users - you'll still need to be technically inclined to use AudioCraft properly. This is more for research, the company says. The developers are also trying to improve the performance and control methods for these models, expanding their potential.Even in its current state, though, AudioCraft may hint at the future of AI's role in music. While you won't necessarily see artists using AI to completely replace their own creativity (even experimenters like Holly Herndon are still highly involved), they're getting more tools that let them create backing tracks, samples and other elements with relatively little effort.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-releases-an-open-source-ai-kit-that-creates-audio-from-text-prompts-152026368.html?src=rss
It's about to get easier to stream your favorite console games: Discord has announced it's rolling out Stream to Discord for Xbox, allowing you to stream directly from your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One. This news marks the first implementation of a console streaming directly to Discord, which has only been available for PC and mobile gamers. Xbox has typically received new Discord features before its competitor Playstation, such as last year's update allowing gamers to connect directly to Discord Voice channels.If you haven't already, you'll need to connect your Xbox to Discord in the Connections menu on your desktop or mobile app - just click on the Xbox logo and sign into your Microsoft account. You can stream right from a Voice channel by opening the Parties & Chats tab on your Xbox, choosing Discord, and then picking the channel you want to join. From there, all you need to do is click "Stream your game" whenever you want to start broadcasting your game. Stream to Discord for Xbox is also available in one-on-one or group DMs by clicking "transfer to Xbox" while on the call. Then, just like in a channel, you can choose to stream your game to your friends. Nitro subscribers will notice their streams appear in HD and up to 1080p.Stream to Discord is now available for Xbox Insiders and will be rolling out "soon" to all Xbox players. The Xbox Insider Hub app is available for anyone to download through the Xbox store. Discord also claims they "are far from finished" with their Xbox integration and will have more announcements later in the year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-gamers-can-now-stream-directly-to-discord-150045129.html?src=rss
With artificial intelligence becoming increasingly prominent, Kickstarter wants you to know if and how it's being used in any projects on the platform. The company will soon require creators to disclose any use of AI in their projects. The policy will apply to every project that's submitted on or after August 29th.We want to make sure that any project that is funded through Kickstarter includes human creative input and properly credits and obtains permission for any artist's work that it references," Kickstarter's director of trust and safety Susannah Page-Katz wrote in a blog post. The policy requires creators to be transparent and specific about how they use AI in their projects because when we're all on the same page about what a project entails, it builds trust and sets the project up for success."The project submission process will soon include a new set of AI-related questions. Creators will have to disclose if their project generates outputs using AI, if it primarily concerns the development of generative AI tech or if it uses AI in another way. They'll need to reveal which parts of their projects feature entirely original work.Kickstarter will also ask creators to state whether they have permission to use works or data that are employed in AI-generated aspects of their projects. They'll need to provide a sense of how their sources of data deal with consent and credit. "If the sources don't have processes or safeguards in place to manage consent, such as through an opt-out or opt-in mechanism, then Kickstarter is unlikely to allow the project," Page-Katz wrote.If creators don't properly disclose their use of AI during the submission process, Kickstarter may suspend the project. Those who try to bypass Kickstarter's policies or purposefully misrepresent their project won't be allowed to submit another one.Human moderators will review submissions and, if they're accepted, Kickstarter will disclose any use of AI in a new section on applicable project pages in the creator's own words. The company suggests its approach will help mitigate the community's concerns over AI. It formulated the policy with the help of input from its staff, creators and backers, as well as "other platform leaders." AI technologies will keep evolving quickly and as such, Kickstarter plans to revisit the policy and modify it if necessary.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/kickstarter-projects-will-soon-have-to-disclose-any-ai-use-145100394.html?src=rss
China might put further limits on kids' smartphone use. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has proposed draft rules that would cap the phone time of children under 18 to a maximum of two hours per day. That's only for 16- and 17-year-olds, too. Youth between eight and 15 would be limited to one hour per day, while those under eight would have 40 minutes.The draft would also bar any use between 10PM and 6AM. Phones would need to have an easy-to-access mode that lets parents restrict what kids see and permit internet providers to show age-appropriate content. Children under three would be limited to songs and other forms of audio, while those 12 and up can see educational and news material. There would be exceptions for regulated educational content and emergency services.As with previous measures, the proposal is meant to curb addictive behaviour in children. The Chinese government is concerned prolonged use of mobile devices, games and services may be detrimental to kids' development. The country already limits young people to three hours of online video game time per week, and then only on weekends and public holidays.The draft is still open to public consultation and isn't guaranteed to pass. There are also questions about implementation. CNBCnotes it isn't clear whether hardware manufacturers or operating system developers are responsible for implementing the kids mode. While Apple would have to change the iPhone's parental controls in China regardless of this distinction, involving the OS developer might require that Google make changes, not just vendors like Oppo or Xiaomi.The rules would also have a significant effect for Chinese app developers like ByteDance (responsible for TikTok and its China-native counterpart Douyin) and Tencent (the maker of WeChat and many games). They may have to design apps and tailor content around these time limits.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/china-considers-limiting-kids-smartphone-time-to-two-hours-per-day-134708060.html?src=rss
When Samsung released the original Galaxy Fold, it was about as durable as a Faberge egg. But over the years, the company has made a number of changes to reduce the fragility of its flagship foldable phone. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 featured a redesigned hinge that prevented dirt from getting inside, while the Z Fold 3 added IPX8 water resistance and a stronger Armor Aluminum Chassis. And last year, the Z Fold 4 brought a more durable main screen and a new adhesive designed to keep its factory-installed screen protector more firmly in place.That last one is a biggie because after owning a Z Fold 2 and a Z Fold 3, I found that the screen protectors on both phones started bubbling after six to eight months. This weakness is a concern for anyone thinking about buying an $1,800 foldable phone - especially when you consider that Samsung recommends that any repairs are done by an authorized service center. But as some who really likes foldable phones, I bought my own Z Fold 4 anyways and used it for a year. Here's how well it held up.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetI should mention that I've never put the phone in a case or used any other protective accessories like skins or sleeves. Despite being naked the whole time, the phone has done a decent job of withstanding typical daily abuse. Sure, there are some scratches and bare spots where paint has flaked off and a few dents from the phone being dropped or falling out of a pocket. But that's sort of expected for a phone with no additional protection and both the front and back glass still look great.More importantly, its flexible main screen looks practically as good as the day I got it. The screen protector is still sitting flat, there are no dead pixels or other blemishes and the hinge feels as sturdy as ever. All told, I'm pretty impressed considering some of the problems I encountered with previous generations. That said, while the pre-installed screen protector hasn't started bubbling, there is one tiny spot along the top edge at the crease where you can see that it has started to (ever so slightly) separate from the display. So far, this hasn't caused any issues. However, if past experience is any indication, this could cause the screen protector to start bubbling down the line.Still, after claiming it switched to a new, more sticky adhesive to the Z Fold 4's factory-installed screen protector in place, at least on my phone, Samsung's tweak seems to have had at least some effect. Is the problem completely solved? No, not quite. Remember, this is just a single example, and it's hard to account for things like the milder winter we've had this year, and chillier weather sometimes caused issues for Z Fold and Z Flip owners.Also, while my Z Fold 4 has aged rather nicely, the screen protector on Engadget's executive editor Aaron Souppouris' Z Flip 4 has not fared nearly as well. He says the screen on his device was basically pristine for the first nine months. But after that, bubbles began to form and grew larger and larger until he removed the protector entirely and began using the phone with its naked flexible display.It's important to mention that Samsung instructs Z Flip and Z Fold owners not to use their devices without a screen protector. If you do remove it, you're supposed to get it replaced as soon as possible. If you're lucky, that can be as simple as finding a local Best Buy or uBreakiFix location and spending half an hour without your phone, and thankfully, Samsung offers one free screen protector replacement on both the Z Flip and Z Fold lines. Unfortunately, if you live in a remote area or just don't have a nearby service center, you may need to rely on a mail-in repair, potentially leaving you without a phone for a couple of weeks or more. And for a lot of people, that's not a reasonable option.However, after talking to a number of Galaxy Z Flip and Z Fold owners who have removed their screen protectors, that seems to be merely a precaution. It's totally possible to use a foldable phone without a screen protector just like you can on a regular handset. But given the more delicate nature of flexible displays (which are largely made of plastic instead of glass), the risk factor is higher. And with flexible screens costing a lot more to replace - up to $599 depending on the specific model - you don't need a galaxy brain-sized noggin to understand why you might want to heed Samsung's warnings. The counterpoint to that is because a foldable phone's screen is protected by the rest of the device when closed, it's only really vulnerable when you're using it, as opposed to when it's simply resting in a pocket or bag.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetSo what's the big takeaway? I think Samsung's new adhesive has made a bit of a difference because, even in the case of Aaron's Z Flip, it lasted longer than both of my previous Z Folds before the screen protector started bubbling. Even so, the screen protectors on Samsung's foldable still require a bit more babying than a standard glass brick. This sort of fragility may be a deal-breaker for some, and understandably so. Thankfully, I live near multiple repair centers and I'm prepared to use my foldable without a screen protector - even though that's not advised.For me, the ability to have a screen that expands when I want to watch a movie or multitask is worth the slightly reduced durability. But either way, this is something you need to consider before buying a foldable phone. In some ways, it's like owning a car with a convertible roof, because while they're a bit more delicate and costly to repair, there's nothing like driving around with the top off - or in this case a phone that can transform into a small tablet at a moment's notice.Just remember to do the sensible thing and put your expensive foldable phone in a case.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-4-durability-report-has-samsung-finally-fixed-its-foldable-phones-biggest-weakness-133015335.html?src=rss
Less than a year after launching the Action 3, DJI has unveiled the Osmo Action 4 with an improved camera that makes it better in low light. It now packs a larger 1/1.3-inch sensor (the same one on the Mavic 3 Pro, the Mini 3 Pro and Air 3 drones), compared to a 1/1.7-inch sensor on the previous model and the 1/1.9-inch sensor found on the GoPro Hero 11. It also introduces D-Log M, improving dynamic range significantly over the Action 3.Not much else on the Action 4 has changed . It has the same 155-degree field of view and f/2.8 aperture. Video tops out at 4K 120p (10-bit HDR) in normal shooting mode. Photo resolution is actually lower than the previous model (3,648 x 2,736 compared to 4,000 x 3,000) and max 4:3 video quality is also down (3,840 x 2,880 instead of 4,096 x 3,072). Meanwhile, the GoPro Hero 11 can shoot 5.3K video at up to 60 fps, 4K at 120 fps and 2.7K at up to 240 fps.The Action 4's design is also identical to the Action 3, with a record button on top and power button on the side. The battery compartment/micro SD slot is on the right side and the USB-C port on the left (looking from the front). The battery is the same 1770 mWh model as before, with 150 minutes of recording time - and just 18 minutes of charging time to get the battery to 80 percent. A microSD card is required as the Action 4 has no internal storage.It uses DJI's nifty magnetic locking system introduced with the last model that eliminates the need for a case to attach accessories. And as before, the Action 4 supports any accessories compatible with a GoPro mount. DJI has a number of its own accessories as well now, including the chest strap mount, helmet chin mount, 60m waterproof case, bike seat rail mount, neck mount, mini handlebar mount, the Osmo Action 360 Wrist Strap and a new a wrist-worn remote to control the Action 4.Steve Dent for EngadgetIt's now waterproof down to 18m or 59 feet (2m more than before) or 60m (208 feet) with the waterproof case. As before, it comes with a 1.4-inch 320*320 front screen and 2.25-inch 360*640 rear display. Both top out at 750 nits, plenty bright even on sunny days. It comes with three mics and advanced wind noise reduction software that allows for impressive audio recording for such a small device.It offers the latest version of DJI's stabilization, Rocksteady 3.0 and Rocksteady 3.0+ to eliminate camera shake in all directions up to the maximum 4K/60fps. It also supports HorizonSteady, which keeps the Horizon level no matter how much you rotate the camera (2.7K max). Meanwhile, HorizonBalancing corrects tilt horizontally within 45 and allows for stabilized recording at 4K/60fps.To use the Action 4, you have to first activate it using DJI's smartphone app, so keep that in mind if you buy one and have a deadline. The app also lets you view and transfer footage, or livestream via WiFi.So why did DJI release a camera so similar to the last model, less than a year later? Many reviews, including my own, docked the Action 3 for poor low-light image quality, with noticeable artifacts in situations like a forest on a cloudy day- something the GoPro 11 can handle with ease. I also noted that while the stabilization is good, it's not up to GoPro's standards, and DJI has updated that function as well.The Action 4 offers some quality-of-life features like quick-switching between five custom modes, voice prompts that let you know about the current mode, voice control, an upgraded InvisiStick that digitally hides the selfie stick, external mic support and more. DJI also offers the The LightCut app that connects wirelessly to Action 4 via Wi-Fi, allowing for quick previews and auto-editing without the need to transfer footage from the camera.Steve Dent for EngadgetI had the Action 4 in my hands for a short while, mainly to test image quality with the new sensor. There's certainly a big improvement there - where the Action 3 showed pixelation and blocky artifacts in low light, the Action 4 largely eliminates those. That means it performs better in situations like cloudy mountain bike rides or underwater footage. Low-light capability is good overall, with noise well controlled for such a relatively small sensor. In that area, it now edges the GoPro Hero 11.The RockSteady stabilization still leaves a bit to be desired compared to the Hero 11 and even the Insta360 X3 action camera, however. In a quick test with a mountain bike on a trail, it didn't provide the on-rails level of smoothness I've seen on rival models. If you don't mind slightly more zoom, though, RockSteady+ gets very close to those levels.As before, the Action 4 could be a good option for content creators looking for high-quality footage, or folks who want to match their video with DJI's drones and other products. The price has gone up considerably over the $329 Action 3, though - it's now available for $399. That makes it a tough sell against the GoPro Hero 11, which now carries the same price.If you're starting from scratch, the Adventure Combo (above) is a far better deal at $499, giving you the camera plus three batteries, the Horizontal-Vertical ProtectiveFrame, a quick-release adapter mount, a mini quick-release mount, a curved adhesive base, two locking screws, a USB-C cable, the multifunction battery case, a 1.5 extension rod, an action lens hood and an anti-slip pad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/djis-osmo-action-4-camera-comes-with-a-larger-sensor-and-a-higher-price-130027897.html?src=rss
Microsoft is dipping into the world of self-repair by offering replacement parts for Xbox gamepads, along with downloadable instructions and tutorial videos. The service will cover both the standard Xbox Wireless Controller models and the (pricey) Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller.They're not cheap, though. Prices range from $24 for button sets to $60 for a circuit board and motor assembly unit. But that's still cheaper than replacing the gamepad entirely. I can't expect every company to take Nintendo's approach: It'll repair Joy-Cons for free if they suffer from Joy-Con drift.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedA new Samba de Amigo game is coming to Apple Arcade this month MrBeast sues his fast-food chain for selling 'inedible' burgersMeta is reportedly planning an Abe Lincoln chatbotThe best Bluetooth trackers for 2023TweetDeck's new name is XProThe rebrand continues.TweetDeck is showing signs it'll not escape Twitter/X's massive rebranding unscathed. TweetDeck's landing page, while logged out, now has XPro branding in the upper left corner of the website. That's pretty much it at the moment - the page still shows the iconic Twitter bird logo, and it still calls TweetDeck a "powerful, real-time tool for people who live on Twitter." And, yes, its URL is still on Twitter.com.Continue reading.Google wants to 'supercharge' its voice assistant with AIThe company is already working on new technology for mobile devices.Google wants to revamp its Assistant, and that will include generative AI-powered technology, according to an internal email obtained by Axios. Google Assistant's VP Peeyush Ranjan and product director, Duke Dukellis, explained their rationale to staffers, stating: "As a team, we need to focus on delivering high-quality, critical product experiences for our users. We've also seen the profound potential of generative AI to transform people's lives and see a huge opportunity to explore what a supercharged Assistant, powered by the latest LLM technology, would look like."Continue reading.'Unpacking' comes to Android and iOS on August 24thRelaxing with boxes.Humble bundleHumble Games and Witch Beam have confirmed that Unpacking is coming to iOS and Android on August 24th. You can pre-order the iOS version for $10 today. This has been a long time in coming given the game first arrived on consoles and PCs in 2021, but it's also delightful.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-microsoft-starts-selling-replacement-parts-for-xbox-gamepads-111554759.html?src=rss
One of the main selling points for Twitter Blue - now "X Blue" - when the service was first launched was that anybody on the platform willing to pay for it can get the once-coveted blue checkmark. Over the past months, though, subscribers have been getting shamed for paying $8 a month or $84 a year for the service. Now as TechCrunch has noticed, the company has updated its support page for X Blue with a new feature for members: The ability to hide the verified checkmark on their account.Under the "Profile customization" section in account settings, subscribers will now find a new "Hide your blue checkmark" option that they can tick. By activating the feature, the badge will no longer show up on their profiles and next to their usernames on posts. However, the company warned that it could still show up in some places and that some features may not be available to them while their checkmark is hidden. It didn't say which features will become inaccessible, but Twitter has rolled out a number of changes made specifically for paying users since Elon Musk took over.It has increased paid users' post limit to 25,000 characters and is even working on new tools to publish long-form content. The website has also expanded their video limit to 3 hours. Meanwhile, the social network has become less and less attractive for free users. It announced in July that it will limit the number of DMs non-paying users can send in an effort to limit spam, and it previously put a strict cap on how many tweets a day a user can see due to "extreme levels of data scraping." While the restriction was temporary, unverified accounts were initially limited to 600 posts daily.App developer Alessandro Paluzzi first spotted the capability to hide checkmarks in March. Based on the screenshots Paluzzi shared, the verification process will remain the same, with users being required to submit a government ID to authenticate their identities. It now simply won't be obvious at first glance that someone's paying for X Blue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-blue-subscribers-can-now-hide-their-checkmarks-110229094.html?src=rss
Canon has just unveiled the MS-500, an unusual model that's one of the most sensitive non-infrared cameras ever developed. It uses the highest-resolution 1-inch SPAD (Single-photon avalanche diode) sensor yet (3.2 megapixels), and an interchangeable lens mount that allows clear color shooting in light as low as 0.001 lux, according to Canon - less than a clear moonless sky.The MS-500 uses Canon's B4 mount that supports its broadcast zoom lenses, and carries a price of over $25,000 for the body only. It's designed to work in "areas with extremely high-security levels, such as seaports, public infrastructure facilities, and national borders," the company said. When married with Canon's ultra-telephoto broadcast lenses, it can capture "clear color videos of subjects at a distance of several miles, even at night." It also uses special picture profiles to reduce noise caused by atmospheric disturbances over long distances.CanonSo why should you care about a $25,000+ security camera? The answer is in that SPAD sensor, which holds promise for future consumer and professional imaging. It uses a technology called photo counting, which tracks light particles entering a pixel, magnifies them one million times, and converts them to a digital signal. Every single photon is counted, which eliminates the introduction of any noise - "a key advantage of SPAD sensors," Canon noted.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/canons-new-security-focused-spad-camera-can-capture-color-video-in-complete-darkness-095516159.html?src=rss
Any gaming company looking to copy a competitor's hit might want to think twice. Nintendo's The Last Hope: Dead Zone Survival has officially been removed from the Switch e-shop due to its overt similarities to Naughty Dog's hit, The Last of Us, Victoria Kennedy reported at Eurogamer. Sony (which owns Naughty Dog) issued a copyright claim against the game just over a month after its release, a move that has not only taken it off the market but also scrubbed YouTube of its trailer.The Last Hope isn't likely to be missed as the game didn't exactly garner good reviews, with the Digital Foundry saying it was "the worst game we've ever tested" and Yahoo simply calling it "horrible-looking." Widespread comparisons to The Last of Us were immediately made upon the game's release, including the similarities between the high-quality Ellie and The Last Hope's blurry (but almost identically styled) Eva. Yeah, it really didn't do itself any favors.If, for some reason, you had a strong affinity for the game, it's still available for anyone who previously downloaded it. Otherwise, a visit to its page on Nintendo's e-shop will bring you an error message. If you had avoided the knockoff, well, this is the last time you ever have to think about it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-pulls-the-last-of-us-clone-from-its-eshop-following-copyright-claim-092558958.html?src=rss
Keith Thomas from New York was involved in a driving accident back in 2020 that injured his spine's C4 and C5 vertebrae, leading to a total loss in feeling and movement from the chest down. Recently, though, Thomas had been able to move his arm at will and feel his sister hold his hand, thanks to the AI brain implant technology developed by the Northwell Health's Feinstein Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine.The research team first spent months mapping his brain with MRIs to pinpoint the exact parts of his brain responsible for arm movements and the sense of touch in his hands. Then, four months ago, surgeons performed a 15-hour procedure to implant microchips into his brain - Thomas was even awake for some parts so he could tell them what sensations he was feeling in his hand as they probed parts of the organ.While the microchips are inside his body, the team also installed external ports on top of his head. Those ports connect to a computer with the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that the team developed to interpret his thoughts and turn them into action. The researchers call this approach "thought-driven therapy," because it all starts with the patient's intentions. If he thinks of wanting to move his hand, for instance, his brain implant sends signals to the computer, which then sends signals to the electrode patches on his spine and hand muscles in order to stimulate movement. They attached sensors to his fingertips and palms, as well, to stimulate sensation.Thanks to this system, he was able to move his arm at will and feel his sister holding his hand in the lab. While he needed to be attached to the computer for those milestones, the researchers say Thomas has shown signs of recovery even when the system is off. His arm strength has apparently "more than doubled" since the study began, and his forearm and wrist could now feel some new sensations. If all goes well, the team's thought-driven therapy could help him regain more of his sense of touch and mobility.While the approach has a ways to go, the team behind it is hopeful that it could change the lives of people living with paralysis. Chad Bouton, the technology's developer and the principal investigator of the clinical trial, said:"This is the first time the brain, body and spinal cord have been linked together electronically in a paralyzed human to restore lasting movement and sensation. When the study participant thinks about moving his arm or hand, we supercharge' his spinal cord and stimulate his brain and muscles to help rebuild connections, provide sensory feedback, and promote recovery. This type of thought-driven therapy is a game-changer. Our goal is to use this technology one day to give people living with paralysis the ability to live fuller, more independent lives."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-enabled-brain-implant-helps-patient-regain-feeling-and-movement-073711090.html?src=rss
Earlier this year, EA said that Star Wars: Jedi Survivor would only come out on the latest PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles in order to take advantage of the latest tech on those consoles. The developer has now changed its tune, however, announcing in an earnings call that the title will come to PS4 and Xbox One consoles after all, The Verge has reported."Thanks to the strength of this legendary franchise and community demand, our development team has committed to bringing this Jedi experience to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One," said EA CEO Andrew Wilson. Jedi Survivor came out on PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 in April, but there's no firm date for release on the last-gen consoles.Jedi: Survivor, a direct sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was the headliner in Engadget's article about disappointing PC ports earlier this year. The problems boiled down to performance, upscaling and other issues - which might make gamers nervous about how it'll run on the much older Xbox One and PS4 hardware.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-will-be-ported-to-ps4-and-xbox-one-after-all-064100551.html?src=rss
TweetDeck has started showing signs that it will not escape Twitter's massive rebranding unscathed. If you take a look at the tool's landing page while logged out, you'll see "XPro" on the upper left corner of the website, indicating its new name. That's pretty much it at the moment, though - the page still shows the iconic Twitter bird logo, and it still calls TweetDeck a "powerful, real-time tool for people who live on Twitter." And, yes, its URL is still on the Twitter.com domain.Twitter's rebranding to "X" hit us overnight quite literally in July, with Elon Musk announcing the change in a tweet and then, reportedly, emailing his employees about it afterward. The social network started implementing changes after that by swapping out the Twitter bird with a generic-looking "X" logo, which will apparently "evolve over time," as well as renaming tweets to "posts" and retweets to "reposts." Google and Apple both relisted the social network's app as "X" on the Play Store and the App Store, respectively, by the end of July.The move, while sudden, perhaps didn't come as a surprise for those who've followed Musk's career over the years. Musk is known for favoring the "X" branding and had wanted to rename PayPal to X.com before he was ousted as CEO. The executive also renamed Twitter's parent company to X Corp. He said the social network's new name will help it branch out and become an "everything app" with payments and banking features. But critics are doubting the rebranding's success, with some calling it "the dumbest thing [Musk has] done since taking over" and something that now makes the company less identifiable and less valuable.Despite the criticisms, the erasure of the Twitter brand is now well underway. TweetDeck will not remain TweetDeck for very long, and it also won't be free to use in the near future. The company has previously noted that it will be locked behind a paywall and will be exclusively available to Blue subscribers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tweetdecks-new-name-is-xpro-052613174.html?src=rss
If your idea of relaxation involves opening cardboard boxes, you're in for a good time. Humble Games and Witch Beam have confirmed that Unpacking is coming to iOS and Android on August 24th. You can pre-order the iOS version for $10 today. This has been a long time in coming given that the game first arrived on consoles and PCs in 2021, but it may be worthwhile if you're new to the concept.Unpacking is, at its heart, a hybrid puzzle and home decoration game. You have to find space for items as an unseen person moves into a new abode. There's no time limit or other pressure, and it can be very soothing as you set up a child's bedroom or the family kitchen. However, it's particularly clever for the way it tells its story. You're learning about a woman's life by seeing where she goes and what she brings with her, rather than dialog. As the title is almost entirely wordless, it's accessible to a wide range of people.The game isn't changing significantly with the move to mobile. However, the developers argue Unpacking is "perfect" for touch as you can drag objects with your finger and sense the world through haptic feedback. Whether or not that's true, the portability may be appealing. This may be the most appropriate game to play when you've just moved to a new place - you can fire it up while your usual gaming hardware is still packed away.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/zen-moving-game-unpacking-comes-to-android-and-ios-on-august-24th-214513079.html?src=rss
Samba de Amigo is coming to Apple Arcade. Sega's classic maraca-shaking rhythm franchise is seeing a renaissance this year as the new installment arrives on Apple platforms and Nintendo Switch on the same day. A VR port for Meta Quest, announced in early June, is also scheduled to launch sometime this fall.Shake it with your maracas and groove to 40 hit songs from the world's most popular genres," the game's App Store description reads. Exclusive songs for the Apple version include The Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga, Daddy" by Psy (of Gangnam Style" fame) and The Walker" by Fitz and the Tantrums. The Apple Arcade version's title, Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, emphasizes its portable nature. The Switch version is called Samba de Amigo: Party Central, while the Meta Quest version is simply Samba de Amigo.Neither Sega nor Apple has said much about how gameplay details may differ between Apple's variant and the other platforms, except that the Apple Arcade version will exclusively have the series' first story mode. Embark on a quest with Amigo to return lost music to the world," the blurb reads.Sega / AppleApple Arcade subscribers can shake it with Samba on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. The App Store listing doesn't precisely say how controls work, but using your phone as a faux maraca (with touchscreen controls as a fallback) would be a logical guess. (However, it does mention that external controllers are also supported.) The Switch version uses Joy-Cons, and the Quest version relies on its Touch Controllers.Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go is scheduled to hit the App Store on August 29th. Apple Arcade costs $5 per month after a one-month free trial, and none of its games have in-app purchases. The Switch version, also due August 29th, is priced at $40, and the Quest VR variant will be $30. You can brush up on your Dreamcast-era moves while watching the trailer for the Switch version below.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-new-samba-de-amigo-game-is-coming-to-apple-arcade-this-month-211127732.html?src=rss
YouTube star MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson) may be as well known for his collaborations as he is his videos, but one of those partnerships is souring quickly. Bloombergreports the creator is suing Virtual Dining Concepts, the "ghost kitchen" (a food service that operates from other restaurants) that runs his delivery-only MrBeast Burger fast food chain, for allegedly tarnishing his brand. VDC was supposedly more interested in rapid expansion than maintaining quality, leading to subpar food that reflected badly on its namesake. He wants a judge to terminate the licensing agreement and shut down the business.MrBeast points to numerous reviews that call the burgers "inedible," "revolting" and similarly less-than-flattering descriptions. "Thousands" of customers have reportedly complained about raw meat, cold fries, missing ingredients and items that never showed. Some locations couldn't get the branding right, delivering orders in generic containers or even 7-11 bags.The YouTuber's lawyers claim VDC either refused or was incapable of fixing quality issues when he got in touch. He adds that he hasn't received "a dime" from MrBeast Burger despite being owed royalties, and that the virtual chain frequently uses branding and registers trademarks without consent. VDC has allegedly been reluctant to support fledgling brick-and-mortar restaurants as they'd cut into its profits. It's using the MrBeast name to attract other celebrities, according to the lawsuit.We've asked VDC for comment. MrBeast formed the partnership in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to switch to delivery food. It was a way to help (and capitalize on) fans while giving restaurants more business at a time when in-person dining wasn't an option. MrBeast Burger would share its revenues with hosts, rather than competing directly with those brands.Ghost kitchens will carry on regardless of the lawsuit's outcome. They let entrepreneurs launch restaurants with only a small physical footprint, and lean on services like DoorDash and Uber Eats for delivery. However, the legal action illustrates what can go wrong with these outlets - without a retail presence, they aren't always subject to the same scrutiny as their conventional counterparts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mrbeast-sues-his-fast-food-chain-for-selling-inedible-burgers-203055288.html?src=rss
Meta is preparing to launch AI-enabled chatbots with unique personalities, according to a report by Financial Times. What's more? It looks like the first chatbot released will be none other than Abraham Lincoln, so you'll be able to ask good ole Honest Abe his thoughts on Barbenheimer or whatever. The company is also reportedly creating a surfer personality expressly for making travel plans.This is an attempt to boost engagement across Meta's social media platforms, as human-like discussions tend to be more interesting than droll robotic responses. The company hasn't announced which of these platforms would host Abe Lincoln and his pals, though previous reports indicated Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp would be recipients of this new technology. Meta staffers are calling these chatbots personas" and they could launch as soon as September.These personas will provide a new way to search and they'll even offer recommendations, similar to how current chatbots work, though ChatGPT and the rest don't have Abraham Lincoln on the payroll (just don't ask him about the best local opera houses.)FT notes that the chatbots could also collect vast amounts of personal data, something Meta has never shied away from. After all, you'll likely share more personal details with a human-like companion than one devoid of personality. The vast majority of Meta's yearly revenue comes from advertising, so go ahead and tell your good friend Abe all about your likes and dislikes. What's the worst that could happen?During Meta's yearly earnings call last week, Zuckerberg said he envisioned a future with AI agents that act as assistants, coaches or that can help you interact with businesses and creators." To the latter point, he said the company was also building AI chatbots specifically for customer service and one to be used by Meta staffers.Meta isn't the first company to try to inject a bit of personality into the chatbot game. The startup Character.ai uses large language models (LLMs) to simulate conversations with real-life figures like Elon Musk and works of fiction like Nintendo's Mario, among many others. Snapchat's My AI chatbot is friendly and personable when compared to its drier counterparts. It also spews out sponsored links, as a harbinger of things to come for fake Lincoln and his surfer buddy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-reportedly-planning-an-abe-lincoln-chatbot-as-part-of-a-public-ai-push-190922903.html?src=rss
Feminist Frequency announced today that it's shutting down. The nonprofit, founded in 2009 by Executive Director Anita Sarkeesian as an outlet for media criticism of video games and other pop culture, expanded through the years to include podcasts, gaming resources, and an Online Harassment Hotline. Although the organization's industry resources will remain on its website indefinitely, the hotline will close at the end of September, and the remainder of Feminist Frequency will wind down by the end of 2023.I started this project to fill a need that was missing in the media criticism and video games space," Sarkeesian wrote in a press release today. Over the past decade and a half, along with an invaluable team of staff members and industry partners, we've accomplished so much to be proud of. Feminist Frequency grew into something I never could have anticipated when it began all those years ago. At this point, I think it's important to share that exhaustion and burnout - not uncommon in the nonprofit world - have taken their toll."The organization added that Jae Lin, director of the confidential emotional support hotline, will continue to run ReSpec, the hotline's accountability support space. In addition, a private event at next year's Game Developers Conference will honor Feminist Frequency's accomplishments through the years.Sarkeesian founded Feminist Frequency while studying for her master's degree at York University in Toronto. In 2010, she began producing Tropes vs. Women, a series of videos examining misogynistic storytelling trends in movies and television. But a 2012 Kickstarter campaign to fund a video series highlighting the same problems in the gaming industry raised the organization's profile dramatically - for better and worse.Feminist FrequencyThe campaign shattered Sarkeesian's $6,000 fundraising goal in less than a day. And while the video series boldly confronted the growing industry's casual objectification and minimization of female characters (and real-world abuse towards female gamers), it also triggered a backlash from the darkest segments of society that her work singled out - helping to spawn the harassment campaign known as Gamergate. Sarkeesian quickly became a favorite target of abuse - online and off. In 2014, someone sent a bomb threat because she was a scheduled speaker at the Game Developer's Choice award ceremony. The same year, she was forced to cancel a speech at Utah State University based on loose security after a student sent an email threatening the deadliest school shooting in American history" if the event continued. The FBI even got involved.Harassment is the background radiation of my life," Sarkeesian toldBloomberg in 2014. It is a factor in every decision I make. Any time I tweet something, or make a post, I'm always thinking about it. When I post our videos, it's a consideration. It affects where I go, and how I behave, and how I feel walking down the street every day."Despite the abusive ambiance, Sarkeesian continued the organization's work to highlight injustices and provide resources. Intel partnered with Feminist Frequency in 2015 as part of a $300 million campaign to help promote career opportunities and positive representation for women and minorities. Feminist Frequency received a Peabody Award for Digital and Interactive Storytelling last year. And, although far too slowly, the industry has made gradual progress. The work we've done to effect change in the industry made a difference, and all of us at Feminist Frequency and the Games and Online Harassment Hotline are hopeful to see improvements continue to be made," she wrote today. But the time has come to close this chapter and rest before starting the next phase of my professional life."Reflecting on the end of the Tropes vs. Women in Video Games series in 2017, Sarkeesian said, It hasn't all been for the better, but some of it definitely has. There are conversations happening now, among players and among creators, that weren't happening before."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-award-winning-feminist-frequency-is-shutting-down-after-14-years-185321464.html?src=rss
As promised, Meta has begun blocking news content in Canada. Starting today, Facebook and Instagram users in the country will no longer be able to view or share news links or see videos and photos posted by publishers and broadcasters. The company, which has threatened to make the drastic move for several months, said it will take a few weeks for the change to come into effect for all users in the country."News links and content posted by news publishers and broadcasters in Canada will no longer be viewable by people in Canada," Meta said. "We are identifying news outlets based on legislative definitions and guidance from the Online News Act." Any content shared by international news organizations won't be visible on Facebook and Instagram in Canada either.Meta made the decision in response to Canadian legislators passing the Online News Act. The law requires certain platforms to negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with news organizations. The aim is to address the collapse in advertising revenue that news outlets have struggled with over the last two decades amid the growth of online services.The CBC has noted that Facebook and Google soak up some 80 percent of digital advertising revenue between them. Google also plans to stop users in Canada from accessing links to news stories across several of its products in response to the legislation.Meta has previously played hardball with a government over news content. In early 2021, it stopped users in Australia from sharing news links on Facebook. However, Meta, Google and other platform holders relented and eventually reached an agreement to pay publishers there for posting news links and snippets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/facebook-and-instagrams-news-blackout-in-canada-starts-today-182139785.html?src=rss
Modern gaming controllers are expensive, costing anywhere from $60 to $180, depending on the feature set. So it's a huge bummer when one breaks and you have to shell out money for a replacement. Microsoft is taking a huge leap into the world of self-repair by offering replacement parts for Xbox gamepads, along with downloadable instructions and step-by-step tutorial videos, which should save gamers some cash in the long run. This program impacts standard Xbox Wireless Controller models and the Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller.The Microsoft store offers replacement boards, sticks, buttons, covers and more, handling issues from stick drifting to stuck shoulder buttons and beyond. In the past, you'd have to replace the gamepad entirely or rely on risky third-party fixes. Prices range from $24 for button sets to $60 for a circuit board and motor assembly unit. You can even replace the vibration motor for $35. Additionally, replacement cases are available, but only in black and white.The program is already live, according to product lead Brad Rossetti, so if you have any broken Xbox controllers laying about, now is the time to see about fixing them up. It also looks like Microsoft is allowing other retailers to sell these replacement parts, like self-repair gurus iFixit.Microsoft isn't the only gaming giant to recently allow DIY fixes. Sony's DualSense Edge controller actually ships with replacement control stick modules, though the company doesn't sell other parts via an online store. Nintendo doesn't sell repair components for its controllers, but it'll repair Joy-Cons for free when suffering from a case of dreaded Joy-Con drift.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-starts-selling-replacement-parts-for-xbox-gamepads-174023573.html?src=rss
Amazon's approach to digital healthcare is now available nationwide. The company has expanded Clinic to all 50 states as well as Washington, DC. You can also have clinician video visits across the country in addition to text-only conversations in 34 states. Both avenues are available through Amazon's website and mobile app.As launched in November, Clinic is meant to provide treatment for over 30 commonplace health issues such as birth control prescriptions, migraines and pink eye. You choose a telehealth provider, fill out an intake form and get in touch with a clinician. You don't need an appointment or insurance, and the cost is visible before you reach out. Amazon hopes you'll fill any necessary prescriptions through its in-house Pharmacy service, but any third-party pharmacy is an option. Help with more conditions is due in the "coming months," the company adds.Clinic is part of a long-running effort on Amazon's part to cover many aspects of healthcare. It bought PillPack (the basis of Pharmacy) in 2018, and between 2019 and 2022 provided a Care telehealth service to its own employees as well as other companies. Amazon more recently closed its $3.9 billion purchase of One Medical, turning it into a primary healthcare provider with a physical presence, virtual options and lab testing. In the right circumstances, you might only have to interact with Amazon businesses.These moves have drawn scrutiny from regulators. Although the Federal Trade Commission said it wouldn't challenge the One Medical acquisition in February, it warned that it was still investigating the merger for possible anti-competition and privacy issues that come from access to health data. The Commission said it might challenge the deal later if it found concerns. For now, though, Amazon's healthcare ambitions aren't facing major resistance - it's now an alternative to conventional clinics, at least for everyday problems.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-virtual-healthcare-service-is-now-available-in-every-state-171827351.html?src=rss
Behaviour Interactive is bringing yet another classic horror franchise to Dead by Daylight. Not long after the publisher added Nicolas Cage to the game as a playable character, Behaviour revealed in a teaser video that a crossover with the Alien series is coming very soon.The clip includes several shots of what looks like the Nostromo, the spaceship from the original movie, as the Alien logo is gradually revealed. That suggests the chapter includes a new map set on the ship. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the iconic Xenomorph is featured as well. Given the terrifying creature's troubled history with humans and the fact it lunges toward the camera here, the smart money is on the Xenomorph being the game's latest killer.According to the DbD roadmap, Behaviour plans to release a new chapter this month, suggesting the Alien DLC is only a few weeks away at most. The roadmap also indicates the chapter includes a survivor. What are the odds that individual turns out to be Ripley? In any case, we won't have to wait long to find out, as more details about the Alien chapter will be revealed on August 8th.Dead by Daylight has many original survivors, killers and maps, but crossovers with major horror franchises help to bring more attention to the game. Over the years, Behaviour has secured collaborations with the likes of The Ring, Resident Evil, Silent Hilland Stranger Things, to name but a few.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/looks-like-the-xenomorph-from-alien-will-be-dead-by-daylights-next-killer-170828650.html?src=rss
Ford has resumed F-150 Lightning production after a retooling period. Following a six-week shutdown to expand and prep the plant for quicker turnarounds and higher output, the automaker has reopened its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. That should help Ford meet the demand for the popular EV after its recent $10,000 price drop spurred a sixfold spike in orders.Starting this fall, the automaker says the Dearborn plant can produce the F-150 Lightning at an annualized rate of 150,000 units - triple its previous output. Although it will still fall well short of that number this year due to the shutdown and slower speeds pre-revamp (it estimates 70,000+ units for 2023), the company expects the production spike to make waiting times less of a headache. Ford recently adjusted expectations, bumping back its estimated date for reaching its goal of 600,000 total EVs produced to sometime in 2024 from its original 2023 target date.FordFord says the factory's improved capacity will also help it to offer more popular trim levels like XLT. In addition, Lightning Pro units are now available through retail channels, and new trim levels are set to join the lineup soon."Part of the plant's output boost will come from new equipment. The Rouge Electric Vehicle Center now has machines to automatically measure and validate exterior body fit for margin and flushness precision," a first for Ford's North American plants. The factory also has an extra station to validate wheel alignment and headlamp aim for driver-assist tech. In addition, the plant now employs 1,200 new workers, a likely boon for productivity and the Detroit-area economy.Ford says it's also increasing output at its nearby Rawsonville Components Plant and Van Dyke (Mich.) Electric Powertrain Center. The automaker expects battery pack and EV power units to match the scale of F-150 Lightning assembly at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ford-resumes-f-150-lightning-production-after-a-six-week-shutdown-163541170.html?src=rss
The official Fitbit app is getting a major redesign with an emphasis on simplicity, personalization and motivation. The refresh splits everything into three tabs, to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to use. There's the Today tab, the Coach tab and the You tab, each offering access to unique metrics and activities.The Today tab collects all of your preferred stats and metrics so you can check everything out at a glance. This is fully customizable, so change up the displayed stats to suit your personal goals. Though called Today", you also get a bird's eye view into health trends over the past month or year, via charts, graphics and icons.The Coach tab is all about motivation, with curated lists of workouts and mindfulness sessions. You can filter these workouts based on your availability, owned equipment and overall fitness and health goals. Fitbit Premium subscribers can access more content than free subscribers, such as dance cardio classes.Finally, there's the You tab. This is where you access your achievement badges and various progress metrics, in addition to connecting with other Fitbit users and changing up personal information. The company says everything here is kept private and won't even be leveraged for Google ads data.It's worth noting that the refresh will not change which features are free and which are only for premium subscribers. The redesign is already going out to select Fitbit users as a beta product before the global launch this fall. There are more changes coming to the platform in the future. Starting next year, users will have to login to Fitbit apps with Google credentials, as the Fitbit brand is being phased out.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fitbit-app-gets-a-major-redesign-with-an-emphasis-on-simplicity-161412464.html?src=rss
YouTube has released several creation tools for Shorts, such as ones that give users the ability to remix most videos and add voiceovers, ever since it was launched in an effort to make it a more veritable TikTok rival. Now, the video-hosting platform is in the process of expanding its arsenal of creation tools even further. The first addition is Collab, which lets users record short-form videos in a split screen format with other Shorts or regular clips.All users have to do to create a Collab video from an eligible Short or YouTube content is to hit Remix and then choose the new format. TikTok, of course has long had a split-screen effect that lets people divide the screen into multiple frames. Well, YouTube's Collab is rolling out today and will continue making its way to users coming weeks to challenge TikTok's version. iOS users are getting the format first, but Android users will follow.The platform is also adding a tool that lets users quickly build off of and remix existing Shorts. They only have to tap the Remix button and select "use sound" in the Shorts player to automatically surface the audio and effect used in the clip they just watched. Users can then apply both sound and effect to their own post. In addition, YouTube will start testing a new recomposition tool in the coming weeks designed to simplify transforming horizontal videos into vertical Shorts. The tool will give creators a way to adjust the layout, zoom and crop of the segment they want to use after they've chosen a video to remix, giving them an easy way to reshare old footage in a new format. They can also choose to use the new split screen effect for the video they're recomposing.Aside from these new creator tools, YouTube is testing a new mobile-first vertical live experience for viewers, as well. Audiences will be able to see previews of vertical live videos in the Shorts feed with this new experience, and if they tap to expand it, they'll find a scrollable feed of more live videos. YouTube is hoping this could boost discoverability for creators and calls it is a great opportunity to make money for those who recently joined its Partner Program. The new mobile-first experience will make its way to more and more viewers over the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-is-adding-more-creator-tools-to-shorts-to-help-it-take-on-tiktok-160023789.html?src=rss
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla following a dozen reports about 2023 model year Model 3 and Model Y vehicles encountering steering issues. The agency opened a preliminary evaluation (PE) after drivers claimed they were either unable to steer their vehicle or that they suffered a loss of power steering."Five reports indicate an inability to steer the vehicle. Seven additional reports cite loss of power steering resulting in increased effort to control the vehicle," the NHTSA said. "A PE has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, manufacturing processes and severity associated with this condition."No deaths or injuries were reported in connection with these incidents, as Electrek notes, but one led to a crash or fire. Some 280,000 vehicles are included in the scope of the investigation, which could result in a recall. Tesla doesn't have a communications department that can be reached for comment.This is hardly the first time that the NHTSA has looked into Tesla safety issues. In March, the agency opened a separate investigation following reports of steering wheels falling off while Model Y vehicles were on the road. The company has also caught the attention of the Department of Justice. In January, Tesla confirmed that the DOJ requested documents related to Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features.Meanwhile, last month, Tesla issued a voluntary recall for more than 1,300 Model S, X and Y vehicles it built this year due to misaligned cameras. The company said the issue "may cause certain active safety features to be unavailable, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, without alerting the driver to their unavailability."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-regulators-are-investigating-tesla-over-model-3-and-model-y-steering-issues-154015361.html?src=rss
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