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Acer has announced quite a lengthy list of new products at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, including a 57-inch monitor with curvature designed to increase your field of vision and make you feel more immersed in a game's environment. The king-sized Predator Z57 has a Dual UHD resolution - that's 7,680 x 2,160 pixels - a 120Hz refresh rate and a wide 32:9 aspect ratio. It's a MiniLED monitor that Acer says can achieve up to 1000 nit brightness, can produce highly accurate colors and can maximize light and dark contrast for realistic visuals and dark scenes with great picture quality.But let's go back to that massive screen real estate for a bit. While you can very well use the full display for a single purpose, the model's picture-by-picture capability lets you split it in half and show output from two different sources. Since it has two HDMI 2.1 ports that work with consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, you could get two games running at the same time if that's something you'd want to try. You could also use its picture-in-picture capability to show an output separate from the main one in a smaller inset window. Predator Z57 will be available in North America and in Europe starting in the second quarter of the year with prices starting at $2,500 and 2,399, respectively.If you want a curved monitor but don't need all that real estate and think $2,500 is a bit too much, Acer has also launched a $900 34-inch display at the event. The Predator X34 V3 is a 34-inch MiniLED model with a 21:9 ultrawide QHD, or 3,440 x 1,440, resolution. It has a 180Hz refresh rate, which the company says can provide fluid gaming experiences with minimal ghosting. The model will also go on sale in the second quarter of the year.In addition, Acer seems to be making another attempt at making 3D gaming happen with the Predator SpatialLabs View 27. It's the latest entry to the brand's stereoscopic 3D display line that doesn't need glasses, though you can always switch to 2D output on its 4K screen. The model will be available in North America starting in the second quarter for $1,999 and in Europe within the first quarter of the year.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/acer-introduces-a-massive-57-inch-ultrawide-monitor-at-ces-2024-170056345.html?src=rss

This year's CES 2024 trade show is off and running, filling Las Vegas with more tech than a giant LED dome. Consumer electronics giant Hisense is holding its own press conference this year, starting on January 8 at 12PM ET. The company will be livestreaming it directly from its own site, on this specific landing page.

Acer has debuted its latest laptops for its Aspire and Swift line of products at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. While the new devices each have their own features to offer, most of them have a couple of things in common: They're powered by Intel's new Core Ultra processors, the company's first chips with neural processing units that can accelerate AI tasks, and they come with dedicated keys that can summon Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant.One of the models now powered by Intel Core Ultra 7 processors is the Acer Aspire Vero, which is partly made from recycled materials, such as ocean-bound plastic for its 16-inch 2,560 x 1,600 screen. It can last for up to 10.5 hours on a single charge, has Wi-Fi 7 compatibility and has two USB-C ports. The laptop ships with Windows 11 that comes integrated with Copilot, which can be quickly accessed with the device's dedicated key. The model will be available in North America in April with prices starting at $750, and in Europe by March for at least 1,199.The new Acer Aspire Go 15 and Aspire Go 14, on the other hand, now come with Intel Core i3 N-Series processors, though the latter can be equipped with AMD Ryzen 7000 Series chips instead. They both have the new dedicated Copilot keys and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, though the smaller model has a WUXGA display, while the bigger one has an FHD screen. The 15-inch and the 14-inch laptops are coming out in February with prices starting at $250.Acer has also announced its updated Swift laptop line, starting with the new Swift Go 16 and Swift Go 14 models powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and Intel Arc built-in GPUs. Acer calls them "AI PCs" with dedicated Copilot keys and AI-boosted video conferencing features, such as background blur and automatic framing. The 16-inch model has a 3.2K OLED display, while the 14-inch Swift Go has a 2.8K OLED screen. They can both be opened up to 180 degrees and can support LPDDR5X memory up to 32GB in size and SSDs up to 2TB. The models are coming out in the North America in March and will set buyers back $750 and up.Finally, the Acer Swift X 14 now comes with Intel Core Ultra H-Series processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs, a 2.8K OLED display and, of course, a dedicated Copilot key. The model was designed for heavy tasks, including 3D rendering, video editing and high-quality live streaming. Similar to the Swift Go laptops, it has AI-augmented video conferencing features and supports memory up to 32GB in size, but users will have to make do with 1TB SSDs. It will be available starting in February for at least $1,400.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/acer-refreshes-its-swift-and-aspire-laptops-with-intel-core-ultra-and-dedicated-copilot-keys-170029734.html?src=rss

Two weeks ago I was thinking about how to test Canon's entry-level EOS R8 and EOS R100 cameras in the miserable French weather when I had a thought: Hey, why not take a vacation to a warmer place to test these models?" After Googling the nearest location with 75 degree-plus weather, I found myself in the balmy Canary Islands. It turned out to be a great spot to take photos as well, so everything came together perfectly.Both cameras have far different price points, currently around $450 and $1,300, respectively. They're still the company's least expensive new full-frame and crop-sensor mirrorless cameras, though, and Canon markets them both as ideal for tourism and adventure - so I figured that this is a great way to test the capabilities of both.Like any potential buyer, I wanted to see if they're better than a smartphone for traveling - specifically if the larger sensors can counter a smartphone's AI computational photography. I also looked at ease of use and automated operation, flexibility for sunny beaches or dark bars, vlogging and more. After trying them out at some of Gran Canaria's most scenic spots, I found one of them to be a camera worth buying and one, not so much.Smartphone computational photographyBefore detailing my experience with these cameras, I want to talk about computational and AI photography. Most smartphones incorporate these tricks, like taking multiple photos in quick succession to get the best one or improve low-light shots. They often deliver better-exposed shots with superior white balance, too. There is a price to be paid though in terms of over-sharpening and other artifacts that can give photos an artificial look.I tested this by taking a few shots with both a Pixel 7a and a camera in the auto settings, as many travel photographers do. As I suspected, at first glance the shots on the smartphone look better, but a closer look reveals superior photos from the camera in terms of detail, color accuracy, skin tones, true noise levels and more. I believe it's important for buyers to understand this and have a basic idea of how to adjust images in post, or their new purchase could end up in a drawer.Canon EOS R100Steve Dent for EngadgetThe 24-megapixel APS-C EOS R100 seems like it should offer a lot for travelers. It's small and light at 356 grams, so with a compact lens, it's not a huge burden compared to a smartphone. At the same time, the larger sensor potentially offers superior quality and the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.The small size comes with big compromises, though. Handling is mediocre and the settings aren't super intuitive. I'd love to tell you could just control it on the screen instead, but the display isn't touch sensitive and is nearly useless for vlogging as it's fixed in place too. The electronic viewfinder has low magnification and is relatively dim, so it's hard to use in the sun - especially with glasses on - unfortunate if you're on the beach, for example.It has just a single UHS-I card slot, so storage is relatively cheap but you won't have a backup if the card glitches. You get a microHDMI jack to output to a TV, along with a mic input, but no headphone jack. The USB-C 2.0 port can only transfer files, not charge the camera or let you use it as a webcam.It supports Canon's smaller LP-E17 battery, but is rated for a decent 430 shots on a charge and many more in real life. One big benefit is a built-in flash with exposure compensation to dim it down - though settings are limited in the fully automatic mode most beginners will use.Performance and videoSteve Dent for EngadgetThe R100 has anemic performance, to put it mildly. It shoots and focuses at just 3.5 fps max, the slowest in its category. It feels sluggish when shooting RAW photos, even in single shot mode. Luckily, it's much more reactive when shooting JPEGs.The sensor has some of the worst rolling shutter I've seen in silent mode. Luckily, it does have a first-curtain mechanical shutter that eliminates that, and the silent mode setting is hidden away where many folks will never find it.There's eye-detection AF for people only, and it works well if your subject is close to the camera. That's OK for family photos and the like, but not ideal for candid or street shots on your trip. The autofocus isn't great in low light either, but is otherwise fairly reliable.The R100 is OK for grabbing the odd travel video, but not suitable for content creators. Max resolution is 4K 24p, but that comes with a 1.5 times crop, or 2.2 times with electronic stabilization, killing the bokeh advantage of a large sensor. And there's no option for log, 10-bit, or any other high-end video features. That said, 4K video is relatively sharp and colors are nice and accurate.Image qualityThe bright spot of the EOS R100 is photo quality. As you'd expect from Canon, image quality is excellent with warm skin tones and accurate colors straight out of the camera. It can also handle low-light shooting well thanks to the large sensor, with little noise up to ISO 6400. All that will help you take great shots of mountains, the beach, nightlife and other typical vacation scenarios. The ability to shoot RAW, along with the mechanical shutter, is another good reason to get this model over most smartphones. And finally, the built-in flash is there to help you get nice looking images even in dark environments.EOS 100 wrap-upSo would I recommend the EOS R100 for travel, particularly over a smartphone? Sorry Canon, but no. It's too stripped down to replace a good smartphone, and while it does deliver better image quality, it's too complicated. Instead, I'd suggest Canon's older EOS M50 Mark II, as it offers the same image quality but has a touchscreen, is smaller, and still offers good lens options. Sony's A6100 has better autofocus and video options, and if you can afford a little more, Canon's own R50 is the same size but far more capable.EOS R8Steve Dent for EngadgetLike the EOS R100, Canon's R8 is the company's most stripped-down and cheapest new full-frame camera. It gives you the same sensor and image quality as the $2,000 EOS R6 II for $700 less, but takes away some of the speed, video features and more.The main thing lacking in the R8 is in-body stabilization, so it relies on lens and electronic shake reduction - but that actually worked pretty well for me. It's also missing a full mechanical shutter, but does have a front-curtain shutter that eliminates rolling shutter. The EVF is far more basic, with lower resolution and magnification.On the plus side, it has the same flip-out display as the R6 II, meaning it can serve as a capable vlogging and selfie camera. It also has a decent range of manual controls, with dual dials for the main settings, a full range of manual and auto settings and a dedicated photo and video switch. It's also smaller and considerably lighter than the R6 II, so it's a better travel option.It has both mic and headphone jacks, along with a microHDMI port. It captures photos at high speeds to a UHS-II card, but there's only one slot. The biggest compromise is a battery that's the same as the one in the R100. Given the extra power demands of the larger sensor, it delivers only 290 shots on a charge, max and under an hour of video shooting.Performance and videoSteve Dent for EngadgetFor a budget camera, the R8 is fast. It supports only 6 fps with the electronic curtain shutter, but can handle 40 fps bursts in electronic mode. There's significant rolling shutter, though, so keep that in mind for action shots.The R8 uses Canon's latest AI subjection recognition tech, meaning it can track both animals and humans accurately. It also comes with an auto setting that lets the camera determine the subject and follow it accordingly.I think autofocus is one of the most important features for travel photography, and the R8 delivers. It can locate and lock onto various subjects and track them rapidly around the frame. That makes it more capable than other recent models like the Sony's A7 IV and the Nikon Z6 II. Focus can be selected via the touchscreen with your eye to the EVF, which works well, but be sure to enable the touch and drag" setting in the menu.It's also a good video and content creation camera, with a few caveats. You can shoot uncropped video at up to 4K 60p, and it supports Canon's C-Log 3 with 10-bit capture, along with HDR PQ. 120 fps ultra slow mo is available at 1080p. That said, 4K 60p has some pixel binning, so it's less sharp than the 30p mode. The lack of in-body stabilization also makes it less useful for vlogging, because electronic stabilization adds a 1.25 times crop..Image qualityImage quality is a strong point with the R8 too, especially for tourists who want far more than a smartphone can offer. It's a great people and scenery-shooting camera, with rich skin hues and accurate colors. At the same time, the full-frame 24-megapixel sensor is great in low light, delivers plenty of detail and offers beautiful background bokeh. Serious photographers can grab RAW photos and get the same level of detail found on more expensive cameras.EOS R8 wrap-upCanon's entry-level full-frame R8 is definitely worth taking on your voyages. It offers impressive image quality and is great for content creators, too. The main drawback is the lack of stabilization and a small battery, but you'll be fine if you carry an extra battery or two. Rival options include Nikon's Z5, which has image quality on par but inferior autofocus and video, and if you're more into vlogging, the Panasonic S5 is a better option for less money. If you're looking for the best affordable hybrid full-frame camera, the Canon R8 is a great choice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/traveling-with-canons-entry-level-eos-r8-and-r100-mirrorless-cameras-160054076.html?src=rss

LG has always had a significant presence at CES, with its consumer electronics and appliances all considered fair game for the annual Las Vegas tech convention. Of particular interest to Engadget readers are the Korean company's super-thin Gram laptops, OLED TVs and soundbars. You can see what LG has in store for CES 2024 right here on Monday at 11AM ET.What to expect at LG's CES 2024 press conferenceLG's TV lineup from last year included the OLED M3, which won Engadget's Best of CES in Home Theater. The 97-inch television uses the company's proprietary Zero Connect wireless transmission tech, which LG claims can reach up to three times the speed of Wi-Fi 6. The wireless setup lets you mount the set in otherwise hard-to-reach places like above a fireplace.Last year's CES also debuted LG's Gram Style, a $1,499 and up laptop with an exceptionally light glass design and a disappearing" trackpad. In addition, it launched the Gram Ultraslim, the company's thinnest notebook, and a spec bump update for the standard Gram laptop lineup.LG's soundbar lineup from the last annual event included the premium SC9 ($1,000) and the compact and more affordable ($300) SE6. The more expensive model reserved its best features for pairing with LG TVs, including Wow Orchestra (syncs the display's speakers with the soundbar), Wow Interface (lets you control the soundbar's settings from the TV), and Wowcast (connects to its TVs over Wi-Fi, ditching cables). Meanwhile, the cheaper model included Dolby Atmos sound, wrapped in a cloth-wrapped design with round edges.LG's CES 2024 livestreamYou can see what LG has in store for CES 2024 below at 11AM ET on Monday. Engadget is on the ground in Las Vegas and will have all the news and hands-on from this year's extravaganza.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-lg-announce-new-tvs-laptops-and-soundbars-at-ces-2024-here-160052207.html?src=rss

It's that time of year again. The annual CES trade show in Las Vegas is upon us and NVIDIA is holding a major press conference that will offer details regarding a spectrum of cutting-edge technologies." It goes down on Monday, January 8, at 8AM PT / 11AM ET, the day before CES 2024 officially kicks off. You can watch it directly on NVIDIA's website, or you can hit up the company's YouTube page or Twitch channel.

Some iPhone owners who filed claims in Apple's $500 million class action settlement over battery throttling have reportedly started to receive their cuts of the payout. In 2020, Apple agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit that accused the company of intentionally reducing older iPhones' performance without properly disclosing to consumers that it was doing so. At the time of the settlement, it was estimated that iPhone owners would get payments of around $25 per claim. But, according to MacRumors and a direct deposit screenshot shared by one user, individual payments as high as $92 started arriving this weekend.The settlement, which only applies to US iPhone owners, covers iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus and SE as long as they ran iOS 10.2.1 or later before December 21, 2017, along with iPhone 7 or 7 Plus that ran iOS 11.2 or later by the same cutoff date. Claims had to be filed by October 2020. People who owned multiple models that meet these criteria were allowed to put in separate claims for each - meaning some will have a series of payments from Apple to look forward to.If you haven't received a payment yet, rest assured it's probably coming soon. In a December update posted on the settlement website, it says payments should start dropping in January 2024, which lines up with reports that they've started to trickle in.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/your-payments-from-apples-batterygate-settlement-may-finally-be-on-the-way-153655660.html?src=rss

AMD always brings something interesting to CES - hopefully CES 2024 is no different. The company will livestream its press conference on January 8 at 10AM ET. It will feature AMD's chair and CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, and the company's senior vice president and GM of computing and graphics, Jack Huynh.What we expectLike many companies, AMD says its focus for the press conference on AI - in this case, as it pertains to personal computers. The livestream's landing page says that "AMD is powering the end-to-end infrastructure that will define the AI era, from cloud installations to enterprise clusters, AI-enabled intelligent embedded devices and PCs."If all of that sounds very vague and boring, don't fret: While we don't know exactly what AMD plans to unveil at CES 2024, it's usually the time that the company unveils the CPUs and GPUs that will be in laptops through the coming year. We're hoping to see more of the same, and there's a high chance we'll get some desktop chips as well, in the form of new CPUs with high-end integrated graphics.AMD unveiled a range of gear at CES 2023, including the Ryzen 9 7945HX processor, the RX 7700S and RX 7600S for thin and light notebooks and the Radeon RX 7600M XT and 7600M for high fps 1080p gaming.Tune in to AMD's live stream here to see what new offerings it has this year.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-amds-ces-2024-press-conference-focused-on-ai-in-personal-computers-150016783.html?src=rss

Hours before sunrise on Monday morning, United Launch Alliance's brand spankin' new Vulcan Centaur rocket is scheduled to make its maiden flight carrying a historic passenger: Peregrine, the first American lunar lander to be sent to the moon in over 50 years. And its mission could mark a turning point in humankind's exploration of the cosmos. Peregrine is not a NASA spacecraft, but one developed by Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic, a private company. If it survives touchdown, Peregrine will be the first commercial craft to successfully land on the moon - or any planetary body outside of Earth, for that matter.Astrobotic is among a small group of companies that have been selected to carry out lunar deliveries for the space agency over the next few years as part of NASA's new Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Peregrine Mission 1, expected to launch January 8 at 2:18AM ET, is the first of these operations under a $79.5 million contract with the space agency. But it's a wholly commercial endeavor, and alongside the five payloads it'll deliver for NASA to support the upcoming Artemis missions, Peregrine will have cargo for other clients on board too, at a cost of $1.2 million per kilogram (roughly 2.2 pounds). That includes mini rovers and science instruments, collections of art and archival material, a physical bitcoin" and, controversially, human remains.Peregrine is headed for the moon's nearside, the hemisphere that is always facing Earth. The 6-foot-tall, 8-foot-wide lander will (hopefully) touch down softly in a region named Sinus Viscositatis - the Bay of Stickiness" - for the mysterious domes there that are thought to have been formed long ago by thick silicic lava. These peculiar features, called Gruithuisen Domes, don't match up with the surrounding basaltic terrain, nor is the moon home to the ingredients so far known to give rise to silicic volcanoes.AstroboticThe formation of the domes is a scientific mystery we are still working to understand," said CLPS project scientist Paul Niles in a briefing on Thursday ahead of the launch. Peregrine will land near the domes on a patch of lunar mare, or the dark features created by hardened basaltic lava flows that we can see from Earth. The NASA payloads on board consist of a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), Linear Energy Transfer Spectrometer (LETS), Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS) and Peregrine Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometer (PITMS). These instruments will gather data to help characterize the local environment.Three of our instruments will collect data on lunar volatiles using different techniques," Niles said. Two instruments will provide perspectives on the radiation environment at the lunar surface, helping us better prepare to send crewed missions back to the moon. We'll also learn information about the composition of the surface by evaluating its mineralogy." Later, NASA will send another suite of instruments to the summit of Gruithuisen Domes.As far as science deliveries are concerned, Peregrine will also carry a payload for Agencia Espacial Mexicana (AEM), the Mexican Space Agency. Its fleet of five mini rovers, each measuring just shy of 5 inches wide, will be the first Latin American science instruments to make it to the surface of the moon, according to Astrobotic. Carnegie Mellon University's 4-pound Iris rover is hitching a ride on Peregrine too, with plans to snap photos that it'll send back home. And the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is sending its M-42 radiation detector, which is intended to measure how much radiation a human would be exposed to on a roundtrip mission to the moon.Among the non-science payloads, ULA's Vulcan Centaur and Peregrine will be ferrying small portions of human remains for the space memorial companies Celestis and Elysium Space. Celestis has two separate memorial destinations planned for the trip: one, Tranquility," will land on the moon with Peregrine, while another, Enterprise," will continue on to deep space with the Centaur upper stage after it separates from the lunar lander. Flights like these that go beyond Earth's immediate vicinity start at just under $13,000, and potential clients are given the option to send up symbolic amounts of either human ashes or DNA.Astrobotic/ULAOne of the luminaries whose DNA is headed to the lunar surface will be 2001: A Space Odyssey co-writer and science fiction author, Arthur C. Clarke. On the Enterprise flight are the remains of several key figures from the Star Trek franchise, including series creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, and their son Eugene Rod" Roddenberry, plus Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura of the original series) and her son, Kyle Johnson. Elysium has been less forthcoming about whose remains it'll be sending.There's been some backlash about the idea of turning the moon into a memorial site. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren spoke out against the upcoming mission after hearing about the plan, calling it tantamount to desecration" for the many cultures who consider the moon to be sacred, Arizona Public Radio reported.In response to questioning led by Reuters' Joey Roulette during the NASA briefing on Thursday, members of the space agency repeatedly reiterated that the decision of which payloads to fly fell solely on Astrobotic. They don't have to clear those payloads with us," CLPS Program Manager Chris Culbert said. These are truly commercial missions. It's up to them to sell what they can sell."The issue highlights one of the potential downsides to relying on contractors, and it'll undoubtedly rear its head again as NASA leans more heavily on the commercial industry for future missions. While NASA may not be in the position to approve what payloads are included alongside its own on commercial missions, Culbert added that the teams obviously have a lot of discussions about how the payloads fit together."The rest of the 20 total payloads are a mix of mementos and items representing Earth and the achievements of humanity. Astrobotic partnered with DHL to curate a moonbox" of keepsakes that will fly with Peregrine, including items such as photographs, literature and even a chunk of Mount Everest. Hungary's Puli Space Technologies and the UK's SpaceBit are sending plaques to the lunar surface, while the Japanese space company Astroscale has filled a Lunar Dream Capsule" with 185,872 messages from children from around the world."In addition to its rover, Carnegie Mellon created what it's calling the first museum on the moon." The University's MoonArk project, a small cylinder made up of four chambers that contain hundreds of images, poems, music, nano-objects, mechanisms and samples from Earth," will remain on the Peregrine lander where it can be appreciated by future visitors along with the other stationary objects on board. Similarly, Peregrine will carry the Arch Mission Foundation's Lunar Library 2, which it calls an ultra-durable archive of humanity." Wikipedia is in there, as well as other major collections of Earthly information and human languages.And, there are two bitcoin projects going to the moon with Peregrine because crypto is, apparently, inescapable: a physical bitcoin engraved with its private key, from the Seychelles cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX; and US-based BTC Inc.'s Bitcoin Magazine Genesis Plate, which includes a copy of the first block of bitcoin ever mined.Once Peregrine reaches lunar orbit, it'll remain there for a few weeks before making its attempt to land on the surface. That's expected to happen on February 23. Considering the US hasn't put a lander on the moon since the days of the Apollo mission, it's a pretty big deal. But, it's risky business. When it comes to moon landings, there have been far more unsuccessful attempts than successful ones. Landing on the moon is extremely difficult," Culbert said during NASA's briefing. We recognize that success cannot be ensured."Regardless, NASA and its commercial partners aim to keep trying, and in close succession at that. Peregrine Mission 1 will be followed by the second of NASA's CLPS missions in February, led by Intuitive Machines. After that, there are plans for at least four more CLPS lunar launches before the end of 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/peregrine-mission-1-heralds-the-beginning-of-the-moons-commercialization-140038460.html?src=rss

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to temporarily ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 planes for safety inspections after an Alaska Airlines plane lost a cabin panel during a flight on Friday with about 180 people on board. The plane, which had only been in service since November, according to the New York Times, was able to safely land back at Portland International Airport in Oregon, where it had taken off from. There were no major injuries, though the Alaska division of the Association of Flight Attendants said workers described explosive" decompression in the cabin and reported one flight attendant sustained minor injuries.The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 Max 9 planes before they can return to flight," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. Safety will continue to drive our decision-making as we assist the NTSB's investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282."Immediately following the incident, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci put out a statement saying the company would be grounding its fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft for what it expects to be a few days as it conducts safety checks. Each aircraft will be returned to service only after completion of full maintenance and safety inspections," Minicucci. The FAA order extends the grounding to approximately 171 airplanes worldwide" that are either operated by US airlines or in US territory.Minicucci also said that the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what happened with Flight 1282 and we will fully support their investigation." The plane had been on its way to Ontario, California. Reuters, citing FlightRadar24, reported that the blowout occurred at around 16,000 feet. In social media posts shared with Reuters and the NYT, passengers can be seen sitting right next to the gaping hole and the fully exposed sky.Boeing's 737 Max was previously grounded for almost two years after fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. All 189 people on board the plane were killed in the 2018 crash in Indonesia, and another 157 died in the 2019 crash in Ethiopia. In 2021, Boeing agreed to pay $2.5 billion in a settlement with the Department of Justice to avoid criminal charges over the crashes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/faa-grounds-roughly-171-boeing-737-max-9-planes-after-a-cabin-panel-blew-out-during-flight-210331403.html?src=rss

Whether or not you've actively been using Threads, you may have noticed - thanks to its integration into the Instagram feed - an off-putting shift in the kinds of posts the platform has been recommending over the last few weeks. At best, you might be seeing tons of content that is of no interest to you whatsoever, or copypasta-style engagement bait. At worst? A whole lot of hate speech. In a short video shared on Friday responding to an Ask Me Anything question, Instagram head Adam Mosseri apologized for the low-quality recommendations" proliferating on Threads and said the team is working on a fix.We want people to have a positive experience on Threads, and we've actually had some issues over the last few weeks with low-quality recommendations," Mosseri said, things that don't quite violate our Community Guidelines - which is where we take content down entirely - but kind of go right up to that line. We're working on improving it. A lot of it should be fixed at this point." He goes on to say that while there's a lot more work to do," users can expect it to get much better over the next few weeks. Again, apologies."While Threads already felt cluttered with posts meant to milk engagement as new users try to generate followings on the budding social site, things have taken a palpably darker turn recently. Suddenly, ragebait seems to be front and center. Users have complained that they're being suggested an alarming amount of hateful content, particularly posts that are outright transphobic. It's crept into my own feeds, enough so that it feels like I've muted more accounts in the last two or so weeks than I previously had in six months on Threads.Engadget asked Meta for clarification on whether the improvements Mosseri mentioned will specifically address transphobia and other forms of hate speech. In response, a spokesperson reiterated Mosseri's comments and said, In addition to removing content that violates our community guidelines, we're aware that some users are seeing this type of repetitive, low-quality content they may not be interested in, and we're taking steps to address it."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-head-adam-mosseri-says-sorry-for-all-those-trashy-threads-recommendations-193001655.html?src=rss

Beats Fit Pro earbuds in the three newest colors have dropped back down to their best price in a deal on Amazon. The true-wireless, noise canceling headphones are 20 percent off for the Volt Yellow, Coral Pink and Tidal Blue designs, making them just $160. These popular earbuds normally go for $200, so you'd be saving $40. If those options are too vibrant for your style, there's a 10 percent discount on other, subtler colors as well. That includes Beats Black, Beats White, Sage Gray and Stone Purple, which are all just $180 with the current deal.Beats Fit Pro buds are a great choice for both Apple and Android users, especially if you're looking for reliable workout earbuds. They're among the best wireless earbuds you can get today, and our favorite for fitness. With an IPX4 water resistance rating, they'll hold up against sweat and splashes of water, like light rain. They have comfortable silicone ear tips and secure-fit wings that are meant to keep them in position in your ear. Beats Fit Pro earbuds are also equipped with Active Noise Canceling and Spatial Audio so you can really get in the zone.As for battery life, they achieve up to 6 hours of listening, which can be extended to as much as 24 hours with the charging case. Beats Fit Pro earbuds run on Apple's H1 chip, and have a slew of convenient features for iPhone users, like quick pairing, hands-free Siri access and Audio Sharing with other Apple devices or Beats earbuds. That means you can sync up with your workout buddy (as long as they're using a compatible device) for tandem listening.Android users may not get all the extra perks, but they can still make use of the buds' high-quality audio and on-device controls. When pairing them in the Android app, you'll also have the option to fine tune the audio with Beats' Fit Test. In the box, Beats Fit Pro come with a charging case in the same color as the earbuds, silicone ear tips in three sizes and a USB-C charging cable.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-beats-fit-pro-noise-canceling-wireless-earbuds-are-20-percent-off-at-amazon-160536914.html?src=rss

In November, a group of non-fiction authors filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI and Microsoft of using other people's intellectual property without permission to train the former's generative AI technology. Now, more non-fiction writers are suing the companies for using their work to train OpenAI's GPT large language models (LLM). Journalists Nicholas A. Basbanes and Nicholas Gage are accusing the defendants of "massive and deliberate theft of copyrighted works" by writers like them in a proposed class action lawsuit.Professional writers "have limited capital to fund their research" and "typically self-fund their projects," they said in their complaint. Meanwhile, the defendants have "ready access to billions in capital" and "simply stole" the plaintiffs' "copyrighted works to build another billion+ dollar commercial industry," they allege. Using copyrighted works is a "deliberate strategy" by the companies, the complaint reads, and not paying writers give the defendants "an even higher profit margin." The plaintiffs added that the companies could've explored alternative financing options, such as profit sharing, but have "decided to steal" instead.Basbanes and Gage are seeking "to represent a class of writers whose copyrighted work has been systematically pilfered" by the defendants. They're seeking up to $150,000 per infringed work in damages, as well as a permanent injunction "to prevent these harms from recurring." Basbanes is a "renowned authority on the history of books and book culture." Gage, according to the CNBC, had previously worked for the Times and The Wall Street Journal.OpenAI is contending with a growing list of lawsuits filed by creatives accusing it of using their work without permission to train its LLMs, including one by fiction authors George R.R. Martin, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult. In late December 2023, The New York Times sued the company and its biggest backer, Microsoft, for using the newspaper's articles for AI training. An OpenAI representative told us at the time that both parties were engaged in "productive conversations" and that the lawsuit was unexpected.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/more-non-fiction-authors-are-suing-openai-and-microsoft-103046599.html?src=rss

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) could file a sweeping antitrust case" against Apple as soon as the first half of this year, according to The New York Times. The report says the agency is in the late stages" of its investigation, focusing on the company's control over hardware and software services and how its walled garden" approach has allegedly made it harder for rivals to compete and customers to switch to competing products.The New York Times report says the investigation has expanded beyond what was previously reported, according to people with knowledge of the meetings. Among other areas, its scope has allegedly covered how the Apple Watch is more tightly integrated with iPhone services than rival wearables and how it locks competing platforms out of iMessage.Executives from Beeper, which got into a public spat with Apple late last year over the iPhone maker's blocking of the app's iMessage integration on Android, reportedly talked with investigators. In addition, Tile, which has made Bluetooth trackers since long before the AirTag existed, allegedly sat down with the DOJ, too. The agency is said to have had conversations with" representatives from banking and payment apps about Apple's practice of blocking rivals from using tap-to-pay on the iPhone.Meta also reportedly talked with investigators. The social company allegedly encouraged" the DOJ to look into Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) privacy tool in its meetings. ATT, launched in 2021, lets users hinder advertisers' data collection, a feature Meta said in 2022 could cost it $10 billion that year. The NYT claims investigators have also looked into Apple's cut of digital purchases made on the iPhone, a point Spotify, Epic Games and dating corporation Match Group have been vocal about in recent years.The federal government currently has its hands full with Big Tech antitrust cases. The DOJ is pursuing two antitrust cases against Google (one for search and another for advertising), while the FTC has sued Meta and Amazon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-doj-is-reportedly-prepared-to-file-a-broad-antitrust-lawsuit-against-apple-213030784.html?src=rss

The Oral-B iO Series 7 smart electric toothbrush is down to $149 at Amazon after a $71 discount. That matches the best price we've seen and returns it to the low it hit for the shopping holidays last year. The deal comes as part of a larger sale in which Oral-B toothbrushes are up to 55 percent off. We named the iO Series 7 the top pick in our guide to smart toothbrushes because it hits a good balance between features and affordability (particularly if you can catch it on sale like right now).We tested a handful of smart electric toothbrushes (in this case "smart" means app-connected) and ultimately liked this one best. It has a black and white LED screen that tells you helpful info like mode, battery life and how long is left on your two minute timer. The vibrating head is vigorous but not lip-numbing like other models we tried and the lighted ring helpfully indicates whether you're pushing too hard or not quite firmly enough.If you want to brush while looking at your phone, you can watch an animated recreation of a set of teeth that slowly turns from blue to white as the internal sensors track the position and movement of your brush. It's a bit of a surreal experience, but I did notice my teeth felt cleaner after using this than they do with a standard brush.This set comes with a replacement head, travel case and charging dock which you should only need to use a couple times per month. If you want something even fancier, the Oral-B iO Series 9 is also on sale. The Series numbering refers to the level of features, not the newness of the brush, so Series 9 has extra brush modes, a color LED screen and a charging travel case - all of which the Series 7 lacks. Though in my tests, I didn't find those perks were worth an additional $100.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-smart-electric-toothbrush-is-70-off-right-now-204912632.html?src=rss

An investigative report from Bloomberg paints a disturbing picture of Twitch's difficulties in moderating the livestreaming platform -especially its Clips feature, which allows users to preserve short videos. The outlet reports that, after analyzing about 1,100 clips, it found at least 83 with sexualized content involving children. Twitch removed the videos after it was alerted, and a company spokesperson wrote to Engadget in an email that it has since invested heavily in enforcement tooling and preventative measures, and will continue to do so."Bloomberg highlighted one incident that exemplified the problem with Clips' permanent nature on the otherwise transient platform. It recounts the unsettling story of a 12-year-old boy who took to Twitch last spring to eat a sandwich and play his French horn." He soon began taking requests from viewers, which (in a sad reflection of online behavior)somehow led to the boy pulling his pants down.The outlet describes the incident as being over in an instant." Still, Clips' recording function allowed one viewer -who allegedly followed over a hundred accounts belonging to children -to preserve it. This allegedly led to over 130 views of the 20-second Clip before Twitch was notified and removed it.Clips launched in 2016 as a way to preserve otherwise ephemeral moments on the platform. The feature records 25 seconds before (and five seconds after) tapping the record button. This has the unfortunate side effect of allowing predators to save a troubling moment and distribute it elsewhere.Twitch has planned to expand Clips this year as part of a strategy to produce more TikTok-like content on the platform. It plans to launch a discovery feed (also similar to TikTok) where users can post their short videos.Bloomberg's report cites the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which reviewed the 83 exploitative videos and concluded that 34 depicted young users showing their genitals on camera. The bulk were allegedly boys between the ages of five and 12. An additional 49 clips included sexualized content featuring minors exposing body parts or being subjected to grooming efforts."The organization said the 34 most egregious" videos were viewed 2,700 times. The rest tallied 7,300 views.Twitch's responseYouth harm, anywhere online, is unacceptable, and we take this issue extremely seriously," a Twitch spokesperson wrote to Engadget. In response to being alerted to the child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the company says it's developed new models to detect potential grooming behavior and is updating its existing tools to more effectively identify and remove banned users trying to create new accounts (including for youth safety-related issues).Twitch adds that it's stepped up its safety teams' enforcement of livestreams, the root of Clips. This means that when we disable a livestream that contains harmful content and suspend the channel, because clips are created from livestreams, we're preventing the creation and spread of harmful clips at the source," the company wrote. Importantly, we've also worked to ensure that when we delete and disable clips that violate our community guidelines, those clips aren't available through public domains or other direct links."We also recognize that, unfortunately, online harms evolve," the spokesperson continued. We improved the guidelines our internal safety teams use to identify some of those evolving online harms, like generative AI-enabled Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)." Twitch added that it's expanded the list of external organizations it works with to (hopefully) snuff out any similar content in the future.Twitch's moderation problemsBloomberg reports that Clips has been one of the least moderated sections on Twitch. It also notes the company laid off 15 percent of its internal trust and safety team in April 2023 (part of a harrowing year in tech layoffs) and has grown more reliant on outside partners to squash CSAM content.Twitch's livestream-focused platform makes it a trickier moderation challenge than more traditional video sites like YouTube or Instagram. Those platforms can compare uploaded videos with hashes - digital fingerprints that can spot previously known problematic files posted online. Hash technology looks for something that's a match to something seen previously," Lauren Coffren of the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children told Bloomberg. Livestreaming means it's brand new."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitchs-clips-feature-has-reportedly-enabled-child-abuse-to-fester-on-the-platform-201058947.html?src=rss

The recently-released OnePlus Open foldable smartphone is already available at a discounted price. Amazon has knocked $200 off the total cost, bringing the device's price to $1,500. This represents a savings of 12 percent, for those keeping score. If you've got a hankering for a flagship foldable, this could be the kick in the pants you need to smash that purchase button.$1,500 is still a whole lot of cheddar, but this is a whole lot of phone. The OnePlus Open ships with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. This particular model comes unlocked, so you aren't tied to any particular provider. It also boasts a fantastic Hasselblad camera and a pair of 120Hz displays. The exterior display is 6.3-inches, while the foldable interior screen is 7.8-inches. That's a lot of visual real estate and one of the primary reasons this model made our list of the best foldable phones.In our official review of the OnePlus Open, we praised the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, the large battery and the comprehensive Open Canvas software that allows for tile-based multitasking. We also liked the slim form factor and relative lightness when compared to rival flagship smartphones. The folding hinge is solidly built and barely perceptible, unless you're looking for it.This isn't a perfect phone. It's slightly lower in price than other foldables, like the Google Pixel Fold, but there's no wireless charging option, which is an oversight for devices launched in 2023. Also, you only get an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which is far short of the IP68 classification on the aforementioned Pixel Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. Despite these caveats, this is a great foldable for the money.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-knocks-200-off-the-oneplus-open-foldable-phone-194314636.html?src=rss

Microsoft Teams is finally coming to Android Auto - an app that allows Android phones to connect to the car's pre-existing infotainment system - next month, nearly a year after being announced by Google at I/O 2023. This is according to a Microsoft 365 roadmap that details future releases.While the app launches in February, we still don't have too many details regarding how it'll be used. Microsoft has stated that you'll be able to join meetings and make calls" from the calendar view. There's no information as to whether or not it'll integrate with messages from the service or engage in some of the other Teams-specific features, like file and data collaboration. Of course, driving down a highway is probably not the best time to be fiddling with random work files.Neither Microsoft or Google have offered up any information as to why Teams took so long to release for Android Auto. Google also announced Android Auto integration for Zoom and Webex at I/O 2023. Both software suites launched on the platform back in September. Android Auto also recently got apps by The Weather Channel and YouTube. The platform even offers games for passengers or when the car is parked, including a version of Solitaire and a simple racing game called Beach Buggy Racing 2.Google says Android Auto currently integrates with 200 million cars, so the addition of Microsoft Teams is certainly a welcome one. Meanwhile, the company has also suggested that the adoption rate of Android Automotive - the similarly named but distinct product which is, unlike the Android Auto app, a full-fledge infotainment operating system - has exploded in the past year, as automobile manufacturers have begun to phase out internal infotainment systems in favor of Google's operating system. Companies like Chevrolet, Volvo, Polestar, Honda, Renault and even GM have all announced the adoption of Google's platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-teams-finally-coming-to-android-auto-nearly-a-year-after-being-announced-181847262.html?src=rss

Some companies take monitors, TVs or AI-fueled laptops to CES. Others bring a toilet seat you can talk to. The 151-year-old bathroom appliance company Kohler will introduce the PureWash E930 Bidet Seat in Las Vegas next week. The accessory fits onto most elongated toilets, transforming your dumb can into an Alexa- or Google Assistant-powered smart-loo.Kohler says the PureWash E930 Bidet Seat brings you the freshness of personal cleansing in a slim, low-profile design." At $2,149, it isn't cheap, but it could save you money - and installation hassles - compared to full-on smart toilets. (Kohler has models in the $8,000 to $10,000 range.)The PureWash E930 opens and closes its cover hands-free when it senses motion. It has a self-cleaning mode, using its built-in UV light. Using Alexa or Google Home, you can control the smart seat hands-free (no small luxury with bathroom gear). Amazon and Google's voice assistants can turn on the bidet spray, warm air dryer and UV cleaning at your command.KohlerThe accessory, which supports front and rear wash modes, has a heated seat and a remote control with two programmable presets. The bidet automatically mists the toilet bowl before use for more effective rinsing while flushing." Its water temperature and pressure are adjustable, and you can choose between oscillating or pulsating sprays.A boost spray mode (rear only) will automatically turn up your hindquarters-hosing to the maximum pressure setting. There's also a child mode, which provides a soft, gentle wash" for the little ones. When it's time to dry, it includes a warm-air system with adjustable temperature settings.The seat has LED lighting to turn your toilet into a nightlight. It even includes Kohler's Quiet-Close" technology that prevents seat slamming. The seat has a quick-release function, making it easy to remove for deeper cleanings.The PureWash E930 is available for order now (in white) from Kohler's website. A black colorway will be available in late February.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/kohlers-voice-controlled-bidet-seat-turns-your-dumb-toilet-into-a-luxurious-smart-throne-174934904.html?src=rss

Tesla has lowered range estimates for two Model Y vehicles, the Model Y Long Range and the Model Y Performance, by six percent. This brings the range of the Model Y Long Range down to 310 miles from 330 miles and the Model Y Performance to 285 miles from 303 miles. The recently-launched and budget-friendly Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive was not affected and retains its 260-mile range rating, according to reporting by Electrek.TeslaThere's no official reason why Tesla lowered the range estimates, but it's long been something of an open secret in the industry that the company tends to exaggerate these metrics. As a matter of fact, South Korea issued a hefty fine to the company for just that reason. There have also been accusations that Tesla keeps a diversion team" on staff to cancel or minimize range-related service complaints.In other words, the company likely made this move so its range estimates more accurately reflect reality and not some pie-in-the-sky thinking. It's not that the old estimates were flat-out lies. The range calculations just assumed perfect weather conditions with a perfect driver operating the vehicle with maximum efficiency. In the real world, that's very rarely the case.The EPA conducts many of these tests and acknowledges that the pristine driving conditions will very rarely match up to real-life variables. To that end, the agency gives manufacturers some leeway with raising or lowering range estimates after conducting their own tests. Many manufacturers choose to voluntarily lower the range estimate to better match driver expectations. It looks like Tesla went in the other direction.Even Tesla's algorithms acknowledge these inaccuracies. If you fully charge a Model Y and set a destination that's 260 miles away, the navigation algorithm will automatically route you through a Supercharger, as indicated by Electrek. If the range was truly, say, 330 miles, it wouldn't have to do that.For now, these changes only apply to the Long Range and Performance Model Y releases. We don't know if Tesla's other vehicles will get revised range estimates. The company doesn't have a PR/communications department, in typical Elon Musk fashion, so there's not really anyone to reach out to for more information.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-lowers-model-y-range-estimates-by-around-20-miles-165640710.html?src=rss

If you're sick of misplacing your keys, bag or even your jacket, a Bluetooth tracker can help. Walmart is currently selling a four-pack of Tile Mate tags in gray for $38. That puts them at $9.50 per tracker, which is a pretty good deal considering a set of four retails for $100 or $25 each at full price (though we've seen them selling for around $17 per fob lately). Even if you were just planning on getting two, you may as well snag this deal and get a few bonus trackers so you can get creative on what you tag, such as an umbrella or the family cat.Apple AirTags are probably the better known product in the Bluetooth tracker category, but we found plenty to like about Tile's fobs in our tests. For one, they'll work with Android phones, which AirTags just wont. They also conveniently have a hole in them, whereas Apple's smooth discs require an additional accessory to attach them to anything. And finally, when you tap Find in the Tile app, the Tile Mate rings louder than the AirTags and will helpfully keep making sound until you find your item, unlike the AirTags which ring for seven seconds then stop.That said, the Tile finding network is smaller than Apple's incredibly vast network that relies on every nearby iPhone to anonymously search for a lost AirTag. Tile's network relies on other Tile and Life 360 users, which number in the millions, and, when we simulated losing a Tile tracker out in the world, it only took a few minutes longer than Apple to send a notification that the tag had been "spotted by the community."One thing to keep in mind is that Tile requires a membership to activate separation alerts, the notification that tells you you've left your tagged items behind. The Tile Mate also doesn't have a replaceable battery. The Tile Pro trackers, which we named best companions for Android phones in our guide, have swappable batteries and are currently 37 percent off for a two-pack directly from Tile.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-tile-mate-bluetooth-trackers-is-on-sale-for-only-38-164403211.html?src=rss

Riot Games has released a brand new teaser trailer for the much-awaited second season of Arcane that's slated to hit Netflix this November. Arcane focuses on the relationship between sisters and rivals, Vi and Jinx, as they find themselves on opposing sides in the conflict between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underground city of Zaun. The new trailer features the human-turned-werewolf Warwick, as well as the mad chemist Singed, who created Shimmer, the drug at the center of the show's story.Season two looks to bring more of the same fantasy action that the first run such a hit. This a teaser trailer, otherwise known as a first look, so it's not a huge spoiler bomb or anything. Thetrailer's heavy on atmosphere but light on details. Watch it below.The developer has made a bunch of other announcements and revelations to kick off Season 2024 in League of Legends aside from releasing a new Arcane trailer. One of its announcements is the arrival of Vanguard in League in an effort to combat the growing number of bots in the game, as well as in response to disruptive smurf accounts - new accounts created by experienced players to get into matches against lower-ranked players - in Ranked and to an increase in scripting.Vanguard made its debut as Riot's always-on anti-cheat system for Valorant. Its implementation had stirred controversy, because it has a kernel-mode component that gives it access to the core of a player's computer. That said, the fact that the company is bringing to League probably means it's been effective at keeping cheaters out. Riot said Vanguard will allow it to terminate live matches and to refund LP to players when it detects that they'd played against cheaters and bots.Riot is also making changes to the game's Ranked system and how it evaluates player skill. The developer says it will reduce matchups between players of vastly different ranks, which would then translate to fewer smurfs that could make games a lot less enjoyable.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-previews-arcane-season-2-in-one-minute-teaser-trailer-161532592.html?src=rss

The holidays are just about over, but if you're looking to stock up on some new tech for the new year, we've found a handful of deals worth noting. The latest Apple AirPods Pro are back down to an all-time low of $189, for one, while our favorite budget wireless earbuds, the Soundcore Space A40, are within a dollar of their best price at $55. If you're interested in a new fitness tracker, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is at a low of $70, while the more featured Apple Watch SE is $50 off at $199. And if you're just looking to chill, several PC and Nintendo Switch games we like are also on sale. Here are the best deals from this week that you can still get today.The USB-C version of Apple's AirPods Pro is back down to $189 at Amazon and Walmart, which matches the lowest price we've tracked. Apple itself sells the noise-canceling earphones for $249, though the pair has regularly sold between $190 and $240 at third-party retailers in recent months.Either way, the AirPods Pro is the "best for iOS" pick in our guide to the best wireless earbuds. They continue to offer a number of helpful features for users of other Apple devices, including faster pairing, hands-free Siri, Find My tracking and spatial audio support. A pleasingly warm sound, a superb transparency mode and effective active noise cancellation (ANC) also help, though battery life and call quality are still just OK. We gave the Lightning-based Pros a review score of 88. If you already own that older model and just want the USB-C case, note that you can buy the latter separately.The Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for $70 at multiple retailers, including Amazon, Walmart and Target. That ties the lowest price we've seen. The offer applies to multiple color band options, though a couple of those may come with shipping delays. Fitbit normally sells the fitness tracker for $100, but we've seen it drop to $80 at various points over the past year.We call the Inspire 3 the best budget option in our fitness tracker buying guide. It accurately monitors step count, heart rate, sleep and other essential metrics in a slim, lightweight and water-resistant design. Its color OLED display is simple to navigate, and its battery can last up to 10 days per charge. It can only access GPS via your phone, however, so more dedicated runners and cyclists may want to look elsewhere. It lacks contactless payment support, too. Other Fitbit trackers are also on sale.The 40mm Apple Watch SE is down to $199 at Amazon, Walmart and other retailers. While that's $20 more than the best price we've tracked, it's still $20 less than the smartwatch's typical street price and $50 less than Apple's MSRP. We note the Watch SE in our guide to the best smartwatches as a good pick for first-time buyers or those on a budget. It offers most of the same core features as the flagship Apple Watch Series 9: notifications, heart-rate monitoring, accurate fitness tracking, fall and crash detection, emergency SOS and so on. It has a smaller display with larger bezels, but the overall design looks similar, plus it's water-resistant.The big trade-off is that the display isn't always-on, so you have to raise your wrist or tap the screen to activate it. It also lacks more advanced health features like a skin temperature sensor, ECG monitor and blood oxygen sensor. Still, if you're new to smartwatches and own an iPhone, this is a good value. We gave Watch SE a review score of 89 in September 2022.Anker's Soundcore Space A40 is the top pick in our guide to the best budget wireless earbuds, as it offers many of the features we'd expect from earphones that cost twice as much. Newegg has the pair on sale for $55 with the checkout code NNDNA88, which is $24 off its usual going rate and only a dollar more than the lowest price we've tracked. The Space A40's ANC performance belies its low price, while its compact frame is comfortable to wear for hours at a time. It can connect to two devices at once, and its battery life is solid at eight to 10 hours per charge. It also supports wireless charging. The warm sound profile isn't as detailed as more expensive pairs, but it's pleasant enough, and you can customize the EQ curve through the Soundcore app. Call quality isn't all that great, however, and your music won't auto-pause when you remove an earbud.You can grab a four-pack of Apple's AirTags for $79 at Amazon, which is a deal we've seen for much of the past month or so but still costs $20 less than buying from Apple directly. Make sure to clip the on-page coupon to see the full discount. The AirTag is the top pick for iPhone owners in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide, as it taps into Apple's giant Find My device network and its own ultra-wideband wireless tech to locate misplaced items accurately. It's also waterproof, and its battery is easily replaceable. It doesn't come with any holes or adhesives, however, so you may need to buy a separate accessory if you want to attach it to a keychain.If you want a set of Bluetooth trackers but own an Android phone, a four-pack of Tile Mates is down to $38 at Walmart. That's only about a dollar more than the lowest historical price we could find. For reference, we normally see a single Tile Mate go for around $20. Tile's trackers aren't quite as precise as AirTags, but they have the second-largest crowd-finding network after Apple, and the Mate's built-in keyring hole makes it easy to slap on a keychain. That said, you can't replace the battery, and you'll need to pay a subscription fee for separation alerts (which let you know when you've left a tracked item behind). The Mate itself isn't a top pick in our buying guide, but at less than $10 per tracker, this is a solid value.The 10th-gen iPad is on sale for $349 at Amazon, Target and Best Buy, which ties the lowest price we've tracked and takes $50 off the 10.9-inch tablet's usual going rate. This slate sits in a middle ground between the entry-level 10.2-inch iPad and the iPad Air. It's not as cheap as the former, but it has a more modern design with a larger display, thinner bezels, a faster chip and a USB-C port. Unlike either device, its front-facing camera is situated on the long edge of the device, which is generally more convenient for FaceTime calls. That said, this tablet's display and chipset are both steps down from what you get with the iPad Air, and its accessory support is more limited. It only has 64GB of storage as well. But if you need an Apple tablet today and can't pay for the Air, it's an easier buy at this price. We gave the 10th-gen iPad a review score of 85 in late 2022.You should only grab this deal if you need a tablet right away, however. According to reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple plans to refresh its entire iPad lineup throughout 2024, with the first updates potentially arriving in March. We may not see a follow-up to this iPad until later, but if you can afford to wait, that may be the safest choice.The 128GB version of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 is on sale for $700 at Amazon and Best Buy, which is the lowest price we've seen outside of special trade-in and education offers. Normally, it retails closer to $750.The Galaxy Tab S9 series is collectively the top Android recommendation in our tablet buying guide. This is the entry-level model, but it shares most of the same perks as the larger (and more expensive) Galaxy Tab S9+ and Tab S9 Ultra. Its 11-inch 120Hz OLED display is fast and vibrant, its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip delivers superb performance and it comes with Samsung's reliable S Pen stylus. The sturdy design also has an IP68 water-resistance rating, so you can safely take it in the tub or pool. Android still isn't as optimized for large screens as Apple's iPadOS, but Samsung's OneUI software makes multitasking at least a little more manageable. All of this is still more tablet than most people need, but if you want an Android alternative to the 11-inch iPad Pro, it's likely your best bet.We highlighted the Epic Games Store's Holiday Sale when it kicked off last month, but since this is the last deals roundup we'll publish before the sale ends on January 10, consider this a last-call PSA. A number of worthwhile PC games are still down to the lowest prices we've seen with a recurring 33 percent coupon. The survival horror game Alan Wake 2 is down to $27, for one, and now comes bundled with a voucher for Alan Wake Remastered. The rhythm-action game Hi-Fi Rush is available for $15, while the wholesome open-world game Tchia is available for $13. Other newish hits like the Dead Space remake, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Remnant II are also notably discounted. Many of those titles made our annual Games of the Year roundup last week. Meanwhile, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, a staff favorite from 2021, is now free to claim until January 11.Beyond the PC, we're also seeing a few lows on digital games we like for the Nintendo Switch. Two picks from our guide to the best couch co-op games, the silly stealth game Untitled Goose Game and the heartfelt adventure game Chicory: A Colorful Tale, are each down to $9 at Walmart. So is the chill puzzler Unpacking, which we highlight in our guide to the best relaxing games. Another couch co-op pick, the tender management sim Spiritfarer, is back down to $7.49 on the Nintendo eShop.Other highlights include the sharply written adventure Kentucky Route Zero for $12 and the RPG Divinity: Original Sin- the previous game from Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios - for $25. The acclaimed 2D platformer Celeste is also worth a look at $6, though that's not quite an all-time low.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-airpods-pro-fall-to-a-low-of-189-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-155430093.html?src=rss

Samsung is looking to boost the game-streaming ecosystem around its smart TVs with a certification program. Ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the company today unveiled Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub, which gives third-party accessory makers an official designation that their gear works with the platform. The program's first licensed gamepad, from PDP, is available for pre-order.Hardware partners who work with Samsung through the program will add a Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub" badge to their products. Although Samsung Gaming Hub works with most standard Bluetooth gamepads, the company says the designation means the controller will provide the best possible game streaming experience on Samsung Gaming Hub, regardless of the supported Samsung device players choose." Samsung describes the label as signifying compatibility, quality, performance, safety and security" on its devices.However, if you already own a Bluetooth gamepad that works with Samsung Gaming Hub - and you don't care about dedicated shortcut buttons - you should be fine sticking with that.Samsung Gaming Hub includes a solid list of game streaming services, including Xbox Game Pass, GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Boosteroid, Blacknut, Utomik and Antstream Arcade. (The dearly departed Google Stadia was once on that list.) In addition, it can stream content from Spotify, Twitch and YouTube.The first hardware partner product with certification is the PDP Replay Wireless Controller. It offers up to 40 hours of battery life with a low-latency Bluetooth connection for up to 30 feet away. It has a dedicated button to launch the Samsung Gaming Hub, as well as TV power and volume buttons.The PDP Replay is available for pre-order today at PDP's website, and Samsung says Amazon and Best Buy will sell it later.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-will-certify-controllers-optimized-for-game-streaming-on-its-smart-tvs-140031028.html?src=rss

It's the week before CES officially kicks off in Las Vegas, but our fingers are already tired from typing up a ton of early news. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss the big topics they expect to see at CES 2024 (AI PCs will be huge, we swear!), as well as some of the stories that have already landed, like Dell's revamped XPS line. Also, we explore some of 2023's biggest winners and losers (just take a guess where Twitter ends up), and we chat about Apple Fitness+ highlighting Super Bowl halftime performers. And for a bit of fun conjecture, we explore the possibility of Apple purchasing Peloton to bolster its health ambitions.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!Topics

Last year's Dell XPS 13 Plus looked slightly different to the XPS laptops preceding it. But the company seemed to like it, because it's now retooled the rest of the XPS lineup to match. Yes, CES 2024 hasn't even had its press days yet, let alone started in earnest, but Dell is busy.The new XPS 13, 14 and 16 laptops all sport the XPS 13 Plus' glass wrist rest, which hides an invisible haptic touchpad. They also pack touch-sensitive function buttons above the keyboard and larger keycaps for your typing ease. These laptop keyboards are also among the first to get that spicey new Copilot key. Swoon.This new XPS lineup will be available soon, with the XPS 13 starting at $1,300, the XPS 14 at $1,700 and the XPS 16 at $1,900. Read our first impressions here.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThe new Razer Blade 16 laptop will have world's first 16-inch 240Hz OLED displayWhat to expect at CES 2024The best power banks for 2024The return of the physical iPhone keyboard caseClicks has made cases for the latest iPhone models.A company called Clicks is introducing a new iPhone keyboard accessory if you're still (still!) pining for the typing experience of a BlackBerry. The keyboard sits at the bottom of the case and doesn't cover any part of the screen or device at all other than its back and edges. Instead, it extends the phone's length, so it could make your iPhone 15 Pro Max even more of a pocket-breaker. But maybe that's the price of having a physical keyboard.Continue reading.Qualcomm will debut upgraded VR headset chips at CES 2024The company continues to beef up its silicon for VR, MR and the rest.Qualcomm is teasing a new VR/MR chip for CES. The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 is an update to the vanilla XR2 Gen 2, revealed last year. The chip is for virtual reality headsets, mixed reality headsets and even other wearables. It'll support 4.3K per eye resolution, compared to 3K per eye with the previous version, and can integrate with up to 12 cameras at once, up from 10, for improved body tracking.Continue reading.Yes, this is an Xbox Series S toasterIt goes with your Xbox fridge.WalmartFor $40, you can now buy an Xbox Series S toaster. Thanks, Walmart. It'll even toast the Xbox sphere logo onto your bread. It also has six browning levels, an LED countdown and crumb tray - but no ray tracing.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-dell-updates-its-xps-laptops-121516778.html?src=rss

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) recently accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing eight employees who wrote an open letter criticizing Elon Musk's behavior on social media, as well as the company's response to it. Now, according to Bloomberg, SpaceX is trying to stall the complaint's progress by suing the labor board. The company reportedly argues in its lawsuit that the complaint should be dismissed because the NLRB's structure is "unconstitutional."SpaceX's lawsuit attacks the way the labor board conducts its hearings. The NLRB uses its own administrative judges for its proceedings, and the company says that deprives it of its "constitutional right to trial by jury." Companies can appeal rulings by agency judges to NLRB members in Washington, and they could even go as far as to escalate their appeal to federal court. SpaceX apparently told the court that the case against it should be put on hold to prevent the company from having to go through "protracted administrative proceedings before an unconstitutionally structured agency."The open letter at the center of this case called Musk's behavior on social media "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment." It called out the executive's "harmful Twitter behavior," including a tweet wherein he made a joke about the sexual misconduct allegation made against him. The letter asked the company to hold all leadership accountable for their actions and to condemn harmful behavior. SpaceX fired a total of nine employees over the letter, the NLRB's complaint said, which means they were illegally fired for "engaging in protected concerted activity at work."In its lawsuit, SpaceX said the open letter "caused significant distraction to SpaceX employees around the country" and that it fired the employees involved "for violating numerous company policies." As Reuters notes, the private space corporation used a similar tactic in the past to block the US Department of Justice from pursuing an administrative case that accused the company of discriminatory hiring practices. SpaceX also filed a lawsuit protesting the fact that the Justice Department's administrative judges have powers reserved for President-appointed officials even though they were only appointed by the US attorney general. The company successfully convinced the judge to pause the administrative case against it while its own lawsuit was ongoing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spacex-sues-nlrb-in-an-attempt-to-interrupt-unfair-labor-case-115553497.html?src=rss

Tesla is recalling 1.62 million vehicles in China over the same Autopilot safety issue that forced it to upgrade two million vehicles in the US. As before, fixes will be done will be via free over-the-air (OTA) updates to add features that ensure drivers pay attention while using Tesla's driver assistance system. It affects nearly every Tesla ever sold in the country, including imported Model S and Model X vehicles along with Model 3 and Model Y EVs made in China.According to China's State Administration for Market Regulations (SAMR), drivers may "misuse the level 2 combined driving assistance function, increase the risk of vehicle collision and posing safety risks." Like in the US, the OTA update will incorporate additional controls and alerts that encourage drivers to continue monitoring the vehicle when Tesla's Autosteer function is engaged.Tesla is also recalling 7,538 imported Model S and Model X vehicles to fix a problem that may prevent doors from unlocking in the event of a collision - an issue also addressed earlier in the US. That recall will be done via an OTA update as well, with no need for customers to go to Tesla stores.Stateside, the NHTSA has kept its investigation into Autopilot safety controls open as it monitors Tesla's fixes. The regulator said last August that it was opening an investigation into Autopilot following 11 crashes with parked first responder vehicles since 2018 that resulted in 17 injuries and one death. In a letter to Tesla sent shortly afterward, the regulator requested detailed documentation on Autopilot to know how it ensures that human drivers will keep their eyes on the road while Autopilot is engaged and whether there are limits on where it can be used.Earlier this week, Tesla said that it delivered a record 1.8 million EVs around the world. Over half of those (944,779 EVs) were sold in China, making it the company's biggest market by far. Tesla's Shanghai plant can produce up to 1.1 million Model 3 and Model Y cars a year for the Chinese market and exports to Europe, Australia and New Zealand.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-to-recall-162-million-vehicles-in-china-over-autopilot-safety-controls-112013422.html?src=rss

With CES 2024 almost upon us, we're about to hear more talk about smart homes than the rest of the year combined. Samsung has started the proceedings by announcing that it's partnering with Tesla and Hyundai to expand SmartThings into the areas of home energy and vehicle/home automation.The partnership with Tesla will allow owners of the company's EVs, along with products like Powerwall and Solar Inverter, to monitor and control their homes using Samsung's SmartThings Energy app - displaying information related to energy production, storage and usage.For instance, Powerwall users will be able to sync the Tesla app's "Storm Watch" function to their home devices, so they can be alerted to extreme weather events like hurricanes or snowfall through connected Samsung TVs and smartphones. It'll also let you activate the AI Energy Mode before and during power outages to conserve remaining Powerwall energy.Other companies will be able to do the same, as Tesla recently published its "FleetAPI" app that lets developers interact with Powerwall, Solar and Wall Connector in addition to its EVs. Samsung is among the first to hop on board, though. "We are pleased that Samsung has chosen to be an early developer, given its leading position in consumer smart home technology," said Tesla's Drew Baglino.SamsungSamsung has also teamed with Hyundai to expand its SmartThings platform to Hyundai's EVs and other vehicles, allowing "Home-to-Car" and "Car-to-Home" services. That'll let you connect your smart home to a Hyundai car's infotainment system so you can control one with the other. For instance, you'll be able to start your car via the SmartThings app, control the air conditioning, open and close windows and check charging status. And from the car, you'll be able to control home appliances like TVs, AC and EV chargers.It'll also allow you to create a routine where your home lights and climate control are activate when the car arrives home, or the ability to set the car to an ideal temperature after your smartphone's alarm goes off. At the same time, you'll be able to monitor energy information about EVs and chargers to set the optimal time for charging a vehicle, based on factors like energy pricing, solar panel data and more.The new features sound useful, particularly if you have an EV or Tesla power system installed. It's still under development, but Samsung will be providing an early look at its CES 2024 booth next week.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-partners-with-tesla-and-hyundai-to-offer-deeper-smart-home-and-ev-controls-093945383.html?src=rss

Google has just disabled third-party cookies for one percent of Chrome users, years after it first introduced its Privacy Sandbox project. The company announced late last year that it will kick things off by disabling cookies for a random one percent of Chrome users globally on January 4. Chrome owns more than half of the worldwide browser market share, and according to Gizmodo, that means Google has killed cookies for 30 million users.People included in this rollout will see a notification when they launch their browser telling them they're one of the first to experience Tracking Protection. It also explains that Tracking Protection limits sites from using third-party cookies to track them as they browse. Since this rollout is bound to break a few websites that have yet to adapt to a change that will affect most people who go on the internet, Google will allow users to temporary re-enable third-party cookies. They can do so by clicking on the eye icon that's now on their browser bar to toggle off the new feature.Google's Privacy Sandbox initiative, just like its name implies, was designed to be an alternative to cookies that will allow advertisers to serve users ads while also protecting their privacy. It assigns users to groups according to their interests, based on their recent browsing activities, and advertisers can use that information to match them with relevant ads. The system is supposed to be less invasive than cookies - all data and processing take place on the device itself, and Google says it will store user interests for three weeks. The project has caught the attention of regulators over concerns that it will make the company even more powerful than it already is. But if all goes well, Google will continue rolling out Tracking Protection over the next few months until it has disabled third-party cookies for all Chrome users by mid-2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-has-started-disabling-third-party-cookies-for-chrome-users-060955481.html?src=rss

A UK-based company called Clicks is introducing a new iPhone accessory at CES 2024 in Las Vegas that you might like if you loved BlackBerry phones. It's a case and a full physical keyboard in one that you can attach to the iPhone if you want a more tactile typing experience, which kinda brings back memories of Ryan Seacrest's Typo Keyboard from a decade ago. The company's creator keyboard sits at the bottom of the case and doesn't cover any part of the screen or any part of the device at all other than its back and edges. Instead, it extends the phone's length, giving you full view of whatever is on the display even while you're typing.That keyboard connects to the iPhone through its Lighting or USB-C port, depending on what model you have, and allows you to charge your phone as usual. It doesn't have a Bluetooth connection, but that also means it's not powered by a battery you'll need to charge. You can switch on its backlight if you want to use it at night or in the dark, and you can use a bunch of keyboard shortcuts if you want to navigate your device without using the touchscreen. To scroll down web pages, for instance, you can press the space bar. That said, its keys do look terribly small, and you may find yourself having a difficult time typing if you have larger hands and fingers.Clicks is founded by content creators Michael Fisher (MrMobile) and Kevin Michaluk (CrackBerry Kevin), who said that the iPhone keyboard was designed by "a dream team of tech industry veterans." Michaluk added: "We labored over every decision from exactly how the buttons should feel to the keyboard layout, ensuring it would be intuitive for iPhone users." You can order the Clicks creator keyboard from the company's website right now for $139, but shipping won't begin until February 1.ClicksWe're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/clicks-wants-to-make-physical-iphone-keyboard-cases-a-thing-again-180001724.html?src=rss

Razer is previewing two new Blade laptops, which it will officially unveil next week at CES 2024. The company says the new Razer Blade 16 has the world's first 16-inch 240Hz OLED panel, and the updated Razer Blade 18 has an 18-inch 4K 165Hz one. It hasn't revealed pricing or full specs yet, but Razer will roll out more details next week in Las Vegas.The new Razer Blade 16 looks to improve on the display in last year's model, which was already impressive. Razer says the OLED panel in the 2024 version was co-developed by Samsung Display. In addition to its QHD+ resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, it has a 0.2ms response time, and it's VESA Certified ClearMR 11000, a standard that grades motion blur by its ratio of clear to blurry pixels. The panel has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and its black levels will likely impress with VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification.Meanwhile, the 2024 Blade 18 moves from the 2023 model's QHD, 240Hz panel to a 4K, 165Hz one. It has a 3ms response time with Nvidia G-Sync support and covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 color space.Although Razer is withholding the devices' full specs until their official CES 2024 reveal on Monday, it added that they're built with high-grade CNC aluminum unibody construction, and they have a 16:10 aspect ratio, up to" an 89 percent screen-to-body ratio and ultra-thin bezels. Both Razer Blade laptops are Calman Verified and have a color accuracy certification. They're also individually calibrated in the factory.Engadget will be on the ground in Las Vegas starting this weekend, and we'll have the full details and hands-on impressions for both of the new Razer Blade laptops.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/razers-2024-blade-16-laptop-will-have-a-240hz-oled-display-172153672.html?src=rss

Set your calendars. Martin Scorsese's latest and greatest, Killers of the Flower Moon, is premiering globally on Apple TV+ in just over a week. The film drops on January 12. It was originally released in theaters on November 20, which means it'll be 12 weeks before arriving on a streaming service, which has become fairly standard in recent years.We knew this would drop on Apple TV+, as Apple Studios financed the film and arranged for theatrical distribution. We just didn't know when, and now we do. Incidentally, this is the first Apple-financed film to get a wide theatrical release.Killers of the Flower Moon is a great match for streaming, as it's well over three hours long, which made for some frantic trips to the theater bathroom once the credits rolled. The movie stars Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Jesse Plemons and is set in 1920s Oklahoma. The narrative is based on a true story and follows the serial murders of members of the Osage Nation tribe. There's a lot more than that, but we ain't about to start handing out spoilers like candy. Watch the movie. It's good.To that end, Killers of the Flower Moon has been nabbing up award nominations left and right, including 12 Critics Choice nominations and seven Golden Globe nominations. It was also named to the American Film Institute's list of Motion Pictures of the Year. Oscar nominations don't drop until later this month, but it's likely to make several appearances across multiple categories.This is the biggest film to come from Apple Studios, but not the only notable release. Coda, another Apple original, actually won Best Picture at the 2021 Academy Awards. Apple is also behind Ridley Scott's Napoleon and forthcoming releases by directors Jon Watts and Matthew Vaughn, among others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/scorseses-killers-of-the-flower-moon-premieres-globally-on-apple-tv-on-january-12-165918214.html?src=rss

Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is on sale for just $80 for today only from QVC. This is the latest iteration, originally released in 2023, and ships with 32GB of storage. You also have your pick of various colorways, including green, lavender and black. The regular price on this tablet is $140, so this represents a discount of $60. Incidentally, the sale price of $80 matches what was found on Black Friday, so consider this a bit of a holiday extension.This isn't the lowest price ever for the Fire HD 10 tablet, but it's the lowest for the current eleventh-gen device. We've seen this tablet go on sale for $75, but that was for the 2021 release.The Fire HD 10 is a capable tablet, considering the price, and is a great device for viewing streaming content, browsing the web and playing simple mobile games. It has a USB-C port, which is always nice, and a 2GHz octa-core processor. The HD touchscreen boasts a 1920x1200 resolution, there's 3GB of RAM and a pair of HD cameras on the front and rear. You can also expand the storage via a microSD slot.Is this an iPad Pro? Nope. Not even close. But it gets the job done. I used a Fire HD 10 as my primary content streaming device for years and it was just fine. The Wi-Fi was snappy, Alexa was helpful and the actual headphone jack made it so I didn't have to go digging for an adapter just to have some privacy while I watched Netflix in bed. Again, this deal ends today.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-2023-amazon-fire-hd-10-tablet-is-cheaper-than-ever-in-a-one-day-sale-160446037.html?src=rss

Google Bard Advanced is coming, and it may represent the company's first attempt to charge for an AI chatbot. The code on Bard's website shows the opportunity to get three months free of Bard Advanced - implying that it will come at a cost after that. X (formerly Twitter) user Bedros Pamboukian shared the discovered code, which also includes a defunct Google One link. This could mean that users will be required to get a Google One subscription to access Bard Advanced.

Apple Fitness+ is adding new content for the new year. The workout service's Artist Spotlight series celebrates the Super Bowl halftime show with playlists devoted to recent performers (including this year's artist, Usher). In addition, new meditations, programs and Time to Walk episodes will arrive soon.The Apple Fitness+ Artist Spotlight series dedicates entire workout playlists (across various exercises) to a single artist. In this case, it will devote them to several: Rihanna (available January 8), Britney Spears (January 15), U2 (January 22) and Usher (February 5, ahead of his performance).Three of the four artists have been (or soon will be) Super Bowl halftime headliners: Rihanna in 2023, U2 in 2002 and Usher in 2024. Spears hasn't had top billing, but she performed in the 2001 show, co-headlined by Aerosmith and NSYNC.Fitness+ is also adding sound meditations. Apple says they'll only include light guidance" from the trainer, leaving room for you to focus on the tranquil sounds of singing bowls and the deep pitch of gongs, all arranged to create a sense of ease." There will be seven sound-themed meditations, arriving every week. You can choose between five, 10, and 20-minute sessions.Apple Fitness+ will soon let you walk with Al Roker.NBC via Getty ImagesTime to Walk, Apple's series of celebrity-guided audio walking experiences, is adding Al Roker. The Today Show weather anchor and co-host will share what he learned about mentorship, including a pivotal chat with his father. Other episodes will feature rapper and actor Common (who already works with Apple on the sci-fi series Silo), Trixie Mattel (aka Brian Firkus, RuPaul's Drag Race), actor Colman Domingo (Rustin) and author / actor Lilly Singh will host episodes.50 of Apple's older Time to Walk episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts. Celebrity guests on the available content will include Prince William, Al Roker (again!), Patti LaBelle, Becky G, Simu Liu, Malala Yousafzai, Camila Cabello, Dolly Parton, Jason Segel and Shawn Mendes. Although the podcast version will omit guest-chosen songs and photos, you can still access those through the Fitness+ app. In addition, anyone who isn't subscribed to Fitness+ can listen to 10 free Time to Walk episodes on Apple Podcasts.Golfers will get some love from the service, too. Apple is adding a new workout program designed for links enthusiasts. The workouts will blend strength, core, and yoga training, focused on the specific strength, balance, flexibility and mobility golfers need. The workouts will feature (and were designed by) pro golfer Rose Zhang. Whether people are new to the sport or want to advance their skills, I'm excited that the workouts in this program on Fitness+ will help users feel more confident in their swing and have fun on the course," Zhang said. Fitness+ trainer Kyle Ardill will lead the videos.Apple has partnered with Anytime Fitness, a US gym franchise, to offer perks to use both companies' services. First, prospective members" who try Anytime Fitness will get up to three months" of Apple Fitness+ for free. In addition, Fitness+ subscribers who join the gym and sign up for at least a 12-month membership will get their first 30 days for no charge. The Anytime Fitness app on iOS will also integrate with Apple Fitness+ workouts.Apart from the Artist Spotlight rollouts, Apple hasn't shared specific launch dates for the new content. However, it said the new features will arrive starting Monday, January 8."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-fitness-will-spotlight-super-bowl-halftime-performers-140053585.html?src=rss

Qualcomm will be bringing a new VR/MR chip to CES 2024 in Las Vegas next week. The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 is an update to the standard XR2 Gen 2 that was revealed back in September. The chip is intended for use in virtual reality headsets, mixed-reality headsets and other wearables.The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 supports 4.3K per eye resolution, compared to 3K per eye with the previous version, and can integrate with up to 12 cameras at once, up from 10, for passthrough and body tracking. To that end, Qualcomm promises that devices with this chip will be able to enter full-color passthrough in less than 12ms.QualcommAs for standard specs, the XR2+ Gen 2 will be able to handle content up to 90 fps. This chip also represents an improvement in raw power, with an approximate CPU speed increase of 20 percent and a GPU increase of 15 percent compared to last year's chip. It's worth noting that all of this is on one chip to preserve space. There's not a lot of room for this stuff in many VR headsets.Qualcomm is bringing just the chip to CES and hasn't announced any devices to go along with it. It has, however, said that it's working on something with Samsung and Google that will involve the XR2+ Gen 2. The previous XR2 Gen 2 chip powers the recently launched Meta Quest 3 virtual reality headset, so this upgrade should allow for even beefier standalone headsets in the near future.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/qualcomms-improved-snapdragon-xr2-chip-for-vr-headsets-will-debut-at-ces-2024-140047958.html?src=rss

Ford's F-150 Lightning electric pickup was one of the few models to retain the full $7,500 US tax credit for 2024, but a lot of that advantage is about to be negated. The price of 2024 models is set to rise from $49,995 to $54,995 (excluding delivery charges and incentives), while the next model up, the XLT, is going up massively by $10,000 to $64,995, according to a report from The Detroit Free Press seen by The Verge. The 2023 models will retain the same pricing.Buyers eyeing premium versions of the F-150 Lightning are in luck, however. The Platinum model with a 300 mile EPA estimated range is dropping from $91,995 to $84,995, while the price for the Platinum Black (pictured above) is falling $5,000 to $92,995. A complete list of the changes is pictured below (excludes destination charge):

Tetris always endures. The blocks keep coming and the game itself gets reinterpreted, twisted and remade for new generations. Now, a 13-year-old boy has become the first person to beat' the NES version of Tetris, 34 years after it was first released.Yes, beat' goes in quotes because there's no way to complete the game. Instead, he played such a flawless game that he forced a kill screen, from an overflow error. While he's the first person to do this, but not the first time it's been achieved: An AI program called StackRabbit forced a kill screen with the NES Tetris back in 2021.But hey, we got there eventually.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedRoku's 'high-end' Pro Series TVs feature Mini LED screensThe best fitness trackers for 2024JLab's first premium ANC headphones will cost just $80Microsoft Copilot keyboard keys are comingComing soon to a Windows 11 PC near you.MicrosoftMicrosoft calls this "the first significant change to the Windows PC keyboard in nearly three decades" in a blog post ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas. The Copilot key immediately summons Microsoft's AI companion to do your bidding, and while yes it is just a key, it signifies how serious the company is taking its AI moves. The last time it tweaked the keyboard in a major way might have been the Windows key, following the introduction of the Start menu.Continue reading.LG's 2024 OLED TVs can hit 144Hz refresh ratesThe big CES TV spec fight begins.LG revealed its new lineup of OLED TVs, just days before CES 2024 starts. Its Signature OLED M4 and OLED G4 TVs will have an updated AI processor that offers four times the performance of last year's models. The refresh rates have also been improved. Last year's models capped out at 120Hz, but both the M4 and G4 will now hit refresh rates of up to 144Hz. Marginal? Yes. But better? Yes. Expect the prices to appear closer to going on sale.Continue reading.Finally, you can smoke indoorsBBQ meats, we mean.GEAfter an Indiegogo campaign amassed over $800,000 in funding, GE Appliances is bringing its indoor smoker to consumers nationwide - before CES even started. While the design has been updated since it first appeared, it's still the same thing: a countertop device for all your BBQ smoking needs. I'm British and don't understand good BBQ, so please read on for Billy Steele's explanation - he knows what he's talking about.Continue reading.Jack Black will reportedly play Steve in the long-delayed Minecraft movieHe'll co-star with Jason Momoa.Is there a video game character Black won't play?Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-someone-finally-beat-nes-tetris-121503520.html?src=rss

Dell is bringing the bold design of last year's XPS 13 Plus to the rest of the XPS lineup ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas - and now that includes new 14-inch and 16-inch models. The "Plus" name is also gone entirely: the new models are simply called the XPS 13, 14 and 16. They all sport the defining featured of the XPS 13 Plus: A seamless glass wrist rest, which hides an invisible haptic touchpad right in the middle; touch sensitive function buttons above the keyboard; and large key caps for more comfortable typing. And notably, the larger two models fix some of my biggest issues with the XPS 13 Plus.Once again, minimalism is the defining theme for Dell with these computers: They're all polished aluminum and glass at first glance. They're also dominated by their screens: in true Dell fashion, they feature the company's ultra-thin "Infinity Edge" screen bezels. (These computers are also among the first to get dedicated Windows Copilot keys.)Dell arguably went a bit overboard with the minimalism angle last year. The XPS 13 Plus only had two USB-C ports and didn't have a headphone jack. That's true of the XPS 13 this year as well, but not so for the XPS 14 and 16. They both feature headphone jacks, three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and a microSD card slot. (Dell also includes a USB C to USB Type A and HDMI adapters in the box, which notably don't come with the XPS 13.)All of these new laptops feature Intel's new Core Ultra chips, which means they also include NPUs to deal with AI work. So even without a dedicated GPU, they have the potential to be more useful for some creative work compared to Dell's last XPS machines (or at the very least, deliver some killer Windows Studio Effect backgrounds during video chats). But if you need additional graphics power, the XPS 14 and 16 can also be configured with NVIDIA's RTX 40-series GPUs.Each new XPS machine also includes variable refresh rate FHD+ screens, ranging form 30hz to 120Hz. But they can also be equipped with OLED screens: the XPS 13 and 14 have optional 3K OLED screens with a maximum 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate, respectively, while the XPS 16 has a 4K OLED panel that can hit 90Hz. Those higher refresh rates make a big difference: Last year plenty of productivity laptops were achieving smoother screens thank to higher refresh rates, so it's nice to see that finally reach the XPS machines.The XPS 14. Just look at that headphone jack!Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetI was a bit disappointed by the XPS 13 Plus because its touchpad was a bit finicky and it really needed more ports. But the XPS 14 seems like it could be the step forward Dell was originally aiming for - especially since its 14.5-inch screen looks almost as big as a 15-incher if you squint a bit. It's also relatively light at 3.7 pounds (3.8 pounds with OLED), so it's a potential powerhouse that would be easy to move around.The XPS 16 also looks like a genuinely compelling option for Windows users who demand massive screens. Sure, its 16.3-inch screen is smaller than the old XPS 17, but it's also a half-pound lighter. For many power users, that tradeoff may be worth it.Dell's new XPS lineup will be available soon, with the XPS 13 starting at $1,300, the XPS 14 at $1,700 and the XPS 16 at $1,900.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dell-unveils-new-xps-13-14-and-16-laptops-ahead-of-ces-2024-110041195.html?src=rss

Waking up in the mornings is especially hard in these cold, dark winter months. Now there's a fun incentive to do so, thanks to the release of the Xbox Series S Toaster. For $40 you can get it from Walmart and have the Xbox sphere logo toasted onto your bread every day - a dream fulfilled that you never knew you had? The Xbox Series S toaster was first spotted in France back in March 2023, with gaming deals poster Wario64 sharing the news of its US arrival on X (formerly Twitter).The toaster is more than a fun gimmick: It fits two slices of bread, has six browning levels available, an LED countdown and a removable crumb tray. It also offers bagel and defrost settings.The toaster isn't Xbox's first foray into kitchen appliances. The Xbox Series X "Mini Fridge" started as a meme in 2021 and became a six-foot, 400-pound reality. Now, its third iteration is on sale for $199, down from $250. The Xbox Series X Compact Fridge is actually mini at just over two-feet tall, with a matte black exterior and Xbox green light glowing inside it. The freezer compartment reads: "Power your dreams" - for that extra motivation you need when grabbing a drink mid-gaming.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-now-buy-the-xbox-series-s-toaster-for-40-104548270.html?src=rss

Coming soon to a Windows 11 PC near you: A dedicated keyboard key for Microsoft's Copilot AI. The company calls this "the first significant change to the Windows PC keyboard in nearly three decades" in a blog post ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Just like how the Windows key serves as a quick way to open up the Windows Start menu, the Copilot key immediately summons Microsoft's AI companion to do your bidding.While it's not a huge surprise to see Copilot manifest itself in the real world, especially given just how much Microsoft has been pushing AI over the past year, it's a bit of a shock to see it happen so quickly. The company claims the Copilot key is "another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC." Sure, let's go with that.Microsoft says the Copilot key will appear in new PCs coming this Spring (expect to hear more about them during CES 2024), as well as in future Surface devices. Symbolically, the key is yet another sign that Microsoft thinks of Copilot as an essential element of Windows' future. At this point, it's just as important as the Start Menu to the company - it's not hard to imagine a future where the Start Menu fuses with Copilot entirely. But for now, baby steps.Now here's a video of someone hitting a key:We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-copilot-keyboard-keys-are-coming-to-windows-11-pcs-at-ces-2024-080126519.html?src=rss

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against SpaceX, accusing it of unlawfully firing eight employees involved in writing a letter that called Elon Musk's behavior on social media "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment." According to the filing, the company committed an unfair labor practice when it fired the workers for "engaging in protected concerted activity at work." It also accused SpaceX of interrogating at least one employee about the letter, as well as about the identities of their colleagues and the nature of their "concerted protected activity."In addition, the complaint said SpaceX created an "impression of surveillance" by showing an employee screenshots of a Signal group chat several employees were a part of. The open letter at the center of this case was calling out Musk's "harmful Twitter behavior" before he acquired the website now known as X. In particular, the employees raised concerns about the crude jokes he made on X about the sexual misconduct accusations against him, which SpaceX settled for $250,000. The letter asked the company to hold leadership accountable for their actions and to condemn harmful behavior.The employees involved in writing the letter circulated it within the company in mid-2022. According to The New York Times, SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell reprimanded them within a few hours of sending it out and told them to "stop flooding employee communication channels immediately." Five employees were reportedly fired the next day, and four others were fired over July and August. Only one of them didn't take part in filing the unfair labor practice complaint. "At SpaceX the rockets may be reusable, but the people who build them are treated as expendable," Paige Holland-Thielen, one of the fired employees, told The Times. "I am hopeful these charges will hold SpaceX and its leadership accountable for their long history of mistreating workers and stifling discourse."The case is slated to go before an administrative judge on March 5, though the company could settle before it takes place. If the NLRB decides that the company has violated labor laws, it can order SpaceX to reinstate workers and to give them appropriate backpay. SpaceX could appeal the decision to the board and then to a federal court, though, so it could be a long journey for the employees involved.Musk has been at odds with the NLRB for years through his other companies. The board previously accused X of illegally firing an employee who pushed back against his return-to-office policy. Meanwhile, Tesla has dealt with several NLRB complaints, including one accusing the automaker of illegally terminating employees in retaliation for union activity.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nlrb-accuses-spacex-of-illegally-firing-workers-for-criticizing-elon-musk-075244828.html?src=rss

It's almost time for CES, which means that, among many other things, there'll soon be a heap of new monitors vying for your attention. Dell is hoping that its new UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor will stand out from the pack. Announced days before CES 2024 is set to kick off, this model is the "first 40-inch 5K monitor certified for five-star eye comfort," Dell claims.Five-star eye comfort is a new industry standard stemming from TUV Rheinland. The aim is to highlight displays that help reduce signs of eye fatigue. Dell says it did three things to achieve this certification with the latest UltraSharp monitors. First, it doubled the refresh rate to 120Hz for smoother visuals. It incorporated an ambient light sensor, which allows the monitors to automatically adjust screen brightness and color temperature to match the light conditions. Dell cites studies suggesting this can help reduce the frequency of eye fatigue signs by up to 17 percent.DellLast but not least, Dell says it upgraded its ComfortView Plus tech with the help of an advanced LED backlight to reduce blue light exposure from 50 percent to under 35 percent. This, too, can help reduce signs of eye fatigue.None of that should diminish the monitor's performance. Dell says the UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub has a 99 percent DCI-P3 / Display P3 color space and 1.07 billion colors. It's VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified and features IPS Black Panel tech and a 2,000:1 contrast ratio.On the connectivity front, there's Thunderbolt 4 support with up to 140W power delivery. An Ethernet connection allows for speeds of up to 2.5 Gbps, while there are HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 ports. Dell notes that pop-out front-facing USB-A and USB-C ports should make it easy to connect and charge your devices.DellIf the 40-inch model is perhaps too much real estate for your needs, you might want to consider Dell's 34-inch variant. The UltraSharp 34 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor also features TUV Rheinland five-star eye comfort certification, IPS Black technology and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. It's not a 5K monitor, however, as it has a WQHD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440.Both monitors will be available globally starting on February 27. The UltraSharp 40 Curved Thunderbolt Hub Monitor starts at $2,400 in the US and $3,290 CAD in Canada. The 34-inch model will run you $1,020 in the US and $1,400 CAD north of the border.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/dell-unveils-its-curved-40-inch-5k-monitor-at-ces-claiming-five-star-eye-comfort-050102378.html?src=rss

LG just announced that it will bring a brand-new 27-inch 480Hz QHD OLED gaming display to CES 2024 in Las Vegas, which the company is calling an industry first and a new era of OLEDS." This panel was developed by LG Display, so it won't actually be available for purchase. Rather, the tech will be sold to other companies for use in forthcoming gaming monitors.480Hz is a blazingly fast refresh rate, and may also be something of a bummer if you bought into last year's 240Hz displays. This latest OLED monitor boasts QHD (2560x1440) resolution and a response time of just 0.03ms, which LG says is the quickest of any panel on the market today."LG also promises enhanced image quality via the company's proprietary META technology, not to be confused with that other Meta. This tech incorporates a micro lens array to maximize the emission of light from the OLED panel and minimize external reflections. This should be especially helpful when navigating darker-than-average gameplay environments.The company says this display emits the lowest level of blue light in the industry", at around half the amount emitted by standard LCDs. This is useful to minimize eye fatigue, of course, but also works to reduce flicker.LG Display says this panel will begin showing up in products during the first half of the year, though partner companies have yet to be announced. This isn't the only 480Hz panel that LG is showing off at this year's CES. There's a new monitor that runs at 480Hz in HD and 240Hz in 4K.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-display-plans-to-debut-an-ultra-fast-480hz-oled-panel-for-gaming-at-ces-010059437.html?src=rss

If you're active on Facebook or Instagram, you might have noticed prompts about a setting called link history." The feature allows users to keep track of all of the links they visit via Facebook and Instagram's in-app browsers.According to Meta, the feature allows users to ensure they never lose" a link. Easily get back to recent links you've visited with your Facebook browsing activity now saved in one place," an in-app notification about the feature says.But, as Gizmodo points out, the feature also gives Meta a convenient way to improve its targeted advertising, which has taken a hit following Apple's crackdown on app tracking. Keep in mind that when link history is on, we may use link history information from Facebook's Mobile Browser to improve your ads across Meta technologies," the company notes in a support article.Instagram has a similar feature, which keeps tabs on links users visit via the app's browser. Though it seems many users are just now discovering the settings, a Meta spokesperson confirmed the features began rolling out last summer.Though link history is not enabled by default, it's the kind of setting many people may opt into without giving much thought, especially because the company markets it as a way to avoid losing" links. That's sparked concern among some privacy advocates who worry Meta is using increasingly sneaky ways to gather data about users' online activity.The good news, however, is that it's easy to double check if you have link history enabled, and opt-out if you do.On Facebook, users will need to open a link from within the app and tap on ... menu to open the settings from the in-app browser. Then, look for the link history" toggle. If it's on, you'll need to turn it off, and then confirm via the pop-up that you want it disabled.Screenshots via FacebookThe process on Instagram is pretty much the same: Head to the in-app browser's settings, look for link history" and confirm your choice.Of note, though both apps will immediately delete your link history from their respective apps, Meta says it can take up to 90 days to complete the deletion process." This means your previous browsing activity could still play a role in your targeted ads for several weeks after you've disabled link tracking.Of course, the company still has numerous other ways of tracking your online activity, so opting out of link history alone won't be enough to fully take back control of your data. Privacy conscious ad-haters who live in the European Union, however, do have another option, though it may be even less appealing. Meta recently began offering the ability for EU users to opt out of Facebook and Instagram ads entirely, in exchange for a rather hefty monthly fee.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/opting-into-link-history-on-facebook-and-instagram-means-agreeing-to-more-ad-targeting-003746719.html?src=rss

JLab has a proven track record with its headphones and earbuds for solid audio quality at extremely affordable prices. At CES 2024, the company is debuting its first premium headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC), but it's keeping the price low at just $80. Despite the affordable investment, JLab didn't cut too many features as the JBuds Lux ANC Wireless Headphones pack long battery life, multipoint Bluetooth, customizable EQ, spatial audio, Google Fast Pair and a quick-charge feature.JLab says the JBuds Lux have the same size drivers, 40mm, as flagship headphones from the likes of Bose, Sony and others. The company further explains that these components are capable of 20-20kHz frequency response, the most common rage for headphones, and promises "exceptional audio quality" as a result. In terms of ANC, the JBuds Lux can reduce noise by up to 25dB with the option to turn it off or employ Be Aware (transparency) mode, and levels are customizable via the JLab App. You can fully configure the EQ with that software or choose from one of three audio presets. The JBuds Lux also support spatial and Bluetooth LE audio.The company touts over 40 hours of use with noise canceling on, with that figure extending to over 70 hours with it disabled. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity adds convenience, as does Google Fast Pair and a 10-minute quick-charge feature that gives you four hours of playback. JLab opted for a folding design for easy storage, with cushiony ear pads and physical playback controls.The JBuds Lux ANC headphones are available for preorder now from JLab. White, gray and green color options are scheduled to ship in late February while the purple version will arrive in March.JLabBefore the party officially begins in Las Vegas, JLab also revealed a new set of budget earbuds. The third-gen JBuds ANC ($60) can manage seven hours of use with noise cancellation turned on with nearly four full charges in the case. With ANC off, you can expect up to nine hours from the earbuds and another 33 in the case. As JLab has done on previous models, the charging case here is still about the size of a flash drive, and an attached USB-C cord tucks away for storage.Onboard touch controls handle both playback and calls, plus JLab says they're customizable inside of its app. Sound profiles can also be tailored to your preferences by either tweaking the EQ or using an audio preset. The company has included a Safe Listening Mode that keeps the maximum volume within the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Bluetooth multipoint is here as well, with an IP55-rated design that can withstand workouts, a low-latency Movie Mode for streaming and Google Fast Pair.The JBuds ANC 3 wireless earbuds are available now, but they only come in black.We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jlab-debuts-its-first-premium-anc-headphones-for-only-80-204305515.html?src=rss

Twitch has revised its nudity policies yet again. The latest change bars streamers from pretending to be fully or partially nude," wrote Angela Hession, Twitch's VP of Trust and Safety, in a blog post. The change comes several weeks after the company said creators could post properly labeled" sexual content, only to flip-flop two days later.The company added the new language to its community guidelines (reported by The Verge) in response to streamers implying" nudity with carefully placed objects, censor bars or camera angles. The update to Twitch's terms goes into effect today.The revised terms also ban see-through clothing, clarifying that apparel must be fully opaque on bodily areas that require coverings. Hession also emphasized the importance of categorizing content correctly, including when streaming from near a pool, beach, or hot tub, where the full coverage of the buttocks" requirement is loosened.Twitch plans to eventually blur thumbnails for streams labeled as having sexual themes. While most streamers have labeled this content appropriately with the Sexual Themes label and are wearing clothing behind the object or outside the camera frame, for many users, the thumbnails of this content can be disruptive to their experience on Twitch," Hession wrote. Twitch says it will also update its settings to allow users to control the content they see based on how it's labeled.As it stands now, Twitch requires streamers to cover theirbuttocks, genitals and (for female-presenting streamers) the nipples and underbust areas. Visible outlines of genitals are also prohibited, but cleavage is fine as long as it's clear the streamer is clothed. But you may want to check back soon: At the pace we're going, Twitch may have revised its policies again by next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-re-revises-its-guidelines-to-ban-the-implication-of-nudity-201037204.html?src=rss

Tetris is one of the most popular and enduring video games of all time, with versions on just about every console, computer and gadget. Many of these iterations have endings baked into story modes and the like, but the original endless mode was considered unbeatable by humans, until now. A 13-year-old boy has become the first person to beat' the NES version of Tetris, 34 years after it originally released back in 1989, as announced by YouTuber aGameScout.The reason we put beat' in quotes is due to the nature of the achievement. Oklahoma teenager Willis Gibson, also known as Blue Scuti on YouTube, didn't access an authorized ending, as there isn't one. Instead, he played the game so perfectly for so long that it forced a kill screen that crashed the game. These kill screens are usually caused by an overflow error that occurs when you speed the game up so much that the software can't keep up.The teen achieved this feat after 38 minutes of gameplay and captured the moment on video. He's the first person to do this, but not the first, uh, entity. An AI program called StackRabbit forced a kill screen with the NES Tetris back in 2021. Score one for the humans!This was done by incorporating a gameplay style called the rolling technique, which has players glide their fingers along the bottom of an NES controller and use that momentum to roll the controller into the other hand. When done correctly, you can hit the D-pad up to 20 times per second. The method revolutionized competitive Tetris play a couple of years back. Prior to this achievement, the 13-year-old had already broken the game's high score record, level achieved record and the total number of lines cleared by using the rolling technique.Gibson, aka Blue Scudi, told another YouTuber that he's dedicating the achievement to his late father, who recently passed away in December. He also said that the gameplay session was so frantic that he couldn't feel his fingers afterwards.Achieving the mythical kill screen is something of a rite of passage for old-school games. If you've seen the documentary King of Kong, involving the arcade cabinet Donkey Kong, you know just how competitive it can be to snag those bragging rights. Players have hit the kill screen on Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Duck Hunt, and many others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-kid-just-became-the-first-person-to-beat-nes-tetris-191557002.html?src=rss

Jack Black is reportedly set to play Minecraft Steve. Deadline wrote on Tuesday that the School of Rock actor will play the game's blocky protagonist alongside Jason Momoa in the game's long-delayedfilm adaptation.The Minecraft adaptation has been in development since 2014. It's cycled through at least three previous directors (Shawn Levy, Rob McElhenney and Peter Sollett) and two missed release windows (2019 and 2022). Its current target date is April 4, 2025.The writers for the project's current iteration haven't yet been revealed. However, adapting the sandbox building game into a plot-driven Hollywood blockbuster will allow for (and probably require) ample creativity from its scribes. A plot synopsis published in 2019 (which may or may not still apply) describes the film as following a teenage girl and her unlikely group of adventurers. After the malevolent Ender Dragon sets out on a path of destruction, they must save their beautiful, blocky Overworld."Minecraft SteveMojang / MicrosoftBlack is fresh off a beloved performance as Bowser in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where he showed the effectiveness of his larger-than-life comedic presence in gaming adaptations. IGN even noted that both of Black's gaming roles -Bowser and Steve - appeared in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.Napoleon Dynamite creator (and Black collaborator on Nacho Libre) Jared Hess will direct. Deadline says production will start soon on the film, which hails from Warner Bros, Vertigo, Legendary, Mojang / Microsoft and On the Roam. Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks and Sebastian Eugene Hansen have signed on to join Black and Momoa in the cast.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jack-black-will-reportedly-play-steve-in-the-long-delayed-minecraft-movie-adapatation-175331365.html?src=rss