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Google has introduced a new tool for Slides that can help you make your presentations more interactive and keep your audience's attention. The new feature, a pen tool, lets you write on a slide in real time, so you can encircle key figures, draw arrows, underline important information and just generally scribble anything you want on the presentation while in the middle of a meeting or a report. While Slides has long had the ability to turn your mouse arrow into a laser pointer, you had to download a third-party tool to be able to actually write annotations in the middle of a presentation.Slides' new pen tool is built into the program, and there's no need to download anything extra. To access it, you have to open your file in slideshow mode and then mouse over the bottom left side to see the three-dot menu. From that menu, you'll find an option that reads "Turn on the pen." You can choose the pen color you want to use - black, red, blue or green - from the panel that shows up, and you can also easily switch it off from the same location. If you want to erase what you've written, you just need to switch from the pen to the eraser tool in the bottom left corner.Google says the feature will be available to all Workspace customers and users with a personal account, but it may take 15 days before it's done rolling out the pen tool to everyone.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-slides-new-tool-lets-you-annotate-your-presentations-095524960.html?src=rss

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, a mobile game that expands the FFVII story and universe, will be available on iOS and Android on September 7th. Square Enix first announced the mobile game along with the battle royale action title Final Fantasy VII The First Soldierback in 2021. It was supposed to come out in 2022, but delays pushed back its release, and the company didn't start closed beta testing for the game until July this year.Ever Crisis was developed by Applibot, though Final Fantasy veterans Kazushige Nojima, Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura were involved as scenario writer, executive producer and creative director, respectively. It features an art style reminiscent of the the original FFVII's chibi characters, but with a twist - as The Verge notes, Cloud has actual hands in this version.

Google's Waymo and GM's Cruise have secured approval from California's regulators to be able to charge fares for fully driverless rides any time of the day in San Francisco. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has voted 3 to 1 in favor of allowing the companies to expand their driverless services after evaluating whether they had met the licensing requirements and hearing public testimonies arguing for and against the expansion.Waymo said it's going to "gradually welcom[e] more riders into the service" and "begin charging fares for rider-only trips in the city" in the coming weeks." Apparently, it already has 100,000 signups in its waitlist and expects demand to be "incredibly high," so it wants to take an unhurried approach "to ensure riders receive a reliable service." The company promises to make its fully autonomous trips "available to everyone over time." Meanwhile, Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt said his company will continue collaborating with regulators to achieve their shared commitment to deliver "safer, cleaner and more accessible transportation options."

Russia is heading back to the Moon as it tries to reassert itself as a significant world power in the wake of its war on Ukraine. A rocket carrying the Luna-25 craft will mark Russia's first lunar mission since 1976. The expedition will attempt to land the exploration vehicle on the moon's south pole, hoping to dig up water ice beneath the surface. You can tune in to watch the launch here.The Soyuz 2.1v rocket carrying the lander is scheduled to lift off from the Vostochny spaceport in eastern Russia at 7:10 pm Eastern time. If successful, it would be the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon's south pole. NASA confirmed in 2020 the discovery of water molecules in sunlit parts of the Moon's surface. Salvageable water could mark a breakthrough for lunar exploration, providing future human lunar missions with life support, fuel (through extracted hydrogen) and even potential agriculture.Russia's space trip also serves as a salvo in its attempt to reestablish itself as a significant world power unmoved by the West's sanctions over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The vessel's name is even a callback to the Soviet Space Program: Its last mission was the Luna-24, which spent 13 days heading to the Moon and back to collect samples in 1976. Referencing an era when the Soviet Union was an undeniable world superpower fits with President Vladimir Putin's goals to project an image of Russian preeminence.Luna-25 is also in a race against India: the country's Chandrayaan-3 mission launched on July 14th and entered the Moon's orbit this week. India's craft is scheduled to reach the Moon's south pole on August 23rd. The Luna-25 will take five days to reach the Moon and is expected to spend five to seven days in orbit before touching down. That timeline has Russia's lander potentially reaching the Moon around the same time as India's, if not slightly ahead.The craft is expected to conduct experiments - using its 68 lbs of research equipment - on the Moon for about a year. It includes a scoop that can capture samples up to a depth of 15 cm (six inches) in its hunt for frozen water.You can watch the launch stream below starting at around 7:10 pm EDT.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/russia-heads-to-the-moon-for-the-first-time-in-47-years-203057705.html?src=rss

The rumors were true: Bethesda has announced an upgraded version of Quake II. Best of all, you can play it today on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The enhanced edition is on Game Pass on PC, console and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Those who own the original game on GOG or Steam are getting a free upgrade.Nightdive Studios worked with Bethesda to modernize id Software's 1997 first-person shooter. You can relive the single-player campaign or try it for the first time with Sonic Mayhem's original soundtrack and all kinds of other enhancements. The visuals have been upgraded to include widescreen support, 120Hz refresh rates and 4K resolution.Content that was cut at one point is back in the enhanced edition of Quake II, which includes the Nintendo 64 port as well. You'll be able to dive into the original expansions - Mission Pack: The Reckoning and Mission Pack: Ground Zero - which include more than 30 extra single-player levels and 20-plus deathmatch maps between them.There's a brand-new expansion titled Call of the Machine as well. Wolfenstein: The New Colossus studio MachineGames (which is working on an Indiana Jones game) built 28 more campaign levels and a completely fresh deathmatch map for this expansion.On the multiplayer front, there's splitscreen support, including local and online co-op for up to four players. You can battle it out in deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture the flag with up to 16 players.Full crossplay is a welcome inclusion across all platforms. However, if you're on PC and want to hop into a lobby with your buds who are playing on console or via the cloud, you'll need to use a controller. This is to nullify the aiming advantage that keyboard and mouse players have.Last but not least, there are some welcome updates to make Quake II more accessible. Players will receive an accessibility options notification after they install the game. Settings include high contrast, voice chat transcription, input remapping options, aim assist and the ability to automatically switch to a new weapon when you pick it up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-long-rumored-quake-ii-remaster-is-out-now-on-pc-and-consoles-183652854.html?src=rss

Regulators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are opening a probe involving a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model Y. The accident, occurring on July 19, found a Tesla striking a tractor-trailer truck in Virginia, fatally wounding the driver of the automobile. These regulators believe that the 57-year-old Tesla driver was relying on the company's advanced driver assistance programs at the time of the accident, according to a report by Reuters.The Fauquier County Sheriff's Office provided more details on the accident, saying that the tractor trailer attempted to turn onto a highway from a truck stop when the Tesla struck the side and slid underneath the trailer. The Tesla driver was pronounced dead at the scene. As for the truck driver, authorities issued a summons for reckless driving.The summons indicates that authorities blame the truck's driver for the incident, but Tesla's assistance program is supposed to account for mistakes stemming from other people on the road, thus the NHTSA investigation. To that end, the safety regulator has opened more than three dozen investigations into crashes involving Tesla vehicles and their advanced assistance algorithms. All told, the agency suspects the system has been involved in 23 deaths since 2016.In 2021, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urged the NHTSA to issue stricter regulations for autonomous driving, stating in its letter that Tesla is testing on public roads a highly automated AV technology but with limited oversight or reporting requirements."Tesla's proprietary Autopilot technology is intended to steer, accelerate and brake within the vehicle's lane, while an enhanced system assists with changing lanes on highways. Tesla says the system isn't truly automated and requires active human supervision. The company hasn't responded to a request for comment by Reuters regarding this latest accident and the newly-opened probe.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-faces-fresh-safety-probe-following-fatal-accident-180725262.html?src=rss

As a potential FTC antitrust lawsuit looms in the background, Amazon plans to reduce its in-house brands. According toThe Wall Street Journal, the retailer will eliminate 27 of its 30 clothing brands and all of its private-label furniture lines. It isn't clear how many other areas the cuts could affect, but the Amazon Basics brand appears to remain largely, if not wholly, intact. The retailer told the WSJ that it looks to eliminate products that aren't resonating with customers."Among the Amazon clothing labels reportedly being phased out are Lark & Ro, Daily Ritual and Goodthreads. (Amazon Essentials, Amazon Collection and Amazon Aware will reportedly remain.) Meanwhile, the retailer is allegedly dropping its Rivet and Stone & Beam furniture brands once their current stock is depleted. We always make decisions based on what our customers want, and we've learned that customers seek out our biggest brands - like Amazon Basics and Amazon Essentials - for great value with high quality products at great price points," Matt Taddy, VP of Amazon Private Brands, said in a statement to the WSJ.Although Amazon didn't explicitly connect the changes to the expected FTC lawsuit, the timing seems unlikely to be coincidental. Company representatives will reportedly sit down next week with FTC chair Lina Khan and commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya. The chat is viewed as a last rites" meeting, giving the company one final chance to sway the government agency to back down before a filing decision. The anticipated lawsuit culminates a four-year investigation into the company's alleged anticompetitive practices. It also faces a separate FTC lawsuit related to tricking customers into Prime subscriptions.Part of the FTC's interest reportedly lies in Amazon's dealings with third-party sellers, a longstanding point of focus in antitrust arguments. The WSJ reported in 2020 that Amazon employees used internal data about third-party sellers to create in-house products. That led to the company agreeing to stop boosting its in-house brands in search results, making them harder to sell.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-is-reportedly-cutting-most-of-its-in-house-clothing-brands-175110764.html?src=rss

Activision is doing something different with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, this year's entry in the blockbuster military shooter series. Rather than starting from scratch and having to rebuild your collection of weapons and cosmetic items, Activision is letting players carry over nearly everything they unlock in Modern Warfare II.This so-called Carry Forward initiative also applies to Call of Duty: Warzone, given that content is shared between the mainline games and the free-to-play battle royale. Warzone Mobile, which is slated to arrive later this year, will be integrated into all of this too.For the most part, your unlocked operators, operator skins, bundles, all weapons, attachments and other rewards and cosmetic items will move forward from MW2 to MW3. What's more, if you continue to level up guns in MW2, that progress will be reflected in MW3.This is a one-way street, though. Any MW3 progress or unlocks won't be replicated in MW2. There's no Carry Back feature.The main things that won't progress from the 2022 game to this year's one are cosmetics for vehicles that aren't present in MW3. War Tracks, which are songs that can be played in vehicles, won't move over either. "Some Tactical and Lethal equipment may not be available depending on the removing of those items in MW3, to be replaced with MW3-only equipment," Activision noted in an extensive FAQ.Even though MW2 and MW3 are handled by different internal studios (Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, respectively), you won't have to jump through any hoops to transfer your weapons and cosmetics either. Activision will handle everything, though of course you'll need to be using the same account or profile for both games.Activision will release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on November 10th. We'll learn much more about the upcoming game at a reveal event, which is set for August 17th.Meanwhile, following the game's latest trailer, fans are speculating that MW3 will include an updated take on the hugely controversial No Russian mission from the original Modern Warfare II, which came out in 2009. That level wasn't in last year's rebooted version of MW2.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/call-of-duty-players-can-bring-most-of-their-modern-warfare-ii-gear-over-to-modern-warfare-iii-170024613.html?src=rss

X (formerly Twitter) CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed today that video chat is coming to the platform. In an interview with CNBC's Sara Eisen (viaTechCrunch), Yaccarino said, Soon you'll be able to make video chat calls without having to give your phone number to anyone on the platform." The move reflects Yaccarino and Musk's mission to build X into an everything app" that includes long-form videos, payments and creator subscriptions.The announcement follows a slightly cryptic post this week from X designer Andrea Conway. Just called someone on X," she posted, followed by four exploding-head emojis. Although that post didn't clarify whether it was voice or video calls, it now appears she was referring to the latter.It isn't clear how X video calls would fill a burning need for consumers: The crowded video-chat landscape already includes Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Apple FaceTime and more. But as Musk and Yaccarino try to reshape the company, they increasingly view the platform formerly known as Twitter as expanding far beyond tweets into a real-time town square for various media, communications and payments.

Instant Pot pressure cookers and related accessories are on sale via Amazon, with discounts up to 30 percent. If you've been mulling over 2018's hottest kitchen item all these years, this is the perfect time to see what all the fuss has been about. The entry-level Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 model, with a three-quart capacity, is on sale for $60, a price reduction of 25 percent and the cheapest it's been all year. The feature-rich Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 model, also boasting a three-quart interior, is available for $70 instead of the usual price of $100.The sale extends to items like the Instant Vortex Plus XL 8-quart air fryer oven, which holds a spot in our list of best air fryers, as it now costs $140 instead of $170. The same goes for accessories. You can pick up replacement inner cooking pots, tempered glass lids, steamer inserts and a whole bunch of other items to make the most out of your recent Instant Pot purchase.Cue infomercial voice: but that's not all. The sale covers just about everything the Instant brand manufactures, so pick up a stand mixer at a deep discount, or a coffee maker. You can basically stock your entire kitchen with gadgets and doodads.What's the big deal surrounding Instant Pots in the first place? These are multi-function pressure cookers with plenty of high-tech bells and whistles. They allow you to whip up relatively complex recipes in record time, like putting together a curry in 12 minutes or a pot of bolognese in 15 minutes. Newer models, like the ones on sale today, can also saute, steam, make rice and even prepare yogurt, among other tasks.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/instant-pot-pressure-cookers-and-accessories-on-sale-for-up-to-30-percent-off-162040914.html?src=rss

YouTube knows that it has a spam problem, particularly when it comes to its two-year-old Shorts feature. In an attempt to do something about it, the streamer has announced it's deactivating links in Shorts descriptions, comments and the vertical live feed. YouTube is also taking away the ability to click on social media icons on any desktop channel banners. The new changes will start to roll out on August 31st.Though YouTube claims it won't continue its "unclickable" crusade, but it adds, "Because abuse tactics evolve quickly, we have to take preventative measures to make it harder for scammers and spammers to mislead or scam users via links." At the same time, YouTube is adding new links on creators' channels, with a big clickable link appearing by the Subscribe button starting August 23rd. The link can bring users to anything from merchandise sites to social media accounts. The platform also recently introduced more creator tools for Shorts, like voiceovers. However, it won't be until at least the end of September that the streamer introduces "safer" ways to guide people from their Shorts back to the rest of their content.YouTubeAside from links, YouTube is working on reducing the number of impersonation accounts by reportedly improving the strategies it uses to find these accounts and subsequently remove them. According to the platform, over 35 percent more accounts were removed because of impersonation in Q1 of 2023 compared to Q1 of 2022 (though if this is because of better policies or simply more fake accounts is unclear). The streamer is also holding more comments for review through its recent Increase Strictness feature.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-is-deactivating-links-in-shorts-videos-to-combat-spam-160001356.html?src=rss

Fans of shows like Andor and The Last of Us who are looking forward to finding out whether their faves will triumph at the Emmy Awards will have to remain patient for an extra few months. The Television Academy and Fox have announced that the Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony will now take place on January 15th - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - rather than September 18th.That marks a delay of four months and it means the ceremony will air one week after the Golden Globes. The Television Academy and its broadcast partner have pushed back the Creative Arts Emmy Awards to the same weekend as the Golden Globes as well (an edited version of that two-night ceremony will air on January 13th).The delay isn't unexpected. Rumors have been swirling for weeks that the Academy and Fox would have to postpone the Emmy Awards amid writers and actors strikes that have ground Hollywood productions to a halt. With no Writers Guild of America members available to write jokes for the Emmys host and actors in SAG-AFTRA unable to attend awards ceremonies due to union rules about promoting struck work, a rescheduling seemed inevitable at this point.Actors and writers are on strike in an attempt to secure fair contracts with Hollywood studios that protect the future of their professions. One of the major points of contention is that both unions want to safeguard their members against advancements in artificial intelligence that could harm their employment prospects. For instance, SAG-AFTRA claims the studios wanted to scan actors and have the right to use their digital likenesses in perpetuity in exchange for a single day of pay.As has been the case for several years now, shows and television movies from streaming services are competing with those from broadcast networks for Emmy glory. HBO and Max racked up a combined 127 nominations thanks to the likes of The Last of Us and Succession. Netflix has 103 and Apple (with a big helping hand from reigning Emmys champ Ted Lasso) has 52. Thanks in large part to its various Star Wars shows, Disney+ has 40 Emmy nominations this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-television-academy-has-delayed-the-emmys-until-january-144508081.html?src=rss

Virgin Galactic might hit another milestone today in its quest to provide trips to suborbital space. If the weather cooperates and everything goes as planned for the company, its first private passenger flight will be taking off from its Spaceport America facility at 11AM EDT. Virgin Galactic's inaugural commercial flight took place in late June, but that one carried Italian government workers, including two Air Force personnel, to space. This time, its three passengers are civilians, and one of them is even the company's first paying customer.That distinction goes to Jon Goodwin, a British Olympian who competed in the 1972 games in Munich as a canoeist. According to the BBC, Goodwin paid $250,000 for his ticket way back in 2005 and had been worried that he couldn't go through with the flight after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2014. The other two passengers are a mother-daughter tandem from the Caribbean, Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers. Schahaff won two seats in a fundraising draw for nonprofit organization Space for Humanity and had chosen her daughter, a physics student at Aberdeen University in the UK, to accompany her.The company's VSS Unity spacecraft leaves the ground attached to a carrier aircraft dubbed VMS Eve. At an altitude of 50,000 feet, the mothership drops Unity, which then fires up its rocket motor to continue its journey to the edge of space. The spacecraft turns off its motor and glides across space before its descent, giving passengers three minutes to enjoy weightlessness in the cabin while looking at views of our planet through Unity's 17 windows. That is, at least, what the passengers are supposed to experience. As for the rest of us, we can watch them take off via Virgin Galactic's coverage of the launch livestreamed through its website.

The following article discusses spoilers for Hegemony" and Star Trek more generally.1. Bloody hell. I've repeatedly said that Strange New Worlds exudes a special sort of confidence this season. The cast and crew are working as a seamless whole, knowing that the conviction at which you sell is just as important as the quality of what's being sold. The team has raised their floor and ceiling in equal measure, and even the worst episode was bad because of what it said, not because of how it said it. Hegemony," is a finale that, aided by the early commission of season three, acts as one part victory lap and one part set up for what follows.2. The powers that be at Paramount didn't signal ahead of time that this episode would end on a cliffhanger. In fact, Henry Alonso Myers' screenplay is a brilliant feint, suggesting the episode will wrap up on a satisfactory, if brisk, ending before the rug pull in its final moment. You'd be forgiven for not noticing the different transporter energy when the survivors were beamed away on your first watch. Myers' script and Maja Vrvilo's direction is permeated with a low-level feeling of dread that suits the needs of both the Alien-esque horror and the raised-stakes of a finale.3.Strange New Worlds has been smarter about setting up and paying off its threads than you might expect. Among the Lotus Eaters" saw Ortegas feeling sidelined after getting bumped from an away team which forced her to accept her role as the ship's pilot. Here, she finally gets her wish to go on a mission, but her initial enthusiasm is sapped when she realizes she's more or less out of her depth. Her scene with Dr. M'Benga, where she admits she's leaving the role of action hero to the captain, underscores this. The fact she's one of the crewmembers taken by the Gorn at the end adds a darker weight to her finally getting her wish granted.Michael Gibson/Paramount+4. Montgomery Scott's voice-only cameo in last season's finale was a neat hat-tip to fans with a basic fluency for Star Trek. I guess it was just too tempting not to follow up on that this time, with Martin Quinn as the young engineer. It's gratifying to see an actual, Paisley-born Scot playing the role, and an amusing fact that he's the second actor - after Simon Pegg - who has paid their dues playing roles in various British comedy shows. If Quinn hangs around, I can't wait for Trek completionists to watch Limmy's Show and Derry Girls to watch his early work, much like when I watched Brent Spiner on Cheers and Night Court.5. I don't want to harp on about the limitations a prequel imposes, because we all know the score now. It may bend the edges of Trek's established narrative but Strange New Worlds can never escape its eventual destination. Young Kirk, Young Spock, Young Uhura, Young Chapel, Young Scotty and Young Dr. M'Benga will all be here, around and alive, to turn into their 1966 counterparts. You can't put any of those characters in jeopardy, or base your episode around asking that question, because we already know who is safe.That's why the emotional beats of Spock's dramatic rescue of Chapel worked perfectly, but asking the question of her survival did not. The show was smart enough to only leave the issue lingering for the first act before we saw Chapel working to stay alive. (Notice she also gets to do an EVA in a proper spacesuit after her emergency leap in The Broken Circle.") But I can only speak as a fan" so maybe it worked better for those mainstream viewers who have made Strange New Worlds one of the biggest shows on streaming TV.Michael Gibson/Paramount+6. Back in the 60s, Pike and Kirk were the same character with the serial numbers filed off, both drawn from the same template of rugged mid 60s masculinity. Two-fisted thinking men of action as comfortable on the back of a horse as they were quoting poetry or discussing naval history. This lack of distinction wasn't really an issue back then, or even now, until Strange New Worlds made the conscious decision to let Kirk lurk on the periphery of Pike's narrative.It meant the production team needed to retrofit Pike as different from his successor, helped by Anson Mount's gravitas and easy charm. And the first season finale made it clear that Pike's reluctance to shoot first and ask questions later was his tragic flaw. One that Kirk didn't have, which made him a better leader to take the Enterprise on its next set of missions. But Anson Mount's paternity leave and reduced shooting schedule meant there wasn't time to examine the fallout from A Quality of Mercy" in any detail.After all, he now knows his desire to find a peaceful solution single-handedly started a war that wiped out the Federation. He also knows he has to remain true to his principles or else he could pollute the timeline and not be in the right place to save future Spock's life. The fact he's unable to make a decision in the cliffhanger is entirely congruent with the journey Pike has been on, but it's clear the steps leading to this moment would have been explored far more had Mount been available.Hegemony," then, is the show's first real chance to look at how Pike has tried to grow into Kirk's mold, despite how ill-fitting he finds it. In his first talk with Admiral April, he advocates a policy of shooting first, but not long after he's thinking about trying to find a peaceful solution. It's those two competing urges that paralyze Pike in the finale, knowing there are lives on the line whatever he does. But, again, you have to praise the production team for trusting the audience will keep up with what happened in the previous season.7. It's not great that Strange New Worlds can only do so much to put clear water between Pike and Kirk. You can't make Pike look too old-fashioned or useless without alienating him from the audience, especially given his forthcoming ultimate sacrifice. But go too far the other way and you make Pike a dove in comparison with the more hawkish Kirk which, to me, feels like the wrong message to be sending.Michael Gibson/Paramount+8. It's hard to know how long Strange New Worlds will run for, or what the plans are for its future. You could easily argue it never needs to end so much as just swap out characters until you've rebuilt the 1966 ensemble. Every generation of Paramount executives harbors a desire to get a do-over on Kirk and Spock in the hope their name recognition alone will carry a series.But I'm curious if that's something people would actually want? I'm not sure I do, but then my dream would be an original series set in Trek's present with no legacy characters at all. And I know that's something of a minority opinion compared to all those folks who want yet another run on the nostalgia treadmill set in the safety of Trek's past. (If nothing else, at least Strange New Worlds has kept its fan service to a minimum and tried, as best as it can, to set out on its own path.)9. At the end of my season one finale review, I wrote Whisper it, friends, but Strange New Worlds might actually be good?" That was a fair line at the time, since the show took a while before clicking into a high gear. Since then, however, more or less every episode has improved upon the last to produce a second season with barely any weak notes. We don't need to whisper anything now, Strange New Worlds is the best live-action Trek of the streaming era.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nine-thoughts-about-star-trek-strange-new-worlds-blockbuster-finale-130046409.html?src=rss

Samsung's newest foldables, the Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5, have been put through their paces by Engadget's team of skilled reviewers. If you're wondering which of these two you should lay your cash down for, then we've got all the information you need.Cherlynn Low tested the Z Flip 5, which she calls the best flip-foldable" thanks to its newest innovation. The latest Flip has a 3.4-inch external display - not the roomiest of screens, but one big enough for you to check your notifications and run key apps like Maps and WhatsApp. And as much as the design isn't dramatically different, its new hinge lets the device fold shut without a gap. If there's a downside, it's that the battery life isn't great, and the settings menus are a bit fiddly - fairly small objections if you want an excuse to jump into the foldable world.Sam Rutherford's time with the Z Fold 5 was slightly testier despite an improved hinge that lets the phone fold flat. And that's really the only really new feature on Samsung's most expensive handset. Sure, the screen is brighter, the battery is hardier and there's plenty of grunt under the hood, but these are table stakes for an ultra-flagship. Sam compared it to the S23 Ultra, which costs $600 less and has, at the very least, far superior photography - so if you're not already sold on foldables, there's not enough here to woo you over.And, once you've read both reviews and made your decision, head over to this link to see a sweet deal that'll save you some cash.-Dan CooperYou can get these reports delivered daily, direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThe best tablets for 2023 Slack's latest redesign has a dedicated DM tab and a Discord-style Activity viewEpic loses bid to make Apple change its App Store payment rulesPlayStation 5 is doing better than even Sony expected8BitDo's latest Retro Receiver brings modern controller support to PS1 and PS2 Baldur's Gate 3 credits are missing a bunch of outsourced workersPatreon creators can now publish subscriber-only podcasts on SpotifyThe White House's AI Cyber Challenge aims to crowdsource national security solutionsWall Street banks fined $549 million for not backing up messaging app historiesIndie favorite Papers, Please has sold 5 million copiesDisney+ is raising prices and cracking down on account sharingNetflix's successful crackdown has inspired everyone else.CEO Bob Iger has announced the ad-free version of Disney+ will cost $13.99 a month from October 12. It's the second price increase on the streaming service in the last year, with the price bumped to $10.99 back in December. The price increase goes hand in hand with an announcement the House of Mouse will soon start cracking down on password sharing. Sigh.Continue Reading.Cadillac's first Escalade EV has a 450-mile range and starts at $130,000It's equipped with GM's Ultium batteries.CadillacCadillac's first all-electric Escalade, the IQ, makes its debut in 2025 with the base model priced at $130,000. Equipped with GM's Ultium batteries, its makers promise a 450-mile range and support for 800-volt DC fast charging. Measuring 19 feet long, eight feet wide and standing more than six feet off the ground, it's slightly longer than the long-wheelbase Escalade. All in all, it's perfect for the eco-warrior who wants to feel good about driving to the bodega in an APC.Continue Reading.Lyft plans to ditch surge pricing, which riders hate 'with a fiery passion'This insight from Duh magazine.Lyft CEO David Risher says the rideshare company is planning to do away with surge pricing. In an earnings call, the executive said Lyft now has such a good supply of drivers, the idea of tempting more to come work when prices rise is moot. That increase has apparently seen the number of surge pricing incidents fall by 35 percent, which Lyft is painting as a big win.Continue Reading.Twitter fined for belatedly complying with search warrant for Donald Trump's accountThe company took too long to hand over data.Twitter has been fined $350,000 after failing to comply with an order from special counsel Jack Smith. Officials wanted access to Donald Trump's account, but Twitter fought the order, saying it had a duty to notify the account holder of the warrant's existence. After going to court, a judge found in favor of the government, holding the platform in contempt after its refusal to comply until after a court-mandated deadline had passed.Continue Reading.Biden signs executive order restricting investment in Chinese tech companiesThis includes semiconductors, quantum computing and AI.President Biden signed an executive order to limit American investment in several sectors of China's technology industry. It's intended to address security concerns posed by cross-border flows of sensitive technologies, including semiconductors, quantum computing and AI. The White House said these technologies, if developed in a certain way, could pose a national security threat down the line. It added the rules are narrow enough to only target tech that could have security implications, rather than a blanket ban on everything under those umbrellas.Continue Reading. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-which-samsung-foldable-should-you-buy-111537694.html?src=rss

There are quite a few options available for Xbox consoles, but Microsoft's own Xbox Wireless Headset is enjoying a great sale right now. A 51 percent discount brings the Xbox Wireless Headset from $100 to $49, low enough to let you pick one up for yourself and a friend, or use the extra money to nab a new game.The Xbox Wireless Headset keeps you engaged and aware of your game's happenings with spatial audio formats like Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic and DTS Headphone: X. You can rotate the earbuds to change chat levels and volume, as well as use auto-mute and voice isolation to have a clearer chat without having every breath heard. The wireless headset can hold up to 15 hours of battery life, but if you're running low, it can also connect to your Xbox with a USB-C cable.These Xbox headphones also ensure you won't miss a call while deep in gameplay. You can connect your phone right to them and take the call without even pausing your game (though you might want to if it's your mom or someone else important). Arguably one of the most comfortable features, though, is the lightweight, adjustable headband, so you can play as long as you want without feeling much pressure.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/microsofts-xbox-wireless-headset-is-just-49-right-now-105043391.html?src=rss

There's something so satisfying about when a game you love finally comes out on your console of choice. The latest example: Cardboard Computer's fan favorite Kentucky Route Zero: TV Version is getting released on the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. Annapurna Interactive is publishing the game and put out a trailer ahead of its release.Cardboard Computer first released Kentucky Route Zero in 2013, a "magical realist adventure game" that centers on a highway underneath a series of caves and the beings that move through it. Four more acts over the next seven years with Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition rounding out the series as its epic and quite moving conclusion. Critics and players alike have widely praised the series for its visuals and storytelling.Engadget spoke with the games' developers when Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition came out in 2020, and they reflected on the tragic but full-circle nature of the finale. "Tragedy is not pessimistic," Jake Elliott, who handled the narrative, said. "A lot of literary tragedies or dramatic tragedies, at the end the character who has made all these terrible mistakes or who has these terrible flaws... they usually have this moment where they sort of take responsibility for it, or in some other way transcend it." It's a game that will make you feel something, to say the least.Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition will be available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S on August 17th. Annapurna Interactive confirmed that there will be an upgrade option available if you've already purchased the game for the PS4 or Xbox One. Plus, there's more to look forward to: Elliott and Co. confirmed last year that they're working on another game with Annapurna Interactive that will be "fully animated."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/kentucky-route-zero-tv-edition-is-coming-to-the-ps5-and-xbox-series-x-and-s-095518378.html?src=rss

Samsung is giving Galaxy S23 owners the chance to be among the first users to see and try One UI 6. The tech giant has launched a beta program for its take on Android 14, which welcomes Galaxy S23 owners from the United States, Germany and its home country of South Korea. Participants are expected to provide feedback during the program, and Samsung says it intends to incorporate changes based on their comments to create "a richer, more intuitive experience for all."The company promises a more modern look and feel for the new UI. It rearranged the Quick Panel's layout and put more shortcuts on one screen to give people quicker access to the features they use the most. If they want to go to the full Quick Panel, users could simply swipe down once from the upper right corner of their screen instead of having to swipe down twice. And if they simply want to adjust their screen's brightness, they no longer have to open the full Quick Panel - the setting is now available in the compact version of the panel that shows up upon swiping down once from the top of their phone.In addition to those changes, One UI 6 gives users a way to set different lock screens for different Modes, "such as a calming photo of a forest in Sleep Mode," the company suggests. Users will find a new camera widget, as well, allowing them to preselect storage locations for each mode used, so that they could have a cleaner and more well-organized gallery.Samsung has historically given its Galaxy S customers first access to its upcoming skins based on the latest Android platform. The beta program for One UI 6 opens today, and like in the past, Galaxy S23 owners in the three aforementioned countries can take part by submitting their registrations through the Samsung Members app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s23-owners-can-test-one-ui-6-features-early-090008495.html?src=rss

Humble has teamed up with Capcom for Resident Evil fans who may want to get extra copies of the games or people looking to finally give the survival horror series a try. The Resident Evil Humble Bundle comes with 11 titles for the PC, including one version for every major entry in the franchise. It also includes the latest game in the series, Resident Evil Village, which still costs at least $40 to purchase from Steam, along with a 25 percent off coupon for its Winters' Expansion DLC. The extra content gives players access to Third-Person Mode, expands the Mercenaries Mode and shows what happened to the baby who played a pivotal role in the story 16 years later.In addition to RE Village, the bundle contains the following games: Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil HD Remaster, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 3 Remake, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2. Buyers will have to pay at least $35 to get the whole bunch, but they can also get everything minus RE Village and the coupon for its expansion for only $20. For $10, they can get the seven oldest games in the list. All the titles from the bundle are redeemable from Steam and playable on Windows PCs.Notably absent from the game list is Capcom's remake of Resident Evil 4. That one is, perhaps, a bit too new to be included in the bundle, as it was only released in March for $60.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-resident-evil-humble-bundle-contains-11-games-for-35-055328479.html?src=rss

Back in May, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that the company's streaming service would be getting a price hike later in the year. Now, we know when: during Disney's quarterly earnings call, Iger announced that the ad-free Disney+ premium tier would be raised to $13.99 on October 12. It's the streaming service's second $3 price increase in the last year - the current $10.99 subscription price was set in December. Hulu's ad-free plan is also getting the $3 bump, raising it to $17.99/month for a standalone subscription.It's a big price increase, but Disney is offering some relief for customers who are willing to bundle the services. A new Duo Premium subscription that bundles both ad-free tiers of Disney+ and Hulu will be available for $19.99. Disney also announced that starting in November, the $8 ad-supported tier it launched in the US last year will be made available in Europe and Canada.Iger also warned that Disney would be pushing back against account sharing soon, stating that the company is "actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family." The company expects to start implementing these new policies sometime in 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-raising-prices-and-cracking-down-on-account-sharing-001637934.html?src=rss

President Joe Biden signed an executive order that puts new limits on American investment in certain types of Chinese tech firms. The order is meant to address national security concerns posed by companies that deal with sensitive technologies," including semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence."Advancements in sensitive technologies and products in these sectors will accelerate the development of advanced computational capabilities that will enable new applications that pose significant national security risks, such as the development of more sophisticated weapons systems, breaking of cryptographic codes, and other applications that could provide these countries with military advantages," the executive order states.The White House described the move as narrowly targeted," saying it was meant to bar the funding of entities that engage in specific activities related to these technology areas that pose the most acute national security risks." As The Washington Postnotes, responsibility for enforcing the executive order would fall on the Treasury Secretary.The executive order, which won't go into effect until 2024, is hardly the first time the US has sought to limit the influence of Chinese tech firms in recent years. Both Biden and his predecessor imposed significant restrictions on Huawei. The White House has also limited the sale of supercomputing technology to Chinese firms and sought to block China's access to advanced chip-making equipment. The Biden Administration has also pressured ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, to sell the popular app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/biden-signs-executive-order-restricting-investment-in-chinese-tech-companies-230728855.html?src=rss

As Elon Musk awaits his doctor's permission to fight Mark Zuckerberg in an on-again / off-again cage match, the two billionaires' companies continue to spar in the consumer adoption arena. Meta forged ahead with Threads' aggressive update schedule today as it tries to challenge Musk's erratic X (rebranded Twitter). Zuckerberg announced today that the young platform now supports sharing posts to Instagram DMs, custom alt text for photos and videos and a new mention button.The Send on Instagram option lets users publish their Threads posts directly to Instagram DMs via the Send button. The feature could be seen as one of the retention-driving hooks" Meta cooked up to ensure people who are on the Instagram app can see important Threads," as Reutersreported Chief Product Officer Chris Cox said in a recent company meeting. The strategy is allegedly tied to reports of falling engagement after the fledgling platform added over 100 million users in less than a week. Zuckerberg reportedly described the decline as normal" and expected retention to grow as Meta continues to flesh out the social channel, which launched in early July.MetaMeanwhile, the custom alt-text option is an accessibility feature allowing Threads users to add (or edit existing auto-generated) alt text for photos and videos before uploading. The new mention button makes it easier to tag profiles in your Threads posts. Finally, the platform is making it easier to verify your identity on fediverse platforms like Mastodon. You can now add your Threads profile link on supported platforms to verify your identity," Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted today.These are only the latest additions Meta has rolled out in the past few weeks. It announced earlier this month that a much-needed web version is on the way, offering desktop use for the first time, along with a proper search function. Other post-launch additions include a chronological feed and the ability to sort your following list and view your liked posts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-now-lets-you-share-posts-directly-to-instagram-dms-201857138.html?src=rss

For several years, 8BitDo has offered a dongle that lets folks connect modern controllers to the NES Classic Edition, SNES Classic and Sega Genesis Mini. The latest version of the Retro Receiver brings support for the likes of the Switch Pro Controller, Xbox Elite Series 2 and the DualSense Edge to older hardware in the form of the PlayStation 1 and the PlayStation 2. The $25 dongle includes Windows 10 and 11 support as well.

Baldur's Gate IIIisn't even fully released yet and it's already achieved the kind of buzz other developers would sell a kidney for. However, with that buzz comes increased public scrutiny, and it looks like the game failed to credit many of the workers who helped complete the project, as reported by Game Developer.The issue was originally spotted by freelance localization producer Katrina Leonoudakis, who noted that the game's credits failed to mention translators who worked on the Brazilian and Portuguese localizations. A company called Altagram Group handled these translations, and it's worth noting that company executives and department leads appear in the credits. Additionally, translators who localized to other languages, like Italian, were properly credited, though these translations were handled by companies other than Altagram.The issue goes beyond translators, as reports also indicate that outsourcing studios failed to list many devs involved with the project. The credits list each studio by name, but not specific employees who worked on the game.For its part, Larian is on top of it. The company notes that this was all Altagram group" and that it has compelled them to fix this," in a statement provided to Eurogamer. The developer goes on to say that a fix is coming soon.It's definitely a good thing that the developer is working to resolve the issue, as people deserve credit for their work. However, this has become an all-too-common practice within the games industry. Game Developer spoke to several localization experts and they described a laissez-faire" attitude when it comes to properly crediting contractors. To that end, there have been multiple instances of this practice in the past year, from translators working onPersona 3 and Persona 4 not being properly credited to artists and developers of high-profile titles like Metroid Dread and God of War: Ragnarok not getting their moment to shine.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/baldurs-gate-3-credits-are-missing-a-bunch-of-outsourced-workers-183726183.html?src=rss

Cadillac revealed its first all-electric Escalade today. The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ is a $130,000-and-up extravagance using GM's Ultium batteries to offer a 450-mile range. But its price isn't the only thing that's formidable about the SUV: It's even bigger than standard gas-powered Escalades - and nearly as long as the long-wheelbase model, the Escalade ESV. However, Cadillac says it's still estimated to be the most aerodynamic full-size SUV ever produced by GM."A 24-module Ultium battery powers the SUV, producing over 200kWh of available energy. It supports 800-volt DC fast charging and can provide up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of charging on 350-kW DC charging stations. It supports up to 19.2 kW AC with an estimated 37 miles of range per hour of charging.The Escalade IQ has two electric motors supplying 680 horsepower (505 kW) and 615 lb-ft (834 Nm) of torque in normal mode. However, it can reach 750 hp (560 kW) and 785 lb-ft (1,064 Nm) in a Velocity Max mode. It's rated to reach 60mph in less than five seconds in Velocity Max.CadillacThe Escalade IQ will make its presence known on roads, joining the ranks of electrified behemoths like the Hummer, Silverado, GMC Sierra Denali and Ram 1500 EV. The new Cadillac measures nearly 19 feet long, eight feet wide and over six feet high. But you get significant room inside with 119.2 cubic feet of cargo volume with the second and third-row seats folded. (It also has a frunk that adds another 12 cubic feet of storage.)All told, the SUV can tow up to 8,000 pounds. Additionally, it has a dash-spanning 55-inch dual-screen LED display, and its infotainment system runs Android Automotive OS (including Google Assistant, Google Maps and the Play Store). Higher-end tiers offer 360-degree audio through an AKG 40-speaker array.Production for the 2025 Escalade IQ will begin next summer at GM's Factory Zero assembly center in Detroit. Pricing starts at around $130,000," including destination charges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cadillacs-first-escalade-ev-has-a-450-mile-range-and-starts-at-130000-182816273.html?src=rss

Epic Games has lost an attempt to force Apple to change its App Store payment practices sooner rather than later. The Fortnite maker asked the Supreme Court to overturn a US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that delayed an injunction against Apple over App Store rules. However, Justice Elena Kagan denied the request without providing an explanation, as Bloombergreports.The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals originally upheld the injunction in April. However, it suspended the injunction in July so Apple could take the case to the Supreme Court.Following a blockbuster trial between Apple and Epic Games in 2021, a lower-court judge ruled that Apple violated California's Unfair Competition law by blocking third-party developers from directing users to alternative payment options. The judge issued the injunction to stop that practice.For the last three years, the companies have been battling over the issue of in-app payments on iOS. Epic raised the ire of Apple (and Google) when it told mobile Fortnite players they'd get a discount on the in-game V-Bucks currency if they bypassed the iOS and Android payment systems. Apple and Google take up to a 30 percent cut of in-app transactions on iOS and Android.The mobile platform holders swiftly yanked Fortnite from their respective app stores, Epic sued them both and the legal battles are still rumbling on. The Google case (in which Match Group is involved as a plaintiff) is set to go to trial this November.Regardless of what happens in the US, Apple and Google are already being forced to open up their platforms to third-party payments systems in certain markets, such as South Korea and the Netherlands. It has also been reported that Apple plans to allow third-party app stores on the iPhone as soon as next year, in large part to comply with incoming European Union rules. Epic is already prepared for that, as its own mobile app store is ready to go.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/epic-loses-bid-to-make-apple-change-its-app-store-payment-rules-right-now-174924222.html?src=rss

Special counsel Jack Smith was granted a search warrant for former President Donald Trump's Twitter account as part of his investigation into the events of January 6th, 2020. The warrant was first reported by Politico after court documents detailing the warrant surfaced.Smith obtained the warrant in January, but had trouble getting the records from Twitter. First, his investigators apparently encountered an inoperative" website typically used for law enforcement to make legal requests. After they were able to serve the warrant, Twitter was slow to respond, according to court records.The issue, according to newly unsealed court documents, was a nondisclosure agreement that barred Twitter from disclosing the existence of the warrant, including to Trump. The company argued it had a First Amendment right to notify Trump about the warrant, which resulted in months of legal wrangling between Twitter and the special counsel's office.The court sided with the government and Twitter was required to hand over the data. During the litigation, the government amended the nondisclosure order to allow Twitter to notify the former President of the existence and contents of the warrant" provided they withheld the identity of the case agent.But the company missed a court-ordered deadline for turning over all its records, and was fined $350,000 after being held in contempt. Although Twitter ultimately complied with the warrant, the company did not fully produce the requested information until three days after a court-ordered deadline," the filing states.The legal wrangling underscores the role Trump's Twitter account played in the events of January 6th. The company suspended the @realdonaldtrump account the evening of the riot after he tweeted support for the violent mob. Trump's account was reinstated after Elon Musk acquired the company last year, but the former president has yet to return to the platform.The company, now known as X, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitter-fined-for-belatedly-complying-with-search-warrant-for-donald-trumps-account-173745495.html?src=rss

The surprisingly emotional and strangely addictive dystopian document thriller" Papers, Please just turned ten years old and has officially sold five million copies across multiple platforms throughout the past decade. To celebrate the milestone, developer Lucas Pope and his company 3909 LLC released a web game called LCD, Please that allows players to go through certain aspects of the original title.Just like the real game, LCD, Please tasks you with approving or denying passport and transit requests. As the name suggests, the graphics style emulates those LCD portable devices of yesteryear, like Nintendo's Game & Watch series. The sound is monotone, the controls are simple and the gameplay is addictive, making it a great way to accidentally waste a few minutes during the work day.The web game isn't the only way the developer is celebrating the success of Papers, Please. There's also an official soundtrack, available now on Spotify and Apple Music, a developer's log with insider information chronicling the game's original pitch and a store selling related merchandise. To the latter, you can pick up posters, shirts, stickers and more.Since the game's initial release in 2013, Papers, Please has gone on to launch on over 40 platforms, according to the developer. Most recently, the title was released for Android and iOS devices last year. The game's success also inspired a short film, which was well-received and lauded for capturing the spirit of the source material. Since making Papers, Please, developer Lucas Pope has gone on to create the seafaring whodunnitReturn of the Obra Dinn.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/indie-favorite-papers-please-has-sold-5-million-copies-171537016.html?src=rss

Lyft plans to kill off surge pricing in an attempt to boost its rider numbers. On the company's second-quarter earnings call, CEO David Risher admitted the controversial practice is a "a bad form of price raising" that riders loathe "with a fiery passion."Surge pricing, which Lyft calls Prime Time, typically kicks in when there aren't enough drivers to meet demand. The idea is that off-duty drivers will smell an opportunity to make more money and be more inclined to hop in their car and work for a while. However, riders by and large do not like surge pricing at all."We're trying to really get rid of it," Risher said. "Because we've got such good driver supply, which we've worked really hard to get, it's decreased significantly."A Lyft spokesperson told TechCrunch that its supply of drivers is the highest it's been in three years (since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic). Its driver base has grown by 20 percent year-over-year and the number of average hours each driver works is at a new high, beating 2019 levels. This, Risher said, has helped to reduce the share of rides impacted by surge pricing by 35 percent compared with the previous quarter.Perhaps unsurprisingly, that means Lyft is making less money. "But it's good for our riders, and it's good for our overall market itself," Risher noted.Lyft has been lowering prices to stay competitive with Uber and entice riders to use its service. The company's revenue per rider dipped by five percent from the previous quarter. However, the number of active riders grew by nine percent.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lyft-plans-to-ditch-surge-pricing-which-riders-hate-with-a-fiery-passion-170028083.html?src=rss

Our local and state level government systems are hacked and held ransom with disheartening regularity. At the Black Hat USA Conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the Biden Administration revealed its plans to better defend the nation's critical digital infrastructure: It's launching a DARPA-led challenge competition to build AI systems capable of proactively identifying and fixing software vulnerabilities. That's right, we're having a hackathon!The AI Cyber Challenge" (AIxCC) is a two-year development program open to competitors throughout the US. It's being hosted by DARPA in collaboration with Anthropic, Google, Microsoft and OpenAI. Those companies are providing both their expertise in the field and access to their AI technologies.The challenge is critical in bringing together the cutting-edge in automatic software, security and AI, which will empower our cyber defenses by being able to quickly exploit and fix software vulnerabilities," Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, said during a press call Tuesday.This is one of the ways that public and private sectors work together to do big things to change how the future unfolds," Arati Prabhakar, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, added. That's why the White House asked DARPA to take on the critical topic of AI for cybersecurity."White House officials concede that properly securing the nation's sprawling federal software systems against intrusion is a daunting task. They don't have the tools capable of security at this scale," Perri Adams, Program Manager, Information Innovation Office, DARPA, said during the call. We've seen in recent years, hackers exploiting the state of affairs, posing a serious national security risk."Despite those vulnerabilities, I think we have to keep one step ahead and AI offers a very promising approach for that," Adams said. There's nearly $20 million in prize money up for grabs. And to ensure that the competition isn't dominated by the teams with the deepest pockets, DARPA is making $7 million available to small businesses who want to compete as well.The research agency will hold an open qualifying event next spring where the top scoring teams (up to 20 can potentially qualify) will get invited to the semifinals at DEF CON 24. That cohort will be whittled down to the top five teams, who will win monetary prizes at the competition and be invited back to DEF CON 25 for the finals. The top three scoring teams from DC25 will win even more money. You land first place, you get $4 million - but to do so, your AI had better be able to, rapidly defend critical infrastructure codes from attack," per White House officials. Ideally, the resulting system would scour networks seeking out and autonomously repairing any software security bugs it finds.The winning team will also be strongly encouraged to open-source their resulting program. The competition is bringing on The Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), a Linux Foundation project, as an advisor to the challenge. Their job is to help ensure that the code is put to use immediately, by everyone from volunteer, open-source developers to commercial industry," Adams said. If we're successful, I hope to see AIxCC not only produce the next generation of cybersecurity tools in this space, but show how AI can be used to better society by defending its critical underpinnings."The president has been completely clear that we have got to get AI right for the American people," Prabhakar said. Last fall the Biden White House unveiled its Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights, which defined the Administration's core values and goals on the subject. Follow-up efforts included pushing for an AI risk management framework and investing $140 million in establishing seven new national research institutes to AI and machine learning. In July, the White House also wrangled a number of leading AI companies to agree to (non-binding) assertions that they will develop their products responsibly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-white-houses-ai-cyber-challenge-aims-to-crowdsource-national-security-solutions-170003434.html?src=rss

Federal regulatory agencies have fined 11 financial institutions a combined $549 million for using off-channel" messaging apps (WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal and text messages) for conversations about trades and other business. Securities laws require investment firms and banks to preserve communications records and ensure employees only carry out business through authorized channels. The firms did not maintain or preserve the substantial majority of these off-channel communications, in violation of the federal securities laws," the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wrote in a statement today.The Wall Street firms were fined over half a billion dollars in penalties for using messaging apps instead of email, approved messaging platforms or other easily archived channels. Firms penalized by the SEC include Wells Fargo ($125 million), BNP Paribas ($35 million), SG Americas Securities ($35 million), BMO Capital Markets ($25 million), Mizuho Securities ($25 million), Houlihan Lokey Capital ($15 million), Moelis & Company ($10 million), Wedbush Securities ($10 million) and SMBC Nikko Securities America ($9 million). Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Wells Fargo ($75 million), BNP Paribas ($75 million), Societe Generale ($75 million) and Bank of Montreal ($35 million).Recordkeeping failures such as those here undermine our ability to exercise effective regulatory oversight, often at the expense of investors," said Sanjay Wadhwa, the SEC's Deputy Director of Enforcement. The Commission's message could not be more clear - recordkeeping and supervision requirements are fundamental, and registrants that fail to comply with these core regulatory obligations do so at their own peril," said CFTC Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley.Federal regulators said all firms admitted to the facts about unapproved communications in agreeing to the penalties. As described in the SEC's orders, the firms admitted that from at least 2019, their employees often communicated through various messaging platforms on their personal devices, including iMessage, WhatsApp, and Signal, about the business of their employers," the SEC wrote in a statement. The firms did not maintain or preserve the substantial majority of these off-channel communications, in violation of the federal securities laws. By failing to maintain and preserve required records, certain of the firms likely deprived the Commission of these off-channel communications in various SEC investigations."Both government agencies stressed that the problem was pervasive and not limited to entry-level employees and junior staff. The failures involved employees at multiple levels of authority, including supervisors and senior executives," the SEC said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wall-street-banks-fined-549-million-for-not-backing-up-messaging-app-histories-164552963.html?src=rss

Three point five inches. That's about the size of the original iPhone's display. That's downright tiny compared to today's smartphones, and it's hard to imagine typing or using most modern apps on such a cramped screen. But as a secondary panel on a phone that folds in half, even 3.4 inches feels positively roomy. At least, it's much more useful than the 1.9-inch sliver that we got on last year's Galaxy Z Flip 4.With its latest flip-style foldable, Samsung brings a 3.4-inch external display that it's confusingly renamed the Flex Window (it doesn't flex, so yes, I'm mad at the name). And that's about it. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 also has a new hinge that allows for gapless closure when folded, as well as some software tweaks. Aside from those updates, this phone is very similar to its predecessor, with basically the same cameras, water-resistance rating and battery size. It also costs the same as last year's model and comes with twice the base storage, which is a nice touch. But with greater competition in the US this year, Samsung can no longer coast on being the only player in the space.DesignOne of a few signs that Samsung is coasting? The Flip 5's design. Setting aside its larger external display, this thing looks pretty much identical to its predecessor, which itself was basically a clone of the version before it. The Flip 5's frame is the same 6.5 x 2.8-inch rectangle as last year's model, and it cuts the same 0.27-inch profile, too. It also maintains the same weight, measuring 6.6 ounces (or 187 grams).Some things have changed this year, though. The external cameras are no longer stacked vertically on top of each other; they're laid out side by side, presumably to accommodate the new larger screen. The available colors are also different, which I appreciate, since the purple hue on last year's model was getting a bit stale. This time, you can choose from pink and a minty green, in addition to the standard cream and black. Sadly, our review unit is the basic black version, but the green variant I saw at Samsung's launch event is worth lusting after.A notable upgrade on the Z Flip 5 is what Samsung calls its Flex Hinge, which allows the device to fold completely flat and leave no gap between the two halves of its internal screen. This should not only appeal to people who were put off by the asymmetry of the previous design, but it leaves less of a chance that a key in your purse might get lodged in that little opening and scratch the fragile panel.That's not to say that the Flip 5 is dust resistant. Its IPX8 rating means it can withstand brief submersion in water, but it wasn't tested for protection from foreign solid particles. That's a lot of jargon to say the Flip 5 will be fine if you drop it in the tub, but it's more susceptible to, say, sand, than most modern smartphones. However, the phone's exterior is likely tougher than its inside, thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 glass covering its rear and Flex Window.External displayRegardless of my feelings toward Samsung's absurd name, the Flex Window is a major improvement over last year's Cover display. It's a 3.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 60Hz refresh rate and 720 x 748 resolution, and the photos I chose as my wallpapers looked crisp and vibrant. But the biggest upgrade is its size.The benefits are obvious: A larger canvas means you can see more at once and buttons can be bigger and easier to hit. With the extra space, the Weather widget can display the forecast for multiple days, while the Calendar offers a monthly view.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetUnlike Motorola's Razr+, though, the Flip 5 doesn't behave like full Android on its cover screen. It runs One UI in a way that's more like the company's Tizen OS for its older smartwatches. You'll swipe left through widgets like Timer, Stopwatch, Samsung Health, Dialer and more, drag down from the home page for quick settings and swipe right to see your notifications. But because the Flip 5 supports up to 13 widgets, rotating through the carousel to find what you need can quickly get tedious. Thankfully, Samsung added a new pinch gesture that lets you zoom out to see all your widgets at once and jump to what you want.Though you can't natively run every app in the world on the Flex Window, the company did optimize a handful to work on the smaller panel. You have to go into Settings to enable them, but once you do you can launch Google Maps, YouTube, Netflix, Messages and WhatsApp on the external display. I guess these are the ones Samsung thinks people most want to use when the Flip is closed.If you're feeling adventurous, you can install Good Lock from the Galaxy App Store, which lets you run pretty much any app on the outside. It took me a while to figure out that to get this to work, you'll have to go into Good Lock and download the MultiStar launcher, then add the launcher as a widget on the Flex Window. Once I did, though, I quickly selected apps like Instagram, Chrome, Reddit and Gallery to run on the outside. Each of them ran as expected - that is, as a mini version of itself on an awkwardly shaped screen.This is a good time to point out that the Flip 5's Flex Window isn't a typical rectangle. It's shaped more like a document folder, mostly square with a small tab on the bottom left. Functionally, that extra space doesn't get in the way of apps or widgets. Swiping up on it brings you back to the home page, and if you have a timer or song running, a little countdown shows up there.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetYou don't have to install Good Lock to find the new Flex Window useful, but it does make for a better experience. For example, when replying to a notification from an app like Telegram, you won't actually be able to see the message your friend sent. This might be because Telegram notifications are typically hidden anyway, to prevent onlookers from seeing your chats. So if you want to respond to Telegram contacts, you'll likely still have to open the Flip to see what they said.That is, unless you use Good Lock to let the app run outside, in which case tapping the notification on the Flex Window will just take you to the conversation in the app. It's surprisingly smooth and weirdly satisfying to see a non-native experience work so well.Replying to messages is another improvement over the Flip 4, by the way. Samsung now has room to offer a QWERTY keyboard, and typing on it is an absolute delight. I have relatively small hands, and reaching across this panel to hit letters like Q and A was no trouble, especially with swipe typing. The Flip 5's software is more refined than the Moto's, too, since the latter's keyboard takes over the entire screen and requires an extra tap to actually send your reply. Samsung's interface also lets you see some of your conversation above the input field, whereas you won't see any of it on the Razr+.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetThe larger Flex Window also makes for a far superior viewfinder for the external cameras. With the increased space, I can now see the entire frame when lining up a selfie or setting up a video. Swiping sideways on this viewfinder screen switches between Portrait, Photo or Video modes, while pinching changes the level of zoom and the ultrawide camera kicks in at 0.5x.CamerasWhile the experience of using the external 12-megapixel cameras has drastically improved thanks to the Flex Window, image quality itself has not. Samsung uses basically the same sensors on the Flip 5 as those on the Flip 4, and though there's no generational upgrade, they still take pretty good pictures.In fact, out of all two flip-style foldables available in the US, the Flip 5 easily gains the upper hand. Its only competition is the Moto Razr+, which has similar sensors on paper but delivers washed out photos in comparison.My photos of the Metropolitan Museum of Art showed vibrant blue skies and red banners when I used the Z Flip 4 and Flip 5, but the scene seemed pale when I shot it with the Razr+. Though I prefer the rosier hues in selfies I snapped with the Razr+, the ones that Samsung produced had more accurate colors.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetAt night, cityscapes were pretty grainy across all three phones I tested, but the Flip 4 and Flip 5 were slightly better at exposing buildings amidst all the lights in New York. Though both Samsung phones were neck-and-neck in terms of low-light photo quality, I was pleasantly surprised that the Flip 5 took about half the time of its predecessor when capturing a shot in Night mode. As a result, I didn't have to hold still for as long, and my selfies from the newer handset were clearer.I also enjoyed using the Flip 5 and Razr+ as TikTok machines, setting them up with their cover screens facing out to shoot some (hopefully) humorous clips. Video quality was, again, very close across the three devices. In short, don't write off the Flip 5's cameras, but you won't be writing home about the photos you took, either.As a regular" phoneYou won't be spending all your time with the Flip 5 using only its external screen. For the most part, you'll most likely interact with the flexible 6.7-inch Full HD AMOLED panel inside, which is what I did. I'll admit, I mostly used this phone to scroll Reddit or Instagram and play mind-numbing puzzle games like Goods Sort and Solitaire.Everything felt as it did on last year's Flip - even the crease looks the same. My friends' vacation photos and game graphics were colorful and crisp. At certain angles, content looked slightly discolored under the wrinkle, but it didn't bother me. I also enjoyed stroking the crease as much as I did before. There's something deliciously satisfying about repeatedly running my thumb over it.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetI also tried a few times to carefully push my thumb into the screen as I started to bend the phone to close it, and I never felt like the panel was going to break. But of course, I've only had the Flip 5 for slightly over a week, so long-term use may reveal durability issues. It's worth noting, though, that compared to Motorola, Samsung has a more established repair and parts replacement system in place. Should you actually damage your foldable, or if you know you're accident prone, the better company to choose is Samsung.There are some software updates to Flex Mode that I didn't spend a lot of time with, mostly because I don't find them all that useful in daily use. As a refresher, Flex Mode is an interface that kicks in when you bend the phone slightly and have it open at between 20 and 160 degrees (approximately). Compatible apps will split their layout in half, typically showing content up top and controls below. Like on older Flips, apps that work well with this are YouTube, which continues to display the video on the higher half while letting you scroll through comments at the bottom.This year, though, you can choose to (after first toggling through several hidden settings) display a button at the bottom left of every app. It'll bring up the Flex dashboard, which offers shortcuts for taking a screenshot, pulling down the notifications shade and more. Some of these, like the two I named, are helpful. But some, like the touchpad that you can enable, are just silly. With the touchpad, you can drag your finger around the bottom half of the screen to maneuver a cursor up top. In some situations, like for people with mobility issues, I can see this being useful. For most other scenarios, however, it's usually easier to just reach a little and tap the top half of the screen.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetPerformance and battery lifeWe're reaching a point where smaller foldable phones are pretty much as fast as their non-flexible counterparts, which brings them ever so slightly closer to being feasible as mainstream devices. Thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, the Flip 5 is on par with flagships like the Galaxy S23+. It also packs the same 8GB of RAM, and this year's Flip even offers twice the base storage of its predecessor, starting with 256GB.No matter what I threw at it, the Flip 5 never hiccuped. Granted, I never played a game more demanding than Criminal Minds or CSI: Hidden Crimes on it, but I was also pleased when I realized the phone never really ran alarmingly warm.The Flip 5's Geekbench 6 scores of 2,015 (single-core) and 4,972 (multi-core) were about the same as the Z Fold 5, and significantly better than the Pixel Fold, which uses Google's own Tensor G2 chip.This is clearly flagship-level performance, so you're not sacrificing much if you pick a Flip over a traditional handset. But one area where foldables tend to fall short is battery life. The Flip 5 delivered very similar runtime to its predecessor, which isn't a shocker considering its battery is the same 3,700mAh. Sure, it has a larger external screen to power, but precisely due to the Flex Window being more useful, I didn't have to open up the Flip 5 as much as the older model. So it makes sense that both Flips had about the same endurance.Photo by Cherlynn Low / EngadgetWrap-upHere we are, staring at the fifth generation of Samsung's Galaxy Z series of foldables and still asking the same question: Are phones with flexible displays ready for the mainstream? With its larger and more useful external screen, the Flip 5 is the best candidate in the category's history to appeal outside the tech-savvy crowd. It offers excellent performance, capable cameras and - lest we forget - it folds in half! Plus, it combines relatively advanced bendable-screen tech with an exterior panel in a size that's sure to win nostalgia points, meaning it'll appeal to experimentalists and sentimentalists alike.If your existing Flip is falling apart, the Flip 5 is worth the upgrade for the Flex Window alone. But if you're contemplating adopting a foldable for the first time, just know that you'll probably sacrifice some camera quality, have to take extra care when manhandling the device and resign yourself to always be charging. In exchange, you'll get a very capable phone, some cool points and an easy conversation starter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-5-review-still-the-best-flip-foldable-163030055.html?src=rss

Samsung's latest slate of Galaxy devices arrives on August 11, but there's still time to lock in a pre-order to get free perks like a storage upgrade and gift card. The company's new flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is included in the offer. If you pre-order one, you can get double the storage (jumping from 256GB up to 512GB) and a $200 Amazon gift card at no extra cost. That should take some of the sting out of the $1,800 price.In our review of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, we gave the device a score of 86. We feel that Samsung is still making the best foldable out there. However, the company could be doing more with the format (such as trying to bring down the price) as its momentum in the space seems to be slowing.The big change this year is the new Flex Hinge. It's smaller than the hinge in previous Fold devices and it helps make the handset slightly thinner. That's because it allows the phone to close properly and get rid of the gap between the two halves.Samsung has upgraded many other components. There's a brighter main display and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 that helps to improve the performance. Two new gestures could make it easier to get the phone to do what you want. Battery life is solid as well - the Galaxy Z Fold 5 lasted for nearly 20 hours on a single charge in our video rundown test.Although Samsung has stuck with the same camera setup as last year's model, you can still take good quality photos with the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It's also disappointing that there's no option to store an S Pen inside the device and that it's still fairly bulky. Still, if you're looking for a foldable phone, we reckon this is the best one out there.In case the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is more compelling to you, there's a pre-order offer for that device too. Again, you'll get 512GB of storage rather than 256GB, as well as a $150 Amazon gift card if you pre-order the $1,000 foldable.Our review of the Z Flip 5 is in progress, but we felt it had some promise after our initial hands-on. The device has a larger and more useful external display compared with the previous models. It should be easier to carry out actions like controlling media playback and dashing off a text without having to open up the main screen. The Z Flip 5 has the new Flex Hinge as well.Elsewhere, pre-order the Galaxy Tab S9+ and you'll get (you guessed it) the same free storage upgrade. The tablet - which includes a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a 12.4-inch AMOLED display and protection from dust and water - costs $1,000. Those interested in the Book Cover Keyboard can also save 50 percent when they buy it through Amazon.As for the Galaxy Watch 6, that doesn't come with a free storage upgrade. However, if you lock in a pre-order now, you'll get a $50 Amazon gift card and fabric band at no extra cost. The deal applies to both the Bluetooth model (which costs $300) and the $350 LTE version.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/samsung-pre-orders-on-amazon-include-free-gift-cards-and-storage-upgrades-144922818.html?src=rss

In 2019, Samsung released the original Galaxy Fold, the first phone with a flexible display (not counting pretenders like the Royole Flexpai). And even though it had more than its fair share of flaws, you could see its potential. Over the next couple of years, Samsung refined its flagship foldable with things like IPX8 water resistance, a more durable design and native stylus support. More recently, however, the pace of innovation has started to slow as more iterative improvements and fewer major upgrades have come to fill out the spec sheet. It's a similar situation on the new Galaxy Z Fold 5: While many of its upgrades including the brighter main screen are nice to have, they're also kind of superfluous. Even the one big change for 2023 - Samsung's new Flex hinge - doesn't really change the way you use the device; it just makes it a bit thinner. When you consider that the price still sits at $1,800, it feels like Samsung's Z Fold line - and possibly the category as a whole - is losing momentum.Design and displayThe Z Fold 5 was built on the same basic blueprint as its predecessors. It packs a skinny but tall exterior Cover Screen and opens up to reveal a big main display with a fingerprint sensor built into its power button. The major change this year is Samsung's Flex hinge, which is based on a two-rail internal structure that's not only smaller than before, but also eliminates the gap between the phone when closed.This is something Z Fold users have been requesting since the original. In addition to slimming the phone down to just 13.4mm, losing that gap also reduces the chance that dust or rocks can get inside and ruin that fancy flexible screen. But that's not all. Samsung says its Flex hinge creates a new waterdrop-shaped crease that puts less stress on the display, which is good for long-term durability. It also helps keep the factory-installed screen protector in place, which was an issue on previous models.The new hinge also makes the device more pleasant to use and hold. The thinner hinge fits better in your hand when the phone is closed and it opens more smoothly, too. I just wish it hadn't taken five generations to get here. Meanwhile, Samsung managed to increase the brightness of the main display to 1,750 nits, which is the same as the S23 Ultra and brighter than the Pixel Fold (1,450 nits). So while the flexible display on Google's foldable is good, the Z Fold 5's is better. It's the perfect size and orientation for reading ebooks or browsing comics, and I'd argue that Samsung's flagship foldable is the best device for playing Marvel Snap. You can still use a stylus to draw or take notes and the Z Fold 5's new S Pen is 40 percent thinner than before. But since there's still no room inside the phone to stash it when it's not in use, you'll probably want to pair it with one of Samsung's new Slim S Pen cases.Performance and multitaskingPhoto by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetLast year's model was far from slow, but thanks to a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, the Z Fold 5 is now even faster. In traditional benchmarks, it posted notably higher multicore scores in Geekbench 6 than the Pixel Fold (5,362 vs 3,226). The Z Fold 5 feels incredibly responsive and in games, graphics and animations are downright silky. That means if you're the kind of power user who demands an abundance of speed regardless of what you're doing, the Z Fold 5 is the better pick over the Pixel Fold, whose Tensor G2 chip reserves more horsepower for AI tasks.Samsung has also enhanced mobile productivity in three ways. To make it faster and easier to launch into side-by-side app mode, a new gesture lets you swipe in from the side of the screen with two fingers to instantly switch into dual-pane mode. Alternatively, if you want to turn a full-screen app to a windowed one, just swipe diagonally down from one of the top two corners. Both gestures are super handy and they're a breeze to use. But they're not on by default, so remember to activate them in the Advanced features tab in settings.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe other update is that the Z Fold 5's taskbar can now show up to four recent apps instead of two. It's a simple but straightforward change that takes better advantage of the width of the Z Fold 5's big main display. My only gripe is that the expanded taskbar and the added gestures are software updates, so we didn't need a brand new device to get them. That said, compared to the Pixel Fold, which takes a more streamlined approach to multitasking, Samsung's desktop-like taskbar remains the best for anyone who wants to use their phone like a PC. And don't forget that Samsung's handy Dex mode is still around, too.CamerasThe Z Fold 5 has the same imaging setup as its predecessor: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom in the back, plus a 10MP selfie shooter and a 4MP camera beneath the main display. In a vacuum, they're more than capable of taking a good picture in practically any environment. However, when you consider that the S23 Ultra costs $600 less and comes with a 200MP main sensor and a 10x optical zoom lens, that puts Samsung's most expensive phone in a weird position.Sam Rutherford/EngadgetWhat makes things even more awkward is that the Pixel Fold sports a longer zoom (5x vs 3x) and better overall image processing. In my testing, that made the Pixel the more adept shooter across a variety of conditions.In bright light, the Z Fold 5 captured images with Samsung's typical rich, saturated color profile. The downside is this sometimes results in a small loss of detail, occasional blown-out highlights and slightly less accurate hues. Meanwhile in low light, Samsung's Night Mode does a good job of improving exposure without a ton of side effects. That said, thanks to Google's Night Sight, photos from the Pixel Fold are often just a touch brighter and sharper. A good example is a shot I took of some flowers at night, in which the Z Fold 5's picture boasts more vivid colors while missing some of the finer texture on the petals.Battery lifeDespite having a smaller battery than the Pixel Fold (4,400 mAh vs 4,800 mAh), the Z Fold 5 lasts longer. In our video rundown test, Samsung's phone lasted 19 hours and 48 minutes when using its main display and an impressive 23:10 with its Cover Screen. On both counts, that's better than Pixel Fold, which posted a time of 15:22 with its internal screen and 22:21 with its exterior panel.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe Z Fold 5's charging speed has stayed the same with 25-watt wired charging, 15-watt wireless charging and 5-watt power sharing (aka reverse wireless charging). That's serviceable, but once again, the less expensive S23 Ultra can do better, with the ability to go up to 45 watts when plugged in.Wrap-upAs someone who's still optimistic about foldable devices and has owned the last three generations of Samsung's flagship flexible phone, I can't help but like the Z Fold 5. It's faster and sleeker, with a brighter main display and even longer battery life than before. The question I wrestle with is how many tweaks and updates should we really expect from a device now in its fifth generation.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe Z Fold 5 has matured a lot since that initial concept device came out back in 2019, and Samsung's new Flex Hinge is an important milestone that people like me have been waiting for. But in the end, there's not a ton the phone can do now that it couldn't before. It's just a bit leaner, as if the old model spent the last 12 months in the gym. And with a price that's still extremely high, I don't think the Z Fold 5 is doing enough to woo anyone who's not already sold on foldables.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/galaxy-z-fold-5-review-five-years-in-samsung-is-treading-water-140002461.html?src=rss

Slack is getting a new look starting today. The service is rolling out a redesign aimed at helping folks stay focused and get things done by streamlining the interface.Perhaps the most obvious change is to the sidebar. On the far left, you'll no longer see a tile for each of your workspaces if you're logged in to more than one. Those have been collapsed into a single tile, and Slack is using the freed-up space for new navigation options.SlackThe sidebar now includes buttons for Home, DMs (direct messages), Activity, Later and More sections, along with a search icon and a new Create button. The Home view is much like the Slack you'll be used to. From here, you'll be able to access your various channels, unread items, drafts, apps and more.It looks like the DMs section will neatly bring together your direct message conversations and make them easier to access. Your DM list will show the most recent message from each chat, and you can choose whether to see only unread messages.SlackThe Activity feed combines your threads, mentions and reactions into a single view, though each of those has a dedicated tab within the Activity section. The Later section, meanwhile, has tabs for in-progress, completed and archived actions. The More section is where you'll find tools such as apps and workflows, canvases and huddles.As for the Create button, that replaces the draft message option. From here, you can whip up a message, huddle, canvas or new channel. Elsewhere, there's a new feature that allows you to hover over an icon for one of the dedicated views (i.e. DMs or Activity) to take a peek at what's happening without having to drift away from your current task.Slack says it's rolling out some device-specific updates as well. In the iPhone, iPad and Android apps, you'll see tiles at the top of the screen that will take you to the likes of your unreads and threads with a single tap. You'll also be able to swipe through all your unreads and perhaps catch up on things more quickly. Last but not least, Slack is enabling new themes with a more detailed and customizable color scheme.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/slacks-latest-redesign-has-a-dedicated-dm-tab-and-a-discord-style-activity-view-130032154.html?src=rss

At its Stream On event earlier this year, Spotify announced a partnership with Patreon that would bring subscriber-only podcasts from the creator platform to its streaming service. Today, that integration launches for all creators and users globally, allowing patrons to listen to exclusive content alongside other episodes on Spotify. If you stumble upon a show that you don't yet support monetarily, you can get access with a few taps from the show's page inside the streaming app.Patreon podcasters only need to sync their account with Spotify to get started. Afterwards, all patron-exclusive content will be on a dedicated page on their Spotify show profile. Creators will have the option of adding promotional banners on their free episodes page to help drive subscription numbers. The integration of Patreon is powered by Spotify's Open Access, which was first announced in 2021. This technology allows shows that host subscription content on other platforms to use their existing log-in credentials to bring those podcasts to the streaming service. Other integrated platforms include Supporting Cast, Supercast and more. Additionally, Spotify has been offering paid podcast subscriptions through its audio production platform Anchor for over two years.Just like that Anchor setup, any subscriber-only Patreon podcasts that you don't have access to will show up with a lock icon in the Spotify app. There's also a small "paid" tag next to the publish date and runtime info. When you tap the lock, a pop up will ask if you want to hear more from the creator before sending you to their Patreon page to view subscription info.Spotify doesn't take a cut of subscriptions that are generated through Open Access. Patreon and Spotify both explain that creators will retain "full control" over their audiences, content and revenue while using the streaming service to expand their reach. There's no additional cost to integrate Patreon with Spotify either, and creators publishing both free and paid episodes can use the setup.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/patreon-creators-can-now-publish-subscriber-only-podcasts-on-spotify-130016901.html?src=rss

Sony has published its earnings report for the first quarter of the year (PDF) ending on June 30th and an adjusted forecast for the fiscal year, and they paint a picture of mixed results for the company. Its overall operating profit for the period was down 31 percent year-over-year, from 364.9 billion yen ($2.54 billion) to 253 billion ($1.76 billion). The company's revenue was up 33 percent, however, thanks to significant increase in sales by its game and network services, music, imaging and financial services businesses.Sony believes its game and music segments will continue to do well and has raised (PDF) its sales and revenue forecast for the fiscal year ending on March 31st, 2024 by 6.1 percent due to higher-than-expected sales for those businesses. It also expects its net income to be 2.4 percent higher than its previous forecast, from 840 billion yen ($5.86 billion) to 860 billion ($6 billion).For its game division, in particular, Sony has tweaked its forecast, because it's anticipating an increase in sales for non-first-party PlayStation titles, including add-on content. Several much-awaited games are coming out for PlayStation gamers this year, such as Spider-Man 2, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Expansion, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandoraand EA Sports FC.This expected increase in sales for non-first-party titles will be aided by a decrease in costs and expenses. That said, they will also offset by a "deterioration in profitability of PlayStation 5 hardware." Sony has dropped the PS5's pricing in several regions around the world recently. While that translates to lower overall earnings from the console, it could also get people on the fence to finally purchase the PS5, which in turn could lead to more game purchases.To note, Sony has shipped 3.3 million PS5 units in the first quarter of the year. That's almost half of the previous quarter's sales of 6.3 million units, though that figure was for the holiday season, when businesses typically do better than usual. This is Sony's best-performing first quarter for PS5 sales so far, bringing the total number of units sold to 41.7 million.Despite adjusting its outlook with better numbers for the year overall, Sony has lowered its expectations for the sales of mobile sensors due to the continuing downward trend in smartphone sales. Sony Pictures' earnings was also down year-on-year despite the success of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The company doesn't foresee a recovery for the business, as well, and believes it will perform worse than what was predicted last April due to the impact of strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-raises-its-annual-forecast-on-the-strength-of-its-playstation-sales-113514305.html?src=rss

NASA has regained contact with Voyager 2, only one of two human-made objects to leave the solar system. The agency lost touch with the probe on July 21st after a series of planned maneuvers pointed it two degrees away from Earth. It would have reset its orientation in October, but agency officials didn't want to wait that long to get back in touch.The Voyager 2 team used a network of ground-based transmitters to shout" a command to the probe, telling it to turn back toward Earth. This bellowed order took 18.5 hours to reach the apparatus, and it would take just as long before NASA would learn it was successful. It's a testament to human ingenuity, but also a vital reminder to not miss a second of data coming from Voyager 2 since NASA believes it may not function properly after 2025.- Dan CooperYou can get these reports delivered daily, direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThe best PS5 games for 2023Marvel's visual effects workers vote to unionizeGM will enable vehicle-to-home charging on all Ultium-based EVsValve sells refurbished Steam Decks for around 20 percent offWhy humans can't use natural language processing to speak with the animalsThe complexities of speech are nothing compared to birdsong.Surely computers, as powerful as they are these days, are smart enough to decode simple animal calls? That's the question at the heart of Andrew Tarantola's latest feature, which asks why we don't yet have Google Translate for animal speech. Turns out, as simple as a bird call may sound to our ears, it's one of the most complex vocal systems ever developed. Read on to learn why, in fact, we're the plain-speaking simple folk, not our pets.Continue Reading.Apple is reportedly testing M3 chips for new Macs arriving this fallThe company may wish to speed up its release schedule for new machines.Photo by Nathan Ingraham / EngadgetAs night follows day, Apple releases new products with a name one integer higher than one it presently sells. It's no surprise we're hearing M3 chips are currently being tested in anticipation of a refresh later in the year. What might surprise, however, is the hint Apple may speed up its release schedule to refresh its computer offerings faster than it does now.Continue Reading.Kamado Joe Konnected Joe review: A highly versatile smart grillIt's a smart charcoal-burning grill for your preferred meat season.Photo by Billy Steele / EngadgetThere are plenty of smart grills, but one that burns charcoal rather than pellets is a slightly taller task. Kamado Joe's Konnected Joe has been in Billy Steele's possession for the last few weeks as he tests out this versatile and, crucially, charcoal-burning smart grill. There's still plenty of summer left, so find out if you wanna snag one of these by reading his review.Continue Reading.PayPal introduces its own stablecoin pegged to the US dollarPayPal USD will help you make purchases or pay other users.PayPalStablecoins pegged to a real-world asset are meant to be a necessary counter to the volatile world of cryptocurrency. PayPal has introduced its own in the form of PayPal USD, a currency pegged to the US dollar, which you can use to buy stuff or pay your friends. It's not clear, however, if regulators have given their blessing or if PayPal is about to get a few thousand sternly worded letters from the Federal Reserve and the SEC.Continue Reading.Amazon Prime Big Deal Days: Here's what to expect this October Prime DayPrime Day comes but onc... twice a year.Amazon is once again planning a second Prime Day-style shopping event in October. This Amazon Prime Big Deal Day, aside from being a mouthful to say, will offer a bonanza of deals both on Amazon's own hardware - and everything else. If you've got an eye on snagging some bargains ahead of the holiday shopping season, check out our guide to prepare for what's to come.Continue Reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-voyager-2-is-alive-111534452.html?src=rss

Dead by Daylight has a new Killer in town, and it's one all horror fans know (and likely fear): the Xenomorph. Behaviour Interactive has released all of the details of its new Alien collaboration following a teaser that provided a glimpse into the new Nostromo Wreckage Map. The announcement confirmed not only the Xenomorph's role as Dead by Daylight's latest Killer but also the introduction of Ellen Ripley as a Survivor.This edition introduces seven Control Stations, a new Map feature that allows Survivors to get a Remote Flame Turret (another addition), which they can use to stagger the Xenomorph - though the Killer can destroy the tool. It can also stop the Xenomorph's unique Power known as Runner Mode, which lets it walk on four legs and shrinks its Terror Radius.The control stations sit on top of tunnels that the Xenomorph can enter and exit through. "Creating the Xenomorph's Tunnel system was very challenging as we had never created a sublevel that could only be accessible to the Killer. This new mechanic grants it Map-wide mobility and definitely amps up the scare factor - which feels very connected to the original character," said Janick Neveu, Game Designer on Dead by Daylight.You don't have to wait long to wander through the Nostromo Wreckage in total fear (a perfect nighttime game, right?) as Dead by Daylight: Alien will be available across platforms starting August 29th. Impatient? You can already download the game's Public Test Build and try it out early.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alien-is-coming-to-dead-by-daylight-105502420.html?src=rss

There's good news if you felt thrown by the $50 price tag for 13-year-old Red Dead Redemption's Nintendo Switch and PS4 release: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says the cost is right. Seriously, IGN reports that Zelnick had his reasons, which he clearly laid out after the company's Q2 earnings report, "That's just what we believe is the commercially accurate price for it." Satisfied now?Points of frustration around Red Dead Redemption's sticker price are extensive, including the lack of a multiplayer option and a complete lack of a quality update since its 2010 release (no 4K visuals in sight). There's also the small matter that the game is already available on Xbox Series X in 4K for $40.Take-Two is leaning on the inclusion of Undead Nightmare, a Red Dead Redemption expansion, in the port as a rationale for the higher price. Zelnick called Undead Nightmare "a great standalone game in its own right when it was originally released, so we feel like it's a great bundle for the first time, and certainly a great value for consumers."If the words of a CEO have convinced you to pay $50 for Red Dead Redemption, you can buy the digital version for the Nintendo Switch or PS4 starting August 17th, with a physical release to follow on October 13th.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/take-two-ceo-says-50-for-red-dead-redemption-port-is-great-value-093553782.html?src=rss

On August 4th, Northrop Grumman's 19th resupply mission for the ISS arrived on the orbiting lab, carrying not just necessities for its inhabitants, but also an experiment that could greatly benefit future human colonies outside our planet. Specifically, the mission was carrying a module with hardware that could help us understand how heating and air conditioning systems can operate in reduced gravity and in the extreme temperatures observed on the moon and Mars. Daytime temperatures near the lunar equator, for instance, reach 250 degrees Fahrenheit, which is higher than the boiling point of water. At night, temperatures reach -208 degrees Fahrenheit. The lowest recorded temperature on Earth was -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit back in 1983.The hardware was designed and built by scientists and engineers from Purdue University and NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. It will allow Purdue scientists to conduct the second part of their Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE), which has been collecting data aboard the ISS since 2021. They've already finished gathering data for the first part of their study that focuses on measuring the effects of reduced gravity on boiling. This part will now focus on investigating how condensation works in a reduced-gravity environment.Issam Mudawar, the Purdue professor in charge of experiment, explained: "We have developed over a hundred years' worth of understanding of how heat and cooling systems work in Earth's gravity, but we haven't known how they work in weightlessness."His team has published over 60 research papers on reduced gravity and fluid flow from the data they've collected so far, and they're in the midst of preparing more. They believe that in addition to providing the information needed to enable human colonies to live on the moon and on the red planet, their experiment could also provide the scientific understanding to enable spacecraft to travel longer distances and to refuel in orbit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/iss-experiment-will-help-scientists-work-out-how-to-keep-astronauts-cool-in-space-081822506.html?src=rss

The Apple TV+ film Tetris was copied from a book written years ago, according to a lawsuit filed against the tech giant and the Tetris Company. Dan Ackerman, the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, has accused the plaintiffs of ripping off his book The Tetris Effect, which tells the history of the game in the form of a Cold War-era thriller. In his lawsuit (PDF, via Reuters), Ackerman said he sent the Tetris Company and its CEO Maya Rogers a pre-publication copy of his book back in 2016. Later that year, his agent received a "strongly worded Cease and Desist letter" to stop him from pursuing film and TV opportunities.Ackerman accused Rogers of working with screenwriter Noah Pink to develop a screenplay using content taken from his book without his knowledge or consent. Apparently, numerous producers showed interest in adapting his book, but the Tetris Company refused to license its IP for the project. "This was done at the direction and behest of Ms. Rogers so that she and the Tetris Company could pursue their own project and opportunities based on Mr. Ackerman's book without compensating him," the lawsuit reads.In his complaint, Ackerman explained that for writers, the option to license their work for film and TV is typically a major source of revenue. That's why he takes the Tetris Company's actions not as a means to prevent the unauthorized use of its IP, but as an "economic attack" on his business. To drive the point home, Ackerman included quite a lengthy list of "glaring similarities" between his book and the film in his lawsuit. Several items in the list explain how scenes in the movie mirrored his versions of events. That said, those events were based on scenarios that happened in real life, so it remains to be seen if the court will agree with him. Ackerman is asking for actual, compensatory and punitive damages equivalent to 6 percent of the film's $80 million production budget.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/author-says-the-apple-tv-tetris-movie-ripped-off-his-book-061744399.html?src=rss

X is giving advertisers new ways to have some control over what type of content can appear near their ads. The company formerly known as Twitter introduced new sensitivity settings" that allow advertisers to choose between different types of content filtering for their ads.The new controls arrive as X is increasingly desperate to win back advertisers. The company's ad revenue has dropped 50 percent since Elon Musk took over as brands cut spending on the platform amid concerns about the rise of hate speech and other unsavory content. Since then, watchdog groups have reported several instances of ads from major brands being placed near neo-Nazi accounts, Holocaust deniers and other previously suspended users.With the new tool, X says it will use machine learning to reduce adjacency to varying levels of content according to a brand's sensitivity threshold in an upcoming campaign." For now, the two settings available to advertisers include conservative" and standard." The company notes that all rule-breaking content is meant to be excluded from ads regardless of what advertisers have opted into.XUnder the most restrictive conservative" setting, ads would be excluded from appearing near targeted hate speech, sexual content, gratuitous gore, excessive profanity, obscenity, spam and drugs" in the for You" timeline. The standard" option would avoid the same topics, but allow spam and drug-related content, according to an example shared by X. The company also plans to add a relaxed" setting for advertisers who want to maximize reach" of their ads with the fewest limits on what can appear nearby.The update isn't the first time X has introduced tools to promote brand safety. The company previously added other keyword-based adjacency controls" that were also meant to limit ad-buyers' exposure to problematic content. But those changes, introduced in December, seem to have had little effect on X's ad business.Though the company has repeatedly claimed that it has successfully limited the reach of hate speech on its site, researchers have said otherwise. Last month, Bloombergreported that researchers at the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) indicating hate speech has surged, both in terms of sheer volume and in engagement, since Musk's takeover of the company. X disputed the findings and is now suing CCDH, alleging the group illegally" scraped data.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-hopes-sensitivity-settings-will-bring-back-advertisers-215439809.html?src=rss

YouTube announced today that it's changing how its home page works if you have your watch history disabled. Starting today, the video service's home feed will stop appearing for those with their viewing history turned off and no significant prior watch history." The change will provide a more streamlined browsing experience, showing only the search bar and guide menu.Starting today, if you have YouTube watch history off and have no significant prior watch history, features that require watch history to provide video recommendations will be disabled - like your YouTube home feed," the company wrote in a blog post today. This means that starting today, your home feed may look a lot different: you'll be able to see the search bar and the left-hand guide menu, with no feed of recommended videos, thus allowing you to more easily search, browse subscribed channels and explore Topic tabs instead."YouTube says the changes will appear slowly, over the next few months." The company describes the move as making it more clear which YouTube features rely on watch history to provide video recommendations and make it more streamlined for those of you who prefer to search rather than browse recommendations."YouTube says, once the change rolls out to your account, you can change your watch history settings to switch views at any time. The toggle is in a dedicated section on the My Google Activity settings page.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-will-show-a-minimalist-home-page-if-your-watch-history-is-turned-off-204126043.html?src=rss

Valve announced today that it's offering certified refurbished" Steam Deck units. The renewed devices shave around 20 percent off the prices of their new counterparts, allowing you to pick one up for cheaper than Steam Summer Sale prices. The consoles include the same one-year warranty as new models. In addition, Valve announced that GameStop is now selling Steam Deck refurbs in select stores, although its models are refurbished at GameStop facilities and will come with their own warranty."At the time of publication, Valve has all three Steam Deck tiers in stock. The 64GB model costs $319, the 256GB variant is $419 and the 512GB one is sold for $519 - the same systems in new condition retail for $399, $529 and $649, respectively.Valve says it thoroughly tests each unit before certifying it for resale. Every device goes through a complete factory reset, software update, and an extensive examination involving over 100 tests at one of Valve's facilities," the company wrote. Among the tests are all controller inputs, the audio system, the screen, and internals. Battery health is also assessed to ensure proper functionality and longevity."The company cautions that the renewed units may have minor cosmetic blemishes," but it promises a reliable, high-quality gaming experience at a lower cost." In addition to offering the same warranty as new consoles, the refurbished models include a power supply (also refurbished), carrying case and quick-start guide. Valve says refurbished Steam Deck stock is limited and may fluctuate over time." The company recommends checking its refurbished stock regularly if they're sold out.Meanwhile, GameStop's refurbished Steam Decks are also available today. They're sold in select retail locations for up to 20% less than new models" and are only available for customers with a GameStop Pro membership, which costs $25 annually.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-begins-selling-refurbished-steam-decks-for-around-20-percent-off-201808966.html?src=rss

After months of testing, Google has announced that all group chats that have RCS enabled in its Android and Wear OS Messages app now have end-to-end encryption (E2EE) enabled by default. That should help keep prying eyes away from your chats as only the group participants will be able to read your messages, as long as they're not sharing screenshots or showing their phone to someone next to them (there's not much you can do about that, unfortunately).Google notes that RCS will now be enabled by default for new and existing users, as long as they haven't previously switched off RCS in their settings. So, maybe make sure that no one in your group has opted out of RCS before you start sharing your most private information.E2EE has been available in one-on-one chats for some time and enabling it for group conversations is a welcome move. However, Android and iOS don't exactly play nicely together on this front. Google has been trying in vain to get Apple to support RCS, but the latter is quite content with using its own iMessage service for encrypted messaging. So, you'll only be able to embrace E2EE chats if every member of your group is on either Android or iOS, unless you opt to use a third-party app like Signal.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-says-all-group-rcs-chats-are-now-fully-end-to-end-encrypted-200337049.html?src=rss

Sony has reportedly begun rolling out a cloud streaming beta for PS Plus Premium subscribers - and it supports up to 4K resolution. Announced in June as being in the early stages" of development, the feature will support PS Plus catalog titles, game trials and supported digital PS5 titles that players own." The feature could help PlayStation owners avoid lengthy downloads that take up precious storage.An alleged PlayStation email to an invited tester, posted on Reddit, reads, We're excited to unveil PS5 cloud streaming, and your help testing it means a lot to us." The beta period uses exclusive invite codes that can't be shared with other users. The email notes that features could change before cloud streaming's official launch.User ArashiGames wrote on ResetEra that they tested God of War: Ragnarok at 2160p with no issues so far." They described resolution options ranging from 720p to 2160p for that title, and they said Returnal streamed in 4K. There's a new section in the PS+ menu that is for Streaming PS5 Games," the beta-tester wrote. Just click the game and it loads in a few seconds." They listed Horizon Forbidden West, Fortnite, Destiny 2 and Death Stranding (among others) as streaming options. 4K resolution could prove a competitive advantage against Xbox Cloud Gaming, which maxes out at 1080p resolution and 60fps.Sony's upcoming Project Q" streaming handheld will have an 8-inch, 1080p screen with a 60Hz refresh rate. The accessory is confirmed to use Remote Play (streaming directly from a console rather than the cloud) but could theoretically support cloud streaming as well. The device is set to launch later this year for an as-yet-unknown price.Game streaming will be exclusive to PS Plus Premium members. The $18 / mo. service already supports cloud gaming for PS4, PS3 and select classic" titles. It lets you stream available games to PS5, PS4 or PC.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ps5-cloud-game-streaming-begins-rolling-out-to-beta-testers-190938931.html?src=rss

The Pokemon Company had a bunch of updates to share during its latest Pokemon Presents stream. For one thing, it shared a new trailer for Detective Pikachu Returns, a long-awaited sequel that's coming to Nintendo Switch on October 6th.For the uninitiated, Detective Pikachu Returns recasts the franchise's mascot as a hard-boiled, tough-talking detective. Detective Pikachu and his current partner Tim Goodman (who can actually understand Pikachu) get to the bottom of a string of unusual incidents with the help of some other Pokemon and humans, who live side-by-side in Ryme City. In between, Pikachu is drinking coffee or trying to find out just what happened to his missing partner, Harry (Tim's dad).The cute trailer offers a look at some gameplay. You'll need to get your thinking cap on as you look for clues and use a casebook to solve cases. Other Pokemon will help you out by sniffing out clues or punching through walls. If the latest clip has you excited to play the game, you may be pleased to learn that pre-orders for Detective Pikachu Returns are now open.Elsewhere, The Pokemon Company revealed that the first half of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's major paid expansion will arrive on September 13th. In "The Teal Mask," you'll go on a school trip to the land of Kitakami and meet Pokemon that aren't available in the Paldea region. The second half of the DLC, titled "The Indigo Disk," is slated to arrive this winter.On top of that, Mew and Mewtwo are coming to Scarlet and Violet as part of an event. You'll be able to add Mew to your team and battle the formidable Mewtwo.Meanwhile, a couple more Pokemon games are now available on Nintendo Switch Online. Those with the base membership can now play Pokemon Trading Card Game, which hit Game Boy Color back in 2000. If you're a Nintoendo switch Online + Expansion Pack member, you should also now have access to Pokemon Stadium 2 from the Nintendo 64.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/detective-pikachu-returns-trailer-shows-the-coffee-drinking-pokemon-in-action-184410764.html?src=rss

Security makes money. Every day companies hawk their latest privacy and security features, be it on a billboard, an internet ad or a commercial in your favorite show. Like Apple's Privacy. That's iPhone" campaign, browsers like DuckDuckGo using privacy to set itself apart or the targeted Google cybersecurity ads on social media that I probably get because of my job. That's good for consumer awareness on privacy, but adds new jargon and complexity to purchasing decisions.This resurgence of privacy-focused ads has a lot to do with the popularity of data laws. That's not to say advertising privacy is new, it dates back as far as these companies themselves, but regulation made compliance a selling point. The General Data Protection Regulation, the California Consumer Privacy Act and various other local laws popping up forced companies into prioritizing data privacy at the same time that consumers honed in on it, too.Whitney Parker Mitchell, CEO and founder of Beacon Digital Marketing, told Engadget that behind the scenes, when the regulations get put in place, compliance folks get hired for buying decisions and privacy and security get a new emphasis. From there, companies make the decision to advertise or not advertise privacy and security compliance based on the target buyer in mind.Where you emphasize that and how much information you put forward within your marketing materials really depends on how important that is to that primary buyer," Mitchell said. Like a cell phone that feels very personal may make security front of mind, but you may value convenience more than anything in a product like your robot vacuum.Still, privacy and security are dense and complex, making the concepts less-than-ideal for pithy slogans. Oftentimes when marketers try to reduce it to something catchy, the important nuance gets lost or buzzwords blur reality. The advertising campaigns can make the issue seem more simple or overly simplistic than it actually is," Aaron Massey, technologist and senior policy analyst for advertising technologies and platforms at the Future of Privacy Forum said.It's similar to the market for lemons - used cars, not the fruit - Massey told Engadget. It's easy to make a marketing claim, but it's very hard for the buyer to confirm that it's true because they don't have the specialized skill set to verify it.So, to go along with the ad campaigns, more consumer-friendly privacy awareness is cropping up on our devices. Companies are recognizing that privacy policies are not enough to really help consumers understand what is really happening with the data," Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, DC managing director of the International Association of Privacy Professionals said. That includes efforts like privacy check ups that direct you to update your settings with a pop up at login.It's been a net positive for privacy and security. More regulation and consumer education has ultimately driven these ads. Still, there are things you should look out for before taking them at face value. While every ad can't be a well-rounded and detailed approach to the topic, subjective claims like We're the most secure' should raise skepticism. It's best to look for claims that the company can clearly stand behind," Zweifel-Keegan told Engadget, and the high-level staffing like chief privacy or security officers to back it up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tech-companies-data-privacy-ads-marketing-183049670.html?src=rss

Netflix's push into video games continues, as the company just dropped a dedicated controller app for iOS devices. The app, simply called Netflix Game Controller," lets you use your phone or tablet as a gamepad once you pair the device with your TV. This will allow you to play games available through Netflix's service on the TV, while controlling things from your mobile device.Though the app is already available for download, further news remains scant. For instance, we don't know what games it will support or any details surrounding the pairing process. We also don't know if and when this will be followed up by an Android app. The app's description just teases that the gamepad functionality is coming soon to Netflix."This isn't a huge surprise, given the company's expanding growth as an indie game publisher. Netflix Games has published or hosted nearly 70 titles in the past two years, some of which are accessible via the regular Netflix streaming app with others available on mobile devices and gaming consoles. These aren't throwaway titles, either, as games like Oxenfree II: Lost Signals released to critical acclaim. Oxenfree developer Night School has gone on to become Netflix's first in-house studio. Other titles coming to the Netflix platform in the coming months include indie standouts like Storytellers, Paper Trail and the Monument Valley series. There's also an Assassin's Creed game in the works, along with a port of the mobile title LEGO: Legacy Heroes Unboxed. It's a safe assumption that you should be able to use the recently-launched controller app to play some of these games. Engadget reached out to Netflix to inquire about compatibility and the possibility of an Android release. A company spokesperson said that it isn't making comments at this time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-just-released-a-game-controller-app-for-the-iphone-181609420.html?src=rss