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Every day, there seems to be new generative AI news, and while it can often be serious and quite technical, this time around it's just plain fun. Instagram has launched a new generative AI-powered tool called backdrop that lets you create a new image in the, yes, background of your Story. Meta's generative AI lead, Ahmad Al-Dahle, announced the feature on Threads alongside a video tutorial.Instagram's backdrop tool appears once you upload or capture content for your Story. It sits alongside existing icons at the top of your screen, like text and music, represented by an image of a person with a rectangular frame behind them. To use backdrop, just click on that icon, and the image's entire background will go checkered (similar to picture editors like PhotoShop) along with a text box prompting you to "describe the backdrop you want..." From there, you can add anything from "surrounded by puppies" to "chased by dinosaurs" - very different vibes - and the AI tool will generate it in the background.Don't expect people to actually think you're hanging out under the aurora borealis (another possible prompt), as your Story will get tagged with AIBackdrop by Instagram, along with a sticker saying try it and your description in quotation marks. Currently, Instagram's backdrop tool is only available to users in the United States.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-now-offers-ai-generated-backgrounds-on-stories-115054259.html?src=rss

Meta's Threads has finally arrived in Europe, over five months after rolling out in the US, UK and elsewhere around the world. Following a countdown and Instagram teaser invitation, the app is now officially available in the bloc on the web, though the iOS and Android apps still aren't available for many.Threads.net is now live on the web, though the mobile apps are still showing as unavailable for many (you may have to wait patiently). I was able to sign in using my Instagram account, though Meta also offers access without creating a profile - though you can't post or interact with content in that case. Once I agreed to use Instagram and chose my profile, it asked if I was okay with it being public and if wanted to follow the same people I do on Instagram. A few more clicks and I was in.Steve Dent for EngadgetThe delay was reportedly due to the EU's upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) set to take effect in 2024. As one of seven tech giant "Gatekeepers," Meta wanted to ensure it's in compliance with the DMA, particularly around rules for sharing data between apps. In compliance with EU policies, the app also allows users to access the platform without needing to create a profile.Threads launched July 5 on mobile with a basic feature set and required users to sign in using their Instagram accounts. It was much like Twitter (now X) when it launched, with support for text posts up to 500 characters, along with photos and five-minute videos. It also supported reposts and quote posts, while allowing users to limit their replies and block/report other users.Since then, it has added a web version, along with both "following" and "for you" feeds, the ability to send Threads posts on Instagram, following list sorting, liked posts on your profile page and more. In short, it's become a robust rival to X, Bluesky and its other short-form social media apps.In addition, yesterday Meta started testing the ability to make Threads posts available on Mastodon and other fediverse apps. That compatibility with the decentralized "ActivityPub" service, and the ability to cross-post to other apps, was a key promise Meta made when it introduced Threads.Threads' rise came with the steep decline of Elon Musk's X, now seen as more polarized than ever. Among much other drama, the platform recently lost a number of key advertisers after Musk boosted an antisemitic conspiracy theory. In response to that, Musk delivered a new message for advertisers pulling back from the platform: Go fuck yourself."Threads is still in a precarious spot, though. It was an instant hit, crossing the 100 million signup mark just five days after launch and counted 141 million users as of November 10, according to research company Quiver Quantitative. However, engagement is another issue - the number of daily active users has fluctuated and dropped steeply a month or so after launch. It should get a massive boost now that it's in Europe, though, and Meta easily has the might (and money) to make it work and crush both established and potential rivals.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-finally-launches-in-europe-110747780.html?src=rss

Proton finally has a desktop app. The Swiss company, known for its privacy-focused alternatives to the Google Workspace apps, revealed a Windows and macOS application on Thursday that includes Proton Mail and Proton Calendar. The desktop app is currently available in beta for subscribers on the most expensive premium tier, but the company says it will launch for all Proton users in early 2024.The company says the desktop app has a modern design with a clutter-free experience. Proton views the move as providing a leg up over Google. While many people use email on desktop in a browser, desktop apps can still provide certain advantages such as better offline support," Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a press release. For this reason, we have decided to launch a desktop app, something that even Gmail does not provide." The desktop app now gives Proton apps on all major platforms.ProtonIn addition to the desktop app, Proton is launching several new features for all platforms, including auto-forwarding email rules. Messages sent this way will be encrypted between Proton accounts, and it supports unencrypted auto-forwarding to non-Proton accounts. In addition, Proton Mail now integrates with customer relationship management (CRM) and customer support software as the company looks to grow its footprint in the business world.Proton says encrypting forwarded messages while maintaining the security the company brands itself on was an enormous challenge. Messages sent between Proton Mail accounts are always end-to-end encrypted by default," Proton CTO Bart Butler wrote. But to maintain end-to-end encryption for messages forwarded to other Proton users presented a huge technical challenge. We needed to figure out how to re-encrypt messages for different recipients without the server being able to access the content."Attachment previews are also available for all Proton Mail platforms. Previously, you had to download email attachments locally before viewing them. It now lets you see them directly from the inbox with one click. Proton says it does so without compromising security.ProtonYou can also now snooze Proton Mail messages in another catch-up move for the encryption-focused company. In addition, it spruced up the Proton Calendar with searches on the web while adding public holidays. The company has had a busy year, also launching a native Windows file-syncing app in July and a password manager in April.Before it officially launches early next year, the Proton Mail desktop app is available now in beta for Proton Visionary subscribers. That tier was previously locked to legacy supporters, but the company has reopened registrations from now until January 3. (The plan isn't cheap, though, at $40 monthly or $360 annually.) Meanwhile, auto-forwarding is available now for paid users on any plan, while attachment previews, snoozing and calendar improvements are here for everyone with a Proton account.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/proton-mail-now-has-a-desktop-app-in-beta-110021703.html?src=rss

In October, Insomniac Games launched Marvel's Spider-Man 2 without key features like New Game+ and audio descriptions. Just before the game's release, Insomniac's community and marketing director, James Stevenson, shared that New Game+ "should" arrive before the end of 2023. However, Insomniac has now released a statement explaining that it's targeting the next Marvel's Spider-Man 2 update for early 2024.Insomniac shared the news on X: "We know players have been eagerly awaiting features such as New Game+ and Audio Descriptions, among many more. We have been working vigilantly on these features and require more testing to ensure the quality is up to our standards. We are now targeting Early 2024 for the next game update, and we'll have a feature-complete list closer to its release."

Discord has officially updated its hateful conduct policy to add behaviors that don't reflect its "goal to promote acceptance and inclusivity." These newly added bannable behaviors include "deadnaming or misgendering a transgender person." According to TechCrunch, Discord started internally implementing its expanded policy in 2022, but the chat app has just only made it public in an effort to provide more transparency."As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Discord remains a safe and fun place for people to hang out with friends, we continually evaluate potential harms and update our policies," a spokesperson told the publication. "We often work with organization and subject matter experts to ensure our policies accurately encompass a holistic view of how these issues manifest across the internet and society."In addition to misgendering and deadnaming trans people, Discord also considers expressing contempt or disgust towards members of protected groups, perpetuating negative stereotypes about them, repeatedly using slurs to degrade them, threatening or promoting violence against them, as well as calling for their segregation and exclusion as hateful behaviors. LGBT organization GLAAD has praised Discord in its call for social networks to update their policies to recognize deadnaming and targeted or deliberate misgendering as hate speech.GLAAD also points out that among the biggest social networks today, TikTok is the only one that explicitly prohibits intentional misgendering and deadnaming. Notably, X implemented a rule against the behavior in 2018 when it was still called Twitter, but it quietly removed that section in its hateful conduct policy under Elon Musk's leadership.Discord won't be banning users who violate its hateful conduct policy after just one infraction, though. Under its warning system, users who go against its rules will receive a direct message detailing their offense, with the platform weighing each violation differently based on the "severity of harm." Users can see their account standing in their settings page. If they have one or more violation, their accounts will be marked "at risk," while they could be permanently suspended if they're marked as having "severe or repeated" violations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/discord-could-ban-users-if-they-continue-to-deadname-trans-people-083112064.html?src=rss

Twitch has finally streamlined its confusing guidelines surrounding sexual content after a creator was able to appear seemingly topless in a stream posted on the website. The incident compelled viewers to question what kind of content could actually appear - and what could get you banned - on livestreams. Following feedback from users, Twitch has merged the two separate sexual content policy sections on its guidelines page and clarified that some materials that were previously prohibited are now allowed on the platform, as long as they're properly labeled.They include content that "deliberately highlight breasts, buttocks and pelvic region" when fully clothed, which Twitch admits has caused female-presenting streamers to be "disproportionately penalized." The website now also allows streams to show drawn, animated or sculpted female-presenting breasts, genitalia or buttocks that are fully exposed. That said, fictionalized sexual acts and masturbation are still prohibited. Videos that show writing on female-presenting breasts and buttocks are now allowed, as well, along with videos that contain strip tease dances. Meanwhile, dance moves that include "twerking" and "grinding" can now be shown in videos even without being labeled.In addition to clarifying its sexual content policy, Twitch has also altered its homepage algorithm so that it'll no longer recommend content that had been labeled with Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes. The website explains that while viewers must deliberately click on videos on the homepage to watch them, parts of streams with those themes were still visible even to those who may be uncomfortable seeing them due to their thumbnails. Now, viewers must explicitly seek out videos containing those themes.

Following the revelation that our mobile push notification records can be handed over to law enforcements, Apple put the blame on the Department of Justice (DOJ) for preventing tech companies from revealing such process. At the same time, the company updated its Legal Process Guidelines document to state that "a subpoena or greater legal process" was required to obtain the relevant records. However, Reuters spotted that a week later, Apple quietly tweaked this particular line to match Google's stricter policy on this matter:

A few weeks after Cruise's CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Daniel Kan resigned, the company has also dismissed nine executives considered as "key" figures for the firm. According to Reuters and other sources, GM's robotaxi unit sent an internal memo to staff members announcing the executives' departure while regulators are investigating an incident wherein a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise vehicle after being struck by another car. Authorities are accusing the company of withholding a video that allegedly shows the victim underneath its vehicle."Following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise's response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise," the memo reportedly reads. "We are committed to full transparency and are focused on rebuilding trust and operating with the highest standards when it comes to safety, integrity, and accountability. As a result, we believe that new leadership is necessary to achieve these goals."One of the executives who was dismissed was Gil West, who served as Cruise's Chief Operating Officer. A spokesperson also confirmed to Reuters that Jeff Bleich and David Estrada, who were the company's Chief Legal and Policy Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, respectively, were among the nine executives who were let go.This is just the latest update in the major upheaval Cruise is going through. The California DMV suspended the company's driverless permit in October, the same month the incident happened. In November, Cruise recalled 950 of its robotaxis following reports that they had trouble identifying children and that the company knew about it but kept the vehicles on the streets anyway. The robotaxi company eventually suspended even its manual operations as part of a safety probe by a third-party firm. Vogt also reportedly announced before he left the company that layoffs are on the horizon, so these executives may not be the only personnel leaving Cruise before the year ends.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cruise-drops-nine-executives-in-the-midst-of-an-accident-probe-involving-its-vehicle-044408544.html?src=rss

Meta is rolling out a suite of new tools on Instagram that give users more control over how much spam content and bots they will see on their feeds. People will also be told if something they posted is in accordance with community guidelines. The new tools will be introduced gradually in the coming weeks.Instagram has developed and improved its automated detection system that checks for spam across comments, tags, story views and followers. The moderation systems will flag fake followers and spam-filled content and give users the option to delete those items in bulk to save users time. Any suspected spam or bot account will get filtered into a separate inbox for you to review, and if an account isn't spam, you can approve a request and they'll be added to your following list. Otherwise, all accounts will be automatically removed after 30 days. Posts by profiles that get tagged as spam won't appear on the content creators' accounts unless they get approved. An account holder can view, bulk delete or approve any tag requests flagged by the system.Instagram will also send in-app notifications if it detects posts that violate its content policies. This follows Instagram's most recent update that shows when posts are blocked from appearing on the Explore page, which should stop account holders from repeating those mistakes. For Stories though, Instagram said it is still experimenting with hiding views from accounts that the platform deems as spam.The company already introduced the "Hidden Words" tool in 2021, which hides messages with questionable keywords. In the coming update, Instagram said it will start to edit out suspected spam through the advanced comment filtering tool. The issue of harassment and spam has long been a focal point for Instagram. It has had to deal with bots storming the platform and proliferating sexually explicit content. However, the company needs to strike a balance between policing inappropriate content and allowing for the free exchange of ideas on its platform. Recently, Instagram has faced scrutiny for allegedly censoring pro-Palestinian content amid the ongoing war in the Gaza.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-is-making-it-easier-to-remove-spammy-followers-021801458.html?src=rss

Instagram inboxes are about to get a little busier. The app is adding two-second looping videos and direct replies to Notes, the status update-like feature that lives at the top of users' inboxes.The feature was first introduced a year ago as a way to share quick text updates with your mutual followers and close friends. Since then, the company has also added music and translation capabilities to the feature. Now, with the latest change, users will also be able to share 2-second looping videos in the space, almost like a mini Boomerang. The clip will appear at the top of your friends' inboxes in place of your normal profile photo.At the same time, Meta is also adding the ability for people to interact with their friends' notes similar to how you might respond to a Stories post. Tapping on a note at the top of your inbox brings up a shortcut to reply with a GIF, sticker, voice note, photo or text. Replies to notes are routed to users' inboxes alongside other messages.The updates come as Meta has looked for more low-pressure ways to encourage users to share on its apps, including with smaller groups of friends. The company recently rolled out the ability to share feed posts and Reels with close friends" only. It's also recently been spotted working on a feature called flipside," which could offer a finsta-like space directly in users' profiles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-notes-can-now-include-two-second-looping-videos-010755739.html?src=rss

Meta has been promising as much for a while, and now Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro owners can now stream hundreds of games through Xbox Cloud Gaming. You'll need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, compatible controller, solid internet connection and the most recent Quest software update. Then, you'll be able to snag the Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) app and hop into games such as Starfield, Cocoon and Halo Infinite on a large virtual screen.Meta says you'll be able to choose from four virtual display sizes. You can opt to play games in an Xbox-themed virtual space or make it appear as though the display is floating in mid-air thanks to the Quest 3 and Pro's full-color passthrough features. As for supported controllers, Meta says Xbox gamepads, PlayStation 4 peripherals and the Nintendo Switch Pro all work. Support for the PlayStation 5's DualSense will be available at a later date.This is the second major cross-platform collaboration that has arrived on Quest in the last couple of weeks. It's now possible to wirelessly play PC VR games on the headsets thanks to Steam Link support. While some folks were already able to access Xbox Cloud Gaming on Quest headsets via workarounds, the arrival of the app will make it much easier for anyone to dive in and play something when, say, they're traveling or someone else is occupying the TV.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-lands-on-meta-quest-headsets-204929253.html?src=rss

Etsy is the latest company to lay off staff in 2023. CEO Josh Silverman confirmed the marketplace is letting go of 11 percent of its staff (around 225 employees) in its first significant staffing cut in recent years. It's also reshuffling its leadership, including announcing two executives' departures at the beginning of 2024.After deep discussion and careful consideration, we are reorganizing our internal structure to more closely align our resources with our most important business priorities and better serve our customers," Silverman wrote to employees. As part of this, I'm sad to share that we must say goodbye to approximately 225 team members, reducing the Etsy workforce by ~11%. This decision was among the hardest we've ever made, and one that we have tried earnestly to avoid."The company is facing a consumer spending slowdown, as its leadership warned in its Q3 2023 earnings call in November. There's no doubt that this is an incredibly challenging environment for spending on consumer discretionary items," Silverman said to investors last month. It's therefore important to acknowledge that the volatile macro climate is going to make it challenging for us to grow this quarter." Etsy's revenue growth had already stalled in recent years, with customers adjusting their spending habits post-lockdowns after a pandemic-era boom.Etsy's Brooklyn headquartersEtsyEtsy's CEO says Shein and Temu have also affected the company's bottom line. There's no question that Temu and Shein are having an impact in the market," Silverman said in the November call. You don't get that big that fast without taking share from many people."However, the two upstarts' competition isn't the only issue; Shein and Temu have also allegedly driven up Etsy's advertising costs. And the other thing that is happening is they're spending a large amount of money on marketing, not clear that they're using ROI thresholds to do that," Silverman added. And so I think those two players are almost single-handedly having an impact on the cost of advertising, particularly in some paid channels in Google and in Meta."Silverman plans to market the platform's quality, value and reliability" to help fend off the younger competitors, which specialize in cheaper goods. I have great confidence in these plans, but we need the right structure and resources in place to successfully execute on them," he wrote to employees.The CEO wasn't above talking a little smack, either. We are the opposite of Temu," Silverman said to investors in November. If I had to think about what is the polar opposite of Etsy, I'd probably get pretty close to Temu."As part of the reorganization, Etsy's chief marketing officer, Ryan Scott, and chief human resources officer, Kim Seymour, will leave the company on January 1. Chief operating officer Raina Moskowitz will now lead marketing teams, and chief product officer Nick Daniel inherits Moskowitz's previous turf, overseeing payments and fulfillment teams.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/etsy-is-laying-off-11-percent-of-its-staff-201545615.html?src=rss

OpenAI will pay German publisher Axel Springer to use its news articles to train its AI models and show real-time information from Axel Springer's brands, which include Business Insider and Politico in the US and Bild and Welt in Europe, in ChatGPT's responses. None of the companies disclosed how much the deal was worth, but Bloomberg reported that OpenAI will pay the publisher tens of millions of euros over the next three years.This partnership with Axel Springer will help provide people with new ways to access quality, real-time news content through our AI tools," said OpenAI's chief operating officer Brad Lightcap in a statement. We are deeply committed to working with publishers and creators around the world and ensuring they benefit from advanced AI technology and new revenue models."OpenAI's partnership with Axel Springer comes on the heels of concerns from creators, authors, and publishers who have criticized and sued generative AI companies for training their models on their content without consent or compensation. Some publishers like The New York Times, Vox Media, BBC News, Reuters, and CNN have blocked OpenAI from accessing their data. Striking deals with AI companies, however, could provide a brand new revenue source for publishers who are currently going through the worst year for the media business in decades.As part of the deal, Alex Springer will provide OpenAI with both current news articles as well as archives from all its brands to train its large language models, the foundational tech that powers ChatGPT. When ChatGPT uses Axel Springer's articles in its responses, it will include attribution and links to the pieces for transparency. Axel Springer will also be able to use OpenAI's technology to improve its own products, The Wall Street Journal reported.This isn't the first deal that OpenAI has struck with a news publisher. Earlier this year, the company entered into a two-year partnership with The Associated Press to use select content from the AP's archives dating back to 1985 to train its AI models, although the terms of that deal do not include letting ChatGPT use AP content in its responses. OpenAI also has a $5 million partnership with the American Journalism Project to explore how local news organizations can benefit from artificial intelligence.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-will-pay-to-train-its-models-on-business-insider-and-politico-articles-200327559.html?src=rss

EU regulators have reportedly sided against Apple in its long fight against Spotify over App Store policies. The complaint centered on "anti-steering" rules that allegedly prevented platforms like Spotify from adequately promoting alternative methods of payment. While Spotify was the key opposition, the decision impacts not just music-streaming, but anyone offering software that requires a monthly subscription.Bloomberg reports that regulators are still putting the final touches on the ruling, with a formal decision expected for early next year. Along with the ruling, the EU will likely penalize Apple for the practice and ban it outright. It's expected that Apple will get hit with a steep fine, with some experts suggesting it could be as much as ten percent of its annual global revenue. This could add up to nearly $40 billion.However, the fine is likely to be lower than that, as the EU tends to place more of an emphasis on actually ending abusive practices, instead of relying solely on fines as a deterrent. So the big news will be Apple being forced to play by the rules when operating in Europe, ending anti-steering practices once and for all. Of course, it's all up in the air until the regulating body releases its judgment.This follows a probe that started four years ago. It all began with a complaint from Spotify alleging that Apple's anti-steering practices were forcing the music-streaming platform to raise prices to cover costs associated with appearing on the App Store. This led to an initial statement of objections" against Apple in 2021 and a formal charge sheet this past February, as reported by The Verge.The formal charge sheet declared in a preliminary view" that Apple's anti-steering obligations" offer unfair trading conditions." For years, Apple didn't allow rival streaming services like Spotify to even include links in third-party apps to their own subscription sign-ups. The company has since loosened this restriction slightly after an antitrust investigation in Japan. The EU ruling could further erode this mandate.The European regulatory commission will address the accusation that Apple stopped companies from advertising alternative subscription methods but will not address anything related to in-app purchases. If you've been following this story, fees associated with in-app purchases were also part of the complaint until being dropped in February. The EU has issued a separate probe into Apple's tap-to-pay technology and whether there are any inherent antitrust concerns. According to reports, the company's in talks to settle that case.How will this affect the rest of the world? There's a similar case making its way through the US courts, via an antitrust suit brought forth by Epic Games. A judge sided with Epic, but Apple recently asked the Supreme Court for an appeal. The court granted a temporary reprieve, so Apple can still do whatever it wants in its App Store, for now. Apple is a global entity, however, so all it takes is a few countries to force a company-wide change. As an example, just look at USB-C ports.Google faced a different outcome in a US court this week. A federal jury sided with Epic Games in a similar antitrust case against Google. The jury unanimously agreed that Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-eu-will-reportedly-rule-against-apple-in-spotifys-complaint-over-app-store-policies-195704039.html?src=rss

When Threads launched this summer, one of the more intriguing aspects of the new service was Meta's promise to support ActivityPub, the open-source protocol that powers Mastodon and other decentralized social media platforms. But there were still many unanswered questions about how such interoperability would work, and just how committed Meta was to the plan.Now, Meta is taking its first step toward making Threads compatible with the fediverse. A new test will make some Threads content available on Mastodon and other apps for the first time, Mark Zuckerberg announced in a post on Threads. Making Threads interoperable will give people more choice over how they interact and it will help content reach more people," he wrote. "I'm pretty optimistic about this."It wasn't immediately clear how this would work or how much Threads content might be available on Mastodon or other services. But the company previously introduced the ability to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon, so Meta does have some insight into Threads users who are also active in the fediverse."We're starting with the ability to follow threads users from activitypub clients, but we will get to the ability to follow accounts from activitypub servers on threads as well," Instagram head Adam Mosseri explained in a post. We've reached out to Meta for more details on the integration and will update if we hear back.The test is the latest sign of growing momentum behind decentralized social media, which advocates say could upend how we interact online. Because decentralized platforms like Mastodon rely on protocols rather than a single company's platform, more mainstream adoption of say, ActivityPub, means that people would be able to interact with a wider variety of content in more places. Meta has also said ActivityPub support would allow users to to stop using Threads and transfer your content to another service."Though some fediverse enthusiasts have been skeptical about Meta's entry into the space, Mastodon founder Eugen Rochko has said he's supportive of their efforts. The fact that large platforms are adopting ActivityPub is not only validation of the movement towards decentralized social media, but a path forward for people locked into these platforms to switch to better providers," he wrote in a blog post earlier this year.Update, December 13 2023, 3:30PM ET: This story has been updated to include a comment from Adam Mosseri.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-tests-making-threads-posts-available-on-mastodon-and-other-fediverse-apps-190003236.html?src=rss

We knew that the iPhone 15 Pro and the Pro Max would be able to record spatial videos, but that capability wasn't available until the release of iOS 17.2. Well, it's here now, so there's no time like the present to start building up a library of spatial video clips for the impending launch of the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. The process isn't quite as simple as taking a standard video, however, so follow along and we'll get it sorted. Here's how to take a spatial video with your iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.How to take spatial video with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro MaxThis is a more complicated process than making a traditional video, but just slightly. Here's how to capture iPhone 15 Pro spatial video.1. Head to settingsEngadget / Will ShanklinYou have to set up your phone to record spatial video. Do this by heading to settings and then camera and, finally, formats. Look for Spatial video for Apple Vision Pro" and turn it on. That's it. You're good to go.2. Open up the camera appNow that the setting has been enabled, just open up the camera app as you would to take traditional photos or videos. Select video mode to begin the process. Spatial videos must be captured in landscape orientation, so flip the phone.3. Make a spatial videoEngadget / Will ShanklinYou should see a spatial video icon on the screen. Tap it and then hit record or either volume button to start making a video. Spatial videos benefit from an abundance of care while filming. Keep the iPhone steady and level, frame any subjects three to eight feet from the camera and use even and bright lighting. Tap the spatial video icon again to stop the recording.4. Watch your videoAppleFor now, you'll have to settle with watching the video on your iPhone or any other traditional screen. Spatial videos captured on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are recorded at 1080p at 30FPS. However, that changes with the launch of the Apple Vision Pro headset. Once that arrives, you'll be able to view them in glorious 3D in the headset's Photos app. You shouldn't have to manually upload the videos to the Vision Pro, as spatial videos sync to all of your devices, assuming you're signed in with the same Apple ID and have iCloud turned on.The Apple Vision Pro headset releases at some point during the first half of 2024, so we have a bit of waiting to do before experiencing the magic of spatial video. In the meantime, start collecting clips.What is spatial video?You can't make a spatial video without understanding the purpose. You know how spatial audio increases immersion by creating 360-degrees of virtual space for sound effects, music and narration? Spatial video is basically the same thing, but for visuals. The technology creates videos that feel similar to how we move in the real world that can be experienced in all directions.There's a major caveat. You can take these videos with an iPhone 15 Pro, but you can't really enjoy them. Sure, you can play them just fine, but without any of those added spatial effects. For that, you'll need the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, which will allow you to, in a way, relive the moment. You'll be able to pull up the video as a large and immersive floating screen or expand it to occupy your entire field of view, which is sort of like stepping inside of a memory. The technology isn't exclusive to Apple's ecosystem, but this specific integration is.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-take-spatial-video-on-the-iphone-15-pro-184721039.html?src=rss

Apple is slowly but surely getting rid of the Lightning cable as it transitions to having a USB-C charging port in more of its devices and accessories. On the same day it announced iPhone 15 devices (which have USB-C ports), Apple revealed that it changed the physical charging jack on the second-generation AirPods Pro. But to get a USB-C case for the earbuds, you'd need to buy a fresh set of AirPods Pro too.That's no longer the situation as Apple has started selling the USB-C AirPods Pro case separately. The case by itself costs $99, which is much less than the $249 you'd have had to shell out before.It might be worth picking up a case if you don't want to have to deal with Lightning cables at all (and you perhaps aren't a fan of wireless or MagSafe charging). Of course, if you've lost your previous case and need to replace it, you may as well switch to a USB-C version at this point. Of note, Apple says the case is only compatible with the second-gen AirPods Pro.Apple's transition away from Lightning and toward USB-C isn't exactly voluntary. The European Union has mandated that most rechargeable devices sold in the region will need to have a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. Apple was already moving to USB-C in iPads but making the switch on iPhone marked a significant sea change.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-now-selling-the-usb-c-airpods-pro-case-separately-182655258.html?src=rss

Gig workers in the EU will soon get new benefits and protections, making it easier for them to receive employment status. Right now, over 500 digital labor platforms are actively operating in the EU, employing roughly 28 million platform workers. The new rules follow agreements made between the European Parliament and the EU Member States, after policies were first proposed by the European Commission in 2021.The new rules highlight employment status as a key issue for gig workers, meaning an employed individual can reap the labor and social rights associated with an official worker title. This can include things like a legal minimum wage, the option to engage in collective bargaining, health protections at work, options for paid leave and sick days. Through a recognition of a worker status from the EU, gig workers can also qualify for unemployment benefits.Given that most gig workers are employed by digital apps, like Uber or Deliveroo, the new directive will require human oversight of the automated systems" to make sure labor rights and proper working conditions are guaranteed. The workers also have the right to contest any automated decisions by digital employers - such as a termination.The new rulings will also require employers to inform and consult workers' when there are algorithmic decisions" that affect them. Employers will be required to report where their gig workers are fulfilling labor-related tasks to ensure the traceability of employees, especially when there are cross-border situations to consider in the EU.Before the new gig worker protections can formally roll out, there needs to be a final approval of the agreement by the European Parliament and the Council. The stakeholders will have two years to implement the new protections into law. Similar protections for gig workers in the UK were introduced in 2021. Meanwhile, in the US, select cities have rolled out minimum wage rulings and benefits - despite Uber and Lyft's pushback against such requirements.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/european-commission-agrees-to-new-rules-that-will-protect-gig-workers-rights-175155671.html?src=rss

Apple has announced a major expansion of its self-repair program, as the company will now allow iPhone 15 and M2-powered Mac users to fix their own devices. This comes after the tech company opened up the program to include iPhone 14 models and M2-powered laptops earlier this year.The devices added to the DIY repair roster include the entire iPhone 15 lineup, the Mac Pro, Mac Studio, the 16-inch MacBook Pro and the 15-inch MacBook Air, among others. Additionally, Apple's bringing the program to 24 new countries, including Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, bringing the Self Service Repair initiative to a total 33 nations.There's also a brand-new diagnostic tool to help users to get to the bottom of things. Apple already offered a System Configuration tool that came up when the device was in Diagnostics mode, but this goes several steps further. The web-based diagnostic tool is now available in the US and can directly test for a number of common issues (assuming you have a second device on hand to run it.) It will require putting the hardware you'd like to test into Diagnostics mode and entering its serial number into the site.Apple will attempt to diagnose the problem and offer up a step-by-step repair process. This system can test for issues with the display, software integration, audio output, camera functionality and Face ID, with more tests on the way. This essentially gives regular users the same access to diagnostic tests as Apple authorized service providers.As always, Apple's not doing this out of the kindness of its M2-powered heart. The company has been facing increasing pressure from various world governments to abide by newly-mandated right-to-repair laws. This program potentially heads off any legal troubles, though Apple still has some more work to do to cement its right-to-repair commitment. Still, additional DIY repair options are always welcome, no matter how we got here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-self-repair-program-now-includes-the-iphone-15-and-more-m2-powered-macs-162040671.html?src=rss

By the end of this year, Netflix will have already released 86 games, and it has no plans to slow down its gaming ambitions anytime soon. The streaming company already has an initial lineup of titles to add to its library in 2024, including Game Dev Tycoon. In the oddly engaging indie business simulator, you can build your own gaming company and create your own video games. You can even research new technologies in your field and invent your own game types like a real developer.Sonic Mania Plus, which was originally released for consoles and for PC through Steam, will also debut on mobile through Netflix. The enhanced version of Sonic Mania adds Sonic's friends, Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel, as well as a new mode to the game. Spry Fox is releasing the sequel to its life sim Cozy Grove, as well. Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit introduces new activities, including one wherein you can powerwash a ghost with a blowfish and new furry companions with abilities of their own. And if you're a fan of Barbie, fashion and dress-up games, there's Fashionverse, where you can style models and even create outfits for them. Netflix says it's an AI-enhanced title that puts 3D models against photorealistic backgrounds.In addition to announcing some of the games it's rolling out next year, Netflix Games has also taken a look back at its updates and releases for 2023. It launched 40 games this year, which already include the definitive edition of the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy that will be available starting tomorrow. The streaming company's gaming arm also debuted two internally developed titles: Night School's Oxenfree II: Lost Signals and Boss Fight Entertainment's interactive game, Netflix Stories: Love is Blind. Finally, the company started testing the ability to play its games on smart TVs and browsers in select regions with the intention of eventually making its titles playable on any device.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflixs-2024-game-lineup-includes-game-dev-tycoon-sonic-mania-and-a-cozy-grove-sequel-160014745.html?src=rss

Tesla has offered a look at the latest version of its Optimus robot. In a new video, the second-gen humanoid machine appears to have greater dexterity than its predecessor, though you'll likely have to wait quite a while longer before you can pick up one of these to help around the house. Milan Kovac, who works on the Optimus project, noted on X that the footage is in real-time and that there was no CGI involved.While the previous version of Optimus struggled to walk during a live demo, the latest model is able to move with more grace, perhaps thanks to its Tesla-designed actuators and sensors. The machine has an actuated neck with two degrees of freedom and it's said to be 30 percent faster at walking while mimicking the geometry of human feet.

The Game Awards are done and the video game marketing machine is winding down for the year, but this industry never fully stops. This week, we're taking a look at what The Game Awards could have done better (a few things, it turns out) and breaking down some of the biggest announcements from last week's show.

Following a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla will recall over 2 million vehicles to address Autopilot safety concerns, according to new NHTSA documents. Fixes will be issued to owners for free via over-the-air (OTA) updates to add features that ensure drivers pay attention while using Tesla's controversial driver assistance system. It affects all current Tesla EVs built since Autopilot launched in 2015, including the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X."The remedy will incorporate additional controls and alerts to those already existing on affected vehicles to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged," the NHTSA stated in a document. It noted that while Autopilot (specifically its Autosteer component) does have several controls to ensure drivers pay attention, they're not always enough."In certain circumstances when Autosteer is engaged, the prominence and scope of the feature's controls may not be sufficient to prevent driver misuse of the SAE Level 2 advanced driver-assistance feature," the document states. That in turn may lead to "an increased risk of a collision."Tesla was ordered to address the driver monitoring system. "The remedy will incorporate additional controls and alerts to those already existing on affected vehicles to further encourage the driver to adhere to their continuous driving responsibility whenever Autosteer is engaged, which includes keeping their hands on the steering wheel and paying attention to the roadway," it states. Those will include more prominent visual alerts, making it easier to turn Autosteer on and off, and eventual suspension from Autosteer if the driver fails to behave responsibly on an ongoing basis.In a letter to the NHTSA, Tesla acknowledged the order and said it would issue the required fix. "Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 10, 2023." The order affects 2,031,220 vehicles, though models that went into production after December 7th will have already incorporated the update.The NHTSA said last August that it was opening an investigation into Autopilot following 11 crashes with parked first responder vehicles since 2018 that resulted in 17 injuries and one death. In a letter to Tesla sent shortly afterward, the regulator requested detailed documentation on how the driver assistance system works. Specifically, it wanted to know how it ensures that human drivers will keep their eyes on the road while Autopilot is engaged and whether there are limits on where it can be used.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-recalls-2-million-cars-in-order-to-fix-autopilot-safety-controls-123308343.html?src=rss

Apple is adding a new iPhone feature called Stolen Device Protection, which limits what thieves can do with a stolen phone and passcode. It combines location, biometric scans and time delays, allowing victims to lock out the perpetrator and safeguard their data.Stolen Device Protection defends against iPhone thieves who monitor users entering their passcode before snatching the device. With the passcode, the perpetrator could reset the owner's Apple ID password, turn off Find My tracking, change an Apple ID password and a lot more.With this still-in-beta feature turned on, the phone will ask for a Face ID or Touch ID scan if the device is away from a familiar location, like home or work. It will also require a one-hour delay before changing the Apple ID password on the device. After the hour, it will still ask for a Face ID or Touch ID Scan before changing the Apple ID password from the iPhone.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedResearchers fuse lab-grown human brain tissue with electronicsPlayStation's 2023 Wrap-Up recaps your year in gamingGoogle Maps will let you store your location on your phone instead of the cloudHow to use Apple's new Journal appGoogle's superfast 20Gbps Wi-Fi 7 Fiber plan costs $250 a monthMasterbuilt's 2024 charcoal smart grill lineup offers one-button ignition and moreThe end of E3It was once the biggest gaming show in the world.MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is officially dead. After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories," the Entertainment Software Association, E3's organizer, wrote on X. The industry trade group closed the statement with GGWP" - good game, well played.The ESA said, after major names pulled out of this year's planned E3, the event simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength and impact of our industry."While E3 may be gone, gaming events aren't going away. Gamescom, held in Germany, is far larger than E3 in attendance and other factors. There's also Summer Game Fest, a sort-of E3 replacement The Game Awards producer and host Geoff Keighley started in 2020 and expanded last year to include a physical event for the first time. The likes of Capcom, Ubisoft and Xbox held games showcases in association with SGF this year. The event will return for its fifth edition in 2024.Continue reading.Netflix reveals what we watched'It's the first engagement report it's ever released.NetflixNetflix has published the first of a new twice-a-year engagement report called What We Watched. It launched Tuesday as a Microsoft Excel file (!) and lists the hours viewed for every title that tallied more than 50,000 viewing hours, making it the first ultra-detailed glimpse at what people watch on Netflix.Top hits include the first season of the action-thriller series The Night Agent (nope, not heard of it), with 812,100,000 hours watched. In second place was season two of the drama Ginny & Georgia (I don't know her or her) with 665,100,000 hours. Korean show The Glory (three for three...) came third with 622,800,000 hours watched.Continue reading.Apple may lift NFC restrictions in Europe to escape antitrust finesRivals could use tap-and-go payments without Apple Pay.Apple is attempting to avoid another legal battle with the European Union. The company is allegedly offering its rivals access to its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, used for tap-and-go payments, following the European Commission's ongoing probe into Apple's potential antitrust Apple Pay practices. While Apple's current proposal could get it out of a hefty fine and settle the case against it, it's not guaranteed to move forward.It's not just Europe, either. Apple faces a lawsuit in the United States, brought in July 2022 by Iowa's Affinity Credit Union, which accuses the company of engaging in anti-competitive behavior by illegally restricting iOS users to Apple Pay for any contactless payment.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-ios-173s-new-feature-will-make-things-harder-for-iphone-thieves-121541329.html?src=rss

Several years ago, Land Rover announced plans to offer electrified versions of all its vehicle and that process has finally begun. The company teased the Range Rover Electric in a press release and video, promising an 800 volt architecture and all the benefits of a modern EV. At the same time, it'll be just as powerful and capable off-road as its gas-guzzling counterparts.Apart from some aspirational promises, details are still sparse. To start with, it'll supposedly have "performance comparable to a flagship Range Rover V8 and the all-terrain capability developed in-house by Land Rover experts." That all-terrain capability includes the ability to wade through 850mm of water (2.8 feet), though the current V8-powered 2023 Range Rover already offers 900mm of depth.Land RoverThe new model will supposedly be the "quietest and most refined Range Rover ever created," the company said, thanks to "active road noise cancellation configuration and sound design, plus cabin comfort levels enabled by its electric underpinnings." In other words, it'll take advantage of the relatively low noise levels and simplicity of an electric drivetrain, like other luxury EVs.The new model will be built on Jaguar Land Rover's Modular Longitudinal Architecture (LMA) based on an 800 volt architecture, something that generally supports added charging power, enhanced performance, increased efficiency and weight savings. That, the company says, will help enable "fast-charging on public networks," among other benefits.The company is also promising "a seamless electric ownership experience - effortless charging, energy partnerships, software-over-the-air updates and intelligent technology to maximise range." On top of that, the vehicle and and batteries will both be built in the UK in Solihull and Wolverhampton, respectively.Range, performance and other key specifications, along with full photos of the vehicle are still missing. If you're undeterred by that and swayed by Land Rover's promo video (featuring glimpses of the vehicle, a model in a gold dress wearing green rubber boots, some koi fish and plenty of water), you can now join the waiting list.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/range-rover-electric-teased-ahead-of-its-2024-reveal-111741916.html?src=rss

If you need a spare gamepad for your Xbox or PC, Microsoft's wireless Xbox Series X/S controller is currently available for $45 at Amazon. That's close to the lowest price we've seen and the sale applies to multiple finishes (carbon black, blue and velocity green).The Series X/S controller is the classic well-balanced model with responsive face buttons, triggers, and joysticks. The d-pad offers nice tactility compared to Sony's DualSense PS5 controller, though it still uses an asymmetrical joystick layout. It comes with Bluetooth connectivity so you can use it with a PC or mobile device, plus a dedicated "Share" button for screen and video capture.While you don't get the advanced haptic feedback features of the DualSense, it fits nicely in your hand and is generally easier to use on a PC - especially for clients besides Steam. Alternatives like the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller and Microsoft's own Elite Series 2 pad offer a wider array of features, but if you just need the basics, the standard Xbox controller is solid.The primary drawback is a reliance on AA, rather than rechargeable batteries for power. That lets it last longer on a charge than the DualSense, but you'll have to buy a separate rechargeable battery pack if you don't want to regularly swap out batteries. If you can live with that limitation, the sale offers a cheap way to get an extra high-quality controller or two.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-official-xbox-wireless-controllers-drop-to-45-093236413.html?src=rss

Generative AI is nothing new for Snapchat users, with the app's "My AI" suite offering the likes of a free ChatGPT-powered chatbot, as well as the freemium AI-generated "Dreams" selfie effects, Bitmoji backgrounds and more. In the latest update, Snapchat+ subscribers can now leverage AI to extend images - or "zoom out" - at the click of a button, thus making the social media app even more practical. Say you have a snapshot of your pet but it's a little too close, just click on the crop button on the right menu, and then hit the "Extend" button at the bottom. Voila!The updated My AI also lets subscribers directly generate Snaps by typing a simple prompt. In the viewfinder, click the "AI" button on the right, then type in whatever you desire (within reason, of course), and shortly, you'll have an image to tinker with before sharing. Snap suggests you try silly prompts like "a dog sleeping on a rocket" or "a planet made out of cheese."Last but not least, the aforementioned Dreams feature now lets you generate fantastical portraits with friends in them. On the Dreams page, simply pick a friend, hit "Done," and then you'll be able to share the generated portrait of you both. Like before, Snapchat+ subscribers are given one pack of eight Dreams selfies every month, whereas non-subscribers only get one pack as a free trial, before they consider signing up for the $4-a-month service. Regardless, all users can buy more for $0.99 per pack.Snap's ongoing AI efforts seem to be paying off, with its number of subscribers rocketing from five million in September to seven million today - getting one step closer to the ten million "medium-term goal" set by CEO Evan Spiegel back in April, as reported by Time Magazine. Of course, given the fierce competition like Meta which offers similar features for free, Snap will have to keep churning out new AI-powered tools to keep its platform fun and fresh.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchat-subscribers-can-now-use-ai-to-generate-or-extend-images-within-the-app-060003554.html?src=rss

Threads is going to make an effort to moderate more of the user-generated content on the platform. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, posted that it is working on creating a fact-checking program. Mosseri didn't lay out what such a program would entail, only saying that Threads is going to match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads." Currently, fact-checkers can't rate content on Threads, so instead when something gets flagged as being false on Instagram or Facebook, a fact-checker's ratings will also roll over onto the app. Our goal is for fact-checking partners to have the ability to review and rate misinformation on the app," Mosseri wrote.The program is expected to be available early next year. Meta said third-party fact-checking partners will flag and review the content that circulates on Threads. The app's users will be given the choice to increase, lower or maintain the default level of demotions on fact-checked content" in personal feeds. Meta says if a user decides to see less sensitive content on Instagram, those settings will roll over into their Threads view.Social media companies, like Threads, have to consider expanding guardrails to prevent misinformation from proliferating on their platforms, especially ahead of the coming presidential elections. A fact-checking system on the Threads app isn't a huge shock considering recent moves by the company. When the company introduced a search tool, it blocked certain words previously linked" to misinformation on Meta's platform.However, offering users a fact-checking feature does not necessarily mean Threads will become the new front page for digital news. Mosseri told TechCrunch that the platform, as of now, does not plan on amplifying the news" on its platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-is-going-to-fact-check-content-on-its-app-010720646.html?src=rss

Netflix has published the first of a new twice-a-year engagement report called What We Watched." The first installment, launched Tuesday as a Microsoft Excel file, lists the hours viewed for every title (original and licensed) that has tallied more than 50,000 viewing hours. Although it's an uneven performance comparison since episodic series will rack up many more hours than standalone films, this is the first ultra-detailed glimpse at what people watch on Netflix.The first spreadsheet, covering January to June 2023, includes 18,214 entries of eligible content. The first season of the action-thriller series The Night Agent: Season 1 sat comfortably at the top with 812,100,000 hours during that period. Following (far behind) in second place was season two of the drama Ginny & Georgia (665,100,000 hours). Rounding out the top five are season one of The Glory (622,800,000), the inaugural season of the Jenny Ortega-led Wednesday (507,700,000) and the limited prequel series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (503,000,000).The J.Lo action flick The Mother was the top-ranked movie on the list, raking in 249,900,000 viewing hours and falling at number 20 behind a glut of multi-episode series. Idris Elba's Luther: The Fallen Sun (209,700,000) came in at 26, while the Chris Hemsworth vehicle Extraction 2 (201,800,000) slotted in at 29.NetflixIn addition to hours viewed, the spreadsheet denotes each title's release date and whether it's available globally. For curiosity's sake, the lowest-ranking globally available item on the list is the 2020 comedy special Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill.Netflix stressed the importance of not using total hours viewed alone to determine a movie or series' impact. Success on Netflix comes in all shapes and sizes, and is not determined by hours viewed alone," the streamer wrote in its announcement blog post. We have enormously successful movies and TV shows with both lower and higher hours viewed. It's all about whether a movie or TV show thrilled its audience - and the size of that audience relative to the economics of the title."Netflix says the new biannual spreadsheets will combine with its weekly Top 10 and Most Popular lists to paint a more comprehensive picture for viewers, creators and industry watchers.You can rev up Excel or Numbers and download the inaugural Netflix spreadsheet drop here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflixs-first-engagement-report-reveals-its-most-popular-shows-and-movies-214509788.html?src=rss

The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are about to get some powerful upgrades thanks to improvements to the social network's AI assistant. The company is finally adding support for real-time information to the onboard assistant, and it's starting to test new multimodal" capabilities that allow it to answer questions based on your environment.Up to now, Meta AI had a knowledge cutoff" of December 2022, so it couldn't answer questions about current events, or things like game scores, traffic conditions or other queries that would be especially useful while on the go. But that's now changing, according to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, who said that all Meta smart glasses in the United States will now be able to access real-time info. The change is powered in part" by Bing, he added.Separately, Meta is starting to test one of the more intriguing capabilities of its assistant, which it's calling multimodal AI." The features, first previewed during Connect, allow Meta AI to answer contextual questions about your surroundings and other queries based on what your looking at through the glasses.MetaThe updates could go a long way toward making Meta AI feel less gimmicky and more useful, which was one of my top complaints in my initial review of the otherwise impressive smart glasses. Unfortunately, it will likely still be some time before most people with the smart glasses can access the new multimodal functionality. Bosworth said that the early access beta version will only be available in the US to a small number of people who opt in" initially, with expanded access presumably coming sometime in 2024.Both Mark Zuckerberg shared a few videos of the new capabilities that give an idea of what may be possible. Based on the clips, it appears users will be able to engage the feature with commands that begin with Hey Meta, look and tell me." Zuckerberg, for example, asks Meta AI to look at a shirt he's holding and ask for suggestions on pants that might match. He also shared screenshots showing Meta AI identifying an image of a piece of fruit and translating the text of a meme.In a video posted on Threads, Bosworth said that users would also be able to ask Meta AI about their immediate surroundings as well as more creative questions like writing captions for photos they just shot.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-are-getting-ai-powered-visual-search-features-204556255.html?src=rss

Apple is adding a new iPhone feature called Stolen Device Protection that limits what thieves can do with a stolen phone and passcode. Created following a report earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern, the opt-in feature is included in the iOS 17.3 beta, now available for developers. It works using a combination of location, biometric scans, and time delays, allowing victims to lock out the perpetrator and safeguard their data.Stolen Device Protection aims to snuff out a common practice among iPhone thieves in public places, who watch users enter their passcode before snatching the device and bolting. In such cases, the perpetrator could reset the owner's Apple ID password, turn off Find My, add a recovery key and factory reset the phone for resale before the victim can do anything about it.For example, without Stolen Device Protection turned on, an iPhone thief with your passcode can use that to change your Apple ID password, locking you out of your device. This allows the pickpocket to turn off Find My, crucial to wiping the device for a new user. The thief can then sell the device at full used value, rather than trying to pass off an iCloud-locked brick for much less.Photo by David Imel for EngadgetBut with the feature turned on, the phone will ask for a Face ID or Touch ID scan if the user is away from a familiar location like home or work. It will also require a one-hour delay before changing the Apple ID password on the device. After the hour, it will still ask for a Face ID or Touch ID Scan before changing the Apple ID password from the iPhone. This makes life much harder for the thief and gives the owner time to report the iPhone as stolen, locking out the perp.Stolen Device Protection works similarly with Apple security settings. Adding recovery keys or updating the account's trusted phone number is another way iPhone thieves lock out the original owner. Like in other areas, with the new feature activated, the phone will ask for two biometric scans an hour apart if away from trusted locations.Similarly, iCloud Keychain passwords, Apple's built-in password manager, will require a Face ID or Touch ID scan. The passcode won't serve as a backup for failed biometric scans when the Stolen Device Protection is turned on.The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple plans to prompt users to turn on the feature in iOS 17.3. Since Apple only launched the update's first beta today, the general public may need to wait at least several weeks before trying it out.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-173s-stolen-device-protection-will-make-life-harder-for-iphone-thieves-201633214.html?src=rss

Sony's 2023 Wrap-Up is now available. The recap, similar to those from music streaming services, reflects on your PS5 or PS4 gaming habits from the past year. The new version will sum up your most-played games, tally your total hours and assign an algorithmically generated gaming style." Since, from a business standpoint, these year-end rewinds also serve as crowdsourced social media marketing, Sony created easily shareable digital cards outlining your 2023 habits.You can view your PlayStation 2023 Wrap-Up by visiting Sony's web portal and logging in with your account. It generates cards summarizing your top games, trophies earned, monthly gaming stats and your personalized style. (Mine was Thrill Seeker.") A button at the bottom of the UI will pop up the cards to share with friends or followers. Sony will also, uh, helpfully" recommend games you haven't yet bought that fit your personalized style.The company says the recap is only available if you've played games on a PS5 or PS4 for at least 10 hours from January 1 to December 31. In addition, if you didn't consent to Full Data" collection from PS5 settings or Additional Data" from PS4 systems in certain regions (Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australasia, India and Russia), you won't be able to use the promotional feature. Sony is also throwing in a bonus unique avatar" and a PlayStation Stars digital collectible of a Spider-Bot from the Marvel's Spider-Man franchise as rewards.Since annual digital recaps have transformed into a popular online tradition in recent years, you can likely expect similar rewinds from Xbox and Nintendo before long.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/playstations-2023-wrap-up-recaps-your-year-in-gaming-190838612.html?src=rss

Music-creation software company Output just launched an AI tool that generates free sample packs based on text prompts. These packs are royalty-free and include 30 samples that can be used in the digital audio workstation (DAW) of your choice, including Logic Pro, Ableton, Pro Tools and others.The algorithm mixes and resynthesizes pre-existing samples to create new sounds that match the text prompt. This was developed to help music-makers move quickly, so they aren't slowed down by hunting for that perfect sample to match the vibe of the track. Instead, just write something like moody sounds for a rainy day" and let the AI assistant do the rest. You can also ask for sounds related to a specific event or samples based on a specific artist or genre.The tool also allows for more nuanced prompts, like asking to generate samples in a particular key and tempo. Pack Generator is currently in beta, but available to use via a browser-based portal. This is the first available tool for Output's Co-Producer suite of generative AI products. The company promises more to come throughout 2024.One of the cool things about this tool is that it's completely trained on Output's in-house sample library, so it doesn't pull from actual working artists, which is not true of most available AI products. It's also not intended to replace artists in any way, as it just creates sample packs. It remains to be seen how useful these AI-generated samples will be in real-world productions, but Pack Generator is available now, so it won't take long to find out.Output has been a major player in the samples space for nearly a decade, offering meticulously crafted and clean sound packs. The company also has a popular product called Arcade that lets users mangle samples to create unique soundscapes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/outputs-ai-powered-software-automatically-generates-music-sample-packs-from-text-prompts-184104250.html?src=rss

A Senate Finance Committee inquiry revealed on Tuesday that police departments can get access to private medical information from pharmacies, no warrant needed. While HIPAA may protect some access to personally identifiable health data, it doesn't stop cops, according to a letter from Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Pramila Jayapal and Representative Sara Jacobs to the Department of Health and Human Services. None of the major US pharmacies are doing anything about it, either, the members of Congress say."All of the pharmacies surveyed stated that they do not require a warrant prior to sharing pharmacy records with law enforcement agents, unless there is a state law that dictates otherwise," the letter said. "Those pharmacies will turn medical records over in response to a mere subpoena, which often do not have to be reviewed or signed by a judge prior to being issued."The committee reached out to Amazon, Cigna, CVS Health, The Kroger Company, Optum Rx, Rite Aid Corporation, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Walmart about their practices for sharing medical data with police. While Amazon, Cigna, Optum, Walmart and Walgreen said they have law enforcement requests reviewed by legal professionals before complying, CVS Health, The Kroger Company and Rite Aid Corporation said they ask in-store staff to process the request immediately. Engadget reached out to the pharmacies mentioned in the letter about the claims. CVS said its pharmacy staff are trained to handle these inquiries and its following all applicable laws around the issue. Walgreens said it has a process in place to assess law enforcement requests compliant with those laws, too, and Amazon said while the law enforcement requests are rare, it does notify patients and comply with court orders when applicable. The others either haven't responded or refuse to comment.The pharmacies mostly blamed the current lack of legislative protections for patient data for their willingness to comply with cop requests. Most of them told the committee that current HIPAA law and other policies let them disclose medical records in response to certain legal requests. That's why the Senate Finance Committee is targeting HHS to strengthen these protections, especially since the 2023 Dobbs decision let states criminalize certain reproductive health decisions.Under current HIPAA law, patients have the right to know who is accessing their health information. But individuals have to request the medical record disclosure data, instead of health care professionals being required to share it proactively. "Consequently, few people ever request such information, even though many would obviously be concerned to learn about disclosures of their private medical records to law enforcement agencies," the letter states. The letter also urges pharmacies to change their policies to require a warrant, and publish transparency reports about how data is shared.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/police-are-using-pharmacies-to-secretly-access-medical-information-about-members-of-the-public-182009044.html?src=rss

There's still plenty of time to snap up a holiday gift for a loved one (or yourself). If you're feeling particularly generous and you or someone you care about could do with a new laptop, it's worth checking out deals on Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air. Some configurations have dropped to record low prices, including one with 256GB of storage and an M2 chipset. That MacBook Air has dipped from $1,299 to $1,049 - which is $250 off the regular price.This is an excellent entry point into the Mac ecosystem. In fact, the M2-powered MacBook Air (albeit a 2022 configuration) is our pick for the best MacBook overall. The 15.3-inch model that's on sale here has a Liquid Retina display with 500 nits of brightness, 1080p FaceTime HD camera and Touch ID.While the M2-powered MacBook Air should be more than capable enough of handling most tasks, it's disappointing that the base model only comes with 8GB of RAM. That's going to make tasks such as video and image editing, as well as even gaming, a bit more onerous on this MacBook Air.In any case, we gave the 15-inch MacBook Air a score of 96 in our review in June. We appreciated the larger display compared with the 13.6-inch MBA, though lamented the fact the refresh rate is limited to 60Hz. Great battery life (the MBA ran for about 12 hours while handling day-to-day work tasks), terrific audio and a top-notch keyboard and trackpad are major plus points. One quibble is that, despite its great performance, the M2 chipset is getting a little long in the tooth - rumors suggest an M3-powered MacBook Air could debut in March.Meanwhile, if you could use some more built-in storage than the 256GB that comes with this laptop, you can opt for a variant with 512GB for $1,249. That's also $250 off and marks another record low. However, that model still only has 8GB of memory.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-15-inch-m2-macbook-air-is-up-to-250-off-right-now-181005869.html?src=rss

In a story ripped from the opening scenes of a sci-fi horror movie, scientists have bridged a critical gap between the biological and electronic. The study, published in Nature Electronics (summarized in Nature), details a hybrid biocomputer" combining lab-grown human brain tissue with conventional circuits and AI. Dubbed Brainoware, the system learned to identify voices with 78 percent accuracy. It could one day lead to silicon microchips fused with neurons.Brainoware combines brain organoids - stem-cell-derived clusters of human cells morphed into neuron-filled mini-brains" - with conventional electronic circuits. To make it, researchers placed a single organoid onto a plate containing thousands of electrodes to connect the brain to electric circuits." The circuits, speaking to the brain organoid, translate the information they want to input into a pattern of electric pulses."The brain tissue then learns and communicates with the technology. A sensor in the electronic array detects the mini-brain's response, which a trained machine-learning algorithm decodes. In other words, with the help of AI, the neurons and electronics merge into a single (extremely basic, for now) problem-solving biomachine.The researchers taught the computer-brain system to recognize human voices. They trained Brainoware on 240 recordings of eight people speaking, translating the audio into electric to deliver to the organoid." The organic part reacted differently to each voice while generating a pattern of neural activity AI learned to understand. Brainoware learned to identify the voices with 78 percent accuracy.Human brain organoidsThe Washington Post via Getty ImagesThe team views the work as more proof of concept than something with near-term practical use. Although previous studies showed two-dimensional neuron cell cultures could do similar things, this is the first trial run using a trained three-dimensional lump of human brain cells. It could point to a future of biological computing, where the speed and efficiency of human brains" spark a superpowered AI. (What could go wrong?)Arti Ahluwalia, a biomedical engineer at Italy's University of Pisa, sees the technology shedding more light on the human brain. Since brain organoids can duplicate the nervous system's control center in ways simple cell cultures can't, the researcher views Brainoware (and the further advances it could spawn) as helping model and study neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. That's where the promise is; using these to one day hopefully replace animal models of the brain," Ahluwalia told Nature.Challenges for the bizarre proto-cyborg tech include keeping the organoids alive, especially when moving to the more complex areas where scientists eventually want to deploy them. The brain cells must grow in an incubator, which could become more challenging with bigger organoids. The next steps include working to learn how brain organoids adapt to more complex tasks and engineering them for greater stability and reliability.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-fuse-lab-grown-human-brain-tissue-with-electronics-175507932.html?src=rss

Sony's investigating a possible ransomware attack at PlayStation subsidiary Insomniac Games, the makers of the beloved Spider-Man series. A hacking group called Rhysida has claimed credit for the alleged incident and announced that it'll be selling any acquired data for $2 million within seven days if Insomniac and Sony don't pay up, according to Cyber Daily.This data potentially includes the usual stuff, like internal emails, confidential documents and personal information, but Rhysida says it goes even further. The organization claims it not only stole personal documents related to Spider-Man voice actor Yuri Lowenthal, but images and details regarding that forthcoming Wolverine game.To that end, the group released proof-of-hack documents that suggest it grabbed screenshots from the game, in addition to character art relating to other superheroes that may be featured in the title. Rhysida put up a temporary website to advertise the sale of the documents, urging purchasers to seize the opportunity to bid on exclusive, unique and impressive data." It also promises that it only sells to one hand, no reselling." Honor among thieves, I guess.Sony has issued a statement on the matter to Video Games Chronicle, writing we are aware of reports that Insomniac Games has been the victim of a cyber security attack." The company says it's currently investigating this situation" but notes that the alleged attack didn't spread beyond Insomniac, so other Sony divisions remain unscathed.Insomniac is recently known for Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but the company cut its teeth in the 1990s making well-regarded PlayStation platformers like Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank. The developer's Wolverine game was revealed back in 2021 and there's no announced release date.As for Sony, it's one of the largest companies in the world, so it tends to attract this kind of thing. The company fell victim to a similar ransomware attack back in October, which exposed the personal information of more than 7,000 employees. In September, a hacking group called Ransomed.vc alleged that it compromised all" of Sony's connected systems, but other hackers claimed this was a scam. Sony investigated the alleged attack but hasn't released any findings.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-is-investigating-possible-ransomware-attack-at-insomniac-games-173435808.html?src=rss

In today's day and age, it can feel almost impossible to keep anything private, such as your whereabouts, and we're often at the mercy of companies to take actionable steps to do so. To that end, Google has announced new location controls for Maps designed to give you more well, control, over what and where data is recorded.One of the most notable changes rolling out is the option to save your Timeline right to your device instead of the cloud. If you're unfamiliar, the Timeline is an encrypted record of all the areas and attractions you've visited. You need to turn on your Location History - it's off by default - in order to activate Timeline. As part of Google Maps' updates, Location History will automatically delete your data after three months versus the previous 18 months. However, you can delete any information as soon as you want or turn off auto-delete. Plus, you can turn Location History back off at any point.Speaking of Location History, Google Maps will also allow you to click on your blue dot on the map and see settings such as Location History and Timeline. The shortcut lets you edit how much of your information is shared with and stored on Google Maps without having to dive into your settings.Similarly, Google Maps is adding the option to delete location-specific data. Say you were looking up a restaurant to take your partner for their birthday and want to keep it secret, you can delete directions, searches, shares and more. This feature and the blue dot shortcut will roll out in the coming weeks on Android and iOS, but the ability to save your Timeline straight to your device will become available sometime over the next year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-maps-will-let-you-store-your-location-on-your-phone-instead-the-cloud-170041432.html?src=rss

Apple's AI-powered Journal app is finally here. The new diary entry writing tool was first teased for iOS 17 back in June, but it only became available on Monday with the new iPhone update - nearly three months after iOS 17 itself came out. After Apple released iOS 17.2, iPhone users can now access to the Journal app, which allows users to jot down their thoughts in a digital diary. Journaling is a practice that can improve mental wellbeing and it can also be used to fuel creative projects.You can create traditional text entries, add voice recordings to your notes, or include recent videos or pictures. If you need inspiration, AI-derived text prompts can offer suggestions for what to write or create an entry for next. The app also predicts and proposes times for you to create a new entry based on your recent iPhone activity, which can include newer photos and videos, location history, recently listened-to playlists, and workout habits. This guide will walk you through how to get started with the Journal app and personalize your experience.How to create a new entry in the Journal app on iPhoneMalak SalehWhen you open the Journal app, tap the + button at the bottom of the page to create a new entry. If you want to start with a blank slate, when you tap New Entry' an empty page will appear and from there you can start typing text. You can add in recent photos from your library when you tap the photos icon below the text space, take a photo in the moment and add it to your entry or include a recorded voice memo when you tap the voice icon. You can also add locations to your entry when you tap the arrow icon at the bottom right of an entry page. This feature might be helpful for travel bloggers looking back at their trips abroad. You can edit the date of an entry at the top of the page.Alternatively, you can create a post based on recent or recommended activities that your phone compiled - say, pictures, locations from events you attended, or contacts you recently interacted with. The recent tab will show you, in chronological order, people, photos and addresses that can inspire entries based on recent activities. The recommended tab pulls from highlighted images automatically selected from your photo memories. For example, a selection of portraits from 2022 can appear as a recommendation to inspire your next written entry. Some suggestions underneath the recommendation tab may appear within the app with Writing prompts.' For example, a block of text may appear with a question like, What was the highlight of your trip?"Malak SalehScheduling, bookmarking and filteringIf you're not free to write when a suggestion is made, you can also save specific moments you want to journal about and write at a later time. Using the journaling schedule feature, you can set a specific time to be notified to create an entry, which will help a user make journaling a consistent practice. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and search for the Journal app. Turn on the Journaling schedule' feature and personalize the days and times you would like to be reminded to write entries. As a side note, in Settings, you can also opt to lock your journal using your device passcode or Face ID.Malak SalehYou can also organize your entries within the app using the bookmarking feature, so you can filter and find them at your own convenience. After creating an entry, tap the three dots at the bottom of your page and scroll down to tap the bookmark tab. This is the same place where you can delete or edit a journal entry.Later on, if you want to revisit a bookmarked entry, tap the three-line icon at the corner of the main journal page to select the filter you would like applied to your entries. You can select to only view bookmarked entries, entries with photos, entries with recorded audio and see entries with places or locations. This might be helpful when your journal starts to fill up with recordings.Adding music, workouts and other off-platform entries into your journal appUsing your streaming app of choice, (Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon Music), you can integrate specific tracks or podcast episodes into your entries by tapping three buttons at the bottom of your screen that opens up the option to share your music.' The option to share a track to the Journal app should appear and it will sit at the top of a blank entry when you open the app.You can use the same method with other applications, like Apple's Fitness app. You can share and export a logged workout into your journal and start writing about that experience.Malak SalehThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-use-apples-new-journal-app-with-the-ios-172-update-164518403.html?src=rss

Capture One's eponymous photo-editing software suite is ending the free Express tier, effective on January 30. The popular Adobe Lightroom alternative will be fully pay-to-play, with a number of Pro tiers to choose from. The company says ending the free tier was necessary to focus on our main products."Once January 30 hits, you won't be able to download or use Express from the website and license keys will expire. Additionally, any saved images and edits will go the way of the dodo, so get in there and finish up before next month. You can, however, quickly transfer images and edits from Express to Pro, which is something Capture One would very much like you to do.To that end, Pro subscriptions range from $24 to $34 each month, depending on if you choose a desktop client or a combo pack that adds a smartphone app. You can also buy the desktop client outright for $300, but you won't get any updates or access to the smartphone app. There's a 30-day free trial for those on the fence.Capture One has become a crucial tool for digital photographers, as it allows you to connect an external camera and shoot images directly to the desktop software or app. The algorithm automatically applies edits as the photos come in. Capture One works with more than 500 cameras, including models by Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leicia and Sigma, among others.The software also handles RAW conversion, color processing and general editing tasks, just like Lightroom. You can even share a live link of a shoot with colleagues, to allow for speedy and efficient collaborations. This is serious photo-editing software made primarily for professionals or those serious about the craft. Still, it's sad to see the free version sail away into that color-corrected sunset. If the Pro version's cost has you wavering, the iPhone app by itself costs $5 each month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/capture-one-is-axing-the-free-tier-of-its-photo-editing-software-on-january-30-162035781.html?src=rss

Arturia V Collection X is one of the biggest updates to the virtual synth library in quite some time. Six new instruments have been added (though, most have been available separately before) and two have been rebuilt from the ground up. That brings the grand total number of instruments in V Collection to 38, and over the last few years at least six of those have been completely revamped with dramatic improvements.MiniFreak V, Acid V, Augmented Brass and Augmented Grand Piano were all available previously as standalone instruments, but now they are joining the V Collection proper. Two completely new instruments are also entering the fold. Augmented Woodwinds and CP-70 V. Augmented Woodwinds is, as you might have guessed, a take on Arturia's Augmented series, except here the synths are paired with woodwind samples. CP-70 V is an emulation of Yamaha's electric piano from the late 70s and early 80s used most notably by The Grateful Dead and Genesis.Augmented Woodwinds, Brass and Grand PianoTerrence O'Brien / EngadgetI'll admit to being somewhat skeptical of Augmented Woodwinds at first. I think Augmented Strings and Grand Piano are excellent, but have found little use for Brass and Voices so far, and woodwinds often feel like some of the most difficult acoustic instruments to get right in a sample library. Yet, Arturia pulls it off, largely by leaning into the synth side of things pretty strongly. You're never going to convince anyone that the sounds coming out of it are from a flesh-and-blood woodwind ensemble, but the soft cinematic pads and leads you can coax out of it are compelling, especially when paired with an MPE controller like the Push or Seaboard Rise 2. (With the exception of a few presets that seem to come undone when faced with MPE input, at least.)Like the rest of the Augmented series, Woodwinds, Brass and Grand Piano feel built especially with scoring in mind. That's not to say you can't find a use for them in a pop song or jazz arrangement, but these are all about atmosphere and texture, and there's a healthy dose of sounds that would only be appropriate in the tensest moments of a cosmic horror film.They all have a suite of advanced controls where you can build almost any sound you want from its four layer engine (two samples and two synths). You can even completely disable the sample layers and go woodwind-less, though, you might as well use one of the other plugins at that point.CP-70 VTerrence O'Brien / EngadgetThe other completely new instrument, CP-70 V, is a lot more straightforward. It's an electric piano. A very specific one that hasn't enjoyed the same level of reverence as the Rhodes or Wurlitzer, but isn't without its merits. The CP-70 used strings like a real piano, instead of the metal reeds and tines found in Rhodes in Wurlitzers. It also used piezo pickups instead of magnetic ones, resulting in a sound that is significantly closer to an actual acoustic piano. That was definitely a huge selling point for touring acts in the 70s and 80s that wanted the sound of a grand piano, but didn't want to lug one on the road.The result though, is less characterful than those other electric pianos. It's brighter and there's less room for shaping the sound without adding effects. Arturia seems to do an admirable job of capturing the spirit of the CP-70, but it comes close enough to sounding like a real piano, I'd be far more likely to reach for the regular ol' Piano V plugin in most cases.MiniFreak VTerrence O'Brien / EngadgetAcid V and MiniFreak V both launched earlier this year. And frankly, nothing has changed with Acid V in the roughly four months since I wrote about it, so I won't say much beyond, it's an excellent TB-303 emulator. It does what you expect it to and not much else, but with about one-tenth of the headaches of the real thing.MiniFreak V, on the other hand, got a major update yesterday with a new wavetable engine, new super unison effect and some improvements to the LFO. The 32 wavetables are pretty solid and modern sounding. And perhaps, best of all, they seem to be able to handle bass better than some of the other oscillators - an area the Freak line has always felt a little weak in. There are 64 new presets designed to show off the strength of the wavetable engine and there's some real winners in there. Yes, there are plenty of weirdo sound effects and dubstep bass wubs, but there are also some lovely chilly pads and delicate keys.Additionally, Arturia is finally adding preset packs for the MiniFreak and MiniFreak V to its store. There are two paid soundpacks, but also three free ones and, well, I can't recommend that you download Deserted Lands from Oscillator Sink enough. It's basically just one gorgeous broken patch after another. This was sort of a running theme, though. With MiniFreak 2.0, Augmented Woodwinds and the rebuilt Mini V4, Arturia really improved the quality of its presets. Whether they were designed in house or by an artist they worked with, most felt designed to show off what the plugins were capable of musically, as opposed to technically. That wasn't necessarily the case with the MiniFreak, the MicroFreak or even Pigments.Mini V4Terrence O'Brien / EngadgetThis was the single biggest shock of the lot, honestly. Mini V was also a decent enough Minimoog Model D emulation, but the world is filled with those. It was never the reason to seek out V Collection specifically, but it was good enough that you didn't need to go find an alternative. Mini V4, however, is incredible. The difference is subtle, but definitely noticeable if you load up the default template in both Mini V3 and V4 and play them side by side. For one, the V4 is a touch louder, but it's also fuller. Part of that, I think, is there's more inherent instability in the new oscillator model. As you start playing at the lower reaches of the keyboard you can hear it more clearly.You can also play lower notes. Where V3 simply doesn't work below A-1, V4 will let you get all the way down to C-2, though, there's very little musical reason for you to go down that far.The differences become more apparent when you start messing with the filter. More bass is retained as you start turning up the resonance in the new version, and it remains usable even with it pinned. The frequency cutoff is also smoother with a bit more of a guttural growl as you start isolating those lower frequencies.While the Minimoog obviously excels at bass, and Arturia makes sure to showcase that, there are also a lot of presets that push the sound in different directions. The benefit of a plugin over the actual vintage synth is that you can have eight notes of polyphony here. That gives this virtual Model D the freedom to play unstable pads and electric-piano style keys.The addition of a vintage" knob is also quite welcome here. While I love things being ever-so-slightly out of tune and for there to be a gentle whisper of white noise in the background, others might want a more buttoned up sound.It's also worth pointing out that Arturia didn't go too overboard with the features here. There's no modulation matrix or sequencer or motion recording. There's a handful of useful effects, an arpeggiator and MPE controls, and not much else beyond what you'd find on the original.Wurli V3Terrence O'Brien / EngadgetSimilar to the Mini V, Arturia took its Wurlitzer plugin and decided to start over agin. The results are excellent, if a touch less dramatic than with the Moog emulation. The general tone is brighter and it sings a bit more in the lower registers. There also seems to be a wider stereo field than before as well. The cumulative effect is something a bit more inviting.The new mic and amp simulations help it feel more alive and like you're actually in a room with a Wurli instead of just playing one through your computer. And the age parameter adds instability to the sound, allowing you to get that "just found this keyboard in my uncle's basement where it's been sitting untouched for 30 years" sound. Not to mention it absolutely nails the sound of Supertramp's "The Logical Song."The Wurli isn't a plugin I reach for terribly often, but I appreciated the improved tone that should help it cut through a mix a bit better. It's also far more versatile than the CP-70 V, though even with the improvements I'm far more likely to reach for a Rhodes.Arturia V Collection X is available now and existing Arturia customers will get a discount, depending on what software they already own. If you're new, the full price of $599 might be a bit tough to swallow, but it still represents one of the better deals in soft syths.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/arturia-v-collection-x-is-its-biggest-upgrade-in-years-160015345.html?src=rss

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is officially dead. "After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories," the Entertainment Software Association, E3's organizer, wrote on X. The industry trade group wrote closed out the statement with "GGWP" or "good game, well played."E3's troubles have been well documented in recent years, with the pandemic arguably exacerbating the video game expo's demise. There hadn't been an in-person E3 since 2019. The 2021 edition took place virtually, but the ESA canned the 2020, 2022 and 2023 events entirely.

Grill companies have chosen CES to announce their latest Wi-Fi-enabled innovations in the past and 2024 will be no different. Middleby Outdoor, parent company of Kamado Joe and Masterbuilt, plans to debut two new models at the show, and it's offering an early preview today. For the first time in Las Vegas, the company will show off the all-new Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 and the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT, a revamped take on the gravity-fed charcoal grills that debuted in 2020.The AutoIgnite Series 545 offers a so-called QuickStart Auto-Ignition that's similar to the Automatic Fire Starter on the Konnected Joe. Here, you press the ignitor button and set the temperature on the control panel. Then you load the internal hopper with up to five pounds of lump charcoal (or seven pounds of briquettes) and stick a fire starter into its holder. The grill's fan and digital controller will do the rest for everything from low-and-slow smoking at 250 degrees Fahrenheit up to searing at 650 degrees.Unlike the Gravity Series, the charcoal hopper here is inside the cooking chamber. Middleby has given the hopper a cast iron lid so you can use the top of it for high heat searing, but its location limits its capacity. The company says the amounts of charcoal mentioned above are enough for eight hours of cooking, depending on your temperature. This means if you're cooking larger cuts like brisket or pork shoulders you'll have to refill the hopper at some point. It also takes up some of the grilling space. As the name implies, the grill has 545 square inches of cooking area.The AutoIgnite Series 545 includes some other niceties such as a folding side shelf on the right and an enclosed cart design for storage of grilling tools and accessories. It also comes with cast iron cooking grates and folding chrome wire warming racks. The 545 will be available in February at Home Depot for $499.Middleby says the Gravity Series XT is "the largest and most advanced Masterbuilt to date." With up to 1,260 square inches of cooking capacity, there's plenty of room to maneuver. Just like previous Gravity Series models, the key aspect is the gravity-fed charcoal hopper on the right side. It can hold up to 12 pounds of lump charcoal or up to 18 pounds of briquettes, which the company says is enough for 14 hours of cooking (again, depending on temps). Like before, you load the hopper from the top and place a fire starter underneath. You'll have to manually light this one, but then the fan takes over and gets the grill to your selected temperature.While the overall construction looks similar to the existing versions, the Gravity Series XT has a redesigned control panel that's been relocated to the right side of the grill on the frame of the charcoal hopper. The company explains that the new digital controller is similar to what's on the Konnected Joe, with the primary benefit being temperature graphs directly on the display.The "XT" in the name refers to the "extra-tough build" that includes dual-wall insulation and porcelain coating for the interior. What's more, the grill has a so-called fuel saver design and a fiberglass mesh gasket around the lid that are said to be more efficient with heat, moisture and smoke retention. Middleby says these design elements will lead to 33-percent longer burn time compared to the other Gravity Series models.There are four levels of cooking space inside the XT thanks to three removable racks. A full-body grease tray in the bottom should improve the chore of clean up. A new U-shaped manifold is designed to reduce flareups as you cook. The left side shelf now houses a towel rack for paper towels or butcher paper as well as a storage drawer and tool hooks. The Gravity Series XT will be available in April from the Masterbuilt website for $1,499.Both the AutoIgnite Series 545 and the Gravity Series XT are compatible with the Masterbuilt app. The software allows you to control and monitor your grill from anywhere thanks to the grills' Wi-Fi connectivity. That includes being able to watch food and grill temperatures, with both grills accommodating up to four wired probes. Only one is included with the 545, but the XT comes with two. The app can be used to keep tabs on multiple Masterbuilt grills from the same device and you can shut them down from your phone when the time comes. While there is a library of recipes for inspiration, this app doesn't have the deep integration or step-by-step guidance with those that Traeger, Weber and others offer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/masterbuilt-autoignite-545-gravity-series-xt-141512415.html?src=rss

Apple is attempting to avoid a fine and ongoing legal battle with the European Union. The company is allegedly offering its rivals access to its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, used for tap-and-go payments, Reuters reports. The update follows the European Commission's May 2022 charge and ongoing probe into Apple's potential antitrust Apple Pay practices.The Commission has been investigating Apple since 2020, with Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager previously stating there were "indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple's devices."While Apple's current proposal could get it out of a hefty fine and settle the case against it, it's not guaranteed to move forward. The Commission will likely confer with Apple's rivals and customers in the next month or so to determine if it should accept the offer. More than 2,500 banks across Europe use Apple Pay.Apple also faces a lawsuit in the United States, brought in July 2022 by Iowa's Affinity Credit Union. Similarly, it accuses Apple of engaging in anti-competitive behavior by illegally restricting iOS users to Apple Pay for any contactless payments.In September 2023, a US District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White of California ruled that the case would move forward, stating: "Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that Apple Pay charges arbitrary and inflated fees to issuers, and that competition in the tap-and-pay iOS mobile wallet market would spur innovation and lead to lower prices." In his decision, White also explained that the plaintiffs properly demonstrated Apple's alleged and attempted monopolization.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-lift-nfc-restrictions-in-europe-to-escape-antitrust-fines-131004981.html?src=rss

Apple is now rolling out iOS 17.2 to all compatible devices, as well as iPadOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2 Sonoma. The biggest addition in all those is the introduction, finally, of the long-teased Journal app.Journal differs from third-party apps like Day One by offering journaling suggestions based on your iPhone activity. That can range from photos taken through to locations reached on maps or even what you're listening to. Your device might also suggest creating a journal entry after things like workouts or a finished podcast episode. Apple's hope with the app is to help iPhone users reflect and practice gratitude through journaling." So, thank you, Apple, for the iOS update.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThe best white elephant gift ideasBeeper Mini is back, promising iMessage access on Android if you sign in with an Apple IDHow a social engineering hack turned these Facebook pages into a dumping ground for spamThe best fast chargersApple tvOS 17.2 has a redesigned TV experience and no iTunes Movies or TV Shows appsTimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design has shut downThe best iPad for youHow to pick the best from a confusing lineup.EngadgetJust in time for that OS update. Between the 10th-generation iPad, the iPad Air and the M2 iPad Pro, Apple sells three tablets with roughly 11-inch screens and broadly similar designs, but there are key differences in internal components and accessory support. We can, though, pick a certain iPad that's best for most of you.One warning: Apple will likely introduce new iPads early next year. The company did not release any new tablets in 2023, but Bloomberg reports Apple plans to update its entire lineup throughout 2024.Continue reading.The ultra-customizable Arc browser is now available on Windows in betaInvites have already started going out to Windows users from the waitlist.Arc, a formerly Mac-only internet browser from The Browser Company, is coming to Windows. In a post on X, the company today announced its first Windows beta invites are already hitting inboxes. Its unique features include the ability to customize (or vandalize) any website. There's also a sidebar for your bookmarks and tabs. It's still a work in progress: We know features like Peek (which lets you preview a link before opening it in its own tab) and Little Arc (a lightweight browser window meant for quickly viewing something) are currently being ported across.Continue reading.How to get a refund for The Day Before, the game canned in just four daysThe studio's sudden closure remains suspicious.The Day BeforeThe Day Before was a much-hyped (much-delayed) zombie shooter game that launched on Steam on December 7, only to be widely criticized for failing to deliver an MMO (massively multiplayer online) experience as advertised - not to mention the bugs and severe lack of originality. Four days later, Fntastic, the studio behind this controversial title, abruptly announced its closure as the $40 game has failed financially," despite having apparently sold over 200,000 copies before refunds. Fortunately, Steam offers a two-week refund window, so long as the game has only been played for less than two hours. Give that a try.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-launches-its-long-awaited-journal-app-121550393.html?src=rss

BeReal is launching new features for its app, which won Apple's 2022 iPhone App of the Year. The company tries to differentiate its platform by prompting spontaneous authenticity via randomly timed two-minute windows to take selfies. Now, it's adding a feature similar to Apple's Live Photos. In addition, invite-only groups, tags and 2023 recaps are on their way to the Your friends for real" platform.Behind the Scenes (BTS) is BeReal's branding for its Live Photos-esque feature. Like Apple's version, BTS captures a video for a few seconds before taking a static shot. After posting, your friends can long-press on the shot to see the short video clip. BTS is an opt-in feature, so nobody should be sucked into it unwillingly, and you can toggle it anytime.Meanwhile, RealGroups are invite-only groups that will be available by the end of the year. In the new communities, group creators can manage the Time to BeReal" notification (alerting you it's time to say cheese), offering users a degree of control over the app's core gimmick for the first time. RealGroups will also support private chat and private BeReals between group members. The company says its Live Photos clone and groups have been the platform's most community-requested features."Like Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and various social platforms, BeReal will offer a 2023 recap. It sounds like it doesn't stray far from the beaten path, with the company pegging it as a custom experience that users can record and share anywhere they want," alongside promotional hashtags.Finally, the app's new tagging feature lets you cc your friends to ensure they catch your daily selfies. There should be plenty of people to choose from, as BeReal says its platform now has over 25 million daily active users.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bereal-which-still-exists-gets-tags-private-groups-and-a-2023-recap-120041785.html?src=rss

Samsung's 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (M80C, 2023 refresh) can act not only as a monitor with a webcam, but a smart TV as well thanks to the built-in speakers and support for cloud gaming and streaming platforms. The main drawback is the $700 price, but right now it's back down to an all-time low of $400 at Amazon, netting you savings of $300 or 43 percent.The refreshed Smart Monitor M8 has the same features as the previous model, but is slimmer and rotates 90 degrees for a document view. It offers UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution at up to 60Hz, along with HDR10+. With a VA panel, it's decently bright at 400 nits, offers a 4-millisecond response time and displays up to a billion colors, with 99 percent sRGB coverage. Input-wise, you get USB-C and Micro HDMI 2.0 inputs, along with a USB-C charging interface. Finally, it has a a detachable SlimFit Cam for video calls, making it a solid choice for work or light content creation.That's just the half of it, though. It's a WiFi-capable smart TV that supports Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV, as well as cloud gaming platforms. It comes with built-in dual 5W speakers and a home hub that allows you to use it to control SmartThings-compatible IoT devices like lights and thermostats. It even has built-in support for Microsoft 365, so you can edit documents or browse the web without having to connect it to a computer.Other features include the ability to change the angle and position with the high-adjustable stand, along with a game bar that makes it easy to switch between cloud services. Normally it sells for $700, making the $400 sale price a particularly good deal - so it's best to act fast while it's in stock.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/samsungs-smart-monitor-m8-falls-back-to-a-low-of-400-110550058.html?src=rss