Getting a passport in the US can be quite the rigmarole, but it is about to get a bit simpler. The State Department has announced that online passport renewal is officially available to the public, following multiple pilot programs. In a statement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken credited increased staffing and technological improvements with fueling both this advancement and reduced passport waiting times.Until now, applying for a new passport required mailing a printed form, a passport-sized photo, a photocopy of a valid ID, a person's most recent passport and a check. Americans could also bring the documents to a passport acceptance facility and potentially pay with cash or a credit card.However, online passport applications won't be available to every American citizen. Individuals are eligible if they reside in the US, are over the age of 25 and their passport expired after 2019 or will expire in the next year. This means that anyone getting their first passport in more than five years, who lives abroad or is under 25, won't benefit from the change. The new system is also not available to anyone changing their name or gender.These restrictions could change in the future. "This is not going to be the last thing that we do," Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter said in a briefing."We want to see how this goes and then we'll start looking at ways to continue to make this service available to more American citizens in the coming months and years." For now, if you quality, follow the steps for online passport renewal here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-citizens-can-now-apply-for-their-passport-online-124330791.html?src=rss
The European Commission is done waiting for Apple to comply with the rules of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). It has started proceedings designed to ensure that the company complies with its interoperability obligations as one of DMA's designated gatekeepers, which are made up of the industry's largest and most important players. The commission explained that under the DMA, it has the right to "adopt a decision specifying the measures a gatekeeper has to implement to ensure effective compliance," and it's giving Apple six months to comply with the measures it comes up with if it doesn't want to face huge fines.One of the areas the commission will focus on is iOS connectivity for connected devices, such as smartwatches, headphones and virtual reality headsets. The manufacturers of these products "depend on effective interoperability with smartphones and their operating systems," the commission said. It plans to specify how Apple should provide effective interoperability that would allow non-Apple devices to easily pair and connect with iPhones, as well as to get notifications. The commission will also look at the process Apple set up to address developers' requests for third party interoperability with iOS and iPadOS."Today is the first time we use specification proceedings under the DMA to guide Apple towards effective compliance with its interoperability obligations through constructive dialogue," EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. "We are focused on ensuring fair and open digital markets. Effective interoperability, for example with smartphones and their operating systems, plays an important role in this. This process will provide clarity for developers, third parties and Apple. We will continue our dialogue with Apple and consult third parties to ensure that the proposed measures work in practice and meet the needs of businesses."Back in June, the commission issued its preliminary findings for an investigation it opened on Apple. It found that Apple breached DMA rules because it wouldn't allow App Store developers to freely tell users about alternate payment options outside of its ecosystem. The company told Engadget that time that it "has made a number of changes to comply with the DMA in response to feedback from developers and the European Commission" over the preceding months.Apple has made several changes to its system to avoid getting fined in the EU, including opening up iOS and iPadOS to third-party app stores and allowing developers access to its NFC technology. It has also withheld new features from European users due to DMA rules, however, including Apple Intelligence, iPhone Mirroring on the Mac and SharePlay Screen Sharing.The company told Bloomberg that it has conjured ways that would allow developers to request additional iOS and iPadOS interoperability while protecting its users' security. It added that undermining its systems' protections would put its European users at risk. As the news organization notes, the commission could launch an investigation into Apple if the company doesn't comply with the measures it comes up with over the next six months. If found guilty, the company could face a fine worth 10 percent of its global annual revenue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-eu-gives-apple-six-months-to-make-cross-device-interoperability-easier-140030456.html?src=rss
In late June and early July, Iranian hackers sent unsolicited emails to people associated with President Biden's camp. Those emails contained excerpts from materials not available to the public that had been stolen from former President Trump's campaign, according to a joint statement issued by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The feds clarified that there's no evidence that those recipients replied to the sender. In addition, the bad actors sent stolen materials to news publications, including The Washington Post and Politico.The Post reported in August that the FBI was investigating Iranian hackers' attempt to infiltrate both Trump's and Biden's (now Kamala Harris') campaigns using spear-phishing techniques. Feds didn't find any evidence that anybody from the Democratic Party fell for their scheme. But the bad actors were reportedly able to take control of an email account owned by Roger Stone, a long-time Trump adviser, which they then used to send more emails with spear-phishing links to his contact list."As the lead for threat response, the FBI has been tracking this activity, has been in contact with the victims, and will continue to investigate and gather information in order to pursue and disrupt the threat actors responsible," the authorities said in their announcement.The stolen materials were sent from an AOL account through emails signed with the name "Robert," according to The Post. When asked by the publication, they denied that they were connected to Iranian cyber attackers. While the feds didn't say what materials were sent out, The Post says they include the Trump campaign's research on Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance, as well as internal poll results.Trump's camp is now calling for the Harris camp to disclose what materials it received, while asking news publications not to publish the stolen information. Harris spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein said the Democratic campaign is cooperating with authorities, since some of their people were also targeted on their personal emails, but they're "not aware of any material being sent" to them directly.Microsoft previously found evidence that a group linked to the Iranian government created a website that throws attacks and insults at former President Trump. But Iran isn't the only country that's attempting to interfere with this year's presidential election in the US. Microsoft recently reported that Kremlin-affiliated Russian troll farms are running disinformation campaigns focused on discrediting Harris and her running mate Tim Walz. These Russian troll farms have been releasing inauthentic videos showing the Democratic nominees in a bad light, including one that used a fake actor to accuse Harris of being involved in a 2011 hit-and-run incident that paralyzed a 13-year-old girl.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/iranian-hackers-tried-to-send-trump-leaks-to-biden-campaign-120017606.html?src=rss
With the iPhone 16 Pro, the big announcements were the cameras and Apple Intelligence. The problem is Apple Intelligence isn't quite here yet. We can test some features in the developer beta, but that's not necessarily what we'll get when the update rolls out in October. So our focus is more on iOS 18 (deep dive on the beta here) and the hardware changes.The big hardware change is the camera button. But it's not just a button, really. Located on the right side of the device, it has touch and pressure sensors to give greater control with swipes and semi-presses. (That's in addition to the Action Button, which is still on the left edge of the iPhone).EngadgetIt was meant to (and eventually will) let you push lightly on the button to trigger focus, similar to half-pressing a DSLR shutter button. Sadly, that function isn't available at launch. You can swipe the button to tweak exposure, zoom levels and tone, and with the half-press, you can still select options or leave menus in the new Camera Control interface.Without Apple Intelligence features at launch, however, the iPhone 16 Pro seems like a more incremental update than most years. But if you've held out on upgrading for a year or two, the camera improvements (and eventual AI features) might tempt you.- Mat SmithThe biggest headlines you might have missed
Gaming laptops are the true Transformers of the PC world: They're powerful enough to play your favorite titles, ensuring you get the best gaming experience, but you can also harness their speed for media creation or extreme multitasking, like streaming high-resolution gameplay to Twitch. Today, you can even find a few that weigh less than the smallest MacBook Pro, making them solid options for daily drivers as well. For the demanding Apex Legends player, or the power user just looking for a capable GPU to handle video encoding, it'll be easier than ever to find the best gaming laptop to suit your needs - but sorting through the seemingly endless number of options can be taxing. We've tested and reviewed plenty of gaming laptops and we continue to do so as new models become available. Here, we outline our top picks for the best gaming laptops, along with everything you need to know before purchasing one. What to look for in a gaming laptop Price Your laptop buying journey starts and ends with the amount of money you're willing to spend. No surprise there. The good news: There are plenty of options for gamers of every budget. In particular, we're seeing some great entry-level PC gaming choices under $1,000, like Dell's G15 lineup. A cheap gaming laptop in this price range will definitely feel a bit flimsier than pricier models, and they'll likely skimp on RAM, storage and overall power. But most cheaper laptops should be able to handle the majority of video games running at 1080p at 60 frames per second, which is the bare minimum you'd want from any system. Things get interesting when you start looking at the best gaming laptops in the mid-range space, with prices at $1,000 and higher. At that point, you'll start finding PCs like the ASUS Zephyrus ROG G14, one of our favorite gaming notebooks. In general, you can look forward to far better build quality than budget gaming laptops (metal cases!), improved graphics power and enough RAM and storage space to handle the most demanding games. These are the gaming machines we'd recommend for most people, as they'll keep you gaming and working for years before you need to worry about an upgrade. If you're willing to spend around $1,800 or more, you can start considering more premium options like Razer's Blade, which is on-par with some of the best gaming PCs. Expect impeccably polished cases, the fastest hardware on the market, and ridiculously thin designs. The sky's the limit here: Alienware's uber customizable Area 51m is an enormous beast that can cost up to $4,700. Few people need a machine that high-end, but if you're a gamer with extra cash to burn, it may be worth taking a close look at some of these pricier systems.
Solid-state batteries have the potential to make EVs far more affordable and practical, but their commercial development has a record of false promises that would make Tesla's full self-driving blush. That means reporting on them is tricky, but we're seeing some promising news from Imec, a well-established R&D giant based in Belgium.As part of its SOLiDIFY project, the EU-supported firm and its 13 partners have manufactured a prototype solid-state battery with a 1070 Wh/L energy density, nearly 25 percent higher than the best lithium-ion cells (800 Wh/L). Better still, it uses a manufacturing process that works at room temperature, is adaptable to current lithium-ion battery product lines and is projected to cost less than 150 euros (about $167) per kWh, compared to about $140/kWh for current batteries. "This process holds promise for affordable industrial transfer," Imec wrote in a press release.The breakthrough was something called "liquid-to-solid" solidification. That means the prototype's solid electrolyte uses a "doped polymerized ionic liquid" in a thin 50 micrometer layer. The electrolyte is flanked by a high-capacity composite cathode on one side and a thin lithium metal anode on the other, resulting in a compact battery cell stack.The consortium was able to boost the cell's charge rate to three hours and lifetime to 100 cycles, overcoming mechanical strength and cathode impregnation challenges. Use of cobalt was also reduced thanks to the application of nanometer-thin protective coatings.Clearly the charging times and number of cycles need to improve (modern li-ion car batteries can be charged 2000 times and some in well under an hour). In addition, the technology requires further upscaling to be practical on an industrial level. It's worth the effort, though, as solid-state batteries could eventually deliver improved energy density, lower charging times and better safety, all at a lower price.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/solid-state-battery-prototype-boosts-energy-density-by-nearly-25-percent-080057028.html?src=rss
The Chromebook market has grown so much over the past few years that choosing the best Chromebook for you can be hard. The combination of years worth of software updates and manufacturers making laptops with more power, better build quality and long battery life means there are a ton of good Chrome OS machines that work well as everyday drivers. While Google did make things simpler last fall by introducing the Chromebook Plus initiative (more on that below), there are still multiple things to keep in mind when shopping for a new Chromebook. I've been testing and reviewing Chromebooks for years and know what you should be looking for, and what you can expect out of these laptops in 2024. What is Chrome OS, and why would I use it over Windows? This is probably the number one question about Chromebooks. There are plenty of inexpensive Windows laptops on the market, so why bother with Chrome's operating system? Glad you asked. For me, the simple and clean nature of Chrome OS is a big selling point. Chrome OS is based on Google's Chrome browser, which means most of the programs you can run are web based. There's no bloatware or unwanted apps to uninstall like you often get on Windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you can completely reset to factory settings almost as quickly. Of course, simplicity will also be a major drawback for some users. Not being able to install native software can be a dealbreaker if you're a video editor or software developer. But there are also plenty of people who do the majority of their work in a web browser. Google and its software partners are getting better every year at supporting more advanced features. For example, Google added video editing tools to the Google Photos app on Chromebooks - it won't replace Adobe Premiere, but it should be handy for a lot of people. Similarly, Google and Adobe announced Photoshop on the web last year, something that brings much of the power of Adobe's desktop apps to Chromebooks. Chromebooks can also run Android apps, which greatly expands the amount of software available. The quality varies widely, but it means you can do more with a Chromebook beyond just web-based apps. For example, you can install the Netflix app and save videos for offline watching. Other Android apps like Microsoft Office and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly capable as well. Between Android apps and a general improvement in web apps, Chromebooks are more than just portals to a browser. What do Chromebooks do well? Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Put simply, web browsing and really anything web based. Online shopping, streaming music and video and using various social media sites are among the most common daily tasks people do on Chromebooks. As you might expect, they also work well with Google services like Photos, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Keep and so on. Yes, any computer that can run Chrome can do that too, but the lightweight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and stable platform. As I mentioned before, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you're an Android user you'll find some nice ties between the platforms. You can get most of the same apps that are on your phone on a Chromebook and keep info in sync between them. You can also use some Android phones as a security key for your Chromebook or instantly tether your laptop to use mobile data. Google continues to tout security as a major differentiator for Chromebooks, and it's definitely a factor worth considering. Auto-updates are the first lines of defense: Chrome OS updates download quickly in the background and a fast reboot is all it takes to install the latest version. Google says that each webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its own sandbox as well, so any security threats are contained to that individual app. Finally, Chrome OS has a self-check called Verified Boot that runs every time a device starts up. Beyond all this, the simple fact that you generally can't install traditional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer ways for bad actors to access the system. If you're interested in Google's Gemini AI tools, a Chromebook is a good option as well. Every Chromebook in our top picks comes with a full year of the Google One AI Premium plan - this combines the usual Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 percent back in purchases from the Google Store with a bunch of AI tools. You'll get access to Gemini in Gmail, Docs and other apps, Gemini Advanced (which runs on the 1.5 Pro model) and more. Given that this plan is $20/month, it's a pretty solid perk. Chromebook Plus models also include tools like the AI-powered help me write," the Google Photos Magic Editor and generative AI backgrounds you can create by filling in a few prompts. As for when to avoid Chromebooks, the answer is simple: If you rely heavily on a specific native application for Windows or a Mac, chances are you won't find the exact same option on a ChromeOS device. That's most true in fields like photo and video editing, but it can also be the case in law or finance. Plenty of businesses run on Google's G suite software, but more still have specific requirements that a Chromebook might not match. If you're an iPhone user, you'll also miss out on the way the iPhone easily integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the big downside is not being able to access iMessage on a Chromebook. Finally, gaming Chromebooks are not ubiquitous, although they're becoming a slightly more reasonable option with the rise of cloud gaming. In late 2022, Google and some hardware partners announced a push to make Chromebooks with cloud gaming in mind. From a hardware perspective, that means laptops with bigger screens that have higher refresh rates as well as optimizing those laptops to work with services like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Game Pass and Amazon Luna. You'll obviously need an internet connection to use these services, but the good news is that playing modern games on a Chromebook isn't impossible. You can also install Android games from the Google Play Store, but that's not what most people are thinking of when they want to game on a laptop. What are the most important specs for a Chromebook? Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget Chrome OS is lightweight and runs well on fairly modest hardware, so the most important thing to look for might not be processor power or storage space. But Google made it easier to get consistent specs and performance late last year when it introduced the Chromebook Plus initiative. Any device with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimum requirements, which happen to be very similar to what I'd recommend most people get if they're looking for a laptop they can use every day. Chromebook Plus models have at least a 12th-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series processor, both of which should be more than enough for most people. These laptops also have a minimum of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which should do the trick unless you're really pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus models have to have a 1080p webcam, which is nice in these days of constant video calling, and they also all have to have at least a 1080p IPS screen. Of course, you can get higher specs or better screens if you desire, but I've found that basically everything included in the Chromebook Plus target specs makes for a very good experience. Google has an Auto Update policy for Chromebooks as well, and while that's not exactly a spec, it's worth checking before you buy. Last year, Google announced that Chromebooks would get software updates and support for an impressive 10 years after their release date. This support page lists the Auto Update expiration date for virtually every Chromebook ever, but a good rule of thumb is to buy the newest machine you can to maximize your support. How much should I spend? Chromebooks started out notoriously cheap, with list prices often coming in under $300. But as they've gone more mainstream, they've transitioned from being essentially modern netbooks to the kind of laptop you'll want to use all day. As such, prices have increased: At this point, you should expect to spend at least $400 if you want a solid daily driver. There are still many cheap Chromebooks out there that may be suitable as secondary devices, but a good Chromebook that can be an all-day, every-day laptop will cost more. But, notably, even the best Chromebooks usually cost less than the best Windows laptops, or even the best regular" laptops out there. There are plenty of premium Chromebooks that approach or even exceed $1,000 that claim to offer better performance and more processing power, but I don't recommend spending that much. Generally, that'll get you a better design with more premium materials, as well as more powerful internals and extra storage space. Of course, you also sometimes pay for the brand name. But, the specs I outlined earlier are usually enough. See Also:
A new update for Mortal Kombat I (MK1) is less than a week away from release that will add new character skins, new finishing moves and (eventually) new fighters to its kombatant" selection screen. NetherRealm Studios released a preview of the karnage" that's koming" around the korner" (OK, we'll stop with the unnecessary K's).The new trailer released on Mortal Kombat creator Ed Boon's X page shows some of the new stuff MK1 players can expect from the Khaos Reigns pack scheduled for release on September 24 and future updates. The base game costs $49.99 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on Steam and $39.99 on the Nintendo Switch. The Khaos Reigns DLC costs (gasp!) $49.99 for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on Steam and $39.99 for the Nintendo Switch The Khaos Reigns Kollection bundle that includes the Khaos pack and base game will set you back $89.99 for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S or $69.99 for the Nintendo Switch.
X is back online for many people in Brazil, more than two weeks after the service was blocked in the country. The change, though, isn't because Brazil's government has reversed its stance on the Elon Musk-owned platform. Instead, it seems that X has begun using Cloudflare's DNS service, which is for now helping the social network avoid the Brazilian government's restrictions, though it's unclear how long that will be the case.In a statement, a spokesperson for X described it as "an inadvertent and temporary service restoration" in the country and that is expects to become inaccessible again "soon." X has been blocked in Brazil since the end of August, when the Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered internet service providers in the country to block X following months of publicly feuding with Musk over X's refusal to block certain accounts. The spat also affected SpaceX-owned Starlink, which had its Brazilian bank accounts frozen amid the dispute."When X was shut down in Brazil, our infrastructure to provide service to Latin America was no longer accessible to our team," a spokesperson X said in a statement. "To continue providing optimal service to our users, we changed network providers. This change resulted in an inadvertent and temporary service restoration to Brazilian users. While we expect the platform to be inaccessible again in Brazil soon, we continue efforts to work with the Brazilian government to return very soon for the people of Brazil."The New York Times reported that X started to come back online for many people in Brazil Wednesday, though the service was still somewhat inconsistent. The Times reported that it was the company's move to Cloudflare that at least temporarily enabled it to come back. As it stands, Brazilian ISPs are likely figuring out how to continue to complying with the court order. Should they fail, Brazilian authorities are likely to look for new ways to enforce the block. Regulators in the country have imposed steep fines for users who attempt to get around the country's ban by using VPNs.Update September 18, 2024, 9:05 PM ET: This story has been updated with additional information from an X spokesperson.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-is-reportedly-back-online-for-some-people-in-brazil-225813745.html?src=rss
In an effort to quell monopoly concerns in the EU, Google reportedly offered to sell its AdX advertising marketplace. Sources told Reuters that European publishers rejected Google's offer, arguing that the company would have to divest more in order to dismantle the conflicts of interest in its online advertising operations. Lawyers familiar with the antitrust cases said this was the first time Google had offered to sell off an asset in response to this type of lawsuit.Despite this alleged sale offer, Google is publicly standing firm about its adtech business. "As we have said before, the European Commission's case about our third-party display advertising products rests on flawed interpretations of the ad-tech sector, which is fiercely competitive and rapidly evolving. We remain committed to this business," a Google rep told the publication. We've reached out to Google and will update this story if we receive any additional comment from the company.Google's control over online advertisements has raised concerns around the globe. Regulators have questioned whether the company's activity in multiple stages of the adtech supply chain allows it to favor its own businesses, creating an unfair advantage that could hurt competition and increase advertising prices.The European Commission began this push against the company's ad arm last June. The UK's competition watchdog also raised the alarm over a possible Google ad monopoly earlier this month. Google is also currently being sued by the Department of Justice over the same topic in the US.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/report-google-offered-to-sell-adx-to-end-eu-antitrust-suit-203612819.html?src=rss
AppleAppleApple on Monday released its new iOS 18 for all compatible iPhones to install - here's how download and install the new update. iOS 18 will already come installed on the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models (see our iPhone 16 Pro review), which will hit shelves on September 20. But not every iPhone will be able to run iOS 18, and even the ones that can won't have all the bells and whistles of the new Apple Intelligence features.That update stratification is nothing new. Generally each year, some older iPhone models are removed from Apple's iOS eligibility list. Last year, for instance, the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X were left off the compatibility list. That meant those iPhone owners couldn't update to iOS 17 and missed out on some notable features. On the flip side, some older hardware will get major new features: Consider the upcoming software update that effectively turns existing AirPods Pro headphones into a hearing aid, complete with a built-in hearing test. (Apple just received FDA authorization to release that feature later this year.)We'll help you find out if your iPhone will support iOS 18, as well as Apple Intelligence. In addition, Apple has also released a firmware update for AirPods Pro 2. If you want a full list of all the new iOS 18, check out Apple's exhaustive list in PDF form (via MacRumors). Still catching up on everything new that Apple announced at its September 9 launch event? Check out our full AirPods 4 review, along with hands-on previews of the Apple Watch Series 10, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro.iPhones compatible with iOS 18We have good news: If you had an eligible phone last year when you updated to iOS 17, that device should still be compatible with iOS 18, according to Apple. That means you won't have to buy a new phone to check out most of the new software features.
The Game Devs of Color Expo 2024 kicks off on Wednesday. Now in its ninth year (and fourth as an all-virtual conference), the event celebrates and highlights the game industry's creators of color. The event's Direct livestream today will include over 30 new game announcements and updates (and there will be a corresponding Steam sale!) You can watch the stream here at 4PM ET.Today's Direct will include exclusive reveals, the latest launches, and more updates" and will highlight a diverse group of industry creators from around the world.The event is orchestrated by Game Devs of Color, a nonprofit that has run the annual conference since its 2016 debut. The group aims to amplify the creative power people of color hold in games. Creators of color make great games but are often pushed to the margins," the nonprofit's webpage states. We fight to create a better games industry that is intersectional and equitable."The event runs from Wednesday through Saturday. Tickets are still available for the whole week of discussions, panels and interviews. Standard pass pricing starts at $50, but a $20 option is available for those who can't afford the regular ticket cost.You can check out the kickoff stream below at 4PM ET:This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/watch-the-game-devs-of-color-expo-direct-livestream-here-at-4pm-et-193040011.html?src=rss
If you grew up in the age of the NES and SNES consoles, you might be positively giddy to learn that one of the greatest video game crossovers since Marvel vs Capcom is available on the Nintendo Switch.Nintendo announced the addition of four new SNES titles to its Switch Online service including the 1993 beat em up Battletoads/Double Dragon. This rare meeting of mayhem between the fly-gulping trio and the martial arts duo Billy and Jimmy Lee takes players through both games' universes as they plow through unique waves of fist-flinging enemies.The crossover begins when the Evil Queen from the Battletoads' universe cuts a deal with the Shadow Boss from the Double Dragon universe on Earth. She sends a massive ship called the Colossus to take over our planet so Zitz, Rash and Pimple pick up the Double Dragons with the Battlecopter and intercept the ship to stop it from reaching Earth. The game features seven levels that take place on the Colossus and on Earth as the Battletoads and Double Dragons smash, kick and ram enemies and bosses from both video game franchises.The latest Switch Online game update also brings three more SNES games to the Nintendo Switch. The update includes the Tetris-inspired Cosmo Gang The Puzzle, the Jaleco rally racer Big Run and the Super Famicon port of Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen'in Shg! (It's Kunio's Dodgeball, Assemble Everyone!).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/battletoadsdouble-dragon-headbutts-its-way-onto-nintendos-switch-online-library-193034766.html?src=rss
Neuralink says the Food and Drug Administration has designated its experimental Blindsight implant as a "breakthrough device." The company is developing the technology in an attempt to restore blind people's sight.Manufacturers who apply to the FDA's voluntary breakthrough devices program and receive the designation from the agency are granted "an opportunity to interact with FDA experts through several different program options to efficiently address topics as they arise during the premarket review phase." The FDA also prioritizes breakthrough devices for review. Ultimately, a breakthrough device designation can accelerate development of a technology. Last year, the FDA gave the designation to 145 medical devices.Blindsight is separate from Telepathy, its implant that enables patients with spinal cord injuries to control computers using their thoughts, allowing them to play video games and design 3D objects. Neuralink owner and founder Elon Musk said in August that the company had implanted the chip into a second human patientMusk claimed back in March that Blindsight "is already working in monkeys. Resolution will be low at first, like early Nintendo graphics, but ultimately may exceed normal human vision." (Federal investigators have reportedly looked into Neuralink's animal testing practices but Musk said in March that "no monkey has died or been seriously injured by a Neuralink device.")
YouTube's creator-focused broadcast, Made On YouTube, is here again, and there's plenty to talk about. From more AI integration to Communities, YouTube seems to be gearing up to compete against rivals like TikTok and Netflix. Here are five things that genuinely interested us among the deluge of updates and new features.YouTube is introducing the Hype system, which lets viewers go beyond" liking and sharing a video. The idea is to allow fans to give more visibility to smaller creators - so hyping is only allowed for videos from creators under 500,000 subscribers, and only on videos under a week old. Content with the most hype will end up on a new leaderboard of the 100 most hyped videos in their country. Fans can only hype three times in a week for now, though additional uses will eventually be purchasable in the future.YouTube Shorts creators will be able to employ Google DeepMind's Veo video generator model later this year. Veo can generate six-second clips after reading a prompt, and all creations will have a label showing that generative AI was used, along with SynthID watermarking. Veo integration will exist parallel to (but doesn't replace) YouTube's Dream Screen - another AI video generation tool - which was introduced last year.The Community tab is getting a revamp, slated to come out in early 2025. Currently, only the channel owner can post in the Community tab, but the new experience will allow subscribers to create posts, with a tab to view only creator posts if necessary. Of course, subscribers can post images to prompt conversation. Some creators interact with their viewers currently through other platforms (like Discord) and this seems to be an attempt to create an in-house alternative.Some of us lament being unable to understand creators using languages we don't speak, but YouTube intends to fix that by implementing auto-dubbing. With the help of AI, viewers can now listen to machine-translated audio in their preferred language. YouTube promises that the audio will sound natural, taking intonation into account along with the creator's surroundings.Finally, the YouTube TV app will have an update mirroring Netflix's current layout. Creators will be able to organize their content in seasons and episodes, and there will be previews before users play any content. According to The Hollywood Reporter, we can expect to see these new features starting next year, though no concrete date was announced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/five-features-that-caught-our-eye-from-todays-youtube-livestream-171537530.html?src=rss
The film adaptation of the immensely popular sci-fi novel Mickey7 has been in the works for years, but now we finally have a trailer and it's filled with surprises. For one thing, it's now called Mickey17 and, well, fans of the book know exactly what that implies. It means they're in for an even crazier experience than what's written on the page.The movie is written and directed by one of the modern masters, Bong Joon Ho, who seems to have taken some liberties with the source material. Light spoilers, but the book follows a series of clones of the titular Mickey as they perform the grunt work of colonizing an exoplanet. The book chronicles seven (ish) Mickey variants, but the movie is amping this up to at least 17. This will give us plenty more darkly hilarious clone deaths, which the trailer shows quite a lot of.The novel is right up Bong Joon Ho's alley. Clones are basically second-class citizens who exist to die for their corporate overlords. This leaves plenty of room for social satire in the vein of both Snowpiercer and Parasite. The trailer leans into this stuff and the results look truly entertaining and, believe it or not, really funny. We love to see unique IPs in the cinema, don't we folks?The various Mickeys are played by Robert Pattinson, so that'll get some butts in the seats. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffalo. As a book reader, I know who everyone is playing except for Ruffalo. That looks like a brand-new character, though he could be an amalgamation of a couple of minor players. Adaptations require some dark alchemy at times.This could be the first big hit of 2025. It arrives in theaters on January 31. There's also some franchise potential here, as the book already has one sequel and author Edward Ashton has been toying with ideas for a third entry.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/bong-joon-hos-mickey17-trailer-is-even-crazier-than-the-book-170004844.html?src=rss
We knew Amazon would revive its Prime Big Deal Days sale event this fall, but we didn't know the exact dates until today. The online retailer announced that the sale event will return this year on October 8 and 9, giving us all the more reason to call it October Prime Day as we have done in years past. This is the third iteration of the fall sale event that Amazon has used as its (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and there are already discounts to be had as we see early October Prime Day deals pop up.Prime Day in July remains Amazon's marquee sale event for Prime members, but ever since its debut in 2022, October Prime Day provides subscribers with thousands of exclusive deals to shop during the two-day window. In turn, it also provides Amazon a way to boost sales during the same time period and, arguably more importantly, increase the number of overall Prime subscribers. While we expect most of the deals during Prime Big Deal Days to be exclusively for Prime members, there are always a few thrown in that are available to all Amazon shoppers.As for the deals we expect, it's a safe bet that Amazon's own devices will be on sale: things like Echo speakers, Kindle ereaders, Blink security cameras and more. We usually see tech like wireless earbuds, speakers, robot vacuums and SSDs go on sale during events like this as well. While it might feel too early to even think about holiday shopping, it's a good idea to entertain. If history is any indication, the sale prices we see during October Prime Day will be similar (and in some cases, the same) as those we see during Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year. If you can shop early and cross a few things off your list, we recommend doing so.You can also expect to see some Lightning deals" happen during October Prime Day. Thankfully, these are usually clearly labeled with the amount of time remaining to grab the sale price noted on the product page. In our experience, only a handful of these flash deals are actually worth your money - but if you see something that's been on your wishlist drop in price for only a few hours, it's in your best interest to grab it immediately.To give you an idea of what we could expect to see during October Prime Day this year, these are a few of the standout deals we saw during the 2023 event:
An attack in Lebanon reportedly killed eight people and injured over 2,700. Hundreds of pagers belonging to Hezbollah members detonated simultaneously on Tuesday, leading the Iran-backed militant organization to blame Israel. The New York Times reported that Israel was behind the attacks and conducted it by hiding explosive material inside the pagers. A second wave of attacks, these targeting handheld radios used by Hezbollah members, was reported on Wednesday by The Washington Post.A day after Israeli leaders warned of escalating its military campaign against Hezbollah, pagers belonging to the Lebanese group's members exploded at once. Witnesses reported seeing smoke emanating from the victims' pockets, followed by sounds reminiscent of fireworks or gunshots.Lebanon's health minister said 200 of the injured were in critical condition. He added that many victims had facial injuries, especially to the eyes. Hand and stomach injuries were also common, according to the health minister. Among those wounded was Mojtaba Amini, Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, according to Iranian state media.A second wave of attacks across different areas of Lebanon on Wednesday reportedly killed one person and injured over 100 others. The latest attacks reportedly targeted wireless devices." One of the explosions, triggered by a handheld radio, was reported at a funeral for four victims of Tuesday's blasts. Anyone who has a device, take out the battery now!" The Washington Post reported that Hezbollah security members yelled at the mourners. Turn off your phones, switch it to airplane mode!"Israel hasn't commented on the attacks. But NYT reports that officials (including American ones) briefed on the operation said Israel was behind them. They claim as little as one to two ounces of explosive material were planted next to each pager's battery, along with a switch allowing for remote detonations. At 3PM in Lebanon on Tuesday, the pagers received a message (appearing to be from Hezbollah leadership) that triggered the coordinated explosions, according to officials. The devices allegedly beeped for several seconds before detonating.The Washington Post reports that the logo of Taiwanese pager maker Gold Apollo was seen on the sabotaged pagers. However, Gold Apollo claimed the devices were entirely handled" by a Hungarian company, BAC Consulting Kft, which was authorized to use Gold Apollo's branding in some regions. That product isn't ours," Gold Apollo's founder and president, Hsu Ching-Kuang, told The New York Times. They just stick on our company brand."Officials speaking with NYT claimed the devices were tampered with before reaching Lebanon. Most were Gold Apollo's AR924 model, which the company displayed an image of on its website before removing them on Wednesday.The attacks sparked a wave of fear of using mobile devices. NYT reports some in Lebanon were scared to use their phones after Tuesday's attacks, with one resident crying out, Please hang up, hang up!" to their caller.The Times reports that Hezbollah, long suspicious of cellphone use near the Israeli border due to the devices' geolocation capabilities, recently switched from mobile phones to pagers. In February, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah reportedly warned the group that their phones were dangerous and could be used by Israel as spy tools. He advised the group that they should break or bury them."Experts reportedly don't yet know precisely how the pagers were distributed to Hezbollah's members. They say that Iran, given its history of supplying Hezbollah with arms, tech and other military aid, would have been pivotal to their adoption and delivery.Update, September 18, 2024, 11:48AM ET: This story has been updated to add new details about Tuesday's attacks and the second wave of reported blasts on Wednesday.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/pagers-explode-simultaneously-in-hundreds-of-hezbollah-members-pockets-190304565.html?src=rss
Earlier this year, Behaviour Interactive teased a few Dead by Deadlight spinoff games. One has since been released to relative acclaim, The Casting of Frank Stone, and What the Fog kinda came and went. That leaves one game unaccounted for. Today, we can scratch that one out for good. The company just announced that the spinoff known only as Project T has been canceled.
A lawsuit on behalf of five unnamed contestants who participated in YouTuber MrBeast's Beast Games was filed on September 16 in Los Angeles against MrBeast as well as Amazon, which plans to distribute the show. It's also seeking class-action status.Beast Games is the brainchild of Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast. This game show had participants go through challenges for a shot at $5 million in cash. There would only be one winner out of 1,000 participants, so the money would only go to the last person standing.When the five contestants participated in the game show, they each wanted to win the money, but nothing prepared them for the poor conditions, mistreatment and harassment they experienced. Among the 14 complaints are failure to pay minimum wages, sexual harassment, false advertising and failure to provide uninterrupted meal and rest breaks.The plaintiffs filed this lawsuit on behalf of all Beast Games contestants besides themselves. Much of the lawsuit's content is hidden, including the contestants' names and the exact details of their mistreatment. Of note were the female contestants' experiences. The lawyers claimed that the work environment there fostered a culture of misogyny and sexism where Production Staff did nothing."The contestants were considered employees under California law, but MrBeast and Amazon allegedly misclassified them to obtain a tax credit of around $2 million. They also arrived on set to discover that instead of 1,000 total competitors, there were far more people playing for the prize, thus lowering everyone's chances of coming out a winner. According to the New York Times, the total number of contestants was about 2,000, something MrBeast said was the plan all along. The plaintiffs claimed this significantly reduced anyone's chances of winning and was considered false advertising. Even worse, the show organizers did not grant them meal and rest breaks as required by California law. According to the lawsuit, some of the show participants developed injuries that continue to persist and will persist from the future."This isn't the first time MrBeast has been involved in a lawsuit. Last year, he sued Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC) for making subpar MrBeast Burgers, ruining his reputation. VDC countersued MrBeast, seeking $100 million in damages.According to a report from Variety, MrBeast and Amazon have yet to comment on the lawsuit, with the former refusing to. Beast Games, slated for an Amazon Prime Video release,still has no announced release date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/mrbeast-and-amazon-are-being-sued-by-contestants-of-their-planned-competition-show-152613641.html?src=rss
Remember when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA went on strike for months, in great part to get protections against AI? Well, while they did get some stipulations in there, it's not stopping AI from coming to Hollywood anyways. Lionsgate, the studio behind the John Wick and Hunger Games franchises, has struck a deal with AI startup Runway, the Wall Street Journal first reported and Runway confirmed in a press release. The arrangement will allow Runway access to Lionsgate's content library in exchange for a fresh, custom AI model that the studio can use in production and editing.The deal is similar to recent (and equally icky feeling) ones with publishing houses such as TIME and Dotdash Meredith, but it is the first of its kind for the film and TV industry. Vice chairman of Lionsgate Studio, Michael Burns, said that in recent months, he feared falling behind competitors without a step like this. "Runway is a visionary, best-in-class partner who will help us utilize AI to develop cutting edge, capital efficient content creation opportunities," Burns stated. He then claimed, "Several of our filmmakers are already excited about its potential applications to their pre-production and post-production process."There's also the small matter that he expects the company will save "millions and millions of dollars" through this agreement. Whether that money will come out of creatives' paychecks is something we can only speculate about now, but it wouldn't be surprising.As for Lionsgate's new bedfellow, like many AI companies, Runway has faced accusations of pilfering content to train its system. A former employee came forward in July with alleged internal spreadsheets demonstrating that Runway used YouTube videos from the likes of Disney, Netflix and popular media outlets to train its Gen-3 model. A group of artists are also suing Runway and other players like Stability AI for copyright infringement, reports Artnet. The plaintiffs garnered a win in August, with California District Judge William Orrick finding they had reasonably argued these companies had violated the artists' rights.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/lionsgate-signs-a-deal-with-the-devil-an-ai-startup-151046341.html?src=rss
If you've just picked up one of the latest Apple iPhone 16 models, you may be wondering what the best way is to keep your shiny new handset protected and free from scratches. That's where a good case comes in. Let's face it, accidents happen. Whether it's an unexpected drop, scratches from your keys or just daily wear and tear, your Apple smartphone can easily get dented or scuffed. A good case will act like armor, preventing scratches, dents and cracks. And some cases go beyond just basic protection - they include extra features like raised edges around the camera to shield the most vulnerable parts of your device (you may also want to consider a screen protector to go along with it).
Substack is adding a live video component to its newsletter service. In its announcement post, the company positioned this feature as providing real-time audience engagement for creators. At launch, the feature will only be available to people with Substack's Bestsellers badges, but the company said it plans to roll it out to all users in the coming months.Creators can begin live videos within the Substack app. As with written material on the platform, a creator can set whether the audience for a live video is everyone, all subscribers or paid subscribers. Any channel subscribers will be notified when a live video begins. There's also an option for collaboration, inviting other Substack members into the live broadcast. For now, only iOS users can issue invitations; Android users can accept an invite for now, and are slated to receive access to the full feature "soon." After a live broadcast finishes, a recording will be saved in post drafts so the video can be used in a future newsletter. There's also a clipping tool for light video editing tasks.Substack has been making a push to bring video content creators to its platform from TikTok, which doesn't seem like an obvious competitor to the company's existing offerings or an obvious match for the community it has cultivated. Emails are asynchronous communication that can be read whenever it's convenient, the polar opposite of must-watch-now live videos. The option to include recordings in newsletters is useful, but adopting the live viewing as a regular part of their Substack routine may be a big ask for current users. In short: there's no guarantee that the new feature will function well, or that most newsletter creators and readers are interested in engaging with video content.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/substack-a-newsletter-service-is-now-also-a-live-video-company-150004585.html?src=rss
The rollout of Apple Intelligence will be fairly slow-paced, with Apple gradually adding new features and support for more languages over the coming months. The company has now confirmed support for several more languages as Apple Intelligence will be available in German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese and Vietnamese in 2025. That's in addition to previously announced support for Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish.Apple will initially offer Apple Intelligence in the US in English with the release of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 in October. As such, you won't have access to the tools immediately if you pick up an iPhone 16 when Apple's latest smartphone lineup ships on Friday.The tools will be available in localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK in December. Apple will also start rolling out the features in India and Singapore in English next year. Further language support is to be announced.There is one key thing worth noting as part of the Apple Intelligence rollout, however. Apple is not planning to broadly offer the tools in the European Union or Chinese mainland right away. So while you'll be able to use Apple Intelligence in Portuguese or French, you might not necessarily be able to do so while you're in Portugal or France.Apple Intelligence will not currently work if you are in the EU and if your Apple ID Country/Region is also in the EU," Apple notes in a support article. If traveling outside of the EU, Apple Intelligence will work when your device language and Siri language are set to a supported language."Also, as things stand, Apple Intelligence won't work on phones bought on the Chinese mainland. Those traveling to China with an iPhone they bought elsewhere also won't have access to the tools if their Apple ID Country/Region is set to mainland China.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-confirms-expanded-language-support-for-apple-intelligence-in-2025-140548274.html?src=rss
Starting today, General Motors is starting to sell approved North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC adapters for its electric vehicles. GM originally announced it would support Tesla's NACS connector 15 months ago, but it's taken them until today to get adapters out to the market. Models from Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC will all be able to use this new adapter.Previously, GM electric vehicles weren't compatible with Tesla Superchargers, as they were outfitted with a different proprietary charging port. Those who own these EVs can purchase an adapter for $225 using your vehicle brand's mobile app. The app can also help owners locate the closest Supercharger station.These NACS DC adapters will first be available to US customers, while Canadian EV owners will have to wait until later this year. Moving forward, GM vehicles will now come with NACS DC adapters, meaning future owners won't have to fork $225 over for the ability to recharge. To ensure all GM EV owners can power up their vehicles, the company is working with multiple supplies to provide enough adapters for all.Earlier this year, Ford EV owners started being able to charge their vehicles at Tesla's Superchargers. Subaru, Hyundai and basically every other major automaker in the US also made similar announcements last year. That GM took well over a year to release adapters could be due to Tesla firing its entire Supercharger team in April, according to a report from Forbes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/gm-electric-vehicles-can-finally-recharge-at-tesla-supercharger-stations-135228213.html?src=rss
While I'm a MacBook gal myself, the appeal of investing in an iMac has crossed my mind now and again - all that display space is just so enticing. One of the major reasons I've resisted is the price of getting a new iMac, but a record-low price is giving me a change of heart. Right now, the 2023 iMac with M3 chip is down to $1,100 from $1,300 thanks to a 12 percent discount and a $49 coupon. This model offers an 8-core CPU and 256GB of storage but no AppleCare+. In our review, we gave the newest iMac an 86, thanks mostly to the M3 chip. In our tests, the iMac never slowed down or struggled with browsing, photo editing, or games. Overall, it gave us all the quality and speed we could need for day-to-day use. Plus, it's great to have 24GB of RAM versus the M1's 16GB. The display is also top-notch, and the device is super lightweight, at under 10 pounds and less than 11.5mm in thickness. At the same time, the 2023 iMac isn't a big upgrade from its predecessor. As we said then, "If you've seen a 24-inch iMac before, you've seen this one." It doesn't have a larger option or vertical screen adjustment. Plus, that 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM still make this feel overpriced, even with the markdown. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m3-imac-is-down-to-a-record-low-price-ahead-of-october-prime-day-132441743.html?src=rss
So far, Bose has delivered two versions of its "regular" QuietComfort Earbuds: one in 2020 and another in 2022. The company followed up last year with the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, debuting its take on spatial audio that doesn't rely on carefully recorded content. Now, Bose is jumping back to that "regular" model with a new version of the QuietComfort Earbuds. While it's actually the company's fourth set noise-canceling wireless buds, the new QC Earbuds will offer an entry-level option that's much more affordable than the premium Ultra. For the new QuietComfort Earbuds, Bose says the design is meant for "everyday use." There's a collection of ear tips and stability bands to help you find the perfect fit, and the IPX4 rating should be enough to withstand sweaty workouts. The shape of the outer panel has been refined, looking more like older Bose earbud models than its recent efforts. The company says you can expect its "best-in-class" active noise cancellation (ANC) to be on display here, as well as "satisfyingly rich" sound. Each earbud is equipped with three microphones for both ANC and voice pickup, so the latest QuietComfort model should be a decent option for calls. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint connectivity is also on the spec sheet, where Bose is promising up to 30 feet of wireless range. Bose Bose increased the battery life from the QC Earbuds II from six to eight and a half hours on this new version. Plus, the case holds another two and a half charges. You can get three hours of use in 20 minutes and a full charge takes 90 minutes. The QuietComfort Earbuds will work with the Bose QC Earbuds app for features and customization. Here, you can reconfigure the onboard tap controls on each earbud, with the ability to switch ANC settings between Quiet, Aware (transparency mode) and off right on the buds. A Voice ID tool can fine-tune the QC Earbuds for "performance and accuracy" while a five-band adjustable EQ offers some flexibility with the tuning. Bose has also included a Remote Selfie feature that allows you to use the earbuds as a remote camera trigger. Additionally, there's a low-latency audio mode for gaming and a Battery Prediction tool to track power consumption. The new QuietComfort Earbuds are available today for $179 in black, white and purple color options. That's $100 less the previous two QC Earbuds models and $120 less than the QC Ultra Earbuds. This new model isn't exactly a budget option, but the price is much more attractive than the company's current $299 flagship set. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/boses-new-noise-canceling-quietcomfort-earbuds-are-more-affordable-at-179-130046607.html?src=rss
Bose has a new soundbar for the fall shopping season, and it includes a few neat tricks for owners of the company's clip-on earbuds. The Bose Smart Soundbar is a small, sleek" model with AI Dialogue Mode and a Personal Surround feature for owners of the Ultra Open Earbuds. The Bose Smart Soundbar has five transducers, including two side-firing (racetrack-shaped) ones, a center tweeter and two up-firing transducers. This arrangement helps with Dolby Atmos content, with the side-facing ones focused on horizontally positioned audio and the upward-facing ones bouncing sound off the ceiling for an overhead illusion. The center tweeter handles dialog. If your content doesn't support Dolby Atmos for a spatial surround experience, the soundbar's TrueSpace feature can mix them in real time to create a faux surround effect. Bose claims the process produces sound just as effectively" as Dolby Atmos with similar spaciousness." Bose Owners of Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds - the $299 clip-on doodads that leave your ears uncovered - the soundbar can deliver a more personalized surround experience for one person. Designed to add dimension to content, the feature uses the earbuds as rear surround speakers. Unlike most earbuds, the Ultra Open model doesn't obstruct your ears, allowing you to still hear the soundbar's audio. Bose describes the combined effect as a sonic experience of sound all around you." The Personal Surround Sound feature launches with this model but will arrive on the (more expensive) Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar later this fall. The soundbar also supports the AI Dialogue Mode from the company's Smart Ultra Soundbar. The feature uses AI to automatically adjust the audio mix in real time when it detects speech, making voices easier to hear without losing any impact of immersive sound effects." The Smart Soundbar is 27 inches long, 2.2 inches high and 4.1 inches deep. It has a black matte body with a wraparound metal grille. On the connection front, it supports HDMI eARC (required for Dolby Atmos) and standard optical cables. You can set it up to work with Google Assistant and Alexa, and it works with other Bose smart speakers (including bass modules) for enhanced living room or multi-room setups. The Bose Smart Soundbar is available on Wednesday for $499. You can order it on Bose's website. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/boses-latest-soundbar-can-use-the-ultra-open-earbuds-as-rear-speakers-130002782.html?src=rss
The amount of fines Google has to pay in Europe may have become just a bit smaller. It has successfully convinced the European Union's General Court to annul the 1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) penalty levied against it back in 2019 for what the European Commission described as "abusive practices in online advertising." According to the Financial Times, the General Court agreed with the commission's assessment that Google did block rival advertisers from its platform. However, it argued that the commission failed to take into account "all the relevant circumstances" when it assessed how long the company had implemented anti-competitive practices.The commission, under competition chief Margrethe Vestager, found back in 2019 that Google had prohibited publishers from placing search adverts from competitors on its search results pages from 2006 until 2009. It changed its rules slightly in 2009, but it wasn't until 2016 that it removed the clause pertaining to the restriction in its contracts. The fine for this particular case was larger than expected, because the commission said it took into account "the duration and gravity of the infringement.""This case is about a very narrow subset of text-only search ads placed on a limited number of publishers' websites," Google said in a statement to the Financial Times. "We made changes to our contracts in 2016 to remove the relevant provisions, even before the commission's decision. We are pleased that the court has recognized errors in the original decision and annulled the fine. We will review the full decision closely." Meanwhile, the commission told the publication that it "will carefully study the judgment and reflect on possible next steps." It could still appeal the court's decision.This is just one of the multiple antitrust fines the European Commission has slapped against Google over the past years. Earlier this month, EU's highest court upheld a different $2.7 billion penalty against the company. The commission imposed that fine on Google back in 2017, because it found that the company, as Vestager explained, "abused its market dominance as a search engine by promoting its own comparison shopping service in its search results, and demoting those of competitors."Vestager is stepping down from her role as the European Union's commissioner for competition within the next few weeks. She has been tough on big tech companies throughout her run, and the market abuse cases she has filed over the years led to the creation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a regulation meant to prevent the largest players in the industry from abusing their market power.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-wins-appeal-against-17-billion-eu-fine-for-abusive-advertising-practices-123006698.html?src=rss
Apple has slowly been making its devices easier to fix, but the iPhone 15 fell short in a couple of key areas, according to the repairability site iFixit. Namely, the battery was hard to remove and the device suffered from a "parts pairing" issue that meant you couldn't easily replace the LiDAR sensor with one from another phone. With those two problems, iFixit gave the iPhone 15 a relatively low 4/10 repairability score.Apple has now released new updates on iPhone 16 repairability and appears to have addressed both those issues and a bunch more. Saying it tries to strike a balance between durability and repairability, it focused particularly on the "repairability" aspect with its latest devices.There's now an entirely new way to remove the battery that's supposed to make it easier. By running a low voltage electrical current through the new ionic liquid battery adhesive (using a 9V cell, for instance), the battery will release itself from the enclosure. This makes removal faster and safer compared to previous stretch release adhesives, according to the company.At the same time, Apple made changes to the Face ID sensor hardware starting with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. Now, the TrueDepth Camera can be swapped from one unit to another without compromising security or privacy. Before, only Apple was able to do that type of repair.Another big change is the new Repair Assistant, designed to address parts pairing issues. That lets customers and repair professionals configure both new and used Apple parts directly on the device, with no need to contact Apple personnel. Repair shops previously needed to order official components directly from Apple and get on the phone with an employee before iOS would accept individual parts replacements.Apple added newly repairable modules too, saying the TrueDepth Camera can now be configured on-device for iPhone 12 and later, eliminating the need for a tethered Mac. In addition, the LiDAR scanner on iPhone Pro models is now serviceable with the rear camera model.Another big change is on-device access to diagnostics. Starting with iOS 18, Apple diagnostics for repair will be available on device, so customers can determine which parts need to be replaced without the need for a second device.Finally, the company announced new support for third-party and used Apple parts. If a third-party part can't be calibrated on Apple's cloud-based servers, the iPhone or other device will try to activate the part and operate it to its full capability, while showing the repair history within settings. Used Apple parts can soon be calibrated and will appear as a "used" part in the device's repair history. Another future update will enable True Tone for third-party displays and battery health for third-party batteries. In addition, the LiDAR Scanner and front camera will still work when the module is replaced and left unconfigured.All told, the iPhone 16 series looks to have one of the biggest jumps in repairability yet, with improvements in physical access, parts compatibility and parts pairing. We'll soon see if that's reflected in iFixit's impending repairability score.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-reveals-how-its-made-the-iphone-16-series-much-easier-to-repair-120055256.html?src=rss
HTC Vive is following up its intriguing, yet expensive, XR Elite headset with something that's still quite pricey, the $999 Focus Vision. Built on the same platform as the standalone Vive Focus 3, the upgraded model adds a slew of new features like built-in eye tracking, 16MP stereo color front-facing cameras for mixed reality and automatic IPD adjustment (which makes it easier to share). And with the additional $149 DisplayPort wired streaming kit, gamers can also hook the Focus Vision up to their PCs for more intensive VR experiences.Judging from the price and features alone, the Focus Vision isn't much of a mainstream consumer play from HTC Vive. But that's to be expected. While Meta has poured tens of billions into making its Quest headsets cheaper and more accessible, without any need to worry about profitability, HTC Vive has leaned towards making more expensive headsets better suited for business and government work. The Focus 3, for example, made its way to the International Space Station to help astronauts exercise and relax.While the Vive XR Elite looked almost like a pair of over-sized glasses, the Focus Vision doesn't look much different than the Focus 3. It's clearly a standard VR headset, albeit one a step above the Meta Quest 3, a device mostly made of cheaper plastic and other low-grade materials. There's plenty of cushioning along the front headset and rear head strap, and there's more than enough room to fit large glasses.Under the hood, the Vive Focus Vision features a 5K LCD display, delivering a 2.5K resolution per eye, a 90Hz refresh rate and a wide 120-degree field of view. (HTC says it'll gain 120Hz support over DisplayPort later this year.) In addition to the two 16MP front-facing cameras, which are positioned like human eyes for distortion-free mixed reality, there's also an infra-red flood light for hand tracking in low light, four external tracking cameras and the usual depth sensor.Once again, HTC has stuck a removable battery pack in the headset's rear strap, butnow there's also a small built-in battery offering an additional 20 minutes of standby charge. That means you can swap battery packs without shutting down the headset and leaving your VR immersion. That feature alone could be compelling to organizations where employees will have to wear the Focus Vision for hours on end. HTC claims the headset can last for two hours of continuous use.HTC ViveWith the Vive Focus Vision, HTC is also making a play for high-end VR gaming. While Meta's Quest headsets can connect to gaming PCs wirelessly and with USB-C cables, they're essentially delivering a compressed video feed of VR experiences from those system. The Focus Vision's DisplayPort kit functions more like a standard PC VR headset: It gives you a direct connection to your computer's video card. You shouldn't see any of the lag or compression artifacts that you occasionally do with Meta Quest to PC connections.As I expected, the Focus Vision feels very similar to the Focus 3. It's easy to put on adjust, there's more than enough room for my glasses to fit, and the front and rear cushioning helps it rest comfortably on my noggin. Thanks to the rear battery pack, the headset also feels well-balanced on my head. Other headsets, even Apple's Vision Pro, can feel front-heavy and place pressure on your nose and eyes.HTC ViveWhen it comes to the actual VR experience, the Focus Vision delivers what I'd expect from an expensive HTC Vive headset. The 5K display is sharp enough to read small text, and its large field of view makes wandering around locations in Nature Treks VR feel genuinely immersive. I haven't had much of a chance to try PC gaming just yet, but I'm looking forward to delving into that for our review.I'm still disappointed by the limited selection of apps in the VivePort store, but once again this isn't a device that needs to cater much to general VR users. Companies relying on the Focus Vision will either use existing enterprise apps or build something for themselves. And gamers likely won't spend much time outside of the wired DisplayPort connection, where they can access the full bounty of their SteamVR libraries.The Vive Focus Vision is available for pre-order today for $999 ($1,299 for businesses with an additional warranty) until September 30. HTC will also throw in the DisplayPort kit free for early adopters, and there are also three game bundles to choose from.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/htc-vives-focus-vision-is-a-999-stab-at-high-end-vr-and-mixed-reality-120054049.html?src=rss
Meta is once again at risk of getting fined heavily by the European Commission. The bloc's regulatory arm is preparing its findings that Meta linked its Marketplace service to Facebook to undermine competitors, the Financial Times reports, citing sources familiar with the case.If found guilty, Meta could be on the hook for 10 percent of its global annual revenue - a number that reached almost $135 billion last year. However, the fine could be much smaller, and Meta will almost certainly appeal it.The Commission launched its initial probe in 2019, announcing its preliminary findings three years later that "Meta ties its dominant social network Facebook to its online classified ad services called Facebook Marketplace," Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president in charge of competition policy, stated at the time. "Furthermore, we are concerned that Meta imposed unfair trading conditions, allowing it to use of data on competing online classified ad services. If confirmed, Meta's practices would be illegal under our competition rules." Meta faces other investigations from the Commission into its election policies, addiction and safety concerns for minors and its consent or pay model.The news comes at a transitionary time for the European Commission, with President Ursula von der Leyen announcing her new team just yesterday. The shakeup for her second term will see Margrethe Vestager, head of competition for the last decade, replaced by Teresa Ribera. Reports that Vestiger would be stepping down this year first surfaced in August.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-could-face-massive-eu-fines-over-marketplace-competition-113033743.html?src=rss
The reviews don't stop. This morning, we're checking out how Apple's latest wearable compares to its predecessors and competition. Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low says that, while the Series 10 is noticeably lighter, you wouldn't notice many differences compared to the Series 9 unless they were side by side. The latest Apple Watch is ever so slightly bigger (46mm), but if you need something even bigger, you should consider the Watch Ultra 2, which has a 49mm screen. Apple is also using a new wide-angle OLED to make its latest watch easier to read, even if your wrist is resting to the side. Again, the change is noticeable but not in a huge way. Upgraded charging should bring the Series 10 back to 80 percent in 30 minutes, but we're still not hugely impressed with its battery life.You might notice we haven't scored the Apple Watch Series 10. While she's sharing what's important for folks considering buying one, Cherlynn needs more time to test its sleep features. However, thanks to its similarity to its predecessors (and watchOS 11 bringing many similar features to the Series 9, Watch Ultra 2 and more), it's hard to recommend to anyone wearing a Series 9 or Ultra. If you're coming from the Series 8 or older, the update might be worth it. Check out the full review.- Mat Smith
Whether you're sporting an older model or you just picked up one of the latest Apple Watches, you're probably eager to put it on every day as part of your tech kit and wardrobe. But did you know that you can make your Apple Watch even better? With the right accessories, your Apple Watch can be customized to fit your style and needs perfectly. From a new stylish Apple Watch band to a charger that keeps your Watch powered up all day long, there's something out there for everyone. To help you take your Apple Watch to the next level, we're diving into the best Apple Watch accessories to suit all budgets in this buying guide. Best Apple Watch accessories 2024 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-apple-watch-accessories-133025270.html?src=rss
Kremlin-affiliated Russian troll farms are running disinformation campaigns that aim to interfere with this year's US presidential elections, and according to Microsoft, they're focusing their efforts on discrediting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. The company has published a new report detailing the movements of two troll farms being monitored by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center.These Kremlin-backed actors apparently struggled to find the right approach shortly after President Biden stepped down as a candidate, but in late August and early September, one of them started circulating inauthentic videos that managed to generate millions of views. One video depicted a supposed attack by Harris supporters on Trump rally attendees. Another video used an actor to accuse Harris of being involved in a 2011 hit-and-run incident that paralyzed a 13-year-old girl. The second video, which went viral, was released by a days-old website pretending to be a San Francisco based media outlet.Meanwhile, the second troll farm stopped producing content about the 2024 Paris Olympics games and started creating videos showing Harris in a bad light. One fake video showed a New York City billboard claiming that Harris wants to change children's gender. It was initially published on Telegram, before being shared on X and getting more than 100,000 views within just a few hours.Microsoft warned that people should expect more Russian-made disinformation materials, including more staged and AI-edited videos, to circulate online as we get closer to the election. Earlier this month, the US government indicted two employees of Russian state media outlet RT, accusing them of planning to pay a Tennessee company $10 million to spread 2,000 propaganda videos on social media. The Treasury Department also sanctioned ANO Dialog, a Russian nonprofit that was allegedly involved with a campaign known as "Doppelganger," to create fake websites that would appear to American readers as legitimate major news sites. Microsoft said in its new report that it suspended more than 20 accounts connected to ANO Dialog.Meta also recently banned RT and other Russian state media outlets "for foreign interference activity." According to its notes, which the company shared with Engadget, it had seen Russian state-controlled media try to interfere with foreign governments and to evade detection in the past. It said that it expects them to keep trying to "engage in deceptive influence attempts across the internet."It's not just Russia that's trying to influence the outcome of this year's US presidential elections, though. Microsoft, Google and even the feds published reports back in August that Iranian hackers had been trying to spear-phish several advisers of the Biden-Harris and Trump campaigns. Microsoft also found campaigns made to sway votes in the US by groups connected with the Iranian government. One such group created a website that attacks and insults former President Donald Trump.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/microsoft-says-russian-troll-farms-are-targeting-the-harris-walz-campaign-031321352.html?src=rss
Apple has temporarily paused the rollout of iPadOS 18 for M4 iPad Pro models, some of the most expensive iPads that the company sells, after some users complained that the update bricked their devices. Apple acknowledged the issue in a statement to Engadget, saying, We have temporarily removed the iPadOS 18 update for M4 iPad Pro models as we work to resolve an issue that is impacting a small number of devices."The issue first came to light through Reddit, where a growing number of M4 iPad Pro users described how their iPads became unusable after they tried installing the latest version of iPadOS. At some point during the update my iPad turned off, and would no longer turn on," a user named tcorey23 posted on Reddit. I just took it to the Apple Store who confirmed it's completely bricked, but they said they had to send it out to their engineers before they can give me a replacement even though I have Apple care."Another Reddit user called Lisegot wrote that the Apple Store they took their bricked M4 iPad Pro to did not have a replacement in stock, which meant they they would need to wait five to seven days for a working iPad. No one was particularly apologetic and they even insinuated that there was no way for them to know whether the update caused this," they wrote.Having a software bug brick an iPad is rare. ArsTechnica, which first reported this story, pointed out that iPads can typically be put into recovery mode if a software update goes bad.If you own an M4 iPad Pro, Apple will no longer offer you iPadOS 18 until it fixes the issue. It's not clear when it will be fixed.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/apple-halts-ipados-18-update-for-m4-ipad-pro-after-bricking-reports-000258237.html?src=rss
Discord is rolling out new end-to-end encryption for both audio and video calls on its platform. The tech will be applied to calls from DMs, group DMs, voice channels and Go Live streams. Discord detailed the tech and its goals for the end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in a blog post. Desktop and mobile clients already support the new upgrade, and the rest of the clients should be getting the feature next year.The company has focused on transparency with its E2EE protocols, and has made plenty of information about it publicly available. Discord is also promising that there should be no sacrifices to call quality with the addition of E2EE. One notable exception to the encryption protocol will be messages. Discord said that's so that the messages can still fall under the company's content moderation rules.This type of thorough encryption has become increasingly common over the years. It's not unusual to see it as either an option or a new default for users on platforms such as Signal, WhatsApp and Zoom.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/discord-is-rolling-out-end-to-end-encryption-for-voice-and-video-calls-224548948.html?src=rss
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alleges that SpaceX committed three safety violations by failing to follow its license requirements during two of its space launches in 2023. If the full fines are imposed, SpaceX faces a bill of $633,009, according to an FAA statement.The license violations are related to two separate SpaceX's launches. The first two happened on June 18, 2023 as part of the PSN Satria Mission that launched from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The second violation happened on July 28, 2023 involving plans for the EchoStar XXIV/Jupiter mission.Across the two cases, SpaceX requested to revise part of its communications and explosive site plans respectively. SpaceX allegedly went ahead with its revised plans even though the FAA did not approve or issue modifications to its license, according to letters written by the FAA.In May 2023, SpaceX requested the addition of a new launch control room and the removal of the T-2 hour readiness poll from its procedures for its June 18, 2023 launch. The FAA informed SpaceX on June 15 and 16 that it would not approve the modifications to SpaceX's license before its scheduled June 18 launch, but the launch went ahead with its unauthorized control room and without a T-2 hour poll. Two months later, SpaceX submitted a request for a newly constructed rocket propellant farm for its launch on July 28, 2023 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once again, the FAA did not approve the modification but the farm was used anyway during its scheduled launch.SpaceX is facing two $175,000 fines for the June 18 violations and a $293,009 fine for the July 28 violation. SpaceX has 30 days to respond to the accusations in writing. The space company can choose to hold an informal conference with an FAA attorney or submit additional information to the FAA to plead its case. A full list of the FAA's fine enforcement procedures are available on the administration's website.That hasn't stopped SpaceX CEO and self-appointed Technoking of Tesla" Elon Musk from sounding off about how he plans to address the FAA's proposed fines. Musk posted on X that SpaceX will be filing suit against the FAA for regulatory overreach."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/faa-wants-to-impose-more-than-630k-in-fines-for-spacex-launch-violations-223408990.html?src=rss
The internet is so core to how modern life operates that it's easy to forget how much of the technology that went into building the world wide web has patent protections. And some of those patents are still being enforced today. Zynga may be learning that the hard way, as a court ruled last week that the gaming company infringed on IBM patents dating back to the pre-internet telecom platform Prodigy from the 1980s. As a result, Zynga could be facing damages of $44.9 million. IBM's "Method for presenting advertising in an interactive service" patent from 1993 accounts for $40 million of the recommended damages.For anyone still playing the once-ubiquitous Zynga games, this decision shouldn't interrupt your game time. The company said in an SEC filing that it would not have to modify or end operation of its games as a result of the court decision. Intriguingly, not every game in the Zynga catalog was found to be infringing on the patents. For instance, Crosswords with Friends was deemed an offender, but none of the Words With Friends titles were. A representative from Take-Two told Ars Technica that the company would appeal the ruling.IBM has a long legacy of collecting intellectual property rights. Zynga, which was acquired by Take-Two Interactive in 2022, isn't its first target for potentially infringing on these Prodigy patents, and it's likely not the last. The computer company has had many online businesses in its crosshairs over the years, from the long-time giants (like Amazon and X, formerly Twitter) to the flashes in the pan (like Groupon). But some defendants, like pet retail platform Chewy, have successfully fended off IBM's legal charges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/zynga-says-it-will-fight-45-million-fine-for-infringing-decades-old-ibm-patents-214316611.html?src=rss
On Tuesday, Netflix dropped a clip from The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep at the company's Geeked Week 2024 event. The clip for the upcoming animated film leans on the familiar dulcet growls of Doug Cockle, who voiced Geralt of Rivia in the games.Cockle introduces the clip with an enthusiastic tease of the merpeople Geralt will battle in the film. That's right - he's gonna cross swords with merpeople of all things!" Cockle exclaims in the clip. Amazing stuff, it's gonna be so cool." Hey, can't blame a voice actor for hyping their project.The scene shows Geralt and Jaskier (voiced by Joey Batey, who also plays him in the live-action series) sitting by a campfire. Jaskier, after complaining about the town's small-minded fools," picks up on Geralt's apparent interest in Essi and tries to play Cupid for the brooding white-haired monster slayer.NetflixThe clip also reveals The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep's official release date. The film will begin streaming on Netflix on February 11, 2025, after initially being announced for late 2024.The film is based on A Little Sacrifice, a short story written by Witcher universe creator Andrzej Sapkowski. Set between episodes five and six of the Netflix series' first season, the film has Geralt hired to investigate a series of attacks in a seaside village and finds himself drawn into a centuries-old conflict between humans and merpeople." It's from the South Korean animation studio Studio MIR, which also animated the 2021 prequel film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.Below, you can watch the Geeked Week clip, including the delightfully growly-voiced Cockle's introduction.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/geralt-broods-by-the-campfire-in-the-first-clip-from-netflixs-the-witcher-sirens-of-the-deep-203810425.html?src=rss
Amazon is facing a class-action lawsuit that accuses the company of misleading pricing practices. The suit alleges that Amazon deceived shoppers by showing inflated list prices for Fire TVs, thus making discounts seem more significant than they actually were.The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington and claims that the company regularly adopted this practice, calling it a "persistent and uniform scheme." The suit alleges that Amazon created "fake list prices" for its own Fire TVs, making the apparent "discounts" deceptive.It goes on to accuse the company of tricking its customers into buying Fire TVs by omitting "critical information" concerning the length of the sale and when the list price was actually in use. This allegedly led to Amazon customers spending "more money than they otherwise would have if not for the purported time-limited bargains." The suit claims that "many of the Fire TVs have not been anywhere near the advertised list prices for a year or more."The lawsuit alleges violations of Washington's Consumer Protection Act, which bans unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce." Plaintiff David Ramirez seeks compensatory and punitive damages, in addition to an injunction to stop Amazon from continuing the alleged practices. The suit seeks compensatory damages "in amounts determined by the court and/or jury" and prejudgment interest on everything awarded.The lawsuit references a similar case in California from 2021 in which Amazon was barred from using false or misleading list prices in its advertising. The company also agreed to pay around $2 million in penalties and restitution as part of that settlement. As for this case, it's still early days.An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment when approached by Seattle-based news organization KIRO 7. We reached out to the company for our own comment and will report back when we get a response.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-accused-of-deceptive-sales-of-its-own-products-in-lawsuit-193027775.html?src=rss
Skateboarding games have been going through another golden age the past couple of years with contributions like Devolver's surrealist skater Skate Story and Phantom Coast Games' roguelite shredder Helskate. And now a new entry in one of the most beloved skateboarding franchises just moved one step closer to getting a release date.EA announced plans for an early access release for a new Skate - simply titled skate. (lower case, with a period) -game next year on the game's official X account. The update also includes some pre-alpha footage of the new game that's currently being playtested for consoles and the franchise's first PC release through Steam.
Logitech is revealing plenty of new gaming accessories and gear at Logi Play 2024, which is happening right now. Of the many new offerings from Logitech, two keyboards and two mice caught our eye.Let's start with the G Pro X TKL Rapid Wired Gaming Keyboard, a keyboard featuring magnetic analog switches, a first for the G Pro line. These switches have adjustable actuation points, rapid trigger functionality and key priority. In short, the keyboard lets you customize how hard presses need to be, has speedy key press recognition and the ability to prioritize certain keys when pressing two at once.You can also use the multi-point feature in the G Hub keyboard customization software to assign more than one command to a key depending on how far it's pressed down. As the name suggests, this is a tenkeyless model (no number pad), and you can get it for $170 in November. The three available colors are black, white and pink.The next keyboard is the G915 X series, a trio of new members of the G915 family (we reviewed the G915 TKL back in 2020). The mechanical keyboards all have a height of 23mm and redesigned galvanic switches with a 1.3mm actuation point. They retain the original volume roller, G key and media buttons, but the Keycontrol feature allows for more macros, even letting users combine the G key with other keys.LogitechThe G915 X series includes the G915 X Lightspeed ($230), G915 X Lightspeed TKL ($200) and G915 X Wired Gaming Keyboard ($180). The G915 X Lightspeed is a tenkeyless version of the G915 X Lightspeed, while the G915 X doesn't support wireless connections but is identical in almost every way to the G915 X Lightspeed. The Lightspeed models can come in black or white, but the wired model is only available in black. They're all available right now.Moving on to the mice, the G Pro X Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse is an upgrade of the Pro X Superlight and Pro X Superlight 2, both of which are favorites among current and former Engadget staffers. This new mouse is designed with the help of pro esports athletes, boasting a maximum limit of 44k DPI, 888 IPS acceleration and steady 8kHz polling rate performance.LogitechThe Superlight 2 Dex Lightspeed has five buttons and Lightforce switches while weighing only 60 grams. It's also compatible with Logitech's PowerPlay wireless charging system. If you're interested, you get it now for $160 in black, white or pink.For those who like the original G Pro mouse, consider the Pro 2 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse, an improvement over the old model. The Hero 2 sensors on this one are rated for 32k DPO and over 500 IPS acceleration. The highest polling rate for the Pro 2 Lightspeed is 1kHz.LogitechSimilar to the first G Pro, this one weighs 80 grams, perfect for gamers who prefer something heavier. It doesn't support wireless charging but can work with the Pro Lightspeed receiver for 8kHz polling rates. The receiver will only be available for $30 in October. This mouse is now available for $140 in black, white and pink.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/logitech-drops-an-analog-keyboard-and-new-pro-superlight-mice-180113818.html?src=rss
Snap's latest augmented reality glasses have a completely new - but still very oversized - design, larger field of view and all-new software that supports full hand tracking abilities. But the company is only making the fifth-generation Spectacles available to approved developers willing to commit to a year-long $99/month subscription to start.It's an unusual strategy, but Snap says it's taking that approach because developers are, for now, best positioned to understand the capabilities and limitations of augmented reality hardware. They are also the ones most willing to commit to a pricey $1,000+ subscription to get their hands on the tech.Developers, explains Snap's director of AR platform Sophia Dominguez, are the biggest AR enthusiasts. They're also the ones who will build the kinds of experiences that will eventually make the rest of Snapchat's users excited for them too. This isn't a prototype," Dominguez tells Engadget. We have all the components. We're ready to scale when the market is there, but we want to do so in a thoughtful way and bring developers along with our journey."Snap gave me an early preview of the glasses ahead of its Partner Summit event, and the Spectacles don't feel like a prototype the way its first AR-enabled Spectacles did in 2021. The hardware and software are considerably more powerful. The AR displays are sharper and more immersive, and they already support over two dozen AR experiences, including a few from big names like Lego and Niantic (Star Wars developer Industrial Light and Motion also has a lens in the works, according to Snap.)The glassesTo state the obvious, the glasses are massive. Almost comically large. They are significantly wider than my face, and the arms stuck out past the end of my head. A small adapter helped them fit around my ears more snugly, but they still felt like they might slip off my face if I jerked my head suddenly or leaned down.Still, the new frames look slightly more like actual glasses than the fourth-generation Spectacles, which had a narrow, angular design with dark lenses. The new frames are made of thick black plastic and have clear lenses that are able to darken when you move outside, sort of like transition lenses.The fifth-generation Spectacles are the first to have clear lenses.Karissa Bell for EngadgetThe lenses house Snap's waveguide tech that, along with Liquid Crystal on Silicon micro-projectors," enable their AR abilities. Each pair is also equipped with cameras, microphones and speakers.Inside each arm is a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Snap says the dual processor setup has made the glasses more efficient and prevents the overheating issues that plagued their predecessor. The change seems to be an effective one. In my nearly hour-long demo, neither pair of Spectacles I tried got hot, though they were slightly warm to the touch after extended use. (The fifth-generation Spectacles have a battery life of about 45 minutes, up from 30 min with the fourth-gen model.)Snap's newest AR Spectacles are extremely thick. Karissa Bell for EngadgetSnap has also vastly improved Spectacles' AR capabilities. The projected AR content was crisp and bright. When I walked outside into the sun, the lenses dimmed, but the content was very nearly as vivid as when I had been indoors. At a resolution of 37 pixels per degree, I wasn't able to discern individual pixels or fuzzy borders like I have on some other AR hardware.But the most noticeable improvement from Snap's last AR glasses is the bigger field of view. Snap says it has almost tripled the field of view from its previous generation of Spectacles, increasing the window of visible content to 46 degrees. Snap claims this is equivalent to having a 100-inch display in the room with you, and my demo felt significantly more immersive than what I saw in 2021.The fourth-generation Spectacles (above) were narrow and not nearly as oversized as the fifth-gen Spectacles (below).Karissa Bell for EngadgetIt isn't, however, fully immersive. I still found myself at times gazing around the room, looking for the AR effects I knew were around me. At other points, I had to physically move around my space in order to see the full AR effects. For example, when I tried out a human anatomy demo, which shows a life-sized model of the human body and its various systems, I wasn't able to see the entire figure at once. I had to move my head up and down in order to view the upper and lower halves of the body.Snap OSThe other big improvement to the latest Spectacles is the addition of full hand tracking abilities. Snap completely redesigned the underlying software powering Spectacles, now called Snap OS, so the entire user interface is controlled with hand gestures and voice commands.You can pull up the main menu on the palm of one hand, sort of like Humane's AI Pin and you simply tap on the corresponding icon to do things like close an app or head back to the lens explorer carousel. There are also pinch and tap gestures to launch and interact with lenses. While Snap still calls these experiences lenses, they look and feel more like full-fledged apps than the AR lens effects you'd find in the Snapchat app.Lego has a game that allows you to pick up bricks with your hands and build objects. I also tried a mini golf game where you putt a golf ball over an AR course. Niantic created an AR version of its tamagotchi-like character Peridot, which you can place among your surroundings.The interface for Snapchat's AI assistant, MyAI, on Spectacles.SnapYou can also interact with Snapchat's generative AI assistant, MyAI, or paint" the space around you with AR effects. Some experiences are collaborative, so if two people with Spectacles are in a room together, they can view and interact with the same AR content together. If you only have one pair of Spectacles, others around you can get a glimpse of what you're seeing via the Spectacles mobile app. It allows you to stream your view to your phone, a bit like how you might cast VR content from a headset to a TV.The new gesture-based interface felt surprisingly intuitive. I occasionally struggled with lenses that required more precise movements, like picking up and placing individual Lego bricks, but the software never felt buggy or unresponsive.There are even more intriguing use cases in the works. Snap is again partnering with OpenAI so that developers can create multimodal experiences for Spectacles. Very soon, developers will be able to bring their [OpenAI] models into the Spectacles experience, so that we can really lean into the more utilitarian, camera-based experiences," Dominguez says. These AI models can help give developers, and ultimately, their end customers more context about what's in front of them, what they're hearing, what they're seeing."Is AR hardware about to have a moment?CEO Evan Spiegel has spent years touting the promise of AR glasses, a vision that for so long has felt just out of reach. But if the company's 2021 Spectacles showed AR glasses were finally possible, the fifth-generation Spectacles feel like Snap may finally be getting close to making AR hardware that's not merely an experiment.For now, there are still some significant limitations. The glasses are still large and somewhat unwieldy, for one. While the fifth-gen Spectacles passably resemble regular glasses, it's hard to imagine walking around with them on in public.Then again, that might not matter much to the people Snap most wants to reach. As virtual and mixed reality become more mainstream, people have been more willing to wear the necessary headgear in public. People wear their Apple Vision Pro headsets on airplanes, in coffee shops and other public spaces. As Snap points out, its Spectacles, at least, don't cover your entire face or obscure your eyes. And Dominguz says the company expects its hardware to get smaller over time.Snap's fifth-generation Spectacles are its most advanced, and ambitious, yet.Karissa Bell for EngadgetBut the company will also likely need to find a way to reduce Spectacles' price. Each pair reportedly costs thousands of dollars to produce, which helps explain Snap's current insistence on a subscription model, but it's hard to imagine even hardcore AR enthusiasts shelling out more than a thousand dollars for glasses that have less than one hour of battery life.Snap seems well aware of this too. The company has always been upfront with the fact that it's playing the long game when it comes to AR, and that thinking hasn't changed. Dominguez repeatedly said that the company is intentionally starting with developers because they are the ones most ready" for a device like the fifth-gen Spectacles and that Snap intends to be prepared whenever the consumer market catches up.The company also isn't alone in finally realizing AR hardware. By all accounts, Meta is poised to show off the first version of its long-promised augmented reality glasses next week at its developer event. Its glasses, known as Orion, are also unlikely to go on sale anytime soon. But the attention Meta brings to the space could nonetheless benefit Snap as it tries to sell its vision for an AR-enabled world.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snaps-fifth-generation-spectacles-bring-your-hands-into-into-augmented-reality-180026541.html?src=rss
California has given the go-ahead to a landmark AI bill to protect performers' digital likenesses. On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2602, which will go into effect on January 1, 2025. The bill requires studios and other employers to get consent before using digital replicas" of performers. Newsom also signed AB 1836, which grants similar rights to deceased performers, requiring their estate's permission before using their AI likenesses.AB 2602, introduced in April, covers film, TV, video games, commercials, audiobooks and non-union performing jobs. Deadline notes its terms are similar to those in the contract that ended the 2023 actors' strike against Hollywood studios. SAG-AFTRA, the film and TV actors' union that held out for last year's deal, strongly supported the bill. The Motion Picture Association first opposed the legislation but later switched to a neutral stance after revisions.The bill mandates that employers can't use an AI recreation of an actor's voice or likeness if it replaces work the performer could have done in person. It also prevents digital replicas if the actor's contract doesn't explicitly state how the deepfake will be used. It also voids any such deals signed when the performer didn't have legal or union representation.The bill defines a digital replica as a computer-generated, highly realistic electronic representation that is readily identifiable as the voice or visual likeness of an individual that is embodied in a sound recording, image, audiovisual work, or transmission in which the actual individual either did not actually perform or appear, or the actual individual did perform or appear, but the fundamental character of the performance or appearance has been materially altered."Meanwhile, AB 1836 expands California's postmortem right of publicity. Hollywood must now get permission from a decedent's estate before using their digital replicas. Deadline notes that exceptions were included for satire, comment, criticism and parody, and for certain documentary, biographical or historical projects."The bill, which protects not only SAG-AFTRA performers but all performers, is a huge step forward," SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told the The LA Times in late August. Voice and likeness rights, in an age of digital replication, must have strong guardrails around licensing to protect from abuse, this bill provides those guardrails."AB2602 passed the California State Senate on August 27 with a 37-1 tally. (The lone holdout was from State Senator Brian Dahle, a Republican.) The bill then returned to the Assembly (which passed an earlier version in May) to formalize revisions made during Senate negotiations.On Tuesday, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher celebrated the passage, which the union fought for. It is a momentous day for SAG-AFTRA members and everyone else, because the A.I. protections we fought so hard for last year are now expanded upon by California law thanks to the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom," Drescher said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/california-passes-landmark-regulation-to-require-permission-from-actors-for-ai-deepfakes-174234452.html?src=rss
An annual membership to Dashlane's premium password manager is on sale for just $39, which is a discount of more than $20 and a savings of 35 percent. Just use the code SEPT35" at checkout. The company says this is in celebration of something called Cyber Security Awareness Month, which actually doesn't start until October. It's always nice to see a festive new holiday on the scene. Anyways, this deal is for the premium plan, which includes unlimited password and passkey storage. Users also get phishing alerts to stay on top of attacks, dark web monitoring and more. The plan even comes with a VPN, which I've found particularly useful for watching my stories when in another country. Dashlane found a place on our list of the best password managers. We admired the robust suite of features and noted that some of these tools, like password storage, are even available with the free plan. We also called out the secure sharing functionality, with password sharing baked right into the system. It's also available for plenty of platforms, including macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and other browsers. There's one major platform missing, however, which could be a dealbreaker for some. Dashlane doesn't support Linux. There's also the issue of an annual subscription. There's no telling how much it'll be next year, though switching password managers isn't as tough as it used to be. There's a free plan if the price shoots up too high. The deal ends on September 22. 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/deals/get-one-year-of-dashlane-premium-password-manager-for-only-39-172851487.html?src=rss
Donald Trump, who previously called Bitcoin a scam, has launched a new cryptocurrency venture called World Liberty Financial. "Crypto is one of those things we have to do," he said in an interview on X. "Whether we like it or not, I have to do it." The news comes just a day after a likely assassination attempt against Trump at his Florida golf course.Trump is entering the venture with his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with two crypto entrepreneurs: Chase Herro (who once called stablecoins "borderline a Ponzi scheme") and Zachary Folkman, who founded a company called Date Hotter Girls. Trump's 18-year-old son Barron Trump, who has no known crypto expertise, is also listed as "chief DeFi [decentralized finance] visionary."The tokens themself are supposedly based on US dollar stablecoins. Some involved in the venture have touted it internally as a borrowing and lending platform, according to The New York Times.Cryptocurrency is generally supposed to be decentralized, but a large chunk of the governance tokens for World Liberty Financial could be held by insiders, according to a draft white paper for the project seen by CoinDesk. The remaining 30 percent would be distributed "via public sale" with some of the money raised from that also going to project insiders.
Nintendo has announced a couple of new Switch bundles in time for this year's upcoming holiday shopping season. Starting in October, it will sell Switch consoles bundled with a download code for the digital version of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a 12-month Switch Online Individual membership, which will give you access to classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy titles. The basic Switch system bundle with red and blue Joy-Cons will set you back $300. Nintendo already has an existing Switch-Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle, but it's selling for $360 and only comes with three months of Switch Online subscription instead of 12.The company will also sell an OLED model bundle with the same inclusions as the basic one for $350, $10 less than what the current package with the non-OLED system costs. Nintendo's OLED model has a bigger screen than the standard model with better battery life. There's no time limit to get the bundles, but both options will only be available from the My Nintendo Store and in select retail stores until supplies last.Nintendo could announce the next-gen Switch as soon as later this month. Based on previous reports, the new Switch will likely be fully backwards compatible for both digital and physical games. It is, of course, expected to have a more powerful processor than the first Switch, which was released way back in 2017, and could have 8GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The console is also expected to support NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling technology that would give the console the power to render games internally at a low resolution while producing a high-resolution output. It could either have an 8-inch display LCD display or a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well. The next-gen Switch will most likely be released sometime in 2025, though, and will not be available to purchase as a gift for others or yourself these holidays.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-will-sell-cheaper-switch-mario-kart-bundles-in-october-123024329.html?src=rss
After years of scrutiny over its handling of teen safety on its platform, Meta is introducing a new type of account that will soon be required for all teens under 16 on Instagram. The new teen accounts" add more parental supervision tools and automatically opt teens into stricter privacy settings that can only be adjusted with parental approval.The changes are unlikely to satisfy Meta's toughest critics, who have argued that the company puts its own profits ahead of teens' safety and wellbeing. But the changes will be significant for the app's legions of younger users who will face new restrictions on how they use the app.With teen accounts, kids younger than 16 will be automatically opted into Instagram's strictest privacy settings. Many of these settings, like automatically private accounts, the inability to message strangers and the limiting of sensitive content" have already been in place for teenagers on Instagram. But younger teens will now be unable to change these settings without approval from a parent.And, once a parent has set up Instagram's in-app supervision tools, they'll be able to monitor which accounts their kids are exchanging messages with (parents won't see the contents of those DMs, however) as well as the types of topics their children are seeing posts about in their feeds. Parents will also have the ability to limit the amount of time their kids spend in the app by setting up sleep mode" - which will mute notifications or make the app inaccessible entirely - or reminders to take breaks.MetaThe changes, according to Meta, are meant to give parents greater oversight of their teens' experiences." While the company has had some parental supervision features since 2022, the features were optional and required teens to opt-in to the controls. Teen accounts, on the other hand, will be mandatory for all teens younger than 16 and the more restrictive settings, like the ability to make an account public, aren't able to be adjusted without parent approval.The company says it also has a plan to find teens who have already lied about their age when setting up their Instagram account. Beginning next year, the company will use AI to detect signs an account may belong to a teen, like the age of other linked accounts and the ages on the accounts they frequently interact with, to find younger users trying to avoid its new restrictions. The app will then prompt users to verify their age.In the meantime, Meta will start designating new accounts created by 13 to 15-year-olds as teen accounts" beginning today. The company will start switching over existing teens into the accounts over the next two months in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, with a wider rollout in the European Union planned for later this year." Teen accounts will be available in other countries and on Meta's other apps beginning in 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-teen-accounts-with-parental-controls-will-be-mandatory-for-kids-under-16-120013852.html?src=rss
Apple expanded its AirPod family with two new models last week. We've now tested out the AirPods 4 - and a second version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) - and we have some thoughts. Improved sound quality and some advanced features are the key additions, but you're more likely to notice the redesigned shape for keeping the buds more firmly (and comfortably) lodged in ears.EngadgetWith the ANC version, Apple offers useful noise cancellation while keeping your ears open - no silicone tips. There are also a lot of Pro features, but the issue is the more technically capable AirPods Pro are often on sale, undercutting those $179 buds.I wouldn't have guessed it, but the basic $129 AirPods 4 may be the better deal.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedFlappy Bird's creator wants you to know he's got nothing to do with the new versionApple's iOS 18 is available nowiOS 18 preview: Waiting on Apple IntelligenceMeta bans Russian state media outlets on Facebook and InstagramThe ban on outlets like RT will take effect over the next few days.Meta has banned RT and other Russian state media outlets on its platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram. After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets," the company told Engadget. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity." This comes days after the Biden-Harris administration publicly accused RT of spreading propaganda and disinformation online.Continue reading.Who asked for a Wordle VR app?And who hurt you?MetaThe New York Times has brought its all-conquering daily word game to a new platform in the shape of Meta Quest headsets. Wordle VR works in much the same way as the game on your phone or computer, with six attempts to guess a five-letter word. Except you're wearing a VR headset.Continue reading.
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics
