The non-profit Mozilla Foundation deemed cars the "worst product category" ever reviewed for data privacy, according to research released Wednesday. Its Privacy Not Included Research division reviews everything from smart home devices to health and wellness apps. But of the 25 car brands the research team studied, not a single one passed the reviews, with top brands like Tesla, Nissan and Hyundai landing at the top of the worst-of-the-worst list.Tesla earned a mark against it for untrustworthy use of AI, making it the second product reviewed by Mozilla to fail every privacy test conducted. That's because its AI-powered autopilot feature caused several deaths and hundreds of crashes. Meanwhile, companies like Nissan and Kia say they can collect information about your sexual activity and sex life, and Hyundai promises to comply with lawful requests, whether formal or informal" to share your information with government and law enforcement.That left Renault, Dacia and BMW as the "least creepy" car options. Researchers couldn't confirm whether Renault, which also owns Dacia, encrypts the data it collects, and it doesn't go much beyond what's required by data privacy law, but compared to others it's not the worst. The reason for BMW landing higher on the list was also marginal, as researchers based it on the fact that the car maker doesn't explicitly say they sell data to third parties for advertising purposes, while other manufacturers explicitly claim to do so. "From our reading of BMW's privacy policy, they might not do this. But we're also not 100% sure they don't," the researchers wrote.Still, every brand of car collected too much personal data, and most of them share or sell that information to a third party. The researchers spent 600 hours analyzing privacy policies, investigating app features and working directly with the car companies themselves to determine privacy rankings, but still concluded it was one of the more confusing categories they've tested."Sorting through the large and confusing ecosystem of privacy policies for cars, car apps, car connected services, and more isn't something most people have the time or experience to do," members of Mozilla's Privacy Not Included team wrote in a blog post. That leaves little for car buyers to do if they're looking for an option that takes data privacy seriously because, at least according to Mozilla, they really are all that bad."Unfortunately, consumers have very little control. You can choose to not use a car app or try not to use connected services, but that might mean your car doesn't work properly - or at all," Jen Caltrider, director of Privacy Not Included, said. "Consumers have almost zero control and options in regard to privacy, other than simply buying an older model. Regulators and policy makers are behind on this front."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-tops-mozillas-list-of-creepiest-carmakers-but-25-brands-failed-basic-data-privacy-tests-202017058.html?src=rss
YouTube is testing a different approach to ads on smart TVs, as well as its apps on connected devices like Apple TV and game consoles. The platform is experimenting with having longer ad breaks but fewer of them on those devices, which it refers to as connected TV or CTV experiences.The idea is to show you ads in a way that's better aligned with each platform where you watch YouTube. On mobile, you might be more inclined to watch content like Shorts in more bitesize chunks, so shorter, rapid-fire ad breaks may make more sense. However, YouTube notes that nearly two-thirds of CTV watch time in the US lasts at least 21 minutes - around the length of a sitcom episode on broadcast TV.The service cites research indicating that 79 percent of viewers would prefer that YouTube bunch ads together rather than spreading them out over the duration of a longer video. As such, YouTube believes that minimizing disruption is the way to go, and having longer, fewer ad breaks is one idea it's trying.It sounds a bit like the UK TV industry's approach to advertising versus how US networks handle things. You might have time to make a cup of tea during a Coronation Street ad break in Blighty, but good luck doing that between segments of a Grey's Anatomy episode Stateside.It's unclear exactly how YouTube plans to divvy things up, such as if it will have one four-minute break per hour instead of four one-minute ad slots. The service also didn't say whether it will show more ads overall if it moves forward with this plan.YouTubeIn addition, YouTube is looking into ways of being more transparent about the total length of ad breaks rather than showing the time remaining for each individual spot. Romana Pawar, YouTube Ads director of product management, wrote that the platform will soon publicly test an ad experience along those lines - you'll see just how long you have to wait before you can skip the remaining ads.YouTube has been tinkering with CTV ad formats for quite some time. Earlier this year, it announced unskippable 30-second ads for its TV apps. You can probably expect the service to keep experimenting with how it presents ads across platforms. Alternatively, you can free yourself from having to put up with (seemingly less frequent) interruptions by stumping up for YouTube Premium's ad-free experience.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-is-testing-fewer-longer-ad-breaks-on-its-tv-apps-200419005.html?src=rss
Google Workspace users are getting a new feature to prevent colleagues from messing with their documents. Users will now have the ability to lock their Google Drive files, which should help reduce unwanted commentary and changes when sharing with multiple team members. While this isn't the most revolutionary feature, it could certainly come in handy - especially for companies that use and share a lot of publicly viewable documents.Locking a document puts it in read-only mode, meaning viewers can't edit, comment or leave suggestions on it. The document will remain in this read-only mode until unlocked by its owner. In a blog post, Google stated that this new feature will "streamline the process of restricting files in Drive."Previously, you could lock down a document or file when sharing it, or through a Google Drive API call. The new lock feature simplifies things: Right-click on the file you'd like to lock, scroll to file information from the popup menu, and select lock.The file-locking feature has already been rolled out to some Rapid Release domains and will continue over the next 15 days. Folks on Scheduled Release domains can expect to start seeing the feature on September 20th, with a similar 15-day rollout period.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-workspaces-file-lock-stops-colleagues-messing-with-your-documents-194625235.html?src=rss
Roku looks to be seriously tightening its pursestrings. The company's laying off a full ten percent of its workforce, over 300 employees, in addition to a conducting a number of other cost-cutting measures, as reported by Variety. These job cuts are just the beginning, as Roku's also removing streaming content, consolidating office space and reducing outside service expenses. The goal here is a major reduction in the year-over-year operating expense growth rate.The company hasn't announced which content it would be removing from its various streaming platforms and whether or not these cuts would be culled from third-party providers or from in-house projects like the recently-released Weird Al biopic. Roku's so serious about these cuts that it's willing to pony up $65 million for impairment charges after deleting this content, according to an SEC filing. Additionally, the company's planning on forking over $45 million to $65 million to supply outgoing employees with severance benefits and up to $200 million for abandoning office space.The stock market, as usual, loved the layoffs and related austerity measures, with Roku's stock rising nine percent in the wake of this news, before settling down to a more modest increase of around four percent. As of this writing, the stock price is still fluctuating.This is Roku's third round of job cuts in less than a year. Back in November, it laid off 200 staffers, with 200 more let go in March of this year. That's a grand total of 700 pink slips, representing around 25 percent of the total workforce. As expected, the company also announced that it's holding off on new hires for the time being.After this round of restructuring and affiliated impairment charges, Roku hopes for an increase in Q3 net revenue to $835 to $875 million, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the negative $20 million range, up from negative $40 million. However, even Roku admits these figures are uncertain, noting in a Q2 letter to shareholders that the macro environment continued to create uncertainty," given the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roku-lays-off-300-workers-and-removes-streaming-content-to-save-money-183715207.html?src=rss
The person behind an AI-generated song that went viral earlier this year has submitted the track for Grammy Awards consideration. The Recording Academy has stated that such works aren't eligible for certain gongs. However, Ghostwriter, the pseudonymous person behind "Heart on My Sleeve," has submitted the track in the best rap song and song of the year categories, according to Variety. Both of those are songwriting honors. The Academy has suggested it's open to rewarding tracks that are mostly written by a human, even if the actual recording is largely AI-generated.Ghostwriter composed the song's lyrics rather than leaving them up to, say, ChatGPT. But rather than sing or rap those words, they employed a generative AI model to mimic the vocals of Drake and The Weeknd, which helped the song to pick up buzz. The artists' label Universal Music Group wasn't happy about that and it filed copyright claims to remove "Heart on My Sleeve" from streaming services. Before that, though, the track racked up hundreds of thousands of listens on Spotify and more than 15 million on TikTok.Over the last few months, Ghostwriter and their team have been making overtures to industry bigwigs such as Academy higher ups, according to The New York Times. As it turns out, Ghostwriter may actually have a shot at picking up a Grammy. As far as the creative side, it's absolutely eligible because it was written by a human," Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told the Times.It seems there's one major roadblock as things stand, though. For a song to be eligible for a Grammy, it needs to have "general distribution" across the US through the likes of brick-and-mortar stores, online retailers and streaming services. Ghostwriter is reportedly aware of this restriction, but it's unclear how they plan to address that.In any case, this may well be a canary in the coal mine for rewarding the use of generative AI in art. Many creatives are concerned over the issue. Some have accused the operators of generative AI systems of using copyrighted work to train their language learning models, while a major sticking point in the ongoing actors' strike is whether performers will be compensated fairly for the use of their digital likenesses. Whether the output of generative AI models can be considered truly original work is a contentious topic as well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-grammys-will-consider-that-viral-song-with-drake-and-the-weeknd-ai-vocals-for-awards-after-all-181211888.html?src=rss
YouTube is launching an in-app platform for bite-sized games, adding to the ways you can interact with content on the popular video service. Sadly, this is no full-fledged cloud-gaming experience - think of it more like Miniclip living inside the social video site.This is an experimental offering and, as such, only available to select participants or beta testers. How to know if you've been chosen? Open up YouTube and look for a Playables" tab alongside content on the home feed. For the lucky few, games work on both the desktop website and mobile devices.There's no list of published titles at this time, but 9to5Google reports that there's a game called Stack Bounce available that involves a ball smashing through rings via well-timed clicks. If the title sounds familiar, that's because Stack Bounce was already offered on Google's GameSnacks service.Also, moving a 3D ball around is a far cry from the kinds of games Google Stadia was offering when it shuttered, though the company notes that the system will save game progress, which is accessible via the History" tab. In other words, more complicated experiences could be forthcoming, as there isn't much progress to save when moving a bouncing ball through rings. For now, though, it's a repository for minigames.YouTube isn't the only video-streaming service dipping its toes into cloud gaming. Netflix has made a pretty significant push into the space in the last couple of years, most recently expanding services to select smart TVs and personal computers. Even TikTok is experimenting with simple in-app games, in addition to live trivia contests with cash prizes. Google's Stadia cloud streaming service went belly up back in January.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-is-testing-bitesize-games-on-desktop-and-mobile-163742756.html?src=rss
The European Union has confirmed the first six tech "gatekeepers" that will need to abide by strict new rules under the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA). The names of these companies should be pretty familiar: Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft. The European Commission (EC), which is the EU's executive branch, noted that after assessing whether certain companies met thresholds related to revenue, valuation and user numbers, Samsung hasn't been designated as a gatekeeper as yet.The EC stipulates that digital platforms can be designated as gatekeepers "if they provide an important gateway between businesses and consumers in relation to core platform services." The gatekeepers now have until March 2024 to make sure their applicable services comply with the DMA regulations. Between the six companies, the EC has designated 22 core platform services that the law applies to:
The latest Apple AirPods Pro are back on sale for $199 at Amazon and Walmart. This is a deal we've seen for much of the past several months, but it's still $50 less than the cost of buying from Apple directly. Typically, this is as low as we see the wireless earphones drop at major retailers.We gave the AirPods Pro a review score of 88 last September, and we currently list them as the "best for iOS" pick in our wireless earbuds buying guide. They continue to be the best true wireless model Apple sells, with a slightly bassy sound that plays well with most kinds of audio, effective active noise cancellation (ANC) and a top-notch transparency mode that blends outside noise with your music. Like all AirPods, they also come with a host of Apple-friendly features: fast pairing, automatic switching between active Apple devices, Find My tracking, spatial audio, audio sharing with other AirPods and Beats users, hands-free Siri and so on.The six-hour battery life could be longer, there are better options for call quality and many of the other picks in our buying guide come with a richer feature set. There's no way to manually adjust the EQ or ANC strength, for instance. If you want a pair for working out, the Beats Fit Pro offer many of the same Apple-centric perks in a more gym-friendly design. Nevertheless, if you solely use Apple devices, there's still plenty to like here.There is a caveat, though: Bloomberg reports that Apple will likely update the AirPods Pro with a new USB-C charging case as part of its iPhone event on September 12. (The current AirPods Pro case uses Lightning.) The new iPhones should switch to USB-C too, so if you'd prefer the updated port, it's worth waiting. That said, no other changes to the actual AirPods Pro hardware are expected, and the USB-C model may cost more than this discounted price to start. The earphones will receive new features later this year, but those'll be software-based, with iOS 17 adding a new "Adaptive Audio" mode and faster device switching, among other upgrades.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/apple-airpods-pro-are-back-down-to-199-150816670.html?src=rss
By some estimates, it takes around 235 hours to see and do absolutely everything in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Some folks have already managed that and are eager for more, but unlike with Breath of the Wild, you shouldn't expect Nintendo to release a major expansion this time around.There are no plans for additional content," Tears of the Kingdom producer Eiji Aonuma told Famitsu. The reason for that, as Automaton notes, is because the developers reckon they already shoved all of their major gameplay ideas into the base game. Given the massive breadth and scope of Tears of the Kingdom and the wealth of possibilities it offers players to solve puzzles, take down enemies and torture Koroks, the team might be forgiven for taking that view.And so, it's onto the next game, whatever that may be. Tears of the Kingdom director Hidemaro Fujibayashi said his team is pondering what its next fun experience" may be, but he's uncertain at this point what that will look like.In any case, don't bank on a return to 2D Zelda games or the format of any pre-Breath of the Wild title. "The series continued to evolve after Ocarina of Time, but I think it's also fair to say now that we've arrived at Breath of the Wild and the new type of more open play and freedom that it affords," Aonuma told Game Informer in May. "Yeah, I think it's correct to say that it has created a new kind of format for the series to proceed from."It'll be a disappointment to some that there won't be any Tears of the Kingdom DLC. Still, you might want to start thinking about blocking out a couple hundred hours on your 2028 or 2029 calendar so you can fully experience the next big Zelda game ASAP.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-has-no-plans-for-a-zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-expansion-142513007.html?src=rss
China has widened a ban on the use of iPhones and other imported devices by government officials, according to The Wall Street Journal. State employees were reportedly told in chat groups and meetings not to bring foreign-branded device into the office or use them for work, according to "people familiar with the matter." The aim is reportedly to reduce reliance on foreign technology and improve cybersecurity.If you're experiencing deja vu, it's because Beijing has previously blacklisted Apple and other foreign products for government departments, most recently in 2019. Back then, the government was planning to phase out western gear over a three year period in favor of local alternatives. The aim at the time was to keep data within its borders and ensure tech was "secure" and "controllable," all as part of the 2017 China Internet Security Law.Apple has managed to stay above the fray, likely because Foxconn and other suppliers in the nation employee millions of people. It also has followed China's laws, removing thousands of illegal apps like VPNs. However, it's also more vulnerable than other companies. On top of the manufacturing dependence, the country accounts for around 19 percent of Apple's total revenue.Following bans by the US against Huawei and other Chinese companies, Beijing followed suit with a similar embargo on chip-maker Micron. The story had a further plot twist earlier this week, when Chinese electronics company Huawei released the Mate 60 Pro smartphone using 7-nanometer homegrown chips found by a teardown to be more advanced than expected. China also unveiled a $40 billion fund for its chip industry, following continued trade sanctions with the US.Tesla is another US company vulnerable to changes in China's policies. The nation reportedly accounted for a large chunk of its sales in its first quarter, and it's the only foreign automaker to gain market share in the first half of 2023. China recently restricted the use of Tesla vehicle by military staff and employees of state-owned companies, according to an earlier WSJ report.Apple is set to release the iPhone 15 in less than a week, reportedly with thinner bezels, a titanium frame, USB-C charging and more. Apple has not responded to this story, but Engadget has reached out to the company for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/china-intensifies-its-crackdown-on-officials-using-iphones-132419856.html?src=rss
After introducing the generative AI capabilities it was developing for Slack at World Tour NYC earlier this year, Salesforce has revealed as part of its Dreamforce announcements that it's now gearing up to pilot the new features this winter. Slack AI, as the capabilities are collectively called, is built natively into the platform to make it easy to access. One of its abilities is to instantly generate channel highlights that can immediately tell users the most important part of conversations, which they can then use for reports or to simply read what they might have missed.Slack AI can also generate summaries for threads in just one click for people who just want to get the gist of specific conversations and not the channel a whole. As shown in the image above, AI-generated summaries don't just come with highlights, but also lists of what next steps users can take based on concerns, comments and suggestions posted by people in the conversation. In addition, Slack AI can produce elaborate answers when people search for information on the platform. At the moment, searching on Slack can only bring up messages, files and channels with the keyword, but Slack AI can wrap all those information up in a package with a summary that makes them easier to parse.Salesforce's latest announcements come nearly a month after it started rolling out a new look for its business-focused messaging app. The redesigned interface is meant to help users focus more by removing clutter that may be distracting to some people. Slack's new sidebar, for instance, collapses all of a user's workspaces into a single tile and adds buttons for Home, DMs and Activity, as well as buttons for Search and Create. The dedicated DM tab lists a user's private chats and allows them to preview the most recent message for each conversation without opening it. Users can also toggle on an option to only see unread messages if they want to get rid of more clutter.The company is expected to reveal more about Slack AI and other new products at its Dreamforce event, which will take place from September 12 to September 14 and will be available to stream on Salesforce+.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/slack-ai-will-summarize-your-work-chat-starting-this-winter-130046724.html?src=rss
Today, GoPro unveils its latest camera: The Hero 12 Black. This time around, the updates are mostly on the user experience, with a slight focus on pro users and creators. Perhaps the most exciting new feature" for regular GoPro users will be the claimed extended battery life. The company says Up to two times" the runtime of previous cameras. Battery life has long been a pain point, so we'll be keen to see what that looks like in real terms.There are some new shooting modes, with 8:7 (full sensor) recording now available across the board, including TimeWarp and the Night Effect modes for the first time. Recording in 8:7 allows you to punch out" different aspect ratio content from the same source material while maintaining a high resolution. The camera's HDR mode has also been tuned for even better handling of mixed lighting conditions. Hypersmooth, GoPro's in-camera stabilization is now on its sixth iteration -- but it's been solid right from the start, so we're interested to see what difference this makes in practice.For the pros (or the aspiring ones) two new additions will be of particular interest. First there's GP-Log" which is GoPro's take on logarithmic shooting mode - which makes color grading in post much more flexible. Secondly, there's the addition of Timecode Sync, so if you're recording with multiple GoPro Hero 12's, they can easily be synchronized for airtight edits in post.As for creators, again there's a brace of updates that will be of interest. Interestingly, the Hero 12 Black now works with Bluetooth headsets for both playback and recording - including AirPods. Now, videos can use Bluetooth headphone microphones which can be blended with the in-camera mic recordings as you wish. You can even use your headset to use GoPro's voice activation, opening the door for more creative shots taken without having to be near the camera or use the app/remote accessory.Photo by James Trew / EngadgetThe second creator-friendly feature is vertical capture. You've always been able to hold a GoPro at 90 degrees, and on later models the menus would also rotate for ease of use. This time around, you can simply activate vertical mode even while the camera is mounted horizontally. It takes advantage of the new sensor introduced with the Hero 11 that's big enough to punch out a full 9:16 vertical video at 4K/30FPS without having to re-mount or re-orient the camera.If it's important to you for other people to know you have the newest camera, this year that'll be a little easier as the Hero 12 Black has a speckled faceplate in a break from the usual monochrome design. But there's one other physical change that will elicit a small peep of joy from long-time users: The camera now has a regular tripod mount (1/4 inch 20 thread ) built-in on the bottom, nestled right between the fold out mounting fingers. No more adapters needed for all those other camera accessories you might have lying around.One last change this time around is that GoPro seems to have dropped the need to sign up for its cloud subscription service to get a better price on the camera - the Hero 12 Black will simply cost $400 for everyone. Pre-orders open today and the camera lands in retail September 13.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gopro-announces-hero-12-black-with-airpods-support-and-better-battery-life-130027283.html?src=rss
Samsung is pushing forward the idea that bigger is better with the announcement of its new 98-inch Class QN990C Neo QLED 8K TV. It joins 2023's 65-inch, 75-inch and 85-inch 8K QN900C Neo QLED TVs, with the latest addition debuting at the CEDIA Expo 2023 alongside its 4K counterpart (available in sizes ranging from 43-inch to 85-inch).The 98-inch Class QN990C Neo QLED 8K TV is made up of Quantum Mini LEDs to produce over a billion colors and uses AI to enhance any content you watch up to 8K quality. It's also equipped with an Anti-Glare screen and Ultra Viewing Angle technology, which Samsung says should allow you to see what's going on from any angle without the need to block out light. The TV's structure is made with a 360-degree All-Metal Design and has a Slim Fit Wall Mount to give the TV more of an appearance of being flesh to the wall. As for audio quality, the new 98-inch Class 8K TV has Dolby Atmos and Cinema Object Tracking Sound built in.While the 98-inch 8K TV's price has yet to be revealed, it's likely to be nearing the $10,000 mark. Samsung priced the 65-inch Neo QLED 8K TV at $5,000, the 75-inch at $6,300 and the 85-inch at $8,000. In contrast, the Neo QLED 4K TVs start at $1,200 and still offer features like Quantum Mini LEDs and Dolby Atmos.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-unveils-its-largest-8k-tv-yet-130018695.html?src=rss
It's been almost exactly four years since Sonos first introduced the Move, the company's first portable speaker. The Move was a solid speaker when it was first introduced, but in the years that have passed, things like its lower-than-average battery life have made it harder to recommend. But even with the summer quickly fading, Sonos has a new portable speaker for powering autumn days outside, the Move 2. On the surface, the Move offers the same formula as the original. It's a relatively large, loud speaker that you can lug around with you; it's also quite durable, able to withstand drops, bumps, extreme temperatures, rain and snow.But unsurprisingly, Sonos has taken some inspiration from the recent Era 100 and Era 300 speakers here for some improvements. The new top panel touch controls are the same as you'll find on those speakers. There's a volume slider as well as dedicated forward and back buttons. It also has a USB-C line-in jack, so you can connect the Move 2 to a turntable or other audio equipment.Perhaps most importantly, its internal speaker design is similar to that of the Era 100, with two angled tweeters providing stereo sound, unlike the mono, single-tweeter design of the original Move. In my testing of the Era 100, I didn't find that the two tweeters really give you a stereo experience like you'll get with multiple speakers, but it's still a definite improvement.SonosThe other most significant change is that Sonos has more than doubled the quoted battery life on the Move 2, from about 11 hours to more than 24 hours. That's a huge jump and should be enough to silence those who were unhappy with the original Move's rather pedestrian longevity.Oh, and there's a new color this time, olive green. I wish that it also came in the lovely blue and orange shades you can get the smaller Sonos Roam in, but alas.Like the original Move, this new speaker supports audio over Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi for when you're away from your network. It's also a quick way to let friends play music over the speaker, and there's a Bluetooth sharing feature that pipes audio the Move receives over Bluetooth to the rest of your Sonos speakers. Of course, you can also group and share audio across other Sonos devices using the traditional multi-room audio controls, as well.The Move 2 has microphones built in for automatic speaker tuning using the company's Trueplay software - this adjusts the sound quality based on where you place the speaker. The microphones also work with the Sonos voice assistant as well as Amazon Alexa, and there's a physical mute switch on the back that disconnects power to the mics entirely. And if you get two Move 2 speakers, you can pair them together in stereo. That should make for a potent audio setup, though you'll need to re-pair the speakers if you take one on the go and remove it from your Wi-Fi network.Unfortunately, Sonos is bumping up the price of its gear again - the Move 2 costs $449, up from the $399 it asked for the original model. For that price, Sonos is also including the handy ring-shaped wireless charger that lets you easily pick up the Move 2 and get going. Yes, there are a number of improvements here, but Sonos can't go on raising the prices of its products every time it releases a new model, can it? We haven't had a chance to hear the Move 2 yet, so it's too soon to say whether it'll be worth the cash, but hopefully the improvements here merit the price premium. The Move 2 goes on sale on September 20.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-sonos-move-2-portable-speaker-has-double-the-battery-life-of-its-predecessor-130010817.html?src=rss
Duolingo is best known for its language learning app, but it recently branched into teaching math and will soon offer music learning, the company announced. Through a series of "hundreds of bite-sized lessons," users will be able to learn notes and how to play tunes from a library of over 200+ songs. Using the app's gamified learning experience, the Music course "teaches you to read and play music anytime, through interactive lessons," according to Duolingo."We know math and music, much like language, transcend cultures and connect people," Duolingo cofounder and CTO Severin Hacker. "Soon you will be able to learn math and music in the same Duolingo app - all with the same fun, engaging, and effective experience you know from learning languages with us."DuolingoSeveral screenshots show musical notation paired with piano keys (above), along with games like "fill in the blanks" and "match the pairs." The app will appear alongside languages and math at the top of the main Duolingo screen. The math app is already available for iOS, with levels ranging from elementary to more advanced, all using interactive, gamified lessons.A job posting spotted earlier this year provided hints that the company was working on a music app. Duolingo didn't give many details other than a few screenshots, but did say that "the course is free, fun and effective. It plans to reveal the app fully at its Duocon conference on October 11th.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/duolingo-will-soon-offer-gamified-music-lessons-120010824.html?src=rss
We are engaged in a race against time to protect the children of our country from the dangers of AI," the attorneys general wrote in an open letter to Congress, asking for increased protective measures against AI-enhanced child sexual abuse images.Using image generators like Dall-E and Midjourney to create child sexual abuse materials isn't a problem, as the software has guardrails to stop those prompts. However, when open-source versions of the software and similar tools without guardrails or oversight arrive, it could be a major issue. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that AI tools would benefit from government intervention to mitigate their risk.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedDisney+ tempts new and returning subscribers with a $2-per-month teaser offer Star Wars Jedi: Survivor patch promises 'solid 60 fps' performance on consoles Cyberpunk adventure game Stray will be adapted as an animated movie Facebook's News tab is going away in the UK, France and Germany Alone in the Dark reboot delayed to the oh-so-spooky month of JanuaryChina plans $40 billion fund for its chip industryUnited Airlines grounded flights for an hour after a bad software updateA widespread slowdown' paused departures.United Airlines issued a nationwide ground stop because of a "computer issue." "United Airlines asked the FAA to pause the airline's departures nationwide," the Federal Aviation Administration told Engadget. United said a software update "caused a widespread slowdown" in its technology systems, but airborne flights still carried on to their destinations during the pause.United had a similar issue in the UK just last week. An air traffic control glitch led to the cancellation of a fifth of UK departures and 27 percent of flights due to arrive the day of the issue.Continue reading.The Android logo gets a new look and a 3D bugdroidGoogle's quarterly Android update adds some useful accessibility features.AndroidAndroid 14 is fast approaching. But before Google releases the next big version of the mobile operating system alongside its latest Pixel devices, the company has revealed a refreshed Android logo. Yeah, it hasn't exactly reinvented the wheel, or the droid, as it were. Android consumer brand management director Jason Fournier said the company wanted the bugdroid to "appear as dynamic as Android itself." Sounds like a self-burn The plan is to ensure the bugdroid looks consistent across digital and real-world environments.There's also a useful-sounding accessibility feature coming to Android soon. It's called Image Q&A on Lookout. You'll be able to use voice commands or type questions to find out more details about AI-generated audio descriptions of visual content. A new widget called Assistant At a Glance is also inbound, to bring weather alerts, event reminders and travel updates.Continue reading.The best cameras for 2023Compacts, DSLRs, action cams and, of course, mirrorless cameras.Since smartphones obliterated the casual photography market, camera manufacturers are focusing on building models designed for very specific uses. Mirrorless cameras continue to improve in autofocus, video and more, while lens ranges expand yearly. Action cams provide sharp, fluid video, compact cameras target both tourists and vloggers and DSLRs are available at some of the best prices we've seen. If you're considering a camera upgrade, this is a particularly good time to do so. Engadget's Steve Dent walks you through the options.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-50-attorneys-general-urge-congress-to-fight-ai-generated-child-sexual-abuse-images-111525174.html?src=rss
Those firing up Airbnb to look for a short-term rental in New York City right now may find the pickings a bit slim. Officials in the city have started enforcing new regulations mandating that hosts will have to file a registration application - and meet a set of requirements - to be able to rent homes to guests for less than 30 days. Hosts can only rent out homes for short-term stays if they're also staying there, and only two guests are allowed at a time. These requirements are part of old and existing rules on rentals, however, and only the Short-Term Rental Registration Law itself is new.NYC's Office of Special Enforcement said on its website that on September 5, it started collaborating with booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to ensure that they're honoring the city's verification system. These companies will now have to check whether hosts listing their homes for stays less than 30 days have been approved by authorities. According to The New York Times, only 257 application registrations have been approved so far out of the 3,250 that were lodged as of August 28. That would mean thousands of listings could be removed from Airbnb, seeing as the company estimates that almost 15,000 hosts had short-term rental listings across NYC as recent as last month.Airbnb called the law a "de facto ban" on short-term rentals and filed a lawsuit, which was dismissed last month, to try and block its enforcement. Theo Yedinsky, the company's global policy director, said the rules "are a blow to [NYC's] tourism economy" and that "[t]he city is sending a clear message to millions of potential visitors who will now have fewer accommodation options when they visit New York City: you are not welcome."The city's authorities argued that enforcing the new law would help prevent housing "being lost to the practice of illegal" short-term rentals. Hosts renting out homes for short periods contributes to the housing shortage, they said, and makes it more expensive to live in the city as a result.Airbnb told The Times and CNN that reservations with a check-in on or before December 1 will not be cancelled, but the company will refund the fees it received related to those stays to comply with the new rules. Meanwhile, all bookings starting on December 2 will be cancelled, and guests will be refunded. In addition, hosts will find their listings converted to long-term rentals only if they allow bookings of 30 days or more on the platform. All listings that only allow short-term bookings will be deactivated.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nycs-de-facto-ban-on-airbnb-is-already-removing-listings-105213899.html?src=rss
Google has tentatively settled with the alliance of attorneys general that filed a lawsuit in 2021 alleging the search giant abused its dominance on Android app distribution through the Google Play store. Officials claimed Google was leveraging its monopoly power with Android to unlawfully maintain its monopoly," saying that 90 percent of all app sales took place through Google Play. Bloomberg reports that the matter has been referred to a judge who, if happy, can confirm the settlement and cancel the pending courtroom battle. It's a smart move on Google's part as it has faced a number of antitrust lawsuits over its dominance and power in recent years, with outcomes including a 4.3 billion ($4.6 billion) fine and threats to break up its advertising business.Not everyone is pleased about the latest deal, with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney tweeting Epic isn't included in the settlement. The games developer sued Google in 2020, alleging the latter had made deals with other big games publisher to box out rival app stores. Sweeney is also, as usual, grumbling about other stores asking a cut of each transaction to pay for the running costs of those stores.Epic's trial against Google is set for November 6th, but Sweeney tweeted: "If Google is ending its payments monopoly without imposing a Google Tax on third party transactions, we'll settle and be Google's friend in their new era. But if the settlement merely pays off the other plaintiffs while leaving the Google Tax in place, we'll fight on. Consumers only benefit if antitrust enforcement not only opens up markets, but also restores price competition." The exact amount Google must pay and any necessary changes required have yet to be disclosed, but could be made public at an October 12th hearing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-tenatively-settles-with-us-antitrust-probe-into-play-store-dominance-101450315.html?src=rss
With yet another self-own (intentional or otherwise), Google has revealed its upcoming Pixel 8 Pro again, putting it into a special pantheon of leaked phones that includes, well, every otherPixelmodel. This time, the leak comes via Google's own 360-degree simulator that lets you see the device from every angle, with little yellow dots showing different sensors and ports. It not only confirms features like a new temperature sensor and physical SIM slot, but also three of the available colors.The simulator (since shut down), was originally noticed by X user Jose Ruben, and others then posted their own images taken from the tool, as The Verge reported. It reveals blue, porcelain and black colors, along with a home screen that looks similar to the previous Pixel 7 Pro. It also shows a SIM card slot and confirms the temperature sensor we saw in an earlier leak.
You can enjoy Disney's subscription service for a fraction of its usual price if you haven't tried it before or if you haven't been paying for it for quite some time. Starting today until September 20, a Disney+ Basic subscription will cost only cost you $2 a month for three months if you're a new or returning subscriber in the US. The ad-supported tier would typically cost you $8 a month, so that's $18 in savings if you've been thinking of finally signing up or resubscribing for any of the service's upcoming releases.The company launched an ad-supported plan for its streaming service back in December 2022. It hasn't raised prices for this tier since it became available, but the ad-free options had a price hike twice over the past year. An ad-free premium tier subscription will set you back $14 starting on October 12. This promo could give you an idea whether you're ready to commit to paying that much for the service every month, or if you could endure the ads Disney+ serves and stick to the basic option.Of course, a subscription to Disney+ means getting access to its latest show and movie releases. Star Wars: Ahsoka dropped on August 23, while the live action reimagining of The Little Mermaid and the second season of I Am Groot are now also available. In addition, Disney and Pixar's film Elemental will be available for streaming on September 13.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-is-tempting-new-and-returning-subscribers-with-a-2-per-month-teaser-offer-073004980.html?src=rss
Logitech's original Pebbles are reliable, affordable and portable - all the things you want in a simple computer accessory (and some of the reasons the Logitech Pebble M350 is a great productivity mouse). Now, Logitech has announced the Pebble 2 collection, featuring the Pebble Mouse 2 M350 and Pebble Keys 2 K380.One of the biggest changes for the Logitech Pebble 2 collection is its more environmentally friendly production. According to the accessories maker, its new keyboard, the Pebble Keys 2 K380s is made of a minimum of 49 percent recycled plastic, while the Pebble Mouse 2 M350s is built of at least 58 percent recycled plastic. However, these figures only look at the products themselves and exclude the packaging and printed wiring assembly.The second-generation iteration of the M350 also includes a customizable middle button that you can set to do anything from sending an emoji to bringing you to a favorite app - with the Keys 2 K380 including similar shortcuts. Logitech claims its keyboard is on the quieter side, so if you like hearing that strong click-clack as you go, this might not be the one for you. Pebble 2 Combos are available as general add-ons or specifically for Mac users if you want to refresh your whole setup.Logitech emphasizes that its five color options (shades of blue, white, rose, graphite and sand) "defy boring." To further drive home this point, the company even made a Spotify playlist of the same name with bumpy songs like Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa - do with that what you will.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/logitechs-pebble-2-keyboard-and-mouse-use-more-recycled-plastic-070155370.html?src=rss
It's been a little while since Ultimate Ears (UE) released an entirely new speaker model and this one slots right into the existing lineup between the Megaboom and the Hyperboom. Continuing with the whimsical hyperbole, this latest model is called the Epicboom and it's available starting today at the company's website for $350. Now that it's here, it seems obvious a speaker was missing from the UE lineup. It pumps out a bit more volume than the Megaboom, but is still more portable than the larger Hyperboom party speaker.The UE Epicboom is like a double-wide Megaboom in size and shape, and it still provides 360-degree sound. It does seem that the two 1.5-inch mid-high transducers are on the rounded sides with passive radiators along the front and back. This enhances the surround sound vibes if you're listening to it head-on. Inside, the Epicboom packs a 4.6-inch woofer for a more rounded bass experience down to 50Hz, at least. And just like the Hyperboom, it has an adaptive EQ that supposedly helps provide the best audio output possible for your space.There's an outdoor mode available, which seems to drop the low end down a bit in favor of the mid to high end output so it can be heard more clearly at greater distances. The speaker has Bluetooth 5.2 and in keeping with tradition, the speaker claims up to 180 feet in range (in the best line-of-sight conditions possible I assume). The Epicboom definitely has a robust range and worked throughout my apartment without the sound dipping out, which is commendable.As usual, the speaker is fully waterproof with an IP67 rating. Go ahead and plop it in the pool if you like. It's a rugged box of beats that will fit into a backpack although it will take up a good deal of space at 6.3 x 4.6 x 9.4-inches and 4.36 pounds. You shouldn't have to worry about battery life much either, since it's rated for up to 17 hours and there's an LED battery indicator just above the +/- buttons. Unlike the Boom and Megaboom, there's no charging dock accessory for the Epicboom. It has a single USB-C charging port along the back and no aux inputs.Photo by Jon Turi / EngadgetThe speaker is slightly chunky and unless you've got big mitts, the rounded edges makes it a little bit difficult to grab and hold by hand. There is a carrying strap of course, and if you hate having a loose loop dangling about your device, you're in luck. This flattened strap uses a small magnet to help keep it in place along the back. It's heavy nylon (like seat belts) and although it has a loop, it takes some fiddling to pull it apart. I found myself just grabbing the strap as it is to haul it around.NFC, a long lost Ultimate Ears feature, has returned with the Epicboom. It works for users with Android 8.0 or later, but sadly there's no support for iOS. The speaker has multipoint connectivity allowing you to pair up to eight devices and this can help speed up the process immensely. It also helps to future proof the speaker, as aging devices can sometimes be difficult to pair with and NFC is a great backup plan.Photo by Jon Turi / EngadgetYou can use the PartyUp feature in the Boom app (which gets an update today) to play music on the Epicboom plus any other Hyperboom, Megaboom and Boom models nearby. There are also a variety of pre-set EQs including Signature, Bass Boost, Game/Cinema, Podcast/Vocal, and a new Deep Relaxation mode. I didn't get a chance to test the new app experience yet, so I can't provide any more details in that regard.If you're an Ultimate Ears fan and want to upgrade your output, but still have a speaker that's relatively easy to bring along when you're out and about, the Epicboom could be right for you. It seems to have a more spacious sound than the Megaboom models and its audio output definitely covers some ground for a device this size. It's not quite the powerhouse party output of the Hyperboom, but it's a decent upgrade from the Megaboom 3. People in the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions can order the $350 UE Epicboom starting today on the company's website and other retailers will begin selling the product on September 22nd.Product Specifications
TikTok has started migrating its European users' data to its long-promised center in Ireland. The video-focused social network has announced that its Ireland data center is finally operational as part of its larger progress update for Project Clover. TikTok announced the data privacy and security initiative back in March shortly after the European Commission banned staff members from using its app on work devices. As TechCrunch notes, though, the service revealed that it was putting up a data center in Ireland way back in 2020, with the expectation that it was going to be operational by early 2022.Now that TikTok was able to overcome the issues that caused delays to the center's launch, it has started data migration, which likely won't be finished until the fourth quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, a second center in Ireland and another Norway are also under construction. The video hosting service has been under intense scrutiny over the past few years, and these are part of its efforts to get authorities to trust the app. In 2022, TikTok's parent company ByteDance confirmed that some of its employees, whom it eventually fired, accessed the data of several users in the US, including journalists. The revelation came in the midst of state governments banning TikTok from government-owned devices.In addition to announcing the beginning of data migration, TikTok has also revealed that it has secured the services of a company called the NCC Group. The information assurance firm based in the UK will audit its data controls and protections, monitor its data flows, provide independent verification and report any incidents if needed. TikTok says the company will monitor data coming in and out of the center so it can ensure that only approved employees can access users' sensitive information.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-starts-migrating-european-users-data-to-its-first-local-data-center-055931632.html?src=rss
Spotify is experimenting with the offerings of its Premium service. Over the last few days, several Spotify users on the free tier noticed they no longer had access to in-app lyrics. Instead, they were greeted by a notification bubble saying, Enjoy lyrics on Spotify Premium," along with a link to sign up. Spotify says putting the in-app lyrics behind a paywall is just a part of its routine testing."At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of tests, some of those tests end up paving the way for our broader user experience and others serve only as an important learning,"Spotify's co-head of global communications, CJ Stanley, told The Verge. We don't have any further news to share at this time." It's possible Spotify could remove the paywall and make in-app lyrics available to all users again, but there is currently no timeline for that.This test comes at a time when Spotify has laid off employees from its podcast division, which the company poured quite a bit of money into in recent years. And despite raising its prices and actively working to grow its paid subscribers, it's still losing significant amounts of money. Spotify's decision to experiment with the possibility of making lyrics a Premium feature shows that the company is searching for ways to get users to pay for a subscription. However, this might not be the best way to do so as some users who have noticed the change are not happy about it.
TikTok appears ready to move the platform closer to a full-fledged social network. As spotted byAxios, the company has posted new job listings for positions focused on social networking features and expanded direct messaging. A Product manager - TikTok social" posting reads that the company wants to build meaningful social connections between users."The job listings are reportedly connected to worries within the organization about retaining and growing user engagement. Inside TikTok, there's concern that users are sharing TikTok videos externally on other social media and messaging apps when they want to discuss them with friends," Axios reported, citing sources within the company. Job postings for mobile engineers say the candidates will focus on building a reliable and adaptive platform that enables users to meet and interact with their real-life friends seamlessly on TikTok, and encourage them to share their life moments with each other and stay connected regardless of where they are."Expanding TikTok's messaging features appears to be of primary importance. One job listing for a backend tech lead admits that the company's messaging capability is in its infancy," according to Axios. That posting said the person hired will explore and implement diversified social solutions" while referring to creating messaging that's a distinctive TikTok social solution."TikTok made its bones on viral videos - with social features mostly limited to peripheral interactions such as likes, comments and reposts. As rival platforms like Instagram integrate more TikTok-like features, it seems logical the company would return the favor by expanding its social capabilities. However, it stressed that video remains at the heart of its identity when trying new things. A TikTok spokesperson told Axios: Being an entertainment channel has always been and remains the core of TikTok's business model even as we experiment with new features to enhance the user experience."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-job-postings-point-to-social-features-to-help-it-compete-with-meta-194332559.html?src=rss
We're getting into the last days of summer in the northern hemisphere. As fall comes into view, many of us will be spending more time at home cooking. Having high-quality equipment (and ingredients) can help ensure you make the best food possible. To that end, you may want to consider picking up a KitchenAid stand mixer and/or immersion blender during a current Amazon sale. The KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand Blender, for instance, has dropped from $100 to $80. That's the lowest price we've seen for it all year.This is our pick for the best cordless immersion blender. It could come in very useful if you want to make soups, sauces, smoothies and drinks even if you don't have much counter space for a full-sized blender.If you do have some space to plunk down a new gizmo in your kitchen, however, there's always the option of snagging one of KitchenAid's classic stand mixers. The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer is on sale too. Depending on which color you opt for (Ice Blue and Kyoto Glow are particularly fetching), the mixer can be yours for as little as $380 during this sale. That's $70 off the regular price and close to the cheapest we've ever seen it.This is our choice for the best stand mixer you can own. It's a powerful and durable machine, plus it looks gorgeous. It makes baking much easier than having to mix dough by hand. Best of all, it works with a variety of attachments. Given the glut of late-summer produce, it might still be worth picking up the ice cream maker attachment as well. Trust me, you can make some delicious mint choc chip and strawberry-basil ice cream with this thing.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/kitchenaid-stand-mixers-and-immersion-blenders-are-up-to-25-percent-off-191228110.html?src=rss
The attorneys general from all 50 states have banned together and sent an open letter to Congress, asking for increased protective measures against AI-enhanced child sexual abuse images, as originally reported by AP. The letter calls on lawmakers to establish an expert commission to study the means and methods of AI that can be used to exploit children specifically."The letter sent to Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate also urges politicians to expand existing restrictions on child sexual abuse materials to specifically cover AI-generated images and videos. This technology is extremely new and, as such, there's nothing on the books yet that explicitly places AI-generated images in the same category as other types of child sexual abuse materials.We are engaged in a race against time to protect the children of our country from the dangers of AI," the prosecutors wrote in the letter. Indeed, the proverbial walls of the city have already been breached. Now is the time to act."Using image generators like Dall-E and Midjourney to create child sexual abuse materials isn't a problem, yet, as the software has guardrails in place that disallows that kind of thing. However, these prosecutors are looking to the future when open-source versions of the software begin popping up everywhere, each with its own guardrails, or lack thereof. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that AI tools would benefit from government intervention to mitigate risk, though he didn't mention child abuse as a potential downside to the technology.The government tends to move slowly when it comes to technology, for a number of reasons, as it took Congress several years before taking the threat of online child abusers seriously back in the days of AOL chat rooms and the like. To that end, there's no immediate sign that Congress is looking to craft AI legislation that absolutely prohibits generators from creating this kind of foul imagery. Even the European Union's sweeping Artificial Intelligence Act doesn't specifically mention any risk to children.South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson organized the letter-writing campaign and has encouraged colleagues to scour state statutes to find out if the laws kept up with the novelty of this new technology."Wilson warns of deepfake content that features an actual child sourced from a photograph or video. This wouldn't be child abuse in the conventional sense, Wilson says, but would depict abuse and would defame" and exploit" the child from the original image. He goes on to say that our laws may not address the virtual nature" of this kind of situation.The technology could also be used to make up fictitious children, culling from a library of data, to produce sexual abuse materials. Wilson says this would create a demand for the industry that exploits children" as an argument against the idea that it wouldn't actually be hurting anyone.Though the idea of deepfake child sexual abuse is a rather new one, the tech industry has been keenly aware of deepfake pornographic content, taking steps to prevent it. Back in February, Meta, OnlyFans and Pornhub began using an online tool called Take It Down that allows teens to report explicit images and videos of themselves from the Internet. This tool is used for regular images and AI-generated content.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/attorneys-general-from-all-50-states-urge-congress-to-help-fight-ai-generated-csam-184938825.html?src=rss
Microsoft is set to launch its abusive-voice reporting feature for Xbox consoles. Announced in July, it lets gamers submit inappropriate remarks heard while playing multiplayer titles. The system captures a 60-second clip saved to the console; you then have 24 hours to complete the report. The feature arrives this week in the September update for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. However, it's initially limited to the select English-language markets" of the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.Microsoft says it tailored voice reporting to balance ease of use with minimal gaming interference. Our feature is designed so that only you, the player, can initiate the capture of the last 60 seconds of gameplay activity that occurred for content moderation purposes," the company wrote. It works similarly to capturing standard gameplay clips, but content recorded for moderation review is only used for that purpose. They will not appear in your recent captures, and clips cannot be downloaded, modified, or shared," Microsoft wrote.The company stressed that the console won't save or upload any clips unless you start the reporting process. After capturing a clip of spoken chat that you believe breaks Xbox's community standards, the sample will remain on your console for 24 online hours," and you can choose to submit it immediately or wait for your gameplay session to end. In addition, your Xbox will alert you as a final reminder to send the report if the 24-hour period is about to expire. Finally, you'll receive a notification later telling you whether the company took action against the perpetrator.Also included in the Xbox September update is the ability to quickly stream Xbox gameplay to Discord. After updating your console, you can link your Discord account and join voice channels on the platform directly from the console. You'll find the activation controls in the Xbox guide by navigating to Parties & Chats and choosing Discord.The September update also lets users toggle the console's variable refresh rate (VRR). You can now turn the feature off or back on by navigating to General > TV & display options > Video. You'll see options to leave VRR always on," switch it to gaming only" or disable it altogether.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xboxs-reporting-system-for-abusive-voice-chat-arrives-this-week-175806184.html?src=rss
The critically-acclaimed cat-based adventure gameStray is getting an actual animated movie. Even cooler? The title's original publisher Annapurna is making the flick, after it scored a surprise hit on Netflix with its first animated feature Nimona. The creative team is still under wraps, but Annapurna Animation head Robert Baird told Entertainment Weekly that the film is in active development and that it'll be the greatest hopepunk movie that's ever been made."Baird defines hopepunk" as a narrative concept that deems optimism as a form of resistance against tyranny. That just about describes the emotional tenor of the game, so Annapurna's on the right track. Additionally, it's been confirmed that the game's companion drone B-12 will be a large part of the film, with Baird stating it's a buddy comedy about a cat and a robot" going on to cite the pair's hilarious dynamic."The original game was released last year and put players in control of a curious cat in a cyberpunk landscape. There's plenty of platforming, stealth-based traversal and, uh, meows. The title was praised for giving players a cat-level perspective on the world and has been a huge hit on just about every platform.As for Annapurna, the Stray movie is only a single step in its plans for Hollywood domination. The animation arm of the company announced a few more films and teased plenty more. Chris Wedge, the creator of Ice Age, is directing a movie called FOO, short for fish out of water, and Nimona's co-director Nick Bruno has signed on to helm an unnamed project that's only been described as high concept" and Spielbergian."The company also teased that other games under its umbrella could receive the movie treatment, stating that Stray was chosen as the first adaptation due to it being wildly popular." Other titles in the publisher's roster include the time-loop thriller Twelve Minutes, starring Daisy Ridley and James McAvoy, the Starfield-before-Starfield sci-fi romp Outer Wilds, the narrative mystery Kentucky Route Zero and many more. Each of these would make for a decent movie.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cyberpunk-adventure-game-stray-will-be-adapted-as-an-animated-movie-174606306.html?src=rss
You might have faced an unexpected but perhaps brief delay if you were catching a United Airlines flight today. The company issued a nationwide ground stop because of a "computer issue," as ABC News first reported. "United Airlines asked the FAA to pause the airline's departures nationwide," the Federal Aviation Administration told Engadget. At 1:45PM ET, however, United lifted the ground stop and it started to spin operations back up.United told Engadget that a software update "caused a widespread slowdown" in its "technology systems." Airborne flights still carried on to their destinations during the brief stoppage. After the issue was resolved, the company resumed flights and began working with customers whose travel was disrupted by the grounding.
Android 14 is fast approaching. But before Google publicly releases the next big version of the mobile operating system alongside its latest Pixel devices, the company has revealed a refreshed Android logo.In a blog post, Android consumer brand management director Jason Fournier wrote that the company wanted the bugdroid to "appear as dynamic as Android itself." By overhauling the full-body look of the mascot, the hope is that it will be easier for the bugdroid to look consistent across both digital and real-world environments. The refreshed bugdroid and updated logo will start appearing on Android devices and elsewhere later this year.Along with the rebrand, Google has revealed the details of the quarterly Android feature drop. The headline feature is a new widget called Assistant At a Glance. The aim of this is to bring helpful information such as weather alerts, event reminders and travel updates. The widget uses AI to surface these details.There's a very useful-sounding accessibility feature coming to Android imminently. It's called Image Q&A on Lookout. You'll be able to use voice commands or type questions to find out more details about AI-generated audio descriptions of visual content. Google designed the feature with blind and low-vision people in mind.You'll soon be able to add passes with barcodes and QR codes (such as your library and gym cards) to Google Wallet to save you having to carry those around. There will be the option to add Fitbit/Google Fit activity and sleep data to personal routines to help you keep track of your wellness goals. Meanwhile, Google has redesigned the Personal Safety app with the goal of making it easier for users to share their live location, record surroundings and call 911.Last but not least is an Android Auto update. Webex and Zoom support is coming soon. You'll be able to join conference calls via audio and view meeting schedules on the car's display. We've seen automakers bring meeting apps to their infotainment systems, but Android Auto support may mean that there's no escape from a conference call.These features, which Google will roll out gradually, will start arriving today on Pixel 5, Pixel 5a and Pixel 4a. They'll land on Pixel 6 and Pixel 7-series phones as well as Pixel Fold over the next few weeks. You can expect all of these features on the latest batch of Pixel devices that Google will announce next month too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-android-logo-gets-a-new-look-and-a-3d-bugdroid-170037292.html?src=rss
Respawn and EA are rolling out a significant patch for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. The game, plagued with performance issues at launch, now supports a solid 60 fps" in performance mode on consoles. In addition, the PC version (which bore the brunt of many of the performance complaints) also received some stability improvements in patch seven.The game's patch notes say PS5 and Xbox Series X/S users can expect a completely reworked" performance mode for a substantially" improved experience. The changelog says patch seven disables Ray Tracing in performance mode while providing several GPU / CPU optimizations to achieve that solid" 60 fps. The developers have also improved quality mode (which prioritizes graphical fidelity over a consistent frame rate) with optimizations" to help reduce frame-rate fluctuations and improve visuals.Although patch seven's highlights are for console users, PC owners aren't left in the dark. Respawn has added support for Nvidia's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for the game's Windows version. Additionally, PC owners should see additional performance & optimization improvements."Respawn / EAThe PS5 version of Jedi Survivor also gets variable refresh rate support for the first time. The feature, which Sony added to its latest console in April, dynamically matches a TV or monitor's refresh rate to that of the PS5, lessening visual artifacts like screen tearing. Sony says it can help render scenes faster and reduce input lag.Rounding up the patch's notables are tweaks to fix corrupted save-game files and an issue where players couldn't collect XP after dying under certain circumstances." Respawn also promises various crash / bug fixes and miscellaneous improvements on all platforms.Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Windows. PS4 and Xbox One ports are in development, although they don't yet have a release date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/star-wars-jedi-survivor-patch-promises-solid-60-fps-performance-on-consoles-162223095.html?src=rss
The classic survival horror series Alone in the Darkrecently announced a reboot set to release in October, but it just got delayed to January. This push isn't for the usual reasons. The game doesn't need more polish or anything like that. It's simply a matter of finding an audience in the bustling gaming month of October, given the flood of titles coming in the next several weeks.The new release date is January 16, with publisher THQ Nordic noting that the game's eerie embrace of solitude" would be impossible to achieve in a gaming month as busy as October." The company isn't blowing smoke, as October sees the release of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Forza Motorsport, Spider-Man 2, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Detective Pikachu Returns, Sonic Superstars, Alan Wake II and, well, the list goes on and on. It's certainly a wallet-busting month.This is in addition to September's crowded release schedule, so the January launch of Alone in the Dark will give gamers more time to finish Starfield, Baldur's Gate 3, Mortal Kombat 1 and a fresh round of Cyberpunk 2077 DLC. It's interesting to note that none of these September or October releases are survival horror games, though Alan Wake gets close, so the title could have found a niche anyways.So what is Alone in the Dark? The original title is considered the first 3D survival horror game, beating Resident Evil to the punch by four years. Since the 1990s, there have been sequels, spinoffs and even other attempts at rebooting the franchise. This latest installment is the first mainline entry since 2015 and the first game in the series developed since THQ Nordic bought the license from Atari back in 2018.The reboot's story is written by Mikael Hedberg, the mind behind the survival games Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Creature designs are being handled by long-time Guillermo del Toro collaborator Guy Davis. THQ Nordic has stated that the new Alone in the Dark is a completely original game, but will feature playable characters from the 1990s titles. It'll release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on January 16, 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alone-in-the-dark-reboot-delayed-to-the-oh-so-spooky-month-of-january-161346620.html?src=rss
Anker makes a wide range of useful devices, from charging gear to USB hubs and beyond. You can save on many of the company's products right now as a sale is taking place on Amazon. One device that's worth paying attention to if you have too many gadgets and not enough ports to plug them into is the Anker 332 5-in-1 USB-C hub, which is 49 percent off at $18. At the time of writing, there's also a $2 coupon you can apply to save a bit more.This hub has a 4K 30Hz HDMI port, two for USB-C (which unfortunately don't support video output), one for USB-A and a 100W PD-IN port. There's passthrough charging support for up to 85W. You can use the hub to snappily move files between devices as well, since Anker says the three USB ports support data transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps.Another product worth considering is the GaN II 735 Charger, which supports 65W charging. It has dropped by 15 percent from $40 to $34. It can top up your phone, tablet and laptop batteries simultaneously. Alternatively, you can connect a single device with support for 65W fast charging to juice up the battery at maximum speed. We reckon this is the best 65-watt fast charger you can buy. It's probably smaller than the charger you're using for your laptop.In addition, you'll be able to snap up the 313 wireless charging stand for $15.19, nearly a quarter off the usual price. This is our pick for the best budget wireless charging stand. Don't expect fast charging here - Anker's device tops out at 10W (and just 5W for iPhones). But you can position your phone in landscape orientation while it's charging and that price is tough to beat.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/anker-chargers-and-accessories-are-up-to-49-percent-off-right-now-154836694.html?src=rss
It's fairly evident that Meta has been losing interest in dealing with news links and discussion across its platforms for some time and now the company is doing away with Facebook's News tab in a few countries. It will remove the dedicated section in the UK, France and Germany in early December.Unlike in Canada, where the company has blocked news content to protest a law that would compel it to pay publishers in the country, Meta says news organizations can continue to post links, Reels and so on to Facebook in those three territories. Users shouldn't have any issues with accessing news content there either.Meta says it will honor existing Facebook News deals with publishers in the UK, France and Germany. However, it won't renew those pacts or enter into new ones in those countries. Moreover, the company doesn't expect to offer new Facebook products specifically for news publishers in the future."Meta says the Facebook News shutdown in the three countries is part of its efforts to funnel resources toward services and products users care more about. News accounts for less than three percent of what people see in their Facebook feeds, and the company claims folks are more interested in short-form video, connecting with other people and finding opportunities, interests and passions.The decision doesn't undercut Meta's commitment to providing users with access to reliable information across its platforms, the company said. It added that it remains committed to working with third-party fact checkers to clamp down on misinformation.Still, the shuttering of the tab is part of a trend of Meta depreciating the importance of news across its platforms. For one thing, it switched from human curators to relying on algorithms to place stories in the News tab earlier this year. When it debuted its latest platform, Threads, it said news wouldn't be a priority there. That's despite the company designing the service as a direct competitor to X (formerly Twitter), where news and real-time events drove much of the discourse for over a decade.Meta's decision to nix news content in Canada entirely has been a contentious one. Many parties criticized Meta for limiting access to reliable information related to serious issues such as the wildfires that have raged across the country this summer.Last week, the Canadian government said that to comply with its Online News Act and continue to offer users in the country news content on Facebook and Instagram, Meta would need to pay publishers there around $62 million CAD ($45.5 million) per year. Meta, which generated over five times that amount in revenue per day last year, didn't budge on its stance.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/facebooks-news-tab-is-going-away-in-the-uk-france-and-germany-142243544.html?src=rss
The United States has made continual efforts to limit China's chip production, but it might not do much good. China plans to launch a fund in hopes of bolstering its semiconductor industry, Reuters reports. The state-backed endeavor is the third from the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund and aims to raise 300 billion yuan ($41 billion). The previous two funds raised 138.7 billion yuan ($19 billion) in 2014 and 200 billion yuan ($27 billion) in 2019.About 60 billion yuan ($8 billion) is expected to come from China's finance ministry. The other contributors aren't yet known, though past backers included China Telecom and China National Tobacco Corporation. Much of the fund itself will specifically focus on creating instruments for chip manufacturing.The news comes only a few days after Huawei, a Chinese electronics company, announced its new smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro, complete with homegrown chips. Huawei partnered with chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) to create a new Kirin 9000s chip, according to a report from analysis firm TechInsights. SMIC's high-level 7nm technology appears to provide the Mate 60 Pro with download speeds beyond those seen in typical 5G phones.The entire Mate 60 Pro announcement and subsequent proof of its power stands in direct contrast to the efforts made by the US, Japan and the Netherlands to restrict China's chip access and limit their production abilities. As recently as August, President Biden signed an executive order further limiting investments in Chinese firms working with technology like semiconductors. Previous restrictions have specifically targeted Huawei, including a January ban on licenses for exporting US tech to the Chinese company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/china-plans-40-billion-fund-for-its-chip-industry-112119881.html?src=rss
We hope you had a fun Labor Day break, for those that had the day off. Elsewhere, the three-day weekend included the IAA Mobility 2023 International Motor Show in Munich, Germany, and a barrage of new cars.BMW revealed the Vision Neue Klasse - its latest concept design. The company claims it will have a 30 percent greater range and charging speed and be 25 percent more efficient than previous EVs. One of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse's more interesting features is its vibrant yellow lounge-style seats - removing chrome and leather should, theoretically, make the production more environmentally friendly.Mercedes BenzMeanwhile, Mercedes-Benz teased a smaller, cheaper G-Wagon EV, pictured above. CEO Ola Kallenius said the baby" G-Class EV will be significantly more compact than its cousin. As for the promise of a cheaper G-Class vehicle, a new Mercedes G-Class SUV starts at $140,000, so getting it to a lower price shouldn't be too difficult.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedThe best music streaming services in 2023Nintendo's new mobile game lets you pluck Pikmin on your browser The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is $300 off right now Pizza Tower is the Wario Land + Sonic crossover I didn't know I wantedThe best laptops for college students Final Fantasy XVI is coming to PCAnd you'll get DLC too.Square EnixFinal Fantasy XVI won't remain a PlayStation 5 exclusive much longer. Square Enix has confirmed a PC port is officially in development. That's not too much of a shock, considering the game's first trailer in 2020 mentioned a PC version, but hey, a confirmation's nice.Producer Naoki Yoshida said the development team has started work on two installments of paid DLC." Hopefully, it'll have more narrative content and not just trickier bosses and challenges.Continue reading.Spotify may lock white noise podcasters out of its ad programThe aim may be to boost the company's bottom line.According to Bloomberg, white noise podcasters won't be eligible for Spotify's Ambassador Ads program as of October 1. Under the program, Spotify pays podcasters to read ads for the company's own products. Its goal is to get more people to make shows for the platform.Bloomberg previously reported some white noise podcasters were making as much as $18,000 per month, in large part due to Spotify paying them for ad placements. Ambassador ads haven't been very effective on white poise podcasts, according to the report, since their listeners aren't typically as engaged as they might be with a conversational or narrative podcast.Continue reading.The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 improves an already great gaming mouseUSB-C charging and fully mechanical switches.EngadgetLogitech's G Pro X Superlight is one of the most popular gaming mice out there, and the company just made it better. The G Pro X Superlight 2's battery life is now 95 hours per charge, up from 70 hours on its predecessor. A new Hero 2 sensor offers steadier tracking when quickly lifting or tilting the mouse. It also raises the maximum dots per inch (DPI) to 32,000 and tracking speed to 500 inches per second (IPS). Logitech has also transitioned to fully mechanical switches on the buttons, and it's now USB-C chargeable. Finally. It's available from today for $159.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-bmws-high-efficiency-concept-ev-111559673.html?src=rss
Logitech's G Pro X Superlight has been one of the most popular gaming mice among enthusiasts and esports professionals since it arrived in 2020, and today Logitech is refreshing it with a few key updates. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2, as the new wireless model is called, shares the same agreeable shape as its predecessor, but cleans up many of that device's minor annoyances. It's available to order starting today for $159.For one, the G Pro X Superlight 2 charges and connects over USB-C, whereas the prior model was stuck with an ancient microUSB port. Instead of using fully mechanical switches, which can potentially introduce issues with unintended double-clicks over time, the new mouse also utilizes the Lightforce" switches seen in Logitech's G502 X series. This is a hybrid solution with both mechanical and optical parts, the idea being to balance the feel of the former with the faster speed and (typically) greater durability of the latter.Beyond that, the battery life is now rated at 95 hours per charge, up from 70. A new Hero 2" sensor is said to offer steadier tracking when quickly lifting or tilting the mouse. (It also raises the maximum DPI and tracking speed to 32,000 and 500 IPS, respectively, though both figures are overkill for most.) And the maximum polling rate has jumped from 1,000Hz to 2,000Hz - some gaming mice can reach as high as 8,000Hz, but that has little practical benefit unless you use a monitor with a particularly high refresh rate.Photo by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetI've had the G Pro X Superlight 2 on hand for a few days. Just like the first Superlight, the main appeal here is the ambidextrous, potato"-style shape, which should fit well with just about any hand size or grip type. It's still a jack of all trades, master of none" situation: The Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, for example, is contoured in a way that's more accommodating to larger hands and palm grips. But this design is safe for a wider range of people.At 60 grams, the G Pro X Superlight 2 is only about three grams lighter than its predecessor. Many options these days are technically lower-weight, but no serious person could call this heavy. The outer shell is still solid and devoid of honeycomb"-style holes, and compared to the first Superlight, the texture on the plastic feels a bit higher-quality.Unsurprisingly, I've also had zero issues with performance. Across multiplayer shooters like Halo Infinite, slower-paced RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 and everyday work, tracking has been accurate and consistent, while clicks have registered with no noticeable delay. The PTFE (aka Teflon) feet are marginally longer and wider than before, but they glide smoothly either way. (An optional PTFE cover for the USB receiver compartment on the back adds a little extra speed.) The scroll wheel can't tilt left or right, but it's relatively quiet, grippy and precise.The G Pro X Superlight 2 (left) looks almost identical to the original Superlight (right) on the outside.Photo by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetThe new optical-mechanical switches, meanwhile, give each press a distinct, tactile sensation. They sound bassier than the first Superlight, but they feel tighter. The fully optical switches on the DeathAdder V3 Pro - currently the top premium pick in my gaming mouse buying guide - come off as mushier by comparison. Logitech would not provide a specific estimate for how many clicks the main buttons can sustain, but in theory, this hybrid design should be more durable than traditional mechanical switches. If that's a concern, you can turn on an optical only" mode through Logitech's G Hub software, though that'll shorten the battery life.Some compromises have carried over. There's no RGB lighting, no Bluetooth and no dedicated DPI switch button. There are two customizable shortcut buttons on the left side, but none on the right, so the mouse isn't truly ambidextrous. Logitech's G Hub software makes it fairly easy to assign macros and DPI profiles - including the ability to customize the sensitivity of horizontal and vertical movements separately - but plenty of people have found it buggy in the past. And none of this comes cheap. If you own the original Superlight, there probably isn't enough new here to justify another $159.That said, some of those omissions are to be expected given that the mouse is aimed squarely at competitive-minded players. I'll have to verify Logitech's battery life claims, but if you're willing to spend for a high-performing mouse without an explicitly ergonomic shape, the G Pro X Superlight 2 looks to be a top option.Photo by Jeff Dunn / EngadgetBesides the new mouse, Logitech has introduced a new wireless gaming keyboard, the G Pro X TKL. That tenkeyless model is also available today for $199. Here you're looking at dual-shot PBT keycaps, per-key RGB backlighting, dedicated media keys, a sturdy metal base and the usual suite of software customizations through G Hub. It can connect over Bluetooth and a detachable USB-C cable in addition to a wireless dongle, and it's available with Logitech's tactile (GX Brown), linear (GX Red) or clicky (GX Blue) switches. Logitech says you can swap in third-party keycaps, and it rates the battery life at 50 hours.In many ways, the G Pro X TKL is reminiscent of Logitech's G915 TKL, only it uses traditional mechanical switches instead of low-profile ones. After using it for a few days, it seems fine: The keys are crisp, well-spaced and not noticeably rattly, the customizable RGB looks sharp, and Logitech's wireless tech is dependable. It all comes with a useful carrying case, too. But the GX Brown switches on my unit are fairly loud, and it lacks some of the advanced features of other high-end gaming boards like the Wooting 60HE or SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL. There's no adjustable actuation, rapid trigger or hot-swappable switches. For $199, some may find the feature set lacking. But if you need a wireless mechanical keyboard in a TKL form factor, what's here at least feels comfortable and well-built.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-logitech-g-pro-x-superlight-2-improves-an-already-great-gaming-mouse-070133238.html?src=rss
Nintendo has teamed up with Niantic for a new Pikmin mobile game that's mostly good for passing time than serious gaming. It's called Pikmin Finder, and as Nintendo Life notes, the companies have released it in time for the Nintendo Live event in Seattle. You can access the augmented reality game from any browser on your mobile, whether it's an iPhone or an Android device. We've tried it on several browsers, including Chrome and Opera, and we can verify that it works, as long as you allow it to access your camera.Similar to Pikmin Bloom, the game superimposes Pikmin on your environment as seen through your phone's camera. You can then pluck the creatures by swiping up - take note that there are typically more of the same color lurking around when you do spot one. Afterward, you can use the Pikmin you've plucked to search for treasures, including cakes and rubber duckies. You'll even see them bring you those treasures on your screen.Pikmin FinderTo play the game, you can go to its website on a mobile browser and start catching Pikmin on your phone. You can also scan the QR code that shows up on the website when you open it on a desktop browser.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendos-new-mobile-game-lets-you-pluck-pikmin-on-your-browser-064423362.html?src=rss
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has risen from the depths of development hell, two years after Paradox Interactive parted ways with the game's former developer, Hardsuit Labs, and delayed the game indefinitely. The publisher has since recruited Dear Estherand Everybody's Gone to the Rapturestudio The Chinese Room to work on the sequel to the original RPG from 2004. Bloodlines 2 is now set to arrive in fall 2024.The Chinese Room has retained some of the original concepts while tossing out others to reframe Bloodlines 2 in its own vision. The modern-day Seattle setting has survived, as has some of Hardsuit's level and art design. However, creative director Alex Skidmore told PC Gamer that the game now has a new code base with different gameplay mechanics and RPG systems." You'll play as an elder vampire instead of the fresh face you might be familiar with from the original game, though the protagonist has been in stasis for some time, so you'll be getting used to the wintry setting at the same time as them.This is a new type of challenge for The Chinese Room, which until now has focused on atmospheric walking simulators infused with mystery, as Polygonnotes. Much like its latest project, the studio has endured its own troubles over the years. It nearly shut down entirely in 2017 due to funding issues before Sumo Digital took over and revived it (Sumo Digital itself later found a new owner in the form of Tencent).We'll find out more about what The Chinese Room has in store for fans in the coming months. Paradox plans to discuss Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 in more depth in January.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/vampire-the-masquerade---bloodlines-2-returns-from-the-shadows-with-a-new-developer-200008403.html?src=rss
Final Fantasy XVIwon't remain a PlayStation 5 exclusive much longer. Square Enix has confirmed that a PC port is officially in development. That's not too much of a shock considering that the game's first trailer in 2020 mentioned a PC version, a tidbit that Square Enix later walked back.In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), producer Naoki Yoshida said his team is currently working on a PC version of the game. Yoshida also noted that Square Enix plans to expand the game. "One thing that came through particularly strongly was how people wanted to see more of Valisthea's story and spend more time with her inhabitants," he said. "To accommodate, the development team has started work on two installments of paid DLC."
Mercedes-Benz is developing a more budget-friendly sibling to its hotly-anticipated G-Class all-electric SUV, as originally reported by Electrek. The EV will be a smaller, cheaper version of its iconic G-Wagon and it was confirmed this weekend at IAA Mobility 2023 in Munich. CEO Ola Kallenius said the baby" G-Class EV will be significantly more compact than its cousin and that it'll be fun to drive."This model is a spinoff from the G-Class EQG concept first unveiled at IAA Mobility 2021. The German newspaper Automobilwochereports that the company has been planning a smaller all-electric G-Wagon for several years, and suggests that the variant could go by the name g-Class" with a purposeful lowercase g." Kallenius told CNBCthat he views the vehicle as the "daughter or son of the big-G."Details are scarce, but it'll be based on a purely electric powertrain and should feature all-wheel drive, especially with Kallenius's assurance that it'll be fun to drive. As for the promise of a cheaper G-Class vehicle, a new Mercedes G-Class SUV starts at $140,000, so it won't be difficult to get in at a lower price point than that. However, if the company wants mass market adoption, a slight price cut to the $100k to $120k range likely won't do the trick. Actual pricing remains a mystery.We still have a long while to wait before getting behind the wheel of this diminutive wonder. The vehicle's powertrain is likely based on the forthcoming MB.EA platform, a proprietary battery technology Mercedes is developing. This platform isn't likely to show up in vehicles until 2025, which places the release of the smaller, cheaper G-Class EV in 2026 at the earliest.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mercedes-benz-teases-a-smaller-cheaper-g-wagon-luxury-ev-173321784.html?src=rss
There's a Labor Day treat in store for anyone who has been on the fence about picking up one of Samsung's latest foldable smartphones as there's a sale taking place right now. You can snap up the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 for $300 less than usual at the moment. The foldable has dropped from $1,800 to $1,500 for a version with 256GB of storage.Samsung has been steadily refining its foldables since debuting the first Fold in 2019. The latest incarnation has a new Flex Hinge that's designed to eliminate the gap between the two halves of the screen and reduce the device's thickness while still being able to offer IPX8 water resistance.There are upgrades to various other components compared with the Z Fold 4, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform chipset. There are new gestures designed to improve multitasking, which we found worked well. In fact, we think the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is the best phone for multitasking.Ultimately, we gave the Z Fold 5 a score of 86 in our review. While we feel that it's a solid phone, there's a sense that Samsung isn't doing enough to innovate or (crucially) bring down the base price of the foldable. We like the Flex Hinge and the lack of a gap between the two sides of the screen. Better performance, stronger battery life (thanks to improved efficiency rather than a larger capacity) and a brighter main screen were plus points too.On the downside, it's still a somewhat bulky device when folded. Samsung didn't really update the cameras, though it added new image processing bells and whistles. There's no space to slot an S Pen inside either. Still, if you're looking for a foldable from a major manufacturer, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is one of your main options right now, and a $300 discount might make it a more palatable choice.Meanwhile, if you prefer your screen to fold vertically rather than horizontally, you can pick up a Galaxy Z Flip 5 for less than usual too. A variant with 256GB of storage has dropped from $1,000 to $800.It might take you a while to tweak the settings to get the most out of the device, and you'll likely have to recharge it more often than other Android phones. However, we reckon it's the best flip foldable around and gave it a score of 88. The Z Flip 5 has a slightly unusual document folder-shaped external display that measures 3.4 inches - a major size and quality upgrade over the exterior screen on last year's model. The Z Flip 5 also has a Flex Hinge, and the device is comparatively compact when it's folded.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-5-is-300-off-right-now-164259774.html?src=rss
Spotify is said to have had a thorny relationship with the makers of white noise podcasts for some time, and now the company seems to be taking more action against them. According to Bloomberg, white noise podcasters will no longer be eligible for Spotify's Ambassador Ads program as of October 1.Under that program, Spotify pays podcasters to read ads for the company's own products. Its goal is to get more people to make shows for the platform.Bloomberg previously reported that some white noise podcasters were making as much as $18,000 per month, in large part due to Spotify itself paying them for ad placements. It recently emerged that the company considered pulling those types of podcasts from its platform entirely because they were making a $38 million dent on its gross annual profit.Ambassador ads haven't been very effective on white noise podcasts, according to the report, since their listeners aren't typically as engaged as they might be with a conversational or narrative podcast. They're said to be more passive listeners who play these shows for background noise, so Spotify was not seeing much benefit from those ads, according to the report.The makers of white noise podcasts will still be able to make money through direct support from listeners, paid memberships and automated ads. But this move is cutting off a key source of revenue. On the flip side, it may be beneficial for listeners who just want to hear chirping birds or thunderstorms without being interrupted by someone promoting the likes of Spotify's podcasting tools.In addition, Spotify has raised the threshold for Ambassador Ads eligibility. Podcasts now need to have 1,000 unique listeners over 60 days (up from 100) to participate in the program.The company also plans to ask more podcasters to join its automated ads program. Spotify said it will split revenue from these ads in half with podcast operators, moving away from its previous approach of paying a flat rate based on impressions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-reportedly-locks-white-noise-podcasters-out-of-an-ad-program-150124532.html?src=rss
Volkswagen's ID lineup is pretty well fleshed out by now, with vehicles ranging from the ID.2all compact to the ID.4 crossover - but where are the enthusiast vehicles? VW has answered that question with the ID.GTI concept, an electric hot hatch that will eventually head to production.Much like original GTI that inspired it (the "I" no longer stands for injection but "intelligence"), it's a sporty, compact hatch that looks fast standing still. Size-wise, it's shorter but taller than the current Golf GTI, with slightly more interior volume. The ID.GTI is based on (and strongly resembles) the ID.2all compact, adding features like 20-inch wheels, front, side and rear spoilers, a rear diffuser, a honeycomb grill, striped graphics, LED fog lights and more.VolkswagenIt'll have handling and performance tweaks as well, but VW didn't provide any details. The ID.2all comes with a 223HP motor, good for a 62MPH sprint in under seven seconds, with an estimated 280-mile range. The ID.GTI is likely to beat those figures handily, though, and the top speed should be faster too.VW did say that the ID.GTI would have an electronically-controlled front-axle differential lock offering traction control, just like the current Golf GTI. And it will work even better, the company wrote, "because the setup of the electric drive motor, as any electric system, can be varied almost infinitely." It also has a low center of gravity to aid handling, thanks to the battery's location in the vehicle floor.VolkswagenInside, the ID.GTI concept has tartan sport seats, a drive selector, a sportier steering wheel and a 10.9-inch instrument cluster, along with a 12.9-inch infotainment system. It also features an AR head-up display, projecting information like speeds and even track layout, both for the driver and front passenger. A special GTI button activates a red lighting scheme.Volkswagen said that it will produce the ID.GTI concept, but didn't say when or what it would sell for. It's a good bet that it'll arrive around the same time as the ID.2all, though, which is priced under $30,000 and slated for a 2025 release.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/volkswagen-will-produce-an-ev-version-of-its-gti-hot-hatch-130029312.html?src=rss
My favorite video game of 2023 involves a portly, balding pizza chef named Peppino Spaghetti scaling a medieval tower to defeat a sentient floating pie threatening to blow up his pizzeria. It was developed by a small independent studio named Tour de Pizza, led by a designer named McPig. Its soundtrack was largely composed by a first-time composer and a high school student. Its art style is at once expressive and grotesque. It's called Pizza Tower, and it is, in all seriousness, one of the best 2D platformers I've played in a long time.I'm late here, as Pizza Tower arrived on PC in January. Currently, it has the second-highest user rating of any 2023 release on Steam. The simplest way to describe it is to call it a modern Wario Land - really, the game's structure is straight out of Wario Land 4. Almost all of its 20 stages are split into two halves. In the first, you can feel things out at a leisurely pace, collecting little pizza topping buddies, unlocking treasures and finding secret rooms. There's a grading system based on how quickly and thoroughly you finish a level - but Peppino can't die, and you don't need a certain score to pass, so you're free to move recklessly.Then it's Pizza Time." At the end of each stage is a pillar that, once knocked over, causes the whole level to begin collapsing on itself. The music intensifies and a timer appears. That's your cue to hurry up and get the hell out of there. You can't just go back the way you came, though; parts of the original path get blocked off, while certain secrets only become accessible during the mad dash back. Fail to reach the entrance in time, and the truly cursed Pizzaface hunts you down. It's a simple dynamic, curiosity inverted by anxiety, but one that always worked for me. Each Pizza Tower stage concludes with the ending of Super Metroid, only you play as a funny pizza man trucking through fork-wielding cheeseballs and pepperoni goblins.Tour de PizzaIt's not just the structure that got me, though, it's the speed, and how it's deployed. In fact, I'd argue Pizza Tower is equal parts resuscitated Wario Land and better Sonic the Hedgehog. Quick explanation: I do not like Sonic. I didn't when I was a five-year-old failing at Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on my great aunt's Sega Genesis, and I don't today after giving the original five games another shake last year. I get if you do. But for me, all Sonic provides is a bad kind of tension, an itch I can't reach. Sonic can go fast, but his worlds do way too much to impede his momentum. The open fields of Green Hill Zone eventually give way to slow-moving platforms, hard-stopping ledges and suffocating water. When I'm halted, it takes several beats to speed back up again. The only way to consistently zoom through its stages is to memorize them.Pizza Tower, on the other hand, knows exactly what it is. Peppino moves like the bus from Speed, bursting through walls and obliterating most enemies in his way. When you dash, his legs spin like a wheel and his body glows in technicolor. When you change direction, it sounds like a car screeching. When you pivot into a super jump, Peppino rockets infinitely into the air. The little guy beats the hell out of himself, smashing stomach-first onto bricks and slamming into dead ends. It's a constant kinetic thrill, the kind I want from any platformer. Like Mario's brisk hop or Donkey Kong's weighty slams, Peppino's runaway-train dashing feels distinctly his own.The key is that you actually have space to explore this form of movement. The fact that Peppino can't die plays a big role - less fear encourages less hesitation. Beyond that, it only takes a second to pick up speed, and the zoomed-out camera gives you just enough time to see what's coming. Crucially, the controls are simple. Wall-running, wall-jumping and diving under ledges only requires one button press. Pizza Tower has you complete strings of precise moves, but it's built on instinct more than memorization. It understands it's partially a racing game, not just a platformer. Indeed, to get the highest rank in a stage, you must complete a Lap 2."Tour de PizzaPizza Tower's rousing kinetics are enough for me to like it. But what makes me love it is its Nintendo-like commitment to exploring new abilities and sensations. One moment you're stampeding on a hot dog horse, the next you're a loosely floating ghost, then you're stopping to play a warped game of golf (a Wario nod). Importantly, Pizza Tower takes care to discard these ideas once they've run their course. Sometimes, it'll introduce a mechanic only to subvert it in the back half of the same level.Everything in Pizza Tower adds to its distinct sense of character. The art style looks like a dream you'd have after downing a meat-lovers pizza and falling asleep to a Rocko's Modern Life marathon. Peppino is a realized character, scared and pissed, purely through the evocative animation and movement. The incredible soundtrack is funkyandfierce, itself a throwback to Dreamcast-era Sega yet completely its own. And it's all funny! Not just in its natural physical comedy, but in its jokes - you haven't truly hated The Noid until you play this game.I haven't even talked about the boss fights (honest duels that strike that tough but fair" balance) or the ending (one of the most intense and cathartic sequences I've played) or the amazing WAR. But I'll conclude by saying Pizza Tower is a model for how to make an homage game. Its inspirations are as clear as day, but it doesn't rehash the past. Instead, Tour de Pizza has thought through how to ignite the spirit of a classic while making it rawer, livelier and a little more unhinged. Every year, I see people fawn over focus-tested blockbusters and pure pastiche projects. Pizza Tower's thrilling wildness rejects them - it couldn't be anything but itself.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pizza-tower-is-the-wario-land--sonic-crossover-i-didnt-know-i-wanted-130022186.html?src=rss
BMW is continuing to explore an expanded EV lineup, releasing the Vision Neue Klasse - its latest concept design. The model builds on 2021's i Vision Circular concept and this year's i Vision Dee concept. Beyond the aesthetic features worth discussing, BMW notably claims its Vision Neue Klasse will have a 30 percent greater range and charging speed and be 25 percent more efficient.The company clearly wants its new EV to be a real departure from its former models. "With the Neue Klasse, we have embarked on the biggest investment in the company's history. We are not just writing the next chapter of BMW; we're writing a whole new book," Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development, said in a statement. BMW claims that its new design is "so progressive" that, upon first look, you might think the company jumped over a model.One of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse's more interesting features includes vibrant yellow lounge-style seats. While they certainly look fun, they're unlikely to appear in any model heading to market. However, the removal of chrome and leather should theoretically make the entire production more environmentally friendly. The interior also features a new generation of iDrive and the introduction of BMW Panoramic Vision. The latter provides information such as navigation, speed and song across the bottom of the front windshield.The car manufacturer apparently wants to ensure you look at the concept car and feel nothing but happiness, dubbing the exterior paintwork "Joyous bright." Though the company says the color demonstrates "the friendly, future-oriented personality of the BMW Vision Neue Klasse," we can't help but think it sounds like the description for a seasonal affective disorder (SAD) lamp. In either case, the BMW Vision Neue Klasse makes its public debut at the IAA Mobility 2023 International Motor Show in Munich, but it won't hit the market until 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bmws-vision-neue-klasse-concept-teases-high-efficiency-evs-120045748.html?src=rss
Would you be willing to pay for Facebook? Meta may add a paid subscription option to Instagram and Facebook for users in Europe, according to The New York Times. The ad-free tier addresses European Union (EU) regulations that have diminished some of Meta's most lucrative data-collection methods, but, the NYT says, the company would continue offering free ad-supported versions of Facebook and Instagram in the EU. So, is this a cost-saving move? Would ad-free sites affect the company's bottom line? Back in April, Meta said that advertising in the EU made up 10 percent of the company's total revenue.The EU fined Meta 1.2 billion in May for moving EU citizen's data to US-based servers. In addition, the company was fined 265 million in 2022 for failing to prevent millions of Facebook users' mobile numbers (and other data) from being scraped and posted online.Oh, and self-promotion time: The Morning After is heading to YouTube for a weekly show. It pits me against a camera and the week's biggest news. I'll run through the most intriguing stories and tech launches of the last seven days - and say what I really think about them. You can watch, like, subscribe, share and abuse me in the comments (don't do that) right here.All with no paid subscription option. At least not yet.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedLenovo Yoga Book 9i review: The world isn't ready for dual-screen laptops, but Lenovo is Xbox Series S is now available in Carbon Black with 1TB of storageHitting the Books: The programming trick that gave us Doom multiplayerEngadget Podcast: iPhone 15 event previewWith Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.EngadgetThis week, Devindra and Cherlynn are joined by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the purveyor of many Apple rumors that usually come home to roost. They discuss what we expect from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Based on Gurman's reporting so far, the iPhone 15 will likely get Apple's Dynamic Island. The iPhone 15 Pro will gain thinner bezels, a titanium frame and a periscope camera could appear on the Pro Max. Oh, and there's the whole USB-C thing.Continue reading.'PowerWash Simulator' will let you clean the grime away from Back to the Future's DeLoreanAnother crossover universe in need of a clean.Square EnixA Back to the Future expansion is on the way to PowerWash Simulator, a self-explanatory game that turned out to be one of 2022's biggest surprise hits. It's the game's latest crossover, following Final Fantasy VII, Tomb Raider and SpongeBob SquarePants DLC.Alongside the DeLorean, you can also clean Doc Brown's van, the Hill Valley clocktower, the Holomax Theatre and the Time Train, from the less-good Back To The Future 3.Continue reading.The best Labor Day tech sales we can findIncluding deals on the MacBook Air, Hisense TVs and Solo Stove fire pits.Labor Day weekend isn't known as an especially fruitful time for tech deals, but there are a few notable discounts. Both the 13- and 15-inch versions of Apple's M2 MacBook Air are down to all-time lows, for one, as are Hisense's well-reviewed U6K and U8K TVs. If you're looking for the latest tech, the new Beats Studio Buds + are $40 off at the moment, too.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-facebook-may-offer-paid-ad-free-plans-in-europe-111508855.html?src=rss
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its "close-to-production" Concept CLA Class EV, boasting of very long range and rapid charging via an 800-volt architecture. The four-door sedan is the first in the company's line of Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA) EVs, which will include a shooting brake and a pair of SUVs. Though it was unveiled as a concept at Munich's IAA Mobility motor show, the CLA Class is slated to go into production as a real EV in late 2024.MMA was conceived for the automaker's entry-level CLA Class vehicles as an all-new "electric first" design. The concept is almost exactly the same size as the company's current CLA sedan at 185 inches long and has a soft egg-like shape designed to move through the air as cleanly as possible (the hood is longer than other EVs, as Mercedes may offer it with ICE engines as well). It also has a number of concept car details (weird wheels, LED lighting, etc.) that likely won't make the final cut.Mercedes-Benz AGThe CLA Class is less about brute power than other Mercedes-Benz EVs (no performance figures were shared), focusing instead of efficiency and charging speeds. To that end, it uses an 800-volt architecture and a single rear-mounted 235HP motor borrowed from the Vision EQXX concept (with "close to zero percent" rare earth materials). It also has a new heat-pump to keep the batteries (and occupants) warm in the winter, as cold air can severely impact EV range, along with a two-speed transmission.With all that, the Concept CLA Class can achieve 466 miles of WLPT range (around 400 miles in EPA terms) - a stellar efficiency of around 150 MPGe. It will also allow drivers to add around 200 miles of range in just 15 minutes. Mercedes didn't give the battery size, but it's likely under 100 kWh. Also aiding in that efficiency is a battery design with anodes containing silicon-oxide to improve energy density. The company will also offer a less efficient and reduced kWh lithium-iron phosphate option at a lower cost.Mercedes-Benz AGThe inside has a lot of concept-car fluff that likely won't see the light of day, including a water-cooled processor on the floor, silver-colored leather seats, an engraved moonroof and a dashboard-wide "Superscreen" with few physical controls. Still, the production version is likely to have some design touches in line with other Mercedes-Benz EQ electric models and a relatively luxe interior.Another feature slated to appear in the electric CLA production model is Level 3 automated driving. It won't be available at launch, but the EV will have all the sensors required to enable the feature down the road via over-the-air (OTA) updates. More details are set to arrive in the coming months, like battery size, final range and charging numbers and, most importantly, the price. But if Mercedes can stick to what it said, the CLA could put up a good fight against Tesla's EVs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mercedes-benz-concept-ev-offers-rapid-charging-and-tesla-beating-range-075800456.html?src=rss
Since its release in 1993, id Software's DOOM franchise has become one of modern gaming's most easily recognizable IPs. The series has sold more than 10 million copies to date and spawned myriad RPG spinoffs, film adaptations and even a couple tabletop board games. But the first game's debut turned out to be a close thing, id Software cofounder John Romero describes in an excerpt from his new book DOOM GUY: Life in First Person. With a mere month before DOOM was scheduled for release in December 1993, the iD team found itself still polishing and tweaking lead programmer John Carmack's novel peer-to-peer multiplayer architecture, ironing out level designs - at a time when the studio's programmers were also its QA team - and introducing everybody's favorite killer synonym to the gamer lexicon.Abrams PressExcerpted from DOOM GUY: Life in First Person by John Romero. Copyright (C) 2023 by John Romero. Published and reprinted by permission of Abrams Press, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved.In early October, we were getting close to wrapping up the game, so progress quickened. On October 4, 1993, we issued the DOOM beta press release version, a build of the game we distributed externally to journalists and video game reviewers to allow them to try the game before its release. Concerned about security and leaks, we coded the beta to stop running on DOS systems after October 31, 1993. We still had useless pickups in the game, like the demonic daggers, demon chests, and other unholy items. I decided to get rid of those things because they made no sense to the core of the game and they rewarded the player with a score, which was a holdover from Wolfenstein 3-D. I removed the concept of having lives for the same reason. It was enough to have to start the level over after dying.There was still one missing piece from the game, and it was a substantial one. We hadn't done anything about the multiplayer aspect. In modern game development, multiplayer would be a feature factored in from day one, and architected accordingly, in an integrated fashion. Not with DOOM. It was November, and we were releasing in a month.I brought it up to Carmack. So when are we going to make multiplayer mode?"The short answer was that Carmack was ready to take it on. Looking from the outside in, I suspect some might wonder if I wasn't just more than a bit concerned since we were hoping to ship in 1993. After all, John had never programmed a multiplayer game before. The truth is that I never had a doubt, not for a second. Back in March, Carmack had already done some innovative network programming in DoomEd. He wanted to play around with the distributed objects system in NeXT-STEP, so he added the ability to allow multiple people who were running DoomEd to edit the same level. I could see him drawing lines and placing objects on my screen from his computer. Then, I'd add to his room by making a hallway, and so on.For multiplayer, Carmack's plan was to explore peer-to-peer networking. It was the quick and dirty" solution instead of a client-server model. Instead of one central computer controlling and monitoring all the action between two to four players, each computer would run the game and sync up with the others. Basically, the computers send each other updates at high speed over the local network. The speed of Carmack's network programming progress was remarkable. He had some excellent books on networking, and fortunately, those books were clearly written and explained the process of using IPX* well. In a few hours, he was communicating between two computers, getting the IPX protocol running so he could send information packets to each computer. I'd worked with him for three years and was used to seeing incredible things on his screen, but this was awe inspiring, even for him. In a matter of hours, he got two PCs talking to each other through a command-line-based tool, which proved he could send information across the network. It was the foundation needed to make the game network-capable. It was great for two players, and good for four, so we capped it at that. We were still on track to deliver on our promise of the most revolutionary game in history before the end of the year.Carmack called me into his office to tell me he had it working. Both PCs in his office had the game open, and they were syncing up with two characters facing one another. On one PC, Carmack veered his character to the right. On the other monitor, that same character, appearing in third person, moved to the left. It was working!Oh my God!" I yelled, throwing in some other choice words to convey my amazement. That is fucking incredible."When I'd first truly visualized the multiplayer experience, I was building E1M7. I was playing the game and imagined seeing two other players firing rockets at each other. At the time, I thought, This is going to be astonishing. There is nothing like this. This is going to be the most amazing game planet Earth has ever seen." Now, the moment had finally arrived.I rushed to my computer and opened the game, connecting to Carmack's computer.When his character appeared on screen, I blasted him out of existence, screaming with delight as I knocked John" out of the game with a loud, booming, bloody rocket blast. It was beyond anything I had ever experienced before and even better than I imagined it could be.It was the future, and it was on my screen.This is fucking awesome!" I yelled. This is the greatest thing ever!"I wasn't kidding. This was the realization of everything we put into the design months earlier. I knew DOOM would be the most revolutionary game in history, but now, it was also the most fun, all-consuming game in history. Now that all the key elements of our original design were in place, it was obvious. DOOM blew away every other game I'd ever played. From that moment on, if I wasn't playing DOOM or working on DOOM, I was thinking about DOOM.Kevin, Adrian, and Jay began running the game in multiplayer mode, too, competing to blow away monsters and each other. They were yelling just as much as I did, cheering every execution, groaning when they were killed and had to respawn. I watched them play. I saw the tension in their bodies as they navigated the dark, detailed world we'd created. They were hunters and targets, engaged in a kill-or-be-killed battle, not just with monsters, but with other, real people. Players were competing in real time with other people in a battle to survive. I thought of boxing or an extreme wrestling match, where you go in a cage to fight. This was much more violent, more deadly. It was all simulated, of course, but in the moment, it felt immediate. It was a new gaming experience, and I searched for a way to describe it.This is deathmatch," I said. The team latched onto the name. It instantly articulated the sinister, survival vibe at the heart of DOOM.In mid-November, we buckled down, getting in the closing zone," where you begin finalizing all areas of the game one by one. Now that Carmack had multiplayer networking figured out, we needed to fine-tune the gameplay and functionality, delivering two multiplayer modes-one in which players work together to kill monsters and demons, and the other where players try to kill each other (usually without monsters around). The first mode was called co-op, short for cooperative. The second, of course, was deathmatch.Another important word needed to be coined. Deathmatch was all about getting the highest kill count in a game to be judged the winner. What would we call each kill? Well, we could call it a kill, but that felt like a less creative solution to me. Why don't we have our own word? I went to the art room to discuss this with Kevin and Adrian.Hey guys, for each kill in a deathmatch we need a word for it that is not kill,'" I said.Kevin said, Well, maybe we could use the word frag.'"That sounds like a cool word, but what does it mean?" I asked.In the Vietnam War," Kevin explained, if a sergeant told his fire team to do something horrifically dangerous, instead of agreeing to it, they would throw a fragmentation grenade at the sergeant and call it friendly fire. The explanation was Someone fragged the sarge!'"So, in a deathmatch we're all fragging each other!" I said.Exactly."And that is how frag" entered the DOOM lexicon.The introduction of deathmatch and co-op play profoundly affected the possibility space of gameplay in the levels. Crafting an enjoyable level for single-player mode with lots of tricks and traps was complex enough, but with the addition of multiplayer we had to be aware of other players in the level at the same time, and we had to make sure the single-player-designed level was fun to play in these new modes. Our levels were doing triple duty, and we had little time to test every possible situation, so we needed some simple rules to ensure quality. Since multiplayer gameplay was coming in quickly near the end of development, I had to define all the gameplay rules for co-op and deathmatch. We then had to modify every game map so that all modes worked in all difficulty levels. These are the rules I came up with quickly to help guide level quality:
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