Cruise, General Motors' beleaguered driverless taxi service, announced Tuesday that it will start testing again around Houston. Cruise announced that they would start with human taxi drivers behind the wheels of its cars before moving to supervised autonomous driving with a safety driver behind the wheel in the coming weeks."The announcement from Cruise landed around the same time that General Motors' chief financial officer Paul Jacobson announced at Deutsche Bank's Global Auto Industry Conference in New York City that the carmaker would inject another $850 million into the robotaxi company to cover operational costs.Cruise has been nothing but a huge money pit for GM. Last year, the company plugged the plug on its driverless taxis when one of its cars in its San Francisco fleet hit a pedestrian who was hurled into the driverless taxi's path by another vehicle and dragged them approximately 20 feet after getting pinned under its tire. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspended the company's permits less than a month later. Cruise laid off nearly a quarter of its workforce and dismissed nine of its executives including the company's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Kyle Vogy following an investigation into the accident.Since then, Cruise has slowly but surely started showing new signs of life. In April, the company announced it would start redeploying its services in Phoenix. Just as in Houston, Cruise's cars will still be monitored and operated by humans. The autonomous taxi company also plans to expand its services to other cities by engaging with officials and community leaders," according to the company's blog,but gave no timeline on when an extension might happen.Update June 11, 5:45PM ET: This article was updated after publishing to clarify that Cruise's return to Houston is currently limited to testing, rather than picking up fares.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general-motors-revives-its-robotaxi-service-cruise-in-houston-with-human-drivers-205002639.html?src=rss
Bethesda announced Doom: The Dark Ages at the Xbox Games Showcase over the weekend, and easily the most exciting addition to the franchise featured in the trailer is the Shield Saw. As the name suggests it's a shield. Which is also a chainsaw. Naturally, modders have already programmed the weapon into the original Doom.Modder Craneo shared a clip on X yesterday showing how they were able to bring the Shield Saw featured in the trailer for the upcoming Doom sequel into the retro computer game. They converted the old-fashioned chainsaw into an innovative weapon that both protects you from enemy damage and rips opponents to shreds, thereby providing the wielder with a brilliant balance of defense and offense. The video makes it seem you can also toss the Shield Saw, something that was surely a pain to program.
"How do you shorten Apple Intelligence?" That's the question I've asked several Apple employees at WWDC 2024, and their practiced responses have become comically absurd.We just say Apple Intelligence," they tell me. Yah, but do you say that every time? The AI acronym is right there!" I'd retort. The usual response is a stiff smile and clenched teeth, like a human programming error in real-time. (Yes, I'm aware it's just overly aggressive media training in action.) One person suggested they also say "personal intelligence" - yes, a phrase that's longer than Apple Intelligence.There's no doubt Apple Intelligence means many things to the company. It's an effort to compete with Microsoft's (still unproven) Copilot and Google's Gemini. It's a way to make Apple seem "hip" with ChatGPT. And it should enable a slew of new features for consumers. But Apple Intelligence is never "AI" to Apple.Normally, I'd chalk this up to a silly branding quirk. But it becomes a problem as we cover Apple Intelligence. It's a long phrase that's just begging to be shortened to "AI," but then how do you distinguish that abbreviation from ChatGPT, Copilot and the general concept of AI? During the WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple only mentioned the phrase "artificial intelligence" three times: Twice while referring to its previous AI-powered features, and another while referring to "other artificial intelligence tools" like ChatGPT.At this point, I've just decided to call Apple Intelligence "Apple AI." It's shorter and it differentiates the product from competitors. And yes, it just means "Apple Apple Intelligence," but everyone still says "ATM machine" and "PIN number." It's not my fault Apple decided to co-opt the acronym "AI."Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-refuses-to-call-apple-intelligence-ai-195913202.html?src=rss
Apple Intelligence is coming, but not to every iPhone out there. In fact, you'll need to have a device with an A17 Pro processor or M-series chip to use many of the features unveiled during the Apple Intelligence portion of WWDC 2024. That means only iPhone 15 Pro owners (and those with an M-series iPad or MacBook) will get the iOS 18-related Apple Intelligence (AI?) updates like Genmoji, Image Playground, the redesigned Siri and Writing Tools. Then there are things like Math Notes and Smart Script on iPadOS 18 and the new features in Messages coming via iOS 18 that will be arriving for anyone that can upgrade to the latest platforms. It's confusing, and the best way to anticipate what you're getting is to know what processor is in your iPhone, iPad or Mac.Why won't the iPhone 14 Pro get Apple Intelligence?It's not evident exactly why older devices using an A16 chip (like the iPhone 14 Pro) won't work with Apple Intelligence, given its neural engine seems more than capable compared to the M1. A closer look at the specs sheets of those two processors show that the main differences appear to be in memory and GPU prowess. Specifically, the A16 Bionic can only support a maximum of 6GB of RAM onboard while the M1 starts at 8GB and goes up to 16GB. In fact, all the supported devices have at least 8GB of RAM and that could hint at why your iPhone 14 Pro will not be able to handle making Genmojis, perhaps.Though it might not seem quite fair that owners of a relatively recent iPhone won't get to use Apple Intelligence features, you'll still be getting a healthy amount of updates via iOS 18. Here's a quick breakdown of what is coming via iOS 18, and what's only coming if your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence.What iOS 18 features will be coming to iPhones?Basically everything described during the iOS portion of yesterday's WWDC 2024 keynote is coming to all iPhones (that can update to iOS 18). That includes the customizable home screen, Control Center, dedicated Passwords app, redesigned Photos app, new Tapback emoji reactions, text effects, scheduled sending and more. Messages via Satellite is only coming to iPhone 14 or newer, and you'll be able to send text messages, emojis and Tapbacks, but not images or videos.You'll also be tied to the same satellite service plan that you got at the time of your purchase of an iPhone 14. If you bought your iPhone 14 in January 2024, you received a free two-year subscription to be able to use Emergency SOS via Satellite and other satellite communication features that now include texting. That means that to continue texting people via satellite after January 2026, you'll need to start paying for a plan.There are a whole host of updates coming with iOS 18 that Apple didn't quite cover in its keynote either, and I'll be putting up a separate guide about that in a bit. But suffice to say that apps like Maps, Safari, Calendar and Journal are getting new functions that, together with the other changes mentioned so far, add up to a meaty OS upgrade.What Apple Intelligence features are older devices missing out on?In short, all of them. If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad (or Mac) with an M-series chip, you'll get a redesigned Siri, Genmoji and Image Playground, as well as writing tools baked into the system. That means tools like proofreading, summarizing or helping you adjust your tone in apps like Mail, Notes and Keynote are limited to the AI-supported devices. If you don't have one of those, you'll get none of this.The redesigned Siri, which is only coming through Apple Intelligence, will be able to understand what's on your screen to contextually answer your queries. If you've been texting with your friend about which baseball player is the best, you can ask Siri (by long pressing the power button or just saying Hey Siri) "How many homeruns has he done?" The assistant will know who "he" is in this context, and understand you're referring to the athlete, not the friend you're chatting with.Apple Intelligence is also what brings the ability to type to Siri - and you can invoke this keyboard to talk to the assistant by double tapping the bottom of the screen.This also means that new glowing edge animation that appears when Siri is triggered is limited to the Apple Intelligence-supported devices. You'll still be looking at that little orb at the bottom of your screen when you talk to the assistant on an iPhone 14 Pro or older.There are loads more features coming via Apple Intelligence, which appears to be set for release later this year.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-intelligence-what-devices-and-features-will-actually-be-supported-185850732.html?src=rss
Netgear is releasing more affordable versions of its flagship Orbi and Nighthawk router systems. The recently-released Orbi 970 starts at a jaw-dropping $1,700, so this is a welcome bit of news.The Orbi 770, on the other hand, starts at $700. It's still a tri-band mesh router system that supports Wi-Fi 7, with support for up to 100 simultaneous devices. The top speed gets a hit when compared to the 970, 11Gbps vs 27Gbps, but it's still plenty fast. Remember, an internet speed of one gigabit per second is actually 1,000 megabits per second (Mbps.) Anything above 1,000 megabits is more than enough for streaming and web surfing. So, the Orbi 770 offers 11 times that.NetgearA three-pack will cover up to 8,000 square feet and there are a pair of 2.5Gb LAN ports for wired connections to a gaming console or shared storage device. The cylindrical design is slim enough to hide just about anywhere and each unit features four internal antennas for 360-degree coverage. The company says the system will work regardless of the home layout, from the front door to the backyard."The Orbi 770 is available now via Netgear and major retailers. A starter pack that includes one router and one satellite costs $700, while a three-pack with a single router and two satellites costs $1,000. You can keep adding on satellites at $400 a pop if you live in a mansion.NetgearThe Netgear Nighthawk RS300 is a standalone router and not a mesh system. This tri-band router works with Wi-Fi 7 and offers speeds up to 9.3Gbps. The newly-designed omni-directional internal antenna should allow for 2,500 square feet of coverage across a maximum of 100 devices.There are a pair of 2.5Gbps ports for wired connections and two 1Gbps LAN ports that can be linked together for speeds up to 2Gbps when connected to a NAS device. It also has a USB thumb drive for sharing files and a proprietary app for making quick adjustments. The Nighthawk RS300 is available right now for $330, which is much cheaper than the flagship RS700S.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netgear-is-releasing-more-affordable-versions-of-its-orbi-and-nighthawk-routers-183522831.html?src=rss
Marvel Rivals pits its greatest heroes against each other and it's a lot of fun. It's also a familiar kind of fun if you've ever played Overwatch. As Overwatch 2 fightsto hold onto players (and attract new ones), there's no shortage of new games with similar team PvP dynamics, modes and characters. Like Valve's leaked Deadlock title, or PlayStation's Concord, or Star Wars: Hunters. Add the now console-bound (and more strategy-heavy) Valorant, and yep, there are a lot of team shooters on the horizon. Oh and I forgot Foamstars, like most of us.Rivals, made by Netease, has a headstart, however, with a roster of characters that most of us have heard of. These are also heroes whose powers and abilities we already know. And it's certainly a roster: 19 characters, expanding now to 21 for the next wave of tests.I was going to complain that this is a heady number of characters and combinations to learn, or at least get used to. But, well, Overwatch launched with 21. One leak, data-mined from the closed alpha, suggest there are plans for up to 39 characters. Oh my.Briefly playing this alpha-build demo at Summer Game Fest offers a glimpse at the game, and nascent metas (combinations of characters and team builds), but it takes time to evolve and coalesce. It also takes time for me to get good at a new team shooter.Like the original Overwatch, Rivals pits six heroes/villains against six other Marvel characters, with familiar team goals of escoring a slow-moving object, or protecting zones from the opposing team. It's not all Marvel Presents... Overwatch, though.I liked the destructable environments, with some walls taking only so much damage before crumbling and exposing your hero. It kept me on my toes. Other unique gameplay features include "Dynamic Hero Synergy," a sort of baked-in meta where two (sometimes three) characters can augment each other in battle.One example of this happened as I found early success with Groot. Groot is a tank-type player, with the ability to make Mei-styled walls, just made of plants, not ice. However, if Rocket, his Guardians of the Galaxy team-mate, is on the same team, it increases the duo's damage output. And Rocket can ride around on Groot's shoulder, too. Cute.I mentioned the Groot-Mei connection, but other skill overlaps with Overwatch characters are obvious, but with a twist. Hela, queen of Hel, has a few similarities with Overwatch 2' s Kiriko, with the ability to escape tight spots, but swapping healing for a focus on damage dealing.Meanwhile, Black Panther's lunge attack gets an instant cooldown if you hit an enemy, mimicking Genji's dash attack that recharges if you get a kill.The third-person perspective, which a few early testers found divisive, takes some getting used to. Look, I get it: when the core USP of a game is the global juggernaut that is Marvel's intellectual property, you want to see what you paid for. You want to see Iron Man blasting Magik from the skies, Loki faking his death as he circles back around to attack Namor's weak spot. In first person, a lot of that character design is lost, and your team mates and enemies rarely stand still in order for you to appreciate their character designs and lore.I'm not sure why, but playing this kind of game from a third-person perspective made movement feel, somehow, sluggish. Unless you're Spider-Man, who has an uniquely high level of mobility and speed compared to the rest of the current roster.Overwatch 2 struggled with a lack of PvE features as well as the major change to 5v5 team battles. For a lot of Overwatch players, the game has fallen out of favor. However, for a lot of people it's still the team shooter to beat. Will the draw of Marvel's greatest heroes (and villains) be enough of a draw, and can NetEase sustain Rivals appeal when it launches? A closed beta test, which will include PS5 gamers this time, is scheduled for July.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-biggest-threat-to-marvel-rivals-is-all-the-other-rival-team-shooters-182005638.html?src=rss
In addition to revealing its initial plans for AI and annual updates to iOS, macOS and more at WWDC 2024, Apple also discussed new capabilities coming to the second-gen AirPods Pro. Siri Interactions will allow you to respond to the assistant by nodding your head yes or shaking your head no. Apple also plans to introduce improved Voice Isolation that further reduces background noise when you're on a call. Both of these items are exclusive to the most recent AirPods Pro, because they rely on the company's H2 chip like existing Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness features.Like those advanced audio tools that are already available on AirPods Pro, Siri Interactions and Voice Isolation use the processing abilities of the H2 chip in tandem with the power of a source device - an iPhone or MacBook Pro, for example. Using the processing power on both sides, while being able to do so with very low latency, is what will continue to unlock these types of features on AirPods Pro. The pairing will also ensure that the system doesn't respond when you don't intend for it to, partially because it's able to reliably predict what you're doing.For Siri Interactions, Apple employs several sensors in addition to the H2 chip to detect a nod yes or a shake no. The company hasn't divulged any specifics on those, but the motion-detecting accelerometer inside AirPods Pro likely plays a role. Those sensors work alongside an advanced set of transformer models to accurately predict whether you are trying to confirm or dismiss Siri's alert. They can also distinguish between normal head movements, with the goal of AirPods Pro not being tricked by a quick glance to the side or some other action. Overall, the intent is for Siri Interactions to work just as well when you're stationary as when you're moving or during a workout. Of course, Apple has an AI-infused update coming for Siri, so making exchanges with the assistant more natural and convenient means you might use it more.Billy Steele/EngadgetCall quality was already a key aspect of AirPods Pro. But, like it has for Siri Interactions, Apple is using the combined power of H2 and a source device to improve voice performance. More advanced computational audio models are being used than what's currently at work on AirPods Pro, with the goal of further reducing background distractions from everyday scenarios. Those include wind noise, the clamor of a busy city street, construction site racket and potential interruptions at home - like cooking, kids, pets or a vacuum. Additionally, Apple is improving the overall voice quality, not just the real-time noise reduction, and the company is doing so with very low latency. This means you should also sound better on calls in general, but not just because background noise is reduced.Since these features rely so heavily on the processing power of the H2 chip, any future AirPods models would need to be equipped with the component in order to offer them. They would either need the H2 or something with even more computational horsepower. Of course, Apple doesn't comment on future products, but the company is clear that H2 is foundational to unlocking these types of advanced audio tools. And if the rumors are true, we won't have to wait long to see if the new "regular" AirPods will also allow you shake your head to dismiss a call.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-airpods-pro-will-know-when-youre-trying-to-silently-interact-with-siri-180614981.html?src=rss
Game publisher Voodoo (known for free-to-play mobile titles stuffed with ads) has bought the social platform BeReal (known for a scorching hot 15 minutes of fame in 2022) for 500 million. Although BeReal has fallen off the radar since its much-hyped peak, Voodoo says the app has grown to 40 million active users.BeReal achieved incredible user loyalty and growth, showing there is a universal need to share real, unfiltered experiences with close friends," Voodoo CEO Alexandre Yazdi wrote in a press release. We are very excited to bring our teams together and leverage Voodoo's know-how and differentiated technologies to scale BeReal into the iconic social network for authenticity."If you've forgotten, BeReal's gimmick is that it promotes spontaneous authenticity" by prompting users to capture dual-camera pictures (a selfie and whatever the rear camera is aimed at) during two-minute windows at random times throughout the day. It won Apple's iPhone App of the Year award in 2022 as younger users (especially) appreciated its less choreographed user content.The app's marketing spiel is that the short and sudden posting window forces spontaneous, unmanicured content (unlike, say, Instagram). On the downside, authenticity isn't always engaging: Some users complained that its content could get downright boring. (Care to peruse an adrenaline-pumping pic of... somebody looking half asleep as they sit at a computer?)Although BeReal's buzz has died down significantly since its 2022 heyday (partially thanks to Instagram and TikTok cloning its gimmick while it was still hot), the company says its user base is growing more than you might expect. Voodoo's 40 million active users figure is double the 20 million daily active users BeReal claimed in April 2023.It's worth noting that Voodoo's press release on Tuesday describes BeReal as having 40 million active users, not daily active users, suggesting those figures may not be apples to apples. And around the time BeReal claimed 20 million daily active users last year, The New York Times published a report citing an analytics firm that said the app's daily use had dropped 61 percent from its peak: from about 15 million users in October 2022 to less than six million" in March 2023.Left: The original Donut County. Right: Voodoo's clone Hole.io.Ben Esposito / VoodooNo matter whose figures are accurate, BeReal is now in the hands of the French gaming publisher Voodoo. Founded in 2013, the mobile gaming titan's ultra-casual titles tend to do quite well. By 2022, it claimed to have passed six billion total downloads, and it says its apps trail only Google and Meta in mobile app installations.However, Voodoo's games are infested with ads, and it isn't above stealing others' ideas. For example, Voodoo's free Hole.io is a knockoff of the $5 Donut County from Los Angeles-based indie developer Ben Esposito, Apple's 2018 iPhone Game of the Year and one of Engadget's favorite games from six years ago.Voodoo says Aymeric Roffe, CEO of its social app Wizz, will take over as BeReal's CEO. The company says BeReal's founder and previous CEO Alexis Barreyat will remain involved in BeReal in the short term" before shuffling off to work on new products.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bereal-the-buzziest-app-of-2022-has-been-bought-by-a-mobile-game-publisher-175016152.html?src=rss
For all the AI features, customization options and everything else coming to Apple's operating systems this year, there is one other notable update. The company is rebranding Apple ID to Apple Account in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and watchOS 11.The reason behind the change is to provide "a consistent sign-in experience across Apple services and devices," the company wrote in a blog post. Apple Account "relies on a user's existing credentials," so you won't have to change anything.The betas of the new operating systems already use the term Apple Account, but MacRumors notes that Apple ID is still used in some places, such as the account sign-in page on Apple's website. The company is most likely going to complete the Apple Account transition by the time it rolls out the latest major public versions of the operating systems (which also include tvOS and visionOS) this fall.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-id-is-now-apple-account-172019457.html?src=rss
As Apple races to add more advanced features to its smartphones, other companies are moving in the opposite direction. One such company, Light, just unveiled its latest and greatest minimalist phone, offering a stark contrast to the app-filled gadgets we all stare at way, way too much.The Light Phone III eschews the e-paper screen found with the previous models, opting for a sleek black-and-white OLED. It still doesn't offer any access to social media, the internet or even email. This is, first and foremost, a phone. It's not completely bare, however, as the Light Phone III includes a camera and an embedded NFC chip for making payments. It also allows access to navigation tools, a simple music player, texting, voice notes, a calendar, a timer and an alarm.It's larger than previous generations, with a cute form factor that can only be described as the Rabbit R1, but serious." There's no half-baked AI integration here, however, but there is an analog scroll wheel on the side for navigation and for making adjustments. It's around the width of modern iPhones, but much shorter. The team says this was on purpose, so as to make it easier to text while holding the device vertically.LightLight has also paid for private access to navigational information, so Google won't get ahold of any tracking data. The camera looks to be a simple point-and-shoot that can't compete with modern offerings from Google or Apple, but will get the job done.Other specs include 6GB of RAM, up from 1GB in the Light Phone II, 128GB of memory and a newer Qualcomm chip. There's a fingerprint ID on the power button and loudspeakers at the bottom. The battery is much larger than what was included with previous iterations and its user-replaceable.Now, here's the bad news. The Light Phone III is $800, which is more than twice the price of the $300 Light Phone II. That's a whole lot of cheddar for what amounts to, well, a phone. Deleting all of the intrusive apps on your current smartphone costs $0, though that's easier said than done.However, Light is running a deal for early adopters. The phone's available for $400 for a limited time to crowdfund mass production. Models should ship out in January.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/light-unveils-a-new-minimalist-phone-with-a-black-and-white-oled-screen-163225012.html?src=rss
Google is bringing some new and upgraded features to its hardware lineup as part of the June Pixel feature drop. The update will start rolling out today to all supported Pixel phones, tablets and smartwatches.First of all, Google is expanding access to its Gemini Nano generative AI model, which will now be available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a. Until now, it's only been present on the Pixel 8 Pro. At the outset, the model will be available as a developer option on Pixel 8 and 8a and this can be enabled through the device settings.The Recorder app is getting an AI-powered boost too. Google says you'll get more detailed summaries of recordings on Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8a compared with earlier versions of the app. Speaker labels will be applied if you have a Pixel 6 or newer, and there's the option to export transcripts to text files and Google Docs.Handily, you'll now be able to connect a Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro to an external display via USB-C to view videos and photos on a larger screen. On the Pixel Fold and sixth-gen and later Pro Pixels, you'll be able to choose which lens to use while taking photos.Meanwhile, Pixel 6 and newer models will support reverse phone number lookup directly from the call log. Those devices and Pixel Tablet will also be able to "automatically identify the best moment from your photo in HDR+ with just a single shutter press," Google says, which will seemingly make it easier to take a snap of your smiling face when it's in focus.Pixel Watch is getting some updates too, including car crash detection on the second-gen model. If your wearable detects that you may have been in a severe car accident, it will ask if you're okay. If you don't respond or you need help, it can contact emergency services for you. The feature will also notify your contacts and provide them with your real-time location. Other updates include fall detection improvements and PayPal access via Google Wallet on both generations of the Pixel Watch.Google says there will be easier access to the Google Home App on devices running Wear OS 3 and above too. You'll be able to access and control a smart home device from your watch face, for instance, and access favorite devices with a swipe. The Google Home Favorites widget is coming to phones and tablets running Android 12 and later too.Last but not least, when a Pixel Tablet is docked in hub mode, it can receive richer notifications from a Nest doorbell. You'll be able to see who's at the door, chat with them via two-way talk or send a quick response.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-brings-gemini-nano-to-more-pixel-devices-and-enhances-recorder-summaries-160917592.html?src=rss
Govee smart lights and fixtures are up to 35 percent off right now, as part of a far-reaching sale on Amazon. The deals include all of the smart bulbs, LED strips and flood lights you can shake a stick at, but perhaps the most notable item is the Govee Floor Lamp Pro. It's on sale for $200 via a clippable coupon, which is a discount of $20.This floor lamp easily made our list of the best smart LED light bulbs, despite being much more than a simple bulb. The Floor Lamp Pro is a slickly-designed lighting fixture that's over two feet tall and displays multiple colors at once. The diverse array of hues on offer make it a great choice for simply lighting up a room or making sure you look alright during a Zoom meeting.The fixture includes a Bluetooth speaker at the base, to allow for the occasional music-based light show. The speaker can even play a wide variety of white noise types for sleeping or meditating. I'm a white noise addict at all times of the day. Being a modern smart lamp, it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant.The only bad thing to say about the Floor Lamp Pro is the exorbitant price, which typically clocks in at $220. Dropping it down to $200 doesn't make it an impulse buy, but it's at least a bit more palatable.You can also pick up some nifty LED light strips for $80, which knocks 20 percent off the asking price. These offer Matter support and can be strung together to create the light show of your dreams.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/govee-smart-lights-are-up-to-35-percent-off-right-now-151755814.html?src=rss
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is lush. Set on the side of a mountain that's been covered in a terrible black defilement, Kunitsu-Gami's world is an ancient, psychedelic dreamscape packed with magic and otherworldly horrors. It's also mechanically dense, with moments of slow strategizing and rapid-fire hack-and-slash combat. After playing for nearly an hour at Summer Game Fest, it's clear that Kunitsu-Gami is much more than a beautiful screenshot.The game is divided into day and night mechanics, but all of the action takes place in various camps along the mountainside, set under green canopies and among dense foliage. The defilement creates plants with glowing pink orbs and slathers some areas in an iridescent black goo, trapping villagers in putrid sacs and infecting the local deer population.CapcomPlayers are tasked with protecting the Maiden Yoshiro from the Seethe, the monsters that spawn out of the defilement at night. Yoshiro is the key to cleansing the mountainside, but her ritual takes time and she's incredibly vulnerable. It really takes a village to protect her.During the day, players purge the defilement and rescue locals from their containment sacs, while also clearing a path for Yoshiro's dance. Press B on the gamepad to assign an attack role to a villager, and then press RB to place them in the environment. At night, the Seethe pour out of the Torii Gates - the basic hordes are composed of globular, juicy monsters with long, thin arms and gaping mouths lined with sharp teeth.Combat plays out in a rhythmic sword dance" style, with simple inputs that can be combined into fancy combos. Using just two attack buttons and a 360-degree camera, players slash through the Seethe, make sure the creatures don't get too close to Yoshiro, and manage their additional attack units. Combat flows smoothly, with satisfying swordplay and a challenging rush of monsters to defeat at each Torii Gate. After cleansing an area, players can hang out in the camp, upgrading their skills, unlocking new abilities, and learning about the food and culture of the region that's been defiled.There are also challenge areas with bigger, deadlier monsters to kill. Here, players are provided a small team of villagers plus upgrade materials to assign these units specific roles, like archer or woodcutter. The challenge enemy I encountered, Gakinyudo, was a giant, eyeless beast that ripped its own jaw in half before the battle began, revealing an even more disgusting form. The monsters in Kunitsu-Gami have distinct backstories dripping in vile details, and I adore the amount of attention their designs have been given.Here's how Capcom describes the beast I battled: The ravenous Gakinyudo are born from the corpses of lecherous monks who fell to defilement from their debauchery while alive. They prefer to dig up their meals from graveyards." Metal.I defeated the Gakinyudo, but it took some time, unit rearrangement and a new group-attack move to finish the job. I enjoyed every slice of my sword in this fight.CapcomThe game's environments and character designs are dense with fascinating details. The Maiden Yoshiro wears layers of flowing fabrics, a delicate face covering and intricately adorned jewelry, and she dances with a slow, focused purpose. She feels both fragile and incredibly powerful. The distanced, third-person perspective and fully adjustable camera encourage players to investigate every corner of each new area, slashing plants to receive resource orbs and purging shrines that have been covered in ooze.As each night approaches, the game's background music becomes more unsettling and discordant, until it's overrun by hellish screams and the Seethe begin spawning. Details like this make Kunitsu-Gami memorable, even just in demo form. It's clear that there's much more to uncover in this game and I'm eager to explore its ancient, magical mountainside in full.Kuntisu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is due to come out on July 19 for PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. It'll be available on Game Pass at launch.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/kunitsu-gami-path-of-the-goddess-feels-as-luscious-as-it-looks-150059627.html?src=rss
Dragon Age: The Veilguard was given a proper unveiling at Summer Game Fest, with an Ocean's 11-style intro to the gang of heroes and fantasy character tropes that will make up your cadre. Bioware also invited me to a hands-off demo of Veilguard, where I got to briefly see the character creation setup and the opening chapter of the game, as you join the likes of Varric and other characters from Dragon Ages past.It does look different, though. I've only dipped into the Dragon Age series in the past, but the character style of Dragon Age: The Veilguard (especially in the trailer) looked, initially, like some kind of League Of Legends-style spin-off or even a, gasp, mobile game. There's undoubtedly a cartoonish spin on characters, although Solas, the primary antagonist (and sadsack elf), seems to be his miserable, mournful self.The environments we saw during the demo are suitably fantastical. During parts of the game, several vantage points appear to show off all the mystical landmarks. Oh, and a large chunk of the opening chapter is a town under siege by dimensional beasts.Other significant changes appear in combat. While you'll still be able to pause to consider tactics and enemy targets in a controller-friendly move, unique attacks for your character can be launched from a quick launch menu while the battle continues around you. It appears that The Veilguard could be more fast-paced than its predecessors.I watched several battles between Rook, your custom-made character, and allies, including crossbow-wielding Varrik, fan-favorite Harding the scout, and the frostmage (and detective?!) Neve. We weren't able to issue commands to our allies, but you will be able to in the final game. We watched a rogue build in action, which combined bow attacks with close-quarters dagger moves. If you choose a warrior, expect to focus on defense and heavy strikes, while a mage seems to lean on ranged combat.
One of the bigger selling points of Apple's AirPods for some people is their unsealed design, which means they rest just outside of your ear canal instead of inserting all the way in. Open-style earbuds like these aren't good at blocking out ambient noise as a result, but they tend to be more comfortable to wear for those with sensitive ears.AirPods aren't exactly cheap, though. If this idea sounds appealing but you're on a tighter budget, the latest Amazon Echo Buds are a similar alternative that we recommend in our guide to the best budget earbuds. They normally cost $50, but a new deal at Amazon has dropped them back down to $35. That matches the lowest price we've tracked.We gave the Echo Buds a score of 77 in our review last year. So long as you're OK with earbuds that don't totally close off your ear canal, they're a good value when they're discounted to this extent. We found they needed a slight bit of EQ tweaking to sound their best - the treble range was a little too hot out of the box - but Amazon's Alexa app makes that simple enough. Once you dial them in, they sound perfectly decent for a sub-$50 pair of unsealed earbuds. You won't get much in the way of deep bass, as usual with open-style headphones, but there's at least some rumble and enough separation to keep tracks from sounding overly congested.The earbuds themselves are lightweight and comfortable in the ear, and their included charging case is easy to slip into a pocket. Unlike many cheap earbuds, they support wear detection - so they'll automatically pause when you remove an earbud - and the ability to connect to two devices at once. Call quality is passable, if unremarkable, while the customizable touch controls are generally reliable. Naturally, you can also access Alexa hands-free, though it's possible to mute the built-in mics if you want nothing to do with that voice assistant.These are still cheap earbuds, to be clear, so they come with their share of trade-offs. Battery life is mediocre, for one, usually tapping out around five hours. The pair only has an IPX2 water- and dust-resistance rating, so they're not well-suited for sweaty workouts. There's no charging cable in the box, and the Alexa app, while fairly well-featured, is more bloated than other companion apps we've tested. Annoyingly, you also need to register with the Alexa app just to set the Echo Buds up. And again, don't get an open-style pair like this if you're looking for noise cancellation. Still, while there's a chance we see a lower price during Amazon's Prime Day sale next month, this is a solid deal for the right person right now.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-latest-amazon-echo-buds-are-back-on-sale-for-35-142612419.html?src=rss
Yesterday's Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote teased a lot of what users can expect this fall when big iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS updates hit their devices. Changes coming include RCS support in Messages, a new Passwords app, a revamped Calculator app for iPhone and iPad and a bunch of artificial intelligence (AI) infusions across the board with the new "Apple Intelligence" system. The latter will bring some of the biggest updates to Apple devices in years, including generative AI image creation, "Genmoji" custom emojis, text summarization and even some ChatGPT integration as well. If you weren't able to catch the news live, here's a rundown of everything announced at WWDC 2024.Apple IntelligenceAppleApple revealed its plans to incorporate AI into its operating systems at WWDC this year. Dubbed "Apple Intelligence," this new generative AI system will appear in iOS and iPad 18 and macOS Sequoia in the form of (what Apple believes to be) practical tools that most people can use regularly. Those features include new writing tools that can help you rewrite, proofread and summarize things like emails and other messages, original emoji and image creation and more. Going hand-in-hand with original image generation is a new feature called Genmoji, which allows users to create their own unique emojis by typing in descriptions and requirements like "T-rex wearing a tutu on a surfboard."Siri is getting an AI infusion, now that it will be powered in part by large language models. In addition to asking Siri to delete an email or edit a photo, users will also be able to ask the virtual assistant to summarize articles and webpages in Safari and even extract personal information from a picture of an ID so it can fill out an online form for them. The company emphasized the importance of "personal context" with Apple Intelligence, which will enable things like using natural language to search for photos that contain only specific family members or friends.Apple highlighted how most Apple Intelligence actions will be done on-device to make the system as privacy-focused as possible. For queries that cannot be done locally, the work will be sent to Apple's processing centers. The company also created Private Cloud Compute, a feature that's supposed to utilize the cloud for more advanced AI processing while also making sure your data remains secure.OpenAI's ChatGPT is also integrated into Apple Intelligence, allowing users to give Apple permission to share their queries with ChatGPT "when it might be helpful." Examples provided include asking for menu ideas that incorporate specific ingredients, or asking for decor advice while providing a photo of a space that needs sprucing up. ChatGPT will also work with the AI writing tools coming to iOS and iPadOS 18 in a new Compose feature. ChatGPT integration with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia will roll out later this year, and apparently Apple intends to add support for other AI models in the future - meaning its partnership with OpenAI isn't a long-term exclusive.iOS 18 and iPadOS 18AppleThe next iPhone software update will roll out to users in the fall and, as expected, one of the biggest changes is support for Rich Communication Service, or RCS. The messaging protocol offers many improvements over SMS including end-to-end encryption, better media sharing and support for proper group chats. Apple previously stated it would adopt support for RCS in 2024 to comply with EU regulations, so it's unsurprising to see it mentioned in iOS 18's forthcoming features. Also new to Messages will be the ability to "tapback" reply using emojis and stickers, text formatting and effects and the ability to send messages via satellite.iPhone users will have more control over their home screens in iOS 18 thanks to the fact that it will not be a locked grid system anymore. Users will be able to move app icons more freely, plus they'll be able to change app icon colors as well use a tint color picker. In terms of design and layout, this is one of the biggest changes to come to the iPhone's home screen in years and it gives iOS users similar features to those Android users have had for a long time. In the same vein, Control Center will be updated in iOS 18 to include more customization options, and will allow users to program quick controls from third-party apps in addition to the native options.The Photos app is getting a big redesign in iOS 18, putting an emphasis on intelligently organized groups of photos that revolve around memories, trips and other big events. The new design ditches the old tabbed layout and will usher in a one-page design when you can view all of your photos individually, or view them by Collections. Users will also be able to filter out things like screenshots and receipts that would show up in a chronological format, but would otherwise mess up a tightly curated group of vacation photos.A couple of new privacy features stand out in iOS 18, namely the ability to lock and hide apps. For the former, users can lock an app so sensitive information stays behind a Face-ID or Touch-ID wall, preventing those who you casually hand your iPhone to from seeing that information. Hiding an app, on the other hand, does exactly what you think: hides a program in a special hidden folder that others won't be able to see.The Calculator app is getting a big overhaul in iOS 18, including improved unit conversions, a sidebar showing recent activity and integration with the Notes app. But what might be even more notable is the fact that the revamped Calculator app will not only be available on iPhones and Macs - it's coming to iPads for the first time as part of the iPadOS 18 update. Embedded within the iPadOS Calculator app is a new feature called Math Notes, which lets users write out math equations with the Apple Pencil and the app will solve many of them instantly.iPadOS 18 will also feature a new Tab Bar, which looks similar to the Dynamic Island on iPhones. This bar makes it easier to access essential controls even when you're in apps, and depending on what you're doing, it can show up at the top of the screen or as a sidebar of sorts on the left of the display. The Notes app in iPadOS is getting another new feature called Smart Script, which will make users' handwriting more legible automatically.macOS SequoiaAppleThe next iteration of Apple's computer software will be called macOS Sequoia. In addition to many of the AI features also coming to iOS and iPadOS 18 as part of Apple Intelligence, the next macOS update will include iPhone mirroring, which lets users see and control their iPhone screen on a Mac screen. They'll be able to use their keyboard and trackpad to intact with the iPhone screen on their laptop, and they can even open iOS apps directly on their computers without picking up their iPhone at all.A new Passwords app builds upon the technology of iCloud Keychain to save all of users' passwords and login credentials across devices and platforms (it will be available on Windows in addition to iOS and iPadOS). Along with standard passwords, the new app can save passkeys, verification codes and more, and give users the ability to securely share passwords with others.Other updates coming in macOS Sequoia include a snap window arrangement tool with accompanying keyboard and menu shortcuts, Presenter Preview, which lets you see what you're about to share with call partners before they see it, and gaming upgrades like improved Windows porting capabilities using Gameporting Toolkit 2. Users will also get access to Image Playground in macOS Sequoia, Apple's AI image generator built into Apple Intelligence. It provides the ability to create AI-generated images in different styles, including animation, illustration and sketch.watchOS 11AppleThe next software update for the Apple Watch includes two big changes: Training Load and a new Vitals app. Training Load in watchOS 11 essentially uses many of the health and fitness metrics collected during workout tracking to estimate your effort level each time. Each workout will receive a rating from one (easy) to 10 (all out) that estimates how hard the user worked during that particular session.The new Vitals app will show Apple Watch users how their captured health data, including heart rate, compares to baseline measurements. This will hopefully allow users to better understand when something might be off and outside the "normal" range.The Activity app on iPhone is also getting an update to accompany watchOS 11, and will allow users to customize the data they see on the homepage so they can put their most important stats front and center. Cycle Tracking will also get an update to include more detailed pregnancy insights, including gestational age and information about the user's health metrics that may related to pregnancy (like heart rate fluctuations).visionOS 2AppleUntil now, Apple's Vision Pro headset has only been available in the US. That's changing soon as the company announced the device's rollout in additional countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the UK in the coming months. As far as the headset's software (visionOS) goes, Apple announced that visionOS 2 will add spatial photos, which adds depth to images in the Photos app, new UI gesture controls and improved Mac screen mirroring with support for higher resolutions and display sizes.AirPods Pro audio updatesAppleApple briefly mentioned some software updates coming to AirPods Pro, including improved Voice Isolation, which should help the buds better pick up a user's voice in noise environments. A new Siri Interaction is coming to AirPods Pro as well: a silent head-nod will allow users to answer an incoming call without saying a word out loud to Siri, and contrast, a shake of the head will decline a call. These silent interactions will also be applicable to messages and notifications.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-intelligence-ai-ios-18-and-the-biggest-announcements-at-wwdc-2024-184422501.html?src=rss
Spotify first revealed its plan to roll out a high-fidelity option for music streaming some years ago, but that still hasn't come to pass. This may finally be the year when the company's HiFi streaming goes live, but you'll likely need to pay extra for the privilege.HiFi streaming is expected to arrive by the end of 2024 and it will be an add-on that costs users at least $5 more per month on top of an existing plan, according to Bloomberg. That's in addition to a Premium price increase that takes effect next month. As such, individual users who want to listen to high-fidelity music on Spotify may need to pay at least $17 per month, unless they're fortunate enough to be on the $6 student plan. It's not clear if the HiFi add-on will be available to those on the free tier.HiFi audio is already factored into Apple Music ($11 per month for individuals) and Amazon Music Unlimited ($11 per month for those without Prime). It was a key selling point for Tidal at the outset of that service, which also now costs $11 per month. That places Spotify, which said in 2021 it would roll out its HiFi plan that year, well behind its rivals on that front.That said, the so-called "Supremium" add-on is said to include other features, like an option to spin up custom playlists in a flash based on specific activities, dates and times of the year. Bloomberg reports that Spotify's tech will adjust playlists based on a user's behavior and eventually automatically create playlists without any input from them.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotifys-hifi-plan-could-finally-arrive-this-year-but-you-may-need-to-pay-extra-141610374.html?src=rss
Thrasher, which its developers describe as a "mind-melting arcade action odyssey," will be available for the Meta Quest and the Apple Vision Pro on July 25. The SteamVR version will follow at a later date. Thrasher was first announced at The Game Awards last year as a new project by Brian Gibson, who was the artist and composer behind the nightmare-inducing rhythm game Thumper. For Thrasher, Gibson teamed up with Mike Mandel, known for working on games like Rock Band VR and Fuser, who took charge of the coding and research and development.The player takes control of a space eel in Thrasher, which they have to guide with "fast-paced gesture controls" through unsettling landscapes, so that it can evolve and defeat a cosmic baby god by the end of their journey. Based on the images and teasers the developers have released so far, the game's environments truly do look mind-bending with their psychedelic neon colors and their geometric patterns. Even the eel's powers sound trippy: Players can fight bosses with a rainbow spray of bullets or bulldoze environment elements in a blaze of color and light.The developers said that Thrasher's "music, visuals, and gameplay mesh into one transcendent experience" for the player. While the virtual reality version offers the most immersive option for gamers, Thrasher is also expected to be available for consoles and PC in the futureThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/thrasher-the-psychedelic-game-from-the-artist-behind-thumper-arrives-in-july-133026724.html?src=rss
Spotify has launched a new campaign that's meant to make users' audio streaming experience on the platform even more personalized. The "My Spotify" initiative will show users home page banners and personalized messages within the app that contain information about their listening habits, along with links to mixes that they'd presumably enjoy based on those habits. In one of the examples above, for instance, Spotify presented a user with a banner that links to a Doja Cat mix, because they've listened to the rapper's tracks 58 times over the past month.The service showed the user a banner that links to a DJ mix of Go Gina in another example, demonstrating how the messages can be personalized for every listener. A My Spotify banner or message could also link to the "Made For You" hub, where users can find personalized playlists, podcasts, features and recommendations based on their activity on the app.My Spotify gives the service a way to present users with data of their listening habits around the year, outside of Wrapped. The company's year-in-review feature only goes live during the holiday season, and it takes over social media when it does. It's not quite clear if users will also be able to share their My Spotify messages and banners on social networks. Spotify also didn't say whether it'll make its way to everyone on the app in the future - it only announced that the feature "will appear first" in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand over the next several weeks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-will-start-showing-you-personalized-banners-and-messages-based-on-your-listening-habits-130007917.html?src=rss
Following customer outrage over its latest terms of service (ToS), Adobe is making updates to add more detail around areas like of AI and content ownership, the company said in a blog post. "Your content is yours and will never be used to train any generative AI tool," wrote head of product Scott Belsky and VP of legal and policy Dana Rao.Subscribers using products like Photoshop, Premiere Pro and Lightroom were incensed by new, vague language they interpreted to mean that Adobe could freely use their work to train the company's generative AI models. In other words, creators thought that Adobe could use AI to effectively rip off their work and then resell it.Other language was thought to mean that the company could actually take ownership of users' copyrighted material (understandably so, when you see it).None of that was accurate, Adobe said, noting that the new terms of use were put in place for its product improvement program and content moderation for legal reasons, mostly around CSAM. However, many users didn't see it that way and Belsky admitted that the company "could have been clearer" with the updated ToS."In a world where customers are anxious about how their data is used, and how generative AI models are trained, it is the responsibility of companies that host customer data and content to declare their policies not just publicly, but in their legally binding Terms of Use," Belsky said.To that end, the company promised to overhaul the ToS using "more plain language and examples to help customers understand what [ToS clauses] mean and why we have them," it wrote.Adobe didn't help its own cause by releasing an update on June 6th with some minor changes to the same vague language as the original ToS and no sign of an apology. That only seemed to fuel the fire more, with subscribers to its Creative Cloud service threatening to quit en masse.In addition, Adobe claims that it only trains its Firefly system on Adobe Stock images. However, multiple artists have noted that their names are used as search terms in Adobe's stock footage site, as Creative Bloq reported. The results yield AI-generated art that occasionally mimics the artists' styles.Its latest post is more of a true mea culpa with a detailed explanation of what it plans to change. Along with the AI and copyright areas, the company emphasized that users can opt out of its product improvement programs and that it will more "narrowly tailor" licenses to the activities required. It added that it only scans data on the cloud and never looks at locally stored content. Finally, Adobe said it will be listening to customer feedback around the new changes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/adobe-is-updating-its-terms-of-service-following-a-backlash-over-recent-changes-120044152.html?src=rss
Apple's annual developer shindig kicked off with its traditional keynote outlining all the new tricks its products will soon do. There are big changes for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia and watchOS 11, not to mention visionOS 2. Some highlights include a standalone Passwords app, better health metrics on the Watch and Apple Intelligence, its own spin on AI. There's more to learn about, so keep reading to learn all the biggest stories from the show.- Dan CooperThe biggest stories you might have missedBlackmagic is developing a camera for immersive Apple Vision Pro videosYes, iOS 18 will include RCS supportApple's new AI-powered Siri can use apps for youApple may integrate Google's Gemini AI into iOS in the futureiOS 18 embraces Apple Intelligence, deeper customization and a more useful SirimacOS Sequoia will let you see your iPhone mirrored on your Mac's screeniPadOS 18 is getting a big boost with Apple IntelligenceYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Apple's first attempt at AI is Apple IntelligenceA for Apple... A for Artificial... I get it!AppleApple has finally bowed to pressure, bringing AI to its devices in the form of Apple Intelligence, powered by OpenAI. The system will bolster Siri, offering its generative AI smarts to write emails, summarize news articles and offer finer-grain control of your apps. It'll be interesting to see, given Apple's long-held distaste for machine learning gimmicks, if this can win where Google and Microsoft have floundered.Continue Reading.Apple brings a full-featured Passwords app to the Mac, iPhone, iPad and WindowsLet's see how third-party password managers respond.AppleApple already has a dedicated password manager buried in its operating systems, but now it'll be its own app. Passwords will act as a standalone password manager across every Apple platform and will even work on Windows via iCloud. Like iCloud Keychain, it'll generate and record passwords to all of your sites and services, locking them behind biometric security.Continue Reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-everything-apple-announced-at-wwdc-111550649.html?src=rss
Jabra's Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active earbuds debuted in August, but the company isn't waiting for an annual update to unveil a second-generation model for both of those sets. Neither of them will look different, except for some new color options, but there are big upgrades to both. The company has taken this opportunity to make changes to noise cancellation, audio features, spatial sound and other areas.First, both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active will come with what Jabra calls "the world's first LE Audio smart case." This will allow you to plug the charging case into any USB-C or 3.5mm jack to wirelessly transmit sound to the earbuds. While in-flight entertainment might be a primary use case here, other possibilities abound, including audio from workout equipment, TVs and more. The company says the revamped cases are equipped with a new chip to transmit LE Audio with lower latency than similar options already on the market. Jabra also promises better overall sound quality when using the feature, including "Hi-Fi" playback.Next, Jabra says it also improved the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance on both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active. The company is promising to block "up to twice as much noise" as the previous generations. To do so, Jabra explains that it fine-tuned the internal feedback microphones to provide better noise blocking for mid- and low-frequency sounds. What's more, ANC algorithms have been updated to better utilize their adaptive capabilities, so the earbuds should handle things like airplane noise and the roar of the gym more effectively.Jabra also did some fine-tuning to its HearThrough mode. The ambient sound feature on both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active has been tweaked for enhanced sound outdoors with a dedicated Natural HearThrough mode. This new setting offers increased wind noise reduction that's twice as effective as that of the previous generation, according to the company. Algorithms expand the frequency range of the regular HearThrough mode to make this possible.Jabra Elite 8 Active (2nd gen)JabraWhile the Elite 8 Active had Dolby Audio and and the Elite 10 offered Dolby Atmos with head tracking, Jabra says the second-generation models both offer improved tuning for spatial sound. The company explains that during testing, 95 percent of its "expert panel" preferred the new audio profile to that of the previous gen. Lastly, Jabra is promising improved call quality on both the new Elite 10 and Elite 8 Active thanks to updated noise-reduction algorithms that provide enhanced voice recognition in subpar environments.All of the other stats on both sets of earbuds are holdovers from the previous generation. That includes the IP68 rating on the Elite 8 Active (case is IP54) and the IP57 rating on the Elite 10 (no case rating). You can also still expect up to six hours of battery life with ANC on for the Elite 10 (27 hours total with the case) and up to eight house of noise-cancelling use on the Elite 8 Active (32 hours total with the case). Bluetooth multipoint connectivity is still here, as are Fast Pair, Swift Pair and Spotify Tap. The second-gen Elite 10 can also still connect directly to smartwatches, so long as they support HFP, A2DP and AVRCP Bluetooth profiles.The Elite 10 (2nd gen) will be available in titanium black, gloss black, brown, blue and white for $279. The Elite 8 Active (2nd gen) comes in navy, black, coral and olive green for $299. Both of those prices are $29 more than the first versions that debuted last year and these two upgraded models will be available mid-June.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jabra-updated-its-elite-earbuds-with-an-le-audio-case-improved-anc-and-more-090046844.html?src=rss
If you think Just Dance would be a great addition to your library of virtual reality games and experiences, then mark this date: October 15. 2024. Ubisoft is launching Just Dance VR: Welcome to Dancity that day for the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro and Meta Quest 3. You'll be able to customize your avatars for the game and choose your own body shape, facial expression, skin color, hair and outfit. Once you're done creating a virtual version of yourself, you can enter the Dancity social hub to meet other players.You'll also have your own "apartment" in game, where you can dance with up to six players or do other interactive activities with the group, like play basketball. The game will let you send emote stickers to players who aren't in your friends list, but you can do voice chats with dancers who are. Welcome to Dancity features 360-degree environments and what Ubisoft describes as an "all-new gameplay with two-hand scoring."You'll be able to dance to 25 hit and original songs at launch, including Don't Stop Me Now by Queen, Bad Liar by Selena Gomez, Starships by Nicki Minaj and Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen. As UploadVR notes, the game was supposed to be exclusively available to Pico headsets. However, after the ByteDance-owned company laid off a big portion of its workforce, Ubisoft started working with a new partner (Meta) to develop the game.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/just-dance-vr-is-coming-to-meta-quest-headsets-in-october-043151830.html?src=rss
At Apple's WWDC presentation this year, the company said it was working with Blackmagic Design to make immersive videos for the Vision Pro easier to work with and capture. Turns out Blackmagic is currently developing a camera specifically to capture immersive films for Apple's mixed-reality headset. The digital cinema company and manufacturer announced the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera on X/Twitter and made sure to add a few photos to give us a glimpse of what it would look like.
Apple's spin on AI is finally here, and it already seems smarter than Microsoft Copilot and Google Bard. Apple Intelligence focuses on privacy and "personal intelligence," with a bit of an assist from ChatGPT. While we haven't tested it ourselves yet, Apple appears to be avoiding the pitfalls of Microsoft's Recall feature, as well as Google Bard's unfortunate early gaffes. The company isn't trying to capture everything you're doing on your computer, and it's being careful about how it's using larger AI models like ChatGPT.Shortly after the WWDC 2024 keynote ended, Engadget's Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar discussed why they think Apple is taking a more thoughtful approach to AI.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-apple-intelligence-could-avoid-microsoft-and-googles-ai-mistakes-000751533.html?src=rss
For years, Apple has touted privacy as its major advantage over rivals like Google and Microsoft. Instead of relying on cloud processing to improve or organize your images, which requires sending your photos to Google's servers, Apple handles those tasks directly on your device. But with the advent of Apple Intelligence, the company's take on artificial intelligence, the company is stepping out of its comfort zone with "Private Cloud Compute." It says "private" right in the name, so it has to be secure, right?While Apple AI will run some models locally, it will occasionally have to send data to Apple's servers for complex requests. So how is the company squaring this with its previous security stance?According to Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, the company is being very careful about how its sending your data to its servers. "You're putting a lot of faith in the cloud... with Private Cloud Compute, the stakes are even higher," he said in a WWDC 2024 conversation with Apple's AI head, John Giannandrea, and YouTube influencer iJustine.During the WWDC keynote, Federighi showed off how Apple AI could help him reschedule a meeting and determine if he could still attend his daughter's dance recital. Apple AI was able to determine who his daughter actually was, where her event was located, and the estimated travel time from his meeting.Federighi says Apple isn't sending all of your data to the cloud, instead it's only uploading the most important bits of information relevant to your Apple AI query. Additionally, your server request is anonymous, since it's using the same IP masking technology as iCloud Private Relay. Federighi also noted that Apple's cloud servers have no permanent storage and don't have the ability to keep logs.To make things even more secure, Federighi says Private Cloud Compute servers are running software with published images for security researchers to audit. Apple Intelligence devices can only talk with servers running those approved images - if there are any changes to the servers, the local devices will also need to be updated to see them.That process may a bit restrictive, but that's precisely the point. Federighi calls it "a step up" in the level of trust you can have with server computing. "It's essential that you know no one-not Apple, not anyone else, can access the information used to process your request," he said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-does-apple-send-your-data-to-its-cloud-ai-servers-very-carefully-it-claims-233312425.html?src=rss
Apple is integrating GPT-4o, the large language model that powers ChatGPT into iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequioa thanks to a partnership with OpenAI announced at WWDC, the company's annual developer conference, on Monday. But shortly after the keynote ended, Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering said that the company might also bake in Gemini, Google's family of large language model, into its operating systems.We want to enable users ultimately to choose the models they want, maybe Google Gemini in the future," Federighi said in a conversation with reporters after the keynote. Nothing to announce right now."The news is notable because even though Apple did mention plans to add more AI models into its operating system in the keynote, it didn't mention Gemini specifically. Letting people choose the AI model they want on their devices instead of simply foisting one on them would give Apple devices a level of customization that none of its competitors like Google or Samsung have.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-integrate-googles-gemini-ai-into-ios-in-the-future-220240081.html?src=rss
On a day when there were a few other Apple-related announcements, Capcom snuck in one of its own. Two more Resident Evil games are coming to iOS, iPadOS and macOS: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, coming next month, and the Resident Evil 2 remake, which is currently in development." Capcom promises a console quality experience" for the games, which run on the publisher's RE Engine and use Apple's MetalFX Upscaling tech.The company says both games will have a free demo (for a portion of each game") at launch, but you'll need to make a single purchase" to unlock each title's full experience. Capcom hasn't announced pricing for the new games. For reference, the App Store's current installments in the series, Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Village, cost $30 and $16, respectively (plus extra for optional DLC).Speaking of downloadable content, Capcom says Resident Evil 7's main game and Not A Hero DLC will launch together as a bundle. Optional DLC will include the Gold Edition upgrade, which includes End of Zoe, Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, the 5-Coin Set, Survival Pack and Madhouse difficulty mode.The iOS and iPadOS versions of Resident Evil 7 will include enhanced controls with a new Auto Fire feature." The idea is to make the game more playable on touch screens with an option to automatically fire weapons after aiming at enemies for a set time. The game will also support MFi gamepads.To play Resident Evil 7, you'll need recent Apple devices. It only supports the iPhone 15 Pro series, iPads and Macs with Apple Silicon chips (M1 or later). Capcom hasn't yet provided the hardware requirements for Resident Evil 2.Resident Evil 7 Biohazard arrives on July 2, and Capcom says you can pre-order it today. However, it isn't yet live in the App Store at the time of publication.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/resident-evil-7-and-the-resident-evil-2-remake-are-coming-to-iphone-ipad-and-mac-210355411.html?src=rss
Many of the new features coming to watchOS 11 are fitness-focused, with a new Training Load feature for the Activities app, pregnancy stats in Cycle Tracking and a brand new Vitals app. Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday showcased all the things we can expect when the operating system update for Apple Watches hits this fall.The new app, Vitals, synthesizes data gathered overnight to give you a better understanding of your overall health. Apple Watch sensors will monitor details like heart rate, wrist temperature and respiration and combine that with data from the Apple Heart and Movement study so it can track changes over time and give you a heads up when things look outside their normal range. From what we've seen, Apple Watch batteries (outside of the Ultra model) don't quite make it through a night after a full day of use, so it'll be interesting to see how useful the new app will prove.The Activity app is getting a few new abilities, including Training Load that measures the intensity and duration of your workout to see how it's impacting you over time. Using data from GPS, sensor metrics like heart rate and pace, as well as your personal details like age and weight, the app will determine a rating for each workout from one (easy) to 10 (all out). And if you don't agree with the assessment, you can manually adjust it. In a post workout summary, you can see if you're training above your average or below it.The Workout app within the Apple Watch will now include a Check In button to let friends and family know when you're heading out and back home safe from a run.Using your iPhone, you can set more customizations in the Activity app too. Now you can adjust your goals for the day of the week and set rest days while still hanging onto your streaks. The summary screen in the Fitness app on iPhone is customizable too.The Cycle Tracking app can now give you insights during pregnancy, showing applicable health data as it tracks the duration of your pregnancy. This includes a look at your heart rate, which typically rises during pregnancy, as well as a running timeline of the gestational age. Walking stability alerts during the third trimester can also help you avoid falling issues that sometimes arise. Mental health will also get some attention, with reminders to take a monthly assessments to keep you aware of issues that pregnancy and postpartum conditions can trigger, like depression.AppleSmart Stack - the rolling list of active app widgets you access by swiping up from the bottom of the screen - is getting some updates as well. Now instead of just active apps, the Smart Stack will include time sensitive widgets like precipitation alerts before it rains or the translate widget when traveling. That alerted us to the fact that the Translate app is coming to the Apple Watch, with translation support for 20 languages. Live Activities and Check In will come to the Smart Stack, too.Apple is opening up access to the Smart Stack to third parties. So, for example, you'll see that your Uber is arriving in the widget carousel. Developers will have access to the Double Tap feature as well, for hands-free interaction with more apps.If you like the Photos watch face, there's good news here too. Machine learning models will help you find the best photos to feature by identifying and scoring the images of your friends and family based on facial expressions and image composition. It can even automatically crop and frame them for you.Almost as an afterthought, Apple also mentioned the advent of turn-by-turn directions for hiking and walking routes you created yourself.If you're itching to try out the new features for yourself, you can do so next month if you're part of Apple's beta software program. Developers gained access as of the announcement. And for regular folk, watchOS 11 will be available as a free software update this fall for Apple Watch Series 6 and newer.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watchos-11-includes-a-new-vitals-app-to-see-all-your-key-health-metrics-175600647.html?src=rss
The long-running Assassin's Creed video game industrial complex has finally reached Japan - and I've been waiting. Assassin's Creed Shadows is set in feudal Japan, in the late 16th century, to be precise, at a time of political upheaval that birthed the ninja. While I didn't get to play Shadows, at Summer Game Fest 2024, Ubisoft offered a hands-off gameplay demo, revealing how the game will play with two different but equal protagonists.If you missed the initial reveal, Shadows' protagonists are Yasuke, a powerful outsider samurai who can strike the armor off enemies, and Naoe, an assassin/ninja with a killer sickle on-chain" kusarigama and those traditional AC killing methods - she has a wrist blade.Instead of choosing a single character to play the entire game, you can switch between the characters for assassination runs and exploration segments. I prefer my assassinations stealthy, so I was surprised by how intrigued I was with the beastly Yasuke.Yasuke is based on a historical figure: An African man who served as a retainer to the Japanese lord Oda Nobunaga for roughly a year. Naturally, this is Assasin's Creed, so the team has taken some liberties with historical fact. Here, he plays the part of an outsider, a foreign-born samurai walking a path of honor. He's also a powerhouse. What he lacks in parkour elegance and dive drops, he makes up in having the power to cut down powerful enemies, charge through doors and enemies and scare the crap out of locals. As Yasuke walked through a village in the demo, villagers rushed to get out of the towering samurai's way, bowing respectfully at the side, while children just gawped, frozen still.As the duo fight to end the corruption rife in Japan, they'll learn hints and tips on where to find their next assassination target. These will narrow down where you need to search. Once you've identified where they are, the characters can then task NPC recruits to hoedown exactly where, although this mechanic wasn't explained in any detail.Later in the demo, Yasuke cuts down some abusive guards and goes head-to-head with another samurai, and I got a deeper look into how Yasuke fights. He'll have a range of weapons, and this time, he was swinging a hulking club, cracking skulls and armor alike.After Yasuke wins his duel with the samurai opponent - with swords - he's joined by the other main character, Naoe, the assassin. She moves like an assassin, vaulting up walls and kicking off surfaces before launching her grappling hook into roof awnings directly above her. Like the most recent AC entries, she can utilize Eagle vision for a better view of enemies and obstacles. A new addition in Shadows is the ability to kill light sources like lanterns and fires, so Naoe can easily get up close and assassinate. She's not the only one with upgrades - I also saw Yasuke wielding a musket-style single-use gun during the demo too.The game is very pretty, too. I say this as a huge fan of the style of Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima. Ubisoft's take is a more detailed one: there are more people simply living in this feudal Japan. The shifting seasons and weather make for even richer environments, too. In a later assassination attempt during the demo, Naoe had her infiltration interrupted by a torrential downpour. I'm not sure yet whether this will affect visibility dynamics, but hopefully, it will have some effect on how you play Shadows.I'm intrigued. I've long carried a torch for the cult ninja seriesTenchu. It offered its own takedown animations (in PS1 graphical glory), grapple hooks and stealth gameplay. It also offered two different characters: a speedy kunoichi assassin and a powerhouse ninja with samurai moves. Doesn't that sound a little familiar?Assassin's Creed Shadows will land on November 15, coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac and iPad.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/assassins-creed-shadows-gameplay-demo-sgf-2024-200016644.html?src=rss
Currently, Unicode 15.1 supports just shy of 3,800 various emoji. But for everyone out there that for some reason thinks that's not nearly enough, today at WWDC 2024, Apple announced the ability to use AI to generate unique emoji based on your prompts.Called Genmoji, which looks to be an awful portmanteu of the words "generate" and "emoji," these new creations are powered by Apple Intelligence, which is a new collection of AI features coming to the iPhone, iPad and Mac sometime later this year. Similar to creating images with services like Midjourney and Dall-E, users will be able to whip up custom emoji by inputting specific prompts. Once made, they can be shared with others as stickers, reactions in a Tapback or simply embedded in-line in messages.AppleWhile the feature isn't expected to be officially available until later this fall, there don't seem to be any major limitations to what you can dream up. In a teaser at WWDC, Apple showed examples like a smiley face with cucumbers over its eyes and a T-rex riding a skateboard while wearing a tutu. That said knowing Apple, there is sure to be some restrictions for Genmoji made using more graphic prompts like guns or blood.Now on some level, it could be fun to razz your friends with Genmoji based on their latest mishap. But at the same time, part of the magic of emoji has always been being able to convey a message using the limited number of icons while still getting your point across. Also, it's truly hard to imagine how much added value a bagel with lox Genmoji (see the lead picture above) provides compared to the classic image. But since AI is so hot right now, seeing Apple Intelligence get applied to emoji was probably an inevitability.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/in-case-there-werent-enough-emoji-already-apples-genmoji-uses-ai-to-generate-even-more-200011608.html?src=rss
Apple is going all in on AI in the most Apple way possible. At WWDC, Apple's annual conference for developers, the company revealed Apple Intelligence, an Apple-branded version of AI that is more focused on infusing its software with the technology and upgrading existing apps to make them more useful. Apple Intelligence will be powered both by Apple's homegrown tech as well as a partnership with OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, Apple announced.One of Apple's biggest AI upgrades is coming to Siri. The company's built-in voice assistant will now be powered by large language models, the tech that underlies all modern-day generative AI. Siri, which has languished over the years, may become more useful now that it can interact more closely with Apple's operating systems and apps. You can, for instance, ask Siri to give you a summary of a news article, delete an email or edit a photo. The assistant will also be able to take more than 100 actions, such as finding photos based on a general description of their contents, or extracting personal information from a picture of your ID to automatically fill in forms online. Finally, you can type your question into Siri instead of using your voice.Apple Intelligence will be highlight relevant content in Safari as you browse. You'll also be able to use it to quickly catch up on priority notifications. And just like Gmail and Outlook, your devices will be able create fleshed out responses to emails and text messages on your behalf. Apple also announced a suite of new features called Writing Tools that uses AI to write, rewrite, proofread and summarize text across the system, useful to draft emails and blog posts, for instance.AppleApple Intelligence will use AI to record, transcribe and summarize your phone calls, rivaling third-party transcription services like Otter. All participants are automatically notified when you start recording, and a transcript of the conversation's main points is automatically generated at the end. You can also use AI to generate images, stickers and custom emoji (which Apple calls Genmoji) in any app.
WWDC is always where we learn about the year's biggest updates to Apple's operating systems. Given that the iPhone is Apple's most important product, it's no surprise that iOS takes up a major chunk of the attention each June. WWDC 2024 is no exception, as Apple had a ton of new features and updates to go over, many of which concerned AI (or Apple Intelligence, as the company is calling it).Apple IntelligenceApple Intelligence is all over iOS 18, as well as iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. Apple is using a blend of its own tech and capabilities powered by OpenAI (as was widely expected). ChatGPT will be integrated into Apple Intelligence too.As part of this new era, Siri is getting a major overhaul. The voice assistant will be able to get much more done as it will be more deeply integrated into your apps and have more contextual awareness. You'll be able to use Siri for things like photo editing, rewriting emails and prioritizing notifications. There's the option to type your Siri commands as well, which is a nice accessibility upgrade.The language models will be able to rewrite, proofread and summarize text for you in apps such as Mail, Notes, Safari, Pages and Keynote, as well as third-party apps. Image generation will be available too in sketch, illustration and animation styles - so you won't be able to generate realistic images using Apple's tech. Image generation is built into apps such as Notes, Freeform and Pages.AppleYou'll be able to use natural language prompts to search for photos of certain people. There's also the promise of more intelligent search in the browser and (at long last!) transcriptions of calls and Voice Memos to catch up to a feature Pixel devices have had for a while.Although Apple Intelligence will pull from your personal information to make sure the systems are applicable to you, it will be aware of your personal data without collecting it, according to Apple software engineering SVP Craig Federighi.Apple is employing a blend of both on-device and cloud-based AI processing. Your iPhone will handle as much of the legwork locally as it can, with more complex operations being sent to Apple's processing centers. That raises some questions about privacy, one of Apple's central selling points to would-be customers (especially after Apple openly took digs at rivals that use cloud servers for data processing), but Federighi gave some answers to those.For one thing, the company has established something called Private Cloud Compute. Apple says the aim is to wield the power of the cloud for more advanced AI processing while making sure your iPhone data remains safe and secure.To use these new features on iOS, you'll need a device that has at least an Apple A17 Pro chipset - in other words, an iPhone 15 Pro or one of this year's upcoming models. Apple Intelligence features will be available for free on iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia this fall in US English.CustomizationApple also focused on customization. You'll be able to make the home screen look more like your own vibe than ever. You'll be able to change the colors of app icons, which can automatically get a different look when you have Dark Mode enabled. Your apps won't need to be locked within a rigid grid anymore either. Your home screen can look almost as messy as you want.Control Center is getting some big changes. You'll be able to access things like media playback and smart home controls from here. Developers will be able to take advantage of this and offer Control Center management for their apps too. It'll be possible to pin custom controls to the home screen for your most frequently used apps and functions (so you'll be able to switch out the flashlight control for something else, for instance). Custom controls can also be mapped to the physical action button as you see fit.MessagesWhen it comes to Messages, there's another nice update in the form of scheduling. When you're catching up on things late at night, you'll be able to time a message to send in the morning, for instance. Those who use emoji reactions in Messages (aka Tapbacks) are getting a nice update too. You'll be able to choose from any emoji instead of the five basic reactions Apple has offered for years.Text effects (the little animations that show up when you type a certain phrase) are getting an upgrade as well. Meanwhile, Apple will offer satellite messaging support on iPhone 14 and later devices. That's a major update, especially for those who go off the grid often, as messaging will be more useful beyond emergencies. You'll be able to send and receive texts, emoji and Tapbacks via iMessage and SMS.AppleThere's also a key AI-related change coming to the Messages app. Your iPhone will be able to generate custom emoji based on what you're writing. You might need a PhD in semiotics to decipher some of the "Genmoji" you receive.There's one other big update for Messages in iOS 18: Apple will add support for RCS (Rich Communication Services) to Messages. RCS is a more advanced messaging protocol than SMS. It enables better media sharing, Wi-Fi messaging, group chats and, crucially, better security thanks to end-to-end encryption. It should allow for more secure, media-rich messaging between iPhone and Android devices.Apple for years refused to support RCS in order to keep iMessage a walled garden. But after persistent pressure from Google - and more importantly, new EU laws coming into force - Apple promised to start supporting RCS sometime this year. Apple, which is never petty about anything ever, almost completely glossed over the addition of RCS in its the keynote, relegating it to a three-word mention.AppsThe Photos app is getting is biggest redesign ever, Apple says. It's getting a visual overhaul and one of the key aims is to help you find your photos more easily (filtering out screenshots should be a breeze, for one thing). Your snaps will be organized around memorable moments. Apple Intelligence will power features like Clean Up, which is effectively Apple's version of Google's Magic Eraser tool.The Mail app will soon be able to categorize emails - just like Gmail has for years. Apple will also organize emails by sender and make it easy to archive or delete every email you get from a certain company. This will be optional, so you can stick to a single inbox if you wish.Maps, meanwhile, will offer more detailed topographic maps to bring the app more into line with the Apple Watch. This should be useful for planning routes while hiking. As for the Journal app, it will now show stats for things like a daily writing streak.Wallet is getting a handy new feature that will allow you to send cash without having to exchange personal details. All you need to do is simply tap your phones together. This could be handy for splitting the bill after dinner with a new acquaintance. Tickets saved to Wallet can now include stadium details, recommended Apple Music playlists and other information.Calendar can show events and tasks from Reminders app, while the Notes app can automatically solve any math equations you enter. The Home app will offer guest accessAnother welcome change is the introduction of a dedicated Passwords app. This will work across iOS, iPadOS, visionOS and macOS and make it easier to find saved passwords from iCloud Keychain. Even better, there will also be Windows support via the iCloud for Windows app. Hopefully, this will make it easier for everyone to use a password manager and have unique passwords for every single account - something we strongly recommend.This being Apple, of course it has some new privacy controls for apps in iOS 18. You'll have the option to lock apps behind an authentication method (i.e., your PIN or Face ID) so that when you pass your iPhone to someone to show them your camera roll, they can't go snooping in your Messages. You can also hide apps - perhaps ones you use for dating - in a locked folder too. Elsewhere on the app privacy front, you'll be able to decide which of your contacts an app has access to instead of giving them absolutely everyone's phone numbers and personal information.Elsewhere, Apple is bringing Game Mode to iPhone. This aims to boost performance by minimizing background activity, while controllers and AirPods should be more responsive.During an emergency call, dispatchers will be able to send a request to turn it into a video call or to share media from the camera roll. This, Apple suggests, can help first responders better prepare for an incident. The Health app, meanwhile, has been redesigned to make it easier to access vital info in an emergency.On the accessibility front, users will be able to navigate their iPhone using eye tracking. You'll be able to set up a custom sound that will trigger tasks using the Vocal Shortcut feature, while Music Haptics aims to give those who are deaf or hard of hearing another way to experience music via the Taptic Engine.A developer beta of iOS 18 is available today and a public version will roll out in July. As always, iOS 18 will roll out to all eligible iPhones this fall.If your device can run iOS 17, you'll be able to install iOS 18. The list of eligible devices includes the iPhone 11 and later lineups, along with iPhone Xs, Xs Max, Xr and the second-gen SE.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-18-gets-a-revamped-control-center-and-loads-of-home-screen-customization-options-172350046.html?src=rss
After all the delays, studio switches and confusion, and following plenty of updates on those spinoff Prince of Persia games, Ubisoft's SGF 2024 presentation included a release... year for its troubled Sands of Time remake. We're not really getting any more details yet, but it's confirmation that the project is still underway. It's just years away, still.Ubisoft Montreal, which worked on the initial Sands of Time. took over the project from Ubisoft Pune and Mumbai, scrubbing the launch date of January 2021 in the process. Back then, Ubisoft Montreal was apparently "building upon the work achieved" by its studios in India. Last year however, producer Jean-Francois Naud revealed that the project was still "in conception" - so what exactly did those Ubisoft studios make? It sounds like a mess. And this is about a game that's a reboot of a reboot.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prince-of-persia-the-sands-of-time-remake-is-still-happening-and-its-coming-out-2026-195002200.html?src=rss
Apple's macOS 15 update is called Sequoia. The 2024 Mac software, coming this fall, includes iPhone mirroring and notification, a new passwords app and Safari upgrades. Of course, it also includes Apple Intelligence. The new software was announced at Apple's WWDC 2024 keynote at Apple Park.Like the company's other 2024 updates, macOS Sequoia includes Apple Intelligence baked in. The system-wide writing tools will work in Mail, Notes, Pages and third-party apps. The AI composition features can rewrite text, proofread and summarize content.Sequoia also includes Image Playground, Apple's image generation tool. It lets you create playful images" in several styles, including animations, illustrations and sketches. The feature is built into Apple's core apps and has a standalone app.Typing to Siri also arrives on the Mac in Sequoia, letting you switch between voice and text-based chats with the assistant. You can also use Apple Intelligence's ChatGPT integration, which asks for user permission to send your requests to OpenAI's bot.iPhone mirroring lets you use your Mac to view, control and interact with your phone. It lets you access iOS apps and receive notifications from your nearby handset. Your iPhone screen stays locked in Standby mode (one of iOS 17's updates) while you work on your computer.ApplemacOS Sequoia also adds a new Windows-like snap window arrangement tool. Drag an app near the screen's edge, and macOS will automatically suggest where to tile it. You can quickly place windows side by side or in corners. Sequoia will also include new keyboard and menu shortcuts to arrange tiles even faster.Apple highlighted new video conferencing features in its WWDC keynote. Presenter Preview lets you see what you're about to share with your call partner(s) before they see it, potentially saving folks some embarrassment. Meanwhile, Background Replacement (as its name implies) lets you swap out your real surroundings for built-in ones or your own photos in video calls.1Password's developers are likely squirming today with the introduction of Apple's new Passwords app. Building on iCloud Keychain and the passwords previously buried in Safari's settings (and system settings on iPhone and iPad), the standalone app will include all your saved credentials, verification codes and security alerts. It syncs across devices and will also appear on iOS, iPadOS, visionOS and even Windows (via iCloud for Windows).Safari also gets some upgrades. These include Highlights, which automatically detect relevant info from webpages, and Summaries, which provide AI-fueled recaps of web content in a redesigned Reader mode.macOS Sequoia has some gaming advancements, including improved Windows porting capabilities in Gameporting Toolkit 2. Apple said it will also be easier to port Mac games to iPad and iPhone, potentially giving developers an extra financial incentive to make or port titles for the Apple ecosystem.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/macos-sequoia-will-let-you-see-your-iphone-mirrored-on-your-macs-screen-180215857.html?src=rss
As expected, Apple's assistant is about to get much more helpful thanks to a load of new AI-powered capabilities. During WWDC, the company previewed a new version of Siri that can take actions on your behalf and understand a wide range of new queries.The new version of Siri has a better understanding of the apps on your phone and will be able to take more than 100 actions based on your activity and device. For example, you could ask Siri to show you specific photos or memories in your Photos app or to find tracking details for an expected delivery from an email in the Mail app.Siri will also be able to perform some tasks for you, like adding an address to a contact card, tweak a photo, or share a summary of your notes in an email. Third-party developers will also be able to take advantage of these new capabilities with a new app intents framework" that will allow them to tap into Apple Intelligence and make certain actions compatible with Siri.Another major change is that Siri will no longer be only a voice-activated assistant. Apple is adding a type to Siri" that makes it a bit closer to the experience of other generative AI chatbots.Apple didn't specify when all of the new Siri capabilities will launch, but said the new version of its assistant will be coming to iPhone, iPad and the Mac. The revamped Siri is part of Apple's push into personal intelligence," which Tim Cook described as the next big step" for the company.Developing...Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-new-ai-powered-siri-can-use-apps-for-you-184116016.html?src=rss
Last month, Apple's tablets got a major revamp with the arrival of the M4 chip, two size options for the iPad Air, updates to the Magic Keyboard and a new iPad Pro packing a fancy Tandem OLED display. And now at WWDC 2024, Apple is looking to flesh out the iPad's software with a number of fresh features heading to iPadOS 18, which is due out sometime later this year.To start, iPadOS is getting new customization options for your home screen including the ability to put app icons pretty much wherever you want. Apple's Control Center has also been expanded with support for creating multiple lists and views, resizing and rearranging icons and more. There's also a new floating tab bar that makes it easy to navigate between apps, which can be further tuned to remember your favorite software. Next, Screen Share is getting the ability to draw diagrams on someone else's iPad or share their screen for times like when you need to help a friend or relative with troubleshooting.AppleAfter years of requests, the iPad is now getting its own version of the Calculator app, which includes a new Math Notes feature that supports the Apple Pencil and the ability to input handwritten formulas. Math Notes will even update formulas in real time or saved in case you want to revisit them later. Alternatively, the Smart Script tool in the Notes app uses machine learning to make your notes less messy and easier to edit.General privacy is also being upgraded with a new feature that lets you lock an app. This allows a friend or family member to borrow your device without giving them full access to everything on your tablet. Alternatively, there's also a new hidden apps folder so you can stash sensitive software in a more secretive way.AppleIn Messages, Tapbacks are now compatible with all your emoji. Furthermore, you'll be able to schedule messages or send texts via satellite in case you aren't currently connected to Wi-Fi or a cellular network. Apple even says messages sent using satellite will feature end-to-end encryption.The Mail and Photos apps are also getting similarly big revamps. Mail will feature new categorizations meant to make it easier to find specific types of offers or info like plane flights. Meanwhile, the Photos app will receive an updated UI that will help you view specific types of images while hiding things like screenshots. And to help surface older photos and memories, there will be new categories like Recent Days and People and Pets to put similar types of pics all in a single collection.Audio on iPads is also getting a boost with a new ability for Siri to understand gestures for Yes" and No" by either shaking or nodding your head while wearing AirPods. This should make it easier to provide Apple's digital assistant with simple responses in areas like a crowded bus or quiet waiting room where you might be uncomfortable talking aloud.AppleHowever, the biggest addition this year is that alongside all the iPad-specific features, Apple's tablet OS is also getting Apple Intelligence. This covers many of the company's new AI-powered features like the ability create summaries of websites, proofread or rewrite emails or even generate new art based on your prompts.Apple says that to make its AI more useful, features will be more personalized and contextual. That said, to help protect your privacy and security, the company claims it won't build profiles or sell data to outside parties. Generally, Apple says it will use on-device processing for most of its tools, though some features do require help from the cloud.As its iconic digital assistant, Siri is getting a big refresh via Apple Intelligence. This includes better natural language recognition and the ability to understand and remember context from one query to another. Siri will also be able to help you use your device, allowing you to ask your tablet how to perform certain tasks, search for files or control apps and features using your voice.AppleSome examples of what Apple Intelligence can do is highlight priority emails and put them at the top of your inbox so you don't miss important messages or events. Or if you're feeling more creative, you can use AI to create unique emoji (called Genmoji). And in photos, Apple Intelligence can help you edit images with things like the Clean Up tool. Finally, for those who want the freedom to use other AI models, Apple is adding the option to integrate other services, the first of which will be Chat GPT.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.Developing...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ipados-18s-smart-script-uses-machine-learning-to-make-your-handwriting-less-horrible-175306533.html?src=rss
The rumors are true. Apple is adding a dedicated passwords manager app to most of its operating systems. These include macOS, iPadOS, visionOS and iOS. It'll even work on Windows by accessing the Passwords app via iCloud. That's pretty neat. There are way too many passwords out there.The first-party service is powered by iCloud Keychain and will compete with some heavy hitters in the space, like LastPass and 1Password. The simply-named Passwords app will be able to list various user logins and categorize them based on service type. For instance, banking passwords would be grouped differently than social media passwords. The app will also allow users to bypass manual password input by leveraging Face ID, Touch ID and autofill.It's worth noting that Apple already had a password manager, but it's not exactly beloved and has been buried in the settings page. This new app, however, is quite a compelling option for those tied into the Apple ecosystem. The company didn't say if the app was free or if it would require a monthly subscription.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-brings-a-full-featured-passwords-app-to-the-mac-iphone-ipad-and-windows-181607490.html?src=rss
Apple's iOS 18 update will have major changes for the Photos app. The company previewed a redesigned version of the app, that will organize all your photos around memorable moments like trips and events.The company described the changes as the biggest-ever" update for Photos. The new version of the app will ditch the current tabbed layout for Photos in favor of a single screen where you can view all your photos, albums and memories in one place. The familiar grid view of all your images will live at the top of the app, with intelligently organized collections" below.There's also a new filter button so you can look for specific types of pictures or easily weed out screenshots.Apple is also making the app smarter with its new collections, which will sort your photos into album-like views based things like on recent trips and the people you spend the most time with. The app is also more customizable with the ability to pin albums to a dedicated section of the app.Developing...Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-redesigned-the-photos-app-in-ios-18-to-intelligently-organize-your-memories-174959393.html?src=rss
At WWDC 2024, Apple revealed a few key updates coming to AirPods this year. First, the company is adding new head-nodding gestures called Siri Interactions on AirPods Pro that allow you to respond in crowded places where you'd rather not speak. You'll be able to nod affirmatively to silently say "yes" or shake your head for "no" and the voice assistant will react accordingly. In a demo, Apple showed a man in a crowded elevator shaking his head to tell Siri he didn't want to take a call from "Gam Gam." Siri Interactions aren't just for calls though. You'll also be able to interact with messages, manage notifications and more without uttering a sound.Apple explained that it will also improve Voice Isolation on the AirPods Pro this year. As you might expect, this should improve how the earbuds pick up your voice in noisy places. During a demo, a person on a call during their commute passing a loud construction site remained clear on the other end. Apple says this update brings the "game-changing" Voice Isolation from Mac, iPhone and iPad to AirPods Pro.Both Siri Interactions and Voice Isolation are powered by the Apple H2 chip that's inside the second-gen AirPods Pro. Rumors have speculated that the component will make its way to other AirPod models this year, but for now, the Pro version is the only option for the advanced earbud features that the company has developed. Those include Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness.Lastly, Personalized Spatial Audio is expanding to gaming. Available on AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking will deliver the immersive sound that has previously been available for TV shows, movies and music. Apple says you can expect 16-bit, 48kHz voice performance for chatting during gaming sessions on the AirPods Pro, in addition to "the best wireless audio latency Apple has ever delivered" for playing on mobile devices with that AirPods model.All of these new AirPods features will likely arrive this fall alongside iOS 18.Catch up here for all the news out of Apple's WWDC 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/airpods-pro-update-adds-head-nodding-gesture-to-silently-respond-to-siri-174141928.html?src=rss
Nokia just announced that it has made the first-ever audio and video call using 3D spatial audio. This is actually a big deal, as all phone calls currently made over a cellular network are monophonic, so there's no possibility for spatial audio.This call, however, was placed over a cellular network using the 3GPP Immersive Video and Audio Services (IVAS) codec, which lets people hear sound spatially in real-time." For the uninitiated, spatial audio splits into multiple channels to make it sound like it's coming from different directions. This technology has become pretty popular when streaming music, but video calls are certainly a unique use-case scenario.However, you won't be able to call up a family member to argue about politics in glorious 3D audio just yet. The IVAS codec is part of a forthcoming update to 5G networks, called 5G Advanced. This upgrade will purportedly offer faster speeds, improved energy efficiency and more accurate cellular positioning. 5G Advanced will technically make spatial calls possible, but Reuters says it'll be a few years before cellular networks start offering the service.The only possible hurdle is that the IVAS codec will only enable spatial audio in smartphones with at least two microphones, though that's most of them nowadays. Nokia says the vast majority" of phones should offer support for spatial audio calls once the cellular carriers get on board.Also worth noting, this technology wasn't developed by the Nokia that sells cheap handsets. The cellphone brand was licensed to HMD some years back. This is the research and technical arm of the company, so there's no need for jokes about flip phones.Nokia isn't the only company trying to expand uses for spatial audio. Audible now offers spatial audio on select original titles and podcasts and Netflix recently brought the technology to hundreds of TV shows and movies.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nokia-just-made-the-first-phone-call-using-3d-spatial-audio-165043937.html?src=rss
The fourth-gen Amazon Echo smart speaker in white is on sale for $65, and the deal includes a Sengled Bluetooth smart light bulb. That's two smart thingamajigs for the price of one. This is a discount of 40 percent. It's not the lowest price ever for the Echo speaker, light bulb or not, but it's close.This Echo easily made our list of the best smart speakers. We really appreciate just how loud this thing can get, especially when compared to competing speakers. The bass is punchy and everything sounds great, though we do wish the high frequency range was a bit more prevalent. You can, however, buy two of these speakers and pair them up for stereo sound. That will certainly get the party going.Echo speakers feature the ubiquitous digital assistant Alexa, which makes for a mighty fine alarm clock and will absolutely sing a song about cats if asked nicely. If you have plenty of smart gadgets in the home and you're already tied to Amazon's ecosystem, grabbing this speaker is a no brainer.The included Sengled S1 is also no slouch, as it made our list of the best smart LED light bulbs. It features auto-pairing with Alexa devices, plenty of different colors and a dimmable range from 5 percent to 100 percent. All of this can be adjusted via voice control. We enjoyed our time with this light bulb, though the Sengled mobile app won't be winning any UI design awards.This is part of a larger sale on Amazon that includes Echo speakers, Echo Show displays, Blink video doorbells, Fire tablets and a whole lot more. For instance, the cute-as-a-button Echo Pop compact smart speaker is on sale for just $20, which is 50 percent off.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-sale-bundles-the-echo-speaker-with-a-smart-light-bulb-for-only-65-151119591.html?src=rss
While we're not expecting Apple to announce any new hardware at its Worldwide Developers Conference this week, there's always a chance that the company may have a modest refresh or two up its sleeves. Perhaps Apple is trying to clear out existing stock to make way for new models, which could be the reason why the M2 Mac mini has dropped to a record low of $479. That's $120 off the regular price of $599.This lil' desktop machine has eight CPU cores (with a CPU speed of 3.2 GHz) and 10 GPU cores in its M2 chipset, along with 8GB of unified memory, so it should be able to handle basic to moderate tasks with relative ease. It also has 256GB of onboard storage. (The 512GB model is $100 off at $699, with a clippable coupon shaving off another $9.01.)On the connectivity front, the M2 Mac mini has dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, gigabit ethernet support and a headphone jack. You'll still need to add on peripherals such as a mouse, keyboard and monitor to get it up and running, but the M2 Mac mini is a nice Mac desktop for the price.Those looking for some more power, however, may be more interested in the M2 Pro Mac mini. It's $150 off at $1,150 (be sure to redeem the $50 clippable coupon!). We reviewed this model in early 2023 and gave it a score of 86. We liked the performance, design, quiet operation and array of ports (you get an additional pair of USB-C slots here). However, upgrading beyond the base model is expensive, while we found having to reach around to the back to plug anything in somewhat cumbersome.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-m2-mac-mini-drops-to-a-record-low-of-479-142921001.html?src=rss
There's a bit of an Apple price war happening between Amazon and B&H Photo, which is good news for buyers. The 13-inch MacBook Air M3 with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM just hit its lowest price yet at both Amazon and B&H, falling to just $899 or $200 (18 percent) off the retail price. In addition, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip (18GB of RAM, 512GB storage) is on sale for $1,699, or 15 percent ($300) off at Amazon and B&H - another all-time low.We think the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip is the best laptop for most people and, unsurprisingly, it's also our top pick for the best MacBook you can buy. Engadget's Devindra Hardawar gave it a score of 90 in his review when the computer came out last month. It's slim and light yet sturdy, and the keyboard and trackpad are comfortable to use.The bright display is accurate and the battery will far outlast a typical workday. The new chip gives the notebook a performance boost according to our benchmark testing, which should help power users but may not be noticed as much for productivity chores. The only potential drawback is USB-C ports located only on one side, but otherwise this is a fantastic laptop, especially at that price. Again, you can purchase it either at Amazon or B&H Photo Video in multiple colorways. Note that other configurations (more RAM and storage) are also on sale, though with lesser discounts.If extra performance is required, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with 18GB or RAM and 512GB storage is on sale for $1,699 - again, at both B&H and Amazon. Apple released the new 2023 MacBook Pro last November with three different M3 chips: the standard, M3 Pro and M3 Max. The mid-range model is what's currently on sale and offers a 14.2-inch screen, a Liquid Retina XDR display and a magic keyboard with touch ID. It has 18GB of RAM, a 14-core GPU and 512GB of SSD storage. Plus, it has 18 hours of battery life.This is a solid model for creators as the M3 Pro has power to burn and it's very connection-friendly with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, a headphone jack, a MagSafe charging port and even an SDXC card slot. If you've been looking to buy, it's best to act soon before the deal ends or stock runs out.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-macbook-air-m3-drops-to-an-all-time-low-of-899-124519802.html?src=rss
After announcing several new Xbox Series X consoles including a $600 special edition model, Microsoft may be working on another one. In response to a question from IGN about portable gaming, Xbox chief Phil Spencer said "I think we should have a handheld."That's a vague comment, but it certainly shows that the company is taking notice of all the portable PC gaming devices out there like the new Rog Ally X from ASUS and no doubt Sony's PlayStation Portal remote handheld. Such a device would also make a lot of sense for the Xbox platform."The future for us in hardware is pretty awesome, and the work that the team is doing around different form factors, different ways to play," he said. He then deferred any future questions about consoles to Xbox president Sarah Bond.Spencer hypothetically kiboshed the idea of a Sony-like internet- or cloud-only device when asked about it, though. "I think being able to play games locally is really important," he said.This by no means confirms the development of such a device and it wasn't the right event for such an announcement in any case. "Today was about the games... but we will have a time to come out and talk more about platform, and we can't wait to bring it to you."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-xbox-chief-phil-spencer-i-think-we-should-have-a-handheld-123046226.html?src=rss
Microsoft showed off three new Xbox models yesterday at Summer Game Fest 2024, but anyone following the mass of leaks last year may have been surprised at how little changed for this mid-cycle refresh.In case you didn't follow the FTC-Microsoft trial last year, things went pretty well for Microsoft, ending in the company acquiring Activision Blizzard. One thing that didn't go so well was redaction. Nestled among the court filings was a trove of internal documents, including one on the future of Xbox - or at least, one potential future, considered by Microsoft in May 2022.Xbox head Phil Spencer told the FTC in October 2022 that the Roadmap to 2030 document was a presentation from our devices organization to the gaming leadership team," and said he disagreed with some of its projections. The slide deck outlined the team's plan for its mid-cycle console refresh, codenamed Fairhaven, and its next-gen console. Essentially a pitch deck, then, comprising some things that were definitely happening and others that needed funding to become reality.Let's look at what was (un)announced:Chronologically, May 2024 was to be a debut month for Sebile, the codename for an all-new controller. Sebile would ship with new wireless tech, which the document referred to as Xbox Wireless 2." More exciting for gamers, it would also have advanced haptics like the Switch and PS5 controllers, and a Stadia-like direct-cloud connection for reducing input latency on Xbox Cloud Gaming.Sebile, a proposed new Xbox controller from a May 2022 slide deck that leaked last year.MicrosoftThen, Xbox's big summer '24 show (which in the real world happened yesterday) would bring a pair of new Xbox consoles. First, a cylindrical Xbox Series X redesign codenamed Brooklin, which was set to be a $500 2TB all-digital device with WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 and a Sebile controller packed in. Second, Ellewood, a $300 Series S refresh with 1TB of storage, with the same improved wireless connectivity and the Sebile controller, but no big redesign.Brooklin, a proposed new Xbox Series X SKU from a May 2022 slide deck that leaked last year.MicrosoftThe document noted that all three of these devices were funded" but also gave two eventualities: one that would limit Fairhaven investment" and another that would deliver the full Fairhaven vision." The former would pare down the new controller's features and cloud connections, but would supposedly include a new industrial design.Ellewood, a proposed new Xbox Series S SKU from a May 2022 slide deck that leaked last year.MicrosoftFast forward to Summer Game Fest 2024, where we appeared to get neither of these futures. We already figured that the Series S wouldn't be refreshed, given Microsoft has been selling a $350 1TB version since last fall. But Microsoft's vision for the Series X was unclear, and what we ended up with was a pretty weird pair of configurations: a 1TB all-digital Series X console priced at $450 and a 2TB special edition Series X with a disc drive, priced at $600. If there's improved wireless connectivity Microsoft hasn't mentioned it, and we've currently heard nothing of Sebile; the new consoles were announced with standard Xbox controllers.Taken alone, these are fine refreshes. But Microsoft was in the unenviable position of competing with not only Sony and Nintendo, but also itself, in the form of those leaked plans.Microsoft's actual 2024 Xbox refresh.MicrosoftA $450 all-digital 1TB console and $600 2TB special edition are disappointing in comparison to Brooklin, the 2TB $500 all-digital console with a shiny new controller the leaked deck was pitching. The $450 console is almost a price increase, given Microsoft and third-party retailers regularly sell the original 1TB Series X for that price. (It should be mentioned that Sony has actually increased the price of the PlayStation 5, with the discless model priced at $450 vs. the $400 it cost at launch.) The $350 1TB Series S is essentially the same console we got last fall, but that too represents bad value compared to the leaked $300 refresh.Plans change, especially plans dated May 2022. But how they change can give an idea of how Microsoft is thinking about Xbox right now. Back in 2022, Series X and S sales were broadly keeping pace with Xbox One. That is no longer the case. Estimates put the total number of Xbox Series consoles sold since the November 2020 launch between 28 and 29 million. Even in the US - Microsoft's strongest market by far - retail analysts Circana say the Xbox Series consoles are trailing Xbox One by 13 percent.One particularly telling slide in the May 2022 document predicted 25-29 million of the mid-cycle consoles could be sold in three years. As of today, that would mean more-than doubling the lifetime sales of the platform. At the time, Microsoft's hardware team was probably not expecting sales to be as dismal as they currently are. Microsoft ended the last console generation with around 58 million Xbox One consoles sold, which was a marked decline from the 85-plus million Xbox 360s it moved.A leaked slide from May 2022 suggested sales volume would depend on the amount of investment Microsoft makes on its mid-gen Xbox refresh.MicrosoftMicrosoft doesn't talk console sales figures unless it has something positive to say, but third-party analysis suggests a typical week for Xbox in 2024 involves moving 60-80K consoles, with Nintendo doubling that figure and Sony often tripling it. Put in plain words: Xbox falls further and further behind every week. It's unlikely we'll find out what Microsoft's expectations for the refreshed consoles are, but it's probably not 25-29 million.The tough thing for team Xbox is Sony and Nintendo are broadly walking their own road and doing pretty well at it. Sony has sold 58 million PlayStation 5s and is preparing to launch a pro variant that will be significantly more powerful than the Xbox Series X. It's also opening up to publishing on PC and just announced a game that's coming to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo has sold over 140 million Switches, regularly outsells Xbox and has pre-announced a sequel console that will assumedly be able to handle current-gen games (including Call of Duty!) with fewer cutbacks. Meanwhile, Microsoft is struggling to sell its existing consoles, faltering in its plan to grow Game Pass subscriptions and seemingly squashed its hardware team's dream of a bold mid-cycle refresh.One thing it does have is game developers making games. Outside of the underwhelming new console SKUs, Microsoft's big Summer Game Fest was a reminder of just how much of the industry it now owns, and how many games it currently has in development. We got updates on Fable, Perfect Dark and the future of Gears of War. We got a new Call of Duty and a new Doom. There are still countless developers under its wing that don't have an announced" project, and big games previously announced that didn't make an appearance, like Marvel's Blade from Arkane Lyon, The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian, Everwild from Rare and Hideo Kojima's OD. Microsoft's game studios have a lot going for them, but with all of their titles coming to PC (and several to PlayStation and Switch) great games might not turn into great console sales.Phil Spencer has spoken on last year's leaks a couple of times. He nearly-immediately took to Twitter to say that so much has changed" - which was clearly true, though maybe not for the better. Separately, he told a court something pretty wild about Microsoft potentially leaving the gaming business if Game Pass didn't get a better mix of players by 2026 or 2027. Game Pass growth, as of February this year, has been seriously tapering off, so... uh-oh?I don't for a second think Microsoft would spend the best part of $100 billion on developers to exit gaming, but I do sincerely believe that its console business is on life support, and it doesn't need shiny new hardware to make a ton of money on gaming. The gaming leadership team that was pitched Sebile, Ellewood and Brooklin in May 2022 clearly agrees.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsofts-xbox-refresh-cant-compete-with-its-leaked-roadmap-121301282.html?src=rss
ASUS has been busy at Computex 2024 this year, announcing not only the ROG Ally X gaming handheld but a bunch of new laptops. Now, the company has moved on to monitors, unveiling several interesting entertainment and content creation models, including its first Google TV and 8K ProArt displays.The 27-inch 4K (IPS) ZenScreen Smart MS27UC is the company's latest entertainment display. As mentioned, it's ASUS' first with Google TV and includes a remote with a built-in Google Assistant microphone.ASUSAlong with what ASUS calls "ultra-thin display bezels and a small footprint stand," it has built-in front output 5W Harman Kardon speakers and a headphone port on the back. One unusual feature is a rear shelf that lets you store a keyboard, mouse and the Google TV remote. Other features include a DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 port, USB-C (PD 90W), dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0 and Miracast.ASUSASUS also dropped some impressive (and probably fairly expensive) ProArt displays aimed at content creators. The first is the ASUS ProArt Display 8K PA32KCX, what ASUS calls "the world's first 8K mini-LED professional monitor." The 32-inch display offers 7,680 x 4,320 resolution and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits (sustained brightness 1,000) nits, thanks to the Mini LED tech with 4,096 local dimming zones.It offers professional level specs, with a delta E of less than 1 in terms of color accuracy, true 10-bit color and 97 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 (HDI) color gamut. It includes a built-in motorized flip colorimeter for auto- and self-calibration, while offering dual Thunderbolt 4 ports with up to 96 watts of power delivery (along with HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 ports).ASUSMeanwhile, The 27-inch ProArt 5K PA27JCV and 32-inch PorArt 6K PA32QCV displays support 5,120 x 2,880 and 6,016 x 3,384 resolutions respectively. ASUS doesn't say what display technology is used, but they have something it calls "LuxPixel" technology that uses an anti-glare coating that offers a "paper-like" effect without softening the image.Both offer 99 percent DCI-P3 coverage, a Delta E less than 2 and DisplayPortTM over USB-C(R) with 96 W power delivery. Both appear to be fairly low profile and come with with metal stands.ASUSFinally, ASUS showed off some new dual-screen displays that may appear in laptops or standalone monitors down the road. Those include the ZenScreen Duo OLED, that features a 14-inch 16:10 FHD dual-0LED display that can fold out to 21 inches for increased productivity. So far, there are no prices are delivery dates set for any of the new displays.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/asus-zenscreen-smart-27-inch-monitor-is-its-first-with-google-tv-120015995.html?src=rss
Today's the day you've all been waiting for: WWDC 2024 kicks off with Apple's customary opening keynote. That's where you'll catch all the hot news about what the company is cooking up for the next 12 months. Fortunately for you, we'll have (metaphorical) front-row seats to all the action, so point your browsers to our liveblog to learn all about what's coming.- Dan CooperThe biggest stories you might have missedXbox's Fable reboot will come to Xbox Series X/S and PC next yearCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 kicks it back to the '90s on October 25Gears of War: E-Day is the origin story of the Gears franchisePerfect Dark reboot trailer shows Joanna Dark hunting bad guys in a near-future CairoDoom: The Dark Ages hits PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC in 2025You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Microsoft moves to resolve privacy concerns over its Recall featureMaking it opt-in defeats the point, but at least you can.Microsoft thought it would be a good idea to constantly monitor everyone's desktop activity with its Copilot AI. Now everyone has pointed out the litany of reasons that's a terrible idea, the Windows maker is backtracking. It has pledged to make Recall opt-in and to lock the information about what you're doing behind a biometric key via Windows Hello. Is that enough?Continue Reading.An all-digital Xbox Series X is coming this holiday seasonThe yoke to Microsoft's digital games service just got tighter.MicrosoftSummer Game Fest was an opportunity for Microsoft to refresh its console lineup with a new disc free Series X. The all-digital model comes in robot white and has 1TB of storage for all those beefy downloads. It'll set you back $450 but, if you're already in that territory, surely it's better to wait for the disc-enabled Series X to go on sale, which it does quite frequently.Continue Reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-live-from-apples-wwdc-event-111554178.html?src=rss
As houses and apartments get more energy efficient, they also get more airtight, limiting air exchange with the outside world. That's partly why it's widely accepted that indoor air is often far more polluted than outdoor air. Mucking up our indoor air are factors like synthetic building materials, cleaning products, pet dander, cooking emissions and smoke. Opening windows can lower the levels of most pollutants, but bad weather, wildfires and high pollen-count days mean you can't always do so. That's where air purifiers can help. They use a combination of specialized filters, fans and sensors to suck in particulate matter, VOCs, dust and odors to make things much more breathable. We tested a handful of models to come up with the best air purifier for most people, along with a small-space option, a premium pick and even an air purifying plant (just to keep things interesting).What an air purifier can and can't doThere are three key categories of air pollution that adversely affect the quality of the air you breathe: volatile organic compounds (VOC), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and carbon dioxide. VOCs are emitted gasses that can come from cleaners, off-gassing plastics, paint, solvents, fragrances, cooking food and, ironically, air fresheners. VOCs are most closely related to odors you can smell. High levels can irritate your breathing passages, cause headaches and may become cancer-causing over time. Air purifiers with activated charcoal components can help clean VOCs from the air.Particulate matter is usually discussed as PM2.5 and PM10, with the numbers indicating particle size in microns. This is dust, dirt, mold, smoke and, again, emissions from cooking food. Higher levels of PM can lead to respiratory irritation, allergy symptoms, respiratory infections and potentially lung cancer. Air purifiers that include a HEPA or particle filter can help remove airborne particles from your space.Carbon dioxide is what humans and pets breathe out. Elevated levels can cause dizziness and lethargy. But no air purifier can reduce CO2 levels because the molecules are so small. Plants can help to some extent, but really the only solution is opening a window or otherwise ventilating the space.There are no federal standards for air purifiers, but the state of California does require all air cleaners sold in the state to be certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). All of our top picks here have met that certification.What to look for in an air purifierHEPA filters and other filter typesAn air purifier isn't an overly complicated device. Smart modes and app connectivity aside, they're not much more than a filter and a fan. The latter pulls air through the former to capture particulate matter and other unhealthy elements so you don't breathe them in. The type of fan can make some difference - it should be powerful enough to pull in air quickly, but also quiet enough on its low speed so it can unobtrusively clean all day long.Filters, on the other hand, are more varied. Most have two or more layers, typically a pre-filter, an activated carbon component and sometimes a particle or even a true HEPA filter. The pre-filter is made from a fine mesh that captures big stuff like pet hair and larger chunks of dust. Sometimes this part is separate from the more technical filters - which means you can remove and clean it without needing to swap out the whole thing. For all-in-one filters, you can vacuum the outside of it to remove larger particles.An activated carbon or activated charcoal layer is extremely porous, tightly packed coal that presents a vast amount of microscopic surface area to the passing air. Gaseous chemicals, VOCs and other molecules become lodged in the crannys and stick. This is the layer that gets rid of odors.Nearly all types of air purifiers include a particle filter. Some of those can be called "true HEPA" (high-efficiency particulate air) filters - meaning they conform to the standards set out by the DOE. Particle filters are made up of pleated masses of ultrafine fibers that force air to take a convoluted path in order to pass through. This traps and absorbs tiny molecules of smoke and dust, allergens like dander and pollen, and some viruses and bacteria.Since all of these air filters physically trap particulates, they'll eventually fill up and become less effective. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the filter every six months, while others claim a year-long life span. Most smart air purifiers will let you know in the app when it's time to replace. When you're considering a unit's cost, be sure to factor in the expense of replacement filters, which you may end up buying twice a year.Room sizeAir purifiers list their cleaning capabilities in terms of room size and frequency of air exchanges, sometimes listed as clean air delivery rate (CADR). For example, a smaller one might say it can exchange the air in a 500-square-foot room twice per hour. So that model should be able to pass all of the air in a 250-square-foot room through the filter every 15 minutes, but a 1,000-square-foot room would probably be outside its effective range. Of course, there's no standard for manufacturers to adhere to when it comes to these calculations, but typically, larger air purifiers can handle large rooms.Where you put the machine makes a difference, too. Since it requires airflow to effectively clean air, somewhere close to the middle of the room and at least a foot away from furniture, walls and other potential blockages is ideal. That's not always practical, so aim for getting it as close as you can to the center of your space while maintaining a one-foot clearance all around.ControlsIn our testing, we focused on Wi-Fi-connected smart" air purifiers with companion apps that can monitor air quality and adjust the fan settings as needed. Within the apps, you can control auto-clean settings, set timers and schedules and check the health of the filter as well. Most will remind you when it's time to get a replacement, and let you order one directly from the manufacturer through the app. You can also see the current and historical readings from the internal air quality (AQ) sensor. Most determine air quality through an optical particle meter, though some brands like Dyson and Molekule also include chemical sensors for VOC measurements. When levels of particulates become elevated, the fans switch up to high speed to move more air through until the quality improves.Most smart purifiers also work with voice assistants, so if asking Alexa to turn on your air purifier makes your life easier in some way, you can do so. If you don't want to talk to an AI or grab your phone to control your purifier, getting a unit with simple on-board controls is a good idea. These can be as basic as buttons with indicator lights or as elaborate as a touchscreen panel. At minimum, it's good to have a way to control the fan speed and turn on or off auto mode on the device itself.DesignAs we mentioned, sticking the device as close to the middle of the room is helpful for getting the best performance. That means you'll be looking at it a lot, so design considerations matter. Most purifiers are cylindrical towers with fan vents up top. Units meant for larger rooms are not small, weighing between 12 and 20 pounds and reaching two feet tall (or in the case of the Dyson Purifier Cool, three and a half feet). Some, like Coway's Airmega IconS, take on more furniture-like designs to blend in. Others, like Dyson's, are conspicuously designed to stand out.When an air purifier just isn't enoughThe most striking bit of knowledge I picked up from testing air purifiers is how effective opening windows can be on indoor air quality. What took an air purifier a half hour to clear out took mere minutes when I opened my front door and a few windows. Every variable measured by the air quality sensors, including VOCs, PM, and particularly CO2 levels (which air purifiers can't alleviate), improved dramatically after exposure to fresh air - significantly faster and better than any machine we tested. Even on very cold or very hot days, it might be worth it, even if your doors and windows are only open for a few minutes. True, my HVAC system had to work a little overtime afterwards, but venting a room was the most surefire way of getting air quality quickly back in the green. Of course, if the air outside is unhealthy from wildfire smoke or run-of-the-mill pollution, or if you're dealing with seasonal allergies, throwing open the windows won't work and an air purifier might be the best way to consistently clean things up.How we test air purifiersMy living room is not a science lab; there's far too much pet hair for that to be the case. Still, I went beyond just turning stuff on and sniffing the air by acquiring two consumer-grade indoor air quality monitors that performed well in laboratory assessments, the Element from Element from Awair and the uHoo Smart Air Monitor. I conducted burn tests in this medium-sized room by measuring the ambient air quality, then burned a brick of pinon incense for twenty minutes and measured the air again. Then I ran one purifier at its highest speed for thirty minutes and recorded levels, then ran the unit on the lowest setting for a half hour and remeasured. I made note of the sound levels using a simple iPhone app to compare one machine's noise level to the next.Over the course of a month, I used each unit in different scenarios (such as in the basements where the cat litter boxes are) and tried out each device's smart features, controls and auto modes. I also just lived with them and evaluated how they fit into everyday life. As new purifiers come on the market and as we become aware of other units that seem worthy of inclusion, such as Blueair we'll continue to test them and update this guide accordingly.Best air purifiers for 2024Other air purifiers we testedSensibo PureAt $229, and nearly always on sale for $130, I had the Sensibo Pure pegged as a contender for a budget pick. Unfortunately, replacement filters are $99 unless you subscribe to automatic shipments and many of the app features are behind a paywall as well. It's not certified by CARB and underperformed many of the other units in the burn test, though it did return the air back to a good" rating according to the air monitors after 30 minutes. The design is inoffensive, it's not overly loud and it does integrate with Sensibo's smart AC devices, so if you're already happy with one of those, this may be a decent option.Dyson Purifier CoolLike all Dyson products, this air purifier is dripping with design. It looks like no other unit on the market and it's up to you to decide whether you like that or not. I was indifferent to the looks, but appreciated the slick and informative app, which not only displays indoor air quality, it also shows what conditions are like outside, using a clever house graphic to differentiate the two sets of numbers. I also like that it detects VOCs as well as particulates and the auto mode seemed to read the room accurately. The air coming out of the fan did indeed feel cool, though at first had a strong plastic odor. Unfortunately, it was the lowest performing unit during two separate burn tests and had repeated connectivity issues.Molekule Air ProThe Molekule Air Pro comes from a brand that pays keen attention to aesthetics. It and the app have that Instagrammable, muted-modern look that countless clothing and bedsheet brands emulate these days. That style doesn't come cheap as the Air Pro costs over $1,000 and requires $140 filters. The company came under fire for and had to stop making many of its claims about its filtration system, which may have led to it filing for bankruptcy last year. Molekule is still able to tout its patented photoelectrochemical oxidation, which the company says destroys pollutants at a molecular level." In my tests, it performed almost as well as the others in improving VOC and PM2.5 levels. But it's also very loud: When auto mode kicked the fan into high gear, it would make me tense. Also, I found the unit often indicated bad" or very bad" levels when my two monitors indicated the air quality was actually pretty good.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-air-purifier-120040002.html?src=rss
Empire of the Ants, a real-time strategy game with dazzlingly photorealistic insects and other critters, arrives on November 7. Although the game doesn't sound like it's exactly a remake, it comes from the same publisher (and draws from the same source material) as the 2000 RTS game of the same name. The new version will be available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.Publisher Microids and developer Tower Five describe the new Empire of the Ants as a 3D real-time strategy game with progressive difficulty." Set in Fontainebleau forest, you'll play as 103,683e, a determined ant on a mission to protect its colony." You'll gather resources, secure outposts, fortify your armies and execute the queen's plans.The game was built using Unreal Engine 5 and will have scalable difficulty. The RTS title has a narrative storyline, and its gameplay will adapt to different seasons and day-night cycles.Microid / Tower FiveWith Empire of the Ants, every decision is critical, every move is strategic, and every conquest reflects your skill in exploring a world where the smallest beings wield immense power," the game's press release reads. Strategy, exploration, battles, and even alliances with the local wildlife will be necessary to emerge victorious from the myriad challenges that await players."Like its Y2K predecessor, the 2024 version of Empire of the Ants is based on the 1991 novel of the same name (in its English translation) by French author Bernard Werber. (Le Fourmis is its title in the author's native French.) The book, the first in a trilogy, follows a society of ants and a parallel world of humans in early 21st-century Paris, covering themes of communication, cooperation, environmental impact and social hierarchy.You can check out the trailer below ahead of the game's November 7 release date. You can wishlist the game now on Steam, GOG, Epic and the PlayStation Store.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/empire-of-the-ants-will-let-you-explore-a-photorealistic-bugs-life-this-november-080022224.html?src=rss
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