The next iPhone will be revealed later today at 1PM ET. Well, iPhones. We're expecting four new devices: the base iPhone 16, a larger iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 16 Pro and another beastly iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Pro models might get slightly larger screens, with the regular Pro likely to move to 6.3 inches from 6.1 inches, while the Pro Max should hit 6.9 inches, an increase from 6.7 inches. The iPhone 16's camera module could be getting a design refresh too.While those are likely to be the stars, Apple doesn't miss a chance to showcase even more of its hardware, especially if it ties to the iOS juggernaut. There are plenty of rumors of redesigned AirPods, as well as an updated Apple Watch.Apple's next standard smartwatch may have a bigger screen more in line with the Ultra. The company may also introduce a new band system with new connectors that are easier to swap out.The event kicks off at 1PM ET. You can follow along on our liveblog, where we'll also be highlighting our first impressions on all the new products.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedYouTubers built a six-foot tall working replica of the iPhone 15 Pro MaxHow to use a VPN on RokuThe Apple Watch Ultra 2 drops below its Prime Day priceYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The new Philips Hue Sync Box can keep up with your game console's frame ratesIt supports up to 8K at 60Hz for video and 4K at 120Hz for gaming.A more future-proof Philips Hue Sync Box has arrived, with support for HDMI 2.1. The box plugs into your TV and creates a light show synced with your onscreen content. Now, it can match 4k at 120Hz, so it's better suited to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The box can sync with up to 10 color-capable Hue lights. As with the previous model, you can tweak the brightness and intensity to your liking in the Hue app.Continue reading.YouTube terminates five right-wing channels accused of links to RussiaIt included Tenet Media and four other channels.YouTube has pulled five right-wing political channels believed to be connected to the Department of Justice's Russia-linked US media indictments this week. The platform pulled the channel of Tenet Media, the company reportedly implicated in the indictment. The DOJ accused Russian operatives of paying the media organization to spread disinformation designed to influence the 2024 US elections. On Wednesday, the DOJ indicted two employees of RT (formerly Russia Today), a Kremlin-backed media outlet. They were accused of illegally funding a Tennessee-backed media organization, now all but officially confirmed as Tenet Media.Continue reading.LG flaunts its stretchable displays on the catwalkIt's designed for garments, wearables, handbags and more.LGThis is LG's Stretchable tech. It appeared as part of clothing and bag concepts at 2025 Seoul Fashion Week. Korean designers added displays to the front of garments, sleeves and clutch bags. LG had to tweak the tech, of course. It built the substrate material from a silicon similar to that used in contact lenses. Screens on clothing, though? Groundbreaking.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-what-to-expect-from-apples-iphone-16-event-later-today-111546403.html?src=rss
If the compact Wonderboom is just too big for you, Ultimate Ears' latest speaker will supplant that model as the smallest entry in the company's current lineup. The Miniroll is, as the name suggests, a diminutive version of the company's flat, circular Roll design. This new Bluetooth option weighs less than a pound and can tuck into tight pockets. Or, as UE was keen to show off in the marketing materials, the speaker can attach to nearly anything thanks to a built-in, flexible strap. Once again, Ultimate Ears retained the prominent volume buttons as a key design element. Power and play/pause buttons are on the left side, with that latter control also assisting with track skipping and activating PartyUp mode (with Auracast) for syncing with other UE speakers. Along the bottom edge, there's a USB-C port for charging. Even though that component is fully exposed, the speaker is IP67 rated dust and waterproof, plus it's able to withstand drops of nearly four feet (1.2 meters). Ultimate Ears Don't let the smaller size fool you, the Miniroll still packs a punch. The speaker can manage up to 85.5dB of volume, which is impressive for a unit of this stature. That big sound is powered by one 45.6mm active driver and one 37.75mm x 65mm passive radiator. Ultimate Ears promises up to 12 hours of battery life on a charge, plenty of juice for an all-day party on the go. There's a sustainability element here, too. The fabric made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester and the speaker contains at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled plastic parts. The Miniroll is available now for $80 (80/70) in black, blue, grey and pink color options. At this price, the speaker is the most affordable in the current UE range - in addition to being the smallest. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/miniroll-is-the-smallest-ultimate-ears-speaker-but-it-packs-big-sound-070144756.html?src=rss
Indie developer Gardenfiend Games just released a gorgeous plant horror game that its team describes as Hollow Knight meets Titan Souls." Perennial Order, which dropped on September 6 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, is a 2D boss rush game that pulls inspiration from Dark Souls, Princess Mononoke, and the art style of Magic: The Gathering. Its protagonist is an undead knight with a pitcher plant for a head (or maybe it's a helmet?) and a stinger grafted onto one arm, and the hostile world it's set in is crawling with plant-infested monsters. Needless to say, I downloaded it immediately.You can play Perennial Order solo or with a friend - it offers both local and online co-op, with cross-platform support. There are 15 bosses to face, and with one-hit-death combat, your every move is critical. Thankfully, you respawn close to where you died, because you'll probably be doing a lot of that with some enemies.I've spent a little bit of time with Perennial Order this weekend, and it is really captivating. The environment and music are beautiful, creating an atmosphere that's wonderfully bleak as you explore between boss fights and piece together the lore through interactions with talkative NPCs. I love a good plant horror, and Perennial Order does not disappoint.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/perennial-order-is-a-stunning-2d-soulslike-filled-with-plant-monsters-thatll-kill-you-in-one-hit-203121605.html?src=rss
Many of Apple Intelligence's most anticipated features will arrive in a trickle well after the release of iOS 18, and according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, it could be December before the iPhone will offer things like AI-generated images and custom emoji. Apple Intelligence is expected to make its debut with iOS 18.1, which Gurman has previously reported will likely come sometime in October. Genmoji and the upcoming image-generation tool, Image Playground, reportedly won't be among its first features. Instead, Gurman predicts they'll ship with iOS 18.2, which he says is slated for December.Apple showed off Genmoji and Image Playground during its June event. With Genmoji, users will be able to create custom emoji from a prompt or make emoji of real people based on their photos. Image Playground, on the other hand, will let users generate images in three styles: Animation, Illustration and Sketch. It'll be offered as a standalone app and as a built-in tool in other apps, including Messages.All of these features will eventually be available for the iPhone 16 line, which will be unveiled on Monday Sept. 9 at Apple's It's Glowtime event, as well as other recent iPhone models. Apple Intelligence will also bring ChatGPT integration, message summarization, a smarter Siri and more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/genmoji-and-image-generation-tools-for-iphone-reportedly-delayed-until-ios-182-152526073.html?src=rss
Mattel's latest Polly Pocket collab is a Stranger Things playset that houses the fictional town of Hawkins and the Upside Down in a compact shaped like a walkie-talkie. The set, introduced this week, contains figurines of the characters Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will - plus a very non-threatening interpretation of the Demogorgon. Pre-orders for the $50 collectible are now open through Mattel Creations and major retailers, including Walmart and Target. It's expected to start shipping later this month.MattelThe set also includes a few tiny walkie-talkies, bikes, a wig for Eleven and a little stack of waffles. There's even a mini sensory deprivation tank on both sides of the compact with a cutout that the Eleven figurine fits into, and a chalkboard with a crack for the Demogorgon to burst through. The packaging it comes in is designed to look like a retro tape recorder. It's all painfully cute. Now can we get that fifth season sometime soon, please?This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/theres-a-stranger-things-polly-pocket-set-and-its-design-is-really-clever-204550807.html?src=rss
Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, has issued a recall for Ram 1500 pickup trucks from 2019 and 2021-2024 due to a software problem in the anti-lock brake system. The bug could cause the anti-lock brake system to disable the electronic stability control system," which in turn can increase the risk of a crash, according to a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).The recall affects roughly 1.46 million vehicles worldwide, Reutersreports, with the vast majority of them being in the US. So far, there are no known injuries or crashes relating to the issue, according to Reuters. If the problem arises, owners should see the ABS, ESC, Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning lights go on upon starting the truck. Per Reuters, the software issue does not affect foundational braking.The NHTSA says notices will be mailed to owners in early October, and they'll have to bring their trucks into a dealership so the ABS control module software can be updated. As of now, the vehicles do not comply with the federal motor vehicle safety standard for electronic stability control systems, the NHTSA says. If you're unsure whether the recall applies to your truck, you can plug your information into the NHTSA recall search tool to find out.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/over-14-million-ram-1500-trucks-recalled-to-fix-a-bug-in-the-anti-lock-brake-system-172807815.html?src=rss
Meta is making changes to WhatsApp and Messenger in order to add interoperability with third-party chat apps - in Europe, that is - and the company is sharing how it would work in a new post. Based on previous reports, Meta started working on enabling third-party chats last year after the rules of the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA) came into effect. Under the DMA, "gatekeepers" or the largest companies and platforms in the industry have to ensure interoperability with third parties since they're prohibited from favoring their own services.The company said it gathered feedback from potential partners and other stakeholders to help it shape the new experience. To start with, it designed new notifications for WhatsApp and Messenger that would alert users when a third-party service becomes available for integration. Users will be able to choose which third-party apps they want to receive messages from, and they can choose to either get those messages in a separate inbox. Those who don't mind getting messages alongside their Messenger or WhatsApp chats can choose a combined inbox instead.The apps will also provide rich messaging features to third-party chats, so they're not purely a text affair. Users will be able to react to and directly reply to specific messages, see an indicator while the other person is typing and get read receipts. Next year, they'll be able to create group chats, and in 2027, they can voice and video call their friends on other apps."Users will start to see the third-party chat option when a third-party messaging service has built, tested and launched the necessary technology to make the feature a positive and secure user experience," Meta explained, so not all people's preferred messaging app will be integrated with WhatsApp and Messenger. The company said, however, that it will keep collaborating with other services to expand its availability.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/meta-shares-how-whatsapp-and-messenger-will-interact-with-other-messaging-apps-in-the-eu-143021269.html?src=rss
Boeing's Starliner capsule has undocked from the ISS at 6:04PM Eastern time on September 6 and has safely and gently landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico at 12:01AM on September 7. Calypso, as the capsule is called, didn't have a crew onboard despite flying to the ISS with astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore. NASA decided in late August that the astronauts will come home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule in February for safety reasons. Wilmore and Williams merely provided support for the capsule's trip back home and watched the coverage of its re-entry and landing. "You have got this. We have your backs, and you've got this. Bring her back to Earth," Williams told ground control.The astronauts flew on the Starliner as part of its first crewed flight meant to prove that the spacecraft is ready to regularly ferry humans to the ISS alongside the SpaceX Crew Dragon. They were only supposed to stay on the orbiting laboratory for eight days, but the spacecraft's service module started leaking helium on their way there. Some of the module's thrusters had malfunctioned, as well. The Starliner uses helium to pressurize its fuel tanks and to push propellant to its thrusters that maneuver the spacecraft. Over the past three months, engineers on the ground conducted tests on Starliner with help from the astronauts, but NASA ultimately decided to have the Starliner fly back home uncrewed because it didn't have confidence with the certainty of the thrusters' performance.During the Starliner's post-landing press conference, Boeing was noticeably absent, and three NASA officials talked about the landing instead. When asked why Boeing wasn't there and if the relationship between the agency and the company was affected by Starliner's issues, the representatives said that Boeing deferred to NASA to represent the mission. They said that all three of them talked to Boeing's managers and that the company is committed to working with the agency. Steve Stich, the manager for Commercial Crew Program at NASA Kennedy, also added that while all of them were happy with the landing, a part of them still wishes it would've gone the way they'd planned, with the astronauts coming home aboard the Calypso.Stitch, Joel Montalbano (NASA's deputy associate administrator for Space Operations Mission Directorate) and Dana Weigel (NASA's manager for the International Space Station) all praised the Starliner for its successful docking and "bullseye landing." They said they learned a lot from the mission, which apparently achieved 85 to 90 percent of its objectives, and stressed that it's important to remember that things don't always go as planned when it comes to test flights.It'll take around two weeks to get the Calypso back to NASA grounds and around a week after that to get all the data from the capsule. NASA and Boeing are planning to analyze the data the spacecraft gathered across its systems from its time in orbit until its undocking, reentry and landing. They will then use that information to design improvements for the spacecraft.Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to inspect the thrusters that malfunctioned on the flight to the ISS, as well as the "doghouses" that contained the spacecraft's propellant system where the helium had leaked. They had always planned to discard the service module that contained those elements upon re-entry, and it's now at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. NASA previously said that the issues cropped up because the propulsion equipment got hotter that expected while flying, causing container seals to loosen and to leak helium. In case of the thrusters, the heat apparently caused seals to bulge and restrict propellant flow, leading to outages.Stitch said he wouldn't call those problems insurmountable - they just need some time to address them. They also can't tell at the moment if Starliner's next flight would have a crew onboard. For now, the agency is preparing for other missions. By the end of September, the SpaceX Crew-8 mission vehicle is scheduled to undock and come back to Earth, while the SpaceX Crew-9 mission is expected to launch. Crew-9 will fly with two astronauts instead of four to make room for Wilmore and Williams for its return flight in February.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/boeings-starliner-is-back-without-the-astronauts-it-flew-to-the-iss-110013469.html?src=rss
Talks between Apple and the union for the Apple Store in Oklahoma City have produced a tentative agreement that includes new benefits and protections for its staff. The Penn Square Mall Apple Store in Oklahoma City announced they've reached a tentative labor agreement" with Apple and the Communication Workers of America (CWA), according to a released statement.Terms are still being negotiated between both parties but the benefits for the store's employees would be significant. The three-year agreement reached between the CWA and Apple would give employees a wage increase of up to 11.5 percent. An Apple spokesperson said by email that if the contract is ratified, employees would receive a 4 percent raise in the first year of employment and 3 percent in the second and third year each based on employee performance."The agreement would also offer employees guaranteed paid time off and health and other benefits, allow employees to have a say in scheduling and the establishment of a safer and more democratic workplace" through a grievance submission process with committees overseeing safety, health and working relations. An Apple spokesperson also noted the scheduling options were provided to all other US stores in 2022."The Oklahoma City Apple Store had been working to form a union since 2022, becoming the second Apple Store in the US to unionize. Employees passed a strike authorization vote in August that passed with unanimous support and started a picket in front of the store ahead of bargaining sessions in early September. Workers will vote to ratify the tentative agreement on September 22.CWA District 6 Vice President Derrick Osobase called the agreement achievement a historic day for our members who have now secured a contract at the world's most profitable company."The Apple Store in the Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland became the first location to unionize. Members approved the union in 2022 with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). A store in the Cumberland Mall in Atlanta, Georgia tried to form a union in 2022 with the CWA but workers called it off accusing Apple of committing repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/an-apple-store-in-oklahoma-city-is-close-to-approving-an-union-agreement-for-its-workers-222605021.html?src=rss
If you remember the reMarkable 2 when it was announced in March 2020, you'll be excited to hear about its successor: the reMarkable Paper Pro. This new distraction-free writing slate comes with a nicer chassis, faster internals, a bigger display and most importantly, a color screen. If you're unfamiliar, reMarkable is the standard bearer for those devices standing in the delta between high and low tech. It's an e-paper slate with a stylus (or keyboard) for reading, writing or editing your own documents, or annotating PDFs. The focus is giving you a calmer space to get some Serious Work(TM) done, free from the distractions a proper" computer or tablet would harbor. The company has always maintained that its devices offer you a way to feel like you're working on paper, without actually having to work on paper. Despite its age, the reMarkable 2 has been a mainstay in our E Ink tablets guide as the pick that's the best option for most people. The only other products currently in the conversation are the Kobo Libra Colour and Onyx Book Tablet Note Air 3 C. Those models also boast color screens and stylus compatibility, but both have smaller displays - 7 inches diagonally on the former and 10.3 inches on the latter. The Paper Pro is a little more than an inch taller and a quarter inch wider than its predecessor but has been able to cram in a lot more stuff. The rM2 had a 10.3-inch monochrome display while the Paper Pro's stretched to 11.8-inches. reMarkable's Chief Design Officer Mats Solberg explained his team worked to reduce the size of the bezels and chin to accommodate the bigger display. Image by Daniel Cooper / Engadget Whereas the older model stuck to a rigid notion of post-iPad design language, the new Paper Pro gets a more austere look and feel. The edge band is sharper, if still comfortable to hold, and Solberg emphasized the grooves etched into the sides. He explained they both evoke the idea you're holding a sheaf of paper, and to add some much-needed grip to a device this thin. There's dramatic changes on the inside, with a new 1.8Ghz quad-core Cortex A53 paired with 2GB RAM and 64GB storage. For comparison, the rM2 had a 1.2GHz dual-core chip, 1GB RAM and just 8GB storage. As soon as you turn the Paper Pro on, you'll see the benefits of the new silicon, with far faster response times. You even get proper animations during the setup process. But the real showstopper here is the display, which uses a modified version of E Ink's Gallery 3 technology dubbed Canvas Color." It means the display holds a series of ink particles inside each pixel - a White, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow - as in most regular printers. reMarkable says the display is similar to newsprint and it's an apt analogy with clear, if muted, colors on show. Image by Daniel Cooper / Engadget The technology can also dither colors, mixing each ink particle to produce up to 20,000 other colors, and the colors can also be layered. It means you can highlight sections of text in the same way you'd use a highlighter on paper, the more layers you draw, the darker the color. Of course, the benefit of using a digital device is that you can highlight it as many times as you want without anything becoming soggy. As usual, reMarkable has leveraged a limit and turned it into a benefit, offering you colors with a heavy dose of restraint. And you don't really need your retinas to be burned inside out if you're trying to organize your thoughts ahead of a big meeting. Although, having been spoiled by so many well-made displays of late, I do wish the colors popped a little bit more than they do. The Paper Pro is the first reMarkable with a frontlight, finally letting you get some work done in dark environments. Solberg explained the frontlight was one of the hardest challenges to build without harming the distance between the stylus tip and the display itself. He said the team was determined to keep the gap between the pen and the display to under one millimeter, and succeeded. The last two slates had active displays but passive styluses, but the Paper Pro gets an Apple Pencil-esque active stylus as well. It'll charge while magnetically connected to the side of the bezel and the new components help improve accuracy and latency. Solberg said the reMarkable 2 had an input latency of 22ms, and he had targeted 15ms for this model. He was proud to say that the team smashed that target, with the Paper Pro's latency down to just 12ms. And yet, for all the headline changes, it's the added responsiveness that's the really compelling feature. The rM2 was no laggard, but the faster input really does help sell the idea you're sketching out ideas on paper. You can always credit the company for sweating the details, too, like the fact you can add a highlight or handwritten annotation to typed text that will follow the text around as you edit it. Image by Daniel Cooper / Engadget The company is launching a new Type Folio to go with the Paper Pro which, like its parent, is bigger and gets backlit keys. I'll admit, I was one of a few critics who loved the older model and felt that it made the right compromises to keep its size small. The new model is able to take advantage of the extra room to offer better spacing and a palm rest. It's fundamentally the same keyboard as before, and I found it pretty easy to work on for long stretches of time. I'm also impressed with reMarkable's commitment to making the Paper Pro easier to repair and refurbish than older models. Solberg explained that the Paper Pro is far more modular under the hood, with easily-swappable components. He ruled out end-user repairs, but said that the only adhesive used in the chassis are two replaceable glue strips to keep the battery in place. Repairs would likely need to take place at reMarkable HQ or a partner distributor, but the fact it's been designed with an eye on long-term repair at all is laudable. reMarkable Paper Pro is available to order today from reMarkable's website and Best Buy, priced at $579 with the standard Marker and $629 for the Marker Plus. If you want to add a case, and I heartily recommend you do, it'll cost you between $89 and $179, depending on your material choice. And if you want to add the Type Folio, you'll need to cough up an additional $229. The reMarkable 2 is remaining around as a lower-cost option (unsurprisingly, as it's a really good piece of kit) and will now be available with the standard Marker for $379. Of course, you and your wallet will have to decide if that's the sort of sum you can bear to part with, especially in these tightened times. With a product like this, the intentional choices and limits made means it'll always stack badly in a head-to-head with a similarly-priced iPad. The trick is to work out if you'll be more productive with less mental and physical clutter in your computing environment, and go forward from there. I've found, when I've got a lot of work to do and need to focus, it's a better way to hammer out first drafts than other devices I could name. Update, September 6, 4:43PM ET: This story was updated after its original publication to include a comparison to competing writing tablets with color screens. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/the-new-remarkable-paper-pro-adds-a-color-display-120059067.html?src=rss
Building just one smartphone from scratch would be a huge undertaking, even if the world is full of them. Now imagine trying to build one that's 100 times its normal size with nearly all the same forms and functions.YouTubers Matthew Perkins (DIY Perks) and Arun Maini (MrWhoseTheBoss) did exactly that, building a working replica of an iPhone 15 Pro Max. The completed project measured 6.74 feet tall and 440 pounds, earning the pair an official Guinness World Record.Perkins started his build with the screen, a massive undertaking that required converting a LG Signature 88-inch OLED TV into a responsive touchscreen. He commissioned a manufacturer to fabricate a piece of touch foil the size of the screen, which he fixed in place with an optically clear glue UV epoxy.The next challenge was finding a way to fit oversized versions of the phone's components in a frame: the speakers, three-lens camera array, the volume and power buttons and the special function button. He built a frame out of aluminum with a cross shaped support in the middle. The cameras especially weren't cheap, as Perkins opted to use both a Canon EOS R5 as well as a Sony RX10 Mark 4 to mimic the iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto lens. The frame was also designed to be permanently mounted to a similarly-scaled up phone stand so it could be rotated without giving the user a massive hernia.The only major component they couldn't recreate was the operating system, since Apple's iOS is closed-source. But using Android had two major perks: the Bliss OS recreated the feel of an iPhone home screen using a themed skin, and they could install Flappy Bird - something actual iPhone owners haven't been able to do in nearly a decade.The phone may be big but it appears to be just as functional as a handheld iPhone. Maini and a group of friends took the phone into the real world to test it out, and apparently it can make tap-to-pay purchases, send emails and make video calls. Functional or not, it's brave to bring a $70,000 phone onto the streets of London without a case.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/youtubers-built-a-six-foot-tall-working-replica-of-apples-iphone-15-pro-max-201507959.html?src=rss
YouTube confirmed its termination of five right-wing political channels believed to be connected to the Department of Justice's Russia-linked US media indictments this week. The platform pulled the channel of Tenet Media, which CNN reported to be the unnamed company implicated in the indictment. The DOJ accused Russian operatives of paying the media organization to spread disinformation designed to influence the 2024 US elections.A YouTube spokesperson confirmed the takedown and provided a statement to Engadget. Following an indictment from the US Department of Justice and after careful review, we are terminating the Tenet Media channel and four channels operated by its owner Lauren Chen as part of our ongoing efforts to combat coordinated influence operations," the company statement reads.According to YouTube, the investigation into the situation is ongoing, and the company will evaluate whether further actions are warranted as new information emerges. The company says it terminated over 4,000 YouTube channels in Q2 2024 as part of investigations into Russia-linked influence operations. YouTube works with Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) to identify bad actors and deplatform their channels and accounts accordingly.On Wednesday, the DOJ indicted two employees of RT (formerly Russia Today), a Kremlin-backed media outlet. They were accused of illegally funding a Tennessee-backed media organization, now all but officially confirmed as Tenet Media. DOJ prosecutors allege in the indictment that the media company's founders knew their funding came from the Russian government. Tenet Media is owned by Chen and her husband, Liam Donovan.The Washington Post reports that YouTube was Tenet's preferred platform for spreading propaganda videos aimed at US conservatives and featuring popular right-wing pundits. Those working with the organization included Benny Johnson, Tim Pool and Dave Rubin. The channels have even featured appearances from former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and RNC Chair Lara Trump. Pool and Rubin have reportedly denied knowledge that the Russian government was behind Tenet's funding.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/youtube-terminates-five-right-wing-channels-linked-to-the-dojs-russia-indictments-175432238.html?src=rss
It's a bit of a slow week for tech deals, if we're honest, as many of the better offers we're seeing this Friday are leftovers from last week's Labor Day sales. Still, there are a few discounts worth checking out: A four-pack of Apple's diminutive AirTag trackers are $24 off Apple's list price, for instance, while Keychron's C3 Pro, our favorite mechanical keyboard for those on a budget, is still at an all-time low of $25. Other picks from our guides to the best microSD cards and affordable wireless earbuds are on sale as well, as is Sonos' bag-friendly Roam 2 speaker and Elgato's new Stream Deck Neo control panel. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still buy today. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apples-airtags-falls-back-to-75-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-160757509.html?src=rss
Signify launched a more future-proofed Philips Hue Sync Box, the company's gizmo that plugs into your TV and creates a light show synced with your onscreen content. Unlike the original model from 2019, the upgraded box supports HDMI 2.1, making it better suited to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box supports resolutions up to 8K at 60Hz for video and 4K at 120Hz for gaming. In theory, this should make for a smoother, more screen-accurate Hue-powered light show. Even if you don't have a current-gen gaming console or compatible TV, the box will be better equipped to handle the gear you buy down the road.SignifyThe box can sync with up to 10 color-capable Hue lights. As with the previous model, you can tweak the brightness and intensity to your liking in the Hue app. The system also works with Alexa, Google and Siri voice assistants, a feature the company added to the older model during Covid lockdowns.The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box 8K is available now from the company's website. It costs $350.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/the-new-philips-hue-sync-box-can-keep-up-with-your-game-consoles-framerates-160025361.html?src=rss
What the Car? is a celebration of gaming through pure creativity, unfettered by the trappings of narrative logic. It isn't as wildly surprising as What the Golf?, and it doesn't have the VR immersion of What the Bat?, but like those previous two games, it still delivers more charm and whimsy than you'll see in most other titles. Why does the car have legs, you ask? Shut up and play.As we learned from What the Golf?, the developers at Triband Games specialize in subverting your expectations. So while your main character is indeed a car, you won't actually be racing on four wheels over boring old tracks. Your car sprouts legs early on, and that alone teaches you to expect the unexpected. Every level you play twists the weirdness a bit further: You'll get long legs; you'll get a rocket pack and springy legs; you'll be transformed into a soccer ball.What the Car?escalates its gameplay ideas to levels of sheer absurdity, but that's what makes it so great. After playing as a soccer ball for a bit, a few stages transformed into massive foosball tables. The game didn't need to pause and explain the changes or tell me which buttons to press. I intuited that the car's action button flipped the kickers, and my brain quickly remapped itself around foosball rules. This experience might be a little frustrating for those unfamiliar with the glory of tabletop soccer, but the game effectively uses failure as a teaching tool.After debuting on Apple Arcade last year, What the Car? is now available to PC players on Steam. And before you ask, yes, it does make for a truly perfect portable Steam Deck experience. While it's lush with a vivacious aesthetic and cartoonish characters, the game doesn't require advanced graphics hardware. (Its minimum specs? A mere 2.6GHz Intel Quad Core chip, 2GB of RAM and an 11-year-old GeForce GT 750M mobile GPU.)TribandFor the most part, levels in What the Car? aren't too difficult, but if you want more of a challenge you can try to get gold trophies by completing stages faster. That carrot was enough to make me replay stages multiple times. There's also a hidden collectible card in every stage, as well as other secrets.While Triband Games claims you'll be able to complete What the Car?'s core stages in three to five hours, it estimates it'll take another nine to 12 to get all of the secrets and gold trophies. There are also user-generated levels to consider (most of which are truly punishing), as well as a level builder for your own creations.TribandThese days, I'm often playing games side-by-side with my five year old daughter Sophia, who in the past few months has become absolutely Minecraft-pilled. (Is there some sort of Minecraft support group for tired parents who never got into it? Someone please hook me up.) She ended up sacrificing some of her limited gaming time just to watch me play What the Car?. She was thrilled when I was able to reach gold on particularly tough stages, and she couldn't stop laughing at the car's silly transformations and the damage it would inevitably inflict on bears populating the levels.I could relate to her sense of awe. Through its whimsy and delirious inventiveness, What the Car? is a testament to the power of games. It's something I felt at the same age, when I first encountered Super Marios Bros. on the NES. I didn't question why mushrooms made Mario get stronger, or why I could go down pipes. My daughter never questioned why the car had legs, or why the rules of the game kept changing. She was just thrilled to be along for the ride.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/what-the-car-hits-steam-and-its-still-one-of-the-best-games-youll-play-this-year-153007118.html?src=rss
Modern life dictates that the longer you have a smartphone, the crappier the battery gets. That's where power banks come in. One of Anker's leading 5K models for iPhones has dropped to its lowest price ever. The power bank is just $18, down from $26. This is a well-regarded product. As a matter of fact, a variant of this model made our list of the best power banks. It's portable and doesn't even beef up the iPhone too much when attached. It offers 12W fast charging and provides 20 hours of additional smartphone use. That's a whole lot of doomscrolling, or even joyscrolling. It folds up and can easily fit into a pocket or bag when not in use. The power bank also includes the company's ActiveShield safety system that continuously monitors the temperature to avoid overheating. While advertised as being for iPhones, the power bank is also great for iPads and even some retro iPods. That leads us to the main downside of this device. It uses a Lightning connector, so it won't work with newer iPhones or iPads with USB-C ports. However, iPhones had a Lighting connector all the way up to the iPhone 14. Statistically, you're probably reading this on one of those iPhones right now. If that's true, this is a great power bank for the money. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-anker-5k-power-bank-for-iphones-is-cheaper-than-ever-145758805.html?src=rss
Google is facing yet more scrutiny over its ad tech practices after the UK's competition watchdog provisionally found that the company is abusing its dominant market position. In a statement of objections, the Competition and Markets Authority said Google is harming competition in the country by using its dominance in online display advertising to favor its own ad tech services."The watchdog contends that, since 2015, Google has taken advantage of its dominant position in the sector as the operator of the Google Ads and DV260 ad-buying tools and DoubleClick For Publishers, a publisher ad server, to bolster its AdX advertising exchange. The CMA said that AdX is at the heart of the company's ad tech stack and it's the platform on which it charges the highest fees to advertisers - approximately 20 percent of each bid for ad space that's processed there.The CMA provisionally found that "the vast majority of publishers and advertisers use Google's ad tech services in order to bid for and sell advertising space" on websites. By preferencing its own services, "Google disadvantages competitors and prevents them competing on a level playing field to provide publishers and advertisers with a better, more competitive service that supports growth in their business," the CMA stated.The statement of objections gives Google a chance to provide feedback and the CMA will consider those representations before it makes any final decision. A case decision group comprising three people (none of whom were involved in the preliminary investigation or sending the statement of objections). If the CMA ultimately determines that Google has infringed competition rules, it can fine the company up to 10 percent of its global annual revenue and order legally binding changes to the ad tech business.Google disagrees with the decision and will respond accordingly," Dan Taylor, vice president of Google Ads, said. Our advertising technology tools help websites and apps fund their content, and enable businesses of all sizes to effectively reach new customers," Taylor told CNBCin a statement. Google remains committed to creating value for our publisher and advertiser partners in this highly competitive sector. The core of this case rests on flawed interpretations of the ad tech sector."Regulators elsewhere have taken aim at Google's position in the ad tech space. The European Commission accused the company of "abusive practices" in the online ad space in June last year. The EC said that a potential order for Google to implement remedies may not be enough to resolve those practices. That could lead to the EU breaking up Google's ad business.Meanwhile, the Department of Justice and Google are set to go head-to-head in a trial that will start on Monday. The agency has called for the company's ad tech business to be broken up, citing an alleged illegal monopoly Google holds in that market. Google failed in an attempt to have the case dismissed. Last month, a federal judge ruled that Google illegally abused a monopoly over the search industry following a trial that stemmed from a separate DOJ lawsuit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-watchdog-claims-googles-ad-tech-practices-are-harming-competition-144944451.html?src=rss
LG's stretchable displays that we first saw at CES 2023 have made a new public appearance at a fashion show, the company announced. The tech - which LG now calls Stretchable - appeared as part of clothing and bag concepts at 2025 Seoul Fashion Week.The displays were added to the front of garments, sleeves and clutch bags designed by Korean designers Youn-Hee Park and Chung-Chung Lee. "We have been able to design future fashion concepts with new materials that have never existed before," Park said.Stretchable displays can be pulled, bent and twisted, so they go a step farther than the bending and twisting displays used in foldable smartphones. To make them more supple, LG built the substrate material from a silicon similar to that used in contact lenses, with microLEDs smaller than 40-micrometers for the light source. LG notes they can be stretched from 12 to 14 inches or about 20 percent.Flexible wearable tech has been a much researched feature for fashion and even things like invisibility cloaks. South Korea's government created a national project to test their commercial potential for new types of wearable tech across multiple industries. The main challenge has been to make it more like fabric instead of stiff plastic, but LG seems to have at least partially cracked the problem.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/lg-flaunts-its-stretchable-displays-on-the-catwalk-140053981.html?src=rss
Telegram has quietly edited its FAQs to remove language stating that it doesn't moderate private and group chats, as reported by CoinDesk. A section with the heading "There's illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?" previously stated that content in chats and group chats remains between participants. Now, though, the section says that "all Telegram apps have 'Report' buttons" that will give a way for users to flag illegal content for the app's moderators. Users only have to tap the message on Android, or press and hold it on iOS, and choose the Report option. They can also take note of links to the content they want to report and send an email to the service's takedown email address (abuse@telegram.org).The change comes after Telegram chief Pavel Durov published his first public comment following his arrest on his channel. Durov was arrested at an airport in France in late August as part of authorities' investigation into the lack of moderation on the app and its failure to curb criminal activities. He was already released from custody, but he was charged with "complicity in distributing child pornography, illegal drugs and hacking software" on the messaging app, as well as "refusing to cooperate with investigations into illegal activity on the Telegram."French authorities apparently told Durov that he was arrested because they didn't receive any responses from Telegram about their investigation. That was surprising, the app's founder explained in his post, because Telegram has an official representative in the EU and an email address publicly available for anyone. He also said that French authorities had numerous ways to reach him for assistance and that he even previously helped them establish a Telegram hotline to address threats of terrorism in the country. In addition, he called the French authorities' decision to "charge a CEO with crimes committed by third parties on the platform" they manage a "misguided approach." No innovators will build ever new tools, he said, he they can be held responsible for the potential abuse of those tools.Durov also talked about how Telegram defends the basic rights of people, especially in places they're violated. In Russia, for instance, Telegram got banned when the service refused to hand over encryption keys that will allow authorities to spy on users. He said the service takes down "millions of harmful posts and channels every day," publishes transparency reports and maintains direct hotlines with NGOs for urgent moderation requests.The CEO admits, however, that Telegram has room for improvement. Its "abrupt increase in user count" to 950 million "caused growing pains" that made it easier for criminals to abuse its platform. Telegram aims to "significantly improve things in this regard" and has already started the process internally. Presumably, this change in its rules is part of the messaging service's efforts to address authorities' accusations that it has failed to prevent criminals from using its app. To note, service reported earlier this year that it has 41 million users in the European Union, but officials believe it lied about its user numbers to avoid being regulated under the Digital Services Act (DSA).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/telegram-will-allow-users-report-illegal-content-in-private-chats-130053441.html?src=rss
You can get a Max subscription at half the amount it costs other subscribers in the US if you're a college or a university student. The streaming service is bringing back its student discount promo that it also offered back in July. If you can verify that you're in college or university with UNiDAYS, you can now get Max - with ads, anyway - for $5 instead of $10 per month. You can easily sign up for a UNiDAYS account for free if you don't have one yet to be able to grab the deal, as well as promotional offers from other companies like Apple, Microsoft and Uber Eats. After Max verifies your status, you'll get a discount code that you can then redeem for the discounted subscription. Formerly known as HBO Max, the streaming service offers classic HBO series and newer HBO titles created for streaming. You'll be able to watch HBO Originals like The Last of US, House of the Dragon and Euphoria. But you can also stream old titles in the service's offerings, including Friends, South Park and Rick and Morty. Of course, you'll also be able to watch whatever movies the company has on offer, including Dune and Barbie. Max will keep charging you the same amount as long as you're a student. You will have to reverify your status every 12 months, however, so you will lose access to the discount eventually. Of course, if you'd rather not watch your shows and movies with commercial breaks, you can get the Ad Free version of Max for $17 a month. The more expensive Ultimate Ad Free version will cost you $21 a month, but it'll allow you to stream on four devices at once instead of just two, to keep 100 downloads for offline viewing instead of just 30 and to stream in 4K UHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and HDR 10 for select titles. 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/entertainment/streaming/max-is-giving-college-students-in-the-us-a-50-percent-discount-again-123029469.html?src=rss
Puzzle games come in a range of styles, from mindless relaxation machines to hardcore logical quagmires, and we have a little bit of everything in this list. From classics like Threes! and Braid to new-school entries like Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and Escape Academy, there's always a puzzle game to play between meetings, during a slow Sunday afternoon or with a group of friends on the couch. Here we've compiled some of the best puzzle games to activate your brain in new ways or unwind after a long day. Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-puzzle-games-120011342.html?src=rss
After plenty of testing, we've got some final thoughts on Google's latest foldable. In this episode, Cherlynn and Devindra are joined by Michael Fisher (AKA YouTube's MrMobile) to discuss the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and why it feels like a far more mature device than the previous Pixel Fold. Also, we dive into some of the biggest news from IFA 2024, like Intel's Core Ultra 200V chips and Acer's crazy Project DualPlay laptop concept with a built-in gamepad.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!Topics
Sony shared a first glimpse of its plans to celebrate PlayStation's 30th anniversary, and it seems PS5 Pro is coming to the party. Its decorative logo includes an image of the rumored upgrade to the current-gen PS5 console. Zoom between the S of the PlayStation logo and the 3, to reveal a different rectangle to the PS5s that appears elsewhere. The main change appears to be a differently proportioned console - if this is the Pro, it'll be shorter than the OG PS5 - and have more stripes across the body, making it look a lot like the PS5 Pro rendering leaked in late August. How much, though? And how much more powerful?- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedPrime Video's much-needed overhaulAdobe's Photoshop can now generate AI images via prompts like Dall-E or MidjourneyFujifilm GFX 100 II: The king of medium-format mirrorless camerasYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!DJI Neo hands-onA powerful and lightweight $200 drone.EngadgetDJI's much-leaked $200 drone is for content creators and casual users alike. It's tiny and easy to use thanks to novice-friendly propeller guards, palm takeoff and voice control. It has a suite of powerful features, like ActiveTrack, Quick Shots, FPV controller support, smartphone control and the ability to record yourself with the DJI Mic 2. The Neo's 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery is incredibly light but supports up to 17 minutes of fly time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world. It's reasonably priced too.Continue reading.Astro Bot PS5 reviewOne of the best games Sony has ever made.SonySony might have finally made a cute in-house official PlayStation mascot. It may have found its Mario. However, Astro Bot is not just for kids. It feels purpose-built for video game fans. According to Engadget's Jessica Conditt, it's a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and an excellent introduction to the language of games.Continue reading.Even the NSA has a podcastYou can access No Such Podcast on all major platforms.The National Security Agency has a podcast to bring people to the table from across the agency to discuss our role as a combat support agency, our foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, and so much more." The podcast is far from Edward Snowden-level sharing. The NSA's chief of strategic communications, Sara Siegle, is quick to add that some of the agency's work is too sensitive to discuss. The first episodes have focused on cybersecurity and the agency's role in finding Osama Bin Laden.Continue reading.Balatro is coming to iOS and Android later this month.Say goodbye to your free time.Get ready to get addicted.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-did-sony-just-reveal-the-ps5-pro-design-111516898.html?src=rss
The Starliner is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station and to make its way back to Earth at 6:04PM Eastern time today, September 6. If the weather cooperates and the spacecraft leaves the ISS as planned, it will be landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico with the help of parachutes to slow its descent and inflated airbags at around 12:03AM ET on September 7. While the ground teams at Starliner Mission Control in Houston and at Boeing Mission Control Center in Florida can control the spacecraft remotely if needed, it will be an uncrewed, fully autonomous flight for the Starliner.NASA recently announced that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the astronauts that headed to the ISS aboard the Starliner for its first crewed flight, will be coming home on a SpaceX Crew Dragon instead. Wilmore and Williams flew to the ISS in June and were only supposed to spend a little more than a week on the orbiting laboratory. On the way there, however, five of the spacecraft's maneuvering thrusters had failed, and its helium leak problem that previously caused its launch to be pushed back had worsened. Engineers on the ground conducted tests with help from the astronauts on the ISS to determine whether the Starliner was safe for the crew to ride back to Earth. In the end, NASA decided that it's safer for Wilmore and Williams to come home on a SpaceX vehicle, because "there was too much uncertainty" around the Starliner's thrusters.The space agency will cover Starliner's return live on NASA+, the NASA app, its website, and you can also watch it below. Coverage of the undocking procedure will start at 5:45PM ET, while coverage for the spacecraft's deorbit burn, entry and landing will start at 10:50PM. NASA will also livestream Starliner's landing on September 7, starting at 12AM ET.As for the SpaceX Crew-9 mission that's replacing the Boeing's vehicle on the ISS, it's scheduled to launch no earlier than September 24. Instead of flying with four astronauts as planned, it will fly with two - NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov - to leave two seats empty for its return flight with Wilmore and Williams in February 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/boeings-starliner-is-coming-back-without-a-crew-on-september-6-140023545.html?src=rss
Withings is announcing the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant, a 39mm version of its ScanWatch Nova smartwatch. It comes in titanium silver and a two-tone silver and gold. For those with smaller wrists, this watch should be a more comfortable fit than the standard 42mm option.The elegant timepiece mixes analog features with modern digital ones. A small OLED screen on the top half of the watch helps you tell the time quickly and can also display health metrics, but there are mechanical hands for a classic look. It's also water resistant up to 50 meters (5 ATM) and has a five-link stainless steel bracelet for improved outdoor durability. The battery lasts for 30 days but there's no info about the charging time.Withings outfitted this health-tracking smartwatch with a medical-grade electrocardiogram to check your heartbeat for irregularities. The watch can also detect temperature fluctuations, blood oxygen levels, breathing disturbances overnight and measure sleep quality. By pairing the watch with the app, it can also count your steps, calories burned, elevation and workout routes via the app.The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant will be available starting in early November. Those who want to purchase the watch in person can do so in the US, EU and UK at selected retailers. The new watch is priced at $600, 600 and 550, respectively, an identical price to the ScanWatch Nova.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/withings-introduces-a-39mm-version-of-its-scanwatch-nova-smartwatch-060056915.html?src=rss
Tesla has tweeted its roadmap for the remaining months of 2024 and early 2025, revealing that Full Self-Driving could be available in Europe and China in the first quarter of next year, if it gets the proper approval from each region's respective regulators. Company chief Elon Musk previously said that he expects to receive regulator clearance from the regions by the end of the year. The Wall Street Journal reported in April that authorities in China had already tentatively approved the launch of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software in their country. It's not quite clear where the company stands with European Union regulators at the moment.In a response to the original post, Musk added that he's hoping for FSD to be approved in Right-Hand Drive markets by the end of the first quarter or by early second quarter next year. Since he's presumably talking about RHD markets in Europe and China, then he's pertaining to the UK, Hong Kong and Macau.
The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and several other countries have signed an AI safety treaty laid out by the Council of Europe (COE), an international standards and human rights organization. This landmark treaty, known as the Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, opened for signature in Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the first legally binding international agreement aimed at ensuring thatAI systems align with democratic values.The treaty focuses on three main areas: protecting human rights (including privacy and preventing discrimination), safeguarding democracy, and upholding the rule of law. It also provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, promoting innovation, and managing potential risks.Besides the US, UK and the EU, the treaty's other signatories include Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino, and Israel. Notably absent are many major countries from Asia and the Middle East, and Russia, but any country will be eligible to join it in the future as long as they commit to comply with its provisions, according to a statement from the Council of Europe.We must ensure that the rise of AI upholds our standards, rather than undermining them," said COE secretary general Marija Pejinovi Buri in the statement. The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text - the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and which ensured that it benefits from multiple and expert perspectives.The treaty will enter into force three months after five signatories, including at least three Council of Europe member states, ratify it. The COE's treaty joins other recent efforts to regulate AI including the UK's AI Safety Summit, the G7-led Hiroshima AI Process, and the UN's AI resolution.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-us-uk-eu-and-other-major-nations-have-signed-a-landmark-global-ai-treaty-232119489.html?src=rss
NBC is offering a discount on its Peacock Premium streaming service. Until September 6, you can get four months of access to the ad-supported tier of the streaming platform for $5 per month. This deal nets you more than 30 percent off the list price for the plan during that time frame; the Peacock Premium access tier normally costs $8 a month. To take advantage of the reduced price, customers can sign in to the Peacock platform and use the code TGIF. Once you've signed up, the plan can be canceled at any time. The TGIF offer can't be combined with any other deal, and it does not extend to current subscribers on the Peacock Premium and Premium Plus plans. As mentioned, the deal is only available for a limited window, through September 6. Now is a good time for football fans to try out Peacock. The NFL season begins this weekend and Peacock will have exclusive access to the Packers v. Eagles game being played in Sao Paulo, Brazil on September 6. The network's exclusive stream of the AFC Wild Card game in January set records as the most streamed live event in history, reaching 27.6 million viewers. On top of the seasonal sports content, Peacock is also home to several fan favorite TV sitcoms including The Office, Parks and Recreation, and New Girl. It also hosts original programming such as Poker Face. 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/entertainment/streaming/peacock-premium-is-only-5-for-four-months-for-a-limited-time-225157876.html?src=rss
Today, Sony shared a first glimpse at what it has planned to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the PlayStation and it seems likely that a PS5 Pro will be a part of the party. Hidden in the marketing material is what may be an image of the rumored upgrade to the current-gen PS5 console. Zoom in between the "S" of the PlayStation logo and the "3" of 30th and you'll see a console similar to a PS5 that doesn't quite match the look of any past or present PlayStation product.
Baldur's Gate 3 modding has arrived for PC players. After a closed alpha in June and an open beta in July, the long-awaited Patch 7 - which may be the game's last big update - is now available. It lets you play around with user-created weapons, armor, classes and subclasses, spells, dice skins and just about anything else you can imagine.Mods are available through an official (mod.io-powered) in-game Mod Manager and external channels. We will never prevent modding outside of our own official pipeline," Larian Studios wrote. But the developer says its officially approved mods are targeted for stability and cross-platform compatibility. It'll also ensure a smoother experience, at the cost of more script-focused modding, which can still be done outside of our pipeline," the studio wrote.Larian said earlier this summer that Baldur's Gate 3 mod support would arrive on PC first, with Mac and console support shortly after." But the developer clarified in an update today that console (PS5 and Xbox Series X/S) and macOS players can expect Patch 7 in October.That presents some short-term compatibility issues. If you want your game save files to work across PC and console, you'll need to hold off on installing Patch 7 on your PC. However, cross-platform save compatibility will return in October when the update lands on PlayStation, Xbox and Apple devices.Larian StudiosLarian says Patch 7 in Baldur's Gate 3's console versions will include an additional curation process" to determine which mods will be available across platforms. While not all PC mods will become available for console, we'll be sure to publish guidelines to help you understand what kind of content will pass our necessary checks - without blocking any unsupported creative mods on PC - so that we can continue supporting the modding community both inside and outside our official pipeline," the studio wrote.Mod support isn't just a fun bonus for gamers; it's also a way for Larian to keep the game alive as it pivots resources to new projects. CEO Swen Vincke said in June that opening the gates to modding would allow the developer to say ok, now it's yours fully,'" according to Eurogamer. Of course, the studio will still push updates for critical bug fixes, but today's arrival of Patch 7 is likely the first stage of calling it a wrap on one of 2023's best games.If you want to roll up your sleeves and dive into Baldur's Gate 3 mods, Larian has created a series of handy tutorials for modding guidelines, getting started with mods, creating mods and browsing others' creations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/you-can-now-officially-create-and-use-baldurs-gate-3-mods-on-pc-210006703.html?src=rss
Microsoft announced it has partnered with StopNCII to help remove non-consensual intimate images - including deepfakes - from its Bing search engine.When a victim opens a "case" with StopNCII, the database creates a digital fingerprint, also called a "hash," of an intimate image or video stored on that individual's device without their needing to upload the file. The hash is then sent to participating industry partners, who can seek out matches for the original and remove them from their platform if it breaks their content policies. The process also applies to AI-generated deepfakes of a real person.Several other tech companies have agreed to work with StopNCII to scrub intimate images shared without permission. Meta helped build the tool, and uses it on its Facebook, Instagram and Threads platforms; other services that have partnered with the effort include TikTok, Bumble, Reddit, Snap, Niantic, OnlyFans, PornHub, Playhouse and Redgifs.Absent from that list is, strangely, Google. The tech giant has its own set of tools for reporting non-consensual images, including AI-generated deepfakes. However, failing to participate in one of the few centralized places for scrubbing revenge porn and other private images arguably places an additional burden on victims to take a piecemeal approach to recovering their privacy.In addition to efforts like StopNCII, the US government has taken some steps this year to specifically address the harms done by the deepfake side of non-consensual images. The US Copyright Office called for new legislation on the subject, and a group of Senators moved to protect victims with the NO FAKES Act, introduced in July.If you believe you've been the victim of non-consensual intimate image-sharing, you can open a case with StopNCII here and Google here; if you're below the age of 18, you can file a report with NCMEC here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-joins-coalition-to-scrub-revenge-and-deepfake-porn-from-bing-195316677.html?src=rss
New Mexico's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Snap, accusing the company of failing to protect children from sextortion, sexual exploitation and other harms on Snapchat. The suit contends that Snapchat's features "foster the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and facilitate child sexual exploitation."The state's Department of Justice carried out a months-long investigation into Snapchat and discovered a vast network of dark web sites dedicated to sharing stolen, non-consensual sexual images from Snap." It claims to have found more than 10,000 records related to Snap and child sexual abuse material in the last year alone," and says Snapchat was "by far" the biggest source of images and videos on the dark web sites that it examined.In its complaint [PDF], the agency accused the app of being a breeding ground for predators to collect sexually explicit images of children and to find, groom and extort them." It states that "criminals circulate sextortion scripts" that contain instructions on how to victimize minors. It claims that these documents are publicly available and are actively being used against victims but they have not yet been blacklisted by . . . Snapchat."Furthermore, investigators determined that many accounts that openly share and sell CSAM on Snapchat are linked to each other through the app's recommendation algorithm. The suit claims "Snap designed its platform specifically to make it addicting to young people, which has led some of its users to depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues."The Snapchat complaint follows a similar child safety suit that the state filed against Meta last December.Our undercover investigation revealed that Snapchat's harmful design features create an environment where predators can easily target children through sextortion schemes and other forms of sexual abuse," Attorney General Raul Torrez said in a statement. Snap has misled users into believing that photos and videos sent on their platform will disappear, but predators can permanently capture this content and they have created a virtual yearbook of child sexual images that are traded, sold and stored indefinitely. Through our litigation against Meta and Snap, the New Mexico Department of Justice will continue to hold these platforms accountable for prioritizing profits over children's safety."A Snap spokesperson sent the following statement to Engadget:
YouTube is developing new tools to protect artists and creators from the unauthorized use of their likenesses. The company said on Thursday that new tech to detect AI-generated content using a person's face or singing voice is in the pipeline, with pilot programs starting early next year.The upcoming face-detection tech will allegedly let people from various industries detect and manage" content that uses an AI-generated depiction of their face. YouTube says it's building the tools to allow creators, actors, musicians and athletes to find and choose what to do about videos that include a deepfake version of their likeness. The company hasn't yet specified a release date for the face detection tools.Meanwhile, the synthetic-singing identification" tech will be part of Content ID, YouTube's automated IP protection system. The company says the tool will let partners find and manage content that uses AI-generated versions of their singing voices.As AI evolves, we believe it should enhance human creativity, not replace it," Amjad Hanif, YouTube's vice president of creator products, wrote in a blog post. We're committed to working with our partners to ensure future advancements amplify their voices, and we'll continue to develop guardrails to address concerns and achieve our common goals."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/youtube-is-making-tools-to-detect-face-and-voice-deepfakes-191536027.html?src=rss
Apple is finally bringing its Find My feature to South Korea in 2025. The company says the service will launch at some point during the spring, according to a translation of a press release published by AppleInsider.For years, South Korea has been just about the only country without access to Apple's tracking network. So what changed? It looks like one reason behind the move is an influx of user complaints. These complaints have merit, as Apple sells AirTags in the country. Without the Find My network, AirTags are basically useless little silver pucks.Apple has not addressed the reason behind the sudden change of heart. According to the user petition, the company has kept the feature disabled due to "internal policy." The country has strict privacy regulations, so that could be what led to the aforementioned internal policy. In the past, Apple has said that Find My was absent from South Korea because the company was unable to export high-precision map data due to local laws, as reported by MacRumors.To that end, South Korea is particularly protective of geographic data. Associated legal restrictions have long been a thorn in the side of international platforms like Google Maps and Apple Maps, as real time mapping data is tough to come by. This has also impacted games that rely on mapping data, like Pokemon Go.However, Find My already works in the country's outlying territories like Baengnyeongdo and Ulleungdo, so who knows exactly why it's taking so long for Find My to reach the mainland. In any event, this is good news for South Koreans who want to keep an eye on their precious belongings. Here's hoping the platform works as intended.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/apples-find-my-finally-comes-to-south-korea-in-2025-185754477.html?src=rss
Astro Bot is not just for kids. Team Asobi clearly designed it for players of all skill levels, and that includes children and newbies, but at its core Astro Bot feels purpose-built for video game fans. It's a skill-driven celebration of everything that makes the format so memorable and joyful, and at the same time, it's an excellent introduction to the language of games. With precise and responsive controls, adorable characters, and an exciting variety of mechanics and environments, Astro Bot is easily one of the best games that Sony has ever produced. Astro Bot is technically the fifth entry in the Astro universe, though it's the series' first fully fledged - and fully priced - installment. It follows The Playroom (a 2013 mini-game collection for PS4), The Playroom VR (a 2016 PlayStation VR jam), Astro Bot Rescue Mission (a 2018 PS VR platformer starring just the bots), and Astro's Playroom (a 2020 DualSense demo that's pre-loaded on every PS5). Astro Bot takes ideas from these earlier titles and compiles them into a focused 3D platformer with dozens of main worlds, a bevy of additional unlockable planets and a wide range of satisfying mechanics. On top of this, the robot protagonists are super cute in every situation. The fact that some of the characters and settings in Astro Bot are recognizable from popular video games only makes the whole thing sweeter. Sony Interactive Entertainment Players are on a mission to rescue all 300 of their robot friends after an alien intercepted their spaceship, a super-charged PS5, and scattered the crew across six dangerous galaxies. Perched atop a lone DualSense, Astro scours 50 total planets and collects other bots by punching or kicking them - you know, in a friendly way - and then storing them inside the touchpad of the on-screen controller before dumping everyone on a secure world. At the same time, Astro is searching for the missing parts of the PS5 spaceship, which are being guarded by bosses in each galaxy. The hub world, where the ship and rescued bots live, has customization portals for the DualSense and Astro, a gatcha machine with items that bring your bots to life, and a safari zone where you can take pictures with animals you find. There are also small regions to fix up with extra puzzles for Astro and his friends. Outside of the hub planet, the game's baseline loop involves collecting coins, puzzle pieces and bots by completing platforming challenges and surviving Koopa-like enemies, but new dangers and even-trickier environments appear at every turn. Sony Interactive Entertainment Many of the planets that Astro lands on introduce new mechanics, such as spring-loaded boxing gloves that look like frog faces, an octopus that blows Astro up like a balloon, a mouse backpack that shrinks him at will, a penguin-propelled swimming booster, and a stopwatch that freezes time for a short while. Stages are designed around these unique mechanics and the diversity on display is impressive, from a spooky castle filled with toxic-green ghosts and invisible platforms, to a deconstructed space station in a delectable cosmic setting, and an entire planet built out of giant, neon-lit casino props. Even before picking up any cool new toys, Astro has a laser-propelled hover ability that lets him destroy enemies while jumping over them, plus a standard punch and a chargeable spin move. These three abilities, plus whatever tool he picks up, are the entirety of Astro's arsenal. This mechanical focus allowed Team Asobi to perfect each move and then apply them all in a thousand different ways, and the result is a rewarding and robust platformer. All the cuteness is just an added bonus. Sony Interactive Entertainment Astro Bot is not punishing, but it's not easy either. Plenty of stages require patience, awareness and a high degree of platforming skill, though resets are generous and failure doesn't cost anything other than your time. Completionists will have a great time with this one - there are so many secret passages and hidden bots to find, most of them cleverly tucked away and easily missed unless you're actively looking for them. On the flipside, speedrunners should enjoy Astro Bot as well, since it offers planets of platforming challenges with incredibly responsive controls. There are 300 bots to find, and many are pulled from the wider world of gaming. Plenty of the branded bots originate outside of Sony's stable, with big hitters from Capcom, Konami and Sega represented well - a few of them definitely made my partner yell in excitement, which was adorable in its own right. Some of the more memorable levels stem from popular Sony franchises like God of War, with Astro wielding Kratos' ax on one planet. Team Asobi really mined Sony's vaults, far beyond simple Crash Bandicootcallbacks, and into weird and wonderful games like LocoRoco and Vib-Ribbon. Sony Interactive Entertainment And now, allow me to really gush. Astro Bot is beautiful, and not just in a cartoony kind of way. Its landscapes are sharp and alive with interactive details, and it seems like every pixel has been polished to perfection. But it's the game's physics that energize everything - when Astro lands on top of a giant inflatable daisy, the material buckles under his little feet, indenting with each step and sway, and making the entire scene look utterly squeezable. When skating in the snowy levels, Astro picks up speed and pivots on a dime, and the DualSense responds with the sounds and vibrations of a sharp knife slicing through thick ice. (Side note: I could happily play an entire game of just ice skating... as long as it's not called Astro Glide.) Piles of tactile objects like sprinkles, dice, skulls and glass stars are scattered around the levels, and running through them is not only gratifying in an ASMR sense, but it sometimes uncovers a new secret. When rain hits Astro's transparent umbrella hat, the sound is mirrored perfectly on the DualSense, along with the feeling of raindrops on the grips. Each stage has background music to match, funky or big band or synth-y, and always with a catchy hook. Astro Bot's sound effects, haptics, graphics and physics harmonize flawlessly, transforming every surface into a playground. It's magical. Sony Interactive Entertainment On the cute side of things, Astro reacts to his environments with endearing animations like shivering in the cold, quivering in fear and tapping his tiny metal feet in excitement, and his bot friends are similarly expressive. When Astro boops his head on an impassable ceiling, he makes the sweetest little flinching motion. The bots turn around and shake their booties at Astro right before he punches them into the DualSense. On the pause screen, you can flick all of your collected bots out of the digital controller and they flail in mid-air before landing safely back inside the touchpad. Pretty much everything the bots do is charming. Astro Bot highlights the importance of play. It's Super Mario Bros. for a new generation of video game fanatics, at once an introduction to common mechanics and also a significant challenge for seasoned players. In both cases, Astro Bot radiates joy. If this, alongside new titles like Lego Horizon Adventures, signals a new and less stuffy direction for Sony, then I'm excited to see what the future holds. For now though, you'll find me trying to 100-percent Astro Bot, cursing and laughing the whole way through. Psst: Astro Bot has now joined the hallowed ranks of our favorite PS5 games guide. You can view all of our picks - 21 at the time of writing - at The best PS5 games for 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-ps5-review-one-of-the-best-games-sony-has-ever-made-120014494.html?src=rss
Beware: The most addictive game of 2024 is coming to a device that's always within reach. Balatro, a clever combination of poker, deck-building and roguelikes, will arrive on iOS - as a standalone purchase and Apple Arcade - and Android later this month. (That's plenty of time to shop for a power bank or battery pack.)Created by Canadian solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, Balatro (styled as Balatro+ on Apple Arcade) is one of Engadget's picks for best PC games. It's one of the great indie gaming success stories of 2024.Unlike poker, Balatro's spin includes magical tarot cards and unique Jokers that can dramatically alter your hands. For example, one might increase the pool of cards to build your hand from, and another could raise your score if your hand hits a particular sequence. Depending on which Joker you draw, you may be forced to rethink your entire strategy. (But play them strategically because you're limited to five per hand.)Its presentation adds to the fun. It includes a synthwave soundtrack, trippy animations and a delightfully retro CRT filter.
More standard streaming services include live sports now - Sunday Night Football on Peacock, CBS NFL games on Paramount+, Thursday Night Football on Prime Video - but if you want a comprehensive suite of sports channels, plus other live programming and local news, Fubo might be the way to go. It came out on top for sports in our guide to the best live TV streaming services and right now you can get your first month of Fubo's Pro-tier subscription for $50 instead of $80. The Elite with Sports Plus plan is down from $100 to $70 for the first month and the top-level Deluxe package is $80 as opposed to the usual $110. Whichever plan you go with, you'll get more sports coverage than a human person can reasonably consume - even the cheapest tier grants access to ESPN and ESPN2, FS1 and FS2, multiple NBC Sports channels, CBS Sports, Fubo's own sports networks and more. The Elite with Sports Plus tier throws in NFL RedZone and about 100 additional channels, and enables 4K streaming quality. And, finally, the Deluxe plan gets you all that plus international sports. Fubo makes it easy to record games you want to watch later and every plan comes with unlimited DVR cloud storage with a nine-month expiration for recordings. When you're not watching athletic matchups, you can try out the rest of what Fubo offers. When I tested it out for our guide, I found the service to be nicely organized with a clean and easily navigable interface. It really shines at showcasing live content (though browsing through VOD content wasn't quite as breezy). Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/fubo-tv-streaming-plans-are-30-off-for-the-first-month-right-now-171510242.html?src=rss
Health tech company Abbott has been working on a number of biometric wearables for regular consumers. Now, we can get our hands on one. The company just released the Lingo continuous glucose monitor.This is an over-the-counter device, so you can just order it without prior approval. However, it's not intended for diabetics, as it isn't designed for insulin pumps or serious medical alerts. Rather, it's for curious people who want to keep an eye on their glucose levels.Here's how it works. The biosensor gets stuck to the back of the arm and can stay there for up to 14 days straight. During that time, the device continuously streams glucose data to the affiliated smartphone app. This should, in theory, translate the body's reaction to food, exercise and life's daily stressors."AbbottThe app looks particularly robust, providing access to all kinds of related health metrics. There are glucose graphs that update in real time and something called Lingo Count, which displays data related to glucose spikes.There's even a place for food and activity logging and the app syncs with Apple Health to automatically track workouts. Once there's enough information in the system, it'll provide tailored recommendations and create challenges to encourage healthy habits.Each Lingo biosensor costs $49, but they only work for two weeks and aren't reusable. The company is offering combo packs, with two sensors available for $89 and six for $249.Abbott's Lingo device isn't the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor on the market. A company called Dexcom received FDA approval for a similar sensor earlier this year. The company's Stelo Glucose Biosensor is also $89 for two units, each working for two weeks.It's worth noting that there's little evidence to suggest that this type of glucose monitor is actually useful. Additionally, there isn't much to suggest that there's even a meaningful way to "optimize" blood sugar.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/abbotts-otc-glucose-monitor-is-now-available-in-the-us-170036887.html?src=rss
A North Carolina man is facing fraud charges after allegedly uploading hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs to streaming services and using bots to play them billions of times. Michael Smith is said to have received over $10 million in royalties since 2017 via the scheme.Smith, 52, was arrested on Wednesday. An indictment [PDF] that was unsealed the same day accuses him of using the bots to steal royalty payments from platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Smith has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York says this is its first criminal case that concerns the use of bots to artificially inflate music streaming numbers.Prosecutors accused Smith of creating thousands of bots to stream the songs. At first, he was said to have uploaded his own music to the streaming services, but realized that his catalog wasn't big enough to produce a large sum of royalties. After other efforts didn't pan out, he's said to have turned to AI-generated music in 2018.According to the indictment, Smith began working with two unnamed co-conspirators - the CEO of an AI music company and a music promoter - to create hundreds of thousands of songs using AI. In exchange for a cut of revenue, the CEO allegedly provided thousands of tracks per week to Smith, who is said to have randomly generated song titles and artist names for the audio files.Smith is accused of lying to streaming services by providing phony names and other fake account details while setting up the bots, and by agreeing to rules that ban streaming manipulation. According to the indictment, he deceived streaming services by making it seem the bot accounts were legit when in fact they "were hard coded to stream Smith's music billions of times." Smith allegedly attempted to cover his tracks by using dummy email addresses and VPNs, while telling his co-conspirators to be undetectable.""Michael Smith fraudulently streamed songs created with artificial intelligence billions of times in order to steal royalties," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "Through his brazen fraud scheme, Smith stole millions in royalties that should have been paid to musicians, songwriters, and other rights holders whose songs were legitimately streamed."The case of Smith is in stark contrast to a musician The New York Times profiled earlier this year. Matt Farley has written, recorded and uploaded tens of thousands of songs to streaming services about anything and everything people might search for, from celebrities and marriage proposals to many tunes about poop. Some songs are just a few seconds long, but the practice seems to be entirely above board. He's said to have earned around $200,000 from his music in 2023.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/alleged-fraudster-got-10-million-in-royalties-using-robots-to-stream-ai-made-music-162944343.html?src=rss
Google's AI-powered Photos upgrades are beginning to trickle in. Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered chatbot that lets you get ultra-specific and conversational with your photo searches, is launching in early access for select users in the US. In addition, the improved search for more descriptive Google Photos queries begins rolling out today for all English-speaking users.The upgraded search in Google Photos lets you use more descriptive queries. For example, while you could have searched for lake" before, you can now enter kayaking on a lake surrounded by mountains." Or, instead of merely searching for your friend Alice, you can go with Alice and me laughing." The idea is to make it easier to narrow things down as our cloud-based photo libraries grow.Ask Photos, the Google Photos chatbot the company revealed at I/O in May, takes that further. Powered by Gemini, it adds a new tab at the bottom of the Photos app that lets you ask about anything in your library using natural language.Google provided examples like Show me the best photo from each national park I've visited," which uses location data to scour your park photos and some subjective robot judgment to determine a favorite. Other examples the company provided include What did we eat at the hotel in Stanley?" and Where did we camp last time we went to Yosemite?"Like other chatbot features, Ask Photos can respond to follow-up prompts. So, if it misses the mark the first time, you can ask it to tweak its parameters and give it another go.Google says your Photos data will never be used for advertising. Although humans may review queries, they'll be disconnected from your Google account, so the reviewers won't know who typed the input. Real people won't review Ask Google's answers, including photos or videos, unless you provide feedback or (only in rare cases, according to the company) to address abuse.If you're in the US, you can sign up for the waitlist to try to get early access to Ask Photos starting today. Meanwhile, Google Photos' more descriptive search powers are now beginning to roll out for English-speaking users on Android and iOS.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-powered-photo-search-arrives-in-early-access-160041679.html?src=rss
Panasonic TVs have been missing from the US market for over a decade, which is odd because, well, the company makes good stuff. In any event, our national nightmare is over. The Japanese electronics giant just released a bunch of new televisions for US customers.The releases break down into two lines of OLED displays and another line of Mini-LED TVs. The televisions range in size from 55 to 85 inches and they've all been designed and developed in Japan. As expected, all of the TVs boast a 4K resolution, to showcase Panasonic's outstanding picture quality."Panasonic has also teamed up with Amazon for these displays. Each model comes with Fire TV built in. This partnership likely gave Panasonic an easy way to add an America-friendly UI into the mix, being as how the company's been missing from these shores for ten years.Panasonic/AmazonWhy come back now? The company says it was driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality." That's just corporate mumbo jumbo, but the real reason is likely one word that rhymes with shmoney." The US is a huge market.Though Panasonic's TVs have been absent for ten years, the company has maintained an active presence in America. It sells a bunch of well-regarded standalone cameras and is building a giant EV battery plant in Kansas.The company's new TVs are available to order right now, though it looks like shipments won't go out until September 16. Prices range from $1,300 to $3,200, depending on the model and size.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/panasonic-just-returned-to-the-us-market-with-new-oled-and-mini-led-tvs-152614684.html?src=rss
Sony's MDR-7506 headphones have become a go-to option for recording studios and creators. The set of cans are only $100 and they offer crisp, clean sound so you know exactly what your audience is going to hear. Today, the company announced a more robust option for studio headphones, the MDR-M1, that has a slightly updated design, new drivers, wider frequency range and improved bass response. Inside, the MDR-M1 packs newly developed drivers capable of frequency response of 5Hz - 80kHz. Sony explains that this ultra-wide range is crucial for things like subtle details in various recorded sound sources (Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio especially). More specifically, the drivers here have a soft edge for those super low frequencies and a hard dome shape for accurate reproduction in the ultra-high range. There's also a "tuned port" on the outside of the ear cups, or Beat Response Control as Sony calls it, that provides the ventilation needed for improved low frequency control. That component works in tandem with an optimized diaphragm for "very tight bass response," according to the company. "In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing," explained Akihiro Nishimura, an engineer at Power Station at Berklee NYC who worked with Sony to develop these headphones. "MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other." Sony These are closed-back headphones, so you won't have to worry about sound leakage or ambient noise creeping in. Sony enhanced the replaceable ear pads for both increased comfort and better noise isolation. It also reduced the overall weight compared to the 7506, which means longer recording sessions shouldn't be as much of a burden. The MDR-M1 will come with two detachable cables with machined aluminum connections, one that has a stereo mini-plug and plug adapter (stereo mini to stereo standard) and the other a shorter option for connecting to various professional gear. Sony also took care to make the MDR-M1 more durable, as they're like to get dropped or flung around a studio or other recording and editing environments. The MDR-M1 is available for preorder now for $250, a significant increase over the MDR-7506. If open-back headphones are more your thing for recording and editing, the MDR-MV1 carries a similar spec sheet to this new model. But, the price tag is even higher at $400. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-mdr-m1-studio-headphones-offer-an-audio-and-comfort-upgrade-over-the-mdr-7506-150052628.html?src=rss
Last year, Lenovo showed off a fantastically futuristic concept gadget called Project Crystal, which was the world's first laptop to feature a transparent MicroLED display. But today, in what has become a tradition for Lenovo during IFA, the company is back with yet another demo notebook, this time equipped with a motorized rotating hinge.Dubbed the Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo's latest concept looks almost exactly like a traditional clamshell when closed. However, with a simple voice command, its lid raises automatically and rotates into practically any position - even all the way around into tablet mode. While there is no official pricing, or even plans to bring the device to full production just yet, Lenovo says the Auto Twist is designed to provide enhanced adaptability, improved ergonomics and possibly better security. But for now, the company's main goal is simply to see what environments or use cases might be able to best take advantage of a laptop with this kind of novel design.Thanks to built-in object tracking, for example, the Auto Twist can move its display and follow people as they walk around a room, which could be very helpful when making presentations. It can also detect a person's body, and possibly even their posture, before moving its display into the best position to reduce fatigue or strain.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetAlternatively, the laptop can detect when it's not being used and then close its own lid to prevent unwanted users from gaining access. And while the Auto Twist's AI tag feels a bit spurious, Lenovo hopes the laptop will be able to do many of these things on its own or through simple natural language voice control (the laptop currently supports commands to transform into laptop mode, clamshell mode and more).After seeing it in person, the most immediate use case that came to my mind was in POS (point-of-sale) payment terminals. Here, employees often have to manually flip a screen around so that the customer can see their total or add in things like a tip. Granted, the Auto Twist does seem like overkill in that situation considering how easy it is to rotate a screen around the old-fashioned way with your hands a basic hinge. And at least from what I saw, the built-in motor wasn't quite as smooth as you'd probably want for commercial applications. But, it is an interesting idea with potential for high-end luxury outlets.Then there's just the fun of it. During my demo, I watched as the Auto Twist played a clip of a dancer as its motorized hinge attempted to make its display match the person's movements. I also saw the laptop swivel its display horizontally to present an ultra-wide panoramic photo in a more engaging way. Additionally, while other bleeding-edge tech like laptops with foldable displays suffer from a ton of added weight and bulk, the rotating servo on Lenovo's latest concept is relatively unobtrusive and there isn't a huge impact on the device's overall portability.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetSo while it remains to be seen how useful the Auto Twist really is or what it might turn into down the line, I appreciate that Lenovo is still trying to come up with new ways to evolve the classic clamshell laptop.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-auto-twist-concept-laptop-has-a-lid-that-can-swivel-and-bow-down-at-your-command-150022971.html?src=rss
Lenovo has just revealed its latest lineup of laptops at IFA Berlin. The standouts seem to be Aura editions of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i. The Aura software, which is the result of a collaboration with Intel, can quickly shift these machines into various modes to optimize for specific tasks, like safe internet browsing, better video call quality or distraction-free work.LenovoThe ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, It's a 14-inch laptop with a 16:10 2.8K (2880x1800) OLED display and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It also has DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and reaches 400 nits of brightness. The CPU is an Intel Core Ultra 9, and the Intel Arc Xe2 GPU handles graphics. The battery is rated at 57Wh and is a replaceable unit.The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is larger at 15.3 inches and also has a screen resolution of 2.8K. The display can be an OLED or LCD touch panel, with a refresh rate of 120Hz and brightness of 500 nits. An Intel Core Ultra 7 processor powers this laptop and uses integrated graphics. With a battery life of 70Wh, it should last all day for web browsing and streaming video content.Another laptop to look out for is the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. It's equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and integrated Adreno GPU. The 14-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED screen can reach 400 nits of brightness, and the battery is rated at 57Wh. Best of all, the whole package only costs about $850.The Yoga Pro 7, IdeaPad Slim 5x and the 13- and 15-inch IdeaPad Slim 5s are among the new arrivals as well, but unfortunately, these models won't be available in the US.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-announces-new-aura-edition-laptops-150005439.html?src=rss
The UK's competition watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Ticketmaster after tickets for Oasis' reunion shows went on sale last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority said it will look into the company's dynamic pricing practice and whether it broke consumer law.Dynamic pricing involves a business adjusting prices based on shifting market conditions, such as demand. Airlines are among those that use the model.Some Oasis fans who tried desperately to get tickets for the band's first shows in 16 years waited for hours in Ticketmaster's virtual queues. When they were finally able to buy tickets, some found that they were two or three times more expensive than they may have expected due to dynamic pricing. With Ticketmaster often giving customers mere moments to complete a purchase after tickets are in their cart, fans were faced with having to make a snap decision about paying significantly more than they'd anticipated.The CMA will look into the pressure of that ticking clock on consumers' purchasing decisions. It will also attempt to determine if Ticketmaster conducted unfair commercial practices" that are banned under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. Moreover, the watchdog will investigate whether customers were provided with clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called dynamic pricing' with prices changing depending on demand, and how this would operate, including the price they would pay for any tickets purchased."The CMA notes that while dynamic pricing isn't inherently illegal under UK law, ticket sales platforms have to be transparent with customers, and provide clear and accurate details about how much they need to pay. The watchdog said that the practice could breach consumer protection or competition law in certain cases.Oasis criticized the use of dynamic pricing for the band's long-awaited reunion gigs. "It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management," the band said in a statement. It claimed to have no "awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used." Other high-profile artists - including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and The Cure - have opted out of using dynamic pricing for recent shows.Following the scramble for Oasis tickets, the UK government has pledged to look at dynamic pricing as part of a consultation into the secondary-ticket market this fall. In the US, the Justice Department and many state and district attorneys general filed an antitrust suit in a bid to break up Ticketmaster owner Live Nation. They claim it holds a monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was also the victim of a cyber attack this year in which hackers obtained the personal information of 560 million customers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-competition-watchdog-opens-ticketmaster-probe-after-oasis-ticket-debacle-143233958.html?src=rss
NinjaLab, a security research company, has discovered a vulnerability that would allow bad actors to clone YubiKeys. As the company has explained in a security advisory, NinjaLab found a vulnerability in the cryptographic library used in the YubiKey 5 Series. In particular, it found a cryptographic flaw in the microcontroller, which the security researchers described as something that "generates/stores secrets and then execute cryptographic operations" for security devices like bank cards and FIDO hardware tokens. YubiKeys are the most well-known FIDO authentication keys, and they're supposed to make accounts more secure, since users would have to plug it into their computers before they could log in.The researchers explained how they discovered the vulnerability because they found an open platform based on Infineon's cryptographic library, which Yubico uses. They confirmed that all YubiKey 5 models can be cloned, and they also said that the vulnerability isn't limited to the brand though they've yet to try and clone other devices.That vulnerability has apparently gone unnoticed for 14 years, but just because it has now come to light doesn't mean anybody can exploit it to clone YubiKeys. To start with, bad actors will need to have physical access to the token they want to copy. Then, they have to take it apart and use expensive equipment, including an oscilloscope, to "perform electromagnetic side-channel measurements" needed to analyze the token. In the researchers' paper, they said their setup cost them around $11,000 and that using more advanced oscilloscopes could raise the setup's cost to $33,000. In addition, attackers might still need their target's PINs, passwords or biometrics to be able to access specific accounts.Bottom line is that users part of government agencies or anybody handling very, very sensitive documents that could make them espionage targets would have to be very careful with their keys. For ordinary users, as researchers wrote in their paper, "it is still safer to use YubiKey or other impacted products as FIDO hardware authentication token to sign in to applications rather than not using one."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/yubikey-vulnerability-will-let-attackers-clone-the-authentication-device-143049198.html?src=rss
Well, it's official: everyone has a podcast. Today, the NSA launched No Such Podcast, a nod to the entity's nickname, No Such Agency, back when its mere existence was classified. The NSA bills the podcast as bringing "people to the table from across the agency to discuss our role as a combat support agency, our foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, and so much more. NSA is known as home to the world's greatest codemakers and codebreakers - their stories are now being decoded."However, the podcast is far from Edward Snowden-level sharing. The NSA's chief of strategic communications, Sara Siegle, is quick to add that some of the agency's work is too sensitive to discuss. This podcast will be a platform to tell "more" stories while sharing expertise and highlighting government officials.No Such Podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you regularly get your podcasts. The NSA published two episodes on launch day, with the first focusing on cybersecurity and the other detailing the agency's role in finding Osama Bin Laden. The NSA will release six more episodes weekly through mid-October.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/even-the-nsa-now-has-a-podcast-140028493.html?src=rss
DJI has just unveiled the Neo, its much-leaked $200 drone aimed at content creators and casual users. It's tiny and easy to use thanks to novice-friendly features like propeller guards, palm takeoff and voice control. However, the Neo is no toy (or Snap Pixy). It has a suite of powerful features like ActiveTrack, Quick Shots, FPV controller support, smartphone control and the ability to record yourself with the DJI Mic 2. Video specs look promising as well, but not everything is perfect - it lacks obstacle detection and uses small propellers that are likely to be noisy. I wasn't able to give it a full look as some features were missing, but I was still astonished by what DJI got a small, cheap drone to do. The Neo is DJI's lightest drone by a long way at 135 grams and is nearly small enough to fit into a pocket. It also has a feature we've not seen on the company's drones before: a second button near the camera gimbal that lets you choose from different Smart Shot" modes (Quick Shots on other DJI drones), like Follow and Dronie. It comes with removable propeller guards that provide protection for use indoors and around people. Be careful when you fly, though, as there's no obstacle avoidance apart from the main camera's AI and a downward facing IR landing sensor. The camera gimbal can tilt up 60 degrees and down 90, though it doesn't flip for vertical video. The half-inch 12-megapixel sensor has an ultra-wide angle 13mm equivalent focal length with an f/2.8 aperture - good specs for a drone in this price range. The Neo's 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery is incredibly light but supports up to 17 minutes of fly time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world. The small size means they charge quickly, but most users will want the two extra cells and a charger included in the Neo Combo kit. To charge the batteries and transfer footage, there's a USB-C port on the back. You won't find a microSD card slot, though, as the Neo relies on 22GB of internal storage that holds about 40 minutes of 4K 30p footage. Steve Dent for Engadget Though small, the Neo offers features you'd expect on a high-end drone. To make it less intimidating for beginners, the Neo can be launched simply by placing it in hand and pressing the mode button. Then, it'll automatically record video while performing one of six preprogrammed smart shots: Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight and Direction Track. To land the drone, just place your hand under it. Settings can be tweaked with the new DJI Fly app, which now works without a controller and connects to the drone over Wi-Fi. For the smart modes, you can change things like follow distance and height, dronie radius and flight path, circle radius and more. You can also adjust video and photo resolution. The Neo is DJI's first model that lets you use voice control to launch the drone and perform Smart Shots and other actions. That feature wasn't available in the beta software I tested, but DJI said it will be there when the drone goes on sale today. Steve Dent for Engadget If you want to pilot the drone yourself without buying a controller, that's doable now too. Manual mode brings up touch screen controls for all drone movements, along with camera/video modes and a return-to-home (RTH) toggle. Touchscreen piloting worked surprisingly well, letting me fly the Neo with precision. Outdoors with a GPS lock the drone is quite stable, but it can drift around and get a bit hard to manage indoors. For more precision, the Neo also supports multiple DJI controllers, including the RC N3 model sold separately. However, you can also use it as an FPV drone by connecting it to DJI's RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3. Controller mode offers the same features you'll find on drones like the Mini 4 Pro, with cinema, normal and sport modes, manual and auto video, quick shot features and more. Using it with the FPV goggles and controller gives you the same experience as the Avata 2, including one-press acrobatics - albeit with a large drop in performance, of course. Steve Dent for Engadget And the Neo performs surprisingly well. Maximum horizontal speed in sport mode is 18 mph, or 36 mph in manual mode - pretty damn fast for such a tiny drone. However, manual mode is only available if you're using the FPV Controller 3 and wasn't enabled for my testing. The Neo neo can resist winds up to 18 mph, compared to 24 mph for the Mini 4 Pro. Realistically, though, it's only good for light winds under 10 mph. It's maneuverable and precise as well, particularly with the optional controller. That makes it ideal for events, as it's very safe around people and small enough to fit in tight spaces. It is very noisy though, with a sound not unlike a hive of angry bees. This propeller noise is a crime," as my colleague Aaron Souppouris put it. Steve Dent for Engadget The Neo happens to be an awesome FPV drone as well, particularly since there's less fear of crashing given its $200 price. It's not nearly as fast as the Avata 2, of course, but it's wildly fun when using the RC Motion 3 remote. ActiveTrack, Spotlight and Point of Interest (POI) all work the same as on other DJI drones to track subjects tenaciously. Another mode, Direction Track, lets you vlog while walking and talking with the drone keeping your face in view. There's no rear obstacle sensor, though, so you need to be careful when using it. When the Neo is under smartphone Wi-Fi control, don't let it get too far away as the maximum range is just 165 feet. With a controller and DJI's O4 transmission, though, it has a 6.2 mile line-of-sight range in the US or about 3.7 miles in Europe. That's impressive given the size, though you'd be braver than me if you let it get that far away. Samuel Dejours for Engadget The Neo supports up to 4K 30p video and 1080p at up to 60 fps, with no D-LogM like the Mini 4 Pro. You can also grab 12-megapixel photos for Instagram, Facebook, etc. Video isn't up with even the DJI Mini 4 Pro, but it's well above what you'd expect for something in this price range in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. With the small sensor, low-light capability isn't great. Stabilization is excellent thanks to DJI's RockSteady and HorizonBalancing systems. Those offer action cam-like stability, while correcting tilt up to 45 degrees. Again, I was pretty amazed by the smoothness of footage even in a stiff breeze. Finally, you can record audio via your smartphone's microphone just by tapping on the DJI Fly app's audio record button. And you can boost the quality considerably using the DJI Mic 2 by connecting it to your phone over Bluetooth. Though the drone is extremely noisy, DJI's app manages to remove almost all of it, leaving your voice shockingly clear and legible with some distortion. Steve Dent for Engadget DJI's Neo is an incredibly capable lightweight drone that will be attractive to a large number of potential users. For example, my drone pilot and photographer friend (a likely buyer) thought it would be ideal as a behind the scenes drone, because it can shoot good-quality video around people with no risk of injury. It's also a great drone for vloggers, content creators and recreational users on a budget. It executes cool shots automatically and the image quality is at the level of a smartphone, which is easily good enough for social media. The main problem is the noise, though all drones have that issue to some extent. The most exciting part of the Neo is the price. For $200, or $289 in the combo kit with three batteries and a charger (in Europe you can get it with the RC-N3 controller for 349), it's an incredible value considering the capabilities. It doesn't really have any serious competition either, with the closest being the $350 HoverAir X1, which costs more and shoots lower resolution video. With all that, the Neo is DJI's most exciting drone in years and is likely to be another hit. It's now on pre-order with shipping set to start soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-neo-hands-on-a-powerful-and-lightweight-200-drone-130039169.html?src=rss
As great as they can be, folding phones can be a blight upon our pockets when wearing something tight. After all, these devices feel like you've got two phones in your pocket instead of the one you actually own. It's not just the hardware, either, but the necessary hinges and joints that keep the components from breaking. So it was to my surprise that Honor's new Magic V3 felt almost svelte in my jeans compared to its predecessor.The company has spent the last year removing 0.7mm from the Magic V2, making the new model just 9.2mm thick. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it's enough to make the whole thing feel noticeably thinner. It's emblematic of the work Honor has put in to refine its flagship foldable in the hope of making it easier to live with day to day. So while the list of eye-catching new features is non-existent, a lot of small tweaks add up to a lot.Photo by Daniel Cooper / EngadgetFor instance, the display isn't much changed beyond boosting the brightness of its backlight which helps readability in strong sunlight. You'll also notice the company making a big deal about its AI defocus technology to help reduce eyestrain. The battery, too, gets a meager bump from 5,000mAh in the V2 to 5,150mAh here, but you can now charge it wirelessly. Similarly, work has been made to keep the V3 running cooler for longer under heavy load.On the imaging front, there's a 50-megapixel, f/1.6 wide camera paired with a 50-megapixel f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) and LIDAR and a 40-megapixel, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera that also comes with OIS. There are also two 20-megapixel cameras for selfies embedded in both the cover display and the internal display, should you need them.Photo by Daniel Cooper / EngadgetHonor is also throwing a kitchen sink's worth of AI features at this thing which I've not yet been able to test. That includes the Google-powered AI Eraser to paint out unwanted nasties in your photos and face-to-face translation services. Honor's Magic Portal, too, will offer hooks into Google search and try to throw up recommendations as and when you need them.Of course, we don't yet know how much this thing will cost you or when it'll be available, but we hope that it's priced smartly enough that it keeps its rivals on their toes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honor-solves-a-major-folding-phone-problem-with-the-magic-v3-130026967.html?src=rss
If you're the sort who'd fling yourself on a fainting couch at the thought of an unsightly laptop bezel, there are kindred spirits working in Honor's design department. The Chinese company has rocked up at IFA 2024 to show off the BookArt 14, with a uniform 2mm display bezel on the top three sides. Where then, you may ask, is the webcam? It's hidden in a recess on the laptop deck, and when required will magnetically attach to the top of the lid with pogo pins.The BookArt 14 is the latest in Honor's attempts to produce a machine that it hopes will best a MacBook Air in a smaller body. That, as usual, means a smaller footprint and a far broader range of connectivity options including two USB-C, HDMI-out, 3.5mm jack and a USB-A port. Similarly, the 14.6-inch, 3.1K OLED display has a peak brightness of 700 nits and will come specced with Intel's Core Ultra 7 when it drops at some point in the near future.Photo by Daniel Cooper / EngadgetBut more on that webcam, which looks like a single piece of flat chewing gum that sits in a push-in cavity on the right of the deck when not in use. When required, you can pop it out and it'll nestle onto the magnetic pogo pins on the very top of the lid, only connecting when in place. (There's no wireless connection, so you don't have to worry about the webcam being used for anything dodgy when it's not sitting on the pins.) You can connect it facing you or, if you so require, you can flip the view for conference calls in bigger rooms.Of course, this isn't the first Honor laptop with a wacky webcam: Aping Huawei's MateBook X Pro, several of its machines, including the MagicBook Pro 16, had the camera mounted in a recess in the middle of the function row. That was great from a privacy perspective, but less than ideal when your video chats were looking up your nose.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/honors-new-laptop-has-a-detachable-webcam-130006729.html?src=rss
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