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- Google UK will rely on a regulator to crack down on scam finance ads
- The Morning After: Sony adds another games studio to its PlayStation roster
- United's new Boeing jets will offer Bluetooth audio with its in-flight entertainment
- Konami and 'The Medium' studio Bloober Team to partner on new games
- AirCar prototype completes its first inter-city flight
- HBO Max expands beyond the US to 39 new territories
- Hackers exploited two flaws in event that remotely wiped Western Digital devices
- Little Tikes made a Peloton-style stationary bike for kids
- Twitter fixes bug that disabled ‘latest tweets’ timeline for some web users
- Windows 11 hands-on: A cleaner OS to keep you productive
- Former BioWare GM Casey Hudson starts new game studio
- T-Mobile uses eSIM to let iPhone owners test its network for free
- Black & Decker launches a line of emergency wearables for seniors
- 'Control' is getting a co-op spin-off game
- Zoom is buying a startup to bring real-time translation to video calls
- Facebook's standalone newsletter platform 'Bulletin' launches today
- Echo Show 8 and Show 5 review: Not much has changed, and that's okay
- Automakers must report crashes involving self-driving and driver-assist systems
- Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review: You can’t argue with cheap
- Amazon picks up the rights to star-studded podcast 'SmartLess'
- Google promises improved privacy and five-years of updates for Nest devices
- Watch BTS get distracted by a dancing Boston Dynamics robot dog
- Instagram tests letting more people share links in their Stories
- Google removes Maps targeting Thai dissidents and activists
- Amazon reportedly pressuring suppliers for a discounted stake in their businesses
| Google UK will rely on a regulator to crack down on scam finance ads Posted: 30 Jun 2021 04:50 AM PDT Google is tightening its ad screening rules in the UK after a steep rise in fraudulent adverts online during the pandemic. The search giant has announced that starting in the fall it will only run ads for financial products and services from sources that have been cleared by the UK's financial watchdog. Google said it will update its policy from August 30th and begin enforcing the rules a week later on September 6th. At that point, advertisers will have to demonstrate that they are authorized by the UK Financial Conduct Authority or qualify for its limited exemptions. According to Google, the requirement covers financial products and services that go beyond the regulator's ambit. The decision didn't happen overnight, however. Google has been on the end of mounting criticism from regulators, law enforcement and consumer groups over its perceived lack of action against scrupulous ads. According to trade body UK Finance, investment scam cases on search engines saw a 32 percent increase last year. These typically involve criminals duping victims into moving their money to a fictitious fund (such as a pension pot) or to pay for a fake investment. Losses incurred from the fake ads totaled over £135 million. Meanwhile, the FCA threatened to take legal action against Google and social media companies after it issued 1,200 warnings about fraudulent ads on their platforms, double the amount from 2019. The regulator told a parliamentary committee that it was able to start taking action in the wake of Brexit. In the past, the FCA had been bound by EU rules on financial ads that did not apply to online platforms. Others blamed Google's system for the failings. UK consumer group Which? found that 51 percent of the 1,870 search engine users it surveyed didn't know how to report suspicious ads in search listings. The perceived inertia from Google led some lawmakers to claim that it was content to continue profiting from the bogus ads. MPs told The Guardian that the company was benefiting from online scammers who paid to host ads on its platforms. While the FCA had also paid Google more than £600,000 ($830,000) in 2020 and 2021 to run 'anti-scam' ads. For its part, Google claims it has improved its ad screening rules using a mix of machine learning and human review. The tech giant removed 3.1 billion adverts that violated its policies in 2020 according to its ad transparency report. It also began verifying advertisers in January by requiring them to submit legal identification, business incorporation documents and proof of the country in which they operate. Back in 2018, Google followed in Facebook's footsteps by banning cryptocurrency ads. "This new update builds on significant work in partnership with the FCA over the last 18 months to help tackle this issue," Ronan Harris, vice president and MD, Google UK and Ireland, said in a blog post. "Today's announcement reflects significant progress in delivering a safer experience for users, publishers and advertisers. While we understand that this policy update will impact a range of advertisers in the financial services space, our utmost priority is to keep users safe on our platforms — particularly in an area so disproportionately targeted by fraudsters." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Morning After: Sony adds another games studio to its PlayStation roster Posted: 30 Jun 2021 04:20 AM PDT The big game-studio buy-up continues, and it's Sony's turn. Again. This time, it's picked up Housemarque, the Helsinki-based studio behind PlayStation games including Returnal for the PS5 and arcade-style shooters like Super Stardust HD and Dead Nation. Housemarque In recent years, Sony Interactive Entertainment snapped up Ratchet and Clank developer Insomniac Games in 2019. Before that, it acquired Horizon Zero Dawn developer Guerilla Games — whose former head Hermen Hulst is now the chief of PlayStation Studios — and Sucker Punch, the studio behind Ghost of Tsushima. Sony seems to be stepping up its studio shopping. Microsoft made waves with its acquisition of all those Bethesda wares, and we finally started to see the results at E3 2021, with exclusive games headed to Xbox. It seems Sony isn't stopping at Housemarque: PlayStation Japan uploaded the wrong image with their first tweet on the Housemarque news, mentioning a Bluepoint acquisition. That's an entirely different studio, which was tasked with the Demon's Souls PS5 remake. The spending spree continues. — Mat Smith
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| United's new Boeing jets will offer Bluetooth audio with its in-flight entertainment Posted: 30 Jun 2021 03:54 AM PDT United has announced that it's adding 270 Boeing and Airbus planes to its fleet in a bid to reinvigorate domestic travel now that states have started lifting pandemic-related restrictions. And one of the best news for frequent flyers is that the new jets will feature seatback entertainment screens that come with Bluetooth connection. In addition, United will refurbish its old mainline jets with the new and upgraded in-flight entertainment until 2025. Bluetooth audio is a much-requested addition to all in-flight entertainment systems that United has granted with the launch of its new interior. As The Verge notes, tech companies have been pushing a wireless lifestyle onto consumers by removing headphone jacks from their phones and launching truly wireless earbuds. Some may have already thrown their wired earphones away, or tucked them away in a drawer, forgotten until the next time they decide to do some spring cleaning. Aviation writer Jason Rabinowitz has tweeted a video that gives us a look at the new seatback entertainment system with Bluetooth capabilities on a 737 MAX 8 plane. As you can see, all of the seats will have entertainment screens, which while great for passengers could also cause a bit of a headache. At full capacity, passengers may have trouble pairing their earphones as everyone tries to connect to Bluetooth at the same time.
Still, that's a small problem for those waiting for the feature for a long time. Bluetooth audio is a fantastic addition to the new planes' entertainment systems, and passengers will be able to get to try it soon. United will fly its first 737 MAX 8 jets with the new interior this summer, while its first 737 MAX 10 and Airbus jets will start flying in 2023. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Konami and 'The Medium' studio Bloober Team to partner on new games Posted: 30 Jun 2021 03:15 AM PDT Silent Hill and Metal Gear publisher Konami is teaming up with The Medium creator Bloober Team in a "strategic partnership," the companies have announced. They'll be "jointly developing selected content and exchanging know-how" on both new and existing game properties. "We look forward to combining Bloober Team's and our respective characteristics and strengths to create high-quality content," said Konami President Hideki Hayakawa in a statement. The news should perk up the ears of Silent Hill fans hoping for a new chapter. Bloober's The Medium is also a horror-style game (even using a score from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka) with players flipping between real and afterlife versions of the world. On top of that, Bloober Team CEO dropped a hint earlier this year that it was working on something interesting. "In fact, we've been working for more than a year on another gaming project, another horror IP, and we're doing this with a very famous gaming publisher," he told Gamesindustry.biz in February. "I can't tell you who. I can't tell you what the project is, but I'm pretty sure when people realize we're working on it, they will be very excited." Nothing about any Silent Hill IP has been confirmed, though, and it'd be understandable if fans remain skeptical. A Silent Hills sequel with Hideo Kojima, Guillermo del Toro and Norman Reedus was canceled back in 2015 — despite the appearance of an impressive playable teaser. Still, the Konami and Bloober Team partnership is a promising development. The Medium generally met with good reviews, though our own Jessica Condit found it a bit "medium," as it were. The game's "dual reality" switching was also well done, so if the two companies combine their horror chops and technology, it could result in some compelling IP. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AirCar prototype completes its first inter-city flight Posted: 30 Jun 2021 02:28 AM PDT The term flying car is a bit of a misnomer. In order to meet regulatory guidelines, many of the vehicles currently in development are more like manned drones or vertical take-off and landing aircraft (VTOL). But, a prototype that just achieved a major milestone actually fits the flying car description. A Slovakian company known as Klein Vision recently completed its inaugural inter-city flight between the Nitra and Bratislava airports. At the end of the 35-minute journey, the vehicle's inventor, professor Stefan Klein, clicked a button to tuck in its wings and drove the car home straight from the tarmac. The company has been working on its hybrid aircraft for more than 30 years. With 142 successful landings and over 40 hours of test flights under its belt, Klein is convinced that his third prototype is ready to leap past the concept stage. As part of its latest breakthrough, the two-seater AirCar reached a cruising speed of 170km/h, slightly below the max 190km/h. Klein says the car has flown at 8200 ft and achieved steep 45 degree turns as part of its maneuverability testing. Unlike VTOL vehicles, the AirCar requires a runway for takeoff and landing. The current prototype is equipped with a 160HP BMW engine with a fixed-propeller and a ballistic parachute. Klein has even bigger plans for its follow-up. He claims the 300HP pre-production model will receive the CS-23 aircraft certification for normal, utility, aerobatic and commuter aeroplanes from European aviation regulators, along with an M1 road permit. In reality, getting there could still prove a challenge. The company will have to tread a fine line between a light aircraft and a more substantial vehicle with health and safety precautions built-in. However, there are signs that regulators are coming round to the idea of flying cars. In the US, the Federal Aviation Authority recently granted Terrafugia's roadable airplane a special certificate in the light sport category (S-LSA), making it legal for flight. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HBO Max expands beyond the US to 39 new territories Posted: 30 Jun 2021 01:26 AM PDT As it announced earlier this year, HBO Max is finally moving outside the US, expanding to 39 territories in Latin America and the Caribbean. "With today's launch, we are introducing our global platform and providing a brand new user experience to millions of fans across Latin America and the Caribbean," said HBO Max International head Johannes Larcher in a statement. Unlike HBO Max in the US, subscribers in those regions won't have the option of an ad-supported plan. Rather, they'll be able to choose either a mobile plan in standard definition, or a standard plan with up to 3 simultaneous users, 5 profiles and resolution up to 4K. Pricing will depend on the region and country. As Netflix and other streaming services have done, HBO Max will produce 100 local originals in Latin America over the next two years. It will also make UEFA Champions League events available to subscribers in Mexico and Brazil later in 2021. To entire new subscribers, the company is offering the service at a 50 percent discount with no time limit, as long as they sign up before July 31st. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hackers exploited two flaws in event that remotely wiped Western Digital devices Posted: 29 Jun 2021 09:41 PM PDT After Western Digital My Book Live owners around the world reported that their devices were wiped remotely overnight, the company issued a statement blaming a specific vulnerability (CVE-2021-35941) for the event. An external investigation conducted by Ars Technica and Derek Abdine (CTO at security firm Censys) has revealed, however, that the bad actors exploited another undocumented vulnerability in a file aptly named system_factory_restore. Usually, users would have to type in their passwords to be able to perform factory resets on their devices. Indeed, the script in the file contains lines to password protect the reset command. However, someone in Western Digital "commented out" or, in non-technical parlance, canceled out the command by adding the double / character at the beginning of each line. HD Moore, a security expert, explained to Ars that this doesn't make things look good for the company. "It's like they intentionally enabled the bypass," Moore said, since the attackers would have to know the format of the script that triggers the reset to exploit the vulnerability. Devices that were hacked using the CVE-2021-35941 vulnerability were infected with malware, and in at least one case, it was malware that makes a device part of a botnet. Since turning My Book Live storage devices into botnets and then wiping them clean makes no sense, Abdine's theory is that one hacker exploited the CVE-2021-35941 vulnerability. After that, a second (possibly rival) hacker exploited the previously unknown reset vulnerability to gain control of the devices, which were then made part of a botnet, or to undo the first one's work. Either way, this event just goes to show that the My Book Live storage devices aren't as secure as anybody would like at this point. Those who still own it should heed Western Digital's advice and disconnect it from the internet as soon as possible. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Little Tikes made a Peloton-style stationary bike for kids Posted: 29 Jun 2021 05:46 PM PDT Young kids who see their folks on a Peloton bike and want to join in on workouts will soon have another way to do that. Little Tikes has created a smart stationary bike for children aged three to seven. It's called the Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle, which does not at all sound like "Peloton." Not one bit. As with certain other connected stationary bikes, kids can cycle with the help of virtual trainers. They'll have access to trainer adventure videos that Little Tikes uploaded to YouTube. Youngsters can pretend they're cycling on a snowy mountain with a dinosaur buddy and ride over farmlands to see animals and practice the alphabet. They can also take a virtual trip into the woods on an adventure bike trail. The handlebars and seat are adjustable. There's also a Bluetooth speaker so that kids can ride along to the beat of their favorite songs. The Pelican Explore & Fit Cycle will be available at Target next week. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twitter fixes bug that disabled ‘latest tweets’ timeline for some web users Posted: 29 Jun 2021 03:25 PM PDT Earlier today, an unfortunate bug led some people to believe Twitter had removed the toggle to switch between an algorithmic and chronological feed while using its web client. Throughout the day, people took to the service to tweet their frustration when they found out the star icon, which allows you to switch between the two feeds, was missing from their interface.
The bug appears to have only affected some people, but that didn't stop some outlets from reporting, based on an old support document, Twitter was removing the latest tweets view from its website altogether. Twitter's Kayvon Beykpour and official support account later addressed the situation, noting it was a software issue the company has since fixed. The fact so many were upset by this episode speaks to just how much people want to see tweets in the order they were sent out. Many depend on the platform's chronological timeline to follow breaking events. That's something Twitter eventually came to realize in 2018 when it started testing a way for people to switch between the two feeds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Windows 11 hands-on: A cleaner OS to keep you productive Posted: 29 Jun 2021 02:30 PM PDT Judging from the first Windows 11 Insider Preview, Microsoft's next OS is shaping up to be much more than a mere Windows 10 update. The company is fundamentally shifting the way many aspects of Windows works, with a centered taskbar and redesigned Start menu, among other changes. But it's still Windows, so at its core it still works like it always has. There's the focus on productivity that Microsoft leaned into with Windows 10, along with subtler improvements that makes for a more pleasant user experience. At this point, Windows 11 feels like an OS that will please PC diehards and mainstream users alike. At first glance, the Windows 11 Insider Preview, which started rolling out on Monday, doesn't look much different from the leaked build we covered a few weeks ago. The centered and icon-filled taskbar still looks distinctly Mac-like; the rounded window corners give off a slightly more polished vibe; and the redesigned Start menu is sure to be controversial. It features pinned app shortcuts up top, recommended files at the bottom, and a link in the top right to see the entire unfiltered Start Menu. This Start menu is certainly different, but after testing out the leaked build for two weeks, I've grown to prefer the changes. I've never met anyone who used the Live Tiles in Windows 10's Start menu, and those were just a distilled remnant from Windows 8's horrific full-screen Start page. It's nice to be rid of that legacy, once and for all. As I dug further into the preview build, I noticed small tweaks throughout that just felt, well, nice. Instead of combining notifications and system shortcuts into a single right-hand pane, they're now broken up across two screens. Hitting the clock in the Windows 11 taskbar brings up all of your notifications, along with a full calendar. The system shortcuts, meanwhile, are combined into a single screen that pop up when you press the Wi-Fi, sound or battery icons. Devindra Hardawar/Engadget From there, you can join other wireless networks, and turn Bluetooth on and off, along with airplane, battery saver or Focus assist modes. Sliders along the bottom also let you manage your volume and screen brightness. This isn't that different from Windows 10, but the overall look is a lot cleaner and easier to read. (Maybe I'm just sick of hitting the "More options" to expand Windows 10's shortcut settings.) Microsoft is also clearly pushing a taskbar UI that only features icons in Windows 11. It's something the company started doing with Windows 7, but up until Windows 10 you always had the option to turn on labels for taskbar icons (at least, until they started piling up too much). While it tended to make Windows look a bit messy, I always liked being able to see what a window contained before I actually clicked on it. Windows 11 no longer has label options of any kind, and there's no indication that Microsoft wants to bring them back. They just don't fit into the neat aesthetic the company is aiming for now. At first I figured losing labels would be a pain, but I've grown used to living with an icon-filled taskbar over the last few weeks. And I'd gladly lose labels in exchange for better multitasking features, like this new OS's revamped window snapping. Now you can hover your mouse pointer over any app's maximize button to see an array of areas to snap it to, like the top left or bottom right of your screen. It's much more accurate than dragging a screen to a specific spot and hoping Windows automatically snaps it into place. Whenever you use the quick snap feature, Windows 11 also shows you all of the other apps you're running in the other portions of your screen. So if you shove Slack to the top right, you can have Edge take over the entire left side and put Spotify in the lower right within a few seconds. It may sound confusing, but in practice it's a smart way to make sense of all your open windows. Snapping at least two apps together also creates a snap group in the taskbar, allowing you to easily bring up their arrangement in the future. And if you want to take things to another level, you can customize several virtual desktops from Windows 11's task view. You can reach that by hitting the Windows key plus Tab, or by enabling the Task View shortcut in the taskbar. That's useful for creating entirely different work modes — say, one desktop for managing email and Slack, and another for focusing purely on writing. Having different spaces could help you stay in your productive "flow", a concept Microsoft has practically made its corporate philosophy now. (Drink every time someone says "flow" at the next Windows event.) Devindra Hardawar/Engadget One major addition with this Windows 11 preview is the new File Explorer, which wasn't fully baked in the leaked build. Now, in addition to file and folder icons, there's also a simplified toolbar at the top of the screen. But while it's far sleeker than the Windows 10 explorer, which could get seriously cluttered if you had the Office-style Ribbon toolbar open, it's also a bit confusing. There are the usual cut, copy and paste commands, but it took me a while to figure out one of the other buttons lets you rename files. I suppose it's still easier to figure out than the Ribbon though, so I'll call it a win for Microsoft. The new Windows 11 settings app is a clearer upgrade. Like before, it's where you'll go to tweak just about everything in your PC, but now it's organized neatly into two panes. Along the left, you can choose the section, like "Bluetooth & devices," or "Network and internet." Along the right, you can drill down into specific settings. And if you don't have a clear sense of what you're looking for, the search bar at the top left can point you in the right direction (this is also true for every search bar throughout the OS). It seems like a silly thing to get excited about, but the new settings app could make it far easier for less tech-savvy users to adjust their systems. I can't help but applaud that. Among other notable additions, there's also a redesigned Microsoft Store app in Windows 11. It has a navigation bar along its left side, rather than section tabs from before. Again, this seems to be a deliberate step away from Microsoft's aging Metro design, which was all about top-level tabs. Widgets also make a return in this OS, something we haven't seen since Windows 7. Now they pop up on the left side of the screen when you hit the Widgets button in the taskbar. At this point, they're just simple square apps that can show you the weather, your calendar entries, or upcoming esports matches at a glance. There's room for Microsoft to make them more useful, but it's unclear how much the company plans to invest in widgets moving forward. Devindra Hardawar/Engadget Some of the Windows 11 features I'm most excited to try aren't yet available in this preview. That includes the ability to run Android apps, built-in Microsoft Teams chat, and AutoHDR for older games. Similarly, I haven't been able to test some intriguing new features that actually have been included, like the ability to automatically change your refresh rate while inking or scrolling. That's only possible on high-refresh-rate monitors that you typically find on gaming screens. Unfortunately, then, my Surface Laptop 4 review unit won't cut it. Still, I can imagine it being useful. Normally, I just leave gaming notebooks at their highest refresh rate, which makes scrolling and any sort of screen movement look buttery smooth. But that's not the best idea if you're trying to conserve battery life. Even though this is the first Windows 11 Insider preview, it's easy to understand Microsoft's vision for its next OS. It's all about delivering a polished, uncluttered experience to make you more productive. If you'd like to try it out yourself, I'd strongly recommend testing it on a secondary computer. There are still some bugs that require the occasional reboot (and Microsoft is still trying to sort out installation requirements). Sometimes the auto-snap features just disappear, for example, and the old File Explorer Ribbon interface reappears. Microsoft clearly has a lot of work left to do. But at the very least, Windows 11 appears to justify an entirely new version number. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former BioWare GM Casey Hudson starts new game studio Posted: 29 Jun 2021 02:09 PM PDT Less than a year after announcing his decision to "retire" from BioWare, Casey Hudson has shared details on his latest project. The former Mass Effect producer took to Twitter today to announce the existence of Humanoid Studios, an independent game developer Hudson says he's building "to unleash the creative freedom of developers" by "bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP." The studio's website indicates it's hiring for a variety of senior positions.
Across two stints, Hudson spent more than 15 at BioWare. He was both a producer and director on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and later served as the creative director of the original Mass Effect trilogy. In 2014, he left the studio to join Microsoft only to return to BioWare in 2017 to take over as its general manager. When Hudson left the developer again last year, he said he was doing so to "make way for the next generation of studio leaders." Hudson isn't the only former BioWare developer to strike out on their own. At the start of 2020, Wizards of the Coast announced it was working with Archetype Entertainment, a studio led by James Ohlen and Chad Robertson, to create a new sci-fi RPG franchise. The two have games like Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age and Neverwinter Nights on their resumes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T-Mobile uses eSIM to let iPhone owners test its network for free Posted: 29 Jun 2021 01:15 PM PDT T-Mobile is offering a new way for people to test out its network coverage in the area where they live. In a change spotted by Light Reading, the carrier has expanded its existing Test Drive program to include eSIM-compatible iPhones. To take advantage of the promotion, you need an iPhone XS or newer with iOS 14.5 or later installed on your device. Provided you meet those requirements, you can download the Network Test Drive app and follow the on-screen instructions to get up to 30 days or 30GB of data for free. While testing the network, there's no need to change your phone number or provide T-Mobile with your billing information. What's more, if you have an iPhone 12, you can even try out the carrier's 5G connectivity. As The Verge notes, the Test Drive program has been around since 2014. If you don't have access to a phone with eSIM support, T-Mobile will instead lend you a WiFi hotspot. Essentially, this gives people a more hassle-free way to take advantage of the program. Of course, T-Mobile's hope here is that you'll come away from the test willing to switch over to its service. That could help it get an edge as AT&T and Verizon (Engadget's parent company) use their recently acquired C-band spectrum to try and catch up to the company's 5G lead. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Black & Decker launches a line of emergency wearables for seniors Posted: 29 Jun 2021 12:45 PM PDT Black & Decker has launched a new health division with a lineup of personal emergency response (PERS) wearables aimed at seniors. Called goVia, it includes devices that can be worn on the wrist or around the neck that can detect falls or allow seniors to call for aid via a monthly subscription powered by Medical Guardian. Black & Decker The first device, called the goVia Mini ($125 on Amazon), has a battery life of five days and can be carried in bags or worn on belts or around the neck with an included lanyard. It comes with cellular coverage from Verizon's 4G LTE network along with location tracking via GPS, WiFi and triangulation. If the wearer encounters an emergency, they can press the call button and speak with an operator directly through the device. A responder can then come directly to their location. Black & Decker The goVia Move ($75) works in a similar way, but offers portable wearable help buttons that can be worn on the wrist. In case of emergency, you can press on either the button on the Move device itself or the portable button, though the latter has to be within 300 feet of the main unit. That will again connect you to an operator directly through the device, who can then send help to your location determined by a GPS. The $45 goVia Home Classic device connects to a landline rather than a cellular service and includes a neck pendant or wristband (with a 600 foot range) that can be used to call for help at the press of a button. Black & Decker Health also offers the $50 goVia Home Wireless version that uses AT&T's cellular services rather than a landline. Both offer a fall detection option (for an additional monthly cost) that can automatically detect motion changes caused by a fall and impact and automatically connect to emergency operators without the need for a landline. While the devices themselves are relatively inexpensive, they all require monthly monitoring subscriptions provided by Medical Guardian that aren't cheap. The goVia Mini's service plan costs $39.95 per month, the goMove service is $44.95 a month, Home Classic is $29.95 monthly and Home Wireless is $34.95 per month, or $44.95 per month with fall detection. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Control' is getting a co-op spin-off game Posted: 29 Jun 2021 12:12 PM PDT Remedy Entertainment's excellent Control is one of the most memorable games of the past few years. The developer has some good news for fans of the mind-bending adventure: there's much more Control on the way. The studio and 505 Games agreed to co-publish and develop a multiplayer spin-off. Condor (which is a codename) is a co-op player vs. environment game. You'll be able to team up with three friends and tackle enemies — most likely controlled by the otherworldly force called the Hiss. Condor is being developed for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. But that's not all. According to a press release, Remedy and 505 have initial plans "to further expand the Control franchise with a bigger-budget Control game, to be agreed in more detail in the future." So, it sure sounds like there's a proper Control sequel on the way too. Don't expect to learn much more about those games anytime soon, though. "It is going to be a long time before we show off these projects," Mikael Kasurinen, game director of the Control series said. However, "there are other Remedy experiences coming from our studio that I know you will love." The studio is working on the single-player campaign for CrossfireX, which is slated to arrive this year. "Control is an extremely successful game," said Rami and Raffi Galante, the co-CEOs of 505's parent company Digital Bros Group. It has sold more than two million copies, and it's been a freebie on PlayStation Plus and Epic Games Store. You can also play it through Xbox Game Pass too, and it's definitely worth checking out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoom is buying a startup to bring real-time translation to video calls Posted: 29 Jun 2021 11:48 AM PDT Zoom announced today it plans to acquire Karlsruhe Information Technology, a German startup that specializes in machine learning-based real-time translation. Also known as Kites, the company is made up of about a dozen researchers with ties to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Zoom didn't share the financial terms of the deal, but did disclose that the startup will help it bring machine translation features to its platform. Moving forward, Zoom says it may also establish a research and development center in Germany. "We are continuously looking for new ways to deliver happiness to our users and improve meeting productivity, and [machine translation] solutions will be key in enhancing our platform for Zoom customers across the globe," said Velchamy Sankarlingam, president of product and engineering at Zoom. Critically, the acquisition should help the company keep pace with competitors like Cisco, which recently added a real-time translation feature to its Webex software. While Zoom experienced impressive uptake throughout the pandemic, its rivals have tried to match and surpass its feature set as a way to grow at its expense. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Facebook's standalone newsletter platform 'Bulletin' launches today Posted: 29 Jun 2021 11:07 AM PDT Facebook has revealed its long-rumored standalone newsletter platform: Bulletin. Mark Zuckerberg announced the new project during a live audio room, saying that the project was a "response to what's happening in the media ecosystem." Bulletin will host a mix of free and paid content. Some articles will be freely available, while others will be behind a paywall, with paid subscribers getting access to extra features like dedicated Facebook Groups or special badges. Like newsletter upstart Substack, Facebook is reportedly paying some writers upfront for their participation. Zuckerberg also said Facebook won't take a cut of writers' earnings (at least initially), and will give them the ability to take their content and subscriber lists with them to a different platform. Facebook Interestingly, unlike previous journalism initiatives from Facebook, Bulletin primarily lives outside of the main Facebook app. The newsletter platform has its own website and branding, though it will take advantage of Facebook's distribution tools. The newsletters will be integrated into author's Facebook pages and readers can find the content in the news section of Facebook's app. Authors will also have the ability to "complement their writing" with podcasts and audio rooms, Zuckerberg said. The initial lineup of writers includes authors like Malcom Gladwell and Adam Grant, and faces from TV like former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin and former ESPN correspondent Erin Andrews. For now, it's not clear when Facebook will open up Bulletin beyond its initial slate of hand-picked writers. The company describes the program as a "closed beta," but Zuckerberg said more writers would be coming onboard in "the coming weeks," including people specializing in local news. Recode previously reported that the company was eager to avoid the kind of "political" writers that have caused some headaches for Substack. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Echo Show 8 and Show 5 review: Not much has changed, and that's okay Posted: 29 Jun 2021 11:00 AM PDT I'll admit, I wasn't impressed when Amazon added a rotating base to the new Echo Show 10. Sure, the swiveling screen is useful for following you around the room during video calls, but it also felt gimmicky and unnecessary. Plus, it needs a lot of room to move around so you're losing a significant amount of counter space. That's why I'm glad the Echo Show 8 and 5 haven't repeated that design. In fact, Amazon has changed very little between this edition and the last, but trust me when I say that's a good thing. It's the Echo Show 8 that has seen the most changes, but most of those are under the hood: It now has a faster octa-core processor plus a much-improved 13-megapixel wide-angle camera (the previous model only had a 1-megapixel sensor). Plus, the Echo Show 8 can follow you during video calls without the need for a swiveling display. Instead, it uses digital panning and zooming, the same tech you'll find in Facebook's Portal devices (plus the Echo Show 10, when it's not moving around). This digital pan-and-zoom works well enough that I feel like there's a cameraperson keeping my face in frame during video calls, tracking me as I move across my living room. This face-tracking feature works on every video calling platform that the Echo Show 8 supports, which includes Skype and Zoom, in addition to Amazon's own services. (You can make video calls via the Alexa app or from Echo Show devices.) I found the video and audio quality to be generally quite good. That said, the auto-framing can be a touch glitchy; it sometimes takes a few seconds for it to kick in. Facebook's Portal does a comparatively better job at this sort of automatic tracking, with hardly any lag. Engadget The Show 5, on the other hand, only brings minor changes. It now has a 2-megapixel camera, up from one megapixel, which is still pretty meager. And it comes in a light blue color in addition to the usual black or white. Its camera does not have the pan-and-zoom capabilities of the Echo Show 8, probably thanks to its significantly lower resolution. Notably, the Show 5 currently does not support Zoom. (Amazon has said that it's working with Zoom to roll out support to more devices, so this could change.) The rest of this review might seem like deja vu, as everything else here is very similar to previous generations. Both devices have the same minimalist design. The Echo Show 8 has a 1,280 x 800 resolution while the Show 5 settles for 960 x 480. Photos and video look good on both, though I do prefer watching videos on the Show 8 simply because the screen is bigger. Both the Echo Show 8 and 5 also have an ambient light sensor, which adjusts the screen's brightness and color temperature according to their surroundings. On top of both the Echo Show 8 and 5 are volume controls, a microphone mute button, plus a camera shutter for privacy. The Show 8 has a better sound system than its smaller sibling, with two speakers instead of one. It delivers surprisingly powerful bass and impressive volume, easily filling my small office. The audio from the Show 5 isn't too bad for its size, but it just doesn't sound as good. I should note that both the new Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 5 lack the 3.5mm headphone jack featured on their respective predecessors, which means you can't attach them to larger speakers. Engadget Both the Echo Show 8 and 5 have a sunrise alarm feature, which slowly brightens up the display to mimic daylight's arrival. However, the Show 5 is the only one that lets you tap the top to snooze. This is likely because Amazon is marketing the Show 5 as an alarm clock designed to be on your nightstand, while the Show 8 is meant more for the living room or the kitchen. Like the new Echo Show 10, the two smart displays have Amazon's updated home screen, which features multiple cards that let you view several topics at once, such as weather and sports next to each other. It's contextual to the time of day as well; I saw the latest headlines during the day, for example, while at night I noticed a suggestion for a relaxing songs playlist. I like this mix of rotating screens a lot; it's one reason why smart displays are a lot more useful than, say, a smart speaker. You can get a glance of information passively, without having to actively ask for it. Using the Show 8 on my computer desk is a treat as well; it's great as a digital photo frame and it displays the current time and weather conditions as well. I also found it useful in the kitchen, since it has access to a large library of recipes from sources like Food Network and Allrecipes; I can say "Alexa, how do I make chicken noodle soup?" to bring up a list of relevant results. All of the recipes have step-by-step cooking directions; some even have accompanying photos and videos for additional guidance. Engadget The Show 5 fits better on my bedside table. Of course, it works just fine in other areas of the home as well, but its smaller size makes it best suited as an alarm clock. That said, I'm not entirely comfortable with having devices with cameras in the bedroom (even if there is a privacy lens cover). One of the reasons I think Google's Nest Hub and Lenovo's Smart Clock make for ideal alarm clocks is that they don't have cameras at all, which helps allay at least some privacy concerns. As with other Amazon smart displays, the latest Echo Shows support video streaming from Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu. YouTube isn't supported natively, though you can still access it via the built-in Silk browser. It's definitely not as integrated of an experience as you get on Google's smart displays. Additionally, there's no support for Disney+, Paramount+ or HBO Max, all of which are available on Google's smart displays. The Echo Show 8 and 5 offer easy access to smart home controls, which you can use to adjust the temperature of your smart thermostat, control Philips Hue lights and more. As you might expect, these Echo Show displays are especially useful if you're a frequent Amazon shopper. Adding items to your shopping cart is as easy as telling Alexa to do so. Plus, it shows a reminder when a Subscribe & Save order is about to ship, which helps avoid surprise packages. Engadget I didn't get a chance to test it, but it's also worth noting that the Echo Show 5 is available in a Kids Edition, which comes with a year's subscription to Amazon's Kids Plus. It features a child-friendly home screen and a two-year guarantee against damage. Also important: It lets parents control the content and features children have access to. The closest competition to both Amazon smart displays is Google's second-generation Nest Hub, which has a 7-inch display. It retails for $100 — a little cheaper than the Echo Show 8 ($130) and a little pricier than the Echo Show 5 ($85), but it also offers slightly different features. The Nest Hub is better for those who prefer Google Assistant to Alexa, and it also offers more video streaming options. I also tend to prefer the Google smart display software, as it's more visually appealing and intuitive than Amazon's. It doesn't have a camera so you'll miss out on video calls and the speaker system isn't as good. Fundamentally, however, it's not the hardware that will dictate which smart display you buy as much as which tech giant's ecosystem you want to be a part of. If you already have Nest home devices and you want YouTube integration, you're much better off with a Nest Hub. But if you're already an Alexa user, an Echo Show would be a better option. As for which Echo Show you should pick, the Echo Show 8 delivers the most value for the money. Compared with the Echo Show 5, it has a bigger display and superior audio, which is more than worth the extra $45. And it has the same auto-framing camera as the much more expensive Echo Show 10 (even if it lacks the rotating display). If, however, you don't care much about video calls, and prefer one that doubles as an alarm clock, the smaller Echo Show 5 could be the better bet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Automakers must report crashes involving self-driving and driver-assist systems Posted: 29 Jun 2021 10:45 AM PDT The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has implemented a new policy that will require car companies to report incidents involving semi- and fully autonomous driving systems within one day of learning of an accident. In an order spotted by The Washington Post, NHTSA mandates automakers fill out an electronic incident form and submit it to the agency when one of their systems was active either during a crash or immediately before it. They must report an accident anytime there's a death, an injury that requires hospital treatment, a vehicle that's towed away, an airbag deployment or when a pedestrian and or cyclist is involved. The order covers Level 2 advanced driver-assistance systems to Level 5 fully autonomous vehicles, meaning it includes the gamut of everything from Tesla cars with Autopilot to Waymo taxis. "This action will enable NHTSA to collect information necessary for the agency to play its role in keeping Americans safe on the roadways, even as the technology deployed on the nation's roads continues to evolve," the regulator said. NHTSA said it would also require automakers to send in monthly reports detailing all incidents with injuries or property damage involving their automated driving systems. Companies that fail to comply with the order could face fines of up to $22,992 per day, according to The Post. NHTSA's order comes some two months after a 2019 Tesla Model S was involved in a high-profile crash where investigators initially said there was no one behind the car's wheel. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later said it examined home security footage that showed the owner got into the driver's seat before the fatal accident. Mere weeks ahead of that incident, Robert Sumwalt, the chair of the NTSB, sent a letter to NHTSA in which he called on the agency to implement stricter regulation related to automated vehicle technology. NHTSA "must act" to "develop a strong safety foundation," he said, citing Tesla frequently in his letter. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lenovo Legion 5 Pro review: You can’t argue with cheap Posted: 29 Jun 2021 10:29 AM PDT There's something a little counter-revolutionary about high-end gaming machines made by suit-and-tie PC businesses. The idea of Lenovo, makers of the ThinkPad, building a gaming machine worthy of comment feels a little weird, and yet the Legion 5 Pro is just that. The Walmart-exclusive model that I'm testing costs $1,530, pairing AMD's Ryzen 7 5800H with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3070 graphics. Powerful and affordable? That's almost revolutionary. Rounding out that spec list is 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. Mercifully, both components are user upgradeable. That piddly drive will barely hold more than a couple Calls worth of Duty before you're reaching for an external drive. But these are the sort of smart compromises that Lenovo opted for to keep the price down, letting you add more RAM and storage as needed. And then there's the screen, a 16-inch, 165Hz QHD, X-Rite Pantone-validated IPS display with the new, taller 16:10 aspect ratio. At 500 nits, the panel can hold its own in bright light compared to many of its rivals, and the matte screen reduces the risk of glare. Watching 4K video on this thing is a very pleasant experience and I've enjoyed working from this device the past week or so that I've been using it. It certainly makes you want to spend hours at a time staring at gigapixel images of, say, Paris, which I definitely didn't spend a long time doing this week (cough). Daniel Cooper Lenovo wasn't looking to pull up any trees with this design, which is little more than a refinement of what went before. It's not as thin or light as its rivals, and looks better in a dark room lit only by the glow of an RGB keyboard and the odd Nanoleaf panel. But if you're buying it as a desktop replacement that'll spend 90 percent of its time plonked on the same desk, it's fine. Oh, and the aluminum chassis is rock solid, giving you confidence on those occasions when you do need to take it somewhere. That matte gray paint job, while very business forward, hides a multitude of palm sweat-based sins, but will attract every speck of dust in a three-mile zone. The Legion 5 Pro's chunky chassis also means that you'll find an excellent supply of I/O running around its deck. You get four USB-A (3.2 Gen 1) sockets, two USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) connections, HDMI, Ethernet and a 3.5mm headphone / microphone jack, as well as the proprietary power port. On the right-hand side, you'll also find a hardware camera mute button, which replaces the dedicated hardware shutter from previous versions. Even after several days of use, using Lenovo's TrueStrike keyboard remains a pleasant but weird experience. The keys have a depth of 1.5mm, but Lenovo uses "soft landing" switches to make each actuation feel a little deeper than that. Every time you hit a key, you're expecting the hard jerk of a mechanical keyboard, only to find a pillowy end and bounce back up. It's like filling your shoes with water on a hot day and then stepping into them: It's very useful, but your brain is telling you that something's amiss here. It's worth noting that Lenovo took advantage of the Legion 5's bigger deck size to include a numerical keypad. The company says that the numpad itself is full size, but to my eyes and fingers, it feels a little squashed compared to a regular external PC keyboard. The RGB backlighting is perhaps appropriately muted, but can be set to four different lighting zones when required. The trackpad, meanwhile, is perfectly functional, and the bigger size is welcome given how tight previous models have been. Daniel Cooper I have less to say about the machine's 720p camera, which is the very definition of serviceable. Light blooms, everything's uncomfortably fuzzy and the overall effect is that of most '60s TV shows when they'd get the Vaseline-smeared lens for close-ups. If you're looking to make a living from streaming, or you're a professional Zoom-call-haver, buy an external device. Poor webcam aside, Lenovo gets props for offering a dedicated camera disconnect button since there wasn't room in the space-starved lid for its customary shutter.
Benchmarks don't tell the whole story, but the Legion 5 Pro comes in close enough to machines priced a couple hundred bucks more. When playing demanding AAA games like Cyberpunk and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, I got between 50 and 60fps with the settings appropriately tweaked. Naturally, you'll lose a little bit of that when you enable ray tracing, but it can handle hard work relatively well. The Legion 5 Pro has three pre-set performance modes which can be set inside the Vantage utility, or cycled through when you hit Fn+Q. One neat addition is that the power button will change color depending on which mode you're in: Auto offers a white glow, Quiet a cool blue, and Performance an angry red. Using a machine like this for general productivity work is a bit like taking an F-150 to buy a box of cereal, but it's more than possible. After all, if all you're doing is crunching documents, writing term papers, poking at spreadsheets and using Slack, this has more than enough. When transcoding a 28.2GB UHD H.265 video file to 1080p, Handbrake was able to crunch through it at over 40 fps, making it sturdy enough for even halfway professional video editors. The Legion 5 Pro uses a dual-fan system which pushes hot air out of its chassis through a quartet of exhausts. Two vents at the back are complemented by one on each side, and if you're not blessed with huge amounts of room, beware. Leave your hand, mouse, gamepad or drink next to one of those vents for too long and they will become uncomfortably warm. Playing Cyberpunk and Shadow of the Tomb Raider was kicking out enough heat that I wondered if I could make s'mores. Daniel Cooper This problem is exacerbated with the aluminum underside of the chassis which gets too hot to touch. After a couple hours of gaming, I picked up the machine to move it somewhere else and damn: I thought I'd pulled a baking sheet straight out of the oven. It's not hot enough to burn you, but it's not something you wanna touch if you value not being in pain. It's also impossible to sugarcoat the sheer noise that this machine makes when the fans spin up. This thing is noisy — noisy enough that you'll need to dial your speakers up to drown it out or grab a pair of headphones to claw back some of that immersion. This is an occupational hazard of gaming laptops, but it's worth noting that this system is loud. Another tick in the "not ideal" column is battery life, and despite packing an 80WHr battery, it will not last long when removed from an outlet. Our standard battery rundown test loops a video until the computer dies, with the brightness set to 65 percent and all battery-saving tech disabled. It managed to last for four hours and 43 minutes while using the integrated Radeon graphics, which is fine in the gritted-teeth sense of the word. Certainly, while you can handle a few emails or some light browsing while sat on your couch, this is not a device you can take away from a socket for a full working day without fuss. One of the reasons that the Legion 5 Pro is compelling despite some of its flaws is its price, which is something. Lenovo has managed to undercut several of its competitors here, and there's no wonder it's only intermittently on sale right now. If you want a machine from Alienware with similar specs (the romantically-named M15 Ryzen Edition R5 Gaming Laptop) it'll cost you $1,900. For that, you'll get a Ryzen R7 5800H (same as here), RTX 3070 with 8GB RAM (same as here), 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD (same as… you get the idea). Daniel Cooper If getting RTX 3070 graphics is a dealbreaker, you could opt for the Razer Blade 15 Base Model with a 15.6-inch FHD display, 10th-generation Intel Core i7-10750H CPU, 16GB RAM and a 512GB SSD. You will, however, have to pay $2,000 for the privilege, which may be a non-starter for some. ASUS also offers the ROG Strix G15 — an all-AMD version of which we reviewed a few weeks back — with an RTX 3070, priced at $1,800. If you were looking for a machine in that $1,500-or-so bracket, you could get the $1,600 Razer Book, with a Core i7-1165G7 processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics. Alternatively, for $1,500 Acer's Predator Triton 300 SE packs a Core i7-11375H CPU and NVIDIA's RTX 3060 GPU, which seems like a fairly reasonable deal all things considered. Despite all of the chaos that has so far made up the current decade, we're seeing a new dawn of AMD's high-er end chips winding up in gaming laptops. This Ryzen 7 5800H can beat (select) Intel chips in a number of benchmarks, and you can expect to see it crop up in a number of other machines across this year. And while wealthier buyers may be tempted by a far pricier machine with RTX 3080 graphics, the 3070 here shouldn't make you feel like a second-class citizen. There is lots to like about this machine, although the snips made to push the price down are sure to rankle some. The battery life is well below par, the thermals could do with refinement, and the webcam would look retrograde on even a five-year-old machine. But, if you're going to stick this on a desk, keep it constantly plugged in to power and never do more than the odd Zoom, does any of that matter? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon picks up the rights to star-studded podcast 'SmartLess' Posted: 29 Jun 2021 10:17 AM PDT Amazon and Wondery will air the SmartLess podcast one week before episodes hit other audio platforms, starting on August 1st. Amazon is paying as much as $80 million for the three-year deal, Bloomberg reports. Actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes created and host SmartLess, in which they chat with another famous person. The gimmick is that one of the hosts invites on a guest whose identity remains a mystery to the others until the conversation starts. Guests so far include Vice President Kamala Harris, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Stacey Abrams, Stephen Colbert, Billie Eilish and Paul McCartney. SmartLess will initially be available on Amazon Music and Wondery+, and it'll be ad-free on the latter. Wondery will handle ad sales and marketing for the show. The deal also gives Amazon and Wondery the right to partner with future podcasts from the SmartLess team. This is yet another major deal for a single podcast. Earlier this month, Spotify scooped up the rights to Call Her Daddy, reportedly for around $20 million a year. Spotify has shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars on other podcast deals, including ones with Joe Rogan, the Obamas and the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex. Amazon also has exclusive podcasts, such as shows with Will Smith and DJ Khaled. It bought the Wondery podcast network last year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google promises improved privacy and five-years of updates for Nest devices Posted: 29 Jun 2021 10:00 AM PDT Big Tech's bid to gain access into people's homes through smart tech like speakers and surveillance cams naturally spooks some people. To help you overcome those doubts, Google revealed a list of precautions back in 2019 when it rebranded its Home products as Nest. Several of the privacy commitments revolved around on-device data storage and the disabling of camera and recording features. Today, Google is updating those pledges with specific references to multi-device setups, account security, vulnerability research and future software releases. It's also making them easier to find by bundling them together in Nest's new Safety Center. As part of the updates, Google says that all Nest devices released since 2019 are validated using third-party, industry-recognized security standards, including those developed by the Internet of Secure Things Alliance. It's also added a bit about its Nest bug bounty program that compensates security researchers who unearth vulnerabilities in its tech. In addition, the revised precautions now mention how it keeps your Google Account secure with tools like two-step verification. While it promises future safeguards through a pledge to provide at least five years of security updates for Nest devices after launch. Plus, there are explicit references to its verified boot feature that checks a device is running the right software each time it restarts. Finally, Google also directs you to the device activity page that shows all the gadgets your Google Account is signed into. Back when Google first made the commitments, it seemed as though the privacy hoopla over smart home tech was at a fever pitch. A damaging Bloomberg report had just detailed how Amazon hired contractors to transcribe Alexa recordings. Facebook — which was still reeling from the Cambridge Analytica scandal — had launched its latest Portal display to mixed reviews, including valid questions over its place in the home. While Google had faced its own backlash for putting a mic in its Nest security hub and not telling anyone about it. More recently, Amazon's internet-sharing Sidewalk feature for Echo and Ring devices have kept data-sharing concerns in the spotlight. Therefore, you can't blame Google for promoting its privacy commitments in this sensitive environment. Especially, If it makes the difference between people choosing to buy its products over its rivals. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Watch BTS get distracted by a dancing Boston Dynamics robot dog Posted: 29 Jun 2021 09:24 AM PDT Boston Dynamics' robots can boogie. We've seen Spot and Atlas strut their stuff many times, with some videos of them in action becoming viral hits. A collaboration with K-pop phenomenon BTS should be like catnip for the internet. But while the two videos are kind of fun, they're ever-so-slightly underwhelming. Hyundai closed its deal for a majority stake in Boston Dynamics last week. It brought in Hyundai brand ambassadors BTS to celebrate the occasion and dance with the robots. Spot cuts a rug with the group in one of the clips, but only briefly. They dance together for around 20 seconds altogether. In the other video, seven Spot robot dogs, one for each member of BTS, perform a choreographed routine to the band's "Ioniq: I'm On It" — an ode dedicated to Hyundai's EV sub-brand. The clip that BTS appear in only racked up a couple of million views within a day or so on YouTube. The video for the group's latest single "Butter," however, was viewed 113 million times on the platform within 24 hours, setting a new record. It seems dancing robots, just like pretty much everything else on the planet right now, aren't quite as popular as BTS. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Instagram tests letting more people share links in their Stories Posted: 29 Jun 2021 09:06 AM PDT For the longest time, including links in Stories is something Instagram has only let a select few of its users do. Your account needs to have either been verified by the company or have passed the 10,000 follower milestone. Only then can you include a swipe-up link in your Stories. But in what could be a dramatic change for Instagram, it's trying something different. The company told The Verge it recently started a test that gives a small subset of its users the ability to link to a website using a Stories sticker. Whether the platform eventually allows everyone to share links in this way is up in the air. For now, Vishal Shah, Instagram's head of product, told The Verge the goal is to track the types of links people post, as well as to ensure they don't use the feature to push spam and misinformation. The company's hope is to eventually transition to stickers as the primary way people access websites outside of the platform. "That is the sort of future system we would like to get to," Shah told the outlet. Whatever direction Instagram ends up going with this latest test, as of recently the company has been experimenting with some significant changes to how its platform works. It was not too long ago it seemed Instagram would never allow people to post content from their computers, but that changed last week when it began a test allowing some users to do just that. At around the same time it started a separate trial to see how people respond to seeing suggested posts throughout their feed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Google removes Maps targeting Thai dissidents and activists Posted: 29 Jun 2021 08:25 AM PDT Custom Google map data is supposed to help you document history or set up custom tours, but it's now being used as a political sword. Reuters has learned that Google took down two My Maps creations that listed names, photos and addresses for "hundreds" of Thai activists that allegedly oppose King Vajiralongkorn and the monarchy. Both maps violated company policies, Google said. The creators, including royalist Songklod Chuhenchoopol, said the maps were intended both as "psychological" warfare (that is, intimidation) and to help report political dissent. The information was publicly available, Chuhenchoopol said, but that hasn't placated human rights campaigners — they see it as a doxxing campaign that could lead to violence against the people on the list. The Thai government hasn't yet commented on Google's removal. Google's removal might have come too late when the map received over 350,000 views. It does serve as a warning, though, and suggests that custom mapping tool developers will have to be vigilant going forward. It doesn't take much to turn this online convenience into a hit list. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amazon reportedly pressuring suppliers for a discounted stake in their businesses Posted: 29 Jun 2021 07:55 AM PDT Amazon has reportedly struck dozens of deals with suppliers to buy stakes in their companies, potentially at lower rates. It has scooped up warrants for at least a dozen publicly traded companies and more than 75 private businesses, according to The Wall Street Journal. Amazon's stakes and potential stakes in those organizations is worth billions of dollars. Warrants work in a similar way to stock options. Holders of warrants can buy shares at a fixed price during a certain period. If the share price rises during that time, the warrant holder can swoop in and buy a stake in the company at a below-market rate. Amazon is said to have warrant deals with Kohl's, aircraft-leasing companies, call center businesses and hydrogen fuel cell suppliers, among others. Some of the deals have made Amazon one of the top shareholders in the respective companies, according to the report. In several cases, the ecommerce giant has the right to board seats and an option to outbid any acquisition offers. Leaders at some of the companies suggested they couldn't turn down Amazon's proposals, else they could risk losing a big contract to a competitor. Some chalked up Amazon's demands as the price of doing business. Amazon told the WSJ that warrant agreements are part of less than one percent of the deals it agrees with suppliers. In some cases, the warrants are connected to certain thresholds. They often don't come into effect until Amazon purchases a certain level of goods or services. We've seen some other evidence of this strategy in action. Last week, Amazon ordered 1,000 autonomous driving systems from Plus, a company that develops such tech for self-driving trucks. It also has the option to buy up to a 20 percent stake in the startup. Amazon has reportedly been engaging in this practice over the last decade or so, and it's said to have ramped up its efforts to secure warrants over the past few years. However, with Amazon facing deepening antitrust scrutiny, regulators may not look favorably on a report that suggests Amazon is pressuring companies into accepting terms that could require them to sell stakes at below-market rates. |
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