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• The Morning After: Lucasfilm hired a YouTuber with deepfake skills
• Tesla pushes back Semi truck release to 2022
• Amazon's second-gen Echo Buds fall to a Prime Day low at Best Buy
• Intel will build chips for Qualcomm as part of its ambitious foundry plans
• Lucasfilm hires YouTuber who used deepfake to improve 'The Mandalorian'
• Samsung's 49-inch mini-LED gaming monitor will sell for $2,500
• Samsung says an S Pen for foldables is coming at Unpacked
• Activision Blizzard employees decry 'abhorrent' company response to harassment lawsuit
• Tesla breaks its own delivery record by building and shipping 200,000 vehicles in Q2
• Intel's revised roadmap looks beyond 1 nanometer chips
• Netflix is reportedly developing a live-action Pokémon series
• iOS 14.7.1 arrives with fix for Apple Watch unlocking bug
• Hubble finds evidence of water vapor on Jupiter's largest moon
• Blue Origin offers NASA $2 billion in last-ditch attempt at lunar lander contract
• SiriusXM’s Premium VIP plan gives two cars access for $35/month
• 'Apex Legends' Emergence trailer shows off new playable character Seer
• Why every robot needs a spiffy hat
• 'Death Stranding' has sold five million copies since launch
• Microsoft Surface Duo 2 leak hints at a massive camera upgrade
• Nintendo's 'Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit' is on sale for $75 right now
• Spotify will now notify you of new releases from your favorite artists
• Novation Circuit Rhythm review: A modern sampler inspired by a classic
• The best Apple AirTag accessories you can buy
• Samsung's 'The Wall' will be used to form a virtual movie studio

The Morning After: Lucasfilm hired a YouTuber with deepfake skills Posted: 27 Jul 2021 04:17 AM PDT The power of deepfake tech to hone digital effects into incredibly realistic video can't be underestimated. We've seen a top-level Tom Cruise impersonator transformed with a high-level deepfake artist, and now companies — and film studios — are taking notice. Luke Skywalker's CGI face in The Mandalorian was met with a lot of criticism, and one fan's efforts to improve it resulted in a new job. Lucasfilm has hired YouTuber Shamook to ensure future projects won't have wobbly representations of actors that are either much older or perhaps even deceased now. The latter, however, remains an ethical conundrum in itself, as demonstrated by the recent Anthony Bourdain documentary. — Mat Smith A magnetic helmet shrunk a deadly tumor in world-first test The user-friendly medical device can be operated at home. We've seen helmets and AI that can spot brain tumors, but a new magnetic hard hat can actually treat them, too. Researchers used a helmet that generates a magnetic field to shrink a deadly tumor by a third. The 53-year-old patient who underwent the treatment ultimately passed away due to an unrelated injury, but an autopsy showed that the procedure had removed 31 percent of the tumor mass from his brain. Continue reading. The best Apple AirTag accessories you can buy Accessories for your accessory. Valentina Palladino / Engadget Apple's tiny Bluetooth trackers have one critical flaw: no built-in keychain hole. That means anyone who buys AirTags has to buy holders or cases to attach them to their stuff. It's a very Apple way of milking as much money out of a new product as possible since many will simply buy Apple's own AirTag holders. But those aren't the only options available — plenty of accessory companies have already made AirTag cases. We take a look at all the options. Continue reading. A new Microsoft Surface Duo might come with a big camera upgrade And possibly a new color. Tech Rat Microsoft's double-screen Surface Duo landed with outdated specs and a hard-to-swallow price, but the company might be looking for a do-over. A Tech Rat leak suggests a Surface Duo with a new conspicuous rear camera bump with three sensors might be on the way — as well as a new black look. Continue reading. LG's new Tone Free earbuds have a case that plugs into headphone ports They also feature spatial audio. LG Tone Free FP LG has revealed a new family of wireless earbuds, and while germ-killing UV tech is still on board, the coolest part may be backward compatibility. The high-end FP9 model has a charging case that plugs into a headphone jack to work as a Bluetooth dongle. The feature could be handy during flights and when dealing with wired environments of yesteryear, like gym treadmills. The headphones feature active noise cancellation and spatial audio compatibility, too. The LG Tone Free FP series will be available this month, price still TBC. Continue reading. iOS 14.7.1 arrives with fix for Apple Watch unlocking bugIt also fixes a security vulnerability Apple says may have been exploited. Apple has pushed out a new update to iOS 14 for iPhone and iPad owners. While there are no new features, it addresses a bug that broke Apple's Unlock with iPhone integration, preventing Touch ID-equipped phones from unlocking Apple Watch devices. So if you use an older iPhone with your Apple wearable, you'll want to download the update as soon as possible. Continue reading. Why every robot needs a spiffy hat If you thought the classic 'pants on a dog' problem was tricky, try it with treads. As robots increasingly move into our everyday lives, a new kind of clothing revolution could soon be upon us once again, according to a new research study out of New York's Cornell University. "We believe that robot clothes present an underutilized opportunity for the field of designing interactive systems," the team argues in What Robots Need From Clothing. It's not simply a matter of tossing human clothing on a robotic chassis. "What robot clothes are is integrally tied to what robots need from clothing. Robot clothing should analogously fulfill needs robots have, rather than just being human clothes on a robot," the researchers wrote. What will that entail? Continue reading. But wait, there's more... Intel's revised roadmap looks beyond 1-nanometer chips Blue Origin offers NASA $2 billion in last-ditch attempt at lunar lander contract Samsung's 'The Wall' will be used to form a virtual movie studio Hubble finds evidence of water vapor on Jupiter's largest moon Turtle Beach's first gamepad pairs its audio expertise with great ergonomics Autonomous quadrotor beats two human pilots in a drone race

Tesla pushes back Semi truck release to 2022 Posted: 27 Jul 2021 03:25 AM PDT Tesla's Semi truck won't start hauling cargo this year either. The automaker has revealed during its most recent earnings call that it has pushed back the truck's arrival — yet again — to 2022, three years after its original launch target in 2019. Last year, the company announced that it had to delay the vehicle's release to 2021 but didn't elaborate on what prompted the decision and if it was primary due to the pandemic. Now, according to TechCrunch, Tesla told shareholders that the Semi truck will be delayed due to the limited availability of battery cells and global supply chain challenges. The whole statement reads: "We believe we remain on track to build our first Model Y vehicles in Berlin and Austin in 2021. The pace of the respective production ramps will be influenced by the successful introduction of many new product and manufacturing technologies, ongoing supply-chain-related challenges and regional permitting. To better focus on these factories, and due to the limited availability of battery cells and global supply chain challenges, we have shifted the launch of the Semi truck program to 2022. We are also making progress on the industrialization of Cybertruck, which is currently planned for Austin production subsequent to Model Y." As TechCrunch notes, Tesla executive Jerome Guillen also left the company in June, just a few months after he started leading the trucking division. While the automaker didn't say whether his departure was in any way connected to the Semi's delay, Guillen used to lead Tesla's entire automotive business until he was made president of the Heavy Trucking unit in March.  Tesla first announced the Semi back in 2017, promising an electric big rig with a 500-mile range and technologies that include Enhanced Autopilot. It's been traveling all around the US and has apparently been capable of doing cross-country trips on its own without escorts since 2018, relying entirely on Tesla's existing Supercharger network. Elon Musk told staff in an internal email last year that the Semi is ready to enter mass production, but the company's readiness doesn't mean anything without the truck's components.

Amazon's second-gen Echo Buds fall to a Prime Day low at Best Buy Posted: 27 Jul 2021 02:29 AM PDT Amazon's latest Echo Buds have dropped to below $100 for the first time since Prime Day. Best Buy is offering the active noise-canceling earbuds for $80, down from their normal price of $120. The Alexa-powered buds were already affordable, but the latest deal should help sway the neutrals. Especially considering that they were only released in April. Buy Amazon Echo Buds at Best Buy - $80 Amazon improved its Echo Buds in all the right places with the second-gen model. With the right tweaks in the Alexa app, you can boost the audio, and take full advantage of the big bass, courtesy of that new 5.7mm high-performance driver. Amazon's digital assistant can also complete a range of tasks, from firing up music and podcasts to setting reminders and even fetching transit info for some US cities. The overhaul also extends to the design. Both the earbuds and the charging case are 20 percent and 40 percent smaller, respectively. At this price, however, you can expect some cutbacks. One of the few areas that remains the same is the battery life, which offers five hours overall and two hours from just a 15-minute charge. The only other shortcoming is that the buds don't always block out noisy backgrounds on calls. But, with a little in-app customization, you can crank up your voice to help overcome that. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Intel will build chips for Qualcomm as part of its ambitious foundry plans Posted: 26 Jul 2021 11:55 PM PDT Earlier today, Intel unveiled detailed plans for its future chip technology, describing how it plans to catch rivals TSMC and Samsung by 2025. It also revealed that it will start building chips for Qualcomm using its first new transistor architecture in a decade. In addition, the company will supply its packaging tech to Amazon for its AWS data centers.  Intel's biggest technology leap will happen in 2024 when the company ushers in its RibbonFET and PowerVia technology (below). RibbonFET will be a new kind of "gate-all-around" transistor delivering faster switching speeds in a smaller footprint. PowerVia, meanwhile, will be a backside power delivery system "eliminating the need for power routing on the front side of the wafer" and making chips more efficient. Intel will manufacture chips for Qualcomm using that 20A process technology, though it didn't say which products it would produce or when. Qualcomm currently uses multiple foundries to build its Snapdragon processors and other chips, used mainly in smartphones and other portable devices.  CEO Pat Gelsinger first laid out Intel's ambitious foundry plans earlier this year as part of the company's IDM 2.0 strategy, saying it would invest $20 billion in two Arizona fab plants. Now, it needs to deliver on all that if it wants to keep building its own chips, let alone products for companies the size of Qualcomm and Amazon.

Lucasfilm hires YouTuber who used deepfake to improve 'The Mandalorian' Posted: 26 Jul 2021 10:49 PM PDT Luke Skywalker's CGI face in the character's The Mandalorian cameo was met with a lot of criticism, and fans even tried to fix the scene with various tools and programs. One of those fans did so well, Lucasfilm has hired him to help it ensure its upcoming projects won't feature underwhelming de-aging and facial visual effects. That fan is a YouTuber known as Shamook, who uses deepfake technology to improve upon bad CG effects and to put actors in shows and movies they never starred in.  In the comments section of a video that replaces Christian Bale with Robert Pattinson as the Batman in Christopher Nolan's film, Shamook wrote that he joined Lucasfilm/Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) a few months ago. When asked what his role within the company is, he said his official title is "Senior Facial Capture Artist." The studio has confirmed the hire with IndieWire, telling the publication that it's always on the lookout for talented artists. A representative said in a statement: "Over the past several years ILM has been investing in both machine learning and A.I. as a means to produce compelling visual effects work and it's been terrific to see momentum building in this space as the technology advances." In addition to working on a deepfake version of Luke in The Mandalorian, he also deepfaked Tarkin's and Leia's appearances in Rogue One. Shamook's videos don't always show the most realistic results, but the great ones like Luke's truly look impressive. Lucasfilm could his technical know-how to make sure de-aged characters and CG faces won't take us straight to uncanny valley anymore.

Samsung's 49-inch mini-LED gaming monitor will sell for $2,500 Posted: 26 Jul 2021 07:00 PM PDT How much would you spend for a no-compromise mini-LED gaming monitor? Samsung thinks it has an answer. The company will start taking pre-orders for its long-teased Odyssey Neo G9 display on July 29th for $2,500. Yes, you could buy a nice PC for less than the cost of this curved, 49-inch beast — although you might have good reasons to buy this over smaller, flatter Odyssey screens. As you might have guessed, the use of mini-LED delivers very high contrast ratios for an LCD monitor. Samsung claims a black level of just 0.0004. However, you're also getting extremely bright HDR thanks to a peak brightness of 2,000 nits that makes many TVs seem dim by comparison. Customizable lighting effects help add to the flash. You should also see the same 5,120 x 1,440 resolution, 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms pixel response time from last year's Odyssey G9, not to mention connectivity that includes two HDMI ports, DisplayPort and a pair of USB 3.0 connections. You're clearly getting features that are hard to match. However, it's also apparent that Samsung is targeting a fairly narrow audience — The Neo G9 is meant for well-heeled gamers who want the most immersive non-VR experience possible. It could easily hit the sweet spot if you're in that demographic, but creative pros (and anyone on a budget) will probably want to look elsewhere.

Samsung says an S Pen for foldables is coming at Unpacked Posted: 26 Jul 2021 04:00 PM PDT Ahead of its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, Samsung has published a blog post by its president TM Roh that basically tells us what it plans to announce next month. In addition to a new Galaxy Watch powered by Wear OS, the company will be launching the third generation of its Galaxy Z series and "the first-ever S Pen designed specifically for foldable phones." A stylus made for the pliable screens on foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Z Flip has been a widely requested feature, and would make the larger, opened up displays more useful. Of course, Samsung shared little else about this S Pen besides the fact that it's coming, so there are plenty of unknowns at the moment. How will it avoid damaging the softer, flexible screen? How precise will the stylus be? What size is its nib, what is its pressure sensitivity and will the foldables have onboard slots to house it? Will it have Bluetooth support for remote control actions? Clearly, these are things we'll have to wait till Unpacked on August 11th to learn about. Roh also confirmed that Samsung will not be launching a new Note handset at the event, saying that "Instead of unveiling a new Galaxy Note this time around, we will further broaden beloved Note features to more Samsung Galaxy devices." Chris Velazco / Engadget As for the third generation of the Galaxy Z phones we'll be seeing at the event, Roh said the company has "lined up even more partner apps that make the most of the versatile fold-out format." We can expect "hands-free optimized video calling with Google Duo and watching videos in Flex mode on YouTube," as well as "multitasking in Microsoft Teams."  Specifically, too, the next Galaxy Z Flip will have "an even more refined style" and "more durable, stronger materials," while the upcoming Z Fold will "combine the very best that smartphones and tablets offer and [deliver] completely new ways of working, connecting and creating." The language is unsurprisingly vague, as Samsung can't give away all the details ahead of Unpacked. But it clearly also wants people to be excited — excited enough that they might be temped to reserve one of the new Z series devices already. If you choose to go through the company's Reserve Now program, you can trade in up to two devices, including phones, tablets and wearables, towards a new Galaxy product. I'd recommend till we learn more about what's coming on August 11th before doing that, and you can join us on Engadget's YouTube channel to watch Unpacked live. We'll be kicking things off with a pre-show at 9:40am ET and answer your questions in a post-show after Samsung wraps.

Activision Blizzard employees decry 'abhorrent' company response to harassment lawsuit Posted: 26 Jul 2021 03:12 PM PDT Employees at Activision Blizzard are calling on the company to issue a new statement in response to the lawsuit it's facing from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). If you've been following the saga since it broke earlier in the month, you may recall the company brushed off allegations that it had fostered a "frat boy" workplace culture, claiming the lawsuit included "distorted, and in many cases false descriptions of Blizzard's past." Now, in a letter obtained by Polygon, a group of more than 800 Activision Blizzard employees say the statement the company issued was "abhorrent and insulting," and they're demanding leadership undertake "immediate" corrective action. "Categorizing the claims that have been made as 'distorted, and in many cases false' creates a company atmosphere that disbelieves victims," the letter states. "Our company executives have claimed that actions will be taken to protect us, but in the face of legal action — and the troubling official responses that followed — we no longer trust that our leaders will place employee safety above their own interests." The group specifically calls out the message Frances Townsend, executive vice president of corporate affairs at the publisher, sent to employees after the news broke. In the leaked email, Townsend claims the lawsuit DFEH filed presents "a distorted and untrue picture of our company, including factually incorrect, old and out of context stories — some from more than a decade ago." According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, the response had some workers "fuming." The group that signed the letter is calling on Townsend to step down as executive sponsor of the ABK Employee Women's Network. The timing of the letter comes after Activision Blizzard reportedly held an 'all-hands' meeting with 500 employees. The Zoom call was supposed to include the entire studio, but a scheduling error meant not everyone could join the meeting. Activision executive Joshua Taub allegedly told those in attendance he and CEO Bobby Kotick "have never seen this," adding that "does not mean this behavior does not happen." Taub then reportedly said, "we don't publicize all of these claims, we work with the employee and the person who is accused and try to work on a resolution." The company has a second meeting planned for tomorrow, according to Uppercut.  We've reached out to Activision Blizzard for comment.

Tesla breaks its own delivery record by building and shipping 200,000 vehicles in Q2 Posted: 26 Jul 2021 02:30 PM PDT Tesla appears to have shrugged off the production woes it suffered last year during the COVID lockdown with the company announcing a number of "new and notable records" during its Q2 earnings call on Monday. Not only did Tesla build and ship 200,000 vehicles during the quarter, a 151 percent increase over last year, it also earned $1.1 billion in net income during the same period — a whopping tenfold increase year over year. Overall, revenue grew 98 percent from this time last year thanks in large part to Tesla's increased deliveries though the company did suffer from a "Bitcoin-related impairment" of $23 million during the past quarter. Additionally, Tesla rolled out 85 MW worth of solar capability in Q2, a 215 percent increase from last year's 25 MW as well as added nearly 1,000 Supercharging stations to its ever expanding network. Tesla CEO Elon Musk also revealed more details about the company's plan to open its Supercharger network to other EV brands later this year.  "We're currently thinking it's a real simple thing where, you just download the Tesla app, go to a supercharger and just indicate which stall you're in," he explained. "And this should basically work with almost any manufacturers' cars." Non-Tesla owners could see a few constraints in their use of the Supercharger network, Musk pointed out. "if the charge rate is super slow, then somebody will be charged more."  "Public sentiment towards EVs is at an inflection point and, at this point, I think almost everyone agrees that electric vehicles are the only way forward," Musk said during the call. He did note, however, that the ongoing global shortage of microchips remains an cantraining force on vehicle production. "Regarding supply chain, while we're making cars at full speed, the global chip shortage situation remains quite serious... it does seem like it's getting better, but it's hard to predict." Musk said, warning that the issue will likely not be resolved before the end of this year.  In terms of tech, Tesla's use of radar as part of the vehicle's Full Self Driving system will soon be coming to an end. "After selling over a million vehicles equipped with radar, we have collected enough data to start removing it in some regions," the company wrote in its shareholder deck. "The removal of radar, which is enabled by our collection of a vast dataset of corner cases, allows us to focus on vision and increase the pace of improvement."  Musk also commented on the recent launch of Tesla's FSD subscription which launched last month. "We expected to build slowly and gather a lot of momentum over time," he said. "Obviously, we need to have the full self driving boat widely available for it really to take off... I think FSD subscription will be a significant factor probably next year."  The company is also getting closer to switching over to its new 4680 battery cells, having successfully validated the battery tech's "performance and lifetime" at its California-based fabrication facility. With that testing out of the way, Tesla is focusing on "improving the 10 percent of manufacturing processes that currently bottleneck production output," though the company has not yet announced when the battery style changeover will actually take place.

Intel's revised roadmap looks beyond 1 nanometer chips Posted: 26 Jul 2021 02:00 PM PDT Forget about "SuperFin Enhanced," the previous name for the node powering Intel's upcoming 10nm Alder Lake processors. Now, that node is just called "Intel 7," according to the company's revised roadmap. But don't go thinking that means Intel is somehow delivering a 7nm processor early — its long-delayed "Rocket Lake" 7nm chip still won't ship until 2023, and its node has been renamed to "Intel 4." Confused yet? It's almost like Intel is trying to attach a new number to these upcoming products, so we'll forget it's losing the shrinking transistor war against AMD. But Intel's prospects are more interesting as we look ahead to 2024, when the company expects to finalize the design for its first chips with transistors smaller than 1 nanometer. They'll be measured by angstroms, instead. The "Intel 20A" node will be powered by "RibbonFET" transistors, the company's first new architecture since the arrival FinFET in 2011. It'll be coupled with PowerVia, a technology that can move power delivery to the rear of a chip wafer, which should make signal transmission more efficient. Intel "Building on Intel's unquestioned leadership in advanced packaging, we are accelerating our innovation roadmap to ensure we are on a clear path to process performance leadership by 2025," Intel's new CEO Pat Gelsinger (above) said during the "Intel Accelerated" livestream today. "We are leveraging our unparalleled pipeline of innovation to deliver technology advances from the transistor up to the system level. Until the periodic table is exhausted, we will be relentless in our pursuit of Moore's Law and our path to innovate with the magic of silicon." Before it reaches the angstrom era of chips, though, the company also plans to release a processor with an "Intel 3" node in 2023. You can think of it as a super-powered version of its 7nm architecture, with around an 18 percent performance power watt improvement over Intel 4. It'll likely fill the timing gap between Rocket Lake chips in 2023 and the Intel 20A products in 2024. Intel is also daring to call its shot beyond 2024: it's also working on an "Intel 18A" node that'll further improve on its RibbonFET design. For consumers, this roadmap means you can expect chips to get steadily faster and more efficient over the next five years. If anything, the announcements today show that Intel is trying to move beyond the 10nm and 7nm delays that have dogged it for ages.  As we've previously argued, it's ultimately a good thing for the tech industry if Intel can finally regain its footing. Its $20 billion investment in two Arizona-based fabrication plants was a clear sign that Gelsinger aimed to bring the company into new territory. But now that it's laid out a new timeline, there'll be even more pressure for Intel not to let things slip once again.

Netflix is reportedly developing a live-action Pokémon series Posted: 26 Jul 2021 12:45 PM PDT If Detective Pikachu had you hankering for more real-world(ish) Pokémon action, Netflix appears to be working on something that might catch your interest. The streaming giant has a live-action Pokémon series in early development, according to Variety. Lucifer co-showrunner Joe Henderson is reportedly involved with the show as a writer and executive producer. Netflix picked up Lucifer after Fox canceled the show. Henderson has another project in the works at Netflix, an adaptation of his Shadecraft comic.  Several Pokémon shows have streamed on Netflix, including Pokemon: Indigo League and Pokemon Journeys. Netflix has also announced or streamed a bunch ofgame-relatedtitles and live-actionanimeadaptations. A live-action Pokémon series has the potential to be a massive hit for Netflix. Given the company's bigger push into video games, perhaps Netflix will work with The Pokémon Company on a game that ties into the show too.

iOS 14.7.1 arrives with fix for Apple Watch unlocking bug Posted: 26 Jul 2021 12:19 PM PDT Exactly one week after the release of iOS 14.7, Apple has pushed out a new update to iPhone and iPad owners. Coming in at approximately 900MB, iOS 14.7.1 doesn't include new features but does address a bug that made its way into 14.7. The glitch broke Apple's Unlock with iPhone integration, preventing Touch ID-equipped phones from unlocking Apple Watch devices. So if you use an older iPhone with your Apple wearable, you'll want to download the update as soon as possible. Apple says iOS 14.7.1 also addresses a security vulnerability that someone may have exploited. In a support document spotted by 9to5Mac, the company notes the oversight had allowed an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Apple's latest macOS software, which you can also download today, addresses that same issue with the release of Big Sur 11.5.1. As usual, the company says the updates are "recommended for all users." If you don't see a prompt to download iOS 14.7.1 on your iPhone or iPad, you can manually check for the software by opening the Settings app on your device, tapping "General" and then "Software Update." On macOS, meanwhile, open the System Preferences menu and then click on "Software Update."

Hubble finds evidence of water vapor on Jupiter's largest moon Posted: 26 Jul 2021 11:45 AM PDT Scientists have discovered the first evidence of water vapor on Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon. They used new and archival datasets from the Hubble Space Telescope to find the vapor, which forms when ice on the surface sublimates and turns from solid to gas. A team led by Lorenz Roth of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden examined data captured by Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph in 2018 and images the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph obtained between 1998 and 2010. Ultraviolet images captured by the STIS in 1998 showed "colorful ribbons of electrified gas called auroral bands," according to NASA (which launched Hubble as a joint project with the European Space Agency). Researchers previously believed that atomic oxygen may have caused discrepancies between UV images that were captured over time. However, using data from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, Roth's team found that there was barely any atomic oxygen in the moon's atmosphere. As such, there had to be another reason for the discrepancies. The temperature at Ganymede's equator may become warm enough for surface ice to release some water molecules. When they re-examined the relative distribution of the aurora in the UV images, Roth's team found that differences between them match up with where water would be expected in the moon's atmosphere. Previous research indicated that Ganymede may hold more water than in all of our oceans. The moon's ocean is believed to be around 100 miles below the surface, so the vapor isn't from there. Water on the surface is frozen due to the moon's temperatures. The finding arrived ahead of the ESA's wonderfully named upcoming mission, JUICE, or JUpiter ICy moons Explorer. The mission should launch in 2022 and arrive at Jupiter in 2029. It will then spend at least three years examining the planet and three of its largest moons. JUICE will pay special attention to Ganymede, both as a planetary body and possible habitat.  "Our results can provide the JUICE instrument teams with valuable information that may be used to refine their observation plans to optimize the use of the spacecraft," Roth said in a statement.  NASA's Juno mission has also been studying Ganymede and Jupiter's environment (aka the Jovian system) since 2016. The agency says examining the Jovian system and understanding its history "will provide us with a better understanding of how gas giant planets and their satellites form and evolve. In addition, new insights will hopefully be found on the habitability of Jupiter-like exoplanetary systems."

Blue Origin offers NASA $2 billion in last-ditch attempt at lunar lander contract Posted: 26 Jul 2021 11:15 AM PDT After returning from the edge of space, Jeff Bezos has personally waded into Blue Origin's dispute with NASA over its decision to award a $2.9 billion lunar lander contract to Elon Musk's SpaceX. In an open letter to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Bezos said his company is willing to waive up to $2 billion in payments from NASA in the current and next two federal fiscal years in return for a fixed-price lander contract. Bezos said Blue Origin is also willing to fund its own pathfinder mission to low-Earth orbit. "This offer is not a deferral, but is an outright and permanent waiver of those payments," Bezos said in the letter. "This offer provides time for government appropriation actions to catch up." While Bezos spends a significant part of his letter talking about Blue Origin's commitment to "advance America's future in space," his offer isn't altruistic. At the heart of it is the belief that NASA unfairly excluded his company from a lucrative and prestigious contract. When it comes to its most important projects, NASA has historically handed out agreements to multiple contractors to promote competition and ensure it can get a mission off the ground on time if one company falls behind schedule. In its latest procurement, NASA didn't do that, and Blue Origin filed a protest with the federal government shortly after that. At the time, a Blue Origin spokesperson told Engadget NASA "executed a flawed acquisition for the Human Landing System program and moved the goalposts at the last minute." That's something Bezos reiterates in his letter. "Instead of investing in two competing lunar landers as originally intended, the Agency chose to confer a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar head start to SpaceX," the former Amazon CEO said. "That decision broke the mold of NASA's successful commercial space programs by putting an end to meaningful competition for years to come." It's hard to say how NASA will respond to the open letter. The Human Landing System project can't move forward while the US Government Accountability Office reviews the protest from Blue Origin. Notably, this isn't the first time a Bezos-affiliated company has got itself into a contract dispute with the US government. In 2019, Amazon challenged the Department of Defense's decision to award Microsoft its $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract. After a nearly two-year-long legal battle, the Pentagon canceled that project at the start of July in favor of a new multi-vendor project that will hand out work to both Amazon and Microsoft.

SiriusXM’s Premium VIP plan gives two cars access for $35/month Posted: 26 Jul 2021 10:10 AM PDT SiriusXM has revealed a new $35/month plan that allows you to listen to the service's 300-plus channels from two cars and log in to the SXM streaming app on two devices simultaneously. Subscribers will have other perks through the Platinum VIP plan, including the chance to check out some exclusive events with artists and celebrities. The plan includes access to more than 5,000 soundboard-quality concert recordings. You'll also be able to check out 250 video recordings of shows selected from live concert streaming service nugs.net's library. The lineup includes gigs from Bruce Springsteen, Phish and Pearl Jam (all of whom have SiriusXM channels), as well as the likes of Wilco and Metallica. Platinum VIP seems like SiriusXM's take on a family plan, with live concert recordings and other perks to sweeten the deal. For subscribers who have more than one car, the plan could be a better option than perhaps having two $22/month Platinum plans. Even though every media-centric company is battling for customers' time and dollars, SiriusXM targets a slightly different type of user to the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. It has some high-profile exclusive stations, including ones from Howard Stern, as well as features like Pandora stations and play-by-play for several major sports. However, Spotify has significantly expanded its non-music offerings over the last few years, with investments into the likes of podcasts and Clubhouse-style audio chat rooms.

'Apex Legends' Emergence trailer shows off new playable character Seer Posted: 26 Jul 2021 09:32 AM PDT As promised, Respawn Entertainment has shared a gameplay trailer showing off some of the more significant changes coming to Apex Legends as part of its upcoming Emergence season, which is slated to get underway on August 3rd. Right off the bat, we're treated to a look at the new version of World's Edge. Respawn has tweaked the battleground to add a molten lava fissure that runs through the center of the map. The studio says it did this in part to make combat encounters that take part in and around the Sorting Facility, one of the main points of interest in World's Edge, more dynamic, with a greater emphasis on close-quarters action. Another major element of the redesign is the addition of gondolas at two of the new points of interest. According to Respawn, the idea here was to replicate some of the "dynamic gameplay" that trains offered in the original version of the map. Outside of the redesigned World's Edge, we also get to see the game's new Rampage LMG in action, which will allow players to knock down doors from a distance. Towards the end of the clip, Seer, Apex's latest playable character, makes his entrance. His kit allows you to narrow in on your opponents by tracking their heartbeats while aiming down the sights of your weapon. If you find an enemy, you can send a swarm of microdrones to hunt them down. Players can avoid detection by Seer by moving slowly. During EA's Play Live event last week, Apex Legends game director Chad Grenier said he believes the character will help vary the pace of matches, forcing players to move more methodically when Seer is on the other team. Apex Legends is available to play for free on PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Why every robot needs a spiffy hat Posted: 26 Jul 2021 09:00 AM PDT First developed more than 100,000 years ago, clothing is one of humanity's earliest — and most culturally significant — inventions, providing wearers not just protection from the environment and elements but also signifying social status, membership in a community and their role within that group. As robots increasingly move out of labs, off of factory floors and into our everyday lives, a similar garment revolution could soon be upon us once again, according to a new research study out of New York's Cornell University. "We believe that robot clothes present an underutilized opportunity for the field of designing interactive systems," the team argues in What Robots Need From Clothing, which was submitted to the In Designing Interactive Systems Conference 2021. "Clothes can help robots become better robots — by helping them be useful in a new, wider array of contexts, or better adapt and function in the contexts they are already in." "I started by looking at how different materials would move on robots and thinking about the readability of that motion — like, what is the robot's intention based on the way materials move on the robot," Natalie Friedman, a PhD student at Cornell Tech and lead author on the paper, explained to Engadget. "From there, I started thinking about all the different social functions that clothes have for people and how that could influence how the robot is viewed." While tomorrow's robots may wear white button down dress shirts and black bow ties while serving hors d'oeuvres to party guests or wear candy stripes while working as nurses, it's not simply a matter of tossing human clothing onto a robotic chassis. "What robot clothes are is integrally tied to what robots need from clothing. Robot clothing should analogously fulfill needs robots have, rather than just being human clothes on a robot," the researchers wrote. Robo-clothes could take any number of forms, depending on their wearer's specific function. Robotic firefighters, such as the Thermite from Howe and Howe, might theoretically be issued heat-resistant overcoats akin to what humans wear but embedded with thermochromic ink to provide the robot's operator an easy visual reference to the area's ambient temperature or indicate that the robot is in danger of overheating. Conversely, search-and-rescue bots could wear waterproof garments when conducting oceanic operations and then strap on extra-grippy boots when searching for lost hikers in mountainous terrain or survivors of a building collapse. "I think this work is important to helping engineers and technologists understand the functional importance of aesthetics and signaling in design," Cornell Tech professor and co-author Wendy Ju, said in a recent blog. "It's not 'just fashion' - what the robot wears helps people understand how to interact with it in ways that are critical to safety and task execution." Overall, the use of swappable attire could lead to more generalized robot designs as the specific capabilities the clothing provides don't have to be baked into the robot's construction. "It is more difficult to build a new robot than to build new clothes," Friedman said. "I think that clothes are going to influence robot design and robot designs are going to influence clothes. Maybe it'll start in one direction — clothes made to fit robots — but, in the future, I think that robots might be built to better fit in clothes." She notes that Pepper, though recently discontinued by SoftBank, offers an online merch store with a wide variety of costumes and outfits for the robot to wear including outfits designating cultural, national, professional and religious affiliations. NurPhoto via Getty Images But clothing on robots isn't just for their own benefit, it also serves to demystify and humanize these cutting-edge machines in the eyes of the people they're working with. For example, clothing could help protect a robot's sense of shame — or rather that of its user. "The need for wire modesty — to cover up nudity — stems from anthropomorphic priggishness, since robots do not get embarrassed about wires poking out of them," the researchers wrote. "However, both humanoid and non-humanoid robots have pragmatic reasons to maintain a clean and covered aesthetic, because exposed wires present a real risk to function. Any wire that is pulled out or cut will remove power or signal to a subsystem, and that can be risky to the robot and any people or objects in the environment." "I definitely see a future where [when robots] aren't wearing clothes, it might look a little funny," Friedman added. "I mean we are just mapping our ideas onto robots, right? Robots don't have consciousness, so they don't feel shame." However, putting clothes on robots could also prove problematic especially if the apparel style has been culturally appropriated. You can bet your bottom dollar that the first cannabis dispensary to dress an automated budtender in rastafarian garb is going to make headlines — and not the kind that are good for business — same as if you outfitted a Roomba with a Native American headdress. "Hawaiian shirts, for example, used to be a marker of 'casual Friday' office attire, but more recently are affiliated with the extremist 'Boogaloo Boys,'" the researchers wrote. Despite the potential drawbacks to putting pants on robots, doing so could help make the entire field of research more attractive to a new generation of roboticists. "I like to think about girls in robotics," Friedman said. "When they're young, I think robotics seems like a really intimidating thing but I see clothes as kind of a way to welcome, you know, the stereotypically feminine... skills that women have. I see clothes as a way to welcome girls into [robotics]."

'Death Stranding' has sold five million copies since launch Posted: 26 Jul 2021 08:16 AM PDT Whatever you think of Death Stranding as a game, it was apparently a commercial success. Kojima Productions publishing head Jay Boor told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview that the sci-fi courier game has sold five million copies across PS4 and PC. That's not as strong as Metal Gear Solid V, which moved six million copies in just the first few months after its September 2015 debut. However, Death Stranding was also a brand new franchise that leaned mainly on Kojima's reputation (plus some big-name actors) to reel players in. Five million sales is no mean feat in that context, especially when other legendary game developers have sometimes struggled without the support of their best-known development teams. The timing for these figures isn't a coincidence. The studio is using the sales numbers to build hype for the Death Stranding Director's Cut coming to the PlayStation 5 in September. At the same time, they suggest Kojima Productions isn't going away any time soon — at least, so long as Kojima's fan base (and his keen eye for cinematics) remains intact.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 leak hints at a massive camera upgrade Posted: 26 Jul 2021 06:32 AM PDT Microsoft's Surface Duo drew flak for delivering outdated specs at top-tier prices (among other missteps), but that might not be true for the sequel. Windows Central has shared a Tech Rat leak purporting to show images of the Surface Duo 2, and they suggest Microsoft is dragging its dual-screen Android phone into the modern era. Most notably, there's a conspicuous rear camera bump with three sensors — you wouldn't have to use a single camera for everything. WC understood these were standard, telephoto and ultra-wide shooters. The leak also shows the Surface Duo 2 in a stealthier black color, and suggests Microsoft has pulled the fingerprint reader from its original spot and moved it to the power button. There's little to see of the two screens or the internals, although WC and previous leaks point to a much-needed jump to modern hardware. Microsoft will reportedly outfit the Surface Duo 2 with a Snapdragon 888 chip, 5G and NFC. No more using year-old parts with glaring omissions, to put it another way. WC claimed Microsoft will launch the Duo 2 sometime in September or October. It's not certain what the price would be, but Microsoft lowered the original's price from $1,399 to $999 just a few months after release, and it's available for $650 as we write this. The company is clearly aware that the first Surface Duo's steep price scared would-be buyers, and it likely won't want to make that mistake again.

Nintendo's 'Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit' is on sale for $75 right now Posted: 26 Jul 2021 06:10 AM PDT Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a good way to spice up your regular racing competitions. It brings the virtual-racing action into the real world with tiny karts that zoom around your home on tracks you create yourself. A single set is fairly expensive at $100 — especially considering you need a Nintendo Switch to use it at all — but now you can grab either than Mario or Luigi set from Amazon for only $75. That's a return to the game's all-time-low price, so now's the time to grab it if you've had your eye on it for a while. Buy Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit at Amazon - $100 Both Home Circuit sets come gates that you set up around your home to build your own racetrack, plus a camera-equipped kart operated by either Mario or Luigi. However, one set only comes with one car, so you will need to sets if you want to race IRL with your friend or family member (a single-player mode is supported as well). You will need a bit of space to set up your track — approximately a 10 x 12 foot area — but once the track is place, you can use the Joy-Cons of your Switch to control the kart. You can switch up your track simply by moving the gates around, but the game will make things more challenging by making you race underwater, in an 8-bit world and more. The in-game obstacles will affect your very real kart by making it slow down or speed up, so you'll likely run into new challenges very time you race even if your IRL track stays the same. And like in traditional Mario Kart, you'll collect items as you zip around the track. Home Circuit is a compelling add-on for diehard Mario Kart fans, but also those that want a new way to experience the game. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Spotify will now notify you of new releases from your favorite artists Posted: 26 Jul 2021 06:00 AM PDT Spotify is introducing a feature to notify people when their favorite artists and podcast producers have a new release to check out. Taking the form of a bell icon you'll find at the top of the app's home interface, the What's New panel collects new releases from bands, musicians and shows you follow on the platform. Spotify says the feature will update in real-time, with a blue dot overlaid on top of the bell icon indicating when the panel has been refreshed with new content. Spotify plans to roll out the feature to all Android and iOS users over the coming weeks. Spotify In intent, What's New is similar to Spotify's existing Release Radar playlist. They're both designed to surface new content for you to add to your Spotify library, but the way they go about that task is different. Like Discover Weekly, Release Radar uses a mix of human curation and software to highlight the songs you're most likely to enjoy from a new album, EP or single. What's New, by contrast, forgoes curation in favor of comprehensiveness. It also has the advantage of a dedicated interface element. As a playlist, it's easy for Release Radar to get lost among all the other playlists you can add to your Spotify library.

Novation Circuit Rhythm review: A modern sampler inspired by a classic Posted: 26 Jul 2021 06:00 AM PDT The original Circuit groovebox developed something of a cult following thanks in large part to Novation's relentless updates. So it was no surprise that the company decided to give it a proper sequel earlier this year. What was a surprise, though, was that along with the Circuit Tracks, Novation also announced the Circuit Rhythm, an entirely sample-based instrument. The Rhythm combines the simplified, screen-free workflow that made the Circuit so popular with a full-featured sampler and performance effects that clearly were inspired by the SP-303 and SP-404. The big question is whether or not what makes the Circuit so compelling when playing and sequencing synths translates to chopping up loops and capturing oneshots. Physically, the Circuit Rhythm and Circuit Tracks are nearly identical. The faceplate is light gray instead of black, and some of the labels on the controls are different, but they're built on the same core platform. The front has the same 32 RGB velocity sensitive pads, along with 28 buttons for switching views and tracks, plus eight endless encoders for changing various parameters, and two knobs dedicated to volume and the master filter. Around back you'll also find five-pin MIDI In, Out and Thru ports; USB-C for power and connecting to your computer; a 3.5mm sync jack for connecting Volcas and the like; a headphone jack; and ¼-inch stereo ins and outs. Oh, and of course there's a rechargeable battery that Novation says should last up to four hours. In my testing I haven't quite hit that mark, but I haven't been too far off either — about three to three and a half hours. Then the core of the Rhythm is its eight monophonic sampler tracks. And, even though there are only eight tracks you can use "sample flip" to place multiple samples on a single track. For instance your kick and snare, so long as they don't overlap. All of this is pretty impressive considering the Circuit Rhythm's $400 price tag and portable size. But what seems great on paper doesn't always translate to the real world. That being said, Novation did do a lot right. For one, it's important that the company saw fit to build an actual sampler and not just a sample-based groovebox, like Elektron's Model:Samples. Don't get me wrong, I love the Model:Samples. But if you're looking to spontaneously sample something you've been jamming on, or to chop up soul loops, it's not gonna help you. The actual workflow for sampling and then doing basic editing, chopping, etcetera is pretty easy to wrap your head around too. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it fun. I've definitely been in a creative rut recently and stepping out of my comfort zone to slice up samples from YouTube and make some lo-fi and boom bap-inspired beats has helped me get back to enjoying making music again, even if what I'm making is objectively not good. Engadget · Circuit Rhythm review samples The 32-step Circuit sequencer also remains a strong suit. It's simple, intuitive and deceptively powerful. You can program a beat manually or play it in "unquantized" (in reality this is simply quantized to the microsteps — of which there are eight per step, but it gets close enough in most cases). You can automate most of the parameters across a pattern, then chain patterns together to create longer progressions. Beyond that there are scenes, which consist of different pattern chains, which can themselves be chained together to create full arrangements. When creating patterns you can also introduce variation and unpredictability by using the probability parameter. This sets the chance that a particular step will be played. It's not quite as robust as Elektron's trig conditions, but it can keep things from getting too stale. And, if you're feeling a bit stuck, you can "intelligently" remix a pattern with the Mutate function. It scrambles up your sequence to make something new, though the results aren't always great and there's no undo, so make sure to duplicate your pattern first. In general the Mutate felt more useful on the synth-based Circuit Tracks than on the Rhythm, but anything that can introduce a bit of randomness is good in my book. While obviously the whole point of a sampler is to record and perform with your own samples, I do have to give Novation credit for the stock sound selection. Most of your bases are covered from acoustic drums, to 808s, to guitar licks, electric piano and synth pads. And they sound good too, which is not something you could say about the presets on the Circuit Tracks. Basically, no matter what genre of music you make, there should be enough here to get you started. While the basic workflow of the Circuit Rhythm and Tracks are basically identical, there are some differences. There are specific pages for recording and processing samples, for instance, and a page dedicated to what Novation calls "Grid FX", which are basically punch-in effects like repeat, gate and vinyl simulation that give you basic tools for manipulating your beat. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget But, just like the Tracks, some of the more advanced features aren't always immediately obvious and having the manual handy is a must while you're finding your bearings. I'm sure that eventually I'd be able to commit most functions to memory, but after a few weeks I'm still having trouble remembering how to turn threshold on and off when recording samples, it took me forever to figure out how to manually place slice points, and I still haven't figured out how to set a count-in for unquantized recording. (I'm not even sure you can.) The effects are also something of a mixed bag here. The delay, reverb and sidechain effects are all the same as on the Tracks. They're charmingly lo-fi, but the line between barely noticeable and over the top (especially on the sidechain) is extremely thin. And the Grid FX are pretty mediocre. The vinyl sim is passable, but the beat repeat and gate effects always felt slightly out of sync. It's entirely likely that I just haven't mastered performing with the Rhythm yet, but I don't struggle nearly as much with the same effects on Teenage Engineering's PO-33. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget There are some features that would be super useful too that I'm hoping to see Novation add in a future firmware update. For one, the ability to swap or adjust Grid FX from the device itself would be huge. You can load up to 16 of them, but they're all presets, so you can't change the depth of the flanger, for instance, without connecting to the Components app on your computer. This also means that if you start a new "Pack" on the Circuit (Novation's term for a collection of projects and samples) you're stuck with the default effects. Fine-grained control over the tempo is also a must that's currently missing. I spent well over an hour trying to line up a sample from "Stridulum Theme" off the soundtrack to The Visitor, but no matter what I did I couldn't quite get it to loop cleanly. The actual BPM of the sample is somewhere between 85 and 86 BPM, but the Rhythm will only deal in whole numbers. (It doesn't help that without a screen, trimming a loop to the perfect length is a giant PITA.) The Circuit Rhythm is far from perfect, but definitely offers a lot of compelling features at a decent price. The question, ultimately, is what features are most important to you? Terrence O'Brien / Engadget The Model:Samples is $100 cheaper at $299 and its sequencer blows the Circuit out of the water, if you ask me. But it's not as finger-drum friendly, plus it doesn't have built-in sampling capabilities or a battery. (You have to pay $50 for a special handle that you stick AAs in.) Korg's Electribe Sampler feels a lot sturdier than the Circuit and can use single-cycle waveforms to essentially become a synth. But it costs $70 more, its sequencer feels a little outdated and, in my limited experience, it's just not intuitive. You could of course go for a Roland SP-404, from which the Rhythm is clearly takes inspiration. The modern version, the 404A, costs $550 — quite a bit more than then Circuit. It's workflow might also feel a tad archaic if you're used to more modern equipment. That being said, the SP-303 and SP-404 have legions of fans for a reason: They're undeniable classics. Then, of course, there's the other giant of hip hop production: the MPC. As the cheapest option, the MPC One is still pretty expensive at $699, while the new touchscreen workflow has earned plenty of detractors. If you want an old-school beat-making experience you won't find it here, and the prices for vintage MPCs are out of control. If you're looking for the cheapest and most portable device with sampling ability though, I can't recommend the $89 PO-33 enough. It's not nearly as capable as any of the other devices listed here, but it can feel like a stripped-down SP-303 that fits in your pocket once you master its quirks. The Novation Circuit Rhythm is a strong contender for best entry-level sampler. The learning curve is a bit steeper than some might have you believe, but once you've figured it out, finding your way around is simple enough. It's not the cheapest and it doesn't beat the competition on pure features, but it does strike an admirable balance. If you're looking to add a sampler to your setup on the cheap, or want to get started making hip hop or house music without the need for a PC, this should definitely be on your short list.

The best Apple AirTag accessories you can buy Posted: 26 Jul 2021 05:30 AM PDT Apple lovers who constantly lose their keys got a new way to keep track of them with the launch of AirTags. But despite how easy they are to set up, Apple's tiny Bluetooth trackers have one critical flaw — no built-in keychain hole. That means anyone who buys AirTags will have to buy holders or cases to attach them to their stuff. Despite how backwards this seems, it's a very Apple way of milking as much money out of a new product as possible since many will simply buy Apple's own AirTag holders. But those aren't the only options available — plenty of accessory companies have already made AirTag cases. However, since the trackers are still quite new, third-party options are a bit slim. But those that are available right now are almost all cheaper than Apple's own cases, so they're worth considering regardless of if you intend to have one or many AirTags shadowing your valuables. If you already bought an AirTag or two, you probably know where you want to put it. The most common place is attached to your keys, but AirTags are small enough to strap to backpacks and luggage, to slip inside a wallet or even attach to your pet's collar. Where you want to put the thing will help determine the kind of case you should get for it. Valentina Palladino / Engadget Let's start with key-friendly cases, specifically Apple's own $35 Leather Key Ring. Like most Apple accessories it's basic, yet attractive. The AirTag nestles into the perfectly-shaped leather circle and snaps shut, and since the leather extends slightly over both sides of the tracker, there's very little chance it will pop out unexpectedly. But unless you simply must have all Apple everything, you can get similar leather (or faux-leather) key holders for less. I liked Spigen's AirTag Case Valentinus because it has an almost identical design and comes with an easy to use carabiner-style key ring. It's made of pleather but doesn't feel cheap and its snap closure is just as secure as Apple's — plus, it's $15 cheaper. Two other all-purpose key rings that stood out were Elago's AirTag case ($9 for a pack of two) and Caseology's $14 Vault. The former is quite minimal — it's a soft-touch silicone circle that's larger than the AirTag itself, which gives you a better grip on the tracker. One side of the gadget is completely covered by the case, as is the whole circumference. But that leaves one side visible, which means you can show off any emoji engravings you emblazoned on your AirTag. Elago's case is the best no-frills option that I found when it comes to design and price. Buy leather key ring at Apple - $35Buy Spigen Valentinus at Amazon - $18Buy Elago case (2 pack) at Amazon - $9Buy Caseology Vault at Amazon - $14 Valentina Palladino / Engadget But if you want something a bit more elevated, Caseology's Vault is a great option. It's a textured oval made of flexible plastic into which you pop in the AirTag on one side. The other side has a smaller opening that attaches to the included carabiner, which is one of the best clips I came across in my testing. It's pretty basic as far as carabiners go, but it's better than a standard key ring — especially if you want to easily attach your AirTag to something other than your keys like straps on a backpack, or even a pet collar. Overall, the Caseology Vault is one of the most attractive holders I tested and it will be a solid buy for anyone that doesn't need to have leather. AirTags can also help you keep track of larger bags and luggage, and you could easily slip one into an interior pocket and call it a day. But if you'd rather hook the tracker to the outside, you'll need something a bit larger and more flexible than a standard key ring. Apple has Loop holders in leather and polyurethane that attach similar to luggage tags, but they're just as expensive as AirTags themselves starting at $29. A more affordable option is Belkin's Secure Holder with Strap, which comes in at only $13. The case opens up into two pieces, allowing you to sit the AirTag inside the circle and twist and snap the two halves together to lock it in. You can then attach the AirTag to your luggage handle, water bottle or other item with the strap, which lacks any give and feels quite strong. I appreciate the unique design of Belkin's Secure Holder, although it was hard to twist open when the AirTag was inside of it. But that's a good thing for daily use — your AirTag isn't going anywhere when in the Secure Holder. I also liked its slightly raised edges, which provide extra protection against impacts and bumps. Buy loop holder at Apple starting at $29Buy Belkin Secure Holder w/ Strap at Amazon - $13 Valentina Palladino / Engadget You may also want to slip an AirTag in your wallet, and you could do so without a case on the tracker at all. But unlike Tile's slim and flat locators, AirTags are slightly rounded in the middle, so they won't lay flat in the folds of your wallet. If that's going to bother you, Amazon has a bunch of listings for credit card-sized AirTag holders which keep the tracker secure in a circular cutout while also keeping your wallet at a relatively uniform thickness. I wasn't able to try any of these so I can't vouch for their quality, but I will say they are a tailored solution to a very specific problem — these cases are designed for in-wallet use and that's basically it. For more flexibility, you could opt for a thinner pocket for your AirTag like Moment's $20 Stretch Fabric Mount or the $16 Cyrill Shine case, the latter of which also doubles as a key ring holder. Unsurprisingly, companies followed the same track with AirTags accessories as they did for AirPods accessories — there are many cute and custom options available. Casetify has a limited selection of customizable AirTag holders that you can emblazon with hearts, butterflies, peace signs and even the initials or name of the owner. But they'll cost you $35 a pop — even pricier than a single AirTag. Amazon and Walmart also have silicone cases shaped like paw prints, Hello Kitty, kawaii avocados and more, and you'll be hard pressed to find one of those costing more than $10. Plus, they may make it easier to convince your young child to hook an AirTag onto their backpack. Buy credit card holders at Amazon - $15Buy Fabric Mount at Moment - $20Buy Cyrill Shine at Amazon - $16

Samsung's 'The Wall' will be used to form a virtual movie studio Posted: 26 Jul 2021 05:15 AM PDT The emergence of virtual productions like those popularized by Disney's The Mandalorian have given display giants a new niche for their massive screens. Sony, which boasts a movie production arm, is already using its modular crystal LEDs to provide backgrounds for shoots. Now, Samsung is getting in on the act through a new partnership with major Korean movie and TV show producer CJ ENM. The pact will see Samsung provide its massive MicroLED TVs, known as The Wall, to the studio's virtual production facility when it opens in Paju, Gyeonggi Province later this year. CJ ENM previously struck a deal with Fortnite maker Epic Games to use its Unreal Engine game engine — which also provided the digital backdrops for The Mandalorian — for future projects.  Virtual productions are gaining traction in global filmmaking. The technique involves the use of LED stages, game engines and VR to create and control computer-generated backdrops. Currently, the massive investment has limited the tools to blockbuster shoots, but industry insiders believe that could change as people realize the savings they bring on crew travel and physical sets and infrastructure. As a result, virtual production is expected to become the norm in filmmaking within five years, according to an industry report by the Göteborg Film Festival.  Samsung says its latest screens will deliver improved visuals thanks to their support for HDR 10+ and optimized frame rates such as 23.976Hz, 29.97Hz and 59.94Hz. The company will install an oval-shaped main display at CJ ENM's new complex with a diameter of 20 metres and a height of seven metres or more. Samsung says its massive screen measures over 1,000 inches and supports up to 16K high-resolution content. But, the Korean company hasn't embraced virtual production quite like Sony. The Japanese conglomerate previously paid $250 million to acquire a minority stake in Epic Games. It also bought virtual production software maker Nurulize in 2019 and integrated it into Sony Innovation Studios, the state-of-the-art facility located on the Sony Pictures Studios lot.

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