Wednesday, July 7, 2021

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Microsoft issues emergency Windows patches for PrintNightmare flaw

Posted: 07 Jul 2021 03:59 AM PDT

Microsoft has released an emergency patch to address a critical flaw in the Windows Print Spooler service that bad actors are actively exploiting, as noticed by The Verge. A few days ago, the tech giant has published a security advisory to notify users about the flaw called PrintNightmare, though it didn't name the bad actors currently using it to infiltrate victims' computers. 

Attackers taking advantage of the vulnerability can remotely run code with system-level privileges, giving them the ability to install programs in the victims' computers, delete or change data and create new accounts with full user rights. The vulnerability impacts all versions of Windows, and the company advised users to disable Print Spooler to deactivate local and remote printing to prevent hackers from getting in. They can also disable just the inbound remote printing capability through Group Policy. 

Now, after investigating the vulnerability, Microsoft has issued patches for several versions of the Windows Server, Windows 10, Windows 8 and even Windows 7 — security updates for this OS ended in January 2020 — platforms. The vulnerability has been classified as "Critical," which means its "exploitation could allow code execution without user interaction." Microsoft is asking users to install the updates immediately or to take steps towards protecting their systems if they can't. 

TikTok tests a Cameo-like option that lets users pay for custom creator videos

Posted: 07 Jul 2021 01:57 AM PDT

Longer videos aren't the only new feature coming to TikTok. The short-form video app has begun allowing some users to pay creators for custom clips in the vein of startup Cameo. With Big Tech copycats in hot pursuit, it seems TikTok isn't against the idea of borrowing features itself, as long as they help it to maintain its grip on Gen Z. For now, only users in Turkey and Dubai appear to have access to the test, according to social media posts spotted by BuzzFeed.

The new feature is reportedly called "Shoutouts" and essentially lets you request and pay for a video from a creator using TikTok coins, the in-app currency purchased with real money and used to tip others. It seems creators can set a rate for their services, with the final product delivered to your inbox. In all, your custom video could take longer than a week to arrive as TikTok appears to be reviewing the clips first. After all, it doesn't want the feature to become the new OnlyFans. 

TikTok seemingly views shoutouts as way for users to request happy birthday greetings and pep talks from popular creators. Though, it's currently unclear how many followers a person needs to have in order to make money from shoutouts. Based on the ingenuity of its talent base, you can probably expect some of the results to be more creative than direct-to-camera chats. 

TikTok isn't the only social app emulating Cameo. Facebook is also working on "Super," a service that lets users pay to interact with influencers in live streams. Meanwhile, Cameo is doing gangbusters, according to its management. Last year, the video requests service raked in gross revenue of $100 million, 75 percent of which was paid to talent, reports Variety. That was up 4.5 times from 2019, with the app's celeb users delivering 1.3 million shoutouts in 2020 alone. 

Cameo was recently valued at $1 billion after raising $100 million from the venture capital arms of Google, Amazon and Japanese tech giant SoftBank.

Microsoft Teams Together Mode test lets just two people start a meeting

Posted: 07 Jul 2021 12:12 AM PDT

In the middle of pandemic lockdowns last year, Microsoft launched Together Mode for its Teams workplace messaging app in an effort to help attendees feel more connected. To use the mode, a meeting should have five participants at the very least, but it looks like the tech giant is looking to make it available even for calls with fewer attendees. As first reported by The Verge, people are now able to use the feature for video calls with as few as two participants, as long as they're using the Developer Preview version of the Teams app.

Together Mode uses AI-powered segmentation to put all participants in a meeting in one virtual space. Its purpose is to make people feel like they're all sitting in the same room and to help them see the other participants' nonverbal cues. The NBA gave fans a look at what the feature can do by using it to recreate the atmosphere of a packed arena without anyone being physically there. 

In December, a few months after the mode rolled out, it made its way to Skype so that friends and family can use it for their video calls, as well. Even then, though, it had a five-participant minimum, which likely limited its use. Making it accessible to fewer participants could encourage people to use it more frequently. Users can switch to Developer Preview by clicking the ellipsis next to their profile picture in Teams and going to the About section. However, some organizations could switch the option off, making it unavailable to their personnel. 

Universal's films will make their TV debut on Peacock

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 09:10 PM PDT

Starting in 2022, Universal's movies will be available on Peacock first instead of on HBO. That means the next Jurassic World and the new Halloween movie will make their TV debut on the streaming service also owned by its parent company Comcast. According to Variety and The Wall Street Journal, Universal's films will appear exclusively on Peacock for streaming within four months after their theatrical release, as well as within the final four months of an 18-month window. 

Those 10 months in between, the films will be licensed to around two to three additional partners, though none of them will have exclusive rights to the movies. Universal has yet to release the list of additional partners, and it's unclear if HBO is one of them. Variety says that by adopting the segmented TV release schedule, Universal is hoping to avoid over-saturation or making its films seem stale. In addition, streaming platforms are apparently willing to pay top dollar for popular movies these days in an effort to stand out from their ever-increasing number of rivals out there. 

Whether the move leads to a boost in subscriber numbers for Peacock remains to be seen. Comcast made the streaming service available to more potential viewers just a month ago by releasing apps for the Amazon Fire TV and tablets and Samsung's smart TVs. Peacock also grew its live sports portfolio recently and announced that it's streaming 44 Premier Lacrosse League games for the season that started on June 4th. 

Verizon modified a Ford F650 to provide first-responders with mobile 5G access

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 03:35 PM PDT

When Texas was hit by an extreme cold snap earlier this year and the state's independent power grid failed, many people couldn't use their phones to access the internet and get information about the situation as it developed. Climate change is making those types of previously once in a lifetime weather events a more frequent occurrence and it's forcing carriers to adapt.

On Tuesday, Verizon (Engadget's parent company) introduced the Tactical Humanitarian Operations Response (THOR) vehicle. The carrier built THOR using a modified Ford F650 truck. The front of the vehicle has seats for a driver and five passengers, while the "command center" you see at the back has room for three individuals. THOR can bring 5G and satellite connectivity to an area where a natural disaster may have knocked network access out or there wasn't any connectivity in the first place.

Verizon envisions THOR assisting first-responders and the military "under nearly any conditions," be that wildfires out in California or following a hurricane in Florida, as just some examples. The company developed the prototype with help from the Pentagon's NavalX and the SoCal TechBridge. Outside of connecting first-responders and military personnel, it also comes with a tethered drone that can be used for search and rescue operations and collecting information on a disaster.

This isn't the first time we've seen a US carrier trot out an initiative like this. Back in 2019, AT&T showed off FirstNet One, a 55-foot aerostat the carrier said could float above disaster sites and provide wireless communication for first responders.

President Biden will order the FTC to draft 'right to repair' rules

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 02:13 PM PDT

After years of advocacy work, the right to repair movement in the US could soon see a significant breakthrough. According to Bloomberg, President Joe Biden will "in the coming days" direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to draft new regulations to empower consumers to repair their devices on their own and at independent shops.

While there aren't many details on the executive order just yet, it will reportedly mention phone companies as a possible target of regulation. However, farmers are expected to be the primary beneficiary. During Tuesday's White House briefing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the order would give them "the right to repair their own equipment how they like." White House economic adviser Brian Deese said on Friday that the order is broadly designed to drive "greater competition in the economy, in service of lower prices for American families and higher wages for American workers."

Over the years, states across the US have tried to pass right to repair legislation. However, companies like Caterpillar, John Deere, and Apple have consistently lobbied against those efforts, claiming they would put consumers at risk by compromising the security and safety of their devices. And to date, no state has passed legislation that makes it easier for consumers to repair their products independently. As Motherboard notes, Biden's order will mark the first time a president has weighed in on the issue.

"Big tech has been taking advantage of consumers for too long, at the expense of local small businesses. We're very encouraged that the Biden administration is planning to use the rulemaking power of the FTC to restore competition," a spokesperson for iFixit told Engadget when we reached out to the company to ask about the order. 

The move comes as support for the right to repair movement builds in other parts of the world. In 2020, the European Commission said it would introduce legislation to push manufacturers to create products that are easier to repair and reuse. That same year, the European Parliament voted to direct the Commission to develop and introduce a mandatory labeling system that assigns a reparability score to products.

We've reached out to the Consumer Technology Association, which represents electronics manufacturers, for comment. 

Update 6:00PM ET: Added comment from iFixit.

Animal Crossing Edition Monopoly arrives in August

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 12:54 PM PDT

Tom Nook apparently isn't content to sell houses to millions of Animal Crossing: New Horizons players. It seems he wants Monopoly players to fork over their bells as well. That's right, as leaks suggested in recent days, Animal Crossing Edition Monopoly is on the way.

Rather than the traditional Monopoly format of buying properties and charging other players rent when they land on one of them, you'll be collecting bugs, fish, fossils and fruit. You'll also meet some other characters and carry out island tasks. When you stop by Nook's Cranny, you can use bells to buy decorations, which are worth Nook Miles. Whoever collects the most Nook Miles is the winner.

You'll need to be careful, though. If you're unlucky, you might go right to jail.

Monopoly Animal Crossing New Horizons Edition
Hasbro

The crossover follows previous collaborations between Hasbro and game publishers. Along with Fortnite and Pac-Man versions of Monopoly, there have been severalMario-based editions. ACNH is one of the biggest games of the past year or so, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Animal Crossing fans snap this up.

Animal Crossing Edition Monopoly costs $25 and it'll be available in August. You can pre-order the board game now.

Twitter wants your help developing new privacy features

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 12:27 PM PDT

Twitter has shared concepts for four features that could give users more control over who can see, read and find their accounts, and it wants feedback from the public on what it showed off. The first of those features would make it easier for those with protected accounts to make their tweets publicly viewable in instances where they want to reply to non-followers. "If you have a protected account and reply to someone who isn't following you, you may not know they can't see your reply," Lena Emara, Twitter people experience designer, wrote in a thread. So one idea is to include a prompt that reminds people of that fact, as well as give them the option to easily switch their tweets to public.

Twitter Replies concept
Twitter

Another potential feature would help those with multiple accounts. A mockup Emara shared shows an interface element that would allow you to switch to a different account directly from Twitter's main composition window. What's more, the new interface would allow you to see, at a glance, the name, handle and privacy status of your accounts all in one place.

The two other concepts Emara shared focus more on privacy. One of those details a feature that would periodically touch base with users to see if they're happy with their current discoverability and conversation settings and make it easy to tweak them as needed without visiting the app's settings menu. Lastly, the second one would create a system for notifying you when people search for your username and give you more control over whether your account is discoverable that way. That's something that could be significant for limiting online harassment.

Twitter concept 2
Twitter

As with the last time Twitter showed off several concept features, everything you see above "are just ideas and not being built (yet?)." They may never mature into features the company ships. That said, the feedback Twitter collects could inform other tools the company builds in the future.

'Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown' arrives September 22nd, 2022

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 11:42 AM PDT

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, the long-awaited third open-world entry in the Test Drive series, at last has a release date, but fans are in for quite the wait. Publisher Nacon plans to release the game on September 22nd, 2022.

The company made the announcement during a Nacon Connect livestream. Developer KT Racing says the automotive MMO will take place in Hong Kong, following the Oahu and Ibiza settings of previous games, and it's recreating the region in a 1:1 scale. Along with urban areas, you can expect to explore forests, mountains, marshes and beaches.

The game will feature a racing tournament as well as a conflict between two clans, the Streets and the Sharps. You'll join one of them, try to rise through the ranks and attempt to overthrow your rival clan. More details about the first Test Drive Unlimited game in over a decade will emerge in the coming months.

Meanwhile, Nacon and developer Daedalic provided another look at The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, which is scheduled to arrive in fall 2022. It mixes stealth and parkour, and takes place in parts of Middle-earth that you might not have seen before. You'll encounter some other familiar characters, including Legolas' father Thranduil and Gandalf.

There was also an announcement and brief teaser for RoboCop: Rogue City, in which the legendary cyborg is tasked with cleaning up the streets of Old Detroit. It's a first-person shooter from developer Teyon and it's coming to PC and consoles in 2023.

Elsewhere, Nacon revealed Steelrising, from Greedfall studio Spiders, will arrive next June. Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong and Blood Bowl 3 have been delayed to 2022, however.

Traeger buys wireless thermometer company Meater

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 11:32 AM PDT

Smart grill maker Traeger has bought wireless meat thermometer company Meater, which it says marks the next step in creating the "ultimate connected grilling experience." Traeger allows users to monitor and control connected grills through a smartphone or Apple Watch. Bringing Meater on board will help people to get an accurate temperature reading for their food from just about anywhere, Traeger said.

Meater makes several Bluetooth and WiFi-enabled thermometers, while Traeger currently only sells wired thermometers. Traeger said the acquisition will enable it to "accelerate entry into the adjacent accessories market with a highly complementary technology-enabled product." It's unclear whether Traeger plans to bundle Meater products with its grills or sell them separately — Meater will continue to run as a standalone company. Still, it wouldn't be surprising to see Traeger integrate Meater readings into its own apps for a more seamless outdoor cooking experience.

DOD cancels $10 billion JEDI contract at center of Microsoft and Amazon feud

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 10:20 AM PDT

The Department of Defense is canceling its $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract. The Pentagon said it "initiated contract termination procedures" in a press release it shared on Tuesday, noting "the Department has determined that, due to evolving requirements, increased cloud conversancy, and industry advances, the JEDI Cloud contract no longer meets its needs."

With JEDI, the Defense Department had planned to modernize its IT infrastructure, but the contract hadn't moved forward since the Pentagon awarded it to Microsoft in 2019 on account of a legal challenge from Amazon. One month after JEDI went to Redmond, Amazon filed a formal challenge with the US Court of Federal Claims, alleging the Pentagon showed "unmistakable bias" when it evaluated the two companies.

When the lawsuit was eventually unsealed later that same year, it came out that Amazon believed it lost the contract due to interference from former President Donald Trump. According to the company, Trump "used his power to 'screw Amazon' out of the JEDI Contract as part of his highly public personal vendetta against Mr. Bezos, Amazon and The Washington Post."

Following an internal audit, the Pentagon's inspector general released a report that said it found no evidence that the Trump Administration had interfered with the procurement process. At the same time, it noted that several White House officials did not cooperate with the probe. As such, it could not definitively determine whether the administration had affected the process.     

Shortly after the Defense Department announced it wasn't moving forward with JEDI, Microsoft published a blog post on the decision. "We understand the DOD's rationale, and we support them and every military member who needs the mission-critical 21st century technology JEDI would have provided. The DOD faced a difficult choice: continue with what could be a years-long litigation battle or find another path forward," the company said. "The security of the United States is more important than any single contract, and we know that Microsoft will do well when the nation does well."

Microsoft went on to say the episode highlights the need for lawmakers to look at the challenge process. "The 20 months since DOD selected Microsoft as its JEDI partner highlights issues that warrant the attention of policymakers: when one company can delay, for years, critical technology upgrades for those who defend our nation, the protest process needs reform," it said.  

"We understand and agree with the DOD's decision. Unfortunately, the contract award was not based on the merits of the proposals and instead was the result of outside influence that has no place in government procurement," a spokesperson for Amazon said. "Our commitment to supporting our nation's military and ensuring that our warfighters and defense partners have access to the best technology at the best price is stronger than ever. We look forward to continuing to support the DOD's modernization efforts and building solutions that help accomplish their critical missions."

Alongside the cancelation, the Pentagon announced a new multi-vendor contract called the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability (JWCC). The agency plans to collect proposals from both Amazon and Microsoft. It contends they're the two vendors best suited to meet its needs, though it also plans to see if other companies can help it modernize its IT infrastructure. The Defense Department told CNBC and other outlets during a call that it expects to award the first direct JWCC contracts in 2022, with the procurement process to open more broadly as soon as 2025. It also said the litigation with Amazon wasn't the primary reason for the cancelation of JEDI. "The mission needs have been our primary driver on this," John Sherman, the DOD acting chief information officer, said. 

Update 3:29PM ET: Added comment from Amazon. 

Sony's neck speakers are back and now they're for remote workers

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 09:34 AM PDT

Just when you think Sony doesn't have any more weird and fanciful designs left in it, the company surprises you. Building on devices like the SRS-WS1, it announced the SRS-NB10 on Tuesday. It's a neckband speaker the company says it designed with remote workers in mind. Set to cost $150 when it goes on sale later this year, the NB10 promises up to 20 hours of audio playback "optimized for your ears alone" with drivers that are angled upward.

Sony SRS-NB10
Sony

As long as you're listening to something at a relatively low volume, Sony says you "don't need to worry about distracting colleagues, roommates or family." But let's be real here, you're wearing a speaker on your shoulders. That's the kind of energy that's matched only by the co-worker who insists on bringing their mechanical keyboard to work.

The SRS-NB10 isn't only a speaker, however. You can also use it for voice and video calls. Thanks to two beamforming microphones and its built-in voice processing technology, Sony claims the NB10 will make it easy for people on the other end of a call to hear you. What's more, the "open-ear" design makes it so that you can hear what's going on around you.

SRS-NB10
Sony

The NB10 can connect to two Bluetooth-capable devices simultaneously, allowing you to switch between them as needed. Should you have the courage to wear the NB10 to say the gym, they're also IPX4-certified water-resistant. And thanks to USB-C charging, you can get an additional hour of playback after 10 minutes at the outlet.

The SRS-NB10 will be available in two colors — charcoal grey and white — when it goes on sale in September.

Sony's next State of Play will focus on 'Deathloop'

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 09:10 AM PDT

Sony's next State of Play showcase will focus on Deathloop, the upcoming PlayStation 5 console exclusive from Arkane Studios. The stream will feature a nine-minute look at the first-person time-loop adventure, with the stealth and combat features getting some time to shine.

Following a couple of delays, Deathloop should arrive on PS5 and PC on September 14th. Microsoft and Bethesda will be in an unusual situation where they're releasing a game you can't play on Xbox for an entire year.

Also on the docket for the 30-minute State of Play are updates on other third-party games, as well as some indie titles. What you won't see during the showcase is anything about Horizon Forbidden West, the God of War sequel or the next PlayStation VR hardware. Even though Sony recently showed off 19 minutes of Horizon Forbidden West gameplay, it's smart of the company to set expectations about what won't be featured to mitigate disappointment. That said, Sony urged fans to "stay tuned throughout the summer" as updates are on the way soon. 

Sony skipped E3 once again this year, but PlayStation was announced as a partner for Summer Game Fest, which suggested a State of Play was imminent. You'll be able to watch the stream on Thursday, July 8th, at 5PM ET on Twitch or YouTube.

Roblox deal with Sony will create (legal) in-game music experiences

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 08:35 AM PDT

Roblox is rushing to strike official music deals in the wake of a $200 million lawsuit over alleged copyright violations. TechCrunchreports that Roblox has unveiled a team-up with Sony Music that will bring more of the label's artists to the game platform. The two will collaborate on "innovative music experiences" beyond what you've seen so far, including a Lil Nas X concert in November and a Zara Larsson launch party in May.

The companies didn't say what kind of events you might expect, or when you might see them. The deal also includes a settlement with Sony.

This isn't Roblox's first such deal. The gaming giant reached a similar agreement with BMG in June, and Warner before that. It does represent Roblox's largest music pact to date, however, and leaves Universal as the only heavyweight label that hasn't signed an agreement.

Roblox might not have much choice but to keep making these arrangements. The music industry sued Roblox for allegedly doing little to stop gamers from making virtual boomboxes that stream copyrighted music. That's not including Robloxcore and other music designed for game worlds. The developer maintains that it screens uploaded music and cracks down on violators, but that clearly hasn't been enough for labels convinced Roblox is enabling piracy. Deals could help Roblox persuade Sony, BMG and others to call off their lawsuit, or at least soften the blow.

Audacity owner will revise its privacy policy following spyware concerns

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 07:58 AM PDT

Muse Group, the new owner of audio-editing app Audacity, caused a stir in recent days with an update to the software's privacy policy. It stated that Muse Group will collect users' personal data and possibly share that information with third parties, including law enforcement and potential buyers. That led to claims from users that the software was becoming "spyware."

The company has attempted to clear up the controversy, which it says is primarily down to "unclear phrasing in the Privacy Policy," as Music Radar reported. Muse Group says it will only collect "very limited" data (operating system version, processor type, IP address and opt-in error reports) from Audacity users. Users' IP addresses are stored in a readable format for 24 hours before they become "pseudonymized and irretrievable."

Muse Group added it will only share data if required by a court in a jurisdiction in which it operates. It won't hand over user information following a law enforcement request or otherwise sell or share data. The data collection is "a standard policy requirement for providing services in many jurisdictions, regardless of the depth of data collected or nature of service," the company said.

"We do understand that unclear phrasing of the Privacy Policy and lack of context regarding introduction has led to major concerns about how we use and store the very limited data we collect," Muse Group's head of strategy Daniel Ray wrote on GitHub. The company is working with its legal team on a revised, clearer version of the policy, which it plans to publish soon.

The limited data collection is necessary because of two new features in the upcoming version of Audacity, according to Ray: a way to automatically check for updates, and the optional error reporting. Ray didn't address a privacy policy request for users aged under 13 not to use the app. The General Public License under which Audacity is distributed doesn't allow restrictions on the use of software. 

The updated privacy policy does not apply "to offline use of the application," so if you block Audacity's access to the internet, it shouldn't be an issue. The policy will only come into force with the next version of the software, 3.0.3. Current and older versions don't have any networking features and they won't collect any data.

At best, this was a case of miscommunication which caused concern among Audacity users. Nevertheless, many community members are pushing for a fork of the open-source app without any data collection requirements.

The premium OnePlus 9 Pro is $100 off at Amazon

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 07:39 AM PDT

The OnePlus 9 Pro holds its own against the stiff competition from Apple and Samsung, and that's more than most competing smartphones can say. If you're looking for a different sort of handset with all the premium features typically found in a smartphone made by the usual suspects, the OnePlus 9 Pro could fit the bill. But just like Apple's and Samsung's flagships, the 9 Pro doesn't come cheap with a starting price of $1,070. But Amazon has the 9 Pro for $100 less right now, bringing it down to $970 — the cheapest we've seen it since launch. And if you want to spend even less, the regular OnePlus 9 is on sale for $650, or $80 off its normal price.

Buy OnePlus 9 Pro at Amazon - $970Buy OnePlus 9 at Amazon - $650

The OnePlus 9 Pro impressed us with its comprehensive set of features and (for the most part) it's excellent cameras. While slimmer than previous models, the 9 Pro doesn't look drastically different than other OnePlus smartphones and that's a good thing. It has a lovely 6.7-inch, 3,216 x 1,440 AMOLED display that supports up to a 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness up to 1,300 nits. OnePlus also includes a bunch of customizable screen settings that can help you do things like get the best mobile gaming experience or increase battery life when necessary. The IP68-rated handset also has dual speakers, a microSIM card slot and one Warp Charge-compatible USB-C port.

OnePlus collaborated with Hasselblad on the 9 Pro's rear camera array, which includes a 48-megapixel main camera, 50MP ultra-wide lens and an 8MP telephoto lens. Overall, the system produces lovely images with true-to-life colors, and it's capable of shooting video in up to 8K 30fps. Our biggest gripe was with the telephoto lens, which had a tendency to take overexposed images in bright environments. 

Thankfully, we had no complaints about the OnePlus 9 Pro's performance. It runs on a Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and there's very little that combination of specs can't handle. The 9 Pro's highly responsive display only helps the smartphone feel ever fast, too. Battery life is also quite good as the dual 4,500mAh cells lasted at least a full day without breaking a sweat, and you'll get even more juice out of them if you leave the display on Full HD.

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Batters in the Home Run Derby will livestream using 5G helmet cameras

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 07:26 AM PDT

If you've ever wanted to see a pro baseball player's at-bat through their eyes, you're about to get your chance. T-Mobile is marketing its 5G network by equipping players at the 2021 Home Run Derby with 5G point-of-view cameras on their helmets, including the catchers' masks. Watch the live competition through a special T-Mobile website and you can witness both batting practice and the derby itself as if you were on the field, with 5G (hopefully) keeping everything in sync.

The event kicks off July 12th, starting with practice at 6:30PM Eastern and the derby itself at 8PM. The POV cameras are also coming alongside a new MLB AR mobile app to explore Coors Field in 3D and get detailed stats for each swing. People with 5G phones will also get extra stats like hang time and exit velocity, although this is clearly just an incentive to upgrade your device. You don't need 5G to get a few extra numbers.

The footage is 'only' in HD, and it's not clear which players will have 5G cameras. T-Mobile says they'll have three or four hat cameras during batting practice, and then they'll have two during the derby (one for the American League, one for the National League) in addition to a catcher camera. If all goes well, though, you'll see what it's like for stars like Shohei Ohtani when they knock one out of the park. Look at it this way — even if the cameras are limited, this is one of the few 5G tie-ins that's more than just a gimmick.

Google's Nest Thermostat drops to $88 in a one-day Amazon sale

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 06:48 AM PDT

Google came out with the latest version of the Nest Thermostat at the end of last year. While it was already a tempting gadget for those looking to save energy and make their homes smarter, Google sweetened the deal by pricing the thermostat at $130. It has since gone on sale a few times, but today you can grab the snow color option for $88, which is 32 percent off its normal price and a record low. Also, the snow Thermostat with a Trim Kit is on sale for $103, or $12 less than the other Trim Kit packages. Other colors are down to $100, which is the same sale price we saw back in April around Earth Day.

Buy Nest Thermostat at Amazon - $88Buy Nest Thermostat + Trim Kit at Amazon - $103

Compared to previous Nest thermostats, this one is slimmer, has a touch-sensitive edge and a mirrored display that both looks lovely and automatically wakes up when you approach it. In addition to looking better than most conventional thermostats, the Nest Thermostat is much smarter as well, allowing you to control via on-device controls, Google's Home app and even with Assistant or Alexa voice commands. The device itself has a redesigned controller view too, which makes it easier to quickly set the temperature in your home.

But the automatic features are likely the biggest selling points for a device like the Nest Thermostat. It recognizes when you've left your home and will automatically go into Eco mode, keeping your home at a specific temperature until you return when it will either raise or lower the temperature based on your preferences. This Nest Thermostat also has Savings Finder, a feature that continuously looks for ways to reduce your energy bill throughout the year. For example, the device will suggest adjustments based on weather conditions — think reducing your home heat usage during a particularly warm winter — that you can choose to accept in order to potentially decrease your energy costs. Although a smart thermostat like Nest's takes a bit more installation that a standard smart light bulb, it's a good entry point into the smart home world — and it's even better when on sale like this.

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Nothing's wireless earbuds will offer ANC for $99

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 06:31 AM PDT

Nothing is borrowing a strategy from its founder Carl Pei's previous gig at OnePlus: dribbling technical details ahead of a product launch. The startup has revealed that its Ear 1 true wireless earbuds will include three-microphone active noise cancellation at a price of $99 (£99). That's not dramatically more affordable than value-for-money rivals like Amazon's second-gen Echo Buds, but it's certainly low enough to get your attention if you're cost-conscious.

The company will formally unveil the Ear 1 at a launch event on July 27th. To date, the buds are known to include a partially transparent Teenage Engineering design and will boast "leading specs," although it's not clear what that entails beyond ANC.

The challenge, as you might guess, is delivering quality that matches the hype. ANC will help isolate music and podcasts, but it won't matter as much if the sound quality is merely so-so. Nothing will have to show that it can deliver solid sound at its asking price, particularly if it's going to compete against the likes of the Echo Buds or Google's Pixel Buds A.

Nintendo's new OLED Switch costs $350 and arrives October 8th

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 06:13 AM PDT

Four years after unleashing the Switch upon the world, Nintendo is releasing an upgraded version of its phenomenally successful console. After years of rumors, the company has at last confirmed the existence of a new Switch model with an OLED display. It'll cost $349.99 and arrive on October 8th.

As expected, the latest model has a larger, seven-inch screen. The 720p OLED display, which Nintendo claims is more vivid, is a step up from the 6.2-inch LCD screen on the original Switch. The console has significantly reduced bezels and 64GB of storage, while the dock has a wired LAN port. 

Nintendo is promising "enhanced audio" with the new Switch, which works with all existing Joy-Con controllers. The company is offering it in the traditional neon red/blue color scheme with a black dock, or in a white/black color scheme with a white dock.

The new Switch also has what looks like a massively improved kickstand that spans the entire width of the back of the console. It can be propped up at any angle and looks far sturdier than the tiny, fragile piece of plastic that propped up the old Switch.

However, there's no 4K output while docked, as reports had widely suggested. You'll still only play at a maximum resolution of 1080p on your TV. Nor is Nintendo upgrading any other internal components. The OLED device was rumored to have a new chipset with support for NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling tech, but that's not the case this time around. The company also warned that tweaks such as the larger screen mean the new Switch might not work as neatly with Nintendo Labo products.

The original Switch is still selling like hot cakes, so there's a case to be made that Nintendo didn't need to upgrade the console just yet. But the original Switch's display and huge bezels are starting to look a little bit dated in 2021; this OLED screen should modernize the experience significantly. That said, for people who want to save some cash, Nintendo will continue selling the original Switch, at least for now.

It's highly likely that demand will far exceed supply. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa told investors in a call in May that the company was still contending with shortages and production issues. The current global scarcity of semiconductors will also limit production capacity. So, the new Switch might be even harder to find than the current console has been at various points.

Since it released the original Switch in 2017, Nintendo has issued a revised model with a battery upgrade. It also released the handheld-only Switch Lite in 2019. Two years later, moving in the other direction with an upgraded Switch is a logical move. Good luck getting your hands on one any time soon, though.

Animal Crossing, Mario and Pokémon Switch games drop to all-time lows

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 06:05 AM PDT

If you have somehow not jumped on the Animal Crossing bandwagon yet, now's your chance to do so for less. Amazon and Best Buy have the popular Nintendo Switch title for $45, or $15 off its normal price. It's also a new low since we've only seen the game drop to $50 in the past. The only caveat is that the sale is only on the physical version of the game, not the digital download.

Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons at Amazon - $45Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons at Best Buy - $45

New Horizons came out in March 2020, which meant millions of players found an escape from the pandemic in its adorable animations, pleasant music, ASMR-like sound effects and its open-island gameplay. You're tasked with building your personal island from the ground up with seemingly endless customizations, while you spend your days fishing, catching bugs, making friends with your neighbors and more. And with online multiplayer mode, you can visit your friends' islands at your leisure.

If you've already devoted countless hours into your Animal Crossing island, there are a bunch of other Switch games on sale right now as well. Super Mario 3D World + Bower's Fury, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Pokémon Snap are all down to $45. That's a record-low price for all of those titles, so it's a good time to stock up on new games if you've been waiting for a decent sale.

Buy Super Mario 3D World at Amazon - $45Buy Super Mario 3D World at Best Buy - $45

Buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Amazon - $45Buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at Best Buy - $45

Buy Super Mario 3D All-Stars at Best Buy - $45Buy Pokémon Snap at Best Buy - $45

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Atari steps back from mobile games to focus on 'premium' PC and console titles

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 05:35 AM PDT

As part of its latest turnaround strategy, Atari is shifting its focus away from free-to-play mobile games to PC and console titles. In a statement released on Monday, the company said its board of directors had approved the new plan on July 1st after conducting an in-depth review of the Atari Gaming division's "assets and opportunities." 

The reorientation comes less than a month after the release of the oft-delayedAtari VCS console, which acts as both a retro gaming machine and PC. Atari said it would reach into its portfolio of 200 games and franchises — think Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command and Pong — to create new content for the VCS and other platforms. The first new releases are expected to arrive in the current fiscal year, which ends March 31st, 2022. 

At the same time, the reinvention spells trouble for some of its mobile games, several of which it plans to shutdown or sell off. Impacted titles include Roller Coaster Tycoon Stories, Crystal Castles, Castles & Catapults, Ninja Golf and Atari Combat: Tank Fury. Despite decrying the competitive nature of the free-to-play gaming market, the company isn't giving up on those titles it deems successful. More broadly, it's taking a more shrewd approach to free-to-play fare after diving into mobile games, along with MMOs, in conjunction with its turnaround plan in 2015. 

In addition, the company is also exiting its online Atari Casino in Africa — a social gambling play that included retro gaming-themed slots, poker and blackjack — and writing down its TV show assets with a renewed focus on licensing agreements.

The Morning After: The nerve of Audacity

Posted: 06 Jul 2021 04:15 AM PDT

Audacity is hugely popular audio editing software, often used by beginner podcasters but with some powerful features, despite its free, open-source status.

However, recent changes to Audacity's privacy policy have led to accusations that the editing app is now spyware. Alongside collecting user data for "app analytics" and "improving our app" — typical stuff — the data will also apparently be used for "legal enforcement."

Mic podcast
Engadget

The policy says it will capture "data necessary for law enforcement, litigation and authorities' requests (if any)." It may share personal data with "any competent law enforcement body, regulatory, government agency, court or other third party where we believe disclosure is necessary." Yes, it's a little vague.

These privacy policy changes follow Audacity's acquisition by Muse Group back in April. The changes also include a ban on under-13s using Audacity, which would violate the license under which the software is currently distributed.

Data collection was apparently in the planning since Audacity's purchase. As some reports have noticed, a Github update says the app was supposed to include opt-in anonymous analytics data collection, handled through Google and Yandex, but this was caveated by remarks that it would be "strictly optional and disabled by default." It didn't sound as broad as the eventual policy update.

Talking of Github, some users are already calling for a fork of the software, creating a new version of the app based on the source code. For Audacity owners, Muse Group, it's a rough start to its newest purchase.

— Mat Smith

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade's entertaining DLC should also be on PS4

It lightly taps into the possibilities of the PS5.

Final Fantasy VII Intergrade
Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a little confusing, if the name didn't give it away. It's Final Fantasy 7 Remake polished up for the PlayStation 5, but it also includes new original content called Intermission. This is a two-chapter run completely separate to the main game, following the once-optional character Yuffie arriving into Remake's main locale, Midgar. Sadly, you can only play Intermission with a PS5. But, oh boy, it plays like a dream. Continue reading.

Bugatti joins forces with electric hypercar maker Rimac

It's a joint venture with Porsche called Bugatti Rimac.

Bugatti Rimac
Bugatti/Rimac

Electric hypercar company Rimac is taking control of Volkswagen's supercar brand Bugatti as part of a joint venture with Porsche (which VW owns). Bugatti and Rimac will share resources and expertise but remain separate brands with their own production and distribution setups.

Bugatti will be able to harness Rimac's EV know-how and perhaps carry on its legacy of making electric vehicles. Rimac, meanwhile, can tap into the knowledge of Bugatti, which makes the second-fastest street-legal car on the planet: the Bugatti Veyron. Continue reading.

A nanofiber membrane could help solve the drinking water crisis

The filter makes sea water drinkable in minutes.

Korean scientists claim a new desalination technique makes seawater fit to drink in minutes. The researchers' membrane distillation process resulted in 99.9 percent salt rejection for a whole month. If commercialized, they say the solution could help alleviate the drinking water crisis exacerbated by climate change. According to the UN, more than 3 billion people worldwide are affected by water shortages.

While scientists have used membrane distillation in the past, if the membrane became too wet, it was unable to reject the salt. This particular solution uses a 3D membrane and nanotechnology. Continue reading.

Bumble is opening a restaurant to help people date IRL again

Bringing us back, kicking and screaming, into the dating game.

Bumble Brew
Bumble/Float Studio

In New York, Bumble is opening a café/restaurant/wine bar. Bumble Brew is scheduled to open for breakfast service on July 24th, with lunch and dinner service starting at the Nolita spot in the coming weeks. Along with an 80-seat dining room, there will be a cocktail bar, patio dining and private dining space.

The new venture builds on the Bumble Hive pop-up community spaces where people can hang out, eat and drink and meet others. Alas, you won't be able to reserve a table direct from the app — at least not yet. Continue reading.

But wait, there's more...

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