Wednesday, August 25, 2021

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Galaxy Watch 4 review: Still the best Android smartwatches around

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 05:00 AM PDT

When Google and Samsung announced they had teamed up on the latest version of Wear OS, many hoped it would finally bring a smartwatch for Android users that would rival the Apple Watch. With the relatively robust third-party app library from Google and Samsung's intuitive interface, the platform was promising. The Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are the first devices running the new "Wear OS powered by Samsung."

But software isn't their only intriguing new feature. Samsung also upgraded the biometric sensors to offer, among other things, a body composition scanner and improved sleep tracking. Throw in new 5nm processors and sharper screens and the Watch 4 series looks like a meaty update. Has the Apple Watch finally met its match? Probably not, but one can hope.

Before we get too far ahead, it's worth noting that other than the Classic having a physical spinning bezel and a stainless steel case, there aren't major differences between the two Watch 4 models. They have the same upgraded sensors, battery and screen sizes, so most of what I'm going to cover in this review applies to both models, unless I specify otherwise.

Side view of a black Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 on a person who has their arms folded across their chest.
David Imel for Engadget

Wear OS and One UI

Let's start with the most intriguing change in both watches: Wear OS. Honestly, if I didn't know the Watch 4 was using a whole new OS, I might have just assumed this was a minor Tizen update. You'll still swipe sideways or spin the physical bezel on the Classic to scroll through all your widgets and use the touch-sensitive ring around the regular Watch 4's screen. But instead of All Apps being one of the pages on the right, they're now below the home screen. There's also a customizable quick settings panel above the main page, too.

Of course, the dead giveaway that there's something more going on here is that you can now download apps from the Play Store directly from your wrist. A section in the Play Store shows all the apps on your phone that have Wear counterparts and I easily added Telegram and Spotify from this page. This seamless installation of apps that are already on your phone onto your watch is one of the features that Samsung said its One UI software would enable. I was expecting them to automatically show up on the watch without me doing any work, but I guess this way you get to decide what you want on your wrist.

One UI also allows for settings on your watch and phone to sync, so that when you enable Do Not Disturb on one, the other activates it too. When you play a song on your phone, a media controller is supposed to appear on the wearable. These only work with Samsung's phones, though, so if you're using some other Android device this doesn't apply. Oh and while we're at it, the Watch 4 series doesn't work with iOS, unlike its predecessors. But if you're an iPhone owner you probably weren't considering an Android watch to begin with.

Close up of a black Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic with two fingers on the physical rotating bezel.
David Imel for Engadget

One last thing that Samsung added via One UI: gesture controls. In theory, this will let you answer or dismiss calls by flicking your wrist or lifting your arm. I enabled the setting and was able to answer a call by raising my wrist as instructed, but dismissing them by rotating my fist did not work. This could potentially make it easier to use the watch with one-hand or when I have my arms full, but they don't work very well at the moment and are limited to responding to calls or messages.

New sensor and new features

In addition to brand new (yet familiar) software, the Watch 4 line also got a serious hardware upgrade. Samsung used a new 3-in-1 biometric sensor that not only should allow for faster and more consistent readings, it also enables bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to offer body mass scans.

The Watch will first ask for basic information like your gender, age and weight. Then, it tells you to place your middle and ring fingers on the two buttons on the edge. It'll also instruct you to stay still and lift your arms away from your body while it scans, which takes about 15 seconds. Once it's done, the system spits out a comprehensive breakdown of your body, saying how many pounds of water, fat and skeletal mass it detected.

Taking a body composition reading on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
David Imel for Engadget

I've been excited about this new feature, since body composition is generally a better way to understand your overall health than BMI. I'd been using Amazon's camera-based system in its Halo app to determine my body fat percentage and though that's been a handy and seemingly accurate method, BIA is a more conventional and common means.

The problem I realized after a few days is that a watch might not be the best place to have BIA sensors. Since the scan requires you to be fairly still and not touch other parts of your body, it can be quite awkward to do. That would be fine if the only issue were standing in an uncomfortable stance for 15 seconds every now and then, but small changes in your posture can affect your result.

I took two scans just seconds apart, one with my arms lifted further away from my body than the other. The first time, I got a 26 percent fat scan result, and the next I got 30 percent. I wasn't expecting complete accuracy, and I know consistency can be affected by time of day and how you're standing, but so far the results are unreliable.

I'll need a few more weeks or months to test the BIA system, measuring at the same time of day, to see if it produces helpful overall trend data. After all, changes in your body composition can take time to register.

Body composition measurement results on the screen of a black Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
David Imel for Engadget

Something else that requires more time for me to get a sense of its usefulness is continuous blood oxygen detection. That's one of the new sleep-tracking features the upgraded sensors enables, and that data feeds into Samsung's Sleep Score algorithm, which considers other things like duration and restfulness. In older Galaxy Watches, you can get your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) readings at-will, but the Watch 4 is able to do a constant measurement overnight. When I woke up, the Watch 4 told me my SpO2 was between 93 and 97 percent, which is slightly lower than I'd like, but could explain why I've been so fatigued.

Blood oxygen is one of five factors that go into Samsung's sleep score, which the company said considers a variety of metrics. Another new thing the Watch 4 can detect this year is snoring. If you want to enable snore detection, you'll not only have to wear the watch to bed, but also place your phone "on a stable surface near your head" within two feet of your person, and have the bottom of the phone pointing at you. You can choose to have snoring detection on always or only for one night, and you can also opt to record audio to hear your sleep noises the next day. Samsung also gives you the option to delete the recordings after a day, 31 days or 100 days. I don't snore but the potential medical benefits here could be useful for those who do.

The one thing I'd like Samsung to fix is very minor: I couldn't find the setting to enable snore detection in the Health app until after I had recorded a night of sleep. This was pretty easy to do — I just manually added an entry.

The rest of the updates that the new sensor brings about are less noticeable, like faster heart rate monitoring and updated calorie count algorithms that take into account continuous and discrete pulse readings. These are mostly under the hood, which makes knowing whether there's a meaningful difference hard to tell until I've spent a lot more time with the devices.

A black Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic nestled in some foliage on a planter.

Design and display

Another area where the Watch 4 series got a small upgrade that's not very obvious is its screen. The larger versions of the devices now have sharper 1.4-inch screens running at 450 x 450, while the smaller models have 1.2-inch panels. They otherwise aren't much different in size from their predecessors.

I'm used to the Apple Watch SE, and though the Galaxy Watch 4 is actually about 5 grams lighter and its case is only a hair wider, it still felt a little large on my wrist. Its case alone is an acceptable size and weight, but the 20mm strap that Samsung includes is a little stiff out of the box and feels uncomfortable. Over time, though, this should get more pliable and less cuff-like, and you can also swap it out for something softer.

Because it has a physical rotating bezel and a stainless steel case, the Watch 4 Classic is heavier and chunkier than the Watch 4, which has a touch-sensitive ring. While I liked using the mechanical wheel to interact with Tizen Wear OS, it made the device bulky enough that I didn't want to wear it when working out or going to sleep.

A black Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 on a wrist
David Imel for Engadget

Performance, in use and battery life

Though they look similar to their predecessors, the Watch 4 series boast a significant update inside. They're powered by new 5nm processors with significantly more storage than before. That additional space should allow you to load more songs on the device, while the processor should make the system fly. And for the most part, the Watch 4s ran smoothly and quickly. The only times I had to sit around waiting for something to happen were when I loaded the Play Store or accidentally triggered Bixby. Speaking of Samsung's assistant — it's set to launch when you long-press the top button by default, but you can set it to bring up the power menu instead.

Something I've always loved about Galaxy watches is how accurately and quickly they register when I've been walking briskly. This year, Samsung updated the software to auto detect a workout after 10 minutes instead of 15. It was gratifying to have a session automatically recorded after I had spent exactly 10 minutes run-walking from a Long Island Railroad platform in Penn station to the Path an avenue away.

The watches are also capable of tracking 95 different workout types, which is nice if you like to get specific with what you're doing at the gym. I found the running coach mode a little too aggressive with its suggestions, and there are little differences between Samsung and Apple's systems that would take too much time to spell out, like which brand undercounts distance traveled on a treadmill and which one is too eager to tell me it thinks I've stopped walking, for example. But overall the Galaxy Watch 4 are capable activity trackers.

A Thom Browne edition of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 laying on its side with greenery in the background.
David Imel for Engadget

Unfortunately, it seems like all the upgrades Samsung added hurt the battery life. Most smartwatches last between one to two days, but for some reason the Galaxy Watch 4 series barely lasts a day. I removed my Watch 4 from the charger at 3pm one afternoon, enabled Always On Display two hours later, and the device died the next day at 5pm.

Wrap up

Short battery life is my biggest issue with the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic, which are otherwise capable, useful smartwatches. Though some of the newer features like body composition measurement and snore detection might not seem immediately useful, they could provide helpful insight over time. The new Wear OS powered by Samsung isn't a huge departure from Tizen, which means we're still getting a powerful, intuitive interface with comprehensive health-tracking features.

Throw in a bigger ecosystem of third-party apps and the Watch 4 series has the potential to offer even more functions. I wish Samsung could make them smaller, thinner and lighter and also extend their runtimes. But — and I know the bar is pretty low here — the Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic are still the best smartwatches for Android users.

Key specs

Sizes: 40mm / 44mm; 42mm / 46mm (Classic)

Display: 1.2-inch 396 x 396 (smaller models); 1.4-inch 450 x 450 (larger models)

Processor: Dual-core 1.18GHz Exynos W920 Dual Core

RAM / Storage: 1.5GB with 16GB storage

Battery size: 247mAh(smaller models) ; 361mAh (larger models)

OS: Wear OS powered by Samsung with One UI Watch 3

Durability and water resistance: 5 ATM, IP68 and MIL-STD-810G

Connectivity: LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (2.4+5GHz), NFC and GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo

Weight: 25.9 / 30.3 grams; 46.5 / 52 grams (Classic)

Sensors: Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor

Photos by David Imel (@DurvidImel)

The Morning After: Xbox Cloud Gaming will bring game streaming to its consoles

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 04:15 AM PDT

Were you ready to be underwhelmed? Microsoft really didn't have all that much to reveal, it seemed, despite the 90-minute run time. (Thankfully, we've shaved it down to an 11-minute highlight reel you can watch here.)

The problem with Xbox's show was that it was so heavy on developer interviews. There really weren't many headline announcements, either, besides further expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming — more on that below. Wringing the gaming news towel dry, Psychonauts 2 got a new launch trailer, and we got a better look at the Xbox-bound version of Microsoft Flight Simulator and some shiny vehicles for Forza Horizon 5.

I guess we go back to playing Hades on our Xboxes for now.

— Mat Smith

Peloton's newer, safer Tread will be available to buy on August 30th

Its cheaper treadmill is back.

Peloton Tread
Peloton

Last year, Peloton introduced its new lower-cost Peloton Tread to the market, which was around $1,800 cheaper than the original Tread+ ($4,295). However, the company had to recall both its treadmills after reports of several injuries and one fatality. The Tread had to be recalled because its touchscreen console could detach and fall.

There are, of course, improved safety features, including Tread Lock, a mandatory four-digit digital passcode to stop children from activating the treadmill. Tread Lock will be available for both All-Access members as well as those without. There's also a physical safety key that a runner can pull to quickly stop during a class.

Continue Reading.

Xbox Cloud Gaming will bring streaming games to its consoles

Just in time for 'Halo Infinite.'

Starting this holiday season, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to cloud gaming on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles. It could be a huge deal as you'll be able to fire up more than 100 games without having to download them at all. At some point in the future, Xbox One owners will be able to play some Series X/S games through the cloud, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. Naturally, you won't get the full next-gen experience on last-gen consoles, but Microsoft is targeting 1080p gameplay at 60 frames per second.

Continue Reading.

Pint-sized 'Pac-Man' and 'PAW Patrol' arcade machines for kids are on the way

The Arcade1Up Jr. machines each feature a trio of games.

Arcade1Up Jr. Pac-Man and PAW Patrol arcade machines
Arcade1Up

Arcade1Up's latest arcade cabinets are aimed at a younger crowd. Much younger. The first two machines in the Arcade1Up Jr. line center around the Pac-Man and PAW Patrol franchises. The former includes a trio of arcade classics: Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug. The PAW Patrol system also features three games: Chase is in a Race, PAW Patrol Off Duty and PAW Patrol Pups on the Go! Prices will start at $280.

Continue Reading.

'Destiny 2' The Witch Queen expansion heads to PC and consoles on February 22nd, 2022

It's the fourth expansion for 'Destiny 2'.

Bungie's new expansion will have players facing off against the long-teased witch queen. There will be new crafting mechanics — which you'll need to make new custom weapons and mods. The expansion was first expected to land earlier this year, but as the headline says, the new release date is currently early 2022.

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Sorry I missed your 30th birthday, Super NES

My unhealthy obsession with Nintendo's finest enters a fourth decade.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

The SNES wasn't Nathan Ingraham's first console. Like many kids of the '80s, he started with the NES. But that system never quite felt like his. But the Super NES, that console was his. After saving his allowance, finally, at some point in 1992, he had the console, two controllers and Super Mario World. And he never looked back.

Continue Reading.

The best student discounts we found for 2021

And the best gaming laptops for students.

Today's Back to School guide features the best discounts for students. Like Amazon Prime, for $60 a year if you're in college, with everything the regular package offers. Apple, meanwhile, will throw in free AirPods when you buy selected Macs or iPads to embark upon your educational dreams. On the laptop front, we've also scrubbed through the best gaming laptops for the most affordable machines we could find.

Continue Reading.

The big news you might have missed:

Waymo opens its self-driving taxis to 'Trusted Testers' in San Francisco

Xiaomi is slowly phasing out its Mi branding

SpaceX has already shipped 100,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals

Yamaha's $500 wireless ANC headphones pack 3D sound and head tracking tech

Movies Anywhere is using AI to create lists of the movies you own

Engadget Deals: August's WiFi smart lock drops to $179 at Wellbots

Oculus update lets Quest headsets auto-sync VR media to mobile

You can now buy the $299 Oculus Quest 2 with 128GB of storage

EA pledges not to sue over its accessibility patents and technologies

Twitter test shows you the Spaces your friends are listening to

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 02:23 AM PDT

In the hopes that Spaces don't go the way of Fleets, Twitter has largelyfocused on discovery efforts around the audio chat rooms. It's latest stab at making the feature easier to find is all about eliciting FOMO. Twitter is experimenting with a new "listening activity" mode that shows you the Spaces the people you follow are tuning in to. For now, the feature is limited to some users on iOS and Android.

Of course, not everyone wants their interests to be highlighted atop other's timelines, so Twitter is allowing you to toggle the option on or off via settings. Bear in mind that Spaces are public anyway, which means your activity is visible to others including those you follow and those browsing the rooms. Though, Twitter does note that it's possible for you to listen to a Space without being listed as a guest.

Instagram is putting ads in its Shop tab

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 01:36 AM PDT

Instagram is introducing ads to the Shop tab it launched last November as part of a divisive app redesign. The Facebook-owned company's push to bring ads to more parts of its app has upset some users, but at least the move makes sense in this context. 

Moreso than on Reels or the Explore feed, ads seem like a natural fit for Instagram's shopping section, where you go to peruse products from brands and creators. They'll look like the other tiles on the Shop home page, but with a little "sponsored" label that tells you someone paid to show you them. 

As a rep for luggage brand Away explains in their spiel, ads tend to be more successful "in an environment where the consumer is already in a shopping mindset which the Shop tab naturally attracts."

Clicking on a Shop ad will show you more details about the product, including any additional images, and let you browse more items from the brand. You can also save products to your wishlist or share them with friends. As is the norm, you can hide or report ads, too. Unlike Instagram's video ads in Stories and Reels, you can't skip photo ads.

FCC proposes $5 million fine for activists behind election robocalls

Posted: 25 Aug 2021 12:18 AM PDT

The FCC has proposed the largest fine yet under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the subjects are two robocallers Law & Crime describes as "hard-right hoaxers." John M. Burkman and Jacob Alexander Wohl are facing a $5,134,500 fine for allegedly making 1,141 unlawful pre-recorded calls to mobile phones without the recipients' prior consent. The calls' content? Fake information designed to discourage people from voting by mail. 

According to the commission's Enforcement Bureau, the calls were made on August 26th and September 14th, 2020, prior to last year's Presidential elections in the US. The robocalls told potential voters that if they vote by mail, their personal information will be added to a public database law enforcement can use to track down old warrants. Credit card companies will also be able to access the database to collect outstanding debts, the calls said, and the CDC can issue mandatory vaccines on the people in the list. Law & Crime says the calls primarily targeted Black and Latino populations in New York, Ohio and Michigan.

The FCC started investigating the calls after receiving complaints from consumers and a non-profit organization. Its Enforcement Bureau then worked with the Ohio Attorney General's Office to identify the dialing service providers Burkman and Wojl used. The providers turned over subpoenaed call records to identify Burkman and Wohl by name, along with information on the zip codes they wanted to target. Both individuals also admitted under oath that they were involved in the creation and distribution of those particular robocalls.

In addition to facing a $5 million fine from the FCC, the pair also face a $2.75 million lawsuit from the New York Attorney General's office. Back in May, a federal judge gave the NY AG the go-ahead to join a lawsuit accusing the pair of violating the Ku Klux Klan Act, which protects Americans from political intimidation. As for the FCC fine, Burkman and Wohl will be given an opportunity to submit evidence and legal arguments before the commission takes any more step towards a resolution.

Samsung disables the Galaxy Z Fold 3's camera if you unlock its bootloader

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 09:45 PM PDT

Don't unlock your new Samsung Galaxy Fold 3's bootloader if you don't know what you're getting into, or you may just regret it. According to XDA-Developers, the foldable device shows a warning when you attempt to unlock its bootloader, telling you that doing so "will cause the camera to be disabled and may cause your phones and apps to stop working correctly." Indeed, that's exactly what happens when you do go through with the process to gain root access and modify the device's software.

After unlocking the bootloader, you'll notice that the stock camera app will fail to operate. You'll no longer be able to fire it up to take photos, and the apps on your phone that use the camera won't be able to access it, as well. Those apps — yes, including third-party camera apps — just remain dark or time out after a while, so there's no workaround. In fact, all camera-related features will cease to function, including facial recognition. 

We've reached out to Samsung for a statement and were told that the company has nothing to share right now. As the publication notes, Samsung has always made it difficult to root its phones: Modifying the device's software already voids your warranty and kills Samsung Pay. This is next level protection, though — and perhaps a most effective one — considering most people at this point in time frequently use their phones as cameras. XDA says re-locking the bootloader will also re-enable the Galaxy Fold 3's camera, so all won't be lost if you do decide to try it out and poke around for a solution yourself.

California expands Activision Blizzard lawsuit to include temporary workers

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 02:59 PM PDT

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has expanded the scope of its sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuit against Activision Blizzard to include temporary workers. As first reported by Axios, the watchdog filed an amended complaint on Monday to redefine the group it plans to represent in the suit. The complaint now consistently references "workers" instead of "employees," noting protections the state of California has in place to protect individuals from harassment and sexual discrimintation "exist for employees and contingent or temporary workers."

The amended suit also alleges Activision Blizzard has used non-disclosure agreements to directly interfere with DFEH's ability to investigate, prosecute and remedy the workplace violations that occurred at the company. Additionally, "documents related to investigations and complaints were shredded by human resource personnel," according to the agency.

In response to today's filing, an Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Engadget, "Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. ...We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment." The statement is provided in full at the end of the article.

Following a two-year investigation into the company, DFEH last month accused Activision Blizzard executives of fostering a "frat boy" workplace culture. According to the agency, only 20 percent of all employees at the studio are women, and they're consistently paid less, overlooked for promotions and fired faster than their male counterparts. Activision executives initially dismissed the lawsuit, claiming it included "distorted, and in many cases false descriptions of Blizzard's past."

Employees were quick to condemn the company's response, calling it "abhorrent," and they went on to stage a walkout at the end of July. Following the protest, Blizzard studio president J. Allen Brack, one of the executives named in the DFEH suit, stepped down, as did several other senior designers.

When Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick eventually pledged to take "swift action" to create a safe workplace, the company's decision to bring in WilmerHale, a law firm that has a history of representing management on matters relating to unionizing, made many doubt the sincerity of his statements.

Update 6:13PM ET: Here's the complete response from an Activision Blizzard spokesperson:

Throughout our engagement with the DFEH, we have complied with every proper request in support of its review even as we had been implementing reforms to ensure our workplaces are welcoming and safe for every employee. Those changes continue today, and include:

· Several high-level personnel changes;

· Revamped hiring and recruiting practices requiring diverse interview panels;

· Greater transparency on pay equity;

· Expanded and improved training and investigative capabilities for human resource and compliance staff;

· Created investigation teams outside of business units to support greater independence;

· Restructured divisions to support greater accountability;

· Enhanced review processes to include evaluation of managers by employees;

· Clear boundaries on workplace behavior with a zero-tolerance approach to harassment and other actions that diminish or marginalize.

With regards to claims that we have destroyed information by shredding documents, those claims are not true. We took appropriate steps to preserve information relevant to the DFEH investigation.

We strive to be a company that recognizes and celebrates the diverse talents and perspectives that lead to the creation of great, globally appealing entertainment. We have provided the DFEH with clear evidence that we do not have gender pay or promotion disparities. Our senior leadership is increasingly diverse, with a growing number of women in key leadership roles across the company.

We share DFEH's goal of a safe, inclusive workplace that rewards employees equitably and are committed to setting an example that others can follow.

Apple Maps is finally starting to follow Google's lead on user reviews

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 01:45 PM PDT

Since the release of iOS 14, Apple Maps has included a built-in rating system that allows you to review select businesses, restaurants and other points of interest. Before Monday, that feature was only available in countries like Australia and Japan, but as MacRumors points out, you can now access it in the US and Canada.

The feature works for most locations. It uses a simple thumbs up or down system. When you tap one of the icons, a secondary interface will appear, prompting you to share how you feel about certain aspects of that business or restaurant. For instance, in the latter case, you can also rate the food, customer service and atmosphere. That same pane also allows you to upload your own photo to a listing.

An Apple spokesperson told The Verge Maps will suggest you add contributions based on your device history, in addition to photos you have in your camera roll. Your name won't appear alongside any ratings you leave, and any recommendations you get suggesting you add to a listing will come from analysis Maps does on-device.

At the moment, you can't leave a written review, meaning there's still a place for the existing integrations Maps has with services like Yelp and Tripadvisor. Apple could be laying the groundwork here for a more robust review system to match the likes of what Google Maps offers, but that will have to come at a later date.

Watch Xbox's Gamescom show in 11 minutes

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 01:30 PM PDT

OK, we'll be honest: The 2021 Xbox Gamescom show was fluffy. It was a 90-minute live YouTube event populated by drawn-out developer interviews, a mini-documentary on the trebuchet and slightly exciting updates to mid-tier titles, but there were also a few bright spots. Xbox cloud gaming is heading to Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One this holiday season; Psychonauts 2 got a shiny new launch trailer, and we got a closer look at Microsoft Flight Simulator and Forza Horizon 5. Competitive multiplayer is heading to Microsoft Flight Simulator this fall, while Forza Horizon 5's cover cars look truly spectacular. 

See it all for yourself in our 11-minute cutdown.

Xiaomi is slowly phasing out its Mi branding

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 01:10 PM PDT

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi recently passed Apple to become the world's second-largest phone maker. It's now banking on the fact its products are recognizable enough they don't need additional branding. As first reported by XDA Developers, the company will phase out its "Mi" branding over the coming months, with new products slated to carry the Xiaomi name instead.

"Starting in 2021 Q3, Xiaomi's product series 'Mi' will be renamed to 'Xiaomi,'" a spokesperson for the company told Engadget. "This change will unify our global brand presence and close the perception gap between the brand and its products." The Mi branding isn't going completely away. The company's Mi Home stores will continue to carry the name. Xiaomi will also continue selling Redmi devices, with those targeted at consumers who want to save money on their next phone purchase.

In fact, it sounds like we'll see the Redmi branding appear on more devices before too long. "The product series naming convention — Xiaomi and Redmi — will also be applied to our ecosystem and IoT products over time," the spokesperson said. The possibility that Xiaomi was planning to retire the Mi name came out earlier this month when the company's new Mix 4 phone didn't feature the branding.

Sorry I missed your 30th birthday, Super NES

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 12:30 PM PDT

I missed one of my best friend's birthdays this week – but belated best wishes are better than nothing. So, to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, my favorite console of all time, which arrived in the US on August 23rd, 1991, I wish you many happy returns.

The SNES wasn't my first console. Like many kids of the '80s, I started with the venerable NES. But that system never quite felt like mine. I played it at friends' houses for years before my parents relented and got me one for Christmas in 1989. While I don't want to downplay my excitement, I had already played many of the platform's classic games. So while it was a huge deal to have my own NES, I wasn't exactly coming to it fresh.

But the Super NES, that console was mine. I didn't get it on launch day, but I had been eagerly devouring details about it in Nintendo Power. I started saving my allowance, doing extra chores and monitoring weekly sales flyers for price drops. Finally, at some point in 1992, I brought it home – the console, two outstanding controllers whose design has stood the test of time and Super Mario World. (Remember how generous game companies used to be with the pack-ins?)

Obviously, one does not buy a console to ogle the hardware. It's all about the games, and Super Mario World was an outstanding introduction to the system. I was plenty familiar with Mario at this point, but the sheer scope this time around was stunning. Individual levels were massive and crammed with secrets, and you could re-enter and play them again for the first time to find everything. New additions like Yoshi and the cape power-up offered new ways to navigate and explore these levels.

And, of course, the game both looked and sounded fantastic. Super Mario Bros. 3 pushed the NES about as far as it could go, but Super Mario World underscored how much more capable the new system was. Mario and some familiar enemies looked more vibrant and detailed than ever, and the system's power was also evident in those sprawling levels and environments. It was the first Mario game with a save feature, and with good reason. There was no way to take in even half of what the game offered in just one sitting.

This underlines how video game development was changing with 16-bit consoles. Many NES games were ports of arcade mainstays, perhaps modified to make them more suitable for extended play sessions. But they were still games meant to be finished in one session, once you got good enough. RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior, not to mention Nintendo's own adventure game The Legend of Zelda bucked that trend with a bigger focus on exploration and a save feature so you could proceed at your own pace. But with the Super NES, developers were thinking bigger, regardless of genre.

For me, the finest example of this is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It was the second game I bought for the system, despite having never played the earlier NES Zelda games — the buzz around it was just too enticing. It was a smart choice, because it's still on the short list of my favorite games ever. Its art style remains gorgeous 30 years later, the soundtrack is fantastic, and the freedom of exploration, combined with all the puzzles to unravel, was unlike anything I had played before. 

The story's twists and turns made me always want to keep pushing forward, but I also was happy to go off the path and search for secrets I hadn't found. And there are still a handful of show-stopping moments that rank among the most memorable game experiences I've had. Striding out of the Sanctuary after the first hour or so of gameplay with the booming main theme behind me, getting the Master Sword and the final showdown with Ganon after months of play leading up to it are just a few  parts of the game that I'll never forget.

Besides these bigger titles, the SNES still had plenty of arcade ports – they were just much better than in the NES era. The SNES was far more capable of replicating the arcade experience, and games like Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time were outstanding ways for me to get my arcade fix.

Broadly speaking, the SNES enjoyed strong third-party developer support from companies like Capcom, Konami, Tecmo, Square and Enix. And while I spent tons of hours on those aforementioned arcade games and other excellent titles like Capcom's Mega Man X, the SNES allowed Nintendo to flex its muscles as one of the best game developers around.

The list of all-time classics that Nintendo published during the system's lifespan is impressive. Aside from Super Mario World, games like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country (and its sequels), Super Metroid, Yoshi's Island, EarthBound and Super Mario Kart were critically acclaimed, hugely popular or both. Launch titles F-Zero and Pilotwings didn't hit those heights, but they still provided the SNES with a strong and varied lineup from day one.

All these games and many more have kept me coming back to the SNES over the many years since it launched. I played it throughout high school and when I came home from college; at some point I lost track of that console and all the games I had, though. It was a tough pill to swallow, but since I (like many Nintendo fans) have re-bought favorite games on the systems like the Wii and the Switch, not to mention the tiny SNES Classic Edition. Of course, you can't be the real thing, so I picked up a used SNES about 10 years ago, too. I don't play it often, but I'm happier knowing I can when I want to.

It's not just for nostalgia, either. Somehow, I have never played Super Metroid – and with Metroid Dread coming out soon, I think it's high time I finally try another of the system's all-time greats. I never would have expected that I'd be playing the Super NES 30 years after it arrived in the US, but I won't be surprised if I still go back to these games 30 years from now.

Pint-sized 'Pac-Man' and 'PAW Patrol' arcade machines for kids are on the way

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 12:20 PM PDT

You're never really too young to start gaming, but some kids might struggle to get to grips with standard arcade machines. With that in mind, Arcade1Up is hoping to bring the joy of arcades to a new generation with its latest lineup of cabinets.

The first two machines in the Arcade1Up Jr. line are centered around the Pac-Man and PAW Patrol franchises. The former includes a trio of arcade classics: Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug. The PAW Patrol system also features three games: Chase is in a Race, PAW Patrol Off Duty and PAW Patrol Pups on the Go!

The cabinets are aimed at kids aged four to eight. They're three feet tall and have oversized buttons to make things easier for youngsters. The games include a way to slow down the action and other features (such as unlimited lives) to help burgeoning gamers learn the ropes. Each machine has an eight-inch monitor and it's ready to play right out of the box.

Arcade1Up has been around for few years. It aims to bring the arcade experience to gamers' homes by re-releasing classic cabinets such as NBA Jam, The Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

The Pac-Man system will be available starting on October 15th and the PAW Patrol version will go on sale on November 15th. You'll be able to buy the arcade machines, which start at $280, from a variety of retailers.

'Psychonauts 2' launch trailer shows off wacky levels and Raz's psychic powers

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT

It's been a long, bumpy journey for Double Fine in its efforts to make a sequel to its very first game, but Psychonauts 2 is almost here. Just ahead of the release, the developer and Xbox Game Studios shone the spotlight on the hotly anticipated game during the Gamescom 2021 Xbox Stream.

The story picks up right where the VR game Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin left off. The launch trailer shows more of the colorful, action-packed platforming fans have come to expect from the series. You play as Raz, a Psychonaut who can explore other characters' minds and use psychic powers like telekinesis and levitation. Raz, who grew up in the circus, also has several acrobatic moves at his disposal as he takes on enemies based on emotions.

The original Psychonauts was released in 2005. After several aborted attempts to make a sequel, Double Fine ran a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2015 to covering some of the development costs. Xbox Game Studios bought Double Fine in 2019, and help the developer finish Psychonauts 2 as intended. 

Psychonauts 2 will finally hit PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S (with optimizations for the latter consoles) on August 25th. Naturally, it's included with Xbox Game Pass for PC and console. On top of that, Microsoft is once again in the unusual position of publishing a game on PlayStation 4.

You can now buy the $299 Oculus Quest 2 with 128GB of storage

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 11:06 AM PDT

Following its announcement late last month, Facebook's new 128GB model of the Oculus Quest 2 is now available to buy. You can purchase the VR headset from the company's website for the same $299 price as the previous 64GB base model. "Long story short? We've created this 128GB model so that players can easily store and access more games and apps on a single device," Facebook says of the new variant.

Facebook announced the 128GB model at the same time it issued a voluntary recall of the Quest 2 to address an issue with the original face insert that came with the headset. The company temporarily stopped selling the Quest 2 for about a month so that it could add a new silicone face cover inside the box of each new unit. If you're a current Quest 2 owner, you can request Facebook send you the new silicone cover by visiting the My Devices section of the account settings. The new 128GB model also comes with the silicone cover inside the box.

Microsoft will bring cloud gaming to Xbox consoles this holiday season

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 10:34 AM PDT

Microsoft is moving into the next phase of its plan to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to as many devices as possible, and it's one of the most important steps yet. Starting this holiday season, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to cloud gaming on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles.

The company, which made the announcement during its Gamescom showcase, said you'll be able to fire up more than 100 games without having to download them first. At some point in the future, Xbox One owners can play some Series X/S games through the cloud, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator. You'll know a title is cloud gaming-compatible if you see a cloud icon next to it in the Game Pass library. Microsoft is targeting 1080p gameplay at 60 frames per second.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is already available on phones, tablets and PC. Microsoft is also working on Xbox game streaming sticks as well as a smart TV cloud gaming app. This summer, the company started transitioning cloud gaming onto beefier Xbox Series X hardware after launching the service on Xbox One S-based blade servers.

Waymo opens its self-driving taxis to 'Trusted Testers' in San Francisco

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 10:06 AM PDT

Alphabet's fully autonomous driving unit Waymo is ready to offer rides to select passengers in San Francisco, the company announced on Tuesday. Starting later today, residents can sign up to become "Trusted Testers." With an invite to the program, you can use the Waymo One app to take rides in the fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles Waymo will have stationed in the city. 

Waymo describes the Trusted Tester program as a "research-focused" effort designed to help it collect feedback on its ride experience, with an emphasis on gathering information related to accessibility.   

"We kicked off this program last week with a select few and are now expanding the program to all interested San Franciscans," the company said. "We'll begin with an initial group and welcome more riders in the weeks to come." Much like it did in Arizona, Waymo won't let the cars drive without supervision right off the back. The company will have employees in the cars to ensure its fifth-generation Waymo Driver technology doesn't get lost on San Francisco's tricky one-way streets and hills. The company also told Bloomberg passengers will ride for free.  

The expansion comes after Waymo recently announced CEO John Krafcik was leaving the company to pursue other projects. Some saw Krafcik as being too slow to push the company toward commercialization. 

Walmart announces a delivery service for local retailers

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 10:03 AM PDT

Walmart has announced a delivery service for local businesses, which should be up and running by the end of the year. It plans to use drones and self-driving cars as part of the Walmart GoLocal infrastructure. Earlier this year, Walmart invested in Cruise after previously running a delivery pilot with GM's autonomous vehicle startup.

Local retailers might be able to keep using their current commerce platform and hook it into GoLocal. It's a white-label service, so deliveries won't be made by Walmart-branded vehicles. Associates, members of the Spark Driver program and other delivery companies will handle orders, according to CNBC. 

Walmart says it will be able to offer delivery within two hours in certain markets. There's a two-day delivery option as well. The company claims shipping will be priced competitively and that it can handle everything from groceries to kiddie pools and oversize items.

GoLocal is a key part of Walmart's strategy and it should help the company to diversify revenue streams. There might be some advantages for small businesses as well. It could slightly level the playing field with the likes of Amazon, which is largely moving its delivery network in-house and promising same-day or next-day delivery in many cases.

There's a new Shopping tab on TikTok

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 09:40 AM PDT

The sticky tentacles of capitalism have slithered into a fresh space: TikTok. Shopify and TikTok are rolling out TikTok Shopping, a new tab that business users can add to their profiles, syncing their product catalogues and linking out to their online stores for payment. 

The new tab will be available to Shopify sellers with a TikTok For Business account, and the program is live now as a pilot in the United States and United Kingdom. The beta will open up to some users in Canada over the coming weeks, with additional regions planned in the following months.

In addition to the new tab, Shopify and TikTok are launching product links in the app as well, allowing Shopify merchants to tag items in normal TikTok posts. The tag will send the user directly to the merchant's online store.

For everyday TikTok users, this means you can expect to see more links and opportunities to throw your hard-earned money at social media stars on the app. Truly, this was only a matter of time.

‘Destiny 2’ The Witch Queen expansion heads to PC and consoles on February 22nd, 2022

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 09:10 AM PDT

The Witch Queen, Destiny's 2 long-awaited fourth expansion, will launch on February 22nd, 2022, Bungie announced on Tuesday. The expansion will pit players against Savathûn. First mentioned in 2015's The Taken King, the titular Witch Queen is a foe Destiny players have been waiting years to face. She's the sister of Oryx, the Hive god players defeated in the aforementioned Taken King expansion, and a character Bungie has meticulously teased in strikes, in-game lore items and more.

In The Witch Queen, players will travel to Savathûn's Throne World to face the Lucent Hive. Bungie is introducing a new crafting mechanic that will allow players to create their own custom weapons, complete with unique mods, shaders and stat combinations. The expansion will also add a new Glaive weapon type that allows players to complete melee combos, fire energy projectiles and deploy a shield. You won't find your first Glaive. Instead, you'll make it yourself using the new crafting mechanic. 

Bungie had originally planned to release The Witch Queen in 2021 but delayed the expansion to early 2022 at the start of the year. By the time the studio announced the decision, it had said it was already considering pushing back the expansion for the sake of "the health of the team." In combination with other plans the studio had for 2021, the coronavirus pandemic made that decision easier.

The Witch Queen will launch simultaneously on Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. 

'League of Legends' World Championship moves from China to Europe due to COVID-19

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 07:43 AM PDT

Riot Games is changing its plans for the 2021 League of Legends World Championship (aka Worlds). The event was supposed to take place in China for the second straight year, but it's moving to Europe amid travel complications brought on by the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.

"We've reached the point where it's extremely difficult to guarantee that qualifying teams and their best players would be able to attend Worlds this year," John Needham, Riot's global head of esports, said in a video. "After considering all possible options, we concluded that moving Worlds to Europe provided the best opportunity for the most teams and their best players to compete."

Worlds 2021 was supposed to take place in five cities across China, culminating in Shenzhen in November, after initially being announced for the US in 2018. Riot hasn't revealed exactly where in Europe it will bring one of the biggest events in esports this year, though Needham noted that accessibility for the highest number of teams and their key players will be the most critical factor. Riot will reveal more details about Worlds 2021 in the coming days and weeks.

Earlier this month, Riot moved the final matches of the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) — the esport's North American league — from a New Jersey arena to its LCS Arena in Los Angeles. It said the rise in Delta variant cases meant that it "cannot in good conscience conduct a massive fan event at this time."

Other esports are still pressing forward with in-person events in North America. The 2021 Call of Duty League season just wrapped up, with its championship weekend being held at a packed Galen Center in Los Angeles. The Overwatch League playoffs and grand finals are set to take place in Dallas and the same LA arena respectively next month, marking the esport's return to in-person events in the US.

Watch the Xbox Gamescom stream here at 1PM ET

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Just ahead of Gamescom's official opening, Microsoft is hosting its latest showcase on Tuesday. You can expect around 90 minutes of news and updates during the event, which starts at 1PM ET.

Microsoft is promising more info about Xbox Game Pass and some of the biggest upcoming Xbox titles, including details about some previously announced games from internal studios and third-party developers. Much of the focus will be on the company's holiday slate, so there's a good chance Xbox will finally reveal the release date for Halo Infinite (even if the game will lack a couple of core game modes at the outset). The event will also include another look at gameplay from Techland's Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

You can watch the Gamescom 2021 Xbox Stream on official Xbox channels on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, or simply watch it via the below embed. Microsoft is broadcasting the event on other platforms elsewhere, including Bilibili in China and VK in Russia. There'll be American Sign Language, German Sign Language and English audio description versions of the stream too. The company is subtitling the event in 30 languages, but not all of those will be available during the live broadcast.

It's worth noting that Xbox will stream the event in 1080p at 60 frames per second. A 4K version will be available on its YouTube channel afterward.

August's WiFi smart lock drops to $179 at Wellbots

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 06:20 AM PDT

August impressed us with its 4th-generation WiFi smart lock, which has a subtle design, an easy installation process and a decent price compared to its competition. However, it's normal price of $230 isn't exactly cheap — but now you can get the smart lock for the best price we've seen by going to Wellbots. The online retailer has the 4th-generation WiFi smart lock for $179 when you use the coupon code ENGADGET20 at checkout.

Buy August WiFi smart lock at Wellbots - $179

August didn't fix what wasn't broken about its smart lock, but it did take the time to add features that make the 4th-generation feel like a substantial upgrade. It's half the size of the previous generation lock and it no longer requires a bridge thanks to its WiFi connectivity. Installation is pretty quick and easy, thanks in part to the helpful video instructions in the August mobile app, and we appreciate that the company forces you to turn on two-factor authentication during setup. It's an extra security measure that's especially important when you're talking about a device that lets people into your home. In addition to two-factor authentication, the lock also uses Bluetooth encryption, AES 128-bit and TLS encryption.

Once installed, the mobile app can act as your digital keys, remotely locking and unlocking your door at any time. This makes it easy to let a friend or family member into your home when necessary even if you're away. You also don't have to forsake your physical keys all together — you can still use them to unlock your door at any time, so even if you forget to replace the smart lock's dual CR123 batteries, you'll still be able to get into your home. Just make sure to check out August's support page to see if your deadbolt is compatible with the smart lock before you buy it.

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

Spotify will allow any US podcaster to charge for a subscription

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Spotify is expanding paid podcast subscriptions to all US creators as a means of monetizing more content. Since its launch with a dozen indie publishers in the Spring, the premium option has been activated on 100 podcasts, according to the Sweden-based streaming service. On September 15th, subscriber-only content will be made available to international listeners. While overseas creators will have to wait a tad bit longer to get their hands on the monetization tools.

The program itself is available through Anchor, the podcast creation platform Spotify acquired alongside podcast network Gimlet for just shy of $340 million in 2019. The company has billed the service as a win-win for its entire user base, giving publishers the chance to reap subscription fees with no commission (for the first two years) from avid listeners. Spotify will start taking a cut of 5 percent in 2023. Comparatively, Apple charges a $20 annual fee for its program and takes a 30 percent cut of subscriptions for the first year and 15 percent thereafter.

Based on learnings from its test period, Spotify is introducing 20 new pricing options for podcasts to offer creators more flexibility. It's also allowing publishers to download a list of contact addresses for their subscribers so they can better engage with them. That should help creators to further promote their content using email marketing and notifications.

Movies Anywhere is using AI to create lists of the movies you own

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Movies Anywhere, the streaming hub that pulls together films you purchase for a variety of digital stores, has added a feature many users have long been hoping for: lists. Not only will this help you better organize your library, the system will automatically generate personalized lists based on the movies you own. You should now see a My Lists tab next to My Movies.

Organizing a Movies Anywhere library presents a different challenge to grouping titles together on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. While subscribers of those services have access to the same content based on the country they're in, every Movies Anywhere user has a unique selection of films in their locker.

Movies Anywhere is looking to avoid having the same movie in too many lists. As such, movies are typically funneled into categories to which they're most closely matched.

One key part of the My Lists feature is that it takes into account viewing behavior. During a demo last week, Movies Anywhere didn't go into too much detail about how this works. However, if you watch a few minutes of any film, the algorithm, artificial intelligence and machine learning systems will consider what you're interested in watching when they organize your lists.

Movies Anywhere's content team classifies the films and there are around 2,000 different potential categories as things stand. These are centered around things like genres, franchises, people (say, actors, directors or composers) and themes. So, if you have a lot of movies about robots or cyborgs in your library, they might be grouped together in a list. Same thing goes for a collection of Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Other lists might focus on movies focused on antiheroes or musicians. The system might generate a list of nostalgic flicks, or classify films into subgenres.

Lists that Movies Anywhere creates for you are marked as "automatic lists." You can also create and modify lists. You'll be able to add and remove films, reorganize lists and rename them. If you own all the Star Wars movies, for instance, you can place them in release order, sort them in the canonical timeline or even arrange them in the so-called Machete order. It's up to you.

One thing you can't do right now is modify any lists on the Movies Anywhere smart TV app. You can only browse your lists there. But because your lists sync across devices, you can make changes on a phone, tablet or computer, and you'll see those reflected on your smart TV.

This is a useful update, especially for Movies Anywhere users who pick up a ton of movies during sales or those who redeem tons of digital codes from Blu-ray purchases. The service says that My Lists is "a direct response to specific requests" from users. It should bring some more order to users' libraries, which can get unwieldy as they grow in size.

Yamaha's $500 wireless ANC headphones pack 3D sound and head tracking tech

Posted: 24 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Yamaha is releasing high-end headphones with adaptive audio tech and an eye-catching design to help them stand out in a crowded marketplace. The $499.95 YH-L700A are the latest over-ears to join the exclusive head tracking audio club. Like the Dolby Dimension before them, Yamaha says its new headphones can identify where sound is coming from and re-orientate what you hear on the fly. 

Working in tandem with the 3D audio, the tech aims to deliver an immersive experience that lets you track individual sounds. It all sounds similar to Apple's Spatial Audio or Samsung's rival 360 Audio. Yamaha's feature is called "3D Sound Field" and essentially leans upon its Cinema DSP processing to convert stereo sound into multi-channel audio.

Yamaha YH-L700A
Yamaha

Overall, the headphones tick a number of boxes. There's "advanced" active noise cancelation (ANC) that can be switched on and off. Here, the system uses an algorithm and internal mics to adaptively remove ambient noise from the playback music signal. 

Plus, there are a range of audio modes that you can enable via an accompanying mobile app, which (along with the advanced ANC) are also available on the $350 YH-E700A headphones. They include a "listening optimizer" that can adjust the sound based on how you wear the headphones; "listening care" that promises a fuller range of audio at lower volumes; and "ambient sound" that uses the mics to capture external sounds and present them in the background of your audio. Yamaha claims you'll get an ambitious 34 hours of listening time per charge, though the jury's out on whether that will withstand rigorous testing.

While they retain some features from Yamaha's other headphones, they don't look like the company's prior efforts. Yamaha has switched from round to rectangular earcups that can swivel and fold. Like the headband, they're covered in a foamy fabric. The new headphones are out now at select retailers and on the Yamaha store.
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