Friday, August 27, 2021

Engadget RSS Feed

Engadget RSS Feed

Microsoft Azure flaw left thousands of cloud customers' data vulnerable

Posted: 27 Aug 2021 04:40 AM PDT

A vulnerability in Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service left several thousand customers susceptible to cyberattacks. The tech giant has warned its clients of the flaw in its flagship database service Cosmos DB after it was discovered and reported by security company Wiz. In the blog post Wiz has published, it said it was able to use the vulnerability, which it has named "ChaosDB," to gain "complete unrestricted access to the accounts and databases" of thousands of Azure clients.

Azure customers, including Fortune 500 companies such as Coca-Cola and Exxon-Mobil, use Cosmos DB to manage the massive amounts of data they get in real time. The company explained that it found a series of flaws in the Cosmos DB feature called Jupyter Notebook that gives customers a way to visualize their data. That feature has been around since 2019, but it was switched on for all Cosmos DB customers just this past February. Wiz said that a series of misconfigurations in the notebook created a loophole, which allows any user "to download, delete or manipulate a massive collection of commercial databases, as well as read/write access to the underlying architecture of Cosmos DB." 

While the security company praised Microsoft for disabling the notebook within 48 hours after it was alerted about the issue and for notifying around 30 percent of its customers, it warned that more clients may be at risk. Microsoft only notified the customers that were affected during Wiz's week-long research period this early August. However, the security firm believes the vulnerability has been exploitable for months, possibly even years. It's now advising Azure customers to rotate and regenerate their access keys even if they didn't get an email from Microsoft. That said, the tech giant said it found no evidence that the flaw has been exploited. It told the customers it emailed that there's no "indication that external entities outside the researcher (Wiz) had access to the primary read-write key

As Reuters notes, this is the latest in a series of bad security news for Microsoft over the past year. In February, the tech giant has revealed that the SolarWinds hackers accessed and downloaded source code for Azure, its cloud-based management solution Intune and its mail and calendar server Exchange. The Chinese Hafnium hacking group also exploited a vulnerability in Exchange to infiltrate at least 30,000 organizations around the world, including police departments, hospitals and banks.

The Morning After: Explaining Apple’s $100 million App Store settlement

Posted: 27 Aug 2021 04:15 AM PDT

Following the class-action lawsuit between Apple and app developers, the company has agreed to change several App Store rules, including allowing developers to email users "about payment methods outside of their iOS app" — think Netflix and Spotify offering subscription setups through the internet browser, all without Apple taking a cut. This was a key part of the Epic vs. Apple trial.

The company is also promising more transparency around its app review process and offer more price points to app makers from "fewer than 100 to more than 500." The agreement also includes a $100 million payout, split among smaller developers who earned $1 million or less. It's not money for Spotify, Epic and the bigger, most vocal, app owners. There are a few more wrinkles to the App Store changes. Engadget's Karissa Bell elaborates on what's going on.

— Mat Smith

The Rock has some new Under Armour headphones

Noise cancellation and 45-hour battery life.

UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training headphones
Under Armor

Hollywood's busiest man Dwayne Johnson has found time to release another pair of headphones with Under Armour branding and, well, JBL tech. The cans are essentially an updated version of the durable over-ears released in 2018, but now with adaptive noise canceling and 45-hour battery life. With speed charging, you should get two hours of playback time in five minutes.

Continue reading.

Amazon Prime Gaming's free titles for September include 'Knockout City'

Subscribers will also get new loot for 'Genshin Impact' and other games.

Amazon is adding some more free titles for Prime Gaming subscribers. One of the latest additions is Knockout City, a recent release from Velan and EA. It's a cross-platform dodgeball brawler launched in May that's already available through Xbox Games Pass Ultimate and EA Play. Anyone addicted to Genshin Impact — which is free to play everywhere — can get a nice grab bag of loot if they're a Prime Gaming subscriber.

Continue reading.

After nearly 40 years, the designer of the NES and SNES retires from Nintendo

Lance Barr also helped shape the Wii.

NES game console
Jason Leung on Unsplash

NES and SNES designer Lance Barr has retired from Nintendo after 38 years and eight months at the company. Although relatively few know his name, he played a role in the rise and rise of Nintendo.

Barr made his biggest mark when he was asked to design the outside of the NES to make the Famicom more palatable for American audiences. As requested, he made it look like it belonged next to a stereo system (complete with a VHS-style cartridge loader) compared to the "soft" Japanese model.

His influence continued at Nintendo, and in more recent times he helped design the Wii and its nunchuk controller.

Continue reading.

HP Pavilion Aero review

It's an affordable laptop that punches well above its own weight.

HP Pavilion Aero
Daniel Cooper / Engadget

HP's use of AMD's speedy mobile processors means this machine can do a lot more than other ultraportables in its class. Available for less than $1,000, the cost alone will let you see past some of its more pedestrian features. There are plenty of ports, and while it's not exactly an inspirational design, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Continue reading.

Finally, all iOS users will get YouTube's picture-in-picture mode

Only for Premium users to start with.

YouTube is promising picture-in-picture (PiP) viewing to all iPhone and iPad users in the US, starting with volunteers using Premium. You'll have to opt into the test through the experiments website on your computer, but you're all set after that — you can watch clips in a floating window. It's just the first step: The company hasn't said when it plans to enable PiP for non-Premium subscribers.

Continue reading.

The biggest tech news you might have missed

Apple will take a smaller cut of in-app fees from publishers who use Apple News

Engadget Deals: Apple Watch SE (44mm with cellular) is down to $300 at Amazon

Electrify America's charging station app finally supports Android Auto and CarPlay

'Star Trek: Lower Decks' wants you to know it's OK to like 'Voyager'

Tesla's redesigned iPhone app features two new home screen widgets

Palantir glitch allegedly granted some FBI staff unauthorized access to a crypto hacker's data

Google's YouTube Music app for Wear OS only works with Samsung's upcoming smartwatches

Waymo will stop selling its self-driving LiDAR sensors to other companies

Posted: 27 Aug 2021 03:36 AM PDT

Just months after a CEO shakeup, Waymo is officially halting sales of its custom sensors to third parties. The move sees the Alphabet-owned self-driving company unwinding a business operation just two years into its lifespan. Waymo confirmed the decision to Reuters, adding that it's now focusing on deploying its Waymo Driver tech across its Waymo One ride-hailing and Waymo Via trucking divisions.

The decision comes in the wake of long-term CEO John Krafcik's departure, who was replaced at the helm by Waymo execs Tekedra Mawakana and Dmitri Dolgov. Some suggested that Krafcik's deliberate approach was hindering the company's push toward commercialization. Earlier this month, Waymo hit a milestone of 20 billion miles driven in simulations, with 20 million on public roads. Just days ago, it brought its robotaxis to vetted riders in San Francisco.

Waymo began selling LiDARs — the tech that measures distance with pulses of laser light — to companies barring its autonomous vehicle rivals in 2019. It initially planned to sell its short-range sensor (known as Laser Bear Honeycomb) to businesses in the robotics, security and agricultural technology sectors. A form on its website also lists drones, mapping and entertainment as applicable industries.

Waymo's fifth-generation Driver technology uses an array of sensors — including radar, lidar, and cameras — to help its cars "see" 360 degrees during the day and night, and even in tough weather conditions such as rain or fog. While its simulated and real world driving tests have helped it to amass a massive dataset that is crunched using machine learning-based software. According to anonymous sources cited by Reuters, Waymo intends to use in-house tech and external suppliers for its next-gen LiDARs.

Streamlabs' new monthly tipping service doesn't take a cut from streamers

Posted: 27 Aug 2021 02:50 AM PDT

Streamlabs' new livestreaming tool offers streamers a new way to make money — and it won't even be taking a commission. The Logitech-owned company has launched a monthly tipping service called Streamlabs Creator Subscription, which (as you can probably guess from its name) gives streamers a way to set up a subscription service for viewers. Streamlabs says creators will get 100 percent of the tips fans give them after PayPal takes its usual processing fees. 

As The Verge notes, that makes Streamlabs Creator Subscription a more appealing option than Twitch's built-in service, which takes a 50 percent cut from the subscription fees streamers get. Especially since Streamlabs' new tipping tool can be directly integrated into its popular OBS software suite anyway. The OBS software can be used to stream not just on Twitch, but also on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. 

Streamlabs will let creators decide on what kind of subscription service they want to offer their fans, and they can also set specific price points. If they choose, however, they can allow viewers to choose how much to contribute every month. Fans will get "redeemable alerts" in exchange for their contributions, and they can use those if they want their favorite streamer to thank them on screen. Streamlabs will also be adding leaderboards and badges in the coming weeks to encourage fans to support their favorite creators.

Ashray Urs, Head of Product at Streamlabs, said in a statement: 

"As the live streaming industry has grown, so has the need for a sustainable revenue model. Currently, most major streaming platforms provide viewers with a way to subscribe to a channel; however, they usually split the revenue from the subscription in half between the creators and platform. In addition, platforms require a creator to meet certain qualifications before they can unlock the ability for viewers to subscribe. Streamlabs Creator Subscription is open for anyone with a Streamlabs tip page, regardless of size or how often they stream."

Puma is releasing official 'Animal Crossing' sneakers and clothing

Posted: 27 Aug 2021 02:06 AM PDT

Nintendo's colorful, character-filled island life sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons lends itself to merchandise collabs. On the heels of its Uniqlo and Monopoly crossovers, the game is getting the footwear treatment. Puma is releasing an Animal Crossing collection featuring sneakers and apparel. The company teased the new drop on Twitter with an image featuring both the Puma and Animal Crossing logos. Nintendo subsequently retweeted the teaser with the caption "Something new is on the horizon." 

It didn't take long for images of the collab to start circulating online. That's the Animal Crossing x PUMA Wild Rider silhouette above via Sneaker Freaker. More sneakers are reportedly on the way. Fan site Animal Crossing World also shared an image of a hoodie from the crossover. The collection is all pastel blues and greens, while the sneakers also add light and dark browns for a nature vibe. 

Puma
Puma

It's no wonder Puma is teaming up with the tranquil game for its new range. AnimalCrossing: New Horizons has been a massive hit for Nintendo. It was the third biggest selling game of 2020, according to some estimates, and continues to attract players to this day.

In the past, gaming and fashion tie-ups have been a mixed bag. We'll let you decide whether you'd be seen in Nike's League of Legends range or Adidas and Ninja's sneaker. While Puma has previously dropped a Mario collab and a Sonic clothing line.

'Bravely Default II' is heading to Steam on September 2nd

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:14 PM PDT

The main Bravely Default games are famously known for being Nintendo exclusives, and the latest entry in the franchise launched only for the Switch. Pretty soon, though, you'll be able to play Bravely Default II on a non-Nintendo device: The third main installment in the JRPG series will be available on Steam starting on September 2nd. 

Bravely Default II was slated for release last year until Nintendo of America announced that its launch date was going to be pushed back to February 26th, 2021. The two main entries in the franchise before it, Bravely Default and Bravely Second: End Layer, were both Nintendo 3DS exclusives. It didn't come as a surprise that the game was going to be released only for the Switch, but now you'll also also be able to give the game a try even if you don't have the console.

The game is set in a world separate from its two prequels, on continent named Excillant that's divided into five kingdoms. It features a new story with a new set of characters on a quest to retrieve the stolen crystals of the four elements. The title set you back $60 on Steam, but it's currently available for a 10 percent discount if you pre-order. In case you'd still prefer playing it on Switch, though, Bravely Default II physical copies are on sale for $30 on Amazon right now.

Apple changes key App Store rules in response to class action lawsuit from developers

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 06:07 PM PDT

Apple has agreed to change several rules that govern its App Store as part of a settlement with developers who filed a class action lawsuit against the company. The most significant change is that Apple is "clarifying" that developers are permitted to email users "about payment methods outside of their iOS app." The company has also agreed to publish transparency reports detailing App Store rejection rates and the app review process.

Many of the changes will affect some of Apple's most controversial developer rules that have been hotly debated as the company faces increased antitrust scrutiny. For example, Apple's policies prohibiting developers from informing users about ways to pay for their content outside of Apple's Store was a key issue in the Epic vs. Apple trial. Now Apple says developers are in fact allowed to make such "communications" via email or other methods as long as they don't do so directly in their app.

"To give developers even more flexibility to reach their customers, Apple is also clarifying that developers can use communications, such as email, to share information about payment methods outside of their iOS app," Apple writes in its statement.

The company is also promising more transparency around its app review process, which developers have said is confusing and difficult to navigate. Apple says it will release an "annual transparency report" that will "share meaningful statistics about the app review process, including the number of apps rejected for different reasons, the number of customer and developer accounts deactivated, objective data regarding search queries and results, and the number of apps removed from the App Store."

There are other changes that are meant to give developers more flexibility in setting their prices. Apple says it will increase the number of price points available to app makers from "fewer than 100 to more than 500." Those changes are expected by the end of next year, according to a statement from attorneys representing the developers. Additionally, Apple agreed as part of the settlement to keep in place the changes it originally said were in response to COVID-19 that reduced commissions to 15 percent for developers making less than $1 million a year. That change will now be in effect for "at least the next three years."

The changes are in response to a class action lawsuit that dates back to 2019. Developers making less than $1 million may also be able to receive payments as part of the settlement, though the website with details on the arrangements hasn't yet been published.

Peloton lowers price of its Bike to $1,495

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 04:03 PM PDT

For the second time in less than a year, Peloton is cutting the price of its entry-level stationary bike. Starting today, you can buy the machine, without any additional extras like cycling shoes, for $1,495. That's nearly a 20 percent discount from the $1,895 price the company has sold the bike for since September of last year. Peloton is also dropping prices in Australia, Canada, Germany and the UK. At the same time, it's reducing how much it costs to finance the machine in the US by $10 to $39 per month. 

Notably, what isn't changing with today's announcement is the cost of the company's Pelton Membership, which will still set you back $39 per month. You need that subscription to get the most out of the bike.

The announcement comes on the same day the company announced a Q4 net loss of $313.2 million. Peloton was one of the beneficiaries of the pandemic, struggling at times to keep up with demand from people who couldn't go to the gym to exercise. And you saw that in the company's financials, with it posting a net income of $89.1 million a year ago. Clearly, Peloton hopes a price cut can help it recapture some of the growth it experienced previously, and entice new customers to its subscription offerings.

T-Mobile hacker says the carrier's security is 'awful'

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 02:28 PM PDT

The T-Mobile customer data breach might not have been a sophisticated data breach — in fact, it might have been relatively trivial. The hacker claiming to be responsible for the attack, John Binns, told the The Wall Street Journal in a discussion that T-Mobile's security was "awful." Binns reportedly broke through by using a readily available tool to find an exposed router, and took a week to delve through customer data stored in a data center near East Wenatchee, Washington.

Binns, who provided apparent evidence to back up his claims of involvement, said he breached T-Mobile and stole the data to create "noise" that drew attention to him. He came forward to highlight his claims he had been kidnapped in Germany and placed into a fake mental hospital. There wasn't any evidence to support that allegation.

T-Mobile declined to comment on Binns' claims in response to the Journal. It previously stated that it was "confident" it had closed the security holes used in the breach, which compromised sensitive info for more than 54 million active and former customers.

The incident is the third breach in two years, and suggests that T-Mobile is still struggling to offer security that matches its rapidly growing customer base. It only hired a new security leader earlier in 2021, for instance. If Binns' claims are accurate, though, the ease of the attack is also frightening — it only took a casual hack to put tens of millions of people at risk of fraud and other data crimes. The company may need to scramble if it's going to reassure customers that breaches will be rare going forward.

Reddit CEO rejects call for a crackdown on coronavirus misinformation

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 01:58 PM PDT

Reddit is pushing back against calls for the company to do a better job of moderating disinformation. In a thread titled Debate, dissent and protest on Reddit, CEO Steve Huffman said the company would continue to point users to authoritative information from the CDC when dealing with misinformation related to COVID-19. What it won't do is ban communities that "challenge the consensus views on the pandemic."

"Dissent is a part of Reddit and the foundation of democracy. Reddit is a place for open and authentic discussion and debate," Huffman said in a thread that is locked, preventing Reddit users from replying to him directly. "This includes conversations that question or disagree with popular consensus. This includes conversations that criticize those that disagree with the majority opinion. This includes protests that criticize or object to our decisions on which communities to ban from the platform."

Huffman's statement doesn't reference a specific community or incident, but as Vice points out, what likely prompted him to say anything at all was a thread from r/vaxxhappened, a subreddit where people share memes about anti-vaxxers. "We call upon Reddit to take action against the rampant Coronavirus misinformation on their website," says the title of the post, which accuses Reddit of doing "nothing of substance" to tackle the problem of misinformation on the platform. As of the writing of this article, it has nearly 170,000 upvotes, with various other communities crossposting the thread to their subreddits.

"We could have been better off months ago, but disinformation and lies have been allowed to spread readily through inaction and malice, and have dragged this on at the cost of lives," the post says. "There can be no room for leniency when people are dying as a result of misinformation on this platform. Reddit as a global platform needs to take responsibility here."

While Reddit often isn't mentioned in the same breath as Facebook and Twitter, the platform is a source of misinformation. You can visit various communities on the website that consistently share COVID-19 conspiracy theories. The only roadblock preventing access is a landing page that warns you you're about to enter a subreddit that has been "quarantined" by the company for sharing misinformation.

Elon Musk's humanoid robot is just another Tesla publicity stunt

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 01:45 PM PDT

Though it makes popular and groundbreaking electric vehicles, Tesla has had a less than stellar track record when it comes to the company's more ambitious future-facing projects. CEO Elon Musk's 2019 promise of unleashing a million autonomous "robotaxis" onto America's streets and highways has failed to materialize while the "full self-driving" technology that promise was premised on has failed drivers with such stunning regularity that the NHTSA has launched a federal investigation into it. So are we to believe that the same man whose company once designed a cut-rate mini-submarine and tried to distribute knock-off ventilators is capable of building a fully-functional robot prototype within the year?

'Overwatch' hero McCree will be renamed in response to sexual harassment lawsuit

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 01:21 PM PDT

The sexual harassment lawsuit against Activision Blizzard will have more repercussions for game content. Blizzard is changingOverwatch character Jesse McCree's name now that his real-life namesake has left the company. The developer wants a name that "better represents" Overwatch ideals, according to a statement.

The company had planned a story arc for September that would have featured McCree, but is delaying that narrative until later in 2021 to reflect the name change. Players will instead get a new free-for-all map that month. Blizzard also promised that it would no longer name characters after employees, and said it would be more "thoughtful and discerning" about referencing the real world in Overwatch.

The real Jesse McCree left Blizzard earlier in August, just weeks after his name surfaced in a California lawsuit over sexual discrimination and harassment at the gaming giant. McCree was reportedly spotted in photos of BlizzCon's notorious "Cosby Suite" hotel room where Blizzard workers allegedly harassed women.

This isn't the first time Blizzard has altered content following the lawsuit. It pulled World of Warcraft's references to Alex Afrasiabi, directly accused of harassment, soon after the suit emerged. However, this might be more noticeable. McCree is one of the best-known characters in Overwatch — the name change could easily draw attention to the lawsuit and the "frat boy" culture that reportedly persisted for years.

The Pokémon TV app finally lands on Nintendo Switch

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 12:26 PM PDT

Pokémon fans now have even more ways to enjoy the sprawling franchise's offerings on Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon TV app has, at long last, hit the console. It includes hundreds of episodes of the Pokémon anime series, including some full seasons, as well as animated specials. 

Kids (and adults, if we're being honest) can also kick back and stream Pokémon Trading Card Game and video game competitions. They can pick up some training tips too. There's plenty for the youngest Pokémon fans as well. The Junior category includes sing-along songs, nursery rhymes and more. Content in the free app is refreshed periodically.

Pokémon TV emerged in 2010 on the brand's official website. Android and iOS apps followed in 2013.

Though the Switch eShop has hundreds and hundreds of games, there are precious few media apps. You can fire up YouTube, Hulu and Funimation but Netflix and Prime Video are nowhere to be seen (unless you jailbreak your Switch). Another streaming app from a brand that's so entwined with Nintendo's DNA could keep people hooked on their Switch for even longer. Still, it feels like the Pokémon TV app should have been on the console long before now.

Snapchat upgrades its camera to highlight visual search

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 12:24 PM PDT

Snapchat is upgrading its visual search features, and putting them at the center of its app. The app is now rolling out changes it announced back in May during its Partner Summit event. The updates include more prominent placement of the "scan" feature — now located directly under the camera's shutter button — and new capabilities that will suggest lenses and music based on your surroundings.

Snap has been experimenting with visual search, called "scan" since 2019. The feature allows Snapchat users to identify plants and music, solve math problems, and scan food and wine labels with the in-app camera. But up until now, much of this functionality was easily overlooked as it required a few extra taps to access. With the update now rolling out, "scan" visible whenever the camera is open.

Snapchat's also adding a few new features it previewed earlier this year, like the ability to shop for outfits by pointing the camera at articles of clothing. It's also adding Camera Shortcuts, which will suggest a combination of augmented reality lenses and music based on your surroundings. For example, pointing the camera at your pet may suggest AR lenses meant to work with dogs and music to go with your clip.

Though Snap has been working on its "scan" capabilities for some time, the fact that it's now making the feature much more prominent underscores how big a priority it is for the company. Snap has also integrated scanning abilities into its latest AR Spectacles, which can similarly suggest lenses based on what's around you (unlike previous versions of Spectacles, the newest ones aren't for sale just yet). Visual search also help Snap compete for creative talent with rivals like TikTok and Instagram (which also happens to be working on its own visual search feature). The company told The Verge that it's working on adding camera shortcuts to Spotlight to make it easier for people to riff on other users' clips.

YouTube will finally roll out picture-in-picture mode to all iOS users

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 12:03 PM PDT

YouTube is making good on its promise to bring picture-in-picture viewing to iOS users. TechCrunchreports that YouTube is promising PiP viewing to all iPhone and iPad users in the US, starting with volunteers using Premium. You'll have to opt into the test through the experiments website on your computer, but you're all set after that — you can watch clips in a floating window while you check your social networks or otherwise get things done.

Premium testing ends on October 31st. You might have to reinstall the YouTube app if the feature isn't available right away.

The company hasn't said when it plans to enable PiP for non-Premium subscribers. This is still a step forward, mind you. YouTube's web-only support was limited at best — this should expand the audience and put YouTube's app more on par with competing video services.

Electrify America's charging station app finally supports Android Auto and CarPlay

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:48 AM PDT

It's been a long time coming, but if you depend on the Electrify America mobile app to find nearby charging stations, you can soon access the software through your vehicle's Android Auto or CarPlay infotainment system. Electrify America announced today it's rolling out support for both systems this week.

The software allows you to find the location of all the approximately 650 charging stations the company operates across the US. You can also see details about each station, including the availability of individual chargers and their capacity. Once you're at a station, you can then use the software to remotely start and stop a charging session.

While it's something of a head-scratcher it took Electrify America until 2021 to offer Android Auto and CarPlay support, that functionality is at least now in place as the company works toward nearly tripling its network by the end of 2025. Critically, it's also another way Electrify America needed to catch up to Tesla. The automaker's Trip Planner, which you can access through your car's touchscreen display, will route you to Supercharger locations that are on the way to your next destination.

Airbnb says you don't need to be a host to help it house Afghan refugees

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 10:23 AM PDT

Airbnb announced earlier this week that it's offering free, temporary housing to 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan. Now, it says anyone with available space who's willing to house refugees can sign up to do so — not only Airbnb hosts.

The company is funding the stays through Airbnb.org, its nonprofit that aims to provide people with a place to stay during times of crisis. The company and its co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky have donated to the efforts. Donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund will also help fund the program, and perhaps help cover the cost of more stays. Airbnb is waiving its fees on all refugee stays too.

Airbnb.org is working with partners including the International Rescue Committee, HIAS and Church World Service to help refugees find a place to stay. The nonprofit and Airbnb are also offering support to the federal government, as well as cities and states that have expressed openness to welcoming refugees.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says there are currently around 2.5 million registered Afghan refugees, as TechCrunch notes. Given the number of people who have attempted to flee Afghanistan since the Taliban swept the country and assumed power, there may be many more refugees who need support. Providing at least 20,000 refugees with temporary housing is a positive step to help them transition into their new lives, but Airbnb's efforts, while welcome, may prove a drop in the ocean when it comes to this humanitarian crisis.

Apple will take a smaller cut of in-app fees from publishers who use Apple News

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:29 AM PDT

Apple thinks it might have a simple way to attract wary publishers to Apple News — give them a larger slice of app sales. TechCrunchreports that Apple has launched a News Partner Program that lowers the tech firm's cut of App Store subscriptions from 30 percent to 15 percent "from day one" if qualified publishers provide their content in the Apple News Format. Outlets previously had to wait until an app's second year on the App Store before Apple's share dropped to 15 percent.

The apps themselves have to deliver "original, professionally authored" news and, unsurprisingly, allow auto-renewing subscriptions through the App Store. If a publisher isn't located in one of Apple News' existing markets (currently the US, UK, Australia and Canada), it can still qualify for the program by providing an RSS news feed.

The move could satisfy publishers that avoided Apple's in-app subscription system, if not the App Store entirely, due to the 30 percent initial cut. You might see more publications on Apple News (if not necessarily News+) as a result. However, it's not clear if antitrust regulators will be thrilled. The program does show that Apple can be more flexible with App Store fees, but it's also an incentive for publishers to dive deeper into Apple's ecosystem.

Time Magazine created a virtual Martin Luther King Jr. museum inside of 'Fortnite'

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 09:24 AM PDT

On August 28th, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Now, some nearly 60 years later, you can listen to the address in its entirety within Fortnite as part of an experience called March Through Time. Time Magazine crafted the interactive exhibit with help from the game's Creative Mode community, as well as the DuSable Museum of African American History and the estate of Dr. King.

March Through Time transports players to D.C. 63, a "reimagined" version of the nation's capital that allows you to visit museum-like exhibits that tell the story of Dr. King's speech, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the broader civil rights movement. Complete the experience, and you'll earn a special spray you can use in your Fortnite matches.

While it's better known for its concerts and brand collaborations, this isn't the first time Fortnite has touched on a serious subject. As Eurogamer points out, Epic Games screened a series of programs devoted to fighting racism and voter suppression last year. You can check out out the March Through Time by using the code 3815-8892-143. It's also accessible through the Discover Menu.

Netflix starts testing Stranger Things games in its Android app

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 08:53 AM PDT

It's been clear for a while now that gaming will play a significant role in Netflix's future, and we're starting to see that play out in the wild. The company is now testing mobile games as part of subscriptions.

Netflix confirmed to Engadget this is the first time it has tested games in its mobile app publicly, but availability is very limited at the outset. "Starting today, members in Poland can try Netflix mobile gaming on Android with two games — Stranger Things 1984 and Stranger Things 3 — all as part of their membership," a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement. "It's still very, very early days and we will be working hard to deliver the best possible experience in the months ahead with our no ads, no in-app purchases approach to gaming."

It's worth noting you won't stream these games through the cloud. When users tap the Install Now button, they'll be taken to the Google Play Store and they can download the game to their device. You can still download the games directly from the Play Store, though you'll need to confirm your Netflix log-in credentials. You can play games through the Netflix app as well as through their own dedicated apps.

Netflix is looking to expand the test in the coming months, including on iOS. Given that it isn't streaming the games, Netflix might avoid some of the hurdles cloud gaming services like Stadia, Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now have encountered on Apple's mobile devices. Those all run as web apps on iOS, rather than as ones you download from the App Store. Netflix's approach is a little more like Apple Arcade or Google Play Pass.

Update 8/26 2:15PM ET: Clarified that you'll still be able to download the games directly from the Google Play Store.

GoPro Quik subscribers are getting unlimited cloud backups

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 08:05 AM PDT

The GoPro Quik app is getting a bit more useful for subscribers. GoPro is giving them unlimited cloud backups at no extra cost. What's more, the app can back up photos and videos at full source quality.

The mural feature is designed to showcase your favorite memories and maybe free up some space on your phone. Not only can you send captures from your GoPro to the cloud, the app lets you save images and videos from anywhere on your device, including your camera roll, using the share sheet. The latest version of the Android app now includes limited mural storage, and the upgrade is coming to iOS soon.

Being able to upload unlimited images and videos at full quality is a solid improvement for GoPro Quik subscribers. At $2/month or $10/year, it might prove a more attractive storage option than Google One or iCloud. Those service's plans each scale up to $10/month for 2TB of storage. Google Photos ended free unlimited storage in June. You might even use GoPro Quik as a secondary, low-cost backup option for all of your photos and videos.

GoPro merged its namesake app with Quik earlier this year. Mural organizes photos and videos into events and the app can automatically generate highlight videos for you. There are editing tools for your images and videos, filters and access to royalty-free music tracks.

'NBA 2K22' will offer a much-improved WNBA mode

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 08:00 AM PDT

NBA 2K21's WNBA mode was barebones, to put it charitably, but 2K and Visual Concepts intend to flesh things out for the follow-up. The developers have detailed improvements to "The W" in NBA 2K22 that address some of the core complaints. Most notably, there's a new badge-based player progression system that lets you upgrade your MyPlayer creations to match your specialties. It still doesn't appear to be as sophisticated as the MyCareer mode from 2K21, but it should be more involving.

Off-the-court advancement has received improvements, too. Instead of picking options on a card, there are three playable experiences (scrimmage games, team practices and category-specific contact workouts) to improve your badges. The contact drills will also help you form bonds with WNBA stars, according to 2K.

You'll also find upgrades to the next-gen-only online mode. You can now hook up with friends before you start matchmaking, and you'll earn season experience points whenever you play against other people.

As Polygonnoted, there are still areas where the WNBA component will be underdeveloped compared to the men's league. There aren't mentions of improved team management or options to spend your virtual currency. Like with other sports titles, it could take a while before the modes are on par. The creators are clearly aware they need to catch up, though, and 2K22 appears to be an important first step.

NES and SNES designer retires from Nintendo after nearly 40 years

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:56 AM PDT

One of the most influential game console designers is bowing out. According to Kotaku, NES and SNES designer Lance Barr has retired from Nintendo after 38 years and eight months at the company. Although relatively few know his name, he may have played a key role in obtaining mainstream acceptance for Nintendo and reinvigorating the video game industry in the US.

Barr joined Nintendo in a part-time role in December 1982, but he made his biggest mark when he was asked to design the outside of the NES to make the Famicom more palatable for American audiences. As requested, he made it look like it belonged next to a stereo system (complete with a VHS-style cartridge loader) compared to the "soft" Japanese model. The console's final look was rushed, though — while the prototype NES at CES was a sleek wireless machine, Barr and his team spent an hour reworking the device based on both a poor CES reaction and cost-cutting engineering demands. One of the most recognizable pieces of electronics in the past four decades was the product of a quick rework, in other words.

Barr was influential well beyond those two early consoles. He designed key NES accessories, including the Zapper light gun and NES Max. And while Nintendo headquarters took the design reins in the mid-1990s, Barr left his stamp on the 2000s as well — he was involved in the design of the Wii and its legendary Nunchuk add-on controller.

In that light, Barr helped shape Nintendo's overall hardware design language: simple, sturdy and instantly recognizable. Nintendo appears to be in good hands without Barr, but his departure still marks the end of a long and important era.

HP Pavilion Aero review: HP's lightest laptop yet deserves a closer look

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:30 AM PDT

HP, the world's second-largest PC vendor by market share, says that the new Pavilion Aero 13 is designed for Generation Z. Youthful, vibrant post-teens who love entertainment, communication and — COVID notwithstanding — travel. It's ironic, then, that when you examine this machine from that perspective, it becomes a less attractive proposition. This is actually a pretty nice laptop, but I doubt it's top on any Zoomer's wish list.

Hardware

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

The focus here is on making a machine that is as thin and light as possible while still offering a decent amount of power and connectivity. Weighing 2.2 pounds, about the same as the 14-inch LG Gram, the Aero is HP's first low-end machine to pack a taller 16:10 display. It carries a pair of USB-A ports with kick-out covers, HDMI-out and a single USB-C socket alongside a 3.5mm audio jack and the barrel power connector. I'm still torn over the throwback power connector, which on one hand is acceptable and cost-effective, but, again, does your average Gen-Zer not want to minimize the number of chunky charging plugs they're carrying around?

Build quality is solid, with no flex or creaks when you hold it open with one hand and wave it around. The one place where I'll take marks off is in the display hinge, which is designed to push the laptop deck up off the table like ASUS' ZenBook. It just feels a little bit less sturdy than you might expect, which you'll need to be mindful of if you rest your weight too much on the front of your hands. The malleability of that hinge feels just weak enough to make me paranoid.

Keyboard and trackpad

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

The Pavilion Aero 13's keyboard is well-engineered and satisfying, with a fair level of travel and a good hit at the end of your press. Interestingly, you need to pony up extra for a model with backlighting, which is either miserly or smart cost-cutting, depending on your perspective. It may not be the same quality as HP's higher-priced laptops but it's certainly not a chore to write with.

Except for, and I am being needlessly grouchy here, HP's inclusion of a function row along the rightmost side of the keyboard. Most 13-inch laptops, for obvious reasons, try to cut down on superfluous keys that you may only find on more spacious models. And that's fine, because it's rare that I ever find myself needing to use Home/Pg Up/Pg Down/End when I have other keyboard shortcuts (and, you know, a trackpad) available.

I get why HP insists on using them here, but it means that you'll have a learning curve when coming off pretty much every other laptop in this class. And, if I were king, I would have opted for a standard layout with more breathing room, not to mention full-size up/down keys with more space around them. After more than a week using this thing, I'm still hitting the home key instead of backspace, dramatically slowing my typing speed, much to my frustration.

As for the trackpad, it's bigger than on the 2020 model that this replaces, and has a decent click with tolerable accuracy. The lack of a touchscreen on this laptop isn't, in my opinion, a huge issue given its size and class, so long as the trackpad is solid. And this trackpad is very much that, and there's not much else to say about it as a consequence.

Display, sound and webcam

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

This machine carries a 13.3-inch HD display, although because of its 16:10 ratio, that 1,920 x 1,200 resolution is actually WUXGA. I don't think anyone would need a 4K display on a machine like this, but you can configure it with a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) screen should you need to. The 400-nit panel can balance any strong summer light, and the matte screen means that you avoid a lot of glare.

The downward-firing B&O-branded speakers hidden under the edges of the laptop deck provide acceptable audio. They sound a little better than on some ultrabooks I could mention, but it's still thin and reedy, with tinny equalization presets and nonexistent bass. This is audio you can put up with rather than enjoy during all of those Netflix and Chill sessions where you actually watch Netflix and Chill.

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

Perhaps I've been reviewing too many laptops of late that have some sort of webcam shutter, but the omission here surprises me. The HP WideVision 720p HD camera is at least sharp enough that people can see your face properly when you're using it. Even better, it handles most light well enough that blow-outs are occasional rather than ever-present, which is good considering how much we all need to Zoom each other right now.

Software

One thing to note is that HP pre-installs a number of apps onto its laptops, including McAfee, LastPass and ExpressVPN. This means you'll start getting pop-ups after installing Chrome, telling you that plugins are about to be installed. That I think this is an unacceptable thing to happen, even for a relatively low-cost laptop, should go without saying.

Performance and battery life

PC Mark 10

3D Mark Night Raid

Geekbench 5 Compute

HP Pavilion Aero 13.3 (2021) AMD Ryzen 7 5800U w/ Radeon Integrated, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

5,775

12,799

14,960

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15" (2021), AMD Ryzen 7 MS w/ Radeon Integrated, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

4,620

15,517

11,909

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 15", Intel Core i7 1165G7 w/ Intel Xe, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

4,648

N/A

16,659

Both Intel and AMD have made enormous strides toward integrated graphics units that don't suck. This is thunderingly relevant in the ultrabook market where thinness and portability are prized over pretty much everything else. After all, even a few years ago you couldn't have done much more on a machine of this class beyond mash the odd spreadsheet. Now you can expect passable, even quite pleasant performance on a wide variety of tasks, from intensive Chrome browsing to video games.

The model that HP sent to reviewers retails for $999, and includes AMD's Ryzen 5800U with Radeon Integrated Graphics, which packs 512MB of dedicated DDR4 VRAM. Rounding out the spec list is 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which sits on the higher end of what you can expect to get for this sort of money. Certainly, the benchmarks make this thing look a lot less powerful, but I suspect the Aero simply isn't set up for intensive gaming. It's worth saying that even the fan noise isn't that aggressive under heavy load, too.

That said, I was able to play Fortnite pretty smoothly on this machine with the graphics set to Medium, and an evening's marathon session of Two Point Hospital passed without comment. Certainly, if you are happy with undemanding titles, you'll be able to squeeze a lot of fun from this machine. GTA V's benchmarking tool was able to produce a fairly consistent 30fps, and if you dial down all of the visuals, you can get this running fast enough to play in a pinch.

Battery Life

HP Pavilion Aero 13.3 (2021)

9:43

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Nano

9:14

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360

15:20

Battery life is similarly resilient, with this machine clocking in at 9 hours and 43 minutes in our standard rundown test. When untethered from power, I didn't feel any nagging urgency to head back to a socket while using this thing, and you should expect this to last for the length of your working day. And, to be honest, if this had conked out any sooner I would be screaming from the rooftops about it, since the whole point of an ultraportable is, after all, to be portable.

Price and the competition

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

As I said, the model I'm testing costs $999. That's a fair price, especially if you try to configure a similar spec list with some rival machines in the same category. There are some alternatives, and if your priority is a slender, lightweight machine, then LG's Gram 14 can be picked up for $799.99. It has a 14-inch WUXGA display and weighs 2.2 pounds. Sadly, its specs fall far short of HP's offering, with an Intel Core i3-1115G4, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. You could also opt for ASUS' ZenBook 13 OLED, which packs a Ryzen 7 5700U, 8GB RAM, a 512GB SSD and an OLED display for $899.99.

If you're feeling picky, you could do worse than to wait for more AMD-toting laptops to enter retail channels in the near future. I expect that we'll see models similar to Lenovo's ThinkPad X13 and Acer's Spin 3 with comparable internals coming very soon. At which point, you should have your pick of any number of high-quality machines that can do jobs similar to this one.

Wrap-up

HP Pavilion 13 Aero Review
Daniel Cooper

This isn't a fair comparison at all, but in my head I keep thinking about Dell's XPS 13 which, for many people, is either the gold-standard ultrabook, or in the top three. And, right now, that on both specs and price, the Pavilion Aero 13 is a more compelling choice. When you look at the base model XPS 13, which starts $1,019.99, the only thing that HP loses out on is aesthetics. In almost every other regard, I'd much rather have this Pavilion Aero than the XPS and that, to me, is wild.

I think the Pavilion Aero 13 is a very good machine, with a solid thin-and-light body and performance that punches well above its weight. For some people, the 5800U running the show is enough of a reason to buy one of these that everything else is broadly immaterial. Do I wish it was priced a little more aggressively? Yes, because I could forgive the learning curve with the keyboard if it was a hundred bucks cheaper. Despite the keyboard and sound, though, it's a good machine for folks who want a little bit of everything.

Amazon Prime Gaming's free titles for September include 'Knockout City'

Posted: 26 Aug 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Amazon is adding more titles to the list Prime Gaming subscribers can claim for free starting on September 1st. One of the latest additions is Knockout City, a recent release from Velan and EA. It's a cross-platform dodgeball brawler launched in May that's already available through Xbox Games Pass Ultimate and EA Play. The game is also free to play until level 25, but Prime Gaming users who want to keep playing until after they reach it will now be able to grab the title at no additional cost. 

In addition, subscribers can still claim Lucasfilm Games' Sam & Max: Hit The Road beyond September 1st. The game has been free for subscribers since July, but like the studio's Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, it was supposed to be removed from the list after that date. Sam & Max: Hit The Road is based on a comic featuring an anthropomorphic detective dog and a rabbit-like creature. Completing the list games that will available for free starting on September 1st are Candleman The Complete Journey, Puzzle Agent, Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis, Tools Up! and Unmemory.

Subscribers will also get access to new loot for popular open-world RPG Genshin Impact. Namely: 60x Primogems, 8x Hero's Wit and 5x Calla Lily Seafood Soup. New loot also awaits Madden NFL 22, Fall Guys, Red Dead Online, Brawlhalla, Apex Legends, Grand Theft Auto Online and Rogue Company players. These freebies will be available at different dates throughout the month and will be up for a limited time only. Subscribers can check the official Amazon Prime Gaming website for the offers' start and end dates.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)