Tuesday, August 3, 2021

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The Morning After: Everything Google told us about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 04:15 AM PDT

Google revealed its latest smartphones all of a sudden — and surprisingly quietly. Two new devices appeared on the company's online store and we have deep dives on both phones and Tensor, a new system-on-chip that'll power the next-gen of Pixel devices.

Six Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices laying on a grey surface at various angles, perpendicular to each other.
Google

What's the most exciting part? New colors? A new Cyclops-esque visor that houses the camera sensors? That new chip? Even more AI smarts across the entire device might be a little predictable, but it didn't stop Google from explaining exactly what its new SoC will offer.

We go into plenty of detail on Google's new "four years in the making" chip right here, but expect more AI-based processes running simultaneously without overheating your phone. Improvements are teased across voice and speech processing — think Google Assistant — as well as photography and video recording, which all sounds like the sixth addition will continue to play to the Pixel series' strengths.

Rick Osterloh, in conversation with Engadget, explained — but without getting specific — that the Pixel 6 series will include larger imaging sensors than before. He said the Pixel 6's main camera will let in about 150% more light than previous Pixels. The Pro alone gets an extra telephoto option with 4x optical zoom, which will certainly help me decide between the two. All that's really left to hear is the price and the release date.

- Mat Smith

Amazon's Lord of the Rings series arrives on September 2, 2022

Just over a year to wait.

Lord of the Rings series
Amazon Studios

Amazon's long-awaited The Lord of the Rings series finally has a release date. The show will premiere on the company's Prime Video platform on September 2nd, 2022, with new episodes dropping on Prime Video each week. Filming on the as-yet-untitled series wrapped up yesterday. It takes place thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. A cast of familiar and new characters will fight an undisclosed evil in Tolkien's fantasy world. Continue reading.

Scientists spot light behind a black hole

The discovery seems to confirm Einstein's prediction.

For the first time, scientists have seen the phenomena that takes place behind a black hole. Researchers were able to capture the light from the back of a supermassive black hole 800 million light-years away.

Stanford astrophysicist Dan Wilkins says this is a "key part of the puzzle to understanding" how the universe came to be. While studying the bright flares of x-rays emanating from the black hole, researchers spotted fainter flashes of light. These were the "luminous echoes" of the flares bouncing off the gas behind the black hole. These phenomena were first predicted by Einstein in his theory of relativity, published in 1916. Continue reading.

YouTube tests a cheaper subscription that only removes ads

Trials are happening in Europe.

YouTube is testing a lower-priced subscription plan that forgoes offline downloads and background playback but nixes all ads across videos. A Resetera user first spotted the new YouTube Premium Lite tier in Netherlands, Finland and Sweden while trying to cancel the paid-for service. The plan costs €6.99 ($8.32) per month, the same as the student tier. Continue reading.

R2-D2 is now a Tamagotchi

Coming November 11th.

Star Wars R2-D2 Tamagotchi
Bandai/Disney

Instead of pooping, it gets dusty.

But wait, there's more...

Pentagon believes its precognitive AI can predict events 'days in advance'

JBL's L75ms wooden speaker is built for high-res streaming

Engadget Deals: Apple's 512GB M1 Mac Mini falls back to $799 at Amazon

Engadget Deals: Sony's WH-1000XM4 ANC headphones fall back to $278 at Amazon

Sony adds 'Nier: Automata,' 'Ghostrunner' and 'Undertale' to PlayStation Now

Modal SkulptSynth SE review: Cheap and confusing, but incredibly powerful

Audi e-tron GT first drive: Beauty and performance in an impressive EV

Google is now offering a permanent Chromecast and Stadia Controller bundle

Chrome OS update adds a dedicated Google Meet app and eSIM support

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 03:46 AM PDT

Google has rolled out a few updates for Chrome OS meant to make devices running the platform a more effective tool for communicating with friends and workmates. Chrome OS version 92 will make Google Meet a pre-installed Progressive Web App on all Chromebooks and computers running the software, allowing users to get on a video call right from the Launcher. Google says it also made performance improvements for the app, including the ability to adapt video calls to different network conditions and to adjust video performance during screen sharing.  

Since some people's employers or schools may prefer Zoom, Google has also teamed up with the business messaging app to release a version of the app tweaked to work better on Chromebooks. That app is now available on the Google Play Store. Chrome OS now also supports eSIMs, giving users the option to use one if they need cellular connectivity. The feature sounds especially useful for travelers who need to switch between networks while they're overseas. It's obviously only available on eSIM-compatible devices, which aren't that many at the moment, though we're hoping the feature's arrival means more Chromebooks will come with eSIM support in the future. 

The latest Chrome OS also adds a new emoji keyboard shortcut on Chromebooks. By pressing Search or Launcher key + Shift + Space, users can bring up the compact emoji picker where they can see their most recently used emoji. Finally, the Explore app on Chromebooks now includes a digital magazine curated for families, and each edition includes educational apps for kids. 

Spotify is testing whether free users will pay a dollar to skip tracks

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 03:09 AM PDT

Streaming services are embracing cheaper subscription plans in a bid to turn free users into paying customers. Following news of a YouTube Premium Lite offering yesterday, Spotify is the latest streamer to confirm a cheaper tier. The world's biggest music streaming service is testing a $0.99 monthly plan that retains the ads but gives you infinite skips per hour and lets you select specific songs on an album or playlist for playback. Spotify, which confirmed the test to The Verge, is hoping it can convince you to put up with ads in return for more control over the listening experience. In other words, it wants to have its cake and eat it, too.

Currently, free users can only skip six tracks per hour and have to listen to shuffled songs on albums and playlists. That's a bummer if you're sick of hearing Justin Bieber or just want to put that one new Billie Eillish track on repeat. Despite those incentives, getting people to pay for an ad-supported service, even if it is just $0.99 per month, is still a big ask. Especially when they're accustomed to getting it for free. Then again, video streamers like Hulu and HBO Max have either successfully done it or are trying to do it.

The risk is that it could eat into Spotify's existing premium user base, which make up 165 million of its 365 million subscribers. Turning those remaining 200 million users into paying members is clearly the goal here. It could be that the low $0.99 price helps to ease that transition. We'll know if the gamble has paid off if Spotify expands the plan to more users. In the past, the company has done just that with new plans, including its $12.99/month Duo tier aimed at discouraging password sharing and its upcoming Lossless "HiFi" offering.

'Pokémon Unite' update levels the playing field ahead of mobile release

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:02 AM PDT

Pokémon Unite is getting an update just over a month after it landed on the Switch. The free-to-play battle arena game pits two teams of five players against each other in ten-minute brawls. Ahead of its arrival on mobiles in September, the Unite update is aimed at adjusting the balance of battles. 

As a result, over a dozen Pokémon are getting tweaks to their stats that reduce things like attack damage and HP restoration and fix bugs. They include Charizard, Talonflame, Venusaur, Absol, Wigglytuff, Eldegoss, Cinderace, Gengar, Zeraora, Cramorant, Machamp, Lucario, Greninja and Alolan Ninetails.

The update lands August 4th at 3AM ET. You can also expect a special spectate feature test release as well as text fixes. Check out the full patch notes via the link above. Of course, players also have the mobile release to look forward to next month, with plans for cross-platform play between the Switch and smartphones. Those who log in to a Nintendo Account or Pokémon Trainer Club account will also be able to cross save their game data and progress on any device.

Logitech's latest wireless earbuds are certified by Zoom, Microsoft and Google

Posted: 03 Aug 2021 12:01 AM PDT

Logitech has unveiled some new wireless (and wired) earbuds with some unique features designed for business professionals. The key product is the Zone True Wireless Earbuds, which the company says are the first to be certified by the three major video conferencing platforms: Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. Another unique feature is support for not just Bluetooth, but Logitech's wireless USB receiver as well, so that they'll work with almost any smartphone or computer — and let you flip easily between devices.

The wireless buds come with active noise cancellation (ANC) and a noise cancelling mic, allowing for high-quality sound on calls, Logitech claims. And unlike bulky wireless headsets designed for businesses (like Logitech's own Zone models), they're designed to provide a "stylish look" when you're on a Zoom or other conference call. Logitech also promises "double the battery life of leading consumer devices," though that's a meaningless statement without a figure to back it up. 

Logitech's latest wireless earbuds are certified by Zoom, Microsoft and Google
Logitech

"Current wireless solutions force consumers to compromise between either traditional headsets that are not aesthetically suited for video calling, or sub-optimal audio performance," said Logitech VP Scott Wharton. The audio quality remains to be heard and reviewed, of course, but they're certainly nicer looking than most business headsets. 

Along with the Zone True Wireless model, Logitech also debuted the Zone Wired Earbuds "for professionals and teams who want a professional-grade, plug-and-play option," the company said. They can connect to your computer or mobile device via USB-C, USB-A and 3.5mm connectors.

The Zone True Wireless Earbuds will be available in two colors, graphite and rose, but won't come cheap at $299. The Zone Wired Earbuds, meanwhile, run $99. Both arrive globally in the fall of 2021. 

AT&T finalizes spinoff of DirecTV into its own company

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 10:31 PM PDT

DirecTV is now its own company again after AT&T closed the deal with private equity firm TPG, which it first announced back in February. Under their agreement, TPG would own 30 percent of the spinoff, while the mobile giant will retain a 70 percent ownership. As its own company, DirecTV will no longer operate under AT&T and will own and run the AT&T TV and U-verse video services under a single brand known as "DirecTV Stream" debuting later this month. The new spinoff says customers won't even feel the transition: The streaming services will continue being available and subscribers won't be blindsided by hidden fees.

AT&T received $7.1 billion in cash for the sale, which is but a tiny fraction of the $49 billion it originally paid when it purchased DirecTV in 2015. Back then, former AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said combining DirecTV with AT&T "is all about giving customers more choices for great video entertainment integrated with mobile and high-speed internet service." According to Los Angeles Times, AT&T has lost 40 percent of the DirecTV's original subscriber number since then, and in the second quarter of 2021, DirecTV reported having 15.4 million premium video subscribers.

The telecom giant has been trying to offload DirecTV since at least 2019, but it hasn't announced anything concrete until earlier this year. This deal doesn't include the HBO Max streaming service, which will be part of the company's separate WarnerMedia spinoff. In May, AT&T announced a $43 billion deal that would see its WarnerMedia division merge with Discovery. It's expected to close in mid-2022, four years after AT&T finalized its $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner. Both that deal and this DirecTV spinoff will help AT&T's debt reduction efforts. As Deadline notes, it has taken several steps, including selling off assets, over the past few years to reduce the debts it has acquired due to its massive multimedia acquisitions.

Amazon violated US labor laws in Alabama union vote, labor official rules

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 08:52 PM PDT

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) officer has recommended that workers at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama hold a new election because Amazon broke US labor laws, the New York Times has reported. It's still only a preliminary ruling, but provides hope that workers may still be able to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).

Last April, worker's at the fulfillment center voted against unionization by a margin of more than two to one. Following the vote, however, the RWDSU alleged that Amazon won because it "interfered" with the rights of its employees "to vote in a free and fair election; a right protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act."

The RWDSU filed 23 objections in total, including one complaint that Amazon had a ballot collection box installed in an employee parking lot "without authorization" from the NLRB's regional director. It noted that the box was placed under the view of Amazon security cameras, creating "an impression of surveillance."

The NLRB officer sided with the union, saying Amazon violated US labor laws. "Throughout the NLRB hearing, we heard compelling evidence how Amazon tried to illegally interfere with and intimidate workers as they sought to exercise their right to form a union," said union president Stuart Appelbaum in a statement. "We support the hearing officer's recommendation that the NLRB set aside the election results and direct a new election."

Amazon, however, said it would dispute the decision and take steps to ensure that the initial vote held. "Our employees had a chance to be heard during a noisy time when all types of voices were weighing into the national debate, and at the end of the day, they voted overwhelmingly in favor of a direct connection with their managers," an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement. "Their voice should be heard above all else, and we plan to appeal to ensure that happens."

The decision doesn't yet have any legal force until a full ruling is made by the NLRB's acting regional director, something that could take up to a month. During that time, parties will be able to file exceptions. 

Since the Bessemer vote, Amazon's situation has caught the attention of the Teamsters union, which created a special division to focus on organizing Amazon's delivery drivers. Amazon has been criticized for the working conditions of drivers and warehouse workers alike, along with its union-busting efforts that were exposed in a New York Times report earlier this year. 

Twitter partners with Reuters and AP to boost curation efforts

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 02:39 PM PDT

Twitter is partnering with The Associated Press and Reuters to help its curation team put credible information in front of users. Made up of employees who work together to contextualize some of the most popular topics people are discussing on Twitter, the curation team oversees some of the platform's more visible and sometimes controversial features, including Trends and the Explore tab.

As a Twitter user, the company says you can expect to see it work faster to ensure there's more and better contextual information to see as people discuss things on the service. As a starting point on that front, the company says Trends will include contextual descriptions and links to reporting from reputable publications more frequently. Additionally, the company says the program will help it proactively identify topics that could become a wellspring of misinformation. "Rather than waiting until something goes viral, Twitter will contextualize developing discourse at pace with or in anticipation of the public conversation," the company said.

Twitter also expects the partnership will help some features, where context is vitally important, work better. Here, the company points to tools like Birdwatch. Initially, The Associated Press and Reuters will focus on helping the company with English-language content, but it's worth noting the curation team contextualizes Japanese, Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese content as well.

In trying to support its curation team better, Twitter wants to avoid a repeat of a situation like the one it found itself in last year following the death of Jeffrey Epstein. The social media network was overrun with conspiracy theories about Epstein's suicide, and the company was seemingly unable to stop hashtags like #ClintonBodyCount from trending. Even when you take blatant disinformation out of the picture, Twitter trends are frequently easy bait for trolling, as was on display when US gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics. While trolls are likely to continue trying to game the service, enlisting the help of The Associated Press and Reuters could make those efforts less visible

Amazon made a $55 soap dispenser that reminds you to wash for 20 seconds

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 01:00 PM PDT

Amazon has quietly introduced a new Smart Soap Dispenser that works with its Alexa voice-activated assistant. Spotted by AFTVnews, the gadget includes a set of 10 LED lights that will count down as you wash your hands for the 20 seconds recommended by the CDC to keep germs and harmful bacteria away.

As an Alexa Gadget, you can also pair the Smart Soap Dispenser with a compatible Echo device to access a supporting Alexa Routine that will play your favorite song or tell you a joke or fun fact while you scrub away. That's an optional feature and the dispenser itself doesn't include a microphone or speaker. You also don't need an Echo device to access its best gimmick. Depending on how far underneath the nozzle you hold your hand, the device will provide you with more or less soap from its 12-ounce reservoir. The closer you place your handle to the nozzle, the less soap it will dispense.

Outside of those features, the Smart Soap Dispenser comes with 802.11n WiFi connectivity like 2009 never came and went, and a micro-USB port (shudder) for when you need to charge the device. Amazon says the internal battery can last about three months on a single charge.

At $54.99, the Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser is significantly more expensive than many of the "dumb" automatic soap dispensers you can buy, including a lot of the ones you'll find on Amazon's own marketplace. It also feels like it's a year late. Many tech companies added hand washing-related features last year, and the latest science suggests the coronavirus rarely spreads on surfaces. All the same, you can pre-order the Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser starting today, with orders expected to ship on August 4th.

Amazon's Lord of the Rings series arrives on September 2, 2022

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 11:41 AM PDT

Amazon's long-awaited The Lord of the Rings series has a release date, but don't go rushing to stake out the best spot in your living room just yet. The show will premiere on September 2nd, 2022, with new episodes dropping on Prime Video each week. 

Filming on the as-yet-untitled series wrapped up today. Production began in February 2020, but it was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The series takes place thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. A cast of old and new characters will have to resist a newly resurgent evil during the Second Age of Middle-earth.

Along with the release date, Amazon revealed the first proper image from the show. It depicts a figure looking at a vista with a white city and, much further away, the outline of two curious trees. With no sign of a trailer yet, expect the internet to analyze every pixel of the image for hints.

Even before filming started, Amazon renewed the series for a second season. So, whatever happens in this first batch of episodes, you can be rest assured that there will be much more of the story to come.

Twitter adds Google and Apple ID as log-in and sign-up options

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 11:30 AM PDT

Twitter is adding two additional ways for people to log in to their accounts. Starting today, you can use your Google ID to access the service through its web client and mobile app. On iOS, meanwhile, Sign in with Apple now works with the Twitter app, with the company planning to support the service for web logins "soon." It's also possible to use both services to create a new Twitter account.

Of the two options, Sign in with Apple is the more intriguing one. Apple introduced it at WWDC 2019 as an alternative to login services from Facebook and Google. The company claims Sign in with Apple prevents tracking, and it allows you to hide your email by generating secondary addresses that then forward any messages from apps and services to your regular inbox.

Either way, Twitter adding support for both Google and Apple IDs should make life a bit easier for new users. But we'll note here one of the usual things about this feature rollout is that Twitter offers its own login service you can use to access some websites. The internet can sometimes be a weird place.

The next 'Rainbow Six Siege' event is a teaser for 'Extraction'

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 11:05 AM PDT

Ubisoft has revealed the next limited-time event for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, and it could whet your appetite for Rainbow Six Extraction. The Containment event features a new game mode called Nest Destruction, in which you'll attempt to destroy or defend an alien nest on a revamped version of the Consulate map.

The attackers play as a team of REACT agents who are tasked with destroying nests. They'll square off against "a team of Proteans, a deadly Archæan variant that can adopt the form of REACT operators," Ubisoft said. These creatures can mimic the behavior of operators and they'll move fast, but they can only use melee attacks, such as Aruni's punch and Oryx's special abilities. The attacking team can only use a standard loadout with no modifiers, and there's a limited roster of operators. Along with successfully destroying or defending the nest, teams can win by wiping out their opponents.

The event sounds intriguing, but the timing of it is slightly odd. The mode was inspired by R6 Extraction, which was supposed to arrive in September. Last month, Ubisoft pushed back the release date to January. Still, Nest Destruction might give you a taste of the next game in the Rainbow Six series.

The Containment event will be available from August 3rd to August 24th. Between August 13th and 15th, R6 Siege will be free to play, so anyone can hop in and check out the event. Ubisoft will grant double bonus Battle Pass points during that weekend.

Sony adds 'Nier: Automata,' 'Ghostrunner' and 'Undertale' to PlayStation Now

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 10:35 AM PDT

Sony is adding Nier: Automata, Ghostrunner and Undertale to its PlayStation Now service, the company announced on Monday. Subscribers can play all three games starting on August 3rd, with Nier: Automata only available on the service until November 1st, 2021. While none of the titles Sony is adding tomorrow are exactly new or, for that matter, exclusive to PlayStation Now, they're smart additions to the platform's library all the same. Nier and Undertale are particularly well-regarded and just niche enough that not everyone has gone out of their way to play them.

As Sony looks for ways to counter Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now subscribers can look forward to more high-profile games making their way to the platform. Back in May, the company said it was working on "strengthening" the service by investing in and partnering with external studios.

Bandcamp will keep waiving its fees one day a month through the end of 2021

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 10:20 AM PDT

Since March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic really took hold in most of the world, Bandcamp has waived its commissions on the first Friday of each month. The Bandcamp Friday initiative is now set to continue through the end of the year. The next edition takes place on August 6th.

Almost 800,000 music fans have participated in Bandcamp Fridays, paying artists and labels $56 million in the process. On Bandcamp Fridays, artists and labels receive approximately 93 percent of sales revenue after payment processor fees. On every other day of the month, artists and labels still receive approximately 82 percent of revenue from purchases, Bandcamp says.

Although the world is slowly returning to a semblance of normality and musicians can once again play shows in some regions, the long-term financial impact of the pandemic is something artists and labels (particularly smaller ones) are still dealing with. Initiatives like Bandcamp Fridays could put some extra cash in their pockets to alleviate some of the strain, so it's good to see Bandcamp continuing the effort for another few months.

SkulptSynth SE review: Cheap and confusing, but incredibly powerful

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 10:00 AM PDT

Over the last decade or so we've seen an explosion of cheap, portable synths driven largely by Korg's deceptively powerful Volca line. Even companies like Modal Electronics, which typically trafficked in higher-end instruments that started at around $2,000, suddenly felt pressure to compete in the sub-$300 range. First it dabbled with two simplistic DIY kits: the CraftSynth and CraftRhythms. But then in 2018 it brought the Skulpt to Kickstarter, followed shortly thereafter by the $149 CraftSynth 2.0. These were much more serious shots at the entry level. But where both impressed with their sound, the build quality was poor and the original Skulpt was a little overpriced at $299.

The SkulptSynth SE attempts to address those concerns. It's quite a bit cheaper at just $199, putting it more in line with the Volcas, and the build quality is sturdier, too. But under the hood it's largely the same instrument, and the question is whether it's as compelling now as it was three years ago.

Alright, I won't make you wait: The answer is yes. The Skulpt sounds great. Sure, plenty of other synths have come and gone over the last three years, especially at the cheaper end of the spectrum, but that doesn't take away from the excellent virtual analog engine here. There's a total of 32 oscillators stacked in four voices (though using the spread function you can expand that to 16) with two different waves per voice. This gives the Skulpt a thick tone that, while you probably won't mistake it for true analog, is still plenty inviting. While it's perfectly capable of handling basslines and lead duty, the Skulpt really shines when it comes to pads where those stacked oscillators really flesh out the sound.

The Skulpt has a wealth of modulation options, too, that give it a surprising amount of depth for something so small and cheap. There are dedicated filter and amp envelopes, but also a mod envelope and a pair of LFOs, one of which is polyphonic. Those last three can be assigned to a host of different destinations, with a total of eight modulation slots available. In addition, there's ring modulation, FM and pulse width modulation options, plus a morphing filter that goes from lowpass, to bandpass then highpass, not to mention built-in delay and distortion effects. There are far more sound design tools here than you'd have any right to expect for $200.

Modal Electronics SkulptSynth SE
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

The wealth options are great, but actually navigating those controls is a bit difficult. The unit comes with a cheat sheet and you'll always want it on hand. While the front plate has simpler, less confusing graphics than the original Skulpt, the SE still isn't exactly intuitive. While there are lines that show you what controls are connected to each other, they're not laid out in any sort of obviously logical way. And the tiny orange and white text labels feel crowded and hard to read at times. While the layout is visually interesting, it's also infuriating. This a place where form clearly won out over function, and not for the better.

Another thing that's improved on the SE is the build quality. But, just like the panel design, it's not as huge an upgrade as you might hope. The knobs feel a little firmer and have slightly more resistance than on the Craft 2, but they're still pretty wobbly and cheap. At least they don't slide right off the encoders with a gentle tug, though.

I'm not sure how much better the overall build is than the original Skulpt, and it's only marginally better than the Craft 2. In general, the Skulpt SE still feels chintzy. But it does come with a cover that will help protect it in a bag, which is more than I can say for the Craft. Sadly, though, the touch keyboard is as bad as ever. It's not always super responsive and the layout somehow manages to feel both cramped and sprawling all at the same time. Playing simple triads required an uncomfortable amount of stretching and I could rarely play a chord progression without accidentally triggering at least one stray note. Volca keyboards are certainly nothing to get excited about, but they make the Modal touchstrips feel like cheap imposters.

Modal Electronics SkulptSynth SE
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

One final gripe about the physical design: The Skulpt has full-sized MIDI in and out ports, but a 3.5mm lineout jack. While full-size MIDI DINs are appreciated, I'd rather see ¼-inch audio outs and smaller TRS MIDI jacks if I had to choose. And honestly, on something that's battery powered and portable, TRS MIDI just makes more sense. Save the space.

A lot of my complaints about the interface and unimpressive build quality can be ignored though if you just use the app. Stick the Skulpt someplace out of the way and connect it to your computer or phone over USB and you're set. Then you can control it via MIDI over USB and do all your patching from within the Modal app. It's much easier than using the device itself. It even has a VST version so you can control the Skulpt from your DAW, but I had some issues getting it running on my Windows PC.

Modal App

The Skulpt is usable without the app, unlike the Craft 2. But honestly, this is probably the way you want to use the Skulpt anyway. While the whole battery-powered portable thing is nice, what's more exciting is its support for MPE, which is basically unheard of at this price point. But the built-in keys do not support MPE, velocity or aftertouch, you'll need to use an external controller.

Having access to aftertouch and polyphonic expression gives the Skulpt much more life. As a digital synth trying to emulate analog it can sound a little cold at times, but the small fluctuations that come with aftertouch and MPE make the synth feel more organic. Just be warned that dialing in MPE controls requires a bit of trial and error (definitely turn down the pitch bend range in the settings).

Modal Electronics SkulptSynth SE
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

This also gives you more room to experiment with your sound design in interesting ways. For example, in one patch I set the mod wheel (sliding your fingers along the Y axis on the Sensel Morph) to change the wave shape, and aftertouch to control the filter cutoff. Then I could play a chord and slowly slide my fingers up on the highernotes, causing them to fizzle out as the wave morphed from saw to noise, but keep the bass note droning cleanly. And then I could adjust the balance between these two sounds simply by pressing harder or softer on the right keys. This isn't necessarily groundbreaking, but it's definitely impressive on a synth that costs just $200.

This does make me dream of an upgraded CraftSynth, though. As much as I enjoy the Skulpt, I prefer the sonic palette of the wavetable-based Craft a bit more. I'd love to see Modal release a polyphonic version of it that supports MPE. Basically, give us the best of both synths in a single device.

Modal Electronics SkulptSynth SE

There are so many options out there at the entry level for synths these days it's hard to say there is one that is best for most people. The Skulpt SE certainly wouldn't be a bad choice, though. If you're truly just starting to learn synthesis, something more straightforward like the $150 Volca Keys might be a good option. But it doesn't have the depth of the Skulpt. If you're willing to spend a bit more, Arturia's $350 Microfreak has even more sound design options to get lost in. Plus, it regularly gets new features and sounds. The only issue is it's even more complicated than the Skulpt, though its controls are much easier to navigate.

The SkulptSynth SE shows that Modal is serious about playing at the entry level. The company has delivered an excellent sounding instrument with a wealth of features at an impressive price. If it ever figures out how to design an interface that doesn't make you want to rip your hair out, Korg's grip on the budget synth market may be in jeopardy.

8BitDo made a pair of affordable media remotes for the Xbox Series X/S

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 09:25 AM PDT

Peripheral-maker 8BitDo is best known for its retro-inspired wireless controllers, but for its latest release, the company has come out with a pair of officially licensed media remotes for the Xbox Series X, Series S and Xbox One. Spotted by The Verge, the two remotes cost $19.99 and $24.99, with the more expensive model featuring an additional numpad. The "Long Edition" also comes in black instead of white.

Outside of those differences, the two remotes are nearly identical. Both include a dedicated Home button, allowing you to use them to wake your Xbox. You'll also find playback and navigation controls, as well as a set of A, B, X and Y keys for navigating menus. You'll need two AAA batteries to power the remotes, though both come with a complimentary pair included in the box. Another nice touch is that all the buttons feature backlighting.

Of course, 8BitDo isn't the only company that offers a media remote for Microsoft's Xbox consoles. A company called PDP makes one that a lot of Amazon customers seem to like. It's also possible to use an older Xbox One remote with the Series X and Series S. Still, if you're in the market for a media remote, 8BitDo's new models look like they're a compelling option, thanks to their reasonable price and comprehensive key layout. You can pre-order both remotes starting today, with initial orders expected to ship out on September 15th.

Audi e-tron GT first drive: Beauty and performance in an impressive EV

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

When unveiled at the LA auto show in 2018, the Audi e-tron GT wowed the world with its incredible design. It immediately became the best-looking EV coming to market and now that it's here and frankly not much has changed from what we saw at the event in Los Angeles.

We got a chance to drive both the regular 2022 e-tron GT and its performance variant, the RS e-tron GT, in Southern California to make sure the design is matched by the technology. While the vehicle shares the same platform and many of the same bits of technology as the Porsche Taycan, Audi has worked to make this vehicle its own. Watch the video above for the full story.

Google’s own mobile chip is called Tensor

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Rick Osterloh casually dropped his laptop onto the couch and leaned back, satisfied. It's not a mic, but the effect is about the same. Google's chief of hardware had just shown me a demo of the company's latest feature: computational processing for video that will debut on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. The feature was only possible with Google's own mobile processor, which it's announcing today.

He's understandably proud and excited to share the news. The chip is called Tensor, and it's the first system-on-chip (SoC) designed by Google. The company has "been at this about five years," he said, though CEO Sundar Pichai wrote in a statement that Tensor "has been four years in the making and builds off of two decades of Google's computing experience."

That software expertise is something Google has come to be known for. It led the way in computational photography with its Night Sight mode for low light shots, and weirded out the world with how successfully its conversational AI Duplex was able to mimic human speech — right down to the "ums and ahs." Tensor both leverages Google's machine learning prowess and enables the company to bring AI experiences to smartphones that it couldn't before.

Holding a diet Coke in one hand and gesturing animatedly with the other, Osterloh threw around hyperbolic marketing language like "We're transforming the computing experience" and "It'll be what we consider to be a pretty dramatic transformation overall."

Six Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices laying on a grey surface at various angles, perpendicular to each other.
Google

He's alluding to Tensor enabling experiences that previous chips (the company's mostly used Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors in its prior phones) couldn't deliver. Things like being able to run multiple AI-intensive tasks simultaneously without a phone overheating, or having enough power to apply computational processing to videos as they're being captured.

That belief in Tensor's significance is part of why Google chose to announce it today ahead of the Pixel 6's actual launch in the fall. The company isn't giving away all the details about the processor yet, nor is it sharing specific information about its latest flagships now. But "there's a lot of new stuff here, and we wanted to make sure people had context," Osterloh said. "We think it's a really big change, so that's why we want to start early."

Plus, there's an added benefit. "Information gets out," Osterloh added. "Nowadays it's like, stuff leaks."

A new chip design with AI infused

Thanks to those leaks, though, we've heard plenty of rumors about Google's efforts to make its own mobile processor for a while, under the code name Project Whitechapel. While the company won't publicly discuss code names, it's clear that work on Tensor has been going on for a long time.

The chip's name is an obvious nod to the company's open-source platform for machine learning, TensorFlow, Osterloh said, and that should tell you how big a role AI plays in this processor. Though Google isn't ready to share the full details about Tensor yet, Osterloh did explain that the SoC is an ARM chip designed around a TPU, or Tensor Processing Unit. The mobile chip was co-designed with Google's AI researchers and the TPU is based on their larger versions in the company's data centers.

A rendering of Google's Tensor mobile chip with words on it saying
Google

It's not just designed to speed up machine learning tasks on your phone, either. Osterloh said they've also redesigned the image signal processor, or ISP. Specifically, he said there are a "few points in the ISP where we can actually insert machine learning, which is new."

Google also reconstructed the memory architecture to make it easier to access RAM, and allow for data manipulation while processing images. There are also a few places where Osterloh said they've directly encoded their image processing algorithms into the hardware. He says this allows Google to do "stuff that was previously impossible to do on standard SoCs," though he didn't share specific details on what Tensor now enables that previous SoCs couldn't.

Of course, with this being Google's first mobile chip, Osterloh concedes people might see the company as unproven. Though he did push back by saying, "I think people are pretty aware of Google's overall capability."

It's natural to wonder if the company can compete in areas like power efficiency and heat management. Osterloh said they've designed Tensor to perform some tasks more power efficiently than previous processors they've used while staying within a thermal threshold. Similar to existing processors, Osterloh said "the system has a bunch of different subsystems, [and] we can use the most power efficient element of it for the task at hand."

Side view of the peach/gold Pixel 6 Pro.
Google

Though there's an ongoing global chip shortage, Osterloh is confident that Google can manage demand. "Everyone's affected by this, no doubt," he said. "The positive thing about this is it's under our control, we're making this and we're responsible for it. So we think we should be okay."

Why make Tensor?

So what can Tensor do that other mobile processors can't? Google is saving most of the juicy bits for the Pixel 6's launch in the fall. But, it did offer two examples of areas that would see dramatic improvement: Photography and voice recognition (and processing). At our meeting, Osterloh showed off some demos of new Tensor-enabled features on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which also gives us our first look at the phones. The handsets feature a distinctive new look and bright color options. They also have a horizontal camera bump that spans the width of the rear, which is "a very intentional part of the design," Osterloh notes. "We've really been known for photography, [so] we wanted to really emphasize this."

Google's upgraded the cameras themselves, but the promised photography improvements aren't just from optical hardware. Tensor is behind some of it. With previous chips, the company kept running into limits when trying to improve photography on its phones. "These weren't designed for machine learning, or AI, and certainly not designed to optimize for where Google's headed," he said.

Three Pixel 6 phones. From left to right, their color schemes are black/black, green/blue and red/peach.
Google

So where is Google headed? Towards a world of "ambient computing," a vision that Osterloh and many of his colleagues have touted in the past. They see a future where all the devices and sensors we're surrounded by can communicate with Google (sometimes via the Assistant) or the internet. But Osterloh knows that for most people, the most important device is still going to be the smartphone. "We see the mobile phone as the center of that."

So when Google wanted to improve beyond the limits of contemporary processors, it had to do something different. "What we've done in the past, when we encountered these kinds of engineering, constraints and technical constraints, is we take on the problem ourselves," Osterloh said.

Upgrading photo and video processing

With Tensor, the Pixel 6 can do things like concurrently capture images from two sensors, with the main one recording at normal exposure and the wide-angle running at a much faster shutter speed. Osterloh said the system runs a number of different machine learning models in real time to help figure out stuff about the scene, like whether there's a face and is the device moving or shaking. The Pixel 6 will then combine all that info and use it to process photos so that if you're trying to capture a hyperactive puppy or toddler, you'll be less likely to get a blurry shot.

Tensor will also let Google perform computationally intensive tasks while you're shooting video. Osterloh said that in the past the company hasn't been able to apply a lot of machine learning to video, since it would be too taxing for a phone processor. But "that all changes with Tensor," he said. One thing they've been able to run is an HDRnet model on videos, which drastically improves quality in tricky situations like when the camera is pointing at the sun.

Osterloh showed me demos of how the Pixel 6 did both these things, including a before-and-after example of a blurry photo of an active child and video comparisons of a campground at sunset. While there was a clear difference, I unfortunately can't show you the results. Besides, these were controlled demos from Google. I can't really gauge how impressive and useful these features are until we get to test them in the real world.

Improvements in voice and speech

I did get to see a more telling preview, though. Osterloh also showed me how voice dictation will work in the Pixel 6 on GBoard. On the upcoming phone, you'll be able to hit the microphone button in the compose field, narrate your message and use hotwords like "Send" or "Clear" to trigger actions. You can also edit typos via the onscreen keyboard while the mic is still listening for your dictation.

This all works via a new Speech On Device API, and I was impressed that the system was smart enough to distinguish between when you say "Send" in "I will send the kids to school" versus when you're telling it to send the message. Osterloh told me the algorithm is looking not just for the hotword but also your tone of voice and delivery before it triggers the action.

Finally, there are a couple more things that Osterloh showed me: Live Caption with Translate, as well as Android 12's Material You design. Thanks to Tensor, Android's Live Caption feature, which provides subtitles for anything playing through your device's sound system, will be able to translate what's being said in real time as well. This all happens on device, so the next time you're watching a foreign-language TED Talk or your favorite international TV show, it won't matter if they don't have subtitles — Tensor will provide.

Android 12 Beta
Google

A look at Material You

Meanwhile, Material You, which Google first unveiled at I/O this year, is what Osterloh called the biggest UI change in Android maybe since the beginning. I've been waiting to see the feature in the Android 12 public beta, but it's still not available there. At our meeting, Osterloh showed me how it works — he changed the wallpaper of a Pixel 6 from something more rosy hued to a scene of a body of water, and the system's icons and highlights quickly updated to match. App icons were painted to match as well, but something new I learned from this demo was that if you're like me and prefer your icons to keep their original colors, you can opt to leave them untouched.

We've gotten a really good look at what's coming in the fall, though Google is still keeping plenty of details under wraps. We don't know yet if it plans to say if it had help from other manufacturers in coming up with Tensor, and details about CPU and GPU cores, clock speeds and other components will be shared later this year. But with the new chip, Google's been able to realize a years-long dream.

"We kind of see this as The Google Phone," he said. "This is what we set out to build several years ago and we're finally here."

Google’s Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will use AI everywhere

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Smartphone launch season is typically in the fall, but Google has unexpectedly early news to share today. The company just announced that not only is the Pixel 6 coming this fall, but it'll feature the very first system-on-chip designed by Google. The chip is called Tensor and it leverages the company's AI expertise to enable more powerful and better integrated machine learning on devices. At a demo event to show off Tensor's prowess, I was able to check out the Pixel 6 with the company's chief of hardware Rick Osterloh. I wasn't allowed to take pictures or video, and Google hasn't shared all of the phones' specs, but I can tell you about a few new features.

First, there will be two lines: Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Google hasn't shared the actual dimensions yet, but the Pro, which is larger, felt similar in size to a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. They both look like the leaked renders we've seen, except shinier and three-dimensional. There's a band about an inch tall on the rear in black, lime green or peachy red, and below that sits a horizontal camera bump that stretches across the case. According to Google's blog post, the sensors and lenses were improved and "are now too big to fit into the traditional square."

Yes, when you place the Pixel 6 on a table there's still a slope because of the bar, but since it's not off to a corner like on prior Pixels (or Galaxy phones or iPhones), the phone won't wobble from side to side. The rest of the back is black, pastel green or pastel peach correspondingly.

For the Pro line, the colors are more subtle with less contrast between the sections, but they have what Osterloh called "high gloss metal accents" along the edges. The camera bump also gets this shiny treatment on the Pros, which come in black, white and sort of a light orange. The regular Pixel 6 has a matte finish on its sides. All the phones I saw appeared to have glass on their backs, with screens that are slightly curved along the edges. Google also moved the selfie camera from the top left corner to the middle of the display.

Three Pixel 6 phones. From left to right, their color schemes are black/black, green/blue and red/peach.
Google

I loved the peachy pastel version of the Pixel 6, though the mostly black version would suit those who prefer something less flashy. (Google doesn't have names for the colors yet, though Osterloh said their marketing team has fun with them.)

More importantly, Google's upgraded the cameras themselves. It's not sharing specific megapixel or sensor size information yet, but did say these are sharper and larger sensors than before. Osterloh said the Pixel 6's main camera will let in about 150% more light than previous Pixels. There's also an ultrawide lens for both models, and the Pro gets an extra telephoto option as well with 4x optical zoom.

In addition to the actual camera hardware improvements, the Pixel 6s promise better photo processing thanks to Tensor. At our meeting, Osterloh highlighted changes coming in how Google will process images and videos for clearer, better exposed images of moving subjects. The company was also able to apply things like an HDRNet to video as it's recording a scene to ease tricky situations like shooting a campsite with the phone pointed at the sun.

A trio of Pixel 6 Pros. From left to right, their color schemes are: Black/black, Gold/yellow and Grey/silver.
Google

Google also redesigned its speech software, with a new platform called SODA (Speech On Device API) that lets apps leverage Tensor for data-center-level speech recognition. Better yet, Osterloh said this all runs at half the power it used to on prior Pixels. He showed me a new Live Caption with Translate feature that subtitles all audio playing through your phone's sound system. With Tensor, the device can both transcribe and translate what's playing at the same (ish) time, without needing to use the cloud for processing.

Dictation is also getting some major upgrades. In GBoard on the Pixel 6, you'll be able to hit the microphone button in the compose field, narrate your message and use hotwords like "Send" or "Clear" to trigger actions. You can also edit typos via the onscreen keyboard while the mic is still listening for your dictation.

We don't have all the details on CPU and GPU cores or clock speeds, RAM and battery life yet — those will come later. But Osterloh did say Google knows "users expect to get a day's worth of battery life," and that it's aiming for that mark but to also "offer them a lot more capability in that period of time." The devices will also support 5G, which "in the US means supporting all the different bands we have here," Osterloh said. He declined to name any brands of 5G modems, though.

Though it's not an official launch for the Pixel 6, this preview has shown us a lot. There will be new cameras, new design, new UI (in Android 12) and a new chip, among other things. Osterloh said he's excited about the launch. "We kind of see this as The Google Phone," he said. "This is what we set out to build several years ago and we're finally here."

R2-D2 is now a Tamagotchi you’ll forget about

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 08:45 AM PDT

R2-D2 might be the most beloved character in the entire Star Wars universe. But some might change their tune about the adorable droid if he becomes too annoying in his latest form: a Tamagotchi.

Disney and Bandai have teamed up to bring Artoo to the pockets of fans who don't mind training, cleaning and looking after a needy, digital version of the droid wherever they are. The egg-shaped R2-D2 Tamagotchi will be available in two color schemes. There's a mostly white model that looks like the droid, and a transparent blue model. As you might expect from a Tamagotchi, you'll interact with the toy using three physical buttons.

There are 19 skills for Artoo to learn. You'll need to keep him charged and clean. Unlike with other Tamagotchis, you won't have to clear up any poop from R2-D2 (he's a droid, after all). A Lucasfilm spokesperson told Engadget that if R2-D2 sits for too long, he'll accumulate dust. You can clean that away with the press of a button.

There are nine mini-games you can play with him, including firefighting and Star Wars staple Dejarik (or holochess). If you don't keep the droid happy, some Jawas might arrive to take him away.

Star Wars R2-D2 Tamagotchi
Bandai/Disney

We're long removed from Tamagotchi's heyday. The digital pet was everywhere in the late '90s and early 2000s until it plummeted out of the cultural zeitgeist. There have been other Tamagotchi crossovers. A model based on Neon Genesis Evangelion hit the US earlier this year. A Star Wars collaboration might help revive the brand, but surely a model based on Grogu (aka Baby Yoda) from The Mandalorian would have been a better fit. 

Pre-orders open for the R2-D2 Tamagotchi at midnight ET on August 3rd. The toy will arrive on November 11th.

Update 8/2 5:30PM ET: Added confirmation from Lucasfilm that R2-D2 does not poop and instead accumulates dust.

JBL's L75ms wooden speaker is built for high-res streaming

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 07:58 AM PDT

JBL might just have a HiFi tailor-made for the emerging world of high-resolution streaming music. The newly introduced L75ms doesn't have a catchy name, but it combines a slick-looking walnut wood cabinet with a higher-end speaker system that includes both a 32-bit/192kHz DAC and modern streaming audio conveniences. While you can't really use the built-in Bluetooth for lossless sound, you can use the Ethernet and other wired connections to stream top-tier audio, including through AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.

The company even offers a 90-day Qobuz trial to help sell you on the concept.

This could be a sweet-sounding system regardless of the audio source. The L75ms includes a pair of 1-inch titanium dome tweeters with wave guides, two 5.25-inch white cone woofers and a 4-inch mid-range driver, all of them with dedicated channels for amp and DSP tuning. They sit on a "multi-angled" baffle, too. On top of the networking, you'l find a 3.5mm input, a vinyl-friendly moving magnet phono stage and ARC-capable HDMI for connecting to your TV. You can connect an external subwoofer if you need deeper, separated bass.

The L75ms won't ship until the fourth quarter of the year, and it won't be a trivial expense at $1,500. However, it's also a rare combination of high-res audio, streaming support and a relatively compact design that would look right at home in many living rooms. You might not need much else to get the most out of a premium music service.

An Apple TV bug is muting some purchased and rented movies

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 07:36 AM PDT

Some folks who buy or rent movies on Apple TV are running into a major issue when they watch films through the app. Occasionally, flicks are playing without audio, according to 9to5 Mac. The bug is reportedly affecting various systems that support the TV app, including smart TVs, the Apple TV device and other streaming devices, such as Roku sticks and Chromecast with Google TV. The issue seems to have been occurring for at least the last month.

The cause of the issue is unclear. 9to5 Mac speculates the TV app may not be decoding the audio track correctly due to a problem with digital rights management (DRM). According to the report, users have been having mixed success when requesting refunds due to the issue — Apple seemingly hasn't fulfilled all such requests from customers, though it's not clear why. Engadget has contacted Apple for comment.

Whatever the cause of the problem, it's undoubtedly frustrating to spend money to rent or buy a film only to find you're missing out on a significant proportion of the experience. If you do encounter this problem, it might be worth connecting your Apple account to Movies Anywhere and see if the movies you bought on the iTunes Store play correctly there. 

Pentagon believes its precognitive AI can predict events 'days in advance'

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 06:55 AM PDT

The US military's AI experiments are growing particularly ambitious. The Drivereports that US Northern Command recently completed a string of tests for Global Information Dominance Experiments (GIDE), a combination of AI, cloud computing and sensors that could give the Pentagon the ability to predict events "days in advance," according to Command leader General Glen VanHerck. It's not as mystical as it sounds, but it could lead to a major change in military and government operations.

The machine learning-based system observes changes in raw, real-time data that hint at possible trouble. If satellite imagery shows signs that a rival nation's submarine is preparing to leave port, for instance, the AI could flag that mobilization knowing the vessel will likely leave soon. Military analysts can take hours or even days to comb through this information — GIDE technology could send an alert within "seconds," VanHerck said.

The most recent dry run, GIDE 3, was the most expansive yet. It saw all 11 US commands and the broader Defense Department use a mix of military and civilian sensors to address scenarios where "contested logistics" (such as communications in the Panama Canal) might pose a problem. The technology involved wasn't strictly new, the General said, but the military "stitched everything together."

The platform could be put into real-world use relatively soon. VanHerck believed the military was "ready to field" the software, and could validate it at the next Globally Integrated Exercise in spring 2022.

The advantages of this predictive AI are fairly clear. Instead of merely reacting to events or relying on outdated info, the Pentagon could take proactive steps like deploying forces or ramping up defenses. It could also provide an "opportunity" for the civilian government, VanHerck added. He didn't provide examples, but this could help politicians call out acts of aggression while they're still in the early stages.

There are still limitations. The AI is looking for out-of-the-ordinary clues, such as a greater number of parked cars or aircraft. It can't say for certain what's happening — humans will still be heavily involved. Even so, the tech could be worthwhile if it prevents a 'surprise' attack or leads to negotiations instead of conflict.

Klipsch T5 II ANC earbuds use Bragi AI to let you answer calls by nodding

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Klipsch's redesigned T5 II true wireless earbuds are a big improvement over the T5 that debuted in 2019. However, the company's 2020 models didn't offer active noise cancellation (ANC) and only the pricier Sport version had wireless charging. Today, Klipsch is making both of those standard features with the T5 II ANC, plus it's throwing in AI-powered features from true wireless pioneer Bragi and Dirac HD Sound. All of the additions make this model a true flagship, right down to the premium price of $299. 

The T5 II ANC has the same design for both the earbuds and the case as the T5 II. The buds were retooled after the original T5 to make them more comfortable. Klipsch still includes six sets of oval silicone ear tips to help you find the best fit, but the T5 II ANC is only IPX4 rated water resistant (compared to the T5 II's IP67). Inside, the company uses a redesigned 5.8mm driver with a thinner diaphragm that it says improves sound quality across all frequencies. 

Klipsch takes the audio profile a step further with some help from Dirac's HD Sound technology. Dirac is known for its "digital audio optimization," and in 2020 the company announced plans to both recalibrate your headphones and integrate its sound tech directly inside future products. For the T5 II ANC, Klipsch says HD Sound will improve staging, clarity, voice and bass while still allowing you to apply custom EQ settings at you see fit. 

Another key element of the T5 II ANC are the hands-free gestures called Bragi Moves. Bragi was one of the first companies to build true wireless earbuds, long before Apple helped popularize the product category. The company's Dash line of earbuds not only worked better than many of the early options, but they were also packed with more tech: gesture controls, on-board music storage, fitness tracking, real-time translation and more. 

In 2019, Bragi announced that it had sold its hardware business to focus on software and AI. Klipsch is one of the first to integrate the company's gesture controls, including the ability to answer calls by nodding or to skip tracks by shaking your head. Bragi's tech will also enable Sidekicks or automated processes like turning on ANC when you listen to music or activating transparency mode when you get a call. Klipsch and Bragi said more features will be available in the future.

Klipsch T5 II ANC McLaren Edition
Klipsch T5 II ANC McLaren Edition
Klipsch

The noise-cancelling setup on the T5 II ANC employs dual microphones on each earbud (feedforward and feedback) to catch as much external distraction as possible. Like the T5, this model also includes a transparency mode so you can tune into your surroundings when needed. Klipsch promises "loud and clear" calls as well, with six beamforming microphones and automatic noise suppression. 

All of those new features led to less battery life. With ANC on, Klipsch says you can muster five hours of listening on the buds themselves. That's down from eight on the T5 II and T5 II Sport. When you disable the noise-cancelling feature, the company says you can expect two more hours of use. The included case holds 21 additional hours (three full charges) and Qi-compatible wireless charging is on board. 

Like it did with the T5 II Sport, Klipsch is offering a McLaren Edition of the T5 II ANC. The company is a sponsor for McLaren's Formula 1 team, so it's bringing papaya orange, carbon fiber and a tire tread pattern from the track to your earbuds. This special version carries all of the same features of the regular T5 II ANC, but it comes with a wireless charging pad and it's equipped with NuCurrent charging tech. Klipsch says this feature combined with the McLaren Edition case "will charge twice as fast as anything else on the market." Racing fans will have to pony up an extra $50, though: the special edition is $349. 

Both the T5 II ANC and T5 II ANC McLaren Edition are available starting today. 

Apple's 512GB M1 Mac Mini falls back to $799 at Amazon

Posted: 02 Aug 2021 05:34 AM PDT

If you've been eyeing Apple's latest Mac Mini as your next desktop, now is the time to act. You can currently get the 512GB model for $799 at Amazon, or $100 off the normal $899 price. The deal brings the desktop down to just below the record low we saw in March and April. It also means you're only paying $100 more for double the storage of the $699 base model.

Buy Mac Mini M1 (512GB) at Amazon - $799

That should come in handy if you plan to take full advantage of the Mac Mini's M1 chip. As we've previouslynoted, Apple's in-house silicon is a powerhouse that makes quick work of most tasks, be it browsing bloated websites or opening creative editing software. Inside the desktop, you'll find an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores and a 16-core Neural Engine. Unlike with the iMac, you'll also need your own display and peripherals like a keyboard and mouse. 

There are a few caveats, however. The Mac Mini's RAM and storage aren't upgradeable and the two rear Thunderbolt ports won't please those who need extra monitors and faster connectivity. Apple also offers 16GB unified memory, up to 2TB SSD storage and 10 Gigabit Ethernet support at a cost. In fact, the true top-of-the line Mac Mini will set you back $1,799. Saying that, the specs available on this deal model should please most casual users.

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