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- Apple says motorcycle vibrations can damage iPhone cameras
- Facebook has been giving misinformation researchers incomplete data
- Google is rolling out dark mode for Search on desktop
- Amazon is updating Kindles to make them easier to navigate
- Analogue's Pocket portable console delayed for a third time, now until December
- Sony's PlayStation Showcase was a banger
- Bird's first e-bikes arrive in San Diego
- Jabra actually has more new Elite earbuds, but you likely can't get them
- Even after today’s ruling, don’t expect ‘Fortnite’ to return to the App Store anytime soon
- Ikea's next Sonos speaker lamps may have swappable shades
- Hydrasynth Explorer makes ASM's unique wavemorphing engine 'portable'
- Twitch sues two 'hate raiders' linked to automated harassment campaigns
- DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub sue NYC over restaurant fee limits
- 'Far Cry 6' post-launch drops include Stranger Things, Rambo and Danny Trejo
- ‘Splitgate’ brought out the ‘Quake III Arena’ addict in me
- Sonos is raising prices on almost all of its products
- Don’t sleep on the iPhone mini
- Vimeo is ready to host Dolby Vision videos shot on iPhone 12 Pro
- Sony's HT-A7000 soundbar with Dolby Atmos and HDMI 2.1 is up for pre-order
- Apple's iPad Air is $100 off right now, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals
- What to expect at Apple’s iPhone 13 event
- Judge issues permanent injunction on App Store model in Epic v. Apple case
- WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encryption for chat backups
- Apple TV+ acquires 'Yo Gabba Gabba' and is making new episodes
- Automakers dial up the wattage on the future of EVs at Munich's auto show
Apple says motorcycle vibrations can damage iPhone cameras Posted: 11 Sep 2021 01:38 AM PDT Hold off on purchasing that iPhone mount for your motorbike. In a new Apple Support post first seen by MacRumors, the tech giant has warned that high amplitude vibrations, "specifically those generated by high-power motorcycle engines" transmitted through handlebars, can damage its phones' cameras. As the publication notes, that damage can be permanent. A simple Google search will surface posts over the past few years by users whose cameras were ruined after they mounted their iPhone on their bike, mostly so they can use it for navigation. While Apple didn't say why it's issuing a warning now, it did explain the reason why attaching the iPhone to a motorcycle can destroy its camera. The company said that the camera's optical image stabilization (OIS) and closed-loop autofocus (AF) features can be damaged by long-term exposure to high-amplitude vibrations. A camera's OIS makes it possible for a device's gyroscope to sense movement. In turn, the gyroscope changes its angle and the lens moves accordingly to prevent blur when you accidentally move while taking a photo. Meanwhile with closed-loop AF, a phone's onboard magnetic sensors measure vibrations to compensate for the movement, so the lens can be positioned accurately. As MacRumor notes, all models since the iPhone 7 come with both features. Thus, Apple says it's not recommended to attach iPhones to motorcycles with high-power or high-volume engines. For mopeds and scooters, you may want to buy a vibration-dampening mount to lessen the risk of damage — or simply just use another GPS device to make sure you don't ruin a device that costs hundreds to over a thousand dollars. |
Facebook has been giving misinformation researchers incomplete data Posted: 10 Sep 2021 10:01 PM PDT Misinformation researchers who've been relying on the data Facebook provides them may have lost months or even years of work. That's because the social network has been giving them flawed and incomplete information on how users interact with posts and links on the website, according to The New York Times. Facebook has been giving academics access to its data over the past couple of years to track the spread of misinformation on its platform. It promised researchers transparency and access to all user interaction, but the data the company has been giving them reportedly only includes interactions for about half of its users in the US. Further, most of the users whose interactions were included in the reports are the ones who engage with political posts enough to make their leanings clear. In an email to researchers The Times saw, Facebook apologized for the "inconvenience [it] may have caused." The company also told them that it's fixing the issue, but that it could take weeks due to the sheer volume of data it has to process. Facebook told the researchers, though, that the data they received for users outside the US isn't inaccurate. Facebook spokesperson Mavis Jones blamed the data inaccuracy to a "technical error," which the company is apparently "working swiftly to resolve." As The Times notes, it was University of Urbino associate professor Fabio Giglietto who first discovered the inaccuracy. Giglietto compared the data handed over to researchers with the "Widely Viewed Content Report" the social network published publicly in August and found that the results didn't match. Other researchers raised concerns after that report was published. Alice Marwick, a researcher from the University of North Carolina, told Engadget that they couldn't verify those results, because they had no access to the data Facebook used. The company reportedly held a call with researchers on Friday to apologize. Megan Squire, one of those researchers, told The Times: "From a human point of view, there were 47 people on that call today and every single one of those projects is at risk, and some are completely destroyed." Some researchers have been using their own tools to gather information for their research, but in at least one instance, Facebook cut off their access. In August, Facebook disabled the accounts associated with the NYU Ad Observatory project. The team used a browser extension to collect information on political ads, but the social network said it was "unauthorized scraping." At the time, Laura Edelson, the project's lead researcher, told Engadget that Facebook is silencing the team because its "work often calls attention to problems on its platform." Edelson added: "If this episode demonstrates anything it is that Facebook should not have veto power over who is allowed to study them." |
Google is rolling out dark mode for Search on desktop Posted: 10 Sep 2021 05:00 PM PDT Google is finally rolling out a dark theme for Search on desktop. The change had been spotted as far back as December, but the feature is now official and rolling out to all users "over the next few weeks," according to an update from a Google product support manager. You can get the new, not-quite-black theme by heading to Settings > Search Settings > Appearance and selecting "dark." There's also a "device default" option which will automatically update the theme based on your device's settings. Though the change is starting to roll out now, it could take a few more days or weeks before it's available to everyone. 9to5Google further notes that some users have spotted a sun icon that can be used to toggle it on or off without diving into the settings page, though it's not clear if that's an official part of the update or another test. |
Amazon is updating Kindles to make them easier to navigate Posted: 10 Sep 2021 03:45 PM PDT Amazon is rolling out a software update for its Kindle, Paperwhite and Oasis devices that could make them easier to use. The company announced the changes will be arriving in the coming weeks for Kindles 8th-generation and later, Paperwhites 7th-generation and newer as well as the Oasis line. First, the update would allow you to swipe down from the screen to adjust display brightness, toggle Airplane, Bluetooth and Sync modes and go to All Settings. A new bottom navigation bar will let you switch between Home, Library and the book you're currently reading. Later this year, the company said "an improved Home and Library experience" is also coming that will offer a revamped Library with "new filter and sort menus, a new collections view and an interactive scroll bar." The updated Home portal will feature a Recently Read section that stores up to 20 items, which you can access by swiping left. Earlier this year, Amazon also added the ability to set a book cover as your Kindle's screensaver (for those without ads) and enabled faster downloads. Kindles are the most popular e-readers around and have typically run a fairly basic operating system that can sometimes be hard to navigate. These coming updates might not be a significant overhaul, but they do make common tools easier to find. |
Analogue's Pocket portable console delayed for a third time, now until December Posted: 10 Sep 2021 03:00 PM PDT The Analogue Pocket has been delayed yet again. The $199 handheld console can play Game Boy, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color and Atari Lynx games. It was most recently supposed to release sometime next month, but has slipped to the end of the year. Pre-orders will ship "at the latest" in December, according to an announcement Analogue posted on Friday.
As with both previous delays, the company is blaming this latest one on the coronavirus pandemic and related supply chain issues. "Unfortunately, due to new Covid restrictions with our assembly partners, their capacity to deliver within our agreed timeframe has been affected," Analogue said. "This has created a domino effect of delays beyond our control in what would otherwise be a seamless process." Analogue is offering full refunds to anyone who pre-ordered the system and doesn't want to wait until December. In the same announcement, the company said it hopes to have hands-ons and reviews published before the console comes out later this year. "We understand how frustrating this is," the company said. "It's very frustrating for us, too." |
Sony's PlayStation Showcase was a banger Posted: 10 Sep 2021 02:43 PM PDT Sony's September PlayStation showcase was juicy. In just under an hour, the studio showed off more than a dozen upcoming, highly anticipated games heading to the PS4 and PS5, complete with some major surprises and plenty of trailers. The show started with a bang — the reveal of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, a remake of the classic BioWare RPG being built exclusively for the PS5. This is a big deal, considering the original never came to PlayStation platforms. From there, Sony highlighted a handful of release windows and extended trailers for games including Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, the Alan Wake remaster, Forspoken, GTA V on PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Project Eve, Gran Turismo 7 and God of War Ragnarök. That wasn't even the end of it. The trailer for tropical, open-world sandbox Tchia ended with a beach full of adorable, pettable crabs, and it was an absolute dream. Oh, and Spider-Man studio Insomniac Games revealed it's working on two new titles in the Marvel universe: Wolverine and Spider-Man 2, featuring Venom. The Wolverine game was a total surprise and Insomniac didn't share many details, but the teaser trailer was succinct and stylish — much like the show itself. |
Bird's first e-bikes arrive in San Diego Posted: 10 Sep 2021 02:31 PM PDT Back in June, Bird announced its first-ever e-bike. At the time, the company said it planned to bring the EV to select cities in North America, Italy, Spain, Germany and France throughout 2021. On Friday, Bird announced the Bird Bike will first appear in San Diego. The company has partnered with San Diego State University to bring the e-bike, along with its Bird Two and Three scooters, to the school's 280-acre campus. Students and faculty staff can ride the bicycle starting this month. The pedal-assist e-bike features a top speed of 15.5 miles per and can travel up to 56 miles on a single charge. It also comes with Bird's geofencing technology, which can automatically cap the speed of the bike in certain areas. As with the company's electric scooters, a network of fleet managers will care for and manage the bikes. The company said SDSU students will have access to the Bird Bike at reduced prices. Bird has also put in place incentives to encourage safe riding and responsible parking. |
Jabra actually has more new Elite earbuds, but you likely can't get them Posted: 10 Sep 2021 01:14 PM PDT When Jabra launched its $80 Elite 3 wireless headphones last month, it also announced the pricier, more-premium Elite 7 Active and Pro models, which cost $180 and $200. But it actually also released another sub-$100 product called the Elite 2 — we just can't buy it here in the US. The company's product page says "This product is not available in your country" when accessed from America. Our senior news editor Billy Steele noticed when he was reviewing the Elite 3 that there was a listing for what appeared to be an unannounced Elite 2 in Jabra's app. We've since learned that the Elite 2 actually did get released, but only in countries like India, China, Russia and Turkey for now. According to the company, the Elite 2 indeed launched in "select markets worldwide." These buds are similar to the Elite 3, keeping the same overall shape and a similar design but with small differences. There's one fewer microphone per side for calls, no ambient sound mode or sidetone and the case only holds two charges instead of three. Otherwise, the Elite 2 is basically the same as the pair we reviewed, with 6mm speakers, EQ presets, Alexa support, one-touch Spotify playback and Google's Fast Pair for those using it with Android. According to Tavesper.tech, the Elite 2 is available in Malaysia for RM299, which is about $72. That's only about $8 cheaper than the Elite 3. Plus, prices could be different in other regions. On this South African website, for example, it's going for about 1,200 Rand, which is close to $85. For now, we can't directly compare prices without knowing what it could cost stateside, and just because it's not currently available in the US doesn't mean it won't ever come here eventually. You can find out more about the Elite 2 on its instruction manual published on European retailer Argos' website. |
Even after today’s ruling, don’t expect ‘Fortnite’ to return to the App Store anytime soon Posted: 10 Sep 2021 12:51 PM PDT After months of testimony and deliberation, we got an initial decision earlier today in the legal battle between Apple and Epic. As a Fortnite player, you may wonder what it all means in terms of playing the game on an iOS device. The short answer is not much. The long answer is neither side came away from the contest with a decisive win. Judge Gonzales Rogers may have ruled in Epic's favor when on the issue of allowing App Store developers to direct users to alternate payment systems, but on every other count, she sided with Apple. That includes the question of whether the company was right to terminate Epic's App Store developer account when it added a direct payment option in Fortnite last year. On that matter, Judge Gonzales Rodgers said Apple's decision was "valid, lawful and enforceable." It's therefore up to the company whether or not to allow the game back on the App Store. Based on the fact the tech giant rejected Epic's request to reinstate its developer license after South Korea passed a law that will require both Apple and Google to allow alternative payment systems on their app stores, and the fact Epic says it will appeal the ruling, it's unlikely the game will return to iOS anytime soon. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney made that much clear following the decision. "Fortnite will return to the iOS App Store when and where Epic can offer in-app payment in fair competition with Apple in-app payment, passing along the savings to consumers," he said on Twitter. It's hard to put a timeline on when we might see a new development in the situation. Court cases involving tech companies can take months and sometimes years to resolve. In the meantime, Fortnite is still available on other platforms, including PC, PlayStation and Xbox. |
Ikea's next Sonos speaker lamps may have swappable shades Posted: 10 Sep 2021 12:40 PM PDT Ikea's Symfonisk lamp is a neat way to add a Sonos speaker to your space without it necessarily sticking out from the rest of your decor. But what if you want to jazz it up slightly? You may have that option in the future in the form of swappable shades. According to a Reddit post spotted byProtocol's Janko Roettgers, it seems a new version of Symfonisk is in the offing. User u/shoicey said they spotted a different Symfonisk lampshade at their local Ikea. They found a document (archived version) on the company's website that notes the second-generation speaker will let customers pick their own glass or fabric cover. White and black options will be available, according to the document, which is in Portuguese. The textile cover is listed at €20 (approximately $24) and the glass one is €30 ($35). The base, which houses the WiFi speaker, costs €129 (roughly $152). The document lists other Symfonisk products, including the picture frame speaker Ikea announced in June. "We're excited about the products we're working on together and are looking forward to sharing more soon," Sonos said in a statement. Engadget has contacted Ikea for more info, including details about availability. Given that this document is on the Ikea website though, it may not be long before these new Symfonisk lamps are out in the wild. |
Hydrasynth Explorer makes ASM's unique wavemorphing engine 'portable' Posted: 10 Sep 2021 12:13 PM PDT ASM's Hydrasynth made a splash when it was announced in September of 2019. The company was fresh face on the market, but it included luminaries of the electronic instrument world who worked on Akai's MPC line and Arturia's 'Brute line. So there was understandably some hype. And consensus is that it's lived up to it. Now the company is taking its unique wavemorphing engine, a keybed with polyphonic aftertouch, plus its full raft of sound design tools and putting them in the portable, battery-powered and more affordable Hydrasynth Explorer. The Explorer has 37 semi-weighted, mid-sized keys. So it's a bit more generous than your average mainstream synthesizer. And just like it's big siblings — the $1,299 Hydrasynth and $799 Hydrasynth Desktop — it has eight voices of polyphony and three oscillators. It also has two "mutators" which can mangle oscillators one and two in various ways from pretty standard (FM and pulse width modulation) to more out there (PhazDiff and harmonic sweep). There's also two filters that can be combined in series or parallel and five — yes five — LFOs and envelope generators. And those envelope generators aren't your standard ADSR (attack, decay, sustain, release) envelopes either. These are six-stage DAHDSR envelopes (delay, attack, hold, decay, sustain, release). There's also built-in delay and reverb effects, a 32-slot modulation matrix and a pretty advanced arpeggiator. All of that sound design power comes in an instrument that can be powered by eight AA batteries and costs just $600. Granted at 7.5 pounds it's definitely pushing the boundaries of "portable". You're definitely not going to lug the Hydrasynth Explorer on your commute, but it's not too much of a hassle to drag it to an impromptu jam session or set up in a park for an afternoon. Alongside the Explorer, ASM also announced the Hydrasynth Deluxe which has 73 full-sized keys and bumps the voice count up to 16. Of course, it also comes at a premium with a price of $1,799. |
Twitch sues two 'hate raiders' linked to automated harassment campaigns Posted: 10 Sep 2021 11:44 AM PDT For much of the last month and a half, Twitch has fought a losing battle against a phenomenon called "hate raids." These attacks see malicious individuals use an army of bots to spam a streamer's chat with hateful language, and almost always they target creators from marginalized communities. This week, Twitch filed a suit against some of those involved in the harassment campaigns. The legal action comes after a variety of Twitch streamers stepped away from the platform on September 1st in protest of the company's ineffective handling of the situation. The suit, first spotted by Wired, only names two defendants: CruzzControl and CreatineOverdose. Twitch does not identify the two individuals beyond their usernames but notes it believes they're both based out of Europe. In the complaint, Twitch alleges CruzzControl is responsible for a network of approximately 3,000 bots that have been involved in hate raids against streamers in the Black and LGBTQIA+ communities. In addition to overwhelming those channels with racist, homophobic and sexist spam, the company says CruzzControl has shown how the bots work so that others can deploy them toward a similar end. Of CreatineOverdose, the company alleges it has directly linked them to several incidents, including one August 15th episode in which they claimed they were a member of the "K K K." "We hope this complaint will shed light on the identity of the individuals behind these attacks and the tools that they exploit, dissuade them from taking similar behaviors to other services, and help put an end to these vile attacks against members of our community," a spokesperson for Twitch told Wired. The company told The Verge the lawsuit is only one part of the response it has planned to hate raids, with more platform-level action forthcoming. "Our teams have been working around the clock to update our proactive detection systems, address new behaviors as they emerge, and finalize new proactive, channel-level safety tools that we've been developing for months," a Twitch spokesperson said. While the legal action has yet to stop hate raids from occurring, some of those most affected by them say it's a step in the right direction for the company. "I feel hopeful," Raven, a streamer whose Twitch handle is RekItRaven, told Wired. "The people who are behind this need to be held accountable for their actions. They've terrorized hundreds if not thousands of people. If this were to happen in a physical location we'd expect the same. It shouldn't be any different online." |
DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub sue NYC over restaurant fee limits Posted: 10 Sep 2021 11:23 AM PDT DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub are suing New York City over limits the city imposes on the delivery fees they can charge restaurants. The city brought in the caps on a temporary basis in June last year to help restaurants stay in business when dining rooms were closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. NYC officials made the limits permanent in August. Currently, the delivery apps can charge restaurants up to 23 percent per order, which includes three percent to cover credit card processing fees. Otherwise, they could have charged fees of up to 35 percent. In April, DoorDash introduced a tiered system that charges up to 30 percent in commissions. The companies claim in their US District Court court complaint, which was posted by The Verge, that the cap is unconstitutional and tantamount to government overreach that will damage businesses. They're seeking an injunction to stop the city enforcing the fee limits as well as damages and a jury trial. "Left unchecked, the ordinance sets a dangerous precedent," they argued. Councilman Mark Gjonaj, chair of the city's Small Business Committee, said that NYC would maintain the caps and proceed with other oversight over delivery apps. "The laws simply seek to bring fairness to a system that all too often lacks it," he told The Wall Street Journal. Engadget has contacted Uber Eats for comment. "Grubhub has worked hard during the pandemic to support restaurants in New York City and across the country," a company spokesperson told Engadget in a statement. "Despite our best efforts, the City Council recently passed an unprecedented and unconstitutional price control targeting the food delivery industry. Price controls increase delivery fees for consumers, and therefore lead to a reduction of orders for both restaurants and couriers. While Grubhub remains willing to engage with the City Council, we unfortunately are left with no choice but to take legal action." Grubhub also contends that the NYC ordinance will hurt not only the apps, but restaurants and consumers. It suggests the fee caps will will lead to higher prices and fewer deliveries for couriers, as well as less choice for services for restaurants from delivery platforms. "New York City Council passed harmful, unnecessary, and unconstitutional price controls which leave us no choice but to resolve this matter in court, as we did in San Francisco," a DoorDash spokesperson told Engadget. "Not only do price controls violate the U.S. and New York Constitutions, but they will likely harm the very restaurants the City purports to support." In June, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted to permanently cap delivery app fees at 15 percent, becoming the first city in the US to do so. However, Mayor London Breed declined to sign the bill, claiming it was "unnecessarily prescriptive in limiting the business models of the third-party organizations." DoorDash and Grubhub sued San Francisco to block the measure as well. |
'Far Cry 6' post-launch drops include Stranger Things, Rambo and Danny Trejo Posted: 10 Sep 2021 11:12 AM PDT Far Cry 6 doesn't even come out for another month, but Ubisoft is already hyping all the things players will get to do (and pay for) after launch. Far Cry 6 will feature Danny Trejo, Rambo and the Stranger Things crew in a series of additional missions, available for free in the coming year and playable in co-op or solo. Trejo's mission involves delivering tacos across Yara with the game's protagonist, Dani, by his side. It's called Danny and Dani vs Everybody. The Rambo-inspired mission is called Rambo: All the Blood, and it features a heavily armed, cosplaying superfan in a story straight out of a 1980s action flick. The final free mission is a Stranger Things crossover called The Vanishing — players have to find their loyal weiner dog, Chorizo, in the Upside Down. From the jump, Far Cry 6 will also have weekly insurgency challenges and special ops missions available for free. Now, on to the paid content. The Far Cry 6 season pass will go live in late 2021, and it'll feature three missions starring villains from the series' history, detailing their backstories through die-and-retry mechanics. These missions are playable solo or with a friend, just like the main game. The popular Far Cry 3 spin-off, Blood Dragon, is also included in the season pass. The season pass comes with the gold edition of the game, which costs $100 on PC and $110 on Xbox One, Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PS5. The standard edition runs $60. Regardless of the version you want, Far Cry 6 lands on October 7th. |
‘Splitgate’ brought out the ‘Quake III Arena’ addict in me Posted: 10 Sep 2021 11:00 AM PDT I once spent an entire college summer doing nothing but play Quake 3 Arena. Well, almost nothing. I was an IT help desk drone during the day, but my nights and weekends were almost entirely filled learning the intricacies of the game's rail gun, rocket jump maneuvers, and inventive mods (if I ruined your day in a Threewave match, sorry). Now that I have a child, a home to take care of, and an endless list of adult responsibilities, I thought I had put all that behind me. Then I started playing Splitgate. At first, it seems to be a fairly standard free-to-play multiplayer shooter, like a lost Halo clone from a decade ago. But the twist is that it also brings in the core mechanic from Portal. Alongside your normal weaponry, you also have a gun that can create portals on specific areas, no matter how far apart they are. And it's not just for teleporting, either. You can also peer through those portals to pick off far-away enemies. That may seem like a small, even quaint, addition to the world of 4v4 online shooters. But in practice it fundamentally changes how they work. Being able to strategically use portals is just as important as being a crack shot who's memorized every map. And of course, it goes the other way too. If you can sneak up on an enemy with portals, they can do the same to you. Nowhere is safe. Splitgate's subtle complexity is what makes it addictive. All of a sudden, walls high up on the map could give you a vantage point to snipe oblivious foes. A chase through a corridor could easily get wild as you jump between multiple portals. And being able to sneak up on a camping sniper by throwing a portal behind them is always satisfying. I've gotten into plenty of shooters over the years, but they've never quite scratched my Quake 3 itch (perhaps because I never again had vast amounts of free time to eat pizza and play all day). Battle Royale titles like PUBG and Apex Legend changed the landscape with enormous maps with 100 players, but they've always felt more like tense survival games than huge fragfests. They take longer to play, and one screw-up could take you out of a match entirely. I didn't know how much I missed the days of simple multiplayer shooters, games with quick matches that deliver a direct dose of adrenaline and dopamine all at once, until I started playing Splitgate. Even though it's become wildly popular over the last few months, Splitgate hasn't officially launched yet. Still, its most recent beta release, Season 0, has added a lot on consoles and PCs. That includes new character models, more maps and an infection gameplay mode. I've been playing earlier betas for the last few months, but now it's finally starting to look like a complete product, with more UI polish and player models I don't entirely hate. It's also the perfect time to give it a shot before elite players make online matches less enjoyable to play. Since it's a free-to-play game, Splitgate developer 1047 Games is following in the footsteps of modern shooters by making you pay for items, characters and Battle Passes to level yourself up. It's all cosmetic, but I've found myself throwing them a few bucks for holographic armor and other trinkets just because I enjoy playing the game so much. Spending $20 in add-ons doesn't seem that bad for something that's already given me dozens of hours of joy. If you're considering jumping into Splitgate, I have one piece of advice: Learn to love the damn portals. Treating it like a normal run-and-gun FPS is a recipe for failure, no matter how great you are. It's a game about quick movement across the map, sneaky shots through your portals, and sneaking up on your enemies. It's not for everyone, but for players who find joy in a five-minute, fast-paced team deathmatch mode, it's practically perfect. |
Sonos is raising prices on almost all of its products Posted: 10 Sep 2021 10:41 AM PDT Sonos makes some excellent connected speakers and home theater products, but no one ever said they were cheap. As of this Sunday, September 12th, they'll cost even more here in the US. The company just announced it is raising the price of almost all its speakers; most will go up about 10 percent. A few to note: the Sonos One, probably its most popular speaker, will now cost $219 instead of $199. The One SL (which is the same as the One, but without mics for voice assistants) now costs $199 rather than $179. The new Sonos Roam portable speaker is getting a $10 price bump, to $179. The flagship Sonos Five audio speaker will now cost $549 instead of $499, and the flagship Arc soundbar costs $899, a full $100 more expensive than before. The Sub, which is primarily geared towards home theater but can also be used with music speakers, is up $50 to $749. The only speaker that isn't going to cost more is the Move, which is staying at $399. Sonos didn't mention any changes to the Beam in its price list, either. Sonos first announced that it would increase prices on its quarterly earnings call back in early August, but didn't provide details at the time. As for why now, the company gave some unsurprisingly vague details around "assessing market dynamics" to achieve growth goals and maintain innovation across its entire portfolio, including software and services as well as hardware. Obviously, no customer wants to see price increases, but given that Sonos solid the $199 Play:1 and then the One, its successor, at that price point for the better part of a decade, a 10 percent increase isn't too crazy. Given how new the Arc is, though, a $100 bump on an already expensive product might limit its broader market appeal a little. Though on the other hand, most home theater aficionados are probably used to opening their wallets for good hardware. |
Don’t sleep on the iPhone mini Posted: 10 Sep 2021 10:30 AM PDT Last year, Apple revealed more new iPhones than ever. There was the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Pro and then the most expensive model, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, with Apple's best camera sensor, a giant screen and an enormous battery to match. Then there was the iPhone 12 mini, the small iPhone that some of us were clamoring for. Outside of the 5.4-inch screen, it matched the specifications of the bigger, vanilla iPhone 12. You got the same dual cameras, the same powerful A14 Bionic processor, storage and color options. It's just, well, mini. To me at least, the smallest phone was the most exciting device from Apple's big event. A new (in 2020 at least) iPhone form factor for those of us that balked at the size of most phones. We've covered the ups and downs of tiny smartphones over the last few years, so it was a surprise — but a welcome one — when Apple decided to cater to this niche. Working in Apple's favor, smartphone makers weren't making small phones anymore (barring, perhaps, Sony). So when we finally got the iPhone 12 mini in our hands, what did we think? Chris Velazco, who reviewed it, said it was, pretty much, an iPhone 12, but smaller. He added that while it was the most potent small phone he'd tested in years, it dodged the problems of typing on smaller screens, because the display stretched to the edges of the 12 mini's body. The iPhone SE, by comparison, had to make space for the home button at the bottom and the camera and earpiece at the top, which was a tight squeeze for thumbs on a 4.7-inch screen. (The iPhone 12 mini is physically a smaller phone than the iPhone SE.) About half a year ago, I switched from my iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 12 mini. Despite how excited I was about the smallest new iPhone at launch, I still wanted the 12 Pro Max as my main phone. I told myself I needed the cameras. I had a few reasons for "downgrading" to the iPhone 12 mini. The pandemic had tricked me into beginning a jogging habit. The hulking iPhone 12 Pro Max was not made for running shorts, and I couldn't use my Apple Watch as it didn't offer the narrative features of the Couch24K app. So there was the iPhone mini, provided by Apple when the four phones were first introduced. Small, powerful enough, and I didn't need high-res pics because I wasn't going anywhere during London's lockdown. Also, the iPhone mini's cameras are fine — good even. One issue with the iPhone mini is that its smallest (cheapest) configuration comes with only 64GB of storage. But, honestly, I don't use much on-device storage, so it wasn't hard to migrate everything. It's a nice feeling to be able to fit more than just your phone into your pocket; not to awkwardly stretch your thumb to reach the top of the screen. The iPhone mini is wonderful to use one-handed most of the time. For roughly six months, the iPhone mini was the perfect petite device for me. My Apple Arcade favorites, including relatively processor-intensive games like Fantasian, ran without issue, and my other daily apps never suffered a hiccup. I could use Fitness+ and while you might think video streaming would be less compelling on a smaller screen, I was mostly in my home. I have a TV! It wasn't all perfect, though, and the major issue was exactly what our review pointed to; meager battery life. Perhaps because the iPhone 12 mini matched the bigger iPhone 12 in all specifications barring screen size, there is a physical limit to how big the battery can be. I didn't notice that during the first half-year, but that's probably because I was, well, mostly trapped indoors. Any time the battery dipped below 50 percent, I was immediately near a power output and could easily top the iPhone mini back up to full power. When the country started opening up again, I went out more. And I wasn't taking battery packs or charging cables with me. A few times, I cut it real close getting back home (or to a power outlet) before the battery reached single-digit percentages. After too many close calls, the pin went in, the SIM came out, and I left the iPhone 12 mini for the much bigger model. When stories of slashed iPhone mini 12 production started appearing, I feared that this was a short-lived Apple experiment that had run its course. However, the latest rumors suggest otherwise. Last week, a listing at the FCC suggested that Apple was testing four new devices with its latest MagSafe technology. That should be the Pro Max, the Pro, the base model and the mini. Other reports suggest that the next series of iPhones, whether they're called iPhone 13 or something else, will offer some subtle changes improvements to last year's models. Crucially, one report from March suggests that batteries across the iPhone series will be bigger, while more energy-efficient components, from chipsets through to screens, should also improve battery longevity. Many phone buyers might have been skeptical that a smaller iPhone — even if new — would be as capable as bigger models. In the evolution story of smartphones, bigger screens always game with better specifications. The iPhone 12 mini was an anomaly, and maybe we weren't ready to it. If Apple can make the iPhone mini go the distance, battery-wise, but keep the specifications on par with the bigger model, there wouldn't be much left for me (or phone reviewers) to complain about. September 14th is pretty soon. Bring it on, Apple. |
Vimeo is ready to host Dolby Vision videos shot on iPhone 12 Pro Posted: 10 Sep 2021 10:10 AM PDT When Apple announced the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max last fall, the company talked up the HDR capabilities of its new phones. In addition to playing Dolby Vision content, the devices can capture it as well. But despite the fact the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max have been on the market for almost a year, we're only now seeing platforms take advantage of those capabilities. Starting today, all Vimeo users, including those with free accounts, can upload Dolby Vision content to the platform. While you can watch the content on any device, support for playback in Dolby Vision is currently limited to Apple products. On iOS, an iPhone 8 or newer or second-generation iPad Pro will do. On desktop, meanwhile, support goes as far back as some Macs released in 2018. Provided it's connected to a compatible Dolby Vision TV, you can also watch the content on an Apple TV 4K. When browsing the Vimeo website, you'll see a badge that denotes whether someone shot the video in Dolby Vision. As long as you have a compatible device, the video will automatically default to the format. |
Sony's HT-A7000 soundbar with Dolby Atmos and HDMI 2.1 is up for pre-order Posted: 10 Sep 2021 09:36 AM PDT Since Sony announced its latest flagship soundbar at the end of July, we've been patiently waiting for the company to release the HT-A7000 to put it through testing. That hasn't happened yet, but starting today you can pre-order the unit, as well as the supporting speakers Sony announced at the same time, from Amazon. Part of what makes the $1,300 HT-A7000 intriguing is all the features Sony packed into it. Highlights include an HDMI 2.1 connection with eARC and both 8K and 4K/120 Hz passthrough, in addition to Dolby Atmos support. It also comes with the company's DSEE Extreme technology for upscaling compressed audio. Another nifty feature is a set of built-in microphones the speaker can use to calibrate itself to your space. Starting today, you can also pre-order the SA-SW5 and SA-SW3 Sony announced alongside the HT-A7000. The $700 SW5 is a 300-watt subwoofer with a 7-inch speaker, while the more affordable SA-SW3 will give you 200-watts of bass for $400. Also up for pre-order today are the SA-RS3S satellite speakers. They're priced at $350 for the pair. If you want to take your home theatre in a different direction, Sony's HT-A9 system is another option. $1,800 nets you four cylindrical speakers the company says you can adapt to almost any space and layout. The system comes with a wireless control box that features an HDMI 2.1 connection with eARC output and 8K and 4K/120 Hz passthrough alongside Dolby Vision. They also come with Sony's Sound Mapping Technology, which the company claims allows them to create a more immersive soundstage. |
Apple's iPad Air is $100 off right now, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals Posted: 10 Sep 2021 09:25 AM PDT Labor Day weekend may be over, but some of the sales that came with it are still ongoing. A number of Apple products have been discounted ahead of the company's event next week, including the iPad Air and the MacBook Air M1. Amazon has a bunch of deals onFire tablets, knocking the Fire HD 10 tablet down to $100 and the Fire HD 8 down to $60. Plus, you can still save a ton on things like Samsung portable drives, eero 6 WiFi systems, Pixel smartphones and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. iPad AirApple's iPad Air is $100 off right now, bringing it down to $500. All five colors are on sale at Amazon. thanks to automatically applied coupons, although with various shipping times. We gave the Air a score of 90 for its speedy performance and WiFi, healthy battery life and support for the second-gen Apple Pencil. Buy iPad Air at Amazon - $500
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What to expect at Apple’s iPhone 13 event Posted: 10 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT In just a few days, Apple will be hosting an event that we're all but certain will be the iPhone 13 launch. The company sent out invites earlier this week that featured the words "California Streaming," which of course led many of us in the industry to speculate like crazy what surprises might be in store. My money is on new TV+ or Apple Music content, while others are guessing game streaming or a cloud-based macOS might be possible. But as always, we already have a good idea of what to expect thanks to analysts, leakers and FCC filings. Here's a selection of the more-credible leaks that have been swirling around so you can catch up on all the iPhone 13 rumors ahead of the September 14th keynote. iPhone 13Just as there were four iPhone 12 models last year, we're expecting the same number of iPhone 13s next week. This was pretty much confirmed by an FCC filing about upcoming MagSafe updates, which didn't name them but referred to four "New Phone" items in addition to the existing generation. Those four devices are most likely the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, and I'm personally glad Apple is keeping the baby iPhone around. As early as February this year, rumors of the new iPhones featuring Always On displays have been floating and have only gainedtraction since. This would allow Apple to constantly have the time and other system indicators appear on your lock screen. Another popular rumor suggests the next iPhones will have smaller notches, and that a 120Hz screen is coming to the Pro model. If that's true, Apple would be catching up to Samsung, though Google still hasn't hit that high of a refresh rate on its flagships yet. With the potential Always On display and faster refresh rates, battery life could be a concern for the new flagships. But it sounds like Apple might be mitigating that by using lower power LTPO (or Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) screens and bigger batteries. There's also talk of an in-display fingerprint reader coming to the iPhone 13 line, though the reports on that are less consistent. It'd also be weird since the main iPhone series, haven't had a Touch ID sensor since the iPhone X was launched in 2017. Beyond their screens, the iPhones are also expected to get some camera upgrades. On the hardware front, we're reportedly getting improved ultra-wide cameras across the lineup, with better sensors and lenses. As for imaging software, Apple is supposedly adding an automatic astrophotography feature and a portrait video mode that could blur out the background while you film. Samsung already offers this on its S21 series, so it'll be interesting to see how the two compare. A surprising recent rumor suggests the iPhone 13 might even support satellite communications, which could let you make emergency calls if you're out of a typical cellular coverage area. This would be a unique feature in modern smartphones, and almost hard to believe. But the report said Apple would be using a modified Qualcomm radio to enable this, meaning the components could already be easily available, making it more possible this is coming this year. Externally, the phones aren't expected to look significantly different from their predecessors, other than a potentially "gripper" texture on their backs. Reports seem to agree that the lightning port will remain, and that the updated MagSafe charger (and the phones) will have stronger magnets to prevent accidental slippage. Finally, as we've been referring to it throughout this article, the next generation is most likely going to be called the iPhone 13. Not the iPhone 12S or the iPhone 14, because apparently Apple is not superstitious. Which is cool. Courage. Watch Series 7In addition to new phones, it's also quite likely that we'll see new Apple Watches next week. Specifically, we're expecting the company to unveil the Watch Series 7 with larger cases and screens. Some reports suggest the new wearables will also sport thinner bezels, a flatter design, a faster chip and updated "ultra-wideband functionality," which might improve its communication with doors, locks and other devices. And that's about all we've heard so far. According to various sources, anticipated features like a body-temperature sensor or blood sugar monitor won't be ready for this year's Watch. Those waiting for a rugged variant will also probably have to wait till 2022 at least. AirPods 3Speaking of waiting, we're coming up on about two and a half years since Apple launched the AirPods 2nd gen in 2019. It took about the same amount of time for the company to introduce the follow-up to its original wireless earbuds, though, so it's very likely we'll see the next generation come September 14th. At some point, rumors suggested they might arrive earlier this year. We're now well into the 2nd half of 2021, and all we've seen of the third-generation AirPods is a photo leaked in February. The image is purportedly of the regular model, not the Pro, and includes the device's carrying case. The holder appears wider than the second gen's and the buds seem to have an in-ear design similar to the AirPods Pro. That fits with other rumors swirling around. Beyond what can be seen in the picture, the source 52Audio also claimed that the third-gen AirPods would support active noise cancellation and spatial audio. That contradicts an earlier Bloomberg report that said those features wouldn't make it. The Bloomberg story did say the AirPods would offer a new chip and longer battery life, though. iPad 9, iPad mini 6, MacBook Pro and moreThose three product lines seem all but guaranteed to show up at next week's launch, but let's not forget about the iPad. Apple's next entry-level tablet should be the iPad 9 and multiple reports from sources like Digitimes and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggest that it'll arrive this month alongside the iPhones. An iPad mini 6 is also supposedly on the horizon. In general, rumors indicate that the iPad 9 is going to look quite similar to its predecessor, with a somewhat thinner design and slightly bigger screen. The more noteworthy upgrades are likely to be internal, with faster chips and more RAM being a popular speculation. If Apple does launch a new tablet next week, these incremental improvements do seem like a given. It's also possible that the iPad 9 may offer MagSafe support, though since a slate wasn't mentioned in the FCC filing I mentioned earlier, this seems unlikely. As for the iPad mini 6, it appears as if a redesign might be in the works that would make the compact tablet look more like the M1 iPad Pro, with thinner bezels and a squarer design. It could also come with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, as well as a potential Smart Connector for keyboards and other accessories. That's a whole smorgasbord of Apple devices that might be unveiled next week, as the company readies new products for the upcoming holiday shopping season. But there could still be more surprises up its sleeve. Though a new Apple TV was already launched earlier this year, based on the words California Streaming on the invitation, we'll probably hear about new shows coming to TV+. Plus, Bloomberg's Gurman also wrote in a newsletter that he's expecting a redesigned MacBook Pro between September and November this year, which means it could be announced alongside the iPhones. Or maybe Apple is saving that for another event later in the year. Whatever you might be most interested to see come September 14th, it's clear Apple has plenty to show off. We'll be hosting a live show on the Engadget YouTube channel when the event is over, so that we can all be disappointed or excited together with you in real time. I hope you'll come hang with me and UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith and have some fun then! |
Judge issues permanent injunction on App Store model in Epic v. Apple case Posted: 10 Sep 2021 08:31 AM PDT The judge in the case between Apple and Epic Games has issued a permanent injunction against Apple. The company must allow App Store developers to direct users to other payment systems, which would let them bypass the 30 percent cut of in-app payments that Apple takes. Judge Gonzales Rogers ruled in Epic's favor on one count, per court documents posted by 9to5Mac. She determined that Apple violated California's Unfair Competition law, leading to the injunction, which is set to take effect in 90 days. Under the injunction, Apple is "permanently restrained and enjoined" from preventing developers to include in their apps and metadata "buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms, in addition to In-App Purchasing." Apple also may not stop developers from "communicating with customers through points of contact obtained voluntarily from customers through account registration within the app." On every other count, Judge Gonzales Rogers ruled in Apple's favor, determining, among other things, that the App Store doesn't violate antitrust law. She also ruled against Epic in Apple's counterclaim for breach of contract. As such, Epic must pay Apple $3.65 million. That's equivalent to 30 percent of the $12.2 million Epic earned from Fortnite iOS players between August and October 2020 through the Epic Direct Payment system. Epic also has to pay Apple 30 percent of the revenue it received via that system between November 1st and today. "Today the Court has affirmed what we've known all along: the App Store is not in violation of antitrust law. As the Court recognized 'success is not illegal.'" Apple said in a statement. "Apple faces rigorous competition in every segment in which we do business, and we believe customers and developers choose us because our products and services are the best in the world. We remain committed to ensuring the App Store is a safe and trusted marketplace that supports a thriving developer community and more than 2.1 million U.S. jobs, and where the rules apply equally to everyone."
"Today's ruling isn't a win for developers or for consumers. Epic is fighting for fair competition among in-app payment methods and app stores for a billion consumers," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney wrote on Twitter. "Fortnite will return to the iOS App Store when and where Epic can offer in-app payment in fair competition with Apple in-app payment, passing along the savings to consumers." Sweeney thanked the court for "managing a very complex case on a speedy timeline" and pledged that Epic will "fight on." Offering an alternative payment system was at the heart of Epic's case against Apple. The former kicked off the legal fight in August 2020, when it informed Fortnite players on iOS and Android that they would receive a discount on in-game goods if they bypassed Apple and Google's payment systems. Both OS makers swiftly removed Fortnite from their app stores, and Epic sued them both. The Apple case went to trial in May. The ruling comes a day after Epic asked Apple to restore its developer license so it could once again offer Fortnite to iOS users in South Korea through the App Store. That country recently passed a law that will require Apple and Google to allow other payment systems in their app stores, but it hasn't been rubber-stamped.
Apple refused Epic's request, stating that although it would welcome back the developer if it played by the same rules as everyone else, "Epic has admitted to breach of contract and as of now, there's no legitimate basis for the reinstatement of their developer account." This injunction could mark a monumental change for the App Store ecosystem and Apple's business if it comes into effect. Developers would no longer have to fork over 30 percent of iOS app revenue to Apple, which could cost the company billions. Spotify and Netflix are among the major companies who don't allow users to sign up for a subscription through their iOS apps, due to the cut Apple takes. "We are pleased with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers' finding that Apple engaged in anti-competitive conduct and has permanently prohibited their anti-steering provisions," Spotify's head of global affairs and chief legal officer Horacio Gutierrez told Engadget in a statement. "This and other developments around the world show that there is strong need and momentum for legislation to address these and many other unfair practices, which are designed to hurt competition and consumers. This task has never been more urgent." Despite the injunction, don't expect Fortnite to arrive back on the App Store any time soon. It's highly likely that Apple will appeal that aspect of Judge Gonzales Rogers' ruling. Update 9/10 1:05PM ET: Added Tim Sweeney's comments. Update 9/10 1:18PM ET: Added Spotify's statement. |
WhatsApp rolls out end-to-end encryption for chat backups Posted: 10 Sep 2021 08:09 AM PDT WhatsApp began quietly testing end-to-end encryption for chat history backups earlier this summer. Now, the company is making the feature official: WhatsApp announced today that all users will be able to encrypt backups of their chat history. While WhatsApp messages have been encrypted since 2016, the app hasn't offered end-to-end encryption of backups, which rely on iCloud or Google Drive. But with the latest update, users will be able to opt-in to end-to-end encryption for their backups before those backups hit their cloud storage service. Users can expect the update "in the coming weeks," according to the company. Once end-to-end encryption is enabled, "neither WhatsApp nor the backup service provider will be able to access" the backup, WhatsApp writes in a blog post. Backups are encrypted with a "unique, randomly generated encryption key." Users will then be able to choose between two options: manually storing the 64-digit key, or setting a password, which can be used to access the key. While the feature certainly makes backups more secure, there are a few factors to keep in mind. The first is that opting in means there will be no way to recover your backup should you lose the 64-digit encryption key (you are able to reset the password if you forget it). Next is that even though WhatsApp recently announced support for multiple devices, you'll only be able to create encrypted backups on your primary device. It's also worth pointing out that end-to-end encryption doesn't guarantee your chats will never be used in a way you might not like. This week, ProPublica published a lengthy story on WhatsApp's use of human moderators who review chats that are reported by WhatsApp users. And earlier this year The Information reported that Facebook may be researching AI that could one day allow it to serve users ads based on encrypted messages (the head of WhatsApp denied the messaging app was pursuing the technology). While neither of these "break" the security offered by encryption — and there are many very good reasons why people should be able to report abusive messages — it's a good reminder that privacy is about much more than just the presence of end-to-end encryption. |
Apple TV+ acquires 'Yo Gabba Gabba' and is making new episodes Posted: 10 Sep 2021 08:08 AM PDT Apple isn't just bringing brand new shows and movies to TV+. It's picking up some existing series to build out the library, but it's selective about which ones to add. After it became the home of Peanuts specials in 2020, Apple has acquired another notable kids' show: Yo Gabba Gabba!. All existing Yo Gabba Gabba! episodes and specials are coming to Apple TV+. There are 20 new half-hour episodes being made for the service too, as 9to5Mac notes. Apple is working on the episodes with WildBrain and Yo Gabba Gabba LLC, which co-own the Yo Gabba Gabba! IP. Apple previously picked up Fraggle Rock and is rebooting the show with a new season. It was a similar case with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's travel docuseries Long Way Down and Long Way Round — Long Way Up, another show featuring the actors traveling across South and Central America on electric motorbikes, debuted on Apple TV+ last year. Meanwhile, reports suggest Apple is ramping up its output for the streaming service. According to The Information, Apple plans to add at least one movie or TV show a week in 2022, which would more than double its pace of releases in 2021. The publication's sources also said the company is planning to spend north of $500 million on Apple TV+ marketing this year. |
Automakers dial up the wattage on the future of EVs at Munich's auto show Posted: 10 Sep 2021 07:30 AM PDT After over a year of canceled auto shows due to the pandemic, Munich's IAA Mobility 2021 auto show is the first big opportunity for automakers to display their upcoming vehicles to the masses. Companies including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, and Porsche dropped new electric concepts and even showed off some production vehicles. Engadget has been in Germany this week, and here are four of our favorite new models. Mercedes-Benz EQE sedanRight out of the gate, Mercedes took no time to unveil its latest electric sedan, the EQE. While the EQS is the top of the luxury heap, the EQE gives potential buyers the opportunity to slide into Mercedes luxury without dropping as much cash. The EQE shares many of the same design elements and features as the more-expensive EQS including the optional 6-inch Hyperscreen and rear-wheel drive. Mercedes-Benz EQG electric conceptNot stopping at sedans, Mercedes also unveiled a near-production concept version of the iconic G-Class aka, G Wagon. The EQG has the same distinctive look of the rugged, expensive offroader, but with a whole lot of lighting flourishes. How many of those will make it to production is unknown, and there's also no word on what it'll cost and how long its range will be. But if Mercedes can pull off with the G-Wagon what it did with the EQS then the future of offroading — or driving around while shopping for high-end clothing — will be electrified. BMW i Vision CIrcular Concept EVBMW already has two electric production vehicles, the i4 and iX, headed to the US. In Munich, it took the opportunity to unveil the i Vision Circular concept, a vehicle that's more about the future of manufacturing than it is about the future of driving. Built entirely out of recycled materials, the Circular is manufactured from mono-materials that are easy to recycle and take apart. Porsche Mission R electric concept race carFor those excited about motorsports and the future of sports cars, the Porsche Mission R concept race car gave fans of the German brand a peek at what the future has in store. The all-wheel-drive vehicle uses a 900-volt architecture that supports DC fast charging at up to 340kW, and its battery is tuned for intense track days rather than cruising around town. While it's currently a concept, the technologies found in the Mission R will likely make their way to the motorsports division and potentially into a future Cayman electric. |
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