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- Ford, Walmart and Argo AI to launch autonomous vehicle deliveries in three cities
- Pērkons is Erica Synths' thunderous new drum machine
- Microsoft issues patch for zero-day exploit that uses malicious Office files
- New York passes law that will ban all gas-powered car sales by 2035
- Nintendo Switch gets Bluetooth audio at last
- Rivian starts building R1T electric trucks for customers
- iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are Apple's first phones with dual eSIM support
- Here’s everything Apple announced at its iPhone 13 event
- Activision Blizzard workers accuse company of violating federal labor law
- The iPhone 13 Pro and the Pro Max vs. the competition: It's all about their screens
- How to pre-order the 'new' iPad and iPad mini
- iPhone 13 vs. the competition: Battle of the batteries
- iOS 15 will be available to download on September 20th
- iPhone 13's cinematic mode will let you manipulate focus like a pro
- The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have adaptive 120Hz screens
- Apple's iPhone 13 mini gets camera technology from the 12 Pro Max
- Apple Fitness+ adds Group Workouts so you can exercise with friends via SharePlay
- Apple's iPhone 13 has a smaller notch and bigger battery
- Apple Watch Series 7 delivers larger screens and more durability
- Apple's sixth-gen iPad mini gets USB-C and an all-screen design
- Apple updates the entry-level iPad with a new A13 Bionic chip
- Twitter reopens public verifications following August pause
- Razer's Wolverine V2 Chroma features interchangeable thumb sticks
- Moog's three-synth bundle teaches patching techniques with a card game
- Arturia's SQ80 V is one of its best classic synth emulations in years
| Ford, Walmart and Argo AI to launch autonomous vehicle deliveries in three cities Posted: 15 Sep 2021 04:00 AM PDT Ford, Walmart and Argo AI plan to launch autonomous vehicle delivery services in Miami, Austin, Texas and Washington DC later this year, Ford has announced. The service will focus on last mile deliveries and use Ford vehicles equipped with Argo's AI self-driving system to deliver Walmart orders. Don't count on driverless ghost cars pulling up to your house with groceries, however, as Argo emphasized that the new venture is all about "testing" and "potential." "Our focus on the testing and development of self-driving technology that operates in urban areas where customer demand is high really comes to life with this collaboration," said Argo AI founder and CEO Bryan Salesky. "Working together with Walmart and Ford across three markets, we're showing the potential for autonomous vehicle delivery services at scale." Jared Wickerham/Argo A Deliveries will be available in those cities "within defined service areas" and expand over time, Ford said. It will focus on next day or same day deliveries in urban cores, helping the players learn about autonomous technology as it relates to deliveries, particularly for logistics and operations. Ford and Walmart previously announced a collaboration with Uber's PostMates to deliver goods in Miami, and it has been operating with Argo AI in Miami and Washington DC since 2018. All current testing is done with safety drivers at the wheel. The Walmart delivery effort "marks a significant step toward scaling a commercial goods delivery service," according to Ford. Left unsaid, however, is that level 4 and higher autonomous driving is still a distant dream, even after many years of development. As such, vehicles are nowhere near ready to ply city streets without a safety driver at the wheel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pērkons is Erica Synths' thunderous new drum machine Posted: 15 Sep 2021 02:00 AM PDT Erica Synths is no stranger to large, niche instruments. Just look at the SYNTRX — it's one of the most amazing and also impractical synths I've ever played. And the company's latest, Pērkons, continues that tradition. It chassis actually appears to be very similar to the SYNTRX, a metal rectangle with slightly rounded edges at the top and bottom, and wooden cheeks on the side. Of course the interface is completely different, which isn't surprising since Pērkons isn't an homage to the Synthi AKS, but a drum machine. The core of Pērkons is a hybrid of four digital sound sources with an analog multimode filter and overdrive. The goal is big, thunderous percussion (hence being named after a Baltic god of thunder) — if you're going in thinking about a simple kick, snare, hat combo, you might be disappointed. Unfortunately Erica Synths is being really cagey about the drum machine right now, so I don't have a ton of impressions to share. Though, the company says that it "tears down the borders between drum machine, synthesizer and drone instrument." What I can say though is that is has a rather interesting collection of features. There are only four voices / sequencer tracks, but each voice has extensive controls and can be saved as "kits" for easy recall later. You can also record automation to a pattern (there's room for 64 on the Pērkons but you can expand the storage with an SD card), or modulate parameters with the LFO. Erica Synths Patterns can be up to 64 steps, with chance and ratchet controls for each step and there are four separate shuffle algorithms to keep things interesting. Plus an analog delay for getting your dub on and an optical compressor for punch. Pērkons is obviously meant for the serious musician, though, not the casual knob twiddler. The size and €1,650 price make that pretty clear. But it's even more obvious when you look around back. There are separate outputs for each of the four voices, plus send and returns for each voice, so you could (if you wanted) add a distortion pedal to your bass drum and some flanger to the hats and... ring modulation to the snare, why not? There's no firm release date yet, but Erica Synths says Pērkons will be out by the end of the year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft issues patch for zero-day exploit that uses malicious Office files Posted: 15 Sep 2021 01:07 AM PDT Microsoft has just rolled out an update fixing 66 security vulnerabilities as part of this month's Patch Tuesday. One of them addresses a critical zero-day vulnerability that's being actively exploited by hackers using Office files containing malicious ActiveX controls. A few days ago, Microsoft issued a warning about the flaw after being notified by security researchers who discovered that bad actors are exploiting it by tricking potential victims into opening malicious Office files. Upon being opened, the file automatically launches a page on Internet Explorer, which contains an ActiveX control that downloads malware onto the victim's computer. When Microsoft published the warning, it didn't have a fix yet and only asked users to make sure Microsoft Defender Antivirus or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint are switch on. Both programs can detect attempts to exploit the vulnerability. It also advised users to disable all ActiveX controls on Internet Explorer. The vulnerability known as CVE-2021-40444 affects Windows Servers from version 2008 and Windows 7 through 10. Security researchers proved that the exploit is 100 percent reliable, and all it would take to infect a computer is to open the file a hacker sends. Now, the new update will make sure the flaw can't be exploited anymore. In addition to patching CVE-2021-40444, the update also fixes two other critical flaws. As The Register notes, it fixes two remote code execution vulnerabilities for Windows WLAN AutoConfig Service and Open Management Infrastructure. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New York passes law that will ban all gas-powered car sales by 2035 Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:35 PM PDT In 14 years' time, no fossil fuel-powered vehicles will be sold in New York anymore. The state has passed a new law that bans the sale of gas vehicles starting in 2035, requiring all new cars to be zero emission. New York's Senate and Assembly passed the bill and Governor Kathy Hochul signed it into law last week. The move will help reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent and help it achieve its climate targets, including an 85 reduction in GHG emissions by 2050. As Ars Technica notes, though, the state has a lot of work ahead of it, considering only around one percent of new vehicles sold in New York at the moment is fully electric. That's why, under the new law, several state agencies are required to work together to conjure a zero-emissions vehicle market development strategy by the end of next year. They'll have to find a feasible way to make sure that even off-road vehicles and equipment sold in the state are emissions-free by 2035. The law also requires all medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold in New York to be emissions-free by 2045. In addition to having to convince people to buy electric within the next 14 years, New York will also have install an extensive charging network across the state. That includes installing charging stations at apartments, groceries, malls and parking lots. California also banned the sales of new gas-powered cars by 2035 last year, and Massachusetts followed suit earlier this year. Meanwhile, Washington lawmakers tried to pass a law that prohibits sales of gas-powered cars by 2030, but it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Jay Inslee. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nintendo Switch gets Bluetooth audio at last Posted: 14 Sep 2021 06:11 PM PDT You can finally use wireless headphones and earbuds with the Nintendo Switch. The gaming giant has quietly announced on Twitter that it has rolled out a software update, which gives the Switch the ability to pair with Bluetooth devices for audio output. After updating, you'll now see a Bluetooth Audio section under Settings, as well as a new status indicator that shows whether a pair of headphones is connected.
The new feature only works with devices for audio output only, though, and doesn't support microphone input via Bluetooth. You can only pair your Switch with two controllers at once while using Bluetooth audio, so you'll have to disconnect your device if you want to get into wild eight-player battles with friends. And while up to 10 Bluetooth devices can be saved on the system, only one can connect to the console at any one time. In addition, you can't use wireless headphones or earphones when you play local wireless multiplayer games — Switch would automatically cut your connection. Wireless audio has been conspicuously missing from the Switch since it first launched. Over the years, several third-party manufacturers released accessories that added support for wireless audio devices, while a previous update also added support for USB headphones. This update, however, will finally make it a lot easier to go wireless, considering it will allow you to connect the Bluetooth earphone you use with all your other gadgets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rivian starts building R1T electric trucks for customers Posted: 14 Sep 2021 03:30 PM PDT At the start of the month, Rivian achieved a major milestone. The Environmental Protection Agency published official range estimates for the company's R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV, putting both vehicles one step closer to an official launch. Rivian has now hit another important milestone.
In a tweet spotted by Roadshow, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe announced on Tuesday that the company produced its first R1T EV for a customer. "After months of building pre-production vehicles, this morning our first customer vehicle drove off our production line in Normal," Scaringe wrote on Twitter. "Can't wait to get these into the hands of our customers!" Getting to this point has been something of a journey for Rivian. The company had initially planned to start deliveries of the R1T in 2020 but was forced to delay the truck's debut to 2021 when it couldn't get its manufacturing facility, a former Mitsubishi plant, retooled quickly enough. The coronavirus pandemic only added to the automaker's problems, forcing it to push bach the launch of the R1T and R1S from July to September. "Everything from facility construction, to equipment installation, to vehicle component supply (especially semiconductors) has been impacted by the pandemic," Scaringe wrote at the time. But even with you factor in those setbacks, the R1T is making its way to consumers before the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford F-150 Lightning. Both of those vehicles won't debut before the start of 2022. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 13 and 13 Pro are Apple's first phones with dual eSIM support Posted: 14 Sep 2021 02:02 PM PDT Plenty of smartphones have eSIM support to enable cell service without a conventional SIM card, but only for one line — you still need a card if you need two lines. That won't be an issue with iPhones from now on. 9to5Macobserved the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro both include Apple's first support for dual eSIMs. In theory, you can use multi-line support without picking up a physical SIM. There's still nano-SIM card support if you need it. Apple makes no mention of using the nano-SIM slot alongside the dual eSIMs. We've asked Apple for comment, but you shouldn't expect three-line support at this stage. The usual caveats apply. Some carriers aren't fond of eSIMs and might limit your ability to switch carriers. Others might not support eSIMs or even disable them in versions sold by the network. In the right circumstances, though, it could be ideal for international travel, business lines or prepaid service. You might never need to visit a carrier store or wait for a SIM in the mail. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Here’s everything Apple announced at its iPhone 13 event Posted: 14 Sep 2021 01:15 PM PDT Apple kicked off its fall hardware release slate with "California Streaming," an event dedicated to its newest iPhone and Apple Watch models. And while those devices obviously headlined the event, the company also announced a new iPad and iPad mini. Here's everything the company showed off on Tuesday. iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro MaxApple The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max include a host of improvements aimed at content creators, including a more capable camera system and a new Cinematic mode that can blur the background of your videos while keeping the subject in focus. However, the enhancement that's most likely to get current iPhone owners to upgrade is the addition of Apple's ProMotion display technology. The feature allows the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max to adjust the refresh rates of their displays up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. The Pro lineup starts at $999, with pre-orders scheduled to open on September 17th and general availability to follow on September 24th. iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 miniApple Apple's more affordable pair of iPhones didn't get as many upgrades as their Pro siblings, but the ones they did receive are still notable. Internally, the devices feature the company's new A15 Bionic chips and bigger batteries. Apple also redesigned its TrueDepth camera array to make it smaller, leading to a less prominent but still noticeable notch on both devices. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini will start at $799 and $699 when they go up for pre-order on Friday and then go on sale on September 24th. Apple Watch 7Apple The Apple Watch is about to get bigger yes, but perhaps the more important story with the Series 7 is that Apple has made the wearable more durable. The Series 7 is the first Apple Watch to include dust resistance. The screen is also more crack-resistant thanks to the refreshed design. When it arrives sometime this fall, the Series 7 will start at $399. iPad miniApple After two and a half years without a refresh, Apple's iPad mini got a substantial update on Tuesday. In short, the company took essentially everything that made the 4th-generation iPad Air so compelling and gave it to its smallest iPad. We're talking about an updated design, USB-C connectivity, support for the company's second-generation Apple Pencil and a brighter and more colorful display, among various other upgrades. You can pre-order the iPad mini starting today for $499 before it ships on September 24th. iPadApple It may not look different from the company's previous entry-level tablet, but the 9th-generation iPad includes some handy upgrades. The most important of those is a new 12-megapixel front-facing camera with an ultra-wide lens that comes with the iPad Pro's Center Stage feature. The inclusion of Center Stage allows the camera to crop into the subject intelligently so that they're always at the center of the frame. The 9th-generation iPad will start at $329 when it becomes available on September 24th. Everything elseOutside of new hardware, Apple announced it will release iOS 15 on September 20th. It will also push out iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 that same day. Last but not least, the company said it plans to update Fitness+ to make it easier for users to take part in shared virtual classes with friends and family members. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Activision Blizzard workers accuse company of violating federal labor law Posted: 14 Sep 2021 12:40 PM PDT Activision Blizzard is facing still more legal action over its labor practices. As Game Developerreports, Activision Blizzard workers and the Communication Workers of America have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board accusing the game developer of using coercion (such as threats) and interrogation. While the filing doesn't detail the behavior, the employee group ABetterABK claimed Activision Blizzard tried to intimidate staff talking about forced arbitration for disputes. Companies sometimes include employment clauses requiring arbitration in place of lawsuits. The approach typically favors businesses as arbitrations are often quicker than lawsuits, deny access to class actions and, most importantly, keep matters private. Work disputes are less likely to reach the public eye and prompt systemic change. Tech firms like Microsoft have ended arbitration for sexual harassment claims precisely to make sure those disputes are transparent and prevent harassers from going unchecked. It's not clear how Activision Blizzard intends to respond. We've asked the company about the complaint. The NLRB has yet to say if it will take up the case. The gaming giant has taken some action in response to California's sexual harassment lawsuit, dismissing three senior designers and a Blizzard president after they were referenced in the case. It has so far been reluctant to discuss structural changes, though. The NLRB complaint might intensify the pressure for reform, and certainly won't help Activision Blizzard's image.
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| The iPhone 13 Pro and the Pro Max vs. the competition: It's all about their screens Posted: 14 Sep 2021 12:01 PM PDT Another Apple event, and another set of Pro-styled phones to tempt you, now with Super Retina XDR screens and Pro Motion. But the company doesn't command the larger-display market, facing off against Android stalwarts like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and OnePlus 9 Pro. Below you'll find the specs of these four phones all lined up for your perusal, though to get a full review you'll need check back here at Engadget later this fall.
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| How to pre-order the 'new' iPad and iPad mini Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:48 AM PDT Apple kicked off its hardware event today by revealing two updated iPads that improve upon existing models. The base, 10.2-inch iPad may look the same as the previous version, but it packs better performance and a more advanced camera. The new iPad mini, on the other hand, has been completely redesigned to look like a smaller iPad Pro. Here's how you can pre-order both the new 10.2-inch iPad and the new iPad mini. 10.2-inch iPadApple The updated 10.2-inch iPad is available to pre-order today from Apple starting at $329 and will be widely available on September 24. Buy iPad at Apple starting at $329Similarly to last year, Apple focused on updating the internals of this iPad rather than its design. Inside is a A13 Bionic chipset with neural engine, which the company claims will provide 20 percent better performance than the previous tablet. The other major update is the new 12MP ultra wide, front-facing camera that supports Apple's Center Stage feature. This allows the camera to automatically pan and zoom to keep you in focus during video calls even as you move around. Apple debuted this feature on the latest iPad Pros and now even those opting for the most budget-friendly iPad can get that advanced feature. The base iPad still has 10.2-inch Retina display but it now supports TrueTone, which will make it easier on the eyes. It still has a physical Home button on its bottom edge and it still supports the first-generation Apple Pencil for those that want to doodle and take notes with the tablet. Notably, the base configuration comes with double the storage than the previous model — 64GB instead of 32GB — which was a much-needed update. iPad miniApple The updated iPad mini is available to pre-order today from Apple starting at $499 and will be widely available on September 24. Buy iPad mini at Apple starting at $499Apple needed to give the iPad mini some love. The company's smallest tablet received a minor update two years ago, and hadn't received a big update for three years before that. So the 2021 iPad mini represents the biggest change for the compact tablet in roughly five years, and Apple essentially made it look like a tiny version of its iPad Pros. It has an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display that extends almost edge-to-edge, and that means the physical Home button is gone. Apple move its TouchID technology to the top button on this tablet, which makes it similar to the iPad Air. It also supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and the accessory can magnetically attach to the mini's side, just as it does with the iPad Pros. The new iPad mini also has the 12MP ultra wide, front-facing camera found on the base iPad, which means Center Stage calls will be available on this device, too. The rear camera is a new 12MP shooter with Focus Pixels, True Tone flash and the ability to take Smart HDR photos. Inside the iPad mini is the A15 Bionic chip, which has a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU, and Apple promises 40 percent better performance out of this slab than the previous version. It also has the neural engine which makes for more efficient machine-learning experiences. It'll come in WiFi and WiFi + Cellular versions and it now supports WiFi 6 and 5G connectivity. Another small yet important change is in the iPad mini's charging method — gone is the old Lightning port, as it's been replaced with a USB-C port for faster, more efficient charging. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 13 vs. the competition: Battle of the batteries Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:45 AM PDT By this time most kids have gone back to school and, here at Engadget, it's time to get back to the phone grind. First up on the slate of fall announcements is Apple with the latest iteration of the iPhone, and this time around it's got A15 Bionic and a bigger batter to tempt you to upgrade. But for dedicated Android users, are those enough to make the switch? We've squared off the specs of the iPhone 13 against Samsung's Galaxy S20 and the OnePlus 9, though you'll have to wait for our full review in a few weeks for the final verdict.
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| iOS 15 will be available to download on September 20th Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:27 AM PDT Apple's iOS 15, iPad OS 15 and watchOS 8 updates are dropping September 20th, days ahead of iPhone 13 lineup. The latest version of iOS adds new features for FaceTime and Messages, smarter notifications and a new LiveText feature. With the update, iPhone and iPad owners can take advantage of FaceTime improvements, including the addition of spatial audio and noise reduction features to eliminate distracting background sounds, The revamped Messages app adds a new "shared with you" feature that makes it easier to track photos, music and news articles that are shared in chats with a dedicated section for shared content. Apple is also changing up its notifications, with new tools to control how and when you receive push alerts. New "Focus" modes, allow you to tune out all alerts except for apps and people you specifically want to hear from, and you can set specific profiles for working, sleeping and other activities. These profiles can also change the arrangement of apps on your home screen based on the apps you're most likely to use throughout the day. One of the more intriguing features of iOS 15 is Live Text, which uses the camera to scan your surroundings and surface relevant information. If you point it at a whiteboard, for example, it could pull out the written text for you to share. It could also identify art, landmarks, plants and pets. Notably, the initial release won't include Apple's new SharePlay features, which is expected in a later update. The company also recently confirmed it would delay iOS 15's most controversial features: the planned child safety update that will allow the company to detect illegal child abuse imagery on users' devices. Apple said earlier this month it was delaying the changes in order to "make improvements" to the widely-criticized system. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| iPhone 13's cinematic mode will let you manipulate focus like a pro Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:17 AM PDT The iPhone 13 could make your mobile footage look a lot more like Hollywood films. Apple's new phones feature cinematic mode, which can mimic the focus capabilities from professional cameras. It can automatically focus your video scenes on specific subjects — for example, making someone in the foreground look completely clear, while everyone in the background is blurred out. Even better, cinematic mode is smart enough to push focus to someone in the background if a foreground character looks at them. And, of course, you'll also be able to manually choose focus points if you want. Apple says cinematic mode is possible thanks to the iPhone 13's A15 Bionic processor. As usual, the company claims it's far faster than competing mobile chips (50-percent better, in this case), which opens the door for entirely new software features. The iPhone 13's camera also has optical image stabilization tech from last year's 12 Pro Max, along with far better sensors, all of which help make cinematic mode possible. It's unclear just how advanced cinematic mode is at this point. (Notably, it's limited to 1080p and 30fps, according to Apple's specs.) But if it works as advertised, it could be a major upgrade for home videos and pros looking to shoot with iPhones. Professionals can also take their footage to another level with the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, both of which support ProRes video. At this point, it looks like cinematic mode could go the way of portrait capabilities, a feature that every smartphone maker will race to replicate. (And yes, we know that first arrived on Android phones.) Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have adaptive 120Hz screens Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:08 AM PDT As we expected, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 13 series at its "California Streaming" event today, and they include a pair of more-premium Pro flagships. Tim Cook called the series the "most Pro iPhone ever," and the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have faster screens, smaller notches and new colors compared to the 12 Pro series. Most significantly, Apple is bringing a new Super Retina XDR display with 1,000 nits of brightness for better outdoor reading. The company said this is the brightest screen on iPhone ever, and it's 25 percent higher than before. It's also the first time the company's ProMotion is available on iPhone, bringing adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz to the Pro series. Most phones in the market with high refresh rates similarly adopt adaptive displays to increase speeds for smoother scrolling when you're doing things that benefit from it more, like scrolling or playing games. When you're just looking at static images, the refresh rates drop to as low as 10Hz. Like the regular and mini iPhone 13s, the Pro series also use the company's new A15 Bionic chipset that brings improved graphics and neural processing, as well as new video encoder and decoders. With the updated CPU, Apple also added camera features like a Cinematic Mode for video capture, which is powered by machine learning for intelligent focusing on the fly. The Pro models get an improved GPU with five cores, rather than the regular models' four. The company also upgraded the Pro's camera system, bringing better hardware like a new 77mm telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, as well as a new ultrawide setup with autofocus and a larger f/1.8 aperture. This will yield a 92-percent improvement in low light, Apple said. As for the primary "wide" camera, it now features a f/1.5 aperture and 1.9-micron pixels, for what the company said is its largest sensor yet. Combined with improved image signal processing through the A15 Bionic chipset, the iPhone 13 Pro cameras can shoot at up to 6x optical zoom with macro photography support as well. For the first time, too, Apple's ProRes for full-resolution editing will be supported on the iPhone on this year's Pro models. The iPhone 13 Pro series also features "the most pro design," according to the company, and comes in four colors, including a new Sierra Blue hue. Its front has a 20-percent smaller camera system, and at the rear there's a stainless steel trim that surrounds the three sapphire crystal lenses. It's also rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, while the internals have been redesigned, like the regular iPhones. The A15 Bionic chip is also supposed to bring better battery performance, and the company promised the iPhone 13 Pro Max will last 2.5 hours more than last year's model, making it the longest-lasting iPhone ever. The iPhone 13 Pro is supposed to see a 1.5 hour boost compared to the iPhone 12 Pro. As for the specifics: the iPhone 13 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen while the Pro Max sports a 6.7-inch display, and they start at $999. The new phones will be available on September 24th, with pre-orders starting Friday the 17th. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple's iPhone 13 mini gets camera technology from the 12 Pro Max Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:50 AM PDT The iPhone mini is staying in Apple's lineup for at least another year. At its California Streaming event, the company announced its base model iPhone will once again come in two sizes. Like its bigger sibling, the iPhone 13 mini features the company's latest system-on-a-chip, the A15 Bionic. The 5nm chip includes a six-core CPU consisting of two high-performance and four high-efficiency cores. The result is a processor that is capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second. Translation: it's fast. Critically, Apple claims battery life is noticeably improved on its latest iPhones. Compared to its predecessor, the company says most users should get an hour and a half of additional battery from the iPhone 13 mini. That increase in uptime comes courtesy of the phone's A15 Bionic chip, more efficient internal components and software optimizations the company has made under the hood. Given that battery life was one of the few places where the iPhone 12 mini was a disappointment, that's a major upgrade. Unsurprisingly, iPhone 13 mini doesn't feature the ProMotion display found on the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max. Instead, just like its predecessor, it features a 5.4-inch OLED display. However, Apple has redesigned the TrueDepth camera array on both the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini to make it smaller and less obtrusive. According to Apple, the notch is now 20-percent smaller. Additionally, the iPhone 13 mini's OLED display is 28-percent brighter and features a peak brightness of 1,200 nits. Apple For photos and videos, the iPhone 13 mini features a more capable dual-camera array than its predecessor. Apple claims the phone's primary 12-megapixel sensor can capture 47 percent more light for less noisy photos. Meanwhile, the phone's ultra-wide camera borrows the sensor-shift image optical stabilization technology the company first introduced in last year's iPhone 12 Pro Max. With its A15 Bionic chip, the iPhone 13 mini comes with a feature called Cinematic Mode that allows you blur the background of a video while the subject stays in focus. Ahead of today's event, there were conflicting reports over whether Apple would outfit the entire iPhone 13 line with in-display fingerprint sensors. In the end, the iPhone 13 mini and its siblings don't add any new methods of biometric authentication. As such, unless you're wearing an Apple Watch, you'll still need to input a passcode to unlock the iPhone 13 mini while wearing a mask. Like the iPhone 12 mini, the 13 mini includes Apple's Ceramic Shield technology, which the company claims helps make the phone's screen more resistant to damage from drops. It's also IP68 certified against water and dust. On the connectivity front, Apple has expanded the iPhone's 5G support to work with more bands. By the end of the year, the company says the phone will work on the networks of 200 carriers in 60 countries. Apple will offer the iPhone 13 mini in six colors: pink, blue, midnight (black), starlight (gold) and (Product) Red. The base model starts at $699 and comes with 128GB of internal storage. That's an upgrade from last year when it came with 64GB of space. Pre-orders for the iPhone 13 mini open on September 17th, with general availability to follow on September 24th. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple Fitness+ adds Group Workouts so you can exercise with friends via SharePlay Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:45 AM PDT Apple's fitness subscription service will soon make it easier for you to take a virtual class with friends and family. The new feature, dubbed Group Workouts, will arrive on Apple Fitness+ later this fall and it will be powered by Apple's SharePlay feature in iOS 15. Apple announced SharePlay when it previewed iOS 15 a few months ago and it allows you to do things like watch a video with friends while on a call. Similarly, the feature will allow Apple Fitness+ users to take exercise classes with contacts, regardless of their location. During the class, you'll see some of your friends' fitness data on your screen as well as when they close their activity rings. And the feature will support up to 32 people at once, so you could have a yoga party with all of your extended family. Apple's bringing a handful of smaller updates to Fitness+ this fall as well. Pilates workouts will come to the service, as well as guided meditation routines that will also be available in audio-only format. Winter sports fans may want to check out Apple's collection of workouts dubbed "getting ready for snow season," which appear to prep the body for activities like skiing and snowboarding. Most new features will be available when watchOS 8 and iOS 15 launch, although we may have to wait a bit longer for Group Workouts because it's unclear if SharePlay will be fully available in the first version of iOS 15. Apple stated in August that SharePlay viewing would likely be delayed until later in the fall. Apple Fitness+ will also be available in 15 new countries this fall, including Austria, Italy, Germany, France, Portugal, Mexico and more, with workouts available in English with subtitles in six different languages. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple's iPhone 13 has a smaller notch and bigger battery Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:44 AM PDT Apple isn't worried about 13 being an unlucky number. The company just unveiled its latest generation of smartphones, the iPhone 13, and is giving us the rundown on all the changes to this year's models right now. Unsurprisingly, it looks nearly identical to last year's iPhone 12, but our first glimpse of it showed a 20-percent smaller notch on the front for Face ID as well as a redesigned back camera module — but by and large, it's visually nearly identical to the iPhone 12. More crucially, the iPhone 13 also has a bigger battery, something that should be welcome for both phones, particularly the iPhone 13 mini. Yep, Apple is keeping the smaller phone around this year. Both phones also have 28 percent brighter screens, but Apple says most iPhone 13 mini users will get an extra 1.5 hours of usage, while the standard iPhone 13 will last 2.5 hours longer than the iPhone 12. Given that battery life was probably one of the biggest downsides of last year's iPhones, this should give users a little relief. The screen sizes are identical to last year: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 13, and 5.4 inches on the iPhone 13 mini. As usual, the new iPhone features Apple's latest A-series chip, and this year it's the A15 Bionic processor. It's a 5nm chip with nearly 15 billion transistors that Apple says is 50 percent faster than its competition. It has two new high-performance cores, four new efficiency cores, a faster four-core graphics processor (again, compared to undefined competition), and a faster neural engine, its dedicated neural networking processor. As for the cameras, Apple has a new wide camera sensor and lens; Apple says its the largest camera sensor it has ever put into a dual-camera system on its phones, and it has bigger pixels than the prior phone. The iPhone 13 is also getting the sensor-shift optical image stabilization system that first came to the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year — having this system available on a much more inexpensive phone will be a nice boost. There's also a new ultra-wide camera sensor, as well. Apple has made a video a big focus in recent years, and that's the case with the iPhone 13 as well. The company is showing off a new mode called "cinematic mode," but they haven't said exactly what that's all about yet. We did get to see it in action in a clip they showed, and it seems that it lets the camera move focus seamlessly between the foreground and background. As Apple says, focus transitions will move focus automatically and follow character's attention so that it knows where to direct your attention. Naturally, you can still tap to change focus at any time. 5G support for the iPhone 13 has been expanded, as well — the antenna system works on more carriers than ever. By the end of the year, Apple says 5G will work on 200 carriers in 60 countries. As for pricing, Apple kept things the same this year: the iPhone 13 mini starts at $699, while the iPhone 13 starts at $799. Both phones come with 128GB of storage (doubled from a year ago), which is another major upgrade over last year's model. This year's colors are black, silver, red, blue and a new pink finish. Preorders open on Friday, and the phones will be available on September 24th. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple Watch Series 7 delivers larger screens and more durability Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:29 AM PDT Apple's basic Watch design has remained largely unchanged since its 2015 debut, but that's about to change. The company has introduced Apple Watch Series 7 with a new (if long-rumored), more seamless design with larger 41mm and 45mm cases that include larger, brighter and more durable screens to match. There's also a wider variety of aluminum colors. Green, anyone? The update takes advantage of the bigger displays, with more information and new watch faces like Contour, Modular Duo and World Timer. As for durability? Series 7 is the first Apple Watch with a dust resistance rating (IP6X), making it better-suited to mountain climbing or the beach. The screen itself is more crack-resistant thanks to a thicker new geometry, and you'll still get swim-friendly WR50 (that is, 50-meter) water resistance. You won't confuse this with a rugged watch, but you might not panic quite so much after a fall. The updates aren't quite so aggressive under the hood. You can anticipate 33 percent faster charging and fall detection during workouts. Most of the updates come through watchOS 8, which now includes detection of cycling workouts, better tracking for e-bikes and help if you fall off. You'll also get a full swipe-based keyboard, support for more workouts (Pilates and Tai Chi) and respiratory rate tracking while you sleep. Apple Watch Series 7 will arrive sometime this fall starting at $399. The Apple Watch SE and Watch Series 3 will hang around at respective prices of $299 and $199, and you can expect refreshed Nike and Hermès variants for the Series 7. This isn't as conspicuous a redesign as some had suggested, but it's a more tangible improvement than Series 6 and might still be worthwhile if you're craving more visual real estate on your wrist. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple's sixth-gen iPad mini gets USB-C and an all-screen design Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:17 AM PDT After two and a half years without a refresh, Apple is at long last revamping the iPad mini. The 8.3-inch device has slimmer bezels and rounded corners, and it leaves no space for a physical Home button. As with last year's iPad Air, you'll now find the Touch ID sensor in the power button. The Lightning port is gone too, with a USB-C port taking its place. The port offers data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, as well as connectivity with a broader range of devices, including cameras and external 4K displays. Apple has moved the volume buttons to the top of the tablet, which runs on iPadOS 15, and there's an intriguing reason for that: The latest model can accommodate a second-gen Apple Pencil. You can attach the peripheral magnetically to the side of the iPad Mini. The screen is a liquid retina display with 500 nits of brightness, a P3 wide color gamut, anti-reflective screen coating, True Tone and full lamination. The iPad Mini now has stereo speakers, so watching video on it could be much better this time around. The tablet is powered by a new A15 Bionic chip. Apple says the chip can deliver up to 80-percent faster performance than the previous iPad mini, with the six-core CPU offering a 40-percent performance boost and the five-core GPU delivering up to 80 percent better graphics performance. The company says the tablet's machine learning (ML) capabilities have improved too, with a 16-core neural engine and ML accelerators capable of running tasks twice as quickly as the fifth-gen tablet. Among the ML capabilities are on-device recognition of text in photos, and the ability to translate that into seven different languages. The camera system is getting an upgrade as well, with iPad Pro's Center Stage experience coming to iPad mini, so you'll stay in frame as you move around while on a video call. The front-facing camera now has a 12MP sensor, as does the rear camera, which also has a larger aperture than in the past and a True Tone flash. On the connectivity front, there's WiFi 6 support and models with 5G. Apple's continuing to support Gigabit LTE and eSIM too. Apple has created a new $59 Smart Folio cover for iPad mini with colors (black, white, dark cherry, English lavender and electric orange) to match the tablet's new finishes. The new iPad mini is available in purple, pink, starlight and space grey. It starts at $499 for the WiFi-only model and $649 for cellular connectivity, each with 64GB of storage. Pre-orders are open now, and the tablet will be available starting on September 24th in 28 countries and regions. Meanwhile, Apple updated the entry-level iPad with an A13 Bionic chip. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple updates the entry-level iPad with a new A13 Bionic chip Posted: 14 Sep 2021 10:17 AM PDT Apple introduced a brand new iPad today, and one of its biggest features is that it ships with an A13 Bionic chip. Apple promises that it has a 20 percent faster performance than the previous iPad, from the CPU, GPU and the Neural Engine. The company also claims that the new iPad is three times faster than the top-selling Chromebook and six times faster than the top-selling Android tablet. The new iPad also features a new front-facing 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera that is especially useful for video calls. It has a 122-degree field-of-view and comes with Center Stage, a tech that we've already seen in Apple's iPad Pro. Similar to the tech on Facebook's Portal devices, Center Stage automatically detects people and dynamically adjusts the frame as you move around, or as more people join the call. The tech works in both portrait and landscape mode. This Center Stage feature works not just on Facetime but in other video apps too, like Zoom, Bluejeans and WebEx. Plus, the tech isn't just for video calls. Users can also utilize the tech to record, stream and publish videos to apps like DoubleTake, Explain Everything and TikTok. Elsewhere, the new iPad has a 10.2-inch Retina display with True Tone, which adjusts the screen content to the color temperature of your surroundings. It will support existing accessories like Apple's Smart Keyboard and the first-generation Apple Pencil. The latest iPad will ship with iPadOS 15, which has more intuitive multitasking thanks to Split View and Slide Over features, new widget layouts for the home screen, and systemwide Notes. Other iPad OS 15 features include the Translate app, Live Text that recognizes text in a photo, and Focus which lets users filter out notifications. iPadOS 15 will be available starting September 20th. It will be available for iPad mini 4 and later, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and all iPad Pros. Apple's new iPad starts at $329 for 64GB, in silver and space gray finishes. WiFi + Cellular models start at $459. There's also a 256GB option. It'll be available starting on September 24th. Follow all of the news from Apple's iPhone event right here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twitter reopens public verifications following August pause Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:56 AM PDT Twitter has once again started accepting applications from the public for account verification, the company announced this week. This latest restart comes after Twitter temporarily "hit pause" on verifications at the start of August to implement improvements to the application and review process."If you're planning to apply and don't yet have access, keep checking your account settings," the company said. "Thanks for sticking with us."
In recent months, Twitter has struggled with handing out blue badges. Since launching its latest system for public verifications in May, the company has had to stop accepting new applications twice. The first suspension came just eight days after the company launched the new system. And before the most recent step back, a fake Cormac McCarthy account was briefly verified. Here's hoping Twitter doesn't run into any further issues. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Razer's Wolverine V2 Chroma features interchangeable thumb sticks Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT Companies are starting to take console gaming more seriously, building headsets and controllers designed explicitly for Xbox and PlayStation systems. Razer's been at the forefront of the pack for a few years now thanks to its line of Wolverine controllers, which gains a new member of the family today, the Wolverine v2 Chroma. Razer While the name would seem to suggest it's just a color upgrade, it's not just the addition of Razer Chroma RGB lighting that makes this a step up from last year's V2. It keeps the two multifunction buttons at the top but now they're joined by four triggers on the back of the gamepad. They're not paddles like the ones you'd find on Microsoft's Elite or Scuf's line of controllers, but they are equipped with 2-stage stop-switches that let you choose between a short and long pull distance depending on what type of game you're playing. Razer Also new to the V2 Chroma are interchangeable thumb stick caps. The default sticks on pretty much any gamepad you can buy are short and concave, and Razer still includes a pair of those in the box. But the package also lets you swap in a tall, concave cap for sniping or a short, convex one for running-and-gunning. You don't need special tools to swap them out either, just give either thumb stick a good tug. Razer If you're thinking that all these improvements don't come cheap, you'd be correct, with the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma going for $150, a $50 increase over the regular V2. But then again, competing options from Microsoft and Scuf will run you $170 to $200, and none of them have snazzy lighting. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moog's three-synth bundle teaches patching techniques with a card game Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT When Moog debuted its Sound Studio bundles earlier this year, the company paired two analog synths with a mixer, cables and everything else you need for a starter kit. Of course, these are for slightly more advanced users given the investment. The only problem is you have to make a decision. The bundles include the three Mother synthesizers, but you have to decide between the Mother-32 and DFAM or DFAM and Subharmonicon. Those are the two combinations available starting $1,399. However, Moog is going a step further with its latest offer: all three Mother synths with the extra gear for $1,999. Like the previous bundles, this three-synth option comes with everything you need to get started. That includes a dust cover, audio mixer/power distribution hub, rack kit, cables, cable organizer, learning materials and even those adorable cardboard cutouts. As a refresher, the Mother-32 is a production synthesizer with a step sequencer and 64 slots of memory. It offers a classic Moog voice for raw analog tone combined with the company's deep bass. The DFAM is a drum synth for all of your rhythm and percussion needs while the Subharmonicon is designed for experimentation. Moog For this three-synth bundle, Moog created a card game to foster collaboration and experimentation. Inspired by the gaming community in the company's home city of Asheville, North Carolina, Circuitous Connections allows you to explore analog synthesis at your own pace. The game helps you discover new sounds and learn patching techniques along the way. The company says this "happy accident generator" will allow you to play repeatedly without patching the same thing twice. Moog also explains that you can have just as much fun playing solo as you can with others. Like it did with the initial Sound Studio packages, Moog is releasing another EP alongside this new offering. Explorations in Analog Synthesis, Volume II includes work from Boy Harsher, Hannah Peel, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Galcher Lustwerk, Ya Tseen, Tygapaw and Paula Temple. And like the first edition, this collection is also available to stream for free on SoundCloud. The Moog Sound Studio: Mother-32 & DFAM & Subharmonicon bundle is now shipping from authorized Moog dealers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arturia's SQ80 V is one of its best classic synth emulations in years Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT Arturia's V Collection consists of a staggering 28 virtual instruments at this point, covering everything from analog classics, to acoustic pianos to forgotten digital keyboards. At some point, you'd think the company would run out of interesting synths to emulate, but not just yet. The newest addition to the Arturia family is the SQ80 V, a recreation of the Ensoniq SQ-80. The SQ-80 was a bit of a strange beast. It was released in 1987 and combined 8-bit digital wavetables with analog filters. It's quirky, crunchy and seriously fun. It combines crunch lo-fi digital samples with analog warmth for something pretty unique. Also, at a time when many synth makers were stripping down their interfaces while stuffing in every feature they could imagine (looking at you DX7), the SQ-80 was surprisingly easy to program. It was also one of the earliest keyboards with polyphonic aftertouch, which is captured here thanks to MPE support. Arturia normally takes great pains to recreate the physical appearance and controls of a synth they're emulating, but the company simplified things a bit for the SQ80 V. You can change the oscillator waves and tweak the filter, but many of the controls, like the three LFOs and four envelopes are all on a separate synthesis tab that's a little more mouse friendly. Arturia also went all out with the sound sources. It includes the original 75 waveforms, as well as the "hidden" waves from the SQ-80 and it's predecessor the ESQ-1, plus a selection of transient waveforms. The company greatly expanded on the sound design possibilities of the SQ80 V without really straying from the heart and character of the original. This is pretty par for the course, though. Arturia has been at this long enough, meticulously emulating classic synths while adding some modern conveniences, that it' be more surprising if it missed the mark at this point. The one thing this means though, is that the company is filling increasingly small niches in its arsenal of instruments. The SQ80 V is a digital synthesizer, with a lo-fi character built around sampled waveforms and an analog filter. If that sounds familiar, it's because the same broad description also applies to the E-MU Emulator II which Arturia recreated for V Collection 8 in December. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget While both are definitely crunchy and digital they have identities all their own. The Emulator II is more of a straightforward sampler, and the SQ-80 is closer to a traditional synthesizer. While I quite enjoyed the lo-fi bit-crushed keys of the Emulator, I dig the SQ80 V more. It's more approachable to someone coming from the world of synthesizers. Plus, it's a little warmer and more timeless sounding. Not that you can't get cheesy 80s sounds out of the SQ80 V, it's just easier to coax modern sound out of than the Emulator which can be a touch too cold and brittle for my tastes. While there are some analog style sounds in the SQ80 V, its bread and butter is crushed digital sounds. Harsh industrial hits, dusty keys and ambient pads. There are two sound packs being released alongside it that lean into those strengths: Dust Factory and Raw Machinery. But even if you skip the sound packs, you should be able to easily find sounds that you like either in the included presets or by designing your own. And building your own patches is pretty simple. The three digital oscillators have dropdown menus for selecting waveforms, the envelopes and LFOs all have their own tabs, and the filter can be shaped with the mouse. The whole interface is clean, charmingly retro and easy to navigate. It's especially impressive considering how much power there is to manipulate things. Most parameters can be modulated by a number of different sources — and many can be modulated by two sources at the same time. Terrence O'Brien / Engadget My one minor complaint UI-wise is that the tiny dials next to the various modulation destinations could be a little clearer. It might not be immediately obvious to everyone that, if you want LFO two to change the filter cutoff you have to hover over the darkened circle underneath it then click on the even tinier plus sign that pops up to select a modulation source. Then you click and drag on the circle to set the modulation amount. Minor quibble with that aside, Arturia does deserve credit for putting a lot of effort into creating thorough and clear tutorials for all its instruments over the last couple of years and SQ80 V is no different. Arturia's V Collection is stuffed with great instruments and great sounds, but the SQ80 V is quickly becoming one of my favorites (though, it is technically not part of the V Collection — yet). It's available now as a standalone instrument for an introductory price of $99 until October 5 at which point it will go up to $199. It can also be bundled with V Collection 8 at a discount, though the final price will depend on your status as an Arturia customer. |
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