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• The Morning After: The verdict on Nintendo’s OLED Switch
• Volt's latest audio interfaces offer vintage preamp sound on the cheap
• Anker's Liberty 3 Pro earbuds offer customized ANC for $170
• Sky's first smart TVs point to Comcast's box-less future
• Twitch says 'server configuration change' led to massive data leak
• 'Dead Cells' creator will release firefighting game 'Nuclear Blaze' on October 18th
• Chevrolet's electric Silverado will debut at CES 2022
• Try to fix Valve’s Steam Deck at your own peril
• AT&T is reportedly One America News' primary financial backer
• Twitter tests warnings about 'intense' conversations on iOS and Android
• Apple says apps must offer a way to delete your account starting in early 2022
• WHO approves the world's first malaria vaccine
• AirPods Pro can now boost other people's voices during conversations
• Facebook is slowing down product development for 'reputational reviews,' report says
• Amazon secures giant tax breaks despite record profits and questionable labor practices
• European Parliament calls for a ban on facial recognition in public spaces
• GM unveils a hands-free driving system that works in nearly all of the US and Canada
• JLab's $79 wireless office headset has a removable earcup and a 60-hour battery
• Twitch's source code and streamer payment figures have been leaked following hack
• YouTube removes R. Kelly's official channels
• My quest for the perfect productivity mouse
• Jabra's owner buys SteelSeries to expand into gaming gear
• What Facebook should change, according to its whistleblower
• Adidas and Microsoft team up for special 20th anniversary Xbox sneakers
• Segway's Ninebot ES4 scooter is $260 off today only

The Morning After: The verdict on Nintendo’s OLED Switch Posted: 07 Oct 2021 04:15 AM PDT If you wanted to own a Nintendo Switch, you probably have one by now, unless you were waiting for the long-rumored Pro model. Sadly, the OLED Switch, which we put through its paces here, is not the 4K-upscaling, next-gen Nintendo console we dreamed of. Engadget It does, however, pack a bigger gorgeous OLED screen, better battery life (despite what appears to be the same internal parts) and a slightly more modern design. That means fewer bezels, a kickstand you might actually use and a redesigned dock. The biggest question is: Who is this for? Both the original Switch and the Lite are cheaper and offer largely the same gaming experience — if you play through a TV, it's exactly the same. For the early adopters — or handheld gamers — the OLED model appears more attractive. A bigger screen and better battery life are both boons for mobile gamers. But is it enough for you to stump up $350, especially when we're all waiting for Nintendo to announce a more notable console upgrade. Despite Nintendo's upfront denial, a new console can't be too far away. The question for would-be OLED Switch buyers is: How long till the next Nintendo console arrives? Read Kris Naudus' full review right here. — Mat Smith Twitch responds to massive data breach It says it was "due to an error in a Twitch server configuration." Reuters Twitch has released an update on a massive hack that appears to have exposed source code, streamer payment figures and other information. It said data was exposed to the internet "due to an error in a Twitch server configuration change that was subsequently accessed by a malicious third party." It added its teams are working with "urgency" to investigate the attack. The streaming site believes no login credentials, including passwords, were exposed. Yesterday, attackers said they stole the "entirety of Twitch.tv," including the site's mobile, desktop and console Twitch clients. It also accessed proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services. All of this could make Twitch vulnerable to future attacks by letting potential hackers probe for weaknesses. Continue reading. Apple says apps must offer a way to delete your account starting in early 2022 Users in some countries have another way to report issues with apps, too. Developers who let users create an account in their iOS, iPadOS and macOS apps will have to offer a method of deleting accounts in apps from January 31st. Apple announced this requirement, alongside other App Store guideline changes, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference back in June as part of a push to give users more control over their data. Continue reading. One person's quest for the perfect wireless mouse Click here. Engadget Mice are not sexy computer peripherals. But for those of us tethered to computer screens, they're often crucial. James Trew, while negotiating some pretty bad RSI, decided it was time to upgrade his setup and tested out mice from some of the biggest companies, including Microsoft and Logitech. His demands were humble enough: a focus on ergonomics. But which mouse won out? Continue reading. European Parliament calls for a ban on facial recognition in public spaces It wants to prohibit private facial recognition databases like Clearview AI. The European Parliament has called on lawmakers in the European Union to ban automated facial recognition in public spaces and to enforce strict safeguards for police use of artificial intelligence. MEPs (members of European Parliament) said citizens should only be monitored when they're suspected of a crime. They cited concerns over algorithmic bias in AI and argued both human supervision and legal protections are required to avoid discrimination. The MEPs also called on EU officials to ban private facial recognition databases (some law enforcement agencies in Europe are using Clearview AI's one), as well as "predictive policing based on behavioral data." Continue reading. Google Maps adds a dedicated 'lite' navigation mode for cyclists You won't need to enter the full turn-by-turn interface to use the feature. Google Maps is adding a dedicated navigation mode for those who like to travel from place to place on two wheels. Taking the turn-by-turn functionality that Maps is known for, the tool allows you to see important details about your current trip without keeping your phone's screen turned on. You don't need to enter the full turn-by-turn interface to use the feature. At a glance, you'll also see your current ETA. Continue reading. HMD's first Nokia tablet features a huge battery and costs $250 The T20 can go nearly 15 hours between charges and offers optional LTE. Nokia has dabbled in tablets before, like the iPad knockoff N1, but has only released smartphones since the brand was purchased by HMD Global. Now, HMD/Nokia have launched their first tablet together, the 10.4-inch T20, with the key features being a large battery, cheap price and US availability. While you don't get bombshell looks for that $250 price tag, the specs, at least, seem respectable for a cheap Android tablet and HMD's track record with Nokia phones has been pretty strong, offering solid smartphones at pretty reasonable prices. The Nokia T20 is available from today. Continue reading. GM unveils a hands-free driving system that works in nearly all of the US and Canada That includes highways, city streets and virtually any paved rural road. Since General Motors introduced its Super Cruise driver-assist system back in 2017, GM and Cadillac drivers have apparently traveled more than 10 million miles with their hands off the wheel. With its next-generation hands-free system, Ultra Cruise, GM claims will "ultimately enable hands-free driving in 95 percent of all driving scenarios." Ultra is designed to work virtually everywhere in the US and Canada. At launch, the system should work on 2 million miles of North American roads — that includes highways, city and subdivision streets and paved rural roads — and will eventually expand to encompass some 3.4 million miles of asphalt. Continue reading. The biggest news stories you might have missed Facebook is slowing down product development for 'reputational reviews,' report says WHO approves the world's first malaria vaccine T-Mobile wireless home internet service now costs $10 less Canon created a dual fisheye lens for a new VR video system Amazon secures giant tax breaks despite record profits and questionable labor practices JLab's $79 wireless office headset has a removable earcup and a 60-hour battery AT&T is reportedly One America News' primary financial backer

Volt's latest audio interfaces offer vintage preamp sound on the cheap Posted: 07 Oct 2021 03:35 AM PDT Universal Audio is an iconic name in music gear thanks to devices like the UA 610 preamp and 1176 compressor. However, the gear can be a tad expensive for home studio producers, with the previous base Apollo Solo interface priced at $699. Now, you can get that vintage analog preamp sound starting at $139 with the new Volt line of audio interfaces.  All the Volts offers a vintage Mic Preamp mode with mic/line preamp circuitry emulating the UA 610 console, used over the years by numerous artists (The Doors, MC5, Van Halen, Arcade Fire) to make sounds warmer or add some grit. The two more expensive models, the Volt 276 and Volt 476, also have built-in analog 1176-type compressor circuits and presets for vocals, guitar. etc. The only thing missing is the digital signal processing (DSP) found in higher-end products like the Apollo lineup, though that's to be expected at these price points.  UA isn't the first high-end gear maker to target bedroom producers, as Solid State Logic recently unveiled an affordable line of interfaces. All the Volts come with bundled with a lot of software including Ableton Live Lite, Marshall Plexi and Time & Tone (Softube), Virtual Drummer DEEP and more. They'll be available in late November from "select Universal Audio retailers," starting at $139 for the Volt 1 (1in/2out) and going up to $369 for the Volt 476 (4in/4out).

Anker's Liberty 3 Pro earbuds offer customized ANC for $170 Posted: 07 Oct 2021 03:00 AM PDT Anker's Soundcore line is a great place to look if you're hoping to save some money on your next pair of earbuds. The company offers a range of designs at affordable prices that undercut much of the competition. What's more, Anker doesn't make many sacrifices when it comes to sound, performance and features to keep those prices low. Today, the company debuts the Liberty 3 Pro: a $170 follow-up to 2019's Liberty 2 Pro that adds active noise cancellation (ANC), improved audio and a refined design.  The Liberty 3 Pro has a similar look to the Liberty 2 Pro with silicone fit wings and a shape that's built to relieve pressure and discomfort. Anker says the new earbuds are 30 percent smaller than the previous model and they're IPX4 rated for moisture protection. On-board controls return to give you easy access to music and calls. Inside, the company explains that "an upgraded dual driver configuration" developed alongside nearly two dozen Grammy winning producers powers its "best sounding model to date." Anker's Astria Coaxial Acoustic Architecture (ACAA) has been updated to version 2.0, enabling more detail without distortion. The Liberty 3 Pro also supports Sony's LDAC codec for wireless audio, a standard that transmits more data over Bluetooth for high-res listening.  Anker/Soundcore The biggest addition here is ANC. The noise-cancelling setup employs Anker's HearID tech that can tailor the sound profile of the earbuds to your hearing. After a quick hearing test, HearID can increase certain frequencies that may be more difficult for you to hear in each ear. HearID also powers the active noise cancelling tech here, automatically customizing the level of noise reduction based on the clamor around you. Anker says the system creates an individual sound profile that accounts for in-ear pressure as well. The Liberty 3 Pro is also outfitted with AI-powered background noise reduction for calls and three ambient sound modes for a variety of scenarios. Anker says the Liberty 3 Pro will last up to six hours on a charge with ANC on or up to eight hours with noise cancellation disabled. The included case supports wireless charging and holds up to three additional charges. A quick-charge feature will give you three hours of use in just 15 minutes.  The Liberty 3 Pro is available today for $169.99 (£139.99/€159.99/$199.99 CAD) in black, white, gray and purple color options.

Sky's first smart TVs point to Comcast's box-less future Posted: 07 Oct 2021 02:55 AM PDT Sky's long journey to move beyond satellite TV is finally over, as the company launches its brand new internet-only TV platform. Sky Glass is the company's first own-brand Smart TV, one which ditches the home-mounted satellite dish and set-top box in favor of pulling all of its content from the internet. The company's pitch is to centralize not just its own content inside the one box, but to act as a universal platform for every streaming TV app currently available on the market. Not to mention that putting it all inside a single piece of hardware reduces the clutter that builds up underneath the family TV. On the hardware front, Sky Glass comes in three sizes, 43-, 55- and 65-inch displays, all of which have 4K Quantum Dot LED screens with 10-bit HDR+ and Dolby Vision. It ships in five colors: Blue, White, Green, Pink or Black, with matching remote controls, speaker fascias and stands. On the audio front, Sky says that you won't need a soundbar with this kit, since the hardware comes with six-speaker Dolby Atmos sound, as well as a subwoofer, built-in. (The company added that, consequently, Sky Glass is up to 50 percent more energy efficient than your current set-up since you'll not be powering a discrete set-top-box and soundbar.) Sky But Sky's value proposition isn't just that it's selling a fancy TV with some streaming bits inside, but a whole new way to end the infinite scroll. With Sky Q, the company already positioned itself as a curation layer between you and the content you want, but this takes it a big step forward. It's designed to aggregate all of the catalogs from all of the streaming apps available and let you pick and choose what you want from one centralized location. That means you can watch episodes of the same TV series, in order, even if they're hosted on different streaming platforms. Sky Glass is also voice-activated, with the wake word 'Hello Sky," and you should be able to access all of your favorite shoes, live TV and play listed content with it. But if you'd prefer, you can use the new remote, which is a simplified version of the touch remote already available for Sky Q, albeit with backlit buttons for better night-time operation. At the same time, Sky also announced a 4K webcam which it is planning to release at some point in the future which will sit on top of the TV and offer Portal-esque video calls. This system also offers motion-tracking and skeleton tracking for both motion gaming and customized workouts, and it even looks like a Kinect. When this hardware is available, you'll also be able to have watching parties for live TV even when you're not in the same location. Sky Of course, given that Sky is owned by Comcast and the company is rumored to be working on its own TV platform, you can assume for yourself that a rebranded version of Sky Glass is coming to the US. Protocol reports that Comcast has been working on a product, dubbed the XClass TV, for the US market. In addition, Sky says that Glass will not just be available in the UK and Europe, but also in Australia and other markets across the next year or so. Price-wise, Sky Glass will cost £649, £849 or £1,049 depending on if you opt for the 43-, 55- or 65-inch version. But the company says that it expects more people to buy it on a monthly subscription contract, much as it does with phones via Sky Mobile, for a minimum contract term. In that instance, the hardware will set you back £13, £17, or £21 per month, depending on which size you opt for.

Twitch says 'server configuration change' led to massive data leak Posted: 07 Oct 2021 12:46 AM PDT Twitch has released an update on a massive hack that appears to have exposed source code, streamer payment figures and other information. It said that data was exposed to the internet "due to an error in a Twitch server configuration change that was subsequently accessed by a malicious third party." It added that its teams are working with "urgency" to investigate the attack.  The Amazon-owned streaming site added that it has "no indication" that any login credentials, including passwords, were exposed. "Additionally, full credit card numbers are not stored by Twitch, so full credit card numbers were not exposed," the company said. Twitch also said that "out of an abundance of caution, we have reset all stream keys," and provided a link to get a new one. Depending on the broadcast software you use, you may need to manually update your software to start a new stream. "Twitch Studio, Streamlabs, Xbox, PlayStation and Twitch Mobile App users should not need to take any action for your new key to work," it wrote. "OBS users who have connected their Twitch account should also not need to take any action." However, if you haven't connect your OBS account to Twitch, you'll need to manually copy your stream from the Twitch Dashboard and paste it into OBS. "For all others, please refer to specific setup instructions for your software of choice." Yesterday, attackers said they stole the "entirety of Twitch.tv," including the site's mobile, desktop and console Twitch clients. It also accessed proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services, red-teaming tools and more. All of that information could make Twitch vulnerable to future attacks by letting potential hackers probe for weaknesses.  The leak also shows creator payments in the millions for streamers like xQc, Nickmercs and Shroud. Several have confirmed that the figures are accurate.  Twitch said that the investigation is ongoing. "We are still in the process of understanding the impact in detail," the company wrote.  Update 10/7/2021 4:54 AM ET: Twitch has reset all stream keys and advised users on how to update their software. That information has been added to the article.

'Dead Cells' creator will release firefighting game 'Nuclear Blaze' on October 18th Posted: 07 Oct 2021 12:19 AM PDT Sébastien Benard, the lead developer and designer for hit indie game Dead Cells, has created a new game that will have you fighting fires, solving mysteries and saving cats. Yes, you'll play a firefighter in Bernard's new 2D action-adventure game entitled Nuclear Blaze — one who gets air-dropped into a secret military facility that went up in flames for unknown reasons.  In the complex, you'll have to use your firehose wisely to deal with the wildfire spreading uncontrollably throughout each section. You'll also have to deal with backdrafts, exploding walls and complex sprinkler systems. But you won't just be trying to put out a blazing inferno in the game: You also have to rescue survivors (cats included) and investigate every nook and cranny to find hidden secrets that would help you figure out the site's true nature, as well as solve the mystery behind the fire. Benard developed Nuclear Blaze under his own company called Deepnight Games. In the developer's website, Bernard described himself as a "former associate" of Motion Twin, which was the studio behind Dead Cells. He also said that he wanted to create a game his 3-year-old could play, which is why the title has a "Kid mode" with simpler level designs, rules and gameplay.  Nuclear Blaze will be available for download on Steam on October 18th. You can watch a short trailer below to get an idea of how you'll be fighting fires and solving mysteries as a 2D firefighter.

Chevrolet's electric Silverado will debut at CES 2022 Posted: 06 Oct 2021 09:59 PM PDT When General Motors CEO Mary Barra delivers the opening keynote at next year's CES, she won't only be kicking off the event — she'll also be unveiling Chevrolet's electric Silverado. The automaker first revealed that it's working on an electrified version of the pickup truck in April, promising an EV with a 400-mile range, which can rival Tesla's 2020 Long-Range Plus Model S.  In today's announcement, Chevrolet has also confirmed that the retail model will come with a glass roof with increased headroom to make the interior look and feel bigger. It will apparently be the first time GM is making a glass roof option available for a full-size pickup. Chevrolet has also confirmed that the vehicle will be capable of four-wheel steering.  The electric Silverado is based on GM's Ultium platform, the automaker's modular technology that enables it to mix and match battery and drive units to electrify all kinds of vehicles across its brands. GMC's electrified Hummer vehicles are also based on the Ultium platform. And, like the Hummer EVs, the electric Silverado will be manufactured at GM's Factory ZERO, the company's new Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. GM spent $2.2 billion to set up the factory with the equipment needed to build all types of electric vehicles. Mary Barra's CES 2022 keynote and the Silverado's debut will take place on January 5th.

Try to fix Valve’s Steam Deck at your own peril Posted: 06 Oct 2021 02:10 PM PDT Valve has long been a proponent of open hardware and software, but its latest video makes a case to the contrary for the upcoming Steam Deck. The game company has posted a Steam Deck teardown video that shows how to pry open the handheld console while simultaneously urging you to keep the system shut. It's certainly possible to get in — it's just that you might just cause more problems than you solve. As Valve explains, the Steam Deck is tightly packed with highly customized parts, including the thumbsticks. While the company is promising replacements for various parts in the "coming months," there are chances you'll damage the system on your way in through static electricity or other mishaps. There can also be consequences to using off-the-shelf parts. A stock SSD might interfere with the handheld's thermals, for instance. You might even compromise the integrity of the console just by opening it, according to Valve. This likely won't deter you if you insist on fixing your Steam Deck yourself. Valve clearly expects at least some unofficial repair attempts given its parts plan. However, it's evident the Half-Life maker wants you to rely on Valve's own technicians, or at least third-party pros, in the event the Deck breaks. This machine isn't the poster child for right to repair advocates, even if it's easier to fix than other devices.

AT&T is reportedly One America News' primary financial backer Posted: 06 Oct 2021 01:01 PM PDT Telecoms have long been accused of trying to skew politics, but a new report suggests AT&T might have gone further than most. According to The Verge, Reutersreports that AT&T is a major backer for One America News Network (OAN), a right-wing media outlet YouTube temporarily banned last November for spreading misinformation. While multiple TV providers carry the channel, an OAN accountant testified in 2020 that 90 percent of OAN parent Herring Networks' revenue, tens of millions of dollars, came through deals with AT&T-owned platforms that included DirecTV. OAN founder Robert Herring separately testified that AT&T executives inspired him to launch the network in 2013 after looking at a media landscape with relatively few conservative outlets. Court documents also indicated that AT&T offered to buy a 5 percent equity stake in OAN and Herring's lifestyle channel AWE, although the two ended up choosing a different agreement. OAN even claimed that one AT&T executive, Aaron Slator, offered to put the channel on DirecTV in return for help lobbying for the satellite broadcaster's 2014 merger. The Herring family also supposedly met FCC officials to talk about the merger and speak well of AT&T in news stories. AT&T has denied making the offer linked to Slator, and an OAN lawsuit alleging a breach of that deal supposedly led to AT&T adding OAN to DirecTV's selection. AT&T rejected claims of undue influence in responses to Reuters and The Verge. The carrier maintained that DirecTV "does not dictate" channel programming, and that DirecTV merger support was "never a condition of or part of" any content carriage agreement. In a Twitter statement, AT&T maintained it "never had a financial interest" in OAN and that the decision to carry the network was now in DirecTV's hands. The concern, as you might imagine, is that AT&T may have contributed to the spread of misinformation without being held to account like online providers and other companies. On top of YouTube suspending OAN following a violation of COVID-19 misinformation rules, voting machine maker Dominion sued the network in August this year over unproven claims of election fraud. If the report is accurate, there could easily be pressure on AT&T to distance itself from OAN and focus more on its core services than politics. AT&T's statement on today's Reuters story on OAN pic.twitter.com/8pb8Poj8IC — AT&T News (@ATTNEWS) October 6, 2021

Twitter tests warnings about 'intense' conversations on iOS and Android Posted: 06 Oct 2021 01:00 PM PDT Before you jump into a feisty Twitter thread about Sora being the last Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character, you may eventually see a warning about the potentially heated conversation. Today, the company said it's testing a "Heads Up" feature on iOS and Android that'll serve as a helpful PSA. (Twitter said it was in the works a few weeks ago.) On top of the intensity warning, there's also a screen that highlights a few golden rules of online conversations: remember there's a person on the other side; focus on facts; and consider the value of different opinions, which could help strengthen your perspective.  Similar to Birdwatch, Twitter's community-driven push to fight misinformation with informed context, the Heads Up feature is an attempt at empowering the company's users. It's tough to prevent toxic conversations entirely, and this is one way to opt out of a potentially contentious argument. (Life is too short to argue with some gaming fandoms, after all.) Of course, this isn't a replacement for tools that can actually help people avoid harassment, like its new Safety Mode.

Apple says apps must offer a way to delete your account starting in early 2022 Posted: 06 Oct 2021 12:31 PM PDT Developers who let users create an account in their iOS, iPadOS and macOS apps will soon have to offer people a method of deleting their accounts in apps too. Apple says that as of January 31st, all app submissions (including updates) will need to include the option. The company announced this requirement alongside other App Store guideline changes at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June as part of a push to give users more control over their data. As The Verge notes, Apple is only requiring developers to let people "initiate deletion of their account from within the app," so apps might send you to a website or even a chat with an agent before you can actually close your account. It remains to be seen how useful this requirement will actually be in practice, given the tricks many developers employ to encourage you to remain as a user. Still, if you have an account in an app, deleting it will be slightly less of a headache, which can't be a bad thing. This will hopefully make it easier for people to ditch subscriptions and apps they aren't actually using.  Elsewhere, App Store pages on iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey (which is still in beta) now have a Report a Problem button, so you can flag any issues or concerns you have with an app to Apple. The feature is available in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the US for now. Apple will roll out the button to more regions later.

WHO approves the world's first malaria vaccine Posted: 06 Oct 2021 12:13 PM PDT In a landmark announcement today, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of the first-ever malaria vaccine. RTS,S, also known as Mosquirix. Specifically, the WHO says it should be deployed for children in sub-Saharan Africa and other areas where with moderate to high malaria transmission. The announcement follows in the footsteps of huge vaccine advancements around the COVID-19 pandemic. To be clear, though, RTS,S isn't an mRNA vaccine, which have the potential to make an even bigger impact on malaria and other diseases that have affected humans for ages. "This is a historic moment. The long-awaited malaria vaccine for children is a breakthrough for science, child health and malaria control," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. "Using this vaccine on top of existing tools to prevent malaria could save tens of thousands of young lives each year." RTS,S has an efficacy rate of preventing 39 percent against malaria cases and 29 percent of severe cases, based on trials in Africa involving small children. That may seem particularly low, but when combined with other anti-malarial tools, like bed netting with insecticide, the WHO says the vaccine could potentially save tens of thousands of lives annually. The organization estimates that more than 260,000 African children (out of around 500,000 people total) die from malaria every year. Crucially, the WHO also says RTS,S can be deployed easily, is safe to use and is cost effective to roll out. According to The Guardian, the company behind the vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), says it will supply up to 15 million doses annual at no more than 5 percent of the production cost. The WHO and GSK are looking for additional sources of funding from partners and governments.  RTS,S is just the start, though. Thanks to mRNA-based technology, which can teach our bodies how to respond to specific diseases, Oxford University's R21 vaccine is up to 77 percent effective when it comes to preventing malaria. And based on tests so far, it's proven to be safe.      "For centuries, malaria has stalked sub-Saharan Africa, causing immense personal suffering," Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said in a statement. "Today's recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults."

AirPods Pro can now boost other people's voices during conversations Posted: 06 Oct 2021 10:57 AM PDT It can sometimes come across as rude when you leave your earbuds in while chatting with someone. However, those with AirPods Pro now have a better reason for keeping them on during conversations, particularly if they have mild hearing difficulties. Apple has rolled out the latest AirPods firmware, which includes Find My integration for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. As noted by MacRumors, AirPods Pro users can now take advantage of the Conversation Boost feature the company revealed at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference this summer. The earbuds can use built-in microphones to amplify the volume of people you're speaking with. You can reduce ambient noise too. Once your AirPods Pro are running the latest firmware (Apple installs AirPods updates automatically), you can turn on the feature by going to the Accessibility menu in the Settings on your connected iPhone or iPad. From there, tap Audio/Visual, then Headphone Accommodations and switch on Transparency Mode. You can then enable Conversation Boost.

Facebook is slowing down product development for 'reputational reviews,' report says Posted: 06 Oct 2021 10:29 AM PDT Facebook is reportedly slowing down its product development so it can conduct "reputational reviews" in the wake of whistleblower Frances Haugen's disclosures about the company. According to The Wall Street Journal, Facebook has "put a hold on some work on existing products" while a team of employees analyze how the work could further damage their reputation. The group is looking at potential negative effects on children, as well as criticism the company could face. Zuckerberg alluded to the change in a statement Tuesday — his first since the whistleblower's disclosures became public. "I believe that over the long term if we keep trying to do what's right and delivering experiences that improve people's lives, it will be better for our community and our business," he wrote. "I've asked leaders across the company to do deep dives on our work across many areas over the next few days so you can see everything that we're doing to get there." The change is one of the clearest signs yet of how much Haugen's disclosures have rocked the company in recent weeks. Facebook has already "paused" its work on an Instagram Kids app, after a WSJ report on company research showing Instagram is harmful to some teens' mental health. Though Facebook has attempted to downplay its own research, pressure has mounted since Haugen, a former product manager, stepped forward and testified in a three-hour Senate hearing this week. She told lawmakers Zuckerberg and other executives have prioritized the social network's growth over users' safety, and that the company has misled the public about its AI-based moderation technology. She's called on Facebook to make its research more widely available, and urged Congress to impose new regulations on the platform.

Amazon secures giant tax breaks despite record profits and questionable labor practices Posted: 06 Oct 2021 10:16 AM PDT Regional governments are still eager to court Amazon's business despite uncertain economies and Amazon's own practices. According to the Financial Times, the economic watchdog Good Jobs First has determined that Amazon has so far received about $650 million in local and state tax incentives in 2021 to build out its next-day and same-day delivery operations. That's a record for the company, and comes close to the $750 million Amazon received to build its second headquarters. The largest incentive was a $322 million, 12-year property tax abatement pending in Markham, Illinois, followed by a nearly $151 million, 15-year tax exemption package in Monroe County, New York. Good Jobs First said this was likely a cautious estimate as some of the deals involve undisclosed tax deals and grants. The payouts came despite an uncertain economy and complaints about Amazon's working conditions, including modest pay, strict monitoring and high injury rates. Officials may attract more jobs to their area, but they won't necessarily be high-quality jobs that grow the economy. It's also unclear if there's a net job benefit — FT cited an Economic Policy Institute study showing that an Amazon warehouse attracted workers from other companies rather than expanding the overall workforce. Amazon has justified the incentives through overall job creation and economic investment. In a statement, the company said it created over 400,000 jobs in 2020 alongside a $150 billion investment. It added that it was often taking incentives available to any company settling into a given location, not just Amazon. Even if there is an overall employment increase, though, the question is whether or not Amazon should be accepting tax incentives in the first place. The company made more profit in the first year of the pandemic than it did in the previous three years, raking in $26.9 billion. The firm doesn't exactly need those tax breaks to survive, and the money could be used to improve communities and working conditions.

European Parliament calls for a ban on facial recognition in public spaces Posted: 06 Oct 2021 09:58 AM PDT The European Parliament has called on lawmakers in the European Union to ban automated facial recognition in public spaces and to enforce strict safeguards for police use of artificial intelligence. MEPs voted in favor of the non-binding resolution by 377-248, with 62 abstentions. The MEPs said citizens should only be monitored when they're suspected of a crime. They cited concerns over algorithmic bias in AI and argued that both human supervision and legal protections are required to avoid discrimination. The politicians noted there's evidence suggesting AI-based identification systems misidentify minority ethnic groups, LGBTI+ people, seniors and women at higher rates. As a result, the MEPs say, "algorithms should be transparent, traceable and sufficiently documented," with open-source options being used wherever possible. The resolution states that "those subject to AI-powered systems must have recourse to remedy." Under EU law, according to the document, "a person has the right not to be subjected to a decision which produces legal effects concerning them or significantly affects them and is based solely on automated data processing." In addition, the MEPs called on EU officials to ban private facial recognition databases (some law enforcement agencies in Europe are using Clearview AI's one), as well as "predictive policing based on behavioral data." They also urged the European Commission to prohibit social scoring or social credit systems and said the iBorderCtrl virtual border agent and other border control systems that use automated recognition should be shut down. The approval of the resolution follows similar calls by EU data protection regulators this summer. The European Data Protection Board and the European Data Protection Supervisor said the EC should ban AI systems from using biometrics to categorize people "into clusters based on ethnicity, gender, political or sexual orientation," or any other classifications that could lead to discrimination. In April, the EC proposed a bill called the Artificial Intelligence Act, which would introduce a sweeping regulatory framework for AI. Among the measures are a ban on remote biometric identification (such as facial recognition) in public spaces unless it's being used to tackle major crimes, including terrorism and kidnappings.

GM unveils a hands-free driving system that works in nearly all of the US and Canada Posted: 06 Oct 2021 09:17 AM PDT GM and Cadillac drivers have spent traveled than 10 million miles with their hands in their laps since General Motors introduced its Super Cruise driver assist system back in 2017. On Wednesday, the company unveiled its next-generation hands-free system — one that GM claims will "ultimately enable hands-free driving in 95 percent of all driving scenarios" — dubbed, Ultra Cruise. What sets Ultra Cruise apart from similar systems, such as Ford's BlueCruise, is that Ultra is designed to work virtually everywhere in the US and Canada. At launch, the system is expected to work on 2 million miles of North American roads — that includes highways, city and subdivision streets, and paved rural roads — and will eventually expand to encompass some 3.4 million miles of asphalt. If you've just bought a Super Cruise-enabled vehicle (or are planning to buy one of the 22 models GM will have available by 2023), don't worry, it's not going anywhere. GM plans to continue offering Super Cruise for its more mainstream vehicles such as the Escalade, CT4/CT5, Silverado and Sierra while Ultra Cruise will be reserved for the company's premium offerings. GM hasn't specified which vehicle will be the first to get it, though the company did note that select 2023 Cadillacs will be at the head of the line.  Built atop GM's recently announced Ultifi (again, rhymes with "multiply") computing system and leveraging myriad optical cameras, radar and LiDAR sensors, Ultra Cruise will support automatic and on-demand lane changes, left and right turns, obey traffic signals, avoid obstacles and even park itself in residential driveways. Further improvements and refinements to the system will be delivered to vehicles via OTA updates. To avoid Tesla-style wrecks, GM will port Super Cruise's Driver Attention Camera system over to the new system.

JLab's $79 wireless office headset has a removable earcup and a 60-hour battery Posted: 06 Oct 2021 08:58 AM PDT JLab is best known for its very low-cost wireless earbuds, but it's determined to make a name for itself in the office as well. The brand has introduced a $79 JBuds Work headset that promises quite a few perks despite the budget price. The over-ear audio boasts a removable earcup (important for listening to colleagues, a simultaneous two-device connection and a claimed 60-hour "worktime" battery life — you could theoretically use this through an entire five-day work week without plugging in, even if there's some overtime. The JBuds Work also offer noise cancellation (albeit with a total of just two mics), a wired option and automatic answering and hang-ups when you flip the mic boom. You can flip the equalizer between music and voice modes for those moments when you're more interested in tuning out than taking calls. The headset is available to order now. Whether or not it lives up to the battery life claims, the price is difficult to ignore — it's easy to pay significantly more for headsets with similar or fewer features.

Twitch's source code and streamer payment figures have been leaked following hack Posted: 06 Oct 2021 08:35 AM PDT Hackers have accessed Twitch and leaked a vast amount of company data, including proprietary code, creator payouts and the "entirety of Twitch.tv." Twitch confirmed the breach in a tweet Wednesday morning, but did not provide further details.  On top of of the Twitch.tv code, the attackers said they stole the the site's mobile, desktop and console Twitch clients. It also accessed "proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services used by Twitch," other properties like IGDB and CurseForge, an unreleased Steam competitor from Amazon Game Studios (code-named Vapour) and Twitch SOC internal red-teaming tools. It also shows creator payouts from 2019 until now, including top streamers like Nickmercs, TimTheTatMan and xQc .  We can confirm a breach has taken place. Our teams are working with urgency to understand the extent of this. We will update the community as soon as additional information is available. Thank you for bearing with us. — Twitch (@Twitch) October 6, 2021 Although we haven't verified the claim that "the entirety" of Twitch's source code has been leaked, the files in the 126GB repository do appear to be genuine, and the payout figures for almost 2.4 million streamers seem to be present. The hackers said that the leak, which includes source code from almost 6,000 internal Github repositories, is also just "part one" of a larger release. It doesn't appear that information like user passwords, addresses and banking information were revealed, but that can't be ruled out in a future drop. If you have a Twitch account, you should activate two-factor authentication so that bad actors can't log into your account if your password has been stolen. The group also stated that Twitch's community is a "disgusting toxic cesspool," so the action may be related to recent hate raids that prompted streamers to take a day off in protest. Twitch has previously said that it's trying to stop the hate raid problem but that it wasn't a "simple fix."  It's not clear yet how attackers could have stolen such a large amount of data, especially considering that Twitch is owned by Amazon, which operates one of the largest web-hosting companies in the world. Update (10/6/21, 11:33am ET): This post has been updated to reflect that Twitch confirmed on Wednesday that the breach took place.

YouTube removes R. Kelly's official channels Posted: 06 Oct 2021 08:14 AM PDT YouTube has taken down R. Kelly's official channels after the singer was convicted of sex trafficking last month. The RKellyTV and RKellyVevo channels no longer exist and Kelly will not be allowed to create or own any other channel on the platform, as Reuters first reported.  "We can confirm that we have terminated two channels linked to R. Kelly in accordance with our creator responsibility guidelines," YouTube told Engadget in a statement. If the owner of a channel is convicted of or pleads guilty to a serious crime, YouTube might delete the channel if it's closely related to the crime in question. In this case, according to YouTube, prosecutors claimed that Kelly used the fame and power he accrued in the music industry to exploit women and underage girls. However, this isn't a blanket ban. Kelly's music will still be available on YouTube Music. Kelly videos that other users have uploaded to YouTube before now will remain, as they aren't considered reuploads. The responsibility guidelines are only enforced on channels that are connected to the creator. Two women started a campaign in 2017 to have Kelly's music removed from streaming services and radio. Accusations about have been made against Kelly for decades. He was arrested in 2002 for depicting making videos containing sexual abuse of a child, but the jury in that case found him not guilty after it wasn't proven the girl on the tapes was a minor. Kelly's sentencing hearing will take place in May. The mandatory minimum sentence is 10 years in prison, though he faces up to life behind bars. Victims of sexual assault and abuse can contact RAINN's National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. For information on reporting child sexual exploitation, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit missingkids.org.

My quest for the perfect productivity mouse Posted: 06 Oct 2021 08:00 AM PDT When you buy a new PC, it's easy to focus on the big three: Processor, graphics and RAM (sorry storage fans, that's a close fourth). It's the little things that are simple to overlook. I say that with the confidence of someone that just migrated over from a decade-old iMac to a part-picked PC. The rig I ended up with is solid, I had a nice keyboard already, but oh boy do I really need a new mouse. Mice are not sexy computer peripherals. But if, like me, you spend at least eight hours a day with your hand on one, they're more important than we give them credit for. My old Magic Mouse could have made the move from MacOS to Windows, but I was already negotiating some pretty bad RSI and the internal battery was starting to waiver. Not least of all, I wanted something that I could charge and use at the same time — the temerity, I know. Not to mention, since the advent of devices such as the Stream Deck and the Loupedeck Live I have developed a taste for physical, assignable controls. Also, as a recent convert to the world of mechanical keyboards, I was hoping there was a similar world of boutique, bespoke options. It turns out that mice are still a largely off-the-shelf affair, but I was determined to get through some of the more promising options and find something I could live with, possibly for another decade. My requirements? Fairly simple, but a little more than just something I can comfortably click links with. Top of the list: Ergonomics. The Magic Mouse is… fine, but a little low profile for my palming style. Given my RSI was exclusively in my mousing arm, I figured there's a good chance ergonomics were to blame. James Trew / Engadget Second: I want something that is reasonably configurable. I don't need to pull off several complex gaming moves; I just want to have things like volume control or the ability to switch between desktops at my fingertips. Thirdly, battery life. I am trying to lose as many cables as I can, so the longer I can go between charging/without a cable around, the better. That's kinda it. It's not a big ask but I soon learned there was always some mental bargaining going on trying to find the best balance. I also wanted to see what a modern mouse can offer beyond those requirements as, who knows, maybe there's something I never knew I wanted or I have the sudden urge to get into Dota 2. Enter, the story I thought I'd never write: An 11-way PC mouse shoot out. The obvious candidates Google around for "the best PC mouse" and you'll find one answer: Logitech's MX Master 3. You might see a few mentions of others — like the Razer Pro Click and Microsoft's Surface Precision mouse — but the reviews are clear that the MX 3 Master is the one. I looked at all three of these, and honestly, there's not a lot in it. All of them cost $100 and all of them meet my basic requirements of decent ergonomics, configurable buttons and solid battery life. The latter is the hardest to quantify thanks to how each manufacturer likes to define "time." For Logi's MX 3 Master it's "70 days." Razer on the other hand touts the Pro Click as lasting between 200 and 400 hours depending on whether you use their USB dongle or Bluetooth respectively (that's 8-16 "days" but it's not clear if this is "in use"). Microsoft's Surface Precision is listed as "up to 3 months" which I somehow read with an implied shrug on their part. It's hard to know whether those are active use or "the mouse is on and it's on your desk." The better news is that all of them can be charged while you use them. In practice, I found the MX Master 3 to last the longest, but also needing a charge way sooner than its 70 days claim (I've had it here barely a month and already had need to charge it). Of this trio, the Pro Click offers the most configurable buttons (8). The MX Master 3 is a close second (7) but has the advantage of a second scroll wheel near the thumb. In reality, two of Razer's "buttons" are side-clicks on the scroll wheel — typically these default to sideways scroll, the same as Logi's thumb dial does. The net result is that I found the MX Master 3 slightly more configurable for my use cases. The thumbwheel is perfect for switching between desktops — something I do a lot, which would occupy two slots on the Razer meaning, effectively, the MX Master 3 has one more spare button in this setup. James Trew / Engadget Additionally, there's a button on the MX master 3 located just under where your thumb rests. This can be used for almost anything, but by default, it activates something called "gesture control," which lets you assign certain tasks to, you guessed it, different gestures. I gave the gesture controls a spin and they seemed pretty helpful, but the usefulness soon dissolved when I found I wasn't always able to ace the gesture on the first attempt. For its part, Microsoft's Surface Precision mouse offers six buttons and includes left/right clicks on the scroll wheel, putting it about on par with Razer and a shade under the MX Master 3 for configuration dorks like me. All three companies offer companion software — Microsoft's is built right-in to Windows. It's worth noting that Logitech makes a distinction between its office mice and its gaming mice which I'll get to later (basically, different software with different configuration options). The short version is each gets its own software and what you can do there differs which will be a key factor if considering a variety of their models.. I found Logitech's Options software the most straightforward with a deep selection of Windows commands, media controls, shortcuts and navigation tools on offer. You can also assign keystroke combinations if something you need isn't listed. On top of that there are options for app-specific buttons which means you can, for example, have right-click do one thing in Photoshop but something totally different in Chrome. Logitech doesn't offer full macros in Options though, so more complex commands are off the table via the native software. James Trew / Engadget Razer's Synapse also offers app-specific controls alongside a wealth of predefined media and OS shortcuts, but perhaps less comprehensive than those found in Options. That said, you do also have full macro support: Simply hit record and whatever you do next can be converted into a single click of the mouse. There's even "HyperShift" which means you can add a second layer of commands while holding down an allocated button. Microsoft's Mouse and Keyboard Center is no slouch either with some decent shortcuts on offer and support for both macros and app-specific controls. Though, overall, it's perhaps less in-depth than both Logitech and Razer's companion apps. On a more minor note. During my time with MacOS I joined the dark side of "natural scroll." It's not a deal-breaker for me, as I don't mind regular scroll, but Logitech and Microsoft both offer reverse scrolling as a setting, Razer doesn't appear to — though you can work around this in other ways of course. All the above mice offer the flexibility of both Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz wireless connectivity, can be used while cabled and support multi-device (at the same time) modes, if that's your thing. Winner: Tie between MX Master 3 and Pro Click. Buy MX Master 3 at Amazon - $100Buy Razer Pro Click at Amazon - $100Buy Surface Precision mouse at Amazon - $100 Gaming mice for everyday use Just because a mouse has a gaming focus, it doesn't mean it's no good for productivity. That was my reasoning when I looked at things like the Logitech G502 Lightspeed and the G Pro X Superlight. From Razer, the Viper Ultimate looked like another strong option. There are a few things that change once you go gamer it seems. First: Things get much much lighter. The heaviest I tried was the G502 which, at 114g is a hair heavier than the Razer Pro Click (106g). But 26g lighter than the MX Master 3. The G Pro X Superlight and the Viper Ultra are much more svelte however, weighing in at 63g and 74g respectively. This puts the G Pro X at under half the weight of its Logitech productivity sibling. James Trew / Engadget The next thing to consider is the form factor. Gaming mice are much more likely to have either a neutral or ambidextrous design. This isn't a no-no for my RSI concerns (especially when offset against the lighter weight) but it was something I was cautious about. Of the ones I am testing here, the G502 Lightspeed is the most "ergonomic." Lastly, gamers want speed and even 2.4GHz is a bit too laggy for some, so Bluetooth connectivity is rare to find in this category. That's not a deal-breaker for me, but worth knowing in case it is for you. I actually had high hopes for the G502 Lightspeed. Not only is it lighter and a similar form factor to the MX Master 3, it offers a whopping 11 configurable buttons. What's more you're able to assign full macros along with a slew of deep keyboard commands to those buttons. From a customization standpoint, it's pretty comprehensive. The G502's office-bound rival has most of what you need, but macros aren't there and the keyboard commands on offer aren't as extensive as in Logitech's gamer-focused G Hub software. I should mention the G Pro X Superlight here, too, given it uses the same software as the G502. The G Pro X is semi ambidextrous (you can palm it with either hand, but the extra buttons are only on one side). There are only five buttons total, too. The issue for me was really all in the handling. I liked that both of these were lighter, that's a solid plus. But the wealth of buttons on the G502 meant things were a little more cramped. For example, there are two right alongside the left-click button and then another two just above where your thumb rests. They aren't hard to locate without looking, but overall not as naturally placed as those on the MX Master 3, at least in my opinion. Also, the scroll wheel on both the G502 and the G Pro X protrudes more than any of the other mice on this list which, again, takes some getting used to. Neither was as fluid or comfortable to me as those in the MX Master 3 or Razer Pro click. Moreover, the G502 has a button to switch between smooth and ratchet scroll (fast, free gliding versus clicky slow, basically). The MX Master 3 offers both types of scrolling but with a setting where ratchet mode will seamlessly become smooth mode which is much more apt for browsing and navigating lists. I found scrolling on the G502 a bit annoying. Much bigger "clicks" and finding the button to switch to smooth seemed to kill my flow. I am guessing it's better for gamers though. The G Pro X, for its part, is a really nice option if you want something light with a couple of extra buttons. But with just two additional ones over the standard two-plus-clickwheel it wasn't quite up to my requirements. James Trew / Engadget Razer's Viper Ultimate, literally on the other hand, is a surprisingly competent all-purpose mouse. For one, as alluded to, it's truly ambidextrous. At 74g it glides across the desk making it a pleasure to use for extended periods. With a 70 hour battery life it was joint first with the G Pro X for longevity in this category (the G502 offers around 50 hours). The main nitpick for me with the Viper is that the two buttons near your ring finger and pinkie take a little getting used to if you palm a mouse like I do. I had to train myself to click with the side of my finger rather than the tip. The net result is that I was surprised to find myself gravitating toward the Viper Ultimate most out of this category, despite the G502 being closer to what I had in mind when setting out on this test. Thanks to gamery specs that I'm not going to make use of, such as 20,000+ DPI sensors and 1000Hz polling rates, all of the gaming mice do cost more than the "productivity" options. In fact all three cost the same: $150. Winner: Razer Viper Ultimate Buy G502 Lightspeed at Amazon - $150Buy G Pro X Superlight at Amazon - $150Buy Viper Ultimate at Amazon - $150 Mobile mice Let's be clear, there's almost no chance any of the mobile mice on offer would make a great full-time desktop replacement. That said, it's also one of the more interesting categories thanks to being free from the burden of having to do everything. A mobile mouse can get a little wackier and do one or two things really well. There's also the fact that many of us are working at home on the company laptop, so pairing that with a mouse can make the transition back to the office a little smoother (and not everyone is a fan of trackpads anyway). As such, a straight head-to-head feels less appropriate, but here's a rundown of five contenders. James Trew / Engadget Logitech Pebble Logitech's Pebble is a mobile mouse in the purest form. At 100g it's not the lightest on this list, but that does give it a reassuring feel in use. There are only three buttons: The standard left click, right click and click wheel. You also have the choice between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle connectivity. A nice touch is that you can stow the USB dongle under the top plate as that's also where you'll change the (AA) battery. The Pebble has a slight angle to it which felt like my hand was arching forward when in use. The ambidextrous design is welcome but I do have my concerns about how comfortable it is for extended use. The two aces up the Pebble's sleeve, however, are its epic battery life: A claimed 18 months (though this will obviously depend on what batteries you use) and the $25 price tag, making it the cheapest on this list. Buy Logitech Pebble at Amazon - $30 Logitech MX Anywhere 3 As the name suggests, the MX Anywhere 3 is the mobile version of the MX Master 3. Unlike its bigger brother, the Anywhere has a semi-ambidextrous design. It's perhaps a shade too small to cut it as desktop replacement, but in the mobile realm it feels premium, complete with the auto-switching between ratchet and free-flowing scroll wheel — which at $80, it should. With six buttons, it's pretty configurable for something so small and at 99g it won't overstay its welcome under your palm. Though for the life of me I cannot understand why there is no option to stow the USB dongle inside the mouse somewhere. Given its mobile nature this seems like a no-brainer. You can, of course, just use Bluetooth if, like me, USB dongles seem to vanish into thin air unless they have a home. Buy MX Anywhere 3 at Amazon - $80 Razer Orochi V2 The winner of the most forgettable-looking option in this nest of mice goes to the Orochi V2. Or maybe it's just understated? Especially for a Razer product. Looks aside, the Orochi V2 is a very capable mobile mouse with six buttons, Bluetooth or dongle connectivity and it works with Razer's Synapse software, so any macros you might already have can be assigned here (or make your own!). James Trew / Engadget At 425 (2.4Ghz) or 950 hours (BLE) you get a decent amount of time out of each battery and you can use either a single AA or AAA. It weighs just 60g, so it's also pretty nimble. At $70, it's edging into full-desktop mouse territory, but given that it's big enough to actually use this full time, that seems less surprising. Especially given that you can stow the dongle under the top cover, which is more than can be said for the MX Anywhere 3 (or even the MX Master 3). Buy Razer Orochi V2 at Amazon - $70 Microsoft Surface Arc Who was betting on Microsoft having the most stylish mouse on this list? The Surface Arc is a delight with a "transforming" design that pops into shape (an "arc" no less). Once you're done simply snap it flat again for easy storage in a pocket of your laptop bag. You don't even need to turn it on as "snapping" it also acts as a power switch. Oh, and did I mention that the touchpad area does double duty as left/right click and vertical or sideways scroll (Magic Mouse style)? There's even the option for a "triple" click to give the Surface Arc an extra, assignable button. All that, and it's only around $55. James Trew / Engadget As satisfying as it is to click into shape, the hollow area under the arc does mean that your thumb and little finger don't have anywhere to naturally rest. I also found the curve of the arc led me more into a claw position over my usual palm, which might be okay for you but gave me pause about using this for longer periods. As a purely mobile mouse, though, it's one of the more pleasing, especially if you like its semi-trackpad nature. Buy Microsoft Surface Arc at Amazon - $50 Microsoft Modern Mobile mouse The Modern Mobile mouse is Microsoft's answer to the Pebble. Streamlined, lightweight and with a focus on the basics. There's no 2.4GHz option here though; it's Bluetooth only. At $35, compared to the Pebble's $25 it might seem a foregone conclusion but there's a lot to like about Microsoft's take on a portable mouse. For one, its build quality feels far superior. It also looks more stylish (if that matters). More importantly, it has a more neutral position that feels really comfortable for a smaller mouse and doesn't feel like it's craning my hand forward. Throw in the fact that you can still assign app-specific controls via Microsoft's Mouse and Keyboard center and you end up with something that's smarter than it first seems. Buy Modern Mobile mouse at Amazon - $35 Conclusion James Trew / Engadget If nothing else, I was surprised by the diversity of options despite my initial concern to the contrary. Who knew that Microsoft had such style, at least in the mobile category? Likewise, Razer, it turns out, makes surprisingly adept productivity mice despite its true-green gamer aesthetic. Logitech, on the other hand, is a steady hand across all categories. Predictably, the MX Master 3 does seem to do most of the things I want. BUT, only really thanks to that thumbwheel. It is particularly suited for what I need. That said, I find myself quite taken by the Pro Click, and despite lacking a second scroll wheel, it pretty much matches the MX Master 3 in every other manner. It's also lighter which is a small positive in its favor. For those that prefer lightweight options (something that became more appealing to me the more I tested), then the Viper Ultimate from Razer impressed me with its balance of function and form. If you don't need as many buttons then Logitech's Pro X Superlight lives up to its name. I could happily live with either of these mice full time.

Jabra's owner buys SteelSeries to expand into gaming gear Posted: 06 Oct 2021 07:45 AM PDT Add SteelSeries to the ranks of gaming hardware brands selling themselves to larger tech firms. Jabra's owner GN is acquiring SteelSeries in a deal worth about $1.24 billion. The move is meant to give GN an edge in the "upscale gaming gear" space while providing room to grow and achieve "revenue synergies." The deal is expected to close in early 2022. SteelSeries stressed that it would maintain the same leadership. The GN deal would help "accelerate" already healthy growth, according to company chief Ehtisham Rabbani. GN keenly pointed out that SteelSeries has been gaining market share in the past few years and has itself snapped up smaller companies like KontrolFreek. The purchase could help GN make a concerted push into gaming, both in headsets and non-audio hardware like mice, keyboards and mousepads. Simply put, this might help GN become a general technology brand after years of focusing on personal audio.  SteelSeries, meanwhile, might not have had as much choice as it would like. Brands like Astro, Elgato and Roccat have already sold themselves to larger companies to both ensure their survival and foster growth. While SteelSeries' future was likely to be bright without GN, the team-up could help it thrive in a competitive landscape where rivals often have plenty of support.

What Facebook should change, according to its whistleblower Posted: 06 Oct 2021 07:30 AM PDT The whistleblower behind "bombshell" disclosures that have rocked Facebook in recent weeks spent much of Tuesday's three-hour hearing explaining to Congress how Facebook could fix itself. While the hearing was far from the first time a Facebook critic has briefed lawmakers, Frances Haugen's insider knowledge and expertise in algorithm design made her particularly effective. Her background as part of the company's civic integrity team meant she was intimately familiar with some of the biggest problems on Facebook. During the hearing, Haugen spoke in detail about Facebook's algorithms and other internal systems that have hampered its efforts to slow misinformation and other problematic content. She also praised the company's researchers, calling them "heroes," and said Facebook should be required to make their work public. Remove algorithmic ranking and go back to chronological feeds One of the most notable aspects of Haugen's testimony was her expertise, which gives her a nuanced understanding of how algorithms work and the often unintended consequences of using them. "I hope we will discuss as to whether there is such a thing as a safe algorithm," Sen. Richard Blumenthal said at the start of the hearing. While Haugen never addressed that question directly, she did weigh on the ranking algorithms that power the feeds in Facebook and Instagram. She noted that Facebook's own research has found that "engagement-based ranking on Instagram can lead children from very innocuous topics like healthy recipes… to anorexia-promoting content over a very short period of time." She also said that Facebook's AI-based moderation tools were much less effective than what the company has publicly portrayed. "We've seen from repeated documents within my disclosures that Facebook's AI systems only catch a very tiny minority of offending content," Haugen said. "Best case scenario, in the case of something like hate speech, at most they will ever get to 10 to 20%." To address this, Haugen said that Facebook could move to a chronological feed where posts are ordered by recency, rather than what is most likely to get engagement. "I'm a strong proponent of chronological ranking, or ordering by time with a little bit of spam demotion, because I think we don't want computers deciding what we focus on," Haugen said. She noted that Facebook would likely resist such a plan because content that gets more engagement is better for their platform because it causes people to post and comment more. "I've spent most of my career working on systems like engagement-based ranking," Haugen said. "When I come to you and say these things, I'm basically damning 10 years of my own work." TOM BRENNER via Getty Images Reform Section 230 In a similar vein, Haugen said that Section 230 — the 1996 law that protects companies from being liable for what their users say and do on their platforms — should be reformed "to make Facebook responsible for the consequences of their intentional ranking decisions." She said that such a law would likely "get rid of engagement-based ranking" because it would become too big of a liability for the company. At the same time, she cautioned lawmakers to not let Facebook "trick" them into believing that changing Section 230 alone would be enough to address the scope of its problems. She also noted that using the law to police Facebook's algorithms could be easier than trying to address specific types of content. "User generated content is something that companies have less control over, they have 100% control over their algorithms," Haugen said. The focus on Section 230 is significant because lawmakers from both parties have proposed various changes to the law. During the hearing, Blumenthal indicated that he too supported "narrowing this sweeping immunity when platforms' algorithms amplify illegal conduct." Senator Amy Klobuchar has also proposed ending 230 protections for vaccine and health misinformation. Meanwhile, Republicans have tried to eliminate Section 230 for very different reasons. Slow down virality Likewise, Haugen suggested that Facebook should slow down its platform with "soft interventions" that would add small bits of friction to the platform. She pointed to Twitter's "read before sharing" prompts as the kind of measure that can reduce the spread of misinformation. "Small actions like that friction don't require picking good ideas and bad ideas," she said. "They just make the platform less twitchy, less reactive. And Facebook's internal research says that each one of those small actions dramatically reduces misinformation, hate speech and violence-inciting content on the platform." Facebook has taken these steps in the past. Notably, it applied these "break glass" measures in the days after the presidential election, though the company rolled some of them back the following month. The company implemented similar changes again, less than a month later, in the aftermath of the insurrection January 6th. Huagen said that Facebook has mischaracterized these changes as being harmful to free speech, when in fact the company is concerned because it "wanted that growth back." During the hearing, she said that Mark Zuckerberg had been personally briefed on just how impactful changes like this could be. But, she said, he prioritized the platform's growth "over changes that would have significantly decreased misinformation and other inciting content." Open Facebook's research to people outside the company Access to Facebook's data has become a hot button issue in recent weeks as researchers outside the company have complained that the company is stifling independent research. Haugen said the social network should work toward making its own internal research available to the public. She proposed that there should be a set period of time — she suggested as long as 18 months — when Facebook is able to keep its research under wraps. But then the company should make it accessible to those outside the company. "I believe in collaboration with academics and other researchers that we can develop privacy-conscious ways of exposing radically more data that is available today," Haugen said. "It is important for our ability to understand how algorithms work, how Facebook shapes the information, we get to see that we have these data sets to be publicly available for scrutiny." She went on to say that Facebook's researchers are among its "biggest heroes" because "they are boldly asking real questions and willing to say awkward truths." She said it was "unacceptable" that the company has been "throwing them under the bus" in its effort to downplay her disclosures. Facebook A dedicated 'oversight body' Besides internal changes, Haugen also said that there should be a dedicated "oversight body" with the power to oversee social media platforms. She said that such a group within an agency like the Federal Trade Commission could provide "a regulatory home where someone like me could do a tour of duty after working at a place like this." "Right now, the only people in the world who are trained to analyze these experiments, to understand what's happening inside of Facebook, are people who grew up inside of Facebook or Pinterest or another social media company," she said. Importantly, this "oversight body" would be separate from the Facebook-created Oversight Board, which advises Facebook on specific content decisions. While Facebook has said the creation of the Oversight Board is proof it's trying to self-regulate, Haugen wrote in prepared remarks that the Oversight Board "is as blind as the public" when it comes to truly knowing what happens inside of the company. It's also worth noting that Haugen said she was opposed to efforts to break up Facebook. She said that separating Facebook and Instagram would likely result in more advertisers flocking to Instagram, which could deplete Facebook's resources for making changes to improve its platform. What's next While it's unclear which, if any, of Haugen's recommendations Congress will act on, her disclosures have already caught the attention of regulators. In addition to providing documents to Congress, she has also given documents to the Securities and Exchange Committee. She has alleged that Zuckerberg and other executives have "misled investors and the public about its role perpetuating misinformation and violent extremism relating to the 2020 election and January 6th insurrection," according to SEC filings published by 60 Minutes. Meanwhile, Facebook has continued to push back on Haugen's claims. A week after an executive told lawmakers that "this is not bombshell research," the company tried to discredit Haugen more directly. In a statement, Facebook's Director of Policy Communications Lena Pietsch, said Haugen "worked for the company for less than two years, had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives. We don't agree with her characterization of the many issues she testified about." Pietsch added that "it's time to begin to create standard rules for the internet." In an appearance on CNN following the hearing, Facebook VP Monika Bickert referred to Haugen's disclosures as "stolen documents" and said the company's research had been "mischaracterized." Later that night, Zuckerberg publicly weighed in for the first time since The Wall Street Journal began publishing stories based on Haugen's disclosures (Zuckerberg did once refer to earlier coverage of the scandals, complaining that a news article has mistakenly described his hydrofoil as an "electric surfboard.") In his first substantive statement, he said "many of the claims don't make any sense," and that "the argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical."  It could still get more difficult for Facebook to counter Haugen, though, particularly if new documents become public. Her letter to the SEC suggests that Facebook knew much more about QAnon and violent extremism on its platform than it let on, as Vicereported earlier. Haugen may also make appearances in front of lawmakers in other countries, too. European lawmakers, many of whom have expressed similar concerns as their US counterparts, have also indicated they want to talk to Haugen and conduct new investigations of their own.

Adidas and Microsoft team up for special 20th anniversary Xbox sneakers Posted: 06 Oct 2021 07:26 AM PDT Microsoft and Adidas have teamed up to celebrate Xbox's 20th anniversary with the first official Xbox sneakers. The Xbox 20th Forum Tech sneakers take inspiration from the original 2001 console. The green and black footwear even has the original Xbox logo. Keeping in with the vibe of that era, the fun launch trailer has a skate tape aesthetic and features some friends playing some Halo: Combat Evolved. Xbox's announcement suggests these are limited-edition sneakers it's giving away to fans. There are more Xbox sneakers on the way in the coming months, including ones you can actually buy and pairs inspired by current and previous consoles. Here's hoping Adidas goes a bit wild and makes sneakers based on Kinect too. Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to release another quirky Xbox product later this year: a mini fridge.

Segway's Ninebot ES4 scooter is $260 off today only Posted: 06 Oct 2021 07:10 AM PDT An electric scooter can be a good alternative way to get to and from the office and other local spots, but most are quite expensive. But Amazon's one-day sale on Segway devices makes one model quite affordable: the Segway Ninebot ES4 scooter has been discounted to $540, or $260 off its normal price. That's also only $40 more than its record low of $500. Buy Ninebot ES4 at Amazon - $540 The ES4 bumps things up from the ES2 scooter, supporting a max speed of 19 mph and a range of up to 28 miles. It also has 800W of power and dual batteries, and you can monitor the machine's battery life from its built-in LED display. The scooter itself is pretty slick and it's designed to make rides as smooth as possible. It has wide, non-pneumatic tires plus a dual suspension system that works to stabilize both the front and back wheel. You're also getting a double-braking system outfitted with both a mechanical and electrical brake that lets you stop within 13 inches at 12.4 mph. When riding at nighttime, you can turn on the front-facing LED for better visibility, too. We also appreciate that the ES4 is fairly portable — it's hefty at 31 pounds, but it folds down neatly so you can stow it in a trunk or take it on public transportation. And like most gadgets today, the ES4 connects to Segway's mobile app and that lets you do things like lock and unlock the scooter, activate cruise control, install firmware updates and check out riding stats. While a scooter like this probably won't replace all other forms of transportation, it's a convenient way to get from one place to another — especially for those living in big cities or dense suburbs. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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