Monday, November 15, 2021

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Watch the Xbox 20th anniversary event here at 1PM ET

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 09:30 AM PST

Exactly 20 years ago today, Microsoft released the original Xbox. At the time, it was hard to know how integral the company would become to the gaming landscape. Sure, Microsoft had played an important part in the development of PC gaming, but up to that point the console market had been dominated almost exclusively by Nintendo and Sony. Now in its fourth generation, the Xbox brand has never been stronger, in part thanks to smart decisions around Game Pass and studio acquisitions. 

At 1PM ET, Microsoft will look back and celebrate the history of the Xbox brand while likely looking to the future as well. You can watch the entire livestream on YouTube, Twitch and right here.     

Phil Spencer strongly hints 'Elder Scrolls VI' will be an Xbox and PC exclusive

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 09:24 AM PST

Xbox chief Phil Spencer has given the strongest hint yet that Elder Scrolls VI won't be coming to PlayStation. Since Microsoft bought Bethesda Softworks owner ZeniMax Media earlier this year, questions have been swirling around platform exclusivity for ongoing franchises, such as Elder Scrolls, Doom and Fallout.

Spencer previously noted exclusivity would be decided on a "case-by-case basis." He later said Microsoft would "continue to invest in communities of players" and that "there might be things that have either contractual things or legacy on different platforms that we'll go do." Still, he was adamant that the ZeniMax/Bethesda deal was largely about "delivering great exclusive games."

Now, in an interview with GQ to mark the 20th anniversary of Xbox, Spenser strongly hinted that, like next year's Starfield, Elder Scrolls VI will be locked to Xbox consoles, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming. "It's not about punishing any other platform, like I fundamentally believe all of the platforms can continue to grow," he said. "But in order to be on Xbox, I want us to be able to bring the full complete package of what we have. And that would be true when I think about Elder Scrolls VI. That would be true when I think about any of our franchises."

That won't exactly inspire confidence among, say, Skyrim fans that they'll get to play Elder Scrolls VI on PlayStation and Switch. In any case, with Bethesda's focus on Starfield, it might be a while before it divulges more details about the next Elder Scrolls game.

Microsoft blocks workaround that let Windows 11 users avoid its Edge browser

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 09:15 AM PST

Microsoft plans to update Windows 11 to block a workaround that has allowed users to open Start menu search results in a browser other than Edge. The loophole was popularized by EdgeDeflector, an app that allows you to bypass some of the built-in browser restrictions found in Windows 10 and 11. Before this week, companies like Mozilla and Brave had planned to implement similar workarounds to allow users to open Start menu results in their respective browsers, but now won't be able to do so.

When the block first appeared in an early preview build of Windows 11 last week, it looked like it was added by mistake. However, on Monday, the company confirmed it intentionally closed the loophole.

"Windows openly enables applications and services on its platform, including various web browsers," a spokesperson for Microsoft told The Verge. "At the same time, Windows also offers certain end-to-end customer experiences in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the search experience from the taskbar is one such example of an end-to-end experience that is not designed to be redirected. When we become aware of improper redirection, we issue a fix."

Daniel Aleksandersen, the developer of EdgeDeflector, was quick to criticize the move. "These aren't the actions of an attentive company that cares about its product anymore," he said in a blog post. "Microsoft isn't a good steward of the Windows operating system. They're prioritizing ads, bundleware, and service subscriptions over their users' productivity."

Mozilla was similarly critical of Microsoft. "People deserve choice. They should have the ability to simply and easily set defaults and their choice of default browser should be respected," a spokesperson for the company told The Verge. "We have worked on code that launches Firefox when the microsoft-edge protocol is used for those users that have already chosen Firefox as their default browser. Following the recent change to Windows 11, this planned implementation will no longer be possible."

Other than the fact Microsoft should let Edge speak for itself, the company's behavior here raises a question about its priorities. Windows 11 does not make it easy to switch your default browser. Someone shouldn't have to go through the trouble of telling Windows they want to use a different browser only for the operating system to show them webpages in one they specifically decided they don't want to use.

A look back at the strengths of the OG Xbox on its 20th birthday

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST

20 years ago today, the original Xbox was released. It's a pretty big milestone for the entire gaming industry, because it's hard to imagine console gaming without Xbox today. But back then it was pretty risky — Microsoft was the first American firm to release a gaming system in eight years, and the company wasn't really well-known for being a game developer or publisher outside of the Flight Simulator series and built-in Windows games like Solitaire and Minesweeper.

Admittedly, the Xbox brand didn't really take off until the release of the 360 in 2005. But the OG Xbox made a pretty good showing for its first try, thanks to a solid lineup of games and no thanks to its enormous Duke controller. Today a few Engadget staffers would like to chime in with their cherished Xbox memories, ones that really highlight the strength of this Microsoft's first outing in the console world.

Strength #1: System Link

Halo: Combat Evolved

A year before Xbox Live launched and redefined console gaming forever, there was the multiplayer of Halo: Combat Evolved. It sounds archaic today: there were no such things as online play, bots or centralized player accounts. But there was System Link, an Xbox feature that allowed multiple consoles to connect together for offline LAN parties. Together with Halo's four-player split-screen support, System Link allowed up to 16 players to battle it out.

In many ways, Halo's multiplayer was the logical evolution of Goldeneye, the first console shooter to enthrall a generation of gamers. And while System Link may sound like a pain to set up, it was perfectly suited to large networks, like the one at my college. That's how I found myself spending hours with my roommates, huddled in front of a basic 20-inch TV, learning the intricacies of Halo's combat. I never quite mastered the three-shot kill — two in the center, one in the head — but I got close.

I can recall one heated match as if it was a war story. My team and I were huddled in the middle of Blood Gulch, one of Halo's iconic maps featuring a long canyon with two bases at each end. The scores were neck-and-neck, never more than a few kills leading on either side. All seemed lost. We were sitting ducks in No Man's Land, with only the protection of a few hills in front of us. I had a sniper rifle, but very little ammo. In a moment of desperation, I poked my head up and, miraculously, took an enemy out in front of their base. When another person popped up, I was able to headshot them with the same clip. Game over.

I later learned that someone from the opposing team threw a chair against a wall when they lost. I can't imagine an online match with some randos provoking the same sort of visceral response. That's just Halo multiplayer, baby. No internet required. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior Editor

Strength #2: PC ports

Morrowind

I have a confession to make: I'm not much of a console gamer. Coming from the former Yugoslavia, where Nintendo products were exorbitantly expensive, the one constant in my gaming life has always been the PC. While other kids in Canada, where my family eventually settled, grew up on Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, my favorite childhood games were Warcraft: Orcs and Humans, Dune II and The Secret of Monkey Island.

So when Microsoft released the Xbox in 2001, I wasn't excited for it until the release of Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind in 2002. I didn't own an Xbox, but my best friend did. At the time, neither of us had a PC capable of running Morrowind at a playable framerate. So when he bought a copy of the game, one of the first things I did was come over to watch him create his first character. Mind you, we played countless hours of Halo: Combat Evolved together, but Morrowind was the game that consistently ignited our imaginations.

To this day, we talk about some of the ways he managed to break the game. For example, he eventually became the leader of both House Hlaalu and Telvanni. And at one point, he received a quest to assassinate a Hlaalu landholder. He travelled to the estate only to find out he was its owner, so there was no way for him to finish the quest. By modern standards, that's janky design, but it's those quirks that made me fall in love with Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls series at large. — Igor Bonifacic, Contributing Editor

Strength #3: Exclusives

Jet Set Radio Future

My time with the original Xbox was limited, and I remember looking at games like Halo and Fable with awe. And the fact that it got a lot of games that would normally only be on PC — like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic — was also swoon-worthy. But then and now, there was really only one reason I wanted an Xbox, and that was to play Jet Set Radio Future.

The original game, Jet Grind Radio, was probably one of my favorite Dreamcast titles at the time. I loved the look of it, the gameplay and oh, the soundtrack. Especially the soundtrack. But when the Dreamcast was discontinued, it left some great franchises stranded. Games that Microsoft was perfectly happy to pick up for its foray into the console market, like Shenmue and my beloved Jet Grind Radio, which was switched back to its Japanese monkier for the sequel here in the US.

The gameplay remained mostly the same, with your skaters tasked with spray painting walls with their tags, battling against other gangs and avoiding the police. But Future also dispensed with time limits and enclosed stages, allowing you to skate between one section and the next. And the soundtrack, of course, was a banger. Guitar Vader, Cibo Matto and Bis. (Okay, maybe I'm the only person who cares about Bis. They wrote The Powerpuff Girls end theme! 'Social Dancing' is a great album!) — Kris Naudus, Buyer's Guide Editor

Peacock will debut in the UK and Ireland on November 16th

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 08:48 AM PST

Sky TV and NOW subscribers in the UK and Ireland will soon have access to many more shows and movies and no extra cost. Starting on November 16th, they'll be able to watch content from Peacock as part of the streaming service's soft launch in those countries. This is the first time Peacock will be officially available outside of the US (though some folks elsewhere surely found a VPN workaround).

Bringing Peacock to Sky makes perfect sense. Not only is it the pay TV market leader in the UK, Sky shares a parent company with NBCUniversal: Comcast. Peacock content will be available on Sky platforms in other countries in the coming months, including Germany, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.

NBCU hasn't confirmed whether Peacock will be available as a standalone service in Europe. For now, the content will be ad-supported on Sky. The library includes Peacock originals such as Saved by the Bell and Punky Brewster reboots, Rutherford Falls and Vanderpump Rules. Upcoming original series include MacGruber, Bel-Air, Joe Exotic (working title), Ted and a new version of Battlestar Galactica.

Sky and NOW subscribers will find a ton of classic TV shows on the service too. They'll be able to watch the likes of The Office, Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Heroes, Friday Night Lights, Top Chef and Keeping Up With The Kardashians. As for movies, they can watch flicks such as Children of Men,Hanna,Hannibal,Out of Sight, Pride & Prejudice,Scent of a Woman,A Simple Wish and United 93.

Peacock isn't the only streaming service with links to a US broadcaster that's moving into Europe. HBO Max debuted there last month, while Paramount+ is coming to Europe in 2022. The latter will be included with Sky Cinema subscriptions in the UK, Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland.

The remastered GTA trilogy is available to buy on PC again

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 07:50 AM PST

Three days after it pulled Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition from sale on PC, Rockstar Games says players can once again buy the bundle on that platform. The publisher yanked the remastered collection from the Rockstar Games Launcher's store "to remove some data files that were unintentionally included in the new versions of these games."

The publisher apologized for the inconvenience and said it would "improve and update overall performance as we move forward." Many players have criticized the latest versions of GTA III, GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas, and some have shared screenshots and videos of various glitches and bugs. They've also voiced their displeasure on Metacritic, where they've been review bombing the collection — the aggregate user score is currently below one out of 10 on every platform.

Soon after the trilogy was released last week, the Rockstar Games Launcher was taken offline for what the publisher says was maintenance reasons. That meant those who did buy the collection were unable to play its three games for over a day, while Grand Theft Auto Online and Red Dead Online were also out of commission until Rockstar restored service on Friday evening.

Yale's Assure smart lock set me free from key anxiety

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 07:35 AM PST

Every month, Engadget features what our editors are currently into, whether it be video games, podcasts or gadgets. These are not official reviews; they're simply our first-hand experiences. This week, Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar dives into Yale's Assure smart lock.

What if you could go through life without worrying about carrying your keys and potentially being locked out of the house? That's something I've always dreamed of, but it wasn't possible when I was renting in Brooklyn. These days, though, I've got a bit more freedom in my own home outside of Atlanta. And now that my wife and I are also responsible for a precocious three-year-old, we figured it was a good time to move away from the tyranny of house keys. The last thing we need is to be locked out during a potty emergency.

You've got a few different options: electronic locks with key pads or biometrics, or smart ones that can be controlled via apps. Initially, we were turned off by the latter. Given just how finicky connected devices are plus the potential for remote hacking, app-controlled locks just didn't seem worth the trouble. So we opted for a well-rated electronic lock with a touchscreen pin pad: Yale's Assure Lock. It's a sturdy Grade 2 deadbolt with a key slot, which is helpful if the battery runs out. It also has an upgrade port for turning it into an August smart lock down the line. (Spoiler: that turned out to be very useful.)

Yale Assure Lock
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Installing the Assure Lock on our front door entailed the same process as any other deadbolt. We removed the old lock, installed the included strike plate and took care to make sure the Assure aligned with our door frame properly. It took a bit of fiddling, but eventually my wife was able to wiggle it into place. (And here's where I'll admit that my role in this installation process came mostly in the form of cheerleading, instruction-reading and drink-fetching. I'm the tech guy; my wife enjoys getting her hands dirty with house projects whenever possible.)

Setting up our PIN was a bit more cumbersome, since it involved following very specific instructions from Yale. It's not tough, but it's not exactly intuitive either. I immediately dreaded having to repeat that process whenever we need to set up guest codes. Once we had everything configured, the Assure Lock worked like a charm. I could run to the park with my daughter without fretting about keys, and punching in numbers was simple enough that she was eager to help out. (Gotta get that math training in whenever possible, right?)

While the Assure's design didn't bother me much, it's definitely larger than most deadbolt facades. It practically announces itself as a high tech gadget. Partially, that's because it still has room for a traditional key. Yale's Assure Lock SL omits that entirely, and is therefore more compact. So if your aesthetics don't align with mine, don't worry, you have options.

Even though the Assure worked well as a keypad lock, I still couldn't help but feel the pull towards something smarter. I wanted an easier way to open our front door remotely while we were playing in the backyard. And I realized it'd be useful to know if the lock was open or not from my phone, something that would come in handy whenever we had a cat sitter visiting while we were away. So within a week, we installed Yale's smart lock upgrade kit and never looked back.

We still use the Assure's keypad most of the time, but it's been genuinely helpful having a bit more connectivity. Now I can easily change guest codes on the fly, and being able to confirm it's closed remotely is a much needed balm for my anxious dad brain. We've avoided activating Alexa integration — voice control seems like an unnecessary security risk — and we haven't yet connected the Assure to our HomeKit setup. Once we do, though, we'll be able to see the Yale Lock alongside our Arlo cameras on a single screen.

Yale Assure Lock
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Despite living the smart lock life, I can understand why many people still find them untrustworthy. If there's one thing I've learned about smart home tech over the years, it's that it can all be pretty dumb at times. Security flaws may pop up, the connectivity may fail. But when it comes to security, I'm not too worried about someone trying to hack into my home. 

But even if you don't want a connected lock, it's still worth upgrading to an electronic lock with a keypad. After loving the convenience of the Yale Assure so much, we added a simpler model to a rear door, which was a huge help while doing yardwork. Just think about the last time you were locked out. Or, if you've somehow been blessed never to experience that, imagine how annoying being locked out in the cold can be. Maybe it happens at the end of a long day, or at a point when you just really need to use the bathroom. If you had an electronic lock, you'd be inside your home already.

Take-Two buys 'OlliOlli World' developer Roll7

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 07:00 AM PST

Take-Two Interactive, the owner of Rockstar Games and 2K, has added another studio to its roster. Roll7, the small team behind the OlliOlli skateboarding series, is joining the company's Private Division publishing label.

Private Division will release Roll7's next game, OlliOlli World, in the first quarter of 2022. It seems both sides found they worked well enough together to make their partnership a permanent one, with Roll7 becoming one of Private Division's in-house studios. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Roll7 is known for its flow state approach to games, the idea bring that players will become completely immersed in a game and focus entirely on it. The original OlliOlli was released in 2014 on PlayStation Vita, and Roll7 earned a BAFTA best sports game award for it the following year.

In OlliOlli World, you'll rack up points for nailing tricks while navigating each level. Roll7 opted for a hand-drawn art style this time around, following the pixel art design of the first two games in the series. The result is a gorgeous-looking title that I'm looking forward to checking out. OlliOlli World is coming to PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

Jabra's Elite 75t earbuds are down to $80 today only

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:20 AM PST

We've long been fans of Jabra's true wireless earbuds and the Elite 75t earned a spot on our favorites list despite not being the newest model from the company. Ever since the Elite 85t came out, we've seen the 75t oscillate in price — but Best Buy has them for only $80 right now, which is the best price we've seen. It's one of the retailer's deals of the day, so you'll have to grab them today to get the discount before the price goes up tomorrow.

Buy Jabra Elite 75t at Best Buy - $80

The Elite 75t have always been a good option if you didn't want to pay the premium that comes with devices like Apple's AirPods Pro or even competitors from Bose and Sony. The 75t are small and comfortable, and they're IP55-rated design means you can wear them while exercising without worrying. Each bud has one button for onboard controls, but they do a lot including adjust volume, turn on HearThrough transparency mode, skip tracks, mute mics when you're on a call and more. The buds have solid audio that packs a punch and, after the Elite 85t came out, Jabra updated the 75t with active noise cancelling through a firmware update. That was one of the biggest features previously missing on the 75t, and the addition of it makes these buds even more like the 85ts than they were before.

You'll get roughly 6.5 hours on a single charge of the Elite 75t, plus the extra juice its charging case holds. One thing that's exclusive to the 85t earbuds is wireless charging, so you'll have to opt for the more expensive model if you must have that feature. Luckily, the 85t are on sale right now as well for $150 — that's their lowest price ever, but still almost double the cost of the 75t right now. If you're able to snag them today, Jabra's Elite 75t are a steal for anyone in need of a new pair of wireless ANC buds.

Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by visiting our deals homepage and following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Honda shows off the latest version of its 'Autonomous Work Vehicle'

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:15 AM PST

At CES 2018, Honda revealed several companion mobility robot concepts. It's moving forward with at least one of them, an autonomous vehicle that can go off road. Honda and engineering company Black & Veatch have been putting the second-gen Autonomous Work Vehicle (AWV) through its paces at a solar panel construction site.

This was the first field test in which several AWVs were working together. The vehicles towed trailers and carried construction materials, water and other supplies across the 1,000-acre worksite. The AWV can carry a payload of up to 399kg (880 pounds) and tow a trailer with a total weight of 750kg (1,653 pounds).

In a video that shows off the AWVs, a Black & Veatch employee notes that it can take a while to travel across such a large site. So loading up the vehicles with materials and sending them to another location can make things more efficient and cut down on employees' travel time, freeing them up to work on other things.

Honda created a high-definition map of the site so operators could set start and end points for the AWVs. It says the vehicles stopped within centimeters of their destinations. Along with operating autonomously, the AWV can be remotely controlled.

The company claims the vehicle can run for up to eight hours on a single charge, even in a high-temperature environment. The AWV uses a number of sensors for navigation, including GPS, radar and LiDAR, as well as 3D cameras for remote monitoring. Honda says that even with a maximum payload capacity, the AWV has a range of up to 27.9 miles, depending on the use case.

The automaker is aiming to improve the performance and design of the AMV as it iterates on the prototype (it looks kinda cute as is). It might offer the ability to add attachments and tools as well. Honda hasn't revealed plans to release a commercial version of the AMV just yet, though.

TD Pilot will let people with disabilities control iPads with their eyes

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST

There's plenty new in iPadOS 15, but it also features an under-sung accessibility upgrade: support for third-party eye-tracking devices. That'll allow people with disabilities to use iPad apps and speech generation software simply through eye movements — no touchscreen interaction required. Tobii Dynavox, the assistive tech division of the eye-tracking company Tobii, worked with Apple for years to help make that happen. And now, the firm is ready to announce TD Pilot, a device that aims to bring the iPad experience to the estimated 50 million people globally who need communication assistance.

The TD Pilot is basically a super-powered frame for Apple's tablets: It can fit in something as big as the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, and it also packs in large speakers, an extended battery and a wheelchair mount. It's thankfully water and dust-resistant, so it'll survive time in a rainstorm or even a user's shower. There's also a secondary "Partner Window" on the back that spells out what a TD Pilot user is saying, which aims to make conversation feel more natural. Most importantly, though, it features Tobii Dynavox's latest eye-tracking sensor, which is powerful enough to work in bright sunlight.

This isn't exactly new territory for the company: It's been producing popular Windows-powered assistive devices for years. But, as CEO Fredrik Ruben tells Engadget, TD Pilot gives users with disabilities the same sort of flexibility that the non-disabled have. Some may not need the full power of a Windows PC, or maybe they'd just rather deal with the simpler interface on an iPad. TD Pilot users will also be able use eye tracking to play some iPadOS games—so long as they don't require extremely rapid movement.

While Tobii Dynavox is the current market leader in eye-tracking solutions, a smaller company ended up delivering iPad support first. Inclusive Technology's Skyle launched last year, and it allows for gaze control by tapping into the iPad's Assistive Touch feature. That was originally meant for mice and other input devices. Consequently, Ruben claims that technique is more like emulated tracking, since it involves staring at a cursor to move it around. Still, a short review from the YouTube channel Products for pALS was pretty favorable (and also had some less kind things to say about Tobii Dynavox's dated software).

Skyle's $2,995 price may also be another advantage if your insurance doesn't cover TD Pilot. Ruben tells us that Tobii Dynavox has around 400 insurance contracts already, and its devices are already covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Without insurance, though, the total cost of the TD Pilot could run up to $10,000, not including the cost of the iPad. Part of that cost would also go towards getting the device set up, as well as paying for Tobii Dynavox's software.

A screen showing the TD Pilot iPad software
Tobii Dynavox

When I tried out Tobii's eye-tracking technology in VR a few years ago, it felt like a superpower. I could hit a far-off target with a rock simply by focusing on it. It's not hard to see how useful that technology could be with an iPad for users with disabilities. Last year, we said that assistive technology still had a long way to go, despite a bit of progress from companies like Microsoft and Google. So, at the least, it's heartening to see another solution pop up—especially one that forced Apple to open up its restrictive ecosystem in the name of accessibility.

Adobe discounts Creative Cloud plans by 40 percent for Black Friday

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST

If you've been contemplating whether to purchase a subscription to Adobe's Creative Cloud plan, now is time to do so. Between today and December 3rd, the All Apps plan is 40 percent off for first-time customers. The bundle includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro and Acrobat. With the discount, it costs $30 per month, down from $53. If you're a student, you can get almost 70 percent off the plan, making it $16 per month.

Sign up for Adobe Creative Cloud - $30 / month

The promotion is also available to workplaces. Teams can get the All Apps plan for $50 monthly. All three discounts are only available to first-time Creative Cloud subscribers. The All Apps plan isn't for everyone, but if you depend on a handful of apps, it's worth picking up over the individual subscriptions Adobe offers.  

Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by visiting our deals homepage and following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter.

Bose's new QuietComfort 45 headphones are $50 off right now

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 05:40 AM PST

Bose's latest QuietComfort 45 headphones only just became available and they're already on sale at Amazon. You can grab the cans for $279 right now, or $50 off their normal price. That's the best price we've seen in the short time these headphones have been available, so now's a good time to get them if you've had your eye on a new pair of headphones or if someone on your gift list could use them.

Buy Bose QuietComfort 45 at Amazon - $279

Bose's QuietComfort lineup is beloved for many reasons and the company didn't try to reinvent the wheel here. The QC45 look very similar to the QC35 that came before it. We recommend the Bose 700 if you're looking for a striking pair of headphones, but the QC45, while not the slickest, are super comfortable to wear for hours on end. The physical buttons for onboard controls let you play/pause, take calls, skip tracks and adjust the volume, plus switch between active noise cancellation and ambient sound mode. Notably, Bose nixed the micro-USB charging port and opted for a more modern USB-C port on these cans.

Sound quality and ANC are as good as you'd expect on a pair of Bose headphones. Audio is clear and balanced and ANC is even better than it was before. QuietComfort devices have been some of the best you can get if you want to block out the world, and Bose managed to improve upon it even more in the QC45 with the help of multiple microphones that work with a "proprietary digital chip" to detect and silence more mid-range frequencies. That means it'll quell the roar of the commuter train you may be riding along with the voices of colleagues on Zoom calls right next to you.

Bose promises up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and we got around 22.5 hours in our testing. That means you'll be able to keep these cans on all day long if you want and still have some juice leftover at the end of a work day. As solid as these headphones are, they do have a few flaws. We mentioned their somewhat boring design, but that's easy to overlook thanks to the QC45's comfort level. You can't adjust EQ yourself, but the cans have volume-optimized Active EQ feature that adjusts highs and lows automatically. They also have a feature that lets you connect them to your phone and laptop at the same time, but they don't automatically reconnect to your second device after taking a call from your phone. It's a small issue, but one that's amplified when you consider other headphones in this price range do this automatically. However, if you're looking for the best that Bose has to offer — especially in the ANC department — this deal on the QC45 is one to consider.

Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by visiting our deals homepage and following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

OnePlus launches a Pac-Man edition of its Nord 2 smartphone

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 05:25 AM PST

OnePlus is known for its special edition phones, and now it's creating another for its latest Nord 2 5G smartphone — but this time, it's moving from iconic cars to iconic video games. The company has unveiled the OnePlus Nord 2 x Pac-Man edition with custom covers, themed wallpapers and even a Lego-like smartphone holder. 

The back of the phone has a film with a small Pac-Man logo, and it even glows in the dark to reveal a maze. There's also a translucent themed case featuring Pac-Man and his enemies Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde. once its turned on, you get one of eight Pac-Man-themed wallpapers, along with a Pac-Man-themed charging animation, redesigned retro icons/notification sounds and more. The box is also Pac-Man themed.

OnePlus launches a Pac-Man addition of its Nord 2 smartphone
OnePlus

If also comes with a Lego-like Pac-Man stand you build yourself, provided you order it directly from OnePlus. Finally, it includes a pre-installed version of the 2015 (free-to-play) game Pac-Man 256. 

Otherwise, it's the same OnePlus Nord 2 we recently tried, complete with a 6.43-inch 1080 90Hz OLED display, MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI processor and 4,500mAh, 65W fast-charging battery. On the back, you'll find a triple-camera setup with a 50-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel monochrome camera. It goes on sale tomorrow for £499/€529/₹37,999 in the UK, Europe and India respectively, and as with the regular Nord 2, isn't available in the US. 

The Morning After: Some Tesla Superchargers are getting Starlink satellite internet

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 04:15 AM PST

Tesla seems to be sneakily combining some of its tech projects. We'll dive into that later — let's start with Disney. As threatened, the company went hard on the announcements on its streaming service anniversary last Friday.

The Morning After
Disney

Alongside a bunch of new Disney movies and shows, there were a lot of new Marvel properties breaking cover. They include X-Men '97, a reimagined take on the '90s cartoon take of the X-Men, as well as new shows for Marvel characters, like Moonknight, She-Hulk, Echo and Ms. Marvel.

Wandavision standout Agatha Harkness is getting her own spooky show, while one of Marvel comics' most compelling events, Secret Wars, is also getting a show, with Samuel L. Jackson finally getting lead billing on an MCU project. Many of these won't arrive until 2023, but the plan is to keep subscribers hooked for another year.

And if you're more Star Wars less Star Lord inclined, we've got our first look at the new Obi-Wan show coming soon.

— Mat Smith

Tesla's Superchargers are getting Starlink satellite internet dishes

No more using cellular data to stream shows as you charge.

The Morning After
Getty

According to Electrek, Tesla EV owners have spotted Starlink satellite internet dishes at Supercharger stations. It's not yet clear how many there are or if they're accessible to drivers, but the deployment at least includes Florida.

Aside from getting your Netflix fix in, there are multiple possible uses for Starlink broadband at Superchargers. At the least, it could replace or supplement the existing connections that handle basics like payments and charger status. That could help the company deploy Superchargers faster and in more remote areas at a time when the company hopes to start charging for non-Tesla EVs and triple the size of its station network.

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Bitcoin's big code upgrade improves privacy and security

It's the first big network change since 2017.

The Bitcoin network finally rolled out its Taproot code upgrade over the weekend. The update improves both privacy and security for complicated transactions through new signatures that make them look like any other exchange. Would-be thieves or snoops should have a harder time recognizing when an unusual transfer is taking place.

This is the first major refresh of the network code since 2017 and could make it easier for the cryptocurrency to handle trade demands, which don't seem to be going anywhere. Bitcoin reached another peak price only last week. It's grown another 305 percent in value in the last 12 months.

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iOS 15.1 review: Apple tries sharing

SharePlay has finally arrived.

Even after SharePlay's belated addition, iOS 15 remains a relatively subtle update. There are no major shakeups to how you interact with your iPhone, though you might find the Focus modes useful when you need to limit distractions. SharePlay is well executed, but you're forced into using FaceTime and a limited number of compatible apps and services. There are a lot of improvements to the company's own apps, from FaceTime through Safari, and Apple Maps continues to close in on Google Maps.

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Gucci made an Xbox Series X for the one percent

If you have $10,000 lying around, you can get one on November 17th.

The Morning After
Gucci

Italian fashion house Gucci is releasing a special edition Xbox Series X that will cost an eye-watering $10,000. The bundle will include the console, two wireless controllers and a very fancy carrying case.

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IBM says its new quantum chip can't be simulated by classic supercomputers

Eagle features 127 qubits.

IBM claims it has taken a major step toward practical quantum computation. On Monday, the company unveiled Eagle, a 127 qubit quantum processor. IBM says it's the first such processor that can't be simulated by a classic supercomputer. To make sense of what that means, the company explains that to simulate Eagle you would need more classical bits than there are atoms in every human being on the planet. IBM is crediting the breakthrough to a new design that puts the processor's control components on multiple physical levels while the qubits are located on a single layer.

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Samsung update brings some Galaxy Watch 4 features to older smartwatches

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 03:53 AM PST

Along with the release of its One UI 4.0 update, Samsung has revealed new Galaxy Watch software that brings features from its latest Watch 4 model to four older smartwatches, Sammobile has reported. Owners of the Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Watch Active 2 and Galaxy Watch 3 are set to benefit from the new release.

With the Galaxy Watch 4, Samsung introduced Fall Detection with more levels of sensitivity and the ability to enable detection even if you're standing still. It will also send an SOS alert to approved contacts. That update is now available on the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2, though not the older Galaxy Watch/Watch Active models.

However, owners of all four watches will benefit from 10 new watch faces first launched with the Galaxy Watch 4, that offer extra customization options (text colors, backgrounds) or even different animated creatures on one. Other features include an updated group challenge in the Work Out with Friends feature and more accurate health monitoring. The update is arriving today in the USA and Korea and will follow in other regions later.  

Samsung's Galaxy S21 series updated to One UI 4 with new Android 12 features

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 03:00 AM PST

Following a beta launch in September, Samsung has released its One UI 4 software with new features from Android 12 like the Privacy Dashboard. As usual, owners of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S21 smartphone lineup, including the Galaxy S21, S21+ and S21 Ultra, will be first in line to receive it. 

The biggest change with the new skin is how it looks. One UI 4 now allows a more customized experience with new color palettes and widgets, along with a wider range of emoji features, GIFs and stickers. That sounds very much like Android 12's Material You, except it's not auto- or AI-generated. 

Samsung's Galaxy S21 series updated to One UI 4 with new Android 12 features
Engadget

The other difference from before is around security. Following the lead of Android 12, Samsung is introducing a Privacy Dashboard that brings all settings and controls into one place. For example, it will show when an app is attempting to access your camera, microphone or other sensor, and why it needed that data.

Other features include access to Samsung's extended ecosystem of devices and third-party apps. That will ensure a "seamless experience" when using non-Samsung apps like Google Duo, the company said. It's also promising a uniform look across devices like the Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Tab.

Since the release of One UI, Samsung has been trying to get the latest versions of Android onto its high-end smartphones as quickly as possible. It's fair to say it's done that here, as Google released Android 12 less than a month ago onto its Pixel 3 devices. One UI 4 is available starting today for Galaxy S21 device, "and will soon arrive to previous Galaxy S and Note series as well as Galaxy A series, foldables and tablets," the company said. 

Apple offers $30 million to settle off-the-clock bag search controversy

Posted: 15 Nov 2021 12:48 AM PST

Last year, California's supreme court ruled that Apple broke the law by failing to pay employees while they waited for mandatory bag and iPhone searches. Now, Apple has offered to pay $30 million to settle the suit and lawyers for the employees have urged them to accept it, Apple Insider has reported. "This is a significant, non-reversionary settlement reached after nearly eight years of hard-fought litigation," wrote plaintiff attorney Lee Shalov in the proposed settlement seen by Courthouse News.

Employees launched the suit way back in 2013, saying they weren't paid while being searched for stolen merchandise or trade secrets. The workers felt they were still under Apple's "control" during that five to 20 minute process and should therefore be compensated. Apple in turn argued that the employees could choose not to bring their bags or iPhones, thus avoiding a search in the first place.

Apple won an earlier battle in district court, but the case went to the California Supreme Court on appeal. There, the judges ruled that Apple workers were "clearly under Apple's control while awaiting, and during, the exit searches." The court dismissed Apple's argument that bringing a bag to work was an employee convenience, particularly that Apple felt employees didn't necessarily need to bring their iPhones to work.

"Its characterization of the iPhone as unnecessary for its own employees is directly at odds with its description of the iPhone as an 'integrated and integral' part of the lives of everyone else," the judges wrote. In that statement, the court referenced a 2017 Tim Cook interview where he stated that the iPhone was "so so integrated and integral to our lives, you wouldn't think about leaving home without it."

The settlement is still subject to approval by the plaintiffs. Nearly 12,000 current and former Apple Store employees in California involved in the lawsuit stand to receive a maximum payment of around $1,200.

IBM says its new quantum chip can’t be simulated by classic supercomputers

Posted: 14 Nov 2021 09:01 PM PST

IBM claims it has taken a major step toward practical quantum computation. On Monday, the company unveiled Eagle, a 127 qubit quantum processor. IBM claims it's the first such processor that can't be simulated by a classical supercomputer. To make sense of what that means, the company says to simulate Eagle you would need more classical bits than there are atoms in every human being on the planet. IBM is crediting the breakthrough to a new design that puts the processor's control components on multiple physical levels while the qubits are located on a single layer. It's a design the company says allows for a significant increase in computing power.

One aspect of Eagle the company isn't talking about at the moment is quantum volume. Cointed by IBM, it's a metric that attempts to measure the performance of a quantum computer by taking a holistic view of its different parts. Not only does it take into account qubits, but also the way in which they interact with one another. The higher the quantum volume, the more capable a quantum computer is at tackling difficult problems.

IBM Eagle
IBM

"Our first 127-qubit Eagle processor is available as an exploratory system on the IBM Cloud to select members of the IBM Quantum Network," Jerry Chow, the director of IBM's Quantum Hardware System Development unit, told Engadget. "Exploratory systems are early access to our latest technologies and so we do not guarantee uptime or a particular level of repeatable performance, as measured by quantum volume."

Without knowing the quantum volume of the Eagle processor, it's hard to say exactly how it compares to what's out there already. Last October, Honeywell claimed its System Model H1 had a quantum volume of 128 with just 10 connected qubits. For reference, earlier in the year IBM announced a 27 qubit system with a then industry-leading quantum volume of 64. Clearly, the company's new processor is powerful, but qubits don't tell the whole story here.

What's also notable about Eagle is that IBM is not claiming quantum supremacy. According to the company, it's a step toward that milestone, but the processor is not yet at the point where it can solve problems that classical computers cannot. In 2019, Google sparked controversy when it (briefly) claimed it had achieved the feat with its Sycamore system. At the time, IBM called the company's claims "indefensible" based on the fact Google built the computer to solve one specific equation.

IBM will make Eagle available to select members of its Quantum Network starting next month.

Tesla is deploying Starlink satellite internet dishes at Superchargers

Posted: 14 Nov 2021 02:23 PM PST

Don't despair if you want to stream a show at a Tesla Supercharger but aren't paying for Premium Connectivity — you might have an official alternative. According to Electrek, Tesla EV owners have spotted Starlink satellite internet dishes at Supercharger stations. It's not yet clear how many there are or if they're accessible to drivers, but the deployment at least includes Florida.

Tesla hasn't commented on the rollout and is believe to have disbanded its PR team.

There are multiple possible uses for Starlink broadband at Superchargers. At the least, it could replace or supplement the existing connections that handle basics like payments and charger status. That could help the company deploy Superchargers faster and in more remote areas. That's important when the brand hopes to allow charging for non-Tesla EVs and triple the size of its station network.

You don't need that much bandwidth (the median US Starlink connection is about 97Mbps) just to process transactions, though, and it wouldn't be surprising if Tesla used the satellite link to provide WiFi to Supercharger customers. You're typically parked at a charger for long enough to watch some TV episodes — you could stream shows without a Premium Connectivity subscription or using your phone as a hotspot. Network congestion could be a problem if the chargers are busy, but it would be convenient and potentially sell customers on Starlink service at home.

Bitcoin's big code upgrade improves privacy and security

Posted: 14 Nov 2021 01:26 PM PST

Bitcoin just received a significant upgrade. As The Blocknotes, the Bitcoin network rolled out a long-in-the-making "Taproot" code upgrade early today (November 14th). The update improves both privacy and security for complicated transactions through new signatures that make them look like any other exchange. Would-be thieves or snoops should have a harder time recognizing when an unusual transfer is taking place.

The Taproot update should also change the Bitcoin network's scaling by dropping the existing cryptographic system. It might be easier for the cryptocurrency to handle demand.

This is the first major refresh of the network code's since 2017, and it might be well-timed. While there are some objections to Bitcoin and other forms of digital money, it now has potential users ranging from AMC through to the country of El Salvador. An upgrade could help Bitcoin better accommodate any newcomers, not to mention reduce hassles for veteran crypto traders. 

UK will reportedly investigate NVIDIA's purchase of ARM over security concerns (updated)

Posted: 14 Nov 2021 12:31 PM PST

The UK government apparently isn't satisfied with its initial probe of NVIDIA's ARM purchase. As Reutersreports, The Sunday Timeshas heard Digital and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries will order the country's Competition & Markets Authority to conduct a "phase two" investigation of NVIDIA's deal over national security issues. The announcement could come as soon as next week, The Times said.

A second investigation would reportedly last about six months. After that, officials could either block the deal, approve it as-is or require concessions.

The country's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment on the story. We've asked NVIDIA for comment. The tech firm has focused its energy so far on downplaying concerns about ARM's neutrality if the deal closes, promising an open licensing model that treats customers fairly.

Any second investigation wouldn't necessarily spell doom for NVIDIA's acquisition. It would suggest the government has some qualms, however, and that NVIDIA might have to make some sacrifices. At the least, the company would have to be patient — it wouldn't get UK approval until 2022 at the earliest, and it would still have to wait for other regulators before finalizing the merger.

Update 11/14 5:30PM ET: An NVIDIA spokesperson told Engadget the company would "continue to work" with the UK government to address concerns, and said a possible second phase would let the GPU maker "demonstrate in detail" how the deal would both improve ARM and foster competition.

Apple has tight control over states' digital ID cards

Posted: 14 Nov 2021 10:21 AM PST

Apple's digital ID card support in iOS 15 may be convenient, but it also comes with tight requirements for the governments that use them. CNBC has learned states using Apple's system are required to not only run the platforms for issuing and checking credentials, but hire managers to handle Apple's requests and meet the iPhone maker's performance reporting expectations. States also have to "prominently" market the feature and encourage other government agencies (both state and federal) to adopt the technology.

Contracts are nearly identical for Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky and Oklahoma, some of the earliest adopters of the program. That suggests other states, including Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland and Utah, may have to honor similar terms.

Apple declined to comment. A representative for Arizona's Transportation Department told CNBC there were no payments to Apple or other "economic considerations," though the states would have to cover the costs.

The details raise a number of concerns. While it isn't surprising that states would have pay for at least some of the expenses, the contracts give a private company a significant amount of control over the use and promotion of government systems while asking governments to foot the bills. There's also the question of what happens when Android digital IDs become available — how do states juggle multiple platforms? Apple isn't preventing states from offering IDs on Android, but its requirements could give it a significant early advantage.
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