Wednesday, December 15, 2021

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Homeland Security offers $5,000 bug bounties as part of new 'Hack DHS' program

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 04:35 AM PST

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is offering up to $5,000 bug bounties under a new program called Hack DHS, it announced. Vetted security researchers invited by the agency will get access to select external DHS systems to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by bad actors. Payments will vary between $500 and $5,000 depending on the severity of the bug.

"As the federal government's cybersecurity quarterback, DHS must lead by example and constantly seek to strengthen the security of our own systems," said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. "The Hack DHS program incentivizes highly skilled hackers to identify cybersecurity weaknesses in our systems before they can be exploited by bad actors."

The program will roll out in three phases, with hackers first doing virtual assessments of systems. That will be followed by a live, in-person hacking event for the second phase, and in the third phase, the DHS will "identify and review lessons learned, and plan for future bug bounties," it wrote. 

Some of the major players we haven't seen as active as previously. That doesn't mean that they've gone away, that we've defeated them. They very well might have hit the pause button. Vigilance has to remain at an incredibly high level.

The program will use a platform developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and monitored by the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer. That department will verify any bugs within 48 hours and either fix them or develop a plan to do so within 15 days.

Private industry generally offers much higher bug bounties, with companies like Microsoft and Apple offering payouts as high as $1 million. However, Hack DHS isn't an open bounty program so it's limited to a smaller pool of researchers.

The DHS said that attacks against it were up fourfold in 2021 but that some of the most dangerous groups have slowed down. "Some of the major players we haven't seen as active as previously," Mayorkas said at Bloomberg's Technology Summit. "That doesn't mean that they've gone away, that we've defeated them. They very well might have hit the pause button. Vigilance has to remain at an incredibly high level."

The Morning After: Oppo tries to build a Google Glass for China

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 04:15 AM PST

The Google Glass vision isn't dead. Or at least, it's been resurrected by Oppo. Following last year's AR Glass concept, the new Oppo Air Glass will be available in Q1 2022 for a yet-to-be-announced price. It'll come in two parts: a detachable monocle (in black or white) and a separate frame. And no, you won't be able to attach the 30-gram device to your own glasses.

The focus here is on simple information, shown on a 640 x 480 image on a waveguide display. My favorite part might be the software Oppo is pitching, including a teleprompter display that you can set the scroll speed for. (Although, yes, you'd have to wear the thing in front of your audience…)

Concept image for Oppo's Air Glass
Oppo

For now, Oppo says the smartwear is China-only, so it might be an even rarer spot than Google's original Glass.

— Mat Smith

LG's StanbyME is a wireless TV on wheels

It has a battery that lasts three hours.

LG
LG

LG is teasing two new TVs with unusual designs at CES 2022, one of which is the recently announced premium OLED Evo TV with a motorized cover. The other is, literally, a wireless TV on wheels. The StanbyME has a built-in battery, and you can roll it in and out of any room in your home. The 27-inch display is on a moveable stand with concealed wheels, and you can adjust its height to customize its position.

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Nintendo's year in review recounts your most-played Switch games of 2021

You can also see how your stats this year compare to those in 2020.

Nintendo is getting into the end-of-year review mood, emailing many of its users about how they spent time with their Switch throughout the last 12 months.

The 2021 iteration isn't widely different from last year's iteration. You'll once again see the total number of hours you put in through the year and a count of all the games you played. There's also a breakdown of how many hours you played each month, in addition to a look back at your most active day. You'll see how much time you spent between handheld and docked modes, as well.

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Dell's latest laptop concept muses on easier-to-repair devices

And easier to recycle.

Dell
Dell

Dell might not be the most-loved PC company in terms of customer service, but it frequently tops corporate charts for environmentally friendly initiatives. Working with Intel, the company has created a new laptop called Concept Luna, with the aim of making future PCs easier to repair, reuse and recycle.

Dell said if it incorporated all the design ideas, it could reduce a computer's carbon footprint by up to 50 percent compared to current laptop models. Redesigned components make better use of space and improve passive cooling, while also reducing power demands. This, in turn, allows for a smaller battery with deep-cycle cells with a "long charge that can be maintained across many years of use, increasing refurbishment and reuse beyond the first product life it services," Dell said.

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Toyota's remote start key fob feature requires an $8 monthly subscription

It applies to models 2018 and later, with a free trial from 3 to 10 years.

To the consternation of some owners, Toyota's remote start key fob functionality requires a paid $8 per month subscription service. This applies to 2018 and later models, but recently came to light as the free trials of Toyota's Remote Connect subscription started to expire.

Toyota lets owners start vehicles like the RAV 4 PHEV remotely in two ways. One is over WiFi/LTE using its Remote Connect apps — these are what cost $8 per month or $80 per year. The other is by using the key fob. Unless they read the fine print, however, owners may not have known the key fob method was also part of the Remote Connect subscription. Toyota confirmed to The Drive that they need a paid subscription on every 2018 and newer Toyota model to use the function.

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The biggest news stories you might have missed

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Fender's newest Acoustasonic guitar is cheaper, but not cheap enough

California suspends Toyota-backed Pony.ai's driverless testing permit

iFixit partners with Microsoft on official repair tools

NASA's James Webb telescope launch delayed again until December 24th

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 03:10 AM PST

NASA was hoping to send the James Webb telescope on its way to space by December 22nd, but its launch has been delayed yet again. You've probably read several variations of that sentence by now if you've been keeping track of the observatory, seeing as its launch has been pushed back quite a few times already. In an announcement posted on the project's official page, NASA said that the James Webb team is working on a communication issue between the telescope and its Ariane 5 launch vehicle. As such, it will be launched no earlier than December 24th.

The James Webb project has experienced numerous setbacks since development started in 1996, due to various reasons that include going overbudget and major redesigns. After testing was suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, NASA worked towards an October 18th, 2021 launch. However, after testing by the agency and primary contractor Northrop Grumman, it was determined that the telescope wouldn't be ready until November or December this year. NASA previously announced a December 18th launch date, which was moved back to the 22nd after an unplanned release of a clamp band that secures James Webb to the launch vehicle adapter prompted a thorough check to ensure the telescope wasn't damaged. 

If everything goes as planned this time, December 24th is the earliest possible launch date that could be scheduled. The telescope could be heading towards the second Lagrange point of the Earth-Sun system later than Christmas Eve — NASA says it will reveal more details about its new target launch schedule on December 17th. When it does reach its destination, James Webb will observe the universe with a keener eye than Hubble, thanks to instruments that will allow it to see objects too old and too distant for the older telescope.

US puts drone maker DJI and seven other Chinese companies on investment blocklist

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 02:35 AM PST

The US government will place eight Chinese companies including drone manufacturer DJI on an investment blocklist for alleged involvement in surveillance of Uyghur Muslims, the Financial Times has reported. The firms will reportedly be put on the Treasure department's "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" list on Tuesday, meaning US citizens will be barred from making any investments. 

DJI is already on the Department of Commerce's Entity list, meaning American companies can't sell it components unless they have a license. At the time, the government said it was among companies that "enabled wide-scale human rights abuses within China through abusive genetic collection and analysis or high-technology surveillance." However, unlike products from Huawei and others, DJI drones are have not been banned for sale in the US. 

The latest moves are part of an effort by US President Joe Biden to sanction China for repression of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. Others that will be added to the list include cloud computing firms and facial recognition companies that operate in Xinjiang.

Yesterday, the US House and Senate passed a bill that would ban imports from Xinjiang, unless companies could prove they were not made using forced labor. It's set for a vote in the upper chamber of Congress prior to a holiday recess.

Xiaomi was placed on the same investment blocklist early in 2021. However, it fought the decision, saying that none of its principals were connected with the Chinese military and that a lack of US investment would lead to "immediate and irreparable harm." In May, the government agreed to lift the ban. 

In 2020, DJI commanded a massive 77 percent of the consumer drone market. Over the last two months, it has released a pair of key products, the large-sensor Mavic 3 drone and full-frame Ronin 4D cinema camera with a built-in gimbal and LiDAR focus system. A year ago, DJI said it had "done nothing to justify being placed on the Entity list," and that "customers in America can continue to buy and use DJI products normally."

Oppo’s Find N foldable phone has a more practical landscape screen

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 02:12 AM PST

Samsung's three generations of foldable phones put it in a leading position in the field, so much that Huawei and Xiaomi eventually followed the same double-screen form factor. Having already shown a foldable prototype a couple of years ago, it was only a matter of time before Oppo, the world's fourth largest smartphone brand, would join the scene. After a teaser from earlier, today the Chinese company unveiled the Find N, which features a 5.49-inch external display and unfolds into a 7.1-inch flexible "Serene Display."

What's special about this design is that Oppo went for a landscape aspect ratio — 9:8.4 (1,920 x 1,792), to be exact — for the flexible AMOLED screen, which offers a more practical split-screen usage. A bit like Microsoft's Surface Duo 2, except this is across one single panel. Similarly, the Find N's external AMOLED screen comes in a more familiar 9:18 aspect ratio (988 x 1,972), as opposed to something like the narrow 9:24.5 on Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3. The shorter body should also make the device more pocketable than its competitors.

Oppo Find N
Oppo

Oppo added that thanks to its special water-drop flexion hinge design, it's able to widen the angle of the flexible panel's fold, thus reducing the crease — "up to 80 percent less noticeable compared with other devices," which is apparently certified by TÜV Rheinland. The same mechanism allows for a no-gap design when folded. As for the flexible screen itself, its 12-layer structure apparently lets it withstand over 200,000 folds — even at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius or -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Alas, there's no IP rating for the Find N, but Oppo reassures us that the device has passed the company's own humidity and splash tests.

To our surprise, the Find N is powered by Qualcomm's slightly older Snapdragon 888, as opposed to the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or the existing Snapdragon 888 Plus. Oppo explained that this is due to the longer development cycle of this project. To be fair, this 5G chipset is still plentiful, plus the phone also comes with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage, along with ColorOS 12 based on Android 11, which should keep things running smoothly on that 120Hz flexible screen (though the external screen is capped at 60Hz).

Oppo Find N next to an Oppo Reno 7 Pro
Sanji Feng / Engadget Chinese

Other goodies in this 275g device include a 50-megapixel f/1.8 main camera (Sony IMX766 sensor; same as the Find X 3 Pro), a 16-megapixel (IMX481) f/2.2 ultra-wide camera plus a 13-megapixel (Samsung S5K3M5) f/2.4 2x telephoto camera on the back, and a 32-megapixel (IMX615) f/2.4 punch hole selfie camera on both the external screen and the inner screen. There's a 4,500mAh battery which supports 33W SuperVOOC rapid charging and 15W AirVOOC wireless charging; you can also use the phone for 10W reverse charging.

Unlike many recent flagship Androids, unlocking is done with a side-mounted fingerprint-scanning power button, rather than an under-display fingerprint reader, which makes sense since it'd be a bit ambitious to work that sensor into the large flexible screen.

Oppo Find N
Sanji Feng / Engadget Chinese

On the software side, this version of ColorOS 12 comes with a "FlexForm Mode" which lets you use the Find N in the form of a mini laptop. This applies to use cases like video calls, taking notes, taking 4K time-lapse photos of the sky and more. Likewise, you can use the external screen as a selfie viewfinder, though this is nothing new in the world of foldables.

Oppo Find N
Sanji Feng / Engadget Chinese

My favorite feature here is perhaps the split-screen gesture: simply use two fingers to swipe down the middle of the flexible screen, and you'll instantly split the screen into two. You can also tap the three dots in the middle of this virtual divider to create a shortcut for the current app combo. If needed, you can also use four fingers to pinch the large screen to turn the current app into a floating window. 

Last but not least, there's a "seamless relay" feature which lets you easily go from the large screen to the smaller external screen. As soon as you fold the Find N, the external screen will offer a five-second window to let you swipe up and activate it.

Oppo Find N 動手玩
Sanji Feng / Engadget Chinese

The Find N comes in black, white and purple, with the purple offering being exclusive to its higher-end model. In China, this new phone is immediately available for pre-ordering ahead of its December 23rd launch, with the base model (8GB RAM and 256GB storage) asking for 7,699 yuan (about $1,210), and the higher-end model (12GB RAM and 512GB storage) going for 8,999 yuan (around $1,410). That's surprisingly affordable — even more so than Xiaomi's Mix Fold. 

Sadly, Oppo doesn't plan on bringing its first-ever foldable to outside of China just yet, but our review unit did just land on my doorstep a few hours ago. I'll be spending the next few days figuring out whether this device lives up to its hype (and whether I can even run Google services on it), so stay tuned for our further impressions.

Polk Audio reveals its first Dolby Atmos soundbar

Posted: 15 Dec 2021 01:00 AM PST

Polk Audio has unveiled its first Dolby Atmos soundbar. The Signa S4 has seven drivers (including two upward-facing drivers) geared toward delivering 3D audio for movies, TV, music and games. A wireless subwoofer is bundled in.

The company says that if content isn't set up for Dolby Atmos, the soundbar can create a "virtual Atmos experience" by upmixing the height, surround and center channels. In addition, the Signa S4 harnesses Polk's VoiceAdjust technology, the goal of which is to make dialogue more intelligible during noisy scenes and when watching something at a lower volume.

The matching subwoofer for Polk Audio's Signa S4 soundbar.
Polk Audio

You can place the subwoofer anywhere in the room, as long as it's within 33 feet of the soundbar. The two devices will pair automatically. A Bass Adjust feature will tweak the low-end settings on both the soundbar and subwoofer. There are one-button presets designed for movie and music playback. There's also a night mode that lowers the bass and places more emphasis on dialogue.

You can connect the Signa S4 to your TV via HDMI, optical cable or even aux-in. The device should be compatible with most modern TV remotes and there's Bluetooth support too.

The soundbar is available starting today from Polk's website and other retailers. The Signa S4 bundle, which includes HDMI and optical cables, costs $399.

Google employees who don't comply with COVID-19 vaccine rules will reportedly be fired

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 11:12 PM PST

Google is giving employees until December 3rd to declare their COVID-19 vaccine status. And according to CNBC, if they fail to comply with the tech giant's vaccine mandate, they'd have to apply for a medical or religious exemption and convince Google that it's warranted if they don't want to eventually lose their job. Google will approve exemptions on a case-by-case basis. 

In its report, the publication said that it has seen an internal memo warning personnel of the consequences if they still haven't complied with the company's vaccine rules by January 18th. Those who refuse to be vaccinated or who have failed to secure a valid exemption will be placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days. Google will then put them on unpaid personal leave for up to six months and will ultimately fire them if they truly don't want to be inoculated against COVID-19. 

The tech giant reportedly explained in the memo that it's implementing its vaccine mandate to comply with the administration's executive order. Under that order, all US companies with more than 100 workers must be fully vaccinated by January 18th. While the order is in limbo after courts had blocked its implementation, Google may have simply chosen to push through with its plans to ensure that it's compliant in case the order suddenly takes effect.

"We expect that almost all roles at Google in the US will fall within the scope of the executive order. Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite... frequent testing is not a valid alternative to vaccination," the memo reportedly reads.

Earlier this month, CNBC also reported that Google delayed workers' return to office and will no longer require personnel to come in a few times a week starting on January 10th. However, it still encouraged employees to come into the office "where conditions allow, to reconnect with colleagues in person and start regaining the muscle memory of being in [one] more regularly."

While it will strictly enforce its rule for all employees that fall within the scope of the order, Google did give those who don't want to get vaccinated an option. If they can't secure a valid religious or medical exemption, they can "explore" other roles within the company that don't conflict with the order. If they can find such a role and it doesn't require in-office work, they can also permanently work remotely going forward.

Dell's wireless webcam prototype uses magnets to stick to a screen

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 09:01 PM PST

Ahead of CES 2022, Dell is previewing a set of concept products like it usually does around this time every year. Previously, the company teased us with a Switch-like PC gaming console and a pair of dual-screen and foldable computers. This time around, Dell is showing off a few prototypes around "seamless work experiences" called Concept Flow, Concept Stanza and Concept Pari. I checked them out at a recent demo in New York (while abiding by COVID-19 protocols), and was surprised by how refined they are.

Of the three, Pari is my favorite. It's a wireless camera prototype that can magnetically attach to a compatible screen so you can place it at eye level while Zooming your colleagues. Not only does this help keep a more natural gaze as you're talking, but it also allows you to keep your notes or script up behind the camera in a sort of teleprompter setup. The magnets won't work with just any standard monitor, though; you'll need to use one with magnets built in too.

I appreciate the elegance of Dell's approach. The webcam sits in a cradle perched atop the monitor, and you remove it when you want a different angle. When it's docked, the webcam wirelessly charges (and a light is supposed to glow to indicate it's juicing up, though this wasn't happening during our demo). You can also flip the camera around to face the back of the dock when you want some privacy, so if anyone is spying on you, they'll only see the black cover. 

During my brief time with the prototype, I was able to easily pick up the webcam and attach it to the monitor. The magnets were strong enough to keep the camera in place and prevent it from sliding, yet not so strong that I had to struggle to take it off. I especially liked the stand that Dell made for Pari, which turns it into an overhead camera for top-down shots. It was convenient to pluck the camera off the screen and stick it to the magnetic disc on the stand, which looked like a thin, modern light. The version that I checked out at our demo felt slightly flimsy and I wish the disc swiveled on a hinge to offer more flexibility in angles, but given this is just a concept, I will withhold my complaints for now. 

Though Pari is a prototype at the moment, Dell has some specs to share. The device weighs about an ounce (30 grams) and this iteration has an onboard microphone. It streams 1080p video over WiFi and has a light above the lens up front to indicate when the camera is level, so you can more easily ensure your scene is straight. The cradle uses USB-C for charging, too. Since this isn't currently something the company is ready to sell, it doesn't have details on battery life, much less a possible price. 

A barrel-shaped webcam sitting on a cradle on top of a monitor, with a hand reaching out to grab it. The camera is facing backwards.
Dell

Dell's two other concepts were more about multi-device environments. Flow, for example, uses a dock to link all the devices at your home office, like a monitor, keyboard, mouse and charger. Then, it lets your laptop wirelessly connect to them while also charging it. If you bring the laptop out of Bluetooth range, the external monitor locks and reconnects when you return with your computer. According to Dell, Flow is the result of bringing together "devices, industry standard wireless charging technology, intelligent software applications and Wi-Fi 6E docking technology to create a singular, seamless experience."

Finally, Stanza centers around an 11-inch "companion device" that's basically a thin and light tablet without ports. Dell said it "deliberately chose not to include cameras or speakers, for a distraction-free experience." You can write on it with a stylus and double tap to have your scribbles converted to digital text. As with many other note-taking apps, you can also draw a line through words to delete them. If you're drawing a Venn diagram, Dell's system can also convert your imperfect circles with squiggly lines into flawless spheres. The tablet can also serve as an additional screen onto which you can extend or mirror whatever's on your laptop screen. 

Dell's Concept Stanza tablet-like device docked on a table with a stylus magnetically attached to its top edge. Also visible is the corner of a bigger monitor on the table.
Dell

Again, since these are all just concepts, Dell doesn't have pricing or availability info to share, but it's possible we'll see aspects of these designs show up in the future products. Additionally, the company showed off another Concept yesterday called Luna, and it's a way to make PCs more sustainable by making their parts easier to replace. Dell is clearly exploring how to make products that align with industry trends (like hybrid workforce, sustainability), and we'll hopefully see some of the benefits of these in its actual products soon.

Twitter adds automatically generated captions for videos

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 03:23 PM PST

Twitter is taking another step toward becoming more accessible. On Tuesday, the company began rolling out automatic captions for videos. The feature is available on Android, iOS and its web client. On mobile, you'll see captions appear automatically when you start watching a muted video. You can configure them to stay on even after you increase the volume on your device through the accessibility settings on your phone.

One thing to note is that only videos uploaded from today forward will include automatically generated captions. As The Verge points out, there's also no way to report inaccurate captions currently. However, a Twitter spokesperson told the outlet it's "always looking at ways to improve our accessibility features."

The introduction of automatic video captions is a step forward for Twitter. As recently as last year, accessibility advocates criticized the company for introducing a feature like audio tweets without supporting them with accessibility tools. In the aftermath of the incident, the company established two accessibility teams. 

Microsoft Teams adds end-to-end encryption for one-on-one calls

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 02:18 PM PST

You can now place some Microsoft Teams calls with the confidence they'll be reasonably secure. The Vergenotes Microsoft has made end-to-end encryption widely available for one-on-one calls after publicly testing the feature since October. If your company's IT administrator enables E2EE and both ends of the call choose to use the feature, it should be that much harder for intruders to spy on conversations.

Microsoft cautioned that you'll lose several significant features if you use the stricter encryption, including recording, call transfers, expanding to group calls and live captions. You'll have to disable E2EE to regain those options.

This could still be important. While Teams was already using encryption both in transit and at rest, it still offered a window for decrypting content so that approved services could honor data retention records. End-to-end encryption prevents anyone beyond the intended recipients from decrypting call data — that's great for privacy, but not so hot for companies, governments and law enforcement agencies that want backdoors. It won't be surprising if authorities bristle at Microsoft's move.

Six more women sue Tesla over workplace sexual harassment

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 01:27 PM PST

In the wake of Jessica Barraza's lawsuit last month, six more current and former female employees have come forward to accuse Tesla of fostering a culture of rampant sexual harassment at its Fremont factory in California. In separate complaints filed on Tuesday with the Superior Court in Alameda County, the women said they were consistently subjected to catcalling, unwanted advances, physical contact and discrimination while at work.

Jessica Brooks, one of the women who sued Tesla, alleges she was harassed on her first day of orientation at the automaker. She claims a supervisor told his male subordinates to "check out the new girl." Brooks says the harassment was so constant she eventually stacked boxes around her workstation to deter her coworkers from whistling at her. Brooks also claims she complained of the situation to Tesla's HR department. The company allegedly responded by moving Brooks to a different part of the factory instead of addressing the situation directly.

"I was so tired of the unwanted attention and the males gawking at me I proceeded to create barriers around me just so I could get some relief," Brooks told The Washington Post. "That was something I felt necessary just so I can do my job."

When Jessica Barraza sued Tesla last month, she said she was subjected to "nightmarish" working conditions at the company's Fremont plant. Barraza's lawsuit described a factory floor that looked more like "a crude, archaic construction site or frat house" than the site of one of the most advanced EV makers in the country. Most of the seven women who have sued Tesla have linked the abuse they experienced to the behavior of CEO Elon Musk. "He would make 69 or 420 jokes … which caused the technicians to be even worse," said one of the complaints.

The suit comes on the same day five former SpaceX employees accused Musk's other company of doing little to stop sexual harassment. We've reached out to Tesla for comment. The automaker does not operate a public relations department. When a federal court recently ordered Tesla to pay $137 million to a Black worker who said they were subjected to daily racist abuse at the company's Fremont factory, the company said: "We continue to grow and improve in how we address employee concerns. Occasionally, we'll get it wrong, and when that happens we should be held accountable."

Former SpaceX workers say company has a culture of sexual harassment

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 12:47 PM PST

Tesla isn't the only company in Elon Musk's portfolio to have issues with sexual harassment. Women who previously worked at SpaceX, including mission engineer Ashley Kosak and four others speaking to The Verge, have accused the company of doing little to stop sexual harassment. Male staff reportedly made numerous unwanted advances, lewd comments and physical contact. Kosak claimed one coworker went so far as to visit her house and insist on touching her, while former intern Julia CrowleyFarenga (who sued SpaceX in 2020) said a male employee blocked her from getting hired after she reported his controlling behavior.

SpaceX was allegedly reluctant to take significant action. While the women did report incidents to SpaceX's human resources, the company appeared to be more interested in keeping the company's plans on track than on dealing with harassment. HR asked Kosak to propose solutions to sexual harassment, but there was no follow-up — and both HR lead Brian Bjelde as well as company president Gwynne Shotwell were apparently unaware of her allegations when she met them.

We've asked SpaceX for comment. In an email The Verge obtained, however, Shotwell was aware of Kosak's web essay on the matter and said HR would conduct both in-house and independent audits of its practices. She also reiterated SpaceX's "no A-hole" policy and that targets of harassment should still report incidents to HR or managers. Shotwell didn't touch on concerns of retaliation, though, and the news came just as six more Tesla workers sued over sexual harassment claims.

All of the affected women pinned the problems on a leadership and company culture that prioritized the mission over workers' wellbeing. Elon Musk sees engineers as a "resource to be mined," Kosak said, rather than people to be cared for. Throw in an overwhelmingly male workforce that leaves women isolated (one complainant likened it to a "boys' club") and women may have little chance of meaningfully addressing harassment. If that's the case, any long-term solutions may require management and policy changes, not just better enforcement of the policies that exist.

Amazon's IMDb streaming app comes to PS5

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 12:16 PM PST

If you've managed to beat the bots and score a PlayStation 5 over the last 13 months, you now have another way to watch movies and TV for free. Amazon's IMDb TV is now available on the console in the US. The app landed on Xbox Series X/S and PS4 earlier this year.

You'll be able to check out Amazon Originals, including shows like Alex Rider and Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers. There's a growing ad-supported library of licensed shows and movies too, such as Chicago Fire, All in the Family and that classic family holiday favorite, Die Hard. Amazon and Universal also reached an agreement earlier this year to bring many of the studio's movies to IMDb TV, including The Invisible Man, F9, Despicable Me 2 and Shrek 2.

Along with gaming consoles, IMDb TV is available on smart TVs, phones and tablets and streaming platforms, including Amazon's own devices. The service expanded to the UK in September. 

Apple reinstates mask requirements across all US stores

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 11:56 AM PST

Amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the US, Apple will now require all customers to wear a mask when they visit its stores across the country. The company said it would also enforce occupancy limits. The move comes after Apple recently lifted mask requirements at more than 100 of its stores nationwide ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend. "Amid rising cases in many communities, we now require that all customers join our team members in wearing masks while visiting our stores," Apple said in a statement to Bloomberg.

In a memo obtained by the outlet, Apple said it made the decision "after reviewing the latest trends in COVID-19 case counts across the US." The recently sequenced omicron variant is causing new concerns about the direction of the pandemic. Per CNBC, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday the new variant is spreading faster than any previous strain of COVID-19. 

"Even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned. As of Tuesday, the omicron strain represents approximately 3.0 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the US, up from 0.4 percent the week prior.

The unpredictable nature of the pandemic has forced Apple to frequently change its retail policies as the situation has evolved. The timing of this latest surge could affect the company's bottom line as it looks to close out another busy holiday season.

Nintendo's year in review recounts your most-played Switch games of 2021

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 10:48 AM PST

There may be almost three weeks before the end of the year, but that's not stopping Nintendo from getting in on the year-in-review action. As in 2020 and 2019, the company has a tool you can use to see how much time you spent playing your Switch throughout the last 12 months.

The 2021 iteration isn't widely different from what Nintendo has offered in years past. You'll once again see the total number of hours you put in throughout the year and a count of the all games you played. There's also a breakdown of how many hours you played each month, in addition to a look back at your most active day. 

Since this is the Switch we're talking about, you'll see how much time you spent between handheld and docked modes, as well. At each stage, the tool will tell you how your 2021 stats compare to the ones you put up last year. You can see your year-in-review by logging into the company's official website with your Nintendo Account. However, the tool is only available to people in the US, Canada and Latin America.

Fender's newest Acoustasonic guitar is cheaper, but not cheap enough

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 10:30 AM PST

When I tested out the Fender Acoustasonic Jazzmaster earlier this year, I was admittedly skeptical. One of the biggest reasons was the price. I just couldn't justify $2,000 for something so niche. But I said if the price ever fell below $1,000 I'd consider it. Well, the new Acoustasonic Player Telecaster doesn't quite hit that benchmark, but at $1,200 it is a lot more affordable.

Obviously, something had to give for the company to shave $800 off the price, but from a pure build quality perspective it doesn't seem like you're losing much. The made-in-Mexico Player Acoustasonic is nearly indistinguishable from the made-in-America models. The body and neck have a similar satin finish on a combination of mahogany and spruce. And the components, from the tuners to the knobs, are exactly the same. This certainly doesn't feel like an entry-level guitar.

Fender Player Acoustasonic Telecaster
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

There are some physical differences, though. The most notable being the fretboard, which was ebony on the original, but is made of rosewood here. Even so, I wouldn't say ebony is better; it's just a slightly different experience. The rosewood fretboard, combined with the lower action out of the box, makes the new Acoustasonic Telecaster play more like an electric than an acoustic – a stark contrast to the Jazzmaster version, in my experience.

The biggest differences here are in the electronics. Where the pricier Acoustasonics have three pickups and a five-way switch for a total of 10 different guitar sounds, the Player model has just two pickups and a three-way switch with six sound options.

The Player Acoustasonic also loses the rechargeable battery and replaces it with a standard 9V. I'll say this: The guitar chews through 9V batteries surprisingly fast, but being able to just swap in a new one (rather than wait for it to charge) is a nice convenience.

Fender Player Acoustasonic Telecaster
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

Just like the other entries in the Acoustasonic series, the main controls are basic, but a little different than your typical guitar. There's a volume knob, but the selector doesn't just switch pickups (though, it does that too); it switches between pairs of "voices", while the second knob blends between the two.

Moving from back to front, the voice pairs found on the three-way switch here are Noiseless Tele and Fat Noiseless Tele, Lo-Fi Clean and Lo-Fi Crunch, Mahogany Small Body Short Scale and Rosewood Dreadnought. What's immediately noticeable is that there are a lot fewer acoustic simulations than on the other Acoustasonics. The two models here, the Rosewood Dreadnought and Mahogany Small Body, cover a decent amount of ground. It's very satisfying to play a simple chord loop on the Rosewood and turn the blend knob forward to the Mahogany to play leads over it.

The two acoustic voices here are good but not as convincing as they are on the Jazzmaster Acoustasonic. I attribute that to the missing third pickup: Fishman's Acoustasonic Enhancer. The two pickups here – Fender's Acoustasonic Noiseless and Fishman's Under-Saddle Transducer – do an admirable job delivering electric and piezo acoustic sounds, but they're not quite as good at delivering the variety and nuance of the Enhancer system it seems.

Fender Player Acoustasonic Telecaster
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

That being said, I actually prefer the electric sounds on the Telecaster to the Jazzmaster. It sounds a bit more like the guitar that inspired it to my ears, and plays better with pedals. The "Fat" Tele sound has just the right amount of bite for my taste. The "lo-fi" voices are basically just the same piezo sounds you'd find in your average acoustic / electric. That's not a bad thing, to be clear. I love the crunch of a slightly overdriven piezo pickup. If you're banging out Neutral Milk Hotel covers or playing along with Nirvana's Unplugged, this is the setting for you.

The dreadnought and small body voices are still more convincingly acoustic than what you'd get on your average acoustic / electric. They have depth and character that your average piezo alone can't quite match. But those two voices alone aren't necessarily worth the premium you're paying here.

In fact, price remains the biggest obstacle for the Acoustasonic line. $1,200 isn't exactly cheap for a guitar. Sure, it's better than $2,000, but even many avid players will live their entire lives never spending more than $1,000 on a guitar. A standard made-in-Mexico Player Telecaster will set you back $800, and you can pick up a decent acoustic / electric from Fender for about $400 – and arguably those two as separate instruments are more versatile than the hybrid Acoustasonic. And the value gets even muddier when you consider that the American-made Acoustasonic Telecaster is currently on sale for $1,600.

The Acoustasonic Player Telecaster remains an almost perfect couch guitar and it's exciting to see Fender bringing its hybrid guitar tech down to a more affordable instrument. But it's still too expensive for most.

Android 12 Go Edition will make cheap phones faster and more efficient

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 10:00 AM PST

Now that Android 12 is making its way to more devices, Google has announced Android 12 Go Edition. When it arrives on devices in 2022, the OS for low-cost phones will make your device up to 30 percent faster, according to the company. That adds to the 20 percent improvement Google pulled off previously with Android 11 Go Edition. The company says it has also smoothed out launch animations.

Android 12 Go Edition
Google

If space is an issue, a new feature allows the operating system to conserve both battery life and storage by hibernating apps you don't use frequently. Additionally, you can use Files Go to safely delete something and then recover it after 30 days. Meanwhile, an update to Nearby Share allows you to save data by transferring apps between devices. Separately, if you ever need to translate a webpage, you can now do so quickly thanks to a newly added shortcut found on the recent apps interface.

Android 12 Go Edition
Google

In addition to performance tweaks, Android 12 Go Edition is all about privacy enhancements. Android 12's privacy dashboard is making the jump to Go Edition. You can use it to review all the permissions your apps have access to and revoke them as needed. Additionally, you'll see if your phone's microphone or camera is active thanks to new privacy indicators located on the status bar. The update will also allow you to limit apps to accessing only your approximate location instead of your exact one. And if you ever want to let someone use your device, you can now open a temporary guest account directly from the lock screen. Android Go Edition 12 will automatically reset your phone once they're done.

With today's announcement, Google also shared that more than 200 million people globally use an Android Go Edition device. That's not bad when you consider Go Edition has only been around since 2017.

Apple's second-generation AirPods drop to $90 at Amazon

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 09:40 AM PST

While they're slated to arrive after Christmas, Apple's second-generation AirPods have returned to a record-low price. Amazon has the earbuds for $90, which is only one dollar more than they were on Black Friday. If you can wait until after December 25th to get them, you'll get one of the best deals on these earbuds that we've seen all year.

Buy AirPods (2nd gen) at Amazon - $90

These are the classic AirPods most people are familiar with by now. They have a similar design to Apple's old EarPods and they have the H1 chip inside that helps them quickly pair with iOS devices as well as switch in between devices like iPhones, iPads and Macs. While you can get better sounding earbuds at a similar price, AirPods remain one of the best options for those who primarily use Apple devices because they conveniently pair and switch between them. You'll also be able to monitor each buds' battery life, as well as the case's charge, from your iPhone. You'll get roughly five hours of use before needing to power up again, and the case provides more than 24 hours of total listening time.

While they don't have many of the new features that the latest, 3rd-generation AirPods have, the second-gen models remain a good option if you're on a budget and want those signature Apple perks. The latest AirPods are on sale for $150 right now, or about $30 off their normal price, and we'd recommend springing for those if you have the extra cash. We gave them a score of 88 for their more comfortable design, improved audio quality and longer battery life.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

'Windjammers 2' will arrive on January 20th

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 09:18 AM PST

Twenty-eight years after the original Windjammers hit the Neo Geo, the sequel will finally arrive on modern platforms. Windjammers 2 will land on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Stadia on January 20th. It'll be available on Xbox Game Pass and the newly renamed PC Game Pass, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via backward compatibility.

Windjammers is a souped-up take on Pong in which you try to send a disc past your opponent to score. But as well as simply tossing the disc along a predictable path toward the goal, you can harness curved shots, lobs and character-specific power moves — there's a reason the original was called Flying Power Disc in Japan.

We got some hands-on time with Windjammers 2 a couple of years back and it promises more of the same, albeit modernized for a current-day audience. Developer Dotemu has freshened up the graphics and peppered in some extra mechanics, including dropshots and slapshots. It's the kind of game that'll be easy to pick up and difficult to master.

It's probably just as well that Elden Ring has been delayed from its original release date of January 22nd. I'm not sure how it would be able to compete with the mighty Windjammers 2.

FCC aims to make emergency alerts more accessible for the hard of hearing

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 09:12 AM PST

The US' Emergency Alert System often relies on audio to grab your attention, but what if you have hearing issues? The FCC hopes to fix that. The Commission has proposed rules that would make the alerts more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. Most notably, the move would require partners to use internet-based alerts when possible — this would offer "superior" visuals to the old version meant for over-the-air TV.

Another potential rule would demand clearer, more descriptive TV alerts. The FCC is also exploring ways to upgrade the legacy emergency alert system to display "more visual information" alongside the warning message.

Chairwoman Rosenworcel and all FCC commissioners support the three proposals. In that light, it's less a question of whether they'll move forward as how well they'll work. Ideally, you won't have to worry about missing useful information in an alert if you can't listen in. It's just not certain how the system will evolve, or how well online messaging will hold up in the event of crises that disrupt internet access.

iFixit partners with Microsoft on official repair tools

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 09:01 AM PST

iFixit announced today it will join forces with Microsoft to manufacture and sell official repair tools for some Surface models. The partnership will kick off with a display debonder, a display rebonder, and a battery cover.

The models these Microsoft-sanctioned tools are designed for aren't the friendliest to at-home tinkering. Many — like the Surface Laptop Go and Surface Pro 7+ — have neither guides nor repairability scores from the iFixit. This might explain why, at least for now, these pro-grade tools aren't being offered to consumers. 

"iFixit Pro independent repairers, Microsoft Authorized Service Providers, Microsoft Experience Centers, and Microsoft Commercial customers," will be the only entities allowed to use these new devices, according to iFixit. "While not necessary to complete a DIY repair, these new tools are designed to prevent damage and will help technicians performing a high volume of repairs, and assist in improving accuracy and matching factory-level adhesion."

According to The Verge, it was Microsoft that approached iFixit about joining forces, despite (and because of) iFixit's vocal criticism of the Surface line's poor repairability. Wider availability of official repair tools, and the development of new ones, could be on the horizon if both companies see positive results.

Microsoft is the latest company to partner with iFixit. Previously the right-to-repair advocate has worked with HTC and Motorola as an official parts source for Vive headsets and smartphones, respectively. 

Arturia’s free Pigments 3.5 upgrade adds M1 support and a distortion module

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 08:16 AM PST

Arturia has been relentless over the last few year with updating and improving its instruments. Whether that's firmware upgrades for its hardware or feature dumps for its plugins. Pigments, the company's all original virtual synth (as opposed to its meticulous emulations of classic hardware), has been one of the biggest benefactors of these free updates. Today the company is launching Pigments 3.5 another significant upgrade to what I have said repeatedly is my favorite soft synth at the moment. 

While this isn't quite as large an update as 3.0, it still brings a lot of new features to the table. One of the one most important is that Pigments 3.5 adds compatibility with Apple's M1 chips. This isn't exactly a flashy new feature, but it will make many producers very happy who have already jumped on the hype train for the latest MacBooks.

The biggest change to the synth engine itself is probably the addition of a cross modulation feature. You can use either engine one or two as the mod source and dial in results that range from subtle weirdness to full on sonic freak outs. Arturia also fleshed out its comb filter which has three new modes (LP6, BP6 and HP6) that cleans up certain frequencies excelling at plucks and bowed sounds. 

Arturia also added a new distortion module to the effects section. While there have been options for adding dirt in Pigments before, this is a lot more versatile of an option. It has 16 different modes with built-in filtering for creating everything from the germanium fuzz of classic guitar pedals, to extreme digital wavefolding or even the soft saturation you'd get from a vintage preamp. 

And if that's not enough new sound design options for you, there are dozens of new wavetables being added too, plus over 150 new presets that show off the power of the new features.

Lastly, Arturia made some tweaks to the UI that should streamline the workflow, including one-click sample preview. 

Pigments 3.5 is available now as a free upgrade for current owners. If you haven't picked up Pigments yet, now is a pretty good time to, since it's on sale for $99 until January 6th. And Arturia is even including three new sound banks for free — Bass Thermal, Trap Chemical and EDM Kinetic.

The US Postal Service secretly tested a blockchain mobile voting system

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 08:09 AM PST

Mobile voting hasn't had much traction in the US, but that apparently isn't for a lack of trying. The US Postal Service has confirmed to The Washington Post that it secretly developed and tested a blockchain-based mobile voting system ahead of the 2020 election. The project was purely "exploratory" and was abandoned in 2019 after University of Colorado researchers discovered security flaws, including the risks of impersonation, denial of service attacks and "techniques" that compromised privacy.

However, it might be the lack of transparency that raises the most concern. The USPS didn't coordinate with other federal agencies, and it asked the university to sign a non-disclosure deal that prevented them from naming the institution involved. Election security officials just learning of the blockchain voting project were worried it might erode trust in the democratic system already hurt by unsupported claims of significant fraud during the 2020 vote.

The Postal Service has considered electronic voting before, but centered its attention on those who can't easily vote, such as soldiers and people with disabilities. This was a practical exercise that could have applied to a large swath of voters, not just a small group that can't realistically use mail or in-person balloting.

The end result was the same with or without the test: the 2020 election continued to rely on paper ballots, and federal agencies focused more on establishing a paper trail to reduce the chances of Russia and other actors from tampering with the vote. The revelation shows there wasn't a completely united front, though, and suggests vote-by-smartphone efforts aren't about to take off any time soon.

Dell's Concept Luna shows how future laptops could be easier to repair and recycle

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST

Working with Intel, Dell has created a new laptop called Concept Luna with the aim of making future PCs easier to repair, reuse and recycle. Dell said that if it incorporated all the design ideas, it could reduce a computer's carbon footprint by up to 50 percent compared to current laptop models.

A key feature of Concept Luna is the redesigned components and a new, more efficient layout. To start with, the motherboard is 75 percent smaller at just 5,580 square millimeters and has a 20 percent lower component count. Everything is rearranged, with the motherboard close to the top cover to expose it to a larger cooling area. It's also separated from the battery charging unit in the base, allowing better passive cooling that could eliminate the need for a fan. 

Dell Concept Luna recycle reuse repair
Dell

The extra efficiencies also reduce power requirements, allowing the designers to use a smaller battery with deep-cycle cells that offer a "long charge that can be maintained across many years of use, increasing refurbishment and reuse beyond the first product life it services," Dell said. 

On top of making the design more power efficient, Dell designers used less energy-intensive materials that are easier to recycle. The aluminum body, for instance, was processed using hydro power and a more efficient stamped construction. Dell also reduced the number of screws by tenfold, "with just four needed to access internal components." That not only reduces material count, but repair time (to disassemble, repair and reassemble key components) by around 1.5 hours. 

Dell's Concept Luna shows how future PCs could be easier to repair and recycle
Dell

Other features include a palm rest that's easy to repair and reuse, a keyboard mechanism that can be easily separated for replacement and recycling, and a bio-based printed circuit board (PCB) made with flax fiber in the base and water-soluble polymer as glue. "What's notable here is that the flax fiber replaces traditional plastic laminates... [and] the water-soluble polymer can 'dissolve,'" making for easier recycling. 

Concept Luna is far from the first green laptop concept. Framework, for example, recently demonstrated an easy-to-repair laptop with features like removable ports and components that are labeled so you can repair it yourself. 

Dell might not be the most-loved PC company in terms of customer service, but it frequently tops corporate charts for environmentally-friendly initiatives. Creating a concept that points the way to easy-to-fix, more recyclable PCs is a solid step toward reducing plastic waste and pollution in the PC industry. Now, Dell plans to take the best ideas from Concept Luna "and evaluate which have the greatest potential to scale across our product portfolio," the company wrote. 

Nintendo will host an indie game showcase at 12PM ET on December 15th

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 07:56 AM PST

Nintendo is squeezing in one more indie game showcase before the end of the year. The next Indie World Showcase will take place on December 15th at noon ET.

As has been the case for the last fewof these events, the stream will run for around 20 minutes. Given what we've seen from these showcases in the past, you can probably expect to learn about indie hits from other platforms that are coming to Nintendo Switch. After a couple of years without much news about the game, here's hoping for more details about Hollow Knight: Silksong too.

You can watch Nintendo's December Indie World Showcase below.
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