Tuesday, December 14, 2021

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Anker wireless chargers are up to 36 percent off in Amazon's one-day sale

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 05:45 AM PST

If you're still struggling to come up with gift ideas for the holidays, you can't go wrong with mobile accessories. With so much of our lives driven by our devices, gadgets that help keep smartphones and tablets going will be useful to almost anyone. Anker makes some of our favorite mobile accessories and Amazon has a one-day-only sale going on that knocks up to 36 percent off some of the company's latest devices. A bunch of gadgets in the new MagGo lineup have been discounted, including the gray 5,000mAh magnetic battery pack, which is 25 percent off and down to $45, and the magnetic desktop charging station, which is also 25 percent off and on sale for $75.

Shop Anker one-day sale at AmazonBuy MagGo battery pack at Amazon - $45Buy MagGo desktop charging station at Amazon - $75

All of the accessories in the MagGo collection work with the latest iPhones that have MagSafe, meaning they'll snap onto the back of the handsets to provide power, extra grip and more. The 5,000mAh battery pack will come in handy for those constantly on the go as it snaps to the back of iPhone 13s and provides up to 17 hours of additional juice. It also has a built-in kickstand, so you can prop up your iPhone while it's wirelessly charging. We also appreciate that it doesn't add much heft to the iPhone, measuring just 12.8mm thick, and that you can use it with MagSafe-compatible phone cases, too.

If you know someone who could stand to clean up their nightstand a bit, Anker's MagGo desktop charging station could do the trick. It looks similar to Amazon's now-discontinued Echo Spot, but with a powerful magnetic pad instead of a smart display. The orb magnetically holds on to your iPhone, positioning it at an angle that makes it easy to see and use the screen. On its back, it has a bunch of ports: three AC outlets, two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. That lets you plug in almost any other gadget you have lying around like a tablet or your smartwatch, and it keeps all of your cables mostly out of the way. Its small size and cute design make it a good choice as a catch-all charging device for your nightstand or the desk in your home office.

While the sale mostly includes magnetic accessories, there are a few standard charging gadgets included, too. Anker's new Nano Pro 20W USB-C charger is 25 percent off, bringing it down to $15, while a pack of 3-, 6- and 10-foot Powerline II USB-C to Lightning cables is 36 percent off, knocking it down to just under $30. Depending on when you place your order, you could still get these accessories before Christmas, too.

Buy Nano Pro 20W charger at Amazon - $15Buy USB-C to Lightning cables (3 pack) at Amazon - $30

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

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

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 04:29 AM PST

Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving company backed by Toyota, can no longer test fully self driving vehicles in California, for now at least. According to Reuters, the DMV suspended its driverless testing permit on November 19th, a few weeks after a reported collision in Fremont. Based on the report filed with the state's DMV, a Pony.ai vehicle operating autonomously hit a road center divider and a traffic sign on October 28th. 

It was a single vehicle incident, and there were no injuries and other vehicles involved. As Reuters said, it's unclear what aspect of the accident prompted the DMV to suspend Pony.ai's permit, but the company said it immediately launched an investigation and is working with the agency to figure out what caused the collision. 

While Pony.ai won't be able to test fully autonomous vehicles in California anymore, it can continue its trials with safety drivers behind the wheel. The company has 10 Hyundai Motor Kona electric vehicles registered for testing and only secured its driverless testing permit six months ago for three cities in the state. It's the eighth company to receive that kind of permit in California, following the likes of Waymo, Cruise and Baidu. Under the terms of the permit, Pony.ai was given permission to conduct driverless tests in Fremont, Milpitas and Irvine on open roads and with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Further, the vehicles could only operate in clear weather and light precipitation.

Pony.ai recently received approval to run paid autonomous taxi services in Beijing, which it was also hoping to achieve in California by 2022. It remains to be seen whether this suspension will delay those plans considerably. 

The Morning After: The Analogue Pocket could be the definitive retro handheld

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 04:15 AM PST

After teasing, delaying and just generally riling up retro gamers, Analogue's Pocket is almost here. Engadget's James Trew — one of those aforementioned riled-up types — is currently testing one out. So while he racks up enough hours of play for a full review, we get a few first impressions. Tetris, the Game Boy OG, is pretty much exactly how you remember it, with the original pixel grid, motion blur and even the sound. There's even a link port for some very old-school multiplayer. 

Analogue has announced that orders for the Pocket open again today. If you want this surprisingly authentic taste of handheld gaming's past, it'll set you back $220. 

— Mat Smith

Apple's Tracker Detect app will help protect Android users from AirTag stalkers

No Apple account needed.

Apple has released Tracker Detect, an Android app to help you if you don't have an iOS device to find out if someone is using an AirTag or other Find My-compatible device to snoop on your location. When the app finds a nearby AirTag, it flags it as an Unknown AirTag. If it follows you for 10 minutes, you can use the app to tell the tracker to play a sound, making it easier to find. You can tap the device with your NFC-compatible phone for instructions on how to disable it.

Continue reading.

Dremel announces its first smart tool

Naturally, it has Bluetooth.

TMA
Dremel

Dremel is the standard when it comes to rotary tools and the new 8260 features firsts for the company. Not only does it feature a Bluetooth connection, it's got a more powerful brushless motor. The former means it can connect to Dremel's mobile app, which has an interactive guide that tells you what accessory and RPM you need to use to cut through specific materials.

Continue reading.

Universal Music is bringing Rihanna and Migos into the metaverse

Oh and there are NFTs.

Universal Music Group is working with avatar company Genies to create digital versions of its artists, as well as non-fungible token (NFT) outfits and accessories, for use in virtual worlds. In the coming months, through an NFT marketplace run by Genies, fans will be able to buy and sell virtual merchandise. Universal Music is fascinated by NFTs. Last month, it announced a virtual band comprising four characters from the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection.

Continue reading.

Square Enix's 'Forspoken' mixes magical parkour with an unforgiving world

And magical nail art upgrades.

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Square Enix

Judging by all the teaser videos released so far, Forspoken is promising a swathe of visually stunning elemental spells and a hero that can dash, glide and traverse a fantasy world quicker than any Assassin's Creed protagonist. It's from an entirely new game studio — under Square Enix's wing — running on a proprietary games engine. While we didn't get to play it, we do have a better idea of exactly how Forspoken will play.

Continue reading.

Sony will begin selling official $55 PlayStation 5 covers next month

Matching DualSense wireless controllers are coming, too.

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Sony

After shutting down third-party PS5 console covers with legal threats, Sony has launched its own official $55 PlayStation five colors. And they're pretty bright! And 55 bucks!

Continue reading.

 

 

The biggest news stories you might have missed


MGM lets potential employees try out jobs in VR

Apple Music's Siri-only plan is now available as iOS 15.2 rolls out

Apple's 24-inch 8-core iMac M1 falls to a new all-time low at Amazon

GOG offers steep discounts on 'Disco Elysium,' 'Cyberpunk 2077' and more

Nike acquires virtual sneakers and crypto-collectibles startup RTFKT

Apple delays macOS Universal Control until spring 2022

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

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 03:16 AM PST

To the consternation of some owners, Toyota's remote start key fob functionality requires a paid $8 per month subscription service, The Drive has discovered. The issue only 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 you start vehicles like the RAV 4 PHEV remotely in two ways. One is over WiFi/LTE using its Remote Connect apps that cost $8 per month or $80 per year. The other is by using the key fob, which requires that you be relatively close to the vehicle.

Unless they read the fine print, however, owners may not have known that the key fob method was also part of the Remote Connect subscription. Toyota confirmed to The Drive that you'll need a paid subscription on every 2018 and newer Toyota model to use the function.

Complicating the situation is that most buyers received a free three-year or 10-year Remote Connect trial depending on whether they had the Audio Plus or Premium Audio trim options. So for at least the first three years of ownership, the remote key fob start method would have worked without a hitch — but it's now expiring for 2018 models.

The issue was originally spotted by car shopping site CoPilot last summer. Owners are particularly irked that Toyota has linked the key fob remote start function to Remote Connect, since the key fob doesn't require an app in any way. What might be extra galling is that the limitation doesn't apply to pre-2018 cars, because Toyota didn't want to update them from 3G to LTE networks. 

Toyota isn't the first automaker to charge for key features on top of the price of the car. Mercedes also requires a subscription in Europe for rear-wheel steering in its new EQS electric car. And after charging buyers a monthly fee for Apple CarPlay, BMW backtracked and included the feature for free.

LG’s StanbyME is a wireless TV on wheels

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 02:15 AM PST

LG is slated to showcase two lifestyle TVs with unusual designs at CES 2022, one of which is the recently announced premium OLED Evo TV with motorized cover. The other? It's a smaller wireless TV with built-in battery called StanbyME that you can roll in and out of any room in your home. The 27-inch display is mounted on a moveable stand with concealed wheels, and you can adjust its height to customize its position for whatever you're using it for. You can also swivel and rotate its screen to either portrait or landscape orientation. 

In its announcement, LG said that since you can adjust its position as needed, you can use it in your kitchen while cooking or in your bedroom or the sofa while lounging. And you can, unless you're planning on not getting up for hours to binge on your favorite series — the TV only lasts for three hours of viewing before it needs a recharge. 

Despite that limitation, you can use the StanbyME to view whatever content you want using the apps it supports, which include Netflix, YouTube and Prime Video. You can also take advantage of its mobile screen mirroring capability with your Android or iOS phone and NFC. The model has a removable mobile cradle on top, so you can use it to take video calls or attend online classes. Plus, you can use it as a screen for your laptop or PC via wireless connection or by using USB or HDMI.

The model will come with a remote control you can use for navigation, but it'll also be able to recognize touch and gesture commands. LG also says that it has a unique US that's "tailored to the viewer's personal viewing experience." The manufacturer didn't explain what it meant by that, but we'll find out for sure in January at CES.

Oppo Air Glass is a modernized Google Glass for China

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 01:56 AM PST

There hasn't been much update on Google Glass since the wider availability of its Enterprise Edition 2 back in early 2020, but on the other side of the world, Oppo believes now is the time to launch a direct competitor — albeit in the China market only. Following last year's Oppo AR Glass concept, the new Oppo Air Glass will become available to Chinese consumers in Q1 2022 for a yet-to-be-announced price. It'll come in two parts: a detachable monocle waveguide device (in black or white) and either a silver half frame or a black full frame. And no, you won't be able to attach this 30-gram device to your own glasses.

Much like Google Glass, Oppo Air Glass is designed to deliver simple information for use cases such as navigation, translation, teleprompter, calendar, weather, fitness tracking and more. Oppo calls this "assisted reality," which keeps the package portable yet practical and accessible. This is achieved using a power-efficient "Spark Micro Projector," which comes in at roughly the size of a single coffee bean, and it houses a Micro LED chip to project a bright 640 x 480 image onto a waveguide display — one that's larger than that of Google Glass.

Oppo Air Glass
Oppo

Oppo Air Glass is driven by a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100, which is similar to the chip inside some of the latest Fossil and TicWatch smartwatches. Once paired with an Oppo phone (with ColorOS 11 or later) or an Oppo Watch, you can toggle notifications by tapping the Air Glass' slim touch bar or simply by nodding your head, and then tap again or shake your head to close them. To switch between apps, simply swipe the touch bar.

Oppo Air Glass
Oppo

In the case of the teleprompter app, you can upload your speech, set your text size and scrolling speed via the smartphone app, and then tap the touch bar to scroll manually if needed. Oppo is also testing hand gesture tracking via the Oppo Watch for a supposedly more intuitive control here.

Oppo Air Glass
Oppo

If you happen to have two Oppo Air Glasses and are struggling to communicate with a foreigner, you can pair them up and get your partner to wear one for instant translation — your device will translate the other person's voice on your screen, and vice versa. However, only Chinese, English and Japanese are supported at the moment, with Korean to follow soon.

For the navigation app, Oppo worked with Baidu to integrate Baidu Walk & Bike Navigation as well as Explore Nearby. Don't expect any sophisticated AR graphics here; users will simply see step-by-step navigation based on one's location and orientation, and voice command is supported (presumably only in Chinese).

Oppo Air Glass
Oppo

An Oppo rep added that the Air Glass is the result of two previous designs, which allowed the company to work with developers to build up an ecosystem. In addition, the Chinese company will soon release a Smart Glass SDK to let more developers — potentially those from overseas as well — into the party.

Considering how other companies such as Meta, Bose, Amazon, Snap and Razer have been focusing on either audio- or camera-based smartglasses, Oppo's strategy with its Air Glass is certainly a bit of a surprise. For now, this is all rather experimental for Oppo, as the device will only be launched in China in a limited quantity, with each labelled with a unique edition number on its package.

YouTube TV may lose ESPN, ABC, FX and other Disney channels this week

Posted: 14 Dec 2021 01:07 AM PST

YouTube TV has warned viewers that channels including ABC, ESPN, FX and others may disappear by 11:59 PM on December 17th if it can't come to terms with Disney over carriage fees. If that happens, YouTube TV will lower its price by $15 (from $65 to $50) while Disney content remains off the service. 

"Disney is an important partner for us. We are in active conversations with them and are working hard to keep their content on YouTube TV," it said in a press release. "Our ask of Disney, as with all of our partners, is to treat YouTube TV like any other TV provider — by offering us the same rates that services of a similar size pay, across Disney's channels for as long as we carry them. If Disney offers us equitable terms, we'll renew our agreement with them." 

The Google-owned platform said that it's "optimistic" it can reach a deal with Disney and that it has a "highly successful track record of negotiating such agreements with providers." That said, YouTube TV has also seen some failed negotiations, such as when it disappeared off new Roku devices in April 2021 before finally returning in December.

Google came to terms with Roku just before the main YouTube app disappeared, so there's some hope that it can reach a deal with Disney ahead of the December 17 deadline. Just in case, though, YouTube TV said that users might want to sign up for the $14 Disney Bundle to keep access to ABC and other channels. 

YouTube TV launched only recently in April of 2017, but with four million subscribers, it's become one of the top cord-cutting services along with Disney's Hulu, according to The Hollywood Reporter. If the parties can't come to terms, some 25 channels could disappear. 

Nike acquires virtual sneakers and crypto collectibles startup RTFKT

Posted: 13 Dec 2021 10:48 PM PST

In October, Nike filed trademark applications as part of its preparations to sell virtual sneakers and apparel, according to CNBC. Now, the footwear and sports apparel giant has acquired a startup called RTFKT (pronounced "artifact") that will help the company accelerate its "digital transformation." RTFKT was founded in early 2020 and has since made a name for itself designing and creating what it calls "Metaverse-ready sneakers and collectibles" — all digital goods people pay very real money for. 

The market for virtual goods is booming, and it's expected to continue growing as we move towards the metaverse, the future vision for the internet wherein people can interact in a virtual world with digital avatars. To that end, Nike seems to have big plans for RTFKT and its team, which will be joining the company. John Donahoe, Nike's President and CEO, said: "We're acquiring a very talented team of creators with an authentic and connected brand. Our plan is to invest in the RTFKT brand, serve and grow their innovative and creative community and extend Nike's digital footprint and capabilities." On Twitter, the startup said that it "will continue to evolve [its] brand, innovations, products and community with Nike resources and talents."

Earlier this year, RTFKT teamed up with 18-year-old artist Fewocious to release three NFT sneakers for $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000. Within just seven minutes, over 600 people purchased their own virtual pairs for a total of US$3.1 million. More recently, the startup introduced its avatar-like project called CloneX, a joint effort with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. RTFKT calls CloneX its "most ambitious project yet," as it marks the beginning of an ecosystem for its Metaverse-ready avatars. 
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