Tuesday, January 11, 2022

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Roku offers easy access to live TV with a new hub

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 09:49 AM PST

Roku has added a new section that pulls together live TV programming from its own channel guide as well as third-party platforms. The Live TV Zone provides swift access to channels you recently watched as well as local and national news, sports, movies and more.

The hub includes more than 200 free, live channels from Roku's Live TV Channel Guide. The likes of YouTube TV (with which Roku recently resolved a long-running spat), Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Philo and Sling can be opened from the Live TV Zone too.

You can access the Live TV Zone via the Live TV option on the left-hand navigation menu. Alternatively, you can just search for "Live TV Zone."

A survey commissioned by Roku last year found that 61 percent of US adults who don't subscribe to traditional pay TV still watch live news several times a week. So, while cordcutters might not be willing to pay for cable anymore, there's still an appetite for linear TV that Roku's hoping to meet with the new Live TV Zone.

China's Chang'e-5 probe finds on-site evidence of water on the Moon's surface

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 09:41 AM PST

China's Chang'e-5 lunar lander has found water on the surface of the Moon, marking the first-ever time scientists have found on-site evidence of the substance on Earth's satellite. In a study published in Science Advances, Chinese researchers claim the lander detected signs of water molecules or hydroxyl, a close chemical cousin of H2O. Chang'e-5 used a spectrometer to analyze the composition of regolith in close proximity to its landing site. It found that most of the soil had a water concentration of less than 120 parts per million, making the surface of Luna much drier than that of the Earth.

Chang'e-5
Honglei Lin et al.

Chinese scientists believe most of the molecules came to the Moon through a process called solar wind implantation. Charged particles from the sun drove hydrogen atoms to the lunar surface where they later bonded with oxygen to form water and hydroxyl. The study builds on findings NASA published in 2018 when it found evidence of water on the sunlit surfaces of the Moon using an airborne infrared telescope. For decades, scientists had believed the Moon was completely dry due to its almost nonexistent atmosphere. With no atmosphere, the thought was there was nothing there to protect water molecules from the sun's harsh radiation.

LAPD fired two officers who ignored robbers to play 'Pokémon Go'

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 09:29 AM PST

The early Pokémon Go frenzy apparently led to poor choices from two police officers. As Axios' Stephen Totilo and BBC News report, the LAPD is now known to have fired officers Louis Lozano and Eric Mitchell for ignoring a robbery on April 15th, 2017 to play Niantic's augmented reality blockbuster. Rather than respond to a radio call demanding backup for a theft at Macy's in the Crenshaw Mall, the policemen reportedly spent the next 20 minutes driving around to catch a Snorlax (an uncommon find in the game) and a Togetic.

Lozano and Mitchell denied playing Pokémon Go and insisted they were only "having a conversation" about the game, but the in-car camera revealed they discussed the robbery call and chose to ignore it. Another officer also witnessed the cruiser leave the area after the call. The details came to light when the ex-cops lost an appeal that would have tossed out the damning footage over alleged rights violations.

The incident came months after Niantic started discouraging drivers from playing, and it's safe to say moments like this are less likely when Pokémon Go demand has cooled down. Still, this highlights the dangers of both AR metaverses and addictive gameplay — it can be all too tempting to shirk real-life duties when the virtual world beckons.

Beats Fit Pro are coming to Canada, Europe and Japan this month

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 08:13 AM PST

A couple of months after they debuted in the US, Beats Fit Pro earbuds are on the way to Canada, Europe and Japan. Orders will open in Europe (£200/€230) and Canada ($250 CAD) on January 24th, and in Japan (24,800 yen) the following day. The earbuds will ship on January 28th in all three regions. 

Beats Fit Pro have most of the key features found in Apple's third-generation AirPods, including hands-free Siri, Adaptive EQ and spatial audio with head tracking. Beats added active noise cancellation (ANC), as well as a flexible wingtip designed to keep the Fit Pro in your ears during workouts. The earbuds are also IPX4-rated for sweat and water resistance.

Although Beats Fit Pro support one-touch pairing on Android with the help of a companion app, as noted in our review, some features are exclusive to iOS. There's no wireless charging option either. Still, Beats says you should get up to six hours of use with ANC or transparency mode active, and the charging case adds another 21 hours of listening time. The earbuds also deliver solid sound quality with punchy bass.

Instagram is exploring a customizable profile grid

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 07:34 AM PST

Your Instagram profile's grid might soon be more than just a snapshot of your most recent posts. Leaker Alessandro Paluzzi has discovered that Instagram has been developing an "edit grid" feature that would let you reorder the posts in your profile. This could help musicians or stores using multi-post collages to plug their latest work, but it might also be helpful if you want to highlight an important post or prioritize your favorites.

We've asked Instagram for comment. It's not clear if the social network plans to test or widely distribute the feature.

It wouldn't be surprising if the customizable profile grid became a mainstay, though. Instagram has spent more and more of its time courting businesses and shops, and the option to rearrange the grid might attract companies wanting to fine-tune their public image. This might also help if you're an artist or photo enthusiast hoping to showcase your best shots regardless of how old they might be.

Maserati will field a Formula E team in 2023

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 07:18 AM PST

Some Italian flair is coming to the Formula E grid. Maserati plans to field a team in the electric motor racing series in 2023, becoming the first brand from the country to do so.

The automaker is returning to single-seater competition for the first time in more than six decades. Maserati ran a successful Formula 1 team in the 1950s and its two-seater MC12 took 14 titles in the FIA GT sports car series between 2004 and 2010.

Maserati plans to take what it learns on Formula E tracks and feed that back into its Folgore EV lineup. "Beyond this piece of history, Maserati Formula E will be our technological laboratory to accelerate the development of high-efficiency electrified powertrains and intelligent software for our road sports cars," Stellantis Motorsport senior VP Jean-Marc Finot said.

The automaker will enter Formula E as the series shifts to the Gen3 car, its lightest and fastest vehicle to date. Formula E and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) said the Gen3 will be the planet's most efficient race car. They claim the EV will produce at least 40 percent of energy used in a race via regenerative braking.

Alexa can change the weight on NordicTrack's adjustable dumbbells

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 06:29 AM PST

Adjustable dumbbells can be incredibly useful in a home gym, but the need to manually tweak weight can be a pain when you're trying to keep your heart rate up mid-workout. iFit's NordicTrack badge might have a solution: have Alexa do the work. The brand has introduced iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells that can use an Alexa-capable third-party device to quickly adjust the weight from 5lbs to 50lbs (in 5lb increments) using a motorized selector. You can set exact weights, tweak weight by relative amounts or call up presets for typical exercises like bicep curls and deadlifts.

 The dumbbells are unsurprisingly meant to play nicely with iFit's $39 per month fitness subscription, but you don't need the membership. There's even a tablet holder on the weight tray to let you use your own screen and service. This might make sense if space is at a premium, or if you'd rather not hog the TV.

The NordicTrack dumbbells are available now through Amazon for $429. That's expensive compared to many conventional adjustable sets, but you might not mind if the speed of adjustments is more important than price. We'd add that some adjustable sets don't offer this level of flexibility — the 5lb changes could help you ease into heavier weights over time.

A Nintendo Switch Online and microSD bundle is half off on Amazon

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 06:11 AM PST

Hunkering down for the winter months can mean more time to play some new games while you stay inside. For Switch owners that want to play with friends remotely and get access to classic games, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is well worth the price. Now, Amazon has a deal on a bundle that includes one year of the Switch Online family plan and a 128GB SanDisk microSD card for $35. Since both the membership and the card normally cost $35, you're essentially getting the extra storage for free.

Buy Switch Online Family Plan bundle at Amazon - $35

At its debut, the main selling point of the membership was online play, but Nintendo has added more perks to it over the years. It now includes online backups for gameplay data, access to the Switch Online mobile app that lets you voice chat with friends while you're playing together, and access to a library of more than 70 NES and SNES titles to play at any time. This particular bundle is best for those with large families, and possibly more than one Switch in the house, since up to eight users can take advantage of the membership's benefits.

One of the things we usually recommend new Switch owners buy is a microSD card since it's easy to quickly fill up the console's built-in, 64GB of storage with games. The licensed 128GB SanDisk model included in this bundle is a solid one, with read speeds up to 100 MB/s and write speeds up to 90 MB/s. Even if you don't think you'll need the extra space, you probably will as you collect more titles, save files and screenshots over time.

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

Firefox Focus for Android will offer another way to prevent cross-site tracking

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 06:00 AM PST

The Android version of the Firefox Focus browser is getting another layer of privacy protection. Mozilla is bringing its Total Cookie Protection feature to the app to tackle cross-site tracking.

The feature silos cookies from each site you visit into "cookie jars." Storing cookies separately should help prevent them from tracking you around the web and providing companies with data on your browsing behavior, such as details about the products you search for and sites you visit. That information can be used for ad targeting and other purposes.

Mozilla calls Total Cookie Protection one of its its strongest privacy protections to date and is a key weapon in its long-running battle against web tracking. In June, alongside a redesign of the browser, the organization enabled the feature by default when privacy mode is active in Firefox proper.

An illustration depicting how Firefox's Total Cookie Protection works. With the feature off, websites can access the same pool of browser cookies. The feature isolates cookies from each site, to mitigate cross-site tracking.
Mozilla

Firefox Focus has privacy safeguards enabled by default, so it makes sense to bring Total Cookie Protection there. Mozilla says it's the first Firefox mobile browser to offer the feature.

Many sites embed files hosted on other servers. To avoid issues with those caused by isolating cookies with Total Cookie Protection, Mozilla is tapping into SmartBlock and some other features. It says these help prevent websites from breaking — SmartBlock replaces commonly blocked trackers so sites render as usual.

The Associated Press will turn its photojournalism into NFTs

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 05:40 AM PST

NFTs exploded in popularity during the first two years of the pandemic, and it doesn't look like they're going away anytime soon. One of the latest organizations to jump into the craze is the Associated Press (AP), which will start selling its "award-winning contemporary and historic photojournalism" as non-fungible tokens on January 31st. The news agency teamed up with blockchain technology provider Xooa to develop a marketplace for its NFTs, which will debut with an initial collection that will be released over the coming weeks after its launch.

AP's initial collection includes digitally enhanced Pulitzer Prize-winning images across categories, such as space, climate and war. Each one will include the image's original metadata that shows the time and date it was taken, its location, and the equipment and settings the photographer used for the shot. They agency says the marketplace will allow people to buy, sell and trade the tokens, which can be purchased using credit cards and crypto wallets. The proceeds it will earn from the sales will then be used to fund its operations. One of the biggest controversies surrounding NFTs is that they have a huge environmental impact. AP says its NFTs will be minted on the Polygon blockchain that was designed to consume less energy than its counterparts. 

Whether AP successfully sells its photos for the kind of money it's hoping to earn remains to be seen. Adidas made $23 million for its first NFT drop, but Ubisoft barely sold any when it launched its own tokens. Another company that's reportedly looking to open its own marketplace is GameStop, which (according to The Wall Street Journal) recently formed a cryptocurrency division to work on the project. 

Rapid COVID tests will soon be fully covered by insurance in the US

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 05:20 AM PST

With the COVID-19 Omicron variant surging in the US and elsewhere, testing is key to allowing work, school and entertainment activities to continue. With rapid test kits in short supply, though, some retailers are making them unaffordable by gouging customers. Now, the Biden administration has announced that testing kits must be covered by private insurance, The Wall Street Journal has reported. 

People covered by private health insurance can be reimbursed for up to eight tests a month per individual. To make things simpler, the White House is encouraging insurers to partner with retailers and pharmacies so people can pick up tests without paying up front or submitting a claim. The tests are available without deductibles, coinsurance or co-payment, so a family of four on the same health plan could be reimbursed for 32 tests a month, for instance. For such programs, reimbursement would be limited to $12 per test. 

Today's action further removes financial barriers and expands access to Covid-19 tests for millions of people.

The new policy doesn't apply to Medicare, which counts more than 60 million seniors at higher risk for COVID-19 complications. However, Medicaid for low income folks already covers at-home COVID-19 tests authorized by the FDA. The administration also plans to make tens of millions of free tests available to uninsured Americans at health clinics and other sites, according to The New York Times. 

Some insurers said that the administration is acting too late and that it didn't address the shortage of at-home tests. However, one national association of coverage providers said that the new plan "takes steps to mitigate the real risks of price gouging, fraud and abuse."

Having enough diagnostic tests will be key to slowing down the Omicron wave that is starting to overwhelm health systems in the US and elsewhere. It can help get infected people isolated or into treatment more quickly, reducing potential transmission and hospital workloads. 

That will become even more important given authorization for antiviral pills from Pfizer and Merck that can help high-risk patients with mild to moderate COVID symptoms — provided they're diagnosed in time. "This policy will help millions of families afford COVID tests that allow them to be in school, visit family members and live their lives," Georgetown University's Sabrina Corlette told the WSJ. 

The Morning After: Samsung's next Galaxy flagship is coming soon

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 05:00 AM PST

So we're already over the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition, announced just last week. Let's turn our attention to Samsung's Galaxy S22 family, apparently ready to officially break cover next month. According to South Korea's Digital Daily, a launch event is set to take place on February 8th. Judging by the leaks and rumors, you can expect to see three different devices, too, with differing screen sizes, specs and prices. The top of the range Galaxy S22 Ultra may feature a Super Clear Lens on its camera array. We just don't know quite what that means yet.

When we do, we'll be sharing all the details with you.

— Mat Smith

Honor is the latest company to launch a foldable phone.

The Magic V has larger screens than the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

TMA
Honor

Are you ready to be confused by yet another similar-looking foldable smartphone? Honor's Magic V is its first attempt at the foldable form factor, and like Samsung's Z Fold devices, it's a dual-screen smartphone. On the outside, it has a 6.45-inch, 431 PPI external display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,080, 120Hz refresh rate and 21:9 aspect ratio. Open it up, and you'll unfold a 7.9-inch screen that has a 2,272 x 1,984 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. In a bid to fight the issues of creases on these very expensive devices, Honor says its water-drop hinge helps avoid wrinkles.

Continue reading.

Sponsored by Verizon

5G Ultra Wideband. Now in more and more places.

TMA Newsletter - Verizon January Sponsorship

US greenhouse emissions increased by 6.2 percent last year

More people driving contributed to the increase.

Over the last year, US greenhouse emissions increased by 6.2 percent compared to 2020 levels, according to a new report from the Rhodium Group. The jump puts the country further behind meeting the reduction targets put forward by the Paris Climate Agreement. Behind the increase in overall emissions were corresponding jumps in pollution in the transportation and power sectors.

Continue reading.

Razer reneges on its claim the Zephyr mask uses 'N95-grade' filters

The company claims the change wasn't prompted by regulatory pressure.

TMA
Razer

Razer has removed any mention of "N95-grade" filters in its Zephyr and the recently announced Zephyr Pro smart face masks from its website and other marketing materials. "The wearable by itself is not a medical device nor certified as an N95 mask," a Razer spokesperson told Engadget. "To avoid any confusion, we are in the process of removing all references to 'N95 Grade Filter' from our marketing material."

Continue reading.

Surgeons successfully transplant genetically modified pig heart into a human patient

It was an experimental procedure.

Doctors at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have accomplished a medical first. Its surgeons successfully transplanted a pig heart into a 57-year-old patient as part of an experimental procedure.

They were able to demonstrate that a genetically modified animal organ could survive and function within the human body without immediate rejection. Three days after the procedure, patient David Bennett is alive and "doing well," according to the hospital.

Continue reading.

Watch the trailer for 'Bel-Air'

It's a reimagined origin story for The Fresh Prince.

Bel-Air, Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will debut on February 13th, the streamer announced on Monday and shared a first-look trailer. All the main characters from the original return, though they may not be like you remember them.

Continue reading.

 

 

The biggest news stories you might have missed

Tesla 'Full Self-Driving' beta features an 'Assertive' mode with rolling stops

Rode's VideoMic Go II changed my opinion on what a shotgun mic can do

Take-Two is acquiring mobile game giant Zynga for $12.7 billion

Spotify is still working on HiFi streaming, but won't say when it's coming

Scientists observe a red supergiant going supernova for the first time

Uber no longer supports ride hailing via the Apple Watch

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 03:40 AM PST

Did you know that you could hail an Uber using your Apple Watch? No? Well it doesn't really matter anyway, because the Uber Watch app has effectively been discontinued, according to Apple Insider. If you try to use it, a message pops up asking you to switch the mobile app instead. It further states "we no longer [sic] supporting the Apple Watch app. Sorry for the inconvenience," with a crying emoji to drive the point home. 

The app has yet to be pulled from the Watch App Store, but all you'll get is the error message if you try to use it. When it did work, it let you hail a ride, see the status of your request, and show the location of the vehicle. More advanced functions like fare-splitting were reserved for the smartphone app. 

The grammatically challenged message suggests that the app may have been pulled with some haste, though neither Uber or Apple have commented. The App Store listing (above) touts the app as a way you can leave home without your smartphone and still hail a ride, provided you had a cellular-enabled Watch. To be fair, Uber also pulled its WearOS app back in 2019, likely due to a lack of usage. 

Apple will allow third-party payments for apps in South Korea

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 02:55 AM PST

Apple will soon allow developers to use alternative payment systems for their apps in South Korea to comply with the country's new law. According to The Korea Herald, the tech giant has turned in its plans on how its app store would support third-party payments to the Korea Communications Commission. It reportedly didn't include details on when the changes to its store will take effect and how much it will charge for its service fees exactly. However, the company did say that its cut for alternative payment transactions will be smaller than 30 percent. 

South Korea passed a law — dubbed the "anti-Google law" — last year that requires major app stores like Google's and Apple's to allow third-party payment methods. It was a blow to the tech giants that typically keep a tight grip on their app stores. Both of them are even grappling with lawsuits challenging the commission they take from developers. Their most high-profile legal battle is perhaps the one with Epic, which started after the video game developer tried to work around the companies' 30 percent commission by offering discounts to users who purchase in-game currency directly from its portal. 

The new Korean law states that companies will face fines if they refuse to comply and force developers to use their payment systems only. Google submitted its initial compliance plans shortly after the law took effect in September, revealing that it will lower its commission by four percent for transactions that don't use its own payment system. As for Apple, we'll likely hear more information in the coming months. A spokesperson said in a statement:

"We look forward to working with the KCC and our developer community on a solution that benefits our Korean users. Apple has a great deal of respect for Korea's laws and a strong history of collaboration with the country's talented app developers. Our work will always be guided by keeping the App Store a safe and trusted place for our users to download the apps they love."

GM recognizes California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 02:14 AM PST

GM has reversed course on its emissions policy, saying it now recognizes California's authority to set its own vehicle pollution standards, TechCrunch as reported. Previously, the automaker backed efforts by the former Trump administration to force the state to abandon its own standards in favor of federal emissions policies. However, it began to reverse course shortly after Biden was elected president, pulling out of the Trump administration's lawsuit against the state. 

As the most populous state with the strictest rules, California generally sets the emissions agenda for automakers and other states. Back in 2018, however, the Trump administration challenged California's ability to set its own rules independently from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Volkswagen, BMW, Ford and Honda agreed to work with California on voluntary targets, but GM, along with Fiat Chrysler and Toyota, sided with the Trump administration. 

"[GM] is committed to emissions reductions that are aligned with the California Air Resources Board's targets and... complying with California's regulations," GM VP Omar Vargas wrote in a letter to California governor Gavin Newsom. 

Because of its past decision to side with the Trump administration, GM was banned by California in 2019 for government fleet purchases. "Carmakers that have chosen to be on the wrong side of history will be on the losing end of California's buying power," Newsom said at the time. Now, the state will allow GM to become a supplier, with Newsom welcoming the company to its "clean vehicle revolution." 

After defeating Trump, President Joe Biden announced a plan to accelerate a transition to EVs in order to combat global warming. GM followed those political winds, renouncing the earlier lawsuit and accelerating its own EV plans. The company now says it will stop selling ICE vehicles by 2040 and will spend $35 billion to develop EVs and self-driving cars by 2025. The company recently unveiled an electric version of its Silverado pickup designed to fight Ford's F-150 Lightning that's proved to be a hit with buyers.

Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike steps down as CEO

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 11:48 PM PST

Over the past few months, Signal founder Moxie Marlinspike has been talking to candidates who can potentially take over his role as company CEO. That's what Marlinspike has revealed in a post about stepping away his role over the next month, where he talked about struggling to do almost everything on his own before the Signal Foundation was formed four years ago. The foundation provided the encrypted messaging app with $50 million in funding from WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, giving Signal the money it needed to be able to hire people and expand. 

Before it had access to the funding, Marlinspike said he was writing all the Android and server code, facilitating all product development and solving issues the service may have had on his own. Now, he said, Signal is a group of 30 people who each have their roles, and he can switch off his phone without having to worry that the service would implode. "In other words, after a decade or more, it's difficult to overstate how important Signal is to me, but I now feel very comfortable replacing myself as CEO based on the team we have, and also believe that it is an important step for expanding on Signal's success," he wrote.

Marlinspike will remain on the Signal board and will focus on finding the next CEO for the service over the the next month. For now, Acton will serve as the interim CEO. While he talked about this move as a step towards Signal's expansion, he didn't say exactly why he's leaving his role. TechCrunch believes it may have something to do with MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency that's integrated into Signal and allows users to send each other digital coins through the app. It's also unclear what Marlinspike is doing next, only revealing on Twitter that he's "taking a break for a bit."

Meta delays return to office to an optimistic March 28th

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 06:35 PM PST

Meta, the company that at the beginning of this pandemic was called Facebook, has updated its return-to-office guidance, moving its target date from the end of this month to March 28th, CNBC reports. With the shifting timetables for reopening and inconsistent guidance, one can only imagine how whiplashed the company's employees must feel. 

To wit: Back in December of 2020, CEO Mark Zuckerberg first told employees they would not be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to work. At that time, the company projected remote work could continue until at least July of 2021, though it later pushed to open offices in May. By June, Zuckerberg had passed a new edict: either seek permission from a manager to work from home, or be expected to come to the office for at least half the week. 

A month later the Delta variant came along, Zuckerberg changed his stance on vaccine requirements for employees, and the company set a new target of October for a full reopening. By August of last year, it had pushed its the return-to-office to January of 2022. As Omicron spread rapidly this winter, Meta held fast to its January 31st goal, but gave some employees the option to delay in-person work by three to five months via an "office deferral program." Incidentally, this new March 28th date includes a new requirement that employees receive the vaccine booster as well. 

In the face of so much uncertainty, several of Meta's tech peers, like Apple, Microsoft, Google, Uber and Docusign, have chosen to postpone reopening indefinitely. Facebook moderators embedded at the company's Mountain View headquarters were scheduled to report for in-office work on January 24th — one week ahead of full-time employees and with no option for different. Their contractor, Accenture, reversed that decision after widespread internal protests from workers. 

Do you work for or contract with Meta or one of its subsidiaries and have a tip to share? Download Signal messenger for iOS or Android and text me confidentially at 646 983 9846.

US greenhouse emissions increased by 6.2 percent last year

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 03:44 PM PST

Over the last year, US greenhouse emissions increased by 6.2 percent compared to 2020 levels, according to a new report from the Rhodium Group. The jump puts the country further behind meeting the reduction targets put forward by the Paris climate agreement. Under the deal, the US has pledged to reduce its greenhouse emissions between 50 percent and 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. As of last year, they were 17.4 percent below that benchmark. That's a step back from the 22.2 percent reduction the country had achieved the year prior.

Behind the increase in overall emissions were corresponding jumps in pollution generated by the country's transportation and power sectors. Compared to 2021, those sectors generated an additional 10 percent and 6.6 percent of greenhouse emissions. Driving those increases was a 17 percent increase in reliance on coal-generated power and more people driving after a pandemic-related downturn.

The report underscores how important is it is for the US to clean up its power grid and transportation sector. Another recent study found that wind and solar could meet 85 percent of the country's current electricity needs. So much of whether the US will meet its Paris Agreement commitments will depend on if the country can mobilize investment as part of policies like President Biden's Build Back Better Plan. The fate of the bill is uncertain, but what is clear is that the technology is there to enable a clean transition. Until recently, natural gas had never been more affordable, and yet it was still more expensive than renewable sources of energy. 

Rode's VideoMic Go II changed my opinion on what a shotgun mic can do

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 03:00 PM PST

Whenever someone asks "what's the best microphone" the response is usually "well it depends what you're recording." Rode's new VideoMic Go II, as the name suggests, wouldn't be suitable for podcasting. Would it?

Very clearly, the VideoMic Go II was designed to sit atop a camera. That's just a fact, but with USB and 3.5mm outputs and compatibility with Rode Connect – the company's USB-friendly podcasting app – it turns out this lightweight, $99 mic could be more versatile than it first seems.

If you are looking for a mic for your DSLR, know that the VideoMic Go II has a cold shoe mount, the aforementioned 3.5mm out (which can also be used for monitoring) and it comes bundled with a Rycote shock mount and a windscreen in the box. There's no secondary/safety/stereo recording here or on-mic gain control, but that's normal for something in this price range.

Performance-wise, the sound is surprisingly rich for a mic of this size without sounding too "dead." There's no notable difference between the audio you get out of the USB port compared to the 3.5mm port bar a little variation in gain. When comparing it against Rode's VideoMic Me and VideoMic NTG, the VideoMic Go II might well be my favorite of the bunch. It's natural, focused with just the right amount of ambiance/sense of space.

Where the VideoMic Go II gets more interesting is how it performs in other use cases. When plugged into a computer and placed on a desk the VideoMic Go II sounds just as robust as far more expensive dynamic microphones. So much so it threw me for a moment.

Perhaps the best illustration of this is when I tested it against the $400Shure SM7B and Rode's own $99 NT USB Mini. Given that both of the Rodes in this test are condenser microphones and cost about the same, you might think those two would be the nearer match, but it turns out that the VideoMic Go II sounded much closer to the SM7B. This isn't to say it's as good as the SM7B (there's a little more depth in the Shure and a touch more dynamic range perhaps) but given the disparity in price, it definitely wasn't expected.

This similarity is further compounded when you consider that the different type of capsule – Rode's condenser versus Shure's dynamic – alone would typically give them a very different sound. You can hear all three microphones in the sample below. It starts with the Shure, then the VideoMic Go II and then the NT Mini. The transition between the first two is subtle, yet the last one is obvious. Oh, and the VideoMic Go II was about two inches further away from my mouth than the SM7B was.

Of course, this is just one test, in one scenario in one specific room. But for a quick comparison of what a $400 mic can do off the cuff compared to a $99 one, it's a good starting point. Despite the lack of on-device controls, there are some configurable options via Rode Central. When connected to the app (mobile or desktop) you'll have the option to tweak the gain level, apply a high pass filter / high-frequency boost and adjust the monitoring volume. It's less convenient than physical on-mic controls, but still allows you some control over how it sounds or responds to different inputs. (If you're wondering, the audio above starts with the SM7B and switches to the VideoMic Go II at "two condenser microphones").

Given that Rode added compatibility for Connect, and the USB option makes it phone and tablet-friendly, suddenly the VideoMic Go II could very well be a good all-rounder for the price. A mic that has video chops but can also do double duty as a podcast mic (and, therefore an all-purpose computer mic) there appears to be a lot of bang for the veritable buck.

Of course, if you really do need something that records a safety channel, has physical variable gain controls or if XLR connectivity is a must, this isn't the one to go for. But for most general creator uses? It finally might not entirely "depend on what you're recording."

Surgeons successfully transplant genetically modified pig heart into human patient

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 02:46 PM PST

In a desperate effort to save the life of a 57-year-old man, doctors at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have accomplished a medical first. Per The Associated Press, this past Friday, surgeons successfully transplanted a pig heart into a patient as part of an experimental procedure.

In doing so, they showed a genetically modified animal organ could survive and function within the human body without immediate rejection. Three days after the procedure, David Bennett, the individual who underwent the surgery, is alive and "doing well," according to the hospital.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the procedure on compassionate grounds. Bennett was ineligible for a traditional heart transplant and had run out of other options. "It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice," he said in a statement before doctors operated on him.

Scientists have tried to save humans with animal organs for decades. One of the most notable attempts occurred in 1984 when doctors grafted a baboon heart into Stephanie Fae Beauclair, an infant born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The congenital disorder left her body incapable of circulating blood properly. Baby Fae, as she was better known, survived for 21 days before her body eventually rejected the transplanted organ.

According to The New York Times, what makes this latest procedure different is doctors used a heart that had been genetically modified to remove four genes that encode a molecule that causes the body to reject the orphan organ. They also inserted six human genes to make the immune system more tolerable of the foreign tissue. Whether the experiment represents a breakthrough will depend on what happens next. Bennett's body could still reject the pig heart. For the moment, however, he's alive, and doctors are understandably excited about what this could mean for patients.

"If this works, there will be an endless supply of these organs for patients who are suffering," Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, scientific director of the University of Maryland School of Medicine's xenotransplantation program, told The Associated Press. That would be a dramatic change from the status quo. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, more than 100,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list, and 17 individuals die every day waiting for an organ transplant.

Razer reneges on its claim the Zephyr mask uses 'N95-grade' filters

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 12:18 PM PST

Razer has removed any mention of its Zephyr and recently announced Zephyr Pro smart face masks including "N95-grade" filters from its website and other marketing materials. "The wearable by itself is not a medical device nor certified as an N95 mask," a Razer spokesperson told Engadget. "To avoid any confusion, we are in the process of removing all references to 'N95 Grade Filter' from our marketing material."

The company's website now says "Razer Zephyr is not a certified N95 mask, medical device, respirator, surgical mask or personal protective equipment (PPE) and is not meant to be used on medical or clinical settings." Following the change, Razer claims the Zephyr's filters are 95 percent effective at filtering out particles and 99 percent effective against bacteria. The company told Engadget it will also notify Zephyr owners of the tweak.

The change comes after YouTuber Naomi Wu wrote a Twitter thread about the wearable over the weekend and publications like PCMag drew attention to Razer's labeling. In November, Wu posted an extensive review and teardown of the Razer Zephyr in which she said the company's marketing of the smart mask was "deceptive." Wu reiterated those claims after the company announced its new "Pro" variant of the Zephyr at CES 2022. 

As Wu points out in the video, "N95" is an official certification granted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for respirators that filter out at least 95 percent of airborne particles. It's a designation that involves an entire mask, not just part of it, and accounts for both fit and filtration. Neither the Zephyr nor the Zephyr Pro is listed on the agency's website as a NIOSH-approved respirator.

According to Wu, Razer made the change following pressure from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and NIOSH, a claim the company strongly disputes. "Razer has not received any communication from any external agencies on the matter," the company said. "The change in product descriptions is to ensure there is no confusion with our customers about the certification of the mask as a whole."

The timing of the reversal comes as public health officials in the US and other countries have called on the public to wear surgical, N95 and KN95 masks, as opposed to a simple cloth mask, to better protect itself from the highly contagious omicron variant. The new coronavirus strain has sent COVID-19 cases soaring throughout much of the world, putting further strain on hospital systems that are already on the edge of burnout.

Update 01/11/22 7:45AM ET: This story was modified after publishing to include a quote from Razer about its contact with external agencies and decision making leading to the changes on its website.

Spotify is still working on HiFi streaming, but won't say when it's coming

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 12:12 PM PST

Almost a year ago, Spotify announced plans to roll out a higher tier of its streaming service with CD-quality music in some markets in 2021. However, Spotify HiFi is still not available and there's no indication as to when it will actually arrive.

"Artists and fans have told us that HiFi quality audio is important to them. We agree, and we're excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future," a Spotify spokesperson told Engadget. "We don't have timing details to share today." A Spotify moderator shared a similar update on the Community forums. 

Back in 2017, Spotify tested CD-quality audio by offering some users in the US access to lossless music for an extra $7.50 per month. Since then, other prominent music streaming services have embraced lossless streaming, with Apple Music joining the likes of Tidal and Deezer. French HD streaming service Qobuz arrived in the US in 2019.

Spotify hasn't said how much HiFi will cost when the service rolls out more broadly, but competitors may force its hand into offering lossless music streaming at no extra cost. Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal have all rolled CD-quality audio into their standard plans over the last year.

Other details about Spotify HiFi beyond pricing and availability remain unclear. However, the company has confirmed the service will work with Spotify Connect-enabled speakers.

Update 1/10 4:10PM ET: Added Spotify's statement.

3D-printed DualSense attachment lets you play PS5 with one hand

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 09:49 AM PST

Some players have found it difficult to use the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, in part due to its size and weight. Although Sony hasn't released an official counterpart to Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Controller, some folks are trying to make it easier for others to play PS5 games.

YouTuber Akaki Kuumeri designed an adapter that allows players to use the DualSense with one hand. The 3D-printed attachment snaps onto the left thumbstick. When it's placed on a surface (or one's thigh), physically moving the entire controller will move the thumbstick. The L1 and L2 buttons are replicated on the right side of the controller. 

There's a second, optional attachment that offers inputs for the D-pad as well. So, save for the Share button, players would be able to use the entire controller with one hand.

Because the DualSense is symmetrical, Kuumeri says the attachments can be reversed to fit on the other side of the controller. You'd just need to mirror the components before printing them. 

Kuumeri submitted the adapter to a contest for one-handed controller designs. You can download the files and print attachments for personal use.

The adapter could also prove useful for gamers who don't typically have issues using the DualSense with both hands. In a video, Kuumeri demonstrates the ability to play It Takes Two, a co-op-only game, solo by using attachments on two controllers. The attachment could also give players a way to munch on a snack or enjoy a beverage without having to hit the pause button.

Kuumeri's design won't mitigate all players' accessibility issues. Some may tire of moving the controller around physically or they may not have the dexterity to access all four shoulder buttons with one hand. Still, the attachment could afford many more people the chance to play games like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and Returnal — as long as they have access to a 3D printer and are actually able to secure a PS5.

Peacock's 'Bel-Air' reimagines The Fresh Prince's origin story in first trailer

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 09:31 AM PST

Bel-Air, Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, will debut on February 13th, the streamer announced on Monday and shared a first-look trailer. Announced back in 2020, Bel-Air re-envisions the classic '90s sitcom as an hour-long drama series. All the main characters from the original return, including Uncle Phil and Carlton, though they may not be like you remember them. That's most apparent with Carlton who comes off as bashful in the trailer. Thankfully, at least Will's best friend Jazz looks true to his inspiration.  

The project was inspired by a fan film writer and director Morgan Cooper released in 2019. Both Cooper's creation and the Peacock series lean into the original premise of The Fresh Prince, using Will's journey from West Philidelphia to Bel-Air to tell a story about second chances, race and class. Will Smith's Westbrook Studios produced the series, with Cooper serving as director, co-writer and executive producer. He told Smith in 2019 the idea for Bel-Air came to him while driving down Interstate 71. He was thinking about the original show when he drove an underpass and inspiration hit. "I knew I had a story to tell," he said at the time.

Peacock will release the first three episodes of Bel-Air on Super Bowl Sunday, with subsequent episodes to follow weekly. The series is currently slated to run for two seasons.

Honor unveils its first foldable smartphone, the Magic V

Posted: 10 Jan 2022 07:32 AM PST

After teasing its first foldable smartphone in December, Honor has unveiled the Magic V. Honor is joining the likes of Huawei, which is its former parent company, and Xiaomi by stepping into the foldable marketplace.

Like Samsung's Z Fold devices, this is a dual-screen smartphone. It has a 6.45-inch, 431 PPI external display with a resolution of 2560 x 1080, 120Hz refresh rate and 21:9 aspect ratio. Open it up, and users can access a 7.9-inch, 381 PPI display, which has a 2272 x 1984 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate and 10:9 aspect ratio. 

Both OLED screens are a little larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 3's respective displays and support a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. Honor claims the Magic V is the first foldable smartphone with IMAX Enhanced certification.

The company says its water-drop hinge helps make the display appear "creaseless." Oppo uses a similar style of hinge in its recently announced Find N foldable.

The Magic V is 72.7mm wide and 14.3mm thick when folded, and when opened, those dimensions shift to 141.1mm wide and 6.7mm thick. Its 160.4mm tall case houses a 4,750mAh battery that supports 66W charging. Honor says you can fully charge the battery in 40 minutes or to 50 percent of its capacity in just 15 minutes.

The phone has five cameras in total. The rear three-camera array has a wide camera, ultra wide camera and what Honor calls a "spectrum enhanced camera." All three are 50MP sensors. There's a 42MP selfie camera for each screen too.

The Magic V runs on Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, which has a 5G modem and Adreno 730 GPU built in. The Magic V has 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, dual-SIM support and stereo speakers. It uses Honor's new Magic UI 6.0, which is based on Android 12. There's also an independent security chip, which stores passwords and biometric data such as fingerprints.

The device has three color options: black, space silver and burnt orange. At 293g, the silver and black models weigh slightly more than the 288g orange variant. The Magic V will only be available in China at the outset. The 256GB model costs ¥9,999 (approximately $1,568) while the 512GB version is ¥10,999 (around $1,725). The Magic V will go on sale on January 18th.
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