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• Some gendered slurs no longer on Wordle’s word list
• Amazon's Comixology integration includes a few headaches
• The next Call of Duty will launch alongside a revamped 'Warzone'
• Netflix is already making a docuseries about the alleged billion-dollar bitcoin launderers
• Formula E is a great cure for F1 withdrawal
• Amazon is reportedly fast tracking a live-action Blade Runner series
• Marvel's Netflix original shows leave the service March 1st
• Toyota invests another $90 million in EV production in the US
• James Webb Space Telescope captures its first images of a star
• Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite is up to $45 off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals
• European publishers lodge EU antitrust complaint against Google's ad tech
• My iPhone knows my inside leg measurement
• Google's Nest Thermostat drops to $99 at Amazon
• Google+ is dead again, maybe for good this time
• Engadget Podcast: The best of Samsung Unpacked and Nintendo Direct
• Twitch policy update bans usernames that reference sex and drugs
• The Morning After: European fusion reactor shatters energy production record
• UK regulator accepts Google's updated proposal on browser cookie tracking
• Senator letter claims a secret CIA surveillance program is bulk collecting data
• Best Buy limits sales of NVIDIA RTX-Series GPUs to Totaltech subscribers
• SpaceX shows what a Starship launch would look like
• Wordle's desktop site now redirects to the New York Times
• Astra's cubesat launch for NASA ends in failure
• Bowser sentenced to 40-month prison sentence for video game crimes
• Bandcamp's mobile app now supports song and album queuing

Some gendered slurs no longer on Wordle’s word list Posted: 11 Feb 2022 02:30 PM PST Have you ever typed out an NSFW word (or two or five) on Wordle in a fit of frustration? Well, it's time for you to get your verbal recall skills out of the gutter. The New York Times has yanked a handful of gendered slurs from Wordle's internal dictionary, reported Polygon on Friday. The words "bitch", "whore" and "sluts" have been removed from the game's word list. In other words, (no pun intended) typing out any one of these terms will have the same effect as if you type out a string of random letters like "asjfk" or "jkjkj": a grey box will appear with the phrase "not in word list" — and you'll feel dumb. And for what it's worth, none of these expunged words have been solutions to prior Wordle puzzles, and there's not much reason to believe they ever would have been in the future. Not every profane term or curse word has been scrubbed off Wordle's list as of yet. According to Engadget's research, a number of slang terms for genitalia as well as some run-of-the-mill curses still pass muster.  But given the Grey Lady's avoidance of bad language in both its news coverage and crosswords, it may just be a matter of time. One thing that is certain, however, is this: you'll never see a winning word in TheNew York Times version of Wordle that you couldn't use in front of your grandmother. "Offensive words will always be omitted from consideration," a Times spokesperson told Polygon. The viral game created by developer Josh Wardle for his partner was purchased by the Times for a seven-figure amount late last month. Wordle just migrated to the Time's website yesterday, and there have been a couple of hiccups. Some have noticed that their Wordle game statistics haven't automatically transferred over, as the Times promised. Other people have opinions on the new, NYT-like game interface and the likelihood that the game may soon be under the newspaper's paywall (though it remains free for now). If you're a naturally vulgar-minded person, don't despair. There's always Lewdle, Wordle's X-rated cousin.

Amazon's Comixology integration includes a few headaches Posted: 11 Feb 2022 01:52 PM PST Amazon has shared more details of how it will integrate Comixology into its other services. The internet giant has posted an updated FAQ explaining key parts of the transition, including some timelines. Most notably, Comixology will no longer fulfill pre-orders for comic books released February 17th or later — you'll have to cancel them and re-order through Amazon. In that sense, the transition is clearly underway. The primer also makes clear that series subscriptions will only be available through Amazon, and that a "small number" of series won't carry over. You'll be told if a favorite can't make the transition. Amazon also provides the usual tips, such as prepping for the new Comixology app (in short: merge your accounts) and shopping in Amazon's comics-focused section. As Amazon previously said, the existing Comixology app and web store will phase out sometime after the new portal arrives. The timing in the FAQ lines up with Amazon's (delayed) early 2022 target for integration. The Comixology you once knew is going away very shortly, whether you like it or not. It's mainly a question of whether or not the name will survive for much longer.

The next Call of Duty will launch alongside a revamped 'Warzone' Posted: 11 Feb 2022 11:50 AM PST Expect a big shake-up to Warzone in tandem with the next Call of Duty game. Activision has shared early details of its Call of Duty releases for 2022, and it's promising a "massive evolution" of Warzone designed in sync with the core CoD title. They'll both sport a new game engine, and Warzone will include both an "all-new playspace" and a familiar-sounding sandbox mode. The main game, meanwhile, is a sequel to 2019's Modern Warfare reboot. Infinity Ward is leading development of both the new Call of Duty and Warzone. That's not surprising when the studio handled both the Modern Warfare revival and the current Warzone. It's not clear to what degree series veterans Raven, Sledgehammer or Treyarch will be involved, but they certainly won't take a leading role. Sledgehammer was responsible for 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard, while Raven and Treyarch worked on 2020's Black Ops Cold War. The teaser may be welcome if you're eager to see a franchise refresh. Even so, it's coming at a less-than-ideal moment for Activision. Raven staff have been pushing for unionization, and Microsoft's purchase of Activision briefly raised questions about the future of Call of Duty on PlayStation. That's not including the effects of the ongoing misconduct scandal at the publisher. Like it or not, the corporate turmoil might overshadowing the Call of Duty team's efforts at moments like this.

Netflix is already making a docuseries about the alleged billion-dollar bitcoin launderers Posted: 11 Feb 2022 11:22 AM PST Netflix is making a docuseries about one of the worst rappers of all time. Coincidentally, Heather "Razzlekhan" Morgan and her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein, were charged this week with conspiring to launder 119,754 bitcoin, which was stolen in the 2016 hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex. At the time of the theft, the stolen cryptocurrency was worth around $63.7 million. Now, it's worth over $5 billion. Lichtenstein and Morgan allegedly laundered around 25,000 bitcoin, which is worth $1.08 billion today, by using phony identities and various accounts to buy gold and NFTs. If they're convicted, Lichtenstein and Morgan face up to 25 years in prison. Following search warrants, special agents obtained access to an account controlled by Lichtenstein. It contained the keys to a wallet that held more than 94,000 bitcoin that was stolen from Bitfinex. The special agents seized that digital currency, which was worth over $3.6 billion earlier this week. It was the Department of Justice's largest financial seizure ever. Netflix echoed that sentiment in its announcement, calling it "the biggest financial crime case in history." The streaming service, which has put the project in motion in near record time, has tapped Chris Smith to direct the docuseries. Smith has worked on several projects based on high-profile scams and crimes. He directed a Netflix documentary about the infamous Fyre Festival, as well as a docuseries about the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Both are compelling watches and it's not hard to imagine Smith being able to spin another fascinating true-crime yarn out of this particular case.

Formula E is a great cure for F1 withdrawal Posted: 11 Feb 2022 11:00 AM PST Like millions of other people, I've been enthralled by Drive to Survive on Netflix which means I'm also newly obsessed with the world of Formula 1. I'm all in. I have the calendar reminders set. I watch all the practices if work permits. It has really become a thing, which means that since the season ended, there was a massive void in my sports viewing – save for the archive of F2 races on ESPN+. But watching a backlog of races is only so exciting when you've been following the sport and already know Oscar Piastri ran away with the title. Enter Formula E, the all-electric racing series that began in 2014 and is governed by the FIA, the same body that oversees F1. The first two rounds took place at the end of January in Saudi Arabia, offering two full E-Prix races in one weekend. I had never watched Formula E before that weekend, but I was so starved for racing I gave it a shot. Turns out, I've been missing a unique racing series full of entertaining quirks. It's a bit weird You expect the cars to be different internally due to their electric power sources, but the overall design is also unique. Formula E got rid of the traditional rear wing in 2018, opting instead for a split-wing construction. These cars also have front wheel fairings that reduce drag and turbulence that comes off the front tires. The combination of those two elements alone give Formula E cars a much different aesthetic than those in F1. Qualifying is quite different in this series, too. Starting this season, there's a Group stage with two sets of 11 drivers, ranked in order of the current Drivers' World Championship position. They attempt to set the fastest lap time in a 10-minute session. The four fastest drivers from each group move on to the Duels stage. Here, eight drivers go head-to-head in a knockout style bracket with the winners progressing until one is left. NurPhoto via Getty Images The winner is awarded pole position, with the runner-up starting second, semi-finalists in third/fourth and the quarter finalists in fifth/sixth. Higher position goes to the faster lap time in those rounds. Remaining drivers from the polesitters group then fill in the odd positions on the grid and those from the other set start in the even spots. It sounds overly complicated, but the head-to-head matchups were fun to watch in Diriyah. Then there's a thing called Attack Mode, which has to have been designed by a gamer. During each race, a driver has to hit a certain area on the track that activates an additional 25 kW of power for a specified amount of time. That duration, as well as how many times the cars have to hit that spot during the E-Prix, are determined at each event. The catch is the Attack Mode area is out of the main racing line, so if someone is right on you, you may have to give up track position in order to fulfill your obligation. Plus, there's a color changing ring around the halo on each car, so viewers know who has Attack Mode active. Another interesting element is Fanboost. Here, viewers can have a direct impact on the race by voting for their favorite driver on social media. Voting starts a few days before the E-Prix and closes 15 minutes after the start. The top five drivers receive a five-second power boost that can be used during the second half of the race. Races are quick A friend of mine has a theory about European sports, and I think he's spot on. You can watch an event, but individually they aren't so long that one dominates the day (unless you watch several, of course). A soccer match is over in less than two hours, and Formula 1 races are about the same. Juxtapose that with the typical three-hour or longer NFL game or MLB matchup and you quickly see that folks in Europe are onto something. NurPhoto via Getty Images Formula 1 races have a time limit because the cars can't be refueled during a race. Ditto for Formula E: the cars have a finite amount of power and when it's gone, you can't exactly charge them up during a pit stop. For that reason, the electrified series races, or E-Prix, are limited to 45 minutes. There's no set number of laps, just a countdown clock that keeps teams abreast of how much time is left. Once that period is up, there's one additional lap to the finish. Starting this season, officials can now add up to 10 additional minutes in the event of a safety car or full-course yellow during the main racing window. U-S-A! U-S-A! Unlike the current lineup of F1 drivers, there's an American running in Formula E. New to the Avalanche Andretti team this season, Oliver Askew brings his IndyCar experience to the E-Prix circuits. When it comes to Americans within sniffing distance of an F1 car, Askew and Logan Sargeant, who currently races in F2 with Carlin, are the closest. Who knows if I'll keep up my new Formula E habit once F1 returns in March. There's only one more E-Prix before a long break until April, and it's this weekend in Mexico City. At the very least, I could see Formula E filling the void when there's an off week between Grand Prix, which is exactly what it has done to get me through the final stages of the F1 offseason.

Amazon is reportedly fast tracking a live-action Blade Runner series Posted: 11 Feb 2022 10:28 AM PST A few months back, Blade Runner director Ridley Scott said a live-action series set in that universe is in the works. The project looks to be a step closer to reality, as Amazon Studios has reportedly put it in development. Amazon's TV and film production arm is said to be fast tracking scripts and looking at possible production dates. The show is called Blade Runner 2099, according to both Deadline and Variety. While no details about the plot have been revealed as yet, the title suggests the show will be set 50 years after Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Scott's original film. Scott is said to be an executive producer and may direct some episodes if the series gets the green light. Silka Luisa, who wrote the upcoming Apple TV+ time-travel thriller series Shining Girls, is reportedly onboard as a writer and executive producer. It's still early days for Blade Runner 2099, but the smart money is on Amazon bringing the series to Prime Video. The streaming service has a decent track record when it comes to sci-fi, with shows like The Expanse under its belt. Like Blade Runner, Amazon anthology series Electric Dreams is based on the works of sci-fi author Philip K. Dick. Another show set in the Blade Runner universe, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, debuted on Adult Swim and Crunchyroll last year, though that's an anime series rather than a live-action project.

Marvel's Netflix original shows leave the service March 1st Posted: 11 Feb 2022 09:54 AM PST Disney's Netflix collaboration effectively ended years ago, but now the shows themselves are going away... for the moment, at least. As What's on Netflixnoticed, Netflix is warning viewers that Marvel's originals for the service will disappear on March 1st. If you haven't caught up on shows like Daredevil, Jessica Jones and The Punisher, you'd better act quickly. Engadget has confirmed the shows are leaving Netflix now that the Marvel licensing has expired. The alerts (shown below) only seem to appear if you first watch a show on a given profile, and only on some devices. You don't currently see them when browsing the titles or using the mobile app. Billy Steele/Engadget It's not certain if or when the shows will return on a Disney-owned service. The withdrawal isn't exactly a shock, mind you. Disney signalled in 2017 that it would shun Netflix in favor of what would become Disney+, and the last shows were cancelled in 2019. Disney wants Marvel as a draw for its in-house services, and leaving originals on Netflix certainly wouldn't help achieve that goal. Just where they're headed, if at all, is another story. The Netflix originals were notable as "adult" shows that didn't hold back on language or violence. That's somewhat out of line with the overall PG focus of Disney+ and suggests they might go to Hulu (the home of off-kilter shows like MODOK) instead. Whatever happens, this isn't the end for the superheroes. Characters from the shows made appearances in Hawkeye and Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it wouldn't be surprising to see more of the ex-Netflix crew in future productions.

Toyota invests another $90 million in EV production in the US Posted: 11 Feb 2022 09:26 AM PST Toyota is plowing more money into EV production in the US. Just a few months after the automaker announced a $240 million investment in its West Virginia plant, it's pumping another $73 million into the facility. The company says this will boost hybrid transaxle production capacity to 600,000 units per year. Workers at the plant will also start making around 120,000 rear motor stators annually to bolster production of electric motors. The plant can currently roll 1 million transmissions and engines off the production line per year. Following the latest investment, Toyota will have put over $2 billion into the plant. Meanwhile, a separate $17 million investment will enable Toyota's Tennessee plant to make approximately 300,000 more hybrid transaxle cases and housings per year (the current capacity is around 1 million). The factory's workers also manufacture around 1.8 million engine blocks a year. The company says these parts are essential for all the Toyota and Lexus EVs it assembles in North America. This brings the automaker's total investment in the plant so far to $389 million. Toyota is on a mission to offer electrified options across its entire lineup, as well as for Lexus vehicles, by 2025 and to release 30 EV models by 2030. Investing more heavily in EV production will help it reach those goals. Increasing EV battery production is important too, and the company recently announced plans to build a $1.29 billion battery plant in North Carolina.

James Webb Space Telescope captures its first images of a star Posted: 11 Feb 2022 08:58 AM PST The James Webb Space Telescope has finally captured its first image of a star — or rather, images. NASA has shared a mosaic of pictures (shown above) of a star taken using the primary mirror's 18 segments. It looks like a seemingly random collection of blurry dots, but that's precisely what the mission team was expecting. The imagery will help scientists finish the lengthy mirror alignment process using the telescope's Near Infrared Camera, or NIRCam. The first phase is nearly complete as of this writing. The visuals came from a 25-hour effort that pointed the James Webb Space Telescope to 156 different positions and produced 1,560 images with the NIRCam's sensors. The team created the mosaic using the signature of each mirror segment in a single frame. Visual artifacts come from using the infrared camera at temperatures well above the frigid conditions the telescope will need for scientific observation. And what you see here isn't the entirety of the mosaic — the full-resolution snapshot is over two gigapixels. NASA NASA also provided a rare real-world glimpse at the JWST in action. The agency provided a "selfie" of the primary mirror (middle) created by a pupil imaging lens from the NIRCam. This too is blurry, but it offers a valuable look at the fully deployed mirror and helps explain the importance of alignment. Notice how just one segment is brightly lit by a star? It's the only one aligned with that celestial body — it will take a while before all segments are operating in concert. Researchers expect the first scientifically useful images from JWST in the summer. It's reasonable to presume those pictures will be considerably more exciting, especially as they start providing glimpses of the early universe. Still, what you see here demonstrates the telescope's health and suggests there won't be much trouble in the months ahead.

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite is up to $45 off, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals Posted: 11 Feb 2022 08:45 AM PST Many of Amazon's gadgets went on sale at the start of this week and continue to be discounted today. Key among them are both new Kindle Paperwhites — the standard version and the Signature Edition — along with the second-generation Echo Show 8 and the Fire TV Cube. On top of that, Apple's AirPods Pro are on sale for $175 and the 2021 Apple TV 4K remains discounted to $160. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Nathan Ingraham / Engadget The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is on sale for $145, which is an all-time low. We called this the best e-reader available right now and it earned a score of 97 for its bigger, more responsive screen, USB-C charging, wireless charging support and automatic brightness and warm-light settings. The standard Kindle Paperwhite is also on sale for $110, or 21 percent off its normal price. Buy Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon - $145Buy Kindle Paperwhite at Amazon - $110 AirPods Pro Billy Steele / Engadget The AirPods Pro are down to $175 right now, or 30 percent off their normal price. We gave them a score of 87 for their solid sound quality, strong ANC and more comfortable fit. Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon - $175 2021 Apple TV 4K Devindra Hardawar/Engadget The latest Apple TV 4K is on sale for $160, or $20 off its normal price. While the 2021 version isn't drastically different from the previous model, its new Siri remote is a big selling point. We gave it a score of 90 for its speedy performance, HomeKit integration and the easy of use that comes with the improved Siri remote. Buy 2021 Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $160 Google Nest Thermostat Google Google's Nest Thermostat is down to $99 right now, and the device with a trim kit will set you back $114. This version has a mirrored display and a touch-sensitive edge, and it can be controlled with the Google Home app. It also has features like Savings Finder, which suggests ways you can tweak your home system to conserve energy. Buy Nest Thermostat at Amazon - $99Buy Nest Thermostat + trim kit at Amazon - $114 3-for-2 video game sale Minecraft The latest 3-for-2 sale on Amazon includes a number of Nintendo Switch and PlayStation games, so now's a good time to pick up a few while you can get one for free. Some of the best games of the bunch include Shin Megami Tensei V, Minecraft, Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Shop 3-for-2 sale at Amazon Nintendo Switch Engadget Prime members can get $20 off the Nintendo Switch at Woot right now. While the discount isn't on the OLED model, it's a good sale on a console that rarely sees sales like this. Just make sure to check out Woot's return policy before buying. Buy Nintendo Switch at Woot - $280 Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) Nicole Lee / Engadget The latest Echo Show 8 is on sale for $90, which is 31 percent off and an all-time-low price. We gave the mid-sized smart display a score of 87 for its lovely screen, solid sound quality and minimalist design. Buy Echo Show 8 at Amazon - $90 Fire tablets Valentina Palladino / Engadget Most of Amazon's Fire tablets are up to 50 percent off right now, making it a good time to pick one up for yourself or your kids. The Fire HD 8 is half off and down to $45, or you can spring for the larger, more powerful Fire HD 10 and spend $110. All of the Fire Kids Pro bundles have been discounted too, so you can get one for as low as $50. Buy Fire HD 8 at Amazon - $45Buy Fire HD 10 at Amazon - $110Buy Fire 7 Kids Pro at Amazon - $50 Blink cameras Amazon Blink home security cameras are up to 30 percent off, meaning you can get a one-camera Blink Outdoor kit for $70. In addition to being weatherproof, these cams are wireless and support 1080p video, night vision two-way audio and motion alerts. The wired Blink Mini is also on sale and down to only $25. Buy Blink Outdoor at Amazon - $70Buy Blink Mini at Amazon - $25 Fire TV Cube Nicole Lee / Engadget Amazon's Fire TV Cube is down to a new record low of $70, which is 42 percent off its normal price. Despite being a few years old, it remains the most powerful streaming device in Amazon's lineup. We gave it a score of 84 for its speedy performance, ease of handling voice commands and support for HDR+ and Dolby Vision content. Buy Fire TV Cube at Amazon - $70 Amazon smart thermostat Amazon Amazon's smart thermostat has returned to $48, an all-time-low price that we last saw during the holiday shopping season. It's a budget-friendly alternative to devices like the Nest Thermostat and it supports voice commands with Alexa (provided you have an Alexa-enabled device in your home, or use the Alexa app) and lets you set schedules and control your home's temperature from anywhere. Buy smart thermostat at Amazon - $48 Chromecast with Google TV Google Google's Chromecast with Google TV is $10 off right now, bringing it down to $40. We gave the streaming device a score of 86 for its support for 4K, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos content, handy remote control and good execution of Google Assistant commands. Buy Chromecast with Google TV at Best Buy - $40 New tech deals Beats Studio Buds The Beats Studio Buds are $30 off and down to $120 — not a record low, but a decent sale for this time of year. We gave them a score of 84 for their balanced sound, comfortable fit and quick-pairing with both iOS and Android devices. Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon - $120 Apple MagSafe battery pack Apple's magnetic battery pack for iPhones is down to $88, which is 11 percent off its normal price. We have seen it cheaper in the past, but this is the best price we've seen since December. The accessory attaches magnetically to the back of the latest iPhones and provides up to 15W of wireless charging. Buy MagSafe battery pack at Amazon - $88 21.5-inch Lenovo Smart Digital Picture Frame This large smart picture frame from Lenovo is half off and down to $200. In addition to showcasing your favorite photos, the frame uses AI to make collages of your images and the built-in ambient light sensor adjusts the screen's brightness according to the light in the room. Buy 21.5-inch Lenovo Smart Frame at Amazon - $200 Alo Moves The on-demand fitness service Alo Moves has an offer few new members that knocks 50 percent off the price of a one-year membership, bringing it down to $99. The platform has dozens of yoga, pilates, barre and strength training classes, along with guided meditations and series that help you master specific skills over the course of longer periods of time. Subscribe to Alo Moves (1 year) - $99 Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

European publishers lodge EU antitrust complaint against Google's ad tech Posted: 11 Feb 2022 06:27 AM PST Google is facing more antitrust pressure in the EU over its advertising tech. Reutersreports the European Publishers Council (EPC) has filed an EU complaint against Google alleging the company has an illegal "stranglehold" on ad tech and the press. The Internet giant's ad suite is claimed to be "rife with conflicts of interests" as it not only represents the buyer, seller and auction house, but supposedly exploits that control to profit at the expense of its customers. Council Chairman Christian Van Thillo saw the complaint as prompting the EU to take action where it was otherwise reluctant. The move should make Google "actually change" its behavior after years of "minor commitments" that don't provide any substantial impact, Van Thillo said. The EPC pointed to antitrust cases in multiple countries to support its case, including a multi-state US lawsuit. The EU began its newest probe into Google's ad business in June 2021. It shares the EPC's general concerns about potential abuse. It didn't set a deadline for the investigation, however, and has already fined Google three times over its ad practices. Antitrust hunts like these can take years to wind down, and the complaint theoretically accelerates the process. In a statement, Google argued companies enjoyed its ad tech but didn't address the unfair competition issues. Publishers keep the "majority of revenue," which climbs to "billions" of US dollars, a representative said. There's no certainty the EPC complaint will prompt the EU to demand significant changes to Google's ad policies. It might ramp up the pressure on Google to act, however, even if it's just to minimize any potential penalties.

My iPhone knows my inside leg measurement Posted: 11 Feb 2022 06:00 AM PST Tailoring is fancy, sufficiently fancy that you may go your entire life and never once experience the art. It's expensive, having garments custom-made to suit your body shape, even if there are a legion of benefits in doing so. Mass-produced clothes, meanwhile, are never going to do the job if you've got a body that diverges from what's expected or treated as "normal." There are two real problems: Measurement, and manufacturing, issues that the fashion industry is wrestling with right now. A Taiwanese company, TG3D, has at least discovered a way to solve the first part of the equation with little more than an iPhone. It has developed a method of using FaceID to scan the geography of your body to give you a suite of measurements in minutes. I first encountered TG3D back in 2018, when the company was showing off its wares at Computex in Taipei. The system then required you to step into a booth the size of a changing room, which housed pillars full of infrared cameras. When activated, the system would scan your body and help you determine the ideal sizes for trying on clothes. Since then, the company has been working to shrink this technology down to something that requires a lot less investment. Any FaceID-equipped iPhone can now offer a similar, albeit less accurate, scanning solution, enabling users to test sizes for off-the-peg clothes. Co-founder Rick Yu explained that the project was designed for ready-to-wear fashion, to "solve [the issue of] huge returns." Returns are, after all, a key problem for e-commerce fashion brands, since buyers can't be sure that their preferred size will actually fit them. "A lot of consumers buy three different sizes and return the other two," which is bad for both the planet and most retailers' bottom lines. If you know ahead of time what you need to order, the wastage and expense should decrease. I tested the system and found that, much like it did in 2018, it reminded me how much timber I need to drop from my waistline. All you need to do, however, is stand your phone up on a flat surface – and it does need to be perfectly flat, so grab a book or some sticky tack. Then, just stand in view of the camera, ideally just in your underwear and, when ready, start turning around on the spot with your arms away from your sides. All in all, the scanning process takes less than a minute, and the analysis only takes a further two or three. Once you've previewed your avatar to check it is more or less in the right shape, you can then send it off to the cloud to be properly analyzed. You may notice that, in use, your face, hands and feet are replaced with something blank and generic. This, says Yu, was an intentional move to protect user privacy given that you'll be partially-clothed during the scanning process. The data produced by FaceID isn't, by itself, accurate enough to produce a fully-measured avatar, however. Once captured, it's sent to TG3D's server to be analyzed, "we have an AI engine that identifies the landmarks," explained Yu. "We identify the landmarks, we position the landmarks and then based on [that], we extract up to 250 measurements automatically," he said. Daniel Cooper / TG3D Much of this data, and the conclusions generated from it, have been curated through years of interviews with tailors and pattern makers. "These measurements that make sense to them," said Yu, when I asked for an explanation for some of the more arcane terminology. Yu explained that the margin of error using the iPhone system is, at most, 1.3 inches. Yu also explained that the data can be exported in a variety of formats, so as well as being used for tailoring, there are other solutions in play. For instance, an avatar file could be exported in a .OBJ file which can be used for 3D modeling and sculpting. And, naturally, it's also possible to capture this data and create an avatar for any potential metaverse that could require it. TG3D's solution isn't the only thing on the market, and plenty of other companies are operating in this space looking for a magic bullet. Shopify, for instance, was recently granted a patent for a body-measuring concept to help folks choose garments. Amazon's Echo Look had a fairly rudimentary system to judge a fit based on how well it flattered your body. MTailor offers a scanning service by analyzing a video clip its users upload for similar results. All of this is going to be vital in order to help reduce fashion's already problematic waste problem. The industry reportedly consumes 10 percent of the world's total greenhouse emissions and 20 percent of its water. That's both down to sourcing and manufacturing through the waste involved in the buying and returns process when it reaches our homes. But the consequences of this overproduction and overconsumption are piling up. One fairly pernicious example is blighting the Atacama desert in Chile. Garments made in South Asia will first be sold in Europe and the US, before the unsold sock is sent to South America for resale. Anything that remains unsold is dumped in huge piles, left to rot in the daylight with the price tags still on. This isn't the only example of this, however, and there are toxic waste piles piling high in Ghana right now. Measurements are only half the problem, and manufacturing still remains a huge issue with the industry today. Attempts by companies to automate this process have not been successful – Adidas' Speedfactory concept, for instance, was abandoned back in 2019. Yu, whose technology has most prominently been used by H&M in its flagship Stockholm store to create custom jeans with partner Unspun, also waxed lyrical about the future of fashion. He showed me the concept of an online retailer that was entirely virtual. A user can plug their body scan into the outfits on screen and get instant previews of how they would look in them. But this could happen before the garment is even made, ensuring that only what's good gets produced. For now, I can be confident that my iPhone, at least, knows my inside leg measurement. The next step is for every fashion brand to work out how to stop my thighs rubbing the seat of my jeans to dust.

Google's Nest Thermostat drops to $99 at Amazon Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:50 AM PST While we saw Amazon's new smart thermostat go on sale earlier this week, now you can get the more advanced Google Nest Thermostat for less, too. The smart home gadget is down to $99 at Amazon right now, which is 24 percent off its normal price and close to its all-time low. All colors have been discounted and you can get the device with a trim kit for only $114, or 21 percent less than usual. Buy Nest Thermostat at Amazon - $99Buy Nest Thermostat + trim kit at Amazon - $114 Normally $130, the Energy Star-certified Nest Thermostat came out in 2020 as an affordable alternative to Google's Nest Learning Thermostat. The standard model doesn't have the luxury materials or the hi-res display that the Learning model does, but the biggest selling points remain the same. A device like the Nest Thermostat can help you save on energy costs by optimizing the temperature in your home. Google's device has a feature called Savings Finder that learns about your home system and offers suggestions to conserve energy. You can also set your own schedule so you can, for example, keep your home warmer when you're there and cooler when you're out. You can control the Nest Thermostat through the Google Home app, making it easy to make adjustments on the fly and even when you're away from home. The device also works with the Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa, so you can control it with your voice, too. Depending on your style, you may prefer the look of the Nest Thermostat to that of its Learning cousin, too. It's slimmer with a mirrored display and it has a touch-sensitive edge that you can use to adjust temperatures manually. Amazon's sale is one to consider if you've been itching to make your home a bit smarter without spending too much money. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Google+ is dead again, maybe for good this time Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:40 AM PST Google+ shuffled off this mortal coil to the great app graveyard back in 2019 — right? Well, not quite. As a reminder, its corpse was reanimated as Google Currents, designed strictly for paying G Suite customers. Now, Google Workspaces announced that it has killed that app off too, marking the final end of Google's social network or whatever G+ was, Ars Technica reported.  Google said that the introduction of the Spaces group chat app last year negated the need for Currents, so it plans to wind it down starting in 2023. Before it does that, however, it will add new capabilities to Spaces to accommodate some of Currents' social features. "These include support for larger communities and leadership communication, investments in advanced search, tools for content moderation, and more," Google said.  As was the case with Google+, the usage and purpose of Currents was likely unclear to many users. That issue extends to Spaces, as well, unfortunately. As Google described it last year, Spaces is an evolution of Rooms but is a part of Google Chat that's designed for group messaging, much like Slack. Got it? What's also kind of funny is that Google recycled both the Spaces and Currents names: Currents was a news-style app that existed until 2013, and Google Spaces was a messaging app we saw for a short time in 2016. So one might say that Google+ was effectively killed twice, and Currents was also buried two times. Now, let's hope we never hear those names again.

Engadget Podcast: The best of Samsung Unpacked and Nintendo Direct Posted: 11 Feb 2022 05:30 AM PST Tech news season is in full swing as Samsung launched its Galaxy S22 flagship phones this week, along with new Tab S8 tablets. This week on the podcast, Cherlynn is joined by senior writer Sam Rutherford and special guest Chris Velazco from The Washington Post to discuss Samsung's new gear. The trio also recap some of the best games announced at Nintendo Direct, followed by a look at the week's biggest news including Peloton's layoffs, Steam Deck previews and the Olympics. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Engadget · Samsung's Unpacked and Nintendo's Direct! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Podcasts Topics Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Tab S8 series – 1:30 Nintendo's first Direct of 2022 – 27:02 Peloton's layoffs and terrible severance – 39:33 Microsoft promises COD will stay multi-platform for now – 48:02 Valve's Steam Deck: The early impressions are in! – 51:15 Is the Louis Vuitton smartwatch tacky or awesome? – 55:57 Grindr geofences the Olympic Village – 1:00:31 Working on – 1:04:56 Pop Culture picks – 1:07:15 Video livestream Credits Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Sam Rutherford Guest: Chris Velazco Producer: Ben Ellman Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Owen Davidoff, Luke Brooks Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Brian Oh Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

Twitch policy update bans usernames that reference sex and drugs Posted: 11 Feb 2022 04:49 AM PST Twitch wants everyone to have nicer, more family-friendly usernames. The video streaming website has updated its policy to prohibit usernames that have hate speech, threats of violence and personally identifiable information in them. It will now also ban usernames with references to "sexual acts, arousal, fluids or genitalia," as well as references to hard drugs. Those with some kind of reference to weed, alcohol or tobacco don't have to worry about a thing, though — those three are A-OK and don't fall under the new "hard drugs" rule. "Although we've removed many reported, offensive usernames under our current policy, we believe establishing a stronger standard is needed to cultivate a diverse, inclusive global community on Twitch," the Amazon-owned streaming platform said in its announcement.  Twitch is giving all users until March 1st, 2022 before it starts enforcing its new guidelines. That way, creators will have time to think of a new handle and fix their branding without their disrupting their streaming activities. After the deadline passes, Twitch will suspend users if their names are clearly "hateful, harassing, violent or typically representative of malicious behavior."  It will, however, give people with references to sex and hard drugs in their names a chance and will only require them to reset their handles. Same goes for instances wherein it's not clear if a handle violates the new policy. The website built a tool that allows people to reset their names without losing their account history, subs, follows and bits, and people can continue their activities as usual after they use it. While Twitch is giving users the freedom to make changes on their own, it said a machine learning feature will keep an eye on any new handle people try to create to make sure it doesn't violate its policy, as well.

The Morning After: European fusion reactor shatters energy production record Posted: 11 Feb 2022 04:15 AM PST The Joint European Torus (JET) fusion reactor in the UK has generated the highest level of sustained energy ever from atom fusion. On December 21st, 2021, the "tokamak" reactor produced 59 megajoules of energy during a five-second fusion pulse. That's double what it created back in 1997. (Yes, I know energy is not created or destroyed, but you get what I mean!) The JET reactor is the flagship experimental device of the European Fusion Program, funded by the EU. It's mainly designed to prove scientists' modeling efforts, with an eye on future, bigger experiments with a much larger ITER reactor in France, set to start fusion testing in 2025. JET hit a Q value of 0.33, meaning it produced about a third of the energy put in. The highest Q value achieved so far is 0.7 by the US Department of Energy's National Ignition Facility, but it only hit that figure for 4 billionths of a second. The goal with ITER is to reach a Q factor of 10 or greater. Fun fact: ITER isn't an acronym but means "the path" in Latin. And now you know. — Mat Smith   The biggest stories you might have missed TAG Heuer's smaller luxury smartwatch will set you back $1,800 Wordle's desktop site now redirects to 'The New York Times' Corsair's new K70 keyboard is a welcome improvement Apple's 2021 iPad mini is up to $50 off at Amazon Apple's latest iOS and macOS updates fix a major web security flaw Farewell Douglas Trumbull, visual effects pioneer How to build a budget home theater setup Decent surround sound comes cheaper than you think. Getty Maybe you've got a glorious new 4K TV. But maybe you're still using sub-par built-in speakers. Thankfully, it's never been easier to bring the surround sound experience home without investing thousands of dollars in Hi-Fi components. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar guides you through your options. Continue reading. Tesla recalls more than 578,000 vehicles over pedestrian warning sounds The Boombox feature risked overpowering safety alerts. Tesla is recalling hundreds of thousands of cars over a technical issue. It has recalled 578,607 Model 3, S, X and Y vehicles over concerns the Boombox feature can overpower Pedestrian Warning System sounds. The ability to play external audio while the car is in motion violates a federal safety rule requiring a clearly audible sound when EVs and hybrids are moving at speeds below 18.6MPH. As with some of its previous recalls, the company will address the issue with a free over-the-air update. The patch will disable Boombox while cars aren't parked, Tesla said. Continue reading. California is suing Tesla over 'racial discrimination and harassment' Tesla called the lawsuit "unfair and unproductive." More bad news for Tesla. A California civil rights agency has filed a lawsuit against the company for alleged racial discrimination and harassment at its Fremont factory, according to The Wall Street Journal. "After receiving hundreds of complaints from workers, DFEH found evidence that Tesla's Fremont factory is a racially segregated workplace," said California Department of Fair Employment and Housing director Kevin Kish in a statement. Continue reading. MoviePass will return this summer But it's really not the same thing. MoviePass is making a comeback. Co-founder Stacy Spikes, who is back at the helm, says MoviePass 2.0 is being built on a Web3 framework and will have a kind of virtual currency. It will have tiered plans, but he didn't mention pricing. Spikes said there'll be ways for people to earn credits through the app via a "preshow experience." That's watching ads. To make sure you're actually watching them, the app will employ facial recognition and eye-tracking. Wonderful. Continue reading. The first Android 13 developer preview is here More privacy controls and themed icons are coming. Google Google is unveiling the first Android 13 developer preview today, and it's clear the company is not going to avoid the "unlucky" number. Developers (and risk takers) can test their apps using the Android emulator or flashing a system image to the Pixel 4 or newer Pixel phones. Based on today's announcement, it looks like we can expect finer privacy controls and more of Android 12's Material You design licks throughout. Continue reading. Biden administration unveils $5 billion plan for EV charging infrastructure States can apply for the funds to create an Alternative Fuel Corridor on US highways. The Biden administration has announced a $5 billion plan to help states build half a million EV charging stations by 2030 — five times the current number. The goal is to allow EV owners to find a charging port anywhere within 50 miles of their location across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A total of $615 million will be distributed this year alone. Continue reading.

UK regulator accepts Google's updated proposal on browser cookie tracking Posted: 11 Feb 2022 03:25 AM PST The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accepted Google's latest plan to replace third-party cookies from the Chrome Browser. The regulator said that Google made legally binding commitments to address its concerns that the "Privacy Sandbox" would weaken competition and harm consumers.  Early in 2021, the CMA announced that it would investigate Google's plan to replace third party cookies with "trust tokens." It said that Google's plan "could undermine the ability of publishers to generate revenue and undermine competition in digital advertising, entrenching Google's market power." It added that it received complaints from publishers and tech companies which alleged that Google may be "abusing its dominant position."  While this is an important step, we are under no illusions that our work is done. We now move into a new phase where we will keep a close eye on Google as it continues to develop these proposals. The CMA said that Google has promised to use a "more transparent process than initially proposed." It will now engage with third parties and publish test results, and must address any issues raised by the CMA or third parties. It will also not remove third-party cookies "until the CMA is satisfied that its competition concerns have been addressed."  In its own blog post on the matter, Google said it would "design, develop and implement Privacy Sandbox with regulatory oversight and input from the CMA and the ICO." It promised to apply the commitments globally, not just in the UK, as "we believe that they provide a roadmap for how to address both privacy and competition concerns in this evolving sector," Google wrote. Last year, Google delayed the rollout of third-party cookies until mid-2023, rather than the 2022 timeline it originally set. It admitted at the time that it "needs more time across the ecosystem to get this right." Google had originally proposed a cookie alternative called "FLoC" (Federated Learning of Cohorts) but announced last month that it was testing a replacement called Topics API.

Senator letter claims a secret CIA surveillance program is bulk collecting data Posted: 11 Feb 2022 02:45 AM PST The CIA has been conducting a secret mass surveillance program that affects Americans' privacy, according to a newly declassified letter (PDF) by US Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). In the letter dated April of 2021, the members of the Senate Intelligence Committee urged the agency to tell the public the kind of records it collected, the amount of American records' maintained and the nature of the CIA's relationship with its sources.  The Senators also asked the Director of National Intelligence to declassify the studies conducted by a watchdog called the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), which prompted the letter in the first place. PCLOB did in-depth examinations of two CIA counterterrorism-related programs back in 2015 as part of a larger oversight review of Executive Order 12333, a Reagan-era EO that extends the powers of US intelligence agencies.  According to The Wall Street Journal, surveillance activities conducted under EO 12333 — like the CIA's bulk program — aren't subject to the same oversight as those under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The publication also notes that that the CIA isn't legally allowed to conduct domestic spying, but some Americans' information get scooped up in certain instances. One example is if they're communicating with an overseas target via phone or the internet. Intelligence agencies are required to protect any information from the US, as well, such as redacting Americans' names unless they're pertinent to the investigation. According to the Senators, PCLOB noted problems with how the CIA handled and searched Americans' information under the program. The Senators said the existence of the program was hidden not just to the public, but also to the Congress. An intelligence official told The New York Times, though, the the Intelligence Committee already knew about the data collection. It's the program's tools for storying and querying that collected data, which are discussed in PCLOB's reports, that it may not know the details of. While both the Senators' letter and one of PCLOB's studies have now been released, they've both been heavily redacted. It's impossible to tell, based on the documents that came out, what kind of information was collected and what the nature of the program was. Or is — it's also unclear whether the program is still ongoing or if the CIA has already ended it. The CIA said in a statement: "CIA has kept, and continues to keep, the Senate Select Committee for Intelligence (SSCI) and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) fully and currently apprised of its intelligence programs, to include the activities reviewed by PCLOB. Moreover, all CIA officers have a solemn obligation to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Americans. CIA will continue to seek opportunities to provide better transparency into the rules and procedures governing our collection authorities to both Congress and the American public."

Best Buy limits sales of NVIDIA RTX-Series GPUs to Totaltech subscribers Posted: 11 Feb 2022 01:23 AM PST Best Buy restricted sales of several NVIDIA RTX 3000-series GPUs, including the RTX 3080 and 3090 models, to members of its $199 per year subscription program, PC Mag has reported. It made the graphics cards available for an "Exclusive Access Event," but anyone attempting to buy one was greeted with a popup saying that access was limited to Totaltech members.  The retailer launched Totaltech into beta last April with the promise of perks like free shipping, unlimited Geek Squad tech support, two-year warranty protection and free installation on most products. Another listed perk was "exclusive member sale pricing" on products, but yesterday's restock was reportedly the first time it was needed to purchase GPUs, stock checker @CameranRitz told PC Mag.  As usual, Best Buy had a limited number of cards, so even being a member was no guarantee of getting one. However, the sale reportedly last several hours before they were gone, which is longer than usual when NVIDIA cards get restocked. Best Buy isn't the first retailer to put high-demand items behind a paywall, with Walmart and others also requiring memberships to buy certain items. However, Best Buy forces you to pay the $200 annual membership in one shot, where Walmart Plus is $15 per month and can be cancelled at any time.  Best Buy is also the exclusive retailer of NVIDIA Founder's Edition cards in the US, which it does usually sell at MSRP. So even with the Totaltech membership, purchasing one may still be cheaper compared to the outrageous markups from scalpers or other retailers. At the same time, the membership also blocks any bots. Still, the situation upset some potential buyers. "Disappointed but not surprised," said Twitter user @Michael_gg_Inc.

SpaceX shows what a Starship launch would look like Posted: 10 Feb 2022 09:07 PM PST Elon Musk has given SpaceX's first huge Starship update in years, and during his presentation, the company showed off what a launch with the massive launch system would look like. The Starship system is composed of the Starship spacecraft itself on top of a Super Heavy booster. SpaceX is working towards making it rapidly and fully reusable so as to make launches to the Moon and to Mars feasible. After making its way outside our planet, the booster will break off and return to its launch tower, where it will ideally be caught by the tower arms. As for the spacecraft, it will proceed to its destination before making its way back to Earth.  Musk said the booster will spend six minutes in the air over all, two upon ascent and four for its return trip. In the future, the system could be reused every six to eight hours for three launches a day. SpaceX says achieving a fully and rapidly reusable system is "key to a future in which humanity is out exploring the stars." Musk also talked about how in-orbit refilling — not "refueling," since the vehicle's Raptor engines use more liquid oxygen than fuel — is essential for long-duration flights.  The Super Heavy booster, Musk said, has more than twice the thrust of a Saturn V, the largest rocket to ever head to space so far. In its current iteration, it has 29 Raptor engines, but it could eventually have 33. Speaking of those engines, Raptor version 2 is a complete redesign of the first, costs half as much and needs fewer parts. The company is capable of manufacturing five to six a week at the moment, but it could apparently be capable of producing as many as seven by next month.  Aside from being able to carry hundreds of tons, the Starship could revolutionize space travel if SpaceX can truly make launches as affordable as Musk said it could. He revealed during the event that a Starship launch could cost les than $10 million per flight, all in, within two to three years. That's significantly less than a Falcon 9 launch that costs around $60 million.  SpaceX wants to launch the Starship from its Boca Chica, Texas facility called Starbase, where it's been building the rocket's prototype. It has yet to secure approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to do so, and Musk said the company doesn't know where things stand with the agency exactly. However, there's apparently a rough indication that the FAA will be come with its environmental assessment in March. SpaceX also expects the rocket to be ready by then, which means Starship's first orbital test flight could be on the horizon.

Wordle's desktop site now redirects to the New York Times Posted: 10 Feb 2022 03:18 PM PST We knew this day would come, but it still feels strange to say goodbye: the original website hosting Wordle now points to its new forever home at The New York Times. Other than some small UI changes to better mesh with the clean, spacious design language of NYT's Games section, Wordle is effectively identical. In fact, if you've already played today's puzzle, you'll find the solution unchanged on the Grey Lady's domain — and if you've been a desktop solver this whole time, streaks should be retained (though that doesn't seem to be the case for everyone). Strangely though, the Wordle does not yet appear on the Games landing page. The original Wordle page does not yet redirect on mobile though, if you're hoping for one last spin.  Wordle launched last October as a once-a-day word game in part inspired by the Times' Spelling Bee game. After obtaining massive popularity, its creator — Josh Wardle — sold his game to its spiritual progenitors for an undisclosed sum in the "low-seven figures." It's believed the game will remain free-to-play despite the change in ownership.

Astra's cubesat launch for NASA ends in failure Posted: 10 Feb 2022 02:37 PM PST Space startup Astra's effective commercial debut didn't quite go according to plan. As SpaceNewsreports, the company's first practical mission for NASA failed when the Rocket 3.3 vehicle's upper stage flew out of control shortly after detaching from the first stage. While the launch itself went smoothly, footage suggests the payload fairing separation went awry. The rocket was carrying NASA's ELaNa 41 (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) mission. Three of the four cubesats aboard the flight were from universities hoping to conduct experiments for drag sails, space weather modelling and quantum gyroscopes. The fourth, from NASA itself, was meant to test quick and low-cost methods to build and inspect cubesats. In a statement, Astra said it was "deeply sorry" for losing the payloads and would shed more light on the incident after a "data review." The launch had already been delayed several days, in part due to a range problem. No private space firm wants an incident like this, but it might have been more damaging to Astra than for others. This was Astra's fifth attempt at orbit, and all but one of them have ended in failure. The setback could hurt Astra's chances at competing with companies like Rocket Lab and SpaceX, both of which have better (if still imperfect) track records. This also underscores the challenges involved with private spaceflight. While it's playing an increasingly important role in commercial and scientific programs, the companies and their technology are still relatively young — even heavyweights like Boeing are struggling. It may take some time before there's a wide range of providers that can reliably ferry cargo.

Bowser sentenced to 40-month prison sentence for video game crimes Posted: 10 Feb 2022 02:06 PM PST A US federal court has sentenced Canadian hacker Gary Bowser to 40 months in prison for his involvement in Switch hacking group Team Xecuter, the Department of Justice announced on Thursday. Not to be confused with Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser (or Mario's nemesis, for that matter), Bowser was part of a collective that developed and sold devices people could use to play pirated games on their consoles. The FBI arrested Bowser in 2020. One year later, he agreed to pay $10 million to Nintendo to settle a civil privacy lawsuit and another $4.5 million in restitution to the company. Leading up to today's sentencing announcement, Bowser faced up to 10 years in prison. According to the Justice Department, video game publishers have lost more than $65 million thanks to Team Xecuter's exploits. Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are still working to apprehend Bowser's accomplices. Correction 02/11 10:14AM ET: A previous version of this article mistakenly said the name of the Team Xecuter hacker was Doug Bowser. His name is Gary Bowser. We deeply regret the error.

Bandcamp's mobile app now supports song and album queuing Posted: 10 Feb 2022 01:30 PM PST Bandcamp has always had a serviceable if unpolished mobile app for streaming the tracks you buy from its platform. However, one thing you couldn't do before today was queue albums and tracks. The good news is Bandcamp has addressed that shortcoming of its software with a new update that's available through the App Store and Google Play Store. Good news! The Bandcamp app now supports queuing, making it easy to listen to multiple albums and tracks from your collection without interruption. https://t.co/RMYRfmiDWEpic.twitter.com/a7K6IiD5hG — bandcamp (@Bandcamp) February 10, 2022 To queue a song or album, navigate to your music library by tapping the heart icon located at the bottom of the interface, and then tap the album you want to play. You can queue the entire album by pressing the relevant button under the playback controls. To queue a single song, meanwhile, press the three dots icon located next to the individual track you want to listen to. You can also reorder what's next at any point by dragging a song to another position in the queue. We'll be honest, it's surprising Bandcamp's app didn't include a queuing feature before today, but then it probably wasn't used for streaming music by as many people as you might think. Thanks to its support of musicians through the pandemic, Bandcamp has enjoyed an upswell in popularity and goodwill. At the start of the year, the company said approximately 800,000 people had spent more than $70 million buying music and merchandise through the 17 Bandcamp Fridays the company held throughout 2020 and 2021. While a lot of those people had probably bought music through Bandcamp before, at least some of them were new to the platform. And you have to imagine both groups want to listen their collections on the go.

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