Monday, February 7, 2022

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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy devices will be made partly from recycled fishing nets

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 03:00 PM PST

When Samsung announces its 2022 Galaxy S lineup on February 9th, the phones it reveals will be partly made from a new, more sustainable material. On Sunday, the company said it has started using ocean-bound plastic made from discarded fishing nets in its latest devices. Samsung said it would incorporate the material first into the products it announces next week before it eventually begins utilizing it throughout its entire device lineup.

As Samsung notes, we tend to think of plastic bottles and grocery bags as the main culprit of ocean debris like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but its microplastics and discarded nets that marine biologists are most worried about. Derelict fishing gear leads to ghost fishing, a phenomenon where those tools continue to trap and kill marine life, including endangered species like the Hawaiian monk seal. With more than 640,000 tons worth of fishing nets discarded every year, it's a problem that's only getting worse.

Samsung isn't the first company to incorporate discarded trash into its devices. Last year, Microsoft announced the Ocean Plastic Mouse. It features a shell made from 20 percent recovered plastic. Like Microsoft, Samsung is positioning its use of ocean-bound plastics as part of its larger sustainability push. In 2019, under pressure from consumers and environmentalists, the company said it would begin using more sustainable materials in the packaging of its devices.

Catch up on all of the news from Samsung's February Unpacked event right here!

US carriers ask the FCC for $5.6 billion to replace Huawei and ZTE equipment

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 01:11 PM PST

The price of removing Chinese equipment from American wireless networks is likely to cost more than the government had anticipated. According to Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, US carriers have requested approximately $5.6 billion in reimbursements to "rip and replace" their existing Huawei and ZTE infrastructure.

In 2019, the FCC voted unanimously to ban US carriers from using the Universal Service Fund to subsidize the cost of purchasing networking equipment from companies deemed a "national security threat." The first two firms the agency added to that list were Huawei and ZTE. In 2020, former President Donald Trump signed the Secure and Trusted Telecommunications Networks Act, mandating that carriers replace equipment from the two manufacturers.

That same year, the FCC established a program to reimburse smaller telecom operators for replacing equipment the law had deemed a risk to national security. At the time, the agency estimated it would cost carriers more than $1.8 billion to comply with the order, and it subsequently set aside $1.9 billion to cover reimbursements.

"While we have more work to do to review these applications, I look forward to working with Congress to ensure that there is enough funding available for this program to advance Congress's security goals and ensure that America will continue to lead the way on 5G security," Rosenworcel said.

US carriers sent 181 applications to the FCC for funding support before the filing window closed on January 28th, 2022. As things stand, the agency only has enough money to grant about a third of all the requests it received.

Amazon’s second-gen Echo Show 8 is back on sale for $90

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 11:38 AM PST

We've seen Amazon discount its second-generation Echo Show 8 on a handful of occasions over the past few months. But for the first time since Black Friday, you can buy the smart display for $90. That's a $40 savings over the device's regular price of $130.

Buy Echo Show 8 at Amazon - $90Buy Echo speaker at Amazon - $80Buy Echo Buds at Amazon - $80

We gave the second-gen Echo Show 8 a score of 87 when we reviewed it last year. We praised Amazon's smart display for its elegant minimalist design, vibrant 1,280 x 800 resolution display and handy video calling functionality. It has a digital pan-and-zoom face-tracking feature that can follow you while you move around, ensuring you're always in frame. What's more, that tool works with every video calling platform available for the device, including Skype and Zoom. Another thing we like about the Echo Show 8 is that it comes with stereo speakers, making it sound much better than the Echo Show 5 with its single mono speaker.

If you're not in the market for a smart display, Amazon has discounted some of its other devices as well. You can currently pick up the company's 4th-generation Echo speaker for $80, instead of $100 as it's usually priced. The second-generation Echo Buds are also on sale. They're currently $80, down from $120. Neither of those price tags represents an all-time low for their respective device, but they're decent deals all the same. We'll also note here Amazon has discounted the Kindle Paperwhite and Fire TV Cube in related sales.

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

PlayStation users can’t download the early access version of 'Sifu' (updated)

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST

As part of the lead-up to the February 8th release of Sifu, developer Sloclap offered a digital deluxe version of the game through the PlayStation Store that included early access to the title. If you preordered the bundle, the studio said you would have two days to play Sifu before its official release date.

However, when the early access period began earlier today, PlayStation 4 and PS5 owners found out they couldn't download the game. In a tweet spotted by Eurogamer, developer Sloclap acknowledged the issue and said it was working with Sony to fix it quickly.

"We are aware that there are issues preventing the download of Sifu through the early access on the PlayStation Store, and are very sorry for the inconvenience," the studio said. "We're looking into it with PlayStation to fix it as soon as possible, and will update you on the situation very soon."

A few hours later, Sloclap shared the promised update, noting Sony was actively investigating the issue. "We hope to have it resolved shortly," the studio said at the time. As of the writing of this article, Sony and Sloclap have yet to fix things. It's certainly not a good look for either party, but the studio at least promised to do what it could to make it up to its fans.

Update2:43PM ET: According to Sloclap, PlayStation users should now be able to download the early access version of Sifu. "We're very sorry to all players who were hoping to play earlier today, we'll have an exclusive gift for all Deluxe edition holders to share with you soon," the studio said. If you still can't download your copy of the game, Sloclap recommends you restart your console and try launching it from the library menu. 

Apple’s new entry-level MacBook Pro may not include a ProMotion display

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 09:39 AM PST

When Apple refreshed its MacBook Pro line last fall, it left the entry-level model alone. Since then, there have been rumors the company has been working on a new version of the computer that will feature its forthcoming M2 chip. Thanks to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we now have a better idea of what to expect from the company.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says he expects the entry-level model will follow its siblings in dropping the much-maligned Touch Bar. He notes the computer is unlikely to include the ProMotion display technology found on the 2021 MacBook Pro, meaning it won't support a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling. Mini-LED backlighting is apparently off the table as well, so don't expect the base model's display to get as bright as the screens on its counterparts. Internal storage is another area where you may have to compromise if you decide to buy the new model.

According to Gurman, Apple plans to release at least four M2-powered Macs in 2022. Outside of the aforementioned MacBook Pro, the company is reportedly preparing to refresh the MacBook Air, 24-inch iMac and entry-level Mac Mini to include the latest version of its in-house silicon. There are also reports the company is working on a 27-inch iMac Pro that will feature its M1 Pro and Max chips.

Gurman didn't say when Apple fans should expect the company to release the new MacBook Pro model. We likely won't see the computer at the company's next hardware event. In a separate report he published earlier this week, Gurman said Apple plans to host an event sometime on or around March 8th. The company will reportedly announce a new iPhone SE and iPad Air then.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is $45 off right now

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 09:05 AM PST

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is possibly the best e-reader on the market right now, and if you've been considering picking one up, now seems like a good time. Amazon is putting the device on sale for the first time for $145, which is $45 less than the regular price of $190. Since Amazon hasn't offered a discount on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition until now, it's an all-time-low price for the e-reader.

Buy Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon - $145

Amazon announced the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition in September. It's the first Kindle with wireless charging support, though if there isn't a Qi-compatible pad close by, you can charge it with a USB-C cable. Either way, don't expect to charge it often, as Amazon claims the battery can run for up to 10 weeks before you need to juice it up.

The e-reader has a 300 ppi glare-free display that Amazon claims is 10 percent brighter at max setting than previous Paperwhite models. There's a sensor that can automatically adjust the screen brightness depending on ambient light levels and warm light options that may make nighttime reading more comfortable.

The Signature Edition comes with 32GB of storage, which will be useful if you prefer to listen to audiobooks over Bluetooth. The Signature Edition is also waterproof with an IPX8 rating. Amazon says it can withstand immersion in two meters for fresh water for up to an hour and for up to three minutes in 25 cm of seawater, so users can read in the bath without worrying too much about dropping their device.

In our review, we gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a score of 97, lauding it for many of the above features, as well as a larger screen with smaller bezels. Our only real bugbear was the price, which, at least temporarily, Amazon has taken some of the sting out of.

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

Amazon’s Fire TV Cube drops to an all-time low price of $70

Posted: 06 Feb 2022 08:20 AM PST

Amazon's Fire TV Cube has just hit its lowest price ever. The retailer has discounted the device to $70, making it $10 cheaper than it was during the holiday shopping season. Although it's been a couple of years since Amazon released the Fire TV Cube, it's still a compelling choice if you want the best possible streaming experience the company has to offer.

Buy Fire TV Cube at Amazon - $70Buy Fire TV Stick Lite at Amazon - $20

With built-in support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+, it can play 4K HDR video from virtually every streaming service out there, including Amazon's own Prime Video. It's also no slouch in the audio department thanks to the fact it includes Dolby Vision support. Another reason to pick up the Fire TV Cube is that it doubles as an Alexa-capable speaker, allowing you to control your smart home devices with your voice. If you've already invested in Amazon's Alexa ecosystem, that's probably a less compelling reason to pick up the Fire TV Cube, but it's still a nice feature to have in a pinch.

If your streaming needs are more modest, Amazon has also discounted the Fire TV Stick Lite. At its current $20 price, it's only two dollars more than it was during the holiday shopping season. The Fire TV Stick Lite is a good option if you own an older TV as the stick is limited to Full HD streaming. It's also considered the "Lite" version because you can't use the included Alexa Voice Remote to control your TV.

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