Tuesday, March 1, 2022

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YouTuber reunites 'Celeste' developer with lost Game Award after finding it on eBay

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PST

In 2018, Celeste won a Game Award for the best independent release of that year. For nearly four years since, that award has been missing, but now it's on its way back to its rightful owners at Extremely OK Games thanks to YouTuber Ryan B. In a recent video spotted by PC Gamer, he details the unusual saga.

PrestigeIsKey, as he's better known online, has spent the last five years trying to buy a replica of a Game Award to add to his home collection. He recently found an eBay listing that was selling a "real" version of the winged statue. The seller claimed they had obtained the award from a "liquidation" source and had no other information to share about it. Ryan decided to take his chances and paid $375 plus shipping to buy the trophy. When it finally turned up at his home, he found out it was the genuine article.

Ryan contacted Extremely OK Games to find out if the statue had been lost or given away. The studio told him they never got their award after the show ended. Ryan went on to offer to mail them the trophy. In turn, Extremely OK Games said it would reimburse him for his trouble and send him signed copies of Celeste. It's one of those rare stories that has a happy ending. 

Free 'Ghostwire: Tokyo' visual novel for PlayStation sets the stage for the game

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 11:56 AM PST

Tango Gameworks and Bethesda think they have a way to draw you into Ghostwire: Tokyo's universe before you even start playing: give away the prequel story. The two have released a free visual novel for PS4 and PS5, Ghostwire: Tokyo - Prelude, that sets the stage for the supernatural action adventure. The novel follows detective KK as he investigates strange events half a year before the main game.

The title has a purposefully "relaxed atmosphere" compared to the game, Scenario Writer Takahiro Kaji said. This is more about showing another side of KK before you see him in the game. You are encouraged to play through more than once, though, as it promises to reveal more sides of KK's team and Tokyo.

The PC version of Prelude will be available on March 8th, or just over two weeks before Ghostwire: Tokyo itself launches on March 25th. Yes, this novel ultimately a bid to sell more copies of the game, but it might be appreciated if you want more backstory for games than a simple text prologue or video trailer.

Arturia Efx Fragments makes granular approachable

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 11:30 AM PST

Arturia has been on a bit of a roll over these last few years. The company has always made top notch MIDI controllers and soft synths. But in 2020 it announced the KeyStep Pro and PolyBrute — delivering the MIDI controller than many had been clamoring for and an analog polysynth that hasbowledpeopleover. (Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough to get my hands on one.) Then in 2021 it gave the MicroFreak and Pigments, two hugefree updates, upgraded its FX Collection with seven new plugins, and launched the SQ80 V virtual synth, which I fell instantly in love with. Now the company is launching Efx Fragments, a granular processor that that brings an experimental edge to its current effects lineup. 

Granular is pretty trendy right now, check out the Microcosm and Lemondrop for instance. But, it's also can be difficult to tame. Arturia has been putting a lot of effort into making its software more user friendly, though, and that's clearly on display with Fragments. Simply put, it might be the most immediate and musical granular processor I've ever used and gives the Microcosm a run for its money as a cheat code to creating beautiful ambient music. But, it is capable of much more than just epic drones.

The core of Efx Fragments is a granular engine with three distinctly different modes and a 16 second buffer. Depending on which mode you select, the way it chops up and plays back incoming audio varies. There's "classic mode" which is pretty much what everyone thinks of when they hear the phrase "granular synthesis". It's versatile and unique and very unapologetically digital. Texture mode softens the harsh edges a bit and leans into granular's more ethereal side. While Rhythmic mode goes in the opposite direction, strengthening the stuttering and glitchy side. 

That's not to say you can't make drones in Rhythmic mode, or create driving rhythms in Texture mode, you'll just have to work a little harder at it. 

In addition to the core granular processing, there's two effects slots for adding filtering, reverb, delay and other tone shapers; a bit crushing section with five different modes; a powerful panner and spatializer; two assignable macros; three function generators for modulation; and a modulation sequencer. Not to mention all the various tools available for manipulating the grains directly, like size, shape and pitch. 

Arturia Efx Fragments
Arturai

If that sounds like an overwhelming array of options don't worry, there's a handy tutorial that helps you get familiar with the interface. And the UI is impressively clean and intuitively laid out. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Fragments to someone that was new to granular effects. Two things help keep it approachable (beyond the excellent tutorial). For one, the more intimidating controls are stashed away in the advanced tab as is the case with many Arturia products. And, two, the 60 presets are excellent.

The presets cover everything from subtle background pads, to chaotic jitters, to dense other-worldly drones, and rhythmically complex pitch-shifted delays. There would be absolutely nothing wrong with simply sticking to the presets here. But they're also useful as a jumping off point if you're still getting familiar with the world of granular processing (or if you're like me and just lazy). 

One super fun trick is to use Fragments as a time stretching effect. When paired with the bit crusher it can make melodies feel like they're being run through digital molasses or drums sound like they're coming from another dimension. 

My only complaint interface-wise, is that all of the modulation options are hidden in the advanced tab. But at least there are randomization controls around each virtual knob that allows you to create some movement. So, while it's easy to get beautiful results with the aid of the presets, to do even moderate sound design you'll have to venture into the advanced tab. But you really should venture into the advanced tab. If for no other reason than to see the super fun visualizer that brings me back to the days of Windows 3.1.

Honestly though, the controls in the advanced mode aren't terribly hard to wrap your head around. You can basically draw whatever shape you want in the function generators then click assign and hover over the parameter you want to control until you see blue numbers pop up next to it. Then just click and drag up or down to set the modulation depth. This is basically how all of Arturia's instruments work. It's simple and effective way to make deep sound design tools feel more approachable.

One other thing to know, is that granular processing can be pretty resource intensive. I encountered stuttering and artifacts with the density turned up high even under ideal circumstances: a simple audio loop and no other plugins running in Ableton Live 11, with no other programs running on my 2019 MacBook Pro with a 2.8GHz i7 and 16GB RAM. So, be prepared to freeze or resample anything you're running through Fragments.

Efx Fragments is available now at an introductory price of $99, though if you already own other Arturia products there's probably a steep discount waiting for you. You can also get it bundled for free with FX Collection 2 which is currently on sale for $299, which isn't a bad deal at all. 

'Monument Valley 2' and 'Alto's Adventure' are coming to Apple Arcade

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 10:54 AM PST

Apple Arcade is adding a couple more mobile gaming classics to the lineup this month. On March 11th, the beautiful puzzle game Monument Valley 2 joins its predecessor on the service. This edition, which is called Monument Valley 2+, includes a chapter Ustwo Games added four years after the game debuted to promote forest conservation.

Meanwhile, on March 25th, a new version of Alto's Adventure will land on Apple Arcade. The stylish snowboarding endless runner, which debuted in 2015, has been remastered. Alto's Adventure: The Spirit of the Mountain includes a new, exclusive character with their own attributes and special abilities. There are more than 15 new goals to complete as well. The sequel, Alto's Odyssey, also included bonus content when it arrived on Apple Arcade last year.

Before those two all-timers hit Apple Arcade, another notable App Store title is joining the service. Starting on March 4th, subscribers can play action platformer Shadow Blade without at no extra cost.

Crunchyroll begins adding Funimation content to anime library

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 10:40 AM PST

Effectively putting a bookend to Sony's $1.175 billion deal to buy the platform in 2020, Crunchyroll has added more than 50 series that were previously either exclusive to Funimation or weren't available to watch dubbed. Some of the more notable additions joining the platform's library today include Megalobox 2: Nomad, Wonder Egg Priority and Kyoto Animation'sHyouka. Additionally, some shows that were at one point available on Crunchyroll but that the platform later pulled after Sony acquired Funimation in 2017 have returned. That includes Cowboy Bebop.

"This move makes good on the promise to fans that the merger of Funimation and Crunchyroll would bring together the previously separate services into a single subscription," Crunchyroll said.

Starting April 1st (the beginning of the spring anime season), new series will debut exclusively on Crunchyroll. For the time being, Funimation will continue to add new episodes of existing shows, but the FAQ Crunchyroll posted suggests Sony will sunset the Funimation brand. To that point, the company is handing out free 60-day trials for Crunchyroll to current Funimation, Wakanim, and VRV subscribers, though it said it would work migrating things like watch histories to the platform.

Waymo and Cruise can now charge for robotaxi rides in California

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 10:20 AM PST

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted Waymo and Cruise permission to start operating commercial robotaxi services as long as there's a safety driver in the car. The companies can now pick up passengers and charge for rides. They can also offer shared rides. 

Under the Drivered Deployment permits, GM-owned Cruise can operate robotaxi services on certain roads in San Francisco between 10PM and 6AM with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour. Alphabet's Waymo, on the other hand, can run a robotaxi service around the clock in certain areas of San Francisco and San Mateo counties. Its automated vehicles can travel at up to 65 miles per hour. However, neither company's service can operate in heavy rain or fog.

Waymo says hundreds of riders have used a free version of the service since it started a trial program in August, while tens of thousands are on the waitlist. It plans to start offering paid trips in the coming weeks. The company says it will take what it learned from running its first commercial self-driving car service in Arizona to bolster its San Francisco operations. 

"This is another positive incremental step forward. Our mission has always been to launch a driverless commercial ridehail service here in San Francisco, and that's what we'll continue working with our regulators to deliver," Cruise vice-president of global government affairs Prashanthi Raman said in a statement.

Both companies have beentesting driverless rides in San Francisco, but they can't offer commercial services without safety drivers in California just yet. Cruise has applied for to the CPUC for a Driverless Deployment permit.

Update 3/1 2:18PM ET: Added Cruise's statement.

Jeep's first all-electric SUV arrives in 2023

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 09:48 AM PST

Stellantis isn't just leaning on a Chrysler concept to define its EV future. As part of a new "Dare Forward 2030" strategic plan, the automaker has unveiled the first all-electric Jeep SUV. The company didn't provide specifications or even a name, but the Jeep EV launches in early 2023 and appears to be relatively compact like the Compass. Autoblognotes Jeep might be using the STLA Small platform that supports up to an 82kWh battery and 300 miles of range.

More is coming in 2024. You'll find a more off-road oriented model and a "lifestyle family" SUV in 2024. Jeep won't be alone, either, as Ram will release an electric ProMaster van in 2023 and 1500 pickup truck (shown at middle) the following year.

Ram 1500 BEV teaser
Stellantis

The cautious rollout leaves Stellantis behind Ford, GM and other incumbent brands that already have multiple EVs either on the road or coming this year. That's not including electric-only badges like Tesla or Rivian. To date, the company has focused on either converted cars like the Fiat 500e or its 4xe plug-in hybrids.

The new machines and Stellantis' new plan might help with that, though. Under Dare Forward, the brand hopes to sell five million EVs in 2030. That's enough to completely replace its European passenger car sales, and half of all passenger cars and trucks in the US. There will be over 25 EVs aimed at American buyers. It's just a matter of whether or not the brand can make up for lost time, particularly with rivals like GM already planning to eliminate combustion passenger vehicle sales.

Facebook will demote Russian state media across its entire platform

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 09:32 AM PST

Facebook is taking new steps to curb the influence of Russian state media outlets on its platform. The company, which has already blocked access to RT and Sputnik within the European Union and Ukraine, now says it will demote all Russian state media across Facebook and Instagram around the world.

Calling the move "unprecedented," Meta's president of Global Affairs Nick Clegg, said the company was making Russian state media "harder to find" on Facebook and Instagram. "We are demoting content from Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts for Russian state controlled media outlets," Clegg said during a call with reporters. "We have also begun to demote posts that contain links to Russian state controlled media websites on Facebook over the past few days."

While Facebook has in the past down-ranked certain types of content, like vaccine misinformation, it's unusual for the company to demote a wide swath of content entirely. RT in particular is prolific on social media, and has millions of followers on Facebook alone. On the call, Clegg called the move "unprecedented," and noted that Meta has received requests from a number of governments to suppress Russian state media. So far, the company has only blocked the pages entirely in the European Union — following a ban from lawmakers — and inside of Ukraine.

Facebook is adding new labels to all links to Russian state media outlets.
Facebook

In addition to demoting content, Clegg said Facebook will also add labels to all links to Russian state media websites that are shared on its platforms in order to "provide more information to people before they share them or to let them know that they lead to state controlled media websites." Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts controlled by state media will also have labels.

The labels, which are expected to roll out in the coming days, will appear on any link to Russian state media and will warn that Facebook believes the publisher is "partially or wholly under the editorial control of the Russian government." Facebook's head os Security Policy Nathaniel Gleicher added that the company will be on the lookout for new websites or links created to evade the policy. 

Facebook's latest update comes after several days ofcrackdowns on Russian state media from major tech companies. Twitter has also added new labels to state media outlets, and taken steps to reduce their visibility on its platform. TikTok has also blocked access to the content within the EU, and Microsoft has removed Russian state media from many of its platforms as well.

Clegg also confirmed that the company's services are being "throttled" within Russia, a move the country's regulators announced after Facebook declined to stop fact-checking state media accounts. "We see the effect most particularly on video and other multimedia content … the degradation of the service is definitely discernible," he said.

Facebook has also enabled its "lock profile" tool for users in Russia and Ukraine, a step that locks down privacy settings and hides friends lists and prevents profile photos from being downloaded. Clegg said the company was also making "encrypted onto-to-one chats available on Instagram for all adults" in the countries. Instagram users there will also see notifications alerting them they can enable encryption in the app's messaging feature.

Instagram brings automatic captions to videos in your feed

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 09:23 AM PST

Instagram's fierce competition with TikTok is bearing more fruit. The social network is matching its rival by introducing automatic captions (which TikTok has had since last April) to videos in your feed. They'll be enabled by default for creators, too. Auto-generated captions will initially be available in "select" languages, but Instagram hopes to expand them to more languages and countries.

The AI behind the captions won't be flawless. Instagram expects the quality to "continue to improve" as the AI learns, however.

The addition should improve accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, who'll have more choices for spoken-word video. Producers won't have to manually add captions themselves. However, Instagram also noted that this should help people who simply prefer to watch video with the sound off. You won't have to toggle the volume (and startle others in the process) just to understand what someone is saying.

In that regard, automatic captions might change your Instagram habits. You might be more likely to watch a video right away instead of scrolling past or saving it for later. That's good news for Instagram's viewing stats, of course, but it could also help aspiring social media stars build their audiences.

NVIDIA confirms hackers obtained company data in last week's cyberattack

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 09:12 AM PST

NVIDIA confirmed Tuesday some of its data was stolen as part of a cyberattack that occurred last week. "We are aware that the threat actor took employee credentials and some NVIDIA proprietary information from our systems and has begun leaking it online," a company spokesman told Engadget.

NVIDIA didn't specify exactly what was stolen from its computer systems. But according to PCMag, a group called LAPSUS$ is claiming responsibility for the attack. It says it obtained 1TB of data, including schematics and driver source code. The collective is demanding a ransom paid in cryptocurrency to prevent NVIDIA's files from becoming public. It says the company has yet to contact it.

It's unlikely NVIDIA will get in touch. Following last year's Colonial Pipeline cyberattack, the Biden administration has strongly discouraged businesses from cooperating with hackers. "We do not anticipate any disruption to our business or our ability to serve our customers as a result of the incident," the company said.

After becoming aware of the attack on February 23rd, NVIDIA says it notified law enforcement and began working with cybersecurity experts to respond to the incident. "We have no evidence of ransomware being deployed on the NVIDIA environment or that this is related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict," the company said. LAPSUS$ also claims its actions weren't politically motivated. "We are not in politics AT ALL," the group states in a post seen by PCMag.

Google wants devices to know when you're paying attention

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 09:00 AM PST

Google has been working on a "new interaction language" for years, and today it's sharing a peek at what it's developed so far. The company is showcasing a set of movements it's defined in its new interaction language in the first episode of a new series called In the lab with Google ATAP. That acronym stands for Advanced Technology and Projects, and it's Google's more-experimental division that the company calls its "hardware invention studio."

The idea behind this "interaction language" is that the machines around us could be more intuitive and perceptive of our desire to interact with them by better understanding our nonverbal cues. "The devices that surround us... should feel like a best friend," senior interaction designer at ATAP Lauren Bedal told Engadget. "They should have social grace."

Specifically (so far, anyway), ATAP is analyzing our movements (as opposed to vocal tones or facial expressions) to see if we're ready to engage, so devices know when to remain in the background instead of bombarding us with information. The team used the company's Soli radar sensor to detect the proximity, direction and pathways of people around it. Then, it parsed that data to determine if someone is glancing at, passing, approaching or turning towards the sensor. 

Google formalized this set of four movements, calling them Approach, Glance, Turn and Pass. These actions can be used as triggers for commands or reactions on things like smart displays or other types of ambient computers. If this sounds familiar, it's because some of these gestures already work on existing Soli-enabled devices. The Pixel 4, for example, had a feature called Motion Sense that will snooze alarms when you wave at it, or wake the phone if it detected your hand coming towards it. Google's Nest Hub Max used its camera to see when you've raised your open palm, and will pause your media playback in response.

Approach feels similar to existing implementations. It allows devices to tell when you (or a body part) are getting closer, so they can bring up information you might be near enough to see. Like the Pixel 4, the Nest Hub uses a similar approach when it knows you're close by, pulling up your upcoming appointments or reminders. It'll also show touch commands on a countdown screen if you're near, and switch to larger, easy-to-read font when you're further away.

While Glance may seem like it overlaps with Approach, Bedal explained that it can be for understanding where a person's attention is when they're using multiple devices. "Say you're on a phone call with someone and you happen to glance at another device in the house," she said. "Since we know you may have your attention on another device, we can offer a suggestion to maybe transfer your conversation to a video call." Glance can also be used to quickly display a snippet of information.

An animation showing how Google's proposed interaction language works. This is an example of the Glance action, where a man looks at a display to his right, and its screen shows a black square reacting in response.
Google

What's less familiar are Turn and Pass. "With turning towards and away, we can allow devices to help automate repetitive or mundane tasks," Bedal said. It can be used to determine when you're ready for the next step in a multi-stage process, like following an onscreen recipe, or something repetitive, like starting and stopping a video. Pass, meanwhile, tells the device you're not ready to engage.

It's clear that Approach, Pass, Turn and Glance build on what Google's implemented in bits and pieces into its products over the years. But the ATAP team also played with combining some of these actions, like passing and glancing or approaching and glancing, which is something we've yet to see much of in the real world. 

For all this to work well, Google's sensors and algorithms need to be incredibly adept not only at recognizing when you're making a specific action, but also when you're not. Inaccurate gesture recognition can turn an experience that's meant to be helpful into one that's incredibly frustrating. 

ATAP's head of design Leonardo Giusti said "That's the biggest challenge we have with these signals." He said that with devices that are plugged in, there is more power available to run more complex algorithms than on a mobile device. Part of the effort to make the system more accurate is collecting more data to train machine learning algorithms on, including the correct actions as well as similar but incorrect ones (so they also learn what not to accept). 

An animation showing one of Google's movements in its new interaction language. The example in this animation is
Google

"The other approach to mitigate this risk is through UX design," Giusti said. He explained that the system can offer a suggestion rather than trigger a completely automated response, to allow users to confirm the right input rather than act on a potentially inaccurate gesture. 

Still, it's not like we're going to be frustrated by Google devices misinterpreting these four movements of ours in the immediate future. Bedal pointed out "What we're working on is purely research. We're not focusing on product integration." And to be clear, Google is sharing this look at the interaction language as part of a video series it's publishing. Later episodes of In the lab with ATAP will cover other topics beyond this new language, and Giusti said it's meant to "give people an inside look into some of the research that we are exploring."

But it's easy to see how this new language can eventually find its way into the many things Google makes. The company's been talking about its vision for a world of "ambient computing" for years, where it envisions various sensors and devices embedded into the many surfaces around us, ready to anticipate and respond to our every need. For a world like that to not feel intrusive or invasive, there are many issues to sort out (protecting user privacy chief among them). Having machines that know when to stay away and when to help is part of that challenge.

Bedal, who's also a professional choreographer, said "We believe that these movements are really hinting to a future way of interacting with computers that feels invisible by leveraging the natural ways that we move."

She added, "By doing so, we can do less and computers can... operate in the background, only helping us in the right moments." 

Thermacell releases its first smart mosquito repellent system

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 08:46 AM PST

There are only a few weeks left of winter, so it's time for many folks to start planning their outdoor setup so they can get the most out of the warmer months. Unfortunately, that means irritating bugs like mosquitos are on the way back. To ward off those pesky pests, Thermacell has released a smart mosquito repellent system called Liv.

Liv connects multiple repeller units to a smart hub. You can switch the system on and off using the hub, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The Liv+ mobile app also offers control over the repellers. You can turn them on or off from anywhere, set timers and set up push notifications. Using a feature that's in beta, you'll be able to monitor the cartridge levels of each device.

Thermacell, which also offers battery-powered bug repellent units, says the system isn't designed to run around the clock. Cartridges should last for a season — around eight hours per week for 12 weeks — before requiring refills. The repellent uses 5.5 percent metofluthrin as the active ingredient, and the units heat the cartridges to emit a small amount of fog. Thermacell says the fog is odorless and provides a 20-foot radius of protection from mosquitoes.

Thermacell's Liv smart mosquito repellent system
Thermacell

Liv requires a wired setup, though Thermacell can connect customers who aren't keen on DIY with professionals who can install it for them. The company says the repellents are weatherproof, so you shouldn't need to disassemble the system and put it back together every year.

Thermacell had been teasing the system for a while and it's available to order now. Liv starts at $699 for a pack of three repellers (which the company says will cover up to 945 square feet), plus the hub, cables, standard mounts and ground stakes. Thermacell claims the $799 four-pack will cover 1,260 square feet and the $899 five-pack will cover 1,575 square ft. The system can connect up to five repellers — adding an extra one will run you $150. Refills, meanwhile, cost $120 for a pack of six.

It's not an inexpensive system, especially for those who spend a lot of time in the yard or on the porch. Still, if it works as promised, Liv could keep the mosquitoes at bay without relying on other, smellier deterrents.

Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service officially launches in the US

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 08:26 AM PST

It took a year and a half, but Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service finally exists as more than an early access project. Amazon has formally launched Luna in the mainland US for Android, iOS, Chrome OS, macOS and Windows. The core Luna+ service with over 100 games will normally cost $10 per month, with the kid-friendly Family Channel and Ubisoft+ Channels available for a respective $6 and $18 per month. Amazon hopes to reel in newcomers by dropping the monthly fees of Luna+ and the Family channel to $6 and $3 for anyone who signs up during March. Existing users just have to maintain their subscriptions to lock in that pricing.

The official debut comes alongside some new channels. A Prime Gaming channel, as the name implies, gives Amazon Prime members a free, rotating mix of games. The March selection will include titles like Devil May Cry 5 and Flashback. Pay $5 per month for the Retro Channel and you'll get Capcom and SNK classics like Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting and Metal Slug 3, while a similar outlay for the Jackbox Games Channel provides access to all eight Jackbox Party Pack titles.

Luna's latest update also makes it simpler to stream gameplay from a Fire TV device, Mac or Windows PC on Twitch. You'll need a webcam and mic if you want to interact with viewers, but this might be an option if you're determined to broadcast and don't have a brawny-enough computer to play demanding locally-stored games.

Amazon's challenge, as with comparable services like Microsoft's Game Pass Ultimate, is to convince players that subscription-based game streaming is a good supplement or even replacement for conventional PC and console gaming experiences. You'll have the convenience of playing on seemingly every device you own, but you'll also be limited by what you can play and the quality of your internet connection. Amazon's main advantage is its ubiquity — it can make sure people are aware Luna exists, whether they're watching on Twitch or buying a Fire TV gadget for the living room.

Marvel's Netflix shows will move to Disney+ in the US on March 16th

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 08:00 AM PST

You didn't think Disney+ would only offer Marvel's Netflix shows in Canada, did you? Sure enough, Disney+ has confirmed it will carry Daredevil, Jessica Jones and other former Netflix exclusives in the US starting March 16th. Agents of SHIELD will be available, too. As you might imagine, though, Disney isn't about to release that decidedly darker content without a heads-up to parents used to more family-friendly material — it's going to make everyone reconsider their content settings.

The first time you use Disney+ from March 16th onward, you'll be asked to update your parental controls. You'll have the option of setting per-profile content rating levels, PIN codes for more mature accounts and "Kid-Proof Exit" questions for child profiles. You'll remain at the usual TV-14 rating if you stick with the existing settings. The service has used strategies like this in places like Africa, Europe and the Middle East, but is now expanding that approach to the US.

Disney wasn't shy about the reasons for bringing the Netflix shows to Disney+ instead of Hulu, where mature shows are more expected. It "made the most logical sense" to serve Marvel fans by streaming more content in one place and reach a "broader audience," the company said. The parental controls will help Disney+ preserve both its trust and its reputation.

The Marvel productions were slated to leave Netflix as of today (March 1st). Disney telegraphed its attention for years, warning as early as 2017 that it would drop Netflix in favor of its own services. Netflix cancelled all of its Marvel shows by 2019, and Disney has given former Netflix characters limited roles in Hawkeye and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The US additions reflect the careful balance Disney+ has tried to strike since launch. While it's eager to maintain the stereotypically clean Disney image, it's also determined to attract subscribers drawn to content that doesn't quite fit that mold, whether it's Star's wider selection in some countries or exceptions like Hamilton. This latest expansion appears to continue the strategy — Disney+ isn't about to sacrifice viewers to avoid an inconsistency between the Netflix productions and its 'safer' Marvel fare.

‘Microsoft Flight Simulator’ hits Xbox Cloud Gaming today

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 07:20 AM PST

Microsoft has revealed a solid list of titles that are coming to Game Pass this month. Starting today, you'll be able to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox One, phones, tablets and web browsers via the cloud (fittingly enough). It was already on Xbox Games Pass and PC Game Pass, but now it's available on the service formerly known as xCloud, more folks might be tempted to try the game. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers who normally play on PC might be swayed if they don't have a rig that can get the most out ofFlight Simulator.

Also hitting Game Pass today on console, PC and cloud is Far: Changing Tides, in which you'll explore a flooded, post-apocalyptic landscape and search for a new home. On March 3rd, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII comes to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

March 10th is shaping up to be a busy day for Game Pass. Subscribers will be able to play Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy via console, PC and the cloud at no extra cost. Square Enix Montreal offered a different spin on the quintet of superheroes than the Marvel movies. It dropped them into a surprisingly enjoyable adventure that bursts at the seams with jokes.

The other additions to Game Pass next Friday are Kentucky Route Zero, the Xbox One version of Lawn Mowing Simulator and a brawler-RPG hybrid called Young Souls. Meanwhile, a few games will be leaving the lineup on March 15th: Nier: Automata, Phogs!, Torchlight III and The Surge 2.

Microsoft also noted the Xbox app for PC has been updated with a few features it started testing a few months ago. Players can now choose which folder they want to install games to, while they'll have the ability to mod more games.

AMD Ryzen 5000 processors fall to all-time lows at Amazon

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 07:11 AM PST

This might be a good moment to start building your next desktop PC. Amazon is selling some of AMD's best Ryzen 5000 series processors at new all-time low prices. The six-core Ryzen 5 5600X is the best value of the bunch, selling for $260 (16 percent off) in the US and £215 in the UK. If you prize performance above all else, the 16-core Ryzen 5950X has been discounted to $599 ($200 off) in the US and £549 for UK buyers.

Buy Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon (US) - $260Buy Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon (UK) - £215

Buy Ryzen 9 5950X on Amazon US - $599Buy Ryzen 9 5950X on Amazon UK - £549

The Ryzen 5000 line isn't quite as dominant as it once was now that Intel's 12th-gen Core chips have made some much-needed strides forward. At these prices, though, they'll arguably deliver more for the money. The 5600X is a good all-rounder for general productivity and middle-of-the-road gaming. The 5950X, meanwhile, remains one of the best CPUs you can buy for multi-core tasks short of far pricier chips like AMD's Threadripper models or Intel's Xeons.

The timing is right, too. The Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series (AMD is skipping 6000 on desktops) isn't shipping until late 2022. You can buy the 5000 series now knowing that it will remain AMD's best offering for several months and remain very competitive throughout the year.

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

What we bought: Echelon's Connect Sport bike pairs well with Apple Fitness+

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PST

To say the pandemic threw off my exercise routine would be an understatement. I was a gym regular who thrived on treadmills and weight machines, and I suddenly had to improvise with pushups and runs. I struggled to maintain a routine, and for a while gave up entirely. How was I going to stay fit at a time when merely ordering dumbbells was a challenge? Late last year, though, I resolved to get back into shape and bought a $397 Echelon Connect Sport exercise bike ($599 here in Canada) to use in tandem with an $80-per-year Apple Fitness+ membership. I haven't regretted it.

The math behind my decision was simple: I wanted a quality bike that wouldn't tie me to one service or empty my bank account in record fashion. That quickly ruled out Peloton, whose Bike ($1,495 as I write this) and full subscription ($39 per month) were overkill for someone who mainly wanted to shake off some cobwebs. The Connect Sport was appealing precisely because it didn't chain me to anything; I could put my phone on the built-in stand and use a lower-priced service like Fitness+ to guide my workouts. I was poised to save hundreds of dollars per year, even if I had to buy the virtually mandatory Apple Watch. (I already own a Series 5.) An iPhone is also required, of course.

Yes, the Connect Sport amounts to a Peloton Bike doppelgänger without the screen, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Echelon's machine feels solidly built, and it's stable even in the midst of an intense workout. The flywheel-based mechanism is also remarkably quiet. Apart from a clacking sound that disappeared after the first three weeks, the loudest noise I've heard was my own breathing. The handlebars and seating are highly adjustable, and the pedals use cages to keep your feet in place (thus letting you use ordinary shoes) instead of clips. This is a bike that's easy to live with, letting me concentrate on the task at hand rather than my equipment.

Echelon Connect Sport resistance knob
Jon Fingas/Engadget

The quirks mostly stem from the inherent nature of full-size spin bikes like this. The Connect Sport isn't as compact as some alternatives, particularly folding models like Echelon's own Flex Ultra. At 92 pounds, it's also too heavy to casually move between rooms. And while you don't need electricity unless you intend to use the built-in Bluetooth telemetry, the included power cord isn't lengthy. I wouldn't choose this bike if I was a space-conscious apartment dweller.

I'm happy with its Apple Fitness+ performance, though. To start a cycling workout, I just need to put my iPhone on the stand, launch the Fitness app and go. The exercise data I care about (heart rate, calories burned, duration) comes from the Apple Watch, so I don't even need the Connect Sport's Bluetooth functionality. I would only want to plug the bike into power if I craved the Echelon Fit app's cadence and resistance info, which aren't necessary with Apple's service. Just be prepared to buy a tablet if you plan to use Echelon's app (in its open-ended "free ride" mode) and Fitness+ at the same time, as you can't juggle both on one screen.

Fitness+ works about as well as it did when Engadget tried it on launch, but that's plenty for someone getting back into shape on the Connect Sport. Apple's cycling coaches are friendly, helpful and accommodate a wide range of ability levels. Instead of demanding precise cadence and resistance ranges like you might see with some services, they frequently ask you to match a song's beat or tweak the resistance to feel enough leg strain. That may be too fuzzy if you're eager for consistent numbers, but for me it's perfect: I'm measuring progress in terms of how well I can sustain an all-out push, not how closely I mimic someone else's settings. The bike's resistance knob is easy to adjust, so it's trivial to ramp up the difficulty if a ride is too much of a cakewalk.

Apple Fitness+ cycling workout summary
Jon Fingas/Engadget

I've found Apple's cycling workouts challenging enough as someone relatively new to spin bikes while still well-acquainted with structured exercise. For one, there's a healthy variety of classes now that Fitness+ has been available for over a year. Many of them rely on a familiar hill climb metaphor that alternates between intense pushes and easy recoveries, but I've sometimes encountered welcome twists, like rides that get progressively harder without significant breaks. While these classes likely wouldn't push a pro athlete or dedicated amateur to their limits, they've gracefully scaled with me as my abilities improved.

More importantly, the sessions are engaging. I find myself picking workouts based on well-chosen music with some surprisingly deep cuts. Ever rally to nostalgia-inducing late '90s dance tracks, or a coach's favorite heavy metal band? I have. And while the inspirational talk is borderline cliché, the personalities often shine through and help me look forward to classes from my favorite instructors. I just wish there were more episodes suiting my exact music tastes. It's no fun to "settle" for a rock workout when I really hoped for dance, no matter how thrash-worthy that rock might be.

Echelon Connect Sport side
Jon Fingas/Engadget

As a result, the combination of a Connect Sport with Fitness+ works very well for me. Exercise is a pleasure I look forward to, and I've seen tangible improvements to my leg power and even my posture. I wouldn't recommend the pairing to everyone, though. As you might have guessed, Fitness+ is a no-go if you're either an Android user or seriously considering a switch. You're thoroughly locked into Apple's ecosystem if you sign up between the iPhone, Apple Watch and subscription. I would also pass if I were a pro or serious amateur racer — you just won't get the detailed stats needed for targeted improvements. Spring for a dedicated sports watch and a more demanding membership instead.

If you do live in Apple's universe and aren't competing for glory, though, this duo is easy to recommend. It's an affordable, effective way to cram some cycling into a packed schedule. Moreover, Echelon's bring-your-own-device strategy offers a convenient escape hatch if you ever want to ditch a service without replacing your bike or rigging an ad hoc solution. For me, the results speak for themselves: I'm in the best shape I've been for two years, and I can't ask for much better than that.

Sonos' Roam SL is a mic-free version of its portable speaker

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 06:49 AM PST

It's been about a year since Sonos released the Roam, the company's smallest and least expensive speaker yet. As with most modern Sonos speakers, the Roam has a built-in microphone that lets you use the speaker with Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant. Today, Sonos is releasing a variant of the Roam that omits that microphone, the Roam SL.

Aside from removing the microphone, the $159 Roam SL is identical to the original Roam, which costs $20 more. It's a small speaker that can connect to your WiFi network and be part of a Sonos multi-room audio system. But it also has a built-in battery and Bluetooth capabilities, so you can take it with you and use it away from a WiFi connection. It's also waterproof and dust-resistant (IP67 rated), and the battery is rated for about 10 hours. 

Aside from losing voice assistant capability, losing the microphone takes away another feature from the Roam SL. The original Roam features Auto Trueplay, which uses the microphone to tune the speaker to sound better wherever you place it. With no microphone, the Roam SL won't be able to do this, and Sonos confirmed that you won't be able to manually tune the speaker with an iPhone as you can do with most of the company's other speakers. It's not a huge surprise, as the Roam SL is meant to be moved, so a manual tuning process isn't something that'll make sense for most people, but it's still worth knowing if you're choosing between the Roam and the Roam SL. 

The Roam's battery life isn't as good as other speakers in its class, but it sounds great and is a relatively inexpensive way to see how the Sonos experience works. As such, we imagine the Roam SL will also be worth checking out for people who don't want a microphone on their speaker. Sonos has tried this before, with the One SL, a mic-less version of the Sonos One, so it's not a huge surprise to see the company offer the Roam without a mic as well. You can pre-order the Roam SL now on the Sonos website, and it'll be available on March 15th.

Amazon launches eco-friendly Aware products as part of its climate promise

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 06:17 AM PST

Many of Amazon's attempts at fighting climate change have revolved around policy promises and investments, but now it's focusing more on the goods it sells. The company has launched an Aware product line devoted to eco-friendly items like bedding, clothing, home essentials and skincare. In every case, they're made with "bio-based ingredients," recycled materials and other more sustainable elements.

All Aware products have received at least some form of independent environmental certification. Skincare products are certified as free of "chemicals of concern," for instance. Bed and bath products, meanwhile, are verified as made in "socially responsible working conditions" on top of their reduced ecological footprint.

Amazon has long been accused of contributing to waste through its dominance of online shopping. In 2018, it accounted for 5 billion out of 165 billion packages shipped in the US — that's a lot of cardboard, foam and other packing materials. The company has taken steps to minimize its impact, such as insisting on efficient packaging and developing reusable boxes you can turn into cat condos, but many of its own-brand products haven't been designed with the environment as a top priority.

Green products like the Aware range might be necessary, though. Amazon has made much ado about its Climate Pledge target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. While the company can reduce the impact of its facilities, packaging and transportation, it might have a harder time reaching that goal if its catalog doesn't make a similar pro-climate shift.

Razor made an electric version of its original metal scooter

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 06:00 AM PST

If there's one thing that really defined that murky period just after the turn of the millennium, it was the Razor Scooter craze. A thin-and-light scooter with impractically-small wheels, these vehicles were the ride of choice for tweens all over the US, at least before they got their own cars. Now, however, Razor is hoping to juice the nostalgia gland of all those kids by electrifying its original thin-and-light kick scooter. The Razor Icon is a scaled-up version of its original Model A, remade in the form of an e-scooter with the original-ish styling and detail.

The Icon is packing a 36V lithium-ion battery connected to a 350-watt motor that the company promises has a range of 18 miles, and a top speed of 18 miles per hour. Crafted with "aircraft grade aluminum" it's designed to evoke those memories of kicking around your neighborhood or mall back when life was sweet. You'll also find a LED headlamp and brake light to ensure you're safe tootling around on those 8.5-inch airless tires.

Of course, this isn't actually Razor's first (second, or third) e-scooter, and it has a fairly beefy business offering a number of models. Earlier this year, it announced a partnership with Jeep to craft the RX200, an "off-road" scooter with a slow top speed but inflated tires and a 40-minute battery life. The models that Razor currently sell, however, do lack that certain stark something compared to its original, foot-powered design. It's perhaps this issue more than the rest that the Icon is designed to address (although the E-Prime, I'll admit, does come close).

Given that this is a nice piece of nostalgia it's no surprise that the Razor Icon is being launched at Toy Fair today. And, naturally, it's decided to take pre-orders for this thing via Kickstarter (Kickstarter! Another thing we can get nostalgic about) with early birds able to pick up a model for $549, while latecomers who spent their mornings pretending that listening to Warning was a good idea will have to spend $599.

Apple's Mac Mini M1 drops back down to an all-time low of $570

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:50 AM PST

If you missed the sale earlier this month, now's your chance to grab Apple's Mac Mini M1 at its best price yet. The compact desktop has returned to a record low of $570, thanks to a discount and a coupon that knocks an additional $80 off the sale price. You'll get the best deal on the 256GB version, but the 512GB model is also cheaper than usual: it's on sale for $799, but an automatically applied coupon will bring the final price down to $750.

Buy Mac Mini M1 (256GB) at Amazon - $570Buy Mac Mini M1 (512GB) at Amazon - $750

The Mac Mini M1 was already the most budget-friendly M1 machine in Apple's lineup, so it's a steal at this sale price. You can expect performance similar to that of the MacBook Air M1, which is to say, speedy and efficient with near instantaneous wake times and even zippy iOS app performance. The Mac Mini M1 has an eight-core CPU, an eight-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine, and both models on sale have 8GB of RAM. If you want to future-proof your machine a bit, consider springing for the extra-storage model. But most people will likely find their needs met by the base, 256GB version.

The small desktop's exterior will look familiar if you've had a Mac Mini in the past. Apple focused its efforts updating the inside, so the outside is mostly unchanged. The compact silver box should be able to fit into even the most cramped desk setups, and it has a number of ports on its back edge, including two Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI connector, an Ethernet port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. While we're still waiting to hear whether Apple will have a hardware event in March, there's no guarantee an updated Mac Mini will make an appearance at such an event. So if you've been on the hunt for a powerful desktop upgrade, Amazon's latest sale on the Mac Mini M1 is one to consider.

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

Reddit hides r/Russia from search and recommendations due to misinformation

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:46 AM PST

Reddit has made r/Russia harder to find and stumble across in a move meant to minimize misinformation on the website. It has added the group to the list of "quarantined subreddits," which means it won't show up in search and recommendations, as well as in non-subscription-based feeds. Also, anyone who loads an r/Russia URL it will go through a portal where they'll have explicitly agree to visit the subreddit before seeing its content. Those who do choose to visit will see a warning at the top of the page that says "This Community contains a high volume of information not supported by credible sources."

Reddit
Engadget

According to Mashable, the Russia subreddit mostly contained posts that justified or supported the country's invasion of Ukraine. Some accused Ukraine of being the one to spread misinformation, and some reportedly likened Ukrainian soldiers to Nazis. While there were some verifiable posts in the group, it also had a lot of content that could be quickly debunked. "We are clear in our policies that moderators and users may not attempt to manipulate and interfere with the conversations or communities on our platform," a Reddit spokesperson told the publication. 

Over the past few days, a number of tech companies have blocked access to Russian state-owned media in Europe following the EU's decision to ban them so they could "no longer be able to spread their lies to justify Putin's war." Facebook restricted access to RT's and Sputnik's pages across EU territories in addition to blocking them in Ukraine. Microsoft banned them from its ad network and de-ranked them in Bing search results. YouTube blocked access to their channels across Europe, and even TikTok made their accounts inaccessible within the EU.

‘Cat Burglar’ works as a cartoon, but fails to nail the whole 'game' part

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:30 AM PST

I grew up in the era of VHS board games and later, DVD special features that occasionally included little trivia games or interactive fiction (the Home Movies box sets have some particularly good ones). I find them sort of interesting in a "car crash" sort of a way, because they never really worked. Today's streaming platforms would seem ripe for a revival of the "game video" concept, but even with better technology and storytelling available to creators the examples are still few and far between.

The one that's made the biggest splash thus far is probably "Bandersnatch," the interactive episode of Black Mirror. I "played" it and like many I found it somewhat underwhelming: Your choices were somewhat limited and the story fell rather flat (and I never found the scene where you the main character fights his therapist to my infinite and everlasting sadness). Still, it was an intriguing effort. Last week Charlie Brooker tries his hand at the format once again on Netflix, but in a decidedly different genre: old school cartoons.

Cat Burglar is a 12-minute showdown between a cat trying to steal a painting from an art museum and the dog that works as the night guard. As a cartoon it's a fairly pitch-perfect copy of a Looney Tunes short down to the exaggerated expressions, physical humor and occasional fourth-wall breaking. It could in fact, stand alone without the interactive elements, but if you really wanted an old-school cartoon both Warner Bros. and Disney make dozens of their best animated shorts available on HBO Max and Disney+ respectively. There's also the Cuphead show on Netflix — which doesn't interest me as I have never played the game (and never will because I'm just not that good at platformers).

Cat Burgler tries to steal a phone from the ceiling
Netflix

So the real draw of Cat Burglar is its interaction, and it even bills itself as a "trivia game" instead of just an "experience." How does it fare as a game? The gameplay consists of various quicktime events in which you must answer three quiz questions in a short period of time. When you answer correctly the cat succeeds and the scene continues, if you answer incorrectly the cat dies and you are sent back to make the choice again.

If you're looking for tricky trivia this isn't it, as most of the questions are easily guessed by anyone over the age of eight. There's clearly a "right" answer and a "wrong" answer, and the game gives you three lives to lose before you get sent to heaven. As such, it feels even more restrictive than "Bandersnatch," since you don't really get to make choices.

However, while I said "most" of the questions are meant to be easily answered, the game will occasionally try to trick you up. I've died a few times in the game because my thumb twitched or I misread the answers (there's one sequence full of double negatives) or, in one particular case, I just hated the question. (I still maintain that an Emperor Penguin is more powerful than the Emperor of Japan; I knew what answer the game wanted but it just made me mad for being so dumb.) The game will throw three questions at you each time but even getting one wrong will lose you the scene and thus, a life. But dying just means going back to the beginning and doing it all again, and even then it's not everything — the game will skip over short bits of animation you've seen before that aren't relevant to the overall plot.

Cat Burgler about to blow himself up with a match
Netflix

When you beat the game by successfully stealing a painting, your new acquisition goes on display in a gallery that carries over to subsequent playthroughs. There's six of them but so far I've only played enough to get half. When you win — or even when you lose — the game lets you start over, with the characters promising a "completely new" experience. That, in my evening of playing, is decidedly not true as I've already seen certain interchangeable scenes more than once. Either there aren't that many options or I just have weird luck. But you'd hope the game would be programmed to avoid repeats at first.

Ultimately I think Cat Burglar works better as an experience than "Bandersnatch" did because it's just much shorter; if I wanted to replay "Bandersnatch" I have to ask myself if I have an hour or more to kill just to see one or two story paths. Knowing that Cat Burglar is going to be quick certainly makes it less daunting, and it's not even a bad option for kids as long as you don't mind gratuitous cartoon violence.

ESA says ExoMars launch this year is 'very unlikely'

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:15 AM PST

We most likely won't see the ExoMars mission blast off and start its journey to the Red Planet this year. The European Space Agency has announced that it's fully implementing sanctions imposed on Russia by its member states following the country's invasion of Ukraine, and it expects the move to affect its joint projects with Roscosmos. One of those joint projects is ExoMars, which is being developed to search for past life on the Red Planet, as well as to assess its water and atmospheric trace gases.

The ESA is working on the rover that will travel across the Martian surface, while the Russian space agency is in charge of its lander and some instruments the rover will use. In the ESA's announcement, it said "the sanctions and the wider context make a launch in 2022 very unlikely." The agency still has to analyze all its options before it can finalize a decision on how to proceed. 

ExoMars was supposed to launch in 2018 before it was rescheduled for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple technical failures during testing prompted the space agencies to postpone it yet again. To be able to reach Mars from Earth, a spacecraft has to leave our planet within 10-day launch windows that only occur every two years when the two planets are properly lined up. If ExoMars is missing the this year's window, then it will definitely be delayed for another couple of years at the very least.

The ESA has also acknowledged that Roscosmos halting Soyuz launches and withdrawing its workforce from the vehicle's usual launchpad in Kazakhstan will affect some of its projects and payloads. In addition, as The New York Times notes, the war calls the fate of the ISS into question. At the moment, NASA and Roscosmos are working together to maintain the space station. But Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin recently said that US sanctions against his country could degrade its space program and destroy its partnership with NASA.

He said:

"If you block cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from an uncontrolled deorbit and fall into the United States or...Europe? There is also the possibility of a 500-ton structure falling on India and China. Do you want to threaten them with such a prospect? The ISS does not fly over Russia, therefore all the risks are yours. Are you ready for them?"

While the US side of the ISS provides life support and power, the Russian side provides propulsion to maintain its altitude. NASA's human spaceflight program head Kathy Lueders said operations are going well thus far, but that Northrop Grumman and SpaceX have offered to help look for ways to add capability to the US side of the space laboratory.

Uber's Explore tab aims to create new excuses to go out

Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:00 AM PST

Uber is rolling out a feature designed to help people discover new things in the areas around them. Through the Explore tab in the Uber app, you can make dinner reservations, check out concert listings and learn about cultural highlights. You'll be able to see Yelp reviews, photos and directions for a variety of experiences.

Uber Explore
Uber

For the first time, users can book experiences and buy tickets through the app with their Uber wallet and payment profile. With one-click rides, you can instantly book a trip to the restaurant or concert venue.

Based on your Uber and Uber Eats history, you'll see recommendations for things like food and drink, art and culture, music and nightlife. There will be offers available, including discounted rides to certain restaurants. Uber says the deals will change depending on what's popular in a given area.

Uber isn't charging restaurants a booking fee for reservations made through Explore. However, it may add a service or booking fee for some experiences. The company will reveal more about ticketing partners at a later date. It's not yet clear what kinds of benefits Uber One members will receive through the Explore tab, though Uber promised to share more details in the coming months.

The feature goes live today in 15 areas: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Minneapolis - St. Paul, New Orleans, New Jersey, Upstate New York, Orlando, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle and Mexico City. Uber plans to bring Explore to more locations and to add other types of events and experiences.

Uber Explore
Uber

Uber Explore could be useful for spontaneous trips to a new city if you don't have much time to plan beforehand. It could also come in handy for downtime on business trips or to just learn about new things in a place where you've lived for a while.

Offering recommendations about local experiences, events and places to check out is hardly new. Foursquare, Airbnb, Google Maps and Eventbrite (to name a few) have been offering people recommendations for things to do for years. Still, by baking Explore into its ridehailing app, Uber not only wants to help you find cool spots and events, but to help you get there and back home.
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