Monday, March 14, 2022

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The Morning After: Intel’s latest NUC mini-desktop is pretty powerful

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 04:15 AM PDT

As Apple's new powerful mini-desktop, the Mac Studio, arrives, Intel's very own series of tiny desktop PCs, the humble NUC, has reappeared.

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The NUC 12 Extreme is basically a slightly upgraded version of last year's NUC 11 Extreme, which was notable for being the first of its kind that could fit a full-sized desktop graphics card. Now it has Intel's hybrid 12th-gen desktop processors, which promise to be a huge upgrade over last year's CPUs. The NUC 12 Extreme may not be as tiny as previous models, but it can fit in a full-sized desktop GPU. There is some groundwork you'd have to do yourself, like adding your own RAM, SSD and GPU, but it can also be easily upgraded over time. Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar was impressed. Read his full review here.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

'Chrono Trigger' just got an update for ultrawide PC screens

The game's almost 30 years old.

Earlier this week, Square Enix updated the Steam version of Chrono Trigger for the first time in four years. It adds support for 21:9 resolutions, "improved" D-pad controls and a handful of other quality of life changes. The addition of ultrawide screen support is particularly notable since it's pretty rare. For instance, 2022's Elden Ring doesn't come with native 21:9 support.

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Samsung's next Galaxy phone event is on March 17th

Think A series, not foldables.

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Engadget

Samsung has started sending out invitations to the Galaxy A Event, where it'll unveil its latest mid-range smartphones. The tech giant introduced the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 on the same day last year. Samsung isn't stopping: This comes just over a month after the company launched its flagship Galaxy S22 series.

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Apple stops selling LG's $1,299 UltraFine 5K Display

Because the company announced its own Studio Display.

Days after discontinuing the 27-inch iMac, Apple has also stopped selling one of LG's UltraFine displays. If you visit the company's website, it no longer lists the 27-inch 5K model that retailed for $1,299 before its removal. LG has seemingly stopped selling the monitor as well, with its website indicating it's "out of stock."

Unsurprisingly, the 27-inch model's removal from the Apple Store comes in the same week Apple announced its new Studio Display. Starting at $1,599, the monitor features a 5K retina panel with P3 wide color gamut coverage and 600 nits of brightness. It's also 27 inches.

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Engadget Podcast: Apple goes Super Ultra

We dive into the iPhone SE, M1 Ultra and Mac Studio.

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Engadget

In Friday's episode, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into all the news from Apple's first 2022 event. They talk about the iPhone SE, the new iPad Air and discuss who exactly the Mac Studio is aimed at. Not to mention the latest on Android 12L, the Magic Leap 2 and fond memories of illicit filesharing services.

Listen here.

Foxconn closes Shenzhen factories after fresh COVID outbreak

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 03:37 AM PDT

A pair of key consumer electronics manufacturers, most famous for being the places that assemble Apple's devices, have been forced to close. Reuters is reporting that both Foxconn and Unimicron have announced closures in the wake of newly-imposed restrictions after a COVID outbreak in the city of Shenzhen. Officials are asking locals to remain indoors wherever possible and has implemented a mass-testing regime in order to curtail the spread of the virus. As a consequence of the shutdown, Foxconn and Unimicron will suspend operations until further notice, adding that it has backup plans in place to address any delay.

And while the delay is expected to be fairly brief, it is yet another bump on the already rocky road for consumer electronics. After all, COVID has helped accelerate a crunch time for the tech industry, with chip supplies — already in short supply — becoming something of a rarity. And, as Reuters reported a few days previously, the invasion of Ukraine will have serious implications for the world's supply of high-quality neon, used to make semiconductors. All of this means that new devices are going to be in even greater demand, and a lot more expensive while all of this stuff rages on in the background.

Google's second-gen Nest Hub falls to just $55

Posted: 14 Mar 2022 01:17 AM PDT

If you've been looking to add to your Assistant-powered smart home without having to pay full price, a discount has just appeared via multiple retailers that will let you do exactly that. Right now, Best Buy, Walmart and Adorama have the second-generation Nest Hub smart display for $55, which is $45 off the usual price and one of the best deals we've seen since for the device since it launched last year.

Buy Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) at Best Buy - $55Buy Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) at Walmart - $55Buy Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) at Adorama - $55

There's a reason that the Nest Hub is one of our favorite smart home devices. After all, it earned a score of 89 in our review. It has a minimalist design, a bright 7-inch display, clearer and louder audio than its predecessor and faster performance as well. It's just the right size to fit into any room and can act as a second screen for your video doorbell or even track your sleep from your bedside table. While it may not be as accurate as a slumber-focused wearable, the Nest Hub will show you sleep duration, quality, schedules and snoring data (if that's something you're after).

These features make it a great smart display that's worthy of a spot in your kitchen, bedroom or living room — and with this deal, you won't have to spend much in order to put one there.

Samsung's next Galaxy A Event takes place on March 17th

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 04:00 PM PDT

Samsung has started sending out invitations to the Galaxy A Event, where it will unveil its latest mid-range smartphones under the product line. The tech giant introduced the Galaxy A52 and Galaxy A72 on the same day last year and then launched the A52s, an upgraded version of the A52 with a newer processor, in select regions a few months later. You'll be able to watch the event on Samsung's website or the company's YouTube channel on March 17th, starting at 10AM Eastern time. 

The event comes just over a month after Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S22 series in the first Unpacked event of the year. Along with the S22 and the S22+, the company also unveiled the Galaxy S22 Ultra that represents the consolidation of the Galaxy S and the Note lines. The S22 Ultra has the Note's rectangular silhouette and onboard slot for its accompanying S Pen, whereas the other models have the traditional look of the previous S line devices. 

Samsung also recently released the Galaxy S21 Fan Edition with a 6.4-inch screen and a slightly more affordable price than its standard counterparts. If we're talking about phones in the same price range as the Galaxy A line, though, there's the new iPhone SE that Apple unveiled on March 8th. The new budget-friendly SE model supports 5G connectivity and has an updated chip, but it looks almost identical to its predecessor. It will be available starting on March 18th for $429.

Samsung Galaxy A Event
Samsung

A surprise PC update makes ‘Chrono Trigger’ playable on ultrawide screen displays

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 01:46 PM PDT

For nearly 30 years, Square Enix's Chrono Trigger has stood tall as one of the defining releases of the SNES era and JRPG genre. In a medium that has dramatically evolved over the past three decades, it's one of those rare games that still feels as fresh and vital today as it did in 1995. And now there's even more of a reason to revisit this gem if you own an ultrawide monitor.

Earlier this week, Square Enix updated the Steam version of Chrono Trigger for the first time in four years. Spotted by Kotaku, the update adds support for 21:9 resolutions, "improved" d-pad controls, and a handful of user interface improvements among other quality of life changes. The addition of ultrawide screen support is particularly notable since it's a feature that's rare to find on retro ports and even some modern games – Elden Ring, for instance, doesn't come with native 21:9 support.

The PC version of Chrono Trigger has come a long way since Square first released it in 2018. At the time, the company was rightfully criticized for releasing a lazy port. At launch, it included interface elements that were directly lifted from the Android and iOS releases. To its credit, however, Square spent the next year polishing the release, and following this week's update, you can safely say the PC version is one of the definitive ways to play the classic.

Ford will sell some Explorer SUVs without rear climate controls due to chip shortages

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 12:26 PM PDT

With no end in sight to the global semiconductor shortage, Ford will temporarily offer some Explorer SUVs without the electronics necessary to access the car's heating and air conditioning controls from the rear passenger seats. Following a report from Automotive News, a Ford spokesperson shared confirmation of the plan with The Verge on Sunday, telling the outlet the move is an effort on the automaker's part to get those cars to customers faster.

They added Ford would offer those SUVs at a discount and noted they will still come with functioning front-seat climate controls. The automaker reportedly plans to ship the missing chips to dealers within a year, at which point owners of those models will need to bring their cars in for installation.

Ford won't be the first automaker to ship a car without parts in response to the chip shortage. Last year, some Tesla Model 3 and Model Y buyers got cars with missing USB-C ports. BMW, meanwhile, removed touchscreen controls on some of its vehicles, including X5 and Z4 models, to cope with the shortages.

This website allows Westerners to talk to Russians about the war in Ukraine

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 10:38 AM PDT

With the Kremlin restricting access to online platforms like Twitter and Instagram in recent days, people in Russia are quickly losing access to information about the war in Ukraine that doesn't come from the government. Enter Squad303, a website created by a group of Polish programmers to help people from around the world establish a dialogue with their Russian counterparts.

Spotted by The Wall Street Journal, the website randomly generates a number or email address for you to contact. It pulls from a database that contains 20 million cellphone numbers and approximately 140 million email addresses. Since the Squad303 went online on March 6th, its creators told The Journal that individuals from around the world have sent nearly 7 million text messages and 2 million emails in Russian, along with countless images and videos from the conflict.

"Our aim was to break through Putin's digital wall of censorship and make sure that Russian people are not totally cut off from the world and the reality of what Russia is doing in Ukraine," a spokesperson for told the outlet.

The website is named after the Royal Air Force's famous 303 Fighter Squadron. It was one 16 units made up of Polish airmen that flew for the RAF during World War II. The 303 played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain, shooting down the largest number of Luftwaffe aircraft during the months-long campaign. In another historical allusion, the creators of Squad303 compared their project to Radio Free Europe, which began as a US-funded effort to broadcast news, information and analysis to Soviet satellite states during the Cold War.

Using the website, The Journal was able to talk to a 25-year-old law student from Moscow. They told the outlet they opposed the war but said they didn't plan to protest against it for fear of retribution from the government. "Am I supposed to risk my education, my future?" the student said. "I know Putin is killing people in Ukraine, but it is not my fault, I am not killing anyone, and I am not supporting any wars."

Even engaging in conversations like the one above is risky for Russians. Videos have recently emerged allegedly showing Russian police stopping commuters to screen the messages on their phones for signs of dissent. Visit The Journal to read more about the effort. 

Holoride's in-car VR tech arrives in Audi vehicles this summer

Posted: 13 Mar 2022 08:43 AM PDT

Virtual reality is coming to Audi vehicles. On Saturday, the automaker announced it would support Holoride's in-car VR technology starting this summer. In June, select Audi models with the company's MIB 3 infotainment system, including the A4, A6, A8, Q5 and e-tron GT, will ship with the necessary software to sync with Holoride-compatible headsets, with the company planning to support the feature first in Germany, the UK and US before making it available in other markets.

At the center of the experience is something Holoride calls "Elastic Content." When passengers play an interactive video or game, the experience adapts to the car's movements. So say you're playing something involving a spacecraft. When the vehicle accelerates, so will the spaceship. In that way, not only is the experience more immersive, but it's also less likely to lead to motion sickness, according to Holoride.

Holoride spun out of Audi, but the startup's system is brand-agostic, which means other automakers have the option to support the tech in their vehicle. The software for making Holoride content is open-source as well.
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