Monday, March 21, 2022

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LG's 2022 OLED TVs are available now

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 08:50 AM PDT

LG is starting to ship the OLED TVs it launched at CES 2022, and it's mostly good news — though you may have to be patient depending on the model you want. The company is selling multiple B2, C2 (pictured) and G2 Gallery Edition sets though its website this month, with pricing that isn't too far from what you paid for last year's models. The B2 variants currently on offer range from a $1,499 55-inch version through to a $3,299 77-inch edition. The C2s you can buy vary from a $1,499 48-inch screen through to a $3,499 77-inch set, while the G2 is available in 65-inch ($2,999) and 77-inch ($3,999) flavors. Third-party dealers will carry the new models starting in April.

Both the most affordable and priciest sets will take longer to reach your living room. The $1,399 42-inch C2 won't arrive until May, and neither the entry-level A2 nor the gargantuan 97-inch G2 have received prices or release dates. The 83-inch C2 ($5,499), 55-inch G2 ($2,199) and 83-inch G2 ($6,499) ship in April. You'll also have to wait until April for the Z2 series 8K OLED sets, although the 77- and 88-inch sets' respective $12,999 and $24,999 prices will rule them out for most viewers.

The 2022 LG OLED TVs are iterative upgrades. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. C2 models use the brighter "evo" panels that first appeared in 2021. The C2, G2 and Z2 are the first sets to support Dolby Vision IQ with Precision Detail to improve HDR output, and they use a new Alpha 9 Gen 5 chip that promises better luminance, tone mapping and virtual 7.1.2 surround sound. WebOS 22 adds helpful features like user profiles and content mirroring on a second TV. B2 buyers will have to 'settle' for an Alpha 7 Gen 5 chip with more limited audiovisual processing and virtual 5.1.2-channel sound.

The launch details come just days after Samsung outlined pricing for 2022 TVs that include a long-awaited OLED set, the $2,200 S95B. LG might not be too worried about short-term competition given the sheer variety of OLED TVs it sells, but Samsung is clearly gunning for some of that audience.

The best tablets you can buy

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 08:00 AM PDT

While tablets don't always get the same level of attention as smartphones or laptops, they've become an increasingly important category of devices for many families – particularly with the recent shift to working and learning from home. Their straightforward designs make them easy to use, while improvements to Windows 11 and iPadOS allow many tablets to pull double-duty as part-time productivity devices.

However, there are a lot of options out there, so it can be difficult to pick the right one. So allow us to go over the most important factors you should consider, followed by our top picks across a range of categories and prices.

Which OS is right for me?

Before you even start looking at specific devices, consider how your new tablet will fit in with the gadgets you already own, and how you plan to use it. For example, if everyone in your house uses Macs and iPhones, it probably doesn't make a lot of sense to buy an Android tablet, even if you've been tempted by the massive 14.6-inch screen on the new Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. This goes double for anyone with an extensive library of purchased videos and music that might be harder to access after switching platforms.

Another consideration is the kind of work you'll be doing. That's because while all modern tablets are adept at browsing websites or playing games, some operating systems like iPadOS and Windows 11 are better designed to support multitasking and productivity than Android or even Chrome OS. It's a similar situation for software, because while most popular apps and games are available on both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, more specialized enterprise software may only have proper support on desktop platforms like Windows or macOS.

What size screen should I get?

Trying to decide the size of your tablet is also related to the kind of work (or play) you intend to do. Larger displays make it much easier to view two apps side by side, with big screens also delivering a more immersive movie viewing experience. But at the same time, the larger the tablet, the less likely you're going to want to move it around. That means you're not only going to want to take stock of your workspace (i.e., if you have a desk or instead plan to work from a couch or even your bed), you're also going to want to think about how the device will fit into your everyday routine or commute (if you have one).

Potential accessories

Finally, you'll want to consider any add-ons or accessories you're planning to use, which can range from detachable keyboards to things like external mics or a stylus. The good news is that many tablets nowadays offer some kind of keyboard accessory, which allows the device to function more like a 2-in-1 instead of simply being a content consumption device. Some tablets also feature things like microSD card slots that support expandable storage, or optional 4G or 5G connectivity, which can be a real boon to frequent travelers. And if you're planning to use the tablet mainly for work, you might want to grab a USB hub for connecting all your favorite peripherals.

Engadget picks

Best overall: Apple iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro (2021) review
Chris Velazco/Engadget

Powered by the same M1 chips you get in Apple's MacBooks, the iPad Pro is one of the fastest and most well-built tablets you can buy today. It's available in two sizes (11 and 12.9 inches) and works with a range of accessories including the Apple Pencil and the extremely useful (but pricey) Magic Keyboard. And thanks to their 120Hz ProMotion mini-LED displays, the iPad Pro's screen boasts strong brightness and fluid visuals, regardless of whether you're watching a movie or creating a slideshow presentation. Recent versions of iPadOS have also made Apple's most premium tablet a much more capable work device, with the addition of new sidebars for quickly switching between apps, a more powerful desktop-like UI for Safari, and various new toolbars throughout.

The main downside is that starting at $800 for a base 11-inch model with 128GB of storage, Apple's iPad Pros aren't cheap, and that's before you tack on any extras like cellular connectivity or a keyboard. But considering there's a good chance a new iPad Pro is more powerful than your current laptop, there isn't really anything you can throw at Apple's top-of-the-line tablet it can't handle.

One final note is that if you like the iPad Pro but want something a bit more affordable, there's also the fifth-gen iPad Air. You still get the same M1 chip, Apple Pencil support, and optional 5G connectivity. And with a 10.9-inch screen, it's basically the same size as the smaller iPad Pro too. The main difference is that the iPad Air's display isn't quite as bright and doesn't support a 120Hz refresh rate. But if you're ok with that, the fifth-gen iPad Air is essentially an iPad Pro with a less fancy screen that starts at $599 instead of $799.

Buy iPad Pro at Amazon starting at $800

Best Android tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

The Galaxy Tab S8+ is Samsung's latest 12.4-inch tablet for 2022.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Available in three sizes – an 11-, 12.4- and a huge 14.6-inch model – Samsung's new Galaxy Tab S8 line has the right-sized screen for practically any need. And while Android typically isn't quite as accommodating to productivity as Windows or iPadOS, Samsung's Dex mode offers a desktop-like UI complete with multi-window support and a taskbar for potent multitasking.

Samsung's mobile displays are also some of the best in the business, with support for 120Hz refresh rates and vibrant colors from their OLED panels. And unlike Samsung's flagship phone line, the Galaxy Tab S8 still comes with microSD card support, though sadly, Samsung couldn't seem to find room for a dedicated headphone jack. You even get a choice of three different covers: a simple folio, a keyboard cover and a keyboard cover with a built-in touchpad, so you can choose the right accessory for your needs.

Buy Galaxy Tab S8 at Samsung starting at $700

Best Windows tablet: Microsoft Surface Pro 8

The Surface Pro 8 boasts even thinner bezels and improved performance compared to previous models.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

While most people think of Microsoft's Surface Pro devices as a line of 2-in-1s, because they don't come with a keyboard (you need to purchase it separately), that technically makes them tablets. But don't be fooled, because thanks Windows 11 and support for a range of 11th-gen Intel processors, Microsoft's Surface Pros are designed for productivity.

New on the Surface Pro 8 is a beautiful display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and improved stereo speakers, while the inclusion of an IR facial recognition camera allows you to log in to the system in a snap. Another nice bonus is that unlike a lot of tablets, the Surface Pro 8's SSD is user accessible, allowing you to upgrade its storage yourself whenever you want. And thanks to improvements in Windows 11, the Surface Pro 8 is better suited to life as a tablet without ever needing to attach a keyboard thanks to larger app icons and more touch-friendly controls.

Buy Surface Pro 8 at Microsoft starting at $1,000

Best budget tablet: Apple 10.2-inch iPad

Apple iPad (2021) review photos
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

If you just want a simple tablet for a reasonable price, it's hard to go wrong with the standard Apple iPad. Starting at $329, the basic iPad has a 10.2-inch display with good brightness (500 nits) and a relatively speedy A13 Bionic chip. It's also the last iPad that still features an old-school Touch ID home button.

After being refreshed last year, the ninth-gen iPad got updated features including Apple Pencil support, improved cameras (in front and back) and double the base storage (64GB, up from 32GB). And just like its more expensive siblings, the standard iPad is available in a WiFi-only model or with optional 4G LTE cellular connectivity. The basic iPad is also the cheapest device Apple sells that gives you access to the App Store, which makes it a good multimedia device and a handy way of managing your media library across your other Apple devices.

Buy 10.2-inch iPad at Amazon starting at $329

Best tablet for kids: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro

While the tablet itself is the same as the non-kids version, the Fire HD 10 Kids comes with a two-year worry-free guarantee and a chunky protective case.
Amazon

If you're in the market for a new tablet for your child, the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is the easy pick. Starting at $200, it's the cheapest tablet on this list, and unlike more adult-oriented fare, it comes with an included "kid-proof" case and a two-year warranty. Amazon says if your kid breaks the tablet, the company will replace it for free.

Other useful add-ins include a free one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, which unlocks more than 20,000 games, books and apps designed for children. There's also a handy dashboard for parents that allows you to set time limits, content filters and educational goals. And even though its 3GB of RAM and 32GB of base storage aren't much, its 1080p display is plenty sharp and it has a microSD card slot for expandable storage. And if you want a slightly smaller and more affordable option, there's the $140 Fire HD 8 Kids Pro too.

Buy Fire HD 10 Kids Pro at Amazon - $200

DJI's latest work drone can fly autonomously in harsh weather (updated)

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 07:56 AM PDT

You might soon see DJI's drones flying in particularly rough conditions. DJI has unveiled the Matrice 30 (aka M30), an enterprise-class drone with IP55 dust and water resistance that lets it fly in heavy rain, strong wind and even icy situations. It can fly to altitudes as high as 22,965ft above sea level (with the right propellers) and survive temperatures between -4F and 122F, too. Even the included RC Plus controller can handle a downpour thanks to an IP54-rated body.

The M30 can also fold with a button press. The self-heating battery lasts for 41 minutes, but the charging case can bring the drone from 20 percent to 90 percent in 30 minutes.

DJI's robotic flier will also require little human intervention in some cases. A variant of the M30 will support an upcoming DJI Dock that, like other drone stations, lets the aircraft fly programmed routes and autonomously land to recharge between rounds. You can remotely monitor work sites from the air in areas where beyond-line-of-sight drone use is allowed, in other words. The dock is dust- and water-resistant, includes its own weather station and has both a battery backup and 4G dongle support to keep it running.

DJI is taking orders for the M30 today through a contact form. The dock will be available sometime in the fourth quarter of 2022, and M300 RTK drone owners can also buy a new Zenmuse H20N sensor with "starlight-grade" night vision. There's no mention of pricing, but it's safe to assume individual drone enthusiasts aren't the target market. This is for companies that have the need and budget to fly drones on a regular basis.

Update 3/21 12:05PM ET: The base M30 starts at $9,999 with remote, two batteries, the charging case and a storage case. An M30T with a thermal camera starts at $13,999.

'Super Auto Pets' is an awesome (and extra cute) intro to auto battlers

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 07:30 AM PDT

It's not often a brand new genre of game comes around. And while battle royale-style titles like PUBG and Fortnite have gotten a ton of attention and countless clones in recent years, there's another new type of game — especially for fans of strategy and tactics games — that deserves your attention: auto battlers.

Now before anyone gets hysterical about auto battlers already having been around for some time, let's get one thing clear. While the genre can trace its lineage back to Warcraft 3 mods like Pokemon Defense, the category as a whole didn't really get mainstream attention until 2019 thanks to titles like Dota Autochess (which is now just Autochess), Teamfight Tactics, Hearthstone's Battlegrounds and Dota Underlords.

However, since those games have characters and abilities based on existing titles (e.g. Dota and League of Legends), their counterpart auto battlers are kind of intimidating for new players to pick up. I know because, despite it becoming one of her favorite games as of late, I played Teamfight Tactics for almost a year on my own before successfully convincing my wife to give it a shot. And on PC, both Teamfight Tactics and Battlegrounds are only available within the launcher for their parent games. That makes them seem more like expansions rather than a brand new game type, which is admittedly somewhat confusing. But that's where Super Auto Pets comes in.

By taking the basic auto battler formula and then adding a roster of cute, cuddly animals, Super Auto Pets has become the perfect intro to the genre, while still being surprisingly deep. The game's general mechanics are simple. Every turn you start with 10 gold. You then use the gold to buy pets or food for three gold each (or one gold in the case of the pill), while trying to assemble the strongest five pet squad you can muster. If you combine three of the same pet, it'll turn into a stronger level 2 version. And if you combine a total of six of the same creature, you'll get a top-tier level 3 animal.

Alternatively, if you see a pet you like but can't afford at the moment, you can freeze it to save it for later. After that comes the battling. It's just you versus someone else's squad, with each getting a silly auto-generated team name. If you win you get a trophy. If you don't, you lose some hearts (up to three depending on the number of rounds). Your ultimate goal is to eke out 10 victories before all your hearts are gone. And the rounds keep coming until you win or die trying.

Super Auto Pets
Team Wood Games

Now I know I'm glossing over some of the game's finer mechanics. But they're not hard to pick up and will be immediately familiar to anyone who has played a trading card game like Magic: the Gathering or Hearthstone. And with over 80 pets already in the game (and more on the way), there are a lot of nifty interactions that are a blast to learn.

Take the parrot, who copies the ability of the pet in front of it. Or the skunk, who reduces the health of the enemy team's tankiest pet. And then there's the lovable turtle (who looks like a dead ringer for the old blob-style Android emoji) that gives fellow pets armor after it faints. Each pet's ability is a callback to the creature's personality, adding both flavor and strategy to the game. And I haven't even mentioned the deer's ability, which is downright hilarious. But you're going to have to check it out for yourself because I'm not spoiling it here.

But my absolute favorite thing about Super Auto Pets is how easy it is to pick up and put down whenever I want. I had my first kid six months ago, so it probably won't surprise you when I say I don't have quite the same amount of time for games as I used to — let alone titles like Teamfight Tactics which typically last 20 to 30 minutes or more per match. In contrast, not only is Super Auto Pets available on pretty much anything with an internet connection (Android, Steam, web browsers, and most recently iOS thanks to a recent patch), I can quit at a moment's notice in the middle of a run with zero consequences.

That means I can throw my phone down with haste if I need to change the kid or give him a bottle. Then later, when he goes down for a nap, I can hop back in where I left off. And thanks to cross-platform support, it doesn't even have to be on the same device. It's almost the perfect mobile game, that is, aside from needing an internet connection, which means I can't really play it on the subway.

Super Auto Pets
Team Wood Games

And because the game is free-to-play, there's essentially no barrier to entry. The game's 59 core pets are available from the start, while another 22 pets are available for $5 as part of an expansion pack. That's more than reasonable, especially since the expansion animals don't really feel like an upgrade in power. It's more like different flavors than a slimy pay-to-win cash grab. All other in-app purchases are completely cosmetic, and most of them can be bought with points that are easily acquired just by playing the game. There's even a 64-player versus mode, though for obvious kiddo-related reasons I haven't really tried it out.

For me, Super Auto Pets is the rare game that's just as engaging on desktop as it is on mobile, due to its adorable art style and simple, but deep mechanics. It doesn't prey on my wallet (I've spent a grand total of $5 dollars over countless hours of gameplay), and it fits into my schedule without infringing on my more pressing real-life responsibilities.

So even though there's no shortage of new titles I'd love to drown myself in like Elden Ring, Triangle Strategy, and others, Super Auto Pets is one of the select few games I actually have the time to play. I appreciate that it lets me keep in touch with a hobby that's been largely pushed aside, and it's a great way to try out a fun twist on more traditional strategy games. And even though I achieved the incandescent high of getting my first win long ago, I can already tell this is going to be a game I'll keep in my pocket for a long time coming.

Match has a new dating app for single parents

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 07:07 AM PDT

Today is National Single Parents Day and Match has unveiled a new app designed to help such folks find love. The aim of Stir is to help single parents meet, chat with and date folks who also have kids.

Match says there are around 20 million single parents in the US who are often underserved by many dating apps. After you answer questions on personality and values, Stir will show you potential matches.

Once you find someone you have a spark with, you'll be able to arrange a date. Match is aware that single parents might find it hard to coordinate their schedules and find a time that works for both of them. The app has a feature called Stir Time, which allows you to display your available "me time." Hopefully, that will line up with your prospective date's calendar. Stir Time schedules can be displayed on your profile.

"Having kids shouldn't be a dealbreaker when dating," Match Group's Dinh Thi Bui said in a statement. "We're dedicated to giving single parents a dating experience where they are celebrated and feel like they can be themselves. With that, our hope is that they can truly focus on having a personal life beyond navigating parenthood."

Stir is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Honda's HALO facility is the 'world's most advanced' wind tunnel

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT

Regular readers of Engadget may have noticed that much of our EV reviews and coverage makes mention of the vehicle's drag coefficient. It's a handy indicator that measures the ratio of the drag force to the force produced by the dynamic pressure times the area — essentially, the lower the drag coefficient, the less drag the vehicle produces and the more efficiently it pushes through air. 

Honda HALO wind tunnel
Honda

For ICE (internal combustion) vehicles, higher a drag coefficient translates into lower fuel efficiency and more frequent trips to the pump. For EVs, a low drag coefficient is even more critical because it directly impacts the vehicle's driveable range, a continuing concern for many potential EV buyers. As such, designing optimally aerodynamic vehicles is in every automaker's interest but doing so does require the use of a specialized wind tunnel technologies, much like the $124 million state-of-the-art HALO facility Honda opened on Monday in Central Ohio.

HALO (Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio) is "the world's most advanced wind tunnel" according to Honda, offering three distinct testing capabilities — aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, and racing — with which to develop Honda and Acura products as well as conduct general science and research work with third parties.   

Honda HALO wind tunnel
Honda

"I can tell you our new HALO wind tunnel will be an incredible new asset to our engineers as well as others evolved in aerodynamic research in America, providing a critical new resource for future innovation," Jim Keller, EVP of Honda Development and Manufacturing of America said in a Friday press call. "This new wind tunnel and our safety research center will provide our R&D engineers with two world-class facilities in Ohio to support the design and development of new products."

When vehicles are operated in a wind tunnel, they drive on what is essentially a giant treadmill belt. These belts are designed to control the boundary layer between the floor and the vehicle, a critical factor in generating accurate aerodynamic data, Mike Unger, Wind Tunnel Lead at HALO, explained during the call. HALO uses two, 40-ton belt modules: a standard "wide" belt, which sits under the entire vehicle and works well for sedans and other low-riding vehicles, and the 5-belt system which puts one under each tire, a fifth under the whole vehicle and is meant for testing SUVs. Each can be swapped out for the other in under four hours.

Honda HALO wind tunnel
Honda

For acoustics testing, the HALO utilizes more than 500 exterior microphones studded throughout the wind tunnel and another 54 mics within the vehicle itself. Thanks to a novel microphone array, Honda techs can switch the wind tunnel from aerodynamic testing to aeroacoustic testing in just half an hour — a process that used to take around half a day to complete.

Determining the frontal area of a new vehicle, a stat necessary to properly calibrate the tunnel's results, is done with lasers and optical cameras that precisely measure the vehicle's front and side proportions. The tunnel is also equipped with a 180-degree turntable, Unger said, "which allows us to test various, and sometimes extreme, yaw angles as well load the car as quickly and as efficiently as possible." There's also an 80-ton diagnostic tool. 

Honda HALO wind tunnel
Honda

"Essentially, it's a big giant big robotic arm that we can attach a sensor on the end of and locate anywhere in the tunnel," he continued. With it techs can "measure any kind of phenomena we're looking for — it could be pressure, velocity, sound, or any other thing... this tool will allow the test engineer to look into detailed phenomena to understand exactly what's going on with the flow field." The system is so precise that it can measure drag forces with a sensitivity of +/- 2.5 Newtons, roughly the weight of a standard D battery.

The tunnel itself is an eighth of a mile long with a test area measuring 3m x 5m x 15m, large enough to accommodate up to a full-size delivery van. It's 8m-diameter fan is outfitted with a dozen hollow carbon fiber fixed-pitch blades which spin up to 253 rpm, driven by a 5MW 6,700HP electric motor, and generates wind speeds in excess of 190 MPH.

Honda HALO wind tunnel
Honda

Honda began development on the HALO facility in 2015 in what was initially an effort to mitigate the expenses the company was incurring flying its technicians and the prototypes being developed at the Honda R&D Center in Ohio, around the world in order to get access to suitable aerodynamic testing facilities, like the company's existing wind tunnel in Japan. Those considerations as well as "the arrival of the electrified era, made building Honda's own wind tunnel a smart decision," Wind Tunnel Business Strategy Lead, Chris Combs, said during the call.

The company does not plan to bogart its new facility's research capabilities, however. "Honda has partnered with the Transportation Research Center to form a consortium for the purpose of promoting aerodynamic research that will be shared amongst consortium members," Combs said. "We look forward to hosting college students in the future to advance in STEM careers and overall aerodynamic endeavors. It is anticipated that some non-auto parties will utilize the facility for projects focused on renewable energy like wind turbines and even architectural design."

Windows 11 will add a watermark if you use unsupported hardware

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 06:55 AM PDT

Microsoft isn't just reserving watermarks for unactivated or bootlegged Windows copies. The Verge has learned that the most recent Windows 11 Release Preview build (22000.588) applies a watermark to the desktop if you use a workaround to run the operating system on unsupported hardware. Try it and you'll see a "system requirements not met" notice that asks you to visit settings to learn more. There don't appear to be any feature limitations, however.

The company started testing the watermark in rough Windows 11 builds released in February. Its inclusion in the Release Preview indicates Microsoft is ready to bring the alert to a completed software update in the near future.

Windows 11 officially requires either an 8th-generation Intel Core CPU or an AMD chip based on a Zen+ or Zen 2 architecture. Many believe the cutoff is arbitrary, and have used a Microsoft-sanctioned registry tweak to bypass a CPU check and install the OS without a rejection message. Microsoft has warned it might not provide updates to these PCs, but the software should still work.

In practice, a purely cosmetic mark like this is more a disclaimer than a deterrent — it's a reminder that Microsoft won't help you if the software misbehaves on an unsupported machine. If you're comfortable bypassing the CPU check in the first place, you can likely remove the watermark as well. Still, this might prove annoying if you've been running Windows 11 on an out-of-spec PC without hassles.

Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro returns to an all-time low price of $1,749

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 06:05 AM PDT

Don't worry if you missed out on previous sales for the 14-inch MacBook Pro — you're getting a second chance. Amazon is once again selling the base 14-inch laptop with an 8-core M1 Pro, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage for $1,749, or a substantial $250 below the official price. That matches the all-time low price we saw in February, and remains a good bargain if the 'entry' version meets your needs.

Buy 14-inch MacBook Pro at Amazon - $1,749

The starter 14-inch MacBook Pro represents a sweet spot in Apple's rejuvenated laptop range. You get a speedy M1 Pro chip, a 120Hz mini-LED display, strong battery life, an exceptional keyboard and a healthy selection of ports in a body that's still easy to carry around. While there are more powerful 14-inch variants available, this configuration is more than enough for day-to-day tasks and even serious media editing.

The caveats haven't changed much since launch. You can't expand the RAM or storage, so you'll have to be content with what you get for the life of the computer. You'll also need Apple Silicon-native apps to wring the most performance out of the M1 Pro, and that display notch might prove irksome. At this price, though, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is very competitive and could easily be worth the tradeoffs.

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

Fortnite's new season drops building from its main mode

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 06:00 AM PDT

Fortnite Chapter 3, Season 2 is underway and this time around Epic has temporarily ditched one of the game's core mechanics: building. Your harvesting tool will still destroy objects, but you won't receive any wood, stone or metal to create a temporary base or instantly build a barrier to protect yourself from enemy fire.

Fortnite removes building
Epic Games

Building will still be available in competitive, creative and Save the World modes — it's only gone in casual queues for now. It seems that restoring builds will be a key part of this season's storyline (at least in the early going).

To make up for the lack of building (and last season's excellent web shooters being removed), Epic Games has added some more movement mechanics. The default run is now faster, and you'll be able to sprint even more quickly for short bursts. If you sprint at or slide into a door, you'll bust it open. Also new is the ability to mantle onto ledges that are just a little too high to land on with your feet.

In addition, players now have an overshield on top of their health and regular shield, giving them 50 extra shield points. When an enemy attacks, your overshield will be depleted first. Unlike health and shields, your overshield will recharge by itself.

Many, many other battle royales have popped up in the wake of PUBG. Building was one of the key features that helped Epic set Fortnite apart and make it one of the most popular games on the planet. Disabling builds for now gives Epic a chance to gauge player reactions, possibly with an eye on offering a permanent build-free mode.

Elsewhere, an Armored Battle Bus is on the way to Resistance-occupied points of interest, while there are blimps packed with loot at Imagined Order-controlled sites. As is typically the case, Epic has vaulted some weapons and items while adding new ones and unvaulting some others. It refreshed the map with some new areas too.

Until April 3rd, Epic and Xbox are donating all their proceeds from Fortnite to Ukraine relief efforts. That includes sales of V-Bucks, gifted Battle Passes and Fortnite Crew subscriptions.

Amazon knocks up to 50 percent off Fire tablets

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 05:45 AM PDT

Amazon's Fire tablets make good secondary devices for those who aren't looking to drop hundreds of dollars on a new gadget. They also make solid kids tablets, too, especially if you get one of Amazon's kid-specific variants. Fire tablets are affordable to begin with, but now Amazon's discounted many of them by up to 50 percent. The Fire HD 8 is half off and down to $45, while the Fire 7 slab is 30 percent off and down to only $35. Plus, the entire Fire Kids Pro lineup is on sale, so you can grab one of those for as low as $50.

Buy Fire HD 8 at Amazon - $45Buy Fire 7 at Amazon - $35

The Fire HD 8 earned a score of 81 from us when it came out in 2020 for its refined design, USB-C charging, hands-free Alexa capabilities and long battery life. It's slimmer than the previous version and has an 8-inch 1,280 x 800 display, the latter of which would make it a solid full-color e-reader for those that read a lot of graphics novels and manga. Inside is a quad-core 2.0GHz processor, 2GB of RAM and either 32GB of 64GB of RAM — plus, you could use a microSD card to expand the storage to up to 1TB. Performance is pretty good for a cheap tablet, and it'll last up to 12 hours on a single charge. We'd recommend the Fire HD 8 for most people, and would only recommend the less powerful Fire 7 tablet for those with tight budgets, or those that want a super-affordable device to give to their kids.

Speaking of kid-friendly gadgets, the Fire Kids Pro slabs have some added features specifically for little ones and their parents. Along with all of the features you'd get on their standard counterparts, the Fire Kids Pro tablets come with a suite of parental controls, a two-year warranty, a protective case and one year of Amazon Kids+. With the latter, you'll get access to age-appropriate books, shows, movies and more for one year before you'll be asked to pay the $5-per-month charge ($3 per month if you're a Prime member). Both the Fire 7 Kids Pro and the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro are half off right now, down to $50 and $70, respectively, while the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro is 30 percent less than usual and down to $140.

Buy Fire 7 Kids Pro at Amazon - $50Buy Fire HD 8 Kids Pro at Amazon - $70Buy Fire HD 10 Kids Pro at Amazon - $140

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

Apple's 2022 iPad Air gets its first discount at Amazon

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 05:20 AM PDT

Apple's new M1-equipped iPad Air arrived just a few days ago, but we're already seeing our first discounts. You can now pick up both the 64GB and 256GB WiFi models for $570 and $720 respectively, or $29 off Apple's direct prices. While the reductions aren't huge, it's unusual to see any at all on brand new Apple products, particularly ones like this that have generated considerable buzz. 

Buy Apple iPad Air 64GB (2022) at Amazon - $570Buy Apple 256GB iPad Air (2022) at Amazon - $720

The M1 chip provides a big performance boost over the previous model, making it a great option for creative, gaming and other demanding apps. You'll get another dose of extra speed via the 10Gbps USB-C ports that have double the bandwidth over the previous iPad Air. At the same time, you still get the same excellent 10-hour battery life of the last model. All of those things make the 2022 iPad Air future-proof and helped it garner a top-notch 90 score in our Engadget review.

It has more than speed going for it. You get a 10.9-inch "liquid Retina" LCD display with Apple's True Tone feature for optimizing the screen's color temperature based on ambient light, to start with. It also comes with an improved 12-megapixel ultra wide front camera and supports the same accessories as the last model (keyboard cases, Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil). 

The main downsides are the relatively miniscule 64GB storage on the budget model, lack of Face ID and pricey accessories. Still, it's a huge leap over the previous model with a nice little discount to boot. 

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

Testing the power and luxury of the Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance EV

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 05:00 AM PDT

Lucid Motors had a plan: Instead of taking on Tesla, it was determined to shoot past the EV-only automaker with its vehicles and instead, go after Germany. More specifically, the German luxury sedan. With a combination of power, range and opulence, it seems to have pulled it off.

The automotive startup offered up a pre-production (but very very close to production) Dream Edition Performance for us to review. The vehicle starts at $169,000 with 1,111 horsepower and range of over 450 miles — Lucid is taking its task very seriously. While the version we drove was sold out, it does give us a very good indication of what's coming from the company. Watch the video review above for the full story.

Amazon has a big sale on Razer gaming peripherals and accessories

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 04:40 AM PDT

Several Razer peripherals are on sale on Amazon, including the Kishi gaming controller for iOS and Android. The Android version is $50 off at $40. It's best to make sure the "for Android" option is selected — the Xbox-branded variant is also on sale, but it's $55. The iOS model has been discounted as well, but the savings are much more modest. The price has dropped from $100 to $80.

Buy Razer Gaming Inputs and Accessories at Amazon

The Razer Kishi is a great option for playing games on the go without having to resort to touch controls or a Bluetooth controller. It works with many games that run natively on your device as well as cloud gaming services like Google Stadia, NVIDIA GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The controller plugs into your phone's USB-C or Lightning port and holds it in place. There's passthrough charging support, so you can keep your device's battery topped up while you play.

Elsewhere, Razer's BlackWidow V3 mechanical keyboard is on sale. At $60, it's $40 off the regular price. The peripheral has Razer's clicky green switches and fully programmable keys, but since it's a tenkeyless model, it doesn't have a number pad at the side.

You can also save on the Razer Viper Ultimate, which is currently $70, almost half off the usual price of $130. The ambidextrous wireless mouse has a battery life of up to 70 hours, low-latency HyperSpeed tech, a 20,000+ DPI optical sensor, Razer's optical switches and eight programmable buttons. We picked it as our favorite gaming mouse for everyday use.

Buy Razer Gaming Inputs and Accessories at Amazon

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

The Morning After: Russian cosmonauts boarded the ISS in blue and yellow jumpsuits

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 04:15 AM PDT

Just before the weekend, cosmonauts Denis Matveyev, Oleg Artemyev and Sergey Korsakov arrived at the International Space Station in bright yellow and blue jumpsuits. Being the first Russians to arrive at the International Space Station since the war in Ukraine began, it seemed like, well, a choice. Russia's Roscosmos space agency dismissed the connection saying in a Telegram post spotted by Space.com: "Sometimes yellow is just yellow." Roscosmos went on to claim the three were wearing the colors of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, their shared alma mater, which has a crest with blue and yellow details.

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Roscosmos TV

The cosmonauts didn't say too much about their choice of uniform during a press conference. "It became our turn to pick a color," said Artemyev. "We had accumulated a lot of yellow material, so we needed to use it. That's why we had to wear yellow." Does this mean they crafted their own jumpsuits?

Then again, with the three men still in space, they couldn't be further away from immediate repercussions from their government.

— Mat Smith

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The 'Overwatch 2' PvP beta starts on April 26th

Doomfist will change roles from damage hero to tank.

The Overwatch 2 PvP PC beta lands on April 26th. Block out that weekend because as well as 5-on-5 battles — the Overwatch PvP was 6-on-6 — the beta also comes with four fresh maps and some reimagined characters, both in aesthetics and play style.

Continue reading.

French police charge seven in Netflix 'Lupin' set heist

'Lupin' is literally about a master thief.

On February 25th, some 20 masked thieves broke on to the set of the production of popular Netflix show Lupin while it was filming in a Parisian suburb. They stole approximately $330,000 worth of equipment. As a distraction, perpetrators set off mortar-style fireworks during the heist. Now, French authorities have charged seven individuals allegedly involved in the robbery. Lupin isn't the only Netflix project to fall victim to a robbery this year. Just one day before the thefts in Paris, thieves made off with more than $200,000 worth of antique props after breaking into vehicles used for the production of The Crown.

Continue reading.

Epic will donate two weeks of 'Fortnite' proceeds to Ukraine charities

Microsoft is pitching in, too.

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Epic

Starting today through April 3rd, Epic Games will donate all of its Fortnite proceeds to humanitarian organizations providing on-the-ground relief to Ukrainians affected by the invasion of their country. Direct Relief, UNICEF, UN's Refugee Agency and Food Programme are all involved.

Continue reading.

Engadget Podcast: Samsung's Galaxy A53 5G and the Mac Studio

Samsung may have just won the battle for mid-range phones.

This week's podcast centers on Samsung's big mid-range phone show. Devindra Hardawar and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford discuss the new Galaxy A53 5G and A33. The Galaxy A53 has a 120Hz screen, four cameras and 5G support for $450. Can the iPhone SE stand up to those kinds of specs?

Continue reading.

The Nintendo Wii and DSi stores have been down for days with no explanation

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 03:55 AM PDT

Nintendo stopped selling DSi and Wii games in 2017 and 2019 respectively, but it has continued to allow users to download games they already own. Now, both stores have gone completely offline with no explanation from the company, Eurogamer has reported. If you try to select the Wii Shop channel, you'll just see a blank white screen and error code — a situation that has persisted for around four days.

When it initially shuttered those stores, Nintendo said that you'd still be able to download purchased games for an unspecified period of time. However, it warned that the servers would eventually be shut down completely, meaning folks wouldn't be able to download or transfer purchased games using the Wii System Transfer Tool.

Nintendo has kept these stores running for a long time (since 2006 in the case of the Wii), but folks would rightfully be upset if Nintendo shut off access with no heads up whatsoever. Many would no doubt have liked at least a few months notice so they could download or transfer their games. The servers do appear to still be up, though, as some folks have found they can use third-party tools like NUSDownloader to access games. 

Sony was recently forced to backtrack on a decision to close the PS3 and Vita stores after a consumer backlash. The situation isn't quite same for Nintendo, but it should probably provide some kind of explanation if the stores don't come back online soon. 

Brazil reverses its Telegram ban after just two days

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 03:10 AM PDT

A judge on Brazil's Supreme Court has reversed a ban on Telegram, two days after blocking the messaging app for ignoring orders. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said the company missed the court's emails.

"We complied with an earlier court decision in late February and responded with a suggestion to send future takedown requests to a dedicated email address," Durov wrote on Telegram on Friday. "Unfortunately, our response must have been lost, because the Court used the old general-purpose email address in further attempts to reach us. As a result, we missed its decision in early March that contained a follow-up takedown request. Luckily, we have now found and processed it, delivering another report to the Court today."

Durov added that Telegram will appoint a representative in Brazil and set up a framework so it can address requests more promptly. According to The New York Times, Telegram complied with the court's demands by taking down classified information posted on President Jair Bolsonaro's channel and deleting the accounts of a Bolsonaro supporter who was allegedly spreading misinformation. The court then reversed the ban.

Telegram reacted so swiftly that the ban (which was imposed by a judge who is running multiple investigations into Bolsonaro and his allies for spreading misinformation) was never actually in effect. The court order gave Apple, Google, ISPs and phone providers five days to block the app.

Durov and his team made some other changes to the app in Brazil in the hope of avoiding another ban. Officials are said to be concerned about misinformation in the lead up to the general election in October. As such, Telegram will start promoting verified information and labeling posts containing falsehoods.

It will also monitor the 100 most popular channels in the country. Telegram says those account for 95 percent of views of public posts. The company has typically taken a hands-off approach to content moderation. The far-right Bolsonaro has used it as a means of communication with his 1.2 million followers after the likes of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube took a firmer stance against misinformation.

Brazil has become a key market for Telegram. According to data from Sensor Tower, Brazilians have installed Telegram more than 84 million times. Between January 1st and March 17th (the day before the court issued the ban), Brazilian iOS and Android users downloaded the app an estimated 4.9 million times.

Amazon's one-day sale offers up to $400 off Samsung foldables

Posted: 21 Mar 2022 02:15 AM PDT

Although the launch of Samsung's S22 lineup is still fresh in everyone's minds, the Korean smartphone maker still has a number of unique and powerful handsets available to buy. That includes foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 3, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and mid-range devices like the Galaxy S21 FE, all of which happen to be discounted as part of a one-day Amazon sale. Our pick of the bunch is the Galaxy Z Flip 3, which has fallen to $850 and represents a 15 percent savings on its usual price. It's also the second best price we've seen. 

Buy Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 at Amazon - $850Amazon's one-day Galaxy smartphone sale

The Z Flip 3 is, in our mind, the best Samsung foldable yet. It scored an 82 in our review, which was helped by its improved durability (with better scratch and water resistance), its main 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rates and Flex Mode, which quickly splits apps like YouTube in half to separate content and controls. When closed, the 1.9-inch external screen will display small snippets of information like the weather and calendar reminders but also provide easy access to features like Samsung Pay.

If you've had your eye on Samsung's other foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, then Amazon has you covered there, too. For today only, the 2-in-1 handset is $1,400, which is $400 (or 22 percent) off its normal price. The Z Fold 3 improves on its predecessor in nearly every way, including better durability and displays that are 29 percent brighter while consuming less energy. It also includes the S Pen, letting you scribble down notes while on the go.

Buy Samsung Galaxy ZFold 3 at Amazon - $1,400

Rounding out the sale is the Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition), which at $525 has fallen to a new all-time low at the retailer. The Galaxy S21 FE is essentially last year's flagship without the frills, with the same 5-nanometer processors, 120Hz refresh rate in a slightly bigger display and a familiar triple camera system. It actually has a larger battery and comes with Android 12. With it now on sale for 25 percent less than its normal retail price, it might be easier to ignore those minor drawbacks and bag yourself Samsung's affordable no-nonsense handset.

Russia denies cosmonauts wore yellow jumpsuits in protest of Ukraine invasion

Posted: 20 Mar 2022 03:29 PM PDT

On Friday, cosmonauts Denis Matveyev, Oleg Artemyev and Sergey Korsakov arrived at the International Space Station wearing bright yellow and blue jumpsuits. They were the first Russian astronauts to travel to the ISS since the war in Ukraine began, and many saw their choice of uniform as a statement against their country's invasion of its neighbor.

One day later, per Space.com, Russia's Roscosmos space agency dismissed those suggestions. "Sometimes yellow is just yellow," it said in a Telegram post spotted by the outlet. Roscosmos went on to claim the three cosmonauts were wearing the colors of Bauman Moscow State Technical University, their shared alma mater. And for what it's worth, the school's crest, like Ukraine's national flag, features plenty of blue and yellow. 

"Under no circumstances will we force cosmonaut graduates of Bauman University not to wear the colors of the coat of arms of their alma mater," said Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Roscosmos. The space agency also later shared a photo of Artemyev wearing a white jumpsuit with the colors of the Russian displayed prominently across the chest.

The cosmonauts didn't say too much about their choice of uniform. "It became our turn to pick a color," said Artemyev when asked about the subject during a subsequent press conference. "We had accumulated a lot of yellow material so we needed to use it. That's why we had to wear yellow."

While astronauts from the US and Germany looked happy to see their new crewmates, tensions between the West and Russia threaten the future of multiple joint projects. This week, the European Space Agency said it was suspending its ExoMars mission while looking for a way to move forward without the involvement of Roscosmos.

Netflix will release a Tekken animated series later this year

Posted: 20 Mar 2022 01:40 PM PDT

Having helped bring properties like DotA 2 and Castlevania to TV, Netflix is once again turning to a historic gaming franchise to add to its content library. On Saturday, the streamer announced it would release Tekken: Bloodline, an animated adaption of Bandai Namco's popular fighting game series, in 2022.

In the trailer Netflix shared alongside the announcement, we're introduced to protagonist Jin Kazama, who joined the franchise as a playable character in 1996's Tekken 3. In the show, Kazama embarks on a quest for revenge when his mother Jun falls to what she calls a demon. Kazama subsequently turns to his grandfather, Heihachi Mishima, for help. If old man Mishima gives off a sinister vibe, it's because he's the main villain of the Tekken franchise. Kazama's quest eventually leads him to The King of Iron Fist Tournament where we see some familiar faces.

Outside of knowing it will come out later this year, we don't have an exact release date for Tekken: Bloodline. Netflix's track record with video game adaptations has mostly depended on the companies it has partnered with to work on those projects. Productions like Arcane and The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf have been a success for the company thanks to the involvement of studios like Fortiche and Studio Mir.

Hackers are corrupting the save files of ‘Elden Ring’ players on PC

Posted: 20 Mar 2022 11:37 AM PDT

If you're playing through Elden Ring on PC, you may want to disable the game's online functionality for the time being. According to a Reddit report spotted by Eurogamer, some malicious individuals have found a hack that can send PC players into an endless death loop.

You can see the exploit in action in a video posted by Elden Ring Update on Twitter. A hacker will invade your game and use a specific ability that forces Elden Ring to crash. When you reload your save, your character will repeatedly fall to their death. Elden Ring is a big game, and some players have reported losing as much as 100 hours of gameplay in this way.

If all of this sounds familiar, it's because FromSoftware was recently forced to disable Dark Souls 3's multiplayer features after a hacker identified a vulnerability within the game that allowed them to execute code remotely. The studio has been working to address the issue since February.

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco have yet to comment on the exploit. We'll update this article when they say something on the matter. In the meantime, your best bet is to play offline. Failing that, you'll want to regularly backup your save in case someone uses the exploit on one of your characters. In the worst-case scenario, it's possible to salvage a save, but the process isn't easy. You need to press Alt F4 before your character dies, and then quickly fast travel to a Site of Grace when you reload the game.  

Epic will donate two weeks of 'Fortnite' proceeds to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine

Posted: 20 Mar 2022 10:13 AM PDT

Starting today through to April 3rd, Epic Games will donate all of its Fortnite proceeds to humanitarian organizations providing on-the-ground relief to Ukrainians affected by the invasion of their country. Players can support the action by making in-game purchases involving real-world money.

That means should you buy V-Bucks, select cosmetic packs and other items, whatever money Epic would usually get will instead go to organizations like Direct Relief and UNICEF that are providing emergency aid, shelter and other forms of support to Ukrainians right now. Epic will also donate proceeds from gift card purchases, provided they're redeemed during the two-week period.

At the moment, four relief organizations are taking part in the effort. Outside of the two mentioned above, the UN's Refugee Agency and Food Programme are also involved. Epic said more organizations would join in "the coming weeks."

What's more, Microsoft is taking part in the initiative. The company has agreed to contribute net proceeds from sales of all Fortnite content made through the Microsoft Store until April 3rd. Epic notes it will attempt to send any relief funds it generates over the next two weeks as quickly as it can. To that end, the company won't wait to get the money from its platform and payment partners. Instead, it will send the funds as it logs transactions.

Epic is the latest video game company to offer its support to the people of Ukraine in this way. Riot Games recently ran a player fundraiser where it said it would donate proceeds from the sale of in-game passes and its latest League of Legends skins. As of March 9th, the studio said players had raised more than $2 million. Gaming marketplaces like Itch.io and Humble Bundle have also tried to help, offering bundles with all the proceeds going to relief organizations supporting those affected by the conflict.
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