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- The Morning After: Google and iFixit collaborate on parts to help you repair Pixel phones
- Amazon's Kindle and Fire tablet sale offers savings of up to 44 percent
- Apple Watch Series 7 falls to a new all-time low of $314 at Amazon
- Apple Studio Display issue leaves some owners unable to update their firmware
- Elon Musk won't join Twitter's board of directors after all
- iOS 16 could include improved notifications and new health tracking features
- An autonomous Cruise vehicle left police confused when they tried to pull it over
- ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ has the best opening weekend for a video game movie
- Apple's 10.2-inch iPad is down to $309 right now
- 'Kingdom Hearts IV' features a new look for series protagonist Sora
- Twitter reverses change that turned embeds of deleted tweets into blank boxes
- Google Fi cuts plan pricing, adds more high-speed data
- First ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ season three trailer teases a starship hijacking
- NASA delays Artemis 1 Moon rocket test to April 12th
- Google blocks Russian parliament YouTube channel
- 3D CT scans make even ketchup caps look cool
- The first all-civilian space crew has docked with the ISS
The Morning After: Google and iFixit collaborate on parts to help you repair Pixel phones Posted: 11 Apr 2022 04:17 AM PDT Google is the latest phone maker to join Apple and Samsung in giving you resources to fix phones yourself. It's partnering with the tinkerer of all tinkerers, iFixit, to provide official parts for Pixel phones later this year. Notably, the initiative will cover models ranging from the Pixel 2 (from 2017) through to the Pixel 6 Pro and beyond. According to the announcement, you'll get access to a "full range" of components, like batteries, cameras and displays, whether you buy them individually or with iFixit's own Fix Kit tools. It's shaping up to be an interesting year for people willing to repair their own phones. We still haven't had a chance to see how Apple's iPhone repair proposal will fare in real life — how hard is it going to be? — but Google is being smart by pairing with, arguably, the go-to people for those willing to take their phone's life into their own hands. — Mat Smith
The biggest stories you might have missed
Hummer EV first driveAn enormous electric super truckThe Hummer has always been ostentatious. So it's no surprise the Hummer EV is not only large but also heavy, and really not all that efficient as an EV. But what it lacks in miles per kilowatt, it makes up for in over-the-top fun. Roberto Baldwin got to drive the larger-than-life SUV, and it proved to be a capable off-roader that showcases GM's Ultium platform. It is still, at its core, a Hummer. iOS 16 could include upgraded health tracking featuresBut don't expect an UI redesign.The next major update of iOS could include "significant enhancements," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman anticipates iOS 16 will include an update to notifications and an assortment of new health-tracking features. Gurman added that the Apple Watch's watchOS 9 may include upgrades to its activity and health-tracking features, but stopped short of sharing specifics. Boo. 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' has the best opening weekend for a video game movieBreaking the record set by… the first Sonic movie.With a $71 million debut at the domestic box office, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has set a new record for the US film debut of a video game adaptation, beating the previous high watermark set by its predecessor in 2020. The sequel made $57 million during its opening weekend, and Paramount now plans to expand this success into a cinematic universe. What have you done?
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Amazon's Kindle and Fire tablet sale offers savings of up to 44 percent Posted: 11 Apr 2022 03:45 AM PDT As it does from time to time, Amazon has launched a sale on both Fire HD tablets and Kindle devices, with most items at the second-best prices we've seen so far. The best deal is on the Fire HD 8 tablet, now available for $50 instead of $90, for a savings of $40 or 44 percent off. You'll also find the Fire HD 8 Plus at $90 for a savings of 36 percent or $50 and can pick up the Fire HD 10 Plus for $120 ($60 or 33 percent off). Buy Fire HD tablets at AmazonThere's a lot to like about the Fire HD 8 tablet, provided you're okay without direct support for Google apps. It includes Alexa support, a USB-C port for faster charging, solid build quality, 32GB of storage that can be upgraded via a microSD card slot, a relatively sharp 1,280 x 800 display, 2GB of RAM, a 4,850 mAh battery and a quad-core chip that offers decent performance. The Fire HD8 Plus boosts RAM to 3GB, includes wireless charging and comes with a 9W charger in the box. And the Fire HD 10 gives you a 10-inch 1080p display, 32GB of upgradeable storage, 2GB of RAM, an 8-core processor and a battery that allows for up to 12 hours of reading with fast USB-C charging. Several Kindle tablets are also on sale at the second best prices we've seen. The regular ad-supported model is on sale for $60, a discount of $30 from the regular $90 price. You can also pick up the Kindle Kids Edition with the "Rainbow Birds Cover" for $65 instead of $110, a savings of 41 percent. Buy Kindle tablets at AmazonThe latest Kindle models offer a lot for the money, including an LED-lit screen, weeks of reading time and a touch interface. The Kids Edition adds some perks, like one of four colorful cases, a two-year worry-free guarantee and a year of complimentary access to the company's FreeTime Unlimited service. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
Apple Watch Series 7 falls to a new all-time low of $314 at Amazon Posted: 11 Apr 2022 02:26 AM PDT Apple Watch Series 7 models are still on sale at Amazon starting at $330, but one model in particular just fell even further. The 41mm GPS model with a green aluminum case and green "Clover Sport" band has now dropped to $314 or $85 off, marking a new low price for Watch Series 7 models. Buy Watch Series 7 GPS (green only) at Amazon - $314If you're fond of green, you'll get Apple's latest Watch Series 7 model with improvements over the Series 6 like a larger screen, faster charging and IP6X dust resistance. The bigger display makes it easier to see time at a glance, and the faster charging is handy if you like to wear your Watch continuously — even while you sleep. As with past models, it also comes with features like an always-on display, a rich app ecosystem and tight integration with Fitness+ and other Apple apps. On the downside, it doesn't have the best sleep-tracking app around and isn't the best option for Android users. If you're looking for a more neutral or other color, worry not. Other 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 GPS models are still on sale in Red, Abyss Blue, Midnight (black) and Starlight (white) at the $330 price tag we saw last week. And there are a variety of 41mm GPS+Cellular models on sale for $429 ($70 off), 45mm GPS models for $359 ($70 off) and 45mm GPS + Cellular models for $459 (also $70 off). These are essentially the same deals we saw last week, but a dollar cheaper for some reason. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
Apple Studio Display issue leaves some owners unable to update their firmware Posted: 11 Apr 2022 01:35 AM PDT Some owners of the new Apple Studio Display have reported having problems updating to the latest firmware. As MacRumors points out, after multiple failed attempts, users were being told by Apple support to bring their display in for repair to an Apple Store or authorized repair facility. The issue has affected a growing number of users on Apple's support forum. When attempting the update, users get a message stating "Apple Studio Display firmware could not be updated. Try again in an hour. If the problem persists, contact an authorized Apple service provider." Subsequent attempts then fail, even if connecting via another computer. (Engadget has reached out to Apple for comment on the issue.) The Studio Display is off to a shaky start, with criticism of its 60Hz refresh rate, relatively high price tag and mediocre webcam. Apple promised to fix the webcam via firmware update, but has yet to provide a timeline. The Studio Display packs an A13 Bionic chip (the same as on the iPhone 11) and runs a full version of iOS 15.4. As such, fixes arrive as part of an iOS update, allowing users to update it through System Preferences on macOS. Update: 04/11/22 at 6am ET — Apple has reportedly begun re-signing an older iOS 15.4 firmware, allowing the Studio Display to resume updates.
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Elon Musk won't join Twitter's board of directors after all Posted: 11 Apr 2022 12:20 AM PDT Elon Musk will no longer join Twitter's board of directors, Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal revealed in a tweet. Last week, it was reported that Musk would join as a Class II director following his purchase of 9.2 percent of the company's shares, but he has now decided against the move. "We announced on Tuesday that Elon would be appointed to the Board contingent on a background check and formal acceptance," said Agrawal. "Elon's appointment to the board was to become officially effective 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he will no longer be joining the board. I believe this is for the best. We have and will always value input from our shareholders whether they are on our Board or not. Elon is our biggest shareholder and we will remain open to his input." Musk's Twitter stock purchase was worth $2.89 billion when it was revealed by the SEC, but some recent reports questioned whether he revealed his stake early enough. Joining the board would have restricted Musk's purchases to 14.9 percent of common stock during his tenure and for 90 days afterward. It's not clear why Musk decided not to join Twitter's board, especially since he seemed to be full of ideas on how to change the social media network. Most recently, he tweeted out the idea of giving verification checkmarks to paid Twitter Blue subscribers and suggested that Twitter convert its San Francisco office to a homeless shelter since "no-one shows up anyway." He also ran a poll asking users if Twitter should add an edit button, and just a day later, the company confirmed it would do just that. Musk also recently tweeted a photo of himself smoking cannabis on the Joe Rogan podcast on Spotify in 2018, stating the next board meeting was "going to be lit." When his joining the board appeared imminent, Agrawal offered to address any employee concerns in a Q&A session with Musk. Musk appears to have removed some of his Twitter-related tweets, like the poll and homeless shelter ones, over the last few hours. |
iOS 16 could include improved notifications and new health tracking features Posted: 10 Apr 2022 02:27 PM PDT The next major release of Apple's iOS operating system could include "significant enhancements," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says he anticipates iOS 16 to include an update to notifications and an assortment of new health-tracking features. However, for those hoping to see a redesign of iOS, that's apparently not on the table. "I'm not expecting an end-to-end redesign of iOS's interface, even though it hasn't changed much since iOS 7 nearly a decade ago," said Gurman. He notes the extent of any interface changes Apple plans for might end at a tweak to the iPad's multitasking UI. Looking to the company's other operating systems, Gurman notes watchOS 9 may include upgrades to its activity and health tracking features, but stopped short of sharing specifics. Even less clear is what Apple has planned for the next version of macOS. With Big Sur, the company redesigned its desktop operating system to make it look more like iOS. Meanwhile, with the more recent Monterey, Apple introduced features like Universal Control and SharePlay. Apple will preview the new macOS, alongside iOS 16 and watchOS 9, at WWDC 2022. The company's annual developer conference kicks off on June 6th this year. It's possible we could also see Apple introduce new hardware at the event as well, with Gurman reiterating that Apple is working on new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models. |
An autonomous Cruise vehicle left police confused when they tried to pull it over Posted: 10 Apr 2022 12:46 PM PDT Since February, GM's Cruise self-driving unit has offered public taxi rides in San Francisco. And for the most part, it seems the service hasn't run into any notable problems. That is until a strange situation played out last weekend when one of the company's vehicles left police seemingly confused by its response to a routine traffic stop.
The video you see above was first posted on April 2nd but only began to circulate widely after 9to5 publisher Seth Weintraub shared it on his personal Twitter account on Saturday. It shows San Francisco police attempting to pull over a driverless Cruise vehicle in the city's Richmond District, only for the car to temporarily take off as a group of onlookers watch the scene in disbelief. One day after Weintraub shared the video, Cruise commented on the clip, stating its vehicle yielded to police and moved to the nearest safe location for that traffic stop. "An officer contacted Cruise personnel and no citation was issued," the company said. "We work closely with the SFPD on how to interact with our vehicles, including a dedicated phone number for them to call in situations like this." It's unclear why police stopped the vehicle, but it would appear the car didn't have its front lights on. It's safe to say we may see more episodes like the one that played out on April 2nd occur as autonomous vehicles become a more common sight on US roads. It should come as no surprise then Cruise produced a video designed to teach first responders how to approach its vehicles. Check it out above. |
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ has the best opening weekend for a video game movie Posted: 10 Apr 2022 10:39 AM PDT Sonic has done it again. With a $71 million debut at the domestic box office, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has set a new record for the US film debut of a video game adaptation, beating out the previous high watermark set by its predecessor in 2020. The first movie in what now Paramount plans to expand into a cinematic universe made $57 million during its opening weekend. Before the pandemic shut down theaters throughout the US and other parts of the world, the first Sonic film went on to gross $319 million globally. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is currently on track to beat those earnings having grossed approximately $141 million globally. As with the first movie, timing appears to have been a significant factor in Sonic 2's early success. Its main competitor at the box office was Sony's much-maligned Morbius, which saw a drastic 74 percent drop in ticket sales from its opening weekend last Friday. It only earned $10.2 million in additional domestic revenue after a $39 million debut. What we can say, people love Idris Elba. |
Apple's 10.2-inch iPad is down to $309 right now Posted: 10 Apr 2022 09:11 AM PDT For a few days now, Amazon has offered a $50 discount on the 256GB model of Apple's 10.2-inch iPad, allowing you to purchase the tablet for $429. But if all you wanted to do was buy the less expensive base model, you've been out of luck until now. As of this weekend, you can purchase the 64GB variant for $309, down from $329, from both Amazon and Walmart. That's the best discount of the year on Apple's entry-level tablet. Just note that Amazon is only offering the silver colorway at that price, while you can get both the silver and space gray models for $309 from Walmart. Buy 10.2-inch iPad at Amazon - $309Buy 10.2-inch iPad at WalmartWe gave the ninth generation iPad a score of 86 in 2021. Yes, it features a tired design that Apple hasn't updated in years, but there's still a lot to like about the tablet. It's a solid performer with Apple's in-house A13 Bionic chip powering everything, including the updated 12-megapixel wide-angle camera that comes with the company's "Center Stage" feature for improved video calling. Battery life is also solid, with the tablet capable of going 10-plus hours on a single charge. The main drawbacks of the 10.2-inch iPad are that it doesn't come with a USB-C port and that you're stuck using the first-generation Apple Pencil – which you charge by connecting it to the tablet's Lightning port. That said, if all you need is a device for browsing the web, reading and watching video content, it's hard to go wrong with the 10.2-inch iPad. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
'Kingdom Hearts IV' features a new look for series protagonist Sora Posted: 10 Apr 2022 08:16 AM PDT Square Enix is developing a new mainline Kingdom Hearts game, the publisher announced on Sunday during an event in Tokyo celebrating the franchise's 20th anniversary. Kingdom HeartsIV sees series protagonist Sora return after 2019's Kingdom Hearts III concluded the story arc that began with the original game in 2002. The trailer Square Enix shared over the weekend opens with Sora waking up in a city called Quadratum. It's a Tokyo-like metropolis rendered in a realistic graphical style that's a significant departure for the series. After a new character named Strelitzia introduces herself to Sora, the city is attacked by a towering monster. As Sora runs off to face the threat, the trailer appears to seamlessly transition to gameplay. We see Sora complete an impressive parkour sequence that involves a collapsing building. After the title card, the trailer reintroduces Donald Duck and Goofy, who are searching for their lost friend. There's no word on a release date for Kingdom Hearts IV. But at the same event, Square Enix announced Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a new mobile title that fans in select markets will be available to beta test on Android and iOS this August. |
Twitter reverses change that turned embeds of deleted tweets into blank boxes Posted: 09 Apr 2022 03:01 PM PDT Twitter has temporarily walked back a controversial change that made it difficult for people to preserve deleted tweets. On Wednesday, writer Kevin Marks pointed out that the company had recently tweaked its embedded javascript so that the text of deleted tweets was no longer visible in embeds on third-party websites. By late Friday evening, however, one Twitter user noticed the company had reverted the change, with Twitter confirming the move one day later. "After considering the feedback we heard, we're rolling back this change for now while we explore different options," a spokesperson for the company told The Verge. "We appreciate those who shared their points of view — your feedback helps us make Twitter better." When the initial change was first spotted, Twitter product manager Eleanor Harding said the company made the tweak to "better respect" people who decide to delete their tweets. Part of what made the move problematic for many was that it simply left a blank space where the embed of a deleted tweet had been previously. Harding said Twitter was planning to roll out additional messaging that would explain why a tweet was no longer visible. Twitter didn't elaborate on the "different options" it was exploring following its reversal. For many, the decision to change how embeds work was a strange one. When Twitter first introduced embedding in 2011, it said it intentionally wanted to maintain the text of deleted tweets. And for many years afterward, company executives, including former CEO Jack Dorsey, stressed the role of the platform as a kind of "public record." |
Google Fi cuts plan pricing, adds more high-speed data Posted: 09 Apr 2022 01:19 PM PDT Google Fi is making its unlimited data plans more affordable. In an email the MVNO sent to Engadget, it shared it was reducing the monthly cost of its Simply Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans by up to $10 and $5 respectively, with the former starting at $50 per month for one line and the latter at $65 every 30 days. Moreover, both plans now come with additional high-speed data. With a Simply Unlimited package, you can use up to 35GB of data, up from 22GB previously, before Google will begin throttling your connection. As an Unlimited Plus customer, meanwhile, the high-speed cap is now at 50GB. Simply Unlimited subscribers can also look forward to having up to 5GB per month for hotspot tethering. That's a feature that was previously limited to the more expensive Plus plan. Lastly, all Fi customers, including those on the MVNO's Flexible plan, can look forward to complimentary calling within Canada and Mexico. Previously, it was only possible to make calls to Canada and Mexico – while still in the US – for free. With the price cut and feature tweaks, Google's Simply Unlimited plan compares favorably with entry-level unlimited plans from other carriers. For instance, T-Mobile's Essentials package starts at $60 per month for one line and comes with 50GB of high-speed data and unlimited 3G data when tethering devices to your phone, but you're limited to 480p when streaming videos. |
First ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ season three trailer teases a starship hijacking Posted: 09 Apr 2022 11:37 AM PDT Amid the deluge of all the Star Trek shows CBS has produced since bringing the franchise back to TV in 2017, Lower Decks has stood out for its fun and smart take on Gene Roddenberry's sci-fi universe. Last October, season two ended on a cliffhanger with the Federation arresting Captain Freeman for allegedly destroying the Pakled planet. An ominous "To be continued…" left the fate of the loveable crew of the USS Cerritos unclear.
On Saturday, we got a clue as to what happens next on the show, with CBS sharing the first trailer for season three of Lower Decks. And wouldn't you know it, after stepping up to the occasion, it looks like Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi and Rutherford are back to their usual hijinks with an ill-advised plan to hijack the Cerritos from drydock. "This is for the captain," one of them declares as the camera pans to a shot of the starship without its hull plating and another voice questions the sanity of the entire plan. "Are you stealing the Cerritos!?" they yell. We can't wait to see how things pan out. In the US, you can watch the first two seasons of Lower Decks on Paramount+. Alongside the premiere of Strange New Worlds on May 5th, season three is one of a handful of Star Trek properties that will hit the streaming service before the end of the year. |
NASA delays Artemis 1 Moon rocket test to April 12th Posted: 09 Apr 2022 10:19 AM PDT NASA has once again delayed the final test of its next-generation Space Launch System. The agency spent much of last weekend conducting a "wet dress rehearsal" of its upcoming Artemis 1 Moon mission. The test was designed to replicate the mission's countdown procedure and was mostly moving along according to plan until NASA encountered a problem with the SLS's mobile launcher platform. The issue prevented the agency from safely loading the rocket with liquid propellant, and NASA delayed the critical test to troubleshoot the problem. It had initially planned to resume the test on April 9th to accommodate Axiom's Space historic Ax-1 flight but announced today it was further delaying the trial to the start of next week. It also announced it would modify the test after engineers noticed a problem with a helium check valve designed to prevent the gas from escaping the SLS. The modified test will see NASA primarily focus on fueling the rocket's core stage, with "minimal propellant operations" of its upper stage. "Due to the changes in loading procedures required for the modified test, wet dress rehearsal testing is slated to resume with call to stations on Tuesday, April 12th and tanking on Thursday, April 14th," NASA said. Once the test is complete, NASA can finally move forward with Artemis 1. The mission will send an unmanned Orion capsule on a flight around the Moon designed to study how the trip will affect human astronauts. The agency won't set a date for the mission until it completes the wet dress rehearsal. If it doesn't encounter any further setbacks this week, Artemis 1 could lift off as early as this June. |
Google blocks Russian parliament YouTube channel Posted: 09 Apr 2022 08:46 AM PDT Google has blocked Russia's Duma TV YouTube channel, according to Reuters. On Saturday, the company said it had "terminated" the channel, which airs meetings of Russia's lower house of parliament, for a violation of the platform's terms of service. "If we find that an account violates our Terms of Service, we take appropriate action," a Google spokesperson told the outlet. "Our teams are closely monitoring the situation for any updates and changes." The company added it was committed to complying with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in late February. The suspension quickly drew the ire of Russian officials, with a spokesperson for the country's foreign ministry warning YouTube had "signed its own warrant." Russia's Roskomnadzor telecom regulator condemned the move and ordered Google to restore Duma TV's YouTube access immediately. "The American IT company adheres to a pronounced anti-Russian position in the information war unleashed by the West against our country," the agency said. The response from Russian authorities suggests YouTube could become the latest Western internet service to face restrictions within the country. Shortly after the war in Ukraine began on February 24th, Russia moved to block access to Twitter. In March, it then cut off Facebook and Instagram – but not WhatsApp due to the chat app's popularity among Russian citizens. It subsequently found the Meta-owned services guilty of "extremist" activity after the company said it would temporarily allow calls of violence in Ukraine and a handful of other countries. |
3D CT scans make even ketchup caps look cool Posted: 09 Apr 2022 06:06 AM PDT See that picture up there? It may look like something out of Tron or Blade Runner, but it's actually a CT scan — of a Heinz ketchup cap. A group of "deeply curious engineers" is scanning different types of items every month to give us a deeper appreciation of various engineering marvels surrounding us in every day life. The latest batch of scans includes a Heinz squeeze-bottle cap that took its inventor 185,000 hours and 45 prototypes to finalize. It's quite a complex assembly, which allows for the ketchup to be stored upside-down without leaking — the design was even licensed to NASA to create leak-proof containers for its astronauts.
In addition to the Heinz bottle cap, the team also scanned a Sriracha nozzle that had such a distinctive design, the family behind the hot sauce chose to trademark it. The engineers scanned a Vita Coco bottle cap, as well, confirming that the foil inside does indeed remain intact until the cap's miniature saw does its job when you open it for the first time. Who knew food packaging could be this fascinating? Back in December, the team scanned three different AirPods to show how Apple's wireless earbuds have evolved. You'll see how the tech giant kept rearranging the earbuds' internal components over the years, giving each generation a complete redesign. A month later, the team uploaded scans of Nintendo's handheld consoles from the Game Boy to the Switch. Seeing the original Game Boy's processor, which was apparently slower than a TI-83 calculator's, will give you a new appreciation of how far handheld gaming has come. Finally, in February, the team scanned a handful of Polaroid and Fujifilm instant cameras, showcasing their complex internal components and how the small devices can print on pretty large films. You can see all all team's 3D scans on their website, where all future projects will most likely be uploaded. |
The first all-civilian space crew has docked with the ISS Posted: 09 Apr 2022 05:35 AM PDT A SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the first fully private space crew has docked with the International Space Station. The quartet launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday morning without any major hiccups. Their journey to the ISS took around 20 hours. The Dragon ran into a video routing problem before the docking sequence could start, causing a 45 minute-delay as it stayed roughly 20 meters away from the ISS while SpaceX was troubleshooting the issue.
The crew members — commander and former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría and businessmen Larry Connor, Eytan Stibbe and Mark Pathy — are expected to spend eight days on the space station. They'll conduct science experiments, along with outreach and commercial activities. They'll also bring some scientific samples back to Earth for NASA as well. Axiom Space's first all-civilian mission, AX-1, is the first of several private ISS missions the company plans to launch in the coming years. It will build the first commercial module on the space station as well as a module that houses a sports arena and film studio. The Axiom Station and attached film studio module are expected to separate from the ISS in 2028.
Mariella Moon contributed to this report. |
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