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- HBO Max exec admits to the app’s early flaws
- See Overwatch 2's first new hero Sojourn in action
- Major League Baseball will stream 15 games on YouTube this season
- Meta teases a web version of Horizon Worlds
- FBI believes North Korean hacker cell is behind last month's $600 million crypto heist
- NASA hopes to make space more accessible by addressing socioeconomic barriers
- Elon Musk says that Twitter's algorithm should be open source
- 'Cyberpunk 2077' expansion will arrive in 2023
- Watch Elon Musk's TED talk live for free
- Alexa devices now support TuneIn Premium radio streaming
- YouTube gives Shorts creators the ability to remix most videos
- Tinder brings back Festival Mode now that in-person events are a thing again
- Peloton increases its subscription fees for the first time
- Moog's Etherwave Theremin makes a classic design more convenient
- US warns of state-supported malware built to attack critical infrastructure
- Honda will retire the hybrid Insight to focus production on its 'core' models
- Korg's Volca FM 2 synth adds more voices, reverb and randomization
- WhatsApp wants to turn your group chats into 'Communities'
- WhatsApp is adding reaction emoji and better misinformation controls
- Juul will pay $22.5 million to settle a Washington state lawsuit
- The best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy
- Amazon is bringing mobile games to its Amazon Kids+ service
- Apple's AirPods Pro are on sale for $175 again
- MIT engineers built a robot for emergency stroke surgeries
- Wikipedia editors vote to block cryptocurrency donations
| HBO Max exec admits to the app’s early flaws Posted: 14 Apr 2022 04:32 PM PDT Viewers have long complained about the early HBO Max app's tendency to crash, and its lack of discoverability features. There have been a number of overhauls and fixes since then. Now we know why. Turns out that HBO Max launched its apps before they were ready in order to keep up with its competitors. The app was "never intended to go global" or to suit the needs of a direct-to-consumer market, according to an interview that Sarah Lyons, HBO Max's head of product experience, gave Protocol. The network wanted to build an audience first, and then fix the app's flaws as the service scaled up. While Lyons admits that the early days of HBO Max were rocky, she thinks the company made the right decision. We've been changing out the engine of the plane while we're flying the plane," she said. "I do think it was the right decision to try to balance both," said Lyons. HBO Max first released its app in May 2020, to join an already saturated streaming ecosystem that included Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+ and others. At the time, both HBO Go (the network's on-demand app for cable subscribers) and HBO Now (the standalone app for cord-cutters) were still available, a fact that confused many subscribers. The network has since retired both apps. Viewers have flocked to Reddit since the app's initial launch with complaints that spanned platforms and devices. "We've been trying to watch the Harry Potter movies and literally every 15 min or so we get an ERROR message and have to force close the app. Another time it froze completely. It's absolute garbage. I don't have this problem with any other app or streaming service," wrote one user in a thread on the r/HBOMax subreddit from January 2021 entitled "Why does this app suck so hard?" For many viewers long-accustomed to advanced recommendation algorithms on Netflix and other streaming platforms, it was hard to get used to HBO Max's lack of discoverability features. Lyons admitted that HBO Max wasn't built with discovery in mind, and the app tried to address this by putting every new show on the app's home page. "You didn't have to go find anything, because whatever [show] you were looking for was going to be at the top of the home page," said Lyons. While Engadget's early review of HBO Max detailed its flaws, we pointed out that it was still a "smart bet" for the company. Since then, the service has made many improvements, including a new Apple TV app and updates to its apps for Roku, Playstation, Android TV and others. But following a recent $43 billion merger with Discovery, the biggest change is yet to come. The plan is to merge both Discovery Plus and HBO Max into one unified platform. HBO Max ended 2021 with 43.8 million subscribers, when combined with the network's cable subscribers of HBO who also have access to the streaming service. It'll soon absorb at least another 22 million subscribers from Discovery Plus. While there could be more bumps down the road, viewers can at least be assured that HBO Max has more experience under its belt now. |
| See Overwatch 2's first new hero Sojourn in action Posted: 14 Apr 2022 01:24 PM PDT The Overwatch 2 PvP beta starts later this month and Blizzard has released a gameplay trailer for one of the sequel's main additions, Sojourn. She's the 33rd hero in the Overwatch lineup, but is the first character to be introduced in two years. Sojourn is a damage hero best suited for mid-range combat and you can take a look at her in action below. Sojourn has a railgun with two modes of fire. The primary fire sends out rapid projectiles that build up energy on impact. With her secondary fire, you can fire that stored energy as a high-impact shot. There's a movement ability called Power Slide. You'll be able to cancel that with a high jump (similar to Moira's Fade). She also has a Disruptor Shot, which is an area-of-effect ability that slows and damages enemies in its radius. Sojourn's ultimate ability is called Overclock. This supercharges the secondary fire of the railgun by automatically restoring the energy. Shots fired while the ability is active will pierce enemies, so if you can line a couple up, you can take them both out at once. In other words, you'll need to have decent aim and positioning to get the most out of her. Blizzard also released a trailer that delves into Sojourn's origin story. She was a member of the Canadian Special Forces whose unit linked up with the Overwatch task force during the Omnic Crisis. She forged a partnership with Jack Morrison (aka Soldier: 76) and, after the war, he recruited her to the group. Sojourn is the first playable Black woman in the series. She will be available in the Overwatch 2 PvP beta, which starts on April 26th. The competitive side of the sequel will mark a shift from teams of six to five-player squads and add new maps, an updated game engine, a ping system and many changes to the current roster of heroes. The Overwatch League will also play games using the Overwatch 2 beta when it returns next month. |
| Major League Baseball will stream 15 games on YouTube this season Posted: 14 Apr 2022 01:06 PM PDT Like an ambitious butcher trying to cleave a dollar of meat out of a 10-cent steak, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday that it is carving out a bit more of its television broadcast rights, renewing its four-season-old deal for the "MLB Game of the Week Live on YouTube" with the Alphabet property. But unlike other recently struck deals, these streaming exclusives will be free to watch and without local blackout restrictions. Beginning with the Rockies-Nats game on May 5th (first pitch 3:10 ET), YouTube will once again be home to more than a dozen MLB games throughout the 2022 season. Broadcasters Scott Braun and Yonder Alonso return to call the play-by-play. The full lineup is as follows:
YouTubeTV subscribers will be able to find these games on the service's dedicated Game of the Week channel while everybody else will see them on the MLB YouTube page. Fans will be able to interact with the broadcasts either via the live chat, "featuring game commentary from MLB superfan YouTube creators," as well as in-game polls and, for subscribers, access to real-time game stats. The 2022 MLB season is riddled with exclusive broadcast deals. Beyond the standard local blackout rules, 18 Sunday games will be only available with a $10-a-month Peacock subscription, AppleTV+ ($6 a month) gets the Friday Doubleheaders, and ESPN has dibs on Sunday Night Baseball. There's also MLB.TV which has rights to everything but is far more expensive than its alternatives, at least until the All-Star break. |
| Meta teases a web version of Horizon Worlds Posted: 14 Apr 2022 12:46 PM PDT Meta's Horizon Worlds might not require that you don a headset to get a taste of Horizon Worlds. In response to criticisms of Meta's 47.5 percent cut of sales in the virtual world, CTO Andrew "Boz" Bosworth teased that a future "web version" would demand a more reasonable 25 percent. That's "much lower" than rivals like Roblox, the exec claimed. Bosworth didn't say more about how the web edition would work or when it would launch. It's not clear if this is a VR environment or a scaled-back experience, for instance.
The CTO justified the 47.5 percent rate for Quest headset users by maintaining that it was needed to "help build a different ecosystem." Meta reaches that value by taking a 30 percent slice of revenue through the Quest Store and then 25 percent from the remaining amount in Horizon Worlds. This math would apply if the Quest Store was replaced with another platform "underneath," Bosworth added, such as Apple's App Store or the Google Play Store. This might offer some consolation to creators worried they'd lose nearly half of all sales revenue to Meta's share. You could buy a digital item in Horizon Worlds' web version knowing the designer would get a much larger portion than if you made the same purchase in VR. It might not soften all the criticism, however. Bosworth rebutted Apple's accusations of hypocrisy by claiming the iPhone maker favors its business "at great expense" to developers. However, it's still true that Meta will frequently collect revenue from two services where Apple, Google and others will only scoop up payments from one. That won't please creatives who hope to live off their digital item sales and may have to raise prices to compensate for Meta's approach. |
| FBI believes North Korean hacker cell is behind last month's $600 million crypto heist Posted: 14 Apr 2022 12:02 PM PDT Late last month, hackers stole more than half a billion dollars worth of Ethereum from the Ronin blockchain behind play-to-earn game, Axis Infinity. On Thursday, the FBI announced that it now attributes the heist, dubbed the Ronin Validator Security Breach, to a North Korean outfit calling itself the Lazarus Group. The Ronin Network (the company behind the blockchain behind the game) updated its ongoing page regarding the cyberattack on Thursday, noting that "the Treasury Department has sanctioned the address that received the stolen funds." "We are still in the process of adding additional security measures before redeploying the Ronin Bridge to mitigate future risk," the company continued. "Expect the bridge to be deployed by end of month." Additionally, the Ronin Network plans to release "a full post mortem" detailing the new security measures being put in place, by the end of the month. |
| NASA hopes to make space more accessible by addressing socioeconomic barriers Posted: 14 Apr 2022 11:30 AM PDT NASA is taking steps to create more opportunities related to space, including for those from underserved and underrepresented communities, amid a broader push for improved racial equity in the federal government. The agency says its Equity Action Plan will allow it to internally and externally track progress on improving diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The plan has four focus areas:
Among the measures NASA plans to take to address these issues in underserved communities are running more engagement events, increasing outreach and training and offering small businesses more contract opportunities. The agency is also aiming to address language barriers by updating its language access plan and expanding accessibility for populations with limited English proficiency, starting with communications in Spanish. NASA plans to return to crewed Moon landings in 2025. Through the Artemis program, it plans to land a woman and person of color on the Moon for the first time. It has named a diverse shortlist of astronauts who are eligible for the initial flights. "At NASA, all of our missions depend on our steadfast commitment to equal opportunity," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The Equity Action plan deepens our commitment to further identify and remove the barriers that limit opportunity in underserved and underrepresented communities. This framework anchors fairness as a core component in every NASA mission to make the work we do in space and beyond more accessible to all." |
| Elon Musk says that Twitter's algorithm should be open source Posted: 14 Apr 2022 11:16 AM PDT If Elon Musk is indeed able to buy Twitter, the platform could look a lot different. In his first public, non-tweeted comments since the saga began, Musk addressed why he wants to buy the company, and changes he would want to bring about. "Twitter has become kind of the de-facto town square," he said. "It's just really important that people have both the reality and the perception that they're able to speak freely within the bounds of the law." In terms of specific changes, Musk said Twitter should open-source its algorithms and minimize the interventions it takes in policing content. "Any changes to people's tweets — if they're emphasized or de-emphasized — that action should be made apparent," he said. "So anyone can see that that action has been taken so there's no sort of behind-the-scenes manipulation, either algorithmically or manually." He added that the underlying code behind the algorithm should be available on GitHub, so that users could inspect it themselves. Musk also spoke about his philosophy on content moderation, namely that there should be very little of it. "I think we would want to err on the side of, if in doubt, let the speech exist," he said. "I'm not saying that I have all the answers here." He repeated several times that his preference would be to allow all speech that is legal, and that he dislikes measures like permanent bans. "I do think that we want to be just very reluctant to delete things and be very cautious with permanent bans," he said. "You know, timeouts I think are better than sort of permanent bans." Those comments are not likely to be well-received among Twitter employees, some of whom were reportedly extremely worried by the prospect of him joining the board. Musk's appearance at TED comes just hours after the Tesla CEO made a $43 billion offer to buy Twitter. That offer was the culmination of a chaotic few days for Musk and Twitter, during which he revealed that he had become Twitter's largest shareholder, was offered a seat on the company's board of directors, declined to join and was subsequently sued by Twitter shareholders over his delay in reporting his investment to the SEC. Whether Musk will actually succeed in taking over the company is unclear. Twitter's board has so far only said that it will "review" the offer. "I'm not sure that I will actually be able to acquire it," he said. When asked if he had a "plan B," if Twitter's board were to decline his offer, he said that he did but declined to elaborate. As for his own Twitter feed, Musk confirmed what many may have long suspected. "I'm tweeting more or less stream of consciousness," he said. "It's not like, 'let me think about some grand plan about my Twitter' or whatever. I'm like, literally, on the toilet like, 'oh, this is funny,' and then tweet that out, you know?" |
| 'Cyberpunk 2077' expansion will arrive in 2023 Posted: 14 Apr 2022 11:02 AM PDT You'll be waiting a while if you want an extra dose of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red has revealed that an upcoming expansion for the gritty sci-fi game is due sometime in 2023. You can expect more news about the add-on "later this year," CDPR said. The company didn't share much about what the new content would entail, but Quest Director Pawel Sasko said the wait would ensure the expansion was "properly crafted." The plans make sense in light of Cyberpunk 2077's success. While the RPG was notoriously buggy on launch and was even the subject of an investor lawsuit, it has remained a strong seller — CDPR has sold 18 million copies as of this month. An expansion could help maintain that momentum and deliver sales closer to The Witcher games, which have netted 65 million sales so far.
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| Watch Elon Musk's TED talk live for free Posted: 14 Apr 2022 10:22 AM PDT It's a busy time in the world of Elon Musk. On the same day it emerged he made a bid to buy Twitter, he's giving a TED Talk. The organizers of TED are opening up the conference's livestreaming channel to all, so anyone can watch the talk (which is underway) for free. As ever, Musk should have plenty to talk about. He recently became Twitter's largest shareholder. He was offered a seat on the board but turned it down. Soon after, Musk was hit with a class action lawsuit relating to how he disclosed his investment. And that's not to mention his own companies, SpaceX and Tesla, which he might discuss as well. Grab some popcorn and watch the stream here. You can rewind to the beginning if you're joining a little late. |
| Alexa devices now support TuneIn Premium radio streaming Posted: 14 Apr 2022 10:12 AM PDT TuneIn is bringing its paid service to Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. You'll be able to access TuneIn Premium content such as live sports from any Alexa smart speaker or display. You'll be able to listen to MLB, NHL and college sports games featuring your favorite team simply by saying "Alexa, listen to sports." TuneIn Premium also offers more than 600 commercial-free radio stations, and you won't hear pre-roll ads for the tens of thousands of other radio stations on the platform. Additionally, you'll be able to listen to ad-free news. TuneIn Premium typically costs $10 per month. However, Amazon and TuneIn are offering new members a three-month trial. Existing TuneIn Premium members can connect their accounts to Alexa to help them get the most out of their subscription. Alexa has supported TuneIn's regular service for years, so having access to the Premium service is a welcome upgrade. |
| YouTube gives Shorts creators the ability to remix most videos Posted: 14 Apr 2022 10:00 AM PDT YouTube is giving Shorts creators access to a much larger toolkit. Creators will be able to clip and remix up to five seconds of any eligible video or Short in their own shorts. The feature should be available for everyone on iOS in the coming weeks, and it'll come to Android later this year. The tool builds on an audio remixing option YouTube added last year. To remix a regular video, tap the Create button and then Cut from the remix options. You can then choose which part of the video that you want to use in your Short. If you'd like to remix someone else's short, tap the three-dot menu button, then select Cut. Shorts that remix other videos will automatically include attribution for the original. Those who don't want their videos to be remixed can opt out in YouTube Studio. Adding a video remix tool is a smart move. Remixing options played an important role in TikTok's success, while Instagram added a similar option in January. The feature will give current Shorts creators a much bigger palette and it might entice some newcomers to try making Shorts as well. Limiting the length of remix clips to five seconds might seem a little constricting, but inventive creators should still be able to make the most of it. On top of that, it'll now be somewhat easier for Shorts creators to find an audience. Those videos will be available to view on the web and YouTube's tablet app in the coming weeks. Until now, they've only been viewable in the mobile app. |
| Tinder brings back Festival Mode now that in-person events are a thing again Posted: 14 Apr 2022 09:36 AM PDT Tinder is bringing its Festival Mode out of mothballs as in-person music events return in earnest. As of today, you can use the mode in Tinder Explore to match with people up to a month before festivals start. The initial mix of festivals includes well-known American gatherings like Bonnaroo, EDC and The Governors Ball, but also includes international events like the electronic-focused SĂłnar (in Barcelona) and Lollapalooza's outings in Berlin, Paris and Stockholm. This weekend's Coachella is conspicuously absent, however. If your event of choice isn't listed, you can still visit a "Festival Goers" area to hook up with users either going to other festivals or simply interested in the scene. Festival Mode is available to people worldwide. The relaunch was virtually expected. Tinder unsurprisingly took a sharp hit when the pandemic made in-person dating risky or impossible, and scrambled to introduce video dates and other features that helped remote love blossom. Festival Mode could help Tinder revive interest in its core business. And there's evidence to suggest that might work. Tinder noted in 2019 that app usage surges during large events, and that might be particularly true given two years of pent-up demand. |
| Peloton increases its subscription fees for the first time Posted: 14 Apr 2022 09:10 AM PDT Peloton is bumping up subscription fees for the first time in the US and Canada. It's balancing out those increases (at least for newcomers) by reducing the prices on some hardware: the Bike, Bike+ and Tread. Starting on June 1st, the cost of the all-access plan is going up by $5 per month to $44 in the US and by $6 CAD to $55 in Canada, as CNBC reports. The company won't change pricing for users elsewhere for now. The cost of the digital-only plan will remain the same. From 6PM ET today, Peloton will cut prices on some of its products. The price of the Bike will be reduced from $1,745 to $1,445 (which includes shipping and setup). The company is lowering the price of Bike+ by $500 to $1,995. As for Tread, Peloton is cutting the price by $200 to $2,695. The company is hoping that reducing the upfront cost of its fitness equipment will lower the barrier to entry and help it find more customers. "The pricing changes being announced today are part of CEO Barry McCarthy's vision to grow the Peloton community," a spokesperson said. Peloton's share price has dropped significantly over the last year, in part due to a pandemic-driven spike in demand for its products tapering off. Reports earlier this year suggested Peloton had thousands of products sitting in warehouses and on cargo ships and that it was changing its production levels. In February, Peloton replaced its CEO at the same time it cut 2,800 jobs (around 20 percent of its corporate workforce). Only a few days before that, rumors suggested the likes of Amazon, Apple and Nike were interested in buying the company. By shaking up the pricing structure, Peloton is hoping it can correct course. Focusing on recurring revenue from subscriptions and lowering the cost of hardware could help. The company had already showed a willingness to reduce the price of its devices. It started selling the Peloton Guide set-up camera (which comes with its heart-rate monitor) this month for $295. It initially said the system would cost $495. |
| Moog's Etherwave Theremin makes a classic design more convenient Posted: 14 Apr 2022 09:00 AM PDT There are few instruments that are as iconic or mysterious as the Theremin. Its sound immediately conjures recollections of '50s Sci-Fi films and B horror movies. Yet when it debuted in the late 1920s, it toured the world alongside prominent orchestras, and by the late 30s it was in the hands of Clara Rockmore stunning audiences around the globe. The Theremin is also how Bob Moog got his start building instruments, and eventually selling kits for customers to make their own. Which makes it kind of a big deal when the company introduces a new model. The Etherwave Theremin is based on a 1996 design from Bob Moog himself, and replaces the Etherwave and Etherwave Plus. Moog While the Etherwave is certainly something of an iterative update to those models, they've been hard to find outside of the used market recently. It sits firmly in the middle ground between the budget-minded and digital Theremini, and the statement piece that is the $1,500 Claravox Centennial. The $899 Etherwave is a traditional analog Theremin, so you can get all those classic sci-fi sounds. But it also has CV outputs so you can control other gear, including modular synth rigs, simply by waving your hands in the air. (Or, more accurately, by moving your fingers with extreme precision in the air.) Most of the other improvements are focused on portability and convenience. The antenna connections and mic stand adapter have been simplified to speed up assembly and breakdown. Plus Moog has created a custom case for transporting the Etherwave. Lastly, there's a mute control which is handy for not only silencing the Theremin when you don't want to have to wait for it to power back up (and warm up), but also can be used to preview the pitch when you're trying to calibrate or find your bearings during a performance. The Moog Etherwave Theremin is available now and shipping worldwide for $899. |
| US warns of state-supported malware built to attack critical infrastructure Posted: 14 Apr 2022 08:50 AM PDT The US is still on high alert for more cyberattacks against critical infrastructure. TechCrunchnotes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Energy Department, FBI and NSA have issued a warning that hackers have developed custom malware to hijack industrial control systems. Nicknamed Incontroller by Mandiant researchers, the "very likely" state-backed code breaches controllers from Omron and Schneider Electric that are frequently used for industrial automation. Neither the government nor Mandiant attributed Incontroller to a particular country or hacking group. However, Mandiant said the malware's capabilities were "consistent" with Russia's past efforts and its "historical interest" in compromising industrial control systems. The software is complex enough to have required ample expertise to develop, researchers said, and it's not very useful for "financially motivated" hacks. One component, Tagrun, is a "reconnaissance" tool that provides a detailed look at control processes and production systems. The alert's timing is difficult to ignore. It comes as Ukraine grapples with Russia's invasion, and recently foiled a cyberattack against an energy provider that was allegedly the work of Russian military operatives. The US Justice Department also indicted Russian government staff over years of energy sector attacks. The response also follows a year after a string of attacks against American infrastructure companies like Colonial Pipeline and JBS, although those were ransomware incidents more likely perpetrated by criminal groups. Regardless of who's responsible, there's no direct protection against Incontroller at the moment. In their warning, US officials recommended common security measures such as multi-factor authentication and frequent password changes to minimize the chances of an intrusion. While it wouldn't be surprising to see companies deliver security fixes in the near future, there's still a practical risk that intruders could disrupt power grids, manufacturers and others that depend on the affected equipment. |
| Honda will retire the hybrid Insight to focus production on its 'core' models Posted: 14 Apr 2022 08:38 AM PDT The Honda Insight was first released in 1999 and immediately gained a passionate following among car enthusiasts, but was always something of an odd duck in the automaker's lineup — it was the Civic Hybrid before there was officially a Civic Hybrid. However, the Insight's days of being the single most fuel efficient gas-powered vehicle on the road that doesn't plug in are coming to a close. Despite record sales of more than 100,000 electrified vehicles (that's EVs and hybrids) in 2021, Honda on Thursday announced that it will be sunsetting the venerated Insight this June as the company refocuses production efforts on its "core" hybrid models — the Accord, CR-V and Civic — and continues to migrate towards full EV capacity. "Hybrid-electric vehicles are effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and are a critical pathway toward Honda's vision for 100% zero-emission vehicle sales in North America by 2040," said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Making the volume leader of our core models hybrid-electric will dramatically boost electrified sales in the Honda lineup, a strategy that will be augmented by the arrival of a Civic Hybrid in the future." The company notes that the Indiana Auto Plant where the Insight was produced will transition into making the CR-V, CR-V Hybrid and Civic Hatchback. Honda plans to introduce new iterations of the CR-V Hybrid later this year, followed by the Accord Hybrid and "in the future," the Civic Hybrid. |
| Korg's Volca FM 2 synth adds more voices, reverb and randomization Posted: 14 Apr 2022 08:28 AM PDT Korg arguably kickstarted something of a synth revolution when it launched the Volca line. And the Volca FM has been a consistent favorite in the series. (It was also the first "real" synth I ever got, so I have something of a soft spot for it.) Now, some six year later, the company is issuing an updated model, the Volca FM 2. Like the Volca Sample 2 it released in 2020, this is a mostly incremental improvement on the previous model, but it does address some pain points. Let's start with what hasn't changed — the core six operator, 32 algorithm synth engine. The Volca FM remains an unabashedly traditional take on the Yamaha DX7. The form factor is also unchanged, and you can still power it with six AA batteries. You also still get the same 16-step sequencer with "motion sequencing". Physically the changes are subtle. The display is now blue eight-segment LEDs instead of red. The five-pin MIDI DIN has been replaced with a TRS MIDI jack, but that has also made room for MIDI out, incase you want to control other gear with the Volca's sequencer. The big changes though, are under the hood. For one the the Volca FM 2 is a six voice synth, instead of a three voice one. That's a huge change and allows you to play bigger, richer chords. And it now responds to velocity over MIDI, something you basically needed a hack to get before. There's also a reverb effect built-in, in addition to the chorus. A little reverb goes a long way when you're dealing with a synth, especially a digital one. So this is another very welcome upgrade. Lastly Korg has added a randomization feature. This allows you to quickly create new and unique sounds, without having to master the arcane art of FM synthesis. The Volca FM 2 is available to preorder today for $170. |
| WhatsApp wants to turn your group chats into 'Communities' Posted: 14 Apr 2022 08:02 AM PDT WhatsApp will start experimenting with Communities, an update that represents a "major evolution" for the messaging app, according to Mark Zuckerberg. An unreleased version of the feature was first spotted last year, but the company hadn't confirmed its existence until now. Communities will allow people to combine separate group chats "under one umbrella with a structure that works for them," WhatsApp wrote in a blog post. "That way people can receive updates sent to the entire Community and easily organize smaller discussion groups on what matters to them." The company hasn't shared details around exactly how these groups will be formed, but a spokesperson said the idea is to give "close-knit groups" more ways to communicate beyond the chat features currently offered by WhatsApp. The company will start testing the feature later this year in "select countries," but will eventually make it available globally. In a post on Facebook, Zuckerberg said that Communities would be a major shift for WhatsApp and Meta, one that emphasizes "feeds" and traditional social networking features less than "community messaging." "In the same way that social feeds took the basic technology behind the internet and made it so anyone could find people and content online, I think community messaging will take the basic protocols behind one-to-one messaging and extend them so you can communicate more easily with groups of people to get things done together," he wrote. He added that Meta was working on similar features for Messenger, WhatsApp and Facebook as well. It's also a playbook Meta has used in the past. In 2017, Zuckerberg tried to reorient Facebook around Groups and "meaningful communities." The company started building new feature for Groups and encouraging users to join as part of its new mission to "bring the world closer together." Zuckerberg seems to be following the same strategy now with WhatsApp, which is far more popular than Facebook in much of the world. Making WhatsApp more like Groups on Facebook also comes with some risks, though.Facebook's earlier pivot to Groups may have resulted in increased polarization on the platform, and Groups have also been pegged as major sources of misinformation on the platform. And WhatsApp, which due to its encryption lacks many of the moderation tools available to Facebook, has already struggled with misinformation and other problematic content. Making it even easier to connect disparate group threads into one place could potentially exacerbate these issues. A spokesperson said the company is "building a number of updates" focused on safety, and pointed to new controls that allow admins to delete messages and existing limits on message forwarding. |
| WhatsApp is adding reaction emoji and better misinformation controls Posted: 14 Apr 2022 08:00 AM PDT WhatsApp is introducing some arguably overdue messaging and calling features, including one that could reduce the spread of misinformation. To begin with, WhatsApp is adding reaction emoji to help people share thoughts without cluttering chats. You'll also find support for larger 32-person voice calls, and you'll get to share files up to 2GB to help collaborate on projects. More importantly, group administrators will have the power to delete messages. While this could help with simple tasks like cleaning up accidental messages or the occasional insult, it could be particularly useful for limiting misinformation in regions where bogus claims are sometimes propagated through group chats. This will depend on attentive and willing admins, of course. The promised features are due in the "coming weeks" and arrive alongside Communities upgrades that include announcement messages. These are catch-up features in some respects, but they could easily be appreciated if you thrive on WhatsApp and are reluctant to switch for some must-have functionality. |
| Juul will pay $22.5 million to settle a Washington state lawsuit Posted: 14 Apr 2022 07:21 AM PDT Vape pen maker Juul has agreed to settle another state lawsuit alleging that it targeted minors with its marketing. It will pay $22.5 million and undertake measures to prevent underage use and sales to settle a suit filed by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in September 2020. Juul admits no wrongdoing under the settlement, though it told the Associated Press the agreement marked "another step in our ongoing effort to reset our company and resolve issues from the past." The AG claimed that when Juul debuted in 2015, it promoted itself with colorful ads on social media, leading to an increase in nicotine use and addiction in teens. Ferguson also claimed in the filing that the company deceived consumers about the addictiveness of its product. His office said the money from Juul's settlement will be used to establish a health equity unit that will "respond to deceptive and discriminatory health care practices that disproportionately impact vulnerable communities and communities of color." Under the consent decree, Juul is not allowed to promote its products on social media and can't use advertising that appeals to youths. It agreed to monitor and report social media posts from underage users about its products and to require an adult's signature when delivering products that it sells online. Additionally, it must run a secret shopper program in the state for at least two years to ensure retailers aren't selling its products to underage users. Over the last year, Juul has settled several cases brought by state AGs. It agreed to pay $40 million to settle a case in North Carolina and $14.5 million to settle one in Arizona. The company says it has also resolved a suit in Louisiana but lawsuits in several otherstates remain active. "We will continue working with federal and state stakeholders to advance a fully regulated, science-based marketplace for vapor products," the company said. |
| The best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy Posted: 14 Apr 2022 06:30 AM PDT If there's one thing I've learned about today's Bluetooth speakers, it's that for general consumers, the options are pretty good. However, that doesn't make the process of sifting through the dozens of choices any easier. So I set out to test out some of the most popular models in different price ranges. Most of the speakers I tried sounded good on first listen; it was only through side-by-side comparisons that I began to suss out the nuances. Just reading the spec sheets only goes so far. As such, we're focusing a bit more on audio quality and dynamic range, while also taking into consideration other factors like utility and price. Ultimately, there isn't one best Bluetooth speaker out there, but we've found plenty of good options that will fit a range of use cases and price points. What to considerWeather-proofingIP ratings (Ingress Protection) are the alphanumeric indicators you often see in a product's spec sheet that define the tested resistance of a product to both solid objects (dirt, dust, fingers?) and water. It's usually a combo of two numbers with the first indicating solid object ingress and the second being water. The former goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust tight). Water protection goes from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protected against immersion and high pressure jets). When an X is used instead of a number, that means the product wasn't tested for resistance. If it's waterproof, it may have some innate resistance to solids, but there's no guarantee. IP67 is a common rating these days indicating highly resistant and potentially rugged speakers. These are safe for quick dunks in the pool or tub and should be more than OK in the rain or in the shower. They're also good options for the beach, playground and other rough environs. Additionally, speakers with ports and a high rating will often include a tight-fitting cover over the charging or auxiliary ports. If you plan on using the ports, that may limit the product's rated ability to fend off the elements. Consider the IP rating and also how you plan to use your Bluetooth speaker when making your decision. It may be worth splurging on a better sounding model with a lower IP rating if you'll mostly be using it indoors, for instance. Battery lifeThe focus of this guide is on portable Bluetooth speakers, and while "portable" can be a relative term, these devices are generally for people who are likely to find themselves far from a power outlet. These days, around 12 hours of runtime seems to be the baseline but obviously, the more battery life you can get out of a speaker, the better. That said, be careful when looking at battery specs, as they frequently list a maximum runtime ("up to" x amount of hours). This usually means they tested at a low to mid volume. If you like your tunes loud, it can often end up cutting the expected usage time in half or more. Luckily, some manufacturers also list the expected battery life when used at full volume and that transparency is appreciated. Additionally, if your Bluetooth speaker also happens to have WiFi connectivity, they're usually designed for always-on functionality. Unlike normal Bluetooth speakers that go to sleep after a short period without use, these will usually stay awake (to listen for your commands) and slowly run down the battery. If you're out and about, you'll want to remember to turn these speakers off manually when not in use to maximize battery life. RangeBluetooth range is tricky business. Some companies list their product's longest possible range, usually outdoors and in an unobstructed line-of-sight test environment. Other companies stick with a 30-foot range on the spec sheet and leave it at that, even though they may be running Bluetooth 4.x or 5.x. That's likely underselling the speaker's potential, but unpredictable environments can affect range and there's little point in promising the moon only to get complaints. I've seen signal drop issues when crouching down, with my phone in the front pocket of my jeans, and barely 30 feet away from a speaker inside my apartment. I ran into this issue across several devices regardless of their listed range. If you're hosting a patio party and duck inside, it's wise to have the source device remain close by just in case. It's hard to gauge what aspects of any environment may interfere with a Bluetooth signal. In general, take range specs around 100 feet or more as a perfect-world scenario. LatencyThis is a minor mention for those out there who use a speaker for their computer output, or as a mini soundbar solution for setups like a monitor and streaming box. It's annoying to find that your speaker's latency isn't low enough to avoid lip sync issues. Luckily, it seems that most speakers these days don't often have these problems. Only a handful of the few dozen speakers I tried had persistent, noticeable lip-sync issues. Aside from occasional blips, all of our picks worked well in this regard. If you plan to frequently use a speaker for video playback, look for devices with the most recent Bluetooth versions (4.x or 5.x) and lower latency codecs like aptX. Also make sure the speaker is close to the source device as distance can play a factor. To avoid the issue altogether, though, consider getting one with a wired auxiliary input. Price: $50 to $200Tribit StormBox Micro 2 ($60)Bluetooth: 5.3 If you're just looking for an ultra-portable speaker that can kick out some decent volume, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 fits the bill. The audio quality here is fine; it doesn't stand out in terms of fidelity, but the volume you get from this affordable little speaker is what makes it a good choice. If you're bopping about outdoors on your bike or chilling in the park, it's usually more about portability and volume anyway. The rubbery rear strap works well on relatively thin things like belts, backpacks and bike handlebars. While it's small and affordable, the speaker doubles as a USB-C powerbank to charge your devices in a pinch and you can wirelessly connect two of them for party mode or stereo sound. It also supports voice assistants for both iOS and Android users. Buy StormBox Micro 2 at Tribit - $60UE Wonderboom 2 ($100)Bluetooth: N/A The UE Wonderboom 2 is a tiny yet powerful portable, delivering the biggest sound in its size range that we tested. This cute, barrel-shaped speaker has a nubby little strap that probably needs a carabiner to help attach it to most things. And with an IP67 rating on top of the company's 5-foot drop test durability, it can go with you almost anywhere and survive to tell the tale. The audio quality, meanwhile, is punchy and bright enough for what you'd expect at this scale and price range. Although there's no app support or connectivity with the rest of the UE speaker lineup, you can easily pair it with a second Wonderboom for stereo sound. There's also an outdoor mode button on the bottom that boosts the mid and high range to help the audio carry over a greater distance. Buy Wonderboom 2 at Amazon - $100Soundcore Motion+ ($107)Bluetooth: 5.0 This nondescript wedge of a speaker could easily slip under your radar, but it's worth a listen. It has a bright and bassy output, which is helped along by Qualcomm aptX support for hi-res audio. This device has a solid, slightly heavy build with a metal front speaker grille, a soft-touch rubberized exterior (that loves your greasy fingerprints) and IPX7 water resistance. While it's not the lightest or most portable, the sound is respectable, especially for the price. Plus the app offers EQ customization, so you can fine tune to your liking. There's also a 3.5mm aux input for wired connections. That's fortuitous, as we found that this speaker works well as a mini soundbar alternative and the wired input offers a foolproof connection. Buy Soundcore Motion+ at Amazon - $107Soundcore Trance Go ($105)Bluetooth: 5.0 If you have a large indoor space, backyard or similar and want something with powerful long-throw sound in an affordable package, the Soundcore Trance Go may surprise you. This barebones speaker is bigger than most others in this price range and would weigh down a backpack a bit at about six pounds, but offers a carry strap, up to 24 hours runtime, a port for charging your devices and an aux input. If you're close by, you'll hear the thump of its low-end and some decent highs. It's generally tuned for covering big spaces, though, and its sound won't work for every situation. This performs like a mini loudspeaker, putting out up to around 98dB, albeit with a slightly thinner sound that won't overpower the environment. You can also use Soundcore's app to apply EQ presets or customize as you see fit. If you have two of these, they can pair for stereo sound, or connect 100 or more Trance Go speakers via the app's PartyCast feature. Buy Soundcore Trance Go at Amazon - $105JBL Flip 6 ($130)Bluetooth: 5.1 JBL's Flip 6 deserves high marks for overall sound quality, durability and volume considering its size. As with most JBL speakers, it has a good dynamic range from solid lows to crisp highs with volume tipped towards higher registers. The cylindrical shape works well on its side or even standing on its end to save desk space. It has a capable carrying (or hanging) strap and raised buttons you can discern in the dark. The JBL Portable app gives you a 3-band EQ to customize the sound profile if desired and if you have two Flip 6 speakers, you can run them in stereo mode. If you happen to have a mix-and-match assortment of different PartyBoost-enabled JBL speakers, you connect them all for a bigger sound. Buy JBL Flip 6 at Amazon - $130Bose SoundLink Flex ($149)Bluetooth: 4.2 While the $99 SoundLink Micro is half the size, we found that it's definitely worth the extra $50 if you trade up to the Bose SoundLink Flex. While it's still not a room filler, the speaker offers some bright, dynamic finesse to your tunes, along with a significant amount of bass for its size. It's similar to the scale of a small clutch bag, with a very small strap for carabiner-type hanging. Much of the exterior is sheathed in soft-touch silicone, except for the powder-coated steel speaker grilles. Like others in this range, the speaker is IP67 rated so it can handle the elements and sound good doing it. Setup and connecting to the speaker should be done from within the aptly named Bose Connect app. You can also turn off voice prompts (which can become annoying) and pair with similar speakers for either party mode or stereo. Note: Some users running Android 12 may encounter connectivity issues with the Bose Connect app. The company is working to resolve the problem. Buy Bose SoundLink Flex at Amazon - $149JBL Charge 5 ($180)Bluetooth: 5.1 If you're willing to spend a little more for bigger sound, longer battery life and a USB-C port to charge your devices, the JBL Charge 5 is a great upgrade over the Flip 6. It has the same bright output and capable low end, but in a slightly larger package. If you're looking for a smallish portable, but something capable enough to entertain a few guests, this works. Buy JBL Charge 5 at Amazon - $180Price: $200 to $450Bose Portable Smart ($399)Bluetooth: 4.2 We did test a couple smart home speakers, including the Bose Portable Smart and I decided to compare it with its closest Bluetooth equivalent: the Revolve+ II. While that's best suited for portability, has a loud bright sound that will carry outdoors and long battery life, its low end is a little less pronounced than its smart companion. If you're willing to spend more and appreciate bass, the Bose Portable Smart speaker is a big improvement. It has a well-rounded low end and a bright dynamic sound with plenty of nuance that makes for a great listening experience. This 360-degree portable comes as a combo WiFi/Bluetooth speaker primarily geared toward smart home use with the occasional outing. It's rated IPX4, so not the most weatherproof, but good for casual outdoor listening. The battery is rated for up to 12 hours, but since this is an always-on smart device, you'll need to be more attentive at keeping it topped up. There's a charging dock accessory for use around the house, but as an away-from-home portable, you should power it down when not in use. Smart features: WiFi, voice and app control, support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, Chromecast (built-in), Apple AirPlay 2 and SimpleSync connectivity with Bose Bluetooth speakers. Note: Some users running Android 12 may encounter connectivity issues with the Bose Connect app. The company is working to resolve the problem. Buy Bose Portable Smart at Amazon - $399JBL Xtreme 3 ($380)Bluetooth: 5.1 If you've enjoyed any of the smaller JBL speakers out there and are willing to spend a bit more, the Xtreme 3 is a good all-around choice. It's big enough to warrant a shoulder strap, but still only about the size of a football. There's a pleasant dynamic sound here with hefty lows and a lively high end that seems slightly better balanced at this size than the smaller options from JBL in this range. This is easily a favorite if you want something under $400 with a little more gusto than your average portable, but still being IP67 weatherproof. It has enough output to breathe life into a small soiree or backyard hang, although while it's quite loud, it's best when it's close by or indoors where the bass can resonate to its fullest. Buy JBL Xtreme 3 at Amazon - $380Sony SRS-XP700 ($400)Bluetooth: 5.0 Sony's big SRS-XP700 Bluetooth speaker is a great deal for fans of loud, thumping beats given its current extended sale price of $400. The unit has the look of a futuristic stereo speaker at 2.25 feet tall and about 37 pounds, with pleasing lighting effects on the inside of both top and bottom grab bars. You'll also find USB charging ports and LDAC support, while the app offers customization including light controls. The XP700 remains portable enough for many people to shuffle around without too much effort and its IPX4 rating means it can handle spills and splashes. The exterior is hard plastic with some rubberized feet, but it's not the type of speaker you want to treat carelessly. It's mostly a homebody that can fire up parties in lofts, garages, basements or backyards. You can also wirelessly pair two for a more powerful experience. While the sound is big and bassy, it comes up short on handling the lowest registers well. Also, the high end isn't as pronounced as it could be, so it may not be for everyone. It's more of a loudspeaker style, so it's better in bigger rooms and shines at louder volumes. But in terms of power for price, the $400 Sony XP700 works. Buy Sony SRS-XP700 at Amazon - $400UE Hyperboom ($450)Bluetooth: 5.0 The UE Hyperboom is an all-arounder with good looks, portability, plenty of connectivity options and a loud and punchy (albeit compressed) output. The technical fabric exterior lets it live among your furniture without screaming "party box," while the optical input offers a possible TV speaker alternative. The large capacitive buttons on top let anyone adjust the volume, pause or play the music and select from two concurrent Bluetooth connections or a hardwired input (3.5mm or optical). On the edge with the silicone carrying handle there are the wired ports, plus one for charging USB devices and another for power. Battery life is rated for up to 24 hours and the Hyperboom is good at holding a charge on standby. This capable and loud (roughly 100dB) speaker will please most people as long as the party is of primary concern over fidelity. The ability to remotely power your device on or off using the UE app is also a welcome feature. Plus you can easily expand the sound to other Boom speakers (except Wonderboom) using the PartyUp feature. The IPX4 rating means a few spilled drinks won't hassle it, but it's not the best choice for all-weather adventures. Buy UE Hyperboom at Amazon - $450Marshall Tufton ($450)Bluetooth: 5.0 If you didn't know about Marshall's history in amplifiers and rock music, the design should clue you in. The Tufton is the largest portable Bluetooth speaker from the company, looking much like an amp itself (as do most of them). It has physical knobs at the top and a carry strap to help move it about. While it may appear as rugged as concert gear, it's less impervious to the elements as some with just an IPX2 rating, so it's protected from light splashes from above. Whether or not you're a fan of the brand, the rich and distinctly thumping output may make you one. We felt pulled into the sound while listening to the Tufton, a bit more than most other speakers we tested at this scale. It's dynamic, warm and, dare we say, analog in its audio presence. It's also multi-directional with a supplemental driver on the back along with a bass port. There's no app to adjust the EQ, just the physical controls including a Bluetooth connect button, a power/volume knob and two for bass and treble. Once powered on, you can use the volume knob to set a max headroom and adjust volume on the fly from your source. The bass and treble knobs help you choose the tone of your adventure, from a purely flat soundscape to an enhanced one. We just wish you could see the dial indicators in the dark. Other features include aptX support and quick-charge capabilities that provide four hours of listening time in just 20 minutes, plus great standby battery life. Buy Marshall Tufton at Amazon - $450Price: $450 and higherJBL Boombox 2 ($500)Bluetooth: 5.1 If you're keen to up your speaker game without – at least visibly – crossing over into loudspeaker territory, the JBL Boombox 2 is more than up to the task. This 160-watt big brother to the Xtreme 3 provides that familiar JBL sound design but in an even louder profile. The output has bright and dynamic highs and floor shaking sub-bass that may benefit more from an indoor environment (with surfaces to bounce off) to really shine. This is a dance party tool for your basement rumpus room, garage hangout or poolside craziness. The integrated handle, IPX7 waterproofing and 13-pound weight offer a convenient grab-and-go speaker for most occasions when you want the music to be the star of the show (or at least not disappear into the background). With a battery that boasts up to 24 hours runtime, you can expect to party at full volume for several hours, at least. One thing to keep in mind is that the newer JBL Boombox 3 is slated to arrive this summer 2022. If you're interested in the Boombox, I'd keep an eye out for sales on the current version unless you want to wait for the newest release, which promises full IP67 weather-proofing, Bluetooth 5.3 and a slight uptick in all aspects of the sound. Buy JBL Boombox 2 at Amazon - $500Soundboks Gen 3 ($999)Bluetooth: 5.0 The Soundboks 3 is a top performer if you're looking for a portable, yet more professional Bluetooth option for big sound and big spaces, although it comes at a price. This unpretentious black rectangle packs in two 10-inch woofers and one 10-inch tweeter powered by three 72W RMS amps for massive sound and chunky bass. While big, this 34-pound loudspeaker is fairly easy to lug around. It has large steel handles on either side right next to a large bass port that runs through the whole unit. It's a reinforced poplar cabinet with a steel speaker grille, aluminum framing and silicone ball corners for durability. The IP65 rating also marks it as a resilient device in most environments. The sound and connectivity make a big statement here, adding value for your money. Output levels are rated at 96 to 104dB, with dynamic mids and highs projecting clearly to cover long distances. The low end also has a significant presence at a distance, matching up with 40Hz frequency response. It's definitely capable enough to support large gatherings. The speaker is easy to connect to via Bluetooth and the partner app allows EQ customization and firmware updates. You can plug into the Soundboks Gen 3 via 3.5mm stereo in and even daisy chain to others through a 3.5mm stereo out. You don't need to, though, since you can connect up to five more Soundboks 3 speakers wirelessly using the built-in SKAA wireless support at the touch of a button. There are also two combo (XLR or ¼-inch) microphone/instrument inputs. You get EQ control for these additional inputs inside the app. Lastly, the battery pack is removable, swappable and also long-lasting for a speaker this size; at low to mid volume, it's rated at up to 40 hours runtime. For transparency, Soundboks also lets you know to expect around five hours of play at full volume. It's no-nonsense, big sound in a rugged box with lots of connection options for real-world applications. The price is rather high, but the product is worth it for those who fit the use case. You can also keep an eye out for the company's newly announced Soundboks Go, which halves the size and doubles the runtime, but we have yet to test it out. Buy Soundboks 3 at Soundboks - $999JBL PartyBox SeriesYou may be surprised that JBL's PartyBox series, one of the more ubiquitous loudspeaker-style devices out there, isn't properly represented in this guide. The company had sold out of most mid-sized speakers in this line and there were none for us to test. However, we did check out one of JBL's larger models: the PartyBox 710. It's neither battery powered nor really 'portable' considering its two tiny wheels, lack of carrying handles and roughly 69-pound weight. That said, if you don't need something to go very far (ideally without stairs) and will always have a power outlet nearby, this thing is a beast. Buy PartyBox 710 at JBL - $800The PartyBox 710 has a bit of flare with lighting effects surrounding its dual 2.75-inch tweeters and 8-inch woofers. It's also a karaoke-focused device with guitar and mic inputs and line volumes, along with dedicated effects and controls on top. While it looks good, the real star here is its capable audio output. It has 800 watts of power and you can tell. This is a party rocker you can feel, helped along by its rear bass reflex port. It's competitively priced at $800, although as we said, this isn't a portable Bluetooth speaker. Some of the mid-sized models like the PartyBox 110 ($400) and PartyBox 310 ($550) seem to be worth a listen — if you can find them — considering what we've heard from this larger sibling. Buy PartyBox 110 at JBL - $400Buy PartyBox 310 at JBL - $550 |
| Amazon is bringing mobile games to its Amazon Kids+ service Posted: 14 Apr 2022 06:00 AM PDT Amazon is bringing two mobile games to its subscription-based entertainment platform for children. Known as Amazon Kids+, the $2.99 per month service has served as sort of a one-stop shop for kid-friendly books, TV shows, movies, games and more. The first game, Super Spy Ryan is a multiplayer game based on the children's TV show Ryan's World. It's available today on both the Google Play and Apple app stores in the US, UK and Ireland. The title will be available later this year in Canada, Germany and Japan, but Amazon hasn't specified a release date. Another mobile game, Do, Re & Mi, is a musical education game designed for the preschool set. The show is based on the Amazon Kids+ show of the same name, which stars Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn. That game will be available for iOS soon in the US, UK, Canada and Ireland. Kids can play both games on either their mobile phone or Amazon Fire tablet. These are the first mobile games to be available on the Kids+ service, and more will soon follow. "We are always looking to bring joy and fun into the homes and lives of millions of families. That's why, two years ago, we began looking at how we could reach even more kids and bring the magic and thoughtfulness of Amazon Kids+ original content to mobile phones," said Natasha Lipovac, global head of the content division of Amazon Kids+. If you've ever purchased a Kindle Kids e-reader for your child, you're likely already familiar with Amazon Kids+ (the devices come with a free one-year subscription to the service). Amazon has made a serious effort to corner the children's market in recent years. Given the sheer number of parents who are Prime subscribers, this makes sense. Last month the company released Amazon Glow, a kid-friendly video conferencing tablet that also includes games. We're likely see much more children's focused content from Amazon in the future, designed to work across all its different devices. |
| Apple's AirPods Pro are on sale for $175 again Posted: 14 Apr 2022 05:46 AM PDT Apple's best sounding earbuds have been discounted on and off throughout the past few months, and now they're back down to one of the best prices we've seen all year. The AirPods Pro are 30 percent off again at Amazon, bringing them down to $175. That's just about the lowest price we've seen since the holiday shopping season (they were $1 cheaper earlier this month) and it puts the Pros back in line with the rest of Apple's audio lineup, which has been on sale for the past few days. Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon - $175If over-ear headphones aren't your thing, the AirPods Pro are your next best bet if you want an Apple device that has above-average audio quality. Not only do the AirPods Pro sound better than the company's standard earbuds, but they also have strong ANC that blocks out most surrounding noises. And you still get Transparency mode, while lets you hop in and out of conversations easily, and support for spatial audio. They're also arguably the best AirPods to get if you care about fit, since you can get a more accurate fit for your ear thanks to their interchangeable tips. The AirPods Pro also have the H1 chip inside, which enables things like hands-free Siri access and quick pairing and switching between Apple devices. It's one of the biggest draws of AirPods — if you're steeped in the Apple ecosystem already, these earbuds will work seamlessly with all of your gadgets. The Pros should last for five hours before they need more juice, and you'll get 24 hours of total listening time when you employ the power kept in its MagSafe charging case. With the Pros are back on sale, you'll find that you can get most Apple headphones and earbuds at a discount right now. The new, third-generation AirPods are down to $150 and the second-generation earbuds are on sale for only $100. Even the AirPods Max are cheaper than usual: at the time of writing this, the space gray, blue and silver models are down to $450 thanks to a sale price and an additional coupon that knocks another $29 off their final price. Buy AirPods (3rd gen) at Amazon - $150Buy AirPods (2nd gen) at Amazon - $100Buy AirPods Max at Amazon - $450Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
| MIT engineers built a robot for emergency stroke surgeries Posted: 14 Apr 2022 05:17 AM PDT Remote robotic-assisted surgery is far from new, with various educational and research institutions developing machines doctors can control from other locations over the years. There hasn't been a lot of movement on that front when it comes to endovascular treatments for stroke patients, which is why a team of MIT engineers has been developing a telerobotic system surgeons can use over the past few years. The team, which has published its paper in Science Robotics, has now presented a robotic arm that doctors can control remotely using a modified joystick to treat stroke patients. That arm has a magnet attached to its wrist, and surgeons can adjust its orientation to guide a magnetic wire through the patient's arteries and vessels in order to remove blood clots in their brain. Similar to in-person procedures, surgeons will have to rely on live imaging to get to the blood clot, except the machine will allow them to treat patients not physically in the room with them. There's a critical window of time after a stroke's onset during which endovascular treatment should be administered to save a patient's life or to preserve their brain function. Problem is, the procedure is quite complex and takes years to master. It involves guiding a thin wire through vessels and arteries without damaging any of them, after all. Neurosurgeons trained in the procedure are usually found in major hospitals, and patients in remote locations that have to be transported to these larger centers might miss that critical time window. With this machine, surgeons can be anywhere and still perform the procedure. Another upside? It minimizes the doctos' exposure to radiation from X-ray imaging. During their tests, the MIT engineers only had to train a group of neurosurgeons for an hour to use the machine. By the end of that hour, the surgeons were able to successfully use the machine to remove the fake blood clots in a transparent model with life-size vessels replicating the complex arteries of the brain. MIT professor and team member Xuanhe Zhao said:
You can watch a demo of the machine below: |
| Wikipedia editors vote to block cryptocurrency donations Posted: 14 Apr 2022 04:35 AM PDT Wikipedia editors have voted in favor of dropping cryptocurrency from the Wikimedia Foundation's donation options. As Ars Technica reports, an editor for the online encyclopedia called GorillaWarfare wrote a proposal for the foundation to stop accepting cryptocurrencies, as they are "extremely risky investments." They also pointed out that cryptocurrencies may not align with the foundation's commitment to environmental sustainability. One of the biggest controversies surrounding cryptocurrencies is that mining, spending and trading them use massive amounts of energy. That's the reason why Mozilla caught flak after it announced that it would start accepting crypto donations, prompting the organization to put its plans on hold. According to a Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, those processes use up 204.50 terawatt-hours of electricity per year, which is comparable to what's consumed by some countries, such as Thailand. Wikimedia accepts Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash and Ether. GorillaWarfare's proposal welcomed comments over three months starting in January. In all, 232 users voted in favor of the proposal, while 94 voted against. Those who argued in favor of cryptocurrency donations explained that they provide safer ways to donate and that fiat currencies have environmental issues of their own. Even though the community voted in favor of blocking crypto donations, it's still just a request that the Wikimedia Foundation may or may not grant. A spokesperson from the foundation told Ars:
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