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- The Vivo X Fold has a fingerprint reader on both screens
- Researchers create bacteria that could protect your gut from antibiotics
- YouTube's Coachella livestreams return this weekend
- Epic Games receives $2 billion investment from Sony and Lego's parent company
- CNN+ is now streaming on Roku devices
- Fox Sports will stream every match of the 2022 World Cup
- Netflix will let you give shows 'Two Thumbs Up'
- Sonos bought a startup that made a light-powered Bluetooth speaker
- Fitbit will roll out a passive heart rhythm monitoring feature after getting FDA approval
- Lincoln teases its first EV concept
- DoorDash adds a cheaper DashPass plan for students
- Sega says its 'Super Game' project is actually multiple AAA titles
- Microsoft's spring sale knocks up to $200 off the Surface Laptop Go
| The Vivo X Fold has a fingerprint reader on both screens Posted: 11 Apr 2022 11:30 AM PDT Following the likes of Samsung, Huawei (and Honor), Motorola, Xiaomi and Oppo, we have a new contender in the foldable smartphone market. As reported by Engadget Chinese earlier today, the Vivo X Fold is the first of its kind to pack not only Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, but also an under-display fingerprint reader — the ultrasonic kind — on both its main and external screens. Sadly, this device is only available in China for now. Vivo Much like the Huawei Mate X2 and the Oppo Find N, the X Fold also adopted a water-drop flexion hinge design to achieve a gapless fold while minimizing its foldable AMOLED panel's seam. But Vivo took things one step further: when opened, a zirconium alloy floating middle plate rises up to gently push against the flexible panel, thus smoothing out the remaining seam. While this sounds impressive, we'll have to see it in person to believe it. According to TÜV Rheinland, Vivo's X Fold can survive over 300,000 folds — 100,000 more than Oppo Find N's certification. Assuming an average user would open and close a foldable phone 80 times a day, the X Fold should be good for around 10 years of daily usage. That is, of course, assuming you can tolerate the 311g weight for that long; Samsung and Huawei's latest large-size foldables only weigh 271g and 295g, respectively. Vivo For a foldable phone, the Vivo X Fold packs a surprisingly powerful set of cameras. For one, this is only the second foldable phone to carry a periscopic zoom camera (8MP, 5x optical zoom, optical stabilization), after Huawei's Mate X2. The X Fold also comes with a 50MP main camera (Samsung GN5 sensor, f/1.75, optical stabilization), a 48MP ultra-wide camera (Sony IMX598, f/2.2, 114-degree field of view, low distortion) and a 12MP portrait camera (IMX663, f/1.98, 47mm equivalent focal length). And yes, you get Zeiss T* coating here for its anti-glare properties. It's a similar setup to the X70 Pro+, except for the lack of micro-gimbal and missing optical stabilization on two of the cameras. Vivo In terms of screen aspect ratio, Vivo has gone for a wider design than the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The external screen is a 6.53-inch 2,520 x 1,080 (21:9) panel, while the main screen features an 8-inch 2,160 x 1,916 (4:3.55) panel. Both are of Samsung E5 AMOLED nature and support up to 120Hz refresh rate, but only the bigger panel features adaptive refresh rate to further save power. These screens also pack their own 16MP f/2.45 selfie camera, though you can always open the phone and toggle the "rear selfie" mode to leverage the more powerful cameras instead. Vivo Like its competitors, some of the X Fold's built-in apps — tucked inside the Android 12-based OriginOS Ocean — take advantage of the foldable form factor. For example, the camera app offers a kickstand mode which is handy for time lapse videos and low-angle shots. You can also use the device like a laptop with the built-in Notes app, and likewise with third party Chinese apps like QQ for video calls and Youku for video streaming. Hopefully Vivo will extend these benefits to western apps ahead of a possible international launch. There's still a list of features worthy of mentioning. The 4,600mAh dual-cell battery supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, along with 10W reverse charging to help your friends in need. In fact, the X Fold comes with an 80W USB-PD GaN charger with two USB-C ports, so you can charge your laptop with it as well. The phone itself also packs a CS43131 Hi-Fi chip, three microphones, stereo speakers, a barometer, various heat dissipation features and an infrared port — a common feature on Chinese phones for controlling your home appliances. And for the first time, Vivo decided to add a physical silent mode slider, which is otherwise only seen on Apple and OnePlus devices these days. Vivo The Vivo X Play is already available for pre-ordering in China, with the 12GB RAM with 256GB storage version asking for 8,999 yuan (around $1,410), and the higher-end version with twice the storage going for 9,999 yuan ($1,570). You can pick either blue or grey, both wrapped with vegan leather on the back. |
| Researchers create bacteria that could protect your gut from antibiotics Posted: 11 Apr 2022 10:56 AM PDT In 1928, Scottish microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered what we know today as penicillin. Fleming's work and that of his successors would go on to forever change how we treat bacterial infections. And to this day, antibiotics are one of the most powerful tools we have to protect people from a host of harmful bacteria. But those same antibiotics can decimate the "good" microbes that live in our guts, opening the door to a host of potential health complications, including painful bouts of diarrhea that can take months to resolve. In recent years, some doctors have begun prescribing probiotics to help offset the harm antibiotics can do to gut bacteria, but the problem with that approach is that they're just as susceptible to antibiotics and are not a replacement for those microbes. Enter researchers from the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In a study published on Monday in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, they detail work they've done on a "living cellular therapeutic device" that promises to protect humans from the harmful side effects antibiotics can have on our guts. Wyss Institute at Harvard University Per Science Daily, they modified a strain of bacteria that is frequently used in cheese production to deliver an enzyme that can break down beta-lactam antibiotics. Many of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the US, including penicillin, fall under that family. Using gene editing, they further modified how their bacterium synthesizes the enzyme to prevent it from transferring that capability to other bacteria. The result is a treatment that reduces the harmful effects of antibiotics while still allowing those drugs to do their work. In a study involving mice, the researchers found their bacteria "significantly" reduced the damage ampicillin did to the test subject's gut microbes and allowed those communities to recover fully after just three days. By contrast, in mice that only received the antibiotic, the researchers saw a much greater loss of microbial diversity. It may be a while before you're taking a course of modified bacteria alongside your next antibiotic treatment, but the team is hopeful they will have something ready soon. "We are now focusing on getting these living therapies to patients and are finalizing the design of an effective, short, and inexpensive clinical trial," said Andrés Cubillos-Ruiz, the lead author of the study. |
| YouTube's Coachella livestreams return this weekend Posted: 11 Apr 2022 10:35 AM PDT After a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coachella will return this weekend. For the tenth year, you'll be able to stream the music festival on YouTube and the platform has announced more details about what to expect this time around. Over the first weekend of the festival, which runs from April 15th to 17th, you'll be able to select from three feeds, which will feature different performances. The streams start at 7PM ET on Friday and run until Monday evening. They'll include artist interviews and replays as well. On the following weekend, YouTube will offer a Coachella Curated experience. It will include encore performances, mini documentaries, artist commentaries and more. More info on Coachella Curated will be revealed soon. YouTube is promising some new elements for the Coachella experience this year. For the first time, it will switch on Live Chat for the streams. Real-time updates on the schedule will be provided via pinned chats. Some creators will be posting Shorts from the festival and there'll be exclusive merch drops this Saturday. Some artists will also host pre-parties for YouTube Premium members over both weekends. Between April 15th and 25th, folks in the US who haven't joined Premium before can sign up for a three-month trial. |
| Epic Games receives $2 billion investment from Sony and Lego's parent company Posted: 11 Apr 2022 09:33 AM PDT Epic Games has received two big briefcases stuffed with cash which will help it "advance the company's vision to build the metaverse and support its continued growth." Sony and Kirkbi, the majority owner of The Lego Group, are each plowing $1 billion into the publisher. The funding puts the post-money equity valuation of Epic at $31.5 billion, while founder and CEO Tim Sweeney remains in control. It's not the first time that Sony has invested in Epic. It gave the company a $250 million cash injection in 2020 in exchange for a minority stake. Kirkbi also has an existing relationship with Epic. Just last week, the publisher and The Lego Group announced a partnership to build a kid-friendly metaverse, possibly in the hope of challenging the likes of Minecraft and Roblox. "As we reimagine the future of entertainment and play we need partners who share our vision. We have found this in our partnership with Sony and Kirkbi," Sweeney said in a statement. "This investment will accelerate our work to build the metaverse and create spaces where players can have fun with friends, brands can build creative and immersive experiences and creators can build a community and thrive." Epic has been piecing together a metaverse (a shared virtual world for all manner of experiences) inside Fortnite over the last several years. It built on the success of the core battle royale mode by introducing dozens of crossover skins, virtual items and dance moves; in-game movie nights and concerts; and a creative mode that lets plays build just about anything they can imagine. |
| CNN+ is now streaming on Roku devices Posted: 11 Apr 2022 09:24 AM PDT Roku support was conspicuously absent when CNN+ launched last month, but that won't be a problem after today. CNN+ is now available on the Roku platform in the US, including TVs and dedicated media players. You won't have access to the interactive Club community feature (that requires a PC, phone or tablet), but you'll otherwise get the same mix of live shows and on-demand programming. This includes the live CNN TV feed. The service costs $6 per month or $60 per year. Anyone who subscribes within the first four weeks can get 50 percent off the monthly plan for life, dropping the cost to $36 per year (for now, at least). CNN+ was already accessible through Android mobile devices, Apple hardware (including Apple TV) and Amazon's Fire TV. This still leaves significant gaps, such as consoles and multiple smart TV platforms. Even so, it's evident CNN wants to make its service relatively ubiquitous — virtually necessary if it's going to compete with Paramount+, Peacock and other streaming rivals. |
| Fox Sports will stream every match of the 2022 World Cup Posted: 11 Apr 2022 09:15 AM PDT You won't have to resort to conventional TV to keep tabs on the 2022 World Cup. Fox Sports has confirmed it will stream all 64 World Cup matches live through its app. The first match takes place November 21st, when Netherlands and Senegal square off at 5AM Eastern, but you'll have to wait until 2PM to see the US team compete against the winner of the UEFA playoff taking place in June (either Scotland, Ukraine or Wales). This is better coverage than you might get with conventional broadcasts. Fox proper is only airing 35 matches, and it's placing all but one of them into three time slots (10AM, 11AM and 2PM Eastern). You'll need FS1 to watch 27 group stage events and two round-of-16 competitions. This won't thrill you if you're hoping to watch the World Cup without a significant expense. You'll need a pay TV subscription to use the Fox Sports app. With that in mind, this could still be very useful if you're either stuck at work or just want to see a match that normally wouldn't get airtime. |
| Netflix will let you give shows 'Two Thumbs Up' Posted: 11 Apr 2022 09:00 AM PDT There's a big difference between merely liking a show and it being your all-time favorite. Netflix's recommendation algorithm will now be able to distinguish between the two. The streaming service is adding a "Two Thumbs Up" option to its rating system. Viewers will notice the new option starting today, right next to the traditional "Thumbs Up and "Thumbs Up" icon across all devices. How do you know whether a show or movie deserves one or two "Thumbs Up"? If you liked the genre or style of a show and want to see similar titles, a single thumb is a safe bet. For example, giving a single thumbs up to a show like Russian Doll means you'll see more mystery or dramedy shows with a woman as a leading character. Liking a show like Midsomer Murders means Netflix will serve you up even more British detective dramas. But when you throw out a "Two Thumbs Up", Netflix's suggestions will become even more tailored to actors or specific creators. "...A Two Thumbs Up tells us what you loved and helps us get even more specific with your recommendations. For example, if you loved Bridgerton, you might see even more shows or films starring the cast, or from Shondaland," said Christine Doig-Cardet, Netflix's director of product innovation in a blog post. Netflix's thumbs-based rating system has had its fair share of critics in recent years. The platform replaced its five-star rating system in 2017, much to the chagrin of armchair movie critics everywhere. As one Redditor points out, it's hard to know what to rate a mediocre film from a director you normally love. Viewers worried that giving a "Thumbs Down" to a less-than-stellar show from a favorite genre could throw off Netflix's algorithm. One example could be zombie fans who don't like the movie Zombieland, or fans of Richard Linklater's Before trilogy who didn't care for Waking Life. Hopefully the new addition to Netflix's rating system will lead to more well-tailored suggestions. Or at least less bad ones. |
| Sonos bought a startup that made a light-powered Bluetooth speaker Posted: 11 Apr 2022 08:50 AM PDT Sonos has acquired Mayht, a Dutch startup best known for co-creating a Bluetooth speaker powered by light. Mayht specializes in an audio technology called Heartmotion. The company claims to have reinvented "the core of speaker driver" to allow for speakers that can be up to 10 times more compact than other models without sacrificing sound quality or bass output. And it's that expertise Sonos is paying approximately $100 million to secure for itself. "Mayht's breakthrough in transducer technology will enable Sonos to take another leap forward in our product portfolio," said CEO Patrick Spence, adding the acquisition would help the company "accelerate" its product roadmap. Notably, Spence said the deal also gives Sonos access to intellectual property that will help it further differentiate itself from its competitors. The company is currently in the middle of a bitter legal battle with Google over speaker patents. At the start of the year, the US International Trade Commission found that the search giant had infringed on Sonos' intellectual property, creating a situation where Google downgraded the functionality of some of its devices to circumvent an import ban. Sonos promised to share more details about its acquisition of Mayht during its Q2 earnings call in May. |
| Fitbit will roll out a passive heart rhythm monitoring feature after getting FDA approval Posted: 11 Apr 2022 08:38 AM PDT The Food and Drug Administration has given Fitbit the green light to monitor users' heart rhythms in the background. A new photoplethysmography (PPG) algorithm can passively check a user's heart rhythm while they're still or asleep. If the tech detects signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) — a type of irregular heart rhythm — it will alert the wearer. Fitbit parent Google submitted the algorithm to the FDA for review last month. Fitbit previously received FDA clearance to use electrocardiogram (ECG) tech in 2020's Sense Smartwatch. However, that method requires users to run ECG tests manually. Google notes that AFib can be difficult to detect as episodes can be sporadic and pass without any symptoms. Monitoring heart rhythms in the background could improve detection. AFib affects more than 33.5 million people, and those with the condition have a higher risk of stroke. In May 2020, Fitbit conducted a study of the PPG algorithm which lasted over five months and had more than 450,000 participants. It found that the algorithm correctly identified AFib episodes 98 percent of the time. Google used ECG patch monitors for confirmation. Fitbit will soon roll out the background heart rate monitoring and Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications features in the US. They will be available on "a range of heart-rate enabled devices." Apple Watch 4 and later can also passively monitor heart rhythms for signs of AFib. While neither company's devices can make a formal diagnosis, they could prompt wearers to consult a doctor for advice should they detect possible AFib. |
| Lincoln teases its first EV concept Posted: 11 Apr 2022 08:05 AM PDT Lincoln is finally ready to say more about its electrified future. Ford's upscale badge has teased its first EV concept ahead of an official unveiling on April 20th. The company didn't offer much beyond a brief peek at the vehicle's outlines, but did say in a statement that the concept would serve as an "inspiration" for EVs arriving soon. The automaker previously said its Zephyr Reflection concept sedan would serve as an aesthetic reference point for future EVs. The teaser you see here isn't a one-for-one match (the logo on the side isn't present on the Reflection, for example), but the sloping roof line suggests Lincoln is happy to borrow some design cues. The Lincoln brand is expected to electrify its full lineup by 2030, with half of its vehicles producing zero emissions by 2025. This includes an electric version of the Aviator SUV. The concept's imminent debut isn't a surprise, then — the company has just eight years to dramatically expand its EV selection.
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| DoorDash adds a cheaper DashPass plan for students Posted: 11 Apr 2022 07:56 AM PDT DoorDash is courting students with a cheaper DashPass subscription. The DashPass for Students plan costs $5 per month, which is half the cost of the regular DashPass. The annual student plan costs $48. There's a free 30-day trial as well. All undergraduate and graduate students at accredited US colleges and universities are eligible to sign up. Those who do will get benefits such as no delivery fees on food and grocery orders above the minimum spend, reduced service fees, five percent credit on eligible pickup orders and exclusive promotions and menu items. For a limited time, DashPass members can order Buffalo Wild Wings' new Doritos Flamin' Hot Nacho Wings. DoorDash cited a study that suggests 70 percent of US college students order from a food delivery app each week. They do so four times per week on average. Around 27 percent spend more than $100 per week on food delivery, and nearly three quarters say they're more likely to place orders while studying for finals or midterms. Signing up for DashPass for Students could help them save on delivery and service fees — as long as their preferred restaurants are served by DoorDash. The regular DashPass has more than 10 million members. DoorDash is likely hoping that students who sign up for the cheaper plan will move on to the regular subscription after they graduate. |
| Sega says its 'Super Game' project is actually multiple AAA titles Posted: 11 Apr 2022 07:38 AM PDT Sega has revealed more about its mysterious "Super Game" project, and it's more complex than you might have suspected. As VGC and Kotaku note, Sega executive VP Shuji Utsumi used an interview on its Japanese recruitment page to explain that Super Game is actually "several titles" in progress within the same framework. He and fellow leaders were shy on many details, but vowed that these would be blockbusters that ventured "beyond" the conventional game experience. That might include some trendier technology. Producer Masayoshi Kikuchi said in the interview that it was "natural" to expand into areas like "cloud gaming and NFT." This wasn't a definite commitment to using either tech and comes soon after Sega acknowledged a public backlash to NFTs. However, Sega recently registered a "Sega NFT" trademark in Japan — it's at least open to the idea of offering digital collectibles. Sega unveiled a partnership with Microsoft last year to use the Azure cloud platform for Super Game development. However, this doesn't necessarily hint at game streaming plans. Sony, for instance, used Azure to help build its online infrastructure. Super Game might not pan out for a while. Parent firm Sega Sammy said in November 2021 it might invest the equivalent of $882 million into the project over the next five years. You won't necessarily have to wait that long for the first products, but it's clear Sega treats Super Game more as a strategic bet than a short-term fix. |
| Microsoft's spring sale knocks up to $200 off the Surface Laptop Go Posted: 11 Apr 2022 07:34 AM PDT Microsoft is ushering in the spring season with a new sale that discounts Surface devices, Xbox games, accessories and more through April 21st. A bunch of Surface gadgets are hundreds of dollars off right now, including the new Surface Pro X that's down to $700 for the base model, but you'll find an even better deal on the Surface Laptop Go. The entry-level Windows notebook is up to $200 off, so you can grab the model with a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $700. The base configuration is $150 off, too, bringing it down to $400. Buy Surface Pro X at Microsoft starting at $700Buy Surface Laptop Go at Microsoft starting at $400Shop spring sale at MicrosoftWhile you can spend $700 and get either the Surface Pro X or the Laptop Go, we think the latter is the better option. The Surface Pro X is a gorgeous machine, but we found that buggy software held the 2-in-1 back from being truly great. While the Laptop Go has its compromises, it makes a great basic notebook thanks to its stellar hardware and speedy performance. Coming in at 2.45 pounds, the Laptop Go is lighter than its predecessor and looks sharp with its anodized aluminum top portion. Its 12.4-inch touchscreen gives you just enough room to multitask easily and its 3:2 aspect ratio makes it better for reading long articles and documents. All of the Surface Laptop Go configurations run on Core i5 processors, which means you'll get solid CPU performance regardless of the one you pick. We recommend opting for a model with 8GB of RAM because it'll serve you better over time than a measly 4GB will. As far as other features go, you're getting a 720p webcam, a fingerprint-toting power button, one USB-C port and one USB-A port on the Laptop Go. Microsoft didn't pack this machine with a lot of extra perks because it's designed to be an affordable Surface option — just good enough to give those with basic needs a solid laptop experience, and it does deliver on that. Xbox players can also save on individual titles thanks to this sale, along with subscriptions to Game Pass. You can join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for only $1 for your first month, and the sale price applies for PC Game Pass, too. Discounted games include Red Dead Redemption 2 for $24, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War for $35, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for $10 and BioShock: The Collection for $10. Subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at Microsoft - $1Subscribe to PC Game Pass at Microsoft - $1Shop Xbox games at MicrosoftFollow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. |
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