Monday, May 9, 2022

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Hackers deface Russian platforms and smart TVs to display anti-war messages

Posted: 09 May 2022 01:24 PM PDT

On the same day Russia celebrated its role in defeating Nazi Germany, many of the country's online platforms were defaced in protest of the war in Ukraine. The Washington Post reported on Monday that Russians with smart TVs saw channel listings replaced with a message implicating them in the ongoing conflict. "The blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of murdered children is on your hands," the message read, according to the outlet. "TV and authorities are lying. No to war."

In addition to smart TVs, the apparent hack targetted some of the country's largest internet companies, including Yandex. Hackers also went after Rutube, Russia's alternative to YouTube. "Our video hosting has undergone a powerful cyberattack. At the moment, it is not possible to access the platform," the service said in a statement it posted on its Telegram channel. Rutube later stated it had isolated the attack and that its content library wasn't accessed in the incident.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, the country has come under consistent attack from hackers. In the early days of the conflict, Anonymous claimed responsibility for a series of DDoS attacks that left several official government websites, including one belonging to the Ministry of Defence, inaccessible. It's believed Anonymous was also responsible for an incident that saw several Russian state TV channels play the Ukranian national anthem. At the same time, Ukraine, with help from Microsoft and other western companies, recently managed to prevent Russian military hackers from disrupting one of the country's energy providers.

'League of Legends' mocumentary 'Players' heads to Paramount+ on June 16th

Posted: 09 May 2022 11:45 AM PDT

Paramount+ has released the first trailer for Players, its long-awaited League of Legends mockumentary from American Vandal creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda. Set to debut on June 16th, the series centers on Fugitive Gaming, a fictional pro team that, after years of disappointment, hopes to win League's most prestigious prize but must first overcome infighting between two of its star players.

According to Riot Games writer Kien Lam, the studio put in "a lot of hard work" to make the series authentic, and not feel cringe or campy. "I think you have every right to be skeptical given other gaming shows, but have some faith here," Lam said. With Players, Riot clearly hopes to replicate at least some of the success it saw with Arcane. The Netflix animated series was both a critical and commercial success for Riot, and even managed to draw new players to the studio's now decade-old MOBA.

Amazon fired two workers who helped organize its first union

Posted: 09 May 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Weeks after its workers won a union election for the first time, Amazon fired two of the employees who were involved in organization efforts. It's the first time Amazon has forced out workers involved in the union drive since the election win on April 1, according to Motherboard, though it's not whether the company took these actions in retaliation.

Mat Cusick, a warehouse worker and communications lead for the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), was on COVID-19 leave to care for a loved one when he received notice of his firing on May 3rd, he told the outlet. The reason Amazon gave was that it let go Cusick for "voluntary resignation due to job abandonment."

Fellow organizer Tristan Dutchin said he was fired four days later for failing to meet productivity targets. "I believe it was retaliatory," Dutchin, who has been a vocal union advocate in the press, told Motherboard.

Amazon has fired workers on both sides of labor organizing drives at JFK8. In March 2020, the company terminated the employment of Chris Smalls, who led a protest over Amazon's alleged failure to protect workers from COVID-19. Smalls is now the president of ALU. In April, the company was ordered to reinstate a JFK8 worker who it fired after a protest two years earlier.

Last week, Amazon let go six senior managers who were said to have been involved in the company's anti-union efforts at JFK8. Amazon said it pushed them out as part of "management changes." Some believed they were fired as a result of the union's election win.

Amazon has challenged the election result in court. It has yet to recognize the ALU. Engadget has contacted Amazon for comment.

Clearview AI agrees to limit sales of facial recognition data in the US

Posted: 09 May 2022 10:33 AM PDT

Notorious facial recognition company Clearview AI has agreed to permanently halt sales of its massive biometric database to all private companies and individuals in the United States as part of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, per court records.

Monday's announcement marks the close of a two-year legal dispute brought by the ACLU and privacy advocate groups in May of 2020 against the company over allegations that it had violated BIPA, the 2008 Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. This act requires companies to obtain permission before harvesting a person's biometric information — fingerprints, gait metrics, iris scans and faceprints for example — and empowers users to sue the companies who do not. 

"Fourteen years ago, the ACLU of Illinois led the effort to enact BIPA – a groundbreaking statute to deal with the growing use of sensitive biometric information without any notice and without meaningful consent," Rebecca Glenberg, staff attorney for the ACLU of Illinois, said in a statement. "BIPA was intended to curb exactly the kind of broad-based surveillance that Clearview's app enables. Today's agreement begins to ensure that Clearview complies with the law. This should be a strong signal to other state legislatures to adopt similar statutes."

In addition to the nationwide private party sales ban, Clearview will not offer any of its services to Illinois local and state law enforcement agencies (as well as all private parties) for the next five years. "This means that within Illinois, Clearview cannot take advantage of BIPA's exception for government contractors during that time," the ACLU points out, though Federal agencies, state and local law enforcement departments outside of Illinois will be unaffected. 

That's not all. Clearview must also end its free trial program for police officers, erect and maintain an opt-out page for Illinois residents, and spend $50,000 advertising it online. The settlement must still be approved by a federal judge before it takes effect.

"By requiring Clearview to comply with Illinois' pathbreaking biometric privacy law not just in the state, but across the country, this settlement demonstrates that strong privacy laws can provide real protections against abuse," Nathan Freed Wessler, a deputy director of the ACLU Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in Monday's statement. "Clearview can no longer treat people's unique biometric identifiers as an unrestricted source of profit. Other companies would be wise to take note, and other states should follow Illinois' lead in enacting strong biometric privacy laws." 

Monday's settlement is the latest in a long line of privacy lawsuits and regulatory actions against the company. Clearview AI was slapped with a €20 million fine by Italian regulators in March and £17 million in November by the UK, both for violations of national data privacy laws. Australia has been investigating the company's scraping schemes since 2020 and, currently, a small group of US lawmakers are lobbying to ban Federal agencies from using Clearview's services entirely. But given that the company boasted in February that it had amassed 100 billion images in its "index of faces," the right to anonymity in America remains deeply in peril.

Moog's iOS and macOS synth apps are currently 50 percent off

Posted: 09 May 2022 10:30 AM PDT

Moog has temporarily discounted all of its iOS and macOS synths. For a limited time, you can buy the Minimoog Model D, Model 15, Animoog Z apps for 50 percent off – making them $7, $15 and $10, respectively. That's not as generous of a promotion as we saw last year when Moog made those same synths free in honor of founder Bob Moog's birthday.

Still, if you've been looking for a solid soft synth or two to add to your collection, you can't go wrong with a classic like the Minimoog Model D. Moog has consistently updated all three apps. For instance, the company recently added desktop support to its Model 15 synth and made the app compatible with non-Apple DAWs. With AUv3 compatibility built into both the Minimoog Model D and Model 15 apps, you can also use the synths in conjunction with Logic, GarageBand and Mainstage.

'F1 22' has been redesigned to fit the new Formula 1 era

Posted: 09 May 2022 10:15 AM PDT

For the 2022 season, Formula 1 has entered a new era. The sport introduced a new car spec for this year, complete with a new set of regulations that govern how it can be used. There's a new circuit in the United States as well as a continuation of the sprint race format that's still in its infancy. Big changes for teams at the start of the season led EA-owned Codemasters to redesign the latest entry in the F1 game series to match the real-life updates on the track.

As studios typically do for games like this, Codemasters is touting F1 22 as the "biggest overhaul" to the title in years. And with the debut of a new generation car, it's not hyperbole. Specifically, the company says the handling is "better than ever" with upgrades to the aerodynamic and suspension simulation, plus changes to tires per the real-life regulations. Codemasters says it was in contact with both F1 and teams on how the new generation of cars would drive so it could completely overhaul mechanics and the physics of the game to mirror IRL racing.

In an effort to increase the realism of the game, Codemasters has swapped out the voice of the race engineer on your team for Marc Preistley, a former member of McLaren Racing's F1 crew. The studio even went so far as to record Preistley's guidance through a Formula 1-spec headset so the audio is as authentic as possible. Further changes to race day include Formation Lap and AR-guided grid lineup. Pit stops have been updated for the speed of real life and there's a timed pit box entry mechanic that impacts the efficiency of your stop.

Practice sessions now include an AR projection on the track to help both experienced drivers refine their lines and rookies to learn circuits. What's more, both Formation Lap and safety car sequences give you the option of actively participating or watching a more broadcast-like cinematic version of the process. Codemasters says this gives users who crave authenticity the ability to go through every motion of a race, but it also offers more casual gamers the choice of something more relaxed. Pit stops are another area where things can be as active as you want them to be. You can either manually hit your pit box with the timing mechanic or watch from a TV-style perspective.

F1 22
EA/Codemasters

For beginners, there's a new Adaptive AI feature. Codemasters says this is built for users who are fans of F1 but may not be skilled at racing games just yet. Essentially, the game's AI plays more closely alongside the user so that even a novice driver can participate in the race rather than struggle to keep up with the pack. There are two levels to Adaptive AI: standard and a more aggressive mode that slows down the game even more.

F1 22 will also add the sprint race format that Formula 1 adopted for select weekends in 2021 and has continued this season. A short dash determines the starting grid for Sunday's Grand Prix at these circuits rather than traditional qualifying (quali is used to set the grid for the sprint). Sprint races will be part of the season at Imola, Austria and Brazil and they're part of the game at those locales as well. F1 added a second race in the US this year in Miami, and that circuit will also feature in the game. Codemasters made changes to Australia, Spain and Abu Dhabi in line with the updates to the actual tracks that better accommodate the new cars.

There are changes for the career or My Team mode as well. First, you can choose between three entry levels: newcomer, midfield challenger or title contender. You can begin with a team that already has established operations and a great driver, or you can make things more challenging. There are things like the option of skipping an interview or not dealing with a facilities problem, issues that real team bosses face, that can impact how your season goes if you don't handle them properly.

F1 22
EA/Codemasters

In My Team, you've had the ability to customize your livery before, but Codemasters has expanded this area. There are more finishes for the car (gloss, metallic, matte, satin) and there are more places on the car that are available to change. Interface updates here allow you to copy and paste livery color schemes to places like your engineering facility so that you have a cohesive identity for your team.

With F1 Life, the game's new central hub, you're able to see the supercars you unlock from playing (that are driveable in secondary game modes), browse your trophy case and customize your driver's style. There's a closet here where you can update both casual and race wear – right down to the helmet and gloves. F1 Life also serves as the lobby for multiplayer racing, where your driver and their personal style will show up for everyone to see. You even have the ability to customize your "space" or living area where furniture, lighting, art and more can all be swapped out as you see fit.

Lastly, there's a VR component for PC. With this game mode, you'll be able to race from the perspective of the driver, taking in the entire race from the cockpit. If you've ever seen a driver cam during a race, that should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect here. You can still race against friends even if they don't have a VR headset since online play is still available for players who opt for the more immersive virtual reality option.

F1 22 will be available June 28th as a digital Champions Edition on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC (Epic, Origin and Steam). The "regular" version will follow on July 1st.

ASUS brings updated chips and OLED displays to a whole bunch of devices

Posted: 09 May 2022 10:00 AM PDT

ASUS is today showing off what it considers to be The Pinnacle of Performance in the form of a whole raft of new laptops. All of them are getting new, more refined industrial design and the more prominent use of ASUS' Delta-style logo, as well as better thermals. Topping the range is the new Zenbook Pro 16X OLED, a 5.6lb behemoth with a 16-inch, 16:10, 60Hz 4K OLED Dolby Vision and Pantone-validated touchscreen display. Nestled inside the NVIDIA Studio-rated machine is space for a 12th-generation Intel Core CPU, reaching as high as the i9-12900H CPU, which can be paired with an RTX 3060 GPU. ASUS is saying that the most interesting facet about this new machine isn't the raw brawn on offer, but the fact that it's now got much more staying power. Its new cooling system, officials claim, will enable the system to burn through a 140W TDP without throttling, while generating just 40db in fan noise.

Image of the new ASUS ZenBook Peo 14 Duo OLED
Daniel Cooper

The model which will, however, catch most people's eyes is the new, updated, Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED, the one with that cutsey but surprisingly useful second screen. The OLED in its product name refers to a 14.5-inch, 2,8K, 120Hz OLED display up top, which is paired with a 12.7-inch ScreenPad Plus. ASUS says that the ScreenPad Plus is now brighter than its predecessor, with a better auto-tilt which improves cooling. Inside, you'll be able to order a 12th-generation Core i9-12900H and pair it with an RTX 3050 Ti GPU.

It's this machine that I've been able to play with, briefly, before the announcement, and I'm certainly a fan. The model I was using included a 12th-generation Core i7-12700H with 16GB RAM, but performance seemed to be buttery-smooth. Also, and this might sound reductive, but given just how much is crammed into that body, it's surprisingly light and small. The only downside, like last year's model, is that the cramped trackpad takes a long while getting used to, and feels ancient compared to most modern laptops.

As well as the headline acts, ASUS is also adding OLED displays to a number of its other machines, including the 15.6-inch Zenbook Pro 15 Flip OLED, the Zenbook S13 Flip OLED and S13 OLED. You can also now pick up a bigger Zenbook Pro 17, with a 17.3-inch display and the ability to spec for AMD's Ryzen 9 6900HX CPU paired with an RTX 3050 GPU.

Further down the product line river, the Vivobook series are also getting OLED displays thrown at several devices. That includes Vivibook Pro models in 14.5-, 15.6- and 16-inch sizes, each packing an OLED display and the option to spec a Core i9-12900H or Ryzen 8 6900HX, up to 32GB DDR5 RAM, GeForce RTX 3070 Ti and up to 2TB SSD storage. The Vivobook S series, meanwhile, gets OLED options for its 14.5-, 15- and 16-inch models, which can be specced with Intel Core i7 models paired with Iris Xe or Radeon graphics, depending on your budget and needs.

Image of ASUS Surface-like convertible in a limited edition with art by Philip Colbert.
ASUS

The company is also unloading a Vivobook 13 Slate OLED Artist Edition, versions of its existing 2-in-1 with themed accessories and kickstand covers. The artists in question are Philip Colbert (pictured) and Steven Harrington, the former famous for his pop-art style imagery, the latter working in what's described as a "contemporary Californian psychedelic-pop aesthetic."

Many of these laptops will be available at as-yet undetermined dates in the near future, with prices naturally dependent on the many build-to-order options at hand. The Zenbook Pro 16X OLED, when it does arrive, will set you back a minimum of $2,600, while the Zenbook 14 Pro Duo OLED will retail for a minimum of $2,000 when it's available for order.

A US college is shutting down for good following a ransomware attack

Posted: 09 May 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Lincoln College says it will close this week in the wake of a ransomware attack that took months to resolve. While the impact of COVID-19 severely impacted activities such as recruitment and fundraising, the cyberattack seems to have been the tipping point for the Illinois institution.

The college has informed the Illinois Department of Higher Education and Higher Learning Commission that it will permanently close as of May 13th. As NBC News notes, it's the first US college or university to shut down in part because of a ransomware attack.

Lincoln says it had "record-breaking student enrollment" in fall 2019. However, the pandemic caused a sizable fall in enrollment with some students opting to defer college or take a leave of absence. The college — one of only a few rural schools to qualify as a predominantly Black institution under the Department of Education — said those affected its financial standing.

Last December, Lincoln was hit by a cyberattack, which "thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data, creating an unclear picture of fall 2022 enrollment. All systems required for recruitment, retention and fundraising efforts were inoperable," the college said in a statement posted on its homepage. "Fortunately, no personal identifying information was exposed. Once fully restored in March 2022, the projections displayed significant enrollment shortfalls, requiring a transformational donation or partnership to sustain Lincoln College beyond the current semester."

Barring a last-minute respite, the one-two punch of the pandemic and a cyberattack have brought an end to a 157-year-old institution. Lincoln says it will help students who aren't graduating this semester transfer to another college.

Over the last few years, ransomware hackers have attacked other educational facilities, as well as hospitals, game studios, Sinclair Broadcast Group and many other companies and institutions.

Today's Wordle answer was originally 'fetus,' and the NYT insists it was a coincidence

Posted: 09 May 2022 09:20 AM PDT

The New York Times has apologized after Monday's Wordle included a solution for some players that may have been offensive due to its connection to recent political events in the US. Some Wordle players woke up today to find out the solution to the daily puzzle was "fetus," a selection The New York Times said was "entirely unintentional and a coincidence," in a note the outlet's Games team published at 12:01AM. 

According to The Times, the word was loaded into the game "last year," meaning its selection predates both the company's purchase of Wordle and the May 2nd leak of a draft decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. When The Times Games team discovered last week that Monday's puzzle would feature the word fetus, it said it did its best to alter the answer for "as many solvers as possible." However, due to the way Wordle loads data, those who keep the game running in a tab that they never refresh still saw the old selection. The Times said it hopes to avoid a similar situation occurring in the future.

"We're now busy revamping Wordle's technology so that everyone always receives the same word," the outlet said. "We are committed to ensuring that tens of millions of people have a gratifying and consistent experience, every day." The Games team added that it wants Wordle "to remain distinct from the news," a stance that has drawn criticism from some players.

EA is making a free-to-play Lord of the Rings RPG for mobile

Posted: 09 May 2022 08:30 AM PDT

Electronic Arts is stepping back into Middle-earth. The publisher has announced a free-to-play mobile game called The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth. The RPG is the first EA mobile title based on J.R.R. Tolkien's works. EA Capital Games is developing the game. The studio was behind another successful collectible mobile RPG in 2015's Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.

Heroes of Middle-earth will include characters from both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, along with collection systems, turn-based combat and "immersive storytelling." EA said in a press release that players will experience "iconic stories from the world of Tolkien and take up the fight against the great evils of Middle-earth." Unsurprisingly, given that this is a free-to-play mobile title, there will be microtransactions.

"We are incredibly excited to partner with The Saul Zaentz Company and Middle-earth Enterprises on the next generation of mobile role-playing games," said EA's vice-president of mobile RPG Malachi Boyle said. "The team is filled with fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and each day they bring their tremendous passion and talents together to deliver an authentic experience for players. The combination of high-fidelity graphics, cinematic animations, and stylized art immerses players in the fantasy of Middle-earth where they'll go head-to-head with their favorite characters."

This will be EA's first LOTR title since 2009's The Lord of the Rings: Conquest, as Polygon notes. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, NetEase and Glu Mobile (which EA bought last year) are among the other publishers who have released mobile LOTR games.

EA expects to start limited regional beta tests of The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth this summer.

It's not the only major LOTR project scheduled to debut this year. Daedalic's action-adventure title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is supposed to arrive in 2022. And then, of course, there's the small matter of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series, which will premiere on September 2nd.

NFTs are coming to Instagram this week

Posted: 09 May 2022 07:33 AM PDT

As promised (or threatened, depending on your perspective), NFTs are coming to Instagram imminently. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the app will this week start testing a way for users to display non-fungible tokens on their profiles.

"We're starting building for NFTs, not just in our metaverse and Reality Labs work, but also across our family of apps." Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook. "We're starting to test digital collectibles on Instagram so that creators and collectors can display their NFTs."

A similar feature is coming to Facebook in the near future, and Meta is considering enabling NFTs in its other apps, such as Messenger and WhatsApp. Also in the works is a way for people to display 3D NFTs in Instagram Stories using augmented reality. Zuckerberg says this feature would be built on Spark AR and would allow users to "place digital art in physical spaces."

Rumors swirled over the weekend suggesting that Instagram would start testing non-fungible tokens in the app this week. CoinDesk reported that Meta would allow integrations with NFTs from the Ethereum, Polygon, Solana and Flow blockchains. 

Instagram head Adam Mosseri shed more light on how the NFT integrations will work. Users will be able to share NFTs they've created or bought in their feed, Stories and messages. A limited number of people in the US will have access to these features to begin with. 

Mosseri also noted the disconnect between the decentralized nature of Web3 tech like NFTs and the blockchain and the fact Instagram is a centralized platform. "One of the reasons why we're starting small is we want to make sure that we can learn from the community," he added. "We want to make sure we can work out how to embrace those tenets of distributed trust and distributed power, despite the fact that we are a centralized platform."

Users won't need to pay any fees "associated with posting or sharing a digital collectible" on Instagram, Mosseri said. In his announcement, he suggested NFTs could provide a way for a subset of creators to earn a living on the platform. That suggests users will be able to buy and sell them directly on Instagram at some point. Zuckerberg has said that creators may eventually be able to mint NFTs in the app too. Engadget has contacted Meta for more details.

Meta's CEO has also spoken about other ambitions for NFTs in the company's take on the metaverse. "I would hope that you know, the clothing that your avatar is wearing in the metaverse, you know, can be basically minted as an NFT and you can take it between your different places," he said at SXSW in March.

Update 5/9 10:52AM ET: Added more details from Mosseri.

Kendrick Lamar's latest music video includes deepfakes of Will Smith and Kanye

Posted: 09 May 2022 07:30 AM PDT

Kendrick Lamar is out to show that deepfakes are useful for more than misinformation and creepy porn. The rapper has shared a music video for his "The Heart Part 5" single that revolves exclusively around deepfake celebrity faces superimposed on Kendrick's body as he spits bars. The clip seamlessly transitions between AI-based visages of famous and occasionally notorious figures in recent Black culture, including Kanye West, OJ Simpson, Will Smith and late icons like Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle.

Deep Voodoo, a studio formed by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, was responsible for the deepfake imagery. The video was directed by Kendrick and Dave Free. 

As with the lyrics themselves, the overlaid faces serve as commentary on the Black experience. They represent different aspects of a common voice, and appear alongside key verses (such as Kanye for bipolar disorder, and Nipsey for murder). In that sense, Kendrick's video is a reminder that deepfake technology is just a tool, and can be useful for artistic expression in the right hands.

The best multi-device wireless chargers you can buy

Posted: 09 May 2022 07:15 AM PDT

There's a good chance you have enough devices with wireless charging support that a single-device pad or stand just won't cut it. However, buying a multiple-item charger can be a headache. You not only have to contend with varying levels of support, but different designs — the last thing you want is something that won't fit on your nightstand. Don't fret, though. We'll walk you through what you need to know while shopping for a multi-device charger, and recommend a few models that belong on your short list.

Future-proofing

It won't be shocking to hear that your phone choice influences your choice in chargers. Only iPhone owners will need to consider Apple Watch compatibility. Likewise, you'll need an Android phone if you expect to power a Galaxy Watch. Buy an iPhone 12 or newer and you can attach your phone magnetically using MagSafe, while the latest Android phones often have some form of fast wireless charging.

However, it's not simply a question of getting the fastest charger. You should consider what you might buy in the future. Don't buy a two-device charger if you have an iPhone and AirPods, but have been eyeing an Apple Watch. And if you think you might switch to Android (or vice versa), you'll want to get something more generic that doesn't lock you into any one ecosystem.

Some chargers include cradles, trays and other features that are heavily optimized for particular products, and might not even account for year-to-year changes. Some vertical stands are too tall for small phones like the iPhone 13 mini, for instance. While you can never completely guarantee that next year's phone or watch will work, it's worth buying something more likely to last.

Having said all this, don't be afraid to get a charger with vendor-specific features if you're fiercely loyal to one brand. Apple isn't expected to ditch MagSafe any time soon, and Samsung will likely keep making Galaxy Watches for a while to come.

Where and how will you use it?

Multi-device wireless charger with Android phone and Samsung earbuds
Sebastian Bednarek on Unsplash

You're probably buying a multi-device charger with one location in mind. It might sit on your nightstand or on your desk. Not everyone buys a charger just for themselves, though; you might want to use one as a shared station for you and a partner.

If the charger will sit on your nightstand, you'll likely want a compact, stable unit that won't swallow all your free space or tumble to the floor. You may also prefer a lay-flat phone pad so your screen is less likely to keep you awake. The Apple Watch and some other smartwatches can double as tiny alarm clocks, so you might want a vertical charging option for any wristwear.

At a desk, however, you may want a vertical phone stand so you can check notifications. Will the charger sit on a low table? Horizontal pads may make it easier to grab your devices in a hurry. Travel chargers should fold up or otherwise protect the pads while they're in your bag. And, yes, aesthetics count. You may want something pretty if it's likely to sit in a posh room where guests will see it.

If it's a shared charging station, you'll want something with multiple generic surfaces, and you'll probably have to forgo charging more than one watch at a time. In those cases, consider the handful of 4-in-1 chargers on the market, or models with USB ports.

Performance

It's no secret that wireless charging is typically slower than wired, and powering multiple devices adds a new wrinkle. As these chargers often have to support a wide range of hardware, you'll have to forget about the fastest, device-specific options from brands like Google, OnePlus and Samsung.

That's not to say these will be slow, but there just isn't much separating them on the speed front. As a general rule, the quickest multi-device chargers tend to top out at 15W for phones. And you'll need a MagSafe charger if you want to get that full 15W on an iPhone.

It's rare that you'll find a truly slow example, mind you. Even some of the most affordable options we've seen will recharge your phone at a reasonable 7.5W or 10W, and the 5W for other devices is more than enough. If you're only docking overnight or while you work, speed won't make a huge difference. Just be sure that whatever you buy is powerful enough for a phone in a case. It's also worth noting that fast charging for other devices is rare, although you'll occasionally find speedier options for the Apple Watch Series 7.

Quality, box contents and small details

Multi-device wireless charger with iPhone and Apple Watch
Melvin Thambi on Unsplash

The difference between a good charger and a great one often boils down to little details. You won't always need to pay extra to get those, but a larger outlay may be worthwhile to avoid frustrations for years to come.

A textured surface like rubberized plastic or fabric will reduce the chances your expensive gadgets will slide off their charging points. The base should have enough grip and weight that the charger won't easily shift out of place. Any floating or vertical stands should be sturdy — steer clear if there's any wobble.

You'll also want to make a note of what's included in the box. Some chargers don't ship with power adapters, and we've seen numerous models whose Apple Watch "stands" are merely holders for your existing charging puck.

Then there's helpful touches like status lights for confirming correct placement, although you'll want to make sure they dim or shut off after a certain amount of time. And while it's still true that cradles and trays can limit compatibility, you do want your devices to stay where you put them. Shelves and lips can prevent your phone or watch from sliding. Oh, and be wary of floating smartwatch mounts, as heavier timepieces might sag.

Engadget picks

At this stage, you should have a good sense of what you want and what to look for. Now, it would be impossible for us to test every charger, but we've tried numerous models and have a few favorites.

Best premium 3-in-1 charger: Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 (top view)
Jon Fingas/Engadget

It doesn't get much better than Belkin's most advanced model if you're an Apple devotee. The BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 pad offers 15W MagSafe charging for your iPhone, fast charging for the Apple Watch Series 7 and a space for AirPods or other earbuds with Qi-compatible cases. The base is weighty, covered in rubberized plastic and includes a discreet status light for your earbuds. More importantly, it supports more devices than you might think. Although the Pro pad uses MagSafe, the horizontal layout lets you charge virtually any phone at reduced speeds. We also have to give Belkin kudos for one of the most convenient Apple Watch chargers we've seen. It not only works horizontally and vertically, but includes a knob to adjust for different sizes and third-party cases.

This is quite large compared to some 3-in-1 chargers, so it's not the greatest choice for a nightstand. Consider the smaller footprint of its counterpart, the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe 15W, if you have an iPhone 12 or newer. You also won't find USB ports, and the indented earbud pad rules out a second phone. Still, it's easily worth the $150 asking price.

Buy BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 at Amazon - $150

Runner-up: Logitech Powered 3-in-1 Dock

Logitech Powered 3-in-1 Dock
Jon Fingas/Engadget

There are many quality high-end chargers to choose from, but Logitech's Powered 3-in-1 Dock offers a few features that help it rise above. It consumes relatively little space, and the rubberized horizontal and vertical chargers deliver up to 10W while gripping your devices tightly, so both you and your partner can top off.

It has a few limitations, though. The vertical stand isn't well-suited to the iPhone 13 mini and other small phones. And while the floating stand works with most Apple Watches, heavier ones tend to sag (such as this author's steel Series 5 with a Leather Link strap) and might not charge properly. If those aren't issues, though, your $130 will be well-spent.

Buy Logitech Powered 3-in-1 at Amazon - $154

Best budget 3-in-1 charger: Anker 533 Wireless Charger

Anker 533 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
Anker

You can find plenty of more affordable 3-in-1 chargers. Few, however, offer quite as much for the money as the Anker 533 Wireless Charger 3-in-1 Stand. It folds up for travel, offers an adjustable-angle 10W vertical stand and lets you charge an Apple Watch either horizontally or vertically. There's also a 20W USB-C power adapter in the box, so you won't have to buy an aftermarket brick (or rely on proprietary cabling) to get started.

The limitations mostly stem from the cost-cutting measures. You probably won't have room for a second phone. And like some chargers we've seen, the Apple Watch mount is a bring-your-own-cable affair that only supports older USB-A connections. The included cable with your Series 7 or SE won't work here. At $60, though, this is a good bargain.

Buy Anker 533 3-in-1 charger at Amazon - $60

Runner-up: Otterbox 3-in-1 Charging Station for MagSafe

Otterbox 3-in-1 Wireless Charger
Jon Fingas/Engadget

If you're willing to spend a bit more and live in Apple's universe, the Otterbox 3-in-1 Charging Station for MagSafe is worth your attention. The extremely small footprint is ideal for nightstands. You can tuck your phone, earbuds and Apple Watch into an area normally reserved for a single device. The company supplies a surprisingly powerful 36W USB-C power adapter in the box that serves as a fast wired option in a pinch.

The caveats are clear. The floating MagSafe stand rules out Android phones and older iPhones. You'll need to bring your own Apple Watch cable, and the USB-A port won't work with the USB-C cables bundled with newer watches. The horizontal-only watch mount also rules out clock functionality. The overall balance of space and utility is still difficult to top for $80.

Buy MagSafe 3-in-1 charger at Otterbox - $80

Best 2-in-1 charger: Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad

Mophie Dual Wireless Charging Pad
Mophie

The 2-in-1 field is highly competitive and makes it difficult to choose an absolute winner. However, Mophie's Dual Wireless Charging Pad hits many of the right marks. It can charge two devices at up to 10W each, making it a great pick for a two-phone household. The fabric surface with rubberized trim should keep your gadgets steady, and the status lights will confirm accurate placement. There's even a USB-A port to plug in your watch charger or any other wired hardware.

The complaints are few. You won't charge at 15W, and we'd rather have USB-C than USB-A. It's nonetheless a safe choice at $80, and worth buying over less expensive options.

Buy Mophie Dual wireless charging pad at Amazon - $80

Runner-up: Samsung Super Fast Wireless Charger Duo

Samsung Super Fast Wireless Charger Duo with Galaxy S22+
Jon Fingas/Engadget

Multi-device chargers from phone manufacturers tend to be either compromised or highly proprietary, but Samsung's Super Fast Wireless Charger Duo (sometimes known as the 15W Duo Fast Wireless Charger) bucks that trend. It's compact and delivers high-speed charging for one phone and an accessory, whether it's a Galaxy Watch or another manufacturer's earbuds. The status lights will even dim at night, and change color to indicate when your batteries are full.

This won't help for two-phone households, and Samsung only guarantees 15W charging for some of its own phones (the Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S20 and later). You'll also want to be mindful of which version you buy, as there are variants with and without a power adapter in the box. Neither is cheap at respective prices of $90 and $70. This remains an elegant charger for nightstands and travel, though, and the pads are sufficiently device-agnostic.

Buy Duo charger at Samsung - $90

Best charger for two people: Mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat

Mophie 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat
Mophie

There are few wireless chargers built with more than one person in mind, but Mophie's 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Mat is the most well-rounded of the bunch. The pad can handle up to four devices wirelessly at 10W, including two phones and two accessories. There's also a spare USB-A port for charging earlier Apple Watch models (using the included mount and your own cable) or wired items. A fabric surface, subtle device trays and indicator lights will also take the mysteries out of charging.

This is a giant charger compared to most, and you might find it limiting if your home has more than one Apple Watch or accessories that won't fit the smaller charging pads. Even so, Mophie is offering considerable value for $150. The 4-in-1 does more than some 3-in-1 chargers at that price, and it doesn't suffer the compatibility issues of rivals like Nomad's Base Station Pro.

Buy Mophie 4-in-1 charging pad at Amazon - $150

Roku's Streambar is down to $99 at Amazon

Posted: 09 May 2022 06:20 AM PDT

Today is a good day to get started building a connected home theater. Amazon has the Roku Streambar on sale for just $99, well below its usual $130 price. If you crave improved sound, the more powerful Streambar Pro is back down to $150 ($30 off). And don't worry if you already have good speakers and just want an advanced media hub — the current-generation Apple TV 4K with 32GB of storage is still on sale for $150 (normally $179).

Buy Roku Streambar at Amazon - $99Buy Roku Streambar Pro at Amazon - $150Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $150

The Roku Streambar represents one of the easier ways to drag an older TV into the modern era. You're getting both a 4K HDR-capable streaming device and a solid speaker upgrade in a compact package. Roku's platform offers access to a wide range of services (including support for AirPlay, HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant), and you can even use the Streambar as a Bluetooth speaker if you just want to play tunes from your phone. This might be an ideal fit for a small apartment, a dorm or a bedroom TV.

The base Streambar has only modest bass, and none of Roku's soundbars has Dolby Vision HDR support or an Ethernet jack for wired networking. You can improve audio quality with the Streambar Pro, however, and there are kits to add surround sound or a subwoofer (all of them $30 off) if you have the money to spend. It's safe to say even the entry model is a significant upgrade over the usual built-in speakers, and might offer apps beyond what your TV allows.

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

SanDisk's 1TB Extreme Pro SSD drops to $180 at Amazon

Posted: 09 May 2022 05:48 AM PDT

If your daily driver is running low on space, an external drive will come in handy to either offload some of your important documents and files or act as your main storage device going forward. It'll be even better if you spring for a portable drive, since you'll be able to take it with you anywhere. One of SanDisk's toughest portable SDDs, the Extreme Pro, has been heavily discounted on Amazon. The 1TB model is 42 percent off and down to $180, which is only $10 more than its all-time low.

Buy SanDisk Extreme Pro (1TB) at Amazon - $180

The Extreme Pro is ideal for people who are constantly on the go and need a speedy drive to store things like photos, videos and other large files. The compact device supports read and write speeds up to 2,000 MB/s, plus it comes with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption.

We also like its durable design: it sports a forged aluminum chassis that has two-meter drop protection and an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. All that's to say your digital files will be safe even if the drive takes a tumble or gets splashed with water. It also comes with USB-C to C and USB-C to A cables, so you'll be able to use it with nearly any machine you have, even if it's on the older side.

SanDisk has a few other storage gadgets on sale right now that are worth considering. The 256GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB-C flash drive is 34 percent off and down to just under $29, while the 128GB Ultra Luxe USB-A flash drive is nearly half off and down to just about $17. Either of those are good options if you like to keep a thumb drive on you at all times, and both of these have keyring holes built in so you can easily attach them to your things. Finally, the 1TB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card that's typically $200 is down to $122, which is 39 percent off its normal price and close to a record low.

Buy Dual Drive Go flash drive (256GB) at Amazon - $29Buy Ultra Luxe flash drive (128GB) at Amazon - $17Buy Ultra microSDXC card (1TB) at Amazon - $122

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

Wondery now streams some podcasts in Dolby Atmos

Posted: 09 May 2022 05:30 AM PDT

If you've ever wished your podcast audio was just a bit more immersive, you're in luck. Well, you're in luck as long as you're a Wondery+ subscriber. Dolby and Wondery have announced that the Amazon-owned podcast studio will be the first platform in the United States to offer shows in Dolby Atmos. Starting today, Blood Ties, Jacked: Rise of the New Jack Sound and Iowa Chapman and The Last Dog can be streamed with the immersive audio. Wondery plans to offer Against the Odds in the format "in the coming months." 

Dolby Atmos episodes and shows are exclusive to Wondery's podcast subscription Wondery+. The $5 monthly or $35 annual plan gives you access to the company's full catalog of content without ads. Subscribers also get exclusive episodes. Although Wondery is the first US-based podcast studio to offer Dolby Atmos, the immersive audio will be available in 28 countries where the service is available. 

Dolby says it's "actively working" with other platforms to add more podcasts in Atmos audio. Currently, the company has partnered with Earshot in India and Anghami in the Middle East and North Africa on the initiative. So if Wondery's catalog doesn't entice you, more shows from other networks should be available in the future. 

Amazon bought Wondery in late 2020, shortly after it added podcasts to Amazon Music. The podcast studio had already made a name for itself with shows like Blood Ties and Dying for Sex, and it had launched its subscription service that offered ad-free listening. Amazon and Wondery have lined up other perks for paying users too, like the ability to listen to Guy Raz's How I Built This a week early.

White House agreement sees ISPs cap broadband prices for low-income households

Posted: 09 May 2022 04:45 AM PDT

A key component of the Biden Administration's $1 trillion US Infrastructure Bill was ensuring that people of all means had access to reliable high-speed internet. Now, twenty internet providers including AT&T, Comcast and Verizon have agreed to offer high-speed broadband internet plans for no more than $30 per month via a subsidy, the White House announced.

The ISP's, which cover 80 percent of the US population, agreed to "either increase speeds or cut prices, making sure they all offer ACP-eligible households high-speed, high-quality internet plans for no more than $30/month," The White House wrote. Biden has previously highlighted the challenges not having broadband poses to some families. "Never again should a parent have to sit in their car in a McDonald's parking lot... so that their child can get access to high-speed Internet to do their homework," he said in a speech last month. 

The subsidy is part of a $65 billion program for expanding broadband primarily through fiber-optic cable installations. $14 billion of that is earmarked for subsidies in the Affordable Connectivity Program aimed at lowering internet costs. It's available to any families with income 200 percent or less than federal poverty guidelines, or for those who qualify for certain assistance programs.

Some 11.5 million households have signed up for the subsidy, but there are as many as 48 million eligible households. To that end, the administration is launching a site called GetInternet.gov that will provide details on how to sign up. It's also reaching out to people through federal agencies, partnering with states and cities and collaborating with public interest organizations like the United Way and Goodwill. 

The Morning After: Alienware's impressive, expensive QD-OLED gaming monitor

Posted: 09 May 2022 04:15 AM PDT

Have you been saving up for some new PC gaming hardware? Want something a little more satisfying than just a simple graphics card upgrade? Well, we've just tested out two impressive additions to pine after: Razer's recent OLED-equipped, high-refresh-rate Blade 15 gaming laptop and the similarly gorgeous — but more static — Alienware QD-OLED gaming monitor.

Razer Blade 15
Engadget

Now to the surprise of none of you, they're both expensive. But we think they may be worth it. Razer's new Blade 15 (we tested the $3,700 configuration… whoa) has a wide selection of high refresh rate display options, including both LCD and OLED. There's a premium aluminum chassis with larger keycaps, too. But, I repeat, it's almost $4,000.

Meanwhile, Alienware's 34-inch curved QD-OLED monitor has Samsung's new Quantum Dot OLED panel and rings in at $1,299. Sure, compared to Apple's $1,599 Studio Display, it's almost reasonable, but against many other monitors, this is a premium option. Both reviews are live over on the site now.

— Mat Smith 

The biggest stories you might have missed

NVIDIA pays $5.5 million to settle SEC charges over GPU sales to crypto miners

The company allegedly failed to disclose how much it benefited from crypto.

I already mentioned GPUs in the intro, but this is more about the increasingly lucrative market of NVIDIA graphics cards for crypto miners. I say lucrative, but the company is paying $5.5 million to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission charges after it failed to disclose crypto mining played a "significant" role in its surging revenue from GPU sales through fiscal 2018.

Continue reading.

How Gen Z is pushing NES 'Tetris' to its limits

New Kids on the Blocks.

TMA
Engadget

Tetris, the basic NES version that birthed a phenomenon, is back again, at the highest levels of block destruction. It's an era of new techniques (you haven't heard of hypertapping?) and players barely older than a GameBoy Advance.

Continue reading.

John McEnroe played tennis against a virtual version of himself on ESPN+

You can not be serious.

What would happen if tennis legend John McEnroe played himself? An ESPN special entitled McEnroe vs. McEnroe featured the 63-year-old star, who retired from singles competition in 1992, playing a complicated, AI-trained version of himself. Which one had a meltdown first? The special is available to watch on ESPN+.

Continue reading.

Xbox is recovering after two outages over the weekend

This second bout was only three hours after the first was supposedly resolved.

Xbox users faced a nine-hour outage on Saturday. Microsoft issued a tweet around 4 PM ET that day, acknowledging some users were unable to purchase and launch games or join Cloud Gaming sessions. Possibly the worst part: It was the second Xbox Network outage over the weekend. Xbox networks suffered a similar outage from late Friday afternoon and into Saturday morning.

Continue reading.

Pokémon Switch games are up to half off right now

Posted: 09 May 2022 02:41 AM PDT

If you're a Pokémon fan and want to boost your Nintendo Switch game collection, Best Buy has just launched an interesting sale. It cut the price of recent titles including Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Pokémon Sword Edition and Pokémon Snap to $40, saving you $20 off the regular price. Even better, you can find the Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee titles for half off. 

Buy Pokémon games at Best Buy

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond ($40) and Shining Pearl ($40) are remakes of the original 2006 DS games with much improved visuals thanks to the Switch's hardware capabilities. They launched less than a year ago, so it's rare to see them with up with a one-third off discount. Pokémon Snap ($40), meanwhile, is a sequel to the 1999 Nintendo 64 classic. It came out early last year, and again, gives you the same wildly original concept (take the best photos from a train to gain points), with much improved Switch visuals. 

The other two titles with $20 discounts are Pokémon Shield Edition ($40) and Pokémon Sword ($40), released in 2019. While the games faced a backlash for not including all pre-existing Pokémon, they've gone on to sell nearly 25 million copies world-wide, becoming one of the fastest selling games on Switch. That popularity makes it hard to find them on sale, so a $20 discount is welcome news.

Finally, there's Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee! ($30) and Let's Go, Pikachu! ($30). Both those launched in 2018, ostensibly as remakes to Pokémon Yellow. At the same time, they bridge the gap between the core series and popular Pokémon Go mobile game, by turning the experience of catching Pokémon into a Go-style minigame. Half off is a very solid deal for these games, but it's not likely to last long. 

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