Tuesday, May 17, 2022

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Tesla starts taking Semi truck reservations, five years later

Posted: 16 May 2022 01:53 PM PDT

Tesla's long-delayed Semi just took an important step toward becoming a practical reality. As CNETreports, the automaker has started taking reservations for its electric big rig. You'll need to place a $20,000 deposit ($15,000 of it by wire transfer), and Tesla still hasn't narrowed down the launch beyond the expected 2023 production window. Still, this is notable when early commitments have largely been limited to bulk orders from the likes of PepsiCo and Walmart.

The Semi was unveiled in 2017 alongside the second-generation Roadster. The machine was meant to up-end conventional trucking with a maximum 500-mile range, fast "Megacharger" top-ups and a 20-second 0-60MPH time at a loaded weight of 80,000lbs. It's still expected to start at $150,000, making it potentially viable for companies that want inter-city haulers without the usual fuel costs or environmental impact.

As with the new Roadster, though, the launch didn't go according to plan. Tesla has delayed the Semi multiple times, most recently to grapple with chip shortages and limited production capacity for the necessary 4680 battery cells. Reservations at this stage are less about imminent delivery and more about locking in future income, just as Cybertruck deposits (estimated at 1.3 million as of November 2021) helped Tesla secure billions in revenue whenever the pickup arrives.

Still, Tesla might not be too worried about the wait. Rival Nikola is only just ramping up production of its electric semi-truck, and established brands like Freightliner haven't found runaway success with their EVs. The Semi will still enter a relatively young field with both name recognition and technology as advantages.

Peloton and iFit settle patent feud

Posted: 16 May 2022 12:35 PM PDT

Peloton has struggled financially in recent months, but it shared a bit of good news on Monday. It announced a settlement agreement with iFit, one of the companies it sued last fall for attempting to "free ride" off of its technology. At the time, Peloton accused its rival of violating up to four of its patents related to on-demand classes.

As part of the settlement, iFit will remove some leaderboard features from its devices. Peloton, meanwhile, has agreed to license a handful of patents from iFit that involve the company's remote control technologies. The two firms did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement. "The parties are pleased to put the litigations behind them," Peloton said.

While we will probably never know the factors that led to iFit's decision to settle, the company probably had the fate of Flywheel in mind. Just before the start of the pandemic, Flywheel announced it would shut down its online classes after losing a patent lawsuit to Peloton. In the aftermath of that announcement, Peloton began a promotion for Flywheel customers where they could trade in their bikes for a refurbished Peloton bike at no cost. At the same time, there are examples of companies successfully challenging Peloton. At the start of the year, Echelon convinced the US Patent and Trademark Office that Peloton shouldn't have been granted two patents related to its streaming technologies.

Apple rolls out iOS 15.5 with upgrades to Apple Cash and Podcasts

Posted: 16 May 2022 11:08 AM PDT

Apple is quickly acting on its promise to deliver some useful upgrades before WWDC. The company has released iOS 15.5 and its iPadOS 15.5 counterpart with improvements to both Apple Cash and (as mentioned earlier) Podcasts. Cash users can now send and receive money from their card, while Podcasts users can have the app automatically limit episode storage based on criteria like the number of shows or time since release.

A corresponding macOS 12.4 update adds the relevant Podcasts features. You can also grab a previously teased firmware fix for the Studio Display's mediocre webcam quality. Apple has also released watchOS 8.6, tvOS 15.5 and HomePod 15.5 updates, although those focus on bug fixes and performance rather than any significant features.

The iOS, iPadOS and macOS updates aren't huge, but that's not surprising. Apple has historically wound down significant upgrades to its current operating systems around this time of year. The focus now is likely on iOS 16 and other big revisions likely to arrive in the fall.

Spotify is testing NFT galleries on artist pages

Posted: 16 May 2022 10:35 AM PDT

In addition to their latest tracks and playlists, musicians can use Spotify's artist profile pages to promote merchandise and concert dates. Soon, they may be able to use those pages to promote NFTs as well. As first reported by Music Ally, Spotify has begun testing NFT galleries. The feature is available to a select group of US users on Android and includes Web3 enthusiasts like Steve Aoki.

If you have access to the test, you can view the galleries by visiting one of the included artist pages and scrolling past the song list. Tapping on an NFT allows you to see a larger version of it, in addition to a short description. Per The Verge, a "See More" option redirects you to the NFT's OpenSea listing page where you can purchase the token. According to Music Ally, Spotify isn't collecting a commission on sales it helps facilitate during the test.

"Spotify is running a test in which it will help a small group of artists promote their existing third-party NFT offerings via their artist profiles," Spotify told the outlet. "We routinely conduct a number of tests in an effort to improve artist and fan experiences. Some of those tests end up paving the way for a broader experience and others serve only as an important learning."

We've reached out to Spotify for more information.

The test comes as other major platforms like Instagram incorporate their own NFT features even as the market cools down. Citing data from NonFungible, The Wall Street Journal recently found that daily NFT sales are down 92 percent from their peak in September. The number of active wallets is also down by about 88 percent. 

'Fall Guys' lands on Switch, Xbox and Epic Games Store on June 21st

Posted: 16 May 2022 10:21 AM PDT

It's been over a year since Mediatonic confirmed Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout was coming to Xbox and Nintendo Switch. After somedelays, the wait is almost over. The ridiculously fun battle royale platformer is coming to those platforms, as well as Epic Games Store, on June 21st. A dedicated PlayStation 5 version is on the way too. Full cross-play and cross-progression will be available across all platforms as well.

What's more, Fall Guys is going free-to-play. Epic pulled a similar move with Rocket League after snatching up Psyonix. Existing players on PlayStation and Steam will receive a legacy pack, which includes three costumes and some other bonuses. Newcomers who pre-register can claim some swag as well. 

It's not a huge shock that Fall Guys is coming to the Epic Games Store — Epic bought Mediatonic parent Tonic Games Group last year. Users have needed an Epic account to play Fall Guys since November, when cross-progression was added.

A new season will also get underway on June 21st. Mediatonic is resetting the counter and calling it Season 1: Free For All. It will be the first seasonal update since November and, as ever, there will be new levels and more cosmetics.

For the first time, there will be a premium (i.e. paid) season pass with 100 tiers and extra cosmetic items. Those who receive the legacy pass will get free access to the premium season pass for season one. A free season pass will still be available with other items to unlock. 

Crowns will no longer be used for currency to buy items in the store. The crown rank feature will be boosted with more rewards. Unspent crowns will be converted into Kudos. There will be another in-game currency called Show-Bucks, which can be used to buy the premium season pass. Costumes that are on the way include Ezio from the Assassin's Creed series, along with Mecha Godzilla and Mothra.

There's one more big update on the way: a level creator. This was announced as being "under construction" and, while it won't be arriving any time soon, it's an exciting feature to look forward to.

The game debuted on PS4 and Steam in August 2020 and was an instant hit, racking up millions of players on PC in just a few days and becoming the most-claimed game in the history of PlayStation Plus at the time. It seems player numbers have dropped quite a ways since the early days — having increasingly lengthy seasons likely hasn't helped. However, the arrival of Fall Guys on more platforms, the free-to-play shift and a new season should all bring new and lapsed players into the fold.

Cadillac's Lyriq EV will start at $62,990

Posted: 16 May 2022 10:08 AM PDT

Cadillac has released more details about the vehicle and its features ahead of online orders reopening for its highly-anticipated Lyriq EV on May 19th. The crossover will start at $62,990 and just $2,000 more for its 4WD variant. What's more, Cadillac is sweetening the deal by including either two years of unlimited public charging through EV Go or up to a $1,500 credit for a home charging unit through QMerit.

Orders will open for both the RWD and AWD versions at the end of this week. Customers will have two additional exterior paint options — Opulent Blue Metallic and Crystal White Tricoat — to choose from that happens. Customers should expect the RWD models to arrive first — it's coming this fall after the summer production run of the Lyriq Debut Edition concludes. The AWD models should hit dealerships by early next year. Cadillac also unveiled the EPA-rated mileage of 312 miles for the RWD Lyric (no official word yet on the AWD version but assume it to be a bit lower). 

The company also announced on Monday that it is partnering with both charging station network EV Go and home charging system installers, QMerit, to help reticent buyers overcome their range anxiety through the judicious application of cash. Lyric shoppers will have their pick of two included charging options: two years of unlimited charging sessions at EV Go's 850-plus stations or they'll receive up to a $1,500 rebate for the installation of a Level 2 AC home charging unit. Opting for the public charging option will be faster (with a 190kW max rate on a Level 3 DC charger, the Lyric will add 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes) while the home charging method won't require you to hang around a parking lot for 45 minutes while the Lyric's batteries refill.  

Apple Podcasts will manage episode downloads to save storage space

Posted: 16 May 2022 09:02 AM PDT

Apple is giving Podcasts a useful boost, both for listeners and podcasters. As TechCrunchexplains, the impending iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5 and macOS 12.4 upgrades will finally give you a host of advanced tools to limit podcast storage across your devices. You can tell the Podcasts app to only download a certain number of recent episodes, those within a set timeframe (such as a week or month) or only new episodes. You can also disable downloads entirely — helpful if you're using a small-capacity iPhone and need every gigabyte you can get.

Apple Podcasts storage management on iOS 15.5
Apple

The new OS upgrades will also give you the option of yearly subscriptions for paid podcasts. You'll alsoget to browse shows by season and filter episodes by their status.

You may see more podcasts, too. Apple has unveiled plans for a "Delegated Delivery" feature that lets creators send both free and paid shows to Podcasts through third-party providers like Acast, Libsyn and Omny Studio. The move should make it much easier for producers to distribute their shows across platforms — they could make a series available through Podcasts, Spotify and other big platforms while managing content in one place.

Delegated Delivery will be available sometime this fall, and will be free whether or not creators are part of the Apple Podcasters Program. They'll only need to join that program to publish paid material. The initiative is effectively Apple's response to Spotify's Anchor, and should increase the odds that your favorite show is available through your listening app of choice.

Forget rideshares, Uber will rent you a party bus

Posted: 16 May 2022 08:15 AM PDT

Uber continues to show that it has grand ambitions that go far beyond the ride-sharing service that it first became known for. At the company's second annual, product-focused Go/Get event, Uber announced a host of new features focused primarily on expanding its offerings in both the travel and delivery categories. 

Travel may sound obvious, given Uber's background, but probably the most notable new offering is simply called Uber Travel; its focus is helping you get around when you're not in your home city. It's an integration with Gmail that can pull details out of your inbox like hotel, flight and restaurant reservations and group it together in the Uber app. The point, of course, is that you can then schedule rides for each of these events, and Uber will give 10 percent back in Uber Cash when you do. Uber Travel goes live today in the US and will be available in Canada within a few weeks.

Uber Travel
Uber

Of course, you may be understandably wary about linking your Gmail account to Uber. I asked the company about what protections they have in place, and a spokesperson note that integrations with Gmail all have to undergo a security assessment and also get a letter of verification from a third party that Google chooses. Uber was verified through this process, and the company also has to follow the data privacy requirements found in Google's API Services User Data Policy.

Another rather unconventional new service is called Uber Charter. This lets you reserve large vehicles directly through Uber — think things like party buses, coaches, passenger vans and so forth. It's not clear how far in advance you'll need to book these things, but the benefit is that you'll see up-front pricing for whatever sort of vehicle you need. Uber says this is coming to "select cities" starting this summer.

Uber Charter
Uber

Uber definitely has larger gatherings on its mind with that new features, and Uber Vouchers could be similarly helpful for weddings and other events. Let's say you want to make it easier for your guests to get to an event. Uber Vouchers lets you fill in event details like the location, set a maximum amount that you will pay. Once that's set, you can share a code with your guests and their rides will be paid for out of the pool of money you put aside for those trips. Uber's been doing this for businesses already, but now anyone can use the voucher system.

A number of other announcements Uber is making focus on its delivery services. Earlier today, the company made an announcement that it was launching two different autonomous delivery pilots in Los Angeles, one with autonomous vehicle company Motional and the second with Serve, which will do deliveries with autonomous robots (the Serve robot is pictured above).

The other new delivery features aren't quite as big a deal, but they'll actually be available to people not in LA. For starters, Uber Eats will soon support voice ordering with the Google Assistant. As you might expect, you simply say "Hey Google" and then ask your phone to order by asking for specific items from specific merchants. This will only work on Android for starters, but hopefully Uber Eats users with iPhones will get this feature as well (or something similar with Siri). Google Assistant integration is rolling out this summer, at which point I imagine we'll get more specifics on exactly how it works. 

Uber Eats will also soon be available in a handful of sports arenas and stadiums, as well. Obviously, you won't have drivers bringing food to the venue — instead, you can place an order from the arena's eateries and go pick it up at your convenience. You can skip the line and go straight to pick-up once your order is ready, and Uber says it'll work with food, beer, merchandise and more. This new program is initially rolling out at Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium in LA, Yankee Stadium in New York, the Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC, Minute Maid Park in Houston, PayPal Park in San Jose, and internationally at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France. 

Uber Comfort Electric
Uber

Finally, Uber has a few new features specifically focused on electric vehicles. Uber Green has let you request a ride from a hybrid or electric vehicle for a while now, but the new "Comfort Electric" option specifically lets you request a ride in a "premium EV" (think a Tesla or Polestar). This is available for starters in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Dubai.

Meanwhile, Uber drivers using EVs will get some new tools to help make their lives easier. There's a charging map built into the Uber app for drivers that shows the nearest EV chargers, their charging speeds and navigation to get there — this should make it easier for drivers to top up their cars during a shift. This is part of a new EV Hub in the app that gives drivers info and incentives on switching to an EV when the time comes. Among the details it includes is a cost of ownership estimate for an EV versus a gas-powered vehicle. The car-buying market is a bit wild right now, and it might take years before you start to see cost savings if you just buy a new EV to replace a functional gas vehicle, but drivers who might be thinking about a new vehicle may be able to find some useful tools here.

All this news comes shortly after Uber announced its quarterly earnings, a report that showed the company was bouncing back from the pandemic better than its rival Lyft. That's at least in some part thanks to the relative diversity of Uber's offerings — indeed, Uber Eats played a huge role in keeping business up as traditional rides tanked in 2020. While none of today's announcements on their own will likely make a huge impact on the company's business, it does help paint a picture for how Uber sees itself growing in the future.

Is Revolution's InstaGLO smart toaster worth $399?

Posted: 16 May 2022 08:00 AM PDT

As part of Cooking Week, we set out to test some of the most niche (and, in some cases, ridiculous) kitchen gadgets we could find. We wanted to know if these impressive-looking appliances actually do what they claim and if they're worth the splurge. These are our findings.

Some devices, through their longevity, ubiquity, market saturation and the frightening power of economies of scale, have become essentially unimprovable. Among these, arguably, is the humble toaster — a product which has in the 130-odd years since its invention become so thoroughly standardized and affordable that most consumers probably could not tell you what brand of the thing is sitting on their kitchen counter. They all do the same thing (turn bread into crunchy bread) and they're all somewhere in the neighborhood of $30.

Does such a device truly need to be improved upon? The team at Revolution evidently believe so, or one assumes they would not have spent time and money developing the InstaGLO R270 smart toaster.

Out of the box, the InstaGLO's distractingly bright touchscreen has a number of settings for the level of desired toasting based on different kinds of bread (sourdough, multigrain, bagel, etc.) or different states of bread readiness (fresh, frozen, reheat.) Then again, so does my fully analog $30 Cuisinart. And in the defense of the cheaper option, I'd feel comfortable with and capable of disassembling that toaster and replacing anything that broke while the InstaGLO presents an impenetrable enigma of unnecessary engineering complications.

The foremost of these is perhaps the most obvious feature upon use: there's no lever AKA the sticky-outie plastic tab you press down to carry the bread into its miniature furnace. Tapping 'BEGIN' on the front plate sends the bread gently downward all on its own, and shortly thereafter the same mechanism levitates it back up to a comfortable grabbing height, "so you never have to reach into the toaster with a fork again," so says Revolution's marketing copy. Grabbing hot food from the toaster has never presented much of an obstacle for me — perhaps I'm just built different! — but that is a problem easily solved by wooden toast tongs, which can be had for around $5. Or leftover takeout chopsticks, for free. Or just allowing the passage of time to cool the toast to a handleable temperature. Also free. (I can't recommend sticking a metal fork into an electrical device.)

The Revolution InstaGLO R180 Toaster on a countertop next to a bunch of bananas, a pour-over coffee maker and a box of Grape Nuts cereal.
Bryan Menegus / Engadget

Of course if moving carbohydrates up and down a few inches was its only selling point the InstaGLO would be a transparent racket. No, the foremost stated innovation is faster heating, which Revolution claims "sears" bread rather than drying it out — crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, or so I'm told. While it certainly does manage to put a frozen slice of country wheat through the Maillard reaction a bit faster, whatever promises of a softer interior had been made were either unrealized or undetectable by my toast-stuffed mouth. And if several hundred dollars of unrealized toast dreams are already burning a hole in your pocket, maybe try one of those steam-based ones that were (are?) popular in Japan. Never tried it, but I hear good things.

It's possible — likely even — that there are more discerning toast connoisseurs who would notice, appreciate and feel comfortable paying a premium for that experience. The time saved was essentially immaterial to me, as I typically spend the time the bread is cooking to feed the cat, make tea or whatever other morning puttering needs doing. If money is no object and you absolutely have to choke down a slice of crisp multigrain between your morning spin class and 9AM executive meeting, sure, do what makes you happy. But that speedier toasting time also presents a major flaw when it comes to the InstaGLO's accessories. (Yes, there are now dongles. For a toaster. What bold and unprecedented times we live in.)

For a jaw-dropping $80 you can separately purchase a miniature panini press — another kitchen apparatus that can be had for $30 to $40 from any number of no-name manufacturers. Despite having two toasting slots, the InstaGlo Panini Press only works in the right-hand side, and in truth does a better job of smooshing bread into the approximate shape of a panini than actually cooking one. After several attempts using fresh and frozen bread, lightly oiling the insides of the press (or not), I was met with disappointing results every time. Not only did the exterior fail to reach the crunchiness one expects with a pressed sandwich, I suspect the faster cook time is to blame for the failure of the cheese to melt. At all. I gave this thing the easy task of thinly sliced, low-moisture mozzarella and it just couldn't stick the landing.

The Revolution InstaGLO R180 Toaster on a countertop next to a bunch of bananas, a pour-over coffee maker and a box of Grape Nuts cereal.
Bryan Menegus / Engadget

Notably, too, the InstaGLO Panini Press is tiny. Some fussing is required to fit even supermarket-style square loaf slices inside. And while I tend towards the Alton Brown axiom of never buying unitasker devices for my (small, already crowded) kitchen a true panini press — or hell, even one of those George Foreman things — can comfortably fit slices from the center of a boule (as god intended) or a halved baguette (if you're in a desperate situation. I'm not here to judge that.) And it bears mentioning, this problem isn't limited to the panini add-on either. As with any cheap, conventional toaster, and longer slices will require a flip-and-retoast maneuver, somewhat undermining Revolution's promise of "no double toasting needed."

The Warming Rack ($30) sits over top of the device and, despite the toaster as a whole having the ability to cook bread for varying amounts of time, the rack simply has no options whatsoever. It does its thing and if your pastry or whatever is not warm enough, either cycle it again or deal with it. I tested this with a slice of some banana bread I'd made a few days prior. The exterior facing the heating elements wasn't even warm enough to melt butter; the top was room temperature.

Should you buy a fancy toaster? Hell, we're probably heading into another major recession, but who am I to tell you what to do with your money. And this model's shockingly bright touchscreen (which as best as I can tell can never be turned off) makes a good night light if you're trying to find the bathroom at 3am. Despite bold claims though, there's very little that's revolutionary about the InstaGLO.

A new 'Black Mirror' season is in the works after a long hiatus

Posted: 16 May 2022 07:22 AM PDT

It seems Black Mirror is making a comeback. Three years after the fifth season of the sci-fi anthology series arrived, Variety reports that Netflix has greenlit a sixth season.

Details are scant for now, though it seems casting is in progress for a season that's expected to have more episodes than season five's three instalments. The new episodes are said to be even more cinematic in scope than previous ones as well.

Critics have suggested Black Mirror was running out of steam in later seasons, with its previously incisive criticism of where technology was headed perhaps waning. The long gap between seasons might have helped the creative team develop more impactful ideas and scripts.

The lengthy delay between seasons isn't only because of creative reasons, though (if that has indeed been a problem). Black Mirror has been held up due to a rights issue. In January 2020, creator Charlie Brooker and executive producer Annabel Jones left their production company House of Tomorrow, which had backing from Endemol.

The duo set up a new production company, Broke and Bones, which quickly struck a long-term deal with Netflix. However, Endemol retained the rights to Black Mirror, meaning Brooker and Jones were unable to produce more episodes until they or Netflix struck a deal with Endemol's new owner, Banijay Group.

In the meantime, Brooker and Jones have developed other projects for Netflix. They created a year-in-review special called Death to 2020 (a spin on Brooker's previous Wipe series), which had a sequel last year. Brooker was also behind an interactive animated project called Cat Burglar, which required players to get trivia questions correct to advance the story.

Netflix will surely be glad Brooker and Jones are working on Black Mirror again, however. The company scooped up the series, which debuted on the UK's Channel 4, in 2015. Since then, Black Mirror has won eight Emmys and a host of other awards, including for Bandersnatch, one of Netflix's first forays into interactive programming.

TP-Link's new smart home line includes affordable 2K security cameras

Posted: 16 May 2022 07:00 AM PDT

TP-Link is better known for its WiFi routers than its smart home gear, but it's aiming to change that reputation. The company has formally launched a Tapo smart home line that revolves around budget 2K-resolution security cameras. Indoors, you can pick from the stationary Tapo C110 ($30) or the pan-and-tilt motion of the Tapo C210 ($35). Venture outdoors and you can choose between the basic night vision and IP66 weather resistance of the Tapo C310 ($50) or upgrade to the Tapo C320WS ($60, pictured) with a starlight sensor, spotlights and two-way audio. All of the cameras can record on microSD storage up to 256GB or use a Tapo Care subscription with 30 days of video history and perks like baby crying detection.

TP-Link Tapo Smart L900-10 RGB light strip
TP-Link

There's also a new LED-based RGB light strip, the Tapo Smart L900-10 (shown at middle), for gamers and anyone else hoping to liven up their rooms. The $45 pack offers a 32.8-foot strip with support for 16 million colors, dimming and music sync.

All of the Tapo models are available now. The security cameras won't challenge higher-end rivals with 4K and similar upgrades, but they may be good values if you're looking for alternatives to Wyze and other budget-focused brands.

Sony details the game library for PlayStation Plus' new high-end tiers

Posted: 16 May 2022 06:47 AM PDT

Sony has revealed the first games set to arrive with the launch of its new PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscriptions services, and it's an impressive lineup. PlayStation Studios titles include Demon's Souls (PS5) and Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut (PS4/PS5), along with third-party games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla (PS4/PS5) and NBA 2K22 (PS4/PS5). Those games will arrive in the "launch time frame," starting May 24th, according to Sony, on the PlayStation Plus Extra ($15/month) and Premium ($18/month) tiers.

Along with the main lineup, PlayStation Plus Premium members will get access to classic games "with some titles that will show improved frame rates and higher-quality resolution compared to their original launch versions," Sony wrote. Some of those include Ape Escape, Hot Shots Golf, Tekken 2 and Worms Armageddon, along with remasters like Dark Cloud, Rogue Galaxy and Borderlands The Handsome Collection. Premium members will also get access to PS3 games like Infamous, Hot Shots and the Ratchet & Clank series.

As part of all that, Ubisoft announced that Ubisoft+ is coming to PlayStation Plus starting on May 24th. On top of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, titles arriving include The Division and For Honor, "as well as beloved classic games like Child of Light, Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, Watch Dogs, Werewolves Within, and more," Ubisoft wrote in its blog. Again, all of these titles will be available on the PlayStation Plus Extra and/or Premium tiers, but not the Essential ($10/month) plan.

Sony will also let Premium (aka Deluxe in certain regions) members get time-limited trials with two hours of gameplay available before purchasing. Some of those on offer include Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection, Horizon Forbidden West, Cyberpunk 2077 and Tiny Tina's Wonderland. 

All tiers including Essential, Extra and Premium/Deluxe will see monthly games, much as you get right now on PlayStation Plus. "We have yet to announce the monthly games for June, but stay tuned to PS Blog," Sony wrote. 

On top of all that, new games will be added regularly, with updates on the first Tuesday of the month for PlayStation Plus Essential, and in the middle of each new month for Extra and Premium/Deluxe plans. The service is launching in Asia on May 24th, followed by Japan on June 2nd, North and South America on June 13th and Europe, Australia and New Zealand on June 23rd. There's more information available at the PlayStation Plus website and for a full list of games coming on launch, check Sony's announcement post. 

The best air fryers you can buy, plus tips and tricks for newbies

Posted: 16 May 2022 06:30 AM PDT

Are you tempted by an air fryer, but fear you might just get another ill-fated kitchen gadget that takes up space in your tiny kitchen? We're here to help you out. The air fryer, which comes in several different shapes and sizes, can be a versatile addition to many kitchens, once you know what it's capable of.

First of all, let's clear one thing up: it's not frying. Not really. Air fryers are more like smaller convection ovens, ones that are often pod-shaped. Most work by combining a heating element and fan, which means the hot air can usually better crisp the outside of food than other methods. They often reach higher top temperatures than toaster ovens – which is part of the appeal.

For most recipes, a thin layer of oil (usually sprayed) helps to replicate that fried look and feel better. However, it will rarely taste precisely like the deep-fried version. Don't let that put you off, though, because the air fryer, in its many forms, combines some of the best parts of other cooking processes and brings them together into an energy-efficient way of cooking dinner. Or breakfast. Or lunch.

What to look for in an air fryer

Convection ovens

You can separate most air fryers into two types and each has different pros and cons. Convection ovens are usually ovens with air fryer settings and features. They might have higher temperature settings to ensure that food crisps and cooks more like actually fried food. Most convection ovens are larger than dedicated air fryers, defeating some of the purpose of those looking to shrink cooking appliance surface area. Still, they are often more versatile and most have finer controls for temperatures, timings and even fan speed.

You may never need a built-in oven if you have a decent convection oven. They often have the volume to handle roasts, entire chickens or tray bakes, and simply cook more, capacity-wise, making them more versatile than the pod-shaped competition.

The flip side of that is that you'll need the counter space to house them. It also means you can use traditional oven accessories, like baking trays or cake tins, that you might already own.

Pod-shaped air fryers

Pod-shaped air fryers are what you imagine when you think "air fryer." They look like a cool, space-age kitchen gadget, bigger than a kettle but smaller than a toaster oven. Many use a drawer to hold ingredients while cooking, usually a mesh sheet or a more solid, non-stick tray with holes to allow the heated air to circulate. With a few exceptions, most require you to open the drawer while things cook and flip or shake half-cooked items to ensure the even distribution of heat to everything.

That's one of a few caveats. Most pod-shaped air fryers – there are a few exceptions – don't have a window to see how things are cooking, so you'll need to closely scrutinize things as they cook, opening the device to check progress. These machines also generally use less energy – there's less space to heat – and many have parts that can be put directly into a dishwasher.

Some of the larger pod-shaped air fryers offer two separate compartments, which is especially useful for anyone planning to cook an entire meal with the appliance. You could cook a couple of chicken wings while simultaneously rustling up enough fries for everyone. Naturally, those options take up more space, and they're usually heavy enough to stop you from storing them in cupboards or shelves elsewhere.

As mentioned earlier, you might have to buy extra things to make these pod fryers work the way you want them to. Some of the bigger manufacturers, like Philips and Ninja, offer convenient additions, but you'll have to pay for them.

woman serving fried chicken with air fryer waffles
Fabián Ponce via Getty Images

Air fryer pros and cons

Beyond the strengths and weaknesses of individual models, air fryers are pretty easy to use from the outset. Most models come with a convenient cooking time booklet covering most of the major foods you'll be air frying.

One of the early selling points is the ability to cook fries, wings and other delights with less fat than other methods. As air fryers need to circulate heated air, the trays and cooking plates have holes that can also let oil and fat drain out of meats, meaning less fat when you finally plate things up. For most cooking situations, you will likely need to lightly spray food with a vegetable oil. If you don't, there's the chance that things will burn or char. The oil will keep things moist on the surface, and we advise refreshing things with a bit of oil spray when you turn items during cooking.

Most air fryers are easy to clean – especially in comparison to deep or shallow fryer. We'll get into cleaning guidance a little later.

With a smaller space to heat, air fryers are generally more energy-efficient than using larger appliances like ovens. And if you don't have an oven, air fryers are much more affordable – especially the pod options.

There are, however, some drawbacks. While air fryers are easy enough to use, they take time to master. You will adjust cooking times for even the simplest things – like frozen fries. If you're the kind of person that loves to find inspiration from the internet, in our experience, you can pretty much throw their timings out of the window. There are a lot of air fryer options, and factors like how fast they heat and how well distributed that heat is can – and will – affect cooking.

There's also a space limitation to air fryers. This is not a TARDIS – there's simply less space than most traditional ovens and many deep fat fryers. If you have a bigger family, you'll probably want to go for a bigger model of air fryer – possibly one that has multiple cooking areas.

You may also struggle to cook many items through as the heat settings will cook the surface of dishes long before it's cooked right through. If you're planning to cook an entire bird or a roast, please get a meat thermometer!

The best accessories for your air fryer

Beyond official accessories from the manufacturer, try to pick up silicone-tipped tools. Tongs are ideal, as is a silicon spatula to gently loosen food that might get stuck on the sides of the air fryer. These silicone mats will also help stop things from sticking to the wire racks on some air fryers. They have holes to ensure the heated air is still able to circulate around the food.

Silicone trivets are also useful for resting any cooked food on while you sort out the rest of the meal. And if you find yourself needing oil spray, but don't feel like repeatedly buying tiny bottles, you can decant your favorite vegetable oil into a permanent mister like this.

French fries cooked in air fryer. Healthy fat less food
yulka3ice via Getty Images

The best way to clean an air fryer

We're keeping things simple here. Yes, you could power cleaners from the grocery store, they could damage the surface of your air fryer. Likewise, metal scourers or brushes could strip away non-stick protection. Remember to unplug the device and let it cool completely.

Remove the trays, baskets and everything else from inside. If the manufacturer says the parts are dishwasher safe – and you have a dishwasher – the job is pretty much done.

Otherwise, wash each part in a mixture of warm water, with a splash of Dawn or another strong dish soap. Use a soft-bristled brush to pull away any greasy deposits or bits of food stuck to any surfaces. Remember to rinse everything. Otherwise, your next batch of wings could have a mild Dawn aftertaste. Trust us.

Take a microfiber cloth and tackle the outer parts and handles that might also get a little messy after repeated uses. This is especially useful for oven-style air fryers – use the cloth to wipe down the inner sides.

If Dawn isn't shifting oily stains, try mixing a small amount of baking soda with enough water to make a paste, and apply that so that it doesn't seep into any electrical parts or the heating element. Leave it to work for a few seconds before using a damp cloth to pull any greasy spots away. Rinse out the cloth and wipe everything down again, and you should be ready for the next time you need to air fry.

How to find air fryer recipes

Beyond fries, nuggets and – a revelation – frozen gyoza, there are a few ways to find recipes for your new air fryer. First, we found that the air fryer instruction manuals often have cooking guides and recipe suggestions for you to test out in your new kitchen gadget. The good thing with these is that they were made for your air fryer model, meaning success should be all but guaranteed. They are often a little unimaginative, however.

Many of the top recipe sites and portals have no shortage of air fryer recipes, and there's no harm in googling your favorite cuisine and adding the words "air fryer" on the end of the search string. We've picked up some reliable options from Delish, which also has a handy air fryer time converter for changing oven and traditional fryer recipes.

BBC Good Food is also worth browsing for some simple ideas, as is NYT Cooking, with the ability to directly search for air fryer suggestions.

And if you have a killer recipe or unique use for your air fryer, let us know in the comments. What's the air fryer equivalent of the Instant Pot cheesecake? We're ready to try it.

Engadget picks

Best overall: Instant Vortex Plus

Insta Vortex Plus air fryer
Instant Brands

You probably know the "Instant" brand from the line of very popular Instant Pot multi-cookers, but did you know that the company makes great air fryers too? We're especially impressed by the Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase, which features a clear viewing window so you can see your food while it's cooking, plus an odor-removing filter. In our testing, we found that it didn't completely eliminate smells, but it seemed significantly less smoky when compared to our Breville Smart Oven Air. We love the intuitive controls, the easy-to-clean nonstick drawer basket, plus the roomy interior – it's big enough to fit four chicken thighs. Plus, it heats up very quickly with virtually no preheating time.

A slightly more affordable option is its predecessor, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart. It lacks the viewing window and the odor-removing filters, but it still has the same intuitive controls and roomy nonstick interior. If you want an even bigger option, Instant also offers Instant Vortex Plus in a 10-quart model that has a viewing window and a rotisserie feature.

Buy Instant Vortex Plus at Amazon - $150

Best budget: Cosori Compact Air Fryer

Cosori Compact Air Fryer
Cosori

If you don't have a lot of space or money to spare, Cosori's Compact Air Fryer is a great option. As a 3.7-quart capacity machine, it doesn't take up too much counter space and it can easily fit into a cabinet when you're not using it. It has a traditional, square-ish pod design with a touch panel on the top half and a removable cooking basket on the bottom. I was impressed by how easy this air fryer was to use from start to finish. Learning how to program cooking modes and times was easy and using the basket is simple as well. It also has a handy release button that disconnects the basket from the base, which makes cleanup quick and simple. (Plus, the basket is dishwasher safe as well.)

This is a true air fryer in the sense that it has presets rather than a bunch of different cooking modes. It does have toast and bake, which are different from air fry, but otherwise you can choose from different food-specific presets like french fries, shrimp, frozen foods and more. While that's not so great if you want a multipurpose device, it's ideal if you're just looking for an air fryer that can do exactly that very well. Not only was the Cosori machine fairly quiet, but it also only took between three and five minutes to preheat in most cases, and everything I cooked in it – from tofu nuggets to french fries – came out crispy and flavorful.

Buy Cosori Compact Air Fryer at Amazon - $100

Best dual-zone: Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer
Ninja

Most air fryers can make one thing at a time, but Ninja's Dual Zone machine can handle two totally different foods simultaneously. Available in 8- and 10-quart capacities, the machine isn't compact, so it won't be a good option for those with small kitchens. However, if you have the counter space, it could be a good one to invest in especially if you cook for a large family. You can prep two different foods at the same time with totally different cooking modes, or use Match Cook to prepare foods in both chambers the same way. The heating zones are independent, so if you only want to fill up one side with french fries and leave the other empty, you can do that as well.

We appreciate how quickly the Ninja heats up (there's little to no preheating time at all) and how it runs relatively quietly. It also has a feature called Smart Finish that will automatically adjust cooking times so that your chicken thighs in the first chamber and asparagus in the second will finish cooking at the same time, so you don't have to wait for one part of your meal to be ready while the other gets cold. In general, dual-zone air fryers aren't necessary for most people, but those who cook often will get a lot of use out of machines like this Ninja.

Buy Ninja Dual Zone at Amazon - $230

Nicole Lee and Valentina Palladino contributed to this guide.

Apple's MacBook Air M1 falls back to $850

Posted: 16 May 2022 05:56 AM PDT

Now is a good moment to buy the MacBook Air M1 as a grad gift — or as a travel companion for yourself. Amazon is once again selling the base MacBook Air for $850 after a $100 discount at checkout. You'll have to be content with a gold model, but that's the lowest price we've seen in months.

Buy MacBook Air M1 at Amazon - $850

The MacBook Air M1 remains a solid pick a year and a half after its debut. It's still fast, lasts ages on battery and is completely silent thanks to its fanless design. You can go a full day of work (or vacation) without plugging in. Toss in the quality display, an enjoyable keyboard and a top-tier trackpad and you'll have a strong all-rounder.

The 720p webcam, two USB-C ports and non-expandable memory/storage configuration may be limiting for some. And yes, the age is a consideration. While it's not clear just when Apple will upgrade the MacBook Air, there's no question the M1 variant has been around for a while and might get a replacement in the months ahead. At this price, though, it's still a safe choice if you like its blend of performance and portability.

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

Amazon's Fire TV sale cuts its streaming devices by up to 42 percent

Posted: 16 May 2022 04:40 AM PDT

Amazon is knocking up to 42 percent off most of the Fire TV Stick streaming devices in its lineup, making it a good time to update or increase your streaming capabilities. The deals start at $20 for the Fire TV Stick Lite ($10 or 33 percent off) to the Fire TV Stick 4K ($35 instead of $50) and the Fire TV Cube, available for $70 for a savings of 42 percent. 

Buy Amazon Fire TV devices

The best deal is on Amazon's best streaming device, the Fire TV Cube ($70). We gave it an 84 score when it first came out, thanks to the Dolby Vision and HDR+ support, speedy performance and more. It has the best processor out of all Fire TV devices and it includes an Ethernet adapter for reliable wired performance. In addition to using Alexa voice commands to control what your watching, the Fire TV Cube can effectively transform your TV into an Echo Show smart display. You can ask it to play music, control smart home devices, check in on video camera feeds and more.

If it's a cheaper model you're seeking for a spare bedroom, for instance, the Fire TV Stick Lite is available in two versions, with and without TV controls for $20 and $25 respectively. While 4K isn't on offer here, you get full HD streaming with all the popular services, with convenient TV controls for the latter version.

Moving up to 4K, the sweet spot is the Fire TV Stick 4K, on sale for $35 instead of $50, for a savings of 30 percent. You get Ultra HD support with Dolby Vision, HDR and HDR10+, along with Dolby Atmos surround sound — giving you a full home theater experience while taking up minimal room. It also offers Alexa Voice Remote with TV controls, smart home control and more. Taking that up a notch is the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, on sale for $45 or $10 off, which adds WiFi 6, live view picture-in-picture and 2GB of memory. 

Finally, there's Amazon's Fire TV Recast on sale for $155, or 33 percent of the regular $230 price. On top of letting you stream Netflix, Prime Video and other services, you can connect an over-their-air antenna to view terrestrial TV channels like ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS or the CW. It has a built-in DVR, letting you record any shows, and comes with 2 tuners and 500 GB (75 hours) of memory. It's Alexa enabled, letting you search for shows, control the channel guide and manage recordings. 

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

The Morning After: Apple may be testing USB-C iPhones

Posted: 16 May 2022 04:15 AM PDT

Oh my, it might actually be happening. I've wanted this for a while, and Apple's excuses for sticking with its Lightning connector get weaker each year. Now a report from Bloomberg says the company is testing new iPhones and adapters with USB-C — what MacBooks and iPads already use.

TMA
Engadget

An adapter currently in testing could "let future iPhones work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector" — you may recall the in-box adapters that appeared when Apple nixed the headphone port from its smartphones.

It's probably not entirely altruistic. The EU has been pushing for a universal phone charging standard for years and recently proposed legislation that would make USB-C the de-facto charging port for all phones.

It's unlikely to be part of the iPhone 14, though. The report suggests the port change wouldn't arrive "until 2023 at the earliest." Subsequent comments from reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest this could be part of a wider move away from Lightning ports, also used on Apple's AirPods, mice and keyboards.

— Mat Smith

 

The biggest stories you might have missed

Peloton's rowing machine is almost here

Still no exact launch date, though.

TMA
Peloton

Peloton's long-rumored (slightly leaked) rowing machine was the major announcement of this year's Homecoming fan event. Having said that, we didn't hear all that much about it. Expect a stylish rower with a huge screen, with a red cord attaching the handle to the machine.

It can't land soon enough: The company has struggled to adapt to the pandemic recovery as people return to the gym and the office. Peloton revealed a massive $751.1 million loss in its latest quarter.

Continue reading.

The iPod created the two-headed monster that finally killed it

Apple's music player led to smartphones and streaming.

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Apple

The iPod's death has been a long time coming. It's already been eight years since Apple discontinued the iconic iPod classic, but the final iPod is bowing out of the company's stores now. We all know it changed Apple's fortunes and the music industry at large, but the iPod was, eventually, a victim of its own success.

Continue reading.

McLaren will join Formula E in 2023

The legendary F1 outfit will acquire the Mercedes-EQ team.

Ahead of Formula E's Gen3 debut next season, McLaren Racing announced its move to Formula E for season nine, committing to prepping a team when the series' new spec makes its first competitive laps. McLaren will acquire the Mercedes-EQ Formula E Team — the world championship team. Driver Nyck de Vries also won the individual series title in 2021 to complete the double trophy season.

Continue reading.

'Genshin Impact' studio announces new action RPG

Battle interdimensional monsters in 'Zenless Zone Zero.'

On Friday, games studio HoYoverse shared the first trailer for Zenless Zone Zero, an action RPG in a modern urban setting. The game pits players against Ethereal, monstrous creatures borne from another dimension. HoYoverse hasn't explicitly said how it plans to monetize Zenless Zone Zero, but it sounds like the game will employ a similar system to the one in Genshin Impact — one of the biggest free-to-play hits in recent years, which has also made money at the same time.

Continue reading.

Apple staff are already using 'Tap to Pay' at the HQ visitor center

Posted: 16 May 2022 03:00 AM PDT

In February Apple unveiled Tap to Pay, a new feature that will enable merchants to accept payments with only an iPhone — something that could cut into the business of companies like Square. Now, it turns out that Apple is already testing the feature at its own Apple Park visitor center in Cupertino. 

A video tweeted by user @NTFTWT, spotted by MacRumors, shows the system in action, with a customer making an Apple Pay payment directly to the iPhone of an Apple staffer. They simply needed to touch their iPhone to the other iPhone, with no payment terminal in sight. 

As we detailed earlier, the technology requires an iPhone XS or later device. It works with Apple Pay, of course, but will also support contact-free credit and debit cards, third-party payment platforms and other digital wallets. Stripe has already detailed plans to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone to business customers in the spring, with other platforms and apps scheduled to come later in 2022. Dutch processor Adyen will work with Lightspeed Commerce, Newstore and other commerce platforms to help them use Tap to Pay. 

Apple promised a future iOS beta giving developers a look at Tap to Pay, but it has yet to release a date. Now that it seems to be operational at Apple's own office, though, it might be a sign that it'll launch soon in the US and around the world. 

Uber Eats is launching two autonomous delivery pilots in Los Angeles

Posted: 15 May 2022 11:42 PM PDT

Uber Eats is launching not just one but two autonomous delivery pilots today in Los Angeles, TechCrunch has reported. The first is via an autonomous vehicle partnership with Motional, originally announced in December, and the second is with sidewalk delivery firm Serve Robotics, a company that spun out of Uber itself.

The trials will be limited, with deliveries from just a few merchants including the Kreation juicery and organic cafe. Serve will do short delivery routes in West Hollywood, while Motional will take care of longer deliveries in Santa Monica. "We'll be able to learn from both of those pilots what customers actually want, what merchants actually want and what makes sense for delivery," an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Uber will apparently charge for the deliveries from Serve. However, autonomous vehicle deliveries in California require a permit that Motional reportedly doesn't possess, so it appears that customers won't be charged for deliveries from their vehicles, for now. In addition, human operators will take control when near the drop-off locations "to ensure a convenient and seamless experience for customers," a spokesperson said. 

Serve's robots, meanwhile, will mostly be able to operate autonomously, but remote operators will take control in certain cases, as when crossing a street. 

Customers within specific test zones will have an option to have their food delivered by an autonomous vehicle and can track it as with a regular delivery. When the food arrives, they'll be able to unlock the vehicle with a passcode to obtain their meals, either from a Serve cooler or the backseat of a Motional car. "The hope is that [the trials] are successful and that we learn over the coming months and then figure out how to scale," Uber's spokesperson said. 

Final former eBay employee involved in bizarre EcommerceBytes harassment case pleads guilty

Posted: 15 May 2022 03:33 PM PDT

Earlier this week, David Harville, one of seven former eBay employees involved in a 2020 campaign to harass the creators of a newsletter critical of the e-commerce company, pleaded guilty to five federal felony charges, ending one of the most bizarre episodes in recent tech history.

In June 2020, the US Department of Justice charged six former eBay employees, including Harville, with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with witnesses. Of the group, Harville was the final employee to admit involvement in the harassment campaign that targeted Ina and David Steiner, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.

In 2019, the Massachusetts couple published an article in their EcommerceBytes newsletter about litigation involving eBay. Responding to what they considered negative coverage of the company, the group carried out a harassment campaign that involved, among other actions, sending the couple a preserved fetal pig, live spiders and a funeral wreath. They also created fake social media accounts to send threatening messages to the Steiners and share their home address online.

According to the Department of Justice's original 2020 filing, part of Harville's involvement in the campaign included a plot to install a GPS tracking device on the Steiner's car. Harville, alongside James Baugh, one of the other former employees charged in the scheme, carried with them fake documents allegedly designed to show the two were investigating the Steiners for threatening eBay executives.

Last July, a federal judge sentenced Philip Cooke, the first of the seven former employees convicted in the scheme, to 18 months in prison. At the time, US District Judge Allison Burroughs called the entire case "just nuts." That same summer, the Steiners sued several eBay employees, including former CEO Devin Wenig, for carrying out a conspiracy to "intimidate, threaten to kill, torture, terrorize, stalk and silence them." Wenig has denied having any knowledge of the campaign.

Buffalo gunman clips proliferate on social media following Twitch removal

Posted: 15 May 2022 01:29 PM PDT

Following Saturday's horrific mass shooting in Buffalo, online platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Twitter are seemingly struggling to prevent various versions of the gunman's livestream from proliferating on their platforms. The shooter, an 18-year-old white male, attempted to broadcast the entire attack on Twitch using a GoPro Hero 7 Black. The company told Engadget it took his channel down within two minutes of the violence starting.

"Twitch has a zero-tolerance policy against violence of any kind and works swiftly to respond to all incidents," a Twitch spokesperson said. "The user has been indefinitely suspended from our service, and we are taking all appropriate action, including monitoring for any accounts rebroadcasting this content."

Despite Twitch's response, that hasn't stopped the video from proliferating online. According to New York Times reporter Ryan Mac, one link to a version of the livestream someone used a screen recorder to preserve saw 43,000 interactions. Another Twitter user said they found a Facebook post linking to the video that had been viewed more than 1.8 million times, with an accompanying screenshot suggesting the post did not trigger Facebook's automated safeguards. 

A Meta spokesperson told Engadget the company has designated the shooting as a terrorist attack and added the gunman's footage to a database it says will help it automatically detect and remove copies before they're uploaded again. The spokesperson added the company's moderation teams are working to catch bad actors who attempt to circumvent the blocks it has put in place.       

Responding to Mac's Twitter thread, Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz said she found TikTok videos that share accounts and terms Twitter users can search for to view the full video. "Clear the vid is all over Twitter," she said. We've reached out to the company for comment.

"We believe the hateful and discriminatory views promoted in content produced by perpetrators are harmful for society and their dissemination should be limited in order to prevent perpetrators from publicizing their message," a Twitter spokesperson told Engadget. They added the company was "proactively" working to identify and take action against tweets that violate its guidelines.   

Preventing terrorists and violent extremists from disseminating their content online is one of the things Facebook, Twitter and a handful of other tech companies said they would do following the 2019 shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. In the first 24 hours after that attack, Meta said it removed 1.5 million videos, but clips of the shooting continued to circulate on the platform for more than a month after the event. The company blamed its automated moderation tools for the failure, noting they had a hard time detecting the footage because of the way in which it was filmed. "This was a first-person shooter video, one where we have someone using a GoPro helmet with a camera focused from their perspective of shooting," Neil Potts, Facebook's public policy director, told British lawmakers at the time.

Update 6:39PM ET: Added comment and additional information from Meta and Twitter.
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