Saturday, June 18, 2022

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Leaked Amazon memo says the company may run out of available labor by 2024

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 04:00 PM PDT

Amazon is likely to run out of prospective workers for its US warehouses by the year 2024, according to an internal memo that was leaked to Recode. The memo contained internal research from 2021 that predicted a looming labor crisis for the e-commerce giant that would hit some areas faster than others. For example, it estimated that Amazon would exhaust its labor supply in Phoenix, Arizona by the end of 2021 and in California's Inland Empire by the end of 2022. It calculated the available pool of workers using factors like income levels and proximity to current or planned Amazon facilities.

The report urged the company to take steps to address the future labor gap, such as raising wages to retain its existing workforce and attract more new hires. It also suggested increasing automation in the warehouses. "If we continue business as usual, Amazon will deplete the available labor supply in the US network by 2024," wrote the authors of the report.

In a statement to Engadget, an Amazon spokesperson said that the leaked document isn't an accurate assessment of its hiring situation. "There are many draft documents written on many subjects across the company that are used to test assumptions and look at different possible scenarios, but aren't then escalated or used to make decisions. This was one of them. It doesn't represent the actual situation, and we are continuing to hire well in Phoenix, the Inland Empire, and across the country," wrote Rena Lunak, Amazon's director of global operations and field communications.

Automation is something that Amazon has invested heavily in already by acquiring Kiva Systems in 2012. But according to a Wired investigation from last year, Amazon's warehouse robots aren't capable of handling advanced fulfillment tasks that can only be performed by a human worker.

Human workers were once an ample resource the company. The tech giant is the second-largest private employer in the US, and is the largest private employer in a number of US states and cities. The company announced plans to hire 125,000 workers last fall, which is roughly equivalent to the population of Savannah, Georgia. But the new hires largely appear to be replacing workers who have been terminated or resigned. Amazon's turnover rate is roughly 150 percent a year, or twice the amount of the retail and logistics industries at large, a New York Timesinvestigation revealed last year.

As Recode notes, Amazon's attrition rate is even worse in Phoenix and the Inland Empire. It also has to compete with big-box stores like Walmart and Target, which are now offering competitive wages to those with warehouse experience. "We are hearing a lot of [Amazon] workers say, 'I can just go across the street to Target or Walmart,'" Sheheryar Kaoosji, co-executive director of Inland Empire's Warehouse Worker Resource Center told Recode.

Balenciaga looks even worse on Mark Zuckerberg's avatar

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 03:18 PM PDT

The metaverse may not really exist yet, but Mark Zuckerberg already has a plan to sell users on designer fashion for their metaverse avatars. Meta announced that it's opening an Avatars Store where users can purchase outfits for their avatars on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.

The new looks include designer duds from Balenciaga, Prada and Thom Browne and the company expects to add more designers over time. Zuckerberg and Eva Chen, Meta's VP of Fashion Partnerships, announced the new store on an Instagram Live they described as the "first live avatar fashion show." The "fashion show" portion consisted of Chen holding up paper drawings of Zuckerberg's avatar wearing increasingly questionable, if metaverse-ready, outfits.

"I think the only question is am I cool enough to wear that," Zuckerberg asked at one point after seeing a Balenciaga-clad Zuck-atar. "I'm not sure if I'm quite up to that." Chen also showed a Zuckerberg a Thom Browne look she described as a "classic English schoolboy kind of vibe" that only vaguely resembled Danny from The Shining. 

Zuckerberg's avatar.
Screenshot / Instagram

As to just why Facebook users would pay actual money for metaverse clothes, Chen pointed out that it will be much easier to get your hands on, say, an oversized Balenciaga hoodie in the metaverse than IRL. It will also be cheaper, with prices in the Avatars Store will ranging from $2.99 to $8.99 "to start," according to a company spokesperson. 

Of course, selling digital items in the metaverse is also an important part of Meta's strategy to keep making billions of dollars even as it pivots away from advertising. The company previously confirmed it plans to keep 48 percent of the profit from creators' selling digital assets in Horizon Worlds' VR experience. A Meta spokesperson declined to share what Meta's cut would be on its new avatar fashion.

TikTok says it's storing US data domestically amid renewed security concerns

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 01:05 PM PDT

TikTok says it's achieved a "significant milestone" toward its promises to beef up the security of its US users' data. In a new update, the company says it has "changed the default storage location of US user data."

As the company notes, it had already stored much of its user data in the United States, at a Virginia-based data center. But under a new partnership with Oracle, the company has migrated US user traffic to a new Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.

"Today, 100% of US user traffic is being routed to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure," the company wrote in a blog post. "We still use our US and Singapore data centers for backup, but as we continue our work we expect to delete US users' private data from our own data centers and fully pivot to Oracle cloud servers located in the US." Additionally, TikTok says it has made "operational changes," including a new department "with US-based leadership, to solely manage US user data for TikTok."

The moves are part of a longstanding effort by TikTok to address US officials' concerns over how user data is handled by TikTok and parent company ByteDance. The company has been working to separate US user data so that it's not accessible to China-based ByteDance as US lawmakers eye legislation to curb the influence of Chinese tech companies.

Still, the new safeguards are unlikely to fully sway critics of TikTok, who say the company still hasn't addressed all potential concerns about how US user data is handled. In fact, just after TikTok published its blog post, BuzzFeed Newspublished a report that raises new questions about how the company handles the data of its US users.

The report, which was based on hours of internal meetings leaked to BuzzFeed, says that "China-based employees of ByteDance have repeatedly accessed nonpublic data about US TikTok users." The recordings, which cover a time period between last September and January 2022, offer new details about the complex effort to cut off Bytedance's access to US user data.

The report quotes an outside consultant hired by TikTok to oversee some of the work saying that they believed there was "backdoor to access user data in almost all" of the company's internal tools. It also quotes statements from several employees who say "that engineers in China had access to US data between September 2021 and January 2022, at the very least."

It also notes that while data deemed "sensitive," like users' birth dates and phone numbers, will be stored in the Oracle servers, other information about US-based users could remain accessible to ByteDance. "ByteDance's China-based employees could continue to have access to insights about what American TikTok users are interested in, from cat videos to political beliefs," the report says.

That may not seem as serious as more personal information like birthdays and phone numbers, but it's exactly the kind of details that some lawmakers in the US have raised concerns about. US officials have questioned whether the app's "For You" algorithm could be used as a means of foreign influence.

"We know we're among the most scrutinized platforms from a security standpoint, and we aim to remove any doubt about the security of US user data," TikTok said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

FBI warns crypto fraud on LinkedIn is a 'significant threat'

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 12:16 PM PDT

If you have a tendency to talk to people you don't know on LinkedIn, you may want to take extra care. According to a CNBC report, the company has acknowledged a "recent uptick of fraud on its platform," and this time the scams involve persuading users to make investments in cryptocurrency. It's been deemed as a "significant threat" by Sean Ragan, the FBI's special agent in charge of the San Francisco and Sacramento field offices in California, who spoke to the outlet.

CNBC said the schemes typically began with someone pretending to be a professional and reaching out to LinkedIn users. They would engage in small talk, offering to help users make money through crypto investments. First, they would tell their targets to go to an actual crypto investment platform, but "after gaining their trust over several months, tells them to move the investment to a site controlled by the fraudster." Thereafter, the money is "drained from the account."

According to victims interviewed by CNBC, the fact that they trusted LinkedIn as a platform for networking lent credibility to the investment offers. 

Ragan told CNBC that "the FBI has seen an increase in this particular investment fraud," which the outlet said "is different from a long-running scam in which the criminal pretends to show a romantic interest in the subject to persuade them to part with their money."

A screenshot of the scam reporting page on LinkedIn's website.
Linkedin

In a statement published yesterday, LinkedIn encouraged users to report suspicious profiles. The company's director of trust, privacy and equity Oscar Rodriguez told CNBC that "trying to identify what is fake and what is not fake is incredibly difficult."

LinkedIn's article urges users to "only connect with people you know and trust" and to "be wary of... people asking you for money who you don't know in person." The company added "This can include people asking you to send them money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to receive a loan, prize, or other winnings."

It also lists "job postings that sound too good to be true or that ask you to pay anything upfront" and "romantic messages or gestures, which are not appropriate on our platform" as signs of potential fraud attempts.

The company isn't fully relying on its users reporting suspicious accounts as its only defense against scammers on its platform. "While our defenses catch the vast majority of abusive activity, our members can also help keep LinkedIn safe, trusted, and professional," Rodriguez wrote in the statement. LinkedIn also reported that "96% of detected fake accounts and 99.1% of spam and scams are caught and removed by our automated defenses."

The original 'Pokémon Snap' comes to Switch Online on June 24th

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 11:42 AM PDT

Are you more interested in playing the original Pokémon Snap than the modern version? You won't have to pull your Nintendo 64 out of the closet to do it. Nintendo is releasing the N64 game on June 24th for gamers subscribed to Switch Online with the Expansion Pack. It's still the on-rails (sometimes literally) creature photo safari you remember, complete with tossing fruit to either attract or stun Pokémon in the name of a perfect snapshot.

There's no mention of any Switch-specific enhancements. The Virtual Console version for the Wii let you post critter pictures on a message board, but that's not strictly necessary when the Switch lets you capture screenshots to post on Facebook or Twitter.

Pokémon Snap probably won't persuade you to get the Expansion Pack by itself. Along with classics like Paper Mario and Kirby 64, though, the pattern is clear. Nintendo is still busy fleshing out Switch Online's extended library with some of the better-known games from the N64 era, and it doesn't mind adding titles that have present-day counterparts.

AT&T and Verizon give FAA another year to remedy C-band 5G interference issues

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 11:32 AM PDT

AT&T and Verizon have given the Federal Aviation Administration another year to fix altimeter issues as they look to roll out C-band 5G services around airports. "We believe we have identified a path that will continue to enable aviation and 5G C-band wireless to safely co-exist," acting FAA administrator Billy Nolen said in a statement.

Under a phased plan, operators of regional aircraft with radio altimeters that are most susceptible to interference are required to fit them with radio frequency filters by the end of this year. That work is underway and the FAA says it will continue on an expedited basis.

The agency also says it worked with AT&T and Verizon to identify airports where they can bolster service with minimal risk of upending flight schedules. The FAA plans to monitor the pace of RF filter retrofits on altimeters too.

Altimeters have been at the heart of the tussle over the rollout of C-band 5G around airports. Airlines have been worried that, because C-Band frequencies are close to ones used by some altimeters, they could create interference. That could cause a plane's landing system to misinterpret the distance to the ground with potentially disastrous consequences.

In January, AT&T and Verizon agreed to delay activating C-band 5G towers around airports until July 5. They made the pledge just hours before switching on C-band 5G in other areas for the first time. The pair also agreed to create buffer zones around 50 airports.

Now, the carriers will continue with "some level of voluntary mitigations" for another year, until July 5th, 2023. "After that time, the wireless companies expect to operate their networks in urban areas with minimal restrictions," the FAA said.

"Through close coordination with the FAA over the last several months, we have developed a more tailored approach to controlling signal strength around runways that allows us to activate more towers and increase signal strength," an AT&T spokesperson said. "Though our FCC licenses allow us to fully deploy much-needed C-Band spectrum right now, we have chosen in good faith to implement these more tailored precautionary measures so that airlines have additional time to retrofit equipment. We appreciate the FAA's support of this approach, and we will continue to work with the aviation community as we move toward the expiration of all such voluntary measures by next summer."

"Today's announcement identifies a path forward that will enable Verizon to make full use of our C-Band spectrum for 5G around airports on an accelerated and defined schedule," Verizon executive vice-president and chief administrative officer Craig Silliman said. "Under this agreement reached with the FAA, we will lift the voluntary limitations on our 5G network deployment around airports in a staged approach over the coming months meaning even more consumers and businesses will benefit from the tremendous capabilities of 5G technology. This progress is the result of months of close collaboration with the FAA, FCC and aviation industry, and sets the stage for continued, robust 5G deployment."

The Engadget guide to the best midrange smartphones

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 10:00 AM PDT

A great smartphone doesn't have to cost a fortune. Years of commoditization have brought features once exclusive to high-end devices – including big batteries, multi-camera arrays and high refresh rate displays – down to their more affordable siblings. As one of Engadget's resident mobile geeks, I've reviewed dozens of midrange devices. So I'm here to help you figure out what features to prioritize when trying to find a phone for less than $600.

What is a midrange phone, anyway?

While the term shows up frequently in articles and videos, there isn't an agreed-upon definition for "midrange" beyond a phone that isn't a flagship or an entry-level option. For this guide, our recommendations cost between $400 and $600. Any less and you should expect significant compromises. If your budget is higher, though, you should consider flagships like the iPhone 13 and Galaxy S22.

What factors should you consider when buying a midrange smartphone?

Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, it's great.) And if you're an Android fan, there's no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldn't rule either out.

Obviously, also consider how much you're comfortable spending. Even spending $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. And manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer. It's definitely worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford.

Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long-lasting battery? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras? While they continue to improve every year, midrange phones still involve some compromises, and knowing what's important to you will make choosing one easier.

Lastly, pay attention to wireless bands and network compatibility. If you don't want to worry about that, your best bet is to buy directly from your carrier. To make things easier, all the phones we recommend are compatible with every major US wireless provider and can be purchased unlocked. 

What won't you get from a midrange smartphone?

Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones gets blurrier as more upmarket features trickle down. When we first published this guide in 2020, it was difficult to find $500 devices with waterproofing or 5G. Now, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging. Just remember to budget for a power adapter too – many companies have stopped including them. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their cameras have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most handsets below $600.

Engadget picks

The best midrange Android phone: Pixel 5a with 5G

Google Pixel 5a
Terrence O'Brien / Engadget

It may look dull, but there's a lot to like about Google's $450 Pixel 5a. For one, it features the best cameras at this price. It may not have as many lenses as some of the other options on this list, but thanks to Google's expertise in computational photography, the 5a delivers pictures that are on par with phones that cost hundreds more.

The Pixel 5a has a few other things going for it. Thanks to its large 4,680mAh battery and efficient chipset, you won't have to worry about running out of juice. In fact, Engadget managing editor Terrence O'Brien found he could easily get a full day of use. The 5a also supports 5G and is certified IP67 for water and dust-proofing. Plus, as a Pixel phone, the 5a will receive the latest updates and security fixes from Google weeks and months before other Android phones.

Of course, no $450 phone is perfect. The Pixel 5a has an aging Snapdragon 765G chipset, and you can find plenty of midrange phones with more responsive displays.

One thing to note: The Pixel 6a is right around the corner and will go on sale on July 28th for $449. I suggest waiting until Engadget gets a review unit so you have details on things like battery life and performance before you make a decision.

Buy Pixel 5a 5G at Amazon - $450

The best (and only) iPhone under $600: iPhone SE

The iPhone SE (2022) held in a hand.
Cherlynn Low / Engadget

If you can get past its dated design and small 5.4-inch display, the iPhone SE is the fastest phone you can buy for less than $600. No other device on this list has a processor that comes close to the SE's A15 Bionic. What's more, you can expect Apple to support the 2022 model for years to come. The company is only just ending support for the first-generation SE after six years. The company hasn't said how long it intends to furnish the latest SE with new software, but it's likely to support the device for a similar length of time.

For all its strengths, the iPhone SE is held back by a dated display. Not only is the SE's screen small and slow, but it also uses an IPS panel instead of an OLED, meaning it can't deliver deep blacks. Additionally, that screen is surrounded by some of the largest bezels you'll find on a modern phone. That's not surprising. The SE uses the design of the iPhone 6, which will be a decade old in two years. And if the SE looks dated now, it will only feel more tired in a few years.

Shop iPhone SE at Apple

The midrange phone with the best screen: Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

A photo of the front of the Samsung Galaxy A53, showing the phone's 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate.
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

For the best possible display at this price, look no further than Samsung's $450 Galaxy A53 5G. It features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display that is ideal for watching TV shows and movies. Plus the 120Hz panel is the fastest on this list. Other standout features include a 5,000mAh battery and versatile camera system. The A53's three cameras may not deliver photos with the same detail and natural colors as the Pixel 5a, but it can capture bigger scenes with its two wide-angle lenses.

Like the other Android phones on this list, the A53 isn't the fastest performer. At best, Samsung's Exynos 1280 is a lateral move from the Snapdragon 750G found in the Galaxy A52 5G. And though the A53 is $50 cheaper than its predecessor, it no longer comes with a power adapter and headphone jack, so the difference may not end up being much.

Buy Galaxy A53 5G at Samsung - $450

An ultra-budget 5G option: OnePlus Nord N200 5G

OnePlus Nord N200 5G
Brian Oh / Engadget

If you only have around $200 to spend on your next phone, you could do a lot worse than the OnePlus Nord N200 To start, it features a big 5,000mAh battery that will easily last you a full day. The N200 also has a 90Hz display and 5G connectivity, which are tricky to find at this price. Best of all, it doesn't look like a budget product.

But the N200 is also a good illustration of why you should spend more if you can. I the slowest device on this list, due to its Snapdragon 480 chipset and paltry 4GB of RAM. Its triple main camera system is serviceable during the day but struggles in low light and doesn't offer much versatility beyond a disappointing macro lens. OnePlus also doesn't plan to update the phone beyond the soon-to-be-outdated Android 12. In short, the N200 is unlikely to last you as long as any of the other recommendations on this list.

Buy OnePlus Nord N200 at Amazon - $240

Chris Velazco contributed to this report.

Bill Nye's return to TV debuts August 25th on Peacock

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 09:42 AM PDT

After more than a year, Peacock is finally close to bringing Bill Nye back to TV screens. The NBCUniversal service has revealed that The End is Nye will premiere on August 25th. The six-episode series will have Nye explore disasters (natural and otherwise) while showing how science can help prevent and survive these calamities.

Nye serves as an executive producer in addition to hosting. The production team will seem very familiar if you're a fan of science documentaries or sci-fi. Brannon Braga (of Cosmos, The Orville and Star Trek fame) serves as director and showrunner, while Seth MacFarlane (also from Cosmos and The Orville) is both making cameo appearances and producing through his Fuzzy Door outfit.

The series comes roughly five years after Netflix's Bill Nye Saves the World, and follows a similar template. It's an effort to restore optimism about science, not to mention counter myths and otherwise push for a society where evidence and objectivity matter. This might not recapture the vibe of Bill's Science Guy days, but it might not have to if it gets the message across.

Epic Games Store will randomly ask users to rate games to prevent review bombing

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 09:29 AM PDT

Epic Games has added a long-awaited feature to its store: user ratings. The company says that only those who have played a game for at least two hours will be able to rate it on a five-star scale. Not everyone will be able to rate a game either. Epic will randomly offer players the chance to score a game after they finish a play session. The company believes this approach will prevent review bombing and make sure ratings are from people who are actually playing the games.

An overall rating will be calculated based on players' scores and this will appear on a title's Epic Games Store page. The aim, of course, is to help users figure out whether a game's worth playing. Store pages already featured critics' reviews to help folks make a decision about whether to buy or download something.

Epic says it likely won't ask for ratings on every game or app and the randomization approach will help it avoid spamming players. That seems like a good call. It's a little annoying, for instance, that Microsoft asks for feedback after every Xbox Cloud Gaming session.

Polls on Epic Games Store
Epic Games

In addition, Epic may ask you to answer a poll after a game session. There's a broad range of questions, including the likes of whether a game is better to play with a team or how challenging the combat is. 

Epic will use data from polls to create tags for store pages. Eventually, tags will be used on category pages and to create tag-based categories for the home page. The idea is to improve discoverability and help people gain a better understanding of what to expect from a game. 

Separately, Epic is releasing a set of cross-play tools for developers. Epic Online Services now offers an overlay that can merge Steam and Epic Games friends lists and help players find their buds, send friend requests and hop into multiplayer sessions with cross-platform in-game invites.

Epic has broader ambitions for cross-play support beyond Steam. It's working to support other PC launchers, as well as macOS and Linux. It will add cross-play tools for consoles and mobile to the SDK further down the line. Several of Epic's own games — including Fortnite, Rocket League and Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout — have full cross-play support.

The Apple TV 4K drops to $130, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 08:30 AM PDT

If you're still hunting for the perfect gift for dad ahead of Father's Day this weekend, a bunch of our favorite gadgets are on sale right now. The Apple TV 4K remains discounted to $130, its cheapest price yet, and a couple of colors of the AirPods Max are $120 off. Amazon's Fire tablets and basic Kindle are on sale, too, plus you can pick up three video games for the price of two in the online retailer's latest 3-for-2 sale. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.

Apple TV 4K

Apple TV 4K (2021)
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The latest Apple TV 4K is down to a new record low of $130. That's nearly $50 off its normal price and a great deal on what we consider to be the best high-end streaming device. We gave it a score of 90 for its speedy performance, support for Dolby Vision and Atmos, plus its much improved Siri remote.

Buy Apple TV 4K (32GB) at Amazon - $130Buy Apple TV 4K (64GB) at Amazon - $150

AirPods (3rd gen)

The latest AirPods are $30 off and down to $150, which is only $10 more than their all-time-low price. We gave the buds a score of 88 for their improved audio quality, more comfortable design and longer battery life.

Buy AirPods at Amazon - $150

AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max
Engadget

Apple's AirPods Max are $120 off and down to $430. We gave these headphones a score of 84 for their excellent, balanced sound, solid ANC, comfortable design and good battery life.

Buy AirPods Max at Amazon - $430

Amazon 3-for-2 sale

'Elden Ring' for PlayStation falls to $50, plus other video game deals
FromSoftware

Amazon's latest 3-for-2 sale includes a bunch of popular video games, including Elden Ring, Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Kirby and the Forgotten Land and more. While most titles are full price, you will find a few that have been discounted as well. So not only can you pick up three games for the price of two, but the base price for some of them is lower than usual, too.

Shop 3-for-2 sale at Amazon

Samsung Smart Monitor M8

Samsung
Samsung

The new Smart Monitor M8 is $100 cheaper than usual at Amazon and Samsung right now. This 32-inch display has a 3,840 x 2,160 pixel resolution and works as both a monitor and a smart TV, giving you access to streaming devices like Netflix, Disney+ and others. It also has a built-in SmartThings home hub inside, so you can use it to control compatible IoT devices in your home.

Buy Samsung M8 Smart Monitor at Amazon - $600Buy Samsung M8 Smart Monitor at Samsung - $600

Amazon Fire tablets

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2020)
Valentina Palladino / Engadget

A number of Amazon's Fire tablets are on sale, with some up to 45 percent off. The most affordable of the bunch is the Fire HD 8, which is down to $50, while the steepest discount is on the Fire HD 8 Plus, which you can grab for only $60.

Shop Fire tablets at Amazon

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle (2019)
James Trew/Engadget

Amazon's standard Kindle is 33 percent off and down to $60. We gave the e-reader a score of 91 when it first came out for its smaller, sleeker design and improved display with higher contrast and a new front light system.

Buy Kindle at Amazon - $60

Amazon smart thermostat

Amazon's smart thermostat
Amazon

Amazon's smart thermostat is back on sale for $48, or 20 percent off its normal price. This is a more affordable alternative to higher-end thermostats and it lets you control your home's environment from anywhere, plus use Alexa commands to do so while you're in the house.

Buy smart thermostat at Amazon - $48

Sonos Roam

Sonos' portable Roam speaker remains 20 percent off and down to just over $143. We gave it a score of 87 for its great audio quality, compact and durable design and ability to play stereo audio when two are paired together.

Buy Sonos Roam at Amazon - $143Buy Sonos Roam at Sonos - $143

Sonos Move

The outdoor-friendly Sonos Move is also 20 percent off and down to just under $320. It earned a score of 80 from us for its excellent sound quality, Bluetooth connectivity, weather-resistant design and great battery life.

Buy Sonos Move at Sonos - $320

Sonos refurbished sale

Sonos has discounted a bunch of refurbished speakers and soundbars. Sonos' refurbished program tests all devices to make sure they're as good as new and these devices come with the same one-year warranty as new products do.

Shop Sonos refurbished sale

Beats Fit Pro

The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are back on sale for $180, or $20 off their usual price. We gave them a score of 87 for their good sound quality, strong ANC and handy features provided by Apple's H1 chipset.

Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon - $180

Google Nest Doorbell

The battery-powered Nest Doorbell is on sale for $130 at Amazon right now, or nearly 30 percent off its normal price. This IoT device is easy to install since you don't have to hardwire it, and it'll send you alerts when someone shows up at your doorstep. You can also pick up the Nest Cam Outdoor for $129 or the Nest Cam Indoor for $80.

Buy Google Nest Cameras and Doorbells at Amazon

Roku Ultra

The 2022 Roku Ultra is 20 percent off and down to a new low of $80. The updated set-top box just came out last month and it includes the new Voice Remote Pro with a rechargeable battery and a remote-finder feature, plus support for 4K, HDR10+ streaming. It's also worth noting that the Roku Streambar remains on sale for $99.

Buy Roku Ultra at Amazon - $80Buy Roku Streambar at Amazon - $99

Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones are down to $278, which is 21 percent off its normal price. While Sony just came out with the XM5 headphones, these cans remain a good option for those that want excellent sound quality and ANC to match. Plus, you'll save more than $100 compared to the XM5 if you pick up the XM4 while they're on sale.

Buy WH-1000XM4 at Amazon - $278

Roomba 694

iRobot's Roomba 694 has dropped to $180, or $94 off its usual price. It earned a spot in our best affordable robot vacuums guide thanks to its good cleaning power and easy to use mobile app.

Buy Roomba 694 at Amazon - $180

Roomba j7+

iRobot's Roomba j7+ is down to $599 at Amazon, or $200 off its normal price. We included the Roomba j7 in our best robot vaccums guide because it did a good job cleaning both carpeted and hard floors, plus it has good obstacle avoidance and an easy to use companion app. The j7+ adds a clean base into the mix, so the robot will automatically empty its bin into the clean base after every job.

Buy Roomba j7+ at Amazon - $599

Google Nest Thermostat

Google Nest Thermostat
Google

Target has the Nest Thermostat for $100, plus you can get a Nest Hub for only $50 or a Nest Hub Max for $180 when you pick up either with the thermostat. That's a good deal if you're looking to expand your smart home ecosystem, plus it could make a good gift for dad for Father's Day.

Buy Nest Thermostat at Target - $100

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Senators call for a common charger standard in the US

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 07:30 AM PDT

The European Union might not be the only government body setting a common standard for device chargers. The Vergenotes US senators Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo calling on her department to develop a "comprehensive strategy" that would lead to a common charging standard. The EU acted in the "public interest" by settling on one port, the senators said, and the US ought to follow suit to reduce the environmental impact of chargers while improving convenience for users.

The politicians' arguments largely mirrored the EU's stance. A charger standard would theoretically reduce e-waste by letting people reuse existing cables and adapters for new devices. It could also help consumers money by sparing them from buying additional chargers, not to mention adding "sanity and certainty" to electronics shopping. This would prevent companies from locking you into proprietary cables that become obsolete, according to the group.

Raimondo hadn't responded to the letter as of this writing. The senators didn't specify USB-C as the standard, although that's likely to be the frontrunner. The EU will require USB-C starting in 2024, and the technology can accommodate everything from smartphones and earbuds through to high-end laptops. It also provides more consistent approaches to fast charging and accessory support.

Critics and some companies have long pushed back on charger standards. Apple most notably claimed a universal charger would hurt innovation by limiting the potential for technical advances, and would allegedly negate e-waste reduction by forcing legions of the company's users to replace their Lightning cables. Brands like Apple might not have much choice but to switch given the EU's move, however, and a US standard would only cement that decision.

As it is, there are rumors Apple will move to USB-C for both its 2023 iPhone lineup and this year's base iPad (all other iPads already use the format). A US charging standard might prevent companies like Apple from reverting to proprietary connectors later on, but the possible new regulation might do little more than enforce the status quo by the time it takes effect.

Cult hit RPG 'Dragon's Dogma' is finally getting a sequel

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 06:03 AM PDT

Dragon's Dogma didn't rock the fantasy RPG world when it arrived in 2012, but it gradually developed a loyal fan base. If you're part of that group, you'll be glad to hear that Capcom has confirmed work on a sequel as part of a livestream celebrating the original's 10th anniversary. Not that there are many details, mind you. As Kotakureports, game director Hideaki Itsuno shared the Dragon's Dogma II name, a logo and nothing else — don't expect a release in the near future, then.

The first game was flawed, with an awkward interface and a mediocre open-world experience. However, its wild story, enjoyable combat and extensive customization helped win people over. It was popular enough to warrant an expansion (Dark Arisen), a Japan-exclusive online RPG (Dragon's Dogma Online) and even a Netflix anime series.

It's safe to presume Dragon's Dogma II will target modern consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. With that said, it's too soon to say much else. A lot has changed in the past decade, and a sequel will have to compete with action RPG rivals like Elden Ring. Still, this might give Capcom more room to address the original's flaws and otherwise shake up its game mechanics.

Engadget Podcast: Google's AI isn't sentient but we must examine the ethics

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 05:30 AM PDT

This week, Devindra and Cherlynn dig into the story around Google engineer Blake Lemoine's interview with the Washington Post and his belief that the company's LaMDA language model is alive. What does it mean for AI (or anything else) to have consciousness? Do people understand AI, and what other areas of concern should we as a society consider as machines become more sophisticated and human-like? Then, we recap some of the biggest gaming news this week, as well as some wacky gadget announcements.

Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!


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Topics

  • No, Google's LaMDA AI isn't sentient – 1:40

  • First look at gameplay from Bethesda's Starfield RPG at Summer Games Fest – 25:39

  • Capcom announces Street Fighter 6 with a gorgeous trailer – 29:22

  • Hideo Kojima's next game will be for Xbox – 32:55

  • Overwatch 2 early access coming on October 4th – 33:43

  • US proposes legislation to ban sale of location data – 34:14

  • Sony released a $3,700 Walkman – 38:42

  • Working on – 43:13

  • Pop culture picks – 44:34

Video livestream

Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar
Producer: Ben Ellman
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Luke Brooks
Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Brian Oh
Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

WhatsApp adds new privacy controls for profile photos and ‘Last Seen’ status

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 05:15 AM PDT

After previewing the feature in beta last April, WhatsApp is rolling out greater privacy controls for Profile Photo, About, Status and Last Seen settings, the company tweeted. Until now, you could only block those settings for Everyone, My Contacts or Nobody, but the new update introduces a "My Contacts Except" option that offers far more granular control. 

The "Last Seen" status is a particular privacy danger, as it indicates when someone last checked the app. That provides a way to find out if a contact may have potentially seen your message even if they have read receipts turned off. The new feature allows you to shut off that feature for certain people, while also blocking Profile Photo, About and Status for individual users. 

If you restrict your Last Seen status to certain people, you'll notice that you won't be able to see their Last Seen status, either. The new settings are available via the three-dot menu in the upper right corner, then navigating to Account > Privacy. 

WhatsApp has added a number of new features of late, both around privacy and convenience. Last year, the company said it would limit accounts for users who don't accept its new privacy policy, but it later backtracked on that. Earlier this week, the chat app unveiled a new feature that makes it easier to switch from Android to iOS. 

Roku will put Walmart shopping ads on its streaming devices

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 04:35 AM PDT

Roku has teamed up with Walmart to serve a new kind of advertisement that will let you shop straight from your TV. Unlike typical TV ads that only showcase a specific service or product, these shoppable ads are more similar to advertisements you see online. Viewers who do find something they want to buy from the shoppable ads can press OK on their remote to begin Walmart's checkout process. Their payment details will be automatically populated with their information from Roku Pay, so they'd only have to press OK to complete their purchase. They'll then get an email confirmation from Walmart with shipping and return information. 

Since this is a pilot partnership between the companies, the shoppable ads powered Roku's ad-buying platform called OneView will only feature products fulfilled by Walmart. Of course, ads always have the potential to be annoying, but Roku's announcement suggests that it will at least show ads targeted towards its users, thanks to its advertising tech. The company also said that future iterations of this pilot program "will look for opportunities to build deeper commerce experiences that meet customers where they are."

This isn't the first time Roku and Walmart have joined forces: Last year, Roku debuted its new LE streaming player as a $15 Walmart exclusive for Black Friday. The device eventually made its way to other retailers like Amazon, where it's being sold at prices ranging from $24 to $30. 

The Morning After: Half of Japan's businesses are still using Internet Explorer

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 04:15 AM PDT

Microsoft has been reminding everyone willing to listen that the end of Internet Explorer is nigh, but many businesses in Japan seemingly did not take heed.

Almost half are reportedly still using the browser. According to Nikkei, many of those companies put off making the switch to other browsers, whether that's Microsoft's own Edge, or others. This could cause chaos for months across the country.

Many were trapped using Internet Explorer because of systems their clients used, while others are using the browser to handle things like employee attendance and expenses. Over a fifth of the respondents didn't have a plan for how to move away from the now-unsupported browser.

Japan does have a tendency to cling to older tech. The country's love of technology, robots and gadgets – have you seen this toaster? – is balanced out by its insistence on fax machines and the dogged determination of its feature phones during the smartphone boom.

-Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Tesla hikes prices across all of its models by up to $6,000

The long range versions of all vehicles shot up.

Tesla has significantly boosted prices across its EV lineup, according to changes in its online configurator spotted by Electrek. Most of the models affected are long-range versions, with the Model X AWD Long Range jumping the most, up $6,000 from $114,990 to $120,990. It's the latest in a series of price hikes for Tesla EVs this year. The company didn't explain the changes, but high inflation, electronics shortages and other issues could be to blame.

Continue reading.

The Boring Company will build a 34-mile tunnel network underneath Las Vegas

The company receives approval to expand its tunnels underneath the city.

Elon Musk's tunneling company has just received approval from the city to bring its underground transportation system, called the Vegas Loop, as far as the city's limits. When Clark County Commissioners first approved the Vegas Loop, it was supposed to be a 29-mile tunnel network connecting 51 stations. Now, the network will span 34 miles and have a total of 55 stations, including ones that will serve the Harry Reid International Airport and the Allegiant Stadium.

Continue reading.

Sony and Honda's EV business has a name

The company will kick things off in 2025.

TMA
Sony

After Sony and Honda announced plans to form a separate company for their joint electric vehicle partnership, they've finally come up with a name. Sony Honda Mobility Inc. and will be established in Tokyo before the end of 2022, with EV sales set to start in 2025. Honda is far behind rivals in EV development, with its only electric car being the Honda E — but it's accelerated its plans of late. Earlier this year it unveiled a partnership with GM to co-develop a series of affordable EVs.

Continue reading.

Surface Laptop Go 2 review

Basic, but in a good way

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Engadget

The Surface Laptop Go 2, priced at $600, isn't as fancy or sophisticated as some of Microsoft's other notebooks, but it nails all the basics. You get good battery life, a bright 12.4-inch touchscreen, and plenty of performance thanks to an updated 11th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU. You also get a 128GB SSD on the base model, which is a major upgrade from the 64GB of eMMC storage you got on its predecessor. There's definitely a lot to like at this price, so make sure to read our full review.

Continue reading.

UK government approves Julian Assange's extradition to the US

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 03:30 AM PDT

Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange's extradition to the US has been approved by UK home secretary Priti Patel, according to a UK government factsheet. "Under the Extradition Act 2003, the secretary of state must sign an extradition order if there are no grounds to prohibit the order being made," a Home Office spokesperson said in a statement. "In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr. Assange."

Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.

The announcement was expected after a UK court issued a formal order to extradite Assange in April, a necessary legal step required before the government can act. "Extradition requests are only sent to the home secretary once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case," the spokesperson stated. 

After the earlier trial, Assange's team would have had the opportunity to submit information to sway Patel, but that apparently failed to move her. The order isn't necessarily the final word on the case, though. Assange's legal team is expected to appeal within the 14-day window allowed, likely on the grounds of freedom of expression and whether the order was politically motivated. 

It's not unprecedented for such appeals to be successful, either. Alleged British hacker Lauri Love won his US extradition appeal on human rights grounds, arguing that the order would have caused his Asperger's condition to deteriorate. 

Final Fantasy VII Remake’s second chapter is called 'Rebirth'

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 03:15 AM PDT

During a Final Fantasy VII 25th anniversary celebration, alongside announcements of a Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core remake and news that Remake Intergrade will launch on Steam later this month, we got our first tiny glimpse of the next part of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

It'll be called Rebirth, and seems to focus on some of the major plotlines of the original (we won't get spoilery) all while throwing a wrench into our expectations.

We see protagonist Cloud and antagonist Sephiroth marching around a later area of the original game with lush vegetation, while fellow party member Aerith (we think) muses off-screen on whether she's died. Or not. 

We also get a brief glimpse of Cloud resting on the shoulder of Zack – the hero of Crisis Core. So, er, yeah. Even if you're totally up to speed with FFVII lore and spin-offs, this trailer is a giant question mark to get fans talking and theorizing for the next twelve months and beyond.

Producer Yoshinori Kitase said during the stream that: "Making the middle part of a trilogy has its own challenges, but there are plenty of classic second installments in the world of film that are defined by stunning story twists and deeper explorations of their characters."

The game's director, Naoki Hamaguchi, said: "The Final Fantasy 7 remake project will be a three-part trilogy, but Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is much more than just one installment in the series."

There you have it. Final Fantasy VII Remake will be a trilogy. And so very manyspin-off games on the side.

Anker's Eufy robovacs are up to 48 percent off at Amazon

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 02:50 AM PDT

Anker's Eufy brand robotic vacuums are already affordable and they just got even cheaper via a new Amazon sale. The most interesting model is the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30 that's available for just $130, for a savings of $120 or 48 percent off the regular price. Other models also have steep discounts like the advanced RoboVac X8, RoboVac 11S Slim, RoboVac 30C MAX and RoboVac G30 Hybrid. 

Buy Anker Eufy RoboVacs at Amazon

Anker launched Eufy back in 2016 as a budget robotic vacuum brand with an emphasis on technology. The cheapest model in this sale is the BoostIQ RoboVac 30, available for $130 or $120 off the regular price. It offers features like a slim profile, 1,500Pa suction levels, included boundary strips, automatic cleaning and 100 minutes of endurance on hardwood floors. It lacks WiFi and other advanced features, but if you don't need those, it's a steal at that price.

On the other end of the scale is Eufy's RoboVac X8, on sale for $400 or 33 percent off the regular $600 price. It generates 2,000Pa of suction, while offering advanced tech features like iPath laser navigation to scan and map your home using LiDAR; AI Map 2.0 tech that can save maps for multiple floors; and smartphone control via WiFi. 

In addition, you can grab the RoboVac 11S Slim for just $140, or $90 (39 percent off). While vacuum power is limited to 1,300Pa, it's small enough at 2.85 inches to fit in spaces other vacuums can't reach. Upgrade to WiFi and more powerful 2,000Pa of suction with the RoboVac 30C MAX, on sale for $180 or $80 off the regular $260 price. 

Another powerful WiFi-equipped model is the RoboVac G30, offering Smart Dynamic Navigation 2.0, 2,000Pa of suction and Alexa compatibility. It's on sale for $178, or $140 off the regular price via a coupon used at checkout. And finally, the RoboVac G30 Hybrid offers the same features but can also do mopping is on sale for $200, or $170 (46 percent) off the list price. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Lyft will pay $25 million to settle claims it hid safety issues before its IPO

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 02:05 AM PDT

Lyft has agreed to pay $25 million to settle shareholders' allegations that it failed to disclose safety issues in its Initial Public Offering (IPO) paperwork. According to Reuters, shareholders accused the company of concealing known problems, such as sexual assaults by its drivers, to cultivate an image of a more socially responsible alternative to Uber. They also accused Lyft of not disclosing safety issues regarding its bikeshare program, specifically the problem the company faced with its brakes that forced it to pull its bikes from various cities in the US. While Lyft has agreed to settle, it denied any wrongdoing. In a statement sent to CNN Business, company spokesperson Gabriela Condarco-Quesada said:

"This settlement resolves a shareholder class action related to statements in Lyft's initial public offering and its financial impact on investors — it's not about safety-related claims on the platform."

In their complaint, the shareholders said reports of sexual assaults by Lyft drivers that came out after the IPO represented an "existential risk" to the brand that should have been disclosed beforehand. Further, they said Lyft used promotions to boost its market share against Uber. 

Lyft officially filed to go public in 2019, but it wasn't until 2021 that it had published its first safety report. In it, the ride—hailing firm revealed that it received a total of 4,158 sexual assault reports from 2017 until 2019. Lyft divided the cases in different categories for its report, with the most common incidents falling under the non-consensual touching of a sexual body part category. It's worth noting, however, that the money for this settlement will go to shareholders and not to any of the passengers who reported being sexually assaulted by the firm's drivers.

SpaceX reportedly fired employees behind letter criticizing Elon Musk

Posted: 17 Jun 2022 12:50 AM PDT

SpaceX has fired employees who participated in writing and distributing an open letter criticizing Elon Musk, The New York Times has reported. First revealed yesterday, the letter called Musk's behavior on social media "a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment" and asked SpaceX to condemn his actions. 

According to three unnamed employees and an email from SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell seen by the NYT, SpaceX fired some of the letter's organizers, but there's no indication of how many were let go.

 "[SpaceX has] terminated a number of employees involved" with the letter, she wrote. "The letter, solicitations and general process made employees feel uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views. We have too much critical work to accomplish and no need for this kind of overreaching activism."

The open letter from the employees referenced recent accusations of sexual misconduct involving Musk that reportedly prompted a $250,000 settlement. Musk said the allegations were "utterly untrue" and made a crude joke about some of the details on Twitter. SpaceX defended Musk, with Shotwell saying she "personally" believed the accusations were false.

Another subject in the letter was distractions due to Musk's Twitter use. In February, the SEC opened an investigation into Musk over possible insider trading, and a court recently ruled that Tesla company lawyers must continue to approve his tweets. (Earlier this week, Musk appealed that decision). Prior to the letter, Musk reportedly told SpaceX employees that they must spend at least 40 hours a week in the office or risk being fired.

In her email, Shotwell added that "blanketing thousands of people across the company with repeated unsolicited emails and asking them to sign letters and fill out unsponsored surveys during the work day is not acceptable. Please stay focused on the SpaceX mission, and use your time to do your best work. This is how we will get to Mars."

Employees are protected against retaliation by OSHA's whistleblower rules, but those generally apply to issues like safety, fraud, environmental issues and health insurance. Still, the firings are likely to create another round of controversy involving Musk. 

Snapchat starts testing a paid subscription tier

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 10:39 PM PDT

Snap has started testing a paid subscription tier for Snapchat that will give users early access to new features, a company spokesperson has confirmed to The Verge. "We're doing early internal testing of Snapchat Plus, a new subscription service for Snapchatters. We're excited about the potential to share exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features with our subscribers, and learn more about how we can best serve our community," the spokesperson said. While they barely revealed anything about the service, reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi has found some hidden information in the app that gives us an idea of what Snapchat Plus could offer. 

Apparently, it'll let users pin one friend as their #1 BFF and will give them access to some exclusive icons. Snapchat Plus users will also get a badge on their profile, will have the means to see their friends' locations over the past 24 hours — if those friends are sharing their location with the user — and will see how many friends have rewatched their stories. Based on the details Paluzzi has unearthed, the service will cost users €4.59 ($4.83) a month or €45.99 ($48.41) a year. 

Those features and prices could change by the time the feature is ready to launch, if Snap does decide to offer the service. Seeing as other social networks and apps are also offering or working on paid tiers of their own, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Snapchat Plus does become available. Twitter Blue made its debut in a US last year as a $3 option for users who want additional features, such as the undo button. Telegram also confirmed that it will launch a Premium tier sometime this month to give its most ardent fans access to bigger uploads, as well as more speed and resources.

Crypto lender Celsius is being investigated by multiple states after transactions freeze

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 04:12 PM PDT

Crypto lender Celsius Network opted to freeze customer withdrawals and other transactions on Sunday, leaving its nearly two million users unable to access their funds. Now, state security boards in Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey, Texas and Washington have launched probes into Celsius, Reutersreports. The SEC has also been in contact with the firm. Engadget has reached out to the agency and will update if we hear back. 

This isn't the first time the crypto lender has run into trouble with state and federal officials. Multiple states ordered Celsius last year to stop selling what are known as high-yield crypto products, which many investors warn are risky because they don't offer the same FDIC protections as banks if the institutions go under. Currently, residents in the states of New York and Washington can't purchase assets on Celsius.

Officials at the Texas State Securities Board began discussing Celsius's surprise freeze on consumer assets first thing on Monday morning, the agency's enforcement director Joseph Rotunda told the Reuters. "I am very concerned that clients – including many retail investors – may need to immediately access their assets yet are unable to withdraw from their accounts. The inability to access their investment may result in significant financial consequences," he said.

In its memo to users explaining Sunday's decision, Celsius cited "extreme market conditions" as the primary motivator. The freeze includes transfers, withdrawals and swaps between accounts. "We are taking this action today to put Celsius in a better position to honor, over time, its withdrawal obligations," wrote the firm.

Users responded via social media over the weekend, often sharing the negative impacts the freeze had on their own finances. One user claimed on Twitter that, because they were unable to access funds to pay or post collateral, the platform had liquidated a loan worth more than $27,000. "This is not the reason I unbanked myself," they wrote.

Pew confirms what we already knew: People like to retweet political hot takes

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 01:53 PM PDT

While it's no secret that social media shapes our political discourse, a new study by the Pew Research Center reveals to what extent. Nearly one in three tweets posted by American adults are political in nature, according to Pew's analysis of a sample of a year's worth of English-language tweets from US adults. But only eight percent of the original tweets Pew analyzed were political in nature, while more than 40 percent of retweets and quote tweets were classified as political. This shows that users are a lot more likely to share political content from a small group rather than create their own.

It's important to note that the study analyzed tweets that were posted between May 2020 and May 2021 — a particularly tumultuous time period that included a US presidential election, a summer of political protests, a pandemic and the January 6 insurrection. It's a significant uptick from 2019, when only 13 percent of US tweets were about politics. But Pew also significantly changed its methodology from 2019, which only focused on politics at the national level.

"This definition excluded mentions of state or local politics and politicians, as well as discussions of policy issues and current events that carry a political valence but do not explicitly reference national political figures or groups," wrote Pew's researchers in a blog post.

Still, the findings include some interesting insights on who shapes political debate on Twitter and how. First off, the study found that Americans who were 50 years and older produced 78 percent of all political tweets. While this age group only makes up a quarter of Twitter's US user base, it virtually dominates the political discussion on the platform. Meanwhile, only seven percent of tweets from US Twitter users between the ages of 18 and 49 were political in nature.

As mentioned earlier, a large chunk of retweets and quote tweets are political in nature — suggesting that most users spread political information on Twitter rather than post original commentary. Roughly 44 percent of retweets and 42 percent were quote tweets were political in nature, as opposed to eight percent of original tweets. Many users voice their political opinions in the replies — an estimated 26 percent of reply tweets discussed politics. 

Republicans and Democrats also appear to perceive Twitter very differently from each other. For example, Democrats seem more likely to treat Twitter as a place to encounter like-minded people. Roughly 40 percent of Democrats said they mostly followed Twitter accounts with similar political beliefs to their own, as opposed to 20 percent of Republicans. This is likely helped by the fact that Twitter's most prolific users swing left. A 2020 Pew study found that of Twitter's most active users, roughly 69 percent identified as Democrats.

LG's extra-tall DualUp Monitor is available now for $699

Posted: 16 Jun 2022 01:32 PM PDT

If you've been eyeing LG's super-tall display ever since December, you'll be glad to hear that you can finally buy it. LG has released the DualUp Monitor for $699. As promised, the clamp-mounted design centers on a 16:18 aspect ratio, 28-inch LCD whose 2,560 x 2,880 resolution promises the visual real estate of two 21.5-inch monitors while occupying much less desk space. It might fit the bill if you're a media creator or heavy-duty multitasker who can't justify an ultra-wide screen.

The Nano IPS-based panel should be reasonably accurate with 98 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and it should serve well as a laptop dock between the 90W USB-C power delivery, dual HDMI, DisplayPort and USB 3.0 connections. The included ergonomic stand can pivot, tilt and swivel, so you shouldn't have trouble creating the ideal layout.

There are limitations. The DualUp Monitor doesn't offer a 4K resolution, of course, and it's not particularly gamer-friendly with its 60Hz refresh rate. While it does support HDR10, the 300-nit typical brightness won't exactly help HDR visuals pop. This is a productivity monitor first and foremost, and you're paying more for convenience than raw technical prowess.
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