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• Google says it used machine learning to massively improve Chrome's phishing detection
• 'The Last of Us Part I' remake comes to PS5 on September 2nd
• Love Hulten’s latest synth project has a rainbow puke MIDI visualizer
• IKEA teamed up with Swedish House Mafia on a turntable
• The best camping and backpacking gear for dads
• Akai finally brings vinyl simulation to MPC samplers
• Marshall widens the soundstage on its new home speaker lineup
• White House proposes standards for national EV charging network
• The best home entertainment gift ideas for dad
• Dell unveils a slimmer XPS 13 and a detachable 2-in-1
• Amazon's AR try-ons can show how shoes look, but not how they fit
• 'WebCrow 2.0' AI can solve crosswords in two languages
• ‘Strange New Worlds’ takes a big swing toward something profound
• Apple's AirTag is back down to a record low on Amazon
• Xbox Game Pass comes to new Samsung smart TVs on June 30th
• NASA’s James Webb telescope gets hit by a micrometeroid
• The Morning After: Nothing prepares to show off its first phone
• Apple's Mac Mini falls back to an all-time low of $570
• Watch Netflix's 'Cyberpunk 2077' anime series trailer
• Microsoft drops non-compete clauses and NDAs from employee settlements
• TikTok adds new screen time controls to remind users to take breaks
• Capcom is using Stadia tech for a web-based 'Resident Evil Village' demo

Google says it used machine learning to massively improve Chrome's phishing detection Posted: 09 Jun 2022 09:42 AM PDT Google has long been employing machine learning to improve its products, including Chrome. The company says it has been able to make the browser safer to use. In March, Google rolled out a new on-device machine learning model that's able to detect 2.5 times more potential phishing attacks and possibly malicious sites than the previous model. That should help protect users and their data. Google The company is also tackling annoying requests by certain websites to send you notifications. They can be useful for sites you want to receive updates from, but they're often just irritating. Chrome is already able to predict when a user won't grant a website permission to deliver page notifications and then block them automatically. The next version of Chrome will have an ML model that can handle these predictions on your device. Google is also planning to use machine learning to make the Chrome toolbar more useful depending on what you're doing at a given moment. It might highlight a voice search option if that's something you do regularly or add a sharing option if you tend to catch up on news while on public transit and send links to your friends. It's not the biggest update in the world, but it could prove a handy timesaver for the things you most commonly do in certain circumstances. You'll be able to tweak the toolbar actions manually as well. Google

'The Last of Us Part I' remake comes to PS5 on September 2nd Posted: 09 Jun 2022 09:28 AM PDT You won't have to settle for PS4-era graphics to play the original The Last of Us on your PS5. As Twitter user Wario64 noticed, the PlayStation Direct online store has prematurely revealed that a The Last of Us Part I remake is coming to PS5 on September 2nd, with a PC version "in development." While there aren't too many details, it's clear this represents a major visual upgrade — this isn't just a performance patch or a touch-up. You can also expect "modernized" game mechanics with better combat, control, exploration and accessibility features. The Last of Us Part I (PS5 standard/Firefly Edition) up for preorder at PS Direct ($69.99/$99.99) https://t.co/HTMHHsMi6v trailer: https://t.co/dumiWe62Kjpic.twitter.com/I7HNA3wD2X — Wario64 (@Wario64) June 9, 2022 The "rebuilt" game will apparently be available in standard ($70) and special Firefly Edition ($100) copies. The listings were otherwise empty apart from a trailer, and they disappeared while we were writing this. Clearly, Sony wanted to save them for a formal announcement in the near future. The arrival of a Last of Us Part I re-do isn't shocking. Sony and Insomniac are bringing Spider-Man and Miles Morales to PC later this year, and that's on top of existing refreshes and PC ports for titles like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn. Sony is eager to profit from re-releases of the PlayStation platform's best-known games, and TLOU certainly qualifies for that treatment.

Love Hulten’s latest synth project has a rainbow puke MIDI visualizer Posted: 09 Jun 2022 08:55 AM PDT Love Hulten is fond of strange synthesizer projects, but his latest might be his most ambitious to date. The artist has unveiled a Doodlestation synth deck whose centerpiece display visualizes MIDI audio as rainbow puke — if you're playing, the poor person on-screen is likely hurling. Don't worry about that novelty fading away, though, as there are some surprisingly practical features. Most of the space is occupied by a Sequential OB-6 analog synth (with a custom keybed), a Moog DFAM percussion synth and a Hologram Microcosm effects pedal. You'll also find a theremin setup, though, and you can add tape echo through a system that shows the tape bouncing around. Built-in speakers and a handy patch cord drawer also minimize clutter. Like other Love Hulten projects, the Doodlestation is a one-off design. You aren't about to buy one for your studio. Still, this shows that synth suites don't have to be boring — this is equipment you might be proud to show to your fellow musicians.

IKEA teamed up with Swedish House Mafia on a turntable Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:44 AM PDT IKEA is no stranger to technology-driven collaborations, but its latest might be particularly eclectic. The home store has partnered with electronic music giants Swedish House Mafia to release a new OBEGRÄNSAD ("unlimited" in Swedish) collection themed around music and creativity. The highlight so far is a surprisingly slick-looking record player. While the turntable doesn't offer much in the way of known features beyond Bluetooth speaker support, the minimalist design could make it a conversation piece as you spin some vinyl. This being IKEA, there's naturally some furniture. The OBEGRÄNSAD line also includes a desk aimed at music production, complete with two speaker stands and a pull-out shelf for MIDI keyboards and other controllers. You'll have more space for a computer, mixers and other essential gear. An armchair, meanwhile, can help you relax during listening sessions with adjustable straps. IKEA The collection doesn't reach IKEA shops until the fall. The company hasn't mentioned pricing, although its historical focus on affordable products suggests you won't pay much. Moreover, the full collection will include over 20 pieces — there's a real chance you can have Swedish House Mafia shape much of your interior decor.

The best camping and backpacking gear for dads Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:30 AM PDT We've finally fully emerged from winter and dad might be feeling a little cooped up. Now that the weather is getting warmer, he's probably itching to get outside ASAP. If your dad or father figure is the type to wander off into the woods — perhaps for days at a time — we've got some suggestions for Father's Day gifts. Whether he's an ultra-light backpacking maniac or a car-camping comfort seeker, we have just the thing. JetBoil MiniMo JetBoil The Jetboil Flash is basically inescapable on the trail. Its lightweight, easily packable design and fast boil times make it attractive to backpackers. But the MiniMo is worth the extra money and weight. It's only one ounce heavier, but the MiniMo's wider, shorter cook cup is easier to handle. Plus it can actually simmer things, unlike the Flash. And let me tell you, dehydrated eggs are bad enough as is, even without burning them in what amounts to a coffee tumbler mounted on a jet engine. Trust me, this is one of the best upgrades you can make to your dad's setup. Buy Jetboil MiniMo at Amazon - $155 Leatherman Free series multitools Leatherman The Leatherman Free series has been a staple of Engadget buying guides ever since it debuted in 2019. There are plenty of options out there when it comes to multitools, and many of them are great. But, the Free series was a serious game-changer with its one-handed access to every tool. Plus everything, including the knife, locks into place so you're less likely to pinch or cut yourself. It even requires less regular maintenance and cleaning than older Leatherman like the Juice series which, while great, tended to collect lint and dust in every nook and cranny at an alarming rate. Your dad might not need every tool while hiking the Appalachian, but he'll appreciate having options other than a knife or a rock. Shop Leatherman Free series at Amazon BioLite HeadLamp 330 BioLite After food, water and shelter, the next most essential thing on the trail is light. The Biolite Headlamp 330 is comfortable, bright and long lasting. It has both spot and flood modes, plus a red light for saving your father's eyes at night. And, if you can get him the Extend Pack (which is unfortunately often out of stock), it also comes with a backup battery in case he needs to recharge on the trail, along with a light-diffusing stuffsack that basically turns his headlamp into a lantern he can hang from the ceiling of his tent or lean-to. Buy Headlamp 330 at Amazon - $60 Sea to Summit X-Mug Sea To Summit I love my old-school enameled steel camp mug. It's indestructible and has an undeniable classic look. But, it also conducts heat like nobody's business. I've burned my hands and lips on enough white hot cups of instant coffee to know they're just not that practical. Sea to Summit's X-Mug with cool grip promises to protect your little fingies from your boiling hot beverage. Plus, it collapses into a neat little puck for easy storage. Admittedly, I have not tried the Cool Grip model yet, but I've been using the company's collapsible bowl for over a decade. And my hiking buddy uses the regular X-Mug, so I'm pretty confident in recommending Sea to Summit's gear. Buy X-Mug at Sea to Summit - $15 Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite Therm-a-rest I skipped a sleeping pad on my first backpacking trip. I regretted it immediately. Therm-a-Rest pads are the industry standard. And the NeoAir XLite is pretty much smack in the middle of their backpacking lineup. It's not the lightest or the warmest, but it's probably the most versatile. The R-value (a measurement of insulating power) of 4.2 is good enough for three-season camping. And it packs down to about the size of a water bottle. This particular model has been around for a long time, and it will probably continue to be a staple of Therm-a-Rest's lineup for years to come. Buy NeoAir XLite mattress at Amazon starting at $112 Garmin Enduro Garmin Full disclosure: I haven't tested the Enduro. Nor has anyone else at Engadget. But, we're big enough fans of Garmin's sports watches to feel comfortable recommending it. But why pick this particular one? Simple: battery life. Garmin says it lasts up to 80 hours in GPS mode, which is frankly absurd. If your dad likes to quantify everything in his life, including multi-day hikes, this is a pretty great way to do it. It not only has a giant battery, but also a built-in solar charger. Plus VO2 max estimates for trail runners, heat and altitude acclimation tools for the parent that's into mountain climbing or desert hiking, and even navigation features to keep him from getting lost. And, once he's found his way back to civilization he can snag a coffee at Starbucks using Garmin Pay. Buy Enduro at Garmin - $800 Sawyer Squeeze water filter Sawyer More than even food or shelter, water is essential on the trail. But, dad can't just go drinking from streams and ponds, nor can he carry enough with him for a multi-day trip. That's where the Sawyer Squeeze filter comes in handy. There are tons of different ways to purify water, from old-school iodine tablets to boiling to pump filters. But a squeeze filter system is often the fastest and easiest to use. Sawyer's are probably the best known for good reason — you can fill up the pouch and drink straight from the filter or use the to fill up a reservoir or water bottle. They're not ideal for places where dad might be reduced to getting water out of shallow muddy springs or where viral pathogens are a concern. But they're perfect for more developed and regularly trafficked trails. Buy Sawyer Squeeze filter at Amazon - $35 PackTowl Ultralite PackTowl Your dad will need a towel on the trail. Trust me. Maybe he'll be lucky enough to find a shower. Or perhaps he'll go for a dip in a lake. Or, maybe like me, he just sweats enough to drown a small animal. Regardless, an Ultralite PackTowl is an absolute must-have. They're incredibly small and lightweight, yet seem to have unlimited absorption power. I'm pretty sure they're actually a portal to another dimension where the water is stored. I have two that I take with me on every trip: one body-sized and the other a face towel that stays clipped to my shoulder strap for when I need to mop my brow. Buy PackTowel at Amazon starting at $16 Snow Peak Titanium Spork Snow Peak This should go without saying, but your dad needs a utensil to eat. Yes, even on the trail. And there's nothing better than a good old fashioned spork to save space and weight. I'm a big fan of this titanium model from Snow Peak. The company makes a ton of great gear, but this simple and indestructible essential is probably my favorite. Plus, it comes in a handful of fun shades like blue, green and purple in case your dad is known for his colorful personality. Buy titanium spork at Amazon - $10 Aeropress Go Aeropress If your dad would prefer to burn his lips on real coffee, consider getting him an Aeropress for his adventures. This is, admittedly, a luxury when you're backpacking. But, I've tried instant coffee, coffee "tea" bags, mesh coffee steeping contraptions, camping french presses and honestly, nothing makes better coffee with less cleanup than an Aeropress. You could go for the full-size model, but the Go version shaves off a few precious ounces, which could be crucial when trying to cut weight for a long trip. But, I actually bring the full-size version when I hit the trail and have had no problems. Buy Aeropress Go at Amazon - $40 Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Goal Zero Not every dad wants to strap three days worth of gear to his back and walk off into the woods. Some are perfectly content driving up to a campsite, pitching a tent and building a fire. For them the Lighthouse 600 is a great gift. It is, first and foremost, an LED lantern perfect for food prep, reading or even playing cards around camp. But, he can also use its 5200mAh battery to charge his phone or headlamp. And, if he does happen to sap all its juice it has a hand crank for recharging through manual labor, and an optional solar panel. Buy Lighthouse 600 at Amazon - $70 Joby GripTight Action Kit Joby Obviously, part of the reason dad disappears into the wilderness is to escape from technology and enjoy nature. But I'm sure he wants to capture at least some of it for posterity. Dragging a DSLR or even a mirrorless camera into the woods is overkill, especially when he's probably got a pretty good camera with him already: his cellphone. Joby's unique GorillaPod tripods are perfect for the outdoors. And the affordable Action Kit is pretty flexible. It comes with a Bluetooth remote, it can hold most phones or even a GoPro camera, and it has a cold shoe adapter for a light or microphone. Buy Joby Action Kit at Amazon - $35 Lodge Cast Iron Cook-it-All Lodge cast iron Look, if he's driving up to the campsite anyway, there's no need to fight with alarmingly thin steel pans or tiny fuel canister stoves. The 14-inch cast iron Cook-it-All from Lodge is the perfect campfire companion. It can be a dutch oven, a griddle or a skillet. You can even bake a pizza inside it. ( I'll admit, though, that I've never considered baking a pizza while camping.) Cast iron is heavy and bulky, but it's also damn near indestructible and holds on to heat for a long time, which is good when you're dealing with a finicky campfire. Plus, if seasoned properly and treated with care, cast iron is reasonably nonstick. So, dad might even be able to make some sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast. Buy Lodge Cook-It-All at Amazon - $120 Backpacks Engadget Last year we recommended Osprey's Atmos AG 65 for anyone looking to be as comfortable as possible while backpacking. This year, we're doing the same, just with some updated Osprey designs. The Atmos has been given a minor face lift, but the bigger deal is that it's now made with 100-percent recycled materials. You still get an integrated rain cover, Anti-Gravity suspension and fit-on-the-fly adjustment system. It's just now more eco friendly. As part of the redesign, the capacity has been increased to better reflect the pack's name. Before, if you bought the Atmos 65 in a small, you actually only got 62 liters of storage. Now the small is a full 65 liters. The one downside is that the new materials and carrying capacity have led to a slight increase in weight too, with the S/M Atmos AG 65 coming in at four pounds, 10 ounces. The women's equivalent of the Atmos is the Aura AG 65, which is slightly smaller and lighter, but has the same suspension system and similar lugging capacity. And if you're on a tight budget this year, you can still find the older model available in some places at a steep discount. Buy Atmos AG 65 at Osprey - $300Buy Aura AG 65 at Osprey - $300 Tents Coleman Obviously, one of the most important pieces of camping equipment is a tent. Not everyone's dad wants to spend their nights in a lean-to. But their needs will dictate what kind of tent to buy. If your giftee is an avid backpacker who needs something ultra light to take on the trail, I heartily recommend Big Agnes' Tiger Wall UL 2. It's not their lightest offering, but it strikes a great balance between weight and convenience. It can sleep two, and has two vestibules for stowing gear, but as a single person tent it's borderline luxurious. Even with the optional footprint (which I highly recommend for any tent), the pack weight weighs under three pounds, and the mtnGLO light system means no fussing with a lantern or headlamp to read and sort gear after dark. If unabashed luxury is more your dad's thing, consider REI's Wonderland 6. At $599, this is no casual investment, but it should last quite some time. The walls are nearly vertical and it reaches a height of six and a half feet in the middle, meaning all but the tallest of humans should be able to stand upright inside. The 83-square feet of floor space is plenty of room for a family of six to sleep in, and it has large ventilation windows to keep the inside cool during the hottest months. The one caveat is that, if you happen to do most of your camping in rainy environments, you might want to shop around for something with fewer windows and better rainfly coverage. Neither the Wonderland, nor the Tiger Wall are cheap. So if budget is an important factor, or if dad is just looking to dabble in the world of car camping, consider the Coleman Skydome 6. Coleman gear is nothing fancy. You can find it in practically any Walmart or Dick's Sporting Goods across the country. But it's so ubiquitous because of its rock solid reliability and reasonable prices. The Skydome 6 is nearly the same size as the Wonderland, but comes in at just $130 (or $199 if you opt for the Darkroom model). The ceiling is shorter, and the walls more angled, but if you're only using the tent to sleep in, that shouldn't be a major concern. Buy mtnGLO footprint at Big Agnes - $70Buy Wonderland 6 at REI - $599Buy Coleman Skydome 6 at Walmart - $130

Akai finally brings vinyl simulation to MPC samplers Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:08 AM PDT Akai is bringing some notable features to the MPC series, which are among the most significant samplers in the music world. The updates could help the devices better compete with products from other companies and provide existing users with a batch of useful tools. Given that MPC samplers are already widely used by hip-hop acts, the introduction of a plugin effect called AIR Flavor is significant. Akai says users will be able to add lo-fi vinyl simulation effects to any sound source. You'll be able to apply "flutter, tube saturation, distortion and more for rich, textured manipulation from 30 different timbers," according to the company. A similar vinyl sim is a big draw for Roland's SP sampler. Novation's Circuit Rhythm has such a feature too. The addition of AIR Flavor could prompt some musicians to stick with or delve into the MPC ecosystem. It's a key feature that Akai perhaps should have had long before now. The other plugin that's coming as part of MPC 2.11 is the AIR Amp Sim insert effect. It's designed to replicate the effect of a guitar amplifier and will allow users to add "sweet and crunchy distortion, EQ and tone color" to any sound source. Elsewhere, Akai will roll out another feature that should bring the MPC closer into lockstep with other modern samplers. Most other devices already offer probability and ratcheting features, which enable users to bring rolls and unpredictability to melodies and rhythms. The idea is that you'll introduce some variance to repeated beats, rhythms and melody lines. This should help add more texture to your music. The Sounds Mode brings all MPC instruments to the forefront in the browser. With the touchscreen, you'll be able to navigate and load plugin instruments and browse your presets and categories. You can save up to 256 of your favorite presets in a dedicated tab and there will be menu customization options. Also new is a one-touch tuner that should help you keep stringed instruments and analog synthesizers and modules in tune. Meanwhile, WiFi-enabled devices will support Ableton Link 3.0 to help you keep your devices in sync. MPC 2.11 will be available on June 23rd. It's free for all registered MPC hardware users.

Marshall widens the soundstage on its new home speaker lineup Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:00 AM PDT Marshall has made some seemingly minor changes for its third-generation of home speakers, but there's a hint they're angling to be a soundbar competitor. The Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III have all been tweaked so the tweeters are angled outwards to provide a larger, more immersive soundstage than the forward-facing earlier models. They've also been upgraded to Bluetooth version 5.2 and we're told their builds consist of 70 percent recycled plastic and use only vegan materials, similar to what they did with the recent Emberton II and Willen models. The other major update is for the higher-end Woburn III, which gets a new HDMI input, suggesting a more inclusive role for modern media consoles. You can pre-order the Acton III ($279), Stanmore III ($379) and Woburn III ($579) starting today. These speakers are more powerful than their portable counterparts, although only the Woburn III includes a full-range driver alongside the woofer and tweeters. Interestingly, the press release appears to show that while the Acton III and Stanmore III gained 5Hz in low-end (50Hz to 45Hz) over the previous models, the Woburn III lost 5Hz (30Hz to 35Hz).  On the exterior, there are plenty of physical controls to be found, although little has changed since the previous generation except for the addition of a previous and next function to the play/pause button. A 3.5mm aux input can be found on the top panel of all models, with the Stanmore III and Woburn III have RCA inputs on the back. While only the Woburn III includes an HDMI input next to the RCA port. As for the wider soundstage, it can definitely be useful when you have a single speaker for your room, especially if you plan to use it as a soundbar for your viewing and listening pleasure. (Although the company stated their speakers aren't necessarily built for TV listening, but rather more specifically for music.) Marshall also notes that there's a Placement Compensation feature to correct for nearby reflective surfaces that can affect sound output, and a built-in Dynamic Loudness feature to keep things sounding good at all volumes. To be clear, this third-generation update of Marshall's "home" lineup doesn't include any smart features and only supports Bluetooth or hardwired connections (3.5mm, RCA, HDMI depending on the model). Smart speaker functionality is currently exclusive to the smaller Uxbridge models with WiFi support and Google Assistant or Alexa. The updated lineup also doesn't include batteries or IP ratings, since they're built for indoor use and we assume are expected to be placed in static locations… like your media console. While these aren't purpose built as soundbars, I imagine they'll do well in this regard. The Woburn III with its HDMI input supports ARC and the overall dynamic range and instrument separation that makes Marshall's sound unique also works well for TV listening. Plus, there's a Night Mode feature to help keep the volume at a normal level and will reduce spikes in volume like explosions or gunshots. One feature I like on the home models that was lacking on the Bluetooth portables is the inclusion of LED highlights on the physical controls, which helps you see them in low light. This isn't new, but a notable feature nonetheless. The home speakers were also early adopters of the Marshall Bluetooth app, and that continues with these new models, letting you adjust EQs, wake or sleep the devices and also get OTA (over the air) updates. The new Stack Mode feature launched with the Emberton II and Willen isn't present for these speakers, although given their use-case, it seems of little importance. Although I haven't heard this new lineup, the spec lists seem to place the portable Tufton model ($450) that we liked so much in the same range as the Stanmore III, if not slightly ahead given it includes a full-range speaker in the mix along with its higher price tag. That means, while you may not be able to carry these new models around, they'll likely provide a more robust output to compensate. The Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III and Woburn III are all available for pre-order today and should be regularly available to order and ship around June 23rd.

White House proposes standards for national EV charging network Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:41 AM PDT The White House now wants to set minimum requirements for its planned national EV charging network, The Biden administration has proposed standards for chargers funded under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program to ensure they're "convenient, affordable, reliable and accessible" for a wide variety of drivers and vehicles. Ideally, you won't have to worry about completing a cross-country trip. The standards would require that stations offer enough ports to fast-charge four EVs simultaneously at 150kW or higher, and use the CCS plug often found at universal chargers. The chargers would have to be functional at least 97 percent of the time, with a skilled workforce to keep them maintained. You also wouldn't have to worry about how you'll pay. There would be "similar" payment systems, and station operators couldn't require a membership. Common data standards would ensure real-time charge status regardless of your EV model. President Biden is using NEVI to help states build 500,000 chargers by 2030, and hopes the program will spur EV adoption to the point where 50 percent of new vehicle sales are electric by 2030. The standards could play a key role in this — you might be more likely to buy an EV if you know you can charge quickly, without waiting in long queues. There are limitations. The proposal wouldn't cover chargers outside of NEVI, of course, so you'd still have to watch out for slow or cumbersome stations. It's also unclear how well the charging specs would hold up over time. While a minimum of four 150kW ports may sound adequate now, that might not remain true by 2030 — Tesla already has 250kW Superchargers, and there's still the possibility that EV sales could outpace charger installations. If the standards take effect, though, you'll at least have a baseline you can use to plan your routes.

The best home entertainment gift ideas for dad Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:15 AM PDT Parents of young kids just need a break. Even before the pandemic, it was tough to run out to the movies, since that involves setting up a baby sitter and praying nothing goes wrong in the middle of your night out. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to help new dads (and moms) build out their home entertainment options. And it's even easier if you're aiming to find gifts for someone who hasn't already nerded out on A/V gear. Sonos Beam Sonos There are plenty of soundbars out there, but few are as versatile as the Sonos Beam. It's a sleek box that'll instantly upgrade any TV with expansive and detailed sound. But, it's also a smart speaker with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. That makes it a viable alternative to devices like the Echo. Being able to shout "Play some Sesame Street songs!" comes in really handy for new parents. Trust me. Buy Beam at Sonos - $449 Roku Streaming Stick+ Roku These days, it's almost impossible to buy a dumb TV without any internet connectivity or streaming apps. But for folks who have older sets, especially those relegated to bedrooms, a streaming stick like Roku's could change their lives. It offers the company's full suite of apps, excellent 4K and HDR performance, and it's surprisingly inexpensive. And once we can start traveling again, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is great to bring on vacation, so you're never too far from your binge-watch queue. We still love the original model, but if you spring for the newer Streaming Stick 4K+, you'll get longer-range WiFi and an updated voice remote. Buy Roku Streaming Stick+ at Amazon - $50 Apple TV 4K (2021) Apple The Apple TV 4K finally gets the update it needed this year — and best of all, it has a larger Siri remote with a more responsive, touch-enabled clickpad. It's a solid gift for anyone already embedded in the iOS ecosystem. This latest model also features Apple's A12 Bionic chip, which offers faster video decoding and support for Dolby Vision HDR at higher frame rates. And if you know someone who already has the previous Apple TV 4K, you can always gift them the new Siri remote separately for $59. Buy Apple TV 4K at Amazon - $179 55-inch LG C1 OLED TV LG If your dad (or anyone else) is in desperate need of a living room TV upgrade, then you can't go wrong with LG's award-winning OLED TV from last year. It has incredible picture quality and a long list of features that will keep it current even when you plug in a new-gen game console. The best part? For as long as the CX is still available, you'll be able to find some good deals, with prices almost as low as they've ever been since these TVs debuted. This one normally costs $1,500, but you can often find it for as low as $1,100. Don't wait. Buy 55-inch LC CX OLED at Amazon - $1,500 Sony WH-1000XM4 Sony If your dad just needs to spend time with an audio book or some music, then a pair of noise-cancelling headphones are a good match and this Sony model provides some of the best technology around. The XM4 can connect to multiple devices at the same time, so it will work with dad's phone and computer without constantly needing to re-pair and cause more hassle. One of the few knocks we could find on the XM4s during our review was their high price, which has dropped noticeably since their release. They have a good fit, and can automatically pause when the wearer starts talking — he'll appreciate that. And if you want to spring for a splurge gifts this year, you could get him the new WH-1000XM5, which add a new design and improved noise cancellation to all of the existing features found on the XM4. Buy WH-1000XM4 at Amazon - $348Buy WH-1000XM5 at Amazon - $398 PlayStation 5 Media Remote Sony If your entertainment runs through a game console, and dad just wants to kick back to watch a game or some Blu-ray discs, then he'll appreciate navigating things with a remote instead of a gamepad. The PS5 Media Remote matches your console aesthetically, and includes shortcut buttons for several popular apps. Plus, its batteries will last longer than the one in a DualSense so it will always be ready to go. Your biggest problem could be probably finding one in stock, although if you managed to snag the console then we think you'll be able to figure this out too. For Xbox owners, the PDP Media remote works for systems from the One through the new Series X/S. Instead of shortcut keys it includes a fairly standard universal remote setup so that there's not a lot of re-learning involved. Buy PS5 Media Remote at Amazon - $29 Philips Hue White + Color Starter Kit Philips Whether the house is already leaning into automation or not, this starter kit of Philips Hue White and Color lights should be a good fit. It comes with three bulbs that can glow in millions of colors, as well as a button for easy manual control and a Hue bridge. The latter will be important if dad eventually wants to add to its lighting system as it supports up to 50 connected lights. He'll be able to control his lights from anywhere using the companion mobile app, set schedules and routines and use Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri commands to change the lighting in the house as he sees fit. That means it'll be easier than ever for dad to get the right ambiance for his next movie night. Buy Philips Hue starter kit at Amazon - $180 BenQ HT2050AA projector BenQ For the biggest and best screen possible, you'll always want a projector. The BenQ HT2050A is as good of an option as you'll find, and your dad can brag about how much of a deal it was at just $750. What this 1080p projector lacks in resolution and dynamic range it more than makes up for in value, and is a perfect choice to get someone started on live the projector lifestyle. Just find a blank wall and pop this on a table for an incredible movie or game night with a few vaccinated friends. A proper projection screen, blackout shades and seating upgrades are follow-up gifts that everyone will get to use. Buy BenQ HT2050AA at B&H Photo - $749 Panasonic UB420 4K Blu-ray player Panasonic Blu-rays and DVDs aren't dead yet. For the true cinephile in your life, consider a 4K Blu-ray player like Panasonic's UB420. It'll playback UHD discs at full resolution, and it includes support for HDR and HDR10+. While many 4K Bluray owners rely on their gaming consoles, having a dedicated player is a major upgrade in terms of speed and usability. (Plus, it's just a pain to control movies with a gamepad.) As a bonus, you'll also be able to play back your older discs at an upscaled resolution. Sure, it costs a bit more than typical Blu-ray players, but it's a worthwhile gift for anyone who cares about the quality of their films. If you're on a tight budget, consider a Blu-ray player like the Sony S6700. It can upscale HD and DVD video to 4K, and it also has its own suite of streaming apps. Best of all, it's pretty compact, so it won't take up much room on your TV stand. Buy Panasonic UB420 at Amazon - $218Buy Sony S6700 at Amazon - $98 Movies Engadget The Matrix 4K Blu-ray trilogy No, we won't ever stop loving The Matrix. And the series looks better than ever with its 4K Blu-ray remaster, which fixes some egregious errors from the original Blu-ray release. Whatever you think of the sequels, The Matrix fundamentally reshaped action and science-fiction in Hollywood — mostly for the better. Thanks to a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack, the films also sound more immersive than ever. And really, what better gift is there for new dads than a series that wrestles with the nature of humanity? Bringing a new life into the world certainly gets you thinking, especially when the eventual outcome for civilization sometimes seems grim. Buy The Matrix Blu-ray set at Amazon - $71 Mission: Impossible 4K Blu-ray set While this box set is several years old, it's a worthy addition for any new dad's collection. Somehow, Tom Cruise willed the classic spy series back to life and has managed to keep it fresh and energetic over the past few decades. (I'll defend Mission: Impossible 2 as a staggering work of action opera any day, just come at me.) Consider them the ultimate dad movies: Stories about people who are great at their jobs, and almost always right in the face of insurmountable odds. Buy Mission: Impossible Blu-ray set at Amazon - $84 Planet Earth II / Blue Planet II Planet Earth II was the best example of 4K HDR we'd ever seen when it was released in 2017. Several years later, it still looks better than most 4K films. This combo set makes a great gift, since it also includes the sumptuous Blue Planet II, which focuses more on marine life. Dads will appreciate the incredible footage and soothing narration. Both series will also make you feel connected to the circle of life, which you can't help but be a part of when holding a child in your arms. Buy Planet Earth II / Blue Planet II combo set at Amazon - $70

Dell unveils a slimmer XPS 13 and a detachable 2-in-1 Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:00 AM PDT While all eyes are on the flashy new XPS 13 Plus, Dell hasn't forgotten about its mainstay premium ultraportable or its convertible cousin. This year, the XPS 13 been redesigned to be slimmer and more power efficient. The XPS 13 2-in-1, meanwhile, has been transformed from a foldable laptop into a detachable Surface competitor. Both are being positioned to make room for their new family member—if you want power, you'll want the XPS 13 Plus with its beefy 28-watt CPU. But if portability matters more to you, then the XPS 13 and XPS 13 2-in-1 may be more appealing. Here's how you can tell Dell is thinking of the XPS 13 differently: It's now running 9-watt 12th-gen Intel processors, whereas last year's model was powered by 15-watt 11th-gen chips. According to Dell, you can get the new CPU to run at 12-watts in performance mode, which gives you the same performance as the previous processors. While we haven't tested the XPS 13, that claim makes sense given the massive performance gains we've seen from Intel's new hybrid processor design, which rely on a combination of high-power and high-efficiency cores. Dell also managed to craft a motherboard that's 1.8x smaller than last year's model. (Notably, it's also the most compact motherboard the company has ever created.) The new setup is so efficient, it only needs a single fan to cool the entire system, down from the two fans in last year's model. Dell tells us that fan could be noisier than before when it's running at full blast, but for typical usage it'll be quieter. On top of generating less heat, having more internal space gave Dell room to throw in larger speaker enclosures, as well as a bigger battery (now rated at 12 hours of juice). Comparing motherboards: XPS 13 2021 (left) vs 2022 (right). Dell While the XPS 13 looks similar to last year's model, there are some notable changes. Now its keyboard is surrounded with the same tinted metal as the outside of the case—no more carbon fiber or woven glass. And, unfortunately, it also loses the headphone jack just like the XPS 13 Plus. There's a USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter in the box, but that will also take up one of the machine's two USB-C ports. As with most ultraportables, if you want to get real work done, you'll probably need to invest in a mini-hub. As a fan of Dell's previous XPS 13 2-in-1 notebooks, I'm also intrigued to see how the company tries to tackle a premium detachable, especially after the failure of the XPS 12. The new 2-in-1 sports a 13-inch screen, is powered by 12th-gen Intel chips and, notably, it's also Dell's first PC with built-in 5G. At 1.6 pounds (for the Wi-Fi model) or 1.8 pounds (for the 5G), the 2-in-1 tablet also weighs less than the 1.96-pound Surface Pro 8. Dell Unfortunately, Dell also appears to be taking the wrong lessons from Microsoft, as its XPS Folio keyboard accessory will be sold separately. That case looks compelling, at least, with three angles of screen adjustability and a borderless keyboard with 1 millimeter of travel. It also won't lead to a heavy convertible PC, since it weighs 1.2 pounds on its own. Additionally, there's a new XPS Stylus to go alongside the tablet, but of course it's also sold separately. The new XPS 13 is available today starting at $999. You'll have to wait until this summer to nab the latest XPS 13 2-in-1, and we're still not sure how much it (or its accessories) will cost.

Amazon's AR try-ons can show how shoes look, but not how they fit Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:00 AM PDT Amazon already uses augmented reality to help you try hair colors and makeup, and now it's extending that technology to your feet. The company has launched a Virtual Try-On for Shoes feature in its mobile app that helps you visualize footwear. Tap a button on the product page, point your phone camera toward your feet and you'll see how the shoes would look in a more realistic setting. You can switch colors for a given style without having to leave the AR mode, and share images with friends to see if they like your choices. The feature is initially available only for iOS users (Android is coming "soon") in the US and Canada. The early selection is limited to runners and other casual shoes from several major brands, including Adidas, Asics, Lacoste, New Balance, Puma, Reebok, Saucony and Superga. Nike is conspicuously absent. And no, you can't yet use this for dress shoes — this won't help you find a perfect set of heels. The new Virtual Try-On won't tell you whether or not shoes are comfortable, which might put you off. What's the point of finding a sweet style if it pinches your toes? With that said, the tool could still be useful for online shopping expeditions. If you know your shoe preferences, you might just find your ideal pair without visiting a host of local stores or putting all your trust in product photos.

'WebCrow 2.0' AI can solve crosswords in two languages Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:00 AM PDT Crossword puzzles aren't always easy to solve even for the most avid human fans, and they also remain one of the most challenging areas in artificial intelligence. Now, the University of Siena in Italy and expert.ai have a launched an AI software called WebCrow 2.0 that can solve crossword puzzles not just in English, but also in Italian. WebCrow 2.0 uses natural language processing technology to understand a puzzle's clues like a human player would.  That's trickier than it sounds, seeing as the same word could mean totally different things based on context, and crossword puzzle clues could contain a play on words. The answer for the clue "liquid that does not stick," for instance, is "scotch," which alludes to Scotch tape. Expert.ai's knowledge graph also gives it the reasoning power to find the correct meaning of words. Plus, the AI derives information from previously solved puzzles and its self-updating web knowledge to find the correct answer. Last year, an AI called Dr. Fill outscored most of the best human competitors at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. While it's performance wasn't flawless — it did make three mistakes and was thwarted by a phonetically themed puzzle in one instance — Dr. Fill could solve puzzles faster than any human competitor. From July 18th through the 23rd, the creators of WebCrow 2.0 are also pitting their AI against human players. It will be a multilingual competition featuring previously unpublished crosswords in English and Italian and will demonstrate how good the AI actually is. Marco Gori, a professor for University of Siena's Department of Information Engineering and Mathematical Sciences said:  "Can machines solve these as well as humans? How do they compare definitions and answer clues with niche or abstract references? Can they pick up on plays on words, linguistic nuances and even humor? We're ready to demonstrate how leveraging context can enable humans and software to work together and take AI-based cognitive abilities to new levels"

‘Strange New Worlds’ takes a big swing toward something profound Posted: 09 Jun 2022 06:00 AM PDT The following article discusses spoilers for Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach, and topics of a sensitive nature. Last week, Strange New Worlds hit something of a groove with a lightweight comedy episode that showed how well this show can work. This week, it takes a hard turn toward the weighty, with an episode that tries to cover a whole host of stuff in its 50-minute runtime. In some ways, this feels like the most The Next Generation thing Star Trek has put out since 1994. In others, it feels like the show tripped backwards and landed on something deeply profound by accident. We open on Pike in pensive mode as the USS Enterprise heads to the Majalan System to run a stellar survey. He's been this way before, on an unseen rough-and-tumble adventure back when he was a lieutenant, and he's hoping for an easier ride this time around. No such luck, as just as the ship arrives, it's thrust into a low-stakes battle between two small vessels, one of which starts firing on the Enterprise itself. That forces Pike to intervene, rescuing three people from one of the ships: A child with the title The First Servant, a prickly doctor who is also the First Servant's father and Elora, a noblewoman Pike met on his last visit. The ship came under attack because it was carrying the First Servant, who is about to "ascend" and achieve some great destiny for his people. He's sufficiently special that he's been implanted with a special perpetual-healing device to protect him from injury. But what's obvious, from a few minutes into the episode, is that neither of the adults want to talk about why the kid is special, or what his grand ascension ceremony is going to entail, beyond the fact that the entire civilization will collapse unless it takes place, pronto. In my notes, I wrote "I bet they're planning on eating the Dalai Lama kid," because this whole plot felt like a throwback to a less TV-literate age. Unfortunately, Pike seems to have left his brain in his other pants as soon as he realizes that there was mutual affection between him and Elora. In fact, as soon as Pike realizes that he's on track to Get Some, he becomes quite petulant when his subordinates try to drag him away to try to further the episode's narrative. And that's despite the fact that Elora is the most Character With Something Dark To Hide character you'll see on television this year. All the while, La'an and Uhura, this week on the security portion of her apprenticeship, try to work out what exactly is going on. Of course, that perpetual-healing machine piques the interest of Dr. M'Benga, who wonders if such technology could be used to heal his own daughter. Sadly, the doctor brushes off the request for help, saying that it would be impossible for the Majalans to share their technology. The kid's also something of a child prodigy, and based on nothing more than a half-overhead conversation about a sick child, he's managed to bust Rukiya out of the transporter buffer. At this point, I can't work out if her presence onboard is meant to be a secret or not, since it seems like a random child from an alien culture can figure out she's there in about thirty seconds. (Pike, too, later in the episode, is tempted with an offer to get his own future fixed with their magical medical technology.) Unfortunately, the next section of the plot is mostly throat-clearing and runarounds as Pike uncovers some sort of conspiracy. The hows and whys of the conspiracy aren't really clear, and the only real point is to have a laser stick fight/chase scene through what looks like the grounds of Toronto's Casa Loma museum. You can feel the show spinning its wheels while we get to the inevitable conclusion. Pike rescues the kid and hands him over to the Majalans, who promptly plug him into a supercomputer that "kills" him. This, somehow, is the key to keeping their society, which floats on suspended islands above the clouds, much like Columbia from Bioshock Infinite, from falling into the lava below. (Why? Don't ask questions, it just does.) Marni Grossman / Paramount Pike does try to stop it happening, but gets enough of a beatdown to watch as the kid gets wired up. It's a pretty disturbing scene and as close to horror as Star Trek has gotten for a while, since the child realizes too late that it's going to lead to his untimely end. Elora, in response to Pike's objection, then goes on a rant about having the courage to sacrifice one child for the greater good. I'll quote her response in full: "Can you honestly say that no child suffers for the benefit of your Federation? That no child lives in poverty, or squalor, while those who enjoy abundance look away? The only difference is that we don't look away." Now, it was these lines that threw me, only because it's clearly meant to be a say-the-quiet-part-out-loud statement about the US. But while the Federation is meant to be some allegorical mash-up of the Western World at large, it's also meant to represent a utopian version of that. In the 23rd century, the Federation had the ability to synthesize food, clothing and other materials pretty darn easily. In Discovery's first season, Burnham uses food and clothing synthesizers to produce a delicious meal and new uniform pretty much on demand. Which means that, while the Star Trek of Pike's day wasn't the post-scarcity economy of The Next Generation, the idea that people would go hungry and live in squalor feels… off. I don't want to be that guy, but did any of the show's nine thousand producers read Trekonomics? Here's the thing, while the meat of the episode isn't particularly meaty, the topics it covers are fairly profound. One of Star Trek's most famous philosophical tenets is that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. This form of Utilitarianism is upheld as a noble goal within the spirit of the Federation (except, of course, when Leonard Nimoy fancies a shot at directing and so decides / agrees to resurrect Spock, but let's not talk about that now). Then again, it's hard to see how a kid, even a bright one, can be emotionally and mentally mature enough to consent to such a grizzly demise. Then there's the fact that Pike loses, and is essentially powerless to do much of anything to "correct" what went on here. He can file a report to the Federation and lodge his objection to what went on, but there's little anyone can actually do. And that raises another interesting point, since Star Trek can be read as an essentially colonialist text, one in which a group of people with Western values venture out to "civilize" the "wilderness." If Pike had stormed back, phasers blasting, to rescue the First Servant, it might have made for good TV, but is it morally and ethically right for one group to impose its will upon others under force of arms? (Longtime Trek fans will probably have spotted the handful of nods to the early TNG episode "Symbiosis" which covered similar ground. I won't spoil it for you, but that too posed the question of how much you can, or should, interfere when you find one group of people taking advantage of another. Late '80s Just Say No moralizing aside, it does manage to reach a satisfying conclusion and keep within the rules of how the Prime Directive prevents the Federation from simply imposing its order upon the rest of the universe.) But no matter how hamfistedly the show might be gesturing toward these sorts of problems, it is at least gesturing toward them. The thing that is working about Strange New Worlds is that it's working to provoke you to think, and dwell upon your own moral and intellectual values. And it's worth asking yourself, too, what you would be prepared to do to prevent this form of moral injustice in the world we live in today. And that, my friends, is the power of good sci-fi.

Apple's AirTag is back down to a record low on Amazon Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:40 AM PDT While the four-pack of AirTags has been on sale for some time now, it's been a while since we've seen one AirTag go on sale. Now, Amazon's brought back the record-low price on a single pack, so you can grab one AirTag for only $24. That's $5 off its normal price — that may not seem like much, but it's a decent deal on an already affordable accessory. Buy AirTag at Amazon - $24Buy AirTags (4 pack) at Amazon - $89 If you're unfamiliar, AirTags allow iPhone users to keep track of their things from within the Find My app. Much like AirPods, AirTags seamlessly pair with iPhones as soon as you take them out of the box, and from there you can label what the tracker is attached to like your keys, wallet or backpack. A big downside to AirTags when compared to competing trackers like those from Tile is that Apple's devices don't have built in keyring holes. That means you'll have to buy a case or holder if you want to attach it to your keys. After a quick setup process, you'll be able to check the Find My app whenever you need to locate your stuff. AirTags can also emit a chime if you're nearby, which should help you find your lost things a bit more easily. And if you have one of the latest iPhones, the Precision Finding feature can lead you directly to your stuff using on-screen instructions. Bluetooth trackers like these may not be as essential as your smartphone or even a smartwatch that you've grown attached to, but they will come in handy on the rare occasion that you misplace your belongings. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Xbox Game Pass comes to new Samsung smart TVs on June 30th Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:00 AM PDT Xbox has been talking about bringing the Game Pass Ultimate library to smart TVs for at least a year, and it's finally happening in 2022. The Xbox app will hit this year's lineup of Samsung smart TVs and monitors on June 30th, allowing Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to play titles from the cloud with no additional hardware, aside from a Bluetooth-connected gamepad. Even a PlayStation controller will do the trick. Some 2022 Samsung smart TV models already support game-streaming services including Google Stadia and NVIDIA's GeForce Now. Samsung launched a new Gaming Hub for its TVs in January, putting these cloud services front-and-center, and the Xbox app is set to join them. Xbox is one of the biggest forces in cloud gaming, with more than 25 million Game Pass subscribers – though not all of these are at the Ultimate tier, which unlocks streaming capabilities. The Game Pass Ultimate library has hundreds of games available to stream and Xbox has made it a point to release its big first-party titles on the service on day one. On Samsung devices, the Xbox app will support Bluetooth headsets and gamepads including the Xbox Wireless Controller, and PlayStation's DualShock 4 and DualSense. There's no update for now on the dedicated streaming device that Xbox said it was working on last year alongside the smart TV app. Xbox Xbox has more big plans for Game Pass in the coming months. Later this year, the company plans to add the ability for Ultimate subscribers to stream select games that they purchase outside of the Game Pass library. It's unclear exactly how this will break down – it likely applies to titles that leave the Game Pass catalog but remain in the Xbox ecosystem, but it could include games from third-party distributors. In response to a request for clarification, an Xbox spokesperson said, "Later this year, it's our intent to roll out the ability for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play select games from the cloud that you already own or purchase outside the Xbox Game Pass library. We'll have more to share on the specific games that will be supported via Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) over the next year." Xbox is bringing cloud gaming to two new countries, Argentina and New Zealand, on June 9th. This includes access to the Xbox streaming library and Fortnite. Xbox partnered with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to Xbox Cloud Gaming in May, and it's available to play there for free without a subscription. At the time, Xbox said it was interested in adding other free-to-play titles to its cloud network. Over the coming year or so, Xbox plans to test out a system that allows for multiple profiles to play at the same time under a single Game Pass subscription. That'll be tested in Colombia and Ireland, and Xbox executives are positioning it as a "potential addition" to Game Pass. Xbox Finally, game demos are on their way to Game Pass. Within the next year, Xbox will start rolling out curated, bite-sized bits of upcoming games in Game Pass, allowing subscribers to test these titles for free and provide feedback to developers. The program will focus on independent titles at first, and Xbox said developers will be compensated for participating, meaning all the work that goes into building a demo won't go unfunded. The demo program is called Project Moorcroft. There's no word on if a Minecraft Project Moorcroft demo will ever drop, but it's fun to say that regardless. Time-limited, free game demos are one of the perks of the new PlayStation Plus subscription service, which will be competing directly with Game Pass. The new PS Plus goes live on June 13th and its most expensive tier, Premium, includes access to about 700 games in the PS Now library, plus cloud play for some games from past PlayStation eras. Sony's subscription plan doesn't support native streaming on mobile devices, as Xbox's does, and it won't include any new, first-party games at launch. Sony received negative press in April after reports surfaced that the studio was making it mandatory for developers of certain games to build and release two-hour demos for PlayStation Plus Premium, with no apparent plans to compensate them for the work. Xbox, of course, made sure to highlight its plans to pay developers for building demos.

NASA’s James Webb telescope gets hit by a micrometeroid Posted: 09 Jun 2022 04:35 AM PDT Astronomers everywhere have high hopes for NASA's James Webb telescope. It's supposed to give us an insight into the first stars and galaxies that ever formed and into the atmospheres of potentially habitable exoplanets. That is why NASA and its partners had engineered it to be able to withstand harsh situations, such as being bombarded by micrometeroids flying at extremely high velocities. Between May 23rd and May 25th, a micrometeoroid that's larger than expected hit one of the telescope's primary mirror segments. The event was significant enough for NASA to pick up a "marginally detectable effect in the data," but not enough to affect the telescope's performance.  In NASA's announcement, it said that the James Webb team performed an initial analysis and found that it still performs at a level that "exceeds all mission requirements." The space agency explained that its engineers relied on simulations and did actual test impacts on mirror samples when it was building the telescope to make sure it was adequately fortified. For instance, the telescope's flight teams can perform maneuvers to turn its optics away from known meteor showers. The recent impact it sustained was classified as an unavoidable chance event, though, and the micrometeoroid was larger than what engineers could have tested on the ground.  The good news is that James Webb has the capability to adjust mirror positions in order to correct and minimize the results of impacts like this. Its engineers have already made the first of several adjustments to make up for the damage on the affected segment. The agency has also formed a team of engineers to look into ways to mitigate effects of hits this scale in the future. Seeing as James Webb is meant to be Hubble's replacement and is expected to provide us invaluable data over the next 10 years — or 20, if everything goes well — NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency will most likely do the best they can to protect the space telescope.  Lee Feinberg, Webb optical telescope element manager at NASA Goddard, said: "With Webb's mirrors exposed to space, we expected that occasional micrometeoroid impacts would gracefully degrade telescope performance over time. Since launch, we have had four smaller measurable micrometeoroid strikes that were consistent with expectations and this one more recently that is larger than our degradation predictions assumed. We will use this flight data to update our analysis of performance over time and also develop operational approaches to assure we maximize the imaging performance of Webb to the best extent possible for many years to come."

The Morning After: Nothing prepares to show off its first phone Posted: 09 Jun 2022 04:15 AM PDT Nothing, the company led by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, will announce the phone (1), its first phone, on July 12th, 2022. Rumors about a Nothing-branded phone are as old as the company itself, and there were reports Pei was showing off a prototype back at Mobile World Congress. The company has already teased that the handset will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and a custom version of Android that highlights the operating system's "best features." Pei made his name with OnePlus, making affordable phones for Android diehards with high-end specs. But the economics of the mobile industry has moved on and so has OnePlus, merging with stablemate Oppo to become a mainstream brand. It'll be interesting, therefore, to see what Pei has planned to set Nothing apart from the rest of the industry. And if he's got the power to achieve this feat a second time after making such a big splash the first time around. — Daniel Cooper The biggest stories you might have missed 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II' is actually all about 'Warzone 2.0' AI trained on 4chan's most hateful board is just as toxic as you'd expect Google developer Emma Haruka Iwao has calculated Pi to 100 trillion digits Razer's Kishi V2 mobile gamepad has improved switches Scientists 3D-print a functional piece of a heart Disney's big holiday movie will skip French theaters in release window protest 'Strange World' will instead debut on Disney+. Disney has announced it won't be exhibiting its next big animated movie, Strange World, in French cinemas. This is in protest of the country's fairly strict rules for how and when movies can be broadcast once they're done in theaters. The complex rules, which were recently tweaked, essentially mean if Disney had put Strange World into cinemas, it wouldn't be able to properly add it to Disney+ for the better part of two years. Instead, it'll just bypass theaters (and the rules) to go straight to the streaming platform. That could be a problem for France's movie theater industry, which relies on the big money Disney movies bring in for a hefty chunk of their revenue. Continue Reading. 'Stray' preview: Because you're a cat Escape the city, reunite with your family, knock over as many things as you can. BlueTwelve Studio Do you like cats and wish you could roleplay as one while still working through a dystopian action puzzler? Well, Stray is a new PlayStation and PC title launching on July 19th. You play from a feline point of view, as a small orange tabby trying to escape a futuristic city. But rather than an efficient departure, you scratch at walls, knock stuff over and generally behave… as a cat. That you can interrupt two robots' playing a board game and they just find you adorable speaks volumes. Continue Reading. HoloLens chief Alex Kipman is leaving Microsoft following allegations of misconduct The HoloLens group will now be split into separate hardware and software teams. Alex Kipman is leaving his role as head of Microsoft's HoloLens project after allegations of misconduct published by Insider. Kipman reportedly engaged in inappropriate touching and comments toward female employees. Following his departure, Microsoft is splitting the HoloLens team in two, with the hardware group now reporting to Windows + Devices chief Panos Panay. Software developers on the project, meanwhile, will report to Experiences + Devices head Jeff Teper. Continue Reading. The best gifts for Dad under $50 As well as the best gifts for the photography dad in your life. Engadget Our enormous virtual shopping spree through the world of Father's Day continues with two new guides for 2022. The first is a list of little trinkets you can get to celebrate whoever filled the role of father in your life, all of which are under $50. If, however, your parent is the sort of person who talks about what "gear" they're "shooting on" to random strangers, then our photography gift guide should be your first destination. Continue Reading. Twitter will reportedly give its full data stream to Elon Musk You want data? We'll give you data. It's another installment in the saga between Twitter and the person who really doesn't want to buy it but signed a contract saying he would. Elon Musk said Twitter has failed to give him enough data to understand the platform's bot and fake account problem. Twitter says it has, but in response to the new charge has reportedly decided to give Musk access to the "firehose," the stream of raw data that includes details on more than 500 million tweets posted to the service every day. In many ways, it's the most spitefully clever thing Twitter can do, burying Musk in so much data it can't be accused of hiding anything. Although I don't know if Twitter users will be thrilled to know how much of their information has been handed over to the meme-happy billionaire. Continue Reading.

Apple's Mac Mini falls back to an all-time low of $570 Posted: 09 Jun 2022 02:53 AM PDT The Mac Mini is already the most cost-effective way to get an M1-based Apple computer and right now, you can get an even better deal on one. Amazon has the 2020 Mac Mini M1 (with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage) on sale for $570 via a $99 checkout discount, matching the lowest price we've seen to date.  Buy Mac Mini M1 at Amazon - $570 The Mini comes with an eight-core CPU, eight-core GPU, one more than you'll find in the base Air M1. It also packs a 16-core Neural Engine, so you can expect speedy performance, high energy efficiency and nearly instant wake times. It should provide enough power for most users, even content creators and it can even handle some gaming as well. The exterior design of the Mac Mini is largely unchanged from the Intel model and that's a good thing. The small silver box will fit into nearly any desk setup without taking up too much space and it has a number of ports including two Thunderbolt connectors, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet connector and a headphone jack.  Our biggest issue with the machine is its lack of upgradeability, as the RAM and SSD are soldered in place. If you can live with that, the Mac Mini M1 remains a good option for anyone in need of an updated, powerful desktop. It's best to act quickly though, as Apple deals often don't last long on Amazon. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Watch Netflix's 'Cyberpunk 2077' anime series trailer Posted: 09 Jun 2022 01:52 AM PDT Netflix and CD Projekt Red have unveiled the first trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, their anime series based on Cyberpunk 2077. The companies first announced the project back in 2020 and have been developing it since 2018. The 10-episode story revolves around a street kid turned mercenary edgerunner and is set in Night City, "a technology and body modification-obsessed city of the future," the description reads. CD Projekt Red is producing the project with showrunner Rafal Jaki (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Cyberpunk 2077), but the animation is being done by Japan-based company Studio Trigger.  Studio Trigger is known for its wild anime designs and "raucous" storytelling with projects like Kill la Kill and Promare, and Edgerunners looks like it falls solidly into that category. It'll be directed by Studio Trigger founder Hiroyuki Imaishi, with Hiromi Wakabayashi doing character design. The original score will be composed by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill series). It's set to launch in September.

Microsoft drops non-compete clauses and NDAs from employee settlements Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:55 AM PDT Microsoft has announced a handful of significant changes for employee contracts and agreements that would scrap some of the most controversial workplace policies in tech. To start with, the tech giant will no longer add non-compete clauses in its contracts for employees in the US and will not enforce it for most of its current staff. Only employees in senior leadership roles, such as partners and executives, will have to sign and comply with non-compete agreements. That means most employees in the US will be free to look for jobs with other companies considered as Microsoft competitors, such as Google. "While our existing employee agreements have noncompete obligations, we do not endorse the use of such provisions as a retention tool. We have heard concerns that the noncompetition clauses in some U.S. employee agreements, even when rarely and reasonably enforced, feel at odds with our talent principles," Microsoft explained in its announcement. The company is also ending another controversial practice: Having workers sign agreements with non-disclosure clauses when resolving disputes and providing separation benefits. Historically, NDAs have prevented workers from talking about instances of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. By preventing them from talking, it keeps them from connecting with other employees who may have the same experiences and from banding together to demand real change from the company.  As GeekWire notes, Microsoft may have no choice but to implement this change anyway. A new law that makes it illegal for companies to ban workers from talking about "acts of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and sexual assault" is set to take effect in the Washington state, where Microsoft is based, this week. Microsoft is also increasing pay transparency by publicly disclosing salary ranges in all of its job postings across the US starting in January 2023. Finally, it will go through a civil rights audit that would examine its workplace policies and practices as conducted by a third party. It has committed to complete the audit by fiscal year 2023 and to publish a report of its results.

TikTok adds new screen time controls to remind users to take breaks Posted: 09 Jun 2022 12:01 AM PDT TikTok is rolling out more screen time controls to help users manage how much time they are spending in the app. With the change, the company is adding a new in-app dashboard that will more closely track how long people are spending in the app. The dashboard will show statistics like how much time you spend in the app, when you sue the app most and how often it's opened. Additionally, TikTok users will now be able to set screen time limits for how long they can use the app in any one sitting. Previously, the the app has offered screen time controls that time out after a designated daily limit. But with the new setting users can, for example, opt to have the app remind them to "take a break" if they have had it open for an extended period of time. TikTok The changes come as TikTok and its peers have faced questions about their apps' impact on teens. Earlier this year, lawmakers in the Senate introduced a bill that would increase the study of social media addiction in an effort to put up more "guardrails" to protect younger users. Notably, TikTok now says it's introducing additional screen time restrictions for teens between the ages of 13 and 17. Teens will now see weekly "digital well-being prompts" and get additional screen time reminders when they have spent more than 100 minutes in the app on a single day.

Capcom is using Stadia tech for a web-based 'Resident Evil Village' demo Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:00 PM PDT Starting today, you can stream a free demo of Resident Evil Village from Capcom's website, with no need for a fancy gaming PC, Xbox or PlayStation. The demo is similar to one that's available on other platforms, which allows players to explore parts of the village and castle. This appetizer for one of last year's biggest-selling games is powered by Immersive Stream for Games, a version of Stadia tech that Google is licensing to others. The demo will work on just about any computer, as well as iOS and Android phones and tablets, as long as the device can handle high-definition video and you have a sturdy enough internet connection (with a download speed of at least 10Mbps). It runs on Chrome on Windows, macOS and Android. On iOS, you can try it on Safari. The resolution tops out at 1080p and there's no HDR mode. PlayStation DualShock 4 and Xbox One controllers are officially supported, but other peripherals might work. Alternatively, you can use touch controls on mobile or a mouse and keyboard.  Capcom As with Stadia's click-to-play trials, there's no need to register to play the demo. It's worth noting that you'll be disconnected after 10 minutes of inactivity. There's no save function, so you'll need to restart from the beginning if you disconnect. You can play as many times as you like and there's no time limit, unlike previous versions of the demo. You can play the demo on Capcom's website if you are in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania or Hungary. Capcom is Google's second partner for Immersive Stream for Games. AT&T started offering its wireless customers free access to Batman: Arkham Asylum last October and Control: Ultimate Edition last month. Capcom seems more of a natural bedfellow, though. Back in February, Insider reported that Google was looking to secure deals with Capcom, Peloton and others to build the licensing aspect of its game-streaming business. It was suggested that Capcom might use the tech to stream demos from its website, which turned out to be the case. This could even be a precursor to Capcom running its own game streaming storefront. In other Resident Evil Village news, Capcom is bringing the game to Mac later this year. It's also working on a version for the upcoming PlayStation VR2 headset.

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