Thursday, July 21, 2022

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DALL-E's powerful AI image generator is now available in beta

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 10:10 AM PDT

You no longer have to be part of a small club to try OpenAI's clever DALL-E image generator. The consortium has launched a beta that will make DALL-E available to 1 million people from a waitlist in the weeks ahead. If you get in, you'll receive 50 free image credits in your first month and 15 every following month. Each credit offers four pictures based on one original prompt, or three if you offer an edit or variation prompt. A bundle of 115 credits is available for $15 if the freebies aren't enough.

The beta also expands the usage rights to include commercial projects. You can print the images on shirts or children's books, for instance. OpenAI will still reject DALL-E image uploads that include realistic faces, named content (like a specific person or venue) and "explicit" material, though. The consortium is still concerned that people might abuse the technology for misinformation, deepfakes and other harmful purposes. 

DALL-E garnered buzz thanks to its ability to generate eye-catching images based solely on a casual description. It doesn't require that you provide every last detail. You can also tweak certain parts of an image to achieve an intended effect. It's both a showcase for AI's potential as well as a surprisingly capable creative tool — you don't need to know the first thing about art to produce something special.

'Space Explorers: The ISS Experience' wraps up with a spacewalk filmed in VR

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 10:03 AM PDT

The final episode of Space Explorers: The ISS Experience is available starting today and it's closing things out with a bang. The four-part series, which debuted in October 2020, wraps up with the first spacewalk filmed in ultra high-resolution cinematic virtual reality. The episode, which is called "Expand," includes the arrival of a SpaceX crew on the International Space Station for the first time as well. Meanwhile, the astronauts are forced to reckon with the impact of COVID-19 back on Earth.

You can check out "Expand" on Meta Quest and Meta Quest 2 headsets for free. The other Space Explorers: The ISS Experience episodes are still available too. Meanwhile, Felix & Paul, the studio behind the series, plans to livestream the Artemis I launch in VR. The launch of an uncrewed mission to the Moon is currently slated for August 29th, September 2nd or September 5th.

DoorDash couriers will need to scan a customer’s ID before delivering alcohol

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 08:48 AM PDT

DoorDash is rolling out a new requirement for alcohol deliveries across the US. The delivery person will need to scan a customer's ID with the DoorDash app to make sure the buyer is of legal drinking age. They'll also check for signs of intoxication before handing over the booze (couriers are not allowed to deliver alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated).

The identity verification measure builds on DoorDash's existing alcohol delivery rules. You'll still need to scan your ID into the app before you can complete an order for hooch. Until now, customers only had to show their ID to the delivery person. DoorDash's goal with the scanning requirement is to make it harder for users aged under 21 to receive alcohol. DoorDash delivers alcohol in 23 states, as well as Puerto Rico, Canada and Australia.

DoorDash ID scan
DoorDash

The company tested the dual ID verification measure in several cities. It said the feature made it easier for couriers to verify the user's identity and age before giving them the order. When it comes to ensuring ID details remain secure, DoorDash says it has "implemented administrative, organizational, technical and physical security controls that are designed to safeguard personal information." According to the privacy policy, it will permanently delete biometric information that's no longer needed.

"At DoorDash, safety is a top priority and our goal is to deliver alcohol in the safest and most responsible way possible," DoorDash's general manager of alcohol Erik Ragotte said in a statement. "With today's announcement of two-step or dual ID verification, we're setting a new industry standard for responsible alcohol delivery. The new safety measures will help ensure alcohol is delivered to people over the age of 21. We will continue to innovate and find even more ways to promote responsible alcohol delivery."

Somehow, I’m playing ‘Overwatch’ again

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 08:30 AM PDT

I'm not sure what pulled me back into Overwatch. Correction: It was all Jessica Conditt's fault. Her incisive overview on the Summer Game Fest, which noted the lack of fresh updates on AAA games – those major games we're all excited about – got me thinking about which games I'm waiting to play.

One of those is Overwatch 2. Which is coming this year, has a release date and is just wrapping up its public beta. Oh, and it's completely rid of loot boxes. Rejoice!

The fact that the original Overwatch will evolve into its sequel, which will be free-to-play, rewired my brain. Before I knew it, I was back in the game's lobby waiting my turn to play as all of the popular characters (now categorized as Damage players).

I was already used to the notion that your team of heroes had to strike a balance between support (healers), Tank (damage sponges) and Damage (your, er, damage dealers). This dynamic makes for more strategic fights, even in casual match-ups. But it means I often don't get to play with some of my favorite characters.

Overwatch
Blizzard

In casual games, there seems to be a dearth in Support players, sadly. (Luckily for me, Moria is one of my go-to characters.) Hopefully, Overwatch 2 will redistribute characters across those three categories — not to mention new additions and new skills and supers. Of course, these mandatory squad layouts were one of many major changes and shifts in Overwatch since it first arrived back in 2016.

Once upon a time, the dwarfy, Torbjörn had an upgradable turret gun and threw out armor packs, Reaper had to collect little orbs of death to gain health from his kills. Symmetra, one of the relatively late additions to the game, has had her abilities and ultimates reshuffled several times. At one point, she had two ultimate options, while another changed nerfed her sentry turret down from six turrets down to three. Outrageous!

The most controversial change was made to everyone's go-to healer, Mercy. In the early stages of Overwatch, her ultimate attack would revive all KOed heroes in range. It was… rather overpowered. These days, it's a more sensible single-person revive that charges faster – but some may never get over some of these shakeups. (They should.) [Ed. note: I won't.]

There are big changes afoot in Overwatch 2, too. After weeks of playing the beta, I was relieved that many of my primary characters really haven't changed at all – at least, not yet. It's unusual to see Bastion wheeling around as a tank (and I'm now bad at playing as Bastion?), while I'm still acquainting myself with Orisa's changes, which completely shake up her playstyle (no shield?!). This will take some time. A few new skill effects are also a little hard to decipher visually. (You can check out my colleague Jessica's deeper thoughts on the beta right here.)

I maintain, despite (or thanks to) the many, many additions, that Overwatch has the most iconic character roster of a game since Street Fighter 2. Still, I don't like having to really dig for the lore and character backgrounds outside of the game to understand the motivations — or, at least, the sassy asides they say to each other. It's funny I mention SF2, because the beta feels a little like Super Street Fighter 2, which gave us four new characters, a few more locales, but didn't exactly reinvent the wheel.

The beta remains limited to standard versus matches, though you will occasionally get to test out the cute robot-tug-of-war matches every now and then. It's mostly the same Overwatch experience. The two new characters, Junker Queen and Sojourn, are both compelling additions to the roster so far (even if there are still too many Damage characters). The Junker Queen, in particular, seems to offer some intriguing new moves to shake up the competitive meta.

I'm still hoping for more beyond the base game matchups though, whether that's more cooperative set-pieces or something entirely new and different. Is that too much to ask from what will be a free-to-play game? Hopefully, Overwatch 2 will also better expand on narrative bits and pieces.

The addictive ebb-and-flow of the fights feel the same, but I wonder if Blizzard can continually evolve and expand the experience to keep me hooked this time, just like Roadhog would have wanted.

How to get the most out of Google Drive

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 08:00 AM PDT

Google Drive is an incredibly powerful tool for storing and organizing all sorts of data. And best of all, it's available to anyone with a Google account for free (at least to start). Additionally, because Drive holds all your files in the cloud, it offers some important advantages compared to stashing everything locally on your phone or PC. Drive also works on practically any device with an internet connection, which makes it easy to use at home, at school, in the office and everywhere in between.

However, if you're new to Drive, there are some important basics you should know before you transfer over all your data and files. So here's a quick rundown covering the most critical things about Google's popular cloud storage service.

Storage and pricing

Every Google Drive user gets 15GB of free storage. However, any data you have saved in Google Photos also counts towards that limit. So if you're using that to back up your pictures , you may not have a ton of room left over for documents and files. That said, you can increase your storage in Drive via a Google One subscription, which starts as low as $1.99 a month (or $20 a year) for 100GB of storage and goes up to $9.99 for 2TB of storage (or $100 a year).

By default, all Google Driver users get 15 GB of free storage. But if you want more, you'll need to pay for a Google One subscription.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

For most people, 100GB is more than enough to stash important files, work docs, and family photos. But if you're planning on using Drive as a way to backup all your data, you'll probably want to go with one of the bigger plans. The nice thing is that even though the basic $20 a year plan is relatively cheap, there are a number of ways to get additional storage for free, at least temporarily. For example, anyone who buys a new Chromebook will get 100GB of space in Drive free for a year, while customers new to Google One may get offers to test the service out with a free one-month subscription.

So before you start uploading all your files, you're going to want to figure out how much storage you need and how much that may (or may not) cost you.

Uploading, support files, and organization

Once you've figured out how much storage you need, you can begin uploading or transferring your files to Drive. For single files or data stored locally on your device, you can simply tap the New button and select the option for File or Folder upload. On a computer, you can also drag and drop files into your browser window when you are on the Drive website. Drive supports a wide variety of file types including most of the most popular formats like .JPGs, .PNGs, .GIFs, .MP3s, and more. For a full list of support file types, check out Google's official Help Center here.

After you have all your files uploaded, you can manage them just like you would locally on your phone or computer. You can create nested folders and drag and drop files from one place to another. And of course, you can look for a specific file or folder by typing in the search box, though it's important to remember that if you're storing a lot of files in Drive, it may take a bit longer to find them (especially if your internet connection isn't very speedy). So if you're able to create a general directory of folders for important projects or data sets on day one, you'll probably save yourself a lot of time and headaches later.

In Google Drive, you can upload your files and data by hitting the New button and selecting from a handful of options.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

It's also important to note that while you can create new Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. directly within Drive on PC, on mobile you need to install both Drive and the specific productivity program you want individually. That's because while they all work together, they are considered separate apps.

Another good way to use Google Drive to organize your work is to save templates for various projects in Docs. This allows you to start writing a script or create forms without starting from scratch every time. You can also save templates for things like bibliographies, potentially saving students time when trying to cite sources for a research paper.

Alternatively, instead of using dedicated apps, you can share a Google Sheet with roommates to help figure out the cost of utilities and other shared expenses. And while it wasn't strictly designed for this, students have discovered that when places like schools ban or put restrictions on typical messaging apps, you can still chat with friends using Google Docs. All you have to do is invite people to a blank doc and then use real-time collaboration to talk and respond to each other. And once you're done, you can simply delete the doc, or keep it around for another day.

Collaboration

In addition to making cloud storage simple and easy to use, one of Google Drive's most powerful features is its range of collaboration tools. Sharing a file or document with someone else is as simple as hitting the share button and entering their email. Alternatively, Drive can generate a link to send via text, social media or your messaging app of choice. Once someone has access, you'll be able to view or edit the file with them in real-time.

That said, it's important to know who you're sharing your files with and how they are using them. For example, it might be really helpful to give editing permission to a teacher or mentor if you're looking for help with an essay, but less so if you're just sharing an ebook with a friend. In addition to the owner of the file, Drive offers three different levels of access: viewer, commenter and editor. And if something goes wrong and you ever want to see an older copy of a Google Doc, Sheet or Slide, you can open the File menu and select the option that says Version history.

You can easily share files with others by simply pressing the Share button and entering someone's email, or generating a shareable link.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Viewers are only able to see and read the document, but don't have the ability to change any of the content. Commenters can view and surface thoughts and questions about the content by using Google's Comment tool, while editors can make changes just like the owner of a doc.

If you want to see files that others have sent you recently, you can click on Google Drive's Shared with me tab. And if you have a Google Workspace account through school or work, you can also open the handy Activity Dashboard by clicking on the squiggly icon. (It's in the top right next to the blue Share button on a desktop.) Finally, if you want a fast way to see which files you've shared with others, you can type "to:" into Drive's search box.

Accessing files offline

While Google Drive is intended primarily as a way to manage docs and files stored in the cloud, it does support offline access, which can be handy when you don't have a good internet connection. However, there are some steps you need to take before you can get the full benefit of using Drive offline.

If you want to access files in Google Drive while offline, you need to remember to enable the setting before you go somewhere without internet access.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

First, you need to make some changes to your Drive's settings while connected to the internet before going offline. On a computer, you need to click the gear icon in the top right corner of your Google Drive browser tab, hit Settings and then check the box next to the Offline menu option. On mobile, you'll need to open the Drive app, find a specific file and then designate for offline access by enabling the option from the More icon (it's the one that looks like three vertical dots). Once you do that, you'll be able to access, edit and save any changes you make. And the next time your device connects to the internet, it will automatically sync any changes you made to the offline doc to the one saved in the cloud. Meanwhile on a Chromebook, all you have to do is open up your Google Drive settings, scroll down, check the box next to the Offline option and hit Done.

No Man’s Sky Endurance update focuses on freighters and fleets

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:27 AM PDT

Hello Games shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to No Man's Sky. The studio just released the 20th major update, which is called Endurance. The previous big update, titled Outlaws, dropped in April. The focus this time is on fleets and freighters.

With Endurance, Hello Games has overhauled freighters. There's a new bridge with a quick-access teleporter that will take players to and from the new-look hangar in a jiffy. There's the option to teleport between the capital ship and a fleet to carry out repairs on frigates too.

You'll be able to quickly put together a space base with new parts and customizable themed rooms. Cultivate crops in a dedicated chamber, or add a catwalk, observation deck or glass corridor to gaze out at the cosmos. Using the Planetary Probe freighter module, you can remotely discover all celestial bodies in a given solar system.

Players can hire captains and pilots, and they may see engineers, biologists and technicians walking around their freighter. Hello Games upgraded freighters' exterior visuals as well. Additionally, there are new effects for black holes and visual enhancements for nebulae — a perfectly timed update after NASA released the first batch of full-color images from James Webb Space Telescope last week.

Asteroids have been improved too. They're more varied in shape and size and you may see thousands of them on screen simultaneously. Some may even nest creatures. Also new are procedurally generated organic frigates, which you can add to your fleet and deploy on missions. The game already had living starships, which can now leech energy from enemy vessels.

Organic frigates in No Man's Sky
Hello Games

Elsewhere, a new expedition called Polestar will start soon. You'll be tasked with taking your capital ship across the galaxy on a cruise. Rewards include new base parts (such as a flaming barrel), a jellyfish companion and a unique cape design. The update introduces new multiplayer missions too.

In the coming months, No Man's Sky will arrive on yet more platforms. It's coming to Nintendo Switch on October 7th and macOS sometime this year. A PlayStation VR 2 version is in the works as well.

Discord voice chats are finally coming to Xbox consoles, but it's complicated

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:00 AM PDT

Discord voice chats are coming to Xbox. Starting today, those enrolled in Microsoft's Xbox Insider beta program can test the functionality before a wider rollout later this year. The feature allows Discord users on Xbox, PC and mobile to join the same voice channel, thereby making it easier to communicate when playing cross-platform games like Halo Infinite. That said, the integration isn't as seamless as simply downloading Discord on your Xbox.

You first need to connect your Xbox Account to Discord. If you previously did that so that your Discord contacts could see your Gamertag, you'll need to do so again to grant the app voice permissions on your Xbox console. You'll find the option to connect your accounts within Discord's User Settings. Click or tap the cog icon, navigate to the "Connections" menu, select the Xbox icon and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Screenshots detailing the process for transferring Discord voice chats to an Xbox console. The user must first join a voice channel and then select
Discord

Because the entire process works through a series of hand-offs, you'll then need to download the Xbox mobile app. To talk with your friends, join a voice channel through Discord, where you'll see a new "Join on Xbox" button. Tap that and the Xbox app will automatically open on your phone, solely to ask what console it should forward the call audio to. Now imagine doing that every time single time you want to use Discord on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S.

It's not the most elegant process, but it's still something Discord users have been waiting for the company to add since it first announced Xbox integration in 2018. The integration may also offer a glimpse at how Sony plans to add Discord voice chat to its PlayStation consoles. Discord did not say exactly when voice chat would be available to all Xbox users, though the feature is expected to arrive sometime later this year.

The best educational toys for kids

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 06:30 AM PDT

It's tempting to get your kid every shiny new toy they ask for. But some toys are better than others when it comes to actually stimulating your child's brain while also keeping them entertained. The parents on the Engadget staff know this well, and we've tried out a bunch of educational toys with our kids, with various results. These are some of the ones that have had staying power with our children — and even we adults have to admit we found them pretty fun, too.

Magna-Tiles

Magnatiles
Engadget

There are tons of building toys out there, from LEGO, to Tegu, to the classic wooden block. But one of my favorites (and my kid's) are Magna-Tiles. These large, colorful construction toys come in a variety of sizes and shapes and click together, or to other surfaces, with the aid of powerful magnets. They can be combined to form simple shapes like cubes and pyramids, or arranged to make magnetic art on a garage door. Plus there are themed packs that can add windows, staircases or even functional cranes to the playsets.

These are open-ended building toys that don't have set instructions for making a particular scene or item. They're safe for a three-year-old, and fun for much older kids, too. Honestly, as a nearly 40-year-old man, even I have a blast finding new and interesting ways to create ever more elaborate structures with my son. We've built castles, spaceships, racecars and even a ferry terminal complete with a moveable boarding ramp.

At $120 for a 100 piece set, Magna-Tiles certainly aren't cheap, but they're definitely the sort of toy that will keep your child entertained for years to come, while also helping them learn valuable problem solving skills. — Terrence O'Brien, Managing Editor

Shop Magna-Tiles at Amazon

Kindle Kids Edition

Kindle Kids Edition
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

I can tell you first hand that Amazon's Fire tablets for kids are great for little ones. They can withstand the carelessness of a young child and offer access to tons of content with parental controls. However, once your kid gets a little older a dedicated device for books with fewer distractions is a better option. And for exactly that reason, Amazon makes a kid-friendly version of its Kindle e-reader.

The device comes with a protective cover and one year of the company's Kids+ service for unlimited access to books ($4.99/month afterwards). There are no videos or games on the Kindle Kids, but it does offer access to Audible. It can store books for offline reading and battery life lasts for weeks at a time. Most importantly, parental controls allow you to monitor content and a dedicated dashboard keeps tabs on their reading habit over time. — Billy Steele, Senior News Editor

Buy Kindle Kids Edition at Amazon - $110

Lovevery play kits

Lovevery play kits
Lovevery

It can be a daunting task picking the best toys to help your baby learn and develop through the toddler and preschool years. Lovevery tries to reduce the stress by doing all the picking for you. It's a mail-order service that delivers specifically timed play kits designed around Montessori tenets for different developmental windows. Each box is a mix of toys and books (or cards for little babies) that start at birth and go all the way up to four-years-old. The kits come every two months through the first year. At this point, things get understandably more complex and the boxes arrive every three months.

The kits aren't cheap: the boxes for babies are $80 each and when you hit one year they go up to $120. I can attest after nearly a year and a half that the service is great. It has been nice to refresh our child's toys with things that are more appropriate for his developmental stage on a regular basis. Everything is safe and well-built, and most importantly, highly engaging. — B.S.

Shop Lovevery kits

Smart Lab: Smart Circuits

Smart Lab: Smart Circuits
Smart Lab

When it comes to introducing kids to electronics there are a ton of options, but I personally like the Smart Circuits kit. It can take a kid from simple blinking lights to complex motion-controlled games. The snap-together baseboard can lie flat on a table like a regular breadboard, but it can also be folded into a cube or the pieces can be attached at a 90-degree angle. This gives kids an extra element to play with when they graduate to designing their own circuits.

The kit itself only has a few pieces, but they're quite flexible. And they're all housed in large colorful plastic that should be easy for a kid to handle. There's the usual electronics kid fare, like LEDs, a speaker, a potentiometer and two buttons. But there's also a tilt switch, a light sensor and a microprocessor capable of handling some relatively robust tasks. The kit comes with instructions for 50 projects, but with the parts available a creative child could build quite a few more.

My one critique is that the jumper wires can be tough to insert and might require a bit of patience — something we know not every eight-year-old has an abundance of. — T.O.

Buy Smart Circuits at Amazon - $50

Playskool Shape Sorter

Playskool Shape Sorter
Playskool

A shape sorter is an awesome toy for younger kids because it encourages hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem-solving and even vocabulary (by identifying the names of shapes and colors). My kids have a few of them, but the one I like most is this Playskool model and here's why. The lid latches, which means they can't just dump the shapes out easily; they have to learn how to work the mechanics of the lid as well. Also, the multi-colored shapes have tactile patterns on them that match the area of the box they're supposed to fit into, and that gives me another teaching opportunity. The whole thing is durable, too — my son likes to chew on the shapes and my daughter likes to stand on the box, but despite that abuse, there's not so much as a dent or a scratch on it. And because it's only $12, it makes a great gift if you're buying for someone else's kiddo. — Amber Bouman, Associate Editor, Parenting

Buy Shape Sorter at Amazon - $12

Yoto Player

Yoto Player
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

The Yoto Player is the perfect toy for a young child who wants to play their own tunes and stories, but who isn't ready for an iPad or smart speaker of their own. Yoto's cute design and blocky, pixel-like display looks distinctly retro. It's detailed enough for kids to make out images, but it's insufficient for video, which should actually be good news for parents worried about too much screen time. Yoto calls the player a "carefully connected" speaker: You bring it online during the initial setup, but from there kids can access safe songs and other content through physical cards. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior Editor

Buy Yoto Player starter pack at Amazon - $110

Kiwi Crates subscription

Kiwi Crates subscription
Kiwi Crates

I am, admittedly, a sucker for a good subscription box. But Kiwi Crate is the only one that doesn't feel like an indulgence. Each month my three-year-old gets a collection of simple DIY toys, crafts and games built around a theme. For instance, a recent box was all about bioluminescent animals. Inside was a plush lightning bug that we had to stuff ourselves and shape using hair ties; a mushroom that had us painting a Slurpee lid and then dotting it with glow-in-the-dark stickers; and a dancing, glowing jellyfish as well as several window clings of sea creates for him to create scenes with.

Past kits have covered farm life, dinosaurs and simple machines like ramps. The stuff inside the box is usually pretty simple (think: cardboard, felt and wood). It's definitely not built to last, but my kid has gotten plenty of use out of each piece.

The best part is the crates will grow with him. As he gets older the projects will get more complex (and the price will go up). Later boxes include everything from screen-printing tools, to trebuchet kits and even robots. — T.O.

Buy Kiwi Crates starting at $16 a month

Kano PC

Kano PC
Engadget

The Kano PC may look at first like a cheap Surface knock-off, but based on our testing, it's also a perfect introduction to the computer world for young children. It's partially DIY — the base unit is a Windows 10 tablet with a pre-installed CPU, memory and storage, but kids will have to plug in a colorful battery and speaker module to get it going. Kano encourages youngsters to take a close look at all of the PC's clearly labeled hardware with the bundled magnifying glass. And once they get going, it's still a decently capable Windows 10 PC, with a Celeron CPU, 4GB of RAM and a 1080p webcam. Heck, it even comes with a keyboard cover, something Microsoft still hasn't bundled with the Surface tablets. — D.H.

Buy Kano PC at Microsoft - $150

Playtime Engineering: Blipblox

Playtime Engineering: Blipblox
Will Lipman Photography for Engadget

The Blipblox may look like a simple noise-maker for kids, but this gadget is much more than just a toy. While the device is loaded with 300 melodies and a synchronized light show, it also packs a capable digital synthesizer engine. There's an oscillator with the usual assortment of synth parameters along with an amp envelope, two LFOs, modulation envelope and a low-pass filter. The Blipblox also has a MIDI input for use with a keyboard or other accessories in addition to a ¼-inch output. Lastly, it runs on three AA batteries or plugged in via a USB cable. Blipblox can teach kids about music through a basic approach to instruments and synthesis, but its features are advanced enough to offer noise-making magic for parents, too. — B.S.

Buy Blipbox at Amazon - $189

Montessori Busy Board

Montessori Busy Board
Engadget

My kids are currently fascinated with snaps, zippers and closures, which is fun because it means it's easy to amuse them, but awkward, too, because they often decide to undo the closures on the shirt I'm wearing. A busy board capitalizes on this curiosity by offering several different clasps, snaps, zippers, buttons and openings for little ones to work their fingers on. It intrigues children by activating their senses and helps them develop their fine-motor skills and problem solving by using real-world obstacles. It also adheres to the Montessori philosophy of simple, wooden toys that help children explore the world around them through play. The deMoca busy board is one of my favorites because it has bright, eye-catching colors, and 10 sensory activities including a zipper, a buckle, a latch and Velcro. It's easy to bring along on trips, and deMoca also makes a "Quiet Book" — a soft-cover, fabric version that's washable. — A.B.

Buy busy board at Amazon - $45

With a Samsung TV and Game Pass Ultimate, I don’t need to buy an Xbox

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT

It took a bit of time, but you can now stream Xbox games from your TV without a Microsoft console in sight. As long as you have a Samsung TV. The Xbox app is now available on Samsung's latest smart TVs and monitors, alongside apps for rival gaming services like Stadia and NVIDIA's GeForce Now. It's bigger news, however, when a console maker — and its huge catalog of games on Game Pass Ultimate – offers game streaming straight from your TV.

I had an extended play session during a launch showcase at Samsung's London event space, and it made me, a PlayStation gamer, an offer I can't refuse: Play Xbox games from the cloud with no additional hardware, aside from a Bluetooth-connected controller. I can even use my DualSense controller because I'm that kind of person.

This will be familiar news to anyone that's already streamed games with Xbox Cloud or Google's Stadia, but, all the games I tried were smooth, with incredibly swift load speeds. Some early previews of Samsung's Gaming Hub kept gaming media to familiar hits, but with Xbox rolling out the entire Game Pass experience, I got to test its limits with Flight Simulator, a game that benefits from speedier load times and avoiding those pesky huge patch files.

On a big TV, even while standing up, playing Flight Simulator turns into a meditative experience. Type in your destination for an exploration flight (or, easier on a controller, set your cursor on the world map), and just fly and fly and fly. That's what I did, and I started to hate that I'll never be able to do this on my PS5. I'm sold on the idea already – I just don't have a 2022 Samsung TV. Damn you, Microsoft.

Xbox Game Pass 2022 updates
Xbox

It's not perfect, of course. Don't expect 4K or variable refresh rates beyond 60 fps – this is still cloud gaming, although we get 4K streams on Stadia... The bigger question is whether Xbox's games can stream on Samsung's Game Hub, stably, for several hours on end, and that's something that can only be answered after extensive testing. What if your connection hiccups and you lose that major progress made in Red Dead Redemption 2?

For now, the hub is limited to Samsung's 2022 TVs and monitors, and it's unclear exactly how Microsoft will deliver Xbox Cloud to other big screens not connected to its consoles. For Samsung's part, its spokesperson said the company hoped to "extend the device coverage in the near future".

Microsoft's own streaming stick, similar to a Chromecast, seemed like the obvious solution, but the company said earlier this year that it was taking a 'new approach' with its game streaming devices, so that's not happening for a while at least. It hasn't elaborated further, besides teasing "a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future."

That could mean a dedicated device, or it could be exactly what I'm testing today, the TV app, coming to more TVs. Hopefully some that already exist. Hopefully mine? Buying a new TV to avoid paying $300 for a new console seems more than a little circuitous. For now, I'm left waiting for a way to stream Xbox Cloud to my TV without a console. Barring some particularly laborious workarounds, it seems I'll be waiting a little longer.

The OnePlus 10T 5G will be unveiled on August 3rd

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT

Following the launch of the OnePlus 10 Pro early this year, OnePlus has announced that it will launch another flagship phone in 2022. The OnePlus 10T 5G will make its debut in New York on August 3rd at 10 AM ET, marking the company's first in-person event since 2019. 

The key selling point will be Qualcomm's latest and greatest chipset, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform. As we detailed in May, that promises faster and longer-lasting Android flagships, thanks to a 10 percent improvement in processing speed and 30 percent reduction in power. Xiaomi also recently announced that its Redmi K50 phone would arrive soon with that chipset. 

The device will premiere with OxygenOS 13, OnePlus's take on Android 13. Along with the latest Android features, it's expected to introduce improved UI personalization, design consistency and more. The 10T 5G will be launched globally, meaning you should be able to buy one both in the US and Europe. OnePlus didn't reveal any other specs or details, other than the textured back shown in the teaser image. We'll learn more when it launches on August 3rd at 10AM ET (3PM BST), and OnePlus has more information here. 

Repair your AirPods charging case with an unofficial 3D-printed kit

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 06:00 AM PDT

AirPods have a reputation for being unrepairable, but one engineer might have an unofficial workaround. Ken Pillonel (of USB-C iPhone fame) has created an open source repair kit for first- and second-generation AirPods models. If you're comfortable cracking open the case, you can perform repairs (such as installing a fresh battery) and get back to business using a 3D-printed replacement part. Moreover, the kit will drag your AirPods into the modern era — it switches the charging port from Lightning to an EU-friendly USB-C connection.

Pillonel is publishing the necessary 3D printing and PCB (circuit board) files on his GitHub repository. He's not sure about selling ready-made repair kits himself, but he's open to the possibility.

This solution clearly isn't for the faint of heart. You'll need access to printing hardware, not to mention some technical know-how. To Pillonel, however, it's worth the effort. In normal use, the AirPods charging case is destined to become e-waste if it either breaks or loses too much battery life. The DIY kit promises to keep your case useful for years to come, and offers connectivity you won't get by ordering a case from Apple.

TP-Link adds two $200 tri-band routers to its lineup

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:30 AM PDT

TP-Link has introduced two new WiFi 6 routers that use tri-band technology, which translates to more bandwidth for multiple devices and less congestion. The Archer AXE5400, also known as Archer AXE75, is a WiFi 6E router than can deliver speeds of up to 5400 Mbps. It's a standalone router that gives users access to the new 6 GHz band, which increases the number of WiFi devices the router can handle and gives those who own phones and other gadgets that have 6 GHz capability an alternative to the overcrowded 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It doesn't, however, have motorized antennas that can follow devices around like the model the company showed off at CES this year.

TP-Link explains on the device's official page that "[a]ccess to the 6 GHz frequency brings more bandwidth, faster speeds, and lower latency, opening up resources for future innovations like in AR/VR, 8K streaming and more." In addition, the device is protected by the latest WiFi security protocol called WPA3, which is more secure than its predecessors, and has USB 3.0 so it can be connected to an external drive. 

Aside from the AX5400, TP-Link has also introduced the Archer AX5400 Wi-Fi 6 Tri-Band Router, or Archer AX75. This one does not have access to the 6 GHz band, but it does allow users to distribute demanding devices connected to the network on its two separate 5 GHz bands for better performance. 

Both AXE75 and AX75 will set buyers back $200 and are now available on Amazon. 

Microsoft is giving Xbox Insiders free access to classic Bethesda first-person shooters

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 04:40 AM PDT

Microsoft is giving select PC gamers free access to four classic games by Bethesda and id Software, which it acquired as part of its $7.5 billion ZeniMax purchase in 2020. And three of them wouldn't have been released if the tech giant isn't acquiring Activision Blizzard, as well. In a post on the Xbox blog, Microsoft has revealed that Xbox Insiders on Windows PC can now preview Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, HeXen: Beyond Heretic, HeXen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, The Elder Scrolls: Arena and Quake Champions. 

It's not surprising that the offer is only available for PC users part of Microsoft's Insider program — as Ars Technica notes, the first four games in the list were originally released in the mid-90s and run via DOSBox emulation. DOSBox runs software for MS-DOS compatible games, but it's a pretty inelegant solution for making old titles playable. 

The Elder Scrolls: Arena is an open-world action RPG published by Bethesda, with a first person perspective and features melee combat and magic. Meanwhile, Heretic, its sequel HeXen: Beyond Heretic and the latter's expansion pack, HeXen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, are all first-person dark fantasy shooters. They were built using a modified version of the Doom engine, and though they were published by id Software, they were developed by Raven Software. Activision acquired the rights to those games when it purchased Raven in 1997.

Microsoft first announced that it's purchasing Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in January this year and expects the deal to close no later than June 2023 if regulators give it their approval. It's an all-cash deal that values Activision at $95 a share. Microsoft plans to add Activision Blizzard games to the Xbox Game Pass as part of the acquisition, and some of those games may be like the Heretic-HeXen series, which Activision doesn't fully own.

The Morning After: Why Nikon and Canon are giving up on DSLR cameras

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 04:16 AM PDT

The end is nigh for DSLR cameras. Nikon is reportedly halting the development of new SLR cameras, marking the end of a 63-year run. Canon already confirmed its final flagship DSLR. Sony, which jumped onto the mirrorless train early, moved to selling only mirrorless cameras last year.

Until recently, reflex cameras were regarded as a better option than mirrorless for action photography, so what happened? Mirrorless models improved so dramatically – and so quickly – that they rendered DSLRs moot. Having said that, many pro photographers are holding onto their DSLRs, with the main reason being speed. But in the future, even that might be bested by future mirrorless cameras. Engadget's Steve Dent explains more.

-Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Ultimate Ears' latest earbuds fit like in-ear monitors

After you mold some tips to your ears, a custom-made set arrives in 2-4 weeks.

Ultimate Ears, best known for its Bluetooth speakers, is having another attempt at custom-fit buds, only this time the company is making the process more like how you'd order a set of in-ear monitors (IEMs) with the UE Drops.

The main attraction of UE Drops is the custom fit, which is coordinated via the company's FitKit. Once you place your order, Ultimate Ears will ship you a FitKit that the company says includes the "technology and information" to guide you through the process of taking your "earprint."

Continue reading.

Lego celebrates 50 years of Atari with an elaborate 2600 set

Slide open the front panel to reveal a pop-up gaming room scene.

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Lego

Atari is marking its 50th anniversary with a Lego collaboration: a piece-by-piece recreation of the Atari 2600, which debuted in 1977. The Lego kit includes a little '80s gaming diorama inside the computer case, and is made up of 2,532 pieces. It will be available on August 1st and costs $240/€240. Lego says the movable joystick included even feels like the original.

Continue reading.

Apple settles lawsuit over its reviled 'butterfly' keyboard for $50 million

You may not get a huge payout, however.

Apple could soon compensate MacBook owners for their troubles with faulty "butterfly" keyboards. The company has agreed to pay $50 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that it knew about and concealed the unreliable designs of keyboards on MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models released between 2015 and 2019. Apple eventually began reverting to more conventional keyboards starting with the 16-inch MacBook Pro from late 2019. Attorneys said they expected a $395 payout for people that had to replace multiple keyboards, $125 for one full replacement and $50 if you only replaced keycaps.

Continue reading.

Demand for the Justice League 'Snyder Cut' was reportedly amplified by bots

A report showed that 'at least' 13 percent of online discourse was generated by bots.

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Warner

The campaign that helped pave the way for the "Snyder Cut" version of Justice League was boosted by a large number of bots and fake accounts, according to a report from Rolling Stone. An investigation commissioned by WarnerMedia said that: "At least 13 percent of the accounts that took part in the conversation about the Snyder Cut were deemed fake."

Continue reading.

Judge grants Twitter expedited trial against Elon Musk

Twitter's lawsuit will head to court in October.

Twitter has scored an early victory in its lawsuit against Elon Musk over his attempted exit from a $44 billion takeover deal. In an initial hearing, Delaware Court of Chancery chancellor Kathaleen McCormick has granted Twitter's request for an expedited, five-day trial beginning in October. The company originally sought a four-day trial in September as part of its effort to make Musk "honor his obligations." Musk's lawyers wanted the court to delay the trial to February 2023.

Continue reading.

Google Photos for web now shows if your images are taking up space

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 03:27 AM PDT

Google has introduced a small but very useful change to Photos on the web, spotted by 9to5Google. In the info section for each photo, there's a new category called "Backed up" after the current day/date, location, device, EXIF and image size. It shows whether the file has been saved in "Original quality" or "Storage saver," and how much space it's taking up, if any. 

This will be especially informative for users on Google's free tiers following its storage policy changes instituted on June 1, 2021 that ended unlimited free storage of photos. They'll let you manage your photos on a more granular basis if you need to free up space, or just check the quality at a glance. That's on top of the current "Manage storage" feature that provides an overview and management of your cloud storage.

Oddly, much like the "Uploaded from" and "Shared by" information, the "Backed up" info isn't available on the Android or iOS apps — only on the web. The feature has started to hit some accounts, but has yet to widely roll out. 

Porsche Taycans will charge faster and go farther with latest update

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 01:26 AM PDT

Porsche is releasing a comprehensive dealer-installed update to its sporty Taycan EV that provides a substantial range boost, faster charging, updated infotainment features and more, The Drive reported. The changes are available for free to all Taycans ever manufactured (2020-2022 models), as Porsche again shows the benefits of the software upgrade path paved by Tesla. 

The biggest change is improved efficiency that adds up to 31 miles of range (50 km) on the WLTP cycle (somewhat less in EPA rating terms), giving a considerable boost to the Taycan's 200 mile EPA rating (on the base 71.0-kWh model). Porsche achieved that feat by de-energizing the front motor in Normal and Eco mode operation, while retaining the driver's regenerative braking settings when drive modes are switched. With the update, the first 2020 year models will run as efficiently as the latest 2022 versions.

Porsche also optimized thermal management to allow the battery to charge longer at its maximum 270-kilowatt rate. That will be especially helpful if you come in with a higher charge level, as the system would previously throttle down the speeds. 

The other main change is to the Taycan's display-laden infotainment system. We enjoyed it in our road test and found it easy to use, but others noticed latency in some operations. Porsche has now updated that to improve startup and response times, while making everything more robust. It also revised the heads-up display and added new integrations for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, allowing both to work wirelessly. Drivers can also search the navigation system online for points of interest and filter out stations without fast chargers. 

Porsche also announced several extra hardware options for 2023 Taycans, including a panoramic roof and hard-wiring for the company's optional Dashcam system. The one drawback to the update is that it'll basically take a day and that you have to bring the EV to a dealership. However, Porsche said that the update optimizes the Taycan's control units, allow the EVs to accept more over-the-air (OTA) updates in the future. Owners will be contacted when it's available.  

Not all Netflix shows will be streamable on the ad-supported tier

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 11:31 PM PDT

When Netflix's cheaper ad-supported tier launches next year, subscribers may find themselves unable to access some of the service's titles available on its regular plan. As Deadline notes, Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has admitted during the company's most recent earnings call that the upcoming subscription option will not include all of its licensed content at launch. It will be missing shows and movies from both US and international studios and distributors, unless the company can successfully (and quickly) convince them to change the deal they originally agreed to. 

Netflix is in talks with studios to amend their deals and be able to make their shows available for streaming alongside ads. Based on a previous Wall Street Journal report, Netflix is renegotiating its deals with Warner Bros. (the studio behind You), Universal (the producer of Russian Doll) and Sony Pictures Television (producer of Cobra Kai). The service will reportedly have to renegotiate the terms for some of the older shows it carries, as well, including Breaking Bad. 

Sarandos said during the earnings call:

"Today, the vast majority of what people watch on Netflix, we can include in the ad-supported. There's some things that don't and we're in conversations with the studios on, but if we launched the product today, members in the ad-tier would have a great experience. We will clear some additional content but certainly not all of it but don't think it's a material holdback for the business."

In the same call, Netflix also admitted that it lost nearly 1 million subscribers in the second quarter of 2022. It still turned a $1.44 billion net profit and expects to add a net 1 million subscribers in the next quarter, but it's hoping that some of the measures it's taking will help it grow its userbase yet again. The ad-supporter tier it's launching with Microsoft early next year could help Netflix grow in markets where there's strong ad spending. 

Samsung officially announces August 10th Unpacked event

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 04:00 PM PDT

It looks like our slow gadget summer is about to end, with Samsung ready to launch its next slate of products soon. The company today sent out invites to its next Unpacked event (after sharing a teaser puzzle this morning), which is set for August 10th at 9am ET. The keynote will be streamed online via Samsung's website, and there will be no in-person component. If you are dying to get ahead of other shoppers, you can already sign up to reserve the upcoming products, too.

Like it's done in previous years, Samsung is giving early birds special offers via its Reserve program. This time, you have till August 10th to register. According to Samsung, this is a "no-commitment offer" and you'll only need to provide your name and email address. Those who sign up can get:

  • $200 credit towards Galaxy phone, watch and buds bundle

  • $150 credit towards Galaxy phone and watch bundle

  • $130 credit towards Galaxy phone and buds bundle

  • $80 credit towards Galaxy watch and buds bundle

  • $100 credit to use on Samsung.com towards eligible products when you reserve a Galaxy phone, which is doublethe credit of the Galaxy S22!

  • $50 credit to use on Samsung.com towards eligible products when you reserve a Galaxy watch

  • $30 credit to use on Samsung.com towards eligible products when you reserve Galaxy buds

The company is widely expected to launch the next generation of its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones, alongside a pair of new smartwatches and a set of wireless earbuds. We don't know much yet about the upcoming products, although reports suggest Samsung might be selling the foldable devices for a lower price than before. 

We'll be hosting a livestream of Unpacked, along with a live Q&A session after Samsung wraps. Join us at about 8:40am ET on August 10th on the Engadget YouTube channel, so we can all react together in real time. Chances are, we'll have answers for your questions about the new products, so come through to get all the details! 

Netflix lost nearly 1 million subscribers last quarter

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:40 PM PDT

Netflix warned it might lose more subscribers in the second quarter of this year than it did in the first, and that prediction has come true — though it wasn't as bad as feared. The streaming service said it lost nearly 1 million subscribers (970,000 to be exact) in Q2. That's far more than the 200,000-member decline from Q1, but not as bleak as the 2 million Netflix was prepared to part with.

The company attributed the slightly rosier outcome to "better-than-expected" subscriber growth, particularly in areas like Asia-Pacific. The company still turned a $1.44 billion net profit despite the shrinking customer base and unfavorable foreign exchange values for the US dollar. Unfriendly exchange rates are a particularly difficult problem when nearly 60 percent of revenue comes from outside the country, Netflix said.

The media giant is expecting a turnaround for the third quarter, if a slow one. It's now predicting that it will add a net 1 million subscribers. While that's a far cry from the 4.4 million Netflix added a year earlier, it's a decided improvement over the past six months. The strong start for Stranger Things 4 could help — the nostalgic show is now Netflix's most watched season of English TV to date with over 1.3 billion hours of viewing.

Netflix's recovery plan will sound familiar. The company is still pinning its hopes on a lower-priced ad-supported tier due in early 2023, and expects to launch it in a "handful of markets" where there's already strong ad spending. The service also plans to fight account sharing, and is experimenting with ideas that include charging for additional homes. The finished sharing system could also roll out in 2023.

Pixar's 'Lightyear' will hit Disney+ on August 3rd

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 01:00 PM PDT

Lightyear didn't hit the box office heights Disney hoped for, despite it being the first Pixar movie to debut exclusively in theaters in over two years. You won't have to wait too much longer to stream the movie at home, though. It's coming to Disney+ on August 3rd, 47 days after it landed in theaters.

While it's technically a Toy Story spinoff, it has a meta element to it. The action figure in the Toy Story movies is supposedly based on Lightyear, an in-universe film characters like Andy seemingly watched (making this a quasi-prequel). This time around, Buzz is in human form and is voiced by Chris Evans. He's an astronaut who, along with his crew and commander, gets stuck on a strange planet and needs to find a way home. The cast also includes Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, James Brolin and Uzo Aduba.

‘Doom’ co-creator John Romero is making a new first-person shooter

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 12:45 PM PDT

John Romero, one of the brains behind Doom, is working on another first-person shooter, Romero Games announced today. In a tweet, the independent studio founded by Romero and his wife Brenda Romero said it will be teaming up with a major publisher to develop the game and will be using an "original, new IP." 

Few other details were revealed about the upcoming title, which will be the first title from Romero Games since Brenda's 2020 strategy game Empire of Sin. We do know that it will be powered by Unreal Engine 5. The studio mentioned that it is recruiting staff at all levels to help build the game, particularly people with UE5 experience.

The Galway-based studio isn't revealing much else about the game. In the FAQ section of its website, the question "What can you tell us about the new shooter?" appears first. "We can confirm that it's new, that it's a shooter and that we're making it with a major publisher. Otherwise, it's way too early to share any other information on it. We're grateful for your interest, though," the studio writes in response.

It's only been a few months since Epic Games released UE5 to developers, and we've already seen a number of new, promising game announcements — though we won't see most of them until later on in 2022 or 2023. Fans of Romero's work will likely have to remain patient for this latest title, and it's unclear where whether it will take precedence over Sigil 2, which Romero Games announced last year but which still lacks a release date.

Correction 7/19/22 5:51pm:Empire of Sin has now been appropriately attributed to Brenda Romero.

Microsoft helps speed up work on AI for autonomous drones and flying taxis

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 12:40 PM PDT

If autonomous drones and flying taxis are going to thrive, they'll need AI that can handle a wide range of conditions — and Microsoft thinks it can help build that AI. The company has unveiled a Project AirSim platform that helps manufacturers create, train and test the algorithms guiding autonomous aircraft. The Azure-based technology has virtual vehicles fly millions of flights through detailed simulations in a matter of seconds, gauging their ability to handle different obstacles and weather conditions. A drone maker can quickly find out if their machine will avoid birds, or use too much battery power countering strong winds.

Developers can use trained AI "building blocks" to get started, so they won't need vast amounts of technical know-how. Users can create custom 3D environments using Bing Maps, but they'll also have access to a ready-made library of cities (such as New York City and London) and generic locations.

Project AirSim is currently available as a "limited" preview already in use at Airtonomy and Bell. Microsoft plans to expand the simulation with physics, weather and digital sensor replicas, including the option to bring custom physics models through a team-up with MathWorks. The team is also "actively engaged" with governments and standards groups, and envisions a day where AirSim could help certify autonomous aircraft by putting them through rigorous digital tests.

The initiative won't address some of the biggest challenges of autonomous flying, including aircraft design and real-world testing. However, Microsoft is keen to note that its technology is flexible — it can help shape everything from delivery drones through to eVTOL taxis navigating dense cities. If all goes well, companies will spend more time deploying aircraft and less time working on basic features.

Another Activision Blizzard studio is working to unionize

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 12:25 PM PDT

Workers at the studio formerly known as Vicarious Visions are attempting to unionize. On Tuesday, quality assurance staff at Blizzard Albany went public with the news that they had filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In a Twitter thread, the group said it was seeking representation with the Communications Workers of America.

The approximately 20 workers involved in the effort call themselves the Game Workers Alliance Albany, a nod to the first-ever union to form at Activision Blizzard. Like their colleagues at Raven Software, the QA staff at Blizzard Albany are seeking fairer compensation, more pay transparency and better benefits. They also want to work with Activision Blizzard to create a process for addressing workplace issues, including cases involving employee misconduct.

"QA is currently an undervalued discipline in the games and software industries," the group said. "We strive to foster work environments where we are respected and compensated for our essential role in the development process." The QA workers at Blizzard Albany say they asked Activision last week to recognize their union voluntarily. The publisher acknowledged the request but has yet to share a decision.

"Our top priority remains our employees. We deeply respect the rights of all employees under the law to make their own decisions about whether or not to join a union," an Activision Blizzard spokesperson told Engadget. "We believe that a direct relationship between the company and its employees is the most productive relationship. The company will be publicly and formally providing a response to the petition to the NLRB."

Before Activision folded Vicarious Visions into Blizzard at the start of 2021, the 200-person developer was one of the publisher's most dependable support studios. It worked on the excellent Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 remaster and Destiny 2's PC port. More recently, as a part of Blizzard, the studio remastered Diablo II.

In June, Microsoft announced it would respect all unionization efforts at Activision Blizzard following the close of its $68.7 billion deal to buy the publisher. In doing so, the company signed a landmark neutrality agreement with the Communications Workers of America. According to The Washington Post, Activision Blizzard employees, including some at Blizzard Albany, plan to stage a walkout on Thursday to demand better workplace protections following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Google will start field testing its next-gen AR glasses this August

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 12:10 PM PDT

Back at I/O 2022 in May, Google teased the return of its augmented reality glasses by showing an early prototype of its next-gen glasses. Now, the company is just about ready to start real-world testing. You might spot a Googler wearing the glasses in the wild as soon as August.

"The real-world tests will allow us to better understand how these devices can help people in their everyday lives," Juston Payne, a group product manager at Google's AR and VR division, wrote in a blog post. "And as we develop experiences like AR navigation, it will help us take factors such as weather and busy intersections into account — which can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to fully recreate indoors."

The testing will be limited to a few dozen people (Google employees and trusted testers). The prototype models will be equipped with cameras, microphones and in-lens displays. Google is assessing audio and visual sensing for functions such as translation, transcription and navigation.

However, the features will be limited. The glasses won't capture photos or videos, though Google will use image data to translate text and display directions. Data will be deleted "after the experience is completed" unless it's going to be used for debugging and analysis. In that case, Google will remove sensitive information, such as faces and license plates. The company will delete image data used for research purposes after 30 days.

Google Glass wasn't quite the success the company hoped it would be — it's an enterprise product these days. The company wants to get things right with its next-gen AR glasses, so it's taking things slow. Payne noted that it's early days for the project. There's no release timeline for the glasses as yet.

The new Instagram map is like Google Maps but with more selfies

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 11:49 AM PDT

The map function on Instagram got a lot more useful today, in a Google-inspired kind of way. The new Instagram map supports searches and filters, allowing users to look up restaurants, attractions and other hot spots directly in the app, rather than simply viewing where a photo was posted. The updated map also features posts, stories and guides tagged by users, offering a glimpse into the local scene wherever you search.

The map supports hashtag searches and offers the ability to explore by tapping tagged locations in the feed or Stories. You can also type the name of an establishment, city or neighborhood directly into the Explore page and see results on the map. The new map allows users to save their searches in a collection and share locations with other Instagrammers, as well.

Using location stickers on posts and Stories will add that content to the search results on the new map, as long as your profile is public. Visually, the map features Instagram icons where the attractions are, allowing searchers to tap and see Stories or visit the profile pages of businesses they find interesting.

This is yet another step in Instagram's plan to become a one-stop shop for social networking, commerce, traveling and, like, life in general. For instance, earlier in July, Instagram rolled out the ability to buy things directly in chat. Moves like these make it easier for users to simply stay on Instagram, rather than opening up Google Maps or Venmo and taking their ad-supported eyeballs elsewhere.
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