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Hyundai's Vision T concept SUV looks like a driveable TIE Fighter
Hyundai took to the stage at Automobility LA 2019 to show off the latest evolution of its "concept SUV" now dubbed, the Vision T, as well as note some minor updates to its Ioniq line of eco-friendly sedans.
John Carmack takes a step back at Oculus to work on human-like AI
Six years ago John Carmack left the company he founded, iD Software, to join Oculus VR as its Chief Technology Officer and push forward the future of virtual reality tech. Today the engineer behind many developments in 3D gaming has announced that a new "consulting CTO" role at Oculus "will only be consuming a modest slice of my time." Instead, he's turning his focus to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), or AI that can pick up intellectual tasks like a human being does. That's in contrast to the "AI" you see today, which is usually a very narrowly focused set of algorithms built for a specific task. In 2014, Carmack told Engadget that the prime motivation behind his decision to join Oculus was development of Samsung's Gear VR headset. Since then, virtual reality growth has happened in fits and starts, with less focus on mobile platforms. Also, Oculus was acquired by Facebook, and there was a protracted legal battle with Zenimax, the company that acquired iD Software after he left, over the copyright to VR code. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey and other executives have left the company since Facebook took over, following a pattern seen at its other acquisitions like WhatsApp and Instagram. Still, Carmack suggests he'll continue to have a role with Oculus, and similar to the shift that brought him to the company, it seemed inevitable he would move on to another field at some point after 3D engines and aerospace work. According to his Facebook post, the alternative was "cost effective nuclear fission reactors," which just aren't suitable for working from home.
Disney+ has arrived, here's everything you need to know
It's November 12th, and Disney has thrown the doors open on its streaming service Disney+. If you live in the US, Canada or the Netherlands, then you can get unprecedented access to the Disney vault as well as some interesting new original content. That includes most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Mandalorian and more. Original shows on Disney+ won't drop all at once, so plan your binge-watching accordingly. Several new series premiered tonight, and they'll each add new episodes every Friday from now on. While Disney, Pixar, National Geographic and Marvel all present tantalizing options, a last-minute surprise is the news that all of the Star Wars movies streaming right now are available in 4K Ultra HD, a first-ever for the first seven movies in the series. Other selections that are available for the first time with 4K and HDR include Hocus Pocus, Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Toy Story 1-3. The price for all that is $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year -- there is a 7-day free trial -- while a bundle option for those who want to add ESPN+ and Hulu (with ads) to the subscription is available for $12.99 per month. If you're looking for the apps, these are the devices supported at launch: Amazon FireTV and FireOS, Apple iOS, Android/Chromecast, Roku, Xbox One, PS4, LG webOS smart TVs and Samsung Smart TV.
FX's entire show archive arrives on Hulu next March
"Beginning in March, Hulu will become the official streaming home of FX Networks," Disney CEO Bob Iger told reporters on the company's Q4 earnings call Thursday. The cable network and streaming service both already operate under Disney's corporate umbrella and are about to get a whole lot closer.
Disney+ will stream on Amazon's Fire TV platform at launch
Disney+ streaming will go live next week, and after some wrangling between the giants, it will be available on Amazon's Fire TV platform at launch. That's according to Disney CEO Bob Iger, who revealed the deal during an interview with CNBC as his company released its earnings report today. Last month there was a report that a dispute over advertising had divided the two companies, but they've worked things out. Along with Samsung and LG smart TVs, Fire sticks will join Roku, Apple TV, game consoles and other devices in supporting Disney's direct-to-consumer offering. Disney+ launches November 12th for $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
Facebook lays out its vision of our communal VR future
After all the new products were announced and surprise features revealed at Oculus Connect 6 on Wednesday, Facebook Reality Lab (FRL) lead Michael Abrash took to the stage to discuss the future of VR, AR, and the company's leading role in their continuing development.
Amazon's Echo Buds are an Alexa-powered answer to Apple's Airpods
Apple has proven that combining true wireless earbuds with always-on access to a virtual assistant can be a reliable recipe for success. Its Airpods continue to be the best selling option, even as the true wireless scene really starts to take off. So, it's no surprise then that Amazon is looking to cash in. Its Echo Buds don't look terribly different from the competition. (They've got a bit of a Bragi vibe going on.) But they do allow you to talk to Alexa without touching a button -- basically it's an Echo you shove in your ears. One thing the Echo Buds definitely have over their Apple competitors though, is noise cancellation. Airpods have none, whereas Amazon has partnered with Bose to borrow its active noise reduction tech. And while Bose isn't king of the hill anymore when it comes to noise cancellation it's still pretty dang good (not to mention a pioneer in the field). It doesn't seem like Amazon sacrificed too much on sound quality either... at least on paper. (Again, the final judgement will have to wait for when we get to test them on our own terms.) Inside each bud is a pair of balanced armature drivers, which should deliver pretty solid bass. The five hours of battery life isn't exactly earth-shattering, but the charging case brings the total runtime up to 20 hours before you need to plug in again. Echo Buds are available to preorder today for $130. Update 9/25/2019 3:10PM ET: This article originally used the term "active noise cancellation" (ANC). It has been updated to reflect the terminology used by Amazon, "active noise reduction." It's unclear currently if this is purely for marketing reasons, or if there is a functional difference between Bose's ANC and what is found in the Echo Buds. Follow all the latest news from Amazon's 2019 hardware event here!
Amazon’s latest Echo has better sound at the same price
Amazon's new $99 mainline Echo is all about improving the music listening experience. It's basically an Echo Plus in new clothes. Under the hood are the same core audio features, including neodymium drivers and a 3-inch woofer. It should have better frequency response, especially on the low end, but Amazon also claims the mids and highs are clearer. We'll have to wait to test it outside the chaos of a press event though, to know for sure.
Amazon's Echo Studio promises immersive audio for $200
Just as earlier reports suggested, Amazon revealed yet another updated version of its Echo smart speaker at its press conference in Seattle today. The big difference? Its focus on high-quality audio. Unlike earlier Echo models, which largely prioritized smarts over sound quality, Amazon's new Echo Studio aims to deliver immersive, 3D audio (with help from Dolby Atmos), all meant to help it compete more capably with competitors like Sonos.
Oculus Quest gets gadget-free hand tracking in 2020
Upon taking the stage at the Oculus Connect 6 event in San Jose, CA on Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed hours-old rumors that the Oculus' Touch controllers could soon become obsolete. In their stead, users will be able to interact with their virtual environment using only their hands.
YouTube reverses course on 'verification' -- you will keep your badges
Yesterday YouTube announced plans to change its policy around channel verification status. In a move to follow other social networks, the company said changes tying approval to authenticity and prominence would mean some might lose their tag, and would have to go through appeals to keep it. After a quick and loud backlash to the plan YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki apologized, and YouTube just announced "Channels that currently have verification will now keep it without appeal." The plan is still to reopen its process for verification next month for all channels that have over 100,000 subscribers, with an eye toward stamping the tag on channels that are both "authentic" and "complete." YouTube Support: What's happening with channel verification? We won't remove verification based on the criteria we announced yesterday. If you received an email that your channel will no longer be verified, you no longer need to submit an appeal. You'll keep verification on your channel. As always, we'll still remove verification if we find that a channel is attempting to impersonate another creator or brand. If you change your channel's name, the renamed channel won't be verified and you'll need to reapply.
Apple's iPhone event by the numbers
Apple had a full slate of announcements ready for its iPhone event in Cupertino on Tuesday. The company showed off updates to its flagship phones and tablets, revealed pricing for its upcoming streaming services, and gave the assembled crowd a deep dive into the inner workings of its new camera system. Here are some of the highlights.
Apple’s budget $329 iPad gets a 10.2-inch screen
Bloomberg's predictions proved accurate at Apple's September iPhone event held in Cupertino on Tuesday. The company announced on stage that the iPad's 9.7-inch base model will slightly increase in size, to 10.2 inches, for its 7th generation. This move follows April's revamping of the iPad Mini and iPad Air lines.
Disney+ confirms 'Ms. Marvel,' 'She-Hulk' TV shows in the works
At its D23 event this weekend, Disney is revealing a lot more about its plans for the Disney+ streaming service and has confirmed several new Marvel TV shows that are on the way. In addition to ones we'd heard about like The Falcon and Winter Soldier, Loki, Wandavision, Hawkeye and What If...?, MCU head Kevin Feige announced it's filling out "Phase Four" with other new shows including Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Moon Knight. According to Feige, Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel will appear in MCU films in addition to her show. Beyond Marvel, Disney+ also brought out Hilary Duff to announce she's returning as Lizzie McGuire in an all-new series for the service, and flashed a trailer for Jeff Goldblum's National Geographic show. Later, we saw a trailer for The Mandalorian, as well as news of a new Star Wars show where Ewan McGregor will return as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Other trailers shown at the event included Lady and the Tramp, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Kristen Bell's Encore reality show. We got an early look at the service, check below to see some of the new trailers and show logos or read through our hands-on experience right here. Disney+ launches November 12th at a price of $6.99 per month.
Sony Interactive snaps up 'Spider-Man' developer Insomniac Games
Sony Interactive took to Twitter on Monday afternoon, announcing that it had acquired Insomniac Games, the studio behind last year's PS4 smash-hit Spider-Man.
Air travelers entering US face long delays as CBP computers crash
Air travellers entering the US were delayed on Friday after a computer issue prevented customs officials from processing their immigration information. The CBP is reportedly investigating the problem but have yet to identify the cause.
There’s something fishy about Amazon’s FC Ambassadors
Amazon's really been on a roll lately. Well, in terms of becoming an actual supervillain organization. They've already got multiple HQs, can bully (most) local governments into acquiescing to their various whims, are making deals with law enforcement agencies across the country, are developing and distributing facial recognition technology that can now sense your fear, and are building out a massive state surveillance apparatus thanks to everybody's apparent inability to get off the couch to see who's at the door. Of course it's the pizza guy, it's been 30 minutes or less.
AR Doodle draws 'sticky' animations on your Galaxy Note 10 selfies
The Galaxy Note 10's S Pen doesn't just serve as a remote control wand for Samsung's newest phone, as we saw at Samsung's press conference today, it works its magic in the realm of AR as well. When used in conjunction with the Notes' AR Doodle feature, users will wield their stylus as a mixed reality paintbrush, adding drawings and animations to whatever scene the camera is pointed at.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 is a tiny bit smaller and costs less than before
At a typically lavish event in Brooklyn this afternoon, Samsung is making an announcement that surprises exactly no one: the Galaxy Note 10 is here. Well, almost. Samsung's largest, stylus-enabled flagship device will be available on August 23rd in the US, with pre-orders opening tomorrow. Just as the rumors predicted, Samsung made two sizes of the Galaxy Note 10 this year, but right now we're just focusing on the smaller option. (Details on the big guy can be found here.) [Check out our extensive hands-on of the Galaxy Note 10 and Note10+!]
Disney's streaming bundle: Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu for $12.99
On their quarterly earnings call, Disney execs confirmed a pricetag for the bundled streaming offer they'd teased while announcing Disney+. While that service will cost $7.99 per month on its own, this push to bring cord cutters back into their fold adds on ESPN+ and ad-supported Hulu for $12.99 per month. That's about $5 less than subscribing to them separately -- and the exact same price as Netflix's standard plan -- and it will be available as soon as Disney+ launches on November 12th.
