Archive for February 2020

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Accessories (5)

  • Apple's keyboard cover for the next iPad Pro could add a trackpad

    With the launch of iPadOS, Apple's tablet has become more of a conventional computing device than ever. As such, it makes sense that the line between iPad Pro and laptop could become even more blurred. A rumor from The Information claims Apple is gearing up to mass produce a new keyboard accessory for the tablet line that includes a built-in trackpad, with plans to release it at the same time as an updated version of the iPad Pro later this year. If you just can't wait, accessory maker Brydge is one of the the third parties promising a solution. It has opened pre-orders for its wireless Pro+ keyboard that includes a a trackpad plus backlit keys and adds a very MacBook-like look to the tablet. They're supposed to start shipping in late April, with an 11-inch version available for $200 or the 12.9-inch edition for $230. The third-party company also announced a standalone trackpad, but there's no release date or price listed for that yet.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Valve's Index VR production has been impacted by coronavirus

    We're just about a month out from the launch of Half Life: Alyx on March 23rd, and like so many other things, it is seeing some impact from the coronavirus outbreak. According to a statement given to RoadtoVR and UploadVR, Valve still plans to restock its Index VR headsets ahead of the game's release. However, over the next few months the company says "we will have far fewer units for sale during the coming months compared to the volumes we originally planned." You can still sign up for a notification when more headsets are available on the Index's Steam page, which has listed the headsets as out of stock for several weeks.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Sony's new TV remote doubles as a portable speaker

    Sony has introduced a new remote control for TVs in Japan, and you most likely won't be losing it in your sofa. The device, spotted by The Verge, isn't just a remote control, you see -- it's also a wireless speaker that you can bring with you around the house. It looks like a typical speaker when viewed from the side, and it's bulky enough that it won't disappear into thin air (as typical remotes seem to do) as soon as you set it down. The top panel, however, has all the buttons you'd expect a TV remote to have, except its volume adjuster is a knob.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Logitech's $170 StreamCam is aimed at first-time streamers

    Logitech has released a new mid-range webcam for streamers who aren't quite ready to shell out big bucks for top-of-the-line cameras. The new device called the StreamCam is capable of capturing 60 fps videos with a 1080p resolution. Logitech's free Capture software also gives it the capability to take HD vertical videos for platforms like Snapchat and Facebook Stories, as well as access to features like image stabilization, facial smart focus and AI-enabled smart framing that ensures you always stay in view.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Teenage Engineering wants you to 'hack' its IKEA line with 3D printing

    Teenage Engineering's IKEA collection, the FREKVENS line, arrives in stores this month, and Teenage Engineering is already helping customers hack the products. The company has released free, downloadable CAD files for a handful of DIY accessories that you can 3D print at home and attach to your FREKVENS speakers and lights.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

AI (10)

  • IBM and Microsoft support the Vatican’s guidelines for ethical AI

    IBM and Microsoft have signed the Vatican's "Rome Call for AI Ethics," a pledge to develop artificial intelligence in a way that protects all people and the planet, Financial Times reports. Microsoft President Brad Smith and John Kelly, IBM's executive vice-president, are among the first global tech leaders to sign the document.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • AI discovers antibiotic that kills even highly resistant bacteria

    The use of AI to discover medicine appears to be paying off. MIT scientists have revealed that their AI discovered an antibiotic compound, halicin (named after 2001's HAL 9000), that can not only kill many forms of resistant bacteria but do so in a novel way. Where many antibiotics are slight spins on existing medicine, halicin wipes out bacteria by wrecking their ability to maintain the electrochemical gradient necessary to produce energy-storing molecules. That's difficult for bacteria to withstand -- E. coli didn't develop any resistance in 30 days where it fought off the more conventional antibiotic cipofloxacin within three days.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • How AI is stopping the next great flu before it starts

    Immune systems across the globe have been working overtime this winter as a devastating flu season has taken hold. More than 180,000 Americans have been hospitalized and 10,000 more have died in recent months, according to the CDC, while the coronavirus (now officially designated COVID-19) has spread across the globe at an alarming rate. Fears of a growing worldwide flu outbreak have even prompted the precautionary cancelling of MWC 2020 -- barely a week before it was slated to open in Barcelona. But in the near future, AI-augmented drug development could help produce vaccines and treatments fast enough to halt the spread of deadly viruses before they mutate into global pandemics.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Senate bill would place a moratorium on feds using facial recognition

    Facial recognition is being used by more agencies than ever, even as its accuracy and impact remain unclear. Several local governments have already taken steps to stop law enforcement from using it in various ways, and a bill introduced by two US senators seeks to do the same at the federal level. Senators Jeff Merkley and Cory Booker proposed the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence Act (PDF), which calls for a 13 member congressional commission to create guidelines before it's implemented. Members would represent law enforcement, communities likely to be impacted by the tech and experts in privacy and technology.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • AI can automatically rewrite outdated text in Wikipedia articles

    It's good to be skeptical of Wikipedia articles for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the possibility of outdated info -- human editors can only do so much. And while there are bots that can edit Wikipedia, they're usually limited to updated canned templates or fighting vandalism. MIT might have a more useful (not to mention more elegant) solution. Its researchers have developed an AI system that automatically rewrites outdated sentences in Wikipedia articles while maintaining a human tone. It won't look out of line in a carefully crafted paragraph, then.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Why Clearview AI is a threat to us all

    When London's Metropolitan Police Department announced its decision to adopt the controversial and intrusive ClearView AI surveillance system at the end of January, a global cacophony of protest erupted. Concerns, fear and trepidation surrounding facial recognition technologies, especially those like Clearview which can ID people in real-time, have been simmering for decades, but the Met's decision has finally caused public outrage to boil over. But how did we even get to the point where a relatively unknown startup managed to enact one of tentpoles of futuristic dystopia and begin marketing it to aspiring dictatorial regimes, all while earning the wrath of national governments and tech industry titans alike?

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • EU backs away from proposed five-year facial recognition ban

    The European Union won't issue a ban on facial recognition tech, as it once proposed, the Financial Times reports. In a previous draft of a paper on artificial intelligence, the European Commission suggested a five-year moratorium on facial recognition, so that the technology's impact could be studied, noting that it can be inaccurate, used to breach privacy laws and facilitate identity fraud. In a new draft, seen by the Financial Times, that moratorium has been removed.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • New music label says it can use AI to find the next big artist

    At this point, artificial intelligence isn't a new concept to musicians. We've seen artists like Björk and Arca use the technology to create new musical arrangements. But a new label called Snafu Records thinks it can also use AI to discover the next big artist long before even the most music-savvy talent scouts find them.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • ACLU rejects Clearview AI's facial recognition accuracy claims

    Clearview AI's facial recognition isn't just raising privacy issues -- there are also concerns over its accuracy claims. The ACLU has rejected Clearview's assertion that its technology is "100% accurate" based on the civil liberty group's methodology for testing Amazon's Rekognition, telling BuzzFeed News that the findings are "absurd on many levels" and amounted to "manufacturing endorsements." According to the ACLU, there are key differences that make Clearview's sales pitch misleading.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • How AI helped upscale an antique 1896 film to 4K

    When the 50-second silent short film L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat premiered in 1896, some theatergoers reportedly ran for safety at the sight of a projected approaching train, thinking that a real one would burst through the screen at any moment, Looney Tunes-style. A wild thought, given the blurry, low-resolution quality of the original film. Thankfully those panicky cinephile pioneers never saw the AI-enhanced upscaled version released by Denis Shiryaev, or they would have absolutely flipped their lids.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Amazon (15)

  • Amazon is the latest to pull out of GDC over coronavirus fears

    The annual Game Developers Conference just lost another big-name tech company due to coronavirus worries. Amazon Web Services has pulled out of the 2020 show in response to "continued concerns over COVID-19." In its place, Amazon is planning a "global online event" in May that will show what its AWS Game Tech team was originally going to debut in person along with some extras. You'll hear more about it in the weeks ahead, Amazon said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon's first big 'Go' grocery store opens in Seattle with 5,000 products

    Amazon's checkout-free Go concept has officially morphed into a supermarket. Amazon Go Grocery opens in Seattle today, with 5,000 items for sale across the 10,400-square-foot premises. Using a range of cameras, shelf sensors and software, shoppers can pick up the items they want and simply walk out the door -- their accounts are charged via a smartphone app as they leave.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • For $300, you can get an Alexa-powered kitchen for your kids

    Alexa and other smart speakers can be especially useful in the kitchen, and toymakers are taking note. Today, KidKraft revealed its Alexa 2-in-1 Kitchen and Market. At first glance, it looks like your average play kitchen, but it comes with smart-chipped food, cookware and character cards that prompt a response from Alexa.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • ‘Frontline’ documentary tackles Jeff Bezos and the ‘Amazon Empire’

    Amazon is the subject of the latest Frontline documentary, which airs on PBS today at 9PM ET and is probably worth checking out if you have any interest in the tech giant. From the same team that was behind a 2018 Frontline examination of Facebook, Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos charts the rise of Bezos and his company from shipping books from a Washington garage in the mid-'90s through to its current status as a trillion-dollar colossus.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Jeff Bezos pledges $10 billion to combat climate change

    Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced today he plans to contribute $10 billion toward fighting climate change through the creation of a new philanthropic project called the Bezos Earth Fund. "Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet," Bezos wrote in an Instagram post. "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Ring footage might not be very useful for catching criminals

    Ring has said that camera footage sent to police can help reduce burglaries and catch criminals, but how effective is it, really? It might not be as helpful as you might think. NBC News has conducted an investigation suggesting that Ring's video doorbells and security cameras haven't been of much use to at least some police forces. Of the 40 law enforcement agencies the news outlet reached, just 13 said they'd made arrests after reviewing Ring footage, while two offered rough estimates. The remainder either made zero arrests (13 agencies) or didn't know how effective Ring had been despite partnerships that had lasted more than a year.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ring says its app will allow more control over data shared with Google, Facebook

    A couple of weeks ago, the Electronic Frontier Foundation published the results of its investigation into data the Ring app is sharing with third parties. While the Amazon-owned company has faced criticism over its links to law enforcement and the security of user's accounts, this particular issue was all about tracks information from the mobile devices users install its apps on, and who it shares it with. Those that get the infor include names you know like Google and Facebook, but also other data companies like MixPanel and AppsFlyer. On Friday afternoon a company spokesperson told CBS that soon, users will be able to opt-out of information sharing agreements "where applicable." There's no real detail on what exactly that means, although apparently some information will still be shared. Apps and services frequently ask users (or don't even ask) about sharing information to various trackers, usually stating it's for diagnostic reasons. But as we've seen, data collected by apps on your phone can include far more pervasive and personal location tracking than you'd probably expect, or they do things like record your entire screen while you use them. Once the toggles are available, we'll see what Ring says about the information it's sharing and how much control you have over it.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Amazon hires former Hulu CEO to lead Prime Video

    Amazon has signed Mike Hopkins, a streaming and TV veteran, to lead Prime Video and Studios. Hopkins has been Sony Pictures Television's chairman since he joined the company in 2017 -- he's credited for restructuring and streamlining its operations -- and he served as Hulu's CEO for four years before that. Prior to joining Hulu, he headed 21st Century Fox's distribution strategy. Amazon likely hired Hopkins to make up for the absence of Jeff Blackburn, the company SVP in charge of its digital entertainment efforts, who's taking a sabbatical this year.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Amazon wants to question Trump over his role in the $10 billion DoD contract

    It's no secret that Amazon was unhappy with the Pentagon's decision to award the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract to Microsoft. Now, Amazon wants to depose President Trump and six other officials, CNBC reports. The company hopes to question Trump about his involvement in the bidding process, including private conversations, instructions given related to the award and "efforts to harm Amazon and AWS."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon is the latest to pull out of MWC over coronavirus worries

    Mobile World Congress just lost another one of its biggest names over coronavirus fears. Amazon has withdrawn from the tech trade show over the "outbreak and continued concerns" around the virus. The company was going to the late February event to push Amazon Web Services rather than anything consumer-facing, but it's still a big blow when MWC has already lost multiple companies.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon might offer Twitch's streaming technology to businesses

    It's already been five years since Amazon purchased Twitch, giving the company a major stake in rapidly-expanding video game streaming space. Twitch is still quite popular, but a report today from The Information indicates the company may have some new plans to make money from the service: selling Twitch's streaming technology to other companies. According to the report, it would be similar to how Amazon Web Services (AWS) was used internally and then eventually became one of the company's most important products -- AWS accounts for about half of all Amazon revenue. The service would almost certainly be rebranded for sales to business customers, though there's no hints that Amazon would shut down the existing, consumer-facing Twitch platform.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Ring update gives you more control over police video requests

    Ring is acting on its promises to improve privacy and security in 2020. The Amazon brand has introduced a Control Center in the Ring mobile app that aims to deliver more control over access and sharing. Most notably, there's a toggle to opt out of law enforcement video requests -- you don't have to wait to receive one before making a decision. Ring is unsurprisingly encouraging customers to leave it on (it has police partnerships to maintain) in the name of neighborhood security, but it's at least acknowledging that some users are uncomfortable with serving as de facto eyes for police officers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Amazon Echo Show now scans barcodes for your grocery list

    Amazon has launched a feature for newer Echo Show that lets you add items to Alexa's built-in shopping list by scanning their barcodes. Sure, it's pretty easy to add stuff to your grocery list with Alexa's help: All the assistant needs is a voice command. But there may be times when you have to add something very specific that could be difficult to dictate, or times when you want to be 100 percent sure you're picking the right product for someone in your household.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • A look back at the triumphs and stumbles of the original Kindle

    Amazon released the original Kindle back in 2007. In the years since, the devices have managed to peak, go mainstream and then get largely replaced by tablets and smartphones. Amazon's first Kindle was 7.5 inches tall with a high-contrast screen, an SD slot for additional storage and a 3G connection that permitted users to access its "Whispernet" data network to download books on the go. It sold out in less than six hours, quickly cementing its position as the leading e-reader on the market. About two months ago we asked readers to look back and review the first-generation Kindle, more than a decade after its release. Here's what they said about the device, from the hardware to the book selection.

    By Amber Bouman Read More

Apple (21)

  • Apple blocks Clearview AI's iPhone app

    Won't someone just let Clearview AI invade our privacy in peace? After having its full client list stolen and leaked on the internet, the controversial facial recognition startup is now in hot water with Apple. The iPhone maker has blocked Clearview's iPhone app over violating the rules of its enterprise software program, TechCrunch reports. Clearview was relying on an enterprise certificate to let users install its software outside of the App Store, but that goes against Apple's rules, which limits certificate access to people within a company. If this situation sounds familiar, it's because Apple also blocked certificates from Facebook and Google for unauthorized app distribution. In those cases, though, Apple's move also killed internal apps that both companies relied on. With Clearview's situation, its core app, which is used by customers for its advanced facial recognition tool, is now inaccessible to iPhone users. Just like how Gizmodo discovered Clearview's Android app, TechCrunch says it discovered the iOS version on a public Amazon S3 storage share. While neither site was actually able to log into the apps -- they still require an active username and password for Clearview's service -- the fact that they were so easily accessible doesn't instill much confidence. Then again, we already had our doubts after Clearview's massive client list breach. The company's CEO, Hoan Ton-That, told TechCrunch: "We are in contact with Apple and working on complying with their terms and conditions."

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • New Powerbeats wireless headphones appear to be on the way

    It's been years since Apple and Beats introduced the Powerbeats3, a $200 set of wireless headphones with ear hooks and a cable connecting the two earpieces together. Since then, Beats released the excellent, totally wireless Powerbeats Pro, but it looks like the company is readying a successor to the older model. A recent FCC filing for Apple shows off a paid of headphones that bears a striking resemblance to the Powerbeats 3, complete with a similar ear hook design and connecting cable.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Apple will open its first India retail store in 2021

    If Apple is going to keep iPhone sales going in a market that's cooling down, it may have to court regions where it previously hasn't sold well -- and it appears poised to do just that. CEO Tim Cook told attendees at Apple's annual shareholder meeting that the company would start selling its products online in India later in 2020, and would open its first official retail store in the country in 2021. The tech firm was waiting for government approval to run the branded stores itself rather than relying on a local partner. Apple doesn't want "somebody else to run the brand for us," Cook explained.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Eero's mesh WiFi routers now support Apple HomeKit

    Eero has acted on its promise of supporting HomeKit for Routers. You can now add any Eero, Eero Pro or Eero Beacon device running eeroOS 3.18.0 (or later) to Apple's Home app, letting the mesh WiFi routers firewall your smart home devices so that a vulnerability in one doesn't compromise your entire local network. You can allow gadgets to communicate automatically with the devices their manufacturers approve, limit them to HomeKit or remove all restrictions if necessary.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Rian Johnson: Apple won’t let movie villains use iPhones on camera

    Product placement in Hollywood has existed almost since the advent of movies themselves, so by now we're all fairly immune to seeing glaringly obvious logos and brands on the big screen. And while no company wants to be associated with negative connotations, it seems that one tech giant is particularly twitchy about its reputation: Apple.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Clinical trial will see if Apple devices can reduce the risk of strokes

    Over the past several years, Apple has made efforts to expand the health-related features of the iPhone and Apple Watch. Apps and features like fall detection and high heart rate monitoring provide helpful insights, especially for senior citizens. Last year, Johnson & Johnson announced a study that would explore how these capabilities could reduce the risk of stroke through early detection of irregular heart rhythms. Enrollment in the clinical trial -- called Heartline -- is now open for US residents who are 65 or older, have Original Medicare, own an iPhone 6s or newer and allow access to their Medicare claims data.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Apple dives deep into specs for the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR

    You probably know the basics of what the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR have to offer, but Apple is more than a little eager to help if you have any lingering questions. The company has posted white papers for both the Mac Pro (PDF) and Pro Display XDR (PDF) that dive deep into the specs for each. The Mac Pro paper doesn't offer startling revelations, but it does outline the workstation's capabilities in thorough detail -- you'll know a fair amount about the Xeon architecture, RAM, PCI Express slots, graphics and I/O by the time you're done.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple may be open to letting users set their own default apps

    Apple's insistence on gatekeeping certain actions of rival apps on iPhones and iPads has long been a source of contention among users. Clicking on web links or email addresses, for example, automatically takes you to Safari or Apple Mail, even if you've got other alternatives installed. But this may be about to change. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the company is considering letting users switch from Apple's default apps to those of its rivals.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Transit directions are rolling out to Apple Maps users in Europe

    Apple took its time getting transit directions onto its maps, and even once it did Apple Maps users in countries outside the US were left wanting. Now, it seems it's finally rolling out transit directions coverage across Europe. According to MacRumors, travelers in cities across France, Germany, Spain and potentially other countries are now able to use the function, which provides real-time information on public transport such as buses, trams and trains.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Apple warns of iPhone 'supply shortages' due to coronavirus outbreak

    The consequences of the coronavirus outbreak will be worse than expected for Apple. The tech firm has warned that global iPhone supply will be "temporarily constrained" while it resumes production. Although its factory partners have reopened, those facilities are restoring their output "more slowly than [Apple] had anticipated." If it's hard to find an iPhone 11 in the near future, you'll know why.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple ordered to pay employees for time lost to bag searches

    Apple broke the law in California by failing to pay employees while they waited for mandatory bag and iPhone searches, the state's supreme court has ruled. The fight began over six years ago, when Apple Store employees sued the company, saying they were required to clock out before being searched for stolen merchandise or trade secrets. The workers felt they were still under Apple's control during that five to 20 minute process and should therefore be compensated. Apple in turn argued that the employees could choose not to bring their bags or iPhones, thus avoiding a search in the first place.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Apple brings code-teaching app Swift Playgrounds to the Mac

    Swift Playgrounds, Apple's teach-kids*-how-to-code-app for the iPad, is now available to use on your Mac desktop. The title, which enables you to learn the basics of Swift, Apple's newest programming language, uses game-like elements to sneak code into your subconscious. You play by guiding a character, called Byte, through a series of levels, solving puzzles (with code) as you go.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Oscar-winning screenwriter Taika Waititi dunks on Apple’s keyboards

    Winning an Academy Award makes you feel like you're ruler of the world, at least for the rest of Oscar night. Taika Waititi, winning a gong for best adapted screenplay, started issuing demands of his favorite technology company shortly after leaving the stage. When asked by reporters about the forthcoming Writers' Guild of America negotiations, the director focused his ire on Apple. Specifically, its keyboards, which the director says are "impossible to write on."

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Apple may be testing Macs with AMD processors

    Recently discovered references to AMD CPUs within the code of the latest macOS Catalina betas suggest Apple may be testing the chipmaker's processors to see how they work with its Mac computers. A Reddit and Twitter user named "_rogame" spotted the code snippets, which reference several different AMD processors. For instance, one codename that has come up is "Renoir," which correlates to AMD's new Ryzen 4000-series chips.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • France fines Apple $27 million for slowing down iPhones

    France's Competition and Fraud body, DGCCRF, has fined Apple €25 million ($27.3 million) for intentionally slowing the performance of older iPhones. The issue, which centered on battery management, was seen by many as an attempt to force users to upgrade before they needed to. Apple would eventually disclose the feature, but has agreed to pay the fine, and display a press release prominently on its French website.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • iOS 13.4 could turn your iPhone and Apple Watch into car keys

    You might be able to use your iPhones and Apple Watches to lock, unlock and start your cars when iOS 13.4 comes out. According to 9to5Mac, the first beta version of the mobile OS contains references to a "CarKey" API that will let you use your devices as keys for vehicles with NFC. Based on the internal files the publication saw, you won't even have to authenticate with Face ID -- you simply have to hold your device near the reader to work, even if it's out of battery.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Apple will give the option to buy iOS and Mac apps as a bundle

    The latest beta of Apple's Xcode development tool adds a small but nifty feature that will make it easier in some situations to buy apps you want to use across iOS and macOS. Developers who decide to take advantage of the feature will be able to bundle together different versions of an app into a single "Universal Purchase." If you buy one version, you'll then get access to the other automatically. As part of the same change, developers will also have the option to sell unified in-app purchases.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple News' 2020 presidential election coverage includes livestreams

    Like Apple's done during previous election years, it's announced special dedicated Apple News coverage for the presidential election, just in time for those tricky caucuses. Sources will include most major US news networks and outlets, including CBS, CNN, FiveThirtyEight, Fox News, NBC, ProPublica, Reuters, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Apple wants to remind you Arcade exists

    Apple was a no-show in the flurry of Super Bowl ads, but it made its presence felt seemingly everywhere else. The tech giant launched a full-on ad blitz for Apple Arcade shortly before the football extravaganza got underway, including a takeover of its home page where game characters invaded the usual product promos -- you probably weren't expecting Sonic to ever race around a MacBook Pro. There were a number of straight-up commercials, too, such as a TV spot showing all the ways you could play (including in the grips of a sewer monster) and a mock livestream from Oceanhorn 2's hero.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple is offering onsite repairs in some US cities

    For the longest time, getting repairs for an Apple device as an everyday user has usually meant either visiting a store or mailing it in -- and both are pains if you either don't have the time or would rather not lug a heavy iMac or Mac Pro to the local mall. If you live in the right city, though, you might not have to. MacRumors has noticed that Apple is now offering onsite service in a handful of US cities, including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco. As with many services like this, Apple appears to be using a contractor (Go Tech Services) and asks you to book an appointment that might include an "onsite visit fee" in addition to any costs for the repair itself.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple is closing all mainland China stores due to coronavirus outbreak

    The coronavirus outbreak is having a tangible impact on the tech world, and Apple is serving as a textbook example of its effect. The company is closing all its retail stores and corporate offices in mainland China through February 9th out of an "abundance of caution" and in consultation from experts. Apple had initially closed three stores, but this shuts down a full 42 locations across the country.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Apps (35)

  • Moment stops work on its Android camera app due to complexity

    You may have to be pickier about your choice of phone if you're a mobile photography enthusiast. Moment has stopped working on its Pro Camera app for Android due to a lack of "engineering bandwidth" (read: enough available staff) to develop the software properly. Simply put, it comes down to the complexity of the Android ecosystem. Phone makers frequently create custom Android versions with different levels of access to "select camera features," Moment said, leading to wildly varying feature compatibility lists -- and that's before accounting for OS updates that break these manufacturer changes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Uber's app update offers message translations and makes pickups clearer

    Uber is introducing a couple of new features designed to make ride pickups easier for both drivers and passengers. Firstly, the app interface has had a refresh to put more focus and transparency on ride arrival status, and secondly, a new translation tool has arrived, making it easier for riders to communicate with drivers that don't speak their language.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google Earth finally works on Firefox, Edge and Opera browsers

    When Google ditched its desktop Earth app in favor of a web-only experience, it said it was "almost ready" to work on Firefox and other browsers. That was nearly three years ago, but Google has finally delivered on that promise, as Google Earth now works not only on Firefox, but Microsoft Edge and Opera too, the company announced.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • GrubHub+ gets you free deliveries and cashback for $10 a month

    GrubHub is launching a new subscription service. Starting today, you can pay $10 per month to get access to GrubHub+. Its main perks include unlimited free delivery and 10 percent cash back on orders. Additionally, if you donate through the company's Donate the Change program, it will match your contribution. It also promises priority support and "exclusive" access to in-app perks.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Firefox now encrypts domain name requests by default in the US

    After a brief delay, Mozilla has started to make DNS over HTTPS the default for Firefox users in the US. Notwithstanding any additional hiccups, the company says it hopes to finish the rollout sometime over the next couple of weeks. The protocol is supposed to protect one of the most fundamental aspects of browsing the internet: translating URLs into IP addresses. Without DNS over HTTPS, bad actors can see what websites you've visited -- even if they don't know what you did on those sites thanks to HTTPS. The protocol protects your privacy by effectively disguising DNS queries as regular HTTPS traffic.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Bird wants you to make purchases through its mobile app

    E-scooter startup Bird has started testing a new in-app payments feature called Bird Pay. If you live in Santa Monica or Los Angeles, you can try it out at select businesses across the two cities. If you see a tablet like the one pictured above, you can pay for a purchase by opening the Bird app, scanning a QR code, entering the amount you owe and then swiping up to confirm the payment. It's not as straightforward of a solution as say Apple Pay, but it does bypass the need for an NFC terminal -- which businesses in the US have been slow to adopt.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Opera's workspaces keep messy tabs under control

    If you're a fan of tabbed web browsers, there's a real chance your tabs can be overwhelming at times. Ever try to find that one article you were hoping to read when you have dozens of tabs to wade through? Opera, at least, thinks it can help you clean up that mess. Its newly released Opera 67 for the desktop (aka R2020) introduces tab workspaces that keep you organized. You could have a set of tabs devoted to your schoolwork while another caters just to your social media updates. You can even send links to different workspaces by right-clicking them.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Spotify is testing real-time lyrics

    Spotify might be adding real-time lyrics to its app, again. Dozens of Twitter users around the world have reported that lyrics are now popping up as they listen to Spotify. A user with beta 8.5.46.848 confirmed the feature to Android Police. But, this seems to be server-side enabled, as not all users with that beta can see the lyrics.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Adobe brings more desktop-quality Photoshop tools to the iPad

    Photoshop turns 30 today, and Adobe is celebrating with some worthwhile updates to the photo-editing app on both the desktop and iPad. The company has been focused on improving that tablet app as quickly as possible since it launched in November. After over a year of hyping Photoshop on iPad, the software had very limited features when it reached the masses a few months ago. Adobe was quick to address concerns with a detailed roadmap, but it was clear adding new items would take time. The company brought the AI-powered Select Subject tool from the desktop to iPad in December, and today it's adding a couple more notable features.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • RCS messaging comes to Windows 10's Your Phone app

    When Samsung's new Galaxy S20 phones make their way to stores early next month, they'll be able to relay RCS messages to Windows 10 PCs. It's all thanks to Microsoft's Your Phone app, which the company is updating to enable it to send and receive RCS texts when paired with Samsung's Messages app. That means you'll be able to enjoy the protocol's tentpole features, such as typing indicators and read receipts, from your computer -- provided the person you're texting also has an RCS-capable device.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Next version of Chrome brings web AR and NFC to more users

    Google is close to making some cutting edge web tech more accessible. The internet giant has released a Chrome 81 beta for Android, Linux, Mac and Windows that adds WebXR support for browser-based augmented reality. Web developers now have a fairly straightforward way to bring AR to users across platforms without resorting to native apps. The underlying framework had been present before, but required enabling flags -- this will make AR available to Chrome users once site creators make use of it.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Strava now syncs workout data from your Apple Watch

    If you use Strava to track your workouts on an iPhone, you've probably wondered why you couldn't sync your Apple Health data with it. While there is a Strava app for the Apple Watch, there's not as much of an incentive to get the wearable if it your data stays isolated. That might not be an issue from now on -- Strava has added Apple Health syncing to its iOS app, letting it pull in activity data from the past 30 days. You can pick the workouts you want to share, title them and add photos to boast about your achievements.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Gmail for iOS will let you attach items from the Files app

    The Gmail iOS app is making it a little easier to send attachments. Previously, users were limited to attaching photos from the camera roll or anything in their Google Drive. Thanks to an update rolling out today, users will be able to add attachments from the Files iOS app. That means you'll be able to send anything in iCloud Drive, files saved locally on your phone, plus anything in services you've connected like Dropbox.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Pandora's Apple Watch app will soon stream music without an iPhone

    Next time you go for a run or to the gym, you might be able to leave your phone behind but still listen to whatever music you want on the fly if you're a Pandora premium subscriber. The Apple Watch app is being updated so that it no longer needs to be tethered to an iPhone to stream music or podcasts. As long as you've got a WiFi or cellular data connection, you can do just that. Engadget has tried this out and verified it works, but we've also learned that the app update is happening in stages, so not everyone will have this feature yet.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • YouTube TV won't work with App Store subscriptions after March 13th

    Starting on March 13th, Google will no longer allow people to subscribe to YouTube TV through the App Store. In an email obtained by MacRumors, the company says not only will it stop accepting new App Store subscriptions next month, but it will also cancel any existing ones at around the same time.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Jamm Pro combines powerful synth and sampler tools in one iPad app

    If you're an electronic music DJ and you want to produce a truly unique live performance, you might have found your tool. DJ duo Coldcut and its Ninja Tune label have released an iPad-only app, Jamm Pro, that promises both much more power than its Ninja Jamm predecessor and "extensive" modulation and patching abilities like those you'd find in a modular synth. There are four channels with nine sequencers each (modulation, slice, pitch/reverse/drill and gate) and up to 64 patches, allowing a staggering 2,304 sequencers for each sound pack (Sound Set in Ninja Tune's lingo). You can finally use your own samples as well, whether they're from Sound Sets, external sources or straight from the iPad's mic.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Zillow's new search tool helps find housing for those in need

    Escaping homelessness is an enormous undertaking, not least because so many landlords and property managers have strict criteria for new tenants. Those that have been homeless are often unable to provide rental histories or sizeable deposits, for example. Now though, property platform Zillow is teaming up with a housing company in Washington to help tackle the problem.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Android saw a 98 percent drop in apps asking for call and text data

    Google has been clamping down on Android apps that abuse permissions, and that appears to have had a very tangible effect on the Play Store. As part of a larger piece explaining how Google continues to fight "bad apps," the company revealed that there was a 98 percent drop in the number of Play Store apps accessing call log and SMS data in 2019. Simply put, an October 2018 policy against unnecessary access had its intended effect. The remaining 2 percent are apps that really do require call and text data to perform their core tasks, according to Google.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Gboard for Android combines old emoji to create new ones

    Google has launched a new feature for Gboard on Android, which uses existing emoji as ingredients to create new stickers. The tech giant aptly calls it Emoji Kitchen, and it's rolling out to Android users starting today. Unfortunately, you can't create your own recipes to fuse any two expressions you want -- you'll just have to hope that one of the designers who worked on the project thought of what you have in mind.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The Iowa app debacle is a bad omen for modernizing our elections

    The American electoral system is a weird arcane thing. And primary politics even more so. Honestly, I could spend the next 2,000 words trying to explain the caucus process and, chances are, I'd still only be scratching the surface. So, I've got to hand it to the Iowa Democratic Party for managing to make things even more confusing with its half-baked attempt to bring modern technology into the process. It took the party nearly a week to certify the results and award Pete Buttigieg the most delegates. It's worth noting that most news outlets, including the Associated Press, which usually verifies election results, have so far refused to declare a winner. And now Bernie Sanders' campaign is asking that some precincts be re-canvassed. It's been over a week and this thing shows no signs of ending. How did we get here? Well, like so many tragedies, this is a story of good intentions gone awry.

    By Terrence O'Brien Read More

  • China rolls out 'close contact detection app' for coronavirus

    China has launched an app that aims to reduce the spread of coronavirus by alerting users when they've been in close proximity to someone with the illness. According to a report in Xinhua, China's state-run news agency, the app -- named the Close Contact Detector -- lets users check their status by scanning a QR code using an app such as Alipay, WeChat or QQ. They will then be directed to enter their name and government ID number, and can check the status of three other ID numbers.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • BlueMail is back in the App Store after it called out Apple (update)

    BlueMail is back in the Apple App Store eight months after it was removed. If you'll recall, the email app's creators sued the tech giant last year after it launched the "Sign in with Apple" feature, which lets you sign into apps and websites with your Apple ID to protect your information. BlueMail's developer, Blix, claimed the feature violates its 2017 "Share Email" patent that its app uses. In addition, BlueMail disappeared from the App Store shortly after the "Sign in with Apple" feature was announced. Now, the app is available for download again, and Blix believes the development demonstrates "the effectiveness of public pressure."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Adobe adds split-screen multitasking to Lightroom on iPad

    If you'd prefer to have a second app open on your screen while editing photos, Adobe might have just granted your wish. It's enabling split-screen multitasking in Lightroom on iPad with the app's most recent update. It's a handy addition that should bolster productivity for many, and it follows the arrival of a direct import tool on iPhone and iPad.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Spotify's Kids app is coming to all Premium Family subscribers

    Spotify launched its standalone Kids app in Ireland back in October 2019 as a way to give younger listeners access to its varied catalog of music. Now, the company is rolling it out in beta in the UK and beyond, in a launch that coincides with Childnet International's Safer Internet Day.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Microsoft's redesigned Office apps for iOS are faster and simpler

    Microsoft is acting on its promise to give its mobile Office apps a makeover. It just released new iOS (and iPadOS) versions of Excel, PowerPoint and Word that all tout a "simpler, faster and more beautiful" redesign. Really, that's another way of saying they have a more consistent look with an interface that helps you quickly edit documents when you're away from your desk.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NYPD will replace handwritten logs with an iPhone app later this month

    After more than a century, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) is retiring the handwritten memo books carried by police officers and replacing them with an app, The New York Times reports. On February 17th, officers will begin recording their detailed activity logs in an iOS app on department-issued iPhones.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Iowa Democrats say sloppy app code delayed caucus results

    We're still waiting for a full explanation about what, exactly, went wrong during Iowa's caucus Monday night, but the state's Democratic party claims a "coding issue" in a new app is the biggest reason for the delayed results. The app, which the WSJ reports was developed by the Washington, DC-based company Shadow, managed to accurately record caucus data submitted by precincts across the state. But the Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) claims a programming error made the app only report partial data. The organization managed to locate and fix the error, but now it's in working on confirming the caucus results via paper records. (Update: The IDP says it plans to announce results by 5PM ET today, the Washington Post reports.)

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Now certain 2019 LG TVs have the Apple TV app too

    Late last year LG started to add AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to its TVs with firmware updates. Then at CES last month the company announced it would add the full Apple TV app that adds all of the video bits from iTunes, as well as access to the Apple TV+ service. Now, if you have one of its 2019 OLED TVs or high-end NanoCell LCD TVs then you should start seeing the app, while "select" other LCDs (UM7X and UM6X series) should get access later this month. This way, you don't have to add an Apple TV device, or use the AirPlay features to watch Apple's various video offerings, and of course many of the shows are mastered in Dolby Vision HDR. Last year the app was exclusively available on Samsung's TVs, but in 2020 it's coming to a much wider selection of screens. For LG's 2020 TVs it will be available at launch, and the company reaffirmed that 2018 TVs will also get the app via a firmware update later this year.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Iowa Caucus results delayed, link to mobile app problems is unclear (updated)

    Technology is already creating hiccups for the 2020 election mere hours into the caucuses. Democratic county chairs in Iowa told Bloomberg that precinct chairs were having problems downloading or signing into the mobile app used to tabulate and share results from the roughly 1,700 sites. They could still provide results through a phone line, but the problems threatened to delay reporting on results for hours.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google Photos test subscription prints your best pictures every month

    Online photo services with printing options usually revolve around on-demand printing for special occasions, but Google appears to be trying something different: printing photos every month no matter what you've taken. A 9to5Google tipster has revealed a Google Photos test subscription service that automatically selects your 10 best pictures for printing each month. You just tell Google whether you want to focus on faces (including pets), landscapes or a "little bit of everything" -- so long as you're willing to pay $8 per month, you'll get a collection of related 4x6 prints on matte cardstock. You can edit images before committing to the print process.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Overcast can skip podcast intros and outros

    Don't like drawn-out podcast introductions, or just don't want to hear the same closing credits every episode? If you're invested in the Apple ecosystem, you might not have to endure them. Marco Arment has updated his Overcast app for iOS, iPadOS and Apple Watch with an option to skip intros and outros. You can tell the player to skip a certain number of seconds at the start or end of a podcast on a per-show basis -- if you know the first 30 seconds of a show is always fluff, you can cut to the heart of the podcast and save precious time.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Big Tech (21)

  • Coronavirus bursts Big Tech’s bubble

    Virus enthusiasts from all over the world converged in San Francisco this week for America's largest security event: RSA Conference 2020. Before it began, fourteen companies withdrew from RSAC over concerns about the impending Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On opening day, organizers sent a message through the conference app asking attendees to stop greeting each other with handshakes.

    By Violet Blue Read More

  • Walmart+ is the retailer's latest attempt to take on Amazon Prime

    Amazon will sell you just about anything you want, and it'll usually get it you in mere days -- if not less than that. How's a traditional brick-and-mortar retail giant like Walmart supposed to compete with that? The answer, according to a recent report from Recode, is to fire back at Amazon's Prime with a valuable subscription service of its own. Walmart+, as it is known, may roll out as a public test as early as next month, but the jury's still out on whether it has the perks needed to succeed.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Tesla and Panasonic will no longer work together on solar cells

    Panasonic will stop building solar cells at Tesla's New York Gigafactory 2 plant, the company revealed in a press release. That means Panasonic won't be working on Telsa's latest Solar Roof tiles, though it won't impact their Tesla EV battery partnership. Still, it's not a great sign for the two companies, especially considering that Tesla might start building its own EV batteries.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • TurboTax maker Intuit buys Credit Karma to corner personal financial data

    Intuit wants to manage more of your financial data. The TurboTax developer has bought Credit Karma, best known for helping people track and control their credit, for $7.1 billion in cash and stock. It intends to use Credit Karma to craft a "personalized financial assistant" that provides insights into your money and helps you "find the right financial products." It might point you to a new credit card or a higher-yield savings account, for instance.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Huawei's smart speaker will be available outside of China, but not the US

    Huawei is about to compete more aggressively in smart speakers... insofar as it can, anyway. The tech firm is planning to launch its Sound X speaker in Europe following a China-only release in the fall. It'll pack the same Devialet-powered 360-degree sound and 60W double subwoofer. However, it won't initially ship with a voice assistant -- the Xiaoyi helper is clearly China-focused, and the US blacklisting prevents Huawei from using Alexa or Google Assistant.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Tesla receives permission to continue working on its German Gigafactory

    Work on Tesla's German Gigafactory is back on. The company received permission from the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg to continue clearing 91 hectares of forest in preparation for its fourth factory, where it plans to build batteries, powertrains and vehicles, starting with the Model Y.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • The EU outlines its plan to compete with big tech

    The European Union has outlined the start of its vision to boost its opportunities in our rapidly digitizing future. As part of a push to make the Union ready for the digital age, it has published a white paper and begun consulting about how it can best control its own destiny. After all, the EU may be a bigger market than the US, but it has struggled to produce homegrown alternatives to Facebook, Google and Microsoft.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Judge dismisses Huawei lawsuit against 'unconstitutional' federal ban

    In 2018 the US government banned government personnel from using Huawei and ZTE devices, and a few months later, Huawei sued on the basis that such restrictions were unconstitutional. Since then, Huawei's situation and ability to do business in the US has continued to deteriorate, and now a judge has ruled against the company. U.S. District Court judge Amos Mazzant decided that Congress does have the power to ban federal agencies from using certain companies. According to the Wall Street Journal, in the 57-page ruling he wrote "Contracting with the federal government is a privilege, not a constitutionally guaranteed right—at least not as far as this court is aware." Huawei is apparently considering its legal options, and said in a statement that "the approach taken by the US Government in the 2019 NDAA provides a false sense of protection while undermining Huawei's constitutional rights." A few days ago Huawei accused the US DOJ of "political persecution," coming as it faces charges for allegedly stealing trade secrets, claims it can access carrier backdoors and even a patent lawsuit against (owner of Engadget's parent company) Verizon.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Huawei accuses US Justice Department of 'political persecution'

    One day after the US Justice Department announced 16 new charges against Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer has responded. In a lengthy statement, the company defends its track record, and accuses the US government of "using the strength of an entire nation to come after a private company."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • NVIDIA cuts its outlook by $100 million due to 2019 coronavirus

    NVIDIA has published its earnings report for fiscal year 2020, and in it the chipmaker has revealed how much it thinks the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) would affect its business. The company has reduced its revenue outlook for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 by $100 million to account for the disease's impact.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Judge grants Amazon’s request to put Microsoft’s Pentagon contract on hold

    For months, Amazon has been making a fuss over the Pentagon's decision to award Microsoft the $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract. The company has said that President Trump's "personal vendetta" cost it the contract, and it has filed a lawsuit to challenge the decision. Now, a judge has ordered a temporary block on the JEDI contract in response to the suit, CNBC reports.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Justice Department charges Huawei with stealing trade secrets, again

    The US Justice Department has charged Huawei and two US subsidiaries with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to steal trade secrets. A 16-count superseding indictment, filed yesterday in Brooklyn, New York, adds to previous US charges filed against Huawei last January. The indictment names several defendants, including Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Wanzhou Meng, who is already facing fraud accusations and could serve years in prison.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon is undercutting Facebook's own Portal sale

    Ahead of Valentine's Day, Facebook is discounting its Portal products by $30 each -- and it's added $50 discounts for bulk-buying into the mix, too. While this isn't quite as good a deal as Facebook's previous Black Friday offering, the 'buy one, get one reduced for someone close to you' deal could well be appealing. Not one to be outdone, though, Amazon has gone one better and is right now not only matching these discounts, but beating them on most of the Portal models and including the $50 bulk-buy discount to boot.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Sony lets anyone create remote controls for its cameras

    Sony's mirrorless cameras are usually well-regarded, but their support for remote control? Not so much. You've usually had to rely on Sony's own software, making the cameras non-starters for portrait and sports photographers who may need (or just prefer) third-party options to capture images from afar. The company is loosening up, at least. It just released a toolkit, the Camera Remote SDK, that allows any developer to create remote controls for Sony's Alpha camera line. The kit is limited to handling still shots, but should let software and hardware display live previews, change settings and of course take pictures.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The FTC has opened an investigation into Facebook and Google acquisitions

    The FTC has just announced an antitrust investigation into Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google (as well as parent company Alphabet) and Microsoft. The consumer protection agency is requiring that all companies provide information about past acquisitions they've made but "not reported to the antitrust agencies under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act." The HSR act is a set of amendments made to US antitrust laws in 1976 that requires companies to not complete mergers and acquisitions without making detailed filings with the FTC and Department of Justice; both agencies must determine that those moves aren't anti-competitive. But not all mergers or acquisitions are subject to the HSR Act, so the FTC is essentially asking these companies to open their books on all such transactions. Today's announcement calls for the companies to provide the FTC with details on all transactions completed between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2019.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Activists form nonprofit to fight gig worker exploitation

    Gig workers are often at odds with the companies through which they find work, whether it's over how well they're paid or how they're treated. A gig worker and activist duo are attempting to help improve working conditions for contractors across the board. Vanessa Bain and Sarah Clarke created the Gig Workers Collective, which has a pending application to become a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • The Morning After: Sony and Amazon skip MWC over coronavirus concerns

    Hey, good morning! The future of MWC, the world's biggest phone show, gets even murkier. It's all due to the increased threat of the coronavirus. While the GSMA, the body that runs the event, says everything's utterly fine and that it has a strategy about avoiding handshaking, LG is out, ZTE won't have its press conference and Amazon announced that it was also dropping from the show. Xiaomi has shrunk its plans, while rumors swirl that other Chinese companies have sent their execs and staff to Europe early, ensuring a two-week (sort of) quarantine of their own before the show actually starts. This week kicks off with Sony announcing it's withdrawing from MWC 2020, too. It'll make its announcements (presumably a new phone) on a YouTube livestream from the safety of some studio, somewhere. --Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • EU investigates Qualcomm for alleged anti-competitive tactics

    Qualcomm is facing yet another European Union antitrust case. The wireless hardware giant has revealed in an SEC filing that the European Commission is investigating the company for possible anti-competitive tactics in the radio frequency chip space. Officials want to know if Qualcomm abused its influence in 5G baseband processors to push companies into using its radio frequency front end chips instead of third-party options like Broadcom or Skyworks.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Coronavirus outbreak is affecting Nintendo Switch supply in Japan

    The coronavirus outbreak is continuing to have a tangible impact on tech. Nintendo has warned that the virus will result in "inevitable" production and shipment delays for the Switch in Japan, including Joy-Con controllers and Ring Fit Adventure. Accordingly, it postponed Japanese reservations for the Animal Crossing Switch (above) from February 8th to an unspecified date. Pre-orders for the game itself weren't affected.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Huawei sues Verizon after patent talks break down

    Huawei and Verizon's not-very-public feud has escalated into courtroom warfare as the telecoms company files lawsuits across Texas. Huawei is alleging that Verizon is infringing on its networking patents without paying the proper fees, and it wants "compensation for Verizon's use of patented technology." The Chinese giant says it began talking to Verizon on February 7th, 2019, but talks broke down on January 21st, 2020. The apparent breakdown prompted the legal broadside, with claims filed in both the Eastern and Western district of Texas.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • The Morning After: BlackBerry / TCL split, and Iowa's primary app problem

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. It might actually be time for BlackBerry phones to ride off into the sunset. It's miraculous that the keyboard-toting phones have stuck around as far as 2020. Today, TCL announced it'll put an end to its BlackBerry partnership. I hope this means there will be no more BlackBerry phones for Chris Velazco to graciously -- far more than I would -- write about. As the iPhone came to dominate smartphones, BlackBerry went through several makeovers. In 2013, there was BlackBerry 10 OS, which was much faster, more functional and prettier than what came before it. It was also still behind what you could get from Google's Android or Apple's iOS. Then there were BlackBerry devices running Android. Then in 2016, BlackBerry announced it would stop designing its own phones, licensing everything to TCL under the name BlackBerry Mobile. The writing was, repeatedly, on the wall. Even if you liked physical keyboards, the world had moved on. From now on, BlackBerry, once the dominant smartphone company, will focus exclusively on software and security. I've heard more news about BlackBerry and cars than I have BlackBerry and phones. Fortunately, I have little interest in cars. -- Mat

    By Richard Lawler Read More

Buying Guides (12)

  • How to buy a mirrorless camera lens in 2020

    If you've decided to take the plunge and buy a new mirrorless camera, possibly ditching your DSLR, you now have another decision: What lenses do you need? That decision could have a large impact on how your photos or videos look and what kind of shooting you can do. And this is no simple decision. You have to consider sharpness, distortion, speed, prime or zoom and, most important, price. In this guide, I'll touch on all that and look at some of the best lenses for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Amazon discounts the 256GB MacBook Air to under $1,000

    As part of its latest deal of the day, Amazon has discounted the 2019 MacBook Air. Until the end of the day, you can get the space grey model -- with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage -- for $999. The $300 price drop is the biggest discount the online retailer has offered on this specific model to date.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Amazon cuts the price of the 7-in-1 Ninja Foodi cooker to $125

    Amazon's deal of the day is the 7-in-1 Ninja Foodi, capable of pressure cooking, slow cooking, air-frying and more. This five-quart powerhouse is on sale for $125. That's $55 off the current list price, but to lock in the deal, you'll have to snag this multi-function cooker before the day is over.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Amazon drops the Fire TV Cube to its best-ever price

    Amazon is no stranger to discounting its Fire TV devices, but now may represent a better opportunity than usual. The tech giant is offering sizeable deals across multiple models, most notably the current-generation Fire TV Cube -- it's back down to its best-ever price of $90, or $30 off the usual sticker. You can also snag the 500GB Fire TV Recast over-the-air DVR for $145, a full $85 below its list price. And if you want the essentials, you can pick up the standard Fire TV Stick for $25 (down from $40) or the Fire TV Stick 4K for $35 (a drop from $50).

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Pre-order the Galaxy S20 from Amazon and get free Galaxy Buds+

    Now that Samsung has officially detailed the new Galaxy S20 series and the phones are two weeks away from hitting store shelves, retailers like Amazon are trying to entice consumers to buy the devices ahead of time with pre-order promotions. As has become something of an annual tradition for Samsung, the company and various other retailers are offering a number of freebies to get you to commit to buying the phone now.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • How to buy a mirrorless camera in 2020

    Two crucial things happened in the camera world in 2019: mirrorless cameras took over from DSLRs and the industry as a whole had its worst year in a decade. So what does that mean for you, the potential camera buyer? Manufacturers are pulling out all the stops to lure you away from your smartphone, so a lot of great new mirrorless cameras have come out in the last year. And, as Canon just announced, more exciting models are on the way.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • You can get a PS4 Pro on Amazon for less than $300

    Yes, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series Whatever are coming your way by the end of the year. But if you can't wait until then for a 4K or VR gaming upgrade, then at least you can save a little money on the most powerful PlayStation console available. On Amazon the PS4 Pro is currently available for $299.98, $100 less than the usual price. We've occasionally seen it available for this amount before, and if you just bought a new TV and are tearing through your back catalog of games before the next gen upgrades hit, then it might be the right time to buy. It upgrades the WiFi support over older PS4s, and even though many games aren't running natively in 4K resolution, they'll still look better than ever with some extra GPU horsepower. Buy Sony PS4 Pro on Amazon - $299.98

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Dell’s top-of-the-line XPS 13 from 2019 is $400 off at Amazon

    One of Engadget's favorite laptops, the Dell XPS 13, is currently on sale. Amazon has discounted the top-of-the-line 2019 model by $400, making it $1,400 instead of $1,800. This variant features a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of internal storage and a 4K touchscreen display. According to price tracker Camelcamelcamel, $1,400 is Amazon's lowest price for the 2019 model to date. To put things in perspective, the lower spec models currently cost more than the top-end one.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Amazon's Fire tablets for kids are back to their lowest-ever pricing

    Now might be a good time to go shopping if you're looking for a tablet to keep your kids entertained and educated. Amazon has dropped the prices on its Kids Edition tablets to Black Friday levels, making them tempting options if you're looking for a basic but child-friendly slate. The entry Fire 7 Kids Edition represents the biggest bargain, dropping from its usual $100 to a more appealing $60. The Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is still a good deal, though, falling from $130 to $80. And if you want the largest model possible, you can save $50 on the Fire HD 10 Kids Edition and pick one up for $150. Similar deals exist for two-packs if there's more than one tyke in your household.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Save $50 on Brydge's excellent iPad Pro keyboards

    One of iPad Pro's better third-party keyboard options, the Brydge Pro, is currently on sale. Wellbots has discounted both 11-inch and 12.9-inch versions of the accessory. After a $50 price cut, they're $99 and $119 respectively. As a bonus, if you live outside of New York State, there's no tax.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro gets a $300 price drop at Amazon

    Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro is barely a few months old, but there are already good deals to be had if you're willing to be patient. Amazon is selling the base configuration of Apple's latest laptop for $2,099, a full $300 off its usual sticker price and a new low at the retailer. That's a significant deal for a system that represents a marked improvement over recent MacBooks (particularly the keyboard) and a good laptop overall with brisk performance, a great display and better sound than you'd expect from a portable. The 2.6GHz Core i7, 16GB of RAM, Radeon Pro 5300M graphics and 512GB SSD should be up to most tasks without flinching.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Computing (7)

  • The rise of cloud computing has had a smaller climate impact than feared

    As more and more gargantuan data centers come on line, environmentalists have been concerned about massive increases in electricity consumption and pollution. However, according to a new study published in Science, that simply hasn't happened. While cloud computing output has jumped by 600 percent from 2010 to 2018, energy consumption rose by just 6 percent. That's because companies like Google have massively increased efficiencies with new chip designs, custom-tailored airflow solutions and other tech.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • The $35 Raspberry Pi 4 now comes with double the RAM

    Raspberry Pi is celebrating its eighth birthday, and it's come a long way in those eight years. Since launching its very first computer back in 2012, the company has sold more than 30 million units. Every year since has brought a newer version with higher specs and better processing power, with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B arriving in 2019 with 40 times more speed than the humble original. Now, thanks to falling RAM prices, Raspberry Pi enthusiasts can get their hands on the 2GB device for $35 (around £35, depending on where you buy it) -- which is the same price as the very first version from eight years ago.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Intel outlines chip that will make quantum computers smaller and faster

    Intel is determined to play an important role in quantum computing, and it just outlined a component that will play a key part in that strategy. Intel and QuTech have provided some technical details for Horse Ridge, a previously-teased cryogenic control chip that should make quantum computers, smaller, faster and with less aggressive cooling. It won't lead to the dream of a true quantum computer, but it should get Intel considerably closer to that goal.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • UK to spend $1.6 billion on the world's fastest weather supercomputer

    The UK's weather service, the Met Office, will spend £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) to acquire the world's most powerful climate supercomputer, the government has announced. That's over ten times more than its current Cray XC40 cost, but it will deliver more timely and accurate forecasts. That could make the difference in knowing whether your flight will be canceled or your street flooded, according to the service.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Bug prevents Windows 7 users from shutting down their PCs

    Microsoft was supposed to have ended Windows 7 support in mid-January, but it can't seem to completely let go -- and neither can some PCs, apparently. Many users on Microsoft's forums, Reddit and elsewhere are reporting that their Windows 7 systems refuse to shut down or reboot as they normally would, claiming that "you don't have permission to shut down this computer." Users have unofficially fixed it by running the Group Policy Editor from the command line to force permissions, but that's clearly not something users should have to do just to turn their PCs off.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hitting the Books: The Y2K bug could come back sooner than you think

    Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Cybersecurity (41)

  • Clearview AI leak names businesses using its facial recognition database

    One of the most vehement arguments against Clearview AI's practice of scraping billions of photos from millions of public websites to build its facial recognition database was that the company's data storage and security protocols were both untested and unregulated. On Wednesday, Clearview AI claimed that its facial recognition database was hacked, giving intruders access the the company's full client list, which Buzzfeed News has acquired.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Facebook sues analytics firm that stole user data through third-party apps

    Facebook has filed a federal lawsuit against a company called OneAudience, accusing it of stealing the personal information of its users. According to Facebook's announcement, OneAudience paid third-party developers to install a malicious software development kit (SDK) in their apps that allowed it to collect people's data without their knowledge.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Facial recognition startup Clearview AI says its full client list was stolen

    You might expect a high-profile (and controversial) facial recognition startup like Clearview AI would have its data locked down, but it turns out it's just as vulnerable as almost any other company to malicious individuals. In a notification obtained by The Daily Beast, the company says a recent vulnerability allowed someone to gain "unauthorized access" to a list of all of its customers. Clearview works with approximately 600 law enforcement agencies across North America, including the Chicago Police Department.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • NYT: $100 million US phone surveillance program produced two unique leads

    After 2015, the USA Freedom Act replaced NSA mass surveillance of American's call metadata that had been enacted under the Patriot Act and Section 215. While it didn't go so far as to completely reform the system as groups like the EFF and ACLU hoped, it changed things by having phone companies collect the data, under limits of how long it could be stored, with queries performed by agencies with a judge's permission. Even the new rules have had problems, with phone companies storing more data than was legally allowed causing the NSA to wipe all data collected in 2018. Also, even more limited queries could end up touching millions of records. Now the New York Times reports on a just-declassified study by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board from last year that looked into the program and found that it had only ever generated two unique leads during the time it was operating. That's out of 15 reports total, but 13 had information the FBI was able to get through other methods, At a cost of over $100 million to operate the setup, this almost complete lack of production reveals more about why the NSA had stopped using it. Sections of the Patriot Act were set to expire in 2019, but despite reported recommendations by the NSA to shut things down, they were extended as part of a funding bill. Now they're up for review again by March 15th, and despite proposed bipartisan legislation intended to replace the program, AG William Barr is again pushing for an extension.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Ninja's Twitter account was hijacked

    Tech giants and sports organizations aren't the only ones wrestling with high-profile Twitter account hijacks. An intruder compromised the account of well-known streamer Ninja (aka Tyler Blevins) in mid-day on February 22nd, trying to use opportunity to rack up followers, start a beef with Fortnite star Tfue and complain when an account (possibly the perpetrator's) was inevitably suspended. The attacker even tried to extort Ninja's wife and business partner, Jessica Blevins, though this clearly wasn't her first time dealing with a wannabe hacker -- she said the intruder "lasted five minutes."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hitting the Books: A brief history of industrial espionage and corn

    Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Google search is showing invitations to private WhatsApp groups

    Your private WhatsApp group might not be as private as you'd like. DW journalist Jordan Wildon has noticed that Google is indexing at least some WhatsApp group invitations in its search, making it possible to slip into groups that owners might not want to be public. While many of these are fairly innocuous, some include sensitive data. Motherboard discovered one group apparently aimed at UN-accredited non-governmental organizations where it was possible to see the list of all 48 participants, including their phone numbers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Analytics firm exposed data for 120 million households

    Exposed databases are all too common, but this one may be more serious than most. Researchers at UpGuard discovered that the Australian market analysis firm Tetrad left data for 120 million households exposed in Amazon S3 storage. It appeared to be a blend of data from providers like Experian Mosaic, Claritas/Nielsen's PRIZM as well as Tetrad customers like Chipotle, Kate Spade and Bevmo. The info varied from source to source, but frequently included sensitive details like names, addresses and purchasing habits. Experian Mosaic's data, for example, sorted users into types based on factors like income.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft’s Defender security software is coming to iOS and Android

    Despite Apple and Google's best efforts, malware and malicious apps are still a big concern on iOS and Android. So today, Microsoft announced that it's bringing its Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to the mobile operating systems. In other words, Microsoft is stepping in to fix a problem that Apple and Google can't seem to resolve.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • MGM data breach exposed personal details of 10.6 million hotel guests

    If you've stayed at an MGM Resorts hotel, you may be among victims of the latest massive data breach. The personal details of more than 10.6 million hotel guests were recently posted on a hacking forum, and ZDNet has confirmed the data's authenticity. ZDNet said the data dump contains affected guests' full names, home addresses, phone numbers, emails and dates of birth. Names and information in the breach include tech CEOs, celebrities, government officials and reporters. In a statement, MGM Resorts said it already notified affected customers about the breach last year, and that it commissioned two cybersecurity forensics firms to investigate the incident. While guests who only stayed at the resort more recently may not have had their information included, it's unclear which years were covered.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Carnegie Mellon built an 'opt-out' system for nearby tracking devices

    It's getting easier to control what your smart home devices share, but what about the connected devices beyond your home? Researchers at Carnegie Mellon's CyLab think they can give you more control. They've developed an infrastructure and matching mobile app (for Android and iOS) that not only informs you about the data nearby Internet of Things devices are collecting, but lets you opt in or out. If you're not comfortable that a device in the hallway is tracking your presence, you can tell it to forget you.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ring now requires two-factor sign-ins for its home security devices

    Ring is continuing its bid to improve privacy and security after facing criticism. As of today, the Amazon brand will start requiring two-factor authentication for all users when they sign into their Ring accounts. When the feature reaches you this week, you'll always get a six-digit code sent to either your email or (less recommended) SMS in order to complete the login process. This move will seem more than a little familiar when Nest announced a similar requirement just a week earlier, but it's still good news when it promises to raise the baseline security for Ring's smart home devices.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Extortionists threaten sites with bad traffic to make Google ban ads

    A creative extortion scheme is threatening websites with revenue loss by unleashing bad traffic that activates Google's AdSense anti-fraud systems, according to Krebs on Security. First, a fraudster threatens to flood the publisher's site with sketchy bot traffic. Then, Google's AdSense anti-fraud systems would pick up on that traffic and suspend the user's AdSense account. Naturally, all you have to do to make this problem go away is pay said fraudster $5,000 in bitcoin.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • 'OurMine' group hijacks Twitter accounts for Olympics and FC Barcelona

    No, the OurMine group isn't done defacing high-profile sites. Twitter has confirmed reports that OurMine hijacked accounts for both the Olympics and FC Barcelona on February 15th, using the opportunity to make a less-than-sincere offer to "improve your [account's] security" and, in the case of FC Barcelona, echo a rumor that star player Neymar would come back to the soccer team. Twitter said in a statement that OurMine had used a "third-party platform" to take control of the accounts, although it didn't name the platform or explain the group's methods. OurMine would only tell Business Insider that it used "security issues" with employees to gain access to a third-party app.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Recommended Reading: The CIA-owned company that helped it spy on the world

    The intelligence coup of the century Greg Miller, The Washington Post This in-depth report tells the story of Crypto AG, a Switzerland-based company that achieved success for its code-making machines during World War II. The company eventually became a popular manufacturer of encryption machines for countries around the world in the decades that followed. Governments trusted that communications between diplomats, military and spies were being kept secret. What those nations didn't know was that Crypto AG as actually owned by the CIA -- originally in partnership with West German intelligence. What's more, the access allowed the two countries to to rig the tech so they could easily crack any code.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • It doesn’t matter if China hacked Equifax

    On Monday the FBI and AG Barr announced "an indictment last week charging four members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) with hacking into the computer systems of the credit reporting agency Equifax and stealing Americans' personal data and Equifax's valuable trade secrets." China's military refutes the charges.

    By Violet Blue Read More

  • Ohio man charged for laundering $300 million through Bitcoin 'mixer'

    American law enforcement just illustrated how important cryptocurrency has become in the criminal world. Federal agents have charged Ohio resident Larry Harmon for allegedly running a darknet-based Bitcoin "mixer" that laundered the equivalent of roughly $300 million for drug dealers and other crooks. Helix, as it was called while it ran between 2014 and 2017, reportedly let customers pay to send Bitcoin in a way that hid the true source. It operated with "brazenness," the IRS' Don Fort said. Helix supposedly partnered with AlphaBay to serve the darknet black market's customers, and advertised Helix on the Grams search engine (which Harmon apparently ran) as a way to hide deals from police.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Puerto Rico's government lost $2.6 million to a phishing scam

    An email phishing scam duped the government of Puerto Rico into transferring more than $2.6 million into a fraudulent account, The Associated Press reports. A government agency transferred the funds on January 17th, but the incident was just discovered this week. Puerto Rico is working with the FBI to investigate and recover the funds.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for an EU-style Data Protection Agency

    The US' data-protection regime is often regarded as lagging behind Europe, especially in an increasingly-digital world. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has a plan to fix that, and has issued a call to create a domestic privacy regulator that would close the gap between the US and other nations. In a post on Medium, the New Yorker senator said that she would introduce legislation to create a new Data Protection Agency.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • US claims Huawei can secretly access carrier backdoors

    The US has been trying to persuade its allies to ditch Huawei for a while, but it has been curiously shy about providing evidence to support its case. However, some of that evidence appears to be coming to light -- although it's still not certain there's a real threat. Officials talking to the Wall Street Journal have claimed that Huawei can "covertly" access phone networks worldwide using backdoors meant for law enforcement. While manufacturers are often required to design their gear in a way that prevents them from gaining access without a carrier's permission, Huawei supposedly maintains that access without the carriers being any the wiser.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • All Nest accounts will require extra sign-in security this spring

    It's not just Ring committing to improving the security of its smart home systems in 2020. Google's Nest has announced that, as of this spring, it will require email-based two-factor authentication for everyone who hasn't previously enabled the feature or migrated to a Google account. This reduces the chances of someone hijacking your smart home setup, even for more ambitious intruders who might use SIM swapping to intercept SMS-based two-factor sign-ins.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Federal prosecutors indict four Chinese military officers over Equifax hack

    The Justice Department has charged four Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers in relation to the 2017 Equifax hack in which the personal details of some 145 million US consumers and nearly a million UK and Canadian citizens were stolen. The data included names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers and some drivers license details.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Netanyahu's party left Israel's entire voter registry exposed

    Political parties have left voter records exposed before, but seldom on this scale. Haaretz has learned that Likud, the party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, uploaded Israel's entire voter registry to the Elector voting management app, which had glaring security issues that effectively left the data wide open for days. You could even access the info through a web browser without tools or expertise. The collection included personal details (such as addresses and ID numbers) for nearly 6.5 million Israelis, including Netanyahu and other top politicians.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Android security flaw lets attackers send malware over Bluetooth

    If you're using a not-quite current Android phone, you'll probably want to check for an update. Security researchers at ERNW have detailed a vulnerability, BlueFrag, that lets attackers silently deliver malware to and steal data from nearby phones running Android 8 Oreo or Android 9 Pie. The intruder only needs to know the Bluetooth MAC address of the target, and that's sometimes easy to guess just by looking at the WiFi MAC address. You won't even know the attack is happening, ERNW said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Facebook says it will tighten account security following 2018 hack

    Facebook is promising to bolster its security processes in the wake of a 2018 hack that exposed data for 29 million users. The social network has proposed a settlement in a lawsuit over the breach that would see the company check more often for suspicious activity around the digital access tokens that let people use their accounts. There are other measures as part of the lawsuit, Bloomberg said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'OurMine' group briefly hijacked Facebook's Twitter and Instagram accounts

    After Jack Dorsey's account was taken over by hackers (more than once), social media account takeovers can't get much bigger, but now Facebook itself has become a victim. The same "OurMine" hackers who sent messages from a bunch of NFL team accounts and @ESPN ahead of the Super Bowl apparently accessed Facebook's accounts on Twitter and Instagram, as well as the official Twitter account for Facebook Messenger. In a statement, Twitter confirmed they were accessed via third-party platform (apparently Khoros, the same way the NFL accounts were compromised) and that it had locked access to them. Last week Khoros said it had addressed a vulnerability in its platform after an attack and suspicious behavior, but it appears the OurMine group still has a way to use it for their own methods. For the rest of us, it's probably a reminder to double check what third-party services you've allowed to access your account on Twitter and other platforms.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Chrome will start protecting users from insecure downloads in April

    Google Chrome will soon deliver on last year's promise to better protect users from insecure content -- downloads not encrypted via HTTPS -- on otherwise secure pages. Chrome 82, which will be released in April, will be the first version of Google's browser to warn users before allowing them to download certain insecure file types. In future releases, they'll be blocked outright.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Federal agencies reportedly bought phone location data to track immigrants

    Since at least 2017, the US federal government has been buying commercially-available cellphone location data to aid in immigration and border-related enforcement actions, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The data is the type of anonymized location information that analytics firms typically sell to digital advertisers so that they target specific consumers. In other words, it's information most people consent to sharing every time they install a new app on their phone.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Brazilian judge dismisses hacking charges against journalist Glenn Greenwald

    Last month The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald faced criminal charges for breaking cybersecurity laws in Brazil. Now a judge has dismissed the hacking charges, linked to six people who allegedly stole information from the phones of public officials and judges. His outlet published excerpts of a group chat allegedly showing coordination between the judge and prosecutors working on a corruption investigation. The Intercept reports that the judge's dismissal is "for now," with an indication that if a previous injunction by a Supreme Court minister blocking investigation of the journalist were overturned, charges could be refiled. As it stands, the other six people will still face charges of alleged hacking to obtain the messages. In a statement, Greenwald said, "this ruling, while good, is insufficient as a protection of core press freedom. We will continue reporting and will also go to the Supreme Court for an even stronger ruling."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Senate: Obama Admin. wasn't prepared to handle Russian interference

    Today, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence released a report (PDF) detailing the Obama administration's response to Russia's meddling in the 2016 election. The report says the Obama administration was not well-prepared to handle the unprecedented election interference and that the administration suffered from "paralysis of analysis."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Researchers can 'steal' data by tracking a PC monitor's brightness

    There are already ways to siphon data from computers without a network connection or old-fashioned physical theft, but this might be one of the cleverer examples. Researchers have found a way to steal data from "air-gapped" computers (that is, no way to connect to other devices) using an LCD's brightness. The approach has a compromised computer relay imperceptible changes in the LCD's RGB color values that a camera-equipped device can detect. You could theoretically trick someone into loading malware on the target system through a USB drive and use nearby hijacked security cameras to transmit that information.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • WhatsApp desktop security flaw gave intruders remote access to files

    You'll want to update WhatsApp's desktop client if you use it to chat on your computer. PerimeterX researcher Gal Weizman has revealed that Facebook patched a security vulnerability in WhatsApp's Mac and Windows versions that let attackers insert JavaScript into messages and remotely access files. The software was running an older release of Google's Chromium web engine (all the way back to version 69) with known flaws that made it relatively easy to slip in rogue code. It wouldn't have been difficult to alter messages, look for sensitive documents or install additional malware.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Philips patched a longstanding Hue bulb security flaw

    Philips and its parent company Signify have patched another Hue smart light bulb vulnerability. Fortunately, the flaw was discovered by security researchers at CheckPoint Software, and it's unlikely that it was exploited in the wild. But this isn't the first time researchers have shown how smart home products, and Hue lights specifically, could give hackers access to entire home or business networks.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google Photos bug sent private videos to strangers

    If you used Google Takeout to back up your Photos files from November 21st to 25th, 2019, a stranger out there may have a copy of your videos. The tech giant has started sending out emails, warning users about a bug that may have affected their backup requests. During that period last year, the email reads, "some videos in Google Photos were incorrectly exported to unrelated users' archives." That means someone out there may have a copy of your (hopefully wholesome) videos, and you may have a copy of someone else's, as well.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Yubico is making it easier for businesses to buy its YubiKeys

    A growing number of companies are looking at hardware authentication security keys as a trusted and convenient way to protect sensitive corporate data. Indeed, Google has recently launched an open source project to help advance the uptake of this technology. But for companies with hundreds of employees, ensuring the right people have the right keys can be a huge logistical undertaking and added expense. As such, security key maker Yubico has launched an enterprise service to help businesses integrate the tech into their operations more easily.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Ancestry fought a police DNA database request and won

    Authorities tried to gain access to Ancestry's massive DNA database with a search warrant last year, the genealogy company has revealed in its transparency report. Ancestry divulged the information requests it received from law enforcement in 2019 in the report, noting that it complied with six of the nine valid requests. It challenged the warrant on jurisdictional grounds, though, and refused to give authorities access to its database.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Twitter admits 'bad actors' exploited phone number matching feature

    Twitter has revealed that it has discovered and suspended accounts abusing a feature that allowed users to match phone numbers with usernames. By announcing the privacy issue, it's also confirming the flaw discovered by security researcher Ibrahim Balic in December 2019. Balic found that Twitter's Android app had a vulnerability that allowed him to match 17 million phone numbers with their respective accounts. While you can look up contacts using their phone numbers on the platform, Twitter says matching a massive amount of numbers with accounts goes "beyond [the feature's] intended use case."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Online sneaker drop cancelled thanks to bots

    Nike SB -- the company's skateboarding division -- teamed up with Strangelove Skateboards to produce a pair of limited edition Valentine's Day Dunks. The pink and red color scheme was an instant hit with sneakerheads, and Strangelove planned to release the shoes on its website over the weekend. However, bots -- which are programmed to purchase sneakers faster than any human could -- broke into the online store and wreaked havoc. As a result, Strangelove was forced to cancel the online release outright, and advised customers to hunt down a pair of the sneakers at their nearest brick-and-mortar dealer. At this point, it seems like bots have gone from a shady line-cutting tactic to a full-on headache for retailers.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Kenya halts biometric ID scheme over discrimination fears

    Kenya introduced a sweeping national biometric identity program last year, with the view to collecting personal and biometric data -- such as fingerprints and facial photographs -- from its 50 million-strong population. Now, however, the program has been temporarily suspended by the country's high court, which has cited concerns about the way the data may be used.

    By Rachel England Read More

Entertainment (2)

  • You can build the tiny XFM2 synth for under $100

    Miniature electronics kits like the Raspberry Pi have ushered in a new generation of DIY tinkerers. And while most of these builds emulate classic gaming systems, there are plenty of other possibilities. Futur3soundz, for example, designed a synthesizer around an FPGA chip and an Adafruit digital-to-analog converter. The company says that the components can all be purchased for under $100. And while the synth has few on-board controls, it has an extensive MIDI integration, so musicians can control parameters from their keyboards, making it a viable piece of bedroom studio gear.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Tomy's Dancy Beatz is a dancing disco ball you can choreograph

    Tomy has unveiled a new dancing toy at the 2020 New York Toy Fair that shows shades of the Sony Rolly. It's called Dancy Beatz, and based on the video render the company has released, it will look like a disco ball with arms. The dancing robot will have five different modes to choose from, including a Dance Battle Mode to teach it pre-recorded routines. If you want to teach it your moves, though, you can put it in Program Mode -- it will save the dance you choreograph and use it later. Tomy says the robot has 900 possible dance moves to choose from and discover.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

EVs and Transportation (67)

  • VW is reportedly struggling with the ID.3's software

    Volkswagen's ID.3 rollout might have hit a snag. Germany's Manager Magazin sources claim the EV's underlying software has been rushed and rife with bugs, including dropouts and other issues. Test drivers are supposedly finding up to 300 errors per day. The magazine even claims that the software problems are dire enough that they could lead VW to miss its summer 2020 launch window.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Audi's tri-motor E-Tron S electric cars will be ready to drift

    Electric cars tend to handle well thanks to a low center of gravity and instant torque, but they aren't usually light on their feet and can be harder to drift unless they're appropriately tuned. Audi, however, believes it can bring back that liveliness without compromising on what makes EVs special. It has detailed the S variants of the E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback, noting that they'll be the first mass-produced EVs with three motors -- one large motor producing a typical 124kW (150kW boost) at the front and two smaller rear motors that produce a combined 196kW (264kW boost). The results are livelier vehicles whose torque vectoring not only helps them take corners faster, but can produce "controlled drifts" on demand. If you're comfortable throwing an expensive SUV sideways, it's an option.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • British Airways is testing autonomous electric wheelchairs at JFK

    The next time you fly out of JFK, you may notice a self-driving wheelchair race past you as you make your way to your departure gate. British Airways shared today that it has been testing "autonomous mobility devices" at the country's sixth-busiest airport to see how they can help passengers with accessibility needs.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Meeting Citroën's tiny two-seater EV

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. These days, the internet community experience centers around social networking apps. But some of us recall the old days when it was weird to talk to strangers online, whether via BBS, IRC or Kris Holt's preferred stomping grounds: a message board. The Foo Fighters fan page where he came of age has shut down, taking with it 20 years of memories and the usual share of low-grade internet drama. Its exit provides space to reflect on what that site (not #thatsite) got right and wrong in building space for all kinds of conversations. While Facebook, Twitter and TikTok struggle with issues of memes, disinformation and free speech at the billion-user scale, it certainly feels like they're just repeating work that small community-moderated sites figured out years ago. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Geneva Motor Show canceled over coronavirus fears

    Like Mobile World Conference and Facebook's F8, the 2020 Geneva Motor Show has been definitively canceled and will not take place this year. The Swiss government has imposed a ban on public gatherings of over 1,000 people that will go in effect immediately until at least March 15th, according to Swissinfo.ch and other sources. The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) has also started emailing manufacturers to give them the news, according to the BBC's Theo Leggett and other sources.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • BMW teases its iNext prototype EV during a hot-weather test

    BMW plans to have a million EVs on the road by the end of 2021 and one of the key vehicles is in that plan is the iNext crossover. The automaker has teased new images of a camouflaged iNext test mule taking part in hot-weather trials in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa. The aim is to ensure the vehicle's drivetrain and body can handle the scorching heat, along with dust, sand and rough road conditions.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Citroën's new EV is a tiny two-seater that only costs $22 a month

    Citroën has launched a new electric vehicle that's a tiny car and an enclosed scooter at the same time. It's called the "Ami," a two-seater vehicle made for city transportation that's so small, it doesn't even require a license. That is, so long as you're at least 14 years old in France or 16 in other European countries. The automaker seems to have based it on the Ami One Concept it unveiled in 2019 with a few changes to its final design.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Ford brings its Spin scooters to Germany this spring

    Spin, the Ford-owned e-scooter company, is expanding its fleet into Europe. It will introduce dockless electric scooters in Cologne, Germany, this spring. The company plans to "explore opportunities" in Paris and the UK, too.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Waymo doesn't like California's benchmark for self-driving research

    Waymo is the latest company to criticize "disengagements," a metric that indicates how often a human driver is forced to take over from a fully-autonomous driving system. At the moment, every company with a self-driving car program in California must report their disengagements to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). That includes Alphabet subsidiary Waymo, the General Motors-owned Cruise, Aurora and Nuro. The metric wasn't meant to create a public-facing leaderboard. However, industry onlookers have inevitably used disengagements to compare the maturity of these companies and the sophistication of their self-driving software. Why? Because it's rare for startups to give out lots of meaningful data, especially in a way that can be directly compared to their competition. Disengagements aren't perfect, but as the age-old saying goes, something is better than nothing.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Volkswagen's 2021 GTI adds a hybrid powertrain and tech-filled interior

    Last year Volkswagen unveiled its new eighth-generation Golf, and now for the Geneva Motor Show it's revealing some performance-tuned variants. The good news is that the 2021 GTI has more horsepower inside with an updated EA888 engine that manages 245hp, up from 228 in the previous model. It also includes the Golf's new "Digital Cockpit" that ditches analog dials for a 10.25-inch display and 10-inch navigation system, plus ambient lighting with 30 available colors. The bad news, as Autoblog notes, is that a plug-in hybrid GTE version (and diesel-powered GTD edition) will only be available in Europe. Specs reveal the GTE pairs a 150hp 1.4-liter turbocharged engine with an 85Kw electric motor and lithium-ion battery. Operating together, they're rated for the same 245HP as the gas GTI and can manage up to 37 miles of range in all-electric mode. Naturally, the styling and suspension are updated for these hot hatch models, and now the active damping setting allows drivers to set and store their personal preferences via a digital slider. There's no word yet on pricing, but we expect to see these on sale later this year.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • The Morning After: NTSB chair criticizes Tesla over 2018 Model X crash

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. On Tuesday, Disney abruptly announced that CEO Bob Iger would leave his post, "effective immediately." That follows a run of developments over the last few years that have seen Disney corner the market on content from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Fox and more, all culminating in the launch of its "direct-to-consumer" plan that centers on services like Disney+. The suddenness of Iger's exit makes things murky, but it's not that surprising to me. Once it became clear that the cable bundle and home disc sales wouldn't last forever, Disney shifted to a new strategy that is now well under way, to the tune of 26.8 million D+ subscribers at last count. So what can we expect for Disney as it looks forward to the next generation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and season two of the Baby Yoda show? Incoming CEO Bob Chapek is credited with spearheading a "Disney Vault" strategy, which turned engineered scarcity of home animation releases into big bucks, so we'll see what happens in a few years when the company tries to turn a profit from its streaming efforts. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • EasyMile forced to suspend autonomous shuttle rides in 10 US states

    US vehicle safety regulators have suspended operations for autonomous shuttle company EasyMile after a passenger in Ohio was injured in a braking incident last week. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the battery-powered bus service will be halted in 10 US states while it investigates "safety issues related to both vehicle technology and operations."

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Uber, Lyft may create more CO2 emissions than trips they displace

    Ride-hailing services might seem environmentally friendly by reducing the need for car ownership. However, that's not necessarily the case -- they might actually make matters worse. A newly published study from the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that services like Uber and Lyft typically generate 69 percent more CO2 emissions than the transportation options they displace. It's even worse in urban areas, where hailed cars are more likely to have replaced cleaner options like mass transit or biking.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NTSB chair eviscerates Tesla for inaction over Autopilot concerns

    The National Transportation Safety Board held a hearing on Tuesday regarding a deadly 2018 crash in which a Tesla Model X slammed into a Mountain View highway divider at 70mph, was subsequently struck by two other vehicles and then exploded. During that announcement, the safety board revealed that the driver, Apple developer Walter Huang, was playing a mobile game on his phone at the time of the accident, while the vehicle's Autopilot feature was engaged.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Polestar's latest concept EV is designed for sustainability

    Polestar has yet to deliver its first EV, but that isn't stopping it from outlining the vision for its future cars. The automaker has unveiled a concept sedan, the Precept, that showcases both the company's evolving design language and its technological goals. To start, gone is the Volvo-esque grille held over from gas-powered cars -- the front is now devoted to driver assistance and safety features with a camera and two radar sensors. There's also a conspicuous LiDAR pod above the windshield for "increased driving assistance."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Uber is testing rooftop ads on its ridesharing fleet

    Uber is getting into the advertising business. The company has reached a partnership with the ad-tech company Adomni to bring roof-top ads to its fleet, Adweek reports. Drivers in Atlanta, Dallas and Phoenix will soon be able to put ad displays on their vehicles, and Uber plans to expand the option to more cities.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • MIT helps self-driving cars ‘see’ through snow and fog

    Self-driving technology has come a long way, but it can still be tripped up by bad weather. A team from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) may have a solution. They've developed a way to help autonomous vehicles "see" by mapping what's beneath the road using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Lyft buys a startup that runs ads on top of ridesharing cars

    Lyft might have another way to generate revenue from trips. The company has acquired Halo Cars, a startup that lets drivers for app-based car services run taxi-style ads on top of their vehicles. A spokesperson for the ridesharing giant didn't outline the intentions for the deal, but Axios speculated that Halo's small size (it only operates in two cities) meant Lyft was interested acquiring the team for its media division.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Porsche opens Europe's most powerful EV charging park

    Porsche just unveiled what might be your dream EV charging park -- if you happen to be swinging through eastern Germany, anyway. The automaker has opened Europe's most powerful fast-charging park in Leipzig, giving visitors a dozen 350kW stations to rapidly charge your Taycan (or any compatible EV, thankfully) and another four delivering 22kW to those who just need a small top-up. There's 7MW of total power, and all of it comes from renewable energy.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ford hopes you'll trade some privacy for discounted car insurance

    Ford thinks it has a way to make car insurance more appealing: taking advantage of the data available from connected cars. It's teaming up with Nationwide to introduce its own take on usage-based insurance. If you have one of several 2020 Ford or Lincoln models (like the Mustang you see above), you can sign up for a policy that uses the vehicle's built-in modem to track your driving habits and adjust your rates accordingly with each renewal. The technology tracks distance, your aggressiveness with pedals, idle time and night driving. You'll get a better deal if you're a gentle commuter than a foot-to-the-floor enthusiast, in other words.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Hot Wheels RC Cybertruck is a mini Tesla for $400

    If you're feeling pretty hype about the Tesla Cybertruck but don't have $39,900 to spend on one, maybe Hot Wheels' newest RC vehicle is more your thing. Sure, it's only 1/10 the size and made out of plastic, but here it only takes $400 to live out your Tesla dreams.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Uber is back in Colombia three weeks after it was banned

    Uber is back in Colombia after finding an "alternative" means to be able to legally operate in the country. The ride-hailing firm had to cease operations in Colombia on February 1st after a court sided with the taxi company that sued it, ruling that it had violated competition rules. Uber called the ruling "arbitrary" and said it was in violation of a US-Colombia trade deal. Now, the company has relaunched its services with a new business model that allows riders to rent a vehicle along with a driver.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • GM makes it easier to find EV charging stations with its myChevrolet app

    If you drive a Chevy Bolt and you're the type of phone owner who likes to use as few applications as possible, GM plans to make to its myChevrolet app more useful. This year, the automaker plans to update the app's Energy Assist feature to help you find your next charge. In most cases, GM is adding functionality that you had to use other apps to find.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Honda’s latest app helps Civic Type R drivers become better racers

    Honda has launched a new data-logging app designed to give drivers a ton of information about their skills on the track. Exclusive to the new 2020 Civic Type R, LogR provides information on 15 data points, including lap times, acceleration, braking and steering, to generate an overall "driver smoothness" score.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Zero’s SR/S electric motorcycle promises up to 201 miles of range

    Like EV owners, electric motorcycle riders suffer from range anxiety. Zero Motorcycles is trying to alleviate that a bit with a new model, the SR/S. It can go up to 201 miles in the city and 103 miles on highways -- better numbers than the last SR/F model all around. Best of all, Zero managed to keep the price just above the SR/F by keeping the same platform and introducing a full fairing to improve aerodynamics.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Nissan hopes people will pay $699 a month to swap cars on demand

    Over the last couple of years, we've seen automakers like Porsche and Cadillac try their hand at car subscription services, and now Nissan is doing the same. Starting in Houston, the Japanese automaker is testing its new Switch service, which allows you to swap Nissan vehicles through a mobile app. Each time you order a new car, a dealership employee will deliver the vehicle to your home and explain all the ins-and-outs of the model.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • America is falling in love with electric SUVs

    Established automakers and startups alike are hoping to cash in on the American public's paradigm shift towards electric transportation. For a long time, however, EV technology simply wasn't mature enough to handle much more than toting families across town. But thanks to recent advances in battery design, electric vehicles are driving farther and hauling more weight than ever, opening the market for EV SUVs and pickup trucks.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Uber helps you report problematic drivers during your ride

    Uber is introducing a new On-Trip Reporting feature that will let users report non-emergency safety issues in real time, instead of waiting until after the trip has ended. Uber hopes this will be more convenient, as users are often distracted after the trip, and many don't want to spend time filing a report when they are, say, meeting friends or heading to an event.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • NYC-only affordable alternative to Uber and Lyft arrives today

    Starting today, New Yorkers have access to a new option when it comes to ride-hailing apps, one that claims it's "built for New Yorkers by a New Yorker." Myle was founded by Aleksey Medvedovskiy, who says he's a 20-year veteran of the city's taxi industry. The company hopes to differentiate itself by giving people a more affordable alternative to Uber and Lyft.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Volocopter is researching the best air taxis routes in Southeast Asia

    Volocopter is preparing for a feasibility study that will determine the best cities and routes for air taxis in Southeast Asia and evaluate different air taxi use cases. This next step is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) necessary for Volocopter to bring commercial air taxis to the region.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Jaguar Land Rover unveils autonomous EV concept for urban transit

    As part of Jaguar Land Rover's mission to achieve zero emissions, the company has unveiled a new concept vehicle, Project Vector. The electric vehicle is designed to provide autonomous rides in urban environments, and it could hit the streets in a pilot program beginning in 2021.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Cadillac will unveil its first all-electric vehicle in April

    We'll soon finally see the midsize electric crossover Cadillac previewed way back in January 2019. Cadillac president Steve Carlisle has revealed that the company will unveil the crossover, its first all-electric vehicle, in April at the National Auto Dealer Association. The model will debut the brand's BEV3 platform, which will serve as the basis for all its future EVs.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Tesla ordered to halt early work on its German Gigafactory

    Tesla's Berlin area Gigafactory is running into trouble before the EV maker has even laid the foundations. The higher administrative court for Berlin-Brandenburg has ordered Tesla to halt forest clearing for the factory while waiting on a decision for a complaint from the environmental activist group Green League of Brandenburg. Simply put, there wasn't much choice. Tesla was going to complete the clearing in just three more days -- there wouldn't have been a point to hearing the complaint if the trees were already gone.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Tesla Model S range edges closer to 400 miles

    When Elon Musk said the Tesla Model S was close to achieving 400 miles on a charge, he wasn't kidding. Tesla has updated the electric luxury sedan's stats once again to give it an EPA estimated range of 390 miles (previously 373 miles) in Long Range Plus trim. You could theoretically drive from New York City to Pittsburgh with enough battery life left to go on a brief tour. The Model X, meanwhile, is now estimated to drive 351 miles on a charge instead of the earlier 328 miles.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Elon Musk's Boring Company is done excavating first Las Vegas tunnel

    The Boring Company has finished excavating the first of the two tunnels planned for Las Vegas Convention Center's underground loop transportation system. If you'll recall, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) tapped Elon Musk's company to develop the LVCC loop, which could cost around $52.5 million. The company called this development a "breakthrough" on its Twitter account and retweeted a video of its machinery breaking through a wall in the facility posted by the LVCVA.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Delta hopes to be the first carbon neutral airline

    BP isn't the only company hoping to go carbon neutral despite its dependence on fossil fuels. Delta has unveiled a goal to become the first carbon neutral airline in the world, with the company promising $1 billion over 10 years to help "mitigate" all its CO2 emissions. This will include more efficient aircraft (including sustainable fuel) and less overall jet fuel use. It'll also involve carbon removal efforts, such as forest and wetland development, nature conservation and carbon capture tech. The initative kicks off March 1st.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ex-Waymo driver arrested for causing one of its vans to hit his car

    Waymo vehicles get involved in accidental collisions sometimes, but it looks like a January 30th crash in Tempe, Arizona was no accident at all. Authorities have arrested Raymond Tang, an ex-Waymo driver who the company described as "a disgruntled former" contractor, on suspicion that he deliberately caused an accident wherein one of the company's self-driving vans crashed into his passenger car.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Uber's latest test books rides with a phone call, not the app

    Uber is piloting a different way to order one of its cars beyond its apps or voice assistants, and it's one you might be familiar with if you ever had to order a cab before 2009 or so. It's testing an option to book an Uber via phone call in Arizona -- you can order a car by dialing 1-833-USE-UBER.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Volkswagen's EV fast chargers can be deployed anywhere there's power

    Volkswagen Group Components and German electric utility company E.ON have unveiled a new electric vehicle charger prototype that could make charging stations a lot more common. Their quick charging charging solution uses a battery as an intermediary between EVs and the grid, you see, eliminating the need to build potentially expensive infrastructure and hardware. "The [battery] stations are installed according to the plug & play principle," their announcement reads. "[S]imply put them down, connect them and configure them online."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Hyundai will make cheap EVs based on Canoo's subscription pods

    EV startup Canoo first gained attention back in September 2019 when it announced its plans to launch the world's first subscription-only electric vehicle. Now, it's joining forces with Hyundai to develop an all-electric, scalable EV platform, which could make for simpler and cheaper models in the future.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Driver in fatal Tesla crash had reported problems with Autopilot

    The Apple engineer killed in the fatal Tesla crash in Mountain View, California, in March 2018 had reported problems with the Autopilot driver-assistance system, Reuters says. On prior trips, the driver, Walter Huang aka Wei Lun Huang, reported that the car steered away from the highway, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) documents shared Tuesday.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Fiat Chrysler and AutoX confirm plans to work on robotaxis

    Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is joining forces with the Chinese startup AutoX to bring self-driving robotaxis to China. The companies confirmed rumors of their partnership today and announced that the AutoX AI Driver platform will be installed in FCA Chrysler Pacificas. The robotaxis could appear in Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Shanghai in the first half of 2020.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • British Airways breaks the New York to London subsonic flight record

    British Airways just set a new record for subsonic flight -- with some help from nature. The airline has confirmed Flightradar24 data showing that one of its Boeing 747s completed a New York to London flight in just 4 hours and 56 minutes, handily beating the previous best of 5 hours and 13 minutes set by Norwegian in 2018. A typical version of this flight takes 6 hours and 13 minutes, Flightradar24 said. The aircraft was helped by a stronger-than-usual (200MPH-plus) jet stream that took the 747 up to 825MPH -- technically faster than the speed of sound, but not supersonic as the winds would have prevented the aircraft from breaking the sound barrier.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Bill Gates is reportedly the first to buy a hydrogen-powered 'superyacht' (updated)

    Bill Gates' investments in eco-friendly tech might include one of the more conspicuous symbols of his wealth. The Telegraph claims former Microsoft chief has tasked Feadship with building a vessel inspired by Sinot's Aqua, the world's first hydrogen fuel cell-based "superyacht." The roughly $644 million, 370-foot boat would have all the trappings of wealth, including five decks, space for 14 guests and 31 crew members and even a gym, but it would run on two 1MW motors fuelled by supercooled hydrogen tanks.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • US House panel will discuss self-driving cars next week

    On February 11th, a House panel will hold a hearing that could help shape the future of self-driving vehicles in the US. The Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee under the Energy and Commerce Committee will hear from trade groups representing the automotive, tech and transportation industries. They'll tackle several concerns regarding self-driving vehicles during the hearing, which is entitled "Autonomous Vehicles: Promises and Challenges of Evolving Automotive Technologies."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • DOJ reportedly ends antitrust investigation over reducing car pollution

    Last year the Trump Administration sought to roll back the Obama Administration's Clean Power Plan that pushed for higher fuel efficiency standards. It has also tried to stop states from like California from setting their own standards that exceed those of the federal government. Despite that, several automakers, including Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda, voluntarily reached an agreement with the state of California on a slightly lower target. That was quickly followed by word of a Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the move, however today the New York Times reports it has come to an end, finding that the companies didn't break any laws by voluntarily agreeing to try to reduce the pollution created by their vehicles.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Tesla accused of abruptly pulling self-driving from a used Model S

    Tesla's much-vaunted ability to add features to its cars over the air has turned into a real inconvenience for some drivers. An extensive Jalopnik report details an (anonymous) person who bought a second-hand Model S 75D with both Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) as listed features. Except, somehow, those features were remotely removed, without notice from Tesla, as part of a software update.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Uber expects to be profitable by the end of 2020

    Uber's year-end earnings show the company is still losing money, but it expects to turn things around by the end of 2020. In an earnings call today, Uber CFO Nelson Chai said the company plans to be profitable in the final quarter of this year. "We recognized the significant work remaining to get to this milestone, and our teams are focused on executing our plan," Chai said.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Boeing found another software bug on the 737 Max

    Boeing is working to fix yet another software bug on its 737 Max, Bloomberg reports. The glitch involves an indicator light for the "stabilizer trim system," which helps raise and lower the plane's nose. The light was turning on when it wasn't supposed to. Boeing is already resolving the problem, and it still expects the 737 Max to resume flying by mid-2020.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • US DOT approves Nuro's next-gen driverless delivery vehicle design

    Today, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approved a regulatory exemption for Nuro's next-generation self-driving delivery vehicle, R2. The exemption allows Nuro to begin public road testing and to prepare for deliveries to customers' homes.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • A $1 billion initiative aims to bring EV chargers to highways and rural areas

    While Tesla, Electrify America and others technically have nationwide EV charging networks, they don't really provide full coverage -- many rural areas are far from any kind of charger infrastructure. ChargePoint believes it can help close that gap, though. It's teaming with NATSO on a $1 billion effort to bring EV chargers to over 4,000 travel centers and truck stops (which NATSO represents) by 2030, with a particular focus on highways and rural areas. This could both spur EV adoption in rural towns and help with long-distance travel for everyone, ChargePoint said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ariel will fully unveil its hybrid supercar this summer

    British automaker Ariel revealed concepts of its Hipercar -- short for "high-performance carbon reduction" -- in the summer of 2017. The company mentioned some impressive specs, such as the ability to reach 60 miles per hour in just 2.4 seconds and a top speed of 160mph (at least for the all-wheel-drive version). The car -- which is presumably meant more for a racetrack than for a trip to the grocery store -- uses four small motors at each wheel to produce 1,180 horsepower and 1,330 pound-feet of torque. Ariel promised that more specs and hardware details would be announced in 2019, but that didn't happen. We should be getting a clearer picture of the innovative supercar later this year, though: Autoblog reports that the automaker will reveal the progress it has made on the Hipercar before September's Low Carbon Vehicle Show.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Uber can resume testing its self-driving cars in California

    Uber started scaling back its self-driving car tests after one of its vehicles hit and killed a pedestrian in March of 2018. While the company doesn't seem primed to unleash a fleet of autonomous cars, it has been granted a new permit to resume testing in California. San Francisco -- home to Uber's headquarters -- is likely to be the company's main target, given its complex and twisting street layout. "While we do not have an update as to exactly when we'll resume autonomous testing, receiving our testing permit through the California DMV is a critical step towards that end," an Uber spokesperson told TechCrunch.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • GM will bring Super Cruise to 22 vehicles by 2023 (updated)

    The new Cadillac Escalade was just the start of GM's expansion plans for semi-autonomous tech. Company President Mark Reuss told investors that GM would bring Super Cruise to 22 models by 2023, with 10 of them receiving the driver assistance feature by 2021. The exec didn't mention vehicles by name, but the mix would (to no one's surprise) include pickups and SUVs.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Autonomous flying taxi Cora set for passenger trials in New Zealand

    Companies have been saying for years that flying taxis are on the agenda. Now it looks like they're finally set to take flight. Wisk -- a joint venture between Boeing and Kitty Hawk -- has signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Zealand government to begin passenger trials of its electric, autonomous aircraft Cora. The trials are set to take place in the Canterbury region of the country, although it's not clear exactly when they'll start.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The Morning After: Meet Cadillac's tech-heavy new Escalade

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Good morning! Since there's nothing at all wonky to report with Election 2020 results and incredibly flawed apps that were shoddily included in the primary process, let me point you to your next 4K demo reel. It's from 1896. Yes, that's a bit older than most reference-quality material, but that's just because you haven't seen Denis Shiryaev's neural network-enhanced edition of the 50-second silent film L'Arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat. Some people, like Engadget video producer Chris Schodt, note that blowing it up to full screen will expose some ugly artifacts caused by the additional processing, but also, some people are haters. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 2021 Cadillac Escalade packs 38-inches of curved OLED screens and Super Cruise

    Tonight Cadillac took the wraps off of its new Escalade, finally revealing where it's putting all 38-inches of curved OLED screens. That high-res display -- with twice the pixel density of a 4K TV, as Cadillac points out -- is split up across three screens, with a 7.2-inch touch panel to the driver's left, a 14.2-inch screen info cluster behind the steering wheel and the 16.9-inch infotainment system. Where it comes in handy, is that with vivid colors and deep black levels, the company says it doesn't require any kind of shrouding or hood to block glare from outside light. This is also the first Escalade to include the Super Cruise driver assistant that provides hands-free driving on some 200,000 miles of highways in the US and Canada. As the company announced last week, the newly upgraded tech will include automated lane changing, as well as improvements to its steering and speed control.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • UK brings forward its ban on new petrol and diesel cars to 2035

    The UK is bringing forward its ban on the sale of fossil fuel cars by five years. Originally, legislation stipulated that the sale of petrol and diesel would be banned by 2040. Now that date has been pulled forward to 2035, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying the ban would come into effect even earlier, if possible.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Ford thinks the Mustang Mach-E's frunk is a good tailgate cooler

    Super Bowl LIV is still fresh in many people's memories, but that isn't stopping Ford from trying to capitalize on next year's game. The company is drumming up hype for the Mustang Mach-E by suggesting that would-be buyers use the electric crossover's frunk as a cooler for tailgate parties -- no, it's not kidding. It claims the front trunk is equivalent to a 36-gallon cooler, while the drain cap lets you fit ridiculous quantities of football-friendly food that otherwise wouldn't be an option. Ever wanted to carry mounds of shrimp, beer or wings you could serve just by popping the hood of your SUV? Probably not, but that isn't stopping Ford's imagination from running wild.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Toyota and Panasonic will start producing EV batteries in April

    Toyota and Panasonic have announced a new agreement to start jointly developing and manufacturing electric vehicle batteries. The two Japanese companies say they're creating a company called Prime Planet Energy and Solutions that will begin producing square-shaped prismatic cells on April 1st. The company will employ approximately 5,100 people initially.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Super Bowl and a Hummer EV

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Before we get stuck in, I'm obsessed with The Rock's Super Bowl intros. You should be, too. It's like American Gladiators meets America's Next Top Model meets some other show with "America" in the title. Just watch for yourself. But back to the main show. Now, I tried to watch the whole thing this year. I really did. I got as far as the half-time show. Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs and the NFL for all the millions of dollars they made from advertisers. (Some of them made news on Engadget over the weekend.) For anyone outside the US, you won't get any of the big-budget ads. In the UK, I got the same sad run of McDonald's, Subway and uninspirational car ads -- so I had to go to YouTube to watch the ones the internet is talking about. Thus, YouTube wins, too -- there's a reason it sponsored a quick segment just before the show kicked off -- and paid The Rock to present it. Business is, again, the biggest winner at the Super Bowl. -Mat (Read in browser)

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Jeep's Super Bowl ad teases a powerful off-road electric bicycle

    Companies are tripping over themselves to hawk electric vehicles at the Super Bowl, but they aren't all cars. Jeep has posted a Super Bowl ad that's primarily meant to pitch the latest Gladiator, but also includes a brief glimpse of the company's first electric bicycle, simply called the e-Bike. You hardly see any of it (Bill Murray mainly uses it to take a groundhog on a ride), but don't worry. Jeep's partner on the e-Bike, QuietKat, has published a splash page shedding more light on what the two-wheeler will entail.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • LeBron James helps GMC pitch its Hummer EV in a Super Bowl ad

    GM thinks it has a simple way to drum up hype for its future GMC Hummer EV: give it the kind of celebrity endorsement that sports fans would notice. The brand is airing a teaser commercial during the Super Bowl (in the third quarter for US viewers) that has no less than LeBron James pitching the all-electric pickup truck. Don't expect to see more of the Hummer than you have so far. Instead, this is more about the EV's combination of raw power with near silence... and, of course, equating James' basketball dominance with the Hummer's performance.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Gaming (59)

  • GDC 2020 is officially canceled due to coronavirus

    After one big name participant after another (Facebook, Sony, Microsoft, Amazon) announced it would not send people to the show over concerns about the spread of coronavirus, GDC 2020 organizers have announced the event is off. It was scheduled to take place between March 16th and 20th, and in a statement, they said "we fully intend to host a GDC event later in the summer." This announcement comes just hours after officials announced a second case of the virus in California with an unknown origin. After Mobile World Congress, this week we've already seen Facebook's F8 developer event and the Geneva Motor Show drop off of the schedule, and it seems unlikely that they will be the last ones. Those who were planning on attending should have received an email with answers to some of their questions about refunds for passes and hotels booked within the convention's block. Right now the plan is for "many" of the presentations that would have been given to be submitted via video and made available for free viewing online. The Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards, as well as some of those talks, will stream on Twitch during the week the event would have taken place. In an effort to support indie developers who may be impacted financially, the IGDA has teamed up with GameDev.world on a fundraiser that will include "a Pay-What-You-Want games bundle, a public game jam, and free online live talks and Q&A translated in the worlds' largest languages."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Google may add free trials and YouTube streaming to Stadia soon

    At this point, it's safe to say Google's Stadia streaming service hasn't had the smoothest launch. Between missing features and less than stellar performance, the platform is, at the moment, more about future promise than current potential. However, it appears at least some of the features Google talked about at launch may soon make their way to Stadia users. Digging into the code of the latest Stadia app update, 9to5Google found evidence Google could add free Stadia Pro trials and other features soon.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • How much would you pay for the fabled Nintendo PlayStation prototype?

    You have until March 6th to try and nab a working Nintendo PlayStation prototype -- one of the rarest relics of lost gaming history -- and it'll only cost you a few hundred thousand dollars. The current high bid for this retro prototype at auction is $300,000 (plus a buyer's premium of $60,000), which, yeah, doesn't exactly sound like a steal. At one point, though, the Nintendo PlayStation commanded even bigger offers -- think a $350,000 top bid, which worked out to well over $400,000 with the buyer premium factored in. And even before this thing went to auction, an unknown party from Europe offered to pay owner Terry Diebold as much as $1.2 million for the prototype, though the money never actually changed hands.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • 'Crossy Road' follow-up comes to Apple Arcade with a focus on co-op play

    It's been a few years since Crossy Road updated the Frogger formula to create a popular mobile game, and now developer Hipster Whale has returned with Crossy Road Castle. The Apple Arcade-exclusive title is available across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS devices and invites players into its obstacle course as they try to climb a spinning tower.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Minecraft Festival is coming to Orlando in September

    Minecraft's annual event started out as a convention, but flipped to a streaming-only format in 2017 in a bid to maintain the tight-knit atmosphere for an increasingly large audience. It's moving back to that in-person experience, however, and it now has details to share. The renamed Minecraft Festival is now slated to take place at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center between September 25th and September 27th, with tickets available starting March 6th at 12PM Eastern. Mojang and Microsoft are promising plenty of things to do besides hearing the latest Minecraft news, including panels, exhibits, tournaments, "live entertainment" and, of course, exclusive merch.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'GTA Online' gets competitive F1 racing today

    Rockstar refuses to let GTA Online die, and why would it when it's one of the company's biggest moneymakers? If you haven't played GTA 5's online component in a while, today's update may convince you to step back into the world of San Andreas. Rockstar is adding a new competitive racing mode to GTA Online called Open Wheel Races that allows you to drive the game's equivalent of F1 cars against other players.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Herman Miller's first gaming chair

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Buying a gaming chair when space is often at a premium and when it has to at least make some effort to blend with your home is mostly impossible. Now, iconic furniture company Herman Miller and Logitech's gaming hardware brand, Logitech G, are teaming up to create a line of ergonomic furniture for gamers, starting with a chair -- of course. The companies plan to incorporate feedback from esports teams like Complexity Gaming, TSM and NaVi to make sure they deliver on gaming comfort and support. Herman Miller is perhaps best known for its legendary, thousands-of-dollars Eames Lounge Chair, but the company has been in the (corporate) smart-furniture business for a while. It'll be interesting to see how Herman Miller and Logitech split the difference on aesthetics and color palettes. Lest you forget, this is a Logitech keyboard. Hmm. That said I've never been more interested in a gaming chair. Let's see what it looks like. -- Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • 'Predator: Hunting Grounds' multiplayer trial kicks off March 27th

    You might not have to wonder whether or not Predator: Hunting Grounds' asymmetric fights will be worth your time when the game arrives on April 24th -- you'll soon have an opportunity to try it in advance. IllFonic is running a multiplayer trial for the game between March 27th and March 29th, with downloads available on the 27th at 8PM Eastern in North America. It'll be open to both PS4 and PC players with cross-play support.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • New 'Shovel Knight' spinoff is a Tetris-like puzzle game

    Shovel Knight is getting a second spinoff, and like its first, it's far from being an action-adventure platformer like the original game. Yacht Club Games and indie game developer Vine are working on a new title called Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, a falling block puzzle game that may remind you of Tetris or Candy Crush. If you'll recall, the developer also announced a spinoff entitled Shovel Knight Dig last year, but the gameplay mechanics for that one entail having to dig underground to go after the bad guys.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The creator of the Konami Code has died

    Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a and start. It's the most famous cheat code in all of gaming, and now its creator, former Konami employee Kazuhisa Hashimoto, has died. He was 61-years-old.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • PlatinumGames' first original project looks like Ant-Man meets Godzilla

    PlatinumGames is about to unleash its full freakish flamboyance on the world. Led by veteran director Hideki Kamiya, PlatinumGames has created stand-out titles on the behalf of major publishers for the past 14 years, churning out hits like Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2, The Wonderful 101, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Astral Chain and Nier: Automata. But now, following a cash infusion from Chinese tech giant Tencent, PlatinumGames is building its first original project, codenamed Project GG. "Unlike any of the games we've made so far, it's going to be a 100 percent PlatinumGames title," Kamiya said in a blog post. "For everything from its setting and characters, to its game design and story, to how it's promoted -- PlatinumGames is in full control."

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Logitech and Herman Miller team up to design ergonomic gaming furniture

    Plenty of gaming chairs look cool, but whether or not they're actually good for your back is another question. Furniture company Herman Miller and Logitech's gaming hardware brand Logitech G want to change that. They're teaming up to create a line of ergonomic furniture for gamers, starting with a gaming chair that could arrive as soon as this spring.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Harmonix’s next music-making game puts your DJ skills to the test

    Harmonix, the developer behind Rock Band and Dance Central, is back with a new music-making game: Fuser. Players will become music festival DJs, mixing vocals, bass lines, beats and riffs from artists like Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Lizzo, 50 Cent, The Chainsmokers and Imagine Dragons. They'll earn points for timing and crowd feedback, and they'll be able to share their mixes with friends.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Grimes details her character's backstory in 'Cyberpunk 2077'

    Keanu Reeves might not be the only recognizable face to have a substantial presence in Cyberpunk 2077. Grimes, who's also on the soundtrack, recently held a livestream (since pulled) where she shared details of an in-game character she'd previously only teased. Appropriately, it's an iconoclastic musician with a 'colorful' history. You might want to skip the next paragraph if you're eager to avoid spoilers or sensitive to talk of self-harm.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Blizzard's first experimental 'Overwatch' mode: triple damage, one tank

    If you're an Overwatch fan, it's not all bad news today. While the coronavirus outbreak has sidelined three weeks of Overwatch League matches, the good news is that starting tomorrow you'll be able to play the first of the game's new experimental modes. Dubbed triple damage, the "experimental card" changes the game's standard team composition to three damage-dealing characters, two support heroes and one tank -- as opposed to the even 2/2/2 split that's currently the norm in role queue matches.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Overwatch League cancels South Korean matches due to coronavirus

    A week-and-a-half after it said it would host a slate of cancelled Overwatch League matches in Seoul, South Korea, Blizzard is now postponing those games as well. The move comes after a surge in Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the East Asian country. Like the matches the company had planned to host in Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai, Blizzard says it's delaying the rescheduled games to "protect the health and safety of our players, fans and staff."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Minecraft Earth' gets a bit more physical thanks to new NFC-enabled minis

    When the mobile-based Minecraft Earth was announced last year, it immediately drew comparisons to Pokémon Go because of its use of augmented reality and location-based activities. But it was very different (as senior editor Jess Conditt will attest), since it didn't require you to actually go outside to partake in its mining and building gameplay. Now, Mattel has added another play dimension to Minecraft Earth that Pokémon Go can't really boast of: NFC-enabled figurines.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The first 'Apex Legends' map is returning for a weekend-long event

    If it's been a while since you played Apex Legends, you may want to take some time to return to the game this weekend. Starting today through to February 24th, Respawn Entertainment is bringing back Kings Canyon, Apex's original map, as part of a separate playlist. What's more, the Kings Canyon that's available to play this weekend is the original launch version, not the tweaked variant that came with the game's second season.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'PUBG' cross party play capability for PS4 and Xbox One has arrived

    Last year, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds started allowing PS4 and Xbox One players to square off against one another. Which was a welcome addition, unless what they really wanted was to play with each other. Now, the online multiplayer battle royale game has finally introduced cross party play capability, giving PS4 and Xbox One players the option to team up and form a single party. Unfortunately, PC players aren't included in this update and still won't be able to party up with their console-using friends.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Sony and Facebook withdraw from GDC due to coronavirus concerns

    Mobile World Congress 2020 isn't the only trade show affected by COVID-19, otherwise known as the new coronavirus disease. Facebook has just announced that it will withdraw its presence from the annual Game Developer's Conference this year. In doing so, it will pull both Facebook Gaming and Oculus booths and have advised all employees to not attend the show. A Facebook spokesperson sent in this statement: "Out of concern for the health and safety of our employees, our dev partners, and the GDC community, Facebook will not be attending this year's Game Developer Conference due to the evolving public health risks related to COVID-19. We still plan to share the exciting announcements we had planned for the show through videos, online Q&As, and more, and will plan to host GDC partner meetings remotely in the coming weeks." COVID-19 has had a big effect on the tech industry so far. Due to coronavirus concerns, MWC 2020 was cancelled, Apple has warned of iPhone supply shortages and Sony has pulled out of PAX East. Update 4:15pm ET: Sony has announced that it too will be pulling out from GDC. Here's the company's statement: We have made the difficult decision to cancel our participation in Game Developers Conference due to increasing concerns related to COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus). We felt this was the best option as the situation related to the virus and global travel restrictions are changing daily. We are disappointed to cancel our participation, but the health and safety of our global workforce is our highest concern. We look forward to participating in GDC in the future.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • 'Fortnite' Chapter 2 Season 2 is all about secret agents and Deadpool

    Fortnite might be one of the biggest games in the world, but the battle royale shooter has certainly had its problems over the past few months. Thanks to a mix of the Christmas holidays, the introduction of a new game engine and various other development issues, Epic Games' main issue was that it was forced to delay the the second instalment of Chapter 2, leaving players to "enjoy" the longest season on record. Thankfully, that all changes today with the introduction of Season 2: Top Secret.

    By Matt Brian Read More

  • Hasbro is relaunching classic Tiger Electronics gaming handhelds (updated)

    A few years ago, Bandai revived its line of Tamagotchi virtual pets. The new versions of the toy were smaller than the originals from the '90s and had fewer features. They must have sold pretty well, though, since the company followed those up with full-sized reissues of both first- and second-generation Tamagotchis. According to The Verge, Hasbro is banking on '90s nostalgia, too, and will reintroduce the then-ubiquitous Tiger Electronics LCD handhelds. The affordable games took cues from Nintendo's Game & Watch portables, featuring one title per device and a simple form of gameplay. The big reason for their success -- and what Hasbro is likely hoping to still be a selling point -- was that they were based on popular console and arcade games like Mega Man and Ninja Gaiden, as well as movies and TV shows like 101 Dalmations and Beavis and Butthead.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • THQ Nordic is moving forward with its 'Gothic' remake

    After it released a playable teaser in December to gauge public interest for a remake of 2001 fantasy RPG Gothic, THQ Nordic says it's moving forward with full development of the title. The publisher credits overwhelmingly positive fan feedback for the decision. According to THQ Nordic, of the 43,111 people who completed a survey after playing the playable teaser, 94.8 percent said they want the company to develop the prototype into a full-fledged game.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'No Man's Sky' update adds living ships to its universe

    No Man's Sky has been making dramatic strides in quality and originality in recent years, and its latest revision appears to be a textbook example of that. Hello Games has released a Living Ship Update that, as the name states, asks you to grow an organic spaceship. Rather than slap on upgrades like you would with a metal vessel, you 'hatch' a ship with unique organs that dictate its abilities. If you want to improve its traits, you have to nurture your ship. Not surprisingly, there's a multi-mission campaign to go with these ships -- you'll explore the Korvax experiments that led to the creation of biological spacecraft.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Mall Madness electronic board game gets an update for 2020 (updated)

    Hasbro is bringing Mall Madness back for old fans and everyone else missing local malls that became a casualty of the retail apocalypse. The company has given the electronic shopping-themed board game a makeover for 2020, 16 years after the last version came out. According to Bustle, the 2020 version features a 3D gameboard and will allow players to choose a personality and play as a Gwen, a Sage, an Avery or a Dax -- feel free to imagine what personalities those characters have -- and will have updated storefronts.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • EA's game servers went down this morning (updated)

    If you've been unable to play Star Wars Battlefront II or log into your Origin account, you're not alone. EA's servers are down, impacting thousands of users. EA and DICE community leader, Ben Wilke, confirmed the issue on Twitter, saying that teams are working on rectifying the problem. EA's help services are slammed due to the outage, and the company's customer support Twitter account warned that representatives may not be reachable at the moment.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Now 'League of Legends' star Faker is a part-owner of his esports team

    Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok has been an esports superstar and key member of the T1 League of Legends team since 2013, and a new three-year contract with the squad adds "part owner" to his title. As first reported by ESPN, while the talented mid laner has said he received "blank check" offers from teams outside of South Korea, the 23-year-old will remain with the only pro team he's ever known. The three year deal is the longest contract allowed under League maker Riot's rules, and according to T1, "Faker will assume a leadership role within the organization after his playing career and will help facilitate global operations." CEO Joe Marsh said in the accompanying statement that "Since T1's inception, Faker has been the cornerstone of our team's success and his undying passion for this organization will continue to drive us forward now that he is a part owner of T1 Entertainment & Sports. Even after Faker's retirement – whenever that may be – he will begin the next chapter of his legacy in a leadership role with T1, helping to mold the next generation of elite esports athletes."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Rainbow Six Siege' will be ready for PS5 and Xbox Series X at launch

    Rainbow Six Siege will be available to play on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles as soon as they launch, Ubisoft game director Leroy Athanassof told Windows Central. On top of that, cross-generation multiplay will be supported, meaning next-gen console buyers will be able to play the game with friends that own current-generation PS4s and Xbox Ones, he added.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Blizzard's cancelled 'StarCraft: Ghost' leaks in playable form

    Blizzard's cancelled StarCraft: Ghost has been the stuff of gaming legend. It was supposed to mark Blizzard's big leap into 3D action games, but it never came to pass -- delays, changing developers and evolving game platforms led the studio to put the game on "indefinite hold." Now, however, gamers appear to be getting a first-hand look at what they've missed. YouTube users Leers Meneses, Delso Bezerra and others say they've obtained a playable build of Ghost for the original Xbox through a leaked developer kit. It's unsurprisingly broken (the first two missions don't work properly, Meneses said), but appears to have been well into development -- you can fend off Zerg and engage in Metal Gear Solid-style chats.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Overwatch League moves matches to South Korea after coronavirus outbreak

    The current coronavirus outbreak (aka COVID-19) is affecting the esports world as much as other industries. The Overwatch League is moving cancelled homestand matches at Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai to Seoul, South Korea during weeks 6 and 7 of the competition, with some possibly being attached to Seoul Dynasty's home event in week 5. The league had scrubbed its February and March matches in China to "protect the health and safety" of fans, competitors and organizers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'PUBG Mobile' pro-level esports tournament kicks off

    One of the biggest mobile games today, PUBG Mobile, has kicked off an esports tournament for pro-level players, showing just how much the category has grown in recent years. Mobile games accounted for 33 percent of all app downloads in 2019. And according to Sensor Tower, the online multiplayer battle royale PUBG Mobile racked up nearly 555 million user downloads worldwide from the time it launch until December last year.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The latest 'Fortnite' emote lets you Rickroll your foes

    It's not uncommon to troll your Fortnite enemies with a victory dance, but the latest one might be particularly insidious. Epic Games has added a purchasable "Never Gonna" emote to the battle royale brawler that, as the name implies, Rickrolls your opponents -- complete with the real Rick Astley song (and, clearly, Astley's permission). The developers has even pranked some potential buyers with a promo page touting a "new OP outfit" before taking them to the emote, guaranteeing that they'll be Rickrolled before spending 500 V-Bucks to share the surprise with others.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • HQ Trivia game abruptly shuts down after 14 'seasons'

    HQ Trivia, which was once a popular mobile game where you can earn a few dollars, is no more. CNN has obtained an internal memo from CEO and co-founder Rus Yusupov, terminating 25 full-time employees and all contractors because the company has to cease operations immediately. Apparently, HQ Trivia hired a banker to find additional investors and received an offer to be acquired by an "established business." For "reasons [the company] is still investigating," though, the acquisition fell through. And since its current investors are no longer willing to fund the company, it has to shut down.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The Morning After: You can finally buy a 'Nintendo PlayStation' prototype

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. If you can outbid Palmer Luckey then maybe you can get one of the rarest items in gaming history: a working "PlayStation" unit with a CD-ROM and SNES controller. As of this writing, the price of the Nintendo PlayStation prototype has reached $360k, and there are about 20 days left. Good luck! -- Richard

    By Engadget Read More

  • Bidding for the 'Nintendo PlayStation' prototype is already over $200k

    This "Nintendo PlayStation" occupies a special place in gaming history, as one of fewer than 200 prototype units ever produced, and now it's up for auction. Its current owners explained how they came by it (in a bankruptcy auction that happened to include items from former Sony CEO Olaf Olafsson), and how they discovered what it was thanks to a Reddit post.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Capcom is crushing it

    Today, Capcom published an updated list of its all-time bestselling video games. The sales figures are correct up to December 31st, 2019, and reaffirm something that most video game fans have been believed or known about for sometime: man, Capcom is killing it. As Video Games Chronicle (VGC) notes, Devil May Cry 5 has now sold 3.1 million copies since its launch last March, making it the top-selling entry in the franchise. Devil May Cry 4, for comparison, currently stands at 3 million sales, while the "DmC" reboot by Ninja Theory has sold 2.4 million units to date.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • E3 2020 registration opens February 15 at 11AM ET

    If you're determined to see games for next-gen consoles months in advance, your opportunity might be close at hand. The ESA is opening registration for E3 2020 through the E3 website on February 15th at 11AM Eastern. You'll have to pay $165 to visit the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 10th and 11th if you're part of the general public (only the industry and press get in on June 9th), but the ESA is promising perks that include a new "floor experience" where you'll see conversations with creators.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • We're all kinda fine with DRM now

    Digital Rights Management. The phrase alone, or just its abbreviation, DRM, once had the power to spark scathing editorials and spawn furious debates in online forums worldwide. In the 2000s, major PC video game publishers began adding software to their discs that limited the number of times these games could be installed, tracking and verifying players in new, conspicuous ways. Variations of this system persisted throughout the early 2010s, when Microsoft attempted to release the Xbox One with built-in DRM checks. The response from fans was so vicious that Microsoft abandoned its strategy and rebuilt the Xbox One without DRM just months before its launch date. Fast forward to February 2020. NVIDIA launched GeForce Now, the first and only cloud gaming platform to operate on a "DRM-free" basis. When you buy a game via GeForce Now, you get to keep it, regardless of whether the service itself remains live -- a promise that its competitors, Google Stadia and Microsoft's xCloud, can't make. Yet, no one seems to care.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • 'Prince of Persia' is coming back as a VR escape room

    Good news, there's finally a new Prince of Persia game -- only it's not the swashbuckling platformer you were probably hoping for. Ubisoft has revealed The Dagger of Time, a VR escape room that uses the Arabian Nights-inspired universe as the setting for its two- to four-player puzzler. You're asked to manipulate time, avoid traps and otherwise use your know-how to ascend the Fortress of Time and prevent a Magi from unleashing a horde of Sand Monsters. While it'll require teamwork to complete, it's designed with a simple control scheme so that newcomers can focus on playing.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The making of a diverse game studio

    The original name for Manveer Heir's new game studio that focused on stories of people of color was Big Mouth Games. The former BioWare and Raven Software designer embraces his loudness. Now, he's putting his money where his considerable mouth is.

    By Chris Ip Read More

  • The next Need for Speed game will be made by Burnout creator Criterion

    Need for Speed fans, rejoice: Electronic Arts (EA) is giving the long-running racing franchise back to Criterion Games. "With a strong history and passion for racing games and vision for what we can create, the Criterion team is going to take Need for Speed into the next-generation," an EA spokesperson told Gamesindustry.biz. Criterion is a Guildford-based developer that worked on the critically-acclaimed Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit (2010) and Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012). The studio was also responsible for the breakneck and destruction-focused Burnout franchise, including the open-world (and recently remastered) Burnout Paradise.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • 'Outriders' trailer reveals a superhuman co-op shooter

    People Can Fly and Square Enix finally have something more substantial to show for Outriders than what you saw back at E3. They've released a "reveal" trailer that doesn't show much gameplay for the co-op shooter, but does say a whole lot more about the premise. You play one of many human colonists who settled on the planet Enoch to escape a decaying Earth, only to find that an "anomaly" is warping them with strange powers. Think of it as a much less benign equivalent to the Traveler in Destiny. Naturally, that means mixing up your gunplay with some space magic.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Riot begins leaking details about its competitive shooter 'Project A'

    Riot Games shared precious little about what its Project A team-based shooter would entail besides a "character-based" focus, but more details are coming to light. Former Counter-Strike pro player Henry Greer (aka HenryG) reports that Riot invited him to play Project A at its European offices, and the title is apparently similar to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with a dash of class-based elements from games like Overwatch. You're still trying to plant or defend against bombs, and buying weaponry from a resource pool that carries over from round to round. However, characters each have their own abilities that need to be purchased at the very start of a round. There are even CS-like maps with chokepoints and lanes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Bungie is rolling back 'Destiny 2' accounts again

    Destiny 2 is yet again going through some significant issues. Bungie took it offline for emergency maintenance at around 1:30 PM ET after players lost crafting materials, items and currency following the most recent hotfix, in a situation mirroring issues experienced back in January.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • 'Space Channel 5' returns in VR form on February 25th

    If you're still pining for Space Channel 5, Tetsuya Mizuguchi's first big music-focused games, you're in for a treat... if you have the right hardware, anyway. Grounding and Sega are releasing a VR take on the franchise, Space Channel 5 VR Kinda Funky News Flash, on February 25th for PlayStation VR owners. You're not taking Ulala's place as she dances her way to saving the galaxy. Rather, you play an intern reporter who dances along to the action while dodging blasts from enemies. The super-colorful '60s style and music remain intact.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Anthem' is about to change completely

    "Sometimes we get it right, sometimes we miss." That's how BioWare boss Casey Hudson closes out today's blog post about Anthem, the sci-fi loot shooter the studio launched in February 2019. It was poised to compete with the Destiny franchise, but it's been unable to find a significant audience due to widespread gameplay, technical and progression issues. With Anthem, BioWare clearly missed the mark -- and that's why Hudson's team is going to redesign the game entirely.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • The next 'Destiny 2' season will revamp swordplay

    While Bungie has mostly been coy about what the next season of Destiny 2 will entail, it just dropped a big clue. The studio has revealed that the season starting March 10th will dramatically rework swords. For one, they'll have their own pool of recharging energy used to power both ground-based heavy attacks and guarding -- the more energy you have, the more options and effectiveness you'll have. While you'll still need ammo to guard, this should encourage you to mix up your swordplay with different attacks and more guarding.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Puma’s latest Sonic clothing line stays true to the original hedgehog

    Ahead of the Sonic the Hedgehog movie coming out next week, Puma has released the latest in a series of clothing, shoes and accessories that feature Sonic and his friends. If you weren't a fan of the movie's first, nightmare-inducing trailer, the good news is that the line pulls its designs exclusively from the Sonic games.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Gears of War' boss Rod Fergusson leaves to take over 'Diablo'

    After 15 years of working on Gears of War games, The Coalition studio head Rod Fergusson announced he's leaving the Microsoft franchise to join Blizzard Entertainment. Starting in March, he'll "oversee the Diablo franchise." Fergusson has been a part of every Gears game released so far, dating back to his role as a producer on the original -- check out his comments on updates to the "roadie run" in 2007 -- and he's been in charge ever since Microsoft acquired the franchise in 2014. His departure comes as Microsoft is expanding its ownership of development studios with new acquisitions like Ninja Theory and Obsidian, and considering different paths of distribution by pushing Xbox Game Pass and streaming. That directly impacts the Gears franchise, which is about to launch a PC-only tactics spin-off. Meanwhile, Blizzard recently revealed it's working on Diablo IV, which comes after many players had a negative response to news of the Diablo Immortal mobile game. We'll probably hear more about those games, and everything Microsoft has planned for the future of Gears, sooner rather than later.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Apex Legends' is the next big game to try to crack China's mobile market

    During its earnings call last week, EA confirmed that a mobile version of Apex Legends is definitely in development. Executives didn't say when it's expected to launch, but they did mention they're building the smartphone version with a partner in China. Mobile games and China are two things you're going to hear about a lot as the video game industry heads into 2020.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Harley Quinn is smashing her way into 'Fortnite'

    Batman and Catwoman won't be the only DC characters to have made a Fortnite appearance. Sleuth Lucas7yoshi has discovered that Harley Quinn will soon be available to buy in the Item Shop as part of the larger 11.5 update. Not surprisingly, it's a plug for the imminent Birds of Prey movie -- you can play as Harley in her guises from both the new movie and Suicide Squad, complete with a baseball bat or mallet in place of the usual pickaxe. There's no sign of the classic jester outfit or the rest of the Birds of Prey crew, but it might do the trick if the movie has you eager for some Harley-themed mayhem.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company

    It's the end of an era at Rockstar Games -- parent company Take-Two Interactive has revealed that Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving on March 11th. It wasn't clear just why Houser was departing (we've asked for comment), but Houser was already on an "extended break" that started in spring 2019. His brother Sam Houser is still with Rockstar as its president.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ‘Fallout 76’ adds human NPCs on April 7th

    Fallout 76's long-awaited Wastelanders update will launch on April 7th on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, finally adding with it non-playable human characters to the game. The free DLC was initially supposed to come out last year, but Bethesda delayed it in October. On the same day, Fallout 76 will also become available on Steam.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'The Wonderful 101' remaster smashes Kickstarter goal in hours

    If anything demonstrates that gamers love a bit of cult nostalgia, it's the eye-watering success of Kickstarter campaigns pledging to bring former hits back to life. And that's absolutely the case with former Wii U title The Wonderful 101, the remastering of which obliterated its Kickstarter goal in less than an hour.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Apex Legends' season 4 trailer shows the assassin Revenant in action

    Apex Legends Season 4 is about to get underway, and Respawn offered a taste of what's in store with a gameplay trailer. Opening in the guise of a Hammond Robotics corporate video, it hints at some forthcoming changes to the World's Edge map. The clip showcases an enormous planet harvester that looks set to dominate and disrupt the arena.

    By Kris Holt Read More

Google (46)

  • Google survey hints at big plans for Wear OS health tracking

    Wear OS is struggling, in no small part due to its so-so health features -- there's a good reason Google bought Fitbit. However, Google has hinted that it intends to catch up. Droid Life has learned that an ongoing User Experience Research survey that asks participants how they would fix Wear OS, and there's a strong emphasis on adding health features -- many of them crucial features.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • YouTube’s appeal process is largely ineffective

    YouTube's latest transparency report suggests its appeals process is failing creators. Last quarter, YouTube removed 5.9 million videos from the platform. It received just 108,779 appeals, but it only reinstated 23,471 of those videos. That means roughly 78 percent of appeals were rejected.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Judges rule that YouTube isn't bound by the First Amendment

    A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against Google by PragerU. By coming to that decision, the judges backed the previous court's ruling that internet platforms aren't subject to the free speech requirements of the First Amendment. If you'll recall, Dennis Prager, a conservative radio host and YouTuber who runs the channel PragerU, sued the tech giant in 2017. He accused Google of being biased against conservatives by putting age restriction on his content and blocking third parties from running ads on his videos, which feature conservative viewpoints on topics like abortion, gun rights and Islam.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google's latest VR app lets you gaze at prehistoric paintings

    Over the years, Google has digitized countless museums, galleries and landmarks for Arts & Culture, an encyclopaedic platform that anyone can access through a browser or mobile app. Today, the company is launching a new collection based on the Chauvet Cave in Ardèche, France, which contains some breathtaking prehistoric art. While the exact age of the paintings is unknown, radioactive dating has pinned the earliest to a period 36,000 years ago. The site was discovered in 1994 and, to prevent damage, closed off to the public that same year. Beyond a full-size replica, Google's new exhibit is the closest you'll ever get to standing inside the cave.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Google Translate adds languages for the first time in four years

    Believe it or not, Google hasn't added languages to Translate since 2016 -- it's not clear why, but the company is making up for that apparent omission. It's adding five languages, including Kinyarwanda (Rwanda), Odia (India), Tata, Turkmen and, notably, Uyghur. It may be difficult for Uyghurs to use this service when China both blocks Google services and has been targeting their population, but this could help outsiders understand the community

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google's image results will soon tell you more about what you're seeing

    Google's image results don't show a lot of details at first glance -- they typically only include a photo's dimensions on the bottom left corner, along with its source page's title and URL. Starting later this week, though, image results on desktop will be a bit more informative: The tech giant is replacing the images' size tags with new icons that reveal more about their sources' nature.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • YouTube hires a liaison to help it work better with creators

    YouTube knows its platform can be volatile for creators. One algorithm change or an overzealous copyright claim can ruin a star's income, and the service might not even realize it. However, YouTubers now have someone on the inside. The service has hired YouTube veteran (both creator and employee) Matt Kovalakides as a Head Creator Liaison who'll help creators understand the site -- and, importantly, "vice versa." There are "challenges on both sides" that neither might understand, Kovalakides said, and his goal is to bridge those gaps.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google searches are showing rival business directories in Europe

    Google seems to be taking extra steps to please EU regulators worried that it's abusing its search dominance. Search Engine Land has discovered that Google is highlighting rival directory services like Yelp when you search for businesses in European countries like France and Spain, placing prominent "find results on" cards above Google's own. Clearly, it's hoping this will fend off potential EU criticism that it's favoring its own results in local searches over those of competitors.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alphabet's Loon, telecoms unite to boost high-altitude internet

    Alphabet's Loon just got a big boost from telecoms in its bid to provide high-altitude internet to the world. The company has partnered with several industry giants to form the HAPS Alliance, a group devoted to promoting the use of stratospheric vehicles for internet access. Most of the allies are telecoms like Deutsche Telekom, SoftBank, Bharti Airtel, China Telecom and Telefonica, although the group also includes a diverse range of equipment makers like Airbus, AeroVironment, Ericsson, Intelsat and Nokia.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google's new terms of service will (hopefully) be easier to read

    Terms of service still tend to read like legal alphabet soup, but Google thinks it can do better. It's notifying users of a TOS change on March 31st that, among other things, should remove some of the mystery. The internet giant said its new terms are still written in legalese, but that the company has "done [its] best" to make them easier to grasp, including definitions and links. Google is promising better overall communication, too, clarifying just when it will change services or limit access. It aims to send more notifications if changes affect service.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google fully explains why its apps aren't on new Huawei phones

    Since last spring, the government's entity list ban against Huawei (and ZTE) has largely prevented US companies from working with them. Despite legal wrangling and trade negotiations between the two countries the ban is still in place, and in the case of Google, it means that while there are still updates and services available on older devices, any new Huawei phones (like the Mate 30 Pro, shown above) don't have access to its services. This has been the case for months now, but today Google posted a longer explanation, which it said was in response to continued questions about the issue. For end users, especially those outside the US and China, it might not be immediately clear why the usual suite of Google apps and services aren't on new Huawei phones and now there's at least a detailed official explanation to reference. It could also serve the purpose of warning off anyone planning on making a workaround available, like the LZ Play one that was blocked last year. Android & Play legal director Tristan Ostrowski also laid out the company's opposition to people sideloading its apps. According to him it's because Google can't certify new Huawei phones, due to the ban, and cited the risk of compromised security either in the devices or via an app that has been tampered with. While Huawei had hinted at replacing Android with its own OS, it's continuing to use Android, and replaced Google services with those of other companies like TomTom, for maps and navigation.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Toronto rejects some of Sidewalk Labs’ smart neighborhood ideas

    Sidewalk Labs will have to cede a little more ground on its vision for Quayside, a planned smart neighborhood in Toronto. The company, which is owned by Google-parent Alphabet, published a draft version of its Master Innovation and Development Plan (MIDP) last June. The technical document, which spans four volumes and almost 1,000 pages, is packed with proposals for how the district should be designed, funded and governed. Waterfront Toronto, a tri-government organization spearheading the city's lakeside overhaul, has now completed a technical evaluation of the draft MIDP, which will help its board decide whether to approve the project or sever ties with Sidewalk Labs entirely.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Google's wireless gigabit internet is now called Fiber Webpass

    Google Webpass is now known as Google Fiber Webpass in all the cities where the wireless gigabit internet service is available. The tech giant first used the Fiber Webpass name when it deployed both its Fiber and Webpass internet connection services in Austin, Texas last year. Just a few days ago, it also launched both options in Nashville, Tennessee. However, the new name is just a rebranding at this point -- it doesn't necessarily mean that Fiber is expanding to all Webpass cities in the near future.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • New Mexico AG sues Google over alleged child privacy violations (updated)

    Google is being sued by New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas. In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Balderas alleges that Google is violating COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) and New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act by collecting data on students who use Chromebooks through the G Suite for Education platform.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google is cracking down on apps with 'disruptive' ads

    Google's Play Store is a pretty open platform. While that can be a good thing for users and app developers, some bad actors can take advantage, either through malware or obnoxious ads. Today, the company announced that it has removed nearly 600 apps from the Play Store -- and has banned them from its ad monetization platforms -- because they repeatedly violated Google's disruptive ads policy. Unfortunately, those apps have already been installed over 4.5 billion times, according to BuzzFeed News.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Google is disappointing the Stadia community

    "This is fine." Andrey Doronichev is in charge of gamer experience at Stadia, Google's fledgling cloud-gaming service. In a conversation with him about the company's confidence in Stadia three months post-launch, Doronichev was unflappable. Though players have been complaining about a lack of updates, technical issues, missing features and a dearth of new games, Doronichev argued the service was still new and Google had actually grown it significantly since launch. Besides, he said, it's not about the daily experience in the early days. It's about the end goal -- the 8K, lag-free, game-streaming utopia that Google promised when it debuted Stadia.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Google parent Alphabet is pruning its 'other bets'

    Alphabet is changing. The Silicon Valley super-company, which serves as an umbrella for Google and smaller, riskier subsidiaries known as "other bets," was established in August 2015. Executives hoped that the reshuffle would satisfy investors, who wanted a better understanding of Google's expanding business portfolio, and encourage each division to become financially successful and independent. At the time, Alphabet had 10 companies under its purview: Google (Search, Android, YouTube and more), Access (Fiber broadband), Calico (aging), Capital (late-stage investment), DeepMind (artificial intelligence), Google Ventures (startup investment), Life Sciences (health), Nest (smart home appliances), Sidewalk (smart cities) and Google X, which still looked after Boston Dynamics (robots), Waymo (self-driving cars), Loon (internet balloons), Wing (delivery drones) and other so-called "moonshot" projects. That list has been amended over the last four and a half years. Many Alphabet companies have simply rebranded -- Life Sciences has become Verily, for instance, Google Ventures is now GV and Google X has dropped the word Google from its name. Of greater importance, however, are the "other bets" that Alphabet has created, killed and casually moved under Google management. Surprisingly, these decisions have accelerated over the last 12 months, highlighting Alphabet's changing ambitions and just how difficult it is to turn a moonshot into a billion-dollar business.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Gmail turns its inbox filters into clickable 'search chips'

    Google has started rolling out a new Gmail feature that'll make looking for specific emails in your overflowing inbox much less painful. The feature, called "search chips," will help you narrow down the results you get. You can search for a colleague's name, for instance, and then click on the search chips the pop up under the search box to find that specific email you're looking for.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Reuters: UK Google users will lose GDPR protections (update)

    Google users in the UK might feel another effect of the Brexit process, and it's one they may not have expected. According to Reuters, the tech giant is planning to place British users' accounts under US jurisdiction, which means they're losing the protections of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. As the news organization notes, the GDPR is known for having one of the world's strictest set of rules for data privacy and gives authorities the power to impose aggressive fines.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google will review Android apps that request background location info

    Google's upcoming efforts to improve mobile privacy will extend beyond the upgrades in Android 11. Starting August 3rd, the company will require approval for background location requests in all Play Store-bound Android apps. It'll determine if the feature is necessary, expected and provides "clear value," and reject those apps that appear to be asking for too much. A social network app that lets you voluntarily share continuous location data will likely get approval, for example, but a shopping app with a retail store locator might be rejected until it limits location access to when you're actively using it.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google's world is your next wallpaper

    Google Earth is arguably the best product Google has ever created because it allows anyone to explore our planet (and beyond) with ease. However, you may not know that Google also has an app called Earth View that contains some of the best curated images you can find on the app. Google recently announced that it has updated this collection with over 1,000 new images (for 2,500 in total) and introduced new search tools to find that perfect wallpaper background.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google makes its Titan security keys available across Europe

    Google's Titan security keys are now available in more regions. The company started selling them in the US a month after they were launched, and while it eventually rolled them out to more countries, their availability remained limited. Now, the tech giant has announced on its security blog that the Titan Security Key bundle (consisting of a USB-A/NFC key and a Bluetooth/USB/NFC key), as well as the USB-C Titan Security Key are now being sold on the Google Store in in Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Your Google Fit stats are now just a swipe away

    If you don't have a Wear OS smartwatch, checking your Google Fit stats has usually involved a bit of work -- not a lot, but enough to slow you down. It should be speedy from now on. Google has updated Fit to make your stats easily accessible, whether you're on Android or iOS. Android users can either tap a widget or swipe at their home screen, while iOS users can swipe to the Today view if they have the Fit widget enabled.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alphabet quits work on its energy-generating kites

    Alphabet's years-long involvement with energy-making kites is no more. The Google parent is ending its work on Makani's wind power technology, with X's Moonshot lead Astro Teller warning that the path to a viable business was "much longer and riskier" than expected. Alphabet liked Makani's environmental focus, but felt that it was important to pour effort into those areas where it believed it could "have the greatest impact."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google is bringing Stadia to 18 new phones, including the Galaxy S20

    Google's cloud gaming service, Stadia, has been exclusive to Pixel phones since its launch three months ago, but that's changing this week. On February 20th, Stadia will hit 14 Samsung models, plus the Asus ROG Phone, ROG Phone II, Razer Phone and Razer Phone II. The supported Samsung devices are (deep breath) as follows: S8, S8+, S8 Active, Note 8, S9, S9+, Note 9, S10, S10+, Note 10, Note 10+, S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Google pulls alleged UAE spying app ToTok from the Play Store, again

    From TikTok to FaceApp, it can be hard to tell when an app has nefarious intentions hidden behind its useful or buzzworthy features. The same goes for ToTok. The New York Times reported in December that the app is being used by the government of the United Arab Emirates to spy on its users. In response, Google removed ToTok from its Play Store while it investigated. (Apple removed it from the App Store as well.) An updated version of the app reappeared on the Play Store in early January, but it was removed again on February 14th, according to 9to5Google.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Google is ending its Station free public WiFi program

    After almost four years of providing free internet access to people in developing countries, Google plans to shut down its Station program. The initiative saw the search giant offer free public WiFi at 400 railway stations in India and more than 5,000 other places around the world, including in Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam. News of the shutdown started to filter out last week, but Google officially confirmed the news on Monday.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Australian court orders Google to reveal user who wrote a dentist’s bad review

    A federal court has ordered Google to identify an anonymous user who left a bad review of an Australian dental surgeon's practice, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He said the patient hurt his business by advising other users to "stay away" from a procedure while calling it "extremely awkward and uncomfortable" and "a complete waste of time."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Google might finally pay news outlets for their content

    Google is considering paying news publishers for their content, The Wall Street Journal reports. The company is reportedly in talks with publishers about licensing fees. The details are still sparse, but it sounds like Google could be working on a news subscription service like Apple News+.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google's Area 120 brings quick web games to slow phones

    Google is countering Facebook's Instant Games with its own bid to make web games more accessible. Its Area 120 experimental lab is introducing GameSnacks, HTML5-based casual games that are designed to load quickly and play well even on poor connections and basic smartphones. The combination of a lean initial web page, compressed media and just-in-time loading means you can start playing within just a few seconds, even on a phone with less than a 1Mbps connection (all too common in the world) and just 1GB of RAM.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Google offers free Titan security keys to help secure political campaigns

    While Facebook stands firm on its decision not to ban false political ads, Google is moving in the other direction. After banning political ad targeting last year, the company has announced new plans to help tighten security within campaigns. In partnership with non-profit Defending Digital Campaigns (DDC), the search giant will be distributing its Titan security keys for free to political groups.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • US opens investigation into Google amid Sonos patent suit

    It's been about a month since Sonos sued Google for allegedly violating some of its patents behind syncing wireless speakers, and now the US government is getting involved. The US International Trade Commission today announced that it had voted to investigate whether Google and its parent company Alphabet have imported patent-infringing products into the country. To be clear, this doesn't mean the US government has decided that Google has violated Sonos' patents -- but whether or not those patents were violated should fall under the scope of this investigation.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Google brings automatic call screening to all of its Pixel phones

    Over the last couple of years, Google has updated older Pixel devices with features that first appear on its most recent phones. The latest tool to make its way from Pixel 4 to the original Pixel, Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 is automatic call screening, which debuted on the former in December.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Alphabet's Loon turned a stratospheric aircraft into an internet drone

    Alphabet's Loon is known for its internet balloons, but it worked on an entirely balloon-less project as part of its partnership with Softbank's HAPSMobile. The two formed "a long-term strategic relationship" in April 2019, with HAPSMobile investing $125 million in the Alphabet company. Now, the partners have announced that they've successfully designed and developed a communications payload for HAPSMobile's solar-powered stratospheric unmanned aircraft system, the HAWK30.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google Maps for iOS and Android is getting a makeover

    Google Maps was launched 15 years ago this week (in beta, of course). Not surprisingly, Google is using this as an opportunity to launch a few new updates to its massive mapping service. For starters, Maps has a new icon, a four-color take on the location "pin" that has been part of Google Maps for years now. More meaningful to users though are some changes to the Google Maps app that make it a bit simpler and smarter.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Google tells facial recognition startup Clearview AI to stop scraping photos

    Following Twitter, Google and YouTube have become the latest companies to send a cease-and-desist letter to Clearview AI, the startup behind a controversial facial recognition program that more than 600 police departments across North American use. Clearview came under scrutiny earlier this year when The New York Times showed that the company had been scraping billions of images on the internet to build its database of faces. Google has demanded Clearview stop scraping YouTube videos for its database, as well as delete any photos it has already collected.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Chrome will clamp down on sites with annoying video ads

    As part of its ongoing efforts to block annoying video ads, Chrome has announced a new set of video advertising standards. The guidelines are based on data from the Coalition of Better Ads, which says there are three types of video advertising that people hate most. Chrome is taking a strong stance against these ad types, and it says website owners have four months to stop running the intrusive ads, or they will risk losing advertising completely.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Google dresses up search for the Oscars with a dedicated hub

    This year's Academy Awards ceremony is only a few days away and Google's getting ready for the big night with Oscar-focused updates to Search and Assistant. Search for "Oscars 2020" on your phone starting today and you'll see a dedicated hub for the awards with this year's nominees and past winners in each category. You can also get some insight into what it's like to receive an Academy Award nod from nominees through some short Cameos videos.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Google Assistant can now say where your Tile is

    Tracking gadget Tile has been a boon to the forgetful, and now it's set to get even more helpful. Previously, you could use Google Assistant to ring your Tile, so finding your keys or wallet was a matter of listening out for the beep. Now, though, it's able to give you a location of where your stuff is.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google's new Assistant speaks a second language: Japanese

    When Google launched its new Assistant for the Pixel 4, the voice AI could only speak and understand one language: English. The tech giant rolled out support for other English variants (UK, Canada, Ireland, Singapore and Australia) in December, but it's only now that the company is giving it the ability to speak and understand another language entirely. Google has announced that the new Assistant now supports Japanese for Pixel 4 devices. It made the revelation in the same post notifying users that Motion Sense, which makes it possible to control the phone without touching it, is also finally out in Japan.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google Fiber stops offering traditional TV service to new customers

    If you're ready to sign up for Google Fiber but want TV service at the same time, you'll have to go online. Google has stopped selling conventional TV service to new customers as of today. Instead, it'll give customers the choice to sign up for YouTube TV (as announced in December) or the sports-oriented fuboTV. The company characterizes this as reflecting the modern reality. "Customers just don't need traditional TV," Google said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alphabet’s Jigsaw created a tool that detects doctored images

    As image editing software and AI-assisted tool become increasingly powerful, journalists need a way to spot doctored images. Jigsaw, which is owned by Alphabet, forecasts emerging technology-based threats and works to curb their effects. Its latest creation, Assembler, spots the signatures of image manipulation using seven different "detectors," helping reporters to vet the authenticity of the images they publish.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Google makes it easier to buy its Glass headset for workers

    Google has announced that developers and businesses can now buy Glass Enterprise Edition 2 directly from its resellers. The third incarnation of Google Glass initially went on sale last May for enterprise customers. While Google no longer considers Glass to be a consumer-focused product, it should be much easier for anyone to get their hands on the latest version if they really want one.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Google begins rolling out Chrome update that can block cross-site tracking

    Google will start rolling out a new version of Chrome that can prevent cross-site tracking today, February 4th. The tech giant first revealed that it was working on the feature in mid-2019 in an effort to prevent security issues caused by cookie vulnerabilities -- bad actors, for instance, could transfer funds or hijack accounts by exploiting browser cookies. Chrome 80 could help prevent those situations from happening by enforcing "a new secure-by-default cookie classification system."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • YouTube ad revenue has almost doubled in the last two years

    If you've been following Google and its parent company Alphabet in recent years, you won't be shocked to know that it's making a ton of money. Alphabet just dropped its latest earnings release, and there are some intriguing details beyond the simple fact that the company is making more money than ever (revenue of $46.1 billion for the quarter was up 18 percent year-over-year). For the first time, Alphabet broke out YouTube advertising revenues and that gives us a look at just how important the video site is to the company.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

Laptops (1)

  • Lenovo ThinkPad refresh offers 10th-gen Intel CPUs and AMD's Ryzen 4000 Pro

    Lenovo has updated its ThinkPad line with conventional and flexible laptops powered by Intel's 10th Gen vPro processors. However, select models can be configured with AMD's Ryzen 4000 PRO Mobile processors instead -- based on some benchmarks, the Ryzen 4000 line's flagship eight-core, 16 thread chip is potentially faster than some of Intel's processors -- making Lenovo the first company to offer AMD's chips to consumers. Regardless of their processor, though, the laptops have WiFi 6 connectivity and Modern Standby, which offers a smartphone-like always-on, always-connected experience.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

Meta (11)

  • Facebook cancels F8 developer conference over coronavirus concerns

    Facebook is the latest tech company to cancel an event due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company's annual developer conference, F8, was scheduled for May 5th and 6th, but it's not going to happen this year. Facebook said that the "growing concerns around COVID-19" made it necessary to cancel the "in-person" component of F8, though the company is planning locally-hosted events and livestreamed content to try and make up for skipping the main part of the conference. Facebook is also donating $500,000 to an organization that promotes diversity in the tech industry -- most years, the company donates a portion of ticket sales, but with no in-person event it's just making a flat donation instead.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Facebook buys the VR game maker behind 'Asgard's Wrath'

    Sanzaru Games, the studio behind the virtual reality action-adventure RPG Asgard's Wrath, now belongs to Facebook. The social network has acquired the Bay Area company just a few months after it also purchased Beat Saber creator Beat Games. Mike Verdu, Facebook's director of AR/VR content, has announced the acquisition in a blog post on Oculus' website. He didn't reveal its terms, but he clarified that Sanzaru will remain an independent studio operating out of its current offices in the US and Canada.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook will pay for user recordings to improve speech recognition

    Facebook may have stopped listening to and transcribing Messenger voice chats, but it still needs voice recordings to improve its speech recognition technology. So the company is going to pay select users to record snippets of audio through a new program called "Pronunciations," The Verge reports. In exchange, users can earn up to $5.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook's gigabit wireless rolls out in Puerto Rico

    Facebook's Terragraph WiFi technology is delivering high-speed broadband to San Juan, Puerto Rico. This week, AeroNet, Puerto Rico's internet service provider, announced a six-month Terragraph pilot meant to deliver reliable, affordable high-speed service. It's now live in and near Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Jose in Old San Juan.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook: Creators must disclose paid partnerships with political campaigns

    Mike Bloomberg's ploy to reach voters through bad Instagram memes may be tacky, but it is not violating any Facebook or Instagram rules, as long as creators disclose paid partnerships. "After hearing from multiple campaigns, we agree that there's a place for branded content in political discussion on our platforms," Facebook said in a statement provided to Engadget.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook Dating's Valentine's Day launch in Europe is canceled

    Facebook has been forced to withdraw a planned rollout of Facebook Dating in Europe after Irish data protection regulators stepped in. The service was due to launch in time for Valentine's Day, but Facebook pulled the plug after officials raised concerns about its compliance with EU law.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Reuters joins Facebook's fact-checking program

    Reuters, one of the world's biggest news agencies, is joining Facebook's third-party fact-checking program. First launched in 2016, the program has tried to curb the spread of disinformation on the social network with help from organizations like the Associated Press, PolitiFact and Factcheck.org. As part of the partnership, Reuters has created a new team dedicated to verifying content that people share through Facebook, with the social media giant paying Reuters for the service.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • WhatsApp now has over 2 billion users

    WhatsApp just hit a major milestone that seemed unimaginable even for Facebook a few years ago. The messaging service has revealed that it now has over 2 billion users, a figure that its parent company reached back in 2017. It didn't explain just how it reached that user count, but it's not hard to see why. WhatsApp is a staple of mobile communication in many parts of the world, and in some cases plays an important role in shopping, political campaigning and other aspects of daily life. There are few other major rivals, and its sibling Facebook Messenger is one of them.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Facebook buys startup using AI vision to find your location (updated)

    Facebook might have just acquired a key ingredient for its augmented reality glasses. TechCrunch has discovered a filing indicating that Facebook has bought Scape Technologies, a London-based startup using computer vision to determine your location beyond the capabilities of GPS alone. Its cloud-based "Visual Positioning Service" translates images into 3D maps that deliver a precise outdoor location across entire cities -- important when you need to know exactly where a store is on a street block.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Facebook and Venmo demand Clearview AI stops scraping their data

    Following Google and Twitter, Facebook has become the latest company to take legal action against controversial facial recognition startup Clearview AI. According to Buzzfeed News, the company sent a cease-and-desist letter to Clearview sometime this week, demanding that it stop taking data from Facebook and Instagram. "Scraping people's information violates our policies, which is why we've demanded that Clearview stop accessing or using information from Facebook or Instagram," a spokesperson for the company told Buzzfeed News.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

Microsoft (11)

  • Microsoft will remove Cortana from its Android launcher in April

    Some significant changes are coming to Cortana. Starting this spring, Microsoft said it plans to make productivity the focus of the digital assistant. As part of the shift, Cortana will lose some of its more consumer-facing features, such as the ability to play music and control smart home devices. More significantly, the company plans to remove the digital assistant from its Launcher app on Android.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Windows 10 icons are getting an overdue redesign

    Microsoft refreshed Office's icons last year, and now it's Windows 10's turn. The software giant is rolling out updates to the icons for Windows 10's core apps over the months ahead, starting with the Calendar and Mail apps in a new Release Preview for Windows Insiders in the Fast ring. The company's design team explained that it wanted to break away from the flat, colorless icons you see today in favor of ones that are at once more consistent with newer branding (including apps available beyond Windows) and different enough that you'll have an easier time finding the one you want.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft's all-in-one Office app is now available to all

    Microsoft's all-in-one Office app is ready for primetime. The mobile-first application, which the company announced last November, has already been available as a public preview. That version was limited to Android users that signed up through a specific Google Group and 10,000 iOS testers that registered via Apple's TestFlight program, however. The consumer-ready Android app slipped into the Play Store earlier this week -- a littler earlier than planned, a Microsoft spokesperson told Engadget -- and now the iPhone version is officially out of beta. For now, the Android app has "limited" tablet support, and there's no iPad-specific version.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Microsoft releases its unified Office app for Android

    Microsoft has followed through on its promise of a unified Office mobile app -- for some people, anyway. Following months of beta testing, the company has released the all-in-one productivity app for Android phone users. Like before, this lets you edit Excel, PowerPoint and Word documents without having to switch apps. You can also sift through your OneDrive files, scan real-world documents with Office Lens and read QR codes.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft won't force Office 365 business customers to use Bing after all

    Microsoft has walked back from its decision to make Bing the default search engine in Chrome for Office 365 ProPlus customers. Over on its techcommunity website, the company says it will now instead give admins the option to opt into installing the Microsoft Search in Bing extension on their organization's devices.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Try out Windows 10X today with Microsoft's dual-screen emulator

    Microsoft surprised everyone with the Surface Duo and Neo last fall, dual-screen devices that gave us a glimpse at the next generation of phones and PCs. At the same time, the company introduced Windows 10X, a new OS variant made for dual and foldable screens. But after that initial rush of news, Microsoft went quiet, presumably to actually start building these new experiences. Now, after releasing an SDK for the Android-based Surface Duo, the company is finally letting anyone jump into the world of dual-screen Windows 10X apps with a new emulator and tools.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Microsoft's revamped Edge browser now runs on ARM-based Windows PCs

    The default web browsing experience on ARM-based Windows PCs just took a big step forward. Microsoft has released its first version of its Chromium-based Edge browser for ARM-based Windows 10 systems, giving them all the compatibility and feature improvements without the performance hit that comes from emulating the x86 edition. Suffice it to say this could be very helpful if you're running a Snapdragon-powered computer like the Surface Pro X and want a relatively lean but capable browser.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Microsoft's Windows 10 search problem

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Ever since Windows 10 debuted, people have taken issue with its push to connect everything to Microsoft's cloud services. Generally, the tradeoff feels worthwhile when I'm using the OS, but yesterday morning, an unspecified server issue turned the search box -- the same one used to find local files when I need them -- into a useless blank area. Despite taking a crucial feature out of service for a few hours, Microsoft only said that the problem was server-side and advised rebooting. Particularly cautious users are editing the registry to pry Bing links out of their local search, and I can't say I blame them after this episode. Microsoft owes users a better explanation than this and should make sure it's impossible for offline features to get taken out when the cloud is having an issue. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Microsoft is merging its Windows and hardware teams

    Panos Panay, Microsoft's hardware head honcho and the creator of Surface, is set to oversee the Windows team too. The company will reportedly roll the product and Windows groups into a single unit called Windows + Devices later this month with Panay at the helm. The move, which is part of a broader reorganization, is a strong indicator that Microsoft is eager to tie Windows and hardware more closely together.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Windows 10's built-in search was down this morning (updated)

    If the search bar on your Windows PC hasn't been working for the past couple of hours, know that you're not the only one -- and that there's no reason to panic. As spotted by The Verge, Windows 10's built-in search functionality has been down for many people since 8AM ET due to what appears to be a Bing outage. Typing anything into the search bar won't return any results, even if all you're trying to do is launch an app on your computer.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Microsoft Teams went down because of an expired certificate

    This morning, Microsoft Teams went down for a few hours, and it seems that a pretty rookie mistake is to blame. Microsoft apparently forgot to renew the SSL certificate, which allows a secure connection between a web browser and a web server. As a result, the app told users that it failed to establish an HTTPS connection to Microsoft's servers.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

Mobile (20)

  • FCC votes to auction C-band satellite spectrum for 5G use

    FCC chairman Ajit Pai has been pressing for an auction of "mid-band" wireless spectrum that could be useful for expanding the reach of 5G, and on Friday the commission voted to approve rules for just such a redistribution. The rules cover "C-Band" spectrum that satellite companies like Intelsat, SES SA and Telesat are currently using, and include payment incentives for those companies to speed plans to shift operations away from those frequencies by dates in 2021 and 2023. Otherwise, the spectrum will need to be freed up no later than December 5th, 2025. Those payments could add up to $9.7 billion, and dissenting FCC commissioners argued that there wasn't enough consideration on how much they should be or how funds from the auction should be distributed, and that the FCC was misusing its powers under the law. Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement (PDF) that, "We could start a fund a new initiative to help with rural broadband. We could fund the nation's transition to next-generation 911, which is sorely needed and would benefit public safety in every state. Or we could use some of the revenues to seed a Homework Gap Trust Fund to help our nation's students stuck in the digital divide. It could support WiFi hotspots for loan in every school library—and virtually eliminate the Homework Gap overnight."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • FCC proposes token fines for carriers that sold phone location data

    The rumors were true: the FCC wants to fine major carriers for their approach to selling phone location data. The regulator has proposed a total of $208 million in fines against the top four US carriers for reportedly selling access to location info without "reasonable measures" to prevent unauthorized access. T-Mobile would face the (relatively) stiffest penalty with over $91 million, while AT&T could be fined over $57 million. Verizon (Engadget's parent company) could be hit with a roughly $48 million fine, while Sprint would 'only' have to contend with a $12 million fine.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Senate approves $1 billion budget to help rural carriers replace Huawei gear

    The US Senate has unanimously approved a bill that would give rural carriers access to a $1 billion fund meant to help them remove and replace Huawei gear. According to The Wall Street Journal and TechCrunch, the Senate has voted to send the bill to the President a couple of months after the House approved its own version. If Trump signs it -- and a previous Politico report said top administration figures expressed their support for it -- then 40 rural carriers currently using equipment from Chinese tech giants like Huawei and ZTE will have access to the fund.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • FCC may fine carriers for failing to protect phone location data

    The FCC has warned phone carriers that they broke the law by selling location data, and it might soon make those companies pay the price. Wall Street Journal sources say the FCC hopes to levy "hundreds of millions of dollars" against AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon (Engadget's parent company) after determining that they failed to protect real-time location info. The regulator reportedly sent notices of liability that, while not final, indicate that a penalty is on the way.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • FCC begins collecting data to help carriers replace Huawei and ZTE hardware

    In late 2019, the FCC officially banned companies receiving Universal Service Fund subsidies to use that money to buy equipment from companies deemed a "national security threat." In other words, companies like Huawei and ZTE. The agency proposed a reimbursement program to help them, especially rural carriers, with the costs that come with changing existing equipment. Now, the FCC has revealed that it has started collecting information from carriers about their use of Huawei and ZTE equipment.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • How exactly does 5G work?

    We've been hearing about 5G for ages, and 2020 is the year it'll finally become a reality for some people. Until this point there have been a few sparse 5G networks available in cities, but with only a handful of phones supporting 5G, even if you lived in an area with coverage odds are you couldn't connect. That's all set to change with a host of new 5G phones expected to be announced through 2020, and providers all around the world starting to switch on additional 5G towers. Even so, it's hard to know what to expect from 5G. Depending on your provider and your network, you may get blazing fast speeds but only in certain places, a bump in reliability without much speed, or anything in between. It turns out 5G isn't really one thing, it's a collection of technology and new frequency bands, and different carriers are focusing on different aspects of the network.

    By Christopher Schodt Read More

  • T-Mobile, Sprint merger could close by April 1st

    With most of the regulatory and legal hurdles out of the way -- approval from the California Public Utilities Commission is still needed -- T-Mobile and Sprint announced an amended version of their agreement to merge. CNBC explains that the updated deal will give Deutsche Telekom a slightly higher stake in the combined company ("New T-Mobile"), without requiring a new shareholder vote that would delay a deal that has already been pending for almost two years. Deutsche Telekom will own 43 percent of the new company, while Sprint investor Softbank will have 24 percent, and the remaining 33 percent owned by public shareholders. T-Mobile apparently thinks this could all be wrapped up by April 1st, the last month before John Legere steps aside for incoming CEO Mike Sievert.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Qualcomm promises 5G 'with fewer hurdles' on its latest modem

    Qualcomm's an industry leader when it comes to making 5G modems for mobile devices, and so far, its offerings have been in the most prominent smartphones. Following the Snapdragon X50 and X55, Qualcomm is launching the Snapdragon X60, which it says is the world's first 5-nanometer 5G baseband, as well as the first to offer millimeter wave-sub-6 aggregation. The company promises that the X60 will help networks lift 5G peak speeds based on the available spectrum, and that it will enable operators to increase capacity and coverage.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • You can make your own rotary cellphone

    As convenient as modern cellphones are, there's a certain charm to spinning an old-fashioned rotary dial to make a call -- and now, there's a cellphone that caters to that nostalgia. Brookhaven National Lab engineer Justine Haupt has developed a rotary cellphone that's not only functional, but available to make with the help of a $240 do-it-yourself kit. It's effectively a throwback to the days when phones were for calling and nothing else, plus a few present-day creature comforts.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • New York AG won't keep fighting T-Mobile merger with Sprint

    Now that a federal judge has removed one of the few remaining obstacles to T-Mobile's merger with Sprint, resistance to the move appears to be fading. New York Attorney General Letitia James has signalled that the state won't appeal the ruling declaring the carrier merger lawful. Instead, New York will make the best of the merger if (and more likely when) it's finalized, including efforts to get the "best pricing and service possible," boost coverage and create jobs like those T-Mobile as promised for Rochester.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Mobile World Congress 2020 is officially canceled

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. The world's biggest phone show isn't happening -- canceled roughly 10 days before it was meant to start. The coronavirus outbreak has put a stop to the Mobile World Congress 2020. LG, the first major company to cancel, may have started the ball rolling, but by the time companies ranging from Amazon to ZTE had pulled out, organizers GSMA really didn't have a choice. Mere days ago, though, they pretended like they did -- desperate to ensure the multi-million-dollar Barcelona event went ahead, like it has every year since 2006. Do I think the companies (and MWC) were right to close things down? Yes. It's a WHO emergency, and it was well within their power to stop anything that might spread the virus. I get it. It's bad news for business deals and getting the good word out about 5G, (God knows it needs the help). And while Apple and Samsung have the influence (and sell enough phones) to have their own independent product launches -- the same can't really be said for LG, Sony, Nokia and many others. While they'll have product briefings and launch livestreams, the halo effect will be less. The headlines, fewer. In the end, we're talking about Mobile World Congress: A show centered on digital communications. If any show can (should) be able to cope with conference calls, video streams and the rest, shouldn't this be it? -- Mat

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • MWC 2020 is canceled due to coronavirus concerns

    MWC, the smartphone industry's biggest annual trade show, won't happen this year. On Wednesday, the GSMA, the organization that puts together the event, said it's cancelling MWC 2020 over coronavirus-related concerns. The trade show was scheduled to run between February 24th and 27th.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • T-Mobile and Sprint merger approved by federal judge

    T-Mobile and Sprint's $26.5 billion merger is almost complete. Following months of delays and push back from high-profile authorities, a US district judge has ruled in the companies' favor, allowing them to move within one step of concluding a deal that promises to deploy 5G service to 97 percent of Americans within three years.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Judge will reportedly approve Sprint / T-Mobile merger tomorrow

    A push by several state attorneys general will reportedly not be enough to stand in the way of a merger between T-Mobile and Sprint. The Wall Street Journal and New York Times cite sources saying that tomorrow a US district judge is expected to rule in the companies favor, allowing them to go through with the deal after the Department of Justice gave its approval last fall, and the FCC signed off in November.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • NVIDIA will skip MWC 2020 due to concerns about coronavirus

    As the reported number of coronavirus infections in China grew beyond 34,000, NVIDIA announced that it will not send employees to the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain this year. According to the company, "Given public health risks around the coronavirus, ensuring the safety of our colleagues, partners and customers is our highest concern...We've been looking forward to sharing our work in AI, 5G and vRAN with the industry. We regret not attending, but believe this is the right decision." The list of organizations passing on MWC under the current circumstances now includes NIVIDIA along with Ericsson and LG. While Spain only confirmed its first case of the virus a week ago, some are deciding that without a vaccine and more information about the virus, which has killed more than 720 people, they'd rather stay home. MWC 2020 between February 24th and 27th, and the GSMA said in a statement that "It is of great importance to the GSMA to continue to convene the industry at this critical time where connectivity is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. Advocating across the industry through government and ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders has never been more critical." 'The GSMA continues to monitor and assess the potential impact of the Coronavirus on MWC Barcelona 2020 as the health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees and staff are of paramount importance."

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Attorney general thinks US should buy controlling stake in Nokia, Ericsson

    It's no secret that the US views Huawei as a threat to national security. But the company is also playing a big role in building out 5G networks around the world, something that the US has major interests in. How to go about resolving such a conflict? If you're US Attorney general William Barr, you just have the country take controlling interest in Huawei competitors like Nokia and Ericsson.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • Vodafone will remove Huawei equipment from its European networks

    European telecom Vodafone will remove Huawei-made equipment from the core parts of its wireless networks, the carrier announced on Wednesday. CEO Nick Read said the move will cost the telecom, one of the largest in Europe, approximately €200 million ($220 million) and take about five years to complete, reports Reuters.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • LG pulls out of Mobile World Congress over coronavirus concerns

    Mobile World Congress is the event the world -- or at least, our particularly nerdy corner of it -- looks to for annual updates in smartphones, networking technology and more. This year, as concerns over a growing coronavirus outbreak continue to mount, LG has decided that the Barcelona-based trade show simply isn't worth the risk. "With the safety of its employees and general public foremost in mind, LG has decided to withdraw from exhibiting and participating in MWC 2020 later this month in Barcelona, Spain," a statement emailed to reporters said. "This decision will prevent needlessly exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel, which most health experts have advised."

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • FCC asks telecom companies to help trace international robocalls

    Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned robocalls from international numbers. Now, it's calling on phone companies to help trace international robocalls back to their "fraudster" sources. Today, the FCC sent letters to seven gateway service providers asking them to help track down robocall sources, prevent apparently illegal traffic originating outside the US and provide more info on how they may be facilitating illegal calls.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • T-Mobile and Sprint can now verify calls across their networks

    Today, T-Mobile and Sprint are rolling out number-verification to customers across both networks. Using the STIR/SHAKEN standards recommended by the FCC, the carriers hope to better fight robocalls. Ideally, this will make it harder for spammers to spoof numbers and give customers more confidence that the number calling them has not been ripped off by a robocall.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

News (47)

  • Etsy's new ad policy could force more fees on merchants

    Etsy is once again in hot water for its latest attempt to boost sales. This week, the company introduced a new "risk-free" offsite advertising service in which it plans to enroll some of its sellers automatically. Under the new system, Esty says it will use its "budget" and "expertise" to help merchants advertise their products on websites like Google, Instagram and Pinterest. If one of those ads leads to a sale within 30 days, the company will charge the seller an advertising fee.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Microsoft won't be at GDC because of coronavirus

    Microsoft is skipping the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this year, citing concerns about the global coronavirus outbreak. It isn't the only company to bow out of GDC 2020: Sony, Facebook, Kojima Productions and Unity Technologies previously announced they would miss the show in order to keep their employees and attendees as safe as possible. GDC is scheduled to run from March 16th to the 20th.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Steven Seagal settles with SEC over undisclosed bitcoin promotions

    It seems that martial artist and actor Steven Seagal isn't above the law. In 2017, he touted the initial coin offering (ICO) for Bitcoiin2Gen (B2G), a digital currency that sounded shady right from the start. Seagal didn't disclose the fact that he was paid by B2G to encourage his fans to buy into the bitcoin, which is required by law when a currency qualifies as a security. (B2G didn't even bother to register as a security, which resulted in the state of New Jersey issuing it a cease-and-desist order.) The actor has agreed to pay $157,000 in disgorgement plus a $157,000 penalty.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Peloton settles music licensing lawsuit over its exercise videos

    After almost a year-long legal battle, Peloton users' shared nightmare of online spin classes with "terrible tunes" is coming to an end. On Thursday, the connected exercise bike manufacturer announced it successfully negotiated a settlement with the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA). The organization launched a complaint last year in which it sought $150 million in damages from Peloton for failing to properly license some of the songs it played during its online spin and exercise classes.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • IKEA’s new vegetarian meatballs will taste more like meat

    A trip to IKEA isn't complete without a plate of Swedish meatballs. While the company offers a vegetarian version of its iconic meal, the veggie meatballs don't taste much like meat. Joining the trend set by fast food chains like Burger King and KFC, the furniture giant plans to offer an updated vegetarian option of its meatballs that taste closer to traditional meat. According to the company's 2019 climate report, the new version of the food will be available starting this August.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Clarence Thomas laments ruling that let FCC kill net neutrality

    Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas doesn't have many fans among open internet advocates. His decision in the 2005 Brand X broadband case let the FCC classify internet service any way it liked as long as there was a justification, giving Ajit Pai's FCC the tools it needed to kill net neutrality. However, he appears to have had a change of heart. In the lone dissent on a case addressing the IRS' interpretation of American law, Thomas said he felt Brand X was "inconsistent" with the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act and other approaches to interpreting laws. He added that he would "revisit" his decision if he could.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Starbucks embraces fake meat, starting in Canada

    Next week, when Starbucks rolls out its spring menu in stores across Canada, it will include one notable addition: a breakfast sandwich with Beyond Meat sausage. Starbucks joins a growing list of brands that have added Beyond Meat's plant-based offerings to their menus. To date, those companies include McDonald's (also a Canadian pilot), KFC, Subway, Carl's Jr., Hardee's and more.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Everything you missed at Toy Fair 2020

    If you're a toy-loving child (and which kid isn't), your favorite times of year are birthdays and the big gift-giving holidays in December. If you're a toy-loving adult, however, your Christmas comes much earlier in the year, when all the companies announce their new stuff in February at the New York Toy Fair.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Judge says Instacart likely misclassified California workers

    California's recently enacted AB5 was aimed at improving working conditions at gig economy companies like Instacart, and it appears to be one of the first firms in the crosshairs. A San Diego county judge has granted a preliminary injunction barring Instacart from misclassifying its grocery shoppers as contractors instead of employees, finding that the state had a "probability of success" in its case against the company's parent Maplebear. The "handwriting is on the wall," the judge said. Whether or not AB5 was the right policy, it was based on a state Supreme Court decision from two years ago and became law -- Instacart couldn't pretend that it was unaware of (or couldn't adjust to) the new rules.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Fujifilm's new flagship X-T4 camera has in-body stabilization

    It was always going to be hard for Fujifilm to follow a well-reviewed camera like like the X-T3, especially when rumor sites have been creating unrealistic expectations. However, the X-T4 has finally arrived officially and on paper, it doesn't disappoint. While it uses the same 26.1-megapixel sensor as the X-T3, it now packs a feature that model was sorely missing: five-axis in-body stabilization (IBIS).

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Fujifilm's slimmer Instax Mini 11 features automatic exposure

    It's been a while since we heard anything from Fujifilm's Instax arm, but three years after the launch of the colorful, selfie-friendly Mini 9, its successor has arrived. The Instax Mini 11 (it's not clear why they jumped the 10) offers up the same fun instant-photography experience, but with a few notable improvements.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Smithsonian opens up 2.8 million images to the public

    The Smithsonian Institution is releasing a whopping 2.8 million high-res, two- and three-dimensional images from its collections to a new Open Access online platform. The material comes from all 19 Smithsonian museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives and the National Zoo, and it's available for free to anyone with a web browser.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • MOD's latest effects pedal makes advanced sounds more accessible

    MOD Devices might just make powerful effects pedals available to a much wider range of musicians. It's running a crowdfunding campaign for the Dwarf, a pedal that promises the kind of flexibility you'd expect from a much more expensive device. It's really more of a platform than an old-school stomp box. You can load open source plugins (including demanding ones like pitch shifting), synths, virtual instruments and MIDI utilities, and its high power lets it closely model more demanding analog circuits and polyphonic synths. Crucially, you don't need to connect to a laptop to take advantage of it. You can store up to 750 pedals or plugins and create patches using just the on-device controls.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Flat Earth advocate dies after homemade rocket crashes

    The saga of "Mad" Mike Hughes and his homebuilt rocket has come to a tragic end. The Flat Earth advocate died on February 22nd at the age of 64 when the chute for his steam-powered rocket detached shortly after launch, leading to a high-velocity crash in the desert near Barstow, California. The launch was being filmed for a Science Channel series, Homemade Astronauts, that aims to document the adventures of amateur rocket makers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • After Math: The rule of threes

    While the Sonic movie was busy running rings around its box office competition last week, a mysterious triplicating pattern began to emerge across the internet among seemingly innocuous and unrelated events. Uber resumed operations in Columbia after a three-week ban, Westworld is returning to HBO for Season 3 in the third week of the third month, and Amazon listed the PS4 for -- you guessed it -- $300. Whether it's coincidence or conspiracy, only you can decide.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Hot Wheels brings its NFC-enabled stat-tracker to even more toys this year

    For stats-obsessed kids, last year's release of Hot Wheels ID was a godsend. The NFC-based system let you scan your cars into the app to keep tabs on how fast and how far the cars in your collection had traveled. And it definitely solved the problem of figuring out who won a race. But it wasn't cheap, and there was limited compatibility with Hot Wheels' existing orange track system. In 2020 the brand has a few expansions in the works for Hot Wheels ID that should place it in reach for a lot more toy car racing fans.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • FCC forced to ask for public feedback on net neutrality repeal

    Earlier this week, the FCC successfully defeated Mozilla's attempt to undo the commission's repeal of net neutrality. But, while siding with the body, judges have asked the FCC to determine if repealing the law to prevent a multi-speed internet has had any negative consequences. That includes checking if net neutrality repeal has harmed public safety, reduced spending in infrastructure or hampered the Lifeline program.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • 3Doodler's newest kit lets preschoolers 3D-print tiny toys

    3Doodler makes pens that shoot out lines of hot plastic, allowing you to make freeform 3D-prints without the hassle of learning how to use a dedicated printer. It already has products for the school and education markets, but now it's targeting an even younger group: preschoolers. The 3Doodler 3D Build and Play is a chunky gun-shaped device with a nozzle and trigger, as well as a turning handle.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • If you bought Flywheel's home bike, you can trade it in for a free Peloton

    One of Peloton's biggest competitors, Flywheel Sports, announced today that it is shutting down its online classes. The company sent an email informing its users that it would stop its Flywheel At Home service effective March 27th 2020. The bikes can still be used of course, but without the live and on-demand coaching, which makes them not much better than ordinary stationary bikes. Peloton, however, is offering a deal where Flywheel customers can turn in their bikes in exchange for a "like-new" Peloton bike at no cost to them, though they'd still have to pay Peloton's monthly subscription fee.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Staples is opening podcast studios in six Boston stores

    Staples' latest ploy to get people into its retail stores is podcast recording booths. This week, the podcasting company Spreaker announced that it's part of a collaboration bringing recording spaces to six Staples stores in the Boston area. The booths are part of a new Staples Connect model, in which the retail stores offer coworking and community event spaces.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Groupon is done selling you junk

    For most folks, Groupon is probably synonymous with dirt-cheap spa days, wine tastings or trips to the fancy escape room across town. Open the app, however, and for every experience on offer, there's a listing for a faux-leather purse, off-brand latex mattress or sheepskin comfort slipper. Now, as part of its turnaround plan, Groupon is going to pull out of selling products in order to get back to the good old days.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Blue Apron considers selling itself as it bleeds customers

    Blue Apron has been struggling in recent years, and that's leading the company to consider some extreme options. The online meal kit service has revealed that it's looking at "strategic alternatives" that include a merger, raising funds, offloading assets or selling the company outright. It warned that there was no guarantee anything would happen, but this is the kind of language companies frequently use when they're running out of options.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Kickstarter employees vote to unionize

    More tech company workers are unionizing in an attempt to improve their bargaining power. A group of 85 Kickstarter employees have voted to unionize, aligning themselves with a branch of the Office and Professional Employees International Union in New York. The staffers will use their collective bargaining power to push for equal pay, more inclusive hiring, greater transparency from management and more of a say in decisions.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Traeger's Ironwood smart grills now ship with a handy pellet supply sensor

    If Traeger's Ironwood series caught your eye, the company is now including a handy feature in the box, rather than making it a separate purchase. Traeger is now shipping its WiFi-equipped Ironwood 650 ($1,200) and Ironwood 885 ($1,500) pellet grills with the pellet sensor add-on that it announced in November. Until now, you had to pay $80 to get one of these for your backyard barbecue machine. And, sadly, if you own one of the 2019 Pro Series grills, you still do.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • The synth tones of 'Blade Runner' now fit on your desk

    Yamaha's CS-80 is one of the biggest synths ever -- whether in size, tone or resale price. Most notably remembered for being Vangelis' go-to instrument when composing the score for Blade Runner, the 220-pound behemoth sells for over $20,000 on the secondhand market. Black Corporation designed a replicant of the CS-80 a few years ago, and though it wowed musicians, its bulky rackmount format was a turnoff. Deckard's Dream MK2 shrinks the synth down into a desktop format, which will be easier for bedroom producers to integrate into their studios.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • After Math: Stunning figures

    The news just wouldn't stop dropping this week. First, Parasite absolutely dominated the Oscars, everyone was convinced Bill Gates bought a hydrogen-powered mega-yacht for a hot second (surprise, he didn't), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political party left the entirety of its voter rolls -- millions of records -- just swinging in the breeze, and the massive $26.5 billion T-mobile/Sprint merger finally got the court's blessing to move ahead. And those were the tame ones! What we've got for you below, hooboy, just some jaw-dropping numbers.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • The IRS won't ask you to report 'Fortnite' V-Bucks on tax returns

    Don't worry, you won't have to factor in-game currency into your taxes... at least, not yet. The IRS has removed a guideline (cached here) from October that treated Fortnite's V-Bucks, Roblox's Robux and other in-game currencies with real monetary value as "convertible" currency that could be subject to federal taxes. In a follow-up, IRS Chief Counsel Michael Desmond confirmed to CNN Business that including in-game money was an error. The updated section now focuses on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, so you can likely rest easy if you received a V-Bucks gift card last year.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Online-only platforms are going offline with permanent spaces

    The retailpocalypse started in 2010. It followed the 2008 global recession, with the parallel birth and rise of social media adding fuel to the growth of online shopping. Suburban and rural malls sat empty, underutilized or poorly maintained as the most affected brands lost their customer base in the squeezed middle class. Meanwhile, online retailers thrived without the overhead costs of a physical space. Nearly a decade later, the online-only platforms that disrupted retail are choosing to pay rent as an additional, unnecessary expense. There are items available for purchase in each space, but the stores' ultimate goal is to offer a tangible experience offline to their users or consumers.

    By Rae Witte Read More

  • IKEA gave Dubai customers discounts based on their Google Maps travel times

    IKEA's sprawling blue and yellow stores are usually located on the outskirts of cities, so for most people a trip to the Swedish furniture kingdom is a big event in itself. To reward its customers for making the trek, the company has now launched an initiative called "Buy With Your Time," where shoppers can purchase products with currency accumulated on the basis of their travel time to the store.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Canon's EOS Rebel T8i reaffirms its commitment to DSLRs

    Canon just unveiled its most powerful mirrorless camera yet, but it isn't quite done with DSLRs. The company also announced the EOS Rebel T8i (the EOS 850D in Europe), a camera with very slight improvements over the Rebel T7i. While it packs a sensor with the same resolution as before, it can now shoot a bit quicker at up to 7 fps thanks to the new Digic 8 processor.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Canon's powerhouse EOS R5 will be its first mirrorless camera with 8K video

    Canon is fixing everything critics didn't like about the EOS R -- and then some -- by annnouncing the development of new full-frame mirrorless camera, the EOS R5. To start with, it will shoot up to 8K video and downsample 8K to create crisp 4K video, strongly addressing complaints about the limited 4K video capabilities of the $1,800 EOS R.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Oil giant BP plans to be carbon neutral by 2050

    BP is probably the last company you'd expect to go carbon neutral given the nature of its main business, but it's trying regardless. The oil and gas producer has unveiled plans for the company to reach "net zero" CO2 levels (both in emissions and in the products themselves) across its operations no later than 2050. It hoped to reach that target in part by reducing the carbon levels in its fossil fuel business, such as by cutting carbon and methane "intensity" levels in half and advocating for net zero policies like carbon pricing and encouraging the world to "decarbonize." However, it also acknowledged that it would have to increase its investment into "non-oil and gas businesses" -- effectively, to back away from its primary source of income.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Nikon's D6 flagship DSLR camera arrives in April for $6,500

    Nikon has officially unveiled its professional D6 DSLR and revealed the price and release date, after first teasing the camera in September. As expected, the emphasis is on speed and autofocus accuracy, though it falls short of its primary rival, Canon's 1DX Mark III, in terms of video.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • The price of a .com domain is set to rise, and some sellers aren't happy

    If you're the sort who buys domains for fun, or to inspire you to start a future project, your hobby's about to get a little pricier. ICANN is just days away from ending a consultation into the future of the .com top-level domain that'll put an end to Obama-era price freezes. If successful, it'll see the cost of a .com address rise by two bucks by the end of 2026, and potentially more thereafter.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Roland reimagines the taiko drum with modern electronics

    Taiko drumming has been a part of Japanese culture for centuries. It was typically relegated to stage plays until the 1950s, when a jazz musician developed an ensemble style of drumming called kumi-daiko, which became a long-standing hobby for over a million people in Japan. However, the drums can be very large and very loud. To help drummers practice at home, electronic instrument company Roland partnered with Kodo, an acclaimed taiko performing arts group. The resulting TAIKO-1 lets you play in near silence, and helps you perfect your rhythm with built-in practice modules and accompaniments.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • After Math: Let's take a drive

    Though Tesla reported its Q4 earnings last Tuesday, the auto industry has sent this week making moves and announcing news. GM is bringing its semi-autonomous Super Cruise system to nearly two dozen models by 2023, ChargePoint is teaming with NATSO to bring a billion dollars worth of the EV charging stations to the nation's highways, and Uber is making claims about finally becoming profitable by the end of the year -- though we've been hearing bold claims like that from the ride-hailing service before. Here are a few of the week's top transportation headlines.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Recommended Reading: The lasting effect of the Iowa Caucuses

    Iowa might have screwed up the whole nomination process Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight By now you probably know the story. The Iowa Democratic Party decided to use an app to report results from its caucuses this week. These events were the first primary-type votes cast in the 2020 Democratic presidential race, and would've set the tone for New Hampshire and the states to follow. Except the app failed, phone lines were jammed and it took the better part of the week for the full numbers to come out. So just how badly didn't Iowa screw up the whole process? FiveThrityEight's Nate Silver explains the candidate(s) who "won" didn't get the massive bump they would have and the field is still way too crowded.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • US appeals court will not rule on repealing net neutrality laws

    A US appeals court said it will not reconsider an October ruling that upheld the repeal of net neutrality laws, Reuters reports. Tech and advocacy groups, along with 15 states, had requested that the ruling be reconsidered. The appeals court's decision marks another win for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and allows the repeal of net neutrality laws to stand.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: How tech (and humans) failed the Iowa caucus

    The logistical and technical debacle of the Iowa Democratic Caucus is exactly why we're not hopeful about online voting in America. This week on the Engadget Podcast, Devindra and Cherlynn chat about what exactly went wrong for Iowa's Democratic Party. The mysterious app from an unknown progressive tech firm was mostly to blame, but it was also helped by some good old fashioned human error. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Iowa Democrats say sloppy code led to app failure Iowa Caucus results delayed because of app issues LG pulls out of Mobile World Congress over Coronavirus Spotify buys The Ringer Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Ancestry lays off 100 employees as DNA test demand dwindles

    Ancestry has announced that it had to lay off six percent of its workforce, or around 100 workers, due to "a slowdown in consumer demand across the entire DNA category" over the past year and a half. The news comes just a few weeks after 23andMe, another home DNA testing service, revealed that it cut 100 workers because of dwindling sales.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Strict visa rules are still keeping game devs out of the US

    The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Foundation awards scholarships each year to up-and-coming artists, writers and programmers from around the world. The scholarships offer passes to the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, plus a travel stipend, exclusive networking opportunities, tours of local studios, help with resumes and portfolios and one-on-one mentorships with industry veterans. For a developer trying to break into video games, it's a fantastic prize.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

  • Ecobee's Family Accounts put limits on smart home control

    Ring isn't the only company giving you better smart home privacy controls. Ecobee is trotting out a Family Accounts feature that lets up to 15 people in your household control thermostats and other gear without having to hand over your sign-in details. They can steer devices and invite other people to the same group, but they can't add or remove devices, make account changes or sign up for Eco+ like the master account can.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Fujifilm will announce the X-T4 on February 26th

    Fujifilm will announce the next-generation of its flagship X-series camera, the X-T4, on February 26th. The Japanese camera manufacturer shared the tidbit as kind of a "one more thing" during its X100V launch event in London, and said the event will start at 5AM GMT (12AM ET).

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Sony sets prices for (most of) its latest 4K LED TVs

    You didn't have to wait too long for Sony to start pricing some of its 2020 Android TVs. The electronics giant has started taking pre-orders for its 'entry' X800H 4K LED TVs and their higher-end X950H counterparts. Only two of the flagship X950H models have been listed so far. The relatively small 49-inch set starts at $1,200, while the room-filling 85-inch set will cost you a substantial $5,000. Either set carries some of Sony's nicer tech, including the current-gen Picture Processor X1 Ultimate and local dimming LED backlighting. You can also expect common features like Google Assistant, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support. Details for other X950H sizes are coming at a "later date," Sony said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Instacart employees in Chicago are the first to unionize in the US

    Gig economy workers may have won an important, if conditional, battle in their push for better conditions. Instacart employees in the Chicago suburb of Skokie have voted to unionize through their local branch of United Food and Commercial Workers, giving them more collective bargaining power than they had before. The move only covers 15 staffers who operate at the Mariano's grocery store, but it's the first time Instacart employees have unionized in the US and could affect issues like turnover rates, work pacing and mysterious employee rating algorithms.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • West Virginia will allow people with disabilities to vote by smartphone

    More governments in the US are offering the option to vote by smartphone. West Virginia's governor is poised to sign a bill requiring that all counties offer people with disabilities a way to vote online, just in time for the 2020 presidential election. It'd be the first state to provide the option. While the details have yet to be established, Secretary of State Mac Warner said it would most likely offer the mobile app Voatz, just like it did when it allowed online voting for overseas troops.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • After Math: That's something at least

    This week has been a real kick in the teeth. The UK actually stepped off the Brexit precipice while the US Congress barely went through the motions of Trump's impeachment trial. Worst of all Elon Musk released a truly cringeworthy EDM track because sure, it's not like the week was going to be getting any worse at that point. Still there were a few high points, read on for the week's headlines that helped get us to Sunday.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

Nintendo (14)

  • 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' has more customization options than ever

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one of Nintendo's most anticipated games of 2020. We've seen plenty of the game's content from Nintendo Direct streams, but this weekend, fans are getting their first hands-on experience with Nintendo's island life simulator. PAX East attendees have reported several new details that weren't previously mentioned by Nintendo, which USgamer has rounded up. While none of them are particularly surprising, they do show that Nintendo is listening to fans' feedback.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' will offer island terraforming

    Nintendo just wrapped up its latest Nintendo Direct stream, which touted the features and gameplay of the upcoming Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are plenty of new elements to be excited about, but a few stand out and show that the latest entry in the series will take a big step forward.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • How does the Switch Lite fit into your portable gaming life?

    The original Switch is a pretty compact device but, if you never hooked it up to a TV, it might not have been diminutive enough. For those players Nintendo introduced the Switch Lite, a smaller and, dare we say, much cuter version of the OG Switch. The Lite can't be docked and the controllers don't detach. However, in return you get a more pocketable size and an actual D-pad on the left side. And of course, the Switch Lite is $100 cheaper, making it more accessible to budget-minded gamers.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • 'Animal Crossing' themed Nintendo Direct scheduled for Thursday

    Animal Crossing: New Horizons will bring Nintendo's franchise to the Switch in March, and one month ahead of the game's release date it will unveil more details about the new entry. A 25-minute livestream on February 20th at 9 AM ET will give us a look at the "Nook Inc.'s Deserted Island Getaway Package!" that makes up the backbone of the new game. Players have been waiting for years to see a new console entry in the series, and it's almost here. Just wait a few more hours to get a better look at it, and the good news is that it's not delayed again.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • ‘The Witcher 3’ update brings PC cross-saves to the Switch

    If you're hooked on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and want to keep playing while you're on the go, you can do just that perhaps with a little more ease than in the past. CD Projekt Red has tossed a coin to its Nintendo Switch players by adding save file integration with Steam and GOG.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Nintendo unveils a coral-colored Switch Lite

    Nintendo has unveiled a new color for the Switch Lite, and it's just fine. You'd be mistaken for calling it pink, but it's actually considered coral -- "Living Coral" was Pantone's color of 2019, so that may well be the inspiration behind it. Like the rose gold craze a while back, this hue is proving pretty popular on electronics at the moment -- we've already seen this shade on the Pixel 4, for example. In any case, it's the first new color for the Switch Lite since it was released in September last year, and joins a line-up of turquoise, gray and yellow models. The pink coral version will be available in Japan on March 20th and the US on April 3rd.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Pokémon Home is now available on Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android

    After a short wait, Pokémon Home is now available to download on iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo-made app allows you to transfer your Pokémon to the franchise's latest entry, Pokémon Sword and Shield, from past Switch and 3DS games like Pokémon X and Y. In the future, it will also work with Pokémon Go.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Nintendo is adding more SNES and NES games to Switch Online

    Your to-play list for Nintendo Switch may grow a bit longer now that Nintendo has announced new games for its subscription service. To start with, it's bringing more Super SNES (SNES) games to Switch Online on February 19th, and both haven't been released in the US before. One of them is Konami's top-view shoot-'em-up game Pop'n TwinBee, which Nintendo calls a "cute-'em-up shooter," because it features cutesy characters. The other is the 16-bit classic Smash Tennis.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Nintendo will host Switch pop-up lounges in four US airports

    Waiting for your plane to board is boring at best and excruciating at worst. Nintendo will help passengers at four US airports pass the time with its pop-up lounges, where they can play hit Switch games, charge their devices and grab some freebies. Nintendo hopes people stop by to get a taste of how a system that converts from a home console to a handheld portable could be a great companion for travelers. The company's hit games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Party will be available to play in both TV mode and portable mode.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Nintendo unboxes the 'Animal Crossing' Switch you can't buy yet

    Nintendo's Animal Crossing Switch is still more than a month away, but that isn't stopping the gaming giant from teasing would-be buyers. It recently posted an unboxing video that shows you what to expect if you pick up the special edition console. There aren't too many surprises, although it helps point out little touches like the color-matching Joy-Con straps and the ever-so-slightly textured pattern on the back of the system. This probably won't convince you to buy the Switch if you weren't already inclined, but it could whet your appetite if you were just waiting for Tom Nook and crew to reach the hybrid system before jumping in.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Switch version of 'The Outer Worlds' delayed due to coronavirus outbreak

    Just a few days ago we learned the release date for a Switch port of The Outer Worlds, but now it's delayed. The game was scheduled for release on Nintendo's system March 6th, however the coronavirus outbreak in China has impacted Virtuous, the developer working on the port who has previously delivered versions of Dark Souls Remastered and Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age for Switch. On LinkedIn, Virtuous CEO Gilles Langourieux writes that although all members of the team are safe and accounted for, reduced local transportation has made it difficult for them to go to work. Its studios in Chengdu and Xian have extended their holidays until next week as a result. According to publisher Private Division, there isn't a new release date yet, but in a tweet they revealed that when the game comes out they will release a physical version on cartridge as well.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Nintendo adds monthly subscription to 'Fire Emblem Heroes'

    Fire Emblem Heroes (FEH) is Nintendo's mobile money-maker. The free-to-play RPG has pulled in, according to SensorTower, $656 million since its release three years ago -- over $200 million more than all of Nintendo's other mobile games combined. That money train is running out of steam, though, and Nintendo wants to curb that with a $9.49 monthly subscription plan called Feh Pass. Despite being the company's most-successful mobile title in 2019, revenue was down significantly to $156 million, which is almost half that of the $295 million revenue from its 2017 launch year, and 23-percent down on the $205 million it made in 2018. This is a fairly normal pattern for a gacha title. Gacha games rely on a small number of high-value users spending hundreds and thousands of dollars on in-game currency (Orbs, in FEH's case). As the number of users playing a game drops, the number of high-value users typically drops in tandem.

    By Aaron Souppouris Read More

  • Hacker pleads guilty to stealing Nintendo secrets

    A California man is about to face serious consequences for a string of crimes that include breaching a gaming industry giant. Palmdale resident Ryan Hernandez has pleaded guilty to federal charges of both hacking Nintendo systems (computer fraud and abuse) and possessing child pornography. Hernandez reportedly used phishing to swipe the credentials of a Nintendo worker in 2016 and used that to steal confidential info about the console maker and promptly leak that to the public. He even leaked details of the Switch before its March 2017 debut, according to court records. Moreover, he resumed hacking Nintendo systems in June 2018 despite the FBI catching him and eliciting a promise that he would stop.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

PC Gaming (18)

  • Professional 'League of Legends' is trying to work around the coronavirus

    A little more than a month ago, one of the biggest esports leagues in the world -- the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) in China -- was forced to go on hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak. Understandably, all matches were postponed and the English commentary team flew back to their respective home nations. So what now? Well, today the LPL announced that the 2020 Spring Split will resume on March 9th with an online-only format. "Players will be attending matches from their club headquarters," the league's organisers explained in a tweet. "The only exception are players in quarantined provinces who are currently unable to leave."

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Valve wants cities to bid on hosting The International

    Cities that have lost out on bids to host the Olympics or other big events may have another opportunity to shine. Valve Software is soliciting bids from "host cities" to put on The International -- the annual Dota 2 championship and one of the top esports tournaments. Today, Valve issued a request for proposal (RFP) document, shared by Polygon, that asks cities to throw their hats in the ring as potential hosts for next year's tournament.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • 'Black Mesa,' the fan-made 'Half-Life' remake, finally has a release date

    Black Mesa has had a lengthy development journey, to say the least. In 2006, fans of Half-Life decided to port the game to the then-new Source engine (upon which Half-Life 2 was based). Valve had actually done so itself, but the results were poor. Crowbar Collective aimed to make a version of Half-Life that offered the same level of polish as its 2004 sequel. But as a small team, updates have been sporadic. Finally, 14 years after the first Black Mesa mod was released, the full version of the game will launch on March 5th via Steam.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Baldur's Gate 3' comes to Steam in 2020 as an Early Access game

    It took a while, but Larian Studios is narrowing down launch plans for Baldur's Gate 3. Hasbro (which controls Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of the Coast) has confirmed at the New York Toy Fair that the long-anticipated role-playing sequel will arrive on Steam sometime in 2020 as an Early Access title. You won't see BG3 gameplay until Larian's PAX East presentation on February 27th at 3:30PM Eastern, but it's already clear the studio doesn't intend to make players wait much longer past the two decades since Baldur's Gate 2.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Bethesda games leave GeForce Now streaming service

    Most Bethesda titles will no longer be part of NVIDIA's GeForce Now game streaming service. In a post on the NVIDIA forum, a staff member has announced that the platform has already started removing Bethesda Softworks titles from its library. They include major titles like Skyrim, several Fallout installments and the The Elder Scrolls 5. The only Bethesda game that's staying on the service is Wolfenstein: Youngblood -- GeForce Now will drop the other Wolfenstein installments, as well.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Twitch built a tool to help new players understand 'League of Legends'

    Jumping into a game like League of Legends is not for the faint of heart. Between a notoriously toxic community and the almost endless complexity of the game itself, there are a lot of hurdles new players have to conquer before they can start enjoying the MOBA. But Twitch hopes it can help solve at least the latter problem with a new extension that details the state of a match at any time. The hope is that the tool will both make the game easier to learn, as well as foster more interaction between streamers and viewers.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • 'Hardspace: Shipbreaker' is a PC game about salvaging space junk

    Considering the huge variety of high-octane video games there are available, it's always something of a surprise when those involving fairly menial tasks --farming, for example -- perform so well. But what about menial tasks... in space? Surely that's just the right balance of excitement and the mundane? Blackbird Interactive -- the studio behind Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak – seems to think so.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'GTA4' is returning to Steam next month without multiplayer

    Grand Theft Auto 4 will return to Steam on March 19th after it was abruptly pulled from the digital storefront last month due to an issue with Microsoft's defunct Games for Windows Live service. Developer Rockstar Games will rerelease the game, as well as its Episodes from Liberty City DLC, as a single package called Grand Theft Auto 4: Complete Edition. Unfortunately, Complete Edition won't include online multiplayer or leaderboards.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • CCP cancels one 'Eve Online' shooter, announces another

    CCP Games has given up on its EVE Online-inspired shooter Project Nova, but don't worry, it's now working on... another Eve Online-inspired shooter. In a statement on Reddit, CCP's George Kellion said that the long-awaited Project Nova was getting the chop because its "gameplay experience as presented at EVE Vegas '18 would not have achieved our ambitious goals for this concept."

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Assassin's Creed: Syndicate' will be free on Epic's game store this week

    The Epic Games Store's freebies can be hit or miss, but this is one you might want to consider if you're a stealth action fan. Epic is making Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Syndicate available for free between February 20th and February 27th. It's a 2015-era game (the last before Ubisoft's 'reinvented' Origins), but you're still getting a modern, generally well-received take on AC's mix of sneaking, parkour and one-against-many combat -- it's just set in Victorian London instead of ancient Egypt or Greece.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Half Life: Alyx' will hit Steam on March 23rd

    Unlike many other publishers who've delayed big games in recent months, it appears as though Valve is actually sticking to the March release window it set for Half Life: Alyx. Even better, the VR prequel to Half-Life 2 now has an actual release date: March 23rd.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Activision Blizzard pulls its games from GeForce Now

    GeForce Now, NVIDIA's game streaming service, went live for everyone last week. It allows you to play hundreds of games from dozens of publishers in the cloud, but Activision Blizzard's titles are no longer among the options after the publisher asked NVIDIA to remove its titles from the service. "While unfortunate, we hope to work together with Activision Blizzard to reenable these games and more in the future," an NVIDIA staff member wrote on the GeForce Now forums.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • 'CS:GO' will soon mute abusive players by default

    Valve is working on a new moderation system for CS:GO that could finally give toxic players pause. This upcoming system will warn players if they receive significantly more abuse reports than their peers and punishes them if they ignore it. How? Well, if others continue reporting them for abuse despite that initial warning, then they will be muted by everyone by default. Other players can choose to manually unmute them, but they'll remain in that default mute state until they earn enough XP to shake off the penalty.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Valve teases SteamVR 2.0 for 2020

    Valve didn't just look back at its accomplishments in Steam's 2019 Year in Review post, it also revealed what you can look forward to this year. In the post, the company teased SteamVR 2.0, an updated version of its virtual reality system that will feature several customer experience improvements. The company didn't reveal what those upcoming features are, only that its team is "hard at work" on the platform's development.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Blizzard pledges to fix (or refund) 'Warcraft III: Reforged'

    It's only been a few days since Blizzard launched Warcraft III: Reforged, but fans have made it clear that they are not happy. In response, Blizzard says it is "sorry to those of you who didn't have the experience you wanted." The company promises that at least a handful of fixes are on the way.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • GeForce Now goes live for all users today

    GeForce Now has arrived. After seven years of tweaking its delivery systems and gathering beta feedback, NVIDIA has finally unveiled the consumer version of its game-streaming ecosystem. GeForce Now streams games of all sizes to PC, Mac, Android and the NVIDIA Shield, and it works with players' existing libraries on Steam, the Epic Games Store and all other digital platforms. Games are capped at 1080p and 60 FPS.

    By Jessica Conditt Read More

PlayStation (8)

  • Sony pulls out of PAX East over coronavirus concerns

    Sony is pulling out of PAX East this year owing to coronavirus concerns. The company had planned to showcase a number of upcoming PlayStation 4 games there, including offering gamers their first chance to try a demo of The Last of Us Part II.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Bloomberg: The PS5 could cost 'at least' $470

    Sony is struggling to keep costs down on the PlayStation 5 as the console hurtles toward its big debut later this year. Bloomberg is reporting that the cost to build the machine has risen to $450 per unit, a big increase on the PS4's $380. The financial outlet's analysts are saying that the sticker price for the new console could be close to $470, which could be a hard sell for cash-strapped buyers.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Sony could have a new PSVR headset in the works

    We already knew that the PS5 would support Sony's PlayStation VR headset. That makes sense: the new console will be backwards compatible with PS4 software, which presumably includes every VR-enabled title. What we didn't know, however, was the future of the PSVR platform and whether Sony would ever release a PSVR 2. Well, good news: according to Bloomberg, the company is planning a new version of its virtual reality headset, with a tentative release date sometime after the PS5's launch.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Indie dungeon-crawler 'Below' is coming to PS4 this spring

    More than two years after coming out on Xbox One and almost seven years since it was first announced at E3 2013, Below is making its way to PlayStation 4. If you've been patiently waiting to check out the game, developer Capybara Games says you'll be able to play Below on PS4 "later this spring."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Sony closes UK PSVR studio before it even released a game

    Sony's VR-focused games studio in Manchester, UK, has closed down without ever releasing a game. The business -- which was formed back in 2015 -- had been working on an unannounced VR project but as now been shut "as part of our efforts to improve efficiency and operational effectiveness." GamesIndustry.biz reports that it understands the entire studio has been made redundant.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Sony's PlayStation business is slowing faster than expected

    Back in 2018 Sony made it clear that its games department would be slowing down as it prepared for the next generation PlayStation. Now it's released its quarterly results which go beyond a "slowing down" to illustrate a much more significant drop in revenue for the business.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • You'll need a PS4 to join the next 'Fortnite' tournament

    Epic Games has run console-specific Fortnite tourneys in the past, and now it's the PlayStation's turn. The game studio has announced a PS4-only Celebration Cup that will run between February 15th and February 16th. The Solo competition is open to almost anyone at level 15 or higher, and will offer a $1 million prize pool that pays cash to over 4,000 top players who compete during a pair of three-hour periods. You might not walk away empty-handed if you don't qualify for a payout, though.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Reviews (47)

  • The Morning After: The Galaxy S20 Ultra comes up short

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. 5G is here, and to be honest -- I don't get it. I lived through the 4G wars with LTE vs. WiMax, and before that, it was the bad old days of HSPA+, EV-DO and Edge... but now I can't tell mmWave from mid-band. Luckily, Chris Schodt's latest Upscaled video addresses precisely the things I need to know before I (eventually) get a 5G phone. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Galaxy S20 Ultra review: Impressive but impractical

    The first major phones of the year are here, and Samsung is being its usual ambitious self. The company unleashed a trio of new flagships in its S20 series, and for the first time, it introduced a souped-up Ultra variant alongside the regular S20 and S20+. The S20 Ultra is big and beefy, though with a starting price of $1,400, it's also very expensive. It offers a long list of impressive specs and intriguing features, like a triple camera system with a 108-megapixel sensor that can zoom up to 100x. But do these features make a good phone?

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: Reviewing Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra

    This week, it's all about Samsung's chonky boi, the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Cherlynn gives us a preview of her review for the new flagship phone -- including its 5G performance in NYC and its "100X" camera -- while Devindra wonders what's the point of an incredibly heavy $1,400 brick. Also, we chat about how the coronavirus is continuing to affect the tech world (and why that's not stopping anytime soon. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Hands on with Samsung's Galaxy S20 series Sony and Facebook drop out of GDC Facial recognition startup Clearview AI's full client list was stolen Ultimate Ears Hyperboom speaker is a portable party powerhouse Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Is the Roku Ultra your favorite streaming device?

    Even as TVs and game consoles and cable boxes pack in more and more features, the best way to access all your favorite streaming content continues to be a Roku. These streaming sticks and boxes include the most popular apps, and it's super cheap to add one to an existing home theater setup. (The most expensive unit is the $100 Roku Ultra.) In fact, with the constant sales Amazon seems to be having, we wouldn't be surprised if you picked one up over the holidays.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Could you live with this budget Android for four years?

    Five years ago, Sharad Mittal had a dilemma. He and his wife had just watched Noah, a movie starring Russell Crowe with a heavy environmental message underneath its retelling of the classic Biblical tale. The movie moved him deeply, giving him a new perspective of the world that he says literally changed his life. "I became a hardcore environmentalist that day," he told Engadget.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Optoma CinemaX P1 review: A stunning 4K projector with terrible apps

    The shiniest new toys in AV land are the short-throw laser projectors you might have seen recently, particularly at CES. They're cool because they give you a huge, bright image for a fraction the price of a comparably sized 4K TV. At the same time, they're relatively easy to install compared to a ceiling-mounted projector because you can place them on a table just inches in front of the screen. I was curious to see how they compare with 4K TVs and regular projectors, so I got hold of Optoma's $3,700 CinemaX P1 paired with its $1,300, 100-inch ambient light-rejecting ALR101 screen. For that sum, I could project a huge 100-inch image for a fraction the price of a 100-inch TV. At the same time, it promised much greater brightness and sharpness than long-throw projectors, along with built-in media powers. On top of reviewing this projector, I'm also reviewing the whole idea of a short-throw laser projector, from installation to day-to-day usage. I discovered a lot of important info and caveats, so hopefully you can learn from my errors and understand how these products fare in the real world.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Model:Cycles review: An affordable and approachable FM groovebox

    Fair or not, Elektron has a reputation for making complex and kinda pricey electronic music gear. Last year though, it made a serious play for the entry level with the Model:Samples ($299), an affordable, sample-based groovebox that simplified Elektron's unique workflow for beginners. In a lot of ways, it's a stripped-down version of the company's Digitakt sampler. If you're familiar with the Digitakt, you've no doubt often seen it paired with the Digitone, a sort of sibling groovebox that relies on FM synthesis instead of samples. So it only makes sense that Elektron would want to give the Model:Samples its own FM-based partner in crime. Physically the Model:Cycles is basically a palette-swapped version of the Model:Samples -- Subzero to the M:S' Scorpion. At its core it's the same six-track monophonic sequencer -- but with a streamlined version of the Digitone's sound engine under the hood. Obviously though sacrifices had to be made to hit that $299 price point. As a result, the Cycles isn't exactly a budget-friendly replacement for the Digitone. It's very much its own instrument.

    By Terrence O'Brien Read More

  • LG V60 ThinQ 5G hands-on: Two screens, not enough polish

    LG's smartphone business spent most of last year struggling to turn a profit, but the company has found at least one strategy it wants to stick with. Instead of giving people unpolished, unproven, expensive foldables, it starting building phones you could attach secondary screens to when you needed a little extra room to work with. LG hopes this wide-eyed idea enough to convince people to buy its new V60 ThinQ 5G, but after a little hands-on time, I'd advise a little caution.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Ultimate Ears' Hyperboom speaker is a portable party powerhouse

    You call that puny wireless thing sitting in your backpack a speaker? This is a Bluetooth speaker: Meet Ultimate Ears' Hyperboom, a $400 13-pound beast that'll let you jam out to serious sound just about anywhere. Unlike the Megaboom 3, the previous top-of-the-line option from Logitech's Ultimate Ears brand, the Hyperboom is powerful enough to pump out music for a decently sized party. And based on my testing, it's a decent option for anyone looking for a sonic step up from smaller Bluetooth speakers.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Polly Pocket meets Tamagotchi in this portable LCD home

    Remember Polly Pocket? It was a line of dollhouses that folded up into a makeup compact, making them small enough to fit in a purse. It was pretty great for kids to take to school or on trips. But those Lilliputian dimensions came at a cost: Mostly all those easily lost (or swallowed) small pieces. Skyrocket's new Pixel Stars Dreamhouse solves that problem by making almost everything — the dolls, accessories and furnishings — digital.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Huawei’s Mate Xs is a tougher foldable phone lacking the apps you want

    Despite nailing the reveal at MWC last year, Huawei's impressive foldable phone, the Mate X, never made it any further than briefings, press conferences and Chinese early adopters -- there's a reason we didn't review it. The Mate X wasn't cheap, it wasn't perfect but it still seemed like the strongest foldable option at the time. (And we all know how Samsung's first attempt turned out.) Samsung's remade Galaxy Fold is the perfect analog for Huawei's Mate Xs 5G, a phone that should be better prepared for prime time. Nothing particularly major has changed since the Mate X. There's still an 8-inch unfolded display, transforming to a 6.6-inch phone in standard smartphone mode. So what has changed on the Mate Xs? There's still a release button to satisfyingly unfurl the smartphone, but the hinge itself has been upgraded. According to Huawei, the number of parts and components inside the hinge is up from around 100 to 150. I can feel the difference -- I think? Huawei didn't have last year's Mate X around for comparisons, but it feels like it has more heft to it -- something that the original Mate X wasn't particularly lacking.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Huawei’s 10.8-inch iPad Pro rival can wirelessly charge your phone

    Huawei's big MWC reveal that never was is the MatePad Pro, a stylish tablet that will come with a keyboard folio and companion stylus in an attempt to go toe-to-toe with the iPad Pro. It's the company's biggest attempt yet to establish a premium tablet range, having made middling and entry-level tablets for a while. Years, in fact. As it did with its smartphones, though, the company has decided it's time to elevate its tablet efforts -- at a time when everything is either an iPad or a Windows 10 2-in-1. And you know what? Hardware-wise, Huawei may have completely nailed it.

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • KidKraft's Alexa-powered toy kitchen sizzles and tells dad jokes

    Kids love to cook — or at least to pretend to. They enjoy emulating their parents, especially when it comes to making delicious things to eat. However, our kitchen routines have changed a lot thanks to voice control technology, which isn't easily replicated in a basic wood or plastic playset. So KidKraft's new toy kitchen doesn't even try to emulate it. Instead, it integrates the real Alexa to create an incredibly realistic but also whimsical play cooking experience.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Spin Master's new NinjaBots are cute little killers (updated)

    Do you remember the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon from the '80s? Shredder's minions were all featureless humanoid robots, which our heroes could could slice and dice without guilt. At this year's Toy Fair, Spin Master's new product answers the question: What if the ninjas were the robots?

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The Morning After: Don't buy a Galaxy Z Flip

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Last week Motorola's Razr made its big comeback, then there was a rotary cellphone DIY kit, and this week we learned that the old Tiger Electronics handheld games are returning in 2020. I haven't even mentioned the Friends reunion on HBO Max. The only things still missing from the 90s at this point? Blockbuster, dial-up internet and Hypercolor. But for a peek at the future, look no further than Chris Velazco's review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip. Unfortunately, the best foldable phone yet is still nearly impossible to recommend, but there's always next time, right? Even if this version of the flexible screen fails to pay off, there's always slide-out displays. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip review: Admire it, don't buy it

    To date, every foldable you could buy has been the subject of at least some drama. Royole's FlexPai felt barely finished. The original Galaxy Fold wasn't much more than a prototype, with glaring design issues that were fixed in later production runs. Huawei's Mate X stole the show at last year's Mobile World Congress but was delayed for reasons the company never fully explained. And the Razr? Well, let's just say the results couldn't possibly live up to the hype. The Galaxy Z Flip ($1,380) is different. Of all the foldables I've used, this is the first one that seems to tick all the boxes: Excellent performance, great cameras, and even decent battery life — all packed into a flip-phone-style body that I honestly think makes the most sense for most people. If you're in a rush to embrace one possible future for smartphones, then I don't think you'll do much better than this. But why rush? Embracing that future means putting up with a lot of compromises. And even though the Z Flip has fewer than most, the same lingering foldable criticisms apply. They're more expensive than comparable smartphones. They're inherently fragile and app-makers don't know how to take advantage of them (yet). The Z Flip may be the best of its kind, but until foldables as a whole mature beyond these problems, they're still not worth the splurge for anyone who doesn't want to double as a beta tester.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Galaxy Buds+ review: Samsung finally has a worthy AirPods alternative

    I really wanted to like the original Galaxy Buds. They're some of the best-designed true wireless earbuds I tested last year. They're tiny, which makes them comfortable (well, as much as earbuds can be), and they came with a wireless charging case at a time when that still wasn't a standard feature. However, the audio quality was disappointing, call performance was subpar, and limited customization for onboard controls was frustrating. With the new Galaxy Buds+ ($150), Samsung improved its wireless earbuds in many ways, but some things still need work.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Hunt the high seas as a hyper-evolved super shark in 'Maneater'

    Sharks have had a bad rap for years. Between Jaws, Deep Blue Sea (RIP Samuel L Jackson), and Shark Week, these apex oceanic predators have long been maligned as mindless killing machines. But in Maneater from Tripwire Interactive players will finally set the record straight... by cutting a bloody, televised swath of death and destruction across America's 50th most beloved state.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Teardown reveals how much hardware Samsung crams into the Galaxy Z Flip

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip lays out a welcome mat for dust and debris. But while the hinge gap is concerning, it is impressive that Samsung was able to fit so many components into a foldable design. iFixit's teardown reveals a stack of two minuscule motherboards and two battery cells crammed into the palm-sized device. And thanks to its modular parts, it's slightly more repairable than Motorola's new foldable Razr.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • The Galaxy Z Flip's hinge fibers aren't enough to keep dust out

    Samsung made much ado over fiber layers in the Galaxy Z Flip's hinge that are supposed to keep dust and debris from ruining your day, but how effective are they, really? They might not be as effective as you'd like. iFixit has tested the hinge's dust resistance in the early stages of its teardown, and... it's not promising. While it's not surprising that dust would infiltrate other parts of the phone (Samsung explicitly warns the phone isn't dust-resistant), the hinge area was still coated in particles -- enough that they produced a disconcerting crunch when iFixit unfolded the device.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Alex Garland’s new show wants you to be scared of tech again

    Back in the '90s, when the internet first entered our collective consciousness, Hollywood responded by releasing a slate of techno thrillers that warned of all the horrible things computers could do to us. Perhaps our existence could be erased like Sandra Bullock's in The Net, or maybe our entire species would be enslaved like in The Matrix. Now, the media is seemingly dominated by the brilliant-but-inept tech bros of shows like Silicon Valley, or friendly hackers like Abby on NCIS. Ex Machina and Annihilation director Alex Garland's new show Devs argues that maybe we had it right the first time: We should be afraid. We should be very afraid.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The Galaxy Z Flip's glass screen isn't very durable

    When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip, its display's extra-thin glass drew the attention of many people. It theoretically offered a better feel and more durability than the fragile plastic of the Galaxy Fold. You might not want to get your hopes up, however. JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) has subjected the Z Flip's screen to a durability test, and the results are... unfortunate. It's just as prone to scratching as the plastic displays of the Fold and the Motorola Razr, to the point where a fingernail can leave marks. Puncture and heat tests didn't fare any better.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Love at first fold: 24 hours with Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip

    I'll admit it, when Samsung teased the Galaxy Fold at its Developer Conference in 2018, I wasn't sold on the concept. Sure, the technology was impressive, but it just seemed gimmicky to me. The only benefit I could think of for folding displays would be if they made regular-sized phones smaller.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • The Morning After: Motorola Razr review, and the end of HQ Trivia

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. After an explosive launch in 2017 that had millions of people tuning in to play live on their phones for cash prizes, HQ Trivia has shut down. Its downfall includes a failed acquisition and reported employee mutiny, but mostly, I'm just sad to see it go. Like most others, I gave up on the game some time ago when it failed to innovate and address some inherent problems. I probably won't even miss it as much as I still can't get over Microsoft's 1 vs.100 live game on Xbox 360, and that's been gone for nearly ten years. Massively multiplayer live experiences aren't an easy thing to solve, but with so many potential players, it seems like someone should've worked out a sustainable business model by now. We can't all build our own buzzer system and train at home to become the next James Holzhauer. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Galaxy Z Flip teardown video looks inside Samsung's latest foldable

    Now that the Galaxy Z Flip is available (even if it's in very limited qualities) of course someone is in a hurry to pull it apart. While iFixit hasn't published a teardown of the device to follow their guide for Motorola's new Razr, the PBKreviews YouTube channel has a look if you're desperate to know what's inside the Z Flip and how to take it apart.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Motorola Razr review: A fashion statement, not a flagship

    The Motorola Razr is many things. It's one of the first foldable phones you can buy right now. It's a feat of engineering from a storied mobile brand. It's a Verizon exclusive. (Sigh.) What the Razr absolutely isn't, though, is practical. For some of you reading this, that's not going to be an issue. The Razr is as style-forward as the classic model that came before it, and maybe that's enough. But Motorola and Verizon are asking people to pay $1,500 for this thing — a certain degree of practicality is a must. At the risk of immediately spoiling the rest of this review, the Razr won't run faster, last longer or take better pictures than literally any other phone in this price range. It's a fashion statement, not a flagship. Like I said, maybe that's enough for some. But for everyone else, for people who are more likely than ever to hold on to their smartphone for years, is a compromised phone like the Razr really worth the splurge? I think we both know the answer to that.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Yamaha’s tiny wireless guitar amp gets everything right but the price

    With the original THR line of guitar amps, Yamaha basically invented a new product category: the connected desktop amplifier. It filled a need that honestly many guitar players didn't even realize they had. These amplifiers are small enough to sit on a table or desk, they sound great even at low volumes and they're stylish enough that you won't feel compelled to hide them when company comes over. You don't have to search long or hard to find people singing their praises. I bought one a couple years ago and have zero regrets. But the THR amps weren't without flaws. And in the nine years since they were introduced, the competition has caught up. The highly revered Roland Katana line made a play for the space with the Air. And the iconic Vox brand introduced Adio. So Yamaha announced the THR II in September with new features, new amp models and a rich new app in the hopes of not only keeping pace but also showing the competition it's still the benchmark for tiny amps.

    By Terrence O'Brien Read More

  • Wacom One review: A great, no-frills drawing tablet for budding artists

    The Wacom One is a $400 graphics tablet designed for folks used to editing pictures and video on mobile devices. Teens looking to up their Snapchat game, YouTubers and would-be digital artists who want the functionality of a Cintiq, but at iPad prices. It still has the same baggage as other Wacom devices, more on which later, but at a fraction of the cost.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Motorola's foldable Razr is unsurprisingly hard to repair

    Motorala's contemporary take on the Razr has been quite publicly panned by testers. CNET, for example, wanted to see if the device could withstand 100,000 folds -- it only made it to the 27,000th fold before it started showing problems (which Motorala has subsequently defended). With foldable smartphones still far from the norm, consumers are understandably wary of making such a sizeable investment in something that's still relatively unpredictable. If it goes wrong, how much of a hassle will it be to repair? And in the case of Motorola's Razr, the answer is "a big one," according to iFixit's recent teardown.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid works as promised, but only for small batches

    The Instant Pot has garnered a huge fan base in recent years, and for good reason. Yes, it replaces your slow cooker and you can make yogurt in it (in some models anyway) but its real claim to fame is as an electric pressure cooker that can significantly shorten cooking time. Imagine braised short ribs in under an hour, or homemade pho in 30 minutes. The best part is that you can just set the timer and walk away, without having to tend to it like you would a stovetop version. It's been over two years since I purchased my Instant Pot Ultra, and it remains one of my favorite kitchen appliances. That said, I found myself lusting after yet another trendy kitchen appliance: the air fryer. The idea behind it is that it can "fry" foods with just hot air and without the oily mess that deep-frying entails. However, as publications like Wirecutter and Cook's Illustrated point out, air fryers are nothing more than re-packaged convection ovens. If you do want crispy "air-fried" foods, Wirecutter recommends getting a countertop convection oven instead, which obviously has a lot more features than just air frying.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Olympus E-M1 III review: Fast, but way behind flagship camera rivals

    Amid the excitement of so many new and interesting camera models, one company has been left out of the discussion: Olympus. Unlike its main rival, Panasonic, it has stuck to the Micro Four Thirds sensor and not jumped on the full-frame bandwagon. And while it released the larger, more professionally oriented E-M1X camera, it didn't represent a major upgrade on the 2016 E-M1 Mark II model. Now, Olympus finally has a genuine successor. Like the E-M1X, the E-M1 Mark III promises even more speed and top-notch in-body stabilization, this time all packed into a much smaller and even more rugged body. Disappointingly, though, it has the same 20.4-megapixel sensor as before, and for an $1,800 camera, it's lagging behind rivals from Sony, Panasonic and Fujifilm in certain features. On top of that, Olympus has had a tough time financially of late. I'm in Costa Rica with the E-M1 Mark III, and I'm going to find out if Olympus is doing enough to survive.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip hands-on: Razr who?

    As you might have seen elsewhere, I'm in the middle of writing our Motorola Razr review. I bring that up now because there's simply no way not to compare that thing to the new Galaxy Z Flip we just played with at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco. After all, these are the first two flip-phone-style foldables to hit the market, and they're launching within weeks of each other after prolonged periods of hype.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra vs. the competition: The most megapixels

    With a screen size just shy of seven inches, it's hard not to just call the Galaxy S20 Ultra a full-fledged tablet. (We never really liked the word "phablet" around here.) Albeit a tablet with a quad rear camera setup containing a 108-megapixel wide-angle shooter. But a big screen and powerful camera aren't all the Ultra has to offer. We've got a rundown of the relevant specs below, especially as compared to some of the other big handsets vying for your attention this spring. Check back later this month for our full review.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The Galaxy S20+ vs. the competition: A bigger screen and more lenses

    Of the three Galaxy S phones introduced today, the middle "plus" edition is probably the one that most of you will end up buying. It's got a quad camera setup, up to 512 GB of storage and an expansive 6.7-inch screen. But it's not the only large flagship phone out there, especially now that Apple's sized up with the Pro Max. We've lined up some of the more notable competition in a handy table for you, though you'll have to wait for our full review to get the final verdict.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The Galaxy S20 vs. the competition: Pretty in pink (or blue or black)

    It's time for a new set of Galaxy S phones, and the most diminutive of this year's trio isn't actually that small thanks to its 6.2-inch screen. In addition to that extra display real estate, the S20 also packs in a trio of rear shooters, 5G and a Samsung-made 2.7 GHz processor. To see how it all stacks up against some of the more "petite" flagship handsets, check out our table below, and be sure to check back for our full review later this month.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • The Galaxy S20 Ultra squeezes 108 megapixels of data into 12-megapixel photos

    Samsung is getting a little extra with its latest flagship series. Not only do you get a pair of premium phones in the S20 and S20+, the company is also launching a third souped-up variant called the S20 Ultra. It's a monster of a handset with a 6.9-inch screen compared to its 6.2-inch and 6.7-inch siblings, the S20 and S20+. Like its smaller stablemates, the Ultra features an HDR10+ screen that can run at 120Hz for smoother playback, though only at 1080p instead of its native Quad HD+ resolution.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 series hands-on: 5G across the board (sort of)

    If you were planning to buy a premium Android smartphone this year, you can rest easy knowing they'll all come with more or less the same things. A speedy, new chipset with gobs of RAM? Yep. An at least mildly tweaked build of Android 10? Sure. A few too many cameras? You get the idea. Samsung understands this all too well, which explains why it's leaning so hard into the whole "age of experience" angle it first laid out at CES this year -- as far as the company is concerned, a device's true value doesn't lie in just the hardware; it's in the things that hardware allows you to do. Suffice to say, the $999 Galaxy S20, $1,199 S20+ and $1,399 S20 Ultra allow you to do a lot. We got to spend a little hands-on time with all three devices ahead of today's launch event, and as usual they made some strong first impressions. Sure, in many ways, they don't stray too far from Samsung's proven flagship formula, and some people simply won't find enough value here to warrant an upgrade. If you've been itching for more 5G support, though, or if camera performance is high on your list of priorities, these new smartphones just might be must-haves. Emphasis on "might."

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • JLab Go Air review: These $29 wireless earbuds are surprisingly decent

    For better or worse, we assign quality to things based on how much they cost. If the best true wireless earbuds you can buy are $230, surely an alternative priced for less than $30 isn't worth your time, right? Wrong. While it may have been true in the past that cheap true wireless earbuds weren't as reliable as their pricier competitors, that's not the case in 2020. JLab Audio's Go Air ($29) are serviceable regardless of price -- so much so that they might change your mind on cheap audio accessories.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • 'Ring Fit Adventure' is the perfect winter workout

    Winter in New York City is a special kind of hell for me when it comes to keeping fit. Exercising at home gets boring, it's often too miserable to go out for a run, and I'm not one for That Gym Life. For years, I basically resigned myself to packing on a few pounds and feeling like a gross slob every winter. But once my daughter Sophia arrived, I wanted to break that cycle. Trust me: Chasing after a 15-month old can get tiring pretty quickly if you're not prepared for it. So my big solution to stay somewhat fit? A video game!

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • Moto Razr test gauges the phone's ability to survive 'pocket sand'

    Whether or not you believe the new Moto Razr's hinge is up to the job, there's another lingering question: how well does the phone's foldable screen survive in your pocket? You might have an early answer. JerryRigEverything (aka Zack Nelson) has conducted a durability test that hints at how the phone is likely to fare in a number of brutal conditions. Some are clearly edge cases (few phones will survive a lighter unscathed), but there's also a "pocket sand" test to see how it might survive years of the debris that always seems to find its way into your pants. The result is better than you'd think, but not perfect. While the screen is fully functional, one piece of debris formed a bump under the screen while others got into the hinge and made less-than-reassuring crunching sounds.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: A Samsung Galaxy Z Flip sneak peek

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Why wait until Tuesday to find out what Samsung will unveil? A tipster sent us these pictures of what appears to be Samsung's next foldable phone. The Galaxy Z Flip has appeared in earlier leaks, but these are the clearest real-world shots we've seen. Other than that, if you look below we have Friday's other major stories plus some highlights from all of last week. Samsung's Unpacked event will take place ahead of MWC 2020 -- probably a good thing, considering how companies like NVIDIA, Ericsson and LG have already dropped out of the mobile show because of concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. I'll wait to find out how much it costs before I get too excited, but the extra-tall device could be cheaper and easier to handle than the Razr. I gotta admit, I'm not worried about the midrange specs, dual-lens camera or what its external display can show -- I just want to go back to hanging up on calls by flipping my phone closed. I miss it so much. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip hands-on clearly shows the tall foldable phone

    With just a few days left until Samsung's big Unpacked event, we've received images from a tipster purporting to show off the company's next foldable phone. While renders and a brief video of the Galaxy Z Flip have leaked before, these pictures show the device clearly, sitting both folded and unfolded. When it's closed, you can spot the dual-lens camera and next to it an external display for the time and other small notifications.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Motorola's new Moto G range includes a $300 Galaxy Note alternative

    Motorola's Razr might be getting all the attention, but mid-range phones like the Moto G are what have vaulted the brand back into profitability. In other words, those $250-ish phones are serious business, and the company's latest models -- the Moto G Power and Moto G Stylus -- take the line in some interesting new directions.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • How do you feel about the PlayStation 2 as it turns 20?

    In a few short weeks, the PlayStation 2 will turn 20. It was released March 4, 2000 in Japan, with the rest of the world eventually getting their hands on it that fall. It was backward compatible with games for the original PlayStation, and also played DVDs. (Personally, it was the first video disc player I ever owned.) And of course, there were the games. Shadow of the Colossus, Kingdom Hearts, Katamari Damacy — plenty of classic titles and series got their start there, as well as new installments in famous franchises, like Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X. The system was ultimately in production for a whopping 13 years, with more than 4,000 games released in total and over 155 million consoles sold.

    By Kris Naudus Read More

  • Motorola Razr teardown looks inside the flexible phone

    YouTube channel PBKreviews has given Motorola's modern Razr the teardown treatment a day before it becomes available. And based on how many screws and cables the host had to go through to get to the flexible display, you'll probably want to go straight to a repair center instead of trying to fix the device yourself in case anything happens to it.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Nioh 2' killed me 14 times in 90 minutes

    Over the course of 90 minutes, I died 14 times. I was drowned, beaten, burned, cut down, crushed by a stone mallet the size of a small Volkswagen and repeatedly impaled on the pointy ends of very sharp spears. But despite my initial negative expectations for Nioh 2, the upcoming samurai action RPG from Team Ninja, I enjoyed almost every bloody minute of it.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Fujifilm's X100V adds a tilt screen, more resolution and 4K video

    At a London event, Fujifilm took the wraps off of the much-leaked X100V, and it packs more power than ever into that famously compact form. It's equipped with the 26.1-megapixel backside illuminated X-Trans 4 CMOS sensor (used in the X-T3 and X-Pro3), along with the latest X-Processor 4, boosting shooting speed, resolution and low-light capability. That's ideal for the street photographers who love this series, but with new video and other powers, it's much more versatile than ever.

    By Steve Dent Read More

Robotics (5)

  • Adam Savage turned Spot the robodog into a creepy rickshaw driver

    Boston Dynamics has long touted robotic dog Spot's ability to help out in disaster situations and to take on jobs too hazardous for humans, but what practical applications does it have for the average Joe? Beyond scuttling around your house like a Lovecraftian nightmare, that is. Well, as ex-Mythbusters host Adam Savage has recently unveiled, it's pretty good at pulling a rickshaw.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Blood-drawing robot is supposedly more accurate than humans

    The only thing worse than getting a needle is getting two (or more) when the first jab attempt fails. Now, researchers from Rutgers and Mount Sinai Hospital have developed a robot that can see under your skin and supposedly do the job better than humans. That could one day help reduce problems like infections and thrombosis when attempting to start an IV line, for example.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Drone network provides early warnings for natural disasters

    Drones might soon deliver a heads-up when natural disasters are about to strike. Researchers have developed a communication system that uses a drone network to provide early warnings for disasters. The challenge wasn't so much the drone-to-drone communication as the battery life. Where a typical hobbyist drone rarely lasts more than half an hour in the air, a smarter resource allocation method helps this system lasts three to five longer while covering a large area. The drones can also form a WiFi hotspot that keeps people online when conventional infrastructure has fallen apart.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Pentagon wants to catch rogue drones in nets

    The Pentagon already has permission to shoot drones out of the sky if they're deemed a threat, but it's not stopping there. The Department of Defense (DoD) has signed a contract with Fortem Technologies for what the company calls Drone Hunter, an AI-enabled drone that can chase down, catch and retrieve rogue drones using a net.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Bird-inspired wings could help small drones fly four times longer

    Small drones seldom last more than half an hour in the air due to their inefficiency. They frequently have short, thick wings that help them survive wind gusts, but are terrible for range. However, scientists might have a way to make drones last: borrow another cue from nature. Researchers at Brown University and EPFL have developed a bird-inspired wing design that can deliver just under 3 hours of flight for a tiny 100g (3.5oz) drone, four times what you'd get from comparable fliers, without sacrificing stability. Effectively, it recognizes that common wisdom surrounding wings doesn't apply when the wingspan is a foot or less.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Samsung (21)

  • Samsung is already working to fix the Galaxy S20 cameras

    Samsung's Galaxy S20 is not even on the market yet, but reviewers from publications including PC Mag have already experienced bugs with the cameras. Samsung has now responded, saying that it's working on a fix. "The Galaxy S20 features a groundbreaking, advanced camera system," Samsung told The Verge. "We are constantly working to optimize performance to deliver the best experience for consumers. As part of this ongoing effort, we are working on a future update to improve the camera experience."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Samsung finally adds period tracking to its Health app

    The Samsung Health app is finally offering a long-awaited feature: period tracking. According to SamMobile, Samsung is rolling out an update, version 6.9.0.055, which adds a new women's health category and allows users to track their menstrual cycles.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Samsung temporarily shuts down phone factory following coronavirus case

    Samsung's coronavirus problems extend beyond people steering clear of phone stores. The company has closed a phone factory in Gumi, South Korea until February 24th after confirming that a factory worker was infected with COVID-19. The company told the worker's associates to self-quarantine and will test them for the virus, and will also keep the relevant floor closed until the 25th.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung mistakenly pushed '1' notifications to Galaxy phones worldwide

    If you've recently received a mysterious notification on your Samsung Galaxy device, you're not alone. The tech giant has blasted Galaxy phone users worldwide with a Find My Mobile push notification that simply says "1." That's it -- just "1." I personally got it on a Samsung Galaxy S8+ and a Galaxy A50S, and for both devices, clicking it did nothing. At least nothing that I could see: It didn't fire up the application and offer any explanation of what it could mean.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Samsung says the Galaxy Z Flip will be back in stock on Friday

    Last week Samsung announced and almost immediately released its foldable Galaxy Z Flip, but only in "limited" quantities that dried up almost as soon as they appeared, unless you spot one in a store somewhere. Now Samsung says that tomorrow, on February 21st it will make more of the $1,380 devices available online, coincidentally around the same time pre-orders will begin for its flagship lineup of phones that includes higher specs and 5G across the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung will sell its foldable glass display to other companies

    Now that the Galaxy Z Flip is available to buy, Samsung plans to sell the phone's signature foldable glass screen to other manufacturers. The screen will carry the same ultra-thin glass (UTG) branding as of the Galaxy Z Flip's "cover window," with Samsung marketing the product as "tough, yet tender."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung offers at-home Galaxy S20 trials to mitigate impact of coronavirus

    As the spread of coronavirus continues to keep people in quarantine and threaten promotional tech events, companies in Asia gearing up for low sales -- but Samsung's new home visit service aims to mitigate some of this fall out. Reuters reports that the company is offering a smartphone delivery service to allow customers to test its new products without having to visit a physical store.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Samsung's jailed union-busting chairman steps down

    Lee Sang-hoon is stepping down from his position as chairman of Samsung Electronics' board. According to Reuters, the company will be appointing a successor soon. Lee Sang-hoon was found guilty of sabotaging legitimate union activities and sentenced to 18 months in prison last December. As ZDNet reports, he was using several tactics to disrupt and disarm unions, including delaying negotiations between management and laborers, closing subcontracting companies with active unions, and digging for information that could persuade key union members to leave. Twenty-five other people were convicted on similar charges, according to the BBC.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Samsung makes too many damn phones

    Samsung unveiled three flagships this week: the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. It also showed off a new foldable called the Z Flip, which honestly looks and feels far superior to the incredibly similar Motorola Razr. That's four entirely new handsets that the company just unleashed.

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • The Galaxy Home Mini is finally available, but most people can't get it

    After almost two years, it looks like at least one of Samsung's long-in-development Bixby smart speakers will finally make its way out to consumers -- though likely not in the way most of us imagined. After Samsung skipped announcing the Galaxy Home Mini at its Unpacked event on Tuesday, TizenHelp spotted that people in South Korea can get the device as a bonus for pre-ordering the Galaxy S20. The offer appears to be available until February 26th, but it doesn't look like they buy the speaker by itself.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung created an Olympics edition Galaxy S20+ for athletes

    With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics mere months away, Samsung says it will give athletes taking part in the competition a special version of the Galaxy S20+. Dubbed the Olympic Games Athlete Edition, the "Mirror Gold" phone features the Olympic rings toward the bottom back of the device.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung's discounted Galaxy S10 series starts at $599

    Now that the Galaxy S20 series is here, there are bargains to be had if you don't need Samsung's absolute latest hardware. The phone maker has cut prices for the Galaxy S10 family. The S10e now starts at an easier to handle $599, while the standard S10 sits at the $749 that you previously paid for its smaller counterpart. And if you want a large phone without jumping to the S20 series, the S10+ starts at $849.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung adds Google Duo to the Galaxy S20 dialer

    Samsung has confirmed rumors that its Galaxy S20 lineup will integrate Google Duo. From the dialer, users will simply tap Duo to start a video call in Full HD with 5G. And, since Duo works across operating systems, you won't be limited to who you can video chat with.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Samsung taps Thom Browne for special edition Galaxy Z Flip

    Alongside the three standard color variants of the Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung plans to sell a special Thom Browne variant of its upcoming foldable phone. The phone is features a clean, silver finish with the designer's signature red, white and blue strip down its center.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Flip in an Oscars ad

    After weeks of leaks of Samsung's upcoming foldable phone, it looks like the company has decided to scoop itself. Just a couple of days before the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 11th, Samsung rolled out an ad for the Galaxy Z Flip during tonight's Oscars ceremony.

    By Nicole Lee Read More

  • Samsung reportedly scales back MWC presence over coronavirus fears

    Companies like LG and NVIDIA aren't the only ones having second thoughts about Mobile World Congress in light of the current coronavirus outbreak. CNET sources say Samsung is scaling back its plans to attend the wireless extravaganza, with many executives cancelling their trips. The company is still "considering" its options and might change its approach again, the sources said, but it might not have nearly as much beyond its usual booth.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung updates the almost five-year-old Gear S2 to improve battery life

    Unless it's an Apple Watch, you don't usually expect a wearable like the Samsung Gear S2 to get more than two to three years of software support, which is what makes the update Samsung just started rolling out to the Gear S2 such a surprise. Before today, the company hadn't pushed out new software to the almost five-year-old wearable in nearly two years.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung accidentally announced the Galaxy Home Mini's release date

    Early today, on its South Korean website, Samsung posted that the Galaxy Home Mini will be released in South Korea on February 12th for 99,000 KRW, approximately $83. The post has since been removed, but it was online long enough to give us a few new details about the Galaxy Home Mini and suggest that rumors the device will arrive in early 2020 could be true.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

Science (13)

  • FDA allows new coronavirus testing tech before it gets emergency approval

    The FDA is determined to step up the pace of coronavirus testing in the US to cope with the recent coronavirus outbreak, and it's willing to greenlight technology at an early stage to make that happen. The regulator said it will allow new diagnostic tech to be used to test for COVID-19 before an Emergency Use Authorization request has gone through a review. This will only apply to validated methods from labs that are certified to handle "high-complexity" tests in line with key requirements, the FDA said, and doesn't amount to lowering standards -- this is only to ensure there's "wide availability" of testing options.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hitting the Books: These brain cells could hold clues to the CTBI crisis

    Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

    By Andrew Tarantola Read More

  • Minuscule ID chips could help spot even the smallest counterfeits

    There are times when something is simply too small to tag it with existing technology, and that can be a serious problem when you're trying to fight counterfeits. MIT researchers might have a way to tag even the tiniest devices, though. They've created a very small (0.002 square inches) ID chip that's still secure enough to protect sensitive data. The team managed the feat through a monolithic chip powered solely by light, with antennas that use beam steering and RFID-style (but terahertz-level) backscatter to wirelessly send info to a nearby reader without requiring energy. These keep the design small while reserving enough electricity for encryption.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Last month was the hottest January on record

    In 141 years of climate records, January 2020 was the hottest January yet, according to scientists from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information. Global land and ocean surface temperatures were 2.05 degrees Fahrenheit (1.14 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-Century average, beating the previous record set in January 2016 by 0.04 degrees F (0.02 degrees C).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Researchers find a way to 3D print whole objects in seconds

    When you think of 3D printing, you probably imagine a structure being created layer by layer, from the bottom up. Now, researchers from Switzerland's Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) say they have developed a completely new way of creating 3D objects that offer remarkable resolution "in record time."

    By Rachel England Read More

  • This eye-tracking system uses AI to monitor multiple sclerosis

    For decades, doctors have used eye movement to quickly triage brain health, as eye movement patterns can point to conditions like concussion or stroke. Now, C. Light Technologies, a neurotech and AI company that grew out of the Berkeley Skydeck accelerator, wants to help doctors diagnose neurological conditions with more speed and precision. The company has developed an eye-tracking technology paired with machine learning that can be used to monitor multiple sclerosis (MS).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Rain may soon be an effective source of renewable energy

    There have been numerous attempt to generate electricity using rain, but this may be one of the more effective solutions yet. Researchers have developed a generator that uses a field-effect transistor-style structure to instantly produce a surprisingly high voltage from water drops -- a single drop can muster 140V, or enough power to briefly light up 100 small LED bulbs. Earlier generators without the structure produced "thousands" of times less instant power density, the scientists said.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Resurrected' mammoth DNA helps explain why the species went extinct

    Reviving the woolly mammoth is still a tall order. However, technology might be far enough along to help explain why the elephant precursor went extinct in the first place. Scientists have 'resurrected' genes from a population of mammoths that survived on a Siberian island until around 4,000 years ago to see what might have contributed to this relic herd dying out. After resurrecting a mammoth's genes through cells in culture, they compared it against both other mammoths and Asian elephants to look for problematic mutations based on known genetic behavior.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Antarctica is hotter than it's ever been

    Temperatures in Antarctica have reached a record high. According to Argentinian research station thermometer, the temperature climbed to 18.3 degrees Celsius, or 64.9 degrees Fahrenheit. That beats Antarctica's previous record of 63.5 degrees, measured in March 2015, by nearly 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • NASA wants to review Boeing’s Starliner work after setbacks

    Boeing just can't catch a break. Currently amid a lengthy controversy surrounding the company's grounded 737 Max aircraft, the aerospace manufacturer is now facing scrutiny from NASA. Boeing's CST-100 Starliner crew capsule was supposed to dock with the International Space Station during its inaugural test flight in December. However, a software error prevented the craft from reaching the correct orbit. Now, a second -- and more dangerous -- glitch has been uncovered. According to SpaceNews, NASA Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel member Paul Hill said, "...if it had gone uncorrected, it would have led to erroneous thruster firings and uncontrolled motion...with the potential for a catastrophic spacecraft failure," during a teleconference. Boeing and NASA were hoping to follow up December's test with a manned flight, but after finding multiple problems with Boeing's work, the space agency is calling for a review of the company's software verification processes before proceeding.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • AI-formulated medicine to be tested on humans for the first time

    A drug designed entirely by artificial intelligence is about to enter clinical human trials for the first time. The drug, which is intended to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, was discovered using AI systems from Oxford-based biotech company Exscientia. While it would usually take around four and a half years to get a drug to this stage of development, Exscientia says that by using the AI tools it's taken less than 12 months.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • MIT's 'smart surface' could improve your WiFi signal tenfold

    There's a problem with stuffing wireless connections into ever-smaller devices: they can struggle to maintain a good signal when there's so little space for antennas. MIT CSAIL researchers might have a fix, though. They've developed an RFocus "smart surface" that "can work both as a mirror or a lens" to focus radio signals onto the right devices on either side of the "fence." In return, this improves the median signal strength by nearly 10 times, while doubling the median channel capacity in an office environment. Instead of just a handful of monolithic antennas, the RFocus prototype revolves around 3,000-plus tiny antennas with software that arranges them to maximize reception. In other words, RFocus is acting as a beamforming controller in the middle, as opposed to letting the radio endpoints -- transmitters and client devices -- manage this activity, which would be difficult to implement on tiny devices.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Adapter turns power wheelchairs into Xbox controllers

    The Xbox Adaptive Controller already makes gaming more accessible if you're in a wheelchair, but wouldn't it be better if you could use the wheelchair itself as a controller? You can now. AbleGamers Charity has unveiled a Freedom Wing Adapter that lets you use the joystick on a power wheelchair as an Xbox One controller. The design revolves around the combination of an adapter board and an Adafruit Feather M4 that translates the input from the joystick into commands the Adaptive Controller can understand.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Smartphones (48)

  • Nearly every top-selling smartphone in 2019 was an iPhone or Galaxy

    It's almost a cliché to say that Apple and Samsung dictate the tempo of the smartphone market, but there's now more evidence to support that claim. Counterpoint Research has calculated that nine out of the top ten smartphones sold worldwide in 2019 were made by either Apple or Samsung -- Oppo's A5 was the only exception at fifth place. The iPhone XR had the clear lead, representing 3 percent of all phones sold, while the Galaxy A50 was the top Android phone on the list with 1.8 percent.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • LG Display halts work at phone screen factory after coronavirus infection

    Samsung isn't the only Korean tech giant grappling with coronavirus infections. LG Display has temporarily halted work at a smartphone screen factory in Gumi, South Korea after a bank worker near the facility tested positive for COVID-19. The company expected to resume production on March 3rd, but didn't say what kind of effect it expected the closure to have on phone output.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Vivo’s new concept phone comes with a 'gimbal camera'

    Now that we're well into 2020, it's about time Vivo gave us its annual update on the APEX concept line which, in its past two generations, had given us a taste of what was to come in the smartphone world -- namely in-display fingerprint reader, pop-up selfie camera, near-buttonless design and more. In the case of this 5G-enabled APEX 2020, it's all about the cameras, display and wireless charging. Starting off with the 16-megapixel periscopic camera on the back, it offers a continuous optical zoom range of 5x to 7.5x. This breaks the previous 5x upper limit on the likes of the Huawei P30 Pro and the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom, and will likely produce results that are almost as good as, if not better than, the 10x hybrid zoom offered by both devices. What's more impressive is that this camera module is only 6.2mm thick, which is slimmer than the 6.76mm-thick component on the Reno 10x Zoom.

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • Surface Duo may let you 'peek' at notifications

    When it comes to the next generation of folding phones, Microsoft was right to choose dual displays over folding screens. But one thing some other foldable phones have that Microsoft lacks is a screen on the outside of the device. To make up for that, Microsoft appears to have a software feature that will let you preview calls and notifications by opening the Surface Duo just a crack.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 is the first phone certified for USB fast charging

    The Samsung Galaxy S20 series is now the first smartphone lineup to receive USB fast-charger certification from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the organization leading the advancement of USB tech. The certification verifies that the Galaxy S20 series supports Programmable Power Supply (PPS) and USB Power Delivery (USB PD) 3.0 specification. For users, this means that the phones will work with certified third-party fast chargers.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Samsung's new chips usher in smartphones with 16GB of DRAM

    You could soon see more and faster DRAM in next-generation flagship smartphones than in many PCs. Samsung has just unveiled the first 16GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM chips built on its second-generation 10-nanometer process tech, the company has announced. We've already seen this chip in Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra, and it'll likely appear in more flagship phones in the very near future.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Planet Computers' clamshell phone can dual-boot Android and Linux

    Planet Computers' laptop-like Cosmo Communicator phone just became that much more useful to its audience of very particular power users. The Cosmo now supports a promised multi-boot function, letting you run Android (both regular and rooted), Debian Linux and TWRP on the same device without one replacing the other. You'll have to partition your storage and know your way around a boot menu, but this will give you a way to run Linux apps or otherwise experiment with your phone.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Watch Sony's Xperia event in 7 minutes

    MWC might be canceled this year, but that's not stopping the big brands from dropping new products. Sony unveiled three new phones this morning, with its next flagship device -- the Sony Xperia 1 II -- stealing the show. Building on last year's phone, the new launch adds 5G and a 21:9 aspect ratio display, and it sees the welcome return of the 3.5mm headphone jack. It also comes with a number of camera firsts, and according to Sony, is the first smartphone to come with built-in 360 Reality Audio decoding.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The Morning After: Sony has three new smartphones

    Hey, good morning! Even if MWC isn't happening, companies want to show you new phones and devices to buy. Sony went first at a disgustingly early 8:30am in Europe, and it didn't do things by half. It had three new smartphones -- a record for Sony's recent smartphone reveals. We saw a new flagship, in addition to that, a pro-level phone for video professionals demanding the best 5G connections and, finally, a mid-range phone that will probably vanish into the sea of middle-weight smartphones. Sony knows that. Sure, it saw a bump up in phone sales last quarter, but its mobile arm is still operating at a loss. There's no easy answer, it seems. Mobile is important to Sony, combining its expertise in displays, entertainment and imaging. It makes smartphones a handheld showcase for the company in general, but Sony has struggled to convince people into buying them. The Xperia 1 Mark II, with its speedy 20 fps auto-focus shooting, is another phone that hangs on the company's strengths, but how can it make it even more tempting? We don't know the prices of these new phones, but keeping them cheaper might help. Xperia phones have traditionally been priced at the top of the high-end phone range. iPhones and Galaxy S phones have gotten even more expensive, maybe this is Sony's chance? -- Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Realme's X50 Pro is a cheaper 5G flagship with super-fast charging

    Realme may be the lesser-known spin-off from Oppo, but thanks to its aggressive pricing and the occasional collaborations with design icon Naoto Fukasawa, it's been doing quite well in Asia. And just last month, the company brought us the Realme X50 which happens to be the most affordable phone with a 120Hz display; not to mention that it's also a mid-range 5G device. So what's next? The Realme X50 Pro, of course. Unsurprisingly, the "Pro" here is mainly referring to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, which is the staple for practically all 5G flagships so far this year. This means the phone will connect to more 5G bands (including Europe and India, where it will also launch) to take full advantage of its 360-degree surround antenna. Likewise, you'll get to enjoy WiFi 6 connectivity here. Another bonus with this chipset is the speedy LPDDR5 RAM stacked on top of it, which ensures the phone will respond quicker in general.

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • Sony's mid-range Xperia 10 II packs an OLED display and triple cameras

    Sony's Xperia 10 II is designed to be a TV and game console in your pocket thanks to the 6-inch 21:9 OLED Triluminos display, the company announced today. The "super mid-range" can display "deeper blacks and more vibrant colors" than the average phone, and deliver a more immersive gaming experience, Sony said. At the same time, it's relatively lightweight at 151 grams and is IP65/IP68 water- and dust-resistant.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Sony teases the Xperia Pro 5G aimed at video creators

    During its weird virtual MWC press conference, Sony teased the Xperia Pro 5G, a phone designed for video creators much like RED's now defunct Hydrogen phone. Much like the new Xperia 1 II, it's a flagship level device in terms of specs, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 512GB of storage and a 6.5-inch 21:9 4K HDR OLED display. However, unlike that other model, the Xperia Pro will support high-speed mmWave 5G tech and pack a very unusual feature on a smartphone these days: an HDMI port.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Sony’s first 5G smartphone is the Xperia 1 II

    Sony's big MWC shindig may have been cancelled over virus fears, but the company still has a bunch of new phones to show off. The first, and most notable, is the Xperia 1 II -- dubbed the Xperia 1 Mark II -- which made its debut on the company's not-MWC livestream today. The new flagship is packing a 21:9 6.5-inch 4K OLED HDR display, Dolby Atmos and, most importantly, a 5G modem.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • HTC plans to release its first 5G phone in 2020

    HTC may be pouring most of its energy into VR headsets, but it hasn't forgotten about its (frankly languishing) smartphone range. Company chief Yves Maitre said in an interview that HTC's first 5G phone launches sometime in 2020. He didn't provide any clues as to the specs, although high-end models may come first. HTC doesn't necessarily have to release a flagship when MediaTek and Qualcomm both have 5G-equipped processors aimed at mid-tier phones.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sony's first 5G phone may be a souped-up Xperia 1

    Sony appears ready to leap into 5G smartphones, although you might not want to rush to the store if you have one of the company's recent handsets. XDA's Max Weinbach has shared what looks to be leaked images and specs for Sony's headline phones in 2020, the Xperia 1 II and Xperia 10 II. The 1 II would, as the name implies, be a tuned version of Sony's 6.5-inch 4K flagship with 5G for low- and mid-band networks (Engadget's parent Verizon would currently be ruled out), a speedier Snapdragon 865 processor and, curiously, a motion blur feature that promises "90Hz equivalent" visuals. It's not a true 90Hz display, then, but that might not be a bad thing when a 4K OLED at that refresh speed would likely slaughter your battery.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sony’s Xperia L4 is an entry-level phone with a 21:9 display

    Sony's added a sleek new smartphone to its entry series -- the Xperia L4. Designed as an "entertainment device," the phone's USP is undoubtedly its proportions and 6.2 inch 21:9 wide display -- good for watching movies, playing games and, presumably, seeing more while scrolling less. Plus, Sony's multi-window feature means you can launch and use two apps side-by-side.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Android 11 Developer Preview focuses on 5G and better privacy

    After a brief tease, the first Android 11 Developer Preview is available for Pixel devices -- and it's clear Google is thinking about the future with this release. The test software is built with a few new technologies in mind, most notably 5G. New frameworks let app creators determine whether or not someone's on an unlimited data plan or has 5G-level bandwidth, making it possible to tailor experiences for people with unfettered connections. There's also improved support for hole-punch and waterfall screens, neural networks and low-latency video (think Stadia).

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • TCL's leaked prototype phone features a slide-out display

    While Motorola and Samsung are vying for the attention of early adopters looking to purchase modern foldable phones, TCL apparently decided to experiment with another form factor altogether. According to CNET, the electronics manufacturer is working on a device that looks like a typical smartphone if not for its slide-out display. Based on the images the publication got its hands on, you'll simply have to pull out an extendable screen to see it transformed into a tablet.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • LG brings a 48-megapixel camera to its budget K-series smartphone

    LG has added three new models to its K-series line of budget smartphones, and all of them have a rear quad-camera setup with a high-resolution main lens, a wide angle lens, a depth sensor and a macro lens. In fact the K61 is the first LG smartphone with a 48-megapixel main lens -- many of its flagships like the LG G8 ThinQ are equipped with 12-megapixel lenses -- while the K51S has a 32-megapixel main lens.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The Morning After: The Galaxy Z Flip's glass screen isn't as tough as we thought

    Welcome back to the week. You might have noticed the return of the durability test. Thanks to a new phone form-factor (hello, foldables!), there's never been a better time to ruin a thousand-dollar purchase. The Galaxy Z Flip, which we've had for a day or so, is the latest torture victim. (Wince here.) YouTuber JerryRigEverything put Samsung's Ultra-Thin Glass to the test with some puncture testing. It didn't fare too well -- even if it seemed more robust than Motorola's Razr or last year's Galaxy Fold. Over 20 years ago, people used to put iPhones in blenders. Admittedly that was to test the blender, not the iPhone, but why are these stress 'tests' back again? It's because they're good for business. You have phone repair companies, companies that have phone-folding robots, people looking to sell blenders and media looking for a spicy headline to compliment the biggest gadget launches. At the same time, it doesn't help that companies are often creative with their claims -- especially when it comes to durability. I recall water-testing a smartphone a few years ago, where I dunked a flagship smartphone in seawater. And it never worked again. Apparently those 'it-lasts-30-minutes-in-water' claims were for water that wasn't quite as salty. (Note: Galaxy's Z Flip is not rated for water- or dust-resistance at all.) We need both sides, the phone makers and the phone breakers, to help make informed judgment calls on how hardy devices are, but no-one can truly test the resilience of your next smartphone, except you. Maybe you would barely open a foldable phone, or maybe it'd float in the bottom of your bag most of the time -- your mileage will vary. I'm looking forward to our final verdict on the Galaxy Z Flip as the folding nature should mean the screen is hidden away when not in use. Foldable smartphones already have a reputation for being more delicate than the traditional smartphone, but this was also true of the original smartphones that came after candy-bar feature phones. They should -- they must -- toughen up. -- Mat

    By Mat Smith Read More

  • Rumor suggests Apple's 5G iPhone could rely on a custom antenna

    For years, leaks and rumors have targeted 2020 for the arrival of Apple's first iPhone with 5G capabilities. Now we're in the year, and carriers are starting to roll out networks with the high-bandwidth connections. Samsung already revealed that its Galaxy S20 series will offer 5G support across the line, although only the super-sized Ultra model will support both sub-6 and mmWave connections. Now Fast Company reports that as Apple continues to lock down plans for its 2020 iPhone models, the company is still choosing between two designs for a 5G version.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Engadget Podcast: Breaking down the Samsung fest and MWC mess

    A bunch of things in tech got the proverbial nails slammed into their coffins this week. Andy Rubin's Essential phone company shut down, MWC got canceled due to fears over coronavirus and the Motorola Razr folding flip phone is pretty likely dead on arrival thanks to Samsung's new Galaxy Z Flip. Cherlynn is joined by senior mobile editor Chris Velazco (Devindra is off on vacation, yay!) to talk about their Galaxy phone coverage and commiserate over no longer going to Barcelona. Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News! Subscribe! iTunes Spotify Pocket Casts Stitcher Google Play Music Links Our Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra hands-on Samsung Galaxy Z Flip hands-on: Razr who? Samsung makes too many damn phones MWC 2020 is canceled Andy Rubin's Essential is shutting down Credits Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Chris Velazco Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Xiaomi's Mi 10 flagships feature 108MP cameras and 30W wireless charging

    Xiaomi has unveiled its new flagship devices, the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro, which feature the 30W wireless charging capability it debuted with the Mi 9 Pro 5G last year. Unlike its predecessor that has 40W wired charging, though, the Mi 10 has 30W wired charging (probably because it's cheaper) and 10W reverse charging capabilities. It's also the second phone series to use the brand new LPDDR5 RAM technology after Samsung's Galaxy S20 -- in fact, Xiaomi will source its RAM chips from Samsung and Micron.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • The base Galaxy S20 for Verizon won't arrive until the spring

    The 'entry' Galaxy S20 doesn't have support for millimeter wave 5G, and it's now clear that will be a pain for some would-be early adopters. Verizon (Engadget's parent company) quietly mentioned in its press release for Samsung's phones that the base S20 won't be available until the second quarter of the year, when a model with support for Verizon's Ultra Wideband network will arrive. Verizon didn't have more to add in a response to Engadget (we've asked Samsung for comment), but the frequency support appears to be the only major functional difference. It'll still start at the $1,000 mark like at other carriers.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Andy Rubin's Essential is shutting down

    Essential, Android creator Andy Rubin's high-profile phone startup, is shutting down. As a result of the shutdown, Essential says it will no longer support the Essential Phone with further security updates or customer support. Additionally, Newton Mail, which Essential acquired when it purchased developer CloudMagic in 2018, will stop working on May 1st.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Samsung announces four new phones in one day

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. There are no more leaks left (for now). The Galaxy Z Flip, Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy S20 Series have been unveiled and... is the Z Flip actually making an interesting case for foldable phones? Instead of simply using the phone to showcase its high-tech screen, Samsung's second attempt is something that I could actually see sitting on a desk, serving as a smart display / selfie machine. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung will offer a 4G version of the Galaxy S20 in some countries

    Samsung has made a point of making 5G available for every Galaxy S20 variant, but that doesn't mean the phones will always come equipped with 5G. People in the UK, countries in mainland Europe and elsewhere will also have the option of buying the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra in 4G (read: LTE) variants. In some countries, like Russia and South Africa, the 4G variant appears to be the only one on offer in pre-registration campaigns. That's not surprising when 5G is still rare or non-existent in most parts of the world, but it's worth noting if you're going phone shopping.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Samsung's Galaxy S20 cameras: AI tools and gimmicky zooms

    Samsung just announced its next-generation Galaxy S20 phones, and as you'd expect, the cameras are a highly anticipated part of that. Samsung didn't disappoint, unveiling photo features for its three new devices (the Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra) that go far beyond the S10. While there's plenty to talk about, the key phrase today is "Space Zoom" and to a lesser extent, AI.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Samsung fully reveals the foldable Galaxy Z Flip after weeks of leaks

    Samsung announced its first folding phone one year ago -- and what followed was tumultuous, to say the least. The Galaxy Fold's fragile design caused major delays, and its high price made many question exactly who this phone was for. The troubles haven't stopped Samsung from trying again, though: the company just announced the Galaxy Z Flip, its latest folding phone that has a design that's extremely similar to Motorola's recently-revived Razr.

    By Nathan Ingraham Read More

  • The Galaxy S20 and S20+ sport fast screens and crazy sharp cameras

    The first flagship phones of the year are here. In fact, depending on how you math, the first flagship phones of the decade are here, and Samsung is ready to set the stage. Over the past two or three years, camera notches got smaller, fingerprint sensors disappeared under screens and display aspect ratios got taller. There's not a lot that smartphones can do to surprise us anymore. This year, the most unexpected thing about the new Galaxy flagships is their names -- the S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. Samsung left 11-19 in the last decade, and even that was already exposed (no thanks also to the abundance of leaks).

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • We're live at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco!

    It seems like just yesterday that Samsung was explaining the "age of experience" at CES, and now we're in SF to sit through another lengthy, spectacle-filled presentation. This time, though, the show is all about a handful of smartphones that you've almost certainly seen already: The Galaxy S20 series.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • The Morning After: The last Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and S20 leaks

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Today, Samsung will reveal a few mobile devices well ahead of the MWC show, which is quickly racking up cancellations due to coronavirus fears. We've seen plenty of leaks, including a few from Samsung itself, so phones like the Galaxy Z Flip and S20 are as confirmed for unveiling as you'll get. Like most of you, I'm still skeptical about foldable devices, but there's a lot more than just those in store. We have a full rundown of what to expect available, here, so you can read through it and get ready for the event at 2 PM ET. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung's complete Galaxy S20 lineup leaks yet again

    Samsung's Unpacked event is mere hours away, and the leaks are coming in thick and fast. We've had its name largely confirmed, as well as its camera capabilities. Now, it looks like we've had a glimpse at the flagship phone family in full.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Google Assistant's ambient mode is coming to OnePlus phones

    If you own a OnePlus phone, you may soon be able to control your smart lights or control music playback through an interface that appears when you plug it in. That's because Android's Google Assistant-powered ambient mode has started rolling out to the brand's devices, particularly all OnePlus 3 and newer models. Ambient mode, which takes over the screen while the phone is charging, makes it easy to accomplish several tasks without having to unlock your phone and fire up apps.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Google's Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are $200 off at Amazon

    Another month means another Pixel 4 sale. This time around, you can get $200 off Google's latest flagship. Amazon has cut the price of the 64GB Clearly White and Just Black models to $599, down from $799. While this isn't the lowest price we've seen on the Pixel 4, it's close. And, in any case, $200 off is nothing to scoff at.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Leak shows Samsung's fashionable Galaxy Z Flip Thom Browne Edition

    At this rate, there will be very little mystery left when Samsung takes the stage at its Unpacked event on February 11th. WalkingCat, normally known for Windows leaks, has posted a leaked promo video for the previously teased Thom Browne Edition of the Galaxy Z Flip. The fashion-oriented foldable is, apparently, all about Thom Browne's signature stripes. The phone, its case, and bundled versions of the Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Watch Active 2 all have hard-to-miss red, white and blue bars on top of a silver background.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • What do you want to know about the new Motorola Razr?

    Back when it was unveiled, Motorola's new Razr seemed like it might be the foldable to beat. (I was in that camp, too.) Now, after a questionable Verizon launch and a concerning test, people are starting to see the Razr for what it is: A phone that costs as much as a flagship but doesn't always act like one.

    By Chris Velazco Read More

  • A gold-colored Motorola Razr is coming this spring

    The reborn Motorola Razr has a few quirks, but one of the most obvious is that all-black exterior. How are you supposed to flex with your foldable phone when it's so inconspicuous? Don't worry -- you'll have a better chance to flaunt your handset soon. Motorola has confirmed that a "Blush Gold" version of the Razr will be available in the spring. More specific launch details weren't available as we wrote this, but we wouldn't expect it to carry a significant premium over its less resplendent counterpart.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Sony withdraws from MWC and will launch phones on YouTube instead

    Sony has become the latest tech company to withdraw from Mobile World Conference (MWC) 2020 in Barcelona over fears of the novel coronavirus contagion, the company said in a press release. The news is a big blow to the event, because Sony is usually one of the larger participants and could unveil an important new phone, possibly the Xperia 5 plus.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • LG's big phone this spring may be the V60, not the G9

    For the longest time, LG's phone releases ran like clockwork: you could expect a G series phone around Mobile World Congress in late February, while V series devices would appear either in the fall or when LG had some big new feature to promote. It appears to be shaking things up this year, however. Well-known leaker Evan Blass has posted promotional images suggesting that the phone previously thought to be the G9 is actually the V60 ThinQ, which would 'bump' the G series as the spring flagship device. It'd have the loaded specs you'd expect, including four rear cameras, four mics, a headphone jack and a beefy 5,000mAh battery.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Galaxy Z Flip video leak shows a model headed to the US

    If our earlier photos of the Galaxy Z Flip weren't enough, don't worry -- yet another leak appears to have shed more light on Samsung's next foldable phone. GreatDeals SmartPhones has posted a video exploring the clamshell device while providing more details in the process. To begin with, the Z Flip appears destined for the US with a conspicuous AT&T logo during the startup process. While there was a good chance the phone would come to the US (just as the Fold did), this seems to remove what little doubt was left.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Motorola defends the Razr's reliability with footage of its test rig

    When CNET put the new Motorola Razr through a folding test, the phone's hinge starting making noises and showing issues by the 27,000th fold. That's just a fraction of the 100,000 folds the publication was planning for the device. Now, Motorola has fired back at CNET with a video of it own, showing how it tested the durability of the device's hinge. In a statement sent to Engadget, the Lenovo-owned company said SquareTrade's FoldBot "put undue stress on the hinge," since it didn't allow the "phone to open and close as intended." As such, it made CNET's test inaccurate.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Motorola Razr's hinge 'broke' after 27,000 folds in durability test

    Since foldable phones are still far from common, a lot of potential buyers want to know how durable they are before shelling out money for one -- especially because the available models are far from cheap. CNET has put the new Motorola Razr to the test by folding it repeatedly for thousands of times using a machine called Foldbot made by SquareTrade. The result? Its hinge started acting wonky by around 27,000 folds. To note, a 2017 study found that Americans check their phones 80 times a day. That means the Razr could start showing problems within a year.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • What to expect from Samsung's Galaxy S20 event

    We're less than a week away from Samsung's Unpacked event on February 11th, and, as in previous years, there's been a deluge of pre-release leaks and reports detailing almost every aspect of the company's upcoming devices. We expect Samsung to announce new Galaxy S-series phones alongside a clamshell foldable as well as several other devices. The company may also provide us with a release date for the Galaxy Home. Here's everything we know so far about the products Samsung will likely announce at the event.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Samsung Galaxy S20 name and design confirmed in accessory listing

    Samsung has posted a phone accessory on its German website that pretty much confirms its upcoming flagship's official name. German publication WinFuture has spotted a hard-cover LED case for what's clearly marked as the Galaxy S20 device. Rumors that the tech giant's next flagship will be called the "S20" instead of the "S11" started going around way back in December. While Samsung has already pulled down the product page for the accessory, this pretty much confirms its next flagship phone's name.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • TCL will stop selling BlackBerry-branded phones in August

    Just when it seemed like BlackBerry was fading from consumer consciousness, the company partnered with electronics and appliance manufacturer TCL. The two collaborated to create BlackBerry-branded Android phones like the KEYone and KEY2. It's been four years since the partnership began, and in an unsurprising turn of events, TCL has announced that the two companies will part ways in August 2020.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Video leak appears to show Samsung's foldable Galaxy Z Flip in action

    There might not be much mystery left to Samsung's clamshell foldable phone. Frequent leak sharer Ben Geskin has posted a video of what looks like a prototype of the Galaxy Z Flip. Much like the rumors have suggested, the device really does appear to be a modernized take on the classic flip phone. It's a compact device with a tiny external display when folded shut, but it expands to reveal a very tall display when you pop it open.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Social Media (34)

  • Byte's first batch of creator partners will split $250,000

    Byte, the short-form video platform created by Vine cofounder Dom Hofmann, will soon start giving early creators a cut of its ad revenue. The company first revealed its plans for a Partner Program last month, publishing initial details of how it'll pay its stars, likely in an effort to lure users committed to making content. In a new post on its forum, Byte said it will start reaching out to creators "who are committed to furthering their craft" on the platform next week.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook removes Discover tab in Messenger to simplify chat

    Do you spend your days browsing Facebook Messenger's Discover tab for bands, games and chatbots? No? You're not alone -- and Facebook is doing something about it. The social network has confirmed to TechCrunch that it's rolling out a Messenger redesign that axes the Discover tab, leaving just Chats and People. You'll also see People split into both active chatters and Stories, while Instant Games (to no one's surprise) and Transportation are gone from the chat composer's utility tray. Bots, games and other features aren't completely gone, but you will have to search for them.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Facebook’s 3D photos no longer require portrait mode

    Facebook's 3D photos are now available to a lot more people. The feature, first introduced in 2018, adds a 3D effect so image subjects appear to "move" independently of the background as you scroll past in your News Feed. But, until now, it's only been compatible with photos taken in portrait mode, which is typically only available on phones with dual-camera setups. Now, with the help of AI, the company says it can convert plain old 2D images into 3D photos even if your phone doesn't have portrait mode. To do this, the company trained a neural network to "estimate a distance from the camera for each pixel," essentially allowing it to guess the depth data you previously needed an additional camera.

    By Karissa Bell Read More

  • Twitter verified a fake congressional candidate created by a teenager

    Andrew Walz isn't a real person. A high school student from upstate New York created the fake congressional candidate -- complete with website, AI-generated photograph and Twitter account -- to test the social media platform's verification system. According to CNN Business, it took the teenager all of 25 minutes to set everything up. Within a few months, Twitter reached out to Andrew Walz and verified his account, earning him a blue badge next to his name.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Instagram adds direct messaging on Windows 10

    If you use Instagram on your Windows 10 PC, you may notice a subtle change the next time you open the app. Instagram has updated its Windows software to make it into something called a progressive web app (PWA). What this means is that you're effectively interacting with the Instagram website through a wrapper that makes it feel like a native application.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • As internet forums die off, finding community can be harder than ever

    Before social networks took over the internet, message boards were perhaps the most essential way for people to come together online and talk about whatever was on their minds. Our discussion spaces have evolved dramatically, though -- message boards aren't as important as they used to be, thanks to the decade-long onslaught of Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and more. Many formerly prominent destinations are closing up shop, including the message board I called my online home for well over a decade.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Pope Francis wants you to give up being a jerk online for Lent

    Forget quitting smoking or cutting carbs from your diet. If you're thinking of something to give up this Lent, which starts today (Ash Wednesday), Pope Francis has a surprisingly modern suggestion. During the weekly General Audience in St. Peter's Square today, the Pope told the 12,000 people gathered to "disconnect from cell phones and connect to the Gospel," according to Vatican News, the Holy See's information service. This Lent, Pope Francis said, "is a time in which to turn off the television and open the Bible."

    By Cherlynn Low Read More

  • Facebook bans coronavirus ads that promote 'cures' and fan hysteria

    Facebook is doubling down on its bid to stop the spread of coronavirus misinformation. Following its announcement of plans to flag and remove false information, the platform will now also ban ads that promise to cure or prevent the virus, as well as those that "create a sense of urgency" about it.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • TSA bans employees from making TikTok videos

    The Transport Security Administration (TSA) is the latest US government organization to ban the use of TikTok. The decision comes after New York Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter to TSA administrator David Pekoske, in which he flagged a number of security concerns about China-owned app.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter suspends 70 accounts posting identical pro-Bloomberg content

    Mike Bloomberg's presidential campaign has been much shorter than his competitors and, so far, much louder. With a huge budget, it's paid for posts by social media influencers as well as standard advertisements. However, the LA Times reports that on Friday, Twitter suspended some 70-odd accounts for breaking its rules against "against platform manipulation and spam." According to Twitter, this wasn't just a ban impacting some full-on bots, but it wiped out accounts sending out identical pro-Bloomberg messages. One shown in the tweet read, "A President Is Born: Barbra Streisand sings Mike's praises. Check out her tweet." While some bans could be permanent, other accounts could be restored if the account holder verifies they still have control. According to the LAT, many of the accounts they looked at had only been created in the last few months, A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal reported the campaign was hiring "deputy digital organizers" that might do everything from phone banking to social media posts, but if they want to keep their accounts, then they'll probably want to vary slightly from the recommended messaging.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Facebook plans to clarify when pro-Bloomberg posts come from staffers

    Thanks to Mike Bloomberg, Facebook wants to make it more obvious when paid campaign staffers share posts promoting candidates, CNBC reports. This is a direct response to Bloomberg paying organizers to post on social media, but it could apply to any campaign staffers sharing political views on Facebook.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Twitter tests labeling and correcting misleading tweets from politicians

    Twitter is testing a new feature that -- if implemented -- will prominently flag misleading tweets from politicians and other public figures, according to NBC News. As seen below, the feature adds red and orange badges to tweets the company has deemed "harmfully misleading," followed by information from verified fact-checkers and journalists.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Snapchat's latest AR filters turn the floor into lava

    There have been immersive Snapchat Lenses before, but this latest batch can literally change the world around you. Snap has unveiled "Ground Transformation" Lenses that turn the ground into a lava pit or water -- yes, you can pretend the floor is lava like you're eight years old all over again. Both use machine learning to understand the geometry of the land and help apply special effects, such as reflections from the buildings around you.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Twitter makes it easier to thread your new tweets with older ones

    You no longer have to go digging through your tweets to reply to one with an update. Twitter has added a feature that makes it easier to connect an in-progress tweet to an earlier post. When you're writing your latest missive, you'll just have to pull down to see earlier tweets and tap the "continue thread" or ellipsis button to find an older tweet to reply to.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • TikTok lets parents set time limits and vet DMs on teen accounts

    As TikTok has become increasingly popular with teens, the platform has gradually introduced a number of measures to help keep young people safe -- it introduced age checks last year, and more recently it banned videos showing "underage delinquent behavior." Now, it's added a range of parental controls into the mix.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter acquires Stories photo and video editor maker Chroma Labs

    Twitter has acquired Chroma Labs, the firm behind an editor for photos and videos meant specifically for Instagram and Facebook Stories, as well as for Snapchat. Whether the acquisition means Twitter is also launching a feature for ephemeral posts remains to be seen. All Twitter product lead Kayvon Beykpour said in his post is that Chroma Labs' employees will be joining the social network's product, design and engineering teams.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Match.com’s Date Check-In sends an SOS to friends in case of creeps

    Going on a date with someone you met online can be scary -- not just because of the pressure to be charming, but also because of the horror stories of creepers and criminals that use dating apps to target their victims. Match.com's latest security feature -- Date Check-In -- allows you to designate three emergency contacts who will receive your date's name, as well as the time and location of the date itself. During the date, Match.com will send you an automated text message. If you respond "yes" to the text, your contacts will get an alert.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Facebook's latest experiment is a Pinterest-like app

    A team within Facebook tasked with creating new experiences has quietly released an app that resembles another one you may know pretty well: Pinterest. The application, called Hobbi, is now out on the Apple App Store in the US and other regions. (It doesn't seem to be out for Google Play yet.) Its App Store description says the app "wants to help you document and remember the things you love to do."

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Mike Bloomberg is paying Instagram influencers to hype his campaign

    Before this week, social media networks like Instagram were one of the few places where you could escape the advertising reach of billionaire presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg. Not so anymore. According to The New York Times, Bloomberg is working with a company called Meme 2020 to try and reach out to young voters. But rather than convincing them to vote for him based on his policies, Bloomberg is instead attempting to secure votes by going viral.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Bloomberg: India may soon make controversial social media rules official

    The Indian government might soon publish a set of controversial rules that could give it access to the identities of social networking and messaging app users. According to Bloomberg, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is expected to publish the new rules later this month without making major changes to previous drafts.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Facebook says Asian mobile networks were running fake news pages

    "Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior" is Facebook's euphemism for nefarious groups doing their best to skew public opinion on the site. Every now and again, the network reveals which nation states are trying to influence people by pretending to be someone else. This time, however, it's not a country that Facebook is jabbing its accusatory fingers at, but Vietnam's state-owned mobile network, its Myanmar-based subsidiary and a PR agency it has connections with.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • UK wants telecoms regulator to police social media companies

    The UK government wants to put Ofcom in charge of regulating social media. Digital secretary Nicky Morgan and home secretary Priti Patel said they were "minded" to appoint the watchdog due to its experience and "proven track record" overseeing the UK's media and telecommunications industries. It would also avoid regulatory fragmentation, Patel and Morgan said, and be quicker to set up than a new regulator. Ofcom will be granted new powers to carry out its expanded responsibilities, which will cover any platform that hosts user-generated content, including comments and forum posts. It's safe to assume that social media giants including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok will be in its cross-hairs, then.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • Instagram will tell you which of your boring friends to unfollow

    Instagram has added some more ways to organize the list of people you're following. You can see which people are flooding your feed and Stories the most and which accounts you interact with least often. So, if you've realized you're following too many people and want to make your feed a bit more manageable, you'll have easier ways to figure out who the biggest spammers are and whose posts you don't actually care about.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Twitter doesn’t want to call its users ‘users’ anymore

    Twitter has announced that, at least in its public documents, it's going to stop calling the people who use its platform "users." It's "an effort to demonstrate more empathy for the people who use Twitter," explains the company's most recent financial results covering the fourth quarter of 2019. Instead, it's reframing the talk to be about Monetizable Daily Active Usage, Twitter's shorthand for users people it can sell ads against.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • VSCO's social network for photos now lets you post videos

    VSCO is mostly known for its photo and video editing capabilities, but you can actually post photos to its stripped-down social feed for its growing community of users to see. Now, the company has announced that it's expanding the social aspect of its application and giving members the ability to post videos.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Instagram brought in more money than YouTube in 2019

    There's little doubt that Instagram is important to Facebook's bottom line, but how big is it, really? It might be larger than you think. Bloomberg sources say Instagram racked up $20 billion in ad revenue in 2019, handily eclipsing YouTube's $15.1 billion -- yes, the most popular video site on the planet wasn't as lucrative as a photo-focused social network. Instagram unsurprisingly played an important role in Facebook's finances, accounting for more than a quarter of the tech firm's ad money from last year.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Instagram will let you reply to Stories with GIFs

    For a couple of years, Instagram users have been able to pull GIFs from Giphy to use as animated stickers in Stories. When your friend posts something that you just have to respond to and words or a static image just won't cut it, you might want to reply with a GIF of your own. And guess what? You can do just that following the app's latest update.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Twitter bans deepfakes that are 'likely to cause harm'

    Twitter just released its new rules for handling synthetic and manipulated media. The company says you can no longer "deceptively share" deepfakes that are "likely to cause harm," and it may label Tweets containing deepfakes to help people understand what's real and what's been altered.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Facebook gives parents more control over Messenger Kids chats

    Facebook launched its Messenger Kids app back in 2017, designed to get younger kids on board with digital literacy while giving them a safe space to connect and chat with their friends. It's seen a few security blips since, though, leading senators to question whether Facebook is doing enough to protect kids' privacy. Today, the company appears to have answered that call, as it rolls out a raft of new parental controls and safety features.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Twitter's anti-spam rules foiled Planters' Super Bowl stunt

    Planters is learning that there is such a thing as being too thirsty for social media stardom. Twitter has suspended three accounts tied to Baby Nut, the resurrected Mr. Peanut mascot that made his debut during the Super Bowl, for violating policies against spam and platform manipulation. The Kraft Heinz-owned brand was trying very, very hard to go viral, with its main @MrPeanut account retweeting the three as they shared memes shortly after Baby Nut made his appearance. The problem, as you might guess, was that this echoed the sort of coordinated behavior Twitter has banned in the past -- it just involved snacks.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Twitter bans financial site Zero Hedge over false coronavirus claims

    It's not just Facebook and Google fighting false coronavirus information. Twitter has permanently banned financial site and conspiracy promoter Zero Hedge after it shared a story that not only made unsubstantiated claims that a Wuhan-based scientist created the new coronavirus as a weapon, but doxxed the researcher by publishing a name, photo, email and phone number. As BuzzFeed News discovered, Zero Hedge had suggested that readers "probably pay [the scientist] a visit" -- a thinly-veiled threat of violence.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Ads invade Byte with a campaign from Nike

    Like it or not, the Vine revival app Byte is bringing in a staple of modern social networks: prominent ads. The looping video app has launched its first ad campaign with Nike, which is running a rathe conspicuous "Self Hail Mary" sponsored section alongside the usual categories. It's easy to avoid watching the videos if you don't particularly care for them, but there'll be no doubt that Nike paid for obvious placement.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Twitter's new reply layout for iOS makes conversations easier to follow

    Twitter threads can sometimes be a bit confusing to follow, especially if your account is public and anybody can reply. Now, the social network has started rolling out a feature that could help make them easier to parse and could ensure that you won't miss your actual friends' responses. Twitter Support has posted on the website that the platform's iOS app will now show responses to your tweets from people you follow as threaded replies.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

Space (20)

  • Boeing didn't conduct end-to-end tests on Starliner before its failed flight

    Boeing Starliner's first unmanned flight failed in December, because the aerospace giant divided its tests in small chunks instead of conducting longer tests that simulate the whole process from launch to docking. Starliner program manager John Mulholland has revealed at a teleconference that the company thought it would be "more logical to break the mission phases into chunks and do a lot of testing in those smaller chunks." Doing a single test run from launch to docking takes over 25 hours, after all.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • SpaceX approved to build Starship factory and research hub in LA

    SpaceX has been given the final go ahead to build its Starship manufacturing plant in the Port of Los Angeles. Authorities granted the company a permit for the facility by a unanimous 12-0 vote, allowing Elon Musk and his team to push on with the development of technology designed to take humans to the moon and Mars.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Virgin Galactic will let people hop to the front of the line for tickets

    Are you determined to hop aboard one of Virgin Galactic's tourist spaceflights before any of your friends? The company is happy to accommodate you -- if you're willing to pay. Alongside its latest earnings (more on those in a moment), Virgin has announced a One Small Step program that will bump qualified customers to the front of the line for "firm" reservations. Beginning on February 26th at 3AM Eastern, serious travellers can register online with a $1,000 refundable deposit to get into orbit sooner when tickets are once again available.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • NASA says its InSight lander has detected over 450 'marsquakes'

    Marsquakes are more common but less intense than NASA thought. That's one of the things the agency has revealed in the six papers it recently published on InSight's findings since it landed on the red planet. Apparently, InSight's Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure instrument (SEIS) recorded over 450 seismic signals or "trembling" events since last year. Now, the agency has announced that "the vast majority" of them were probably marsquakes and not merely noise created by environmental factors like the wind.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Pioneering NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson dies at 101

    The celebrated NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who you may know from the book or film Hidden Figures, passed away today at the age of 101. Johnson is perhaps best known for helping NASA prepare for the orbital mission of John Glenn, but that was far from her only achievement or contribution to space exploration.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • SpaceX could send private citizens to space as soon as 2021

    SpaceX is one step closer to sending private citizens into outer space. The company signed an agreement with Space Adventures to fly space tourists in the Crew Dragon. Up to four individuals will have the opportunity to take flight sometime in late 2021 or 2022.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • NASA is crowdsourcing a sensor that can survive Venus

    Venus is hostile to just about everything, including probes -- and while NASA thinks it has Venus-resistant electronics, that doesn't mean future rovers are ready to touch down on the planet's hellish surface. To that end, NASA wants your help. It's teaming with HeroX on a crowdsourced competition to develop an obstacle avoidance sensor that could survive on the Venus-bound AREE explorer. A total of $30,000 in prizes will go to the top three sensors that can navigate rough terrain while withstanding the extreme temperatures (over 800F) and pressure (92 times that of Earth) of the planet.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • SpaceX lost another Falcon booster to the sea

    This morning, at 10:05AM ET, SpaceX successfully launched its fifth batch of Starlink internet satellites via a Falcon 9 rocket. Unfortunately, it did not manage to land the rocket's booster as planned.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Rocket Lab will launch a NASA cubesat to the Moon

    Rocket Lab will fulfill its dreams of launching payloads to the Moon. NASA has picked Rocket Lab to carry its CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) cubesat into the Moon's orbit in early 2021. An Electron rocket will launch from NASA's Wallops facility in Virginia, with the Photon platform sending CAPSTONE into a trans-lunar injection. The cubesat will only handle the last stage, when it propels itself into a cislunar orbit.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • SpaceX delivers the Crew Dragon capsule to its launch site

    The SpaceX Crew Dragon, which is slated to be the first spacecraft to carry humans to orbit from American soil since 2011, has arrived at its Cape Canaveral launch site. NASA and SpaceX are already preparing the vehicle for its first flight manned test and will put it through final testing and prelaunch processing over the next months. If all goes well, the first manned flight test will happen as soon as this spring -- Elon Musk previously revealed that the launch's working date is May 7th -- and will take off with veteran astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken onboard.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • NASA gives four projects $3 million to develop potential space missions

    NASA has announced four projects as part of its Discovery Program, which sees the space agency asking scientists to pitch focused, relatively low-cost missions for it to take on and develop into full-fledged missions. "Although they're not official missions yet and some ultimately may not be chosen to move forward, the selections focus on compelling targets and science that are not covered by NASA's active missions or recent selections," NASA writes on its website.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The first crewed SpaceX flight could happen around May 7th

    Last month, Elon Musk said he expected the SpaceX Crew Dragon to launch, with astronauts onboard, sometime between April and June. Now, Ars Technica's Eric Berger reports that first crewed flight could take off on May 7th. Though, due to "a number of variables not hardware related" the launch could happen in late April or later in May. We don't know yet how long the flight will be.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • ESA-NASA's Solar Orbiter is on its way to observe the Sun's poles

    NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have successfully launched the Solar Orbiter on the first-ever mission to study the Sun's poles. It launched aboard United Alliance's highly reliable Atlas V rocket at 11:03 PM ET on February 9th, and at 12:24 AM, scientists received confirmation that the solar panels had unfurled. In about two years, the orbiter will make its first close pass to the Sun and begin observations that could transform solar science and potentially make manned moon missions safer. According to ESA Solar Orbiter project manager César García Marirrodriga, "we have established new high-temperature technologies and completed the challenge of building a spacecraft that is ready to face the Sun and study it up close."

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Trump's next budget could give NASA a huge funding windfall

    If NASA is going to fulfill its goal of returning to the Moon by 2024, it's going to need a lot of money in very short order -- and that might be forthcoming. The Trump administration is proposing one of the largest NASA budgets in years as part of its latest budget, earmarking $25 billion for the space agency versus the $19 billion from the first year of the administration and $22 billion for this year. Nearly $3 billion of that would be devoted to creating the vehicles needed for the Artemis program. The budget is also poised to outline Artemis' complete costs and provide a clearer roadmap for the 2024 mission.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • SpaceX plans to spin off its Starlink satellite internet business

    SpaceX chief Elon Musk declared years ago that the company won't go public until its Mars vehicle is regularly flying people to the red planet. You might get the chance to own a piece of the company earlier than that, though: According to Bloomberg, SpaceX is thinking of spinning out Starlink, its space internet business, and of taking it public.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Christina Koch returns to Earth after a record 328 days in space

    After 328 days in space, NASA astronaut Christina Koch is back on Earth. She returns holding the record for the longest stay in space by a woman, and she has earned bragging rights for another major milestone: she and fellow NASA astronaut Jessica Meir completed the first all-female spacewalk during Koch's extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • SpaceX asks permission to take Starship on a high-altitude test flight

    One of the next major steps in SpaceX's plans for true spaceflight will be a 12-mile-high test flight. Sometime between March and September, the company plans to launch its Starship suborbital test vehicle from Boca Chica, Texas. The Starship will travel to an altitude of 12.4 miles, or 20 kilometers. SpaceX will then attempt to land and recover the vehicle.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Iran says it will launch an observation satellite 'in the coming days'

    Iran is set to become the latest country to launch an observation satellite, according to the country's national space agency. The satellite, named Zafar (which means victory in Farsi), began development three years ago. It will be launched by a Simorgh rocket 329 miles above the Earth, and will make 15 orbits daily, collecting imagery to help with the study of natural disasters and agriculture.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Capturing the Sun's Texas-sized cells in the highest detail ever

    The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) started with some controversy, but its first images are already changing the field of solar science. The Maui observatory captured the highest-resolution photos of the sun ever taken, revealing detail down to a mere 18 miles in size. The image above shows turbulent kernel-like cells made up of boiling gases influenced by the Sun's strong magnetic field, each one about the size of Texas.

    By Steve Dent Read More

Streaming (55)

  • YouTube TV, Sinclair keep Fox sports channels on as they negotiate

    On Thursday YouTube TV announced that subscribers would lose access to Fox regional sports networks and the YES network because it couldn't reach a new deal with their owner, Sinclair Broadcasting (they got there as a part of Disney's deal to buy Fox, which required selling off the sports networks). Now the deadline of February 29th has arrived, and the channels are still on. Per the Team YouTube Twitter account, the two companies have arranged an extension while they keep working on a new deal, so we'll have to wait and see if this arrangement lasts or whether the carriage dispute actually leads to some blacked-out channels.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Hillary Clinton is launching her own podcast

    Hillary Clinton is launching her own podcast. The former Senator and US secretary of state has teamed up with iHeartMedia, confirming an earlier report from Politico. It's yet another example of how big and influential podcasts have become in recent years, and the report comes just a couple of days after Oprah's company revealed that it's releasing 25 years' worth of episodes of The Oprah Winfrey Show in podcast form. She's also hardly the first big-name politician to experiment with the format: in mid-2019, Spotify signed the Obamas to an exclusive podcast deal.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • YouTube TV to drop Fox regional sports channels following Sinclair dispute

    If you subscribe to YouTube TV to get live sports without a pricey cable or league package, you might be in for a disappointment. YouTube TV is dropping Fox Regional Sports Networks (including the New York City-oriented YES Network) on February 29th after it was "unable to reach an agreement" with Sinclair to continue carrying the channels. While the company didn't say just what the points of contention were when asked by Engadget, it pointed to its attempt to balance the climbing costs of sports broadcasting with its desire to deliver a good value to subscribers. You can read its full on-the-record statement below.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Altice One brings its cable lineup to Apple TV

    Altice One's cable offerings are now available on Apple TV 4K. Optimum and Suddenlink subscribers can access their favorite cable content directly through the Altice One app on Apple TV 4K. This is good news if you want to watch TV beyond your official box, and it offers a few added perks, like the ability to search Altice One programming via voice controls on the Siri Remote.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Classic 'Oprah Winfrey Show' episodes return in podcast form

    Podcasts have become so huge in recent years that more than half of Americans have listened to at least one, according to a report published in 2019. That's probably why Oprah is making her iconic talk show more available to audiences today by releasing it in podcast format. According to People, the host's network plans to turn all 4,500 The Oprah Winfrey Show episodes into podcasts -- that's 25 years' worth of episodes, which originally aired from 1986 to 2011 on TV.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Streaming represented nearly 80 percent of US music revenue in 2019

    Streaming is even more vital to the music industry than it was a year ago. The RIAA has reported that streaming represented 79 percent ($8.8 billion) of American music revenue in 2019, compared to 75 percent the year before. And crucially, more of those were paid subscribers. There were 60.4 million paying customers for services like Apple Music and Spotify, representing 61 percent ($6.8 billion) of the entire industry's revenue -- a big step up from 46.9 million subscribers and 55 percent in 2018.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix previews interactive 'Carmen Sandiego' special

    Carmen Sandiego is going back to its video game roots in an upcoming Netflix special. Entitled Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not To Steal, the interactive adventure will put you in charge of determining how the story unfolds. Like in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, you'll have to choose between the options presented on screen, such as whether to have Carmen infiltrate a building from the top floor (less resistance, but needs high-wire stunts) or from the ground floor (riskier, since she'll have to face more guards).

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Comcast officially purchases Xumo ad-supported streaming service

    Comcast has officially purchased Xumo, the ad-supported streaming service owned by Panasonic and Meredith Corp. Reports that Comcast is in talks to acquire the platform, which pulls streams from partners like ABC News, Fox Sports and USA Today, first surfaced late last year. Now that the acquisition is official, a spokesperson told Variety that the Xumo team, presumably with all current 55 employees, will be joining the company.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Disney CEO Bob Iger steps down after getting Disney+ off the ground

    After guiding Disney through the acquisition of Fox and launching its direct-to-consumer efforts that center around Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu, CEO Bob Iger is stepping down from his post. "Effective immediately," former Disney Parks Chairman Bob Chapek is taking over and will report to Iger while he serves as executive chairman and leads "creative endeavors" through the end of his contract next year. In a statement announcing the move, Iger said ""With the successful launch of Disney's direct-to-consumer businesses and the integration of Twenty-First Century Fox well underway, I believe this is the optimal time to transition to a new CEO." As far as Chapek's experience, he's worked there for more than two decades, and the press release notes that he spearheaded the infamous "Disney Vault" strategy for handling its iconic films as they were released for home viewing on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray. Asked on a call with investors about the timing of the move, Iger said that it made sense to turn over day-to-day management of the company to Chapek so that he can use his remaining time to focus on creative aspects of the company. According to him, the move wasn't accelerated "for any particular reason." With Chapek continuing to report to Iger, it doesn't seem like things materially change at Disney much right now, but the move is announced right after the company revealed Disney+ has already grown to over 26 million subscribers. It's also preparing to launch widely in Europe, and we're still months out from the arrival of The Mandalorian season two and tons of Baby Yoda merchandise.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Crunchyroll details its first eight original anime productions

    Following the likes of Netflix and other more mainstream video platforms, anime streamer Crunchyroll has started commissioning its own original content. The company detailed the first slate of "Crunchyroll Originals" today, one of which, In/Spectre, you can stream today, while most of the others will make their way to the service "soon."

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The Morning After: Netflix's new Top 10 lists tell you what's popular

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Nearly every day, there's at least one post I always see on social media: What's good to watch on Netflix? Despite all the money and time invested in creating a recommendation engine and a library of content that should be able to satisfy anyone, people still can't find something to watch and just want a recommendation from someone else. Or, they want to get in on something with built-in popularity that makes for good discussion -- even if the quality is questionable (see Love is Blind and its highly anticipated season finale later this week). Now, nearly a year after CEO Reed Hastings said his company will lean more into sharing viewer data, Netflix has launched Top 10 lists worldwide. They're specific to each country and update every day across three lists: overall top ten, top TV shows and top movies. Are they interesting enough to cure boredom and keep viewers from clicking over to another app? It's hard to tell, but the thing I can't explain is how two holiday-themed movies (Grinch and A Bad Mom's Christmas) snuck on to Tuesday's top list in late February. Y'all are weird. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Netflix's daily-updating Top 10 lists roll out worldwide

    For anyone who has suffered from option-overload on Netflix and spent too much time looking for something to watch, the streaming service is rolling out a new Top 10 feature. In the Netflix app, you'll see a new banner with the 10 most popular titles in your country.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Disney+ discounts yearly subscriptions ahead of its European launch

    When Disney dropped the surprise news that its popular streaming service would debut in Europe a week earlier than planned, the company was quickly pressed on whether it would offer any sign-up incentives like it did ahead of its US launch. After a brief period of silence, Disney has decided European users in a handful of countries (outside of The Netherlands, where it went live last year) will enjoy a small discount if they pre-order before the March 24th opening, promising £10/€10 off a full year on registrations before that date.

    By Matt Brian Read More

  • 'Game of Thrones' duo will co-produce a Netflix series with Sandra Oh

    It's now clear how Game of Thrones TV series co-creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss intend to kick off their huge Netflix deal. Netflix has announced The Chair, a six-episode "dramedy" executive produced by the pair as well as show star Sandra Oh, writer (and Benioff's wife) Amanda Peet and Bernie Caulfield. The half-hour episodes will revolve around the chair of an English department at a large university. Many other details are unknown, but Transparent's Jay Duplass is also poised to star.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix's first 'Transformers' teaser reveals a hopeless war

    Netflix has posted the first teaser trailer for its Transformers animated series, and it's now clear just how the service will take on the robots' origins. The clip for the first part of the War For Cybertron trilogy, Siege, portrays the Autobots fighting a seemingly hopeless war to prevent the Decepticons from finding the Allspark (the source of the machines' power) and destroying the essence of what the Transformers are. It's not the most complex narrative, although it's surprisingly bleak for kids' fare. It even draws eerie parallels with human politics by having Megatron spin the Autobots' efforts as "aggression."

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • WSJ: Comcast's NBCUniversal is in advanced talks to acquire Vudu

    Comcast-owned media company NBCUniversal is in "advanced talks" to acquire Vudu from Walmart, according to The Wall Street Journal. We're just a couple of months away from the launch of NBCUniversal's new streaming platform called Peacock, so the company's interest in another streaming service may seem curious. However, the company may simply be using the same tactic employed by many other media firms in an effort to better compete with big players like Netflix: one that entails tacking ad-supported platforms onto their business.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • 'Friends' cast is locked in for a reunion special to launch HBO Max

    Now that AT&T spent more than $400 million pulling Friends from Netflix to serve as one of the pillars for its HBO Max streaming service, the WarnerMedia company has also shelled out to get the original cast back together for a reunion special. Negotiations over the special have been rumored for months, but now it's confirmed that Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer will all be a part of the unscripted event. According to The Hollywood Reporter, each one could make between $2.5 to $3 million just to appear in this event. Along with all 236 episodes of the popular sitcom, it will be available when HBO Max launches in May. In case you've forgotten, it's taking a "curated by humans" angle to go along with its mix of original and archival content, and will cost $14.99 per month.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • iHeart will turn podcasts into books starting with ‘Stuff You Should know’

    Plenty of people listen to podcasts on their commute and during work, but iHeartMedia is hoping they can squeeze even more podcast consumption into their days -- possibly before they nod off. The company partnered with Flatiron Books to create a series of titles based on popular podcasts. The first iHeart podcast to get a book adaptation will be the long-running Stuff You Should Know. Subtitled An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things, the book will be written by the show's co-hosts, Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, and will "answer all the questions readers didn't know they wanted to ask" about everyday objects.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • HBO and HBO Max are coming to YouTube TV

    Google and WarnerMedia have signed a deal to bring HBO, Cinemax and HBO Max to YouTube TV this spring. WarnerMedia's other cable networks will also stay on YouTube's streaming TV service, on which they've been available since 2018.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • 'Black Panther' comes to Disney+ on March 4th

    Depending on who you ask, everyone has a different favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie, but it's fair to say Black Panther is in a lot of people's top five. After a notable absence from Disney+, the 2018 film will make its way to the streaming service in the US on March 4th. Conversely, this means if you're a Netflix subscriber and you haven't seen the movie yet, you're running out of time to do so.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • YouTube Music explains how its long-overdue cloud locker will work

    Earlier this month it came to light that YouTube was finally working on a way to let you upload your own music to its library. Now, that feature is almost good to go. Google has published a support document explaining how users will be able to add their personal music collection to their library, either by dragging files to any surface on music.youtube.com, or by tapping "upload music" within the profile menu. The feature supports FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG and WMA files.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • CBS will massively expand All Access’ streaming library in 2020

    ViacomCBS' rumored new streaming service isn't a new service, it's a massive expansion of CBS All Access instead. In the company's most recent earnings presentation, CEO Bob Bakish outlined his plan to conquer the streaming market. Essentially, his plan is to throw the weight of ViacomCBS' content library onto CBS All Access to create a true streaming heavyweight.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Disney+ may stagger episodes of 'The Mandalorian' in Europe

    It's almost impossible to avoid spoilers for popular shows these days, especially big hits already available in their entirety like The Mandalorian. For Star Wars fans in regions where Disney+ still isn't available, that means having to stay vigilant to avoid spoilers or, you know, finding alternate means to see the whole show. That's why you'd think Disney would make all The Mandalorian's episodes available when its streaming service launches in some parts of Europe on March 24th, but that apparently won't be the case.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Spotify’s trailer redesign makes it easier to find new podcasts

    If its recent purchase of Ringer and podcast-related feature additions didn't make things clear, audio shows are a big focus for Spotify. So it was only a matter of time before the company started tweaking the podcast section of its app again. Thankfully, compared to Spotify's sometimes hit-and-miss redesigns, this latest one is a good one. It's also a more narrow redesign, with the company focusing its efforts on individual podcast pages.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Apple Music's Replay 2020 playlist tracks your favorites week-by-week

    You don't have to sit tight until December to start your 2020 retrospective. As promised, Apple Music has made its automatic Replay 2020 playlist available to subscribers through its beta web player. You'll have to visit the site through a mobile browser to add the playlist (the desktop page seems stuck on Replay 2019 as we write this), but you can get an automatically updating look back at your top tracks of the year well before spring has even started.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Redbox debuts a free, ad-backed live TV service

    Redbox is still better known for its rental kiosks than anything else, but it's clearly keen to expand its streaming offerings. The company has launched a free, ad-supported live TV service (appropriately, Redbox Free Live TV) for some users. You don't need to sign in -- you just have to use Redbox's website or mobile app to tune in. You'll eventually see the service reach other platforms where Redbox is available, including smart TVs, Apple TV boxes and Roku players.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • HBO Max's first trailer reminds you it has non-HBO titles, too

    HBO Max is still a few months away from its May launch, but that isn't stopping AT&T and WarnerMedia from trying to drum up some early hype. The streaming service has introduced its first trailer, and it mainly serves to remind you that Warner owns a lot of movies and TV shows beyond HBO. The promo starts with a not-so-subtle reminder that HBO Max has the exclusive for Friends, and goes on to show a flurry of clips from titles like Joker, South Park, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Wonder Woman, among others. The ad doesn't appear to tout HBO Max's originals, although that's not completely surprising when many of them won't be ready for a while.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Roku claims 36 million active users as streaming continues to spread

    According to Roku, we're now in the "streaming decade." And the company that grew from a Netflix box to a behemoth in its own right is claiming that the last quarter of 2019 was a big one (PDF), with retail sales up 33 percent and total streaming hours up 60 percent compared to the same period last year. The total number of active Roku accounts reached 36.9 million. With Disney, NBCUniversal, HBO, Apple and others (including ViacomCBS once it announces something next week) expanding their streaming plans, Roku isn't just focused on being a platform that customers can use to get all of them in one place. On a call with investors, SVP Scott Rosenberg said "We've got data that helps us predict who's likely to be the next CBS All Access, the next Disney+, the next Apple TV+ viewer. And we deploy those capabilities in partnership with content providers to help them do better, faster customer acquisition and retention." CEO Anthony Wood referenced the fast start of Disney+ and noted that the service "leaned into" using its tools, and worked with Roku to help subscribers easily log in. In the release of today's results, Roku showed off ads that Disney+ ran on its home screen as an example of its capabilities. It can also play off of free content in its streaming Roku Channel, with advertisements for premium services that lead to subscriptions, reminders to watch later, or text messages that people can request, like one from Energizer that sent codes for a discounted movie. As far as that weirdness with Fox ahead of the Super Bowl, Wood downplayed any expectation of carriage negotiation drama. Instead of squabbling over how to split revenue from a cable bill, he said the company is trying to help build businesses, which doesn't quite explain what happened, but as long as the game streamed in 4K then that may be all the answer we'll get for now. As for the future, it looks like we can expect for Roku OS powered devices like the TVs and soundbars that are out now, as well as more content on its free channels. The Roku Channel reached some 56 million customers in 2019, and with an expectation that by 2024, up to half of US homes will either be cord cutters or cord nevers, it could have many more viewers tuning in.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Spotify’s beta songwriter pages showcase musicians’ work

    Spotify hasn't been very proactive about crediting the artists and personnel behind the music it hosts. The streaming platform didn't display credits at all until 2018, and even then, the information was often incomplete. This can be frustrating for users who want to learn more about the people who created their favorite tracks and insulting to artists, producers and engineers. The company's latest effort -- called songwriter pages -- uses metadata to compile a list of songs that an artist has written and the musicians who the songwriter has frequently collaborated with, helping the user to discover more music they may enjoy.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'Altered Carbon' season 2 trailer spoils a key moment

    Following last week's teaser, Netflix has shared the first main trailer for season two of Altered Carbon. A word of warning: if you want to go into the new episodes without spoiling any of the story, don't watch the trailer or read what follows this paragraph as the trailer shares almost too many details.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Drake will stream exclusively on Twitch rival Caffeine

    Live-streaming platform Caffeine entered an already-crowded marketplace last year, but with a focus on celebrity-orientated channels (Offset was the first major star to join) it aimed to offer something a little different to the likes of Twitch and Mixer. Now it's scored a massive win, signing an exclusive multi-year livestreaming partnership with Drake.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • YouTube may offer sign-ups for premium subscriptions like Showtime

    YouTube may take a cue from Amazon and Apple in letting you put all your streaming services in one place. The Information sources say YouTube has spent the past several months talking to "several" streaming providers about allowing sign-ups for their services through YouTube. While there's no mention of names or how far along the talks might be (YouTube declined to comment), this would go well beyond the handful of services you can sign up for through YouTube TV, like Showtime.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix films won just two Oscars after 'Parasite' swept major awards

    Netflix might have dominated Oscar nominations, but as with the Golden Globes, the big evening itself was a disappointment. The streaming service only gained two Oscars, with Laura Dern winning best supporting actor in Marriage Story and American Factory taking the best documentary prize. Meanwhile, its huge bet on Martin Scorsese's The Irishman failed to produce a single statue, despite 10 nominations.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • YouTube Music might finally let you upload your own music library

    Google has spent the past couple of years merging elements of Google Play Music into YouTube Music, but one absence has been a dealbreaker for some: the cloud locker that lets you play uploaded songs wherever you like. You might not have to forego that convenience in the near future, though. Two 9to5Google sources claim Google is testing an internal beta of YouTube Music that supports the locker. There could be a public launch "sooner rather than later," with Google Play Music devotees asked to import their collections within a few months.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Netflix says it's only obeyed nine government takedown requests

    Netflix hit the headlines last year when it pulled an episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj that was critical of Saudi Arabia from its streaming service in the country. As it turns out, the company has only ever removed titles or episodes nine times after formal takedown requests from governments.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • The Morning After: Netflix finally ends the auto-play nightmare

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. About five years ago, Netflix revamped its streaming apps and rolled out the worst feature it's ever developed. Even if you like it, you know which one I'm talking about -- bringing video playback "forward" to make things more like cable TV. At first, pulling up a show or movie and pausing for a moment too long would cause it to start playing. Then, simply highlighting a selection while scrolling meant it would start playing the trailer, or worse, playing a section of the movie backed by some random stock music Netflix pulled from somewhere. It made casually browsing the service's catalog a nightmare, but for whatever reason -- I assume there was some analytical data showing it increased viewing -- Netflix refused to change it. Since then, competitors like Disney+ and HBO Max have highlighted the "feature" as something they chose not to copy, and now, at long last, Netflix is providing a way to turn it off. You'll need to pull up the Manage Settings page in your browser and disable AutoPlay Preview, but by pressing that one button, things can go back to the way they should've been all along. Was that really so hard, Netflix? -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Sling TV offers anniversary discounts to new and existing customers

    You can get Sling TV for just $5 if you sign up for an account from today until February 11th. The over-the-top internet TV service is celebrating its fifth anniversary on February 9th and founded a holiday, which it's calling the National Cut the Cord Day, for it. Even if you don't care for made-up holidays, you may still want to take take a look at the deals Sling TV has on offer if you've been thinking of ditching your cable subscription.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • ViacomCBS is working on yet another streaming service

    After Disney+, HBO Max and Peacock, were you hoping to see another puffed-up media company launch a streaming TV service? Because according to CNBC, that's what you're about to get. Apparently ViacomCBS isn't satisfied with only offering things like CBS All Access, BET+ or Nickelodeon's multiyear partnership with Netflix, and is planning to launch some kind of mega-offering that combines its many properties. Apparently the plan is to keep existing services operating, while marketing the larger umbrella subscription as an upgrade that doesn't cost additional money. Similar to AT&T's HBO Max, NBCUniversal's Peacock or the Disney+/Hulu/ESPN+ bundle, the idea is that a combination of live sports, Paramount movies and kids programming will pull customers in -- no matter how fatigued they may be. Other content that could be a part of its includes PlutoTV, Comedy Central and MTV, with a base price of under $10 per month and options for ad-free access or the ability to tack Showtime onto the package. The rumor indicates we'll hear more about this around the time of its earnings call on February 20th.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Netflix will let you stop those annoying auto previews

    Our long global streaming nightmare is finally over. At long last, Netflix is letting users turn off those annoying show and movie previews that automatically start whenever you fire it up. Those autoplaying trailers have plagued the Netflix site and apps for around five years.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Netflix switches to the AV1 codec for data-saving streams on Android

    Way back in 2015 Netflix announced it would team up with Amazon, Google, Intel and other companies to develop a royalty-free codecs that worked well on modern devices. Two years ago they revealed the fruits of their labor as the AV1 codec, that promised not only freedom from licensing payments they wanted to avoid, but also a saving of up to 30 percent on the amount of data used to stream 4K HDR video. Now, Netflix has started using AV1 on a "select" set of titles, and only for users on Android who've enabled the "Save Data" feature.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • IMDb's free streaming service will have every episode of 'Lost'

    IMDb thinks it has a way to keep you coming back to its free streaming video service: offer a bunch of the TV shows from your younger days. IMDb TV has secured the rights to stream over 20 Disney-owned series, including Lost, Desperate Housewives, Malcolm in the Middle and My So-Called Life. Moreover, this will be the only place where you can watch Lost and Malcolm for free. You'll need a subscription or paid download anywhere else, to put it another way.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • HBO Max forms a production unit devoted to streaming movies

    If HBO Max is going to compete against streaming incumbents like Amazon Prime Video and Netflix on every level, it's going to need movies -- and it's gearing up to provide a flurry of them. WarnerMedia's yet-to-launch service has teamed up with Warner Bros. Pictures Group to create a production wing, Warner Max, that's dedicated solely to producing streaming movies. The aim is to produce eight to 10 "mid-budget" flicks per year for HBO Max, with Warner Bros. distributing the titles in places and formats where the service isn't an option.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Spotify is the new heavyweight champ of podcasts

    Last year was a big year for Spotify. A massive podcast push that began in 2017 hit top speed with the acquisitions of Anchor, Gimlet and Parcast. But the company was clear it wasn't finished, because its massive investment in podcasts was actually attracting users to its core music-streaming service. We're barely a month into 2020, and the company is already spending again. Only this time, Spotify is getting a lot more than podcasts: It's also getting a new audience.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Spotify is buying The Ringer to boost its sports coverage

    And there we go. Just an hour after it posted its latest financial results, Spotify has announced that it's buying The Ringer. Bill Simmons' sports and entertainment venture will offer up its podcast catalog, website and staffers, as well as its 100-million strong fanbase of listeners. Unfortunately, there's no word on how much the deal will cost, but The Ringer is a profitable company that made $15 million on podcasts in 2018.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • Spotify reports 124 million paying users and 'exponential' podcast growth

    "This was the highest net add quarter we've ever experienced," said Spotify in its fourth-quarter earnings report, adding that the service had added 10 million subscribers. The company is riding high after seeing the number of paying customers surge to 124 million and its overall user base grow to 271 million. It says that the source of (some) of this blockbuster success is the same as it has been for the last few quarters: Podcasts.

    By Daniel Cooper Read More

  • YouTube will retire its classic web interface in March

    You'll have to let go of YouTube's older interface if you've been reticent to try the 2017 redesign. YouTube has warned that it's dropping the classic web interface in March, almost three years after its official replacement. The video behemoth isn't shy about the reasoning: legacy versions are now missing many of the features and tweaks that have crept in since the current version launched.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Disney+ has already netted 28.6 million subscribers

    Disney's start on direct-to-customer streaming came out of the gate with the bang, as the company reported it had 26.5 million paid subscribers for Disney+ (PDF) by the end of 2019. ESPN+ grew to 6.6 million subscribers from 1.4 million last year, while Hulu has 30 million customers total, with 3.2 million of them signing up for live TV services. On a call with investors, CEO Bob Iger reported that Disney+ is still growing, and is up to 28.6 million customers worldwide as of Monday. Iger also announced that Disney+ will launch in India via the company's HotStar service and said Hulu could launch internationally in 2021. On the call with investors, Iger specified that season two of The Mandalorian will debut in October, as well as shows the MCU shows it featured in Super Bowl ads. Falcon and the Winter Soldier will launch in August, and Wandavision arrives in December. He also said that the Star Wars show will run beyond two seasons, with a possibility of "infusing it with more characters and taking those characters in their own direction in terms of series." Executives said they don't expect the next "significant" domestic growth to happen until those series launch. According to the CEO, people weren't just watching the viral series, with over 65 percent of viewers watching ten other things on the platform. Interestingly, he also said that the current priority of Star War is TV as opposed to theatrical releases.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • KFC slips ads into Spotify Premium through artist profiles

    You might not avoid ads in Spotify just because you pay for a Premium account. KFC Middle East and the ad agency Memac Ogilvy recently ran a promo campaign for the Kentucky Burger by taking over the profiles of artists Flipperachi, Moh Flow and Shébani. Their photos, bios, event calendars and even their playlists all pitched the chicken burger whether you cared for it or not.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • YouTube Premium and Music have 20 million subscribers

    It's now clearer just how YouTube's streaming services stack up against rivals. Alphabet chief Sundar Pichai revealed during the company's latest earnings call that YouTube Premium and Music have a combined 20 million subscribers as of the fourth quarter of 2019. That's a far cry from Spotify's 113 million paying users (as of September 2019) and Apple Music's 60 million (as of June 2019), but still makes YouTube one of the bigger music providers assuming Premium users are taking advantage of their included Music access. Amazon Music had 55 million users as of January this year, but it's not clear how many of those are paying for full-fledged Music Unlimited access.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Fox, Roku and Super Bowl LIV

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Our long national nightmare is over. After a carriage dispute that lasted absolutely no time at all, Fox and Roku have worked out their distribution squabble, and you will be able to watch Super Bowl LIV via Fox apps on the Roku platform. That should make it easy to watch the game in "4K" if you have the right hardware, without switching apps or plugging another set-top box in. And if you don't have the right combination of hardware or services, then no problem -- we've got some advice. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

Tablets (2)

  • Apple's latest iPad mini is down to an all-time low of $350 at Amazon

    Like the idea of Apple's small-but-speedy iPad mini, but don't want to pay a $70 premium over the usual price of the larger entry-level iPad? You might not have to. Amazon is running a sale that lops $49 off the price of the iPad mini, bringing it to a new low price (for the store) of $350 for the 64GB WiFi model. You'll see a comparable discount on the 256GB model, too, although the deals aren't nearly as sweet for cellular buyers (just $34 off the 256GB variant).

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Apple, Amazon were rare bright spots in a shrinking tablet market

    The tablet market was fairly bleak in 2019, it seems. IDC analysts have estimated that tablet shipments dropped 1.5 percent in 2019 compared to a year earlier, with some brands taking a significant hit. The lone bright spots were Apple and Amazon, whose market shares jumped to 34.6 percent and 9 percent respectively on the back of stronger shipments. Even heavyweights like Samsung, Huawei and Lenovo saw their share and shipments drop.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

Tomorrow (2)

  • Watch jetpack pilot Vince Reffet set a new altitude record in Dubai

    Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Jetman Dubai's latest aeronautical achievement in a jet-powered wingsuit. The team says it's reached a major milestone with its Iron Man-like jet suit, flying nearly 6,000 feet in altitude from a standing start and working hovers, turns and maneuvers into the mix, too.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • The Morning After: The rotary cellphone DIY kit you've been waiting for

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. Sick of foldable phones? OK, if closing with a flip isn't your throwback design of choice, then maybe you'd prefer a rotary dial. Seriously. Brookhaven National Lab engineer Justine Haupt built a working mobile device that can show simple messages on its 2.1-inch ePaper display, has 24 hours of battery life, easily dials pre-programmed numbers and is entirely unable to tweet. It might be the perfect phone -- for some people. If "no apps, no problem" is a fit with your style, then Haupt is offering a DIY kit that will get you most of the way toward building one of your own. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

TV & Movies (26)

  • Amazon's 'Tales from the Loop' trailer is a moving Stålenhag painting

    Amazon has revealed that Prime Video's upcoming sci-fi series Tales from the Loop will premiere on April 3rd -- and it has bundled that announcement with a trailer. The eight-episode show is based on the paintings of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, who's known for making illustrations that combine stereotypical Swedish landscape with futuristic elements like robots and other advanced technologies. Stålenhag's illustrations have been published in artbooks and even served as the basis for an alternate '80s universe tabletop RPG also entitled Tales from the Loop.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Ava DuVernay teams with 'Star Wars' veteran on Amazon sci-fi series

    Amazon's commitment to sci-fi on Prime Video may have scored it a particularly sweet deal. Ava DuVernay's Array Filmworks is partnering with Victoria Mahoney (who helped direct Rise of Skywalker as well as episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Power and You) on an adaptation of Octavia Butler's acclaimed sci-fi novel Dawn, which tells the tale of a black woman who works with aliens to restore humanity after a centuries-old nuclear war. Mahoney will be the series writer and direct the pilot, but she and DuVernay will executive produce the show alongside others.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Knives Out' and 'Altered Carbon'

    This week Netflix is streaming season two of its sci-fi show Altered Carbon, as well as MewTwo Strikes Back - Evolution, the second season of F1: Drive to Survive and the final episodes of its (filmed in 2018) reality dating show Love is Blind. Separately, Daniel Craig fans can enjoy Knives Out on Ultra HD Blu-ray, as well as his James Bond flicks like Skyfall, Quantum of Solace, Spectre and Casino Royale. This season of Doctor Who comes to an end this weekend, while gamers should check out the new Space Channel 5 VR game on PS VR, or Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind on Xbox One. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Harley Quinn' season 2 gets a quick April 3rd debut

    There's normally a lengthy wait between seasons of streaming TV shows, but don't tell that to DC Universe. The comics-oriented service is premiering the second season of its Harley Quinn animated series on April 3rd -- just four months after the show's first season arrived. There aren't many clues as to what's coming next, but the announcement clip (below) serves as a reminder that there are a lot of people who are less than fond of Harley.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • The Morning After: Hasbro's $60 'Baby Yoda' toy is coming this fall

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. So what's the good news? Hasbro finally showed off the $60 animatronic Baby Yoda most of us have been waiting for, our video review of the Galaxy Z Flip is ready for you to watch (spoiler: the best foldable phone is still a long way from being the best phone) and it's Friday. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • See how 'The Mandalorian' used Unreal Engine for its real-time digital sets

    It's not surprising that a VFX-heavy show like The Mandalorian uses digital sets, even though it also relies heavily on practical, in-camera effects. What's more unexpected, however, is that the actors were able to see and perform within those sets rather than against a sterile green screen environment. To do all that, Jon Favreau and his team work with Epic Games to develop a new, innovative technique using digital sets projected on LED displays, using the Fortnite creator's Unreal game engine.

    By Steve Dent Read More

  • Eli Roth is directing the 'Borderlands' movie

    Uncharted won't be the only well-known game franchise receiving a movie adaptation in the near future. Lionsgate has revealed that Hostel director and Inglourious Basterds star Eli Roth will direct the Borderlands movie, with production starting later in 2020. Most of the details aren't known (including the basic plot), but Roth said he was happy with the script as well as the support from Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, who's also one of the executive producers alongside Take-Two chief Strauss Zelnick.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Hasbro's flurry of 'The Mandalorian' toys includes an animatronic Baby Yoda (updated)

    Disney's bid to cash in on The Mandalorian's success has come a long, long way from when the company was scrambling to release crudely-designed shirts. Hasbro is releasing a deluge of toys and games meant to capitalize on the streaming show, and it won't surprise you to hear that The Child (aka Baby Yoda to everyone outside of Disney) plays a starring role. Most notably, there's an honest-to-goodness animatronic figure. The little one wiggles his head and ears, makes squeaky baby sounds and even tries to use his Force powers in the most adorable way possible. It will cost you $60, and yes, it is already available for pre-order on Amazon.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • 'Westworld' season 3 trailer sets the stage for an AI battle

    HBO has released a new trailer for the upcoming third season of Westworld. It shows Dolores, Maeve and Westworld's other characters leave the confines of the park that defined so much of show's past two seasons. Additionally, we see more of the futuristic city we saw glimpses of in the first trailer HBO shared last July. There's also the suggestion Maeve and Dolores will come into a conflict, with a mysterious new character instructing the former to find and kill her fellow android. To top it all off, an orchestral version of "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses accompanies the latter half of the trailer.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • Alamo Drafthouse's movie-per-day Season Pass is finally here

    It took many months, but Alamo Drafthouse's Season Pass is finally available to everyone -- but like some rivals, what you'll pay depends on where you live. The service gives everyone access to one regularly priced movie per day, with seat reservations up to a week in advance. The prices vary sharply, though. Only viewers happy to watch in New Braunfels, Texas will get the best pricing at $15 per month, with $5 discounts at other locations. People in eight other locations (including Austin, Denver and Raleigh) will have to pay at least $20 per month with $10 discounts at other locations, and those watching in Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco will have to shell out $30 per month.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Every ‘Star Wars’ feature film will be available on 4K Blu-ray in March

    So far, Star Wars fans have only been able to watch The Last Jedi and Solo on 4K Blu-ray. The rest of the live action movies will be getting the 4K Blu-ray treatment on March 31st, though, for a total of 11 Star Wars films on the high resolution format. That, of course, includes the latest entry -- and the final chapter in the "Skywalker Saga" -- The Rise of Skywalker, which comes out on March 17th on digital and March 31st on standard and 4K Blu-ray.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Miraculously, 'Sonic the Hedgehog' is a fine movie

    Sonic fans are used to being let down. Unlike Mario, who has rarely starred in a bad video game, the famous 'blue blur' has featured in countless duds. These include Sonic the Hedgehog 4, a disappointing follow-up to Sega's Genesis classics, and Sonic the Hedgehog, a 2006 reboot that was full of bugs and featured a now-infamous kiss scene between the hyperactive hero and a human princess. Expectations for the Sonic movie were, therefore, low. The film's distributor, Paramount Pictures, had already been criticized for releasing a trailer with a horrifically unfaithful and human-like version of Sonic. The backlash was so severe that the studio was forced to delay the movie's release, redesign the character and remake every shot he featured in. A second trailer revealed a more recognizable and authentic Sonic, which earned some respect and appreciation from the Sega faithful. Still, many were understandably skeptical. Shockingly, though, the Sonic movie is okay. Amusing, even. The 99-minute feature rarely feels original, ambitious or narratively interesting, but it's also not the cinematic train wreck that so many were expecting. The bar was exceptionally low, but this simple live-action comedy might be the best video game to movie adaptation ever made.

    By Nick Summers Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars'

    For fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the wait is almost over. The next big Disney+ exclusive is this animated series, which is kicking off its seventh season after several years on the shelf. Meanwhile, AMC brings back The Walking Dead as well as the season premiere of Better Call Saul. Amazon Prime is also loading up this week, as it debuts the Jordan Peele-produced and Al Pacino-starring series Hunters. Jojo Rabbit and Midway are both available on Ultra HD Blu-ray this week, and for gamers you can check out the remastered Bayonetta release on PS4 and Xbox One. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Rumors resurface about 'Diablo' and 'Overwatch' animated series

    Rumors of a Diablo anime and Overwatch cartoon have been floating around for a while now. Uber Gizmo reported on a potential Diablo series back in 2018, while Activision Blizzard director Jeff Kaplan gave an interview last year where he touched on his animated aspirations for Overwatch. Now, fans might have a reason to get excited again.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Sonic the Hedgehog' breaks record for a video game movie debut

    The Sonic the Hedgehog movie has come a long, long way from that horrifying initial trailer. Paramount's adaptation just broke the record for a video game movie's three-day opening in the US, pulling in $57 million compared to Detective Pikachu's $54.3 million. Estimates have Sonic raking in $68 million over four days, which could give it one of the best Presidents Day performances of any movie -- and definitely the best for the 2020 holiday weekend. That's not adjusted for inflation, but still no small feat. Remember, Sonic premiered in February (when audiences are smaller, and studios often slot their less promising movies) where Detective Pikachu debuted at the height of the early blockbuster season in May.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • First ‘Stranger Things 4’ teaser moves the action far from Hawkins

    As a Valentine's Day present to fans, the Stranger Things 4 teaser dropped this morning. "From Russia with love..." the show's Twitter account posted. The 50-second clip opens on a snowy Russian landscape where prisoners, watched by armed guards, are assembling railroad tracks. And, oh snap, one of those captives is a clean-shaven, Jim Hopper, who it seems will go by "American."

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Coming in 2021: A movie shot entirely in vertical video

    Would you watch a full movie shot entirely in vertical format? Russian director Timur Bekmambetov is probably hoping you would, because he's currently working on one. Snap already offers vertical short-form originals on its platform, but Deadline says this project is the "world's first vertical format blockbuster." The movie, entitled V2. Escape From Hell, is based on the real life story of a Soviet pilot who hijacks an aircraft to lead an escape from a German concentration camp.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Sony Pictures signs on for 'Crossfire' movie based on the popular FPS

    While the Crossfire name won't register as one of the most popular shooters for some US gamers -- no, it's not related to the board game with the tiny metal balls -- the free-to-play tactical first person shooter is extremely popular in China and South Korea. In operation for over ten years, it claims a player base of over 650 million plus lifetime revenue of over $10 billion, and producer Neal Moritz (Fast & Furious series, S.W.A.T., Preacher, The Boys) has been developing a film adaptation since 2015. Now Variety has announced that Sony Pictures will partner on the flick with Korean game developer Smilegate and China's Tencent Pictures.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • 'Harriet' star Cynthia Erivo's sci-fi podcast is becoming a movie

    Podcast adaptations have a mixed track record in Hollywood, but that isn't stopping Amblin Partners from being particularly ambitious. Steven Spielberg's outfit has bought the movie rights to Carrier, a sci-fi podcast created by Qcode and Dan Blank that stars Harriet actress and Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo. She'll both produce the movie and reprise her role as the truck driver Raylene, who discovers that her latest cargo is a threat to the planet that makes her a target.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • ‘Apollo 13’ returns to theaters for three days in April

    Despite never landing on the moon, Apollo 13 is one of the most notable spaceflights in history. An explosion on the Apollo 13's service module put the lives of its three crew members in peril. And despite all odds, the astronauts were able to keep the ship functioning until safely touching down on Earth. 25 years later, Ron Howard directed a largely accurate film version of the near-fatal mission. To celebrate the mission's 50th anniversary, Apollo 13 will return to theaters on April 5th, 6th and 8th.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • Virtual pet site Neopets is being rebooted into a TV show

    Neopets was all the rage in the early 2000s, but it's been gradually fading away since then. A series of ownership changes (currently NetDragon-owned JumpStart Games), technological progress and even the aging of its audience has left the virtual pet site a faded version of its former self. However, JumpStart is betting it can revitalize the brand with a strategy occasionally used for kids' games: make a TV show. It's teaming with Blue Ant Studios' Beach House Pictures on an animated series. It's still early days, but the production will be aimed at 8- to 12-year-olds. In other words, it's hoping that interest in the show will translate to more players as viewers enter their teens.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Dreams,' 'To All the Boys' and 'Narcos: Mexico'

    This week Netflix has a couple of sequels, with season two of Narcos: Mexico taking us decades into the past, and a follow up to last year's hit romcom, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Hulu is also getting in on the streaming action as it premieres the first season of High Fidelity. For gamers, Sony is ready to fully release its creative game Dreams on PS4, and movie fans can pick up the award-winning flick Ford v Ferrari on Ultra HD Blu-ray. Of course, this is always a big sports weekend, so I'll be watching the Daytona 500 and the various NBA All-Star festivities this weekend. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Apple TV+'s Mythic Quest is 'Silicon Valley' but for game devs

    Mythic Quest shouldn't work. The new Apple TV+ comedy, created by the folks behind It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and co-produced by Ubisoft, dives into the day-to-day adventures of a gaming studio behind an incredibly popular MMO. But who needs another workplace comedy, especially one about game development? And can we trust a show sprung from a giant publisher like Ubisoft to portray the gaming world fairly -- warts and all? Yet somehow, despite everything going against it, Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is phenomenal.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • See how VFX artists included Carrie Fisher in 'The Rise of Skywalker'

    Whatever your opinion on Rise of Skywalker, we can probably all agree that its effects were pretty impressive -- not least because of the seamless inclusion of Carrie Fisher's scenes. The iconic Leia actress had only recorded a small amount of footage before she passed away. Now, the studio behind the film's VFX, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), has released a short video showcasing exactly they did it, as well as the work that went into other major scenes, such as the final space battle and Rey's jump over the TIE Silencer. Take a look below, although if you've somehow avoided seeing the movie yet, be aware that the video contains minor spoilers.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Altered Carbon' season 2 teaser shows Anthony Mackie as the 'new' hero

    Netflix is finally ready to show a little more of Altered Carbon's second season -- if only just. The service has posted a teaser trailer that revolves around Anthony Mackie as the "re-sleeve" of Takeshi Kovacs, who was played by Joel Kinnaman in the first season. As the clip makes clear, though, a new body doesn't make things any easier. He's embroiled in a "ghost story," and there's a risk of becoming a ghost in the process.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • What's on TV this week: 'Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet'

    This week there's a Democratic debate on Friday, but we may have to wait that long to find out the results of the Iowa Caucuses. Other made-for-TV events include Apple and Ubisoft's premiere of a new show for TV+. Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet is a comedy about a team of videogame developers working on a popular game, and all nine episodes will be released at once on Friday. Otherwise, Brooklyn Nine-nine is back on NBC, Netflix is premiering a new comic book adaptation called Locke & Key, and there's a Dark Crystal video game. Look after the break to check out each day's highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

    By Richard Lawler Read More

VPN (1)

  • Mozilla’s latest Android app takes its VPN service beyond Firefox

    Mozilla has been investigating the VPN sphere for a while. Last year it launched a VPN-like browser extension, while back in 2018 it rolled out an experimental subscription-based VPN service. Now it's launched an Android app for the full device Firefox VPN it currently has in closed beta.

    By Rachel England Read More

Wearables (15)

  • Bose Frames work with Microsoft's navigation tech for the blind

    When they came out last year, the Bose Frames were an interesting, albeit unfinished showcase of what a company could do by fusing together smartglasses and headphones. We didn't think Bose's experiment was a consistent success, but clearly the wearable had potential. Microsoft certainly thinks so.

    By Igor Bonifacic Read More

  • The latest Timex smartwatch has 25-day battery life

    The newest Timex Ironman smartwatch, the R300 GPS, bundles the workout essentials -- on-wrist heart rate monitoring, guided coaching, a range of performance metrics and water resistance up to 30 meters -- and avoids adding unnecessary extras that sometimes drive smartwatch prices up. The result is that the R300 GPS costs just $120, and the company claims the battery will last up to 25 days, as long as you only use 20 hours of GPS.

    By Christine Fisher Read More

  • Qualcomm reveals a reference headset to show off its XR2 chip

    Qualcomm unveiled its XR2 platform at the end of last year, and chipheads were pretty impressed with how much power the company had packed into its newest slice of silicon. Its XR (extended reality) platform features 5G (a first, according to Qualcomm) and 8K 360-degree video playback, as well as a host of other features that double the CPU and GPU performance of its predecessors. Now, the company has revealed a reference design that demonstrates how the chipset will actually work in a headset.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • HTC opens pre-orders for its $899 Vive Cosmos Elite VR headset

    HTC's new high-end virtual reality headset, the Vive Cosmos Elite, is now available for pre-order. The company unveiled the device a few days ago along with two other upcoming entries to the line-up: the entry-level Vive Cosmos Play and the business-focused Vive Cosmos XR with mixed-reality capabilities.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Wyze is working on a fitness tracker that puts Alexa on your wrist

    Wyze initially made a name for itself offering home security devices for low prices, but a major data leak at the end of 2019 -- where the sensitive information of 2.4 million customers was exposed -- has put big question marks over its reputation as a security company. Nonetheless, Wyze seems determined to put its past transgressions behind it, and is working on a bunch of new products -- one of the more interesting of which is the Wyze Band with Alexa.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • HTC's Project Proton is a preview of its next-gen VR headsets

    While HTC is betting its VR future on the modular Vive Cosmos for now, it's also been working on next-gen lightweight headsets, under the title "Project Proton," that CEO Yves Maitre said will resemble "really, really close to normal glasses." Well, judging by the renders we received, this is debatable, but these wearables certainly seem more compact than the current crop of VR devices. In a statement sent to Engadget, a company rep said "Project Proton is a prototype of a future XR glasses-style device from HTC Vive that we hope to hear feedback on from the community as we continue to work on the product." We have absolutely no info on specs, but Project Proton does confirm HTC's intention to shift focus to mixed reality use cases, as well as adding 5G connectivity -- be it internal or external -- to its future headsets.

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • HTC's expanded Vive Cosmos family may help lure more VR users

    HTC's Vive Cosmos is positioned as a high-end VR kit that's easier to use, and we liked it, but one concern we had was its $699 price -- a notable jump from Oculus' $400 offerings, tethered or otherwise. The good news is that according to Engadget Chinese, the company plans to release a more affordable version dubbed Cosmos Play, along with the more advanced Cosmos Elite and the experimental Cosmos XR. Best of all, these variants share the same core headset, meaning Cosmos Play owners can later upgrade with other faceplates to suit their needs.

    By Richard Lai Read More

  • Marshall's latest Monitor over-ear headphones are equipped with ANC

    Marshall first introduced its Monitor over-ear headphones in 2013 with a wired model. Since then, the company has added a wireless option, but there still wasn't a version with active noise cancellation (ANC). That is, until now. The new Monitor II ANC is actually Marshall's set of first over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. The company announced the Mid ANC in 2018, but those are the on-ear style. With the Monitor II ANC ($320), Marshall combines a bunch of attractive features with the iconic aesthetic of the popular guitar amps.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Ultrasonic bracelet jams the microphones around you

    Smart speakers and other microphone-equipped devices aren't supposed to listen all the time, but there might be a solution if you aren't willing to take any chances. University of Chicago researchers have built an experimental bracelet that uses ultrasonic broadcasts from 24 speakers to jam most microphones, no matter what direction they're in. The gadget takes advantage of non-linearities in its built-in amplifier to 'leak' ultrasonic noise into the audible range and render recordings useless.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Nike's new self-lacing basketball shoes go on sale Sunday for $400

    Last year Nike applied self-tightening / self-lacing tech to a basketball shoe for the first time with its Adapt BB. Now the Adapt BB 2.0 is ready to go on sale this Sunday as the NBA celebrates All-Star Weekend. The shoes have already been worn in-game by Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant (below) and now you can get your own pair -- if you can stomach the $400 price tag. That's even more than the $350 price of last year's shoes, although they do come with some improvements and is still less than the $720 price of the first HyperAdapt.

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Samsung's Galaxy Buds+ offer improved battery life and more for $150

    Samsung scooped itself a few times ahead of today's Galaxy Unpacked event. One of the devices it prematurely revealed was a revamped version of its true wireless earbuds: the Galaxy Buds+. The company even posted the companion app for the audio accessory a week before the official announcement. While the Galaxy Buds+ look very similar to the original model, that's okay. The overall design was one of the best aspects of Samsung's 2019 earbuds. A small pill-shaped charging case holds the buds and touch controls on the outside of each one are still there for quick adjustments.

    By Billy Steele Read More

  • Ford’s biking jacket shows emoji to everyone behind you

    While the number of traffic accident fatalities in the US is thankfully decreasing, there were more cyclist and pedestrian deaths on the roads in 2018, the most recent year for which NHTSA data is available. There were 51 more cyclist deaths that year than in 2017, a rise of 6.3 percent. A recent European Transport Safety Council report, meanwhile, determined that 19,450 cyclists died on EU roads between 2010 and 2018.

    By Kris Holt Read More

  • Samsung iOS app confirms the existence of new Galaxy Buds+

    Samsung's Galaxy Buds+ are very, very real. A listing for the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ application (via CNET) has popped up on the Apple App Store as a preview, essentially confirming the updated earbuds' existence. Unfortunately, the app's description doesn't say much about the earbuds other than they're only compatible with iPhone 7 and newer devices running iOS 10 or higher. According to previous reports, though, the Galaxy Buds+ will lack active noise cancellation but will be able to run for 12 hours on a single charge, which is double the battery life of the current model.

    By Mariella Moon Read More

  • Dyson patents a wearable air purifier that doubles as headphones

    If you use public transportation, you know just how gross the air can be. Commuters are constantly coughing and sneezing, which releases thousands of germs into the air. Taking a flight can be even worse, thanks to the recycled air. And that's not to mention pollution-filled cities like Wuhan in China, or even Los Angeles. Wearing a face mask can help prevent you from breathing in those germs and pollutants, but they're not very effective, and they're not exactly socially acceptable. Air purifiers that hang around your neck are subtler, but they're even less beneficial. Dyson's patent for a new type of purifier describes a product that merges an air purification system with a set of headphones for an effective but somewhat subtle solution to staying healthy in germ- or pollution-filled settings.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

Xbox (9)

  • Xbox Series X's game resume feature even works after a reboot

    Microsoft has been gradually dropping nuggets of information about its next generation Xbox. The first Xbox Series X games will be cross-gen, the console with have a 12 teraflop GPU and -- possibly -- it will rely on one HDMI port instead of two. Now, Microsoft's Larry Hryb has revealed a feature: quick game resume following a reboot.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • Xbox One gets another simplified dashboard redesign

    Microsoft revealed last month it's been working on a whole host of changes for the February 2020 Xbox One Update, and now they're finally rolling out. The biggest change is yet another new Home interface -- so if you've got downloads set to install automatically you'll notice things are different as soon as it hits. Twists have been removed to make room for dedicated rows for Xbox Game Pass, Mixer, Xbox Community and Microsoft Store, and you'll be able to add or remove rows however you wish. Over in My Games & Apps, meanwhile, things have also been pared back for easier navigation.

    By Rachel England Read More

  • 'Cyberpunk 2077' studio commits to a free Xbox Series X upgrade

    Microsoft promised that its current generation in-house games would use Smart Delivery to take advantage of the Xbox Series X's performance, but what about the hinted-at third-party games? There appears to be one already lined up. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 will get an Xbox Series X upgrade for free when it's ready. You should "never be forced to purchase the same game twice or pay for upgrades," the developer said. In short, you can buy the Xbox One version in September knowing that it'll see an improvement sometime after your Series X arrives.

    By Jon Fingas Read More

  • Microsoft confirms Xbox Series X will have a 12 teraflop GPU

    We already know the Xbox Series X is going to be significantly faster than Microsoft's current consoles, but in a blog post by Xbox head Phil Spencer, the company revealed a few more details about how big of a leap it's going to be. Most notably, Microsoft confirmed that the Series X will feature up to 12 teraflops of GPU performance. Previously, the company only vaguely said it was twice as fast as the Xbox One X, and four times more powerful than the original Xbox One. The new console will be powered by AMD's Zen2 CPU and RDNA 2 GPU architecture, the latter of which isn't yet available on PCs.

    By Devindra Hardawar Read More

  • The Morning After: 'Halo' Nerf guns are here

    Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. This isn't how the Sonic Cycle is supposed to go. I haven't seen the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie yet, but according to Nick Summers it's actually... OK? And apparently, better than Detective Pikachu. With a $113 million (and counting) tally at the box office, it's clearly bypassed concerns over the CG, but I'm just amazed any time a video game-based movie isn't setting new lows for a cinematic experience. -- Richard

    By Richard Lawler Read More

  • Eight ‘Kingdom Hearts’ games make their debut on Xbox One

    Kingdom Hearts III coming to Xbox One was a big deal -- it was the first time a game from the series was published on one of Microsoft's platforms, and it was the first time a mainline Kingdom Hearts game wasn't exclusive to a PlayStation console. Xbox gamers can play even more of the series starting today -- Square Enix has published Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue on Xbox One. The two compilations comprise eight games and one movie, meaning fans can play almost every entry in the Kingdom Hearts saga.

    By Marc DeAngelis Read More

  • 'State of Decay 2' is getting a major free update

    State of Decay 2 is getting a major update -- and it's no standard content patch either. The total overhaul -- appropriately titled "the Juggernaut Edition" -- will see the game's graphics and audio get a far-reaching remaster, as well as several other significant changes.

    By Rachel England Read More