The project in the Atacama Desert could increase light pollution by up to 50%, making it much harder to observe the cosmos near the Paranal Observatory.

There is something so incredibly frustrating about typing on a digital keyboard with a controller. Whether for streaming or gaming, the slowness with which you often have to find each letter is just painful. Well, thankfully, there’s an improvement on the way for Xbox controllers, with Microsoft announcing a new gamepad keyboard for Windows 11’s touch keyboard. 

Microsoft

The updated keyboard should make it easier to use the on-screen one with an Xbox controller. It brings greater navigation to the controller and helpful shortcuts. For example, the X button can function as backspace, the Y button as the spacebar and the menu button as enter. Microsoft also states that it has vertically aligned the keyboard keys for smoother use.  

Microsoft first shared that it was beta testing this technology back in September. Now, it’s available in the Release Preview version of Windows 11, so you should be able to try it out for yourself within the next few weeks. Hopefully it saves you a lot of time and frustration (and that streamers will come up with their own solutions soon). 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-launches-a-new-gamepad-keyboard-layout-for-windows-11-154011591.html?src=rss

Safety is Volvo’s big thing. From three-point seatbelts to side-impact protection to blind-spot monitoring and much more, the Swedish automaker focuses its innovation on making its cars safer rather than faster around the Nürburgring. (Although in the past, it has set records there too.) As part of its efforts, Volvo has collected data from tens of thousands of car crashes, which it’s now leveraging in virtual worlds to put simulated cars and SUVs through the wringer with the help of something amusingly named “Gaussian splatting.”

“We’ve been visiting crash sites since the ’70s. We’ve been recording event data from a fleet of cars for many, many years,” said Alwin Bakkenes, head of global software engineering at Volvo Cars. “And all of those data points have actually helped us create safety innovations… from the three-point safety belt to whiplash protection systems and now also, as we’re introducing in the ES90, a function called ‘lidar AS,’ which helps the car steer away from vulnerable road users in the dark,” he said.

Like some others in the industry, Volvo is an early adopter of the software-defined vehicle, or SDV. As a quick refresher, SDVs are clean-sheet designs in terms of their electronic architecture. Instead of dozens or even a hundred discrete black boxes, each with its own hardware and running its own software, each doing a discrete job (like controlling the air conditioner or managing traction control), four or five powerful central computers take over those roles, overseeing domains like infotainment, advanced driver assistance systems, handling and powertrain, and interior comfort.

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Although the Amazon Spring Sale doesn’t start in earnest until next week, there are a bunch of early deals to be had. Among them is an offer that sees Google’s Pixel Buds Pro 2 drop to a record low price. The earbuds are currently $179, which is $50 (or 22 percent) off.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are our pick for the best wireless earbuds for Google phones. For one thing, they fit more comfortably and securely after a redesign made them smaller than the Pixel Buds Pro.

Improvements to audio quality helped the Pixel Buds Pro 2 obtain a score of 88 in our review. Revisions to the acoustics and drivers — as well as the inclusion of a Tensor chip to take care of active noise cancellation (ANC) and audio signal processing — help the earbuds deliver ample, punchy bass, as well as full mids and crisp highs.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer up to eight hours of use on a single charge with ANC enabled. When you factor in the charging case, you’ll get up to 30 hours of total listening time when ANC is on. The earbuds have an IP54 rating, indicating that they’re protected from dust and water splashes.

In terms of features, the earbuds include hands-free access to the Gemini voice assistant. Spatial audio is available, albeit only for certain video streaming apps for now. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 offer automatic switching between devices that are linked to your Google account. Other features include conversation detection, a hearing wellness tool and Find My Device.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-drop-to-a-record-low-price-for-the-amazon-spring-sale-152844540.html?src=rss

The Baba Yaga returns and this time, he’s the baddie.

Combine the great price and stellar performance of this venerable tablet and it might be Apple’s best iPad of all.

Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat is on sale for $240 right now, as part of the Amazon Spring Sale. That’s close to a record low price for the 4th-gen device that was released just last year. This deal is available for multiple colorways, including silver, gold and black.

This is a modern thermostat, so that means AI. The device offers suggestions on how to lower energy usage and can automatically adjust settings in the home based on factors like ambient temperature and daily schedules.

It ships with a wireless temperature sensor for accurate measurements. This sensor can run for three years before needing a new battery. This model can accommodate six of these sensors, for large properties, but that requires some additional purchases. A three-pack of the sensors typically costs $100. 

The Nest Learning Thermostat is more customizable than its predecessors, with the ability to select from several smartwatch-style faces. It’s also much larger than previous models and includes Soli radar sensors to determine how close a person is. The display will adjust accordingly, with an increased font size when standing far away and vice versa.

The installation is fairly simple, but will still require some light wiring. The only real bad thing to say about this thermostat is that $280 is a whole lot of money. That concern is mostly alleviated by today’s sale.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-nest-learning-thermostat-is-back-on-sale-for-240-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-150539398.html?src=rss

Converting a .pdf to a .docx and back again may seem like a quick and easy thing you can do online for free—but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. A new notice from the FBI Denver Field Office warns that some online document converters are also loading malware onto unsuspecting users’ computers, giving bad actors access to your device and your data.

The tools may also scrape files submitted for conversion for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, birthdates, email addresses, passwords or tokens to bypass multi-factor authentication, banking information, and cryptocurrency seed phrases and wallet addresses.

How to spot malicious file converters

This scheme may be easy to miss, as the malicious file converters will do what they advertise, such as converting a .docx to a .pdf or joining multiple files into one. However, the file you download may contain hidden ransomware, adware, or riskware that exposes your computer to attackers. You may also be prompted to download a conversion tool (that is actually malware) to your device or install a malicious browser extension.

According to a Malwarebytes Labs report on the scam, the following domains have been found to contain malware:

• Imageconvertors[.]com (Phishing)

• convertitoremp3[.]it (Riskware)

• convertisseurs-pdf[.]com (Riskware)

• convertscloud[.]com (Phishing)

• convertix-api[.]xyz (Trojan)

• convertallfiles[.]com (Adware)

• freejpgtopdfconverter[.]com (Riskware)

• primeconvertapp[.]com (Riskware)

• 9convert[.]com (Riskware)

• Convertpro[.]org (Riskware)

While these are known scams, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other free, malware-containing file converters out there waiting to infect your device. The best thing you can do is avoid these tools entirely and utilize trusted software instead. But if you suspect you’ve been exposed, start by taking basic steps to secure your identity, including changing passwords using a clean, trusted device, and running an anti-malware program to catch any threats.

How to convert files safely

When you need to quickly convert from one document type to another, you may be tempted to google “free file converter” and click on whatever comes up—but don’t.

Instead, start with the software or applications you have that can open the file, and check if you can export or save it in a different format (look under File > Export or File > Save As). Microsoft Office and many PDF editors have this functionality, or you can use Adobe’s free tools to convert to and from a PDF, as well as a handful of other document converters available for free.

Remember that when you convert files, you may lose some formatting in the process.

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.

Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) is a speaker that packs a serious punch for its size. Normally priced at $299.99, it’s down to $139.99 on Woot for the next 13 days or until stock runs out—and if you have Amazon Prime, shipping is free. Non-Prime members will have to pay $6, but either way, it’s only available to the contiguous U.S. (no shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or PO boxes).

Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A1 (2nd Gen)

$139.99
at Woot

$299.99
Save $160.00

$139.99
at Woot

$299.99
Save $160.00

PCMag gave this Bluetooth speaker an Editor’s Choice award when it launched in 2020, and it’s still a strong contender today.

At just 1.2 pounds, the Beosound A1 is not exactly light for its size, though it comes with a leather lanyard for easy carrying. With an IP67 rating that can handle dust, sand, and submersion, it’s ready to accompany you on outdoor adventures. Setup is handled through the Bang & Olufsen app, which also enables its built-in Alexa—though you’ll need to link accounts first. It’s Bluetooth 5.1-compatible with support for AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs, though it doesn’t have LDAC support for high-res listening. The battery life of the Beosound A1 is rated at 18 hours, but that’ll depend on your volume settings.

This little speaker gets loud, driven by a 3.5-inch woofer and a 0.4-inch tweeter, both powered by dedicated 30-watt Class D amps. The result is a deep bass (enough to shake a table but without the speaker itself moving around) that stays full even at moderate to high volumes. It’s a bass-heavy tuning, which makes sense given its size—though at max volume, the DSP kicks in to prevent distortion, thinning out the sound slightly, notes the PCMag review. Its frequency range of 55Hz-20kHz means you’ll get solid lows and clear highs, but don’t expect a perfectly balanced studio monitor sound. The app’s EQ adjustment isn’t the most intuitive, using a circular chart instead of sliders, but it offers some control over tuning.

If you’re looking for something newer with the latest Bluetooth tech (and one that’s a little more budget-friendly), the Beats Pill is currently $99.99 (down from $149.95) and might be worth considering instead.

Nature: A Microsoft researcher [this week] presented results behind the company’s controversial claim last month to have created the first ‘topological’ qubits — a long-sought goal of quantum computing. In front of a packed room at a meeting of the American Physical Society (APS), Chetan Nayak, a theoretical physicist leading Microsoft’s quantum computing effort in Redmond, Washington, explained how the company is developing topological qubits, which would be the building blocks for a noise-resistant quantum computer.

Physicists in the audience told Nature’s news team they are still unsure whether Microsoft really has made the first topological qubits, however. “It’s a hard problem,” says Ali Yazdani, an experimental physicist at Princeton University in New Jersey. To anyone trying to make topological qubits, he says, “good luck.” When Nayak displayed measurement data during his presentation, he acknowledged that a characteristic signal was difficult to see due to electrical noise, prompting Cornell University theorist Eun-Ah Kim to question its robustness. Microsoft says additional details will be available in a forthcoming paper on the arXiv preprint server.

Further reading:
Scientists Question Microsoft’s Quantum Computing Claims;
Microsoft Quantum Computing ‘Breakthrough’ Faces Fresh Challenge

Read more of this story at Slashdot.