Sony’s investigating a possible ransomware attack at PlayStation subsidiary Insomniac Games, the makers of the beloved Spider-Man series. A hacking group called Rhysida has claimed credit for the alleged incident and announced that it’ll be selling any acquired data for $2 million within seven days if Insomniac and Sony don’t pay up, according to Cyber Daily.
This data potentially includes the usual stuff, like internal emails, confidential documents and personal information, but Rhysida says it goes even further. The organization claims it not only stole personal documents related to Spider-Man voice actor Yuri Lowenthal, but images and details regarding that forthcoming Wolverine game.
To that end, the group released proof-of-hack documents that suggest it grabbed screenshots from the game, in addition to character art relating to other superheroes that may be featured in the title. Rhysida put up a temporary website to advertise the sale of the documents, urging purchasers to “seize the opportunity to bid on exclusive, unique and impressive data.” It also promises that it only “sells to one hand, no reselling.” Honor among thieves, I guess.
Sony has issued a statement on the matter to Video Games Chronicle, writing “we are aware of reports that Insomniac Games has been the victim of a cyber security attack.” The company says it’s “currently investigating this situation” but notes that the alleged attack didn’t spread beyond Insomniac, so other Sony divisions remain unscathed.
Insomniac is recently known for Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but the company cut its teeth in the 1990s making well-regarded PlayStation platformers like Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank. The developer’s Wolverine game was revealed back in 2021 and there’s no announced release date.
As for Sony, it’s one of the largest companies in the world, so it tends to attract this kind of thing. The company fell victim to a similar ransomware attack back in October, which exposed the personal information of more than 7,000 employees. In September, a hacking group called Ransomed.vc alleged that it compromised “all” of Sony’s connected systems, but other hackers claimed this was a scam. Sony investigated the alleged attack but hasn’t released any findings.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-is-investigating-possible-ransomware-attack-at-insomniac-games-173435808.html?src=rss
In today’s day and age, it can feel almost impossible to keep anything private, such as your whereabouts, and we’re often at the mercy of companies to take actionable steps to do so. To that end, Google has announced new location controls for Maps designed to give you more well, control, over what and where data is recorded.
One of the most notable changes rolling out is the option to save your Timeline right to your device instead of the cloud. If you’re unfamiliar, the Timeline is an encrypted record of all the areas and attractions you’ve visited. You need to turn on your Location History — it’s off by default — in order to activate Timeline. As part of Google Maps’ updates, Location History will automatically delete your data after three months versus the previous 18 months. However, you can delete any information as soon as you want or turn off auto-delete. Plus, you can turn Location History back off at any point.
Speaking of Location History, Google Maps will also allow you to click on your blue dot on the map and see settings such as Location History and Timeline. The shortcut lets you edit how much of your information is shared with and stored on Google Maps without having to dive into your settings.
Similarly, Google Maps is adding the option to delete location-specific data. Say you were looking up a restaurant to take your partner for their birthday and want to keep it secret, you can delete directions, searches, shares and more. This feature and the blue dot shortcut will roll out in the coming weeks on Android and iOS, but the ability to save your Timeline straight to your device will become available sometime over the next year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-maps-will-let-you-store-your-location-on-your-phone-instead-the-cloud-170041432.html?src=rss
Apple’s AI-powered Journal app is finally here. The new diary entry writing tool was first teased for iOS 17 back in June, but it only became available on Monday with the new iPhone update — nearly three months after iOS 17 itself came out. After Apple released iOS 17.2, iPhone users can now access to the Journal app, which allows users to jot down their thoughts in a digital diary. Journaling is a practice that can improve mental wellbeing and it can also be used to fuel creative projects.
You can create traditional text entries, add voice recordings to your notes, or include recent videos or pictures. If you need inspiration, AI-derived text prompts can offer suggestions for what to write or create an entry for next. The app also predicts and proposes times for you to create a new entry based on your recent iPhone activity, which can include newer photos and videos, location history, recently listened-to playlists, and workout habits. This guide will walk you through how to get started with the Journal app and personalize your experience.
How to create a new entry in the Journal app on iPhone
Malak Saleh
When you open the Journal app, tap the + button at the bottom of the page to create a new entry. If you want to start with a blank slate, when you tap ‘New Entry’ an empty page will appear and from there you can start typing text. You can add in recent photos from your library when you tap the photos icon below the text space, take a photo in the moment and add it to your entry or include a recorded voice memo when you tap the voice icon. You can also add locations to your entry when you tap the arrow icon at the bottom right of an entry page. This feature might be helpful for travel bloggers looking back at their trips abroad. You can edit the date of an entry at the top of the page.
Alternatively, you can create a post based on recent or recommended activities that your phone compiled — say, pictures, locations from events you attended, or contacts you recently interacted with. The recent tab will show you, in chronological order, people, photos and addresses that can inspire entries based on recent activities. The recommended tab pulls from highlighted images automatically selected from your photo memories. For example, a selection of portraits from 2022 can appear as a recommendation to inspire your next written entry. Some suggestions underneath the recommendation tab may appear within the app with ‘Writing prompts.’ For example, a block of text may appear with a question like, “What was the highlight of your trip?”
Malak Saleh
Scheduling, bookmarking and filtering
If you’re not free to write when a suggestion is made, you can also save specific moments you want to journal about and write at a later time. Using the journaling schedule feature, you can set a specific time to be notified to create an entry, which will help a user make journaling a consistent practice. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone and search for the Journal app. Turn on the ‘Journaling schedule’ feature and personalize the days and times you would like to be reminded to write entries. As a side note, in Settings, you can also opt to lock your journal using your device passcode or Face ID.
Malak Saleh
You can also organize your entries within the app using the bookmarking feature, so you can filter and find them at your own convenience. After creating an entry, tap the three dots at the bottom of your page and scroll down to tap the bookmark tab. This is the same place where you can delete or edit a journal entry.
Later on, if you want to revisit a bookmarked entry, tap the three-lineicon at the corner of the main journal page to select the filter you would like applied to your entries. You can select to only view bookmarked entries, entries with photos, entries with recorded audio and see entries with places or locations. This might be helpful when your journal starts to fill up with recordings.
Adding music, workouts and other off-platform entries into your journal app
Using your streaming app of choice, (Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon Music), you can integrate specific tracks or podcast episodes into your entries by tapping three buttons at the bottom of your screen that opens up the option to ‘share your music.’ The option to share a track to the Journal app should appear and it will sit at the top of a blank entry when you open the app.
You can use the same method with other applications, like Apple’s Fitness app. You can share and export a logged workout into your journal and start writing about that experience.
Malak Saleh
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-use-apples-new-journal-app-with-the-ios-172-update-164518403.html?src=rss
Capture One’s eponymous photo-editing software suite is ending the free Express tier, effective on January 30. The popular Adobe Lightroom alternative will be fully pay-to-play, with a number of Pro tiers to choose from. The company says ending the free tier was necessary to “focus on our main products.”
Once January 30 hits, you won’t be able to download or use Express from the website and license keys will expire. Additionally, any saved images and edits will go the way of the dodo, so get in there and finish up before next month. You can, however, quickly transfer images and edits from Express to Pro, which is something Capture One would very much like you to do.
To that end, Pro subscriptions range from $24 to $34 each month, depending on if you choose a desktop client or a combo pack that adds a smartphone app. You can also buy the desktop client outright for $300, but you won’t get any updates or access to the smartphone app. There’s a 30-day free trial for those on the fence.
Capture One has become a crucial tool for digital photographers, as it allows you to connect an external camera and shoot images directly to the desktop software or app. The algorithm automatically applies edits as the photos come in. Capture One works with more than 500 cameras, including models by Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leicia and Sigma, among others.
The software also handles RAW conversion, color processing and general editing tasks, just like Lightroom. You can even share a live link of a shoot with colleagues, to allow for speedy and efficient collaborations. This is serious photo-editing software made primarily for professionals or those serious about the craft. Still, it’s sad to see the free version sail away into that color-corrected sunset. If the Pro version’s cost has you wavering, the iPhone app by itself costs $5 each month.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/capture-one-is-axing-the-free-tier-of-its-photo-editing-software-on-january-30-162035781.html?src=rss
Arturia V Collection X is one of the biggest updates to the virtual synth library in quite some time. Six new instruments have been added (though, most have been available separately before) and two have been rebuilt from the ground up. That brings the grand total number of instruments in V Collection to 38, and over the last few years at least six of those have been completely revamped with dramatic improvements.
MiniFreak V, Acid V, Augmented Brass and Augmented Grand Piano were all available previously as standalone instruments, but now they are joining the V Collection proper. Two completely new instruments are also entering the fold. Augmented Woodwinds and CP-70 V. Augmented Woodwinds is, as you might have guessed, a take on Arturia’s Augmented series, except here the synths are paired with woodwind samples. CP-70 V is an emulation of Yamaha’s electric piano from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s used most notably by The Grateful Dead and Genesis.
Augmented Woodwinds, Brass and Grand Piano
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
I’ll admit to being somewhat skeptical of Augmented Woodwinds at first. I think Augmented Strings and Grand Piano are excellent, but have found little use for Brass and Voices so far, and woodwinds often feel like some of the most difficult acoustic instruments to get right in a sample library. Yet, Arturia pulls it off, largely by leaning into the synth side of things pretty strongly. You’re never going to convince anyone that the sounds coming out of it are from a flesh-and-blood woodwind ensemble, but the soft cinematic pads and leads you can coax out of it are compelling, especially when paired with an MPE controller like the Push or Seaboard Rise 2. (With the exception of a few presets that seem to come undone when faced with MPE input, at least.)
Like the rest of the Augmented series, Woodwinds, Brass and Grand Piano feel built especially with scoring in mind. That’s not to say you can’t find a use for them in a pop song or jazz arrangement, but these are all about atmosphere and texture, and there’s a healthy dose of sounds that would only be appropriate in the tensest moments of a cosmic horror film.
They all have a suite of advanced controls where you can build almost any sound you want from its four layer engine (two samples and two synths). You can even completely disable the sample layers and go woodwind-less, though, you might as well use one of the other plugins at that point.
CP-70 V
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
The other completely new instrument, CP-70 V, is a lot more straightforward. It’s an electric piano. A very specific one that hasn’t enjoyed the same level of reverence as the Rhodes or Wurlitzer, but isn’t without its merits. The CP-70 used strings like a real piano, instead of the metal reeds and tines found in Rhodes in Wurlitzers. It also used piezo pickups instead of magnetic ones, resulting in a sound that is significantly closer to an actual acoustic piano. That was definitely a huge selling point for touring acts in the ‘70s and ‘80s that wanted the sound of a grand piano, but didn’t want to lug one on the road.
The result though, is less characterful than those other electric pianos. It’s brighter and there’s less room for shaping the sound without adding effects. Arturia seems to do an admirable job of capturing the spirit of the CP-70, but it comes close enough to sounding like a real piano, I’d be far more likely to reach for the regular ol’ Piano V plugin in most cases.
MiniFreak V
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Acid V and MiniFreak V both launched earlier this year. And frankly, nothing has changed with Acid V in the roughly four months since I wrote about it, so I won’t say much beyond, it’s an excellent TB-303 emulator. It does what you expect it to and not much else, but with about one-tenth of the headaches of the real thing.
MiniFreak V, on the other hand, got a major update yesterday with a new wavetable engine, new super unison effect and some improvements to the LFO. The 32 wavetables are pretty solid and modern sounding. And perhaps, best of all, they seem to be able to handle bass better than some of the other oscillators — an area the Freak line has always felt a little weak in. There are 64 new presets designed to show off the strength of the wavetable engine and there’s some real winners in there. Yes, there are plenty of weirdo sound effects and dubstep bass wubs, but there are also some lovely chilly pads and delicate keys.
Additionally, Arturia is finally adding preset packs for the MiniFreak and MiniFreak V to its store. There are two paid soundpacks, but also three free ones and, well, I can’t recommend that you download Deserted Lands from Oscillator Sink enough. It’s basically just one gorgeous broken patch after another. This was sort of a running theme, though. With MiniFreak 2.0, Augmented Woodwinds and the rebuilt Mini V4, Arturia really improved the quality of its presets. Whether they were designed in house or by an artist they worked with, most felt designed to show off what the plugins were capable of musically, as opposed to technically. That wasn’t necessarily the case with the MiniFreak, the MicroFreak or even Pigments.
Mini V4
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
This was the single biggest shock of the lot, honestly. Mini V was also a decent enough Minimoog Model D emulation, but the world is filled with those. It was never the reason to seek out V Collection specifically, but it was good enough that you didn’t need to go find an alternative. Mini V4, however, is incredible. The difference is subtle, but definitely noticeable if you load up the default template in both Mini V3 and V4 and play them side by side. For one, the V4 is a touch louder, but it’s also fuller. Part of that, I think, is there’s more inherent instability in the new oscillator model. As you start playing at the lower reaches of the keyboard you can hear it more clearly.
You can also play lower notes. Where V3 simply doesn’t work below A-1, V4 will let you get all the way down to C-2, though, there’s very little musical reason for you to go down that far.
The differences become more apparent when you start messing with the filter. More bass is retained as you start turning up the resonance in the new version, and it remains usable even with it pinned. The frequency cutoff is also smoother with a bit more of a guttural growl as you start isolating those lower frequencies.
While the Minimoog obviously excels at bass, and Arturia makes sure to showcase that, there are also a lot of presets that push the sound in different directions. The benefit of a plugin over the actual vintage synth is that you can have eight notes of polyphony here. That gives this virtual Model D the freedom to play unstable pads and electric-piano style keys.
The addition of a “vintage” knob is also quite welcome here. While I love things being ever-so-slightly out of tune and for there to be a gentle whisper of white noise in the background, others might want a more buttoned up sound.
It’s also worth pointing out that Arturia didn’t go too overboard with the features here. There’s no modulation matrix or sequencer or motion recording. There’s a handful of useful effects, an arpeggiator and MPE controls, and not much else beyond what you’d find on the original.
Wurli V3
Terrence O’Brien / Engadget
Similar to the Mini V, Arturia took its Wurlitzer plugin and decided to start over agin. The results are excellent, if a touch less dramatic than with the Moog emulation. The general tone is brighter and it sings a bit more in the lower registers. There also seems to be a wider stereo field than before as well. The cumulative effect is something a bit more inviting.
The new mic and amp simulations help it feel more alive and like you’re actually in a room with a Wurli instead of just playing one through your computer. And the age parameter adds instability to the sound, allowing you to get that “just found this keyboard in my uncle’s basement where it’s been sitting untouched for 30 years” sound. Not to mention it absolutely nails the sound of Supertramp’s “The Logical Song.”
The Wurli isn’t a plugin I reach for terribly often, but I appreciated the improved tone that should help it cut through a mix a bit better. It’s also far more versatile than the CP-70 V, though even with the improvements I’m far more likely to reach for a Rhodes.
Arturia V Collection X is available now and existing Arturia customers will get a discount, depending on what software they already own. If you’re new, the full price of $599 might be a bit tough to swallow, but it still represents one of the better deals in soft syths.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/arturia-v-collection-x-is-its-biggest-upgrade-in-years-160015345.html?src=rss
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is officially dead. “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories,” the Entertainment Software Association, E3’s organizer, wrote on X. The industry trade group wrote closed out the statement with “GGWP” or “good game, well played.”
E3’s troubles have been well documented in recent years, with the pandemic arguably exacerbating the video game expo’s demise. There hadn’t been an in-person E3 since 2019. The 2021 edition took place virtually, but the ESA canned the 2020, 2022 and 2023 events entirely.
The ESA told its members this spring that after major namespulled out of this year’s planned E3, the event “simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength and impact our industry.” ReedPop, the organizer of PAX and New York Comic Con, was set to run E3 2023 before the event was canned.
“We know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion,” ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis told The Washington Post. “We know it’s difficult to say goodbye to such a beloved event, but it’s the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners.”
In truth, the writing was on the wall before any of us had heard of COVID-19. Sony, the biggest publisher in the industry, opted not to take part in the 2019 edition. EA declined to hold an E3 press conference that year too, instead choosing to run its own EA Play showcase a few days before the industry event.
Many publishers no longer need an E3 to show off their upcoming slate of games. It used to be the case that they needed to strike deals with retailers to secure shelf space for their games and hardware ahead of the holiday season, and those agreements were often struck at E3. But the industry has changed significantly in recent years. While a ton of big games arrived this past October, publishers now release major titles throughout the year (in large part to help them meet quarterly revenue targets). Others focus on supporting long-term live-service games that aren’t beholden to any release calendar. Digital game sales also mean that publishers and platform holders don’t have to worry as much about partnerships with retailers.
Another key reason for E3’s demise is that publishers can now show off their games to fans directly at any time and without having to struggle for attention against competitors at a trade show. The likes of Nintendo and Sony command the attention of hundreds of thousands of fans whenever they hold a Nintendo Direct or State of Play. There are so many ways for major publishers to get out the word about their games that E3 is no longer necessary in that regard. Skipping E3 also meant that publishers don’t have to deal with the costs of attending a trade show or meeting another entity’s deadlines for having demos or trailers ready.
On the other hand, the death of E3 could hurt independent studios that rely on trade shows to show off their games to publishers in the hopes of securing distribution and/or funding deals. It may also harm smaller publishers that have to compete with the giants for attention.
While E3 may be gone, gaming events aren’t going away. Gamescom, for instance, is far larger than E3 in terms of attendance and other factors.
Summer Game Fest, a sort-of E3 replacement that The Game Awards producer and host Geoff Keighley started in 2020, expanded last year to include a physical event for the first time. Some major publishers — such as Capcom,Ubisoft and Xbox — held games showcases in association with Summer Game Fest this year. The event will return for its fifth edition in 2024. You can probably still expect many publishers to still be holding showcases in May and June, despite the death of E3.
After more than two decades of serving as a central showcase for the video game industry, ESA has decided to end E3. ESA remains focused on advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce who fuel positive cultural and economic impact every day.…
Grill companies have chosen CES to announce their latest Wi-Fi-enabled innovations in the past and 2024 will be no different. Middleby Outdoor, parent company of Kamado Joe and Masterbuilt, plans to debut two new models at the show, and it’s offering an early preview today. For the first time in Las Vegas, the company will show off the all-new Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 and the Masterbuilt Gravity Series XT, a revamped take on the gravity-fed charcoal grills that debuted in 2020.
The AutoIgnite Series 545 offers a so-called QuickStart Auto-Ignition that’s similar to the Automatic Fire Starter on the Konnected Joe. Here, you press the ignitor button and set the temperature on the control panel. Then you load the internal hopper with up to five pounds of lump charcoal (or seven pounds of briquettes) and stick a fire starter into its holder. The grill’s fan and digital controller will do the rest for everything from low-and-slow smoking at 250 degrees Fahrenheit up to searing at 650 degrees.
Unlike the Gravity Series, the charcoal hopper here is inside the cooking chamber. Middleby has given the hopper a cast iron lid so you can use the top of it for high heat searing, but its location limits its capacity. The company says the amounts of charcoal mentioned above are enough for eight hours of cooking, depending on your temperature. This means if you’re cooking larger cuts like brisket or pork shoulders you’ll have to refill the hopper at some point. It also takes up some of the grilling space. As the name implies, the grill has 545 square inches of cooking area.
The AutoIgnite Series 545 includes some other niceties such as a folding side shelf on the right and an enclosed cart design for storage of grilling tools and accessories. It also comes with cast iron cooking grates and folding chrome wire warming racks. The 545 will be available in February at Home Depot for $499.
Middleby says the Gravity Series XT is “the largest and most advanced Masterbuilt to date.” With up to 1,260 square inches of cooking capacity, there’s plenty of room to maneuver. Just like previous Gravity Series models, the key aspect is the gravity-fed charcoal hopper on the right side. It can hold up to 12 pounds of lump charcoal or up to 18 pounds of briquettes, which the company says is enough for 14 hours of cooking (again, depending on temps). Like before, you load the hopper from the top and place a fire starter underneath. You’ll have to manually light this one, but then the fan takes over and gets the grill to your selected temperature.
While the overall construction looks similar to the existing versions, the Gravity Series XT has a redesigned control panel that’s been relocated to the right side of the grill on the frame of the charcoal hopper. The company explains that the new digital controller is similar to what’s on the Konnected Joe, with the primary benefit being temperature graphs directly on the display.
The “XT” in the name refers to the “extra-tough build” that includes dual-wall insulation and porcelain coating for the interior. What’s more, the grill has a so-called fuel saver design and a fiberglass mesh gasket around the lid that are said to be more efficient with heat, moisture and smoke retention. Middleby says these design elements will lead to 33-percent longer burn time compared to the other Gravity Series models.
There are four levels of cooking space inside the XT thanks to three removable racks. A full-body grease tray in the bottom should improve the chore of clean up. A new U-shaped manifold is designed to reduce flareups as you cook. The left side shelf now houses a towel rack for paper towels or butcher paper as well as a storage drawer and tool hooks. The Gravity Series XT will be available in April from the Masterbuilt website for $1,499.
Both the AutoIgnite Series 545 and the Gravity Series XT are compatible with the Masterbuilt app. The software allows you to control and monitor your grill from anywhere thanks to the grills’ Wi-Fi connectivity. That includes being able to watch food and grill temperatures, with both grills accommodating up to four wired probes. Only one is included with the 545, but the XT comes with two. The app can be used to keep tabs on multiple Masterbuilt grills from the same device and you can shut them down from your phone when the time comes. While there is a library of recipes for inspiration, this app doesn’t have the deep integration or step-by-step guidance with those that Traeger, Weber and others offer.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/masterbuilt-autoignite-545-gravity-series-xt-141512415.html?src=rss
Apple is attempting to avoid a fine and ongoing legal battle with the European Union. The company is allegedly offering its rivals access to its Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, used for tap-and-go payments, Reuters reports. The update follows the European Commission’s May 2022 charge and ongoing probe into Apple’s potential antitrust Apple Pay practices.
The Commission has been investigating Apple since 2020, with Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager previously stating there were “indications that Apple restricted third-party access to key technology necessary to develop rival mobile wallet solutions on Apple’s devices.”
While Apple’s current proposal could get it out of a hefty fine and settle the case against it, it’s not guaranteed to move forward. The Commission will likely confer with Apple’s rivals and customers in the next month or so to determine if it should accept the offer. More than 2,500 banks across Europe use Apple Pay.
Apple also faces a lawsuit in the United States, brought in July 2022 by Iowa’s Affinity Credit Union. Similarly, it accuses Apple of engaging in anti-competitive behavior by illegally restricting iOS users to Apple Pay for any contactless payments.
In September 2023, a US District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White of California ruled that the case would move forward, stating: “Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged that Apple Pay charges arbitrary and inflated fees to issuers, and that competition in the tap-and-pay iOS mobile wallet market would spur innovation and lead to lower prices.” In his decision, White also explained that the plaintiffs properly demonstrated Apple’s alleged and attempted monopolization.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-lift-nfc-restrictions-in-europe-to-escape-antitrust-fines-131004981.html?src=rss
Apple is now rolling out iOS 17.2 to all compatible devices, as well as iPadOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2 Sonoma. The biggest addition in all those is the introduction, finally, of the long-teased Journal app.
Journal differs from third-party apps like Day One by offering journaling suggestions based on your iPhone activity. That can range from photos taken through to locations reached on maps or even what you’re listening to. Your device might also suggest creating a journal entry after things like workouts or a finished podcast episode. Apple’s hope with the app is to help “iPhone users reflect and practice gratitude through journaling.” So, thank you, Apple, for the iOS update.
— Mat Smith
You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
Just in time for that OS update. Between the 10th-generation iPad, the iPad Air and the M2 iPad Pro, Apple sells three tablets with roughly 11-inch screens and broadly similar designs, but there are key differences in internal components and accessory support. We can, though, pick a certain iPad that’s best for most of you.
One warning: Apple will likely introduce new iPads early next year. The company did not release any new tablets in 2023, but Bloomberg reports Apple plans to update its entire lineup throughout 2024.
Invites have already started going out to Windows users from the waitlist.
Arc, a formerly Mac-only internet browser from The Browser Company, is coming to Windows. In a post on X, the company today announced its first Windows beta invites are already hitting inboxes. Its unique features include the ability to customize (or vandalize) any website. There’s also a sidebar for your bookmarks and tabs. It’s still a work in progress: We know features like Peek (which lets you preview a link before opening it in its own tab) and Little Arc (a lightweight browser window meant for quickly viewing something) are currently being ported across.
The Day Before was a much-hyped (much-delayed) zombie shooter game that launched on Steam on December 7, only to be widely criticized for failing to deliver an MMO (massively multiplayer online) experience as advertised — not to mention the bugs and severe lack of originality. Four days later, Fntastic, the studio behind this controversial title, abruptly announced its closure as the $40 game “has failed financially,” despite having apparently sold over 200,000 copies before refunds. Fortunately, Steam offers a two-week refund window, so long as the game has only been played for less than two hours. Give that a try.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-launches-its-long-awaited-journal-app-121550393.html?src=rss
BeReal is launching new features for its app, which won Apple’s 2022 iPhone App of the Year. The company tries to differentiate its platform by prompting spontaneous authenticity via randomly timed two-minute windows to take selfies. Now, it’s adding a feature similar to Apple’s Live Photos. In addition, invite-only groups, tags and 2023 recaps are on their way to the “Your friends for real” platform.
Behind the Scenes (BTS) is BeReal’s branding for its Live Photos-esque feature. Like Apple’s version, BTS captures a video for a few seconds before taking a static shot. After posting, your friends can long-press on the shot to see the short video clip. BTS is an opt-in feature, so nobody should be sucked into it unwillingly, and you can toggle it anytime.
Meanwhile, RealGroups are invite-only groups that will be available by the end of the year. In the new communities, group creators can manage the “Time to BeReal” notification (alerting you it’s time to say cheese), offering users a degree of control over the app’s core gimmick for the first time. RealGroups will also support private chat and private BeReals between group members. The company says its Live Photos clone and groups have been the platform’s “most community-requested features.”
Like Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music and various social platforms, BeReal will offer a 2023 recap. It sounds like it doesn’t stray far from the beaten path, with the company pegging it as “a custom experience that users can record and share anywhere they want,” alongside promotional hashtags.
Finally, the app’s new tagging feature lets you cc your friends to ensure they catch your daily selfies. There should be plenty of people to choose from, as BeReal says its platform now has over 25 million daily active users.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bereal-which-still-exists-gets-tags-private-groups-and-a-2023-recap-120041785.html?src=rss
Samsung’s 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (M80C, 2023 refresh) can act not only as a monitor with a webcam, but a smart TV as well thanks to the built-in speakers and support for cloud gaming and streaming platforms. The main drawback is the $700 price, but right now it’s back down to an all-time low of $400 at Amazon, netting you savings of $300 or 43 percent.
The refreshed Smart Monitor M8 has the same features as the previous model, but is slimmer and rotates 90 degrees for a document view. It offers UHD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution at up to 60Hz, along with HDR10+. With a VA panel, it’s decently bright at 400 nits, offers a 4-millisecond response time and displays up to a billion colors, with 99 percent sRGB coverage. Input-wise, you get USB-C and Micro HDMI 2.0 inputs, along with a USB-C charging interface. Finally, it has a a detachable SlimFit Cam for video calls, making it a solid choice for work or light content creation.
That’s just the half of it, though. It’s a WiFi-capable smart TV that supports Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV, as well as cloud gaming platforms. It comes with built-in dual 5W speakers and a home hub that allows you to use it to control SmartThings-compatible IoT devices like lights and thermostats. It even has built-in support for Microsoft 365, so you can edit documents or browse the web without having to connect it to a computer.
Other features include the ability to change the angle and position with the high-adjustable stand, along with a game bar that makes it easy to switch between cloud services. Normally it sells for $700, making the $400 sale price a particularly good deal — so it’s best to act fast while it’s in stock.
If you’ve been thinking about hosting your own mini data center or need to stream 1,333 Netflix 4K programs at once, Google Fiber has the answer. The Alphabet-owned ISP will launch it’s 20Gbps service with Wi-Fi 7 in select cities early next year for $250 a month (plus taxes and applicable fees) — not that ridiculous of a price for such ridiculous speed.
“We’re starting in Kansas City, North Carolina’s Triangle Region, Arizona, and Iowa,” the company wrote. “As we continue to roll out Nokia’s 25G PON across our network, we’ll open up invitations in new areas, so make sure you’ve let us know if you are interested in being the one of the first to have this in your home.”
As with Google’s other Fiber offerings, the 20Gbps speeds are symmetrical, so you’ll see them whether you’re uploading or downloading. Google notes that Wi-Fi 7, which offers peak wireless speeds of 40Gbps, is so bleeding-edge that it hasn’t even been fully certified yet. The service is being offered through Google’s GFiber Labs division, and is made possible by new Nokia 25G PONs (passive optical networks) installed as part of last-mile infrastructure upgrades.
While obviously expensive, the new plan allows for some interesting possibilities. For instance, Google promises multi-gig internet speeds on multiple floors of your house, for example, thanks to the custom Wi-Fi 7 router co-created with Actiontec. That could let plan buyers amortize the price across multiple users — 20 people could have 1Gbps connections for $12.50 per month each, for instance.
The new plan offers four times the speed of AT&T’s Elite 5Gbps fiber offering for the same $250 per month. However, Google Fiber’s problem has never been the technology or value proposition, but the availability. The company’s 5Gbps and 8Gbps plans only just got off the ground and are still only available in a few regions. While available in some major cities (San Franciso, Atlanta, San Antonio), Google Fiber is notably absent in key markets like New York City and Los Angeles.
The 20Gbps plan will start rolling out in the above-mentioned cities in the first quarter of 2024. Just be aware that you’ll need the fastest Wi-Fi possible on your computer (currently Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 on select models) to even get a fraction of that maximum speed.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-superfast-20gbps-wi-fi-7-fiber-plan-costs-250-a-month-095511377.html?src=rss
Google has been working to phase out the Play Movies & TV brand and services ever since it launched its standalone TV app a few years ago. Now, the company seems to be making the last preparations for when Google Play Movies & TV goes away for good in January. As The Verge reports, the company has released detailed instructions on how long-time customers can continue accessing the content they’d already purchased. Admittedly, it can be a bit confusing, since access depends on what device the viewer is using.
Starting on January 17, 2024, viewers will be able to access the movies and shows they’d purchased in the “Your Library” row under the Shop tab in Google Play… if they’re watching on TVs and streaming devices powered by Android TV. If they’re on Android TV cable or set-top boxes, they’ll be able to access their old content through the YouTube app, where they could also continue buying and renting movies and shows. On browsers, they will have to fire up the YouTube website to see their old purchases and borrow or buy new ones.
These changes will be complete over the next few weeks, but we can confirm that they’ve already started rolling out, as we’re already seeing old movie buys on the YouTube website.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-begins-shifting-users-from-play-movies–tv-ahead-of-its-january-shutdown-085837698.html?src=rss
Tesla could sue at least some Cybertruck owners who flip their vehicles too soon, but it’s unclear if the rule applies to all customers who buy the pickup truck and if it will remain in place for future buyers. A few weeks before the first deliveries for the Cybertruck went out, Tesla updated its purchase agreement to add that it could seek injunctive relief to prevent owners from transferring their vehicle’s title if they attempt to sell it within one year of buying it. Further, the company said it could seek “liquidated damages” from customers worth “$50,000 or the value received as consideration for the sale or transfer, whichever is greater.”
Shortly after the information made the rounds on social media, though, Tesla removed the clause as quietly as it had added it. Now, as Electrek reports, Cybertruck customers who have managed to put in an order for the $120,000 Foundation Series configuration have received an order agreement with the controversial clause still clearly in place. Based on the copy posted by customers on the Cybertruck Owners Club forum, buyers are agreeing not to sell their vehicles within the first year of purchase. If owners must flip their vehicles before the year is up, Tesla is asking them to notify the company, which will then purchase it back for retail minus 25 cents per mile driven and minus the cost of wear and tear, as well as the cost to repair any damages.. They could only sell their Cybertruck without getting in trouble with Tesla if the automaker declines to buy their vehicle and gives them written consent to sell it to a third party.
Other automakers, particularly luxury brands like Ferrari and Porsche, enforce a similar rule. In Tesla’s case, the company has yet to clarify whether it will apply to all Cybertruck buyers or if it will only enforce the rule for Foundation Series owners. Regardless, fans may want to look over their purchase agreements if they buy a Cybertruck, because Tesla may refuse to sell them any more vehicles in the future if they break the rule.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-could-still-sue-cybertruck-owners-if-they-flip-their-vehicles-too-soon-075724926.html?src=rss
The Day Before was a much-hyped zombie shooter game which, after multiple delays, launched on Steam on December 7th, only to be widely criticized for failing to deliver an MMO as advertised. It was criticized for its bugginess, lack of originality and seemingly intentional slow in-game progress. Four days later, Fntastic, the studio behind this controversial title, abruptly announced its closure as this $40 game “has failed financially,” despite having apparently sold over 200,000 copies before refunds, according to PC Gamer.
“We did everything within our power, but unfortunately, we miscalculated our capabilities,” added Fntastic, which has since removed all of its over-promising trailers from its YouTube channel.
Gamers who paid for the disastrous early access are understandably livid. Fortunately, Steam does offer a two-week window for refund requests, so long as the game has only been played for less than two hours. Even if you, for some reason, have already played The Day Before for more than two hours, it’s likely that Steam will still honor your refund, as suggested by an announcement from publisher Mytona. A handful of comments also seem to confirm that those players were able to get their refunds, despite having worked their way through the disappointing title for over two hours.
Head over to Steam Help, go to “Purchases,” click on The Day Before, then under the “What problem are you having with this product?” section, pick whatever reason you deem suitable (probably “Gameplay or technical issue,” in this case) to proceed with your refund request. Good luck.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-get-a-refund-for-the-day-before-the-game-that-got-canned-in-just-four-days-045153224.html?src=rss
Epic Games’ lawsuit against Google has had a much different turnout from its courtroom battle with Apple. A federal jury has sided with the video game developer and has found Google to be in violation of US antitrust laws when it comes to how it runs the Play Store. According to The Verge, the jury has unanimously agreed that Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices. Further, it found the company’s distribution agreements with other video gaming companies, as well as its deals with device manufacturers to pre-install its apps on Android devices, to be anticompetitive.
In its complaint, Epic said that Google had silently paid game developers hundreds of millions of dollars to make their titles downloadable from the Play Store in an initiative that was originally known as “Project Hug.” It alleged that the company had paid Activision Blizzard $360 million to abandon its plans of creating a competing app store, which the game developer subsequently denied. Google, which Epic said came up with the incentive program after it released Fortnite outside of the Play Store, also reportedly inked deals with Nintendo, Ubisoft and Riot Games.
The jury has come to the conclusion that Epic Games has been negatively affected by Google’s actions, but we’ve yet to know how its victory will change the latter’s practices. In a statement posted on X, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said the court will start “work[ing] on remedies” in January. Judge James Donato, who’s overseeing the case, will be making the decision whether to order Google to give developers the freedom to introduce their own app stores and billing systems for Android devices. In the case of Epic’s lawsuit against Apple, the court ruled that the iPhone-maker didn’t violate US antitrust laws, but it ordered the company to allow App Store developers to direct customers through third-party payment systems.
Victory over Google! After 4 weeks of detailed court testimony, the California jury found against the Google Play monopoly on all counts. The Court’s work on remedies will start in January. Thanks for everyone’s support and faith! Free Fortnite! https://t.co/ITm4YBHCus
In a statement published on its website, Epic called its victory “a win for all app developers and consumers around the world” and said they have proved that “Google’s app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation.” It also said that the case’s outcome “demonstrates the urgent need for legislation and regulations that address Apple and Google strangleholds over smartphones.”
Google, however, doesn’t intend to go down without a fight. Wilson White, Google VP for Government Affairs and Public Policy, told Engadget that the company plans to challenge the verdict. “Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform,” White said. “The trial made clear that we compete fiercely with Apple and its App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices and gaming consoles. We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem.”
Update, Dec 12 2023, 11:00 AM ET: Added a statement from Epic.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jury-sides-with-epic-games-in-its-antitrust-lawsuit-against-google-032341810.html?src=rss
Alongside iOS, iPadOS and watchOS updates, Apple has rolled out the latest version of tvOS. The main change this time around is a redesign of the core Apple TV app.
You’ll now see a sidebar that blends content from Apple’s own services (such as Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass and a Store where users can buy and rent popular movies) with access to third-party channels and apps such as Disney+ and Max. It seems that Apple is aiming to improve navigation and discoverability without straying too far from the industry standard tile browsing format on the homepage.
On living room devices (i.e. Apple TV hardware and the eponymous app on smart TVs and other devices), the sidebar will include profiles. Apple says this will allow you to swiftly switch between users for more personalized recommendations across the app and in the Up Next section. Meanwhile, Watch Now has been rebranded as Home.
Apple
The Apple TV app’s Store tab is where you’ll want to go to buy or rent movies and TV shows. Starting today, the iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps on Apple TV 4K and HD devices will redirect users to the Apple TV app’s Store tab to find and manage their purchases. The same goes for the iTunes Store app on iPhone and iPad.
Meanwhile, you’ll now be able to answer FaceTime calls directly on Apple TV 4K devices. Apple has added support for FaceTime audio calls as well.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tvos-172-has-a-redesigned-tv-experience-and-no-itunes-movies-or-tv-shows-apps-211732163.html?src=rss
Arc, a formerly Mac-only internet browser from The Browser Company, is coming to Windows. In a post on X, the company today announced that its first Windows beta invites are already hitting inboxes. This comes after months of requests from Windows users who want to give Arc a shot. Back in September, the company said it already had over 500,000 signups on the Windows waitlist, and that number is expected to grow as the waitlist remains open for new users looking to check out the Arc experience.
According to TechCrunch, The Browser Company plans to continue its onboarding process throughout the month before “rapidly” increasing invitation roll-outs in the new year. While the company didn’t say whether the Windows version will have all the same standout features of the Mac, we do know features like Peek (which lets you preview a link before opening it in its own tab) and Little Arc (a lightweight browser window meant for quickly viewing something) are currently being ported. Since the Windows version is still in beta, users may notice several missing features but those will likely come with updates along the way.
It starts today.
The first Arc on Windows beta invites are out – and yours is coming soon.
The Browser Company describes Arc as a much better way of using the internet. The goal is to provide a cleaner, calmer experience that helps users to better organize their time online. Arc definitely has a few features that sets it apart from other browsers like Safari, Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
Among its unique features is one launched this spring that lets you customize (or vandalize) any website. There’s also a sidebar that holds your bookmarks and tabs. We’re all guilty of having a million tabs open at once and Arc helps to prevent clutter by archiving. That means you’ll always have a fresh and tidy space to work from. You also have the option to create spaces to store research for individual projects. And patient Windows users will finally get to try it, once they get picked from the waitlist anyway.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ultra-customizable-arc-browser-is-now-available-on-windows-in-beta-200039901.html?src=rss
The company was reformed back in 2021 specifically to develop new games based on the long-defunct TimeSplitters franchise. However, parent company Embracer Group has been on a cost-cutting spree these past few months, reducing its overall headcount by more than 900 people. At that time, we noted that Free Radical Design was likely in trouble, putting the TimeSplitters reboot in limbo.
Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors addressed the closure in an email to staffers, expressing “gratitude” for the “remarkable work” the team has done. Wingefors went on to say that the parent company looks to support laid-off employees “as much as we can during this transition.” There are no details, however, regarding severance pay or anything like that. It looks like more than 50 people lost their jobs due to the closure, which is a monumental bummer.
Another bummer is that this likely means the death of the TimeSplitters franchise for the time being, though maybe another company will snap up the IP at some point. The original incarnation of Free Radical went bankrupt in 2008 before being temporarily revived to handle the reboot.
This isn’t the only company that Embracer sent packing this year. It abruptly closed Saints Row developer Volition back in August and is reportedly looking to sell Borderlands developer Gearbox. Embracer previously acquired Gearbox for around $363 million as part of a larger deal valued at $1.4 billion.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/timesplitters-studio-free-radical-design-has-shut-down-194718243.html?src=rss
After several weeks of testing the latest version of its iPhone operating system in public, Apple is now rolling out iOS 17.2 to all compatible devices. In addition, iPadOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2 Sonoma, which boast many of the same features, are here as well. Finally, watchOS 10.2 is also available for download. The biggest change this time around is the introduction of a new core app called Journal.
Apple’s hope with the app is to help “iPhone users reflect and practice gratitude through journaling.” It differs from third-party offerings like Day One, as Apple is able to offer suggestions for journal entries based on activity in other apps. Your iPhone might suggest logging a trip populated by photos from your camera roll, accompanied by a writing prompt such as “what will you remember most about your day out?” Your device might also suggest creating a journal entry after a workout or even to note a podcast episode you listened to.
Third-party developers can tap into a Suggestions API to nudge users to create journal entries based on activity in their apps. Apple says the Journal app is end-to-end encrypted and all information is stored locally (though you can sync everything to iCloud if you wish). Users will have control over which apps can offer Journal suggestions too.
The Journal app isn’t all that’s new in iOS 17.2. You’ll be able to set up the Action button on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to act as a quick translation tool for spoken phrases. You could even use it to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you.
Apple is rolling out support for Qi2 charging on all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models (it’s already present on iPhone 15 models). Qi2-certified chargers are said to match the 15W wireless charging speeds of MagSafe. As Qi2 chargers become more widespread, it should be easier for both iPhone and Android users to top up their phones’ batteries quickly.
Elsewhere, iPhone 15 Pro users can capture spatial video that can be viewed in 3D in Apple Vision Pro’s Photos app (once you’re eventually able to try out the headset, that is). You’ll now be able to access and log Health data with your voice thanks to a Siri update. The Apple Music, Messages and Weather apps are getting a few new features too, while an AutoFill upgrade for PDFs and other forms could prove very useful.
In addition, Apple is rolling out watchOS 10.2. Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 can now log and access Health app data through Siri (both devices process Siri requests on-device for greater privacy). You can ask Siri for information on things like how much you slept the night before, your step count and whether you’ve closed your exercise ring for the day. You can also instruct Siri to log data such as your weight, medications that you’ve taken and your body temperature. These requests are available in English (US) and Mandarin Chinese for now, with support for more languages to follow.
Other new Apple Watch features include the ability to automatically view what’s Now Playing from a nearby 2nd-gen HomePod or HomePod mini that’s playing something from Music or Podcasts. You can enable a setting that’ll let you swipe to change watch faces. You’ll also be able to choose whether to prioritize the volume of the music or a trainer’s voice in most Fitness+ workouts.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-172-and-apples-new-journal-app-are-now-available-181348877.html?src=rss
