Amazon has some big plans for its drone delivery program, including an international expansion to the UK and Italy in 2024. The company also aims to start drone operations in a third US city next year, following existing efforts in College Station, Texas (where it just started offering prescription medication delivery by drone) and Lockeford, California.
Drone deliveries in the UK and Italy will start at one site each before expanding to more locations over time. Amazon says it will announce the specific locations for the US, UK and Italy expansion in the coming months.
Moreover, Amazon will integrate the Prime Air program into its delivery network. In the US, drones will run out of some Same-Day Delivery sites. By basing drones at those locations and its larger fulfillment centers in the UK and Italy, Amazon says customers can choose from a wider range of items for drone deliveries. Until now, Amazon has been using dedicated delivery centers at its first two Prime Air locations.
When the option is available in their area and they buy an eligible item that weighs under five pounds, Amazon customers can choose to have the product delivered by drone. Thousands of items are eligible for drone delivery, including office and tech supplies, household products and beauty items. The company notes that, for nearly a year, it’s been using drones to deliver items to customers in its first two Prime Air locations in an hour or less.
Reports earlier this year suggested that Prime Air got off to a very slow start, delivering to just a handful of homes in its first few weeks of operation in Texas and California (the program is said to have been hit hard by layoffs around that time too). Regulatory red-tape was said to be a key reason for the lackluster debut. To that end, Amazon says it has been “working closely with regulators and governments around the world to expand drone delivery.”
Meanwhile, Amazon plans to start making deliveries with the MK30 drone it first showed off last November. This model has a range that’s twice as large as previous drones, while it has improved tolerance for higher and lower temperatures. The MK30 can also operate in light rain. It’s smaller, lighter and quieter than previous drones too, according to Amazon.
What’s more, the MK30 latest model is said to be capable of identifying and avoiding obstacles that are in its delivery area, including objects like moveable cranes that weren’t there the previous day. One other intriguing aspect of the MK30 is how it flies. After taking off vertically, it orientates itself for horizontal, wing-borne flight. Add all of that up (and roll in some safety features), and Amazon says the MK30 can deliver packages to folks who live in more densely populated suburban areas and have smaller backyards.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-plans-to-start-drone-deliveries-in-the-uk-and-italy-next-year-185027120.html?src=rss
Virtual private networks (VPNs) have become an essential tool for many web surfers, for a wide variety of reasons, and one of the most popular services is offering a great deal to entice new customers. NordVPN is selling two-year subscription plans for up to 69 percent off, depending on which tier you choose. You also get three free months of service when you sign up, which is always a nice bonus. This is actually a slightly better deal than last month’s 68 percent discount on two-year subscription plans.
Here’s how it all breaks down. The company’s flagship Complete plan is 69 percent off when you buy into two years of service, totaling $5 per month or $135. The Plus plan is 62 percent off, coming in at $4 per month or $108 for two years. The Standard plan is likely the best option for average consumers, offering a secure VPN, tracker blockers, ad blockers and malware protection. This plan is 63 percent off, totaling $3 per month or $80 for the whole shebang. Each and every one of these deals includes three free months of service, totaling 27 months. The one-year plans are also discounted and come with the same three free months of use.
There are even discounts for the company’s proprietary password management software, NordPass. Two-year Premium plans are 58 percent off and also offer three free months upon signing up. Enterprise users actually get six free months to try everything out.
We have praised NordVPN’s feature set and general ease-of-use, but balked at the original price tag. As a matter of fact, the cost was a primary reason why Nord’s offering narrowly missed our list of the best VPNs. So these discounts go a long way to making this an extremely attractive option for those looking for a speedy and useful virtual private network.
It’s worth noting that all of these plans are being advertised as Black Friday discounts, but you can actually make use of the sale beginning today. It all ends on November 29, so set a calendar reminder if you want some time to think things over.
If you aren’t even sure what VPNs are for, they are actually quite useful for those who spend a lot of time on ye olde internet. These services are nearly-mandatory when accessing public Wi-Fi, as they prevent cyber criminals from accessing your computer. The software also blocks malicious sites, protects sensitive data and lets you skirt geo-restrictions when surfing.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nordvpn-plans-are-nearly-70-percent-off-ahead-of-black-friday-183535813.html?src=rss
Meta is temporarily changing users’ default comment settings on Facebook as part of its response to the Israel-Hamas war. The company said in an update it was making the change in an effort to “protect people in the region from potentially unwelcome or unwanted comments.”
With the change, comments on “newly created public Facebook posts” will be limited to the user’s friends or “established followers.” The step is somewhat unusual as publicly viewable Facebook posts are typically open to comments from anyone by default. Meta didn’t specify the location or how many Facebook accounts would be affected by the change, but said it would apply broadly to “people in the region.”
The company added that all Facebook users have the ability to limit their comments, regardless of their location, and that it would notify users for whom the setting was now enabled by default. Additionally, Meta said it’s making it easier for Facebook users to bulk delete comments and that it’s “disabled the feature that normally displays the first one or two comments under posts in Feed.”
The updates appear to be meant to reduce harassment and potentially toxic comments as tensions surrounding the conflict continue to spill over onto social media. Meta also said it’s rolling out its profile “lock” tool to Facebook users “in the region.” The feature allows users to hide some previously-public parts of their profile and prevents non-friends from seeing a full-size version of their profile photos.
The company also addressed claims that their content moderation practices have unfairly suppressed some accounts posting about the conflict. Over the weekend a number of users reported that they believed they had been “shadowbanned” on Instagram for posting content about conditions in Gaza or otherwise calling attention to how the ongoing conflict is affecting Palestinians.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said the company had discovered and fixed a “bug” that affected the visibility of Stories and other re-shared posts “globally.” On Wednesday, the company confirmed the issues had “significantly reduced” the reach of Stories. “This bug affected accounts equally around the globe – not only people trying to post about what’s happening in Israel and Gaza – and it had nothing to do with the subject matter of the content,” Meta said. Separately, the company also fixed another “global issue” that prevented users from livestreaming on Facebook “for a short time.”
It’s not the first time questions have been raised about Meta’s response to a conflict between Israel and Hamas. In May of 2021, the last time there was a major escalation violence in the Gaza Strip, Facebook’s moderation practices violated Palestinians’ right to free expression, a report commissioned by Meta found. The report found that Meta’s systems and content reviewers had a lower accuracy rate when evaluating posts written in Palestinian Arabic, which resulted in a significant number of users being hit with “false strikes” on their accounts.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-temporarily-changing-facebook-comment-settings-amid-israel-hamas-war-183105130.html?src=rss
OpenAI has brought live web browsing out of beta. The company launched the feature earlier this year before pulling it after the plugin kept gleaning data from paywalled content. In addition, the next-generation image generation tool DALL-E 3, which integrates with ChatGPT for easier prompting, is now available in beta for ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise subscribers.
Browse with Bing, as live web browsing is formally called, no longer requires subscribers to switch a beta toggle under the chatbot’s settings. It’s now available as a standard option in the dropdown under the GPT-4 model selector.
The feature matters since, by default, the popular chatbot has a knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, leaving it clueless about current events. “Browsing is particularly useful for tasks that require up-to-date information, such as helping you with technical research, trying to choose a bike, or planning a vacation,” the company posted on X (formerly Twitter) last month.
OpenAI
Meanwhile, DALL-E 3 is now available in beta settings for ChatGPT subscribers. While DALL-E 2 launched before ChatGPT and had a separate website, the new version is available within ChatGPT, preventing users from having to switch apps.
OpenAI said last month that DALL-E 3 is “significantly better” at grasping the user’s intent, especially with long and detailed prompts. The company says it’s better at rendering images, including hands (which many an AI image generator has struggled with). In addition, the tool lets you tweak results by entering follow-up queries in natural language. Unlike the previous version, the company says DALL-E 3 refuses attempts to mimic styles of living artists, helping it steer clear of potential lawsuits.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-live-web-browsing-exits-beta-dall-e-3-enters-beta-182303115.html?src=rss
Google is expanding a feature that allows Android users to add their state ID or driver’s license to Wallet. Starting today, folks in Arizona, Colorado and Georgia can store a digital version of their ID in the app. Google first enabled the option in Maryland in June. Apple also allows folks in certain locales to add a digital copy of their ID to Apple Wallet.
For now, you’ll be able to use a digital ID stored in Google Wallet at TSA PreCheck lines at select airports. Google plans to enable more ways to use the digital version of your ID later this year, such as for renting a car through an app. The idea is that the app will only gain access to necessary information, such as your name and driving eligibility.
Digital IDs that are added to Google Wallet are encrypted, so no one will have access to personal information stored there unless you choose to share it. Authentication such as a fingerprint unlock is needed to access the ID. You’ll also be able to select which information fields you share when you present your digital ID.
To add an ID issued by Arizona, Colorado, Georgia or Maryland to Google Wallet, your device will need to be running Android 8 or newer. First, open the Google Wallet app, tap the Add to Wallet button, select the ID Card option and choose the state that issued the ID. Then you’ll need to scan the ID and take a quick selfie video to verify that you’re the person to whom the ID belongs. Google will then authenticate your ID with the issuer.
If you lose your phone or someone steals it, you can delete your digital ID remotely via your Google account settings. You can also ask your state’s DMV to remove the ID from Google Wallet.
Meanwhile, it’s now possible to create a digital pass in Google Wallet by taking a photo or screenshot of any barcode or QR code. The aim is to let you add passes that Wallet doesn’t natively support, such as your library card or gym membership, to the app.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-users-in-arizona-colorado-and-georgia-can-now-add-state-ids-to-google-wallet-165536898.html?src=rss
Amazon is now offering drone prescription deliveries in College Station, TX. Customers will be eligible for aerial deliveries of “more than 500 medications” for common conditions like the flu, asthma and pneumonia. The home of Texas A&M has enjoyed Prime Air drone deliveries of (non-medical) Amazon shipments since 2022.
The company says medications will arrive within an hour of placing their order, and there won’t be an additional fee to use the service. The drones fly at 40 to 120 meters, an altitude Amazon says presents minimal obstacles.
After arriving at the customer’s home, the drone “slowly and safely” lowers itself to a delivery marker. Once the zone is clear, it sets down the package and flies back to its base. Amazon claims cameras and other sensors on the automated devices feed into a neural network that prevents the flying machines from colliding with people, pets and power lines. “Customers pick up packages without any interaction with the drone,” says Amazon.
Amazon
“We’re taught from the first days of medical school that there is a golden window that matters in clinical medicine,” Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer of Amazon Pharmacy, said in an announcement blog post published Wednesday. “That’s the time between when a patient feels unwell and when they’re able to get treatment. We’re working hard at Amazon to dramatically narrow the golden window from diagnosis to treatment, and drone delivery marks a significant step forward.”
Texas has established itself as a hotbed for early drone delivery trials. In addition to Amazon, Alphabet’s Wing began offering them in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — including via a partnership with Walmart. Amazon Prime Air also operates in Lockeford, CA. The company uses an upgraded drone model it debuted last year, which is lighter and can fly longer than its predecessor.
A report from earlier this year said Amazon had only made a handful of deliveries due to FAA regulations. In today’s announcement, Amazon said its drones “have safely delivered hundreds of household items in College Station since December 2022.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-now-offers-drone-deliveries-for-prescription-medications-in-texas-163730205.html?src=rss
At a time when misinformation is rife on many platforms and is arguably even incentivized in some cases, YouTube is doing more to try and direct users to reliable sources of news. The platform is doing so on two fronts.
First, YouTube is rolling out a dedicated, immersive hub for news. This page will pull together news from “authoritative sources” in several formats: video on demand, live streams, podcasts and Shorts. The aim, according to YouTube, is to help users learn more about a topic or story from several sources and angles and to make it easy for them to explore an issue in depth.
You can access the watch page for a topic or story by clicking on a relevant video that features a newspaper icon on the YouTube home page or in search results. YouTube is starting to roll it out on mobile in around 40 countries. The feature will eventually land on desktop and connected TV apps. “We believe this updated news experience will help viewers access a range of credible and diverse voices when they want to dive into a news topic,” Brandon Feldman, YouTube’s director of news and civics partnerships, and Geoff Samek, director of product management for news, wrote in a blog post.
In addition, YouTube has established a program to bolster news organizations’ ability to create short-form videos. The Shorts Innovation Program for News is designed to help those that already have a strong track record of publishing long-form news videos but perhaps need more resources and expertise to improve their Shorts offerings.
Initially, YouTube will split $1.6 million in funding between more than 20 news organizations in 10 countries. Over the next year, specialists will offer advice on Shorts content strategy and best practices to outlets such as Univision in the US, AFP in France and Mediacorp in Singapore.
“Now more than ever, we remain committed to connecting people to high-quality information they can trust, particularly in times of elections, unrest and natural disasters,” Feldman and Samek wrote. “In today’s digital news landscape, viewers are increasingly seeking out many different types of content, and we’re seeing newsrooms and journalists evolve to meet that need.”
Some notable platforms, such as Threads, are shying away from promoting news content in feeds. Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) is making it harder to find legitimate news on the platform. Practically anyone can be “verified” these days, not just notable public figures, which arguably makes impersonation more of a problem. Headlines and snippets no longer appear in link cards, while a recent decision to allow more newsworthy content that otherwise breaks the rules to remain on the platform could increase misinformation. On that note, the EU is investigating X over its handling of misinformation related to the Israel-Hamas war.
YouTube’s own record with handling misinformation has been spotty over the years. Along with this news initiative, it’s tackling that problem on other fronts, such as with an effort to clamp down on cancer misinformation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtubes-new-news-hub-directs-you-towards-reliable-sources-144326618.html?src=rss
Qualcomm is working with Google to develop a RISC-V platform that can power Wear OS devices. RISC-V is an open standard instruction set architecture (ISA), which Arm describes as “part of the abstract model of a computer that defines how the CPU is controlled by the software.” Since it’s open standard, it could lead to open-source chip designs and could lower the costs for companies that want to build their own chips. That means more companies entering the industry and more devices on the market, which could foster innovation and give rise to more affordable options.
Google came out in support of RISC-V earlier this year in hopes that it could compete on equal footing with Arm one day. However, the technology still has a long way to go to reach that status. According to Ars Technica, Qualcomm’s could be the first mass-market RISC-V Android chip ever, if all goes according to plan. As the publication notes, a RISC-V platform represents a big threat to Arm, whose CPU architecture dominates the smartphone industry. Things had been pretty unsteady for Arm over the past couple of years, with its parent company Softbank trying to sell it to NVIDIA until regulators stepped in and prevented the acquisition from happening. The company ended up registering for a US IPO instead and raised $4.87 billion in September.
In its announcement, the chipmaker said its RISC-V Snapdragon Wear platform will power the next generation of Wear OS devices. It’s planning to commercialize the technology for wearable products meant for global release, but it doesn’t have a launch date yet. Qualcomm said it has already started the new chip’s development and will be sharing more information about its timeline at a later date.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-reveals-its-making-a-risc-v-chip-for-android-wearables-124002464.html?src=rss
Amazon is integrating a new robotics system into its warehouses to improve delivery times, safety and general operations. The AI-powered technology, known as Sequoia, could improve the speed of finding and storing products by up to 75 percent and order fulfillment by up to 25 percent, the Wall Street Journal reports. The system was already introduced in one of Amazon’s Houston-based warehouses.
Sequoia involves vehicles transporting totes of products to a sorting machine. It uses robotic arms and computer vision to identify the inventory before sending it to employees for delivery. One of the safety claims is that this process provides workers with items at waist level, eliminating the need for them to reach for things on high shelves. Sequoia follows the 2022 warehouse introduction of Sparrow, an AI-powered robotic arm that can identify and move the products that remain after this step.
Despite naming safety as a motivator for Sequoia and Sparrow, Amazon’s record isn’t great in this area. A 2020 report from the Center for Investigative Reporting’s Reveal publication found that, between 2016 and 2019, Amazon employees working at automated warehouses sustained injuries at a rate double that of those not working alongside robots. The use of robots increased the number of items employees needed to scan from 100 to up to 400 per hour. It’s also unclear if Sequoia’s implementation will lead to layoffs.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-says-its-new-ai-powered-robots-reduce-fulfilment-time-by-25-percent-122517342.html?src=rss
Panasonic’s 25.2-megapixel Lumix G9 II arrived with a lot of fanfare, as it’s the company’s very first Micro Four Thirds camera with hybrid phase-detect autofocus. And from the first day of launch, Panasonic promoted it as the ultimate small-sensor wildlife and action camera, thanks to the hyper-fast 60 fps shooting speeds and relatively high resolution.
However, I (and others) noticed that it held a lot of promise for content creators, too. The superior hybrid AF is also better for video than past models and it offers up to 5.8K 60p video, 4K at 120p, incredible stabilization and even SSD ProRes capture. On paper, it’s superior to the company’s vlogging-dedicated GH6, though it lacks the latter’s fan and a few other minor features.
That gives the G9 II a bit of an identity crisis. Is it the ultimate content creator camera, an action shooter’s dream or the ultimate hybrid camera? To find out, I’ve got a retail camera with the final production firmware and RAW photo support.
Body
Physically, the G9 II is more like the full-frame S5 II than the six-year-old G9. Gone is the softer, rounded G9 design, in its place a more angular, hard-edged body. It’s relatively large for a Micro Four Thirds camera, weighing 658 grams (OM system’s OM-1 weighs 599 grams), though it has exactly the same heft as the original G9.
The design is more businesslike than pretty, but I like the practicality of it. The ridged grip is secure, and it has every control you need, including a joystick, front, back and rear control dials, a setting dial, shooting dial and numerous buttons. A few things have changed from the G9, as the dual dial on the left is now just a single shooting dial, the on/off switch is in a better location and it has a front shooting dial. This is now a template for Panasonic cameras, so if you’re used to models like the GH5, you’ll adapt quickly.
The menus are easy to use as well, but I wish it had a dedicated photo/video switch with separate controls. For instance, if you set V-log on video, that setting carries over to photos too – and you definitely don’t want that. To keep photos and video apart, you’ll need to employ one of the custom “C” dial settings.
The 1,840K dot LCD display fully articulates for vloggers and self-shooters, of course, and most controls are available by the touchscreen. It comes with a decent 3,680K dot OLED viewfinder that’s on par with other cameras in this price range, like Fujifilm’s X-T5. I’d prefer a little more EVF resolution on a flagship camera, particularly for bird shooting, but it’s not bad.
The G9 II uses the same battery as the S5 II, allowing for a middling 390 shots on a charge. Video endurance is better than the GH6, though, lasting nearly 100 minutes at 4K 60p.
A feature I didn’t expect is SSD recording. That lets you record high-bandwidth ProRes files to an external drive via the USB-C port. It does require some rigging, but is an amazing time saver, as you can edit the files directly with no transcoding needed. It also has a pair of SD UHS-II card slots, but no support for CFexpress like the GH6.
There’s a nice full-sized HDMI port, but the G9 II doesn’t yet support RAW video recording. You also get microphone and headphone jacks, along with a USB-C port that supports 10Gbps transfer speeds and fast PD charging.
Performance
Steve Dent for Engadget
With a new sensor and processor, the G9 II is a speed demon – but this is Panasonic’s first crack at phase-detect autofocus. That does show at times, via issues like occasional lag and an AI feature set lacking compared to rivals.
It can shoot RAW plus JPEG bursts with the mechanical shutter at up to 10 fps, or 60 fps in the SH60 electronic shutter mode with continuous autofocus. If you don’t need that kind of speed (and don’t want to fill the buffer up too rapidly), it also offers 20 fps bursts in electronic mode. Panasonic also introduced a pre-burst mode, which continuously cycles bursts through 1.5 seconds before you fully press the shutter – helping you catch a shot even if you’re a bit slow.
It has a large buffer that allows for over three second bursts at 60 fps and non-stop shooting with the mechanical shutter. However, it takes longer than other cameras to clear the buffer – up to a minute in some cases – due in part to the slowish SD ports. This can be quite annoying, as the camera effectively stops working while the buffer clears.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Still, that kind of speed is impressive – provided the autofocus can keep up. Luckily, the new phase-detect system on the G9 II is mostly up to the task. Shooting at 60fps with eye-detection enabled, the large majority of my shots were in focus with a subject running toward the camera.
It wasn’t quite as reliable for more distant subjects when using Panasonic’s new 200-800mm equivalent telephoto, and didn’t initially lock in as fast as I’d like. The eye detect autofocus, however, was generally reliable for both human and animal subjects. It lacks a specific setting for birds, but the system does seem to automatically switch between birds and deer, for instance, if you’re shooting in the woods.
It can also track motorcycles and cars, and though I didn’t test it on the former, it does a good job tracking vehicles. There’s no “auto” setting either like you’ll find on Canon’s latest models, so you have to go in and switch focus modes manually if you’re shooting a pet and its owner.
Steve Dent for Engadget
In other words, Panasonic is off to a good start but has a way to go to catch up to Sony’s ultra-reliable and more intelligent AF. I expect that to improve over time, though.
If you’re concerned about rolling shutter in electronic mode, don’t be. Readout speeds are fast for a non-stacked sensor, so skew and other issues aren’t an issue except in extreme situations like airplane propellers.
Panasonic has included the same in-body stabilization system as the GH6, so it can reduce shake by up to 8 stops, or 7.5 stops with ultra telephoto lenses. It’s very effective for shooting handheld, letting you grab photos at a quarter second or less with no blur.
Image quality
The G9 II has the same 25.2-megapixel resolution dual gain sensor as the GH6 but image quality for photos is better, with less noise at lower ISO levels.
With five extra megapixels over the original G9, it takes sharper shots and provides some extra detail over rivals like the OM-1 – letting you crop in a bit more. JPEG colors straight out of the camera look great and require little retouching.
The dual-gain sensor also makes it good in low light for a Micro Four Thirds Camera. Very little noise is visible up to ISO 1600, and it’s well managed beyond that up to about ISO 12,800, as long as you expose correctly. That said, it’s always better to have more light with a small-sensor camera, as noise levels can quickly get out of control, particularly with underexposed shots.
RAW files are relatively easy to edit and give you room to dial down highlights or bring up detail in shadows. Again, the small sensor puts it at a disadvantage to full-frame cameras in that regard, however, as more noise will appear at higher ISOs.
The G9 II now has a dynamic range boost function applied automatically. It uses both the high- and low-gain circuits, and combines them into one photo, HDR style. That helps boost dynamic range in bright sunlight and other tricky situations.
The handheld high-resolution mode, meanwhile, combines multiple images into a single 100-megapixel shot, with no tripod required. It works surprisingly well for shots like landscapes with limited movement, drastically boosting resolution. I did notice that the high-resolution JPEG files have an artificial look when you zoom in though, as if the camera is trying to add non-existent detail. For that reason, I’d suggest enabling RAW when using the feature.
Finally, Panasonic took a page from Fujifilm with a new black and white color profile called Leica Monochrome. It was developed in partnership with Leica, obviously, and features brighter highlights and more contrast. It’s easily the nicest photo “look” setting I’ve seen on any Panasonic camera (it’s great for black and white video, too).
Video
Steve Dent for Engadget
Panasonic might not want to hear this, but if I was a content creator looking for a Micro Four Thirds camera, I’d purchase this model over the like-priced GH6.
Yes, the GH6 has a few advantages. It can capture ProRes video directly to CFexpress cards, while you need to rig up an SSD to do the same on the G9 II. It also has a fan that allows unlimited video recording, so it is better for event videographers. Finally, you can output RAW video to an external recorder.
Aside from that, the G9 holds its own. Both can capture 5.7K at up to 60fps, or 120p 4K, and the G9 II supports 10-bit V-Log recording and 4K internal capture with high data rates and easy-to-edit I-frame files, exactly like the GH6. And you can do high-bandwidth ProRes recording via the USB-C port – again, just like the GH6.
The lack of a fan limits the G9 II’s recording times, but not substantially. 4K and 5.7K recording times are effectively unlimited at 30 and 60 fps. Even 4K at 120fps can go over 20 minutes, and few users would ever need that.
And the G9 II does things the GH6 can’t. The phase-detect AF is clearly superior for video, eliminating wobble and focusing much quicker (though the same AF caveats for photography apply). It also has a lower 500 ISO floor for dynamic range-boosted V-log recording, compared to ISO 2,000 for the GH6. That makes it more practical to shoot in sunlight, where the benefits of log and dual-gain are greatest.
Steve Dent for Engadget
As with the GH6, stabilization is excellent for video, though Sony’s ZV-E1 is a touch better. Boost Mode provides near-tripod levels of smoothness for static shots only. Turning on E-Stabilization eliminates the need for a gimbal in some cases (though the electronic IBS on Sony’s ZV-E1 is a hair better). That mode also corrects warping at the edges with wide-angle lenses, a first for mirrorless cameras. As a content creator myself, the stabilization alone would make me reach for the G9 II instead of potentially more capable cameras like Canon’s R6 II – because I know I can capture great footage without a tripod.
4K video is oversampled and thus very sharp, though the cropped 4K 120p is a bit softer. Dynamic range is outstanding in V-log mode, so it’s easy to adjust later, especially at the base ISO 500. Colors are natural, and low-light capability is solid for a small-sensor camera thanks to the dual gain system. So video quality-wise, I have no complaints.
That said, there are a few handy content creator features found on Sony and Canon cameras missing here, like Sony’s dedicated product showcase and focus breathing compensation.
Wrap-up
Steve Dent for Engadget
With all that, the $1,900 G9 II is one of the most capable hybrid cameras I’ve seen. The handling, speed and improved autofocus make it a compelling option for wildlife photographers. But the excellent video capabilities and quality makes it a great choice for content creators as well.
Panasonic’s main competition on the photography side is the $2,000 OM-1. The G9 II has more resolution, but the OM-1 has a faster stacked sensor. For photos, either is a good choice, depending on what you need. However, the G9 II is far superior for video.
On the content creation side, Sony’s $2,200 ZV-E1 is a clear rival, and is a touch better for vloggers. Panasonic’s own GH6, currently discounted to $1,700, is another option. However, neither of those models can touch the G9 II on the photography side. Perhaps the best fully hybrid alternative would be Fujifilm’s X-H2, as it offers both speed and video chops, but it costs $600 more. All told, if you’re someone who tends to do both photography and video, the G9 II is a great choice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/panasonic-g9-ii-review-its-best-micro-four-thirds-camera-to-date-120020562.html?src=rss
After weeks of speculation, X has confirmed it will charge new users for the service previously known as Twitter. The company shared details about a new subscription called Not a Bot, which it’s currently testing in New Zealand and the Philippines. The subscription requires new users to pay the equivalent of $1 USD per year to post. “As of October 17, 2023, we’ve started testing Not A Bot, a new subscription method for new users in two countries,” X explained.
X
X also announced major changes to its crowd-sourced fact-checking tool, to stem the flow of misinformation. The company now requires volunteer contributors to include sources on every community note they write. X announced the change after Wired reported that some community notes contributors are worried the tool is being manipulated by bad actors, worsening X’s misinformation problems amid the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. European Union officials have already raised concerns, pointing to the viral spread of video game footage and other unrelated content falsely claiming to depict scenes from the conflict.
Following Musk’s purchase of Twitter, now X, the company cut the teams responsible for curating reputable information about breaking news events, removed misinformation-reporting tools and slashed safety team staffing. Requiring a linked source may be X’s attempt to increase the quality of its notes, but there are still no guidelines about the types of sources that can be cited.
— Mat Smith
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The Netflix Cup will pair up the stars ofFormula 1: Drive to Survive and Full Swing.
Netflix is getting into live sports streaming, but it’s not shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars on NFL games, Formula 1 races or the English Premier League quite yet. It’s cheaping out on hosting a pro-am golf tournament with athletes from its Formula 1: Drive to Survive and Full Swing docuseries. You can watch the event starting at 6PM ET on Tuesday, November 14 — just a few days before F1’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Netflix’s first livestreamed event was a Chris Rock standup special, which it edited lightly after the live broadcast. The company ran into technical problems with its second planned livestream, a Love is Blind cast reunion, instead filming the reunion then uploading it.
Apple has unveiled a new Apple Pencil for $79 and will be available in early November. It pairs and charges with a USB-C cable and is compatible with every iPad that has USB-C. While it’s the company’s most budget-friendly Apple Pencil yet ($20 less than the original model and $40 cheaper than the second-gen Pencil), there’s no pressure sensitivity this time, so it’s aimed at early-stage artists and sketchers. This is Apple’s latest step in its transition away from the Lightning port, which was largely prompted by European Union rules. What’s next, the Magic Trackpad?
It didn’t say when the login solution will be available for other devices.
WhatsApp just made logging in a much simpler and faster process, at least on Android devices. The Meta-owned app has launched passkey support for Android, which means users no longer have to use OTPs from two-factor authentication to log into their account. Passkeys are a relatively new login technology designed to be resistant to phishing attacks and password leaks. They’re made up of cryptographic pairs comprising one public key and one private key, which lives on the user’s device. The services that support passkeys don’t have access to that private key, and it also can’t be written down or given away.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-x-starts-charging-new-users-1-per-year-to-send-tweets-111548967.html?src=rss
Tesla is now attempting to gauge the tiredness of its drivers through a new feature rolling out called “Driver Drowsiness Warning.” It uses the cabin-facing camera — built to ensure the driver was watching the road and not on their phone — to gauge facial characteristics of drowsiness, such as the frequency of yawns and blinks. Rumors of the new feature first circulated in May when a Tesla hacker, known as Green, found indications of drowsiness tracking in Tesla’s software.
In action, the Driver Drowsiness Warning tool looks at both facial characteristics and driving behavior. An alert will appear on the touchscreen in the cards area, and an internal alarm will sound if the system records indications of tiredness. Drivers can choose to disable the feature by navigating to Controls and then Safety. Though, unless it’s constantly beeping anytime the car moves from the direct center of a lane, there is little reason to do so.
In any case, the Driver Drowsiness Warning should automatically turn back on during a new drive. However, the feature only activates when the car goes over 40 miles per hour and if Autopilot is not switched on. Even if an alert occurs, the warning system will deactivate if the car drops below that minimum speed. Tesla includes the usual disclaimer in its announcement, cautioning drivers that it’s their “responsibility” to stay alert and focused on the road ahead.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teslas-new-driver-drowsiness-warning-feature-counts-yawns-and-blinks-105500510.html?src=rss
BMW’s North American EV customers should have an easier time finding charging stations in the future. The company has announced it’s adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for all its battery-powered EVs in the United States and Canada. The changeover should be official beginning in early 2025.
The rollout coincides with all BMW and Rolls-Royce EVs built with a Combined Charging System (CCS) getting access to specific Tesla Supercharger stations. “With six fully electric BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce models now available in the US market, and more to come, it is our top priority to ensure that our drivers have easy access to reliable, fast charging,” Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO, BMW of North America, said in a statement. “This agreement is the latest in our longstanding and continued effort to expand charging options for our customers as we continue on the road to electrification.”
BMW was one of the last car manufacturers in the region which had yet to adopt the NACS. The company follows Ford, General Motors and Volvo — among others — who have recently made the change. Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda are all still holdouts, though the latter two have been in talks with Tesla about making the shift.
In July, BMW announced a joint venture with six other car manufacturers — including General Motors and Honda — to build a minimum of 30,000 charging stations in urban areas and highways. They should each offer compatibility with the CCS and the NACS. The joint venture plans to start rolling out locations across the US in early 2024 and in Canada at a later point.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bmw-becomes-the-latest-car-maker-to-adopt-teslas-ev-charging-standard-094519794.html?src=rss
Fans planning to see the Pokémon exhibit at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam may want to take note that they can no longer purchase the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat promo card from its gift shop. The museum has updated the exhibit FAQ to notify visitors that it has removed the limited edition card from its offerings to ensure that they can enjoy their day “in a safe and enjoyable manner.” It explained that it had to make “the difficult decision” after “a small group of individuals… created an undesirable situation.” The museum didn’t elaborate beyond that, but as Polygon reports, people descended upon the museum’s gift shop when the exhibit opened in September.
Based on the videos that came out, pandemonium broke out at the shop as visitors fought over merchandise to buy. A good chunk of the buyers may have been scalpers, as well, seeing as there’s now a bunch of the Van Gogh-style Pikachu cards being sold on eBay.
The Pokémon account on X announced right after the exhibit opening that the franchise merchandise sold at the Van Gogh museum had sold out. In a newer announcement, it said that fans shopping at Pokémon Center in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada will soon receive one of the limited edition Pikachu cards with their trading card orders worth at least $30, at least until supplies last. The card will also be sold through participating retailers in the Netherlands early next year, but it won’t be sold at the museum gift shop again. That said, the Van Gogh-inspired Pokémon paintings will remain available for viewing until the exhibit leaves the museum on January 7, 2024.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/van-gogh-museum-pulls-its-pokemon-promo-card-after-opening-day-chaos-083349757.html?src=rss
It looks like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) truly was working on a free TurboTax alternative like earlier reports had claimed. The US tax authority has announced that it will start pilot testing its new Direct File program for the 2024 filing season, though it will initially be available for select taxpayers in 13 states only. During its pilot period, Direct File will only cover individual federal tax returns and won’t have the capability to prepare people’s state returns. That’s why 9 out of the 13 states testing it — namely Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — don’t levy state income taxes.
Arizona, California, Massachusetts and New York, the other four states in the list, worked with the IRS to integrate their state taxes into the Direct File system for 2024. The IRS says it invited all states to join the pilot program, but not all of them were in a position to participate “at this time.” In addition to being only available in certain locations, Direct File will only be accessible by people with “relatively simple returns” at the beginning. It will cover W-2 wages and tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, for instance, but it will not cover self-employment income and itemized deductions. However, the agency is still finalizing the tax scope for the pilot, so it could still change over the coming months.
Based on the screenshots the IRS shared with The Washington Post, taxpayers will only have to answer a questionnaire to be able to file their taxes directly, simplifying the process without having to pay for a third-party service. An IRS official told the publication that select eligible taxpayers in the aforementioned states will start getting invitations to use the service sometime around mid-February next year. The agency says it will begin with a small group of taxpayers before expanding access to more and more people as the filing season for the 2023 federal tax return progresses.
“This is a critical step forward for this innovative effort that will test the feasibility of providing taxpayers a new option to file their returns for free directly with the IRS,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement. “In this limited pilot for 2024, we’ll be working closely with the states that have agreed to participate in an important test run of the state integration. This will help us gather important information about the future direction of the Direct File program.”
The IRS is hoping to gather data and feedback during the pilot to be able to analyze how effective Direct File is. It’s also hoping to identify areas of improvement for a “potential large-scale launch in the future.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/irs-will-start-piloting-its-free-turbotax-alternative-in-2024-065553528.html?src=rss
After weeks of speculation, X has confirmed its plans to charge new users for the service previously known as Twitter. The company shared details about a new subscription called “Not a Bot,” that it’s currently testing in New Zealand and the Philippines.
The subscription, which was first reported byFortune, requires new users to pay the equivalent of $1 USD per year in order to be able to post. “As of October 17th, 2023 we’ve started testing ‘Not A Bot,’ a new subscription method for new users in two countries,” X explains. “This new test was developed to bolster our already significant efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity. This will evaluate a potentially powerful measure to help us combat bots and spammers on X, while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount.”
Under the scheme, new users will be required to verify their phone numbers and pay the $1 fee if they want to use core features like tweets, retweets, bookmarks and likes. Those who who don’t pay will only be able to use X in a “read only” mode.
The company said that for now the fees will not apply to existing users. “It is not a profit driver,” X said.
Starting today, we’re testing a new program (Not A Bot) in New Zealand and the Philippines. New, unverified accounts will be required to sign up for a $1 annual subscription to be able to post & interact with other posts. Within this test, existing users are not affected.
However, the initial test will likely fuel speculation that X does plan to one day charge all users. During a livestreamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month, Elon Musk suggested he was considering some kind of mandatory payment as part of an effort to combat bots and spam.
“Subscription options have proven to be the main solution that works at scale,” X said in a post from its support account. Musk’s earlier comments proved unpopular and on X rival Bluesky saw a surge in activity following the remarks.
Others have also reported that Musk has long had ambitions to gain access to users’ credit card and billing information, which would further his plan to bring banking and other financial services to X. According to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, Musk’s push to sign-up subscribers was very much intertwined with his quest to build an “everything app,” and Musk grew angry when he learned Apple doesn’t share credit card details of those who sign up with their iPhones.
X didn’t respond to a request for comment.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-is-starting-to-charge-new-users-1-per-year-to-send-tweets-000925191.html?src=rss
X is making a significant change to its crowd-soruced fact checking tool in an attempt to stem the flow of misinformation on its platform. The new rule is one that will be familiar to professional fact checkers, academics and Wikipedia editors, but is nonetheless new to X’s approach to fact-checking: the company will now require its volunteer contributors to include sources on every community note they write.
The company announced the change in a post on X, shortly after Wiredreported that some community notes contributors are worried the tool is being manipulated by bad actors and worsening X’s misinformation problems amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “Starting today, sources are now required for proposed notes,” the company wrote. “We haven’t previously required this, as some helpful notes inherently do not need sources – for example, they refer to details of the post or media it contains. But those instances are less common, and we believe the overall impact of this change will be positive.”
The change comes amid mounting scrutiny of the amount of misinformation and other falsehoods spreading on X in recent days. Longtime researchers have said that misinformation has reached new heights following Hamas’ attacks in Israel and the ensuing war. The advent of paid verification, and algorithm changes that boost paying subscribers, have allowed misinformation to spread relatively unchecked, researchers have said.
Notes that cite sources have a much higher likelihood of earning a ‘Helpful’ status. This is not surprising, as sources make notes more easily verifiable by viewers and raters. Starting today, sources are now required for proposed notes.
European Union officials have also raised concerns, pointing to the viral spread of video game footage and other unrelated content falsely claiming to depict scenes from the ongoing conflict. EU officials opened an investigation into X over its handling of misinformation last week.
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, X cut the teams responsible for curating reputable information about breaking news events, removed misinformation-reporting tools, slashed safety teams that patrolled for disinformation, and stopped labeling state-affiliated media accounts. Instead, the company has relied almost entirely on Community Notes, which allows volunteer contributors to append fact-checks to individual tweets.
Contributors are not vetted before joining the program, though notes have to reach a certain threshold of “helpful” ratings from other contributors before they’ll be visible. X CEO Linda Yaccarino told EU officials last week that the company had “recently launched a major acceleration in the speed at which notes appear.”
According to Wired, the system is easily manipulated as groups of contributors can rate each other’s notes, or selectively rate contributions that align with their opinions. The report also says that community notes related to the Israel-Hamas war have been filled with conspiracy theories and infighting between contributors.
The change to require a linked source may be X’s attempt to increase the quality of its notes, though it doesn’t seem to have any guidelines about the types of sources that can be cited. The company says “thousands” of new contributors have joined the program in recent days, and that notes have been viewed “millions” of times.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-now-requires-community-fact-checks-to-include-sources-235125787.html?src=rss
We still have months to wait before Dune: Part Two hits theaters, so what better time to reminisce about David Lynch’s intriguing adaptation of Frank Herbert’s masterpiece? Reviled at the time, Lynch’s Dune has now firmly established itself as a cult sci-fi epic, a film with boundless creative energy hampered by studio interference.
In this bonus episode, Devindra chats with film journalist Max Evry, author of A Masterpiece in Disarray: David Lynch’s Dune. We explore why he devoted two years of his life towards researching an unloved film, as well as how it’s a refreshing departure from the superhero films dominating theaters today.
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 podcast, Engadget News!
Credits Host: Devindra Hardawar Guest: Max Evry Music: Dale North
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-podcast-max-evry-on-his-oral-history-of-david-lynchs-dune-195809003.html?src=rss
Politicians and awkward SNL hosts have long-relied on the humble teleprompter to get their lines out, and now there’s a device that lets the rest of us get in on the mealy-mouthed fun. The Elgato Prompter is basically a shrunken-down teleprompter, complete with a scrolling display, side hoods to minimize unwanted ambient lighting and simple connectors that attach to an external camera, built-in webcam or just about anywhere else.
Unlike other prompters on the market, you don’t need your own tablet or phone, thanks to a built-in screen and the company’s proprietary Camera Hub software. Once activated, the device not only displays video scripts, but also mirrors any window or app via a simple drag and drop. This lets you see both the script and live feeds from chat participants at the same time, all while looking directly into the camera. It’s a bona fide cornucopia of human social cues.
Of course, you aren’t relegated to live feeds from fellow chat participants. You can drag and drop anything to the Prompter, with Elgato suggesting that users place a window of “the big match” so people can sneak glances during those endless work meetings. We would never, however, recommend such a blatant display of truancy.
The Prompter is an Elgato product, so it offers some deep integration with the recently-discounted Stream Deck. There’s a plugin for the device that offers control and adjustment options at the touch of a button, all of which should come in handy for livestreamers and YouTubers looking for that perfect take. To that end, Elgato says it built the device to be the “true all-in-one solution for content creators.”
Elgato, which is owned by noted peripheral manufacturer Corsair, says the Prompter integrates with more webcams, cameras and smartphones than any other similar device on the market, so you likely won’t need to buy additional hardware to use it. If you’re worried, there’s a list of supported cameras and devices right here.
Setup seems simple enough, with included attachment clips and a stand, interchangeable backplates and a single USB connection to both power the device and transfer data. The Elgato Prompter is available right now and costs $280.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elgatos-new-teleprompter-is-designed-for-streamers-184546932.html?src=rss
On Tuesday, Microsoft announced a slew of accessibility updates for Xbox players on consoles and PCs. These include keyboard key remapping using controllers, easier-to-get-to accessibility shortcuts and a new section in the Microsoft Store. In a reminder that inclusive design can help everyone, one of the new features will let anyone set up a new controller without getting up to press a pair button on the console.
Wireless controller pairing no longer requires direct console contact. “From the comfort of a couch, wheelchair, hospital bed, etc., players can now put their console into pairing mode using an Xbox media remote, digital assistant voice command, or previously paired controller to connect a new controller to their console,” the company wrote today in a blog post. An official online support document walks you through the setup steps.
Microsoft also announced that “almost 90 keyboard keys” will soon be remappable to the Xbox Adaptive Controller and Elite Series 2 controllers. The idea is to make it easier for people with disabilities to play games that only support mouse / keyboard input. One example the company provides is reprogramming the left bumper to Ctrl+C for copying text.
In addition, the company is simplifying the steps to view options from the Xbox Accessibility menu. Beginning on October 19, the Xbox Game Bar on Windows will let you jump to accessibility settings via widgets. “In the updated Xbox widgets, you’ll find both visual and audio-related accessibility controls to customize your PC gaming experience according to your preferences and needs,” Microsoft wrote. Once the feature launches, you’ll get to the accessibility options via the settings button for “any of the new Xbox widgets in Game Bar.”
Finding accessibility-friendly games is about to get easier, too. The Xbox store now has a channel devoted to Accessibility in Games, featuring every title with corresponding feature tags. The labeling feature launched in 2021 and spread to the Windows app and web store earlier this year.
Finally, Microsoft shared the video below highlighting how the Adaptive Gaming program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, CO, is empowering players with disabilities to rekindle their love of gaming.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/latest-xbox-accessibility-features-include-controller-pairing-without-touching-the-console-183558285.html?src=rss
