**Google settles California lawsuit over its location-privacy practices**
Google will pay $93 million in a settlement (https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-announces-93-million-settlement-regarding-google%E2%80%99s) it reached with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, resolving allegations that the company’s location-privacy practices violated the state’s consumer protection laws. The California Department of Justice claimed that Google was “collecting, storing, and using their location data” for consumer advertising purposes without informed consent.
The complaint alleges that Google continued to collect consumer data related to a user’s location even when a user turned the “location history” feature off. The company settled similar lawsuits in Arizona (https://www.engadget.com/google-arizona-user-tracking-suit-85-million-191649436.html) and Washington last year (https://www.engadget.com/google-washington-dc-ag-location-tracking-settlement-192244812.html) for illegally tracking consumers.
In addition to paying $93 million, Google agreed to “deter future misconduct.” This settlement, which won’t really hurt Google’s deep pockets, is important because the tech giant generates the majority of its revenue from advertising and location-based advertising is a critical feature of its advertising platform.
Moving forward, the California AG is asking Google to provide additional transparency about location tracking by providing users with detailed information about location data it collects. The company must also provide disclaimers to users that their location information may be used for ad personalization.
Engadget reached out to Google for comment but didn't receive a response.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-settles-california-lawsuit-over-its-location-privacy-practices-190859183.html?src=rss
**Apple will release software update to address iPhone 12 radiation concerns**
Apple is prepping a software update to address alleged radiation concerns regarding the three-year-old iPhone 12s after French regulators alleged that the phone exceeds proper radiation levels. France stopped selling the smartphones after recommendations from the country’s radiation watchdog (ANFR), but Cupertino denies the allegations and seems to place the onus on the European nation’s testing protocols, as reported by _Reuters._ (https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-implement-iphone-12-update-next-few-days-france-minister-2023-09-15/)
To that end, Apple has reiterated that this isn’t a safety concern and notes that the phone was certified by multiple international bodies as compliant with global radiation standards. The software update won’t adjust radiation levels, as that would be a hardware issue, but it will “accommodate the protocol used by French regulators.” So it looks like Apple thinks the software patch will be enough to allow the iPhone 12s to sail through future radiation tests, saying it looks forward “to the iPhone 12 continuing to be available in France.”
France did change its regulations back in 2020. It added consideration for extremities, like hands, when testing for radiation levels and the rate of radio-frequency energy absorbed by the body by using a particular piece of equipment. This is called the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR.) During the country's recently-instituted SAR tests, regulators found that the iPhone 12s exceeded normal levels of energy absorption when holding the phone, despite acing the test when considering the head and body.
Belgium and Denmark have both come to Apple’s aid here, with Belgian minister for digitalization, Mathieu Michel, saying that local tests were “reassuring” and recommending against a suspension on sales. Denmark’s Safety Authority followed suit, suggesting it had no concerns regarding iPhone 12s radiation levels. Industry experts have also weighed in, stating that the findings indicated no risk of burns or heatstroke emanating from the phone’s radiation.
France says Apple’s software fix should be adequate and that they’ll resume testing as soon as it arrives, which was spelled out in a French press release unearthed by _TechCrunch._ (https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/15/apple-to-release-software-update-for-iphone-12-to-solve-radiation-concerns/?tpcc=tcplustwitter&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGMAHMsRIettdH1mkWFaZX7KSbbCEB3DbbSL6LexPhz3XfxnHzKgdP0-I0qi6wQWbKsFLjTrcEeDRE6EPwzBtugYfMSl8FkonMh9mx_PiVvUIZKy6gmm67R8S2jb6M9Q9vb8MoqgCW2GWCWb5n3e9TC2E4fDdBtOxu_69mWnt1w8) Apple regularly drops software updates for its iPhones, so it should show up in the near future. In the meantime, the company’s focusing its energy away from the three-year-old iPhone 12 and onto the new hotness that is the iPhone 15. (https://www.engadget.com/apples-iphone-15-has-a-48-megapixel-camera-and-the-dynamic-island-174520662.html)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-will-release-software-update-to-address-iphone-12-radiation-concerns-173345891.html?src=rss
**Amazon Prime members can save 61 percent on a Blink camera bundle**
Amazon Prime members can save big on security cameras today. The retailer has a bundle (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL0JsaW5rLURvb3JiZWxsLXNlY3VyaXR5LVR3by15ZWFyLWRldGVjdGlvbi9kcC9CMEJXRkwzSFcyP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC1vLTRtei0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZDQ5OGYzY2UtNzM3Yi00MDBiLWI0NTktZDk0NTYwYmE4ZTZkIn0&signature=AQAAAUVptR0bkYLbkD_o8LpRpTkejfy2G6hST93rT1CN89tt&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBlink-Doorbell-security-Two-year-detection%2Fdp%2FB0BWFL3HW2) including the Blink Video Doorbell and three Blink Outdoor 4 (https://www.engadget.com/blinks-outdoor-4-security-camera-offers-sharper-video-day-and-night-140100728.html) security cameras for 61 percent off. Usually $424.95, you can pick up the four-camera collection for $164.98.
You can connect the Blink Video Doorbell to your existing in-home chime or use it wirelessly. The device records in 1080p during the day and infrared at night. It supports two-way audio so you can hear and talk with whoever shows up on your front step.
Meanwhile, wireless Blink Outdoor cameras (https://www.engadget.com/blinks-outdoor-4-security-camera-offers-sharper-video-day-and-night-140100728.html) can alert you to motion or people in your yard, allowing you to check in from your phone or Alexa devices. The outdoor cameras have a 143-degree field of view and on-device computer vision to help with nighttime recording. The Outdoor 4 also supports two-way audio.
Each camera in the bundle uses two AA batteries (included), which Amazon estimates will last up to two years. The collection also ships with four mounting kits and the Sync Module 2, a hub that connects the cameras to your Wi-Fi network. You can bring your own USB drive for local storage or subscribe to a Blink Subscription Plan ($3/month or $30/year) for cloud storage. You can choose between black or white options for the cameras, although there's no mixing and matching colors within the bundle: It’s all one or the other.
The deal only lasts through the end of today, wrapping up at midnight PST. Remember that you'll need a Prime membership to take advantage of the deal. If you don’t have one already, you can subscribe (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5hbWF6b24uY29tL2FtYXpvbnByaW1lP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC1vLTRtei0yMCIsImNvbnRlbnRVdWlkIjoiZDQ5OGYzY2UtNzM3Yi00MDBiLWI0NTktZDk0NTYwYmE4ZTZkIn0&signature=AQAAAQPIKEaskZuPZvrEanevK6QjWDO8nBucJka81UOoKYlO&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Famazonprime) for $15/month or $139 / year.
_Follow__@EngadgetDeals_ (https://twitter.com/EngadgetDeals) _on Twitter and__subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter_ (https://subscription.yahoo.net/Newsletter/Preference/sub?b=engadgetdeals&src) _for the latest tech deals and buying advice._
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-members-can-save-61-percent-on-a-blink-camera-bundle-170504326.html?src=rss
**Uber starts offering flight bookings in the UK**
Uber has started offering domestic and international flight bookings in the UK and will continue rolling it out across the whole region over the coming weeks, according to the _Financial Times_ (https://www.ft.com/content/0acdb9bd-2ec9-4050-891a-e5d6b60d1d94). The company's general manager for the UK, Andrew Brem, told the publication that this is "the latest and most ambitious step" it has taken to achieve its goal to become a wider travel booking platform.
Uber first revealed (https://www.engadget.com/uber-plans-to-add-trains-coaches-and-flight-bookings-to-its-app-in-the-uk-120521257.html) its plans to add train, bus and flight bookings to its UK app in April last year and launched (https://www.engadget.com/uber-tests-train-and-bus-bookings-in-the-uk-omio-091509352.html) the first two options a few months later. Brem said train bookings have been "incredibly popular" so far and have grown 40 percent every month since they became available, though he didn't give the _Times_ concrete ticket sales numbers.
For its flights, the company has teamed up with travel booking agency Hopper. The _Times_ says Uber will take a small commission from each sale and could add a booking fee on top of its offerings in the future. It's unclear how much the company's cut actually is, but it charges its partner drivers 25 percent (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=2cd8d8eb-701c-4377-94c5-920a8345ffac&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Uber&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiIyY2Q4ZDhlYi03MDFjLTQzNzctOTRjNS05MjBhODM0NWZmYWMiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudWJlci5jb20vZ2gvZW4vZHJpdmUvYmFzaWNzL3RyYWNraW5nLXlvdXItZWFybmluZ3MvIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiJkYzg4NTVlYS03ZDQ1LTQ4NDYtOGRlZC0xMjhlNjk3MjA5NzUifQ&signature=AQAAAbGrXf_WRWP9pCW-c9vtptznEqzUr0pmtF0BxL0w4S4u&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uber.com%2Fgh%2Fen%2Fdrive%2Fbasics%2Ftracking-your-earnings%2F) on all fares. As the _Times_ notes, offering flight bookings could also help grow Uber's main ride-hailing business even further, since users are likely to book rides to and from the airport (https://www.engadget.com/uber-expands-airport-reservation-service-globally-100029895.html) through the service, as well.
Although flight bookings are only available in the UK at the moment, the region — one of its biggest markets outside North America — only serves as a testing ground for Uber's plans. Brem told the publication that the company is hoping to expand flight offerings to more countries in the future, but it has no solid plans yet. Uber did offer $200 chopper rides (https://www.engadget.com/2019-06-06-uber-helicopter-nyc.html) in the US back in 2019, but that service was discontinued in the midst of pandemic-related lockdowns.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-starts-offering-flight-bookings-in-the-uk-074558236.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/uber-starts-offering-flight-bookings-in-the-uk-074558236.html?src=rss
**Twitter is going to purge and archive inactive accounts**
"\[Y\]ou will probably see follower count drop," Twitter owner Elon Musk has warned the website's users, because the company is purging accounts that has "had no activity at all" for several years. Musk's announcement was quite vague, so we'll have to wait for Twitter to announce more specific rules, such as how long "several years" actually is.
> We’re purging accounts that have had no activity at all for several years, so you will probably see follower count drop
>
> — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 8, 2023 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1655608985058267139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
His announcement also comes after he reportedly threatened to reassign NPR's handle (https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-reportedly-threatened-to-reassign-nprs-twitter-account-due-to-inactivity-050040503.html) on the website due to inactivity. According to the media organization, the executive sent one of its reporters an unprompted email that reads: "So is NPR going to start posting on Twitter again, or should we reassign @NPR to another company?" NPR left the social network (https://www.engadget.com/npr-is-ditching-twitter-over-government-funded-media-label-on-its-main-account-155556726.html) after it was labeled "state-affiliated media" along with state-run outlets like Russia's RT. Musk apparently told NPR in their email exchange that Twitter's policy is to "recycle handles that are definitively dormant" and that "same policy applies to all accounts." It's worth noting that it's been less than a month since NPR quit Twitter and that it definitely hasn't been "several years" yet.
At the moment, though, the website has yet to update its inactive account policy page (https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/inactive-twitter-accounts), which only states that users need to log in every 30 days to keep their account active. That part of the policy is pretty new, because Twitter had only required users to log in every six months as recently as April 19th (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/05/twitter-starts-purging-inactive-accounts-after-quiet-policy-change/). Twitter's policy still also states that it "cannot release inactive usernames at this time," but Musk hinted in a follow-up tweet that the company will be changing that rule. "\[I\]t is important to free up abandoned handles," he wrote.
When urged to rethink his decision, because killing inactive accounts will also delete tweets by deceased users, Musk responded that their accounts will be archived. What that means exactly remains to be seen.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitter-is-going-to-purge-and-archive-inactive-accounts-101557246.html?src=rss
**Elon Musk says Twitter will introduce per-article charging in May**
Twitter might provide publishers with a new way to earn from their content outside of the typical recurring subscription option. According to company chief Elon Musk, Twitter will allow (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1652349875017879552) media publishers to charge users for access to individual articles they post on the website as as soon as next month. Users will end up paying a higher per-article price than what the cost of access to every article would amount to if they had a subscription instead. But Musk said it's for those who want to read the occasional story from a specific outlet, so each article probably wouldn't cost as much as a monthly subscription.
> Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click.
>
> This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article.…
>
> — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2023 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1652349875017879552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
At this point in time, though, details about the upcoming feature remain vague. Musk only said that it will start rolling out next month — it's unclear what kinds of accounts and media outlets will be able to offer per-article charging. In addition, Twitter's owner didn't say how much the website would be taking as commission. When the company officially replaced Super Follows with Subscriptions, Musk announced that it won't be taking any money (https://www.engadget.com/twitter-replaces-super-follows-with-subscriptions-203711756.html) from creators for the next 12 months. After the year is up, Twitter will be taking a 10 percent cut (https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-take-10-cut-content-subscriptions-after-12-months-2023-04-28/) on subscriptions.
Engadget has reached out to the website for clarification, but it doesn't have a press team anymore. We'll have to wait for more information to know if Twitter will implement the same rule for per-article payments. Ultimately, the company will be taking a cut — Twitter, under Musk, has been introducing more and more paid features to boost revenue. It's pretty common knowledge at this point that its verification badge now comes as a perk for its $8-a-month Blue subscription (https://www.engadget.com/twitter-blue-subscriptions-are-now-available-worldwide-211835305.html). Twitter also shut down its free API to launch a new one that users would have to pay for. It would cost enterprise customers almost $50,000 a month to access the new API, so some organizations and companies such as NYC's transport authority (https://www.engadget.com/nycs-transport-authority-will-no-longer-post-service-alerts-on-twitter-051701441.html) had chosen to end Twitter integration (https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-removes-twitter-from-its-social-media-tool-for-advertisers-051717547.html) or to leave the website instead.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-says-twitter-will-introduce-per-article-charging-in-may-230739305.html?src=rss
**Venmo now lets you send crypto to other users for some reason**
Paypal-owned money transfer service Venmo dipped its toes into cryptocurrencies in 2021 after opening up an in-app trading platform. (https://www.engadget.com/venmo-crypto-trading-app-100001103.html) That was just for individuals to buy or sell crypto. Now, the company is going further into the once-heralded digital currency space by allowing users to send crypto directly (https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2023-04-28-Introducing-Crypto-Transfers-for-Venmo-Customers) to other Venmo customers.
This looks to be Venmo’s attempt to simplify the often-confusing task of sending crypto to other people. To that end, the company says this feat is easily accomplished in a “few simple steps.” Just head to the Crypto tab, tap the transfer arrow and follow the prompts. Venmo’s new platform also lets you send currency to Paypal handles and any external crypto wallet. You can also tap Receive to display a QR code that’s embedded with your unique crypto address.
This does seem much easier than rival platforms, but this is crypto, so there is a major caveat. These transfers are not protected in any way, shape or form. They cannot be canceled or reversed, so triple-check the Venmo handle or wallet address before slapping that send button. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
More details on the actual transfer process are found here (https://help.venmo.com/hc/en-us/articles/16145303480595) and Venmo says the update will begin rolling out to users in the next week, but this is a tiered update, so it could be until the end of May before everyone has access to the feature. This tool will not be available in Hawaii and New York and it only pertains to cryptocurrencies available for purchase on Venmo, like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
Despite the public’s love affair with crypto starting to cool down (https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-world-of-cryptocurrency-continues-to-wobble-111526550.html), Venmo says that its trading platform has seen steady growth. It boasts that nearly 75 percent of crypto customers have held onto their funds since 2021 and that 50 percent have expanded their balance since the beginning of 2023.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/venmo-now-lets-you-send-crypto-to-other-users-for-some-reason-192015694.html?src=rss
**Walmart's suppliers would rather negotiate with AI than a human**
Never mind using AI to write stories (https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-is-suddenly-everywhere-are-we-ready-180031821.html) — Walmart is finding it helpful for landing a good bargain. The retailer tells (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-26/walmart-uses-pactum-ai-tools-to-handle-vendor-negotiations?sref=10lNAhZ9) _Bloomberg_ that it's using a chatbot from Pactum AI to automatically negotiate some supplier deals. The technology is not only saving (https://hbr.org/2022/11/how-walmart-automated-supplier-negotiations) an average of three percent on contracts, but preferable to the vendors. Three out of four suppliers prefer haggling with the AI over a human, Walmart says.
Pactum's system just asks Walmart to set its budget and requirements, such as discounts and payment terms. It compares a supplier's demands with trends, commodity values and competitors' costs. After that, the AI can strike a deal within a matter of days, rather than the weeks or months of conventional talks. Walmart first piloted the tool in Canada, but has since expanded its use to the US, Chile and South Africa.
The AI is currently negotiating only for shopping carts and other store essentials, rather than the products you find on the shelves. It's also not completely replacing humans. At present, Pactum's tech is mainly being used for savings in contracts that aren't necessarily worth much time. The bot still has to negotiate with a real person, so completely automated discussions aren't any option in the near future. This is more to lighten the load of busy procurement teams than to avoid hiring.
That might not reassure people worried about their jobs. The reliance on AI comes right as many companies are conducting mass layoffs (https://www.engadget.com/big-tech-layoffs-183005386.html) to endure a rough economy. Chatbots like this can help Walmart and others minimize the effects of job cuts and hiring freezes. Moreover, Walmart has spent years experimenting with robots (https://www.engadget.com/walmart-automated-fulfillment-centers-132500980.html) that could reduce the need for staff. Humans aren't going away any time soon, but the company isn't depending on them as much as in the past.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/walmarts-suppliers-would-rather-negotiate-with-ai-than-a-human-162131831.html?src=rss
**Sony WH-CH720N review: Budget-friendly headphones with premium sound**
Sony has a great track record when it comes to budget headphones. The company’s WH-CH710N (https://www.engadget.com/2020-04-01-sony-wh-ch710n-headphones-announced-price-specs-availability.html) were excellent, but overpriced initially. Sony made them an incredible value at $150 after it cut the price shortly after their debut in 2020. Great sound quality, capable ANC, good battery life and a comfy fit made the WH-CH710N a compelling, affordable alternative to the premium WH-1000XM3 (https://www.engadget.com/2018-09-18-sony-1000xm3-review.html), which was the company’s flagship model at the time. Earlier this year, the company debuted the follow-up (https://www.engadget.com/sonys-new-midrange-headphones-borrow-the-premium-wh-1000xm5s-v1-chip-173338347.html) to that three-year-old set: the WH-CH720N (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9Tb255LVdILUNINzIwTi1DYW5jZWxpbmctSGVhZHBob25lcy1NaWNyb3Bob25lL2RwL0IwQlMxUUNGSFgvP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC1vLXYwLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI1MmYzNWY5OC1jN2FjLTQ4MTctYTVmYS03NWQzYzNhZjliN2QifQ&signature=AQAAAUP0ioUlPwdnkQyTavC6vmJpmXsPPls5tUiwAIrGUODa&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSony-WH-CH720N-Canceling-Headphones-Microphone%2Fdp%2FB0BS1QCFHX%2F).
On paper, the 2023 edition should keep Sony’s reputation for solid mid-range and budget headphones as alternatives to the pricey WH-1000XM5 (https://www.engadget.com/sony-wh-1000xm5-review-160045478.html). The WH-CH720N houses the same V1 chip from the M5, which powers both active noise cancellation (ANC) and overall sound quality. There’s also an updated design and a lower price following another early cut ($130), but battery life remains the same at 35 hours. So, is the WH-CH720N another mid-range hit for Sony?
Let’s start with the design. The WH-CH720N takes cues from Sony’s more recent 1000X headphones and the WH-XB910N (https://www.engadget.com/sony-wh-xb910n-anc-headphones-best-price-134525061.html), primarily the headband and ear cup hinges. The outside of the ear cups are flatter and they’re just hard plastic – no soft-touch material here. Like previous mid-range Sony models, the WH-CH720N has physical controls with a power/pairing button on the left beside the USB-C charging port and 3.5mm jack. On the right side, there’s a dedicated noise canceling button that cycles between ANC and transparency mode. There’s also the typical three-button array with volume controls flanking the multi-function track and call button. That center control also summons your preferred voice assistant. While the buttons work reliably, the raised dash on the middle button is low, so it’s difficult to place your thumb quickly.
Like the WH-CH710N, this new model is supremely lightweight and comfy. I can easily wear these for hours at a time. There’s also ample cushioning in the ear pads and the headband hinge isn’t wound so tight it pinches my head. I liked a lot of what the 710N had to offer, but overall comfort was near the top of the list, so it’s great to see that Sony didn’t overlook this aspect when designing the follow-up version. The only real issue is that it uses _a lot_ of plastic. While this helps keep the weight down, it also ensures the 720N look decidedly cheap.
The suite of features for the WH-CH720N inside the Sony Headphones app is where you’ll notice key differences from the WH-1000XM5. Most notably, the 720N doesn’t have Speak-to-Chat, a feature that automatically pauses audio when it detects you’re talking. Related, this new model also doesn’t have automatic pausing when you take them off your head.
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-04/1ee40cc1-e55b-11ed-b5ff-f790b59d3fb2
Photo by Billy Steele/Engadget
Despite a few omissions, there are still some handy tools available. First, Adaptive Sound Control allows the app to automatically adjust settings based on your location or activity. This allows you to turn on ANC when you arrive at the office or activate transparency mode when you start a run, for example. Here, and in the general sound settings, you can specify a level of ambient sound and choose to pipe in voices while this mode is active.
Additionally, Sony offers an EQ slider for manual adjustments as well as a separate bass adjustment. There’s also a collection of audio presets if you’re in a hurry. 360 Reality Audio is available on the WH-CH720N (with a compatible streaming subscription) and the app gives you the option of DSEE upscaling to improve compressed content. The app also allows you to activate multipoint Bluetooth for two devices and a Safe Listening feature is there to help preserve …
https://www.engadget.com/sony-wh-ch720n-review-160032871.html?src=rss
**OnePlus Tab review: Solid hardware that's let down by Android**
I really thought we were done with Android tablets. Google itself hasn’t released one in years, though that’ll change soon with the forthcoming Pixel Tablet. Samsung has hit on a high-end formula that works pretty well, Amazon’s cheap Fire tablets _technically_ run Android… and that’s basically it. Plenty of manufacturers have tried, but for various reasons Android tablets have never caught on.
Despite that market reality, OnePlus is taking its first shot at this market with the $479 OnePlus Pad. As the price hints, OnePlus isn’t going right after high-end tablets like Samsung’s Galaxy S8 lineup or Apple’s iPad Air or Pro. Instead, this tablet reminds me more of Apple’s 10th-generation iPad, in style, substance and price. And the fact that OnePlus is also making a keyboard folio and a stylus shows they’re serious about making a tablet built for more than just watching movies or browsing the web. But while OnePlus made a lovely piece of hardware, Android’s large-screen limitations continue to hamper the overall experience.
Hardware
The OnePlus Tab makes a great first impression. That starts with its striking metallic green color and subtle rounded brushing of the metal that surrounds the centered camera bump on the tablet’s back. I’m a little surprised that OnePlus isn’t offering the Tab in a more generic color like black or silver, but the green makes it stand out a bit without being something most people will object to.
Despite having a relatively large, 11.6-inch display, it’s light and easy to hold with one hand. That’s due in part to the tiny 6.7mm bezel surrounding the display. That’s slightly thinner than the one on my 11-inch iPad Pro and noticeably thinner than the one on the current Air or 10th-generation iPad. OnePlus used a rather unusual screen ratio here, 7:5, but I definitely prefer that over the 16:9 ratio so common on other devices. Movies and shows will have more noticeable black bars, but everything else benefits from more vertical screen real estate.
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-04/074b48a1-e51d-11ed-abfe-6e0b373abc9f
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget
Besides the screen, there’s nothing else of note on the front of the Pad aside from the landscape-oriented 8-megapixel camera for video chat. On the sides, you’ll notice the power button and two volume buttons, a USB-C port and four speakers. As with most successful tablet designs, it’s a screen-first device that is light and easy to hold, which is probably the most important thing.
There’s a lot to like about the OnePlus Tab’s screen besides just the size. OnePlus says it’s a Dolby Vision panel with HDR, and its 2,800 x 2,000 resolution works out to 296 pixels per inch. Even though it’s an LCD, lacking the extreme contrast ratios you’ll find on OLED or mini-LED panels, it’s still an extremely bright and vibrant display, whether you’re looking through photos, watching a movie or playing games. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate, though most apps max out at 120Hz. Still, that’s better than any iPad in this price range.
The four-speaker system is also much better than I expected, given the Tab’s svelte profile. It can get surprisingly loud, pumping out enough volume for watching movies on your own or with a friend. But more importantly than just the level, the sound is clear and balanced. You’ll still likely want to opt for headphones during any more serious listening session, but these speakers definitely do the job in a pinch.
On the inside is MediaTek’s Dimensity 9000, a Cortex-X2 processor which runs at 3.05 GHz; that’s paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Accessories
Unsurprisingly, OnePlus made a keyboard folio and stylus to go along with the Tab.Also unsurprisingly, the tablet isn’t bundled with either, so you’ll need to shell out extra cash to complete your rig. The $149 keyboard includes a trackpad and connects directly to the Tab via pogo pins, so it doesn’t need its own power or a Bluetooth connection. It’s thin and attaches easily to the Tab without adding any significant weight or bulk, which is a nice change of pace from the comfortable but heavy Magic Keyboard that goes along with my iPad Pro.
The keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag, though. On the plus side, it’s just big enough to be comfortable to type on for extended periods of time. Like the keyboard on the similarly-sized iPad Air or Pro, there’s a little learning curve, but the keys are a good size and have decent travel. The space key was a lot less reliable than I hoped, though (apologies to my editor who had to fix the numerous missing spaces in this draft). The trackpad, on the other hand, was a bit more problematic. It wasn’t great at rejecting input from the edge of my hands, so it often moved the cursor randomly around as I was typing this review. It was incredibly frustrating and al…
**Steam now lets you pin to-do lists in each game**
Everyone loves a good to-do list, and now they're spreading into PC games. Along with a slew of other new features, Steam's latest update includes an integrated Notes app (https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/3686801719529689368) as part of a re-vamped in-game overlay tool. It lets you write thoughts and tasks down about the game you're playing then runs on top of the game while you play, which you can access across any PC you log into and when playing offline.
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-04/35270b40-e5a1-11ed-93c3-d9ab8281b5fa
Valve
At any time you can pin the to-do list right to your gaming screen, adjusting its opacity based on your preferences. Guides, discussions and whatever is on your browser (even the show you're watching) can also be clipped to the game.
Steam's other updates to the in-game overlay include a revamped toolbar and overview. The new toolbar has everything from chat to guides, customizable depending on fields you want to see and in either icon or list mode. The game overview will fill you in on information like accomplishment progress, friends' game play and news about that title.
Notifications have also cleaned up a bit with less interruptions of things unrelated to you. The tray will only display newest notifications, but you can still view all if you want. The last in-game Steam update (https://www.engadget.com/steam-will-drop-support-for-windows-7-and-windows-8-on-january-1st-2024-152437694.html) is for screenshots, allowing you to choose between large and small thumbnails, while also sorting screenshots by most recent, instead of per game.
These features are only available through the Steam Client Beta (https://www.engadget.com/2019-10-21-steam-remote-play-together-beta.html) at the moment, but if you’ve never opted into the Beta version before, it’s pretty simple. All you need to do is go to settings (it will be called preferences if you're on a Mac), click the change button where it says Beta Participation in the Accounts tab and choose Steam Beta Update. Once you restart Steam, the Beta features will become visible.
Valve asserts that a lot of its recent work has gone towards improving code sharing between Steam Desktop Client, Deck and Big Picture mode (https://www.engadget.com/2012-12-03-steams-big-picture-mode-makes-playing-mac-games-on-tv-more-cons.html). The company claims this should allow future features to roll out quicker across the different platforms.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/steam-now-lets-you-pin-to-do-lists-in-each-game-102547041.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/steam-now-lets-you-pin-to-do-lists-in-each-game-102547041.html?src=rss
**The best cameras for 2023**
It’s a strange and wonderful time to buy a camera. Since smartphones have gutted the casual photography market, manufacturers are focusing on building technological marvels designed for very specific uses. Mirrorless cameras continue to improve in terms of autofocus, video and more. Action cams provide sharp, fluid video, compact cameras are targeted to both tourists and vloggers, and DSLRs are available at some of the best prices we’ve seen. With so much choice, though, you may need some guidance to find just the right camera – and that’s where we come in. Whether you’re a creator looking for just the right vlogging camera, an aspiring wildlife photographer or an adrenaline sports junkie, we’ll help you find the perfect model to match your budget and needs.
What to consider before choosing a camera
There are a lot of reasons to choose a camera over a smartphone. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Where smartphones have one f/stop, cameras have many, which gives you more exposure control. You also get natural and not AI-generated bokeh, quicker shooting, a physical shutter, more professional video results and so on.
With that extra quality comes a lot of extra factors to consider, however. The first thing is sensor size. In general, the larger the sensor size, the better (and usually more expensive) the camera.
Full frame is available on models like Sony's new ZV-E1, the Canon EOS R6 II and Panasonic S5 II. At a size equivalent to 35mm film (36 x 24mm), it offers the best performance in terms of image quality, low-light capability and depth of field. It's also the most expensive and finicky. While bokeh looks incredible at f/1.4, the depth of field is so razor thin that your subject's nose might be in focus but not their eyes. This can also make video shooting difficult.
The next size category is APS-C (around 23.5 x 15.6mm for most models and 22.2 x 14.8mm for Canon), offered on Fujifilm's X Series lineup, Canon’s R10 and R50 and the Nikon Z50. It's cheaper than full frame, both for the camera body and lenses, but still brings most of the advantages like decent bokeh, high ISOs for low-light shooting and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size the same as movie cameras, it's ideal for shooting video, and it’s easier to hold focus than with full-frame cameras.
Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13mm), a format shared by Panasonic and Olympus, is the next step down in sensor size. It offers less bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C and full frame, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, you can still get reasonably tight depth of field with good prime lenses, but focus is easier to control.
The other common sensor size is Type 1 (1 inch), which is actually smaller than one inch at 12.7 x 9.5mm. That's used mostly by compact models like Sony’s ZV-1 vlogging camera. Finally, action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 and DJI’s Osmo 3 have even smaller sensors (1/1.9 and 1/1.7 size, respectively).
For photographers, another key factor is autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy. Most modern mirrorless cameras have hybrid phase-detect AF systems that allow for rapid focus and fast burst speeds. The majority also feature AI smarts like eye-detect AF for people and animals. However, some models are just a bit faster and more reactive than others.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display are also key. The best models have the sharpest and brightest EVFs that let you best judge a shot before taking it. For things like street photography, it’s best to have as bright and sharp a rear display as possible. You may also want a screen that flips out rather than just tilting.
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras let you change lenses, but you're stuck with what's built into a compact camera. While that's great for portability, a single lens means you're going to sacrifice something. Fujifilm's X100V, for instance, has a fast but fixed 35mm-equivalent f/2.0 lens and no zoom. Sony's RX100 V has a 24-70mm zoom, but it's slower at the telephoto end (f/2.8) and less sharp than a prime lens.
When it comes to video, there are other factors to consider. Does your camera do “pixel-binning” for video recording or read out the entire sensor? Better cameras tend to do the latter. Another key factor is sensor speed, as slower sensors tend to have more rolling shutter that can create a “jello” effect that skews video.
In addition, how’s the battery life? How do you like the handling and feel? How long can you shoot video before the camera heats up or stops? Does it support 10-bit HDR video? Is there a microphone and/or a headphone jack? (if you do a lot of interviews, it's preferable to have both.) How's the video autofocus? All of these things play a part in your decision – so now let’s take a look at the best models.
The best camerasBest mirrorle…
https://www.engadget.com/best-cameras-151524327.html?src=rss
**Facebook is still growing amid Meta’s ‘year of efficiency’**
Mark Zuckerberg’s “year of efficiency” doesn’t seem to be affecting Facebook’s growth. Meta’s social network added 37 million users during the first quarter (https://s21.q4cdn.com/399680738/files/doc_financials/2023/q1/Meta-03-31-2023-Exhibit-99-1-FINAL-v2.pdf) of the year, bringing total daily users up to 2.037 billion. Meanwhile, the number of daily users across the company’s “family of apps” rose to over 3 billion users for the first time in company history.
The company reported the growth in its first-quarter earnings report for 2023, the first since Zuckerberg announced the company was focusing on “efficiency” amid an economic downturn that has led the company to shed (https://www.engadget.com/meta-begins-its-latest-round-of-layoffs-145019127.html) thousands of jobs. That shift seems to be showing some signs of success, as Meta reported $28.6 billion in revenue for the quarter, up 3 percent from last year and the first revenue growth in nearly a year for Meta.
Despite the boost, though, Zuckerberg confirmed that more layoffs are still scheduled to take place next month. “Even as our financial position improves, I continue to believe that slowing hiring, flattening our management structure, increasing the percent of our company that is technical and more rigorously prioritizing projects will improve the speed and quality of our work,” he said during a call with analysts.
Reality Labs also continues to take major losses, losing just under $4 billion for the quarter. That’s a bit less than the $4.3 billion the company lost last quarter, but Meta has said it expects 2023 losses for its metaverse division to top the $14.3 billion it lost last year.
During the call, Zuckerberg said the company is still prioritizing its massive investment in the metaverse, even as it increasingly turns its attention to generative AI. “A narrative has developed that we're moving away from focusing on the metaverse vision,” Zuckerberg said. “So I just want to say upfront that that's not accurate. We've been focusing on both AI and the metaverse for years now, and we will continue to focus on both.” He added that the company was preparing to launch its “next-generation consumer virtual and mixed reality device” later in the year.
Meta’s CEO also talked more about his plan to create “AI agents” (https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-working-on-ai-personas-for-instagram-messenger-and-whatsapp-223316961.html) and other generative AI tools for the company’s apps. “I think that there's an opportunity to introduce AI agents to billions of people in ways that will be useful and meaningful. We're exploring chat experiences in WhatsApp and messenger, visual creation tools for posts on Facebook and Instagram and ads, and, over time, video and multimodal experiences as well.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at
**Hitting the Books: We'd likely have to liquidate Jupiter to build a Dyson Sphere around the Sun**
The gargantuan artificial construct enveloping your local star is going to be rather difficult to miss, even from a few light years away. And given the literally astronomical costs of resources needed to construct such a device — the still-theoretical-for-humans Dyson Sphere (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.131.3414.1667) — having one in your solar system will also serve as a stark warning of your technological capacity to ETs that comes sniffing around.
Or at least that's how 20th century astronomers like Nikolai Kardashev and Carl Sagan envisioned our potential Sol-spanning distant future going. Turns out, a whole lot of how we predict intelligences from outside our planet will behave is heavily influenced by humanity's own cultural and historical biases. In _The Possibility of Life_ (https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&featureId=text-link&merchantName=Amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsInN0b3JlSWQiOiI2NmVhNTY3YS1jOTg3LTRjMmUtYTJmZi0wMjkwNGVmZGU2ZWEiLCJsYW5kaW5nVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYW1hem9uLmNvbS9Qb3NzaWJpbGl0eS1MaWZlLVNjaWVuY2UtSW1hZ2luYXRpb24tS2luc2hpcC9kcC8xMzM1NDYzNTQyP3RhZz1nZGd0MGMtcC1vLXRvLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiIwOThhOWJhZi05NWZmLTQ2YTAtYWM0NS01OWI3YzA2OTkxYzQifQ&signature=AQAAAavNYKkgIgxpr1fBmiGAOBzjdznBFtYQip9XYpBrH1ej&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPossibility-Life-Science-Imagination-Kinship%2Fdp%2F1335463542) _,_ science journalist Jaime Green examines humanity's intriguing history of looking to the stars and finding ourselves reflected in them.
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-04/13a225f0-dd71-11ed-9fff-686b3a867039
Harper Collins Publishing
Excerpted from _The Possibility of Life_ (https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-possibility-of-life-jaime-green) by Jaime Green, Copyright © 2023 by Jaime Green. Published by Hanover Square Press.
* * *
On a Scale of One to Three
The way we imagine human progress — technology, advancement — seems inextricable from human culture. Superiority is marked by fast ships, colonial spread, or the acquisition of knowledge that fuels mastery of the physical world. Even in _Star Trek_, the post-poverty, post-conflict Earth is rarely the setting. Instead we spend our time on a ship speeding faster than light, sometimes solving philosophical quandaries, but often enough defeating foes. The future is bigger, faster, stronger — and in space.
Astronomer Nikolai Kardashev led the USSR’s first SETI initiatives in the early 1960s, and he believed that the galaxy might be home to civilizations billions of years more advanced than ours. Imagining these civilizations was part of the project of searching for them. So in 1964, Kardashev came up with a system for classifying a civilization’s level of technological advancement.
The Kardashev scale, as it’s called, is pretty simple: a Type I civilization makes use of all the energy available on or from its planet. A Type II civilization uses all the energy from its star. A Type III civilization harnesses the energy of its entire galaxy.
What’s less simple is how a civilization gets to any of those milestones. These leaps, in case it’s not clear, are massive. On Earth we’re currently grappling with how dangerous it is to try to use all the energy sources on our planet, especially those that burn. (So we’re not even a Type I civilization, more like a Type Three-quarters.) A careful journey toward Type I would involve taking advantage of all the sunlight falling on a planet from its star, but that’s just one billionth or so of a star’s total energy output. A Type II civilization would be harnessing all of it.
It’s not just that a Type II civilization would have to be massive enough to make use of all that energy, they’d also have to figure out how to capture it. The most common imagining for this is called a Dyson sphere, a massive shell or swarm of satellites surrounding the star to capture and convert all its energy. If you wanted enough material to build such a thing, you’d essentially have to disassemble a planet, and not just a small one — more like Jupiter. And then a Type III civilization would be doing that, too, but for all the stars in its galaxy (and maybe doing some fancy stuff to suck energy off the black hole at the galaxy’s core).
On the one hand, these imaginings are about as close to culturally agnostic as we can get: they require no alien personalities, no sociology, just the consumption of progressively more power, to be put to use however the aliens might like. But the Kardashev scale still rests on assumptions that are baked into so many of our visions of advanced aliens (and Earth’s own future as well). This view conflates advancement not only with technology but with growth, with always needing more p…
**Ubisoft is bringing ‘Far Cry 6’ and three other recent games to Steam**
Ubisoft is about to bring another handful of games to Steam in the coming months. As spotted by _PC Gamer_ (https://www.pcgamer.com/four-more-ubisoft-games-are-headed-to-steam-this-summer/), _Far Cry 6_, _Riders Republic_, _Rainbow Six Extraction_ and _Monopoly Madness_ will arrive on the storefront on May 11th, June 8th, June 15th and June 22nd, respectively. On PC, all four games are currently only available through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft’s own Connect marketplace.
Following a three-year absence from the platform, Ubisoft began releasing its games on Steam again (https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-steam-assassins-creed-valhalla-204102571.html) in the winter of 2022. The first batch of titles included _Assassin’s Creed Valhalla_ and _Anno 1800_. At the start of 2023, the company then released _The Division 2_ and _Watch Dogs: Legion,_ among a handful of other titles that were previously unavailable on Steam. When Ubisoft left the storefront in 2019, it said the decision led to pre-orders for _The Division 2_increasing by six times (https://www.engadget.com/2019-02-15-ubisoft-steam-epic-division-two-sales.html) on its own storefront (where Ubisoft did not have to pay Valve’s up to 30 percent cut of sales). As for the company’s decision to return to Steam, Ubisoft has only said it’s “constantly evaluating how to bring our games to different audiences wherever they are,” a statement that suggests the size of Valve’s userbase may outweigh the value of sharing a smaller portion of sales with a partner like Epic.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-is-bringing-far-cry-6-and-three-other-recent-games-to-steam-204545630.html?src=rss
**Tesla wins lawsuit over Autopilot Model S crash**
This week, Tesla defeated a lawsuit that blamed the company’s Autopilot for a 2019 crash, reports _Reuters_ (https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-jury-set-decide-test-case-tesla-autopilot-crash-2023-04-21/). On Friday, a California state court jury found the driver assistance software was not to blame for a Model S crash that left the driver of the vehicle with a fractured jaw, missing teeth and nerve damage. Justine Hsu sued Tesla in 2020 after her EV swerved into a center median on a Los Angeles city street while Autopilot was engaged. She sought more than $3 million in damages, alleging defects in the software and the design of Tesla’s airbags.
Tesla denied liability for the accident. It argued Hsu used Autopilot on a city street, a practice the company warns against in the software’s user manual. The jury awarded Hsu no damages and said the automaker did not intentionally fail to disclose facts about Autopilot. As _Reuters_ notes, it’s believed the trial is among the first involving the driver assistance mode. While the result won’t be “legally binding in other cases,” it is expected to inform how lawyers tackle future incidents involving the technology.
The result of the case is also unlikely to ease the scrutiny Tesla already faces related to its claims around Autopilot and “Full Self-Driving” software. At the start of the year, the automaker confirmed the US Department of Justice had requested documents (https://www.engadget.com/justice-department-tesla-autopilot-full-self-driving-subpoena-165637940.html) linked to the two features. The company is also under investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for Autopilot collisions involving parked emergency vehicles (https://www.engadget.com/nhtsa-expands-probe-tesla-collisions-stationary-emergency-vehicles-093514999.html).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-wins-lawsuit-over-autopilot-model-s-crash-185405972.html?src=rss
https://www.engadget.com/tesla-wins-lawsuit-over-autopilot-model-s-crash-185405972.html?src=rss