Engadget

31.10.2024 13:10 Dating apps are a constant battle to find just one person that you might click with for more than a few meet ups. Unfortunately, so much of the experience focuses on physical appearance rather than learning much about the other person — a dynamic that is hard to overcome on an app. Bumble is making the latest attempt to do so by allowing users to search for matches based on their interests. Users can access the new tool by clicking "narrow your search" and then "advanced filters." Then they can choose "filter by your interests." Each user can only include up to five interests on their profile, so there's a risk of someone not having picked a mutual interest even if they do like it — and Bumble just added over 30 new options. But, at the same time, people can't click all of them in hopes of connecting, rather than actually being interested in the same thing. Plus, there's an option to see other people if potential options run out. In general, most topics are pretty light, like memes, tacos and traveling. There are some interests that shed a slightly deeper look on the other person, like mindfulness, slow living and therapy. Either way, they're not getting a full peak into the other person's soul, but at least it's more than just a pretty face? Bumble is also expanding its Opening Moves feature, which launched in April of this year, and allows people to set a specific question every one of their matches can reply to, rather than thinking of a new first message each time. Now, people can add up to three Opening Moves for matches to respond to and they can be images with captions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/bumble-now-lets-you-sort-matches-by-interests-120014909.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 13:10 Finally, a color Kindle. Amazon, the dominant force in ereaders, finally brought color eink to its series of devices — and we’ve reviewed it. The Kindle Colorsoft is a solid premium ereader, ideal for readers of comics and graphic novels. The company has upgraded page-turn speed and a handy pinch-to-zoom function makes it easier to fully enjoy detailed images. But at $280, it’s expensive. More expensive, even, than rival color ereaders. However, it’s hard to argue against the convenience and ubiquity of the Kindle ecosystem. The library is seemingly endless , supplemented by Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited. If you’re tempted, check out our detailed review and comparisons with other ereaders. — Mat Smith Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! The biggest tech stories you missed Election 2024: How will the candidates regulate AI? X’s Community Notes feature has one job, and it’s failing to do it Meta AI has more than 500 million users DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review Finally, a worthy GoPro rival. Engadget With the Action 5 Pro, DJI finally has a worthy rival to GoPro and Insta360 action cam. With excellent battery life and solid image quality, the only drawback is slightly less-sharp video. However, if low-light performance is key, head straight for the Action 5 Pro. DJI’s new action cam costs $350, while the Hero 13 Pro and Insta360’s Ace Pro 2 are $400. The DJI beats both in battery life and is on par with its rivals when it comes to stabilization. Continue reading. Apple’s MacBook Pros get an M4 upgrade, including the new M4 Max chip They also feature slightly brighter screens and better webcams. Following the 24-inch iMac, then the adorable new Mac mini, Apple is also bringing its M4 chips to the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro too. And, in addition to the base M4 chip and the M4 Pro, they can also be configured with the newly announced M4 Max. Alongside the internal spec boost, the new MacBook Pros have slightly brighter screens, which can reach up to 1,000 nits of SDR brightness , and there’s also a nano-texture display option, which drastically reduces glare for people working in very bright environments or direct sunlight. Continue reading. Nothing's first community-designed smartphone glows in the dark That perfect Halloween announcement. Nothing It doesn’t go bump in the night, but it does glow. Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111538190.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 13:10 You basically have three options for watching live TV at home: Hook up a digital antenna, pay for a cable subscription or sign up for a live TV streaming service. The content you get through a digital antenna is free, but limited to your local broadcast networks . Cable has historically been more expensive than live streaming services, though the gap is narrowing as nearly every streamer has raised its rates in the past year. But unlike cable, you don’t have to enter into a contract when you sign up for Fubo, Philo, Hulu + Live TV or any of the streaming services we cover — plus, you don’t need a cable box, just a smart TV and an internet connection.Watching live sports is probably the biggest reason people opt for a live TV streaming service, but those who want lots of options for live news and enjoy flipping through a linear stream of shows and movies will also appreciate what these subscriptions offer. Of course, which one is best for you depends on what you want to watch. I tried out all of the major players — including a few free options — to come up with the best live TV streaming services for every type of cord-cutter out there to help you choose. Table of contents Best live TV streaming services for 2024 Best free live TV streaming services for 2024 What to look for in a live TV streaming service How we tested Live TV Streaming FAQs Recent updates Best live TV streaming services for 2024 Back to top Best free live TV streaming services for 2024 Many standard streaming apps have added live components to their lineups. You’re paying for the service, so it’s not technically “free,” but you can get a dose of live TV without spending more than necessary. Peacock includes some regional NBC stations, which also includes access to the Olympic Games. Paramount+ subscribers can watch on-air CBS programming. The standard Hulu app has a live ABC news channel and Max now includes a live CNN outlet with its service. The smart TV operating system you use likely provides free live content too: Amazon’s Fire TV interface has a live tab and Roku’s built-in Roku Channel includes hundreds of live channels at no extra cost. The same goes for Samsung TV Plus, which recently added a trove of K-dramas to its free live and on-demand lineup. The PBS app offers local live streams of its channels — even NASA has a free streaming service with live coverage. But if you want a full suite of live TV networks, and don’t want to sign up for any paid service, there are a number of free ad-supported TV services that have live TV. Here's the best of what we tried: Back to top What to look for in a live TV streaming service How to stream live TV Streaming live TV is a lot like using Netflix. You get access through apps on your phone, tablet, smart TV or streaming device and the signal arrives over the internet. A faster and more stable connection tends to give you a better experience. Most live TV apps require you to sign up and pay via a web browser. After that, you can activate the app on all of your devices. Monthly Price When I started testing these cord-cutting alternatives, I was struck by the price difference between live TV and a standard video streaming app. Where the latter cost between $5 and $20 per month, most live TV services hit the $80 mark and can go higher than $200 with additional perks, channel packages and premium extras. The higher starting price is mostly due to the cost of providing multiple networks — particularly sports and local stations. And, in the past year or so, every service except Sling has raised base plan prices. Local channels Only two of the services I tried don’t include full local channel coverage for subscribers and one of those makes no effort to carry sports at all. That would be Philo and, as you might guess, it’s the cheapest. The next most affordable option, Sling, only carries three local stations — and only in larger markets — but it still manages to include some of the top sports channels. When you sign up with any provider that handles local TV, you’ll enter your zip code, ensuring you get your area’s broadcast affiliates for ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC. Of course, you can also get those stations for free. Nearly all modern television sets support a radio frequency connection, also known as the coaxial port, which means if you buy an HD antenna, you’ll receive locally broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, PBS, FOX and NBC. And since the signal is digital, reception is much improved over the staticky rabbit-ears era. Live sports coverage One reality that spun my head was the sheer number and iterations of sports networks in existence. Trying to figure out which network will carry the match-up you want to see can be tricky. I found that Google makes it a little easier for sports fans by listing out upcoming games . When you click an event, the “TV streaming” button will tell you which network is covering it. That just leaves figuring out if your chosen service carries the RSNs you want. Unfortunately, even with add-ons and extra packages, some providers simply don’t have certain channels in their lineups. It would take a lawyer to understand the ins and outs of streaming rights negotiations, and networks leave and return to live TV carriers all the time. That said, most major sporting events in the US are covered by ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT, USA and local affiliates. I should also point out that traditional streaming services have started adding live sports to their lineups. Peacock carries live Premier League matches, Sunday Night Football games and aired the Olympic Games from Paris this summer. Thursday Night Football is on Amazon Prime and Christmas Day Football is coming to Netflix. Max now airs select, regular season games from the NHL, MLB, NCAA and NBA with a $10-per-month add-on. You can watch MLS games with an add-on through the Apple TV app, and Apple TV+ includes some MLB games. If you subscribe to Paramount Plus, you can see many of the matches you’d see on CBS Sports, including live NFL games. Roku just added a free sports channel to its lineup. And a new upcoming sports streaming service called Venu is a joint venture between ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery and will cost $43 per month. Even taken all together, these options may not cover as much ground as live TV streamers, but they could scratch a small sports itch without too much added cost. Traditional cable networks Dozens of linear programming networks were once only available with cable TV, like Bravo, BET, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Lifetime, SYFY and MTV. If you only subscribe to, say, Netflix or Apple TV+, you won’t have access to those. But as with sports, standard streamers are starting to incorporate this content into their offerings. After the Warner Bros. merger, Max incorporated some content from HGTV, Discovery and TLC. Peacock has Bravo and Hallmark shows, and Paramount+ has material from Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central. Other channels like AMC+ have stand-alone apps. The Discovery+ app gives you 15 channels add-free for $9 per month . And a service called Frndly TV starts at a mere $7 per month and streams A&E, Lifetime, Game Show Network, Outdoor Channel and about 35 others. Of course, most live TV streaming options will deliver more sizable lists of cable networks, but just note that you may already be paying for some of them — and if all you need is a certain channel, you could get it cheaper by subscribing directly. On-demand streaming Most live TV subscriptions include access to a selection of video-on-demand content, like you would get with a traditional streaming service. Much of this content is made up of the movies and TV series that have recently aired on your subscribed networks. This typically doesn’t cover live events and news programming, but I was able to watch specific episodes of ongoing shows like Top Chef or BET’s Diarra from Detroit. Just search the on-demand library for the program, pick an episode and hit play. Partnerships, like Hulu’s relationship with Disney, and add-ons, such as bundling Max with your YouTube TV subscription or Starz with your Sling plan, will let you watch even larger libraries of on-demand content. But again, if VOD is all you’re after, paying for those networks directly instead of through a live TV plan will be far cheaper. Digital video recordings limits Every option I tried offers some cloud DVR storage without needing a separate physical device. You’ll either get unlimited storage for recordings that expires after nine months or a year, or you’ll get a set number of hours that you can keep indefinitely. Typically, all you need to do is designate what ongoing TV series you want to record and the DVR component will do all the hard work of saving subsequent episodes for you to watch later. You can do the same thing with sports events. Aside from being able to watch whenever it’s most convenient, you can also fast-forward through commercials in recorded content. In contrast, you can’t skip them on live TV or VOD. Simultaneous streams and profiles per account Each plan gives you a certain number of simultaneous streams, aka how many screens can play content at the same time. And while most providers will let you travel with your subscription, there are usually location restrictions that require you to sign in from your home IP address periodically. Stream allowances range from one at a time to unlimited screens . Some plans require add-ons to get more screens. Most services also let you set up a few profiles so I was able to give different people in my family the ability to build their own watch histories and libraries, set their favorite channels and get individual recommendations. Picture-in-picture mode and multiview Picture-in-picture usually refers to shrinking a video window on a mobile device or computer browser so you can watch it while using other apps. Sling, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Philo, DirecTV Stream and Hulu + Live TV all have PiP modes on computers and mobile devices. Another feature, multiview, lets you view multiple live sports games at once on your TV screen. YouTube TV and FuboTV are the only live TV streamers that let you do this. With YouTube TV, you can select up to four views from a few preset selection of streams. FuboTV offers the same feature, but only if you're using an Apple TV set top device. 4K live streams Right now, just FuboTV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream offer 4K live streams — but with caveats. YouTube TV requires a $20-per-month add-on, after which you’ll only be able to watch certain live content in 4K. DirecTV Stream has three channels that show live 4K content — one with shows and original series, and two with occasional sporting events. You don’t have to pay extra for these but you do need to have either DirecTV’s Gemini receiver or a Roku device. FuboTV shows certain live events in 4K but access is limited to the Elite and Premier packages, not the base-level Pro plan. Of course, watching any 4K content requires equipment that can handle it: a 4K smart TV or 4K streaming device paired with a cable and screen that can handle 4K resolution. Tiers, packages and add-ons Comparing price-to-offering ratios is a task for a spreadsheet. I… made three. The base plans range from $28 to $80 per month. From there, you can add packages, which are usually groups of live TV channels bundled by themes like news, sports, entertainment or international content. Premium VOD extras like Max, AMC+ and Starz are also available. Add-ons cost an extra $5 to $20 each per month and simply show up in the guide where you find the rest of your live TV. This is where streaming can quickly get expensive, pushing an $80 subscription to $200 monthly, depending on what you choose. How to stream live TV for free I also downloaded and tried out a few apps that offer free ad-supported TV including Freevee, Tubi, PlutoTV and Sling Freestream. These let you drop in and watch a more limited selection of live networks at zero cost. Most don’t even require an email address, let alone a credit card. And if you have a Roku device, an Amazon Fire TV or Stick, a Samsung TV, a Chromecast device or a Google TV, you already have access to hundreds of live channels via the Roku Channel, the live tab in Fire TV, through the Samsung TV Plus app or through Google TV. Back to top How we tested When I begin testing for a guide, I research the most popular and well-reviewed players in the category and narrow down which are worth trying. For the paid plans, just six services dominate so I tried them all. There are considerably more free live TV contenders so I tested the four most popular. After getting accounts set up using my laptop, I downloaded the apps on a Samsung smart TV running the latest version of Tizen OS. I counted the local stations and regional sports coverage, and noted how many of last year's top cable networks were available. I then weighed the prices, base packages and available add-ons. I then looked at how the programming was organized in each app’s UI and judged how easy everything was to navigate, from the top navigation to the settings. To test the search function, I searched for the same few TV shows on BET, Food Network, HGTV and Comedy Central, since all six providers carry those channels. I noted how helpful the searches were and how quickly they got me to season 6, episode 13 of Home Town. I used DVR to record entire series and single movies and watched VOD shows, making sure to test the pause and scan functions. On each service with sports, I searched for the same four upcoming NHL, NBA, MLS and NCAA basketball matches and used the record option to save the games and play them back a day or two later. Finally, I noted any extra perks or irritating quirks. All live TV streaming services we’ve tested: Philo Sling YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream FuboTV Freevee Tubi PlutoTV Sling Freestream Back to top Live TV Streaming FAQs What is live streaming? Streaming simply refers to video content that is delivered to your screen over the internet. Live streaming can be split into two categories: linear programming and simultaneous transmission. That first one is similar to what you get with cable or broadcast TV, with channels that play a constant flow of movies and shows . Simultaneous streaming lets you watch live events or a program as they happen. What is the difference between streaming and live streaming? Standard streaming, the most popular example being Netflix, lets you pick what you want to watch from a menu of choices. It’s also referred to as “video on demand.” Live streaming refers to sports and news events that you can stream as they happen in real time. It also refers to channels that show a continuous, linear flow of programming. What streaming service is best for live TV? FuboTV does the best job of letting you organize live channels to help you find just what you want to watch. The interface is uncluttered and when you search for something, the UI clearly tells you whether something is live now or on-demand. YouTube TV also does a good job making that info clear. Both have just over 100 live channels on offer. What is the most cost effective TV streaming service? Free TV streaming services like PlutoTV, Plex, Tubi and FreeVee show plenty of ad-supported TV shows and movies without charging you anything. Of course, they won’t have the same channels or content that more premium subscriptions have. Ultimately it depends on what you want to watch and finding the service that can supply that to you in the most streamlined form so you’re not paying for stuff you don’t need. Is it cheaper to have cable or streaming? A basic cable package used to be more expensive than the base-level live TV streaming service. But now that nearly all major providers have raised their prices to over $75 per month, that’s no longer the case. And with add-ons and other premiums, you can easily pay over $200 a month for either cable or a live TV streaming service. What streaming service has all the TV channels? No service that we tested had every available channel. Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream carry the highest number of the top rated channels, according to Neilsen. Hulu’s service will also get you Disney+ fare, which you can’t get elsewhere. FuboTV has the most sports channels and YouTube TV gives you the widest selection of add-ons. What is the most popular live TV streaming platform? YouTube TV has the most paying customers. According to this year’s letter from the company’s CEO, the service has over eight million subscribers. Disney’s 2023 fourth quarter earnings put the Hulu + Live TV viewer count at 4.6 million. Sling reported two million patrons and FuboTV claimed 1.1 million, both in respective year-end reports. How safe are free streaming services and websites? You may have heard certain sites that provide free content can be dangerous, leading to stolen info and/or exposing you to malware. That’s likely in reference to certain peer-to-peer networks and file-sharing sites that let people download free movies and series — which can come bundled with malicious code. But if you’re talking about the free ad-supported streaming television services listed here, from providers like PlutoTV, Tubi and Freevee, they are just as safe as any other streaming service. Since you sometimes don’t even have to provide your email address or credit card info, they can even be more anonymous than apps that require login credentials. Back to top Recent updates August 6, 2024: Updated with the addition of Plex as a free live TV streaming recommendation and mentioned the additional free channels Philo is now including with the free version of its service. Added pricing information for ESPN's new sports-only streaming service, Venu. June 12, 2024: Updated with more information about 4K live streaming, picture-in-picture and multiview modes, as well as video on-demand options. We expanded our recommendations around free live TV streaming services and added a FAQ query about the safety of free streaming services and clarified the difference between standard and live streaming. More traditional streaming services have added live and sports components, so we revised that section accordingly. Back to topThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/best-live-tv-streaming-service-133000410.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 03:23 Last month at Meta Connect, Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta AI was “on track” to become the most-used generative AI assistant in the world. The company has now passed a significant milestone toward that goal, with Meta AI passing the 500 million user mark, Zuckerberg revealed during the company’s latest earnings call. The half billion user mark comes just barely a year after the social network first launched its AI assistant last fall. Zuckerberg said the company still expects to become the “most-used” assistant by the end of 2024, though he's never specified how the company is measuring that metric. Meta’s assistant isn’t the only AI tool that’s boosting the company’s business. Zuckerberg said that AI improvements in its feed and video recommendations have led to an 8 percent increase in time spent on Facebook and a 5 percent increase for Instagram this year. Advertisers are also taking advantage of the company’s AI tools, he said, with more than 15 million ads created with generative AI in the last month alone. “We believe that there's a lot more upside here,” Zuckerberg said. Outside of AI, Meta’s Threads app also continues to surge. The service now has “almost 275 million” monthly users, according to Zuckerberg. “It's been growing more than a million sign ups per day,” Zuckerberg said, adding that “engagement is growing too.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-ai-has-more-than-500-million-users-220353427.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 03:23 CBS’ long-standing deal with the Grammys appears to be coming to an end. The Hollywood Reporter announced that the Grammy Awards inked a new deal that will move the music awards ceremony to ABC, Hulu and Disney+ starting in 2027. CBS will still be able to broadcast the Grammys in 2025 and 2026 on its broadcast network and its streaming service Paramount+, where the show has been available for a few years. Then the awards broadcast moves to its new home in 2027. The new deal will also keep the Grammys on ABC and its sister streaming sites through 2036. Getting the Grammys is a huge coup for the Disney media empire. ABC is also the home of the Oscars. The current deal keeps the Academy Awards on its network at least until 2028. The Grammys and the Oscars are also the two most watched awards broadcasts in the television industry. The last Grammy Awards attracted an audience of 16.9 million viewers this year. The 96th annual Academy Awards registered 19.5 million viewers in March, the biggest audience for any award show since 2020.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-nabs-the-broadcast-and-streaming-rights-to-the-grammys-away-from-cbs-214212558.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 03:23 Following the illustrious line of calendar-spanning corporate events like Lobsterfest and Shark Week, Apple tried something new this year with a celebration unofficially known as Mac Week. The company’s three-day product rollout for desktop hardware centered around the M4 chip, built for Apple Intelligence. We recount everything Apple spit out this week, including a new iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro and other goodies like Apple Intelligence’s official arrival on iOS, iPadOS and macOS. iMac Apple The M4-powered iMac has the same design but with more horsepower inside. Apple says the all-in-one desktop is 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and 2.1 times faster for more demanding tasks like gaming or photo editing. Like all new Macs announced this week, it loses the measly 8GB of RAM previously seen in the cheapest Macs, jumping to 16GB as the baseline. The new iMac still has a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display encased in an aluminum unibody design. However, it adds a new nano-texture glass screen option for reduced glare and a 12MP Center Stage camera that supports Apple’s Desk View. You can pre-order the M4 iMac now, starting at $1,299. Deliveries and in-store sales begin on November 8. Mac mini Apple Apple’s little Mac that could lives up to its “mini” branding more than ever. The 2024 Mac mini is a mere five-inch by five-inch box, two inches tall. The new Mac mini is available in M4 and M4 Pro configurations. Apple says the M4 variant is up to 1.8 times faster than the M1 model from four years ago. Its graphics are up to 2.2 times faster. It should also be much better for Apple Intelligence: It supports 38 TOPS of AI processing power. That dwarfs the 18 TOPS from the M3 chip. It, too, starts with 16GB of RAM. For the first time, the machine ditches legacy USB ports. It has two USB-C ports on the front and three Thunderbolt USB-C ports on the back . The M4 Mac mini is available to pre-order. It starts at $599, while the souped-up M4 Pro variant starts at $1,399. It arrives on November 9. MacBook Pro Apple Most of Apple’s Mac sales are in the MacBook lineup, which makes sense. Not only can you use them on the go, but you can also grab a Thunderbolt cable and hook them up to the monitor of your choice to double as a desktop. So, the climax of Mac Week was the new M4-powered MacBook Pro. The only new Mac with three chip tiers, the MacBook Pro comes in M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max options. Apple says the M4 Pro is up to three times faster than the M1 Pro, and the M4 Max is up to 3.5 times faster than the M1 Max. The M4 variant is up to 1.8 times faster than the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro for photo editing. That jumps to 3.4 times faster for demanding work like rendering scenes in Blender. Its Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence is over three times as powerful as the M1. Helping out on the AI front is the same 16GB of RAM as a baseline. The laptop offers the same nano-texture display option as the iMac and up to 1,000 nits of brightness for SDR content. It also adopts the 12MP Center Stage camera for much better built-in video call capabilities. The device has three Thunderbolt 4 ports and an estimated 24 hours of battery life — as Apple puts it, that’s the longest ever in a Mac. The new MacBook Pro is available in familiar 14-inch and 16-inch models. The smaller model with the M4 chip starts at $1,599, the M4 Pro variant starts at $1,999, and the ultra-high-end M4 Max will set you back at least $3,199. The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499 with the M4 Pro chip, while an M4 Max flavor is $3,499 and up. Apple Intelligence cometh Apple Apple’s first wave of on-device AI features is now in consumers’ hands, with no beta software required. This round includes writing tools like proofreading, rewiring and summaries, live call transcriptions and notification summaries. The beginnings of a more intelligent Siri also arrived with this batch, including typed queries and an improved ability to recognize stutters or self-interruptions. You also get a neat new glowing border that announces to the world, “This ain’t the shitty Siri you’re used to!” But you’ll have to wait for the next wave of Siri upgrades for a more significant overhaul, like a better understanding of personal context. Now, the bad news. Apple Intelligence is only available on a handful of recent devices in each of Apple’s major product categories. For the iPhone, that’s the iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max and the new iPhone 16 lineup . You’ll need a model with an M-series chip on the iPad, although the new iPad mini is an exception. As for Macs, you’ll also need a model with M-series Apple silicon, which stretches back to the last four years of models. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1 or macOS Sequoia 15.1. The X.2 variants of each OS will bring the next wave of AI features, like ChatGPT integration and Image Playground. AirPods Pro 2 hearing features Apple Not to be missed among the higher-profile announcements is a new series of hearing health tools for AirPods Pro 2 owners. Announced at Apple’s September iPhone launch, the hearing features include a “clinically validated” hearing test, hearing protection and the ability to use the device as a hearing aid if it detects mild to moderate impairment. Engadget’s audio guru, Billy Steele, is the person to follow for more on these features. He’s extensively trialed them, including taking hearing tests with an Apple rep and test-driving AirPods-powered hearing protection at concerts. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/everything-apple-announced-during-its-unofficial-mac-week-210115997.html?src=rss

31.10.2024 03:23 Proton announced the debut of an Apple TV app for its virtual private network. The new app, which was "among the most requested features from our community," according to the company's blog post, is available for download from the App Store on any Apple TV. It will allow customers with a paid Proton VPN plan to stream their media content from any location on Apple's set-top box. Proton VPN was our favorite when we reviewed it in 2023, and it's still our top pick this year for a virtual private network. The service boasts excellent features for security, privacy and usability. Our only real complaint was that the free tier comes with a lot of limitations. But if you're interested in the company's platform, Proton is currently running an early Black Friday deal where you can snag one or two year plans at a steep discount. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/proton-brings-its-vpn-to-apple-tv-with-new-app-204549019.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 It’s no secret that X has become an even bigger cesspool of misleading information, unchecked claims and flat-out falsities since Elon Musk took over. Two new reports from The Center for Countering Digital Hate and The Washington Post reveals that the safeguards Musk removed and replaced aren’t controlling X’s problems with misinformation. The CCDH published a report on its investigation into X’s Community Notes feature, a user-driven reporting system in which anonymous users write and rate correction for misleading posts. Researchers took a sample of 283 misleading election posts from the social media platform that received proposed Community Notes between January 1 and August 25. The report says that 209 of those misleading sample posts did not show the Community Notes correction to all X users. Even more alarming, the 209 misleading posts in question racked up 2.2 billion views. The Washington Post followed the CCDH’s report with its own investigation into X’s Community Notes feature and found that X’s problems with misinformation go far beyond the election. Former President Donald Trump made the bold claim during his only presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris that Haitians were eating people’s pets in Springfield, Ohio. Moderator and ABC news anchor David Muir corrected Trump’s statement as false because no such cases were reported to local police or government entities. The fact checking website Politifact rated Trump’s claim its lowest false rating of “Pants on Fire.” That didn’t stop this falsehood from spreading across X among conservative-leaning users. The Post found that an account called End Wokeness with a following of 3.1 million X users started disseminating the former President’s claim about Haitian immigrants. The post remained unchecked for four days until one Community Notes user flagged the post as incorrect, citing five different articles to back up the correction. Unfortunately, the note failed to garner enough votes to label the post as false and it went uncorrected. As of Wednesday, the post is still on @EndWokeness’ account with a Community Note where it’s racked up 4.9 million views. Musk’s account hasn’t helped the problem. The Post reports that he’s become “one of the X users most often targeted with proposed Community Notes” with one of 10 posts receiving a proposed correction note. The publication cited a July post from @elonmusk containing a manipulated video of Harris spouting about President Joe Biden’s “senility” and how she became the nominee because she’s “the ultimate diversity hire.” You know where this is going. There’s no Community Notes or correction and the post is still on X even though thousands of replies from other X users are pointing out that it’s a fake. The post has a whopping 136.6 million views. The CCDH is one of Musk and X’s most vocal opponents. The British non-profit continually monitors Musk’s account for false posts that failed to earn a Community Note, particularly when it comes to the Presidential election. Its CEO Imran Ahmed said in August that X “is failing woefully to contain the kind of algorithmically-boosted incitement that we all know can lead to real world violence. X took the CCDH to court over claims the non-profit created a “scare campaign” to bring down its advertising revenue. A US district court judge dismissed the lawsuit in March.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/xs-community-notes-feature-has-one-job-and-its-failing-to-do-it-202645987.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 AMD and NVIDIA could be on a collision course for CES. AMD CEO Lisa Su has confirmed for the first time that the company is set to release its next-gen PC GPUs early next year. "In gaming graphics, revenue declined year-over-year as we prepare for a transition to our next-gen Radeon GPUs based on our RDNA 4 architecture," Su told investors on AMD's third-quarter earnings call. "In addition to a strong increase in gaming performance, RDNA 4 delivers significantly higher ray-tracing performance and adds new AI capabilities. We are on track to launch the first RDNA 4 GPUs in early 2025." The timing very much suggests that AMD will reveal those RDNA 4-based graphics cards at CES in early January. It's rare for the company to unveil desktop GPUs at the trade show . However, it's widely expected that NVIDIA will use its CES keynote to debut its next-gen 50-series GeForce RTX GPUs. We might get a little more clarity on that front when NVIDIA announces its own Q3 earnings results on November 19. As PCWorld notes, AMD's first RDNA 4 GPUs are expected to deliver mid-range performance at an equivalent price point in a bid to increase its market share. AMD's gaming business saw a 69 percent year-over-year drop in revenue to $462 million in Q3. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/amds-next-gen-gpus-are-set-to-arrive-in-early-2025-suggesting-a-ces-reveal-192630199.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 The Daft Punk anime Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem is coming to movie theaters on December 12, for one night only. It’ll be screened in over 800 cinemas in more than 40 countries throughout the globe. Tickets go on sale November 13, so bookmark this page to make sure you snag one before they sell out. For the uninitiated, the film was first released back in 2003 and was a joint collaboration between Daft Punk and manga legend Leiji Matsumoto, who passed away last year. The anime acts as a visual companion piece to Daft Punk’s album Discovery. There’s no dialogue and minimal sound effects. It’s all about the music. There is a plot, but it’s more a loose amalgamation of sci-fi ideas that act as a springboard to play Daft Punk songs. For instance, the band’s iconic "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” begins when the lead character gets a hold of some high-tech sunglasses. It is, however, a visually stunning affair. To that end, this is a 4K remaster of the original. However, there has already been a bit of controversy surrounding this remaster. Distributor Trafalgar allegedly used AI to upscale some of the footage and, well, people don’t seem to be happy with the results. In any event, we don’t have too long to see how it all came together. Daft Punk To commemorate this limited theatrical release, the band’s releasing a whole bunch of affiliated merch. There’s a physical edition of the film, complete with the original Japanese artwork, stickers and a collectible Daft Club card. Fans can also purchase the soundtrack album in multiple formats, including gold vinyl and numbered CDs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-daft-punk-anime-interstella-5555-is-coming-to-theaters-for-one-night-only-184501194.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 Google Wallet for kids will roll out in 2025. “Following the positive response of tap-to-pay on Fitbit Ace LTE devices, we’re expanding tap-to-pay for kids to Google Wallet,” Google wrote in a statement to 9to5Google, which first reported on it. Parents could approve credit and debit cards added to children’s phones, and Google’s Family Link would let them view transactions and easily approve or remove cards. The service would build on the tap-to-pay functionality in Google’s Fitbit Ace LTE kids’ activity tracker. The expansion would make the Google Wallet app available for Android phone-using children whose parents have set up Family Link and approved access. Any of the parents’ existing payment cards in Google Wallet could be used for the kids’ spinoff. When paying, children would have to approve tap-to-pay purchases using standard authentication options . At launch, the service is said to support gift cards and event tickets but not online purchases, identification or health cards. Apple already has a similar take on children’s purchases. Families in the company’s ecosystem can let their kids use Apple Pay in stores and online or send money through Messages with Apple Cash Family. 9to5Google says Google’s kids’ payments feature will roll out next year for “some Google Wallet users in several countries,” including the US. A wider rollout is expected at some point after that.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/children-with-android-phones-will-be-able-to-use-google-wallets-tap-to-pay-next-year-182650364.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 Google CEO Sundar Pichai just revealed that AI now generates more than a quarter of new code for its products, according to a company earnings call transcribed by Ars Technica. In other words, AI tools are already having an absolutely mammoth impact on the development of software. Pichai did say that human programmers oversee the computer-generated code, which is something. The CEO noted that AI coding helps with “boosting productivity and efficiency," ensuring that engineers “do more and move faster.” There’s no two ways around it. 25 percent is a lot, and Google is just one company relying on AI algorithms to perform complex coding tasks. According to Stack Overflow’s 2024 Developer Survey, over 75 percent of respondents are already using or are “planning to use” AI tools to assist with software development. Another survey by GitHub indicated that 92 percent of US-based developers are currently using AI coding tools. This leads us to the rampaging elephant in the room. As AI continues to gobble up coding tasks, human experience starts to dwindle. This could eventually lead to a decreased knowledge base in which humans don’t know how to fix errors created by AI algorithms that were, in turn, created by other AI algorithms. We could be staring down an ouroboros of confusion where it’s nearly impossible to detect bugs amidst generations of AI code. Fun times! We aren’t quite there yet, but AI-assisted coding shows no signs of slowing down. The process started its meteoric rise back in 2022 when GitHub widely launched its Copilot program. Since then, companies like Anthropic, Meta, Google and OpenAI have all released AI-coding software suites. GitHub recently announced that Copilot can now be used with models from Anthropic and Google, in addition to OpenAI.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-ceo-says-a-quarter-of-the-companys-new-code-is-already-ai-generated-180038896.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 Sony has revealed the trio of games that all PlayStation Plus members can claim in November and keep in their library as long as they maintain their subscription. Arguably the most recognizable title of the bunch is Ghostwire: Tokyo , an action-adventure game from former Bethesda studio Tango Gameworks. Ghostwire: Tokyo, which debuted in early 2022, is a fairly well-reviewed first-person game that sees you battling supernatural forces in Japan's capital using an array of abilities. A sequel had been mooted before Bethesda owner Microsoft shut down Tango earlier this year. While Tango has found a second life after PUBG: Battlegrounds publisher Krafton snapped it up, it's unclear whether the Ghostwire: Tokyo franchise will continue into another game. It's worth noting that the PC version of Ghostwire: Tokyo will be available to claim for free on the Epic Games Store starting Thursday as well. You'll have until next Thursday morning to snag that. PS Plus members can also claim Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 – Turbocharged at no extra cost. It's a racing game, as you might expect. It includes a track editor, so you can create your own courses. Last but not least is Death Note Killer Within . This is a brand-new social deduction game for up to 10 people in which you can play as characters from the manga. It looks like a Death Note-flavored spin on games like Among Us. You can claim all three of these titles between November 5 and December 2, so they could help keep your mind occupied while the general election results become clear. If you haven't yet snagged October's PS Plus Monthly Games — WWE 2K24, Dead Space and Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! — you've got until November 4 to do so.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/novembers-ps-plus-monthly-games-include-ghostwire-tokyo-and-hot-wheels-unleashed-2-174051803.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 When iOS 18.1 arrived earlier this week, Apple delivered the highly-anticipated suite of hearing health features that it announced at the iPhone event in September. This includes hearing aid and hearing protection tools, as well as a “clinically-validated” hearing test in your pocket. With the combination of an iPhone and a pair of second-gen AirPods Pro, you can take a hearing test that’s similar to what you’d get at an audiologist’s office without leaving home. Most importantly, the whole thing takes about five minutes and gives you detailed results immediately. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use it. Update your iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 Billy Steele for Engadget Before you can access Apple’s hearing test, you’ll need to make sure your iPhone is updated to iOS 18.1 and your AirPods Pro 2 have the latest firmware . None of the new hearing health features will show up in the AirPods settings or in the Apple Health app if you don’t have both of those updates. What’s more, you won’t be able to run the hearing test or use any of the other new tools on the first-gen AirPods Pro . You can check your current iOS version from the iPhone Settings menu. Scroll down to General and tap Software Update. From here, you can see which version of iOS you’re running and if you’ve got a pending update that’s ready to download and install. Once again, you’re looking for iOS 18.1 here since this is the software version that delivers the suite of hearing health features. To check the firmware on your AirPods Pro 2, connect the earbuds to your iPhone and navigate to the Settings menu. Here, your AirPods Pro 2 should appear near the top of the list and tapping that option will take you into the settings. You can also access AirPods Pro 2 details from the Bluetooth menu by tapping the “i” icon next to the device name. Once you’re in the AirPods settings menu, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main screen. One of the last things you’ll see is a bunch of firmware info, including the current version for the AirPods Pro 2. If you see 7B19, you’re good to go. If not, your earbuds haven’t updated yet, but you can try to force them to do so instead of waiting for the over-the-air process to take place on its own. To do this, connect the AirPods Pro 2 to your iPhone for at least 30 seconds and play music to confirm the connection is stable. Then put the earbuds back in the charging case and close the lid, keeping the AirPods Pro 2 in range of the iPhone. Now check Bluetooth settings, and if you see the AirPods Pro 2 stay connected for more than 10 seconds while in the charging case with the lid closed, that should indicate the update is in progress. Where to find Apple’s hearing test Billy Steele for Engadget Apple allows you access its hearing test from two places, and both of them are easy to find. The first is in the AirPods menu, which you can get to from the main Settings menu or from the Bluetooth menu. The Hearing Health section is prominently displayed on the main screen, just under the Noise Control options. In this section, “Take a Hearing Test” will be the third item after Hearing Protection and Hearing Assistance, and it will appear in blue. In the Health app, the fastest way to get to the hearing test is to tap Browse on the menu on the bottom of main Summary screen. From there, select "Hearing" with the blue ear icon and scroll down to “Get More From Health.” Here, you’ll see the option to take the hearing test with the AirPods Pro 2. How to take Apple’s hearing test Billy Steele for Engadget After you update your devices and find the hearing test, the hardest part is over. The software-based test guides you through the entire process, with detailed info on what you can expect and what the results mean for you. After you select “Take Hearing Test,” you’ll tap “Get Started” to begin the process. First, the software will ask you if you’re 18 or older, if you’re experiencing allergy or cold symptoms and if you’ve been in a loud environment in the last 24 hours. The second two items could impact the accuracy of your test if the answer is yes to either one. On the next screen, the AirPods and iPhone tandem will make sure that your surroundings are quiet enough for the hearing test. Too much background noise will make it difficult for you to hear the more subtle tones during the screening. Next, the setup will make sure that the AirPods Pro 2 fit properly in your ears and that they provide an adequate seal for the test. You’ll be notified that Do No Disturb will be active during the test to prevent distractions and active noise cancellation mode will be enabled at this point. The test will then offer some sample tones and let you know that each tone during the test will play three times. When the test begins, you’ll simply tap the screen of your iPhone when you hear a tone . The test begins with your left ear before moving over to the right. Don’t worry if you miss one: the test will repeat any of the sounds it thinks you missed along the way. When the test is over, you’ll immediately get the results on your iPhone for each ear, including a detailed audiogram that shows which frequencies you struggle hearing . Results are also viewable in the Health app at any time, and you can export a PDF to share with a doctor or for other purposes as needed. What to do with your hearing test results If you have little to no hearing loss, Apple’s tool will offer suggestions on how to keep your hearing healthy and inform you that no changes are needed to the tuning of your AirPods Pro 2. If you exhibit mild to moderate hearing loss, the software will ask if you want to set up Apple’s Hearing Assistance features which include hearing aid, Media Assist and Conversation Boost. Lastly, if the test determines that you have severe or profound hearing loss, Apple will recommend that you see a professional for further evaluation. AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid features are only designed for users with mild to moderate hearing loss and the hearing test can only measure hearing loss under 85 dBHL. Here’s how the hearing loss categories break down, according to the World Health Organization: Little to No Loss: Up to 25 dBHL Mild Loss: 26 - 40 dBHL Moderate Loss: 41 - 60 dBHL Severe Loss: 61 - 80 dBHL Profound Loss Above: 80 dBHL This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-take-apples-hearing-test-with-the-airpods-pro-2-173014978.html?src=rss

30.10.2024 21:42 A new tactical RPG game for PCs from Ubisoft requires NFTs to play it. Per IGN Ubisoft Quartz, the publisher’s NFT platform, has released Champions Tactics: Grimoria Chronicles without much fanfare. It’s not really billed as a Web3-based game in the trailer, probably because NFTs are as popular of an investment as Blackberry phones or fax machines. However, it still plays a major part in Champions Tactics. The game starts you with a handful of free temporary figurines to start you off but you’ll need to buy your own NFTs to compete using in-game currency or cryptocurrency that can reach into the thousands. The highest figurine called the "Swift Zealot" will set you back $63,000. Ubisoft launched its NFT platform Quartz a little under three years ago to a wave of backlash. The announcement video on YouTube attracted more than 35,000 dislikes in 24 hours and open criticisms from consumers and employees who felt its environmental impact was not worth the risk. The launch included a set of 15 NFTs in the form of skins and guns for Ghost Recon Breakpoint. The publisher only sold 18 NFTs in its first few weeks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/ubisoft-stealth-released-an-nft-game-absolutely-no-one-needs-172145079.html?src=rss