Microsoft announced that it is making some features available for free in its Copilot AI assistant. Everyone now has unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper, which is powered by OpenAI’s o1 model.
Copilot got the Voice feature, which allows users to have conversations with the AI assistant, in October 2024. Think Deeper is intended to parse complicated queries, such as assessing the pros and cons of major home purchases, taking cost and long-term value into account.
"We are working hard to scale unlimited access to advanced features to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible," the blog post noted. Microsoft noted that users could experience delays or interruptions during times of high usage for these newly free Copilot applications. Members of the Copilot Pro subscription will still have preferred access to the company's latest AI models at those peak usage times, as well as to new features that are still in the experimental stage.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-copilot-offers-voice-and-o1-powered-think-deeper-for-free-232723768.html?src=rss
A bizarre bug is causing iPhones to automatically change the word “racist” to “Trump” when using the built-in dictation feature in iOS. The issue, which seems to have been discovered by TikTok users, crops up when using the voice-to-text feature in Apple apps like Messages.
When speaking the word “racist,” iOS briefly transcribes the text as “Trump” before changing it back to the intended word. It’s not clear what could cause this behavior. Engadget was able to replicate the issue, as you can see in the GIF below.
Apple told The New York Timesit was due to “phonetic overlap between the two words,” despite the fact that the two words do not sound similar. That also doesn't explain why "racist," with a lowercase "r" would transcribe as "Trump" — seemingly a reference to our current president — and not "trump," the noun. An AI expert who once worked on Siri told the paper it could be a “serious prank” on the part of an Apple employee.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Whether it’s a bug or prank, it surfaced at a particularly embarrassing time for the iPhone maker, which announced on Monday that it planned to invest $500 billion in manufacturing facilities for AI servers. The investment, most of which was already planned, came after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump at the White House last week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/iphones-are-briefly-changing-racist-to-trump-due-to-an-ios-dictation-issue-230712021.html?src=rss
New models of the Apple iPhone 16 are displayed after Apple's "It's Glowtime" event in Cupertino, California, September 9, 2024. Apple on Monday announced a new iPhone built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and show it is keeping up in the technology race. (Photo by Nic Coury / AFP) (Photo by NIC COURY/AFP via Getty Images)
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is one of my favorite games of the year, so you'll forgive me if I spend the next 300 words or so writing about a limited-edition plush the game's creator, Gareth Damian Martin, is producing with the help of crowdfunding platform Makeship. Starting today, you can pledge $30 to support Martin's campaign, and if enough other people do as well, everyone will get a cute cat plush sometime later this year. The toy was designed by French illustrator Guillaume Singelin, who also did the character designs for the game. Right now, the campaign is sitting at 45 percent funded with 90 toys sold, and the better part of 22 days to go.
And I mean look at the plush, isn't it one of the cutest things you've seen? For the uninitiated, the Stray, not to be confused with another cyberpunk cat, is one of the characters Citizen Sleeper 2's protagonist can encounter during their journey. As far as I'm aware, they only appear in one scene throughout the entire runtime of the game (how very cat-like of them, I know), but it's a moment that's emblematic of so many of Citizen Sleeper 2's strengths.
"This cat, the one on your ship, was born here. That much is obvious," writes Martin in the scene. "It is a creature of zero-gravity, a being that orbits and glides, not one that leaps and stalks." Without spoiling anything, what follows is a touching and thoughtful meditation on memory, and how we can choose whether our memories define us.
If you haven't played Citizen Sleeper 2 yet, consider this a recommendation. It is easily worth your time and more. You can play the game on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. As for the Stray, they're expected to start shipping on June 12, 2025.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/im-writing-about-this-cute-cat-plush-so-you-play-one-of-2025s-best-games-223325680.html?src=rss
The Federal Aviation Agency has started testing Starlink terminals for upgrades to the networks that manage airspace, creating the latest conflict of interest between the US government and Elon Musk. The FAA posted (fittingly on the social network Musk also owns) that it is testing a Starlink terminal in Atlantic City, NJ, and two terminals in Alaska. The post claims that the department had been considering using the SpaceX tech since the prior presidential administration.
The agency, which oversees all areas of civil aviation, has levied fines and required reviews over the years related to various SpaceX operations. Most recently, the agency ordered SpaceX to investigate what caused a mid-flight explosion with its Starship rocket last month.
A source told Bloomberg that Musk had approved a shipment of 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA last week. The agency has an existing contract with Verizon Communications, worth $2 billion, for supporting and maintaining its infrastructure. Bloomberg's sources were unsure how the Starlink tests would impact the Verizon deal.
This isn't the first time a Musk-owned business has benefited since the South African billionaire inserted himself into the US political landscape. He and his so-called DOGE group has been leading cuts within the federal ranks, including at the FAA and at other departments that oversee his companies. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saw about a 10 percent reduction to its staff this month, including cuts to the small division overseeing autonomous vehicles such as those from Tesla.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/amid-a-musk-led-overhaul-the-faa-starts-doing-business-with-spacex-221900620.html?src=rss
FILE - A Federal Aviation Administration sign hangs in the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, March 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Samsung's new 9100 PRO Series solid-state drives (SSDs) include the company's first consumer-grade 8TB NVMe SSD. The latest models use the speedy PCIe 5.0 standard, which — unless you train AI models for a living — is almost certainly overkill for your PC needs.
The Samsung 9100 PRO series offers up to double the storage of its predecessor, the 990 PRO line. It launches in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models, with the 8TB ones not arriving until later this year. Each tier ships in models with and without a heatsink (whether you need that will depend on whether your motherboard includes one for NVMe drives).
Samsung
The company says the 9100 PRO SSDs have sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 13,400 MB/s. Their random read speeds are as fast as 2,200K IOPS (input-output per second), with random write speeds up to 2,600K IOPS. The company says the 9100 PRO SSDs are up to 49 percent more power-efficient than the 990 PRO line and have a profile as slim as 0.35 inches (around 8.9mm).
But as Engadget's Igor Bonifacic wrote in our SSD buying guide, very few real-world use cases demand those speeds. (Think people training large-scale AI models and the like.) As it stands, PCIe 4.0 drives already benchmark far beyond what most gamers and other consumer uses require. They also cost about half as much.
The first 9100 PRO SSDs arrive in March: 1TB ($200), 2TB ($300) and 4TB ($550). Variants with a heatsink tack an extra $20 onto those prices. As for the 8TB tier, which Samsung hasn't announced pricing for, it doesn't arrive until the second half of the year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-9100-pro-ssd-line-includes-its-first-8tb-nvme-model-for-consumers-205727818.html?src=rss
Warner Bros Discovery made sweeping cuts to its games division today, closing three studios and ending development on its planned Wonder Woman project. Monolith Productions, Player First Games and WB Games San Diego will be shuttered due to a “disappointing 2024” for WB's gaming business, according to an internal memo from JB Perrette, the company's CEO and president of global streaming and games. Bloomberg broke the news of the restructuring.
Monolith Productions made two well-regarded Lord of the Rings games, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. The studio was going to apply its popular Nemesis system from those titles to a Wonder Woman game, which was announced back in 2021.
WB acquired Player First Games last year. The team was responsible for MultiVersus, a platform fighting game that reached 20 million players in its early days before dwindling to a planned shutdown of the online services when its fifth season ends this May.
WB Games San Diego was working on AAA free-to-play gaming. In December, Warner Bros Games also announced that it would lay off employees at WB Games Montreal as well as pulling back on the studio's game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
According to the internal email from Perrette, WB's gaming efforts will be focused on four of its properties: Harry Potter (including Hogwarts Legacy), Mortal Kombat, the DC universe and Game of Thrones. "We need to make some substantial changes to our portfolio/team structure if we are to commit the necessary resources to get back to a ‘fewer but bigger franchises’ strategy," Perette said.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/warner-bros-discovery-slashes-gaming-business-closing-three-studios-204344213.html?src=rss
As the name suggests, it also boasts a ginormous display, which Razer describes as “the world’s first 18-inch dual mode display.” This means that users can instantly switch between UHD+ at 240Hz for appreciating the finer details of AAA games and FHD+ at 440Hz for absolute speed.
The keyboard has been fully redesigned, with a new scissor switch that allows for 35 percent more travel distance versus the previous generation, along with a 63g actuation force. There’s a 10-key numeric keypad and dual-LED backlighting per key. Otherwise, the design remains mostly unchanged since the first Razer Blade 18 hit store shelves back in 2023.
Razer
Razer also promises “desktop levels of connectivity.” To that end, there are a pair of Thunderbolt ports, including a Thunderbolt 5 port. It supports Wi-Fi 7, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.4 and Gigabit LAN. Each Blade 18 includes a six-speaker virtual surround sound system that supports THX Spatial Audio and a 5MP camera with a privacy shutter.
The good news? Pre-orders are open right now. The bad news? This is a Razer Blade 18, so it’s a real wallet-buster. Pricing starts at $3,200, but can shoot all the way up to $4,900 depending on RAM and storage configurations. Early adopters do get a free skin and a laptop stand.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/razer-announced-a-refreshed-blade-18-laptop-with-a-dual-mode-display-200943604.html?src=rss
When OpenAI announced Deep Research at start of February, the company promised to bring the tool to Plus users "in about a month," and now it's doing exactly that. Starting today, the feature, which you can use to prompt ChatGPT to create in-depth reports on nearly any subject, is rolling out to Plus, Team, Edu and Enterprise users. Previously, you needed a $200 per month Pro plan to try out Deep Research.
For the time being, Plus users will get 10 Deep Research queries per month included with their plan. For Pro subscribers, OpenAI is increasing the monthly limit to 120, up from 100 previously. Additionally, the company has made a couple of improvements to how the tool works. ChatGPT will now embed images alongside citations to provide "richer insights." The system also has a better understanding of file types, which should translate to better document analysis.
OpenAI
If you want to give the new feature a try, write a prompt as you normally would but then tap the Deep Research icon before sending your request through to OpenAI. Depending on the complexity of question, it can take ChatGPT anywhere between five and 30 minutes to compile an answer. OpenAI has said Deep Research is currently "very compute intensive," so it be a while before Free users get to try the capability out for themselves.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-expands-deep-research-to-all-paying-chatgpt-users-200045108.html?src=rss
Upheavals within the US government continued today as a group of technology experts announced their resignations. These federal employees had originally worked for the United States Digital Service, a tech-focused department created under the Obama administration. About 40 people from the original Digital Service staff were fired by the Elon Musk-led team known as DOGE earlier this year, and the remaining 65 employees were incorporated into his unit. Today, 21 of those people resigned.
"We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans’ sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the former employees wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Associated Press. "We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE’s actions."
The Digital Services director, Anne Marshall, also resigned from her post last week, stating in a public letter that "This is not the mission I came to serve."
Both Marshall and the participants in today's group resignation raised concerns that people from Musk's outfit do not have the knowledge or desire to continue Digital Services' mission of developing and maintaining digital resources for Americans.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/doge-workers-quit-rather-than-help-musk-dismantle-critical-public-services-194237479.html?src=rss
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2025/02/19: Federal workers and protestors speak out against U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, who is leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and their push to gut federal services and impose mass layoffs. Protests have spread in cities across the nation against the Trump administration's freezing of federal funds, mass layoffs, and a disregard of union contracts. (Photo by Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Framework, the company making an ever-wider range of modular, endlessly repairable machines is showing off its next big project. Today, it previewed the Laptop 12, an affordable 12.2-inch touchscreen convertible built with the same ethos as its bigger siblings. Laptop 12 is targeted as an entry-level machine for young people, students and folks on low incomes. But, rather than the usual compromises inherent in such a machine, it will be just as repairable, modular and crucially upgradeable as the rest of the Framework lineup.
Framework
“Few categories are as emblematic of the problems with consumer electronics as entry-level laptops,” explained founder Nirav Patel, “they tend to be janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered and frankly, boring.” Laptop 12 takes the general design language of the Laptop 13, but trimmed to suit the smaller footprint and screen. It ships in five colors, with an optional color matched stylus, each one clad in TPU with a metal skeleton for rigidity. Patel said if users are able to break it, repairs are even easier than on the Laptop 13.
Framework
The company emphasized the Laptop 12 won’t use the same sort of no-name bargain-bin parts you often find on entry-level machines. It hasn’t released a full spec list yet, but said you will see options for a 13th-generation i3 or i5 Core Processor supporting up to 48GB DDR5 RAM. You can also opt for an NVMe SSD up to 2TB and Wi-Fi 6E, with the usual pick of Windows 11 or Linux. Patel added the 1,920 x 1,200 display has been customized to push out 400 nits of peak brightness with touch and stylus support.
Framework says we’re likely to see all of the gory details arriving at some point in April, which is also when pre-orders will open. Shipments are expected to begin at some point in the summer, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this operates out in the real world.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/framework-teases-a-low-cost-2-in-1-convertible-version-of-its-modular-laptop-191231244.html?src=rss
Framework is today announcing a raft of new products, the most intriguing of which has to be the Framework Desktop. Like the rest of the company’s wares, it’s a modular desktop PC with a focus on modularity, upgradeability and repairability. Naturally, the first question is why, given PCs are already modular, upgradeable and repairable, but the focus here is on making it accessible for the sorts of folks who might see the words “thermal” and “paste” and need an urgent trip to the ER. It’s not the first time something like this has been mooted: In 2014, Razer pitched Project Christine, a gaming PC with standalone components clad in cartridges that could be swapped in and out.
Framework
The second reason for this machine existing was AMD’s new Ryzen AI Max chip, which was shown to the public at CES in January. Ryzen AI Max is an all-in-one APU, packing a CPU and GPU in the same package mirroring how Apple Silicon chips are designed. Ryzen AI Max promises some fairly spectacular performance despite the lack of a discrete GPU, like 1440p gaming and local AI. But there is one downside to all of these gains — the RAM is soldered to the mainboard to enable its staggering 256GB/s memory bandwidth, which Framework says isn’t feasible with standard RAM. To compensate, Framework has pledged to ensure to play fair with memory pricing, making it “more reasonable than you might find with other brands,” i.e. Apple.
Framework knows it’s swimming in different waters with this product, and so has pledged to use as many standard components as possible. Inside that Mini-ITX case you’ll find a custom mainboard with ATX headers, a PCIe x4 slot, two USB4, two DisplayPort, one HDMI and 5G ethernet ports. The PCIe NVME slots will let you spec up to 16TB storage, and the case has two forward-facing expansion card slots that will let you plug in your own Framework Expansion Cards. The case is equipped with a semi-custom 400W power supply that uses standard 120mm CPU fans or, again, you can bring your own fans if you’d prefer. The case has either black or clear sides, and the front is made up with 21 tiles you can design yourself, or 3D-print an alternative if you’d prefer.
Of course, you can also just buy the mainboard and cram it into your own case, should you prefer to roll your own.
Framework
Pre-orders for the Framework Desktop are opening now, but shipping won’t begin until Q3 of 2025. You can order the mainboard on its own for $799, or get the base model with an AI Max 385 and 32GB RAM for just $1,099. Should you want the flagship AI Max+ 395 with 128GB RAM, you’ll need to fork over $1,999. All of the systems are sold as “DIY Editions” with users able to grab their storage and OS from whatever supplier they prefer, too.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-builds-its-own-modular-desktop-191211936.html?src=rss
It’s a little weird to talk about Framework “launching” a new laptop given it just makes the same machine over and over again. That, of course, is the point, since it’s building a fleet of modular, upgradeable and repairable machines that eliminate unnecessary e-waste. Let’s agree that while launching isn’t the right word, it is how we’ll describe the advent of the updated AMD edition of the Framework 13, which now comes with the Ryzen AI 300 on board.
Naturally, the big news is the fancier AMD unit welded to the mainboard, which boasts dramatically improved AI performance for Microsoft Copilot+. But Framework has made its usual series of nips and tucks, adding Wi-Fi 7, a new thermal system, improved keyboard and new color options. As usual, all of these features can be bolted onto any existing Framework 13 when required.
One of the biggest issues for every Framework 13 so far has been the cooling — the tiny fans have to work overtime whenever the system gets taxed. So the advent of the new mainboard also sees a(nother) attempt at keeping the silicon far cooler than it has been before. Open this up and you’ll find a new single 10mm heat pipe paired with Honeywell’s PTM7958 thermal paste which, it’s hoped, will ensure you can hear yourself think over your laptop.
If you recall from the previous AMD Framework 13, there was an issue with what standards each port supported. The situation is a little clearer here, since the rear ports support USB 4, while the forward ones both have USB 3.2 plus DisplayPort. We explored this in greater detail at the time, but the situation remains mildly annoying if you forget what can go where.
Framework has also very gently tweaked the keyboard to address an issue with rigidity with the wide keys, like shift and the spacebar. If you buy a Windows 11 model, you’ll also have a Copilot key printed on it — but Framework reminds you it’s possible to buy a DIY edition without one, too.
Framework
Rounding out the changes is the advent of injection molded packaging, which enables Framework to sell you transparent hardware. It will now sell you a transparent bezel, as well as translucent purple, green and black options for greater customization. Plus, you’ll be able to pick up many of the expansion cards clad in transparent plastic, too, not just the ethernet expansion card — letting you relive your dream of owning the coolest Game Boy ever made.
The new Framework Laptop 13 with AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 series starts at $800 for the DIY edition and $1,099 for pre-built. Naturally, that price can go all sorts of places depending on how much gear you choose to throw on top of what comes as standard. Pre-orders are open today with shipments due to begin in April. Plus, the company will sell you the older Ryzen 7040 model for $749 — with CEO Nirav Patel saying this isn't just a while stocks last deal, but as a way to lower the entry price for new buyers.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-updates-its-13-inch-laptop-with-amds-ryzen-300-ai-series-chips-191128145.html?src=rss
Researchers just discovered evidence to suggest that Mars was once home to oceans and sandy beaches on the red planet, according to data published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a far cry from the arid, freezing and radiation-filled conditions of modern Mars.
Scientists discovered evidence of buried beaches after they analyzed below-ground imaging data from China’s Zhurong rover. This data from the northern lowlands of Mars is extremely similar to what researchers find when using similar ground-penetrating radar here on Earth, as indicated by The Guardian. They found subsurface material that’s angled and tilted toward a lowland, which likely was an ocean at some point.
#VantageOnFirstpost: A new study reveals that Mars once had an ocean with sandy beaches, with evidence of buried shorelines found deep underground. This study points to past life on the red planet about four billion years ago.
"Typically the radar picks up on even subtle changes in sediment size, which is probably what’s happening here," said Dr Benjamin Cardenas, a co-author of the research from Penn State University. "It tells you there had to be tides, there had to be waves, there had to be a nearby river supplying sediment, and all these things had to be active for some extended period of time."
Scientists have long debated whether or not Mars had oceans, and this discovery certainly implies the planet was once home to vast bodies of water. Previous discoveries have indicated that it used to have flowing rivers and lakes. There’s also evidence of liquid water deep underneath the Martian surface in the present day.
"A beach is an interface between shallow water, air and land. It’s these sorts of environments where it’s thought life first came to be on Earth, and I think it would be a great place to send a follow-up mission looking for signs of past life," Cardenas said.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/new-evidence-suggests-that-mars-used-to-have-an-ocean-and-sandy-beaches-181146248.html?src=rss
Microsoft is delaying one of the major first-party games it had lined up for 2025. The company said during its big annual Xbox showcase last June that its Fable reboot would arrive this year. But that’s no longer the case as Xbox has pushed back the fantasy RPG to 2026.
"We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time and it's going to ship in 2026 now," Craig Duncan, the new head of Xbox Game Studios, said on the latest edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. "While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait."
The reboot, which is being developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games, was announced all the way back in 2020 and there have been a few teasers since then. While the delay might be disappointing to those who have been waiting for Fable — especially since it's been 15 years since the last mainline game in the series — Xbox can afford to give it a little more time.
Microsoft's games division has a pretty healthy slate for the coming months. Avowed only just came out, the promising South of Midnightis not too far away and then Doom: The Dark Agesand its ridiculous shield-saw is slated to arrive in May. The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4are also on the docket for this year, and there are likely others in the pipeline (such as the inevitable annual Call of Duty entry). That's not to mention all the third-party titlescoming toGame Pass and Microsoft selling more of its games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. So Xbox is probably going to be okay while Playground keeps Fable simmering away.
Duncan claims that the studio is crafting "the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen" but with its own spin and British humor. The Xbox Game Studios chief visited Playground to play some of Fable and see how things were going. Duncan brought back some new, early footage to show on the video version of the podcast, which you can see below starting at 15:55. Even the pre-alpha versions of these environments look very pretty, so here's hoping Playground makes good use of that extra time to make the most of the game.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-has-delayed-its-fable-reboot-until-2026-173118802.html?src=rss
One thing writers and multinational consumer electronics corporations have in common is we both need a good editor. Or, failing that, at least a good spell-checker. OnePlus somehow missed that step when launching the OnePlus Watch 3, which had its scheduled Tuesday launch abruptly halted because of an embarrassing typo. On the back of the watch, early buyers discovered that their $330 smartwatch was "meda in China." As a result, you'll now have to wait until April to buy the device.
At least someone on OnePlus' social team saw an opportunity. "Oops, we've meda mistake!" the company posted on X on Friday. "A typo slipped through and made its way onto your shiny new OnePlus Watch 3." The acknowledgment came three days after a post showing photo evidence of the flub gained traction in the OnePlus subreddit. "Yikes lol how did this pass QC?" u/kbtech wondered in the comments.
The OnePlus Watch 3's new release date is sometime in April, with the order page currently estimating an April 9 ship date. On the bright side, the company is extending its $30 pre-order discount. (For those shopping in Canada, it's $50 off.) You can use code TIME1010 to get the lower price, which lasts until April.
Those who already got one of the "Meda in China" models can either keep it or return it with no questions asked. (Not that the answers would be too difficult to guess.)
OnePlus says the Watch 3 can run for an estimated 16 days in power saver mode, five days in smart mode and up to 72 hours for heavy users. The Wear OS watch also has a new titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal screen. All in all, it sounds like a well-meda piece of gear.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/oneplus-is-delaying-the-watch-3-launch-because-of-a-typo-171009126.html?src=rss
First announced at CES 2024, the Clicks physical keyboard add-on for iPhones has proven to be a modest hit. Soon, some Android users will be able to get in on the action. That’s right. The company just announced a redesign specifically for certain Android handsets.
The overall design doesn’t look too different from the iPhone version. It’s a sleeve that you pop the phone into. Once connected, you can type with physical keys via a free Android companion app. There’s backlit keys, USB-C charging and support for shortcuts. By their very nature, Clicks keyboards also provide more screen real estate, which is always nice.
The company says these new versions feature “brushed metal side keys, a microfibre interior and precision moulded enclosures that are custom-engineered to fit each Android smartphone.” With that said, the Android-based Clicks keyboard only integrates with the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, the Galaxy S25 and the Moto Razr+. That last one actually requires a unique design, given that the Razr+ is a flip-style foldable.
Clicks
The Pixel 9 versions will be out first, at the end of April, with an introductory pre-order price of $99. That promotion ends on March 21 and the cost goes up to $139. The Razr+ case will be available in May, with the same $99 pre-order campaign running until March 21. The Samsung Galaxy model starts shipping out in June and features the same $99/$139 pre-order pricing model with a March 21 cutoff date.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/clicks-is-finally-releasing-its-keyboard-add-on-for-some-android-phones-170006160.html?src=rss
The Philips Hue Sync app is now available for many LG televisions, allowing synchronization between smart lights and TV screens. This eliminates the need for one of those dedicated sync boxes, as everything gets handled through the app.
For the uninitiated, Philips Hue smart lights dynamically adjust color and brightness to match the content playing on-screen. The app, along with an associated Hue lighting system, works with content from set-top boxes, streaming sticks, platforms like Netflix and, of course, gaming consoles. You haven’t really played Balatrountil you’ve played itwith matching lighting effects.
The Philips Hue Sync TV app supports multiple image formats, including 8K, 4K, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. It uses a “proprietary syncing algorithm” to create “the ultimate surround lighting experience.” It’s available worldwide for compatible LG smart TVs right now. Just make sure the TV is running webOS 24 or later.
There’s a major caveat here. This is one expensive app. It costs around $130 (depending on where you live) and that only covers a single TV. However, folks can opt for a monthly subscription of $3 that can handle up to three televisions. That’s a bit more palatable.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/philips-hue-sync-now-available-on-lg-smart-tvs-eliminating-the-need-for-a-control-box-162004241.html?src=rss
British creatives are speaking out against the government's proposed changes to copyright law. Take Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Ben Howard, who join over 1,000 musicians in releasing a protest album called Is This What We Want?.
Currently, AI developers must follow the same copyright laws as anyone else, meaning they can't use creative material to train models without permission. However, the December 2024 proposal would provide them with a copyright exemption that requires creatives to "opt out" of their materials being used. Tuesday, February 25 is the government's last day seeking views on the change.
"The musicians on this album came together to protest this," reads the release statement. "The album consists of recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, representing the impact we expect the government’s proposals would have on musicians’ livelihoods."
The album consists of 12 songs with their titles spelling out, "The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies." The record's profits go toward UK-based charity Help Musicians.
Tuesday also saw the UK News Media Association and publications including The Guardian protest the copyright exemption proposal through the Make It Fair campaign. "The creative works of British artists, authors, journalists, illustrators, photographers, film-makers, scriptwriters, singers and songwriters are being scraped from the internet by tech companies, big and small, to build and maintain AI products that have the potential to reshape our world," the campaign argues. "Without fair reward, our creative industries simply won’t survive. The government must stand behind its creative industries. It’s time to fairly compensate the creators."
On Monday, a range of creatives wrote an open letter to The Times in protest. "There is no moral or economic argument for stealing our copyright. Taking it away will devastate the industry and steal the future of the next generation," it stated. Signatories included Paul McCartney, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Helen Fielding and Ed Sheeran.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/uk-creatives-protest-ai-copyright-law-changes-with-silent-album-and-campaign-160555065.html?src=rss
If you're a music fan of a certain age, there's a good chance MTV Unplugged has special place in your heart. With the first episode airing in 1989, over the decades the series has produced some of the most memorable live performances in history. Who could forget Nirvana's set, recorded less than a year before Kurt Cobain would tragically take his own life in 1994, or when Alice in Chains played one of its final shows with former lead vocalist Layne Staley. There are too many memorable episodes to count, and now you can watch more than 50 of them, including the two I just mentioned, on Paramount+.
As Paramount notes, many of the episodes haven't been available to watch in more than 20 years. From that perspective, the most interesting release is Oasis' (in)famous 1996 set. For the uninitiated, it's an episode that almost didn't happen. In the days leading up to the performance, the story goes that lead singer Liam Gallagher complained of a sore throat. On the day the band was scheduled to tape the episode, he showed up an hour before "absolutely sh**faced," according to his brother Noel, who went on to sing the entire set on his own. Despite its place in music history, before today it was nearly impossible to find a high-quality video of the performance. On YouTube, for instance, you can find a bootleg recording or two, but as you can imagine, the fidelity isn't there.
This isn't the first the Paramount+ has dug into the MTV archives to expand its catalog. Earlier this year, the streamer had an entire special program around Eric Clapton's 1992 set. If you want to check out the performances for yourself, Paramount+ offers a seven-day free trial.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/paramount-adds-50-classic-mtv-unplugged-episodes-155004134.html?src=rss
Kurt Cobain and Nirvana during the taping of MTV Unplugged at Sony Studios in New York City, 11/18/93. Photo by Frank Micelotta. *** Special Rates Apply *** Call for Rates ***
Last year’s Silent Hill 2 remake worked out pretty well for Konami and the studio that took on the project, Bloober Team. The two sides have decided to continue their partnership, as Bloober is making a new title based on Konami's intellectual property. Since the studio develops horror games, it's likely that this will be a fresh entry in the Silent Hill series. There is a possibility that it could be a Castlevania game instead. But I'm hoping the companies decide to get really weird and make a spooky Bomberman or something.
"The trust built upon the success of Silent Hill 2 laid the foundation for signing another agreement for a new project," the companies said. "The deal aligns with Bloober Team’s strategic plan to expand its internal development division within a first-party framework." Konami will publish the upcoming game and retain the rights to it.
The Silent Hill 2 remake arrived in early October and sold well, moving over 2 million copies by the end of January. It was critically acclaimed and received several nominations at The Game Awards. The remake was also one of Engadget's favorite games of 2024.
If, indeed, Bloober is making a completely new Silent Hill game, it won't be the only such title that's in the works. Two Silent Hill games that were announced in 2022 have yet to arrive: Silent Hill Townfall from Annapurna Interactive and No Code, and Silent Hill f from Ryūkishi07.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bloober-team-is-making-another-game-with-konami-following-silent-hill-2s-success-152602170.html?src=rss
