Engadget

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• Teenage Engineering's OP-1 synth update brings USB audio streaming 10 years after release
• Someone donated a copy of id Software's 'Super Mario Bros. 3' PC port to a museum
• WhatsApp is testing multi-device sync that doesn't require a phone
• Twitter removed a lot more abusive content in the second half of 2020 than ever before
• Apple gives the people what they want: their old Safari tab design back
• ‘Battlefield 2042’ will split cross-play between console generations
• Clubhouse unveils its new 'Backchannel' DM feature
• Twitter is killing Fleets
• Facebook is luring creators with $1 billion in payouts
• LG's rollable OLED R TV costs $100,000 in the US
• Chrome 94 will make sure you're connected to sites with HTTPS
• Android 12 beta 3 arrives with camera-based auto-rotation
• The Vive Focus 3 is the best standalone VR headset and no, you should not buy it
• Facebook wants the FTC's tech-critic chair to step back from antitrust decisions
• Facebook and AT&T team up for augmented reality experiences
• Razer's latest Blade 17 features 11th-gen Core i9 CPUs
• Microsoft unveils Windows 365, a Windows 10 PC in the cloud
• Xbox family app now lets parents set spending limits
• Paco Rabanne's latest fragrance has NFC, for some reason
• Amazon scraps plan for a Joe Exotic drama starring Nicolas Cage
• Apple brings its free tutorials to YouTube
• Netflix will tell parents what their kids are watching in biweekly emails
• Amazon is crowdfunding Echo Dots designed by Diane von Furstenberg
• The best accessories for your new iPad
• Amazon has acquired Facebook's satellite internet team

Teenage Engineering's OP-1 synth update brings USB audio streaming 10 years after release Posted: 14 Jul 2021 02:53 PM PDT Ten years after its initial release, Teenage Engineering still finds ways to surprise and delight with the OP-1. On Wednesday, the company released a software update for the much-loved synth that adds support for USB audio streaming. In short, that means it much easier to connect the OP-1 to your favorite digital audio workstation and start making music; there's no need anymore to first connect it to an external sound card. Similarly, if you want to sample and record to the OP-1, that's easier too. According to Teenage Engineering, USB audio streaming works with both PCs and Macs, as well as iOS and Android devices. So many years after release, the company says it was able to bring such a transformational feature to the OP-1 by adapting what it learned while working on the OP-Z. You can download the update by visiting the Teenage Engineering website and following the instructions listed there.

Someone donated a copy of id Software's 'Super Mario Bros. 3' PC port to a museum Posted: 14 Jul 2021 01:56 PM PDT In 2015, John Romero shared a video showing off a demo id Software developed in 1990 to sell Nintendo on the idea of a PC port of Super Mario Bros. 3. Nintendo went on to reject the studio's pitch, but the code John Carmack developed to allow the game to smoothly scroll on PC went on to play an important role in id's subsequent Commander Keen games. That piece of gaming history has now made its way to the Strong National Museum of Play. The museum told Ars Technica it recently obtained the demo as part of a larger donation. It came on a floppy disk from a developer who wasn't associated with the original project. Curator Andrew Borman says he imaged the disk to preserve it as a physical artifact and used DOSBox and Romero's video to verify what the museum had on its hands. "For being such an early demo, it is a lot of fun to play, especially 1-1, which recreates that iconic first level from Super Mario Bros 3," he told Ars Technica. Currently, the Museum of Play doesn't plan to exhibit the demo to the public, though Borman noted there would be "plenty of opportunities to come in the future." In the meantime, researchers can request to study the rare piece of gaming history.

WhatsApp is testing multi-device sync that doesn't require a phone Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:21 PM PDT Although WhatsApp users can use the messaging service across several platforms, they still need to be connected to a smartphone, largely because of the way WhatsApp handles end-to-end encryption (E2EE). That's about to change, and eventually you'll no longer need to have a phone nearby to use WhatsApp on the web, macOS, Windows or Portal. Starting today, WhatsApp will invite users to try its multi-device beta. You'll be able to use the service on your phone and up to four other devices (as long as they also aren't phones). WhatsApp will try the multi-device approach with a small group of people from its beta program. They'll be able to opt out of the beta later. With the help of those users, WhatsApp will optimize the multi-device experience and add some more features before rolling it out more broadly. Although many users have been requesting multi-device support, it's taken WhatsApp some time to make that happen. It has built a system that retains end-to-end encryption while letting people sync data like contact names, archives and starred messages across devices. Until now, the WhatsApp smartphone app has been an essential conduit for the service. Other platforms like the web and desktop apps maintain a consistent, secure link to the phone app and mirror the content. But if your phone battery dies or there's an issue with the smartphone app, you can't use WhatsApp on other platforms. Through the multi-device beta, each device will have its own identity key. Currently, users have a single identity key (i.e. the one on their phone) to handle encrypted messages. WhatsApp has developed systems it says will keep out eavesdroppers who try to add devices to a user's account and to minimize the number of times people need to confirm their identity across devices. You'll also have control over connected devices and see which ones are linked to your account. Along with messages, WhatsApp will have E2EE support for voice and video calls as part of the multi-device beta. There won't be any impact on the way WhatsApp handles cloud backups.  Solving the issue of supporting E2EE across a user's devices can be tricky given that only devices that messages are sent to and from are supposed to be able to decrypt them. Apple seems to have found an answer — iMessage supports E2EE across Apple devices. Although Telegram works on multiple devices, its E2EE approach (Secret Chats) does not currently do so. Like WhatsApp's current setup, Signal's desktop app also needs to connect to a smartphone to send and receive messages.

Twitter removed a lot more abusive content in the second half of 2020 than ever before Posted: 14 Jul 2021 11:49 AM PDT Twitter is getting better at moderating its platform. That's one of the main takeaways from the company's most recent transparency report, which it shared on Wednesday. Between July 1st and December 31st, 2020, Twitter says it took action against 964,459 accounts for abusive behavior. Compared to the first six months of 2020, that's a 142 percent increase. Over the same timeframe, Twitter also removed more hateful content. On that front, the company says it took action against 1,126,990 accounts, a 77 percent increase from the 635,415 accounts it reprimanded in the first half of 2020. What's notable here is that the company attributes the latter increase to policy changes it put in place throughout 2020. Specifically, it calls out the fact that it began taking action on "content that incites fear and/or fearful stereotypes about protected categories" as a result of an uptick in harassment during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The company also calls out an expansion of its hateful conduct policy in early December that saw the company prohibit language that "dehumanizes" people based on their race, ethnicity or national origin. Not mentioned in the report — but likely still something that had a positive effect — is the ban the company put in place in July against links to content that promotes violence and hateful conduct. In another part of the report, Twitter also attributes its recent success to better technology. As of the second half of last year, the company claims its automated moderation tools helped it take action against 65 percent of abusive tweets and other behavior before someone had to flag the content for its moderators. To put that percentage in perspective, those tools were about 50 percent effective by late 2019. Obviously, Twitter has yet to completely stop abuse, harassment and hate speech from taking place on its platform, but today's report shows the company is at least making progress on its 2019 promise to "increase the health of public conversation."

Apple gives the people what they want: their old Safari tab design back Posted: 14 Jul 2021 11:06 AM PDT The third developer betas for iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey started rolling out today, and key among the changes they bring is a set of updates to Apple's browser. Safari is getting some design updates, including easier access to reloading, sharing and Tab Groups in macOS Monterey, as well as improved navigation features in iOS 15.  One of the changes in the macOS Monterey beta that we didn't like was the removal of the tabs bar. Senior editor Devindra Hardawar pointed out that while the new menu in its place allowed Apple to devote more screen space to website content, it made sorting through your tabs messy and tedious. With today's beta release, though, Apple's brought back the standalone Tab bar, which will be enabled by default, like it was on Big Sur.  In addition, you'll also get one-click access to controls including Reload and Sharing, as well as access to new features like Tab Groups from the toolbar. If you liked the thin menu that gave you more space for browsing, you can still adopt it, and Apple's refined this to make it easier to see page titles while you rack up more tabs. These changes will also come to iPadOS in a future beta update, which is nice since deputy editor Nathan Ingraham also criticized the removal of the tab bar in our preview. On iOS 15, Apple's tweaked Safari to make it easier to use with one hand. When you're entering a search, the field will now appear on top of the keyboard so it's nearer the bottom of the screen, making it easier to edit your query. When you're done typing, you can dismiss the keyboard by swiping down on it. Apple also added a Reload option to the long-press menu on the left side of the tab bar.  If you haven't already, you can enroll in Apple's beta program to check these previews out for yourself. But be warned, you'll need to be sure you want to risk running potentially unstable software. If you can't wait a bit longer for the stable release, make sure you back up your data before installing the updates. You can find out how to do so here.

‘Battlefield 2042’ will split cross-play between console generations Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:48 AM PDT EA and DICE have shed some light on their plans for cross-play in Battlefield 2042. While the feature is still in development, there likely won't be a way for all players to join the same lobbies. During an upcoming invite-only technical playtest, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC players will be able to hop into games together. DICE is planning to split the player pool between gamers on those platforms and those on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. PC and console players can opt out from playing against each other, which might soothe concerns about the disparity between controllers and mouse and keyboard. Dividing players between console generations might come as a disappointment to some, especially for those with friends who don't have a decent gaming rig or haven't been able to snag a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. However, it makes sense. The PS4 and Xbox One versions will have smaller lobbies than on PC and current consoles, with 64 players instead of 128, as well as slightly condensed maps. Gameplay will otherwise be the same on all platforms, including weather events like tornados. Cross-progression is in the works too. Your progress and items (including ones you buy) will carry over from one platform to another, so if you hop between PC and PlayStation or Xbox, you'll have access to all of your gear. Elsewhere, DICE plans to use bots to fill out lobbies when needed to improve matchmaking and perhaps get you into matches faster. You can't opt out from using the bots, though players will always have priority over AI soldiers. If a player leaves mid-game, a bot will take over until someone else joins.  The bots should act in a similar way to human players, though they won't be able to use wingsuits or class-based abilities. The AI soldiers can carry out other tasks, like reviving teammates, calling in vehicles and capturing objectives. You'll be able to battle bots in solo and co-op modes too. In a blog post covering these tidbits, DICE and EA spilled the beans about some other features, including vehicles, fully customizable loadouts and how different modes focus on certain areas of maps. Meanwhile, DICE said you won't be able to fight on every floor of a skyscraper, only the lobby and rooftop. More details about Battlefield 2042 will be revealed at the EA Play Live event on July 22nd.

Clubhouse unveils its new 'Backchannel' DM feature Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:31 AM PDT Clubhouse, the oftcloned invite-only audio chat platform that recently expanded to Android, has since its inception lacked a seemingly fundamental feature present on virtually every other social media app: the ability to directly message other users. But no longer! On Wednesday, the company announced that the Clubhouse app will now support DMs in the form of the new Backchannel messaging feature. Backchannel will function as both a private messaging system for both 1:1 interactions and group chats. With it, Clubhouse envisions users employing it to coordinate privately among a channel's co-hosts, take sensitive questions or privately thank participants outside of the general group discussion, or just audibly shoot the breeze with your buddies.

Twitter is killing Fleets Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:30 AM PDT Twitter is killing Fleets less than a year after launching the Stories-like feature to all its users. All Fleets will disappear for the final time on August 3rd. The short lived feature was at times controversial. Soon after it rolled out to all Twitter users last November, many raised questions about how the feature could be used to target others for harassment. Others questioned whether Twitter really needed a "Stories" feature of its own. In a blog post, Twitter VP of Product Ilya Brown said the company hadn't "seen an increase in the number of new people joining the conversation with Fleets like we hoped." Brown added that Spaces will continue to get placement at the top of users' timelines and that the company is still analyzing the full-screen ads it started testing in Fleets last month (Twitter hinted at the time that the new ad format could eventually make its way to other places in the service, too). Both Brown and Twitter Product Lead Kayvon Beykpour pointed out that "winding down features every once in awhile" is something the company fully anticipates as it tries to reinvent itself. Twitter has been working on a number of new features that could dramatically change its service – including subscriptions and paid features for creators — and has publicly previewed several newideas it's considering in recent months.

Facebook is luring creators with $1 billion in payouts Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:25 AM PDT Facebook plans to dish out over $1 billion to creators across its platforms through the end of 2022, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said. "We want to build the best platforms for millions of creators to make a living," he wrote in a Facebook post. "Investing in creators isn't new for us, but I'm excited to expand this work over time." The aim is to "reward creators for great content they create on Facebook and Instagram." The company will pay all kinds of creators, including those who are just starting to share their own content and build an audience. Facebook will offer creators more ways to earn payouts when they hit certain milestones and provide "seed funding" for some of them to make content. Facebook will add Bonus sections to the Instagram app later this summer and the Facebook app in the fall where creators can learn about various programs, including details on eligibility and how to apply. Some of those programs are already available to invited creators, such as bonuses for running ads on Facebook live streams, and for video and gaming creators who reach certain earnings milestones with Stars (Facebook's Twitch Bits-style tipping currency) over the next few months. Facebook As for Instagram, invited creators can receive bonuses when they sign up to run IGTV ads (they'll also get a cut of ad revenue), sell a certain number of badges on live streams and make great Reels that perform well. Facebook will roll out more incentive programs in the coming months. The payouts build on Facebook's other monetization options, including fan subscriptions, paid online events and creator shops. A billion dollars is a significant war chest for Facebook as it looks to lure creators away from rival platforms like YouTube, Substack (with Bulletin newsletters), Twitch and TikTok. In June, Zuckerberg said Facebook won't take a cut of creators' earnings through 2022, perhaps providing them with more of an incentive to switch to Facebook's products. The company has signed exclusive deals with Facebook Gaming creators over the last few years, too. Facebook has been rolling out more ways for creators to make and share content. It's clearer than ever that attracting and rewarding influencers is an important part of Facebook's strategy. If there were any doubt that the creator economy is thriving, that billion-dollar figure might be enough to change some skeptics' minds.

LG's rollable OLED R TV costs $100,000 in the US Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:15 AM PDT LG is done skirting around the price of its rollable OLED R TV. As noted by The Verge, the company's US website now says you can buy the set for $100,000. Previously, not only did LG not list the price of the OLED R in the US, you had to call a sales representative to buy one. Now all that's in between you and the company's futuristic TV is an "Add to Cart" button and about the cost of a down payment on a house in the Bay Area. For that amount of money, you get a 65-inch 4K TV that can take on different viewing positions. In its signature "Line View" mode, only part of the OLED R is visible to display the time, weather and other bits of information. It's also possible to lower the display to do away with letterboxing when watching a movie. Other features include support for Dolby Vision, AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. And while the panel doesn't get as bright as LG's latest G1 sets, it can still output gaming content at 4K and 120Hz. If you're looking for a more affordable entry into LG's OLED TV ecosystem, the company's 2021 lineup starts at a much more approachable $1,299. Even its mid-tier C1 family won't set you back as much as the OLED R, with the most expensive variant in that lineup coming in at $5,999. But then who are we to tell you how to spend your money?

Chrome 94 will make sure you're connected to sites with HTTPS Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:00 AM PDT In April, Google made HTTPS the default in Chrome, but that doesn't mean the company's long-standing push to make the protocol as widely used as possible is over. On Wednesday, Google detailed new features it will introduce in Chrome to further push HTTPS adoption. With Chrome 94, Google will introduce a feature called HTTPS-First Mode. Much like its Firefox counterpart, the tool will attempt to ensure you always connect to a website over HTTPS. When that's not possible, Chrome will display a warning that you're putting your privacy and security at risk. At first, users will need to turn on the feature, though Google says it may make it the default for everyone down the road. Ahead of Chrome 94, the company has a separate HTTPS-related experiment planned. Starting with Chrome 93, Google will replace the lock icon in the address bar, which indicates you're securely connected to a website, with a more "neutral" downward arrow. The company says it's doing this to see if to "improve the discoverability of critical privacy and security information." According to Google, only 11 percent of participants in a recent study knew what the icon meant. Most people assumed it was Chrome's way of saying the website they were visiting was trustworthy, which is a potentially risky leap to make. The experiment won't change the icon you'll see when you connect to a website over HTTP. It will continue to say "Not Secure" in the address bar. Despite all that it's doing to make HTTPS as ubiquitous as possible, Google says it will continue to support HTTP for the time being. At the same time, the company notes it will explore whether it should limit or completely restrict certain Chrome features when you don't have a secure connection to a website.

Android 12 beta 3 arrives with camera-based auto-rotation Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:00 AM PDT Google is ready to add more features to the public preview of its upcoming platform as it gets closer to being ready for its proper launch. The company announced that it's pushing out the third beta of Android 12 today, and it brings features like scrolling screenshots, enhanced auto-rotate and more. For developers, Google said this is the "last beta release before the Platform Stability milestone," which means they can begin to test their apps for the next platform. Beta 3 will also include the final Android 12 APIs and official SDK.  Those may not seem obviously impactful for the average user. What will feel more immediately useful are scrolling screenshots, which Google said will work "out-of-the-box for most apps." With Beta 3, when you snap an image of your screen, you'll see a new "Capture more" button. Tap that, and you'll extend the boundaries of your screenshot to get all the content available, after which you can adjust the crop. Google said it's "continuing to iterate on scrolling screenshots" and "also working to provide support for a wider variety of content (such as web content)," so it's possible this version isn't what you'll see when Android 12 officially launches. Google Beta 3 also brings enhanced auto-rotate, which will use your phone's front camera to detect your face and tell when you've flipped the device. As opposed to relying only on accelerometers/gyroscopes to detect the orientation of your phone, this can make auto-rotate more responsive. It's "especially helpful for people who are using their devices while lying down on a couch or in bed, for example," Google said. If you don't like the idea of your camera being used to see how you're holding up your phone, it may help to know that the company said the feature lives in its Private Compute Core and the "images are never stored or sent off the device." Enhanced auto-rotate will be available on the Pixel 4 and newer Pixel devices. If you're on an older or non-Pixel phone, you'll also see some improvements. Google said it "optimized the animation and redrawing and added an ML-driven gesture-detection algorithm" that's reduced the base auto-rotate feature's latency by 25 percent.  Another new feature on Beta 3 is platform support for Google's on-device search engine called AppSearch. It'll allow developers to offer better search tools in their apps, and also offer them the option of participating in a central index "that's maintained for the entire system in Android 12 (and later releases)." Those who opt-in to the central index will enable Google to show data from their apps in overall system searches. Developers can also choose to "securely share data with other apps, allowing them to search your app's data as well as their own." That means one day, if they decide to enable it, apps like Tinder and Spotify could search data within your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram apps, for example.  Google That function is not here yet since it requires developer participation. Many other features on Beta 3 are also behind-the-scenes, like the new ability for enterprises to set camera and mic restrictions on devices they manage. Android 12's Game Mode APIs will let developers respond appropriately to different profiles selected by the player, "like better battery life for a long commute, or performance mode to get peak frame rates," for example. These will be part of an "upcoming game dashboard which provides an overlay experience with quick access to key utilities during gameplay" that will be available on select devices later this year. We're still eagerly awaiting the addition of the Material You design scheme that Google unveiled at I/O earlier this year, but as Android 12 approaches platform stability and a final release, it looks like most of the features we were expecting are here. If you're eager to test out this preview and can't wait for the official launch, you can enroll in Google's beta program. As always, we must caution that preview software is not guaranteed to be stable and you should back up your data before installing the beta. Whether you check out this early build or wait for a little longer, it does seem like a meaty update is coming for Android users that could be worth the anticipation.

The Vive Focus 3 is the best standalone VR headset and no, you should not buy it Posted: 14 Jul 2021 09:30 AM PDT   After the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive launched in 2016, bringing virtual reality into homes for the first time, the two companies have gone in very different directions. While Oculus leaned more toward mainstream consumers, especially with last year's Quest 2, the Vive targeted businesses and the tech savvy. That strategy hasn't always worked out in Vive's favor — the long-awaited Cosmos headset was a disappointment — but it probably makes more sense than competing with Facebook's practically limitless resources head-on. Enter the Vive Focus 3, a $1,300 standalone headset that's really only meant for businesses. Because it costs $1,000 more than the Oculus Quest 2, the Focus 3 unsurprisingly offers better hardware, ergonomics and build quality than Oculus's headset. It's the difference between building a device that's meant to be used throughout the day in professional settings, and something you may use once in a while for gaming. The Vive Focus 3 is meant to get shit done. At first glance, the Focus 3 certainly looks more like a premium VR workhorse than the Quest 2. While the Oculus headset has flimsy cloth straps and a minimalist goggle design, the Focus 3 looks like an expensive pair of ski goggles fashioned into a VR device. Its magnesium alloy frame is still technically plastic, but it feels sturdier than the Quest's flimsy case (HTC Vive claims it's 20 percent lighter and five times stronger than traditional plastic). As much as I liked the Quest 2, you can instantly feel how much Oculus skimped on its materials to reach that low $299 price. While Oculus leaned into the sleek and curvy Apple gadget aesthetic, HTC Vive went for sharper lines and a more elaborate design. The Focus 3's headstrap, for example, looks far more involved with a plastic frame, tons of cushioning and a rear dial to tighten everything up. It's also angled around the sides so it never touches your ears, which goes a long way toward making the VR experience feel more comfortable. The rear part of the strap may look chunky, but that's because it also houses the Focus 3's battery pack. Putting a bit more junk in the trunk helps to balance its weight, so it's not leaning down on your nose uncomfortably like some earlier VR headsets. (The Quest 2's Elite Strap and rear battery pack offers a similarly balanced feel, so the Focus 3's design isn't completely innovative.) Devindra Hardawar/Engadget The Focus 3's battery pack is removable, which allows businesses to keep a single headset running continuously throughout the day. One downside to this unique battery design is that the Focus 3 charges via a proprietary AC adapter, despite having a USB-C port. As a concession, the company includes a dual USB-C cable that connects to the headset and can charge both controllers simultaneously. Your desk may end up looking like a sea of cables, but at least you can make sure all your VR gear is charged. While its design shows just how much HTC Vive has learned over the years, it's what's under the hood that makes the Focus 3 special. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 chip, similar to the Quest 2, but it's also running at a higher clock speed. (To get faster and more consistent performance, HTC Vive also squeezed in a heat pipe and cooling fan at the front of the headset.) The Focus 3's displays offer 5K resolution (4,896 by 2,448 pixels), a smooth 90Hz refresh rate and a wide 120-degree field of view. In comparison, the Quest 2's screen is close to 4K and has an estimated 90- to 100-degree field of view (depending on where you position the lenses). Both headsets offer LCDs with RGB sub-pixels, which offers a boost in sharpness and clarity compared to PenTile OLED screens from earlier models. As far as VR technology goes, the Focus 3 has just about everything you'd want in a modern headset. But there are simple, less technical upgrades that I appreciated too, like its support for large 150mm-wide glasses. It usually takes a bit of effort for me to squeeze a headset over my frames, and they inevitably get yanked out whenever I step out of VR. But I never had to deal with that on the Focus 3, thanks to its roomy interior. There's also an IPD adjustment dial to help you fine-tune exactly how its lenses hit your eyes; the Quest 2 only gives you a few options to adjust IPD. The elaborate padding around the front and rear also goes a long way toward making you forget you're even wearing a VR headset. Even the Focus 3's controllers are better than anything we've seen from HTC Vive before. They look similar to Oculus's, with a round tracking ring, face buttons, as well as the standard grip and trigger buttons. Clearly, they're light years beyond the enormous controllers that the original HTC Vive came with. Still, Oculus has the edge when it comes to overall ergonomics. The Quest 2's gamepads are contoured to better fit your hands, especially during fast-paced games. Holding the Focus 3's controllers, meanwhile, feels more awkward during lengthy VR sessions. Devindra Hardawar/Engadget Thankfully, though, the headset itself is comfortable to wear for hours at a time, and it delivers the most immersive standalone virtual reality experiences I've seen yet. I wandered the Louvre in Mona Lisa Beyond the Glass, which let me get inches away from several classic da Vinci paintings. If I tried to do that in real life, I'm sure some security guards would swiftly kick me out. But in VR, I could admire the detail in every work of art. I was also surprised just how great everything looked in the Focus 3. There was more detail than in any Quest 2 experience I've seen, and the large field of view genuinely made me feel like I was walking through the Louvre's ornate halls, instead of just peering in through a pair of VR binoculars. Similarly, I had a genuine sense of walking through meadows and tropical beaches in the Nature Treks VR experience. The Focus 3's sharp display once again shined when I peered at statues and wildlife up close, but the detail was limited by its mobile hardware. 360-degree YouTube videos also looked fantastic when I fired them up in Firefox VR, but the experience can be hit or miss depending on the quality of the source. And even though the headset doesn't have beefy near-field speakers like the Valve Index and HP Reverb G2 . I was surprised that the Focus 3 didn't include any sort of built-in multimedia app for watching VR videos, but that really underscores one of its biggest problems: The Focus 3 has a far more limited software library than the Quest. While Oculus has pushed for high-profile exclusives and popular games, like Vader Immortal and Beat Saber, the HTC VivePort store feel practically anemic. There are a handful of shared titles across both platforms, like Last Labyrinth and Tokyo Chronos, but it's clear they aren't a big focus for HTC Vive. Devindra Hardawar/Engadget At this point, even installing new experiences is more of a pain on the Focus 3, since you need to take off the headset to purchase apps and games from your web browser. Meanwhile, the Quest and Quest 2 let you buy things from within the headset and a mobile app. But I suppose that's not a huge problem for HTC Vive, since the Focus 3 isn't meant for consumers at all. Instead, IT departments will likely preload the software their workers actually need. (There's also going to be a Vive Business App Store eventually, though it's unclear if that will offer a better purchasing experience.) That's one reason why we're not scoring this review. This $1,300 headset isn't meant to be consumer friendly. And honestly, I couldn't even test some of the more popular business apps, like Vive Sync's virtual collaboration tool and Engage's event app. HTC Vive's previous Focus headsets also gained a reputation for being easy ways to train employees using apps like Virti. And while that app certainly looks cool in the Focus 3, I can't exactly tell if it's offering effective training or not. There are also features I haven't been able to effectively test out. The Focus 3 offers Vive Business Streaming, which lets you connect the headset to a VR PC over a USB 3.2 cable or Wi-Fi. But it's apparently very picky, as none of the USB cables I used were even recognized by the software (and some would just throw an error saying they weren't USB 3.0 capable, even though I knew they were). You can also stream PC VR over Wi-Fi, but that only works if your computer is connected directly to your router over Ethernet, and if you have a strong wireless connection with the headset. That just wasn't possible in my basement office. I'm hoping HTC Vive works out its connection requirements, especially since Oculus Link on the Quest is far less demanding when it comes to cables. Devindra Hardawar/Engadget No matter how you cut it, the Quest 2 is still the standalone VR headset most consumers should buy. But the Focus 3 is perfect for businesses looking for something a bit more sturdy and powerful. For them, a $1,300 device makes more sense than investing tens of thousands on more elaborate training tools.

Facebook wants the FTC's tech-critic chair to step back from antitrust decisions Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:29 AM PDT Amazon isn't the only one asking for Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan to step away from cases. The Wall Street Journalreports that Facebook has petitioned the FTC to recuse Khan from discussions on whether or not the regulator should pursue another antitrust case against the social network. She can't be impartial, Facebook argued, as she has "consistently" accused Facebook of offenses that would warrant an antitrust case. We've asked the FTC for comment. Khan has already said she would talk to ethics officials at the Commission if there were concerns she might need to recuse herself. Khan has been an outspoken critic of not just "Big Tech" companies like Amazon and Facebook, but of a US antitrust system she felt was inadequate for reining in corporate abuses. Those firms are clearly nervous Khan will pursue further action, including an ongoing antitrust complaint against Facebook. Not that recusal will necessarily protect tech giants from disruptions to the status quo — the FTC and politicians haven't been shy about wanting to crack down on these companies before Khan assumed her new role.

Facebook and AT&T team up for augmented reality experiences Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:15 AM PDT AT&T and Facebook Reality Labs are joining forces to work on "collaborative video calling" as well as augmented reality experiences in Facebook's apps. They're using Spark AR, a platform from Facebook that powers AR experiences across devices and the company's apps. Their first AR collaboration is a promo for Space Jam: A New Legacy. Using your phone, you can bring Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck and Tweety into your space via a website, AT&T's Instagram profile or Facebook. You can use the front or rear camera to take a picture with them or create a video with a custom intro from Bugs Bunny. AT&T says its 5G network can boost the "performance and reliability for each AR experience," with the help of more vivid graphics and shorter load times. The Facebook partnership is one of a slew of 5G collaborations that AT&T will discuss at an event on Wednesday. The provider has partnered with Boingo to bring 5G+ (aka millimeter wave 5G) to airports across the US, including John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles Airport and Denver International Airport. They plan to roll out 5G+ in seven airports this year and 25 by the end of 2022 with the aim of reducing network congestion. AT&T, which suggests you might use the network to quickly download a bunch of TV show episodes right before a flight, has already switched on 5G at Tampa International Airport. AT&T has also teamed up with an app called Bookful for 5G-powered AR reading experiences with characters from kids' books leaping out of the screen. In addition, it's working with Warner Bros., Ericsson, Qualcomm, Dreamscape and Wevr on a proof-of-concept Harry Potter virtual reality experience called Chaos at Hogwarts.

Razer's latest Blade 17 features 11th-gen Core i9 CPUs Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:00 AM PDT Razer has unveiled its latest Blade 17 with the latest NVIDIA and Intel parts targeted at both gamers and content creators. It also launched the more mild-mannered, but much cheaper and still pretty well-equipped Blade 15 Base, also equipped with Intel's latest 11th-generation CPUs. The Blade 17 is certainly the star of this show, as it comes with Intel's 8-core 11th-generation Core i9-11900H, the same we saw in its Blade 15 laptop earlier this year. As Intel's first 10-nanometer gaming PC chips, it delivers a 19 percent speed bump over equivalent last-gen CPUs, Intel claims. You can also clock the chip up to 4.9 GHz while seeing a stock PL1 power draw of 65 watts. All of that means you should see more performance and power efficiency at the same time, according to Razer and Intel. Razer To compliment that CPU, you can get the Blade 17 with up to an RTX 3080 GPU in either 8GB or 16GB configurations, depending on the display. And there are three display choices: you can get it with a 120Hz 4K HDR 400 nit touch display for content creation (with the 16GB VRAM RTX 3080 configuration), a 360Hz 1080p display for the fastest gaming possible, or a 240Hz 2,560 x 1,440 display for a blend of the two.   Other specs include 32GB of 3,200 MHz Dual-Channel DDR4 RAM (upgradeable to 64GB), up to a 4TB NVMe SSD (with an open M.2 slot) and numerous ports: Two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB-C 3.2 Gen2), three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A ports, HDMI 2.1 and a UHS-III SD card reader. It also comes with WiFi6, a 1080p webcam with Windows Hello IR, THX spatial audio support, a 4-mic array and a 70.5 WHr battery.  Razer All of that fits in a 6.06 pound squarish body with typical Razer styling that's relatively slim at 19.9 mm. The Blade 17 is now available for pre-order at $2,400, but you'll pay up to $3,700 for the 4K display-equipped model with 32GB of RAM and an RTX 3080 with 16GB of DDR6 VRAM.  The Blade 15 Base (below) is more modestly equipped than either that model or the Blade 15 we saw in May. However, it still has respectable components including Intel's 8-core i7-11800H processor and up to RTX 3070 8GB graphics. It also comes with either a 144Hz 1080p IPS, THX certified display or a 165Hz QHD display with up to 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage. Razer Other features on the Blade 15 Base include a single Thunderbolt 4 port (USB-C), three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, HDMI 2.1 and Gigabit ethernet. That's a bit of a letdown from the Blade 15 advanced, which has an extra Thunderbolt port and an SD UHS III card reader. However, you'll also pay considerably less, as the Blade 15 Base starts at $1,800, compared to the $2,300 starting price of the Blade Advanced.

Microsoft unveils Windows 365, a Windows 10 PC in the cloud Posted: 14 Jul 2021 08:00 AM PDT Windows 365, a new service announced today at the Microsoft Inspire conference, is basically an unintentional riff on the Yo Dawg meme: Microsoft put Windows in the cloud so you can run a Windows computer while you're running your computer. You can just call it a Cloud PC, as Microsoft does. It's basically an easy-to-use virtual machine that lets you hop into your own Windows 10 (and eventually Windows 11) installation on any device, be it a Mac, iPad, Linux device or Android tablet. Xzibit would be proud. Microsoft While Windows 365 doesn't come completely out of nowhere — rumors about some kind of Microsoft cloud PC effort have been swirling for months — its full scope is still surprising. It builds on Microsoft's Azure Virtual Desktop service, which lets tech-savvy folks also spin up their own virtual PCs, but it makes the entire process of managing a Windows installation in a far-off server far simpler. You just need to head to Windows365.com when it launches on August 2nd, choose a virtual machine configuration, and you'll be up and running. (Unfortunately, we don't yet know how much the service is going to cost, but Microsoft says it will reveal final pricing on August 1st.) Windows 365 likely isn't going to mean much for most consumers, but it could be life-changing for IT departments and small businesses. Now, instead of managing local Windows installations on pricey notebooks, IT folks can get by with simpler hardware that taps into a scalable cloud. Windows 365 installations will be configurable with up to eight virtual CPUs, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage at the time of launch. Microsoft is also exploring ways to bring in dedicated GPU power for more demanding users, Scott Manchester, the director of Program Management for Windows 365, tells us. Smaller businesses, meanwhile, could set up Windows 365 instances for their handful of employees to use on shared devices. And instead of lugging a work device home, every Windows 365 user can securely hop back into their virtual desktops from their home PCs or tablets via the web or Microsoft's Remote Desktop app. During a brief demo of Windows 365, running apps and browsing the web didn't seem that different than a local PC. It's also fast enough to stream video without any noticeable artifacts, Manchester says. (Microsoft is also using technology that can render streaming video on a local machine, which it eventually passes over to your Cloud PC.) You'll also be able to roll back your Cloud PC to previous states, which should be helpful if you ever accidentally delete important files. Microsoft While the idea for Windows 365 came long before the pandemic, Microsoft workers spent the last year learning first-hand how useful a Cloud PC could be. They used a tool meant for hybrid work — where you can easily switch between working in an office or remotely — while stuck at home during the pandemic. But why develop Windows 365 when Azure Virtual Desktop already exists? Manchester tells us that Microsoft noticed a whopping 80 percent of AVD customers were relying on third-party vendors to help manage their installations. "Ultimately, they were looking for Microsoft to be a one-stop-shop for them to get all the services they need to," he said said. That statistic isn't very surprising. Virtualizing operating systems has been a useful local tool for developers over the last few decades, but it's typically been a bit too difficult for mainstream users to manage on their own. And even though a tool like Azure Virtual Desktop brought it to the cloud (Manchester assures us that's not going anywhere either), it's even more difficult to manage.  One thing Windows 365 doesn't mean, at least at this point, is the end of traditional computers. "I think we'll still continue to have great client PC experiences," said Melissa Grant, director of Product Marketing for Windows 365, in an interview. "You know we have a relationship with our laptops. It is our sort of home and hub for our computing experience. What we want to offer with Windows 365 is the ability to have that same familiar and consistent Windows experience across other devices."

Xbox family app now lets parents set spending limits Posted: 14 Jul 2021 07:26 AM PDT You won't have to worry about your kids going on a game shopping spree, at least if you're part of a Windows or Xbox household. Microsoft has updated the Xbox Family Settings app with controls to manage your kids' spending. You can set spending limits, and require that children ask permission to buy content when they don't have the funds in their account. And if you're wondering what your young ones bought, you can check their spending history. Microsoft pitches this as a way not just to prevent out-of-control spending, but to reward good behavior. You can top up an account when your child finishes their chores, or reward them with money for Minecraft extras when they ace a test. The refreshed Family Settings app is available now for Android and iOS. The spending tools aren't exactly novel concepts, but they could make all the difference if you want to teach your kids better spending habits — or at least, save yourself from unpleasant credit card bills.

Paco Rabanne's latest fragrance has NFC, for some reason Posted: 14 Jul 2021 07:00 AM PDT What does the future smell like? That depends on who you ask. PUIG's perfumiers, who produce scents for Paco Rabanne, believe that the future smells sexy, confident and energetic. That's how they're choosing to market Phantom, the fashion house's latest fragrance-cum-piece of retro-futurist art. Phantom comes in a robot-shaped bottle that, when you tap your phone on the NFC tag embedded into its head, welcomes you into its own digital world. Digital trinkets on offer will include interactive filters, personalized playlists, augmented reality filters and more. Paco Rabanne is the nom de guerre of Spanish designer Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, who in the '60s was a pioneering figure in the fashion world. Both he, and the house that bears his name, has had an appreciation for the absurdity of science fiction. Rabanne began producing dresses with metal and plastic, glued, or stitched together with wire, rather than sewing. His couture work graces pretty much every retrospective of '60s fashion and, far more than his contemporaries, embodies the "space age" fashion of the era. Phantom is intended as a love letter to that history, with retro-futurist design that wouldn't have looked out of place in Barbarella. The bottle is heavy, with the traditional lower-case "pr" logo in its torso, with the outline of the "p" made out of glass. That lets you watch the water line fall as you spritz yourself every morning with the scent. It comes in two sizes: 100ml (which I've seen and used) and 150ml, only the latter of which is refillable. Of course, Phantom isn't just a fancy bottle, but the key to a whole online world of digital goodies. The top of its bottle houses an NFC chip that, when tapped, welcomes the owner's smartphone to a list of digital trinkets as a reward for buying the bottle. At the time of writing, only two items are available, but the company says that the list of items will grow over time, as outlined above. Daniel Cooper First up, Boombot lets you pick a date to get a Spotify "playlist of bangers that were number one on that day." Upon closer analysis, it looks like it's limited to the US charts, but you'll be able to open the playlist in Spotify and groove to half a century of tunes. It's a feature that you'll be familiar with if you've ever used a website like MyBirthdayHits, which looks a little less beautiful but does a very similar job. Second and for now last, is an exclusive Instagram filter called Paco Rabanne's Phantom Philter. This sees a tiny AR version of the bottle sit on your shoulder, fly around your head or tell someone that it loves them, its eyes and head motion are synched to yours, too. And it's fun, fun enough for at least one selfie with the little cartoon. But the sci-fi isn't just in the clothes that Phantom is wearing, but in how the fragrance was created in the first place. Perfumiers worked in collaboration with an AI that helped them explore new possibilities in crafting the scent. According to the company, the team conceived of a new smell, and then programmed the formula into an AI, which ran through a series of as-yet untried combinations to make reactions to the smell more intense. In Phantom's case, perfumier Loc Dong wanted to try and "over-dose" a molecule called styrallyl acetate. When he suggested this to the computer, it recommended that Dong use "ten times the usual amount," compared to a modern perfume. Similarly, the lavender used in the fragrance was sourced through "molecular distillation" which produces a "very modern lavender note." In a statement, Paco Rabane added that the fragrance was tested on men aged 18-35, to determine how it made them feel. They said that Phantom made them feel "sexiness," "alertness" and "energy," although the specifics on that testing is a little loose. Now, I'm no perfume reviewer, a job that I'll leave to the vastly more qualified people over at Fragrantica. (Who knew that people could sniff a scent and wish that the designers had added more Bergamot?) I would describe Phantom as a sweet musk, one that even hours after applying, felt strong and persistent. It's certainly a more energetic smell than the one I'm used to — my aftershave of choice is Chanel Allure Homme Sport — and felt more productive as a consequence. In fact, Phantom is a strong scent but not an unpleasant or overpowering one, and everyone who, in these COVID-sensitive times, I've invited to sniff me seemed to agree. All in all, it smells pretty good. I don't know if the digital goodies on offer will be a compelling draw here, at least not on current evidence. Maybe this is for those menswear influencers I see all the damn time on Instagram, even if they're more commonly repping YSL and Celine. Perhaps a little AR robot, sitting on their shoulder while they smoke and drink coffee, reclining on a Paris park bench, is what they need to bolster their effortful laid back cool. But, fundamentally, you're going to buy this thing because it smells nice, not because you get a free Instagram filter… right? Phantom by Paco Rabanne is launching on August 1st, 2021, and will be available in the US at Macy's, Nordstrom's, Dillard's and Sephora. No word, yet, on how much the 100ml bottle will cost, but the 150ml edition will set you back $125, while the 200ml refill is priced at $130.

Amazon scraps plan for a Joe Exotic drama starring Nicolas Cage Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:27 AM PDT Don't get your hopes up for Amazon's take on Tiger King's Joe Exotic. Variety has learned from would-be show star Nicolas Cage that Amazon has scrapped the series. While the scripts were "excellent," according to Cage, Amazon reportedly felt the project had become "past tense" after taking too long to formulate. The company had lost its chance to capitalize on the Netflix show's success, to put it another way. Amazon declined to comment. NBCUniversal's Peacock service is believed to still have its own Tiger King project in the works, with Kate McKinnon starring as Carole Baskin. It's not a surprising decision. Tiger King surged in popularity thanks both to its how-can-this-be-real subject matter and its debut in late March 2020, right as many pandemic lockdowns began. It could have been difficult to recapture that zeitgeist. There's also the matter of riffing on a rival service's show. Amazon might not have been keen to advertise for Netflix, even if its own series garnered critical acclaim.

Apple brings its free tutorials to YouTube Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:00 AM PDT Since 2017, all of Apple's retail stores have offered Today At Apple sessions, free workshops where you can learn, among other things, how to get the most out of the company's devices and software. In 2020, necessitated by the pandemic, Apple started offering those tutorials online, hosting the sessions over Cisco Webex. Starting today, the company is making Today at Apple tutorials available on YouTube. The first one will teach you how to draw yourself as a Peanuts character in Pages. Krista Porter, a storyboard artist on The Snoopy Show, leads the nearly 10-minute long tutorial alongside Anthony, a creative pro at Apple's Carnegie Library location in Washington DC. Showrunner Mark Evestaff also makes an appearance in the video to talk about the Apple TV+ exclusive. We'll have to see how later episodes shape up, but at least in its current YouTube form, Today at Apple is as much a workshop series as it is a product advertisement. That's not surprising. Today at Apple has had that slant for a while, but it's only one facet of the program as a whole. The move to YouTube also means the sessions don't function as a workshop where you can ask the instructor to clarify a point. So it's best to think of the program's YouTube availability as a way for the company to show people who might know about Today at Apple that it exists. Apple says it will upload more Today at Apple sessions to YouTube in the future.

Netflix will tell parents what their kids are watching in biweekly emails Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:00 AM PDT As part of its latest push to court families, Netflix is launching two new features that highlight its children's programming. Starting today, subscribers will see a new top 10 list on kids and family profiles that ranks the streamer's most popular children's shows and movies. Netflix says the leaderboard will be updated daily to reflect what its 208 million customers are watching in 93 countries across the globe. Viewers can access the top 10 in the kids homepage or in the 'New & Popular' section in the menu bar across devices, barring Apple TV. To help parents keep track of what their children are watching, Netflix is also sending out a biweekly email newsletter crammed with recommendations based on kids' viewing habits, including the their thematic preferences (like science or friendship shows), and tips on the streamer's parental controls. That will land in the inbox of parents who have a kids profile set up starting July 16th. The features arrive as Netflix ramps up its kids' content in the face of stiff competition from streaming rivals. On Tuesday, the company extended its US licensing deal for Universal's animated film slate, giving it access to Illumination and Dreamworks movies such as Minions: The Rise of Gru. In addition, Bloomberg revealed that the streamer had struck a partnership with Moonbug Entertainment for new shows based on its popular YouTube properties CoComelon, Blippi and Little Baby Bum.  Netflix's recent high-profile kids releases include a cooking show starring Michelle Obama titled Waffles + Mochi and the Lord and Miller produced animated movie The Mitchells vs the Machines. In the past, the streaming service has used interactive shows, IP acquisitions and series aimed at preschoolers to keep families coming back. The competition has also seized upon kids content as a means of attracting subscribers. Earlier this year, HBO Max ordered a raft of new Cartoon Network shows, bumping up its slate to 300 hours of children's originals and 3,000 hours of library programming. Disney, meanwhile, has unloaded its vault of cherished family classics onto Disney+, along with Pixar exclusives and spinoffs such as Luca and Monsters at Work. Paramount+ also just announced a Fairly OddParents live-action reboot to add to its Nickelodeon line-up.

Amazon is crowdfunding Echo Dots designed by Diane von Furstenberg Posted: 14 Jul 2021 06:00 AM PDT Amazon's latest set of crowdfunded Echo devices aim for luxury over eccentricity. The retailer has unveiled three new trippy Echo Dot concepts from Belgian fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) that you can pre-order today for $60 each. Well, as long as they hit their sales target.  Like the trio of weird products Amazon unveiled in February (cuckoo clock anyone?) these dinky speakers are part of the Build It program that borrows from Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Basically, Amazon will only ship out this second round of gadgets if they generate enough consumer interest within 30 days. As usual, if you order a product that doesn't make the cut, Amazon won't charge you for it. Paying $10 more for a limited edition smart speaker may not be a stretch for Amazon and DVF loyalists, so these stand a good chance of making it to the factory line. Von Furstenberg is no stranger to the tech scene. The fashion powerhouse previously collaborated with Google on frames for its smart glasses and created a custom Samsung SPH-A680 cameraphone. She has also twice teamed up with Amazon to host female-led livestreams on International Women's Day. Von Furstenberg will be jumping back on Amazon Live today to plug the new Build It devices.

The best accessories for your new iPad Posted: 14 Jul 2021 05:45 AM PDT Accessories will be key whether you're turning your new iPad into a laptop replacement or just trying to protect it against daily-life hazards. It's tempting to turn to Apple's own accessories — and in some cases, you should — but there's a slew of alternatives that work just as well and are often more affordable. We tested out a bunch of cases, keyboards, styli and other miscellany to see which iPad accessories are worth buying. Cases and stands Valentina Palladino / Engadget I've always been that person who takes her new smartphone or tablet out of the box and immediately puts it in a case. While some detest hiding the true form of their new gear, it's undeniable that cases provide protection for probably the most expensive tech you own. Apple's Smart Covers for its various iPads are fine, but they're overpriced and most of them don't give your iPad any edge protection. Similar alternatives abound, some of which do surround the edges of an iPad. I've found ProCase and MoKo make some of the best — even better, they cost a fraction of what Apple's Smart Cover costs. If you're willing to spend a bit more on a case, get something that combines protection and style. Otterbox is an expert when it comes to protection, but its Symmetry Series 360 series shows that it also has the design chops. Symmetry cases look similar to the Smart Cover, but the clear, scratch-resistant back is sturdy without adding a lot of weight to the iPad and the edge protection is substantial. I also like the extra flap Otterbox added that keeps the screen cover closed and holds the second-generation Apple Pencil to the side of the iPad Pros. Symmetry Series 360 cases are available for most new iPads, and while they're expensive at $90, they're worth it if you want a great balance of protection and style. Buy Otterbox Symmetry 360 case at Amazon - $55 Valentina Palladino / Engadget A more affordable alternative is ProCase's Leather Folio. While ProCase isn't as well known for protection as Otterbox is, this model has a flexible plastic interior that wraps around most of the iPad's edges to keep it secure. The lining also surrounds the second-gen Apple Pencil while it magnetically charges against the new iPad Pros, making it one of the more secure cases for those that have the Pencil. Leather folios will appeal to a certain type of person. I didn't think I was that person — until I tried this case. Not only is it attractive, but it's practical. It has a pocket on the front flap, three notches on which to prop up the iPad at different viewing angles and an elastic strap that can either keep the folio closed or hold the front flap against the back of the iPad while you're using it. It's definitely worth its $18 list price for those that want a case that's just as practical as it is professional. All of the cases we like prop up your iPad in some way, but they aren't the best if you want the device at a comfortable eye level. You'll want a dedicated tablet stand for that, and there are several out there that let you adjust height, angle and more. Anozer's foldable tablet stand is a good option if you're often on the go. It's heavier than other stands at one pound and it can be folded (mostly) flat so you can easily throw it in your backpack. While it's best suited for 7- to 13-inch tablets, it can support certain smartphones, too (or you could get the company's dedicated smartphone stand instead). If you're willing to sacrifice flexibility for something more elegant, Elago's P2 stand for iPad may be a good fit. It's made of a single piece of aluminum with a ledge for your iPad and a few well-placed cutouts that you can snake a charging cable through. The ledge is also wide enough to accommodate most iPad cases. It may not be foldable or adjustable, but its minimalist design will make it an attractive addition to your desk. Buy ProCase Leather Folio at Amazon - $17Buy Anozer tablet stand at Amazon - $15Buy Elago P2 stand at Amazon - $20 Keyboards There are two types of people that seek out keyboards for their iPads: those who want something more comfortable than the on-screen keyboard for banging out the occasional email, and those that plan to use their iPad as a fully-fledged laptop. If you're part of the first crowd, there are tons of inexpensive Bluetooth keyboards that will do the trick. I'm partial to Logitech's Keys to Go, an ultra-slim keyboard that almost disappears in your bag. It's without a doubt one of the most portable Bluetooth keyboards you'll find and it's fairly comfortable to type on. Yes, the keys have little travel and a bubbly feel to them, but they'll let you compose a quick email or respond to a message on Facebook much more easily than you could with the touchscreen. I also like that its wipeable fabric prevents spills and dirt from getting inside the keyboard. Plus, at around $60-$70, it won't break the bank. If you fall into that second category of shopper, there are even more options for you. The most luxurious comes from Apple itself in the Magic Keyboard. The $300 case magnetically attaches to the new iPad Pros and keeps them "floating" above the keyboard and trackpad. We praised the Magic Keyboard for its typing comfort and precise trackpad, but docked it for its limited range of motion. It's easily the fanciest keyboard available for the iPad Pros and it's one to consider if money is no object — or if you want the most stylish (and arguably most comfortable) keyboard money can buy. Buy Keys to Go at Amazon - $70Buy Magic Keyboard at Amazon - $290 Valentina Palladino / Engadget But as far as protection goes, the Magic Keyboard provides basically as much as Apple's Smart Cover (which isn't much). If you need something a bit more durable (and don't want to spend $300), Zagg's $30 Slim Book Go could do the trick. It'll keep your entire setup pretty sleek as its name suggests, and it's even thinner than the $130 Logitech Slim Folio Pro. The latter case may be on the thick side, but it has a well laid-out keyboard and a secure flap that holds the Apple Pencil against your tablet. If you want something that combines durability with style, we like Logitech's $160 Folio Touch keyboard case. Its exterior is made of a tweed-like fabric, so it will blend in better with your briefcase or work bag. It's also fairly slim and has a similar Apple Pencil-friendly flap that closes the whole thing shut. Plus, the keyboard is joined by a small yet useful trackpad, so you can truly use your iPad as if it were a laptop. Buy Zagg Slim Book Go at Amazon - $30Buy Logitech Slim Folio Pro at Amazon - $130Buy Logitech Folio Touch at Amazon - $160 Stylus and screen protectors This likely won't come as a surprise, but the Apple Pencil is the best stylus you can get for the iPad. Both the first- and second-generation Pencils are designed to work specifically with iPads and it shows in their seamless writing performance. The second-gen stylus has a double-tap feature that you can customize to a certain degree, and pressure-sensitivity allows you to add as much or as little detail as you want to digital artwork. I highly recommend shelling out $100 or $130 for the Apple Pencil if you're an artist — you won't be disappointed. But there are other options, too. Logitech's Crayon is more affordable at $70 and it has arguably a better grip than either Apple Pencil. It's just as good in terms of latency and accuracy — drawing in Procreate was a lag-free experience and my strokes always ended up exactly where I wanted them to be. Buy Apple Pencil (1st gen) at Amazon - $95Buy Apple Pencil (2nd gen) at Amazon - $125Buy Logitech Crayon at Amazon - $70 Valentina Palladino / Engadget But as someone who primarily uses an Apple Pencil for digital art, I missed pressure sensitivity when using the Crayon. Aside from that, the other biggest annoyance is that you have to use a Lightning or USB-C cable to charge it (even the newest model for the iPad Pros doesn't magnetically attach to the tablet for charging). While I wouldn't recommend the Crayon for serious artists, I would recommend it for anyone who's on a strict budget, especially digital journal-keepers, hardcore note-takers and the like. If you're a heavy user of the Apple Pencil or some other stylus, you should consider getting a screen protector for your iPad. They pull double-duty: not only do they act as a first line of defense if your iPad goes careening onto the concrete, but they can also enhance the digital drawing and writing experience. Using a stylus on an iPad is strange at first because gliding the stylus nib over a glass surface feels nothing like "normal" writing. Matte screen protectors can get closer to replicating the pen-on-paper experience, and they also prevent the stylus nib from wearing down so quickly. Paperlike is the most popular in this space, but Bersem's screen protectors are a great value at $14 for a pack of two. Not only does the matte finish help when you're drawing or taking digital notes, but it also reduces screen glare and doesn't interfere with FaceID on the newest iPads. Buy Paperlike screen protector starting at $40Buy Bersem screen protectors (2 pack) at Amazon - $14 Hubs and adapters Valentina Palladino / Engadget If you plan on pushing your iPad Pro to its limits as a daily driver, you'll probably need more than the tablet's single USB-C port. Apple has provided little guidance to which USB-C hubs and adapters work best with the iPad Pros — there's no MFi certification for accessories like this yet. Some hubs specifically advertise that they work with the newest iPad Pros, and if you want to be extra safe, I recommend buying one of those that comes from a reputable brand. A newcomer in this space is Satechi's $100 aluminum stand and hub, a foldable rectangle that cradles your iPad and provides a bunch of useful ports and charging capabilities. The holder itself rotates outward, revealing a hidden, attached USB-C cable and a rubber bumper that keeps the stand in place in your desk. On the back edge are a 4K HDMI socket, one USB-A port, a headphone jack, both SD and microSD card slots and a 60W USB-C connection for charging. I liked the versatility of Satechi's hub. I could easily use it when I needed to prop my iPad up to watch a YouTube video, and by just plugging in the attached cable, I could switch to using my iPad as more of a work device with all of the necessary connectors in place. It's also surprisingly light at 10 ounces. Combine that with its foldable design and you have a full-featured hub that can easily be stuffed in a bag. Buy Satechi stand and hub at Amazon - $100 Another popular option is HyperDrive's USB-C adapter. I'll admit I was skeptical about this one, mostly because so many Amazon reviewers and YouTube personalities have raved about it (and I have a hard time believing a six-port adapter the size of a lighter should cost $90). However, after testing it out, I can say it delivers on its promises: t's a neat little adapter that's just large enough to fit an HDMI socket, a USB-C port, a USB-A connection, micro- and regular SD card slots and a headphone jack on its edges. That should cover most things you'd need an adapter for, save for hardwired internet. However, what sets the HyperDrive USB-C adapter apart is that it comes with a tool kit that gives you more flexibility in how you use it. The default plate that surrounds the USB-C plug fits iPads without screen protectors, but there's an included plate that accommodates screen protectors. HyperDrive even included a third plate with a dongle-like attachment so the adapter doesn't have to sit right up against the iPad. All you need to do is use the tiny screwdriver that's in the box to switch out the plates. I think that somewhat justifies its $90 asking price. So many adapters that hug the iPad Pro's edges are slick but they become basically unusable if you have a case, skin or screen protector. Buy USB-C adapter at HyperDrive - $90 Valentina Palladino / Engadget But $90 for an adapter is still a lot of money and I'd only recommend spending that much if you plan on using the iPad Pro as your daily driver. A cheaper alternative is Anker's 5-in-1 USB-C adapter: It works just as well as HyperDrive's; has most of the same ports, with the exception of an extra USB-C port and a headphone jack; and costs only $26. You could use any of these adapters to connect an external drive to your iPad for more space. We're fans of Samsung's T7 series and SanDisk's Extreme drives for those that want a good amount of extra storage in a fairly durable yet pocketable gadget. If you'd prefer something even more portable, SanDisk's Dual Drive Luxe flash drive is a good option because it can plug right into your iPad's USB-C port, it's available in up to a 1TB capacity and it's small enough to attach to your keys. Buy Anker 5-in-1 adapter at Amazon - $30Buy Samsung T7 drive at Amazon - $80Buy SanDisk Extreme drive at Amazon - $85Buy SanDisk Dual Drive Luxe at Amazon - $50 Chargers and power Valentina Palladino / Engadget A battery pack or an extra charger is important to have in your bag regardless of where you're going. RavPower's 26,800mAh power bank can charge iPad Pros 1.5 times using its 30W USB-C PD port. It also works with the newest MacBook Pros and other USB-C laptops in addition to the Nintendo Switch — so it can be your one-stop-shop for all your charging needs. I also appreciate that it comes with its own USB-C to C cable, so you don't need to remember to bring one with you, as well as the micro-USB cable used to charge the power bank itself. RavPower's PD charger will set you back $60, but you can opt for the $50 Anker Powercore Essential PD charger if you want to spend a bit less. Its 20,000mAh capacity will provide at least 50 percent more juice to most iPads. It's not ideal for larger devices like laptops, but it works well with smartphones and tablets. You also don't want to rely solely on the charging adapter that came with your iPad; it's handy to have a backup. Anker's new line of GaN II chargers has a couple of good options, and arguably the best for most people is the 45W Nano II. It's the midrange adapter in the lineup and it can power up a 2020 11-inch iPad Pro up to 30 percent faster than Apple's default adapter. In just a half hour of charging, I got about a 33 percent boost in battery life on my 11-inch iPad Pro. Anker's device is also smaller than Apple's and it has a foldable design, so it'll fit better in cramped spaces and it'll be easier to throw in a travel bag. Buy RavPower 26,800 power bank at RavPower - $60Buy Anker 20,000 power bank at Amazon - $50Buy Anker Nano II 45W GaN charger at Amazon - $36

Amazon has acquired Facebook's satellite internet team Posted: 14 Jul 2021 04:53 AM PDT The race to develop satellite internet includes some pretty big players like SpaceX, Amazon, Softbank and Facebook. However, Facebook has now essentially thrown in the towel in that business, selling its internet satellite team to Amazon, The Information has reported. For Amazon, it's a significant step in its effort to develop its Project Kuiper satellite network and catch up with SpaceX's Starlink broadband constellation. Like Starlink, Project Kuiper is designed to provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to users around the world. Amazon aims to have a 3,236-satellite constellation in orbit by 2029, with half of it launched by 2026. It also plans to build 12 ground stations around the world to transmit data to and from the satellites.  The company has said it will spend more than $10 billion to make all that happen and recently received FAA approval for the project. It also announced last year that it would use United Launch Alliance's ultra-reliable Atlas V rocket for the initial satellite launches.  Amazon has significantly ramped up hiring efforts for Project Kuiper at its Redmond headquarters, with 500 employees currently aboard and 200 open positions. The employees coming from Facebook are reportedly based in the Los Angeles area and include physicists as well as optical, prototyping, mechanical and software engineers. Facebook's former head of Southern California connectivity, Jin Bains, is now listed as a Project Kuiper director in his LinkedIn page.  Meanwhile, it seems Facebook is getting out of the satellite internet business and focusing on terrestrial programs, having invested in subsea and terrestrial fiber as well as wireless services like ExpressWiFi. The company recently launched an "Athena" satellite through its PointView Tech subsidiary, but it was only a test mission rather than the start of a satellite internet constellation. With the sale of its satellite team to Amazon, it appears that any ambitions it may have had in that area are over.

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