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How to get your grill ready for the outdoor season

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 07:00 AM PDT

As the temperatures rise and we begin to emerge from our winter cocoons, the amount of time we spend on porches, patios or in the backyard is about to dramatically increase. Ditto for the desire to entertain friends and family with your outdoor culinary skills. Since your grill has likely been dormant for a while, or used less frequently, it's time to give your gear a thorough cleaning before you start to use it regularly again. Even if you've been keeping the grill going year-round, spring is a great time to do a deep clean before prime season starts. Here are a few tips and tricks that will hopefully make things easier.

Disassemble, scrub, reassemble

Weber's first pellet grill has potential to be a backyard powerhouse, but the smart features need work.
Billy Steele/Engadget

A good rule of thumb when it comes to cleaning anything you haven't used in a while is to take it apart as much as you feel comfortable and give it a thorough wipe down. For grills, this means removing the grates and any bars or burner covers – basically, anything you can take out that's not the heating element. This gives you a chance to inspect the burners of your gas grill or the fire pot of a pellet model for any unsightly wear and tear. If those components are worn out or overly rusted, most companies offer replacements that you can easily swap out with a few basic tools.

Once all the pieces are out, start by scraping excess debris off all sides of the interior – with the help of some cleaner if needed. For a gas grill, this likely means pushing everything out through the grease trap. On a pellet grill, you'll want to scrape the grease chute clear and out into the catch can, but you'll also need to vacuum the interior with a shop vac – just like you would after every few hours of use. And while you're at it, go ahead and empty the hopper of any old pellets that have been sitting since labor day. Fuel that's been sitting in the grill for months won't give you the best results when it comes time to cook so you might as well start fresh.

You'll want to get as much of the food leftovers out of your grill as possible for a few reasons. First, that stuff is old and lots of build-up over time can hinder cooking performance and might impact flavor. The last thing you want is old food or grease burning off right under an expensive ribeye. Second, in the case of pellet grills, not properly clearing out grease and dust can be dangerous. It's easy for grease fires to start at searing temperatures and if there's enough pellet dust in the bottom of your grill, it can actually ignite or explode. That's why companies tell you to vacuum it out after every few hours of use.

Weber's first pellet grill has potential to be a backyard powerhouse, but the smart features need work.
All of that dust, grease and debris should be removed before you fire the grill back up.
Billy Steele/Engadget

To actually clean the surfaces, you'll want to get an all-natural grill cleaner. There are tons of options here, and it may take some time to find one you like. I typically use Traeger's formula since it's readily available at the places I buy pellets and I've found it works well cutting through stuck-on muck. You want an all-natural grill cleaner over a regular household product as it's safe to use on surfaces that will touch your food. They're also safe to use on the exterior of your grill without doing any damage to chrome, stainless steel or any other materials.

Spray down the inside and give things a few minutes to work. Wipe it all clean and go back over any super dirty spots as needed. Ditto for the grates, bars and any other pieces you removed. I like to lay these out on a yard waste trash bag (they're bigger than kitchen bags) so all the stuff I scrape or clean off doesn't get all over my deck. You can use shop towels if you want to recycle or paper towels if not, but just know whatever you choose will be covered in nasty black grime so you won't want to just toss them in the clothes washer when you're done. A pre-wash in a bucket or sink is needed to make sure you don't transfer gunk from your grill to your business casuals.

In terms of tools, you don't need much. I've tried that grill robot that claims to do the job for you, but I've found sticking to the basics is more efficient. And honestly, when you get the hang of it, it doesn't take all that long. It's a good idea to have a wire brush specifically for the grates that you don't use to clean anything else. After all, this will be touching the same surfaces you put food on. I recommend another, smaller wire brush – the ones that look like big toothbrushes – for cleaning the burners on a gas grill. If you notice the flame isn't firing through one of the holes, you can use this to clean the pathway. Lastly, plastic is the way to go for a scraper, anything else and you risk scratching the surfaces of your grill. Sure, any damage done would be on the inside, but it's still not a great feeling to knick up your previous investment.

Check for updates before your first cook

Traeger WiFire app
Traeger

If you have a smart grill from the likes of Traeger, Weber or another company, you'll want to plug it in and check for software updates well in advance of your first grilling session. Chances are you haven't cooked much since last fall, which means companies have had months to push updates to their devices. Trust me, there's nothing worse than spending an hour trimming and seasoning a brisket only to walk outside to start the grill and it immediately launches into the update process. This could extend the whole cooking time significantly depending on the extent of the firmware additions and strength of your WiFi.

Thankfully, checking for updates is quick and easy. All you need to do is turn on your grill and open up the company's app on your phone. If there's a download ready for your model, the mobile software will let you know and it's usually quite prominent. If there's not a pop-up alert that displays immediately, you can check the settings menu just to make sure. Sometimes for smaller updates, a company might not beat you over the head to refresh. However, starting a fresh slate of firmware is always a safe bet and will ensure your grill is running at its best when it comes time to cook.

For a good time every time, clean after each use

Traeger Ironwood 650
Billy Steele/Engadget

I'll be the first to admit I don't adhere to my own advice here, but it's nice to have goals. I will also be the first to tell you every single time I smoke a Boston Butt or some other super fatty cut of meat that I wish I would've done at least a quick cleaning right after the meal. Grease buildup is not only highly flammable but it's much harder to clean once it cools and solidifies. Ditto for stuck-on sauce or cheese that's left on your grates after chicken or burgers. It's best to attack these things while the grill is still warm, but cooled down from the cook.

You don't necessarily have to break out the shop vac each time for your pellet grill or empty the grease bin. But you'll want to make sure that stuff is away from the main cooking area for safety and so any burn off won't impact the flavor of your food. A few cups of hot water can cleanse the grease run-off while that wire brush I mentioned is best for the grates. It also doesn't hurt to do a light wipe down with an all-natural cleaner so everything is ready to go when you want to cook again.

‘Gran Turismo 7’ has been down for over a day

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 06:09 AM PDT

Gran Turismo 7's dependence on an internet connection is coming back to haunt the developers. Eurogamernotes players are review bombing the PlayStation racing sim on Metacritic after Polyphony Digital and Sony extended maintenance beyond 24 hours to deal with the faulty 1.07 patch. As you need online access to play the core GT mode, some gamers are furious — the average Metacritic user review score sat at 3.6 as of this writing.

This isn't the only gripe. Some players are less than thrilled with the presence of microtransactions in Gran Turismo 7, and have accused the creators of making it harder to obtain new cars and upgrades without spending real money. Other players have asked for full refunds.

It's not clear when GT7 will go back online. Polyphony said only that it would provide a completion time "as soon as possible." We've asked Sony for comment. It's safe to presume the producers will want to restore service quickly, though. While the review bombing will only do limited damage to a well-known game that has already been available for weeks, it won't look good if one of the PlayStation 5's marquee games isn't even playable during the weekend.

Apple's latest iPad mini is $40 off at Amazon

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 05:38 AM PDT

Apple's updated iPad mini may be a niche device because of its size, but it's got enough power to suit most people's needs. We gave the small tablet a score of 89 when it came out last year, and now you can pick it up at a discounted price. Amazon has the pink, purple and space gray 64GB models for $459, which is $40 off and a record low.

Buy iPad mini at Amazon - $459

You probably already know if the iPad mini will fill a hole in your life. The e-reader-sized tablet will be best for those who will use it precisely for things like reading and taking notes, as well as anyone who just wants a more compact tablet to take with them on the go. With the 2021 version, Apple finally gave the iPad mini the facelift many had been hoping for, changing its design to look more like a smaller iPad Air with a nearly edge-to-edge, 8.3-inch 2,266 x 1,488 resolution Liquid Retina screen, flat sides and a TouchID-capable power button. It also works with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and that accessory magnetically attaches to the side of the tablet when you're not using it.

The A15 Bionic chip inside the iPad mini helped it handle everything we threw at it, including light gaming, web browsing, note-taking and more. Plus, FaceTime calls are even better on this tablet since the front-facing camera supports Center Stage, which will keep you in frame while you're chatting with friends and family. We also appreciate that the iPad mini lasted about 12 hours in our testing before it needed to be recharged, so it can be your main tablet all day long if you'd like it to be.

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Engadget Podcast: Samsung’s Galaxy A53 5G and the Mac Studio

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 05:30 AM PDT

Would you believe Samsung has more new phones? This week, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford discuss the new Galaxy A53 5G and A33, the company's new feature-packed mid-range phones. The A53 has a 120Hz screen, four cameras and 5G support for $450! The iPhone SE doesn't stand a chance against it. Also, Devindra dives into his review of the Mac Studio–finally, Apple has a great desktop for creative professionals.

Listen above, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!


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Topics

  • Samsung announces Galaxy A53 5G and A33 – 1:28

  • Mac Studio review – 14:46

  • Disney+ teasers for Ms. Marvel and Obi Wan – 28:20 

  • Working on – 41:18

  • Picks – 45:21

Video livestream

Credits
Hosts: Sam Rutherford and Devindra Hardawar
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos and Luke Brooks
Graphic artists: Luke Brooks and Brian Oh

Twitter may soon let you add pronouns to your profile

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 05:05 AM PDT

When Twitter reopened its form for verification requests last year, it also teased upcoming changes to its website. Those changes include a space for pronouns in the profile section, along with your other information. It's been almost a year since we first heard about the project, but now reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi has found proof that the company is indeed developing the feature and may have started testing it. Paluzzi has discovered a yet-to-be rolled out section when you edit your profile that lets you add whatever pronoun you want to use.

It's high time for Twitter to give its users the ability to do so. The social network is late to the party, after all: Facebook users have been able to choose their pronouns for years, though their options are limited to three. Instagram started allowing people to display up to four pronouns next to their name in their profile last year. LinkedIn also introduced a dedicated space for pronouns in profiles in 2021. And, after work-from-home arrangements took off due to the pandemic, Zoom and Slack followed suit. The video conferencing apps gives users the option to show their pronouns next to their names in meetings, while the business messaging platform made the space for pronouns a default feature last year. Previously, companies have had to add the option as a customized field for their workers.

That said, Twitter has yet to announce a launch date for the pronoun field.

Porsche says 80 percent of its cars will be electric by 2030

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 04:35 AM PDT

Porsche is today updating the world on its financial results and, by extension, its plans to remain relevant in a world that's clearly not going to survive climate change. The German luxury brand said that it had seen sales leap by €4.4 billion (around $4.8 billion) and plenty of interest in its models. For the third year running, Porsche's pure-EV Taycan line managed to outsell the iconic 911, with 41,296 units of the electric ride out the door, while the flagship managed 38,464 units. To Mother Nature's chagrin, however, both were outsold by the Macan and Cayenne SUVs, which sold around 171,433 units between them.

The company has said that it wants 80 percent of its sales to be "all-electric" by 2030, with an additional plan to be carbon-neutral at the same time. Part of that push will be led by a new version of the mid-engine 718, which will be released "exclusively in an all-electric form" at some point around 2025. Of course, it won't be until we get an entirely electric 911 and Cayenne that we'll see the real extent of Porsche's commitment. But hopefully the baby steps so far will translate into much faster action the closer we get to the end of this decade.

Porsche has also announced that it will invest in "premium charging stations" and "its own charging infrastructure." The company has experience in this area, after launching a high-profile charging station in Leipzig, but this is likely to be a neat euphemism for taking a leaf out of Tesla's book, launching or franchising a wide network of own-brand EV stops explicitly designed to cater for its own customers. It's something that (stablemate) Audi has also spoken about doing, and showed off a concept for an Audi-only, premium charging hub last year. The company added that it is looking to get new, high-performance battery cells from Cellforce which are due to begin shipping in 2024.

The Morning After: Our verdict on Apple's Mac Studio

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 04:15 AM PDT

Capping off a week of Apple reviews (iPhone SE here, iPad Air right here), we've got the verdict on the company's impressive new desktop PC. It looks like a big Mac mini but houses some incredibly powerful components, centered around Apple's newest M1 chips. According to Senior Editor Devindra Hardawar, the Mac Studio delivers the power and ports creative professionals need. Even though it's not upgradable, it's a Mac that can finally compete with high-end PC workstations. The Mac Studio starts at $1,999 with the M1 Max chip and jumps to $3,999 if you want to tame the M1 Ultra. Yes, those prices may seem high, but they're in line with PC workstations meant for editing 4K and 8K video. This isn't for the same audience as the Mac mini.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Apple will fix the Studio Display's underperforming webcam

An update should address complaints about image quality.

On the subject of Mac Studio, its companion Studio Display has some webcam issues. An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal the company will update the Studio Display through software to address an issue where the webcam isn't "behaving as expected."

Continue reading.

Watch the new trailer for 'Hogwarts Legacy'

It'll arrive before the end of 2022.

TMA
Engadget

Hogwarts Legacy will arrive on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles in time for the holidays. And fortunately, that's not all — during yesterday's State of Play livestream dedicated to the open-world RPG, WB Games Avalanche dropped a trailer offering the first real look at how it'll play. It's set in the 1800s, so there's almost an entirely new roster of characters, professors and villains.

Continue reading.

How to clean all the screens in your home

And what not to do.

Our short, snappy guide to cleaning your displays, phones and tablets gets right to the point. You don't need much to refresh all your screens. Microfiber cloths will get you most of the way, but there are some things we advise against. 

Continue reading.

Roomba robot vac update adds Siri voice support

The iRobot Genius 4.0 Home Intelligence update has started rolling out to all users.

iRobot's latest software update gives its Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops the ability to respond to Siri voice commands. Similar to Google Assistant and Alexa, you can now set up your custom phrases or simply say "Hey Siri, ask Roomba to clean everywhere" to start the vacuum. You'll also be able to create customizable smart maps for the Roomba i3 and i3+ models and create custom cleaning routines based on your schedule.

Continue reading.

Samsung's Galaxy A53 offers 5G and a 120Hz screen for $450

It's cheaper than last year's Galaxy A52.

TMA
Engadget

Not to be outdone by rival Apple and its iPhone SE, Samsung's latest affordable smartphone lands with impressive specs (quad-camera setup, 120Hz screen, 5G and a 5nm chip) while mostly keeping the styling of the company's latest flagships. The Galaxy A53 is $450, roughly half the price of the top smartphones — and it's cheaper than last year's A52.

The main 64-megapixel sensor has optical image stabilization and an f/1.8 aperture, which works alongside a 12MP fixed-focus ultra-wide camera and two 5MP sensors: one for depth detection and another for macro shooting. The camera system has a new 5nm Exynos processor which, Samsung says, made its AI-augmented night mode shooting possible. The A53 can draw together 12 frames and create a more stable (hopefully more detailed) single image.

There are two new colors: peach and powder blue. But if you want to keep it all business, there's white and black, too. This is Samsung, after all.

Continue reading.

The ESA suspends its ExoMars joint mission with Russia

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 03:41 AM PDT

The ExoMars mission has been suspended. Its future is uncertain at this point in time, as the European Space Agency looks for a way to proceed without the involvement of Russian space agency Roscosmos. The ESA previously announced that it's fully implementing sanctions imposed on Russia by its member states following the country's invasion of Ukraine and that a 2022 launch for the ExoMars rover was looking unlikely. Now, the mission has officially been put on ice after the ESA's ruling council met in Paris to assess the situation.

The ESA said in a statement:

"As an intergovernmental organisation mandated to develop and implement space programmes in full respect with European values, we deeply deplore the human casualties and tragic consequences of the aggression towards Ukraine. While recognising the impact on scientific exploration of space, ESA is fully aligned with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its Member States."

The council has determined that it's impossible to keep cooperating with Roscosmos and has ordered the ESA Director General to take steps to suspend the operation. In addition, the council authorized the Director General to conduct and fast track an industrial study to find options on how the agency can move forward with ExoMars.

ExoMars is a two part mission, and the agencies sent its first spacecraft — the Trace Gas Orbiter — to Martian orbit back in 2016. They were supposed to launch a rover named after scientist Rosalind Franklin this year for the second part of the program after delays causes in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESA was in charge of developing the rover, which was going to use a Russian launch vehicle and lander. 

This is just one of the space programs affected by the war in Ukraine. Roscosmos previously pulled out of the Guiana Space Center in retaliation for EU's sanctions and also refused to launch OneWeb internet satellites that were supposed to head to orbit on Soyuz rockets. Dmitry Rogozin, the Director General of Roscosmos, also claimed that the sanctions against Russia could interrupt the operations of the country's spacecraft that's steering the ISS and could cause the station to "fall down into the sea or onto land. Russia stopped supplying the US with rocket engines, as well. At the time, Rogozin said "Let them fly on something else, their broomsticks."

'SNL' star Pete Davidson won't be joining Blue Origin's next spaceflight after all

Posted: 18 Mar 2022 01:34 AM PDT

Blue Origin's three previous crewed flights had taken familiar faces and people known in their fields to space. Those include William Shatner, aviation pioneer Wally Funk, Good Morning America host Michael Strahan and even company founder Jeff Bezos For its fourth mission with humans on board — and its 20th overall — one of the passengers was supposed to be Pete Davidson, SNL star and, well, the person who's recently been on the receiving end of Kanye West's ire. Turns out that won't be happening.

On Twitter, the aerospace company has announced that Davidson will no longer join the mission as a crew member. Blue Origin didn't reveal the reason why he's no longer flying with the rest of the crew to the edge of space and only said that the mission will launch on March 29th instead of on March 23rd as planned. Davidson was recently seen shooting scenes for horror movie The Home, but it's unclear if conflict of schedule was the reason why Blue Origin changed its lineup. It's also unknown at this point if Davidson will join another Blue Origin flight later on. 

The other passengers for the NS-20 mission are SpaceKids Global founder Sharon Hagle and husband Marc Hagle, University of North Carolina professor Jim Kitchen, President of Commercial Space Technologies Dr. George C. Nield and Marty Allen, a former CEO of Party America. Blue Origin said it will announce Davidson's replacement in the coming days.

US labor board sues Amazon to reinstate fired Staten Island worker

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 10:30 PM PDT

Amazon is facing a lawsuit filed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is seeking the reinstatement of an employee it believes was filed in retaliation. Gerald Bryson, who worked at the e-commerce giant's JFK8 facility on Staten Island, was fired in the early days of the pandemic after he helped lead protests over safety concerns involving the company's COVID-19 protocols. 

Bryson fired an unfair labor practice suit back in 2020, but the case has been stuck in the agency's administrative court process. Now, according to The New York Times, the NLRB is asking a federal judge to make immediate changes before the facility holds a union election by the end of March and considering Bryson's involvement in organizing. 

Amazon denied that Bryson's firing was retaliatory back in 2020, explaining that he was fired for violating its policy against vulgar and harassing language. The company said Bryson bullied and intimidated a female associate "in a racially and sexually charged way" in a confrontation during the protest. However, a video recording cited by the NLRB in a recent filing (PDF) shows that while Bryson did indeed use foul language during the confrontation, the female employee also used foul language and a racial slur against him. Bryson, a Black man who helped lead the protest, was fired, while the white female employee who told him to stop protesting and go home, got a first warning.

The NLRB has accused Amazon of applying its policies against him in retaliation for the role he played in the protest. It argued that if the judge doesn't reinstate Bryson, workers "will inevitably conclude that the board cannot effectively protect their rights." NLRB director Kathy Drew King said in a statement:

"No matter how large the employer, it is important for workers to know their rights — particularly during a union election — and that the N.L.R.B. will vociferously defend them."

The JFK8 facility will hold a union vote in person between March 25th and March 30th. It's been a long journey just to get there, with the Amazon Labor Union failing to gather enough signatures to proceed with an election the first time around. The group reached union vote threshold in its second attempt, and although Amazon was skeptical that there were a "sufficient number of legitimate signatures," the election will take place as the NLRB had decided.

In addition to seeking Bryson's reinstatement, the NLRB also wants Amazon to post notices of workers' rights at the facility and to read those rights out loud at mandatory employee meetings.

You can now use PayPal to send money to users in Ukraine

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 05:15 PM PDT

PayPal will now allow peer-to-peer payments to and from Ukraine. The company announced today that it was significantly expanding its services in Ukraine in the wake of Russia's invasion. Prior to this, Ukrainian PayPal customers could only use the payment platform to send money outside of the country. Earlier this month, the company announced it was exiting Russia, citing the country's "violent aggression" against Ukraine.

PayPal users in Ukraine will now be able to send money to and receive money from outside the country, as well as domestically. It's a move that likely will make life easier for Ukrainians receiving financial support from family and loved ones who live abroad. Ukrainians will also be able to send funds directly to their bank account by linking their Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card.

Perhaps most significantly, PayPal is waiving its own fees (until June 30th) for both sending and receiving funds in Ukraine. The payment platform traditionally charges a fee for international transactions that starts at 5%, and increases depending on your payment method and the region where your recipient resides. 

A new payment option is likely to have a significant impact in Ukraine, where only a few options exist to send or receive money abroad. Sending money to individuals in Ukraine (or virtually anywhere abroad) can be costly. Every payment platform that serves a global customer base in Ukraine (including WesterUnion, MoneyGram, Remitly) charges an international transaction fee or commission, and exchange rates can often be unfavorable. Hopefully, this temporary grace period from PayPal will make a significant impact for those seeking to send money to loved ones in Ukraine. 

'Hogwarts Legacy' will hit Xbox, PlayStation and PC this holiday season

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 02:18 PM PDT

Hogwarts Legacy will arrive on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles in holiday 2022. Hogwarts Legacy was announced in late 2020 and it was originally due to come out in 2021, but was later delayed to 2022. The "holiday" timeframe is one step closer to an actual release date.

And that's not all — during today's State of Play livestream dedicated to the open-world RPG, WB Games Avalanche dropped a trailer offering the first real look at how this sucker will look and play.

Hogwarts Legacy is a spinoff of the Harry Potter universe, but it takes place long before the events of the books. It's set in the 1800s, and places players in their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where they'll learn spells, brew potions, grow magical plants, tame wild beasts and attend classes. Players have a unique ability to manipulate ancient magic, and with that, they hold the key to saving the wizarding world from dark forces. 

As familiar as that sounds, this is a game filled with original storylines and Harry Potter author JK Rowling (She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named) isn't directly involved in its development. Hogwarts Legacy features fresh professors, students, villains, mentors and creatures, plus some familiar ghosts. Players will be able to fly on broomsticks, gain friends who will join them on quests and upgrade their abilities based on how they like to play. It's not all contained to Hogwarts, either — the shops at Hogsmeade are also available to explore.

Meghan Markle readies podcast after meetings with Spotify on misinformation policies

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 02:03 PM PDT

The podcast deal Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed with Spotify is finally close to bearing (significant) fruit. As The Vergereports, Markle is releasing a podcast series on Spotify this summer through the couple's Archewell Audio production company. Details weren't available, but the show is premiering after Harry and Meghan were "encouraged" by discussions over Spotify's efforts to fight misinformation. The news is a "result of those meetings," Archewell said.

Harry and Meghan haven't been thrilled with Spotify's approach so far. The duo said they had been expressing concerns about misinformation since April 2021. Their worries became all the more pressing when Neil Young, Brené Brown and other creatives began pulling or withholding content from Spotify in protest over the company's seeming tolerance of COVID-19 misinformation from Joe Rogan's podcast. Archewell spokesperson Toya Holness said the company was partnering with Spotify to develop "policies, practices, and strategies" to curb misinformation and improve transparency.

The news may be welcome for Spotify. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle struck their podcast deal with Spotify in December 2020, but haven't produced anything apart from a holiday special. Markle's podcast series could both help Spotify recoup some of its investment and address concerns it was fighting its own podcast partners.

The challenge, of course, is persuading other Spotify-exclusive podcast hosts and networks to follow suit. Spotify has signed a number of high-profile exclusives, but not all of them have been successful — filmmaker Ava DuVernay exited her first-look deal just a year after announcing it. Markle's podcast may show that some creators are willing to stick around, but there are no guarantees others will be quite so confident.

Impostor poses as Ukraine's Prime Minister in video call with UK defense secretary

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 01:43 PM PDT

The British defense secretary has ordered an inquiry into a video call he received on Thursday from an imposter pretending to be Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's prime minister. In a series of tweets, the Right Honorable Ben Wallace disclosed that the man asked "several misleading questions" and he eventually ended the call after becoming suspicious. The official described the hoax as a "desperate attempt", and pinned the blame on Russia. 

"No amount of Russian disinformation, distortion and dirty tricks can distract from Russia's human rights abuses and illegal invasion of Ukriane. A desperate attempt," wrote the Conservative politician in the tweet. Wallace did not reveal any evidence backing his claim that Russia was responsible for the fake call, nor name any individuals involved.

Deborah Haynes of Sky News noted that the perpetrators went to "great lengths" to stage the video call, including placing a Ukrainian flag behind the so-called "Ukrainian prime minister" and using fake details from the Ukraine embassy. At one point, the culprit asked Wallace if he received "the substance" they sent. A few more minutes of similarly absurd questioning finally raised enough alarm bells for Wallace to abort the call.

A pair of Russian comedians known as Lexus and Vovan are infamous for regularly pranking world leaders. As Irish Times notes, the pair once called former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko, posing as the president of Kyrgyzstan. The same pair also pretended — in a call to the actual Poroshenko— to be Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. They also duped British Prime Minister Boris Johnson into taking an 18-minute video call with an actor who was impersonating the prime minister of Armenia. During the call, Johnson talked about the UK's plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. While the Kremlin denies employing the pair, Russian state media often congratulates their actions.

While a security snafu at this level is no doubt embarrassing to the British defense ministry, disclosing that such a call happened is also important to national security. As Haynes notes, raising awareness of the call could thwart any attempts to doctor the footage and release it in order to mislead the public.

'The Quarry' is a teen horror game from the creators of 'Until Dawn'

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 01:15 PM PDT

The producers of Until Dawn are returning to their roots after years of Dark Pictures Anthology games. Supermassive Games and 2K have unveiledThe Quarry, a teen horror title that has you once again deciding the fates of frightened youth. You control nine camp counselors as a night of celebrating the end of summer camp quickly goes sideways — the trailer below hints at a Most Dangerous Game tale where someone appears to be hunting the counselors for sport.

Supermassive is leaning on star power as much as it is familiar narrative-driven game mechanics. The Quarry stars David Arquette (appropriately from Scream), Ariel Winter (Modern Family) and Lance Henriksen (Aliens), not to mention actors from productions like A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dollface and Jurassic World. And yes, any character can die. As with Until Dawn and similar games, you'll have to work hard if you want as many people as possible to survive.

Multiplayer is important, as well. You can have "couch co-op" where people control individual counselors, but you can also have as many as seven people voting on your decisions. While it won't be quite as pressure-filled as having a Twitch audience decide, it will help you share the thrill ride with friends. And don't worry if it's too nerve-wracking. On top of adjustable difficulty levels, there's a "Movie Mode" that removes the gameplay entirely and even lets you choose how the story plays out.

The Quarry arrives June 10th for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows PCs. The gameplay and premise will be more than a little familiar (how many horror movies have summer camps?), but that may be part of the appeal. It's giving you a chance to "fix" well-worn genre tropes, if just by keeping everyone alive.

Snap bans anonymous messaging from third-party apps

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 12:50 PM PDT

Snap is taking more action against bullying and harassment on Snapchat. It will no longer allow anonymous messaging from third-party apps that hook into its platform. The company said that while most people used these features in "fun, engaging, and entirely appropriate ways," it acknowledged others might take advantage of anonymity "to engage in harmful behavior."

From now on, third-party apps that want to let folks communicate through a Snapchat integration will need to have registered users with visible usernames and identities.

Last May, Snap locked two third-party apps that allowed for anonymous messages out of its developer platform and began a review of Snap Kit standards and policies. The decision came soon after the filing of a lawsuit related to the death of a teenager who was allegedly bullied through the apps, Yolo and LMK. The teen's mother sought to hold the makers of all three apps liable.

Of the more than 1,500 developers with access to Snap Kit, two percent will be affected by this policy, according to The Verge. Another rule change will impact three percent of Snap Kit developers: friend-finding apps will be restricted to those aged 18 and older. Snap is enacting that change to protect younger users and make things "more consistent with Snapchat's use case — communications between close friends who already know each other."

Netflix’s live-action ‘Resident Evil’ series premieres July 14th

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 12:02 PM PDT

Fans of Resident Evil and the zombie apocalypse genre writ large can look forward to Netflix's live-action reboot this summer. The streamer announced that the series — which takes place 14 years after a virus causes the apocalypse — will premiere on July 14th. The new show is not to be confused with Resident Evil:Infinite Darkness, an anime adaptation of the survival horror video game that debuted on the platform last summer. 

The live-action series will star Lance Reddick (The Wire, Lost) as Albert Wesker, who fans will remember as the police captain who turns out to be a villain set to destroy humanity. Oh, and he's a family man! Ella Balinska (Charlie's Angels) has also been cast in the series, as well as Tamara Smart (The Worst Witch, Artemis Fowl). Also starring in the show is Siena Agudong (No Good Nick), Adeline Rudolph (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Riverdale) and Paola Nuñez (Bad Boys for Life).

We still don't know many details about the plot, but here's what Deadline has gathered so far. The show takes place in 2036, nearly 14 years after a virus has turned most of the world into blood-sucking zombies. Jade Wesker, the show's protagonist, has yet to find out her dad is an evil genius who works for the Umbrella Corporation, the Big Pharma company from the video game that develops bioweapons for militaries around the world. 

The show is set in New Racoon City, the new city built over Raccoon City, which was nuked due to a T-virus outbreak. T-virus (also known as Tyrant Virus) is the highly infectious virus that turns humans into blood-thirsty zombies and is featured in promo stills for the live-action series. The show follows the Wesker daughter as she pieces together the awful truth behind what her father actually does for a living. We'll likely find out even more about what's in store for New Racoon City once Netflix releases a teaser trailer.

Samsung's Neo QLED 8K TVs are available for pre-order, starting at $3,500

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 11:24 AM PDT

Samsung has opened up pre-orders for many of its 2022 TVs and revealed when you'll be able to lock in an order for some of its other upcoming displays. The company is refreshing its Neo QLED sets this year with features such as refresh rates of up to 144Hz, 14-bit processing for enhanced brightness accuracy and AI-driven upscaling via the Neural Quantum Processor 8K.

Neo QLED QN800B 8K TVs are available to pre-order now at $3,500 for the 65-inch model, $4,700 for the 75-inch TV and $6,500 for the 85-inch version. Pre-orders for the QN900B-series TVs (which have thinner bezels and 144Hz output) will open on March 21st. Pricing hasn't been announced.

Like the 8K models, the Neo QLED 4K QN95B uses Mini-LEDs. It has a Neural Quantum Processor 4K and 144Hz refresh rate. Top-channel speakers are integrated with Object Tracking Sound with the aim of making whatever you're watching feel more immersive. Pre-orders will open on May 23rd. 

Samsung 2022 The Frame Matte Display
Samsung

Depending on your preferred screen size, you won't have to wait quite as long as that to get your hands on a 2022 version of The Frame. It also has new top speakers and comes with Samsung's solar-powered remote. There's also a matte finish that's said to give the appearance of texture to art that you display on the Frame while minimizing glare.

The 43", 50", 65" and 75" models are available to pre-order now, starting at $1,000. Samsung will open pre-orders for the 32-inch, 55-inch and 85-inch sizes soon.

Samsung S95B OLED TV
Samsung

In addition, Samsung announced the S95B OLED TV. Features include the Tizen platform, Neural Quantum Processor 4K, Object Tracking Sound and QSymphony- with Dolby Atmos. Samsung says it includes an OLED brightness booster and perceptional color mapping as well. It's available to pre-order now in 55-inch and 65" formats, starting at $2,400.

Access to cloud gaming services such as Google Stadia and NVIDIA GeForce Now will be available on some of Samsung's 2022 TVs. You'll just need a compatible controller to play games on supported TVs.

Tile will help you scan for unwanted tracking tags

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 10:58 AM PDT

Apple isn't the only tracking tag company making it harder for stalkers and thieves to track you. Tile is rolling out a "Scan and Secure" feature in its Android and iOS apps to help you detect unwanted tags. Use it and the app will check if any suspicious Tile tags (or Tile-equipped devices) are traveling with you. The process can take up to 10 minutes, but you won't need a Tile account or hardware.

If there are unwanted trackers, you'll receive safety advice. Tile stressed that it will only identify the owners of misused tags through a "properly issued court order." The company also made clear this was just a "first step" for improved safety, and that it would team up with advocacy groups and experts to refine its efforts.

Tag-based stalking has been possible for a while, but Apple's AirTags underscored the problem — it's all too easy for someone to slip a tracker into your coat or car and follow your movements without your knowledge or consent. Apple already has alerts for unwanted trackers, but it's promising both earlier, more prominent alerts as well as a precision finding feature to help people remove unwanted tags. In that regard, Tile is simply following suit by upgrading its privacy measures.

Android 13 DP2 requires apps to ask permission for notifications

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 10:00 AM PDT

Google has released the second Developer Preview for Android 13, and it includes a big change in how the platform delivers alerts. Apps built for Android 13 will need to ask for permission before they can send notifications. Apps made for Android 12 or lower won't face this obligation, but this could still be very helpful if you're tired of having to disable notifications for apps that enable them by default.

Developers, meanwhile, can establish "downgradeable" permissions that scale back once they're no longer required. An app that needed access to your location before might switch it off if a relevant feature was disabled, or if the permission is no longer necessary in Android 13.

After that, Developer Preview 2's biggest upgrades mostly apply to audio. You'll find Bluetooth LE Audio support that promises "high fidelity" sound without a big hit to battery life. Musicians will find MIDI 2.0 compatibility that lets you use higher-resolution and more expressive USB instruments. The newer Android 13 build is also better at handling non-Latin languages like Japanese and Tamil.

You'll need a Pixel 4, Pixel 4a or newer Google phone to load the Android 13 DP2 system image outside of an emulator. As with past previews, you won't want to install this on your main phone — there are likely to be plenty of remaining glitches and compatibility headaches. Google is still targeting platform stability between June and July, and the polished release isn't due until sometime after that. If you can afford to experiment, though, it should be clear the new OS is quickly taking shape.

Maserati plans to go fully electric by 2025

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:57 AM PDT

Maserati announced on Thursday that it will offer electric versions of its entire vehicle lineup by 2025 and is starting its efforts off with the GranTurismo EV, a 1,200 HP roadster slated for release next year. 

Maseratti GranTurismo Folgore
Stellantis

The GranTurismo "Folgore" will be the first entry into Maserati's new line of electric vehicles. Its thousand-plus horses will translate into a limitered top speed of 190 MPH and a sub-3-second 0-60. It will be joined by an electrified version of the new Grecale SUV and Grancabrio GT in 2023 followed by EV variants of the MC20, the Quattroporte and the Levante SUV by 2025. The company also announced its intention to halt production of internal combustion vehicles and go fully electric by 2030. 

The company, a subsidiary of the Stellantis Group, did not elaborate on the expected MSRPs for the upcoming vehicles, but given Maserati's current offerings, interested buyers will likely be looking to pay anywhere from the high five-figures to the mid-sixes.   

'Elden Ring' update adds more quests, as if there wasn't enough to do already

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:32 AM PDT

Elden Ring is a massive game in every sense of the word. To fully complete it can take well over 100 hours, but for those who've somehow already exhausted every dungeon and boss, there are now even more things to do. In the latest patch, FromSoftware has added quests for certain non-player characters (NPCs): Diallos, Nepheli Loux, Kenneth Haight and Gatekeeper Gostoc.

Keeping track of NPCs' locations will be easier too, thanks to new map markers that allow you to include their name. So, if you want to remember where to find a specific merchant, you might not need to jot down their location in a notebook. There's a new NPC named Jar Bairn as well, while the developers have "added some summonable NPCs in multiple situations," according to the patch notes.

The update brings in a host of balance changes too. One of them will reduce the effectiveness of the Mimic Tear summon. That allows players to create an AI-controlled spirit with the same loadout as the player, which has come in extremely useful for boss fights.

Meanwhile, FromSoft reduced the amount of damage dished out by the Hoarfrost's Stomp Ash of War and increased the time it takes to cast. Speedrunners have been relying on that skill to blaze through Elden Ring in under 30 minutes, so they might need to find some new strategies — unless they play offline and decide not to update the game.

To offset those changes and some other nerfs, a bunch of skills now have lower FP (Focus Points) consumption, so you'll be able to use them more often. Smithing Stones will be easier to find and shields are more effective. Stat scaling issues for some weapons should be smoothed out after some bug fixes. Publisher Bandai Namco says there are some performance improvements too.

Apple will fix the Studio Display's underperforming webcam

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 09:17 AM PDT

The Mac Studio may be a fine machine for some creative pros, but its companion Studio Display needs some polishing. An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch and The Wall Street Journal the company will update the Studio Display through software to address an issue where the webcam isn't "behaving as expected." The company didn't provide a timeline for the fix.

TechCrunch, The Journal and others have complained that the Studio Display webcam's image quality is subpar, with grainy, washed-out video even in good lighting. Center Stage's auto-framing helps mask the issue, but doesn't eliminate it. The problem is odd given both the high quality of the 2021 MacBook Pro's camera and the presence of an A13 chip meant partly to process webcam imagery — Apple has the knowledge and means to produce a fine-looking picture.

The performance mars what is otherwise a solid monitor with good (if unexceptional) visuals and relatively powerful speakers. It's safe to say you'll want to wait for the update if the Studio Display's webcam will play a big role in your purchasing decision. If you're going to spend $1,599 on a monitor, you want to know all its features are working as well as possible.

Instagram suspended Kanye West for 24 hours

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:18 AM PDT

Instagram suspended Kanye West from the platform for 24 hours after the rapper and producer attacked Pete Davidson and others. The Saturday Night Live star and soon-to-be Blue Origin passenger has been dating West's ex-wife Kim Kardashian for several months.

West (who legally changed his name to Ye) reportedly violated Instagram's policies on hate speech, harassment and bullying. Some posts that broke the rules were removed from his account, according to HuffPost. Along with lashing out at Davidson, West is said to have posted a (now-deleted) racial slur aimed at Trevor Noah, who criticized him in a recent episode of The Daily Show.

The suspension temporarily prevented West from posting, commenting or sending direct messages on Instagram. A Meta spokesperson has said the company may take further action against West if he violates the rules again.

It remains to be seen whether West will show restraint when The Kardashians premieres on Hulu next month. Kardashian's relationship with Davidson will be a focal point of the reality show.

How to clean all the screens in your home

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 08:00 AM PDT

Display technology has come a long way in recent years. OLED and LCD screens are brighter, more colorful and responsive than ever before, but at some point, they all still succumb to dust, dirt and grime. What's worse is that there are a plethora of cleaning products out there that claim they can make your screen sparkle again. But in our testing, we've found that the simplest route is actually the best. In this how-to, we'll show you how to clean all the screens in your home, from TVs to smartphones.

How not to clean your display

Igor's desktop
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

Before we get to how to clean a screen, there are a few ways you don't want to go about the process. The first, and most important, is that you don't want to clean a display using substances like isopropyl alcohol or Windex. Alcohol- and ammonia-based cleaners can damage your screen's anti-reflective coating. Using those substances repeatedly can lead to clouding and the coating becoming uneven.

Companies like Whoosh make cleaning agents that won't damage your screen, but in my experience, you're best off using distilled water. It's more affordable than a dedicated cleaning agent and more versatile too since you can use it on a variety of surfaces. It also won't leave behind any residue on your display, which is something I've seen products like Whoosh do occasionally. You can buy distilled water at a grocery store or make it yourself with some simple cookware.

In a pinch, you can use tap water, but we recommend against it. Depending on the hardness of the water in your area and how your municipality treats it, there may be minerals and chemicals that will again either leave behind residue or, worse yet, damage your display's coating.

Once you have some distilled water, you'll want a separate spray bottle. One option is to reuse one you already have at home, but if you don't have a spare, Muji makes these handy travel bottles in 100ml, 50ml and 30ml sizes that are perfect for the task, and you can find similar bottles on Amazon.

Next, be mindful of what you use to wipe your screen. You want to avoid using paper towel, dish rags and anything else that may have an abrasive surface that will damage the coating on your screen. You can use the sleeve of an old but clean t-shirt. That said, you'll get the best results using microfiber cloths. That's because the fabric they're made from is extremely soft and good at attracting dust. We suggest buying a pack of them so that you always have a clean one on hand. The last thing you want to do is use a dirty one and transfer any dirt and grime onto your display.

Lastly, avoid spraying any liquid directly on a display. You'll have a lot more control if you deposit it on your microfiber cloth and it's much easier to avoid any of it making its way into the more sensitive parts of the display.

How to clean your display

Igor's monitor
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget

With all that out of the way, the actual process of cleaning a display is straightforward. If you're only dealing with some dust, use a can of compressed air or an air blower to dislodge it. You can also turn to a dry microfiber cloth.

For anything more than that, dampen your microfiber cloth with a small amount of distilled water and then gently wipe the display. Once you've gone over the entire surface, turn over the cloth and use the dry side to remove any excess water. At this stage, avoid buffing the screen or using excessive pressure. You don't want to work any particles into the surface of the screen.

That's it. You should have a clean display now. Obviously, it will take longer to clean a bigger screen, but you can put to use the tips mentioned for all types of displays, including TVs, monitors and glass smartphone displays.
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