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11.11.2022 17:50 Remedy has yet to show its co-op Control spinoff, but that isn't stopping the developer from unveiling a true follow-up. The company and its publisher 505 Games have announced joint development of Control 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC. This isn't exactly a shock when the two teased a "bigger-budget" title last year, but it's good news for anyone who misses exploring the Oldest House.The creators haven't shared any details of the plot, game mechanics or release date. Even the teaser image shares little besides what's likely a Control Point. Control 2 will still use Remedy's Northlight engine, however, and that budget is a sizeable $51.5 million. Work is still in the "concept stage," Remedy says.The commitment to a sequel makes sense given the performance of the original, and despite the lack of news about the spinoff. Control has sold 3 million copies since its 2019 debut, and 1 million of those reached gamers' hands since June of last year. The third-person action game has also received critical praise that includes 20 "game of the year" awards. Simply speaking, the franchise already has enduring success — Remedy and 505 are just capitalizing on that sizeable fan base.

11.11.2022 17:50 To me, cooking nirvana is when you have a recipe in mind, your mise en place all set, and you can focus on getting that perfect sear or saute. But before you get there, having the right equipment for the job goes a really long way. So for the adventurous cook in your life, here are some of our favorite kitchen gadgets that would make excellent gifts this holiday season.KitchenAid Cordless Variable Speed Hand BlenderWill Lipman Photography for EngadgetWhile KitchenAid’s cordless hand blender isn’t as powerful as some of its wired rivals or countertop models, what it lacks in oomph it makes up for with convenience. There are no speed dials to adjust, just squeeze harder on the trigger to make it go faster. Meanwhile, the lack of wires gives you one less thing to worry about when you’re making sauces or smoothies . And with a battery life that can blend up to 25 bowls of soup on a single charge, your loved one will probably run out of energy before this thing does. — Sam Rutherford, Senior ReporterBuy KitchenAid hand blender at Amazon - $100Kyocera Ceramic kitchen knifeKyoceraEveryone has their preference when it comes to cutting tools, but I think everyone could use a ceramic knife in their arsenal. Starting at under $50, they’re relatively affordable. But more importantly, they are much sharper,hold an edge up to 10 times longer and are lighter than traditional steel blades. That makes them less tiring to use, and you don’t ever have to worry about them rusting either. Just remember, ceramic is more brittle than metal, so tell your giftee to stick to slicing fruits, veggies and boneless meats – leave hacking through bones to other knives. — S.R.Buy Kyocera knife at Amazon - $60Mise En Non-stick pansEngadgetAfter being disappointed with a bunch of non-stick pans from big names like All-Clad to smaller brands plastered across social media, I went on a quest to find something I could trust. And after trying out Mise En’s options, I found a winner. Not only are Mise En’s pans significantly cheaper than premium legacy brands, but I’ve also found they maintain their non-stick coating much better over time. So if you know someone who would appreciate a good, affordable no-nonsense pan for cooking eggs, crepes or anything else that can get a little gummy, look no further. — S.R.Buy Mise En pan at Amazon - $81Instant Vortex Plus air fryerEngadgetAir fryers might seem like just a fad. After all, they’re just compact convection ovens, right? That’s true, but that doesn’t mean they don’t work. In our experience, pod-shaped air fryers are able to produce crispier foods than their convection oven counterparts and they’re much easier to clean too. If you have someone in your life who loves the idea of “frying” foods without the oily mess, an air fryer could potentially be a fantastic gift.Our favorite air fryer is the 6-quart Instant Vortex Plus with ClearCook and OdorErase. It has a display window so your giftee can check how the food looks. It also uses odor-eliminating filters that help reduce cooking smells – a feature that many air fryers lack. The six-quart size in particular is what we recommend; it’s large enough to fit four large chicken thighs or a whole pound of wings. The basket internals are nonstick so it’s easy to clean, plus the inner rack is dishwasher safe. — Nicole Lee, Commerce WriterBuy Instant Vortex Plus at Amazon - $133Hedley Bennett Essential apronHedley BennettAny home cook will tell you cooking is a messy affair. No matter how neat and tidy you think you are, you’ll inevitably encounter oil spitting at you as you’re frying potstickers or perhaps an accidental splash of tomato sauce as you mix in meatballs. If you have a loved one who cooks often enough, they’ll certainly appreciate an apron to avoid getting any of that mess on their clothes. Hedley Bennett makes perhaps the best commercially-available apron on the market. The Essential Apron is made from 100 percent cotton twill fabric that’s durable enough to withstand frequent use, and it comes with pockets – one breast pocket for a perhaps pen or a clip-on timer and two large front pockets big enough for a phone or a small tablet each. These aprons are also sold in a wide variety of colors and patterns, so you’re sure to find at least one that’ll fit your loved ones’ taste. — N.L.Shop Hedley Bennet apronsAnova Precision CookerWill Lipman Photography for EngadgetAn immersion circulator isn’t for everyone. But it can do things that no other gadget can. It can take the guesswork out of nailing the temp on a steak before finishing it off with a quick sear in a cast iron skillet. A sous vide machine can also create the perfect jammy center on a soft-boiled ramen egg or simply add a range of aromatics to various types of meat while they cook. This is the kind of thing that a lot of home cooks dream about but can’t quite justify buying, which is precisely what makes it a perfect gift. — S.R.Buy Anova Precision Cooker at Amazon - $219Microplane classic graterMicroplaneA good grater is a must-have in the kitchen, and just like Band-Aid is to adhesive bandages and Kleenex is to tissues, Microplane has become synonymous when it comes to zesting and grating. The classic model comes with a no-slip plastic handle and an included protective cover and it can handle anything from parmesan cheese to garlic to nutmeg. And priced at $16, it’s an ideal kitchen gadget gift even if you don’t have a ton to spend. — S.R.Buy microplane at Amazon - $16ThermoWorks ThermoPopWill Lipman Photography for EngadgetThere’s no shortage of instant-read thermometers out there, but ThermoWorks’ ThermoPop has been a staple in my kitchen for a long time. Yes, it’s cute, but that’s only one reason to buy it over others. I like that it’s quite accurate and provides temperature readings in just a couple of seconds, plus it's splash resistant and pretty easy to clean. It also has a screen that you can rotate to show you the temperature in different orientations, making it easy to use in all kinds of positions. Plus, you can’t beat its $35 price tag, which is a steal for an accurate thermometer like this that also has an attractive, pocketable design. If you want the latest and great, spring for the ThermoPop 2 that just came out, which is even more accurate than the previous generation, faster and can read temperatures up to 572 degrees Fahrenheit. — Valentina Palladino, Senior Commerce EditorBuy ThermoPop 2 at ThermoWorks - $35John Boos cutting boardJohn BoosAnyone who has watched even a handful of cooking shows or videos has probably seen this cutting board in the background. And the reason is that they’re just great products that deliver everything you need and nothing more. Boos blocks are available in a huge range of shapes, sizes and woods, from small circular boards to huge maple slabs with juice grooves. That said, if you’re planning on gifting a cutting board this nice, don’t forget to include proper care instructions, which at the very minimum include oiling it once a month. — S.R.Buy Boos board at Amazon - $95The Good Shears by MaterialWill Lipman Photography for EngadgetEveryone needs a good pair of scissors, and it doesn’t hurt if they look good too. The Good Shears sport soft silicone handles and sharp micro-serrated blades that should make quick work of anything short of beef bones. And unlike a lot of cheaper competitors, the Good Shears are dishwasher safe and can be taken apart for sharpening or cleaning. — S.R.Buy Good Shears at Material - $35Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy rice cookerZojirushiThose who eat rice regularly know that rice cookers are a much easier way to prepare the popular grain than using the stovetop alone, especially if you’re cooking for a crowd. Our favorite model is the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy thanks to its “fuzzy logic” tech , which ensures perfectly cooked rice even if your water and rice measurements aren’t exact. It has settings for different sorts of rice: white, mixed, porridge, sweet, semi-brown, brown, rinse-free and quick-cooking. Other features include a timer and a keep-warm setting. The Zojirushi rice cooker also makes fantastic polenta, not to mention oatmeal from steel-cut oats.There’s also an updated option called the Zojirushi Induction Heating System Rice Cooker. In addition to the fuzzy logic tech mentioned above, it features an induction heating tech that heats the inner cooking pan. According to the company, this allows the device to make precise temperature adjustments to cook exceptional rice. This also means the food will heat evenly, as the bottom, side and lid will all generate heat. — N.L.Buy Zojirushi rice cooker at Amazon - $231Vitamix Low-Profile blenderEngadgetThe Vitamix 5200 is often cited as the premium blender of choice among experienced cooks and professional chefs. But the default 64-ounce container is often much too tall to fit under most cabinets. Enter the Vitamix Low-Profile blender, which still has a 64-ounce container but has a much shorter stature so it easily fits in most kitchens. Aside from looks, it’s just as capable and powerful as the original. It can crush ice, make quick work out of frozen fruit and tough vegetables and puree soups with ease. — N.L.Buy Vitamix Low-Profile blender at Amazon - $375OXO Good Grips Precision scaleEngadgetA good kitchen scale is an essential kitchen gadget, especially in times when loose volumetric measurements just don’t cut it . Not only does OXO’s Precision Scale support both metric and imperial measurements, it also features accurate 0.1-gram measurements that go up to six pounds. There’s also an easy-to-read digital display with a built-in timer, and its minimalist design will look good in practically anyone’s kitchen. — S.R.Buy OXO scale at Amazon - $55Sodastream TerraEngadgetAdmittedly, this might not strictly be a gift for a cook, but it’s definitely handy to have around the kitchen and great for creating a custom sodas or cocktails. The Soda Stream Terra, is the company’s most affordable sparkling water maker. For just $100, the starter kit includes the device itself, a reusable 1L bottle and a CO2 cylinder. You can also spring for the $130 hydration pack if you’re shopping for an avid cocktail maker or seltzer addict. That tacks on two more 1L bottles, two 0.5 liter dishwasher-safe bottles and 40ml lemon flavor drops. The whole setup is super easy to use too, and doesn’t even need to be plugged in. Just attach the CO2 tank, fill up the bottle with water and then tap to add bubbles. From there your giftee can mix and match flavor packs to suit their taste while also cutting down on waste from packaging and transporting heavy cans or bottles. — S.R.Buy Terra at Sodastream - $120ButcherBox FavoritesButcherBoxIf you have a meat lover in your life, ButcherBox’s Favorites is quite possibly the best gift they’ll ever get. Each shipment will have all of the company’s bestsellers lovingly vacuum-packed and frozen for their enjoyment. The contents include two pounds of ground beef, four eight-ounce boneless pork chops, three one-pound packs of boneless chicken breasts, two six-ounce filet mignons, one pound of sirloin tips, a 12-ounce pack of apple gouda sausage and a 10-ounce pack of bacon. That’s more than enough to keep them satisfied for at least a month, perhaps even longer. At least, if they don’t gorge it all in one go. — N.L.Buy favorites box at ButcherBox - $159

11.11.2022 17:50 While not everyone's convinced that AI art is actual art, the generators used to whip them up are likely here to stay. DeviantArt is now getting into the space with a generator of its own called DreamUp, promising "safe and fair" generation for creators. The website says one of artists' main concerns about AI art is that their work may be used to train artificial intelligence models, which means the generator could spit out pieces in their style without their consent. In an attempt to give artists control over their work, DeviantArt is giving them the ability to choose whether or not the tool can use their style for direct inspiration. Further, the website is giving them the power to declare whether or not to allow their work to be used in datasets used to train third-party AI models. If they choose not to be included in those datasets, their content pages' HTML files will contain a "noimageai" directive. Also a "noai" directive protects their artwork when media files are directly downloaded from DeviantArt's servers. "DeviantArt encourages other creator platforms to adopt this approach in order to ensure artists remain able to share their work with online audiences while retaining control over non-human usage," the website wrote in its announcement. Those directives, of course, won't be added to their pages' HTML files if they're cool with their work being used to train AI models. And if they choose to allow DreamUp to use their style as a direct inspiration, they will be "clearly credited" on the output when it's published on DeviantArt. The website has anticipated that some users wouldn't be happy seeing even more AI art, though, especially since Midjourney-generated pieces are already a very common sight on the platform. That's why all DreamUp submissions will be automatically tagged as #AIArt, and users will be able to choose to see or to hide posts under the topic. DreamUp is now one of the perks for DeviantArt's paid Core subscription plans, but all users can sample the tool with up to five free prompts.

11.11.2022 17:50 Google's Nest Learning Thermostat is broadly regarded as one of the best smart thermostats you can buy, and right now Wellbots is running a sale that brings the device down to $179 when you use the code THERMOENG at checkout. That isn't the absolute best price we've tracked; this third-generation model launched in 2015, and it's fallen as low as $140 in the seven years since. But this is still a bit lower than most deal prices we see, coming in $70 under Google's MSRP and about $35 below the device's average street price in recent months.Buy Nest Learning Thermostat at Wellbots - $179Smart thermostats in general can still be a worthwhile investment for those who want to manage their home's temperature remotely or cut down on their energy usage . The Nest Learning Thermostat makes doing that relatively straightforward, as it's able to gradually learn your heating and cooling preferences over a typical day, then automate future climate adjustments for your home with minimal input. It's still easy enough to make changes manually through Nest's app, but the device is usually able to create an accurate automatic heating or cooling schedule after a week or so of use. It can also use built-in sensors and your phone to tell when nobody is home, then set temperatures to an appropriate energy-saving range until someone returns. Helpfully, it'll give a visual indicator whenever it's set in that range.If your place has distinct cool or hot spots, or if you prefer to keep certain rooms at specific temperatures, you can also pair the Learning Thermostat with optional temperature sensors to more granularly balance the climate throughout your home. Provided your heating and cooling system is compatible, actually setting up the Learning Thermostat is largely straightforward, and the hardware itself still looks rather clean, with a well-sized display and smooth steel adjustment dial.The Learning Thermostat is still on the expensive side even with this discount, so it's worth noting that Google still sells a lower-end model called the Nest Thermostat for $130. That one has similar energy-saving and HVAC monitoring features, though it can't learn your temperature habits or work with remote sensors, and it has a cheaper-feeling frame based on touch controls. The newest high-end thermostats from Ecobee, meanwhile, look to be worthy alternatives if you need support for more smart home platforms or smarter remote sensors that don't have to be programmed individually, a la Nest's. They also have built-in smart speakers. The platform support may be particularly relevant given that Google hasn't committed to the Learning Thermostat supporting the recently launched Matter smart home standard, which is intended to make smart home devices universally compatible. Still, the Learning Thermostat is the better way to go if you want a more "set-and-forget" option, and at this deal price it's a fine value.Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter.

11.11.2022 17:50 Twitter Blue is currently missing from the iPhone app's menu rail. On iPads, it's still there, except clicking on the option to subscribe returns an error. One of Engadget's editors tried it out on his iPad and got a notification that says it will be available in his country in the future, even though he's in the US, which is one of the service's launch locations. Twitter has yet to announce why Blue is acting up, but according to reverse app engineer Jane Manchun Wong, the in-app purchase for Twitter Blue verification is no longer listed for production. One of her followers said they paid for a subscription and got verified, but now their blue checkmark has gone missing.The Washington Post and Zoe Schiffer of Platformer reported Monday that they had viewed internal Slack messages in which Twitter personnel confirmed they had suspended the launch of Twitter Blue "to help address impersonation issues." Schiffer continued in a thread that Twitter did indeed make Twitter Blue undiscoverable on the web, and has also prevented signups through the iOS app. The "official" label is currently reserved for advertisers, but existing Blue subscribers will otherwise continue to have access to the features they paid for.NEW: Twitter has suspended the launch of Twitter Blue and is actively trying to stop people from subscribing "to help address impersonation issues," per an internal note. 1/— Zoë Schiffer November 11, 2022It's been chaos and mayhem since Twitter launched its $8 Blue subscription service. Its main draw at the moment is instant verification, and people quickly latched onto the idea that it can be used to create parody or fake accounts that look legitimate. A fake Nintendo of America account tweeted a photo of Mario giving everyone the middle finger, for instance, while a fake Valve account posted about a new competitive platform.Twitter went on a banning spree to get rid of the inauthentic accounts, and it ultimately decided to block new users from being able to sign up for Blue. In addition, the website rolled out its "Official" gray checkmarks to select notable accounts and public figures earlier. Twitter pulled back these "Official" labels after a faulty initial release with the intention of verifying government and commercial entities first. But the company's Support account announced that it's doling them out again in an effort to combat impersonation.In addition to dealing with impersonators and fake accounts, Twitter employees — those left after the mass layoffs, anyway — also have internal drama to think of. Chief information security officer Lea Kissner, chief privacy officer Damien Kieran and chief compliance officer Marianne Fogarty have all reportedly quit the company. Elon Musk, the company's new owner, also told remaining employees that Twitter is losing so much money that "bankruptcy is not out of the question."

11.11.2022 17:50 We’re still waiting for Apple to deliver a genuine foldable iPhone, but that didn’t stop a group of engineers in China from crafting their own prototype. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra dive into the possibility of a real foldable iPhone, plus they discuss Meta’s massive layoffs and the fast downfall of the crypto exchange FTX. Also, what are the ethics of Apple limiting AirDrop in China ?Listen below, 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!Subscribe!iTunesSpotifyPocket CastsStitcherGoogle PodcastsTopicsChinese modders made a foldable iPhone – 1:32Meta lays off 11,000 people worldwide – 12:48Sale of crypto exchange FTX to Chinese-based Binance fails – 20:56Musk Twitter is a mess: the weekly update – 26:41Apple sets time limit for receiving Airdrops in China – 31:38Volvo unveils its EX90 EV SUV – 35:52Instagram’s web client has finally been redesigned – 39:37Google starts issuing Stadia refunds – 41:22Working on – 47:03Pop culture picks – 49:10LivestreamCreditsHosts: Cherlynn Low and Devindra HardawarProducer: Ben EllmanMusic: Dale North and Terrence O'BrienLivestream producers: Julio BarrientosGraphic artists: Luke Brooks and Brian Oh

11.11.2022 17:50 I've always tried to get as much sleep as possible, but now that I have a one-year-old to look after, anything that can help maximize what little rest I do get is priceless. So when I heard that Eight Sleep was coming out with a new version of its smart mattress topper that offers better sleep tracking and temperature controls, I was curious to see how well it worked. And while the Pod 3 Cover is pricey, after a few months of testing, I never want to go back to a regular standalone mattress.The Eight Sleep systemThe company's core offerings consist of two main components: The Pod 3 Mattress and the Pod 3 Cover. The mattress itself is relatively straightforward. Its features a medium firmness that's a bit stiffer than something like the original Leesa mattress and it includes various additional layers for better heat distribution.Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThen there's the Eight Sleep Pod 3 cover, which is both the heart and the brains of the company's two-pronged approach. In order to deliver your perfect sleep temperature, the cover features what Eight Sleep calls an Active Grid, which is essentially embedded tubing that carries cool or warm water to your side of the bed. There are also sensors built into the Active Grid that can monitor things like your heart rate, sleeping respiratory rate, how much you toss and turn and more, with Eight Sleep claiming that the Pod 3 offers significantly more accurate tracking than its previous offerings. And then attached to the Active Grid is the Hub, which serves both as a reservoir for the water in the Pod Cover and as a place to house important tech like WiFi, which unlike previous models now supports 5GHz networks.SetupWhile the thought of having to plug wires and hoses into your bed might seem like a bit much, getting everything working is actually pretty simple. Like a lot of foam mattresses, Eight Sleep's option arrived compressed in a box — all you have to do is remove the plastic wrapper and give it a few minutes while it expands. The nice thing is that you don't need to buy one from Eight Sleep at all, as the Pod Cover is designed to work pretty much any mattress up to 16 inches thick.Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThat's because while the standard Pod Cover comes with zippers that line up with matching teeth on the company's mattress, you can also order the Pod Cover with PerfectFit, which includes an encasement that accommodates third-party beds. So if you already like your current mattress, you don't need to toss it to install the Pod Cover. Not only does this lower the price of entry, it's also a welcome move toward general flexibility. Which is good because starting at $2,045 , this thing definitely ain't cheap.Once the Pod Cover is attached to your mattress, Eight Sleep's app provides simple step-by-step instructions on how to connect the hose, fill the reservoir and power it up. Admittedly, there's not a lot to mess up , but the guide removes all the guesswork. And while the hub itself does take up a little space, the hose is long enough that it's not too difficult to find a spot for it. From there, you can set up or sign into your account, enter your WiFi info and that's it. All told, it took me less than 20 minutes to put everything together after unboxing it.The techSam Rutherford/EngadgetWhile the Pod 3 Cover isn't a huge departure from previous models, it does pretty much everything really well. The sensors made easy work of tracking my sleeping heart and respiratory rates. And thanks to charts and graphs that are available inside the app, it's easy to see how various factors impact your sleep. You even have the ability to add tags for things like stretching, caffeine intake and others to better correlate your daytime activities with the amount of rest you get. And every day, the app spits out a sleep score to tell you how you did.The other big part of the Pod Cover's kit is its heating and cooling tech. The cover supports dual-zone controls, so you can set the temp for each half of the bed independently. That's really nice because while I typically prefer things on the cool side, my wife is often chilly at night and has her side set to warm. Honestly, even without all the sleep tracking, the Pod Cover is worth it for its cooling and heating alone.In the Eight Sleep app, you can adjust the Pod Cover's temperature settings manually or let the Autopilot feature make suggestions automatically, though sadly you'll need to pay for the company's $19-a-month subscription for the latter. Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAt this point, the science is pretty clear, your thermal environment has a huge impact on how well you sleep. Too hot or too cold and you're almost certainly going to wake up feeling less rested. But with the Pod Cover, you can select your perfect temp and set a schedule for controlling heating and cooling levels throughout the night. For me, it's like laying on the cool side of the pillow, except all the time and across the entire mattress, which makes a huge difference in both how fast I fall asleep and how I feel the next morning.Of course, you can change things as needed, which really came in handy when I started running a fever. So instead of having my side cold as normal, I was able to pump up the heat to help combat the chills — something that made being sick just a bit more tolerable. In less extreme circumstances, the adjustability also means you can tailor your temps depending on the season, as I found I prefer things a bit colder in the summer and a bit warmer in the fall and winter.On top of that, Eight Sleep takes its temperature control and sleep tracking tech a couple steps further with its Autopilot and Sleep Insight features. Autopilot uses data gathered by its sensors to automatically make your bed hotter or colder as needed. In my case, after noticing in the summer I was tossing and turning more often, it suggested a slightly cooler temperature schedule, which later resulted in higher sleep scores.Sam Rutherford/EngadgetBut what might be even more powerful is Sleep Insights, which are observations based on your metrics that tell you how well you slept. It's kind of like a robo-coach that sorts through your data to provide tips so you don't have to. While reports generally amount to notifications about your sleeping heart rate being higher or lower than normal, I appreciate that it calls attention to things like eating late or having a drink or two before bed which can negatively impact your sleep. Annoyingly, both Autopilot and Sleep Insight are locked behind the company's optional 8+ Pro subscription that costs $19 a month, which is frankly just too much. I know companies these days are looking for steady revenue streams, but these features really ought to be free.ComfortOf course, all the fancy tech in the world doesn't mean much if this thing is uncomfortable, and thankfully it's not. It's actually quite the opposite. One of my gripes about the original Pod Cover is that you could feel the tubing inside. But on the Pod 3, you can only tell that it's more than a dumb mattress topper when you touch it with your hands; laying on it, the tubing is almost impossible to discern. Admittedly, the topper makes your mattress feel a touch firmer than it would otherwise, but aside from that, it feels a lot like a bed with a thin foam egg crate pad – just slightly pillowy.Wrap-upSam Rutherford/EngadgetThe thing that made me realize what a huge impact the Pod 3 Cover had on my sleep was how much I missed it while traveling. Even the softest, coziest hotel bed couldn't make up for the lack of temperature controls. Other additions like the Pod Cover's upgraded WiFi make the smart topper even easier to set up while more precise sleep tracking helps you better figure how well you’re sleeping and what you can do to improve.The only real downside is that with a starting price of over $2,100, it’s out of the reach of most people. And that doesn't even include the optional 8+ Pro subscription, which feels like an unnecessary tax required to unlock all of its features. That said, even without Autopilot and Sleep Insights, the Pod 3 Cover has delivered some of the best sleep I've ever had.

11.11.2022 17:50 The latest iOS update Apple rolled out in China came with something not included in the release for other regions. According to Bloomberg, it limits the time a user can receive files via AirDrop from non-contacts to 10 minutes. Activists and protesters in China have been using AirDrop to circumvent the country's online censorship measures. It was widely used during Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests to share images of police brutality. This isn't the first time Apple has introduced a feature — or, in this case, a restriction — to ensure it stays in the Chinese government's good graces. Recently, the company reportedly told Taiwanese suppliers to ensure parts bound for the mainland don't come with Made in Taiwan labels. Instead, their source should be Chinese Taipei or Taiwan, China.Apple told Bloomberg the AirDrop limit won't remain a Chinese exclusive. It allegedly plans to roll out the new limitation to all users around the world next year to "mitigate unwanted file sharing."– Mat SmithThe Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.The biggest stories you might have missedThe best fitness trackers for 2022GM reveals the first vehicles that will access its expanded hands-free driving networkEventide’s H90 Harmonizer is an insanely powerful and insanely expensive guitar pedalApple's M2 MacBook Air is $150 off and back to its all-time lowElon Musk bans Twitter employees from working remotely Twitter blocks new accounts from signing up to its $8 Blue subscription What we bought: The Fujifilm X-T30 is the perfect camera for meMore Twitter privacy and security executives abandon shipA lawyer warned Twitter could be on the hook for billions in fines.There's more drama at Twitter. Chief information security officer Lea Kissner, chief privacy officer Damien Kieran and chief compliance officer Marianne Fogarty have all quit, according to The Verge. The report suggests the company's engineers will now be responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations. Twitter is currently subject to a Federal Trade Commission consent order, which includes specific privacy and security requirements.Continue reading.Philips Hue's smart string lights are a pricey form of holiday cheerExpect to pay $160.SignifySignify, formerly Philips Lighting and best known for its Hue smart bulbs and lighting, is finally introducing a set of festive fairy lights. Measuring just a touch over 65 feet, the $160 Festavia string lights feature 250 mini LEDs, customizable through the company’s recently redesigned Philips Hue app. Signify is introducing two new features for the festive season: The first is a new Sparkle effect to make the festive string of LEDs twinkle. There’s also a new lighting style called Scattered. It allows you to choose up to five colors, which the software randomly assigns to each light.Continue reading.Waymo inches closer to charging for self-driving taxis in CaliforniaIt isn't yet ready in San Francisco, however.California's Department of Motor Vehicles has greenlit an amended deployment permit that lets Waymo charge the general population for completely autonomous rides on public roads. The update clears the way for Waymo One to charge for passenger-only service in San Francisco, much as it already does in Phoenix. This also opens the possibility for delivery services.The company isn't opening Waymo One's San Francisco operations to the public "at this time," a spokesperson told Engadget. Waymo has so far limited these rides to employees and Trusted Testers covered under existing deployment and testing permitsContinue reading.NASA confirms underwater debris is from the 1986 Challenger explosionA documentary crew discovered the wreckage while searching for World War II aircraft.NASAA documentary crew has discovered an underwater wreckage off the Florida coast is from the disastrous last flight of the space shuttle Challenger, in which seven people were killed. The tragic Challenger flight took off on January 28th, 1986, breaking apart only 73 seconds into its journey. Divers working on the documentary noticed “a large human-made object covered partially by sand on the seafloor.” It had a modern construction, including eight-inch square tiles, commonly used in shuttles’ thermal protection systems. That tipped off the crew members that the wreckage may be NASA-related, and they contacted the space agency, which looked over the footage and confirmed its origin. NASA says it is considering what additional actions to take regarding the debris.Continue reading.All the gear you need to game-stream like a proGet your streaming empire off to a running start.EngadgetWhile we can’t help with the patience, natural talent or social factors that determine who becomes a game streaming star, we can recommend the tools to make a channel look as professional as possible from day one. If anyone on your gift list is serious about diving into the business of video game streaming, these are the gadgets they’ll be ecstatic to unwrap .Continue reading.

11.11.2022 12:41 Amazon recently stopped testing its Scout sidewalk delivery robot and made other decisions indicating that it's scaling back its experimental projects. Looks like its delivery drone development for Prime Air is still going strong, though, because the e-commerce giant has just released a sneak peek of its next-gen machine. The MK30 was designed to be lighter than the current model dubbed MK27-2. It will still have six rotors like its predecessor, based on the images the e-commerce giant has shared, except it no longer has a full hexagonal frame. The e-commerce giant is slated to start drone deliveries in College Station, Texas and Lockeford, California later this year to help it gauge people's interest in getting their orders flown over and dropped into their yards. Amazon will be using MK27-2 for those tests — this model won't be in service until 2024. The company says MK30 has a longer range than the MK27-2, has a higher temperature tolerance and has the capability to fly in light rain. In addition, Prime Air's Flight Science team has designed new propellers that will apparently reduce the new drone's perceived noise by around 25 percent. The company's drones aren't that noisy to begin with —according to the FAA's draft environmental assessment of drone package deliveries in College Station, the noise MK27-2 makes would be unlikely to cause disturbance and is "not expected to affect wildlife behavior..." Amazon treats reducing the noise its drones make as an important engineering challenge, though, and it believes all of the MK30's qualities combined would enable customers to "choose drone delivery more often. The company didn't reveal a specific plan for drone delivery expansion in its post, but it promises to make the service available "to more customers in the months and years to come."

11.11.2022 12:41 If you're lucky enough to track down a Steam Deck, chances are you've already experienced the sweaty palm syndrome with this handheld console — just as our very own Jess Conditt did in her review. Worse yet, the machine is prone to throttling or even crashing due to overheating, to the point where modders came up with their own creativesolutions. For the rest of us who don't want to void the warranty, though, Hong Kong-based Unitek is now offering the Cooler Dock Pro for Steam Deck. This is essentially Valve's official dock boosted with a thermoelectric cooler — like the one that comes with the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate — on the back, if you don't mind paying the extra $30.Richard Lai/EngadgetMuch like the official dock, Unitek's version cushions your Steam Deck — or any portable device, for that matter — with a strip of soft silicone, and there's a short USB-C cable dangling from the back for connecting to the console. The thermoelectric cooler, RGB-lit fan and metallic contact plate are all housed within a hinged module, which allows for minor tilt angle adjustment while supporting the Steam Deck.The Cooler Dock Pro comes with a set of ports similar to those on Valve's dock, but with some placed at the front instead — the latter include two USB-A and one USB-C , accompanied with two RGB lights. On the back, you get a USB-C PD socket , HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 and Gigabit LAN. It's worth noting that this dock supports Multi-Stream Transport i.e. daisy-chaining multiple monitors in the console's Linux desktop mode. If you're using just one video output, you'll get up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 120Hz; but if you're using both ports, then it's either dual 4K at 60Hz, or 8K at 30Hz on one and 1080p at 60Hz on the other.Unitek has added one extra USB-C port on the left, which is dedicated to the cooler module. If you want to use just the cooling function while on the go i.e. no displays nor accessories connected to the dock, you can simply plug a power bank into that 10W USB-C socket.Richard Lai/EngadgetUnitek claims that while running Apex Legends, the Steam Deck's average surface temperature was around 46°C , but when used with the Cooling Dock Pro, this figure dropped down to 34.5°C — falling within the recommended ambient temperature range. For a more extreme test, we ran Forza Horizon 5 on ultra graphics settings, in which case the Steam Deck would normally fail to start a race, but it managed to last for around six minutes on the Cooling Dock Pro. The company added that when lowered to high graphics settings, the game would crash after around 45 minutes of gameplay, but with its dock, it kept running even after an hour. Of course, your mileage may vary from one game to another, but it's more about prolonging your Steam Deck's lifespan.The $119 Unitek Cooling Dock Pro is now available for pre-order, with shipments starting from around mid-December. There's also a cheaper $89 Cooling Dock for those who only need an HDMI 2.0 port , though it won't be shipping until Q1 2023. It should be noted that there's no power supply included with either model , while Valve's $89 official dock includes a 45W brick. Chances are you may already have a compatible power supply; Unitek recommends that you'll need 60W or above to get the most out of the Cooler Dock Pro.

11.11.2022 08:30 The United Nations is betting that satellites could help the world catch up on emissions reductions. The organization has unveiled a Methane Alert and Response System that, as the name implies, will warn countries and companies of "major" methane emission releases. The technology will use satellite map data to identify sources, notify the relevant bodies and help track progress on lowering this output.The initial MARS platform will focus on "very large" energy sector sources. It'll gradually expand to include less powerful sources, more frequent alerts and data from animals, coal, rice and waste. Partners in the program, such as the International Energy Agency and UN's Climate and Clean Air Coalition, will provide help and advice. The information also won't remain a secret, as the UN will make both data and analyses public between 45 to 75 days after it's detected.The system will get its early funding from the US government, European Commission, Bezos Earth Fund and the Global Methane Hub. Both Bezos' fund and GMH are backing related efforts, such as studies on spotting and counteracting agricultural methane emissions.This is the first publicly available system of its kind, the UN claims. It will theoretically lead to faster, more targeted methane emissions reduction than you see today. That could be crucial in the years ahead. The UN warned at the COP27 conference that Earth was nowhere near limiting global warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius from the Paris Agreement. As human-released methane is both a major contributor to climate change and quick to leave the atmosphere, an effective use of MARS could help get environmental strategy back on track.As you might imagine, though, MARS will only work if governments and businesses cooperate. There's not much point to alerts if emissions contributors ignore them. An oil company might be reluctant to spend the money need to fix its flaring, for instance. The UN can point out a problem using this system, but it can't require action.

11.11.2022 08:30 Twitter's "official" gray checkmarks seem to making their way back to accounts owned by brands, publishers and other public figures. The website initially rolled out its official badges — the ones you can't buy with its new $8 Blue subscription service — on November 9th. But it paused deployment and pulled them back down from accounts that already had them, including Engadget's, just a few hours later. Twitter VP Esther Crawford explained that the checkmarks will be back, it's just that the social network is going to hand them out to "government and commercial entities" at first.As The Verge reports, the badge has now started reappearing on brand and company accounts like Coca-Cola's and Nintendo of America's. Twitter's own accounts are also displaying the gray checkmark. And some publications like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Wired have them now, as well. It's unclear if rollout has truly started this time, and if it has anything to do with the influx of impersonator and parody accounts that have flooded the website since its $8 verification has debuted. TwitterShortly after the company's paid verification scheme went live, fake accounts shelled out for a subscription and got themselves verified. That led to legitimate-looking accounts tweeting out questionable things, such as a fake Nintendo of America posting a picture of Mario giving Twitter the middle finger and a fake LeBron James announcing that he was requesting a trade. On its support account, Twitter said yesterday that it was not "putting an 'Official' label on accounts" yet, but it's "aggressively going after impersonation and deception." The gray checkmark, however, could help people figure out if they're dealing with actual companies and public figures. As a response to the situation, the company implemented a new rule that blocks accounts created on or after November 9th from its $8 Blue subscription to prevent them from getting instant verification. Twitter owner Elon Musk also announced that going forward, accounts doing parody impersonation must include the word "parody" in their name, not just in their bio. That's been a part of Twitter's policy for years, but we're guessing the website will now be enforcing the rule more strictly in light of recent events. Going forward, accounts engaged in parody must include “parody” in their name, not just in bio— Elon Musk November 11, 2022

11.11.2022 03:10 Twitter verification is now just a $8 away away, but that doesn't mean the social network has democratized its long-standing status symbol entirely. The Twitter verification badge is now split between two different groups: accounts that were officially verified for being "notable in government, news, entertainment, or another designated category," and accounts that paid for the checkmark by being subscribed to Twitter Blue. But it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two types of verified accounts without clicking into their individual profiles, which is why one Twitter user created a tool to make it a lot easier.Introducing Eight Dollars, a simple browser extension that swaps out Twitter's standard verification badge for two different labels that spell out if an account is "actually verified" or if it "paid for verification." Without the extension, you'd need to click on a user's profile, and then tap on the verification checkmark to determine if the user's check was approved by Twitter staff or purchased through Twitter Blue, but Eight Dollars makes that information available directly in your timeline.If you're confused by the new Twitter Verification feature, I've been working with some friends on a Chrome Extension that helps you tell the differencehttps://t.co/zXkwzhXIc1pic.twitter.com/pHTBswBnnE— Walter Lim November 10, 2022The extension was originally only available for Chrome, but New Zealand designer Walter Lim says it should work with Microsoft Edge as well as Firefox, and he's also added Safari to his to-do list. Installing any of them will take a little extra work: the add-on is currently only available on GitHub, and needs to be installed manually using the browser's developer mode. Even so, it could be worth the effort — unless you like being fooled by hackneyed scam accounts and impersonators.

11.11.2022 03:10 Netflix is finally ready to dip into livestreaming months after word emerged of its plans. The service has confirmed that Chris Rock will debut a comedy special live on the service sometime in early 2023. He's the "first artist" to receive the distinction, the company says, and the stream will be available worldwide.The firm revealed its live show strategy following a Deadlinescoop this May. At the time, Netflix said it would focus on unscripted material like stand-up specials, competition shows and an upcoming Netflix is a Joke festival. In theory, you could vote on a reality TV series or watch a raw comedy gig with mistakes intact.Chris Rock is about to make history as the first artist to perform live on Netflix!The legendary comedian, writer, director, and actor’s newest comedy special will premiere live — globally — in early 2023 on Netflix! pic.twitter.com/707y0Afa08— Strong Black Lead November 10, 2022The expansion isn't a shock when some of Netflix's main rivals have at least some form of livestreaming in place. Disney+ livestreamed Oscar nominations in February, and will air live episodes of Dancing With the Stars this fall. Others focus heavily on sports. Amazon Prime Video broadcasts weekly NFL matches, for example, while Apple TV+ has Friday Night Baseball. These offerings give you a reason to either join a service or stay subscribed when you've exhausted the usual on-demand fare.Netflix also hasn't been shy about experimenting with different formats beyond its linear movies and TV shows. It has offered trivia shows and other interactive programming, and is diving further into mobile games. Livestreams could help Netflix further diversify its content and help it avoid a repeat of this year's subscriber losses.

11.11.2022 03:10 Two weeks after taking over Twitter, Elon Musk has finally addressed the company’s remaining staff and the message was bleak. Speaking at an all-hands meeting, Musk said that Twitter is losing so much money that “bankruptcy is not out of the question,” The Information and Platformer reported.Twitter hasn’t turned a profit since 2019, and ad revenue has declined significantly since Musk’s takeover as advertisers pull back from the platform. At the all-hands, Musk said Twitter could have "net negative cash flow of several billion dollars” in 2023, according to The Information. He also suggested that Twitter’s future depends upon the success of the revamped Twitter Blue subscription service.“The reason we’re going hardcore on subscribers is to keep Twitter alive,” he said.Musk also told employees, again, that they are expected to work from Twitter’s office, a reversal of the company’s previous “work from anywhere” policy. “If you can physically make it to an office and you don’t show up, resignation accepted," he said, Platformer’s Zoe Schiffer, reported.Twitter is also rapidly losing the top executives that survived Musk’s layoffs. The company’s chief information security officer, chief privacy officer and chief compliance officer all recently resigned, exposing the company to potential new FTC fines. And two other high-profile executives, head of trust and Safety Yoel Roth and VP of client solutions Robin Wheeler, also resigned on Thursday, Bloombergreported. The two had joined Musk in a town hall meant to reassure Twitter’s advertisers just one day before.Meanwhile, the roll out of the new Blue subscription has been rocky. After introducing — and quickly killing — a separate “official” checkmark, there’s been a surge in scammers and pranksters impersonating politicians, celebrities and brands. Musk reportedly told employees that rooting out scammers abusing the checkmark was a “top priority.”We've reached out to Twitter for comment.