Author Archives: Kris Holt

Here’s how Sonos hopes to win back your trust after its app debacle

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It’s been a disastrous few months for Sonos after the company botched a major overhaul of its mobile app. In an effort to win back users’ trust, the company has laid out a plan that includes several new commitments.

“Our priority since its release has been — and continues to be — fixing the app. There were missteps, and we first went deep to understand how we got here, and then moved to convert those learnings into action,” Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said in a statement. “We are committed to making changes to get us back to being the brand people love by offering the best audio system for the home and beyond.”

There are two pillars that Sonos’ latest plan is based on: tackling the core causes of the app’s problems (it wasn’t fully ready and lacked critical features) and winning back users’ trust. In the first instance, Sonos is promising an "unwavering focus on the customer experience." That nebulous commitment involves deciding on "ambitious quality benchmarks" at the beginning of a product development cycle and not releasing products before those standards are met.

The company will appoint a quality ombudsperson, who will be a point of contact for employees who have quality and customer experience concerns. Sonos leadership will consult this person during the development process and before any product rollouts. The ombudsperson will deliver a semi-annual report to the executives and employees as well.

Next, Sonos is planning to make its testing processes more stringent, such as by opening up its beta testing program to more types of users and different kinds of setups. Testing periods will be longer too. As such, Sonos thinks this will help it to address user concerns faster.

In addition, Sonos has pledged to roll out major changes to its app gradually. That way, users can provide feedback and let the company make tweaks before a significant update becomes the default for everyone. As for smaller-scoped features, there will be an opt-in toggle in the app for those who want to try them out on an experimental basis.

When it comes to earning consumers’ trust again, Sonos is making a trio of pledges. First, as a goodwill gesture, Sonos is extending the manufacturer warranty for all home speaker products (home theater gear and plug-in speakers) that are still under warranty. The company has promised to keep rolling out app updates between every two and four weeks in order to "optimize and enhance the software experience."

Last but not least, Sonos will set up a customer advisory board. This will provide the company with "feedback and insights from a customer perspective to help shape and improve our software and products before they are launched."

The company plans to implement all of these changes by the end of the year, though some of them are already in place. Sonos also notes that, unless it's able to rebuild trust with users and improve "the quality of the app experience," none of its executive leadership team members will receive an annual bonus for the fiscal year that commenced today. However, the company didn't spell out the parameters for meeting those goals.

The company debuted its new app in May in preparation for the debut of the Sonos Ace, its first set of headphones. However, to its detriment, Sonos rushed the rollout of the redesigned app. It was buggy and lacked several important and fundamental features, such as the ability to adjust alarms (it was possible, but inconvenient, to do that on the desktop app).

The company has spent several months trying to fix the issues, which it says will end up costing between $20 million and $30 million to resolve. The problems prompted Sonos to delay the release of two new products. It also laid off 100 workers in August.

Sonos says that it has brought back over 80 percent of the app's missing features and it expects to have restored almost 100 percent in the coming weeks. It claims that "the reliability and speed of the app has improved with each release."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/heres-how-sonos-hopes-to-win-back-your-trust-after-its-app-debacle-144236940.html?src=rss

Amazon’s Fire HD 10 tablet drops to a record-low price ahead of October Prime Day

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If you've been on the lookout for a killer deal on a perfectly decent tablet for streaming videos and catching up on some reading, hunt no more. Just ahead of the October edition of Prime Day, Amazon has slashed the price of the Fire HD 10 tablet to $75, which is a discount of $65. This matches the tablet's lowest price to date, which we saw during Prime Day in July.

The deal is for a model with 32GB of storage and ads on the lockscreen. Expanding the storage is easy enough thanks to the microSD slot, but to get rid of the lockscreen ads you'll need to buy a different version (which, at $90, is also currently $65 off).

You probably won't be doing as much creative work on a Fire HD tablet as you might on an iPad Pro. But for kicking back and catching up on a show or reading a Kindle book, Amazon's tablet certainly does the trick. It has a 10.1-inch Full HD display with a promise of up to 13 hours of battery life. Amazon says it delivers 25 percent faster performance than the previous model and it has 3GB of storage.

You can use the tablet to keep up with family and friends using messaging apps or hop on video calls with the help of the 5MP front-facing camera. You can also use a stylus to sketch in various apps. There's Alexa integration as well, of course — you can use the tablet to control smart compatible home devices and get a live view of connected security cameras.

One thing worth noting is that Amazon has yet to hold its usual fall devices event, so it may be using the October Prime Day sale to get rid of its current inventory of devices on the cheap before announcing upgraded models. Even if Amazon does have new tablets to show off in the coming weeks, though, you'll still have a solid device in hand if you snap this one up.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-fire-hd-10-tablet-drops-to-a-record-low-price-ahead-of-october-prime-day-202755183.html?src=rss

Verizon says its network is ‘fully restored’ following an hours-long outage

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Update, September 30, 7:28PM ET: At 7:18PM ET, the company tweeted that its engineers had resolved the issue. The original story, which was updated twice after publish with statements from Verizon, follows.

Verizon mobile customers reported widespread outages across the US on Monday. Starting at around 9:30AM ET, hundreds of thousands of people flagged issues with their mobile service on Downdetector, which tracks user-submitted outage reports. The volume of reports spiked at almost 105,000 at 11:20AM, but were still reaching almost 59,000 at 12:52PM.

Many folks claimed they were unable to make or receive calls or exchange text messages. Those with an iPhone may be seeing "SOS" instead of the usual connection bars on the top right of their screen. That's a common sight when there's limited service or none at all. However, affected iPhone users can still make emergency calls via other networks.

A Downdetector heatmap suggested that the issue was most prevalent in New York, New Jersey, Georgia and elsewhere on the east coast and midwest. A narrow yellow band of reports was also emerging on the west coast as of 1:10PM ET. along with an intensifying heat spot in Los Angeles.

Verizon confirmed that service was affected for some customers. “Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to solve the issue,” the company wrote on X at 11:48AM. The cause of the outage is not yet clear.

As of 3:45PM ET, Verizon had yet to provide an update on the outage via X. User outage reports were still flooding into Downdetector, however, with almost 48,000 of them at 3:10PM.

At 5:04PM ET, the company tweeted that "service has started to be restored," and Downdetector reports of outages had dipped below 30,000. 

At 7:18PM ET, the company tweeted that its engineers had "fully restored today's network disruption." The number of reports of an outage on Downdetector had dropped below 3,500. There has still been no word from the company on what caused the outage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/verizon-says-its-network-is-fully-restored-following-an-hours-long-outage-194833420.html?src=rss

Ford throws in a free home charger and installation with new EV purchases and leases

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Ford is looking to take some of the sting out of EV charging by offering a free home charger. The automaker will even send out a technician to install it at no cost to you if you buy or lease a retail Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning or E-Transit between October 1 and January 2. However, Ford may opt to extend the program if it proves successful. (Ford Pro fleet customers will get a $2,000 commercial charging cash incentive instead.)

According to Joanna Stern of The Wall Street Journal, those who take up the offer will get a Level 2 charger at home. This should save Ford EV buyers and lessees a pretty penny, since the Ford Charge Station Pro costs $1,310 and the company typically charges $2,000 for installation. Still, those who want to take up the deal may need to make sure their garage is wired up properly to fully take advantage of Level 2 charging.

The EV side of Ford's business has been struggling as of late — the company expects that division to lose as much as $5.5 billion this year. In January, it cut production of the F-150 Lightning due to lower than expected demand and shifted resources to make more Broncos and Rangers. A few months later, the company delayed some EV models, including a planned three-row SUV, and placed more focus on hybrids. But in August, the automaker killed the three-row SUV project entirely while further delaying some other EVs.

Incentivizing EV purchases and leases with a free home charger and installation is smart and it could pay off for Ford. However, it may turn out to be little more than a Band-Aid for the division's deeper-set problems.

Update 9/30 2:53PM ET: The headline has been updated to reflect that the offer is available for all new EV purchases and leases in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-chucks-in-a-free-ev-home-charger-and-installation-with-some-models-160138994.html?src=rss

Early Prime Day Apple deals include the USB-C Apple Pencil at a record-low price

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If you're eager to snag some tech deals during October Prime Day next week, you'll be happy to know you can already do so today. Apple deals can be hit or miss during sale events like this, but at the moment, we're seeing a record-low price on the USB-C Apple Pencil. You can grab the peripheral for onl y $69, which is $10 off and the lowest price we've seen. While not a huge discount, it does represent a savings of 13 percent, and it is currently the most affordable Apple Pencil you can buy.

Apple debuted this model last year as its most budget-friendly Apple Pencil so far, and this sale makes the peripheral even more wallet-friendly. However, Apple's long had a problem with making it clear to consumers which version of the stylus is compatible with their iPad.

For the sake of clarity, here are all the iPad models with which the USB-C Apple Pencil works:

  • iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)

  • iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later )

  • iPad Pro 11-inch (all models)

  • iPad Air 13-inch (M2)

  • iPad Air 11-inch (M2)

  • iPad Air (4th generation and later)

  • iPad (10th generation)

  • iPad mini (6th generation)

Although being able to charge the peripheral with a USB-C cable is handy, this version does lack some of the fancier features of the Apple Pencil Pro (which you can also snag on discount now for $116) and second-gen Apple Pencil. While you can attach it to the side of iPads with magnetic holders for safekeeping and convenience, there's no support for magnetic charging. Pressure sensitivity isn't available and you can't use Apple's nifty double-tap feature. However, the company says the USB-C Apple Pencil does support pixel-perfect accuracy, low latency and tilt sensitivity.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-apple-deals-include-the-usb-c-apple-pencil-at-a-record-low-price-144636083.html?src=rss

Valve’s Deadlock lets you turn cheaters into frogs

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Valve is continuing the wonderful tradition of messing with people who feel the need to cheat in multiplayer games. In the latest update to Deadlock, the company's wildly popular new hero shooter that's currently invite-only, Valve added the game's first anti-cheat system.

When the system detects a cheater, Deadlock will offer the opposing team a choice. They can have the rulebreaker banned immediately and end the match right away. Behind door number two is the option to transform the cheater into a frog for the rest of the game. Valve will ban them afterwards. Valve will roll out this approach to bans over the next day or so. The results of affected matches won't count for the other players in the lobby.

It's a very funny approach to tackling an all-too-common problem. Activision has also tried a number of approaches to embarrass Call of Duty cheaters, from cutting the parachutes of detected violators who drop into Warzone to taking their guns away. Banning cheaters is important, but why not have some fun at their expense first?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/valves-deadlock-lets-you-turn-cheaters-into-frogs-172744142.html?src=rss

An Amazon Echo Show 5 and Blink Outdoor 4 bundle drops to only $60 ahead of Prime Day

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We typically see some Amazon devices, including Blink cameras, drop in price ahead of both Prime Days in July and October. This time around, Prime members have an exclusive deal available to them right now on a bundle that includes the Echo Show 5 smart display and a Blink Outdoor 4 camera system for only $60. That's a whopping $130 off the standard price and a record low. It's part of a larger early Prime Day sale on Blink devices, including multi-camera systems, video doorbells and more.

This bundle is one that makes a lot of sense. You'll be able to use your Echo Show 5 to get a live view of whatever the Blink Outdoor 4 camera is capturing with a simple Alexa command.

We recommend both products individually in our guides. We believe the Blink Outdoor 4 is the best wireless security camera around. The name is a bit of a misnomer as you can easily place it inside your home too, not least because it runs on two AA batteries. You'll only need to replace the cells every two years or so.

If you do place the camera outside, you can rest easy knowing that it's weather resistant. Other features include night vision, motion detection and two-way audio. You will need a Blink Subscription Plan to store clips in the cloud. Otherwise, you can save footage locally with a Sync Module 2 (which is available separately) and USB flash drive.

As for the Echo Show 5, it's one of the best smart displays with Amazon Alexa (only beaten out by its larger sibling, the Echo Show 8). It's a compact, 5.5-inch smart display that works well as an alarm clock on your nightstand. The tap-to-snooze function comes in handy there, while there's a sunrise alarm that gradually brightens the screen.

The Echo Show 5 does have a built-in camera, which might give you cause for concern if you want to place it by your bed. But the physical camera cover should sate any privacy concerns on that front.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/an-amazon-echo-show-5-and-blink-outdoor-4-bundle-drops-to-only-60-ahead-of-prime-day-144736754.html?src=rss

The Last of Us season two trailer shows Ellie in danger and Joel in… therapy?

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September 26 is The Last of Us Day and to mark the occasion, HBO has dropped the first proper trailer for season two of its misery simulator TV adaptation. This expands on a sizzle reel we saw several weeks ago, which included the first glimpses of Catherine O’Hara’s character (seemingly a therapist) and Kaitlyn Dever as a pivotal newcomer, Abby. There’s more of both here, including that terrifying sequence of infected nearly crushing Abby under a chain-link fence.

There are quite a few other recognizable moments from The Last of Us Part II in the new clip, including an encounter between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and an infected in an abandoned supermarket and a famous scene of her playing guitar for Dina (Isabela Merced). The game’s subway segment is featured, along with the Seraphites and Jeffrey Wright, who reprises his Part II role as the leader of a militant faction. Of course, Joel (Pedro Pascal) is featured throughout the trailer too — he plays guitar with Ellie and sheds a tear, seemingly while in a therapy appointment with O'Hara.

Unfortunately, the clip doesn’t narrow down the release date for the season, which will air in 2025. However, HBO boss Casey Bloys recently indicated it will arrive in the first half of next year to make it eligible for the next Emmy awards (the same goes for the next season of The White Lotus).

Elsewhere, Naughty Dog is marking TLoU Day in its own way with some new merch and other tidbits. There’s a new bunch of TLoU-related avatars and emoji you can pick up using Steam Points, along with a thematic Steam Deck startup video. Meanwhile, PS Plus Extra and Premium members have access to the PS5 remake of the first game at no extra cost starting today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-trailer-shows-ellie-in-danger-and-joel-in-therapy-160401898.html?src=rss

Early Prime Day deal bundles a free $30 gift card with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds

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Here’s a tasty offer for anyone who’s been on the fence about picking up the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. If you snap up the earbuds from Amazon, you can claim a free $30 gift card.

There's no discount on the earbuds themselves, unfortunately, as they still cost $229. That's not a huge shock, since they were only just released. Still, you'll at least get a $30 gift card that you can spend on whatever you want on Amazon.

We gave the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the company's first earbuds with a Tensor chip built-in, a score of 88 in our review. Engadget senior reporter Billy Steele appreciated the comfortable design and the sound quality (citing the "punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs"). Those features alone make the upgrade worthwhile. Having a longer battery life than the previous model is a definite plus, while you'll get hands-free access to Gemini AI on a compatible device.

On the downside, spatial audio is only available for video-streaming apps for the time being, but not audio, so that's odd. You'll also need to be more precise when it comes to using the touch controls, as there's a smaller panel to work with. Google has also increased the price with the latest version of the Pixel Buds Pro, but at least the $30 gift card offsets that.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-deal-bundles-a-free-30-gift-card-with-the-google-pixel-buds-pro-2-earbuds-150229486.html?src=rss

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed until February 14

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You can strike one game off of the busy fall 2024 calender. Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows until February 14. It was originally supposed to hit PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac and iPad on November 15.

You can probably guess the main reason why Ubisoft is pushing the latest entry in the saga back by a few months. While all of the features are largely set, the company needs more time to iterate on them and to polish the game as a whole.

"We understand this decision will come as disappointing news, especially to those who've been waiting patiently for an Assassin's Creed game inspired by Feudal Japan, but we sincerely believe this is in the best interest of the game, and ultimately your experience as a player," Assassin's Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté wrote in a statement on X.

In a financial statement [PDF], Ubisoft said it made the call to delay Assassin's Creed Shadows partly because of what it learned from the release of Star Wars Outlaws. One of the main criticisms levied against that game is that it had too many punishing stealth sequences, especially in the early goings. Ubisoft has rolled out some changes to make those parts of the game less onerous.

Ubisoft confirmed that despite positive reviews, the initial sales of Star Wars Outlaws "proved softer than expected." It's hoping to polish Outlaws and improve the player experience to help the game find a larger audience during the holiday period. To help with that, the title will hit Steam on November 21.

To that end, Ubisoft is hoping that the extra time it's taking with Assassin’s Creed Shadows will allow "the biggest entry in the franchise to fully deliver on its ambition, notably by fulfilling the promise of our dual protagonist adventure, with Naoe and Yasuke bringing two very different gameplay styles."

Meanwhile, Ubisoft says it's shaking up some of its business practices with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It says this game will mark the return of the company bringing its games to Steam at launch, rather than making them exclusive to Ubisoft Connect on PC for several months. It's also planning to ditch the Season Pass model. There will be no early access period, but those who preorder Assassin’s Creed Shadows will get the first expansion for free.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/assassins-creed-shadows-is-delayed-until-february-14-184514006.html?src=rss