Author Archives: Sarah Fielding

Watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event in under 10 minutes

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Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 has come and gone, leaving behind a series of new Galaxy devices. If you missed the event, we've got you covered: You can watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked S24 in less than 10 minutes right now. Between new smartphones and a dive into AI — here's what you can expect to see.

The event revealed three new smartphones that make up the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. There's the S24, starting at $799 for the 128GB model — plus, order it by January 25, and Samsung will throw in a free Watch 6. The Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra start at $1,000 and $1,300, respectively, for their 256GB options. The entire S24 series comes equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor in the United States, providing the necessary power for the smartphones' AI features.

The Galaxy S24 series uses Samsung's new Gauss Generative AI model. Galaxy AI, as the company refers to the overall system, allows for quite a few fresh features, including live two-way translations for phone calls. The system works right on the phone and doesn't require Wi-Fi or cellular connections. The same applies to Interpreter, an in-person translator, and Samsung Keyboard, which can translate messages across 13 languages. Speaking of messages, Android Auto can summarize any messages you receive while driving and suggest responses for you to approve with voice commands.

Galaxy AI will also come into play for any photos you take using the S24 series. According to Samsung, it can help with image stabilization, digital zoom and content captured in low-light. Galaxy AI can also suggest photo edits and offers Generative Fill to change the background. However, the latter requires a network connection and will give the photo a watermark.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-the-samsung-galaxy-unpacked-2024-event-in-under-10-minutes-110059576.html?src=rss

LinkedIn’s new AI feature helps people find jobs by grouping them into tailored categories

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For many, "new year, new me" includes finding a new job. Scouring sites like LinkedIn and Indeed for opportunities can feel like a full-time role in and of itself. This process could potentially improve moving forward, with LinkedIn announcing its latest feature: Job Collections. 

Basically, instead of searching for a specific industry or role, LinkedIn is using generative AI and large language models to analyze each job posting and categorize it into groups such as IT, pro sports, remote and top startups. Along with saving time, LinkedIn indicates that this feature can benefit people who aren't sure what their next step looks like. The company compares it to Airbnb Experiences — you might not know what you're searching for, but you could find something great. Its success relies significantly on how well it understands you versus wasting your time further sorting through jobs that are completely off base. 

According to LinkedIn, applications rose 50 percent in the US and 36 percent globally last January (a month that typically sees a spike), with 85 percent of working people contemplating changing jobs this year. The number of people searching for a job isn't surprising, given the number of recent layoffs. In the tech industry alone, 2024 has already seen layoffs at Twitch, Google, Meta, Discord and more.  

To use LinkedIn's new feature, simply go to the Jobs tab and click on "Explore with Job Collections." You can now also go to Preferences and choose from things like employment and location type. Then LinkedIn will highlight them in green anytime they appear on a job listing. Plus, if a job isn't exactly what you want but the company is, you can now send them an "I'm Interested" notification right from the listing instead of visiting their profile to do so. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/linkedins-new-ai-feature-helps-people-find-jobs-by-grouping-them-into-tailored-categories-104032853.html?src=rss

Apple ends Samsung’s decade-plus run as global smartphone shipment leader

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The year 2023 turned out to be a big one for Apple's iPhone. First, it got rid of the longstanding lightning port, and now reports indicate that Apple overtook Samsung for the title of most smartphones shipped globally. The International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker's preliminary data found that Apple shipped 234.6 million units in 2023, which is equal to 20.1 percent of the market share. In comparison, Samsung shipped 226.6 units for 19.4 percent of the market share. Canalys, a global technology market analyst firm, shared findings that mirrored those from the IDC.

This instance marks the first time Samsung has fallen out of the number one spot since 2010, when Nokia was in the lead and Apple didn't even crack the top five. In 2023, Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion took the remaining three spots with 145.9, 103.1 and 94.9 million smartphones shipped globally, respectively. 

The shift is notable given the crowding and continued regulations in the smartphone industry. "Apple certainly played a part in Samsung's drop in rank, but the overall Android space is diversifying within itself. Huawei is back and making inroads quickly within China, Brands like OnePlus, Honor, Google, and others are launching very competitive devices in the lower price range of the high end. And foldables and increased discussions around AI capabilities on the smartphone are gaining traction," Ryan Reith, IDC's Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers group vice president, explained in a statement. "Overall, the smartphone space is headed towards a very interesting time."

Notably, overall smartphone shipments declined by 3.2 percent in 2023 but increased by 8.4 percent in quarter four. However, Apple is struggling to compete in China, with quarter four sales in the region 11 percent lower than the previous year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company has cut its iPhones by the equivalent of about $70 ahead of Lunar New Year, a time filled with presents. Discounting its most recent iPhone, in this case the iPhone 15, is a rarity for Apple but could have a payoff in a struggling market. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-ends-samsungs-decade-plus-as-global-smartphone-shipment-leader-121413711.html?src=rss

Hulu and Max win big at 75th Primetime Emmy’s biggest winners

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Like last week's Golden Globes, the Emmys were very good to streaming services. The 75th Primetime Emmys aired on Monday, January 15 and saw Max, Hulu and Netflix take home the most awards by a solid margin.

Hulu led the pack, winning six Primetime Emmys thanks to its dark comedy, The Bear. The Hulu and FX production won for outstanding overall, along with writing and directing for a comedy series. The cast also continued their award season winning streak. Jeremy Allen White won for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series, while Ayo Edeberi won for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series — notably she took best actress (not supporting) at the Golden Globes. Ebon Moss-Bachrach won in the supporting actor counterpart.

Max (formerly HBO Max) also left with six awards, all coming from the final season of Succession. The Television Academy awarded outstanding directing and writing for a drama series for the same episode, "Connor's Wedding" (if you know, you know). The show's three male leads competed for outstanding actor in a drama series, with Kieran Culkin once again taking home the trophy. Sarah Snook won for outstanding actor in a drama series, while Matthew Macfayden received the supporting actor award for that category. Succession also won as a whole for outstanding drama series.

Like its fellow streamers, Netflix's wins all came from the same series: Beef. The show took home five awards, including outstanding limited or anthology series. Its lead actors, Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, won for outstanding actor and actress in the same category, respectively. Beef rounded out its awards with outstanding writing and directing wins for two separate episodes across the show's ten parts.

The Emmys were originally scheduled to take place in September, but The Television Academy and Fox postponed it to January due to the writers and actors strikes. The Creative Arts Emmys took place on January 6 and 7, competing with Golden Globes weekend, while the Primetime Emmys took place only a day after the Critics Choice Awards — it's a busy month for Hollywood folks.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hulu-and-max-win-big-at-75th-primetime-emmys-biggest-winners-104409101.html?src=rss

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands developer faces layoffs in latest Embracer cuts

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We're just a couple of weeks into 2024, but the layoffs that plagued the gaming industry last year are back. An undisclosed number of employees at Lost Boys Interactive have been laid off across seemingly "all disciplines at all levels," terminated producer Jared Pace told Aftermath. Lost Boys Interactive is responsible for games like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands — which is launching on PlayStation Plus.

The news was initially reported by both terminated and remaining employees. Lost Boys Interactive eventually released a statement to Eurogamer confirming the news, blaming "headwinds facing the industry right now." It continued, "Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we're working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving."

These layoffs are just the latest set from its parent company, Embracer (Gearbox technically owns Lost Boys Interactive but is, itself, owned by Embracer). In September, Embracer laid off about 900 employees, equal to about five percent of its staff. Only two months later, it laid off another 50 or so employees at Fishlabs, developers of Chorus. The company has also shuttered some of its studios and is rumored to be selling Gearbox, which it bought in 2021 for $1.4 billion. Embracer blames the tremendous restructuring and layoffs on the dissolution of a potential deal that would have brought $2 billion in revenue over six years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-developer-faces-layoffs-in-latest-embracer-cuts-153054773.html?src=rss

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands developer faces layoffs in latest Embracer cuts

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We're just a couple of weeks into 2024, but the layoffs that plagued the gaming industry last year are back. An undisclosed number of employees at Lost Boys Interactive have been laid off across seemingly "all disciplines at all levels," terminated producer Jared Pace told Aftermath. Lost Boys Interactive is responsible for games like Tiny Tina's Wonderlands — which is launching on PlayStation Plus.

The news was initially reported by both terminated and remaining employees. Lost Boys Interactive eventually released a statement to Eurogamer confirming the news, blaming "headwinds facing the industry right now." It continued, "Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we're working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving."

These layoffs are just the latest set from its parent company, Embracer (Gearbox technically owns Lost Boys Interactive but is, itself, owned by Embracer). In September, Embracer laid off about 900 employees, equal to about five percent of its staff. Only two months later, it laid off another 50 or so employees at Fishlabs, developers of Chorus. The company has also shuttered some of its studios and is rumored to be selling Gearbox, which it bought in 2021 for $1.4 billion. Embracer blames the tremendous restructuring and layoffs on the dissolution of a potential deal that would have brought $2 billion in revenue over six years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-developer-faces-layoffs-in-latest-embracer-cuts-153054773.html?src=rss

Amazon’s newest Fire HD 10 tablet falls to just $105

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If you're looking for a new tablet to keep track of all your 2024 goals on (or just for fun), now is a great time to buy. A range of Amazon Fire Tablets are currently on sale, including the new Fire HD 10 tablet. A 42 percent discount brings the 64GB Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to $105 from $180 — the lowest price we've seen it at. The 32GB model is also on sale but, at $95, you might as well pay the extra $10 for double the storage.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution to easily view anything from a good book to a favorite game. The Fire HD 10 tablet also has 5MP front and rear-facing cameras and the option to expand storage by up to 1TB through a microSD slot. 

If you want something a little more advanced, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is also on sale — the 128GB model is down to $200 from $280. The 11-inch screen is a touch bigger and better, with a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution. Other notable features include 8MP front and rear-facing cameras and 4GB of RAM. This version comes without lock screen ads and is currently only $5 more than the 64GB model with lock screen ads. 

Rounding out the Amazon Fire tablet deals is the 32GB Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, with a 38 percent discount, dropping it to $75 from $120. It comes with a 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing cameras. It has 3GB of RAM and works 30 percent faster than its predecessor. Notably, this sale is on the lock screen with the ads model, but another $15 will give you an ad-free user experience. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-newest-fire-hd-10-tablet-falls-to-just-105-120532229.html?src=rss

Amazon’s newest Fire HD 10 tablet falls to just $105

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If you're looking for a new tablet to keep track of all your 2024 goals on (or just for fun), now is a great time to buy. A range of Amazon Fire Tablets are currently on sale, including the new Fire HD 10 tablet. A 42 percent discount brings the 64GB Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to $105 from $180 — the lowest price we've seen it at. The 32GB model is also on sale but, at $95, you might as well pay the extra $10 for double the storage.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution to easily view anything from a good book to a favorite game. The Fire HD 10 tablet also has 5MP front and rear-facing cameras and the option to expand storage by up to 1TB through a microSD slot. 

If you want something a little more advanced, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is also on sale — the 128GB model is down to $200 from $280. The 11-inch screen is a touch bigger and better, with a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution. Other notable features include 8MP front and rear-facing cameras and 4GB of RAM. This version comes without lock screen ads and is currently only $5 more than the 64GB model with lock screen ads. 

Rounding out the Amazon Fire tablet deals is the 32GB Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, with a 38 percent discount, dropping it to $75 from $120. It comes with a 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing cameras. It has 3GB of RAM and works 30 percent faster than its predecessor. Notably, this sale is on the lock screen with the ads model, but another $15 will give you an ad-free user experience. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-newest-fire-hd-10-tablet-falls-to-just-105-120532229.html?src=rss

Peacock’s NFL wild card game broke streaming records

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There are few things as American as watching football on a Sunday. If anyone needs further proof, NFL and Peacock have it: The January 14 Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card has set a new record for the United States' most streamed live event in history. According to a joint release from NBC-owned Peacock and Comcast, the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins game — the first playoff ever exclusively live-streamed — reached 27.6 million viewers.

Peacock also claims that the livestream is to thank for the most internet usage in a single day across the US, taking up 30 percent of internet traffic. However, the current data is courtesy of Nielsen's custom fast national live and same-day data, with official numbers coming out on Friday, January 19.

While the livestream was a good alternative to shivering in person during the fourth coldest NFL game in history, not everyone was happy about it. New York congressman Pat Ryan was among those who expressed their outrage over having to pay for another streaming service in order to watch a game that typically airs on cable. "How much more profit do [NFL commissioner Roger] Goodell and NBC need to make at the expense of hard working Americans?" Ryan wrote in a letter. "Congress granted the NFL an antitrust exemption in its broadcast deals with the expectation that you wouldn't use it to screw over fans. That was clearly a mistake."

The game was available to Miami and Kansas City viewers on local NBC affiliates. Anyone else interested in watching had to sign up for a Peacock subscription, starting at $6 per month. Peacock's plan to stream the wild card game was first announced last May, with NBC reportedly paying $110 million for the rights to it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/peacocks-nfl-wild-card-game-broke-streaming-records-103503762.html?src=rss

Peacock’s NFL wild card game broke streaming records

Posted on by

There are few things as American as watching football on a Sunday. If anyone needs further proof, NFL and Peacock have it: The January 14 Peacock Exclusive AFC Wild Card has set a new record for the United States' most streamed live event in history. According to a joint release from NBC-owned Peacock and Comcast, the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Miami Dolphins game — the first playoff ever exclusively live-streamed — reached 27.6 million viewers.

Peacock also claims that the livestream is to thank for the most internet usage in a single day across the US, taking up 30 percent of internet traffic. However, the current data is courtesy of Nielsen's custom fast national live and same-day data, with official numbers coming out on Friday, January 19.

While the livestream was a good alternative to shivering in person during the fourth coldest NFL game in history, not everyone was happy about it. New York congressman Pat Ryan was among those who expressed their outrage over having to pay for another streaming service in order to watch a game that typically airs on cable. "How much more profit do [NFL commissioner Roger] Goodell and NBC need to make at the expense of hard working Americans?" Ryan wrote in a letter. "Congress granted the NFL an antitrust exemption in its broadcast deals with the expectation that you wouldn't use it to screw over fans. That was clearly a mistake."

The game was available to Miami and Kansas City viewers on local NBC affiliates. Anyone else interested in watching had to sign up for a Peacock subscription, starting at $6 per month. Peacock's plan to stream the wild card game was first announced last May, with NBC reportedly paying $110 million for the rights to it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/peacocks-nfl-wild-card-game-broke-streaming-records-103503762.html?src=rss