Author Archives: Lawrence Bonk

Michelle Yeoh just got cast to lead Amazon’s Blade Runner show

Posted on by

It’s been a while since we’ve had an update on Blade Runner 2099, the sequel series heading to Amazon Prime Video. The cast list is starting to take shape, as Oscar-winner and all-around icon Michelle Yeoh is set to play a lead role, as reported by Variety.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but Variety has a source that says Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, who has been described as a replicant near the end of her life. That’s pretty much all we know about the story, aside from the fact that it's set 50 years after Denis Villeneuve’s critically acclaimed Blade Runner 2049. This is likely due to the fact that we’ll be nowhere near the level of tech shown in that film when we actually hit the year 2049. The original Blade Runner, after all, was set in 2019.

Franchise creator Ridley Scott is involved in some capacity, but not as showrunner. That duty falls to TV writer Silka Luisa, who recently ran the Apple TV+ adaptation of the book Shining Girls. The show was great, so color me optimistic.

As for Yeoh, what more can be said? She won a long-deserved Oscar for her work in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once and has been involved with classic films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Sunshine and Tomorrow Never Dies, among many others. She spent a few seasons hamming it up on Star Trek: Discovery, and her character is getting a spinoff film that will likely release later this year. The actress also just received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, so this has been a big month. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/michelle-yeoh-just-got-cast-to-lead-amazons-blade-runner-show-180312046.html?src=rss

OpenAI says it can detect images made by its own software… mostly

Posted on by

We all think we’re pretty good at identifying images made by AI. It’s the weird alien text in the background. It’s the bizarre inaccuracies that seem to break the laws of physics. Most of all, it’s those gruesome hands and fingers. However, the technology is constantly evolving and it won’t be too long until we won’t be able to tell what’s real or not. Industry leader OpenAI is trying to get ahead of the problem by creating a toolset that detects images created by its own DALL-E 3 generator. The results are a mixed bag.

The tool in action.
OpenAI

The company says it can accurately detect pictures whipped up by DALL-3 98 percent of the time, which is great. There are, though, some fairly big caveats. First of all, the image has to be created by DALL-E and, well, it’s not the only image generator on the block. The internet overfloweth with them. According to data provided by OpenAI, the system only managed to successfully classify five to ten percent of images made by other AI models.

Also, it runs into trouble if the image has been modified in any way. This didn’t seem to be a huge deal in the case of minor modifications, like cropping, compression and changes in saturation. In these cases, the success rate was lower but still within acceptable range at around 95 to 97 percent. Adjusting the hue, however, dropped the success rate down to 82 percent.

Results from the test.
OpenAI

Now here’s where things get really sticky. The toolset struggled when used to classify images that underwent more extensive changes. OpenAI didn’t even publish the success rate in these cases, stating simply that "other modifications, however, can reduce performance.”

This is a bummer because, well, it’s an election year and the vast majority of AI-generated images are going to be modified after the fact so as to better enrage people. In other words, the tool will likely recognize an image of Joe Biden asleep in the Oval Office surrounded by baggies of white powder, but not after the creator slaps on a bunch of angry text and Photoshops in a crying bald eagle or whatever.

At least OpenAI is being transparent regarding the limitations of its detection technology. It’s also giving external testers access to the aforementioned tools to help fix these issues, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The company, along with bestie Microsoft, has poured $2 million into something called the Societal Resilience Fund, which hopes to expand AI education and literacy.

Unfortunately, the idea of AI mucking up an election is not some faraway concept. It’s happening right now. There have already been AI-generated election ads and disingenuous images used this cycle, and there’s likely much more to come as we slowly, slowly, slowly (slowly) crawl toward November.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-says-it-can-detect-images-made-by-its-own-software-mostly-170012976.html?src=rss

Final Cut Pro for iPad gets support for external drives and live multicam recording

Posted on by

Apple is all over the place today on the hardware side of things, having just announced a slew of new iPads. However, some of Apple’s most beloved software is also getting some love. There’s a new version of the video editing suite Final Cut Pro for tablets that brings plenty of long-requested features.

The big news for video editors? Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 (actual name) now supports external drives. Video editing projects are typically gigantic when you consider all of that raw footage. It’s easy to fill up all of the available space of an iPad with footage from one or two scenes, let alone an entire project. This fixes a major barrier of entry for those curious about editing on a tablet. It also makes it easier to hand off footage to another editor or import footage to Final Cut Pro for Mac.

The software is even bringing live multicam recording to iPads. This lets creators capture up to four different angles of a single scene spread across multiple devices. Everything connects wirelessly via a new app called Final Cut Camera, which gives a real-time “director’s view” on four iPhones or iPads. Each feed has its own settings that can be adjusted, like focus, zoom and more. Editable preview clips immediately get passed on to Final Cut Pro for editing.

As for customization options, Final Cut Pro for iPad 2 brings 12 new color-grading presets, eight basic text tiles, 20 new soundtracks and more dynamic backgrounds. These will be especially useful when creating title sequences and the like.

The software in action.
Apple

The Mac version of Final Cut Pro is also getting a fairly substantial update, with a focus on AI. The software leverages Apple silicon’s Neural Engine to bring a bit of AI flourish to basic editing tasks. The update allows users to change up colors, color balance, contrast and brightness all at the same time. There’s also something called Smooth Slo-Mo that pairs with AI, in which “frames of video are intelligently generated and blended together, providing the highest-quality movement.” The timeline has also been refreshed and looks a bit more intuitive.

Finally, there’s an update to Logic Pro for iPad, with a new session player feature and a stem splitter tool. The updates for Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad are available for free to current users and cost $5 per month for new users, which is the same pricing model as last year when both software packages were first released. Final Cut Pro for Mac costs $300 for new users, but the update is free for pre-existing users. All of these updates drop later this spring.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-cut-pro-for-ipad-gets-support-for-external-drives-and-live-multicam-recording-161244729.html?src=rss

Apple’s new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro gets a function row and haptic trackpad

Posted on by

Apple has announced a refreshed Magic Keyboard accessory at today’s iPad event. The new keyboard is designed to specifically work with the M4 iPad Pro line, though it doesn’t integrate with the iPad Air or any other model.

When connected to the iPad Pro, it makes the tablet look like an actual laptop. Apple says “the entire experience feels just like using a MacBook.” To further assist this laptop mimicry, the keyboard boasts a larger trackpad with haptic feedback. There’s also a new function row for quick access to convenient controls, like brightness and the like.

Here it is.
Apple

The keyboard now features an aluminum palmrest and is available in two colors. Magic Keyboard ships with the iPad Pro next week. The keyboard costs $300 or $350, depending on which iPad Pro model it aligns with. The company also announced new iPads today, including an OLED iPad Pro and a refreshed iPad Air. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-new-magic-keyboard-for-the-ipad-pro-gets-a-function-row-and-haptic-trackpad-144312086.html?src=rss

Proton’s new password monitor update will scour the dark web on your behalf

Posted on by

Proton’s encrypted password manager, Proton Pass, has received a significant update with an emphasis on security. This comes in the form of a new toolset called Pass Monitor, which will alert users of account weaknesses and data breaches.

This is done automatically and the system will even guide users through solutions in the event of a data leak from a third-party service, which happens a whole lot. It also scours the dark web and alerts people if Proton addresses, email aliases and up to ten custom email addresses have been leaked and used for nefarious purposes. If this happens, you’ll get an alert so you can take action.

Pass Monitor includes a password health feature that flags any weak or reused passwords that could use an update. The inactive two-factor authentication portion of the toolset is an additional layer of security that identifies various accounts that offer the option for 2FA.

Finally, the company’s bringing its Proton Sentinel feature into Pass Monitor. The service uses a combination of AI and human analysts to detect and block account takeover attacks.

The password health and 2FA checks are available to free users, but monitoring of the dark web and Proton Sentinel are only for paying members. Luckily, Pass Plus memberships are currently on sale for $2 per month. These new tools, available on Windows, Android and iOS, will roll out to current users in the “next few days.”

Proton is actually a fairly new entrant in the password security game, as the password manager just celebrated its one-year birthday. The company is more famous for its stellar VPN software, which topped our list of the best VPNs.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/protons-new-password-monitor-update-will-scour-the-dark-web-on-your-behalf-183914473.html?src=rss

Amazon’s standard Kindle is on sale for $80

Posted on by

Amazon’s entry-level 16GB Kindle is on sale for $80, which is a discount of 20 percent. This is the latest iteration of the standard ereader, dating back to 2022. Amazon doesn’t do too many Kindle hardware updates, so we don’t know if this sale precludes a forthcoming refresh. The sale covers both the black and blue denim versions.

The Kindle is one of the most iconic brands in the ereader space, and for good reason. Amazon has been pumping them out for 17 years. This model actually made our list of the best ereaders, and we recommend it for anyone shopping for a budget-friendly reading tablet. We loved the price, which is made even more alluring by today’s sale, and the huge ebook selection via Amazon.

We also liked how easy it is to use. Even if you’ve never held an ereader in your life, you’ll be quickly turning pages in no time. There are a bunch of customization options, allowing you to fiddle with font type, font size, margins and more. You can even save a bunch of settings together as a “theme”, which is handy in households with more than one reader. The integration with audio books is also nice, as it ensures you’ll be on the same page no matter how you absorb the content.

This ereader isn’t waterproof and it lacks many of the add-ons common with more expensive models. The standard Kindle is about as basic as this tech gets, but as a one-purpose device, are extra bells and whistles really necessary? I splurged for the fancier Kindle Scribe, which comes with a stylus, but I kind of wish I didn’t. Since buying it, I’ve read like 150 books and written approximately zero notes. Simple is better, and cheaper.

As with most Kindles, there are ads on the lock-screen, which may be a dealbreaker for some. I fully understand aversion to advertisements, they generally suck, but I’ve never found them to be a problem on Kindles. I barely notice them. 

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-standard-kindle-is-on-sale-for-80-171207351.html?src=rss

The latest 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is $150 off right now

Posted on by

The latest and greatest 15-inch M3 MacBook Air is on sale right now for $1,150 via Amazon. This includes a sale discount of $100 plus a clipped coupon for $50, bringing the total price drop to $150. That’s not a bad deal for a laptop that just came out a couple of months ago. 

We were surprised by just how much we enjoyed this computer, as the larger screen truly makes a significant difference when compared to the standard MacBook Air. We found that the big display allowed for longer periods of use before getting fatigued, which was aided by truly excellent battery life. This thing easily lasts an entire workday, with Apple suggesting 18 hours of battery life before requiring a charge.

One of our only complaints about the M2 MacBook Air was regarding the chip itself, as the computer could struggle with certain intensive tasks. That’s been fixed with the inclusion of the M3 chip. It’s not as powerful as the M3 Pro, of course, but it certainly gets the job done, and then some.

This is also a fairly light computer, despite the size increase. It weighs around three pounds and can easily slip into a tote bag. However, the added size does make it a bit more cumbersome to carry than the 13-inch model. But that’s the trade off with any 15-inch laptop. There’s really only one serious downside to this model, and that’s with regard to port placement. The charging and USB-C ports are only on one side, which can get annoying when you have plenty of accessories to connect on a crowded desk.

This particular deal is for the base model, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage. Every available iteration on Amazon, however, has been discounted. Don’t forget to clip that coupon.

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/the-latest-15-inch-m3-macbook-air-is-150-off-right-now-161847204.html?src=rss

How to watch Apple unveil new iPads today at its ‘Let Loose’ event

Posted on by

Say hello to new iPads — probably. Apple is holding a live event this morning at 10AM ET to unveil new entries in its lineup of tablets. The keynote, dubbed Let Loose, will be starting soon, and you can watch live in a number of ways. We are popping the YouTube stream below, so you can watch right here, but the event is also available on the company’s website and on the Apple TV+ app. Engadget is also liveblogging the Let Loose iPad event, if you'd like our play by play.

So what is the company likely to announce? Tablets, as far as the eye can see. Apple’s been coy as to which iPads are getting a refresh, but rumors and reports indicate a new OLED iPad Pro and an updated iPad Air.

The rumored iPad Pro may even skip the M3 chipset, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested there is a “strong possibility” that the tablet could feature the next-gen M4. He also indicated that Apple is going to lean heavy on some new AI branding when it comes to the iPad Pro, referring to it as the company’s “first truly AI-powered device.”

Beyond potentially having an AI onboard to confidently, yet mistakenly, answer questions, this will likely be an OLED tablet. That means a glorious display that should bring richer colors and deeper blacks to the line. OLED panels are also thinner than LCD panels, so this could be one slender gadget. There are also rumors that the iPad Pro will feature a glass back to enable MagSafe charging.

An iPad Air with a keyboard on a table.
Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

It’s been two whole years since an iPad Air refresh, which is a lifetime in tech years. The updated iPad Air will likely not have a fancy next-gen chipset or an OLED display. It could, however, boast an upgrade to the M2 chip. The current models still sport the antiquated M1. Reports also suggest that the iPad Air's front-facing camera is moving to the landscape edge.

It’s also possible that the tablet has been bulking up on creatine, as rumors suggest that Apple is prepping the first 12.9-inch iPad Air. This would make it the most budget-friendly option for a large-screen iPad tablet.

The event won’t just be for iPads. It’ll also be for iPad accessories. To that end, expect Apple to reveal a revamped Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro line, which could be made from aluminum. In addition, Apple is expected to unveil a new Apple Pencil to replace the second-gen model. Some reports have even indicated the next Apple Pencil could work with Vision Pro drawing apps, in addition to tablet apps.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-watch-apples-ipad-launch-event-on-tuesday-152650009.html?src=rss

Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they’re not being chill about it

Posted on by

Linking to a random third-party account when you just want to play a video game you paid for is truly annoying and, honestly, keeps me from even launching certain games by certain publishers who shall remain nameless. Helldivers 2 players are experiencing this frustration right now, as the PC version of the massively popular third-person shooter will soon require a link to a PlayStation account.

New players will be required to link both accounts on May 6, but pre-existing players have until June 4 before the requirement kicks in. Sony says that forcing people to link to a PSN account helps “protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior.” Ah, the popular “few bad apples” excuse.

This was always the plan, according to publisher Sony, but “technical issues” upon launch forced a delay in the linking mandate. In other words, when the PC version came out on February 8, you could just play it like any other game as nature intended, but now you gotta do the whole “insert credentials” rigamarole. This can be time-consuming, particularly if you don’t already have a PSN account or if you’re playing on something like a Steam Deck. Also, some regions where Helldivers 2 is available on PC don’t even support PSN accounts.

This has royally pissed off PC players, though it’s worth noting that it's free to make a PSN account. This has led to review bombing on Steam and many promises to abandon the game when the linking becomes a requirement, according to a report by Kotaku. The complaints range from frustration over adding yet another barrier to entry after downloading an 80GB game to fears that the PSN account would likely be hacked. While it is true that Sony was the target of a huge hack that impacted 77 million PSN accounts, that was back in 2011. Obama was still in his first term. Also worth noting? Steam was hacked in 2011, impacting 35 million accounts.

So maybe gamers are taking things a bit too far here and many are likely to not follow through with promises to stop playing Helldivers 2. That doesn’t change the fact that account linking is annoying. On the plus side, Sony recently promised to bring its titles to PCs as soon as possible, and Helldivers 2 was a day-one release on both Steam and PlayStation consoles. That’s a neat little promise to keep, now where’s Spider-Man 2?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/helldivers-2-pc-players-suddenly-have-to-link-to-a-psn-account-and-theyre-not-being-chill-about-it-185835690.html?src=rss

Helldivers 2 PC players suddenly have to link to a PSN account and they’re not being chill about it

Posted on by

Linking to a random third-party account when you just want to play a video game you paid for is truly annoying and, honestly, keeps me from even launching certain games by certain publishers who shall remain nameless. Helldivers 2 players are experiencing this frustration right now, as the PC version of the massively popular third-person shooter will soon require a link to a PlayStation account.

New players will be required to link both accounts on May 6, but pre-existing players have until June 4 before the requirement kicks in. Sony says that forcing people to link to a PSN account helps “protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior.” Ah, the popular “few bad apples” excuse.

This was always the plan, according to publisher Sony, but “technical issues” upon launch forced a delay in the linking mandate. In other words, when the PC version came out on February 8, you could just play it like any other game as nature intended, but now you gotta do the whole “insert credentials” rigamarole. This can be time-consuming, particularly if you don’t already have a PSN account or if you’re playing on something like a Steam Deck. Also, some regions where Helldivers 2 is available on PC don’t even support PSN accounts.

This has royally pissed off PC players, though it’s worth noting that it's free to make a PSN account. This has led to review bombing on Steam and many promises to abandon the game when the linking becomes a requirement, according to a report by Kotaku. The complaints range from frustration over adding yet another barrier to entry after downloading an 80GB game to fears that the PSN account would likely be hacked. While it is true that Sony was the target of a huge hack that impacted 77 million PSN accounts, that was back in 2011. Obama was still in his first term. Also worth noting? Steam was hacked in 2011, impacting 35 million accounts.

So maybe gamers are taking things a bit too far here and many are likely to not follow through with promises to stop playing Helldivers 2. That doesn’t change the fact that account linking is annoying. On the plus side, Sony recently promised to bring its titles to PCs as soon as possible, and Helldivers 2 was a day-one release on both Steam and PlayStation consoles. That’s a neat little promise to keep, now where’s Spider-Man 2?

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/helldivers-2-pc-players-suddenly-have-to-link-to-a-psn-account-and-theyre-not-being-chill-about-it-185835690.html?src=rss