Author Archives: Lawrence Bonk

Overcooked 2 drops for Switch 2 today and it makes full use of Camera Play

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The Switch 2 edition of Overcooked 2 drops today, which is something we've known was coming since September. Now it's here and ready to ruin relationships and friendships.

The developer promises "enhanced graphics in-line with PC" and 4K 60 fps gameplay when docked. This should be a night-and-day graphical upgrade when compared to the original Switch version.

Perhaps the biggest news here is Camera Play integration. This is a feature exclusive to Nintendo's new console and it leverages a connected camera to throw up the faces of players under their avatars. Overcooked 2 is already a frantic experience, but now you'll be able to see the look on the faces of your friends as you royally screw up a burger order.

It's worth noting that the Switch 2 doesn't come with a camera, but the company offers one as a standalone accessory. It also integrates with many USB-C cameras, including this Mario-themed work of art.

The Switch 2 version also works with Game Share, which lets people hop onto a multiplayer match without actually owning the game. Basically, the person who owns the game "shares" it with someone who doesn't.

It's also cross-platform with the original Switch, which is neat given the massive user base. Upgrading seems like a simple affair, as DLC, save files and star ratings all carry over. This upgrade costs $10 and buying the game outright costs $30. However, there's a 20 percent discount for the first week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/overcooked-2-drops-for-switch-2-today-and-it-makes-full-use-of-camera-play-140021993.html?src=rss

Shazam for iOS just got a Liquid Glass makeover

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Apple just launched a redesign of the popular song-identifying app Shazam, which was spotted by 9to5Mac. This update takes full advantage of the company's recently-launched Liquid Glass visual language.

The company promises a "sleek" new look, but that's not the only change. This visual redesign should make it much easier to quickly glance at recent songs you've identified via the Home tab. They now appear directly on the home screen.

There's also a revamped toolbar that lets you quickly swap between different tabs, including one that lists nearby concerts. The search icon is now separated into its own button on the bottom of the app.

Just make sure that your device is running iOS 26 to check it out. The update is available right now, which should please millions upon millions of Shazam users. It's still the quickest and best way to identify a random song. As for Liquid Glass, the company recently introduced the ability to add a frostier, more opaque appearance.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/shazam-for-ios-just-got-a-liquid-glass-makeover-194954181.html?src=rss

Fitbit Black Friday deals are here early and one of our favorite fitness trackers is on sale for $100

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Fitbit is holding an early Black Friday and there are plenty of noteworthy deals. The Charge 6 fitness tracker is on sale for $100, which is a nice discount of $60 and 38 percent off. The deal applies to multiple colorways.

The Charge 6 topped our list of the best fitness trackers, and for good reason. It features built-in GPS, which means it doesn't have to be tethered to a phone when doing some cardio. The heart rate monitor is much more accurate when compared to the Charge 5 and the battery lasts a full week before requiring a trip to the outlet.

All told, it tracks 20 exercise types, in addition to sleep. The Charge 6 features a full-color AMOLED display that's easy on the eyes and a relatively thin design. This makes it feel fairly premium, especially when compared to rival devices.

On the downside, there's no real integration with Apple Health. This could be a dealbreaker for some. Also, some health data is hidden behind a Fitbit Premium paywall. That service costs $10 each month.

This isn't the only Fitbit product on sale right now. The Inspire 3 fitness tracker is available for $70, which is a discount of 30 percent.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/fitbit-black-friday-deals-are-here-early-and-one-of-our-favorite-fitness-trackers-is-on-sale-for-100-185704387.html?src=rss

Teenage Engineering made a reggae-inspired sampler, complete with a weird microphone for vocals

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Teenage Engineering just revealed the EP-40 Riddim sampler. This reggae-inspired groovebox is another redesign of the pre-existing EP-133 KO II sampler. It has the same square body and button-based workflow, but there are several changes here.

First of all, the entire exterior has been redesigned to make that reggae theme really pop. It's green and off-white, with fun fonts aplenty. The thing just screams "play me," much like the original KO II.

Perhaps the biggest internal feature is the addition of an actual synth engine called Supertone. The previous models in this series were just samplers. The company promises that this engine can deliver thick bass sounds and classic leads. It also offers access to a dub-inspired siren mode that's pressure sensitive. It oscillates faster the harder you press it.

The machine also boasts double the storage and an additional main effect. All told, there are seven main effects and 12 punch-in effects. These have all been inspired by reggae tunes. It comes pre-loaded with hundreds of samples which have also primarily been pulled from the genre.

This isn't just for reggae, as sounds are sounds and people can do whatever they want with them. Also, it's really easy to load your own samples into this machine via a web tool. I've used the tool often with the original KO II and it truly is drag-and-drop.

A microphone.
Teenage Engineering

There's one final fascinating element here. The sampler ships with something called the EP-2350 Ting microphone. This handheld mic resembles something out of a CB radio and is "lo-fi by design." It features four voice-changing effects, including one that combines echo and spring reverb. This is an essential effect for dub reggae vocals. In theory, this microphone could be used with other devices, but it's only available as a combo pack with the Riddim.

Everything else is in line with the KO II. It has a speaker that'll likely be pretty crappy, but also plenty of inputs and outputs. It operates via AA batteries and there are 12 buttons to trigger samples.

The Riddim is slightly more expensive than its counterparts, at $329. However, this does include the aforementioned Ting microphone. It's available right now for purchase.

This is the second off-kilter rebrand of the KO II. Teenage Engineering already released the EP-1320 Medieval, which is filled with samples of screaming peasants, flutes and Gregorian chants. The menus were also completely in Latin which, dear readers, made it very hard to use for this dumb American.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/teenage-engineering-made-a-reggae-inspired-sampler-complete-with-a-weird-microphone-for-vocals-173812774.html?src=rss

Bang & Olufsen’s latest speaker is a $5,800 aluminum soundbar

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Bang & Olufsen just announced a new luxury speaker that costs a pretty penny. The Beosound Premiere is a soundbar made from aluminum that's priced at $5,800.

It's visually striking, with the company referring to the soundbar as a "piece of art." The aluminum chassis looks to be seamless, with a gorgeous matte satin finish. The up-firing tweeter has been placed directly in the center to draw the eye and there are plenty of lights placed throughout. There are lots of little details here, including 1,925 bespoke perforations to pay tribute to the company's founding year.

"This is not merely a product; it is a curated experience," the company wrote. "Beosound Premiere redefines the category."

As for sound, there are ten custom-engineered drivers that assist with spatial audio by firing upwards. This allows "sound to unfold around the listener from all angles" and "enhances clarity in dialogue and delivers deep, powerful bass." It integrates with Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 and can be paired with additional Bang & Olufsen speakers via the company's proprietary Beolink Surround technology.

The soundbar also features a new patent-pending technology called Wide Stage. This uses a custom-designed algorithm to create the illusion of having additional speakers, making the "soundstage wider and taller than it is." All of this stuff combines for an immersive listening experience.

There's also some kind of special integration with LG OLED C and G series TVs, but the company didn't get into what that entails. We reached out to Bang & Olufsen for clarification. It's worth noting that the soundbar can work with any TV or audio source.

A soundbar.
Bang & Olufsen

The Beosound Premiere is available in a trio of colorways, with the natural aluminum model releasing first in December. The gold one comes out in February, followed by a black soundbar in March. All models ship with a stand that enables both wall-mounting and tabletop placement. Again, the Premiere costs $5,800.

That high-end sticker price has become a hallmark of Bang & Olufsen. The company recently announced earbuds that cost $1,500 and a marble-adjacent speaker that's so expensive that the price isn't listed publicly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/bang--olufsens-latest-speaker-is-a-5800-aluminum-soundbar-163524028.html?src=rss

EcoFlow Black Friday deals include up to 52 percent off portable power stations

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EcoFlow is hosting a Black Friday sale on portable power stations. This drops prices by up to 42 percent on many of its well-regarded products. For instance, the Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $2,099. This is a discount of 43 percent, as the typical cost is $3,699. That's a significant drop in price. Amazon's matching the sale price as well.

The Delta Pro 3 topped Yahoo's list of the best portable power stations, and for very good reason. This thing is a beast. It boasts a 4,096Wh capacity, so it can power an average 500-watt refrigerator for over 24 hours. That's with continuous use. It can be stretched out to two or three days by only running the appliance during daylight hours. There's even a discounted bundle that includes an extra battery for $3,279.

It includes four standard 120V AC outlets and a single 240V outlet. It could potentially be a temporary hub of a whole-home battery backup. There are numerous charging options here, including a standard AC outlet, solar panels and, interestingly, a cigarette lighter.

The only potential downside here is the Delta Pro 3 really pushes the boundaries of what can be considered portable. It weighs 113 pounds, though it does have wheels and a telescoping handle.

The Delta Pro 3 is just one of the products on sale right now. Another Yahoo top pick, the Delta 2 Max, is $1,000 off and down to $899.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ecoflow-black-friday-deals-include-up-to-52-percent-off-portable-power-stations-130041488.html?src=rss

The Motorola Edge 70 is another ridiculously thin smartphone

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Motorola just announced the Edge 70 smartphone, which is an ultra-thin handset that could rival the recently-launched Apple iPhone Air. It's a bit thicker than the Air, at 5.9mm compared to 5.6mm, but the camera bump is less noticeable.

As for that camera bump, the Edge 70 features a trio of 50MP camera sensors. The main camera can capture 4K video and there's also a front camera, an ultrawide with a macro lens and a dedicated light sensor. Like most modern smartphones, there are AI tools available for photo editing.

The frame is made from "aircraft-grade aluminum," which is a good thing because my uncoordinated fingers will absolutely be dropping this thing within three days of owning one. Other durability features include Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and IP69 water protection.

A smartphone.
Motorola

The phone will also have access to the company's proprietary moto ai2 chatbot. This can do all of the usual stuff like create images and answer queries. However, Motorola also boasts that the AI can understand what's on the screen and can point users to the correct course of action. We'll have to wait and see how that works in real life.

This skinny handset somehow includes a massive 4800mAh battery that allows up to 50 hours of continuous use. That's over two full days of doomscrolling without ever heading to the power outlet. As a comparison, the iPhone Air lasts anywhere from 22 to 27 hours

The Edge 70 ships with a magnetic case that can handle wireless charging and includes a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 Mobile chipset. Motorola promises active software support and security upgrades all the way until 2031.

Given the form factor and specs, the price is actually fairly reasonable. The Edge 70 starts at £700, which breaks down to around $910 USD. It's available for purchase right now, but there's a spot of bad news. It's launching in the UK and there's no current information as to when it'll cross the pond.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-motorola-edge-70-is-another-ridiculously-thin-smartphone-080009244.html?src=rss

Samsung has a new line of microSD Express cards for the Switch 2

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Samsung just announced the P9 Express series of microSD Express cards, which are primarily intended for use with the Switch 2 console. This is a good thing, as Nintendo's latest console only works with microSD Express cards and, to be honest, there aren't that many options out there for consumers.

The company boasts that these new cards feature maximum sequential read speeds up to 800MB/s, which is a mighty fine metric and in league with some of our other favorite cards for the Switch 2. The cards also include the company's Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology, which was originally developed for SSDs. This should help things stay cool while you're out there catching Pokémon or rampaging around as a cartoon gorilla.

A microSD card.
Samsung

Of course, these cards aren't tied to the Switch 2. That's just the most common use case scenario. They'll work with just about anything, like tablets, drones, cameras and rival portable gaming consoles.

Samsung's P9 Express microSD cards are available now, and the price is in line with similar offerings. The 256GB model costs $55 and the 512GB version costs $100.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/samsung-has-a-new-line-of-microsd-express-cards-for-the-switch-2-190933303.html?src=rss

TikTok announces its first-ever awards show in the US

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TikTok just announced that it will be hosting its first-ever awards show in the US. The appropriately-named TikTok Awards will take place on December 18, starting at 9PM ET. It's a live event that will be held at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Of course, it'll be livestreamed on TikTok. The platform Tubi will begin streaming the event on the next day.

Awards will include stuff like "Creator of the Year" and "Video of the Year." There will also be awards given for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" and "Muse of the Year." I'm not sure what that last one means, but Paris Hilton grabbed a nomination for some reason.

Most nominees are influencers of some sort. There are no traditional journalists in the mix, likely because the entire event seems to be apolitical. One of the clips nominated for "Video of the Year" features a fashion influencer holding up some unique finds. Another is a recipe for "Homemade Dubai Chocolate" that did make me pretty hungry, so there's that.

Users will be able to vote for their favorite creators beginning on November 18. TikTok is launching a voting portal that'll be available on the platform.

The ceremony itself has all the trappings of a gala event. There's a red carpet, live performances, a live audience and more. This is in direct contrast to the recently-announced Instagram Ring awards. There's no live event for that one and the awards will be sent in the mail.

TikTok is no stranger to awards shows. It just hasn't been hosting them in the US. The social media app has created similar events in Germany, Mexico, Korea and other locations in the past several years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-announces-its-first-ever-awards-show-in-the-us-183711867.html?src=rss

Google removes AI model after it allegedly accused a senator of sexual assault

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Google has pulled the AI model Gemma from its Studio platform after a Republican senator said it "fabricated serious criminal allegations" against her, as reported by The Verge. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai to accuse the company of defamation after the model allegedly created a story about her committing sexual assault.

The model was reportedly asked if Blackburn had ever "been accused of rape" and it reportedly answered in the affirmative, going so far as to provide a list of fake news articles to support the accusation. The chatbot said the senator “was accused of having a sexual relationship with a state trooper” during a campaign for state senate. This officer reportedly said “she pressured him to obtain prescription drugs for her and that the relationship involved non-consensual acts.”

None of this happened, of course. The chatbot said this transgression occurred during Blackburn's 1987 campaign, but she didn't run for state senate until 1998. She has never been accused of anything like that.

"The links lead to error pages and unrelated news articles. There has never been such an accusation, there is no such individual and there are no such news stories. This is not a harmless 'hallucination.' It is an act of defamation produced and distributed by a Google-owned AI model," she wrote to Pichai.

There's one major caveat here. The chatbot in question, Gemma, is designed for developers and not for mass market queries. There are Gemma variants for medical use, coding and more. Google says it was never meant as a consumer tool or to be used to answer factual questions. It's still pulling the model from AI Studio to "prevent this confusion." It'll still be available to developers through the API.

Blackburn went a step further, accusing Google's AI platform of engaging in a "consistent pattern of bias against conservative figures." I encounter multiple hallucinations every day. Chatbots have lied about all kinds of stuff about my life and what I write about online. AI chatbots are famous for making stuff up, conservative or not. Not everything is a political witch hunt. Sometimes tech just does what tech does.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-removes-ai-model-after-it-allegedly-accused-a-senator-of-sexual-assault-170235679.html?src=rss