Monthly Archives: March 2024

The real fight isn’t Tyson vs. Paul — it’s Netflix vs. its livestreaming infrastructure

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Netflix has been experimenting with live sports over the last few months with golf and tennis exhibition events. The company has announced the biggest test for its livestreaming capabilities to date: a boxing match between YouTuber (and pro boxer) Jake Paul and former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

The fight is going to be a spectacle for a number of reasons. Both fighters bring star power to the table. There's a 30-year age gap between them. Despite his 9-1 record, Paul can hardly be described as an elite fighter. While Tyson is regarded as one of the best heavyweights of all time, he retired 19 years ago and has only fought in two matches since then. Paul's second match was on the undercard of Tyson's last bout, which was against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.

The battle will take place at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It's bound to attract a decent audience through Netflix as well. Most major boxing matches are on pay per view, but Netflix's 260 million subscribers will be able to watch at no extra cost.

Netflix hasn't released viewership figures for the Netflix Cup (its golf event) or the Netflix Slam (a recent tennis exhibition). Combat sports tend to deliver high viewership, though, suggesting that Netflix's infrastructure will have to handle more simultaneous streams than any of its other live events so far.

The company has dabbled with other live events over the last year or so, including a Chris Rock comedy special, the SAG Awards and a weekly cooking show with David Chang. However, the company has faced issues with livestreams in the past — it was forced to abandon plans for a live Love is Blind reunion due to technical issues.

Netflix has around nine months to make sure its livestreaming capabilities are in order before it embarks on its most ambitious sports (well, sports-adjacent) project yet. Starting in January, Netflix will be the home of WWE's live weekly shows in many markets, including the flagship program Raw in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-real-fight-isnt-tyson-vs-paul--its-netflix-vs-its-livestreaming-infrastructure-190924232.html?src=rss

Rivian reveals the $45,000 R2 electric SUV, and its siblings the R3 and R3X

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Rivian officially revealed the R2 electric SUV during a livestream held Thursday afternoon. We knew the followup to the well-regarded R1 was coming, and we even got some leaked specs earlier this week, but now we’ve heard it from the electric horse’s mouth. The company also surprised view R3 and R3X, however, came as a complete surprise, harkening back to Steve Jobs and his famous "one more thing" conference enders. 

As previously suspected, the R2 is a compact SUV that looks quite fetching. All versions of the five-seat electric vehicle get at least 300 miles per charge, thanks to newly-designed 4695 cell and a much larger battery pack that makes up a large portion of the bottom floor. Owners will also get plenty of refueling options. It comes with a NACS chargeport, so it'll work with Tesla Superchargers. The company's also building its own charging network, called the Rivian Adventure Network, with plans for 600 locations within a few years.

A white car.
Rivian

The R2 has plenty of get up and go, with three motor layouts to choose from. There's a standard single-motor rear-wheel drive model, a dual-motor all-wheel model with motors in both the front and back and the beastly tri-motor version, which features two motors in back and one in front. That last model can go from zero to 60 in three seconds, though the metric likely shrinks when considering the other two versions. 

There’s a robust infotainment center up front, though the layout of these digital elements are subject to change as we get closer to launch. Also up front? The R2 sports two gloveboxes, whereas the R1 line lacked even one. There's also two scroll wheels on the steering wheel, complete with dynamic haptic feedback. The car's self-driving features have gotten a major boost here, thanks to 11 cameras throughout and five radars, including a long-range front-facing radar. 

Two gloveboxes.
Rivian

Prices start at $45,000 for the standard single-motor version, which is in line with what company CFO Claire McDonough has been promising. Though slightly smaller than the R1, the R2 is still pretty roomy. As previously stated, it fits five people and boasts an open-air design with quarter windows that pop out and a rear glass window that drops and opens. Seats on both rows fold flat, so owners should be able to transport longer-than-average gear like surfboards. Just like the R1 line, there's a roomy front truck, otherwise called a frunk, for additional storage. The R2 is available for preorders now, with deliveries starting in 2026.

A Rivian R3.
Rivian

The R3, on the other hand, looks to be even more compact than its newly-announced sibling. It features a shorter wheelbase than the R2 and an overall tighter design. It'll also be available in three models, including single-motor, dual-motor and tri-motor versions. There's no range data available, but it does feature the same battery pack as the R2. 

The R3 also includes some of the same open-air design features as the R2, with an automatic rear lift and a rear-facing glass window that pops open for storage. This window can adjust to multiple heights to accommodate oddly-shaped items. There's a pair of gloveboxes up front and an interior design that prioritizes sustainable materials. 

Finally, there's the dune buggy-esque R3X. This is a high-performance vehicle, with only a tri-motor design available. It boasts a wider stance and more ground clearance than the R3. As a matter of fact, it doesn't really look like the R3 at all, with its "rugged and playful" interior made from cork and anodized metal, among other materials. 

Overhead shot of the car.
Rivian

Rivian hasn't announced any pricing or availability information on the R3 or R3X. It did, however, tease some forthcoming accessories for the company's entire fleet of vehicles. These include a tent that fastens to the roof, bike racks and additional rear storage options. 

Now, the bad news. Rivian itself has been experiencing some issues. The company announced back in February that it would be laying off 10 percent of its salaried employees and job cuts have already started. The EV maker laid off around 100 employees at its Normal, IL factory this week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rivian-reveals-the-45000-r2-electric-suv-and-its-siblings-the-r3-and-r3x-185640727.html?src=rss

SylvanSport GOAT lightweight off-road trailer can haul bikes, ATVs, and sleep up to four

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Overlanding adventures demand fully ruggedized camping trailers that can take whatever the dusty and bumpy roads have to throw at them. SylvanSport did the most spectacular, for the purpose, in the Go Camper, which won numerous accolades, including the title of the “Coolest. Camper. Ever,” by National Geographic. Now, to build on the Go Camper’s off-road capabilities, the outdoor adventure goods company from North Carolina has launched the all-new GOAT.

GOAT, the Go All Terrain trailer, is a lightweight, rugged off-roader that can haul your gear, bikes, and more alongside, giving you an on-site option to pitch your tent and sleep four in comfort. If you have been on the hunt for a compact trailer for camping and hauling, your search will end at the really impactful GOAT, which is towable by anything between a Subaru Wilderness, JEEP, or a Toyota Tacoma and the like.

Designer: SylvanSport

GO All-Terrain with 1,200 lbs dry weight is designed for carrying up to 950lb payload. Its custom exterior powder-coated aluminum frame makes the lightweight trailer a more refined living space with greater versatility than the Go Camper. The GOAT has a 7-foot long, 4-foot wide, and 1.4-foot high versatile cargo area, which can double as a toy hauler for your motorbike or an ATV, if you may. Additionally, the rack system allows you to carry rooftop baskets, kayak carriers, and cargo containers safely.

When you are on the unbeaten path, you want your trailer to perform without a hiccup. To that end, the new SylvanSport’s trailer comes with all-terrain tires cushioned by Timbren HD Axle-Less suspension system, a comfortable 18 inches underbody clearance (with a spare tire hooked on the side to the aluminum body), and a very impressive 42 degrees departure angle. An optional off-read hitch makes it ready for any terrain, while the storage box on the front of the trailer gives 9 cubic feet of additional waterproof storage space.

The real magic of the GOAT is not its hauling capacity, it’s the living quarters it offers for on-the-go comfort. The canopy – ripstop nylon waterproof tent – pulls down from the trailer’s roof, attaches to the frame securely, and can be set up in under 10 minutes by two people, as seen in the promo video.

The roomy trailer is pretty impressive with 6 foot 5 inches of headroom in the center. You have a pull-down table, hooked to the front, for dining and working, while two separate (80 x 30 inch) beds flank it on both (left and right) sides. You have windows on the sides with see-through and privacy layers, and by using two table panels attached to the side beds, you get a king and a half size bed. The GOAT is available for preorder in Stealth Grey and Venture Green colorways. Its base price starts at $18,495. You can prebook now and delivery is expected to begin in April 2024.

The post SylvanSport GOAT lightweight off-road trailer can haul bikes, ATVs, and sleep up to four first appeared on Yanko Design.

Leica’s SL3 mirrorless camera offers a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video

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Leica's SL family has always been the most "mirrorless" looking of its cameras, offering pro photographers handling that's similar to rivals like Canon and Sony. That continues with the launch of the SL3, a 60-megapixel (MP) model that looks nothing like its famous rangefinder cameras, offering a new phase-detect autofocus system, 8K video capability and more.

The new model has the same sensor as the M11 rangefinder and Q3 compact models, but very much resembles the SL2 and tips the scale at a hefty 767 grams. It's also IP54-rated so you can shoot in weather conditions ranging from 14 to 104°F without worrying about dust, moisture etc. 

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

The biggest change in the layout is a new dial on the left top (all the dials are blank as you can customize them any way you want). At the back, Leica moved the three key buttons (play, function and menu) to the right, and changed the power switch to a button. 

The SL3 now has a new 3.2″ 2.3m-dot LCD, and unlike past models, it can tilt (but not swivel). The EVF has also been updated to a higher-resolution 5.76m-dot 0.78x OLED version. As for storage, it supports both CFexpress type B and SD UHS-II memory cards. It comes with a full-sized HDMI and USB-C charging ports, along with mic/headphone jacks.

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

The new sensor increases resolution from 47 MP on the SL2 up to 60 MP, a significant bump. It's likely similar to the sensor Sony uses on the A7R V, and supports a wide native ISO range from 50-100,000, with a claimed 15 stops of dynamic range. 

It can shoot bursts up to 15fps, but more importantly, offers a new phase-detect AF system that's faster and more intelligent, according to the company. It combines phase detection, contrast and object autofocus for faster and more consistent performances. That includes face and eye detection, along with a new animal detection feature. It's also supposed to be better at tracking action, Leica says. 

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

As for video, the SL3 can record internally in DCI 8K 8192 x 4320 at 30 fps and DCI 4K at up to 60p with a maximum bitrate of 600Mb/s. It can also record externally via the HDMI output, also at DCI 8K and DCI 4K up to 60fps. Those resolutions are all available in 10-bit with the choice of L-Log Rec. 2020 and HLG Rec. 2020. It supports ProRes recording, but only up to 1080p. 

As you're probably expecting, the SL3 isn't cheap at $6,995, though it is significantly cheaper than the $9,000 M11. It's now available at B&H Photo Video and elsewhere.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/leicas-sl3-mirrorless-camera-offers-a-60-megapixel-sensor-and-8k-video-181501226.html?src=rss

Leica’s SL3 mirrorless camera offers a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video

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Leica's SL family has always been the most "mirrorless" looking of its cameras, offering pro photographers handling that's similar to rivals like Canon and Sony. That continues with the launch of the SL3, a 60-megapixel (MP) model that looks nothing like its famous rangefinder cameras, offering a new phase-detect autofocus system, 8K video capability and more.

The new model has the same sensor as the M11 rangefinder and Q3 compact models, but very much resembles the SL2 and tips the scale at a hefty 767 grams. It's also IP54-rated so you can shoot in weather conditions ranging from 14 to 104°F without worrying about dust, moisture etc. 

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

The biggest change in the layout is a new dial on the left top (all the dials are blank as you can customize them any way you want). At the back, Leica moved the three key buttons (play, function and menu) to the right, and changed the power switch to a button. 

The SL3 now has a new 3.2″ 2.3m-dot LCD, and unlike past models, it can tilt (but not swivel). The EVF has also been updated to a higher-resolution 5.76m-dot 0.78x OLED version. As for storage, it supports both CFexpress type B and SD UHS-II memory cards. It comes with a full-sized HDMI and USB-C charging ports, along with mic/headphone jacks.

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

The new sensor increases resolution from 47 MP on the SL2 up to 60 MP, a significant bump. It's likely similar to the sensor Sony uses on the A7R V, and supports a wide native ISO range from 50-100,000, with a claimed 15 stops of dynamic range. 

It can shoot bursts up to 15fps, but more importantly, offers a new phase-detect AF system that's faster and more intelligent, according to the company. It combines phase detection, contrast and object autofocus for faster and more consistent performances. That includes face and eye detection, along with a new animal detection feature. It's also supposed to be better at tracking action, Leica says. 

Leica's SL3 mirrorless camera has a 60-megapixel sensor and 8K video
Leica

As for video, the SL3 can record internally in DCI 8K 8192 x 4320 at 30 fps and DCI 4K at up to 60p with a maximum bitrate of 600Mb/s. It can also record externally via the HDMI output, also at DCI 8K and DCI 4K up to 60fps. Those resolutions are all available in 10-bit with the choice of L-Log Rec. 2020 and HLG Rec. 2020. It supports ProRes recording, but only up to 1080p. 

As you're probably expecting, the SL3 isn't cheap at $6,995, though it is significantly cheaper than the $9,000 M11. It's now available at B&H Photo Video and elsewhere.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/leicas-sl3-mirrorless-camera-offers-a-60-megapixel-sensor-and-8k-video-181501226.html?src=rss

Spotify is mad at the French government and taking it out on users

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Spotify said on Thursday it will raise its subscription prices in France in response to a new tax designed to support the nation’s music industry. The company wrote an open letter denouncing the tax, which France’s government passed in late 2023. The streaming service hasn’t yet said how high the price hike will be, other than teasing, “French users will now pay the highest subscriptions across the European Union.” 

France’s CNM tax imposes a levy on music services that earn over 20 million euros ($21.9 million) in the country: Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. (Apple Music and Deezer have opposed the tax but haven’t announced similar price hikes.) The companies pay the new 1.2 percent charge on all streaming revenue generated in the country. Social media companies licensing music, including TikTok and Facebook, are also subject to the tax. The fees will go to the nation’s Centre National de la Musique (CNM), a public institution supporting and promoting the French music industry.

Spotify’s initial response in December was to pull financial support from French music festivals Francofolies de la Rochelle and Printemps de Bourges. The company threatened to pull its services from Uruguay when a similar tax was announced there but ultimately backed down when the Uruguayan government said streaming services wouldn’t have to cover any costs.

Spotify hasn’t made similar threats to exit France, likely because the country is much more crucial to its bottom line. Instead, it’s waging a public pressure campaign, including the music service painting the tax as an unnecessary government money grab that only partially funds the music industry.

“This tax will generate approximately 15 million euros, when the CNM’s administrative budget (office fees, personnel, capital expenditure, media monitoring or professional training etc.) sits at 20.2 million euros,” the company wrote in the public letter. “Our concern is that possibly less than half of its overall 146.9 million euros budget will find its way toward effectively aiding music.”

Other than listing the CNM’s administrative budget, Spotify didn’t provide any evidence that the fees wouldn’t go toward aiding music.

Spotify’s revenue grew 16 percent year-over-year to €3.7 billion ($4.05 billion) in Q4 2023, in what it described as “a very strong quarter.” Its CEO sold $57.5 million in stock in February, following a $64 million stock sale in October 2023.

“As we have long said, we simply can’t absorb any additional taxes,” Spotify wrote. “Even after making the difficult decision to reduce our artist marketing budget and support of French music festivals — which is an essential vehicle for Spotify to continue to drive hundreds of millions of euros to the music industry — it still continues to impede our ability to operate in France. Accordingly, over the coming weeks and months, we’ll need to make changes to our price plan in France.”

Spotify says French subscribers will learn more about the price hike “in the coming weeks.”

Update, March 7, 2024, 3:08 PM ET: The story has been updated to attribute Spotify’s open letter to the company, not CEO Daniel Ek (as the previous version stated).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-is-mad-at-the-french-government-and-taking-it-out-on-users-175910647.html?src=rss

Spotify is mad at the French government and taking it out on users

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Spotify said on Thursday it will raise its subscription prices in France in response to a new tax designed to support the nation’s music industry. The company wrote an open letter denouncing the tax, which France’s government passed in late 2023. The streaming service hasn’t yet said how high the price hike will be, other than teasing, “French users will now pay the highest subscriptions across the European Union.” 

France’s CNM tax imposes a levy on music services that earn over 20 million euros ($21.9 million) in the country: Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. (Apple Music and Deezer have opposed the tax but haven’t announced similar price hikes.) The companies pay the new 1.2 percent charge on all streaming revenue generated in the country. Social media companies licensing music, including TikTok and Facebook, are also subject to the tax. The fees will go to the nation’s Centre National de la Musique (CNM), a public institution supporting and promoting the French music industry.

Spotify’s initial response in December was to pull financial support from French music festivals Francofolies de la Rochelle and Printemps de Bourges. The company threatened to pull its services from Uruguay when a similar tax was announced there but ultimately backed down when the Uruguayan government said streaming services wouldn’t have to cover any costs.

Spotify hasn’t made similar threats to exit France, likely because the country is much more crucial to its bottom line. Instead, it’s waging a public pressure campaign, including the music service painting the tax as an unnecessary government money grab that only partially funds the music industry.

“This tax will generate approximately 15 million euros, when the CNM’s administrative budget (office fees, personnel, capital expenditure, media monitoring or professional training etc.) sits at 20.2 million euros,” the company wrote in the public letter. “Our concern is that possibly less than half of its overall 146.9 million euros budget will find its way toward effectively aiding music.”

Other than listing the CNM’s administrative budget, Spotify didn’t provide any evidence that the fees wouldn’t go toward aiding music.

Spotify’s revenue grew 16 percent year-over-year to €3.7 billion ($4.05 billion) in Q4 2023, in what it described as “a very strong quarter.” Its CEO sold $57.5 million in stock in February, following a $64 million stock sale in October 2023.

“As we have long said, we simply can’t absorb any additional taxes,” Spotify wrote. “Even after making the difficult decision to reduce our artist marketing budget and support of French music festivals — which is an essential vehicle for Spotify to continue to drive hundreds of millions of euros to the music industry — it still continues to impede our ability to operate in France. Accordingly, over the coming weeks and months, we’ll need to make changes to our price plan in France.”

Spotify says French subscribers will learn more about the price hike “in the coming weeks.”

Update, March 7, 2024, 3:08 PM ET: The story has been updated to attribute Spotify’s open letter to the company, not CEO Daniel Ek (as the previous version stated).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spotify-is-mad-at-the-french-government-and-taking-it-out-on-users-175910647.html?src=rss

Ubisoft+ Classics is now available as a standalone subscription on PlayStation consoles

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Ubisoft+ Classics is now available as a standalone subscription on PlayStation consoles. This is Ubisoft’s curated collection of its back catalog, letting PS4 and PS5 owners play Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed titles until the heat death of the universe. Subscribers can choose from more than 50 games going back more than a decade.

This isn’t a dumping ground for low-reviewed shovelware, as there are plenty of recent hits to choose from. Members can play the well-reviewed Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the squad shooter Rainbow Six Siege, the sidescrolling platformer Rayman Legends and the Giancarlo Esposito simulator Far Cry 6, among many others. All told, there are five Far Cry installments and a whopping 12 Assassin’s Creed games to pick from. The catalog also includes standalone titles like Immortals Fenyx Rising, Child of Light and Valiant Hearts: The Great War.

A subscription to Ubisoft+ Classics for PlayStation costs $8 per month on its own, though it’s still available as part of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. So this membership is for Ubisoft superfans who don’t want access to all of the other perks that a dedicated PS Plus membership provides. There must be a few people like that out there, right?

There’s also the Ubisoft+ Premium tier, which costs $18 per month. This pricier membership includes premium editions of the entire back catalog, in addition to day-one access to new releases, early access games, monthly rewards and more. Ubisoft+ Premium, however, is currently only available for Xbox, Amazon Luna and PC. 

There is, though, a multiplayer elephant in the room. Games like Rainbow Six Siege aren’t really any fun without other people, but it looks like an Ubisoft+ Classics subscription only provides access to the games and not any online multiplayer component. For that, gamers would have to pony up for a PS Plus membership, which eliminates any of the savings from opting for Ubisoft+ Classics instead of PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium. We reached out to Ubisoft for clarification on this matter. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-classics-is-now-available-as-a-standalone-subscription-on-playstation-consoles-173750071.html?src=rss

Ubisoft+ Classics is now available as a standalone subscription on PlayStation consoles

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Ubisoft+ Classics is now available as a standalone subscription on PlayStation consoles. This is Ubisoft’s curated collection of its back catalog, letting PS4 and PS5 owners play Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed titles until the heat death of the universe. Subscribers can choose from more than 50 games going back more than a decade.

This isn’t a dumping ground for low-reviewed shovelware, as there are plenty of recent hits to choose from. Members can play the well-reviewed Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the squad shooter Rainbow Six Siege, the sidescrolling platformer Rayman Legends and the Giancarlo Esposito simulator Far Cry 6, among many others. All told, there are five Far Cry installments and a whopping 12 Assassin’s Creed games to pick from. The catalog also includes standalone titles like Immortals Fenyx Rising, Child of Light and Valiant Hearts: The Great War.

A subscription to Ubisoft+ Classics for PlayStation costs $8 per month on its own, though it’s still available as part of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium. So this membership is for Ubisoft superfans who don’t want access to all of the other perks that a dedicated PS Plus membership provides. There must be a few people like that out there, right?

There’s also the Ubisoft+ Premium tier, which costs $18 per month. This pricier membership includes premium editions of the entire back catalog, in addition to day-one access to new releases, early access games, monthly rewards and more. Ubisoft+ Premium, however, is currently only available for Xbox, Amazon Luna and PC. 

There is, though, a multiplayer elephant in the room. Games like Rainbow Six Siege aren’t really any fun without other people, but it looks like an Ubisoft+ Classics subscription only provides access to the games and not any online multiplayer component. For that, gamers would have to pony up for a PS Plus membership, which eliminates any of the savings from opting for Ubisoft+ Classics instead of PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium. We reached out to Ubisoft for clarification on this matter. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ubisoft-classics-is-now-available-as-a-standalone-subscription-on-playstation-consoles-173750071.html?src=rss

Prime Video’s latest Fallout trailer deftly captures the tone of the games

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Amazon has released a full trailer for the live-action Fallout series that's coming to Prime Video soon. It's our most in-depth look yet at the show and early indications suggest that the creative team has captured the distinct blend of irreverence and violence that helped Bethesda's game series become so successful.

The clip focuses on Lucy (Ella Purnell), a young woman who emerges from a fallout bunker into what used to be Los Angeles, 200 years after a nuclear apocalypse. Lucy quickly discovers that life on the surface isn't quite as cushy as staying in a luxury vault. "Practically every person I've met up here has tried to kill me," she says, seconds before we see a robot attempt to harvest her organs.

The trailer (and the show) gets a helping hand from the otherworldly charm of Walton Goggins as a pitchman for living in a fallout shelter. His character somehow survives the apocalypse and is still around two centuries later, carving out a life as a mutated bounty hunter called The Ghoul. The trailer has a ton of other references to the games for fans to drink in.

Amazon also took the opportunity to reveal that Fallout will arrive on Prime Video on April 11, one day earlier than previously announced. You won't have to wait a week between episodes either, as the entire season will drop at once.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prime-videos-latest-fallout-trailer-deftly-captures-the-tone-of-the-games-170210309.html?src=rss