There is something about summer that always seems to bring extra dirt and mess into the home, but, between the heat and many daily activities, I know the last thing I want to do is vacuum. While robot vacuums can be quite costly, right now, the Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with Matrix Clean Navigation is half off on Amazon, dropping its price to $300 from $599. It's a version of one of our favorite robot vacuums, the Shark RV2502AE AI Ultra — which also retails for $599. That one is 40 percent off right now, down to $360.
Shark's AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with Matrix Clean Navigation is a great option if you're looking for a robovac that offers a bit of everything. As the name suggests, it offers features like voice control, which lets you start or schedule a clean through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It also uses Matrix Clean to create a precise grid, ensuring it hits every corner of your home. Plus, 360 LiDAR vision allows it to avoid any objects in its way, so it can continue on even if you can't be bothered to tidy up.
The vacuum empties itself into a base with a 60-day capacity for dirt and debris (and the sale actually makes it cheaper than the 45-day option). Shark also bills it as skilled at collecting pet hair, thanks to powerful suction and a self-cleaning brushroll.
Explore the newly updated Arduino Project Hub, featuring a sleek interface, dedicated sections for professionals and educators, and enhanced navigation. Ignite your creativity with over 5,400 projects! The Arduino Project Hub is more than just a platform; it’s a vibrant community where members share their ideas and achievements, contributing to a collective knowledge base. Makers […]
Those who are trying to learn how to play their favorite songs on their musical instruments have it a little easier now. They can just search for chords and arrangements or if they’re lucky, there might even be YouTube tutorials out there. But there are still those who prefer to play it by ear while playing the piano, guitar, or other instruments but playing the song from their phone or computer while learning is a bit of a hassle.
Designer: Hélène Bert
Analist is a tool that can be used by those trying to learn songs by playing it by ear. Unlike phones and computers where controls and precision are a bit hard, this gadget allows you to optimize your workflow when trying to play your instrument as you listen to the song you’re trying to learn. You will be able to control things pause and play, speed, repetition, and other things you may need to adjust while you’re playing it by ear.
Based on the product renders, this is how it works. You add a song onto the device, edit the parts that you need to learn if needed, and then save it. You can adjust it according to your preference (speed, pitch, equalizer, volume, etc). You hold it in one hand while playing the song on it and playing your instrument on the other. The device has easy to access controls that lets you pause and play, speed up or slow down, volume up and down, etc. You also get to play it in loop so you can master the song.
You can even do more if you connect it to the app, although what this “more” is wasn’t really specified. You might be forgiven for mistaking the Analist for your aircon’s remote control but on paper, the functionality of the device will be pretty helpful for those who are learning to play songs.
The iPhone is a powerful and versatile device that offers a wide range of features designed to make your life easier and more efficient. Whether you’re a seasoned iPhone user or a newcomer to the platform, there are always new tips and tricks to discover that can help you get the most out of your […]
Elden Ring's giant Shadow of the Erdtree expansion dropped on Friday and it didn't take long for players to poke under the hood and discover some fascinating things. The first big bad of the DLC is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a fearsome creature that uses wind, lightning, ice and its own hulking body to decimate foul Tarnished. But the mandatory boss suddenly seems a bit less terrifying after YouTuber BonfireVN found out that it's basically just two large dudes in a suit.
BonfireVN's video shows one person wearing the lion's head and another one hunched over in the rear — a little like a pantomime horse. The video shows the front end of the near-nude boss firing off elemental attacks and twisting through the air to lunge at the player, while the back half just sorta tags along as if connected by magnets.
Game developers use all kinds of tricks just to make things work, but this one actually makes sense on a conceptual level. As 80 Level points out, it keeps in with the Chinese tradition of the lion dance, wherein two people wear a costume and mimic the movements of the big cat. One person controls the head and the other takes charge of the body, albeit with less flip flopping than the namesake Elden Ring boss.
FromSoftware/Bandai Namco/BonfireVN
Meanwhile, the $40 Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is evidently a hit already. Elden Ring (which includes the DLC) reached a simultaneous player count of 780,000 on Steam alone over the weekend. It hadn't seen those kinds of numbers since it neared a million concurrent Steam players when it debuted in early 2022. Elden Ring has now sold more than 25 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.
Shadow of the Erdtree has earned near-unanimous praise from critics, but many players felt it was too difficult and review bombed it on Steam as a result. Elden Ring's creators have a clear message to naysayers, though: get good, scrubs.
“If we really wanted the whole world to play the game, we could just crank the difficulty down more and more. But that wasn’t the right approach,” From president and Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki told The Guardian. “Had we taken that approach, I don’t think the game would have done what it did, because the sense of achievement that players gain from overcoming these hurdles is such a fundamental part of the experience. Turning down difficulty would strip the game of that joy — which, in my eyes, would break the game itself.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elden-ring-dlcs-fearsome-dancing-lion-boss-is-just-two-big-dudes-in-a-suit-124451502.html?src=rss
AAEON has unveiled its latest PICO-ITX board, the PICO-RAP4, designed to harness the power of the 13th Gen Intel Core processors. This new addition to AAEON’s product line is engineered to meet the demands of advanced computing applications, including service robots and healthcare imaging devices. The PICO-RAP4 embedded single board computer stands out with its […]
Apple enthusiasts and developers alike are eagerly anticipating the release of iOS 18 Beta 2, which should be later today. This update promises to bring a wealth of exciting new features and enhancements to the iPhone user experience. However, it’s important to note that some of these features may not be available in the European […]
Apple may be on the hook for a fine of up to 10 percent of its global annual revenue following a regulatory action from European Union officials. In the preliminary findings of its investigation, the bloc says the company breached Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules by failing to let App Store developers freely tell users about alternate payment options away from Apple’s ecosystem.
If Apple is found guilty, it could face a fine of tens of billions of dollars under the DMA’s severe penalties. Should a DMA violation be repeated, fines can reach up to 20 percent of global annual revenue.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, opened this investigation into Apple in March. From that start date, it has 12 months to finalize the preliminary findings. This also marks the first regulatory action under the DMA, as The Financial Times notes.
The EC preliminarily found that Apple has broken so-called anti-steering rules. Major tech companies that are subject to the DMA are required to let third-party developers inform users about alternative ways to make purchases without charging developers to do so.
In their preliminary findings, officials determined that none of Apple's updated terms let developers freely nudge customers toward alternative payment options. The EC notes that Apple doesn't let developers tell users how much less they could pay elsewhere.
Apple by and large only allows developers to use link-outs, the Commission said — in other words, they can include a link to a web page to carry out a payment. "The link-out process is subject to several restrictions imposed by Apple that prevent app developers from communicating, promoting offers and concluding contracts through the distribution channel of their choice," the EC said.
Regulators added that although Apple is entitled to receive a payment for helping developers find new customers through the App Store, "the fees charged by Apple go beyond what is strictly necessary for such remuneration." For example, they point out, developers have to pay Apple a fee for any purchase of digital services or goods that someone makes within seven days of an app link-out.
Developers have to fork over up to 30 percent of any purchases made via the App Store (Google charges similar fees for Play Store purchases). As such, developers are able to offer consumers cheaper prices if they make purchases away from the App Store.
In 2020, Epic Games informed Fortnite players through the game's mobile apps that they could pay less for V-Bucks by purchasing the in-game currency directly from the developer. Apple and Google swiftly booted the game off their app marketplaces, prompting legal battles that are still ongoing. However, thanks to the DMA, Epic plans to launch its own mobile app store in the EU and re-release a mobile version of Fortnite in the bloc later this year.
Reuters / Reuters
“Throughout the past several months, Apple has made a number of changes to comply with the DMA in response to feedback from developers and the European Commission," Apple told Engadget in a statement. "We are confident our plan complies with the law, and estimate more than 99 percent of developers would pay the same or less in fees to Apple under the new business terms we created. All developers doing business in the EU on the App Store have the opportunity to utilize the capabilities that we have introduced, including the ability to direct app users to the web to complete purchases at a very competitive rate. As we have done routinely, we will continue to listen and engage with the European Commission.”
The company recently found itself in hot water with the EU on a similar front — the bloc fined it €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) earlier this year over violations of anti-steering rules. The Commission claimed that Apple prohibited third-party developers of music streaming apps from telling iOS users that they could pay less for subscriptions if they sign up away from Apple's ecosystem. Apple has formally challenged the fine.
The EC has also opened a fresh investigation into Apple over another potential DMA violation. The bloc has taken issue with new fees Apple is charging developers “to access some of the new features enabled by the DMA,” such as the ability to offer a third-party app marketplace as well as app downloads through other means, such as the web. The EC notes that Apple still allows developers to keep operating under a previous agreement, which doesn’t let them make use of alternative distribution channels.
Devs who sign up for the new terms are subject to what Apple calls a core technology fee. This equates to a payment of €0.50 per user per year after the first million users. The fee, which Apple announced in January, applies even to downloads from third-party app marketplaces. Many of Apple's rivals slammed the company over the new terms (as well as over updated rules for third-party payments in the US). Last month, Apple granted non-commercial and small developers an exemption from the core technology fee.
The EC is also looking into whether Apple is making it too complicated for users to install third-party app marketplaces and apps. The third part of the investigation concerns "the eligibility requirements for developers related to the ability to offer alternative app stores or directly distribute apps from the web on iPhones," such as needing to have a developer account that's in good standing.
Meanwhile, Apple said on Friday that it was delaying the rollout of Apple Intelligence — the company's name for a suite of generative AI features that will debut in iOS 18 — and some other features in the EU. “We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security,” the company told Bloomberg.
Update 6/24 10:19AM ET: Added Apple's statement and details about the core technology fee exemption.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-face-a-mammoth-fine-after-the-eu-said-it-violated-competition-rules-120019892.html?src=rss
The Lenovo Tab Plus is designed to be the ultimate entertainment tablet, offering a premium audio-visual experience that stands out in the crowded tablet market. With its eight JBL speakers, 2K display, and MediaTek Helio G99 processor, this tablet is engineered to meet the needs of music lovers and entertainment enthusiasts alike. Key Specifications : […]
Apple never fails to surprise us with its insane innovations and groundbreaking creations since its inception in 1976. And let’s take a second to appreciate the innovation and inspiration this company never fails to provide us with. The groundbreaking tech giant never fails to surprise us, we always find ourselves biting our nails and squirming with curiosity, whenever Apple announces a new product launch! Needless to say, we all have our favorite Apple products, and although they are pretty amazing as is, it’s always fun to amp them up further with some cool and innovative accessories. And, we’ve put together a collection of some unique, innovative, and super fun accessories for your favorite Apple devices.
1. Orbita Modular System
Say hello to the Orbita modular system! This innovative mount is designed for the PC screen or your laptop. It utilizes MagSafe technology to provide users with the freedom to extend their personal working space on the desktop or the laptop without any inconvenience. Your iPhone serves as the second screen, and it can be oriented in any direction – vertical, horizontal, or even anything in between. This unique accessory is great for taking up Zoom calls or answering other calls in the midst of working on another project. It has a clean and minimal look, which allows it to harmoniously merge with all kinds of desk setups.
2. The Aulumu M01 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Station
Dubbed the Aulumu M01 4-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, this device has unique and refreshing cyberpunk-like aesthetics that make it stand out. The charger doesn’t have a straightforward row of circles, instead, it alternates their arrangement to form a composition that is quite appealing and attractive. The colors alternate too, with the white Apple Watch pad being surrounded by black circles for the AirPods case and the iPhone. The charging station is equipped with typical lines, texts, and visible screws much like any other tech-focused product.
3. Blackmagic Spatial Camera
Designed for the Apple Vision Pro, this Blackmagic Design spatial camera is created to capture stereoscopic 3D content. It features two eyes, and they both boast 8160×7200 sensors. The camera features 16 dynamic range stops to offer better color quality and accuracy, and it provides support to record 3D videos at 90fps rates. It is also equipped with a built-in Blackmagic Media Module which offers 8TB of high-performance network storage.
4. Nomad Tracking Card
Called the Nomad Tracking Card, this card is the size of a credit card and fits perfectly in your wallet. It works with Apple’s Find My network and can be charged wirelessly so you don’t need to stress about batteries or dumping the device after only a year of use. It is a slick tracking device that is just 2mm thin with a thickness of 2 credit cards placed together. The card’s size makes it discreet and subtle enough to place anywhere – whether in your wallet, backpack, or even your jacket pocket. This card allows you to track and trace your belongings through Apple’s Find My network.
5. Magic Bar
Dubbed the Magic Bar, this portable Touch Bar can be partnered up with any Apple peripheral. It features a sleek, seamless, and portable form that resembles the Touch Bar in terms of features and functionality. The Magic Bar’s design is quite recognizable, and it perfectly aligns horizontally with your keyboard. The Magic Bar can be paired up with your iPhone, building multiple smart home shortcuts that help you get done with your tasks easily and efficiently.
6. Apple MagSafe Grip Stand
If you need an innovative MagSafe stand for your iPhone, then you may want to consider the Apple MagSafe Grip Stand. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese art of paper folding, you can fold this stand flat or vice versa, without the stress of assembling and disassembling it. The MagSafe Stand is a unique accessory, designed to be thin and lightweight. It is sized like a credit card, so you can easily attach it to your iPhone, and keep it away in your pocket, without it looking like an eyesore.
Dubbed the CASA Hub Stand Pro, this functional accessory was designed for the MacBook. It can elevate your laptop up to 29cm in height, providing you with a super ergonomic position that will not cause any strain on your neck. You can also set the laptop lower if you don’t have an external keyboard. The nifty stand features a high-precision load-bearing mechanism that can easily hold weights of up to 3.5kg. It can also support heavy gaming laptops and not just your Macbook.
8. MOLO
Called MOLO, this Apple accessory features a monolithic design that can support a computer or monitor with impressive durability and strength. The MOLO helps you maintain a well-organized desk, making it as functional as you want it to be. MOLO helps create a streamlined workstation, allowing you to focus on your tasks at hand, and maintain a well-managed and productive work environment. MOLO stands securely on your desk, inspiring you to be balanced, and responsible.
9. Neck Power Bank
Dubbed the Neck Power Bank, this power bank is designed for the Apple Vision Pro. It features the familiar horseshoe shape of a neck pillow or one of those neck-worn air conditioners you see. The Neck Power Bank has an ergonomic and novel design with a flexible center frame embedded in the center, which makes the process of unfolding it and wearing it comfortably around your center quite easy to do.
10. TORRAS MiniMag
Say hello to the TORRAS MiniMag – this is a compact MagSafe power bank that you can easily snap onto the back of your phone, providing it with an instant battery boost. The power bank is sized like a credit card and has a thickness of 0.3 inches. The MiniMag has quite a compact size and MagSafe compatibility which make it an excellent addition to your iPhone, as it seamlessly attaches to it, juicing it up with an extra 5000mAh battery. You can go about your day completing your tasks, without any worry of your phone dying down.
