Zoom just announced that webinar calls can now support up to one million simultaneous participants. This was after various political groups used the video conferencing platform to raise money for Vice President Kamala Harris’ election campaign. The company now offers various tiers for webinar calls that feature max capacities of 10,000 connections through to 500,000 and, of course, one million attendees — for a price. Booking a one-time webinar for a million people will set you back a cool $100,000.
Your library, top charts, subscriptions and more in your browser.
Apple Podcasts on the web has a look and feature set more like the company’s standalone app. The platform is accessible from any web device, with more tools beyond simply playing episodes — even if you don’t have a desktop or mobile app installed. Apple says even without an Apple log-in, you’ll still be able to browse and listen.
Alphabet’s Waymo has revealed its sixth-generation Driver system, with a more efficient sensor setup. Despite having a reduced camera and LiDAR sensor count, it maintains the same safety levels of past rides, the company says. This new system is built into Geely Zeekr EVs, following a collaboration announced back in 2021. It’s a… boxier ride. This is not a Jaguar.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-zoom-can-now-handle-one-million-simultaneous-participants-111523850.html?src=rss
If you’ve ever browsed Razer’s selection of gaming peripherals and thought, “You guys really need to step up your RGB game,” HP has just the accessory for you. The company’s newest HyperX microphone, unveiled on Tuesday at Gamescom, has over 100 LEDs for “a stunning visual” with “energetic style,” which sounds about right.
The HyperX QuadCast 2 S is a USB gaming microphone with over 100 aRGB LEDs. The individually customizable lights can display over 16 million color combinations. Why, you ask? To complement your “streams and creations,” according to HP. (Sure, why not!)
If you’re the kind of fuddy-duddy who cares more about audio input than groovy light shows, the QuadCast 2 S has a 32-bit audio resolution and a 192kHz sampling rate. It has a tap-to-mute sensor, four selectable polar patterns and a bundled shock mount / stand combo. When used with the HyperX NGENUITY software (NGENIOUS!), you can customize the LEDs, limiter and 10-band EQ. It also includes AI-based noise reduction.
HP
In addition to the Vegas casino of gaming mics, HP is launching a wireless keyboard that it claims has “the longest battery life on a backlit dual-wireless gaming keyboard” available. The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 offers 80 hours of gameplay with the backlighting on (more RGB!!). Alternatively, you can squeeze out “a staggering 1,500 hours with the backlighting off.” (At least your mic can compensate for the lack of backlighting under those conditions.)
The keyboard supports a 2.4GHz wireless connection or up to three Bluetooth connections. It includes hot-swap key switches, magnetic top plates and badges.
The RGB-tastic HyperX QuadCast 2 S gaming mic will be available in November for $200, while the Alloy Rise 75 keyboard launches in October for $230.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/hps-latest-gaming-mic-is-the-las-vegas-casino-of-microphones-100009803.html?src=rss
If you’re looking for an iPad that’s more affordable than cutting-edge, Amazon has the 2021 base model for only $199 as part of its Labor Day sale. Although that’s a generation behind the current version, this model is a solid option for kids, seniors or those wanting a HomeKit-based smart home hub to control things like smart light bulbs and other IoT gear.
The three-year-old model is still a capable tablet for anyone content with forgoing the latest and greatest hardware. The ninth-gen iPad has a 10.2-inch Retina display and Apple’s old home button-based Touch ID sensor. It runs on the A13 Bionic chip, which has a six-core processor, quad-core GPU and octal-core Neural Engine. This isn’t the model to get if you want screaming-fast speeds, the most eye-popping display or the upcoming Apple Intelligence, but it’s hard to nitpick too much about any of that when you look at the price.
Engadget’s 2021 review found this model to be “a modest update” over the previous version. Nathan Ingraham described it as “a fast, lightweight tablet with a nice display and tons of apps, without having to spend too much.” In our battery test, we found that it outperformed Apple’s 10-hour estimate, lasting about 14 hours of video streaming.
This model runs iPadOS 17 and will support iPadOS 18 when it launches this fall. It isn’t known how many annual updates it will be eligible for after that, but the upcoming 2024 software will still run on two hardware generations behind this model, hinting that it may not be approaching the end of the line just yet.
It’s also well-suited for video chat, and its 12MP ultrawide front-facing camera supports Center Stage. Apple’s machine learning-based feature tracks your and anyone else’s faces in the shot, adjusting the call’s framing accordingly through automatic pans and zooms.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this model uses a Lightning connector rather than the USB-C that Apple has shifted its product lineup toward. It includes a charger in the box, but you may want to consider that if you’ve already chucked all your old Lightning cables. On the other hand, some may consider it a bonus that it still includes Apple’s now-defunct headphone jack.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-early-labor-day-sale-discounts-apples-9th-gen-ipad-to-an-all-time-low-of-199-191018429.html?src=rss
Non-subscribers who open the Apple Music app on a new iPhone or iPad typically see an offer for a free month of the service. The trial was once three times as long, but Apple quietly shortened it in early 2022. But now through September 23, anyone new to Apple's music streaming service will get to try it out for free for three months. The deal only applies to first-time subscribers; if you've never succumbed to the music app's temptation, now is as good a time as any to check it out. Just keep in mind that the service will automatically renew for $11 per month after the trial ends. Be sure to cancel if you don't want to pay.
Apple Music has a lot to offer. It's currently our top recommendation in our guide to the best music streaming services. We like its approach to recommendations, balancing a good amount of editorial playlists and stations with algorithmic suggestions. Every song is available at CD-quality or better and lossless streaming doesn't cost extra.
For computer-picked listening, there's a "Discovery Station" that helps you find new music by playing songs you've never streamed before, both from artists you know and others the algorithm thinks you'll like. And, in my experience, saying, "Hey Siri, play me some Apple Music," produces pretty good mix of stuff I like that's novel enough to be interesting, but not so familiar I'm sick of hearing it.
There are a few caveats to note about the service: It's really made for Apple devices, though its available on Android devices too. You won't find podcasts on Apple Music. And, aside from this deal, there's no free version of Apple Music. Pay your $11 monthly or listen elsewhere.
As for the deal, we'll restate that it's only for new subscribers — previous subscribers and even those who've had access to Apple Music through a Family plan aren't eligible. You also have to sign up using the Apple Music app on an iPhone, Mac or iPad running the latest software. An Apple ID is also required. You can read all terms of the deal here.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-music-is-currently-offering-new-subscribers-three-months-free-185834470.html?src=rss
Apple has just given podcasts listeners an improved way to stream shows from its library on any device. Starting today, the version of Apple Podcasts on the web has a look and feature set that more akin to the company's standalone app. Not only is the platform accessible on any device via the web, but you'll get more tools beyond simply playing episodes — even if you don't have desktop or mobile app installed.
Through the web interface that looks similar to what you'd see inside the full app, you'll be able to browse shows, access your library, view top charts, purchase subscriptions and more. Apple Podcasts on the web syncs everything with your Apple account, so play progress, favorite shows and subscriptions remain up to date across devices. If you don't have an Apple log-in, the company says you'll be able to browse and listen, but that's it. Before this, you could listen to podcasts on the web, but you didn't have access to your library or any advanced tools most users want from a service.
Apple says the expanded Podcasts on the web is available in more than 170 countries on "all major web browsers," including Safari, Chrome, Edge and FireFox.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/apple-podcasts-now-has-a-useful-web-interface-for-browsing-and-listening-to-shows-170014285.html?src=rss
The relationship between tech companies and influencers can be murky. A recent post on Threads showed part of the sign-up form to receive Pixel devices for influencers and YouTubers, mandating that signees feature Google’s hardware “in place of any competitor mobile devices” or else “we will need to cease the relationship between the brand and the creator.”
First, our Engadget editors didn’t get this when they signed up for review samples for the four (yes, four) new Pixel phones. It transpired this was for the Team Pixel program, set up by Google to communicate with creators and, it seems, send them devices.
Google responded: “The goal of #TeamPixel is to get Pixel devices into the hands of content creators, not press and tech reviewers. We missed the mark with this new language that appeared in the #TeamPixel form yesterday, and it has been removed.”
It’s not yet clear if these Team Pixel members have received a new agreement, but will the demands remain, just not baked into a Google form or contract? The company is sending devices out so creators can try out (and talk up) the Pixel 9 series — if they don’t, Google may fail to see the point.
Epic has finally brought the Epic Games Store to mobile devices. The app marketplace is now available on iOS in the European Union (after the bloc required Apple to allow third-party app stores on iPhone and iPad) and on Android worldwide. As a result, Fortnite is once again available on iOS without laborious workarounds. The store is bringing Fall Guys to iOS and Android for the first time, with nearly full parity with the console and PC versions, minus the level builder.
Gamescom is Germany’s huge annual gaming trade show. This year, Microsoft has announced a major Xbox presence throughout the event. The first is the opening night livestream, which kicks off on August 20 at 2PM ET. While that stream isn’t Xbox-centric, we’re expecting some relevant news during the keynote. It will be available via the Gamescom YouTube page. Then there are three streams from Xbox, each focusing on a different slate of games.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-google-apologizes-over-its-pixel-influencer-demands-111513252.html?src=rss
Instagram is testing a new profile grid layout that features rectangular images instead of the squares you're used to. In an Instagram story, Adam Mosseri has revealed that the app is testing a vertical grid for users' profiles. He explained that the original square grid was designed back in the day when the app only allowed users to upload square photos. Those days are long gone, and the vast majority of Instagram uploads are apparently vertical, specifically 4 x 3 images and 9 x 16 videos. He called cropping those uploads down to square as "pretty brutal."
When you click on Instagram's video tab, you'll already see a rectangular grid, so the experimental layout won't look terribly unfamiliar. In fact, the test profile looks exactly the same, based on a screenshot that a user posted on Threads, except the grid includes photo posts and not just videos. A spokesperson told The Verge that the test has only rolled out to a small number of users and that the Instagram team will listen to feedback before expanding the redesigned grid's availability.
Based on an old post by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, the app has been working on the new rectangular grid layout since at least 2022. It looks like the test is making its way to more users — and it seems like not everyone's happy about it. Mosseri posted his Story in response to a comment submitted to his "Ask Me Anything" session, pleading for the app not to kill the old layout.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagrams-experimental-profile-grid-has-rectangular-images-instead-of-squares-160007086.html?src=rss
What a week to kick off a new review recap series on Engadget. Google held its Made By Google event on Tuesday, launching the Pixel 9 lineup and the Pixel Watch 3. Since then, though, it's already had to admit to a mistake in one of the forms it had members of Team Pixel sign for access to devices. Coincidentally, that brought up a lot of discourse on social media around what reviewers do, and how they gain access to products.
I'll take this opportunity to point you to our document on our reviews process, which details how and what we test. That includes specific articles on our evaluation process for specific categories like laptops, VPNs and video games, with more to come. You'll find all our reviews by clicking Sections and then Reviews, or on Engadget.com/reviews.
Anyway, I've wanted to write a roundup of the reviews our team publishes for a while now, in part because I want to highlight the work of our smart, hardworking reviewers. It's also a good way to contextualize our scores, remind people of the breadth of devices we cover and, well, I just like writing for fun and seeing my name on things. AI will never take this from me; I will blog from my own brain for as long as I can.
So here you go: Engadget's reviews recap. (ERR, for short. It doesn't quite work, but it works for me, OK?) I'm not committing to a frequency here, because a weekly cadence might be overly ambitious, while monthly would just result in a novel every 30-ish days. Bi-weekly sounds good but I might mix it up, just to keep you on your toes (or, honestly, while I figure things out).
Dyson OnTrac: Too basic for $500
by Billy Steele
Remember the Dyson Zone? The headphones with an air-purifying system and mask built in? The company is back this year with a less gimmicky version that focuses purely on sound. Our audio expert Billy Steele spent weeks with the Dyson Ontrac and found that it outlasts most of the competition. It even beat than Sony’s WH-1000XM5 by about 18 hours in his testing. Dyson had explained in a briefing that with all its experience working to reduce the noise of its other wind-generating products (like hair-dryers), it's learned a lot about how to combat unwanted sound.
But thanks to Billy's experience with pretty much every other pair of headphones out there, I also learned that the Dyson OnTrac's active noise cancellation is only average. As the kids today say, it's mid.
Though these headphones look great and have intriguing hearing health features, ultimately Billy didn't feel they do enough to justify the $500 price, awarding it a pretty mid score of 73. You'll probably find something better from Master & Dynamic, Sony or even Apple.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12: A top-notch business laptop that needs a few tweaks
by Sherri L. Smith
Contributing reporter Sherri L. Smith was once the editor-in-chief at Laptop Magazine, and has years and years of experience reviewing notebooks. So when she says the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 is the king of business laptops, I believe it.
Though she liked the X1 Carbon's display and long-lasting battery, Sherri pointed out that Lenovo's decision to place the power button along the edge instead of on the keyboard deck is a con. She also cautioned that the gap between the ThinkPad X1 Carbon and the competition is a small one that is continually shrinking.
One year with Google's Pixel Fold
by Sam Rutherford
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
This week, the entire Engadget team worked hard to cover Google's hardware launch event, which means less time for writers and editors to publish reviews. Our reviewers are usually involved in hands-on and other launch coverage of the companies whose products they test, and though these aren't full reviews, I consider them relevant for this roundup.
Sam Rutherford, our reviewer of mobile phones, laptops, gaming PCs and more (he does a lot!), spent time with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold at a Google hands-on session. Sam is one of those people who actually went out and bought himself a Galaxy Fold when the first generation went on sale. That's how deep his love for and, more importantly, firsthand experience of the category runs. To this day, he uses a foldable as his daily driver.
In fact, he's been using Google's original Pixel Fold for a whole year, and took the time to write up a durability report that was published this week. Flexible screens are still fairly fragile components, and early foldables were easily damaged. With the Pixel Fold, Sam was pleasantly surprised that it's held up to life with his rambunctious (and adorable) toddler. It's not only heartening news for those considering buying a foldable device, but also fascinating that technology has come this far this quickly.
On the horizon: Upcoming reviews
Elsewhere on the site, we've published a hands-on with the new Pixel Watch 3, and as the dust from Google's event starts to settle, it'll soon be time to expect full reviews of each new device announced. With the Pixels coming out at various points throughout August and September, people will be getting their hands on them quickly enough, and I expect we'll have reviews of those... soon.
We also continue to test a whole host of Copilot+ PCs (remember those?) from companies like HP, Dell, ASUS and Samsung? Then there's the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is taking a little longer to evaluate considering a lot of its features require longterm testing. Plus, it's almost September, which is when we usually expect Apple to launch new iPhones. There'll be plenty of reviews here soon, so stay tuned.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-dysons-non-weird-headphones-and-lenovos-thinkpad-x1-carbon-140049529.html?src=rss
If you thought Google might be taking a break after unveiling new Pixel 9 devices at its Made By Google event this week, you would be mistaken. A recent post on Threads appears to show part of the sign-up form to receive Pixel devices, and the language in question mandates that signees feature Google's hardware "in place of any competitor mobile devices" or else "we will need to cease the relationship between the brand and the creator."
After some online conversation, it's become clear that this form was sent to members of the Team Pixel program, which is different from the review program for members of the press or media. Engadget falls into the latter category, and I did not see that language in our form, nor have I ever seen language like this in my experience as a reviewer of Google devices. I also want to assure our audience that we would never agree to any stipulation that requires we give positive reviews in exchange for access.
In the meantime, Google has just released a statement saying the wording was a mistake. Kayla Geier, communications manager at Google, said "#TeamPixel is a distinct program, separate from our press and creator reviews programs. The goal of #TeamPixel is to get Pixel devices into the hands of content creators, not press and tech reviewers. We missed the mark with this new language that appeared in the #TeamPixel form yesterday, and it has been removed."
It's not yet clear if #TeamPixel members have received a new agreement and if those who declined on the basis of that stipulation have been given a chance to re-apply.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-acknowledges-it-missed-the-mark-with-onerous-demands-for-pixel-9-influencers-210531821.html?src=rss
It's Friday, which means it's once again time for us to round up all the gadget and tech gear discounts that are catching our eye. Our latest selection includes all-time lows on Sony's still-excellent WH-1000XM4 headphones, both sizes of Apple's latest MacBook Air, the adorable Nintendo Switch Lite, and a handful of wireless earbuds and gaming accessories we recommend in our various buying guides. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still buy today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/take-150-off-a-set-of-sony-noise-canceling-headphones-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-171225186.html?src=rss