Apple has been on a tear this week. The company announced both new iMacs and a refresh to the Mac Mini desktop computer. Buried in the announcement for the Mac Mini, however, is the news that they can be outfitted with the brand-new M4 Pro chip. That’s right. As expected, the M4 Pro has entered the chat.
The big news? The Apple Silicon M4 Pro chip finally brings Thunderbolt 5 support for Macs. Thunderbolt 5 is a major leap forward in cable tech, with a baseline speed of 80 Gbps and support for 120 Gbps. The cables also offer support for dual 6K screens. This is a boon for Mac Mini users in video editing and related fields.
Beyond that, M4 Pro chips bring a host of improvements. Apple says this is currently “the world’s fastest CPU core, delivering the industry’s best single-threaded performance.” The company also boasts of “dramatically faster multithreaded performance.”
There are faster cores and a faster ray-tracing engine when compared to the previous generation. The M4 Pro features a 14-core CPU, with ten performance cores and four efficiency cores. There’s a 16-core neural engine, which the company says is three times faster than the now-ancient M1. The chip includes a 20-core GPU, with dynamic caching.
The M4 Pro chip also supports up to 64GB of unified memory, with 273GB/s of memory bandwidth. Apple says this metric doubles the bandwidth of other AI PC chips, making for “accelerated AI workloads.”
To that end, Apple says the chip will “deliver blazing performance for Apple Intelligence.” It remains to be seen if and when the M4 Pro will show up in other products, like laptops. The M3 Pro began appearing in last year’s MacBook Pro laptops, so there’s a strong chance that could also happen this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apple-introduces-the-m4-pro-chip-which-finally-brings-thunderbolt-5-support-150549096.html?src=rss
You can likely trace the start of the small computer trend back to the original Mac mini, which debuted in 2005 with a simple pitch: What if desktop, but tiny? Now Apple aims to take that concept even further with its latest Mac mini, a five-inch by five-inch box measuring a mere two inches tall, that can tackle some serious workloads. And while we expected it to include Apple's M4 chip, it can also be configured with an even more powerful M4 Pro model, which is also being announced today. Take that hardware together with a standard 16GB of RAM (just like the new M4 iMac), and you've got a pretty compelling Mac mini starting at $599 ($499 for education customers).
Why, exactly, did Apple shrink down the Mac mini? It's not as if the previous case, which has been around for years, was very large (it measures 7.75-inches by 7.75-inches, and it's 1.41-inches thick). When I reviewed the the M2 Mac mini early last year, I was still impressed by how slim and sleek it looked, especially compared to small form factor Windows systems. But by trimming down its footprint (at the expense of making it a bit taller), Apple can once again portray the Mac mini as an object of desire.
You may not need it, but one look at its diminutive frame, and you might start finding reasons to give it a loving home.
Apple
Apple claims the M4 chip makes the new Mac mini up to 1.8 times faster than the M1 version, and up to 2.2 times faster when it comes to graphics. (The fact that Apple isn't directly comparing it to the M2 model makes it clear this isn't a major year-over-year upgrade.) While the M4 chip tops out at 10 cores, the M4 Pro reaches up to 14 cores (10 performance and 2 efficiency cores). It also features a 20 core GPU, double the amount in the base M4 chip. M4 Pro delivers Thunderbolt 5 connectivity for the first time on a Mac, which offers up to three times the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3, as well as up to 64GB of RAM. There's also 273 GBps of memory bandwidth, which should be a huge help for AI processing.
Given that Apple Intelligence officially launched this week with the release of iOS 18.1, it's also a major selling point for the new Mac mini. The M4 chip sports 38 TOPS (tera operations per second) of AI processing power, while the M3 topped out at 18 TOPS. While Apple hasn't said this directly, I'd bet AI is also a major reason why the Mac Mini now starts with 16GB of RAM. Apple Intelligence requires at least 8GB of RAM to function, but the company has admitted that may not be enough to run Xcode 16's AI features. As always, having more RAM is better for future proofing, especially when you can't add more memory down the line.
Apple has also finally given us a few front ports on the Mac mini, instead of the clean facade of the last few models. There are two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm jack up front, which will make it far easier to plug in jump drives and headphones. On the back, you'll find another three Thunderbolt USB-C ports, HDMI, and Ethernet. While it would be nice to see an integrated SD card reader, Apple currently reserves that for the more expensive Mac Studio.
Apple
You can preorder the new M4 Mac mini today starting at $599 ($499 for education customers), and it'll be available in stores on November 9th. The M4 Pro model, meanwhile, starts at $1,399 ($1,299 for schools). That price difference may seem high, but it's the same as it was for the M2 models. And as we saw from our M2 Mac mini review, it certainly held its own against other pricey desktops.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apples-redesigned-mac-mini-is-a-tiny-beast-with-m4-and-m4-pro-chips-150016484.html?src=rss
The biggest audio announcement at Apple’s iPhone event last month wasn’t the AirPods 4. Instead, the milestone news was the company’s plan to introduce a robust suite of hearing health features for the AirPods Pro 2 alongside iOS 18. Apple’s three-prong approach includes prevention, awareness and assistance with hearing protection, hearing test and hearing aid tools available directly on an iPhone.
People have been eagerly anticipating these hearing health features since Apple announced them in early September. I’ve had numerous friends and family members who aren’t regular Apple users inquire about the hearing test and hearing aid features specifically. The tools have the potential to put a wealth of information, and possibly life-changing assistance, in the pockets of people all over the world. Users will get help for a stigmatized condition without even having to set foot in a doctor’s office.
Just days after the big announcement in September, the FDA approved Apple’s hearing test and hearing aid features. Under the guidelines set forth in its 2022 decision, the FDA allows adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss to obtain hearing assistive devices without a prescription or professional consultation. Apple describes its software-based test as “clinically validated,” one that was developed with 150,000 real-world audiograms and millions of simulations, and the FDA clearly agrees.
Apple has released the entire suite of hearing health tools this week with iOS 18.1 and a firmware update to AirPods Pro 2. I’ve spent a week with them, and I can definitively say that this upgrade will be a game changer for earbuds, but not in the way that you’d expect.
Hearing protection
Billy Steele for Engadget
Even if you don’t take Apple’s hearing test, and even if you don’t have hearing loss, the hearing protection feature on AirPods Pro 2 provides a significant benefit. It helps maintain your current level of hearing health with robust protection in certain loud environments. You could absolutely use it without ever taking the hearing test.
Although Apple discussed the potential of AirPods Pro as ear protection from loud noise at launch (specifically the Loud Noise Reduction feature), the company never officially recommended the earbuds for extended use for that purpose. That’s because AirPods Pro weren’t certified as meeting certain safety standards. What’s more, Apple improved the algorithms that reduce the effect of loud noise (attenuation) while maintaining the sound signature with this new firmware update.
I’ve used the AirPods Pro 2 at concerts since their release, employing Transparency mode to cleanly reduce sound to a safer level with minimal sacrifice to overall audio quality. In an age when ear plugs with various filters are a thing, AirPods Pro 2 now officially offer a high-fidelity concert experience that won’t kill the vibe of the show by muffling the band. Since you’re more likely to always have them when you leave the house, you won’t have to remember to grab that pair of Loops or SoundProtex Plus plugs before the show. What’s more, Apple says you can use hearing protection on AirPods Pro 2 for things like subway commutes, lawn-mowing and sporting events.
There are certain sounds that Hearing Protection isn’t recommended for – mostly extremely loud impulse noises like gunfire, fireworks or jackhammers. Apple also explains that the feature shouldn’t be used for sustained sound that’s louder than 110 dBA (A-weighted decibel). On the other end of the spectrum, the company says the AirPods Pro 2 can provide up to 10 dB of passive noise reduction when they aren’t even turned on.
Apple
Hearing Protection can be applied across transparency, Adaptive and noise-canceling modes on the AirPods Pro 2. As you can see in the chart above, the latter two provide the best protection, lowering environmental noise by up to 30 dB. Those two modes also extend the exposure time limit. As a reminder, Adaptive Audio on the AirPods Pro 2 lets you select the blend of active noise cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode that best matches your surroundings.
In my tests with the new hearing protection tools, transparency mode still offers the clearest sound here, but for certain genres, like chaotic heavy metal, ANC mode actually provided more details in the live guitars. I can’t tell a difference in Apple’s revised algorithms in transparency mode for concerts versus when I used the AirPods Pro 2 at a show last month, but it already sounded great before. I used the Noise app on Apple Watch to confirm the venue sound was at 100 dB, with transparency mode reducing my exposure to 86 dB and noise-canceling mode taking it down to a safer 74 dB – all of which is in line with Apple’s stated ratings.
As a reminder, the effectiveness of hearing protection relies on how well the AirPods Pro 2 fit in your ears. You’ll want to make sure that you have a good seal with properly sized ear tips, which can be validated via the fit test in the AirPods settings.
Hearing test
Billy Steele for Engadget
Apple’s hearing aid tool is likely to get the most attention, but I’d argue it’s the hearing test that’s the most important piece. I don’t know about you, but I can’t recall the last time I had a hearing test with an audiologist. It has been at least a decade, and most likely longer than that. It’s not something adults think about unless they notice potential hearing loss or someone else picks up on the cues. Since 1.5 billion people globally experience some degree of hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization, Apple’s tool will provide more awareness of the condition in a quick, easy and private way.
According to the company, the hearing test should take about five minutes. During my sessions, it took around seven minutes, which means the software may have repeated some tones I missed along the way. Once iOS 18.1 is installed and your AirPods Pro 2 have been updated, you’ll see the hearing test in the AirPods settings and in Apple Health. You’ll need to confirm that you’re 18 or older, that you aren’t experiencing any allergy or cold symptoms and that you haven’t been in a loud environment in the last 24 hours in order to proceed.
Before the test begins, the iPhone/earbuds duo will check your surroundings to make sure you’re in a quiet space and to ensure that the AirPods Pro fit properly in your ears. When the test begins, Do Not Disturb and ANC will be enabled and you’ll simply tap the screen when you hear tones. The software will test your left ear first before moving over to the right.
The test is as easy to complete as Apple describes, and as promised, you immediately get your results when it’s finished. I’ll admit that I was concerned about what I might discover about my hearing health since I didn’t always wear ear plugs at loud concerts in college and I was in a band long before in-ear monitors were widely available. Thankfully, Apple’s hearing test determined that I have little to no hearing loss, with numbers well under the 25 dBHL threshold. The test showed slightly more hearing loss in my left ear than my right, but still nothing to be concerned about. Even though I showed little to no hearing loss, the test still offers tips on healthy habits and clearly states that the current AirPods Pro tuning is correct based on the results. Here’s how the classifications shake out:
Little to No Loss: Up to 25 dBHL
Mild Loss: 26 - 40 dBHL
Moderate Loss: 41 - 60 dBHL
Severe Loss: 61 - 80 dBHL
Profound Loss Above: 80 dBHL (the test can’t measure anything above 85 dbHL)
No matter how much hearing loss the test detects, you’ll still get a detailed graph in Apple Health that shows how you fared with each frequency. Here, I was able to see that I do have some issues hearing high-frequency sounds, but not enough to indicate mild hearing loss. What’s more, Apple Health displays a list of test results, so you can quickly see how your hearing changes over time (Apple recommends you retest at least every 12 months). And when you need them, PDFs of individual tests are available for export.
I had some anxiety the first time I took the test. That probably had more to do with the fact that it had been so long since I’d done anything like this, and since I’m in my 40s, I’m now hyper-aware of ailments that could be coming my way. I also spend a lot of time testing earbuds, headphones and speakers, plus I’m a big fan of live music. So, my lifestyle could’ve easily led to different results.
Hearing aid
Apple
If the hearing test determines that you have mild to moderate hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 2 can now function as a clinical-grade hearing aid. You can also upload an audiogram to Apple Health if you have one from an audiologist. But in either cases, hearing aid will only be available to people who are 18 or older and you can’t turn it on without the required test results. If Apple’s test shows severe or profound hearing loss, AirPods Pro 2 won’t provide sufficient amplification and the software will offer guidance on how to proceed with a professional consultation.
Once you have the appropriate results, the hearing aid mode will be available under Hearing Assistance in the Hearing Health section of the AirPods Pro settings. Apple explains that it can take time to acclimate to the hearing aid feature, and while this should only take a few days, it could also require a few weeks. The company is clear that consistent use is paramount to the adjustment period. What’s more, once the hearing aid is set up on AirPods Pro 2, that hearing profile is embedded on the earbuds and you’ll be able to use it without having your iPhone nearby. However, Apple says you shouldn’t share the earbuds with anyone once hearing aid is enabled due to the personalized frequency adjustments.
Crucially, the hearing aid feature is customizable as Apple allows adjustments for amplification, tone and balance so that you can fine-tune the assistance based on your needs. These settings are accessible at any time on your iPhone, iPad and Mac, either from the AirPods menu or from Control Center. With an Apple Watch, you’ll have the ability to adjust Amplification, and the volume slider on the AirPods Pro 2’s stems will also control amplification when hearing aid mode is active. There’s also a Media Assist tool that will augment the sound of music, calls and video based on your hearing test results. Plus, the existing Conversation Boost feature on the AirPods Pro 2 will still be available.
Hearing aid will only be active when Noise Control is set to transparency mode. If you turn it off, or switch to Adaptive or noise cancellation, the assistive feature will still be enabled but it won’t be active. Hearing protection and hearing aid can be used simultaneously in transparency mode, where the former is turned on by default. You can turn hearing aid mode off entirely in the Hearing Assistance section at any time.
Lastly, Apple says you can expect the hearing aid feature to run for up to six hours on a charge. A quick five-minute top-up will give you an hour of use and the AirPods Pro 2 will fill up completely in 60 minutes. Since this isn’t enough to get you through a full day, the company recommends that you put the earbuds in their case when showering, sleeping or completing tasks where hearing assistance isn’t needed.
AirPods all the time
Depending on your personal preferences, you may have strong feelings about people who wear earbuds all day long. You may think it's rude to speak to someone when you have earbuds in your ears, or you might feel awkward trying to have a conversation with someone who’s wearing them. Transparency mode has existed for a while now, and not just on AirPods, so there’s a good chance those folks have been listening to you and not trying to drown you out with Chappell Roan.
Now that AirPods Pro 2 can double as hearing aids, we’ll all have to get used to seeing people wearing them all the time. And we’ll also have to get used to people wearing them at concerts, which I’ll admit still seems weird – and I’ve done it. I think I’ve only ever seen two other people using AirPods Pro for concert hearing protection, but that number is sure to increase dramatically over the coming months.
From now on, people may not be rude or want to put off a “don’t bother me” vibe, they could be protecting their hearing or using AirPods Pro to help them hear better. If someone doesn’t want to wear a clinical-looking hearing aid due to the stigma around them, they may be more likely to wear earbuds that offer the same benefit – especially if they already own a pair.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-hearing-health-tools-could-normalize-wearing-earbuds-everywhere-140054858.html?src=rss
Getting a really great tablet for an affordable price is quite an achievement. That's why we're excited to see that Amazon's Fire Max 11 tablet is currently on sale for $140, down from $230 — a 39 percent discount. The deal brings this 64GB tablet back to its all-time low price, previously seen during October Prime Day.
Amazon released the Fire Max 11 tablet in 2023 and we were immediately impressed with how much it offered for the price (especially now that it's discounted). It has slimmer bezels and a nice aluminum build, along with being just over a pound. Its 11-inch screen has a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution and is low blue light certified. Plus, it has a fingerprint sensor in the power button and supports Wi-Fi 6.
It's worth noting that this model comes with lockscreen ads. If that's a deal breaker then check out the sale on the 64GB version that is ad-free. Right now, it's 36 percent off, dropping to $155, from $245. You can even upgrade to the 128GB model without lockscreen ads for just $5, with a 43 percent discount dropping its price to $160 from $280.
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/deals/amazons-fire-max-11-tablet-returns-to-a-record-low-price-131516001.html?src=rss
It’s easy to give into cynicism writing about tech. There are so many underwhelming announcements and iterative improvements. Companies toss the letters AI around like it’s a magic elixir sent down from the Gods. The layoffs are harsh. Sometimes, though, you find something simple, useful and fun that forces optimism. That’s where I’m at with the Vizio MicMe. It’s a soundbar that doubles as a karaoke machine. That’s a neat idea, right?
The MicMe is being advertised as a “two-in-one soundbar system” that totally eliminates the need for a clunky standalone karaoke speaker. It’s a legitimate 2.1 soundbar, complete with a subwoofer. It’ll get the job done with regard to endless streams of Agatha All Along or Nobody Wants This.
Vizio
It also ships with two dynamic wireless microphones, and that’s where the karaoke magic comes in. The company says that the soundbar enters karaoke mode when one of the microphones is removed from the charging dock, without the user having to fiddle with anything. There is, however, an affiliated mobile app for making sound adjustments. This app also allows access to six different vocal effects.
Each microphone boasts eight hours of battery life per charge, which means a solid 8PM to 4AM karaoke session. Vizio says MicMe will have access to 80,000 songs via the proprietary app. It also integrates with many standalone karaoke apps, like Stingray. There should be no shortage of songs to ruin or master.
The soundbar hybrid is compatible with Vizio’s QuickFit technology, which allows it to attach to the company’s TVs without any tools. It’s also fully compatible with any smart TV with eARC. The MicMe costs $350. You can order one now but it won’t ship until the end of November.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/vizio-just-announced-a-soundbar-that-doubles-as-a-karaoke-machine-130016592.html?src=rss
Apple Intelligence, the company’s all-encompassing branding for its AI tools, features and curios, is finally here. Did you think Apple launched this ages ago? It was announced in June, and drip fed to beta testers, first in the developer preview, then the open preview.
It was even a big part of the iPhone 16 sales pitch at launch, but Apple’s newest phones lacked those AI features — until now. Arriving as part of Apple’s updates to iOS, iPadOS and macOS, it’s not everything teased at WWDC (no making your own emojis for now), but it’s a tract of new features showing how the company is tackling AI in its software.
As well as new proofreading and rewriting tools, there’s live transcription for phone calls and Notes’ audio recordings. Apple Intelligence also adds text summaries for websites, emails and all those transcriptions. There’s also my personal favorite: notification summaries.
We’ll be taking a closer look at what Apple Intelligence is capable of, but broadly (and from our experience testing the preview builds), the additions won’t change your smartphone life. Some of them are very useful, while others, like photo editing, fall behind rivals like Google and Samsung.
In time for those new features, Apple’s new iMac includes new colorways and the latest Apple silicon. The new model has the same display and design as previous models, but there’s a new nano-texture glass screen option for a proper splurge. Apple says the M4 inside the new iMac makes the computer 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and up to 2.1 faster for more demanding tasks (i.e. gaming and photo editing) than the M1-powered iteration. The M4 iMac will be available on November 8, starting at the same $1,299 as its predecessor.
Netflix is rolling out a new feature called Moments, which lets you save, share and rewatch certain scenes from shows and movies. For now, it’s mobile only, starting on Netflix’s iOS app and coming to Android in the next few weeks. Netflix says episodes and films will start playing from bookmarked scenes when you rewatch them, with an array of share buttons for messaging and social media apps. It’s perfectly timed for my recent binging of Kath and Kim. All four series, done.
Google is selling refurbished Pixel 6, Pixel 6A and Pixel 7 handsets directly through the Google Store. Discounts are up to 40 percent compared to new models, but we are on Pixel 9 now, so there are no brand new Pixel 6s on sale, at least not from Google. Prices start at $339 for the Pixel 6.
The next time you visit your local Apple Store, you might see Form’s Smart Swim 2 goggles in the accessory section. Starting November 5, Apple will begin stocking the $249 wearable at 20 of its retail locations across the US and Canada. That same day, the goggles will also go on sale on the company’s website, with availability there extending to the UK. In addition to home delivery, select Apple Store locations will offer in-store pickup.
"With Apple's knowledgeable staff, we know the experience presenting our goggles will be exceptional. As a must-have fitness tech product, we're excited to showcase Form at Apple,” said Form founder and CEO Dan Eisenhardt.
Form debuted Smart Swim 2 at the start of April. Building on its original smart goggles, the company integrated a heart rate sensor, and improved comfort and adjustability. It also managed to reduce the size of the “tech pack,” the component that houses all of the device’s electronics. The company continues to sell its original Smart Swim goggles for $179, and they remain a great bargain; they include Form’s signature SwimStraight feature, which displays a digital compass inside the goggles to assist with open water navigation. However, if you want those, you’ll need to order them from the company’s website.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/froms-smart-swim-2-goggles-will-be-available-to-buy-at-select-apple-stores-soon-100004858.html?src=rss
Microsoft is accusing Google of funding a proxy campaign designed to discredit it in the eyes of regulatory authorities and policymakers in the European Union and beyond. In a blog post penned by Rima Alaily, the company’s deputy general counsel, Microsoft claims the search giant has gone to “great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding and control” of the Open Cloud Coalition, a group of “cloud service providers, industry leaders and stakeholders” that says it’s committed to advocating for a “fair, competitive, and open cloud services industry across the UK and EU.”
According to Microsoft, Google hired a lobbying agency in Europe to create and operate the organization, and recruited “a handful of” European cloud providers to appear as the public face of the soon-to-launch campaign. The company says that Google plans to “present itself as a backseat member” of the Open Cloud Coalition, rather than its leader and primary funder. As one example, Microsoft points to a recruitment document (PDF link) that makes no mention of the group’s claimed affiliation to Google. It also notes the involvement of Nicky Steward, who co-wrote a complaint against Microsoft and Amazon Web Services as part of the UK’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the cloud services market.
“It remains to be seen what Google offered smaller companies to join, either in terms of cash or discounts,” Microsoft says. It adds that one of the cloud providers Google approached about joining the Open Cloud Coalition claims that the company will direct the group to attack “Microsoft’s cloud computing business in the European Union and the United Kingdom.”
Engadget was unable to independently verify Microsoft’s claims.
"We’ve been very public about our concerns with Microsoft’s cloud licensing. We and many others believe that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices lock-in customers and create negative downstream effects that impact cybersecurity, innovation, and choice,” a Google spokesperson told Engadget, and pointed us to fourseparateblogposts on the matter.
As for why Google would potentially go to the extraordinary lengths of funding an astroturf campaign, Microsoft points to the recent uptick in regulatory scrutiny of the company’s search, advertising and mobile app store businesses. By Microsoft’s count, Google faces at least 24 antitrust investigations globally, including a Department of Justice probe that could see the potential break up of the company.
“Never in the past two decades have Google’s search, digital advertising, and mobile app store monopolies faced such a concerted and determined threat as they do today.” Alaily writes. “At a time when Google should be focused on addressing legitimate questions about its business, it is instead turning its vast resources towards tearing down others. It is disappointing that, with the foundation of their business facing jeopardy, they have sought to bolster their cloud computing service – Google Cloud Platform – by attacking ours.”
The accusations come after Google had reportedly attempted to derail an antitrust settlement Microsoft had negotiated with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE). In July, Bloomberg wrote that Google had offered the group €470 million to go forward with litigation against its rival, an overture CISPE ultimately rejected.
As revenue growth from digital ads has slowed for Google in recent years, the company has increasingly turned to the cloud market to pick up the slack. In 2023, Google’s cloud business broke even for the first time. More recently, the unit generated a $900 million profit in the first quarter of this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-accuses-google-of-secretly-funding-regulatory-astroturf-campaign-203804594.html?src=rss
Microsoft is accusing Google of funding a proxy campaign designed to discredit it in the eyes of regulatory authorities and policymakers in the European Union and beyond. In a blog post penned by Rima Alaily, the company’s deputy general counsel, Microsoft claims the search giant has gone to “great lengths to obfuscate its involvement, funding and control” of the Open Cloud Coalition, a group of “cloud service providers, industry leaders and stakeholders” that says it’s committed to advocating for a “fair, competitive, and open cloud services industry across the UK and EU.”
According to Microsoft, Google hired a lobbying agency in Europe to create and operate the organization, and recruited “a handful of” European cloud providers to appear as the public face of the soon-to-launch campaign. The company says that Google plans to “present itself as a backseat member” of the Open Cloud Coalition, rather than its leader and primary funder. As one example, Microsoft points to a recruitment document (PDF link) that makes no mention of the group’s claimed affiliation to Google. It also notes the involvement of Nicky Steward, who co-wrote a complaint against Microsoft and Amazon Web Services as part of the UK’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the cloud services market.
“It remains to be seen what Google offered smaller companies to join, either in terms of cash or discounts,” Microsoft says. It adds that one of the cloud providers Google approached about joining the Open Cloud Coalition claims that the company will direct the group to attack “Microsoft’s cloud computing business in the European Union and the United Kingdom.”
Engadget was unable to independently verify Microsoft’s claims.
"We’ve been very public about our concerns with Microsoft’s cloud licensing. We and many others believe that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices lock-in customers and create negative downstream effects that impact cybersecurity, innovation, and choice,” a Google spokesperson told Engadget, and pointed us to fourseparateblogposts on the matter.
As for why Google would potentially go to the extraordinary lengths of funding an astroturf campaign, Microsoft points to the recent uptick in regulatory scrutiny of the company’s search, advertising and mobile app store businesses. By Microsoft’s count, Google faces at least 24 antitrust investigations globally, including a Department of Justice probe that could see the potential break up of the company.
“Never in the past two decades have Google’s search, digital advertising, and mobile app store monopolies faced such a concerted and determined threat as they do today.” Alaily writes. “At a time when Google should be focused on addressing legitimate questions about its business, it is instead turning its vast resources towards tearing down others. It is disappointing that, with the foundation of their business facing jeopardy, they have sought to bolster their cloud computing service – Google Cloud Platform – by attacking ours.”
The accusations come after Google had reportedly attempted to derail an antitrust settlement Microsoft had negotiated with the Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe (CISPE). In July, Bloomberg wrote that Google had offered the group €470 million to go forward with litigation against its rival, an overture CISPE ultimately rejected.
As revenue growth from digital ads has slowed for Google in recent years, the company has increasingly turned to the cloud market to pick up the slack. In 2023, Google’s cloud business broke even for the first time. More recently, the unit generated a $900 million profit in the first quarter of this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-accuses-google-of-secretly-funding-regulatory-astroturf-campaign-203804594.html?src=rss
You’re about to get another shot if you missed Sony’s brief pre-order window for its 30th anniversary PS5 console. The retro-themed hardware sold out in a flash on its initial September 26 pre-order period, leaving fans fuming at Sony’s predictably frustrating order process. An alert on Sony’s product page (viaKotaku) says the second go-round will happen on Tuesday, October 29, at noon ET.
The limited-edition consoles and accessories have a throwback skin reminiscent of the OG PlayStation, which launched in Japan in 1994. That includes a sleek gray color scheme that gives the old-school Playstation logo room to really pop.
Assuming only the Slim bundle is available, this will be your second (and perhaps last) chance to get the cheaper of the two consoles. It includes the digital (no disc drive!) PS5 Slim, a standard DualSense controller (also themed for the occasion), a retro cable connector housing, PlayStation-shaped cable ties and a vertical stand. Oh, and there are some extra goodies like a sticker, poster and PlayStation paperclip, which we can only imagine will be sold for three figures on eBay after the bundle arrives on November 21.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/youll-get-another-chance-to-pre-order-the-retro-themed-ps5-on-tuesday-202504921.html?src=rss