We've finally had a chance to try the PlayStation 5 Pro and Engadget's Jessica Conditt has come away impressed. In this episode, Devindra and Jess chat about what the PS5 Pro does well, and discuss who a $700 console is actually meant for. Also, coming off of Meta Connect 2024, Karissa Bell joins to chat about her time with the Quest 3S, as well as her thoughts about Meta's Orion AR headset and AI plans.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
Jessica Conditt’s PS5 Pro hands on: 60fps makes so much difference – 0:42
Karissa Bell’s dispatch from Meta Connect 2024 – 27:04
Meta Quest 3S: an impressive and affordable step forward in consumer VR – 28:55
Orion AR glasses are a big swing, just don’t expect to buy them any time soon – 32:50
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses – 38:28
Pop culture picks – 58:24
Livestream
Credits
Host: Devindra Hardawar Guests: Jessica Conditt and Karissa Bell Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/engadget-podcast-ps5-pro-hands-on-and-metas-wild-orion-ar-glasses-133029580.html?src=rss
With macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, Apple has a handy new way to hop between devices while on desktop. iPhone Mirroring shows your phone’s screen on your computer; you can even use your mouse and keyboard to interact with it. Here’s how to set up and get the most out of iPhone Mirroring.
Requirements
First, iPhone Mirroring has several conditions. It only works with Apple Silicon Macs (late 2020 and later) or Intel-based models with the Apple T2 Security Chip (2018 to 2020). Of course, you’ll need to install macOS Sequoia first to use the feature. Any iPhone running iOS 18 will do.
The feature only works when your iPhone is locked (it’s okay if it’s charging or using Standby). If you unlock your iPhone while using iPhone Mirroring, the feature will temporarily disconnect.
Both devices also need Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, and you’ll have to sign with your Apple Account on each. Your account needs two-factor authentication (using a trusted device or phone number) activated. The feature won’t work if your phone’s Personal Hotspot is active or you’re using AirPlay, Sidecar or internet sharing on your Mac.
How to set up iPhone Mirroring
Screenshot by Will Shanklin for Engadget
Open the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac. It should already be in your Dock (see the screenshot above), but you can also find it in your Applications folder.
The app starts with a welcome screen. Tap “Continue,” then follow the prompt to unlock your iPhone.
Next, approve iPhone notifications on your Mac. This feature shows your handset’s alerts in your Mac’s Notification Center. (When you click an iOS alert on your Mac, it will open the corresponding app in the iPhone Mirroring app.) iPhone notifications on your Mac work even when the iPhone Mirroring app is closed or inactive, or if your phone isn’t nearby.
After approving notifications, a final screen will confirm that iPhone Mirroring is ready. Click the “Get Started” button to start. Once it loads, you’ll see your iPhone’s screen.
Using iPhone Mirroring
First, you may want to resize the iPhone Mirroring app. Apple only gives you three options: actual size, smaller and larger. You can change them using keyboard shortcuts: larger (Cmd +), actual size (Cmd 0) and smaller (Cmd -). You can also resize the window in your Mac’s menu bar under the View section. Dragging the edges of the window to resize it (like with other macOS apps) won’t work here.
In most cases, interacting with your virtual iPhone on your Mac is as simple as mimicking its usual touch gestures with your trackpad and typing in text fields using your Mac’s keyboard.
Screenshot by Will Shanklin for Engadget
Swipe-based gestures for Home, App Switcher and Control Center won’t work on Mac, but they have shortcuts. If you move your pointer to the top of the iPhone Mirroring window, a new area will appear, revealing buttons for the iOS Home Screen (left) and the App Switcher (right). (See the screenshot above.) This area also lets you click-hold and drag the app to reposition it.
You can also go to the Home Screen by clicking on the horizontal bar at the bottom of the app’s window or using the Cmd 1 keyboard shortcut. In addition, Cmd 2 activates the App Switcher, and Cmd 3 triggers a Spotlight search. Or, swipe down with two fingers on your Mac’s trackpad from the iPhone Home Screen (in the Mac app) for Spotlight.
There’s no way to activate the iOS Control Center from your Mac. You also can’t manually change the orientation of the virtual iPhone screen, but it will rotate automatically if you launch a game that starts by default in landscape mode:
Screenshot by Will Shanklin for Engadget
iPhone audio will play on your Mac while using the feature. Some iPhone videos will play in the iPhone Mirroring window, too. However, copyrighted content will be restricted in some cases, so some videos will only be viewable through corresponding macOS apps or desktop browser windows.
Apple’s Universal Clipboard can be useful while using iPhone Mirroring. Copy something on your virtual iPhone, and you can paste it on your Mac, and vice versa. You can also use AirDrop to transfer files between the two devices while using iPhone Mirroring.
iPhone Mirroring will time out if you don’t use the virtual phone for a while. Ditto for if you move your handset away from your computer. If it times out, just follow the app’s prompt to reconnect.
iPhone Mirroring login settings
Screenshot by Will Shanklin for Engadget
You can choose whether to require authentication every time you use iPhone Mirroring. In the Mac app, choose iPhone Mirroring > Settings in the menu bar (or type Cmd space), and you’ll see a barebones settings screen.
You can choose “Ask Every Time” or “Authenticate Automatically.” The former requires your Mac login password, Touch ID or Apple Watch confirmation to use your virtual iPhone on your desktop. Meanwhile, the latter will log into your phone automatically without authenticating each time.
You can also reset iPhone access in this settings screen. This removes your entire setup, and you’ll need to start the process from scratch the next time you open the iPhone Mirroring app.
If you have more than one iPhone tied to your Apple Account, you can choose which one to use with iPhone Mirroring under Settings > Desktop & Dock on your Mac. If this applies to you, you’ll see the option under the “Use iPhone widgets” section. (If you only have one iPhone under your Apple Account, this option won’t appear.)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-mirror-your-iphone-on-macos-sequoia-130003743.html?src=rss
Intel's fortunes have declined so rapidly over the past year that chip designer ARM made a "high level inquiry" about buying its crown jewel product unit, Bloomberg reported. However, Intel said the division wasn't for sale and turned down the offer, according to an unnamed insider.
There are two main units inside Intel, the product group that sells PC, server and networking chips and a chip manufacturing foundry. ARM had no interest in Intel's foundry division, according to Bloomberg's sources. ARM and Intel representatives declined to comment.
Intel's fortunes have been on the wane for years, but the decline over the last 12 months has been especially dramatic. Following a net $1.6 billion loss in Q2 2024, the company announced that it was laying off 15,000 employees as part of a $10 billion cost reduction plan. Last week, the company also revealed plans to transform its ailing foundry business into an independent subsidiary. Intel lost half its market value last year and is now worth $102.3 billion.
ARM sells its processor designs to Qualcomm, Apple and other manufacturers (mostly for mobile phones) but doesn't build any chips itself. Purchasing Intel's product division would completely transform its business model, though that scenario seems highly improbable.
With Intel wounded at the moment, rivals have been circling. Qualcomm also expressed interest in taking over Intel recently, according to a report from last week. Any mergers related to ARM and Qualcomm would be regulatory nightmares, but the fact that the offers exist at all shows Intel's vulnerability.
Intel has other avenues to boost investment. Apollo Global Management (the owner of Yahoo and Engadget) has offered to invest as much as $5 billion in the company, according to a recent Bloomberg report. Intel also plans to sell part of its stake in chip-maker Altera to private equity investors.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/intel-reportedly-rebuffed-an-offer-from-arm-to-buy-its-product-unit-120044228.html?src=rss
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has officially issued its full recommended fine against political consultant Steve Kramer. This is after he initiated a series of robocalls to New Hampshire residents with pre-recorded audio of President Biden’s voice, using deepfake AI technology. The fake Biden told voters not to vote in the upcoming primary, saying “Your vote makes a difference in November, not this Tuesday.” Kramer must pay $6 million in fines in the next 30 days or the Department of Justice will handle collection, according to a FCC statement.
Kramer doesn’t just face a fine; he also has criminal charges against him. New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announced that he’ll face multiple counts of voter suppression and impersonation of a political candidate.
It wasn’t a hugely difficult process, either. Kramer hired New Orleans magician (an actual magician) Paul Carpenter to make the phony recordings. Carpenter showed NBC News how he made the deepfake audio files using ElevenLabs. He said it only took around 20 minutes.
In a surprise short-notice (and short!) event yesterday, Samsung unveiled new additions to its portfolio of devices, including the Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy Watch FE LTE. The highlight had to be the new Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra tablet. With the Tab S10 series, the company is adding to its flagship S24 phones features like Circle to Search and Sketch to Image. Those features that work with the S Pen on the S24 Ultra, like Handwriting Assist and Note Assist, are here too. While software is the main draw this year, the Tab S10 Ultra has a 120Hz 14.6-inch screen with an anti-reflective finish and a MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor, instead of the usual Qualcomm chip. The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be available starting at $1,200 for the 256GB model — pre-orders are open now and the tablet will launch October 3.
Cheap picks for noise canceling, workouts and more.
It’s now very possible to find a clean-sounding, richly featured pair for well under $100, but there are, unsurprisingly, a lot of bad earbuds too. We’ve pulled in the best buds, including some that even manage to pack in noise cancellation. Expect capable buds from Anker, Jlab and even Amazon.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-a-6-million-fine-for-robocalls-from-fake-biden-111601788.html?src=rss
The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has slapped Meta with a $101.5 million (€91 million) fine after wrapping up an investigation into a security breach in 2019, wherein the company mistakenly stored users' passwords in plain text. Meta's original announcement only talked about how it found some user passwords stored in plain text on its servers in January that year. But a month later, it updated its announcement to reveal that millions of Instagram passwords were also stored in easily readable format.
While Meta didn't say how many accounts were affected, a senior employee told Krebs on Security back then that the incident involved up to 600 million passwords. Some of the passwords had been stored in easily readable format in the company's servers since 2012. They were also reportedly searchable by over 20,000 Facebook employees, though the DPC has clarified in its decision that they were at least not made available to external parties.
The DPC found that Meta violated several GDPR rules related to the breach. It determined that the company failed to "notify the DPC of a personal data breach concerning storage of user passwords in plaintext" without undue delay and failed to "document personal data breaches concerning the storage of user passwords in plaintext." It also said that Meta violated the GDPR by not using appropriate technical measures to ensure the security of users' passwords against unauthorized processing.
"It is widely accepted that user passwords should not be stored in plaintext, considering the risks of abuse that arise from persons accessing such data. It must be borne in mind, that the passwords the subject of consideration in this case, are particularly sensitive, as they would enable access to users’ social media accounts," DPC's Deputy Commissioner, Graham Doyle, said in a statement.
The DPC has also given the company a reprimand in addition to the penalty. We may know more about what that means for Meta exactly when the commission publishes its full final decision and other related information in the future.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-fined-102-million-for-storing-passwords-in-plain-text-110049679.html?src=rss
In a surprise 30-minute event today that could have been an email, Samsung unveiled new additions to its portfolio of devices this year, including the Galaxy S24 FE and the Galaxy Watch FE LTE. The highlight of today's news has to be the new Galaxy Tab S10 tablets, though, since they've long been regarded as the best premium Android tablets around. The Galaxy Tab S10+ and Tab S10 Ultra start at $1,000 and $1,200 respectively (the same price as the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max) and are available for pre-order today before they retail on October 3.
With the Tab S10 series, Samsung proclaims it has brought its Galaxy AI to the category, thus making AI available for all. Features introduced on its flagship S24 phones earlier this year like Circle to Search and Sketch to Image are now supported on the tablets, and those that worked with the S Pen on the S24 Ultra, like Handwriting Assist and Note Assist, are here too. I spent some time with the new hardware and, though it's too early to tell if these updates work well, I can still say these are probably going to remain the best Android tablets around.
When I picked up a Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra at Samsung's event today, I once again marveled at how thin and light it was, despite having already experienced the same feelings with all of Samsung's previous tablets. To recap, the Tab S10 Ultra has a 14.6-inch screen, while the Tab S10+ comes in at 12.4 inches. Both these AMOLED panels have anti-reflective finishes, and the devices are rated IP68 for durability, despite being so satisfyingly slim. They feel like blades you could potentially use to slice very soft sponge cakes with.
I was able to pick up a Tab S10 Ultra with very little effort or muscle strain, and though it's usually difficult to maneuver such a wide screen, the fact that I could easily wield it with one hand made things easier.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
There's not much that's changed compared to the Galaxy Tab S9, other than that the S10 series uses MediaTek's Dimensity 9300+ processors, instead of Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips. I'm not convinced that these chips have the power or energy efficiency to multitask or execute AI tasks efficiently, but that's not something I can determine at a hands-on event.
Samsung's AMOLED panels remain vibrant and bright, providing excellent media consumption experiences. It was hard to gauge how effective the anti-reflective treatment was under the harsh lights set up for the event, but for the most part I found things easy to see.
And though I didn't linger too long on any of the Galaxy AI features on the Tab S10 series, I can tell you I've had fun playing with the very same tools on the S24 flagships we've reviewed throughout the year. Whether it's the S24 Ultra with an S Pen or the Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, Samsung's slate of hardware this year have all received the Galaxy AI suite of writing and photo editing tools. We've already had time to ruminate how useful any of these things really are in the real world, and in general our impressions have been a resounding "meh."
I have been impressed with how Sketch to Image has been able to transform crappy drawings of animals into realistic looking beasts in photos, and Circle to Search is a Google tool that makes it easier to look up items by drawing a ring around them. Many of the other Galaxy AI features, like most generative AI tools today, are only moderately helpful.
We'll need to spend more time with the Tab S10 Ultra, Tab S10+, Galaxy S24 FE and even the Galaxy Watch FE LTE to determine if they're worth spending your money on. But for now, I have to admit that it's nice to see Samsung roll out all its Galaxy AI features across its lineup, resulting in a sense of cohesion and parity even in its lower cost offerings. Apple Intelligence, meanwhile, will require an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, and won't work if you only have an iPhone 15. It's clear we're deep into the generative AI age, and will not be able to avoid them much longer, especially now that they're getting more prevalent across the Android ecosystem.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/galaxy-tab-s10-ultra-hands-on-ai-arrives-on-samsungs-premium-android-tablet-171105485.html?src=rss
If you're a fan of getting flagship-quality features at more affordable prices, Samsung's FE series is meant for you. Today, the company revealed its two latest entries: the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy Watch FE LTE. Both devices pack in tools from the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy Watch, including things like AI-powered photo editing, fitness tracking and more. Additionally, they'll both be available next week, so you won't have to wait long to buy them.
Galaxy S24 FE
Like previous FE devices, the Galaxy S24 FE offers many of the attractive features from the regular S24 at a more affordable price. Starting at $650, the phone packs a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Inside, a Exynos 2400e processor and 8GB RAM run Android 14 and One UI 6.1. Of course, there a number of AI-powered features here, including Circle to Search, Interpreter, Live Translate, Composer and Note Assist. Knox security in onboard once more, as is a 4,700 mAh battery and IP68-rated design.
Cameras are always a big deal on phones and the S24 FE is no exception. The device runs Samsung AI-driven ProVisual Engine to improve low-light performance, zoomed image quality and Super High Dynamic Range (HDR) color optimization. There are also AI features like Generative Edit, Portrait Stuiod, Edit Suggestions and Instant Slow-mo. Stills and video are captured by a 50MP wide and 12MP ultra wide cameras. There's also an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Around front, a 10MP sensor snaps your selfies.
Samsung also says the S24 FE is well-suited for gaming. Thanks to the Exynos processor, the phone offers ray tracing and the 120Hz display has a Vision Booster tool so color and contrast remain "clear and comfortable" outdoors. There's also a larger vapor chamber compared to the S23 FE, which improves overall cooling performance.
The Galaxy S24 FE will be available on October 3 in blue, graphite, gray and mint color options in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage configurations. Pre-orders start today.
Galaxy Watch FE LTE
Samsung already debuted a Galaxy Watch FE this summer, but now the company is back with an LTE version. Starting at $250, this model allows you to call, text and more when you're away from your phone. You'll get a a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display along with fitness and sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring and more — all powered by Wear OS. It's basically a Galaxy Watch 7 with LTE, as my colleague Cherlynn Low describes it.
The Galaxy Watch FE LTE will be available on October 3. Pre-orders start today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-debuts-the-galaxy-s24-fe-and-galaxy-watch-fe-lte-163530908.html?src=rss
Samsung is once again expanding its tablet lineup, and this time, the company is doing so with AI at the forefront. Today, Samsung revealed the Galaxy Tab S10 series, two models that it says are "built with AI enhancements available right out of the box." The 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and 12.4-inch Galaxy Tab S10+ both pack anti-reflective Dynamic AMOLED 2X displays, a quad speaker setup with AI Dialogue Boost and a robust IP68 durability rating. Both tablets will be available next month.
Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
Powered by Android 14, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra's Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and 2960 x 1848 resolution. A MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ processor and either 12GB or 16GB RAM runs the AI tools and other features, which include Circle to Search, Handwriting Assist, Note Assist and Sketch to Image — all done with the included S Pen. The stylus also enables Air Command with AI so that you'll get access to powerful features without having to toggle through a menu. The Tab S10 Ultra can act as a "home AI hub" for all of your SmartThings devices, providing a 3D Map View and Insight Messages to assist with on-going monitoring.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is equipped with 13MP and 8MP ultra wide rear cameras and 12MP and 12MP ultra wide front-facing cameras. It has Wi-Fi 7, 5G and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity and a 11,200 mAh battery. With one click, you can situate the tablet as a second screen and Samsung Knox security is available as well. In addition to the S Pen, the optional accessories include two keyboard covers, a smart book cover and an outdoor cover.
The Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra will be available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver starting at $1,200 for the 256GB model. 512GB and 1TB options will also be on the menu. If you need even more space, a MicroSD slot offers up to 1.5TB. Pre-orders start today.
Galaxy Tab S10+
The spec sheet for the Tab S10+ is almost identical to the Tab S10 Ultra, but there are some key difference. The smaller, 12.4-inch display offers a resolution of 2800 x 1752, but maintains the 120Hz refresh rate. The camera array is also the same on the rear, but the front only carries a 12MP ultra wide sensor. Both storage configurations of the Tab S10+ have 12GB of RAM and this smaller tablet has a smaller 10,090 mAh battery.
The Galaxy Tab S10+ will be available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver starting at $999 for the 256GB model. A 512GB option will also be available and the MicroSD slot is here as well (up to 1.5TB). Pre-orders start today.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/samsungs-galaxy-tab-s10-ultra-and-galaxy-tab-s10-are-tablets-built-for-ai-162633747.html?src=rss
You can now upload YouTube videos and audio files to NotebookLM, an AI-powered summarizing tool for education and research. The update means Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro-powered virtual assistant can now handle Google Docs, PDFs, text files, Google Slides, YouTube video URLs, audio files and web pages. This expands NotebookLM's potential sources to include lecture recordings, informative YouTube content and group discussions. Google claims that it securely stores all information uploaded to NoteBookLM and does not use it to train AI.
Google launched the virtual research assistant in the summer of 2023 and upgraded it to run on Gemini 1.5 Pro this past June. Alongside the AI-powered bump, Google expanded NotebookLM to be available in over 200 countries and territories. Most recently, Google added Audio Overview to NotebookLM. The tool has two AI hosts — hopefully not foreshadowing what hosting will look like in the future — discuss your sources, summarize material and "banter." Google is now adding the ability to share Audio Overviews with others through a public URL.
The irony here is that the reason we'd need an AI to briefly summarize a YouTube video in the first place is because Google incentivized the creation of ever-longer videos.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/notebooklm-can-now-summarize-youtube-videos-160037375.html?src=rss
The iPhone 16 is currently available and, well, these handsets are expensive. Investing in a case is never a bad idea and Apple makes some solid offerings. The company’s silicone MagSafe iPhone 16 cases are on sale via Amazon for $42, which is a discount of 14 percent.
The sale includes eight colorways, so as to better match the hue of the phone itself. As previously mentioned, these cases are made by Apple specifically for the iPhone 16, so the fit will be perfect. It’s made from recycled silicone, with a microfibre lining on the inside for more protection.
This is a MagSafe case, meaning it allows for wireless charging by setting it on a Qi2 or Qi-certified charger. It’s also been designed with the iPhone 16’s camera button in mind. The company says the case includes a “sapphire crystal, coupled to a conductive layer” that communicates finger movements. Translation? All of those neat swipey gestures will still work.
This case is only for the standard iPhone 16. It won’t fit the iPhone 16 Plus, the Pro or the Pro Max. It goes without saying that it also won’t squeeze over any handsets from previous generations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-silicone-magsafe-iphone-16-cases-are-14-percent-off-in-this-early-prime-day-deal-152546345.html?src=rss