Tag Archives: region|US

Balatro is coming to mobile, and it’s going to ruin my life

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Beware: The most addictive game of 2024 is coming to a device that’s always within reach. Balatro, a clever combination of poker, deck-building and roguelikes, will arrive on iOS — as a standalone purchase and Apple Arcade — and Android later this month. (That’s plenty of time to shop for a power bank or battery pack.)

Created by Canadian solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, Balatro (styled as Balatro+ on Apple Arcade) is one of Engadget’s picks for best PC games. It's one of the great indie gaming success stories of 2024.

Unlike poker, Balatro’s spin includes magical tarot cards and unique Jokers that can dramatically alter your hands. For example, one might increase the pool of cards to build your hand from, and another could raise your score if your hand hits a particular sequence. Depending on which Joker you draw, you may be forced to rethink your entire strategy. (But play them strategically because you’re limited to five per hand.)

Its presentation adds to the fun. It includes a synthwave soundtrack, trippy animations and a delightfully retro CRT filter.

If you don’t know much about poker, don’t sweat it. First, poker is only one element of the game — and, even then, it encourages you to break its rules. Balatro also includes tutorials and help pop-ups to make learning the unique deck game (and throwing away all your free time) as easy as possible.

Balatro launched in February on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch (and on macOS in March). It arrives on Android and iOS on September 26. It will be a $10 standalone purchase on either mobile platform or free on Apple devices for Apple Arcade subscribers. Those in the Apple ecosystem can also play it on iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro.

Screenshot from NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition. Recreation of a vintage game with Vince Carter (Raptors era) rising up for a slam as Chris Bosh runs along the left wing.
2K Sports / Apple

NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, which continues the franchise’s mobile-friendly spinoffs for Apple devices, is also coming soon to Apple Arcade. This year’s version adds The Neighborhood, the open-world, skill-building environment first seen in the standard version of NBA 2K18. It also adds a revamped version of Greatest Mode, where you can relive iconic moments from NBA legends, past and present. 2K Sports promises new Great Mode players will be added throughout the season.

NBA 2K Arcade Edition arrives on Apple Arcade on October 3.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-coming-to-mobile-and-its-going-to-ruin-my-life-173039968.html?src=rss

Fubo TV streaming plans are $30 off for the first month right now

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More standard streaming services include live sports now — Sunday Night Football on Peacock, CBS NFL games on Paramount+, Thursday Night Football on Prime Video — but if you want a comprehensive suite of sports channels, plus other live programming and local news, Fubo might be the way to go. It came out on top for sports in our guide to the best live TV streaming services and right now you can get your first month of Fubo's Pro-tier subscription for $50 instead of $80. The Elite with Sports Plus plan is down from $100 to $70 for the first month and the top-level Deluxe package is $80 as opposed to the usual $110. 

Whichever plan you go with, you'll get more sports coverage than a human person can reasonably consume — even the cheapest tier grants access to ESPN and ESPN2, FS1 and FS2, multiple NBC Sports channels, CBS Sports, Fubo's own sports networks and more. The Elite with Sports Plus tier throws in NFL RedZone and about 100 additional channels, and enables 4K streaming quality. And, finally, the Deluxe plan gets you all that plus international sports.  

Fubo makes it easy to record games you want to watch later and every plan comes with unlimited DVR cloud storage with a nine-month expiration for recordings.  

When you're not watching athletic matchups, you can try out the rest of what Fubo offers. When I tested it out for our guide, I found the service to be nicely organized with a clean and easily navigable interface. It really shines at showcasing live content (though browsing through VOD content wasn't quite as breezy). 

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/fubo-tv-streaming-plans-are-30-off-for-the-first-month-right-now-171510242.html?src=rss

Abbott’s OTC glucose monitor is now available in the US

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Health tech company Abbott has been working on a number of biometric wearables for regular consumers. Now, we can get our hands on one. The company just released the Lingo continuous glucose monitor. 

This is an over-the-counter device, so you can just order it without prior approval. However, it’s not intended for diabetics, as it isn't designed for insulin pumps or serious medical alerts. Rather, it’s for curious people who want to keep an eye on their glucose levels. 

Here’s how it works. The biosensor gets stuck to the back of the arm and can stay there for up to 14 days straight. During that time, the device continuously streams glucose data to the affiliated smartphone app. This should, in theory, translate the “body’s reaction to food, exercise and life’s daily stressors.”

The app in action.
Abbott

The app looks particularly robust, providing access to all kinds of related health metrics. There are glucose graphs that update in real time and something called Lingo Count, which displays data related to glucose spikes.

There’s even a place for food and activity logging and the app syncs with Apple Health to automatically track workouts. Once there’s enough information in the system, it’ll provide tailored recommendations and create challenges to encourage healthy habits.

Each Lingo biosensor costs $49, but they only work for two weeks and aren’t reusable. The company is offering combo packs, with two sensors available for $89 and six for $249.

Abbott’s Lingo device isn’t the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor on the market. A company called Dexcom received FDA approval for a similar sensor earlier this year. The company’s Stelo Glucose Biosensor is also $89 for two units, each working for two weeks. 

It's worth noting that there's little evidence to suggest that this type of glucose monitor is actually useful. Additionally, there isn't much to suggest that there's even a meaningful way to "optimize" blood sugar.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/abbotts-otc-glucose-monitor-is-now-available-in-the-us-170036887.html?src=rss

Alleged fraudster got $10 million in royalties using robots to stream AI-made music

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A North Carolina man is facing fraud charges after allegedly uploading hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs to streaming services and using bots to play them billions of times. Michael Smith is said to have received over $10 million in royalties since 2017 via the scheme.

Smith, 52, was arrested on Wednesday. An indictment [PDF] that was unsealed the same day accuses him of using the bots to steal royalty payments from platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Smith has been charged with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York says this is its first criminal case that concerns the use of bots to artificially inflate music streaming numbers. 

Prosecutors accused Smith of creating thousands of bots to stream the songs. At first, he was said to have uploaded his own music to the streaming services, but realized that his catalog wasn't big enough to produce a large sum of royalties. After other efforts didn't pan out, he's said to have turned to AI-generated music in 2018.

According to the indictment, Smith began working with two unnamed co-conspirators — the CEO of an AI music company and a music promoter — to create hundreds of thousands of songs using AI. In exchange for a cut of revenue, the CEO allegedly provided thousands of tracks per week to Smith, who is said to have randomly generated song titles and artist names for the audio files.

Smith is accused of lying to streaming services by providing phony names and other fake account details while setting up the bots, and by agreeing to rules that ban streaming manipulation. According to the indictment, he deceived streaming services by making it seem the bot accounts were legit when in fact they "were hard coded to stream Smith’s music billions of times." Smith allegedly attempted to cover his tracks by using dummy email addresses and VPNs, while telling his co-conspirators to be “undetectable.”

"Michael Smith fraudulently streamed songs created with artificial intelligence billions of times in order to steal royalties," US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. "Through his brazen fraud scheme, Smith stole millions in royalties that should have been paid to musicians, songwriters, and other rights holders whose songs were legitimately streamed."

The case of Smith is in stark contrast to a musician The New York Times profiled earlier this year. Matt Farley has written, recorded and uploaded tens of thousands of songs to streaming services about anything and everything people might search for, from celebrities and marriage proposals to many tunes about poop. Some songs are just a few seconds long, but the practice seems to be entirely above board. He's said to have earned around $200,000 from his music in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/alleged-fraudster-got-10-million-in-royalties-using-robots-to-stream-ai-made-music-162944343.html?src=rss

Google’s Gemini-powered photo search arrives in early access

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Google’s AI-powered Photos upgrades are beginning to trickle in. Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered chatbot that lets you get ultra-specific and conversational with your photo searches, is launching in early access for select users in the US. In addition, the improved search for more descriptive Google Photos queries begins rolling out today for all English-speaking users.

The upgraded search in Google Photos lets you use more descriptive queries. For example, while you could have searched for “lake” before, you can now enter “kayaking on a lake surrounded by mountains.” Or, instead of merely searching for your friend Alice, you can go with “Alice and me laughing.” The idea is to make it easier to narrow things down as our cloud-based photo libraries grow.

Ask Photos, the Google Photos chatbot the company revealed at I/O in May, takes that further. Powered by Gemini, it adds a new tab at the bottom of the Photos app that lets you ask about anything in your library using natural language.

Google provided examples like “Show me the best photo from each national park I’ve visited,” which uses location data to scour your park photos and some subjective robot judgment to determine a favorite. Other examples the company provided include “What did we eat at the hotel in Stanley?” and “Where did we camp last time we went to Yosemite?”

Like other chatbot features, Ask Photos can respond to follow-up prompts. So, if it misses the mark the first time, you can ask it to tweak its parameters and give it another go.

Google says your Photos data will never be used for advertising. Although humans may review queries, they’ll be disconnected from your Google account, so the reviewers won’t know who typed the input. Real people won’t review Ask Google’s answers, including photos or videos, unless you provide feedback or (only in rare cases, according to the company) to address abuse.

If you’re in the US, you can sign up for the waitlist to try to get early access to Ask Photos starting today. Meanwhile, Google Photos’ more descriptive search powers are now beginning to roll out for English-speaking users on Android and iOS.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-powered-photo-search-arrives-in-early-access-160041679.html?src=rss

Panasonic just returned to the US market with new OLED and Mini-LED TVs

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Panasonic TVs have been missing from the US market for over a decade, which is odd because, well, the company makes good stuff. In any event, our national nightmare is over. The Japanese electronics giant just released a bunch of new televisions for US customers.

The releases break down into two lines of OLED displays and another line of Mini-LED TVs. The televisions range in size from 55 to 85 inches and they’ve all been designed and developed in Japan. As expected, all of the TVs boast a 4K resolution, to showcase Panasonic’s “outstanding picture quality.”

Panasonic has also teamed up with Amazon for these displays. Each model comes with Fire TV built in. This partnership likely gave Panasonic an easy way to add an America-friendly UI into the mix, being as how the company’s been missing from these shores for ten years.

A Panasonic TV showing Fire TV.
Panasonic/Amazon

Why come back now? The company says it was “driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.” That’s just corporate mumbo jumbo, but the real reason is likely one word that rhymes with “shmoney.” The US is a huge market.

Though Panasonic’s TVs have been absent for ten years, the company has maintained an active presence in America. It sells a bunch of well-regarded standalone cameras and is building a giant EV battery plant in Kansas.

The company’s new TVs are available to order right now, though it looks like shipments won’t go out until September 16. Prices range from $1,300 to $3,200, depending on the model and size.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/panasonic-just-returned-to-the-us-market-with-new-oled-and-mini-led-tvs-152614684.html?src=rss

Sony’s MDR-M1 studio headphones offer an audio and comfort upgrade over the MDR-7506

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Sony's MDR-7506 headphones have become a go-to option for recording studios and creators. The set of cans are only $100 and they offer crisp, clean sound so you know exactly what your audience is going to hear. Today, the company announced a more robust option for studio headphones, the MDR-M1, that has a slightly updated design, new drivers, wider frequency range and improved bass response. 

Inside, the MDR-M1 packs newly developed drivers capable of frequency response of 5Hz – 80kHz. Sony explains that this ultra-wide range is crucial for things like subtle details in various recorded sound sources (Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio especially). More specifically, the drivers here have a soft edge for those super low frequencies and a hard dome shape for accurate reproduction in the ultra-high range. There's also a "tuned port" on the outside of the ear cups, or Beat Response Control as Sony calls it, that provides the ventilation needed for improved low frequency control. That component works in tandem with an optimized diaphragm for "very tight bass response," according to the company. 

"In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing," explained Akihiro Nishimura, an engineer at Power Station at Berklee NYC who worked with Sony to develop these headphones. "MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other."

Sony's latest studio headphones offer a big upgrade over the popular MDR-7506.
Sony

These are closed-back headphones, so you won't have to worry about sound leakage or ambient noise creeping in. Sony enhanced the replaceable ear pads for both increased comfort and better noise isolation. It also reduced the overall weight compared to the 7506, which means longer recording sessions shouldn't be as much of a burden. The MDR-M1 will come with two detachable cables with machined aluminum connections, one that has a stereo mini-plug and plug adapter (stereo mini to stereo standard) and the other a shorter option for connecting to various professional gear. Sony also took care to make the MDR-M1 more durable, as they're like to get dropped or flung around a studio or other recording and editing environments. 

The MDR-M1 is available for preorder now for $250, a significant increase over the MDR-7506. If open-back headphones are more your thing for recording and editing, the MDR-MV1 carries a similar spec sheet to this new model. But, the price tag is even higher at $400. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-mdr-m1-studio-headphones-offer-an-audio-and-comfort-upgrade-over-the-mdr-7506-150052628.html?src=rss

Lenovo’s Auto Twist concept laptop has a lid that can swivel and bow down at your command

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Last year, Lenovo showed off a fantastically futuristic concept gadget called Project Crystal, which was the world’s first laptop to feature a transparent MicroLED display. But today, in what has become a tradition for Lenovo during IFA, the company is back with yet another demo notebook, this time equipped with a motorized rotating hinge.

Dubbed the Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo’s latest concept looks almost exactly like a traditional clamshell when closed. However, with a simple voice command, its lid raises automatically and rotates into practically any position — even all the way around into tablet mode. While there is no official pricing, or even plans to bring the device to full production just yet, Lenovo says the Auto Twist is designed to provide enhanced adaptability, improved ergonomics and possibly better security. But for now, the company’s main goal is simply to see what environments or use cases might be able to best take advantage of a laptop with this kind of novel design.

Thanks to built-in object tracking, for example, the Auto Twist can move its display and follow people as they walk around a room, which could be very helpful when making presentations. It can also detect a person’s body, and possibly even their posture, before moving its display into the best position to reduce fatigue or strain. 

An animated photo showing the Lenovo Auto Twist laptop's screen swiveling almost 360 degrees on its hinge, then folding down when its display is facing out. In the end, the lid is flat on top of the keyboard with its screen facing up.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Alternatively, the laptop can detect when it’s not being used and then close its own lid to prevent unwanted users from gaining access. And while the Auto Twist’s AI tag feels a bit spurious, Lenovo hopes the laptop will be able to do many of these things on its own or through simple natural language voice control (the laptop currently supports commands to transform into laptop mode, clamshell mode and more).

After seeing it in person, the most immediate use case that came to my mind was in POS (point-of-sale) payment terminals. Here, employees often have to manually flip a screen around so that the customer can see their total or add in things like a tip. Granted, the Auto Twist does seem like overkill in that situation considering how easy it is to rotate a screen around the old-fashioned way with your hands a basic hinge. And at least from what I saw, the built-in motor wasn’t quite as smooth as you’d probably want for commercial applications. But, it is an interesting idea with potential for high-end luxury outlets.

Then there’s just the fun of it. During my demo, I watched as the Auto Twist played a clip of a dancer as its motorized hinge attempted to make its display match the person’s movements. I also saw the laptop swivel its display horizontally to present an ultra-wide panoramic photo in a more engaging way. Additionally, while other bleeding-edge tech like laptops with foldable displays suffer from a ton of added weight and bulk, the rotating servo on Lenovo’s latest concept is relatively unobtrusive and there isn’t a huge impact on the device’s overall portability.

An animated photo showing the Lenovo Auto Twist laptop concept, where its screen slowly flips up on its own. A ballerina dances onscreen, almost in tandem with the device's movement. The screen rotates about 45 degrees so it's diagonally across the keyboard below, then bows down slightly as the ballerina bows too.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

So while it remains to be seen how useful the Auto Twist really is or what it might turn into down the line, I appreciate that Lenovo is still trying to come up with new ways to evolve the classic clamshell laptop.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-auto-twist-concept-laptop-has-a-lid-that-can-swivel-and-bow-down-at-your-command-150022971.html?src=rss

Lenovo announces new Aura edition laptops

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Lenovo has just revealed its latest lineup of laptops at IFA Berlin. The standouts seem to be Aura editions of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i. The Aura software, which is the result of a collaboration with Intel, can quickly shift these machines into various modes to optimize for specific tasks, like safe internet browsing, better video call quality or distraction-free work.

Lenovo Aura UI
Lenovo

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, It’s a 14-inch laptop with a 16:10 2.8K (2880x1800) OLED display and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It also has DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and reaches 400 nits of brightness. The CPU is an Intel Core Ultra 9, and the Intel Arc Xe2 GPU handles graphics. The battery is rated at 57Wh and is a replaceable unit.

The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is larger at 15.3 inches and also has a screen resolution of 2.8K. The display can be an OLED or LCD touch panel, with a refresh rate of 120Hz and brightness of 500 nits. An Intel Core Ultra 7 processor powers this laptop and uses integrated graphics. With a battery life of 70Wh, it should last all day for web browsing and streaming video content.

Another laptop to look out for is the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. It's equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and integrated Adreno GPU. The 14-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED screen can reach 400 nits of brightness, and the battery is rated at 57Wh. Best of all, the whole package only costs about $850.

The Yoga Pro 7, IdeaPad Slim 5x and the 13- and 15-inch IdeaPad Slim 5s are among the new arrivals as well, but unfortunately, these models won’t be available in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-announces-new-aura-edition-laptops-150005439.html?src=rss

UK competition watchdog opens Ticketmaster probe after Oasis ticket debacle

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The UK’s competition watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Ticketmaster after tickets for Oasis' reunion shows went on sale last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority said it will look into the company’s dynamic pricing practice and whether it broke consumer law.

Dynamic pricing involves a business adjusting prices based on shifting market conditions, such as demand. Airlines are among those that use the model.

Some Oasis fans who tried desperately to get tickets for the band’s first shows in 16 years waited for hours in Ticketmaster’s virtual queues. When they were finally able to buy tickets, some found that they were two or three times more expensive than they may have expected due to dynamic pricing. With Ticketmaster often giving customers mere moments to complete a purchase after tickets are in their cart, fans were faced with having to make a snap decision about paying significantly more than they’d anticipated.

The CMA will look into the pressure of that ticking clock on consumers' purchasing decisions. It will also attempt to determine if Ticketmaster conducted “unfair commercial practices” that are banned under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. Moreover, the watchdog will investigate whether customers were provided with “clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ with prices changing depending on demand, and how this would operate, including the price they would pay for any tickets purchased.”

The CMA notes that while dynamic pricing isn’t inherently illegal under UK law, ticket sales platforms have to be transparent with customers, and provide clear and accurate details about how much they need to pay. The watchdog said that the practice could breach consumer protection or competition law in certain cases.

Oasis criticized the use of dynamic pricing for the band's long-awaited reunion gigs. "It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management," the band said in a statement. It claimed to have no "awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used." Other high-profile artists — including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and The Cure — have opted out of using dynamic pricing for recent shows.

Following the scramble for Oasis tickets, the UK government has pledged to look at dynamic pricing as part of a consultation into the secondary-ticket market this fall. In the US, the Justice Department and many state and district attorneys general filed an antitrust suit in a bid to break up Ticketmaster owner Live Nation. They claim it holds a monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was also the victim of a cyber attack this year in which hackers obtained the personal information of 560 million customers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-competition-watchdog-opens-ticketmaster-probe-after-oasis-ticket-debacle-143233958.html?src=rss