There's good news for anyone looking to upgrade their phone as the Google Pixel 8 is currently down to a record-low price. Woot is running a 33 percent discount on the new Google Pixel 8 — one of our picks for 2024's best smartphones — dropping its cost to $470 from $700. The sale is on for the next five days or until the smartphone sells out.
The new Google Pixel 8 launched last October and scored a 90 in our review due to features like its Tensor G3 chip. Google claims the chip allows the Pixel 8 to support more text and natural voice recognition. Plus, the company boasts that the G3 chip has twice the number of machine learning models as the G1 in the Pixel 6. This strength is more important than ever with AI's growth and the recent launch of Magic Editor, a content-aware fill and lasso hybrid.
Externally, the Google Pixel 8 looks a little different. The screen has shrunk a tad to 6.2 inches from 6.3 inches screen on the Pixel 7 — a small but noticeable change. Also visible on the smartphone are a 50MP primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-8-is-230-off-and-down-to-a-new-record-low-price-131621967.html?src=rss
It never blocked competitors' apps and services, and it doesn't employ anticompetitive tactics preventing users from breaking out of its "walled garden," Apple said in response to the antitrust lawsuit filed against it by the Department of Justice. The company refuted the agency's claims in statements shared with Apple Insider, expanding upon its earlier response that the lawsuit would hinder its ability to create devices and software that made it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The DOJ accused Apple of illegally monopolizing the software app market by imposing limitations on iOS that degrade the compatibility of innovative apps and cloud streaming services with the mobile platform. But the company claimed it only selectively restricts the APIs app developers have access to in order to protect user privacy and security. It gave the same reason for why it implements limitations for third-party digital wallets. The company also said that it never blocked "super apps" from its platforms, pointing out that Facebook, WeChat and Line are available for iOS users. Game streaming services, it clarified, have always been welcome in the App Store, as well.
In response to the accusation that it is anticompetitive for the Apple Watch to be capable of deeper integration with the iPhone compared to rival wearables', the company explained that offering wide support for all smartwatches means having to develop products with every OS and model in mind. Most importantly, Apple denied that it's making it difficult for users to switch to competing products, whether it's because of iMessage's lack of interoperability with Android or any other reason. Users can easily transfer data from iPhone to Android devices, it reportedly said while suggesting that people may not be switching to its competitors because they simply love its products.
Apple previously said that the lawsuit, if successful, would "set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people's technology." It vowed to "vigorously defend against it." US Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a press release, however, that "Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone" and that it's "discouraging innovation" that threatens its monopoly by stifling innovation.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-refutes-every-claim-made-in-dojs-antitrust-lawsuit-123223870.html?src=rss
Apple’s 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is June 10 to 14. WWDC is typically a software-centric event, so it’s highly likely we’ll get our first look at iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 11. It may also be a good chance for Apple to upgrade its visionOS software for Vision Pro.
There may be hardware too. Last year’s WWDC included a detailed presentation on the Vision Pro and the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. This year? Another Vision Pro? A Mac Mini? Place your bets.
Game Help shared developer-created tips and videos for PS5 games, bubbling up advice depending on where you were in a game. Unfortunately, in my experience, it was rarely useful advice. That might improve soon, as Sony adds videos from other gamers for those tricky bosses and segments. Community tips will be accessible in the same way as Game Help: click the PS button, launch the Control Center and find an Action Card labeled Hints Inside. Any card with gamer videos will have a Community Game Help label and players will be able to rate tips’ usefulness.
Microsoft is bringing together its Windows experiences and devices teams into one division. Pavan Davuluri, who’s been head of the Surface team since last year, will now also lead Windows experiences after Mikhail Parakhin’s departure. Perhaps interestingly, Parakhin vacated his role a week after Microsoft hired DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, who apparently asked Parakhin to report to him directly.
Scientists have created a scientific camera that shoots images at an encoding rate of 156.3 terahertz (THz) to individual pixels — equivalent to 156.3 trillion frames per second. Dubbed SCARF (swept-coded aperture real-time femtophotography), the research-grade camera could lead to breakthroughs in fields studying micro-events impossible to capture on existing scientific imaging equipment. SCARF could open new frontiers in areas as diverse as shock wave mechanics or the development of more effective medicine.
It's taken much longer than expected but Microsoft is finally bringing keyboard and mouse (KBM) support to certain Xbox Cloud Gaming titles. We first heard that the company planned to do so in March 2022 and it was suggested that the option might be available by that June, but evidently that did not happen. It's only now that Microsoft is starting to let testers on the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring check out KBM functions on web browsers (Edge and Chrome) and the Xbox PC app. The feature should be available more broadly soon.
To try out the KBM support, you'll need to be a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber (unless you want to check it out on Fortnite, which is totally free to play via Xbox Cloud Gaming). You'll also need to enroll in the PC Gaming Preview program. If you're testing out KBM support on a web browser, there's one more step — you'll have to switch on Preview features on your browser. To do that, click on your profile picture at xbox.com/play, select Settings and then turn on “Preview features.”
Some supported games might still show controller elements on screen at first. You might be prompted to press A to start the game or some such. However, the game should switch to the KBM user interface as soon as you move the cursor or press a button. On browsers, KBM will only work when you're playing in full screen mode and you've clicked on the game stream for it to recognize your mouse input. You can exit KBM use by pressing F9 or hold the ESC button to leave full-screen mode.
The first Xbox Cloud Gaming titles to gain KBM support are Fortnite (browsers only), Ark Survival Evolved, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Halo Infinite, Atomic Heart, Sniper Elite 5, Deep Rock Galactic, High on Life, Zombie Army 4 Dead War, Gears Tactics, Pentiment, Doom 64 and Age of Empires 2. There is a known issue for Atomic Heart at the minute. Microsoft notes that there's some difficulty switching between a controller and KBM while streaming that game.
This is a welcome update, especially for those who want to play first-person shooters with a KBM setup but don't have a PC with enough oomph to run current games natively. It's a good step forward for accessibility too. Xbox's cloud gaming tech is pretty solid, but here's hoping it can keep up with Fortnite players who can build elaborate structures in nanoseconds.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-is-finally-bringing-keyboard-and-mouse-support-to-xbox-cloud-gaming-titles-200148150.html?src=rss
Scientists have created a blazing-fast scientific camera that shoots images at an encoding rate of 156.3 terahertz (THz) to individual pixels — equivalent to 156.3 trillion frames per second. Dubbed SCARF (swept-coded aperture real-time femtophotography), the research-grade camera could lead to breakthroughs in fields studying micro-events that come and go too quickly for today’s most expensive scientific sensors.
SCARF has successfully captured ultrafast events like absorption in a semiconductor and the demagnetization of a metal alloy. The research could open new frontiers in areas as diverse as shock wave mechanics or developing more effective medicine.
Leading the research team was Professor Jinyang Liang of Canada’s Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). He’s a globally recognized pioneer in ultrafast photography who built on his breakthroughs from a separate study six years ago. The current research was published in Nature, summarized in a press release from INRS and first reported on by Science Daily.
Professor Liang and company tailored their research as a fresh take on ultrafast cameras. Typically, these systems use a sequential approach: capture frames one at a time and piece them together to observe the objects in motion. But that approach has limitations. “For example, phenomena such as femtosecond laser ablation, shock-wave interaction with living cells, and optical chaos cannot be studied this way,” Liang said.
SCARF
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
The new camera builds on Liang’s previous research to upend traditional ultrafast camera logic. “SCARF overcomes these challenges,” INRS communication officer Julie Robert wrote in a statement. “Its imaging modality enables ultrafast sweeping of a static coded aperture while not shearing the ultrafast phenomenon. This provides full-sequence encoding rates of up to 156.3 THz to individual pixels on a camera with a charge-coupled device (CCD). These results can be obtained in a single shot at tunable frame rates and spatial scales in both reflection and transmission modes.”
In extremely simplified terms, that means the camera uses a computational imaging modality to capture spatial information by letting light enter its sensor at slightly different times. Not having to process the spatial data at the moment is part of what frees the camera to capture those extremely quick “chirped” laser pulses at up to 156.3 trillion times per second. The images’ raw data can then be processed by a computer algorithm that decodes the time-staggered inputs, transforming each of the trillions of frames into a complete picture.
Remarkably, it did so “using off-the-shelf and passive optical components,” as the paper describes. The team describes SCARF as low-cost with low power consumption and high measurement quality compared to existing techniques.
Although SCARF is focused more on research than consumers, the team is already working with two companies, Axis Photonique and Few-Cycle, to develop commercial versions, presumably for peers at other higher learning or scientific institutions.
For a more technical explanation of the camera and its potential applications, you can view the full paper in Nature.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-camera-captures-1563-trillion-frames-per-second-184651322.html?src=rss
Apple has just announced that its WWDC 2024 keynote is scheduled for 10AM PT/1PM ET on June 10 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The remaining festivities for the 35th edition of WWDC will run through to June 14, online and free for developers to attend.
What should we expect at this year’s keynote? WWDC is typically a software-centric event, so we might hear some details on the work Apple has been doing around AI over the last year or so. Other reports indicate that Apple will show off a suite of upcoming updates, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 11, according to MacRumors. It’s also likely the company will reveal the next operating system for the recently-released Apple Vision Pro headset, visionOS 2.
It’s even possible we’ll get some new hardware announcements. Though typically software-adjacent, last year’s WWDC was chock full of product announcements, from the aforementioned Vision Pro to the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. The Mac Mini has been missing from recent product refreshes, so maybe the company will announce an M3-based update.
As for the new software, there have been plenty of rumors regarding iOS 18. It has been reported that Apple might integrate Google’s Gemini AI with Siri and various iPhone apps. Check the suspicious capitalization of "Absolutely Incredible" in the above post from Apple's VP of worldwide marketing Brad Joswiak for a winking acknowledgement of the move. It’s also been suggested that the smartphone software will allow users to place apps anywhere on the home screen grid and will offer RCS support in the Messages app, along with the usual array of design changes.
The keynote event will be available on the Apple Developer app, the Apple website and YouTube. The company is also inviting 50 winners of its annual Swift Student Challenge to attend WWDC in person.
Update, May 28, 1:15PM: This story was updated after its original March 26 publishing to include the time of Apple's WWDC 2024 keynote.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-wwdc-2024-keynote-is-scheduled-for-june-10-at-1pm-et-180558382.html?src=rss
Apple's AirTag is the top pick for iPhone owners in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide (unsurprisingly), and right now a four-pack of the little devices is down to a record low of $75 at Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. The pack previously fell to $80 earlier this week, a deal we've seen numerous times since the holiday shopping season. This new discount, however, matches the best price we've tracked, coming in $24 below Apple's list price. As long as you want to keep tabs on several items, it's also cheaper than buying four single AirTags separately, as those are currently going for $24 each.
We highlight the AirTag in our guide because it can utilize Apple's giant network of devices to locate items. If you misplace an AirTag-equipped bookbag, for instance, nearby Apple devices can anonymously alert Apple's Find My network when the bag is close, then the Find My app will report that location back to you. Since there are more than two billion iPhones, iPads, Macs and other Apple gadgets active in the wild, the odds of finding something are generally better here than with other trackers that use much smaller crowd-finding networks.
Once you're in the vicinity of a lost item, the AirTag uses a wireless connection called ultrawideband (UWB) to more precisely lead you in the right direction, displaying an arrow and distance estimate when you're nearby. The tracker has an IP67 rating, so it can survive a brief dip underwater, and it's one of the few Apple gadgets with an easily replaceable battery. On its own, Apple says the battery is designed to last "more than a year" before it needs changing.
The biggest disadvantage the AirTag has compared to competitors like Tile is that it's only available in one shape. Its coin-like design is easy to tuck away but doesn't come with a built-in keyring hole or adhesive. If you want to actually attach it to an item, you need to pay for a separate accessory.
It's also worth noting that AirTags aren't designed to find stolen items. They could help with that, but if your AirTag is found moving with someone else, that person will receive an alert telling them so. This feature is meant to hinder those who might use AirTags for stalking, which has beenan unfortunateside effect of the device's effectiveness. That said, both Apple and Google have issued updates to further combat bad actors. As a bit of extra security against losing your stuff, the AirTag works well, and this deal makes it a little more accessible. There should be no worry about a new model coming anytime soon, either, as a Bloomberg report earlier this year said a second-generation device isn't expected until 2025.
If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, meanwhile, we'll note that a four-pack of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 is also on sale for an all-time low of $70 at Amazon and B&H. This is another pick in our buying guide: It's not quite as precise as an AirTag and only works with Samsung phones, but it's easy to setup, it has a built-in cutout and it works similarly if you're a committed Galaxy user.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-down-to-its-lowest-price-yet-of-75-161510542.html?src=rss
Google has a new version of Chrome for Windows laptops that run Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The two companies say the Snapdragon version of Chrome shows “a dramatic performance improvement.” The new Chrome variant is available for download today.
Although there are already Snapdragon Windows laptops you can buy, today’s announcement is mainly about paving the way for upcoming devices running on the Snapdragon X Elite. Qualcomm says the chip will far surpass the speed of its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 line. (But if you have a currently available Snapdragon-running computer, the new Chrome for Snapdragon will work there, too.)
Google sees the companies’ long history of working together on Android (dating back 16 years) as a perk as Qualcomm tries to eat into Intel’s PC market share. “Our close collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies will help ensure that Chrome users get the best possible experience while browsing the Web on current ARM-compatible PCs,” Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer wrote in a press release.
The first Snapdragon X Elite PCs are scheduled to launch in the middle of this year. The chip is powered by 12 Oryon cores and has what Qualcomm says is double the CPU performance of Intel’s 13th-gen Core i7-1360P and i7-1355U — while using 68 percent less power. The chip is based on a 4nm design fabricated by TSMC. Typical clock speeds range from 3.8GHz to a dual-core boost of up to 4.3GHz.
Qualcomm even says most Windows games will run at nearly full speed without any need to tweak code or change assets.
Although Intel is Qualcomm’s most direct competitor in Windows, it’s also trying to match or surpass what Apple has done with its M-series silicon. Qualcomm’s challenge is doing that on different hardware from various companies — something Apple doesn’t have to worry about with its integrated model.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-says-its-new-version-of-chrome-for-windows-laptops-with-snapdragon-chips-is-much-faster-160041692.html?src=rss
Microsoft is continuing on its mission to inject AI into more of its products and features. For one thing, Copilot is coming to more parts of Teams in the coming months, including the meeting chat and the chat compose box.
The AI will soon be able to offer you insights and information from the meeting chat and the transcript, so if something was either written or spoken, Copilot will be able to pull from it. Microsoft says that when you open Copilot in a meeting chat, you’ll have a “more comprehensive and inclusive view” of what you and your collaborators discussed.
As far as bringing Copilot to the message compose box goes, the AI can now help you rewrite a drafted message based on a custom prompt. So if you’d like to add a call to action or a joke, you can ask Copilot to do that. In the near future, the AI will be able to generate a new message by pulling from context in the Teams chat. That should at least give you a jumping-off point and you can tweak the suggested message as you see fit.
In addition, an intelligent call recap feature is coming to Teams. This automatically generates notes and action items from within the Calls app. This will be available for both Teams Premium and Copilot next quarter.
Elsewhere, Microsoft is rolling out some features aimed at improving hybrid meetings. IntelliFrame taps into CloudAI to create an individual video feed for each person who’s physically attending a Teams Rooms meeting, so that everyone has a similar panel. The feature will now be enabled by default on Teams Rooms devices.
On top of that, Microsoft is planning to roll out an option for IntelliFrame called automatic camera switching. This will use AI to present the best view of each person in a meeting room, whether that’s from the front-of-room camera or their own laptop’s webcam. If someone’s obstructed in one camera view, IntelliFrame will try to switch to a clearer look at them.
On a similar note, speaker recognition tech will aim to improve the accuracy of transcripts and Copilot insights. Microsoft says this feature will be available as a preview in Teams Rooms in April.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-is-bringing-more-copilot-smarts-to-teams-143058238.html?src=rss
Game Help, which provides developer-created tips and videos to help you progress without leaving the game, has been a staple of players' PlayStation 5 experience since it launched in 2020. Now, Sony has announced Community Game Help, an expansion of the feature allowing you to view hint videos of other users' gameplay across select titles.
Community tips will be accessible in the same way as Game Help: click the PS button, launch the Control Center, and find an Action Card labeled "Hints Inside." Any card with gamer videos will have a Community Game Help label. In addition to using these tips, Sony encourages players to rate how helpful each tip is to inform which videos will show up in the future.
You can opt-in or out of allowing Sony to use clips from your gameplay as hints for other players. If you choose to share, then Sony will automatically capture videos while you play certain parts of a game. However, any streaming or other personal info appearing on your screen won't be shown in the shared videos. You should also receive a notification if Sony shares your gameplay as a hint. Moderators will reportedly sort through all the videos and determine which should be included in the Community Game Help cards — though the feature won't be available for another few months.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ps5s-game-help-feature-will-start-sourcing-videos-from-other-players-132115286.html?src=rss