Chrome for mobile adds handy action shortcuts for local businesses

Google is making subtle quality-of-life improvements to the Chrome mobile apps. The Android and iOS versions of the browser now offer quicker access to crucial info, trending searches and live sports scores in the Discovery Feed.

Chrome Actions, preset tasks that appear in the browser’s address bar when cued by trigger words, now include one for local businesses. When you search for something like a nearby restaurant, a shortcut will appear at the top of the bar showing the eatery’s name and address, along with buttons to call, get directions or read reviews.

The feature is available now in Chrome for Android, and Google says it will arrive on iOS this fall.

Before and After screenshots of the Chrome mobile app search results.
Google

Chrome mobile is also getting new usage-based shortcut suggestions. If you typically type a particular phrase to get to a specific website, the browser will learn it and include a link to it high in your search suggestions. As the example above shows, if you usually enter “schedules” to see the City Metro’s webpage, its link will appear more prominently in the recommendations.

Mobile Chrome’s Discover Feed, the contextual cards you see when opening a new tab or the Google app on mobile, will now include live sports scores. When a team Google has learned that you like is playing, a Discover card now shows the live score, which will be automatically updated.

Trending searches, something Android devices already show in the Chrome address bar (before you type anything), are now available on iOS. Finally, the browser’s tablet address bar better matches the company’s Material You design language. The bar on tablets also now includes the current website at the top — always visible — to make it easier to stay put.

You can read more about Google’s Chrome additions on the company’s blog.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chrome-for-mobile-adds-handy-action-shortcuts-for-local-businesses-192248053.html?src=rss

Welcome to the future, where AI-generated Al Michaels reads you personalized Olympic recaps

Who among us hasn’t lied awake at night during past Olympics, longing for personalized daily event summaries read in the dulcet tones of legendary sports broadcaster Al Michaels? Well, our moment has finally come. “Your Daily Olympic Recap on Peacock” will let you choose your favorite sports and highlight types for the 2024 Summer Olympics, and an AI-generated Michaels will read a 10-minute customized recap of the previous day’s events based on your preferences.

Michaels said he was understandably reluctant when NBC asked for his approval, but he ultimately came around to the AI-fueled vision. “When I was approached about this, I was skeptical but obviously curious,” the Hall of Fame broadcaster said. “Then I saw a demonstration detailing what they had in mind. I said, ‘I’m in.’”

Peacock shared a demo of one of the recaps with Engadget, and it’s easy to see why the Hall of Fame broadcaster came around. You’d be hard-pressed to tell the AI-generated speech from Michaels’ real voice. Even the clone’s subtle rhythms and intonations sound distinctly like him.

Screen showing Olympics and Al Michaelds
NBCUniversal

NBCUniversal says it trained AI Al on Michaels’ past appearances on NBC. The 79-year-old currently calls play-by-play for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football and holds an emeritus role for NBC Sports, where he’s worked since 2006.

Peacock’s recaps will draw from what it says will be 5,000 hours of live coverage from this summer’s games. They will cover up to 40 concurrent daily Olympic events and have the potential for “nearly 7 million personalized variants.”

NBCUniversal says its editors will review all of the customized content — including audio and clips — before sending it to users. If enough people sign up, that sounds like quite the undertaking. But given the embarrassing mistakes we’ve seen previous AI gimmicks make, it’s probably a wise choice.

You can opt into the recaps starting on July 27, when the first edition will summarize the previous day’s Opening Ceremony. The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off on July 26 in Paris. After the torch is lit, you can sign up for the recaps on Peacock’s Olympics website (it supports Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge) and in the Peacock mobile app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/welcome-to-the-future-where-ai-generated-al-michaels-reads-you-personalized-olympic-recaps-170022286.html?src=rss

Samsung’s next Unpacked event is set for July 10

Samsung’s next Unpacked event will be on July 10. The Paris showcase will be the company’s second of the year, following its Galaxy S24 unveiling (and Galaxy Ring render reveal!) in January.

Samsung’s announcement teases “the next generation of Galaxy AI and the ever-expanding Galaxy ecosystem.” The invitation noted the city’s trendsetting reputation, describing it as the “perfect backdrop for the rollout of our latest cutting-edge innovations.” January’s Unpacked was in San Jose, ideal for the AI features it debuted; perhaps Paris could set the scene for something fashion-related. 

Paris will also host the 2024 Summer Olympics starting later that month, and Samsung is a sponsor. So brace yourself for some potential promotional tie-ins, like the oh-so-exciting Olympic-branded editions of Galaxy S flagships.

A person wearing the Galaxy Ring wearable on their right hand as they hold a phone with their left.
Samsung

Samsung already let slip in a court filing that the Galaxy Ring will arrive in the US “in or around August of this year,” making launch details about the upcoming wearable virtually inevitable. (The company proactively sued Oura this month to try to prevent the startup from filing a lawsuit of its own.)

In addition to wearables, foldable phones tend to feature prominently in Samsung’s summer Unpacked events (replacing the Galaxy Note, which occupied that slot in the old days). Backing that up is SamMobile, which accurately reported the event’s date and location in April. The blog also claimed Samsung would reveal the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 at the event, along with new earbuds and more about the Galaxy Ring.

The company said it has a bonus for US customers who know they want one of the new devices before they’re announced. If you reserve an upcoming device from today through July 10 through Samsung’s website or Shop Samsung app, it will throw in a $50 Samsung Credit for your pre-order. Reservation orders will also be entered in a sweepstakes to win $5,000 in Samsung Credit.

Samsung will stream the summer Unpacked event on its YouTube channel, main website and Newsroom site. The event kicks off at 9AM ET on July 10.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-next-unpacked-event-is-set-for-july-10-230032676.html?src=rss

ChatGPT for macOS no longer requires a subscription

The macOS ChatGPT desktop app is now available to everyone. That is, provided you’re running an Apple Silicon Mac (sorry, Intel users) and your computer is on macOS Sonoma or higher. OpenAI rolled out the app gradually, starting with Plus subscribers last month.

ChatGPT now has an official macOS client before it has a Windows one. (In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft is its most crucial partner.) Of course, Windows 11 has the OpenAI-powered Microsoft CoPilot baked into its OS, which likely explains the omission. OpenAI and Apple are also teaming up on Apple Intelligence, which arrives later this year (unless you’re in Europe).

The Mac app includes a keyboard shortcut (option-space by default, but it’s customizable) for typing chatbot queries from anywhere in macOS. Otherwise, the app mirrors the ChatGPT website’s appearance and functionality (including custom GPTs), except in native app form. You can also upload files, photos and screenshots.

You can download and install ChatGPT for macOS from OpenAI.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-for-macos-no-longer-requires-a-subscription-204959264.html?src=rss

Waymo’s robotaxis are now open to anyone in San Francisco

Waymo is now available for anyone in San Francisco to fire up the app and hail a robotaxi. The Alphabet-owned company has had government approval to operate paid driverless cars in the city since last August but had been working its way through a waitlist in the months since. Following Cruise’s unceremonious exit from California (after dragging a pedestrian 20 feet and concealing evidence from regulators), Waymo is now the only company with autonomous commercial cars in the state.

Waymo says its cars have logged over 3.8 million driverless miles in San Francisco, and the company claims its vehicles tally “tens of thousands of weekly trips” there. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Waymo’s fleet in the city has about 300 cars, up from around 250 in January. However, despite the wider availability, it reportedly doesn’t plan to aggressively expand its San Francisco lineup in the near future.

San Francisco is Waymo’s second city to offer rides to the general public, following Phoenix. The service was exclusive to Waymo One members (and their invitees) starting in 2020, and expanded to anyone in the city two years later.

Cruise may have flamed out spectacularly, but Waymo hasn't been without its own troubles. Earlier this month, it pushed a software update for its fleet after one of its driverless cars hit a telephone pole in Phoenix. That followed a bizarre incident earlier this year when two Waymo robotaxis “made contact” with the same backward-facing pickup truck being towed. The company later said its software had incorrectly predicted the truck’s movements due to a “persistent orientation mismatch” between the towed vehicle and the one pulling it.

If you’re in San Francisco (or Phoenix), you can book a Waymo ride through the iOS or Android app.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/waymos-robotaxis-are-now-open-to-anyone-in-san-francisco-181326362.html?src=rss

China’s rock samples from the far side of the Moon have returned to Earth

The first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon have touched down on Earth. China’s Chang’e 6 capsule landed on Tuesday in Inner Mongolia, carrying rocks that could confirm or debunk scientists’ current theories about the Moon’s origin.

The samples could help scientists confirm the current hypothesis about the Moon’s origin: that molten Earth collided with a body around the size of Mars, ripping off material that took orbit next to us and created the Moon.

“Think about the geology of the Earth: If you only landed in North America, you’d be missing a big part of the story, right?” Richard Carlson, director emeritus of the Earth and Planets Laboratory at Carnegie Science, told NPR.

Researchers believe that if China’s rock samples show the same age as what NASA’s Apollo program brought home last century, it would confirm the hypothesis. If it doesn’t, it would throw a wrench into the works, forcing us to revise our understanding of the Moon’s birth.

“It’s pretty clear that the far side and the near side have many, many differences,” Jim Head, a planetary scientist at Brown University, said to NPR. “It’s a really critical issue. You can’t understand the origin of a planet with one hemisphere.”

Chang’e 6 landed on the Moon’s far side early this month, only the second successful mission to the end of Earth’s neighbor that always faces away from it. The pair rotates synchronously, keeping one side perpetually hidden from our view. This makes landings difficult because Earth has no direct line of communication with the far side, forcing China’s space program to rely on a satellite relay instead.

China has offered to share some of the samples with American scientists in a sign of cooperation during otherwise tense times between the two nations. NASA has given the green light for US researchers to submit proposals to study the historical samples.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chinas-rock-samples-from-the-far-side-of-the-moon-have-returned-to-earth-154645797.html?src=rss

Google’s Nest Learning Thermostat is $85 off right now

Wellbots has Google’s highly rated Nest Learning Thermostat on sale for $85 off. This elegant circular gizmo learns your heating and cooling habits and adjusts accordingly, making home temperature maintenance about as effortless as you could expect. Typically $249, Engadget’s exclusive coupon code ENGDTNLT85 brings the third-generation model down to $164.

The Nest Learning Thermostat helps reduce energy usage (and time spent thinking about your home’s temperature) by automating climate adjustments to fit your habits. After a week or so of studying your tendencies, it creates a schedule to maintain what it observed. If you want to make changes, you can still do that through the Nest app (available for iOS and Android).

The thermostat can also adjust automatically depending on whether anyone is at home. It uses sensors and your phone to determine when everyone is away, setting temperatures accordingly for energy savings until someone returns. If needed, the Nest app lets you make changes from afar.

Optionally, you can fine-tune the system even more with separate $39 temperature sensors. Place these in rooms throughout your home, and the Nest will balance their temperatures if your home’s heating and cooling system is compatible.

Its setup is pretty straightforward, and you install it similarly to other thermostats. On top of that, the thing looks pretty dang sleek with a 2.08-inch round display with 480 x 480 resolution (229 PPI) surrounded by a steel adjustment dial.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-nest-learning-thermostat-is-85-off-right-now-130012270.html?src=rss

Uber is locking New York drivers out of its apps and blaming a city pay rule

For the last month, Uber has been locking New York City drivers out of its apps during low-demand periods, and Lyft has threatened to do so, too. Bloomberg reports that the ride-hailing companies blame a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rule for their behavior. At least one drivers’ union says it may consider striking if the lockouts continue.

The mid-shift lockouts stem from a six-year-old NYC pay rule that requires ride-sharing companies to pay drivers for idle time between fares. Capping how long drivers without passengers can be paid means Uber pays less, but it also means drivers are taking home much less money for the same amount of time on the clock. And they can’t predict when they’ll lose access to the app.

Drivers are understandably angry. “I used to work 10 hours and make $300 to $350,” Nikoloz Tsulukidze, a full-time Uber driver, told Bloomberg. “Now, I just worked 10 hours and barely made $170. I was so disappointed. I’m paying for my gas and cannot make money.”

Uber and Lyft are deploying the “Look what you made me do!” strategy, pointing fingers at the TLC’s pay rule (and each other) while trying to turn drivers into lobbyists against the regulation. An Uber email to its drivers from last month, viewed by Bloomberg, encouraged drivers to “let the TLC know the effect their rules have had” on their wages.

The way the rule affects the companies differently is also a factor in their blame games. Uber’s drivers have been busier this year, meaning its numbers have more weight on the city’s averages, which determine the minimum-pay limits. “The city’s rule bizarrely holds Uber responsible for Lyft’s failures,” Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told Bloomberg. “With Lyft struggling to keep drivers busy, we don’t have other options.”

Meanwhile, Lyft (naturally) views the situation in reverse. “Uber wants to change the rules so that Lyft is penalized,” the company wrote in a June email to drivers. “The current NYC pay formula is broken,” Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin told Bloomberg. “It forces rideshare companies to limit when drivers can earn, and therefore how much they can earn.”

A drivers’ union says Uber’s over-hiring is the root cause of the ordeal. Bhairavi Desai, president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, told Bloomberg that the company “mismanaged” hiring by allowing too many drivers to join its ranks — and the workers are now left to foot the bill. She accused Uber of “gaming the system” by using the TLC’s rule to withhold “time that should be paid under the law and making it unpaid.” Desai says the union will consider striking if necessary.

Although Lyft hasn’t yet begun locking out drivers, it might. A June email to the company’s drivers warned that it would soon “have to” adopt a similar practice.

The current mess in NYC follows a long trail of ugly fights across the country between ride-sharing companies and city regulations. Uber and Lyft staged similar lockouts in 2019 in response to a flat minimum wage requirement for drivers that continued until the following spring. Earlier this year, the two companies threatened to pull out of Minneapolis after the city tried to force a driver pay raise that would push their rates up to the equivalent of minimum wage.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-is-locking-new-york-drivers-out-of-its-apps-and-blaming-a-city-pay-rule-204737818.html?src=rss

Valve is selling the 512GB LCD Steam Deck for less than $400

Valve isn’t waiting for the beginning of its Steam Summer Sale to kick off the festivities. On Monday, the company posted 15 percent off deals on two discontinued Steam Deck LCD models, offering the 64GB variant for under $300 and the 512GB edition for under $400. The sale lasts until July 11 at 10AM PDT or — the key bit — “while supplies last.”

The star of the fire sale is the 512GB (NVMe SSD) LCD Steam Deck model. Initially, it was $449, but the handheld is available for only $381.65. Its OLED equivalent retails for $549, letting you save big if you can live with the cheaper (but still high-quality) LCD screen technology. Meanwhile, the 64GB (eMMC SSD) LCD model, which initially sold for $349, is on sale for $296.65.

Both devices have seven-inch displays with 1280 x 800 LCDs, 60Hz refresh rates and 400 nits brightness, but the 512GB model includes anti-glare etched glass. They have 40Wh batteries with a theoretical eight-hour runtime, but they will likely average around 4.5 hours. Each model ships with a standard carrying case.

Screenshot of Valve’s website, listing the features and specs for two Steam Deck models on sale (64GB LCD: $269.65, 512GB LCD: $381.65).
Valve

Engadget re-reviewed the LCD Steam Deck last fall after the OLED variants launched. Although the handheld’s chunky size, weight and mediocre battery life hold it back to a degree (especially for those with smaller hands), it’s still a solid choice for home-based gamers invested in Steam’s ecosystem. The bottom line: “If you have the extra cash, go ahead and grab the OLED version,” as Jessica Conditt wrote, but “compared with the wider handheld sector, the Steam Deck LCD offers a fantastic return on investment.”

You can check out the sale for all the details. Meanwhile, to save on games galore, you can mark your calendar for the Steam Summer Sale, which begins on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-is-selling-the-512gb-lcd-steam-deck-for-less-than-400-185918912.html?src=rss

Valve is selling the 512GB LCD Steam Deck for less than $400

Valve isn’t waiting for the beginning of its Steam Summer Sale to kick off the festivities. On Monday, the company posted 15 percent off deals on two discontinued Steam Deck LCD models, offering the 64GB variant for under $300 and the 512GB edition for under $400. The sale lasts until July 11 at 10AM PDT or — the key bit — “while supplies last.”

The star of the fire sale is the 512GB (NVMe SSD) LCD Steam Deck model. Initially, it was $449, but the handheld is available for only $381.65. Its OLED equivalent retails for $549, letting you save big if you can live with the cheaper (but still high-quality) LCD screen technology. Meanwhile, the 64GB (eMMC SSD) LCD model, which initially sold for $349, is on sale for $296.65.

Both devices have seven-inch displays with 1280 x 800 LCDs, 60Hz refresh rates and 400 nits brightness, but the 512GB model includes anti-glare etched glass. They have 40Wh batteries with a theoretical eight-hour runtime, but they will likely average around 4.5 hours. Each model ships with a standard carrying case.

Screenshot of Valve’s website, listing the features and specs for two Steam Deck models on sale (64GB LCD: $269.65, 512GB LCD: $381.65).
Valve

Engadget re-reviewed the LCD Steam Deck last fall after the OLED variants launched. Although the handheld’s chunky size, weight and mediocre battery life hold it back to a degree (especially for those with smaller hands), it’s still a solid choice for home-based gamers invested in Steam’s ecosystem. The bottom line: “If you have the extra cash, go ahead and grab the OLED version,” as Jessica Conditt wrote, but “compared with the wider handheld sector, the Steam Deck LCD offers a fantastic return on investment.”

You can check out the sale for all the details. Meanwhile, to save on games galore, you can mark your calendar for the Steam Summer Sale, which begins on Thursday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-is-selling-the-512gb-lcd-steam-deck-for-less-than-400-185918912.html?src=rss