Tag Archives: language|en-US

Microsoft’s Copilot AI gets a voice and the ability to see websites you browse

Posted on by

Beyond debuting new features for Copilot+ AI PCs and Windows 11's 2024 update, Microsoft is also giving its Copilot AI a makeover on the web, mobile and desktop. That includes a slightly friendlier interface wherever you access it, along with new capabilities like Copilot Voice, which allows you to talk conversationally with the AI assistant. Ultimately, Microsoft is aiming for Copilot to be seen as more than just a party trick for generative AI search and image creation — it's trying to make it a core part of your daily workflow.

That starts with a cleaner and simpler UI that makes Copilot look different than a boring old search engine. That new look hits Copilot on the web, iOS, Android and Windows today. You'll also be able to access Copilot from within Whatsapp, which could be useful if you want to avoid Meta's AI assistant.

Microsoft also plans to release more experimental AI features via Copilot Labs, similar to the way Google has given users access to early features with its own Labs. There's Copilot Vision, which lets the AI see everything you're viewing in Edge, and Think Deeper, a method for letting Copilot work harder on more complex dilemmas. Both features also have the potential to create new privacy and security issues, but Microsoft appears to have learned a bit from its messy rollout for Recall on Copilot+ PCs. Notably, these Copilot Labs offerings will only be available to people paying for Copilot Pro subscriptions.

Microsoft says Copilot Vision sessions are "opt-in and ephemeral," and nothing is stored for AI training. Any data related to your session is deleted once you're done. The feature also won't work on all websites, only a "limited list of popular websites." And Microsoft notes that Copilot only interprets images and text that you're seeing on a website; it's not doing any major content processing. The company also plans to take feedback from early users, refine safety measures and "keep privacy and responsibility at the center of everything we do."

There's no doubt that Microsoft has to re-establish trust with its users after the botched rollout for Recall, a feature that was meant to help you find anything you've done on your computer, but had some gaping security holes early on. "Ultimately, users want to have confidence with anything happening with sensitive data caches," Microsoft's Windows head, Pavan Davuluri, said when we asked him about the lessons the company learned from the Recall fiasco. He added that he believes the company has "gone above and beyond" to create that confidence by establishing new security standards for Recall.

Microsoft Copilot
Copilot Discover
Microsoft

There are less controversial features coming, as well: Copilot Daily uses Copilot Voice to delivery a summary of news, weather and potentially reminders about tasks every day. Based on the demos we've seen, it's a lot like an early morning podcast built just for you. Copilot Discover, meanwhile, will give you tips about AI features to use (pictured in the screenshot above), depending on Microsoft services you've used in the past.

Personally, I'm still a bit ambivalent about Microsoft's near-instant transformation into an AI company. That's particularly true since we're still dealing with inaccuracies and other issues from OpenAI's ChatGPT, which Microsoft relies on to power Copilot. These Copilot features seem a bit more useful than being a souped-up search engine, but the company still needs to prove it can build AI features with bulletproof security and privacy.

As with practically any AI product these days, Microsoft is also staggering the release of these Copilot features. Copilot Voice and Daily launch today, but Voice will only be available in English in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and New Zealand. Copilot Daily, meanwhile, only works in the US and UK for now. Copilot Vision will head to Labs over the coming days for a "limited number" of Copilot Pro subscribers, while Think Deeper is available for Pro users in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsofts-copilot-ai-gets-a-voice-and-the-ability-to-see-websites-you-browse-140030003.html?src=rss

How to get Microsoft’s Windows 11 2024 update (and be ready for new Copilot+ features)

Posted on by

Windows 11 2024 (aka 24H2) is one of Microsoft's more confusing updates ever since it contains AI features for the new Copilot+ PCs that won't come to other machines. That wasn't helped by some baffling communication from Redmond that didn't make it crystal clear who would be receiving which updates and when. Now, Microsoft has announced in a news release that Windows 11 2024 is rolling out starting today, so here's how that process will work. 

The update will be a full operating system (OS) swap with new "foundational elements" that will effectively pave the way for new Copilot+ AI features arriving later. It'll be released to all PCs with Windows 11 and not just Copilot+ PC owners. It will not contain any Copilot+ AI features at first — just as Apple's latest iPhones and iOS 18 didn't have its vaunted Apple Intelligence to start with.

Improvements for all users on 24H2 include an updated taskbar, new USB 80Gbps speeds, RUST support and default BitLocker encryption. If you have the latest AMD 9000-series processors, a patch will improve gaming performance by 3-13 percent (if you don't already have it). You'll also get an enhanced battery saver, Bluetooth LE audio, HDR backgrounds and Wi-Fi 7 support.

If you've got Windows 11, you're eligible for the 2024 update, as the system requirements haven't changed. However, some users will get it sooner than others. The first phase of rollouts will come to eligible devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 and 23H2, so make sure you've got those. You'll also want to set up your machine to receive updates quickly and automatically, so navigate to Settings > Windows Update, and turn on "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available."

Otherwise, the timing of the update is a bit out of your control. After the first phase, Microsoft will make the 24H2 update available to "existing in-market devices based on hardware eligibility, reliability metrics and other factors that impact the update experience," the company wrote. Microsoft will at least let you know via the Windows Update Settings page when it's available for your device.

Nobody will get any of the key Copilot+ features at first (like Recall, Click to Do and improved Windows Search). Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs will be the first to receive them, starting in October. That'll be followed by a phased rollout to select devices and markets beginning in November. Again, you won't be eligible for these features (ever) unless you have a Copilot+ PC. For more on those features, check out our dedicated article. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-get-microsofts-windows-11-2024-update-and-be-ready-for-new-copilot-features-140019243.html?src=rss

Watch the trailer for Squid Game 2

Posted on by

We are so close to getting season two of Squid Game — the show famously rejected for nearly a decade before becoming a sensation on Netflix. The streamer has just shared a full-length trailer ahead of the season's December 26 premiere, calling for viewers to "Get back in the game."

It features Gong Yoo reprising his role as the salesman. Yoo starts his day calmly, looking at the cityscape and getting ready alongside cheery music before the atmosphere turns sinister as he opens a safe, grabbing ddakji pieces. He then heads to the subway and approaches a new player, asking, "Sir, would you like to play a game with me?"

Netflix first announced Squid Game season two in 2022 but only set a release date in August — nearly three years after the first season came out. Next time, there shouldn't be as large a gap as Netflix also shared that the show's third and final season should arrive in 2025. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-the-trailer-for-squid-game-2-133047996.html?src=rss

Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements updated with new AI features

Posted on by

Adobe’s updated consumer-focused Elements apps are here. Photoshop Elements 2025 adds new Magic Eraser-style object removal, depth of field adjustments and more. Meanwhile, Premiere Elements 2025 for video creators introduces dynamic titles, color correction tools and a simplified timeline.

The Elements apps, which Adobe debuted 23 years ago, take select features from the high-end professional suites and trickle them down to casual users. They’re like pared-down and easier-to-use versions of Photoshop and Premiere Pro for people who don’t want to learn pro graphic design or video-editing skills. The company also sells them as $100 each one-time purchases, rather than requiring a subscription. (You can also bundle both for $150.) With today’s AI features, the consumer-friendly apps let you do more than ever without much technical know-how.

Photoshop Elements 2025 adds an AI-powered Remove feature similar to the version in the pro Photoshop (along with Google’s Magic Eraser and Apple’s Clean-Up tool). Like those competing versions, Adobe’s tool lets you brush an object, person or animal, and it removes it, filling in a replacement background.

Elements 2025 also adds a faux portrait mode feature (Depth Blur) for any image. Select a focal point, and Adobe’s AI will add blur to create a sense of depth to simulate a wide-aperture lens. From there, you can tweak the blur strength, focal distance and focal range.

Two panes demoing Adobe's Photoshop Elements color replacement. A person wearing a hat and shirt, with different colors in each frame.
Adobe

A new color correction feature lets you select an area of a photo, pick a new color from a pop-up dial and slide it over until it looks how you want it. Photoshop Elements also has a photo-combining tool that lets you blend a subject from one image and a background from another — creating something new. The app also adds an AI motion effect feature that simulates movement blur for the subject.

Premiere Elements, Adobe’s consumer-level video app, incorporates new AI features, too. A new white balance tool and footage color LUTs (lookup tables) give you user-friendly color curves and presets — making it easier to tweak the overall mood.

Demo slide of Adobe’s Premiere Elements 2025 LUT correction. A person skateboarding with a pop-up menu showing color filter options for the entire image.
Adobe

The video app also adds a simpler timeline. “See video tracks grouped together and audio tracks grouped together for easier navigation, find the editing options you use most in the new Quick Tools menu, lock individual tracks to prevent accidental changes, and more,” Adobe wrote in its press release. In addition, Premiere Elements adds dynamic titles with more text controls, and you can use Adobe Stock title templates without paying extra.

Both Elements apps fully support Apple’s M3 chip “for faster performance on Mac computers.” (Here are the full Windows and macOS system requirements for Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements.) The pair of apps will also have scaled-down web and mobile app counterparts for editing on the go.

Adobe’s MAX conference starts on October 14. That’s where the pro editor community can learn more about the new AI (and other) features coming to the company’s high-end subscription-based desktop apps.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/adobe-photoshop-elements-and-premiere-elements-updated-with-new-ai-features-130029684.html?src=rss

Samsung’s latest premium Chromebook has a big screen and a dedicated AI key

Posted on by

It's been about a year since Google first announced its Chromebook Plus initiative, a higher spec of hardware that also comes with software features you won't find on more basic Chromebooks. Google's getting into a pretty consistent every-six-month cadence with these updates, so today we're hearing more about some new hardware as well as some AI-powered features coming to various Chromebooks. 

Probably the most interesting update we're hearing about today is new hardware from Samsung: the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. I've liked some of Samsung's attempts at making high-end Chromebooks in the past, so I'm curious to see how this one performs. Google says its the thinnest and lightest Chromebook Plus, at 2.58 pounds and less than a half-inch thick. Despite that small size, it includes a 15.6-inch OLED screen, making it sound like this laptop will be similar to the 15-inch MacBook Air in feel. 

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
Samsung

From a specs perspective it has an Intel Core 3 100U, 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, specs that should be more than enough for a good Chrome OS experience. Samsung claims 13-hour battery life, something I'd like to believe but don't yet. Too many Chromebooks tout long battery life and completely miss the mark, so I'm looking forward to seeing if any notable improvements have been made here. 

Chromebook Plus quick insert
Google

This is also the first Chromebook with a new key called the "Quick Insert" key. It replaces the existing Launcher key (where you'll find Caps Lock on most laptops), and it brings up a glorified right-click menu that does feel potentially more modern and useful. You'll find options for Gemini-powered "help me write," emoji and GIF search, a list of recently-opened websites, a Google Drive search field and a few other tools. Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook Plus is the first laptop with this key, but older Chromebooks can also pull up the menu with a keyboard shortcut (launcher key + F). 

The Galaxy Chromebook Plus costs $699, making it the most expensive Chromebook Plus model we've seen yet. There's no exact release date yet, but it should be available this month.

Lenovo also has a new device, the Chromebook Duet 11". As the name suggests, it's a small convertible device, an update to one Lenovo originally released back in 2020. It keeps the same small form factor and detachable keyboard but has a newer MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor along with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. I'd recommend making sure you get that 8GB / 128GB combo, as anything less won't cut it in 2024. Lenovo also has seemingly slimmed down the bezels quite a bit compared to the original model, which should make the already-small package feel even more compact. 

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11
Lenovo

You can also get a stylus and use it with a free three-month Goodnotes subscription. Google says that Goodnotes has been optimized for Chrome OS, so it should provide a smoother experience now. That said, most Chromebook stylus apps haven't been terribly great, so this is another case when we'll want to try it out to see how it works. Lenovo says that the option with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage will cost $340, while the 8GB / 128GB model costs $390. Both come with the keyboard and stylus.

Chromebook Plus Oct 2024 update
Google

At each of the last two Chromebook showcases Google has held, the company has teased new software features that would come in the future. And just as it did in May, Google is making good on some things it talked about in the past. 

Probably the biggest is the Gemini-powered "help me read" feature which can, in Google's words, "summarize PDFs, articles or websites, all with a right click." It's something Google has talked about for a bit, and this first implementation of the feature is definitely not its final form — Google says that an update next year will let you highlight specific paragraphs and sentences you want more detail on.

Chromebook Plus Live Translate
Google

Other new features include Live Translate, which uses AI to automatically generate captions for whatever is on your computer, including video calls, movie files or a live YouTube stream. Similarly, the Recorder app can automatically create transcripts from what it records, complete with different speaker IDs and a summary. Live Translate is already available on Pixel phones, and the Recorder app is also on Android phones so it's not a big surprise to find them here. 

Finally, Google is making audio and video quality on calls better. The "studio-style mic" feature uses AI to reduce noise and reverberation, and your video output can be automatically adjusted for better lighting. These features will work across any video call platform you can use on a Chromebook.

Chrome OS Gemini app
Google

The above features are exclusive to Chromebook Plus models, but Google has a handful of updates coming to all Chrome OS updates. For starters, all new Chromebook purchases come with three months of the Google One AI Premium plan, which includes Gemini Advanced, 2TB of storage and Gemini in Docs, Sheets, Slides and Gmail. (Chromebook Plus buyers still get it for a whole year, as announced in May.) Given that that's a $20/month plan, it's a solid perk. 

Related, Google is making it easier for Chromebook users to use Gemini by including a shortcut to Gemini chat right in the Chrome OS taskbar. Hey, if you want people to try new features, you might as well put them directly in your face, right?

Two other features Google is introducing were first teased back in May. One is a focus timer, which implores you to pick an urgent task, a playlist and a timer. You'll then go into do not disturb mode while you work on what you're trying to get done. There's also a "Welcome Back" feature that pops up when you log in to your laptop. It pulls together apps and pages it thinks go together so you can resume what you were working on previously. 

Like the hardware announced today, there's no specifics on when exactly this will all start rolling out, but you can expect to see it this month. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/samsungs-latest-premium-chromebook-combines-a-big-screen-with-a-thin-and-light-body-130012477.html?src=rss

Watch the full trailer for Amazon’s live-action Yakuza adaptation

Posted on by

Amazon Prime has released the official trailer for Like A Dragon: Yakuza, its live action adaptation of the action-adventure Sega game franchise mostly revolving around the yakuza Kazuma Kiryu. Unlike the teaser Amazon dropped in July, the trailer features a voiceover by Kiryu's actor Ryoma Takeuchi, as well as voice dialogues by other cast members. The series is set across two intersecting timelines in 1995 and 2005 in the fictional town of Kamurocho, which is based on Tokyo's Kabukicho. 

It will cover the events of the first Yakuza game, with some changes to the story. Based on Amazon's own description of the series, it will show Kiryu and his friends Nishiki, Yumi and Miho plan a heist at an arcade that's apparently under the control of a powerful yakuza organization called the Dojima Family. Like in the game, Kiryu was imprisoned for 10 years and returned to Kamurocho in 2005 when he was released after finding out that his friends needed his help.

The trailer gives us a glimpse of how the show's story will unfold, as well as of the franchise's beloved characters, including Nishiki and fan favorite Goro Majima. It shows a chaotic Kamurocho with gangsters on bikes, gun fights, fist fights and explosions. The trailer also introduces us to a shadowy figure called the Demon of Shinjuku, who's going around killing people in the district. 

Amazon is making the first three episodes of Like A Dragon: Yakuza available for streaming starting on October 24. The last three episodes will come out on October 31.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-the-full-trailer-for-amazons-live-action-yakuza-adaptation-123027590.html?src=rss

The best depressing games to languish to in 2024

Posted on by

What qualifies a video game as “depressing?” The most obvious answer is that game you simply cannot beat no matter how hard you try, but that’s not what we’re talking about here. Instead, we’re looking at games that just have a pall over them, whether it’s directly from story beats or a more subtle vibe given off by the visuals, music or activities the player has to participate in.

The games on this list don’t have a lot in common on the surface — there are big-budget action thrillers, smaller independent titles and at least one visual novel / deck-building game. But they can all put you in a somber mood, if that’s what you're looking for. Next time the rain is pouring down and you’re feeling a bit of melancholy, we have options to keep you company.

Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-depressing-games-120013247.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Verizon and PlayStation’s network separately hit by outages

Posted on by

It was a messy Monday if you were a Verizon customer or wanted some PS5 gaming in the evening. First, Verizon mobile customers reported outages across the US on Monday. At around 9:30AM ET, hundreds of thousands of users flagged problems with their mobile service on Downdetector. Reports spiked at almost 105,000 at 11:20AM. Issues included the inability to send texts and a lack of cellular service outright. The issue centered on the East Coast and Midwest. The carrier hasn’t elaborated on what caused the issue. The FCC said it was “working to determine the cause and extent of these service disruptions.”

Hours later, the PlayStation Network experienced serious issues, kicking people off their matches and crashing online games worldwide. (Yes, that’s even bigger than the Midwest and East Coast.) Users couldn’t sign in on the PS5, PS4, PS Vita and PS3 or perform account maintenance on the web either. Streaming functionality was also knocked offline. Services came back online in the early hours of October. We’re also checking with Sony about the cause.

— Mat Smith

The USB-C Apple Pencil is cheaper than ever in this early Prime Day deal

Reddit policy changes make sitewide protests nearly impossible

The best E Ink tablets for 2024

TMA
Cruise

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined Cruise, GM’s self-driving vehicle division, $1.5 million. The penalty was imposed for omitting key details from an October 2023 accident when one of the company’s autonomous vehicles struck and dragged a San Francisco pedestrian. Cruise is being fined for initially submitting incomplete reports, but it’s worse than that. Executives initially played a video of the accident during October 3 meetings with the San Francisco mayor’s office, NHTSA, DMV and other officials. However, the video stream was “hampered by internet connectivity issues” that concealed the part where the vehicle dragged the victim. Executives, who the report stated knew about the dragging, also failed to verbally mention that crucial detail.

The NHTSA wants Cruise to file a corrective action plan, along with others covering its total number of vehicles, miles traveled and whether they operated without a driver. It also has to summarize software updates that affect operations and more. Finally, Cruise will also have to meet with the NHTSA quarterly to discuss and review those reports.

Continue reading.

Epic loves a courtroom battle. Its next challenger is Samsung — and Google. (Yes, Epic already won an antitrust lawsuit against Google last December, which found Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services.) Epic Games is claiming Samsung’s Auto Blocker feature is making it difficult for users to install the Epic Games Store on the latest Samsung devices. This is because Samsung now activates Auto Blocker, which only allows app installs from the Google Play Store and Samsung Galaxy Store, by default. To be honest, it’s pretty laborious to switch off. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney even suggests Google and Samsung are working together, though he admits there’s no concrete evidence for this claim.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-verizon-and-playstations-network-separately-hit-by-outages-110420743.html?src=rss

The PlayStation Network’s services were down for hours

Posted on by

It's not just you — the PlayStation Network experienced serious issues, kicking people off their matches and crashing online games around the world. Based on Downdetector reports, the issue started shortly after 8PM Eastern time on September 30. Sony Interactive Entertainment has yet to release a statement about the problem, but it did update the PlayStation Network status page to show that several of its services weren't working.

Users couldn't sign in, create new accounts or edit their account details on the PS5, PS4, PS Vita and PS3. They couldn't do any account maintenance on the web either. Likewise, they couldn't stream games on the web or on any PlayStation console. They couldn't do any window shopping, as well: Users couldn't browse or search for games, redeem vouches, make any purchases or download previously purchased titles. 

"We're working to resolve the issue as soon as possible," the company wrote in the status update. "Thank you for your patience."

As of 4:30AM Eastern time on October 1, however, the PSN status page now shows that all its services are up and running. It's still unclear what had happened and why PSN was down from the evening of September 30 to the early hours of October 1, but we reached out to PlayStation/Sony Interactive Entertainment for more information. 

Update, October 02, 2024, 4:42AM ET: We updated this post after the PSN status page showed that all its services were up and running.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-playstation-networks-services-are-down-034439741.html?src=rss

GM’s Cruise fined $1.5 million for omitting details about its gruesome 2023 crash

Posted on by

On Monday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined Cruise, GM’s self-driving vehicle division, $1.5 million. The penalty was imposed for omitting key details from an October 2023 accident in which one of the company’s autonomous vehicles struck and dragged a San Francisco pedestrian.

Cruise is being fined for initially submitting several incomplete reports. The NHTSA’s reports require pre-crash, crash and post-crash details, which the company gave to the agency without a critical detail: that the pedestrian was dragged by the vehicle for 20 feet at around 7 MPH, causing severe injuries. Eventually, the company released a 100-page report from a law firm detailing its failures surrounding the accident.

That report states that Cruise executives initially played a video of the accident during October 3 meetings with the San Francisco Mayor's Office, NHTSA, DMV and other officials. However, the video stream was “hampered by internet connectivity issues” that concealed the part where the vehicle dragged the victim. Executives, who the report stated knew about the dragging, also failed to verbally mention that crucial detail in the initial meetings because they wanted to let “the video speak for itself.” 

Investigators finally found out about the dragging after the NHTSA asked the company to submit the full video. The government agency says Cruise also amended four other incomplete crash reports involving its vehicles to add additional details.

The NHTSA's new requirements for Cruise include submitting a corrective action plan, along with others covering its total number of vehicles, their miles traveled and whether they operated without a driver. It also has to summarize software updates that affect operation, report citations and observed violations of traffic laws and let the agency know how it will improve safety. Finally, Cruise will have to meet with the NHTSA quarterly to discuss the state of its operations while reviewing its reports and compliance.

The order lasts at least two years, and the NHTSA can extend it to a third year. Reuters reported on Monday that, despite the fine, the NHTSA’s investigation into whether Cruise is taking proper safety precautions to protect pedestrians is still open. Cruise still faces probes by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

To say the incident sparked shakeups at Cruise would be an understatement. The company halted its self-driving operations after the accident. Then, last November, the dominoes began to fall: Its CEO resigned, and GM said it would cut its Cruise investment by “hundreds of millions of dollars” and restructure its leadership. Nine more executives were dismissed in December.

Nonetheless, Cruise is trying to rebound under its new leadership. Vehicles with drivers returned to Arizona and Houston this year, and GM said it’s pouring an additional $850 million into it. Earlier this month, it began operating in California again, also with drivers — which, it’s safe to say, is a good thing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/gms-cruise-fined-15-million-for-omitting-details-about-its-gruesome-2023-crash-210559255.html?src=rss