Tag Archives: language|en-US

The Last of Us season two trailer shows Ellie in danger and Joel in… therapy?

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September 26 is The Last of Us Day and to mark the occasion, HBO has dropped the first proper trailer for season two of its misery simulator TV adaptation. This expands on a sizzle reel we saw several weeks ago, which included the first glimpses of Catherine O’Hara’s character (seemingly a therapist) and Kaitlyn Dever as a pivotal newcomer, Abby. There’s more of both here, including that terrifying sequence of infected nearly crushing Abby under a chain-link fence.

There are quite a few other recognizable moments from The Last of Us Part II in the new clip, including an encounter between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and an infected in an abandoned supermarket and a famous scene of her playing guitar for Dina (Isabela Merced). The game’s subway segment is featured, along with the Seraphites and Jeffrey Wright, who reprises his Part II role as the leader of a militant faction. Of course, Joel (Pedro Pascal) is featured throughout the trailer too — he plays guitar with Ellie and sheds a tear, seemingly while in a therapy appointment with O'Hara.

Unfortunately, the clip doesn’t narrow down the release date for the season, which will air in 2025. However, HBO boss Casey Bloys recently indicated it will arrive in the first half of next year to make it eligible for the next Emmy awards (the same goes for the next season of The White Lotus).

Elsewhere, Naughty Dog is marking TLoU Day in its own way with some new merch and other tidbits. There’s a new bunch of TLoU-related avatars and emoji you can pick up using Steam Points, along with a thematic Steam Deck startup video. Meanwhile, PS Plus Extra and Premium members have access to the PS5 remake of the first game at no extra cost starting today.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-last-of-us-season-two-trailer-shows-ellie-in-danger-and-joel-in-therapy-160401898.html?src=rss

NotebookLM can now summarize YouTube videos

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You can now upload YouTube videos and audio files to NotebookLM, an AI-powered summarizing tool for education and research. The update means Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro-powered virtual assistant can now handle Google Docs, PDFs, text files, Google Slides, YouTube video URLs, audio files and web pages. This expands NotebookLM's potential sources to include lecture recordings, informative YouTube content and group discussions. Google claims that it securely stores all information uploaded to NoteBookLM and does not use it to train AI.

Google launched the virtual research assistant in the summer of 2023 and upgraded it to run on Gemini 1.5 Pro this past June. Alongside the AI-powered bump, Google expanded NotebookLM to be available in over 200 countries and territories. Most recently, Google added Audio Overview to NotebookLM. The tool has two AI hosts — hopefully not foreshadowing what hosting will look like in the future — discuss your sources, summarize material and "banter." Google is now adding the ability to share Audio Overviews with others through a public URL. 

The irony here is that the reason we'd need an AI to briefly summarize a YouTube video in the first place is because Google incentivized the creation of ever-longer videos.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/notebooklm-can-now-summarize-youtube-videos-160037375.html?src=rss

Apple’s silicone MagSafe iPhone 16 cases are 14 percent off in this early Prime Day deal

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The iPhone 16 is currently available and, well, these handsets are expensive. Investing in a case is never a bad idea and Apple makes some solid offerings. The company’s silicone MagSafe iPhone 16 cases are on sale via Amazon for $42, which is a discount of 14 percent.

The sale includes eight colorways, so as to better match the hue of the phone itself. As previously mentioned, these cases are made by Apple specifically for the iPhone 16, so the fit will be perfect. It’s made from recycled silicone, with a microfibre lining on the inside for more protection.

This is a MagSafe case, meaning it allows for wireless charging by setting it on a Qi2 or Qi-certified charger. It’s also been designed with the iPhone 16’s camera button in mind. The company says the case includes a “sapphire crystal, coupled to a conductive layer” that communicates finger movements. Translation? All of those neat swipey gestures will still work.

This case is only for the standard iPhone 16. It won’t fit the iPhone 16 Plus, the Pro or the Pro Max. It goes without saying that it also won’t squeeze over any handsets from previous generations.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-silicone-magsafe-iphone-16-cases-are-14-percent-off-in-this-early-prime-day-deal-152546345.html?src=rss

Early Prime Day deal bundles a free $30 gift card with the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds

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Here’s a tasty offer for anyone who’s been on the fence about picking up the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. If you snap up the earbuds from Amazon, you can claim a free $30 gift card.

There's no discount on the earbuds themselves, unfortunately, as they still cost $229. That's not a huge shock, since they were only just released. Still, you'll at least get a $30 gift card that you can spend on whatever you want on Amazon.

We gave the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2, the company's first earbuds with a Tensor chip built-in, a score of 88 in our review. Engadget senior reporter Billy Steele appreciated the comfortable design and the sound quality (citing the "punchy bass, full mids, crisp highs"). Those features alone make the upgrade worthwhile. Having a longer battery life than the previous model is a definite plus, while you'll get hands-free access to Gemini AI on a compatible device.

On the downside, spatial audio is only available for video-streaming apps for the time being, but not audio, so that's odd. You'll also need to be more precise when it comes to using the touch controls, as there's a smaller panel to work with. Google has also increased the price with the latest version of the Pixel Buds Pro, but at least the $30 gift card offsets that.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice in the lead up to October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/early-prime-day-deal-bundles-a-free-30-gift-card-with-the-google-pixel-buds-pro-2-earbuds-150229486.html?src=rss

LG Smart TVs bring ads to the screensaver

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LG has started showing screensaver ads on all its smart TVs, even expensive OLED models, according to an LG press release and a FlatpanelsHD report. The placements appear before the regular screensaver activates.

On top of an ad for LG's own streaming channel, one FlatpanelsHD reviewer spotted third-party ads. The screensaver ads will appear "across the home screen, LG Channels and Content Store on LG smart TVs," according to LG. These are now turned on by default but can be disabled in the settings. 

LG Smart TVs bring ads to the screensaver
LG Ad Solutions

LG didn't promote the new "feature" to the public, but it did herald it on its LG Ad Solutions site. The company said it "found that screensaver ads drove on average 2.5 times higher lift in brand awareness... challenging the assumption that that a viewer's attention is limited once the television screen is idle." 

It may be great for advertisers, but buyers paying up to $4,500 for a high-end TV may not be so keen. Many TV owners never bother to turn off the motion smoothing "soap opera effect" on their TVs, so LG may believe they won't dive into the menus to turn off the ads, either.

LG is already poking into the viewing habits of its buyers by vacuuming up content-recognition tracking data gathered from its TVs and handing it to the ratings company Nielsen. That type of revenue potential in a business with tight margins prompted it to launch the LG Ad Solutions division earlier this month, with aim of finding new ways to show ads and track smart TV users. Other companies are guilty of presenting ads in their smart TV ecosystems as well, including Samsung, Roku, TCL and others. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/lg-smart-tvs-bring-ads-to-the-screensaver-131445950.html?src=rss

Get $20 off Google’s new 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat

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Google’s latest 4th-gen Nest Learning Thermostat is on sale, just one month after the product was released. The device is $20 off via Wellbots, which brings the price down to $260. Just enter the code “20ENGNLT4” at checkout. This is a record low price, mostly because the thing just came out.

This is not an iterative improvement over the previous Nest Learning Thermostat. It’s a full redesign, with a new look and plenty of updated features. The LCD display is 60 percent larger than what’s found with the antiquated third-gen device, and there’s a curved front that eliminates the appearance of bezels. The whole thing is basically a screen now.

This larger display allows for plenty of personalization, with customizable faces like a smartwatch. It can even look like a regular analog clock. The UI automatically adjusts what’s displayed on the screen depending on how far you’re standing from the thermostat, thanks to integrated Soli radar sensors.

The new Nest is packed with AI, which is intended to provide more accurate readings and to offer potential actions to save money on that monthly utility bill. This is a smart thermostat, so it can be programmed to take actions on its own, depending on the ambient temperature and other factors.

To that end, it ships with a wireless temperature sensor that can be placed anywhere within range. Each Nest can integrate with up to six of these sensors, and more are available at $40 a pop or three for $100. The item also ships with a trim plate to cover paint and drywall imperfections and a steel plate for electrical box installations. It’s also likely to be relatively future-proof, as the third-gen Nest came out in 2015.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-20-off-googles-new-4th-gen-nest-learning-thermostat-130023124.html?src=rss

Google Maps will flag businesses with potentially fake reviews

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I have slowly turned into that frustrating person who won't go somewhere before checking its reviews on Google Maps. However, I also get suspicious when the reviews are too good — there's no pleasing me, apparently — so I'm relieved to hear that Google is making it easier to spot fake ones. Google is now issuing a warning for applicable businesses, stating, "Suspected fake reviews were recently removed from this place." 

Google has previously come under fire with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which opened an investigation into their handling of fake reviews in 2021. A user on X (formerly Twitter) first spotted the change in review handling on a Maps page for a company in the UK (possibly a coincidence).

Google has yet to confirm the feature or where it will be available, but Search Engine Roundtable reports Google recently updated its relevant support page to apply globally.

Google outlines possible restrictions that can be placed on businesses violating its Fake Engagement policy. One point is that the "business profile will display a warning to let consumers know that fake reviews were removed." Other temporary restrictions include not receiving new ratings or reviews, or having existing ones unpublished. If any of these actions occur, business owners will receive an email from Google and can appeal the decision.

While fake reviews can come from businesses in an attempt to boost their ratings, they can also derive from people hoping to tank them. If a business reports these fake reviews, it's unclear whether the same warning will come up (as the wording certainly makes the business seem at fault).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-maps-will-flag-businesses-with-potentially-fake-reviews-123133579.html?src=rss

Intel rolls out another fix for its CPU voltage issues

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Intel says it has determined four scenarios that could lead to voltage stability issues in its Core 13th and 14th-gen processors, and it has released another new update to address the issue. Its customers have been having issues with those processors since 2022, but it was only in July this year that the company figured out that their instability problems were caused by elevated operating voltage. The company explained back then that microcode algorithms have been sending incorrect voltage requests to its processors. Microcodes, or machine codes, are sets of hardware-level instructions. Intel promised in the same announcement to release microcode patches to address the "root cause of exposure to elevated voltages."

In its new post on its community page, Intel enumerated the four scenarios that could cause voltage instability, starting with the motherboard's power delivery settings exceeding its power guidance. Another scenario is that a microcode algorithm had been allowing its processors to operate at higher performance states even at high temperatures. The company already released a microcode patch for this back in June. The third scenario involves another microcode algorithm requesting high voltages at a frequency and duration which can trigger the issue. Intel had also released a patch for this in August. 

The latest microcode patch it has released, codenamed 0x12B, addresses the fourth scenario. Apparently, the processors could make elevated core voltage requests during light activity or while the computer is idle. Intel has distributed this patch to motherboard manufacturers, since it has to be loaded as a BIOS update. The company is already working with its partners, but it could still take several weeks for the manufacturers to roll out the fix to its products. 

The voltage stability issues plaguing Intel's Core 13th and 14th-gen processors have been causing computers to crash and fail completely. And based on previous reports, installing the patches Intel has released will not fix PCs that have already started showing symptoms of the problem. Shortly after announcing that it had determined why its processors were failing, Intel extended their warranties by two years so that customers can get theirs replaced. That was very much welcome, seeing as even PCs that work well at first could start showing issues and give out in the end.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/intel-rolls-out-another-fix-for-its-cpu-voltage-issues-120026958.html?src=rss

Sony’s PS5 Pro is available to pre-order today

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Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is almost here. The upgraded console is available to pre-order today with a whopping $700 price tag, thanks to new features like a more powerful GPU, better ray tracing and a narrower gap between graphical fidelity and performance.

But that isn’t far beyond your console budget, you can reserve pricey powerhouse before its November 7 launch. And, as to be expected, you'll probably want to do so immediately since the console already sold out in the UK. Here's everything you need to know about the new console and how to pre-order the PS5 Pro.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-ps5-pro-is-available-to-pre-order-today-115549437.html?src=rss

The Morning After: Meta launches a newer, cheaper VR headset

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Meta Connect is over for another year, leaving nought but some paper plates on the floor and a raft of new AR/VR gear on the table. Because we’re nice, we’ve prepared a comprehensive list of all the goodies announced at the show for you to peruse at your leisure.

The headline act is the Quest 3S, a stripped-down version of the Quest 3 that’s $200 cheaper than its namesake. Getting the base price down to $300 has meant some compromises, however, like removing the pancake lenses, dropping 4K and reducing the storage.

The 3S seems like a smart idea, since cost remains the second biggest barrier to getting VR/AR gear into people’s homes. The first, of course, being there’s still not a truly killer use case to convince the vast majority of people.

To further lever users toward the Quest 3 series, Meta also announced the Quest 2 and Quest Pro will soon shuffle off the stage. Naturally, given longstanding developer gripes that it’s difficult to develop for both the Quest 2 and 3, this makes plenty of sense.

Image of Meta's Orion smart glasses prototype
Meta

The other big news to come out of the show is the announcement of the Orion Smart Glasses, Meta’s new prototype AR wearable. These, the company admits, aren’t ready to go on sale yet, but it’s working with developers to refine the technology for some unspecified future release.

I’ll be honest: I’m forever skeptical about the potential for AR to be as smart and useful as I’d need it to be. I’m not going to invest until it’s at least as useful as Jeeves — from PG Wodehouse, not the search engine — even if it’s never going to be able to fold my laundry.

— Dan Cooper

Image of a Switch playing Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Photo by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Nathan Ingraham was lucky enough to play The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and is happy to share his thoughts. It’s a throwback top-down Zelda title, albeit with you playing as the title character for the first time. Rather than engaging in combat directly, Zelda must use her magic to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. Nathan’s a fan but, much like Tears of the Kingdom, found the sheer breadth and depth of tools available to be frustrating to marshal and organize.

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Image of a PS5 next to a PS5 Pro
Photo by Jessica Conditt / Engadget

Speaking of being lucky to play things ahead of time, Jessica Conditt has only bloomin’ gone and played with a PS5 Pro already. She has outlined her thoughts in this preview that says it’s a luxury you can live without, if you so choose. But if you have $700 lying around and really would like to see your games pop in a way they never have before, you should get one.

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Screenshot of DoNotPay.com
DoNotPay

DoNotPay, the “robot lawyer” designed to help you battle the smaller legal irritations of life, has been fined $193,000 by the FTC. Not for anything untoward, but for making unsupported claims about its efficacy compared to the human lawyers it seeks to replace. It’s part of the FTC’s crack down on companies using AI to make boastful claims about their abilities.

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It looks like OpenAI will soon restructure itself into a for-profit corporation, giving CEO Sam Altman an equity stake in the company. This is both in response to the boardroom drama that briefly saw Altman ousted from the project, and because OpenAI is likely to become a cash cow.

Continue Reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-111536507.html?src=rss