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Sony expands its LinkBuds line with new open earbuds, ANC earbuds and a speaker

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In early 2022, Sony took a gamble on a unique design for open-design earbuds. The company built tiny buds with a circular, donut-shaped speaker that were designed to be worn all day. It then followed those with a more "traditional" set, the LinkBuds S, just a few months later. That second model delivered a lot of the key features from the flagship WF-1000XM5, but at $100 less. 

Now Sony is expanding the LinkBuds line once again, adding three new options with very different designs. A second-gen version of the LinkBuds are now called LinkBuds Open (pictured above), with an all-new design debuting alongside them in the LinkBuds Fit. Lastly, there's a LinkBuds Speaker that allows you to automatically switch the audio between it and a set of earbuds as needed.

My key gripe with the original LinkBuds is that they weren't very comfortable. Sony did well to pack in a ton of features, including tapping your face in front of your ear for the onboard controls (Wide Area Tap). However, the rigid casing for the ring driver was too firm and the earbuds overall didn't stay in place that well. To address this, the company redesigned the "fitting supporter" for the LinkBuds Open, opting for a more common fit wing shape off the top edge. Sony also says it reduced the size of the second-gen model to further assist with a more comfortable fit.

Inside, Sony built a new 11mm ring driver that's still open at the center for an inherent transparency mode. Thanks to a carefully selected high-compliance diaphragm and a powerful magnet, the LinkBuds Open can better replicate clear highs and mids along with louder, richer bass, according to Sony. The company also upgraded the earbud chip to its Integrated Processor V2, the same component that's found inside the WF-1000XM5. Sony says this update should provide connectivity that's more stable compared to the LinkBuds.

Sony also extended the battery life on the LinkBuds Open, offering up to eight hours on a charge. That's up from five and a half on the first model. What's more, the quick charge feature now gives you an hour of use in three minutes, as opposed to 90 minutes of playback in 10 minutes on the original version. Sony included a fit check tool in its new app this time, allowing you to have the positioning analyzed with a photo (Sony has done this before with other models). Other key specs include an IPX4 rating and multipoint Bluetooth.

The LinkBuds Open are available for preorder today for $200, $20 more than the 2022 model. They're available in black, white and Olivia Rodrigo-collab purple (purple is US only). There are additional colors of case covers ($20) and additional fitting supporters ($10) to further customize your look. Those are available in blue, green, pink, purple and black.

LinkBuds Fit
Sony

The new LinkBuds Fit are a completely new design and the successor to the LinkBuds S. Based on consumer polling, Sony determined that fit and comfort were the two primary concerns for its customers. So, the company used its analysis of "extensive ear shape data" for the new curves. The earbuds are smaller and shorter, and a new Air Fitting Supporter is hollow to make it more flexible. Plus, a new ear tip is here to further enhance overall comfort.

Inside, a new Dynamic Driver X handles the audio, powered by the WF-1000XM5's Integrated Processor V2 chip that also assists with the active noise cancellation (ANC). That component also enables a new Auto Ambient Sound mode that automatically adjusts transparency audio based on your surroundings and an Auto Noise Canceling Optimizer that tweaks ANC in real time — all aided by dual noise sensor tech and multiple microphones. Sony called the ambient sound quality on the LinkBuds Fit the "best-in-class," which is a lofty claim when you consider the high bar Apple set with the AirPods Pro.

Battery life is slightly shorter than the LinkBuds S at five and a half hours. That's 30 minutes less than that previous model. Other key specs include an IPX4 rating and multipoint Bluetooth. Like the LinkBuds Open, you'll tap on the side of your face by your ear for the onboard controls (Wide Area Tap). 

The LinkBuds Open are available for preorder today for $200, the same price as the LinkBuds S was at launch. They're available in black, white, green and Olivia Rodrigo-hued purple (purple is US only). There are additional colors of case covers ($20) and additional fitting supporters ($10) to further customize your look. Those are available in blue, green, pink, purple and black.

LinkBuds Speaker
Sony

The third member of the LinkBuds trio isn't another set of earbuds, it's a speaker. The LinkBuds Speaker is a small, portable Bluetooth speaker with an IPX4 rating and built-in loop for hanging it up. You can expect up to 25 hours of battery life and a 10-minute rest on the charging dock will give you 70 minutes of use. The driver setup includes a woofer, a passive radiator and a tweeter, and Sony says the speaker is tuned for "well-balanced... pleasant and clear sound that does not tire the listener." There's a top-mounted microphone for calls that's flanked by volume and playback controls. A Quick Play button lets you get the music going with a single button press. 

The key feature of the LinkBuds Speaker is Auto Switch with compatible Sony earbuds. Those include the new LinkBuds Open and Fit, but the LinkBuds S and WF-1000XM5 are also on the list. The speaker's hand-off tool will work with the WH-1000XM5 headphones, too. Just like it sounds, the feature allows you to quickly swap the audio between headphones or earbuds and the LinkBuds Speaker. You can also use the Sound Connect app to set routines for the speaker so that things happen automatically during the day based on your schedule. You can set Auto Switch to occur daily when you're heading out to the gym or office, for example.

The LinkBuds Speaker is available for preorder today for $180 in black and grey color options. A charging dock is included in the box, but the speaker is only available in the US at this time.

During this new LinkBuds series launch, Sony is replacing its Headphones Connect app with a new one called Sound Connect. Starting today, all headphones which were compatible with the old app will now work with this new software. What's more, ULT speakers and the new LinkBuds Speaker will also work with Sound Connect. If you have Headphones Connect installed, you'll automatically change over the next time the app updates.

Sound Connect provides a much-needed redesign and a UI that looks more modern than the aging aesthetic of Headphones Connect. All of the key settings are right on the main screen and the app will provide tips for headphone and earbud use on the Discover tab.

For LinkBuds Open and LinkBuds Fit, the app delivers a few unique features that should make your life easier. First, there's a built-in voice control tool that allows you to control the earbuds with a "Hey Headphones" command. It's just like Bose offers on its new QuietComfort Earbuds. You can use it to control music, adjust volume, enable/disable ANC and check battery life. Taking a page out of Apple's book, Sony will also enable head gestures for accepting or rejecting calls on its two new sets of earbuds. An Auto Battery Save feature will disable things like EQ, DSEE upscaling, Speak to Chat and Voice Control to conserve energy when you hit 20 percent remaining. Lastly, a Background Music Effect can simulate less distracting sound as if it were playing in a bedroom, living room or cafe.

A full review of the LinkBuds Open, LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Speaker is in progress. Stay tuned to that detailed evaluation in the coming days. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sony-expands-its-linkbuds-line-with-new-open-earbuds-anc-earbuds-and-a-speaker-160045247.html?src=rss

Pebblebee’s new item trackers works with both Apple and Google ‘Find My’ networks

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Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find My Device are both smart tracking solutions to help us prevent losing our items, but devices made for one aren’t typically compatible with the other. However, Pebblebee is changing this by introducing its Pebblebee Universal, a trio of rechargeable item trackers that work with both Apple and Google systems.

The Pebblebee Universal line includes three products: the Pebblebee Clip Universal, Pebblebee Card Universal and Pebblebee Tag Universal. The Clip tracker is the standard model and is great for tracking all kinds of bags and keys. The Card tracker fits inside wallets and passports to prevent losing valuables. Finally, the Tag Universal is Pebblebee’s smallest rechargeable tracker, which will fit almost anywhere. We featured the Pebblebee Clip in our best Bluetooth tracker guide. It performed well in our tests and works as an excellent AirTag alternative.

Being able to connect to either the Apple or Google networks makes the Pebblebee Universal line of trackers much more versatile. Founder and CEO Daniel Daoura says these trackers are part of the company’s “mission to create one connected global ecosystem for all.” Note that if you set up your Pebblebee Universal tracker to connect to the Apple Find My network, you’ll have to perform a factory reset to use the other network in the future. All connections to the tracker are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only you get to see where it is. Pebblebee Universal trackers are currently available for $35 per tracker. They’re being sold on Pebblebee’s website, Best Buy stores, and Best Buy's official website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/pebblebees-new-item-trackers-works-with-both-apple-and-google-find-my-networks-160043182.html?src=rss

eBay will stop charging seller fees in the UK

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As of today, eBay consumer-to-consumer (C2C) sellers in the UK will no longer have to pay selling fees for any domestic purchases. The company had first tested free selling for pre-owned clothes earlier this year. Using the data from this test, eBay decided to open the floodgates.

In addition to the initial test in the UK, eBay also removed seller fees in Germany for domestic sales. In today’s announcement from eBay, CEO and President Jamie Iannone said that doing so can “strengthen our marketplace by lowering the barriers to C2C selling, which improves the breadth and depth of inventory on eBay.” However, Iannone also mentioned that the company will begin implementing a “buyer-facing fee” early next year.

Among the reasons cited for the removal of seller fees was that the UK is home to hundreds of millions of unused items. Iannone believes that sellers would be more inclined to set up shop on eBay if they didn’t have to spend money just to list items and not worry about the company taking a percentage of the money received after a sale. The breadth of items coming from consumers rather than just professional sellers could make the marketplace “more vibrant.”

eBay also faces competition from Vinted and Depop, two newer ecommerce platforms that don’t charge seller fees. Vinted, in particular, is a second-hand marketplace primarily for clothes, and eBay removing seller fees for clothes is a direct answer to the rival company. Depop, owned by Etsy, has also been growing. Thus, it’s not a surprise that eBay is following its competitor’s footsteps.

The announcement also mentioned more changes and improvements, such as a “streamlined listing process,” an improved local pickup process and a better wallet experience through eBay Balance. eBay plans to share more details on its future plans at the next Global All Hands event.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/ebay-will-stop-charging-seller-fees-in-the-uk-155751915.html?src=rss

The unsealed New Mexico Snapchat lawsuit alleges the company ignored child safety

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On September 5, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against Snap. Torrez claimed that Snapchat has become a platform rife with sexual exploitation, child grooming and other dangerous behaviors. That legal complaint was heavily redacted, but today, Torrez announced in a press release that he has filed an unsealed complaint, which goes into detail on how Snap allegedly knowingly created an environment that exposed children to sexual predators.

The unredacted accusations include how Snap employees encountered 10,000 sextortion cases each month. Still, the company never warned users because it did not want to “strike fear” among them. The statement also mentioned that Snap employees regularly ignored user reports related to grooming and sextortion. An account with 75 separate reports remains active, and Snap refused to touch any of this content, citing “disproportionate admin costs.”

Snapchat’s disappearing messages have long been a draw of the platform, but the suit alleges that they lull users into a false sense of security. Therefore, predators find it easier to solicit explicit images from users before extorting them for money, or these images will be sent to friends and family.

The unredacted complaint also notes that Snapchat’s “Quick Add” feature was suggesting adult strangers to minors, and Snap Map also lets adults find minors’ accounts. Quick Add was even proven to be dangerous as a New Mexico man, Alejandro Marquez, had used it to lure and rape an 11-year-old girl, as mentioned in the complaint.

The complaint also alleges that Snap's upper management routinely ignored former trust and safety employees who pushed for additional and improved safety mechanisms. CEO Evan Spiegel “prioritized design” over safety and even refused to preserve abusive images for review and for law enforcement to use as proof. The company also didn’t keep its child sex abuse images database updated, even rolling back changes and deleting evidence of matches.

Even worse, predators using Snapchat have taken to creating a “Sextortion handbook” to teach others how to target users at schools. Compounded with the fact that 90 percent of all reports are ignored and 30 percent of victims never received any assistance from Snap, predators could essentially roam freely.

That’s not the only issue New Mexico is concerned with. The complaint also accuses Snap of tolerating drug and gun sales. Drug dealers freely used the platform to advertise their wares without repercussions while also gaining “a huge amount of subscribers.” Teens have even died after using drugs they bought after seeing them advertised on Snapchat.

As harmful as these dangers are, Snapchat makes it difficult for parents to monitor their children’s Snapchat use, as only 0.33 percent of teens have joined the Family Center. Snapchat also doesn’t truly verify a user’s age, allowing fake birthdays to pass inspection. This contradicts Snap’s claims that it doesn’t let children under 13 years old use the app.

Based on these accusations, it would be easy to conclude that Snapchat is a dangerous platform for underage users. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s Director of Corporate and Strategic Initiatives, Lina Nealon, said: “In my conversations with law enforcement, child safety experts, lawyers, survivors, and youth, I ask them what the most dangerous app is, and without fail, Snap is in the top two.”

In a statement Snap sent to Engadget last month when the lawsuit was filed, the company claimed to be diligently removing bad actors and working with law enforcement. Today, Snap provided the following statement in regards to the unsealed complaint:

"We designed Snapchat as a place to communicate with a close circle of friends, with built-in safety guardrails, and have made deliberate design choices to make it difficult for strangers to discover minors on our service. We continue to evolve our safety mechanisms and policies, from leveraging advanced technology to detect and block certain activity, to prohibiting friending from suspicious accounts, to working alongside law enforcement and government agencies, among so much more.

We care deeply about our work here and it pains us when bad actors abuse our service. We know that no one person, agency, or company can advance this work alone, which is why we are working collaboratively across the industry, government, and law enforcement to exchange information and concept stronger defenses."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-unsealed-new-mexico-snapchat-lawsuit-alleges-the-company-ignored-child-safety-154235977.html?src=rss

Microsoft kills HoloLens 2, with no plans for a follow up device

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It looks like Microsoft’s AR platform HoloLens is being sent to a nice tech farm upstate. The company just announced that it’s discontinuing production of its HoloLens 2 headset, according to reporting by UploadVR. Microsoft has no plans for a followup device, so this is the end of the road.

The company has told its customers and enterprise partners that this will be the last time to purchase the headset before stock runs out. However, HoloLens 2 headsets will continue to receive "updates to address critical security issues and software regressions" until 2028. That will mark the end of software updates. The original HoloLens headset will stop getting software updates on December 10. That's in two months. 

We reached out to Microsoft to ask about its decision to end production of HoloLens headsets and if there’s any chance for a hardware update at some point in the future. We’ll update this post when we hear back.

This move isn’t that surprising, considering Microsoft scrapped plans for a HoloLens 3 headset back in 2022. Alex Kipman, the company’s mixed reality chief, said that same year that the “HoloLens is doing great” and that any rumors regarding the demise of the platform were greatly exaggerated. What a difference two years makes.

The HoloLens 2 first launched in 2019, just three years after the original. It was advertised as a device for enterprise consumers, so it never really entered the mass market. This was before decent passthrough became the norm in the AR/VR industry, so it had a lock on the enterprise market for a few years. It looks like that wasn’t enough. Microsoft nixed its entire mixed reality software suite last year. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/microsoft-kills-hololens-2-with-no-plans-for-a-follow-up-device-153319304.html?src=rss

VTuber Ironmouse breaks all-time record for concurrent Twitch subscribers

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A VTuber called Ironmouse now has the highest number of subscribers on Twitch, breaking the record previously set by Kai Cenat. As of this writing, Ironmouse has over 320,000 current subscribers on the website based on the counter on her profile, almost 14,000 higher than Cenat's record. Twitch subscribers pay either once or on a recurring monthly basis to support a creator's channel unlike ordinary, non-paying followers. Ironmouse, who uses a digital pink-haired anime girl avatar to interact with her fans, has been streaming regularly over the past 30 days as part of a "subathon" event."

Half of what she'll get from subscriptions will go towards charity, according to her profile, specifically the Immune Deficiency Foundation. As Polygon notes, Ironmouse has talked about her struggles with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in the past. The immune deficiency disease apparently left her bedridden at some points in her life.

Ironmouse mostly streams herself playing games, singing, collaborating with other streamers and Vtubers, and just interacting with her viewers. On her bio page, she describes herself as "your cringe demon queen from VShojo," the talent agency for VTubers which she's a part of. She posted a thank you message to her subscribers on X after breaking Kai Cenat's record, while Twitch posted a message congratulating her for "hitting the all-time sub count record."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/vtuber-ironmouse-breaks-all-time-record-for-concurrent-twitch-subscribers-153029423.html?src=rss

Jeep recalls 194,000 plug-in hybrids due to fire risks

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Jeep's owner, Stellantis, has recalled about 194,000 plug-in hybrid SUVs from the brand due to a risk of fire. The recall impacts specific Jeep Wrangler 4xe models from 2020 to 2024 and some Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe SUVs from 2022 to 2024 — the company estimates about five percent of the vehicles will have the defect. It discovered the issue after 13 fires were reported, all when the vehicle was parked and off. 

Despite the risk, Stellantis is not yet having customers bring their hybrids in for servicing. Instead, the company claims a "remedy is imminent," and owners will get notified when they can come in. For now, Stellantis states, "Vehicle risk is reduced when the battery charge level is depleted. Accordingly, owners are advised to refrain from recharging. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is also advising owners of these vehicles to park away from structures or other vehicles until the remedy is obtained." Basically, good luck if this is your mode of transportation because you really don't want to use it.

The recall has the greatest impact on US-based customers, with 154,032 vehicles recalled across the country. There are just over 14,000 affected vehicles in Canada, 673 in Mexico and 25,502 outside of North America. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/jeep-recalls-194000-plug-in-hybrids-due-to-fire-risks-150059282.html?src=rss

Here’s how Sonos hopes to win back your trust after its app debacle

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It’s been a disastrous few months for Sonos after the company botched a major overhaul of its mobile app. In an effort to win back users’ trust, the company has laid out a plan that includes several new commitments.

“Our priority since its release has been — and continues to be — fixing the app. There were missteps, and we first went deep to understand how we got here, and then moved to convert those learnings into action,” Sonos CEO Patrick Spence said in a statement. “We are committed to making changes to get us back to being the brand people love by offering the best audio system for the home and beyond.”

There are two pillars that Sonos’ latest plan is based on: tackling the core causes of the app’s problems (it wasn’t fully ready and lacked critical features) and winning back users’ trust. In the first instance, Sonos is promising an "unwavering focus on the customer experience." That nebulous commitment involves deciding on "ambitious quality benchmarks" at the beginning of a product development cycle and not releasing products before those standards are met.

The company will appoint a quality ombudsperson, who will be a point of contact for employees who have quality and customer experience concerns. Sonos leadership will consult this person during the development process and before any product rollouts. The ombudsperson will deliver a semi-annual report to the executives and employees as well.

Next, Sonos is planning to make its testing processes more stringent, such as by opening up its beta testing program to more types of users and different kinds of setups. Testing periods will be longer too. As such, Sonos thinks this will help it to address user concerns faster.

In addition, Sonos has pledged to roll out major changes to its app gradually. That way, users can provide feedback and let the company make tweaks before a significant update becomes the default for everyone. As for smaller-scoped features, there will be an opt-in toggle in the app for those who want to try them out on an experimental basis.

When it comes to earning consumers’ trust again, Sonos is making a trio of pledges. First, as a goodwill gesture, Sonos is extending the manufacturer warranty for all home speaker products (home theater gear and plug-in speakers) that are still under warranty. The company has promised to keep rolling out app updates between every two and four weeks in order to "optimize and enhance the software experience."

Last but not least, Sonos will set up a customer advisory board. This will provide the company with "feedback and insights from a customer perspective to help shape and improve our software and products before they are launched."

The company plans to implement all of these changes by the end of the year, though some of them are already in place. Sonos also notes that, unless it's able to rebuild trust with users and improve "the quality of the app experience," none of its executive leadership team members will receive an annual bonus for the fiscal year that commenced today. However, the company didn't spell out the parameters for meeting those goals.

The company debuted its new app in May in preparation for the debut of the Sonos Ace, its first set of headphones. However, to its detriment, Sonos rushed the rollout of the redesigned app. It was buggy and lacked several important and fundamental features, such as the ability to adjust alarms (it was possible, but inconvenient, to do that on the desktop app).

The company has spent several months trying to fix the issues, which it says will end up costing between $20 million and $30 million to resolve. The problems prompted Sonos to delay the release of two new products. It also laid off 100 workers in August.

Sonos says that it has brought back over 80 percent of the app's missing features and it expects to have restored almost 100 percent in the coming weeks. It claims that "the reliability and speed of the app has improved with each release."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/heres-how-sonos-hopes-to-win-back-your-trust-after-its-app-debacle-144236940.html?src=rss

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle drops to its lowest price of the year ahead of Prime Day

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If you're on the hunt for a new ereader, early Prime Day deals might have just what you're looking for. The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Essentials bundle is down to $203 right now, which is $55 off and the best price we've seen all year. It includes Amazon's higher-end ereader with 32GB of storage along with a fabric cover and its own wireless charging stand, so you'll have an attractive and dedicated spot to place the ereader for charging when you're not using it.

The Kindle Paperweight Signature Edition launched in 2021 and we called it "The best e-reader. Period." While other e-readers have come into the picture, it's still a great option — especially for Prime members. We gave it a 97 in our review thanks to features like a larger, more responsive screen and smaller bezels. The combination of the two gives this device an extra lux feel compared to alternatives. This edition also includes 17 individual LEDs, up from the five in its predecessor. The lights let you adjust the warm hue, similar to Apple's Night Shift.

It also has some logistical benefits like USB-C charging and wireless charging — with the e-reader lasting up to ten weeks on just one charge. The addition of the fabric case and wireless charging dock make it easy to keep your Kindle juiced up and damage free for only $13 more than buying the Paperwhite Signature Edition on its own. 

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/the-kindle-paperwhite-signature-essentials-bundle-drops-to-its-lowest-price-of-the-year-ahead-of-prime-day-141717270.html?src=rss

Microsoft delivers new Copilot+ AI PC features with Windows 11’s 2024 update

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Now that we're a few years into Microsoft's obsession with AI and its Copilot assistant, it's clearer than ever that Windows 11's role is to show off the company's artificial intelligence prowess. At least, that's the message I took away from today's announcement that the Windows 11 2024 (version 24H2) update is now beginning to roll out. While the OS itself is getting a few new features, like long overdue File Explorer tweaks, Microsoft is far more eager to hype up new Copilot+ AI PC capabilities.

There's "Click to Do," which triggers Copilot to assist you with whatever is on your screen, like removing an object in the Photos app, or summarizing a long article. It's seemingly easy to use — just hold the Windows button down and click your target — and Microsoft says it'll offer contextually relevant tips. As with so many of the company’s AI features, you can think of Click to Do as an on-demand super-powered version of Clippy, its infamous software helper from years past. But since Click to Do appears at your whim, and there are actually some potentially useful AI features, it should hopefully be far less annoying than that damn paperclip.

Windows 11 2024 update
Click to Do in Windows 11.
Microsoft

You'll also be able to upscale pictures in the Photos app by up to eight times their resolution. A slider will let you adjust precisely how much you'd like to increase the quality. This isn't particularly new—Adobe has its own AI-powered Super Resolution capability, as does the popular Mac photo editing app Pixelmator. But at least it's helpful to have it built directly into your OS. Generative AI-based fill and erase options are also coming to Paint, allowing you to remove objects or easily create new ones.

Microsoft has hinted at some AI-powered search improvements in the past, and it looks like those are finally arriving with the Windows 11 2024 update. Now you can find files using your own words, without worrying about esoteric search syntax. If you want to find pictures of your dog by the beach, you can just type that.

And of course, there's Recall, the company's debut Copilot+ feature for retrieving anything that happens on your computer. It was immediately criticized for being surprisingly insecure — researchers discovered that hackers could access the Recall screenshot database without administrator privilege. Microsoft immediately delayed Recall to revamp its security model: It's now making the feature completely opt-in, instead of flipping it on by default. Windows Hello biometric authentication is required to use Recall, and it's also encrypting the screenshot database and other interactions.

Windows 11 2024 update
Recall timeline in Windows 11.
Microsoft

Last week, the company detailed more of its security methods, including using VBS Enclaves to further isolate Recall from hackers. David Weston, Microsoft's VP of OS and enterprise security, noted in a blog post that "you are always in control" of the Recall experience. That reassurance may not be enough for users turned off by Microsoft's initial security flubs, though. If anything, Recall's rollout was a clear example of how the company was cutting corners to move quickly and be seen as an AI industry leader.

"Copilot will be there for you, in your corner, by your side, and always strongly aligned with your interests.," Mustafa Suleyman, the company's head of AI, wrote in an overly enthusiastic blog post. "It understands the context of your life while safeguarding your privacy, data and security, remembering the details that are most helpful in any situation."

Security will undoubtedly be a major concern for Copilot users moving forward, and according to Microsoft's Windows head, Pavan Davuluri, the company has learned from its troubled Recall launch.

"Ultimately, users want to have confidence with anything happening with sensitive data caches," he said in a briefing with press, adding that he believes the company has "gone above and beyond" to create that confidence. He also acknowledged that AI features enable "new attacks and defenses." For example, Windows has traditionally allowed administrator accounts to have total access to everything on a machine, but now users may want to see "additional rings of protection" with AI features.

Surface Pro Copilot+
The Surface Pro Copilot+ AI PC.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Davuluri stressed that community feedback helped Microsoft make Recall more secure for users, and the company will continue listening as it carefully rolls out more AI-infused capabilities. That's also why all of the above Copilot+ features won't be rolling out to everyone immediately — they'll be available to Windows Insiders first, and then arrive via a phased rollout to "select devices and markets" in November. The Windows 11 2024 update will also have a staggered rollout starting today. If you're eager to snag it, make sure you've enabled "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available" in Windows Update.

And what about features from this Windows 11 update that don't require Copilot+ PCs? They appear at the tail-end of Davuluri's blog post today, almost as an afterthought: There's Wi-Fi 7 support, HDR backgrounds, Energy Saver improvements to prolong battery life and better hearing aid support using Bluetooth LE. They sound like the Windows upgrades we used to see before Microsoft became completely AI-pilled, but they're certainly not as exciting as something like Click to Do.

Of course, that's all intentional. If you want to join the Copilot+ AI PC party, you'll probably have to get a new computer. And that's precisely what Microsoft and PC makers want.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsoft-delivers-new-copilot-ai-pc-features-with-windows-11s-2024-update-140048807.html?src=rss