Tag Archives: author_name|Lawrence Bonk

Nokia just made the first phone call using 3D spatial audio

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Nokia just announced that it has made the first-ever audio and video call using 3D spatial audio. This is actually a big deal, as all phone calls currently made over a cellular network are monophonic, so there’s no possibility for spatial audio.

This call, however, was placed over a cellular network using the 3GPP Immersive Video and Audio Services (IVAS) codec, which lets people hear “sound spatially in real-time.” For the uninitiated, spatial audio splits into multiple channels to make it sound like it's coming from different directions. This technology has become pretty popular when streaming music, but video calls are certainly a unique use-case scenario.

However, you won’t be able to call up a family member to argue about politics in glorious 3D audio just yet. The IVAS codec is part of a forthcoming update to 5G networks, called 5G Advanced. This upgrade will purportedly offer faster speeds, improved energy efficiency and more accurate cellular positioning. 5G Advanced will technically make spatial calls possible, but Reuters says it’ll be a few years before cellular networks start offering the service.

The only possible hurdle is that the IVAS codec will only enable spatial audio in smartphones with at least two microphones, though that’s most of them nowadays. Nokia says the “vast majority” of phones should offer support for spatial audio calls once the cellular carriers get on board.

Also worth noting, this technology wasn’t developed by the Nokia that sells cheap handsets. The cellphone brand was licensed to HMD some years back. This is the research and technical arm of the company, so there’s no need for jokes about flip phones.

Nokia isn’t the only company trying to expand uses for spatial audio. Audible now offers spatial audio on select original titles and podcasts and Netflix recently brought the technology to hundreds of TV shows and movies.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nokia-just-made-the-first-phone-call-using-3d-spatial-audio-165043937.html?src=rss

Amazon sale bundles the Echo speaker with a smart light bulb for only $65

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The fourth-gen Amazon Echo smart speaker in white is on sale for $65, and the deal includes a Sengled Bluetooth smart light bulb. That’s two smart thingamajigs for the price of one. This is a discount of 40 percent. It’s not the lowest price ever for the Echo speaker, light bulb or not, but it’s close.

This Echo easily made our list of the best smart speakers. We really appreciate just how loud this thing can get, especially when compared to competing speakers. The bass is punchy and everything sounds great, though we do wish the high frequency range was a bit more prevalent. You can, however, buy two of these speakers and pair them up for stereo sound. That will certainly get the party going.

Echo speakers feature the ubiquitous digital assistant Alexa, which makes for a mighty fine alarm clock and will absolutely sing a song about cats if asked nicely. If you have plenty of smart gadgets in the home and you’re already tied to Amazon's ecosystem, grabbing this speaker is a no brainer.

The included Sengled S1 is also no slouch, as it made our list of the best smart LED light bulbs. It features auto-pairing with Alexa devices, plenty of different colors and a dimmable range from 5 percent to 100 percent. All of this can be adjusted via voice control. We enjoyed our time with this light bulb, though the Sengled mobile app won’t be winning any UI design awards.

This is part of a larger sale on Amazon that includes Echo speakers, Echo Show displays, Blink video doorbells, Fire tablets and a whole lot more. For instance, the cute-as-a-button Echo Pop compact smart speaker is on sale for just $20, which is 50 percent off.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-sale-bundles-the-echo-speaker-with-a-smart-light-bulb-for-only-65-151119591.html?src=rss

Valorant is coming to Xbox Series X/S and PS5 in a limited beta on June 14

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The massively popular free-to-play tactical shooter Valorant is finally coming to consoles, as announced on-stage at Summer Game Fest. The game will be available for both Xbox Series X/S and PS5 as a limited beta starting on June 14. Once the beta concludes and Riot Games works out all of the bugs based on player feedback, it’ll be available globally to all users.

There are some caveats. You have to sign up for the beta right here and it will initially only be available in the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Japan, with more regions to follow. Riot has also stated that there will be no crossplay between PC and console players, so as “to maintain Valorant’s renowned standard for competitive integrity.”

To that end, the game has been redesigned specifically for console controllers, with the company teasing “custom-built” gameplay. This won’t allow for crossplay, but will allow for a connected inventory and shared gameplay progression. Riot has also promised that both console and PC players will receive simultaneous updates, so patches, agents, maps and premium content will drop at the same time.

“We knew we had to be able to offer the same uncompromising, competitive experience that we’ve provided to PC players for years: a precise, team-based, tactical shooter,” said Arnar Gylfason, production director at Riot Games. “We hope we nailed it, but ultimately, our players will have the final say.”

For the uninitiated, Valorant has made a name for itself by focusing on precision and strategy, a rarity in the free-to-play FPS space. If you go in guns blazing without some serious tactical planning and some check-ins with your team, you’ll lose every single time. It’s more about outsmarting your opponents than shooting. It’s also a major player in the esports scene.

Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valorant-is-coming-to-xbox-series-xs-and-ps5-in-a-limited-beta-on-june-14-230016116.html?src=rss

TikTok says it fixed a vulnerability that enabled a cyberattack on high-profile accounts

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TikTok says it has fixed a vulnerability that allowed for a cyberattack that targeted high-profile accounts, as reported by Axios. A TikTok spokesperson added that the company is currently working to restore access to impacted users.

The social media giant hasn’t announced how many accounts were hit by the attack, but we do know that CNN and Paris Hilton were targets. The hack involved sending messages to users that were filled with malicious code. When the user opened up the message, the code went to work and took over the entire account. Oddly, the impacted accounts didn’t post anything while they were compromised.

It remains unclear who was behind the attack and what their ultimate goal was, aside from taking over celebrity TikTok accounts. TikTok also remains mum as to the specifics regarding the vulnerability that allowed for the attack in the first place. This type of hack is extremely rare, however, so it shouldn’t be a big concern for average users. 

The hack is known as a zero-click attack, meaning that you don’t have to click on anything to get infected. In this case, users just had to open up a direct message. The method used here is similar to zero-click spyware attacks, only those hackers target high-profile government officials and journalists for the purpose of secretly gathering information. This attack took over the whole account for unknown purposes.

This isn’t the first big TikTok hack. Last year, over 700,000 accounts in Turkey were compromised due to insecure SMS channels. Researchers at Microsoft discovered a flaw back in 2022 that let hackers overtake accounts with just a single click. Later that same year, an alleged security breach allegedly impacted more than a billion users. That’s a whole lot of people.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiktok-says-it-fixed-a-vulnerability-that-enabled-a-cyberattack-on-high-profile-accounts-184313591.html?src=rss

One of our favorite pairs of wireless earbuds for running is on sale for only $78

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The Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are on sale via Amazon for just $78, which is a discount of 35 percent. This isn’t a record-low price for the earbuds, but it’s dang close. Unfortunately, this major discount only applies to the black version, though many of the other colorways are still on sale.

These earbuds easily made our list of the best headphones for runners, and it’s not just because the word “active” is in the name. We appreciated the comfortable fit and IP57 water and dust protection, which includes protection from sweat. They’ll do fine with your daily exercise routine.

Of course, earbuds live and die by their sound quality and the Elite 4 is no slouch in that department. It boasts a fantastic sound profile right out of the box, but you can tweak the EQ via the company’s proprietary app. This app also lets you save profile presets. Sometimes you just need a bit more bass when running, to account for all of that exterior noise.

Speaking of exterior noise, these earbuds feature decent ANC. The battery life is solid, thanks to the included charging case, and the multipoint connectivity is useful when switching audio sources. The case also includes the option for wireless charging, which is always a nice bonus.

These aren’t perfect, but what is? The company’s HearThrough transparency mode isn’t as natural-sounding as tech found with rival products like the Beat Fits Pro. The Elite 4 Active earbuds also lack the ability to play spatial sound with Dolby Audio. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/one-of-our-favorite-pairs-of-wireless-earbuds-for-running-is-on-sale-for-only-78-163046935.html?src=rss

Blink Mini two-packs drop to only $30 at Amazon

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Blink Mini security cameras are on sale via Amazon. You can scoop up a two-pack for just $30, which is 40 percent off and a record-low price. The sale extends to single packs, which are 33 percent off, and triple-packs.

The Blink Mini is not the most recent model, thanks to Amazon's release of the Blink Mini 2, but it's still a fantastic way to keep an eye on your home. These cameras are easy to set up, connect via Wi-Fi and capture 1080p video. They also capture infrared signals and send security alerts directly to your phone anytime the sensor detects movement.

There’s also two-way audio and an affiliated app, so you can yell “who’s the cutest in the world? It’s you the cutest in the world” at a pet while at work. Blink is owned by Amazon, so there’s full Alexa voice control, which is always nice. Finally, the Mini comes with a free 30-day trial of the company’s subscription plan, which lets you save and share video clips.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blink-mini-two-packs-drop-to-only-30-at-amazon-155700282.html?src=rss

Record labels will start reaching into the pockets of Twitch DJs

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Twitch has entered into a first-of-its-kind partnership with all of the major record labels that will force DJs who monetize to pay a fee to use songs in livestream sets. The actual percentage being paid out to these labels is being kept under wraps and varies according to the chosen monetization method, but the DJs and Twitch will reportedly split these fees 50/50. The company also says that it'll cover more than 50 percent at first, but didn't get into numbers.

Twitch will also be offering a one-year subsidy to select DJs to help cover the difference between earnings and money paid to labels. The company didn’t announce how it would award these subsidies or if it would cover all of the required licensing fees. It did say that the subsidy amount would reduce over time as the program increases in popularity. There are thousands upon thousands of DJs on Twitch, so it’d be nice to get a little bit of clarification here. We’ve reached out to the company and will update this post when we hear back.

There’s a sliver of good news here. This move is only for DJs who monetize their streams. If you’re an amateur record spinner, you won’t have to pay out of pocket. The labels will still get money from these streams, because non-partnered channels still contain ads, but Twitch will cover the costs. It remains to be seen just how long the company will continue this act of altruism.

Why did Twitch do this in the first place? The company says the previous model, which didn’t pay out to labels or artists, was “not sustainable,” calling out a “variety of copyright issues that need to be considered that vary across regions.” Twitch says it's trying to avoid DMCA takedown notifications and copyright penalties. Up until this point, DJs have been personally responsible for dealing with these issues.

The program officially goes live this summer, along with a new DJ category for streamers. As a note, the aforementioned deal is with the record labels and not the actual artists. I’m sure these labels will fairly distribute funds to the creators in a timely fashion. That was sarcasm. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/record-labels-will-start-reaching-into-the-pockets-of-twitch-djs-180621639.html?src=rss

Skatrix for Apple Vision Pro now features room-scale mixed reality gameplay

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Niantic's skating sim Skatrix Pro just got a beefy update for Apple Vision Pro that adds room-scale mixed reality gameplay, among other features. This means that the little skater boi avatar is free to roam the living room, doing gnarly tricks on your furniture.

Skatrix Pro was a day-one release for Apple Vision Pro and was co-developed with Reality Crisis, but the full mixed reality gameplay wasn’t ready yet. At launch, you skated in a floating cube in AR space. Now, thanks to the headset’s advanced scanning capabilities, the real world is transformed into a skatepark. This allows for interaction with “virtually any object, shape or terrain.” Who among us hasn’t wanted to grind off of a washing machine, flip and land on top of a sleeping cat? It’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Basically, the headset uses LiDar scanning to construct a detailed 3D mesh of the environment, which captures “geometry with high precision.” In other words, the skater should interact with an object as if both were in the real world.

As for controls, there’s a virtual joystick that floats in AR space, but Niantic has also implemented 3D hand input gestures. The company said this makes it “easier to control the avatar while exploring new tricks in new spaces.”

Skatrix is available for mobile devices and Niantic says it’s planning future updates that “connect the dots between headset and mobile gameplay” to deliver cross-platform play. The company will also continue to improve the physics engine to allow for greater accuracy. Skatrix Pro for the AVP costs $20, but the headset itself is still $3,500.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/skatrix-for-apple-vision-pro-now-features-room-scale-mixed-reality-gameplay-165417900.html?src=rss

This Anker 3-in-1 MagSafe charging stand has never been cheaper

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The Anker 3-in-1 Cube MagSafe charging stand is on sale at Amazon for $113. This matches a record low price for the charging accessory and is 25 percent off. That’s still a large chunk of change for a charger, so let’s take a look at what you actually get

First of all, this model comes with everything you need to get started. It ships with the stand itself, a power cable and a 30W charging brick. Some versions of this accessory don’t come with the cable or brick, requiring a separate purchase. It’s also MagSafe compatible and has spots to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time.

The device folds down to a compact cube when it’s not being used and is designed so that the iPhone’s viewing angle can be adjusted while charging, which allows for both landscape or portrait mode. Once folded, it’s easy to just pop this thing in a pocket or bag so you can have access to 15W high-speed charging on the go.

It’s tough to fully recommend any charger that’s above $100, especially when there’s an endless array of cheap-as-dirt devices out there. However, I’ve tried a good baker’s dozen of those off-brand chargers and, as they say, “you get what you pay for.” Anker makes good stuff and its gadgets are regularly featured in our lists of the best chargers and power banks. If you’re sick of constantly replacing $20 chargers, this might be a good time to splurge.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-anker-3-in-1-magsafe-charging-stand-has-never-been-cheaper-152256126.html?src=rss

Panasonic has revealed the followup to the popular Lumix GH6 vlogging camera

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Panasonic just announced the followup to its popular Lumix GH6 vlogging camera, the GH7. This Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera comes just two years after the release of the GH6, which is pretty quick in the videography world. The GH5 was released five full years before the GH6.

The 25.2-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor is likely the same as the one on the photo-centric Lumix LG9 II announced earlier this year. It also offers improved autofocus performance, which has been a much-requested feature, thanks to phase detection auto-focus (PDAF). There’s also a newly added real-time auto-focus recognition algorithm for use on airplanes and trains.

The GH7 is designed for video, and it looks like it delivers in that regard. It now supports internal ProRes RAW recording at up to 5.7K 30p along with ProRes as before, and can shoot 5.8K 60p 10-bit H.265 video. It can handle 4K at up to 120fps or Full HD at 240fps. It's equipped with both SD UHS II and CFexpress card slots, with the latter required for ProRes and ProRes RAW recording.

On top of ProRes RAW for video, it supports 32-bit float audio recording. Panasonic says the float recording “eliminates the need to adjust sound recording levels during shooting,” though it does require a separate XLR adapter. The image stabilization technology has also gotten a boost, which includes perspective distortion correction for videos.

We don’t know how heavy it’ll be and the GH6 was certainly on the heftier side. The battery life of the previous model was also fairly short, maxing out at 400 still images and around an hour of continuous 4K shooting. This camera should be able to shoot for long periods of time, however, as Panasonic has added a cooling fan for heat dissipation. It’s also splash resistant, dust resistant and freeze resistant down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

A hand holding a camera.
Panasonic

The GH7 supports native Camera to Cloud integration via Adobe’s Frame.io, which automatically uploads images and videos to the cloud. Otherwise, many features from the GH6 have been retained, like the flip-out display, dedicated audio setting button, real-time LUTs, time code in/out, 3.68-million-dot OLED viewfinder (120Hz), external USB-C SSD support and more.

All in all, this looks like a worthy update to the line. Panasonic’s latest and greatest vlogging camera will be available in July for $2,200. Incidentally, this is the same price that the GH6 released at back in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/panasonic-has-revealed-the-followup-to-the-popular-lumix-gh6-vlogging-camera-210033083.html?src=rss