The Morning After: Google replaces Chromecast with the TV Streamer

Ahead of next week’s Pixel devices event, Google has unveiled its latest product for the living room, the Google TV Streamer. It replaces the Chromecast and is a standalone set-top box as opposed to the dongles we’ve been used to. The tiny wedge-shaped doodad supports all the expected features, including HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and spatial audio. But Google is also making a big deal of the device’s smart home bona fides, with support for Matter and Thread. You’ll get a popover Google Home panel too, letting you tweak your smart home from the comfort of your TV.

Of course, you might wonder why Google needs to push this product out given how many Smart TVs exist. Or the ubiquity of other platforms that do much of the same job, from Roku to most streaming-friendly cable boxes. On one hand, Google wants to keep a toehold on the biggest screen in your home, and on the other, it’s a good way to advertise the search giant’s AI prowess, offering custom recommendations for things to watch. Plus, if you have been looking for something a bit more Made By Google, then you can snag this for $100 when it launches in September.

As for the Chromecast, we’ve prepared a little obituary for the dirt-cheap little streaming stick that could.

— Dan Cooper

Reddit CEO teases AI search features and paid subreddits

macOS Sequoia may require weekly permissions for screen recording apps

Disney is increasing prices (again) for standalone streaming plans

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on September 17

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Nest Learning Thermostat
Google

Google isn’t done shuttling out products ahead of its 2024 Pixel Event, however, and has also updated the Nest Learning Thermostat. The fourth-generation model gets a bigger LCD display, curvier design and customizable faces, including switching the screen to a clock when idle. You will also get more AI gimmicks to improve your energy efficiency, because of course you do.

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X has announced it’ll sue the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), an ad-industry group. CEO Linda Yaccarino claims the body, which publishes standards for digital advertising, has organized an “illegal boycott” of the platform. GARM, which counts Mars and Unilever in its member lists, stands accused of influencing where mega-brands spend their money.

Now, I’m just a simple country lawyer who doesn’t know much about advertising, moderation or business. But I wonder if firing your trust and safety team, making the site run as reliably as a British train and allowing hateful content to be posted next to ads might be an issue. No, of course not, that’d be silly. Let’s all try to find the guy who did this.

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Image of the new TE Sampler
Teenage Engineering

I don't care it’s a stupid gimmick, and I don't care I have no real interest in making this sort of music. Damnit, friends, I just want to play with Teenage Engineering’s EP-1320 Medieval sampler chock full of old-world sounds. Yes, it’s just the K.O. II with a different paint job, but you have to reward commitment to the bit this extreme.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-google-replaces-chromecast-with-the-tv-streamer-111523672.html?src=rss

Reddit CEO teases AI search features and paid subreddits

Reddit just wrapped up its second earnings call as a public company and CEO Steve Huffman hinted at some significant changes that could be coming to the platform. During the call, the Reddit co-founder said the company would begin testing AI-powered search results later this year.

“Later this year, we will begin testing new search result pages powered by AI to summarize and recommend content, helping users dive deeper into products, shows, games and discover new communities on Reddit,” Huffman said. He didn’t say when those tests would begin, but said it would use both first-party and third-party models.

Huffman noted that search on Reddit has “gone unchanged for a long time” but that it’s a significant opportunity to bring in new users. He also said that search could one day be a significant source of advertising revenue for the company.

Huffman hinted at other non-advertising sources of revenue as well. He suggested that the company might experiment with paywalled subreddits as it looks to monetize new features. “I think the existing, altruistic, free version of Reddit will continue to exist and grow and thrive just the way it has,” Huffman said. “But now we will unlock the door for new use cases, new types of subreddits that can be built that may have exclusive content or private areas, things of that nature.”

A Reddit spokesperson declined to elaborate on Huffman’s remarks. But it’s no secret the company has been eyeing new ways to expand its business since going public earlier this year. It’s struck multi million-dollar licensing deals with Google and OpenAI, and has blocked search engines that aren’t paying the company.

“Some players in the ecosystem have not been transparent with their use of Reddit’s content, and in those instances, we block access to protect Reddit content and user privacy,” Huffman said. “We want to know where Reddit data is going and what it's being used for, and so those are the terms of engagement.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddit-ceo-teases-ai-search-features-and-paid-subreddits-225636988.html?src=rss

macOS Sequoia may require weekly permissions for screen recording apps

macOS Sequoia will require regular permissions updates to use screen recording and screen-sharing capabilities. The software is in its public beta, and the new Apple operating system has added pop-up notifications that will ask users to confirm that software has access to the device's video and audio. For now, there doesn't appear to be a way to permanently grant permissions to third-party apps. Developers confirmed with 9to5Mac that this is a feature, not a bug. We've reached out to Apple for more information and will update this post with any additional details we receive.

These permissions alerts in Sequoia will pop up weekly, as well as the first time a relevant app is opened after a reboot. This security feature will be triggered by both third-party apps focused on screen recording and general programs that have screen-sharing capabilities, such as Zoom, Slack or Discord.

This feature might remind you of the User Account Controls from the Windows Vista days. We haven't run into this permissions issue in our time with the beta version of macOS Sequoia, so it's hard to say if the Apple version will be quite as infuriating as the Microsoft pop-ups.

macOS Sequoia does bring other useful updates to the computing experience. As well as introducing AI features with Apple Intelligence, the update will let users see their iPhone screen mirrored on their Macbooks, and can block distracting pop-ups in Safari.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/macos-sequoia-may-require-weekly-permissions-for-screen-recording-apps-215854870.html?src=rss

RIP Chromecast: Looking back at 11 years of Google streaming

Google’s Chromecast is no more. With Tuesday’s introduction of its successor, the company laid to rest the brand that kicked off 11 years ago with a novel product that helped move streaming onto the center stage of home entertainment. With the Google TV Streamer taking the baton, it’s time to look back at 11 years of Chromecast.

Google’s casting-centric brand arrived on July 24, 2013, with the first-generation Chromecast. The streaming stick plugged directly into a TV’s HDMI port and lacked a remote control. Instead, you fired up content using a mobile device or computer.

Most importantly, the innovative gizmo only cost $35. This was when an Apple TV set-top box started at $99, and app-laden televisions were nowhere near commonplace. Even Roku’s same-generation Streaming Stick, which landed a year earlier, cost $100. Oh, and it required a TV certified as “Roku-ready.”

When faced with pricier options, it was hard to resist the Chromecast. And many people felt that way: The stick quickly sold out. And it hung around for longer than most tech products, as the company only retired it last year.

Engadget applauded the device. Our review praised it as a wholehearted recommendation “for anyone who’s been looking for an easy, unobtrusive way to put some brains into their dumb TV.” The device was Google at its best: Innovating in a highly accessible, affordable and device-agnostic way.

Second-generation Chromecast in box
The second-generation model from 2015.
Nicole Lee for Engadget

What followed were years of iterations as competitors pushed out competing products, and Google responded with more modern features and redesigns.

The second-gen model from 2015 switched to a dongle form factor with a magnetized back and HDMI plug. The same year, Google launched a music-focused sister device, Chromecast Audio (with a vinyl record-inspired appearance). Chromecast Ultra, the first stab at a higher-end model, landed in 2016 with 4K streaming and Dolby Vision support. A third-gen model followed in 2018 with faster speeds, Nest speaker integration... and not much else.

This decade, we saw the awkwardly branded Chromecast with Google TV (4K) in 2020 — now with a remote!! — and the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) in 2022. In hindsight, the strange naming could now be seen as the company’s first nudge toward a rebrand. Of course, the Chromecast branding for casting popped up on smart TVs, speakers, and projectors as Google opened up and expanded the ecosystem beyond its own hardware. 

Two Google TV Streamer devices sitting on a red table.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget

This brings us to today, as Google bids adieu to its streaming wunderkind—at least under its old name. The Google TV Streamer, with its sleek wedge shape and unique hazel color option, is taking over in a much different landscape than we saw 11 years ago.

The Chromecast, especially that innovative first-generation model, helped push us into the streaming-first world many of us have lived in ever since. That’s especially true when you consider its impact on competitors. Roku’s second-generation Streaming Stick from 2014 dropped from $99 to $50 and ditched its doomed “Roku Ready TV” requirement. Meanwhile, Amazon saw an opening and launched a Fire TV Stick (also in 2014) that cost $39.

Without that first Chromecast model, it’s hard to tell how that landscape may have looked different in the following years.

It isn’t too late to dip your toes into the nostalgia pool and pick up a Chromecast, as Google says the old devices will remain on the market while supplies last. Crucially, the company’s promise of security updates and support remains unchanged, so there’s no need to fret if you recently picked up one of the soon-to-be-extinct devices.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/rip-chromecast-looking-back-at-11-years-of-google-streaming-211742586.html?src=rss

Castlevania comes to Dead by Daylight on August 27

Yet another video game crossover is coming to Dead by Daylight in the near future. Behaviour Interactive says the previously announced Castlevania chapter will go live on August 27. Those who can't wait that long for the official release can check it out on the Steam public test build right now.

The chapter brings both a new killer and survivor to The Fog. Of course, the latest killer to join the lineup is Dracula. Whenever he's the killer, you might see his castle looming on the horizon of the map.

He's also the first shapeshifting killer. In vampire form, Dracula "stalks his prey, able to conjure flames that sear flesh and render bone to ash," Behaviour says. As a bat, he can move quickly and quietly. When he's a wolf, Dracula is said to be a relentless hunter.

As for the new survivor, it's a Belmont, but perhaps not the first one that springs to mind. You can play as Trevor Belmont, a skilled vampire hunter. While he's maybe not the most physical member of the Belmont bloodline, his teamwork focus and ability to find allies in a pinch should stand him in decent stead in The Fog.

So far this year, Behaviour has brought Alan Wake, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft and Dungeons and Dragons to DbD. An original chapter will arrive in December. That's not all, though, as the publisher is gearing up to release a spinoff game called The Casting of Frank Stone on September 3. That will be a narrative horror-adventure along the lines of developer Supermassive's previous projects, such as Until Dawn and The Quarry.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/castlevania-comes-to-dead-by-daylight-on-august-27-190954431.html?src=rss

Disney is increasing prices (again) for standalone streaming plans

In what seems to be an annual tradition, Disney announced that the costs for standalone plans of its video streaming services will get more expensive, starting on October 17.

The ad-supported Disney+ Basic plan will increase from $8 a month to $10, while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan jumps from $14 a month or $140 annually to $16 a month or $160 annually. For Hulu, the plan with ads is changing from $8 a month or $80 a year to $10 a month or $100 a year and the ad-free plan will go from $18 a month to $20 a month. ESPN+ is getting pricing updates as well, with monthly costs going from $11 monthly or $110 annually to $12 monthly or $120 annually.

Recall that Disney+ was a mere $7 a month, without ads, when it launched less than five years ago.

Only one combo plan seems to be getting a change. The Disney Bundle Duo Basic, which includes ad-supported access to both Disney+ and Hulu, is increasing from $10 a month to $11 a month. The Hulu + Live TV plans are also hiking costs: $83 a month for ad-supported, and $96 a month for ad-free.

The increased subscription costs were included in a feature announcement that had been rumored earlier this year. Disney+ will start offering viewers continuous playlists starting September 4. There will be two playlists to start: a channel for ABC News Live, and one with videos for preschoolers. Four more playlists will debut later in the fall: Seasonal Content, Epic Stories (featuring franchises like Marvel and Star Wars), Throwbacks ("nostalgic pop culture content") and Real Life (biopics and documentaries).

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/disney-is-increasing-prices-again-for-standalone-streaming-plans-183518837.html?src=rss

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on September 17

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to last-gen consoles on September 17, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game was originally released for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC back in 2023.

For the uninitiated, this is a sequel to the absolutely fantastic Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It’s a third-person adventure with a bit of Metroidvania flair that’s set in the Star Wars universe in between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It’s a very good video game, particularly for franchise fans.

Pre-orders are available now and early purchasers get some bonuses. These include in-game cosmetic items that will turn the protagonist into someone who resembles Obi Wan Kenobi and a new blaster set. As for the software, EA says it’s been fully optimized to run on those older consoles.

It’s worth noting, however, that the game has struggled to run on PCs. EA has issued several updates to address performance problems but some still linger. To that end, the company’s prepping a new PC update that’ll release “in the coming weeks.” This will bring “enhancements to the game’s technical performance, controls and more,” in addition to “a variety of quality-of-life improvements.”

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor also recently released on Game Pass. The PS4/XB1 version will cost $50. A third entry in the franchise has already been announced because, well, Star Wars loves trilogies.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/star-wars-jedi-survivor-is-coming-to-ps4-and-xbox-one-on-september-17-181004549.html?src=rss

X sues advertisers for ‘illegal boycott’ of the platform

X, whose top executives have long railed against advertisers who fled the platform amid concerns over hate speech, is now also suing them. X has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and several of its members, including Mars, Unilever and CVS Health, CEO Linda Yaccarino said in an open letter shared on X.

According to Yaccarino, the group engaged in an “illegal boycott” of X. “The consequence - perhaps the intent - of this boycott was to seek to deprive X’s users, be they sports fans, gamers, journalists, activists, parents or political and corporate leaders, of the Global Town Square,” she wrote.

As Axios points out, GARM is part of the World Federation of Advertisers (which is also named in the lawsuit) and was created to come up with brand safety guidelines for online advertisers. The lawsuit alleges that the group “conspired, along with dozens of non-defendant co-conspirators, to collectively withhold billions of dollars in advertising revenue from Twitter.”

GARM didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

It’s not the first time X has filed a lawsuit against a group that Musk has accused of stoking an advertiser exodus from the platform. The company previously sued the Center Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an anti-hate group that published research showing that X failed to take down hateful posts shared by premium subscribers. That lawsuit was later dismissed by a judge who said X was trying to “punish” the group for sharing unflattering research. X is also suing Media Matters, a watchdog group that published a report showing X had displayed ads alongside anti-Semitic content.

“We tried being nice for 2 years and got nothing but empty words,” Musk, who nearly a year ago publicly told advertisers to “go fuck themselves," wrote in a post on Tuesday. “Now, it is war.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/x-sues-advertisers-for-illegal-boycott-of-the-platform-173100888.html?src=rss

Fall Guys is now in Fortnite’s battle royale mode for a limited time

Epic Games has brought two of its tentpole titles together in a fun way: Fall Guys has come to the Fortnite island for a limited time. A familiar-looking obstacle course has appeared in the skies above the sprawling battle royale arena. It'll be there until August 15.

If you happen to find a Bean Idol in the Classy Courts area of the map, your character will be transported to the obstacle course and turned into a Fall Guys bean (which, fact fans, is canonically six feet tall). If you're using an original Fortnite character rather than a licensed one, your bean will look like that skin. Otherwise, you'll have a default naked bean. You'll revert back to your regular more-boring humanoid look when you finish the course.

You'll have up to three attempts to finish the course but you can only complete it once per match. Once the course is in the storm, though, it'll be inaccessible.

There's a 120-second time limit and if you fall off, you'll respawn at a checkpoint or the start of the course. The faster you finish, the better the loot you'll get. So if you're good at Fall Guys, you'll suddenly be at an advantage in Fortnite. Finish in under 50 seconds and you'll get gold loot, likely making it easier for you to destroy those pesky Cybertrucks. There are quests you can complete for cosmetics like a Fall Guys bean-inspired back bling too.

Fall Guys is also now part of Fortnite's creative mode. There are a few pre-built islands you can check out that have new versions of iconic Fall Guys stages, including an unlimited version of Hex-A-Gone. You'll be able to build your own Fall Guys-themed islands in Fortnite too and publish them for others to check out. Whenever you're playing on these islands, your character will be in bean form.

Meanwhile, Epic has enabled proximity chat in creator-built islands. It'll be interesting to see that become available in battle royale modes eventually, as it could add an interesting wrinkle to gameplay.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fall-guys-is-now-in-fortnites-battle-royale-mode-for-a-limited-time-171506216.html?src=rss

Teenage Engineering’s built a medieval-themed sampler, complete with Gregorian chants

Teenage Engineering is no stranger to weird gadgets that defy description. This is a company that released a $250 toy car and, uh, whatever these are. We all knew that. We also knew that the company would likely be releasing a follow-up to its massively successful EP-133 K.O. II sampler. We couldn’t in a million years, however, have guessed that it would be a medieval-themed monstrosity.

That’s right. The sequel to the K.O. II is a sampler built entirely around sounds inspired by the middle ages. It’s all here, from Gregorian chants and lutes to drum sounds that recall Monty Python. The sampler also comes pre-loaded with tons of themed foley effects, like sword slashes, arrows, farm animals and, according to the company, “an actual dragon.” The EP-1320 Medieval has everything, if by “everything” we mean samples of screaming peasants.

Aesthetically, it’s basically the K.O. II with a different skin. The design features red calligraphy, castle towers and, of course, plenty of latin. As a matter of fact, it’s not even referred to as a sampler at all. The company’s calling it “the world’s first medieval electronic instrument” and there’s a large label on the front that reads “instrumentalis electronicum.”

The front panel of the EP-1320.
Teenage Engineering

There are new effects, for those worried it would just crib from last year’s model. These include something called a “torture chamber reverb” and another referred to as a “Bardic ensemble." The arpeggiator has been redesigned and there are hundreds of new multi-sampled instruments. Teenage Engineering also says, and I’m not kidding, that the drum pads smell of cocoa. We reached out about that last one and will report back when we get some info.

Of course, this is a sampler at heart, so users can put anything they want on it via the internal microphone or USB-C connection. It’s also essentially a K.O. II, so there’s the same punch-in FX tool, nine memory slots, dinky speaker and a battery compartment that holds four AAAs. But out of the box, it has everything you could possibly need for a D&D-themed rave.

Just like the original, it’s $300. Orders are available now. Diehards can also pick up a themed t-shirt, a vinyl record and a quilted carry bag.

The EP-133 K.O. II was a huge hit, but was plagued by some performance concerns, including a number of units that shipped with busted faders. TE says all of this was due to poor packaging. Let’s hope the company got all that sorted out.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/teenage-engineerings-built-a-medieval-themed-sampler-complete-with-gregorian-chants-164941795.html?src=rss