Google Meet is getting a new AI tool called take notes for me, which will generate summaries of key points during a video call. Rather than offering a word-by-word transcription, this feature uses Gemini AI to record key discussion points in a Google Doc that will appear in the meeting owner's Google Drive. The document can be automatically sent to the attendees or added to the calendar event after the call. It will also include links to the meeting recording and transcript if those features have been enabled.
Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Enterprise, Gemini Education Premium, and AI Meetings & Messaging add-ons will be the first to have access to this note-taking feature. Its use is currently limited to English language and to meetings on computers or laptops.
The tech company announced plans to include generative AI in more services last year, and has been aggressive in putting AI features into its hardware and software since then. Its Gemini AI assistant is getting baked into Android and into its Workspace apps. As always, the usefulness of these features may vary depending on how well the AI works and how accurate it is. The specter of Google's AI Overviews telling people to eat glue pizza will likely continue to hang over its ongoing efforts in this space.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-ai-can-now-take-notes-on-your-meet-video-calls-215741583.html?src=rss
It's only been four months since we reviewed the latest Intel version of the XPS 13, but now Dell has released a model built for Microsoft's Copilot+ AI PC initiative. It's running Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X Elite chip, making it an Arm-based laptop like the recent Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. But with that mobile-focused hardware comes new expectations: More battery efficiency than Intel's x86 chips, as well dramatically faster AI capabilities thanks to its beefier NPU (neural processing unit). As with all Arm-based Windows systems, though, there's also the potential for trouble with older x86 apps, which may run slowly through emulation or simply not launch at all.
It's undoubtedly a chaotic time for the PC industry, as chipmakers and PC companies build for an uncertain AI-powered future. For consumers, that just means confusion. That's partially why Microsoft kicked off the Copilot+ program to begin with, since it requires system makers to include at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and an NPU with at least 40 TOPS (tera-ops per second) of AI performance. If it says Copilot+ on the box, it should be a decent PC.
So does this XPS 13 live up to the Copilot+ branding? Mostly, it turns out. And it's fascinating to see how it compares to the current Intel version of the very same product.
What's new about the XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?
The biggest addition to this XPS 13 — and the main reason we’re reviewing it — is that Snapdragon X Elite chip. Everything else about this XPS 13 is the same as the previous iteration. There's its strikingly minimalist design, with an "invisible" touchpad that blends into the wrist rest, as well as large-capped keys running edge-to-edge. And don't forget the capacitive function row, which remains a baffling feature.
If you want a deeper take on the XPS 13's design, just take a look at my previous review. In short, though, it's a machine that basically prioritizes looks over usability. It's light, sturdy and dramatically different from every other laptop out there. But to get there, Dell made the trackpad harder to use (it's not quite as accurate as Apple's MacBooks or Microsoft’s Surface PCs), and its capacitive function row is simply a pain.
As for the XPS 13's new Snapdragon X Elite chip, it features 12 cores running up to 3.4GHz, with a dual-core boot reaching 4GHz. In comparison, the Intel variant's Core Ultra 7 155H chip offers 16 cores and reaches up to 4.8GHz. Qualcomm has the advantage with a more powerful 45 TOPS NPU, compared to Intel’s 10 TOPS, but I haven’t found that to make a huge difference with the few AI features in Windows 11 today. As the benchmarks below show, bigger chip numbers don't always lead to better performance.
PCMark 10
Geekbench 6 CPU
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Cinebench 2024
Dell XPS 13 Copilot+ (Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite)
14,024 (Applications)
2,621/14,194
6,191
122/748
Microsoft Surface Pro (2024, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite)
12,615 (Applications)
2,769/13,842
6,430
120/770
Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Intel Arc)
6,806
2,276/11,490
4,579
90/453
Apple MacBook Air (M3)
N/A
3,190/12,102
8,310
141/490
What's good about the XPS 13 Copilot+?
In short, this XPS 13 delivers most of what you'd want from a modern ultraportable, while also preparing you for a potential future with more AI-powered apps and features. It’s attractive, fast (for most apps, anyway) and sturdy. It’s also the perfect system if you want to stand out a bit, since it looks unlike any other laptop out there.
It runs most productivity apps well, and had no problem multitasking when I had dozens of tabs open across Chrome and Edge, while video conferencing in Zoom and chatting with colleagues on Slack.
Across most benchmarks like Geekbench 6 and Cinebench 2024, this XPS 13 easily trounced its Intel sibling by several thousand points.
Qualcomm’s 45 TOPS Snapdragon X Elite NPU makes the Copilot+ XPS 13 more future-proof than the current Intel model.
Battery life was excellent, reaching an average of 17 hours and 47 minutes after running the PCMark 10 Applications battery benchmark twice. It's worth noting it took several software updates to get to this result, but our testing consistently shows it holding around that time. In comparison, the Intel XPS 13 lasted for 13 hours and 15 minutes. Microsoft’s Surface Pro Copilot+ system, meanwhile, ran for twelve hours and 15 minutes in the Applications test.
Dell's XPS 13 keyboard is lusciously wide and delivers excellent feedback. It may take a bit of getting used to though, since the spacing differs from most other notebooks.
I tested the XPS 13's base-level 1080p+ non-touchscreen display, and while it wasn't as glorious as the OLED-equipped XPS devices I've seen, it still looked sharp and colorful.
As always, Dell's thin InfinityEdge bezels also help the screen pop even more.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
What's bad about the XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?
Take most of the downsides from the Intel version of the XPS 13, as well as problems still plaguing Arm-based Windows devices like the Surface Pro, and you've got the big issues with the XPS 13 Copilot+ PC.
Some emulated x86 apps like Evernote run into noticeable slowdowns. I often encountered lag when switching between notes, as well as scrolling down long documents.
The built-in AI features in Paint and Photos are mostly useless, and it's still unclear when the long-awaited Recall feature will arrive for general users.
We also don't know when to expect any other AI features in the OS, or when other developers will start releasing more AI capabilities in their apps.
Games like Fortnite, Destiny 2 and League of Legends won't run on the XPS 13, because their anti-cheat software isn't compatible with Arm chips.
I'm still not a fan of the XPS 13's invisible trackpad. It's sometimes hard to locate and swiping around isn't as smooth as on Apple's MacBook Air.
The XPS 13 desperately needs more than two USB-C ports, otherwise many users will be stuck living the dongle life.
The capacitive function row still disappears in direct sunlight and it's impossible to use without directly looking at it. After all, it's hard to build up touch typing memory without physical keys.
Check out those disappearing function buttons!
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
Should you buy the XPS 13 Copilot+ AI PC?
The XPS 13 typically starts at $1,300 with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. At the time of this review, it’s currently on sale for $999, but it’s unclear how long that discount will last. The Intel model also starts at $1,300 with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, but you’ll have to add another $100 to get 16GB of memory. (The Intel XPS 13 was recently marked down to $1,200, so don’t be surprised if you see Dell’s prices fluctuate frequently.)
If you need a powerful 13-inch laptop right now, the XPS 13 Copilot+ is a solid choice. Just be wary of the downsides and potential software issues I mentioned above. If you're on the fence, though, it may be worth waiting until Dell refreshes the XPS 13 once again with Intel's new Lunar Lake CPU. That's expected to arrive this fall, and it'll feature an NPU that's even faster than the Snapdragon X Elite's. And since it's an x86 chip, the Lunar Lake XPS 13 won't have to emulate older software, and it will also be able to run games like Fortnite.
Update 8/30 11:10AM: After installing the latest updates from Dell and Windows, the XPS 13's battery life jumped to 17:38 in PCMark 10's benchmark. We've repeated this test twice to confirm the higher figure. For this reason, we're increasing the XPS 13's score from 80 to 84.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/dell-xps-13-copilot-review-a-capable-ai-pc-but-windows-on-arm-issues-remain-200050685.html?src=rss
X, in its quest to become an “everything app,” is working a new feature that seems to be geared more for its own employees than its actual users. The company is testing its own version of Zoom, called X Conference.
X employee Chris Park said the company was testing the tool internally, in a post on X spotted byTechCrunch. Based on Park’s screenshot and description of the tool, it sounds like it’s a fairly basic version of multi-person video conferencing compared with Zoom or Google Meet. He said the ability to pin speakers and improved notifications are “likely coming” to the tool, which he claimed was “already a really strong alternative to Google Hangouts, Zoom, AWS Chime, and certainly... Microsoft Teams.” Elon Musk also briefly weighed in, posting a fire emoji in response to Park’s post.
First ever 𝕏 Conference meeting with some of my great @X and @XDevelopers teammates.
Already a really strong alternative to Google Hangouts, Zoom, AWS Chime, and certainly... Microsoft Teams 🤠
Minimal feedback that is likely coming: - better vis or notification when someone… pic.twitter.com/FJ252w6m4C
App researcher Nima Owji also spotted the feature earlier this month, posting a screenshot that indicates X Conference will support spatial audio and have built-in captions. But even with those features, it’s not at all clear that there is any demand for an X-owned video conferencing platform outside of its own employees.
The app already supports person-to-person video calls as well as public broadcasts over Spaces. X has repeatedly struggled with technical difficulties during high-profile streams, like Musk’s recent talk with Donald Trump. Musk blamed the issues on a “DDOS attack,” an explanation that has been questioned by some security experts and former employees.
While it’s unclear who X is targeting with its new video conferencing feature, it wouldn’t be the first time the company has ventured into seemingly corporate-friendly features. X also added a job search tool last year and Musk has said he wants X to make a “cool” version of LinkedIn.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-is-working-on-its-own-version-of-zoom-for-some-reason-194054470.html?src=rss
Samsung’s SmartTag 2 has dropped to a record-low price. Woot has a four-pack of the item trackers for only $60. That’s $40 off the bundle’s usual price and $10 under its previous low. Included in Engadget’s list of the best Bluetooth trackers, Samsung’s device supports Bluetooth and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Samsung’s network of Galaxy phones.
Samsung’s second-gen AirTag alternative has an oblong design with a metal ring inside for improved durability. The accessory has IP67 dust and water resistance, an improvement over the previous model. If you want extra protection for the accessory, Samsung makes an optional silicone case for the tag.
The battery in the SmartTag 2 (a CR2032 watch battery) can last 500 days in Normal Mode or 700 days in Power Saving Mode. It also includes a Lost Mode, which lets anyone with an NFC-compatible device tap the tag to scan it and view the owner’s contact info (if you choose to share it) and an optional personalized message. And if you misplace an item with an attached tag, you can activate a Compass View, which displays its direction and distance from your phone.
The biggest limit is that the accessory isn’t universally compatible: It requires a Samsung phone or tablet running at least Android 8.0. Although the SmartTag 2 isn’t part of Google and Apple’s anti-stalking measures, rolled out earlier this year, Samsung included an “Unknown tag alerts” feature. This feature sends an alert to anyone the tag moves with, providing instructions to remove the battery and power it down if needed.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/a-four-pack-of-samsung-smarttag-2-trackers-drops-to-60-for-labor-day-191955308.html?src=rss
Due to a “challenging external environment,” Sony will increase the PS5’s price in Japan by 19 percent. The new price of the standard PS5 model will be ¥79,980 (about $554) and will come into effect by September 2, 2024. Prices for the console in other countries are not affected.
It’s important to note that Sony raised PS5 prices around the world two years ago, with the exception of the US. Similar to the Japanese price hike, Sony also remarked that “challenging economic decisions” led to this difficult decision. Without getting into specifics, the console isn’t the only product about to cost more, as accessories like the DualSense controller and PlayStation VR2 are also experiencing price hikes.
A price hike this late into the console’s life and by this much is rather unusual, and Sony is expecting fewer PS5 sales for the fiscal 2025 year. But despite that slowdown, the PS5 reached 50 million sales last year and is outselling the Xbox Series X/S by a wide margin.
There are also rumors that a PS5 Pro will come out this fall. While it’s not likely why the PS5’s price in Japan is increasing, it’s still a potential factor in how Sony considers pricing the current model. Nevertheless, the PS5 Pro is still unconfirmed.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-hikes-the-playstation-5-price-in-japan-by-19-percent-160557944.html?src=rss
Instagram has introduced new text tools meant to help you design a grid that's more reflective of your personality. To start with, you can now layer your photos and add text to them, as stickers, to achieve the look you want. You can start the whole process by selecting an image and then tapping the text button to write a text overlay for it in the font that you prefer. If you'd rather layer several images for one post, tap on the gallery button in the top right corner of the screen instead. You can then change the shape of the sticker, which again can contain either a text or another image, into a square, a circle, a heart or a star by tapping on it.
Speaking of text you can add to your photos, Instagram is adding new fonts you can use in the app. You can combine those fonts with the new animations and effects the app is adding, as well, to jazz up your Reels and Stories. Earlier this month, Instagram doubled the number of photos and videos you can share in a carousel post. From 10 files, the app now allows you to upload up to 20, giving you an easy way to add photo dumps to your account. These new features will let you personalize your photo dumps and to potentially use them as an outlet for your creativity... sort of like how Myspace users could customize their profiles back in the day. In fact, Instagram also recently announced a feature that lets you attach a song to your profile, which Myspace was known for in the early days of social media.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-lets-you-add-texts-on-photos-and-layer-images-for-grid-posts-160030041.html?src=rss
PC gamers who use Sony’s PlayStation DualSense Edge controllers can now customize them using an updated PlayStation Accessories app. This app used to be called “Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller” (a really long name).
Users can still use the app to update the controller’s firmware, which is necessary to ensure flawless operation. But the app also now lets DualSense Edge users adjust trigger deadzones, change layouts, modify stick sensitivity and alter controller vibration intensity. Naturally, you can swap between custom profiles for specific games on your PC for convenience.
While you can customize Sony’s more flexible and expensive DualSense Edge wireless controller, it’s currently not possible to do so for the standard DualSense controller. However, you can still use the app to update the firmware of both models. You can update both controllers using a USB or Bluetooth connection.
On a related note, Sony has been increasingly focused on the PC market, as it has brought major titles to PC (including God of War, The Last of Us Part I, Marvel’s Spider-Man and Horizon Zero Dawn) in recent years. PS VR2 support has also been live since early August, provided you shell out for an adapter.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/you-can-now-customize-playstation-dualsense-edge-controllers-on-pc-151715163.html?src=rss
Proton Drive from Swiss technology company Proton AG now has a Professional tier. It joins services like Proton Mail, Proton VPN, and Proton Pass to receive professional tiers, letting teams select a single individual product that they need rather than signing up for everything Proton offers Additionally, all Proton Drive Business suite users now enjoy 1TB of storage from the original 500GB. That plan offers Proton’s whole portfolio of products, including email, calendar, VPN and a password manager.
If you’re interested in Proton Drive Professional, you can get it for $5.99 a month right now. It’s a discount of 40% from the original price of $9.99. Besides offering 1TB of storage, users also enjoy a 365-day file version history feature. This means you can restore files up to versions from a year before. Proton Drive also has its own equivalent to Google Docs called Proton Docs.
The company has released two new products this year in addition to a host of other updates to its offerings: Proton Scribe and Proton Wallet. Proton Scribe is a privacy-first writing assistant similar to Grammarly and is integrated into Proton Mail, but you can run it locally on your computer. As the name suggests, Proton Wallet is a digital cryptocurrency wallet to hold Bitcoin securely.
It’s clear that Proton Drive for Business is the company’s latest attempt to hold its own against competitors, as services like password managers, document editors, and even a Bitcoin wallet are now part of its product ranks. Additionally, it shows that Proton is now trying to gain more business customers, especially with the lower price point now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/proton-drive-now-has-a-tier-for-business-users-143008348.html?src=rss
With Google's Pixel 9 event in the rear view mirror, it's time to look ahead to the industry's next big showcase. Apple's iPhone 16 event, arguably the biggest date on the tech world's fall calendar, will take place on September 9 at 1PM ET. And as always, rumors about the iPhone 16 lineup have been flying around in the run up to the event.
Apple is using the tagline "It's Glowtime" on an invite it sent to the media. As usual, the event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at the company's headquarters, Apple Park, in Cupertino, California.
This year is likely to be a more muted one in terms of hardware changes, with Apple perhaps placing more onus on the software side and AI-powered Apple Intelligence features.
Apple
New iPhone 16 features
Apple will certainly upgrade the chipset that the iPhone runs on, in large part because it will want to make sure all of its current smartphones support Apple Intelligence. As things stand, only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have enough oomph to do so. Plus, a new chipset is a bare minimum upgrade.
Apple may slightly increase screen sizes this year. The camera array could get a new look on the base iPhone 16, with Apple ditching the square and switching to a vertical orientation. Apple is likely to upgrade the cameras on several models too.
There may be a more significant change on the camera front as Apple is expected to add a capture button that includes zoom gesture controls. The idea is to make it easier to take photos and shoot videos in landscape mode. It's unclear whether the button will be available on the entire lineup or just the Pro models. However, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are expected to lose the mute switch in favor of the action button that debuted on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
Apple Watch Series 10
Meanwhile, Apple typically debuts new Apple Watch models at its iPhone events. The Apple Watch Series 10 (or Series X, perhaps) is expected to have a new chip that will either make the device more powerful or power efficient. The screen could be much bigger, with reports suggesting that Apple plans to ditch the 41mm variant and introduce a 49mm one. Rumors also suggest Apple is redesigning the band system with new connectors. This could, unfortunately, prevent you from using your existing bands on the Series X.
Everything else
It's all but certain that iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and Apple's other major operating system updates will go live very soon after the event. However, the much-hyped Apple Intelligence features won't be available right away. Since those are in the iOS 18.1 beta, most people will have to wait for the public rollout of that version (and equivalent OS versions on other compatible devices) to try out Apple Intelligence. It's expected that Apple will release iOS 18.1 in October.
Word on the street also suggests that we'll get some updated AirPods at the event. We may see both entry-level and mid-tier versions of the AirPods 4 in a couple of weeks, with only the latter supporting wireless charging for the case.
You'll be able to watch the iPhone 16 event live on YouTube, Apple's website and the Apple TV app. As ever, we'll have full coverage of all the big news right here on Engadget.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-apple-iphone-16-event-is-officially-set-for-september-9-apple-watch-airpods-and-more-160432294.html?src=rss
Sony refreshed its affordable earbud offering in 2021 when it debuted the $100 WF-C500. While that model delivered a refreshed design with 10 hours of battery life, support for 360 Reality Audio and more, budget-friendly sets have dropped well below the initial price of the C500. Now Sony is back with an even cheaper option, the WF-C510, that will be available for $60.
The company tweaked the design once more for this budget-friendly pair, engineering earbuds that are 20 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the C500. In fact, Sony says this new model is its smallest design ever for closed-type buds. The C510 maintains its predecessor's IPX4 rating, so they should still be okay to use during workouts, and the earbud housing and case are made with recycled plastic. Thankfully, Sony added ambient sound (transparency) mode even though the earbuds don't have active noise cancellation (ANC). Ambient sound typically only comes on ANC sets, so the added convenience is notable here. The company also tacked on multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, which will bring another handy feature to the C510.
Sony extended the battery life by an hour up to 11 on the earbuds themselves. Just like the previous model, the charging case provides enough juice for one additional full charge. What's more, a quick-charge feature will give you up to one hour of use in just five minutes. The C510 will work with Sony's headphones app to allow you to tweak settings, and both 360 Reality Audio and DSEE upscaling, a tool that recovers detail lost to compression, are on the spec sheet.
The WF-C510 are available for pre-order now in black, blue, white and yellow colors for $60, and are scheduled to ship in early September.
Update, August 26 2024, 2:57PM ET: After this story was published, Sony clarified that the price of the WF-C510 is $60. We have updated the story where appropriate.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-new-budget-friendly-earbuds-have-a-transparency-mode-and-longer-battery-life-160018370.html?src=rss