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Thursday, March 31, 2022

Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.3.1 With Bluetooth and Display Fixes - MacRumors

Apple today released macOS Monterey 12.3.1, a minor update to the ‌macOS Monterey‌ operating system that launched in October. ‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.3.1 comes two weeks after the launch of ‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.3, an update that brought Universal Control.

macOS Monterey 2
The ‌‌‌‌‌‌macOS Monterey‌‌‌ 12.3‌‌.1 update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

According to Apple's release notes, ‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.3.1 introduces a fix that could cause Bluetooth controllers like game controllers to disconnect from the Mac after playing audio through some Beats headphones. It also addresses a bug that could cause USB-C or Thunderbolt external displays to not turn on when connected to the 2018 Mac mini as a secondary display.

This update fixes the following issues:
- USB-C or Thunderbolt external display does not turn on when connected to Mac mini (2018) as a second display
- Bluetooth devices, such as game controllers, may disconnect from your Mac after playing audio through some Beats headphones

‌macOS Monterey‌ 12.3.1 also addresses two vulnerabilities, including an AppleAVD issue that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges and an Intel Graphics Driver issue that could allow an application to read kernel memory.

Apple says these exploits may have been actively exploited, so it is a good idea for all users to update as soon as possible.

Today's ‌macOS Monterey‌ update was also accompanied by iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, tvOS 15.4.1, watchOS 8.5.1, and new 15.4.1 software for the HomePod.

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Monday October 18, 2021 10:55 am PDT by

Following months of developer and public beta testing, Apple today announced that macOS Monterey will officially launch on Monday, October 25. macOS Monterey maintains the same design as macOS Big Sur but includes several enhancements across the system. macOS Monterey consists of a completely redesigned Safari, Shortcuts for the Mac, Quick Note, and Universal Control, which will be coming in ...

Apple Seeds Third Public Beta of macOS Monterey With Universal Control

Wednesday February 16, 2022 10:30 am PST by

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.3 update to its public beta testing group, with the new software coming a week after the second macOS Monterey 12.3 public beta. Public beta testers can download the macOS 12.3 Monterey update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website. ...

Apple Seeds macOS Monterey 12.2 Release Candidate to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

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Apple Seeds Second Public Beta of macOS Monterey With Universal Control

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.3 update to its public beta testing group, with the new software coming a week after the first macOS Monterey 12.3 public beta. Public beta testers can download the macOS 12.3 Monterey update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website. ...

Apple Seeds Fifth macOS Monterey 12.3 Beta to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

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Wyze was aware of a major camera security flaw for three years - Engadget

Tech companies don't always disclose security flaws in a timely fashion, but Wyze apparently didn't disclose one at all. As Bleeping Computer and The Verge explain, Bitdefender has revealed that it informed Wyze of a major security vulnerability in the Wyze Cam v1 in March 2019, but that the device maker didn't inform customers, recall the product or fully patch the problem in the three years since. In fact, Wyze couldn't completely fix the issue — while it did mitigate the problem with patches, it's now clear the company discontinued the camera in January as "hardware limitations" prevented a proper update.

The vulnerability let attackers remotely control the camera without knowing the value normally needed to authenticate. While they couldn't watch live video as it was encrypted, they could steer the camera, switch it off and access videos saved on the SD card. Wyze patched the bug for its v2 and v3 cameras in late January.

Wyze was slow to respond and didn't fully share the nature of the security hole. Bitdefender noted that Wyze only acknowledged reception of the warning in November 2020, a year and a half after it was delivered. And while it did tell customers that it discontinued the Wyze Cam v1 due to incompatibility with a security update, it didn't tell users this was a known three-year-old flaw. It Wyze spokesperson Kyle Christensen told The Verge that the company had been transparent and "fully corrected" the problem, but in practice the firm only told owners that using the v1 camera after February 1st carried "increased risk."

It's not clear if any hackers took advantage of the flaw, but the potential consequences were serious. An intruder could have looked at past activity in the home or disabled the camera ahead of a burglary.

There are also questions surrounding Bitdefender's very late disclosure. The company's PR director Steve Fiore told The Verge that it delays publishing reports when it's not clear a vendor can properly address an issue. It didn't want to expose "potentially millions" of Wyze Cam users by sharing details of the exploit to with the public. However, security researchers typically disclose flaws within weeks, not years — even Google's more cautious Project Zero shares technical details within 90 days. While it's not always easy for tech firms to address vulnerabilities quickly, disclosures can help pressure companies into fixing security issues that might otherwise go unresolved.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Google Search's new highly cited label helps you get to the source of a story - The Verge

Google is adding a new “highly cited” label to search results frequently sourced by other publications, the company is announcing today. Anything from local news stories, to interviews, announcements, and even press releases will be eligible for the new label being added to the search result’s preview image, so long as other websites are linking to it. More info is also being added to Search’s “rapidly evolving topics” and “About this Result” notices.

The search giant’s hope is that its highly cited label will help highlight original reporting, which can include important context that’s stripped out when a story gets picked up more widely. But it should also be helpful to find press releases, where you can get information directly from companies themselves. Google says it hopes the label will help readers find “the most helpful or relevant information for a news story.” It’ll launch “soon” in the US on mobile for English-speaking users, and will start appearing globally “in the coming weeks.”

Alongside the highly cited label, Google is expanding its attempts to help search users critically evaluate the results they’re being shown. The notice it shows on searches relating to “rapidly evolving topics” will now remind users to check whether a source is trusted, or simply tell them to come back later when more information is available. This change is launching today for English searches in the US. It’s also rolling out improvements to its “About This Result” feature announced last year (which offer more context about each website in search results), in the coming weeks.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2022

YouTube is finally rolling out picture-in-picture mode for YouTube TV on iOS - The Verge

YouTube is rolling out a picture-in-picture mode for YouTube TV on iOS devices running iOS 15 or newer, the company announced Wednesday. YouTube chief product officer Neal Mohan promised on The Vergecast that the feature was on the way, and now it’s finally here.

With picture-in-picture, you’ll be able to keep watching YouTube TV when you navigate away from the YouTube TV app. The feature could come in handy if, for example, you’re watching a sports game but want to scroll through Twitter to see reactions to what just happened on the field. It’s a feature that’s been available on Android for years, so it’s good to see that Google has finally brought it over to Apple’s iOS devices.

That said, we’re still waiting for Google to launch picture-in-picture for all users of the standard YouTube app on iOS, no YouTube Premium subscription required. That feature is in testing if you do have a Premium subscription, and YouTube’s Labs page currently says you can try it out until April 8th.

In a statement given to MacRumors in February, Google said that it’s “still planning to launch PiP for all users without a YouTube Premium subscription in the US” but that “We have no other updates to share at this time.” In a statement to The Verge on Wednesday, Google spokesperson Allison Toh said that the company is “still testing picture-in-picture on iOS with Premium members and hope to make it available to all iOS users (Premium and non-Premium) in the US in the coming months.”

Update March 30th, 6:05PM ET: Added comment from Google.

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These Dyson Zone Noise-Canceling Headphones Have an Air Purifier - IGN Now - IGN

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Apple's Studio Display guts feature a remarkable feat of over-engineering - Engadget

It may look a lot like the redesigned iMac, but Apple’s new Studio Display is in many ways a more complicated device once you open it up. Next to the company’s all-in-one desktop, the monitor is about 50 percent thicker, and there’s an interesting reason for that.

Following its recent Mac Studio teardown, iFixit took apart the Studio Display to see the engineering that went into Apple’s first dedicated monitor since the Pro Display XDR. What ends up making the studio display thicker than the iMac is a complicated, multi-board power supply board that’s housed within the monitor. Unlike with the iMac, you don’t need an adapter to power the Studio Display. It's one of those features that might seem small on the surface, but it ultimately leads to a better user experience.  

“If [Apple] had gone with an external power supply, this could have been the same design as the iMac,” iFixit said. It notes Apple likely invested a significant amount of engineering effort and cost to design a power supply that is as slim as the one found in the Studio Display. 

In taking apart the Studio Display, iFixit also discovered a few other interesting tidbits about the monitor. Almost every review of the Studio Display has complained of poor web camera quality. Apple has said it will release a software update to address the problem. In the meantime, iFixit says the Studio Display’s camera module looks nearly identical to the one found in the iPhone 11. “Hardware-wise, a three-year-old sensor is perfectly capable of packing a better punch than all these reviewers are seeing,” the company said. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re thinking about purchasing the Studio Display.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Here’s What’s Going on Under the Hood of Intel’s New Arc Discrete GPUs - Gizmodo

Intel A-series mobile graphics
Image: Intel

Intel’s highly anticipated Arc discrete graphics have arrived, and they intend to disrupt a long-running two-horse race between Nvidia and AMD.

Intel is building its portfolio of graphics cards from the bottom up, starting with an entry-level card for ultra-thin laptops before the release of high-performance GPUs later this year.

Entry-level gaming for portable laptops

For now, the spotlight is on Arc 3, an evolution of Intel’s Iris Xe integrated graphics for portable devices like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro. Consisting of A350M and A370M chips, Arc 3 is meant to give portable systems the graphics punch needed to play most modern games at 1080p, not to dethrone the top GPUs from Nvidia or AMD.

Intel Arc
Image: Intel

Arc 3 is said to deliver roughly 2x performance over integrated Iris Xe graphics, making it comparable to other entry-level cards on the market. According to Intel, the higher-end A370M mated with a Core i7-12700H CPU can play popular games like Hitman III, Destiny 2, The Witcher, and Total War: Saga Troy at more than 60 frames per second with the graphics set to Medium. Less demanding titles like Doom Eternal and Strange Brigade should run smoothly on High settings. We’ll need to conduct our own testing before making any definitive claims but it seems the Arc 3 A370M will slot somewhere between Nvidia’s MX450 and RTX 3050 cards when looking at sheer gaming performance.

Intel didn’t provide us with any comparison benchmarks between these Arc A-series GPUs and the current market leaders from AMD and Nvidia. We should learn more when the company highlights Arc 5 and Arc 7 graphics later this year.

Intel Arc Graphics
Image: Intel

Until then, we’ll have to nibble on some specs. The entry-level Arc 3 A350M has six Xe-cores, six ray tracing units, a clock speed of 1150MHz and supports 4GB of GDDR6 memory at a power level of between 25W and 35W. The Arc 3 A370M requires up to 50W but comes with eight Xe and ray tracing cores and a clock speed of 1550MHz.

Moving up to the mid-range chip, the Arc 5 A550M has 16 cores, 16 ray tracing units, a graphics clock of 900MHz, and 8GB of GDDR6 RAM at between 60 and 80W. At the top of the stack are two Arc 7 chips: the A730M and A770M. The former, an 80-120W chip, has 24 cores, 24 RT units, an 1100 MHz clock, and 12GB of RAM while the most powerful Intel Arc GPU has 32 Xe cores, 32 RT units, a 1650MHz clock, 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, and a 256-bit memory bus width at 120-150W.

The technical bits

Each of these chips is based on Intel’s new Xe HPG microarchitecture, which consists of up to eight render slices, or how configurations scale from low power solutions to enthusiast-class gaming rigs. Within each of these slices are Xe cores, each configured with a set of 256-bit vector engines designed to accelerate traditional graphics and compute workloads, 1024-bit matrix (or XMX) engines for accelerating AI workloads, and 192KB of shared L1/SLM cache.

Intel’s first discrete GPU offerings might not be the performance beasts some had anticipated, but they support a smattering of modern gaming features nonetheless. Every Intel Arc GPU fully supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, a collection of technologies found in modern graphics cards. These include ray tracing (hardware accelerated on Arc GPUs), variable-rate shading, mesh shading, and sampler feedback.

Intel Xe Core
Image: Intel

Intel is also bringing its own version of Nvidia’s DLSS. Called Xe Super Sampling, or XeSS, this AI-enabled feature upscales a low-res image to improve graphics quality. This way, you can run a game at a high refresh rate on 1080p but the resolution will appear closer to 4K. In a demo, the XeSS-enhanced video of the upcoming game Dolmen looked noticeably sharper than the untouched gameplay, even through a Zoom call. I can’t say for certain how it compares against AMD and Nvidia’s version, but Intel was transparent about this being nascent technology that it will refine over the years.

The “display engine” in these Arc graphics supports HDMI 2.0b, not the latest HDMI 2.1 standard. Intel says Arc A-series graphics support 4K at 120Hz with DisplayPort 1.4/2.0 and that select chips with an HDMI 2.1 PCON will support 4K at 120Hz over HDMI. They also support DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 PCON integration. You can also achieve up to two 8K HDR streams at 60 fps, four 4K HDR streams at 120Hz, or 1080p and 1440p at 360Hz.

The Arc A-series graphics product supports 4K120 with DisplayPort 1.4 / 2.0 and select Arc A-series graphics product with an HDMI 2.1 PCON will support 4K120 displays over HDMI. They also support DP to HDMI 2.1 protocol converters (PCON) integration and partners can implement a PCON solution if they wish to do so.

Rounding out the extensive suite of graphics features is a trio of technologies designed to reduce screen tear. The first is one you might already be familiar with: Adaptive Sync adjusts the refresh rate of a display to the GPU frame output to eliminate tearing and stuttering. It is augmented with Speed Sync, a technique to speed up the latest frame in order to reduce latency, and Smooth Sync, which minimizes the jarring visuals of a screen tear by using a blur effect where the two distinct frames meet.

Intel Arc brings AV1 support

Discrete GPUs aren’t only meant for gaming, but also for content creation workflows like video and photo editing. Intel is hoping to entice the non-gaming crowd with support for a wide range of video codecs, including VP9, AVC, HEVC, and AV1—the most significant addition. Intel claims these chips are the first to offer AV1 hardware-accelerated encoding and decoding.

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Image: Intel

If this is all gibberish, AV1 is an open-source, royalty-free video codec backed by some of the world’s largest tech companies. Already supported by Netflix and YouTube, AV1 is said to be 50% more efficient than today’s most common codec, H.264, and 30% more capable than H.265, meaning it uses less data to offer the same video quality or can enable better video quality using the same amount of data. In practice, hardware acceleration makes the Arc GPUs up to 50x faster at encoding when using popular apps like Handbrake, Adobe Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve, according to Intel.

Intel Arc software and upcoming laptops

Laptops and desktops outfitted with Intel Arc graphics will come with Intel’s Arc Control software, a free program where you can download the latest drivers, view the performance of your machine, adjust settings, and visit your game library.

Intel Arc Control
Image: Intel

You’ll be able to open the program using an Alt + I shortcut and it’ll appear as an overlay so you don’t get booted from your game. Arc Control consists of six areas: Game Drivers, Performance Tuning, Creator Studio, Global Settings, Unified Software, and Game Library. I won’t go through each of them, but some highlights include a telemetry overlay to see hardware statistics and the ability to broadcast to third-party platforms and use your integrated webcam with AI features like background blur.

Intel says Arc 3 laptops are available starting today beginning with the Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro. The first batch of Arc-powered systems will be Intel Evo-certified, meaning they are thin and lightweight systems with at least nine hours of battery life (based on Intel’s own testing methods, we should caution). We’ll put Intel Arc through its paces the moment the first Arc 3-powered laptop arrives at our door. Gamers and content creators eager to see how Intel competes more directly with Nvidia and AMD will find out in early summer when Arc 5 and Arc 7 are released.

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Sony's new PlayStation Plus makes retro games an expensive option - The Verge

Sony has just announced its new PlayStation Plus subscription tiers, which will be available later this year, and with the new “Extra” and “Premium” levels, you’ll get access to back catalogs of many PlayStation games. However, if you want to play classic PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP games, you’ll have to pay for “Premium,” the most expensive option, meaning that Sony is joining Nintendo in putting some of its older games behind its highest-cost subscription.

Using a subscription to access classic games isn’t new for Sony. For years, the company has offered access to PS4, PS3, and PS2 games as part of PlayStation Now, which is an entirely separate subscription service from PlayStation Plus. But instead of using the Plus shakeup to bring more games to the standard tier, Sony has instead decided to use classic games as a carrot to encourage players to subscribe to Premium, which will cost $17.99 per month, $49.99 for three months, or $119.99 per year. That annual fee is essentially what you would have used to pay to subscribe to a year of both Plus and Now — though if you’re a Now subscriber, Sony says you’ll be migrated to the new Plus Premium.

Nintendo has a similar tiered pricing strategy with its Nintendo Switch Online service. That subscription launched in September 2018 with access to a handful of NES games, and nearly a year later, Nintendo added SNES games — and all were available for the relatively low prices of $3.99 per month, $7.99 for three months, or $19.99 for one year. But if you want to play Nintendo’s selection of N64 or Sega Genesis games on your Switch, you’ll have to pay $49.99, a cost that’s more than double the standard individual annual membership, for an entire year of the Expansion Pack.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has taken a different approach with its Game Pass library. With Xbox Game Pass, you can play the same Microsoft titles on your Xbox whether you pay for the lowest-tier $9.99 per month Game Pass or the more expensive $14.99 per month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft has also invested a lot into backward compatibility, meaning you can still access and play many older Xbox games on the Xbox Series X / S without needing a subscription.

Exacerbating potential frustrations with Sony’s approach is that the company has been somewhat dismissive of the importance of its back catalog in the past. Here’s PlayStation boss Jim Ryan in a 2017 interview with Time:

“When we’ve dabbled with backwards compatibility, I can say it is one of those features that is much requested, but not actually used much. That, and I was at a Gran Turismo event recently where they had PS1, PS2, PS3 and PS4 games, and the PS1 and the PS2 games, they looked ancient, like why would anybody play this?”

Ryan acknowledged he could have been clearer in a 2021 Axios interview:

“The point I was trying to make — obviously not very well — was just how great the PS4 version looked and how far the series had evolved. I certainly wasn’t trying to be disrespectful to our heritage.”

But the 2017 comment still stings — especially when you consider how impactful many PlayStation games, like the Metal Gear Solid series, Jak & Daxter, and Shadow of the Colossus, have been to video game history.

Although many older PlayStation games have been remastered or brought to other platforms, it can still be great to play them the way they originally looked. And while the PS5 is backward compatible with nearly every PS4 game, the only way to play PS3 and PS2 games on Sony’s newest console is through the on-its-way-out PlayStation Now service and soon via the revised PlayStation Plus.

That said, subscriptions do offer a convenient way to preserve retro games that may be hard to find. With some digital game stores shutting down and hardware becoming obsolete, subscriptions are one way to make older games accessible. But Sony — and Nintendo — seem to be moving toward making retro games only available via a subscription and sticking some behind the most expensive tier. And for the PlayStation 5 and the Switch, there isn’t a way to buy older games one at a time, like with Nintendo’s Virtual Console.

Sony hasn’t shared what retro games will be included with PlayStation Plus Premium, so we don’t currently know what you might get if you are planning to put aside cash for the more expensive subscription. However, the company is promising that “up to 340” games will be available on the Premium tier — a far larger amount than what you can play on Nintendo Switch Online. That Premium selection will also include some PS1 and PSP games, which aren’t currently on PlayStation Now.

Despite the higher cost, I’m excited to check out some classic PlayStation games, thanks to the new Premium tier. But I wish there were ways to play them on my PS5 instead of coughing up extra cash on top of what I’ve already paid for PlayStation Plus — or that Sony offered some in the standard tier.

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Google Debuts New Chrome OS Launcher—and It Has Serious Windows Start Menu Vibes - Gizmodo

Gif: Google/Gizmodo

Google is reinventing the Chrome OS launcher for the first time in years as it marks the one-hundredth update of its Chromebook operating system.

The Launcher, Chrome OS’s version of the Windows Start Menu, is where you access apps, web apps, recent programs, and the search function. In recent Chrome OS versions, the app launcher would span the entire screen horizontally, taking up valuable space even when it wasn’t in full-screen mode.

With update 100, the launcher opens as a compact overlay on the left side of the screen instead of from the bottom. As a result, browser windows or open apps aren’t covered every time you want to conduct a search or find a new app. From the clips Google sent us, the new Launcher looks similar in many ways to the Windows 11 Start Menu in that it’s a small, floating translucent rectangle.

The changes aren’t just skin deep. Finding and organizing apps should be easier now that you can arrange apps by name and color along with the option to list them manually. Newly downloaded apps will adhere to your organization method instead of being tacked on to the bottom as they are now.

Also improved is the search function, which shows a more detailed preview of your search term so you can get relevant information without leaving the launcher. I could see this being useful when you want to quickly check the current temperature, stock prices, or define a word. Google says you can use the search previews to bring up Chrome OS shortcuts, like the button combo for taking a screenshot (ctrl+shift+show windows) or turn on caps lock (alt + search). You can even use search to scan through Chrome tabs instead of flipping through each one only to realize what you’re looking for is in a different window altogether.

Google didn’t provide a firm release date for the new launcher, only committing to “coming soon.” It joins a handful of upcoming Chrome OS additions, including the ability to edit text using your voice via the dictation feature and create and share GIFs from the default camera app.

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Intel shows off its first Arc desktop GPU, coming summer 2022 - The Verge

Intel’s Arc GPUs debuted today for laptops, but the company hasn’t forgotten its highly anticipated re-entry into the world of desktop graphics cards, either: the company showed off a first look at the final Arc hardware, along with a reveal that the first GPUs will arrive this summer as a “limited edition” release.

The company isn’t offering too many details on the desktop Arc cards beyond the quick glimpse of the hardware itself, although presumably, more details will arrive before the summer. The video does show that the Arc card has a dual-fan design, along with a single HDMI port and three DisplayPort ports on the side, although it’s not clear what the specifications for those ports are from appearance alone.

Intel is also calling the new Arc card a “limited edition.” However, it’s not clear whether that means the company will have a limited stock of cards when they launch this summer or if it’s an appellation for its in-house GPUs (similar to Nvidia’s Founder’s Edition branding).

The desktop Arc GPUs won’t be the only Arc products arriving this summer: Intel’s more powerful Arc 5 and Arc 7 laptop GPUs, as well as its XeSS AI-based super-sampling, are also set to arrive in “early summer,” too.

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Dyson Zone Noise-Canceling Headphones Feature a Built-in Air Purifier - IGN

Dyson has created a pair of noise-canceling headphones that feature a built-in air purifier to help protect its users from air pollution.

The technology company shared an initial overview of its new Dyson Zone audio device, which has been designed to deliver pure air and pure audio by combining over-ear headphones with a contact-free visor to supply "a continuous stream of purified air to your nose and mouth" in a bid to help battle various pollutants in the air, from "industrial emissions to car exhausts."

Dyson Zone Noise-Canceling Headphones with a Built-in Air Purifier

Dyson Zone features a two-stage purification system that tackles city fumes and pollutants by using high-performance filters and two miniaturized air pumps. The compressors in each earcup are said to "draw air through the dual-layer filters and project two streams of purified air to the wearer's nose and mouth, channelled through the non-contact visor."

In addition to the air-purification system, the headphones fulfil their traditional purpose of delivering rich, immersive audio. Dyson Zone's headphone cushions mold around the listener's ear to reduce unwanted disturbance with "advanced noise cancellation, low distortion and a neutral frequency response, to faithfully replicate music or audio as the creator intended."

Dyson engineers have been working on these air-purifying headphones for the past six years, and there have been over 500 prototypes in that time. The team started out by analyzing data on air pollution in cities and drawing up an initial concept for such a device, before then moving into user testing to fine-tune the design and ensure optimal product performance.

"Air pollution is a global problem – it affects us everywhere we go. In our homes, at school, at work and as we travel, whether on foot, on a bike or by public or private transport. The Dyson Zone purifies the air you breathe on the move," Chief Engineer Jake Dyson said of the new tech. "And unlike face masks, it delivers a plume of fresh air without touching your face."

Dyson is known for harnessing innovative new technology and bringing devices that may once have been regarded as futuristic fiction into the world of reality, such as its 360 Eye robot vacuum. The Dyson Zone headphones are set to become the firm's newest invention to hit the market, with the product due to go on sale in Autumn for an as-yet-unannounced price.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

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Tuesday, March 29, 2022

New PlayStation Plus Subscription Launches In June With Three Tiers - GameSpot

PlayStation has officially unveiled the next generation of PlayStation Plus, and it's going to be a little more complicated for newcomers. As expected, the relaunch of the PlayStation subscription service will combine the perks of PS Plus and PlayStation Now, and the highest level will offer some of the same features available on Xbox Game Pass. When the subscription launches in June, it will be available as three separate tiers: PlayStation Plus, PlayStation Plus Extra, and PlayStation Plus Premium. The Premium subscription will feature up to 700-plus games.

The standard PS Plus subscription will be rebranded to PlayStation Plus Essential. Despite the new name, it's functionally the same services. PS Plus Essential will cost $60 per year and feature the same perks, including free games each month, cloud storage, online multiplayer, and discounts during select sales.

PlayStation Plus Extra will cost $15 per month or $100 per year and features up to 400 PS4 and PS5 games. Sony's description of the Extra tier is a bit vague, but subscribers will be able to download the games in the library to their console to play. It'll include both first-party and third-party games. Considering the number of games in this tier, it sounds pretty much like a combination of PlayStation Plus and PlayStation Now, which will be discontinued in June. Current PlayStation Now subscribers will be converted to PS Plus Extra subscribers at launch.

The most expensive of the bunch, PlayStation Plus Premium, will feature "up to 340 additional games" versus the Extra tier. PlayStation Plus Premium will cost $18 per month or $120 per year. The Premium tier's additional games appear to largely focus on the PlayStation back catalog, with original PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PSP games available to play. PS3 games will be locked to cloud streaming, but at least some of the other backwards compatible classics will be downloadable.

The Premium tier comes with a couple other perks, including limited-time game trials and cloud streaming on PC. All three subscription tiers will be available on PS5 and PS4, though PS5 users will get access to more games.

PlayStation has confirmed a handful of PS5 and PS4 games that will be available to Extra and Premium subscribers at launch:

  • Death Stranding
  • God of War
  • Marvel's Spider-Man
  • Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales
  • Mortal Kombat 11
  • Returnal (PS5 exclusive)

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium will be available in Asia first, but it sounds like North American and European users will be able to subscribe in June as well. If you live in a region where cloud streaming isn't supported for PlayStation, you'll have a chance to subscribe to PlayStation Plus Deluxe for a lower price. Pricing details for the United States, Europe, UK, and Japan can be found below.

PlayStation Plus Essential

  • United States - $10/month | $15/quarter | $60/year
  • Europe - €9/month | €25/quarter | €60/year
  • United Kingdom - £7/month | £20/quarter | £50/year
  • Japan - ¥850/month | ¥2,150/quarter | ¥5,143/year

PlayStation Plus Extra

  • United States - $15/month | $40/quarter | $100/year
  • Europe - €14/month | €40/quarter | €100/year
  • United Kingdom - £11/month | £32/quarter | £84/year
  • Japan - ¥1,300/month | ¥3,600/quarter | ¥8,600/year

PlayStation Plus Premium

  • United States - $18/month | $50/quarter | $120/year
  • Europe - €17/month | €50/quarter | €120/year
  • United Kingdom - £13.49/month | £40/quarter | £100/year
  • Japan - ¥1,550/month | ¥4,300/quarter | ¥10,250/year

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YouTube TV is testing surround sound on Android TV, Google TV, and Roku - The Verge

YouTube TV is testing support for Dolby 5.1 surround sound on Google TV, Android TV, and Roku devices. In a tweet, the platform said 5.1 audio will “launch on those devices next” if “everything runs smoothly” during the test.

If you were hoping to get surround sound while watching YouTube TV on your Apple TV, Fire TV, Xbox, or PlayStation, however, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. The platform says it’s still working “internally and with partners” to get 5.1 support on these platforms.

YouTube TV currently supports 5.1 surround sound on Samsung, LG, and Vizio TVs, as well as on traditional Chromecast streaming devices. For it to work, you’ll need Cobalt version 20 or later, which you can check by selecting your profile photo in the YouTube TV app, clicking About, and then hitting App Version. It also requires a speaker system that supports 5.1 audio.

Last June, YouTube TV announced that it would bring 5.1 surround sound to “select devices.” It seems the service is following through on its promise, although it’s taking quite a bit of time to roll the highly anticipated feature out.

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Breath Of The Wild Sequel Delayed To 2023, Nintendo Apologizes - Kotaku

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  1. Breath Of The Wild Sequel Delayed To 2023, Nintendo Apologizes  Kotaku
  2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 Delayed to 2023 - IGN  IGN
  3. Nintendo delays Breath of the Wild sequel until spring 2023  The Verge
  4. 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' sequel delayed to spring 2023  Engadget
  5. Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 Fans Already Have Theories About That Broken Master Sword - IGN  IGN
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News
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Monday, March 28, 2022

iPhone 14 enters engineering validation stage as periscope camera reportedly destined for iPhone 15 - 9to5Mac

As we’re six months away from Apple unveiling the next generation of iPhones, the iPhone 14 is now at the engineering validation test. That said, a new report shows that the 2023 iPhone line could feature the long-rumored Periscope design with 5x optical zoom.

In a note seen by 9to5Mac, analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities says that based on his supply chain survey, iPhone 14 is now at the EVT stage, with no impact from the previous Shenzhen lockdown.

9to5Mac previously reported that the lockdown wasn’t likely to impact iPhone production since it’s not the main Foxconn factory producing iPhone chips.

Additionally, the analyst shared some tidbits about the upcoming iPhone 14. He says that the A16 chip, destined for the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, will feature a larger die size compared to A15, despite the migration to 4nm technology.

On product proposition, we expect iPhone 14 to have a strong line-up, backed by a larger screen (entry model) and camera upgrade (48MP for Pro). On the other hand, pricing is critical, and we expect the iPhone 14’s starting price close to iPhone 13’s.

iPhone periscope lens patent

Going forward into the 2023 lineup, Jeff Pu says there’s still a high chance that Apple will launch a periscope camera for the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max with 5x optical zoom. Previously, a report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple could launch this new camera design for the iPhone 14 models.

Last but not least, Pu also gives an interesting tidbit about Apple’s future OLED iPad. He says he expects Apple to adopt an OLED panel in 2024 for 11 and 12.9-inch iPads. A previous report by The Elec corroborates with Pu’s analysis, although it’s unlikely that Apple will move from miniLED to OLED on its iPad Pro. Most likely, the OLED iPad will be for the Air lineup.

Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

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ASUS announces price cuts of up to 25% in April for GeForce RTX 30 GPUs - VideoCardz.com

ASUS slashing GPU prices by up to 25% starting April, but only for the United States (for now)

Not an April’s Fool joke. 

Since January this year, we have been reporting on the downward trend in GPU prices. There is a noticeable double-digit price drop on a monthly basis now, with a good outlook for GPUs to reach the original MSRP at some point in the next two months.

The government of the United States has confirmed last week it is dropping tariffs on some PC components from China, that includes graphics cards. Following this decision, ASUS confirmed it will be lowering prices of its GPUs in the country up to 25%.

In an email sent by ASUS representative to Tom’s Hardware, the company promises to lower the prices for various SKUs from low-end to high-end series starting from April 1st. The statement only mentions GeForce RTX 30 GPUs, though:

As a result of the latest tariff lift on Chinese imports from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Gamers and PC enthusiasts will see lower prices on ASUS GeForce RTX 30-series graphic cards starting on April 1st, 2022. […]

Lower prices will affect entry level GeForce RTX 3050 and RTX 3060, mid-range RTX 3070 and high performance RTX 3080 and RTX 3090 graphics cards.

— ASUS representative to Tom’s Hardware

No other board partners have thus far confirmed to lower the prices, but it is very likely that other companies are to follow this trend.

It is important to note that US tariffs do not directly affect the prices in other countries. However, when the US tariffs were introduced, the GPU prices have skyrocketed around the globe. With that in mind, there is a good reason to expect this US price cut to have a global impact in some form.

Source: Tom’s Hardware



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