Month: February 2023

Xiaomi AR Glasses Add Micro OLED and Dimming Lenses – CNET

The dimming-lens glasses have hand tracking and Micro OLED displays.

The dimming-lens glasses have hand tracking and Micro OLED displays.

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Tesla pauses new Full Self-Driving beta installations until recall is addressed

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Tesla is putting a hold on new installations of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software in the US and Canada until a firmware update can be issued to address a safety recall, according to a new company support page. The automaker issued the recall this month at the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which determined that the advanced driver-assistance feature could pose a “crash risk.”
Tesla vehicle owners who may have just purchased the $15,000 FSD add-on — or previously bought it but have yet to opt in to it — won’t be able to get access to it until after the automaker issues an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Tesla has not provided a timeline for the rollout of the update but says no immediate action needs to be taken by the customer.
Those who already have FSD installed and activated can continue to use the software as is but won’t see any new features until the issues identified by NHTSA are addressed. The recall affects nearly 363,000 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y vehicles that are equipped with FSD.
The current FSD beta advanced-driver assistance software could cause vehicles to break traffic laws and make risky maneuvers. Tesla indicated the following problematic behaviors that could happen:

Traveling or turning through certain intersections during a stale yellow traffic light
The perceived duration of the vehicle’s static position at certain intersections with a stop sign, particularly when the intersection is clear of any other road users
Adjusting vehicle speed while traveling through certain variable speed zones, based on detected speed limit signage and/or the vehicle’s speed offset setting that is adjusted by the driver
Negotiating a lane change out of certain turn-only lanes to continue traveling straight

Tesla currently calls the FSD beta software an “SAE Level 2 driver support feature,” which means that it can steer, brake, and accelerate automatically with a driver present. The driver operating FSD must be engaged and ready to take over at any time and is also completely responsible for any mishaps the system could make.
The beta version of FSD was widely released to all purchasers of the add-on in November. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long promised that FSD will eventually become a fully autonomous system where the car can drive itself with no driver present and even become a robotaxi. The future of the tech is expected to be a big part of Tesla’s Master Plan 3, which will be revealed at the automaker’s Investor Day on March 1st.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Tesla is putting a hold on new installations of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software in the US and Canada until a firmware update can be issued to address a safety recall, according to a new company support page. The automaker issued the recall this month at the request of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which determined that the advanced driver-assistance feature could pose a “crash risk.”

Tesla vehicle owners who may have just purchased the $15,000 FSD add-on — or previously bought it but have yet to opt in to it — won’t be able to get access to it until after the automaker issues an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Tesla has not provided a timeline for the rollout of the update but says no immediate action needs to be taken by the customer.

Those who already have FSD installed and activated can continue to use the software as is but won’t see any new features until the issues identified by NHTSA are addressed. The recall affects nearly 363,000 Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y vehicles that are equipped with FSD.

The current FSD beta advanced-driver assistance software could cause vehicles to break traffic laws and make risky maneuvers. Tesla indicated the following problematic behaviors that could happen:

Traveling or turning through certain intersections during a stale yellow traffic light

The perceived duration of the vehicle’s static position at certain intersections with a stop sign, particularly when the intersection is clear of any other road users

Adjusting vehicle speed while traveling through certain variable speed zones, based on detected speed limit signage and/or the vehicle’s speed offset setting that is adjusted by the driver

Negotiating a lane change out of certain turn-only lanes to continue traveling straight

Tesla currently calls the FSD beta software an “SAE Level 2 driver support feature,” which means that it can steer, brake, and accelerate automatically with a driver present. The driver operating FSD must be engaged and ready to take over at any time and is also completely responsible for any mishaps the system could make.

The beta version of FSD was widely released to all purchasers of the add-on in November. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long promised that FSD will eventually become a fully autonomous system where the car can drive itself with no driver present and even become a robotaxi. The future of the tech is expected to be a big part of Tesla’s Master Plan 3, which will be revealed at the automaker’s Investor Day on March 1st.

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Energy Dept. reignites bitter COVID origin debate with shaky lab leak stance

“There is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community.”

Enlarge / The Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in China’s central Hubei province in February 2021 as members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigated the origins of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (credit: Getty | Hector Retamal)

The US Department of Energy has updated its previously undecided stance on the origin of the pandemic coronavirus, now saying with “low confidence” that it most likely emerged through a laboratory accident, according to a classified intelligence document first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday.

The change reignites a bitter, often partisan debate over the elusive beginnings of SARS-CoV-2’s global devastation, a debate which is largely fueled by insufficient evidence on both sides.

Still, the Energy Department is in the minority. Of the eight elements of the intelligence community that have reviewed information on the origin of SARS-CoV-2, only two currently lean toward the so-called “lab leak” hypothesis. The other is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which concluded with “moderate confidence” in 2021 that the pandemic was ignited by a lab leak, according to the WSJ. It’s unclear what evidence that assessment is based upon.

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As Heat Pumps Go Mainstream, a Big Question: Can They Handle Real Cold?

An anonymous reader shares a report: Heat pumps, in contrast, (to gas or oil furnaces) don’t generate heat. They transfer it. That allows them to achieve more than 300 percent efficiency in some cases. Because they are more efficient, using heat pumps to cool and heat homes can help homeowners save money on their utility bills, said Sam Calisch, head of special projects at Rewiring America, a nonprofit advocacy group. In Maine, where heat pump adoption is growing, but where a majority of homes still burn oil, homeowners can save thousands of dollars in annual energy costs by making the switch, according to an analysis from Efficiency Maine, an independent administrator that runs the state’s energy-saving programs.

Many heat pumps that are built for cold climates do have hefty upfront price tags. To soften the blow, a federal tax credit from last year’s climate and tax law can cover 30 percent of the costs of purchase and installation, up to $2,000. As they’ve grown in popularity, heat pumps have increasingly been the subject of misconception and, at times, misinformation. Fossil-fuel industry groups have been the origin of many exaggerated and misleading claims, including the assertion that they don’t work in regions with cold climates and are likely to fail in freezing weather.

While heat pumps do become less efficient in subzero temperatures, many models still operate close to normally in temperatures down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 24 Celsius. Some of the latest models are even more efficient, and many “cold” countries, like Norway, Sweden and Finland, are increasingly embracing heat pumps. “We’re starting to see evidence that the myth has been kept alive by people with an entrenched interest in avoiding the adoption of heat pumps,” Dr. Calisch said. There are additional steps homeowners can take to make the most of their heat pumps, like sealing air leaks and drafts and improving insulation, said Troy Moon, the sustainability director for the city of Portland, Maine. Homeowners can also keep their existing furnaces as backup for the coldest days of the year, he said.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Heat pumps, in contrast, (to gas or oil furnaces) don’t generate heat. They transfer it. That allows them to achieve more than 300 percent efficiency in some cases. Because they are more efficient, using heat pumps to cool and heat homes can help homeowners save money on their utility bills, said Sam Calisch, head of special projects at Rewiring America, a nonprofit advocacy group. In Maine, where heat pump adoption is growing, but where a majority of homes still burn oil, homeowners can save thousands of dollars in annual energy costs by making the switch, according to an analysis from Efficiency Maine, an independent administrator that runs the state’s energy-saving programs.

Many heat pumps that are built for cold climates do have hefty upfront price tags. To soften the blow, a federal tax credit from last year’s climate and tax law can cover 30 percent of the costs of purchase and installation, up to $2,000. As they’ve grown in popularity, heat pumps have increasingly been the subject of misconception and, at times, misinformation. Fossil-fuel industry groups have been the origin of many exaggerated and misleading claims, including the assertion that they don’t work in regions with cold climates and are likely to fail in freezing weather.

While heat pumps do become less efficient in subzero temperatures, many models still operate close to normally in temperatures down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 24 Celsius. Some of the latest models are even more efficient, and many “cold” countries, like Norway, Sweden and Finland, are increasingly embracing heat pumps. “We’re starting to see evidence that the myth has been kept alive by people with an entrenched interest in avoiding the adoption of heat pumps,” Dr. Calisch said. There are additional steps homeowners can take to make the most of their heat pumps, like sealing air leaks and drafts and improving insulation, said Troy Moon, the sustainability director for the city of Portland, Maine. Homeowners can also keep their existing furnaces as backup for the coldest days of the year, he said.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Liquid Cooling for Your iPhone? OnePlus Dock Has You Covered – CNET

If you game too hard on your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus has a new dock that can prevent overheating.

If you game too hard on your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus has a new dock that can prevent overheating.

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The M1-powered iPad Air gets its biggest discount of $100 off once again

The iPad Air has the most color variety among the current lineup. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple’s sweet spot of an iPad is back down to its lowest price. The 2022 iPad Air is on sale for $499.99 at Best Buy and Amazon in its base 64GB Wi-Fi configuration, about $100 off its regular $599 price. That same $100 discount can be had on the 256GB version, costing $649.99 at Amazon or Best Buy instead of its usual $749.
The excellent midrange Air comes in five different colors, each of which is on sale at this great price. In addition to being one of the most colorful iPads, the fifth-generation iPad Air offers great value for performance. It packs an M1 processor that’s more than capable for the most labor-intensive iPad uses, all-day battery life, and a handy USB-C port as well as second-gen Apple Pencil compatibility.
At this deal price, the Air is a great bang for your buck if you don’t need to be spending $799 on an iPad Pro. The Air has a 10.9-inch screen that’s just about the same size as the base model Pro, and at $300 less, the Air doesn’t really sacrifice too much aside from smaller storage and Touch ID in lieu of Face ID. Read our review.

Today is Pokémon day, and aside from this morning’s new announcements in the world of Pokémon, there are some worthwhile deals to coincide with the occasion. Pokémon Shining Pearl is on sale for $44.99 ($15 off) at Best Buy while Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is $45.78 (about $14 off) at Amazon or $49.99 at Best Buy. Both titles are highly stylized 3D remasters of their 2006 Nintendo DS originals, revitalizing them on the Nintendo Switch, and these are their second-best prices to date.
Meanwhile, New Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo Switch is also selling for $44.99 ($15 off) at Best Buy and Target. The photography-focused spinoff is like an on-rails shooter, but your tool of choice is a camera and your goal is snapping pics of cute and cool pokémon in a variety of biomes. It’s a pretty chill game that sticks close to the original N64 game’s formula, for better and worse.
The deal I might be most hyped for myself is Hori’s Split Pad Compact controller in a slick Gengar-themed design that’s selling for $49.99 ($10 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. What? I’m a sucker for ghost pokémon, okay? Plus, this controller gives your Switch better ergonomics in handheld mode and a couple of extra buttons. If you’ve ever used the Steam Deck, you quickly learn how small and unergonomic a Switch with standard Joy-Cons begins to feel.

Image: Nintendo

The Diamond and Pearl remasters mixed up the graphics with a cutesy 3D style.

The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless gaming headset is selling for $49.99 ($50 off) at Amazon. This lightweight headset borrows some features from its pricier cousin, the Cloud II Wireless, making it an appealing and affordable option for use on PlayStation (PS5 and PS4) consoles, PC, and Nintendo Switch (when docked).
The Cloud Core Wireless offers 3D-like spatial audio to better pinpoint the direction of the action and has a claimed battery life of up to 20 hours before needing a charge via its USB-C port. And its noise-suppressing boom mic can also be disconnected for when you’re not chatting or for easier storage.

Some more deals to help cure a case of the Mondays

The Google Pixel 6A is once again on sale for just $299 ($150 off) at Amazon. It remains one of the best values for performance and camera quality among all current Android phones, borrowing its Google Tensor processor from last year’s Pixel 6 flagships. Read our review.

Amazon is offering a few discounts on some iRobot vacuums, including the Roomba Combo j7 Plus vacuum / mop hybrid for $849 ($250 off) and the premium Roomba s9 Plus with Braava Jet m6 mop bundle for $949 ($650 off MSRP). The j7 Plus remains one of our top picks across all robot vacuums, and the combo version adds a mop to the mix along with the auto-emptying docking station.
A manufacturer refurbished Nintendo Switch OLED model in white is on sale for $299.99 ($50 off) at Woot, complete with a 90-day warranty direct from Nintendo. The OLED version has a significant upgrade in screen quality (much-improved contrast and a larger seven inches) and a kickstand that actually works.
The Alexa-powered Amazon Smart Thermostat is on sale once again for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. It’s one of the easiest, most affordable ways to get into smart thermostats, even if its “hunches” don’t offer the most expansive controls. This deal returns it to its lowest price, making it a no-brainer if you don’t mind getting into an Amazon system.

The iPad Air has the most color variety among the current lineup. | Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple’s sweet spot of an iPad is back down to its lowest price. The 2022 iPad Air is on sale for $499.99 at Best Buy and Amazon in its base 64GB Wi-Fi configuration, about $100 off its regular $599 price. That same $100 discount can be had on the 256GB version, costing $649.99 at Amazon or Best Buy instead of its usual $749.

The excellent midrange Air comes in five different colors, each of which is on sale at this great price. In addition to being one of the most colorful iPads, the fifth-generation iPad Air offers great value for performance. It packs an M1 processor that’s more than capable for the most labor-intensive iPad uses, all-day battery life, and a handy USB-C port as well as second-gen Apple Pencil compatibility.

At this deal price, the Air is a great bang for your buck if you don’t need to be spending $799 on an iPad Pro. The Air has a 10.9-inch screen that’s just about the same size as the base model Pro, and at $300 less, the Air doesn’t really sacrifice too much aside from smaller storage and Touch ID in lieu of Face ID. Read our review.

Today is Pokémon day, and aside from this morning’s new announcements in the world of Pokémon, there are some worthwhile deals to coincide with the occasion. Pokémon Shining Pearl is on sale for $44.99 ($15 off) at Best Buy while Pokémon Brilliant Diamond is $45.78 (about $14 off) at Amazon or $49.99 at Best Buy. Both titles are highly stylized 3D remasters of their 2006 Nintendo DS originals, revitalizing them on the Nintendo Switch, and these are their second-best prices to date.

Meanwhile, New Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo Switch is also selling for $44.99 ($15 off) at Best Buy and Target. The photography-focused spinoff is like an on-rails shooter, but your tool of choice is a camera and your goal is snapping pics of cute and cool pokémon in a variety of biomes. It’s a pretty chill game that sticks close to the original N64 game’s formula, for better and worse.

The deal I might be most hyped for myself is Hori’s Split Pad Compact controller in a slick Gengar-themed design that’s selling for $49.99 ($10 off) at Best Buy and Amazon. What? I’m a sucker for ghost pokémon, okay? Plus, this controller gives your Switch better ergonomics in handheld mode and a couple of extra buttons. If you’ve ever used the Steam Deck, you quickly learn how small and unergonomic a Switch with standard Joy-Cons begins to feel.

Image: Nintendo

The Diamond and Pearl remasters mixed up the graphics with a cutesy 3D style.

The HyperX Cloud Core Wireless gaming headset is selling for $49.99 ($50 off) at Amazon. This lightweight headset borrows some features from its pricier cousin, the Cloud II Wireless, making it an appealing and affordable option for use on PlayStation (PS5 and PS4) consoles, PC, and Nintendo Switch (when docked).

The Cloud Core Wireless offers 3D-like spatial audio to better pinpoint the direction of the action and has a claimed battery life of up to 20 hours before needing a charge via its USB-C port. And its noise-suppressing boom mic can also be disconnected for when you’re not chatting or for easier storage.

Some more deals to help cure a case of the Mondays

The Google Pixel 6A is once again on sale for just $299 ($150 off) at Amazon. It remains one of the best values for performance and camera quality among all current Android phones, borrowing its Google Tensor processor from last year’s Pixel 6 flagships. Read our review.

Amazon is offering a few discounts on some iRobot vacuums, including the Roomba Combo j7 Plus vacuum / mop hybrid for $849 ($250 off) and the premium Roomba s9 Plus with Braava Jet m6 mop bundle for $949 ($650 off MSRP). The j7 Plus remains one of our top picks across all robot vacuums, and the combo version adds a mop to the mix along with the auto-emptying docking station.
A manufacturer refurbished Nintendo Switch OLED model in white is on sale for $299.99 ($50 off) at Woot, complete with a 90-day warranty direct from Nintendo. The OLED version has a significant upgrade in screen quality (much-improved contrast and a larger seven inches) and a kickstand that actually works.
The Alexa-powered Amazon Smart Thermostat is on sale once again for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon. It’s one of the easiest, most affordable ways to get into smart thermostats, even if its “hunches” don’t offer the most expansive controls. This deal returns it to its lowest price, making it a no-brainer if you don’t mind getting into an Amazon system.

Read More 

‘Ted Lasso’ Season 3 trailer teases the highs and lows of Premier League football

AFC Richmond is back for Ted Lasso Season 3, and this time, they’re in the Premier League.
The Greyhounds’ unlikely promotion has made them the target of ridicule across the football world, especially as they face off against West Ham United and their new coach Nate (Nick Mohammed). However, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and team will put their best foot forward and face these new challenges head-on.
Ted Lasso’s latest trailer teases what we can expect from our heroes, including Ted experiencing a panic attack at a game, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) working to defeat ex-husband Rupert (Anthony Head), Keeley (Juno Temple) running her own PR agency, and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) whipping the Greyhounds into shape.
The trailer also features several foreboding shots of Nate in what can only be the inevitable West Ham-Richmond showdown.
Will Ted and Nate reconcile? Will Roy and Keeley stay together? Will the Greyhounds prove the world wrong?
Ted Lasso Season 3 begins streaming March 15 on Apple TV+.

SEE ALSO:

Ted Lasso: How to watch without Apple TV

AFC Richmond is back for Ted Lasso Season 3, and this time, they’re in the Premier League.

The Greyhounds’ unlikely promotion has made them the target of ridicule across the football world, especially as they face off against West Ham United and their new coach Nate (Nick Mohammed). However, Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and team will put their best foot forward and face these new challenges head-on.

Ted Lasso‘s latest trailer teases what we can expect from our heroes, including Ted experiencing a panic attack at a game, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) working to defeat ex-husband Rupert (Anthony Head), Keeley (Juno Temple) running her own PR agency, and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) and Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) whipping the Greyhounds into shape.

The trailer also features several foreboding shots of Nate in what can only be the inevitable West Ham-Richmond showdown.

Will Ted and Nate reconcile? Will Roy and Keeley stay together? Will the Greyhounds prove the world wrong?

Ted Lasso Season 3 begins streaming March 15 on Apple TV+.

Read More 

Canada is reportedly banning TikTok from government-issued devices

Canada is reportedly the latest jurisdiction to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. The US federal government, multiple states and the European Union have previously prohibited their workers from using the app on official devices.
According to a note sent to Global Affairs Canada employees that was obtained by the National Post, TikTok “will be automatically removed and blocked from use on all government-issued mobile devices.” The report suggests that the government will announce the policy, which is expected to be effective March 1st, on Tuesday. Engadget has contacted TikTok and the Canadian government for comment.
“A review of the mobile application’s behavior in relation to the Policy on Service and Digital found that TikTok’s data collection methods may leave users vulnerable to cyber attacks,” the note purportedly reads. It may be the case that, similar to their counterparts in the US and EU, officials are concerned about the Chinese government gaining access to the data TikTok holds on Canadian citizens and residents. TikTok parent ByteDance is located in China, which has laws that force companies to share data with authorities when requested.
ByteDance has refuted suggestions that the Chinese government can access such data. It has claimed that Canadian user data is stored in the US and Singapore. However, it said that former employees in China and the US accessed data on American journalists, seemingly in an attempt to detect the sources of leaks from the company.
Canada’s Communications Security Establishment warned earlier this month that “adversary states can influence their domestic vendors to compromise products to advance their national interest, counter to Canadian clients’ interests and the interests of Canada,” but the report didn’t explicitly mention TikTok or China. The Canadian government, meanwhile, is facing scrutiny over possible Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, as the National Post notes.

Canada is reportedly the latest jurisdiction to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. The US federal government, multiple states and the European Union have previously prohibited their workers from using the app on official devices.

According to a note sent to Global Affairs Canada employees that was obtained by the National Post, TikTok “will be automatically removed and blocked from use on all government-issued mobile devices.” The report suggests that the government will announce the policy, which is expected to be effective March 1st, on Tuesday. Engadget has contacted TikTok and the Canadian government for comment.

“A review of the mobile application’s behavior in relation to the Policy on Service and Digital found that TikTok’s data collection methods may leave users vulnerable to cyber attacks,” the note purportedly reads. It may be the case that, similar to their counterparts in the US and EU, officials are concerned about the Chinese government gaining access to the data TikTok holds on Canadian citizens and residents. TikTok parent ByteDance is located in China, which has laws that force companies to share data with authorities when requested.

ByteDance has refuted suggestions that the Chinese government can access such data. It has claimed that Canadian user data is stored in the US and Singapore. However, it said that former employees in China and the US accessed data on American journalists, seemingly in an attempt to detect the sources of leaks from the company.

Canada’s Communications Security Establishment warned earlier this month that “adversary states can influence their domestic vendors to compromise products to advance their national interest, counter to Canadian clients’ interests and the interests of Canada,” but the report didn’t explicitly mention TikTok or China. The Canadian government, meanwhile, is facing scrutiny over possible Chinese interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, as the National Post notes.

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