Month: July 2024
The Swimming Sensation Léon Marchand Sets Another Olympic Record
The 22-year-old Frenchmen continued his spectacular run with a comeback win in the 200-meter butterfly.
The 22-year-old Frenchmen continued his spectacular run with a comeback win in the 200-meter butterfly.
U.S. Women’s Soccer Completes Perfect Group Stage With Win over Australia
The Americans went 3-0-0 in Group B, setting up a quarterfinal match against Japan.
The Americans went 3-0-0 in Group B, setting up a quarterfinal match against Japan.
Katie Ledecky Wins 8th Gold and Sets New Olympic Record
Ledecky needs one more gold medal to tie the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals for any female Olympian.
Ledecky needs one more gold medal to tie the Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina for the most gold medals for any female Olympian.
“AI toothbrushes” are coming for your teeth—and your data
App-connected toothbrushes bring new privacy concerns to the bathroom.
Enlarge / Oclean’s X Ultra, released in July, has optional Wi-Fi connectivity. (credit: Oclean)
One of the most unlikely passengers on the AI gadgets hype train is the toothbrush. With claims of using advanced algorithms and companion apps to help you brush your teeth better, toothbrushes have become a tech product for some brands.
So-called “AI toothbrushes” have become more common since debuting in 2017. Numerous brands now market AI capabilities for toothbrushes with three-figure price tags. But there’s limited scientific evidence that AI algorithms help oral health, and companies are becoming more interested in using tech-laden toothbrushes to source user data.
AI toothbrushes
Kolibree was the first company to announce a “toothbrush with artificial intelligence.” The French company debuted its Ara brush at CES 2017, with founder and CEO Thomas Serval saying, “Patented deep learning algorithms are embedded directly inside the toothbrush on a low-power processor. Raw data from the sensors runs through the processor, enabling the system to learn your habits and refine accuracy the more it’s used.”
Bungie is laying off 220 employees
The gaming industry has been plagued with rounds of layoffs and studio closures and it’s not showing any signs of stopping anytime soon. The latest round of layoffs comes from Sony-owned Bungie, best known at this point for Destiny 2.
Pete Parsons, the chief executive officer for Bungie, announced on its official website that it will eliminate 220 roles “representing roughly 17 percent of its workforce.” Executive and senior leader roles are the ones most affected by this round of layoffs but he also noted “these actions will affect every level of the company.”
Parsons blamed the need for layoffs on several factors including the “rising costs of development,” “industry shifts” and “enduring economic conditions.” He also noted the studio will focus its development efforts “entirely on Destiny and Marathon.”
Bungie and Sony seem to have been butting heads over economic concerns. Sony Interactive Entertainment chairman Hiroki Totoki noted during a February earnings call that he wanted to see more “accountability” with budgets and schedules from Bungie’s leaders. Destiny 2 alone has seen a noticeable dip in player numbers and revenues that fell 45 percent below its projections, according to PC Gamer.
Last year in October, Bloomberg reported that Bungie had to lay off an undetermined number of staffers that caused noticeable delays for its next game Marathon and an expansion for Destiny 2. A month later, Bungie announced it had to push back the release date for The Final Shape expansion for Destiny 2 from February to June.
Sony’s various game studios have also seen scores of layoffs in the last few months. Sony announced in February it had to eliminate around 900 positions from its PlayStation division as well as its Technology, Creative and Support teams. The cuts also affected studios like Insomniac, Naughty Dog and Guerilla that produced some of the PlayStation 5’s biggest titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us and Horizon Forbidden West. Sony also shut down its London studio after more than 20 years in operation that was right in the middle of working on a new fantasy co-op multiplayer game for the PS5.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bungie-is-laying-off-220-employees-200242815.html?src=rss
The gaming industry has been plagued with rounds of layoffs and studio closures and it’s not showing any signs of stopping anytime soon. The latest round of layoffs comes from Sony-owned Bungie, best known at this point for Destiny 2.
Pete Parsons, the chief executive officer for Bungie, announced on its official website that it will eliminate 220 roles “representing roughly 17 percent of its workforce.” Executive and senior leader roles are the ones most affected by this round of layoffs but he also noted “these actions will affect every level of the company.”
Parsons blamed the need for layoffs on several factors including the “rising costs of development,” “industry shifts” and “enduring economic conditions.” He also noted the studio will focus its development efforts “entirely on Destiny and Marathon.”
Bungie and Sony seem to have been butting heads over economic concerns. Sony Interactive Entertainment chairman Hiroki Totoki noted during a February earnings call that he wanted to see more “accountability” with budgets and schedules from Bungie’s leaders. Destiny 2 alone has seen a noticeable dip in player numbers and revenues that fell 45 percent below its projections, according to PC Gamer.
Last year in October, Bloomberg reported that Bungie had to lay off an undetermined number of staffers that caused noticeable delays for its next game Marathon and an expansion for Destiny 2. A month later, Bungie announced it had to push back the release date for The Final Shape expansion for Destiny 2 from February to June.
Sony’s various game studios have also seen scores of layoffs in the last few months. Sony announced in February it had to eliminate around 900 positions from its PlayStation division as well as its Technology, Creative and Support teams. The cuts also affected studios like Insomniac, Naughty Dog and Guerilla that produced some of the PlayStation 5’s biggest titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Last of Us and Horizon Forbidden West. Sony also shut down its London studio after more than 20 years in operation that was right in the middle of working on a new fantasy co-op multiplayer game for the PS5.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bungie-is-laying-off-220-employees-200242815.html?src=rss
Update your Sonos app on the iPhone and you might cure your battery drain problem
Just days after Sonos CEO Patrick Spence apologized for the app redesign and subsequent issues, a fresh update promises to fix the battery drain caused by the app.
After a tumultuous few months for Sonos, specifically with its app for controlling its connected speakers and soundbars, yet another bug-squashing update is rolling out. And if you’ve been exploring rapid battery drain on your iPhone courtesy of the Sonos app for iOS, this should come as good news.
As confirmed by “KeithFromSonos” on the Sonos Reddit, the iOS app is receiving a fresh update. This one focuses on fixing the app’s excessive use of the phone battery and the previously promised commitment to improve the stability of adding new products.
This comes just a few days after CEO Patrick Spence penned a letter apologizing for the app and rollout and promising to add missing features and regain trust with its users. The letter also notes that more updates are planned and lists what is being fixed and when.
A long list of updates are still incoming
Seemingly, though, with users vocalizing the issues of battery drain, the team at Sonos worked to get this fix out sooner rather than later. And a good chunk of folks were happy to see it, with some noting that they even deleted the app due to the battery drain on their iPhone or iPad. Others are still detailing problems with the app crashing and Sonos systems not being found, so there is clearly more work to do.
The other issue supposedly squashed with this latest update is improving the stability when adding new products, like an Era 100, Roam 2 speaker, or the Ace headphones.
Sonos is still working on future improvements and bug fixes, which are set to arrive next week. Judging from Spence’s note, August will focus on music library fixes, volume responsiveness, general user interface improvements, and error handling through the system. Improvements to alarms, changes to settings, and restoring the edit mode for queue and playlists are set to arrive in September and October.
Version 80.05.05 of the Sonos app is available now on iOS and iPadOS. If you’ve been experiencing issues, it’s time to update, and you can expect to see more of these updates over the coming weeks.
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Leak: here’s the DJI Neo, the lightest budget drone DJI’s ever made
Leaked photos of the DJI Neo drone suggest it may cost just $329 to buy a bundle. | Image: Jasper Ellens
DJI’s 4K-ready Neo drone has leaked — and according to the photos, box, specs, and leaked Walmart price we’ve now seen, it could be the lightest and cheapest full-featured DJI drone you can buy.
A leaked Walmart listing hints that the DJI Neo Fly More Combo could sell for just $329, and the starting price for a standalone drone could be even less given that DJI’s “Fly More” bundle comes with extra batteries, a charging hub, and a shoulder bag that typically increase the price.
Image: Jasper Ellens
The DJI Neo.
Meanwhile, retail packaging photos published on X by well-known leaker Jasper Ellens as well as an FCC database listing now give us a glimpse into the drone’s specs. As mentioned, the drone will be capable of shooting in 4K.
Weighing just 135 grams (or about 0.3 pounds), the Neo could also be DJI’s lightest budget drone so far (the kid-friendly 80-gram DJI Tello was made by another company, Ryze). It’ll be lighter than the 249 gram DJI Mini SE — which started at $299 — lighter than the old 300g DJI Spark, and it’ll weigh only 10 grams more than its rival, the HoverAir X1, which The Verge is currently reviewing.
Image: Jasper Ellens
Design-wise, photos show that the drone has propeller guards, which could make it safer for indoor use. It also features a push button on-drone interface that cycles through flight modes, just like the HoverAir X1.
While it’s pictured with a joystick-style pro controller in the “Fly More” kit, the box mentions multiple control options and shows it can take off and land from your palm. Combined with the mode switching button on top and “AI subject tracking,” you might be able to start it up and shoot flying selfies like the HoverAir without using a controller at all. There’s no word on battery life or wireless range yet.
Unlike DJI’s Mini lineup, the Neo doesn’t appear to fold down into a smaller package; it’s shaped more like DJI’s Avata FPV drones. Hopefully, that means the Neo can be piloted from the perspective of the drone by connecting it to an Avata-compatible headset.
It’s uncertain when DJI plans on releasing the drone, but Ellens speculates it could be in “a matter of weeks” if the product photos are real.
Leaked photos of the DJI Neo drone suggest it may cost just $329 to buy a bundle. | Image: Jasper Ellens
DJI’s 4K-ready Neo drone has leaked — and according to the photos, box, specs, and leaked Walmart price we’ve now seen, it could be the lightest and cheapest full-featured DJI drone you can buy.
A leaked Walmart listing hints that the DJI Neo Fly More Combo could sell for just $329, and the starting price for a standalone drone could be even less given that DJI’s “Fly More” bundle comes with extra batteries, a charging hub, and a shoulder bag that typically increase the price.
Image: Jasper Ellens
The DJI Neo.
Meanwhile, retail packaging photos published on X by well-known leaker Jasper Ellens as well as an FCC database listing now give us a glimpse into the drone’s specs. As mentioned, the drone will be capable of shooting in 4K.
Weighing just 135 grams (or about 0.3 pounds), the Neo could also be DJI’s lightest budget drone so far (the kid-friendly 80-gram DJI Tello was made by another company, Ryze). It’ll be lighter than the 249 gram DJI Mini SE — which started at $299 — lighter than the old 300g DJI Spark, and it’ll weigh only 10 grams more than its rival, the HoverAir X1, which The Verge is currently reviewing.
Image: Jasper Ellens
Design-wise, photos show that the drone has propeller guards, which could make it safer for indoor use. It also features a push button on-drone interface that cycles through flight modes, just like the HoverAir X1.
While it’s pictured with a joystick-style pro controller in the “Fly More” kit, the box mentions multiple control options and shows it can take off and land from your palm. Combined with the mode switching button on top and “AI subject tracking,” you might be able to start it up and shoot flying selfies like the HoverAir without using a controller at all. There’s no word on battery life or wireless range yet.
Unlike DJI’s Mini lineup, the Neo doesn’t appear to fold down into a smaller package; it’s shaped more like DJI’s Avata FPV drones. Hopefully, that means the Neo can be piloted from the perspective of the drone by connecting it to an Avata-compatible headset.
It’s uncertain when DJI plans on releasing the drone, but Ellens speculates it could be in “a matter of weeks” if the product photos are real.