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Google’s AI-powered Photos upgrades are beginning to trickle in. Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered chatbot that lets you get ultra-specific and conversational with your photo searches, is launching in early access for select users in the US. In addition, the improved search for more descriptive Google Photos queries begins rolling out today for all English-speaking users.
The upgraded search in Google Photos lets you use more descriptive queries. For example, while you could have searched for “lake” before, you can now enter “kayaking on a lake surrounded by mountains.” Or, instead of merely searching for your friend Alice, you can go with “Alice and me laughing.” The idea is to make it easier to narrow things down as our cloud-based photo libraries grow.
Ask Photos, the Google Photos chatbot the company revealed at I/O in May, takes that further. Powered by Gemini, it adds a new tab at the bottom of the Photos app that lets you ask about anything in your library using natural language.
Google provided examples like “Show me the best photo from each national park I’ve visited,” which uses location data to scour your park photos and some subjective robot judgment to determine a favorite. Other examples the company provided include “What did we eat at the hotel in Stanley?” and “Where did we camp last time we went to Yosemite?”
Like other chatbot features, Ask Photos can respond to follow-up prompts. So, if it misses the mark the first time, you can ask it to tweak its parameters and give it another go.
Google says your Photos data will never be used for advertising. Although humans may review queries, they’ll be disconnected from your Google account, so the reviewers won’t know who typed the input. Real people won’t review Ask Google’s answers, including photos or videos, unless you provide feedback or (only in rare cases, according to the company) to address abuse.
If you’re in the US, you can sign up for the waitlist to try to get early access to Ask Photos starting today. Meanwhile, Google Photos’ more descriptive search powers are now beginning to roll out for English-speaking users on Android and iOS.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-powered-photo-search-arrives-in-early-access-160041679.html?src=rss

Google’s AI-powered Photos upgrades are beginning to trickle in. Ask Photos, the Gemini-powered chatbot that lets you get ultra-specific and conversational with your photo searches, is launching in early access for select users in the US. In addition, the improved search for more descriptive Google Photos queries begins rolling out today for all English-speaking users.

The upgraded search in Google Photos lets you use more descriptive queries. For example, while you could have searched for “lake” before, you can now enter “kayaking on a lake surrounded by mountains.” Or, instead of merely searching for your friend Alice, you can go with “Alice and me laughing.” The idea is to make it easier to narrow things down as our cloud-based photo libraries grow.

Ask Photos, the Google Photos chatbot the company revealed at I/O in May, takes that further. Powered by Gemini, it adds a new tab at the bottom of the Photos app that lets you ask about anything in your library using natural language.

Google provided examples like “Show me the best photo from each national park I’ve visited,” which uses location data to scour your park photos and some subjective robot judgment to determine a favorite. Other examples the company provided include “What did we eat at the hotel in Stanley?” and “Where did we camp last time we went to Yosemite?”

Like other chatbot features, Ask Photos can respond to follow-up prompts. So, if it misses the mark the first time, you can ask it to tweak its parameters and give it another go.

Google says your Photos data will never be used for advertising. Although humans may review queries, they’ll be disconnected from your Google account, so the reviewers won’t know who typed the input. Real people won’t review Ask Google’s answers, including photos or videos, unless you provide feedback or (only in rare cases, according to the company) to address abuse.

If you’re in the US, you can sign up for the waitlist to try to get early access to Ask Photos starting today. Meanwhile, Google Photos’ more descriptive search powers are now beginning to roll out for English-speaking users on Android and iOS.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-powered-photo-search-arrives-in-early-access-160041679.html?src=rss

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Panasonic TVs have been missing from the US market for over a decade, which is odd because, well, the company makes good stuff. In any event, our national nightmare is over. The Japanese electronics giant just released a bunch of new televisions for US customers.
The releases break down into two lines of OLED displays and another line of Mini-LED TVs. The televisions range in size from 55 to 85 inches and they’ve all been designed and developed in Japan. As expected, all of the TVs boast a 4K resolution, to showcase Panasonic’s “outstanding picture quality.”
Panasonic has also teamed up with Amazon for these displays. Each model comes with Fire TV built in. This partnership likely gave Panasonic an easy way to add an America-friendly UI into the mix, being as how the company’s been missing from these shores for ten years.
Panasonic/Amazon
Why come back now? The company says it was “driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.” That’s just corporate mumbo jumbo, but the real reason is likely one word that rhymes with “shmoney.” The US is a huge market.
Though Panasonic’s TVs have been absent for ten years, the company has maintained an active presence in America. It sells a bunch of well-regarded standalone cameras and is building a giant EV battery plant in Kansas.
The company’s new TVs are available to order right now, though it looks like shipments won’t go out until September 16. Prices range from $1,300 to $3,200, depending on the model and size.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/panasonic-just-returned-to-the-us-market-with-new-oled-and-mini-led-tvs-152614684.html?src=rss

Panasonic TVs have been missing from the US market for over a decade, which is odd because, well, the company makes good stuff. In any event, our national nightmare is over. The Japanese electronics giant just released a bunch of new televisions for US customers.

The releases break down into two lines of OLED displays and another line of Mini-LED TVs. The televisions range in size from 55 to 85 inches and they’ve all been designed and developed in Japan. As expected, all of the TVs boast a 4K resolution, to showcase Panasonic’s “outstanding picture quality.”

Panasonic has also teamed up with Amazon for these displays. Each model comes with Fire TV built in. This partnership likely gave Panasonic an easy way to add an America-friendly UI into the mix, being as how the company’s been missing from these shores for ten years.

Why come back now? The company says it was “driven to re-enter the US by a strong belief in the unmet demand for their televisions, particularly among consumers seeking the highest possible picture quality.” That’s just corporate mumbo jumbo, but the real reason is likely one word that rhymes with “shmoney.” The US is a huge market.

Though Panasonic’s TVs have been absent for ten years, the company has maintained an active presence in America. It sells a bunch of well-regarded standalone cameras and is building a giant EV battery plant in Kansas.

The company’s new TVs are available to order right now, though it looks like shipments won’t go out until September 16. Prices range from $1,300 to $3,200, depending on the model and size.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/panasonic-just-returned-to-the-us-market-with-new-oled-and-mini-led-tvs-152614684.html?src=rss

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Sony’s MDR-7506 headphones have become a go-to option for recording studios and creators. The set of cans are only $100 and they offer crisp, clean sound so you know exactly what your audience is going to hear. Today, the company announced a more robust option for studio headphones, the MDR-M1, that has a slightly updated design, new drivers, wider frequency range and improved bass response. 
Inside, the MDR-M1 packs newly developed drivers capable of frequency response of 5Hz – 80kHz. Sony explains that this ultra-wide range is crucial for things like subtle details in various recorded sound sources (Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio especially). More specifically, the drivers here have a soft edge for those super low frequencies and a hard dome shape for accurate reproduction in the ultra-high range. There’s also a “tuned port” on the outside of the ear cups, or Beat Response Control as Sony calls it, that provides the ventilation needed for improved low frequency control. That component works in tandem with an optimized diaphragm for “very tight bass response,” according to the company. 
“In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing,” explained Akihiro Nishimura, an engineer at Power Station at Berklee NYC who worked with Sony to develop these headphones. “MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other.”

Sony

These are closed-back headphones, so you won’t have to worry about sound leakage or ambient noise creeping in. Sony enhanced the replaceable ear pads for both increased comfort and better noise isolation. It also reduced the overall weight compared to the 7506, which means longer recording sessions shouldn’t be as much of a burden. The MDR-M1 will come with two detachable cables with machined aluminum connections, one that has a stereo mini-plug and plug adapter (stereo mini to stereo standard) and the other a shorter option for connecting to various professional gear. Sony also took care to make the MDR-M1 more durable, as they’re like to get dropped or flung around a studio or other recording and editing environments. 
The MDR-M1 is available for preorder now for $250, a significant increase over the MDR-7506. If open-back headphones are more your thing for recording and editing, the MDR-MV1 carries a similar spec sheet to this new model. But, the price tag is even higher at $400. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-mdr-m1-studio-headphones-offer-an-audio-and-comfort-upgrade-over-the-mdr-7506-150052628.html?src=rss

Sony’s MDR-7506 headphones have become a go-to option for recording studios and creators. The set of cans are only $100 and they offer crisp, clean sound so you know exactly what your audience is going to hear. Today, the company announced a more robust option for studio headphones, the MDR-M1, that has a slightly updated design, new drivers, wider frequency range and improved bass response. 

Inside, the MDR-M1 packs newly developed drivers capable of frequency response of 5Hz – 80kHz. Sony explains that this ultra-wide range is crucial for things like subtle details in various recorded sound sources (Dolby Atmos and 360 Reality Audio especially). More specifically, the drivers here have a soft edge for those super low frequencies and a hard dome shape for accurate reproduction in the ultra-high range. There’s also a “tuned port” on the outside of the ear cups, or Beat Response Control as Sony calls it, that provides the ventilation needed for improved low frequency control. That component works in tandem with an optimized diaphragm for “very tight bass response,” according to the company. 

“In recording sessions, it is important to care what musicians or singers are listening to when they play or sing,” explained Akihiro Nishimura, an engineer at Power Station at Berklee NYC who worked with Sony to develop these headphones. “MDR-M1 gives you the same impression of listening in a control room headphone, which makes it easier to create music by listening to each other.”

These are closed-back headphones, so you won’t have to worry about sound leakage or ambient noise creeping in. Sony enhanced the replaceable ear pads for both increased comfort and better noise isolation. It also reduced the overall weight compared to the 7506, which means longer recording sessions shouldn’t be as much of a burden. The MDR-M1 will come with two detachable cables with machined aluminum connections, one that has a stereo mini-plug and plug adapter (stereo mini to stereo standard) and the other a shorter option for connecting to various professional gear. Sony also took care to make the MDR-M1 more durable, as they’re like to get dropped or flung around a studio or other recording and editing environments. 

The MDR-M1 is available for preorder now for $250, a significant increase over the MDR-7506. If open-back headphones are more your thing for recording and editing, the MDR-MV1 carries a similar spec sheet to this new model. But, the price tag is even higher at $400. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/sonys-mdr-m1-studio-headphones-offer-an-audio-and-comfort-upgrade-over-the-mdr-7506-150052628.html?src=rss

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Last year, Lenovo showed off a fantastically futuristic concept gadget called Project Crystal, which was the world’s first laptop to feature a transparent MicroLED display. But today, in what has become a tradition for Lenovo during IFA, the company is back with yet another demo notebook, this time equipped with a motorized rotating hinge.
Dubbed the Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo’s latest concept looks almost exactly like a traditional clamshell when closed. However, with a simple voice command, its lid raises automatically and rotates into practically any position — even all the way around into tablet mode. While there is no official pricing, or even plans to bring the device to full production just yet, Lenovo says the Auto Twist is designed to provide enhanced adaptability, improved ergonomics and possibly better security. But for now, the company’s main goal is simply to see what environments or use cases might be able to best take advantage of a laptop with this kind of novel design.
Thanks to built-in object tracking, for example, the Auto Twist can move its display and follow people as they walk around a room, which could be very helpful when making presentations. It can also detect a person’s body, and possibly even their posture, before moving its display into the best position to reduce fatigue or strain. 
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
Alternatively, the laptop can detect when it’s not being used and then close its own lid to prevent unwanted users from gaining access. And while the Auto Twist’s AI tag feels a bit spurious, Lenovo hopes the laptop will be able to do many of these things on its own or through simple natural language voice control (the laptop currently supports commands to transform into laptop mode, clamshell mode and more).
After seeing it in person, the most immediate use case that came to my mind was in POS (point-of-sale) payment terminals. Here, employees often have to manually flip a screen around so that the customer can see their total or add in things like a tip. Granted, the Auto Twist does seem like overkill in that situation considering how easy it is to rotate a screen around the old-fashioned way with your hands a basic hinge. And at least from what I saw, the built-in motor wasn’t quite as smooth as you’d probably want for commercial applications. But, it is an interesting idea with potential for high-end luxury outlets.
Then there’s just the fun of it. During my demo, I watched as the Auto Twist played a clip of a dancer as its motorized hinge attempted to make its display match the person’s movements. I also saw the laptop swivel its display horizontally to present an ultra-wide panoramic photo in a more engaging way. Additionally, while other bleeding-edge tech like laptops with foldable displays suffer from a ton of added weight and bulk, the rotating servo on Lenovo’s latest concept is relatively unobtrusive and there isn’t a huge impact on the device’s overall portability.
Sam Rutherford for Engadget
So while it remains to be seen how useful the Auto Twist really is or what it might turn into down the line, I appreciate that Lenovo is still trying to come up with new ways to evolve the classic clamshell laptop.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-auto-twist-concept-laptop-has-a-lid-that-can-swivel-and-bow-down-at-your-command-150022971.html?src=rss

Last year, Lenovo showed off a fantastically futuristic concept gadget called Project Crystal, which was the world’s first laptop to feature a transparent MicroLED display. But today, in what has become a tradition for Lenovo during IFA, the company is back with yet another demo notebook, this time equipped with a motorized rotating hinge.

Dubbed the Auto Twist AI PC, Lenovo’s latest concept looks almost exactly like a traditional clamshell when closed. However, with a simple voice command, its lid raises automatically and rotates into practically any position — even all the way around into tablet mode. While there is no official pricing, or even plans to bring the device to full production just yet, Lenovo says the Auto Twist is designed to provide enhanced adaptability, improved ergonomics and possibly better security. But for now, the company’s main goal is simply to see what environments or use cases might be able to best take advantage of a laptop with this kind of novel design.

Thanks to built-in object tracking, for example, the Auto Twist can move its display and follow people as they walk around a room, which could be very helpful when making presentations. It can also detect a person’s body, and possibly even their posture, before moving its display into the best position to reduce fatigue or strain. 

Alternatively, the laptop can detect when it’s not being used and then close its own lid to prevent unwanted users from gaining access. And while the Auto Twist’s AI tag feels a bit spurious, Lenovo hopes the laptop will be able to do many of these things on its own or through simple natural language voice control (the laptop currently supports commands to transform into laptop mode, clamshell mode and more).

After seeing it in person, the most immediate use case that came to my mind was in POS (point-of-sale) payment terminals. Here, employees often have to manually flip a screen around so that the customer can see their total or add in things like a tip. Granted, the Auto Twist does seem like overkill in that situation considering how easy it is to rotate a screen around the old-fashioned way with your hands a basic hinge. And at least from what I saw, the built-in motor wasn’t quite as smooth as you’d probably want for commercial applications. But, it is an interesting idea with potential for high-end luxury outlets.

Then there’s just the fun of it. During my demo, I watched as the Auto Twist played a clip of a dancer as its motorized hinge attempted to make its display match the person’s movements. I also saw the laptop swivel its display horizontally to present an ultra-wide panoramic photo in a more engaging way. Additionally, while other bleeding-edge tech like laptops with foldable displays suffer from a ton of added weight and bulk, the rotating servo on Lenovo’s latest concept is relatively unobtrusive and there isn’t a huge impact on the device’s overall portability.

So while it remains to be seen how useful the Auto Twist really is or what it might turn into down the line, I appreciate that Lenovo is still trying to come up with new ways to evolve the classic clamshell laptop.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovos-auto-twist-concept-laptop-has-a-lid-that-can-swivel-and-bow-down-at-your-command-150022971.html?src=rss

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Lenovo has just revealed its latest lineup of laptops at IFA Berlin. The standouts seem to be Aura editions of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i. The Aura software, which is the result of a collaboration with Intel, can quickly shift these machines into various modes to optimize for specific tasks, like safe internet browsing, better video call quality or distraction-free work.
Lenovo
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, It’s a 14-inch laptop with a 16:10 2.8K (2880×1800) OLED display and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It also has DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and reaches 400 nits of brightness. The CPU is an Intel Core Ultra 9, and the Intel Arc Xe2 GPU handles graphics. The battery is rated at 57Wh and is a replaceable unit.
The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is larger at 15.3 inches and also has a screen resolution of 2.8K. The display can be an OLED or LCD touch panel, with a refresh rate of 120Hz and brightness of 500 nits. An Intel Core Ultra 7 processor powers this laptop and uses integrated graphics. With a battery life of 70Wh, it should last all day for web browsing and streaming video content.
Another laptop to look out for is the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and integrated Adreno GPU. The 14-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) OLED screen can reach 400 nits of brightness, and the battery is rated at 57Wh. Best of all, the whole package only costs about $850.
The Yoga Pro 7, IdeaPad Slim 5x and the 13- and 15-inch IdeaPad Slim 5s are among the new arrivals as well, but unfortunately, these models won’t be available in the US.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-announces-new-aura-edition-laptops-150005439.html?src=rss

Lenovo has just revealed its latest lineup of laptops at IFA Berlin. The standouts seem to be Aura editions of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 and Yoga Slim 7i. The Aura software, which is the result of a collaboration with Intel, can quickly shift these machines into various modes to optimize for specific tasks, like safe internet browsing, better video call quality or distraction-free work.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition, It’s a 14-inch laptop with a 16:10 2.8K (2880×1800) OLED display and a refresh rate of 120Hz. It also has DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and reaches 400 nits of brightness. The CPU is an Intel Core Ultra 9, and the Intel Arc Xe2 GPU handles graphics. The battery is rated at 57Wh and is a replaceable unit.

The Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is larger at 15.3 inches and also has a screen resolution of 2.8K. The display can be an OLED or LCD touch panel, with a refresh rate of 120Hz and brightness of 500 nits. An Intel Core Ultra 7 processor powers this laptop and uses integrated graphics. With a battery life of 70Wh, it should last all day for web browsing and streaming video content.

Another laptop to look out for is the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus 8-core processor and integrated Adreno GPU. The 14-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) OLED screen can reach 400 nits of brightness, and the battery is rated at 57Wh. Best of all, the whole package only costs about $850.

The Yoga Pro 7, IdeaPad Slim 5x and the 13- and 15-inch IdeaPad Slim 5s are among the new arrivals as well, but unfortunately, these models won’t be available in the US.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/lenovo-announces-new-aura-edition-laptops-150005439.html?src=rss

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The UK’s competition watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Ticketmaster after tickets for Oasis’ reunion shows went on sale last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority said it will look into the company’s dynamic pricing practice and whether it broke consumer law.
Dynamic pricing involves a business adjusting prices based on shifting market conditions, such as demand. Airlines are among those that use the model.
Some Oasis fans who tried desperately to get tickets for the band’s first shows in 16 years waited for hours in Ticketmaster’s virtual queues. When they were finally able to buy tickets, some found that they were two or three times more expensive than they may have expected due to dynamic pricing. With Ticketmaster often giving customers mere moments to complete a purchase after tickets are in their cart, fans were faced with having to make a snap decision about paying significantly more than they’d anticipated.
The CMA will look into the pressure of that ticking clock on consumers’ purchasing decisions. It will also attempt to determine if Ticketmaster conducted “unfair commercial practices” that are banned under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. Moreover, the watchdog will investigate whether customers were provided with “clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ with prices changing depending on demand, and how this would operate, including the price they would pay for any tickets purchased.”
The CMA notes that while dynamic pricing isn’t inherently illegal under UK law, ticket sales platforms have to be transparent with customers, and provide clear and accurate details about how much they need to pay. The watchdog said that the practice could breach consumer protection or competition law in certain cases.
Oasis criticized the use of dynamic pricing for the band’s long-awaited reunion gigs. “It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management,” the band said in a statement. It claimed to have no “awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used.” Other high-profile artists — including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and The Cure — have opted out of using dynamic pricing for recent shows.
Following the scramble for Oasis tickets, the UK government has pledged to look at dynamic pricing as part of a consultation into the secondary-ticket market this fall. In the US, the Justice Department and many state and district attorneys general filed an antitrust suit in a bid to break up Ticketmaster owner Live Nation. They claim it holds a monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was also the victim of a cyber attack this year in which hackers obtained the personal information of 560 million customers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-competition-watchdog-opens-ticketmaster-probe-after-oasis-ticket-debacle-143233958.html?src=rss

The UK’s competition watchdog has opened a formal investigation into Ticketmaster after tickets for Oasis’ reunion shows went on sale last weekend. The Competition and Markets Authority said it will look into the company’s dynamic pricing practice and whether it broke consumer law.

Dynamic pricing involves a business adjusting prices based on shifting market conditions, such as demand. Airlines are among those that use the model.

Some Oasis fans who tried desperately to get tickets for the band’s first shows in 16 years waited for hours in Ticketmaster’s virtual queues. When they were finally able to buy tickets, some found that they were two or three times more expensive than they may have expected due to dynamic pricing. With Ticketmaster often giving customers mere moments to complete a purchase after tickets are in their cart, fans were faced with having to make a snap decision about paying significantly more than they’d anticipated.

The CMA will look into the pressure of that ticking clock on consumers’ purchasing decisions. It will also attempt to determine if Ticketmaster conducted “unfair commercial practices” that are banned under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations Act 2008. Moreover, the watchdog will investigate whether customers were provided with “clear and timely information to explain that the tickets could be subject to so-called ‘dynamic pricing’ with prices changing depending on demand, and how this would operate, including the price they would pay for any tickets purchased.”

The CMA notes that while dynamic pricing isn’t inherently illegal under UK law, ticket sales platforms have to be transparent with customers, and provide clear and accurate details about how much they need to pay. The watchdog said that the practice could breach consumer protection or competition law in certain cases.

Oasis criticized the use of dynamic pricing for the band’s long-awaited reunion gigs. “It needs to be made clear that Oasis leave decisions on ticketing and pricing entirely to their promoters and management,” the band said in a statement. It claimed to have no “awareness that dynamic pricing was going to be used.” Other high-profile artists — including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and The Cure — have opted out of using dynamic pricing for recent shows.

Following the scramble for Oasis tickets, the UK government has pledged to look at dynamic pricing as part of a consultation into the secondary-ticket market this fall. In the US, the Justice Department and many state and district attorneys general filed an antitrust suit in a bid to break up Ticketmaster owner Live Nation. They claim it holds a monopoly over the live entertainment industry. Ticketmaster was also the victim of a cyber attack this year in which hackers obtained the personal information of 560 million customers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-competition-watchdog-opens-ticketmaster-probe-after-oasis-ticket-debacle-143233958.html?src=rss

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NinjaLab, a security research company, has discovered a vulnerability that would allow bad actors to clone YubiKeys. As the company has explained in a security advisory, NinjaLab found a vulnerability in the cryptographic library used in the YubiKey 5 Series. In particular, it found a cryptographic flaw in the microcontroller, which the security researchers described as something that “generates/stores secrets and then execute cryptographic operations” for security devices like bank cards and FIDO hardware tokens. YubiKeys are the most well-known FIDO authentication keys, and they’re supposed to make accounts more secure, since users would have to plug it into their computers before they could log in. 
The researchers explained how they discovered the vulnerability because they found an open platform based on Infineon’s cryptographic library, which Yubico uses. They confirmed that all YubiKey 5 models can be cloned, and they also said that the vulnerability isn’t limited to the brand though they’ve yet to try and clone other devices.
That vulnerability has apparently gone unnoticed for 14 years, but just because it has now come to light doesn’t mean anybody can exploit it to clone YubiKeys. To start with, bad actors will need to have physical access to the token they want to copy. Then, they have to take it apart and use expensive equipment, including an oscilloscope, to “perform electromagnetic side-channel measurements” needed to analyze the token. In the researchers’ paper, they said their setup cost them around $11,000 and that using more advanced oscilloscopes could raise the setup’s cost to $33,000. In addition, attackers might still need their target’s PINs, passwords or biometrics to be able to access specific accounts. 
Bottom line is that users part of government agencies or anybody handling very, very sensitive documents that could make them espionage targets would have to be very careful with their keys. For ordinary users, as researchers wrote in their paper, “it is still safer to use YubiKey or other impacted products as FIDO hardware authentication token to sign in to applications rather than not using one.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/yubikey-vulnerability-will-let-attackers-clone-the-authentication-device-143049198.html?src=rss

NinjaLab, a security research company, has discovered a vulnerability that would allow bad actors to clone YubiKeys. As the company has explained in a security advisory, NinjaLab found a vulnerability in the cryptographic library used in the YubiKey 5 Series. In particular, it found a cryptographic flaw in the microcontroller, which the security researchers described as something that “generates/stores secrets and then execute cryptographic operations” for security devices like bank cards and FIDO hardware tokens. YubiKeys are the most well-known FIDO authentication keys, and they’re supposed to make accounts more secure, since users would have to plug it into their computers before they could log in. 

The researchers explained how they discovered the vulnerability because they found an open platform based on Infineon’s cryptographic library, which Yubico uses. They confirmed that all YubiKey 5 models can be cloned, and they also said that the vulnerability isn’t limited to the brand though they’ve yet to try and clone other devices.

That vulnerability has apparently gone unnoticed for 14 years, but just because it has now come to light doesn’t mean anybody can exploit it to clone YubiKeys. To start with, bad actors will need to have physical access to the token they want to copy. Then, they have to take it apart and use expensive equipment, including an oscilloscope, to “perform electromagnetic side-channel measurements” needed to analyze the token. In the researchers’ paper, they said their setup cost them around $11,000 and that using more advanced oscilloscopes could raise the setup’s cost to $33,000. In addition, attackers might still need their target’s PINs, passwords or biometrics to be able to access specific accounts. 

Bottom line is that users part of government agencies or anybody handling very, very sensitive documents that could make them espionage targets would have to be very careful with their keys. For ordinary users, as researchers wrote in their paper, “it is still safer to use YubiKey or other impacted products as FIDO hardware authentication token to sign in to applications rather than not using one.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/yubikey-vulnerability-will-let-attackers-clone-the-authentication-device-143049198.html?src=rss

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Well, it’s official: everyone has a podcast. Today, the NSA launched No Such Podcast, a nod to the entity’s nickname, No Such Agency, back when its mere existence was classified. The NSA bills the podcast as bringing “people to the table from across the agency to discuss our role as a combat support agency, our foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, and so much more. NSA is known as home to the world’s greatest codemakers and codebreakers — their stories are now being decoded.”
However, the podcast is far from Edward Snowden-level sharing. The NSA’s chief of strategic communications, Sara Siegle, is quick to add that some of the agency’s work is too sensitive to discuss. This podcast will be a platform to tell “more” stories while sharing expertise and highlighting government officials.
No Such Podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you regularly get your podcasts. The NSA published two episodes on launch day, with the first focusing on cybersecurity and the other detailing the agency’s role in finding Osama Bin Laden. The NSA will release six more episodes weekly through mid-October.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/even-the-nsa-now-has-a-podcast-140028493.html?src=rss

Well, it’s official: everyone has a podcast. Today, the NSA launched No Such Podcast, a nod to the entity’s nickname, No Such Agency, back when its mere existence was classified. The NSA bills the podcast as bringing “people to the table from across the agency to discuss our role as a combat support agency, our foreign signals intelligence and cybersecurity missions, and so much more. NSA is known as home to the world’s greatest codemakers and codebreakers — their stories are now being decoded.”

However, the podcast is far from Edward Snowden-level sharing. The NSA’s chief of strategic communications, Sara Siegle, is quick to add that some of the agency’s work is too sensitive to discuss. This podcast will be a platform to tell “more” stories while sharing expertise and highlighting government officials.

No Such Podcast is available on YouTube and wherever you regularly get your podcasts. The NSA published two episodes on launch day, with the first focusing on cybersecurity and the other detailing the agency’s role in finding Osama Bin Laden. The NSA will release six more episodes weekly through mid-October.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/even-the-nsa-now-has-a-podcast-140028493.html?src=rss

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DJI has just unveiled the Neo, its much-leaked $200 drone aimed at content creators and casual users. It’s tiny and easy to use thanks to novice-friendly features like propeller guards, palm takeoff and voice control.
However, the Neo is no toy (or Snap Pixy). It has a suite of powerful features like ActiveTrack, Quick Shots, FPV controller support, smartphone control and the ability to record yourself with the DJI Mic 2.
Video specs look promising as well, but not everything is perfect — it lacks obstacle detection and uses small propellers that are likely to be noisy. I wasn’t able to give it a full look as some features were missing, but I was still astonished by what DJI got a small, cheap drone to do.

The Neo is DJI’s lightest drone by a long way at 135 grams and is nearly small enough to fit into a pocket. It also has a feature we’ve not seen on the company’s drones before: a second button near the camera gimbal that lets you choose from different “Smart Shot” modes (Quick Shots on other DJI drones), like Follow and Dronie.
It comes with removable propeller guards that provide protection for use indoors and around people. Be careful when you fly, though, as there’s no obstacle avoidance apart from the main camera’s AI and a downward facing IR landing sensor.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The camera gimbal can tilt up 60 degrees and down 90, though it doesn’t flip for vertical video. The half-inch 12-megapixel sensor has an ultra-wide angle 13mm equivalent focal length with an f/2.8 aperture — good specs for a drone in this price range.
The Neo’s 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery is incredibly light but supports up to 17 minutes of fly time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world. The small size means they charge quickly, but most users will want the two extra cells and a charger included in the Neo Combo kit.
To charge the batteries and transfer footage, there’s a USB-C port on the back. You won’t find a microSD card slot, though, as the Neo relies on 22GB of internal storage that holds about 40 minutes of 4K 30p footage.
Steve Dent for Engadget
Though small, the Neo offers features you’d expect on a high-end drone. To make it less intimidating for beginners, the Neo can be launched simply by placing it in hand and pressing the mode button. Then, it’ll automatically record video while performing one of six preprogrammed smart shots: Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight and Direction Track. To land the drone, just place your hand under it.
Settings can be tweaked with the new DJI Fly app, which now works without a controller and connects to the drone over Wi-Fi. For the smart modes, you can change things like follow distance and height, dronie radius and flight path, circle radius and more. You can also adjust video and photo resolution.
The Neo is DJI’s first model that lets you use voice control to launch the drone and perform Smart Shots and other actions. That feature wasn’t available in the beta software I tested, but DJI said it will be there when the drone goes on sale today.
Steve Dent for Engadget
If you want to pilot the drone yourself without buying a controller, that’s doable now too. Manual mode brings up touch screen controls for all drone movements, along with camera/video modes and a return-to-home (RTH) toggle.
Touchscreen piloting worked surprisingly well, letting me fly the Neo with precision. Outdoors with a GPS lock the drone is quite stable, but it can drift around and get a bit hard to manage indoors.
For more precision, the Neo also supports multiple DJI controllers, including the RC N3 model that comes in the Combo kit. However, you can also use it as an FPV drone by connecting it to DJI’s RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3.
Controller mode offers the same features you’ll find on drones like the Mini 4 Pro, with cinema, normal and sport modes, manual and auto video, quick shot features and more. Using it with the FPV goggles and controller gives you the same experience as the Avata 2, including one-press acrobatics — albeit with a large drop in performance, of course.
Steve Dent for Engadget
And the Neo performs surprisingly well. Maximum horizontal speed in sport mode is 18 mph, or 36 mph in manual mode — pretty damn fast for such a tiny drone. However, manual mode is only available if you’re using the FPV Controller 3 and wasn’t enabled for my testing.
The Neo neo can resist winds up to 18 mph, compared to 24 mph for the Mini 4 Pro. Realistically, though, it’s only good for light winds under 10 mph.
It’s maneuverable and precise as well, particularly with the optional controller. That makes it ideal for events, as it’s very safe around people and small enough to fit in tight spaces. It is very noisy though, with a sound not unlike a hive of angry bees. “This propeller noise is a crime,” as my colleague Aaron Souppouris put it.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The Neo happens to be an awesome FPV drone as well, particularly since there’s less fear of crashing given its $200 price. It’s not nearly as fast as the Avata 2, of course, but it’s wildly fun when using the RC Motion 3 remote.
ActiveTrack, Spotlight and Point of Interest (POI) all work the same as on other DJI drones to track subjects tenaciously. Another mode, Direction Track, lets you vlog while walking and talking with the drone keeping your face in view. There’s no rear obstacle sensor, though, so you need to be careful when using it.
When the Neo is under smartphone Wi-Fi control, don’t let it get too far away as the maximum range is just 165 feet. With a controller and DJI’s O4 transmission, though, it has a 6.2 mile line-of-sight range in the US or about 3.7 miles in Europe. That’s impressive given the size, though you’d be braver than me if you let it get that far away.
Samuel Dejours for Engadget
The Neo supports up to 4K 30p video and 1080p at up to 60 fps, with no D-LogM like the Mini 4 Pro. You can also grab 12-megapixel photos for Instagram, Facebook, etc. Video isn’t up with even the DJI Mini 4 Pro, but it’s well above what you’d expect for something in this price range in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. With the small sensor, low-light capability isn’t great.
Stabilization is excellent thanks to DJI’s RockSteady and HorizonBalancing systems. Those offer action cam-like stability, while correcting tilt up to 45 degrees. Again, I was pretty amazed by the smoothness of footage even in a stiff breeze.
Finally, you can record audio via your smartphone’s microphone just by tapping on the DJI Fly app’s audio record button. And you can boost the quality considerably using the DJI Mic 2 by connecting it to your phone over Bluetooth. Though the drone is extremely noisy, DJI’s app manages to remove almost all of it, leaving your voice shockingly clear and legible with some distortion.
Steve Dent for Engadget
DJI’s Neo is an incredibly capable lightweight drone that will be attractive to a large number of potential users. For example, my drone pilot and photographer friend (a likely buyer) thought it would be ideal as a behind the scenes drone, because it can shoot good-quality video around people with no risk of injury.
It’s also a great drone for vloggers, content creators and recreational users on a budget. It executes cool shots automatically and the image quality is at the level of a smartphone, which is easily good enough for social media. The main problem is the noise, though all drones have that issue to some extent.
The most exciting part of the Neo is the price. For $200, or $289 in the combo kit with three batteries and a charger, it’s an incredible value considering the capabilities. It doesn’t really have any serious competition either, with the closest being the $350 HoverAir X1, which costs more and shoots lower resolution video. With all that, the Neo is DJI’s most exciting drone in years and is likely to be another hit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-neo-hands-on-a-powerful-and-lightweight-200-drone-130039169.html?src=rss

DJI has just unveiled the Neo, its much-leaked $200 drone aimed at content creators and casual users. It’s tiny and easy to use thanks to novice-friendly features like propeller guards, palm takeoff and voice control.

However, the Neo is no toy (or Snap Pixy). It has a suite of powerful features like ActiveTrack, Quick Shots, FPV controller support, smartphone control and the ability to record yourself with the DJI Mic 2.

Video specs look promising as well, but not everything is perfect — it lacks obstacle detection and uses small propellers that are likely to be noisy. I wasn’t able to give it a full look as some features were missing, but I was still astonished by what DJI got a small, cheap drone to do.

The Neo is DJI’s lightest drone by a long way at 135 grams and is nearly small enough to fit into a pocket. It also has a feature we’ve not seen on the company’s drones before: a second button near the camera gimbal that lets you choose from different “Smart Shot” modes (Quick Shots on other DJI drones), like Follow and Dronie.

It comes with removable propeller guards that provide protection for use indoors and around people. Be careful when you fly, though, as there’s no obstacle avoidance apart from the main camera’s AI and a downward facing IR landing sensor.

The camera gimbal can tilt up 60 degrees and down 90, though it doesn’t flip for vertical video. The half-inch 12-megapixel sensor has an ultra-wide angle 13mm equivalent focal length with an f/2.8 aperture — good specs for a drone in this price range.

The Neo’s 1,435mAh lithium-ion battery is incredibly light but supports up to 17 minutes of fly time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world. The small size means they charge quickly, but most users will want the two extra cells and a charger included in the Neo Combo kit.

To charge the batteries and transfer footage, there’s a USB-C port on the back. You won’t find a microSD card slot, though, as the Neo relies on 22GB of internal storage that holds about 40 minutes of 4K 30p footage.

Though small, the Neo offers features you’d expect on a high-end drone. To make it less intimidating for beginners, the Neo can be launched simply by placing it in hand and pressing the mode button. Then, it’ll automatically record video while performing one of six preprogrammed smart shots: Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight and Direction Track. To land the drone, just place your hand under it.

Settings can be tweaked with the new DJI Fly app, which now works without a controller and connects to the drone over Wi-Fi. For the smart modes, you can change things like follow distance and height, dronie radius and flight path, circle radius and more. You can also adjust video and photo resolution.

The Neo is DJI’s first model that lets you use voice control to launch the drone and perform Smart Shots and other actions. That feature wasn’t available in the beta software I tested, but DJI said it will be there when the drone goes on sale today.

If you want to pilot the drone yourself without buying a controller, that’s doable now too. Manual mode brings up touch screen controls for all drone movements, along with camera/video modes and a return-to-home (RTH) toggle.

Touchscreen piloting worked surprisingly well, letting me fly the Neo with precision. Outdoors with a GPS lock the drone is quite stable, but it can drift around and get a bit hard to manage indoors.

For more precision, the Neo also supports multiple DJI controllers, including the RC N3 model that comes in the Combo kit. However, you can also use it as an FPV drone by connecting it to DJI’s RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3.

Controller mode offers the same features you’ll find on drones like the Mini 4 Pro, with cinema, normal and sport modes, manual and auto video, quick shot features and more. Using it with the FPV goggles and controller gives you the same experience as the Avata 2, including one-press acrobatics — albeit with a large drop in performance, of course.

And the Neo performs surprisingly well. Maximum horizontal speed in sport mode is 18 mph, or 36 mph in manual mode — pretty damn fast for such a tiny drone. However, manual mode is only available if you’re using the FPV Controller 3 and wasn’t enabled for my testing.

The Neo neo can resist winds up to 18 mph, compared to 24 mph for the Mini 4 Pro. Realistically, though, it’s only good for light winds under 10 mph.

It’s maneuverable and precise as well, particularly with the optional controller. That makes it ideal for events, as it’s very safe around people and small enough to fit in tight spaces. It is very noisy though, with a sound not unlike a hive of angry bees. “This propeller noise is a crime,” as my colleague Aaron Souppouris put it.

The Neo happens to be an awesome FPV drone as well, particularly since there’s less fear of crashing given its $200 price. It’s not nearly as fast as the Avata 2, of course, but it’s wildly fun when using the RC Motion 3 remote.

ActiveTrack, Spotlight and Point of Interest (POI) all work the same as on other DJI drones to track subjects tenaciously. Another mode, Direction Track, lets you vlog while walking and talking with the drone keeping your face in view. There’s no rear obstacle sensor, though, so you need to be careful when using it.

When the Neo is under smartphone Wi-Fi control, don’t let it get too far away as the maximum range is just 165 feet. With a controller and DJI’s O4 transmission, though, it has a 6.2 mile line-of-sight range in the US or about 3.7 miles in Europe. That’s impressive given the size, though you’d be braver than me if you let it get that far away.

The Neo supports up to 4K 30p video and 1080p at up to 60 fps, with no D-LogM like the Mini 4 Pro. You can also grab 12-megapixel photos for Instagram, Facebook, etc. Video isn’t up with even the DJI Mini 4 Pro, but it’s well above what you’d expect for something in this price range in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. With the small sensor, low-light capability isn’t great.

Stabilization is excellent thanks to DJI’s RockSteady and HorizonBalancing systems. Those offer action cam-like stability, while correcting tilt up to 45 degrees. Again, I was pretty amazed by the smoothness of footage even in a stiff breeze.

Finally, you can record audio via your smartphone’s microphone just by tapping on the DJI Fly app’s audio record button. And you can boost the quality considerably using the DJI Mic 2 by connecting it to your phone over Bluetooth. Though the drone is extremely noisy, DJI’s app manages to remove almost all of it, leaving your voice shockingly clear and legible with some distortion.

DJI’s Neo is an incredibly capable lightweight drone that will be attractive to a large number of potential users. For example, my drone pilot and photographer friend (a likely buyer) thought it would be ideal as a behind the scenes drone, because it can shoot good-quality video around people with no risk of injury.

It’s also a great drone for vloggers, content creators and recreational users on a budget. It executes cool shots automatically and the image quality is at the level of a smartphone, which is easily good enough for social media. The main problem is the noise, though all drones have that issue to some extent.

The most exciting part of the Neo is the price. For $200, or $289 in the combo kit with three batteries and a charger, it’s an incredible value considering the capabilities. It doesn’t really have any serious competition either, with the closest being the $350 HoverAir X1, which costs more and shoots lower resolution video. With all that, the Neo is DJI’s most exciting drone in years and is likely to be another hit.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-neo-hands-on-a-powerful-and-lightweight-200-drone-130039169.html?src=rss

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As great as they can be, folding phones can be a blight upon our pockets when wearing something tight. After all, these devices feel like you’ve got two phones in your pocket instead of the one you actually own. It’s not just the hardware, either, but the necessary hinges and joints that keep the components from breaking. So it was to my surprise that Honor’s new Magic V3 felt almost svelte in my jeans compared to its predecessor.
The company has spent the last year removing 0.7mm from the Magic V2, making the new model just 9.2mm thick. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s enough to make the whole thing feel noticeably thinner. It’s emblematic of the work Honor has put in to refine its flagship foldable in the hope of making it easier to live with day to day. So while the list of eye-catching new features is non-existent, a lot of small tweaks add up to a lot.
Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget
For instance, the display isn’t much changed beyond boosting the brightness of its backlight which helps readability in strong sunlight. You’ll also notice the company making a big deal about its AI defocus technology to help reduce eyestrain. The battery, too, gets a meager bump from 5,000mAh in the V2 to 5,150mAh here, but you can now charge it wirelessly. Similarly, work has been made to keep the V3 running cooler for longer under heavy load.
On the imaging front, there’s a 50-megapixel, f/1.6 wide camera paired with a 50-megapixel f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) and LIDAR and a 40-megapixel, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera that also comes with OIS. There are also two 20-megapixel cameras for selfies embedded in both the cover display and the internal display, should you need them.
Photo by Daniel Cooper / Engadget
Honor is also throwing a kitchen sink’s worth of AI features at this thing which I’ve not yet been able to test. That includes the Google-powered AI Eraser to paint out unwanted nasties in your photos and face-to-face translation services. Honor’s Magic Portal, too, will offer hooks into Google search and try to throw up recommendations as and when you need them.
Of course, we don’t yet know how much this thing will cost you or when it’ll be available, but we hope that it’s priced smartly enough that it keeps its rivals on their toes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honor-solves-a-major-folding-phone-problem-with-the-magic-v3-130026967.html?src=rss

As great as they can be, folding phones can be a blight upon our pockets when wearing something tight. After all, these devices feel like you’ve got two phones in your pocket instead of the one you actually own. It’s not just the hardware, either, but the necessary hinges and joints that keep the components from breaking. So it was to my surprise that Honor’s new Magic V3 felt almost svelte in my jeans compared to its predecessor.

The company has spent the last year removing 0.7mm from the Magic V2, making the new model just 9.2mm thick. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s enough to make the whole thing feel noticeably thinner. It’s emblematic of the work Honor has put in to refine its flagship foldable in the hope of making it easier to live with day to day. So while the list of eye-catching new features is non-existent, a lot of small tweaks add up to a lot.

For instance, the display isn’t much changed beyond boosting the brightness of its backlight which helps readability in strong sunlight. You’ll also notice the company making a big deal about its AI defocus technology to help reduce eyestrain. The battery, too, gets a meager bump from 5,000mAh in the V2 to 5,150mAh here, but you can now charge it wirelessly. Similarly, work has been made to keep the V3 running cooler for longer under heavy load.

On the imaging front, there’s a 50-megapixel, f/1.6 wide camera paired with a 50-megapixel f/3.0 periscope telephoto lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) and LIDAR and a 40-megapixel, f/2.2 ultra-wide camera that also comes with OIS. There are also two 20-megapixel cameras for selfies embedded in both the cover display and the internal display, should you need them.

Honor is also throwing a kitchen sink’s worth of AI features at this thing which I’ve not yet been able to test. That includes the Google-powered AI Eraser to paint out unwanted nasties in your photos and face-to-face translation services. Honor’s Magic Portal, too, will offer hooks into Google search and try to throw up recommendations as and when you need them.

Of course, we don’t yet know how much this thing will cost you or when it’ll be available, but we hope that it’s priced smartly enough that it keeps its rivals on their toes.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/honor-solves-a-major-folding-phone-problem-with-the-magic-v3-130026967.html?src=rss

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