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Amazon has started making deliveries via drone in parts of Phoenix, according to reporting by TechCrunch. We knew this was coming and now it’s here. Customers in the West Valley Phoenix Metro area should now have access to a selection of products that will arrive at doorsteps via the friendly skies. These include household, office, health and beauty supplies, among others.
Phoenix residents will be able to click on a drone delivery icon before checking out. The company promises that items will be delivered within an hour. This is due to the improved specs of the company’s latest drone, the MK30, which was recently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly beyond the visual line of sight.
There are some caveats. Products must be five pounds or less to be eligible, though Amazon says that around 50,000 items are already available for drone deliveries. Also, the drones will only make deliveries during daylight hours and “favorable” weather conditions. “Currently we do not offer drone delivery at night, during heavy winds, or during heavy rain,” the company wrote in a blog post.

This is happening just a few months after Amazon ended its drone-based delivery program, Prime Air, in California. The company still makes drone deliveries in Texas and it’s planning a major expansion into Europe.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/amazon-begins-drone-delivers-to-phoenix-provided-the-weather-is-favorable-162241367.html?src=rss

Amazon has started making deliveries via drone in parts of Phoenix, according to reporting by TechCrunch. We knew this was coming and now it’s here. Customers in the West Valley Phoenix Metro area should now have access to a selection of products that will arrive at doorsteps via the friendly skies. These include household, office, health and beauty supplies, among others.

Phoenix residents will be able to click on a drone delivery icon before checking out. The company promises that items will be delivered within an hour. This is due to the improved specs of the company’s latest drone, the MK30, which was recently approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly beyond the visual line of sight.

There are some caveats. Products must be five pounds or less to be eligible, though Amazon says that around 50,000 items are already available for drone deliveries. Also, the drones will only make deliveries during daylight hours and “favorable” weather conditions. “Currently we do not offer drone delivery at night, during heavy winds, or during heavy rain,” the company wrote in a blog post.

This is happening just a few months after Amazon ended its drone-based delivery program, Prime Air, in California. The company still makes drone deliveries in Texas and it’s planning a major expansion into Europe.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/amazon-begins-drone-delivers-to-phoenix-provided-the-weather-is-favorable-162241367.html?src=rss

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Black Friday may still be weeks away, but if you were hoping to score a deal on Samsung’s Music Frame, there’s no need to wait until Thanksgiving. Both Amazon and Samsung are currently selling the speaker for under $250. At $150 off its regular price, that’s an all-time low for the Music Frame, which will usually set you back $400. Considering Samsung only released the device earlier this year, this is a great opportunity to pick up one (or even two) for your home theater.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Music Frame, think of it as the speaker equivalent to Samsung’s popular Frame TV. Like its television counterpart, the Music Frame doubles as a piece of home decor. And while there’s no display that will automatically cycle through digital artwork, you can manually insert prints and photos. Moreover, while it’s certainly possible to pair two Music Frames with a Frame TV, it’s not limited to home theater use. The Music Frame works just fine as a standalone Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker. You can even use it as a smart home hub. It’s possible to mount the Music Frame on a wall or on a table, with the help of a built-in stand, if you prefer.

As for sound quality, Engadget senior reporter and resident audio geek Billy Steele was surprised by how good the Music Frame sounded when he got to demo it at CES earlier this year. “I was shocked by how robust and clear the overall sound quality is coming from the speaker,” he wrote at the time. “Highs and mids are adequately represented with great detail, while the bass is more restrained.“ If you’re curious, the Music Frame features two rear-facing woofers complemented by a set of two tweeters and two mid-range drivers, all four of which fire from the front of the speaker. It also offers Dolby Atmos support, and Samsung has included its SpaceFit tech, which assists with room calibration.
All told, the Music Frame is a great option for those looking for a speaker that will disappear into their home decor, but its high price can make it unappealing, especially if you want a stereo pair. At $150 off, however, it’s much easier to recommend, even if you’re on a budget.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-samsung-music-frame-speaker-is-150-off-ahead-of-black-friday-160759732.html?src=rss

Black Friday may still be weeks away, but if you were hoping to score a deal on Samsung’s Music Frame, there’s no need to wait until Thanksgiving. Both Amazon and Samsung are currently selling the speaker for under $250. At $150 off its regular price, that’s an all-time low for the Music Frame, which will usually set you back $400. Considering Samsung only released the device earlier this year, this is a great opportunity to pick up one (or even two) for your home theater.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Music Frame, think of it as the speaker equivalent to Samsung’s popular Frame TV. Like its television counterpart, the Music Frame doubles as a piece of home decor. And while there’s no display that will automatically cycle through digital artwork, you can manually insert prints and photos. Moreover, while it’s certainly possible to pair two Music Frames with a Frame TV, it’s not limited to home theater use. The Music Frame works just fine as a standalone Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker. You can even use it as a smart home hub. It’s possible to mount the Music Frame on a wall or on a table, with the help of a built-in stand, if you prefer.

As for sound quality, Engadget senior reporter and resident audio geek Billy Steele was surprised by how good the Music Frame sounded when he got to demo it at CES earlier this year. “I was shocked by how robust and clear the overall sound quality is coming from the speaker,” he wrote at the time. “Highs and mids are adequately represented with great detail, while the bass is more restrained.“ If you’re curious, the Music Frame features two rear-facing woofers complemented by a set of two tweeters and two mid-range drivers, all four of which fire from the front of the speaker. It also offers Dolby Atmos support, and Samsung has included its SpaceFit tech, which assists with room calibration.

All told, the Music Frame is a great option for those looking for a speaker that will disappear into their home decor, but its high price can make it unappealing, especially if you want a stereo pair. At $150 off, however, it’s much easier to recommend, even if you’re on a budget.

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/the-samsung-music-frame-speaker-is-150-off-ahead-of-black-friday-160759732.html?src=rss

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There’s no such thing as having too much local storage. Whether it’s for backups or extra space for all your stuff, an external SSD is always useful to have on hand. Samsung’s portable SSDs are a go-to for many folks, and a recent model with ample storage for most people is on sale for nearly half off in an early Black Friday deal.
The 4TB T9 Portable SSD has dropped to $300. That’s a $250 discount and the deal brings the external storage device almost to a record low price.

According to Samsung, the T9 is around twice as fast as the T7 (our current pick for the best external SSD for PS5). The company claims that it can transfer a 4GB video in nearly two seconds or a 90-minute 4K video (of 21GB) in 12 seconds. The two-lane USB interface offers data transfer rates of up to 20 Gbps, while the SSD has sequential read and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s.
That means it shouldn’t take long at all to transfer games and other files to and from your PS5’s internal storage when need be (the console can run PS4 games from an external drive, but not PS5 titles). It’ll be a useful option for moving your files between different computers as well. Alternatively, you might use it to store your 4K movie collection.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-4tb-samsung-t9-portable-ssd-is-nearly-half-off-in-this-early-black-friday-deal-153043895.html?src=rss

There’s no such thing as having too much local storage. Whether it’s for backups or extra space for all your stuff, an external SSD is always useful to have on hand. Samsung’s portable SSDs are a go-to for many folks, and a recent model with ample storage for most people is on sale for nearly half off in an early Black Friday deal.

The 4TB T9 Portable SSD has dropped to $300. That’s a $250 discount and the deal brings the external storage device almost to a record low price.

According to Samsung, the T9 is around twice as fast as the T7 (our current pick for the best external SSD for PS5). The company claims that it can transfer a 4GB video in nearly two seconds or a 90-minute 4K video (of 21GB) in 12 seconds. The two-lane USB interface offers data transfer rates of up to 20 Gbps, while the SSD has sequential read and write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s.

That means it shouldn’t take long at all to transfer games and other files to and from your PS5’s internal storage when need be (the console can run PS4 games from an external drive, but not PS5 titles). It’ll be a useful option for moving your files between different computers as well. Alternatively, you might use it to store your 4K movie collection.

Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-4tb-samsung-t9-portable-ssd-is-nearly-half-off-in-this-early-black-friday-deal-153043895.html?src=rss

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MacRumors noticed an unusual feature in the second iOS 18.2 developer beta, showing that Apple may let users upgrade to a paid ChatGPT plan as part of Apple Intelligence. While Siri doesn’t need to use ChatGPT for all its tasks, some users enjoy using the integration for power tasks and more.
MacRumors
In the image above, you can see that under “advanced capabilities,” there’s a “daily limit” section that shows “under limit.” This means users can only use the latest advanced ChatGPT functions several times a day. This checks out because ChatGPT-4o free access using any platform is limited and resets every 24 hours. If you’ve used up your daily limit, Siri will swap to a free version of ChatGPT, which boasts fewer advanced tools. For example, DALL-E 3 image creation is only limited to two daily.
If you tap on the “upgrade to ChatGPT Plus” button, you’ll be redirected in-app to a subscription purchase screen. ChatGPT Plus costs $20 a month. Therefore, while Apple itself isn’t implementing a subscription model, it looks like you’ll need to pay for unlimited premium ChatGPT access.
We also covered an upgrade to Apple’s Find My function today. Like this new ChatGPT integration, it’s part of the iOS 18.2 developer beta. Both should eventually launch with the finished version of iOS 18.2, which is rumored to arrive in early December.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-might-add-chatgpt-subscription-option-to-ios-182-152125214.html?src=rss

MacRumors noticed an unusual feature in the second iOS 18.2 developer beta, showing that Apple may let users upgrade to a paid ChatGPT plan as part of Apple Intelligence. While Siri doesn’t need to use ChatGPT for all its tasks, some users enjoy using the integration for power tasks and more.

In the image above, you can see that under “advanced capabilities,” there’s a “daily limit” section that shows “under limit.” This means users can only use the latest advanced ChatGPT functions several times a day. This checks out because ChatGPT-4o free access using any platform is limited and resets every 24 hours. If you’ve used up your daily limit, Siri will swap to a free version of ChatGPT, which boasts fewer advanced tools. For example, DALL-E 3 image creation is only limited to two daily.

If you tap on the “upgrade to ChatGPT Plus” button, you’ll be redirected in-app to a subscription purchase screen. ChatGPT Plus costs $20 a month. Therefore, while Apple itself isn’t implementing a subscription model, it looks like you’ll need to pay for unlimited premium ChatGPT access.

We also covered an upgrade to Apple’s Find My function today. Like this new ChatGPT integration, it’s part of the iOS 18.2 developer beta. Both should eventually launch with the finished version of iOS 18.2, which is rumored to arrive in early December.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-might-add-chatgpt-subscription-option-to-ios-182-152125214.html?src=rss

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Meta had plans to build an AI data center in the US that relies on nuclear power — it even already knew where it wanted the facility to be built. According to the Financial Times, though, the company had to scrap its plans, because the a rare bee species was discovered on the land reserved for the project. Company chief Mark Zuckerberg was reportedly ready to close a deal with an existing nuclear power plant operator that would provide emissions-free energy to the plant. The Times said he told staff members at an all-hands last week that pushing through wouldn’t have been possible, because the company would encounter numerous regulatory challenges due to the bees’ discovery. 
Zuckerberg reportedly told his staff that Meta would’ve had the first nuclear-powered AI if the deal had gone ahead. It still might come true if the company could find a way, but it has to move quickly because its biggest rivals are investing in nuclear energy, as well. In September, Microsoft revealed that it intends to revive the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to provide energy for its AI efforts. Meanwhile, Google teamed up with startup Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors in the US to power its data centers starting in 2030. And then there’s Amazon, which announced three agreements with different companies to build small modular reactors in mid-October. 
The Times didn’t say whether Meta is looking for a new site — one that doesn’t have rare bees living in its vicinity. One of its sources only said that Meta is still exploring various deals for emissions-free energy, including nuclear, to power its future AI data centers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/bees-reportedly-stopped-meta-from-building-a-nuclear-powered-ai-data-center-143050114.html?src=rss

Meta had plans to build an AI data center in the US that relies on nuclear power — it even already knew where it wanted the facility to be built. According to the Financial Times, though, the company had to scrap its plans, because the a rare bee species was discovered on the land reserved for the project. Company chief Mark Zuckerberg was reportedly ready to close a deal with an existing nuclear power plant operator that would provide emissions-free energy to the plant. The Times said he told staff members at an all-hands last week that pushing through wouldn’t have been possible, because the company would encounter numerous regulatory challenges due to the bees’ discovery. 

Zuckerberg reportedly told his staff that Meta would’ve had the first nuclear-powered AI if the deal had gone ahead. It still might come true if the company could find a way, but it has to move quickly because its biggest rivals are investing in nuclear energy, as well. In September, Microsoft revealed that it intends to revive the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to provide energy for its AI efforts. Meanwhile, Google teamed up with startup Kairos Power to build seven small nuclear reactors in the US to power its data centers starting in 2030. And then there’s Amazon, which announced three agreements with different companies to build small modular reactors in mid-October. 

The Times didn’t say whether Meta is looking for a new site — one that doesn’t have rare bees living in its vicinity. One of its sources only said that Meta is still exploring various deals for emissions-free energy, including nuclear, to power its future AI data centers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/bees-reportedly-stopped-meta-from-building-a-nuclear-powered-ai-data-center-143050114.html?src=rss

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Nintendo was prepared to suck it up financially this year as sales of its aging Switch decline, but things are going a bit worse than it hoped. After selling fewer consoles than it expected over the last two quarters (4.72 million compared to 6.84 million last year), the company has downgraded its sales forecast from 13.5 million consoles to 12.5 million — a cool one million unit drop. The company also lowered its sales forecast by 5.2 percent to 1.28 trillion yen ($8.41 billion), thought it expects the same net profit as last year.
The company saw decent financials last fiscal year (ending in March 2024) despite the fact that the Switch was first released in 2017. It achieved that largely through the release of the much-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game and to a lesser extent, the launch of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. 
However, “there were no such special factors in the first half of this fiscal year and with Nintendo Switch now in its eighth years since launch, unit sales of both hardware and software decreased significantly year-on-year,” the company said in its IR explanatory materials. There were some bright spots, though, like a slight boost in Switch sales over last quarter due to the launch of the Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition and other bundled hardware/software releases. 
The Switch is Nintendo’s second-best selling console of all time after the DS, but it has definitely run its course. That means the company will be banking heavily on its next-gen Switch 2 console, but it won’t be announced until early next year — so it’s not likely to see improved sales in the near future.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-expects-to-sell-fewer-switches-than-planned-as-new-model-looms-140031461.html?src=rss

Nintendo was prepared to suck it up financially this year as sales of its aging Switch decline, but things are going a bit worse than it hoped. After selling fewer consoles than it expected over the last two quarters (4.72 million compared to 6.84 million last year), the company has downgraded its sales forecast from 13.5 million consoles to 12.5 million — a cool one million unit drop. The company also lowered its sales forecast by 5.2 percent to 1.28 trillion yen ($8.41 billion), thought it expects the same net profit as last year.

The company saw decent financials last fiscal year (ending in March 2024) despite the fact that the Switch was first released in 2017. It achieved that largely through the release of the much-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game and to a lesser extent, the launch of the Super Mario Bros. Movie. 

However, “there were no such special factors in the first half of this fiscal year and with Nintendo Switch now in its eighth years since launch, unit sales of both hardware and software decreased significantly year-on-year,” the company said in its IR explanatory materials. There were some bright spots, though, like a slight boost in Switch sales over last quarter due to the launch of the Switch Lite: Hyrule Edition and other bundled hardware/software releases. 

The Switch is Nintendo’s second-best selling console of all time after the DS, but it has definitely run its course. That means the company will be banking heavily on its next-gen Switch 2 console, but it won’t be announced until early next year — so it’s not likely to see improved sales in the near future.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-expects-to-sell-fewer-switches-than-planned-as-new-model-looms-140031461.html?src=rss

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If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 18, then you can now download and install the beta version of iOS 18.2 through the Apple Beta Software Program on your device. One of the most useful features included in the experimental OS is the capability to share the location of a lost item connected to Apple’s Find My network with a third party. You can already share an item’s location with people in your contacts list, but Apple says this could help in instances wherein you have to rely on the help of a stranger. In case your suitcase goes missing, for instance, you can send its location to an airline staff or airport personnel. 
When you choose “Share Item Location” in the Find My app, you’ll get the option to share a link that shows the location of your missing item. The link’s recipient will be able to open it on any device, even if it’s not an iPhone or an iPad, and they’ll also be able to see your Apple account email and/or phone number so that they can get in touch with you. You’ll be able to see how many people visited the link, and they do expire either after you’re reunited with your lost belonging or after a week if you haven’t found it by then.
Of course, installing beta software does have its downsides. There’s a higher chance of running into bugs, and some apps or features might still not work as Apple had intended. If you don’t mind and want to test iOS 18.2, you’ll have to sign up to Apple’s Beta Software Program and then select new Beta Updates under Software Updates in your device’s Settings menu. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest-find-my-update-makes-it-easier-to-find-lost-items-133049512.html?src=rss

If you have an iPhone that can run iOS 18, then you can now download and install the beta version of iOS 18.2 through the Apple Beta Software Program on your device. One of the most useful features included in the experimental OS is the capability to share the location of a lost item connected to Apple’s Find My network with a third party. You can already share an item’s location with people in your contacts list, but Apple says this could help in instances wherein you have to rely on the help of a stranger. In case your suitcase goes missing, for instance, you can send its location to an airline staff or airport personnel. 

When you choose “Share Item Location” in the Find My app, you’ll get the option to share a link that shows the location of your missing item. The link’s recipient will be able to open it on any device, even if it’s not an iPhone or an iPad, and they’ll also be able to see your Apple account email and/or phone number so that they can get in touch with you. You’ll be able to see how many people visited the link, and they do expire either after you’re reunited with your lost belonging or after a week if you haven’t found it by then.

Of course, installing beta software does have its downsides. There’s a higher chance of running into bugs, and some apps or features might still not work as Apple had intended. If you don’t mind and want to test iOS 18.2, you’ll have to sign up to Apple’s Beta Software Program and then select new Beta Updates under Software Updates in your device’s Settings menu. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apples-latest-find-my-update-makes-it-easier-to-find-lost-items-133049512.html?src=rss

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Election day 2024 has finally arrived in the US and the race between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is so close we’re all going to be glued to our screens waiting to see what happens. Apple is making sure you see developments right away (and can’t take any breaks from it) with Live Activities, AppleInsider reports. Starting Tuesday night, Apple News will display the ongoing US election results as a Live Activity.
The Live Activity tracker will show up on your lock screen and give you the latest election updates. It’s available on iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. If your device has a Dynamic Island, then you’ll also be able to track the electoral college results there.
If you’re interested in receiving Live Activity updates about the election, you can turn it on through Apple News. Click “Follow the 2024 election live” banner or open the “Election 2024” tab and you should see a notification about enabling it. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/track-us-election-results-with-apples-live-activity-feature-130032299.html?src=rss

Election day 2024 has finally arrived in the US and the race between vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is so close we’re all going to be glued to our screens waiting to see what happens. Apple is making sure you see developments right away (and can’t take any breaks from it) with Live Activities, AppleInsider reports. Starting Tuesday night, Apple News will display the ongoing US election results as a Live Activity.

The Live Activity tracker will show up on your lock screen and give you the latest election updates. It’s available on iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches. If your device has a Dynamic Island, then you’ll also be able to track the electoral college results there.

If you’re interested in receiving Live Activity updates about the election, you can turn it on through Apple News. Click “Follow the 2024 election live” banner or open the “Election 2024” tab and you should see a notification about enabling it. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/track-us-election-results-with-apples-live-activity-feature-130032299.html?src=rss

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The block button on X has changed. Now, it allows blocked users to see posts of the accounts that blocked them, but they still can’t interact with those accounts. You also can’t follow or message the user.
X previously said it was making the change because users can already see and interact with blocked accounts by switching to a non-blocked account. X also said blocking the old way could be used to share and hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked, so the new feature allows “greater transparency.”
Experts on social-media abuse disagree, noting these changes will help stalkers and trolls. “Enabling blocked users to see posts is catering to abusers and stalkers, indulging and facilitating their behaviors,” wrote London Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman last month.
While that is unlikely to sway opinion at X, the changes may run afoul of rules on iOS and Google Play app stores. Apple, for one, states in its developer terms of service that any apps with user-generated content must offer “the ability to block abusive users from the service.” There’s still a block button, of course, but it’s not really blocking anyone anymore.
— Mat Smith

Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!
The biggest tech stories you missed
NLRB accuses Grindr of using a return-to-office mandate to upend a unionization drive
Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) review
Meta has a tool for catching teens who lie about their age on Instagram

Over 50 enhanced games will be available for PS5 Pro at launch
Advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates and more.

Sony just published a list of 50-plus games with enhanced versions when the console launches later this week. It includes hits like Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök. Expect to see improvements like advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates and Sony’s proprietary upscaling system, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. Gran Turismo 7 is missing, despite an already announced enhanced version. It must not be ready yet. Final Fantasy XVI is also absent from the list, with its own frame rate struggles on the base PS5.
Continue reading.

Netflix is removing much of its interactive content
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch will survive the cull.
Netflix
Netflix is deleting much of its interactive content, according to The Verge. The platform currently lists 24 Interactive Specials, but only four of them will remain after December 1. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls will all live to stream another day. Sadly, specials based on Carmen Sandiego, Boss Baby and Puss in Boots, won’t.
Continue reading.

Amazon will tap AI to recap what you’re watching
The beta’s available to Fire TV customers from today.

Amazon just launched a new tool for Prime Video that uses AI to generate personalized recaps. X-Ray Recaps uses generative AI to create “brief, easy-to-digest summaries” of entire TV seasons, single episodes or even portions of episodes. All personalized. So the recap will go up to the “exact minute of where you are watching.” There are a lot of limits, however: X-Ray Recaps launches in beta for Fire TV customers and right now, it only works with content made by Amazon MGM Studios, like Upload, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Wheel of Time and The Boys.
Still, it might be a good time for me to finally get into The Boys.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121520786.html?src=rss

The block button on X has changed. Now, it allows blocked users to see posts of the accounts that blocked them, but they still can’t interact with those accounts. You also can’t follow or message the user.

X previously said it was making the change because users can already see and interact with blocked accounts by switching to a non-blocked account. X also said blocking the old way could be used to share and hide harmful or private information about those they’ve blocked, so the new feature allows “greater transparency.”

Experts on social-media abuse disagree, noting these changes will help stalkers and trolls. “Enabling blocked users to see posts is catering to abusers and stalkers, indulging and facilitating their behaviors,” wrote London Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman last month.

While that is unlikely to sway opinion at X, the changes may run afoul of rules on iOS and Google Play app stores. Apple, for one, states in its developer terms of service that any apps with user-generated content must offer “the ability to block abusive users from the service.” There’s still a block button, of course, but it’s not really blocking anyone anymore.

— Mat Smith

Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

The biggest tech stories you missed

NLRB accuses Grindr of using a return-to-office mandate to upend a unionization drive

Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) review

Meta has a tool for catching teens who lie about their age on Instagram

Over 50 enhanced games will be available for PS5 Pro at launch

Advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates and more.

Sony just published a list of 50-plus games with enhanced versions when the console launches later this week. It includes hits like Baldur’s Gate 3, The Last of Us Part II Remastered, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök. Expect to see improvements like advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates and Sony’s proprietary upscaling system, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. Gran Turismo 7 is missing, despite an already announced enhanced version. It must not be ready yet. Final Fantasy XVI is also absent from the list, with its own frame rate struggles on the base PS5.

Continue reading.

Netflix is removing much of its interactive content

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch will survive the cull.

Netflix is deleting much of its interactive content, according to The Verge. The platform currently lists 24 Interactive Specials, but only four of them will remain after December 1. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend, Ranveer vs. Wild with Bear Grylls will all live to stream another day. Sadly, specials based on Carmen Sandiego, Boss Baby and Puss in Boots, won’t.

Continue reading.

Amazon will tap AI to recap what you’re watching

The beta’s available to Fire TV customers from today.

Amazon just launched a new tool for Prime Video that uses AI to generate personalized recaps. X-Ray Recaps uses generative AI to create “brief, easy-to-digest summaries” of entire TV seasons, single episodes or even portions of episodes. All personalized. So the recap will go up to the “exact minute of where you are watching.” There are a lot of limits, however: X-Ray Recaps launches in beta for Fire TV customers and right now, it only works with content made by Amazon MGM Studios, like Upload, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Wheel of Time and The Boys.

Still, it might be a good time for me to finally get into The Boys.

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121520786.html?src=rss

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Microsoft, Xbox and Halo Studios are celebrating Halo 2’s 20th anniversary by releasing recreations of some of the game’s most memorable maps on Halo Infinite, as well as its E3 demo that’s probably one of the most important moments of the franchise’s history. The demo Bungie presented at E3 way back in 2003 showed the future of Halo and demonstrated what the Xbox, as a console, was capable of. It even featured gameplay that never made its way to the finished game. “The response to the demo at E3 was electric,” Halo community director Brian Jarrard said. 
That demo went public more than a year before the game’s actual release date, and it was built on an engine that no longer exists. It only became possible to make it available for fans to play because community modders and the game’s community as a whole pitched in to restore it. The “wider Halo community” helped recover its original files and assets, while a team of community modders developed the tools needed to recreate the demo and to improve upon the original. 
“Steven Garcia (known to the community as General_101) was vital in getting this scenario stood up and even improved over the original. He was a one-man army and did a significant chunk of the work in developing tools, updating scripts, and even arting the levels. Digsite team members Ludus, Neo Te Aika, Sean T, xScruffyDaSasquatchx, and Killzone then provided finishing touches to replicate the original demo experience and test for bugs. Without them, we would probably have only had a rather unceremonious drop of raw assets and that was it,” said Halo Senior Franchise writer Kenneth Peters. 
The Halo 2 E3 2003 demo will be available as a free mod on Steam Workshop for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection starting on November 9.
In addition, Halo Studios is adding new maps to Halo Infinite’s Delta Playlist that will be a blast to the past for long-time fans of the franchise. They’re modern recreations of Halo 2 multiplayer maps that were rebuilt in Forge, Halo’s suite of in-game tools, by community “Forgers.” Xbox adjusted the gameplay in the Delta Arena, as well, disabling sprint and clamber, enabling friendly collision and higher jumps to recreate the original feel of Halo 2. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/youll-soon-be-able-to-play-halo-2s-iconic-e3-demo-in-honor-of-its-20th-anniversary-120020668.html?src=rss

Microsoft, Xbox and Halo Studios are celebrating Halo 2’s 20th anniversary by releasing recreations of some of the game’s most memorable maps on Halo Infinite, as well as its E3 demo that’s probably one of the most important moments of the franchise’s history. The demo Bungie presented at E3 way back in 2003 showed the future of Halo and demonstrated what the Xbox, as a console, was capable of. It even featured gameplay that never made its way to the finished game. “The response to the demo at E3 was electric,” Halo community director Brian Jarrard said. 

That demo went public more than a year before the game’s actual release date, and it was built on an engine that no longer exists. It only became possible to make it available for fans to play because community modders and the game’s community as a whole pitched in to restore it. The “wider Halo community” helped recover its original files and assets, while a team of community modders developed the tools needed to recreate the demo and to improve upon the original. 

“Steven Garcia (known to the community as General_101) was vital in getting this scenario stood up and even improved over the original. He was a one-man army and did a significant chunk of the work in developing tools, updating scripts, and even arting the levels. Digsite team members Ludus, Neo Te Aika, Sean T, xScruffyDaSasquatchx, and Killzone then provided finishing touches to replicate the original demo experience and test for bugs. Without them, we would probably have only had a rather unceremonious drop of raw assets and that was it,” said Halo Senior Franchise writer Kenneth Peters. 

The Halo 2 E3 2003 demo will be available as a free mod on Steam Workshop for the Halo: The Master Chief Collection starting on November 9.

In addition, Halo Studios is adding new maps to Halo Infinite’s Delta Playlist that will be a blast to the past for long-time fans of the franchise. They’re modern recreations of Halo 2 multiplayer maps that were rebuilt in Forge, Halo’s suite of in-game tools, by community “Forgers.” Xbox adjusted the gameplay in the Delta Arena, as well, disabling sprint and clamber, enabling friendly collision and higher jumps to recreate the original feel of Halo 2. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/youll-soon-be-able-to-play-halo-2s-iconic-e3-demo-in-honor-of-its-20th-anniversary-120020668.html?src=rss

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