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Soccer fans (or football to me, a Malaysian) who want to catch up on the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) matches for the rest of the 2024 season can now purchase the MLS Season Pass through Apple TV for $10. For Apple TV+ subscribers, the MLS Season Pass is free. The pass will last until the end of the 2024 season, October 19, and includes playoffs.
All matches will have English and Spanish audio, but you can also listen to the home club’s local radio announcers if you like. Additionally, the season pass includes MLS 360, the show completely covering each matchday, including pre-and post-game coverage, highlights, interviews and more.
You can also stream up to four matches at once thanks to Multiview, but the option is limited to 4K Apple TV devices or iPads. The Catch Up feature helps fans stay updated through automatically selected plays, going through goals, penalty kicks, red cards, notable shots and saves.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-mls-season-pass-on-apple-tv-is-now-10-for-the-rest-of-the-season-145100471.html?src=rss

Soccer fans (or football to me, a Malaysian) who want to catch up on the latest Major League Soccer (MLS) matches for the rest of the 2024 season can now purchase the MLS Season Pass through Apple TV for $10. For Apple TV+ subscribers, the MLS Season Pass is free. The pass will last until the end of the 2024 season, October 19, and includes playoffs.

All matches will have English and Spanish audio, but you can also listen to the home club’s local radio announcers if you like. Additionally, the season pass includes MLS 360, the show completely covering each matchday, including pre-and post-game coverage, highlights, interviews and more.

You can also stream up to four matches at once thanks to Multiview, but the option is limited to 4K Apple TV devices or iPads. The Catch Up feature helps fans stay updated through automatically selected plays, going through goals, penalty kicks, red cards, notable shots and saves.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-mls-season-pass-on-apple-tv-is-now-10-for-the-rest-of-the-season-145100471.html?src=rss

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In a post on its own social network, Bluesky has revealed that it has added two million new people over the last week, which is a lot of growth in such a short time for a platform that only has around 8.4 million users overall. The same post has a Portuguese translation of the announcement, most likely because a huge chunk of those new users are from Brazil. If you’ll recall, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes recently ordered the country’s internet service providers to block X after the website formerly known as Twitter refused to ban specific accounts accused of spreading disinformation. 

Moraes also ordered Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and for people caught using VPN to access the website to be fined R$50,000 ($8,900). Brazil’s Supreme Court has just upheld the ban on X after its judges voted unanimously in favor of the measure, according to the BBC. X owner Elon Musk accused Moraes of destroying democracy “for political purposes.” The website also created a new profile called “Alexandre Files,” which it said would shine a light “on the abuses of Brazilian law committed by Alexandre de Moraes.”
After X became inaccessible in Brazil, users in the country found new homes elsewhere. Bluesky experienced a huge spike in the number of unique daily likes and posters, as well as in the number of unique followers, on the last days of August. While the website isn’t quite as robust as Twitter yet, it recently teased that its next major app updated will come with video features, which could help keep its new users around. 
Bluesky is a decentralized social network that was previously funded and was founded in 2019 by Twitter-founder Jack Dorsey. The website launched as an invite-only social network, but it finally opened to the public earlier this year. It also introduced new features most users would look for if they’re set on leaving X, including direct messaging. While DMs only worked between two users upon launch, the website promised to roll out group messaging, media support and end-to-end encryption “down the line.” Dorsey, however, exited the Bluesky board in May and later claimed that the website was “literally repeating all the mistakes” he made while running Twitter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/bluesky-added-2-million-new-users-in-a-week-following-brazils-x-ban-140032112.html?src=rss

In a post on its own social network, Bluesky has revealed that it has added two million new people over the last week, which is a lot of growth in such a short time for a platform that only has around 8.4 million users overall. The same post has a Portuguese translation of the announcement, most likely because a huge chunk of those new users are from Brazil. If you’ll recall, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes recently ordered the country’s internet service providers to block X after the website formerly known as Twitter refused to ban specific accounts accused of spreading disinformation. 

Moraes also ordered Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and for people caught using VPN to access the website to be fined R$50,000 ($8,900). Brazil’s Supreme Court has just upheld the ban on X after its judges voted unanimously in favor of the measure, according to the BBC. X owner Elon Musk accused Moraes of destroying democracy “for political purposes.” The website also created a new profile called “Alexandre Files,” which it said would shine a light “on the abuses of Brazilian law committed by Alexandre de Moraes.”

After X became inaccessible in Brazil, users in the country found new homes elsewhere. Bluesky experienced a huge spike in the number of unique daily likes and posters, as well as in the number of unique followers, on the last days of August. While the website isn’t quite as robust as Twitter yet, it recently teased that its next major app updated will come with video features, which could help keep its new users around. 

Bluesky is a decentralized social network that was previously funded and was founded in 2019 by Twitter-founder Jack Dorsey. The website launched as an invite-only social network, but it finally opened to the public earlier this year. It also introduced new features most users would look for if they’re set on leaving X, including direct messaging. While DMs only worked between two users upon launch, the website promised to roll out group messaging, media support and end-to-end encryption “down the line.” Dorsey, however, exited the Bluesky board in May and later claimed that the website was “literally repeating all the mistakes” he made while running Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/bluesky-added-2-million-new-users-in-a-week-following-brazils-x-ban-140032112.html?src=rss

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The last time we checked in on Noble Audio, the company had developed a set of wireless earbuds with xMEMS drivers inside. Now, the company is back with its first set of wireless headphones, and it created a unique driver arrangement for this product too. The FoKus Apollo is the first set of cans to offer a hybrid speaker setup that pairs a 40mm dynamic driver alongside a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver, according to the company. The duo should offer “top-end clarity of planar with the power and body achieved by dynamic drivers,” thanks to the inherent sonic capabilities of each. 
Planar magnetic drivers provide improved accuracy through better treble and mid-range performance over dynamic drivers. However, dynamic drivers have the power to move lots of air for booming bass. Noble argues putting the two of them together creates “stunningly blissful” sound that no other headphones can generate. This model supports both LDAC and aptX HD for high-quality audio over Bluetooth. 
Of course, audio quality is only part of the equation with wireless headphones, and the FoKus Apollo’s spec sheet looks solid. Noble promises up to 60 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation (ANC) on, with an additional 20 hours of use if you turn it off. Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and transparency mode are available, and you can customize the EQ via an app. The ANC setup is powered by an ADI chip and a collection of six microphones. Noble says this arrangement is enough to cancel out 35dB of environmental noise.  
Noble didn’t cut corners on design either. The FoKus Apollo is built with an anodized aluminum frame, and the Alcantara headband and replaceable protein leather earpads complete the look. In addition the built-in mic for calls, the company also offers the option to use a removable boom mic and there’s a 3.5mm audio jack for wired use. 
Noble’s gear doesn’t usually come cheap, and that’s the case with the FoKus Apollo too. The headphones are $649 (£599/€699) and shipments are scheduled to begin this month. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/noble-audio-pairs-dynamic-and-planar-magnetic-drivers-in-its-first-headphones-133330144.html?src=rss

The last time we checked in on Noble Audio, the company had developed a set of wireless earbuds with xMEMS drivers inside. Now, the company is back with its first set of wireless headphones, and it created a unique driver arrangement for this product too. The FoKus Apollo is the first set of cans to offer a hybrid speaker setup that pairs a 40mm dynamic driver alongside a 14.5mm planar magnetic driver, according to the company. The duo should offer “top-end clarity of planar with the power and body achieved by dynamic drivers,” thanks to the inherent sonic capabilities of each. 

Planar magnetic drivers provide improved accuracy through better treble and mid-range performance over dynamic drivers. However, dynamic drivers have the power to move lots of air for booming bass. Noble argues putting the two of them together creates “stunningly blissful” sound that no other headphones can generate. This model supports both LDAC and aptX HD for high-quality audio over Bluetooth. 

Of course, audio quality is only part of the equation with wireless headphones, and the FoKus Apollo’s spec sheet looks solid. Noble promises up to 60 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation (ANC) on, with an additional 20 hours of use if you turn it off. Multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and transparency mode are available, and you can customize the EQ via an app. The ANC setup is powered by an ADI chip and a collection of six microphones. Noble says this arrangement is enough to cancel out 35dB of environmental noise.  

Noble didn’t cut corners on design either. The FoKus Apollo is built with an anodized aluminum frame, and the Alcantara headband and replaceable protein leather earpads complete the look. In addition the built-in mic for calls, the company also offers the option to use a removable boom mic and there’s a 3.5mm audio jack for wired use. 

Noble’s gear doesn’t usually come cheap, and that’s the case with the FoKus Apollo too. The headphones are $649 (£599/€699) and shipments are scheduled to begin this month. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/noble-audio-pairs-dynamic-and-planar-magnetic-drivers-in-its-first-headphones-133330144.html?src=rss

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Soundbars may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Klipsch, but the company has a lot of experience with the living room devices. The company already has two models in its Flexus Core lineup and now it’s adding a third, flagship-level option to its stable. The Flexus Core 300 is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar that will offer more immersive sound than the 3.1.2-channel Flexus Core 200 and 2.1-channel Flexus Core 100. It will also be the company’s most expensive soundbar in the current group at $999. 
Klipsch says the Flexus Core 300 will be the first soundbar that’s equipped with Dirac Live room calibration tech. Dirac is an audio company based in Sweden with years of experience in room correction and headphone calibration. It even teamed up with Dolby for more immersive in-car audio systems. In the case of this soundbar, Dirac Live uses an included microphone to adjust “the magnitude and phase” of the speaker to any room in order to to provide “more transparent, balanced sound” with “tighter bass, improved staging and enhanced clarity.” Klipsch also provides the Dirac Live license at no extra cost, which isn’t always the case with compatible products, according to the the company. 
“Our collaboration with Klipsch on their all-new Flexus Core 300 sound bar proves that cutting-edge room correction technology is no longer just for the high-end AVR market — it’s now also for the mainstream consumer audio market,” Dirac’s Vice President of Home and Pro Audio Fredric Tapper said in a press release. 
Klipsch
Inside, 12 speakers power Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio, including four 2.25-inch front-firing drivers alongside two 2.25-inch up-firing and two 2.25-inch side-firing units. There are also four 4-inch subwoofers for the low-end tone and a dedicated center channel with Klipsch’s horn-loaded tweeter tech for clear dialogue across different volumes. Like the Flexus Core 100 and 200, the 300 is powered by Onkyo electronics as both it and Klipsch (among other brands) are owned by VOXX International.  
Around back, there’s an HDMI 2.1 output with 8K passthrough as well as an HDMI eARC input. An RCA jack can be used to connect a subwoofer, and both Blueooth 5.3 and WiFi connectivity are here. Standard soundbar audio features like Dialog Boost and Night Mode are on the spec sheet as well, as is compatibility with the Klipsch Connect Plus app for customization and various settings. 
The Flexus Core 300 will be available this winter for $999. Klipsch will also offer a new set of surround speakers for $399 and a new 12-inch subwoofer for $499, but nothing extra comes with the soundbar unless you add them on.  This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/klipschs-latest-soundbar-is-the-first-to-come-with-dirac-live-room-calibration-130010808.html?src=rss

Soundbars may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Klipsch, but the company has a lot of experience with the living room devices. The company already has two models in its Flexus Core lineup and now it’s adding a third, flagship-level option to its stable. The Flexus Core 300 is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar that will offer more immersive sound than the 3.1.2-channel Flexus Core 200 and 2.1-channel Flexus Core 100. It will also be the company’s most expensive soundbar in the current group at $999. 

Klipsch says the Flexus Core 300 will be the first soundbar that’s equipped with Dirac Live room calibration tech. Dirac is an audio company based in Sweden with years of experience in room correction and headphone calibration. It even teamed up with Dolby for more immersive in-car audio systems. In the case of this soundbar, Dirac Live uses an included microphone to adjust “the magnitude and phase” of the speaker to any room in order to to provide “more transparent, balanced sound” with “tighter bass, improved staging and enhanced clarity.” Klipsch also provides the Dirac Live license at no extra cost, which isn’t always the case with compatible products, according to the the company. 

“Our collaboration with Klipsch on their all-new Flexus Core 300 sound bar proves that cutting-edge room correction technology is no longer just for the high-end AVR market — it’s now also for the mainstream consumer audio market,” Dirac’s Vice President of Home and Pro Audio Fredric Tapper said in a press release. 

Inside, 12 speakers power Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio, including four 2.25-inch front-firing drivers alongside two 2.25-inch up-firing and two 2.25-inch side-firing units. There are also four 4-inch subwoofers for the low-end tone and a dedicated center channel with Klipsch’s horn-loaded tweeter tech for clear dialogue across different volumes. Like the Flexus Core 100 and 200, the 300 is powered by Onkyo electronics as both it and Klipsch (among other brands) are owned by VOXX International.  

Around back, there’s an HDMI 2.1 output with 8K passthrough as well as an HDMI eARC input. An RCA jack can be used to connect a subwoofer, and both Blueooth 5.3 and WiFi connectivity are here. Standard soundbar audio features like Dialog Boost and Night Mode are on the spec sheet as well, as is compatibility with the Klipsch Connect Plus app for customization and various settings. 

The Flexus Core 300 will be available this winter for $999. Klipsch will also offer a new set of surround speakers for $399 and a new 12-inch subwoofer for $499, but nothing extra comes with the soundbar unless you add them on.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/klipschs-latest-soundbar-is-the-first-to-come-with-dirac-live-room-calibration-130010808.html?src=rss

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Clearview AI is back in hot — and expensive — water, with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) fining the company €30.5 million ($33.6 million) for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The release explains that Clearview created “an illegal database with billions of photos of faces,” including Dutch individuals, and has failed to properly inform people that it’s using their data. In early 2023, Clearview’s CEO claimed the company had 30 billion images. 
Clearview must immediately stop all violations or face up to €5.1 million ($5.6 million) in non-compliance penalties. “Facial recognition is a highly intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world,” Dutch DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen stated. “If there is a photo of you on the Internet — and doesn’t that apply to all of us? — then you can end up in the database of Clearview and be tracked.” He adds that facial recognition can help with safety but that “competent authorities” who are “subject to strict conditions” should handle it rather than a commercial company. 
The Dutch DPA further states that since Clearview is breaking the law, using it is also illegal. Wolfsen warns that Dutch companies using Clearview could also be subject to “hefty fines.” Clearview didn’t issue an objection to the Dutch DPA’s fine, so it is unable to launch an appeal.
This fine is far from the first time an entity has stood up against Clearview. In 2020, the LAPD banned its use, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued Clearview, with the settlement ending sales of the biometric database to any private companies. Italy and the UK have previously fined Clearview €20 million ($22 million) and £7.55 million ($10 million), respectively, and instructed the company to delete any data of its residents. Earlier this year, the EU also barred Clearview from untargeted face scraping on the internet. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/clearview-faces-a-%E2%82%AC305-million-for-violating-the-gdpr-124549856.html?src=rss

Clearview AI is back in hot — and expensive — water, with the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) fining the company €30.5 million ($33.6 million) for violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The release explains that Clearview created “an illegal database with billions of photos of faces,” including Dutch individuals, and has failed to properly inform people that it’s using their data. In early 2023, Clearview’s CEO claimed the company had 30 billion images. 

Clearview must immediately stop all violations or face up to €5.1 million ($5.6 million) in non-compliance penalties. “Facial recognition is a highly intrusive technology, that you cannot simply unleash on anyone in the world,” Dutch DPA chairman Aleid Wolfsen stated. “If there is a photo of you on the Internet — and doesn’t that apply to all of us? — then you can end up in the database of Clearview and be tracked.” He adds that facial recognition can help with safety but that “competent authorities” who are “subject to strict conditions” should handle it rather than a commercial company. 

The Dutch DPA further states that since Clearview is breaking the law, using it is also illegal. Wolfsen warns that Dutch companies using Clearview could also be subject to “hefty fines.” Clearview didn’t issue an objection to the Dutch DPA’s fine, so it is unable to launch an appeal.

This fine is far from the first time an entity has stood up against Clearview. In 2020, the LAPD banned its use, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued Clearview, with the settlement ending sales of the biometric database to any private companies. Italy and the UK have previously fined Clearview €20 million ($22 million) and £7.55 million ($10 million), respectively, and instructed the company to delete any data of its residents. Earlier this year, the EU also barred Clearview from untargeted face scraping on the internet. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/clearview-faces-a-%E2%82%AC305-million-for-violating-the-gdpr-124549856.html?src=rss

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It sounds like Hopoo Games, the developer of cult hit and roguelike platformer Risk of Rain, is going on a hiatus. In an announcement on X/Twitter, the company has announced that its co-founders Paul Morse and Duncan Drummond, “alongside many other talented members at Hopoo Games,” will now be working for Valve. The company is stopping the production of an unannounced game called Snail as a result, and it’s not quite clear if it will ever pick up from where it left off in the future. Hopoo also didn’t say how many of its staff members are joining Valve and how many chose to leave or had been left out of the deal. “…[F]or now — sleep tight, Hopoo Games,” one of the company’s tweets reads. 
We’re incredibly grateful to Valve for their partnerships in the last decade, and are excited to continue working on their awesome titles. However, this does mean that we are stopping production on our unannounced game, “Snail”.— Hopoo Games (@hopoogames) September 3, 2024

As Game Developer and several posters on the Steam subreddit notes, the former Hopoo staffers could be joining Valve’s development of Deadlock, an upcoming MOBA shooter that it has been testing since 2023. Deadlock attracted thousands of early players before it was even officially announced, though it remains invite only and is still in early development with no release date yet. 
Hopoo also developed a side-scrolling stealth-action game called Deadbolt, but it owes most of its success to Risk of Rain, which spawned a sequel and a remake. Risk of Rain was released in 2013, and while its 2D shooting and platforming mechanics are pretty simple, the game isn’t easy. It becomes more difficult and throws stronger monsters at you the more you play, and you only get one life — you’ll lose all the experience you’ve gained if you die and will have to start again. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/valve-hires-key-employees-from-risk-of-rain-developer-123034840.html?src=rss

It sounds like Hopoo Games, the developer of cult hit and roguelike platformer Risk of Rain, is going on a hiatus. In an announcement on X/Twitter, the company has announced that its co-founders Paul Morse and Duncan Drummond, “alongside many other talented members at Hopoo Games,” will now be working for Valve. The company is stopping the production of an unannounced game called Snail as a result, and it’s not quite clear if it will ever pick up from where it left off in the future. Hopoo also didn’t say how many of its staff members are joining Valve and how many chose to leave or had been left out of the deal. “…[F]or now — sleep tight, Hopoo Games,” one of the company’s tweets reads. 

As Game Developer and several posters on the Steam subreddit notes, the former Hopoo staffers could be joining Valve’s development of Deadlock, an upcoming MOBA shooter that it has been testing since 2023. Deadlock attracted thousands of early players before it was even officially announced, though it remains invite only and is still in early development with no release date yet. 

Hopoo also developed a side-scrolling stealth-action game called Deadbolt, but it owes most of its success to Risk of Rain, which spawned a sequel and a remake. Risk of Rain was released in 2013, and while its 2D shooting and platforming mechanics are pretty simple, the game isn’t easy. It becomes more difficult and throws stronger monsters at you the more you play, and you only get one life — you’ll lose all the experience you’ve gained if you die and will have to start again. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/valve-hires-key-employees-from-risk-of-rain-developer-123034840.html?src=rss

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British tech billionaire Mike Lynch died in August after the yacht he was on capsized off the coast of Sicily. Yet, Hewlett-Packard is continuing its UK lawsuit, seeking up to $4 billion in damages — just against his estate instead. In a statement, HP said it intended “to follow the proceedings through to their conclusion.”
Lynch and HP have been at odds since the entrepreneur sold his company, Autonomy, to HP for $11 billion in 2011. One year later, a new management team at HP valued the company at only $8.8 billion and accused Lynch of inflating sales, accounting improprieties and misleading HP overall. In June, a US jury found Lynch not guilty on all 15 counts of fraud. 
However, in 2022, HP won its civil claim in the UK when a high court judge found Lynch and his former finance director, Sushovan Hussain, had defrauded the company — a claim Lynch denied until his death. The amount paid out to HP should be decided soon, though the judge stated in his initial ruling that the damages would likely be “substantially less than is claimed.” 
Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and five others died when Bayesian, an 183-foot super-yacht, was caught in a violent storm early in the morning on August 19. Fifteen other passengers were rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. The outing had been a celebration of Lynch’s recent acquittal, with a mix of loved ones and business associates joining him on board. 
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hp-is-seeking-up-to-4-billion-from-mike-lynchs-estate-120027940.html?src=rss

British tech billionaire Mike Lynch died in August after the yacht he was on capsized off the coast of Sicily. Yet, Hewlett-Packard is continuing its UK lawsuit, seeking up to $4 billion in damages — just against his estate instead. In a statement, HP said it intended “to follow the proceedings through to their conclusion.”

Lynch and HP have been at odds since the entrepreneur sold his company, Autonomy, to HP for $11 billion in 2011. One year later, a new management team at HP valued the company at only $8.8 billion and accused Lynch of inflating sales, accounting improprieties and misleading HP overall. In June, a US jury found Lynch not guilty on all 15 counts of fraud. 

However, in 2022, HP won its civil claim in the UK when a high court judge found Lynch and his former finance director, Sushovan Hussain, had defrauded the company — a claim Lynch denied until his death. The amount paid out to HP should be decided soon, though the judge stated in his initial ruling that the damages would likely be “substantially less than is claimed.” 

Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter and five others died when Bayesian, an 183-foot super-yacht, was caught in a violent storm early in the morning on August 19. Fifteen other passengers were rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. The outing had been a celebration of Lynch’s recent acquittal, with a mix of loved ones and business associates joining him on board. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hp-is-seeking-up-to-4-billion-from-mike-lynchs-estate-120027940.html?src=rss

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Planning to upgrade your iPhone this week? Hold off because Apple’s iPhone 16 event is just days away, which means you can buy the newest iPhone or score last year’s model at a cheaper price. The Apple event takes place on Monday, Sept. 9 at 1PM EST (10AM PST) at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino. You can stream Apple’s It’s Glowtime event live on Youtube (which we’ve embedded here for your convenience), as well as on Apple’s site.
As far as new products go, expect the usual September upgrades – a new iPhone 16 lineup alongside new Apple Watch models (Series 10 or Series “X,” and maybe an Ultra 3). New AirPods in both entry- and Pro-level models could also be showcased at the Apple event.
As for the iPhone 16 models, not much is expected to change from last year’s model, which Engadget’s Billy Steele called the “most substantial update to the regular iPhone in years.” Look for the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, with a slight increase in size and a new camera button on the latter two compared to the 2023 models, per most of the rumors.
For anyone not planning to buy any new Apple devices this year, you’ll still have access to the latest iOS 18 update, likely later in September, as long as your device is eligible. Here’s everything coming with the iOS 18 update this year, including Apple Intelligence and more home screen customization options.
Engadget will also be liveblogging the September 9 iPhone event from the ground in Cupertino with real-time news and analysis.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/how-to-watch-the-new-iphone-16-unveiling-at-the-september-apple-event-113044570.html?src=rss

Planning to upgrade your iPhone this week? Hold off because Apple’s iPhone 16 event is just days away, which means you can buy the newest iPhone or score last year’s model at a cheaper price. The Apple event takes place on Monday, Sept. 9 at 1PM EST (10AM PST) at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino. You can stream Apple’s It’s Glowtime event live on Youtube (which we’ve embedded here for your convenience), as well as on Apple’s site.

As far as new products go, expect the usual September upgrades – a new iPhone 16 lineup alongside new Apple Watch models (Series 10 or Series “X,” and maybe an Ultra 3). New AirPods in both entry- and Pro-level models could also be showcased at the Apple event.

As for the iPhone 16 models, not much is expected to change from last year’s model, which Engadget’s Billy Steele called the “most substantial update to the regular iPhone in years.” Look for the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max, with a slight increase in size and a new camera button on the latter two compared to the 2023 models, per most of the rumors.

For anyone not planning to buy any new Apple devices this year, you’ll still have access to the latest iOS 18 update, likely later in September, as long as your device is eligible. Here’s everything coming with the iOS 18 update this year, including Apple Intelligence and more home screen customization options.

Engadget will also be liveblogging the September 9 iPhone event from the ground in Cupertino with real-time news and analysis.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/how-to-watch-the-new-iphone-16-unveiling-at-the-september-apple-event-113044570.html?src=rss

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No stranger to heady prices, Bang & Olufsen is taking its high-end design (and price multiplier) to headphones with the Beoplay H100. Following the $999 Beoplay H95, the H100 is over 50 percent more expensive, at $1,549.
In B&O tradition, the Beoplay H100 is made of premium materials, with lambskin leather pads and a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the ear cups. The company says it was inspired by fine jewelry for the black, sand and apricot color options. B&O says it doubled the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the H95 for this set, with 10 microphones to help offer an improved transparency mode.
The company says the H95 has been its “most successful headphones to date,” but it didn’t specify whether that was units sold or sheer insane profit margins. Still, I want to try a pair.
— Mat Smith

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NYT Connections bot uses AI to highlight the top wrong answers
You’ll get a daily skill score.

The New York Times’ daily word game isn’t exactly easy. The solve rate dips below 50 percent some days, apparently, so why not rub it in? I mean, highlight the most common mistakes? After winning or losing each day’s game, you can saunter to the Connections Bot. As with the bot for Wordle, you’ll see how well you did compared with other players and receive a skill score out of 99. This is primarily based on how few mistakes you make.
Continue reading.

The UK government is looking into Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model
It’s after maddening prices for Oasis’ reunion tour.

The UK government will look into the company’s dynamic pricing model after millions of Oasis fans scrambled over the weekend for tickets to the band’s reunion tour . Once fans got through hours-long queues to make their purchase, some found the price of a standing ticket was suddenly 2.5 times more expensive — in one case, going up from £135 to £337.50 ($177 to $444). Ticketmaster often gives customers just seconds to decide whether to complete a purchase once tickets are in their cart, so they don’t have much time to determine whether such a hefty price increase is worth it. It was also a great time to resurface a vintage Liam Gallagher tweet from 2017, complaining about ticket prices to see his brother’s band, which was touring the US.
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Thank Goodness You’re Here is a vibrant, funny, unashamedly silly game
It’s a very northern English edition of TMA.
Coal Supper
It’s called a ‘slap-former.’
Continue reading.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-bang–olufsens-new-headphones-cost-over-1500-111432298.html?src=rss

No stranger to heady prices, Bang & Olufsen is taking its high-end design (and price multiplier) to headphones with the Beoplay H100. Following the $999 Beoplay H95, the H100 is over 50 percent more expensive, at $1,549.

In B&O tradition, the Beoplay H100 is made of premium materials, with lambskin leather pads and a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the ear cups. The company says it was inspired by fine jewelry for the black, sand and apricot color options. B&O says it doubled the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the H95 for this set, with 10 microphones to help offer an improved transparency mode.

The company says the H95 has been its “most successful headphones to date,” but it didn’t specify whether that was units sold or sheer insane profit margins. Still, I want to try a pair.

— Mat Smith

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NYT Connections bot uses AI to highlight the top wrong answers

You’ll get a daily skill score.

The New York Times’ daily word game isn’t exactly easy. The solve rate dips below 50 percent some days, apparently, so why not rub it in? I mean, highlight the most common mistakes? After winning or losing each day’s game, you can saunter to the Connections Bot. As with the bot for Wordle, you’ll see how well you did compared with other players and receive a skill score out of 99. This is primarily based on how few mistakes you make.

Continue reading.

The UK government is looking into Ticketmaster’s dynamic pricing model

It’s after maddening prices for Oasis’ reunion tour.

The UK government will look into the company’s dynamic pricing model after millions of Oasis fans scrambled over the weekend for tickets to the band’s reunion tour . Once fans got through hours-long queues to make their purchase, some found the price of a standing ticket was suddenly 2.5 times more expensive — in one case, going up from £135 to £337.50 ($177 to $444). Ticketmaster often gives customers just seconds to decide whether to complete a purchase once tickets are in their cart, so they don’t have much time to determine whether such a hefty price increase is worth it. It was also a great time to resurface a vintage Liam Gallagher tweet from 2017, complaining about ticket prices to see his brother’s band, which was touring the US.

Continue reading.

Thank Goodness You’re Here is a vibrant, funny, unashamedly silly game

It’s a very northern English edition of TMA.

It’s called a ‘slap-former.’

Continue reading.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-bang–olufsens-new-headphones-cost-over-1500-111432298.html?src=rss

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Luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen is know for its high-end design and equally exorbitant prices. Typically the company’s earbuds and headphones are more expensive than most competitors, but not astronomically so. That’s changed with the company’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones though. Following the $999 Beoplay H95, B&O has announced the Beoplay H100 that will cost you $1,549. The company says the H95 have been its “most successful headphones to date,” and the H100 has a number of improvements over that model. 
Like most B&O headphones, the Beoplay H100 is crafted with premium materials, from the lambskin leather ear pads to the use of aluminum and knitted cloth. There’s even a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the ear cups. The company says it was inspired by fine jewelry for the black, sand and apricot color options, all of which combine the “solid sheen of aluminum, softness of leather, and cold-to-the-touch glass” for what B&O describes as “design excellence.” The inner headband and ear pad are both detachable, so you can replace them if they become overly worn or dirty. 
Inspired by the company’s Beolab 90 speaker, the Beoplay H100 packs in 40mm drivers with “sound clarity and dynamic performance that you normally only hear on high-end loudspeakers.” High-resolution audio is in the mix, with support for 96 kHz/24-bits tunes. Dolby Atmos is also in play, with head tracking available if you’re into that. B&O says its adaptive audio tech, which it calls EarSense, monitors the fit of the headphones and adjusts the sound profile in real time. 

Bang & Olufsen

B&O says it doubled the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the H95 for this set, employing 10 microphones that also provide what the company describes as its best transparency mode yet. What’s more, a dial on the outside of the ear cups rotates to find your preferred level of so-called TrueTransparency. There’s also a Quick Listen mode when you need to pay attention to your surroundings at second’s notice, but don’t necessarily want to leave transparency enabled. Of course, there are also lofty claims of crystal clear calls “even in very demanding situations,” but that’s the expected refrain from any headphone company. 
The company has been designing its speakers and other audio gear for longevity for a while now. B&O says its building products to they can be updated for years before becoming obsolete. It’s also making them easier for technicians to service, and all of this applies to the H100. That’s definitely something you need to harp on when you’re asking over $1,000 for a set of cans. Aside from the aesthetic upgrades users can complete themselves, the company says the design of the headphones enables quick access for service to batteries, glass surfaces, drivers and circuit boards. Software “won’t be surpassed by new technology,” the company explains, with key features like wireless high-resolution audio and three-device multipoint Bluetooth among the future updates.
Similar to AirPods Max, the Beoplay H100 enters a low-power mode when it’s outside of the carrying case but not being worn. The company says the headphones can remain in this state for up to 90 days, ready to be used as soon as you put them on. If you store them in the case though, the headphones will fully power off. The H100 will last up to 34 hours on a charge with ANC on, which is four hours less than the more affordable H95. 
The Beoplay H100 is available today from B&O stores and the company’s website. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bang-and-olufsen-debuts-beoplay-h100-headphones-that-cost-1549-070041891.html?src=rss

Luxury audio brand Bang & Olufsen is know for its high-end design and equally exorbitant prices. Typically the company’s earbuds and headphones are more expensive than most competitors, but not astronomically so. That’s changed with the company’s flagship noise-cancelling headphones though. Following the $999 Beoplay H95, B&O has announced the Beoplay H100 that will cost you $1,549. The company says the H95 have been its “most successful headphones to date,” and the H100 has a number of improvements over that model. 

Like most B&O headphones, the Beoplay H100 is crafted with premium materials, from the lambskin leather ear pads to the use of aluminum and knitted cloth. There’s even a scratch-resistant glass touch interface on the outside of the ear cups. The company says it was inspired by fine jewelry for the black, sand and apricot color options, all of which combine the “solid sheen of aluminum, softness of leather, and cold-to-the-touch glass” for what B&O describes as “design excellence.” The inner headband and ear pad are both detachable, so you can replace them if they become overly worn or dirty. 

Inspired by the company’s Beolab 90 speaker, the Beoplay H100 packs in 40mm drivers with “sound clarity and dynamic performance that you normally only hear on high-end loudspeakers.” High-resolution audio is in the mix, with support for 96 kHz/24-bits tunes. Dolby Atmos is also in play, with head tracking available if you’re into that. B&O says its adaptive audio tech, which it calls EarSense, monitors the fit of the headphones and adjusts the sound profile in real time. 

B&O says it doubled the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the H95 for this set, employing 10 microphones that also provide what the company describes as its best transparency mode yet. What’s more, a dial on the outside of the ear cups rotates to find your preferred level of so-called TrueTransparency. There’s also a Quick Listen mode when you need to pay attention to your surroundings at second’s notice, but don’t necessarily want to leave transparency enabled. Of course, there are also lofty claims of crystal clear calls “even in very demanding situations,” but that’s the expected refrain from any headphone company. 

The company has been designing its speakers and other audio gear for longevity for a while now. B&O says its building products to they can be updated for years before becoming obsolete. It’s also making them easier for technicians to service, and all of this applies to the H100. That’s definitely something you need to harp on when you’re asking over $1,000 for a set of cans. Aside from the aesthetic upgrades users can complete themselves, the company says the design of the headphones enables quick access for service to batteries, glass surfaces, drivers and circuit boards. Software “won’t be surpassed by new technology,” the company explains, with key features like wireless high-resolution audio and three-device multipoint Bluetooth among the future updates.

Similar to AirPods Max, the Beoplay H100 enters a low-power mode when it’s outside of the carrying case but not being worn. The company says the headphones can remain in this state for up to 90 days, ready to be used as soon as you put them on. If you store them in the case though, the headphones will fully power off. The H100 will last up to 34 hours on a charge with ANC on, which is four hours less than the more affordable H95. 

The Beoplay H100 is available today from B&O stores and the company’s website. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bang-and-olufsen-debuts-beoplay-h100-headphones-that-cost-1549-070041891.html?src=rss

Read More