engadget-rss

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses already worked well as a head-mounted camera and pair of open-ear headphones, but now Meta is updating the glasses with access to live AI without the need for a wake word, live translation between several different languages, and access to Shazam for identifying music.
Meta first demoed most of these features at Meta Connect 2024 in September. Live AI lets you start a “live session” with Meta AI that gives the assistant access to whatever you’re seeing and lets you ask questions without having to say “Hey Meta.” If you need your hands-free to cook or fix something, Live AI is supposed to keep your smart glasses useful even if you need to concentrate on whatever you’re doing.

Live translation lets your smart glasses translate between English and either French, Italian, or Spanish. If live translation is enabled and someone speaks to you in one of the selected languages, you’ll hear whatever they’re saying in English through the smart glasses’ speakers or as a typed transcript in the Meta View app. You’ll have to download specific models to translate between each language, and live translation needs to be enabled before it’ll actually act as an interpreter, but it does seem more natural than holding out your phone to translate something.
With Shazam integration, your Meta smart glasses will also be able to identify whatever song you hear playing around you. A simple “Meta, what is this song” will get the smart glasses’ microphones to figure out whatever you’re listening to, just like using Shazam on your smartphone.
All three updates baby-step the wearable towards Meta’s end goal of a true pair of augmented reality glasses that can replace your smartphone, an idea its experimental Orion hardware is a real-life preview of. Pairing AI and either VR and AR seems to be an idea multiple tech giants are circling, too. Google’s newest XR platform, Android XR, is built around the idea that a generative AI like Gemini could be the glue that makes VR or AR compelling. We’re still years away from any company being willing to actually alter your field of view with holographic images, but in the meantime smart glasses seem like a moderately useful stopgap.
All Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses owners will be able to enjoy Shazam integration as part of Meta’s v11 update. For live translation and live AI, you’ll need to be a part of Meta’s Early Access Program, which you can join right now at the company’s website.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-is-rolling-out-live-ai-and-shazam-integration-to-its-smart-glasses-192602898.html?src=rss

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses already worked well as a head-mounted camera and pair of open-ear headphones, but now Meta is updating the glasses with access to live AI without the need for a wake word, live translation between several different languages, and access to Shazam for identifying music.

Meta first demoed most of these features at Meta Connect 2024 in September. Live AI lets you start a “live session” with Meta AI that gives the assistant access to whatever you’re seeing and lets you ask questions without having to say “Hey Meta.” If you need your hands-free to cook or fix something, Live AI is supposed to keep your smart glasses useful even if you need to concentrate on whatever you’re doing.

Live translation lets your smart glasses translate between English and either French, Italian, or Spanish. If live translation is enabled and someone speaks to you in one of the selected languages, you’ll hear whatever they’re saying in English through the smart glasses’ speakers or as a typed transcript in the Meta View app. You’ll have to download specific models to translate between each language, and live translation needs to be enabled before it’ll actually act as an interpreter, but it does seem more natural than holding out your phone to translate something.

With Shazam integration, your Meta smart glasses will also be able to identify whatever song you hear playing around you. A simple “Meta, what is this song” will get the smart glasses’ microphones to figure out whatever you’re listening to, just like using Shazam on your smartphone.

All three updates baby-step the wearable towards Meta’s end goal of a true pair of augmented reality glasses that can replace your smartphone, an idea its experimental Orion hardware is a real-life preview of. Pairing AI and either VR and AR seems to be an idea multiple tech giants are circling, too. Google’s newest XR platform, Android XR, is built around the idea that a generative AI like Gemini could be the glue that makes VR or AR compelling. We’re still years away from any company being willing to actually alter your field of view with holographic images, but in the meantime smart glasses seem like a moderately useful stopgap.

All Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses owners will be able to enjoy Shazam integration as part of Meta’s v11 update. For live translation and live AI, you’ll need to be a part of Meta’s Early Access Program, which you can join right now at the company’s website.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-is-rolling-out-live-ai-and-shazam-integration-to-its-smart-glasses-192602898.html?src=rss

Read More 

If you’ve been waiting patiently to try ChatGPT Search, you won’t have to wait much longer if you’re a free user. After rolling out to paid subscribers this fall, OpenAI announced Monday it would make the tool available to everyone, no Plus or Pro membership necessary, “over the coming months.” 
At that point, all you need before you can start using ChatGPT Search is an OpenAI account. Once you’re logged in, and if your query calls for it, ChatGPT will automatically search the web for the latest information. You can also force it to search the web, thanks to a new icon located right in the prompt bar. Thanks to user feedback, OpenAI has also added the option to make ChatGPT Search your browser’s default search engine.    
OpenAI announced the expanded availability during its most recent “12 Days of OpenAI” livestream. Previous live streams have seen the company announce the general availability of Sora, its generative video model. With four more days to go, it’s hard to see the company topping that announcement, but at this point, it likely has a surprise or two up its sleeve.
Developing…This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chatgpt-is-getting-ready-to-roll-its-search-tool-out-to-everyone-184442971.html?src=rss

If you’ve been waiting patiently to try ChatGPT Search, you won’t have to wait much longer if you’re a free user. After rolling out to paid subscribers this fall, OpenAI announced Monday it would make the tool available to everyone, no Plus or Pro membership necessary, “over the coming months.” 

At that point, all you need before you can start using ChatGPT Search is an OpenAI account. Once you’re logged in, and if your query calls for it, ChatGPT will automatically search the web for the latest information. You can also force it to search the web, thanks to a new icon located right in the prompt bar. Thanks to user feedback, OpenAI has also added the option to make ChatGPT Search your browser’s default search engine.    

OpenAI announced the expanded availability during its most recent “12 Days of OpenAI” livestream. Previous live streams have seen the company announce the general availability of Sora, its generative video model. With four more days to go, it’s hard to see the company topping that announcement, but at this point, it likely has a surprise or two up its sleeve.

Developing…

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chatgpt-is-getting-ready-to-roll-its-search-tool-out-to-everyone-184442971.html?src=rss

Read More 

In perhaps the least surprising news of the past six weeks, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to roll back President Biden’s electric vehicle and emissions policies. Reuters reports that the incoming president’s transition team has recommended cutting off support for EVs and charging stations while boosting measures to block cars, components and battery materials from China.
The transition team’s other reported plans include new tariffs on all battery materials globally, boosting US production of battery materials and negotiations with allies for exemptions. They’re also said to plan on taking money allocated for building charging stations and making EVs more affordable and redirecting them to sourcing batteries and their required minerals from places other than China. In addition, they reportedly want to axe the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax credit for consumer EV purchases.
The plans would let automakers produce more gas-powered vehicles by reversing emissions and fuel economy standards, pushing them back to 2019 levels. Reuters says that would lead to around 25 percent more emissions per vehicle mile than the current limits. It would also lower the average car fuel economy by about 15 percent.
Climate scientists have stressed the importance of transitioning from gas-powered cars to EVs in reducing carbon emissions and fending off the most ravaging scenarios for the planet. Greenhouse gases, including those from vehicle emissions, build up in the atmosphere and warm the climate. That leads to a cascade of effects in the atmosphere, on land and in oceans — some of which we’re already seeing.
As for tariffs, economists have said Trump’s plans would likely spur multiple trade wars as countries retaliate with tariffs on American goods, disrupt supply chains and pierce the heart of America’s post-World War II alliances. “If we go down the tariff war path, we’re going down a very dark path for the economy,” Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told The New York Times in October.
The Biden administration has championed climate legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $369 billion for green initiatives, and EPA rules that require automakers to ramp up EV sales.
Meanwhile, Trump has called climate change a “hoax.” In May, he reportedly told a group of oil executives that he would immediately reverse dozens of Biden’s environmental rules while blocking new ones from being enacted. His asking price for such deregulation was that they raise $1 billion for his campaign. (Thanks, Citizens United!) So, while the reports about his transition team’s plans are still a gut punch to those who care about leaving the planet in a habitable state for future generations (and slowing the effects we’re already seeing), they aren’t exactly shocking to anyone paying attention.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/trump-reportedly-plans-to-reverse-bidens-ev-policies-182206662.html?src=rss

In perhaps the least surprising news of the past six weeks, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to roll back President Biden’s electric vehicle and emissions policies. Reuters reports that the incoming president’s transition team has recommended cutting off support for EVs and charging stations while boosting measures to block cars, components and battery materials from China.

The transition team’s other reported plans include new tariffs on all battery materials globally, boosting US production of battery materials and negotiations with allies for exemptions. They’re also said to plan on taking money allocated for building charging stations and making EVs more affordable and redirecting them to sourcing batteries and their required minerals from places other than China. In addition, they reportedly want to axe the Biden administration’s $7,500 tax credit for consumer EV purchases.

The plans would let automakers produce more gas-powered vehicles by reversing emissions and fuel economy standards, pushing them back to 2019 levels. Reuters says that would lead to around 25 percent more emissions per vehicle mile than the current limits. It would also lower the average car fuel economy by about 15 percent.

Climate scientists have stressed the importance of transitioning from gas-powered cars to EVs in reducing carbon emissions and fending off the most ravaging scenarios for the planet. Greenhouse gases, including those from vehicle emissions, build up in the atmosphere and warm the climate. That leads to a cascade of effects in the atmosphere, on land and in oceans — some of which we’re already seeing.

As for tariffs, economists have said Trump’s plans would likely spur multiple trade wars as countries retaliate with tariffs on American goods, disrupt supply chains and pierce the heart of America’s post-World War II alliances. “If we go down the tariff war path, we’re going down a very dark path for the economy,” Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, told The New York Times in October.

The Biden administration has championed climate legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $369 billion for green initiatives, and EPA rules that require automakers to ramp up EV sales.

Meanwhile, Trump has called climate change a “hoax.” In May, he reportedly told a group of oil executives that he would immediately reverse dozens of Biden’s environmental rules while blocking new ones from being enacted. His asking price for such deregulation was that they raise $1 billion for his campaign. (Thanks, Citizens United!) So, while the reports about his transition team’s plans are still a gut punch to those who care about leaving the planet in a habitable state for future generations (and slowing the effects we’re already seeing), they aren’t exactly shocking to anyone paying attention.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/trump-reportedly-plans-to-reverse-bidens-ev-policies-182206662.html?src=rss

Read More 

T-Mobile and Starlink are marching forward with their plan to offer cell service via the latter’s satellites. The companies received FCC approval for the project last month, and now the provider is opening up registrations for anyone who wants to beta test the creatively dubbed T-Mobile Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service.
The first beta test is slated for 2025. It will focus on text messaging at the outset. Voice and data connectivity is slated to become available at a later date. Any T-Mobile postpaid voice customers with a compatible device can sign up for the free beta. There are limited spots available, however, and the provider says it’s prioritizing first responder agencies and individuals for the program.
T-Mobile Starlink was previously granted emergency approval for a temporary activation to bolster communications during hurricanes Helene and Milton. “Even without the full constellation in place, customers with capable devices were able to receive critical emergency alerts and send and receive messages when satellites were overhead,” T-Mobile said. “The system proved helpful for many that lost mobile and/or broadband access and provided critical data that will help further refine service.”
With the help of Starlink, T-Mobile is planning to provide coverage to the 500,000 square miles of US land that’s not covered by terrestrial cell towers. The direct-to-cell satellite constellation is designed to integrate into T-Mobile’s existing network with the idea that it’ll work like regular cell service. Eventually, the provider says, T-Mobile Starlink will be “available in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky.”This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/t-mobile-opens-beta-test-signups-for-its-starlink-satellite-cell-service-175926913.html?src=rss

T-Mobile and Starlink are marching forward with their plan to offer cell service via the latter’s satellites. The companies received FCC approval for the project last month, and now the provider is opening up registrations for anyone who wants to beta test the creatively dubbed T-Mobile Starlink direct-to-cell satellite service.

The first beta test is slated for 2025. It will focus on text messaging at the outset. Voice and data connectivity is slated to become available at a later date. Any T-Mobile postpaid voice customers with a compatible device can sign up for the free beta. There are limited spots available, however, and the provider says it’s prioritizing first responder agencies and individuals for the program.

T-Mobile Starlink was previously granted emergency approval for a temporary activation to bolster communications during hurricanes Helene and Milton. “Even without the full constellation in place, customers with capable devices were able to receive critical emergency alerts and send and receive messages when satellites were overhead,” T-Mobile said. “The system proved helpful for many that lost mobile and/or broadband access and provided critical data that will help further refine service.”

With the help of Starlink, T-Mobile is planning to provide coverage to the 500,000 square miles of US land that’s not covered by terrestrial cell towers. The direct-to-cell satellite constellation is designed to integrate into T-Mobile’s existing network with the idea that it’ll work like regular cell service. Eventually, the provider says, T-Mobile Starlink will be “available in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/t-mobile-opens-beta-test-signups-for-its-starlink-satellite-cell-service-175926913.html?src=rss

Read More 

The 2024 version of the Beats Pill is currently down to a record-low price of $100 from $150. This is part of a larger Beats promotion, which includes other Beats Pill models, Beats Solo 4 headphones and Beats Fit Pro true wireless earbuds.
The 2024 Beats Pill has a maximum speaker output of 100 watts, which is enough for outdoor listening. To help with the bass levels, the woofer can now displace 90 percent more air volume to deliver a fuller bass compared to the previous model. Beats doesn’t ignore the higher frequencies either, as the Pill has great highs and mids without much distortion even at higher volumes.

The 2024 Beats Pill has an IP67 rating against water and dust, making it suitable for outdoor use. The battery lasts a maximum of 24 hours, depending on how loud you’re playing your music. To prevent you from accidentally dropping it, the speaker comes with a removable lanyard.
The Beats Pill can be paired with another unit to produce a stereo effect, separating the left and right channels out to separate Pills. Besides Stereo mode, there’s Amplify mode, which plays the same audio through both speakers at the same volume.
Also, we listed the Beats Pill as one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers. It’s even capable of playing lossless audio through a USB-C connection.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-latest-beats-pill-is-50-off-right-now-171539806.html?src=rss

The 2024 version of the Beats Pill is currently down to a record-low price of $100 from $150. This is part of a larger Beats promotion, which includes other Beats Pill models, Beats Solo 4 headphones and Beats Fit Pro true wireless earbuds.

The 2024 Beats Pill has a maximum speaker output of 100 watts, which is enough for outdoor listening. To help with the bass levels, the woofer can now displace 90 percent more air volume to deliver a fuller bass compared to the previous model. Beats doesn’t ignore the higher frequencies either, as the Pill has great highs and mids without much distortion even at higher volumes.

The 2024 Beats Pill has an IP67 rating against water and dust, making it suitable for outdoor use. The battery lasts a maximum of 24 hours, depending on how loud you’re playing your music. To prevent you from accidentally dropping it, the speaker comes with a removable lanyard.

The Beats Pill can be paired with another unit to produce a stereo effect, separating the left and right channels out to separate Pills. Besides Stereo mode, there’s Amplify mode, which plays the same audio through both speakers at the same volume.

Also, we listed the Beats Pill as one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers. It’s even capable of playing lossless audio through a USB-C connection.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-latest-beats-pill-is-50-off-right-now-171539806.html?src=rss

Read More 

Google may have only recently begun rolling out its Veo generative AI to enterprise customers, but the company is not wasting any time getting a new version of the video tool out to early testers. On Monday, Google announced a preview of Veo 2. According to the company, Veo 2 “understands the language of cinematography.” In practice, that means you can reference a specific genre of film, cinematic effect or lens when prompting the model.
Additionally, Google says the new model has a better understanding of real-world physics and human movement. Correctly modeling humans in motion is something all generative models struggle to do. So the company’s claim that Veo 2 is better when it comes to both of those trouble points is notable. Of course, the samples the company provided aren’t enough to know for sure; the true test of Veo 2’s capabilities will come when someone prompts it to generate a video of a gymnast’s routine. Oh, and speaking of things video models struggle with, Google says Veo will produce artifacts like extra fingers “less frequently.”
Google
Separately, Google is rolling out improvements to Imagen 3. Of its text-to-image model, the company says the latest version generates brighter and better-composed images. Additionally, it can render more diverse art styles with greater accuracy. At the same time, it’s also better at following prompts more faithfully. Prompt adherence was an issue I highlighted when the company made Imagen 3 available to Google Cloud customers earlier this month, so if nothing else, Google is aware of the areas where its AI models need work.
Veo 2 will gradually roll out to Google Labs users in the US. For now, Google will limit testers to generating up to eight seconds of footage at 720p. For context, Sora can generate up to 20 seconds of 1080p footage, though doing so requires a $200 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription. As for the latest enhancements to Imagen 3, those are available to Google Labs users in more than 100 countries through ImageFX.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-new-ai-video-model-sucks-less-at-physics-170041204.html?src=rss

Google may have only recently begun rolling out its Veo generative AI to enterprise customers, but the company is not wasting any time getting a new version of the video tool out to early testers. On Monday, Google announced a preview of Veo 2. According to the company, Veo 2 “understands the language of cinematography.” In practice, that means you can reference a specific genre of film, cinematic effect or lens when prompting the model.

Additionally, Google says the new model has a better understanding of real-world physics and human movement. Correctly modeling humans in motion is something all generative models struggle to do. So the company’s claim that Veo 2 is better when it comes to both of those trouble points is notable. Of course, the samples the company provided aren’t enough to know for sure; the true test of Veo 2’s capabilities will come when someone prompts it to generate a video of a gymnast’s routine. Oh, and speaking of things video models struggle with, Google says Veo will produce artifacts like extra fingers “less frequently.”

Separately, Google is rolling out improvements to Imagen 3. Of its text-to-image model, the company says the latest version generates brighter and better-composed images. Additionally, it can render more diverse art styles with greater accuracy. At the same time, it’s also better at following prompts more faithfully. Prompt adherence was an issue I highlighted when the company made Imagen 3 available to Google Cloud customers earlier this month, so if nothing else, Google is aware of the areas where its AI models need work.

Veo 2 will gradually roll out to Google Labs users in the US. For now, Google will limit testers to generating up to eight seconds of footage at 720p. For context, Sora can generate up to 20 seconds of 1080p footage, though doing so requires a $200 per month ChatGPT Pro subscription. As for the latest enhancements to Imagen 3, those are available to Google Labs users in more than 100 countries through ImageFX.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-new-ai-video-model-sucks-less-at-physics-170041204.html?src=rss

Read More 

If someone you love is big into tech, you may want to get them something from Apple, Google, Samsung or another big brand. But once you look at the price tags of the most popular devices those brands offer, you may get discouraged. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a gift for someone that has all the cachet of a brand they know and love.Apple, Samsung, Sony and other big tech companies all have affordable gear that comes in at $100 or less, you just have to know where to find them. These are some of our favorites, but remember: you can often find alternatives that are just as good (and sometimes better) than these. However, for the people in your life for which brand names really do matter, these gifts will speak to them.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/the-best-tech-gifts-under-100-to-give-for-christmas-from-apple-samsung-and-more-130038653.html?src=rss

If someone you love is big into tech, you may want to get them something from Apple, Google, Samsung or another big brand. But once you look at the price tags of the most popular devices those brands offer, you may get discouraged. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a gift for someone that has all the cachet of a brand they know and love.

Apple, Samsung, Sony and other big tech companies all have affordable gear that comes in at $100 or less, you just have to know where to find them. These are some of our favorites, but remember: you can often find alternatives that are just as good (and sometimes better) than these. However, for the people in your life for which brand names really do matter, these gifts will speak to them.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/the-best-tech-gifts-under-100-to-give-for-christmas-from-apple-samsung-and-more-130038653.html?src=rss

Read More 

The European Space Agency (ESA) has just signed a €10.6 ($11.1) billion contract to build the IRIS constellation. It’s the EU’s most ambitious space program in a decade and is designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The contract will last 12 years, and the first launch is expected in 2029.
IRIS, which stands for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, will consist of almost 300 satellites launched by European rockets. It’s built on top of two other EU satellite constellations, Copernicus and Galileo, the largest Earth-observation program and most accurate GPS system, respectively. Though most of the satellites’ work capacity will be used to provide commercial broadband services, a significant part is dedicated to security and crisis management. Most of the satellites are planned for a low earth orbit, but some will be in a medium earth orbit.
Of the €10.6 billion, €6 billion comes from the EU, while the ESA is forking over €550 million. The remaining €4 billion will come from the private sector.
The ESA is partnering with the European Commission through SpaceRISE, an industrial consortium led by European satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat. Other members include Deutsche Telekom, Airbus and Thales, according to the Financial Times.
Since IRIS is many years away, Starlink will likely dominate the current satellite internet market. Recently, SpaceX completed the first direct-to-cell satellite constellation, which will allow phones to be connected even in remote areas.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/europe-will-build-its-own-secure-satellite-network-161115164.html?src=rss

The European Space Agency (ESA) has just signed a €10.6 ($11.1) billion contract to build the IRIS constellation. It’s the EU’s most ambitious space program in a decade and is designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink network. The contract will last 12 years, and the first launch is expected in 2029.

IRIS, which stands for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, will consist of almost 300 satellites launched by European rockets. It’s built on top of two other EU satellite constellations, Copernicus and Galileo, the largest Earth-observation program and most accurate GPS system, respectively. Though most of the satellites’ work capacity will be used to provide commercial broadband services, a significant part is dedicated to security and crisis management. Most of the satellites are planned for a low earth orbit, but some will be in a medium earth orbit.

Of the €10.6 billion, €6 billion comes from the EU, while the ESA is forking over €550 million. The remaining €4 billion will come from the private sector.

The ESA is partnering with the European Commission through SpaceRISE, an industrial consortium led by European satellite operators SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat. Other members include Deutsche Telekom, Airbus and Thales, according to the Financial Times.

Since IRIS is many years away, Starlink will likely dominate the current satellite internet market. Recently, SpaceX completed the first direct-to-cell satellite constellation, which will allow phones to be connected even in remote areas.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/europe-will-build-its-own-secure-satellite-network-161115164.html?src=rss

Read More 

Are you ready for the holiday travels and the long hours on your phone that accompany them? Whether you’re using your device for directions or entertainment, it’s a pain when you’re phone just dies. Try to avoid this by picking up one of our choices for best power banks and portable chargers, like Anker’s 200W Prime Power Bank — our favorite premium power bank.
Anker’s Prime Power Bank with a 100W charging base is currently available for $110, down from $185. This 41 percent off deal brings the power bank and charging base back down to a record-low price. To start from the bottom, its charging base has a USB port and two USB-C ports. You can use them while the base is plugged in and juicing up the power bank. As for the power bank, it can charge a MacBook Air once and an iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23 3.4 times. The power bank’s sleek screen shows how much battery the Anker device still holds. 

If you’re only really interested in the power bank then you can get it for a lot cheaper. The Anker Prime Power Bank is available on its own for just $78 — a 40 percent discount. This deal is also a record-low price for the device and offers all the same perks just sans-base. 
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-prime-power-bank-with-charging-base-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-150600518.html?src=rss

Are you ready for the holiday travels and the long hours on your phone that accompany them? Whether you’re using your device for directions or entertainment, it’s a pain when you’re phone just dies. Try to avoid this by picking up one of our choices for best power banks and portable chargers, like Anker’s 200W Prime Power Bank — our favorite premium power bank.

Anker’s Prime Power Bank with a 100W charging base is currently available for $110, down from $185. This 41 percent off deal brings the power bank and charging base back down to a record-low price. To start from the bottom, its charging base has a USB port and two USB-C ports. You can use them while the base is plugged in and juicing up the power bank. As for the power bank, it can charge a MacBook Air once and an iPhone 14 or Galaxy S23 3.4 times. The power bank’s sleek screen shows how much battery the Anker device still holds. 

If you’re only really interested in the power bank then you can get it for a lot cheaper. The Anker Prime Power Bank is available on its own for just $78 — a 40 percent discount. This deal is also a record-low price for the device and offers all the same perks just sans-base. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-prime-power-bank-with-charging-base-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-150600518.html?src=rss

Read More 

For years, reporting has claimed employees and contractors at Amazon’s warehouses are injured at unusually high rates, often attributed to a high pace of work. On Sunday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions published an investigation that claims Amazon’s own internal research reached similar conclusions — and then ignored them, The New York Times reported.
The Senate Committee, chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders, published its 160-page report, which among other things, details the results of two internal Amazon initiatives meant to study worker injuries: Project Elderwand and Project Soteria. The former identified an upper bound of repetitive motions workers could perform before substantial risk of injury would occur, and noted that current quotes were above that rate. The latter indicated a link between work speed and injury. Both studies recommended relaxing the pace of work, but executives chose not to do so.
Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said that Sanders’ report used what she called “out-of-date documents” (the studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021). She continued saying that Amazon’s work environment has improved recently, and that a Washington State judge had rejected allegations that Amazon required its employees to work in an unsafe environment.
Amazon was cited last year by OSHA at half a dozen warehouses for “failing to keep workers safe.” An investigation by the Washington Post in 2021 found Amazon warehouse workers are seriously injured at a rate nearly twice that of the warehousing industry at large; it echoed similar findings by Reveal from 2019.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-ignored-internal-studies-on-injuries-senate-investigation-claims-144611988.html?src=rss

For years, reporting has claimed employees and contractors at Amazon’s warehouses are injured at unusually high rates, often attributed to a high pace of work. On Sunday, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions published an investigation that claims Amazon’s own internal research reached similar conclusions — and then ignored them, The New York Times reported.

The Senate Committee, chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders, published its 160-page report, which among other things, details the results of two internal Amazon initiatives meant to study worker injuries: Project Elderwand and Project Soteria. The former identified an upper bound of repetitive motions workers could perform before substantial risk of injury would occur, and noted that current quotes were above that rate. The latter indicated a link between work speed and injury. Both studies recommended relaxing the pace of work, but executives chose not to do so.

Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said that Sanders’ report used what she called “out-of-date documents” (the studies were conducted in 2020 and 2021). She continued saying that Amazon’s work environment has improved recently, and that a Washington State judge had rejected allegations that Amazon required its employees to work in an unsafe environment.

Amazon was cited last year by OSHA at half a dozen warehouses for “failing to keep workers safe.” An investigation by the Washington Post in 2021 found Amazon warehouse workers are seriously injured at a rate nearly twice that of the warehousing industry at large; it echoed similar findings by Reveal from 2019.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazon-ignored-internal-studies-on-injuries-senate-investigation-claims-144611988.html?src=rss

Read More