engadget-rss

Today is the first day to pre-order the new 2024 Xbox consoles. The new batch includes the all-digital Xbox Series X, a Special Edition Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage and a white Xbox Series S. They begin shipping to US customers on October 15.
Announced in June, the all-digital Xbox Series X is the first iteration of that model without a disc drive. Shipping in “robot white,” the new console includes 1TB of storage and costs $450. That’s only a $50 discount over the standard model, so it’s worth thinking about whether the disc-free tradeoff pays off for you. You can sometimes find the standard model on sale for that price, and Microsoft’s refurbished store has it for $450 right now.

In addition, the all-digital Xbox is the same size as the standard version with a disc drive. So, unlike the equivalent PS5, the new disc-less model won’t save space in your entertainment center.
If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and are down to spend more on an Xbox, Microsoft is also launching a 2TB special edition of Series X in “galaxy black” with a groovy space design. That variant, retailing for $600, includes the standard disc drive.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S has a new white model with 1TB to store more games in a new colorway. It follows the black version with the same storage that arrived in 2023.
Microsoft says the new consoles will arrive in most regions where Xbox hardware is currently supported, except Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. The consoles land in the US on October 15, with “select countries” pushed back a couple of weeks to October 29.

New Xbox accessibility options

Microsoft

Xbox continues to impress with its accessibility accommodations for gamers with disabilities. Alongside the console updates, Microsoft unveiled several new controllers on Wednesday to help more people experience the joy of frictionless gaming.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick fills what Microsoft called a widely expressed “need for an affordable, singular joystick” to use with other Xbox controllers. Designed for people with limited mobility, it has four customizable button inputs on the front, a standard thumbstick and two more mappable bumper and trigger-style buttons.
You can plug the wired stick into the Xbox Adaptive Controller or the console. Alternatively, you can link it with a standard Xbox gamepad using Xbox Controller Assist (solo or couch co-op). The Xbox Adaptive Joystick also has a quarter-inch thread for mounting, adding to its versatility.
The joystick will only cost $30 when it arrives in early 2025.

Microsoft

Microsoft is also rolling out 3D-printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers, designed for those who have trouble gripping the standard Xbox sticks. You can print adapters in the shapes of a plate, dome, narrow stick, “pull” (a deep, bowl-shaped surface), sphere and a custom base for adding materials like clay or moldable plastic.
Of course, you’ll need to own a 3D printer, use a friend’s or find a professional service to print them. The printable files are free from Xbox Design Lab.

8BitDo / Microsoft

In partnership with 8BitDo, the Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller is a gamepad with all inputs on its top surface. It has low-resistance buttons and “highly sensitive” Hall effect joysticks. It even includes a non-slip silicone mat to keep things steady. As a bonus, it includes 8BitDo’s coveted Super Buttons, first packaged with the Nintendo-inspired mechanical keyboard.
The 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G is available starting today for $60.

ByoWave / Microsoft

Finally, the ByoWave Proteus Controller, revealed earlier this year for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, is now available to order. The innovative, modular gamepad has “snap and play” parts that offer over 100 million combinations tailored to your needs. The Proteus is available for $299 in the US, EU, UK and Canada.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/you-can-pre-order-the-all-digital-xbox-series-x-starting-today-172827418.html?src=rss

Today is the first day to pre-order the new 2024 Xbox consoles. The new batch includes the all-digital Xbox Series X, a Special Edition Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage and a white Xbox Series S. They begin shipping to US customers on October 15.

Announced in June, the all-digital Xbox Series X is the first iteration of that model without a disc drive. Shipping in “robot white,” the new console includes 1TB of storage and costs $450. That’s only a $50 discount over the standard model, so it’s worth thinking about whether the disc-free tradeoff pays off for you. You can sometimes find the standard model on sale for that price, and Microsoft’s refurbished store has it for $450 right now.

In addition, the all-digital Xbox is the same size as the standard version with a disc drive. So, unlike the equivalent PS5, the new disc-less model won’t save space in your entertainment center.

If you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum and are down to spend more on an Xbox, Microsoft is also launching a 2TB special edition of Series X in “galaxy black” with a groovy space design. That variant, retailing for $600, includes the standard disc drive.

Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S has a new white model with 1TB to store more games in a new colorway. It follows the black version with the same storage that arrived in 2023.

Microsoft says the new consoles will arrive in most regions where Xbox hardware is currently supported, except Argentina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE. The consoles land in the US on October 15, with “select countries” pushed back a couple of weeks to October 29.

New Xbox accessibility options

Xbox continues to impress with its accessibility accommodations for gamers with disabilities. Alongside the console updates, Microsoft unveiled several new controllers on Wednesday to help more people experience the joy of frictionless gaming.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick fills what Microsoft called a widely expressed “need for an affordable, singular joystick” to use with other Xbox controllers. Designed for people with limited mobility, it has four customizable button inputs on the front, a standard thumbstick and two more mappable bumper and trigger-style buttons.

You can plug the wired stick into the Xbox Adaptive Controller or the console. Alternatively, you can link it with a standard Xbox gamepad using Xbox Controller Assist (solo or couch co-op). The Xbox Adaptive Joystick also has a quarter-inch thread for mounting, adding to its versatility.

The joystick will only cost $30 when it arrives in early 2025.

Microsoft is also rolling out 3D-printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers, designed for those who have trouble gripping the standard Xbox sticks. You can print adapters in the shapes of a plate, dome, narrow stick, “pull” (a deep, bowl-shaped surface), sphere and a custom base for adding materials like clay or moldable plastic.

Of course, you’ll need to own a 3D printer, use a friend’s or find a professional service to print them. The printable files are free from Xbox Design Lab.

In partnership with 8BitDo, the Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller is a gamepad with all inputs on its top surface. It has low-resistance buttons and “highly sensitive” Hall effect joysticks. It even includes a non-slip silicone mat to keep things steady. As a bonus, it includes 8BitDo’s coveted Super Buttons, first packaged with the Nintendo-inspired mechanical keyboard.

The 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G is available starting today for $60.

Finally, the ByoWave Proteus Controller, revealed earlier this year for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, is now available to order. The innovative, modular gamepad has “snap and play” parts that offer over 100 million combinations tailored to your needs. The Proteus is available for $299 in the US, EU, UK and Canada.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/you-can-pre-order-the-all-digital-xbox-series-x-starting-today-172827418.html?src=rss

Read More 

This year, Google decided not only to update the design of its Pixel phones but also put its AI features front and center. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are the first Pixels that have swapped the Assistant for Gemini. With its latest flagships, Google continues to improve its cameras, by upgrading its primary sensor and expanding its suite of editing tools. And to power all those new AI tricks, the company has equipped the devices with its newest Tensor processor, designed to handle on-device Gemini tasks. For the first time, too, the Pro-branded Pixel is available in two sizes, with a smaller version joining the family. Better yet, if you go for the Pixel 9 Pro, you’ll be getting a largely identical phone to the pricier 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. Please note: no camera compromise here, Apple.
But this isn’t just another flagship Android: it’s a concerted effort to get you hooked on Google’s AI-powered image editing, email assistance and more. The Pixel 9 Pro delivers on all these aspects, with varying degrees of success.

Design and display

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

As I opened the box, I knew this was the most premium Pixel yet. The Pixel 9 Pro has softer curved corners than its predecessor, while the edges have been flattened. It also felt somehow familiar — like my iPhone. I had to double-check, and they weighed the same, down to the gram (all 221 of them). That’s not bad: the iPhone Pro is the de facto phone to beat. The Pixel 9 Pro has a similar matte satin finish.
I don’t know if the flattened sides make it easier to grip than the Pixel 8 Pro, but I found the substantial camera module did help with stability, occasionally resting on my finger or thumb during shots. The ‘cyclops bar’ is gone, replaced with a more conventional – but just as substantial – camera array. The temperature sensor is, for some reason, still here, although a Thermometer app update coming this week will let it save the things you’re most regularly measuring and even offer some AR guidance to ensure you’re the right distance away from the object you’re scanning.
Without the camera bar, which felt a bit much, the Pixel 9 Pro doesn’t feel like Google trying to make an aggressive design statement. The camera module is huge, however.

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

Like last year, Google has kept the display almost entirely flat. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch screen is 0.1 inches bigger than last year’s Pixel 8 Pro and brighter, too, peaking at 3,000 nits. It makes sense for Google to make its bigger pro Pixel even larger to match the XL in its name, but like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pro XL is a little too big for me, and my not-exactly-small hands struggled to reach the search bar or dropdown menus in the top corners. (Sidenote: I can move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen on my iPhone, but not on Android? What gives?)
Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.3-inch panel is roomy enough to see plenty of lines of text at once, without me having to almost sprain a finger to reach its edges.
Both Pixel 9 Pros have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on their displays as well as across the satin-finish backs, like last year’s flagship phone, meaning they’re about as durable as before.
With the XL, you’re consciously deciding you want a Big Phone – this is S24 Ultra territory. Fortunately, it’s another bright, vivid screen from Google, with variable refresh rates from 1-120Hz for smooth scrolling when needed. 
The XL Pixel Pro’s resolution of 1,344 x 1,992 translates to a pixel density of 486 ppi, which is lower than the Pixel 9 Pro (495 ppi). But good luck discerning that in real life. Google continues to lean towards more understated color tones on its screens, compared to rival phones from Samsung and Apple. Still, I think it suits the shades of Android’s Material Design palette, as well as this year’s hardware color options. Both Pixel 9 Pro sizes arrive in black, white, hazel and rose quartz. I was sent the hazel version, which is subtle to the point of looking almost gray. My colleague Cherlynn Low is infatuated with the rose quartz Pixel 9 Pro she’s tested.
Cameras

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

The Pixel camera is still the best smartphone camera. Last year, we called Pixel 8 Pro “the most powerful smartphone camera on the market,” and Google has tried to hold on to that position. Hardware-wise, the sensors are the exact resolution as the Pixel 8 Pro, aside from the leap to a 42-megapixel front-facing camera, up from 10.5 megapixels last year. Google has also improved the autofocus, and it takes surprisingly decent crisp shots and video.
But we’re all here to discuss the triple camera array on the back. There’s a new 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. The upgraded hardware doesn’t result in noticeable improvements over the Pixel 8 Pro in most of the photos I compared… until I started using the telephoto sensor. There, I saw huge improvements to detail and color. Google has addressed some of the Pixel 9 Pro’s video-recording weaknesses too – I didn’t notice any overheating issues with the new Tensor chip, even when recording multiple video clips at maximum resolution.
New camera software features
Google has once again augmented its cameras with software features that walk the line between gimmick and game-changer.
Add Me could be the latter for me. As the guy with the newest smartphone in my friendship group and family, I’m usually the one taking candid and group shots for everyone. But that means there often aren’t many photos of me. Add Me is a new camera mode which combines Google’s computational photography expertise with augmented reality to scan and frame an area and group of people. Once you’ve taken the first photo, you trade places with someone else, the Pixel 9 Pro will ask that person to align the frame, and take a second shot. 
It’s a little like the Best Take feature from last year, which could swap out faces to ensure everyone’s giving their best smile, the Pixel then processes and combines those two images together. It’s a simplified Photoshop clone tool, sure, but it looks good. I will be using this at the next birthday/wedding/christening/future 40th birthday party. (Ed. note: We get it, Mat, you’re popular.)

Ugh, not two of me.

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

The Pixel 9 Pro arrives with several features initially teased a year ago, including Zoom Enhance and Video Boost. Zoom Enhance is pretty self-explanatory, using AI to increase both detail and sharpness on your most aggressively zoomed photos. The results can be mixed. It’s not as egregious as Samsung’s super-imposed moon photography, but Zoom Enhance does its best work on shapes, structures and patterns, sharpening up brickwork, foliage and more. It still usually makes a mess with humans.
There are use cases for Zoom Enhance (it does a great job sharpening up London’s Tower Bridge) but I’m not sure it’ll rescue your concert pics from the back of the venue. Not unless you want a nightmarish vision of Taylor Swift’s face massaged by AI. Notably, Zoom Enhance is one of the camera AI features that’s processed on-device.

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

With Video Boost, the Pixel 9 Pro records video in a special mode (that you will have to toggle in settings before recording) and those clips are automatically uploaded to the cloud for server-side processing. What’s new for the Pixel 9 Pro is that you can shoot videos with up to 20x zoom or create boosted videos with 8K resolution. You’ll need to record at 1080p to create 4K videos, and capture in 4K to make 8K clips. This is upscaled 8K, so while clips seem crisper in places, don’t expect 8K footage that’s comparable to what you’ll get with dedicated cameras. Video Boosted 8K seems more like a spec boast for Google rather than a feature you’ll use with any regularity.
Having said that, Google has improved video boost substantially since it first launched, adding smoother transitions between focal lengths and different camera sensors. With Video Boost, leaping from a standard wide view to 5x zoom is far less jarring, and Google has fixed the color imbalances between its trio of sensors – it looks much like it was filmed on a single-lens camera. It also offers a boost to any video captured in low light. It won’t make pitch-black footage visible – I did try – but does improve the color and detail of dim video clips. You can also punch in to 20x digital zoom if you’re using Video Boost for surprisingly functional footage.

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

Once you’ve taken your photos, an upgraded Magic Editor brings the same content-aware fill features as last year, capable of deleting unwanted objects and people from your photos. This year, Google adds more generative AI power. First up, Autoframe will let the Pixel try its hand at improving your photo’s composition, cropping and even extending your photos, generating backgrounds and adding elements, sometimes successfully.
Reimagine puts Google’s generative AI skills to use with more creative tasks, allowing you to select backgrounds, items or other areas of your photo, and create dreamy composite images. I was able to swap out my living room for a Hawaiian sunset, make the floor lava in a nearby park and more. Get too specific with your wording, though, and the results aren’t quite as impressive. But that’s the state of smartphone generative AI, for now.
The pro camera controls, introduced with the Pixel 8 Pro, are still here. They let you manually tweak exposure, shutter speed, and ISO, and are still super useful for those who know what they’re doing.
Software
On the Pixel 9, you may notice a few surprise apps that you never installed. But this isn’t quite bloatware: they’re Google’s new Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. Instead of adding more complication to the Photos app, these have been made into standalone apps, which I’m very glad to see.
For now, you’re unable to edit photos with people in Pixel Studio, which dampens a lot of the fun. If you want standard generative-AI cartoon images and renders, Pixel Studio can oblige, although my creations aren’t quite as cohesive as the examples shown. While Pixel Studio offers the ability to title your designs, most times that text will get turned into the usual AI-generated squiggles, defeating the purpose of making most things with this app.
It’s a little too early to draw conclusions on Pixel Screenshots, too. It uses AI to parse through all your screenshots, making information like prices, reservations and dates searchable. However, the Pixel 9 doesn’t populate your screenshots automatically, nor could I find a way to pull my existing screenshots (years of them!) from my Google Photos backup, which seems like a miss. The Photos app already silos them as screenshots, so there must be a way to transfer them across. Is this a privacy issue? We’ve asked Google.
This means it offered limited utility during my first week of testing. What could be incredibly useful is how Gemini AI can gradually learn to identify what’s captured in the screenshots beyond simply reading the text. Screenshots in general are just smarter on the Pixel 9 Pro. I captured some travel itinerary emails, and before I even had to open an app, the Pixel suggested adding my hotel stay to Google calendar. These are the touches I love. (Of course, I could hold the power button to summon Gemini and ask it to do so similarly.)
Both Pixel 9 Pros get a year’s subscription to Google One AI Premium, a bundle of 2TB storage as well as the use of Gemini Advanced. The latter lets the AI directly dabble in apps like Gmail and Google Docs, to summarize text, PDFs and email conversations, although I didn’t spot it in my own Gmail app. I was still able to test this in a Chrome tab elsewhere, as the subscription extends to every device you use with Google products. There’s also access to Gemini Live, a conversational mode that’s almost entirely voice-based. I’m not sure how much I’d use this mode, however. I prefer to type my specific requests. 
Gemini Live will tick along in the background as you use other apps, which adds to the utility, and stores all your requests and results on the main Gemini screen. I was able to barrel through about 15 different voice requests for shows I wanted to see at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and it could already parse showtimes and venues, faster than I could manually find them. It struggled with some names and couldn’t identify some notable comedians at all. Google has made AI-assisted search a functional part of how I use my phone.
It’s been fun seeing what Gemini Advanced is capable of. After taking an obtuse photo of several skyscraper buildings in central London, I asked Gemini Advanced to identify where the photo was taken. The AI initially said it could be New York, suggesting one of the buildings was One Vanderbilt. 

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

Then I said that was incorrect and that it was taken in London. Gemini Advanced circled back, identifying not only one of the buildings but also the address, which was roughly 100 feet away from where I took the photo. The sheer seamlessness of the experience on Android was what impressed me most, but this is part of Gemini Advanced and after the one-year trial ends, Google expects you to pay $20 a month to keep your access. At a time when all my payments for Netflix, Spotify and more are climbing, Google isn’t offering enough to make me add another subscription to the pile.
Performance and battery life
Along with 16GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 series features the Tensor G4, Google’s latest slice of silicon, designed to breeze through AI tasks and generative AI requests. But If you’re a mobile gamer this isn’t going to blow you away. The G4 is more powerful than the Tensor G3, sure, but it doesn’t quite match the smoothness of the latest Snapdragon chips from Qualcomm. Tensor G4’s improved abilities are put to use most with new AI tasks: for example, Google says its Add Me feature taps into augmented reality software along with 15 different on-device AI models.
We haven’t quite got to the point where we can compare the speeds and efficiencies of generative AI tasks. For the most part, the Pixel 9 Pro behaves like a typical flagship phone. Chrome is unlikely to stutter, and the Pixel 9 Pro seems capable of handling heavy video editing and processing with ease, as well as new Magic Editor features for your photos. These features still take a moment, but the fact that so many AI tools work on-device, with no connection needed, impresses me.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 5,060mAh battery is almost identical to the Pixel 8 Pro (5,050mAh), and it delivered over 22 hours in our looped video rundown test. The Pixel 9 Pro, meanwhile, managed to run for almost 25 hours. However, maximum charge wattage differs between the two Pros too. The Pixel 9 Pro charges at 27W, less than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W, while the new Pixel 9 Pro XL charges at 37W. This means the XL should charge faster than the base Pro. Google says the Pixel 9 Pro can get up to 55 percent in 30 minutes, while the XL will reach a heady 77 percent in the same time, using the company’s own 45W charger. My Pixel 9 Pro showed similar figures, speedily recharging to over 50 percent in under 25 minutes.
Wrap up

Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

The Pixel Pro has never looked better and feels like the premium devices Google’s always wanted to make. Naturally, there’s a premium cost associated. Given that last year’s 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro was $999, the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 more expensive, while the Pixel 9 Pro, with the same cameras, storage, processor and AI hooks, but a smaller screen, costs the same $999. However, compared to rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1,300), the Pixel 9 Pro devices remain competitively priced.
The Pixel 9 Pro is a showcase for Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and it’s been given a huge opportunity to shine as Pixel 9 Pro owners enjoy a year of free access to the more advanced model. It’s early days for some of the new software features, like Pixel Studio and Screenshots, however.
Competition from Apple and Samsung over the last few years may have chipped away at the competitiveness of Pixel features like Night Sight, but Google continues to improve the Pixel’s imaging prowess further. The Pixel 9 Pro cements the Pixel series’ status as the best smartphone camera. It’s so good that I don’t mind that chonky camera cutout – it changed my mind.
Some of these new features are crucially ones I will regularly use, like Add Me. Elsewhere, Google taps into cloud processing to beef up your video with the might of its server network. At the same time, the Pixel keeps many of its computational photography tricks on-device, with the temperamental Zoom Enhance available without the need for an internet connection.
It all culminates in a phone with unique tricks and incredible battery life, regardless of which size you go for. It’s so good that my iPhone will have to go without its SIM for a little longer: the Pixel 9 Pro will be my main phone for just a bit more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/pixel-9-pro-and-pixel-9-pro-xl-review-superb-cameras-with-a-side-of-gemini-ai-170055834.html?src=rss

This year, Google decided not only to update the design of its Pixel phones but also put its AI features front and center. The Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL are the first Pixels that have swapped the Assistant for Gemini. With its latest flagships, Google continues to improve its cameras, by upgrading its primary sensor and expanding its suite of editing tools. And to power all those new AI tricks, the company has equipped the devices with its newest Tensor processor, designed to handle on-device Gemini tasks. For the first time, too, the Pro-branded Pixel is available in two sizes, with a smaller version joining the family. Better yet, if you go for the Pixel 9 Pro, you’ll be getting a largely identical phone to the pricier 6.8-inch Pixel 9 Pro XL. Please note: no camera compromise here, Apple.

But this isn’t just another flagship Android: it’s a concerted effort to get you hooked on Google’s AI-powered image editing, email assistance and more. The Pixel 9 Pro delivers on all these aspects, with varying degrees of success.

Design and display

As I opened the box, I knew this was the most premium Pixel yet. The Pixel 9 Pro has softer curved corners than its predecessor, while the edges have been flattened. It also felt somehow familiar — like my iPhone. I had to double-check, and they weighed the same, down to the gram (all 221 of them). That’s not bad: the iPhone Pro is the de facto phone to beat. The Pixel 9 Pro has a similar matte satin finish.

I don’t know if the flattened sides make it easier to grip than the Pixel 8 Pro, but I found the substantial camera module did help with stability, occasionally resting on my finger or thumb during shots. The ‘cyclops bar’ is gone, replaced with a more conventional – but just as substantial – camera array. The temperature sensor is, for some reason, still here, although a Thermometer app update coming this week will let it save the things you’re most regularly measuring and even offer some AR guidance to ensure you’re the right distance away from the object you’re scanning.

Without the camera bar, which felt a bit much, the Pixel 9 Pro doesn’t feel like Google trying to make an aggressive design statement. The camera module is huge, however.

Like last year, Google has kept the display almost entirely flat. The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 6.8-inch screen is 0.1 inches bigger than last year’s Pixel 8 Pro and brighter, too, peaking at 3,000 nits. It makes sense for Google to make its bigger pro Pixel even larger to match the XL in its name, but like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Pro XL is a little too big for me, and my not-exactly-small hands struggled to reach the search bar or dropdown menus in the top corners. (Sidenote: I can move the Chrome address bar to the bottom of the screen on my iPhone, but not on Android? What gives?)

Meanwhile, the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.3-inch panel is roomy enough to see plenty of lines of text at once, without me having to almost sprain a finger to reach its edges.

Both Pixel 9 Pros have Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on their displays as well as across the satin-finish backs, like last year’s flagship phone, meaning they’re about as durable as before.

With the XL, you’re consciously deciding you want a Big Phone – this is S24 Ultra territory. Fortunately, it’s another bright, vivid screen from Google, with variable refresh rates from 1-120Hz for smooth scrolling when needed. 

The XL Pixel Pro’s resolution of 1,344 x 1,992 translates to a pixel density of 486 ppi, which is lower than the Pixel 9 Pro (495 ppi). But good luck discerning that in real life. Google continues to lean towards more understated color tones on its screens, compared to rival phones from Samsung and Apple. Still, I think it suits the shades of Android’s Material Design palette, as well as this year’s hardware color options. Both Pixel 9 Pro sizes arrive in black, white, hazel and rose quartz. I was sent the hazel version, which is subtle to the point of looking almost gray. My colleague Cherlynn Low is infatuated with the rose quartz Pixel 9 Pro she’s tested.

Cameras

The Pixel camera is still the best smartphone camera. Last year, we called Pixel 8 Pro “the most powerful smartphone camera on the market,” and Google has tried to hold on to that position. Hardware-wise, the sensors are the exact resolution as the Pixel 8 Pro, aside from the leap to a 42-megapixel front-facing camera, up from 10.5 megapixels last year. Google has also improved the autofocus, and it takes surprisingly decent crisp shots and video.

But we’re all here to discuss the triple camera array on the back. There’s a new 50MP primary camera, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 48MP telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. The upgraded hardware doesn’t result in noticeable improvements over the Pixel 8 Pro in most of the photos I compared… until I started using the telephoto sensor. There, I saw huge improvements to detail and color. Google has addressed some of the Pixel 9 Pro’s video-recording weaknesses too – I didn’t notice any overheating issues with the new Tensor chip, even when recording multiple video clips at maximum resolution.

New camera software features

Google has once again augmented its cameras with software features that walk the line between gimmick and game-changer.

Add Me could be the latter for me. As the guy with the newest smartphone in my friendship group and family, I’m usually the one taking candid and group shots for everyone. But that means there often aren’t many photos of me. Add Me is a new camera mode which combines Google’s computational photography expertise with augmented reality to scan and frame an area and group of people. Once you’ve taken the first photo, you trade places with someone else, the Pixel 9 Pro will ask that person to align the frame, and take a second shot. 

It’s a little like the Best Take feature from last year, which could swap out faces to ensure everyone’s giving their best smile, the Pixel then processes and combines those two images together. It’s a simplified Photoshop clone tool, sure, but it looks good. I will be using this at the next birthday/wedding/christening/future 40th birthday party. (Ed. note: We get it, Mat, you’re popular.)

Ugh, not two of me.

The Pixel 9 Pro arrives with several features initially teased a year ago, including Zoom Enhance and Video Boost. Zoom Enhance is pretty self-explanatory, using AI to increase both detail and sharpness on your most aggressively zoomed photos. The results can be mixed. It’s not as egregious as Samsung’s super-imposed moon photography, but Zoom Enhance does its best work on shapes, structures and patterns, sharpening up brickwork, foliage and more. It still usually makes a mess with humans.

There are use cases for Zoom Enhance (it does a great job sharpening up London’s Tower Bridge) but I’m not sure it’ll rescue your concert pics from the back of the venue. Not unless you want a nightmarish vision of Taylor Swift’s face massaged by AI. Notably, Zoom Enhance is one of the camera AI features that’s processed on-device.

With Video Boost, the Pixel 9 Pro records video in a special mode (that you will have to toggle in settings before recording) and those clips are automatically uploaded to the cloud for server-side processing. What’s new for the Pixel 9 Pro is that you can shoot videos with up to 20x zoom or create boosted videos with 8K resolution. You’ll need to record at 1080p to create 4K videos, and capture in 4K to make 8K clips. This is upscaled 8K, so while clips seem crisper in places, don’t expect 8K footage that’s comparable to what you’ll get with dedicated cameras. Video Boosted 8K seems more like a spec boast for Google rather than a feature you’ll use with any regularity.

Having said that, Google has improved video boost substantially since it first launched, adding smoother transitions between focal lengths and different camera sensors. With Video Boost, leaping from a standard wide view to 5x zoom is far less jarring, and Google has fixed the color imbalances between its trio of sensors – it looks much like it was filmed on a single-lens camera. It also offers a boost to any video captured in low light. It won’t make pitch-black footage visible – I did try – but does improve the color and detail of dim video clips. You can also punch in to 20x digital zoom if you’re using Video Boost for surprisingly functional footage.

Once you’ve taken your photos, an upgraded Magic Editor brings the same content-aware fill features as last year, capable of deleting unwanted objects and people from your photos. This year, Google adds more generative AI power. First up, Autoframe will let the Pixel try its hand at improving your photo’s composition, cropping and even extending your photos, generating backgrounds and adding elements, sometimes successfully.

Reimagine puts Google’s generative AI skills to use with more creative tasks, allowing you to select backgrounds, items or other areas of your photo, and create dreamy composite images. I was able to swap out my living room for a Hawaiian sunset, make the floor lava in a nearby park and more. Get too specific with your wording, though, and the results aren’t quite as impressive. But that’s the state of smartphone generative AI, for now.

The pro camera controls, introduced with the Pixel 8 Pro, are still here. They let you manually tweak exposure, shutter speed, and ISO, and are still super useful for those who know what they’re doing.

Software

On the Pixel 9, you may notice a few surprise apps that you never installed. But this isn’t quite bloatware: they’re Google’s new Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. Instead of adding more complication to the Photos app, these have been made into standalone apps, which I’m very glad to see.

For now, you’re unable to edit photos with people in Pixel Studio, which dampens a lot of the fun. If you want standard generative-AI cartoon images and renders, Pixel Studio can oblige, although my creations aren’t quite as cohesive as the examples shown. While Pixel Studio offers the ability to title your designs, most times that text will get turned into the usual AI-generated squiggles, defeating the purpose of making most things with this app.

It’s a little too early to draw conclusions on Pixel Screenshots, too. It uses AI to parse through all your screenshots, making information like prices, reservations and dates searchable. However, the Pixel 9 doesn’t populate your screenshots automatically, nor could I find a way to pull my existing screenshots (years of them!) from my Google Photos backup, which seems like a miss. The Photos app already silos them as screenshots, so there must be a way to transfer them across. Is this a privacy issue? We’ve asked Google.

This means it offered limited utility during my first week of testing. What could be incredibly useful is how Gemini AI can gradually learn to identify what’s captured in the screenshots beyond simply reading the text. Screenshots in general are just smarter on the Pixel 9 Pro. I captured some travel itinerary emails, and before I even had to open an app, the Pixel suggested adding my hotel stay to Google calendar. These are the touches I love. (Of course, I could hold the power button to summon Gemini and ask it to do so similarly.)

Both Pixel 9 Pros get a year’s subscription to Google One AI Premium, a bundle of 2TB storage as well as the use of Gemini Advanced. The latter lets the AI directly dabble in apps like Gmail and Google Docs, to summarize text, PDFs and email conversations, although I didn’t spot it in my own Gmail app. I was still able to test this in a Chrome tab elsewhere, as the subscription extends to every device you use with Google products. There’s also access to Gemini Live, a conversational mode that’s almost entirely voice-based. I’m not sure how much I’d use this mode, however. I prefer to type my specific requests. 

Gemini Live will tick along in the background as you use other apps, which adds to the utility, and stores all your requests and results on the main Gemini screen. I was able to barrel through about 15 different voice requests for shows I wanted to see at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, and it could already parse showtimes and venues, faster than I could manually find them. It struggled with some names and couldn’t identify some notable comedians at all. Google has made AI-assisted search a functional part of how I use my phone.

It’s been fun seeing what Gemini Advanced is capable of. After taking an obtuse photo of several skyscraper buildings in central London, I asked Gemini Advanced to identify where the photo was taken. The AI initially said it could be New York, suggesting one of the buildings was One Vanderbilt. 

Then I said that was incorrect and that it was taken in London. Gemini Advanced circled back, identifying not only one of the buildings but also the address, which was roughly 100 feet away from where I took the photo. The sheer seamlessness of the experience on Android was what impressed me most, but this is part of Gemini Advanced and after the one-year trial ends, Google expects you to pay $20 a month to keep your access. At a time when all my payments for Netflix, Spotify and more are climbing, Google isn’t offering enough to make me add another subscription to the pile.

Performance and battery life

Along with 16GB of RAM, the Pixel 9 series features the Tensor G4, Google’s latest slice of silicon, designed to breeze through AI tasks and generative AI requests. But If you’re a mobile gamer this isn’t going to blow you away. The G4 is more powerful than the Tensor G3, sure, but it doesn’t quite match the smoothness of the latest Snapdragon chips from Qualcomm. Tensor G4’s improved abilities are put to use most with new AI tasks: for example, Google says its Add Me feature taps into augmented reality software along with 15 different on-device AI models.

We haven’t quite got to the point where we can compare the speeds and efficiencies of generative AI tasks. For the most part, the Pixel 9 Pro behaves like a typical flagship phone. Chrome is unlikely to stutter, and the Pixel 9 Pro seems capable of handling heavy video editing and processing with ease, as well as new Magic Editor features for your photos. These features still take a moment, but the fact that so many AI tools work on-device, with no connection needed, impresses me.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 5,060mAh battery is almost identical to the Pixel 8 Pro (5,050mAh), and it delivered over 22 hours in our looped video rundown test. The Pixel 9 Pro, meanwhile, managed to run for almost 25 hours. However, maximum charge wattage differs between the two Pros too. The Pixel 9 Pro charges at 27W, less than the Pixel 8 Pro’s 30W, while the new Pixel 9 Pro XL charges at 37W. This means the XL should charge faster than the base Pro. Google says the Pixel 9 Pro can get up to 55 percent in 30 minutes, while the XL will reach a heady 77 percent in the same time, using the company’s own 45W charger. My Pixel 9 Pro showed similar figures, speedily recharging to over 50 percent in under 25 minutes.

Wrap up

The Pixel Pro has never looked better and feels like the premium devices Google’s always wanted to make. Naturally, there’s a premium cost associated. Given that last year’s 6.7-inch Pixel 8 Pro was $999, the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL is $100 more expensive, while the Pixel 9 Pro, with the same cameras, storage, processor and AI hooks, but a smaller screen, costs the same $999. However, compared to rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra ($1,300), the Pixel 9 Pro devices remain competitively priced.

The Pixel 9 Pro is a showcase for Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, and it’s been given a huge opportunity to shine as Pixel 9 Pro owners enjoy a year of free access to the more advanced model. It’s early days for some of the new software features, like Pixel Studio and Screenshots, however.

Competition from Apple and Samsung over the last few years may have chipped away at the competitiveness of Pixel features like Night Sight, but Google continues to improve the Pixel’s imaging prowess further. The Pixel 9 Pro cements the Pixel series’ status as the best smartphone camera. It’s so good that I don’t mind that chonky camera cutout – it changed my mind.

Some of these new features are crucially ones I will regularly use, like Add Me. Elsewhere, Google taps into cloud processing to beef up your video with the might of its server network. At the same time, the Pixel keeps many of its computational photography tricks on-device, with the temperamental Zoom Enhance available without the need for an internet connection.

It all culminates in a phone with unique tricks and incredible battery life, regardless of which size you go for. It’s so good that my iPhone will have to go without its SIM for a little longer: the Pixel 9 Pro will be my main phone for just a bit more.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/pixel-9-pro-and-pixel-9-pro-xl-review-superb-cameras-with-a-side-of-gemini-ai-170055834.html?src=rss

Read More 

JBL has unveiled its latest set of Tour Pro earbuds, which are packed with features and come with a smart charging case (which the company introduced with the previous model). Along with offering caller ID, media file info and music playback controls, the Tour Pro 3’s second-gen smart case works as a wireless audio transmitter.
That means you can plug it into any USB or analog source and it will send the audio to your earbuds. As such, you can leave your Bluetooth dongle at home the next time you take a flight. JBL says the direct connection between your case and earbuds has lower latency and more stability than Bluetooth as well.
JBL
This is JBL’s first set of wireless earbuds with Auracast support, a type of broadcast audio for Bluetooth devices. You’ll be able to share your audio with other Auracast-enabled devices by tapping a button on the case’s display (which is 30 percent larger than on the previous model). You’ll also be able to join other Auracast-enabled broadcasts. So if you’d rather listen to a game’s commentators rather than the drunken ramblings of someone next to you in a noisy bar and the TV has an Auracast transmitter, you’d be able to connect your earbuds to it.
Elsewhere, JBL has included spatial 360 audio and head tracking tech to boost immersion, and it has employed a hybrid dual-driver system in each earbud. The company says that the balanced armature driver takes care of the high notes, while the 11mm dynamic driver delivers “powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals.” Each driver has its own DAC that focuses on a specific segment of the frequency range. JBL also claims the LDAC wireless codec offers “exceptional high resolution sound” since it provides three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs.
A windproof design, six microphones and AI call algorithm are said to work together to improve voice clarity for calls. There’s also a voice call equalizer that can tamp down the volume of loud talkers and boost the voices of quieter folks.
Let’s not forget the ANC side of the equation. The True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 tech JBL built into the earbuds measures noise levels more than 50,000 times per second. The company says the ANC adapts to environmental changes and compensates for sound leakage.
The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds will be available on September 22. They cost $300, which is $50 more than the previous model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/the-jbl-tour-pro-3-earbuds-come-with-a-case-that-can-transmit-audio-wirelessly-165134542.html?src=rss

JBL has unveiled its latest set of Tour Pro earbuds, which are packed with features and come with a smart charging case (which the company introduced with the previous model). Along with offering caller ID, media file info and music playback controls, the Tour Pro 3’s second-gen smart case works as a wireless audio transmitter.

That means you can plug it into any USB or analog source and it will send the audio to your earbuds. As such, you can leave your Bluetooth dongle at home the next time you take a flight. JBL says the direct connection between your case and earbuds has lower latency and more stability than Bluetooth as well.

This is JBL’s first set of wireless earbuds with Auracast support, a type of broadcast audio for Bluetooth devices. You’ll be able to share your audio with other Auracast-enabled devices by tapping a button on the case’s display (which is 30 percent larger than on the previous model). You’ll also be able to join other Auracast-enabled broadcasts. So if you’d rather listen to a game’s commentators rather than the drunken ramblings of someone next to you in a noisy bar and the TV has an Auracast transmitter, you’d be able to connect your earbuds to it.

Elsewhere, JBL has included spatial 360 audio and head tracking tech to boost immersion, and it has employed a hybrid dual-driver system in each earbud. The company says that the balanced armature driver takes care of the high notes, while the 11mm dynamic driver delivers “powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals.” Each driver has its own DAC that focuses on a specific segment of the frequency range. JBL also claims the LDAC wireless codec offers “exceptional high resolution sound” since it provides three times more data than standard Bluetooth codecs.

A windproof design, six microphones and AI call algorithm are said to work together to improve voice clarity for calls. There’s also a voice call equalizer that can tamp down the volume of loud talkers and boost the voices of quieter folks.

Let’s not forget the ANC side of the equation. The True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 tech JBL built into the earbuds measures noise levels more than 50,000 times per second. The company says the ANC adapts to environmental changes and compensates for sound leakage.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds will be available on September 22. They cost $300, which is $50 more than the previous model.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/the-jbl-tour-pro-3-earbuds-come-with-a-case-that-can-transmit-audio-wirelessly-165134542.html?src=rss

Read More 

Rotten Tomatoes just added a new “Verified Hot” badge that indicates an overall positive user score that will join the “Certified Fresh” badge for critic scores. To qualify for this designation, a movie or show needs to have a Verified Audience Score of 90 percent or higher.
There’s also a “Hot” badge for content with a Verified Audience Score of 60 percent to 90 percent. Finally, the dregs will be slapped with a “Stale” badge, which is for any show or movie that falls beneath 60 percent.
Rotten Tomatoes is trying to get around review bombing here by mandating that user reviews be from people who actually saw the movie in question. There are a couple of little problems with this. It verifies that a consumer saw the movie via the ticketing firm Fandango, and there are plenty of other ticketing firms out there, including, you know, the theater cashier.
Also, Comcast owns both Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango, so this seems more like synergistic advertising than an actual way to beat review bombers. Finally, this whole verification thing is only for movies. There’s no way to verify whether someone watched a TV show or not, so this wouldn’t have helped all of those trolls descending upon the recently-canceled Star Wars show The Acolyte.
From a cynic’s perspective, this move only works to further dilute the utility of the entire site. There will be more uncertainty and plenty of more badges floating around, making the whole thing, well, messy. Will an average user be able to instantly know the difference between Hot and Fresh?
The critic score average was already problematic, as reputable reviewers are weighted the exact same as purveyors of internet garbage. However, Rotten Tomatoes is addressing that by updating the minimum number of critic reviews required before a Tomatometer score will appear. For smaller films, the site mandates at least ten reviews for a score. Blockbusters will require 40 reviews.
The Hot badge has already been issued to current barn-burners Deadpool & Wolverine, Twisters, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Fly Me to the Moon and It Ends With Us. The company says it has also retroactively awarded over 200 films.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rotten-tomatoes-further-dilutes-its-utility-with-verified-hot-badge-163415420.html?src=rss

Rotten Tomatoes just added a new “Verified Hot” badge that indicates an overall positive user score that will join the “Certified Fresh” badge for critic scores. To qualify for this designation, a movie or show needs to have a Verified Audience Score of 90 percent or higher.

There’s also a “Hot” badge for content with a Verified Audience Score of 60 percent to 90 percent. Finally, the dregs will be slapped with a “Stale” badge, which is for any show or movie that falls beneath 60 percent.

Rotten Tomatoes is trying to get around review bombing here by mandating that user reviews be from people who actually saw the movie in question. There are a couple of little problems with this. It verifies that a consumer saw the movie via the ticketing firm Fandango, and there are plenty of other ticketing firms out there, including, you know, the theater cashier.

Also, Comcast owns both Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango, so this seems more like synergistic advertising than an actual way to beat review bombers. Finally, this whole verification thing is only for movies. There’s no way to verify whether someone watched a TV show or not, so this wouldn’t have helped all of those trolls descending upon the recently-canceled Star Wars show The Acolyte.

From a cynic’s perspective, this move only works to further dilute the utility of the entire site. There will be more uncertainty and plenty of more badges floating around, making the whole thing, well, messy. Will an average user be able to instantly know the difference between Hot and Fresh?

The critic score average was already problematic, as reputable reviewers are weighted the exact same as purveyors of internet garbage. However, Rotten Tomatoes is addressing that by updating the minimum number of critic reviews required before a Tomatometer score will appear. For smaller films, the site mandates at least ten reviews for a score. Blockbusters will require 40 reviews.

The Hot badge has already been issued to current barn-burners Deadpool & Wolverine, Twisters, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Fly Me to the Moon and It Ends With Us. The company says it has also retroactively awarded over 200 films.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/rotten-tomatoes-further-dilutes-its-utility-with-verified-hot-badge-163415420.html?src=rss

Read More 

Bowers & Wilkins has just announced the Pi6 and Pi8 true wireless earbuds. They’re available for $249 and $399, respectively. The cheaper model has preorders open and ships September 13, while the Pi8 can be purchased right now.
The Pi6 has Bluetooth 5.4 and supports 24-bit/96kHz aptX transmission. It also has the same 12mm bio-cellulose drivers as the Px7 S2e, The flagship Pi8 supports the same resolution, but can also playback audio in aptX Lossless. Its 12mm drivers are carbon cones instead of bio cellulose.
Both buds have an IP-54 rating and the company’s proprietary ANC algorithm. Bower & Wilkins claims that the new earbuds have superior noise cancellation compared to their predecessors. They support Made for iPhone (MFi) for easy iOS integration — Google Fast Pair compatibility is slated to be added shortly after launch.
At full charge, the flagship model can last 6.5 hours, while the case provides 13.5 hours more; the Pi6 earbuds are rated for eight hours, while the charging case has enough for 16 additional hours of use.
As with many true wireless earbuds, the Pi6 and Pi8 have an accompanying app, which adds a five-band EQ for the Pi8 or a simple treble-and-bass adjustment for the Pi6.
The Pi6 will be available in Cloud Grey, Storm Grey, Forest Green and Glacier Blue when it launches next month. The Pi8’s four colors are Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green and Midnight Blue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bowers–wilkins-announces-its-latest-pi6-and-pi8-true-wireless-earbuds-161812832.html?src=rss

Bowers & Wilkins has just announced the Pi6 and Pi8 true wireless earbuds. They’re available for $249 and $399, respectively. The cheaper model has preorders open and ships September 13, while the Pi8 can be purchased right now.

The Pi6 has Bluetooth 5.4 and supports 24-bit/96kHz aptX transmission. It also has the same 12mm bio-cellulose drivers as the Px7 S2e, The flagship Pi8 supports the same resolution, but can also playback audio in aptX Lossless. Its 12mm drivers are carbon cones instead of bio cellulose.

Both buds have an IP-54 rating and the company’s proprietary ANC algorithm. Bower & Wilkins claims that the new earbuds have superior noise cancellation compared to their predecessors. They support Made for iPhone (MFi) for easy iOS integration — Google Fast Pair compatibility is slated to be added shortly after launch.

At full charge, the flagship model can last 6.5 hours, while the case provides 13.5 hours more; the Pi6 earbuds are rated for eight hours, while the charging case has enough for 16 additional hours of use.

As with many true wireless earbuds, the Pi6 and Pi8 have an accompanying app, which adds a five-band EQ for the Pi8 or a simple treble-and-bass adjustment for the Pi6.

The Pi6 will be available in Cloud Grey, Storm Grey, Forest Green and Glacier Blue when it launches next month. The Pi8’s four colors are Anthracite Black, Dove White, Jade Green and Midnight Blue.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bowers–wilkins-announces-its-latest-pi6-and-pi8-true-wireless-earbuds-161812832.html?src=rss

Read More 

Samsung just officially announced a glasses-free 3D gaming monitor at Gamescom after first teasing it back at CES. The Odyssey 3D uses a light field display, a lenticular lens on the front panel and eye tracking technology.
The built-in stereo camera and proprietary View Mapping technology continuously adjust the image to enhance depth perception and create that all-important illusion of 3D. The technology here is similar to how Acer handled glasses-free 3D with its Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition laptop or the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16, only with a much bigger form factor.
To that end, the Odyssey 3D will be available in sizes up to 37 inches. Samsung touts that users can instantly activate the 3D mechanism, or deactivate it for traditional gaming. This is good, because glasses-free 3D can be extremely finicky, going all the way back to the days of the Nintendo 3DS. The sweet spot tends to be tiny and the image typically falls on the blurry side. This is not a perfect technology.

As for traditional specs, the Odyssey 3D features a 4K QLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate. There’s a 1ms response time and support for AMD FreeSync. The monitors include a DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports on the back. The height-adjustable stand also tilts to help users find the best position for 3D. Again, glasses-free 3D is finicky and the monitor will likely require some maneuvering to get everything perfect.
This isn’t vaporware. Samsung says the monitor will be available by the end of year. However, there is the matter of price. The company remains mum on the total cost and that’s likely because it’ll be extremely expensive. Historically, Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors are pricey, and that’s without glasses-free 3D.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/samsungs-glasses-free-3d-gaming-monitor-isnt-vaporware-apparently-153355242.html?src=rss

Samsung just officially announced a glasses-free 3D gaming monitor at Gamescom after first teasing it back at CES. The Odyssey 3D uses a light field display, a lenticular lens on the front panel and eye tracking technology.

The built-in stereo camera and proprietary View Mapping technology continuously adjust the image to enhance depth perception and create that all-important illusion of 3D. The technology here is similar to how Acer handled glasses-free 3D with its Helios 300 SpatialLabs Edition laptop or the ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16, only with a much bigger form factor.

To that end, the Odyssey 3D will be available in sizes up to 37 inches. Samsung touts that users can instantly activate the 3D mechanism, or deactivate it for traditional gaming. This is good, because glasses-free 3D can be extremely finicky, going all the way back to the days of the Nintendo 3DS. The sweet spot tends to be tiny and the image typically falls on the blurry side. This is not a perfect technology.

As for traditional specs, the Odyssey 3D features a 4K QLED panel with a 165Hz refresh rate. There’s a 1ms response time and support for AMD FreeSync. The monitors include a DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports on the back. The height-adjustable stand also tilts to help users find the best position for 3D. Again, glasses-free 3D is finicky and the monitor will likely require some maneuvering to get everything perfect.

This isn’t vaporware. Samsung says the monitor will be available by the end of year. However, there is the matter of price. The company remains mum on the total cost and that’s likely because it’ll be extremely expensive. Historically, Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors are pricey, and that’s without glasses-free 3D.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/samsungs-glasses-free-3d-gaming-monitor-isnt-vaporware-apparently-153355242.html?src=rss

Read More 

As part of a rethink of its EV strategy, Ford has canceled plans [PDF] to build an electric three-row SUV. It said earlier this year that it would delay the vehicle by two years until 2027 but now the automaker has scuttled that model entirely. It’s pivoting to using hybrid tech in its next three-row SUVs. Ford expects the decision to cost up to $1.9 billion in special charges and expenses.
In addition, Ford is delaying the rollout of a next-gen electric truck from 2026 until the second half of 2027. This model will build on what the company has learned from the F-150 Lightning and include “features and experiences never seen on any Ford truck.” Among those will be improved aerodynamics and an upgraded bi-directional charging capability. Ford says delaying the electric pickup will let it take advantage of lower-cost battery tech and other cost efficiencies. It will build this model, which was previously delayed from 2025, at a Tennessee plant.
Ford also plans to release a medium-sized electric pickup, the first production vehicle that’s based on a lower-cost platform designed by a skunkworks team, in 2027. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ford expects the EV platform to help it produce several profitable models. That could help it compete with Chinese electric vehicle makers, which Ford CEO Jim Farley claims benefit from a lower-cost supply chain. That said, the US has imposed a 100 percent tariff on imported EVs from China, which the White House says “will protect American manufacturers.”
Elsewhere, Ford plans to start producing a new electric commercial van in Ohio in 2026. A Tennessee factory will start making cells for the van and the next-gen electric pickup in late 2025.
The shift in strategy comes as Ford attempts to mitigate losses on its current electric models while ensuring EVs it makes in the future turn a profit. The EV division is on track to lose $5 billion this year (up from a $4.7 billion loss in 2023) amid lower-than-expected demand. Ford is also slashing capital spending on EVs from 40 percent of its budget to 30 percent.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/fords-electric-three-row-suv-is-dead-151528349.html?src=rss

As part of a rethink of its EV strategy, Ford has canceled plans [PDF] to build an electric three-row SUV. It said earlier this year that it would delay the vehicle by two years until 2027 but now the automaker has scuttled that model entirely. It’s pivoting to using hybrid tech in its next three-row SUVs. Ford expects the decision to cost up to $1.9 billion in special charges and expenses.

In addition, Ford is delaying the rollout of a next-gen electric truck from 2026 until the second half of 2027. This model will build on what the company has learned from the F-150 Lightning and include “features and experiences never seen on any Ford truck.” Among those will be improved aerodynamics and an upgraded bi-directional charging capability. Ford says delaying the electric pickup will let it take advantage of lower-cost battery tech and other cost efficiencies. It will build this model, which was previously delayed from 2025, at a Tennessee plant.

Ford also plans to release a medium-sized electric pickup, the first production vehicle that’s based on a lower-cost platform designed by a skunkworks team, in 2027. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ford expects the EV platform to help it produce several profitable models. That could help it compete with Chinese electric vehicle makers, which Ford CEO Jim Farley claims benefit from a lower-cost supply chain. That said, the US has imposed a 100 percent tariff on imported EVs from China, which the White House says “will protect American manufacturers.”

Elsewhere, Ford plans to start producing a new electric commercial van in Ohio in 2026. A Tennessee factory will start making cells for the van and the next-gen electric pickup in late 2025.

The shift in strategy comes as Ford attempts to mitigate losses on its current electric models while ensuring EVs it makes in the future turn a profit. The EV division is on track to lose $5 billion this year (up from a $4.7 billion loss in 2023) amid lower-than-expected demand. Ford is also slashing capital spending on EVs from 40 percent of its budget to 30 percent.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/fords-electric-three-row-suv-is-dead-151528349.html?src=rss

Read More 

Tesla has recalled over two million vehicles in 2024 alone, so close to 10,000 more cars shouldn’t be very noteworthy at this point. But Tesla’s latest recall is a bit fussier in that technicians must review each car in person rather than just issuing an over-the-air update. Tesla’s latest recall will see 9,136 Model X SUVs tended to manually due to concerns of a trim on the roof separating which could increase the risk of a crash, Reuters reports.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated, “The front and center roof cosmetic trim pieces may be adhered to the vehicle without primer. As a result, one or both pieces of trim may separate from the vehicle.” Tesla will test the attachment of each vehicle’s roof trim and join the pieces back together if necessary.
This year has seen previous recalls on Model X vehicles, along with the Model Y, Model 3, Model S and its Cybertruck. The issues responsible have ranged from the backup camera not working in reverse to a potential for the hood to detach.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-issues-an-in-person-recall-for-its-model-x-suv-150039573.html?src=rss

Tesla has recalled over two million vehicles in 2024 alone, so close to 10,000 more cars shouldn’t be very noteworthy at this point. But Tesla’s latest recall is a bit fussier in that technicians must review each car in person rather than just issuing an over-the-air update. Tesla’s latest recall will see 9,136 Model X SUVs tended to manually due to concerns of a trim on the roof separating which could increase the risk of a crash, Reuters reports.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated, “The front and center roof cosmetic trim pieces may be adhered to the vehicle without primer. As a result, one or both pieces of trim may separate from the vehicle.” Tesla will test the attachment of each vehicle’s roof trim and join the pieces back together if necessary.

This year has seen previous recalls on Model X vehicles, along with the Model Y, Model 3, Model S and its Cybertruck. The issues responsible have ranged from the backup camera not working in reverse to a potential for the hood to detach.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-issues-an-in-person-recall-for-its-model-x-suv-150039573.html?src=rss

Read More 

After keeping up with the Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric van for a while, we finally have more details about this retro-yet-modern vehicle. The exact release date isn’t yet specified, but the company claims it will be available in the US within this year. Volkswagen also released information about different trims, pricing and range.
The first version is the ID.Buzz Pro S, which has an MSRP of $59,995. It’s a rear-wheel-drive-only vehicle that accommodates up to seven passengers. Volkswagen is offering three exterior color schemes: Candy White, Deep Black Pearl and Metro Silver. The interior comes in either Copper (tan) or Moonlight (dark brown) color schemes.
VW / James Lipman
Next is the Pro S Plus, which has an MSRP of $63,495 for RWD and $67,995 for 4Motion AWD. Unlike the Pro S, this model only has six seats, but the higher price includes a head-up display, Harman Kardon 700-watt speakers and power-sliding rear doors, among other features. It comes in the same Candy White or Deep Black Pearl single-color exteriors, as well as an additional interior color: Dune (off-white). For an extra $995, there are eight two-tone exterior colors, including Candy White top with Cabana Blue, Blue Charcoal and more below. The alternative is Metro Silver top with Cherry Red.
The 2025 ID.Buzz’s 91kWh battery should deliver an EPA estimated 234 miles on a full charge (or a slightly more modest 231 miles for those equipped with 4Motion.)
Volkswagen will also offer the launch-only 1st Edition, starting at $65,495 for RWD and $69,995 for AWD. These have a few unique features to set them apart: 20-inch wheels, upgraded audio, roof rail crossbars, “heritage-inspired floor mats” and exclusive badging. The optional glass roof available on the Pro S is also part of the package. It only comes in one of five exterior two-tone color options: Cabana Blue, Mahi Green, Metro Silver, Energetic Orange and Pomelo Yellow, all of which are contrasted with Candy White.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagens-long-awaited-electric-idbuzz-pricing-and-range-revealed-143929494.html?src=rss

After keeping up with the Volkswagen ID.Buzz electric van for a while, we finally have more details about this retro-yet-modern vehicle. The exact release date isn’t yet specified, but the company claims it will be available in the US within this year. Volkswagen also released information about different trims, pricing and range.

The first version is the ID.Buzz Pro S, which has an MSRP of $59,995. It’s a rear-wheel-drive-only vehicle that accommodates up to seven passengers. Volkswagen is offering three exterior color schemes: Candy White, Deep Black Pearl and Metro Silver. The interior comes in either Copper (tan) or Moonlight (dark brown) color schemes.

Next is the Pro S Plus, which has an MSRP of $63,495 for RWD and $67,995 for 4Motion AWD. Unlike the Pro S, this model only has six seats, but the higher price includes a head-up display, Harman Kardon 700-watt speakers and power-sliding rear doors, among other features. It comes in the same Candy White or Deep Black Pearl single-color exteriors, as well as an additional interior color: Dune (off-white). For an extra $995, there are eight two-tone exterior colors, including Candy White top with Cabana Blue, Blue Charcoal and more below. The alternative is Metro Silver top with Cherry Red.

The 2025 ID.Buzz’s 91kWh battery should deliver an EPA estimated 234 miles on a full charge (or a slightly more modest 231 miles for those equipped with 4Motion.)

Volkswagen will also offer the launch-only 1st Edition, starting at $65,495 for RWD and $69,995 for AWD. These have a few unique features to set them apart: 20-inch wheels, upgraded audio, roof rail crossbars, “heritage-inspired floor mats” and exclusive badging. The optional glass roof available on the Pro S is also part of the package. It only comes in one of five exterior two-tone color options: Cabana Blue, Mahi Green, Metro Silver, Energetic Orange and Pomelo Yellow, all of which are contrasted with Candy White.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagens-long-awaited-electric-idbuzz-pricing-and-range-revealed-143929494.html?src=rss

Read More 

As usual, summer has sped by in the blink of an eye, which means it’s already back-to-school season. Thankfully, there are some great tech deals for college students (and lucky high school ones), including a record-low price on Apple’s 2022 MacBook Air with an M2 chip. Right now, you can get the 256GB laptop in any color for its Prime Day price of $799, down from $999 — a 20 percent discount. 
The 2022 MacBook Air is our choice for best budget MacBook thanks to a range of features that hold up two years later. It’s a “near-perfect Mac,” as we called it while giving it a 96 in our review, offering a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with up to 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate.  

This MacBook also has an M2 chip with eight CPU cores and up to 10 GPU cores. Apple has recently introduced the M4 chip, but the M2 should give you plenty of power for any run-of-the-mill programs. Speaking of power, you should get some excellent, vibrant sound quality with the MacBook Air’s quad-speaker system — plus, it’s compatible with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. 
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/apples-m2-macbook-air-drops-to-a-record-low-of-799-140005153.html?src=rss

As usual, summer has sped by in the blink of an eye, which means it’s already back-to-school season. Thankfully, there are some great tech deals for college students (and lucky high school ones), including a record-low price on Apple’s 2022 MacBook Air with an M2 chip. Right now, you can get the 256GB laptop in any color for its Prime Day price of $799, down from $999 — a 20 percent discount. 

The 2022 MacBook Air is our choice for best budget MacBook thanks to a range of features that hold up two years later. It’s a “near-perfect Mac,” as we called it while giving it a 96 in our review, offering a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with up to 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate.  

This MacBook also has an M2 chip with eight CPU cores and up to 10 GPU cores. Apple has recently introduced the M4 chip, but the M2 should give you plenty of power for any run-of-the-mill programs. Speaking of power, you should get some excellent, vibrant sound quality with the MacBook Air’s quad-speaker system — plus, it’s compatible with Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio. 

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/apples-m2-macbook-air-drops-to-a-record-low-of-799-140005153.html?src=rss

Read More