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Amazon knocks $300 off the price of Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro

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While the 16-inch MacBook Pro is deep into its lifecycle at this point, it’s still a compelling system if you’re looking for a speedy yet reasonably sleek laptop. Apple once again has a keyboard it can be proud of, not to mention improved performance, high-quality mics and very capable speakers. The large, vivid display and healthy battery life help, too.

As before, the quirks revolve around those things that haven’t changed. You won’t be a fan of the keyboard if you can’t stand the Touch Bar, and you’ll have to spring for dongles for anything that doesn’t have a native USB-C connection. If you were only hoping that Apple would iron out the reliability and throttling issues, though, you’ll likely be satisfied.

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Studio Ghibli’s first fully CGI movie will be ‘Aya and the Witch’

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The next movie from the world renowned Studio Ghibli will be a departure from its previous efforts. The studio co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki is well-known for its expertise in traditional, hand-drawn animation, and only occasionally uses CGI in its films. The upcoming Aya and the Witch, however, will be animated entirely in 3D. It will premiere on Japanese television, rather than in theaters, when it’s released this winter.

Save for the digitally created (albeit 2D) movie, My Neighbors the Yamadas, CGI has only accounted for about 10 percent of the runtime in previous Ghibli films. The studio usually only uses computer animation as a fallback for scenes that would be particularly difficult or labor intensive to achieve through hand-drawn methods. (All Ghibli films before 1997’s Princess Mononoke are completely animated by hand.) However, after temporarily retiring in 2013, Miyazaki developed an interest in 3D CGI. While the studio’s co-founder isn’t directing this film — his son, Goro, is taking the helm — he is credited as a planner, so his dabbling may have played a part in the decision to forego cel animation. Studio Ghibli has also voiced concerns about its return on investments — traditional animation is slow and costly compared to 3D CGI, so this change could also be a cost-saving measure.

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The next ‘Elite Dangerous’ expansion lets players walk on planets

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To date, Elite Dangerous players have had to enjoy the game’s recreation of the Milky Way Galaxy from the confines of their spaceships and landing vehicles, but that will soon change. For the MMO’s next expansion, Odyssey, players will be able to explore new worlds on foot.

The update will build on 2015’s Horizons DLC, which gave players the chance to land on planets. Like Elite‘s current slate of missions, the game’s upcoming ground adventures will see players engage in diplomacy, trade, stealth and combat. Series creator Frontier Developments says battles on the surface of planets will require you to work with your teammates and think about how you equip your character. You’ll also need to keep an eye to the sky as spaceships will be able to take part in battles, as will the game’s SRV ground vehicles. 

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Google makes it easier to use security keys on iOS devices

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Google is making it easier to use security keys and its Advanced Protection Program to secure Google Accounts on iOS devices. Thanks to changes rolling out today, anyone with an Apple device (iOS 13.3 and above) will be able to use Google’s Titan Security Keys to secure both work and personal Google Accounts.

Because both USB-A and Bluetooth Titan keys have NFC functionality, signing-in should be as easy as tapping your key to the back of your iPhone. You will also be able to use Lightning security keys, like the YubiKey 5Ci, to secure your Google Accounts — or any USB security key if you have an Apple Lighting to USB Camera Adapter. Google recommends installing its Smart Lock app to manage Bluetooth security keys and use your phone’s built-in key.

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Snapchat stops promoting Trump’s account due to his tweets

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A Snap spokesperson said the company made the decision over the weekend in response to tweets from the president that threatened protestors with “the most vicious dogs and ominous weapons, I have ever seen.”

The Trump campaign is quite active on Snapchat and spends a significant amount on advertising in the app. Ads will be unaffected by Snap’s decision and Trump’s content will continue to appear to subscribers, as well as for those that search for him. But Snap will no longer provide Trump’s account with “free promotion” by allowing it to appear organically in the “For You” section of Discover. 

Snap has long tried to differentiate itself from Facebook and Twitter in how it approaches content on its platform. The company heavily curates what appears in the Discover section of its app. Snap also fact-checks political advertisements, unlike Facebook. The move comes after the company published a company-wide memo from CEO Evan Spiegel, in which he called for a Reparations Commission and appeared to condemn Trump’s rhetoric, though he did not mention the president by name.

“As for Snapchat, we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform,” Spiegel wrote. “We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way.”

Update 6/3 3pm ET: In a statement, Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, accused the company of “trying to rig the 2020 election.”

“Snapchat is trying to rig the 2020 election, illegally using their corporate funding to promote Joe Biden and suppress President Trump,” he wrote. “Radical Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel would rather promote extreme left riot videos and encourage their users to destroy America than share the positive words of unity, justice, and law and order from our President.

“Snapchat hates that so many of their users watch the President’s content and so they are actively engaging in voter suppression. If you’re a conservative, they do not want to hear from you, they do not want you to vote. They view you as a deplorable and they do not want you to exist on their platform.”

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CES will go ahead as an in-person event next year

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The CTA notes that “the meetings world is developing and implementing best practices, and we will assess and evaluate the latest solutions in the coming months.” It doesn’t have concrete plans to take temperature readings at entry points just yet, but it’ll “evaluate solutions for contactless thermal scans.” There’ll be increased access to medical aid and health services on-site as well. 

The organization will also encourage attendees and exhibitors to adopt best practices for the likes of shaking hands and wearing masks. When asked by Engadget whether face coverings would be mandatory or if CES would have a smaller capacity next year, a CTA spokesperson did not provide further clarification.

CES 2021 won’t take place for another seven months, and a lot can change in that time — including future waves of coronavirus infections — so it’s perhaps a little premature to make firm plans for next year. At least one CES 2020 attendee had COVID-19 around the time of the event, and many others often leave Las Vegas with a case of the “CES flu.”

In any case, the CTA says major brands have committed to next year’s show. CES 2021 will have a larger livestreaming schedule as part of the show’s expanded digital presence, and the organization says it’ll “showcase our exhibitors’ products, technology breakthroughs and ideas to the world, both physically in Las Vegas and digitally.” Whether it’ll actually be safe enough for a huge number of people to attend CES in person is still up in the air.

Update 6/3 3:15 PM ET: Noted that the CTA did not provide further clarification about masks or CES 2021 capacity.

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Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge browser rolls out through Windows Update

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Edge, Microsoft’s replacement for its often-criticized Internet Explorer was first released in 2015. But last year, the company rebuilt the browser from the ground up, this time with Google’s open source Chromium framework rather than its proprietary EdgeHTML engine. It’s been available to users since January, but Microsoft only hosted it as a manual download, and it lacked some important features. Now, a complete version of the refreshed Edge is available as part of Windows Update, making it easier for everyday users to experience the new features and optimized performance.

Having a shared codebase with Chrome, Edge is now more similar to Google’s browser — compatibility with websites is improved, as is performance. (Some users report that Edge is actually less resource-intensive than Chrome.) It also can now run extensions, which are hosted on the Microsoft Store. When installing the browser via Microsoft Update, Windows will automatically migrate settings, bookmarks and other features, which should help to make the upgrade a smooth process.

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Fiat may automatically switch hybrids to electric-only mode in city centers

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Fiat Chrysler is expected to launch over 30 EVs and hybrids by 2022. Already, vehicles like the company’s Pacfic Hybrid get around 33 miles on a full-charge, which in many cases, would be enough to navigate around a city. The vehicle would still have access to the combustion engine for longer trips outside of restricted zones.

Fiat isn’t the first to test this approach. BMW also considered an electric-only mode for its hybrids. That included a smartphone reminder to turn off a vehicle’s combustion engine when entering a virtual boundary.

Fiat is piloting its system in Turin, Italy, and it’s aptly called “Turin Geofencing Lab.” Initially, Fiat is testing the sensors on the new Jeep Renegade 4xe. The company told Reuters that the tech could be extended to other hybrid models beginning next year and that once the tests are complete, Fiat plans to offer the system in other cities in Italy and abroad.

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Annual PS Plus and PS Now memberships drop to $42 at Amazon

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Buy PlayStation Now (1-year) at Amazon – $42

Amazon will deliver both codes digitally, so no need to wait for anything in the mail. However, one thing to note is that you’ll need to add the pre-paid codes to your cart before you’ll be able to see their sale price. 

PlayStation Plus is virtually mandatory if you want to play online. But for most people, the reason to get the service is for the free games Sony gives away each month. With the PlayStation 4 in its twilight years, PlayStation Plus has had some of the console’s finest titles, including Uncharted 4 and Shadow of the Colossus, on offer in recent months. Available in June are Call of Duty: WWII and Star Wars Battlefront II. 

Sony hasn’t said if PlayStation 5 owners will need the service to play online, but it will likely carry over. Moreover, the company has stated the system will be able to play the “overwhelming majority” of PS4 titles.

As for PlayStation Now, it allows you to stream more than 700 PS2, PS3 and PS4 titles on your PlayStation 4 and PC. Unless you want to revisit classic games like Ape Escape and Dark Cloud, we think PlayStation Plus is the better deal for most people.   

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.



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Eve’s HomeKit-only indoor security camera arrives on June 23rd

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It’s still hard to find HomeKit-friendly security cameras, let alone ones that are focused primarily on Apple’s smart home framework, but Eve Systems is close to filling that gap. The company is shipping the HomeKit-exclusive Eve Cam indoor security camera on June 23rd, with pre-orders available now. The $150 device uses HomeKit Secure Video to let you see, store and (if you want) share video recordings across your Apple devices using iCloud, keeping your smart home info and footage secure.

The camera is fairly typical hardware-wise with its 1080p video, a 150-degree field of view, infrared motion detection and night vision up to 16.4ft away. Two-way communication helps you scare away burglars or check up on loved ones.

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