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Apple patent describes electrostatic touchscreen keyboards you can feel

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All the usual caveats with patents apply here: just because Apple has patented this technology doesn’t mean we’ll see it make its way into one of the company’s future products. Moreover, it’s best to think of a specific patent application as one of the many directions a company can take a particular technology.

With that said, Apple envisions using a combination of haptic motors as well as electrostatic charges to create a keyboard that feels like the real thing. Each “key” would emit its own charge, and that charge would get stronger as you move your finger closer to the edge of the mechanism. What enables the keyboard to feel like a mechanical one is that your fingers would conduct the charges created by the keys. In this way, the keys could attract and repulse your fingers, as well as create the sensation of friction and texture. Together, these features of the keyboard would allow you to touch type on it, according to Apple.

The one factor that makes this patent more plausible than the ones we usually see is that the company is no stranger to removing hardware keys and buttons from its devices. Take the iPhone, for example. Even before Apple removed the home button altogether from the iPhone X, the company replaced the iPhone 7’s physical home button with a solid-state one. Still, we’re likely years away from more tactile feeling touchscreens and MacBooks without physical keyboards.

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EA leaks personal data for ‘FIFA 20’ Global Series players

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It seems as though the problem affected high-profile players and professionals as well as anyone who signed up. After reports of the issue emerged, EA took down the page to investigate and said it would provide updates as soon as possible. When Engadget asked EA for comment, it offered the same statement it posted on Twitter:



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Test Shuri’s prototype suits in Marvel’s latest ‘Avengers’ VR game

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You’ll begin the Damage Control as a recruit invited to test out new prototypes for Shuri’s “Emergency Response Suits” but find yourself caught up in drama when “an enemy from the past” tries to steal the tech. Presumably, other heroes show up to assist you in fighting off the antagonist, and you’ll hopefully save the world from imminent doom.

In addition to the virtual environment (like audio and visual effects), the game will include real-world elements like heat and wind for a more immersive experience. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said in a statement that “We’re always looking for new stories and corners of the universe for our characters to explore,” and that this gives fans a way to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This isn’t the very first Marvel-themed VR experience. An earlier Iron Man VR game is meant to launch this year for Playstation VR. We also saw Disney team up with Lenovo on an Avengers AR game with its own headset. Still, The Void offers a more immersive and sensory experience than these other options, which could be worth checking out.

You can buy tickets for the Avengers: Damage Control, which will be available for limited runs from October 18th onwards at a dozen or so The Void locations in North America. In the US, you can check this out in seven cities including New York, Las Vegas, Atlanta and the Downtown Disney district in Anaheim. Appointments are available in fifteen-minute intervals and cost $40 per session.

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Apple’s 7th-gen iPad (128GB) drops to $400

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Apple iPad (7th Generation, 128GB)

Apple

Street price: $430; deal price: $400

If you’re in the market for the latest iOS tablet with extra storage capacity and the Pro isn’t within your budget, this upcoming pick is available for $400 in all three finishes. This is the first deal we’ve seen for this model, so while it’s not the biggest discount, it’s a good chance to pick up the newest model for less. This iPad is powerful, easy to use, has a large high-quality screen, a ton of apps in its library and will now include Smart Keyboard compatibility.

Though not yet a formal pick in our iPad guide, with Apple’s announcement of the 7th Generation iPad, and its subsequent release, we’re confident it will replace our current top pick. Wirecutter Senior Staff Writer Nick Guy wrote, “The seventh-generation iPad will be released on September 30, replacing the sixth-generation model, our current pick. This new tablet has a 10.2-inch screen, up from 9.7 inches, in the same casing as on the 10.5-inch iPad Air. Internally it’s pretty much the same as the sixth-gen version, including the same A10 processor, the same cameras, and the same storage options. It now works with the Smart Keyboard, though.”

Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal

Zhiyun

Street price: $120; deal price: $99

Typically priced at $120, this recommended gimbal is on sale for $99 in both the black and white colors. Although this price is becoming a regular deal, it’s still a solid discount and matching the previous best price we’ve seen. Already pretty affordable, this deal places this gimbal well below our other picks’ price points. If you’re a casual mobile phone videographer looking for mechanical stabilizer, this is a good time to buy.

Our choice for the best smartphone gimbal, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal is the top pick in our guide to the best Android and iPhone gimbal. Wirecutter Staff Writer Signe Brewster wrote, “The Zhiyun Smooth 4 shoots stable video that will elevate any hobby videographer’s style. It has a nice selection of autonomous shooting modes and the best-designed videography apps. We liked using the large number of buttons on its handle (once we learned their purposes) because they integrate so flawlessly with the apps.”

Monoprice Maker Select v2 3D Printer

3D printer

Street price: $240; deal price: $212

If you’re interested in delving into the world of 3D printing, this is a solid discount on an inexpensive option that’s a great jump-off point. The Monoprice Maker Select v2 3D Printer is down to $212 from $240, a pleasant discount on an already-affordable model. Although we’ve seen a recent drop in street price this is still the second best deal we’ve ever seen for this printer brand new.

In our guide to the best home 3D printer for beginners, the Monoprice Maker Select v2 is our budget pick, at over $100 less than our other picks. Wirecutter Staff Writer Signe Brewster wrote, “If you aren’t sure you want to commit to using a 3D printer, or just want to spend a bit less, the Monoprice Maker Select v2 is a good budget option. For a low price, you get a heated print bed and the largest print volume of any printer we tested. We also like that you can load models onto the printer via a microSD card and start prints on the printer itself, negating the need for a computer between prints. However, the Maker Select v2’s onboard control menu is difficult to navigate and will likely be confusing for beginners. You should also be prepared to spend some time learning how to use its software program, Cura.”

Eufy Smart Scale P1

Euphy

Street price: $45; deal price: $30

If you’re in need of a new bathroom scale and are interested in a smart scale, the black color of this pick is down to $30, matching previous deals we’ve seen. When not on sale, it typically sells for $45, so this is a significant discount matching the best price we’ve posted in the past. Deals on the Eufy P1 are somewhat often, but if you don’t want to wait for the impending Cyber Week deals, now is a good time to pick one up.

The Eufy Smart Scale P1 is our runner-up in our guide to the best smart scale. Reliable with a user-friendly app, Wirecutter Staff Writer Rachel Cericola wrote, “If the Greater Goods is unavailable or you prefer a silent weigh-in, we recommend the Eufy Smart Scale P1. It uses Bluetooth, which means you must have your phone nearby to sync properly, but the P1 was the second-most consistent model with weight measurements and recordings.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursday, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go here.

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DOJ will ask Facebook to halt end-to-end encryption plans

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Attorney General William Barr is set to make the request in an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Friday. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel and Australian Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton also signed the draft letter, which BuzzFeed News and the New York Times obtained before publication. The US and the UK will reportedly announce a data-sharing agreement alongside the release of the letter.

In March, Facebook announced plans for a more privacy-focused approach to its services. It’s also working towards unifying messaging across WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger with end-to-end encryption.

Barr and the other signees are concerned that end-to-end encryption will hamper law enforcement from tackling illegal activity that occurs through Facebook’s messaging platforms. That includes child sexual exploitation, terrorism and election meddling. Earlier this week, a NYT report indicated there were almost 12 million reports of child sexual abuse material on Messenger last year.

The letter argues Facebook should “enable law enforcement to obtain lawful access to content in a readable and usable format,” effectively providing authorities with backdoor access to messaging across WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger. It will ask Facebook to work with governments to ensure that’s the case.

It also urges Facebook and other companies to “embed the safety of the public in system designs, thereby enabling [Zuckerberg] to continue to act against illegal content effectively with no reduction to safety, and facilitating the prosecution of offenders and safeguarding of victims.”

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The North Face’s high-tech Futurelight jackets are finally here

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Another interesting aspect of The North Face’s latest fabric tech is that it developed it with sustainability in mind. The company said that every Futurelight garment will be produced at a solar-powered factory, and they’ll be made from recycled materials and will go through a process that cuts chemical consumption. In other words, not only are waterproof, lightweight and comfortable, but they’re good for the environment, as well. (Or at least, not as bad as a lot of other synthetic fabrics.)

To celebrate the launch of Futurelight, The North Face built an elaborate art installation in New York City. In it, you could see its new high-tech jackets floating underneath thinly disguised marketing messages like, “WHAT IF WATERPROOF GEAR KEPT YOU DRY INSIDE AND OUT?” and “WHAT IF BREATHABILITY IS THE BREAKTHROUGH.” There was also a giant triangle displaying images of snow-covered mountains and other outdoor scenes. Of course, it was all relevant to what The North Face is known for: making clothes for adventurous people.

The North Face’s Futurelight jacket collection is available now on its site, with the men’s Flight Series jackets starting at a cool $280. And, eventually, The North Face plans to put the technology in other gear, including tents, gloves and more.

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Dual displays are a safer bet than folding screens

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During my very brief hands on time with the Neo and Duo, they both felt like premium devices. Opening and closing them, in particular, was very natural. The screens moved smoothly, but there was also a satisfying amount of resistance, especially when I twisted them into a laptop-like mode. Don’t forget that Microsoft has been obsessively focused on building hinges for PCs since the original Surface, and that experience is clearer than ever with these next generation devices.

The downside of using dual screens, of course, is that you’ll have to live with the hinge and bezel down the middle. It’s not nearly as seamless as a single foldable OLED. But based on the demos we’ve seen, the two displays still seem very usable. You can easily drag apps to either display, and span them across both screens if you want a tablet-like experience. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to working on multiple monitors, but the break between the screens didn’t bug me as much as the weird bump along the Galaxy Fold’s hinge.

The design of the Surface Neo and Duo also allow for accessories that might not easily work with a folding display. There’s a slim Bluetooth keyboard for the Neo that can magnetically stick to its rear and flip around whenever you need to type. Once you do that, the Neo turns the bit of the lower display still exposed into something called the “Wonder Bar,” which holds emojis and other shortcuts, similar to Apple’s TouchBar. You can also push the keyboard up a bit, so that it’s sitting right below the top screen, and use the lower display like a touchpad. And if you’d rather write with your hands, you can also magnetically attach the new slim Surface Pen on the back of the Neo.

Now, I’m sure we’ll figure out how to make reliable folding OLED screens eventually. But based on all of the issues around the Galaxy Fold, and the fact that we’ve seen only one other tiny company ship a foldable, it seems like we’ve got a long way to go.

And then there’s the question of price. The Galaxy Fold sells for close to $2,000, that’s the price of a specced out laptop. We don’t know how much the Surface Neo and Duo will cost, but I’d bet they come in much cheaper, since they won’t rely on an unproven display technology. The Neo will also have competition from other devices running Windows 10X, Microsoft’s new OS for dual-displays, which should help keep the price in check.

It’s also a good sign that Microsoft is taking its time with the Neo and Duo, which are expected to launch during the 2020 holiday season. They’re not rushing to be the first like Samsung, and hopefully that’ll help avoid embarrassing engineering issues. The jump towards every new generation of computing is a delicate one, and sloppy product launches could easily kill consumer interest. Microsoft might not have all the answers when it comes to dual screen devices, but at least it’s addressing the obvious issues facing foldables today.

Engadget Today Video
Presenter: Devindra Hardawar
Script: Devindra Hardawar
Script Editor: Terrence O’Brien
Editor: Chris Schodt
Producer/Camera: Michael Morris

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Bose discontinues its Sleepbuds due to battery issues

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The company quickly sold out of a trial batch of Sleepbuds it offered through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign in 2017. It formally put the earbuds on sale in the US and Canada in June last year. However, Bose said customers complained their Sleepbuds wouldn’t fully charge, power down completely or suffered from both issues.

It expected that software and firmware updates would fix the problems, but the battery struggles persisted. “That led us to look more closely at each piece of hardware,” general manager John Roselli wrote. “And we learned that while the battery we chose functions safely, it doesn’t work as consistently or predictably as it should to meet our standards.”

While it’s discontinuing Sleepbuds for now, Bose says it’s still committed to making its vision for them a reality. As such, it’s going back to the drawing board. There’s no timeline as yet on when you can expect to see a new version of the Sleepbuds.

Here’s Bose’s email in full:

To our noise-masking sleepbuds customers,

In June of 2018, after a successful test with thousands of Indiegogo backers, we launched our noise-masking sleepbuds. Our vision was bold, and we never wavered on what we were trying to accomplish, and why. We wanted to do something for the millions of people who struggled to fall asleep, and stay asleep.

We knew our solution was so technically complex, we’d have to make major investments, source special components, and engineer multiple breakthroughs. We knew we were attempting to do something that had never been done before. But there was no doubt in our minds — it would be worth it. Because we wanted to help you. We still do. We always will. And for many of you, we have. You’ve told us that sleepbuds™ have allowed you to get your first good night’s rest in years, and that you can’t imagine ending the day without them.

But some of you have had a far different experience.

You’ve reported issues with your sleepbuds not charging fully, powering down unexpectedly, or both. And you’ve let us know. We’ve heard you. We’ve read your posts. We’ve documented your calls. We’ve torn down returned products you’ve sent us, and replaced them with new ones, sometimes more than once. We’ve also relentlessly researched the root cause with a team dedicated to nothing else. Based on what we knew, we believed that software and firmware updates could fix the issues. But the failures have continued, and recently, they’ve increased. That led us to look more closely at each piece of hardware. And we learned that while the battery we chose functions safely, it doesn’t work as consistently or predictably as it should to meet our standards.

For that reason, we’re discontinuing sleepbuds. We’ll go back to research, because we are committed to making our vision a reality. But today, we begin with something more important – doing whatever it takes to make things right with you.

As always, we will stand behind our products and honor our sleepbuds™ warranty. We’re also extending an offer to all our sleepbuds™ customers: You can return your product for a full refund until December 31, 2019. Please visit http://worldwide.bose.com/support/sleepbuds for more information or https://worldwide.bose.com/contact to find contact information for service agents in your region.

Finally, for more than 50 years, we’ve conducted extensive research to do things that no one ever thought possible. Each time, we did it to make your life better. When we’ve challenged convention, we haven’t always succeeded. Sometimes we’ve stumbled. Sometimes, despite our diligence, things have gone wrong. And by far, our worst days are when that’s impacted you. Nothing else comes close.

We’re sorry for disappointing you, and we’re sorry for not communicating more clearly along the way. We had good intentions, but unless that makes a difference to you, it’s not enough.

We’re ready to hear from you.

And we’re going to stay right here for as long as you need.”

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Google and Ivanka Trump unveil a tech job training program

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Separately, Google added that it was bringing its IT Support Certificate program to 100 community colleges, and making it easier for colleges to grant credits to certificate owners. The move, which comes as part of the Grow with Google strategy, is meant to help people either land entry IT support jobs or advance their careers and education.

The timing of the job training program, and Trump’s involvement in the announcement, is notable when Google is facing antitrust inquiries from state attorneys general, Congress and the Justice Department. It’s not necessarily trying to use the promise of job creation to fend off those investigations — they’re tackling competitive issues that additional jobs won’t address. However, it certainly won’t hurt the company’s case if it can show that it’s contributing to the economy with the White House’s blessing.

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Adobe adds new AI tools in Photoshop and Premiere Elements 2020

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The full-featured versions of Photoshop and Premiere can be overwhelming, and the methods to reach a desired outcome are rarely obvious. In other words, you really have to know what you’re doing. The Elements versions of the software offer straightforward workflows that avoid obscure menus and hotkeys, as well as a one-time purchase rather than Adobe Creative Cloud’s monthly subscription fee.

Photoshop Elements 2020 offers a new one-click subject selection, which automatically outlines a person or object. You can isolate the selection to duplicate it, give it a new background or transfer it to a different photo. When doing this manually, it can be a painstaking task, especially if you’re trying to isolate frizzy hair or objects with transparent edges.

If a subject in your photo has skin blemishes, a new Sensei feature will smooth out his or her complexion. A slider bar lets you control how drastic the effect looks so you can avoid that plastic-y sheen you sometimes see in poorly Photoshopped images. This saves time over using tools like the spot-healing brush, which can be hit-or-miss.

Photoshop Elements 2020 can automatically colorize photos either by fully applying hues to black and white snapshots or by adjusting color images with more pleasing tones. Again, painting colors in manually and playing around with transfer modes can take hours. Sensei reduces the workflow to minutes.

The update also adds two new guided edits, which are essentially tutorials for different using effects. New Auto Creations, which can be accessed from the home screen include Black & White Selection, Pattern Brush, Painterly and Depth of Field presets. US users can order prints, phone cases and other accessories featuring their completed work from the Fujifilm Prints & Gifts service, straight from Photoshop Elements.

Adobe Premiere Elements 2020

As for Premiere Elements 2020, a new tool can fix one of the biggest problems with smartphone footage shot in low light; a simple drag-and-drop effect smooths out grainy and “noisy” picture quality. Adobe’s AI will also identify what’s happening in your video and tag it accordingly. For example, if you ingest footage of your dog running across the horizon as the sun sets, Premiere Elements will automatically add “dog” and “sunset” tags to the video’s metadata. This makes it much easier to find the footage you’re looking for, rather than searching through randomly named files. Premiere Elements 2020 also has five new Guided Edits to help speed things up even more.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 and Premiere Elements 2020 are now available for $99.99 each, or $149.99 when purchased together.

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