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Katamari creator’s friendship game ‘Wattam’ arrives in December

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You won’t have to wait too much longer for a new game from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi. His weird but adorable Wattam is now slated to arrive on PS4 sometime in December 2019. To recap, it’s all about a mayor who wants to reconnect with friends through increasingly oddball activities, like making eyelid characters cry using an onion — yes it’s definitely a Takahashi game. It’s meant to be the polar opposite of the violent, conflict-driven titles you normally see, and it might be worth a look if you want a break from the angst of the modern world.

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Watch Sony’s State of Play event here at 4PM ET

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Sony will be showcasing its latest batch of release trailers and gameplay demos today, Tuesday, September 24th, through its State of Play livestream. , , , and will all carry the broadcast, which starts at 4pm ET/1pm PT. We don’t have an official list of what will be shown but do have our fingers crossed that we’ll get a better look at The Last of Us Part II, as Geoff Keighley strongly hinted (practically declared) earlier this month. If you don’t feel like clicking off this page, you can watch the event in the feed below.



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Add eye tracking to your HTC Vive headset for $149

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Since our first encounter back in 2017, 7invensun received funding from HTC’s Vive X accelerator and eventually delivered its third-generation eye-tracking add-on, the Droolon F1. This is apparently more compact and easier to install than the earlier versions, and it runs off a USB cable that you plug into the headset — be it a Vive Cosmos, Vive Focus Plus, Vive Focus or the original Vive aka Vive CE. This kit tracks your eyes at 120Hz, though it can be customized to go up to 240Hz.

Most importantly, unlike 7invensun’s earlier trackers, the Droolon F1 is made specifically with HTC’s Vive Sense SDK in mind. This means apps that are already compatible with the Vive Pro Eye’s eye-tracking feature (powered by Tobii) should work with the Droolon F1 as well. Likewise, developers who want to take advantage of this new hardware should be able to easily add eye-tracking features to their apps using this SDK.

With eye tracking added, developers can choose to enable foveated rendering, which focuses GPU resources on the areas that you’re actually looking at, leaving the rest blurry — just like your own eyesight. In other words, you get a much sharper view in general, while the downgraded picture quality around it is barely noticeable.

In supported apps, users can also use their gaze to interact with menus and objects, which is useful in situations where controllers are not suitable for use. It’s also possible to map your eye expressions — be it blinking, squinting, winking or even rolling — to your avatar on VR social platforms.

Developers have the added benefit of tracking users’ eyesight in the virtual world. As we saw at the first Vive Pro Eye demo, an app called Ovation took advantage of this property for public-speaking training, whereas product showcase apps can generate a heat map to show which features got the most attention.

While it’s clear that 7invensun’s latest accessory is still targeting enterprise users, here’s hoping that this will encourage more developers and users to adopt eye tracking, and possibly discover new use cases as well. Only then will headset manufacturers include such technology as a standard feature moving forward.



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Windows 10 is used on over 900 million devices

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That’s a massive number, and as Thurrott points out, if Microsoft maintains this pace, Windows 10 could reach 1 billion devices by early 2020. That’s especially impressive considering that it just announced 800 million devices in March.



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ASUS’ $900 gaming phone is now available in the US

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The model that’s currently available in the US is the “Elite” edition which features 512GB of internal storage and a Category 18 LTE modem capable of theoretical download speeds of 1.2Gbps. Later this year, ASUS plans to bring the “Ultimate” edition ROG Phone II to the US as well. The top-of-the-line model features a faster Cat 20 LTE modem and 1TB of storage. It also features matte finish instead of a glossy one. Both variants come with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 855+ processor, 12GB of RAM, a 6.59-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display and 6,000mAh battery.

One thing to note about the ROG Phone II is that you’ll only want to buy it if you’re on AT&T, T-Mobile or an MVNO like MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless. Judging from the list of 3G and LTE Bands B&H posted, the phone doesn’t support CDMA networks like Verizon (Engadget’s parent company), Sprint and US Cellular. We’ve reached out to ASUS to confirm, and we’ll update this article once the company responds.

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Daimler faces $960 million fine in Germany over emissions cheating

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The cheating reportedly began in 2008 and covered vehicles ranging from Vito vans to C-class sedans and GLC coupes. According to officials, software tweaked the emissions filtering system to pass formal tests while loosening up on the road. Other companies have faced penalties for similar actions. On top of Volkswagen itself, its performance brand Porsche settled in May for €535 million (about $588 million) while part maker Bosch paid €90 million ($99 million).

Daimler might not be too worried. The automaker previously warned that its 2019 earnings were likely to drop, and already set aside €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) to handle diesel scandals in court. This shouldn’t have a “relevant additional negative effect” on third quarter earnings, Daimler said. The fine may have barely registered for the company, then. In that light, it’ll only truly pay the price as it downplays diesel in favor of electric cars like the EQC.

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How to set up your own ‘streaming service’

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HARDWARE

If gaining access to your media library inside your own home is more important, Plex is efficient as a local streaming solution. There are a number of ways to set up the Plex Media Server within your home. The simplest option is to utilize an older computer, like a laptop or desktop, which can serve as a hub for your media collection and stream it to other devices on the same network. Plex caters for most modern operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux and FreeBSD, as well as NAS (Network Attached Storage) solutions from Drobo, Netgear, Seagate, Synology and Western Digital.

One of the major plus points of running Plex on a bonafide computer is that it can take advantage of the machine’s processing capabilities. If your media collection includes a lot of particularly high-resolution files, you’ll enjoy pristine quality instead of having to rely on mirroring services like AirPlay or Google Cast. And if you have a strong enough upload speed, there’s no reason you can’t use this lo-fi setup to stream to your phone, tablet or laptop when you’re not at home.

Our Pick: Nvidia Shield

If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box solution, though, the Nvidia Shield comes highly recommended. The Android-powered streaming box is a supremely capable streaming box in its own right and it also comes with a 500GB hard drive and Plex Media Server as standard. On the back there are two USB 3.0 ports, giving you the option to directly add multiple terabytes of storage.

One of the major strengths of the Shield is how easy it is to move files onto it. With an external drive, you can always just unplug and drag-and-drop files in order to transfer backed-up media between devices. Alternatively, you can mount the drive as a separate network share and move files around that way.

At an often-discounted $179, the entry-level Shield is a very affordable and simple solution to gain both the Plex Media Server and the associated client. External hard drives are continually coming down in price too, which makes it simpler for people who don’t want to be administering a server, be it in the cloud or a physical box in a cupboard.

NVIDIA Shield TV on Amazon – $179

Alternative: Apple TV 4K

One of the major advantages of owning an Apple TV is that you have instant access to the iTunes movie library alongside dedicated media apps like Plex. Yes, there are ways to download movies via iTunes on the desktop and transfer rights-protected videos into your Plex library, but you won’t need to if you have an Apple TV.

The Apple TV Plex app is only a client, rather than a server. You’ll need to have something else in your home running the Plex server, or a cloud Plex solution for storing and serving your media to the Apple TV.

Apple TV 4K (32GB) on Amazon – $149

SOFTWARE

Once your Plex Media Server is set up, the library will be discoverable via most internet-connected devices in your household. On the TV side, the Shield comes with the Android TV Plex app pre-installed, and Plex is also available on smart TVs, consoles and other Android set-top boxes, including the Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, iOS, Kodi, Roku, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can also just access a local or remote Plex server via a browser on your computer, or grab the app for Android or iOS. A single Plex client can access multiple servers, so you can maintain both local and cloud libraries and use one app to view media from both.

Our Pick: Plex Pass

Plex Pass

Plex is entirely free to use on your TV, as the company makes its money from premium features. Its subscription service, Plex Pass, adds a lot of functionality, including DVR support, and unlocks mobile streaming.

For power users, the Plex Pass enables hardware acceleration, which can convert videos faster and with less processing power. There are also advanced controls for managing processor output and network usage, which is useful if high-use devices around the home should be favored over others.

There’s also the option to control the media your housemates or family can access via Plex Home. With Home, you can create custom accounts and control what content they can see, which is especially useful if you share the library with children inside your home.

Perhaps the best feature, however, is Mobile Sync. This is the Plex equivalent of Netflix downloads, which let you load copies of your media onto a smartphone or tablet for when you know you’ll be without an internet connection. Perfect for a long car journey or flight.

Plex Pass – $40 yearly, $120 lifetime

Alternative: Infuse App

Infuse app

Thanks to the App Store, there are plenty of options to create your own streaming media library without the need for Plex. Infuse, a powerful iPhone, iPad and tvOS app from Firecore, not only easily handles network media shares but it also supports Dropbox, Google Drive, Box and OneDrive, combining all of your cloud uploads into one collection. Some enterprising users have noted that paid G Suite accounts have unlimited storage, allowing them to run large media catalogs from Google’s cloud service. Oh, and it supports Plex servers as well, naturally.

Infuse on the App Store – Free (In-app-purchases)

Images: Will Lipman Photography for Engadget (lead and interstitial photography); Engadget (Shield TV, Apple TV 4K); Plex (Plex Pass); Firecore (Infuse)

More stories coming every day this week!

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How to pick a 4K TV in 2019

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TOP PICKS

TVs are a big purchase, but while we would recommend you check out a TV for yourself before buying it, we have a few suggestions to get you started. To make price comparisons easier, our picks are all going to be at 65 inches, but there are equivalent 55-inch models available for less.

Hisense 65H9F

Hisense 65H9F

Whether or not you recognize the brand name, this year Hisense has a TV worth paying attention to. The 65H9F is truly impressive, with local dimming LED backlighting that matches up to the competition from Vizio and TCL, plus the inclusion of quantum dot tech that keeps its colors up to par. It has Dolby Vision HDR support and upscales lower-resolution content well.

At about $900 it’s right in the middle of the pack price-wise, but the compromises are few. Despite an interesting-looking stand, it should fit perfectly in your living room, as it’s ready to accept voice controls from Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

It has a weaker speaker setup than some of the others, and it’s not great at off-angle viewing. But if you bring your own soundbar and sit in front of the TV when you’re watching it then I think it will work just fine.

Hisense 65H9F on Best Buy – $900

Samsung UN65RU8000

Samsung UN65RU8000

A standard-bearer in midrange 4K TVs is this 8000 series set from Samsung. As you’d expect from a big-name manufacturer, it brings all of the standard features, although Samsung swaps out Dolby Vision HDR for its preferred HDR10+ technology. It’s fairly similar in experience and becoming easier to find with support from Netflix, Amazon and some Ultra HD Blu-ray releases.

What Samsung brings to the table is its own app platform that is the only one where you’ll find Apple TV’s full video app integrated directly into the TV. It also has a low input lag which will please gamers, plus support for variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode — features that are hard to find in this price range. On the other hand, instead of voice assistants like Alexa or Assistant, you’ll be living with Samsung’s Bixby AI instead.

I don’t have any issues with this TV compared to the others mentioned, I’d just like it a little better if it were cheaper. You can find it pretty easily for about $1,000 right now, and if you see it on sale for less then it makes for a much more compelling option.

Samsung UN65RU8000 on Amazon – $998

LG 65SM8600

LG 65SM8600

Like Samsung, this one has a bigger name and costs more, while offering similar middle-of-the-pack performance. The picture quality, even with HDR and support for Dolby Vision, is just alright, although reviews indicate it can deal well with a brighter room and off-angle seating positions.

It also costs just under $1,100, so despite LG’s webOS smart TV platform, AirPlay and other features, this one won’t get our highest recommendation. Its sibling the LG SM9000 adds full-array LED backlighting and better picture quality, but it also costs even more, at $1,300 for a 65-inch.

LG 65SM8600 on Amazon – $1,097

Vizio P659-G1

Vizio TV

This year Vizio mixed up its premium 4K TV lines with the addition of a new “X” model, but the standard P-Series is still a very good option. At $1,099, it strikes a good balance of just-above-midrange features without stretching your budget.

5 HDMI inputs, including one low-latency slot built for gaming bring the value that people have come to expect from Vizio. Of course, if you don’t want to plug anything in then its interface is built for use with Google Cast, plus it was one of the first TVs out of the gate with AirPlay.

Quantum dots improve its color performance and make sure that whatever you’d like to do with this TV — gaming, watching movies or streaming something free — it will look like you spent a lot more money than you actually did.

Vizio P659-G1 on Amazon – $1,098

LG 65C9P

LG C9 OLED

Who better to trust for OLED than the company that has perfected making it? Prices for LG’s screens haven’t come down as fast as we’d like, but that doesn’t make them any less desirable. In fact, some reviewers prefer this $2,500 set to the more expensive Sony model, so you can enjoy a more than $1,000 price difference without feeling the slightest hint of FOMO.

In 2019 LG built-in support for AI assistants that goes beyond what others can do, with the ability to ask Alexa questions whether you own a standalone Echo or not. Over the years LG’s ‘Magic Remote’ pointer has gotten better at navigating the webOS menus on these TVs, and flipping through the apps is always easy.

It’s also AirPlay 2 and HomeKit-ready for Apple fans, so you won’t need additional hardware to watch Apple TV+ programming. If you’re a gamer, then you’ll be pleased to know that these TVs have some of the lowest input lag around, with support for variable refresh rates on the Xbox One, and more recently, tear-free PC gaming with NVIDIA’s G-Sync.

LG 65C9P OLED on Amazon – $2,497

Sony XBR65A9G

Sony XBR65A9G OLED

If your budget allows for it, then a combination of the best looking display technology and amazing image processing is probably the way to go. Sony’s ‘Master’ level 4K television isn’t cheap, but there’s a reason it rates highly among experts — it makes the most of every single OLED pixel.

Put this sleek, nearly bezel-less display in a dark room and it will deliver the cinematic experience you’ve been waiting for, without many other compromises.

While it’s hard to imagine spending nearly $4k on a television for its built-in speakers, the Acoustic Surface Audio+ is a neat trick that actually sounds good. Even if you have a home theater setup, this allows the TV to deliver center channel sound without so much as a visible speaker grille.

This year Sony’s remote is worth noting, with a couple of streaming-dedicated buttons and the ability to work without needing line of sight. Its Android TV OS means you are at Google’s mercy for software updates, but there are tons of apps at the ready, and Google Assistant to make sure content is easy to find. Finally, it even includes Netflix Calibrated Mode to make sure you’re watching Stranger Things exactly the way the Duffer Brothers intended.

Sony XBR-65A9G on Amazon – $3,978

Images: Will Lipman Photography for Engadget (lead and interstitial photo); Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, Vizio (product images)

More stories coming every day this week!

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Vape brand Juul is reportedly at the center of a criminal probe

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This will be another unwelcome challenge for the quickly-growing company, which has come under fire for the ways its sleek vaporizers have found appeal with young people. The Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several other state attorney generals are already investigating the company’s marketing practices, although Juul maintains it never targeted underage users.

Meanwhile, the FDA has opened a wider criminal investigation into vaping in general, following hundreds of reports of vaping-related lung illnesses. This most recent probe may well be moot, though, since the Trump administration has announced plans to ban most flavored e-cigarettes. How that, and this new investigation, will affect Juul remains to be seen.

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The first almost-all screen Android phone

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That’s how you go to 11.Xiaomi’s Mi Mix Alpha has a ‘180.6-percent’ screen-to-body ratio

Forget edgeless phones — this Mi Mix Alpha is practically frameless, with a “Surround Screen” that covers nearly the entire device on all sides. Xiaomi hasn’t revealed all of the details but said it’s already in production with plans to launch in December for 19,999 yuan (or about $2,810).

Controls are activated using the pressure-sensitive sides since there are no physical buttons other than a power switch on top. The fingerprint reader and acoustic tech are tucked underneath the screen too. Inside, there are 5G radios, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Finally, it’s packing a 108-megapixel camera in the small amount of space that isn’t screen, plus lenses for ultra-wide and telephoto shooting. Forget a front-facing selfie camera though — you can see yourself in the part of the screen that’s on the back of this phone.

Brain interface tech that connects directly to Facebook. Not scary at all.Facebook acquires neural monitoring startup CTRL-labs

What kind of technology is so important that Mark Zuckerberg & Co. would pay between $500 million and $1 billion for it? Meet CTRL-labs, the latest Facebook acquisition. Engadget spoke to execs from the startup last year to learn more about its electromyography (EMG) wristband.

The idea is that by wearing one, users can just think about doing something, like moving their arm in a particular way, and control computers based on that intention. The team is now a part of Facebook Reality Labs (fka Oculus Research), where it’s likely going to be used for controlling objects in VR or AR.

‘Dennou Coil’ is almost here.Tilt Five uses augmented reality to blend tabletop gaming and videogames

Remember castAR? Although that company closed in 2017, engineer Jeri Ellsworth and others from the team behind it have created a new and improved version of the augmented reality glasses, built with a renewed focus on tabletop gaming. The new Tilt Five hardware is lighter, has a more modern look and is far cheaper than headsets like Microsoft’s HoloLens or Magic Leap. A Kickstarter for the project launches today promising a basic kit for $299 that will ship in June 2020.

Tiny fast chargers, tough cases and wireless power pads.Here’s everything you need for your new iPhone 11

If you decided to upgrade to Apple’s latest mobile device, you might want to consider getting a few accessories to go along with it. Unsurprisingly, there’s a vast array already on sale, but here are a few that caught our eye.

And our re-review has begun.Samsung’s Galaxy Fold goes on sale in the US on Friday

Samsung is finally ready to sell Galaxy Fold in the US. Assuming you have $1,980 at the ready, you can claim your own foldable on September 27th from either AT&T (in case you’re already a subscriber) or from Best Buy or Samsung retail locations (which sell unlocked and AT&T models.)

Chris Velazco already has one of the revamped models and is ready with some first impressions on what has been fixed since its aborted launch — and what hasn’t.

Stop listening to your TV’s speakers.How to buy a soundbar in 2019

It’s no secret that the built-in speakers in most TVs are trash. They don’t project enough sound out to the front so you can hear well — especially subtle details. To help guide your shopping spree on a soundbar and (possibly) subwoofer, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to look for alongside a list of the top picks for a range of budgets.

But wait, there’s more…

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