Blog

Fox is the first US sports network to put its name on a gambling app

[ad_1]

While Fox is not the first to launch this kind of app, it’s the first major media organization in North America to put its name directly on one – other companies have created standalone brands to keep them at arm’s length from the sometimes-controversial issue of gambling. However, Rupert Murdoch’s company already has some experience in this field, having launched Sky Bet, a UK sports betting platform, fronted by entertainment brand Sky.

Fox Bet, which has been launched in partnership with gaming provider The Stars Group, offers pretty much everything you’d expect in a betting platform -– generous introductory offers and instant scores — but comes with the added appeal of a reputable sports brand name, and all the stars and glitzy sports glam that goes along with it. It’s available now on desktop, iOS and Android in New Jersey, and is expected to roll out to other states shortly.

[ad_2]

Source link

Facebook says US immigration agents can’t create fake accounts

[ad_1]

AP reported in late August that the agency removed its previous ban on creating fake social media profiles. It follows the country’s decision to require visa applicants to provide their social media account names over the past five years. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of Homeland Security, said creating fake identities will make it easier for investigators to look for signs of fraud or security issues when granting someone entry to the country.

Facebook spokesperson Sarah Pollack told AP in a statement:

“Law enforcement authorities, like everyone else, are required to use their real names on Facebook and we make this policy clear. Operating fake accounts is not allowed, and we will act on any violating accounts.”

Creating fake profiles is also against Twitter’s guidelines, but the company told AP that it’s still reviewing Homeland Security’s rules. As AP notes, agents aren’t allowed to add or even follow the individuals they’re investigating. They can only look at subjects’ public posts and profile details and can’t interact with them. The way agents can investigate persons of interest doesn’t matter, though: the issue is that they’ll still have to create fake accounts.

It’s not clear if Facebook plans to take any steps to prevent authorities from creating false identities. The company has been purging fraudulent identities en masse lately, though, reporting earlier this year that it took down over 2 billion accounts in the first quarter of 2019 alone.

[ad_2]

Source link

Google Calendar will guess your working hours and warn colleagues

[ad_1]

Google Calendar’s Working Hours feature has been around for a while, letting you inform others when you’ll be around for meetings and when you’re unavailable. Previously, you’ll have had to activate it through the app’s settings, but now it’ll be enabled by default, displaying an estimate of your work day availability based on previous appointments (which you can tweak if they’re not quite right).

[ad_2]

Source link

Samsung’s Exynos 980 chip is a processor and 5G modem in one

[ad_1]

The Exynos 980 promises a fast gigabit downlink speed in 4G LTE and up to 2.55 Gbps in 5G below 6 GHz. The processor supports new WiFi 6 standard IEEE 802.11ax, and packs in two Cortex-A77 CPU cores and six Cortex-A55 cores, plus a Mali-G76 GPU for gaming and mixed reality experiences. Its neural processing unit (NPU) is built right in, so AI tasks can be processed on the device, rather than sent to a server. Samsung says the Exynos 980 NPU performs 2.7 times better than its predecessor. There’s also a boost in its photography capabilities, with an image signal processor that can process up to 108 million pixel mages, supports up to five individual sensors and an process three concurrently.

This is a big leap forward for Samsung — and indeed the mobile device industry. As 5G is the next standard of connectivity people will expect its fast speeds in the same slim, high-performing phones that they’re used to. While the 5G roll-out may be facing some challenges — lack of coverage and compatible devices, as well as national security issues, for example — the Exynos 980 means Samsung will be ahead of the game when it does eventually go mainstream.

[ad_2]

Source link

The Morning After: LG’s 88-inch 8K OLED

[ad_1]

‘One of the best laptops you can get.’Dell XPS 15 review (2019)

Our $2,649 review unit showed up with an OLED screen, eight-core Intel Core i9 CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card inside. Add in 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD and, of course, it blazed through any tasks Cherlynn Low threw at it. But even though she thought this unit could use a style redesign, an updated keyboard and improved webcam placement helped make it one of the most well-rounded laptops in 2019 — even without the high-priced options.

Space traffic.SpaceX wouldn’t move its satellite despite collision warning, ESA claims

The European Space Agency’s Aeolus Earth observation satellite had to perform a maneuver to prevent collision with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite 44, after it calculated a 1 in 1,000 chance of collision. That’s too high for the agency to risk, but SpaceX didn’t shift its satellite’s path. In a statement, SpaceX said its refusal was based on earlier, much lower odds and said that a bug in the paging system prevented an operator from seeing that the risk had increased.

So it’s considering a new PSA.The MTA is tired of saving AirPods from subway tracks

According to the Wall Street Journal, New York City commuters have lost so many AirPods over the summer that the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA) is considering recording a new public service announcement aimed directly at AirPods owners. The potential PSA would ask commuters to refrain from taking their AirPods on or off when entering or exiting a train.

Steven Dluginski, an MTA maintenance supervisor, said that AirPod-related rescues spiked earlier this year when Apple released the second-generation AirPods. Accidents have continued over the summer with the hot and humid weather. On one day in August, for instance, Dluginski got 18 requests to retrieve lost items before noon. Of those 18 items, six were AirPods.

It’s keeping the same form factor as USB Type-C.USB4 devices are clear to roll out next year

Specs will be making their way to designers, engineers and manufacturers shortly, meaning we can expect the first USB4 products to hit shelves some time in 2020. The highlight of the new standard is its dual-lane 40Gbps speed, matching Thunderbolt 3’s transfer rate and doubling that of USB 3.2’s.

No nicknames necessary.Android 10 goes live for Google’s Pixel phones

In case you’ve forgotten since the last time we all talked about Android 10, there are plenty of new features to try out here. Android now has a system-wide dark mode, for one, which should ease the strain on your eyes and on your Pixel’s battery. Google also overhauled its gesture navigation scheme (again), and while you don’t have to use these tweaked controls, it’s still interesting to see how Google thinks we should be interacting with our Android devices.

This version also expands support for foldable devices and can turn hearing aids into Bluetooth headsets. Google has released the update for its Pixel phones, Essential quickly followed and OnePlus has released a beta version for its 7 and 7 Pro devices.

It could be thinner and more affordable than the Galaxy Fold.Samsung’s next foldable phone reportedly tucks into a square

Samsung still hasn’t shipped the Galaxy Fold, but it apparently has a differently designed follow-up waiting. Bloomberg sources claim the tech firm is developing a phone with a 6.7-inch screen that folds into a square, much like a classic clamshell phone — but several times the price. That said, the company apparently wants this device to be thinner and more affordable than the $1,980 Fold and is said to be partnering with designer Thom Brown on a look that would appeal to those interested in “fashion, status and luxury.”

But wait, there’s more…

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t Subscribe.

Craving even more? Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.

Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note.



[ad_2]

Source link

Acer’s Predator Triton 300 is its new entry-level gaming laptop

[ad_1]

The Triton 300 keeps the Predator design licks, with zone RGB lighting, and Turbo and Predator Sense keys alongside concaved WASD and arrow keys to help your reactions and input.

To keep it company, Acer also announced the Predator Triton 500 with a new 300Hz display — though it wasn’t on show at IFA here in Berlin. The laptop keeps the same 15.6-inch screen, although it’s a little thinner than the last model. To be honest, the news is that silky sounding 300Hz screen — and not much else.

The Predator Triton 300 will be available in Europe this October, with prices starting from 1300 Euros (roughly $1,400), while the updated Triton 500 will be available in EMEA in November starting at 2,699 Euros and in the US this December, starting at $2,800.

[ad_2]

Source link

Amazon may launch a hand recognition payment system for Whole Foods

[ad_1]

Unlike most biometric systems that require you to touch the surface of a scanner, Amazon’s take on the technology apparently doesn’t need you to physically touch any device. The company’s technology uses computer vision and depth geometry to identify the size and shape of your hand before charging the credit card you have on file.

Further, you don’t even need to have your phone with you when you shop. That could make shopping at Whole Foods even more seamless than at Amazon Go stores, where you can pick up goods and then leave as long as you check in through a turnstile using a QR code in your app. You need to be a Prime member, however, for hand-based payments to work.

Stephanie Hare, a technology ethics researcher, told the Post that the company probably decided to give customers the option to pay with their hands instead of their face, because it would feel less like a mugshot. She warns, however, that it might not be wise to give a company your biometric data and risk being a data theft victim, especially now that there are “a couple of nation states that are really good at stealing data…”

The Post says Amazon is hoping to roll the technology out to a handful of Whole Foods stores by the beginning of next year. It has no specific locations in mind for the launch, but it’s planning to make the system available at all the supermarket’s US locations. For now, Amazon is apparently refining the technology so it can bump its accuracy up from within one ten-thousandth of 1 percent to a millionth of 1 percent before launch.

[ad_2]

Source link

Logitech’s new MX Master 3 employs magnets for a better scroll

[ad_1]

The new mouse keeps everything that made the Master 2S so popular with desk jockeys. There’s plenty of support for your wrist and thumb, a side scroll wheel with two buttons above it and 4000 dpi Darkfield tracking that can be used on any surface, even glass.

But everything’s just a bit more refined or useful now. Those side buttons, which on other mice usually default to back and forward in apps like browsers, automatically change their function based on what program you’re using. They’ll still navigate when you’re using Chrome or Safari, but in something like Microsoft Word they’ll function as “undo” and “redo” instead. That means you’ll be able to do a lot more right out of the box, with no configuration required — though you can still fuss with the preferences in the Logitech Options software.

Logitech MX Master 3

But there’s one change in the MX Master 3 that could be a game changer for some users. The top and side scroll wheels ball are now aluminum, and instead of mechanical gears, the Master 3 uses magnets to control how quickly things scroll. It can lock the wheel into place so you can advance frame by frame through a video or, if you give it a good flick, the magnets will unlock (by reversing their polarity) and zoom you down 1,000 lines. That’s great if you have a massive spreadsheet to get through, or just really miss having a ‘home’ button that will quickly take you back to the top of a web page.

It’s definitely not perfect, and requires more effort to get it to fast scroll down than up. There is a button that triggers the quick scroll, but I don’t think many people will remember to use it. Also, 1,000 lines is just a bit too much; 500 in a shot is probably enough. And Ctrl- or Cmd-F might be more useful. But, those are minor quibbles with an overall excellent piece of kit.

MX Master

That excellence is also present in the MX Keys. While this is the first keyboard in the MX line, it’s basically just a remodel of Logitech’s Craft keyboard, minus the input dial. So you get a full size deck, including a number pad, that doesn’t feel full size. It’s incredibly slim, though its low profile, with a non-adjustable height, takes a bit of getting used to if you’re coming from a much taller mechanical keyboard. If you’re coming from a Mac keyboard, though, you should feel right at home.

It might not be a mechanical keyboard, but the MX Keys still offers a good tactile typing experience. It’s not exactly crisp, but there’s a clear response to each key stroke and the buttons feel good to touch thanks to their concave design.

MX Master

Both the MX Master 3 and Master Keys are Bluetooth enabled, with the ability to switch between three different devices at the touch of a button — a feature I’ve been seeing a lot more often, given that lots of people change computers often between work and home. Another welcome feature in the year of 2019: Both the mouse and keyboard charge via USB-C. An increasing number of laptops have only offered USB-C ports, so it’s nice to see peripherals making the switch.

You won’t need to charge either of them very often, though. The MX Master 3 is good for around 70 days of use, and can recharge within a minute for three hours of use. The MX Keys lasts 10 days on a single charge with the backlighting on or five months when it’s off. The keyboard also knows to turn off the lighting when it’s not in use, illuminating the keys only when it senses your hand breaking the low level electromagnetic field that surrounds the edges of the deck. Both units go on sale for $100 each later this month.

[ad_2]

Source link

Nikon’s beastly D6 will be its ‘most advanced DSLR to date’

[ad_1]

Mirrorless cameras still can’t top DSLR’s when it comes to shooting speeds and focus accuracy, so for mission-critical sports and news photography, the D6 is bound to be a hit. With the low-end and mid-range camera markets in a freefall, it’s also going to be a crucial camera for Nikon. The $6,000 D5 can shoot 20.8-megapixel photos at 12 fps with auto exposure and autofocus, so expect the D6 to top those numbers by a wide margin.

On top of the camera — which strongly resembles the D5 — Nikon will be hoping to sell a lot of expensive performance-oriented lenses and accessories for it, too. To that end, it’s also launching the AF-S Nikkor 120-300mm f/2.8E F mount super-telephoto zoom lens aimed at sports and wildlife photographers. As promised, Nikon also unveiled the Nikkor Z 24mm f/1.8S, a nice wide-angle prime for its mirrorless Z 6 and Z 7 cameras.

There are no specifications, launch date or price for the D6 or 120-300mm lens, but the 24mm f/1.8 Z prime will arrive in mid to late October 2019 for $1,000.

[ad_2]

Source link

Korg launches a line of DIY music gear with a $100 synth

[ad_1]

Korg isn’t announcing much that we didn’t already know, but here’s the rundown. The NTS-1 features a digital oscillator inspired by the MULTI engine from the Prologue and Minilogue XD. It also works with the logue-SDK that allows you run custom oscillators and effects designed for both the Prologue and Minilogue XD. And as you might expect, you can also make your own. Basically, the NTS-1 doesn’t only allow you to assemble your own mini synth, but it allows you to program one too. The NTS-1 packs a multimode filter, one EG, three LFOs and three effects processors (reverb, delay, and modulation) for your sonic creations. There’s also a volume control, headphone jack, mico USB port, MIDI input, audio input and sync input/output jacks.

Korg NTS-1

While the NTS-1 is a DIY device that you put together yourself, you won’t have to worry about soldering, or even locating your tool box. Korg includes everything you need to assemble this thing in the box — including a screwdriver. The company has given synth fans something that’s both fun and powerful to mess with, and it only costs $100.

The Korg NTS-1 will go on sale in November.

[ad_2]

Source link