Blink just unveiled the Sync Module XR wireless extender, which is an update of the pre-existing Sync Module. This device is primarily intended to extend the wireless range of the companys Outdoor 4 security camera. To that end, it can increase the range by up to 400 feet, which is four times the standard Blink Sync Module.
This means that users can plop the affiliated security camera pretty much wherever they want, even in the case of a large and expansive property. Blink says that customers now have the freedom to install Outdoor 4 on their fence, gate, shed or entry of their driveway and know their cameras will stay online and connected.
Blink
The company also says that the Sync Module XR can better penetrate obstacles to deliver a clean signal. This includes walls, shrubs and trees. However, it still says that performance may fluctuate due to environment or other factors and that video resolution may vary.
All Blink Outdoor 4 cameras can use this new module right out of the box, and it can support up to ten cameras at once. Jonathan Cohn, head of product at the company, said in a blog post that the Sync Module XR is intended to make it easier for our customers to build a comprehensive home security system.
The device also acts as a centralized system hub via the companys proprietary app. This lets folks adjust any connected camera. Finally, theres a MicroSD slot for clip storage. The Blink Sync Module XR is available for purchase right now in the US and Canada. It costs $60, though early adopters will get a free Outdoor 4 camera with a purchase.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/blinks-new-sync-module-xr-extends-wireless-range-far-beyond-the-standard-version-140027521.html?src=rss
Camera companies are starting to get the hang of marketing entry-level cameras with features that help beginners take great photos right away. Nikon's $910 Z50 II mirrorless joins that trend with a dedicated "Picture Control" button that produces fun, social media-ready looks. The new model also promises faster shooting speeds than the five-year-old Z50, improved autofocus and better-quality video.
There's no question that the Z50 II is aimed at the creator crowd with a host of new features borrowed from Sony, Fujifilm and Panasonic. That starts with the Picture Control button (not a dial) that offers 31 presets like Denim, Toy Camera and Carbon, for both photos and video. It also lets you download "Imaging Recipes" from the Nikon Imaging Cloud, with custom presets for color, brightness, hue and more, la Panasonic's S9. On the video side, it now offers a Product Review Mode that immediately focuses from a creator's face to a product they hold up, exactly like Sony's Product Showcase feature.
Nikon
At the same time, the Z50 II is surprisingly powerful. You can shoot bursts at up to 30 fps (JPEG only) in electronic mode or 11 fps (RAW/JPEG) with the mechanical shutter. Autofocus has been overhauled to be more responsive and now includes 3D tracking with AI modes for animals, birds and vehicles along with an auto mode that selects the subject for you.
Video is also much improved. It offers oversampled 4K 30p (no crop) and 4K 60p (1.5x crop), compared to just 4K 30p before. Better still, it now offers N-Log 10-bit shooting compared to just 8-bit with no log on the Z50. That should greatly improve dynamic range and give video shooters more room for creativity in the edit suite.
Steve Dent for Engadget
One downside to this camera is the resolution, which is on the low side in this price range at 20.9 megapixels. It also lacks in-body stabilization, so you'll need to rely on electronic stabilization for video (which adds a small crop) or purchase lenses with built in stabilization (VR, as Nikon calls it). I'm also not a fan of the boring body, but I imagine that Nikon will be releasing a Zfc II later with the same features in a retro design.
Other features include a built-in flash, flip-out display, brighter 2.36-million dot EVF (now 1,000 nits), a single UHS-II card slot, mic and headphone jacks, a tally lamp, waveform display, USB streaming support and a wider ISO range up to 512,000. The Nikon Z50 II is now on pre-order for $960 (body only) or $1,050 with a Nikkor Z 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/nikons-z50-ii-targets-creators-with-a-dedicated-film-simulation-button-133037492.html?src=rss
The New York Times Tech Guild asked the publication's readers not to play its games, including Wordle and Connections, in solidarity when it announced that it was going on strike on November 4. Now, the guild has released its own versions of the The Times' games so that readers can still play without crossing its digital picket line. Of course, the workers' versions won't be able to keep your Wordle streak running, but they're pretty much the same games you've been playing on the publication's website.
The guild is made up of over 600 unionized tech workers that include software engineers, product managers, data analysts and designers the people behind the publication's games, as well as The Times' Cooking app. In the guild's GoFundMe for the strike, it said it's been bargaining for its first contract over the past two years, but the The Times' management "dragged its feet" and even allegedly committed unfair labor practices by implementing return-to-office mandates without bargaining and trying to intimidate members who were going on strike.
The guild explained that it's pushing for The Times to address racial disparities in its workers' pay and to ensure real job security. Apparently, the publication's management had fired someone days before a major brain surgery in the past and had used performance review plans as a pretense to fire employees. The guild is also accusing management of disproportionately targeting women and POCs with its "arbitrary disciplinary process."
PLAYING GAMES: In the great tradition of strike publications, we offer our tech-worker version.https://t.co/L46DXTrDspNow you can play and not be a scab. We also want to thank the multitude of @nytimes subscribers who have stopped playing and honored our digital picket line. New York Times Tech Guild (@NYTGuildTech) November 6, 2024
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/nyt-tech-workers-on-strike-made-their-own-versions-of-wordle-and-connections-130047922.html?src=rss
The latest version of Matter, the open smart home standard that largely hasnt yet lived up to its lofty promises for seamless device-agnostic integration, is now available. Hardware makers and platforms can integrate Matter 1.4 into their products on Thursday. The new versions biggest feature may be Enhanced Multi-Admin, which aims to improve interoperability between different device ecosystems.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance, which manages Matter, describes version 1.4 as a significant step forward in the Matter ecosystem. It says the update resulted from the coalitions hundreds of member companies (including Apple, Amazon, Google and Samsung) working with thousands of engineers and product experts. Given the platforms struggles to deliver on its promise of a smooth and headache-free smart home, it could use all the help it can get.
One of the new highlights, Enhanced Multi-Admin, strives for less setup when connecting to multiple ecosystems (like Apple HomeKit, Google Home or Alexa). Matter 1.4 only requires user consent once. After that (at least in theory), new and existing devices will connect to multiple ecosystems without making you approve the same device for each additional platform. If hardware manufacturers implement the feature without issues (again, a big ask based on Matters rocky first two years), this could improve on a big pain point and move the platforms big promises of seamless integration closer to reality.
The update also opens the door to Matter-certified routers and access points that securely store your Thread protocol credentials. The Alliance says the networking hardware will provide the foundational infrastructure of smart homes by combining both a Wi-Fi access point and a Thread Border Router, ensuring these ubiquitous devices have the necessary infrastructure for Matter products using either of these technologies.
Following the addition of basic energy management features in version 1.3, Matter 1.4 expands on that with support for new device types. Solar panels, batteries (including battery walls, storage units and Battery Energy Storage Systems), heat pumps and water heaters can now work with the standard. In addition, it now covers Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). So, EV owners can use the management features to specify when they want their car to be charged, choosing times based on convenience or cost.
Matter 1.4 also adds protocols to lengthen battery life for low-powered devices like switches, buttons and sensors that only connect intermittently. More flexible automation options for products like in-wall switches that control lights, fans and other non-smart appliances are also on the menu. This addresses yet another pain point in previous versions, which treated all of these device types as lights.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/matters-latest-version-will-try-to-smooth-out-the-smart-home-platforms-rough-edges-130003372.html?src=rss
Sonys new beastly console is a niche product for PlayStation gamers who want the most premium experience. The PlayStation 5 Pro is the console equivalent of the iPhone Pro Max or the Kindle Signature but still cheaper than a PC gaming rig. It has a more powerful GPU, capable of offering 4K and 60 fps gaming, an AI upscaler to polish up textures, new ray tracing and a substantial 2TB SSD to store all your games. (No disc drive, however.) And, as youll read in our full review, the PS5s back catalog has never looked better.
There are good arguments for not buying the PlayStation 5 Pro its a beefed up midcycle console with base performance for $700 but if you havent jumped on the PS5 bandwagon yet, it gives a solid no-compromise experience.
Mat Smith
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The biggest tech stories you missed
Sega apparently has a new Virtua Fighter game in the works
The best retro gaming gifts for the 2024 holidays
The EU is looking into Corning for alleged anti-competitive practices
Canada orders TikTok to shut down its business operations in the country
Due to national security risks.
Canada has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations in the country, citing unspecified national security risks posed by the company and its parent, ByteDance. Canadas crackdown on TikTok follows a multi-step national security review process by its intelligence agencies, the government said in a statement. TikTok will be forced to wind up all business in the country, though the app wont be banned.
Continue reading.
Microsoft Notepad is getting infused with AI
It doesnt stop.
Microsoft
A new AI feature, called Rewrite, is coming to Microsofts Notepad. It can rewrite sentences, change the tone and alter the length of text in Notepad if youre a Windows Insider. Even the Paint app is getting its own AI features: Generative Fill and Generative Erase. The new fill feature can edit and add visual features to your photos and drawings. You draw a box and input text to describe the image.
Continue reading.
Google accidentally leaked a preview of its Jarvis AI that can take over computers
It appeared only briefly.
Googles new AI prototype accidentally found its way to the public through the Chrome Web Store. Its a little different to the Siris, Alexas and Geminis of this world, though. The store page described the Jarvis prototype as a helpful companion that surfs the web for you using web browsers to take care of common tasks, such as buying groceries, booking flights and researching topics. Googles new AI can steer your browser for you, completing these simple tasks without manual human input.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-our-verdict-on-the-ps5-pro-121836720.html?src=rss
You dont need a set of AirPods to get wireless audio from your iPhone, iPad or Mac, but Apples earbuds and headphones offer a lot of convenient integrations with its other products that you wont find anywhere else. After helping popularize true wireless earbuds with its original AirPods, the company has expanded its lineup to include noise-canceling models and a set of over-ear headphones. Heres what you need to know about AirPods in general, along with the best overall, budget and over-ear picks from Apples current slate of products.
What you need to know about AirPods
When it comes to Apples earbuds and headphones, there are several things youll want to keep in mind before making your final decision. First, the AirPods are the open-design earbuds with no tip that allow some environmental noise to come into your ears at all times. The AirPods Pro are the model with the soft ear tips that completely close off your ear, which enables features like more powerful noise cancellation and the hearing test. Lastly, the AirPods Max are Apples over-ear headphones, and currently the companys only option for wireless headphones at all that arent made by Beats.
There are a few features that are available across all models as theyve become inherent to the AirPods experience. First, you can expect Automatic Switching between Apple devices that are synced with your iCloud account. This means that AirPods will automatically change to your phone when you get a call while youre listening to music on a MacBook, for example. Its functionally similar to multipoint Bluetooth, but the feature isnt limited to two devices like most earbuds and headphones. Second, hands-free access to Siri is the default, allowing you to ask the assistant for help without touching your AirPods. And lastly, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is available across the entire lineup, even on the most affordable version of the AirPods 4.
If you dont think any of the AirPods options are right for you, consult our recommendations on the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones for some alternatives.
Other AirPods we tested
AirPods 4 with ANC
The AirPods 4 with ANC represent the first time active noise cancellation has been available on the open-wear, regular AirPods. Design-wise, theyre the same as the non-ANC model, so the difference is entirely in the features list. This more expensive version adds Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and a wireless charging case. The ANC isnt as powerful as the AirPods Pro 2, partially due to the fact that the AirPods 4 doesnt completely seal off your ears. The noise-canceling performance is definitely useful though, working best with constant, low-frequency annoyances like fans and white noise machines. Lastly, you wont get access to Apples hearing test and hearing aid features, partially due to the fact that the AirPods 4 with ANC doesnt seal off your ears, which would affect accuracy and effectiveness.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/best-airpods-100041810.html?src=rss
Canada has ordered TikTok to shut down its operations in the country, citing unspecified national security risks posed by the company and its parent ByteDance. With the move, TikTok will be forced to wind up all business in the country, though the Canadian government stopped short of banning the app.
The government is taking action to address the specific national security risks related to ByteDance Ltd.s operations in Canada through the establishment of TikTok Technology Canada, Inc, Canadas Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne said in a statement. The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canadas security and intelligence community and other government partners.
Canadas crackdown on TikTok follows a multi-step national security review process by its intelligence agencies, the government said in a statement. As the CBC points out, the country previously banned the app from official government devices. It also comes several months after the United States passed a law that could ban the app stateside. US lawmakers have also cited national security concerns and the apps ties to China. TikTok has mounted an extensive legal challenge to the law.
In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson said the company would challenge Canadas order as well. "Shutting down TikToks Canadian offices and destroying hundreds of well-paying local jobs is not in anyone's best interest, and today's shutdown order will do just that, the spokesperson said. We will challenge this order in court. The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/canada-orders-tiktok-to-shut-down-its-business-operations-in-the-country-due-to-national-security-risks-002615440.html?src=rss
Virtua Fighter may soon be punching its way back into the public eye. Justin Scarpone, Sega's global head of transmedia, casually dropped the news about a new game in the franchise during an interview with VGC. "We have a suite of titles in development right now that fall into that legacy bucket, which we announced last year at The Game Awards," he said. "Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Streets of Rage, Shinobi, and we have another Virtua Fighter being developed. And so all thats very exciting."
Exciting indeed. Most of those titles were indeed showcased during The Game Awards as part of a new era for Sega, but Scarpone's mention of Virtua Fighter is a new revelation. The last numbered entry in the series was Virtua Fighter 5 all the way back in 2006. That's not to say the fighting game franchise has been static since then; there have been riffs and redos such as Virtual Fighter 5: Final Showdown in 2015 and 2021's Virtua Fighter Ultimate Showdown. But it has been nearly 20 years since fans have gotten an all new game.
Beyond this offhand confirmation that Sega is working on a follow-up, we know nothing about what the future might hold for a possible Virtua Fighter 6. It seems likely that Akira Yuki and other familiar faces will return, but anything's possible for the characters and mechanics.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sega-apparently-has-a-new-virtua-fighter-game-in-the-works-235417627.html?src=rss
Roblox is implementing new safety policies intended to better protect the platform's young users. We learned last month that changes were in the works for the game, and a post on the Roblox developer forum today detailed more about those rules. The big takeaway is that a greater section of Roblox content will not be available to players under age 13.
The first part of the new Roblox policy is that starting December 3, users younger than 13 will not be able to play, search or discover any unrated experiences on the platform. However, they can still view information on the experience detail page via a direct link. Roblox is thus requiring creators to confirm that the information on their experience detail pages such as the thumbnail, title and description meets the company's criteria for either all ages or for ages 9 and up.
The second part of the policy will restrict access to Roblox's Social Hangouts and Free-form User Creation experiences to users who are over 13. This rule will take effect on November 13.
Roblox has a rocky history when it comes to safety for youth and preteen users. Since 2018, at least two dozen people have been arrested by US policy on accusations of abducting or abusing child victims met through Roblox.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/roblox-details-two-new-safety-policies-for-protecting-children-225053423.html?src=rss
A new AI feature is coming to Microsofts Notepad called Rewrite. The Verge reports that Microsoft is rolling out a preview of Rewrite to Windows Insiders that will allow AI to rewrite sentences, change the tone and alter the length of text in Notepad.
Windows Insiders can access Rewrite by highlighting text in a Notepad window and right-clicking it in the menu or pushing the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+I. A dialogue box will open showing the AIs suggested rewrites of the highlighted text and the adjustable features menus including Longer, Tone and Format above the Replace button. If you prefer to write with just your fingers and brain, you can turn off the AI feature in the app settings menu, according to the official Windows blog.
Even Microsofts Paint app is getting its own AI features called Generative Fill and Generative Erase. The new fill feature can edit and add visual features to your photos and drawings by drawing a selection box and using the text box to describe the image you wish to add to the selected area. The erase feature for Paint can remove images in photos or drawings by selecting them with the generative erase brush while using the eraser tool, according to the Windows blog.
So it took more than four decades just to get spell check in Notepad but it only took a couple of months to get an AI that can paint and rewrite for us?This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/even-microsoft-notepad-is-getting-infused-with-ai-223309323.html?src=rss
