There's something so nice about listening to the score of your favorite games or movies. Composer ROZEN has attempted to add to this experience, releasing Celeste's Secret Hideaway, an acoustic album inspired by the game Celeste. He previously created Ghibli Secret Hideaway, another acoustic collection of arrangements, in honor of Studio Ghibli's music.
If you haven't played it before, Celeste is a single-player adventure game in which you help Madeline cope with her mental health and inner demons to reach the top of Celeste mountain. Developer Maddy Makes Games released Celeste in 2018. ROZEN's Celeste's Secret Hideaway pays tribute to the game's original score by Lena Raine.
"The goal with Celeste Secret Hideaway is to transform the games iconic melodies into warm, intimate folk and acoustic arrangements, enveloping listeners in a rich soundscape that echoes the serenity of snow-covered mountains and quiet, fire-lit cabins," ROZEN said in a statement. "Every track is designed to evoke the spirit of exploration and introspection, pairing soothing guitar work and delicate string instruments with an emotional journey. Its a perfect soundtrack for cozy moments, drawing you into its quiet, reflective world, and making it an ideal companion for chilly fall evenings and wintry nights." The album has 12 tracks and is now available digitally and to stream, with CD, cassette and vinyl versions coming soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/celestes-iconic-score-gets-an-acoustic-tribute-album-133048481.html?src=rss
Elon Musk's X has implemented a controversial change to the block function first announced in September, Engadget has confirmed. The update allows blocked users to see posts of the accounts that blocked them, while still not being able to interact with those accounts.
For the first time since 2014, I was able to see posts from William Shatner, who blocked Engadget reporters en masse back then (why, Bill?). At the same time, X displays a message below Shatner's pinned post stating that "you can view public posts from @WilliamShatner, but you are blocked from engaging with them. You also cannot follow or message @WilliamShatner." Prior to that, X simply displayed a "You're blocked" message while showing no tweets, replies or other content.
X previously said it was making the change because users can already see and interact with accounts that have blocked them by switching to a non-blocked account. X also said that blocking as previously implemented could be used to share and hide harmful or private information about those they've blocked, so the new feature allows for "greater transparency."
This is a dangerous decision for a social media platform, and will have serious implications for victims - especially those being stalked - and their safety. Enabling blocked users to see posts is catering to abusers and stalkers, indulging and facilitating their behaviours pic.twitter.com/bxcPhJYXnx Victims Commissioner London (@LDNVictimsComm) October 17, 2024
However, experts on social media abuse say that the changes help stalkers and trolls while reducing their victims' safety. "Enabling blocked users to see posts is catering to abusers and stalkers, indulging and facilitating their behaviors," wrote London Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman last month.
Users have pointed out that X's blocking changes may run afoul of rules on iOS and Google Play app stores. Apple, for one, states in its developer terms of service that any apps with user-generated content must offer "the ability to block abusive users from the service." The block button is still technically in place, though, so it's not clear what, if anything, Apple and Google will do.
Some have been voting with their feet, with alternative platforms like BlueSky and Threads gaining users and popularity over the last few months. Threads announced today that it has hit 275 million monthly active users (MAUs) gaining 75 million in just the past three months. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-now-lets-blocked-users-see-your-posts-130020841.html?src=rss
Tablets are always a hot gadget category during Black Friday sales and one of the models you can save on is the brand-new iPad mini 7. You can already snag a solid discount on this tablet, which Apple released just a couple of weeks ago, at Amazon. It has dropped from $500 to $484, but three out of the four color options also have a clippable coupon that brings the price down to $400. A $100 discount on a new tablet is not too bad at all.
The iPad mini 7 boasts an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, and the base model comes with 128GB of storage. We gave this iPad mini a score of 83 in our review, feeling that it was a necessary update to the previous model from 2021. We reckon its the best small tablet around.
The device has solid speakers and it still has Touch ID rather than Face ID. While we feel that the 8.3-inch screen is by and large very nice, it only has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is a bit disappointing.
The internal upgrades are what really matter here though, as the iPad mini now has enough heft to support Apple Intelligence features. The Apple Pencil Pro works with it too. We found the tablet a great device to kick back with and catch up on reading, play some games and watch videos on. We think its very handy for messaging too.
If the 2024 updates don't excite you, there are deals on the iPad mini 6 available now as well. All color options are down to $350, which is $150 off and the lowest price we've seen.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-ipad-mini-7-is-already-100-off-ahead-of-black-friday-125211529.html?src=rss
At the start of the weekend, the FBI issued a statement addressing videos falsely claiming to be from the FBI relating to election security. That includes one claiming the bureau had apprehended three linked groups committing ballot fraud, and one about Kamala Harris husband.
Disinformation has seemingly grown substantially in the final few days, with the presidential election kicking off tomorrow. Late last week, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said theyd traced two other videos back to Russian influence actors, including one falsely depicting individuals from Haiti voting illegally in multiple counties in Georgia.
Just a couple of days to go, then everything will be fine. Right?
Mat Smith
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The biggest tech stories you missed
Amazon Primes free games for November include Dishonored and Guardians of the Galaxy
Election 2024: What will the candidates do about the digital divide?
Engadget review recap: Amazons colorful Kindle, DJIs latest action cam and more
Engadget Podcast: Apples M4 chip heads to the Mac family
Its all about the Mac mini.
In this episode, Devindra and producer Ben Ellman dive into all of Apples new M4 hardware: the new iMac, Mac mini and refreshed MacBook Pros. But seriously, its mostly them fanboying over the Mac mini.
Listen here.
Metas Orion prototype offers a glimpse into our AR future
Hands-on with Metas first AR glasses.
Engadget
If youre a little curious about the future of augmented reality, Metas Orion prototype makes the most compelling case yet. Theyre still incredibly chonky, but Orion is about more than finally making AR glasses a reality. Its also the companys best shot at becoming less dependent on Apple and Google, their app stores. Karissa Bell goes hands-on.
Continue reading.
Disney forms dedicated AI and mixed-reality teams
It could eventually be a 100-person group.
Disney recently formed a dedicated emerging technologies unit. Dubbed the Office of Technology Enablement, the group will coordinate the companys exploration, adoption and use of artificial intelligence, AR and VR tech across all things Disney. A Disney spokesperson told Engadget the Office of Technology Enablement wont take over any existing AI and XR projects at the company. Instead, it will support Disneys other teams, many of which are already working on products using those technologies.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121503555.html?src=rss
In a move that adds depth and meaning to in-flight dining, Turkish Airlines recently began serving bread made with wheat sourced from Taš Tepeler in Southeastern Anatolia, one of the first regions where humans cultivated grain and baked bread some 12,000 years ago. The initiative connects directly to the airline's sponsorship of archaeological excavations at Taš Tepeler, where findings indicate early agricultural communities transitioned from gathering wild seeds to establishing the foundations of farming.The small, warm loaves are served to business class passengers on overseas flights departing from Istanbul and come in cloth bags explaining their origin. In doing so, Turkish Airlines transforms a typically forgettable aspect of airline catering into a tangible marker of Turkey's role as a cradle of human civilization. The carrier's (re)introduction of 'the world's oldest bread' taps into an enduring consumer desire for products with genuine heritage and still-made-here appeal. The initiative goes beyond simply celebrating Anatolia's agricultural legacy through its support of the Taš Tepeler excavations, Turkish Airlines demonstrates how brands can both honor and nurture the places they call home.
If theres one tradition I can count on every fall, its the annual rewatch of Over the Garden Wall. The leaves start changing color, pumpkins begin to pop up everywhere, and I start thinking about venturing into the Unknown with Wirt and Greg. Something tells me Im not the only one. But this year is extra special today marks the 10-year anniversary since the miniseries debuted on Cartoon Network, and theres a new stop-motion short to celebrate it. The short, from Cartoon Network and Aardman Animations, features some of the shows original voice actors, including Elijah Wood as Wirt, Collin Dean as Greg and Melanie Lynskey as Beatrice.
Over the Garden Wall creator Patrick McHale pitched the idea for the stop-motion special to directors Mikey Please and Dan Ojari earlier this year, Ojari told Fast Company. All of the figures are hand-carved wooden puppets, and filming took place in miniature sets (including a 10-by-10 square meter forest) that took two months to build. The only thing thats digital is the facial animation, Please told FC.
The end result is really beautiful, and the perfect primer for your yearly return to the strange world of Over the Garden Wall. Its available to watch now on YouTube and X.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/cartoon-network-just-released-an-over-the-garden-wall-stop-motion-short-174926664.html?src=rss
The FBI issued a statement on Saturday about deceptive videos circulating ahead of the election, saying its aware of two such videos falsely claiming to be from the FBI relating to election security. That includes one claiming the FBI had apprehended three linked groups committing ballot fraud, and one about Kamala Harris husband. Both depict false content, the FBI said.
Disinformation including the spread of political deepfakes and other forms of misleading videos and imagery has been a major concern in the leadup to the US presidential election. In its statement posted on X, the FBI added:
Election integrity is among our highest priorities, and the FBI is working closely with state and local law enforcement partners to respond to election threats and protect our communities as Americans exercise their right to vote. Attempts to deceive the public with false content about FBI operations undermines our democratic process and aims to erode trust in the electoral system.
FBI Statement on False Videos. pic.twitter.com/UJzjDLd8p2 FBI (@FBI) November 2, 2024
Just a day earlier, the FBI, along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said theyd traced two other videos back to Russian influence actors, including one that falsely depicted individuals claiming to be from Haiti and voting illegally in multiple counties in Georgia.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/fbi-warns-voters-about-inauthentic-videos-relating-to-election-security-185108885.html?src=rss
Theres a great deal on Apples AirPods Pro 2 over at Amazon right now. The earbuds are currently 28 percent off, bringing them down to $179. Thats just $10 more than the all-time-low price we saw during October Prime Day, and will save you $70. The AirPods Pro 2 got an update earlier this year that brought some major new features, most notably a suite of hearing health tools and the capability to be used as hearing aids. On top of that, they now offer new gesture-based Siri Interactions and Voice Isolation to reduce background noise when youre on a call.
Siri Interactions allow for hands- and voice-free Siri controls; you can respond to Siris questions simply by nodding or shaking your head. The second-generation AirPods Pro are the best earbuds for iPhone users, with better sound quality than their predecessors and seamless integration with the other devices in the Apple ecosystem. The AirPods Pro 2 offer active noise cancellation and transparency mode, which allows for more natural conversations while theyre in your ear. They also support spatial audio and Dolby Atmos for certain media.
The buds come with four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes and are IP54 rated for protection against dust and sweat. They get up to 6 hours of listening time (though this will be less with certain features, like ANC, enabled) and up to 30 hours with a little help from the USB-C MagSafe Charging Case.
Check out all of the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-pro-2-drop-to-179-in-this-early-black-friday-deal-161357773.html?src=rss
In a new security advisory, Okta has revealed that its system had a vulnerability that allowed people to log into an account without having to provide the correct password. Okta bypassed password authentication if the account had a username that had 52 or more characters. Further, its system had to detect a "stored cache key" of a previous successful authentication, which means the account's owner had to have previous history of logging in using that browser. It also didn't affect organizations that require multi-factor authentication, according to the notice the company sent to its users.
Still, a 52-character username is easier to guess than a random password it could be as simple as a person's email address that has their full name along with their organization's website domain. The company has admitted that the vulnerability was introduced as part of a standard update that went out on July 23, 2024 and that it only discovered (and fixed) the issue on October 30. It's now advising customers who meet all of the vulnerability's conditions to check their access log over the past few months.
Okta provides software that makes it easy for companies to add authentication services to their application. For organizations with multiple apps, it gives users access to a single, unified log-in so they don't have to verify their identities for each application. The company didn't say whether it's aware of anybody who's been affected by this specific issue, but it promised to "communicate more rapidly with customers" in the past after the threat group Lapsus$ accessed a couple of users' accounts. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/okta-vulnerability-allowed-accounts-with-long-usernames-to-log-in-without-a-password-150041758.html?src=rss
I think my colleague Cherlynn Low jinxed us in the last installment with her mention of a slower than usual October. The last week of the month was jam-packed with news, especially from Apple, so we're in for a busy few weeks of reviews to finish out the year. This week, we tested Amazon's long-awaited color E Ink ereader, a DJI action cam that's finally a worthy GoPro rival and Google's latest tv-streaming device. Here's a quick round-up of the week's in-depth reviews, and a quick preview of what's to come in the post-Halloween deluge.
Kindle Colorsoft review
by Valentina Palladino
After years of users clamoring for a color E Ink option, Amazon finally obliged with the Kindle Colorsoft. This model fills a key gap in the company's ereader lineup, with swift performance and a host of conveniences. The key problem is that it's expensive at $280, plus there's a blue tint to the display when warm light it off. What's more, text isn't as sharp when reading in black and white. Still, this new model will be great for things like graphic novels and other material where you really need to see things in full color. "While its very late to the color E Ink party, the Kindle Colorsoft is a solid premium ereader that provides an excellent experience both in color and black and white," Valentina notes.
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro review
by Steve Dent
Our camera expert Steve Dent put DJI's new action cam through its paces to see if the company did enough to catch up to the likes of GoPro. The short answer is yes, as the Osmo Action 5 Pro has the best battery life of any model in the category on top of good low-light performance, useful subject tracking and built-in memory. Color quality and video sharpness could be better, but DJI has finally given the competition something to worry about with this model.
"Its one of the best action cameras Ive used, with battery life well above rivals, a solid waterproof construction and full support for DJIs Mic 2," Steve writes. "If low-light performance is key, head straight for DJIs Action 5 Pro."
Google TV Streamer review
by Amy Skorheim
Another streaming device from Google? Yep! The Google TV Streamer isn't a perfect option for your living room, but according to buying advice reporter Amy Skorheim, there's a lot to like about this tiny gadget. Google doubled the price compared to the previous option, which isn't great, and the company didn't include an HDMI cable or support for Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. Once you dive in though, the mix of great UI, attractive design, speedy performance and smart home compatibility make the TV Streamer a handy device.
"Yes, the extra RAM and storage is great, but there are a few features like Wi-Fi 6E support, true assistant capabilities, screaming processor speeds that Google could have packed in to make the $100 price tag unassailable," Amy explains. "The Google TV Streamer is responsive and quick, packing the best streaming interface out there with smart home features that are useful and properly integrated."
Upcoming reviews: All the Macs, Sonos Arc Ultra and PS5 Pro
Over the course of three days this week, Apple announced a new iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro, all of which are powered by the company's M4 chips. The biggest design overhaul came in the Mac mini, which truly lives up to its name now that it's a five-inch by five-inch box that's two inches tall, which isn't much bigger than an Apple TV 4K. Of course, the changes to iMac and MacBook Pro warrant a new slate of reviews, so we'll be putting all three machines to the test in the weeks to come.
Sonos' follow-up to the Arc soundbar started shipping this week, and I've received our review unit for testing. Dubbed the Arc Ultra, this model should offer better bass performance from the soundbar itself, before you connect a separate wireless subwoofer. It's the debut for the company's Sound Motion tech, which increases that low-end tone without the need for larger components inside the living room speaker. Look for my review on this unit as early as next week.
Gamers have likely been anticipating a barrage of PS5 Pro reviews, and ours is coming soon as launch day is November 7. As our gaming guru Jessica Conditt shared in her preview last month, it's not a console you need, but rather one that you'll definitely want. Stay tuned for our in-depth thoughts on how the combination of increased power and added tricks factor into that $700 price tag. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-amazons-colorful-kindle-djis-latest-action-cam-and-more-140046906.html?src=rss
