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Its happening again. Sony just scheduled a State of Play livestream event for February 12. The stream starts at 5PM ET and should run for around 40 minutes. You can watch it on the PlayStation website, Twitch or via the official YouTube page. What will be revealed? We dont exactly know. We do, however, have some educated guesses. Its likely well get new trailers and information regarding hotly-anticipated titles like Marvels Wolverine and Death Stranding 2. Hideo Kojimas upcoming sequel should come out this year, so its high time for another beefy trailer. Sucker Punchs Ghost of Yotei already has a 2025 release window, so we could get an actual date on that one. Maybe well even get a fresh look at gameplay. Bungies PvP extraction shooter Marathon could get a trailer and a beta release date, which would be pretty cool. Naughty Dog also recently announced a brand-new IP called Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. I wouldnt mind some more info on that one. Finally, theres the Xbox of it all. We know that the former Xbox exclusive Forza Horizon 5 is coming to PS5 this spring, so we could get a concrete release date. The same goes for the blisteringly fun Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Could we even get an announcement that the Halo franchise is finally coming to PlayStation? Maybe, as there have been rumors. What we wont see are the various live-service games that Sony has recently canned. Last month, Sony canceled two unannounced live-service titles that were in development at Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games. The Bluepoint game was reportedly a live-service God of War game, though Bend Studios title remains unknown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-next-state-of-play-event-is-set-for-february-12-at-5pm-et-150934514.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
The Powerbeats Pro 2 ($250) was hardly a secret. Although Beats officially announced the new fitness-focused earbuds today, it has been teasing them since last September. And over the last few weeks, a number of pro athletes have been wearing the earbuds in public, including a few NFL players at the Super Bowl. There was little left to see of the Powerbeats Pro 2, but at least there remain more details to discover about the tech inside. Beats completely overhauled this new model, reducing both size and weight in the process. The company is also utilizing Apples H2 chip to unlock a host of features most notable of which is heart-rate tracking. Given its been nearly six years since the original, there are understandably substantial improvements to audio quality and battery life, as well as the addition of active noise cancellation (ANC). The Powerbeats Pro 2 will be available this week, and since Ive been testing them for several days, I can offer some advice on whether these earbuds are worth investment. Surprisingly, Beats delivered its big overhaul while keeping the price the same as the original Powerbeats Pro. Powerbeats Pro 2 design One of the main updates Beats brought to the Powerbeats Pro 2 is its overall look. An over-the-ear hook has been the main aesthetic and functional element on this product line since the first Powerbeats model debuted in 2010. For this redesign, Beats opted for nickel titanium alloy wiring inside the hook to improve comfort, flexibility and durability. The earhook is over 50 percent smaller than what's on the Powerbeats Pro, a change that Beats made to help the earbuds work better with glasses. Thats a welcome change since the previous model wasnt very glasses or hat friendly. Version 2.0 is definitely more comfy when I wear them with my Goodr shades or a baseball cap. The main housing of the earbuds is smaller as well, and its 20 percent lighter. This results in a more compact frame thats less obtrusive. Beats says it tweaked the shape of both the earbuds and their acoustic housing for improved comfort and an effective seal. Physical buttons are still available on the Powerbeats Pro 2, with a volume rocker on each side and multi-function controls on the b logo button for playback, calls and more. This new model is IPX4 rated for water resistance, so sweaty workouts shouldnt be a concern. Thankfully, Beats also made the charging case more compact. The company says the accessory is 33 percent smaller than the one that came with the Powerbeats Pro. Its still plenty big compared to most earbuds cases these days since it needs extra space to accommodate those hooks. The case supports wireless charging, but theres also a USB-C port around back for wired top ups. The pairing button, should you need it, is inside between the two earbud cradles. Heart-rate tracking Billy Steele for Engadget Theres plenty to discuss in terms of features on the Powerbeats Pro 2, but the biggest of them is heart-rate tracking. Interestingly, these are Apples first earbuds with that technology onboard, an ability that Beats says it borrowed from Apple Watch. The sensor is situated right behind the ear tip to take readings from both earbuds every five seconds. Beats says it developed the Powerbeats Pro 2s heart-rate sensor from the ground up, and that it relies on four key components. A green LED light emits over 100 pulses per second to go through the skin and hit red blood cells. A photodiode then captures reflected light from those cells and an optical lens keeps transmitted and received light separated. Finally, an accelerometer compensates for your movement to aid in accuracy and consistency. Tracking my heart rate with the Powerbeats Pro 2 was accurate and reliable. During my tests, the figures displayed in the Runna app mirrored what was on my Apple Watch. They sometimes took a second or two to sync because the two devices take measurements at different times, but once the earbuds and the smartwatch settled, the numbers always matched. The main issue with heart-rate tracking right now is the relatively short list of supported apps on iOS. The Powerbeats Pro 2 doesn't work with Apples own Fitness app. Instead, youll have to rely on Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Slopes, Open, Peloton and YaoYao for your workouts. You will be able to see all of the collected data in the Health app on iOS. Its a much better situation for Android users as Beats says all fitness and wellness apps that have heart-rate monitoring abilities will be fully compatible with these earbuds. On Android though, you have to manually turn on heart-rate monitoring in either the Beats app or on the Powerbeats Pro 2 and remember to turn it off when youre done. On iOS, it happens automatically once you give your go-to app(s) the proper permissions. Software and additional Powerbeats Pro 2 features Billy Steele for Engadget Beats decided to use Apples H2 chip this time around, the same tech that enables all the powerful features on the AirPods Pro 2. That component assists with everything from hert-rate monitoring to Spatial Audio and ANC. A number of handy AirPods features are available on the Powerbeats Pro 2 thanks to the chip as well. You wont find the AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid and Hearing Test tools here, but Beats says Apples Hearing Protection is available on these earbuds. The features list is longer for iOS users than Android this time around. On iPhone and iPad, you can expect quick, one-touch pairing that syncs with iCloud for every Apple device on your account. Theres also Audio Sharing with another set of Beats earbuds/headphones or AirPods, hands-free Siri, Find My, Personalized Spatial Audio and controls customization. Like other recent Beats products, all of this is baked into iOS and accessible through the Bluetooth menu, so you dont need to download another app. On Android, you will need the Beats app. Once its installed, youll get one-touch pairing, Locate My Beats, control customization, the ability to switch listening modes and enable or disable heart-rate monitoring. Sound quality Beats completely redesigned the acoustic architecture for the Powerbeats Pro 2, including new venting, an upgraded amplifier, new protective mesh and a custom-designed, dual-layer transducer. The company says it also changed the angle of the transducers for a more direct path for sound to your ear canals. All of this leads to remarkable dynamic range across the frequency curve, according to Beats. The promise of a balanced, powerful sound profile holds true across most genres, although the Powerbeats Pro 2 is at its best with bass-heavy, high-energy tunes. Kendrick Lamars GNX has excellent, nuanced low-end thump on these earbuds, and most hip-hop albums follow suit. Theres plenty of bass to boost your energy levels during training sessions, but it doesnt overpower the mix. Vocals and other elements cut through clearly, which is crucial for less bass-dependent styles like rock and metal. No Cures I Hope I Die Here carries every bit of dirty texture from the distorted guitars, but those instruments dont get mashed up with the metal bands drums, bass and vocals. Amidst the chaos of tracks like Hang Me From the Bible Belt, theres plenty of sonic detail in every breakdown. The Powerbeats Pro 2 supports Apples Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. The former works with Dolby Atmos content (including Apple Music) to provide immersive, 360-degree sound. With those albums, movies and shows, these earbuds provide the sensation of being surrounded by 64 speakers. Spatial Audio is a staple of recent Apple and Beats audio products and it works well on the Powerbeats Pro 2. Plus, you get dynamic head tracking with Apple platforms and both lossless audio and ultra-low latency when you pair these earbuds with Apples Vision Pro headset. I dont have a Vision Pro, so I wasnt able to test that compatibility. ANC performance on the Powerbeats Pro 2 Billy Steele for Engadget The Powerbeats Pro 2 are the first Powerbeats earbuds with ANC. In fact, Beats calls the performance here an exceptional noise canceling solution with an immersive listening experience the best ever in a Beats product. Hybrid microphones monitor environmental noise and any clamor that might make its way in your ears, automatically adjusting the level of ANC to match your surroundings. While the Powerbeats Pro 2s noise-canceling tech does reduce distractions from constant annoyances like white noise machines and fans, it doesnt entirely block them. The earbuds also struggle to quiet human voices, which is where a lot of the competition stumbles, too. If youre like me and listen at around 70 percent volume most of the time, this is less of an issue. But at quieter levels, and during podcasts, the mediocre ANC performance here becomes apparent. Call quality ANC might not be impressive on the Powerbeats Pro 2, but the earbuds are certainly handy for calls. Thanks to Apples natural-sounding transparency mode, you never feel like you need to shout to hear yourself over voice or video chats. I dont think that ambient sound is quite as clear as the AirPods Pro 2, though, especially in terms of piping in your voice. Beats says it has employed microphones and an accelerometer to focus on your voice while blocking background noise. In fact, the company explains that the computational audio setup is the same as whats available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also offers Voice Isolation with compatible Apple devices, which the company says enables clarity and noise suppression that exceeds any other Beats product. In practice, the voice clarity isnt pristine, but its certainly usable, even for work calls when you need to sound as good as possible. Where the Powerbeats Pro 2 does shine in this regard is blocking background racket. The earbuds silenced loud fans and other constant sources of noise to the point they werent noticeable at all on the other end. Powerbeats Pro 2 battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Beats says the Powerbeats Pro 2 will last up to 10 hours on a charge with ANC off and eight hours with either noise-cancellation or transparency mode active. The previous model was rated at nine hours, but it wasnt equipped with ANC. During my tests with active noise cancellation mostly disabled, but still employing all of the sound modes at certain times, I managed to wring out over 13 hours of use. In another test with ANC on the entire time, I surpassed the eight-hour figure with ease. The company explains that the heart-rate tracking doesnt impact battery life, in case that was a concern for you. I didnt notice any speedier battery drain during my workouts for this review, which were once a day and lasted at most one hour. If I do encounter anything to the contrary, Ill update this review with those findings. The competition Plenty of companies make earbuds with a similar hook design to the Powerbeats Pro 2 these days. But none of them come close to offering the tech and features that Beats does, especially for iOS users. If youre looking for an alternative with heart-rate tracking, the Sennheiser Momentum Sport is a reliable alternative. Sennheisers fitness earbuds lack the polish of the companys flagship Momentum set, mostly in terms of audio and ANC performance. However, the heart-rate monitorin is reliable and accurate, plus it even tracks body temperature for workouts. I prefer the design of the Sport to the regular Momentum model as well, and the option of added bass is great for an energy boost. This set is more expensive than the Powerbeats Pro 2 though ($330), so that may factor into your decision. Wrap-up The Powerbeats Pro 2 presents an interesting proposition, at least for the time being. For now, its the only set of Apple earbuds that offers heart-rate tracking. Reports indicate that the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 will also carry such sensors, but those probably wont arrive until September with the new batch of iPhones. It may seem odd that Apple would rely on a subsidiary for such a notable debut, but it makes a lot of sense when you consider these are earbuds designed primarily for workouts and other physical activities. Plus, this is a great stress test for the tech before it makes its way into a set of AirPods. On the whole, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a substantial upgrade over the original. Theyre more comfortable and have a host of new features that help it match todays earbuds. Beats needs to expand support for heart-rate tracking on iOS and its ANC performance wont silence the world around you. But if youre into the hook design for a secure fit, youll have a hard time finding another spec sheet thats this full. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/beats-powerbeats-pro-2-review-apples-first-earbuds-with-heart-rate-tracking-150026710.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
This week is the AI Action Summit in Paris and the European Union is using it as an opportunity to deep dive into the growing sector. The bloc has announced it's putting 200 billion ($206 billion) toward AI development. This number includes 20 billion ($20.6 billion) for AI gigafactories that process and train large models. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the plan, called InvestAI, at the AI Action Summit on Tuesday. She pushed the position that Europe isn't late to the competition against China and the US. "The frontier is constantly moving, leadership is still up for grabs, and behind the frontier is the whole world of AI adoption," von der Leyen stated. "Bringing AI to industry-specific applications and harnessing its power for productivity and for people, and this is where Europe can truly lead the race. The news follows France announcement that private investments are funneling 109 billion ($112.5 billion) into its AI ecosystem. The country is also committing a gigawatt of nuclear power for an AI computing project led by FluidStack. It will use Nvidia-made chips. January was a big month for AI growth in the US and China. In the US, OpenAI and SoftBank announced a $500 billion partnership called Stargate to create AI infrastructure. Then Chinese AI assistant DeepSeek exploded onto the global stage, with the company claiming it offers the same quality as its competitors but cost a lot less to built. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/eu-will-put-over-200-billion-toward-ai-development-150036706.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
When it launched a couple of years back, the Ninja Creami became a viral sensation by making it easy to turn almost anything into a tasty frozen treat. However, there was still one thing it couldnt do: a classic soft serve, like the kind you dream about on hot summer days. But Ninja has made it its goal to change that by launching the Swirl by Creami today, and after getting a chance to taste what it makes, Id say: mission accomplished. In a lot of ways, even though the Swirl is its own standalone gadget, it sort of like an expansion pack for the original Ninja Creami. Thats because if you look at the right side of the machine, it looks almost identical to its predecessor. The big change is the new module on the left, which is reserved entirely for soft serve. The other major difference is the design of Ninjas pint containers. Now theres a new base featuring a built-in nozzle for spitting out soft serve and not one but two lids. There are also a few other details like a large handle on the side of the device, but well get to that later. Sam Rutherford for Engadget For anyone who has used the original, the general workflow is quite familiar. First, whip up an ice cream base and then freeze it in a pint container. From there, you select one of two main modes (traditional scoops or soft serve), attach the paddle lid and then spin your frozen base as normal. If youre making a traditional churned-style ice cream or one of its variants, you can simply stop there. But if you want soft serve, heres where things take a turn. After spinning your base, you take the paddle lid off, put on Ninjas soft serve lid before slotting the entire pint into the cavity on the left side of the machine. Then you need to twist the base of the container to open up the previously mentioned nozzle. Now you can pull down on the handle to the right and after a short pause, the Swirl will push out smooth, airy soft serve just like your favorite local shop. Or Pinkberry, because this thing can do froyo too. The Ninja Swirl uses a new pint container with a built-in nozzle for dispensing soft serve. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Granted, Ninjas latest two-in-one contraption takes a few extra steps to get to the end zone, but the results really do speak for themselves (assuming you started with a decent recipe, of course). The Swirls soft serve is light and creamy without a hint of any crystal to mess up that unique semi-solid texture. And as its name implies, you can even twirl it around to create that signature spiral of frozen goodness on top of a cone or cup. Honestly, its kind of magical. I will die on this hill, but to me theres nothing better than enjoying soft serve on a super hot day (preferably after a game of mini golf or a trip to the beach). So to have the power to make it at home feels really special, as soft serve has long been one of those things you need to go outside to get. During my demo, I tried a basic chocolate soft serve, froyo, peanut butter Creamifit (which is basically soft serve with added protein and less sugar) and even a faux Shamrock Shake, all made using the Swirl. Heck, there was even some frozen mango and pineapple that were blended up to create homemade Dole Whips. And all of them tasted fantastic. The nozzle on the Swirl's pint container even recreates the look and shape you get from commercial soft serve machines. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Aside from soft serve, the Swirl also features a few improvements over previous models. Ninja says it has refined some of its programs to reduce things like the need to respin ice cream in order to get the proper consistency. The machine is also a bit quieter and it has indicator lights that tell how long it takes to finish blending a frozen base. And for people who like making treats with alternative sugars, the Lite Ice Cream mode has been adjusted to produce better results. That said, there are a couple of important things to know about the Swirl before you run out and buy one. Like the standard Creami, it uses traditional pint-sized containers instead of the larger 24-ounce cups used with the Creami Deluxe. You also cant spin half a pint like you can on the larger models, though if you want, you can make soft serve out of store-bought ice cream (you know, in case youre too lazy or impatient to make your own). Finally, when making soft serve, mix-ins are better left for the end rather than trying to blend them in. Regardless, similar to what the original Creami did for ice cream by distilling the tech from a $5,000+ Pacojet into a $200 machine regular folk can actually afford, the Swirl is now doing the same for soft serve. Right now, even the cheapest single-purpose machine on the market costs almost $1,000, while the $350 Ninja Swirl can do everything the old Creami could do (which includes making milkshakes, sorbets, gelatos and more) plus practically every type of soft serve you can imagine all in one device. So while its definitely pricer and bulkier than its predecessor, the Swirl really feels like a one-stop home ice cream shop. The Ninja Swirl by Creami is available today directly from Ninja or third-party retailers including Amazon, Target, Best Buy and Kohls. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-ninja-swirl-by-creami-is-conquering-the-hardest-type-of-ice-cream-to-make-at-home-143002442.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
YouTube has officially been around for two decades and a lot has changed over the years including how people watch it. Now, a new report from YouTube claims TV has overtaken mobile to become the primary device for viewing content in the US. Yes, despite the tremendous push to smart phones, TVs, with their big screens and chunky remotes are still relevant. YouTube looks at watch time to determine device positions.Nielsen, a market research company that's been reporting on TV viewing habits for decades, says that YouTube has been the number one service in streaming watch time for the last two years. YouTube has also announced that its working on a new feature called Watch With. This tool should allow creators to produce live commentary and reactions to any games and events. Of course, many creators already do something like this, but the new tool could be more integrated into the platform. YouTube began testing it with the NFL but will try it out with other content throughout the year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/more-users-are-watching-youtube-on-tv-than-mobile-140035151.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
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