Engadget Feed

Instagram DMs have a new location-sharing feature

6 days 16 hours ago

Instagram spruced up its DM features on Monday. You can now share your live location with friends, handy for meetups at concerts or other crowded places. The social platform also now lets you add nicknames in one-on-one or group chats, and there are over 300 new stickers to share in DMs.

You can turn on the new location-sharing feature for up to one hour. It only displays to people in your private DMs (one-on-one or group), and locations can’t be forwarded to anyone outside the designated chat. The feature is off by default, and you’ll see a “You are sharing your location” indicator at the top of every message thread where you enable it. You can also stop sharing it manually anytime.

Instagram

Nicknames let you add aliases for yourself or friends inside DMs. “Share an inside joke with a nickname, or simplify lengthy usernames so your friends are easier to recognize,” Instagram’s announcement blog post suggests.

The nicknames only appear in your DMs, not anywhere else on the platform. You can pick or swap out your nickname anytime and choose which friends in a chat have permission to change yours. To create a moniker, tap on the chat name at the top of your conversation, select “Nicknames” and choose the username you want to change.

Finally, Instagram added 17 new sticker packs for DMs, making over 300 new ones available. You can favorite the stickers you like, including those your friends share.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-dms-have-a-new-location-sharing-feature-185959274.html?src=rss
Will Shanklin

Spotify will now save your listening history for up to 90 days

6 days 17 hours ago

Spotify just announced that it’s begun rolling out a new “Recents” page that keeps tabs on everything you’ve been listening to. This section of the app will hold onto content for up to 90 days and integrates with music, podcasts and even audiobooks. The page also keeps an eye on saved content.

The platform says this should be useful for “picking up a paused podcast, finding last week’s earworm or finally playing that saved album or audiobook.” This page replaces the “Listening History” tab and will work for both free and Premium subscribers.

All you have to do is tap on your profile picture, open the sidebar and click on Recents. Everything will be listed in chronological order, but there are some available filters to help winnow down the search. Spotify also says users will be able to find this page by scrolling through the home feed. The tool releases today for iOS and Android, but could take a while before it reaches every user throughout the globe.

Spotify $SPOT delivery a strong Q3 and really turned on the cash printer lately. Here's everything you need to know👇 pic.twitter.com/RPVPDm7ee3

— Investing visuals (@ZeevyInvesting) November 13, 2024

The music and Joe Rogan streaming app has been busy lately. It beefed up its audiobook tools, which is nice, and added an in-app cover art maker for playlists. CEO Daniel Ek recently crowed that 2024 will likely be the platform’s first full year of profitability. 

The company’s most-recent quarterly financial results show an increase in year-to-year revenue of 19 percent and a free cash flow growth increase of 238 percent, totalling over $4 billion. It also now has 602 million monthly active users and the stock currently hovers at around $470 per share. Musicians, however, still get $0.003 to $0.005 per stream. What the heck, Ek.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-will-now-save-your-listening-history-for-up-to-90-days-183119640.html?src=rss
Lawrence Bonk

Threads' latest test will finally let you make the ‘following’ feed the default

6 days 17 hours ago

Meta’s Threads is pushing out another test that could address a major long-running complaint about the service. The company is experimenting with allowing users to set the non-algorithmic “following” feed as the default, Mark Zuckerberg shared in a post.

The change, according to Zuckerberg, will allow users to select any feed as their default, including the newly announced custom feeds. But longtime Threads users will likely be relieved to finally have the ability to make “following” their default view. Up until now, Meta has pushed users to its “for you” algorithmic feed, which has long been criticized for its problems with engagement bait and its uncanny ability to push a mix of bizarre posts from total strangers to the top of users’ feeds

As part of the test, Meta will also make the ability to change your feed “more visible” in the app. Zuckerberg didn’t share how many users would be part of the test or how long it might take for the feature to become official. “Interested to see how and if people use this,” he wrote.

The update is the latest in a series of changes Meta has pushed over the last couple of weeks as it has faced surging growth from rival Bluesky. Bluesky, which has seen an influx of new users since the election, defaults to a feed of content from accounts you follow and doesn’t have a centralized algorithmic feed, though it’s had custom feeds for more than a year.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/threads-latest-test-will-finally-let-you-make-the-following-feed-the-default-180857332.html?src=rss
Karissa Bell

NASA just released a stunning new image of the Sombrero galaxy captured by the JWST

6 days 18 hours ago

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is back to once again paint a glorious portrait of the heavens. This time, the powerful telescope was set loose on the Sombrero galaxy, otherwise called Messier 104 or M104. The end result? A gorgeous image that reframes our understanding of that particular region of space.

Upon closer inspection using the JWST’s mid-infrared view, the Sombrero galaxy no longer truly resembles its namesake. It looks more like an archery target, complete with a bullseye in the center. That bullseye? It’s actually a supermassive black hole.

The sharp resolution offered by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) finally gives us a detailed glimpse of the outer ring, showing “intricate clumps” of dust. Previous images, captured via visible light, made the area appear “smooth like a blanket.” The JWST presents a more complicated picture.

The “clumpy nature of the dust” indicates carbon-containing molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which typically illustrate the presence of young star-forming regions. This is likely the case here, though the Sombrero galaxy is thought to not be a hotbed of star formation.

Scientists believe that the galaxy produces less than a single solar mass per year. The Milky Way galaxy, where you’re most likely reading this from, creates roughly two solar masses per year. Messier 82, otherwise called the Cigar galaxy, is responsible for around 20 solar masses per year.

The MIRI image also shows a whole bunch of galaxies littering the background of space, all with different shapes and colors. Astronomers are busy studying these background galaxies to determine how far away they are. As for the Sombrero galaxy, it’s 30 million light-years from Earth deep in the Virgo constellation. A galaxy too far for us to ever even hope of traveling to? Typical independent Virgo.

Of course, this is just the latest glorious image provided to us by the JWST. It recently found the most distant galaxy ever observed and gave us a new perspective on everyone’s favorite ice giant, Uranus.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-just-released-a-stunning-new-image-of-the-sombrero-galaxy-captured-by-the-jwst-171642105.html?src=rss
Lawrence Bonk

The best board games to gift this 2024 holiday season

6 days 19 hours ago

This time of year is best spent with friends and family, and it’s even better if you can do so with a little less screen time. Board games are a classic and fun way to bring everyone together, and there are more to choose from now than ever before. Classics like Monopoly and Scrabble will always have their place, but dozens of newcomers can make your next game night unique. From word puzzles to whodunnits to calming playthroughs that showcase the beauty of the little things in life, there’s a board game out there that will suit every friend and family group you have. Below are some of our favorite board games (and new ones we want to play this year) that are great options to pick up before visitors start to come over for the holidays, and they make great holiday gifts, too.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-board-games-holiday-gifts-130003702.html?src=rss
Engadget

Rocket Lab gets up to $23.9 million in CHIPS funding for space-grade solar cells

6 days 19 hours ago

The Department of Commerce has finalized federal funding for two more recipients under the CHIPS and Science Act. One of those is Rocket Lab, which has secured up to $23.9 million in funding to boost production of space-grade solar cells that power satellites and spacecraft.

The company, which launched its 200th satellite to orbit over the weekend, will use the money to upgrade its manufacturing plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The funding will create more than 100 jobs and the goal is to beef up Rocket Lab's compound semiconductor production by 50 percent within the next three years. The Commerce Department says this will "meet the growing national security and commercial demand for these solar cells in the United States."

Rocket Lab's solar cells are vital components of many of the country's space programs. They're found on the James Webb Space Telescope, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and Mars Insight Lander. The solar cells are also used in NASA’s Artemis missions, as well as in commercial satellites. Rocket Lab, one of only two US companies that make space-grade solar cells, agreed to preliminary terms for the funding in June.

Defense contractor BAE Systems will also get funding of up to $35.5 million to drastically speed up the timeline of a modernization project. According to the Department of Commerce, BAE will replace "aging tools" and quadruple its supply of chips for key US defense programs, such as F-35 fighter jets.

The department will provide the funding to the two companies as they complete various project milestones. To date, the Department of Commerce has allocated over $10 billion of the $36 billion in funding that was earmarked under the CHIPS and Science Act to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/rocket-lab-gets-up-to-239-million-in-chips-funding-for-space-grade-solar-cells-155932062.html?src=rss
Kris Holt

NVIDIA's new AI model Fugatto can create audio from text prompts

6 days 21 hours ago

NVIDIA has debuted a new experimental generative AI model, which it describes as "a Swiss Army knife for sound." The model called Foundational Generative Audio Transformer Opus 1, or Fugatto, can take commands from text prompts and use them to create audio or to modify existing music, voice and sound files. It was designed by a team of AI researchers from around the world, and NVIDIA says that made the model's "multi-accent and multilingual capabilities stronger."

"We wanted to create a model that understands and generates sound like humans do," said Rafael Valle, one of the researchers behind the project and a manager of applied audio research at NVIDIA. The company listed some possible real-world scenarios wherein Fugatto could be of use in its announcement. Music producers, it suggested, could use the technology to quickly generate a prototype for a song idea, which they can then easily edit to try out different styles, voices and instruments. 

People could use it to generate materials for language learnings tools in the voice of their choice. And video game developers could use it to create variations of pre-recorded assets to fit changes in the game based on the players' choices and actions. In addition, the researchers found that the model can accomplish tasks not part of its pre-training, with some fine-tuning. It could combine instructions that it was trained on separately, such as generating speech that sounds angry with a specific accent or the sound of birds singing during a thunderstorm. The model can generate sounds that change over time, as well, like the pounding of a rainstorm as it moves across the land. 

NVIDIA didn't say if it will give the public access to Fugatto, but the model isn't the first generative AI technology that can create sounds out of text prompts. Meta previously released an open source AI kit that can create sounds from text descriptions. Google has its own text-to-music AI called MusicLM that people can access through the company's AI Test Kitchen website

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidias-new-ai-model-fugatto-can-create-audio-from-text-prompts-140017297.html?src=rss
Mariella Moon

The best tech gifts and gadgets of 2024

6 days 22 hours ago

Trying to find the right gift for an unabashed gadget lover during the holidays can be difficult, especially if you don’t keep up with tech industry news yourself. Fortunately, you’re reading Engadget.com, a site entirely staffed by people who spend all day figuring out what new stuff is and isn’t actually good. So allow us to help. Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite gadgets and gear that just might satisfy the avid geek in your life, from premium keyboards and wireless headphones to audio samplers and karaoke mics.

Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/best-tech-gifts-and-cool-gadgets-140052910.html?src=rss
Engadget

Raspberry Pi's $7 Pico 2 W microcontroller board adds wireless connectivity

6 days 22 hours ago

Raspberry Pi has announced the Pico 2 W, a wireless version of its Pico 2 microcontroller board built for hobbyists and industrial applications. At $7, it's a relatively inexpensive way to control electronic devices like smart home gadgets and robots. With the new version, users will be able to securely link to remote sources to send and receive data, either via Bluetooth 5.2 or Wi-Fi 802.11n.

As with the Pico 2, the wireless variant is built around the RP2350 microcontroller built in-house by Raspberry Pi. it offers more speed and memory than the original RP2040 chip, along with a security model built around Arm's TrustZone for Cortex-M. Users can program it using C, C++ and MicroPython, and choose between Arm Cortex-M33 or RISC-V cores. 

There are many potential use cases for the Pico 2 W, like smart home control that can link to external devices (plugs, lights, etc.) over Wi-Fi, robotics and science experiments. It's now available for hobbyists from a variety of sources at $7.00 for the board only, $21 for a basic kit or $31 for the starter kit. You can see them here when you select the Pico 2 W option at the bottom of the page. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/raspberry-pis-7-pico-2-w-microcontroller-board-adds-wireless-connectivity-130001976.html?src=rss
Steve Dent

The Morning After: Apple makes it cheaper to repair its MacBook Pro speakers

6 days 23 hours ago

A memo spotted by MacRumors indicated Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers will be able to buy speakers as standalone components for the 14-inch and 16-inch M4 MacBook Pro with the M4 family of chips. A source added it’ll be an option for repairs on earlier MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon as well.

Until now, the speaker repair process entailed replacing the whole top case, including the battery and other parts, which understandably increased the cost. It may not necessarily be a simpler repair — the guide shows a rather involved process — but not having to also replace other parts should shave the price.

— Mat Smith

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Hackers breach Andrew Tate’s online ‘university’ They captured data on 800,000 users.

Hackers breached an online course founded by far-right influencer and accused human trafficker Andrew Tate. The hackers captured data on more than 800,000 users and revealed the email addresses of around 325,000. The unnamed hackers cite “hacktivism” as their motive, suggesting an issue with Tate’s toxicity and his alleged propensity for sex trafficking underage girls. This isn’t the first time this year Tate’s site has been hacked. Back in July, over a million users and 22 million messages were exposed.

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UK watchdog says Apple’s rules restrict iOS browser competition A law passed earlier this year will let the CMA hand out hefty fines.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has “provisionally concluded” Apple’s restrictive mobile browser policies limit innovation. Google is also guilty of this, but Apple’s more closed ecosystem has become the focus. The board says third-party browser developers have complained they’re constricted by rules, like Apple’s requirement to use the company’s WebKit browser engine. The CMA’s summary of Apple’s hearing reveals the iPhone maker argued it restricts browser engines to “ensure users get the best security, privacy and performance on iOS devices,” which sounds familiar.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121632165.html?src=rss
Mat Smith

Sony is reportedly developing a new portable console

6 days 23 hours ago

In its heyday, I used the PlayStation Portable (PSP) obsessively, but I haven't been pulled in by other handheld devices — no, not even the Nintendo Switch. That could change in the future as Sony is reportedly developing a new portable console that would offer games directly on-device, Bloomberg reports

Yes, the handheld device will allegedly have games right on the device, so you won't have to invest in a PlayStation 5 (or whatever number we're up to at that point). The news comes from unnamed sources with Sony declining to comment on the possible development.

Sony currently offers the $200 PlayStation Portal but, unlike my beloved PSP and the PS Vita, only works for streaming games from your PlayStation. We were not fans when Sony released it last November, giving it only a 68 in our review and found it to be "among the most fickle devices" out there. It's not the best quality picture, even when it and the PS5 have stable Wi-Fi connection. 

However, we've come to appreciate it over the past year, with some of Engadget's editors really enjoying it. Also, last week Sony started testing cloud streaming on the Portal for PlayStation Plus Premium members. It's a much more reliable connection than in the past and offers over 120 PS5 titles. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-reportedly-developing-a-new-portable-console-121417218.html?src=rss
Sarah Fielding

The best mesh Wi-Fi systems of 2024

1 week ago

The frustrations of a traditional Wi-Fi router tend to be more noticeable when you live in a larger or busier household. Constant buffering while trying to stream a movie or music cutting out when you want to bust out to some moves using your smart speaker; it’s frankly annoying. That’s where a mesh Wi-Fi system can make a difference. Unlike traditional Wi-Fi routers, which send a single signal from just one point, a mesh system uses multiple nodes (or satellites) placed around your home to create a more reliable, consistent connection. These nodes work together to blanket your entire space in Wi-Fi, meaning you can say goodbye to dead zones and weak signal strength in certain rooms.

With a traditional Wi-Fi router, the further you are from it, the weaker your connection tends to be. A mesh setup, however, ensures that each node communicates seamlessly, allowing your devices to stay connected as you move throughout the house. So, if you’ve got security cameras in different areas or smart home devices spread across rooms, a mesh Wi-Fi network keeps everything online and working smoothly without a hitch. Plus, mesh systems are designed to handle a higher volume of Wi-Fi devices more efficiently, which means they’re perfect for today’s connected homes packed with everything from laptops and phones to smart fridges and robot vacuums.

In addition, many mesh Wi-Fi systems come equipped with features like automatic firmware updates, which can enhance functionality over time without you having to lift a finger. And if you’re into the latest tech, some systems even support Wi-Fi 7 or multi-gig speeds, ensuring that your network is ready for the future of ultra-fast connections. Other features, like multiple WAN ports for flexible setups, can be a game-changer if you have specific network needs or want to maximize speeds.

Whether you’re streaming, gaming, working or simply need reliable connectivity for your growing list of smart gadgets, a mesh Wi-Fi system can be the solution for keeping everything running smoothly across every corner of your home.

What to look for in a mesh Wi-Fi system

It’s a pretty good time to buy a mesh Wi-Fi system, since Wi-Fi 6E represents a fairly significant leap in the technology. Matt MacPherson, Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer for Wireless, said that Wi-Fi 6E is a substantial “inflection point” and can take advantage of a much broader chunk of the wireless spectrum than its predecessors. “If you’re using that spectrum with a Wi-Fi 6 [device],” he said, “you’re going to get significant gains [in speed.]”

MacPherson added that Wi-Fi 6E will likely “carry you for a long time,” thanks to the fact that its “top throughputs now typically exceed what people can actually connect their home to.” In short, with a top theoretical per-stream speed of 1.2 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E is fast enough to outrun all but the fastest internet connection. (You may also see talk of Wi-Fi 7 devices, some of which have been released already before the standard is officially launched next year. Given that it will take a generation for all of the devices in your home to be compatible with Wi-Fi 7, it’s not worth thinking about this for several years yet, so a Wi-Fi 6 system will suffice for now.)

Range and speed

All mesh routers boast a theoretical broadcast range in square feet, as well as its theoretical top speed. Given there are so many factors outside of the manufacturer’s control, these numbers don’t really mean much in the real world. Your internet service provider’s (ISP) real speed, the construction materials and layout of your home, amongst other things, will all affect your Wi-Fi coverage. Simply investing in a wireless router or mesh Wi-Fi system isn’t going to offer faster speeds on its own.

It’s worth saying that raw speed isn’t everything, and that for most normal users, you probably need a lot less than you’re paying for. Netflix recommends a minimum speed of just 15 Mbps to stream a 4K video to a single device. Naturally, that’s just for one connection, so you’ll need some more capacity if you’ve got other connected devices all running at the same time. As cool as it is to say you’ve got 100, 200 or 500 Mbps download speed, factors like latency and reliability are way more crucial. And unless you have Gigabit internet that can reach speeds of up to 1Gbps, you won’t need a mesh router that offers these specs.

Backhaul

Mesh Wi-Fi systems work by connecting every hardware node to a single wireless network, letting them all communicate with each other. Imagine four people in a busy, noisy restaurant all trying to order their dinner from a weary staff member, all at once. Now imagine, while this is going on, that four more people at that same table are also trying to tell a funny anecdote. It’s no surprise that it might take a long while for the right information to reach its intended destination.

To combat this, higher-end mesh routers offer dedicated wireless backhaul; a slice of the spectrum for node-to-node communication. So rather than everyone talking at once in the same space, the conversations are essentially separated, reducing the invisible clutter in the air. Because there’s less confusing cross-chatter, everything moves faster, offering a significant performance boost to those systems.

Connectivity

These days, even your washing machine has a wireless connection, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the joys of wired internet. No matter how fast WiFi is, a hard line will always be faster, and some gear, like Philips’ Hue bridge, still needs an ethernet connection. Plenty of routers can also use these hard connections as backhaul, eliminating further wireless clutter. It’s convenient for spread-out systems and power users, but it will mean running more wires through your home. The most common standard is Cat 5e, or gigabit ethernet which, unsurprisingly, has a top speed of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). Since Ethernet cables are backward compatible, you should be able to easily find one that works with your system. However, to make the most out of your mesh routers, it’s worth investing in an Ethernet cable that meets the standard your router uses — if it’s Cat5e, use a Cat5e cable. You can check your router’s specs via the manufacturer’s website to be sure.

Flexibility and scalability

Mesh routers enable you to add (or subtract) modules from your home network to suit your needs. D-Link’s Alan Jones said users should “check how scalable the prospective product is” before you buy. This sense of scale doesn’t just apply to the number of nodes on the network, but how many simultaneous connections it can handle.

Placement

Mesh networks use multiple access points in order to create a bigger network, resulting in better indoor Wi-Fi coverage. You might see the term “whole home coverage”, which is more easily achieved with multiple access points or nodes. Modern mesh routers offer one, two or three (or more) pieces of equipment that are commonly the same hardware inside and out. It normally doesn’t matter which module you make the primary one to connect to your modem, usually over ethernet. You’ll then set up the other, secondary nodes around your home, which is often just a case of adding them to the existing mesh network.

When installing your hardware, remember that every physical obstacle between nodes may hurt your performance. The ideal spot is, at the very least, at waist height on a piece of furniture without too many obstructions. Tables, sideboards, free-standing cupboards, and bookcases make for a good home. The rule of thumb is to place each node no more than two rooms away from the last one.

How we test Wi-Fi routers

My home covers around 2,200 square feet across three stories, with my office on the third floor. It’s relatively long and thin, with the living room at the front of the house, the kitchen at the back and three bedrooms on the second floor. Its age means there are a lot of solid brick walls, old school lathe and plaster, as well as aluminum foil-backed insulation boards to help with energy efficiency. There are two major Wi-Fi dead zones in the house, the bathroom and the bedroom behind it, since there’s lots of old and new pipework in the walls and floors.

For mesh routers that have two nodes, I placed the first in my living room, connected via ethernet to my cable modem, with the second on the first-floor landing in the (ostensible) center of the house. For three-node sets, the third went in my kitchen, which I’ve found is the optimal layout to get the bulk of my house covered in Wi-Fi.

Each mesh is judged on ease of setup, Wi-Fi coverage, reliability, speed and any additional features. I looked at how user-friendly each companion app is from the perspective of a novice, as well. My tests included checking for dead zones, moving from room to room to measure consistency, and streaming multiple videos at once.

Best mesh Wi-Fi systems for 2024

Other mesh Wi-Fi router systems we tested Amazon Eero 6E

On one hand, Eero Pro 6E does count as an “easy” device, the sort you could hand to a total novice and expect them to thrive with. There’s very little brain work needed to get things set up, and the app has a clean UI with plenty of hand-holding. But — and it’s a big but — the fact so many common management tools aren’t available to me here because they’re paywalled irks me. Amazon and Eero are playing in the same slightly shallow waters as Google / Nest, building a “good enough” mesh product for "everyone;” types who want to set up the hardware and more or less forget about it for several years at a time knowing that everything is in hand. But the fact that the Nest WiFi Pro offers more features for free compared to Eero’s package means that, despite my gripes about Google’s system, it wins out in a straight duel.

Netgear Orbi 960

The Orbi 96T0 (RBKE963) is Netgear’s flagship mesh WiFi product, which the company calls the “world’s most powerful WiFi 6E system.” It’s also one of the most expensive consumer-level kits on the market, setting you back $1,499.99 for a three pack. It's a fantastic piece of gear but it's worth saying that the subset of people who could, would or should buy it remains far smaller than you might expect. Ultimately, I feel that if you’re paying luxury prices, you should expect a luxury product. There were plenty of times during testing that I went looking for a feature that was either only available via the web client, or behind a paywall. While, yes, much of your cash is going to the superlative hardware, but for this sort of money, the fact you have to pay extra for some table-stakes features is insulting. If you’re looking for a new Wi-Fi system and aren’t prepared to spend almost $1,500, it’s worth considering our other top picks for the best Wi-Fi routers and mesh systems.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is governed by the International Standard IEEE 802.11, and every few years the standards evolve. Until 2018, routers were sold under their IEEE designation, leaving consumers to deal with the word soup of products labeled 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac et cetera. Mercifully, wiser heads opted to rebrand the standards with numbers: Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6. We’re presently between two Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, which relates to the frequencies the standard uses. Wi-Fi 6 covers routers which operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, while the latter means it can also use the 6GHz band.

Each Wi-Fi band has tradeoffs, because the slower radio frequencies have greater range but less speed. 2.4GHz signals will travel a long way in your home but aren’t quick, while 6GHz is blisteringly fast, but can be defeated by a sturdy brick wall. A lot of Wi-Fi-enabled gear, like a lot of smart home products, only use 2.4GHz because the range is better and it’s a lot cheaper. But it means that the band is also overcrowded and slow. You can check the speed of your Wi-Fi by using an online speed test like Speedtest by Ookla. This will display your download and upload speeds, offering better insight.

Linksys’ CEO Jonathan Bettino told Engadget why mesh systems are an “advancement in Wi-Fi technology” over buying a single point router. With one transmitter, the signal can degrade the further away from the router you go, or the local environment isn’t ideal. “You can have a small [home], but there’s thick walls [...] or things in the way that just interfere with your wireless signal,” he said.

Historically, the solution to a home’s Wi-Fi dead zone was to buy a Wi-Fi Range Extender but Bettino said the hardware has both a “terrible user experience” and one of the highest return rates of any consumer electronics product. Mesh Wi-Fi, by comparison, offers “multiple nodes that can be placed anywhere in your home,” says Bettino, resulting in “ubiquitous Wi-Fi” that feels as if you have a “router in every room.”

Rather than having one main router in your home, having a “router in every room” is the biggest selling point for mesh Wi-Fi given how reliant we all are on the internet. Each node is in constant contact with each other, broadcasting a single, seamless network to all of your connected devices. There’s no separate network for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, just a single name that you connect to.

You may also see mesh Wi-Fi systems advertised as dual-band or tri-band routers. Dual-band routers typically offer a 2.4GHz and 5GHz band. Wi-Fi 6E tri-band routers, on the other hand, provide a 2.4GHz, a 5GHz and a 6GHz band —or in the case of Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 6 routers, a 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands. Once you’ve got your head wrapped around the concept of dual-band and tri-band, you should also be aware that the width of each band is measured in MHz. The wider the band, the more MHz it can support, typically 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz or 320MHz. The wider the channel, the more bandwidth it offers.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/best-mesh-wifi-system-130028701.html?src=rss
Daniel Cooper

Microsoft confirms Windows 11 24H2 update is crashing some Ubisoft games

1 week ago

Microsoft says it’s working with Ubisoft to fix a problem with its latest Windows 11 update that’s been crashing some games, and it’s put the update’s release on pause for devices with those games in the meantime. Following users’ reports of issues after installing the Windows 11 24H2 update, Microsoft confirmed this weekend that certain games may become unresponsive or display a black screen. The problem affects Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Assassin's Creed Origins, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.

Ubisoft has released a temporary fix for Star Wars Outlaws, but there still may be some issues, Microsoft says. “To safeguard your Windows update experience, we have applied a compatibility hold on devices with these games installed,” the company said on its support blog. “These devices will not be offered to install Windows 11, version 24H2 via the Windows Update release channel.” It goes on to say, “We recommend that you do not attempt to manually update to version 24H2 using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or the media creation tool until this issue has been resolved.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/microsoft-confirms-windows-11-24h2-update-is-crashing-some-ubisoft-games-215748241.html?src=rss
Cheyenne MacDonald

Apple is changing how MacBook Pro speakers are replaced and it could make repairs cheaper

1 week ago

It’ll soon be possible to replace the speakers in recent MacBook Pro models without having to replace the entire top case, as has long been the procedure. A memo seen by Macrumors reportedly informed Apple Stores and Authorized Service Providers this week that speakers will be available as standalone components for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 family of chips. A source also told the publication that this will be an option for repairs on earlier MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon as well.

The change should make for a less expensive repair. Up until now, the process entailed replacing the whole top case, including the battery and other parts, which works out to be pretty costly. It’s been that way since 2016. The repair manual with the new steps for speaker replacement is available online now from Apple Support. It may not necessarily be a simpler repair — the guide shows a process that’s rather involved — but not having to also replace other parts like the battery just to change out the speakers should cut costs significantly.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-is-changing-how-macbook-pro-speakers-are-replaced-and-it-could-make-repairs-cheaper-175356909.html?src=rss
Cheyenne MacDonald

Engadget review recap: An iMac, a coffee maker and an Amazon tablet

1 week ago

It's almost Thanksgiving week here in the US, and that means gift-shopping season is in full swing. As the hardware launches slow down while companies wait for you to buy their wares, so, too, can our reviews team take a tiny breather. That respite will unfortunately be brief, as we begin to prepare for CES 2025 in earnest while getting some year-end retrospectives ready. Many of our team members will be taking meetings all through December ahead of the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, which is officially starting on January 7 this year, and the news will be coming as early as January 5. 

In the meantime, our team's holiday gift guide and Black Friday shopping content have been dominating our site, thanks to the relentless hard work of everyone that works at Engadget. There are many people behind-the-scenes involved in the process, as we try to find the best deals this season to better serve our audience. I myself have gone to CamelCamelCamel to make sure a standing-mirror-shelf was indeed 30 percent off, and not just marked as such while being listed at the same price as during non-sale periods. You've got to be so careful with your money and not falling for deceptive deals, and our commerce team is truly adept at sussing out the good stuff versus the bad. 

Between all the work for our holiday gift guides, planning for CES and taking some well-deserved time off, our team of reviewers has still managed to deliver some great reads, just in time for the holidays.

Apple M4 iMac review 

by Steve Dent

Steve's one of our expert photographers and videographers, and his review of the new iMac as a content creator is super insightful. I've always admired Steve's depth of knowledge, and his background brought a different perspective to our review that I found relevant and helpful. 

One of the biggest takeaways from Steve's review is that Apple is finally offering more RAM in the entry-level model, and that's somehow the most intriguing upgrade here. Though the webcam now has a sharper 12-megapixel sensor, and the display can be configured with a nano-coating, having twice the RAM in the base configuration is the most significant improvement. Steve clearly lays out why.

Fellow Aiden review

by Billy Steele

Whenever Billy files a draft that's for something outside the audio category, I know I have to be prepared. His mouthwatering descriptions of the meats he smokes or pizzas he makes with the cooking appliances he reviews often evoke FOODMO (food-induced FOMO) and, weirdly, so did this review of the Fellow Aiden. It's an automatic coffee maker that promises to replicate the quality of brews you'd get using a pour-over cone. I am a casual coffee lover, in that I know my preference for darker roasts and can kind of tell the difference when a cuppa has been prepared well. But aside from convenience, I couldn't tell you exactly why I prefer my pour-over cone to a French press or drip machine. 

Billy's review clearly explains why the Aiden is the best of the coffee makers that claim to bring pour-over quality in an automatic system. While simultaneously making me somehow crave an expertly crafted cup of morning joe. Be warned, if descriptions of beans can make your mouth water, definitely make sure you have a mug of your favorite beverage nearby before reading this.

Loop Switch 2 review 

by Billy Steele

We don't typically review earplugs, but Billy had done fairly deep testing of the Loop Switch 2, and had enough experience to also compare it to some competing products. That's why we felt confident about assigning these noise-filtering earbuds a score. You might notice that the scorecard is smaller than usual — this is something you'll see more of moving forward. It represents reviews that involved first-hand, in-depth testing, but for products that for a variety of reasons may not rise to the level of our full reviews. Rest assured that a scored review on Engadget will always involve thorough first hand testing and thoughtful criticism and evaluation.

Billy's piece on the Switch 2 had me intrigued, especially as I recently went to a concert and was concerned about the loud music and potential damage to my hearing. I never knew earplugs had gotten so advanced, and learned a lot from Billy's description of how you can change between levels of noise-filtering without having to take these buds out of your ears.

Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet review

by Jeff Dunn

Many Amazon tablets fall under the category of products that we would like to review but don't typically have the time or bandwidth to get to. That's why I was excited when Jeff was able to find time to test the Fire HD 8, especially since he is familiar with the Amazon product ecosystem. There are plenty of Android tablets out there, and the Fire series are among the most affordable, making them a popular choice. That's why it's important for us to test them, to get a better sense for what people are using and also to inform our other coverage and reviews. Though Jeff didn't like Fire OS, he did find the HD 8 to be just good enough to be a decent value. As long as you can put up with an ad-heavy interface and a limited app selection, you'll probably find this to be a competent device for, say, your child to use on the go.

Sonos Arc Ultra review

by Billy Steele

Sonos' Arc Ultra manages to deliver better bass and sound than the original, and thanks to Billy's explainer on the company's latest Sound Motion technology, I have a better understanding of how it's different. According to Billy, the acoustic improvement is significant, and the company's improved app makes for a greater overall experience that could be worth the extra $100. Considering the Sonos Arc is now on sale for $699 and the Ultra costs $999, though, the greater difference in cost may be harder to justify.

Sony's PlayStation Portal gets a cloud-streaming upgrade

by Devindra Hardawar

Sony announced this week that it was bringing cloud-streaming to the PlayStation Portal, a handheld gaming console that was previously only capable of playing games that were on the PlayStation in your home. Since this drawback was one of the major complaints Devindra had when he reviewed the Portal last year, he dusted off his Portal and got to testing the new cloud-streaming feature and was generally impressed by the performance and latency. It's nice to see companies deliver features after a product launches, and even nicer when they work well. 

But since Devindra still has some unaddressed griped with the Portal, like some clunkiness and lag in connecting to a PlayStation, the cloud-streaming addition doesn't yet warrant an update to our original review and score. If Sony further updates the Portal and genuinely improves the experience, we will revisit our evaluation. For now, though, Devindra just says he has "started to hate this thing a bit less."

On the horizon: Upcoming reviews

We're still awaiting a review unit of the new Kindle Scribe that Amazon announced in October, and continue to work through our backlog of gadgets that includes a Roku, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. We're also taking some time to revisit some older products so we can review them with some time after launch, which should give us a better view of how the things we test hold up over time. Stay tuned for all that, and feel free to send us your feedback and suggestions on what you'd like to see us review. In the meantime, happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it, and we'll see you soon!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-an-imac-a-coffee-maker-and-an-amazon-tablet-150018151.html?src=rss
Cherlynn Low

Tesla and Rivian have reached a ‘conditional’ settlement in lawsuit over trade secrets

1 week 1 day ago

Four years after Tesla filed a lawsuit against Rivian alleging that the company poached its employees with a goal of obtaining trade secrets, the two appear to be nearing a resolution. According to Bloomberg, Tesla says it’s reached a “conditional” settlement with Rivian and expects to seek the case’s dismissal by December 24. In the lawsuit filed in 2020, Tesla claimed Rivian encouraged exiting Tesla employees to steal information, and that it caught three employees taking “highly valuable, confidential information as they left for Rivian.” Rivian has denied the allegations from the start, calling them “baseless.”

Rivian filed a motion for the lawsuit to be dismissed, but this was denied by a California judge who tentatively ruled earlier this year that Rivian would have to face a trial. The trial was expected to take place in 2025, but it now looks like the matter may be wrapped up before the end of the year without coming to that.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-and-rivian-have-reached-a-conditional-settlement-in-lawsuit-over-trade-secrets-214721559.html?src=rss
Cheyenne MacDonald

Apple Black Friday deals: The M4 Mac mini drops to a record low of $500

1 week 1 day ago

Apple's new Mac mini hasn’t been available for that long yet, but you can already grab it at a discount. The M4-powered Mac mini has dropped to an all-time low of $500 thanks to a discount and an additional, clippable coupon that will bring the final price down to $500. That’s a total of $100 of savings off the original price.

The 2024 Mac Mini is available with an M4 or M4 Pro chip, both of which give the desktop computer a real boost from its previous version. We gave the upgrade a 90 in our review, in part due to the Pro's perks (which we'll get into later), but also general features like the base level being 16GB of RAM. This generation also offers front USB-C and headphone ports, as well as a design that's less than half the size of its predecessor.

The Mac Mini with M4 chip should be plenty of power for all your basic tasks. But, if you need a bigger boost, then check out Mac Mini with an M4 Pro chip. It's currently on sale for $1,349, down from $1,399. This deal is available on the model with 24GB of unified memory and 512GB of SSD storage. It's remarkably fast and offers Thunderbolt 5 support, rather than the M4's Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 5 can triple data transfer speeds to 120GB/s, up from 40GB/s. 

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/apple-black-friday-deals-the-m4-mac-mini-drops-to-a-record-low-of-500-144307243.html?src=rss
Sarah Fielding

Loop Switch 2 review: Easily adjustable earplugs that are great for concerts

1 week 1 day ago

There are numerous options for concert earplugs nowadays, so you don’t have to settle for the bargain bin foam bits that completely seal off your ears anymore. The PPE-grade products vary in design and performance, with some offering different levels of noise reduction. That hearing protection always comes with the promise that the earplugs won’t completely muffle the band, which is a real problem when you have to settle for the generic foam versions from the bartender.

Loop has been in the concert earplug game since its founding in 2016. In that time, its product roster has grown to encompass nine different models, including dedicated options for sleep, travel, commuting and social events in addition to concerts, festivals and sporting events. The Switch 2 ($59.95) is Loop’s latest, an improved version of the original Switch that debuted the ability to change sound filter levels while the earplugs were still in your ears. To put the audio quality to the test, I took them to a 100dB rock show in a small venue last month.

Loop has maintained mostly the same design from its first model. There’s a silicone ear tip, similar to those on wireless earbuds, that’s attached to a circular loop where all the protective bits reside. In the case of the Switch 2, the outer half of that loop rotates to allow you to select between three levels of sound filtration: Engage, Experience and Quiet.

These settings reduce noise by 20dB, 23dB and 26dB respectively, and you don’t have to take them out to make the adjustment. The company recommends Engage for social gatherings and conversations while Experience works best for concerts and sporting events. Quiet’s maximum noise reduction is meant for commutes and downtime, which also makes them a solid option for travel.

For the Switch 2, Loop says it redesigned that dial for “smoother” changes while you’re wearing them. I never tried the previous model, but I can tell you this new version allows you to rotate between modes with ease. I never felt like I had to press the earplugs further into my ear to make the change, and the dial stopped at each setting with a satisfying click that I could feel even when the venue was too loud for me to hear it.

True to Loop’s advice, I found the Experience setting was the best for the live show. My Apple Watch detected that the venue hit 100dB, a level at which the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says you should only be exposed to for 15 minutes to avoid hearing damage. Obviously, with five bands on the bill for the evening, I was going to spend significantly more time in a dangerously loud environment. So, the 23dB reduction at this setting brought the noise level down to a much safer number for the roughly two hours I was there.

Since a set of earplugs is so tiny, I was able to easily carry both the Switch 2 and the Sennheiser SoundProtex Plus to the show for a direct comparison. During both the brutal hardcore of Ends of Sanity and the chaotic metal of Dying Wish, I could consistently hear more details with the Switch 2. This was most apparent in the guitars, where Loop’s option let in more high-frequency sound, allowing me to enjoy all the riffs both bands had to offer. I like the fit of SoundProtex Plus, but the filtered sound is more bass heavy and tends to favor the drums, so it loses some fidelity compared to the Switch 2.

Billy Steele for Engadget

The Switch 2 comes with four sizes of ear tips to help you find the best fit, and there’s a hard plastic case that’s easy to find when you drop it in a bag. Again, this is very compact (about the size of a quarter), so I just carry them with me all the time so I don’t have to worry about forgetting them before I head out to another concert. The SoundProtex Plus, however, comes with three separate ear plugs in three different sizes. That pack also includes four sound filters, with options for 10dB, 17dB, 20dB and “full” noise reduction.

The big problem with Sennheiser's version is that you can’t swap the filters without removing them from your ears. It’s a quick process, but the filters are tiny, so it’s not something you want to fiddle with mid-set in a crowded club. Plus, you’ll have to remember to pack those in the tiny pouch the company gives you before you leave home. The SoundProtex Plus is now a much more attractive option at $50, which is $30 less than they were when I reviewed them. But, as I mentioned, I think the Switch 2 offers better sound filtration and ease of use for just $10 more.

I have close friends and former bandmates who’ve used Loop earplugs for years and they noted the secure fit of the ear tips in the company’s products as a key selling point. Some of the competition tends to work itself loose after a few minutes, they said, requiring constant adjustment. For the Switch 2, the company revised those parts for better noise reduction in the maximum or Quiet mode, and they still stay in place as long as you need them to. The only time I ever reached for the earplugs during the show was to adjust the filter setting for testing purposes.

I’ve been toting the SoundProtex Plus around with me since I started testing them last year, and they’ve served me well. However, the Switch 2 lets more detail through, which means you can hear more of what the band has to offer during the show. Plus, Loop’s latest model offers more noise protection at each level, with even the lowest setting bringing a 100dB venue down to something that’s safer to stand in. And like the Sennheiser package, the Switch 2 is certified as hearing protection after thorough testing, meeting both EU and US safety standards.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/loop-switch-2-review-easily-adjustable-earplugs-that-are-great-for-concerts-150002181.html?src=rss
Billy Steele

LinkedIn is killing the standalone live audio feature you probably forgot about

1 week 2 days ago

Remember in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic when live audio was suddenly everywhere? The trend was made popular by the briefly viral phenomenon Clubhouse before seemingly every other online platform copied the feature for themselves.

Since then, live audio has become mostly a footnote to a weird time when we were all stuck at home at the same time with nothing to do and listening to hours-long streams of strangers talking to each other passed as entertainment. Now LinkedIn, which was somewhat late to the live audio party in 2022, has opted to get rid of its standalone live audio events.

In an update, the company says it will no longer support native audio events beginning next month. Users will stop being able to create new events as of December 2, and previously scheduled events will no longer work after December 31. Instead, the company is “bringing together” audio events with its live-streaming feature, LinkedIn Live. LinkedIn Live, however, requires creators to use third-party tools to set up streams. So while audio-only streams will still be able to exist on LinkedIn, they will take a few extra steps.

LinkedIn isn’t the only company to change course on live audio. Reddit, Facebook, Spotify and Amazon have all shuttered their pandemic-era live audio products.Even Clubhouse (which, yes, still exists) pivoted away from the format last year. The feature is, however going strong on X despite a few high-profile technical issues.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/linkedin-is-killing-the-standalone-live-audio-feature-you-probably-forgot-about-232705727.html?src=rss
Karissa Bell
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2 hours 52 minutes ago
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