The PUBG team is continuing its quest to counter Fortnite's media tie-ins. PUBG Mobile is adding a handful of characters and equipment from AMC's version of The Walking Dead on October 1st, giving you that little bit of extra menace in battle royale matches. You can snag skins for Rick, Daryl, Michonne and Negan. Daryl's iconic motorcycle is on hand to help stay in the safe zone, and you can wield Michonne's katana or Negan's infamous Lucille bat if a frying pan isn't intimidating enough.
The items will only be available until sometime in early 2020. You won't want to waste much time picking up these items if you're a TWD fan. It's an interesting crossover, though, and an appropriate one when both franchises revolve around survivalists facing unrelenting hordes -- it's just that these hordes are still alive.
If you want to understand what's going on in Washington D.C. right now, you could read any one of the impeachment explainers going around, or watch snarky wrap-ups by your favorite late-night hosts.
Or you could just watch this video of a driverless airport catering cart spinning wildly out of control on the tarmac, endangering everyone around it as they stare in horror, unsure of how exactly to handle this unprecedented disaster in the making.
Dr Kevin Klauer took the video from the departures lounge at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, where he was waiting for a flight (on a different plane to the one pictured) when the commotion out the window caught his eye. Read more...
You may not know this, but formaldehyde could be one of the many pollutants in your home causing irritation to your eyes, nose and throat. Existing air purifiers remove the compound from the environment by using activated charcoal, but that process simply traps formaldehyde and you'll have to replace filters to keep the system working. Dyson has found a way to continuously destroy the pollutant altogether in its new Pure Cryptomic range of purifiers. They're available in fan and fan-and-heater models for $650 and $750 respectively, and are based on the existing Pure line.
Like last year's Pure Cool tower fans, the Pure Cryptomic devices can automatically detect and capture pollutants in the air in your home, and even do so without blowing air at you. An LCD panel on the new Cryptomics will show you particle and gas readings, as well as how much longer your filter will last before it needs replacing.
The combination filter in use here will trap 99.95 percent of particles and "volatile organic compounds (VOCs)", according to Dyson. But what's new this year is the Cryptomic technology panel that converts formaldehyde at a molecular level into minuscule amounts of water and carbon dioxide. Formaldehyde is given off from things like paint, varnishes, air fresheners, furniture, household cleaners and even stuff as innocuous as dryer sheets and toys. The EPA warns that formaldehyde can not only irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat but also that "high levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers."
The Cryptomic technology uses the mineral Cryptomelane as a catalyst for the chemical reaction, which explains the system's name. Formaldehyde has historically been more difficult to capture as its particles are too small. The new Cryptomic filter never has to be replaced and is built into a plate at the base of the devices.
Apart from the formaldehyde-targeting technology, the new Pure range has many of the same features as the rest of Dyson's purifiers. You'll still find the company's hallmark Air Multiplier bladeless fan and 350-degree oscillation. The timers, night mode and Link app are the same, and the purifiers can tilt at a 45-degree angle if you want to aim the airflow higher or lower.
If your skin, eyes or nose have been irritated by unexplainable particles in your home, the new Cryptomic range might be a purifier to consider. Even if formaldehyde doesn't end up being the culprit, Dyson does promise to remove other pollutants in the air. And if you know for a fact that your work or living space puts out a high amount of formaldehyde -- say you're a painter or you assemble a lot of furniture -- this might be a good way to minimize negative health impacts from the compound.
Google's Pixel users in the US will soon have access to car crash detection features similar to Uber RideCheck's. XDA-Developers has spotted an unannounced app named "Personal Safety" on Google Play, which is described as "an app for Pixel phones that helps [users] stay safe and connected to first responders and [their] emergency contacts." The app can figure out if a user is in a crash based on their location -- most likely if their vehicle suddenly stopped moving -- the readings from their motion sensors and the sounds from their microphone.
If it suspects that something's wrong, it will sound an alarm at maximum volume and will ask if the user needs help. It will then call 911 with the user's location if they don't respond. They'll also be given a way to alert the appropriate responders without speaking, simply by tapping any of the three options: Medical, Fire or Police.
In addition, the app also lets users set emergency contacts and share their status with them in case of accidents. It's not clear if the new app is connected to the Android Q beta's built-in Emergency Information application, but it seems to be available for download either way for Pixel devices.
That's a decent price for a display The Wirecutter called "the best overall LED/LCD TV" when prices for a 65-inch ranged from $1,200 - $1,300. Unfortunately it's difficult to find a brand new model now that they've been discontinued to make room for 2019's TVs. Thanks to software updates, grabbing this one doesn't mean missing out on new features like AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support.
Also, if you're comparing it to the 2019 "P Series" then you should note RTings.com findings, where the site gave it a great review, but determined it's not quite as good as the 2018 model of the same name when it came to brightness, contrast and reflections. Instead, you'd more directly compare this TV to this year's P Series Quantum X model, which starts at $1,400.
The one thing to be wary of, however, is that as a refurbished model it only comes with a 90 day warranty. That might be enough to push someone towards a newer model with a manufacturer's warranty, or newer quantum dot-enhanced competitors like the 2019 TCL 6-Series line that's now available starting at $599. Whatever you do, make your decision quickly -- Woot's deals refresh at 1AM ET.
Wondering what's in store for the Microsoft Surface event on Wednesday? Evan Blass has posted renderings of several devices, including a Surface Pro 7 that brings a USB-C connector instead of Mini DisplayPort, and 10th-gen Intel Core CPUs inside. He also pointed out an ARM CPU-powered Surface that's thinner than the usual Pro lineup with some seriously skinny bezels and probably aimed directly at Apple's iPad Pro.
Finally, there's a supposed third generation Surface Laptop, with no fuzzy Alcantara to be seen, just smooth metal, USB-C ports and AMD hardware inside 13- and new 15-inch frames. What we haven't seen pictures of is any rumored dual screen "Centaurus" Surface, but there's still a few hours left before everything is revealed officially on October 2nd at 10AM ET.
Apple is starting to roll out its major Maps update more broadly across the US. It overhauled the app for iOS 13 with revamped maps for parts of California and Texas, and now it's expanding its new and improved Maps across the northeast US.
From Monday, folks in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Washington, DC and areas of Virginia and West Virginia can access more detailed maps, according toCNET. Reports emerged last month, before iOS 13 launched, that people in some of those states were already seeing more comprehensive maps in the app. Engadget has contacted Apple for clarification.
The new-look Maps brings broader coverage of road networks, refined pedestrian data, increased land cover detail and more accurate addresses. If you're in those aforementioned locales, the app should offer more realistic renderings of buildings, parks, marinas and beaches. In addition, there are indoor maps available for some US malls and airports around the globe.
The Look Around feature -- Apple's version of Google Street View -- allows you to peek at various aspects of a location. With Collections, you can pull together and share lists of places, and a favorites option offers navigation to the places you go to every day. Apple is touting real-time transit information and flight updates as features of the app too, along with improved turn-by-turn directions. You'll also be able to share your estimated time of arrival to a destination as well.
While Apple announced the Maps update in June and launched it on a limited basis with iOS 13 earlier this month, it might be a while before you can use the overhauled version if you're not in one of the areas mentioned above. Apple aims to expand the upgraded app across the US by the end of 2019, and elsewhere in 2020.
Not all heroes wear capes. In the case of two individuals accused of hacking a digital billboard to play pornography, the garments of choice appear to be more hoodie-like.
According to Michigan's Auburn Hills Police Department, at 10:49 p.m. on Sept. 28, the two individuals pictured above broke into a small building underneath a digital billboard on the side of I-75. Once inside, they somehow managed to hack the billboard and used it to play pornography.
Drivers, needless to say, were surprised and delighted at the unexpected sight.
The video reportedly ran for about 15 to 20 minutes before it was eventually shut down. Read more...
It's long been rumored that YouTube's machine learning algorithm specifically demonetizes LGBTQ content — despite YouTube's denials.
But the allegations got a boost over the weekend when two creators published videos pointing out how they think YouTube goes about blocking LGBTQ content from making money.
YouTube Analyzed fed more than 15,000 words used in titles to YouTube's bots to figure out what the platform deems too scandalous for advertisers. Words that triggered demonetization in his tests include "gay" and "homosexual."
Another channel, Nerd City, then broke down YouTube Analyzed's data in the acid trip of a video seen above. Before tackling YouTube's shadowy demonetization policy, Nerd City was known for diving into Jake Paul's insidious marketing schemes, exposing family vlogging channels as exploitative, and highlighting obviously edited Instagram photos as bad for young followers' self esteem. Read more...
One of the most iconic figures in PlayStation's management is stepping down. Sony has announced that Sony Interactive Entertainment's Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden is leaving the gaming division. The tech giant didn't initially say when Layden would leave, who would replace him or provide an explanation for the move. It wish him the best in "future endeavors," though, suggesting this isn't a retirement.
We've asked Sony if it can provide more details.
There have been frequent changes of leadership among the PlayStation team in recent years, including the exit of President Andrew House in favor of John Kodera, who promptly swapped roles with Jim Ryan this February. It's now Ryan who's the frontman for Worldwide Studios news, not the iconic Layden. We'd add that the PlayStation 5 launch is expected in late 2020 -- now may be a prime opportunity for a changing of the guard at Sony, whether it's voluntary or not.
Whatever prompted the decision, it marks the end for an era for the PlayStation brand. Layden has been with Sony in some form or another for roughly 32 years, including a stint as the comms assistant for co-founder Akio Morita. His gaming career took off in earnest when he became a producer at Sony Computer Entertainment in 1996, and rose through the ranks to become SIE's President in 2014.
For many, he was the quintessential public face of PlayStation, presenting at major events and explaining key decisions. More importantly, though, he also oversaw first-party game development during much of the PS4 era. Horizon Zero Dawn? Uncharted 4? The Last Guardian? While Layden wasn't directly involved in making those hits, they all arrived under his watch. His successor's main challenge is to keep that momentum going.
It is with great emotion that we announce that Worldwide Studios Chairman Shawn Layden will be departing SIE. His visionary leadership will be greatly missed. We wish him success in future endeavors and are deeply grateful for his years of service. Thanks for everything, Shawn!
Today is International Podcast Day and to mark the occasion, Spotify is rolling out a new feature. You can now add podcasts to playlists. You'll be able to intersperse your favorite shows with songs you love, or just line up the latest episodes of all your podcasts so you can listen to them one after another seamlessly.
Spotify tested podcast suggestions and curated podcast playlists over the last few months, so it's maybe not too much of a surprise it's now letting users add them to playlists as they see fit. The podcast update follows two new playlists Spotify rolled out last week, focusing on songs you've listened to the most over the last 30 days, and favorites you haven't heard in a while.
Through its development of fast, efficient, and cheap tablets, Amazon has opened the door to plenty of customers who want to use a tablet to assist with their everyday activities. Whether it's to browse the web, watch videos, or entertain the kids, Amazon Fire tablets are here to help.
Each edition of the Fire tablet is incredibly cheap, which is achieved through Amazon subsidizing the cost with ads on lock screens. The All-new Fire 7 costs just £49.99, dropping even lower than that during sales.
Don't let the affordability fool you though, these plucky little devices are fully capable of performing the vast majority of tasks that you'd expect from a tablet. The Fire HD tablets can even go one step further, and double up as a smart home device when you enable the 'Show Mode'. Read more...
FIFA 20 has some fresh elements, but the Career Mode is more than a little buggy -- to the point where #FixCareerMode has been popular on Twitter. And EA knows it. The company has published a Q&A where it has acknowledged and promised to fix several glaring issues. AI-controlled top teams are ranking poorly (sometimes to the point of relegation to lower leagues), while other teams choose poor starting lineups in crucial matches. There are also issues with match congestion due to rescheduling, unrealistic Dynamic Potential changes for players, easy Ultimate Difficulty, position changes after editing players and irrelevant questions in press conferences. Even the larger league structures are broken. If certain teams win the UEFA Europa League after a few seasons and get promoted to the UEFA Champions League, the leagues break.
The level of progress for each fix varies. EA has pinned down solutions for the UEFA league and player editing bugs, but it's more often "investigating a fix" or looking for feedback. It's not certain when you can expect patches.
The company also plans to refine the Squad Building interface in Ultimate Team tweak some on-the-field gameplay elements, including skill moves that don't always register and goalkeeper responses. Some supposed flaws, however, are conscious design choices -- headers and pass-based clearances were made less effective to encourage "skill differentiation" and ensure that most goals are scored due to direct player actions.
While it's not clear just how FIFA 20 ended up in such a state, it's not completely unexpected. EA's sports game developers are under pressure to release a new game every year, usually around the same time. That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room if a title isn't quite ready, even if early access players pinpoint issues.
HP is once again tweaking its popular Spectre x360 convertible lineup with a new 13-inch model. While the new x360 maintains the overall look of its predecessor, it's 13 percent smaller. It also has less noticeable display bezels, with the top half of the computer featuring a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio where the 2018 model was only 78 percent display. At 2.8 pounds, the new Spectre is also lighter than both the 2018 MacBook Air and 2019 MacBook Pro.
Despite shaving off more than a tenth of the computer, HP was able to build better cooling and thermals into the device. If you weren't a fan of the lineup's two-tone "Nightfall Black" and "Poseidon Blue" color options, the good news is that HP will offer the new model in a simpler "Natural Silver" color variant (pictured above). For the privacy-minded, there's also a new kill switch on the side of the computer that cuts power to the webcam.
Internally, the x360 includes Intel's latest 10th generation Core i5 and Core i7 processors. You can now also equip the computer with a new 4K AMOLED display that maxes out at a bright 400nits. The 4K display also includes DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage, making it ideal for editing photos and video, as well as support for VESA's new True Black HDR format. If HDR wasn't already complicated enough on PCs, True Black HDR is technically a step below HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, but should still make games and video content look better. Complimenting the 4K display is an anti-reflection coating that HP says makes the screen more useable outside.
HP has also updated the X360's LTE and WiFi modems. They're now Cat 16 and WiFi 6 capable, which should lead to faster connectivity if you can find compatible networks. Moreover, the LTE modem comes standard with the computer, instead of being an optional add-on. As before, HP claims you can get 22 hours of battery life of its laptop. While it's likely to fall short of that mark, with fast charging the X360's battery is able to get back up to a 50 percent charge in 30 minutes.
The new 13-inch Spectre x360 convertible laptop will be available in October, starting at $1,099 for the base model with Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. You'll have to pay a $400 premium to get the top-end model with 4K AMOLED display. Upgrading to the more expensive model also nets you a Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD that's complemented by a 32GB Intel Optane memory module. Best Buy will also carry the laptop when it becomes available later this fall.
Fall is here, and with it came a bunch of new music.In this week's column, deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham offers some thoughts on the new Death Cab EP. Senior news editor Billy Steele reminisces on when he discovered The Appleseed Cast and praises the band's 2019 album that arrived over the summer.
Death Cab for Cutie - The Blue EP
Nathan Ingraham Deputy Managing Editor
Death Cab for Cutie is one of modern rock's most reliable acts, dropping well-crafted albums every three years or so. That said, some critics find them to be a bit too predictable at this point, an enjoyable but static band that's not pushing any boundaries. I don't necessarily agree with that, but I can understand where that complaint comes from. The good news is that DCFC often also releases EPs between albums, as they did a few weeks ago. The Blue EP is an easily digestible five songs and 21 minutes that crackles with more life than last year's Thank You for Today.
As usual, the songs are unmistakably Death Cab, but they're all pretty distinctly different. Opener "To the Ground" is an instant classic, with strong melodies, choppy guitars, pounding drums and subtle keyboard fragments that all drop out four minutes in -- only to rejoin a few seconds later in a building crescendo to the song's climax. "Blue Bloods," on the other hand, starts with only a few chords and wistful lyrics about everything falling someday. But the second half just sounds great, with layers of guitar all coming together on top of a simple piano melody, not entirely unlike classic cut "Transatlanticism."
Those tunes bookend three simpler songs that are no less pleasing. It's surprising how well the whole collection hangs together when you consider the different creative processes these songs went through. Two were originally intended for Thank You for Today, two more were brand-new recordings made with a different producer after the album had been released. And the fifth tune, "Man in Blue," came out of sessions from when the band was just starting work on its last album. The recording on The Blue EP is from those sessions, unchanged. It's a low-fi affair that calls back to DCFC's earliest works while still fitting in with other brand-new tunes.
None of these songs are likely to become all-time favorites in the band's catalog. But somehow, The Blue EP still works surprisingly well as a quick, stand-alone record to show people what Death Cab For Cutie is all about.
The Appleseed Cast - The Fleeting Light of Permanence
Billy Steele Senior News Editor
I was first introduced to The Appleseed Cast in 2003. Thanks to a college classmate, my music library expanded exponentially over the course of a single semester. After a semi-sheltered childhood, I dove headlong into hardcore, indie rock and emo. And I quickly discovered that only a few options were conducive to productivity. One of those was the ambient indie rock sounds of The Appleseed Cast.
By the time I found them, the band from Lawrence, Kansas, was on its sixth album. However, I was immediately drawn to Mare Vitalis, released in 2000. Tracks two and three, "Fishing The Sky" and "Forever Longing The Golden Sunsets," are basically peak Appleseed Cast for me. Guitar riffs drive the tracks with bombastic drum beats underneath. Nothing is overly intricate here, and the riffs are mostly repetitive rhythmic picking, but the band is so good at it. And they're also very good at using dynamics to create tension and beauty in their songs. There's also a lot of instrumental tracks spread across the band's library which makes them a solid choice for background tunes when you're trying to work.
"Fishing The Sky," in particular, goes from soaring rock to restrained melodic instrumental and back up to a climax where the vocalist Christopher Crisci comes just short of full-on screaming. That would've been too much though, and teetering on the edge of restraint is what makes it fit the song perfectly. And on "Forever Longing The Golden Sunsets" you get a taste of another key aspect of The Appleseed Cast: Drum beats are more than just 4/4 or 6/8 pounding. They're almost like drum riffs, where the cymbals are part of the beat -- bell hits on the ride in particular. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of just keeping the beat, but the added details are a big part of what makes this band's music unique.
I'm also a huge fan of Peregrine (2006) and Illumination Ritual (2013) for some of the same reasons. Both of those albums showcase my favorite aspects of the band: Soft, brooding tracks are offset by some of the best indie rock driven by guitar riffs and booming drums -- all intricately woven together. It's basically the epitome of emo/indie rock for me. And perhaps what's most impressive to me is the band's most recent album does all of this and more, so it doesn't feel dated at all. Instead, it's equal parts consistency and evolution.
The Appleseed Cast released The Fleeting Light of Impermanence in June, and I'll be honest, I never expected to get another new album from them after 2013. I'm very glad we did though, as this might be my favorite album of the year. Sure, I'm a little partial, but hear me out.
The opening track, "Chaotic Waves," there's everything that makes the band what it is. Then you notice some subtle synth work complementing the guitars in some parts. As the record progresses, there's gradually more synthesizer, strings and other elements that expand the sound The Appleseed Cast has spent decades perfecting. Then you hit the third song, and it's an all out assault, or as I like to call it, a symphony of indie rock. "Time The Destroyer" starts soft and builds to a huge chorus with driving drums and a big sound before dipping back down to more ambient and melodic tones.
If you're a fan of bands like American Football and Pedro the Lion, you'll likely be into The Appleseed Cast. Even if you're not, heck, you might find something you like here.
"IRL" is a recurring column in which the Engadget staff run down what they're buying, using, playing and streaming.
Warm up your gray matter and get ready to flex your neurons, because Nintendo's beloved Brain Age (or Brain Training depending on where you live) series is coming to the Switch. The company has announced a new version of the game to be released in Japan at the end of the year.
The full title of the game translates to "Nintendo Switch Training for Adults with Brain Training Supervised by Prof. Ryuta Kawashima, Research Institute for Aging Medicine, Tohoku University" and it will have features like support for two players and battle modes. The challenges look to be similar to the original game, with mathematics puzzles, memory tests and pattern recognition tasks for you to work through.
The game will use the Switch's Joy-Cons for input, using their infrared cameras to record hand and finger movements so players can use their fingers to indicate the answer to a calculation problem, for example.
There's another throwback input device supported as well: a capacitive stylus for writing answers to puzzles on the Switch's screen. This retro approach harks back to the original franchise, and the stylus will be released alongside the game for ¥864 ($8).
The original Brain Age games were recommended by some Japanese doctors to stimulate the brains of seniors and to slow memory loss, however, scientific studies found that mental exercises like those found in the game were not actually effective at lessening mental decline. In either case, the game was certainly fun and was hugely popular with kids and adults as well as older people.
The new Brain Age for Switch will be released in Japan on December 27th, but there's no word yet on when or whether it will be released in other countries.
They've got more Mickey Mouse pajamas than you have shoes, their bathroom is a seashell-centric ode to Ariel's grotto, and just the mention of Sleeping Beauty's Castle makes their face light up. You can't help but be amazed by this person's appreciation for the magical world of Disney and the incredible characters that inhabit it — even if that has meant sitting idly by as their poor wiener dog has been dressed up as Slinky every Halloween for the past 5 years.
So, what to get the Disney fan whose got everything? Here are 10 magical gift ideas sure to make your loved one happier than Pluto with a bone, Olaf in summer, and Cruella de Vil with a brand new coat. Er... maybe not that last one. Read more...
TL;DR: The 'Fortnite Neo Versa' PS4 controller bundle is now only £34.99, £10 off the list price of £44.99.
Fortnite is absolutely everywhere at the moment, and there's no escaping it. So, you might as well take advantage of the unrelenting trend and check out this fantastic offer on GAME.
Down to only £34.99 from £44.99, this deal includes a Jet Black PlayStation DualShock 4 controller, alongside exclusive Fortnite content.
Considering DualShock 4 controllers can sit anywhere between £40 to £50 alone, this is a great deal even if you aren't a big Fortnite fan.
Welcome back! Apple's latest iOS update is here, and the difference from .0 to .1 is bigger than you might expect. Also, Flight Simulator is making a comeback, and on Saturday, Elon Musk set the timetable for Starship test flights.
Microsoft is now accepting applications for a pre-alpha Flight Simulator Insider program due to kick off later this year. The full game will launch on PC in 2020 and on Xbox after that. To find out what the ultra-realistic sim has to offer this time around, read Jessica Conditt's impressions.
"Flight Simulator offers a new perspective on the world, period. Developers are committed to holding a mirror to reality, researching and recreating accurate atmospheres, cockpits, wind patterns, flight maneuvers, weather and locations. Even the stars in the night skies are accurate."
As part of a Q&A session at SpaceX's Starship presentation on Saturday night, Musk outlined plans for rapid prototyping that could get the vessel into space in a short time frame. Starship Mk1 at Boca Chica, Texas, should have a suborbital test flight in one to two months. If all goes well, either Mk3 or an eventual Mk5 would fly an orbital test within six months. Besides his typically optimistic production timelines, Musk's presentation also included a look at the plan for in-orbit refueling, which would help the Starship take longer trips to Mars and beyond.
Mojang and Microsoft have revealed that the augmented reality game will be available in "early access" for some countries, starting in October. It didn't say which countries or platforms would be included, but the beta has both Android and iOS users.
Now in its seventh generation, the "most popular" iPad that Apple sells has grown from 9.7- to 10.2-inches, ships with iPadOS and has a connector to support the company's still-pricey keyboard add-on. The folks at iFixit attacked this new model with their assortment of tools and found that despite the new size, inside it's still very similar to the previous model.
In a country pub tucked in a corner of the Cotswold Hills in the middle of England, 433 men with the same first name gathered for an unusual celebration. There were no cults involved. No politics, either, for that matter. This was Nigel Night — a night of celebration for the Nigels of the world.
Nigels from up and down the country travelled to join the festivities. One Nigel flew in from Cyprus, and another Nigel crowdfunded his plane ticket from Texas, U.S. so he could be among his Nigel kinsfolk. One Nigel even received a marriage proposal on stage at Nigel Night.
"You'll need to speak to Nigel," said a voice on the telephone when I called The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Worcestershire. Nigel Smith is the landlord of The Fleece and the mastermind behind the plan to assemble Nigels from across the land. When I spoke to Nigel, he told me that the night — which took place on Sept. 28 — started off as "a slightly mad idea." Read more...
