The Morning After: Trying out Nintendo's Labo VR goggles

It's Friday, March 22, 2019. Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. After a week full of reveals and announcements, we’re taking a closer look at Google’s Stadia promises and everything Apple’s updated iPads have to offer. Also, Nintendo is getting (back) into VR, and Comcast has an internet TV box. (View in browser.) Can a game platform for everyone work well for anyone? Google is convinced it can get game streaming right Aside from 4K, HDR and 60 fps, as well as game-loading times as short as three seconds (all from a link, no less), Google is already talking about one day streaming games in 8K and 120 fps on Stadia. In an interview with Engadget, exec Phil Harrison explains why we should believe any of it is going to be possible. Wait, what? Microsoft Defender is jumping from Windows to Mac Just days after launching Windows Defender extensions for Chrome and Firefox, Microsoft is bringing its anti-malware package to more platforms, starting with the Mac. Of course, it no longer makes sense to call it Windows Defender, so now it's Microsoft Defender. Just Pro enough. Apple iPad Air hands-on (2019) We don’t have a full review ready for you yet, but after a few days, we already have some opinions to share about the updated iPad Air (and, of course, an iPad mini that’s getting its first refresh in three years). When it comes to the Air, Chris Velazco says that “there's little new ground broken here -- you'll mostly find a bunch of very practical refinements and choices made to manage costs. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though.” $5 per month for Comcast’s X1-powered take on Roku and Fire TV. Comcast launches Xfinity Flex internet streaming TV The latest option for cord cutters is coming from… a cable company? Xfinity Flex will launch next week, with streaming set-top boxes powered by the same X1 interface seen on Comcast’s latest cable boxes. Offered only to people with Comcast internet, it pulls in both free internet video options like YouTube and Cheddar TV, in addition to popular pay services from Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime and Showtime. So why pay a monthly fee to Comcast instead of using built-in TV apps or something like an Apple TV, Roku or Fire TV? For people who need a little more help making the shift away from cable, easy access to customer support and a familiar grid guide might help -- and for Comcast, provide the chance for an easy cable TV upsell. Or you could save a few bucks and cut Comcast out entirely. It’s not another Virtual Boy. Nintendo's Labo turns the Switch into a perfect VR gateway The handful of experiences included in Nintendo’s latest Labo kit for the Switch were enough to convince Devindra Hardawar that the company knows what it’s doing. Despite the limitations of the cardboard setup and a 720P Switch display, it’s “centered around accessibility and brief moments of surprise and delight.” The complete kit ships for $80 on April 12th, but take a look at our hands-on video before diving in. Don’t call it a discount. Tesla's 'sustainable' referral program limits free Supercharging When Tesla axed its original referral program because it was getting too expensive to keep up, Elon Musk said the company isn't replacing it with a new one. Just a few weeks later, it has been replaced, and when someone purchases a Tesla using a friend's referral code, both of them will get 1,000 miles of Supercharging for free. They'll also get one chance to win a Founder's Series Model Y, monthly, and a Founder's series Roadster supercar, quarterly. Both cars will be signed by Musk and Tesla chief designer Franz von Holzhausen. If the referrer already has unlimited Supercharging, they'll get two chances to win per referral instead. Get ready for ‘show time.’ What to expect from Apple's streaming-video event After high-profile flops like Planet of the Apps and Carpool Karaoke, it's a bit tough to feel that excited about whatever Apple is cooking up -- but there's always the chance it could offer something truly unique. Beyond its TV service, we could see even more TV partnerships announced at the media event, as well as a release date for iOS 12.2. We might also get a peek at Apple's subscription news service, though it doesn't quite fit in with the entertainment tone of the event. But wait, there's more... 1. The Oculus Rift S: Impressive but unnecessary 2. Boeing sold essential safety features as extras on 737 Max 3. GameStop's new CEO is expected to lead a major overhaul 4. Intel's 9th Gen mobile Core processors will launch before July 5. Over 20,000 Facebook employees had access to 600 million user passwords 6. Finland is investigating Nokia phones sending data to China 7. Netflix is testing a $3.64 mobile plan in India 8. MoviePass founder's next big idea: Free movie tickets for watching ads 9. Short film created in Unreal Engine showcases a photorealistic world The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't subscribe. Craving even more? Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note. Copyright © 2016 Aol Inc. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: AOL 770 Broadway #4 New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you opted in at engadget.com. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe from this newsletter.

Editor's Pick: New Oculus Rift S Pushes VR Experience Up a Notch

New Oculus Rift S Pushes VR Experience Up a Notch

Richard Adhikari Mar 21, 2019 5:00 AM PT

Facebook unveiled its Oculus Rift S virtual reality headset at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. It will be available this spring for $399. With the Rift 2, Oculus "is following some of the trends set by Vive -- inside-out tracking, incremental improvement, and focus on comfort," observed David MacQueen, executive director of Strategy Analytics' wireless media strategies service. [More...]

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SparkyLinux Incinerates the Hassle Factor SparkyLinux is a Linux distro that can ignite your daily computing experience. Its spark is pushing me to rethink my computing priorities. Regularly reviewing so many Linux operating systems for Linux Picks and Pans has a serious consequence for my computing sanity. Normally, I have a flirtatious episode with a new release each week. I'm always on the lookout for something new and shiny. [More...]

Google Stadia: Future of Gaming or Pie in the Cloud? Google has pulled the wraps off Stadia, a new cloud-based gaming platform. Using the power of Google's global information infrastructure, Stadia can stream the highest-quality games to any screen, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in announcing the platform, which is expected to come online later this year. Stadia represents Google's vision for the future of gaming. [More...]

How to Bring Relationships Back to CRM Customer relationship management is a term you've likely heard if you have worked in the tech space. CRM software solutions have not always been as far-reaching as they are today. Over the last 40 years, CRM has evolved from a range of disparate business solutions developed for various customer needs. The earliest CRM tools were devices like Rolodexes, which you can hardly even find these days. [More...]

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Tech News Flash

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Tech News Flash: Thursday -- March 21, 2019

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Headline Scan
New Oculus Rift S Pushes VR Experience Up a Notch
SparkyLinux Incinerates the Hassle Factor
Google Stadia: Future of Gaming or Pie in the Cloud?
Apple Boosts Performance in New iPad Air and Mini
MOREbot Introduces Kids to Robotics Using 3D Printed Parts

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Today's Story Highlights

New Oculus Rift S Pushes VR Experience Up a Notch
Facebook unveiled its Oculus Rift S virtual reality headset at the Game
Developers Conference in San Francisco. It will be available this spring
for $399. With the Rift 2, Oculus "is following some of the trends set
by Vive -- inside-out tracking, incremental improvement, and focus on
comfort," observed David MacQueen, executive director of Strategy
Analytics' wireless media strategies service.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85910.html

SparkyLinux Incinerates the Hassle Factor
SparkyLinux is a Linux distro that can ignite your daily computing
experience. Its spark is pushing me to rethink my computing priorities.
Regularly reviewing so many Linux operating systems for Linux Picks and
Pans has a serious consequence for my computing sanity. Normally, I have
a flirtatious episode with a new release each week. I'm always on the
lookout for something new and shiny.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85909.html

Google Stadia: Future of Gaming or Pie in the Cloud?
Google has pulled the wraps off Stadia, a new cloud-based gaming
platform. Using the power of Google's global information infrastructure,
Stadia can stream the highest-quality games to any screen, Google CEO
Sundar Pichai said in announcing the platform, which is expected to come
online later this year. Stadia represents Google's vision for the future
of gaming.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85908.html

Apple Boosts Performance in New iPad Air and Mini
Apple has announced a new 10.5-inch iPad and a refresh of the iPad mini.
The iPad Air, which will sell for $499, offers 64 gigabytes of solid
state storage and WiFi support. It has Apple's latest mobile processor,
the A12 Bionic chip, and supports Apple Pencil and the company's smart
keyboard. The 7.9-inch iPad mini, which will sell at a base price of
$399 with WiFi support also has an A12 chip.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85904.html

MOREbot Introduces Kids to Robotics Using 3D Printed Parts
MORE Technologies last week launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise
$20,000 for development of its open source robot ecosystem. The company
will fund the project if it reaches its goal by April 21. It teaches
real tech skills to the next generation of innovators and problem
solvers using MOREbot -- a series of open source, customizable robotics
kits.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/85905.html

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