Friday 3 May 2019

The Morning After: What to expect from Google I/O 2019

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Friday, May 03, 2019.

Hey, good morning!

Welcome to Friday! We’ve lined up everything you can expect to see from Google’s big I/O showcase next week, while cable viewers in the Philippines got to see Avengers: Endgame, when they probably shouldn’t have. (Read in browser here)

And it did so the day after the movie premiered.

A pirated copy of 'Avengers: Endgame' was aired on Philippine cable TV

According to the Philippine News Agency, a cable company in the country aired Avengers: Endgame after it premiered on April 24th -- and, yes, it showed a bad pirated copy, because there was absolutely no way Marvel would've given it the right to show Endgame on TV that soon. Now, the provider has to deal with not only irate fans who were accidentally exposed to spoilers, but also with the lawsuit Teatro de Dapitan, a local movie house, plans to file.

The CG star is getting a redesign.

'Sonic the Hedgehog' director: Changes are 'going to happen'

That the internet had an uneasy reaction to our first look at the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog live-action movie isn't surprising, but the absolute horror induced by some elements of the furry hero's design has not gone unnoticed. Director Jeff Fowler tweeted: "The message is loud and clear... you aren't happy with the design & you want changes. It's going to happen." We’ll see what Sega and Paramount can pull off before the movie is released -- and whether a goofy-looking lead is the movie’s biggest problem.

It’s no Virtual Boy.

Nintendo Labo VR review: Cute, cardboard and kinda boring

According to Kris Naudus, Nintendo’s latest Labo accessory for the Switch “... offers decent VR with a lot of potential for growth thanks to updates to existing games like Super Mario Odyssey. If Nintendo continues to expand its Labo and virtual-reality ecosystems, the VR kit will be more than worth the price of entry.”

Typesy can help you type at over 100 WPM, and it's now $20

The pop icon danced with digital versions of herself at the Billboard Music Awards.

How augmented reality put five Madonnas on stage at once

At Wednesday's Billboard Music Awards, Madonna performed her latest single, "Medellín". However, she (and her IRL dancers) weren't alone on the Las Vegas stage. Several virtual versions of the pop icon joined them: a secret agent, a musician, a cha-cha instructor and a bride. Augmented reality brought Madonna's personas to life with the help of volumetric capture -- essentially 3D video.

You could see new Pixel phones, a Nest smart display and more.

What to expect at Google I/O 2019

Google's I/O developer conference is right around the corner. While usually that means new software, features and web technology, Google confirmed during its latest financial-results call that it will make hardware announcements at I/O, breaking the device drought of the past few years. Aside from those regular leaks of cheaper Pixel 3 phones, let us guide you through what else you can expect.

Give it a word and it'll give you AI masterpiece.

Google's poetry algorithm automates teen angst

From today, you can use Google's AI to create a unique "poem portrait," an ethereal image of your self-portrait overlaid with an exclusive poem generated from a word of your choice (so basically a recreation of every image ever from DeviantArt circa 2002).

But wait, there's more...

1. Google Pixel 3a XL spotted at Best Buy ahead of launch

2. Tesla software update adds Lane Departure Avoidance that works when Autopilot is off

3. Verizon is trying to sell off Tumblr

4. SpaceX acknowledges its Crew Dragon capsule was destroyed during a test

5. Facebook and Instagram ban Alex Jones and other far-right extremists

6. It's not just the Apple Watch powering the smartwatch market's growth

7. Why some tech companies are turning to print

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Thursday 2 May 2019

Editor's Pick: Cybersecurity Pros Join 'Right to Repair' Battle

Cybersecurity Pros Join 'Right to Repair' Battle

Richard Adhikari
May 2, 2019 5:00 AM PT

An advocacy organization formed by cybersecurity professionals has joined the fight for "right to repair" legislation, which would allow consumers and third parties to repair electronic equipment without voiding manufacturers' warranties. Legislators in about 20 states have been working on some form of this legislation, but they have been stymied by a number of tech companies and industry groups. [More...]

More Picks:

Facebook's Ad Library API Draws Fire
Facebook has come under fire for its Ad Library API, which lets users perform customized keyword searches of all active and inactive ads related to politics or issues of national importance stored there. Released in beta last summer, the archive became available to everyone in March, following pressure from Mozilla ahead of the EU's upcoming parliamentary elections. [More...]

New CRM Research Shows Awareness Gap
CRM guru Esteban Kolsky and I did some primary research earlier this year, paid for by Zoho. We wanted to improve our understanding of what buyers of CRM systems were most interested in, and to discover their highest priorities. Our survey population was comprised of more than 200 highly qualified executives and managers in companies with workforces that ranged from 500 to several thousand. [More...]

Open Source Flaw Management Shows Signs of Improvement: Report
Almost two years after the infamous Equifax breach, many organizations still struggle to identify and manage open source risk across their application portfolios. Meanwhile, the latest report tracking open source security shows a 40 percent rise in the average number of open source components detected in each codebase analyzed. The scanned software includes commercial applications. [More...]

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The Morning After: Epic bought the maker of 'Rocket League'

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Thursday, May 02, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Are you ready for the first 5G-connected TV? Huawei may have one on the way; however, we’re probably closer to seeing all of Google’s Pixel 3a and the Moto Z4. Also, NASA uncovered a fraud scheme that resulted in a couple of destroyed rockets, and tinkerers should check out this DIY smartwatch project.

(View in browser.)

A fairing failed to separate and destroyed two rockets

NASA was sold faulty rocket parts for almost 20 years

When the launch of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory and Glory missions failed in 2009 and 2011, the agency said it was because their launch vehicle malfunctioned. Now, a NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) investigation has revealed the malfunction was caused by faulty aluminum materials. More importantly, the probe blew a 19-year fraud scheme perpetrated by Oregon aluminum extrusion manufacturer Sapa Profiles, Inc., which Orbital ATK fell victim to, wide open.

As long as you have a reservation.

Tesla's Model 3 finally goes on sale in the UK

Including VAT and the UK’s Plug-In Car Grant, prices for the Model 3 start at £38,900 ($50,853) for the Standard Range Plus model, rising to £47,900 ($62,691) for the Long Range model and £56,900 ($74,385) for the top-end Performance model. Meanwhile, in Canada, Tesla is selling a software-limited 93-mile range vehicle, which starts at $44,999, just $1 under the $45,000 limit to be eligible for a $5,000 EV credit.

We’ll see what this means for Steam.

Epic buys 'Rocket League' creator Psyonix

Fortnite-maker Epic has acquired Rocket League-creator Psyonix for an unspecified amount and will bring the vehicular soccer game to the Epic Games Store by late 2019. Needless to say, that has people worried about Rocket League's fate -- will it disappear from Steam? Epic said it had "not announced plans" to stop selling the game on Steam, but it's only guaranteeing existing customers will "continue to be supported."

These $100 true wireless earbuds are only $35 today

Imagine a shooter that’s not a battle-royale game.

'Borderlands 3' hands-on: More of the same, but in space

When it comes out on September 13th, Borderlands 3 will have a four-player online co-op, and it'll also support local, split-screen multiplayer for up to two people. It has more than one billion guns, comic-book-inspired visuals, new narrative arcs with famous in-game folks, customizable skill trees and heaps of enemies to mow down. Perhaps most importantly, every scene is dripping with crass sarcasm.

We’ll see if that satisfies audiophiles.

Netflix upgrades to ‘studio-quality’ audio for streaming

The company is increasing its audio bitrate up to 640 kbps on devices that support 5.1 surround sound and up to 768 kbps for Dolby Atmos -- though you'll need to be a Premium subscriber for that. It's also bringing adaptive streaming, a feature it's long used for video, to your speakers.

Did it do the MCU justice?

What we're watching: 'Avengers: Endgame'

This month's IRL focuses on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest achievement -- Avengers: Endgame. While we can already tell you how to watch the movie (go IMAX or go home), now it's time to talk about how we felt once it was over and the lights came back on.