Thursday 18 July 2019

Reviewing Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Thursday, July 18, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

It’s time to find out if Apple’s new MacBook Pro is worth the money, plus we’ll break down the controversy over G2A’s business model. Meanwhile, Nintendo slipped in a Switch upgrade and an iconic Braun product line is coming back.

(View in browser.)

Oh, is that all?

Amazon will change its rules for third-party sellers following backlash

Merchants have reported restrictions on where they can sell, being kicked off the site for no obvious reasons and issues with counterfeiting. But Germany has forced Amazon to change its attitude, and the retailer will now be overhauling its terms of service for third-party sellers worldwide. Among other things, it will have to give merchants 30 days' notice -- and an explanation -- before removing a seller from the platform, and merchants in Europe will be able to take Amazon to court in their own country.

The new entry-level MacBook Pro is a much-needed upgrade.

Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro review (2019): This is the one

Apple’s latest MacBook Pro isn’t the redesign some are waiting for. But it’s a strong refinement of the existing formula, particularly in the speed department. For $200 more than a MacBook Air, you get a much faster machine.

Lighter and easier to take apart.

DJI's new gimbal is almost half the weight of the Ronin-S

The single-handed three-axis model, called Ronin-S Compact (or Ronin-SC), weighs only 2.4 pounds or just a bit over a kilo -- DJI says that's 41 percent lighter than the Ronin-S released in late 2018. There are some setbacks: The Ronin-SC can carry up to 4.4 pounds and can last up to 11 hours, whereas the Ronin-S has a payload capacity of 8 pounds and has a 12-hour battery life. However, the new model comes with some fresh features, including a better balancing capability and a new position lock system.

Get lifetime access to 15,000+ slide templates for $40

The war over gray market key selling, explained.

Why are game developers so angry with G2A's marketplace?

Once again, game code reseller G2A is being forced to defend its marketplace. Mike Rose, founder of game publisher No More Robots, launched a petition earlier this month that calls on the company to remove all independent games from its platform. "G2A's platform hurts indie devs time and time again," the Change.org description reads, "by allowing anyone to sell illegitimate keys for their games online, with incredible ease, and no ramifications or checks."

Engadget’s guide to outdoor gear.

In case of emergency: The tech that might save you

Look, nature is beautiful. It's fun. But it can also be unpredictable and dangerous. Part of being mentally prepared is knowing when your wits alone aren't enough and getting the right gear to help you in the event of an emergency. Managing editor Terrence O’Brien has a few suggestions.

Pure Audio will revive the design icon this September.

Braun's Dieter Rams-designed speaker line is making a comeback

It's been 28 years since German consumer product maker Braun got out of the audio business, but any audiophile will still be able to recognize the company's iconic LE speaker range, which wouldn’t look out of place here in 2019.

Well, Braun has announced that Pure Audio will launch new speakers that will reinvent its classic design. The speaker maker will license the Braun name from Procter and Gamble, with new LE speakers making their debut at IFA in Berlin, Germany, this September. So it’s an iconic rebadge, but for some reason, I’m not mad.

But wait, there's more...

1. The tech elite athletes use

2. Nintendo quietly upgrades the Switch with up to 9 hours of battery life

3. AI learns to solve a Rubik's Cube in 1.2 seconds

4. What we played in July: 'Bloodstained' and 'Super Mario Maker 2'

5. Ableton Live can control modular synths from your computer

6. 'PUBG' update brings destruction and better visuals to the original map

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Wednesday 17 July 2019

E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Wednesday -- July 17, 2019

The E-Commerce Times -- E-Business Means Business
https://www.ecommercetimes.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Mnuchin Sounds Alarm Over Facebook's Money-Minting Plan
The Online Grocery Shopping Comeback
Isn't It Time to Buy Cyber Insurance?
The Subscription Model: The Shining Star of E-Commerce

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Today's Story Highlights

Mnuchin Sounds Alarm Over Facebook's Money-Minting Plan

The Treasury Department has "very serious concerns" about Facebook's new
Libra cryptocurrency, according to Secretary Steve Mnuchin. "Libra could
be misused by money launderers and terrorist financiers.
Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, have been exploited to support
billions of dollars of illicit activity, like cybercrime, tax evasion,
extortion, ransomware, illicit drugs, human trafficking."
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86129.html

The Online Grocery Shopping Comeback

Do you enjoy grocery shopping? Some shoppers love walking up and down
the aisles, seeing what's new, looking for what's on sale, and getting
new ideas. They often pick up things that weren't on their list.
However, while many shoppers love that experience, others don't. They
would rather run in and out as quickly as possible. That's where online
grocery shopping comes into play.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86126.html

Isn't It Time to Buy Cyber Insurance?

Every day we read stories about data breaches and cyberattacks on
business and government websites, and the resulting the loss of
personally identifiable information. Cybercrime is on the rise, and
given the ever-evolving methods of attack, meaningful relief and
reliable measures to fend off cybercriminals are unlikely in the
foreseeable future. Companies need to insure against cybertheft.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86123.html

The Subscription Model: The Shining Star of E-Commerce

Subscription sales have become a strong part of e-commerce. Everything
from razors to dog toys to movies is being sold on the subscription
model, and there is no sign of letting up. "Our customers tell us that
opening their BarkBox with their dog is one of the best experiences they
share every month," said Allison Stadd, vice president of marketing at
Bark, about its monthly dog supply box.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86118.html

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Elon Musk's plan to plug a computer into your brain

Engadget Email Newsletter

It's Wednesday, July 17, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Feel the need to work on your body? We have some expert advice on training gear that can help, with input from elite athletes who don’t have time to waste. Of course, all that effort could be for naught once our brains meld with computers and we’re living in a(nother) virtual world full-time -- and that’s where Neuralink comes in.

(View in browser.)

What does it mean to be better, faster, stronger when money is no object?

The tech elite athletes use

We asked five elite runners, all of whom are flush with sponsorship deals and prize money, on what they use to train, and how they protect their most important piece of equipment: their bodies.

It’s like a sewing machine. Sort of.

Elon Musk's Neuralink plans to install brain-computer interfaces in humans next year

Two years ago, we heard about Elon Musk investing heavily in Neuralink, a company dedicated to building a device that links human brains to computers. Now, it has unveiled the "threads" and other hardware that it says can actually do the job. So far it has been done in rats, and according to Musk, "a monkey has been able to control the computer with its brain."

Thanks to a robot carefully inserting the wires near groups of neurons, the hope is that not only will it assist patients in restoring things like movement or sight, but possibly help humanity keep pace with AI.

In other Elon Musk news.

Tesla workers claim tape quick fixes during Model 3 production

A handful of employees who work in Tesla's open-air GA4 production tent told CNBC that they used electrical tape to quickly repair cracks on plastic brackets and housings and worked through extreme heat, cold and wild-fire smoke. A Tesla spokesperson said that the employees' reports were "misleading and do not reflect our manufacturing practices or what it's like to work at Tesla."

This DJI Osmo Pocket is now available for just $349

Evija.

Lotus’ all-electric hypercar fully charges in nine minutes

This Evija is the first Lotus with an electrified powertrain, capable of 1,973 HP. It’s inspired by race cars inside and out, but one distinguishing feature has to do with a different kind of speed. If plugged into an 800kW charger (none exist, but you don’t have $2.1 million to buy the car, anyway), it’s theoretically capable of fully charging the battery in under ten minutes. Using the 350kW chargers you can actually find in some places, it would take 18 minutes and offer up to 270 miles of range.

Something for casual runners, marathoners and everyone in between.

The best GPS running watches for 2019

Engadget editor-in-chief and volunteer running coach Dana Wollman: "I often get asked which GPS watch to buy. (People also ask what I'm wearing and the answer is: All of them. I am testing all of them.) Without further ado, I bring you capsule reviews of four running watches, each of which I ultimately recommend; none of which is perfect. There are at least two watches on this list I like so much I switch back and forth between them in my own training."

Uh-oh.

Is the Netflix business model bad news for indie games?

A lot of details are up in the air when it comes to subscription deals in the coming gaming generation. Indie developers are at the forefront, negotiating their games away and hopefully getting plenty in return.

The show premiered two years ago.

Netflix edits '13 Reasons Why' suicide scene

If you decide to rewatch the first season of 13 Reasons Why, don't expect to see the controversial three-minute-long scene showing Hanna taking her own life in graphic detail. Netflix and the team behind the show have decided to tone down that part of the episode ahead of the third season's debut, following advice from medical experts.

Ready for photographers and videographers.

A closer look at Sony's A7R IV full-frame, 61-megapixel mirrorless camera

At an event in New York City, the company introduced its A7R IV, a full-frame mirrorless camera that comes with a whopping 61-megapixel Exmor R sensor. Sony says this new shooter is all about offering "medium-format-level" image quality in a package that's both compact and lightweight. The A7R IV is set to arrive in September for $3,500 (body only), while the ECM-B1M digital shotgun mic will be available at the same time for $350.