Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Google finally reveals the Pixel 4

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It's Wednesday, October 16, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Now that Google’s big hardware event has happened, we can end the leaks and start playing around with the Pixel 4. Tuesday also brought in big news about League of Legends and Sony’s immersive new format for music -- catch up with everything below.

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'League of Legends: Wild Rift' will land on mobile and consoles in 2020

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of League of Legends, the massive multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) that’s only dwarfed by the likes of, well, Fortnite, Riot has announced a few things. League of Legends: Wild Rift is a five-on-five version of LoL coming to consoles and phones in 2020 -- free to download. There will also be a port of Teamfight Tactics and some new tweaks to the original League of Legends, too, with a new support character joining the fight.

It starts at $649, $350 less than the original Pixelbook.

The Pixelbook Go is Google's most affordable Chromebook yet

Google's Pixel laptops used to be synonymous with "expensive." With prices upwards of $1,000, the company's Chromebook Pixel and Pixelbook were costly products meant only for the most ardent Chrome OS fans. Paradoxically, they were launched at a time when most people associated Chromebooks with cheap, secondary laptops -- you'd have had a hard time finding a third-party option that cost more than $350.

For the Pixelbook Go, Google has softened the edges of the series, with a rounded profile and lighter frame. The Go’s ribbed surface along the base apparently makes it easier to carry and should also help it stand out against the legion of sameish laptops and Chromebooks. The 13.3-inch Go doesn’t offer a rotating screen like its predecessor, so it’s much more like a familiar laptop -- which might not be a bad thing.

Do you define $649 as an affordable Chromebook, though?

The event’s headliner had its setlist spoiled long ago.

Google’s Pixel 4 revealed: No surprises, impressive cameras

Welcome Google’s latest phones, now packing a charming new coral color swatch, a new dual camera setup and Soli radar that combines gestures with face unlock. The Pixel 4 will still pack the same advanced imaging software you’d expect, but it has new upgrades to localize exposure on subjects and improved bokeh effects that are less likely to turn your hair into a big smudge. The phone even has an astrophotography mode to make the most of its low-light capabilities.

A lot of this, well, you probably already knew about, but Google was confirming the facts yesterday -- including the price. The Pixel 4, when it launches across all four major carriers, starts at $799 for the smaller model and $899 for the Pixel 4 XL. That means that Apple’s own iPhone 11 undercuts the Pixel 4 at launch, but Google’s phone is cheaper than the iPhone 11 Pro. The phones will ship on October 24th -- expect our full verdict before then.

Score a lifetime of tech training for under $50 today .

In-ear Assistant.

The new true wireless Pixel Buds are always listening

These $179 Pixel Buds (no number differentiator here) don't look terribly different from the originals, but this time there's no cable connecting the two, and they fit flush to your ear. Additionally, they have a nice two-tone finish that matches the colors of the new Pixel phones. Cherlynn Low tried out a nonfunctional set at Google’s event, reporting that they’re slightly smaller than Microsoft’s more expensive Surface Earbuds and didn’t fit her ears quite as snugly.

More than just mesh.

Google Nest WiFi: Range extenders have never sounded so good

As rumored, Google's new Nest WiFi can be paired with "points," aka beacons, that will help extend the range of your wireless network at home. These Nest WiFi points can also double as smart speakers, making them compatible with Google Assistant.

The Nest WiFi can do everything the Nest Mini does, so you can use it to make phone calls or listen to music, plus it offers up to 25 percent better coverage and twice the speed of Google’s WiFi mesh. Cherlynn Low tried them out to experience the upgraded sound and “softer, homier” aesthetic” in person.

While Nest Aware is getting smarter and more connected at a simple price.

Google Nest Mini: Software tricks make up for its tiny size

The refreshed Nest Mini isn’t hiding any router hardware inside, but it does have a faster processor and a wall mount at the same $49 price. Meanwhile, Google’s software magic is tweaking the audio for better performance and enabling ultrasound detection, which can adjust to a nearby presence.

Google is also tweaking the Nest Aware subscription packages, which will cost a flat fee of either $6 or $12 per month no matter how many cameras you have installed. It will also pull in alerts from Google speakers and displays based on sounds they hear -- and allow you to call 911 even if you’re somewhere else.

If you’re picking up its Stadia Pro-enhanced packages.

Google Stadia launches on November 19th

At noon ET on November 19th, you’ll be able to access Google’s cloud gaming service, Stadia -- if you’re one of the gamers who pre-order it. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Mortal Kombat 11 and Kine will be available for play in 4K and HDR using a Chromecast Ultra and Google’s controller, as well as in lower quality on other devices down to compatible tablets and phones. The Founder’s and Premiere Edition packages come with three months of access to Stadia Pro features, which costs $9.99 per month after that.

Don’t worry -- it still feels like ‘Fortnite.’

'Fortnite' Chapter 2 is the fresh start the game needed

As Matt Brian explains, “After over a year as the most popular game on the planet, Epic Games' money machine has the reset needed not only to freshen things up but make the battle royale shooter exciting again.”

They’ll work with any headphones plugged into participating apps on Android and iOS.

Sony’s 360 Reality Audio launches this fall with 1,000 tracks

On Tuesday, Sony announced that 360 Reality Audio, its immersive listening technology that debuted at CES, is officially launching this fall. The idea is that it moves a step beyond stereo, with the ability to recreate the experience of listening to live music. There will be around 1,000 tracks to start, from the likes of Billy Joel and Bob Dylan. You'll be able to access 360 Reality songs via Tidal, Amazon Music HD, Deezer and nugs.net.

But wait, there's more...

1. Watch Tesla's crash-test lab wreck Model 3s to make them safer

2. Google's Daydream VR experiment is over

3. Netflix reveals its huge lineup of holiday movies and specials

4. AMC is launching its own on-demand movie service

5. Engadget's guide to home entertainment: Why are there so many TV streaming services?

6. The Apple TV app is available on Roku

7. SpaceX is requesting permission to launch 30,000 more Starlink satellites

8. NASA demos spacesuits for its Moon and Mars missions

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Tuesday, 15 October 2019

E-Commerce Minute

E-Commerce Minute: Tuesday -- October 15, 2019

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

Headline Scan
Fitting Clothing Sales to E-Commerce
5 Important Lessons Brands Can Learn From Apple
Security First: The Double-Edged Sword of Collaboration
Autonomous Linux and the IT Utility
Blackouts Symptomatic of Perilous Times for Pay TV
Now Is the Time for Sales Organizations to Embrace AI

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Today's Story Highlights

Fitting Clothing Sales to E-Commerce

When buying clothes, many consumers still prefer to head to a bricks-
and-mortar store, browse the racks, and try things on. There's something
about clothing, after all, that's inherently tactile and personal.
Gradually, however, the way people buy clothes has been changing.
Digital technologies are reshaping the world of online fashion sales.
One of the keys to sales success is personalization.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86295.html

5 Important Lessons Brands Can Learn From Apple

I'll admit it, it was love at first sight when I purchased my first
MacBook. It was my iPhone that prompted my decision to give up years of
PC efficiencies and dive head first into learning a new operating
system, but familiarity had kept me complacent for too long. Still, I
remember the excitement of unpacking my new laptop. It struck me then
that Apple knew me better than I knew myself.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86296.html

Security First: The Double-Edged Sword of Collaboration

Online tech support scams have been on the rise for the past decade, as
hackers found new ways to trick consumers into providing remote access
to their computers in order to steal information. This tried-and-true
scam currently relies on sophisticated social engineering, fueled by
detailed user information that creates enough credibility to dupe even
the most savvy and skeptical users.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86293.html

Autonomous Linux and the IT Utility

Oracle came late to cloud computing, joining the fray only after
competitors like Microsoft and Salesforce had established dominant
positions, and newcomer Amazon Web Services leaped from a standing start
to a position of dominance. Amazon is so strong in the cloud that it is
on the cusp of extinguishing the last challenges to its win of the 10-
year $10 billion Pentagon JEDI procurement.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86292.html

Blackouts Symptomatic of Perilous Times for Pay TV

Dish Network and Fox Corporation were able to come to terms last
weekend, ending the blackout of Fox owned-and-operated local stations,
as well as FS1, FS2, BTN, Fox Soccer Plus and Fox Deportes. The blackout
of those channels was notable for its timing. The fall college and
professional seasons had just begun -- as well as the new fall season of
prime time programming on Fox.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86289.html

Now Is the Time for Sales Organizations to Embrace AI

Artificial intelligence is arguably the most disruptive technology to
emerge over the last few decades. Consumers are producing data at record
levels. It's estimated we'll produce 463 exabytes per day by 2025. Yet
humans aren't equipped to process that complex information. We're
starting to rely more on AI to interpret massive amounts of consumer and
third-party data in real time.
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86290.html

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Disney lists 'basically everything' launching with Disney+

Engadget Email Newsletter

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Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio

It's Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

We spent most of yesterday watching Disney’s Twitter account spam everything (we mean everything) that’ll be live on Disney+ when it launches soon. Seminal works like, er, The Secret of the Magic Gourd, Million Dollar Duck and critical favorite, Justin Morgan Had a Horse. We joke, and there are plenty of other films you’ve heard of across Disney, Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel. Just chill, Disney. Sometimes less is more.

Elsewhere, we take a long hard look at the Galaxy Fold and give our final verdict on Samsung’s bet on the future. Catch up on all the news then check back here at 10AM ET for the big Made by Google event where we’ll officially meet the new Pixel 4.

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'As much as I like using it, I just can't trust it.'

The Samsung Galaxy Fold, reviewed again: Hard to love, even harder to hate

Yeah, we’re back here again. Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is one of those devices that inspires adoration and annoyance at the same time. Its foldable design means you can carry around a tablet in your pocket and get plenty of work done along the way. The Fold’s power and flexibility are nothing short of intoxicating, but it leaves much to be desired.

Closed, it’s chunky and clumsy, and Chris Velazco has serious concerns about how well its main screen will hold up over time -- our review unit's display developed dead and stuck pixels out of the blue, and there are other units with more pronounced blemishes. The Galaxy Fold offers a glimpse at the future of smartphones and gives Samsung a potent foundation to build on, but almost no one should consider buying one right now.

The hit returns from the void.

'Fortnite' Chapter 2 is a new world with water and fishing

Fortnite returns from black-hole darkness with a major overhaul. As you’re reading this, Fortnite Chapter 2 will have debuted an all-new map and, judging by the trailer, there are some fresh features centering around water, including boats, swimming and fishing. The trailer for season one of Chapter 2 also showcases pogo sticks and the ability to carry downed teammates.

It can still accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 155 MPH.

Porsche unveils the mid-range Taycan 4S EV

The Taycan 4S is a mid-range version of Porsche’s electric sports car. It will deliver up to 420 kW (around 630 horsepower), compared to 500 kW for the Taycan Turbo and 560 kW for the Turbo S.

It's now up for order at $103,800 for the base Taycan 4S and $110,380 with the 93.4 kWh Performance Battery Plus package. That's a lot more reasonable than the $150,900 and $185,000 prices of the Taycan Turbo and Turbo S, respectively.

These electric toothbrushes are all on sale today.

Sudo make me a sandwich.

One of Linux's most important commands had a glaring security flaw

If you've used the command line in Linux or a Unix-based platform like macOS, you're probably familiar with the "sudo" command, which lets you run tasks with different (usually elevated) permissions than you'd otherwise have. It's powerful, but it was apparently too powerful until now. Developers have fixed a sudo flaw that lets you claim root-level access even if the configuration explicitly forbids it.

Linux users can update to a newer sudo package (1.8.28 or later) to fix the flaw. You might not be immediately vulnerable as any attacker will need to have command line control over your system before they can even consider exploiting the flaw -- at that point, you probably have larger problems.

HDR video looks great, but it's also kind of a mess. Which formats do what?

Upscaled: HDR10, Dolby Vision and HLG: How does HDR work?

When everything’s working right, HDR just looks great. But there lies the problem: Beyond needing the right content and TV to get the full experience, there are also a handful of competing formats, each with different pros and cons. If you want to know how HDR actually works and the full differences between HDR10, 10+, Dolby Vision and HLG, be sure to check out this video.

Welcome to the present.

Google teams up with Yubico to build a USB-C Titan Security Key

On Monday, the company announced a new version of its Titan Security Key, which features a USB-C connector, and you'll be able to buy the accessory starting today for $40 from the Google Store. To make the small USB drive-sized device, Google partnered with Yubico, one of the leaders in the space.

Google is also offering its Bluetooth and USB-A Titan Security Key bundle as two products you can purchase separately for the first time, making it easier to mix and match the best options for you. That’s important because if you want to enroll your Google account in its Advanced Protection Program, you’ll need at least two.