Thursday, 31 October 2019

This palm-sized drone can fly for 30 minutes

Engadget Email Newsletter

Now available on your smart speaker and wherever you get your podcasts

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio

It's Thursday, October 31, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Happy Halloween! LG put a dual-screen costume on its latest flagship phone, and the Nintendo Switch is battling the ghost of the SNES -- we’ll explain. Also, we have everything you need to know about the TeamTrees project and a review of the new Amazon Echo.

(View in browser.)

More screens aren't always better.

LG G8X ThinQ review

Foldable phones aren’t quite ready for primetime, so LG did the next best thing: It added a case with a second screen. The only problem is that this doesn’t quite work either. As Chris Velazco explains, “the G8X and its second screen generally act like two smartphones attached at the proverbial hip.” Still, its funky setup isn’t so bad that it’s completely useless, and if you find a good deal on one it might be worth a try.

Things are going well.

Nintendo Switch sales should pass the SNES next quarter

Nintendo sold 4.8 million Switch consoles last quarter, bringing lifetime sales to 41.67 million. That's a 50 percent increase on the 3.19 million Switch consoles sold during the same period last year and includes nearly two million units of the new Switch Lite sold in just the last ten days of the reporting period. The company also told investors that its mobile efforts are currently focused its existing mobile apps, like Dr. Mario and Mario Kart Tour, as opposed to releasing new ones in the next year.

In-car systems will have a new look soon.

Ford's Sync 4 system will add wireless CarPlay and Android Auto support

When Sync 4 arrives in select Ford vehicles starting in 2020, it'll include wireless support for both CarPlay and Android Auto. Some Sync 4 vehicles will include wireless charging, so you'll be able to take one less cable with you when you go for a drive in one of the company's new cars. The interface is also tuned for multitasking and has support for larger 15-inch screens.

Ford’s other announcement is that, around the same time, it will have new models ready to receive over-the-air updates.

10 helpful everyday apps you need to know about.

The game launches on PS4 November 8th.

The 'Death Stranding' launch trailer is here, and it's eight minutes long

Sony has shared an eight-minute launch trailer for Hideo Kojima's next opus. Don't go into the trailer with the expectation to get a better sense of the game's story; more likely, you'll come out the other side with more questions than answers. It wouldn't be a Kojima game otherwise.

The only real problem is that there are so many other speakers to choose from.

Amazon Echo review (2019): Low-priced, but not low-end

The latest Echo does just about everything right: It sounds great, it’s pretty cheap at $99 and it handles voice commands like a charm.

He's made a big donation to a YouTuber-led project to combat climate change.

Why did Elon Musk just buy a million trees?

Last night, Elon Musk bought a million trees for a cool $1 million, and it wasn't some mad luxury purchase you might expect. Instead, it’s all based on the power of a handful of YouTubers starting a project that'll do a little bit to combat climate change. TeamTrees is a project aimed at raising $20 million by the end of 2019 to bankroll the planting of 20 million new trees by the end of 2022. Spearheading TeamTrees is Jimmy Donaldson. Better known online as MrBeast, Donaldson made a name for himself doing stunts, while also uploading philanthropic antics, using money he’s made from his channel.

So light it doesn’t need to be registered with the FAA.

DJI's palm-sized Mavic Mini can fly for up to 30 minutes

This foldable Mavic Mini weighs in at just 249 grams and comes with a bunch of features designed to make drone flying and aerial photography fun and accessible to everyone, without skimping on quality. The standard Mavic Mini package with remote controller, one battery, extra propellers and all necessary tools and wires is available for pre-order for $399 and will start shipping on November 11th.

The social network believes the ads are too prone to manipulation.

Twitter will put a stop to political ads on November 22nd

Twitter has wrestled with the issue of questionable political ads and decided just to get rid of them entirely. Jack Dorsey announced that the social network is stopping all political ads outside of non-partisan exceptions (such as voter registration), whether they come from candidates or interest groups. It'll provide the finished policy on November 15th and will start enforcing it on November 22nd.

Dorsey said the decision stemmed from both principles and practical realities. A political message on Twitter should earn its reach when people follow or share accounts and "should not be compromised by money," the CEO said. Meanwhile, over at Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is staying the course.

But wait, there's more...

1. Apple's wearables and services businesses keep on growing

2. Sonos offers its early adopters a 30 percent trade-in offer on new speakers

3. Apple Card users will be able to get zero-percent financing for iPhone purchases

4. Juul stands accused of shipping a million contaminated vape pods

5. Australia wants to verify porn users by scanning their faces

6. HBO Max nets 'South Park' exclusivity for a reported $500 million

7. AT&T's new unlimited phone plans drop WatchTV for HBO Max

8. Netflix renews 'Another Life' for a second season despite lousy reviews

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.

Now available on your smart speaker and wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio

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.

You are receiving this email because you opted in at engadget.com.

Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe from this newsletter.

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter

ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter: Wednesday -- October 30, 2019

ECT News Network -- Where Business Meets Technology
https://www.ectnews.com
E-Commerce Times | TechNewsWorld
CRM Buyer | LinuxInsider

Message From Our Sponsor
Lower Your Electric Bill Using Clean Energy Solutions
Reduce utility costs with Arcadia Power. Accessible to anyone who pays
an electric bill, this service monitors the energy market for you, giving
customized and trackable clean solution recommendations that'll help
you save money and go green. Sign up and get a $20 Amazon e-gift card!
http://www.ectnews.com/adsys/link/?crid=10250/Arcadia_Power

This Week's Top News Headlines From the E-Commerce Times

Facebook Employees Blast Company's Political Ads Policy
(Posted 30-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86328.html

5 Things Retailers Can Do Now to Avoid a Cyber Monday Disaster
(Posted 29-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86325.html

The Ultimate E-Commerce Guide to Black Friday
(Posted 28-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86323.html

Harnessing Visual AI to Boost E-Commerce Sales
(Posted 26-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86322.html

E-Gurus: Online Guides to Personal Growth
(Posted 25-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86321.html

Microsoft Takes Another Stab at Wireless
(Posted 24-Oct-19)
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/86317.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From TechNewsWorld

Active Noise Cancellation a Big Draw in New Apple AirPods
(Posted 30-Oct-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86327.html

Nvidia's New Shield TV Models Add Dolby Vision, Atmos
(Posted 29-Oct-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86324.html

Getting Sustainability Right
(Posted 28-Oct-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86320.html

EA Rewards Battlefield V Fans With Expansive Pacific Chapter
(Posted 25-Oct-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86319.html

Threat From Above: How to Stop Hostile Drones
(Posted 24-Oct-19)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86316.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From CRM Buyer

Do Your Customer Journeys Have Dead Ends or Dead Spots?
(Posted 29-Oct-19)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/86326.html

Bob Stutz, CRM Nomad
(Posted 24-Oct-19)
http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/86314.html

This Week's Top News Headlines From LinuxInsider

Dragora Linux Is Anything But Simple
(Posted 25-Oct-19)
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/86318.html

News Alerts From ECT News Network
Get the day's top business and technology news delivered
to your inbox as stories break. Sign up today -- it's free!
https://www.ectnews.com/adsys/link/?creative=2202/News_Alerts

How to Advertise in This Newsletter
To advertise in this newsletter or elsewhere on ECT News Network,
please call our sales department toll-free at (877) 328-5500, or view
our online media kit at
http://www.ectnews.com/advertising/

Subscribing and Unsubscribing
You are receiving this newsletter in response to your request on an
ECT News Network site. If you wish to make changes to your
newsletter subscription, or if you wish to receive other free
newsletters from the ECT News Network, please click here:
Newsletter Management Wizard

If this e-mail was forwarded to you and you wish to subscribe to this
FREE newsletter, please use our Newsletter sign-up wizard:
https://www.ectnews.com/perl/newsletter_registration.pl/

Feedback
We welcome your feedback. Contact us online at
https://www.ectnews.com/perl/contact_form.pl?to=editorial

Follow Us

HBO Max

Engadget Email Newsletter

Now available on your smart speaker and wherever you get your podcasts

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | iHeart Radio

It's Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Are you ready for yet another streaming service? HBO Max is ready to join the fight in a few months, and it’s bringing some big names along for the ride. Also, our first impressions of Apple’s AirPods Pro are in, and we took a spin in BMW’s newest convertible.

(View in browser.)

It's now sold more than the original PlayStation.

Sony's PS4 is the second-best-selling console of all time

The PS4 has become the second-best-selling console of all time, surpassing the original PlayStation, which sold 102.5 million units. Sony said it sold 2.8 million PS4s this quarter (including the PS4 Pro), on top of the 100 million mark it hit last quarter. That's down from last year but was enough to push it to 102.8 million, just above the original PS. It's not likely to catch the PS2, however, which sold 155 million units. The announcement came in Sony’s latest earnings report, where smartphone sales dragged down its newly formed Electronic Products & Solutions segment, which merged its mobile, camera, TV and audio lines.

With competition in streaming services incredibly fierce, the company has also announced it’s shuttering PlayStation Vue by January 2020.

10,000 hours of content with recommendations from Zac Efron.

HBO Max launches in May and will cost $15 per month

At an event for AT&T investors, we learned more details about the new HBO streaming service that will launch next spring, including its price. At $15 per month, it’s the same as HBO’s current streaming/cable offerings and includes an expanded suite of content, with a combination of exclusive originals, licensed catalog content (like Rick & Morty and the South Park library, which reportedly cost around $500 million to get) and more.

If you currently get HBO Now directly or have some combination of AT&T Premium packages/HBO, you’ll get the Max service, too, for free. However, if you currently subscribe to HBO some other way, then we’ll have to wait to see what’s in store. Either way, there is a new Game of Thrones series on the way -- the network announced a 10-episode order for House of the Dragon. It’s set 300 years prior to the events of the first show and is based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood about the Targaryen family.

This will take some getting used to.

Apple AirPods Pro hands-on: I can already hear the difference

As Apple’s most professional AirPods go on sale, you may be wondering whether they’re worth the $249 investment. Chris Velazco hasn’t had enough time to put together a full review, but so far he says the sound quality is improved. Getting used to the new capacitive controls has been an uneven experience, however, and he has some concerns about how the battery life will shake out -- especially while using Active Noise Cancellation.

Still, their ability to seal your ear canals more thoroughly (without causing a stuffy feeling, thanks to carefully placed vents) and the slightly more subtle stems are pleasant upgrades. Just don’t lose one because replacements cost $89 per bud -- $20 more than the amateur set.

Translate languages in real-time with this handheld device.

You might get to slam your phone shut at the end of a call.

Samsung teases a clamshell foldable phone concept

Samsung isn’t letting the lukewarm reception of its Galaxy Fold slow it down. At its annual, typically dry Developer Conference, it previewed a different vertically folding, clamshell-style form factor. The company only said it was "exploring" the concept as part of its overall work on foldable devices, but a short demo showed a user recording video in full screen at one moment and creating a split view with more extensive controls when folding the phone 90 degrees. It’s a similar premise to what we’ve heard about Motorola’s folding RAZR phone ambitions, which is also widely believed to be a clamshell.

A wonky CarPlay connection takes some of the fun out of it.

BMW’s Z4 M40i is a powerfully fun roadster

After a four-year hiatus, the Z4 roadster is back in BMW’s lineup, packing plenty of technology, a powerful engine and that removable roof. Roberto Baldwin said, despite some glitches, it “hits nearly all of the right notes,” even though he’d choose the cheaper engine option.

It's not coming anytime soon.

Netflix defends its controversial variable playback test

Netflix has responded to backlash over a variable playback speed feature that is currently in testing. In a blog post, VP Keela Robison said it's one of many features the company is exploring, like adding brightness controls in its video player. Netflix also seemed to be aware of the potential blowback -- mostly from purists and directors -- since it chose to test variable playback on Android phones and not bigger screens like TVs.