Technology

samedi 11 février 2023

Sennheiser IE 200 earbuds review: reconnecting with music — literally

We all get tired of Bluetooth sometimes, and the IE 200s are a nice reminder of what we’ve lost by trading the headphone jack for wireless convenience and platform-specific earbud features.

Every so often, I just need a break from Bluetooth headphones. I get fed up with recharging them. Heaven forbid I accidentally put my phone in my left pocket while out and about instead of my right and start noticing audio cutouts. (Yes, this can still happen with today’s best wireless earbuds and phones.) And I remind myself that I’m robbing my ears of the true potential of my cultivated lossless music library by settling for Bluetooth codecs instead of going wired. I’ve been feeling that wireless fatigue lately, and it just so happens that Sennheiser just released a new pair of wired earbuds, the IE 200, that seemed worth trying out.

These $149.95 earbuds promise balanced, detailed sound in a compact in-ear monitor (IEM) with adjustable ear hooks and a detachable braided cable. There’s no built-in mic — these are music-only buds — and Sennheiser lets you choose between more or less bass through a unique “dual-tunable” ear tip design. In one position, the IE 200s add some punch to the low end. But mount their ear tips in the outer position, and the lower frequencies become more neutral.

The IE 200s borrow much of their DNA from Sennheiser’s $700 IE 600 earbuds — ranked among the crème de la crème of IEMs — and aim to deliver some of that magic at a more accessible price point. The company sent me a pair of the IE 600s to test alongside its latest buds so I could compare and contrast. But my focus while using these has been to keep things casual; I didn’t run them through a DAC or do much intense analytical listening at home. I just wanted to make my music time feel more intentional and deliberate. Wired headphones will always do that more effectively than a set of AirPods Pro or even Sennheiser’s own Momentum True Wireless 3. “It’d be nice if it meant something again,” I posited aloud at the coffee shop — probably alarming the person sitting nearby who heard me say that out of the blue.

The way I consume music varies based on what phone I’m currently using. If it’s an iPhone, I’ll be carrying around thousands of music tracks encoded in Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) that I’ve amassed through the years. I always want to have my favorite albums within reach, no matter what my current Spotify or Apple Music subscription status is. And I’ve tried to preserve my personal collection in reasonable quality without going too overboard; if I ever need high-resolution lossless audio, I’ll turn to Amazon Music or something like Qobuz.

When I’m using an Android phone, where ALAC is somewhat out of place, I’ll mostly stick to Spotify, Amazon, and personal library stuff that I’ve uploaded to YouTube Music. (I really can’t recommend that service enough for storing your hard-to-find tracks in the cloud. It doesn’t do any of Apple Music’s mistake-prone track matching nonsense and uses only the files and track metadata that you feed it. If you’re a nerd like me who’s meticulous about that stuff, it’s great — and free.)

A photo of Sennheiser’s IE 200 earbuds next to the company’s IE 600 eabuds. — *The IE 200s (left) have a sound signature inspired by Sennheiser’s IE 600 earbuds (right).*

But the dilemma in either scenario was the same: I quickly crash-landed back in our modern reality where the headphone jack doesn’t exist on popular smartphones. So I swallowed my pride while testing the IE 200s and made sure to carry two dongles with me at all times: a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter for my iPhone 14 Pro Max and a USB-C equivalent for my Pixel 7.

The differences between the IE 200 and much pricier IE 600 begin right out of the box. The 600s come with a hardshell case, while the 200s fit into a soft carrying pouch. The nicer case has enough spare room for a backup / replacement cable, but that’d be a tight fit in the pouch. Both the IE 200 and IE 600 include six sets of tips: three sizes of silicone and three foam alternatives. I’m a foam person whenever given the choice, and the largest size did me fine throughout all of my testing.

A photo comparing the case material of Sennheiser’s IE 200 and IE 600 earbuds. — *The IE 200s have a plastic casing, while the $700 IE 600 use 3D-printed zirconium.*

The two sets of earbuds share the same outer casing shape and are very similar in size, but they use different materials. The IE 600s are made from a really neat hand-finished 3D-printed zirconium shell that will probably look as good in five years as it does today. Sennheiser wasn’t about to match that level of craftsmanship with the mainstream IE 200s, so it opted instead for a stealthy all-black plastic shell. It might not age as gracefully, but it still looks sleek. In both cases, the earpieces were nicely compact and sat snug and flush in my ears. They’re both plenty secure — especially with those foam tips. Sennheiser has done an excellent job with ergonomics here: the IE 200s fit me naturally and comfortably in a way that not all earbuds do, and my glasses weren’t an issue for the adjustable ear hooks.

A photo of the cases of Sennheiser’s IE 600 and IE 200 earbuds. — *The IE 200 earbuds come with a soft carrying pouch.*

A photo comparing the cases of Sennheiser’s IE 200 and IE 600 earbuds. — *You’ve got to go higher in Sennheiser’s lineup for a more protective case with extra storage.*

The braided cable bundled with the IE 200s was super lightweight and basically felt like nothing as I was wearing them. That’s a good thing, but the cord isn’t immune to microphonics and jostling noise when you’re on the move. Like Sennheiser’s other IEMs, these attach to the cable using MMCX connectors, but the recessed connector design on the earpiece could pose a problem for some aftermarket cables; make sure they’re specifically compatible with Sennheiser’s products.

Sennheiser describes the IE 200s as “exceptionally neutral,” but that’s not accurate. Turns out, a neutral presentation just isn’t very exciting to a lot of average consumers, and these definitely share a V-shaped sound signature that’s similar to the IE 600s. The bass boost on the less expensive earbuds is inoffensive and never veers into bloated territory. Everything is well controlled, which extends to their balanced mids and elevated treble frequencies. The IE 200s are articulate, detailed, and an enjoyable listen.

A close-up of Sennheiser’s IE 200 earbuds.

A graph showing the two different frequency responses of the IE 200 earbuds.

There’s more bass emphasis with the ear tips in the normal position.

But you’re not exactly getting the same experience as from the already renowned IE 600s. Despite these two sets of earbuds sharing a similar frequency response, you don’t need fancy audio gear to notice that the more expensive pair has a smoother, more dynamic tonality to them. The sub-bass hits a little fuller. Everything feels richer and less clinically sharp than on the IE 200s, and the soundstage is less condensed. The IE 600s have just that extra touch of warmth and authority to them. There’s a reason these buds are separated by hundreds of dollars, but I still believe the $150 IE 200s are a good option if you’re looking to spend a bit on wired earbuds. You won’t be as concerned with babying them, and they sound plenty good. I’m not here to debate whether “Chi-fi” IEMs are a smarter buy; I’m sure you can find all sorts of debates about that across headphone forums and on YouTube.

But I will say that Sennheiser’s “dual-tunable” ear tip concept seems very gimmicky. Most people will seat the ear tips flush with the casing, and that’s where the IE 200s perform their best and are more bass-forward. To cut back on that low end for the “analytical” listening mode, you need to pull the tips forward to a secondary position. The easiest way to do this is to fully remove them and put the tips back on very gently; they just sort of catch naturally at that initial outer position. Push more, and they’ll move to the bassier seating. The problem is that it’s very easy for the tips to move as you’re putting the IE 200s into your ears, so if you want the light bass tuning, you’ve got to be careful. In the end, it’s not worth it: these earbuds sound better with fuller bass, and this idea seems a little too clever for its own good.

A photo of Sennheiser’s IE 200 earbuds. — *These earbuds provide rich, detailed audio — even if they can’t match the terrific fidelity of the IE 600s.*

It’s been nice getting reacquainted with wired earbuds while reviewing the IE 200s. I still bemoan dongle life, and it can be awkward when I occasionally forget that there’s no mic on these when answering a call. But neither of those things is enough to stop me from occasionally pushing aside Bluetooth earphones — even for all their conveniences — and plugging in. When I take the time, that’s still when I feel the most connected to the music I’ve loved for decades and where it sounds the best. I’ll still grab my preferred wireless earbuds on most days; that’s not going to change. But if you pick up Sennheiser’s newest earbuds, you might find yourself enjoying the same occasional reprieve from our wireless world.

Photography by Chris Welch / The Verge

Why Are You Seeing So Many Bad Digital Ads Now?

Why Are You Seeing So Many Bad Digital Ads Now? Scrolling past ads has rarely been enjoyable. But in recent months, people say the experience seems so much worse.

vendredi 10 février 2023

‘Making the digital streets safe’: Calls for greater protection for women online

British peers propose amendment to online safety bill requiring social media sites to consider how to keep female users safe

Social media platforms would be required to follow regulatory guidelines protecting women and girls from online abuse under an amendment to the online safety bill tabled this week.

The proposed change would require Ofcom, the communications watchdog, to issue a code of practice on preventing violence against women and girls that social media platforms would have to follow when implementing their duties under the bill.

Fitbit might be working on blood pressure tech, but its future is murky

View of the Fitbit Sense 2 — *The Fitbit Sense 2 didn’t inspire much confidence in the future of Fitbit smartwatches.* | Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

Fitbit recently filed a patent application (pdf) for a force-sensitive display that would enable blood pressure readings on wearables. But even if patents did guarantee success — which they don’t — the past few months make it hard to be confident in the future of Fitbit smartwatches.

First things first, you shouldn’t read too hard into any patent filing. While it can give you a sense of what a company’s working on, it’s a legal tool for companies to effectively call dibs on a particular innovation. In the claims section of this filing (via Wareable), Fitbit outlines a force-sensitive screen combined with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor that, when pressed, can estimate your blood pressure.

What’s neat about this concept is that it’s essentially riffing on the traditional blood pressure cuff. Those work by cutting off blood flow in an artery. That pressure is then slowly relieved, which helps doctors figure out when blood flow starts up again (systolic reading) and when your heart relaxes again (diastolic reading). High numbers can be a sign your heart is working too hard to pump blood through your body.

diagram of finger pressing on smartwatch panel — *Fitbit’s patent proposes a force-sensitive panel that, when pressed, could trigger a blood pressure reading.*

It’s not particularly surprising that blood pressure would be on Fitbit’s radar. It’s far from the first wearable to include this feature. Samsung’s had it on its Galaxy Watches for quite some time, though it uses a different mechanism that requires periodic calibration to a traditional cuff and is unavailable in the US for regulatory reasons. There’s also the Omron Heart Guide — an FDA-cleared smartwatch where the strap doubles as an inflatable cuff.

However, there’s new momentum for cuffless, noninvasive blood pressure wearables that use PPG sensors. Valencell, which develops biometric sensor tech, showed up at CES 2023 with a cuffless and calibration-less fingertip blood pressure monitor. Last year, Movano Health — which also showed up at CES with a smart ring — announced it completed functional testing for a radio frequency-enabled chip that could potentially measure both blood pressure and blood glucose in wearables.

Fitbit’s patent is cool, but its last few months have been lackluster. Its latest smartwatches, the Sense 2 and Versa 4, took a back seat to Google’s Pixel Watch. Plus, features available on previous iterations of the watches — like third-party apps and Google Assistant — vanished. Google also rebranded the company as “Fitbit by Google” and recently announced that in a few years, Fitbit users will have to log in using their Google accounts. Just this week, Fitbit experienced several server outages that left users frustrated and angry. Altogether, it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

That’s why it’s hard to look at this kind of patent filing as an exciting development. If granted, it’s more likely to appear in a Pixel Watch than any Fitbit by Google product. And that’s if this feature even sees the light of day any time soon. While technology moves fast, health tech sure as hell doesn’t. Wearable tech companies usually veer toward “wellness” features because they don’t require regulatory oversight from the FDA. Blood pressure, however, would likely necessitate the FDA’s involvement.

At best, this filing is just further evidence that noninvasive blood pressure tech is something that wearable companies deeply care about. But when and in what form is impossible to predict. It’s also a reminder that while dreaming up life-changing health tech is easy, it’s much harder to make it a reality. By the time we see widespread wearable blood pressure tech, Fitbit might already be a distant memory.

Bing’s Revenge and Google’s A.I. Face-Plant

Bing’s Revenge and Google’s A.I. Face-Plant OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, and Microsoft’s chief technology officer, Kevin Scott, on an A.I.-powered Bing.

Tesla’s Autopilot was not cause of fatal Texas crash, NTSB determines

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) has exonerated Tesla’s Autopilot system as the cause of a fatal and fiery Texas crash involving a Tesla Model S in 2021. Investigators for the NTSB issued their final report this week that determined the driver was operating the vehicle up until it impacted the tree and that they had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs (via Ars Technica).

Here’s the probable cause as written in the NTSB’s final conclusion:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the Spring, Texas, electric vehicle crash was the driver’s excessive speed and failure to control his car, due to impairment from alcohol intoxication in combination with the effects of two sedating antihistamines, resulting in a roadway departure, tree impact, and postcrash fire.

The crash, which happened on April 17th, 2021 in Spring, Texas, made headlines due to investigators at the scene determining that the driver’s seat was unoccupied. The two men who died in the fiery crash were unbuckled; one of them was in the front passenger seat and the other in the backseat. The scene set suspicions that Tesla’s Autopilot advanced driver assistant software might have been in use, somehow without a driver present.

On an earnings call later that month, Tesla’s VP of vehicle engineering Lars Moravy said company representatives who inspected the crash determined the steering wheel was “deformed.” The steering wheel’s condition pointed to there being an occupant in the driver’s seat when the Model S impacted the tree, a finding that contradicted local authorities’ accounts.

*The aftermath of the Model S involved in the fiery Texas crash.*

Now NTSB investigators are certain there was an occupant in the driver’s seat up until the crash, and that Autopilot was not in use. Their findings included security footage showing the two men entering the 2019 Tesla Model S P100D and sitting in the front seats of the vehicle before leaving. Additionally, data retrieved by Tesla showed that the seatbelts were buckled up until the crash and that the driver moved to the rear seat afterward.

The Model S had more information stored in its event data recorder, which was used in the NTSB report. Five seconds before impacting the tree, the Model S had accelerated from 39 to 67mph in two seconds and traveled 57mph before a full-stop. It also determined that seatbelts had their pretensions activated, and the airbags were deployed. As for the fire, it started due to damage of the front of the battery module.

NTSB’s conclusion states that the driver’s speed and impairment from alcohol plus two sedating antihistamines resulted in a roadway departure, tree impact, and post-crash fire. As for Autopilot, NTSB determined it wasn’t in use because the system, in testing, is programmed to not go faster than 30mph on the street the Tesla last traveled.

While there are ways to trick Autopilot into activating without someone in the drivers seat, it seems that wasn’t the case in this crash. Additionally, the owner of the Tesla did not have the more advanced Full Self Driving package installed.

Blueprints for a dream: the new age of virtual architecture

Aspiring architects are using social media, AI and digital technology to showcase their fantastical creations to the full

“Something big is happening,” says Hamza Shaikh. “Architecture is entering a new age.” The ways in which buildings are imagined and communicated are, he argues, being transformed by a combination of social media and the ever-evolving techniques of digital drawing, to which artificial intelligence is adding new capabilities. And indeed, if it is not yet clear how blocks of flats or schools or shopping centres near you might be changed by this revolution, the energy and invention behind it are undeniable.

There is also, as Shaikh justifiably claims, a social transformation. If, in the past, aspiring architects had to claw their way up a profession that favoured those with connections and money, now anyone from anywhere can make a name for themselves, if they have the talent, determination and access to technology. They do this not by realising completed buildings, but through compelling images of imaginary architecture. They don’t all use the most advanced techniques all the time – some work by hand, some (Shaikh included) with hybrids of manual and digital – but all use the internet to spread their work and exchange ideas.

jeudi 9 février 2023

Google is working on making Chrome’s picture-in-picture more useful

The Verge

The latest Chrome beta, version 111, includes a trial for a feature that could make the browser’s picture-in-picture feature significantly more useful. Instead of being only for playing videos, Google’s looking into letting it display basically any web content in a floating window that stays on top of all your other windows.

There are quite a few ways this feature, which is called Document Picture-in-Picture, could be useful. Some of Google’s examples are mostly just spins on how picture-in-picture already works, such as video players but with custom UI (such as buttons to like or dislike a video, a timeline, or captions), or a miniplayer for video conferences that let you see a grid of people and access controls to mute yourself or raise a hand.

But it’s easy to imagine entire applets that take advantage of the API too; there’s a pomodoro website that’s already using it with supported browsers, and I’d absolutely use a website that gave me a picture-in-picture notepad or task list. Google also suggests the feature could be used to show, say, a playlist for your music.

Screenshot of a picture-in-picture Pomodoro timer. — *Now I have a timer that can float above all my other windows.*

Of course, if many sites start using full-document picture-in-picture, it’d be nice for the feature to come to browsers with non-Chromium engines. However, it’s currently unclear whether that will happen. One of the feature’s developers asked teams associated with Firefox and Safari for their position on it, and didn’t get back a definitive answer. However, people on the Mozilla team did raise some concerns about the feature being used as a venue for annoying pop-ups, and Apple folks weren’t sure if it’d even be possible on iOS.

According to the Chrome Platform Status tracker, the feature will be trialed until Chrome 115, which will likely release sometime in June. After that, developers will probably consider any feedback they receive on the feature, and decide how to move forward.

If you want to turn on support for the feature, you can enable its flag by pasting chrome://flags/#document-picture-in-picture-api into your URL bar, and choosing enabled from the drop-down menu. At this point there probably won’t be a ton of sites that support it, but you may come across some.

The best deals on MacBooks right now

The 2020 M1 MacBook Air sitting on a desk with a long-exposure light effect happening in the background. — *The 2020 MacBook Air, one of the best laptops you can get, is frequently on sale.* | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

With multiple configurations and various models to choose from, finding a deal on a Mac equipped with an M-series chip is not all that difficult. It’s sometimes a slightly different story for the MacBook Pros with beefier M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs, but with a little luck, you can score those excellent laptops for as much as $400 off. As for the most recent batch of M2-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, they, too, get their fair share of modest savings with some regularity. And with the recent introduction of M2 Pro and M2 Max 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, it’s probably just a matter of time until you can save some money on those refreshed models, too.

Here, we’ll run through the discounts that are currently available for Apple’s latest laptops, all of which run Apple’s own silicon. If you come across any deals on older, Intel-based configurations still lying around, we strongly recommend avoiding them. While the last bastions of Intel Macs are compatible with macOS Ventura, they’re getting pretty old and not really worthwhile, even at a steep discount. Rest assured: there’s really no downside to opting for a Mac with Apple’s own chips, save for the sickos out there that swear they still need Windows Boot Camp.

Alternatively, purchasing refurbished is another way to save money on an Apple computer. Apple’s refurbished store provides a one-year warranty on all products and generally offers discounts of up to 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit. If you’re looking for a new model, however, here are the best MacBook Air and MacBook Pro deals available.

The best MacBook Air deals

The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. The redesigned M2 version of the MacBook Air is out, but even with the arrival of that pricier model, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and fanless design remains in the lineup as the budget option. For most people, the M1 Air ticks all the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, which is why it’s the one we recommend for budget-minded MacBook seekers in our guide to the best laptops, even with the M2 model now available.

The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It typically sells for $999, but B&H Photo and Adorama currently have it for $899 ($100 off). That’s not quite as good as it gets on the M1 Air, but it’s a good price on a laptop that still represents an excellent value more than two years after its release.

As for the newer, fancier M2 MacBook Air, it’s currently on sale with 256GB of storage and an 8-core GPU for $100 off at B&H Photo. That drops the price of the base, MagSafe-equipped laptop to $1,099. It’s a solid deal, but we’ve seen it drop as low as $999. If you’re looking for a better value, B&H Photo is also selling an upgraded configuration with a 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU for $1,349 ($150 off).

The new MacBook Air is a super slim and light laptop with a 1080p webcam that’s actually usable, as well as a handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its precious two USB-C ports. Its M2 processor didn’t kick-start a revolution like the M1 generation, but it's a great performer for any user outside of more demanding creatives.

It does have some slight downsides, like slower storage in the base configuration and a notch cutout in its otherwise excellent screen. But even so, there hasn’t been a more travel-friendly laptop offered by Apple since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this one’s good enough to be the No. 1 laptop we now recommend in our buying guide.

The best MacBook Pro deals

The MacBook Pro line has been split into two different segments — for the time being. The M1-powered MacBook Pro of 2020 and its 2022 replacement with the M2 processor remain the Touch Bar holdouts. These are siblings to the 2020 MacBook Air, with similar designs save mostly for a fan that allows them to run at peak performance for longer.

At this point, it’s best to avoid the older 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro and opt for the newer M2 version with its exceptional battery life. Yes, it’s still plagued by the Touch Bar, and its base model has its shortcomings when it comes to speed, but we’re occasionally seeing discounts on the newer laptop.

Right now, the best deal on the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is B&H Photo's $150 discount on the 256GB model with 8GB of RAM. That drops the price from $1,299 to $1,149. That said, for an additional $150, you can get the 512GB model that’s currently discounted to $1,299 ($200 off). Neither is a bad deal, but you folks who do intensive creative work may still be better served spending more on the more capable 14-inch MacBook Pro if you can stretch your budget (see below).

As for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, we’re in a transitional moment. The M1 Pro / M1 Max models from late 2021 are being replaced by the M2 Pro and M2 Max models, which are mostly a spec-bumped refresh with the 16-inch M2 Max MacBook Pro also showcasing some excellent battery life gains thanks to the efficiency of the new chips. As good as the new generation is, however, we’re probably going to have to wait a little while before we start seeing discounts on the new models. For now, the 2021 MacBook Pros are fine machines, though you may consider opting for a 2023 model if you can’t find a deal good enough deal on a last-gen configuration.

Currently, the 14-inch M1 Pro-equipped base model with 512GB of storage is on sale for $1,699 ($300 off) at B&H Photo. That’s $100 more than the lowest price we’ve seen on the laptop. As for the 1TB version, it’s currently discounted to $2,199 ($300 off) at Amazon.

As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it’s on sale at Amazon or B&H Photo with 512GB of storage and an M1 Pro for $2,099, which is an excellent $400 off. A close-but-not-quite-as-good $300 discount is running on the 1TB variant at Amazon, dropping the price to $2,399. That discount on the 16-inch base model is as good as it gets for such a workhorse laptop. If you cherish a beastly MacBook for performance, appreciate a big screen, and are in the market to make a purchase now, this deal is for you.

Our reviews of Apple’s M1 Pro and Max MacBook Pro lineup were absolutely beaming with praise. Whether it was the beautiful display or the remarkable performance and battery life they exhibited, these premium laptops are investments that we still recommend — at least, until the newer M2 generation starts seeing discounts. It’s great to see the return of more ports and an SD card reader, as well as MagSafe charging, to some Mac laptops we can once again say are well poised for actual pros. Just mind the notch — or better yet, make it more useful with software.

Google wants to help developers make experiences like Maps’ new ‘immersive’ view

Screenshots of Immersive Stream for XR applications. — Image: Google

Google wants to make it easier for others to make powerful mixed reality experiences with the official release of a new Google Cloud tool, Immersive Stream for XR. The tool lets you scan a QR code or click a link to access a mixed reality experience, and behind the scenes, Google Cloud GPUs will host, render, and stream those experiences to your device, according to a blog post.

Google says it’s already using the technology for its new immersive view in Google Maps, which lets you look at a 3D model of certain cities overlaid with details like traffic and nearby restaurants. But the company is also highlighting other ways to use Immersive Stream for XR, like for placing virtual furniture in augmented reality (not exactly a new idea) or seeing virtual cars while shopping (also not the newest idea).

Immersive Stream for XR was first announced at Google I/O in 2022, but alongside its wide availability on Thursday, Google also revealed that it now supports content made in Unreal Engine 5. Unreal Engine is growing steadily more popular among game developers, but it’s used for many non-game applications as well, and the addition of support for UE5 could be a boon for developers looking to take advantage of Immersive Stream for XR.

Google’s broader ambitions for mixed reality are somewhat up in the air now that we know Google Labs VP Clay Bavor will be leaving the company in March. Google won’t be replacing Bavor; instead, his remit will be split up under other executives at the company.

Kraken pays a $30 million fine and shuts down crypto staking in the US

A coin is set aflame to reveal a digital wireframe underneath. — Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Kraken will end its crypto staking program in the US and pay $30 million in penalties as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The regulator charged the company with selling unregistered securities through its “crypto asset staking-as-a-service program.” It’s been clear for a while now that the SEC was planning to clamp down on crypto yield programs. In 2021, it got into a spat with Coinbase over the exchange’s plans to launch a lending feature in the US, and last year, it (and several states) settled with BlockFi for $100 million over the company’s interest accounts.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong tweeted concern about “rumors” the SEC would like to get rid of crypto staking in the US, claiming it’s “important innovation” and “not a security” — important since labeling it that way makes these businesses and, potentially, proof-of-stake blockchain operations like Ethereum 2.0 — subject to much stricter laws.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler appears to disagree, which could be bad news for others offering staking to customers in the US. This agreement should “make clear to the marketplace that staking-as-a-service providers must register and provide full, fair, and truthful disclosure and investor protection,” Gensler said in a press release.

When news of the settlement broke via a report on CoinDesk at 2:30PM ET, the price of Ethereum dropped sharply, falling over 4 percent in 30 minutes.

According to the SEC, Kraken took investors’ crypto and put it into a staking pool with the hopes of earning rewards. (Those rewards are meted out for being part of the validation process used by some blockchains.) In return for having their crypto locked up, Kraken’s customers would, in theory, earn interest on that crypto. But the regulator says that the returns Kraken promised were “untethered to any economic realities” and that the exchange provided “zero insight into, among other things, its financial condition and whether it even had the means of paying the marketed returns in the first place.”

The SEC also takes issue with the lack of consumer protections available for Kraken’s staking service, saying that the exchange “retained the right to pay them no returns at all.”

In a statement posted on its blog, Kraken says it’ll continue offering its staking services outside the US. It also says that its clients in the US will automatically have their non-Ethereum crypto unstaked, and their Ethereum stakes will be removed as soon as possible.

The regulator says that this settlement should “make clear to the marketplace that staking-as-a-service providers must register and provide full, fair, and truthful disclosure and investor protection.” The action comes after a year of seeing major crypto firms — including ones involved in interest programs — going bankrupt.

TikTok: how the west has turned on gen Z’s favourite app

US and European fears about China exploiting TikTok’s data harvest and promoting Beijing’s worldview look set to inspire an urgent overhaul in data privacy laws

The FBI has called it a national security threat. The US government has passed a law forcing officials to delete it from their phones. Texas senator Ted Cruz has denounced it as “a Trojan horse the Chinese Communist party can use to influence what Americans see, hear, and ultimately think”. And in March its CEO will defend its existence before the US Congress. For those unaware of the debate broiling on the other side of the Atlantic, the target of this strong rhetoric might prove surprising: an app best known for viral dances, launching generation Z media stars, and sucking teens down an hours-long content abyss.

But the rancorous debate over TikTok that began under the Trump administration has rolled on under President Biden. In addition to a ban of the app on all federal government devices, at least 27 states have blocked TikTok on devices they’ve issued, affecting a number of state schools and universities, too. A bipartisan bill, introduced in Congress last December, stipulates banning the app’s use by everyone in the United States.

mercredi 8 février 2023

Five Takeaways From the House G.O.P. Hearing With Former Twitter Executives

Five Takeaways From the House G.O.P. Hearing With Former Twitter Executives The Oversight Committee called the session to scrutinize whether the social media platform has censored the right, but it yielded new revelations about the company’s permissive approach.

Twitter Glitches Pile Up as Key Features Fail

Twitter Glitches Pile Up as Key Features Fail Many users said they could not post tweets or message one another on Wednesday as the #TwitterDown hashtag began trending.

Disney’s laying off 7,000 as streaming boom comes to an end

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

Disney is planning to lay off 7,000 workers to cut costs across the company. CEO Bob Iger announced the news in an earnings call on Wednesday, stating that the move is “necessary to address the challenges we’re facing today.”

Like many other companies across the country, Disney’s making the changes as part of its efforts to reduce costs in a “challenging economic environment.” Iger says he’s “targeting $5.5 billion of cost savings across the company” and that the layoffs will “help achieve this.” Iger didn’t say which departments the layoffs will affect.

Rumors about layoffs began emerging shortly after Iger took over for outgoing Disney CEO Bob Chapek last November. Iger initially stepped down from the role in 2020, and his takeover has already led to major organizational changes for the company. Iger’s also establishing three core divisions at the company: Disney entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Parks experiences and products.

Iger still has his sights set on streaming despite a slowdown in subscriber growth. Disney Plus added just 200,000 subscribers in the US and Canada for a total of 46.6 million, while its international offering (excluding HotStar) saw the addition of 1.2 million members. Hulu and ESPN Plus had similarly slow growth, with each adding 800,000 and 600,000, respectively.

Disney’s direct-to-consumer division, which includes its streaming services, saw a 13 percent increase in revenue to $5.3 billion. But it still had an operating loss of around $1.1 billion, which the company attributed to higher costs at Disney Plus and Hulu. The company’s streaming business lost around $1.5 billion last quarter.

“Our priority is the enduring growth and profitability of our streaming business,” Iger says. “Our current forecasts indicate Disney Plus will hit profitability by the end of fiscal 2024, and achieving that remains our goal.”

Since the results span the last three months of 2022, it’s still too early to tell how much of an effect the $7.99 per month ad-supported tier will have on Disney Plus’ subscriber numbers. This is something Disney chief financial officer Christine McCarthy reflected on during the call, noting the company doesn’t “expect the launch of the Disney Plus ad tier to provide a meaningful financial impact until later this fiscal year.”

It’s possible that more people are dropping the service now that the three-year bundle it rolled out with the launch of Disney Plus is starting to expire. While Disney does offer a bundled plan with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus, it’s still more expensive than the original offer and reflects last year’s price hikes.

Ex-Twitter exec details ‘homophobic and antisemitic’ abuse over handling of Hunter Biden story

Yoel Roth testifies before congressional committee that Elon Musk’s release of company’s internal records led to harassment

A former Twitter executive testified on Wednesday that he was forced to leave and sell his home following a campaign of “homophobic and antisemitic” harassment over the company’s handling of a New York Post story about Hunter Biden.

Yoel Roth, the former head of safety at Twitter, made the comments while speaking to a committee in the newly Republican-controlled House of Representatives, at a hearing convened to scrutinize the social network’s handling of a 2020 report on Joe Biden’s son.

Ex-Twitter execs to testify in Congress on handling of Hunter Biden laptop reporting

Company temporarily restricted New York Post article in 2020 about contents of the abandoned computer of Joe Biden’s son

Former senior staff at Twitter will testify on Wednesday before the House oversight committee about the social media platform’s handling of reporting on Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

The hearing has set the stage for the agenda of a newly Republican-controlled House, underscoring its intention to home in on longstanding and unsubstantiated allegations that big tech has an anti-conservative bias.

Scottish MP Stewart McDonald fears emails hacked by Russia-linked group

SNP MP for Glasgow South says he is victim of ‘sophisticated and targeted spear phishing’ attack

An SNP MP whose emails were hacked has spoken out because he fears they were stolen by a group linked to Russia and will be published.

Stewart McDonald’s emails were compromised last month after he clicked on a message from a member of his staff on his private MP’s account.

mardi 7 février 2023

Here are the best iPad deals right now

The 2020 iPad Air and new iPad Mini have the same design and shape as the iPad Pro — *Select iPad models go on sale quite regularly.* | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

While the best iPad deals come around during major sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon Prime Day, you can still find plenty of great discounts at all times of the year if you know where to look. Whether you’re after the high-end iPad Pro or the most affordable entry-level iPad, there’s likely a sale going on somewhere you may be interested in.

Of course, it’s difficult to know exactly where you can find the most notable deals unless you’re scouring the major retailers on a daily basis. But that’s often what our deal hunters at The Verge are doing each and every day, so let us help you out. Below, we’ve listed the best deals you can get on each iPad model that is currently available, including the latest ones equipped with Apple’s powerful M1 and M2 chips.

The best iPad (2021) and iPad (2022) deals

Announced alongside the iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad is Apple’s entry-level tablet that replaced the eighth-gen model from 2020. The ninth-generation iPad starts at $329, just like its predecessor, though the entry-level model has 64GB of storage instead of 32GB. The base configuration with Wi-Fi is currently available at Best Buy and Target for the lowest price of $249.99 (about $80 off) or a somewhat close second at Walmart for $269 ($60 off).

As for the next bump up in storage, 256GB, it normally costs $479, but Walmart and Best Buy have that configuration with Wi-Fi for $399 and $399.99, respectively. This is a very good deal, especially as it normally only drops to only $429. If you prefer your iPad to include cellular connectivity, the 64GB model normally runs $479 (though Best Buy has it for about $80 off), and the 256GB variant is $609 (though Best Buy and Walmart are selling it for $529.99).

The 2021 model iPad uses an A13 Bionic processor and a 12MP wide-angle camera with Center Stage, a feature designed for keeping you framed up and centered while on video calls. Many other features carried over from its predecessor, such as the 10.2-inch display, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the home button, and a Smart Connector for connecting a Smart Keyboard.

Although the newer, 10th-gen iPad came out in October of 2022, the last-gen model is still worth considering. The latest iPad modernizes the design with a switch to USB-C, uniform bezels with no home button, a side power button with a fingerprint sensor, and a larger display, but it excises the headphone jack and costs a much steeper $449. That’s not much of an entry-level price, so hopefully, the ninth-gen sticks around and continues to see moderate discounts.

However, if you do find the updates of 10th-gen iPad appealing, you can at least get the base 64GB configuration with Wi-Fi on sale for $399 ($50 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. That $50 discount is also present on the 256GB model — selling for $549 at Best Buy and Target — though once you climb that high, it may be worth considering an iPad Air (see below). But hey, if you just love the color yellow, I won’t stop you.

The best iPad Mini (2021) deals

The sixth-generation iPad Mini has a larger screen than its predecessor, along with a top-of-the-line processor, support for USB-C, and options for 5G. It has forfeited its 3.5mm headphone jack and dedicated home button in the process, but overall, it’s a solid device that brings a fully refreshed design to Apple’s small tablet form factor.

The changes and refinements to the new iPad Mini come at a heftier price, however, and the new 64GB Wi-Fi model now starts at $499. Electing for 256GB of storage brings the price up to $649, while the 5G cellular models are $649 for 64GB and $799 for 256GB. These are some big numbers for a small iPad, and the larger iPad Air might be worth considering if you prefer your dollar to go further with more screen real estate. But if you want the latest and greatest from Apple in a smaller format, this is where the action is.

There have been some sizable discounts on the sixth-gen Mini at times, and right now, Best Buy, Target, and Amazon have the 64GB base model for $399.99 ($100 off). If you’re in need of additional storage, Amazon has the 256GB Wi-Fi model for $539.99 (about $109 off) after an additional $10 discount at checkout, and Best Buy has it for a close second of $549.99.

As for the 5G-equipped variant, the 64GB model is $100 off, dropping to $549.99 at Best Buy , Target, and Amazon. The 256GB version, however, is $109 off at Amazon after an additional $10 off at checkout, making it $689.99. The cellular models normally sell for $649 and $799, respectively.

The best iPad Air (2022) deals

The latest iPad Air usually costs $599, but we’ve seen it dip as low as $499.99 (around $100 off) on occasion, and that’s where it is at right now from both Amazon and Target. That’s an excellent value for the 10.9-inch tablet that borrowed its M1 processor from the pricier iPad Pros of its generation. For those who crave more storage, the 256GB configuration is available for $649.99 at Target (also around $100 off). Like the base model, that’s about as good as it gets for non-cellular iPad Air prices.

If you find yourself needing a 5G connection for your iPad, the cellular model with 64GB is $689 ($60 off) at B&H Photo and $699 at Amazon.

The 2022 iteration of Apple’s lightweight tablet is similar in terms of its capabilities when measured against the previous-gen model but still offers a handful of iterative upgrades. The most pronounced improvement is the M1 processor, which offers better performance, and the front-facing 12MP camera comes equipped with Apple’s Center Stage feature that helps to keep a moving subject centered when recording video or during video calls.

The best iPad Pro (2022) deals

The latest generation of iPad Pros looks a whole lot like the prior model from 2021, as the changes are primarily on the inside. The new Pros still come in 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with the better-looking Mini LED panel once again reserved for the larger model, though both now pack Apple’s newer M2 CPU for even better processing power.

Striking resemblance to the prior generation aside, there are a few reasons to opt for a Pro over something like an Air, such as Face ID unlocking and additional base storage. If display quality is the most important factor in your purchasing decision, the 12.9-inch version is the way to go, as its Mini LED display achieves deeper blacks and better contrast, much like an OLED panel.

Aside from that, as well as a nifty new hover feature that shows where your second-gen Apple Pencil’s tip will land before you touch the screen, they’re very similar to the older models from 2021. The 128GB base models even start at the same price — the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models retail for $799 and $1,099, respectively, and go up from there. As for 5G cellular versions, the 11-inch starts at $999, and the 12.9-inch starts at $1,299.

While some steep discounts and closeout sales on the 2021 iPad Pros have led to them selling out pretty much everywhere, there are some small deals starting to appear on Apple’s newer, high-end tablets of 2022.

Right now, for instance, you can get the 11-inch M2 iPad Pro with 128GB of storage for $769 ($30 off) at Amazon or B&H Photo. The 512GB model is where you start to see a steeper discount of about $49 off, dropping it to $1,049.99 at Amazon. And as for cellular models, the only deal is the 128GB 5G version for $939 ($60 off) at Amazon.

If you prefer the larger 12.9-inch model with its lovely Mini LED display, B&H Photo is selling the M2 tablet for $1,049 ($50 off). Stepping up to the 256GB model gets you a $70 discount from B&H Photo, where it’s currently $1,129, or you can get the beefy 512GB storage model for $1,319 ($80 off) from the same retailer.

That’s as good as it gets for now, though we did once see the 12.9-inch get a sweet $100 discount for a very brief window of time. Perhaps now that we’re in the new year, we’ll see more substantial discounts across both models.

TechScape: Why Twitter ending free access to its APIs should be a ‘wake-up call’

In this week’s newsletter: The social media network is putting its APIs – the under-praised tool that keeps the internet as we know it going – behind a paywall. And the ramifications are huge

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APIs may not seem like the sexiest thing to write about in a tech newsletter, but bear with me. Because APIs – or application programming interfaces – are important. They’re the synapses of our digital world: without them, our current ways of living wouldn’t work.

For example, when you visit a website that requires you to log in, and you choose to connect with a Google or Facebook account, you’re utilising an API. That click of a button that links your existing account on one platform with a new account on another is enabled by an API. They spring into action whenever one type of work interacts with another, working to bridge that gap. APIs are the overlooked and under-praised army that keeps the internet as we know it going.

Meta, Long an AI Leader, Tries Not to Be Left Out of the Boom

Meta, Long an AI Leader, Tries Not to Be Left Out of the Boom It has long had technology to rival chatbots like ChatGPT, but can’t afford to back artificial intelligence that can spread misinformation and toxic content.

Tuesday’s top tech news: a new era for Microsoft’s Bing

Image: The Verge

Plus two new Eras for Sonos

Perennial search engine also-ran Bing looks set to get a massive shot in the arm amid reports that operator Microsoft is preparing to announce some kind of ChatGPT integration for the service later today. News of the event seemed to have spooked Google, with the search giant making the surprise announcement on Monday that it’s working on its own “experimental conversational AI service.” The Verge will be in attendance at Microsoft’s event, so stay tuned for all the details as they’re announced.

And speaking of new Eras, my colleague Chris Welch has a scoop on Sonos’ upcoming speaker lineup set to debut in the coming months. We now know that they’re set to be branded as “Era,” with specific models including the Era 300 and Era 100. The former will apparently focus on spatial audio, and support playback of Dolby Atmos content.

Finally, this year’s Super Bowl looks like it’s going to be free of the cryptocurrency promotions that filled its ad spots last year. It’s yet another sign of the winter that the crypto industry is currently in.

And now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day.

pic.twitter.com/7va5LXj90Z
— Swayzine ITYSL Fan Art (@GarvestonReggie) February 6, 2023

Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Tuesday, February 7th, 2023.

The Last of Us recap episode four – ambush in Kansas!

Ellie gets to grips with a gun, Joel has a rude awakening – and here’s Melanie Lynskey as the revolutionary Kathleen. But don’t be fooled by her dulcet tones … she’s as twisted as they come

This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us TV series. Do not read unless you have seen episodes one to four …

After the heartbreaking spectacle of Bill and Frank’s two-hander, here we saw Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) return to centre stage as they embarked on an epic road trip and adjusted to life post-Tess.

Some popular accounts likely to disappear from Twitter as Elon Musk ends free access to API

Move to pay-for-access application program interface continues platform owner’s push for revenue

The latest set of changes to Twitter will likely spell the end of some of your favourite accounts, tools and features, as the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, continues to look for ways to increase revenue.

In a post on Thursday morning, Twitter’s developer account announced free access to its application program interface (API) would be cut off and replaced with a paid version from 9 February.

lundi 6 février 2023

Microsoft Authenticator drops support for Apple Watch

Woman looking at new color background on watchOS 9 watchface on Series 8. — Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Microsoft Authenticator is ending support for the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, this means you’ll no longer be able to conveniently log in to your connected accounts using just the wearable, as reported earlier by MacRumors.

While the app’s 6.7.3 iOS update states that it “removes Microsoft Authenticator from Apple Watch,” it also notes that you can still mirror any Microsoft Authenticator notifications you receive on your iPhone to your Apple Watch.

Microsoft first introduced Authenticator for the Apple Watch in 2018, and it’s proven useful for anyone looking to streamline their multi-factor authentication (MFA) sign-ins. Instead of having to open the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone to verify your identity, you could instead approve the log-in through a notification that appears on your watch.

We first heard about the shutdown in December, after Microsoft quietly updated its FAQ page to note that you won’t be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. It’s unclear why Microsoft’s choosing to drop support for the Apple Watch now and vaguely states that watchOS is “incompatible with Authenticator security features.”

Over the course of several years, watchOS has lost a number of noteworthy apps, including Pokémon Go, Uber, Instagram, and more, proving that not every service out there needs a presence on your wrist. But out of all these apps, the Microsoft Authenticator companion app is perhaps the most practical, and it’s a bummer that it’s going away.