Posts Tagged: makes

Meta Quest 3 review: A bit of mixed reality makes for better VR

The Meta Quest 3 proves that the Meta Ques 2 was just an impossibly good deal. When that VR headset arrived for just $ 300 three years ago, it was the perfect gateway to VR for most people. You didn't need to hook it up to anything, you just flipped it on and stepped into virtual reality. But then Meta raised the price to $ 400 last year, and the entire VR industry just started to feel very stale.

It's no wonder the $ 1,500 Meta Quest Pro completely flopped – VR was already struggling, and few people actually needed something so expensive.

The $ 500 Quest 3 likely won't tempt over as many VR newcomers as the Quest 2, but it's still a solid step forward for Meta. It has all of the upgrades you'd expect, and it also has full color mixed reality cameras, which let you use VR apps alongside a view of the real world. Squint a bit, and you can almost see what Apple is going for with the Vision Pro (though with far less fidelity).

Despite all those improvements though, the Quest 3 makes me marvel even more at what Meta accomplished with the Quest 2, which is still available at its original $ 299 price. That headset is still the best VR entry point for newbies, though I wish it were a bit cheaper by now. The Quest 3, meanwhile, is the logical upgrade once you've caught the VR bug.

Here's what makes it special: It's significantly thinner and lighter than the Quest 2, thanks to a new set of pancake lenses. Those also help to produce a sharper image from the new displays, which deliver 2,064 by 2,208 pixels per eye. That's even better than the PlayStation VR 2, which wowed us earlier this year.

The Quest 3 is also running Qualcomm's new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, which offers double the GPU power of the Quest 2, according to Meta. Up front, there are two full color cameras for mixed reality, along with a depth sensor in the middle to help map your space and avoid obstacles. That's notable, since it was a feature Meta completely dropped from the Quest Pro. When it comes to storage, you’ve got your choice between the 128GB $ 500 model and a 512GB option for $ 650.

Meta Quest 3
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Now for what the Quest 3 doesn't have: There's no face or eye tracking, or cameras on the controllers like the Quest Pro. Though, at least they've lost the annoying rings from the Quest 2 gamepads. I don't think you'll miss any of the Quest Pro's features – they're potentially cool, but developers haven’t really taken advantage of them.

Meta already proved it can make a solid standalone VR headset, but can it really bring mixed reality to everyone? That seems to be the driving force behind the Quest 3. Apple's Vision Pro showed us a genuinely promising vision of spatial computing, one where the digital and physical worlds can comfortably coexist. But that thing also costs $ 3,499. Trying to accomplish something similar for a fraction of the price seems impossible.

The Quest 3's attempt at mixed reality is far from perfect – the color cameras deliver a fuzzy and pixelated view of the world, as if you're in a drug-fueled haze. But it’s still pretty useful. A double tap on the side of the Quest 3 is all it takes to flip between immersive VR and the real world.

That's something I ended up using frequently to check on text and Slack messages, grab information from my computer, and chat with people around me. Doing any of those things in the past would have required either completely removing the headset, or flipping up the visor.

Meta Quest 3
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The Quest 3 also goes beyond just letting you see the real world: You can also do some basic mixed reality multi-tasking. You can arrange up to three windowed Quest apps, like WhatsApp and the Quest Store, on a translucent virtual tray that sits in front of you. Even better, you can move that tray anywhere in your space. That's not something I’d use a lot, but the fact that I could create this environment, anchor it to a specific point in the real world, and walk around it simply blew me away.

It also helps that the Quest 3 makes every virtual element look incredibly sharp. Looking at WhatsApp chats in the headset was no different than on my gaming monitor. Meta still has to work on actually making the Quest's apps more useful though: I could only reply to WhatsApp chats by awkwardly pecking away at the Quest’s virtual keyboard, leaving voice messages or attaching media from the headset. (Let's just hope that tabletop virtual keyboard that Mark Zuckerberg showed off actually becomes a reality.)

Quest 3 Mixed Reality
A glimpse of the Quest 3's mixed reality view from my family room.
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The Quest 3 also marks the first time I’ve genuinely enjoyed using Meta’s finger tracking. It was an intriguing feature when it arrived on the original Quest, but it wasn’t alway accurate, so I preferred using the Quest’s controllers instead. Now, thanks to the depth sensor and full color cameras, the Quest 3 does a far better job at recognizing every finger gesture. I found myself letting my controllers rest far more often, since it was so easy to navigate through apps by swiping and virtually pointing.

Now given just how well the Quest 2 excelled at being a standalone VR headset, I wasn’t very surprised that the Quest 3 was even better. Everything loaded faster thanks to its increased RAM. The controllers felt far more precise, especially for games that demanded accuracy, like the upcoming Samba de Amigo and the VR mainstay Beat Saber.

Meta Quest 3
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

The Quest 3’s higher resolution display also makes games look far better than the Quest 2, but I was more impressed by the handful of titles that were optimized for its faster hardware. Red Matter 2 practically looked like a full-fledged PC VR title, thanks to its incredibly detailed textures and character models. The Kurzgesagt game, Out of Scale, made me feel like I was living inside of one of its gorgeously animated YouTube videos .

Quest 3 owners will still have access to the hundreds of games that also work on the Quest 2, but it’s nice to see some new titles arriving alongside fresh hardware. It doesn’t look like anything will be exclusive to Quest 3 yet, but that could easily change down the line. For now, I’d expect new games will have an extra layer of polish, while the Quest 2 will get a more basic experience.

I didn't get to try First Encounters, the Quest 3 mixed reality tutorial that was shown off during our initial preview, but I'm hoping more developers start building similar experiences for the Quest 3. There are a handful of truly "mixed reality" titles already, like Zombies Noir and Figmin XR, but they're mostly just interesting experiments instead of anything truly groundbreaking. There's room for the Quest 3 to deliver the sort of reality-bending experiences initially promised devices like the Magic Leap and HoloLens. 

After testing the Quest 3 for a week, I’ve noticed something surprising: It’s the first headset that doesn’t make me feel trapped while using it. Since the real world is easily accessible, I feel far more comfortable sitting and enjoying a movie on Netflix, or a 360-degree video on YouTube. And thanks to its lighter frame and additional room for glasses, I can also play VR games far longer than I used to.

I only wish the Quest 3’s battery life lasted longer. Depending on what you’re doing, it can go for two to three hours, just like the Quest 2. At least you can still use it while charging the headset though, and it also stays powered when connected to a PC for beefier experiences, like Google Earth VR.

Meta Quest 3
Photo by Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

If you’ve seen my PlayStation VR 2 review, you’ll know I’m pretty ambivalent about the state of VR at the moment. The headsets are getting better, but the games and industry just feels stagnant. The Meta Quest 3, at the very least, seems like a better option for VR newcomers than the $ 550 PlayStation VR 2. It’s pricey, but it delivers solid VR without a PlayStation 5. While it’s no Vision Pro, the Quest 3’s stab at mixed reality makes it a headset you’ll likely use long after your VR honeymoon is over.

And if a $ 500 headset is too expensive, I’m sure you can find a used Quest 2 for a steal.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-quest-3-review-mixed-reality-vr-150009788.html?src=rss

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Animated GIF generator from Picsart makes AI fun again

Remember the early days of the AI hype train, when everyone spent their time making stupid images using text prompts? If you want to recapture the nostalgic haze of, uh, late 2022, Picsart has got you covered. The popular image editor just launched an AI-powered animated GIF generator.

The major difference between earlier text-to-image platforms like DALL-E and Picsart’s new tool is animation. DALL-E is best known for making static images, whereas Picsart’s software creates animated GIFs, just like the ones you’ve been sending in group chats and social media platforms for years. Only, now you don’t have to search for your favorite It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia characters doing outlandish things. You can just make those outlandish things up. You can even make two cats arm wrestle.

Picsart GIF of two cats paw wrestling
Picsart

Picsart is calling the tool its “most unhinged” platform yet, and it works exactly how you expect. Type a bunch of nonsense into the chat box, wait a minute or so and marvel at your “chaotic and eccentric” creation. The platform’s integrated into the regular Picsart app and is available for iOS devices, Android devices and on the web. You can download the GIF directly to your device to share with your group chat or to send anywhere else.

The images created by this platform are on the cartoony side, so don’t expect photorealism. However, that just adds to the fun. Picsart’s AI GIF generator is available right now, so let the nonsense begin. Just don’t use these tools to make the opening credits for an uber-expensive TV show based on popular comic book characters.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/animated-gif-generator-from-picsart-makes-ai-fun-again-175935532.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google’s Nearby Share Beta for Windows makes it easier to transfer files between your phone and PC

Anyone using an Android smartphone knows how painful it is to transfer files and images from a handset to a Windows PC, often resorting to uploading the content to the cloud or even emailing it to oneself. While several smartphone brands have developed their own solutions, Google has just launched its new Nearby Share Beta […]

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Why I hope Apple makes iOS 17 as boring as possible

Rumors suggest that Apple may focus more on VR this year, which means a much smaller iOS 17 update. That’s exactly what Apple needs.
Digital Trends

iOS 17 could be amazing if Apple makes these 7 changes

We expect Apple to announce iOS 17 next year during WWDC23. Here are a few things we hope to see in the next version of iOS.
Digital Trends

The Apple Watch SE 2 makes Apple’s cheap smartwatch better than ever

Apple’s Far Out event has given us many announcements, including the Apple Watch SE 2. Here’s what we’re getting from the new, cheaper Apple Watch this year.
Wearables | Digital Trends

Verizon’s Visible adds a new ‘+’ plan and makes its standard plan more affordable

Verizon’s “all-digital wireless carrier”, otherwise known as Visible, has doubled the number of plans that it offers and also switched up its pricing strategy. The carrier now offers a standard Visible plan and a Visible+ plan, both of which feature unlimited talk, text, and data as well as nationwide 5G and LTE networking. As you […]

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Nothing’s next phone may ignore the one thing that makes the Phone 1 special

A new rumor says Nothing is working on a new phone — and it might be missing the Nothing Phone 1’s most unique feature.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Apple Fitness+ makes Apple TV an even better buy

If you have an Apple Watch, you can get even more out of your Apple TV in terms of working out and getting fit.
Wearables | Digital Trends

What is pixel binning? The Galaxy S22 feature that makes your photos great

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series comes armed with up to 108MP cameras, but they deliver 12-megapixel photos using a tech called pixel binning. Here’s how it works.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Google’s newest app makes it easier to switch to Android

Google is finally making its Switch to Android app available in the App Store after a soft launch.
Mobile | Digital Trends

A surprise PC update makes ‘Chrono Trigger’ playable on ultrawide screen displays

For nearly 30 years, Square Enix’s Chrono Trigger has stood tall as one of the defining releases of the SNES era and JRPG genre. In a medium that has dramatically evolved over the past three decades, it’s one of those rare games that still feels as fresh and vital today as it did in 1995. And now there’s even more of a reason to revisit this gem if you own an ultrawide monitor.

Earlier this week, Square Enix updated the Steam version of Chrono Trigger for the first time in four years. Spotted by Kotaku, the update adds support for 21:9 resolutions, “improved” d-pad controls, and a handful of user interface improvements among other quality of life changes. The addition of ultrawide screen support is particularly notable since it’s a feature that’s rare to find on retro ports and even some modern games – Elden Ring, for instance, doesn’t come with native 21:9 support.

The PC version of Chrono Trigger has come a long way since Square first released it in 2018. At the time, the company was rightfully criticized for releasing a lazy port. At launch, it included interface elements that were directly lifted from the Android and iOS releases. To its credit, however, Square spent the next year polishing the release, and following this week’s update, you can safely say the PC version is one of the definitive ways to play the classic.

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Timex and Finisterre’s collaboration surf watch makes tide tracking simple

If all you want to know from your tide tracking watch is the tide time at your favorite local spot, then Timex and Finisterre’s Tide Watch will be ideal.
Wearables | Digital Trends

Google makes big screens better with Android 12L for foldables and tablets

Android 12 might just be fresh off the oven, but Google is following it up with Android 12L as it optimizes its mobile operating system for foldables.
Android | Digital Trends

How bikes and vacuums inspired the tech that makes Samsung’s folding phones tough

Three key members of the team at Samsung that’s responsible for the increased durability of its latest Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 smartphones talk about the project.
Android | Digital Trends

Clubhouse finally makes audio shareable with 30-second previews of rooms

One week after introducing a new invite system, Clubhouse is introducing a host of new features. The first of those new is Clips, a tool people can use to share previews of public rooms. When creators and hosts enable the feature, you’ll see a new icon that looks like a pair of scissors. Tap it and Clubhouse will capture the last 30 seconds of audio, which you can then share on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, iMessage or WhatsApp. Clubhouse says it’s rolling out Clips in beta to select creators today. In most public and open rooms, you should see the scissors icon there unless the host has gone out of their way to disable the feature.

Sometime in the next few weeks, Clubhouse also plans to introduce a way for people to share archives of past live rooms. The feature is called Replays. As with Clips, it’s something that people will be able to disable if they want. When active, however, it will make past rooms discoverable for as long as a host or creator wants people to find that conversation. Clubhouse says it plans to start rolling out Replays sometime in October.

Rounding things out, Clubhouse is introducing a search tool that allows you to look for specific people, clubs, live rooms and future events. Initially, that functionality will live in the Explore tab for about a week or two before Clubhouse moves it to the hallway sidebar. Last but not least, Android users can look forward to Clubhouse rolling out support for spatial audio. In many ways, the updates Clubhouse announced today address shortcomings that have been in the app for a while. The absence of a way to share audio was a particularly notable omission.  

Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Google makes it easier to try Chrome’s experimental features

Test versions of Chrome sometimes pack experimental features, but you almost wouldn’t know it when you frequently have to enable obscure settings flags to use them. It might soon be much easier, however. Ghacks and Android Police have learned that Ch…
Engadget

Modder’s DIY project makes the SNES Super Scope work on your flat TV

The heyday of light gun games is long gone, and even though people have tried to recreate it with things like Wiimote grips or PlayStation Move attachments — MAG II made an admirable effort — it’s just not the same. The classic games where we spent h…
Engadget

MediaTek makes a velvety smooth return to the US with a T-Mobile exclusive on LG’s affordable 5G mid-ranger

As Jared wraps up his review of the standard edition of LG’s stunning Velvet, T-Mobile has scored an exclusive variant on the phone which is powered by MediaTek’s newest processor – the Dimensity 1000C. T-Mobile’s version of the LG Velvet looks identical to the Snapdragon 765-powered variant, it’s just that there’s a different motor under […]

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SpaceX makes first polar orbit launch from Florida in ‘decades’

While SpaceX didn’t pull off a doubleheader Sunday launch like it planned, the company still managed a rare feat. Instead of launching eastward like every other Cape Canaveral rocket, the Falcon 9 headed south toward Cuba, close to populated areas on…
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The Morning After: Texas Instruments makes it harder to cheat on its calculators

Graphing calculators have clung on to school lives despite us all carrying around smartphones that are several magnitudes more powerful. (Let’s not even get into wearables.) In a bid to reduce cheating in exam settings, Texas Instruments is pulling s…
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Coursera makes courses available for free to the unemployed

Coursera is opening access to its online education in a bid to help those newly unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gizmodo notes the service has made 3,800 courses and 400 specializations available for free through government agencies hoping to…
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Pinterest makes it much easier to buy what you see

Pinterest has introduced a few new features to make it easier to shop directly from pins. You’ll now see a new “shop tab” on search, which will bring up in-stock items from a wide range of retailers every time you search a term such as “office decor”…
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‘HQ Trivia’ makes a surprise return

HQ Trivia — the once-popular mobile game that turned your random knowledge into a few bucks — abruptly shut down earlier this year after an investment deal fell through. As such, players that still had the app on their phones were probably surprise…
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Plex makes live TV free for three months

Plex is joining the chorus of companies handing out freebies to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. The media app makers are offering their Live TV feature free to all users for three months through June 30th. You'll still need a tuner and an over-the…
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Xiaomi makes the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Pro Max official, packing quad cameras and huge batteries

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note line of budget-friendly phones has just gotten a pretty serious upgrade, delivering great hardware at an affordable price. As usual, these phones are geared at the price-conscious Indian market, but both of them look like some pretty great options for anyone in the market for upgrades. Redmi Note 9 Pro Max announced […]

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RED’s Hydrogen One phone makes a cameo in the ‘F9’ trailer

Now that the nearly four-minute-long F9: The Fast Saga trailer is here, fans of the long-running series can enjoy some surprise resurrections (spoiler alert: watch the trailer before scrolling to the end of this post), but the strangest appearance be…
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YouTube Music makes discovery more personal with playlists mixed for you

YouTube Music is a dedicated music streaming service that guides you through the world of music. With official songs and albums as well as deep cuts, live performances, and remixes, you can listen to exactly what you want, when you want to. Or you can sit back and let us recommend music for you right on your home screen.

Rolling out today, we’re introducing a shelf of three personalized mixes – the new Discover Mix, New Release Mix, and Your Mix – to keep you up to date on what’s just been released and introduce you to a wider range of artists and sounds based on your personal taste. Updated regularly, these mixes will use your listening history to create a unique experience and guide your music exploration to exciting and fresh destinations week after week.

Check out what each of these new mixes is bringing to you:

Discover Mix: Whether introducing you to an entirely new artist you’ve never heard before, or unearthing hidden, lesser-known gems from artists you’re already familiar with, Discover Mix will give you 50 tracks every week that help you expand your musical horizons. With new updates every Wednesday, it’s your go-to playlist to discover music.

New Release Mix: This mix is your one-stop shop for a playlist of all the most recent releases by your favorite artists (and others we think you’ll like). Expect a big update every Friday (when most new releases drop) along with mid-week releases sprinkled in throughout the week to ensure you are always up-to-date on the latest releases.

Your Mix: Your Mix is the perfect playlist for those times when you don’t want to think and just want to play something you know you’ll like. It’s full of songs by artists you know and love, and also mixes in some songs and artists you’ve never heard before, but that we think you’ll love. Small updates are made regularly, so the music never gets stale and there’s always something new in rotation.

The more you listen to and like songs, the better your mixes will be. New to YouTube Music? Don’t worry, we can start delivering a personalized experience after you’ve selected a couple of artists you like during setup, or even after listening to just a few songs!

Discover Mix, New Release Mix, and Your Mix are now available globally for all YouTube Music listeners. To check out your personalized mixes, download the YouTube Music app for iOS or Android or visit the webplayer to dive in.

These new mixes are just the beginning of an even more personalized YouTube Music, so stay tuned for more music mixed just for you!

Nathan Lasche, Product Manager – YouTube Music, recently listened to “Dance Monkey by Tones and I


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Google Assistant picks up some holiday tricks, makes it easy to track Santa all month long

Google is teaming up with the North Pole again this year, and they’re making it really easy to track Santa’s progress as we get closer to Christmas. There are tons of Google Assistant games to play, GIFs to share, and even a snowbox to build your own 3D winter wonderland. Not everything will be available […]

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Google’s new emulator makes Android Automotive development easier

With both the Polestar 2 and Volvo XC40 set to launch sometime in 2020, there's still sometime before the first slate of Android Automotive cars make their way to consumers. Thankfully, Google is making it easier for developers to create apps for the…
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Microsoft makes the Xbox One work with Google Assistant and Google Homes

Microsoft has announced a new integration for its home video game console, the Xbox One, and it should be a big deal for anyone building a smart home with Google Assistant. Like the previously announced Amazon Alexa integration, you’ll now be able to use Google Assistant to control your Xbox One. This works for turning […]

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Google Play Store redesign makes it easier to find games

The go-to destination for Android apps has undergone some changes. Google announced today that it has rolled out a visual redesign of the Google Play Store. The refreshed interface should make hunting for apps easier for the app store's two billion m…
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Peer-to-peer 8Chan mirror makes users responsible for its child porn

It's been a few days since Cloudflare stopped providing security protections to 8Chan, which led to the notorious site going offline. While 8Chan's leaders are still trying unsuccessfully to bring the site back, some of its users have found a way to…
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FAA’s new B4UFLY app makes it easier to know where drones are allowed

The FAA's free app that kept drone pilots aware of "no fly zones" performed a much-needed service — but had few fans. The federal agency teamed up with drone software maker Kittyhawk to create a new version of the B4UFLY app that is being released t…
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Instagram makes it easy to add song lyrics to your Stories

Instagram announced today that it is adding the ability to display lyrics when adding songs to Stories. The feature will let users decide if they want to display song lyrics on screen and will give them the ability to edit the text style, animation a…
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Samsung’s Galaxy A80 makes smartphones weird again, and we like it

Meet Samsung’s newest phone, the Galaxy A80. It’s strange, weird, and different, and it’s bringing some of the funky innovation back to smartphones that we’ve been missing for a few years. Sure, it’s probably going to be a commercial flop, but we love seeing phones like this again. This phone is built for the “era […]

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YouTube makes it simple for fans to experience live performances with Eventbrite

Over 1 billion fans come to YouTube each month to connect with their favorite artists and discover new music. Thanks to a new partnership with Eventbrite, we’re making it simple for fans to go from experiencing music online to seeing live performances.

Starting today, fans watching videos from YouTube Official Artist Channels will see Eventbrite listings for live music performances throughout the U.S. below the video. With one easy click on the “Tickets” button, they’ll be able to purchase directly from Eventbrite.

Live events continue to be a major source of revenue for artists, so we want to help artists keep fans updated on their upcoming shows and sell more tickets to live performances. YouTube’s global audience also lets artists find new fans with 26% of Millenials (44% of teens) claiming they discover live music events on YouTube, according to Nielsen.

Through our partnerships with Eventbrite and Ticketmaster, YouTube now covers more than 70% of the US ticketing market and we’ll continue to add new artists and venues of all sizes to our list in North America as well as expand globally.

We’re excited to further the power of video discovery on Youtube to bring artists and fans together and continue supporting those connections through live shows.

The YouTube Music Team


YouTube Blog

Google Gboard test makes finding a relevant GIF even faster

The whole point of Google's Gboard is to help you find relevant items without leaving your phone's keyboard, but how do you know there's something useful available while you're casually typing away? You might get a clue soon enough. Android Police…
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AI-altered video makes it look like you can dance

Can't pop-lock or Lindy Hop to save your life? Don't worry — AI could soon make it look like you're a dance superstar. UC Berkeley researchers have developed a deep learning system that translates dance moves from a source video to less-than-experie…
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World’s first Chrome OS tablet makes unscheduled début at BETT Show 2018

It’s no secret that the tablet market is stagnant to the point of being comatose, with Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S3 being the most recent high-end tablet available to purchase, and that launched all the way back at MWC 2017. Perhaps there is hope for the tablet segment though in the form of Google’s increasingly capable […]

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Following the failed merger with T-Mobile, Sprint makes a deal with Altice USA

Now that the Sprint/T-Mobile merger is officially dead and buried, Sprint has been quick to strike a new deal with a US cable company. Altice USA will start selling mobile service via Sprint’s network under a new multi-year agreement that was revealed on November 5th. That’s literally just one day after the T-Mobile merger was […]

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Stephen Hawking makes his doctoral thesis available online

Ever wondered how Stephen Hawking saw the universe as a doctoral candidate, when his theories about black holes were just coming into fruition? You don't have to hear about it second-hand — you can now go straight to the source. The legendary cosm…
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Recommended Reading: ‘Lore’ makes the leap from podcast to TV

'Lore' Proves Podcasts Can Inspire Disturbingly Effective TV Bryan Bishop, The Verge A year after Amazon greenlit the television adaption of the popular podcast, Lore debuted this week. The Verge reviews the series as it makes the jump from audio…
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Google makes a major investment in HTC in exchange for employees and IP portfolio

Rumors have been swirling around about an HTC acquisition by Google, and it kinda sorta almost happened. The two companies have announced a whopping $ 1.1 billion cooperation agreement that’s not quite a full buyout, but should still help both companies long term. Right now, Google is going to acquire some of HTC’s employees, many of […]

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SteamVR makes its launcher ‘more social’ with Home

We've seen attempts at free-flowing virtual worlds from the likes of Second Life and the (dearly departed) PlayStation Home, but with VR we're getting another shot at it. First Facebook Spaces appeared, and now Valve is beta testing SteamVR Home. The…
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Alcatel Idol 5 makes some stops on Geekbench on way to market

Alcatel is getting a new device ready in their Idol series of smartphones, which should be marketed as the Idol 5. The device showed up in the past few days in the Geekbench database revealing both some specs for the mid-range smartphone and some insight as to how companies continue to tweak and improve their […]

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Comcast’s xFi app makes setting up your parents’ WiFi less painful

There are plenty of great routers on the market, but most of them have simply horrible interfaces for setting up and configuring your WiFI network. Companies like Google and Apple have built smartphone apps that make managing WiFi much easier, but it…
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Google Gnome makes smart lawns accessible to everyone

Smart devices make our lives so much better, whether it’s a smartwatch on our wrist or smart appliances around our home. Companies are constantly looking to improve the quality of life for customers, and Google is bravely charging into the smart lawn market with the brand new Google Gnome. Google Gnome, which is most definitely not a […]

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Bethesda’s ‘Prey’ reboot makes you fear everything

Prey is all about deception. The first-person shooter starts off simple enough: You're a scientist starting a new job at your brother's massive research company. You wake up in your bedroom, do some exploring and board a helicopter on top of your roo…
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