Posts Tagged: video

Activision’s union, with 600 members, is now the biggest one in video games

The number of unionized workers for Microsoft's video game subsidiaries keeps growing, and the latest group to join the pool is the largest one yet. Approximately 600 quality assurance workers at Activision have joined the Communications Workers of America (CWA), making them the biggest certified union in the US video game industry. They're also the first Activision workers to organize under the agreement between Microsoft and the CWA. If you'll recall, Microsoft agreed to respect the right of Activision Blizzard workers to unionize as part of its efforts to secure regulatory approval for its $ 68.7 billion takeover of the video game developer. 

CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. said Microsoft kept its promise to let workers decide for themselves whether they want a union. Part of Microsoft's pledge when it agreed to make a pact with the CWA was that it would take neutral approach during a union campaign, and the company said it didn't interfere or influence people's votes. 

Another element of their agreement was giving employees access to "innovative technology-supported and streamlined process for choosing whether to join a union," which includes not having to petition the National Labor Relations Board for an election. In this instance, the workers only had to sign a union authorization card or to vote online. According to The New York Times, 390 workers voted in favor of forming a union, while eight people were opposed to it. Around 200 more didn't cast their vote. 

In early 2023, Microsoft also recognized a union with 300 workers for Zenimax, the owner of Bethesda and another one of the company's video gaming subsidiaries, which was the largest one for the video game industry at the time. Those workers also unionized under the simpler process enabled by the company's agreement with CWA. By the end of the year, Microsoft agreed to hire 77 temporary QA contractors as full-time unionized Zenimax employees, which was a welcomed win for workers in an industry beset by layoffs.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/activisions-union-with-600-members-is-now-the-biggest-one-in-video-games-143000869.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

You’ll Need To Pay More To Avoid Ads On Amazon Prime Video

There’s nothing like watching your favorite TV show or movie uninterrupted, where the only break in viewing is…
TalkAndroid

NASA beamed a video of a cat named Taters from deep space to Earth

In a successful demonstration of new laser communications capabilities, NASA beamed an ultra-high definition video across 19 million miles of space from its Psyche spacecraft to Earth earlier this month. It’s the first time a UHD streaming video has been sent from deep space via laser. The history-making video? A 15-second clip of an orange cat named Taters chasing a laser dot.

The signal from the video, sent on December 11, made it to Earth in 101 seconds from Psyche’s location at the time, which was about 80 times as far as the distance between Earth and the moon. It was uploaded before the mission launched, and sent back home by a flight laser transceiver aboard Psyche at a rate of 267Mbps. The spacecraft, which set off on its journey in October, is on its way to study a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

“Despite transmitting from millions of miles away, it was able to send the video faster than most broadband internet connections,” said Ryan Rogalin, the receiver electronics lead for the project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. “In fact, after receiving the video at Palomar, it was sent to JPL over the internet, and that connection was slower than the signal coming from deep space.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasa-beamed-a-video-of-a-cat-named-taters-from-deep-space-to-earth-175814869.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Meta’s Oversight Board will weigh in on ‘altered’ Facebook video of Joe Biden

Meta’s Oversight Board is set to take on a new high-profile case ahead of next year’s presidential election. The board said it planned to announce a case involving a user appeal related to an “altered” video of President Joe Biden. The board didn’t disclose specifics of the case, which it said would be announced formally “in the coming days,” but suggested it will touch on policies that could have far-reaching implications for Meta.

“In the coming days the Oversight Board will announce a new case regarding a user-appeal to remove an altered video of President Joe Biden on Facebook,” the Oversight Board said in a statement. “This case will examine issues related to manipulated media on Meta’s platforms and the company’s policies on misinformation, especially around elections.”

While neither Meta or the Oversight Board has shared details about the video in question, the case could further shape the social network’s policies around AI-generated or otherwise manipulated media. Even before the rise of generative AI tools that make it easier than ever to create fake videos of public figures, Meta has taken heat over its response to suggestively edited videos of politicians. In 2019, the company declined to remove an edited clip that falsely claimed then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi was “drunk.”

The incident prompted the company’s current policy that bars AI-generated deepfakes, but allows some other types of edited videos to remain up. Over the last year, fact checkers have regularly debunked deceptively-edited videos of Joe Biden that often spread widely on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s not the first time the Oversight Board has weighed in on a case involving a head of state, The board previously got involved in Meta’s suspension of Donald Trump, and recently recommended Meta suspend the former prime minister of Cambodia (Meta ultimately declined to do so). When the Oversight Board agrees to a case, Meta is only required to implement the board’s decision for the specific Facebook or Instagram post in question. The board also makes a number of policy suggestions, which Meta is free to ignore, though it must provide written responses.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/metas-oversight-board-will-weigh-in-on-altered-facebook-video-of-joe-biden-181008196.html?src=rss

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

How to leave video messages on FaceTime in iOS 17

Apple's iOS 17 brought a host of new features, including the option to leave video messages on FaceTime. While younger generations typically dread hearing their phones ring and seeing that someone has left a voicemail, Apple's new video version might be a hit. Now, when you call someone on FaceTime, if there's no answer you'll have the option to record and send a video message. Please note: Both you and your recipient must be running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 to send and receive FaceTime video messages.

Step by step: How to send a FaceTime video message

Step 1: Go to the FaceTime app

Leaving a video message via FaceTime is pretty simple. All you have to do is initiate a FaceTime call like you normally would. This can be done in a few ways but the easiest way would be to go to the FaceTime app.

Step 2: Initiate the FaceTime call

Once in the app, tap the New FaceTime button, select the contact you're trying to reach then tap FaceTime at the bottom. If no picks up, you'll see "[Contact] is Unavailable" and you'll be presented with two options. You can either call them again or hit Record Video to do just that. 

Steps for leaving FaceTime Video Message.
CNET

Step 3: Tap the Record Video option

Select Record Video and get ready to shoot your shot. You'll see an onscreen countdown and then you can record your message. 

Step 4: Send your video message

After you're done saying what you need to say, you can send it by tapping Send, which looks like a white button circle with a green arrow inside, or you can select Retake.

Screenshot of FaceTime Video Message being recorded.
Apple

Apple has also included a Save option, which means you can save the video message you just recorded directly to your Camera Roll. Or if you'd prefer not to send the message at all, you can simply hit Cancel.

But if you do go through with sending your video message, the recipient will be able to view it in the missed call log within their FaceTime app. Once there, they'll have the option to return your call, watch the video message or save it to their Camera Roll.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-leave-video-messages-on-facetime-in-ios-17-130032594.html?src=rss

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

Amazon’s Fallout series will arrive on Prime Video in 2024

Amazon is still working on a Fallout TV series — and we'll finally find out next year whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. The company has revealed that the Fallout TV show will premiere on Prime Video sometime in 2024, over three years after it first announced that it was developing an adaptation of the franchise with the creators of Westworld. According to GameSpot, Bethesda's Todd Howard and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer presented a short teaser of the upcoming series at Gamescom's Xbox booth. 

The brief clip reportedly showed a nuclear explosion near a city resembling Los Angeles, characters crossing a wasteland and a woman emerging from one of Fallout's Vaults. And, as you can see above, Prime Video shared an image confirming LA to be the site for Vault 33. In October last year, Amazon's Prime Video X account posted a photo of characters wearing Vault 33 suits, and before that, a few behind-the-scenes images for Vault 32 leaked online

When the series was first announced, Bethesda said it had been looking for ways to adapt the Fallout games into a movie or a TV show over the past decade. The adaptation that it eventually approved, written and developed by Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, will take on a "serious and harsh" tone but will also feature "ironic humor" and "B-movie nuclear fantasies."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazons-fallout-series-will-arrive-on-prime-video-in-2024-053029884.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

The Venetian Resort starts testing its giant LED video sphere

The Las Vegas skyline will soon be dominated by a massive display. MSG Entertainment has started full testing of the Sphere, a 17,600-seat venue near the The Venetian Resort that's defined by an enormous (516ft across and 366ft tall) animated dome and a wraparound internal 16K LED screen. It's eye-catching on the outside, but the main attraction is the immersion for live entertainment on the internal display — it's meant to rethink concerts and cinematic experiences.

As MSG's James Dolan and David Dribble explain to Rolling Stone, the aim is to effectively create a VR experience without the "damn goggles." Creators use a special camera to produce footage that envelops the audience. There's also a unique 164,000-speaker audio system that can isolate specific sounds, or even limit them to certain parts of the audience. One section could hear only Spanish-language dialog, for instance.

Like "4D" movie theaters, the MSG Sphere also has a sensory experience for some guests. About 10,000 seats have haptics, cold, heat wind and scents. If you're on a virtual trip to the Arctic, you might feel the coolness while you watch.

The venue will have its first performance on September 29th, when U2 starts a 25-show run with a custom production. The shows have effectively sold out, so you'll have to rely on the inevitable flurry of social media videos to see what the Sphere looks like during its inaugural stint. Partial screen testing took place this spring.

Whether or not it's a wise investment isn't clear. Construction started in 2019, but the pandemic and technological complexity have swelled the expected cost to $ 2.3 billion. That will make it the most expensive venue in Las Vegas to date (even the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium costs 'just' $ 1.9 billion), and there are no guarantees MSG will recoup its investment in a timely fashion. It's not clear what comes after U2's concerts, either, although there is the possibility of hosting eSports tournaments and mixed martial arts fights.

The draw, however, is clear. Large-scale concerts typically take place in stadiums where the audio, visuals and seating are designed around sports, not music. Even traditional concert halls haven't changed much over the decades. In theory, you'll make a pilgrimage to the Sphere to get an experience you simply can't get elsewhere.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-venetian-resort-starts-testing-its-giant-led-video-sphere-153112387.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

Leaked promo video showcases the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra cover screen features and more

As we edge toward the official launch date for Motorola’s new Razr 40 Ultra (Razr 40+ in the US), an official promo video has appeared on the internet which shows the device, its cover display, and pretty much everything else you might want to see. Besides being the largest cover display on a clamshell smartphone, […]

Come comment on this article: Leaked promo video showcases the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra cover screen features and more

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Sony’s Xperia 1 V is official with a focus on photo and video creation

Sony has today unveiled its brand new Xperia 1 V flagship which packs in a number of vlogging features taken from the brand’s Alpha camera range. Sporting a brand new “Exmor T for Mobile” camera sensor which promises to be faster and better thanks to its computational photography chops, the Xperia 1 V also sports […]

Come comment on this article: Sony’s Xperia 1 V is official with a focus on photo and video creation

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

You can now video chat with a ChatGPT AI — here’s what it looks like

ChatGPT is everywhere these days. But what about an app that uses ChatGPT technology to create an AI you can video chat with? Meet Call Annie.
Digital Trends

Netflix upgrades video quality on its Basic plan and sets deadline for password sharing crackdown

Netflix giveth on the one hand, and taketh away with the other, at least, that’s how it feels with the announcement that its Basic with Ads streaming plan is getting a bump in video quality and that the crackdown on password sharing in the US will begin during Q2 of this year. You don’t need […]

Come comment on this article: Netflix upgrades video quality on its Basic plan and sets deadline for password sharing crackdown

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Blink security cameras and video doorbells are up to 43 percent off

You might not have to pay much to bolster your smart home’s security. Amazon is selling Blink devices for up to 43 percent off, including a Video Doorbell plus Sync Module for $ 60 (normally $ 85) — that’s near an all-time low, You can also get the doorbell by itself for just $ 40 if you already have sync hardware. Most camera kits are also on sale, starting at $ 70 (normally $ 100) for the weather-ready Blink Outdoor.

Blink is effectively the budget counterpart to Amazon’s Ring brand, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing — you’re getting a lot of functionality at a lower price. The Video Doorbell supports both wired and wireless connections, offers two-way audio, captures infrared footage at night and gives you the choice of either storing clips locally (on a USB drive) or in the cloud with a subscription plan. It ties into Alexa devices, too, so it may be your ideal doorbell you have an Echo Show.

The Blink Indoor and Outdoor models, meanwhile, remain our top picks for wireless security cameras. You get much of the same flexibility as with the doorbell, including a peak two years of battery life. Again, you’ll have to invest in the Alexa ecosystem to make the most of these products. If you can live with that, though, you might not have many complaints.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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

How to turn a Live Photo into a video on your iPhone

When you shoot an iPhone Live Photo, it captures 1.5 seconds before and after you tap the shutter. We show you how to convert that photo into a video.
Digital Trends

How Sony unintentionally defined the skate video

In 2022, Tony Hawk is a household name, skateboarding is an olympic sport and it’s possible to master digital laser flips in any number of video games on TV. It wasn’t always like this, though. Early skate screen media consisted mostly of skeptical documentaries or whimsical California dreaming-style chronicles. Things changed when, in 1983, Stacy Peralta – who managed the ragtag team of skaters that Tony Hawk was a member of – effectively invented the modern skate video. Thanks to its performative nature, skateboarding would soon form a symbiotic relationship with the technology that showcased it.

The VHS invasion

Peralta claims he hoped a few hundred copies of his first video might find their way into the new VHS players that were taking the US by storm. “From the get go, videos were more lucrative than they thought they were going to be: It’s this sort of famous thing that Stacy [Peralta] says that the first Bones Brigade video, they thought they were just gonna write the costs off as a marketing cost, but actually they made a load of money on it.” Author, professor and skateboarder Iain Borden told Engadget. The success of The Bone Brigade Video Show, and the titles that followed, exposed skateboarding to many more new eyes along with an all new revenue stream for the struggling “sport”.

Documentary filmmaker Stacy Peralta at Skate One/Bones Brigade located in Goleta, CA on November 07, 2012. Peralta is using a revolutionary grassroots marketing campaign to get fans to see his movie
Al Seib via Getty Images

In the ‘80s Peralta and his Bones Brigade team dominated on-screen skateboarding, typically on vert ramps, including several moviecameos. But Peralta’s polished style and squeaky-clean team wasn’t for everyone. Right at the end of the ‘80s, H-Street – a more grassroots skateboarding outfit – released Shackle Me Not and Hokus Pokus with a focus on street skating. Not everyone had access to a ramp, but everyone lived on a street, meaning this new style was much more accessible with the videos almost serving as a how-to manual.

According to Borden, H-Street put cameras in skaters’ hands to film each other and the change of pace and dynamic in videos shifted away from Peralta’s more conventional approach. This new format – skaters shooting skaters – complete with slams, skits, music and pissed-off security guards would become the template for the next decade. Not least thanks to another new technology that was about to land.

The VX1000

In 1995, Sony released a camera that would define how the skate video looks (and sounds) right to this day. At around $ 3,000; the DCR-VX1000, was the first digital camcorder in Sony’s consumer lineup. The relatively affordable price, coupled with its small form-factor and new, digital tapes – MiniDV – made it the perfect camera for gonzo filmmakers seeking professional results. The fact that footage could be easily transferred to a PC with a nascent technology called i.Link (which you might know as “FireWire”) meant anyone with a computer could now make videos entirely at home.

The VX1000 only really solidified its legendary status among skaters once it was coupled with the Century Optics fish-eye lens. “The fisheye was amazing. The audio was incredible. The colors look great. It had a handle built into it so you can follow somebody while riding a skateboard,” videographer Chris Ray told Engadget. “There hasn’t been another impactful camera in skateboarding like that. I don’t think there ever will be.”

The first consumer digital video camera from Sony, the VX1000 is pictured in a marketing shot.
Sony

Ray says he still uses audio from the VX1000 on his modern productions. “I pull a library of VX audio and I add those to the snaps, the lands, the grinds, things like that into my skate films because nobody has made a camera that has audio that’s even close to as good.” Ray clearly isn’t the only one to think so, as this $ 300 modern replica VX1000 mic just for skateboarding attests.

To complement the sound, the colors the VX1000 put out would also become something of a hallmark of a good skate video. The bright, punchy hues the camera produced were the perfect match for the blue Californian sky contrasted against the beige and asphalt found in strip mall parking lots and other urban, skate-friendly locations. Before long, footage shot with anything else felt passé. “People were still making skateboard videos on other cameras,” Ray said, “but this was, like, the one you were taking a lot more seriously.”

Ask any skater what the golden era of skate videos is and you’ll get a different answer, but objectively the year 2000 ushered in a period of where some of the most impactful, high budget skateboarding movies ever were made, and most of them were shot with the trusty VX1000.

A man with a tattoo of the Sony VX1000 video camera on his head.
Chris Ray

Menikmati, from shoe company éS and Modus Operandi by Transworld set the tone. Both came out in 2000 and heavily showcased the VX1000’s distinctive look and sound. Both are also very high profile releases in the skate scene, which only serves to fully solidify the camera’s status as the de facto tool of choice. Not to mention a badge of cool in its own right. “I mean, it’s on skateboards. I’ve got skateboards on my wall with the camera on it. People make keychains, there’s tattoos.” Ray said. “It’s still iconic to this day.’

Redefining the standard

Of course, there’s a problem looming over the horizon. A 16:9, High-Definition problem to be precise.

For all the VX’s strengths, the whole TV industry was undergoing its biggest change in standards, perhaps ever. Widescreen TVs had been steadily replacing 4:3 CRTs and the new “HD” resolutions were making SD content look horribly outdated. Not everyone was a fan of the new aspect ratio, either. “I couldn’t get myself to fully go HD because it was a lot harder. You’re talking about a 16:9 image. You don’t want to cut the wheels off and you don’t want to cut their head off when you’re filming skateboarding.” Ray said.

Worse, in 1999 Sony did release a follow-up to the much-loved camera, the VX2000, but it was a flop with skateboarders. Not only was the new aspect ratio harder to work with, the VX2000 had an inferior mic and, crucially, wasn’t compatible with the Century Optics fisheye (or specifically the “Mk1” of that lens that everyone wanted). Skateboard filmers needed to find a new sweetheart.

Skate Mental VXR1000 board

“It’s funny because the Panasonic HVX200 came out. That was really hated by a lot of skateboarders. But now, today, the HVX200 is the preferred camera of HD by skateboarders.” Ray said. In fact, filmers weren’t pleased about having to give up their precious VX1000 at all. “I was working on a Transworld film, and we talked about how there’s this transition between VX1000 and going HD. And skateboarding was not happy about it.” Ray added. (Years later a petition was also started to campaign for Century Optics to re-issue the Mk1 lens, which it ultimately did – albeit a limited run of 300).

Around the same time, a little gaming franchise known as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skateboarder was taking the gaming world by storm. The popularity of the PlayStation 2, and its ability to play DVDs, was the perfect way for a whole new generation to discover skateboarding. (Not to mention one of the goals was to “unlock” various bonus skate videos.)

Tony Hawk might have been luring in new blood, but in 2007, the hotly anticipated (in skate circles) film, Fully Flared, was about to signal another big change in skate video history. Renowned skate Director, Ty Evans, was still using the VX1000 but this would be its last outing in one of his productions, Ray said. Evans championed the VX from the start with Modus Operandi, but Fully Flared (which Ray also worked on) represented the passing of the camera baton. The send off was marked with explosions and effects never seen before in a skate movie.

For the ‘gram

There was another important event in 2007: The launch of the first ever iPhone. Within a few years, almost everyone had an HD camera in their pocket. Likewise, a whole other product category would come along to change how we record things – the action cam. Between the smartphone and the GoPro, suddenly everyone was a skate videographer. Or as we call them today, a “creator.”

Unlike many sports, professional skateboarding is mostly financed through individual sponsorship deals. Some skateboarders do compete for prize money, but brand deals are typically the primary source of income. This means that being on video is directly related to your standing among potential sponsors. Thanks to slow-mo on the iPhone and the popularity of GoPros, being in a skate video wasn’t reserved for the stars any longer, in fact, you’d have a hard time being noticed by sponsors at this point if you weren’t making yourself seen in videos.

ROME, ITALY - JULY 03: Nyjah Huston of the USA in action during the men's Final of the World Street Skateboarding Rome 2022 at Colle Oppio park, on July 3, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

The rise of the internet was transformative for most industries, but skateboarding is nothing if not adaptive. YouTube was first, but before long Instagram became the spiritual home for all things skate video. Now you can attract fans directly, see your stats in real time and record your best tricks without having to lug about a large camcorder or hit the editing suite. And thus, the 30+ minute skate video was swiftly usurped by short, often single-take clips or even individual tricks.

No longer did you have to wait months or even years between doses of on-screen skateboarding, now it was on demand, bite sized and in never-ending supply. But with this convenience and supply came a dramatic shift in focus.

The social media age hasn’t just changed how the media is made and consumed, it’s changing who gets to be seen and sponsored. “What I’m seeing now is kids are inspired by other kids, kids that are their age. I’m not seeing the like, 35 year old pros inspiring. The 15 year old kid, his favorite skater is this guy that’s not even pro, that I’ve never heard of,” Ray said.

Like with other industries that fell foul to the internet, the age of big budgets and splashy releases might be gone, but other opportunities have filled their place. Two of the most followed skaters on Instagram right now are Nyjah Huston and Leticia Bufoni. Both are accomplished, exciting skateboarders who have cultivated their own personal brand and style over recent years. Bufoni, in particular, has played a hugely important role in making skateboarding more accessible to young women.

“I think the rise of female skaters has absolutely been aided by the fact that people can access and see people like them skating,” Borden said. But with new technology comes new pressures, especially for creators. “They have to produce something every day, every week. And we you know, I mean, the pressure to do that must be extraordinary.” Borden added.

DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 23: Leticia Bufoni of Brazil competes in  the Women's Street Final at the Dew Tour on May 23, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The shift to Instagram also echoes how vert skating in the late ‘80s lost favor to the new and exciting urban skating that emerged in the early ‘90s. Just how street took place in spots that were accessible to the viewer, Instagram places videos from your skater friends neatly in between clips (or “parts”) from the pros, blurring the lines between you and “them” even further.

For many years, what tricks were cool, who was cool at doing them and what that coolness looked like was heavily influenced by what was in the skate videos of the time. Today, that has reversed and now we get to see skaters from different backgrounds and influences taking their favored pastime to new places.

This movement from the media fringes to social media platforms could have killed the “classic” skate video off, and some might argue it mostly has. In reality, it’s given directors and videographers more license to address broader issues in skateboarding culture. Skategoat (2021) for example follows Venice-native Leandre Sanders through his teenage years where the only thing stopping him following his siblings into gang culture is skateboarding and his journey to turning pro nearly a decade later. There’s no VX1000 audio samples or crunchy color or fisheye shots, just a sincere look at someone’s life being saved by their passion for skateboarding. Likewise, Netflix’s Stay On Board, follows trans-man Leo Baker as he navigates developing a career skateboarding with his own very public journey of self-discovery.

Of course, the more traditional video does live on, it just no longer holds the monopoly on what skateboarding should look like. Love for the past obviously lives on, meaning you can, of course, find VX1000s modded to bring them up to modern standards but the industry has realized there’s more to be gained from current tech than that of the past.

More than almost any other marginal entertainment genre, the skate video has repeatedly proven it’s happy to reinvent itself. “I think technology has been nothing but helpful. I think that we have to embrace it,” Ray said. “There’s more people out there filming, there’s more people out there being noticed. There’s more people skateboarding and there’s more people buying skateboards. I think it’s a win for everybody.”

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

Google Pixel 7 duo pops up on video, gives a close look at the size difference

Ahead of a fall debut, alleged prototype units of the Pixel 7 and its Pro version have appeared on video. This time, the vanilla model is noticeably smaller.
Mobile | Digital Trends

What we bought: This LED desk lamp gave me the best lighting for video calls

Over the past two years, my work-from-home situation morphed from temporary to permanent, and I’ve had to reconfigure my home office as a result. I purchased a standing desk, a monitor, and spent countless hours rearranging my furniture. One of my primary concerns is that I have a relatively small space, and therefore prefer things that can pull double duty. So when I decided to update my desk lamp, I knew I needed a multi-tasker that wouldn’t take up a lot of real estate. For me, the Edge Light from Lume Cube ended up being the perfect solution.

Prior to purchasing the Edge Light, I relied mostly on a lamp that I bought from CB2 nearly twenty years ago. It’s good looking but it has a large six-inch base that takes up quite a bit of space. It also doesn’t provide the right lighting environment for video calls. While it’s serviceable enough as a desk lamp, the light is just too warm and subdued for Zoom sessions. Plus, it’s not flexible enough for me to angle the light to illuminate my face properly. That’s a problem when, like most everyone else, I was suddenly having multiple video meetings a week. I really noticed it when I was a guest on a podcast; watching the video back made me realize how poor the lighting was.

Lume Cube
Lume Cube
Engadget

That prompted me to purchase a cheap ring light from Amazon, but I soon realized that was a mistake. Suddenly I had not one but two lamps taking up residence on my small desk. I knew I needed to rethink my entire lighting situation.

That’s why I was glad when I saw that Lume Cube, which is known for its portable photo/video lighting rigs, had come out with the Edge Light late last year. It’s essentially an LED desk lamp that also doubles as a video conferencing light. On top of that, it’s a clamp-on model, which means it wouldn’t take up a lot of space. It is fairly pricey at $ 120, but since it appeared to solve so many of my pain points, I decided it would be worth it.

I’ve now had it for a few months, and I absolutely love it. It has freed up so much real estate on my desk. It’s tall enough to position behind my webcam when I need it for video calls, and thanks to its five pivot points, I can easily swing it around so that I can use it to illuminate my desk. The lighting is fantastic, too – I can adjust both the brightness and the warmth so that it’s bright but not too harsh. According to the company, it provides multi-level diffusion for soft light and has a color adjustability between 3200 and 5600K.

Lume Cube
Lume Cube
Engadget

The controls are pretty intuitive – simply tap the circular button to switch between brightness and warmth, and then tap the plus and minus signs to adjust the levels to your liking. The buttons are all “soft touch,” meaning they don’t need any pressure. On top of that, the lamp actually comes with two charging ports – one USB-A and one USB-C – which I am always using to charge up all of my various devices and accessories.

Perhaps my one complaint is that the light does produce a tiny bit of glare on my glasses when it’s positioned directly in front of me. The company suggests getting two Edge Light lamps to reduce this effect, but that’s a little too rich for my blood. I’ve since managed to angle the light so that the glare isn’t as bad, which is good enough for me.

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

How Google plans to improve video capturing on Snapchat, Instagram

Google plans to improve the video recording-experience on third-party Android apps such as Instagram, Snapchat with enhancements to the CameraX Jetpack library.
Mobile | Digital Trends

Leaked OnePlus Nord 2T unboxing video reveals Dimensity 1300 chipset and so much more

As OnePlus gears up to announce its follow up to last year’s popular Nord 2 5G, it seems that a leaker has managed to get his hands on a Nord 2T in full retail packaging and posted an unboxing video that reveals almost everything you might want to know about the mid-range handset, including benchmarks […]

Come comment on this article: Leaked OnePlus Nord 2T unboxing video reveals Dimensity 1300 chipset and so much more

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Xbox creates Instagram-like Stories, but for video games

Microsoft has announced that Xbox fans will now be able to share their gaming moments in the form of Stories on the Xbox app for iOS and Android.
Mobile | Digital Trends

How to download movies and shows from Amazon Prime Video

Amazon allows users to download select movies and shows, assuming you live in certain territories. Here’s how to get started, regardless of what device you use.
Mobile | Digital Trends

‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ has the best opening weekend for a video game movie

Sonic has done it again. With a $ 71 million debut at the domestic box office, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 has set a new record for the US film debut of a video game adaptation, beating out the previous high watermark set by its predecessor in 2020. The first movie in what now Paramount plans to expand into a cinematic universe made $ 57 million during its opening weekend. 

Before the pandemic shut down theaters throughout the US and other parts of the world, the first Sonic film went on to gross $ 319 million globally. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is currently on track to beat those earnings having grossed approximately $ 141 million globally.

As with the first movie, timing appears to have been a significant factor in Sonic 2’s early success. Its main competitor at the box office was Sony’s much-maligned Morbius, which saw a drastic 74 percent drop in ticket sales from its opening weekend last Friday. It only earned $ 10.2 million in additional domestic revenue after a $ 39 million debut. What we can say, people love Idris Elba

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

Prime Video will exclusively air 21 Yankees games in four states

Amazon’s Prime Video will stream New York Yankees games for in-market customers during the 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) season. The first game, scheduled on April 22nd, is between the Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians. The streaming platform will air a total of 21 games in total, with 19 of them scheduled on Friday nights. The games will only be available to Prime members in New York state, Connecticut, north and central New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania.

Amazon began simulcasting Yankees games on Prime Video shortly after it bought the Yankees Entertainment Sports Network (YES). While this is the third consecutive year Amazon has done this, it’s the first year that this selection of Yankees games will only air on Prime Video. Meaning that fans won’t be able to find the game on a broadcast station, the YES network or any other service.

MLB has gotten pretty cozy with streaming platforms as of late. Peacock will air a total of 18 exclusive Sunday morning baseball games in May, beginning with a matchup between the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox on May 8th. Apple TV+ will also begin streaming live Friday night MLB games this year, beginning with a contest between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals on April 8th. The game will be exclusive to Apple TV+, but will also be available to non-subscribers for free (they’ll just need to download the Apple TV+ app).

Not everyone is a fan of the new union between streaming platforms and baseball. Baseball fans who have already paid for MLB TV or satellite TV likely won’t be happy about paying for a new streaming service just so they won't miss a game. While games on Apple TV+ will have no geographic restrictions and be free to anyone with internet access, it’s obviously a ploy on Apple’s part to expand its subscriber base. And with games scattered across a number of different services — baseball season this year is likely to get confusing. 

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

Plex’s new global search will let you find and save content from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, and more to a single Watchlist

Subscribing to multiple streaming services means dealing with multiple watchlists and searching them individually to find that movie you want to watch but Plex may well have the answer to this particular problem. Plex has added a brand new feature called ‘Discover’ that will let you search your favorite streaming services such as Disney+, HBO […]

Come comment on this article: Plex’s new global search will let you find and save content from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, and more to a single Watchlist

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Facebook’s Ray-Ban Stories can now record up to 60 seconds of video

Facebook's Ray-Ban Stories are available in Spain, Austria and Belgium starting today, and they will also make their way to France on April 14th. In addition to expanding the smart glasses' availability, Facebook has also introduced new and upcoming features for the device, including the ability to record up to 60 seconds of video. That doubles the previous limit of 30 seconds of video, captured using the dual 5-megapixel cameras on the front of the Stories' frame. 

We found the glasses' video quality to be surprisingly good and even very stable when we tested it out. A LED lights up to notify people around you that you're recording, but the fact that it's lot easier to start recording videos through the glasses than through a phone has raised privacy concerns from the start. Nevertheless, 60-second recording will roll out with a software update in early April.

To support the smart glasses' expansion, Facebook View will now be available in French, Spanish, Dutch and German. As the Stories' companion app, View gives you a way to edit and enhance your shots, as well as to upload them straight to social media websites. Facebook is also giving the glasses the ability to understand voice commands in French and Italian, allowing you to take photos and videos hands-free. And, yes, the device can now deliver audible notifications, such as "low battery" and "full storage" alerts, in those languages. 

Finally, Facebook and Ray-Ban owner Luxottica are unveiling 4 new color and lens combinations for the Stories in early April, bringing the total variations to 28. The smart glasses will be available in their new markets with prices starting at $ 299/€329.

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

Video reviews will be used in 2022 North and Central American soccer tourneys

Soccer's Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is seemingly here to stay, at least in some parts of the world. CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) has revealed it will use VAR to help refs in numerous 2022 competitions. You can expect the technology in all remaining CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the men's and women's U20 Championships and the W Championship.

The organization's decision was prompted in part by success with VAR in 2021 competitions like the CONCACAF Champions League, Gold Cup and Nations League Finals. The Confederation said progress on VAR had been "considerably" delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now has enough VAR-qualified referees and venues to expand the technology's use.

VAR still has its critics despite receiving FIFA's approval for World Cup use in 2018. Enthusiasts are concerned the requests for video reviews can slow down matches, and that the use of centralized review hubs could be used to skew decisions. Soccer already has plenty of drama over tackles and handballs, they argue — VAR just draws out those disputes and takes away from the thrill of the game.

However, the arguments against the system appear to have lost some momentum. VAR helped reverse 17 out of 20 bad calls during the 2018 World Cup, and some backers have contended that video reviews would have overturned other mistakes if they had been used more consistently. Like it or not, tech is more likely to loom in the background of soccer matches than it has before.

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

Say hello to the OnePlus 10 Pro in this leaked promo video

Remember the OnePlus 10 series? Well, it seems that it could be launching sooner than any OnePlus phone has before with a distinctive camera housing with the Hasselblad branding in plain view. We’ve seen a leaked render of the new model a while ago, but a promotional video has been posted earlier today that shows […]

Come comment on this article: Say hello to the OnePlus 10 Pro in this leaked promo video

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

Audi built a custom EV for Ken Block’s next Gymkhana video

Ken Block’s Gymkhana series is ready to go electric. On Wednesday, the rally driver showed off his new Audi S1 Hoonitron, a purpose-built EV the automaker designed specifically for Block. Audi didn’t share many details on the prototype, but as you can see from the photo above, it pulls more than a few design cues from the company’s iconic Sport Quattro S1. That’s not by accident; it was that car that inspired Block to pursue his career.

Block promised to show off what the EV can do in a future video tentatively called “Elektrikhana.” It’s unclear if Travis Pastrana will join with a custom-built Solterra from Subaru. If you’ve not seen a Gymkhana event, they involve some of the most skillful driving you’ll see on a closed course. The S1 Hoonitron could significantly change how Block tackles the annual series. 

The instant torque of an EV should help with the constant drifting that’s involved in Gymkhana courses. The lower center of gravity could also make cornering a lot tighter. One thing we’ll have to see is if the S1 Hoonitron replicates the sound a rev limiter makes in a traditional internal combustion engine car. After all, that sound is part of the fun of watching rally car driving.

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

This leaked video shows the differences in design between the Galaxy S22 models

It’s midway through December which means we are less than 2 months away from when Samsung is rumored to be launching the Galaxy S22 series of smartphones. Thanks to the previous leaks, we are already pretty sure that Samsung’s latest Galaxy S series of smartphones will be powered by a mix of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 […]

Come comment on this article: This leaked video shows the differences in design between the Galaxy S22 models

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

[Sponsored] OPlayer, the Acclaimed Video Playback Tool, Is MyAppFree’s Latest App of the Week

OPlayer is the latest app to earn a spot as MyAppFree’s App of the Week. You can pick it up free of charge from the 20th to the 22nd of November, saving yourself a cool $ 4.99 in the process.  For the uninitiated, OPlayer is a professional video playbook tool from Olimsoft that’s been eight years […]

Come comment on this article: [Sponsored] OPlayer, the Acclaimed Video Playback Tool, Is MyAppFree’s Latest App of the Week

Visit TalkAndroid

TalkAndroid

[Deal] Grab Eufy’s Security Video Doorbell with 1080p resolution for just $69.99

Are you tired of your deliveries being snatched off your doorstep and don’t have the time or patience to start leaving disguised glitter bombs? Here to help you in your quest is Anker’s Eufy home accessory brand with its Security Video Doorbell that pulls double duty as a video doorbell and security camera, without the […]

Come comment on this article: [Deal] Grab Eufy’s Security Video Doorbell with 1080p resolution for just $ 69.99

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Zoom announces unlimited free video calls to celebrate the festive period

Christmas Day is fast approaching and as our minds turn to gifts and turkey have you decided how you are going to contact friends and family in this pandemic world we are living in? Instead of having huge family gatherings most countries are encouraging smaller groupings, which places a greater emphasis on video calling. Zoom […]

Come comment on this article: Zoom announces unlimited free video calls to celebrate the festive period

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

[Deal] For just $99, Anker’s WiFi Video Doorbell will help you screen unwelcome visitors this Christmas without answering the door

You know how it goes at Christmas time when everyone and his uncle turn up unannounced in the hopes of some left-over turkey and a mug of egg-nog, and you can bet that even in this dumpster-fire of a year they will still be knocking on your door. It doesn’t have to be this way […]

Come comment on this article: [Deal] For just $ 99, Anker’s WiFi Video Doorbell will help you screen unwelcome visitors this Christmas without answering the door

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Samsung’s Galaxy S21+ gets manhandled in an early hands-on video

We’ve seen leaked images and partial specifications for the upcoming Galaxy S21 but now we have something a little more substantial – a hands-on video of the middle member of the series. The Galaxy S21+ gets shown off in a video that shows everything from the new rear camera housing to the extremely thin bezels. […]

Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Galaxy S21+ gets manhandled in an early hands-on video

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Amazon’s 2nd-Gen Fire TV Cube is gaining support for two-way video calling – just in time for the holiday season

It’s getting close to the season where video-calling our loved ones takes on increased importance, but having the whole family swarm around a laptop or smartphone in an attempt to get in on the action doesn’t really lend itself to a great experience. This is where the addition of two-way video calling the big screen […]

Come comment on this article: Amazon’s 2nd-Gen Fire TV Cube is gaining support for two-way video calling – just in time for the holiday season

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Ring recalls some second-gen video doorbells due to fire risk

If you purchased Ring’s new entry-level doorbell over the past few months, you may want to check its serial number. The Amazon-owned company has issued a recall for its second-generation smart video doorbell with the model number 5UM5E5. Its battery…
Engadget

DJI’s Mavic Mini 2 brings 4K video, RAW photos and double the range

DJI’s been on a bit of a tear of late, with a slew of new products in its handheld line. Today it’s back to what we know the company for best: drones. The latest offering is the Mavic Mini 2, which, as the name suggests, is the sequel to DJI’s smalle…
Engadget

GitHub takes down YouTube video download tools after an RIAA notice

You won’t find the source code for YouTube-DL, a popular tool that can be used to download videos from YouTube, and for some of its forks and copies on GitHub anymore. When you visit their pages, you’ll find a notice that says the “[r]epository [is]…
Engadget

This official video reveals the OnePlus 8T’s stunning new design

October 14th is the day when the OnePlus 8T will be officially unveiled with the brand seemingly intent on drip-feeding us tiny leaks on the phone’s design and features during the run-up to the launch. This time, we’ve got something to ogle at in the form of a video showing off the glossy glass rear […]

Come comment on this article: This official video reveals the OnePlus 8T’s stunning new design

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Blurams AI-Powered Smart Video Doorbell brings facial recognition, 2-way audio, and 1080p video to your front door

First announced during CES 2020, Blurams Smart Video Doorbell with AI facial recognition, free cloud storage*, two-way audio, and real-time notifications, is about to go live on Indigogo. Projected to launch with an RRP of $ 149, the Smart Video Doorbell is available for $ 99 on Indigogo. Thanks to the built-in AI technology, the Smart Video […]

Come comment on this article: Blurams AI-Powered Smart Video Doorbell brings facial recognition, 2-way audio, and 1080p video to your front door

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Google is bringing Android TV support for Duo video calls on the big screen

If you’ve been thinking that it would be nice to use the big screen in your room for your video calls, Google has heard you. The search giant has announced that its Android TV platform will soon support the Duo video calling app by way of a beta. Google hasn’t revealed much in the way […]

Come comment on this article: Google is bringing Android TV support for Duo video calls on the big screen

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

[Video] We unbox the Moto g 5G Plus

The awkwardly named Moto g 5G Plus was one of the first smartphones to be unveiled with the Snapdragon 765 and boasting affordable 5G connectivity, being announced on July 7th at £299 for the 4GB/64GB variant. With a massive 5,000mAh battery, a big 6.7-inch LCD display, and quadruple rear cameras, and not forgetting 5G networking, […]

Come comment on this article: [Video] We unbox the Moto g 5G Plus

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Google rolls out captions for audio and video messages on Duo

Google has started rolling out a new Duo feature that’ll make it easier to check video and voice messages even in a noisy place. In a tweet, the Made by Google account has revealed that captions have started going live for messages sent on the applic…
Engadget RSS Feed

The Morning After: AI-generated video plays out fake Wimbledon matchups

If you’re trying to make sense of the current climate for Big Tech, then Dan Cooper has some advice: look to the past. Specifically, he’s ready to rehash Microsoft’s antitrust battle over Internet Explorer in the late 90s, and infer what that means f…
Engadget RSS Feed

Apple TV’s Ted Lasso turns a viral video into a pretty good sitcom

Part-way through the first episode of Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso, I realized that internet streaming has killed the fish-out-of-water-comedy. American shows can’t mock how the funny foreigners do things, since they’re just as necessary these days to a glo…
Engadget RSS Feed

Google Duo 32-person video calling is now live on the web

Google Duo is getting a little bit better for big friend groups today. The extremely expanded video calling feature is finally rolling out today, at least on some platforms. This feature was especially exciting during a time when most people are still trying to practice social distancing and self-quarantining to stay safe during a pandemic, […]

Come comment on this article: Google Duo 32-person video calling is now live on the web

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

This third-party app allows 4K 60fps video recording on the Pixel 4

Google was criticized around the launch of the Pixel 4 because they weren’t allowing 4K 60fps video recording. The phone seems like it should capable of it considering it’s a pretty advanced camera, but Google hasn’t budged or enabled the feature. But this is Android we’re talking about, and there’s always a way to get […]

Come comment on this article: This third-party app allows 4K 60fps video recording on the Pixel 4

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

WhatsApp rolling out eight-way video calls

After years of capping video calls at only four participants, Facebook has finally deemed this socially-isolating time as a sign to upgrade video call sizes. A fact I found extremely limiting when I recently began using Facebook-owned WhatsApp to stay in touch with family while (briefly) overseas was the limit to only three other people […]

Come comment on this article: WhatsApp rolling out eight-way video calls

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

New York allows clerks to perform weddings by video conference

New York is adjusting to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic even for some of its most time-honored traditions. Governor Andrew Cuomo has implemented an Executive Order that not only lets state residents get their marriage licenses remotely, but a…
Engadget RSS Feed

UX 9.0 promo video shows that LG is finally serious about modernizing its UI

LG’s UX UI has never been the most appreciated custom interface in the Android world and lately has looked more than a little dated. As other brands have made their UI’s lighter and more user-friendly, LG’s UX has been given the equivalent of a chocolate frying pan in recent years as it was sent over […]

Come comment on this article: UX 9.0 promo video shows that LG is finally serious about modernizing its UI

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid

Samsung posts video asking users to treat their Galaxy Fold nicely

After a big launch during the Galaxy S10 Unpacked event on February 20th, Samsung’s first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, was revealed to suffer from a number of flaws, most notably with its display and the ingress of foreign objects. Samsung canceled preorders and pulled review units from tech sites while the Galaxy Fold underwent […]

Come comment on this article: Samsung posts video asking users to treat their Galaxy Fold nicely

Visit TalkAndroid


TalkAndroid