Due to developing regulations in the EU regarding uncrewed aviation regulations, today drone delivery company Wing announced a new service area in Lusk, Ireland that is slated to begin sometime in the coming weeks.
Currently, Wing offers drone deliveries in four other cities (Christiansburg, Virginia; Helsinki, Finland; and Logan and Canberra, Australia), with Lusk, Ireland soon to be the fifth. Wing says it chose Ireland as its next area of operation because the country has embraced drone technology and looks to be a "great incubator for future innovations." The company claims it's using existing partnerships and approvals granted in Finland to support its operation in Ireland including recognition from the IAA (Irish Aviation Authority).
The company says it hopes to use Lusk as a testbed to expand its European operations and gain more experience when it comes to integrating its service into the local community. However, with Lusk having a population of less than 10,000, Wing's next expansion will be more small-scale with the company admitting its operation in Ireland will function differently than its other commercial services in the US, Australia and Finland.
Recently, Wing says the company completed its 300,000th drone delivery as it continues to seek ways to use autonomous flying vehicles to replace deliveries made by less efficient gas-based cars.
Moogerfoogers are among some of the most sought after effects pedals out there. They were originally introduced in 1998 and were in many ways direct descendants of some of the original Moog synth modules. They were discontinued in 2018, but even during their lifespan they could be difficult to get a hold of thanks to limited production. Because of this they command quite the premium on the used market, with the MF-104 Analog Delay sometimes fetching north of $1,500.
But just four years after pulling the plug, Moog is bringing the family back to life, just as a series of plugins that digitally recreate the original pedals. All seven – the MF-101S Lowpass Filter, MF-102S Ring Modulator, MF-103S 12-Stage Phaser, MF-104S Analog Delay, MF-105S MuRF, MF-107S FreqBox, and MF-108S Cluster Flux – are available as part of a single collection for $249. Though, Moog is offering the bundle at an introductory price of $149, which is not a bad deal.
I’ve had a few days to play with them at this point, and in general I’m pretty impressed. But I do want to be clear that I have never had the pleasure of playing any of the original pedals. I can’t tell you how convincingly the plugin version of Cluster Flux recreates the real deal. I can only tell you that, as plugins, they’re pretty solid.
Moog
The MF-104S Delay is an obvious standout. It pretty convincingly recreates the sound of an analog BBD (bucket brigade delay). It, like all the rest of the plugins has a UI that recreates the look of its physical counterpart. There’s footswitches at the bottom, plus an array of knobs and switches across the face for changing parameters. You can also click the CV button to expose virtual inputs that would normally be used to connect to other modular gear. Here they expose ways for your DAW or other plugins to control the Moogerfooger for some truly out there sounds.
This ability to be controlled by, or control other gear has always been a selling point of the Moogerfoogers. As has their builtin LFOs. Being able to modulate parameters easily allowed them to make sounds that other effects pedals really couldn’t. But in the world of audio plugins, it’s pretty standard. Moog makes it easier than some others, where you might have to manually map the controls you want to automate. But it’s not really a huge differentiator.
Like most of the plugins, the MF-104 can do subtle, such as the preset named for Mort Garson’s classic Plantasia album, but really excels at the weirder end of the spectrum. Constantly shifting delay times, cranking the drive, or using the LFO to slowly raise the feedback level until you get a crescendo of noise and then sharply pulling it back down create the sort of textures that other effects might struggle to conjure without some outside help.
The MF-105S MuRF is another highlight. It’s hard to describe exactly what it does, but it’s basically a bank of resonant filters that you can control using an onboard pattern generator. This can create phasing or flanging type effects, or a sort of complex wah, or even a tremolo. There’s few things in the world quite like it. It can even turn something simple and melodic into a sharp rhythm track.
The 107-FreqBox is probably the lowlight of the collection for me. It’s a collection of synced oscillators with FM modulation. It does harsh, cold and weird relatively well. But I found most of the factory presets to be almost unusable. So much of the effect relies on distorted and overdriven sounds, and that’s an area that I think Moog could greatly improve here across the board.
Lastly, it’s worth talking about MF-101 Low Pass Filter and MF-108 Cluster Flux. (The phaser and ring modulator are fine, but more or less just do what it says on the box.) The low pass filter is a solid recreation of the iconic filter that makes a Moog synth sound like a Moog synth. Except here it’s easy to apply to guitar, bass or even vocals. The Cluster Flux is a flanger, a chorus and a vibrato all in one. It can cover everything from lo-fi tape warbles, to thick 80s chorus for that goth kid drowning in his own tears vibe.
The Moogerfooger Effects plug-ins are available now and come in AUv2, VST3, and AAX formats, so they’ll work whether you’re using GarageBand on your MacBook or ProTools on your Windows PC.
The James Webb Space Telescope has produced its second revelatory image in as many days. Scientists using the observatory have discovered a tightly-packed "knot" of at least three galaxies that were forming around a quasar 11.5 billion years ago, just over 2 billion years after the Big Bang. The telescope's near-infrared spectrograph not only showed that the galaxies were orbiting each other at high speeds (up to 435 miles per second), but that this one of the most dense known areas of early galaxy formation. The density is unusually high enough that lead researcher Dominika Wylezalek suggested there may even be two "halos" of dark matter merging in this area.
The quasar itself is unusual. The not-so-elegantly-named SDSS J165202.64+172852.3 is a very red example that doesn't emit as wide a variety of light as already-rare 'normal' quasars. These objects serve as active galactic nuclei and are powered by the gas tumbling into a supermassive black hole at the core of their galaxies.
The imagery also underscores the strength of the Webb telescope's sensors. Earlier studies using the Hubble and Gemini-North telescopes spotted the quasar's outflows, but didn't reveal more than one host galaxy.
More study is necessary to determine how galaxy clusters like this take form and are affected by supermassive black holes. However, the Webb findings already promise to improve humanity's understanding of how the present-day web of galaxies came to be, not to mention how quasars might stifle star formation through their flows.
This is also just the start of Webb-based quasar discoveries. The team noted that Hubble data suggests there may be still more galaxies twirling around the quasar. This is also the first part of a trilogy of studies using Webb to analyze quasars at multiple points in the universe's history. These efforts could shed considerably more light on cosmic evolution in the years ahead.
Facebook is giving Groups a tune-up with new features, not to mention tools to ensure healthy discussions. Like it or not, Reels are coming to Groups — members can share how-to guides, vacation recaps and other videos using the seemingly omnipresent format. You can also update your Group profile to share things you might have in common, and signal that you're open to messages. And if you want to broadcast an event, you can share public Facebook events as Instagram Stories.
The social media behemoth is also making it easier to curb the spread of misinformation within Groups. Admins can automatically move posts with known false claims (that is, verified by fact checkers) to pending posts so they can be reviewed before they're deleted. While leaders could already auto-decline posts and even auto-block posters, this could help them spot trends in bogus content and help make decisions on bans.
Meta
There are efforts to promote conversations, too. Facebook is testing an extension (shown at top) that lets admins allow content that might otherwise be flagged for bullying and harassment, such as describing a fish as "fatty." This will only be available to actively involved admins who haven't either helmed a removed group or committed a serious policy violation. In another test, admins can reward contributions by giving points to community members. You may get badges for welcoming newcomers or providing useful tips, for example.
The changes are both an effort to spur positive engagement and an acknowledgment that Groups have sometimes been the source of Facebook's largest misinformation problems. It put some communities on probation for spreading false 2020 election claims, and banned hundreds of QAnon groups. The ability to allow certain flagged content is unusual — effectively, Facebook is willing to let Groups override its moderation system if they feel there's been a mistake.
The office of Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against Google over the company's alleged years-long practices to capture and use of biometric data from, "millions of Texans without properly obtaining their informed consent to do so." This is allegedly a violation of the state's Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act of 2009.
The AG argues that Google used features in its Photos and Assistant apps, as well as through Nest Hub Max hardware, to scan and store the facial and voice data without first acquiring user consent. Furthermore, Paxton alleges, Google then leveraged that data for commercial gain by using it to train the company's machine learning algorithms.
“Google’s indiscriminate collection of the personal information of Texans, including very sensitive information like biometric identifiers, will not be tolerated,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in the Thursday press release. “I will continue to fight Big Tech to ensure the privacy and security of all Texans.”
This is far from the first time that Paxton, who is up for re-election in November, has targeted Alphabet and its subsidiaries. His office filed a suit in January, "for engaging in false and misleading practices in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices—Consumer Protection Act," and then again less than a week later for, "systematically misleading and deceiving Texas consumers in violation of Texas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act."
Paxton's office is asking the court for a permanent injunction in the case. This would prohibit Google from "capturing, maintaining, or using in any way the biometric identifiers captured in Texas" or "performing voice or facial recognition in Texas" without the informed consent of the relevant individual as well as invoke a $25,000-per-infraction fine against the search company.
It was a breezy three-kilometer ride on VanMoof’s A5 e-bike around Battersea Park in London. Starting from VanMoof’s flagship London store, the company’s CEO, Ties Carlier, took the lead. He shot off on the more typically framed S5 ($3,498), while I got to grips with the boost and controls on the VanMoof’s new, shorter A5 (also $3,498). A few seconds later, I caught up. I hadn’t broken a sweat. My brief test ride around the neighborhood was almost too easy.
I had briefly ridden VanMoof’s e-bikes before, but its latest generation of e-bikes usher in changes across the board. The company has tried to make most of the parts on its newest e-bikes itself. The most significant change might be the removal of the tube-based display of the S3 and X3 bikes, swapping it for a duo of Halo Rings near the buttons on each side. (One rings the digital cute bell, while the other controls boost.) In addition to indicating battery life, it also shows how much the bike’s motor is working, along with the bike’s lock status.
Anti-theft technology (and a team of bike hunters)
E-bike security is a significant selling point for VanMoof’s bikes. Carlier explains that deterring theft is one of the biggest challenges to making “the perfect city bike," which has been the company’s aim long before it even started designing its first electric bike.
“A good bike – a good ride – requires more money,” he said. “With an e-bike, that’s even more true.” He added that whatever solution companies like VanMoof come up with, thieves will get smarter. The threat of it getting stolen has put me off from investing substantial money into bikes, and has deterred me from e-bikes entirely.
The anti-theft technology in the S5 and A5 (both priced at $3,498) includes an improved kick lock on the rear wheel. In addition, the bikes will automatically unlock if they detect the user’s phone nearby, and riders can otherwise unlock it with a numerical code that you can tap into the left handlebar – another instance where the new Halo Rings come into use.
Mat Smith/Engadget
If someone does manage to steal the S5/A5, tampering (or breaking) – which is integrated into the e-bike’s computer within the tube – the lock will first sound an alarm and, a short while later, immobilize the e-bike functions. For the thieves, then, it’s just a heavier push bike with a mildly distinctive frame and built-in lights that won’t work.
And if you’re willing to pay an extra $398 for three years of coverage (and that’s a fraction of the cost of replacing these $3,000-plus bikes), your VanMoof ride will come with support from a retinue of bike hunters – which still sounds cool. The e-bike transmits its location over 3G and the hunters are equipped with more fine-grain Bluetooth signal detectors to sniff out stolen bikes. If your bike goes missing, you can mark it as stolen on the VanMoof app, and if the hunters can’t find it within two weeks, the company will replace the bike for you.
It’s peace of mind, for sure, but it’s also yet another subscription. The S5 and A5 are even more expensive than their predecessors, which cost just less than $2,500. VanMoof’s latest rides each cost $3,498 – a $500 increase since they were first revealed. The company has also added support for Apple’s Find My network, but that’s more likely to help you locate your bike in a parking lot, not track down a thief.
Mat Smith/Engadget
VanMoof’s new stepover A5
The A5 model has a lowered step-in, meaning the bike is smaller and VanMoof believes it gives riders a feeling of being closer to the road. VanMoof’s premium-priced e-bikes don’t look like typical electric bikes – there’s no visible battery to begin with – but I like the unusually low-profile A5. When I use a bike, it’s multiple short trips, with several stops. This step-through model felt easier to ride. It was more of my thing.
The S5 and A5 come with 487 Wh and 463 Wh batteries, respectively. With the included charger, both take roughly six and a half hours to charge. VanMoof teased a fast charger too, but pricing is still TBC. On a full charge, the A5 can hit around 34 miles on full power, or 87 miles on economy power mode. Meanwhile, the S5 has a 37 mile-range on full power, which can be stretched to 93 miles on economy power mode. If VanMoof’s claims are accurate, both bikes should be able to handle plenty of short trips before needing to be plugged in overnight. The company also plans to offer a battery expansion pack that should double the bikes’ range.
A smoother ride
Mat Smith/Engadget
Both of the new bikes have upgraded gear shift tech as well. I tried a friend’s VanMoof S3 bike and could tell the newer rides had smoother gear transitioning. The motor has plenty of pep, but the A5 swaps around three gears incredibly gently. It’s hard to forget this was a premium e-bike.
While you can’t adjust gears yourself, it keeps the bike “interface” (can I call it that?) simple. That’s part of the plan. VanMoof’s Carlier says the company is targeting people who might not consider themselves bike people. The challenge is convincing them to invest in an e-bike. (At these prices, I’d call it an investment.) And if you’re waiting on the company’s even pricier high-speed e-bike, the VanMoof V, expect to wait a little longer. Due to supply issues, production has been delayed from fall 2022 to late 2023.
We plan to test out VanMoof’s latest bikes more extensively soon. Both the A5 and S5 are available to order directly from the company, with delivery dates currently estimated to be around January and February 2023.
Apple isn't just updating iPad and Mac software next week. The company has revealed that Fitness+ will come to the iPhone on October 24th in tandem with required software updates, including iOS 16.1. You'll need the handset to sign up, but it will also be accessible through the iPad and Apple TV. You also won't need an Apple TV to put vital stats on the big screen — Roku players with AirPlay will display metrics as of November.
You'll have access to the full range of workouts and meditations through the relevant tab in the Fitness app. The main limitation, as you might guess, is accuracy. Where Apple Watch owners can rely on constant heart rate monitoring to determine their calorie burn, iPhone users have to trust estimates. You may still want Apple's smartwatch if you insist on personalized performance data. The wristwear is also useful if you want to listen to Time to Walk or Time to Run workouts without bringing your iPhone.
There are added incentives to give the service a try, too. You now get three free months of Fitness+ if you buy an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, not just an Apple Watch as before.
iOS 16.1 will include a number of changes beyond Fitness+ support. You can expect an improved battery life icon, Live Activities like sports scores, iCloud Shared Photo Library, per-app copy-and-paste permissions and clean energy charging. Simply speaking, many of Apple's OS update promises will become reality in a matter of days, regardless of which device you're using.
Instagram is expanding its efforts to fight abuse, and that includes not-so-subtle encouragement to stay civil. The company is introducing DM "kindness reminders" that ask you to "keep Instagram a supportive place" when you message a creator. This probably won't deter committed trolls when it arrives in the "coming weeks," but the social network clearly hopes it will give pause to people who'd otherwise hurl insults in a fit of rage. You'll see similar prompts when replying to potentially offensive comments.
Filters should also be more useful. Instagram is testing an approach that would enable Hidden Words comment and DM filtering by default for creator accounts. You wouldn't have to switch it on to keep toxic language out of discussions. All users can now use Hidden Words to screen Story replies (they'll sit in the Hidden Requests folder), and the company will soon begin filtering English DM requests involving scams and spam.
You may also have an easier time blocking elusive abusers. On top of the existing power to automatically block new accounts someone creates, you can now auto-block accounts that user already has. A harasser can't just switch to an alternate account to make your life miserable.
The additions come as Instagram faces pressure from the Senate, UK regulators and others to curb abuse and privacy violations, particularly for teens. That's in addition to the continued fallout from whistleblower Frances Haugen's allegations that parent company Meta knowingly pushes anger-inducing content. Updates like this theoretically show that Instagram wants to calm things down.
Google has detailed the new, recent and upcoming changes to its Messages app in an effort to advocate for the more widespread adoption of the RCS messaging protocol. Apple chief Tim Cook recently made clear that the company has no plans to fix the 'green bubbles' texting experience anytime soon, but Google's feature additions improve messaging interoperability between iOS and Android. Earlier this year, it rolled out an update for the Messages app that allowed it to display iMessage reactions as emoji. More recently, it launched the ability to react to SMS texts from iPhone users with emoji reactions, as well.
To make navigating busy group chats easier, the app will soon let users respond to individual messages when RCS is enabled — they simply have to swipe on a particular message to reply. This will begin rolling out in the coming weeks. Google has expanded access to the Voice Message Transcription feature, as well, giving people who own a Pixel 6, Pixel 6A, Pixel 6 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy Fold 4 the option to read the contents of a voice message instead. The feature auto-transcribes voice messages using machine learning and was only previously available for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Another new feature is the ability to add reminders from right within the Messages app. Users who set reminders for birthdays and anniversaries will even get a notification when they open the application. In addition, the app will now suggest "starring" a message to keep track of important information or scheduling Meet calls and creating Calendar events when appropriate.
Google has also given Messages an in-app YouTube player, so that users won't have to leave the application when someone sends them a link to a video on the platform. It's testing the capability that would allow users to chat with businesses on Search and Maps from within the application in some countries, as well. And for those flying United, take note that the tech giant has struck a deal with the airline to offer free messaging for passengers using United WiFi starting this fall.
Finally, Google is updating its Messages, Phone and Contacts icons to "to better reflect today's modern messaging experience" and to better blend in with Google's other apps.
Snap has introduced a number of features for its Snapchat+ subscription app, including a new "Story Expiration" feature, along with custom notification sounds, camera borders and more. The Story feature looks useful, and appears designed to tempt hardcore users to sign up for the $4 per month service.
With story expiration, subscribers can choose to let their stories expire for lengths of time between one hour and one week. That could allow creators to, say, draw interest with a short story, or let one stay for a longer period to draw the more eyeballs. As it stands now, all stories expire after 24 hours and must be saved or they'll be gone for good.
Snap
Paid users are also getting access to custom notification sounds, letting them set different tones for different friends so they tell who Snapped them without checking their phone. And the new custom camera color borders option allows users to just what it says, using different hues while capturing content. And finally, Snapchat is bringing custom "exclusive, seasonal and spooky Bitmoji backgrounds" that they can use in their profiles for Halloween.
Snapchat+ made a strong start, with the company boasting a million subscribers just a couple of months after it debuted. At the time, Snap described it as a service for "passionate" users, and though that's a fraction of its 347 million daily users, it's a significant injection of additional revenue. Snapchat also sells hardware like glasses and recently came out with the Pixy Drone, though Snap had reportedly given up on that product.
