You might not have to brave crowded stores to get your child's back-to-school gear. Uber Eats now offers deliveries of office and school supplies from roughly 900 Office Depot and OfficeMax stores across the US. If you need a flurry of binders and pencils for your little one's classes, you can have them delivered during your lunch break.
Not surprisingly, you'll avoid the delivery fee and receive a 5 percent discount if you're an Uber One subscriber who spends at least $15 on a purchase. Uber didn't say if other office supply shops would be available, but did note this was the "first."
It may seem odd to order school material through the same app that handles your takeout meals. However, Uber has gradually expanded its deliveries to cover goods ranging from groceries to pharmaceuticals — like DoorDash, Eats is becoming more of a general delivery service. In theory, you'll pick Uber Eats over rivals like Amazon Prime Now whenever you need something shipped in minutes, not hours or days.
If you've been in the market for a large smart display, it might be worth taking a look at Amazon's Echo Show 15, which is currently on sale. You can snap one up for $190, which is $60 off the regular price of $250. That's a discount of 24 percent.
Amazon released the device last year and we gave it a score of 78 in our review. We admired the large, bright screen and the picture frame design. We found the widgets (which include ones for headlines, weather, calendar, sticky notes, recipe suggestions and package delivery tracking) to be handy. However, the camera and audio quality were lacking. Though the Echo Show 15 is designed to be wall mounted, Amazon's decision to sell desktop stands separately rather than bundling one in as standard is also disappointing.
Since this is an Amazon smart display, you can of course use it to control compatible smart home devices. Echo Show 15 supports a variety of video and audio streaming services, and it can link to compatible Echo speakers for richer audio. You might also use the display to show pictures from Amazon Photos or Facebook.
Meanwhile, family members can have their own profiles. They can use voice ID and the visual ID face-recognition system to access personalized content such as reminders, appointments and music they listened to recently.
Elsewhere, the Echo Show 5 is also on sale. It currently costs just $40, which is $45 off the standard price. As the name suggests, this is a model with a much smaller screen than the Echo Show 15 (5.5 inches, compared with 15.6 inches), which perhaps makes it a good fit for a nightstand. To that end, it supports an Alexa routine that can gradually turn on connected smart lights and play music or the news to help you get your day started.
Snapchat+ is barely over a month old, but that isn't stopping Snap from adding a few extra perks to its subscription service. The social network has released a "summer drop" for members that, most notably, includes priority replies to stars' Stories. If you're determined to get the attention of your favorite celebrity or influencer, this could bump you up the queue.
The drop also lets you choose a "post view" emoji viewers will see after your Snaps. You'll have more Bitmoji backgrounds, and can set more custom app icons. More features will arrive in the "coming months," Snap said, although it didn't offer a preview of what was coming.
Whether or not you'd find use for these features, the $4 per month offering appears to have strong early demand. Snapchat+ already has over 1 million subscribers, according to the company. That's a tiny fraction of Snapchat's 347 million daily users. but it's no mean feat for a paid plan only six weeks old. Frequent feature drops could keep that momentum going and give Snap a way to stand out against rivals like Instagram and TikTok.
Weta Workshop is venturing back to Middle-earth. It's working on a new Lord of the Rings game alongside publisher Private Division. The game is in early development and few details have been announced, though the two sides hope to release it in Private Division parent Take-Two’s 2024 fiscal year, which ends in March 2024.
Under its deal with Middle-earth Enterprises, Weta Workshop has "the broadest creative license to interpret the underlying lore of the books," according to a press release. “It’s a privilege to create a new game set in Middle-earth, especially one that’s so different from what fans have played previously,” Weta Workshop's head of interactive Amie Wolken said. “As fans ourselves, we’re excited for gamers to explore Middle-earth in a way they never have before, and introduce new fans to the magic of The Lord of the Rings.”
There have been dozens of Lord of the Rings games over the years, so it will be interesting to see what kind of fresh spin Weta Workshop is planning. Of course, Weta Workshop has a ton of experience in this domain. It worked on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies as well as The Hobbit trilogy. The special effects powerhouse, which set up a gaming division in 2014, is also collaborating with Amazon on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Private Division, meanwhile, has recently published games like The Outer Worlds, OlliOlli Worldand Rollerdrome(which is out this week).
This is not the only Lord of the Rings game that's in the pipeline. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum had been expected to arrive in early September, but Daedalic Entertainment and Nacon recently delayed it "by a few months."
You don't need to fire up DALL-E if you want AI to create images from text — you just need a popular social media app. The Vergenotes TikTok has introduced a rudimentary "AI greenscreen" effect in its Android and iOS apps that turns your text descriptions into artwork. It's much simpler than OpenAI's DALL-E 2, producing abstract blobs rather than photorealistic depictions, but it might do the trick if you want an original background for your latest video.
As The Verge explains, though, there may be strong reasons to limit the AI generator's capabilities. Even if the required computational power isn't a problem, the potential output might be. Right now, attempts to generate sexual or violent images fizzle out. They may be relevant to your keywords, but they aren't explicit. That could help creators avoid bans, and spare TikTok any further legal scrutiny.
If nothing else, the effect makes AI image generation much more accessible. Experimental tools like DALL-E are still limited to a select group. TikTok, meanwhile, has over 1 billion monthly users — while few of them are likely to ever use AI-generated art, the addition brings the technology to a much wider audience. Don't be shocked if there are similar implementations elsewhere.
Boasting a huge quantum mini LED panel with a 1000R curve, the Ark delivers an immersive experience with great visuals and surprisingly good sound. Not only does Samsung claim that the Ark is the world’s first 55-inch monitor with a 4K resolution, 165 Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, you also get support for HDR 10+ and Dolby Atmos audio. And while the sound on many monitors is often an afterthought (assuming they can even output anything at all), the Ark features a total of six speakers: one in each corner and two woofers in back. And when combined Samsung says the Ark’s speakers were designed to create a dome of sound.
And now, after getting the chance to check this thing out in person, I can say this monitor is unlike anything else on the market. Even compared to other ultrawide displays, the Ark’s dimensions allow it to wrap around you like some sort of high-tech cocoon. Colors are rich and, thanks to its matte finish, you don’t have to worry about reflections ruining your graphics. The monitor also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro for VRR, so you can get the best performance regardless if you’re gaming on a console or a PC. And while you won’t see pure blacks like you would with an OLED display, Samsung says the Ark’s contrast is 4 times better than its previous-gen monitors.
Meanwhile, to make controlling the Ark easy, Samsung includes not one but two remotes, both of which have built-in solar panels so you don’t have to worry about keeping them charged. The first remote is similar to what you’d get with a TV, but the one that feels a bit more special is the wireless Ark Dial. It lets you quickly change video settings, adjust volume and switch between the monitor's special display modes. It’s super easy to use, and best of all, it means you don’t have to reach around back and fumble with hidden buttons or a joystick like you do with a lot of rival monitors.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The best thing about the Ark is all the modes and features Samsung included to help you get the most out of this giant panel. First, there’s Flex Move Screen, which allows you to adjust the size of your content and move it around, you know, in case you don’t need the Ark’s full 55 inches. There’s also Samsung’s Gaming Hub which supports game streaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia natively. You even get RGB lighting on the back, not that you can really see it with so muchscreen between you and the rear of the display.
But my favorite thing is the Multi View mode, which lets you have up to three different apps open at once, including the ability to move and resize windows however you like. That means you can game while having a movie and social media on the side, or you can double up by having two games open plus YouTube, or basically anything in between. And if there’s a layout you particularly like, you can save that arrangement so next time, you can open everything up with a single press. The one caveat is that due to a limitation of HDMI, you can only display content from the Ark’s built-in apps and one external device at the same time. So while you can have a console and a PC plugged in at the same time thanks to support for four HDMI ports (all of which are HDMI 2.1), you can’t output content from both simultaneously.
Finally, there’s the Ark’s special move, which is being able to rotate into portrait orientation, or as Samsung calls it, Cockpit mode. You still get support for all of the monitor’s features like Multi View and Flex Move, but now on a display that curves up and over your head. And you know what, it really does feel like you’re sitting in the pilot’s seat on a plane. My only regret is that I wish I could have installed a shoot ‘em up like Ikaruga, so I could really take advantage of the Ark’s verticality in Cockpit mode. And if you want a huge new display but don’t have a ton of desk space, Samsung even includes a VESA wall mount in the box.
That said, starting at $3,500, the Odyssey Ark is a big financial commitment for anyone. But if none of the other monitors released this year are big enough for you, Samsung’s new flagship gaming monitor could be the massive centerpiece your home battle station needs.
Pre-orders for the Odyssey Ark start today, and when combined with reservation discounts, potential customers can save up to $300 before sales officially go live sometime in early September.
If you're looking for a solid pair of headphones with active noise cancellation that won't break the bank, it's hard to beat Sony's WH-CH710N. They're some of our favorite budget cans thanks to their comfortable fit, good ANC and relatively affordable price tag. While they normally cost $148, you can pick up a pair for only $98 right now at Amazon. That's 35 percent off their usual price and the cheapest we've seen them since Amazon Prime Day last month.
It goes without saying that the WH-CH710N don't have many of the advanced features that the new WH-1000XM5 have, but they still provide a ton of value and, most importantly, won't set you back nearly $400. They're nice-looking headphones that, while not the slickest, have comfortable ear cups and a swivel design. Sony's ANC on these headphones is pretty solid thanks to dual-sensor technology that picks up noises around you and automatically adjusts noise-cancellation levels to accommodate them. They also have an ambient sound mode, so you can activate that when you need to hear what's going on or have a conversation with someone.
The WH-CH710N's battery life is also a big selling point — they'll last up to 35 hours on a single charge, so depending on how much you use them on a daily basis, you'll get a few days of life out of them easily. Plus, they charge via USB-C, so you can use the included cable to power them up or one of the many you probably have laying around already.
The biggest gripe we have with the WH-CH710N is the overall sound quality. They have decent range and good clarity, but they lack the punchy bass that would go a long way to creating fuller sound. But that might not be a dealbreaker for you, especially when you consider all of the other solid features these headphones offer at a great price.
Plant closures and other challenges didn't keep Tesla's Chinese factory from crossing a key milestone. As Electreknotes, company chief Elon Musk has revealed that Gigafactory Shanghai recently produced its 1 millionth car. As mentioned earlier in August, Musk noted that Tesla has made a total of 3 million electric vehicles to date.
The facility has quickly become a cornerstone of Tesla's manufacturing strategy. It started production in late 2019, but ramped up to the point where it became the largest EV factory on the planet. Its annual production rate topped 800,000 by the end of 2021, making it crucial to Tesla's record-setting year. Gigafactory Shanghai is now the company's main export hub, delivering cars to Europe and other key markets in addition to China.
Congrats Giga Shanghai on making millionth car! Total Teslas made now over 3M. pic.twitter.com/2Aee6slCuv
The Shanghai factory is gradually becoming just one piece in a larger puzzle. The newly opened Gigafactories in Berlin and Texas will drive at least some near-term growth, and Tesla is exploring the potential for factories in places like Canada. For now, though, the Chinese plant will be vital to meeting ever-higher production goals and competing with international EV makers.
Apple's MacBook Air M2 may not have completely reshaped the PC landscape like the M1 laptop did, but it's arguably the best version of the notebook to date. It earned a score of 96 from us and it would make a solid daily driver for anyone, from college students to working professionals. One of the few downsides is that the M2 laptop is more expensive than its predecessor, but now you can grab one for $100 less than usual from Amazon. The online retailer has the 256GB MacBook Air M2 in starlight for $1,099, which is the best price we've seen since launch.
The latest MacBook Air actually has a slightly different design than previous models. Apple moved away from the wedge shape and made the new laptop uniformly thin, making looking more like the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Apple managed to increase the side of the Liquid Retina screen to 13.6 inches by shrinking the surrounding bezels, and while that's only a third of an inch bigger than previous displays, it has a more expansive feel. It also has the relatively new top notch that holds the machine's webcam. On top of that, you're getting improved speakers and a handy MagSafe power adapter in the Air M2's new design. Overall, it feels just updated enough to make a difference in daily use, but not so much that it will feel foreign to Apple diehards.
As for performance, the MacBook Air M2 handled everything we threw at it. The M2 chipset builds upon the stunningly fast foundation that the M1 processor provided last year, so you can expect a roughly 18 percent performance increase. If you spring for the faster GPU version, you'll get a 35 percent faster graphics than in the M1 model.
We found the M2 to be just as fast as the 13-inch MacBook Pro M2, so if you've been looking for a powerful new laptop but would like to keep things as thin and light as possible, you won't be sacrificing much by opting for the Air M2 over the Pro. The Air M2's battery life is even pretty close to that of the 13-inch Pro — the Air lasted about 16.5 hours in our testing, while the Pro lasted just over 17 hours.
'Hogwarts Legacy' is delayed until February 10th, 2023PlayStation’s game-streaming scheme, at its top tier, is now competing directly with Xbox Game Pass, the service that proved the concept by earning 25 million-plus subscribers over the past five years. It’s now been over a month since PlayStation Plus Premium went live, offering similar cloud gaming services to Microsoft's console.
However, there are some major differences in strategy, however. Sony doesn’t plan on adding big PlayStation-exclusive games like Forspoken or God of War Ragnarök to Plus on day one, meaning subscribers will have to buy these titles separately, at least at launch. On the Xbox side of things, Game Pass Ultimate includes big first-party games like Halo Infinite on release day. But as Engadget’s Jessica Conditt put it, this isn’t about one service being better than the others, but about adjusting to the new normal for video games.
For your monthly subscription dues, do you value Game Pass Ultimate over Netflix?
Another service with a monthly tithe is adjusting its business. It's been a brutal year for Peloton, and the company is enacting more major changes to get back on track. On the consumer front, Peloton is reversing price cuts to two pieces of fitness equipment. The Bike+ is going back up from $1,995 to $2,495 in the US. Peloton announced a huge loss of $757.1 million for the first three months of 2022 due to a decline in revenue and soaring costs.
When the checkered flag dropped yesterday in Seoul, Formula E finished its 100th race. Starting on the back of a napkin in 2011, the world’s first all-electric single-seater championship launched after three years of planning. Engadget’s Billy Steele talked to cofounder Alberto Longo and former champ Lucas di Grassi.
It would have gotten a cut from an ad-free, paid Facebook subscription service.
Apple announced back at WWDC 2020 that iOS would require apps to ask users to opt-in to cross-app advertising tracking. Facebook then spent much of the next few months speaking out against Apple and predicting revenue instability due to the upcoming changes. The feature was released in April 2021, and Meta, as it’s now called, did survive. Surprisingly, though, a new report from The Wall Street Journalclaims that before this all went down, Facebook and Apple were working on a partnership and revenue-sharing agreement.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has once again delayed Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy, which at least now has a firm release date. It will hit PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on February 10th. The Switch release date will be announced sometime soon, indicating the version faces a further delay.
