As of September 1st, New York residents who want to carry concealed handguns will need to submit their social media accounts as part of their permit application. They'll need to provide details of active and inactive accounts from the previous three years, along with at least four references.
The accounts will be used to review the applicant's “character and conduct,” according to the Associated Press. Those seeking a permit need to show that they have “the essential character, temperament and judgment necessary to be entrusted with a weapon and to use it only in a manner that does not endanger oneself and others.” Local sheriffs' staff, judges and country clerks will be tasked with looking at social media accounts for warning signs.
The measure was included in legislation that Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law last week. The legislation was passed to enact some gun restrictions following a Supreme Court ruling determining that most people have the right to carry a handgun for their own protection.
Hochul acknowledged that shooters often share details or hints of plans to harm others online. The person accused of killing 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas in May reportedly harassed and threatened to hurt girls and young women on social media apps. Suspects of other mass shootings have posted manifestos online before attacks took place.
Critics have taken issue with the social media provision of the legislation. It's unclear how the state will address concerns over privacy and free speech, and how it will assess the intent of applicants' social media posts.
Peter Kehoe, the executive director of the New York Sheriffs’ Association, argued that the law infringes rights under the Second Amendment and suggested local officials may not actually review an applicant's social media accounts. “I don’t think we would do that,” Kehoe told the AP. “I think it would be a constitutional invasion of privacy.” Others have expressed concern about the law in relation to surveillance of people of color.
With Amazon Prime Day only a few days away, the early deals are in full swing. Prime members can pick up things like Echo Dots, Kindles, Fire TV devices and more for less right now, while anyone can pick up the latest Apple TV 4K for one of the best prices we've seen. Roku has also discounted most of its gadgets ahead of Prime Day, allowing you to grab any of the company's streaming devices for less. And if you're on the market for a new smart speaker, Wellbots has a few Google devices, including the Nest Audio, on sale, too. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.
Apple TV 4K
Devindra Hardawar/Engadget
The latest Apple TV 4K with 32GB of storage is back on sale for $150, which is close to its record-low price. The 64GB model has also been discounted to $170. The set-top box is out favorite premium device and it earned a score of 90 from us for its fast performance, Dolby Vision and Atmos support and much-improved Siri remote.
The Echo Dot has dropped to $20 for Prime members ahead of the two-day shopping event. We like this tiny smart speaker for its good audio quality, compact design and tap-to-snooze feature. If you'd prefer something with more powerful speakers, the standard Echo is also on sale for $60 right now.
The Echo Show 5 has dropped to a new low of $35 for Prime members. If you want a smarter alarm clock, this is the smart display to get. We like its sharp 5-inch display, ambient light sensor, smart home controls and tap-to-snooze feature. If you want something a bit larger, the 1st-gen Echo Show 8 is also on sale for $55 for Prime members.
Prime members can grab the Fire TV Cube for only $60 right now, which is half off its usual price. It supports 4K streaming, Dolby Vision and Atmos, plus hands-free Alexa controls.
Amazon's Kindle Kids Edition has dropped to $50 for Prime members. That's 55 percent off and the best price we've seen. This is a standard Kindle, but with a few extra child-focused perks like a two-year warranty, a kid-friendly case and a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+. If you'd prefer a device that's a bit more versatile, the previous-generation of the Fire 7 tablet is on sale for only $30 right now.
A number of Amazon smart home devices are on sale right now, including the company's smart thermostat, which is down to a new low of $42 for Prime members. It's designed to be a more affordable version of higher-end smart thermostats, giving you the power to control your home's environment from anywhere using the Alexa app. Plus, it also responds to Alexa voice commands when you're at home.
Amazon's Glow device for kids is more than half off and down to $150 for Prime members. It combines an 8-inch video-calling display with a projector that displays a 19-inch interactive surface in front of the device. Kids can use that to play games, solve puzzles, read stories and more, and family members can call in and participate with them using their own smartphones or tablets.
Amazon has both the Fitbit Charge 5 and the Fitbit Sense smartwatch on sale right now. You can pick up the Charge 5 for $110 and the Sense for $171. The Charge 5 earned a score of 82 from us for its accurate GPS, slimmer design and standard Fitbit Pay feature.
A number of Roku devices are on sale right now, including the Streambar for $90. We gave it a score of 86 for its compact design, solid audio chops and built-in 4K HDR streaming tech.
Wellbots has discounted the Nest Audio smart speaker, along with both the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. The Nest Audio is $40 off and down to $60 with the code EGDT40 at checkout, while the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are on sale for $60 (using the same code) and $169 (with the code EGDT60), respectively.
Jabra's Elite 7 Pro wireless earbuds are 30 percent off and down to $140. These were designed to be the successors to the stellar 85ts, but with a smaller design. They have adjustable noise cancellation and up to nine hours of battery life.
Positive Grid has a good promotion going on now when you pre-order its new Spark Mini. You'll get the Mini plus a free crimson grille for $199, or $30 less than its regular price. The Spark Mini is a smaller version of the company's classic amp that's designed to be easily portable, and it doubles as a Bluetooth speaker.
Internet, mobile and cable customers of Canadian provider Rogers and its sub-brand Fido have been experiencing major service issues since early Friday due to an outage. As the CBC reports, the ripple effect is impacting payment network Interac and Rogers wholesale service resellers, such as TekSavvy.
"We know how important it is for our customers to stay connected," Rogers wrote on its Twitter support account just before 9AM. "We are aware of issues currently affecting our networks and our teams are fully engaged to resolve the issue as soon as possible. We will continue to keep you updated as we have more information to share." The Fido support account shared the same message shortly after.
TekSavvy noted at 8:25AM that the outage was impacting all internet and wireless users and that there was "currently no ETA" for resolving the issue. "There is currently a nationwide communications outage with a network provider which is impacting the availability of Interac services," Interac said at 8:44AM ET. "We will provide further information as it becomes available." ATM, e-transfer and debit card services have been affected as a result.
Emergency service calls were also impacted. Toronto Police noted at 6:31AM that there were some 911 connection difficulties. Two hours later, it said that although its 911 call center was operational, some users on the Rogers network might have trouble getting through. In addition, a CBC radio station in Ontario was knocked off the air at around 5AM. Service Canada says its facilities, including overwhelmed passport offices, have been affected too.
Rogers experienced another significant wireless and cable outage last year, the CBC notes. The company said the April 2021 issue was the result of an errant software update from one of its telecom equipment suppliers. The cause and extent of the current outage is not yet clear.
Even Google devices are getting discounted ahead of Amazon Prime Day. Wellbots currently has a few Nest gadgets at some of the best prices we've seen. The Nest Audio smart speaker is $40 off and down to $60 with the code EGDT40 at checkout, while the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are on sale for $60 (using the same code) and $169 (with the code EGDT60), respectively.
Even though the Nest Audio came out in 2020, we still consider it to be one of the best smart speakers you can get. And if you already live in the Google ecosystem, it's a no-brainer. The speaker has an unassuming yet attractive design, plus great audio quality that's made even better if you pair two of them together and use them in stereo mode. There are better speakers out there if you're mostly concerned with audio quality, but the Nest Audio excels at being a solid music-machine that also houses the Google Assistant. You can use voice commands to add events to your calendar, check the forecast, control smart home gadgets, play specific music and more.
Either of the Nest Hubs on sale are better if you like the idea of having a display to show you all of the information you ask the Assistant to gather for you. The standard Nest Hub is basically a Nest Audio but with an added touchscreen, plus it has sleep-tracking capabilities if you place it next to your bed. We also appreciate that the second-gen version has clearer, louder audio and even speedier Google Assistant performance. As for the Nest Hub Max, it's the one to get if you want the best audio quality possible, plus as big of a screen as you can get on any Nest smart device.
The current head of the United States Secret Service, James Murray (pictured), will leave his role to head up security at Snap. Murray, who joined the Secret Service in 1995 and assumed the mantle of director in April 2019, will step down on July 30th. The Washington Post reports that Murray was looking to retire from public service for some time, and that his departure is unrelated to any recent scandals. The Verge reports that Murray will start at Snapchat on August 1st, working on employee protection and acting as a liaison with law enforcement when necessary.
The Secret Service has come under fresh scrutiny in recent years after a number of high-profile incidents dulled some of its reputation. This includes a series of security breaches during President Obama’s tenure, agents soliciting sex workers while on duty. Politico reports that Murray’s decision to allow service agent Anthony Ornato to take a role as White House political advisor to the previous administration was problematic for a body that is meant to be above politics.
This week, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into the Supreme Court’s latest EPA ruling, which severely limits the agency’s ability to curtail power plant emissions. Devindra also chats with ProPublica reporter Lisa Song about what this means for the EPA and other federal agencies. (Basically, it makes fighting climate change much harder.) Also, we discuss Apple’s new lockdown mode, which adds an extreme layer of security to your devices, and why Gen Z is so Minion crazy.
Listen above, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
Apple is building a lockdown mode for an “extreme” level of security – 27:43
Axie Infinity hack was traced back to a fake LinkedIn job offer – 32:39.359
Toyota has run out of EV tax credits in the US – 37:51
God of War Ragnarok will be released on November 9, 2022 – 46:14
WTF is going on with all the Minions memes? – 48:02
Working on – 51:32
Picks – 1:03:49
Livestream
Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford Guest: Lisa Song from ProPublica Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos Graphic artists: Luke Brooks and Brian Oh
The Tomorrow Children, the game once described as a "Marxism simulator," is coming back this September with brand new features and gameplay elements. Originally released as a PlayStation 4 exclusive in 2016, the online social action game spent a year in early access before Sony ultimately shut it down. In 2021, however, Q-Games, the developer who worked on the project alongside Sony's now defunct Japan Studio, obtained the intellectual property rights to the game with the intention of relaunching it. Now, after tweaking and reworking parts of the game, the developer is officially introducing it as The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition.
In the game, an experiment to unite all human consciousness went awry and destroyed society. The survivors left behind are attempting to rebuild humanity in the decades that follow, and it's your mission to venture out into the empty spaces (called "the void") left behind by the experiment. Out in the void, you have to fight monsters and mine for minerals to build a new world.
The new version comes with the ability to play solo offline and a Comrade AI system for collaborative play. There's also a new major feature called Monoliths, which are structures found out in the void. When triggered, they alter the state of emerging islands, giving you access to hidden areas, secret treasures and other new ways to explore the same locations. Monoliths can be activated in both single and multiplayer modes, so you can explore altered islands with your friends.
The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition will come out on September 6th in Europe and North America and on September 7th in Japan for the PS4 and the PS5, with enhancements. Q-Games founder Dylan Cuthbert said in a statement:
"It gives me great pleasure to confirm that The Tomorrow Children: Phoenix Edition will launch this September, exactly 6 years to the day from the game's original release. We’ve poured so much into the revival and it’s a joy to know that in two months time we’ll be able to explore the Void together as a community once again.
It was important for us to develop an optimum experience for both new and returning players, and the addition of Monoliths really takes island exploration up a notch for everyone. They allowed us to deliver fresh takes on existing islands and will create opportunities for the community to find fun, new ways to explore together. I personally can’t wait to jump online to experience them with you in September!"
You can watch a trailer for the Phoenix Edition below:
Why Microsoft Expanded Edge Secured-core Program to Include IoT Products?
Every Edge Secured-core device operators required to provide their system updates for at least five years
In an effort to counter the escalating security problems, the US based global technology firm Microsoft has now taken a decision to increase or rather expand its Edge Secured-core program to include IoT products. According to the company, edge computing has been mounting every year and becoming popular and hence, the decision has been made.
When Tesla first launched its network of Supercharger stations, they were just for Teslas. But with increasing rival EVs, demand for charging station access has steadily risen, prompting Tesla to begin opening its existing charger network to third-party EVs.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted last year that the company's open-access Supercharger pilot program — already in 13 European countries — would head to the US.
Now, InsideEVs spotted in a recent White House fact sheet that open chargers could arrive by the end of the year: “Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will enable non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers.”. To access it, American EV owners will need to use the latest Tesla app and select the Charge Your Non-Tesla option from the menu.
The challenge will be ensuring interoperability. While open superchargers are operating in more than a dozen countries in Europe, only some stations are actually available to non-owners. Only in the Netherlands is every Supercharger open access.
For compatibility in North America, Tesla will need to install adapters at its stations to get around the company's own proprietary charging plug, as well as consider the software interactions between the charger and non-Tesla EVs.
ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 is the latest push from the laptop maker to make dual-screen laptops happen. And it’s getting there. According to Engadget’s Sam Rutherford, this is an innovative option if you want to maximize screen space in a laptop, with a 16-inch main panel and a 14-inch secondary display. The main downsides include weak battery life, a somewhat bulky chassis and a high price. The costs of an extra screen.
When it debuted back in 2019, Hydrow’s creators said they were building the Peloton of smart rowing machines. Now, the company is unveiling its second-generation ergometer, Hydrow Wave, with a lower price and a smaller footprint.
‘A Quality of Mercy’ takes us to tomorrow’s Enterprise.
We’re living in the age of the prequel, says Engadget’s Dan Cooper. Ever since Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was announced, it was blighted by this same hard stop, one dictated back in November 1966: Captain Pike’s fate in the original Star Trek series. How does the latest show deal with that?
It's committing $20 million and building its own factory in Germany.
Volkswagen Group held a groundbreaking at the site of its forthcoming EV battery cell plant in Salzgitter, Germany, and announced the formation of a new company, PowerCo, responsible for the VW Group's burgeoning battery business. PowerCo will handle the group's global battery activities, from producing the batteries themselves to conducting R&D on new battery technologies to "products such as major storage systems for the energy grid," according to the announcement.
A leak from 91Mobiles shows two new Samsung wearables, apparently confirming a higher-end Pro model that will top the range. That unit, codenamed Project X, will come in black or gray titanium. The vanilla Watch5, meanwhile, will supplant the Watch4 as the more fitness-focused device in the lineup. Much like its predecessor, it’ll apparently have two case sizes and the option of an LTE modem, as well as a far broader variety of colors to choose from.
A UFO-obsessed Republican Congressman has introduced an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act to offer new protection for UFO whistleblowers. Rep. Mike Gallagher has pushed for a new rule to establish a process for receiving reports concerning Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). It’s hoped that, with these in place, soldiers and contractors will feel more comfortable sharing details of unexplained phenomena they see on the battlefield.
The Drive suggests that this could be a way of resolving the ever-present rumors that the government has evidence of extra-terrestrial life. Those who come forward should feel comfortable that they will not be breaking secrets laws, and will be protected from reprisals. There are some on the UFO speaker circuit, for instance, who say they have proof of alien life but can’t reveal it for fear of imprisonment.
The notion that the US has had secret dealings with alien life is something of a hobby-horse for Gallagher. Back in May, Politico reported that Gallagher used a House Intelligence Committee meeting to needle Pentagon officials about a glowing orb floating over Montana that briefly shut down a nuclear weapons facility in 1967. That story apparently comes from the book Unidentified: The UFO Phenomenon, from former USAF airman Robert Salas. At the time, Pentagon officials denied that there was any secret trove of evidence concerning alien life.
In 2020, the Pentagon released a series of videos that it had received concerning UAPs, showing pilots capturing something moving across their view. But officials added that there was nothing more to share, and that it has not been able to prove to anyone's satisfaction that the events featured are the result of alien incursion.
