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Apple has revealed the games that are coming to Apple Arcade in July and the company has a stacked lineup in store for subscribers. A trifecta of classic indies are on the way to the service very soon in the form of Stardew Valley, Slay the Spire and Ridiculous Fishing.

The latter is particularly intriguing, as Apple says it's "a full and expanded remaster" of the original game, which was an Apple Design Award winner. Ridiculous Fishing EX, to give the new version its full name, is now in 3D. You'll use unusual fishing gear such as chainsaws and toasters to try and land fish in an open sea. This remastered version includes a competitive mode with frequently updated challenges and leaderboards, along with a new game plus mode.

Apple notes that the original Ridiculous Fishing team built this from the ground up, which is a little surprising considering the studio behind it, Vlambeer, shut down three years ago. However, the gang temporarily got back together to revive the game. Studio co-founder Rami Ismail noted on Twitter that it was an "absolute joy to get a new chance at the game that launched my career with the original crew." Goodbye Volcano High developer KO_OP also helped with the project. Ridiculous Fishing EX will hit Apple Arcade on July 14th.

First up in July, though, is Slay The Spire. The deck-building game sees you using cards that you collect to take down enemies and bosses in turn-based combat as you try to ascend a spire. The well-reviewed game will be available on Apple Arcade on July 7th, the same day that the family-friendly Lego Duplo World+ joins the service.

On July 21st, one of the very best games of the last decade will be available to Apple Arcade subscribers at no extra cost. This version of the massively successful farming and life sim Stardew Valley includes everything from recent updates, such as town upgrades, dating events, fishing ponds and pets. One week later, subscribers will be able to check out Hello Kitty Island Adventure, a social simulation game that includes co-op multiplayer modes.

Elsewhere, Apple says several titles on the service are getting updates in July. Those include Mini Motorways, Mini Metro+, Cut the Rope Remastered, What the Car? and Jetpack Joyride 2.

Roku just made its first live sports deal, and it may be welcome news if you're a motorsports fan. The company has struck a deal to stream 11 Formula E races for free through The Roku Channel, beginning with the next season. You'll also find on-demand videos like race previews, replays and the "Unplugged" documentary. The channel is available through Roku hardware, the web and dedicated mobile apps.

This isn't strictly an exclusive. Paramount+ will simulcast five Formula E races alongside CBS. The offering will be available starting in January 2024. Formula E media chief Aarti Dabas sees both the Roku and Paramount+ deals as ways to "dramatically increase" exposure to the race series, particularly in the US.

This isn't on par with Formula 1 or other major sports deals. However, it significantly expands the range of content available through Roku's ad-supported service. The Roku Channel initially launched with a focus older movies and shows, but has since added premium subscriptions, originals and live TV. Now, it has a chance to attract sports fans.

There's plenty of pressure to grow. Numerous other streaming services have their own sports exclusives. Amazon Prime Video streams a limited number of NFL games, while Apple has Friday Night Baseball and MLS Season Pass. Paramount+ already has multiple soccer exclusives. Moreover, ad-supported channels are reaching more platforms — Amazon recently launched its own free TV for Fire devices. Formula E could sustain interest in Roku's hardware and services, especially for viewers who crave live content.

Brave souls who pick up Google’s Pixel Fold and eventually discover an issue with the hardware will be able to try and fix the problem themselves. Google will offer official tools, parts and self-repair guides for the foldable through iFixit.

Since last year, those willing to try and fix issues with other Pixel devices at home have been able to get the parts and knowledge they need from iFixit. Google told 9to5 Google the program will include the new foldable.

You’ll still be able to mail in a Pixel Fold for repair or take it to a shop when the foldable is out of warranty (or if you damage it accidentally). If you feel up to the task of repairing it yourself, though, you’ll be able to buy several parts from iFixit. Those include charging ports, batteries, adhesives and, yes, the 7.6-inch inner folding display. You can obtain step-by-step guides from iFixit too.

Foldables are notoriously fragile and finicky, even compared to more typical smartphones. That’s perhaps why, as 9to5 Google notes, no other major manufacturer has an official foldable self-repair program. While Samsung also offers parts and manuals for other devices through iFixit, you’ll need to let a technician handle a Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip repair — unless you really know what you’re doing and are comfortable using components sourced from elsewhere.

We’ve yet to see a Pixel Fold teardown from iFixit to get a sense of just how tough it might be to repair the device yourself. While we had positive impressions of the Pixel Fold in our review, it’s too early to tell how well Google’s first foldable will hold up over time. In any case, at least you’ll have an extra repair option if things go pear-shaped.

Every person needs good WiFi in their homes, but a lot of domestic WiFi setups suck for countless reasons. Maybe the hardware your ISP gave you isn’t great, or your walls aren’t friendly to wireless signals. Or perhaps the signals from your all-in-one wireless modem and router just can’t reach everywhere from its spot in a far corner of your house. It’s these maladies that mesh systems deal with, a distributed set of smaller WiFi nodes that are spread around your home, pushing internet into every corner. Mesh routers aren’t new, and we’ve reviewed plenty, but now we’re building a one-stop shop for everything you need to know. That’s because WiFi 6E is mature and affordable enough to offer transformative wireless performance for everyone.

WiFi

WiFi is governed by the International Standard IEEE 802.11, and every few years the standards evolve. Until 2018, routers were sold under their IEEE designation, leaving consumers to deal with the word soup of products labeled 802.11 b/a/g/n/ac et cetera. Mercifully, wiser heads opted to rebrand the standards with numbers: WiFi 4, WiFi 5 and WiFi 6. We’re presently between two WiFi generations, WiFi 6 and 6E, which relates to the frequencies the standard uses. WiFi 6 covers routers which operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, while the latter means it can also use the 6GHz band.

Each WiFi band has tradeoffs, because the slower radio frequencies have greater range but less speed. 2.4GHz signals will travel a long way in your home but aren’t quick, while 6GHz is blisteringly fast, but can be defeated by a sturdy brick wall. A lot of WiFi-enabled gear, like a lot of smart home products, only use 2.4GHz because the range is better and it’s a lot cheaper. But it means that the band is also overcrowded and slow.

Linksys’ CEO Jonathan Bettino told Engadget why mesh systems are an “advancement in WiFi technology” over buying a single point router. With one transmitter, the signal can degrade the further away from the router you go, or the local environment isn’t ideal. “You can have a small [home], but there’s thick walls [...] or things in the way that just interfere with your wireless signal,” he said.

Historically, the solution to a home’s WiFi dead zone was to buy a WiFi Range Extender but Bettino said the hardware has both a “terrible user experience” and one of the highest return rates of any consumer electronics product. Mesh WiFi, by comparison, offers “multiple nodes that can be placed anywhere in your home,” says Bettino, resulting in “ubiquitous WiFi” that feels as if you have a “router in every room.”

Having a “router in every room” is the biggest selling point for mesh WiFi given how reliant we all are on the internet. Each node is in constant contact with each other, broadcasting a single, seamless network to all of your devices. There’s no separate network for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, just a single name that you connect to.

What to look for

It’s a pretty good time to buy a mesh WiFi system, since WiFi 6E represents a fairly significant leap in the technology. Matt MacPherson, Cisco’s Chief Technology Officer for Wireless, said that WiFi 6E is a substantial “inflection point” and can take advantage of a much broader chunk of the wireless spectrum than its predecessors. “If you’re using that spectrum with a WiFi 6 [device],” he said, “you’re going to get significant gains [in speed.]”

MacPherson added that WiFi 6E will likely “carry you for a long time,” thanks to the fact that its “top throughputs now typically exceed what people can actually connect their home to.” In short, with a top theoretical per-stream speed of 1.2 Gbps, WiFi 6E is fast enough to outrun all but the fastest internet connection. (You may also see talk of WiFi 7 devices, some of which have been released already before the standard is officially launched next year. Given that it will take a generation for all of the devices in your home to be compatible with WiFi 7, it’s not worth thinking about this for several years yet.)

Range and speed

Every mesh product will boast of its theoretical broadcast range in square feet, as well as its theoretical top speed. Given there are so many factors outside of the manufacturer’s control, these numbers don’t really mean much in the real world. Your internet provider’s real speed, the construction materials and layout of your home, amongst other things, will all affect your WiFi.

It’s worth saying that raw speed isn’t everything, and that for most normal users, you probably need a lot less than you’re paying for. Netflix recommends a minimum speed of just 15 Mbps to stream a 4K video to a single device. Naturally, that’s just for one connection, so you’ll need some more capacity if you’ve got other devices all running at the same time. As cool as it is to say you’ve got 100, 200 or 500 Mbps download speed, factors like latency and reliability are way more crucial.

Backhaul

Mesh WiFi systems work by connecting every hardware node to a single wireless network, letting them all communicate with each other. Imagine four people in a busy, noisy restaurant all trying to order their dinner from a weary staff member, all at once. Now imagine, while this is going on, that four more people at that same table are also trying to tell a funny anecdote. It’s no surprise that it might take a long while for the right information to reach its intended destination.

To combat this, higher-end mesh systems offer dedicated wireless backhaul; a slice of the spectrum for node-to-node communication. So rather than everyone talking at once in the same space, the conversations are essentially separated, reducing the invisible clutter in the air. Because there’s less confusing cross-chatter, everything moves faster, offering a significant performance boost to those systems.

Connectivity

These days, even your washing machine has a wireless connection, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the joys of wired internet. No matter how fast WiFi is, a hard line will always be faster, and some gear, like Philips’ Hue bridge, still needs an ethernet connection. Plenty of routers can also use these hard connections as backhaul, eliminating further wireless clutter. It’s convenient for spread-out systems and power users, but it will mean running more wires through your home. The most common standard is Cat 5e, or gigabit ethernet which, unsurprisingly, has a top speed of 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps).

Flexibility and scalability

Mesh enables you to add (or subtract) modules from your network to suit your needs. D-Link’s Alan Jones said users should “check how scalable the prospective product is” before you buy. This sense of scale doesn’t just apply to the number of nodes on the network, but how many simultaneous connections it can handle.

Placement

Modern mesh networking products offer one, two or three (or more) pieces of equipment that are commonly the same hardware inside and out. It normally doesn’t matter which module you make the primary one to connect to your modem, usually over ethernet. You’ll then set up the other, secondary nodes around your home, which is often just a case of adding them to the existing mesh network.

When installing your hardware, remember that every physical obstacle between nodes may hurt your performance. The ideal spot is, at the very least, at waist height on a piece of furniture without too many obstructions. Tables, sideboards, free-standing cupboards, and bookcases make for a good home. The rule of thumb is to place each node no more than two rooms away from the last one.

How we tested

My home covers around 2,200 square feet across three stories, with my office on the third floor. It’s relatively long and thin, with the living room at the front of the house, the kitchen at the back and three bedrooms on the second floor. Its age means there are a lot of solid brick walls, old school lathe and plaster, as well as aluminum foil-backed insulation boards to help with energy efficiency. There are two major WiFi dead zones in the house, the bathroom and the bedroom behind it, since there’s lots of old and new pipework in the walls and floors.

For sets that have two nodes, I placed the first in my living room, connected via ethernet to my cable modem, with the second on the first-floor landing in the (ostensible) center of the house. For three-node sets, the third went in my kitchen, which I’ve found is the optimal layout to get the bulk of my house covered in WiFi.

Each mesh is judged on ease of setup, coverage, reliability, speed and any additional features. I looked at how user-friendly each companion app is from the perspective of a novice, as well. My tests included checking for dead zones, moving from room to room to measure consistency, and streaming multiple videos at once.

The best mesh WiFi systems for 2023

The best mesh WiFi system for most people: TP-Link Deco XE75

There’s no single glitzy feature that sets TP-Link’s Deco XE75 apart from its competition. Instead it just expertly balances raw power and user-friendliness.

It’s not perfect, but many of my biggest gripes could also be described as nitpicking. I’m annoyed by the slightly shorter power cable length, compared to some of the other devices I tested. Similarly, I wish the app had a little more polish, but it’s not an unusable eyesore by any means.

But, while I dock it a few points for that stuff, I still think it’s the best for most people. Even in my spacious and wireless-hostile home, the $400 three pack was probably overkill. And if the $300 two pack can cover your home, then it’s a more wallet-friendly proposition than some of its rivals.

Read our full review of the TP-Link Deco XE75

The best mesh WiFi system for novice users: Google Nest WiFi Pro

The Nest WIFi Pro offers a simple experience for folks who want to set their network up and then forget about it. It’s not as powerful or customizable as many of its competitors, but it should be more than suitable for streaming movies and plain old web browsing. And it’s not that pricey, so while I have reservations about its long-term potential, it’s a good deal in the short term.

If you’re already inside Google’s smart home world, then the various integrations Assistant already offers, as well as support for Matter and Thread, will be a bonus. That, combined with the promise of regular updates and support from Google should mean that you can pick this up and not think about your WiFi again for several years.

Read our full review of the Google Nest WiFi Pro

The best mesh WiFi system for power users: ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12

The ASUS ZenWiFi Pro ET12 is a great option for folks who want something that justifies a Pro suffix. Each individual node has the power to cover your home in WiFi, and those extra gigabit and 2.5 Gbps ethernet ports will let you add fast backhaul or a speedy NAS. I’d say that both pro users and gamers will find things to love in this package. Hell, it might even be good enough to support a small office without too much stress.

And that’s before you get to the unique expandability that ASUS’ AiMesh offers, letting you add more ZenWiFi nodes or, more importantly, compatible standalone ASUS routers. That’ll help you evolve your network in a cost-effective way as you and your home’s needs change over time. Power users will be better-equipped to deal with some of its more idiosyncratic control options, and they’re more likely to take advantage of the 160MHz band support. The upfront cost is pretty expensive, that’s for sure, and it’s certainly not for general users, but it’s a very attractive package for the right person.

Insta360's thumb-sized Go 2 action cam already impressed us with its versatility, but it's about to be upstaged by its successor with some surprises. The new Insta360 Go 3 comes with a larger, more rectangular "Action Pod" detachable body, thus giving the overall look a stronger resemblance to a conventional action cam. Not only does this new model offer a longer combined battery life (more on that later), but the Action Pod body also doubles as a 2.2-inch flip touchscreen, meaning you won't need to whip out your phone as often. The whole package is essentially a 2-in-1 action cam and a wireless display.

The Go 3's camera itself has some significant upgrades as well. Video resolution has been bumped up from 1440p to 2.7k (2,720 x 1,536), meaning you'll get more out of Insta360's renowned "FlowState" video stabilization trick. Audio quality has been improved by the addition of a second microphone, thus solving an old pain point. The camera is also certified as waterproof at up to 5 meters deep instead of just 4, but note that the "Action Pod" is only IPX4 water resistant, so do not submerge that part under water. 

Insta360

The camera's own battery life has been extended from 30 minutes to 45 minutes (1080p@30fps), and when mounted onto the "Action Pod," you'll get up to 170 minutes. The Go 3 also represents an improvement in Insta360's heat dissipation design, so the only limitations on maximum video length are battery life and data storage. Say goodbye to the old 30-minute cap on each clip. This is also probably why the Go 3 comes with a new 128GB flavor, though you may still consider the 64GB or 32GB options to suit your budget.

In addition to the usual timelapse, "TimeShift" (Insta360's take on hyperlapse) and slow motion (up to 4x) features, the Go 3 comes with three new video modes: pre-recording, loop recording and timed capture. Timed capture in particular is handy for setting up auto capture for a sunrise, without you having to wake up to turn on the camera.

Insta360

Much like its predecessor, the Go 3 comes with a handful of accessories for various mounting methods. You still get a magnet pendant for first-person point-of-view shots from chest level, though I personally prefer using the included clip mount with a hat to match my eye level. There's also a pivot stand with a reusable sticky base — the latter can be detached if you want to switch to a 1/4-inch mount instead. If needed, you can buy a quick release mount for action sports, or a monkey tail mount for casual captures anywhere you want. Dog owners may also consider getting the "Fetch Stick" to get some goofy close-ups of their pets

The Insta360 Go 3 is now available via the official online store or Amazon, with the 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models priced at $379.99, $399.99 and $429.99 respectively.

TikTok has told users that it's discontinuing TikTok Now, effectively a clone of last year's social media sensation BeReal, The Verge reported. According to screenshots posted by various users, parent ByteDance is "updating the TikTok experience and discontinuing TikTok Now."

BeReal was Apple's iPhone app of the year for 2022, but buzz around the social media app has tapered off of late. The app took an interesting approach compared to rivals, sending notifications at a different time each day that prompted you to quickly share photos taken with your device's front and rear cameras at the same time. The idea was to create more spontaneous content, while keeping the experience centered on friends.

TikTok Now had a nearly identical approach, also requiring users to take front and rear photos simultaneously. However, it added the ability to take 10-second TikTok-like videos instead of photos. When it launched, the company said it aimed to create "authentic and spontaneous connections on TikTok." 

The feature was part of the main app in the US, but is also available as a standalone TikTok Now app in other regions. The message sent to TikTok users in the US indicated that the feature was being killed in the main app, but there's no word on the separate TikTok Now app. 

Shortly after it launched, BeReal was successful enough to inspire dual-camera features from Instagram (Candid Stories), SnapChat and others. Since then, however, the number of users has dropped, according to a report from The New York Times in April. BeReal refuted an analytics report behind the story, though, saying it still had 20 million daily active users. 

In a series of messages on his Telegram channel, Pavel Durov has revealed that the instant messaging service is launching its own take on Stories next month. He shared that users have been asking for the feature for years but the company has initially been against it "since Stories are already everywhere." Telegram ultimately decided to listen to its users, though, and has created a version of its own that seems to be more customizable than other platforms'. 

The messaging service's Stories feature looks just like Messenger's in that they show up as expandable bubbles at the top of the conversation list. Users will be able to define who sees their posts and can choose to make them viewable to the public, only to their contacts (with exceptions), just a few selected contacts or to list of Close Friends. They can add captions and links to their Stories, and they can tag other people. Users can also share photos and videos captured by the front-facing and the rear cameras simultaneously, similar to posts found on BeReal. 

If users don't want to see posts from a certain contact, they can move them to the "Hidden" list in their contacts section. But what's perhaps the best thing about Telegram's take so far is that users will be able to choose when their Stories expire. They can set them to disappear in 24 hours like in other services, but they can also choose to make them disappear within 6, 12 or 48 hours. Users can even permanently display their Stories on their profile page. If they do, they won't be forced to make them viewable to anybody and can still choose the privacy setting for each post. 

Durov said Telegram has been testing the feature internally and that it's in the last stages of the testing phase. The company plans to make Stories available on its app sometime in early July. 

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line is the undisputed champion of big flexible phones. But – outside of China – it holds that title by default. With the Pixel Fold, Google has created a foldable challenger that directly addresses some of Samsung's (and foldables’) weaknesses. Google says that over 50 first-party apps have already been optimized for use on devices like the Pixel Fold. Some of the enhancements we've seen before, like tabletop mode in YouTube. But, by virtue of being made by the same company that makes Android, there are more features here. That even includes third-party apps like WhatsApp, where you can share images from Google Photos just by dragging and dropping.

Engadget

According to Engadget’s Sam Rutherford, the Pixel Fold’s clever hinge and slim chassis make it easy to use and carry, while its wider body makes the phone's exterior screen much more usable. With better cameras and UI tweaks to make multitasking a tiny bit simpler, the Pixel Fold more than holds its own against Samsung's Z Fold 4. The main challenge: that $1,799 price. Check out the full review here.

– Mat Smith

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Netflix is removing its 'basic' plan in Canada

Users will have basic with ads, standard or premium tiers available.

Netflix announced its basic plan would no longer be an option for Canadian subscribers. Anyone already on a basic plan doesn't have to worry about being kicked off it, but if they choose to move to another option or close their account, they can't get back on that tier. In Canada, the basic tier is $9.99 (CAD) per month, while the basic tier with ads, launched last year, costs $5.99. Now with the decision to remove its basic option, the streamer is pushing more of its customers towards an ad-filled viewing experience. It’s making the company money: In the first quarter of 2023, Netflix saw its basic with ads tier bring in more money per user than its standard plan.

Continue reading.

Amazon will use small businesses to help deliver packages in the US

Your local bodega could bring shipments to your door.

Amazon is launching a new hub delivery system that uses small businesses in 23 states (including California, New York and Washington) to complete customer shipments. Those businesses need secure storage areas and must deliver an average of 30 packages daily outside of major holidays. Amazon debuted an "I Have Space" system in India in 2015, and expanded it to both Japan and Spain. A US pilot program began in late 2020, although it focused on improving delivery for rural customers. This new system covers over 20 major cities, including Boston, New York City and Los Angeles.

Continue reading.

Meta’s Quest+ subscription offers two VR titles per month

The plan costs $8 per month or $60 per year.

Engadget

Meta is making its own Xbox Game Pass-like subscription service for VR titles. Meta Quest+, grants users access to "the best titles on the platform" for $8 per month or $60 per year. The subscription is available starting today on Quest 2 and Quest Pro. It's also coming to Quest 3 when that headset arrives this fall. The first two are the hit first-person shooter Pistol Whip and Pixel Ripped 1995. Like PlayStation Plus Essential, you'll retain access to the games as long as you remain a member.

Continue reading.

NASA is creating a ChatGPT-like AI assistant for astronauts

An early version is planned for the Lunar Gateway space station.

Has 2001: A Space Odyssey taught us nothing? Yes. NASA is developing an AI chat system allowing astronauts to perform maneuvers, conduct experiments and more using a natural-language ChatGPT-like interface.

NASA aims to deploy the system on its Lunar Gateway, a space station that will orbit the Moon and support NASA's Artemis mission. It would use a natural language interface that allows astronauts to seek advice on experiments or conduct maneuvers without diving into complex manuals.

Continue reading.

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Lordstown Motors is having an eventful day, to say the least. The Ohio-based EV startup has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in hopes of finding a buyer and is suing its investment partner, Foxconn Technology, for breach of contract and fraud. In its suit, Lordstown claims Foxconn's actions "had the intended effect of destroying the business of an American startup."

Foxconn, primarily known for assembling Apple's iPhones, bought Lordstown's Ohio factory in late 2021 (around when General Motors jumped ship) and a year later agreed to invest another $170 million through the purchase of common shares and newly created preferred shares. But, in April, Foxconn threatened to terminate the deal, claiming that Lordstown's stock dropping below $1 per share for 30 trading days in a row represented a breach in their agreement. The car manufacturer said the claims had no merit and accused Foxconn of acting in "bad faith" to get control of the factory and its workers without intending to support Endurance, its first pickup EV. 

The decision to declare Bankruptcy doesn't exactly come as a surprise — in May, Lordstown said production would likely stop "in the near future" and that the company would file if its deal with Foxconn didn't proceed. Lordstown also reported a $171.1 million loss for 2023's first quarter. 

Endurance has also faced continual problems from production to the final product. Even after Foxconn bought the factory, Lordstown failed to meet its forecasted vehicle production numbers for 2022, cutting it from 500 to 50 trucks. Then came an underperformance in miles, with the Environmental Protection Agency recently rating the pickup's range as just 174 miles versus its promised 250. Its competitors, the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, can go 240 and 289 miles, respectively.