After a fairly long wait, Apple’s debut mixed reality headset — its first new device since the Apple Watch — is almost here. The Vision Pro launches on February 2, and to ensure it fits as well in demos as it will in real life, you’ll have to put most of an hour aside to play.

Apple

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, customers who ask for a demo will have to go through face scans and the assembly of a custom Vision Pro, before sitting through a walkthrough of the interface, controls and device calibration. Apple Store employees will even scan glasses to figure out lens prescriptions for the Vision Pro. All of that could well burn through any intrigue and excitement for the headset, but at least you’ll get a meaty 25-minute demo.

If you’re planning to buy a Vision Pro in-store without trying, you maverick, you’ll still have to go through the face scans. However, you can jump through the rest of the hoops in your own time back home.

– Mat Smith

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Nikon made an AI imaging camera that detects when cows are about to give birth

It can save farmers from frequently checking mothers.

It’s not what we expected from a camera maker, but if Canon can make an album of music to concentrate to, why can’t Nikon detect when cows are about to give birth?

Its AI monitoring system, which costs 900,000 yen per year ($6,200) for a farm with around 100 cows, consists of a security-style camera married to an AI system. It’ll ping the farmer’s phone when the system detects a calf is due. Apparently, it can detect signs exhibited by pregnant cows about five hours ahead of labor.

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Apple will remove Blood Oxygen app from Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 to evade US import ban

Federal officials said the company can bypass the ban after a redesign.

According to a letter from Masimo, the company in a patent dispute against Apple, to an appeals court judge, the latter’s latest Watches can skirt the recent import ban by removing the Blood Oxygen app from Apple Watch units sold in the US. According to 9to5Mac, this won’t affect those who already have an Apple Watch with pulse oximetry features. Apple will likely roll out a new version of the Blood Oxygen app to affected units once it resolves the patent problem.

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Microsoft introduces Copilot Pro: a $20 monthly subscription for advanced AI

And Copilot GPTs for specialized tasks.

Microsoft

It’s been almost a year since Microsoft launched its ChatGPT-powered Bing Chat — now just called Copilot. So it’s time to make money, of course! Like OpenAI did with ChatGPT as its popularity grew, Microsoft is launching Copilot Pro, a $20 monthly subscription that gives access to the very latest ChatGPT releases, as well as access to Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps and other new features.

What might be more interesting for power users, though, is Copilot GPT, a new feature that lets you tweak the AI chatbot around specific topics, including fitness and cooking. Pro users will also eventually be able to create their own Copilot GPTs.

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The year 2023 turned out to be a big one for Apple's iPhone. First, it got rid of the longstanding lightning port, and now reports indicate that Apple overtook Samsung for the title of most smartphones shipped globally. The International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker's preliminary data found that Apple shipped 234.6 million units in 2023, which is equal to 20.1 percent of the market share. In comparison, Samsung shipped 226.6 units for 19.4 percent of the market share. Canalys, a global technology market analyst firm, shared findings that mirrored those from the IDC.

This instance marks the first time Samsung has fallen out of the number one spot since 2010, when Nokia was in the lead and Apple didn't even crack the top five. In 2023, Xiaomi, OPPO and Transsion took the remaining three spots with 145.9, 103.1 and 94.9 million smartphones shipped globally, respectively. 

The shift is notable given the crowding and continued regulations in the smartphone industry. "Apple certainly played a part in Samsung's drop in rank, but the overall Android space is diversifying within itself. Huawei is back and making inroads quickly within China, Brands like OnePlus, Honor, Google, and others are launching very competitive devices in the lower price range of the high end. And foldables and increased discussions around AI capabilities on the smartphone are gaining traction," Ryan Reith, IDC's Worldwide Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers group vice president, explained in a statement. "Overall, the smartphone space is headed towards a very interesting time."

Notably, overall smartphone shipments declined by 3.2 percent in 2023 but increased by 8.4 percent in quarter four. However, Apple is struggling to compete in China, with quarter four sales in the region 11 percent lower than the previous year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company has cut its iPhones by the equivalent of about $70 ahead of Lunar New Year, a time filled with presents. Discounting its most recent iPhone, in this case the iPhone 15, is a rarity for Apple but could have a payoff in a struggling market. 

Almost a year since Microsoft launched its ChatGPT-powered Bing Chat — which is now just called Copilot — the company is announcing its next major AI moves. First, it's launching Copilot Pro, a $20 monthly subscription that gives power users access to the latest ChatGPT releases, as well as access to Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps and other new features. Additionally, the Copilot iOS and Android apps are now available to everyone, following a limited launch last month.

And that's not all! Microsoft also introduced Copilot GPT, a new feature that will let you tweak Copilot around specific topics like "fitness, travel, cooking and more," according to Microsoft EVP and Windows head Yusuf Mehdi. Copilot Pro users will also be able to create their own Copilot GPTs eventually. (And yes, the name is certainly confusing, but this appears to be Microsoft's version of OpenAI's standalone GPTs.)

Microsoft says that Copilot Pro users will have access to GPT-4 Turbo at peak times starting today, and eventually they'll be able toggle between different GPT models. The subscription also grants you better AI image creation, which will be faster and deliver higher image quality, with optional landscape formatting. It's also worth noting that Copilot Pro is $20 a month per user — plan to shell out more if multiple people in your household need access. 

While Copilot and Microsoft's onslaught of AI announcements throughout 2023 led to plenty of publicity — it actually made us care about poor old Bing again! — it remains to be seen if it actually ends up being useful to general users. That may explain the rush to monetize Copilot for power users so quickly. Copilot queries are expensive, both in terms of computation power and energy use, so Microsoft needs a way to actually recoup some of those costs from its most aggressive users. The company also needs to make good on its $13 billion investment in OpenAI, which gave it a 49 percent stake in the AI firm (and once again raised regulatory scrutiny).

Given how strongly linked they are, it's no wonder Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was instrumental in getting OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman re-instated as CEO, following a dramatic battle with the company's board of directors.

Alongside Copilot Pro, Microsoft says that Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now widely available to small companies with its "Business Premium" and "Business Standard" subscriptions. The pricing hasn't changed from its earlier enterprise launch, though: It's still $30 a month per person (except now you can buy between 1 and 299 seats).

If you're looking for a new tablet to keep track of all your 2024 goals on (or just for fun), now is a great time to buy. A range of Amazon Fire Tablets are currently on sale, including the new Fire HD 10 tablet. A 42 percent discount brings the 64GB Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet to $105 from $180 — the lowest price we've seen it at. The 32GB model is also on sale but, at $95, you might as well pay the extra $10 for double the storage.

The 2023 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is a solid upgrade from its predecessor, with 25 percent faster performance and 3GB of RAM. Its 10.1-inch HD touchscreen has a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution to easily view anything from a good book to a favorite game. The Fire HD 10 tablet also has 5MP front and rear-facing cameras and the option to expand storage by up to 1TB through a microSD slot. 

If you want something a little more advanced, the Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet is also on sale — the 128GB model is down to $200 from $280. The 11-inch screen is a touch bigger and better, with a 2,000 x 1,200 resolution. Other notable features include 8MP front and rear-facing cameras and 4GB of RAM. This version comes without lock screen ads and is currently only $5 more than the 64GB model with lock screen ads. 

Rounding out the Amazon Fire tablet deals is the 32GB Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet, with a 38 percent discount, dropping it to $75 from $120. It comes with a 2MP front-facing camera and 5MP rear-facing cameras. It has 3GB of RAM and works 30 percent faster than its predecessor. Notably, this sale is on the lock screen with the ads model, but another $15 will give you an ad-free user experience. 

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We’re getting closer and closer to launch day for Apple’s Vision Pro headset, which means if you’re not yet sold on ordering one, you’ll soon be able to try it out in the store. But don’t expect the process to be quick and easy. In the Power On newsletter this week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says customers hoping for a demo will each have to go through face scans and the subsequent assembly of a custom Vision Pro, a walkthrough of the interface and all the controls, and device calibration — all before a 25-minute demonstration of the Vision Pro experience.

The Vision Pro is meant to sit just right on its wearer’s face, with multiple sizing options for the light seal, foam cushion and band. And Apple isn’t planning on taking the risk of an attempted universal fit for in-store demos, according to Gurman. In addition to face scans, employees will have a device to scan customers’ glasses to determine the right prescription for Vision Pro lenses. Each store “will have hundreds of lenses on hand for demos,” Gurman says, and employees will tag-team the process, with one on the floor taking customers’ details and another in the back handling assembly.

Some stores will have at least a dozen Vision Pro headsets around for people to try. During the actual demo, according to Gurman, users will be shown a series of normal, panorama and “spatial” photos, spatial videos, immersive experiences including a “scene that makes users feel as if they’re on a tightrope,” and a glimpse at what it will be like using the Vision Pro as a computer. Signups will start at 8AM local time on February 2.

If you’re just walking in to buy a Vision Pro, the process should be much simpler. You’ll have to go through the face scans — as will anyone ordering one online — and then all the correct pieces will be boxed up for you right there, Gurman says. There will also be multiple display-only units in each store, if you just want to take a look.

Apple AirTags can really come in handy when one of your belongings has gone missing, and with a deal on Amazon right now, you can pick up a four-pack of the trackers to keep more of your things protected. Normally $99, a 10 percent discount has dropped the price of a four-pack to $89 — and with a $10 coupon that’s being offered alongside the deal, that’s slashed even further to just $79. Just don’t forget to check the “Apply $10 coupon” box before adding it to your cart.

AirTags have become a staple for Apple device owners over the past few years. The Bluetooth trackers are a little bigger than a quarter and slim enough to slip into a wallet, making them a convenient way to keep tabs on your possessions. With the right accessories for your AirTags, they can also be attached to a keychain or stuck directly onto the tracked items to be sure they stay put. AirTags rely on Apple’s Find My network, which can provide precise location information as long as there are other Apple devices nearby.

When the AirTags aren’t in the range of any Apple devices to generate a new position, the app will show the item’s last known location. They don’t need to be charged, either, and should last about a year before the battery needs to be replaced. Users can add up to 32 items in the Find My app to track. With the Find my app, you can also ping the AirTag so it will play a sound and lead you right to the lost item if it's within your vicinity.

AirTags come with an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, meaning they are pretty durable against the elements under normal conditions. They’re built to survive splashes of water and submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. AirTags are the best Bluetooth trackers for iPhone owners thanks to the ease of use and peace of mind they bring.

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Apple sent an email to customers today notifying them that when they pre-order the Vision Pro starting on January 19, they will need to scan their face with an iPhone or iPad using Face ID to make sure they get a precise band fit on the headset. Deliveries will begin when it launches on February 2. US shoppers will be able to purchase the headset on apple.com, in the Apple Store app and in retail Apple Stores.

Apple said the latest version of the Apple Store app will be needed for shoppers to conduct a face scan. Additionally, for people that wear glasses, there will be an option to add optical inserts into the headset so that they can be worn without eyewear. To get the inserts for an additional fee, provided by its partner Zeiss, Apple says shoppers will need to share an updated official prescription document when pre-ordering the headset.

For those on the fence about purchasing the Vision Pro, which starts around ​​$3,499, Apple said the headset will be available in store for demos on the launch date. The Vision Pro, which was first announced at Apple’s WWDC 2023 keynote, received praise for its crisp 3D visuals during a hands-on preview. The headset will provide more than just a VR screen and speaker system for watching films and playing games — it will eventually act as a tool that will connect friends in Horizon Worlds.

The option to freely roam around a virtual world with an integrated gaming program made by Meta will push the bounds for what constitutes modern social networking and online gaming. Apple’s push for the Vision Pro to be branded and function as a spatial computer will also create endless possibilities for developers to create compelling apps.

Credential stuffing, or using compromised login information to take over accounts, has been around as long as we’ve used passwords to secure our accounts. But, perhaps in part because it's gotten easier for hackers to perform this type of attack, credential stuffing made headlines in recent months.

Look at the 23andMe breach affecting nearly 7 million users. While not every account was compromised via credential stuffing, it was how the hackers initially got in, and then they used a social feature called DNA Relatives to keep going. Hackers gained access to sensitive information like full names and locations, specifically targeting groups like Ashkenazi people, offering the data for sale in bulk online.

Hacking conjures an image of sophisticated, high tech break-ins, but what makes credential stuffing so lucrative is that it's surprisingly “pretty unsophisticated,” Rob Shavell, CEO of online personal information removal service DeleteMe, told Engadget. Hackers will use educated guesses to figure out your password, or just buy old passwords from leaks online to see if they work for different accounts. Tactics used by hackers include using personal information found online to guess passwords or asking a generative AI program to come up with usable variations on a password to get into an account.

Companies frequently fail to protect your data, sticking you with the burden of preventing credential stuffing accounts to the best of your ability. In fact, credential stuffing has become so prevalent, that you’ve likely already fallen victim. Nearly a quarter of all login attempts last year met the criteria for credential stuffing, according to security company Okta’s 2023 State of Secure Identity Report that surveyed more than 800 IT and security decision-makers across fields. Verizon's 2023 analysis of data breaches found that about half of breaches involved stolen credentials. Checking an email address on sites like Have I Been Pwned can show you which passwords may have been compromised, meaning if you’ve reused it on another account, it could be a matter of time until hackers try to use it to get in.

Credential stuffing works because we tend to stick to certain patterns when creating passwords, like using your mother’s maiden name or a childhood address, with small variations to make them easier to remember. “Because we’re lazy, and because we have 50 passwords now, it is the default to just pick one password and use it many places,” chief information security officer at cloud company Akamai Steve Winterfeld said. “The problem is you then are not taking appropriate risk measures.”

That level of risk varies widely. The one-off account you used to try out World of Warcraft years ago and doesn’t have any personal or financial information attached to it probably doesn’t concern you. But hackers are betting you’ve reused an email, username and password for a more lucrative account, like your bank or social media, and they will use credential stuffing to get in. “I have one username and password that I use for things that I’m okay if they’re compromised … that would not financially or brand impact me,” Winterfeld said.

Minimizing the risks you’re taking online by using strong passwords will make it a lot more manageable to start protecting yourself against credential stuffing. Changing passwords frequently, or making the switch to passkeys, can also help. There are other ways you can protect yourself, too, as companies have made it clear that they’ll do anything in their power to shirk responsibility for protecting your information.

First, understand that once a credential is leaked, it can be used to gain access to other accounts, Frank Teruel, CFO at bot prevention firm Arkose Labs, said. So, change passwords for any accounts where you may have repeated it, especially high-profile targets linked to financial or other sensitive institutions. This is where a password manager comes in handy, because some will even flag if a password has been found in a breach and suggest that you change it to a stronger option.

Taking some time to purge accounts you no longer use will greatly reduce the number of password leaks to worry about, too, Teruel said. In the meantime, make it a habit not to reuse passwords or small variations on them, and to change passwords frequently to limit risk.

Lenovo just announced a handful of new gaming laptops at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Each of these computers features the company’s proprietary Legion Coldfront: Hyper cooling technology that keeps temperatures low while making sure the fans don’t get too loud. They're also packed with AI chips for improved speed and performance. These laptops ship with Windows 11 and come with three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

The Lenovo Legion 9i is the flagship model with the most features and the highest asking price. This is a refresh of the similarly named laptop that was released back in September, but this one packs a 14th-gen Intel CoreTM Gen i9-14900HX CPU and up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTXTM 4090 GPU. It also features the company’s upgraded LA3-P AI chip, which automatically adjusts power to the CPU and GPU based on what you’re doing with the computer.

Additionally, the AI chip enables Lighting Audio Sync, which matches up the laptop’s RGB lights with sound to increase immersion. You get a 16-inch Mini-LED display panel with 3.2K resolution, a 16:10 aspect ratio and a snappy 165Hz refresh rate. You can choose up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 2TB of Gen4 PCIe internal storage. It also features a nifty-looking forged carbon top cover, which sets the aesthetics apart from similar gaming laptops. The Lenovo Legion 9i releases later this month, with a starting price of $4,400.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i boasts the all-new Intel Core 14th Gen i9-14900HX CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU in top-end models, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 2TB of internal SSD storage. There’s a 16-inch IPS display that supports refresh rates up to 240Hz and 500 nits of brightness. This upgraded PureSight panel features 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage. In short, this thing is a beast. The Legion Pro 7i will be available this March with a starting price of $2,700. There’s also the lower-powered Legion Pro 5i, which is available this month for $1,500.

Lenovo

In addition, the company announced standard Lenovo Legion 7i and 5i models. They don’t boast the “Pro” moniker, but should still be sufficient for modern gamers. These laptops are available in a variety of colorways, which is neat, and can be outfitted with up to the latest Intel Core i9 14900HX chips and up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Both models include 16-inch displays, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of SSD storage. The Legion 7i releases in March with a starting price of $2,100, while the 5i launches in April with a starting price of $1,400. There’s also a smaller and lighter version of the 5i coming in April that starts at $1,500.

Lenovo didn’t just announce gaming laptops. This is CES, after all. The company also unveiled a fair amount of gaming peripherals and accessories. The coolest of the bunch is the Lenovo Legion K510 Pro Mini Keyboard. This compact gaming keyboard is packed with mechanical key switches and 16.8 million color per-key RGB support. It’s expected this June for $70.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

Mophie’s Juice Pack, once practically synonymous with smartphone battery cases, is making a comeback at CES 2024. With Apple having discontinued its MagSafe Battery Pack as part of its purge of Lightning accessories, the Zagg-owned Mophie has seized the moment to reintroduce the Juice Pack for the first time in five years. The new version of the battery case is designed for the iPhone 15 series (with the notable exception of the 15 Plus).

The battery capacity in the new Juice Pack varies depending on which iPhone model you have. The iPhone 15 version has a 2,400mAh battery, the iPhone 15 Pro model moves to 2,600mAh and the iPhone 15 Pro Max variant is 2,800mAh. The case supports passthrough charging and will prioritize the iPhone when both need power.

Mophie’s iPhone 15 and 15 Pro cases have identical external dimensions (despite the phones’ measurements being different) at 161 x 75 x 17.54mm (6.3 x 3 x 0.7 inch). Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max version measures 174 x 81.1 x 17.12 mm (6.85 x 3.2 x 0.67 inch). The case is made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and has slightly raised corners to help with drop protection.

The Mophie Juice Pack for iPhone 15 series costs $99.95. The battery case will be available for pre-order in late February from Mophie’s website.

We're reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.