Apple upgraded the second-generation AirPods Pro in September by giving them a few improvements and by swapping out their charging case's Lightning port with USB-C. The refreshed model only became available for purchase on September 22, but you can now get it for 24 percent off retail. Apple is currently selling the second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C MagSafe charging case for $189, which is $60 cheaper than what you'd pay for them if you're buying them at full price. That is, of course, without AppleCare+ — if you want to get the earbuds with Apple's extended warranty, you'd have to pay $23 more.
In addition to giving the AirPods Pro's charging case a USB-C connector, Apple has also upgraded the model's water resistance and added dust protection for both the earbuds and their casing. With iOS 17, the improved AirPods will be able to "dynamically blend" their active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode capabilities based on your environment. Their Personalized Volume feature uses machine learnings to predict your desired listening level, depending on your activity. Plus, their Conversation Awareness feature can lower the volume when you start speaking, so you don't have to do anything if you do talk to someone. Finally, when the tech giant's Vision Pro mixed reality headset launches next year, you'll be able to enjoy low-latency lossless audio when you pair the earbuds with it.
If you want a pair that's even more affordable, however, you can get the second-generation Apple AirPods for $89 instead. The model isn't quite as feature-rich as its Pro counterpart, and it doesn't come with silicone tips to create an acoustic seal. But it's still a great option if you use an iPhone or plan to pair it with Apple's other devices.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-airpods-pro-with-usb-c-fall-to-a-new-low-of-189-for-october-prime-day-115319976.html?src=rss
Amazon’s Prime Day in July brought many current-generation Apple devices down to all-time lows. October’s Prime sale is matching many of those deals, with discounts on iPads, AirPods, MacBooks and Apple Watches. You won’t find new, unlocked iPhones as Amazon doesn’t directly sell those, but if you’re looking for a Apple gadgets as gifts for the holidays — or just as a present to yourself — here are the best October Prime Day deals on Apple products we could find.
AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C)
Last month, Apple followed the announcement of the new USB-C-capable iPhones with the introduction of AirPods Pro that recharge with the same cable. The USB-C AirPods Pro aren’t a total redesign, so they have the same design and much improved audio as the second-generation buds — though now they're slightly more waterproof. Amazon’s sale brings them down to $189 instead of $249, which is $10 less than they went for in July. Of course for those who prefer the Lightning version, that one is also down to $189 from $249.
iPad Air
The iPad Air is now in its 5th generation and it’s currently down to $500 after a $99 discount off its $599 price tag, thanks to Amazon’s latest Prime sale. In our guide to iPads, we named the 2022 Air the best pick for most people as it gives you the speed and processing power of Apple’s own silicon, in this case the M1 chip, plus a top-notch build quality and design. The 10.9-inch display is sharp and the battery life is admirable, getting about 12 hours in our tests. It earned a review score of 90 from Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham.
iPad (9th gen)
The 9th-generation iPad is still part of Apple’s official tablet lineup and is now down to $249, which is $80 of the $329 MSRP, though Amazon regularly sells it at a discount and dropped down to $250 for July’s Prime day. We named it the best budget pick in our guide to the best iPads as it’s the most affordable way to snag one of Apple's tablets. It might not make sense as a productivity machine, as the accessory support isn’t as vast as it is for newer iPads, but for couch browsing, playing games and watching shows, it’s a great pick.
iPad mini
The iPad mini gives you a bit more on-screen room than your phone does, but is easier to carry around than a full-sized tablet. For Amazon's latest Prime sale, the diminutive slate is down to $400 instead of its usual $489. Engadget’s Valentina Palladino gave the mini an 89 in her review because of its new redesign and solid performance. It also pairs nicely with the second generation Apple Pencil, turning the mini into a portable digital notebook. We also named it the best iPad for one-handed use.
Magic Keyboard
One of our favorite iPad accessories is Apple’s own Magic Keyboard. The version that fits newer iPad Airs and the 11-inch iPad Pro is now just $269 which is $31 off its $300 list price. It acts as both a keyboard and cover, wrapping around the tablet and magnetically attaching to the back. In use, it “floats” the screen above the keyboard. As we noted in our iPad Pro review, we noted the Magic Keyboard “provides the best typing experience” for Apple’s tablets.
Apple Watch Series 9
When the new Apple Watch 9 came out last month, it promptly replaced the Apple Watch Series 8 as our favorite overall smartwatch. Amazon’s sale drops the price on the new wearable from $399 to $390 for the 41mm case. The new processor inside allows for on-board (read, faster) Siri responses and will support a new feature rolling out at the end of this month called Double Tap. We awarded the Series 9 a solid review score of 92, praising the comprehensive health and fitness tracking and carbon-neutral manufacturing.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple released the Apple Watch Ultra 2 alongside the Apple Watch 9 last month. The $799 list price is the same as for the original Apple watch, but Amazon’s sale brings it down to $749, which is a new low. The new S9 SiP (system-in-package) is the same as the Series 9, so you get that on-board processing of Siri requests and support for the Double Tap once that launches. GPS and cellular connectivity come standard with the Ultra 2 (though you’ll need to pay for a separate cell plan) and the large 49mm case accommodates lots of information. The Modular Ultra watch face was a particular favorite in our hands-on.
Apple Watch SE
Apple’s budget smartwatch didn’t get a refresh like its other watches this year, so the second-generation Apple Watch SE is still the most recent. It starts at $250 but October’s Prime day knocks $50 off that price. Engadget’s Cherlynn Low called it “the best smartwatch $250 can buy” in her review and awarded it a respectable score of 89. It doesn’t have an always-on display, nor can it track your blood oxygen levels, temperature or give EKG readings.But it still extends the utility of your iPhone while gathering useful health and fitness data.
MacBook Air (15-inch)
The 15-inch MacBook Air came out in June and is Apple’s latest laptop to date. It’s on sale for $1,049 for the 256GB model, instead of the usual $1,299. Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham gave it a high score of 96 in his review noting that the larger screen really makes a difference and lets you get the most out of the M2 processor. He calls it a great choice for getting work done and casual entertainment. Though we should note that the M3 chip, along with a few refreshed MacBooks, may arrive later this year or early 2024.
AirPods Max
Apple’s AirPods Max headphones didn’t make the cut in our best headphones guide, but these premium headphones combine the best features of AirPods — like excellent noise cancelation and transparent audio — with over-ear comfort and reliable controls. They’re just too expensive to recommend. But now that Amazon has cut the price down to $480 instead of $549 for October’s Prime Day, they make a little more sense.
Apple Studio Display
Apple’s Studio Display is pretty pricey at $1,600, but for October’s Prime Day sale, Apple’s only monitor is down to $1,399 with help from a $100 voucher. We think the display is ideal only for the Apple faithful, everyone else would be better served by another monitor. That said, the A13 Bionic chip inside lends some smarts to drive its webcam and mics and the build is solid, the speakers are good, and the screen is bright and accurate.
Apple doesn't often have a sale on its own site, but Amazon regularly lists Apple Watches at significant discounts — and that’s never more true than during a Prime sale. During July’s event, we saw the Apple Watch 8 dip down to its lowest price ever. Following Apple's iPhone event last month, there are two new Apple Watches on the scene, the Apple Watch Series 9 and the high-end Apple Watch Ultra 2. The Apple Watch SE didn't see an update this time around, so the second generation is still the newest. We've also included smartwatch deals from Samsung and Google as well as sales on a few fitness trackers. Here are the best October Prime Day deals on Apple Watches we could find.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the brand’s newest high-end watch and has the same list price as last year’s model, which is $799. For Amazon’s sale, it’s down to $749 or $50 off, which is a new low. The new Ultra has the same S9 SiP (system-in-package) as the Series 9, which allows for on-board processing of Siri requests and will help offer more intuitive answers to questions about your health and activity data. The Ultra 2 comes with GPS and cellular connectivity and has a large 49mm case to accommodate its always-on Retina display and battery with a claimed 36-hour lifespan. Engadget's Cherlynn Low particularly liked the new Modular Ultra watchface, which manages to make the most of the watch’s vast screen real estate.
Apple Watch Series 9
It only arrived last month, but the new Apple Watch 9 has already handily beaten out other contenders for the top spot in our guide to the best smartwatches. And now it’s on sale for $10 off the list price, thanks to Amazon’s second Prime Day. That makes the 41mm case $390 and the 45mm size $420. One of the most notable updates to this model is the upcoming Double Tap feature that will let you answer calls or dismiss an alarm just by tapping your thumb and forefinger together.
Apple Watch SE
Apple didn’t release a new version of the Apple Watch SE, which makes the second generation the current budget watch in the brand’s official lineup. It’s usually $250 for the GPS-only model and 40mm case but October’s Prime sale brings that base model down to $199. If you want more room on the screen, you can grab the 44mm version, which is usually $270 but down to $229 during the sale.
In our Engadget review, we called the SE “the best smartwatch $250 can buy." It doesn’t have the new Double Tap and on-board Siri features of the new watches, and it's missing a few of the sensors you get with the higher-end models, such as blood oxygen, temperature sensing and EKG readings. You also don’t get an always-on-display.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
For those who don’t carry an iPhone, the Galaxy Watch 6 is our favorite Android smartwatch. Samsung’s latest wearable was released a few months ago and typically goes for $300, but is down to $269 during Amazon’s sale. It’s lighter than the previous model with a brighter display, better battery life and a processor upgrade. The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic returns the spinning bezel which Samsung removed on the Watch 5. That model usually sells for $400, but the sale brings it down to $369 instead.
Google Pixel Watch
The Google Pixel Watch 2 was announced last week and will ship this Thursday. That's probably why the first generation of the Google Pixel Watch is 40 percent off. That brings it to $210 and an all-time low. While we liked the overall design, we found the rather short battery life concerning. Since the newer generation promises a slightly larger battery and more efficient use of it, you may want to go with the Google Pixel Watch 2, which we had a moment to try out during Google's event. But it looks like that one isn't discounted for Amazon's sale and is currently selling for the full $350.
Fitness trackers:
Withings Steel
You can get the look of a classic analog watch combined with the health tracking features of a smartwatch by opting for Withings Steel HR Sport. The hybrid watch is usually $200, but the Prime sale brings it down to $160. Instead of displaying your health and workout stats on the watchface, the Steel HR Sport sends everything to the companion app on your phone. It can track heart rate, activities and workouts as well as monitor your sleep. Since it has no screen, Withings claims the battery can go for up to 25 days on a charge.
Amazon has the 2023 version of the Samsung Smart Monitor M8 on sale. You can take $200 off the 32-inch display with built-in apps and streaming services, dropping its usual $700 asking price to $500.
The refreshed M8 Smart Monitor is the updated 2023 version of the model that launched at CES 2022. The 32-inch 4K monitor has a 3840 x 2160 resolution with HDR, a 60Hz refresh rate and a maximum 178-degree viewing angle. Like the original, this 2023 model comes with built-in apps and internet of things (IoT) control features. You can stream from services like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, but it also includes Microsoft Office 365 apps for when you want to get work done without connecting to a PC.
When it’s time to hook it up to your computer, it includes a USB-C cable, and it has built-in ports for USB-C, HDMI and USB-A. It even ships with software to access and control your PC remotely, making it much more versatile on its own than standard monitors. And if you own a Samsung mobile device, you can use the company’s DeX software to transform the phone or tablet into a faux desktop computer.
The Smart Monitor M8’s IoT hub lets you control smart home products through SmartThings, performing tasks like changing your home’s lighting or temperature straight from the display. It includes a detachable SlimFit Cam, which records in full HD and has face tracking for video calls. It also has Alexa for voice control, perhaps sparing you the cost of buying an Echo speaker for that room.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsungs-updated-smart-monitor-m8-is-200-off-on-amazon-right-now-165507457.html?src=rss
Your latest iPhone update is officially here. iOS 17 brings some substantial new features and a lot of upgrades that streamline how you use your iPhone, especially when connecting with other iPhone users.
While the lock screen customizations introduced in iOS 16 formed the big visual change last year, Apple has now applied a similar makeover to your phone calls and contact lists. And at a time when there is no shortage of video call apps and services, it’s trying to make FaceTime even more compelling.
When I previewed the developer build a month or so ago, I focused on messages and FaceTime, both of which got a lot of attention in this update. After a little more time with the finished product, iOS 17 feels like a big quality-of-life upgrade for iPhone users. Without a big tentpole feature, it’s harder to pinpoint why it’s so much better — but I'll try.
Supported devices
20 different iPhone models support iOS 17, going as far back as 2018’s iPhone XR. As many of the OS updates this year aren’t particularly processor- or machine learning-intensive, you’re not missing out on much with older supported iPhones. One exception is StandBy, which works best (or how it should) with Apple’s best smartphone screens — always-on displays.
StandBy Mode
With StandBy, Apple is dipping its toe in the smart display waters without making you buy another device. (For now.)
If your iPhone is horizontal and charging, iOS 17 will shift into StandBy mode, ditching your wallpaper and icons for giant clocks, calendar info, now playing widgets, photos and the rest. (One curious oversight: no email widget.)
You’ll need an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro to ensure it works like it should — that is, always on. With all the other devices, you’ll need to tap the screen to get your information, which defeats the point. StandBy also utilizes the same iOS widget Smart Stacks so you can swipe between different information.
With iOS 17, we finally get interactive widgets, too, so you can toggle smart home lights or tick something off your to-do list without having to launch an entire app. (Another helpful feature coming to Reminders and your to-do lists is an automated grocery list feature, which will detect when you’re composing a shopping list, and draw together products you’ll typically find in the same place in the grocery store.)
Apple’s Continuity upgrades mean you can now use widgets on your Mac, even if you don’t have the same app installed on your computer. There are also more curated widgets for iOS 17, so you can select a specific photo album to populate them (no more screenshots or very dated holiday photos) and dedicate widgets to podcasts, Safari or your music.
Contact posters and FaceTime
Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget
Contact Posters remain the big visual twist for iOS 17. However, I’m still waiting for my iPhone-carrying friends to update their devices so I can see the glossy upgrade. Contact posters mix different profile photos, fonts and colors and will appear when someone calls you, FaceTimes you, or when you’re searching through contacts. This image will also appear when you try out NameDrop, Apple’s new feature for contactless… contact sharing. As I noted in my preview, the profile photo you use doesn’t have to be taken in Portrait mode to ensure the cutout effect between the image and text, which is nice.
NameDrop offers a degree of customization, so when you share your details, you can choose what phone numbers and emails to shoot across by bringing two compatible iPhones close to each other. There’s a lovely visual undulation, sound effect and haptic buzz, making it an odd delight to share your details. Apple also teased an upgraded AirDrop, able to transfer content online even if you step away. However, that feature will arrive later this year.
With FaceTime, alongside some new augmented reality gestures, you can leave a video voicemail if someone doesn’t answer your call. Yes, you’re just sending a video, to be honest, but it’s here if you need to do just that.
Messaging gets better and better
So, Messages is good now? It’s taken some time, but I’ll admit it: I want my friends to ditch WhatsApp and return to the other green messaging app. (And to my Android friends, I’m sorry.)
Apple has improved its sticker features, including Live Stickers, animated stickers taken from Live Photos. iOS 17 now collates all of my cut–outs of dogs, selfies and babies into one drawer. This drawer also houses memoji, emoji and third-party stickers. Like static cutout stickers before, you can ‘lift’ subjects out of photos by long pressing on them in the Photos app. With iOS 17, you can add sticker effects, like “shiny” and “puffy” that reflect faux light when you move your phone. Stickers can now also be used from the sticker drawer and added to photos, documents, and screenshots with Markup – that’s the little pencil tip icon.
A new Check In feature, embedded into Messages, can auto-notify someone that you’ve arrived at a destination. If you don’t arrive by a specified time, your iPhone will even ask you to confirm you’re okay, and if you don’t respond, an alert will be sent to whoever you sent the Check In notification to. The recipient can be informed of signal status and battery life. You can even share the route you take, if you’re willing to.
The keyboard is much improved, but I’m not sure how
Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget
Apple has taken on board the criticism of its often spotty autocorrect accuracy. It says it’s using a new “transformer language model” for its autocorrect suggestions in English, French and Spanish. Almost immediately, it worked better and has improved further over the last few weeks. I noticed my phone swapped ‘bbiab’ for ‘Brian’, in an email to Engadget’s head of Video.
This is made even better by the temporary underlining on your autocorrected words, so you can see what’s changed — great for when you didn’t notice your iPhone tweaking your missives.
Tapping on an autocorrection shows a pop-up of the original, so you can easily swap it back if you want. Predictive text suggestions appear mildly improved too. iOS 17 ends Apple’s prudish approach regarding curse words, so you can now save your favorite naughty words, and your iPhone will learn them and (hopefully) use them appropriately.
Live Voicemail and voice note transcription
Live Voicemail is one feature not yet available to me in the UK. And I’d very much like it, please. This voicemail upgrade lets you screen a call through live transcription, with the iPhone parsing what someone says, you can then pick up the call if they’re saying something you’re interested in hearing about – or just let them leave a message.
I had our Executive Editor Aaron Souppouris — whose London accent is incomprehensible to a lot of people — test this feature in the US. If your phone is locked when the call comes in, the system prompts you to unlock to read live. Once unlocked, Live Voicemail caught every word he said, which is pretty impressive.
It’s a different approach to Google, which introduced its own call-screening tricks to the Pixel years ago. In Android’s implementation, the device screens calls and asks the caller questions. It’s a little more… interactive. In iOS 17, you get a live transcript of their message and can choose to interrupt them by leaving the message. Or just get the jist. Google’s technique means people know they’re being screened which I dislike.
Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget
Machine-learning transcription isn’t new on iPhones (you’ve been able to dictate on your phone for years), but it’s the implementation in iOS 17 that is. When someone sends you a voice note on Messages, the iPhone can now auto-transcribe the contents of that voice note, as long as the audio is clear enough. I think I made my point during our iOS 17 preview, but It's my favorite feature this year.
Improvements beyond the iPhone
Billy Steele/Engadget
The iOS 17 benefits even stretch to your AirPods — if they’re the latest ones. With second-gen AirPods Pro, you’ll get adaptive audio — and dropdown icons on your phone to toggle the new features on and off. This adjusts the level of noise cancellation in a noisier environment and is bolstered by a new Conversation Awareness feature, which, when it detects you speaking, will lower the volume of your music or podcast. Unfortunately, it does the same when you cough. Check out our deep dive on the new features here.
If you own AirPlay-compatible devices, iOS 17 will offer up speaker options and automatically connect when you play audio on your iPhone, further streamlining the process. However, with my HomePod, I had to be very close for the auto-connect popup to appear.
While we’re talking audio, voice assistant Siri picks up some minor, but notable, improvements. No more ‘Hey Siri’ just ‘Siri’ — they’re cool like that now. Siri now handles back-to-back commands, too.
Cross-device improvements even reach AirTags and other Find My-enabled peripherals. Other people can now track these, so two people can monitor the same item.
Elsewhere, Safari now offers separate browsing profiles for your work and personal – or any other way you’d like to divide up your internet exploring. iOS 17 also introduces group password and passkey sharing.
Another simple upgrade to your iPhone experience is any two-factor authentication codes and messages sent to your email will be automatically inserted into your web browser, a feature that’s been available for codes in text messages for years. Better yet, iOS can now automatically delete these texts or emails after you’ve inserted the code, clearing out space, especially in Messages, for the texts that matter.
Missing parts
During the big iOS 17 reveal at WWDC 2023, Apple noted that some features of the new OS wouldn’t be available at launch. One of the big ones is a Journal app.
Apple says that Journal will glean details from other apps, like Messages and Podcasts, automatically suggesting things you might want to recall and write about. The Journal app is scheduled to land before the end of the year.
There are a few other things not here at the time of public release, too, like the enhanced AirDrop capabilities I mentioned earlier. Music collaboration was also teased, with the ability to invite friends to your playlists and let anyone add, reorder, and remove songs – or react to poor choices with emoji.
Another feature I’m waiting on is intelligent form detection for PDFs. Apple says iOS 17 will eventually be able to identify PDF forms across Files, Mail and any scanned files you’ve snapped. If it means I don’t have to pull out my laptop every time I need to fill in a PDF form, I’m on board.
There are some major accessibility upgrades too, which might get lost in the barrage of features. The big one is Personal Voice. After 15 minutes of talking at your iPhone, (reading set phrases aloud), the iPhone can simulate your voice, a la DeepFake tricks we’ve seen in recent years. While it’s cool to have a robo-Mat, the use case is anyone who may lose the ability to speak, or finds it difficult to do so now. (It also sounds pretty artificial, having toyed with other similar voixe models in Descript and other services.) With Personal Voice, you can convert written text into a voice for FaceTime, Phone calls and other compatible communication apps.
Another feature tucked away in Accessibility settings is the ability to speed up haptic touch. Haptic Touch is the long touch feature that replaced the (arguably better?) 3D Touch first found on the iPhone 6S. A long press on an icon or a photo takes longer than pressing hard on 3D Touch. Now you can tweak the settings (Accessibility-> Touch-> Haptic Touch). This immediately sped up all the menu browsing and secondary features I accessed through long presses — give it a try.
Wrap-up
Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget
With iOS 17, the visual differences are obvious. But underlying those are many small upgrades, especially for iPhone users that communicate mostly with other iPhone users. If you’re using FaceTime, you can leave a video message or use a handful of wacky augmented reality gestures. If you’re calling them or messaging other iOS 17 users, there are Live Stickers, Check In, Contact Posters, NameDrop and voice note transcription — already the standout feature to me this year. (I’m still waiting for more of my acquaintances to get up to speed and download the update, so I, selfishly, can use these features more.)
If you’re already using AirPods Pro, they’re better, too. Conversational Awareness is already making me look less of an ass when I order my drink at the coffee shop.
Alongside broader quality-of-life improvements to typing and Messages, Apple has also continued to push forward with accessibility features, too. We’re still waiting on that journaling app and several more features. Still, there are enough notable changes this year, combining the new (StandBy) with the improved (predictive typing) to keep your iPhone fresh without having to invest in new hardware.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-17-review-notable-new-features-and-streamlined-touches-140009954.html?src=rss
When Activision announced Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile in 2022, the developer said it was planning to release the game sometime this year, shortly after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II became available. Now, Activision has published a trailer for the mobile title, with the revelation that it's coming out sometime in the spring of 2024 instead. It has no specific launch date yet, but those interested can already pre-order from Google Play or the App Store.
Warzone Mobile is a battle royale experience, which will put up to 120 players on a single map. The matches' operators, weapons, locations and combat are supposed to be familiar to current Warzone fans. It will also share a Battle Pass, as well as feature cross-progression, with Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. While the game won't be widely available until 2024, fans in Australia, Chile, Norway and Sweden have been able to play it since earlier this year. This "limited release" version gives Activision a way to test the game with a wider audience than it can with its Closed Alpha, so it can find and fix more bugs, stress test matches and collect as much feedback as possible on gameplay and different elements of the title.
In addition to announcing a new release date window for Warzone Mobile, Activision has also revealed that the game will come with access to Rebirth Island from day one. The fan favorite Resurgence mode map will be making its debut on mobile and has apparently been "painstakingly and specially built" for this game.
As for those waiting for Modern Warfare III, Raven Software has confirmed at the COD Next event that players will be able to slide cancel in the game — a mechanic that was notably absent from Modern Warfare II. Take note, though, that while the mechanic is coming back, it will no longer reset Tactical Sprint.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/call-of-duty-warzone-wont-come-to-mobile-until-spring-2024-092513290.html?src=rss
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has warned around 6,800 current and former employees that their personal data was accessed via a data breach, according to a letter seen by Bleeping Computer. The nature of the personal information stolen by hackers was redacted, but the company stated that a file transfer app called MOVEit was the source of the breach. It's the second report of an attack on Sony's operations within the last two weeks.
A ransomware group called CL0P claimed credit for the attack on May 28th, and MOVEit's vendor Progress Software notified Sony about the vulnerability on May 31st "On June 2, 2023, [we] discovered the unauthorized downloads, immediately took the platform offline, and remediated the vulnerability," Sony states in the letter to employees. "An investigation was then launched with assistance from external cybersecurity experts. We also notified law enforcement."
The hackers reportedly gained access to personally identifiable information about US employees, so Sony is providing credit monitoring services to those affected.
Sony was victim of another breach first reported last week. In that case, the hackers accessed servers in Japan used for internal testing for its Entertainment, Technology and Services business, pilfering 3.14GB of data. A threat actor called Ransomed.vc took credit for the attack, but that was denied by another group calling itself MajorNelson, which posted a sampling of files as proof. Sony said it was investigating the attack, adding "there has been no adverse impact on Sony's operations."
The company's PlayStation network was attacked in 2011, and Sony Pictures was famously hacked in 2014, resulting in a massive leak of documents and content — including entire films.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-confirms-data-breach-affecting-nearly-7000-employees-075945888.html?src=rss
Google has finally released a version of Gmail for Wear OS to accompany the launch of the Pixel Watch 2, as originally spotted by 9to5Google. The company teased this feature back in May at I/O, but we were left wondering when it would actually launch. Well, here it is, giving you prime wrist access to your emails.
This has been a long-awaited option for Wear OS users, as Google hasn’t offered a direct way to access Gmail with its smartwatches, outside of notifications, until now. Being as how Gmail is one of the company’s tentpole offerings, it’s a mystery as to why it took this long. Still, better late than never.
The app seems robust, with options to refresh your inbox, scroll through emails and even switch between multiple accounts on the fly. You can also adjust the overall settings so new email notifications pop up on the watch’s face as you go about your day. The app works with 2021’s Wear OS 3 and the just-released Wear OS 4, so those with slightly older smartwatches can also read an endless barrage of campaign donation emails. Gmail for Wear OS is available now via the Google Play Store.
Back at I/O, Google also announced that the company’s Calendar app was coming to Wear OS, but that has yet to materialize. Calendar for Wear OS is expected to allow users to check schedules, RSVP to invites, update tasks and to-do lists and more. Additionally, Google’s smart home ecosystem will soon get improved Wear OS integration, letting you answer your Nest doorbell from your wrist.
However, as Wear OS 3 and Wear OS 4 continue to gain new features, the company’s older smartwatch operating systems are losing features. Google recently announced that its proprietary voice assistant would no longer work on watches running anything before Wear OS 3.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-gmail-app-for-wear-os-is-finally-available-185420301.html?src=rss
In an otherwise incremental update, one of macOS Sonoma’s marquee features is interactive desktop widgets. Although Apple now lets you add widgets to the Notification Center on older versions of macOS, with Sonoma you can plop them down right on the desktop. Here’s how to set up and start using customizable widgets on your Mac computer.
Notification Center widgets
First, if you have any existing Notification Center widgets you’d rather put on the desktop, you can now drag them over directly. They’ll move seamlessly back and forth between the two places, and you can reposition them around the desktop to find a spot you like.
How to access the widget gallery
Apple added a widget gallery (similar to the one on iOS) to make setup easy. Start by right-clicking (or ctrl-clicking) on an unused space on your desktop, and choose the “Edit Widgets” option. The widget gallery will open, displaying available ones from installed Mac apps and your iPhone (if you have one).
Will Shanklin / Engadget
The gallery’s main window (above) displays all widgets, while the left sidebar lets you scroll through the list of apps with available ones. If your iPhone’s widgets aren’t showing, ensure your handset is running iOS 17 or later, signed in with the same Apple ID as the Mac and on the same Wi-Fi network.
For apps with both macOS and iOS versions, you’ll see “On This Mac” and “From iPhone” tabs on the upper right where you can switch views. Whichever you choose, tapping on a widget will immediately place it on your desktop, or you can drag it around until you find a spot you like.
How to customize widgets
Once you’ve placed a widget on your desktop, you can right-click (or ctrl-click) on it to view its available options. If you want to make it bigger or smaller, you can switch between sizes in this menu. In addition, “Edit [widget name]” lets you adjust its specific settings (when applicable). You’ll also see the option to “Remove Widget.”
Apple
Many native macOS widgets are interactive, allowing you to change settings or perform other tasks without opening the corresponding app. For example, you can check off to-do list items in Reminders or toggle your lights on or off in the Home app — right from the widget. Unfortunately, iPhone widgets on your Mac aren’t interactive and will prompt you to “open [app] on your iPhone to continue” if you click them.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-set-up-widgets-in-macos-sonoma-133045709.html?src=rss
Ahead of its Prime Big Deal Days starting next week, Amazon is having a sale on the Apple Watch Series 8 and thanks to a coupon, it's down to the lowest price we've seen to date. You can grab the 41mm model in red for just $225, for a savings of $175 off the regular $400 price (44 percent off). That's a deal that's hard to resist, considering that the next-gen Series 9 only came out two weeks ago.
The Series 8 isn't a huge update over the Series 7, but it does carry some useful new features. The main one is a temperature sensor tied to women's health, giving female users an estimate on when they may be ovulating. It's meant to be used overnight, sampling your wrist temperature every five seconds so you can see shifts from your baseline
The other is Crash Detection. Much as current watches can detect a fall, the Series 8 can detect car crashes via a pair of new accelerometers. It works in concert with other sensors to detect four different types of crashes, including rollovers, front impact, back impact and side impact. And of course, all of these Series 8 models have a cellular function, giving you internet connectivity, calls and texts for running, hiking and other activities that don't require a smartphone.
Finally, like other Apple Watches, you can use it to unlock your Mac, find your other Apple devices and pay with Apple Pay. The main improvements with the Series 9 are the Double Tap and Raise to Speak (Siri) features, so if you can live without those and are good with the red color, $225 is an incredible price.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-watch-series-8-falls-to-a-new-low-of-225-103200743.html?src=rss
