Technology News And Gadgets

Epic's current Fortnite season is focused on secret agents, and that now includes direct references to movies -- if not the ones you're likely to think of first. An update to the battle royale shooter has introduced a Kingsman umbrella that,... source https://www.engadget.com/2020-04-01-fortnite-kingsman-umbrella.html

Respawn and EA's dreams of establishing Apex Legends as an esports staple aren't going according to plan. The Apex Legends Global Series team is moving its events online "for the time being" due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that me... source https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-31-apex-legends-tournaments-move-online.html

This week March finally comes to an end and with the arrival of April, Netflix is adding some new licensed content to its catalog. Not that I don’t like the originals — as long as they keep making more Ozark, I’ll keep subscribing — but this week, be... source https://www.engadget.com/whats-on-tv-this-week-the-matrix-sonic-and-star-wars-024700182.html

Snapchat's latest set of lenses come with a timely reminder of the importance of social distancing. The app introduced two new lenses, created in partnership with the World Health Organization, that use augmented reality to serve users with tips... source https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-31-snapchat-lenses-social-distancing-coronavirus.html

Atari is trying themed hotels, retro consoles and other efforts to reel in nostalgic gamers, but its latest may be its oddest yet: turn Pong into a one-of-a-kind role-playing game. It's developing a Pong Quest game that has you guiding a heroic... source https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-31-atari-pong-quest-rpg.html

After technical issues forced Capcom to delay the Resident Evil: Resistance beta on PC and PlayStation 4, it's now available on those platforms in addition to Xbox One. You'll need to install an update to try it on PS4 and Steam. source https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-31-resident-evil-resistance-beta-ps4-pc-steam.html

As Facebook sees "unprecedented" demand for its services, the company is now encouraging its users to help out their neighbors. The social network is expanding its "community help" feature to reach people affected by the coronavir... source https://www.engadget.com/2020-03-31-facebook-expands-community-help-coronavirus.html

Two more astronauts have been assigned to the first operational crewed flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA astronaut Shannon Walker and Noguchi Soichi, of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agenc... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/spacex-crew-dragon-astronauts/

There's a good chance you have more time on your hands for gaming given lockdowns for the COVID-19 pandemic, and we have some good news if you're a PlayStation owner. Newegg is offering email subscribers a $20 discount on a one-year membership for Pl... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/playstation-plus-one-year-membership-newegg-deal/

Let's not sugarcoat it: livestreaming on Macs tends to suck. Even if you're not streaming games, there's a dearth of high-quality broadcasting tools to add a professional level of polish. Now, however, you shouldn't have to struggle. Streamlabs ha... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/streamlabs-mac-beta/

For the first time in years, Apple has a sub-$1,000 MacBook. Technically, anyway. The new and improved MacBook Air starts at $999, a drop from its old $1,099 base price. Notably, Apple also doubled the entry-level storage from 128GB to 256 gigaby... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/apple-macbook-air-review-2020/

Google and Microsoft have redesigned native form controls -- buttons and various input elements you see on web forms -- to look more harmonious and be more touch-friendly. They spent the past year working together to design a new theme and make built... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/google-microsoft-web-forms/

If you've already got a HTC Vive, you might be in two minds about forking out for the complete Cosmos Elite bundle. If you've got base stations and controllers already, why drop dollars on more? But HTC has you covered. In the coming weeks, it will b... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/htc-will-sell-its-cosmos-elite-headset-and-faceplate-tracker-sep/

An Amazon employee claims he was fired by the company after he led a protest against its coronavirus safety conditions. In an interview with Bloomberg, Chris Smalls, former assistant manager at Amazon's Staten Island fulfilment center, said that he a... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/amazon-sack-employee-coronavirus-protest-fired/

We may all be staying in a lot more to curb the spread of COVID-19, but that doesn't mean we're no longer working out. Whether you're doing HIIT or yoga sessions at home, or you're going for a solo run in a deserted forest, a fitness tracker can stil... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/fitbit-charge-4-gps-price-specs-availability/

For all their many strengths, Roku devices have not had the best voice control features. If that's important to you, your best bet has frequently been Amazon's Fire TV devices. However, with its latest software update, Roku is trying to change that w... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/roku-spanish-voice-support-update/

The classic 2003 Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy game recently arrived on PS4 and Switch, but console users excited to try it have encountered a formidable enemy. PC players have figured out how to cross-play on consoles, so they're invading onli... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/star-wars-jedi-academy-pc-user-carnage/

Airbnb is setting aside $250 million for hosts affected by the coronavirus pandemic and is also expanding its no-penalty cancellations even further. A couple of weeks ago, the company announced that all stays and Experiences with check-in dates betwe... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/airbnb-250-million-hosts-coronavirus-cancellations/

When Spotify first launched its standalone app for kids last October, the possibilities were intriguing. It meant that parents could play music their kids like without having it impact their algorithmically generated playlists and recommendations on... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/spotify-kids-app-us-canada-france-details-pricing-availability/

Snapchat is finally opening up Stories to outside apps. Nearly a year after it was first previewed, the company is introducing App Stories, a feature that allows third-party apps to post Stories created in the Snapchat app to their services. First a... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/snapchat-opens-app-stories-third-party-apps/

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous. For streaming services and games companies, we're all a captive audience at the moment. For Disney+, the newest challenger, it's an opportunity. With lots of kids at home, an almost infinite run of Disney, Pixar... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/mario-galaxy-cromebook/

Samsung Display will stop producing liquid crystal display (LCD) panels in China and South Korea at the end of the year in order to concentrate on the new generation of "quantum dot" (QD) screens, Reuters reports. Any LCD orders made before the end o... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/samsung-display-stop-producing-lcd-screens-2020/

Popular video-calling app Houseparty is offering a $1 million bounty to anyone that can prove the app has been a victim of reputational sabotage. The announcement, made by the company over Twitter, comes amid swiftly circulating rumors that the app h... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/houseparty-not-hacked-1-million-proof-smear-campaign/

Google is no longer selling its landmark Pixel 3 and 3 XL phones, the company confirmed with Android Police. If you enter the old Pixel 3 listing you'll get the home page instead and it no longer appears in the product carousel. Meanwhile, the carrie... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/google-stops-selling-pixel-3-3-xl/

Back in January, Lucid Motors announced that it's finally unveiling the production model of its electric sedan in April three years after it was first revealed. The company was supposed to launch the car next week at the New York Auto Show, but the e... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/lucid-motors-air-debut-delay/

A new UC San Francisco initiative will give you a way to help advance our understanding of the coronavirus pandemic, even if you're not a scientist or a medical professional. The COVID-19 Citizen Science project welcomes contributions from anyone ove... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/ucsf-app-citizen-science-covid-19/

If you're launching a new product, you normally want to put on a show with a sprinkling of razzle and plenty of dazzle. That means getting journalists and fans into a big room, trotting out your wares and letting everyone play with the new toys. Unfo... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/31/asics-meta-sneakers-vr-launch/

The NBA already has an official esports league with various teams represented, but with the live basketball season on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's reportedly about to put real NBA players on the sticks. Yahoo Sports reporter Chris Hay... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/nba-2k-players-only-tournament-espn/

AT&T is still expanding its offerings to keep people online during the COVID-19 outbreak. Between April 2nd and May 13t, it's adding an extra 15GB of mobile hotspot data to every line on unlimited plans that have a monthly tethering allowance.... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/att-mobile-hotspot-extra-15gb/

Building on the AI-generated Get Up! Mix the company unveiled last week, Apple is now adding a new section to Apple Music called Come Together that features a variety of playlists designed to help you get through long days stuck inside. In all, there... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/apple-music-come-together/

In the past few weeks, cities and states across the country have instructed people to stay home in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Going out for essentials like food is allowed, but that can be a risky proposition. Not only can grocery s... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/coronavirus-online-grocery-delivery/

Instacart hasn't had success trying to avert a strike over a lack of COVID-19 protections. The Gig Workers Collective has declared that a shopper strike is "still on" after asserting that Instacart's concessions were inadequate. A change that sets... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/instacart-workers-go-on-strike-despite-concessions/

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. and Nintendo could be set to mark the legacy of its flagship franchise in a major way. The company is reportedly working on several Mario games for this year, including remastered versions of... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/nintendo-switch-mario-games-remaster/

OnePlus hasn't been able to keep a lid on its 8 series phones -- numerous details and photos have leaked over the past week. According to the spec sheets, the company has put most of its focus on the Pro model, which will feature wireless charging an... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/oneplus-8-plus-livestream/

Microsoft wants you to think about its Office 365 subscription service in a whole new light. So on April 21st, the company is renaming the service to "Microsoft 365," as it adds more AI and cloud-powered tools to make you more productive. The pricing... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/microsoft-365-office-365-subscription/

With the latest 365 rollout, Microsoft has introduce a new mobile app designed to help parents keep track of their kids (and each other) both online and in real life. Microsoft Family Safety can not only watch your kids' screen time, but also share t... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/microsoft-family-safety-app-screen-time-locations/

Data shared by a whistleblower suggests Saudi Arabia may be using a weakness in mobile telecom networks to track its citizens in the US, The Guardian reports. The data shows that over a four-month period, Saudi Arabia's three biggest mobile phone com... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/saudi-telecoms-suspicious-mobile-data-requests/

It's generally still safe to go running outside even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thankfully there are good deals to be had if you need a soundtrack for those excursions. Best Buy has a one-day sale going for Jaybird's Run XT true wirel... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/jaybird-run-xt-best-buy-deal/

China, Huawei and Chinese carriers want to redesign a key aspect of the internet -- and while there may be some upsides, their ideas have raised some alarm bells. The Financial Times understands that the group has proposed a new internet protocol at... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/china-huawei-new-ip-proposal/

If the recent release of Warzone has you itching to play even more Call of Duty, you're in luck. According to VGC, Activision will release a remastered version of the franchise's 2009 entry, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, that will feature an update... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/modern-warfare-2-remastered-leak/

It was late one Sunday in September in Krakow, Poland, and Eric "Snip3down" Wrona was heated. He was a handful of points away from making the championship series of the Apex Legends Preseason Invitational and his only shot at progressing towards the... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/esports-game-breaking-bugs/

Acer is adding the option to choose Ryzen 4000 series processors to another of its laptops. After announcing the Swift 3 would get AMD chips back at CES, the company has announced that the Aspire 5 will also join the party. source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/acer-swift-3-aspire-5-laptop-ryzen-processors/

Facebook has already taken a number of measures to help the global effort against the spread of the coronavirus, most recently by opening up its Messenger platform to governments, and in announcing plans to invest $100 million in small businesses aro... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/facebook-pledges-100-million-to-support-journalism-during-coron/

Artificial intelligence (AI) can do astonishing things when given specific jobs, but it's terrible at understanding context -- something we've seen before in this series. Thanks to a new experiment inspired by The Great British Bakeoff (GBBO), we can... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/ai-transforms-the-great-british-bakeoff-into-a-horror-show/

It's been a long seven days of lockdown for some of us, and it looks like the situation won't change for a while. The US Food and Drug Administration is rushing to get a handle on testing people for the coronavirus, and former events venues are being... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/the-morning-after-fda-lab-in-a-box-covid-19/

When Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook arrived at CES 2020 with a beautiful body and 13.3-inch 4K OLED display, we were smitten. Now, it's finally set to arrive at Best Buy in the US on April 6th starting at $999 (in Fiesta Red or Mercury Gray), according... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/samsung-4k-oled-chromebook-april-6th/

HQ Trivia -- the once-popular mobile game that turned your random knowledge into a few bucks -- abruptly shut down earlier this year after an investment deal fell through. As such, players that still had the app on their phones were probably surprise... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/hq-trivia-makes-a-surprise-return/

Final Fantasy VII Remake is one of Square Enix's most-anticipated releases ever, and after already pushing the game's launch date back a month, it's run into another hiccup: disruption caused by the global coronavirus outbreak means that some players... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/square-enix-ship-final-fantasy-vii-remake-early/

Planet Computers is continuing to build very unique physical keyboard smartphones with the launch of its latest flagship, the crowdfunded Astro Slide. It's a phone with surprisingly robust specs, but the key trick is that it can be used either as a s... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/30/planet-computers-astro-slide-smartphone-pda/

As with Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager is unlikely to ever get an official high-resolution remaster. The effects were shot on video rather than added to film after the fact, making it much harder to upgrade the quality than it was for The Next... source https://www.engadget.com/2020/03/29/star-trek-voyager-4k-unofficial-ai-remaster/