Polestar has announced its latest over-the-air upgrade for the Polestar 2 EV, and it includes an integrated YouTube app right on the home screen. Volvo, a part-owner of Polestar, first mentioned its plan to make YouTube available for its infotainment in 2022 though it was through the Play Store. While you don't want to be watching YouTube videos as you cruise down the road (or play video games, Tesla), Polestar specifically denotes it as a way to entertain yourself while the car charges. Yes, the update is solely so you can amuse yourself while sitting in the stationary car, but sure, when you drop a minimum of $40,000 to $50,000 on an EV, why shouldn't it provide entertainment while juicing up? There are also some new features for when you hit the road, including Apple CarPlay's expanded information about calls or media on the home screen. Plus, you can control calls through the steering wheel (as you can in most cars) and, more uniquely, see calls and Apple Maps right on the driver display. The last bit of Polestar 2's updates focus the Range Assistant app, with a major upgrade giving you more control over your energy efficiency, with consumption monitoring extended beyond 20, 40, or 100 miles. The update also factors environmental changes and related variables into your projected range with real-time information available right on the driver display. Previously, this figure was a default range projection rather than one specific to you. The P2.9 over-the-air update has begun rolling out, so keep an eye out for when it reaches your EV.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/polestar-2-update-adds-youtube-integration-and-new-carplay-features-115027133.html?src=rss
Apples big developer conference kicks off June 5th, and all the signs point to the companys mixed reality headset making its first appearance. The tech giant has been acquiring headset-friendly startups for years, and if the rumors are true, Apples stand-alone device (possibly called Reality Pro) may be more powerful than the Meta Quest Pro and many other high-end headsets. It could pack 4K resolution per eye, with full body-motion tracking. It may require an external battery pack and last for just two hours on a charge, but it would be relatively light and slim.It will also likely land with a new platform (maybe called xrOS) designed with mixed reality in mind. Instead of controllers, youd use hand gestures, gaze detection and voice commands to navigate. It sounds like Apple is approaching the cutting-edge of mixed reality, but that comes at a cost: Rumors suggest this first model could cost around $3,000. Thats three times the price of Metas Quest Pro.Were also expecting to see a new 15-inch addition to the MacBook Air series with M2 power, as well as the first look at iOS 17 and MacOS 14. Were heading to the conference to report on everything next week. Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedYou can watch the entire first season of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds for free on YouTubeThe best Father's Day tech gift ideasLogitech MX Anywhere 3s hands-on: An almost ideal travel mouse Google has officially stopped supporting the first-gen Chromecast The best iPads for 2023 The Morning After isnt just a newsletter its also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.Range Rovers next luxury add-on is a car seat that vibrates to music90s technology, now.Land RoverThe company's new Range Rover Sport SV Edition One includes Subpac-powered Body and Soul Seat tech (appropriately, BASS), with headrest-mounted membranes and transducers that deliver haptic feedback in response to lower frequencies in your music. Why not just make an integrated massage chair?Jaguar Land Rover and Subpac claim the vibrations can improve your health through six wellness programs. The companies point to a JLR-supported study indicating that BASS can help you relax and reduce stress by increasing the variability of your heart rate.Continue reading. Riot threatens to cancel a 'League of Legends' esports season after a player revoltPros voted 'overwhelmingly' for a walkout to protest changes to the minor leagues.GettyThe pro League of Legends scene has been upended after players voted "overwhelmingly" in favor of a walkout to protest changes Riot has made to the minor leagues, marking one of the first major instances of collective action in esports. Now, the publisher has threatened to cancel the summer season of the League Championship Series (LCS), which would prevent North American teams from qualifying for the LoL World Championship. Riot has delayed the season by two weeks to resolve issues with players and the LCS Players Association (LCSPA), the group that represents them.Continue reading.Watch the new trailer for Black MirrorThe new season stars Aaron Paul, Annie Murphy and just about everyone else.Netflix has set a June 15th premiere date for the sixth season of sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror. This latest season has been in the works for at least a year, and creator Charlie Brooker has stated it will tackle sci-fi tropes the series had previously avoided, calling it the most unpredictable season yet.Continue reading.Garmin reveals high-end smartwatches for explorers with deep pocketsThere are AMOLED displays and improved weather mapping.Garmin has just announced a pair of new high-end smartwatches intended for explorers and extreme fitness enthusiasts. The Epix Pro series packs a bright, crisp AMOLED display and dozens of new preloaded activities, like soccer, basketball, horseback riding, racquet sports. The Fenix 7 Pro series is for serious explorers, with solar charging, a powerful LED flashlight, mapping upgrades and a red safety light. The heart rate sensor also got a significant boost, with new optical sensors and sport-specific algorithms that track your pulse rate across activities.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadgetcom/the-morning-after-what-to-expect-from-apples-wwdc-2023-111535949.html?src=rss
It seems that guitar amp companies making Bluetooth speakers could be the new thing. UK-based Orange Amps has just launched a duo of Bluetooth speakers called the Box and Box-L. The first is a battery-powered portable model, while the latter is a wired option thats more of a homebody. Both echo the design of this iconic brands guitar amplifier and speaker series, using the same colors, logo and control panel style. The specs hint at decent stereo sound in the $300-$350 price range with Bluetooth 5.0, aptX support, a Class D amp for the subwoofer and Class AB analog amplifiers to help the full-range drivers produce a warmer sound. There are some deviations from what you'd expect, however, like the absence of USB charging, a front-facing only design and pending answers about its IP rating, if any.The Orange Box is the slightly smaller of the two models at 11 x 6.9 x 6.7-inches and 6.6 pounds with a vegan-leather carrying strap. You can choose between the classic orange exterior or a black version and it's priced at $299 (275). Theres a 4-inch subwoofer powered by a 30W Class D amp and a pair of 2-inch full-range drivers powered by dual 10W Class AB analog amplifiers for a warmer sound.The Orange Box portable Bluetooth speaker.Orange AmpsThe specs for the battery-powered Box list a charging time of three hours until full and a runtime of 15 or more hours. It also lists a 2,600mAh li-ion battery, so were interested in a real world test. Theres no USB port, so youre stuck with the DC19.5V charging cable that comes in the box.The wired model is called the Box-L and its slightly larger at 13.8 x 7.9 x 7.9-inches and 9.6 pounds. Its also available in orange or black and priced at $345 (315). As mentioned, theres no onboard battery, so its more of a sedentary beast. You can expect a slightly beefier sound, however, with a larger 5-inch subwoofer powered by the Class D amp and two 2-inch full-range drivers powered by dual 10W analog Class AB versions.The Orange Amps Box-L wired Bluetooth speaker.Orange AmpsBoth models have a 50W RMS output and a frequency range of 35Hz - 20kHz, so we expect theyll probably have a decent amount of bass. They also support Qualcomm aptX for high resolution audio, alongside AAC and SBC.The general physical design is the same for both the Box and Box-L. At the top you get a control panel with knobs and switches, much like those found on the brands line of guitar amps. Theres a power toggle, battery indicator light, knobs for bass, treble and volume adjustment, as well as a 3.5mm aux input. In addition, theres a Bluetooth pairing button that does double duty as a play/pause control and a small audio limiter light to let you know if you're driving the system too hard. The company claims to support the right to repair and will offer replacement parts in case you just cant help yourself from pushing the speaker too hard and break something.Both models are available today in the USA, UK and the rest of the world at the Orange Amps website as well as Amazon. Although, in Australia you may have to stick with ordering through either Amazon or the companys regional distributor Australis Music Group. The portable Orange Box is priced at $299 (275) and the wired Orange Box-L is $345 (315).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/orange-amps-offers-analog-warmth-with-its-first-line-of-bluetooth-speakers-110058439.html?src=rss
Fiat already has its own cute EV in the 500 series, but it has now gone even tinier in its latest urban mobility push. The company unveiled the Topolino, essentially a rebadged version of the Citroen Ami with a redesigned front end, brown cloth retractable roof, open sides and cream leather seats. The Topolino shares Ami's drivetrain (both Citroen and Fiat are under the Stellantis umbrella) and looks nigh-on identical, apart from the aforementioned tweaks. It has a 5.5kWh battery that delivers a 47 mile range, and it'll hit a top speed of 28MPH. Fiat didn't share any interior images, but the only tech inside an Ami is a charging port and phone holder. Like the Ami, the Topolino is technically a "quadricycle" and not a car, meaning it can be driven in cities without the need for a driver's license. Fiat said it wants to "make young people fall in love with cars again," while promoting sustainability along with "joy, optimism and fun." Fiat's wording in the press release suggests that the car will be used to promote its sustainability and mobility aims (the words "sustainable" and "mobility" are used no less than 20 times). "The new Fiat Topolino will play a socially active role in promoting electric mobility in cities and a special role in creating a personal mobility solution for the entire family," Fiat wrote, adding it fits in with "Fiats democratic mission of providing urban sustainable mobility solutions which are accessible to everyone." Stellantis has set a goal for 100 percent of passenger car sales to be BEVs by 2030, and that date is coming down the pike pretty quickly. Like other automakers, it hasn't showed much in terms of urban mobility options apart from a few tiny EVs. There's no word on pricing, but the Ami can be leased for 25 euros per month with a 3,850 euro down payment. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fiats-topolino-ev-is-an-italian-twist-on-the-citroen-ami-101849140.html?src=rss
Apple is expected to launch a collection of new products at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in a few days, and two of them might be new Mac desktop computers. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the tech giant has been testing a couple of high-end Macs powered by its new M2 Max processor and the M2 Ultra chip that the company has yet to announce.If you'll recall, Apple debuted the M2 Max on its 14- and 16 MacBook Pro laptops, as well as its Mac mini computer earlier this year. The desktop PC with the chip will reportedly have 8 high-performance cores, 4 efficiency cores and 30 graphics cores. It will also have 96 GB of RAM and will run macOS 13.4, the company's latest software for computers, out of the box. Meanwhile, the unannounced M2 Ultra chip is supposed to be the more powerful option between the two, with twice as many processing cores. Specifically, the chip is expected to have 16 high-performance, 8 efficiency and 60 graphics cores, though Bloomberg says the company will offer a more powerful version with 76 graphics cores. Apple is even reportedly testing the computer with M2 Ultra in configurations with 64GB, 128GB and 192GB of memory. Gurman also says that the M2 Ultra was originally designed for future versions of the Mac Pro, which still uses Intel processors. But the Mac Pros are testing at the momentare codenamed Mac 14,8, while the new high-end desktops with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips are codenamed Mac 14,13 and Mac 14,14. Presumably, that means they're a different desktop PCs altogether, perhaps new models of the Mac Studio that's currently powered by the M1 Max or the M1 Ultra. In addition to high-end desktop computers, Apple might also launch new laptops at WWDC. Some possibilities include a 15-inch MacBook Air that could be powered by a processor "on par" with the tech giant's current-gen M2 chip, as well as a more affordable version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-reportedly-testing-high-end-mac-pcs-powered-by-its-new-m2-chips-094545719.html?src=rss
Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest tennis players of all time, but also certified polyglot (he's also on a Swiss coin, was voted most stylish man of the decade and was the best paid athlete in 2020, in case you were feeling good about yourself). Thanks to those skills, he's the first celebrity voice on Waze to give directions in no less than three languages (French, German and English), Google announced. Federer joins a host of personalities including Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Kevin Hart and others who've loaned their voices to Waze. On top of supplying turn-by-turn directions, Federer helps get you pumped up for your commute. "It's drive time I can feel the adrenaline kick in already," he says in one recording. "Time to ride! Trust your ability. I'm ready to coach you along the way," he declares in another. He even has some words of encouragement if you screw up: "Make a U-Turn. Hey, even champions can mess up." While Google continues to add well-known voices to Waze, Amazon is doing the opposite. Earlier this week, the company announced that it was ditching Alexa's celebrity voices and would issue refunds upon request. The feature, which originally cost $1 before being boosted to $5, offered voices including Shaquille ONeal, Melissa McCarthy and Samuel L. Jackson. In any case, judging by the responses to Waze's tweet, Federer fans are more than excited to be guided by that famous, lightly accented voice perfect for a European road trip. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roger-federer-can-now-guide-you-on-waze-in-three-languages-084508577.html?src=rss
Faraday Future has officially launched its long delayedFF 91 electric vehicles, including a limited edition called the Futurist Alliance that carries a pretty hefty price tag of $309,000. As Autoblog notes, that's even more expensive than the $249,000 Lucid Air Sapphire, a "ultra-high-performance" EV with similar specs. The company's FF 91 2.0 Futurist model will sell for the same price as the Air Sapphire at $249,000, while the base FF 91 2.0, which is expected to be the most affordable of the three, doesn't have pricing yet. Both the FF91 2.0 Futurist Alliance and Futurist models are powered by three electric motors and can go from 0 to 60mph in 2.27 seconds. The 1050 horsepower vehicles can go as fast as 155 mph, and their 142kWh battery can sustain a range of approximately 381 miles shorter than the range of a Tesla Model S but longer than a Model Y's. They both have the same "zero gravity" seats that have a large recline angle for comfort, as well as 27-inch rear passenger displays. However, the automaker will only produce 300 Futurist Alliance EVs, which will feature an exclusive wheel design and will be available in bright silver, matte silver and matte black. Futurist Alliance owners will also receive exclusive professional track-time training and an Apple Watch loaded with the automaker's vehicle control features. Plus, the first 91 owners will get a high-speed internet satellite communications suite included with their purchase. In addition to announcing the two models' prices, Faraday Future has also launched the FF aiHypercar+, a "mobility ecosystem product" with a rather vague description at the moment. According to Autoblog, the subscription service will give customers access to some kind of AI assistant personalization and vehicle maintenance. It will cost the first 2,000 users in US and China an eye-watering $14,900 a year, so everyone else will have to be prepared to pay more than that. Preorders for the FF91 2.0 Futurist Alliance and Futurist models are now open to interested buyers in the US and China for a deposit of $5,000 and $1,500, respectively. They don't have a delivery date yet, but Faraday Future says its three-phase delivery plan started on May 31st. The company will hold an event for a group of customers it's calling "Industry Expert FPO(s)" on June 6th, after which they'll get the chance to pay for and get the first delivery units. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/faraday-futures-ff-91-electric-vehicles-will-cost-as-much-as-309000-053144006.html?src=rss
Instagram is, once again, trying to explain how its recommendations work in an attempt to dispel misconceptions about how the apps algorithm works and whether or not the company engages in shadowbanning of certain creators. In a new blog post from Instagrams top exec Adam Mosseri, he offers one of the most detailed explanations to date on how the app ranks content in various parts of the app.Instagram doesnt have a singular algorithm that oversees what people do and dont see on the app, Mosseri explains. Instead, he says, there are multiple algorithms and ranking systems underpinning different aspects of the app, like Explore, Reels, Stories and search. Each of these uses a variety of signals to determine how content is ranked for each user.For example, the order of posts in your main feed is determined by your past activity, as well as previous interactions with the person who made each post. Likewise, Stories posts take into account viewing history as well as closeness, or how likely you are to be connected as friends or family. On the other hand, recommendations in Explore are largely based posts youve liked, saved, shared and commented on in the past, but are more likely to come from accounts youve never interacted with.One of the more interesting sections of Mosseri's blog post is titled addressing shadowbanning. Mosseri notes that there isnt a universal definition for the word, but acknowledges that many creators use the term to imply that a users account or content is limited or hidden without a clear explanation or justification. And he says that the company is working to increase transparency around when creators content or accounts are blocked from the apps recommendations.Specifically, he calls out the apps account status feature, which can alert users if one of their posts or their account is considered ineligible for recommendations. The feature also offers an appeals process. While its not the first time Instagram has addressed the issue, which has been the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories over the years, there has been a notable shift in the way the company is talking about shadowbanning.In a similar post from two years ago, Mosseri wrote that the truth is most of your followers wont see what you share, because most look at less than half of their Feed. Now, he says Instagram is working on increasing transparency in cases when a creators content isnt widely distributed due to a policy violation. If anything makes your content less visible, you should know about it and be able to appeal, he wrote.He added that Instagram is testing new notifications to help creators understand when the reach of their reel may be limited due to a watermark (the company has tried to discourage users from posting recycled TikToks to Reels for years).While some creators may still find these explanations unsatisfying and there are more than a few who fall into that camp, judging by the comments on Mosseris own Instagram post the new details underscore just how central algorithmic recommendations are becoming to Instagram. While the app re-introduced an optional chronological feed, Mark Zuckerberg has said his goal is to transform Instagram and Facebook into a discovery engine more focused on recommendations than posts from friends.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-explains-its-recommendations-and-shadowbanning-234716911.html?src=rss
Reddits recently-announced plan to charge for API access could price out the developer of one of the most popular third-party Reddit apps. The developer of Reddit client Apollo is raising the alarm on the new API pricing, saying the changes would require him to spend millions of dollars to keep his app going in its current form.Reddit announced sweeping changes to its API rules last month, citing the rise of AI companies using their platform to train large language models. The Reddit corpus of data is really valuable, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman told The New York Times. But we dont need to give all of that value to some of the largest companies in the world for free.But it now seems that independent app makers will also be subject to the pricier new plans, which are set to take effect June 19th. While Reddit hasnt officially disclosed its API pricing, Christian Selig, Apollos sole developer, says he would have to pay $20 million to keep his app going as-is under the new policies.50 million requests costs $12,000, a figure far more than I ever could have imagined, he wrote in a post on Reddit, citing multiple conversations hes had with Reddit representatives about the upcoming API changes. Apollo made 7 billion requests last month, which would put it at about 1.7 million dollars per month, or 20 million US dollars per year.That pricing leaves Selig and Apollo, which has been widely praised for its design details and for providing functionality beyond Reddits native app, in a tough position. While the app does offer subscriptions, its current revenue isnt enough to cover the steep API cost. He says that the average user makes about 344 API calls a day, which would require him to raise subscription prices to at least $2.50 a month (currently, he says, most subscribers pay $0.99 a month). Furthermore, that wouldnt account for Apollos power users, who use the app at much higher rates, or the apps free users. Even keeping the existing, subscription only users I would be SUBSTANTIALLY in the red each month, Selig tells Engadget.In a statement, a Reddit spokesperson said that Selig was provided pricing per 1,000 API calls, not a monthly bill, but declined to share details. Our pricing is based on usage levels that we measure to be as equitable as possible, the spokesperson said. Weve been, and will continue, to work with third-party apps to help them improve efficiency, which can significantly impact overall cost.If all of this sounds oddly familiar, there are striking similarities between Reddits new developer rules and the drastic changes Twitter has made to its API policies under Elon Musk. In Twitters case, the company decided to ban third-party client apps while simultaneously making its API extraordinarily expensive for the researchers and businesses that previously depended on higher levels of access to Twitter data.Of note, Reddit hasnt been as outwardly hostile to developers. Selig notes that hes had multiple calls with Reddit and that reps hes spoken to have been communicative and civil about the changes. And a Reddit spokesperson suggested the company wants to keep third-party apps around.Were committed to fostering a developer ecosystem around Reddit developers and third-party apps can make Reddit better, the spokesperson said. Our Data API has powered thousands of applications, such as tools to make moderation easier, and utilities that help users stay up to date on their favorite topics, and games. Developers are incredibly valuable to the Reddit ecosystem, so much so that we recently updated our Developer Platform.Still, Selig said hes uncertain about how he will handle the changes. I hope it goes without saying that I don't have that kind of money, he shared on Reddit. This is going to require some thinking.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/reddit-app-developer-says-the-sites-new-api-rules-will-cost-him-20-million-a-year-203911487.html?src=rss
