NASA’s DART asteroid impact test left a trail over 6,000 miles long

NASA’s successful asteroid impact test created a beautiful mess, apparently. As the Associated Press reports, astronomers using the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) Telescope in Chile have captured an image revealing that DART’s collision with Dimorphos left a trail of dust and other debris measuring over 6,000 miles long. The spacecraft wasn’t solely responsible — rather, the Sun’s radiation pressure pushed the material away like it would with a comet’s tail.

The trail is only likely to get larger, according to the researchers. It should eventually stretch to the point where the dust stream is virtually unrecognizable from the usual particles floating in the Solar System. NASA didn’t create headaches for future probes and explorers. The space agency chose Dimorphos (a moonlet of the asteroid Didymos) as the deliberate crash wouldn’t pose a threat to Earth.

The capture was about more than obtaining a dramatic snapshot, of course. Scientists will use data collected using SOAR, the Astronomical Event Observatory Network and other observers to understand more about the collision and Dimorphos itself. They’ll determine the amount and speed of material ejected from the asteroid, and whether or not DART produced large debris chunks or ‘merely’ fine dust. Those will help understand how spacecraft can alter an asteroid’s orbit, and potentially improve Earth’s defenses against wayward cosmic rocks.

Mastercard wants to make crypto purchases less risky

Crypto is still loaded with uncertainty, but Mastercard is betting that it can assuage buyers’ minds. The credit card giant has introduced a Crypto Secure service meant to boost trust in crypto purchases. The offering uses AI from CipherTrace (a blockchain security firm Mastercard bought in 2021) to create a “risk profile” for digital asset providers and help card issuers decide whether or not to approve a transaction. Your bank might block a purchase if a merchant has significant fraud problems.

The system shows color-coded risk ratings that vary from green (safe) to red (dangerous). Mastercard also offers a “benchmark” rating to compare with a peer financial group, and helps issuers track the volume of approved and declined transactions. The company already uses a similar method for conventional currency — it’s just shifting the concept to the crypto realm.

The service might not thrill you if a seemingly innocuous crypto buy falls apart. As Mastercard’s Ajay Bhalla explains to CNBC, though, this is as much about helping companies as it is customers. Crypto Secure ideally helps card providers navigate the current regulatory maze for virtual assets. They shouldn’t run into trouble by approving a shady deal that leaves people stranded.

As it is, Mastercard has a vested interest in improving the reliability of crypto transactions. It started supporting some cryptocurrency payments in 2021, letting more retailers adopt the technology. The more trustworthy those payments are, the more Mastercard can profit from them. Regardless of the motivations, you might not mind if you find more places to spend your Bitcoin or Ethereum.

‘Dead Space’ remake trailer shows a twist on familiar gameplay

Motive and EA have finally shared a gameplay trailer for their long-expectedDead Space remake. To an extent, the clip shows what you’d expect. It’s a familiar retelling of Isaac Clarke’s horror-filled mission to the mining ship USG Ishimura, but with much-improved visuals and sounds that make better use of modern hardware. You’re still severing the limbs of Necromorphs and floating through zero-gravity segments, just with eerie volumetric lighting and more realistic, context-sensitive sounds.

It’s not quite a rehash, thankfully. Isaac is no longer silent like he was in the 2008 original, and there’s a better feel for a story that involves the battle for sanity and discovering the fate of Isaac’s girlfriend Nicole. To some extent, the remake is an opportunity to refine Dead Space rather than simply profiting from a well-known name.

The revived Dead Space will be released January 27th, 2023 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. While it isn’t a brand new game like fans might want, this preview suggests Motive is at least delivering what you’d expect from a remake: a modernization of graphics and gameplay that’s still true to the experience that drew people in the first time around.

CD Projekt Red is working on a ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ follow-up and several new Witcher games

CD Projekt Red may be much busier than you expect. The developer has shared a long-term roadmap that elaborates and expands on its plans. To start, a project codenamed “Orion” is effectively a sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 that will “further develop the potential” of the sci-fi franchise. It’s in development by CDPR’s teams in Boston and Vancouver.

And while it’s no secret that there’s a new Unreal Engine 5-based The Witcher game in the works (it entered pre-production this spring), it’s really just the start of a new trilogy. You might not have to wait long to see the story reach its conclusion, either. CDPR hopes to release all three games within a six-year span, with the first (codenamed “Polaris”) serving as a technology foundation for the remaining two.

Other titles include “Sirius,” a The Witcher spinoff with solo and multiplayer elements aimed at a “broader audience.” It’s developed by The Flame and the Flood studio The Molasses Flood. Another project, “Canis Majoris,” is a “full-fledged” Witcher universe game built by an outside developer using UE5. And no, CDPR won’t be stuck making Cyberpunk and Witcher games for all eternity. “Hadar” will be new, from-scratch universe. It’s still in the extremely early stages of development (conceptual work only began in 2021), so it’s likely years away.

Regardless of what you play, you should expect online gameplay to become a staple feature. In its roadmap presentation, CDPR said “most” of its new games will have a multiplayer component. The company was shy on what this will entail.

CDPR isn’t shy about the reasons for the expansion. The wider catalog and cooperation with outside developers will help it “reach new consumers” while maintaining three lasting franchises. If all goes well, a producer best known for rare, single player-focused releases will offer a steady stream of games that help it become more of a household name akin to Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft — in size, if hopefully not in quality.

The Matter smart home standard is finally available

After multiple delays, the Matter smart home standard has become a reality. The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has released the Matter 1.0 specification and launched a product certification program. Device makers are now clear to adopt the technology, which aims to eliminate the compatibility and connection headaches that sometimes plague existing hardware. You can hopefully focus more on using your connected home than setting it up, to put it another way.

The tech relies on a combination of WiFi, Bluetooth LE and Thread’s smart home-oriented mesh networking. Ideally, it offers a combination of fast, ubiquitous connections with a low-power, “self-healing” grid that becomes more reliable as it expands. Matter also promises tighter security, and will work with voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.

It may take a while for Matter devices to reach stores in earnest. However, many major tech companies are already backing the standard, including Amazon, Apple, Google, LG, Samsung (via SmartThings) and Signify (Philips Hue). Some will be quicker than others. Google has already announced a new Nest WiFi Pro router and revamped Home app that will support the technology from the outset.

The 1.0 spec isn’t guaranteed to solve all problems, even after several years of development. The CSA made clear this is an “initial release.” Nonetheless, it may take some of the pain out of shopping for smart home products like light bulbs and doorbells. Instead of buying into a specific ecosystem, you can make a reasonable assumption that any Matter-capable device will work — you can concentrate on buying what’s best for your needs.

The EU will require USB-C charging for mobile devices by the end of 2024

The European Parliament has voted to make USB-C the common charging standard in the EU. All mobile devices with up to 100W power delivery (including phones, tablets and earbuds) sold in the region will have to come with a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. Laptops will need to make the switch by spring 2026. Products that come to market before these deadlines won’t be affected.

The regulation is meant to reduce e-waste by letting people use existing chargers to power new devices. It’s also intended to eliminate technological “lock-in” that keeps users tied to one manufacturer’s proprietary formats. The vote similarly sets expectations for fast charging support — devices will offer at least the 18W from USB-C’s Power Delivery specification.

The EU has long called for a common charger, and helped whittle down the variety of connectors by pushing for standards like micro-USB. However, the Union claims that voluntary efforts didn’t lead to “concrete results” for users. That led to a formal legislative proposal in September last year.

It’s no secret that the requirement will primarily affect Apple, which has stuck to proprietary Lightning ports on iPhones and some other devices despite a broader industry move to USB-C. We’ve asked Apple for comment and will let you know if it responds, although it claimed in 2020 that the charger requirement would “stifle innovation.” This won’t limit sales of current Lightning-equipped products like the iPhone 14 lineup or second-gen AirPods Pro, but it will force the company to switch to USB-C in the future. Multiple rumors have suggested Apple is already testing USB-C iPhones that might arrive in 2023, and the entry-level iPad might use the port this fall.

There are concerns about the long-term impact of the measure. While Parliament rapporteur Alex Agius Saliba said the law would allow the development of future “innovative charging solutions,” companies would need to wait for EU approval before switching. The law also doesn’t cover hardware beyond 100W, so manufacturers won’t need to embrace USB-C 2.1 (with up to 240W of power delivery) for high-performance laptops. Even so, this move might be welcome if you don’t want to buy new chargers and cables just to switch to another mobile platform.

Google delivers the Pixel 4 and 4 XL’s last guaranteed update

If you’ve been holding on to a Pixel 4 for the past three years, you’ll have to get used to going without OS upgrades. Android Policenotes that, as planned, Google has released its last guaranteed software update for the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. They just include the usual round of minor bug fixes and security patches, but you can’t count on anything beyond this. While Google is known to provide one last update as a sendoff, it’s not clear when (or if) that’s coming.

Some Pixel 4 family members are still covered. The Pixel 4a is slated to receive regular version and security updates until August 2023, while the 4a 5G is safe until November that year. And you can rest easier if you’re a Pixel 6 owner. That device line is Google’s first to get five promised years of security updates, so it shouldn’t lose out before fall 2026.

Your Pixel 4 won’t immediately become obsolete, of course. Updates to Google Play Services and apps should keep the Android flagship useful for a while yet, and Google may rush out emergency patches for significant security flaws. Even so, you’ll want to consider a new phone if you insist on a consistent update stream. Google may not have timed this week’s Pixel 7 launch to catch device upgraders, but the debut is certainly convenient.

FCC will start kicking voice providers out of its robocall database

Telecoms slow to adopt anti-robocall measures could soon face stiff punishment in the US. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now plans to remove seven voice service providers from its Robocall Mitigation Database for failing to comply with required anti-spam efforts, such as implementing STIR/SHAKEN call authentication to prevent spoofing. The companies have 14 days to “show cause” why they shouldn’t be removed. If they don’t, all their customers will be blocked from making calls. Effectively, their voice businesses are finished.

The companies include Akabis, Cloud4, Global UC, Horizon Technology, Morse Communications, Sharon Telephone and SW Arkansas. In all cases, the companies failed to share their anti-robocall plans even after the FCC warned them about violations. The FCC noted that STIR/SHAKEN is necessary for any provider with an IP-based network, and those without IP still have to show that they’re mitigating illegal robocalls.

The FCC required that all carriers use STIR/SHAKEN by the end of June 2021. Major carriers like AT&T and Verizon (Engadget’s former owner) were quick to adopt the technology. Small providers received extensions, but only so long as they detailed how they’d limit robocalls.

Removals aren’t likely to significantly stem the tide of spam calls. However, the FCC’s move (along with a campaign from state attorneys general) could discourage telecoms that either skimp on anti-robocall defenses or knowingly profit from scammers and telemarketers.

Apple Music now has over 100 million songs

Apple Music just passed a symbolic milestone. Apple has revealed that its streaming music service now has 100 million songs. That’s a significant expansion from the 30 million upon launch in June 2015, and suggests that you’ll probably find the new tunes you want. The company also says it’s adding about 20,000 new tracks to the service every day.

The 100 million mark might give Apple Music an edge over rivals. As of this writing, main competitor Spotify claims it has “over 80 million tracks.” While that’s still a very healthy selection, it does imply you’ll have an easier time finding an indie darling or back catalog title on Apple’s platform than you might elsewhere.

The question, of course, is whether or not that advantage is enough to prompt a switch from another service. It’s not clear how many songs are exclusives, such as original DJ mixes and live sessions. We’ve asked Apple for more data. Those unique offerings might prove enticing if you can’t get enough of a favorite artist, but won’t necessarily sway you if you’re happy to listen to album cuts. If nothing else, the 100 million-song figure gives Apple bragging rights — it can tout a larger library that might reel in first-time streamers worried about finding a favorite record.

Apple no longer activates its proprietary SIM cards for iPads with cellular data

You may need to perform some extra legwork to connect an earlier iPad to cell networks. MacRumors has learned the company stopped activations for the Apple SIM in certain iPads as of October 1st. If you’re affected, you’ll have to either contact your carrier (and likely obtain a SIM card) or use an eSIM in newer tablets. This won’t affect you if cell service is already enabled.

Apple included a conventional SIM with cellular versions of the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, 5th- and 6th-generation base iPads and the original 12.9-inch iPad Pro. An embedded version of the card was included with 9.7-inch, 10.5-inch and second-gen 12.9-inch iPad Pros. All iPads released from fall 2018 onward support eSIMs.

This decision is part of a broader trend. Apple has been shifting toward eSIMs in recent years, and went so far as to kill the SIM tray in US versions of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. The technology saves the cost and space of including a physical slot, and is more broadly supported than Apple SIM. Still, this could be a hassle if you planned to use cellular data on an older iPad and didn’t set up the SIM until