來到了 10 月，Logitech 官方網店上推出了秋季優惠，於 9 月 30 日至 10 月 16 日期間，部份產品可享有低至 6 折的優惠，當中最新推出的 G502 X 系列亦有在特賣中登場，想體驗這款升級版的經典滑鼠便千萬不能錯過！…
Facebook 新增自選貼文優先度的功能，自定看到更多來自親朋、群組還是專頁的消息
Facebook 將會加入自定的貼文優先度功能，讓用戶可以選擇更多看到來自親朋、群組或是專頁的消息，並藉此「使得 FB 的 AI 系統可以更聰明、反應更好」的推送內容。
Google 以 8,500 萬美元和解亞利桑那州的非法追蹤 Android 用戶位置一案
Google 於 2020 年時被美國亞利桑那州 Arizona 的檢察長 Mark Brnovich 以非法使用 Android 裝置用戶的位置資訊來下廣告，即使在是關掉功能也仍然持續追蹤。事隔一年多，據 Bloomberg 的報導終於要以 8,500 萬美元來和解。…
Apple iPhone 14 Plus review: It’s an iPhone, but bigger
Every year Apple has a surprise or two in store for its device lineup, and for 2022 one of those twists is the iPhone 14 Plus. That’s because instead of continuing to make a mini version of the basic iPhone, Apple has finally created a more affordable big-screen option starting at $899 for anyone who doesn’t need or want to shell out for a $1,099 iPhone 14 Pro Max.
That said, we’ve already taken a big look at the vanilla iPhone 14. So in lieu of rehashing what is essentially the same phone but with a bigger display, this review is going to focus on the most important components along with what’s different on this year’s new Plus model.
The basics
Packing a 6.7-inch OLED screen with a 2778 x 1284 resolution, the iPhone 14 Plus is the same size as the Pro Max, but with a much lighter body (203 grams vs 240 grams). In fact, due to things like its triple rear cameras and heavy stainless steel frame, the iPhone 14 Pro actually weighs a tiny bit more (206 grams) than the 14 Plus, despite having a significantly smaller screen.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The iPhone 14 Plus has the same basic features as the standard iPhone 14. You get a more playful selection of colors (blue, purple, midnight, starlight and red) than the Pro line, but lose out on some more sophisticated tech such as Apple’s Dynamic Island, the new A16 Bionic chip or a dedicated telephoto camera. Instead, you get an A15 Bionic processor (the same as last year’s models), just two rear cameras (including the 12MP main sensor from the iPhone 13 Pro), and a new 12MP TrueDepth selfie cam in front.
The phone still feels premium though, and has more than enough performance to handle anything you can throw at it. And as another perk for all the butterfingered folk out there, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have a new mid-frame that makes it easier to replace front and back glass panels in the event of an accident.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Just don’t try to carry over the physical SIM card from your previous phone, because like the rest of the iPhone 14 line, the Plus only works with eSIMs. This change shouldn’t be a huge deal because Apple has supported eSIMs on its phone for years. But for those who haven’t made the switch, just remember to save time to contact your carrier in order to convert your physical card into a virtual one.
Display
The most obvious advantage of the iPhone 14 Plus’ increased dimensions is its ability to fit a bigger screen, and over the course of about a week, using it has been a delight. When displaying HDR content, Apple says peak brightness can go as high as 1,200 nits. Meanwhile, using a light meter, I found that our review unit actually exceeded its claimed typical brightness of 800 nits, hitting just shy of 825 nits. And because it’s an OLED panel, you get superb contrast and bright colors.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Honestly, every now and then I find myself pleasantly surprised that a phone with a screen this big and vibrant is as light as it is. That weight reduction makes it just a little bit easier to hold than the Pro Max or similar big-screen phones while watching movies. The one downside to that is because the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still feature 60Hz panels, display aficionados may more easily notice that fast action or UI animations don’t look quite as smooth as they might on an iPhone or iPad with a 120Hz ProMotion screen.
Battery life
The other big upgrade on the iPhone 14 Plus over the standard model is battery life, which is simply awesome. A lot of device makers talk about making handsets that can last multiple days, but in my experience, the iPhone 14 Plus is one of the few that actually delivers. Even with me going through standard setup, running a slate of benchmarks, watching a handful of YouTube videos and plowing through a bunch of levels in Ustwo’s charming tactics game Desta, I still finished the day with more than 45 percent juice left. That meant even with moderate use, I didn’t have to worry about recharging until going to sleep the following night.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
And while I’m primarily an Android user, I also want to commend the excellent standby times you get with iPhones. Typically I’m used to phones losing between three and five percent battery overnight, but on the iPhone 14 Plus, I’m looking at one, maybe two percent. I know that doesn’t sound like a ton, but it really goes to show how efficient Apple’s handsets are. And in our standard video rundown test, the iPhone 14 Plus lasted a whopping 21 hours and 17 minutes, which is the second longest time we’ve seen from any phone this year, only behind the OnePlus 10T’s mark of 22:59.
Cameras
Unlike the Pro line, the iPhone 14 Plus only gets two rear cameras: a 12MP primary shooter and a 12MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view. In daytime shots, the iPhone captured rich, punchy colors and lots of detail that doesn’t leave much room for critique. However, if I’m really nitpicking, I did notice that when compared to the Pixel 6 Pro, the iPhone 14 Plus occasionally overexposed some shots, which resulted in slightly more washed-out colors and a bit less dynamic range.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Meanwhile in low light, the iPhone 14 Plus almost matched the performance of Google’s Night Sight mode on the Pixel 6 Pro, capturing bright images with good detail. In one shot at night of Grogu (aka baby Yoda), the iPhone 14 Plus captured a lovely golden glow from nearby lights. Unfortunately, that effect was somewhat exaggerated as evidenced by the Pixel 6 Pro’s image, which looks more balanced while also featuring slightly sharper details on Grogu’s robe and the plants in back.
I think the biggest upgrade to the iPhone 14 Plus’ general photo experience, though, is the Photonic Engine. Low light photo processing is up to two and a half times faster, which means there’s less waiting around between shots, and more importantly, there’s also a smaller chance you’ll miss out on capturing that magic moment.
Apple’s improved camera experience carries over to the iPhone 14’s 12MP front-facing camera as well. That’s because thanks to the addition of a true autofocus system (instead of a fixed focus distance like on a lot of other phones), you can take sharper selfies with way less effort. And for someone like me who doesn’t have a tried-and-tested selfie-taking posture like our resident selfie queen Cherlynn Low does, this makes it a lot easier to grab a decent looking shot when I do.
Wrap-up
Now I know that the addition of a slightly larger basic iPhone to the line is far from a game changer. But, the introduction of the iPhone 14 Plus really fleshes out the lineup. Previously, if you wanted an iPhone with a big screen, you had no choice but to shell out for the Pro Max model, which costs over $1,000. But with the 14 Plus, you can get the same size screen without having to pay for fancy features you might not want or need. As a bonus, its thermal management is even better than the standard model, so you almost never have to worry about getting sweaty hands.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
I’m still a little bummed that it seems like the Mini line had to die to make way for the Plus, because then the iPhone family would have a truly great range of sizes and prices. I should also point out that Google offers a similarly sized screen and a dedicated telephoto lens for the same price in the Pixel 6 Pro (and soon, the Pixel 7 Pro, probably). But I know asking longtime Apple users to switch OSes is pointless. So for all the iPhone fans who just want a familiar device with a bigger screen and outstanding battery life, well then you’re in luck because the 14 Plus is your new champion.
Uber’s ex-security chief was found guilty of covering up a major data breach in 2016
Joseph Sullivan, who used to serve as Uber’s security chief, was convicted of federal charges for hiding a 2016 data breach from authorities. According to The New York Times, a jury in a San Francisco federal court has found Sullivan guilty of obstructing the FTC’s ongoing investigation into Uber at the time for another breach that occurred in 2014. He was also found guilty of actively hiding a felony from authorities. Sullivan’s case, believed to be the first time an executive has faced criminal charges over a hack, revolves around how the former executive dealt with the bad actors who infiltrated Uber’s Amazon server and demanded $100,000 from the company.
The hackers got in touch with Uber shortly after Sullivan sat for a deposition with the FTC for its investigation of the 2014 cybersecurity incident. They told him they found a security vulnerability that allowed them to download the personal data of 600,000 drivers and additional information linked to 57 million drivers and passengers. As The Washington Post reports, it was revealed later on that the hackers found a digital key that they used to get into Uber’s Amazon account. There, they found an unencrypted backup collection of personal data on passengers and drivers.
Sullivan pointed them to the company’s bug bounty program, which had a max payout of $10,000. The hackers wanted at least $100,000, however, and threatened to release the data they’d stolen if Uber didn’t pay up. The former security chief paid them the amount they demanded in bitcoin and made it appear as if they’d been paid under the bug bounty program — an action reportedly sanction by then Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick. He also tracked them down and made them sign nondisclosure agreements.
The former executive’s camp argued that Sullivan felt Uber’s user data was protected after the hackers signed an NDA. “Mr. Sullivan believed that their customers’ data was safe and that this was not some incident that needed to be reported. There was no coverup and there was no obstruction,” his lawyer David Angeli said. But prosecutors disagreed and viewed his use of NDAs as a way to cover up the incident. Further, they stressed that the incident shouldn’t have been qualified for a payout under the bug bounty program, which is meant to reward friendly security researchers, when the bad actors threatened to release users’ personal information if they didn’t get paid the amount they wanted.
In the end, the jury agreed with the prosecutors that Sullivan should have notified the FTC about the data breach. It wasn’t until Dara Khosrowshahi took over as CEO that the FTC was informed of the event. A sentence hasn’t been handed down yet, but Sullivan now faces five years in prison for obstruction and up to three more years for failing to report a felony.
Tesla 將逐漸在新車上去除超音波感應器，未來車輛感知會徹底依賴視覺系統
Tesla 將逐漸在新車上去除超音波感應器，未來車輛感知會徹底依賴純視覺系統。
PS5 版的 Disney+ app 終於支援 4K 與 HDR 了
Disney 宣佈，PlayStation 5 版本的 Disney+ app 現在終於能輸出 4K 及 HDR10 的串流，在安裝後，就能以 4K 解析度和 Marvel 和 Star Wars 系列的電影和電視劇了。
Google will pay Arizona $85 million over illegally tracking Android users
Google will pay Arizona $85 million to settle a 2020 lawsuit, which claimed that the search giant was illegally tracking Android users, Bloomberg reports. At the time, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich argued that Google continued to track users for targeted advertising, even after they turned off location data settings. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Google is also being sued by attorneys general in Texas, Washington, D.C., and Indiana over similar data tracking complaints. Brnovich’s office also notes that the $85 million settlement is the largest amount Google has paid per user in a privacy lawsuit like this.
But given that Google is currently seeing quarterly revenue over $69 billion, the punishment may seem like a drop in the bucket. It’s nothing compared to the $1.7 billion Google was fined by the EU over abusive advertising practices. In a statement, Google spokesman José Castañeda said the suit was related to older product policies that have been changed. “We provide straightforward controls and auto delete options for location data, and are always working to minimize the data we collect,” he said. “We are pleased to have this matter resolved and will continue to focus our attention on providing useful products for our users.”
Brnovich, meanwhile, says he’s “proud of this historic settlement that proves no entity, not even big tech companies, is above the law.”
The Internet Archive is building a library of amateur radio broadcasts
The Internet Archive is aiming to build up a new library of old content. It’s expanding beyond Flash games and animations, movies, books and (of course) snapshots of websites with the Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications (DLARC). This particular archive, which will be led by tech historian Kay Savetz, will include amateur radio broadcasts and digital material from the early days of the internet.
Savetz told Gizmodo that his remit includes just about any kind of digital communications from the 1970s until the early 1990s. While the preservation project focuses on amateur radio recordings, it may also feature early podcasts, digital newsletters, photos, videos and, yes, websites. There are plans to digitize print materials as well. “I want the obscure stuff, the locally-produced ham radio newsletters or the smaller magazines, that sort of thing,” Savetz said.
The DLARC team, which has funding from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications Foundation, is looking for help to build out the collection. It’s seeking “partners and contributors with troves of ham radio, amateur radio, and early digital communications-related books, magazines, documents, catalogs, manuals, videos, software, personal archives and other historical records collections, no matter how big or small.” It added that every collection in the library will be accessible to everyone. The project will also offer a discovery portal designed for education and research use cases.
Teenage Engineering and Love Hulten designed a drum machine ‘with heart disease’
Teenage Engineering’s latest drum machine probably isn’t one that you’re going to use to add percussion to your next piece. The company teamed up with designer Love Hulten to create CHD-4 in the aim of raising awareness about congenital heart disease.
The drum machine has four modules that produce rhythms based on the echocardiogram (ECG) scans of four children with heart defects. The scan results revealed the shape, pace and BPM of their heartbeats, Teenage Engineering said. It added the data to a four-track circular sequencer. The patterns can be played together or individually in order to create sounds that exemplify “each child’s irregular heartbeat.” A video gives a sense of the kinds of haunting soundscapes the machine can create:
“Drum machines are defined by order – beats, pace, and rhythm,” Hulten said. “This machine disrupts that system, the same way life is disrupted when a child is born with congenital heart disease.” The machine also has an OLED screen that depicts the audio and beat in a similar fashion to a proper ECG machine.
It’s an art project, no doubt, but it’s a fascinating one that’s raising awareness of an important issue. If you’re lucky, and have deep enough pockets, you might be able to add CHD–4 to your collection. It will be auctioned on Valentine’s Day (February 14th), with all proceeds going to the Swedish Heartchild Foundation.
Teenage Engineering/Love Hulten