Confirming rumors, Google has unveiled the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) device that offers features from the $50 4K model at a significantly cheaper $30 price. Unlike the original $35 Chromecast, it comes with a remote control that eliminates the need for a smartphone, though you can control it with a mobile device as well. The other key feature is right there in the name — lower 1080p resolution, albeit with HDR support.
The new device looks nigh-on identical to the 4K model, with an oval shape, short HDMI cable and a USB-C input. As before, it comes with all the popular streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Prime Video, YouTube and others. It supports Stadia games as well, and of course, you can cast compatible Android and iOS apps or mirror your Chrome browser tabs.
There’s a Google Assistant button on the remote to control programming, ask questions or control smart home connected devices. Plus, it can be grouped with Nest speakers for multi-room playback around the home via music apps like Spotify, Pandora and YouTube Music.
Back in January, it was rumored that the device could decode high-quality, low-bandwidth AV1 files (the 4K model doesn’t currently support that), but there’s no word yet on that. It’s bound to appeal to buyers on a budget, but many people were hoping for a faster 4K model with more storage instead. Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is now available for $30.
NASA and Hideo Kojima have teamed up for a project, and it’s not the partnership itself that’s unusual. Kojima Productions’ mascot, after all, is a character called Ludens, who wears an extravehicular activity spacesuit and is meant to be an astronaut exploring digital space. No, it’s the fact that they’ve collaborated on a watch. It’s not even a smartwatch — it’s an actual wristwatch called Space Ludens that’s based on the gaming developer’s mascot.
The watch was designed and will be sold by creative studio and watchmaker Anicorn, which previously worked with NASA on other watches and merch. As IGN notes, it’s based on the visual style of Ludens’ spacesuit, with its gray/silver coloring and gold screws and accents. The NASA logo adorns its watchface, along with the words “Extra-Vehicular Creative Activity Suit.” Underneath, the Kojima Productions logo is stamped on the transparent case showing the watch’s gears.
While a watch is most likely not the first thing that’ll come to mind when you hear that Kojima teamed up with NASA, it does look pretty cool and could appeal to fans of either party. The Space Ludens watch will be released in limited quantities on September 27th. Only 600 pieces will be available for purchase, and 100 of which will ship with a skull mask based on the one that’s prominently featured in the Kojima Productions logo. Anicorn has yet to reveal how much it will cost, but its previous NASA watches don’t come cheap and will set you back over $1,000.
The vinyl resurgence shows no sign of slowing down — but streaming services are still the preferred way for most people to listen to music these days. As such, smart speakers like the Amazon Echo, HomePod mini and the line of Sonos products make a ton …
Ofcom, the broadcasting and telecoms regulator in the UK, is launching a probe to look into the cloud services tech giants offer in the coming weeks to ensure that there’s healthy competition in the space. Further, the regulator has revealed that it will examine messaging and video calling services, as well as smart and connected devices in the near future. For its cloud investigation, Ofcom’s market study will focus on the biggest cloud providers in the region, namely Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft and Google.
The three providers generate 81 percent of the revenue in the UK’s £15 billion (US$16.95) cloud infrastructure services market. Ofcom’s study will assess how well the market is working with these tech giants dominating the space. It will also examine the strength of the competition and whether the market, in its current state, makes it difficult for other players to enter and expand their share.
Ofcom explains that it’s looking to nip any potential competition concerns in the bud to prevent them from becoming a huge issue as the cloud services market matures. The lack of healthy competition, after all, could stifle growth and innovation and could lead to low quality of service. If the regulator determines that the market isn’t working well, it can recommend regulatory changes to the government, take enforcement action itself or refer the situation to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). To note, the CMA has a separate and ongoing investigation into Google’s ad tech practices.
The regulator will also launch probes to look into other digital markets over the next year. It will assess the impact of messaging and video calling services, such as WhatsApp, FaceTime and Zoom, on traditional methods of calling and messaging. Ofcom aims to determine how competition in this area could evolve in the coming years and whether the lack of cross-messaging and cross-calling capabilities between the services is a cause of concern.
The agency also intends to investigate the competition in the smart speaker and TV space. It plans to analyze consumer behavior, as well as the bargaining power of major players with companies that provide content for the devices.
Selina Chadha, Ofcom’s Director of Connectivity, said:
“The way we live, work, play and do business has been transformed by digital services. But as the number of platforms, devices and networks that serve up content continues to grow, so do the technological and economic issues confronting regulators.
That’s why we’re kick-starting a programme of work to scrutinise these digital markets, identify any competition concerns and make sure they’re working well for people and businesses who rely on them.”
At CES 2021, LG revealed it was working on a phone with a rollable display and that it was going to be available later that year. Unfortunately, the company shuttered its mobile business before that happened. Now, a hands-on video by Korean tech reviewer BullsLab shows just how close LG’s Rollable got to launching.
The Rollable went a different way with flexible screen tech. Instead of folding, the screen, well, rolled out of the device. The screen was able to stretch out until the phone becomes a small tablet. In the video, you’ll see how responsive the device is and how quickly it expands after the YouTuber swipes at the screen with three fingers. The reviewer even shows how strong the motor is, inching books away from the phone as it unfurls. Alas, it was never meant to be. I’d definitely be concerned that anything motorized would also struggle with longevity – there’s a reason that motorized pop-outselfie cameras quickly disappeared from smartphones.
Preorders for the device went live a little early in Canada.
Logitech
Logitech has revealed all the details of its handheld console. Logitech and Tencent (who built the device together) collaborated with Microsoft and NVIDIA to ensure there’s native support for Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now. You can also use the Steam Link app to play games from your PC remotely, while the Xbox app supports remote play from consoles.
You’ll be able to stream games in 1080p at up to 60 frames per second on the seven-inch, 450-nit touchscreen.The system will be available from Amazon in the US, where it costs $350 USD, or $300 if you preorder. That’s fairly pricey for a dedicated cloud gaming handheld, though it also has access to the Google Play Store to play Android titles.
The images from James Webb Space Telescope are already providing new insights.
NASA
Researchers have shared the James Webb Space Telescope’s first image of Neptune, offering the best view of the planet’s rings in over 30 years. The picture is not only clear, but offers the first-ever look at the dust-based rings in the near-infrared spectrum. At these wavelengths, the planet doesn’t look blue — it absorbs so much infrared and visible red light that it takes on a dark, ghostly appearance. Neptune is a particularly important target for scientists. At roughly 2.8 billion miles from the Sun, it’s far enough to deal with conditions that aren’t present for nearer planets, such as very low temperatures and a very long (164-year) orbit.
Results with your address, phone number or email will be reviewed ‘more quickly.’
Google is releasing a tool that makes it easier to remove search results containing your address, phone number and other personally identifiable information. It first revealed the “results about you” feature at Google I/O 2022 in May, describing it as a way to “help you easily control whether your personally identifiable information can be found in Search results.”
If you see a result with your phone number, home address or email, you can click on the three-dot menu at the top right. That opens the usual “About this result” panel, but it now contains a new “Remove result” option at the bottom of the screen. It’s rolling out to users in the US and Europe now.
Our first proper look at the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5?
Microsoft isn’t going to be left off the fall hardware event calendar. The company will hold a Surface event on October 12th at 10AM ET. While it’s not completely clear what Microsoft plans to show off beyond “devices,” we may get our first official look at the Surface Pro 9 and Surface Laptop 5. It’s going to be a chaotic couple of weeks: Amazon has a hardware showcase on September 28th, Google has set a Pixel event for October 6th and Meta is expected to show off its next-generation VR headset on October 11th.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center researchers in Boston have published a study indicating that patients wearing VR headsets required less anesthetic during hand surgery. While the average conventional patient needed 750.6 milligrams per hour of the sedative propofol, people looking at relaxing VR content (such as meditation, nature scenes and videos) only required 125.3 milligrams. They also recovered quicker. The scientists claimed VR distracted the patients from the pain that would otherwise command their full attention. Researchers admitted that the headset wearers may have gone into the operating room expecting VR to help, potentially skewing the results. Further trials are planned.
Unsolicited nude photos are a massive problem on social media, but Instagram is reportedly working on a tool that could help. An early screengrab tweeted by researcher Alessandro Paluzzi indicates that “Nudity protection” technology “covers photos that may contain nudity in chat,” giving users the option to view them or not. Instagram parent Meta confirmed to The Verge that it’s in development.
Meta said the aim is to help shield people from nude images or other unsolicited messages. As further protection, the company said it can’t view the images itself nor share them with third parties. “We’re working closely with experts to ensure these new features preserve people’s privacy, while giving them control over the messages they receive,” a spokesperson said. It plans to share more details in the coming weeks ahead of any testing.
#Instagram is working on nudity protection for chats 👀
ℹ️ Technology on your device covers photos that may contain nudity in chats. Instagram CAN’T access photos. pic.twitter.com/iA4wO89DFd
The new feature is akin to the “Hidden Words” tool launched last year, Meta added. That feature allows users to filter abusive message in DM requests based on key words. If a request contains any filter word you’ve chosen, it’s automatically placed in a hidden folder that you can choose to never open — though it’s not completely deleted.
The feature is welcome but long overdue, as unwanted nude photos were largely ignored by social media companies and are now a pervasive problem. One study back in 2020 by the University College London found that of 150 young people aged 12-18, 75.8 percent had been sent unsolicited nude images.
Sending unwanted nude photos, also known as “cyberflashing” has been targeted by multiple jurisdictions including California and the UK. In the UK, it could become a criminal offense if the Online Safety Bill is passed by parliament. California didn’t go quite that far, but last month, the state legislature and senate voted unanimously to allow users to sue over unsolicited nude photos and other sexually graphic material.
