Google is bringing a kids mode to some Android tablets
It looks colorful and easy to navigate. Kids will find a growing library of books and apps in the Read and Play tabs. Google is working with publishers to open up access to books, and children in the US will be able to read more than 400 books for free in Kids Space.
The Watch and Make tabs include videos from YouTube Kids that Google says are “engaging and encourage off-screen activities.” If all of that’s not quite enough, parents can download more things for their kids to check out from Google Play.
The first tablet that'll include the mode is the new Lenovo Tab M10 HD Gen 2. It has a 10.1-inch HD wide-viewing-angle screen and dual Dolby Atmos speakers. The tablet starts at $129.99 and it should be available sometime next month.
Kids Space will be available on other Android tablets soon. Other companies have tried tablet experiences tailored to kids, with Amazon among the most notable examples.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/google-kids-space-android-tablet-lenovo-130041885.html
Lenovo’s Legion Slim 7i gaming laptop weighs less than four pounds
The Legion Slim 7i has a 71 WHr battery, which could last up to 7.75 hours and allows rapid charging. To keep the system even chiller, Lenovo made the air intake system 31 percent larger. That means 115 percent more airflow goes to the CPU and GPU compared to previous versions, and there are more exhaust fan blades.
The Legion Slim 7i packs a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 HK-series mobile processor. It comes with up to 2TB of SSD storage, up to 32GB of memory and multiple 15.6-inch screen options. You can choose a 4K display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 600 nits of brightness (ideal for streamers), or a full HD display with a 144Hz refresh rate (better suited for eSports). All of the displays support Dolby Vision, and the Slim 7i has Dolby Atmos immersive sound.
In addition to the Corsair-made RGB lighting on the new TrueStrike keyboard, you’ll notice a fingerprint reader built into the power button and a privacy shutter on the webcam. The laptop is available in slate gray aluminum and starts at $1,329. It should be available this October.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-legion-slim-7i-gaming-laptop-130048117.html
The Razer Blade 15 with a 4K OLED display is $300 off
Buy Blade 15 laptop (4K) at Razer - $1,999
This gaming laptop has more going for it than just a 4K, 60Hz OLED screen. It runs on a 10th-gen Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 GPU with Max-Q. The Blade 15 earned a spot in our gaming laptops buying guide as one of our favorite machines, and aside from the display, those are the specs we recommend on this machine. A 4K display isn’t necessary for most people — nor do you need it to get the most out of this gaming laptop. You could save an extra $100 and opt for the model with a 1080p, 144Hz panel and get the same core experience.
But if having a 4K screen means a lot to you (or you just want to get the most bang for your buck), the model on sale for $1,999 fits the bill. We gave the Blade 15 a score of 89 and praised it in part for having a sleek design that matches the power that its specs provide. Measuring 17mm thick, the Blade 15 is much slimmer than other gaming laptops — its 4.7-pound weigh may deceive it a bit, but its premium design and build quality means that you’ll be able to stick it in a 15-inch laptop bag without trouble. It also has a comfortable keyboard and trackpad and lasts close to nine hours on a single charge (which is more than many gaming laptops can boast).
In addition to its weight, we knocked the Blade 15 for its high price tag but this sale makes it easier to recommend the 4K model. You can also snag Razer peripherals for less during this sale, like the Basilisk wired gaming mouse, which is down from $69 to $49, the BlackWidow Lite tenkeyless keyboard, which is down from $89 to $59 and the Thresher headset — the Xbox version is down from $179 to $109 while the PlayStation/PC equivalent down from $129 to $79.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/razer-blade-15-gaming-laptop-intel-gamer-days-sale-best-buy-razer-amazon-133229588.html
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 732G promises more power for midrange phones
Compared to the 730G, the Snapdragon 732G uses a slightly faster Kryo 470 CPU (tuned to 2.3GHz compared to last year’s 2.2GHz). While they both use the Adreno 618 GPU, Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 732G offers “improved graphics rendering.” Both SoCs also use the X15 LTE modem that can hit up to 800 Mbps.
The 732G will also enable some of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gaming features like color tuning for HDR gaming. Some of the most noteworthy improvements seem to be in the fourth-generation AI engine here, which enable what the company calls “predictive user experiences” and will be “twice as powerful as previous generations.” This will also help battery performance, Qualcomm said.
We still don’t have details on what other devices will use the Snapdragon 732G. But given the Snapdragon 730G showed up in the excellent Pixel 4a and a slew of other phones, it’s likely we’ll see the new chip popping up a lot soon.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/qualcomm-snapdragon-732g-midrange-gaming-140025989.html
Amazon’s Prime Air can officially begin drone delivery trials in the US
“This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air and indicates the FAA’s confidence in Amazon’s operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that will one day deliver packages to our customers around the world,” David Carbon, an Amazon vice president, said in a statement.
Amazon is not the first drone operator to receive FAA approval. Alphabet subsidiary Wing and UPS are also operating FAA-approved trials. In Virginia, Wing is delivering over-the-counter meds, snacks and gifts on behalf of FedEx, Walgreens and a local retailer. UPS is delivering prescriptions for CVS in North Carolina.
Amazon has been openly discussing its drone delivery ambitions for years, but the pandemic may serve as an added push for the company. Amazon has seen a massive uptick on online sales in the past few months -- enough to double its profits last quarter. It has hired more than 100,000 additional workers, but it seems that delivering orders via flying and rolling delivery bots may be another part of its plan to keep up with the added demand.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-air-faa-approval-drone-delivery-trials-142035317.html
8BitDo is making a customizable arcade stick for Switch and PC players
The flexibility doesn’t stop there, though. You can connect the stick over Bluetooth, a USB-C cable, or a wireless 2.4G receiver that’s cleverly stored on the underside of the stick. It also has a rechargeable 1000 mAh battery, so you can go anywhere — the park, a coffee shop, or an airport terminal with zero power outlets — and play some Mortal Kombat 11 with your Switch in tabletop mode. If you’re carrying a laptop too, you can flick a knob to instantly toggle between the stick’s Switch and PC-centric XInput modes. The red buttons will immediately remap and, impressively, their labels will change thanks to some LEDs built into the dark grey panel.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/8bitdo-arcade-stick-controller-nintendo-switch-pc-150046976.html
Google starts displaying licensing details for image results
Since sifting through a ton of images can be a bit daunting, Google has also rolled out the ability to filter results based on licensing information. If you only want to use images under Creative Commons, then simply select the CC option under Usage Rights in the dropdown menu on Google Images. You can also use the “Commercial and other licenses” filter if you’re willing to purchase an image.
Google teamed up with image creators and stock photo providers to design and roll out these new licensing features. Ken Mainardis, SVP for Getty Images iStock by Getty Images, said in a statement:
“We live in a dynamic and changing media landscape where imagery is an integral component of online storytelling and communication for more and more people. This means that it is crucial that people understand the importance of licensing their images from proper sources for their own protection, and to ensure the investment required to create these images continues. We are hopeful Google’s approach will bring more visibility to the intrinsic value of licensed images and the rights required to use them.”
The tech giant has been working on making image results richer and more informative recently. Over the past few months, it started marking images with icons that can indicate whether they link to pages with products for sale, to pages with recipes or to video content. Google also rolled out a deeper integration of its Knowledge Graph with image results back in July.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/google-images-licensable-160019561.html
Apple’s App Store appeals process is now open for developers
As you may remember, Apple came up with these changes shortly after a public battle with Basecamp over the “Hey” email app. Apple rejected Basecamp’s bug fixes because the app required users to sign up for Hey on the web and there was no option for in-app purchases or trials, which would have generated a commission for Apple. Later, Apple reversed its decision, allowing the bug fixes to go through, and Basecamp came up with a compromise, a free trial available through the app.
These changes, announced shortly after that debacle, could avoid a similar situation from happening in the future. But less than two weeks ago, Apple reportedly blocked WordPress app updates to force in-app purchase support, and Apple is fighting another battle with Epic Games, which recently started offering Fortnite discounts for players who bypass App Store purchases.
You have to wonder how receptive Apple will be to suggestions, when so many have pushed back against its policy of collecting hefty commissions on in-app purchases.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/apple-app-store-developer-update-165146709.html
Call of Duty League is moving to four-player teams next season
Call of Duty esports centered around four-player teams for many years before the 2018-2019 World League season. Indeed, the move marks a “return to our roots,” CDL Commissioner Johanna Faries suggested in an announcement. “This decision was made in close collaboration with our teams and players, and it was not made lightly.”
The league will reveal more plans for 2021 — including details on maps, formats and the schedule — during the offseason. There’ll also be a shift from Modern Warfare to the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
Meanwhile, there’s a bit more CDL action on the way this year. The All Star Weekend takes place from September 12th-13th, which could mark the last time fans will see pros compete in five vs five matches anytime soon. The 2021 CDL year starts the following day.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/call-of-duty-league-format-2021-season-181206308.html
Ninja and MrBeast are getting ‘Fall Guys’ skins after $1 million charity contest
A team that includes Tyler “Ninja” Blevins has won the charity competition to have their likeness included in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, the adorable but deceptively brutal battle royale everyone on Twitch has been playing. At nearly the last minute of the two-week-long competition, the popular Fortnite streamer said he would team up with G2 Esports, Aim Lab and YouTuber MrBeast to donate $1 million to SpecialEffect, a UK-based charity that helps those with physical disabilities experience video games. Each of the four contributors will get their own skin added to the game.
🏆 BIDDING IS FINISHED 🏆
THE WINNERS ARE:@G2esports @Ninja @AimLab @MrBeastYT
With a combined donation of $1,000,000 for @SpecialEffect
Probably the spiciest team up since The Avengers??????https://t.co/Q2G3h9UyDh
— Fall Guys 👑 (@FallGuysGame) August 31, 2020
Developer Mediatonic announced the competition on August 17th, just two weeks after it released Fall Guys and the title became all anyone was playing. “The thirst from brands has been unreal... so we’re turning it into something positive,” the studio said at the time. It promised to add a skin to Fall Guys representing the brand that was willing to donate the most amount of money to SpecialEffect. Initial bids came in the tens of thousands of dollars, but things quickly escalated. At one point, Warframe developer Digital Extremes pledged $20,000. Before Ninja and company came in with their pledge, the leading bid was $510,000.
Article source: https://www.engadget.com/fall-guys-specialeffect-competition-ninja-190309081.html