The Engadget Podcast Ep 24: The Biggest Lie

Senior editors Edgar Alvarez and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O’Brien to discuss the biggest stories of the week, including Facebook’s Journalism Project and the Emoji takeover of Monopoly. Then they’ll talk about Volkswagen’s massive settlement and pending indictments. Plus they’ll try to recap Dieselgate without messing up the timeline.

Relevant links:

• The cancellation of ‘Scalebound’ is a huge blow for PlatinumGames
• You can vote for emoji to replace the current Monopoly tokens
• Facebook’s fix for journalism involves digests and subscriptions
• VW pleads guilty in US emissions scandal, will pay $4.3 billion
• VW will begin buying back diesel vehicles in mid-November
• Don’t bank on Volkswagen paying you $5,000 just yet
• Report: FBI arrests Volkswagen executive over Dieselgate
• Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn resigns amid emissions scandal
• The cost of VW’s emissions scandal hits $18.2 billion
• VW agrees to $14.7 billion settlement over US diesel claims
• Volkswagen to recall about 500,000 cars over sneaky software
• Chrysler pulls a VW, cheats emissions tests

You can check out every episode on The Engadget Podcast page in audio, video and text form for the hearing impaired.

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Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

Volvo is forming a global car-sharing business

Swedish automaker Volvo is establishing a car-sharing business that will operate not just in Sweden, but in other countries across the globe. It will be based on Sunfleet, the car-sharing service that it’s been running in its homeland for decades. According to TechCrunch, you can avail of Sunfleet’s services by booking a car through its website, which you can then unlock with an app. While you can book a car for a day or two, you can also set up a monthly subscription. The new business will likely offer something similar, though the company says it will also introduce “an entirely new range of mobility services.” Who knows — someday that might even include the ability to rent one of its self-driving vehicles.

Volvo chief Håkan Samuelsson said in a statement:

“Private car ownership will not disappear, but as an automaker we need to embrace the fact that it will reduce and – more importantly – change. We have a proven and profitable concept in our home market which we intend to leverage as we develop a global concept.

Today’s notion of mobility and car ownership is changing. By recognising this fundamental and rapid shift in individual mobility behaviour and responding to it, we ensure that Volvo will continue to be relevant in the eyes of the consumer.”

The company joins the list of automakers with their own car-sharing service, such as GM’s Maven that already operates in several cities across the US. BMW has ReachNow, Mercedes-Benz has Croove in Germany, while Toyota has begun testing its keyless car-sharing service last year. Volvo promises to announce more details about its new venture in the coming months, so you’ll know soon enough how it compares to its rivals’ offerings.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Volvo

Nintendo’s Switch makes a great first impression

Well, this is different. In my hands is Nintendo’s Switch, a $300 (£280 in the UK) console that’s like nothing I’ve held before. Well, it’s like quite a few things, but nonetheless a unique device.

It all starts with a tablet, dominated by 6.2-inch 720p capacitive touchscreen, with speakers in the lower corners. It’s thick, by anyone’s standards, but it’s not too heavy, and is generally well-balanced and comfortable to hold. The screen, although low-res compared to most tablets, looks sharp, bright, and rich. Viewing angles also seemed good — vital for two-player sessions.

At the top of the tablet portion is a slot for proprietary Game Cards, a headphone jack, two volume keys and a recessed power button. Below is a microSD Card slot and a USB Type-C charging port. Around the back is a sturdy kickstand that lets you rest the tablet on a table. Adorning the vertical edges of the tablet are detachable “Joy-Cons” that slide on and off on rails.

With the Joy-Cons attached, the Switch turns into a giant gamepad, with similar dimensions to the Wii U. Unlike the Wii U, the analog sticks are laid out asymmetrically, giving the controller a feel closer to the Xbox pad (or indeed, Nintendo’s GameCube controller) than the PlayStation 4’s DualShock. As someone that never really liked the two analogs at the top (or indeed at the bottom of the Wii U Pro controller), I’m very happy with the layout.

The (clickable) analogs sticks also feel way better than the Wii U’s. They’re smaller, which might be a problem for some people, but they’re also lower and more rigid than any sticks Nintendo has built before. I can’t be sure that they won’t loosen over time, but right now I’m loving the way they push back against your thumbs.

All the other buttons are as clicky and responsive as you’d expect from a company that has pretty much defined how we control video games. The right-sided Joy-Con has Nintendo’s traditional A, B, X, Y face buttons above the analog stick, and a circular home key below. In the upper left corner of the pad there’s the familiar “+” button, a holdover from the Wii U.

The left Joy-Con has the analog up top, circular directional buttons (no traditional d-pad here, for reasons we’ll get to in a minute) below and a “capture” key at the bottom. That capture button behaves like the Share key on a DualShock, instantly taking a screenshot for you to post. Nintendo says that, much like Sony’s setup, it’ll eventually capture video as well. Nintendo hasn’t exactly greeted YouTube and Twitch users with open arms, — on many occasions it’s prevented YouTubers from making money from gameplay videos — so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s finally opening up on that front.

As you well know, the Switch is not just a portable console. Pop it down on a table (using the aforementioned kickstand) or in its TV dock and the controller experience is very different.

Each Joy-Con slides out of the tablet smoothly (it’s very satisfying, and makes me worry I’m going to randomly be doing that all the time, because I am weird like that). One they’re out, you can either slide them into a plastic shell called the Joy-Con Grip, or use them individually. Let’s cover the Grip first.

This grip is very compact, and its squared front will take some getting used to for sure, but in general it feels exactly the same as the Switch does in handheld mode. The grips are slanted and… grippy, for lack of a better word, and offer enough space for my fairly brutish knuckles to nestle behind without brushing up against each other.

Used individually, the controllers aren’t quite as ergonomic. Nintendo encourages you to slide them into a “Joy-Con Strap” (because everything must have a proper noun), which makes them a little taller, but doesn’t improve things too much. Each offers an analog on the left, two buttons up top and four face buttons on the right (that’s why there’s no d-pad). You can use these controllers without with Strap, but the shoulder buttons aren’t as pronounced, and, well, Nintendo is packing two Straps in with the console so why would you?

Using a solo Joy-Con as a traditional controller is kind of like holding an overly complex Game Boy Micro. It definitely won’t be comfortable for adults to use over long periods of time, but in a pinch it’ll let you host a quick local multiplayer session.

Each Joy-Con does, however, have motion controls, so you can use them much like Wii Remotes. In this orientation, they’re just fine, and Nintendo’s unique approach to controllers this time means that you can play two-player motion-controlled games straight out of the box.

All told, the Switch, as revolutionary as it sounds, really just feels like Nintendo nailing what the Wii U’s brief. It’s a games console you can play in the living room, bedroom, or pretty much anywhere. People can point to a lack of cutting-edge graphics, but in 2017 it’s difficult to see how Nintendo could’ve balanced battery life, power and ergonomics any better. Moreover, if it treats this console like it has its portables over the years, we’ll likely get faster, slimmer and longer-lasting iterations of the Switch.

We’ll have more to come very shortly, but for now, all you need to know is the Switch makes a very good first impression. It’ll launch on March 3rd.

Tesla-Bound Chris Lattner May Have ‘Felt Constrained’ by Apple’s Culture of Secrecy

Earlier this week, Swift creator and LLVM co-author Chris Lattner announced he will be leaving Apple later this month—he is headed to Tesla to lead its autopilot engineering team as Vice President of Autopilot Software.

Lattner, who oversaw development of Swift and Xcode as director of Apple’s Development Tools department, did not provide an explanation for his decision to leave the company, but “someone in Lattner’s circle of developer friends” told Business Insider that Apple’s culture of secrecy may have been a contributing factor.

“He always felt constrained at Apple in terms of what he could discuss publicly — resorting to off-the-record chats, surprise presentations, and the like,” the person told us. “Similarly, I know he was constrained in recruiting and other areas. Eventually I know that can really wear people down.”

Lattner, who joined Apple in 2005, did not respond to the publication’s requests for comment, so the exact reason for his decision remains uncertain. He previously said the decision “wasn’t made lightly,” and that he plans to remain an active member of the Swift Core Team despite his departure.

What we do know is that Swift now has a large community of developers working on the programming language since it became open source in late 2015, so it is very possible that Lattner felt he was in a good position to pursue a new opportunity without jeopardizing future development of the language he created in 2010.

Swift, designed to work with Apple’s Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks, was developed for iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and Linux. The programming language was introduced at WWDC 2014 and is viewed as an alternative to Objective-C. Lattner said Apple’s development of Swift will continue under Ted Kremenek.

Tags: Swift, Tesla
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A software update will solve those MacBook Pro battery issues

Apple’s latest MacBook Pros got plenty of mixed reviews, but the bugs with the laptop’s battery life estimates were a bad ending to a tough year for Cupertino. Although Apple figured the machines would get a respectable a 10 hour battery life, independent tests from Consumer Reports showed wildly different results ranging from less than four hours to almost 20 hours, causing the group to pull their recommendation for the first time. While Apple put some of the blame on Intel’s Skylake-based chips, a new software update has apparently fixed the issue to Consumer Reports’ satisfaction.

In an updated review, the group writes that the latest software update has addressed the issue. Using “the same protocol we apply to hundreds of laptops every year,” Consumer Reports says, the three MacBook Pros they tested all performed well, “with one model running 18.75 hours on a charge.” For the record, they tested both the Touch Bar and non-Touch Bar versions of the 13-inch model, as well as a 15-incher. The new average run times work out to 15.75 hours, 18.75 hours and 17.25 hours respectively.

If you’ve already upgraded to one of Apple’s newest laptops and you’re wondering why your status bar still doesn’t have a battery life estimate on it, then Consumer Reports notes that the update is still in Apple’s Beta program, but it should roll out to all users in the the next few weeks. In the meantime, you’ll just have to stick close to an outlet.

Source: Consumer Reports

‘Guccifer 2.0’ DNC leaker returns, as ‘Shadow Brokers’ exit

Throughout the presidential campaign last year, a hacker calling themselves “Guccifer 2.0” leaked DNC documents, before going dark just before the actual election. Now, after being tagged as a front for Russian government-directed hacking, the identity has returned, writing in much clearer English and taunting US intelligence. In a blog post, Guccifer 2.0 claims again to have no connection to Russia, and refutes assertions made by the DHS and FBI to the contrary.

Here I am again, my friends! Check my new post about FBI/DHS/NSA reports & their fake evidence #Guccifer2 https://t.co/Low4v1qCQx

— GUCCIFER 2.0 (@GUCCIFER_2) January 12, 2017

Curiously, this return happens at the same time Motherboard reports “The Shadow Brokers” group — known for its curious attempt to sell stolen NSA hacking tools — is closing up shop. A message reportedly from the group states “There being no bitcoins in free dumps and giveaways. You are being disappointed? Nobody is being more disappointed than TheShadowBrokers.” Additionally, another hacker tells Motherboard that the group dropped a “parting gift” containing an exploit that Kaspersky tied to US and UK spy agencies back in 2015.

Source: Motherboard, Guccifer 2.0 (WordPress)

Windows 10 Creators update tracks your work on multiple PCs

Microsoft has showed off more of what’s coming in the Creators update in April. The latest “Fast Ring” Insider Preview, released just days after the last one, notably makes it easier to work across multiple computers. Cortana now shows quick links for Edge browser websites, cloud-based documents and other recent work when you switch to a different PC. “For example, if you were working on a PowerPoint deck on your laptop, when you later return to your desktop, a link to that deck appears in the Action Center,” Microsoft wrote in a lengthy blog.

Edge users can now also share tabs with other apps, making it easy to switch from one browser to the next and keep your tabs intact. Microsoft’s browser also makes it easier to import data from another browser, including history, saved passwords and other data. That should be a boon for users thinking of trying or switching to Edge, as it’s currently a bit of a pain to do that.

The other main change is with themes: if you like to swap background images frequently, you’ll soon be able to download different themes directly from the Windows Store. The feature hasn’t been enabled yet, but Microsoft says that “soon, you’ll be able to directly from the themes setting page directly to the Windows Store to download new themes for your PC.”

Other PC features include new Windows Hello facial recognition that helps you log in more easily, the ability to “run” a download link without even saving it, Windows Ink capability in Web Notes (above), an inline progress bar for notifications, and more.

Though it’s a bit odd for Microsoft to have dropped two releases so close together, today’s build (15007) marks the first in 40 days to include updates for Windows Phone. Now, you can control music playback from iHeartRadio and TuneIn using the Cortana AI assistant and figure out what the current tune is by asking “Hey Cortana, what’s playing?”

Mobile Edge users can now zoom into websites up to 500 percent, regardless of website settings, and clicking website links for sites that support web-to-app linking will open a page in the corresponding app. For a complete list of PC and Windows Phone updates, check here, or if you’re in the Fast Ring, you can go ahead and download the preview now.

Source: Microsoft

Google turns Toontastic into a 3D storytelling app

Google Education has launched a 3D version of Toontastic, almost two years after Mountain View bought the company that created it. The new Toontastic stays true to the original version: it’s still a storybook app, except now kids can work with 3D characters and environments. They can animate short three-dimensional movies by customizing characters and placing them in interactive scenarios, or they can use the tool to make projects for school. Google describes the updated Toontastic as some sort of a digital puppet theater. The app is now out on the App Store and on Google Play for phones, tablets and select Chromebooks.

Mountain View’s Education division regularly works on projects kids can learn from and enjoy, such as initiatives that teach them how to code. Last year, it developed a way to make exploring the Himalayas online more fun with the help of a friendly jetpack-riding yeti named Verne. It also once offered a $30,000 scholarship prize for a Google Doodle contest featuring K-12 students in the US.

Source: Google Education

ICYMI: Spy drones can do more than you probably realized

Today on In Case You Missed It: The Department of Defense created a drone swarm for spying that can replenish a fallen UAVs position, much the way the alien swarms act in Independence Day. A video of the test was just posted by the DoD, although the test actually took place last fall.

A video of the 3D printed sculptures is here and while there are many important news stories from this week, I recommend reading up on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat Update Adds HomeKit Support for Remote Sensors

Smart wireless thermostat maker Ecobee is rolling out a firmware update to Ecobee3 devices that brings individual HomeKit support to the device’s remote sensors for the first time.

The Ecobee3 enables owners to use additional remote sensors to keep track of ambient temperature as well as detect motion in different locations within the home. With firmware version 3.7.0.969, currently rolling out to the devices, owners can now access individual sensors directly from within the iOS HomeKit app.

The official change log for the firmware is as follows:

• Automatically Restore HomeKit Connection. Occasionally some ecobees could lose its connection to Homekit and have to be rebooted in order to re-establish the connection. This firmware update enables the ecobee to automatically reconnect without any user action.

• Wireless sensors with homekit enhancement. The wireless sensors now show up as accessories in the iOS Home app. Because of the dual functionality (occupancy detection and temperature sensing) of the sensors, each sensor will show up as two accessories.

• The usual background cleanup and stability. As always, to smooth things out for a better experience.

The Ecobee3 firmware is an automatic update currently being rolled out. Owners unsure of the version of their devices who aren’t seeing their sensors in HomeKit should contact Ecobee support.

Tags: HomeKit, Ecobee
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