Facebook is tweaking the News Feed to make room for fact checkers

In its own way, Facebook is taking responsibility for the spread of misinformation and changing how its products deliver news. The next phase of that is a test that “might” populate the News Feed with articles related to the one all your friends are sharing. As the GIF below illustrates, there’s a box below shared news story and it has a handful of links to articles about the same subject, but from different publishers and even fact checkers. The idea here is to give people more information on a topic before they mash the “share” button.

“That should provide people easier access to additional perspectives and information, including articles by third-party fact-checkers,” product manager Sara Su writes in a blog post. This move sounds like Facebook is trying to chip away at the echo chamber that social networks can become while also offering up objective facts related to a politician’s wild claims, for example.

Is it going to be effective? That’s anyone’s guess right now, but it should be easier for Facebook to track than full-page newspaper ads.

Source: Facebook Newsroom

Engadget giveaway: Win a Glyph video headset courtesy of Avegant!

If you enjoy the movie theater, but can’t stand crowds, Avegant’s Glyph could be your saving grace. This rechargeable audio/video headset projects a 720p private screening experience onto each of your eyeballs via compatible devices and a microHDMI connection. We’d have to say it’s a viewing rig first and foremost, but it can double as standard headphones when flipped up. Not only is it great for movie viewing, but it’s also a capable drone companion, letting you enjoy first-person perspectives and even leverage its 9-axis head tracking for flight control. You can also enjoy a variety of 3D PC games, as well as 360 video experiences. This week, Avegant has provided a Glyph headset for one lucky reader, but that’s not all. Anyone can enjoy a $100 discount at the company’s website with the code ENGADGET through April 27th. To enter, all you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget and get up to three chances at winning a free Glyph video headset.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) Avegant Glyph personal theater and headphone device.
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until April 26th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Dutch Court Rules Apple May Not Use ‘Remanufactured’ iPads for Warranty Replacements

A new ruling by a judge in the Subdistrict Court of Amsterdam has mandated that Apple can not replace a broken iPad unit with a “remanufactured” device, and must supply the plaintiff with an entirely new iPad instead. The case stems from a woman who purchased an iPad Air 2 with AppleCare back in 2015, and subsequently faced problems with the device’s Wi-Fi around four months later.

Apple then supplied the woman with a remanufactured version of the iPad, which Apple said is a process by which the company reconstitutes damaged products by using “the same production and inspection procedures” as it does for brand new devices. The woman disagreed with Apple’s methods of replacing her iPad and took the company to court, with Tweakers [Google Translate] reporting that she “was not satisfied” with the remanufactured device she was given under AppleCare.

The Dutch judge has now ruled in agreement with the plaintiff, stating that a remanufactured version of the iPad is not enough. The judge said that the purchase state of the original iPad is what should be looked at when considering replacement devices, meaning an iPad purchased as remanufactured could be replaced with a remanufactured iPad, although it’s unclear how — or if — purchasing a remanufactured iPad is even possible.

But an iPad purchased brand new — as is the case here — should be replaced with a new iPad. The Amsterdam court goes into more detail in a briefing posted online recently, translated from Dutch:

If a plaintiff had purchased a refurbished or replacement iPad, Apple may replace it with a refurbished or replacement copy, but if the consumer, as in this case, purchased a new iPad, she is entitled to a new iPad as a replacement.”

A similar case passed through the Dutch courts last summer, wherein another Dutch woman sued Apple for refusing to replace her broken iPhone 6 Plus with a brand new model. The victory nullified the purchase agreement that the woman made with Apple, and ordered the company to refund the woman the full €799 that she paid for the iPhone. In short order, that case set a precedent for the future of similar cases in the country, placing a stain on “refurbished” devices sold by Apple, leading the company to use “remanufactured” ones instead.

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, refurbished refers to the redistribution of used products to consumers at a slightly reduced cost, after they first go through a process that ensures their quality is ready for the market. Remanufacturing is generally a more rigorous and expensive process for companies to go through — which is one of Apple’s arguments in the Dutch case — as it requires a level of specifications to be met that are as high-standard as they were for the original product.

The argument hasn’t worked for Apple, and the judge has now ruled that Apple has to pay the woman in question €100 for every day that she was left without the new replacement iPad.

Tags: lawsuit, AppleCare, warranty
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Google may release three Pixel devices this year, all to use Snapdragon 835 chip

We already know that Google will release second-generation Pixel phones sometime this year, to improve upon the rather excellent Pixel and Pixel XL. But there may be a third, as yet unknown device on the way too.

• Google Pixel 2: What do we want to see?

German site WinFuture has discovered three devices in Google’s AOSP (Android Open Source Platform) code with the codenames ‘Muskie’, ‘Walleye’ and ‘Taimen’. It’s widely thought that the first two refer to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, but Taimen may refer to something completely new.

What we do know about the three devices is that they’ll use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, or more specifically, the Qualcomm MSM8998 chip, which is the full name for the 835. We have heard that Google may release a Pixel 2B budget phone, but if true, it’s unlikely it would use the top-of-the-range Snapdragon 835 processor.

WinFuture

It’s no surprise that Google will want to use the latest and most powerful chip currently available for Android devices in its new handsets, which are expected to be built by HTC once again.

We don’t know too much else about the new Pixel phones, but it’s reported they’ll focus on improving low-light photography and will have a “decent water and dust proof rating”.

• Google Pixel 2 flagship and Pixel 2B budget phone details leak out

The Snapdragon 835 is slowly starting to find its way into more flagship devices in 2017, the first being Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Sony will use it in the XZ Premium, Xiaomi has used it in the Mi 6 and HTC is expected to use it in the U 11 when it launches in May.

Vizio’s XLED TVs might make you forget its tracking software

Vizio’s pushed a wider range of affordable HDR screens with its recent E-series, which follows the trend of high-resolution 4K televisions getting cheaper and cheaper. So follows the company’s SmartCast P- and M-series lines for this year, which offer upper and mid-level TVs at reasonable cost.

While neither feature OLED found in more expensive screens, both series have Vizio’s XLED full-array backlighting — a clear branding move to rival Samsung’s similar QLED.

As Vizio announced for all its SmartCast-equipped devices back in January, these lines respond to Google Home and Assistant voice commands. That’s on top of the SmartCast features, which let users stream content through a custom app. This summer, all SmartCast models (including last year’s) are getting an over-the-air upgrade that dispenses with the mobile app entirely to stream straight from the display.

Vizio has been in hot water since the FTC brought suit against the company for tracking its users’ viewing behaviors without their knowledge on over 11 million televisions. In February, it was ordered to pay a $2.2 million settlement fee and delete any data it collected before March 2016. Rest assured, new TV buyers, the data collection feature is not currently enabled on SmartCast Display units.

Here are the model price ranges:

M-Series:

• VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 50″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus™ Display™ (M50-E1) MSRP $799.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 55″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus™ Display™ (M55-E0) MSRP $999.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 65″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus™ Display™ (M65-E0) MSRP $1,499.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 70″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus™ Display™ (M70-E3) MSRP $1,999.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ M-Series™ 75″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Plus™ Display™ (M75-E1) MSRP $2,999.99

P-Series:

• VIZIO SmartCast™ P-Series™ 55″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Pro™ Display™ (P55-E1) MSRP $1,299.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ P-Series™ 65″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Pro™ Display™ (P65-E1) MSRP $1,999.99
• VIZIO SmartCast™ P-Series™ 75″ Ultra HD HDR XLED Pro™ Display™ (P75-E1) MSRP $3,499.99

Source: Vizio

Vizio’s $250 soundbar hosts Google Assistant and Chromecast

Vizio may have been knocked by LeEco after its $2 billion buyout deal was cancelled, but the company’s not going to fall into a grief-stricken funk. The home theater business has announced a new raft of soundbars that work with Google Assistant and come with Chromecast built in. Leading the pack is the SmartCast 36″, which packs 5.1 wireless sound, the promise of crystal-clear dialog and a wireless subwoofer. Vizio had trouble with its soundbars working with Spotify via Chromecast in the past, so hopefully its remedied that issue. This new model is on sale right now, setting you back $250, while smaller options in the same range will cost less, obviously.

The company has also wheeled out an addition to its Sonos-troubling Crave speakers in the form of the Crave Go. The WiFi-streaming device can either be used as part of your whole-home audio setup, or on the road as a portable speaker. Again, it’s packing Chromecast, so you can use it to play a variety of music services, including Google Play Music, Spotify Premium and Pandora. There’s a built-in battery, promising up to six hours of life while on the go, and the unit is available for $199 at Vizio’s website.

Apple has NASA minds working on its AR glasses

Apple has hired former NASA JPL augmented reality expert Jeff Norris to help shape its AR projects, according to Bloomberg. Based on previous reports, Cupertino has been working on a pair of AR glasses and related features for future iPhones since 2016. Now we have a better idea of what’s going on behind the scenes. Norris apparently joined the AR team as senior manager under former Dolby Labs executive Mike Rockwell earlier this year, though none of the parties involved confirmed Bloomberg’s story. Taking what he did while he was with NASA into account, Apple might conjure up some very interesting products and services.

He worked on many projects as Mission Operations Innovation chief at NASA JPL, including building the Mars 2020 rover in mixed reality. Norris also led the development of a HoloLens experience that puts you on Mars with Buzz Aldrin (see image above), as well as a project called Sidekick that makes remote collaboration easier for astronauts and ground-based scientists by using holograms.

It’s not entirely surprising for Apple to hire high-profile people in the field when Tim Cook himself admitted that the company will be heavily investing in AR projects. The pair of augmented reality glasses the team is reportedly working on might be just the first of many. “We are high on AR for the long run,” he proclaimed in an earnings call back in July. “We think there are great things for customers and a great commercial opportunity.”

Source: Bloomberg

Uber’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 2017

Uber is believed to be the world’s most valuable startup, with estimates pegging the company as being worth around $70 billion. Its business, and its CEO, have always garnered controversy, but to date, Uber has been able to survive whatever slings and arrows were thrown its way. 2017, however, may be the year that the company faces its reckoning as crisis upon crisis washes over it. Here’s a timeline of some of the major events that have hit the service in the past four months.

NFL players can track and sell their own health data

Professional athletes know that it’s not just the matches and training sessions that matter: it’s what you do in your downtime too. Whoop’s wearable straps specialise in this area, tracking your movement, heart rate, and ambient temperature to better understand your health and recovery rate. Now, it’s being adopted by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), which means straps will be handed out to every current and incoming player in the US. Whether they’ll wear them is a mystery, but the hope is that they’ll be used to track and optimize their training schedules, reducing injuries and improving in-game performance.

The partnership is being handled by the ‘OneTeam Collective,’ a sports-focused accelerator joint-owned by the NFLPA. The deal means that players will, if they choose, be able to sell their own health and performance data. That could be attractive to technology companies — who want to better the algorithms and training regimes they offer to customers — rivals teams and coaching staff. It could also be useful to medical professionals who need a substantial dataset to conduct new research and analysis. In addition, Whoop and the NFLPA will be generating reports to “advance player safety” and “maximize athletic performance.”

As Bloomberg reports, it could even be used by TV broadcasters who want to add some extra stats to their half-time match analysis. “Picture this,” Scott Soshnick writes, “a television network during an NFL broadcast comparing the heart rates of star players doing the same workout — or while they sleep. Say Tom Brady versus Cam Newton. Now picture being able to determine which player’s body was better prepared to play.”

Whoop’s straps have already being embraced by Major League Baseball. They’re not just for hardcore athletes though: the standard Whoop Strap 2.0 costs $500, which is pricier than the average Fitbit and the Apple Watch Nike+, but cheaper than hiring a personal trainer day in, day out.

Via: ESPN

Source: NFLPA

Tenor for Mac App Introduces First Touch Bar Support for GIFs Amid Rebranding

GIF creation and sharing company Tenor is today introducing the first app that puts GIFs directly into the Touch Bar of the 2016 MacBook Pro, which is debuting amid a rebranding of the company’s Mac app as well. Previously known as “GIF Keyboard” the app will now be called “Tenor for Mac,” and when it’s launched on the desktop Tenor will display emojis on the Touch Bar and allow users to tap one to see a list of GIFs representing certain feelings, such as “Happy,” “Tired,” “Excited,” and so on.

Touch Bar support is also coming to search results in the Tenor Mac app, so when users query the service for a specific GIF they will receive a horizontal list of GIFs related to their search input. Users can then use the Touch Bar to scrub through the search results, and when the right GIF is found a simple tap will copy it to the Mac’s clipboard, allowing it to be shared in the usual places, like in Messages.

The right GIF makes all the difference. As the mobile GIF-sharing leader, we at Tenor know that people often struggle to get their point across quickly. So we deliver just the right GIF that says it better — fast.

Today we’re extending that lightning-fast experience to the laptop with the launch of our Tenor Mac App. Now available for free in the Mac App Store, Tenor makes it easy to search, discover and share GIFs across apps, browsers and messages. Tenor for Mac is the first app to put GIFs directly into the Macbook Pro’s Touch Bar.

Tenor’s Mac app will otherwise remain unchanged with the new rebranding and Touch Bar update. Users can still browse through GIFs using the service’s dropdown toolbar menu, as well as create their own collections of GIFs — called “packs” — themed around specific emotions, TV shows, movies, or whatever they choose.

If a GIF is missing from the service, users can also simply drag and drop the one they want into Tenor, after first saving it to their computer from another source. Word on a similar rebranding update for the GIF Keyboard iOS app was not given.

Tenor for Mac is powered by the company’s “Emotional Graph,” which aggregates more than 200 million GIF searches that are executed every day as a means to map the most popular GIFs people use to express themselves. Using this information, Tenor then displays the most-used GIFs at the top of its search results so users can find what they want at a quicker pace.

Tenor for Mac will begin replacing GIF Keyboard in the Mac App Store today, and will be available to download for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: Tenor
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
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