NVIDIA drops the basic Shield TV’s price to $180

NVIDIA’s Shield TV promised to be an Android set-top box for gamers, and in that sense, it delivered. The company first released it in 2015, but its updated version cut down on price by bundling the $50 remote in to make the base-tier $200 version more cost-efficient. Now they’re dropping that price down to $180, which is an even better deal.

(In the UK, the NVIDIA Shield has only been available with a controller. The basic remote-only version will be available from October 18th for £179.)

NVIDIA is keeping the $200 tier by bundling in its normally $60 controller alongside the included remote. Both of those lower-priced options come with 16GB of storage, though the $300 Shield TV Pro model increases that to 500GB. Otherwise, all the Shield set-top boxes have the same access to streaming services at 4K HDR quality.

The new remote-only Shield is available online for preorders now to ship on October 18th, and will expand to select retailers at a later date.

Hulu scores new and old episodes of ‘Will & Grace’

Will & Grace is set to return to our screens next week. But, its fabulous comeback won’t just be relegated to network television. The show’s original run, and its new episodes, are also making their on-demand debut on Hulu. The streaming service, which now produces its own Emmy award-wining shows, just nabbed every single episode of the hit programme. You can binge watch all eight seasons of Will & Grace starting today, which should prep you for the revival (with each new episode set to hit Hulu the day after its TV premiere). Alongside pay TV, the show will also be available on the NBC app.

Arriving in 1998, Will & Grace quickly became a fan favourite, and eventually went on to nab 83 Emmy nods (and 16 wins). Filmed in front of a live studio audience, the show followed the relationship between Will Truman (a gay lawyer, played by Eric McCormack) and his BFF Grace Adler (Debra Messing). It also featured scene-stealing turns from Megan Mullally (as Grace’s assistant Karen Walker) and Sean Hayes, who starred as Will’s close friend Jack McFarland. The fact that the show’s revival has been picked up for a second season is a testament to its enduring appeal.

Hulu already boasts an attractive library of classic sitcoms — including The Golden Girls, Seinfeld, and Full House — making Will & Grace a good fit for the VOD platform. It also probably helps that NBCUniversal is a part-owner of the streaming service, and has struck up content deals with it in the past.

Source: Hulu

Bose Announces $250 ‘SoundSport Free’ Wireless Headphones Launching in October

Bose today announced its first-ever pair of wireless in-ear headphones called “SoundSport Free,” which will go on sale in October for $250. Similar to Apple’s AirPods and other wireless headphones, the SoundSport Free are small buds that you place in your ears without any connecting wires, and which charge through an included case while you’re on-the-go (via CNET).

Bose’s wireless headphones are more sport- and activity-focused, with silicone StayHear+ sport tips to ensure a comfortable fit during intense activities, as well as an IPX4 water resistance rating (Apple’s AirPods are not rated for water resistance, although many users have noted their resilience through activities that coat them in sweat or water). The Bose Connect iOS app will also include a new “Find My Buds” feature, displaying the last known location and time of use in order to help you rediscover the lost headphones.

In terms of battery life, Bose said that the SoundSport Free will last for up to five hours on one charge, and the charging/carrying case can fuel up the headphones with an additional ten hours of battery. The five-hour battery life aligns with the AirPods in terms of battery on the buds themselves, but when comparing the charging cases Apple’s case provides an additional 24 hours of life to the AirPods.

Controls are located on the top of the buds, giving you access to play, pause, skip track, take and end phone call controls, and even activate Siri or Google Assistant. Bose also explained that the SoundSport Free headphones include a Bluetooth antenna that is designed to provide a strong and reliable connection to your iPhone, which connects to the smartphone up to 30 feet away as long as there are no physical obstructions between the two devices.

When it came to the tech inside these earbuds, we focused on every little detail—from tuning the circuits for improved sound to tweaking the antenna position for maximum Bluetooth® signal strength. The result? Headphones that play consistently and clearly whether your phone is in your hand, in your pocket, strapped to your arm or sitting on top of the treadmill … and there’s never a wire in sight.

The SoundSport Free headphones are available to pre-order for $249.95 today on Bose’s website with early orders expected for an October delivery date, and a “Midnight Blue” color option is said to be coming later this year. The company today also announced a new version of its QC35 over-ear headphones – called QC35 II — incorporating Google Assistant directly into the device.

Tag: Bose
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple TV 4K Reviews: Expensive But With Cheaper 4K Movies, Some Limitations Like 1080p YouTube

Apple TV 4K reviews are out, providing us with first impressions of one of the most expensive streaming media players on the market.

The Verge’s editor-in-chief Nilay Patel said the Apple TV 4K is “by far the closest thing to being a fully realized vision for the future of TV that exists,” but for now it has some limitations that hold it back.

Notably, the Apple TV 4K doesn’t have Dolby Atmos sound and the YouTube app can only play videos in 1080p quality.

But the new Apple TV doesn’t support Atmos. And it doesn’t support YouTube in 4K HDR. And it doesn’t have Disney or Marvel movies in 4K HDR. And it makes some 1080p content look less than great. […]

Apple doesn’t support YouTube’s VP9 video format, which means YouTube on the Apple TV 4K doesn’t support 4K HDR playback. Apple doesn’t have any timeline as to when or if that might happen; it’s a problem that affects Safari on the Mac and iOS devices as well.

Apple told Patel that the lack of Dolby Atmos sound isn’t a hardware limitation, and said support is on the roadmap.

The new Apple TV automatically upscales all SDR video to either HDR or Dolby Vision, depending on which format your TV supports, but Patel and some other reviewers said the end result doesn’t always look great.

…Apple’s HDR video processing is hit or miss. It was great when I watched HD content from iTunes, but it fell down in other apps. I watched The Dark Knight in HD on HBO Go with our video team, and the Apple TV 4K HDR processing blew out all the contrast in the image, sharpened everything to hell, and turned the film grain into noise.

Most reviews pointed out that the Apple TV 4K, priced from $179, is considerably more expensive than its competitors. Google’s Chromecast Ultra is $69, Amazon’s Fire TV starts at $90, and the Roku Premiere is $70.

However, the price difference could eventually be made up for with a cheaper selection of 4K movies available to purchase or rent in iTunes. Apple is also upgrading customers’ existing iTunes libraries of HD videos to 4K at no cost.

Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar:

You’ll find Apple’s first batch of 4K HDR films in their own section on the iTunes store. So far, the selection includes some major new releases like Wonder Woman, Baby Driver and Alien Covenant. Notably, they’re mostly selling for $20, with a few older titles going for $15. Walmart-owned Vudu, which has been selling and renting 4K films for years, currently has those titles for $30. Even the rental prices for 4K are lower on iTunes — $5 versus $10 on Vudu. And, just as Apple promised, several films I previously purchased on iTunes — Star Trek Beyond, The Lego Movie and Kingsman were automatically upgraded to 4K HDR.

CNET’s David Katzmaier:

All HD and 4K titles on iTunes cost the same. On other services, 4K is typically more expensive. Take a new release like “Wonder Woman.” On iTunes it costs $20 to buy and $6 to rent, regardless of whether you get the HD or 4K/Dolby Vision version. On Vudu and Google Play, the HD version costs the same but the 4K/HDR version costs $30 to buy and $10 to rent. It’s a similar story with new-to-video movies “Kong: Skull Island,” “Ghost in the Shell” and “Transformers: The Last Knight.”

Bottom Lines

The Verge’s Nilay Patel:

I am very confident Apple is going to figure this TV thing out. It’s the only company that has the combination of power and care to actually do it. But the Apple TV 4K’s unrealized potential just makes it obvious that the future of TV is still pretty far away, and it’s simply too expensive to gamble on in the meantime.

CNET’s David Katzmaier:

But let’s say you’re OK spending $179 to get a high-performance streamer. If you’re an “Apple person” with a nice TV and a yen for improved image quality, the Apple TV 4K is definitely worth getting — and if you already own the non-4K one and you have cash to spare, it’s a good excuse to kick that box to a secondary room. The same goes for movie buffs who regularly rent or buy new releases in 4K, thanks to iTunes’ price advantage and promise to upgrade to the 4K versions.

TechRadar’s Garis Beavis:

If you’re already in the Apple-sphere and want a streaming box, the Apple TV 4K makes the most sense. It’s costly, yes, and there are cheaper options on the market if you just want to get high-quality images beamed into your eyeballs.

But if you also want the wider app ecosystem, and the ability to connect sensors and use it as a workout trainer, play games with kids or control your smart home, then the Apple TV 4K is an easy choice.

More Reviews: Mashable, BuzzFeed News, iMore, Financial Post, TIME

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: reviews
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

This is the most unusual, and most exclusive, special edition OnePlus 5 yet

Why it matters to you

If you want your new phone to stand out from the crowd, then you will love this limited edition OnePlus 5.

OnePlus is very good at making special editions of its smartphones and the latest is arguably the most interesting, and most unusual yet. The smartphone brand teamed up with fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac to create the OnePlus 5 JCC+, a uniquely styled version of the OnePlus 5 that will be sold in limited quantities from the beginning of October. The partnership doesn’t end there. OnePlus and de Castelbajac also created a series of accessories in his signature, colorful style.

First, the phone. It’s a OnePlus 5 as we already know and love inside, but the rear cover has been decorated with a quote from de Castelbajac. It says, “This is not a smartphone. It is a creative machine for artists, fashion expert, ideas catcher. This tool is kool [sic] you can use it also as a telephone.” However, it’s not the inscription that we really love, it’s the splashes of de Castelbajac’s signature colors on the device that make it stand out.

The volume rocker is bright red, the sleep/wake key is blue, and the notification slider is in sparkling gold. The overall combination makes the JCC+ look special and unlike any other phone. Switch it on, and there are 10 different wallpapers all drawn by the man himself from which to choose. Fans who don’t have the phone can download them separately from OnePlus’s dedicated website. The OnePlus 5 JCC+ is based on the 128GB version of the OnePlus 5, so it also has 8GB of RAM.

The phone is the centerpiece of de Castelbajac’s collaboration with OnePlus. Collectively known as the “Callection,” it also consists of several accessories. These include a T-shirt, a baseball cap, a tote bag, plus a special holster and bag-style case for the phone. All the promotional images for these items were shot on a OnePlus 5 to demonstrate its portrait mode.

OnePlus will officially launch the Callection at an event in Paris, at the Colette store, on Friday, September 22. The phone will be available to buy online on October 2, but only in Europe. The accessories will be sold in North America though, and some will be available on the same date, with other items coming in later promotions.

There is no word on exactly how many OnePlus 5 JCC+ phones will be produced, but it is being referred to as, “extremely limited,” so don’t expect it to be many. If you want one, you should probably order it quickly.

Hackers use security utility to lock Macs in blackmail scheme

Why it matters to you

Every public security concern should prompt you to check your own security: use two-factor authentication and unique passwords.

Although utilities like Find My iPhone have helped curb smartphone thefts, they also provide a new avenue of attack for hackers. The security utility is now being used by some underhanded individuals to lock Apple users’ hardware, before blackmailing them into paying to have their devices unlocked.

Originally introduced by Apple in 2010, the “Find My” service lets users use GPS location to find exactly where their iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer is in the real world. “Lost Mode” allows users to lock their device, too, theoretically preventing a thief from being able to access personal information. But unfortunately, that means that if a nefarious individual steals someone’s login information, they can use it to ransom access to a user’s device.

The ransom message is delivered on the lock screen itself, often with a Bitcoin wallet address. In the case of one user, their hacker demanded 0.01 Bitcoin to unlock the device, or around $40.

Much like ransomware, the general advice is to not pay the blackmail charge as it only emboldens hackers to continue the practice. The best bet would be to contact Apple directly to help solve the problem.

Y'all my MacBook been locked and hacked. Someone help me @apple @AppleSupport pic.twitter.com/BE110TMgSv

— Jovan (@bunandsomesauce) September 16, 2017

Although not yet a widespread issue, there have been several recent reports of users finding their systems locked without warning. MacRumors claims that it stems from hacks of third-party services and the age-old issue of password reuse. That has led to the locking of some Apple devices.

It also highlights the fact that one of the key issues with Apple’s “Find my X” service is that it does not require two-factor-authentication. That’s somewhat understandable considering an Apple user may have only the one device of that brand and therefore if they lose it, their trusted secondary login credential may be the one that has gone missing. But that issue is mitigated by the likes of Google, which offers secondary, backup devices to act in their stead in such cases.

Even if you haven’t found yourself affected by this latest scheme, no matter your device brand, it would behoove you to use strong passwords, unique login credentials and two-factor authentication where possible. Although that won’t guarantee you cannot be hacked, it makes you far from the lowest hanging fruit, which is often enough to avoid trouble.

The Morning After: Thursday, September 21st 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to Thursday. Apple’s new Watch Series 3 has a tiny LTE connectivity issue — something the company says it will fix in an update, but good luck to those with a pre-order. Google, as rumored, is buying HTC’s Pixel team, and, well, half the latter’s R&D contingent, too.

Just in time for the Pixel 2 debut.Google is buying HTC’s Pixel team for $1.1 billion

After a series of rumors, Google and HTC have finally worked out a hardware deal. Under this arrangement, Google has acquired about half of HTC’s R&D team, covering the folks who worked on its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, as well as access to HTC’s patents. HTC received $1.1 billion, keeps its manufacturing capabilities and will continue to develop its own smartphones and VR hardware. One more thing to keep in mind before we see the new Pixel phones October 4th.

FYI.The Apple Watch Series 3 has a problem with public WiFi networks

If you’re planning on trying to rely solely on your Apple Watch and its LTE connection, there’s one thing to watch out for — public WiFi networks. Early Apple Watch Series 3 reviews have discovered it’s susceptible to a bug where it connects to open WiFi networks a little too eagerly. The problem is that if they use a login web page, it gets stuck (since it doesn’t have a browser) and doesn’t switch back to LTE. Apple says it’s investigating a fix in a future software update.

Don’t put yourself at risk.Nest gets into home security in a big way

Beyond thermostats and simple cameras, Nest is now ready to handle more of your home security needs. The $500+ Nest Secure system combines a Guard that doubles as keypad and brain of the operation, with sensors that watch entryways and rooms while small Tags can arm and disarm the system with a tap. Separately, it also introduced the Hello video doorbell and an updated outdoor camera with facial recognition.

This is why we love Mario.The first Mario game on the Switch has the makings of a new classic.

Super Mario Odyssey doesn’t ship until October 27th, but Devindra Hardawar is convinced it’s “precisely the Mario entry Nintendo needs right now.” With rich and expansive new worlds, it manages to maintain the legacy of Mario 64 while still feeling completely fresh.

The A Team.The next ‘Terminator’ movie will star Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron and star Linda Hamilton sat out of the three sequels that ultimately failed to reach the same heights as the originals. But now, after a 25-year hiatus, the duo are set to return to the franchise, alongside Arnie, in what Hollywood Reporter says will be a direct sequel to Judgement Day. Cameron will produce, and Hamilton will apparently have a starring role in the new Terminator movie.

Alicia Vikander stars in Hollywood’s latest take on the series.‘Tomb Raider’ trailer teases the cinematic reboot of Lara Croft

Gotta get those moody reboot bucks.

Control Center doesn’t control.iOS 11’s Control Center buttons don’t fully turn off Bluetooth or WiFi

Updated to Apple’s new iOS 11? Brave! You might have played around with the new Control Center. You also might think that toggling Bluetooth and WiFi “off” in the Center might actually, you know, turn them off. Turns out, you’d be wrong. As noted over at Motherboard, hitting these buttons really only disconnects you from any WiFi or Bluetooth devices you might be connected to. Apple says this was intentional, aiming to ensure your phone is ready to connect with its increasing family of wireless peripherals, whether they’re AirPods or Pencils.

But wait, there’s more…

• Starting in 2020, it’s going to be much easier to buy an EV
• FIFA 18’s ‘The Journey’ story mode has become the franchise’s best feature
• Waymo wants $2.6 billion from Uber for a single trade secret
• ‘Final Fantasy XV’ multiplayer DLC arrives October 31st
• Netflix’s ‘Punisher’ trailer shows us a haunted, murderous anti-hero

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Apple TV 4K hands-on: finally, no compromises

Apple’s long-awaited fourth-generation Apple TV was almost a slam dunk. The only problem? It didn’t have 4K. That was a notable omission since both Amazon and Roku released streaming players supporting the new format in 2015. Now, Apple is finally ready to enter the ultra-high-definition fray with the Apple TV 4K. But, as usual with 4K hardware, the real star of the show isn’t the resolution bump over 1080p — it’s support for high-dynamic range (HDR) video. And in typical Apple fashion, they’ve also figured out a few ways to make all of this new technology more accessible than the competition.

I’ve only spent a day with the Apple TV 4K so far (our full review is coming next week), but I can already tell that it’s the streaming box I’ve been waiting for. While I was mostly positive on the last model, its lack of 4K became a sticking point when I upgraded to one of LG’s 4K OLED TVs last year. I ended up relying more on my set’s built-in apps to enjoy 4K/HDR content, and I only hopped over to the Apple TV when I needed to use iTunes (my preferred platform for digital purchases) or specific streaming apps. That’s no longer an issue with the new box — it can satisfy all of my media needs.

Before we go any further, it’s worth explaining the real benefits I’m talking about: 4K video delivers four times as many pixels as 1080p HD, which means it’ll look sharper on larger screens. And I do mean large — you probably won’t be able to tell the difference in resolution unless you’re sitting very close to a TV that’s at least 55-inches. HDR, a feature on many 4K TVs, is the more noticeable upgrade. Basically, it lets you see video that’s both brighter and darker than before. Apple also wisely chose to support both HDR standards, HDR10 and Dolby Vision. While 4K is the big buzzword right now, HDR is what your eyes will instantly notice.

The Apple TV 4K looks almost the same as the last model, with one small difference: Its base is raised slightly to allow for better airflow. That’s not too surprising, since it’s using Apple’s A10X Fusion processor, which is far more powerful (and generates more heat) than its predecessor. Beyond that, it has the same stubby design as the fourth-gen Apple TV. On the back, all you’ve got is a Gigabit Ethernet jack, an HDMI port and a power slot. Apple dropped the USB-C port from the last model, which was mainly for diagnostic and administrative purposes.

Also making a reappearance is the slim remote that came alongside the last Apple TV. It’s also mostly the same except for a white ring around the menu button. That lets you know when you’re holding the remote correctly without actually looking at it. Given that that was one of the major complaints about the last remote, it’s a good thing Apple came up with some sort of fix. Aside from that tweak, though, the new model won’t win over people who didn’t like the last version.

Setting up the Apple TV 4K didn’t take much effort. After plugging it in, I held up my iPhone next to it, punched in a security code and the set-top box then sucked in my WiFi and iCloud account details. I reached the home screen within a few minutes, just like when I set up the last model. And thanks to the One Home Screen setting in tvOS 11, which stores your app layout in iCloud, all of the software from my last Apple TV automatically installed. I still had to manually log into iCloud and each of my streaming apps, though.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

As you’d expect, the Apple TV 4K didn’t have a problem choosing the right screen resolution for my set. But I was surprised to find that it automatically enabled Dolby Vision, as well. It turns out that the box keeps HDR enabled all the time to avoid unsightly switching from regular SDR (standard dynamic range) mode. With some TV sets, that process involves your screen going dark for around five seconds — not exactly the smoothest consumer experience. It makes sense for Apple to keep HDR enabled, anyway, since the entire Apple TV interface is rendered to support the new formats.

You’ll find Apple’s first batch of 4K HDR films in their own section on the iTunes store. So far, the selection includes some major new releases like Wonder Woman, Baby Driver and Alien Covenant. Notably, they’re mostly selling for $20, with a few older titles going for $15. Walmart-owned Vudu, which has been selling and renting 4K films for years, currently has those titles for $30. Even the rental prices for 4K are lower on iTunes — $5 versus $10 on Vudu. And, just as Apple promised, several films I previously purchased on iTunes — Star Trek Beyond, The Lego Movie and Kingsman were automatically upgraded to 4K HDR.

When Apple announced its ambitious pricing model, I argued it would be huge for the 4K market. Now that I’m actually seeing it in action, it seems like only a matter of time until Vudu (which launched on the Apple TV last month) drops its prices to match. That’s a win for all consumers, not just Apple fans.

So how do the 4K films actually look? Simply put: stunning. Kong: Skull Island started playing within a second, and it was sharp from the get-go, with no need for buffering. It’s a film with plenty of explosions, gorgeous natural imagery and giant monsters, all of which made it the perfect 4K/Dolby Vision demo. When Kong stands in front of the bright tropical sun, I had to shield my eyes a bit — it was almost as if I was looking at actual daylight. And since there are plenty of dusk and night scenes, the film really shows off HDR’s ability to add more detail to darker scenes.

When Apple announced its ambitious pricing model, I argued it would be huge for the 4K market. It seems like only a matter of time until Vudu (which launched on the Apple TV last month) drops its prices to match. That’s a win for all consumers, not just Apple fans.

The jungle setting and monster designs also give the added resolution a chance to shine — at times I could make out individual hairs on Kong’s face and blades of grass on the ground. I also checked out 4K/HDR trailers for several films, including Baby Driver, Edge of Tomorrow and Kingsman, all of which looked significantly sharper and brighter than standard HD. So far, the only third-party app that supports 4K is Netflix, but Apple says Amazon’s upcoming Prime Video app will offer it as well. 4K is also coming to the YouTube app soon, and Apple is negotiating with Hulu to enable it eventually. (So far, Hulu only supports 4K on game consoles.)

As for games, I didn’t have access to any new titles, but Transistor loaded up quickly and played more smoothly than it did on the last Apple TV. Honestly, Apple has squandered the box’s gaming potential so far, but hopefully that’ll change with this new version. The company has already nabbed a killer exclusive with Sky, an upcoming title from Journey creator Jenova Chen. I also saw Playdead’s indie hit Inside running on the box, and it didn’t look much different from the Xbox One version I’ve already played.

There are still potential downsides to Apple’s new set-top box. Its support for surround sound audio tops out with Dolby 7.1 — not the newer and more immersive Atmos format. And, at the moment, Apple isn’t offering any iTunes TV shows in 4K. But those are both things that can change over time with some licensing deals and software updates.

Overall, the Apple TV 4K handled high-resolution films just as well as Vudu does natively on my TV. It’s tough to tell how well it compares to 4K Blu-ray, which is currently the highest quality way to watch anything in your home. I’ll dig deeper into that for our full review next week.

Stunning visual puzzler ‘The Witness’ arrives on iOS

After months of teases and rumour, striking 3D puzzle game The Witness has finally landed in the App Store, for both iPhone and iPad. Likened to a modern-day Myst, the open world game sees players wake up on a strange, colorful island with no memory of who they are or how they got there. Only by exploring the vast island, discovering clues and completing curious puzzles can they hope to regain their memory and somehow find their way home. With dozens of locations to discover and more than 500 puzzles to solve, The Witness is a beautiful beast of a game, available now for $10/£10.

Uber Falls in Line With Settings in iOS 11 That Limit Use of Location Services

Uber has updated its iOS app to fall in line with new options in iOS 11 that let users limit an app’s use of location services (via The Verge).

With iOS 11 installed, it’s possible to restrict the gathering of location data by any third-party app so that it can only access the device’s location status when the app is in use.

Uber has faced criticism in the past for tracking users’ location even when they aren’t using the service, while offering them only a binary choice of either allowing always-on tracking or turning it off altogether.

Uber had argued that the tracking enhanced rider safety and said it restricted tracking to five minutes following a ride anyway, but many users cited the policy as a privacy concern.

Good: with iOS 11, Uber had to support Location Services that monitor location only when using the app

(This: https://t.co/SSf501S81d) pic.twitter.com/Oa7M0QXR3I

— Federico Viticci (@viticci) September 20, 2017

With the latest update however, Uber has highlighted the fact that users can elect to share their location “While Using the App”, “Always”, or “Never”. These options can be found in the Settings app under Privacy -> Location Services -> Uber.

These permissions override any third-party app’s settings, which should address users’ concerns regarding similar behavior.

Tag: Uber
Discuss this article in our forums