While there aren’t a ton of PlayStation 5 exclusives at this early point in the new generation, the few that have been released have all managed to stick out. Perhaps most notably, we have Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ushering in the new hardware generation in a big way, but before that game arrived on the scene, we had Returnal … Continue reading
As good as it is to read with your kids, you might not always be there when they want to open a book. Amazon thinks it can fill in that gap, though. It just rolled out a long-teased Reading Sidekick feature that uses an Echo Kids device to help your kids read aloud on their own time. Children just have to tell Alexa “let’s read” to take turns reading supported books, whether they’re digital or physical. Your young ones won’t always have to wait for you, in other words.
You’ll need a Kids+ subscription to use the Sidekick, although you’ll at least have your choice of books. Over 700 titles will be available for kids aged 6 to 9, and Amazon is promising “hundreds more” every month.
Appropriately, Amazon is simultaneously rolling out Alexa Voice Profiles for Kids. Set them up for your children (as many as four) and they’ll get parental controls, kid-appropriate responses as well personalized Alexa skills, games and media. Not everyone will have Voice Profiles for Kids right away, but they should be available to everyone by July 2nd.
Before you ask: yes, Amazon is aware that parents and teachers should be involved in reading whenever possible. It’s not suggesting that you use a smart speaker as a substitute for reading at bedtime. Reading Sidekick is meant to fill in the gaps and encourage kids to read aloud more often — you don’t have to worry quite so much if a business trip keeps you away from home.
Working from home has further compounded the shortcomings of built-in laptop cameras. Most machines ship with a 720p or 1080p snapper, meaning you have to purchase a separate webcam if you want higher quality video — or resort to using a compatible action cam or DSLR, if you own one. Well, now you have another 4K webcam to choose from to spruce up those video calls, virtual events or livestreams. Dell is releasing the $200 UltraSharp Webcam that’s capable of recording 4K footage at up to 30 frames per second.
Like the similarly priced Razer Kiyo Pro, Dell’s 8.3 megapixel camera also features a Sony Starvis sensor (only this one is 4K) normally used in surveillance cams. The tech promises to deliver true-to-life results even in low light conditions, while an optional HDR mode works to balance out colors in brighter settings.
Dell has also added a few features that should make the webcam more versatile for live streamers and conference callers. You can choose between three preset fields of view: The default 90-degree shot to show more of your background, a 78-degree view that moves slightly closer to you and a 65-degree narrow angle for close-ups of your face.
There’s also 5x digital zoom and an AI auto framing feature that keeps you centered in the frame even when you move around. The latter is already available on numerous smart displays and video chat devices, including Amazon’s Echo Show 10 and Facebook’sPortal range, and even the latest iPad Pro.
A more prevalent webcam feature included here is the privacy shutter cap, which lets you snap the cover over the lens when you want to remain hidden. Plus, you can magnetically attach the cap behind the webcam so you don’t misplace it. Dell’s camera is also certified for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, which means it’s been tested to prove it plays nice with those video chat services. Like the older 4K Brio, it also supports Windows Hello authentication. The UltraSharp Webcam is available worldwide now.
Apple is once again releasing special edition Watch bands to mark the summer Olympics, but this time you won’t have to travel to the games (not that you likely can) to get one. The company has launched an Apple Watch International Collection of 22 Sport Loops that should help you cheer your team as it chases medals in Tokyo. There’s a US band (below), to no one’s surprise, but you’ll also find straps for countries as wide-ranging as Australia, Greece (it did start the Olympics, after all), Japan and South Africa.
No, you won’t have to go to the trouble of creating a custom watch face. The packaging takes advantage of App Clips to help you download a matching Stripes face. You can also download them from Apple’s website if there’s another country you want to support.
The International Collection bands are available solely through Apple and sell for $49 in both 40mm and 44mm sizes. Apple characterizes them as “limited-edition,” although it didn’t say how long they’ll be available (we’ve asked for clarification). It’s safe to say you’ll want to get yours quickly if you’re interested. This is a rare chance to buy an official nation-themed Apple Watch band without having to pay a premium for one on an auction site.
“Handicap, handiCRAP!” we heard someone shout.
The Super Bowl champ’s Titleist balls are customized with small reminders of his greatness on the football field.
California added five more states, including Florida, to the list of places where state-funded travel is banned.
The Rock’s got his eyes set on Santa Claus for a new project. The Dexter continuation is somehow picking up a very familiar face. Korean webtoon Deep is coming to TV. Plus, Rick & Morty takes on a Captain Planet riff, and what’s next on Tuca & Bertie. To me, my spoilers!
Though the first season of Amazon’s adaptation of Good Omens covered all of the beats from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s original novel and then some, there were so many interesting details about the series’ world that were begging for more exploration, like Aziraphale and Crowley’s millenia-spanning friendship.…
Some astronomers believe that exoplanet searches may be missing nearly half of all Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars. The findings by astronomers suggest that Earth-sized planets could be undiscovered in binary star systems hidden by the glare of the parent stars. Scientists note that roughly half of all stars are binary systems meaning they could be overlooking vast numbers of … Continue reading
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
