The 2022 Acura NSX Type S made its debut at Monterey Car Week on a rather blissful note. The most potent iteration of Acura’s hybrid supercar commemorates the NSX’s final year of production. Despite this, it intends to leave an indelible mark in the eyes and hearts of enthusiasts worldwide. It is, after all, a Type S. “NSX is an … Continue reading
It tends to be very dry in the western parts of the United States, leading to significant wildfire activity. This summer has been particularly bad for fires, and so many are burning that many Western states, such as Colorado, are currently blanketed in smoke. Significant quantities of smoke in the air is bad for people to breathe and particularly harmful … Continue reading
This week, Cherlynn and guest co-host Mat Smith are joined by foldable aficionado and tech personality Michael Fisher (aka Mr Mobile) to talk all about foldables. Specifically, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, as well as the new Galaxy Watch 4 series and Buds 2. Then, our hosts try to make sense of the confusion around Apple’s CSAM-detecting features, and go over some other gadgets launched this week.
Listen below, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked News: Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 with Mr. Mobile – 1:58
Where the Z Fold and Z Flip sit in foldable history – 27:47
Also announced at Unpacked: Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic – 38:00
Making sense of Apple’s Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) detection feature – 44:16
Xiaomi’s robot dog is terrifying – 52:49
What we’re working on – 54:44
Pop culture picks – 57:00
Credits
Hosts: Cherlynn Low and Mat Smith
Guest: Michael Fisher aka MrMobile
Producer: Ben Ellman
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos, Owen Davidoff, Luke Brooks
Graphics artists: Luke Brooks, Kyle Maack
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
Best Buy is back with a new three-day sale that reduces the prices of many gadgets, including laptops and tablets from Microsoft and Samsung. Through August 15, you can grab the Surface Pro 7 with its Type Cover for as low as $599 and a Core i5 model of the Surface Laptop Go for $750. Samsung’s flagship tablets, the Tab S7 and S7+, are both on sale, while the already affordable Tab S6 Lite is even cheaper at $270. Here are the best tech deals we found in Best Buy’s latest weekend sale.
Google’s mesh WiFi kit with one router and two access points is $50 off, bringing it down to $150 (Amazon’s matching the deal as well). This system came out at the end of last year and it supports speeds up to 1.2Gpbs. Each node covers up to 1,500 square feet, so you’re getting a ton of coverage with this three-pack. While it’s not as fast as the Nest WiFi system, it’s a good upgrade for those who may still be relying on a router from their ISP.
Buy Google WiFi (3 pack) at Best Buy – $150Buy Google WiFi (3 pack) at Amazon – $150
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is down to $449 for the Intel Celeron model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The Core i3 model will set you back $599, but that’s still a decent deal. We gave this laptop a score of 82 for its impressive screen, loud speakers and solid performance.
Buy Galaxy Chromebook 2 at Best Buy – $449
The base Surface Pro 7 with its Type Cover is down to $599 for this sale, or $360 off its normal price. This model has a Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — we’d be wary about using a device with 4GB of RAM as your primary device (unless it’s a Chromebook), but this would make a good convertible for those that want a lighter device to tote around with them.
Buy Surface Pro 7 bundle at Best Buy – $599
The latest LG OLED lineup just became available a few months ago and now you can grab the 55-inch A1 model for $1,300. The A1 series is the most affordable of the bunch, making these sets good options for anyone looking to upgrade to OLED while on a tight budget.
Buy 55-inch LG A1 OLED at Best Buy – $1,300
The 55-inch, mid-tier LG C1 OLED TV is down to $1,500, or $300 off its normal price. It uses LG’s a9 Gen4 AI Processor 4K and supports HDMI 2.1, G-SYNC and FreeSync for gaming and voice commands using Alexa or the Google Assistant.
Buy 55-inch LG C1 OLED at Best Buy – $1,500Buy 55-inch LG C1 OLED at Amazon – $1,500
Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go with a 10th-gen Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is $150 off right now, bringing it down to $750. This is a good price for the upgraded model with more RAM, as most people will need at least 8GB on their daily driver. We gave the Laptop Go a score of 81 for its solid, minimalist design, excellent keyboard and trackpad and speedy performance.
Buy Surface Laptop Go at Best Buy – $750
Best Buy and Amazon have knocked $120 off Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7, bringing the total price to $530. The S7+ is also on sale for $730. This slab earned a score of 80 from us for its lovely 120Hz display, attractive build and long battery life.
Buy Galaxy Tab S7 at Best Buy – $530Buy Galaxy Tab S7 at Amazon – $530
Buy Galaxy Tab S7+ at Best Buy – $730Buy Galaxy Tab S7+ at Amazon – $730
Samsung’s affordable Android tablet is even cheaper in this sale — the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is down to $270, or $80 off its normal price. If you’re looking for a capable Android tablet that won’t break the bank, this is one that gives you a number of premium features at a great price. We gave it a score of 84 for its sturdy, attractive design, long battery life and excellent note-taking features with the S Pen.
Buy Galaxy Tab S6 Lite at Best Buy – $270Buy Galaxy Tab S6 Lite at Amazon – $270
The Fujifilm X-T3 mirrorless camera is $300 off during this sale, bringing it down to $1,200. Although Fujifilm debuted the X-T4 last year, the X-T3 remains a good option if you’re on a tight budget. We gave it a score of 90 for its faster autofocus, excellent image quality and its compact, weatherproof design.
Buy Fujifilm X-T3 at Best Buy – $1,200Buy Fujifilm X-T3 at Amazon – $1,200
We thought the Pixelbook Go was a bit too expensive for a Chromebook (even a high-powered one at that), but this sale knocks it down to $750. That gets you a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage — more than enough power for most Chrome OS users. We gave the Go a score of 84 for its thin-and-light design, good performance and solid battery life.
Buy Pixelbook Go at Best Buy – $750
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
Computers and other gadgets are becoming increasingly affordable, but they’re also getting harder if not outright impossible to repair. We’re warned that our warranty will be voided if we open up our gadgets, licensed repair shops are nearly extinct, and reputable sources of components are also hard to find. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see a company like Framework. Its debut product looks and works mostly like a regular laptop, but it was designed from the ground up to be opened, customized, and repaired.
Even from the outside, you will immediately notice something unique about the Framework Laptop: its modular ports. It has four recessed USB-C ports in which you can stick a variety of modules: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, a microSD card reader, SSDs, and even a full-sized DisplayPort output. Swapping between the modules is easy, and Framework says it will release more types of modules in the future. But to truly appreciate the beauty and power of this machine, you have to check out what its interior looks like:
All of the laptop’s major components – from the battery to the speakers – are clearly labeled. Each one also has a link for more info and a QR code that takes you directly to Framework’s components store. Even the display bezel is easily removable. And did I mention that the bottom of the laptop is held in place by only five captive screws? Framework is so confident with their machine’s user-friendliness that they’re also selling a DIY kit that costs a crazy $250 (USD) less than the fully-assembled version.
Of course, none of this matters if the laptop doesn’t perform well. Based on the impressions and reviews it’s gotten from major media outlets such as Linus Tech Tips, CNET, and of course iFixit, it seems that the Framework Laptop is up to the task. It’s powered by an 11th gen Core i5 or i7 CPU, has a 13.5″ 3:2 2256 x 1504 display, and has a backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader. It even has a 1080p 60fps webcam, which even most high-end laptops don’t have. Here’s iFixit’s teardown of the laptop:
Amazingly, Framework is an astonishingly small company, with only 16 team members as of this writing. I hope they’re ready to build on their work and overcome any challenges. Major PC makers obviously do not want to see a company like Framework succeed. You can pre-order the laptop directly from Framework. The fully assembled version starts at $999, while the DIY Edition starts at $749.
Alan Slattery fled empty-handed after tellers struggled to read his threatening note.
One of the cooler buildings that Ford has for testing its automobiles is called the Weather Factory. At the Weather Factory, Ford can simulate all types of weather when testing its vehicles to ensure they will perform and function no matter the environment they’re placed in. However, with the range of conditions that can be created inside the building, it … Continue reading
Lotus has a new sports car called the Emira that follows the Lotus tradition of lightweight and impressive handling with a small engine. The vehicle arrived in the US to make its official US debut at The Quail today with F1 legend Jenson button in tow. Button and the Emira went to Laguna Seca Raceway for some hot laps, with … Continue reading
A lot of research has been conducted into the brain-computer interface (BCI). While there are numerous reasons for the research, one of the main benefits of having a brain-computer interface is helping the paralyzed to operate next-generation prosthetic devices. Researchers from Brown University have created very small implantable computer chips called Neurograins. Project researchers think their new neural interface could … Continue reading
In the latest twist to the Poly Network crypto hack, the perpetrator who returned most of the $611 million in stolen digital tokens is being offered a $500,000 reward. The prize is a bug bounty to be precise, an incentive offered by tech organizations to those who report security vulnerabilities. In a statement, Poly Network referred to the culprit as a “white hat” in reference to his status as an ethical hacker. The decentralized finance platform thanked the hacker for “helping to improve” its security, but did not mention how it would pay the reward or whether it had been accepted.
$342 million (As of 12 Aug 08:18:29 AM +UTC) of assets had been returned:
Ethereum: $4.6M
BSC: $252M
Polygon: $85MThe remaining is $268M on Ethereum
— Poly Network (@PolyNetwork2) August 12, 2021
A person claiming to be the perpetrator confirmed that Poly Network had offered him a $500,000 bounty to return the stolen assets and promised that he would not be held accountable for the incident, according to messages shared on Twitter by Tom Robinson, the chief scientist and co-founder of Elliptic, a crypto tracking firm.
It’s not over yet! The PolyNetwork hacker seems to have sent the last $235m to a “shared multisig” account. Keys from both Poly & hacker are required to access them. The hacker says they will “PROVIDE THE FINAL KEY WHEN _EVERYONE_ IS READY”. Full story:https://t.co/ifku7VUoqu
— Tom Robinson (@tomrobin) August 13, 2021
Poly Network connects different blockchains, the ledgers upon which cryptocurrencies are based, so they can work together. The company revealed on Tuesday that it was the victim of a massive crypto heist that saw a hacker make away with about $611 million in Ethereum, Shiba Inu and other digital currencies.
On Wednesday, the hacker began returning the stolen funds after claiming they were ready to surrender. Poly Network said on Friday that the hacker had repaid $340 million worth of assets into a digital wallet. All that remains is the $33 million in tether frozen by the company behind the cryptocurrency.
It’s still unclear what prompted the hacker to backtrack. Some experts believe that they may have found it hard to launder and cash out the large amount of stolen crypto. While others suggest that the hacker was afraid of being exposed and prosecuted after researchers discovered a trove of identifying info, including an email and IP address. More broadly, the bizarre series of events further illustrates the pitfalls involved with cryptocurrency, an unregulated domain where hacks and scams are rife.
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