Oct 07
We’ve got some good news to start the weekend: A recovery team has regained control of NASA’s CAPSTONE probe, which is in the midst of a four-month journey to an elliptical halo orbit around the Moon.
Oct 07
Bose Might Be Right About the QuietComfort Earbuds II Having the World’s Best ANC
Posted in: Today's Chili
Massachusetts-based audio giant, Bose, recently released the successor to its first gen QuietComfort Earbuds, which came out two years ago. The newly released buds, named the QuietComfort Earbuds II (QC Earbuds II), brought with them a plethora of upgrades. Enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a trimmed down…
Oct 07
Biden signs executive order to protect personal data transfers between the US and EU
Posted in: Today's ChiliMonths after reaching a deal, the White House has taken official steps to protect data transfers between the US and European Union. President Biden has signed an executive order directing the government’s efforts to implement the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The approach mainly requires that intelligence agencies “take into consideration” privacy and civil liberties before seeking data, and only conduct surveillance when there’s a clearly defined need to address national security concerns.
Intelligence gatherers will also need to update their policies on elements like data handling, with reviews keeping them in line. There will also be a “multi-layer” review process for EU residents’ privacy violation complaints. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) will investigate possible lawbreaking through its civil liberties officer, while the Attorney General will use a new Data Protection Review Court to review the results of those investigations and make binding rulings.
The Data Privacy Framework is a response to the EU Court of Justice striking down the Privacy Shield agreement in 2020. The court found that the pact gave the US too much leeway to surveil EU data, and wasn’t consistent with privacy requirements effectively equal to European law. The US balked at this rejection, arguing that it cast doubt on companies’ ability to legally transfer data.
The European Commission will still need to examine the framework to determine if it offers enough protection. Between this and law enforcement-oriented agreements with countries like Australia and the UK, though, the US is quickly firming up its approach to international data sharing — albeit with concerns that spies might still have too much power.
Oct 07
Google’s latest streaming dongle is so similar to the previous one that when I first opened it up, I experienced a little deja vu. The new Chromecast with Google TV still has a puckish oval design, it comes packaged with an identical remote and even the OS powering everything is (largely) unchanged. The only major difference (at least on the outside) is updated packaging that features a label that says “HD.” So instead of supporting 4K displays, this new more affordable Chromecast is aimed squarely at people looking to stream shows and movies on 1080p screens. And from where I’m sitting, that’s just fine, because while it’s limited to HD content, this thing delivers essentially the same great watching experience that we loved on the original.
The basics
I’m not going to bore you with the typical design section, because the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is incredibly straightforward and almost a carbon copy of its predecessor. There’s the Chromecast itself which plugs directly into your TV via HDMI, a separate remote with a built-in mic and Google Assistant button for voice controls and a power adapter with a USB cable that you can use in case your TV can’t supply enough juice using only HDMI.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Setup is incredibly straightforward too. Thanks to an update in Android 12 for TV (which comes pre-installed), there’s a new sign-on process that works by using your phone to scan a QR code in the Google Home app. This cuts out the tedium of having to enter your credentials, connect to WiFi and so on. Though, if you’d like to do things manually, that’s still an option too.
Once the Chromecast is up and running, you can log into your favorite streaming apps as normal and then dive into some of the more advanced settings like HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) which allows the Chromecast to do stuff like automatically turn on when you fire up your TV. You can also use Google’s controller pairing setting to program the Chromecast’s remote to mirror important functions like adjusting the volume or switching inputs. That means if you’re like me and you have a relatively simple setup, you might even be able to stash your TV’s remote in a drawer and rely completely on the Chromecast, which is a great way to cut down on clutter.
The streaming experience
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
When it comes to finding something to watch, things couldn’t be simpler. There’s a dedicated row across that top that makes it easy to find shows, movies, apps and purchased content, along with a Live tab that works with a handful of streaming TV services (YouTube TV, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Philo), so you can jump into currently airing program straight from the main home screen.
Naturally, as this model is focused on 1080p content, you won’t get support for 4K videos. But even with the HD model’s relatively lightweight specs (just 1.5GB of RAM with an Amlogic S805X2 chip), performance felt very similar to what you get on the original Chromecast with Google TV. Upon startup, there’s often a bit of lag as the dongle loads the OS and pulls down art for content recommendations. And if you pay attention, you might also notice some small hitches when you switch between apps or settings really quickly. But generally, things are smooth, especially during playback, which is when it really matters.
The other notable feature you won’t get on this new cheaper Chromecast is support for Dolby Vision. That said, this omission doesn’t feel like a huge deal as a lot of 1080p TVs (particularly older ones) can’t handle that anyway. At least there’s still support for HDR10.
Other new additions in Android 12 for TV
As the first device to feature Android 12 for TV pre-installed, the new Chromecast includes a number of handy quality-of-life improvements that will eventually make their way to other Google TV devices. These include the ability to adjust the text scaling (from 85 percent up to 130 percent), options for matching your content’s framerate (which is set to auto by default) and some additional surround sound controls. And just like Android 12 on phones, you’ll also get a little pop-up when the Chromecast activates its mic, so there’s no confusion about when it’s listening to you.
Wrap-up
Sam Rutherford/Engadget
With the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), it’s clear the company didn’t try to do too much. And that’s totally OK, because the original blueprint works fine. It’s just tailored for 1080p screens here. You get the same great UI, a nifty compact remote that covers all the basics, and more than good enough performance — all for just $30. So if you’ve got an aging set or secondary display that could benefit from a modern streaming TV OS (and haven’t already invested in another streaming platforms), the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is the watch buddy you need.
Oct 07
The party’s top leadership hasn’t changed since the Bush administration, and the caucus is getting increasingly frustrated that there’s no clear handover plan.
Oct 07
Alfa Romeos are hailed as some of the best cars on the road today, but they only hold their crown for a short time. Here’s why Alfas depreciate so fast.
Oct 07
After a long wait, we finally have the first trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and it looks better than some of us were probably expecting.
Oct 07
Acer has announced the Swift Edge laptop, and the company is boasting that it’s the world’s lightest 16-inch OLED laptop – here’s what’s under the hood.
Oct 07
A fire that may have been intentionally set has caused “irreparable” damage to some of the iconic ancient moai statues on Easter Island, local authorities said this week.
Oct 07
Upgraded Covid-19 Boosters Could Save 90,000 American Lives This Winter—If We Get Them
Posted in: Today's Chili
The toll of covid-19 in the U.S. this winter will depend heavily on how many Americans are able and willing to get an upgraded booster shot, suggests a new expert analysis. Even a moderately successful booster campaign would save tens of thousands of lives as well as billions of dollars in medical costs, researchers…
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