Mar 21
Mar 21
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse teases a secret dimension for Miles and friends to visit. Seth McFarlane still has hopes for another season of The Orville. Plus, what’s coming on Syfy’s The Ark. To me, my spoilers!
Mar 21
Reading some of your favorite Manga series may be getting a little easier soon: Kodansha, the publisher behind hit titles like Attack on Titan and Ghost in the Shell, has announced that it’s launching a new digital reading platform in May. Simply titled, K Manga, the new app promises to launch with a backlog of 400 titles, and will provide early access to new chapters from the publisher’s most popular series.
The announcement doesn’t say if K Manga will sell Manga by the volume or have a paid subscription tier, but users will be able to “read limited chapters of manga for free.” That, paired with a promise that K Manga releases will be “official translations” seems to be positioning the app as an alternative to the unofficial pirate sites that share fan-translated Manga for free online.
As for what you’ll be reading on the app? Kodansha highlights a few contemporary series such as The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse and Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, but the company’s back catalog has enormous potential. Although none of these series are officially announced for K Manga yet, Kodansha is the publisher for iconic hits like Sailor Moon, Akira and Battle Angel Alita.
The K Manga app will launch on May 10.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/attack-on-titan-publisher-kodansha-is-launching-its-own-manga-app-140032685.html?src=rss
Mar 21
Since unveiling its Bard conversational AI in February, Google has been working to improve the chatbot’s responses, after it spouted misinformation in its Twitter debut. More recently, we’ve seen the company add generative AI features to practically its entire suite of services, while access to the Bard chatbot remained exclusive to a few. We saw some Pixel users receive invites to test out Google’s bot yesterday, and today, the company said it’s “starting to open access to Bard.”
In a blog post that “Bard did help us write,” vice president of product Sissie Hsiao and vice president of research Eli Collins invited folks to sign up at bard.google.com. The company said it will begin rolling out access to those in the US and the UK today, and that it’s “expanding over time to more countries and languages.” Opening up access to more people is “the next critical step in improving it,” the pair said, noting that getting feedback from a wider tester base is crucial.
Much like you can with ChatGPT or Microsoft’s Bing AI, you’ll be able to talk to Bard like you would a friend, using natural language instead of a stilted series of keywords. “You might ask Bard to give you tips to reach your goal of reading more books this year, explain quantum physics in simple terms or spark your creativity by outlining a blog post,” Hsiao and Collins wrote.
The pair also said “Bard is a direct interface to an LLM, and we think of it as a complementary experience to Google Search.” Based on screenshots included in the announcement, Bard’s interface looks fairly similar to Bing AI, with a few key differences. At the bottom of each response, Google’s version offers four buttons: thumbs up, thumbs down, a refresh arrow and a button saying “Google it.” There’s also an option at the top right of the response that says “View other drafts.” Bing AI doesn’t have these, instead using the space below each response as an area for source citations.
While Bing AI runs on OpenAI’s GPT-4, Bard is powered by “a lightweight and optimized version” of Google’s LaMDA, and the company said it “will be updated with newer, more capable models over time.” At its last I/O developer conference, Google showed off an AI Test Kitchen app for people to interact with LaMDA 2, which it also unveiled then.
The input bar at the bottom of the screen also has a couple of differences. Bard has a microphone symbol at the end, indicating speech-to-text might be supported, while Bing doesn’t. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s offering has a broom icon on the left of the text input bar to clean the slate when you want to start on a new topic. Google’s doesn’t. It’s also worth noting that below Bard’s text field is a line of fine print that reads “Bard may display inaccurate or offensive information that doesn’t represent Google’s views.”
Google
In its announcement, Google was careful to acknowledge that large language models (LLMs) like LaMDA aren’t perfect and that mistakes happen. “For instance, because they learn from a wide range of information that reflects real-world biases and stereotypes, those sometimes show up in their outputs,” Hsiao and Collins wrote.
They even shared an example of where Bard has gone wrong before. “When asked to share a couple suggestions for easy indoor plants, Bard convincingly presented ideas…but it got some things wrong, like the scientific name for the ZZ plant.”
Google said that it’s important to know such challenges exist, and noted that quality and safety are significant issues to consider. “We’ve also built in guardrails, like capping the number of exchanges in a dialogue, to try to keep interactions helpful and on topic,” Hsiao and Collins wrote. It’s not yet clear what the limit on the number of exchanges in a dialogue is, though, and we’ve asked Google for clarification and will update this post when we hear back.
In spite of all its potential limits and possibility for error, Google still believes Bard is worth the work, adding that it will “continue to improve Bard and add capabilities, including coding, more languages and multimodal experiences.” Hsiao and Collins said that Bard’s help in writing the announcement post involved creating an outline and suggesting edits. “It didn’t always get things right,” they said. “But even then, it made us laugh.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-opening-up-access-to-its-bard-ai-chatbot-today-140047434.html?src=rss
Mar 21
If you consider yourself a mobile creator and you’re not using some sort of dedicated microphone, you might be holding yourself back. We’re not judging, but your audience likely is. Audio, especially dialog, is often overlooked, but nothing screams amateur more than subpar sound. There are many, many options for the home or office/studio, but there are a surprising amount of mobile-specific (or at least, mobile-friendly) solutions out there to elevate your on-the-go recordings be that for social, a jam session, making movies, podcasting and beyond.
What “the best mic for your iPhone or Android” is will vary depending on the task you need it for. If you want to record a TikTok or a Podcast or even a jam session, all have slightly different needs but the selection below covers most bases (and maybe even a few you didn’t think of yet) for recording high-quality sound with little more than a mobile phone.
The gear
This guide is all about recording on the go, free from the constraints of a studio or office, but also far away from luxuries like power outlets, acoustically friendly rooms and a full-size PC. As such there are two styles of microphone that really shine here: Lavalier (lapel) and shotgun. We’ll be covering a few other types, too, but between those, most tasks are covered.
We’ll also show you how you can use the USB mics you may already have with your phone and even ways to connect heavy-duty studio classics (XLR) to your humble handset, but all that will be through accessories. For now, let’s start with the classic clip mics.
James Trew / Engadget
Lavalier mics
The obvious benefit of a lapel mic is size. Their small profile makes them perfect for presenting to the camera with the flexibility to move around while maintaining consistent audio quality. If you’re a budding TikTok or YouTube creator it’s definitely worth having one of these in your bag.
The main trade-off, however, is that they’re only good for recording the person they’re attached to. If you have two people talking and only one is wearing the mic, you’ll only get good audio for one half of the conversation, so for multi-person recordings you’ll need a mic for each guest and a way to record them at the same time, so costs can go up quickly.
Fortunately, lapel mics have become a very competitive market with good, viable options costing as little as $14.95. For an absolute bargain with a long cord and some connectivity accessories, the Boya BY M1 is hard to argue with. But, while these budget choices are great value, if you want something that should either last longer, is more versatile or just sounds better it’s worth paying a little bit more.
Best 3.5mm mic: Rode Lavalier II
Rode’s Lavalier II is a slick-looking low-profile lavalier that sounds great. At $99, it’s somewhere in the sweet spot between budget and higher-end clip-on options. It’s easy to recommend the Lavalier II just on its sound alone, but it comes with a rugged case and a good selection of accessories. For even more flexibility you can pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which provides easy connection to an iPhone or Android (or even PCs) and adds support for a second mic – perfect for recording podcasts or interviews.
Best USB-C mic: Sennheiser XS
At $60, Sennheiser’s XS (USB-C) lav mic is fairly affordable, sounds great and plugs right into your phone (or laptop) without needing an adapter. This not only makes it convenient but reduces the overall cost as you don’t need a headphone adapter for your phone. What’s more, the XS has a 2-meter long cable which gives you plenty of scope for movement or framing.
A word on wireless systems
James Trew / Engadget
Recently there has been an explosion in mobile-friendly wireless systems but there are two we really like. The first is Rode’s Wireless GO II. Arguably the original defined this category, but the second generation improves on it with two wireless transmitters making this podcast and interview friendly. This wireless microphone is also incredibly versatile as it doubles as a standalone recorder, can be mounted in a camera cold shoe and even has its own “reporter” mic adapter. Oh, and you can make any 3.5mm mic (including the lavaliers above) wireless by plugging it into one of the receivers.
The second is the Mikme Pocket. This Austrian-designed pack is a high-end wireless lavalier microphone system designed to be particularly mobile-friendly. There’s a comprehensive app for both video and audio recording and internal storage so you won’t ever experience dropouts. It also means you can enjoy a practically infinite range. At $399 it’s a higher spend, but if high-quality audio and near-infinite range are what you need then this is the one.
Adapters
So we’ve already touched on this with the AI Micro, which is an adapter of sorts. One of the first things you might bump up against when dealing with mobile audio accessories is TRRS vs TRS connectors. Simply put, 3.5mm TRS is what you might know as the age-old classic headphone connector while TRRS became common for its support for headsets and inline mics. You can easily tell them apart as TRS connectors have two black bands on them while a TRRS has three.
For you, the budding creator, it can be a bit of an annoyance as many 3.5mm lavaliers are going to be TRS and won’t work when plugged into your phone’s headphone adapter. Sometimes your lavalier might include what you need in the box, but otherwise, you’ll want to pick up a TRS to TRRS adapter like this. Of course, some smartphone-specific mics have TRRS connectors already – for those, you’ll want a cable that goes the other way should you want to use it with other devices like a DSLR.
Shotgun mics
James Trew / Engadget
You may be more familiar with shotgun mics when it comes to video recording. It’s the style of microphone most often found atop a DSLR or mirrorless camera, but they make great companions for other portable devices too, your cell phone included.
The benefit of a shotgun is that they tend to be highly directional, which makes them perfect for podcasts, recording instruments, foley sounds and much, much more.
For us mobile recordists, another benefit is that they tend to be light and portable, perfect for slipping into a backpack or even a laptop bag. Even better, there are some great mobile-specific options.
Best shotgun mic for video/music: Sennheiser MKE 400 (2nd gen)
You shouldn’t buy a mic just because of how it looks, but the MKE 400 from Sennheiser ($200) definitely makes its rivals look wimpy. More important than aesthetics, though, is how it sounds and the MKE 400 records very cleanly without obvious coloration to the audio. What’s more, the battery-powered mic won’t steal power from your phone or camera, and with three gain levels to choose from you can boost things when needed, or avoid clipping on louder subjects. The MKE 400 also comes with both TRS and TRRS cables for compatibility with a variety of devices.
The MKE 400’s physical gain controls and high pass filter (unlike the other two below that are updated via an app) take the stress out of worrying if your audio source moves or changes volume as you can adjust that on the fly. If you’re a musician looking to record loud drums and then softer vocals on the move, for example, these tactile gain settings are a massive plus.
Best budget shotgun mic: Rode VideoMic GO II
When we tested the VideoMic GO II we were surprised at just how good it sounded right out of the box. At $100 it rivals many desktop microphones that cost three times the price. You’ll need a companion app to change settings, otherwise this performs well across the board.
Best shotgun mic for portability: Shure MV88+
Not to be confused with the older MV88 that plugged directly into a Lightning port, the MV88+ is a mini shotgun mic made with the smartphone in mind. Often sold as a vlogging kit ($249) with a tripod and phone grip, the MV88+ has modular cables for connecting directly to Androids and iPhones.
Desktop and USB mics go mobile
James Trew / Engadget
Mobile-specific mics are great, but there’s nothing stopping you from using the mic you might already have (if it’s somewhat portable). You’ll definitely need to do a little dance with some adapters, but that’s half the fun. Below are a couple of recommendations for “regular” microphones that pair well with a phone and then the cables and adapters that you’ll need to get setup.
Apogee HypeMic
Arguably, there are few microphones that are could be described as “mobile-friendly” than the HypeMic from Apogee. While it looks like a regular handheld mic, it’s actually deceivingly small, making it very light and portable. It also comes with cables to directly connect it to iPhones and Android handsets — no adapters needed. Don’t let the small size deceive you though, the HypeMic has a big trick up its sleeve: a built-in analog compressor for professional-sounding vocals. Whether you record podcasts, vocals or instruments there’s a setting on the HypeMic just for you. At $349 it’s a little on the spendy side, but you get a very versatile device that’s just as useful for the desktop too.
Samson Q2U
This dynamic mic is a favorite with podcasters, with many production companies using it as their standard mic to send out to remote guests thanks to its excellent quality to value performance. The Q2U features both USB and XLR connectivity making it versatile for both desktop and mobile applications, but it’s the former we’re interested in here as that’s what allows you to connect it to your phone with nothing more than a USB cable and an adapter (see below).
What’s more, the Q2U is solid enough to endure a little bit of rough and tumble, so will happily live in the bottom of your backpack ready for when you need it. Meanwhile, the handheld design is versatile enough it can turn its hand to singing/instruments, podcasts, interviews and more.
Tula
You may not be familiar with the name, but Tula snuck into our hearts with its versatile, vintage inspired debut microphone. From a mobile perspective, the Tula connects to Androids directly over USB-C or iPhones with the right USB-C to Lightning cable (more on this below) or a USB “camera kit” adapter. What makes the Tula special is that it’s also a desktop mic and portable recorder with lavalier input and 8GB of storage and even features noise cancellation – perfect for cutting down on outside background sounds. With the Tula you could theoretically have one mic for home, mobile and standalone recording.
IK Multimedia iRig Pre 2
If you already have a stash of XLR mics or really do need a studio condenser mic with phantom power then the iRig Pre 2 is a portable interface that will feed any XLR mic into your phone. It runs off two AA batteries which it uses to supply phantom power when needed and won’t drain your phone. There’s also a headphone port for monitoring, gain controls and LEDs to help prevent clipping.
A word on cables
James Trew / Engadget
Connecting USB microphones directly to phones is rarely as simple as just one cable, although that’s starting to become more common. In general, Android makes this simpler, but also, thanks to the wide range of manufacturers and software versions you can’t always guarantee things will work smoothly.
The iPhone is a whole other situation. USB microphones have a good chance of working via the USB camera kit we mentioned earlier, but that’s still inelegant sometimes. Frustratingly, some USB-C to Lightning cables will play nice with microphones, but sadly most will not – including Apple’s own. One confirmed option is this cable from Fiio or this generic alternative. These are inexpensive enough that it’s worth having a couple around if you work with audio a lot (they of course can also be used to charge your phone as a bonus).
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-mobile-microphones-for-recording-with-a-phone-154536629.html?src=rss
Mar 21
Saad Almadi, a dual U.S.-Saudi citizen, is now at home with family members who live in Riyadh, his son said.
Mar 21
Last fall, NASA’s DART spacecraft smashed into Dimorphos, a small asteroid some 7 million miles away, in an unprecedented attempt to change the orbit of a natural body in space. Now, two teams of astronomers have released images of the collision’s aftermath taken by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large…
Mar 21
ChatGPT users reported a strange bug letting them see the chat history titles of other users. It’s just another quirk of the closed environment of OpenAI’s super-popular AI chatbot and sets another grim reminder that despite what you might think, other people, especially the company itself, has access to what you send…
Mar 21
Jabra now has a more affordable set of mid-range wireless earbuds if you don’t need all of the Elite 4 Active’s workout-ready features. The company has unveiled base Elite 4 earbuds that include most of the core functionality at a lower $100 price. You’ll still get active noise cancellation (ANC), multipoint connectivity and quick pairing for Android and Windows, just with a few slightly toned-down capabilities.
To start, the Elite 4 offers IP55 dust and water resistance. That’s slightly less resilient than the Elite 4 Active’s IP57 rating, but should still be good enough for rain or a little sweat. You can expect 5.5 hours of listening versus seven for the Active (22 hours with the case versus 28), and there’s no mention of the higher-end model’s transparency mode. You’ll still find four microphones, though, and aptX support should wring more audio quality out of Bluetooth’s limited bandwidth.
The Elite 4 is available now. The buds sit in an unusual middle ground between the Elite 4 Active and the truly budget-oriented Elite 3 (normally $80) — there’s only $20 between each model. This is the brand’s most affordable true wireless option with ANC, however, and it won’t be surprising if sales make this new model more enticing.
The new entry is arguably a better value than some of the competition. You can’t get ANC from Apple without spending much more on the (admittedly very capable) AirPods Pro, while Google’s Pixel Buds Pro are still relatively expensive. Even Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 are costlier. It’s just a question of whether or not you’re willing to forego the tight platform integration of those offerings in the name of saving money.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jabras-elite-4-earbuds-forgo-a-few-niceties-for-a-20-price-cut-130037814.html?src=rss
Mar 21
Cleaning robot maker Ecovacs is launching three new Deebot vacuum / mop models. The company says the Deebot N10 Plus, T9+ and T10 Omni “have 3x the suction power of most robotic vac mops” while bringing some premium features from the $1,549 X1 Omni to (somewhat) lower price points. The three cleaning machines are available in the US starting today.
The Deebot T10 Omni is the most expensive of the three new models at $1,300. However, it tries to justify its price with a four-stage cleaning system that has 5,000Pa suction power. It also includes a dual-spinning mop that can rotate up to 180 times per minute. In addition, it has a built-in voice assistant, Yiko, that can recognize your voice and respond in real time. That could be a handy option if you don’t have third-party Alexa or Google Assistant devices, which all three machines also support.
The T10 Omni also includes an auto-cleaning station with two four-liter water tanks, hot-air drying to prevent bacteria buildup and a three-liter auto-emptying dustbin that “holds up to 75 days of dirt and debris.” Finally, it has a 5,200mAh battery that helps it clean for an estimated 150 minutes. The T10 Omni is an Amazon exclusive at launch.
Ecovacs
The $800 Deebot T9+ is a step down with 3,000Pa suction power. It includes a 3D imaging system (with a “70mm to 350mm level of accuracy”) and LiDAR floor mapping. Additionally, it allows for simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, 480 times-per-minute oscillating, and quick-scrub and deep-scrub cleaning options so that you can customize its power to the size of the mess. The T9+ also includes a 2.5-liter auto-empty station and a built-in air freshener to make your room smell better as it cleans. The vacuum’s battery has a 5,200mAh capacity with up to 175 minutes of runtime. It’s available at Amazon and Best Buy starting today.
Ecovacs describes the $650 Deebot N10 Plus as a more affordable choice for apartments and smaller homes. It has 3,800Pa suction power and can vacuum, sweep and mop simultaneously using LiDAR for guidance. In addition, it has a 240mL water tank for mopping and a 2.5-liter auto-emptying station that uses a sealed dust bag to hold months of dirt. Finally, it includes a 5,200mAh battery that keeps it running for an estimated 200 minutes. The Deebot N10 Plus is available online only starting today, but Ecovacs says additional retailers will stock it soon.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ecovacs-latest-deebot-cleaning-robots-combine-vacuuming-and-mopping-130039386.html?src=rss
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