Aug 24
I Worked As A Tarot Reader In A Bar. I Wasn’t Prepared For The Way I Was Treated.
Posted in: Today's Chili“As you might imagine, a bar is not the ideal place for spiritual work.”
Aug 24
Maybe it’s from the years of Apple offering students a new pair every year with a Macbook or iPad purchase, but something about the end of summer makes a sale on Beats headphones feel right. The latest pair to tout a discount is the new Beats Studio Pro, an update six years in the making. Right now, its down from $350 to $250 — a 29 percent price cut — and its first sale since debuting in July.
The Beats Studio Pro is a good over-the-ear, noise-canceling option — especially for $100 off. We gave it an 81 in our review and were especially impressed with its improved sound quality with dynamic head tracking. This upgrade provides a more immersive sound and really reignites some old favorite songs. The Studio Pro also has up to 40 hours of battery life, transparency mode and three EQ modes — Conversation, Signature and Entertainment — in USB-C audio mode. Though, they don’t have automatic pausing or the most comfortable feel on the market.
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, the Beats Studio Buds + are another relatively new addition to the company’s lineup and are currently 24 percent off — dropping from $170 to $130. These earbuds scored an 84 in our May review, partly because of their sticker price. The Studio Buds + also have enhanced noise canceling and sound quality compared to their predecessor. Plus, its battery life expanded by 16 percent and it got new air vents on its front and side.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beats-studio-pro-headphones-are-100-off-right-now-131517683.html?src=rss
Aug 24
Amazon’s latest deal makes it easier to secure your home without breaking the bank. The Labor Day sale includes 35 percent off the company’s Blink Video Doorbell (reduced to $39 from its original $60). You can also order a bundle including the doorbell and one Blink Mini module to use as a chime for $64 (30 percent off its typically $95). In addition, Amazon has standalone Blink Mini deals starting at $25, and you can snag the Blink Wired Floodlight for $60 (40 percent off). Most of the deals approach Prime Day lows.
The Blink Video Doorbell captures video at 1080p resolution. It has infrared capabilities for nighttime recording, motion detection and two-way audio. You can install the doorbell wired or wireless; it requires a Blink mini (bundled with the doorbell for $64) for an indoor chime if you decide not to use your home’s existing wiring. It lets you view a live feed of who’s at your door with a paired phone or an Alexa device with a display. The doorbell can provide alerts via Alexa devices, it runs on two (included) AA batteries and Amazon says it’s sealed for protection against rain.
Amazon also has several Blink Mini bundles on sale. You can pick up a single unit for $25 (typically $35), a two-pack for $46 (usually $65) or a three-pack for $64 (regularly $100). The Blink Mini is a wired entry-level indoor security camera that can outfit your home with live feeds on the cheap. The motion-activated cameras can record day or night, and they have built-in speakers and a mic for remote two-way audio.
Finally, the Blink Wired Floodlight is available for $60 (40 percent off its regular $100). The device produces 2600 lumens of LED lighting with motion detection and a built-in siren. Its camera shoots in 1080p while providing a color nighttime view and two-way audio. The floodlight works with Alexa, allowing live view (for Alexa devices with screens) and voice-powered arming and disarming.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/blink-video-doorbells-and-cameras-are-up-to-40-percent-off-for-labor-day-130049836.html?src=rss
Aug 24
Qualcomm Introduces Next-Gen Snapdragon G Series SoCs For Handheld Gaming Devices
Posted in: Today's ChiliQualcomm has unveiled its latest offering, the Snapdragon G Series, tailored to meet the special demands of dedicated gaming devices. This new portfolio of products promises versatile ways to play games from various platforms, a great set of options for those who like gaming on the go.
The Snapdragon G1 is said to be optimized for handheld game streaming, either locally or via the cloud. Focused on delivering fast connectivity and prolonged battery life, it enables, according to the company, lag-free streaming of console and PC games. The first in this line is the Snapdragon G1 Gen 1 Platform, featuring an 8-Core Qualcomm Kryo CPU and the Adreno A11 GPU.
On the other hand, the Snapdragon G2 enhances both mobile and cloud gaming with its faster processor and advanced 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6E capabilities from the Qualcomm FastConnect 6700 Mobile Connectivity System. The initial product, Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 Platform, provides top-tier mobile and cloud gaming experiences, featuring an 8-Core Kryo CPU, an Adreno A21 GPU optimized for gaming, and the Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System.
At the flagship level, the Snapdragon G3 caters to enthusiasts, boasting Qualcomm Technologies’ pinnacle gaming capabilities. The Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Platform, part of the G3 Series, comes with its Kryo CPU (8 Core) and Adreno A32 GPU, offering over 30% improved CPU performance and 2x faster GPU performance compared to its predecessor.
High-end gaming features are included, such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing, game super-resolution, XR glass tethering, low-latency improved Bluetooth audio with Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, Wi-Fi 7 High-Band Simultaneous, and 5G sub-6 and mmWave.
To accelerate the creation of high-end gaming devices, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Handheld Gaming Reference Design is available for select OEMs and ODMs. This move aims to quickly bring a wave of dedicated gaming devices to the market. Mithun Chandrasekhar, Senior Director of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., stated:
“Dedicated handheld gaming devices are the best way to experience mobile games. But gamers want to be able to play all their favorite games across devices and ecosystems, be it their console, PC, or on a cloud service. The new generation of Snapdragon G Series powered devices will be the best place for gamers to play their favorite titles, offering them the ability to choose from the cloud, console, Android, or PC while on-the-go.”
Qualcomm Introduces Next-Gen Snapdragon G Series SoCs For Handheld Gaming Devices
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Aug 24
Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air M2 is already more affordable than any other laptop the company has ever offered with this size of screen. Now, you can grab the 256GB model at Amazon for just $1,099 (in midnight and space gray), back down to the lowest price we’ve seen to date. And if you need even more storage, the 512GB model is available for $1,299 ($200 off), also an all-time low price.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is more than just a larger version of the 13-inch model, as Engadget’s Nathan Ingraham discovered during his review. While it’s still as thin and light as you’d expect, he found that the combination of the large screen and powerful processing made it good enough that he could see using it as his only computer.
That’s in large part due to Apple’s M2 chipset that gives the 15-inch Air a great price to performance ratio. It also offers a comfortable keyboard and trackpad, plus battery life that actually exceeded the company’s 18 hour spec for video playback during out testing. The bigger screen has a 2,880 x 1,864 resolution, but it shares the same pixels per inch (224) as that of the 13-inch version. Though it lacks the punch of the mini LED displays found on the MacBook Pros, the Liquid Retina panel still offers 500 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate.
While Apple’s M2 chipset is a year old at this point, the 15-inch Air model only came out in June so it’s unlikely to be refreshed anytime soon. If your focus is content creation, a MacBook Pro might be a better choice. But if you do a mix of things from productivity to video editing, the 15-inch Air is an great choice — especially for road warriors who want to carry the least amount of weight possible. If you want to grab either the 256GB or 512GB models, it’s best to act soon, though, as stock tends to run out fast.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-15-inch-macbook-air-m2-falls-back-to-1099-105550693.html?src=rss
Aug 24
Several months back, Sony teased a dedicated remote-play device for the PlayStation 5. Now it’s got a name and a price. The PlayStation Portal will cost $200 when it lands later this year,.
Aesthetics-wise, it looks like a tablet wedged between two halves of a DualSense controller. The eight-inch LCD screen can stream games at up to 1080p visuals at 60 fps. The device also includes DualSense features, such as haptic feedback. It can stream games from your PS5 console, so when someone else is using the TV or you’re in another room (or even traveling), you can still play remotely via WiFi.
Sony
But it’s shaping up to be a surprisingly limited device if you’re outside of WiFi networks. PlayStation Portal doesn’t run any apps locally, with everything pulled from your PS5. Handhelds like the Razer Edge can are able to run Android apps locally, while some third-party devices, think the ASUS ROG Ally or a Steam Deck, can remote-play your PS5, too.
The biggest omission could be cloud game streaming, something available to PS Plus Premium subscribers with a PS5. Sony says cloud game streaming isn’t supported on the handheld.
– Mat Smith
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Corsair made a huge standing desk
You can even extend the six-foot wide surface.
Corsair
When IKEA just isn’t delivering, and you need your work desk to dominate your home, there’s Corsair’s Platform:6 Modular Computer Desk. It’s six feet wide, with an additional one foot by two and a third foot extension. The flagship Platform: 6 Creator Edition desk also has a top-mounted pegboard for mounting cameras, controllers and other accessories. Every Platform:6 has a modular rail system, and you can include dual electric motors to adjust the height using an LCD controller. No price has been announced yet.
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon G Series chips are for handheld and mobile gaming
One of the new chips is the follow-up to Snapdragon G3x, which powers the Razer Edge.
Qualcomm has announced its follow-up to the Snapdragon G3x chip, which powers the Razer Edge handheld console. The company says the G3x Gen 2’s CPU performance is 30 percent faster than its predecessor’s, and its GPU performance is twice as fast. It’s capable of powering a handheld device with cross-platform gaming capabilities, as well as devices used for Android, PC, cloud and remote console gaming.
India is the first country to land at the Moon’s south pole
Chandrayaan-3 is also India’s first successful Moon lander.
India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft’s Vikram lander has successfully touched down on the Moon, marking the country’s first successful landing on the lunar surface. It’s just the fourth country to do so after the Soviet Union, US and China. More importantly, it’s the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole — a difficult target given the rough terrain, but important for attempts to find water ice. Other nations have only landed near the equator.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-playstation-portal-is-a-ps5-game-streaming-handheld-111544269.html?src=rss
Aug 24
GOP Candidate Will Hurd Gets ‘Frank’ With Rivals Wanting To ‘Kiss The Butt’ Of Putin
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe former Texas congressman took aim at “too many” GOP rivals on the debate stage willing to “engage” with the Russian president.
Aug 24
Two of the original developers of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash are caught up in a whole new shitstorm of a federal indictment. On Wednesday, the U.S. alleged that two of the original devs, Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, helped crypto criminals launder millions of crypto at a time helping to emphasize the “anonymous”…
Aug 24
DOJ charges Tornado Cash co-founders for laundering over $1 billion in crypto
Posted in: Today's ChiliThe Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged Toronto Cash’s founders with counts of money laundering and sanction violations. The cryptocurrency mixer first faced US sanctions last year for allegedly laundering over $7 billion in stolen funds. The DOJ now alleges that Toronto Cash facilitated $1 billion in money laundering, including $455 million funneled through the mixer by a North Korean cybercrime organization, the Lazarus Group. The overall charges include “conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit sanctions violations, and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.” Co-founder Roman Storm was arrested in Washington State, while the other half of Toronto Cash, Roman Semenov, is still at large.
The US government is attempting to send a strong message about using cryptocurrency for illegal purposes. “These charges should serve as yet another warning to those who think they can turn to cryptocurrency to conceal their crimes and hide their identities, including cryptocurrency mixers: it does not matter how sophisticated your scheme is or how many attempts you have made to anonymize yourself, the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.
If you’re unfamiliar, a cryptocurrency mixer is a service that makes it harder to track funds from their origin to the new owner. Most blockchains, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, are visible, so a mixer helps individuals hide their money flow — whether it be for reasonable or illegal activities. Chainalysis, a cryptocurrency analysis firm, found that in 2022, crypto addresses known for unlawful activity used mixers in almost 10 percent of transactions.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/doj-charges-tornado-cash-co-founders-for-laundering-over-1-billion-in-crypto-101017912.html?src=rss
Aug 24
Joe Biden Drops 3 Sharp Words On GOP In A Swift Flip Of Nikki Haley’s Debate Jab
Posted in: Today's ChiliBiden cooked up a brief message alongside Haley’s remarks after she went after fellow candidates at the first GOP presidential debate.
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