Author Archives: Anna Washenko

Streaming hit multiple new viewership records in July, Nielsen reports

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Streaming posted another banner month in July, reaching multiple new milestones in the latest issue of The Gauge report from Nielsen. The big headline is that streaming was responsible for 41.4 percent of all TV viewing during the month. That's the highest share in the report's brief history for any viewing category, meaning streaming topped past performances for both broadcast and cable TV. The result follows on the heels of the previous record set by streaming in June.

The other big success story in the July report is for YouTube. The popular video platform hosted 10 percent of monthly TV usage, marking the first time a single streaming service has reached a double-digit share. Multiple other streaming sites hit their own personal bests for viewing share in July: Disney+ jumped up to a 2.1 percent viewing share and The Roku Channel hit 1.6 percent.

There are a couple takeaways from the range of record-setting performances in July. For starters, The Gauge only tracks viewing that happens on a TV screen, meaning no mobile or laptop viewing is included. Last month's results show how much streaming video's presence has expanded beyond just smartphones and tablets to challenge and surpass the options of traditional broadcast and cable TV.

Another notable factoid from Nielsen is that 10 different titles on streaming platforms surpassed 1 billion minutes of viewing in the first full week of July — another record. Seven different streaming companies had programs on that list, and they cover a broad spectrum of genres and audiences. The lineup was led by Netflix's action flick Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, which secured 2.05 billion minutes of viewership between July 1 and July 7. TV series Suits (available on Peacock and Netflix) came second with just shy of 1.5 billion minutes viewed. House of the Dragon on Max, Your Honor on Netflix/Paramount+ and The Bear on Hulu rounded out the top five, each with more than 1.2 billion minutes viewed during that week. In other words, the next breakout hit for streaming could happen on any platform.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/streaming-hit-multiple-new-viewership-records-in-july-nielsen-reports-191529705.html?src=rss

Doom meets Dredd in Defect, a squad-based shooter with a Mick Gordon soundtrack

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Dystopian shooters with strong echoes of Doom are a dime a dozen. But when the people behind the recent entries for that hellishly good franchise are the ones making a new game, it's worth taking a look. Today the trailer dropped for a new game called Defect from a new studio called Emptyvessel. 

Think multiplayer Doom gameplay with a heavy layer of Dredd. The game is set in a city governed by a sinister AI and rocked by violence as different factions trying to secure power. The trailer is mostly setting the atmosphere and showcasing shiny graphics courtesy of Unreal Engine 5. But it does include a few snippets of pre-production gameplay that show some of the arsenal. The one that stands out is a weapon with a screen showing highlighted enemies, even ones behind walls. The gadget indicates that there will be a strategic side to the gameplay on top of the gory destruction. Defect also promises multiple objectives with different finales for each of the matches.

Emptyvessel boasts veterans from many of the heavy-hitting titles in AAA game development. There's a lot of alumni from Doom, as well as experienced creatives from Call of Duty, Uncharted, Tomb Raider and The Last of Us.

One notable team member is Mick Gordon, previously responsible for a ripping and tearing soundtrack in the rebooted Doom games, who is the composer for the project. But you'd know that from the sudden urge to start headbanging as you watch the trailer. And since he and leadership at id Software had a very public falling out after Doom Eternal, fans will be happy to have him attached to a new franchise.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/doom-meets-dredd-in-defect-a-squad-based-shooter-with-a-mick-gordon-soundtrack-221144042.html?src=rss

California state IDs can now be stored in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet

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California is the latest state to make its driver's licenses mobile. Today, Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced that both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet will be adding support for California driver's licenses and state IDs. The release clarified that residents still need to carry a physical copy of their identification, but that the mobile option would make age verification faster during air travel and at participating businesses.

“We’re partnering with two iconic California companies – Apple and Google – to provide convenient, private and secure driver’s licenses and ID cards directly on people’s phones," Newsom said. "This is a big step in our efforts to better serve all Californians, meeting people where they’re at and with technology people use every day.”

The addition of licenses to these tech companies' wallet apps is part of a bigger program by California's Department of Motor Vehicles. The mobile Drivers License (mDL) pilot introduced a proprietary wallet app from the state agency that gave California residents the same capabilities to upload their driver's licenses to their smartphones. More than 500,000 residents have done so to date in the mDL program.

Arizona was the first state to bring driver's licenses to Apple Wallet in 2022, although both iOS and Android were exploring the technology years before. Maryland, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Ohio have also adopted support for mobile identification. And any news about identification is a good reminder that Real ID laws, which require more documentation to board a plane or enter some government facilities, are slated to take effect in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/california-state-ids-can-now-be-stored-in-apple-wallet-and-google-wallet-200021839.html?src=rss

Researchers claim most Google Pixel phones shipped with exploitable bloatware since 2017

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Mobile phone security firm iVerify has discovered a vulnerability in Google Pixel smartphones. According to iVerify's investigation, a piece of third-party software with deep system access is to blame, and troublingly it shipped with "a very large percentage of Pixel devices [...] since September 2017."

The issue relates to "Showcase.apk," a bit of software made for Verizon and used to put Pixel devices in demo mode while displayed in retail stores. The software downloads a configuration file over an unencrypted web connection, which — because of Showcase's deep access — might allow bad actors to perform remote code execution or remote package installation on the device.

The especially troubling part of this discovery is that Showcase can't be uninstalled at the user level. And while it is not enabled by default, iVerify said there could be multiple ways to activate the software. iVerify alerted Google to the vulnerability in May; thus far there's no confirmed evidence it's been exploited in the wild.

A Google spokesperson told Wired that Showcase “is no longer being used” by Verizon and that Google would have a software update to remove the software from all Pixel devices "in the coming weeks." Additionally, the rep said Showcase is not present in the line of Google Pixel 9 devices announced during the Made by Google event this week.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/researchers-claim-most-google-pixel-phones-shipped-with-exploitable-bloatware-since-2017-185926564.html?src=rss

Kim Kardashian is back with a new Beats headphone collab

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Kim Kardashian is lending her name and image to a second collaboration with Apple's Beats line of headphones. The latest entry to the Beats x Kim line brings three neutral colors – Moon, Dune, and Earth – to the Beats Studio Pro headphones. The limited collection is available now from Apple and Amazon, and even with the celebrity backing, the headsets retail for their usual price of $350.

Apple refreshed the Beats Studio Pro last year, including a new version of the brand's audio chip and improving active noise cancellation capabilities. The headphones also got an aesthetic refresh to couple with the updated sound quality.

This marks the second time the reality television star has worked with Apple on audio gear. In 2022, the pair launched the Beats x Kim line with the same three skin tone hues for the Beats Fit Pro earbuds. Apple said that release was its best-selling collaboration to date. Kardashian's Skims clothing company also focuses on items with skin tone colors, so the neutral appearance of her Apple gear seems on brand.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/kim-kardashian-is-back-with-a-new-beats-headphone-collab-140029761.html?src=rss

X adds passkey logins for Android users

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X announced today that it is rolling out support for passkeys on its Android app. The social media platform formerly known as Twitter introduced this security option for iOS users in the US in January, then globally in April.

Passkeys started to take off as an option from tech companies and online services last year. We have a detailed explainer, but in short, this approach to protecting an account creates a digital authentication credential. It's a stronger alternative to passwords, which can be guessed or stolen. Even password managers have been moving to offer a passkey option for customers.

For X users, you'll still need a password in order to create an account. But once you're in the app, you'll need to click through some menu options to enable a passkey. It's listed under "Additional password protection" in the Security tab.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-adds-passkey-logins-for-android-users-231827149.html?src=rss

Polestar 3 production is underway in the US

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Electric vehicle company Polestar has started production for the Polestar 3 in South Carolina. Polestar 3 cars from this location are intended for consumers in the US and Europe. The Volvo-owned company's first SUV debuted in 2023, but the shift to a US production facility will help it to avoid huge tariffs for importing EVs from its facility in Chengdu, China.

"Manufacturing Polestar 3 in the USA is a crucial step for us," Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said. "Now we offer customers in America an electric SUV that is built in America. Exporting the South Carolina produced Polestar 3 to Europe will strengthen our business on a broader scope."

Earlier this year, the Biden administration placed a sizable increase on the costs for imports of electric vehicles from China. The White House move to quadruple the tariff on Chinese-made EVs was meant to "protect American manufacturers." Even before that change was announced, we'd heard that Polestar 3 production would be shifted to South Carolina. The Polestar 4, on the other hand, will be manufactured at the company's plant in South Korea when production begins in mid-2025.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/polestar-3-production-is-underway-in-the-us-221732000.html?src=rss

Google’s Pixel 9 series won’t launch with Android 15

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Google users may have been waiting for an announcement about Android 15, but it seems like we'll be waiting longer to have the new operating system on smartphones. The spec sheet for the upcoming line of Google Pixel 9 devices confirms that the phones will launch with Android 14. This applies to all four of the new devices: the Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Google Pixel 9 screencap
Google

This is an unusual approach for Google, but that may be because the new Pixel models are coming out on an earlier timeline than the usual annual OS updates. Android 14 came out in October last year, so we can expect to hear more about Android 15 later in the fall. The operating system is in its second public beta, so we've already seen some of what it can do. And despite the new phones running Android 14, there are a host of new AI-powered features that'll be available when the phones go on sale next week.

Catch up on all the news from Google’s Pixel 9 launch event right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-pixel-9-series-wont-launch-with-android-15-175323603.html?src=rss

You can now include 20 images in a single Instagram post

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Good news, oversharers: Instagram has doubled the number of photos and videos users can share in a carousel post. A representative for the social media network told Engadget that the limit has been increased from 10 to 20 pieces of media. This update will roll out to all Instagram users round the world beginning today.

For users of a certain age, this change may harken back to the late 2000s era of photo dumps on Facebook. Long before it became “Meta,” Facebook was the place to share vast numbers of photos. And since smartphones were only just arriving on the market, most of those photos were from digital cameras that would never fit in your pocket. Ah, memories!

The carousel post format first rolled out to all Instagram users back in 2017  but was restricted to 10 items until now. Instagram has explored additional carousel features since that original launch, such as the ability to delete a single photo from the batch and setting the posts to music.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/you-can-now-include-20-images-in-a-single-instagram-post-211516632.html?src=rss

FCC proposes new rules for AI-generated robocalls and robotexts

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The Federal Communications Commission has proposed new rules governing the use of AI-generated phone calls and texts. Part of the proposal centers on create a clear definition for AI-generated calls, with the rest focuses on consumer protection by making companies disclose when AI is being used in calls or texts.

"This provides consumers with an opportunity to identify and avoid those calls or texts that contain an enhanced risk of fraud and other scams," the FCC said. The agency is also looking ensure that legitimate uses of AI to assist people with disabilities to communicate remains protected.

Today's proposal is the latest action by the FCC to regulate how AI is used in robocalls and robotexts. The commission has already moved to place a ban on AI-generated voices in robocalls and has called on telecoms to crack down on the practice. Ahead of this year's November election, there has already been one notable use of AI robocalls attempting to spread misinformation to New Hampshire voters.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/fcc-proposes-new-rules-for-ai-generated-robocalls-and-robotexts-200013807.html?src=rss