Xbox controllers can now switch TV input back to your console

You won’t have to reach for a remote the next time you’re ready to return to your Xbox after a TV session. Microsoft is rolling out an update that lets you press the Xbox button on your controller to switch the input to your Series X or Series S. You can flip to cable TV during a download knowing that you just have to grab your controller when you’re ready to play.

The feature depends on the newer Xbox consoles’ support for HDMI-CEC. You can enable it through the “Sleep mode & startup” settings section through the “TV & A/V power options” selection.

The concept isn’t completely new, whether in consoles or for HDMI-CEC devices in general Even so, it’s difficult to complain when this could save you time wading through TV menus just to get back to Halo Infinite.

Police reports suggest a larger pattern of AirTag stalking

It’s been clear for a while that bad actors are planting location trackers on other people without their knowledge to track their locations. Trackers have been used in car thefts as well. Now, Motherboard has obtained some police data that casts some light on extent of the issue.

The publication requested records mentioning Apple AirTags (which the company announced a year ago) from dozens of police departments from across the US. The requests covered an eight-month period. 

Motherboard received 150 reports from eight police departments and found that, in 50 cases, women called the cops because they received notifications suggesting that someone was tracking them with an AirTag or they heard the device chiming. Half of those women suspected the tags were planted in their car by a man they knew, such as a current or former romantic partner or their boss.

The vast majority of the reports were filed by women. There was just one case in which a man made a report after suspecting that an ex was using an AirTag (which costs just $29) to stalk him. Around half of the reports mentioned AirTags in the contexts of thefts or robberies.

Just one instance of AirTag-related stalking would be bad enough. Fifty reports in eight jurisdictions in eight months is a not insignificant number and there are likely other cases elsewhere that haven’t been disclosed. Engadget has contacted Apple for comment.

Although iPhones already automatically detect unwanted nearby AirTags, Apple said in February it will do more to mitigate the issue. Later this year, it will rollout an AirTag precision tracking feature for iPhone 11, 12 and 13 to help people more easily find unknown trackers. It will also inform iPhone users more clearly when someone may be using an AirTag to follow them.

In December, Apple released an Android app to help people using phones powered by that OS detect errant AirTags. Tile updated its Android and iOS apps with a similar feature. But those require users to both be aware of the threat posed by unwanted trackers and to scan for them manually. Last week, however, it emerged that Google is exploring OS-level tracker detection for Android, which could help keep people safe should it roll out the feature.

Windows 11 的檔案總管將新增分頁的功能

除了在系統層面提升視訊通話體驗之外,Windows 11 的下個更新還會在介面等各方面帶來更多的變化。這當中最重要的非檔案總管莫屬,將會增加和網頁瀏覽器的「分頁」極為相像的功能,讓你可以最常用到的資料夾留在顯眼處,也避免同時開啟多個檔案總管視窗的麻煩。…

The Morning After: VanMoof’s two new different, but stylish, e-bikes

If I ever take the plunge on an electric bike, I hope it’s a slick VanMoof. The company has unveiled two new models that are, unfortunately, slightly more expensive than their predecessors, but pack in a bunch of upgrades alongside impressive anti-theft technology. The S5 and A5 will each cost $2,998, but VanMoof hasn’t shared a release date just yet.

The new S5 is for longer rides. VanMoof reworked the straight frame to increase the height of the riding position and changed to larger 27.5-inch wheels for a smoother experience. Meanwhile, the A5 is more for shorter trips. It has an angled frame with a lower step-in and 24-inch wheels. There’s support for both rear and front carriers as well. Both bikes weigh over 44 pounds.

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VanMoof

The new models have an updated 250W motor, slightly different battery layouts (the S5 will cover up to 150 km (93 miles)), while the A5 has a range of up to 140 km (87 miles) and, gasp, a built-in phone charger.

Now, living in a big city, the biggest impasse for me is the fear of getting my new expensive e-bike stolen. Both the S5 and A5 include a Gen 5 kick lock you can arm with a tap of your foot. It’ll unlock automatically when you return. VanMoof is working on certification for Apple’s Find My network and will continue to employ its Bike Hunters. If that team can’t find and recover your premium e-bike within two weeks of it being lost or stolen, it’ll send you a replacement. The service still requires the company’s Peace of Mind insurance, however.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Unreal Engine 5 is finally ready to power next-gen game development

Expect more realistic visuals and streamlined tools.

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Epic Games

After nearly a year of early access, Epic Games has officially released UE5 to developers. The new Unreal Engine’s most obvious upgrades affect the basics of 3D rendering. The Nanite geometry system lets producers use objects with millions of polygons while scaling easily and maintaining playable frame rates. Lumen, meanwhile, provides dynamic global lighting that adapts to, pretty much, everything. You’ve seen early results in Epic’s The Matrix Awakens tech demo — UE5 can render extremely detailed scenes with more natural lighting than you’ve seen in the past.

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A new Tomb Raider game is on the way, powered by Unreal Engine 5

Crystal Dynamics is returning to the series that put it on the map.

And on that note, we’re getting a new Tomb Raider title. While the latest trilogy was generally well received, it didn’t quite set the world alight. Maybe more polygons will improve things. Developer Crystal Dynamics said the move to UE5 would help the studio take its “storytelling to the next level.” The next Tomb Raider joins a handful of games already announced for UE5, including the next Witcher game and Black Myth: Wukong.

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The entire ‘Next Generation’ cast will appear in ‘Star Trek: Picard’ season three

LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden and Michael Dorn join the cast.

The main cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation will appear on the third and final season of Picard. LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden and Michael Dorn will join Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis and Brent Spiner, who have already featured in the series. Executive Producer Terry Matalas teased on Twitter that the series will go out on a “final, high-stakes, starship-bound adventure.”

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GM and Honda plan to build ‘affordable’ EVs that arrive in 2027

They’ll build vehicles in the compact crossover and other segments.

GM and Honda will co-develop a series of affordable EVs using a global architecture and GM’s Ultium battery technology, the companies announced. They promised to build vehicles in multiple product segments, including the compact crossover category, calling it a “new chapter” in their partnership. The companies plan to discuss EV battery collaboration in an effort to drive down costs and improve performance and sustainability.

The word “affordable” comes up a lot in the press release, as both companies emphasized the idea of building cheaper EVs than are currently available. “Honda and GM will build on our successful technology collaboration to help achieve a dramatic expansion in the sales of electric vehicles,” said Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe.

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Nikon Z9 camera review

A versatile camera with solid 8K video recording.

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Engadget

Nikon’s Z9 offers a rare combination of speed, resolution and video capability. It’s the first mirrorless camera without a mechanical shutter, but the sensor is fast enough to minimize any rolling shutter issues. It has Nikon’s best autofocus system by far and delivers outstanding image quality. Video is top-notch as well, with 8K 30p on tap and 8K 60p RAW coming later this year via firmware update.

The main drawbacks are the lack of an articulating display and the $5,500 price — for the body alone. It’s still an impressive Nikon camera – the company has finally nailed video. I’d suggest checking out our detailed YouTube review and sample shots on the main site.

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Google Docs now offers emoji reactions

Collaboration is a huge part of Google Docs, letting multiple users chip in edits, comments and more. Now, you can include not just text in your comments but emoji reactions, much as you can in messages or on social media. “The new emoji reactions feature provides a less formal alternative to comments to express your opinions about document content,” Google said in a blog post announcing the feature.

Emoji reactions come to Google Docs
Google

The new option appears when you highlight text in a document while in “editing” mode. From there, you’ll see a new “add reaction” icon smiley face icon that lets you place emojis in the editing comments section. Google notes that emojis used will be shared with Google chat, “so any preferences set in one app will be reflected in the other.” Both apps can also be used to update emoji preferences via the picker. 

Google recently feted the 15th anniversary of Docs (along with Sheets). It has gradually boosted the feature set over that time, with the last update allowing you to draft emails in Docs and then send them using Gmail. 

Emoji reactions on a Google Doc could be an easy way to add feedback, but then again they may not fly in some business environments. Either way, the feature can’t be disabled by the user and “there is no Admin control for the feature,” according to Google. The feature started officially rolling out yesterday, but it may take some time to appear depending on your domain type and region. 

Facebook wants you to post Reels from third-party apps

Facebook is taking another step to encourage users to create original content for its TikTok clone. The company introduced a new “sharing to Reels” feature to allow users of third-party apps to post directly to Facebook Reels.The update allows outside …

Cash App breach impacted over 8 million users

Block disclosed today that a security breach involving a former employee impacts 8.2 million Cash App users. In an SEC filing, the company reported that an ex-employee on December 10th downloaded a number of reports with information on customer informa…

Microsoft’s Xbox Series S is $50 off at Adorama today only

For today only, you can get $50 off the Xbox Series S through camera retailer Adorama. With the discount, Microsoft’s entry-level ninth-generation console costs $250. That matches one of the best prices we’ve seen for the system to date. To take advant…