Category: Technology

It’s official. The Mandalorian and his little green buddy are coming to the big screen, and before Dave Filoni’s long-anticipated crossover film event. The movie, appropriately titled The Mandalorian & Grogu, will be helmed by Jon Favreau, who created the Disney+ streaming TV show.

Fans have been speculating why there hasn’t been a renewal announcement regarding a new season of The Mandalorian, and this could be why. The film’s going into production this year, which is likely when a new season of the show would have been created. Beyond Favreau, the producers include franchise luminaries Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. There’s no plot synopsis, but Kennedy says the “new story is a perfect fit for the big screen.”

Director Jon Favreau not only created The Mandalorian TV show, but kickstarted the entire MCU when he directed a little film called Iron Man. He also helmed Elf, Swingers and live-action remakes of The Lion King and The Jungle Book.

Disney has offered no information regarding where in the timeline this film would take place, but one assumes it would be set directly following the events of both The Mandalorian season 3 and the first season of Ahsoka. This means that Mando and his ridiculously cute ward could become involved with Grand Admiral Thrawn’s attempts to rebuild the empire.

In a short span of time, we’ve gone from wondering if there would ever be another Star Wars movie to there being, well, a whole bunch of them. The Mandalorian & Grogu will likely lead to Dave Filoni’s unnamed crossover movie that features characters from across ‘The Mandoverse’, including Ahsoka, Boba Fett, Ezra Bridger, CGI Luke Skywalker and more.

There’s also a movie in the works chronicling the further adventures of Rey, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and a film exploring the origins of the Jedi and Sith directed by James Mangold. On the TV side of things, Ahsoka has been greenlit for a second season. Before that, however, there’s the Jude Law vehicle Skeleton Crew and a show set hundreds of years before the Skywalker Saga called The Acolyte. Star Wars: The Bad Batch is also getting a third and final season.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-mandalorian-and-grogu-are-coming-to-theaters-with-series-creator-jon-favreau-directing-174732996.html?src=rss 

In the last few years, Google has used CES to show off new ways for Android, Chrome and all manner of non-Apple products to play nice with each other. At CES 2024 in Las Vegas, the company is also bringing updates to Chromecast, Fast Pair and Nearby Share, alongside some new features for cars. If you’ve always wanted to cast TikTok to your TV, because you’re one of the handful of people from the TV generation that uses the app, you can now do that on Chromecast-enabled screens. Soon, though Google doesn’t specify when, you’ll also be able to cast livestreams from TikTok. 

In line with the theme of greater inter-device performance, this year Google is rolling out the ability to move what’s playing on Spotify and YouTube Music from compatible Pixel phones to docked Pixel Tablets when within range. That’s reminiscent of an Apple feature between Homepods and iPhones.

More devices with Chromecast built-in will also be launching this year, including the 2024 LG TV series. Later this year, LG Hospitality and Healthcare will also be getting Chromecast support so you can cast to TVs in, say, your hotel room without having to log into your own Google accounts. The company is also expanding Fast Pair support to Chromecasts with Google TV, which will make it easier to connect headphones to TV dongles. Google added that Fast Pair is coming to more Google TV devices later this year.

One of the best features on Apple devices is AirDrop, which allows different iPhones to easily transfer photos, files and contact information in person. Google’s (attempt at an) answer to that since 2020 has been Nearby Share, though proximity-based versions of a file sharing tool on Android have existed for much longer. Samsung also introduced its Quick Share system in 2020, offering a very similar experience to Google’s. 

In a move that should make things less confusing and more unified on the Android ecosystem, Google announced it’s “collaborating with Samsung” to bring “the best of our sharing solutions together into a singular cross-Android solution under the Quick Share name.” In a press release, Google said it’s “integrated the experiences and created the best default, built-in option for peer-to-peer content sharing across all types of devices in the Android and Chromebook ecosystems.” 

Google also said it’s working with LG and other “leading PC manufacturers” to make Quick Share a pre-installed app on most Windows PCs. When Quick Share rolls out to current Nearby Share-enabled devices next month, you should see a new icon. Tapping it will show a list of devices available around you, and allow you to select who to send your media to. Like you can with Apple devices, you can go into your Android’s settings to choose if you can be seen by everyone, contacts only or just your own devices.

It’s worth noting that with last year’s release of iOS 17, Apple upgraded AirPlay to make it possible to share files simply by putting the heads of two phones together. 

In addition to everything covered in this post, Google is also updating Android Auto and making more devices act as hubs for the Matter smart home standard to enable better uptake and integration. We have separate articles on each of those topics, so check them out for all the finer details.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-now-chromecast-tiktok-videos-to-your-tv-180006853.html?src=rss 

Much of the auto news out of CES 2024 has focused on EVs, and Google is no exception. The company has announced that Android Auto will share real-time battery updates with Google Maps. The update should initially roll out to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in the coming months before expanding to other Android Auto-compatible EVs in the future.

With this new feature, Google Maps will give you suggestions of charging stations along the route without you having to pull over and search. It should also update you on the car’s battery level once you arrive at a destination (something your EV should already do) and provide an estimate of how long it will take to charge. The latter is more novel and could help when you’re in a rush.

Google also announced the expansion of Google built-in to additional car brands, such as Nissan and Ford, after first launching in Honda’s 2023 Accord sedan’s high-end Touring trim. The Chrome browser is now rolling out in beta to select models from Volvo and Polestar (of which Volvo is a part-owner) and should be more widely available later this year. Plus, Google built-in now has The Weather Channel app to track the forecast as you travel.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/android-auto-will-soon-let-google-maps-see-ev-battery-levels-and-tell-you-where-to-charge-your-vehicle-180006872.html?src=rss 

Google has teamed up with more automakers to offer vehicles that come pre-installed with Google apps, the company revealed today at CES 2024 in Las Vegas. Nissan, Ford and Lincoln are rolling out select models with built-in Google Maps, Assistant and Play Store — among other applications — this year, while Porsche is expected to follow suit in 2025. They’re the upcoming addition to the growing list of auto brands embracing tighter Google integration, which includes Honda, Volvo, Polestar, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Renault. 

The company has also announced new features for cars with built-in Google apps. One of those features rolling out today is the ability to send trips users have planned on their Android or iOS Google Maps app to their cars. That way, they’ll no longer need to plug in multi-stop trips on their car’s Google Maps again after they’ve already plotted it meticulously on their phones. In addition, Chrome is making its way to select Polestar and Volvo cars today as part of a beta release, allowing users to browse websites and even access their bookmarks while they’re parked. The browser will be available for more cars later this year. 

Google is also adding PBS KIDS and Crunchyroll to its list of apps for vehicles to give users and their kids access to more entertainment content. And to give drivers a quick way to keep an eye on changing weather conditions, Google’s built-in apps for cars now includes The Weather Channel’s. It will provide users with hourly forecasts, as well as alerts and a “Trip View” radar on their dashboard, so they no longer have to check their phones. Finally, Google has announced that it’s expanding its digital car keys’ availability to select Volvo cars soon, allowing owners to unlock, lock and even start their cars with their Android phone. 

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-apps-are-coming-to-select-ford-nissan-and-lincoln-vehicles-in-2024-180007640.html?src=rss 

Google is expanding its smart home integration at CES 2024. The company said Tuesday that, in the future, LG TVs and some Google TV (and other Android TV) products will work as Google Home hubs. Considering Google’s support for the Matter smart home standard, the move could make it easier for customers to set up and control their smart homes without buying a Nest device.

“In the future, LG TVs and select Google TV and other Android TV OS devices will act as hubs for Google Home,” Google Android VP Sameer Samat wrote in today’s announcement blog post. “So if you have a Nest Hub, Nest Mini or compatible TV, it’s easy to add Matter devices to your home network and locally control them with the Google Home app.”

The announcement closely aligns with a comment teased by Google’s Eric Kay during LG’s CES 2024 press conference. “LG TVs will act as hubs for Google Home where you can easily set up and control any Matter device,” Kay said. “You’ll be able to see, control, and manage both LG and Google Home devices right from the TV or the ThinQ app. These features will roll out later this year.”

The eventual move will give smart home customers more options to set up and control a Google Home setup — including for Matter devices. Currently, you need a Google Nest device to do that.

We’re reporting live from CES 2024 in Las Vegas from January 6-12. Keep up with all the latest news from the show here.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lg-tvs-will-soon-be-matter-compatible-google-home-hubs-180015856.html?src=rss 

The second season of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us is about to go into production. That means we’re starting to find out the actors who have been cast in key roles from the second game, including the most pivotal new character of them all, Abby. No spoilers here, but Kaitlyn Dever, the star of Booksmart and No One Will Save You, is taking on the challenging role. (Let’s just say we hope she nukes all of her social media accounts.)

“Our casting process for season two has been identical to season one: we look for world-class actors who embody the souls of the characters in the source material,” the show’s co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann told Variety. “Nothing matters more than talent, and we’re thrilled to have an acclaimed performer like Kaitlyn join Pedro [Pascal], Bella [Ramsay] and the rest of our family.”

Abby is described as “a skilled soldier whose black-and-white view of the world is challenged as she seeks vengeance for those she loved.” As it happens, Dever and Druckmann have worked together in the past. She played Cassie, the daughter of Nathan Drake, in the epilogue of Uncharted 4, a game that Druckmann co-directed.

Dever is joining the series just after it won eight Emmy awards (including acting honors for Storm Reid and Nick Offerman), and that’s even before the delayed main ceremony takes place this Sunday. Pascal and Ramsay are nominated for their performances, while the show is up for Outstanding Drama Series. Overall, The Last of Us snagged 24 Emmy nominations this year, more than any other show except for Succession.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hbos-the-last-of-us-has-found-its-abby-182020670.html?src=rss 

NordVPN’s latest limited-time sale knocks up to 67 percent off its subscription plans. The Ultimate plan, which includes malware protection and ad blockers on top of VPN access, typically costs $476 for a two-year period. This new year’s deal will bring down the cost of the Ultimate subscription to $6.40 per month, or $154 for the entire two years.

While this sale on NordVPN plans isn’t as good as the 69 percent off we saw during the Black Friday season, it comes pretty close. NordVPN, which can support up to six devices at once, has 5,000 servers in 60 countries. It’s worth noting that its standard price is a bit high when compared to competitors and their offerings. But, given this discount, now could be a good time to subscribe if you’ve been thinking about doing so.

If you don’t want to commit for that long, you can get a one-year subscription for the Ultimate package for 59 percent off, or $96 instead of the usual $238. There are also offers on the one- and two-year subscription plans for the mid-tier Plus and the lowest-tier Standard plans. The two-year deal for Plus and Standard plans are only 58 and 59 percent off, respectively, but they don’t include as many perks as the Ultimate plan does, such as extra identity protection and included cloud storage.

A NordVPN Ultimate plan gives you access to the company’s password manager, NordPass. But if you’re primarily interested in better organizing and keeping track of your logins and credentials in the new year, NordPass is also having a similar flash sale. Both individual Premium and Family plans are cheaper right now at 50 and 53 percent off, respectively. For the Premium plan, instead of paying $72 for the first two years, it will only cost $36 in total, which comes out to $1.50 per month. The Family plan, which gives you six user accounts, is listed for $67 for the first two years instead of the usual $143. NordPass earned a spot in our best password managers guide thanks to how easy the service makes it for you to access your credentials across many different platforms and devices.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nordvpn-two-year-plans-are-up-to-67-percent-off-right-now-165328194.html?src=rss