Here’s where you can watch the two candidates’ first presidential debate in Philadelphia tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Here’s where you can watch the two candidates’ first presidential debate in Philadelphia tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Apple AirPods 4 don’t come with a cable to charge them
The new AirPods that Apple just announced at its iPhone 16 event come with cases that have USB-C ports, but they will not ship with USB-C charging cables in the box. As 9to5Mac has noticed, the new devices’ official page states that USB-C charge cables are sold separately for both the basic AirPods 4 and the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. Apple didn’t reveal the lack of cable in the earbuds’ package in the event, but perhaps the company’s assumption was that most people already have a bunch of USB-C cables in their possession. Still, it has just switched out the AirPods’ cases lightning port, so current users got lighting cables with their previous models.
Apple started selling its devices without charging bricks years ago, and it also stopped shipping the Apple TV with a USB cable for its Siri charger in 2022. So, no, this isn’t unprecedented, but those who don’t have an extra cable to use with an AirPods 4 will have to buy one. The latest version of the AirPods Max does come with a cable, though, so those looking to get a pair don’t have to put an extra one in their shopping cart.
For those now undecided whether to get the AirPods 4: We did find the ANC version’s performance impressive. Engadget Senior Reporter Billy Steele got to try it at Apple Park’s chaotic hands-on area, and the active noise cancellation nearly silenced the room full of event attendees. Apple also called the new models the “best fitting AirPods ever.”
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-airpods-4-dont-come-with-a-cable-to-charge-them-035629606.html?src=rss
Kind Words 2 takes cozy letter-writing to the city on October 7
Kind Words 2 (lofi city pop), a game where you send real letters to real people and then wander around a cozy town, is due to hit Steam on October 7.
It’s the sequel to Kind Words (lo-fi chill beats to write to), an award-winning 2019 game from independent Boston studio Popcannibal. Players in the original game had a single bedroom where, backdropped by a sweet lo-fi soundtrack, they wrote and responded to letters from other players. There were small bits of room customization and sticker collection in the game, but it was truly just about connecting with strangers in a warm and nice way. This was a prescient idea: Just six months after Kind Words came out, the coronavirus pandemic locked down the globe. Connecting with people safely and from a distance suddenly became a top priority, and Kind Words carried this responsibility well. In the five years since launch, hundreds of thousands of players have sent more than 6 million messages in-game.
Kind Words 2 imports your letters, room changes and stickers from the first game, and it allows you to leave the bedroom and explore a small town of shops, cafes and parks. On top of the standard letter-writing loop, you can customize your avatar with new clothes, scream (in written form) into the void, wish on a star, perform poetry and interact with other players in public spaces. The endlessly chill soundtrack comes from Slay the Spire and Kind Words composer Clark Aboud. It all looks — and sounds — incredibly adorable.
In terms of game design, Popcannibal faces a unique and impossible-sounding challenge with the Kind Words series. Instead of having to build innovative environments or ultra-responsive controls, developers have to create a world that encourages anonymous online strangers to be nice to each other. The original game excelled in this regard, using visuals, mechanics, mood and music to foster friendly conversations among thousands of anonymous players worldwide. Kind Words 2 is bigger, but the vibe seems just as snuggly, and this time around Popcannibal has years of experience moderating and vibe-curating under its belt. If anyone can create a troll-free anonymous social network, it’s these folks.
Kind Words 2 was announced in a Day of the Devs stream in December 2023, and it’s available to wishlist on Steam right now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/kind-words-2-takes-cozy-letter-writing-to-the-city-on-october-7-215127953.html?src=rss
Engadget Podcast: Apple Watch Series 10 was the star of the iPhone 16 launch
In this bonus episode, Devindra and Engadget Contributing Reporter Kris Holt break down everything new (and not so new) in the iPhone 16 lineup. Is Apple Intelligence alone enough to entice iPhone owners to upgrade? Does anyone actually need the camera button? And why are we so intrigued by the Apple Watch Series 10 (which is undoubtedly the most interesting product Apple launched today)?
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
Subscribe!
Livestream
Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Kris Holt
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-the-apple-watch-series-10-was-the-star-of-the-iphone-16-launch-222416888.html?src=rss
James Earl Jones’s Kids: Meet His Only Son, Flynn Earl Jones
Here’s everything you need to know about James Earl Jones’ adult son, whom he shared with his late wife.
Here’s everything you need to know about James Earl Jones’ adult son, whom he shared with his late wife.
Apple AirPods 4 hands-on: Seriously impressive ANC performance
Two models of AirPods were largely expected at today’s iPhone 16 event, one of which would add active noise cancellation (ANC) to the “regular” AirPods for the first time. There are other upgrades for the $179 version, but after a brief demo of the ANC setup on the AirPods 4, I wager the noise-blocking tools will be the key selling point for most people.
Apple is using this version of the AirPods 4 to bridge the gap between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. As such, this model has some features that were previously exclusive to the company’s priciest buds. Those include Siri interactions that allow you to accept or reject calls with a head nod, Adaptive Audio, Voice Isolation and more — all thanks to the H2 chip that powers the Pro model. All of these will be welcome improvements for people who prefer the open fit of the AirPods 4, but the ANC is the most impressive addition in my book.
I got a brief demo of the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation in the chaotic hands-on area at Apple Park. Honestly, it’s a perfect place to test ANC. Once I had the AirPods 4 in my ears and I got some music going, I activated noise cancelling to silence the room. And it nearly did. I was blown away by how effective the ANC is on these earbuds that don’t completely seal off your ears. Most open-type designs with ANC barely put a dent in ambient distractions, but do affect battery life. Here, I might as well have been in a room on my own, and I was only aware of the environmental noise when transparency mode jolted me back to reality.
Billy Steele for Engadget
Apple updated the design for the AirPods 4, calling them “the best-fitting AirPods ever.” This refined shape, in addition to some software tricks and acoustic performance, helps boost passive noise isolation while keeping your ears open for that default audio mode. ANC is yet another place Apple is able to flex the muscle of the H2 chip, and the AirPods 4 performance in that regard is a testament to the component’s abilities.
I will note that transparency mode on the AirPods 4 didn’t sound as natural as it does on the AirPods Pro. That’s mostly due to the fact that I didn’t feel like the earbuds were piping in as much of my own voice as that pricier model. In fact, I felt like it hardly did so at all. An Apple rep explained that the difference could be attributed to a number of factors, including the fact that my ears weren’t completely closed off.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-airpods-4-hands-on-seriously-impressive-anc-performance-211526269.html?src=rss
James Earl Jones’ Wives: Meet the Two Women He Married In His Life
Darth Vader voice actor James Earl Jones was married twice in his life and has a child from his second marriage. Learn about both relationships here.
Darth Vader voice actor James Earl Jones was married twice in his life and has a child from his second marriage. Learn about both relationships here.
James Earl Jones Dead: Iconic Actor, Who Voice Darth Vader, Dies at 93
James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93, his rep confirmed in a statement.
James Earl Jones has died at the age of 93, his rep confirmed in a statement.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs. the competition: Bigger, with more buttons
Apple unveiled a quartet of iPhones on Monday, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As expected, the updates are largely iterative. The standard models now have the programmable Action button from last year’s Pro series, slightly improved battery life and an updated camera module that’s stacked vertically instead of diagonally.
The Pro phones, meanwhile, feature bigger displays with slimmer bezels, improved battery life and a handful of camera upgrades, including a 5x optical zoom for the smaller Pro and a sharper ultrawide camera. The standard models run on Apple’s new A18 silicon, while the Pro models, fittingly, use a faster and more efficient chip called the A18 Pro.
The most notable hardware change across the board might be a new touch-sensitive “Camera Control” button that makes capturing photos and video a little more DSLR-like. Mostly, though, these phones don’t look to be massive departures from the iPhone 15s before them. Much of Apple’s sales pitch will come down to how helpful its “Apple Intelligence” AI tools are out in the wild.
We already have a hands-on preview for the iPhone 16 Pro up on the site, and we’ll have full reviews for the entire iPhone 16 lineup in the near future. But if you’re thinking about pre-ordering right away, we’ve broken down how the new iPhone 16 Pro compares to two of its most prominent rivals in the $1,000 price bracket, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24+, on the spec sheet. Per usual, raw specs won’t tell the full story — you’d probably buy an iPhone because you want iOS and an Android phone because you prefer Android — but if you’re wondering what a $1,000 smartphone gets you in 2024, here’s how Apple’s latest handset stacks up.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Samsung Galaxy S24+
Pricing (MSRP)
$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB)
$999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,219 (512GB), $1,449 (1TB)
$1,000 (256GB), $1,120 (512GB)
Dimensions
5.9 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches
6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inches
6.2 x 3 x 0.3 inches
Weight
7.03 ounces
7 ounces
6.9 ounces
Screen size
6.3 inches
6.3 inches
6.7 inches
Screen resolution
1,206 x 2,622 (460 ppi)
1,280 x 2,856 (495 ppi)
1,440 x 3,120 (512 ppi)
Screen type
OLED
Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)
Up to 2,000 nits (peak brightness)
Ceramic Shield
LTPO OLED
Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)
Up to 3,000 nits (peak brightness)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Dynamic AMOLED 2X
Up to 120Hz (1-120Hz)
Up to 2,600 nits (peak brightness)
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
SoC
Apple A18 Pro (6-core)
Google Tensor G4 (8-core)
NA/China: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (8-core)
Int’l: Samsung Exynos 2400 (10-core)
RAM
Not specified
16GB RAM
12GB RAM
Battery
“Up to 27” hours video playback
4,700 mAh
“24+ hours” with mixed usage
4,900mAh
“Up to 29” hours video playback
Charging
Wired: not specified
25W wireless (with MagSafe charger; up to 15W with Qi2 chargers)
27W wired
21W wireless (with Pixel Stand; up to 12W with other Qi chargers)
45W wired
15W wireless
Storage
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (1TB only available with Obsidian model)
256GB, 512GB
Rear camera
Main (“Fusion”): 48 MP, f/1.78
Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV
Telephoto: 12 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom
Main: 50 MP, f/1.68, 82° FOV
Ultrawide: 48 MP, f/1.7, 123° FOV
Telephoto: 48 MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom
Main: 50 MP, f/1.8, 85° FOV
Ultrawide: 12MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV
Telephoto: 10MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom
Front camera
12 MP, f/1.9
42 MP, f/2.2, 103° FOV
12 MP, f/2.2, 80° FOV
Video capture
Rear: 4K at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps
Front: 4K at 24/24/30/60 fps, 1080p up to 120 fps
Rear: 8K at 30 fps, 4K at 24/30/60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps
Front: 4K at 30/60 fps
Rear: 8K at 24/30 fps, 4K at 30/60 fps, 1080p up to 240 fps
Front: 4K at 30/60 fps
Water and dust resistance rating
IP68
IP68
IP68
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6e
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
OS
iOS 18
Android 14
Android 14
Colors and finish
Glass front, glass back, titanium frame
Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, Desert Titanium
Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Porcelain, Rose Quartz, Hazel, Obsidian
Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
Cobalt Violet, Amber Yellow, Onyx Black, Marble Gray, Jade Green, Sandstone Orange, Sapphire Blue
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-16-pro-vs-the-competition-bigger-with-more-buttons-194622608.html?src=rss
Apple’s new MagSafe charger will juice up the iPhone 16 faster than the old accessory can
At its big iPhone 16 event, which also included a new Apple Watch and AirPods, the company snuck in a new MagSafe charging cable. Although there’s nothing to see here if you’re standing pat with an older handset, the new magnetic accessory will boost charging speeds for iPhone 16 owners.
9to5Mac spotted that the new MagSafe charger supports maximum charging speeds of 25W when paired with an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro and a 30W (or higher) wall charger. The OG MagSafe charger only offers speeds of up to 15W, the same max speed the new accessory will give you when used with an iPhone 15 or older. So, other than future-proofing, there’s no reason to get the new charger if you have an older handset and already own the original MagSafe charger.
The new MagSafe accessory comes in two variants: One with a 1m (3.3 ft) cable and another with a 2m (6.6 ft) cable. The shorter cable costs $39 (the same as the original), while the longer one will set you back $49.
The new MagSafe charger is available to order now at the Apple Store with standard shipping times. The iPhone 16 series is available for pre-order with a September 20 release date.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-new-magsafe-charger-will-juice-up-the-iphone-16-faster-than-the-old-accessory-can-203435004.html?src=rss