Prime Video: The 47 Best Movies to Watch - CNET

Allison Janney and Viola Davis star in the comedy-drama Troop Zero. Here's what else you should check out on Prime Video.

from CNET https://ift.tt/lvWBEes

GameStop, Google Now Trading at Split-Adjusted Prices - CNET

GameStop's 4-for-1 stock split did more than give existing shareholders additional shares.

from CNET https://ift.tt/CFzS9R3

Blast the Grime Away With This Discounted Electric Pressure Washer for $150 - CNET

Today only, Best Buy is cutting the price on this Greenworks pressure washer by $70.

from CNET https://ift.tt/WvRhYQ7

Latest Tech News

An upcoming Microsoft Edge update could give users a whole new way to interact with the browser using custom commands.

As spotted by ghacks.net, Microsoft Edge Canary 105 will see a feature that enables the command bar to run commands from a launcher integrated into the browser.

However unlike rivals such as Chrome and Firefox, the new command bar is not located in the browser address bar, but as a standalone option, hopefully allowing for much smoother functionality.

Microsoft Edge command bar

The new command bar is opened by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Space, and sits just below the Microsoft Edge address bar. 

Although given the official name DevTools Command Palette, ghacks.net found that a wide range of commands could be used in the bar, including creating a new window or tab, opening office web apps, and even opening other apps such as Stack Overflow.

Users already signed up to Microsoft Edge Canary are able to try out the new feature now by updating to the latest build. The tool is still in development, so there's no news as yet on a potential release date, but if it gets enough engagement in the testing phase, there's no reason why it shouldn't become a part of Microsoft Edge in the future.

Read more

> Every web browser should have Microsoft Edge's latest feature

> Microsoft Edge update will stop you making an embarrassing blunder

> This long-lost Edge feature may be making a comeback

The new feature is the latest addition to Edge as Microsoft looks to ensure its browser is capable of competing on level-footing with the market leaders, Chrome and Safari.

Recently, the company revealed it was also working on an upgrade which would allow Edge users to access their favourite or most-used tools alongside the browser itself. Initially, the likes of Discover, Bing search, Outlook, Office, Games, and other items such as a unit converter and internet speed test will be among those included for users to try out.

Another recently-announced feature will allow users to pause all Microsoft Edge extensions from running on specific websites with a single click, giving them greater control over extensions running on risky or sensitive websites.

• Here's our pick of the best laptop for programming we've seen

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/QmYOFE5

Latest Gadgets News

Democratic representatives are widening their scrutiny into the role of tech companies in collecting the personal data of people who may be seeking an abortion. Recently, six House Democrats have asked the top executives of Amazon’s cloud-service network and major cloud provider Oracle about the companies’ handling of consumers’ location data from mobile phones,...

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/jmX2OeA

Listen to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Main Theme Performed by an Orchestra - CNET

The new Pokemon games hit Nintendo Switch on Nov. 18.

from CNET https://ift.tt/qvI5uzE

Latest Tech News

Google is changing its mind and reversing a recent decision to hide the app permissions list on product listings in its Play Store.

The official Android Developers Twitter account tweeted the team heard the public outcry and is going to reinstate the permissions list. The tweet goes on to say “privacy and transparency are core values in the Android community” and so they want to uphold that. Users will be able to cross-reference what’s on the Data Safety section to Google’s permissions list and ensure app developers are being honest about the data they collect.

The tweet also states the “app permissions section will be back shortly.” Looking through the Google Play Store, the app permissions list wasn’t back at the time of this writing. We reached out to Google to see if it could give a more concrete date or launch window. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

Original outcry

The original story was Google rolled out a new Play Store feature called Data Safety that required developers to disclose what data they were collecting and if it was being shared with third parties, among other things. It sounded great on paper until Google decided to remove the app permissions list.

People could use the permissions list to fact-check the developers' claims and get a better understanding of what developers do with user information. But with the list gone, you couldn't verify developer assertions. Instead of creating a more transparent environment, Google made it murkier.

The Data Safety section essentially runs on the honor system. Looking through Google’s Data Safety page on its support website, Google states developers “are responsible for making complete and accurate declarations in [their] app’s store listing on Google Play.” It adds that while Google reviews apps, it “cannot make determinations on behalf of the developers of how they handle user data.” Basically, it won’t tell the developers what to do.

The problem with an honor system is that developers are under no obligation to be honest with customers. Why be honest if they don't have to? Developers could have potentially harvested all the sensitive data they wanted and users would have been none the wiser. The permission list's reinstatement should ease some concerns. People are better informed, Google looks good, and apps are more trusted.

Analysis: Understandable fear

The negative reaction from the community isn’t unwarranted. Data collecting is a consequence of living in a tech-saturated world. Collecting this information is important for developers to make their apps better, but many users are understandably fearful of losing control of their data. 2022 has had its fair share of big data breaches from the attack on Microsoft back in March or the Cash App breach in April. 

Google has called for increasing security across the tech industry, but occasionally its actions are at cross-purposes with these privacy and security aspirations. And sometimes, in an effort to simplify its systems, it loses sight of the larger goals. It's nice to see, however, how quickly it can course-correct.

If you’re interested in fostering privacy, check out our list of the best privacy tools, both free and paid. 

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/1VyJOLi

Latest Tech News

The office isn’t the only place people are getting their work done these days. With more and more workers taking their responsibilities on the go, they rely on mobile systems to stay as productive as they’d normally be in the office. AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors step up the mobile productivity game, giving team members the ability to stay on top of their game wherever they are. 

AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors bring with them performance and capabilities that make for exceptional business-class laptops tuned for productivity.

With up to eight high performance cores available, there’s plenty of computing power on deck to handle some of the more demanding tasks that might be asked of a work machine. The extra cores can also carry the weight of many different tasks all running at once. This is one way the AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors can help boost performance in Microsoft Teams, and help manage heavy multitasking workloads. Being able to attend meetings virtually without the occasional snags that can be introduced is a boon for hybrid workers trying to stay productive. Whether the result is clearer communication or more effective presentations, the benefits are evident.

AMD further emphasizes the ability to stay connected with support for the latest wired and wireless connectivity options. 

When workers are on the move, they’ll often be relying on Wi-Fi, so AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors support Wi-Fi 6E for higher bandwidth and less congestion on the new 6GHz band. That can provide faster downloads and uploads of project files and clearer connections during calls. Bluetooth 5.2 can enable better connections to wireless accessories, like mice and keyboards or even headsets for communication. Meanwhile, swapping files back and forth is a snap with up to 40Gbps of bandwidth available through USB4 connections.

All of the power coming from AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors comes extra efficiently, too. That spells the mobility that’s so essential for hybrid workers on the go. With all-day battery life thanks to intelligent power management, workers could even go off the grid and get work done for multiple days before they run out of power.

When making IT decisions for a business, it’s important to ensure employees have all the tools for the job. And when it comes to hybrid working, AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors make for business-class laptops that keep up inside the office and out.

Learn additional details about these benefits and more from AMD Ryzen™ PRO 6000 Series processors here.  

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/rawJNbs

Latest Gadgets News

The Biden administration is said to be investigating Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei over concerns that the US cell towers fitted with its gear could capture sensitive information from military bases and missile silos that the company could then transmit to China. The company has denied all allegations.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/OZGsS5g

Best iPhone VPN of 2022 - CNET

These are the best virtual private networks for maximizing your privacy on Apple's iPhones.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Uu0LXNq

Latest Tech News

Spotify has been steadily expanding its Blend feature, most recently by letting users create shared playlists with up to 10 friends and also allowing them to get in on a shared playlist with select artists.

Blend in its expanded form is a particularly good Spotify feature since it gives the service a social dimension: friends can turn each other on to new music, or scramble down a nostalgic rabbit hole by sharing songs that were important to them in the past.

The artist playlist dimension of Blend was previously limited to 20 musicians or bands, with big names like BTS, Diplo, Charlie XCX, and Megan Thee Stallion all vying for your shared playlist attention. Now Spotify is adding Post Malone, Lizzo, and The Chainsmokers to the list of shared playlist-worthy artists, and also introducing a new Blend feature: the ability to purchase artist merch through a direct integration with Shopify.

Buying merch through Blend is a multi-step process where you first create a shared playlist with the artist on Spotify. You then get a social sharecard with a Taste Match score that reveals shared musical interests, which you are encouraged to post on social media.

Once all that’s all done, you’ll get the opportunity to purchase merch including t-shirts, vinyl, CDs, and more directly via Shopify, with the artist getting a cut of the proceeds. 

And while the focus of Blend’s shared playlist and Shopify feature at the moment is on big-name artists, independents who have their music listed on Spotify can also set up a “virtual merch table” via Shopify, with up to 3 products featured on their artist profile.

The author's Blended playlist with Post Malone resulted in an excess of that artist's songs. (Image credit: Future)

Analysis: Most musicians make money from merch, not streaming

Although it's one of the best streaming services, Spotify isn’t known for its generosity to artists. A New York Times article cited industry estimates of a “$4,000 per million streams, or less than half a cent per stream,” payout going to record labels, with the label then determining the artist’s cut of that amount. 

To make any reasonable amount of money from that arrangement, you’d have to be massively popular – someone on the level of a Post Malone, or maybe a Kate Bush post Stranger Things season 4.

Most touring artists make their money from the venue’s merch table, and having that table extend virtually into streaming services is a positive step. And while Spotify’s Shopify arrangement lets independent artists get in on the action, the service could do more to promote it by expanding its roster of Blend shared playlist options well beyond the current limited number of highly popular, presumably well-compensated artists.

For an example of how to do things right, Spotify should look to Bandcamp, a service that lets artists directly share streams and sell music downloads, along with other types of merch. During the height of the pandemic, Bandcamp became known for Bandcamp Fridays, where the service waived its revenue share and allowed artists to keep the proceeds of any merchandise sold.

Bandcamp plans to resume Bandcamp Fridays starting in September. If you’re an artist with a following less massive than Post Malone’s, you may want to be checking Bandcamp out rather than relying on Spotify to mix you into the Blend.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/lb2uKcw

Best Weighted Blanket for 2022 - CNET

From couch throws to full-size comforters, these are the year's best weighted blankets to help you get a good night's rest.

from CNET https://ift.tt/kZLICwa

Latest Tech News

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched new memory-optimized Amazon EC2 R6a instances featuring AMD EPYC (Milan) processors.

First rolled out in 2006, AWS's EC2 instances allow users to run virtual machines on the company's cloud platform.

If you're a fan of running memory-intensive workloads in the cloud then you might be in luck, as AWS says the newest instances are ideal for high-performance database software such as relational databases and noSQL databases, distributed web scale in-memory caches such as Memcached and Redis, and in-memory databases including real-time big data analytics such as Hadoop and Spark clusters.

What do users get?

AWS says the new instances deliver up to 35% better price performance compared to R5a instances, and at a 10% lower cost than comparable x86-based EC2 instances.

In addition, AWS says R6a instances feature an 8:1 ratio of memory to vCPU, just like R5a instances and support increased sizes up to 192 vCPUs per instance. 

R6a instances are apparently SAP-Certified and support SAP Business Suite.

The specs of R6a instances vary significantly with the lowest performance instance "r6a.large" supporting 16 GiB of memory and network bandwidth of up to 12.5 Gbps.

In contrast, the highest performing R6a instance "r6a.metal" offers a whooping memory of up to 1536 GIB and network bandwidth of up to 50 Gbps.

Amazon has been pretty busy when it comes to rolling out new EC2 instances, users can now rent and run an M1 Mac Mini in the cloud.

READ MORE:

> AWS has patched a rather embarrassing Kubernetes bug

> AWS is using AI to make contact centers smarter

> Our pick of the best cloud hosting providers right now

Where can I sign up?

Users can launch R6a instances today in the AWS US East (N. Virginia, Ohio), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Mumbai), and Europe (Frankfurt, Ireland).

 To learn more about the new offering, head to Amazon's R6a instances page.

• Not interested in migrating everything to AWS? Check out our guide to the best business servers

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/MyvsIzL

'House of the Dragon' Drops Extensive New Trailer Ahead of San Diego Comic-Con - CNET

Catch an even better look at Westeros under the reign of the Targaryens in HBO's Game of Thrones prequel series.

from CNET https://ift.tt/Ebeg8XU

Latest Tech News

Ahead of the release of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered for PC next month, Sony and Insomniac Games have released a brand new trailer that touches on some of the PC-exclusive features we can expect. 

The trailer was released with an accompanying post on the official PlayStation Blog in which Mike Fitzgerald, Insomniac Games' core technology director, digs into what Insomniac Games and collaborator studio, Nixxes Software, have been working on. 

Fitzgerald explains that the priority for the studios was “to make this game a visual stunner on the PC platform” which meant “opening up extensive configurability to PC users with varying hardware, as well as introducing some new techniques and tools to push things even further”.

In the PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, then, you can expect to see ray-traced reflections “across the game for those with hardware that supports them”. These will have “varied quality levels, one of which is a new, higher-quality ray-traced mode that offers even more city detail”.

There’s support for NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and NVIDIA DLAA (Deep Learning Anti-Aliasing) for RTX users, as well as support for “a wide range of display ratios, including ultrawide 21:9, panoramic 32:9, and NVIDIA Surround multi-monitor setups.”

Fitzgerald adds that “many other rendering systems are more customizable than they have been in the past, with additional quality levels and algorithmic options. These include SSAO, texture filtering, LoD quality, shadows, and more.  We support windowed, full screen, and exclusive full screen rendering modes.”

Aside from the graphical features, PC players will enjoy multiple peripheral support. You have the option to use the PS5’s DualSense controller in addition to mouse and keyboard, while Steam Input support means “there are innumerable remapping options available”. 

Finally, the post covers the PC specs for the game which are pictured below. They’re pretty thorough, covering what you’ll need at bare minimum all the way through to the specs you’ll need for the ultimate ray-tracing experience. 

(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered will launch on PC on August 12. The blog post closes out by revealing that if you pre-purchase the game ahead of this release then you’ll get a pre-purchase item pack that includes early unlock for three Spider-Man suits, an early unlock of the Spider-Drone combat gadget and 5 extra skill points to spend on Spidey upgrades.

• New PS5 games: all the upcoming PlayStation 5 game releases
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2: everything we know about the long-awaited PS5 sequel
• Marvel's Spider-Man review: amazing, spectacular and sensational

Sony's PC push

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered is the latest PlayStation title to get ported to PC as part of Sony’s push to get more of its games on the platform. It follows an acclaimed port of 2018’s God of War and a slightly-less-acclaimed port of Horizon Zero Dawn. 

Sony has been talking about its plans for PC releases for a couple of years now, saying back in 2020, “We will explore expanding our first-party titles to the PC platform, in order to promote further growth in our profitability.” Around that time, PlayStation’s Head of Worldwide Studios Hermen Hulst made it clear that Sony’s then-new policy wasn’t going to be to port over every first-party game. It would only port the ones that make sense and are a good fit for PC.

This year, it's become clear that the PC ports are working out for Sony. In a shareholder briefing back in May it was revealed that the ports have brought in $80 million over the past fiscal year (running up to the end of March). Sony went on to say in the next financial year, it expects its PC games to earn $300 million. That’s a pretty big jump but it suggests that the company has big plans for the PC platform in the near future. 

We already know that Spider-Man: Miles Morales is also getting the PC treatment, as is the Uncharted Collection: Legacy of Thieves. We’re looking forward to seeing what else Sony has up its sleeve, even though we're not holding our breath for Bloodborne. 

• Best PS5 games: the PlayStation 5 games you need to play right now

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/e0psOac