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A federal safety agency recently told car manufacturers to begin reporting and tracking crashes involving cars and trucks that use “autopilot” features. The move is a sign of the growing concern about the safety of semi-autonomous driving. “Autopilot requires the driver to remain in the driver’s seat, pay attention to the road and traffic conditions and be prepared to intervene if a crash is imminent,” Alain L. Kornhauser, the director of the transportation program at Princeton University, told Lifewire in an email interview....

Despite being popular and easy to use, Chromebooks haven’t had the best record of support and updates. Google has been trying to change that for a few years now, and the latest update only improves what Chrome OS has to offer by adding new accessibility features and better troubleshooting. “The most exciting update we’ve found is definitely the Live Captions,” Remco Bravenboer, the owner of Laptoid, told Lifewire in an email....

Quirky artwork and simple controls are at the core of Crashlands. Stranded on an alien planet following the destruction of their spaceship, Flux—the player character—and Juicebox must work to build a communication device to let the Bureau of Shipping know about their crash, so that they can complete their latest shipping contract. From here, players must gather resources, build up their base, and unlock new weapons, all while beating their enemies to a pulp....

The eShop on Switch simply doesn’t do the system’s extensive library of mostly fantastic releases justice. You could argue that it’s because Nintendo doesn’t have as much experience with digital marketplaces as its peers, I suppose. However, I’d argue that this makes no difference, since the company dabbled in the concept throughout the 3DS, Wii, and Wii-U eras. I don’t understand why Nintendo decided to set things up the way it did or why it hasn’t adjusted anything in the years since....

A virtual reality climate change experience, set to debut at the 2021 Venice Biennale, is meant to simulate Samoa by interacting with the virtual environment and letting you smell local elements. It’s one of a growing number of technologies trying to leverage more of your senses while in VR. “The closer our virtual experiences are to our real ones, the more effective they are,” Aaron Wisniewksi, CEO of OVR Technology, which makes the gear that produces the smell for the exhibit, said in an email interview....

After months of rumors and leaks, Google officially has revealed the next phones in its Pixel lineup, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Unlike past Pixel devices, the new smartphones will feature a Google-made processor called Google Tensor. While Google has yet to share any exact specs about the device, the series of tweets it shared as part of the announcement mention better performance and processing power compared to previous chips used in Pixel phones....

Google Meet is rolling out video backgrounds that are first coming to the web. Zoom and other services also allow video backgrounds. But can they really liven up dull meetings? “Video backgrounds are made to attract attention which can make them distracting in business environments,” Trends expert Daniel Levine said in an email interview. “I can imagine companies banning them.” Party Time On Screen? You choose from three options at launch: a classroom, party, or forest....

It’s possible the rumor is true and Apple is making one of its tiniest computers even tinier. After all, that’s what it does. But a few moments’ thought shows that removing the stems causes way more problems than it fixes. Even sources close to Apple doubt that it’s possible. “Integrating noise-cancellation, wireless antennas and microphones into a smaller AirPods Pro casing has proved challenging during development,” writes Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, “which could result in a less ambitious design when the product is finalized....

Recently, David Weston, Microsoft’s Vice President of Enterprise and OS Security, shared details about security improvements the company plans to introduce in upcoming Windows 11 releases, aiming to protect people against common cybersecurity threats. “Microsoft has made groundbreaking investments to help secure our Windows customers with hardware security innovations like secured-core PCs,” wrote Weston on the Microsoft Security blog. “In upcoming releases of Windows, we are advancing security even further with built-in protections to help defend from advanced and targeted phishing attacks....

Wonder Workshop’s Dash robot might seem a bit off-putting when you first catch a glimpse of it, what with that large, pulsing eye that seems to be watching you at all times. However, fire up this blue-and-orange plastic pal and any initial misconceptions are sure to subside. Dash is a delight, rolling and romping with ease while packing plenty of personality through its sounds and movements. Better yet, Dash isn’t just a toy: it’s a learning tool designed to engage young minds and help them understand the basics of coding....

Here are a few of the best and most popular Android word processor apps. 1. OfficeSuite Pro + PDF OfficeSuite Pro + PDF from MobiSystems (available on the Google Play store) is a robust app that is feature-rich and lets you create, edit, and view Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and PDF documents, and the ability to view PowerPoint files. OfficeSuite + PDF is a free trial version of the app that gives you a chance to try out the app before committing to purchasing it....

The WebEx Recorder software can record a specific program’s screen via its File > Open Application menu item. It’s often used for demos, training, and similar tasks that benefit from having everything on the screen captured, including the mouse. The video file that WebEx Recorder creates is much like a regular one in that it can contain both audio and video data. However, some of these files might not include audio, especially if the Record Audio option was toggled off during the recording....

Xbox Cloud Gaming has provided players with the ability to stream games, even on mobile devices, for some time, with Xbox One S hardware used with its servers. Changing over to the more powerful Xbox Series X likely will improve the experience across most, if not all, available titles. It also should support streaming to devices with larger screens. The Verge’s Jay Peters noted that Dirt 5 shows improved load times and stable performance, while Forza Horizon 4 shows no change and is probably still running on the older system....

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs slightly more than Xbox Game Pass, so let’s dive into the differences so you can decide which is best for you. Overall Findings If you own either an Xbox One console, or a gaming PC, or you plan on buying the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S when it launches, then Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are great options. Both provide a Netflix style service whereby you have access to 100s of games as part of the subscription fee....

Global positioning systems (GPS) have become ubiquitous in everything from phones to cars. But researchers have come up with a new method that uses quantum mechanics to keep track of directions instead of the satellite network. “There is always a chance that GPS is unavailable,” Sandia National Laboratories scientist Peter Schwindt told Lifewire in an email interview. “Perhaps you are in an area where you cannot receive GPS, such as in an urban canyon or a tunnel....

To identify popularity trends, check out these YouTube pages and bookmark them for future reference. These sources are also helpful for spotting viral video trends. YouTube Music Charts YouTube Music Charts maintains a list of the top music videos in the U.S. on YouTube. The 100 top music videos for the week are ranked, listed with the number of views and weeks on the chart. From this screen, you can toggle to the Top Artists and Top Songs for the week....

Both products overlap in many ways, including by offering free versions suited for smaller teams and individuals. Deciding between the two could determine which unique features are most practical for your team or work routine. Overall Findings Zoom and Skype provide individuals and teams a simple way to meet and collaborate. Each distinguishes itself with different strengths, while both platforms overlap with free memberships, which allow hosting up to 100 participants and features including chatting, file-sharing, and screen-sharing....

On top of continuing Ethan’s story, the latest entry in the iconic survival horror series brings back the fright-inducing first-person perspective of the previous installment. But the similarities mostly end there, as Village trades its predecessor’s disturbing Louisiana setting for a creepy stretch of Eastern European countryside. The new location isn’t home to the series’ typical zombie-like threats, but instead introduces a rogue’s gallery of gothic horror staples, including werewolves and vampires....

Magnifying Glass and Light Source This method is less about precision and more about using what you have on hand. You can use either a magnifying glass or loupe in combination with a light source to look over the film in a pinch. The most basic option is to hold up the film in front of a well-lit window in one hand and use a magnifying glass in the other hand to look over the individual frames on the reel....

Find Out if Apple TV Can be Installed on Your Roku While Apple TV is available on most Roku media players, some older models aren’t able to run the streaming app because they’re not fast or modern enough to support Apple’s new channel. How do you know if your Roku can use the Apple TV app? The easiest way to find out is to actually try to install it. If it’s compatible, you’ll see the Apple TV app in the list of available channels; if it’s not compatible, you won’t see it there....