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Summer Game Fest 2022: All the Announcements and Reveals


Summer Game Fest 2022: All the Announcements and Reveals

Summer Games Fest is almost here!

 Summer Games Fest

We didn't have E3 this year, so we pinned all of our video game dreams on Summer Game Fest, AKA Keigh3. That was probably a mistake.

Unfortunately Summer Game Fest was a little bit of a bust, but we've only got ourselves to blame. Geoff Keighley himself warned us to manage expectations, stating the show would mostly focus on existing, already announced games. He was right. It did, and it was a bit of a grind.

Please find below all the games as they were announced in our liveblog of the event. If you want to check out all the trailers from the event, head here.

Hello everyone!

By Mark Serrels

Well it's morning where I am (3.50am in Australia). Looks like they've already announced that Last of Us remaster officially. 

That's always felt like a weird one to remaster for me. Didn't it recently get a PS4 upgrade? Maybe it's the new Doom. Beggars can't be choosers I suppose.

Alright here we go...

By Mark Serrels

It has begun. We are live. Mr. Charisma Geoff Keighley is presenting. 

Again... Keighley is bracing folks for disappointment. I have a feeling this could be a bust.

Street Fighter 6

By Mark Serrels

Street Fighter 6 is first up, showing off proper footage of a game in progress. Looks good, but yeah Street Fighter has had this sorta style since the big reboot with Street Fighter 4. 
Looking forward to playing this for a couple of hours, getting wrecked online and never touching it until the next one.

Here's Guile. 

WORLD PREMIERE...

By Mark Serrels

Wait is this a new Alien game? I'm struggling here. Dunno what this is...
Yep it's an Alien game. 
Honestly though, don't people realise we want an Alien Isolation sequel? Why do we keep getting regular shooter style games when we really want a game that mimics the pacing of Alien. 
Aliens Dark Descent it's called, release date 2023. Looks bad, sorry. I'm not keen.

Callisto Protocol

By Mark Serrels

Geoff reminding everyone they broke news of this game last year.
It's funny, even though I reckon that Alien game will be bad, there something in Callisto Protocol that's got me a little more excited. I think it's the Dead Space vibe. 
This game looks good. Looks like it has its own aesthetic and weight. 

It's a bit full on though. Far out. December 2 2022 is the release date. Can't remember if that's breaking news or not.
We're now getting a live gameplay demo.
Again, Dead Space vibes off the charts here. Which makes sense as it's being made by Glen Schofield's studio, who was one of the original creators of Dead Space back in the day.

This game is stupidly violent. Wow. Looks good. I will play this.

Modern Warfare 2

By Mark Serrels

We've got a look at this game already live on our site, which you should check out.
They seem to be showing off one of the levels CNET man Oscar got to see during that preview event. At that event the team seemed really keen on selling this as a genuine evolution for the series. Back in the day Call of Duty always felt like a leap forward visually for shooters. I can't lie, this new demo gives me the same feeling. It just looks incredibly polished. 
I mean it's still very much Modern Warfare though. I mean... it's very much the same stuff we've been doing for decades now.

Just in general...

By Mark Serrels

Feels like this very much could be low key. We're dedicating a lot of time to games that wouldn't get a lot of time, say, at a Microsoft or Sony E3 presentation.
Maybe Geoff really meant it when he told us to temper our expectations.
That said, I absolutely agree with Lucy James, dungarees are back. 

Flashback 2

By Mark Serrels

Oh wow, Flashback is getting a sequel, set for release in December 2022. Apparently it continues the story of the original, which I've long forgotten.

Witchfire

By Mark Serrels

Man, this looks pretty good. Sorta like they dropped a dude with guns into Dark Souls. 

Fort Solis

By Mark Serrels

Man a lot of games with DARK SPACESHIP AESTHETIC. I guess its a vibe shift.
This is Fort Solis and looks kinda cool. Seems to be very performance and story driven, especially given the cast -- which includes the only video games voice actor most people can name, Troy Baker. 

Baker says the VERBS speak for themselves. Sounds like there's gonna be exploration elements, which I like. And -- like I guessed -- very narrative driven. To be honest, I'm keen on this.

Routine

By Mark Serrels

Okay another spooky ass game set in a decaying futuristic space. There's robots and it's very horror focused. It's called Routine. 
I guess Im keen.

The Rock

By Mark Serrels

CUT TO THE ROCK, SHIRTLESS IN THE GYM, PROMOTING ALL HIS STUFF.

Honestly though, The Rock is lame now, I'm just gonna say it. His Instagram is the worst and this segment is The Rock's insta gone into overdrive.

He's literally going through the list of things he's in or sponsored by.

Oh... he's here to show a Black Adam trailer. 

The Immovable

By Mark Serrels

I feel bad, I mostly missed this trailer because I was being mad about The Rock.

Stormgate

By Mark Serrels

New game, new thing here. Can't lie this isn't very inspiring. Another dark sci-fi game. Robots and demons fighting. Very generic. 
Apparently there's a 2023 beta. I don't even know what this game is.
Oh wait, a guy is here to explain.
Looks like it's an RTS and that was just a cut-scene style trailer. Looks like this is done by ex-Blizzard folks, which I guess bodes well.

Highwater

By Mark Serrels

Finally, some color. Highwater's whole thing is "the world ended on a sunny day". Almost looks like a modern top down JRPG from the 90s but not? Hard to explain. I'll embed the trailer here. It kinda looks interesting.

American Arcadia

By Mark Serrels

American Arcadia seems to be set in a weird dystopian future. Kinda cool. 

Goat Simulator 3

By Mark Serrels

Holy crap, Goat Simulator? This is honestly such an incredible trailer. Highlight of the show so far. No gameplay, just an amazing trailer that made me laugh out loud. Coming out later this year on the Epic Store.
Apparently that trailer was a parody of the Dead Island trailer from a while back. Deep cut.

Marvel's Midnight Suns

By Mark Serrels

Sorry I can't muster a single shred of energy for this. I guess there's new characters and what not, but this is just another cinematic trailer and I'm not into it. 

I guess Hulk is the big reveal here from this trailer, but meh.

Comes out October 2022.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course

By Mark Serrels

Cuphead is hitting June 30, which is THIS MONTH. 
Cuphead rules and this is well timed with the Netflix show. We've got new gameplay footage here, which looks as great as you'd expect, because -- once again -- Cuphead is very cool.

Neon White

By Mark Serrels

Apparently a game where you play as assassins fighting for the chance to ascend from hell to heaven. Seems like a mad, hyper paced first person parkour game with... cards? Not much to go on here. Seems weird. That's cool I guess.

Midnight Fight Express

By Mark Serrels

Midnight Fight Express is being made by a single person based out of Poland? Wow. This has big Hotline Miami vibes. Hotline Miami is one of my favourite games ever, so hell yeah to this.

Warframe

By Mark Serrels

I don't play this game, so please forgive my mad ignorance on this one. 
They're unveiling a fresh look at The Duvari Paradox. 

Honkai Startrail

By Mark Serrels

Another game in space. I am exhausted.
This one at least looks a little different. It's got a cel-shaded anime aesthetic and is very JRPG. Also seems to feature steampunk elements and a teenager playing a guitar. Seems interesting. Who even knows.

Zenless Zone Zero

By Mark Serrels

This one was announced a couple of weeks ago, but I think this is our first look. 
Zenless Zone Zero seems to be an action game, with the same anime, cel shaded aesthetic as the last game we saw. Sure, why not. Both of these games are from the creators of Genshin Impact, should have mentioned that before.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

By Mark Serrels

This was announced at a previous Geoff Keighley thing, and it looks cool. Features six players, adding Casey whatshisname and Splinter as playable characters.
This one comes out June 16, so you'll be able to play it like next week.

One Piece Odyssey

By Mark Serrels

I love One Piece, but I've never played a game based on a manga that wasn't mediocre. 
This is an RPG written by the series creator Oda though... that could potentially change things.

I have to say though, I don't really like the way this game looks. Doesn't feel very One Piece if I'm being honest.
Coming 2022.

Soul Hackers 2

By Mark Serrels

They showed off a gameplay trailer and a release date -- August 26.

Metal Hellsinger

By Mark Serrels

This is a bullet hell FPS with a mad metal soundtrack. Sounds like someone's dream game and I respect that out. You can play this one already -- a demo is out now. It has a crazy soundtrack with heaps of people who are famous in that genre. Not my thing, but absolutely knock yourself out.

The Quarry

By Mark Serrels

We've got a launch trailer for The Quarry, the successor to Until Dawn, which was absolutely AMAZING.
I've been hankering after this one. The trailer looks great. I cannot wait to play this game. Luckily I won't have to wait long. 
This one seems to be really... funny? It's literally out tomorrow.

Nightingale

By Mark Serrels

This is a weird, dark fantasy thing with cards? Heaps of games have cards now I guess. It features some really cool enemy design and you can build towns. I have no idea what the hell is going on here I'll be honest with you. I wish this show would end.

Saints Row

By Mark Serrels

They're announcing a "boss factory" thing? I guess it's like a mad customisable character creator tool where you can mess about and build your own character ahead of the game's release? This thing looks serious. A huge part of Saints Row is creating the wildest character possible. This is a great idea I think.

You can download it now.

Warhammer 40k: Darktide

By Mark Serrels

There are so many Warhammer games it can be tough to figure out which ones are good. I don't know if this one is good. Is it good? It looks okay! It's got a wild sense of scale and you face off against genuine hordes. Heaps of enemies.

Comes out Sept 13.

Layers of Fears

By Mark Serrels

This is a horror game made in the Unreal 5 engine, which everyone knows is the spookiest engine.

This doesn't look that great to be honest.

Gotham Knights

By Mark Serrels

Looks like we're getting a new look at Gotham Knights, which is another game I'm not that excited about. God I'm old.
We're getting our first look at Nightwing. 
To be totally honest, this game could potentially be good. Co-op Arkham Asylum isn't a terrible idea. I just always feel like co-op waters this type of game down. 

The Last of Us Part 1

By Mark Serrels

Looks like Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog is here to announce the remaster. Shame it leaked because this would have been a nice surprise.

Looks like they're announcing a Last of Us multiplayer game, a standalone game. They've got concept art here and Druckman is really trying to sell the scale of it. It's coming out next year. 
They're talking about the upcoming HBO Last of Us show now. Druckmann got to direct an episode -- very cool.

The Last of Us on HBO

By Mark Serrels

Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker are here now. They're gonna be in the show, which is pretty cool considering they played Joel and Ellie in the original. Very tight lipped on exactly what they're gonna doing on the show.

And that's it...

By Mark Serrels

Oh my lord. That really was a bit of a bust. 

I guess the big announcement was The Last of Us and that got leaked. Either way, there was almost nothing significant to speak of. Folks tuning in for Elden Ring DLC or Death Stranding 2 will have to wait I guess.
Either way, thanks for sticking around. Have a good one. I'm signing off!

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Amazon uses Snapchat to send exclusive deals


Amazon uses Snapchat to send exclusive deals

screenshot2014-11-19-19-23-21.png
Amazon uses Instagram to promote its new Snapchat account. Screenshot by Donna Tam/CNET

Snap up these deals before they're gone in 10 seconds. Literally.

Amazon, the world's largest online retailer by revenue, hopes to boost sales with a new take on social shopping -- using a Snapchat account to send gift ideas, recommendations and exclusive deals that disappear in seconds. The company will send out its first "snap" on Thursday.

The account -- announced Wednesday alongside a new Instagram feed for its site and an early kickoff for Black Friday deals -- is Amazon's latest effort to grab the attention of shoppers glued to social networks on their smartphones and tablets. The company in May created a hashtag for Twitter that would let people put products in their Amazon shopping cart just by responding to a tweet.

The new Instagram feed encourages users to buy items posted to Amazon's profile. A click on the product image sends the user straight to the product page.

All about mobile

Half of Amazon's customers shopped from a mobile device during last year's holiday season, according to John Yurcisin, Amazon's director of social.

The online retailer knows it has to keep up with consumers' constantly growing presence on social media, Yurcisin said. And that's where Instagram and Snapchat come in.

"Instagram and Snapchat are the two of the fastest growing mobile social networks where people are engaging and interacting with each other in entirely new ways," Yurcisin said.

Instagram attracts roughly 40 million unique users who access the site only from their mobile devices, according to a May report from ComScore. Snapchat, which is only accessible through a mobile app, has 21.7 million users.

Both have rapidly growing mobile audiences, according to the report, with Instagram increasing its mobile users by 45 percent since last year.

Amazon is trying to tap into that trend by reaching out to social media followers.

Despite their potential for boosting sales, it's still too early to predict which social media services will have the greatest impact on consumers' buying habits, said Forrester analyst Sucharita Mulpuru-Kodali.

"It's all experimental," she said.

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Lower Prescription Drug Prices: How Cost Plus Drugs Could Save You Money


Lower Prescription Drug Prices: How Cost Plus Drugs Could Save You Money

As high as inflation has been lately, prescription drug prices have soared even higher. The cost of prescription drugs has increased 35% since 2014, according to Healthcare Finance, compared with 19% for all goods and services.

Some 18 million Americans can't afford their prescriptions, according to a 2021 Gallup survey, and 10% of adults actually skip doses as a way of cost-cutting. A National Health Interview Survey report shows that more than five million Medicare beneficiaries struggle to pay for prescription medication.

To help alleviate the burden, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban launched the Cost Plus Drug Company in early 2022. The online marketplace offers prescription drugs at prices that are far lower than most retail pharmacies and even many discount sites.

"It's just wrong that people have to choose between eating, their rent, and taking their medications or buying their medications in the United States of America in 2022," Cuban told PBS in June. "It's just wrong. And it was obvious there was not going to be a political solution."

The newly signed Inflation Reduction Act gives Medicare the chance to negotiate drug prices for the first time ever -- but only on a limited number of medications. A June 2022 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that Medicare could have saved $3.6 billion in 2020 if it purchased prescription medications through Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs.

How does Cost Plus Drugs work, why are its prescription drug prices so cheap and how can you take advantage of its low prices? We'll give you all the details.

What is Cost Plus Drugs?

Cost Plus Drugs was started in January by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and radiologist Dr. Alexander Oshmyansky, now the company's CEO. 

"When I see an industry that is just so convoluted and messed up like the pharmaceutical industry is, I saw it as a great opportunity," Shark Tank investor Cuban said on The View in February, "and that allows us to charge much, much less."

The Cost Plus Drugs site was launched with the aim of avoiding pharmacy benefit managers -- intermediaries who negotiate drug prices with manufacturers on behalf of health insurance providers. PBMs have come under criticism for pocketing negotiated savings, as well as for a practice called "spread pricing" -- charging payers like Medicaid more than they pay the pharmacy for a medication and keeping the difference (or "spread") as profit.

Shortly before its launch, Cost Plus Drugs created its own pharmacy benefit manager, allowing it to provide medications to companies with health plans. But Cuban has promised Cost Plus Drugs' PBM will be "radically transparent" in negotiating drug prices and will not employ spread pricing.

What medications are available at Cost Plus Drugs?

As of Aug. 23, Cost Plus Drugs offers 338 drugs including medicines for high cholesterol, kidney disease, mental health, diabetes, arthritis, migraines, allergies, cancer, HIV and many other conditions.

Cost Plus Drugs sells the top 10 most prescribed generic drugs in the US -- atorvastatin, levothyroxine, lisinopril, metformin, amlodipine, metoprolol, albuterol, omeprazole, losartan and simvastatin -- as well as many of the top 50 most prescribed medicines. Although Cost Plus Drugs warns that some medicines have limited stock due to supply chain issues, a random check of 50 of its 337 medications found all of them were available.

The company is constantly expanding its inventory and provides a form for submitting requests for new medications. On The View, Cuban said that he hopes to be selling 2,000 medications by mid-2023.

How much lower are Cost Plus Drugs prescription prices?

Drug prices in general will vary considerably based on the provider and PBM. Cost Plus Drugs provides a comparison of a listed retail price and its own price for every medicine it sells.

Some of the savings are remarkable: 30 tablets of the generic version of the bipolar disorder medicine Abilify (aripiprazole) retails for $678, compared to the same amount and dosage for $6 at Cost Plus Drugs.

Mark Cuban wearing a Mavs t-shirt

"It's wrong that people have to choose between eating, their rent and taking their medications," Cuban told PBS in June.

 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

However, retail prices of prescription drugs can skew higher than what many people actually pay. Discount online pharmacies like GoodRx, Blink Health and SingleCare already provide coupons that can lower prices considerably. Even so, prices at Cost Plus Drugs compare favorably.

For example, a box of 30 tablets of the generic version of Zegerid -- commonly prescribed for acid reflux -- currently sells for $20 at Cost Plus Drugs. Blink Health sells generic Zegerid for $86, much lower than a listed retail price of $2,073, but four times more than Cost Plus Drugs. 

The savings appear to be real for many prescription drugs. Thirty tablets of the generic version of the heart medication Toprol XL (metoprolol succinate) go for $3.90 at Cost Plus Drugs, compared to $24 per 90 pills (or $8 per 30) at Costco.


The generic version of the antidepressant Pristiq costs $18 at Cost Plus Drugs. Discount pharmacy GoodRx sells it for $25, the next lowest price we could find online. That's far lower than the average retail price of $290, but more than Cost Plus Drugs.

At CVS, a three-month supply of 20mg of generic Lipitor (atorvastatin), a commonly prescribed medication for high cholesterol, costs $362 without insurance.

At Cost Plus Drugs, the same three-month supply sells for $6.

The company is also in the process of constructing an $11 million, 22,000-square-foot facility in Dallas to manufacture its own versions of generic drugs, which could lower prices even further.

A screenshot of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs showing the price of Atorvastatin

The price of atorvastatin at Cost Plus Drugs is much lower than the quote we received from CVS.

 Cost Plus Drugs/Screenshot by Peter Butler/CNET

How do I order prescription drugs from Cost Plus Drugs?

First, you'll want to view the list of medications available at Cost Plus Drugs to see if it has the prescription drugs you need. If it does, you'll need to create an online account, verify your email address and enter basic information about your health history and any current medications you are taking.

After you're registered with Cost Plus Drugs, you can provide your doctor with a paper form that includes all of the information they'll need to submit your prescription.

Alternatively, you can ask your doctor to write a prescription that includes your name, email address, date of birth and any medications you take. The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) Provider ID for Cost Plus Drugs is 4940208 and its telephone number for prescriptions is 833-926-3384.

Your doctor can also fax your prescription information or the paper form to 650-683-9775.

Why are prescription drugs so cheap at Cost Plus Drugs?

Unlike the mysterious calculations behind drug pricing at traditional pharmacies, Cost Plus Drugs uses a transparent method -- the wholesale price Cost Plus Drugs pays for the medicine plus a 15% markup, a $3 pharmacy fee and a $5 shipping charge. Prescriptions are filled by the pharmacy services startup Truepill.

On the company's mission page, Cuban specifically calls out the price of albendazole, a drug used to treat hookworm, which continues to thrive among poorer communities in the Southeast US. (In a 2017 paper, researchers found more than one-third of the people in one Alabama county were infected with hookworm disease.)

Normally, albendazole costs on average $441 for its daily dose of two tablets, which could be taken for up to 30 days. At a wholesale price of $26 plus $4 markup and $3 pharmacy fee, Cost Plus Drugs can sell those two tablets for $33, plus $5 for shipping. Multiply that $408 in savings for two tablets by 30 days and you're talking about a potential difference of $12,240.

Does Cost Plus Drugs take health insurance?

Cost Plus Drugs does not currently accept any health insurance. The site claims that "even without insurance, our prices are less than what you would pay when using your insurance at a typical pharmacy."

The company does work with some pharmacy benefit managers, though, and allows the use of prescription drug discount cards for their members. According to the Cost Plus Drugs website, PBMs that work with Cost Plus Drugs can have members pay the listed price on its website or the insurance co-pay amount, whichever is lower.

For more on drug prices, learn how California is planning to make its own insulin to counter rising costs and how the Inflation Reduction Act will lower prescription prices and subsidize the healthcare marketplace.

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DOJ Will Sue Google Over Ad Tech Business in September, Report Says


DOJ Will Sue Google Over Ad Tech Business in September, Report Says

The US Department of Justice is preparing to sue Google over its dominance in the online advertising market, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. A lawsuit could be filed as soon as next month.

The Justice Department is engaged in a round of interviews with publishers to gather more information for its complaint, according to Bloomberg, which cited three unidentified sources. 

In 2020, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for its dominance in the search market and its alleged efforts to suppress competition in search. The lawsuit is still working its way through the legal system. 

"Our advertising technologies help websites and apps fund their content and enable small businesses to reach customers around the world," Google representative Peter Schottenfels said in a statement. "The enormous competition in online advertising has made online ads more relevant, reduced ad tech fees, and expanded options for publishers and advertisers."

The expected lawsuit comes as Congress, the Justice Department, the EU and the UK move to rein in Big Tech. The US Senate introduced a bill called the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which would curb the influence of Amazon, Apple and Google in e-commerce marketplaces. The UK is planning to launch a new unit tasked with rooting out "predatory practices" of Big Tech. Last month, the EU approved the Digital Markets Act to regulate Apple, Google and Meta with the goal of allowing greater competition in e-commerce sales and apps. 

The Department of Justice declined to comment.  

Google has apparently tried to address the department's concerns to prevent the new lawsuit. The company reportedly told the DOJ last month that it was willing to split off its ad business. 

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DJI Inspire 2 review: Hands on with DJI's better, faster $3,000 Inspire 2 drone


DJI Inspire 2 review: Hands on with DJI's better, faster $3,000 Inspire 2 drone

DJI's ready-to-fly professional camera drone, the Inspire 1, has for the most part gone unchallenged since it launched two years ago. Compared to the company's Phantom line and new Mavic Pro, though, its tech is showing its age. That changes now.

The Inspire 2 looks essentially the same as the first-gen model, but this time it's made from magnesium-aluminum alloy, which DJI says increases stiffness to help flying while reducing weight. The weight reduction is mainly just to increase battery life -- while it's easy enough to pick up, it's really designed to be transported in a flight case, probably in the back of a car.

You might have noticed in the picture above that it has dual sensors in front for obstacle avoidance (there's a set on the bottom as well), but it also has infrared sensors on top of the aircraft to help keep you from crashing when flying in enclosed spaces or, where we were, on a go-kart track in a warehouse in East London.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Dual batteries provide up to 27-minutes of flight time as well as redundancy just in case one of the batteries fails in flight. The battery system is also self-heating, so you won't lose performance even in temperatures down to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. And with optional high-altitude propellers, you'll be able to fly it up to 16,404 feet above sea level (5 km).

The controls are identical to those on the Inspire and DJI's more affordable Phantom range of drones. If you've had any experience flying them before then you'll have no trouble getting up to speed here. Even if you're new to flying, they don't take a lot of practice to get going.

The controller, too, remains almost identical -- it's comfortable to hold and has a mount for your tablet or smartphone which acts as the display for the camera.

The Inspire 2 features interchangeable cameras.

 Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Like the original, the Inspire 2 has an interchangeable camera mount so you can swap cameras based on your needs. With the launch, DJI introduced the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras. The former features a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor with an f2.8 24mm lens (35mm equivalent) and a mechanical shutter. The latter is an interchangeable lens camera with a 20-megapixel micro four-thirds sensor.

It's every bit as easy to swap out the lens on the Inspire as it is on any regular DSLR, making it very simple to get the right shots when time is tight.

One of the key benefits of the Inspire is the capability to have both a pilot and a camera operator work simultaneously with separate master and slave controllers. On the Inspire 1, this requires the pilot to navigate using the live video from the camera, which might not always be pointed forward. The Inspire 2 adds a second first-person-view camera that gives the pilot the best view for flying, while allowing the camera operator to set the ideal shot.

Andrew Hoyle/CNET

Other important features include:

  • New CineCore 2.0 embedded image processing system
  • Captures 5.2K-resolution video at 4.2Gbps for Adobe CinemaDNG raw videos
  • Supported formats include Adobe CinemaDNG, Apple ProRes 422 HQ (5.2K, 4K) and ProRes 4444 XQ (4K), H.264 and H.265
  • Records 4K-resolution video in H.264 and H.265 with a bit rate up to 100Mbps
  • Streams video at broadcast standards of 1080i50/720p60
  • New propulsion system reaches 50 mph (kph) in 4 seconds
  • Top speed of 67 mph (108 kph)
  • Ascends at up to 23 feet per second (7 m/s) and descends at up to 30 feet per second (9 m/s)
  • New master and slave controller range extends to 328 feet and users can switch between 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies.
  • Optional DJI CrystalSky high-brightness IPS monitors available in 5.5-inch and 7.85-inch sizes, which reduce video transmission latency and have dual microSD Card slots for backups, transfers and playback.

The DJI Inspire 2 is $3,000 and starts shipping in January (AU$5,200 and £3,060). You can also pick it up as a combo with the Zenmuse X5S, CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes license key for $6,200, but DJI will lop $200 off if you order before January 1, 2017, and it will ship in December.

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3D-Print Your Face on Star Wars and Disney Action Figures


3D-Print Your Face on Star Wars and Disney Action Figures

What's happening

You'll be able to see your own face on Hasbro action figures based on characters from megahit movies like Star Wars, Disney and Marvel titles.

Why it matters

3D printing is adding new customization abilities to manufacturing, including products tailored for a single individual.

Toys are getting personal.

On Tuesday, famous toymaker Hasbro and 3D-printer company Formlabs unveiled the Selfie Series of action figures, which can be customized with your own face. The series includes characters from Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Power Rangers and GI Joe flicks and toy lines.

Using the Hasbro Pulse smartphone app, customers will be able to scan their faces. The app converts the data into a 3D model and uploads it to Hasbro, which prints it out as part of a personalized action figure. Hasbro expects to begin selling the $60 figures this fall.

"Some of the biggest opportunities in 3D printing are these personalized, customized goods," said Max Lobovsky, the chief executive and co-founder of Formlabs.

The Selfie Series is a vivid example of the customization possible with 3D printing, a form of manufacturing that lays materials down layer by layer. Such individualized details are impractical with conventional processes, such as injection-molded plastic or machined metal, where customized designs are too expensive and some shapes are simply impossible to make.

3D printing's customizability has been used to make teeth straighteners, hearing aids, football helmets and surgical implants, each tailored for a single person.

The 3D-printing process is spreading to other domains, including aerospace and automotive, in which manufacturers are looking to build parts that are difficult or impossible to make using conventional methods. For example, a brake pedal with hollow voids or fuel nozzles with fewer parts are significantly lighter than conventionally manufactured parts they replace.

3D printers are also popular with hobbyists in the maker movement, who like to do things themselves. Because 3D models can be readily shared, you can download 3D-printer designs for toys like fidget spinners, marble tracks, octopuses, gliders, axolotls and more.

IDTechX, a research firm, forecasts 3D-printer sales will reach $10 billion later this decade, with 3D-printing materials sales reaching $30 billion by 2032.

Hasbro and Formlabs had worked together before embarking on the Selfie Series project, with the toymaker using the 3D printers to create prototypes. For the Selfie Series, Formlabs offered 3D-printing technology that builds smooth, detailed elements and a resin formula that's durable enough to withstand the abuse plastic action figures often have to endure.

Hasbro keeps the 3D face scan data for 60 days after the product ships, in case a replacement action figure is needed. It doesn't use the data for any other purpose and deletes it after the 60-day period ends, the company said.

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Take Control of Your Data: How to Manage Android App Permissions


Take Control of Your Data: How to Manage Android App Permissions

Mobile apps are notorious for asking for permissions they have no business asking for. You've probably noticed some of your Android apps asking for permissions that are excessive and completely unrelated to the app's actual utility -- like if a flashlight app requests access to your camera, microphone or location. When an app asks for permissions beyond what it needs to function, it's usually so the company behind the app can collect as much of your data as possible and sell it off to third parties like advertisers and data brokers. 

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Look out for permissions like access to your location, camera, microphone, contacts, browsing history and photo library. These can be particularly invasive if not explicitly required for an app to function. An app can collect a lot of extremely sensitive personal information from these permissions, which can pose a major risk to your privacy if that data is mishandled or exposed in a breach. This is why it's important to manage app permissions on your Android devices. 

Always make sure to keep app permissions to a minimum. Give your apps permission to access only what they need to access on your device to provide the functionality you require from them. For example, a weather app or navigation app will naturally need access to your location to function properly, but there's no reason it would need access to your camera or your contacts. And in some cases, you might not even need to give a weather app your location data if you can manually enter your ZIP code or city. 

Fortunately, it's easy to change app permissions on your Android device -- and you can choose whether you want to manage permissions by app or by permission type. 

Note that the steps outlined below apply to devices running Android 11 and up. Here's how to manage app permissions on your Android device. 

How to manage Android app permissions by app

If you're concerned about the permissions granted to a certain app on your Android device, you can manage permissions on a per-app basis. Here's what to do:

1. Tap Settings.

2. Tap Apps.

3. Scroll down and tap on the app in question (or you can search for the app by tapping the magnifying glass icon).

4. Tap Permissions.

5. Tap on a permission to allow or not allow.

You can also access the Permissions menu from any app by tapping and holding the app's icon on your phone's screen. Tap the Info icon in the top right corner of the window that pops up to access the App info menu and tap Permissions from there.

From the App info menu, you can also enable the Remove permissions if app is unused feature, which removes permissions for the app if you haven't used it for three months.

How to manage Android app permissions by permission type

If you'd like to see which apps you've denied or allowed access to a certain permission -- like your microphone or location -- you can manage your app permissions by permission type. Here's how:

1. Tap Settings.

2. Tap Privacy.

3. Tap Permission manager.

4. Tap the permission type to see which apps allow the selected permission.

5. Tap on an app and select Allow or Don't allow.

How to universally manage camera and microphone access for all apps

You can even universally deny all apps from accessing your camera and/or microphone with a single toggle switch if you want to take a hard line with those two permissions. Here's how you can toggle camera and microphone permissions across all apps on your Android device:

1. Tap Settings.

2. Tap Privacy.

3. Toggle Camera access and Microphone access on or off.

Going this route can be a great way to guarantee that no app has access to your camera or microphone. However, keep in mind that video communication apps like Zoom or Skype, which rely on your camera and microphone to operate will not work properly if you have these permissions set to the "off" position.

For more advice, check out five tips to make your Android phone feel like new again, how to erase your Android device's cookies and cache and get rid of excess junk files and how to disinfect and remove fingerprints from your filthy phone screen. 

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India's Ratan Tata takes slice of phone maker Xiaomi


India's Ratan Tata takes slice of phone maker Xiaomi

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Xiaomi CEO says the investment from Ratan Tata (above) "is an affirmation of the strategy we have undertaken in India so far." Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

One of the most prominent businesspeople in India now owns a small stake in one of the hottest smartphone makers in the world.

Ratan Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, the holding company for India-based conglomerate Tata Group, has made an investment in Xiaomi, the China-based handset maker announced Monday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Xiaomi closed a $1.1 billion funding round in December at a $45 billion valuation. Given the valuation, it's unlikely that Tata's investment was sizable enough to give him a large equity stake in the company.

"Xiaomi is one of the fastest-growing companies in the world," Ratan Tata said in a statement. "It has brought its innovative business model and high-quality products to India with huge success."

His investment could be more important from a public relations perspective than from a cash perspective. Indeed, Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun eschewed all mention of what the company would do with the cash, saying instead that Tata's investment "is an affirmation of the strategy we have undertaken in India so far."

Last week, Xiaomi unveiled a flagship smartphone for India, called the Mi 4i. The device, which comes with a 5-inch screen and octa-core processor, is widely viewed as a key first step in Xiaomi's self-professed plan to become the most dominant smartphone maker in the emerging India market. At the end of the fourth quarter, Xiaomi was ranked the fifth-largest smartphone maker in India. Samsung was tops.

The Tata name carries significant weight in India, and having Ratan Tata on Xiaomi's side could help the company and its smartphone gain more traction in the country.

Tata Group, which had $103.3 billion in revenue last year, is a massive conglomerate. The company, which has over 581,000 employees, competes in a range of industries, including communications, technology, engineering, steel and chemicals. It's one of the most well-known companies in India and a prominent player in several industries globally.

India is a crucial country for nearly all handset makers. It has a fast-growing middle class and is adopting technology at a rapid rate. With the potential to target hundreds of millions of people, India represents a massive opportunity for all companies, including those like Xiaomi that have been successful in emerging markets where there is an appetite for higher-end devices priced at a level that budget-conscious shoppers would find appealing.

Even before the Tata announcement was made, Xiaomi attracted customers to its Mi 4i. Xiaomi said in a statement Monday that over 225,000 India customers have registered to buy the Mi 4i. The device launched last week, but due to excessive demand for its products, Xiaomi often uses a registration model to provide customers products on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Whatever the company is doing, it's working. Xiaomi said in January that its pre-tax sales in 2014 topped 74.3 billion yuan ($12.1 billion), up 135 percent from 2013. Xiaomi sold 61 million handsets in 2014, an increase of 227 percent compared to the prior year. Xiaomi is now the third-largest smartphone maker in the world behind Apple and Samsung, despite only selling to a relatively small number of markets, including China, Indonesia and India.

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Home Equity Loan Rates for September 2022


Home Equity Loan Rates for September 2022

With record-breaking home appreciation seen throughout the pandemic, most homeowners have more equity in their homes now compared to two years ago. If you need access to funds for a renovation project, education expenses or even debt consolidation, tapping into your home's equity could provide you with a lower-rate financing option. A home equity loan, which lets you borrow money against the equity you've built in your home, provides you with a lump sum of cash at a fixed interest rate. 

Home equity loans may be particularly appealing in the current economic climate. Mortgage rates overall have gone up more than 2% since the beginning of the year. Even though rates recently dipped as the Federal Reserve increased its benchmark interest rate for the fourth time this year in an attempt to combat rising inflation, home equity loans still tend to offer lower interest rates than other types of loans. That's a significant benefit for anyone looking for financing at a time when it's uncertain how much rates will fluctuate moving forward. 

This type of financing may make sense if you own a home and have at least 15% to 20% of equity built up in your home. Unlike a home equity line of credit, or HELOC, you'll receive the sum of the loan upfront in one lump payment if you're approved.

A home equity loan is a lower interest rate financing option, but it's not without risk. When you secure a home equity loan, your home acts as collateral, which means you could lose your home if you're unable to repay what you borrowed. It's important to carefully consider whether a home equity loan is right for you before applying for financing.

Here's everything you should know about home equity loans, how they work, who they're best for and how they compare to other loan options.

What is a home equity loan?

A home equity loan offers you a lump sum of cash you borrow against the equity built in your house. Tapping into your home's equity means you are borrowing against the mortgage payments you've already made -- it won't replace your existing mortgage payment -- it's a new loan that you'll repay monthly, along with your existing home loan.

Most lenders require you to have 15% to 20% of equity in your home to secure a home equity loan. To figure out how much equity you have, subtract your remaining mortgage balance from the value of your home. For example, if you have a $500,000 mortgage and you owe $350,000 on it, you have $150,000 in equity. To figure out the percentage, divide this number ($150,000) by your home's value ($500,000) and you'll see you have 30% equity available in your home. Lenders will typically let you borrow around 80% to 85% of your home's equity for a home equity loan. So, in this case, you could borrow up to $120,000 to $127,500. 

A standard repayment period for a home equity loan is between five to 30 years for a home equity loan. You make fixed-rate payments that never change, which means even if interest rates go up, your loan rate is locked in. 

Current home equity loan rate trends

One of the benefits of home equity loans is that they typically have lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards. Right now, borrowers with good credit and sufficient equity can secure home equity loans with interest rates as low as 3%, according to Bankrate, which is owned by the same parent company as CNET.

One potential downside of a home equity loan is that if your property value goes down for any reason, you could end up underwater on your loan. This happens when the balance of your loan becomes higher than the value of your home. That's what happened to millions of Americans during the 2008 financial crisis. Right now, there's less risk of your home's value decreasing below your home equity loan amount, though. Home prices have appreciated as much as 20% in some metro areas across the US over the last two years, and it seems unlikely that they will go down in a significant way anytime soon.

Pros of a home equity loan 

  • Fixed-rate payments: Your monthly payment will never change even if interest rates rise.
  • One lump sum of cash: You receive the entire loan upfront in one disbursement.
  • Low interest rates: It has a lower interest rate than other types of personal loans or credit cards. 
  • Tax deductible interest: If you use it for home renovations, you can deduct the interest from your taxes. 

 Cons of a home equity loan 

  • Using your home as collateral: If you fail to make your payments or default on your loan, your lender can foreclose and take ownership of your house.
  • Can take longer to receive the funds: It can take more time to receive a home equity loan than a personal loan, for example. 
  • Closing costs are expensive: Closing costs can range anywhere from 2% to 5% of the loan. 
  • Your home's value could decrease after receiving your loan: Although home values are not expected to decrease significantly any time soon, if your home's value were to drop below your home equity loan amount, you would have what is known as negative equity. Negative equity means you owe more than your home is worth. So, if you were to sell your home, you likely would not receive enough money from a seller to pay off your loan balance.

Home equity loans vs. HELOC

Home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs, are similar, but have a few key distinctions. Both let you draw on your home's equity and require you to use your home as collateral to secure your loan. The two major differences between a home equity loan and a HELOC are the way you receive the money and how you pay it back. 

A home equity loan gives you the money all at once as a lump sum, whereas a HELOC lets you take money out in installments over a long period of time, typically ten years. Home equity loans have fixed-rate payments that will never go up, but most HELOCs have variable interest rates that rise and fall with the economy and overall interest-rate trends. 

A home equity loan is better if:

  • You want a fixed-rate payment: Your monthly payment will never change even if interest rates rise.
  • You want one lump sum of money: You receive the entire loan upfront with a home equity loan.
  • You know the exact amount of money you need: If you know the amount you need and don't expect it to change, a home equity loan likely makes more sense than a HELOC.

A HELOC is better if:

  • You need money over a long period of time: You can take the money as you need it and only pay interest on the amounts you withdraw, not the full loan amount, as is the case with a home equity loan.
  • You want a low introductory interest rate: Although HELOC rates may increase over time, they also typically offer lower introductory interest rates than home equity loans. So, you could save money on interest charges.

Home equity loans vs. cash-out refinances

A cash-out refinance is when you replace your existing mortgage with a new mortgage, typically to secure a lower interest rate and more favorable terms. Unlike a traditional refinance, though, you take out a new mortgage for the home's entire value -- not just the amount you owe on your mortgage. You then receive the equity you've already paid off in your home as a cash payout. 

For example, if your home is worth $450,000 and you owe $250,000 on your loan, you would refinance for the entire $450,000, rather than the amount you owe on your mortgage. Your new cash-out refinance home loan would replace your existing mortgage, and then offer you a portion of the equity you built (in this case $200,000) as a cash payout. 

Both a cash-out refi and a home equity loan will provide you with a lump sum of cash that you'll repay in fixed amounts over a specific time period, but they have some important differences. A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage payment. When you receive a lump sum of cash from a cash-out refi, it is added back onto the balance of your new mortgage, usually causing your monthly payment to increase. A home equity loan is different -- it does not replace your existing mortgage and instead adds an additional monthly payment to your expenses. 

A home equity loan is better if:

  • You do not want to pay private mortgage insurance: Some cash-out refinances require PMI, which can add hundreds of dollars to your payments, but home equity loans do not.
  • You can't complete a refinance: With rates rising, it's possible that your mortgage rate is lower than current refinance rates. If that's the case, it likely won't make financial sense for you to refinance. Instead, you can use a home equity loan to only take out the money you need, rather than replacing your entire mortgage with a higher interest rate loan.  

A cash-out refinance is better if:

  • Refinance rates are lower than your current mortgage rate: If you can secure a lower interest rate by refinancing, this could save you money in interest, while providing access to a lump sum of cash. 
  • You only want one monthly payment: The amount you borrow gets added back to the balance of your mortgage so you only make one payment to your lender every month.
  • Less stringent eligibility requirements: If you don't have great credit or you have a high debt-to-income ratio, you may have an easier time qualifying for a cash-out refi compared to a home equity loan. 
  • Lower interest rates: Cash-out refinances sometimes offer more favorable interest rates than home equity loans.

FAQs

What is a good home equity loan rate?

Right now, lenders are offering rates that start as low as around 3% for borrowers with good credit, but rates vary depending on your personal financial situation. A lender will base your interest rate on how much equity you have in your home, your credit score, income level and other aspects of your financial life such as your debt-to-income ratio, which is calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. 

How do I qualify for a home equity loan?

You are typically required to have at least 15% to 20% equity built up in your home to qualify for a home equity loan. You must also have enough income and a low-enough debt-to-income ratio to qualify -- lenders usually want to see a DTI of 43% or below. Lenders also like to see a minimum credit score of at least 620. Generally speaking, if your credit score is below 700 there is a possibility that a lender will deny you for a home equity loan. The better your credit, the better your chances of being approved for a loan with a low interest rate. 

What can I use a home equity loan for?

Home equity loans can be used for anything you choose to spend the money on. Typical life expenses that people usually take out home equity loans to cover are expenditures like home renovations, higher education costs like tuition or to pay off high-interest debt like credit card debt. There's a bonus for home improvements: If you use a home equity loan for renovations, the interest is tax deductible.

You can also use a home equity loan in an emergency situation or for life events like weddings. But keep in mind that whatever you chose to use a loan for, taking out a large sum of money that accrues interest is an expensive choice you should always carefully consider – especially since you're using your home as collateral to secure the loan. If you can't pay it back, the lender could seize your home to repay your debt.

How do I apply for a home equity loan?

Applying for a home equity loan is similar to applying for a mortgage. You need to qualify with a lender or bank who is willing to lend you the money. First, the lender will first want to make sure you have at least 15% to 20% equity in your home. If you do, the lender will take into account your credit score (lenders usually like to see a minimum score of 620), your income and your current debt-to-income ratio to determine whether you qualify and what your interest rate will be. You should be prepared to have financial documents like pay stubs and W2s in order, as well as proof of ownership and proof of the appraised value of your home. It's important to interview multiple lenders to determine which lender can offer you the lowest rates and fees.

More mortgage tools and resources

You can use CNET's mortgage calculator to help you determine how much house you can afford. The CNET mortgage calculator factors in variables such as the size of your down payment, home price and interest rate to help you understand how much of a difference even a slight increase in rates can make in the amount of interest you'll pay over the lifetime of your loan.

More mortgage rates:

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Twitter Expands Beta for Safety Mode Autoblocking Feature


Twitter Expands Beta for Safety Mode Autoblocking Feature

Twitter is greatly expanding the size of the beta for its Safety Mode feature, which aims to limit "unwelcome interactions" in your feed.

Previously available only to a small feedback group, the feature will now be available to about 50% of users in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand, Twitter said Tuesday. The feature, which launched in limited beta in September, imposes a seven-day block on accounts that use what Twitter calls potentially harmful language, including insults or repeated replies and mentions.

The beta's expansion is intended to help "collect more insights on how Safety Mode is working and explore ways to incorporate additional improvements," Twitter said.

Twitter, which has about 217 million active daily users, has long been under pressure to do more to combat harassment. The social media platform has been criticized for being a "toxic place," especially for women. A study by Amnesty International and Element AI in 2018 found that female journalists and politicians received "abusive" or "problematic" tweets every 30 seconds on average. 

Twitter also said it's introducing a companion feature called Proactive Safety Mode prompts that it says will help reduce the burden on users in identifying harmful interactions.

"Since the initial rollout of the Safety Mode beta in September, we've learned that some people want help identifying unwelcome interactions," Twitter said. "For this reason, our technology will now proactively identify potentially harmful or uninvited replies and prompt people in the beta to consider enabling Safety Mode."

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Xiaomi Mi Band review: Ultracheap fitness band gets the job done


Xiaomi Mi Band review: Ultracheap fitness band gets the job done

Though still not a household name outside of Asia, China's Xiaomi is gaining in global market share for smartphones , and it's not stopping there. Like so many of its rivals, it's also breaking into wearables, with its debut device being the Mi Band fitness tracker.

Perfect for anyone who wants to try out a fitness tracker, the Mi Band's minor flaws are easily ignored, especially when you consider its exceptionally low price. On sale in China at 79RMB (which converts to around $13, £7.50, AU$13.50), it undercuts other basic models like the Misfit Flash and the Fitbit Zip that retail at around $50 (roughly £3o or AU$60) while still delivering the same features.

Good luck getting one, however. There are no plans yet to release the bracelet for other markets, so you'll have to either get it through an online reseller (and pay a little premium), or hope you manage to snag one while in China at the Xiaomi online store.

The Mi Band is actually a dongle on a bracelet. Aloysius Low/CNET

Design

Xiaomi keeps the design simple for the Mi Band. There are no buttons you need to press and the Mi Band comes in two parts -- a rubber strap and the fitness module. Once on the wrist, the 13g Mi Band doesn't stay in your mind.

As it's water-resistant -- the Mi Band has a IP67 rating -- you can bring the Mi Band with you in the shower, though the rubber strap is uncomfortable when it's wet. The strap is adjustable, so you can either wear it loose or tight depending on your preference.

The Mi Band lacks a screen. Instead, it has three indicator lights that flash when you do a "look at your watch" gesture. However, the Mi Band is really picky about when it lights up; you'll have to actually have your arm fully extended at your side, then raise it up like you're looking at a watch before it works.

This shows I'm two-thirds of my way through my daily target of 8,000 steps. Aloysius Low/CNET

The three lights show your walking progress for the day, so if you set the target to, say, 8,000 steps, when you hit around 5,000 the second light will be fully lit. When you hit your target, the Mi Band will vibrate to alert you while the lights will blink for a few seconds.

You'll need to take out the dongle for charging, but you'll really only need to do this once every 30 days or so. The Mi Band comes with a custom USB cable that attaches to the dongle, and you can plug that into a PC or a USB charger.

Mi Band app

Unlike the more fully featured app that comes with the higher-end Jawbone Up24 , the Mi Band app is clean and simple and supports both English and Chinese. There's no option to measure your caloric intake -- instead, the app just shows the steps you've taken and your sleep patterns, such as when you fell into deep sleep.

You can also set an alarm to wake up to, and the Mi Band will buzz at the appropriate time. An early bird alarm is also available and will wake you 30 minutes before your preset time if the band detects that it's the best time to wake you up.

Screenshot by Aloysius Low/CNET

Apart from the two functions mentioned above, the Mi Band app also adds a sit-up and jump rope tracker. You'll need to manually activate this, though, as the Mi Band itself only works for your steps and sleep. There's also an option in the settings menu to let you vote for other sports such as cycling in future updates.

One feature that's limited to only Xiaomi's phones is a proximity unlocker. If you're holding the phone in the same hand that's wearing the band, you won't need to enter a passcode or perform a pattern unlock.

Currently, the Mi Band only works with Android 4.4 devices, and there aren't any third-party apps available that support this. It's also unknown if Xiaomi will ever add iOS support, though there are pictures on Weibo from Xiaomi developers showing the app running on an iPhone 6 .

Battery life

As mentioned, the Mi Band claims a 30-day battery life, and two weeks with the Mi Band have shown me that this looks to be true. The fitness band still had 75 percent left, meaning it could last as long as 2 months instead of the promised 1. This is pretty impressive, given that the more expensive Jawbone Up24 is only rated for a week. However, the Mi Band's rechargeable battery can't compare to the six-month battery life of the Misfit Flash or the Fitbit Zip.

Charging the Mi Band is quite easy to do. Aloysius Low/CNET

Conclusion

Given the Mi Band's absurdly low price, it's impressive and gets a free pass for its minor flaws. The rubber material used in the band takes a while to get used to, but it's light and not at all unpleasant to wear most of the time.

It's really hard to see how other screenless fitness bands can now justify their exorbitant prices, especially when the Mi Band does the exact same thing but is a lot more affordable. Of course, these fitness trackers do have options such as keeping track of your caloric intake, but these are software-based, via an app, so it's possible Xiaomi may be able to add these in as well in a future update.

Lastly, getting your hands on the Mi Band can be challenging since it's limited to China for now, and until the company starts making it globally available, people in other countries will likely will have to pay a lot more for the current fitness bands. With that in mind, I still heartily recommend the Mi Band, even if you have to get it at a premium from an online reseller. You'll still save quite a bit compared with other brands, and the Mi Band makes for a great entry-level fitness band to try out.

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