Image: Microsoft Microsoft is launching a suite of its Microsoft 365 apps on Apple’s Vision Pro headset later this week. Microsoft Word‚ Excel‚ PowerPoint‚ Outlook‚ OneNote‚ Loop‚ and Microsoft Teams will all be available in the App Store for Apple Vision Pro on February 2nd — the same day Apple’s new headset is available in stores. Apple Vision Pro owners will also be able to access an AI-powered version of Copilot while using the headset‚ including the ability to create drafts‚ summarize documents‚ and generate PowerPoint presentations with your voice. Image: Microsoft Microsoft Word on the Vision Pro. Word on the Vision Pro includes a focus mode much like the reader mode found in the desktop versions‚ alongside a ribbon... Continue reading…

You can make Alexa and Google Assistant fight for your love with JBL’s retro-styled speakers. | Photo by Jon Porter / The Verge I know that someone‚ somewhere‚ shares my thinking that the virtual assistants we’ve grown fond of are mortal enemies somewhere in a digital parallel universe. But JBL’s new line of Authentics speakers has warped everything I thought I knew about the ancient rivalry‚ allowing you to call on either assistant without toggling a setting. Right now‚ you can pay as little as $274.95 ($75 off) for the JBL Authentics 200 at Amazon‚ Best Buy‚ and JBL’s online storefront‚ which is the best discount we’ve seen on the travel-friendly speaker. The Authentics 300 is also available for $349.95 ($100 off) from Amazon‚ Best Buy‚ and JBL‚ while the larger Authentics 500 can be had for $549.95 ($150 off) at Amazon‚ Best Buy‚ and direct from JBL. JBL is... Continue reading…

Bitcoin mining machines in a warehouse at the Whinstone US Bitcoin mining facility in Rockdale‚ Texas‚ on October 10‚ 2021.  | Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP /AFP via Getty Images The US Department of Energy (DOE) will begin collecting data on crypto mines’ electricity use‚ following criticism from environmental advocates over how energy-hungry those operations are. “We will specifically focus on how the energy demand for cryptocurrency mining is evolving‚ identify geographic areas of high growth‚ and quantify the sources of electricity used to meet cryptocurrency mining demand‚” Joe DeCarolis‚ administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA)‚ said in a press release today. “We will specifically focus on how the energy demand for cryptocurrency mining is evolving.” The EIA‚ the statistical agency of the Department of Energy‚ announced that it is “initiating a provisional survey of electricity... Continue reading…

Image: Microsoft Microsoft is starting to roll out a new design for its OneDrive cloud storage service for consumers. The software maker first unveiled a Fluent design refresh for OneDrive last year‚ and it will be available to all OneDrive personal users by the end of February. “It’s both a visual and functional upgrade designed to help you get to your files quickly and keep your content organized in multiple ways‚” says Miceile Barrett‚ a Microsoft product manager. “The improved visual design reduces clutter and distractions‚ allowing you to focus on what’s important – your content.” Image: Microsoft The before and after. The new visual interface for OneDrive more closely matches Windows 11 and changes to Microsoft’s various... Continue reading…

Iconfactory After nearly 16 years in operation‚ Twitterrific was abruptly deactivated last year during Twitter’s unceremonious purging of third-party apps. Now‚ the app’s developer Iconfactory is raising funds on Kickstarter to create Project Tapestry‚ a new internet reader for the publicly accessible web. The iOS app will serve as a “universal‚ chronological timeline‚” pulling from federated social media networks like Mastodon and Bluesky‚ as well as Tumblr‚ Micro.blog‚ and any RSS feed. It’ll also be able to access governmental data sources‚ such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite imagery and US Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake data. Because Tapestry (which will be the app’s official name) will let anyone... Continue reading…

The newest Roomba vacuum — the Combo j9 Plus — faces stiff competition. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge By abandoning its deal to buy iRobot‚ Amazon has left the robot vacuum maker stuck under the couch. Continue reading…

With Apple Vision Pro sales starting this Friday‚ Apple has just released visionOS 1.0.2 to its upcoming users. With that‚ once your spatial computer arrives – or you buy it at the Apple Store – you'll be required to update to this version. visionOS 1.0.2 fixes a WebKit issue. According to Apple‚ the device could be affected by maliciously crafted web content that could lead to arbitrary code execution. That said‚ after over seven months of beta testing‚ Apple decided not to seed a Release Candidate version of visionOS 1.0 and‚ instead‚ the company launched visionOS 1.0.1 so reviewers could try this device before it was out. During the beta testing‚ Apple added important features to Apple Vision Pro‚ such as FaceTime’s Personas (which is still in beta)‚ and essential apps such as the App Store‚ Mindfulness‚ and Testflight. With visionOS beta 6‚ X user M1Astra was able to discover two onboarding videos highlighting a few Apple Vision Pro details. One of them shows how to interact with this spatial computer using your eyes and hands: “Your eyes and hands are how you navigate Apple Vision Pro. You browse the system by looking‚ and it responds to your eyes. Simply look at an element and tap your fingers together to select it. It’s like a click on your Mac. To scroll‚ pinch your fingers together and gently flick. You can keep your hands where they’re comfortable‚ such as resting on your lap.” In the other video‚ Apple teaches how to enroll your Persona using this spatial computer. With beta 4‚ we already detailed how your digital persona for FaceTime calls will work‚ but with a video‚ it’s so much easier to understand the enrollment process. “To set up your Persona‚ you’ll remove Apple Vision Pro to capture your appearance. Take your time getting ready‚ and make sure nothing is covering your face. To start capturing‚ hold Apple Vision Pro at eye level. Keep arms and shoulders relaxed. Then‚ follow the instructions. Turn your head to the right‚ to the left‚ and tilt up and down. Then‚ you’ll capture your facial expressions. Smile with your mouth closed‚ smile showing your teeth‚ raise your eyebrows‚ and close your eyes. When you’re done‚ put Apple Vision Pro back on to see your Persona.” With Apple Vision Pro just around the corner‚ BGR has published what experts are saying about this spatial computer. That said‚ don't forget to update your device to visionOS 1.0.2 once you get your hands on it tomorrow. Don't Miss: Apple Vision Pro review roundup: Here’s what experts are saying The post visionOS 1.0.2 available ahead of Apple Vision Pro release appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals This $16 clip-on lens kit fits the iPhone or any Android phone‚ and it’s awesome Amazon deal offers a 7-inch Android tablet for under $43 Save 61% on a 6-port USB rapid charger on Amazon Save 75% on a Canon black and white multifunction laser printer on Amazon

With Apple Vision Pro sales starting February 2‚ US customers can finally get their hands on Apple's first entry into a fresh product category in almost a decade. While I have mentioned 10 reasons not to buy this spatial computer‚ there are also plenty of good reasons to get on board‚ especially if you like being an early adopter. Here are six key reasons to buy an Apple Vision Pro. Best-in-class tracking: Journalists who have tried Apple Vision Pro were stunned by this device's tracking capabilities. Although it might fail every now and then‚ no other AR/VR headset compares to this one. Beautiful display: Apple Vision Pro offers micro-OLED technology to pack 23 million pixels into two displays‚ which is more pixels than a 4K TV for each eye. No other headset delivers this level of quality and fidelity. Doesn't require controllers: While other headsets require a Wii-like controller‚ Apple Vision Pro uses your hand gestures and your eyes to help you navigate through the system. Can improve productivity with a Mac: If you have a Mac‚ you can connect the spatial computer to it‚ so you can use a wider display and improve your workflow by having iOS‚ iPadOS‚ and visionOS floating all around your new Mac screen. Image source: Apple Inc. Best private cinema: With Apple Vision Pro‚ you can watch movies and TV shows from Apple TV+‚ Disney+‚ Max‚ and other services on a screen that feels 100 feet wide with support for HDR content. Within the Apple TV app‚ users can access over 150 3D titles with incredible depth wherever they are. Vision Pro also introduces Apple Immersive Video‚ a new entertainment format that puts users in action with 180-degree‚ three-dimensional 8K recordings captured with Spatial Audio. Users can also enjoy new interactive experiences like Encounter Dinosaurs. Apple's vision of the future: Finally‚ if you're considering buying this product‚ you want to be one of the first to try Apple's vision of the future. The company's ultimate goal is to create an AR glass‚ but while the technology is not there yet‚ you'll be able to see this device improve by software and‚ eventually‚ by hardware. The last time we had that was with the Apple Watch – which is an outstanding success. Don't Miss: 10 reasons not to buy an Apple Vision Pro The post 6 reasons to buy an Apple Vision Pro appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals This $16 clip-on lens kit fits the iPhone or any Android phone‚ and it’s awesome Amazon deal offers a 7-inch Android tablet for under $43 Save 61% on a 6-port USB rapid charger on Amazon Save 75% on a Canon black and white multifunction laser printer on Amazon

As Congress continues to grapple on a border security deal‚ President Joe Biden appears increasingly weak when it comes to former President Donald Trump's signature issue of immigration‚ a Bloomberg/Morning Consult poll found.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer‚ D-N.Y.‚ says House Republicans are pursuing a "sham" impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to "appease" former President Donald Trump.