Chris Velazco
Engadget
New York, United States
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Recent articles by Chris:
YouTube cracks down on QAnon videos that target individuals or groups
With just weeks to go before the 2020 presidential election, YouTube has confirmed it is expanding efforts to crack down on harmful conspiracies being shared on its platform, with a specific focus on prohibiting "content that targets an individual or group with conspiracy theories that have been used to justify real-world violence." While YouTube's statement notes that the company has removed… → Read More
Follow our live coverage of Apple's "Hi, Speed" event!
One fall launch event was never going to be enough for Apple. Last month, we got an eyeful of the company’s latest Watches and iPads — including one that still isn’t up for sale. Now it’s time for all of Apple’s new iPhones to take the stage, and you’d do well to expect plenty of talk about the A14 chipset, 5G plans, and more. If we’re really lucky, we’ll finally get an update on some of those… → Read More
Facebook shut down 10 fake-account networks over the last month
Facebook shut down ten networks that violated its policies against coordinated inauthentic behavior between September 22nd and today, the company announced today. → Read More
Amazon unveils its first custom, all-electric delivery van from Rivian
Amazon’s fleet of delivery trucks is finally getting a little greener. This morning, the e-commerce titan revealed its first custom electric delivery vehicle: A big, surprisingly cutesy van built in partnership with electric transport startup Rivian. Like Rivian’s fully electric pickup truck, this new EV features a clean, even whimsical design. → Read More
Apple will reveal the iPhone 12 on October 13th
Apple's new Watches and iPads just had their turn in the spotlight; now it's time for the iPhone 12 to take the stage. The company has just sent out invites to an event on October 13th at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern with the tagline "Hi, Speed" — a fairly clear indication that Apple is about to step into the 5G era. Reports suggest that we could be looking at two versions of the iPhone 12 Pro Max… → Read More
Ikea will stop selling non-rechargeable alkaline batteries by October 2021
The days of strolling into an Ikea and plopping down a few dollars for a 10-pack of Alkalisk batteries are coming to an end. The Swedish furniture-and-meatball purveyor announced earlier this morning that, due to concerns over waste and sustainability, it plans to stop selling nearly all non-rechargeable batteries around the world by October 2021. → Read More
Motorola's redesigned 5G Razr goes on sale October 2nd
On paper at least, the new 5G-friendly Razr is a big improvement over the one we reviewed earlier this year, and it's set to hit store shelves very soon. Motorola confirmed today that its revamped foldable will go on sale on October 2nd -- you'll be able to pick one up from Best Buy, B&H, Amazon, and Motorola for $1,200 instead of the usual $1,400 for a while, or from carrier partners AT&T and… → Read More
Apple iPad (2020) and iPadOS 14 review
The 2020 iPad is about as straightforward as gadget updates get, but that's not a bad thing. Apple delivered a remarkably well-rounded package for the price, and what it lacks in flashy thrills it makes up for with more consistently competent performance. Meanwhile, iPadOS 14 packs plenty of design tweaks, and gives this basic tablet some of the software tools it needs to shine as an inexpensive… → Read More
Get ready for more Spotify podcasts to become TV shows and movies
Need further proof of podcasting's immense cultural value? Earlier this morning, Spotify announced a multi-year deal giving the production house Chernin Entertainment first crack at adapting its podcasts into movies and television shows. “As we continue to expand our content ambitions, we are thrilled to collaborate with Peter Chernin, who, along with his exceptional team, are the perfect… → Read More
Microsoft gives Outlook for Mac a facelift for Big Sur
Microsoft’s big changes to Outlook don’t end with an updated iOS app — Outlook’s Mac version will also get a major facelift in October, just in time for Apple’s macOS Big Sur release. Announced as part of Microsoft’s Ignite developer conference, the new Outlook features new icons that more closely tie-in to the rest of the company’s apps, along with lots of rounded corners and semi-translucent… → Read More
NBC's Peacock is finally live on Roku after tense negotiations
When NBC Universal's streaming service Peacock launched on July 15th, it was available to just about every bit of streaming hardware out there -- except Roku devices. After prolonged negotiations, and even a bit of public acrimony, Peacock is now officially available to Roku users. “We are excited to bring Peacock and its unrivaled catalog to millions of Americans who enjoy entertainment on… → Read More
'Monster Hunter Rise' debuts on Switch in March 2021
There’s a certain kind of joy that can only be achieved when you wallop a virtual dragon in the face with a Great Sword, and Nintendo Switch owners are getting another chance to feel it. Capcom confirmed today in a partner-focused Nintendo Direct that Monster Hunter Rise will launch on the Switch on March 26, 2021. → Read More
The first music video shot on Snap Spectacles 3 is a rumination on love
Over the years, we've seen music videos and movies shot on iPhones, GoPros, and even in a few disappointing cases, Google Glass. Long story short, if a gadget has a camera, people will use it to make art, and that streak continues today with a new music video from R&B artist Bosco that was shot entirely on Snap’s Spectacles 3. As you might expect, the video -- made to accompany Bosco's single… → Read More
Apple iPad (2020) hands-on: A better kind of basic
The 2020 iPad brings more power to the entry-level tablet series. Not much else has changed, however. → Read More
Follow our live coverage of Apple's 'Time Flies' event!
In the first of at least two live-streamed events, the company is widely expected to show off the latest version (or versions) of its the Apple Watch today, alongside a redesigned take on the iPad Air. It'll almost certainly be a few weeks before Apple is ready to unveil its new 5G iPhones, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Tim Cook do some heavy teasing at some point during the show. You’ll… → Read More
LG's Wing 5G is the strangest dual-screen phone we've ever seen
In 2011, it tried to cash in on an extremely short-lived 3D smartphone craze with the Optimus 3D/Thrill 4G. Perhaps inspired by Google's ultimately doomed Project Ara, it released one of the world's only modular smartphones -- the G5 -- in 2016. Here's the idea: When the Wing is closed, it looks like any other big smartphone. → Read More
Motorola's 5G Razr is better than the original in almost every way
In the months before its launch, Motorola's Razr generated ungodly levels of hype -- our quick hands-on, for instance, has the most views of any non-sex robot video we've ever made. For one, Motorola squeezed a better camera into the Razr's top half. → Read More
Apple will reveal its new iPhones on September 15th
Well, that’s that: Apple has just announced a special event on September 15th, where it’s expected to officially reveal its 2020 iPhone line-up. This year, however, Apple CFO Luca Maestri confirmed during the company's Q3 2020 earnings call that the new iPhones would be available "a few weeks" after the usual late-September launch window, presumably due to production and supply issues stemming… → Read More
Amazon's new Blink cameras can run for up to four years
It wasn't that long ago that Amazon fleshed out its line-up of home security cameras with the $35 Blink Mini, but apparently four-ish months without a new release was just too much. There are a few helpful tricks to make note of here: For one, if you've placed one of these Blink cameras in high-traffic areas, you can designate them as such in the companion app so your phone doesn't drown in… → Read More
'Super Mario 3D World' gets a second chance on the Switch
Super Mario 3D World might be one of the best examples of that unfortunate trend, but now, Nintendo plans to bring an updated version of the title to a new (and enormous) audience in time for Mario's 35th anniversary. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury will land on the Switch on February 12th, 2021, and just like the original game, you can expect a pronounced focus on playing with others.… → Read More