Vulkan Video API could help video editors be less terrible

The Vulkan API was an important milestone in computer graphics when it was first released in 2016. It provided a cross-platform competitor to Microsoft’s DirectX framework, becoming the true successor to the aging OpenGL architecture. Vulkan 1.2 was finalized over a year ago, and now a minor update is introducing something new — video support.

Kronos Group, the maintainers of the Vulkan graphics API, announced today that the Provisional Vulkan Video acceleration extensions are ready for developers to try out. Collectively known as ‘Vulkan Video,’ the technologies provide low-level APIs for games and applications to process video. The group wrote in the announcement, “leveraging the existing Vulkan framework enables efficient, low-latency, low-overhead use of processing resources, including distributing stream processing tasks across multiple CPU cores and video codec hardware—all with application portability across multiple platforms and devices ranging from small embedded devices to high performance servers.”

Those are a lot of big words, but the overall goal is to give applications that process video (video editors, web browsers, file converters, etc.) some of the same features that Vulkan offers to games and graphics tools. That includes low-level hardware optimization, standardized APIs, and open-source code samples for Windows and Linux. Vulkan Video already supports encoding and decoding H.264 video, with VP9, AV1, and H.265 compatibility expected to arrive soon.

However, Vulkan Video is still far from complete. Kronos is currently seeking feedback from developers, and the new APIs can be tested using NVIDIA’s beta Vulkan drivers. “Khronos will now work to finalize the Vulkan Video 1.0 specifications, SDK and conformance tests, so focus can then shift towards supporting additional codecs and more advanced video features,” the group said in a blog post.

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 goes official with 11th-gen Intel and AMD Ryzen CPU options

Microsoft continues its legacy of Surface devices with today’s announcement of the Surface Laptop 4. Like the last model, the new Surface Laptop 4 will be available with either a 13.5-inch or a 15-inch display alongside a slew of new accessories that seem like the perfect fit for users who have moved to a ‘work from home’ environment.

First, let’s talk about the new laptop. The Surface Laptop 4 looks similar to the last-gen model. One of the reasons customers went for the previous generation Surface Laptop 3 is that it offers a standard full-size USB port, so the company hasn’t messed with the I/O in its successor. This also means that apart from the USB Type-A port, the Surface Laptop 4 also has a USB Type-C port, a headphone jack, and the Surface connector.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Specifications:

Specifications	Surface Laptop 4 13.5″	Surface Laptop 4 15″
Dimensions & Weight	308 x 223 x 14.5 mm 1.26kg (Platinum and Ice Blue Alcantara) 1.28kg (Matte Black and Sandstone metal)	339.5 x 244 x 14.7 mm 1.52 kg
Display	13.5-inches (2256 x 1504 pixels) PixelSense 3:2 ratio 10-point multi-touch 201 ppi	15-inches (2496 x 1664 pixels) PixelSense 3:2 ratio 10-point multi-touch 201 ppi
Processor	Intel Core i5-1145G7 Intel Core i7-1185G7 AMD Ryzen 5 4680U	Intel Core i7-1185G7 Ryzen 7 4980U CPU
GPU	Intel Xe graphics AMD Radeon Graphics	Intel Xe graphics AMD Radeon Graphics
RAM & Storage	8GB/16GB/32GB LPDDR4x RAM 256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe NVMe SSD	8GB/16GB/32GB LPDDR4x RAM 256GB/512GB/1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Battery & Charger	47.4Whr Up to 19 hours on AMD Ryzen Up to 17 hours on Intel	47.4Whr Up to 17.5 hours on AMD Ryzen Up to 16.5 hours on Inte
I/O	Surface Connect USB Type-A USB C 3.5 mm headphone jack	Surface Connect USB Type-A USB C 3.5 mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0
OS	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home
Other Features	Windows Hello Surface pen and Surface Dial compatibility 720p HD webcam	Windows Hello Surface pen and Surface Dial compatibility 720p HD webcam
Price	Starting at $999	Starting at 1,299

The biggest change with the new model is in the internal hardware. You can get the Surface Laptop 4 with the new 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake processors or AMD’s new Surface Edition chipsets based on the Ryzen 4000 series (but not the latest Ryzen 5000). This time, Microsoft is offering either of the processor options on both the 13.5-inch and 15-inch sizes.

The 13-inch will be available with a base configuration that will include a Ryzen 5 4680U six-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD priced at $999. You can also go for the Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Core i7-1185G7 CPUs, while memory upgrades can go up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of solid-state storage.

The 15-inch version will be available with the Ryzen 7 4980U, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD at $1299. The 15-inch version will also be available with an Intel Core i7-1185G7.

There is no option for a discrete GPU, so you rely on either Intel’s Xe graphics or AMD’s Radeon graphics. The laptops will also feature Windows Hello face sign-in, a 720p HD webcam, dual far-field studio mics, omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0.

With the new Surface Laptop 4 range, Microsoft is also introducing the new Surface Headphones 2+ for Business. If you remember, the company had given the “+” treatment to the Surface Pro 7 earlier this year, signifying the product was more enterprise-oriented. As such, the new Surface Headphones 2+ feature a dedicated Microsoft Teams button with the battery rated to last up to 15 hours of voice calling time, even when you have enabled the 13 levels of adjustable noise cancellation.

A cheaper headphone option called the Microsoft Modern Headset has also been announced in a USB version for $50 or a wireless version for $100.

Then we have the new Microsoft Modern Webcam that offers 1080p video resolution, a 78-degree field of view, support for HDR, and an integrated privacy shutter for $70. Lastly, the $100 USB-C Speaker should be a great companion for conference calls with dedicated calling and Microsoft Teams buttons.

If you plan to buy the new Surface Laptop 4, you can grab one right away from the Microsoft store. Customers who purchase the laptop between today and April 15 will get a free pair of Surface Earbuds worth $200. Amazon and Best Buy are also expected to start listing the new Surface Laptop 4 for purchase.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 13.5

The new Surface Laptop 4 carries the same design as the last gen model but now comes with newer processor options from Intel and AMD.

Buy from Best Buy

Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 15

The new 15-inch version of the Surface Laptop 4 also comes with similar but more powerful CPU options from Intel and AMD.

Buy from Best Buy

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Spotify’s new ‘Car Thing’ is the car gadget you absolutely don’t need

Spotify has experimented with releasing hardware based around its music streaming service, but none of its devices ever saw a wide release. This time around, the company has announced ‘Car Thing,’ a touchscreen panel for your car that plays Spotify and nothing else.

“Currently available to eligible users in the U.S.,” Spotify wrote in its announcement, “Car Thing enables you to play your favorite audio faster, so you’re already listening to that hit song or the latest podcast episode before you’ve even pulled out of the driveway. […] When it comes to controlling the device, use it in the way that works best for you, whether that’s voice, touch, or physical controls.”

Car Thing is 4.6 inches wide and 2.5 inches tall, with a touchscreen measuring 4 inches diagonally. There are four preset buttons on the top, which can be set to launch specific playlists, podcasts, or other content. Besides the touch screen, most functions can be controlled through the side dial. You can also say “Hey Spotify” to play content. Car Thing connects to your car using Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack.

Car Thing

Even though its design is appealing, it’s hard to see it as necessary or helpful in any meaningful way. It’s not solving any problems that can’t be solved with a cheap phone car mount (and possibly a cheap Bluetooth/AUX adapter), and it still requires a phone connected via Bluetooth and a paid Spotify Premium plan. It adds an extra layer between your phone and your car that doesn’t need to exist, especially since the Spotify mobile app already has a car mode (which makes buttons and menus larger) and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay support.

Much like Spotify’s other hardware ventures, Car Thing isn’t being sold in stores — at least, not yet. Spotify says the device is only available in the United States on an invite-only basis, and some Spotify listeners will be offered them for free.

If you want to be put on the list to possibly get access to the device, head over to the website. It will cost $79.99.

Spotify: Listen to podcasts & find music you love (Free, Google Play) →

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DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Vivaldi will block Google’s FLoC

Google recently began testing an “origin trial” in Chrome with a new piece of web technology called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), which is replacing third-party cookies. In response, DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Vivaldi have all announced that they will disable Google’s FLoC, calling it a “step in the wrong direction.”

Basically, Google’s FLoC replaces third-party cookies by grouping Chrome users based on their interests and demographics. Google claims it’s a better alternative to third-party cookies, but privacy advocates disagree — and so does DuckDuckGo, Brave, and Vivaldi. The disagreement appears to focus on the fact that Google isn’t getting consent before tracking users.

All three have published blog posts openly pushing back against FLoC, with DuckDuckGo releasing a Chrome extension that will block FLoC’s tracking. DuckDuckGo explains some of the privacy concerns over FLoC on its blog:

With FLoC, by simply browsing the web, you are automatically placed into a group based on your browsing history (“cohort”). Websites you visit will immediately be able to access this group FLoC ID and use it to target ads or content at you. It’s like walking into a store where they already know all about you! In addition, while FLoC is purported to be more private because it is a group, combined with your IP address (which also gets automatically sent to websites) you can continue to be tracked easily as an individual.

Brave, meanwhile, said it vehemently opposes FLoC, and any feature that’s designed to share information about users and their interest without first getting consent. Brave said in response to Google’s practices, it has removed FLoC in the Nightly version of both Brave for desktop and Android.

Brave voiced its displeasure with Google’s methods:

It is disappointing to see Google, instead of taking the present opportunity to help design and build a user-first, privacy-first Web, proposing and immediately shipping in Chrome a set of smaller, ad-tech-conserving changes, which explicitly prioritize maintaining the structure of the Web advertising ecosystem as Google sees it.

Vivaldi has also said it won’t support Google’s FLoC, calling its new data harvesting venture “nasty” and saying it “harms user privacy.” The browser maker said it won’t support FLoC because it’s simply a privacy-first feature in disguise.

“Google will continue to build profiles, and track users, in the absence of third-party cookies and localStorage,” Vivaldi said in a blog post. “It presents FLoC as part of a set of so-called ‘privacy’ technology, but let’s remove the pretense here; FLoC is a privacy-invasive tracking technology.”

Privacy advocates argue that FLoC will actually expose your data more than ever, not protect it, with Vivaldi claiming FLoC has “serious implications on a society as a whole.

If you’re concerned about Google’s FLoC, the easiest thing is to avoid Chrome altogether. You can use Brave or Vivaldi instead, or you can use DuckDuckGo’s Chrome extension or DuckDuckGo Search, which has been configured to opt-out of FLoC.

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Apple schedules ‘Spring Loaded’ event for April 20

Apple has confirmed that its next event will take place on Tuesday, April 20. The “Spring Loaded” event will once again be virtual, and kicks off at 10 a.m. PDT.

The event will take place about a month before Apple’s WWDC at the beginning of June, and will likely see the company unveil new hardware, including the long-awaited AirTags. The Tile-like location tracking devices should allow users to precisely track everyday items using ultra-wideband technology and Apple’s Find My network.

Apple is also rumored to be readying new iPad Pro models. A recent Bloomberg report claimed the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will debut with a Mini LED screen, allowing the device to offer high contrast ratio without the risk of burn-in that can happen with OLED displays. The new iPad Pro models are also expected to come equipped with more powerful processors and improved cameras. A new iPad mini has also been rumored for the first half of this year.

Apple has other products reportedly in the works, but it’s unclear if they’ll make their debut in the spring. It’s possible Apple could debut a revamped iMac lineup with Apple Silicon. Meanwhile, the company is reportedly working on new AirPods and AirPods Pro. The AirPods are expected to feature an AirPods Pro-esque design with a shorter stem, while the new AirPods Pro could launch without a stem.

It’s also possible we’ll see a new Apple TV with an updated processor, redesigned remote, and 120Hz support. It’s unlikely, however, that we’ll see the rumored all-in-one Apple TV with a built-in speaker and camera, or a smart display — both of which we learned about just this week.

Today’s invite comes after Siri revealed the event before Apple had the opportunity to send out invites. We’ll see what the company has prepared when the Spring Loaded event kicks off on Tuesday, April 20 at 10 a.m. PDT.

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Google will kill Play Movies and TV app on Roku and several smart TVs

Google is sunsetting the Google Play Movies and TV app on several platforms. The move comes after Google renamed the Google Play Movies and TV app on Android to Google TV last year.

In an email sent out to users (via The Verge), Google has announced the Google Play Movies and TV app will no longer be accessible on the Roku setup box, and smart TVs from Samsung, LG, and Vizio come June 15. From there on, users will have to use the YouTube app to access their previously purchased content — which will appear under the “Your movies and shows“ section. Users can still use the Play Store credits to purchase content on YouTube. Your Play Family Library purchases will also be accessible, but Google notes any purchases made on YouTube will not be eligible for family sharing. The only thing you’ll lose is your Watchlist which Google says won’t be accessible from YouTube.

To be clear, Google isn’t killing the Play Movies and TV service altogether. It’s only discontinuing it on the above platforms. The app remains accessible on Android phones — under the new name Google TV — as well as on iPhone and iPad.

Starting June 15, 2021, the YouTube app will be your new home for movies and shows on Roku, Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs.¹ The Google Play Movies & TV app will no longer be available on these devices.

To access all of your previous purchases, log into the YouTube app using the account you use on Google Play Movies & TV, navigate to the “Library” tab, and click on “Your movies and shows.”

For now, the change only applies to the Google Play Movies and TV app on Roku and Samsung, LG, and Vizio smart TVs. The Android TV and Apple TV apps should continue to function and are also seemingly not affected by this.

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Sony PlayStation 5’s first major update brings USB storage support for PS5 games

Sony has announced the first major update for the PlayStation 5, marking it ready for release. Customers around the world will get access starting tomorrow, April 14th. The new update’s highlight feature is the ability to store PS5 games on an external USB hard drive. Other features that will be available with the update include new social features as well as personalization options.

Ever since the release of the console, users were only limited to the 825GB internal SSD. With the upcoming update, users will be able to copy PS5 games from the internal storage to a compatible external USB drive. Having said that, since PS5 games take advantage of the built-in fast SSD, one will not be able to play or even directly download a PS5 game to an external hard drive. This means that the feature only lets you store PS5 games elsewhere as a backup, opening up the possibility of freeing up some space on the internal SSD.

Sadly, the new update does not unlock support for the user-accessible secondary M.2 SSD slot. Sony says in its blog post, “As previously announced, the PS5 console will support storage expansion via M.2 drives in the future. We’re currently working on this feature and will keep you posted with any updates on PlayStation Blog.”

The new PS5 April update will also come with some new social features like cross-generation Share Play. This means PS5 and PS4 console users can let their friends try out PS5 games by sharing their screen and passing their controller virtually or passing a second controller virtually to play co-op games together. Both the PS5 and PS4 will now have a ‘Request to Join’ option serving as a shortcut to quickly hop into a game with your friends. There are also some improvements to the PlayStation UI, with changes to Game Base that makes chatting with Parties and Friends easier and the ability to disable game chat or adjust players’ volume faster than before. Users can also customize their game library with the ability to search or hide games from view and the option to adjust screen zoom in the Settings menu.

The update also brings pre-download for game updates which will let some title updates for games pre-download if your console is set to receive automatic updates. Of course, this feature will only be available once developers enable it. Lastly, there are some visual changes to the Trophy settings and stats screen.

Sony also mentions that the PlayStation App will also be improved in the coming weeks offering better functionality. Expect features like the ability to join a multiplayer session on PS5, manage your PS5 console storage, compare trophy collections with friends, and sort and filter products shown in the PlayStation Store.

PlayStation App (Free, Google Play) →

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