‘FIFA 22’ cross-play test is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Stadia

Your pool of potential FIFA 22 rivals will soon extend beyond your platform of choice. 9to5Googlenotes EA has confirmed plans for a FIFA 22 cross-play test on PlayStation 5, Stadia and Xbox Series X/S. Once the test is available, you can opt in to play against a wider range of gamers in Online Seasons and Online Friendlies. You’ll have to add buddies to the in-game friends list if you want them to join in, but there otherwise won’t be any associated headaches.

EA didn’t say just when the test would launch, or when it might become a regular feature of the game. The publisher is expecting feedback in its community forum when the test launches, however.

The test will no doubt frustrate you if you’re an PS4 or Xbox One owner. All the same, this may be one of the more influential cross-play additions in recent memory. The FIFA series remains one of the most popular sports games worldwide, and that has typically made your choice of console important — you didn’t want to get an Xbox if all your friends would play the latest FIFA title on PlayStations. Cross-play support will let virtual soccer fans use the platform they want without fear of being cut off from their social circles.

Facebook will shut down its podcast service on June 3rd

Facebook’s podcast offerings are vanishing just a year after they launched. Parent company Meta has confirmed to Bloomberg that it will wind down podcasting, Soundbites and its general audio hub. It will no longer let podcasters add shows to Facebook as of this week, and will remove them entirely on June 3rd. The hub and Soundbites will close sometime in the “coming weeks,” while Live Audio Rooms will fold into Facebook Live. 

A Meta spokesperson characterized the move as a matter of concentration. The move will help Meta “focus on the most meaningful experiences,” according to the representative.

There were hints in recent weeks that Meta was losing interest in podcasts and shifting attention to hotter products like Facebook’s main feed and Instagram’s Reels. There was a good response to audio services, a Meta spokesperson told Bloomberg in mid-April, but the news outlet’s sources said the social media firm was more interested in highlighting the metaverse and shopping when talking to podcast partners. Simply speaking, Meta’s interests in conquering AR, VR and rivals like TikTok may have pulled its attention away from audio.

Facebook also has fiercer competition in the sound-only realm. Podcast app operators like Apple and Spotify were already major threats, but there was also a flood of efforts to mimic Clubhouse in 2021. Meta had to pit Facebook’s services against the likes of Twitter Spaces and Reddit Talk. There was no guarantee Facebook would stand out in this market, even with a well-known name and massive resources at its disposal.

VW and BP will install thousands of fast EV chargers at gas stations in Europe

VW and BP know they’ll both have to embrace electric vehicles, and they’re ready to work together to ease some of the transitional pain. Autoweekreports the two companies are teaming up to install thousands of VW’s Flexpole 150kW fast EV chargers at gas stations in Germany and the UK. Within two years, there will be as many as 2,000 charging units (4,000 charge points) in place at BP stations in the UK and Aral locations in Germany.

The expansion should help BP expand its charging network to 8,000 connections by the end of 2024. Not surprisingly, the locations of the new chargers will be available through both in-car apps in VW group cars (including Seat and Skoda) as well as VW’s Elli charging app. The two firms also promise to explore “further opportunities” in eco-friendly transportation.

While the Flexpole chargers are quick and can deliver nearly 100 miles of charging in 10 minutes, their true appeal might be their flexibility. As they use battery storage, they can operate on low-voltage grids — it’s easier to install them at gas stations and other sites where high voltage might not be an option.

This isn’t an altruistic move, of course. VW has been ramping up its electrification plans and now expects 70 percent of its sales to be EVs by 2030 — it needs an extensive charging network if customers are going to buy these vehicles in droves. BP, meanwhile, is trying to shed its reputation as an oil and gas giant in favor of becoming an “integrated energy company.” A partnership like this could help BP transition gas stations to EV charging more gracefully than it might on its own.

Sony’s Quantum Dot OLED TVs will start at $3,000

Sony has divulged the pricing for its 2022 Bravia 4K and 8K TVs, and it won’t surprise you to hear that the cutting-edge models will command a premium. Most notably, the Quantum Dot OLED-based Bravia XR Master A95K series (pictured above) will start at $3,000 for a 55-inch model, and climb to $4,000 for a 65-inch set. Both 4K screens will be available to pre-order in June. They certainly aren’t the most expensive TVs you can buy, but you’re clearly paying extra for the larger QD-OLED color range, the flexible stand setup and bundled video chat camera.

Most of the remaining TVs are decidedly more affordable. If you prefer mini-LED to OLED, the X95K series will begin at $2,800 for a 65-inch 4K panel and climb to $5,500 for the 85-inch variant. They’ll be available to pre-order this summer. You also have lower-priced conventional OLED options. The compact, gaming-friendly A90K (with pre-orders in July) will cost $1,400 for a 42-inch display and $1,500 for its 48-inch counterpart (June). Opt for the larger A80K and you’ll pay between $2,000 and $3,800 for sets ranging from 55 to 77 inches, with most pre-orders beginning this month. The ‘entry’ LED-based X90K will cost $1,400 for a 55-inch model and top out at $3,300 for 85 inches, with most pre-orders also starting in May.

And yes, 8K is still expensive at Sony. You’ll pay $7,000 for a 75-inch Z9K, and $10,000 for the 85-inch equivalent. Both are mini-LED TVs and will include the camera from the A95K when pre-orders open in the summer.

There’s no doubt Sony’s OLED sets will seem pricey compared to some LG and Samsung models. However, it’s evident Sony is betting its image quality and design touches will motivate you to spend more. We’d add that it’s one of the few high-end brands to base its lineups around Android TV and Google TV. If you’re not fond of webOS (LG) or Tizen (Samsung), this may be your best bet.

Grindr location data was reportedly for sale for at least three years (updated)

Grindr’s past willingness to share sensitive data may have been more problematic than previously thought. The Wall Street Journalunderstands precise Grindr user location data was collected from the online ad network MoPub (once owned by Twitter) and put on sale through its partner company UberMedia (now UM) since “at least” 2017. The LGBTQ dating app curbed the practice when it limited location data collection in early 2020, but there’s a possibility that legacy information might still be available.

An anonymous former senior employee speaking to the Journal claims Grindr initially didn’t believe sharing location data with marketers posed privacy issues. Ad execs reportedly told the company that real-time bidding, or displaying ads based on a user’s immediate location, was transforming the industry.

Grindr told the Journal in a statement that its 2020 policy change meant it shared less data with advertisers than “any of the big tech platforms” and most dating app rivals, although it didn’t address historical info. Twitter said UberMedia was held to MoPub’s data use restrictions at the time, while UberMedia’s current owner Near said “thousands of entities” have access to data shared in the real-time bidding system. It challenged concerns that location data without direct personal information could help trace individuals.

Near’s claim isn’t necessarily true, however. Catholic publication The Pillarsaid it used sold Grindr data to track usage and ultimately oust a senior church official. There are also fears that countries with anti-LGBTQ laws could use Grindr locations to arrest the app’s users — Grindr restricted location features during the Beijing Winter Olympics precisely to prevent this kind of abuse with athletes. The US forced Grindr’s Chinese owner Kunlun to sell the company by mid-2020, in part over worries China’s government might misuse personal info for American citizens.

The company’s own practices were also under scrutiny at the time. It reportedly shared HIV statuses with app optimization firms, and Kunlun’s Chinese engineers had access to a database of sensitive info for months. Security was also an issue. One vulnerability permitted an outside app to collect exact locations, while another let intruders hijack accounts using only an email address. Simply put, Grindr wasn’t as conscious of its data handling as it apparently is now.

Update 5/2 12:15PM ET: Grindr reiterated its statement to Engadget and pointed to a blog post defending its practices since improving privacy in 2020, calling the Journal story “old news.” You can read the full statement below.

“Grindr users value privacy, and we have put our users’ privacy first even when it meant lower revenue. The activities that have been described would not be possible with Grindr’s current privacy practices, which we’ve had in place for two years.”

Google fires another AI researcher who reportedly challenged findings (updated)

Google is still firing AI researchers amid criticism of its work. The New York Times has learned Google fired machine learning scientist Satrajit Chatterjee in March, soon after it refused to publish a paper Chatterjee and others wrote challenging earlier findings that computers could design some chip components more effectively than humans. The scientist was reportedly allowed to collaborate on a paper disputing those claims after he and fellow authors expressed reservations, but was dismissed after a resolution committee rejected the paper and the researchers hoped to bring the issue to CEO Sundar Pichai and Alphabet’s board of directors.

The company hasn’t detailed why it fired Chatterjee, but told the Times he’d been “terminated with cause.” It also maintained that the original paper had been “thoroughly vetted” and peer-reviewed, and that the study challenging the claims “did not meet our standards.”

Whether or not the science holds up, the exit underscores the ongoing clash between Google’s management and the AI teams that drive many of its projects. The problems began in earnest when Google fired ethicist Timnit Gebru in 2020 following a dispute over a paper, with two others following suit. The matter escalated when the internet giant terminated Margaret Mitchell in early 2021. While Google claimed Mitchell violated data confidentiality policies, she also publicly criticized executives and the decision to fire Gebru. These firings led veteran engineers to leave the firm and demand reforms, and that’s not including company-wide protests over military contracts. Google investigated Gebru’s firing and promised changes, but the Chatterjee firing might not ease tensions.

It’s no secret that Google is proud of its AI research. It’s keen to tout algorithms that can outperform humans in fields like chip design and cancer detection, and its flagship Pixel 6 phones are built around a custom AI-focused processor. Any flaws could significantly hinder Google’s business, not to mention tarnish its reputation as a leader in AI development.

Update 5/2 4:26PM ET: Google pointed to a tweet from Times reporter Daisuke Wakabayashi as a further response. One of the original paper’s authors claimed Chatterjee harassed her and “impugned the work,” according to Wakabayashi. A lawyer for Chatterjee, however, said his client was only trying to maintain “scientific integrity.”

Former Apple worker says Epic refused to hire her over labor advocacy

The worker who founded the #AppleToo movement has accused Epic Games of taking a similarly anti-labor stance. The Washington Postreports former Apple employee Cher Scarlett has filed a National Labor Relations Board complaint alleging Epic refused to hire her because she backed a labor organization, is cooperating with the NLRB and is otherwise fighting unfair working conditions. She claims Epic balked two days after she shared details of her advocacy work and federal testimony with recruiters for a senior web developer position.

Epic spokesperson Elka Looks denied any wrongdoing in a statement to The Post. She said Scarlett’s labor rights efforts didn’t factor into the hiring decision, and that the company had already settled on someone else before Scarlett shared details of her activities. The winning candidate simply “scored higher,” Looks stated.

Whether or not the assertions hold up, it’s no secret that Scarlett is known for challenging allegedly abusive and unfair workplaces. She helped draw attention to misconduct at Activision Blizzard by describing sexual harassment between 2015 and 2016. Scarlett also has three ongoing cases against Apple, including an NLRB complaint about a hostile work environment. Another NLRB complaint from February says Mozilla discriminated against her job application at that firm.

The complaint against Epic also comes as tensions have risen between tech companies and staffers demanding better labor practices. Amazon, Apple and other companies have been fighting unionization attempts, and there have long been concerns these brands might be firing outspoken employees. Even if Scarlett doesn’t succeed, she’ll highlight problematic behavior across the industry.

Update 4/29/22 7:18pm ET: Scarlett reached out on Twitter to add some additional details regarding the candidacy process. She claims most of the Epic employees at most levels of the interview process were “well aware” of her background in organizing and many “thought it was awesome.” She further insinuated that decision had been made by people above those layers of management.

Airbnb’s safety team will be the focus of a documentary series

Airbnb rentals sometimes turn sour, and media moguls are betting that this makes for quality entertainment. Deadline has learnedQueer Eye company Scout Productions is teaming with Bloomberg to produce a documentary series on Airbnb’s safety team. The show will be based on an investigative piece from Olivia Carville that outlines how an “elite” team handles horrific incidents, including hidden camera creeps, scammers and cleaning up the aftermaths of violent crimes.

The Airbnb docuseries doesn’t have a tentative release date. It’s also unclear which providers will carry the show, although it won’t be surprising if it reaches a streaming service like Amazon or Netflix.

The project is the latest in a succession of documentaries and semi-fictional adaptations covering major names in tech. Apple’s WeWork series is one of the better-known recent examples, but there have also been productions detailing TikTok, the rise and fall of Theranos and other well-known subjects. More are on the way, too, including Amazon and Netflix documentaries about Blue Origin and SpaceX flights. Hollywood is increasingly convinced you want to see tech triumphs and calamities on TV, and Airbnb apparently has plenty of them. 

Epic asks court to stop Google’s removal of Bandcamp from the Play Store (updated)

Now that Epic Games is buying Bandcamp, it’s worried Google might pull the music app. In association with its antitrust lawsuit, Epic has filed for a preliminary injunction that would bar Google from removing or otherwise blocking access to Bandcamp on the Play Store. Most notably, the developer claims Google’s stricter in-app purchase requirements (which will demand that Bandcamp use Google’s billing system from June 1st) and delayed payments (from a maximum 48 hours to as long as 45 days) would cause “irreparable harm” to both Epic and musicians.

 Epic also maintains that it’s likely to prevail in its antitrust case. Google, meanwhile, will reportedly face “no harm” if the existing Play Store policies remain in place.

We’ve asked Google for comment. There’s a good chance the Android creator will object to the injunction. It countersued Epic in October for “willfully” violating Play Store rules with Fortnite‘s in-house billing, and a successful request would force Google to make an exception to the updated policies for Bandcamp.

Whether or not it succeeds, the injunction filing would draw attention to regulatory pressure on Google and its arch-rival Apple. Google is facing an antitrust suit from 36 states and Washington, DC over its alleged abuses of Play Store control, while the company and Apple are facing a wave of bills and other inquiries into their app policies. People are closely watching how Google treats Bandcamp, and pulling the app could fuel more criticism or legal action.

Update 4/29 3:05PM ET: Google told Engadget it rejects Epic’s argument, and that Bandcamp would only have to pay a 10 percent fee. You can read the full statement below.

“This is yet another meritless claim by Epic, which is now using its newly acquired app Bandcamp to continue its effort to avoid paying for the value that Google Play provides. We’ve been transparent about Play’s Payment policy for more than 18 months and, as Epic knows, Bandcamp is eligible for a service fee of just 10% through Play’s Media Experience Program—far less than the fees they charge on their own platforms. Despite their claims, Android’s openness means that Bandcamp has multiple ways of distributing their app to Android users, including through other app stores, directly to users via their website or as a consumption-only app as they do on iOS.”

Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $180 right now

It’s an ideal moment to buy wireless earbuds for those springtime walks and workouts. Amazon has put the Beats Fit Pro on sale for $180, or $20 off — a good value when the store previously offered a gift card in lieu of a discount. You can also buy the Beats Studio Buds for $100 (down from $150) if you’re more interested in a lower price than an abundance of features, and the Apple-branded AirPods Pro are currently discounted to $175 (normally $249).

Buy Beats Fit Pro at Amazon – $180Buy Beats Studio Buds at Amazon – $100Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon – $175

The Beats Fit Pro remain one of Apple’s best-kept audio secrets. They offer good active noise cancellation, balanced-but-forceful bass and many of the usual Apple earbud conveniences, but in a lower-cost, potentially more comfortable design with long battery life and better Android support. And yes, you have more color choices than the typically monochromatic AirPods.

There are some compromises. You won’t find a case with wireless charging, and we found that accidental button presses were occasionally an issue. There are still a few features that are reserved for Apple device owners, too. If those aren’t problems, though, you’ll likely be happy at this price — even when the AirPods Pro are cheaper.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.