Engadget Podcast: Clearview AI’s facial recognition is on the ropes

This week, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham dive into the latest news around Clearview AI, the controversial facial recognition company that’s now seeing pushback from governments and regulators around the world. Will a few fines put a stop to the company’s facial recognition search platform? Also, they discuss how Clearview’s troubles relate to countries being more restrictive about data in general. Finally, they pour one out for Seth Green’s lost Bored Ape – RIP NFT!

Listen above, or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!

Subscribe!

Topics

  • Facial Recognition company Clearview AI is on the ropes after several big settlements – 1:22

  • The era of borderless data may be ending – 15:04

  • Privacy focused search company DuckDuckGo quietly allowed Microsoft browsing trackers – 23:08

  • New details about AMD’s Ryzen 7000 chips – 28:34

  • Oh no, somebody stole Seth Green’s Bored Ape – 33:16

  • Working on –36:29

  • Pop culture picks – 41:36

Livestream

Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
Livestream producers: Julio Barrientos
Graphic artists: Luke Brooks and Brian Oh

Anker charging accessories are up to 37 percent off in a one-day Amazon sale

It’s a good time to stock up if you’ve been waiting for a sale on wireless, solar or high-speed chargers. An assortment of Anker products are on sale at Amazon with discounts up to 37 percent, including its magnetic 623 MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station bundle, a pair of 20W PIQ fast chargers and the 20W Nano Pro with a 3-foot USB-C to Lightning cable. 

Buy Anker charging products at Amazon

The best deal is on Anker’s 632 MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Station that delivers 20 watts of charging power for iPhone 13/13 Pro and iPhone 12/12 Pro models, while also letting you charge up your AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. Your phone attaches to the charging base magnetically, and it can even flip up 60 degrees so you can easily see the screen. Included is a 20-watt USB-C charger and USB-C to USB-C charging cable, all for $50 or 37 percent off, in black only.

If you’re tired of losing iPhone charging cables and just want to get a bunch of them, Anker’s USB-C to Lightning cable is available in a three-pack for $29, or 31 percent off the regular $42 price. For that, you get a 3-foot, 6-foot and 10-foot cable, each compatible with USB-C chargers up to 87 watts. They also allow you to connect your iPhone to a Mac for seamless sync and charging.

For a small yet powerful charger, check out Anker’s original 20-watt Nano charger for iPhone and Android devices, available at $21.70 or $9.30 off the $31 list price. Finally, the Nano Pro USB-C with a 3-foot USB-C to Lightning cable is selling for $28, or 30 percent off the list price. There are a number of other items too, including Anker’s 18-watt dual-port PowerCore solar charger priced at $49 (30 percent off), but you’ll need to act fast as the sale ends in less than a day. 

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

Google Nest Audio bundle offers two smart speakers for just $120

If you’re looking to get a few smart speakers for your connected home, this may be your chance to grab a handful at a discount. You can get a pair of Google Nest Audio smart speakers right now from Adorama for $120. If you just want the one, you can also grab a singular speaker for $65, saving $35 in the process.

The Google Nest Audio has always offered a robust music experience without a hefty price tag to go with it, but now it’s even more affordable at $80 or 40 percent off the bundle’s regular price. While we didn’t find the Nest Audio to be quite on par with bigger music-focused speakers when it comes to audio quality when we tested it out, it still sounds a lot better than the Nest Mini.

Buy Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker 2-Pack at Adorama – $120Buy Google Nest Audio Speaker at Adorama – $65

It’s loud enough for small- and medium-sized rooms, and pairing two of them can deliver stereo sound. Since it’s a Google smart speaker, it supports Assistant voice commands, and you can tell it to play what you want after linking it to your account and your music streaming services. Like other Nest speakers, it’s covered in cloth for a clean, minimalist aesthetic that will complement most home decor. And at 7 inches tall and only 3 inches thick, it will fit in most places you decide to put it. 

If you’d rather get a smart display, the second-generation Google Nest Hub is also down to $65, which is $35 off the usual price and one of the best deals we’ve seen it dropped to an all-time low of $55 in March. Its bigger sibling, the Google Nest Hub Max is also on sale at Adorama for $179, or $50 off its retail price. With its 10-inch touchscreen, the Nest Hub Max is the biggest Google smart display available and also has the best sound quality. We gave it a score of 86 in our review, praising it not just for having a great display and sound quality, but also for its ability to double as a Nest Cam and to play and pause media with gestures.

Buy Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) at Adorama – $65Buy Google Nest Hub Max at Adorama – $179

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

Microsoft confirms it’s taking a ‘new approach’ with its game streaming device

Earlier this month, a rumor suggested that Microsoft might be nearly ready to launch a Chromecast-like game streaming stick for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service. The company has now confirmed that such a device (codenamed Keystone) does exist, but it may not be coming any time soon after all, according to a report from Windows Central. 

“As announced last year, we’ve been working on a game-streaming device, codename Keystone, that could be connected to any TV or monitor without the need for a console,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Windows Central. “We have made the decision to pivot away from the current iteration of the Keystone device. We will take our learnings and refocus our efforts on a new approach that will allow us to deliver Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players around the world in the future.”

Last year, Microsoft confirmed that it was making Xbox video game streaming sticks and baking the technology into Smart TVs. “We’re… developing standalone streaming devices that you can plug into a TV or monitor, so if you have a strong internet connection, you can stream your Xbox experience,” the company said at the time. 

Since Stadia didn’t light up the market as much as Google likely hoped, Microsoft may be taking stock of its own project. “As part of any technical journey, we are constantly evaluating our efforts, reviewing our learnings, and ensuring we are bringing value to our customers,” the spokesperson said. 

Xbox Cloud Gaming (née xCloud) has rolled out to PCs, mobile devices and Xbox consoles as part of the $15/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription — though it’s still technically in beta almost a year after launching widely. However, Stadia can run on Google’s relatively inexpensive Chromecast devices, plus NVIDIA Shield TV and numerous Smart TVs. Microsoft is obviously being careful about its own streaming device, so it doesn’t look like a launch is in the near future after all.