A group of Amazon workers in Quebec have formed the first union at one of the company's Canadian warehouses. On Friday, the province's labor tribunal granted union accreditation to workers at the DXT4 warehouse in Laval, a Montreal suburb. It determined that a majority had opted to unionize after signing union cards.
A group of some 200 workers are organizing as the Laval Amazon Workers Union under the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), which represents around 330,000 people across a variety of industries in Canada. A general assembly to decide on a constitution, bylaws and representatives will take place in the coming days. A consultation with union members will then take place to agree on a list of demands.
The union says Amazon is legally required to come to the negotiation table to hash out a contract. However, it expects Amazon to appeal the labor tribunals decision after allegedly attempting to stop the unionization efforts.
First and foremost, this is a great victory for the men and women from Latin America, Chad, the Maghreb and Asia who were not afraid to stand up for their rights, CSN president Caroline Senneville said in a statement. Over the past few months, Amazon has pulled out all the stops to block our unionization campaign, flooding the workplace with scaremongering messages. DXT4 workers have given us all a lesson in courage. Of course, we hope it spreads.
Amazon claimed in a letter to the labor tribunal on May 6 that the accreditation would not "respect the interests of its employees." The company argued that some workers signed union cards after being misled and that some aspects of the Quebec labor code run contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
"We believe that all people should have the right to inform themselves and to vote according to their situation and convictions at the time," Amazon spokesperson Barbara M. Agrait told the CBC. "If a simple majority of people at an employer have joined a union at any point, then there's no vote and representation is automatic for all employees including maybe dozens or hundreds of employees who didn't even know it was being considered."
Amazon has long been accused of attempting to upend unionization efforts at warehouses in the US and Europe. In 2022, workers at a warehouse in Staten Island, New York, became the first in the company to form a union. But the Amazon Labor Union does not yet have a contract with Amazon, and reports suggest it's running low on funds ahead of a leadership election.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-workers-become-the-first-to-unionize-at-one-of-the-companys-canadian-warehouses-180447875.html?src=rss
Google is teasing an intriguing new AI feature one day ahead of its I/O developer conference. The company shared a brief video on X that appears to show a new camera-powered AI feature thats able to recognize whats in the frame in real time.
The video, which is labeled as a prototype, shows what appears to be a Pixel device with the camera open viewing the keynote stage at I/O. The person holding the camera asks, hey, what do you think is happening here?
A voice replies that it looks like people are setting up for a large event, perhaps a conference or presentation. Its also able to identify the IO letters as being tied to Googles developer conference and mentions new advancements in artificial intelligence. As the two voices go back and forth, a text transcript appears on the screen.
One more day until #GoogleIO! Were feeling . See you tomorrow for the latest news about AI, Search and more. pic.twitter.com/QiS1G8GBf9 Google (@Google) May 13, 2024
Its not exactly clear what the feature is, though it bears some similarities to Google Lens, the companys camera-powered search feature. Whats shown in the teaser video, however, appears to be working in real-time, and responding to voice commands much like the multimodal AI in Metas smart glasses. The fact that the demo is shown on a Pixel device is also intriguing as Google often releases new AI-powered features on its Pixel lineup first.
While its somewhat unusual for Google to preview one of its announcements so soon before its big keynote, its likely not a coincidence that the company dropped the video right as OpenAI showed off similar capabilities with its new GPT-4o model during a live event. Whatever Google has in store, though, we dont have much longer to wait to get the full details. Google I/O kicks off tomorrow, May 14, and Engadget will be covering the keynote live from Mountain View.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-teases-new-camera-powered-ai-feature-one-day-ahead-of-io-175452903.html?src=rss
Apple and Google's long-in-the-works effort to alert people to unwanted Bluetooth trackers that may have been planted on them has come to fruition. The companies have developed an industry standard called Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers. This makes it possible to alert someone via iOS or Android if they're being tracked with one of those devices.
When an unknown Bluetooth device is seen moving with someone over a period of time, they'll get an alert that reads [Item] Found Moving With You," no matter which platform the tracker is paired with. Apple and Google are rolling out the capability in iOS 17.5 and across Android 6.0 and later devices starting today.
The companies announced a partnership to tackle this issue last May with backing from industry partners such as Samsung and Tile. Apple says that Chipolo, Eufy, Jio, Motorola and Pebblebee are among the companies who say that their future Bluetooth tags will work with the new standard.
Not long after Apple started selling AirTags three years ago, stories of bad actors using the devices to track people and steal cars started to emerge. Apple quickly started working on ways to make it harder for stalkers to use AirTags illicitly and it refined its approach to that over time. The company also released an Android app in late 2021 to help folks find out if an AirTag had been planted on them, but the new approach will take an OS-level approach to warning people about unwanted trackers across both platforms.
Apple has been hit with legal challenges over AirTag stalking. In March, a San Francisco judge rejected the company's effort to dismiss a class-action lawsuit over the issue.
The timing of the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers alert rollout is intriguing. There have long been rumors that Google was working on its own Bluetooth tracker. With its I/O developer conference taking place on Tuesday, perhaps such a device is about to come to light. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-and-google-roll-out-a-cross-platform-feature-to-tackle-unwanted-bluetooth-trackers-172411423.html?src=rss
Google is teaming up with HP to bring its futuristic video conferencing technology Project Starline to enterprise consumers. The company first began demoing this service in 2021 and the first iteration involved a 3D video chat booth with a projection of the person youre talking to. We came away extremely impressed by the holographic technology, remarking on how realistic everything seemed and that the other person seemed to be in the room with you.
However, this technology isnt quite the same as what we tried a couple of years back. Since then, Google has streamlined and simplified the system a fair amount. Theres no more video chat booth, as the whole thing has been moved to a system that features a large TV and cameras. This scales back some of the wow factor, but makes it much easier to implement.
To that end, Google and HP will be integrating Project Starline with common video conferencing apps like Google Meet and Zoom. Theres no information as to how much itll cost for companies to sign on to use this technology, or any details regarding the initial setup. Google says more information will be revealed later this year with actual commercialization beginning in 2025.
HP calls it an immersive collaboration experience and it certainly looks to be a better telepresence solution than a tiny smartphone screen. At the end of the day, though, its just a big display. The updated Project Starline tech doesnt include anything resembling holographic projection.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-project-starline-video-conferencing-tech-is-coming-to-offices-171622980.html?src=rss
Its only been a month since Apple started allowing retro game emulators on the App Store and we already have our second bona-fide hit. The newly-released Gamma is a free PS1 emulator with plenty of bells and whistles for those looking to dive back into the world of blocky polygons. It joins the massively popular Nintendo emulator Delta. We have no idea why these apps keep getting named after the Greek alphabet, as both are made by completely separate devs.
Gamma comes courtesy of developer ZodTTD, which has been in the space nearly since the dawn of the iPhone. The app is primarily for Apples smartphone, but there is a dedicated iPad version, which is always nice. Gamma integrates with Bluetooth controllers and keyboards, offering a myriad of input options. It also features customizable on-screen controller skins, but we all know how frustrating it can be to play old-school games with a touchscreen. Its nice to have the option though.
The app uses Google Drive and Dropbox syncing for backing up game files and save states, and the software will even automatically grab game cover artwork. The whole things actually based on the codebase for Delta, according to reporting by The Verge. As always with emulators, youll have to supply the games. To stay on the right side of the law, convert titles that you already own into ROM files.
PS1 emulator Gamma currently the sixth most-downloaded entertainment app on iOS https://t.co/FfEjdn2SM6 pic.twitter.com/nEcTU1d0Q0 Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) May 13, 2024
Theres obviously a mammoth appetite for emulators on the App Store. Delta, the Nintendo emulator, has been a mainstay on the charts since launch and Gamma currently sits at number six, above streamers like Disney+ and Hulu but below TikTok. The reviews, however, are mixed, with many users complaining that the UI needs a refresh and that some third-party controllers, like Backbone devices, cause it to crash. Fixes are likely coming in the near future. In the meantime, Oddworld: Abes Oddysee and Crash Team Racing are both begging for a revisit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-free-ps1-emulator-for-iphone-is-burning-up-the-app-store-charts-161443236.html?src=rss
Apple last week refreshed its iPad lineup by upgrading the iPad Pro and iPad Air. The latter got its first hardware update in over two years. The latest iPad Air is powered by an M2 chipset and it ships on May 15. If youre interested in picking one up and havent yet done so, youre in luck. Youll get a $30 discount on the M2 iPad Air if you preorder one at Amazon. The discount is available on select models such as several colorways of the base 11-inch iPad Air with 128GB of storage, which drops to $570. The purple 256GB variant of the 13-inch iPad Air is also $30 off at $870.
The M2 is one of the two major changes to the iPad Air this time around. The chipset is about 50 percent faster than the M1, according to Apple, so the latest model should be noticeably zipper than the previous generation. However, the iPad Pro is now significantly more powerful than the Air, as the high-end models arriving this week run on the new M4 chipsets, making them the first Apple devices to do so.
The screen is the other major change to the iPad Air. Not only is the base models display 0.1 inches larger, making it a tidier 11 inches, theres a 13-inch variant of an iPad Air for the first time. That means the iPad Air has the same screen sizes as the iPad Pro (which is now somehow thinner and lighter than its mid-range sibling).
Theres one other immediately noticeable change to the iPad Air The front-facing camera is now positioned along the landscape edge. That should make video calls a bit more palatable for those who tend to have their iPad in that orientation, including those who use keyboard attachments.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-m2-ipad-air-is-30-off-if-you-preorder-at-amazon-153809896.html?src=rss
One of Ankers MagGo power banks is on sale for just $32 via Amazon. This is a discount of 21 percent, as the device is typically $40. For the price, you get a full-featured magnetic power bank that boasts a 10,000mAh capacity, which allows for around 22 extra hours of use with a modern smartphone.
The power bank features magnetic charging technology, like Apples MagSafe, and the device automatically attaches to the back of a smartphone via those same magnets. Its also light and portable, so most pockets and handbags should be able to accommodate both the power bank and the attached smartphone.
On the downside, its not for every smartphone. Its only for the iPhone 12 and up, as thats when Apple introduced its MagSafe technology to the lineup. However, it can be used with other gadgets that allow for magnetic charging, like AirPod cases and the like. Its also worth noting that, while cool, wireless magnetic charging is much slower than traditional wired charging.
We gave another Anker MagGo charger the top spot in our list of the best power banks. Anker makes good stuff. The primary difference between the one that topped our list and this one is that the former boasts Qi2 wireless charging technology, which is faster, and a nice LED display for data metrics. Its also more than twice the price.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-this-anker-10000mah-magnetic-power-bank-for-only-32-150230046.html?src=rss
Things are really changing over at Apple with the announcement of a new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air. The company has also discontinued the ninth-generation iPad and cut the price of its 10th-generation model to $349. While that was exciting on its own, Apple's 10th-gen iPad is now available for an even better deal on Amazon: $334. The discount brings Apple's 64GB base model to a new record-low price.
The 10th-gen iPad is becoming Apple's cheapest option on the market and it's a solid product. We gave it an 85 in our review when it debuted in 2022 thanks to updates like a USB-C charging port and a redesign that made it more comparable to the iPad Air. It also has a landscape-mode front-facing camera so you can join video calls without being awkwardly vertical on people's screens.
Apple's most affordable iPad also has a 10-hour battery estimate but lasted 11 hours and 45 minutes for us when playing a movie pushed from iTunes though gaming or other active use would shorten the amount of time it works between charges. This iPad also has a 10.9-inch screen, compared to it's predecessors 10.2-inches. Plus, it uses an A14 chip (the same one as in an iPhone 12).
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-10th-gen-ipad-hits-a-new-low-of-334-141510163.html?src=rss
The recipe for Googles A-series Pixels is incredibly straightforward: Combine top-notch cameras with a vivid display and then cram all that in a tried and tested design for a reasonable price. But with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a now supports the same powerful AI features as Googles flagship phones. So when you consider that all this comes for just $499, youre looking at not just the top midrange Android handset on the market but possibly one of the best values of any phone on sale today.
Design and display
Aside from a new aloe color option which in my opinion is the best of the bunch the Pixel 8a is nearly identical to the standard Pixel 8. However, there are a few subtle differences that become more noticeable when the two are viewed side-by-side. The most obvious is slightly larger bezels, which also has an impact on the Pixel 8s screen size. Instead of a 6.2-inch display like on its pricier sibling, the Pixel 8a tops out at 6.1 inches. That said, you still get a vibrant OLED panel that produces deep blacks and rich colors, plus a slightly faster 120Hz refresh rate compared to the 90Hz on last years Pixel 7a.
The phones frame is still made out of aluminum, which feels great, while the metal camera bar in the back is actually a millimeter or two thinner, resulting in an ever so slightly sleeker device. Google also switched out the Pixel 8s rear glass panel for plastic. But thanks to a new matte finish thats supposed to mimic the texture of cashmere, it definitely doesnt feel cheap. And while its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance is one step down from whats on the mainline Pixel 8, thats still enough to withstand dunks of up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Not bad.
Performance
One of the biggest knocks against Googles Tensor chips is that they dont offer the same level of raw performance you get from rival Apple or Qualcomm silicon. And while thats still true of the G3, when were talking about it powering a phone that costs $499, Im much less bothered. In normal use, the Pixel 8a feels swift and snappy and even when gaming. Titles like Marvel Snap and TMNT: Shredders Revenge looked smooth. The only time I noticed significant hiccups or lag was when playing more demanding shooters like Call of Duty: Mobile.
While both sport very similar designs, the Pixel 8a (left) has a slightly smaller 6.1-inch screen with larger bezels than the standard Pixel 8 (right). Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
Of course, the other part of the performance equation is all the on-device AI features that the Tensor G3 unlocks such as Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take and the Magic Editor, which you can use as much as you want instead of the 10-picture cap that free users are subject to in Google Photos.
Cameras
The Pixel 8a features the same 64MP main and 13MP ultra-wide sensors used in last years P7a. But thats OK, because Googles affordable phones punch way above their weight. So instead of comparing it with a similarly priced rival, I decided to really challenge the Pixel 8a by putting it up against the Samsung 24 Ultra. And even then, it still largely kept up.
In bright light, Id argue the Pixel 8a might be the superior shooter, as it captured more accurate colors and excellent details compared to the warmer tones and often oversaturated hues from Samsung. This was especially noticeable when shooting a single yellow rose. The S24 Ultra made the middle of the flower appear orange and super contrasty, which looks great in a vacuum but doesnt reflect what I saw in real life.
However, at night the S24 Ultras massive 200MP main sensor pulled back in front, producing images that were generally sharper and more well-exposed. That said, thanks to Googles powerful Night Sight mode, the Pixel 8a wasnt far behind, an impressive feat for a phone that costs $800 less.
Finally, while the Pixel 8a doesnt have any other hardware tricks besides a solid 13MP selfie cam, Googles AI is here to take your photos even further. Best Take allows you to capture multiple group shots and then swap in peoples reactions from various options. Its easy to use and lets you create a composite where everyone is smiling, which feels like a win-win scenario. Then theres the Magic Editor, a fun and powerful way to eliminate distracting elements or move subjects around as you please. Its the kind of thing you might not use every day, but now and then it will salvage a shot you might have otherwise deleted. So even if you dont care about AI or how it works, Google is finding a way to add value with machine learning.
Battery life and charging
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
While the Pixel 8as 4,492 mAh battery is a touch smaller than what you get on the standard model (4,575 mAh), it actually boasts slightly better battery life, possibly due to its more petite screen. On our video rundown test, the 8a lasted a solid 20 hours and 29 minutes, barely beating the regular Pixel 8s time of 20:16.
Meanwhile, when it comes to recharging, both wired and Qi wireless speeds have stayed the same. This means you get up to 18 watts when using a cable, but a rather lethargic rate of 7.5 watts if you slap it on an induction pad. That might not be a big deal if you only use wireless charging overnight or to conveniently top up the phone while youre doing something else. But if you need some juice in a jiffy, you better grab a cord.
Wrap-up
Google isnt breaking new ground with the Pixel 8a. But the simple formula of class-leading cameras, a great display, strong battery life and a slick design will never go out of style especially when you get all this for just $499. And with the addition of AI features that were previously only available on Googles flagship phones, the Pixel 8a is a midrange smartphone that really is smarter than all of its rivals. To top everything off, theres a configuration with 256GB of storage for the first time on any A-series handset (though only on the Obsidian model), plus even better support with a whopping seven years of Android and security updates.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget
The one wrinkle to this is that the deciding factor comes down to how much its siblings cost. If you go by their default pricing, the $499 Pixel 8a offers incredible savings compared to the standard $799 Pixel 8. However, prior to the 8as announcement, we saw deals that brought the Pixel 8 down to as low as $549, at which point you might as well spend an extra $50 to get the full flagship experience.
But for those who dont feel like waiting for a discount or might not care about details like slower wireless charging speeds, in addition to being the best midrange Android phone, the Pixel 8a is just a damn good deal.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-pixel-8a-review-the-best-midrange-android-phone-gets-flagship-ai-features-140046032.html?src=rss
Over the last few days, heightened solar activity (and those heady geomagnetic storms) led to outages in the GPS navigation systems that guide some modern tractors from John Deere and other brands. 404 Media reported farmers have been told to pause using high-tech tractors that use GPS systems to program and tightly farm their land. John Deeres tractors Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) systems can apparently plant precisely, down to the centimeter. A bit of GPS noise could derail that.
REUTERS / Reuters
The weekends geomagnetic storm is the strongest in the last 20 years and reached G5 levels, considered extreme, on Friday and Saturday morning.
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Most Apple App Store developers arent trying outside payments
Only 38 of a possible 65,000 have applied.
Apples recently added option for App Store developers to include links to external payment methods isnt actually all that appealing. In a hearing on Friday, as part of the ongoing legal battle with Epic, Apple said only 38 developers have applied to add such links out of roughly 65,000 that could. The changes were to satisfy an injunction ordered by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in 2021. According to Bloomberg, Rogers said during the latest hearing: It sounds to me as if the goal was to then maintain the business model and revenue you had in the past.
Continue reading.
Alienware m16 R2 review
When less power makes for a better laptop.
Engadget
The Alienware m16 R2 is a rarity among modern laptops. Normally after a major revamp, gadget makers like to keep new models on the market for as long as possible to minimize manufacturing costs. However, after the freshly designed m16 launched last year, the company re-engineered it again. This time limiting the GPU. By doing that, Alienware could rework the m16 into a gaming laptop with a sleeker design, better battery life and a more approachable starting price built for what customers were buying when the original launched. Its a good approach. Check out our review.
Continue reading.
Waymos robotaxis are making 50,000 paid trips every week
Across three cities.
The Alphabet-owned autonomous taxi company has announced its now serving more than 50,000 paid trips every week across Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Waymo One operates 24/7 in parts of those cities, so if the company is getting 50,000 rides a week, thats five bookings every minute.
Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-those-geomagnetic-storms-are-messing-with-farming-techs-gps-systems-111558939.html?src=rss
