Tag: technews

Block is the latest notable tech company to lay off hundreds of workers, according to reports. CEO Jack Dorsey is said to have informed employees that the company is firing a “large number” of them, with Cash App, Square and the foundational (i.e. operations) teams bearing the brunt of the impact. According to a Business Insider source, Block is letting go nearly 1,000 people.

Dorsey reportedly wrote in his memo that the company is becoming leaner. It laid off around 40 people from the Tidal team in December. Last year, Block said it planned to limit its headcount to around 12,000 workers, a reduction from the around 13,000 it had in late 2023. Engadget has contacted Block for confirmation of the layoffs.

While it was initially expected that the layoffs would take place over a period of months, executives reportedly opted against that in favor carrying them out at the same time. “Why is so much happening in one single day? All of these teams were confident in the direction they’re taking, and were ready to take action within the same 2-3 weeks,” Dorsey is said to have written in his memo. “We decided it would be better to do [it] at once rather than arbitrarily space them out, which didn’t seem fair to the individuals or to the company. When we know we need to take an action, we want to take it immediately, rather than let things linger on forever.”

The tech industry has shed tens of thousands of workers over the last year or so, including thousands this month alone across companies including Unity, Twitch, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, eBay and Google. It also emerged on Tuesday that PayPal is firing around 2,500 people. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/block-is-reportedly-laying-off-around-1000-workers-205319045.html?src=rss

OM System (formerly Olympus) has unveiled the OM-1 Mark II with largely the same specs as its predecessor, but several significant upgrades. Those include improved autofocus, particularly on the AI side, along with other quality-of-life improvements to stabilization, handling and more. 

The company has completed its OM System branding change, as there’s no trace of the Olympus logo as seen on the OM-1. That said, the cameras are much the same inside. As before, it comes with a 20-megapixel (MP) stacked Micro Four Thirds sensor and TruePix X processor that allows for very fast burst shooting up to 50fps with continuous autofocus.

Those speeds haven’t changed, but OM System boosted the camera’s onboard RAM, allowing for some new features. The autofocus can now has a “Human detection” option that goes beyond just faces and eyes as before. The company says AF is also faster and more accurate (with and without subject detection), making it better for sports, wildlife and more.

OM System

It also features a deeper buffer, meaning you can shoot 256 RAW frames at 50fps before it fills, around double the OM-1 — ideal for action shooting. And while the previous model allowed for blackout-free shooting at the highest frame rates, it now works at slower speeds as well (12.5fps and 16fps) for photographers who prefer to work that way. 

The company has also used updated algorithms to boost in-body image stabilization up to 8.5 stops with supported lenses, better than any other camera on the market (Canon’s latest models boast 8 stops of stabilization). And it now supports 14-bit RAW for multishot high-res mode, both in the 80MP tripod and the 50MP handheld modes, to improve dynamic range. 

One new function is called Graduated Neutral Density (GND) that builds on the previous model’s Live ND (LND) mode. The latter isn’t a true ND filter, but blends multiple short shots to simulate one. The graduated version lets you shoot a gradient exposure at any angle, while also controlling the mid-point and whether it has a soft, medium or hard edge.

Olympus

The body and control layout is much the same as before, but OM System has rubberized the command dials so they have a more tactile feel and work better when using gloves. That should be helpful, since the OM-1 is popular for bird and wildlife photography in all kinds of weather conditions.

Beyond that, specs and features are largely the same. You still shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps, in either 8-bit or 10-bit modes (1080p at 240 fps). And the OM-1 can output 12-bit Apple ProRes RAW video at up to 60 fps to an Atomos Ninja V or Ninja V+ external recorder without any pixel binning.

It comes with a 5.76-million dot 120Hz OLED viewfinder as before, along with a fully articulating display. There are dual SD UHS II card slots, but no CFexpress option. The battery delivers a solid 500 shots per charge, but that jumps to 1010 in “Quick Sleep” mode. Finally, you still get a small FL LM3 flash, designed mostly for fill or use with external flash units.

The OM-1 Mark II is arriving in late February for $2,400 (body only) and $3,000 in a kit with the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens (24-80mm full-frame equivalent). 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/om-systems-om-1-mark-ii-offers-improved-autofocus-and-stabilization-201810603.html?src=rss

The Kobo Libra 2 ereader has dropped to its lowest price of the year so far. You can grab one via Amazon for $170, which is a discount of $20. This matches pricing from the holiday season for the water-resistant reading tablet.

Kobo’s Libra 2 easily made our list of the best ereaders for a number of reasons. First of all, this thing has actual buttons, which has become something of a rarity with modern ereaders. This gives users some tactile feedback when adjusting settings, turning pages and performing other activities on the tablet. Like most ereaders, the screen quickly re-orients itself, so you can make it so the buttons are on either side of the device.

We also admired the aesthetics, as this device looks and feels premium during use. We also called it the “most comfortable ereader” we’ve ever held, due to the textured and rubberized back. There’s a highly useful warming light that mimics natural environments. The text and image clarity are also on-point and the whole thing is waterproof up to six feet for 60 minutes. So grab that towel and hit the pool.

While we loved the beefy 32GB capacity, which holds thousands upon thousands of books, the Libra 2 features a relatively smallish 7-inch screen that pales in comparison to, say, the Kindle Scribe. However, it pretty much matches the size of a standard paperback. The $190 asking price is a bit steep, but this discount puts the kibosh on that concern. With this sale in place, the Libra 2 is a full $80 less than the similarly featured Kindle Oasis.

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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-kobo-libra-2-drops-to-its-lowest-price-of-the-year-so-far-195025528.html?src=rss