Google Meet hosts can keep participants mics and cameras off

Google

Google Meet is getting a new feature that can help prevent distractions from noisy or unruly attendees. Hosts will get the option to turn off participants' microphones and cameras and prevent them from turning these back on. 

This mic and camera lock feature will be off by default, so hosts will need to turn this on during meetings if they want access to it. If the sessions have breakout rooms, the audio and video locks in the main will apply there. But it won't work the opposite way, meaning if the locks were implemented in the breakout rooms, they wouldn't apply outside of those sessions.

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Video shows new M1 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro and compares it to Intel MacBook Pro

A YouTube video from SANG SÁNG SUỐT gives a first look at the new 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro/M1 Max and compares the new flagship pro laptop with its predecessor, the 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro. The new 16-inch (and its 14-inch counterpart) seem to bring back the design of the Titanium PowerBook G4 but refine it for the present. 

A couple of things stand out. Apple's obsession with thinner and lighter designs seems to be over, or at least there is a compromise. Form now follows 'pro' function and the new MacBook Pros look solid and more durable than the models they replace. Ironically, the new M1 processors have a smaller footprint and don't require as much ventilation, yet the cases for these new Pro books are chunkier and larger (possibly because of additional ports and batteries).

The thinner bezels, taller displays, and the notch all make for a completely new screen layout that seems closer to a 17-inch display, but users will appreciate having additional real estate one one device. The display is also visibly thicker possibly because of the Liquid Retina Display as well as the 1080p multi-element lens and camera. The new MacBook Pros begin shipping next week, although some shipments for custom models have slipped well into December and even January ostensibly because of the persistent chip and component crisis. 

Update on Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 2:38PM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The video is no longer available on the channel

Review: Mobile Pixels Duex Plus Portable Laptop Monitor

Road warriors, remote workers, and students hungry for screen real estate have a precious few options, especially if they are working in a limited space. They can opt for a larger 15-inch or larger laptop, but these are heavy and usually don’t have great battery life. A second external monitor is a good option, but could be cumbersome to carry around plus it usually requires its own power supply and cables which can quickly take over a laptop’s limited ports.

Mobile Pixels’ Duex Plus is a thin and light 13.3”-inch monitor that effectively doubles the screen real estate of my MacBook Pro 13. Featuring a reasonably bright and detailed 300 nits of brightness and a 1920 x1080 resolution, the Duex Plus allowed me to replicate my dual-display desktop setup in a more portable.

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Sony to host next 'State of Play' stream on Oct. 27

If you want to find out what third-party titles are coming to Sony's consoles, the company will hold its next State of Play live stream on October 27. The event is happening at 5 PM ET on its Twitch and YouTube channels. It'll be a short, 20-minute event, but it could be packed with tons of announcements or updates. As we've mentioned, the focus of this stream will be on third-party titles. But Sony is also promising to share more information on previously announced games.

Source: Engadget