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Google Assistant's days are numbered. Google announced Friday that all Android devices are switching to Gemini as their default assistant and "the classic Google Assistant will no longer be accessible on most mobile devices."The company says it's working to convert more mobile devices from Google Assistant to Gemini in 2025, and plans on "upgrading tablets, cars and devices that connect to your phone, such as headphones and watches" to the new AI assistant. That presumably includes other platforms like iOS, as well. While smart home devices don't seem to be a focus at Google as of late, the company also reaffirmed plans to use Gemini to power a new experience on speakers, displays, and streaming boxes.The only way to really avoid Google Assistant's retirement is to have a device that doesn't meet Gemini's minimum system requirements: Running at least Android 10 and having at least 2GB of RAM. If you've got both, say goodbye to your old assistant.For those willing to look, the writing has been on the wall for Google Assistant for a while now. Google launched its Pixel 9 line with Gemini as the default instead of Google Assistant, a pretty bad sign considering Pixels function as one big Google lifestyle ad. The company has also deliberately tried to give Gemini basic capabilities of Assistant over time, presumably to make this transition possible.It's not clear when the switch will happen, but it would make sense for any Android 16 device to use Gemini rather than last years model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-is-removing-assistant-from-most-phones-this-year-182700104.html?src=rss

Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander has snapped a gorgeous photo of a solar eclipse from the Moon in which Earth covers up most of the Sun, leaving only the so-called diamond ring effect. It also looks nearly identical to the logo of the early 2000s genre show Heroes.The lander snapped the photo at around 1:30AM ET on Friday morning, as the Earth slowly blocked a view of the Sun. The solar eclipse on the Moon occurred at the same time as a total lunar eclipse here on Earth. Terrestrial viewers saw the lunar surface turn a red hue.

Fujifilm appears to be working on a camera that could combine the best of its medium-format shooters, like the GFX 100S II, with the massively popular X100 series, based on a new teaser video spotted by Digital Camera World.The video, titled "X Summit in Prague is going to be special, Fujifilm fam" shows a pair of hands producing a XV100 VI and GFX 100S II out of thin air and bringing the cameras together, before cutting to the silhouette of the new camera the company presumably plans to announce. The suggestion being that Fujifilm wants to create something that has traits of its more compact, fixed-lens X100 series while reaping the benefits of a medium-format sensor.It's hard to really gauge what the new camera will look like based on the brief clip in the video, but it definitely looks larger (and more square) than the X100 VI, with a smaller lens than you'd normally see on a camera in Fujifilm's GFX 100S II. That certainly bodes well for anyone looking to up their photography game after getting hooked on one of the X100 cameras.Fujifilm first struck gold with the X100 V, which became popular on social platforms because of its size, design and ability to digitally mimic multiple types of analog film. The X100 VI was released in 2024 to capitalize on the sudden popularity, gaining things like in-body stabilization and a lower native ISO. For all intents and purposes, it's a fantastic camera.We'll have to wait until Fujifilm's X Summit on March 20 to see if this new camera has the potential to have the same crossover appeal, but history is definitely on the company's side.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-teases-a-medium-format-version-of-its-viral-x100-vi-compact-camera-174117388.html?src=rss

A pair of human rights groups are challenging the UK government's shockingly intrusive order for Apple to create a backdoor into its encrypted user data, as first reported by Financial Times. Privacy International and Liberty have filed a legal complaint with the country's Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which is reportedly scheduled to hear Apple's appeal on Friday.The complaint argues that Apple's appeal to the order should be publicly heard. In addition, the groups' challenge contends that the government's move violates customers' free expression and privacy rights by forcing the company to neuter its product security."The UK's use of a secret order to undermine security for people worldwide is unacceptable and disproportionate," Caroline Wilson Palow, legal director at Privacy International, told The FT. "People the world over rely on end-to-end encryption to protect themselves from harassment and oppression. No country should have the power to undermine that protection for everyone."UK media outlets (including the BBC, Reuters, Financial Times, The Guardian and more) have also filed complaints with the IPT, arguing that the case should be heard publicly. Ditto for the advocacy organizations Big Brother Watch, Index on Censorship and the Open Rights Group.AppleThe UK order requires Apple to give the government blanket access to private user data encrypted through its Advanced Data Protection (ADP) feature. Introduced in iOS 16.2 in 2022, ADP applies end-to-end encryption to iCloud data like device backups, Messages content, notes and photos. Even Apple can't access it.Apple removed ADP in the UK in response to the order before issuing its own legal challenge. But since the backdoor would also apply to users outside the UK, the private data of anyone with an Apple account would be vulnerable. Security experts (and common sense) warn that the backdoor would needlessly expose anyone with an Apple Account to foreign spying, hackers and adversarial countries.We only know about the UK order because of a leak last month. That's because it was issued under the country's Investigatory Powers Act 2016, which expanded the surveillance powers of British intelligence agencies and law enforcement (earning its, uh, term of endearment, the "Snooper's Charter"). The rules also prevent Apple from commenting on or publicly acknowledging the existence of the privacy-eviscerating order - or using its appeal to delay compliance. Apple said last month, "We have never built a back door or master key to any of our products or services, and we never will."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/british-human-rights-groups-challenge-the-uks-apple-backdoor-order-163329777.html?src=rss

Warning: spoilers for season three of Ted Lasso are ahead.It turns out that all Ted Lasso fans had to do was believe. After many months of rumors and uncertainty, the hit show is coming back to Apple TV+ for a fourth season.Star, co-creator and executive producer Jason Sudeikis is returning as the eponymous college football coach who was hired to take charge of a soccer team in England. He told the Kelce brothers on their New Heights podcast that the writing team is working on the next season and that, this time around, Ted will be coaching a women's team. That seems like a nice way to hit the reset button after the so-so third season (don't @ me).

Apple's AirPods 4 earbuds are on sale via Amazon for just $100. This is a new record low price, representing a discount of $29. The deal is for the standard model and not the one with ANC. However, that model is also on sale for $149, which is a discount of 17 percent. These earbuds are generally considered some of the best AirPods on the market. The sound quality is improved over the previous generation, as is the overall design. This leads to a legitimately comfortable fit, which is something of a rarity in the earbud space. We noted in our official review that they don't fall out when moving around. This model features the H2 chip, which was introduced for the AirPods Pro. The H2 chip opens up plenty of high-tech features, like Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. These earbuds also offer 48kHz audio for FaceTime calls and Adaptive EQ. Speaking of calls, Apple's newly introduced Voice Isolation feature helps remove unwanted ambient noise when speaking on the phone. There are some features missing from these earbuds when compared to the company's higher-end models. These AirPods don't have onboard volume controls and there's no wireless charging. Also, there's no ANC on the entry-level buds. Again, the ANC-equipped version is also on sale today. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-4-drop-to-a-record-low-of-100-152213060.html?src=rss

Several people have been arrested as part of a corruption investigation linked to the European Parliament and Huawei. The company is suspected of bribing European Union officials, according to the Associated Press.A spokesperson for the federal prosecutors' office in Belgium, where the European Parliament is located, said authorities are conducting "an ongoing investigation on preliminary charges of active corruption, forgery of documents, money laundering at the European Parliament." Prosecutors stated that "the offences were allegedly committed by a criminal organization" and were carried out to promote "purely private commercial interests in the context of political decisions.""Corruption was allegedly practiced regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to the present day, under the guise of commercial lobbying and taking various forms, such as compensation for political positions or excessive gifts such as food and travel expenses, or regular invitations to [soccer] matches," the office said in a statement. It later added that the "alleged bribery is said to have benefited Huawei."Police raided several addresses in Belgium and Portugal, according to reports. Two European Parliament offices linked to two assistants who are allegedly involved in the case have been sealed.Those arrested were being questioned over their alleged involvement "in active corruption within the European Parliament," prosecutors said. A spokesperson for the office told the BBC that no members of the parliament (MEPs) were directly targeted in these raids. However, reports suggest that around 15 current and former MEPs are "on the radar" of investigators.Huawei said it would "urgently communicate with the investigation" to better understand the issue at hand, while the company is taking the allegations "seriously." A spokesperson told The Guardianthat "Huawei has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption or other wrongdoing, and we are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times."A European Parliament spokesperson said the legislative body had "received a request for cooperation from the Belgian authorities to assist the investigation which the Parliament will swiftly honor."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/huawei-allegedly-benefited-from-european-parliament-bribery-scheme-142423000.html?src=rss

One of the best things you can do for your online security is to make sure you have a robust, unique password on every single one of your accounts. But not many of us have the ability to memorize the login details for so many different services if the credentials are as strong as they ought to be. Using a password manager can make all of that much easier. Our favorite, 1Password, is on sale for up to 50 percent off. The 1Password for Families plan is half off at $2.49 per month for one year. That's about $30 for 12 months of access. The solo plan, 1Password for Individuals, has dropped from $3 per month to $2.24 for a year - meaning you'd get 12 months of service for $27. So if you want an account for more than one person, the family plan is clearly the way to go. In part due to its industry standard encryption, other security measures and how straightforward it is to use, 1Password is our pick for the best password manager overall. (Disclosure: 1Password provides journalists free access to its individual plan, an offer I've taken up.) With the individual plan, you can store unlimited passwords and items, as well as 1GB of documents. A family plan includes access for up to 5 people and the same document storage capacity per person. 1Password's tutorial makes it easy to import your credentials from other password managers. The app rates the strength of each of your passwords so you can quickly see which ones you should update. There's an "open and fill" option that opens a website and plugs in your credentials to sign you in. What's more, 1Password offers support for passkeys, login credentials that are stored on your devices and protected by a PIN or biometric authentication method such as facial recognition or a fingerprint. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/1password-subscriptions-are-up-to-50-percent-off-right-now-130020224.html?src=rss

It's been a while since Konami teased Silent Hill f, a mainline game in the franchise that's set in 1960s rural Japan instead of the titular town. Now, the publisher has released a full trailer for the much-awaited game at an online event livestreamed on YouTube. Konami's Motoi Okamoto, who's in charge of the Silent Hill franchise, said the theme of the game is finding "beauty in terror," which is common in Japanese horror. He explained that when something is too beautiful and perfect, it becomes deeply unsettling. Okamoto said the developers wanted to examine how the elements of beauty and terror can co-exist in a psychological horror story. Indeed, the world of Silent Hill f is beautiful, even during moments that are supposed to be terrifying. It's set in the fictional town of Ebisugaoka based on the town of Kanayama, Gero in Gifu, which is mostly made up of mountains and forest. In the game, you play as high school student Shimizu Hinako who has to solve puzzles and confront monsters to survive after her hometown was consumed by a fog that transformed it into a grotesque copy of the real world. The game's setting was mostly imagined by Ryukishi07 known for the When They Cry visual novel horror and murder mystery series.Silent Hill f doesn't have a release date yet, but it will be available on the Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/silent-hill-f-trailer-shows-the-games-beautiful-backdrop-and-unsettling-mood-123024347.html?src=rss

There's a sale on some of our favorite Sonos devices happening right now. One of the best deals comes thanks to a 36 percent discount on the Sonos Ray compact soundbar. It's currently available for just $179, down from $279 in either black or white. It's our runner up for best midrange soundbar. You can pick it up at Amazon or direct from Sonos at the sale price. The Sonos Ray debuted in 2022 and garnered an 82 in our review thanks to compact, sleek design and easy setup. We also liked its bass performance and overall sound quality for either TV or music. However, it didn't create as immersive a sound as larger options, so people with a big space might want to opt for something else. Other soundbars on sale include the Beam Gen 2, which is down to $399. Then there's our favorite midrange speaker, the Sonos Era 100. The speaker is currently down to $199 from $249 - a 20 percent discount. It offers great sound quality and has two tweeters. And if you're looking for a speaker that can come with you to your next backyard party or barbecue, both the Sonos Move 2 and the Roam 2 are included in the sale. You can grab them for $359 and $139, respectively. Separately at Wellbots, you can pick up the new Sonos Arc Ultra for $750, which is 25 percent off its usual price of $999. Just use the code ENGSONOS25 at checkout to get the discount. This sits at the top of our list of the best soundbars thanks to its crisp, immersive sound, improved bass performance and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity and convenient, repositioned onboard controls. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/save-up-to-36-percent-on-some-of-our-favorite-sonos-soundbars-and-speakers-153107068.html?src=rss

The company behind Roomba robovacs told investors earlier this week that revenue was substantially down and it's struggling to pay its debts. Amazon was briefly tapped to acquire the robot company iRobot, but the threat of a European Commission investigation led to the retailer terminating the deal - apparently happy enough to pay off the $94 million termination fee.That, however, isn't enough to tackle the $200 million loan iRobot took out to survive long enough for Amazon to come to the rescue. It's extra rough when the company announced, just the week before, a bunch of new models, including a new Roomba that can compact debris and dust, so it only needs to be emptied every few weeks.At the same time, rival robot vacuum cleaners are getting more versatile, more complicated and more intriguing. This year's CES had a standout barrage of new robovacs that can multitask and even pack robot arms inside, like something from a cartoon.But many of these devices haven't yet launched in earnest, while iRobot has delivered solid floor cleaners for years. Hopefully, it can continue that run.- Mat SmithGet this delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missed

These days, we all could use a bit of quiet time away from the rise and grind. That's where meditation comes in. This practice may not be the ultimate cure-all for everything that ails you like some claim, but it can still help with sleep, stress, mood and focus. I've been meditating most of my adult life, with varying degrees of regularity, and I've tried plenty of different techniques. I've done silent retreats. I've done transcendental meditation (RIP David Lynch.) I've followed along in crowded rooms. This is something well worth your time and effort.

When RCS messaging became available on the iPhone with the rollout of iOS 18, the technical director of the GSM Association teased that the next major milestone for the messaging standard is the addition of interoperable end-to-end encryption. Now, six months later, GSMA has released an updated set of specifications for RCS messaging, which includes end-to-end encryption (E2EE) based on the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol. The new RCS profile will ensure that messages and files remain safe and confidential when sent between iOS and Android devices."...RCS will be the first large-scale messaging service to support interoperable E2EE between client implementations from different providers. Together with other unique security features such as SIM-based authentication, E2EE will provide RCS users with the highest level of privacy and security for stronger protection from scams, fraud and other security and privacy threats," said Tom Van Pelt, the Technical Director of GSMA. RCS, or Rich Communication Services, gives people a way to send images, videos and audio clips to each other through text across different platforms. Google's implementation of RCS has had default end-to-end encryption for both one-on-one and group chats since early 2024, but only if all participants are using Google Messages with RCS chats turned on. Meanwhile, iMessages are already protected by E2EE.In a statement sent to 9to5Mac, Apple said that it was "pleased to have helped lead a cross industry effort to bring end-to-end encryption to the RCS Universal Profile published by the GSMA." It also vowed to add support to end-to-end encryption to iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS "in future software updates." Without a definite timeframe, it's hard to say when Apple is rolling out an update to support the security feature, but when it does, it will prevent third parties from intercepting and accessing potentially sensitive and private messages.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/rcs-messaging-adds-end-to-end-encryption-between-android-and-ios-120020005.html?src=rss

It's both a great and bad week for Apple. In this episode, we dive into Devindra's review of the excellent M4-equipped MacBook Air (and briefly chat about the new Mac Studio). We also discuss Apple's surprise announcement that it's delaying its smarter, AI-infused Siri, which may not arrive until next year. Did Apple over-promise last year, or is it wise to hold off on advanced AI features until they're ready? After all, Apple doesn't want a fiasco like Microsoft's Recall announcement.Listen below 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 podcast, Engadget News!Subscribe!

The full trailer dropped today for Apple's F1 movie. The film is getting an international theatrical release starting June 25, and will be in theaters and IMAX domestically beginning June 27. F1 has received extensive involvement from the Formula 1 world, so it'll be fascinating to see how well it walks the line between being a good movie and feeling like a dramatic promo for the organization.The movie is a star-studded affair, with Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies and Kim Bodnia in the cast. Joseph Kosinski, who helmed Top Gun: Maverick, is the director, Ehren Kruger wrote the screenplay and the legendary Hans Zimmer did the score. Every shot in the trailer promises that this is a luxe production, fitting for the huge piles of money that go into developing F1 cars and teams.F1 has the glossy sheen of a Hollywood sports drama to it. Even though it's a work of fiction, several personalities and teams from the actual Formula 1 teams will appear in the final cut. There's been a surge in filmmaking about this type of car racing, with Netflix also hosting its own documentary series about Formula 1.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/see-brad-pitt-behind-the-wheel-in-the-trailer-for-f1-224420723.html?src=rss

Meta is adding a new incentive to get people to create and share photos and videos on Facebook. The company announced today that creators in Facebook's Content Monetization program can now earn money off people viewing their Facebook Stories.Since you can already easily share photos and videos you post to your Stories, this should be a low-effort way to earn a bit more money off the content you share on Facebook. The ability to earn money on Stories is available globally, according to Meta, though it is based on performance, and Stories need to be public to be monetized. Creators who aren't already in the Content Monetization program can apply to be considered right now on Meta's website.The new payment option is just Meta's latest attempt to get creators posting content to Facebook instead of Instagram or competing apps. In January, the company debuted a "breakthrough bonus program" that offered an extra $5,000 to creators with an existing presence on another social media platform for posting a certain amount of photos and videos to Instagram and Facebook.The timing of the program made it clear that Meta was interested in luring in creators who would soon lose access to TikTok. The app's temporary rescue by the Trump administration has made the need to leave slightly less urgent, but Meta obviously still wants to benefit from the chaos as much as it can.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-creators-can-now-monetize-their-stories-221139957.html?src=rss

Nintendo has set the date for its second US store to set up shop. Following the announcement last year, Nintendo's brick and mortar location in San Francisco will open its doors on May 15. The opening is happening almost exactly two decades after Nintendo launched its first US store, which is in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza.The San Francisco business "will offer a unique shopping experience filled with Nintendo's characters, worlds and exclusive products including accessories, apparel, home goods and souvenirs available only at this location," according to the press release. The jury's still out on whether the Switch 2 will be on the store's shelves when it opens.In true Nintendo fashion, the company is hosting a sweepstakes for fans who want to attend the store's grand opening in grand style. One lucky person will win a four-day trip to San Francisco with up to two guests, including a tour of the store during the launch event.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-san-francisco-store-will-open-on-may-15-213532685.html?src=rss

AirPods are arguably Apple's most popular post-iPhone product, and it sounds like the company has plans to make them even more essential. Bloomberg reports that Apple is adding a live-translate feature to AirPods later this year as part of an upcoming software update.The feature sounds like it would work in a similar way to the translation feature on the Pixel Buds, only without the need to ask Google Assistant or in this case, Siri, to start listening for a specific language first. Apple's feature would reportedly automatically detect that something other than your native language is being spoken, and start converting what you're hearing into a language you understand.Pixel Buds have had live-translation since 2020, one of the few abilities that makes Google's earbuds superior to Apple's. With the addition of the Translate app in iOS 14, Apple took at least one major step towards offering something similar, but the company never expanded on it in the years that followed.Assuming it's released, this update would follow another major upgrade to the AirPods: Apple's Hearing Health features. In 2024, the company gave the AirPods Pro the ability to perform hearing tests and act as over-the-counter hearing aids. Adding translation could give AirPods owners even more reason to never take their headphones out. When you add in rumors that Apple might add heart-rate tracking to the AirPods like it did on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, its even easier to imagine how the headphones could go from wireless accessory to something you wear all the time, like an Apple Watch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-reportedly-plans-to-add-a-live-translation-feature-to-airpods-211402313.html?src=rss

Jeff and Annie Strain, the owners of publisher Prytania Media, are suing NetEase over claims of "defamation, unfair trade practices and interference with business relations," Polygon reports. The new lawsuit runs counter to the couple's previous claim that leaks shared with Kotaku led to them shutting down their studios Crop Circle Games and Possibility Space, before Prytania Media itself closed.Per Polygon's reporting, the Strains claim that NetEase "spread false and defamatory statements that caused the demise of Prytania Media," and specifically, that the Chinese company suggested Prytania Media was engaged in financial fraud, scaring away other investors.Prytania Media shutdown Crop Circle Games without warning in March 2024, before closing Possibility Space a month later. Possibility Space was notable for the variety of talent it had working on its first AAA title, including former Waypoint editor-in-chief Austin Walker, Watch Dogs: Legiondesigner Liz England and Jane Ng, the lead environment artist on Firewatch. At the time, the Strains suggested that information shared with Kotaku about an in-development title called "Project Vonnegut" led to an unnamed investor backing away from offering further funding. If the new lawsuit is to be believed, that was not the case.The lawsuit is headed to federal court. For more color on what the Strains claim NetEase did, read Polygon's report. However things play out, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of people were laid off and Prytania Media did little to make things right. "Severance never materialized btw," Walker shared in a Bluesky thread going over the details of the lawsuit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/jeff-strain-is-suing-investor-netease-claiming-internal-gossip-caused-his-game-company-to-shut-down-202342126.html?src=rss

The Emperor protects! Warhammer 40K fans, it appears you won't have to wait nearly as long for a new Space Marine game as you did for a sequel to the 2011 original. Games Workshop announced today that Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment are working on a new installment in the series."Specific details on gameplay, setting and factions are tightly under wraps, but we can confirm Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 will boast an all-new immersive campaign and multiplayer modes," Games Workshop said.The fact the miniature maker has been so quick to green light a sequel is not surprising. As of last fall, the game had sold more than 4.5 million copies across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, and I made sure to include it in Engadget's list of the best games of 2024. More broadly, Warhammer 40,000 is enjoying greater popularity than probably at any other point in its nearly 40-year history. The 40K episode of Amazon's Secret Level anthology, which follows directly after the events of Space Marine 2, was a highlight of the series and did a lot to bring the franchise to a broader audience.Games Workshop did not share a release date or trailer for the new game, so enjoy this teaser for Astartes II, another 40K project fans are excited about, instead.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/warhammer-40k-space-marine-2-is-unsurprisingly-getting-a-sequel-200055031.html?src=rss

Disco Elysium is a critically acclaimed RPG from 2019 that won many accolades for its smart storytelling and writing. Later this year, the game is getting reimagined exclusively for Android devices. This mobile version is slated for a summer 2025 launch.The new format looks akin to what you'd find in a visual novel app rather than to a traditional RPG, based on the trailer and screenshots shared today. ZA/UM, the company behind the game, said that the first two chapters can be played for free, then the full, ad-free game will be a one-time paid unlock."We intend to captivate the TikTok user with quick hits of compelling story, art, and audio, ultimately creating an all new, deeply engaging form of entertainment," ZA/UM studio head Denis Havel said.Many of the original Disco Elysium creators have left ZA/UM. Creator Robert Kurvitz, art director Aleksander Rostov and writer Helen Hindpere were all fired in 2022 by the company's new leaders, and all parties have been mired in lawsuits since the game's international success. Several new studios have sprung up from various former team members, and ZA/UM has announced work on a new game of its own.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/disco-elysium-is-coming-to-android-mobile-this-summer-194536643.html?src=rss

The seventh season of Black Mirror is headed to Netflix on April 10, and based on its first trailer, happily returning to concepts and episodes that have come to define the series.You'll see plenty of the stars that were already announced to be in the new episodes in the trailer, like Paul Giamatti, Issa Rae and Peter Capaldi, along with clear evidence that Season 7 continues storylines showrunner Charlie Brooker has already promised to revisit - namely the episode "USS Callister," about a group of startup employees trapped in a Star Trek-inspired simulation by their boss.There's some surprises too - one of the six new episodes appears to return to the world of Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, the interactive Black Mirror episode Netflix released in 2018, before abandoning interactive movies in 2024. If that doesn't pique your interest, rest assured, load-bearing Black Mirror concepts like "thinking of the human brain as a computer" definitely seem to be present, too.Brooker describes this season as "a little bit OG Black Mirror" and "back to basics in many ways," which could be reassuring, depending on your belief that he can recapture the novelty and meanness of the show's UK run. The series last aired on Netflix in 2023, with a set of episodes that were all over the place in terms of quality. Season 7 could be different, but we'll have to wait until Black Mirror returns on April 10 to find out for sure.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/black-mirror-is-playing-the-hits-in-its-season-7-trailer-193015633.html?src=rss

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown will be released on May 22 for PC via Steam. As the name indicates, this is a turn-based strategy RPG. It also happens to be the first turn-based game in franchise history.It's being developed by Strange Scaffold, who made the fantastic El Paso, Elsewhere. There's a new trailer with plenty of gameplay, which is always nice. One thing that sets this tactical RPG apart from rivals like Unicorn Overlord is that the battles take just a few minutes to complete. As a matter of fact, they look even zippier than the streamlined fights found in the Mario + Rabbids series.The story sounds downright depressing for a TMNT game. Splinter and Shredder are dead, and as the Turtles approach adulthood, they're not just growing up... they're growing apart," a description reads. To that end, most of the levels are played solo with just a single turtle. Come on guys. Hash things out over a large pizza pie!There's no price yet, but preorders are open. Publisher Paramount Game Studios has yet to say anything about a potential console release.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-tactical-takedown-comes-out-on-may-22-191533579.html?src=rss

Microsoft just announced the pending availability of Copilot for Gaming, an AI-powered assistant that's being advertised as a novel way to help players get better at their favorite titles. The company says it will accompany people through games, offering tips, guides and useful information along the way.Microsoft boasts it can also help folks download and launch games, solving the eternal problem of, uh, pressing a button. Copilot for Gaming will be available as part of the Xbox mobile app, so it's being positioned as a second screen type of thing.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Thursday it's creating a new Council for National Security within the agency. The FCC's announcement doesn't go into much detail about what the group will do, but a list of its broader goals focuses on US competition with China, including in AI and other tech sectors.The FCC's statement on the Council for National Security says its three-part agenda includes:

Fortnite will be available on Arm-based Windows machines later this year. In a blog post, developer Epic Games said that it is working with Qualcomm to get the hugely popular game compatible with the new Windows architecture by offering Windows on Snapdragon support for Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat, also known as Easy Anti-Cheat.Microsoft has making a big push to convert its computing ecosystem to Arm-based hardware with Windows 11, especially as it puts more resources behind its line of Copilot+ PCs. While Qualcomm said last year that most games should be compatible with its Snapdragon chips, titles with kernel-level anti-cheat tech would pose a problem. And that's the approach Epic takes to prevent cheating in Fortnite and with its Easy Anti-Cheat program.Epic didn't offer any more specific timeline other than "later this year," but having support for the company's games and services will be important for getting gamers and game developers to convert to the Arm systems.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/epic-is-bringing-fortnite-to-arm-based-windows-systems-181528822.html?src=rss

Google is updating Android to support Auracast, a Bluetooth LE technology that makes it possible to create, listen to and switch between public broadcasts of Bluetooth audio on the devices you already own. At its simplest, Auracast could let you to tune your Bluetooth earbuds to a muted TV in a public space and hear its audio. For Google, though, it sounds like the company is primarily interested in using the feature to make hearing aids even more helpful.Google plans to use Auracast as a way to get Bluetooth audio streaming to hearing aids paired to your phone or tablet. If a TV or streaming device supports Auracast, you'll be able to use your Android device to connect the hearing aids directly to the source and hear what's playing. The company says any presets you've tweaked to customize how your hearing aids sound will carry over to audio you hear through Auracast, too. On Pixel 9 devices, you can even skip diving into settings to switch to the broadcast and instead scan a QR code to immediately connect your hearing aids.The feature is coming to the Pixel 9 via the third Android 16 beta, which is also getting released today. Besides Auracast, the pre-release software includes a new accessibility option that lets you outline text to make it easier to read and a "Local Network Protection" feature that will give anyone with an Android 16 device "more control over which apps can access devices on their local network," Google says.The final version of Android 16 is still a ways off, but the developer beta is available to download today on supported devices. If you don't want to experiment with the beta, Google says you can try out Auracast with a Samsung Galaxy device running One UI 7 and compatible hearing aids from GN Hearing or Starkey.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/auracast-support-is-coming-to-android-180050425.html?src=rss

First announced back in 2023, NVIDIA is finally releasing a playable demo for Half-Life 2 RTX. If you own the original game on Steam (and if you don't, what's your excuse?), you can download the preview on March 18. The showcase will allow players to see how Orbifold Studios has reimagined Ravenholm and Nova Prospekt with ray tracing. NVIDIA says the full release will arrive "at a later date."Ahead of the demo's release, NVIDIA is also releasing RTX Remix, the modding toolkit Orbifold used to remaster HL2, to the public. The suite is available to download today, and includes support for many of the company's latest technologies, including multi-frame generation via DLSS 4. Additionally, NVIDIA says RTX Remix features an easily mastered" interface that allows modders to add fully ray-traced lighting and AI-enhanced textures to older games without fuss. For more dedicated teams, RTX Remix makes it possible to rebuild every asset in a game.Beside the chance to see Half-Life 2 in a whole new light, there's another good reason to revisit the game next week. Viktor Antonov, Half-Life 2's visionary art director, passed away in February at the age of 52. All video games are a collaborative effort, but if there's one person who helped make Half-Life 2 so memorable, it's Antonov. He designed most of City 17 and the Combine technology that gives the game its unique visual identity.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/a-demo-of-half-life-2-rtx-arrives-next-week-on-steam-171908066.html?src=rss

A year-long subscription to the meditation app Headspace is on sale right now for just $42. The typical price is $70, so this represents a savings of 40 percent. It also breaks down to $3.50 per month. The sale is part of the app's acknowledgement of Sleep Awareness Week, which is a thing that's going on right now. A subscription to Headspace gets you access to the app's entire library of meditations, sleep sounds, yoga routines and fitness content. It also delivers curated meditations and inspirational videos each day. Headspace topped our list of the best meditation apps, and with good reason. We loved how the meditation courses are organized, as each one builds on top of skills learned in the previous session. Each course also offers a variety of instructors, just in case you grow fond of a particular person. The integrated search engine makes it easy to find what you're looking for and members even get access to tangential stuff like wellness podcasts. The app's colors are calming and neutral, with an aesthetically pleasing design running throughout. It's just a simple and well-made meditation app that's perfect for both experts and newcomers. There's a free trial of 14 days, but the promotion ends on March 18. That means you really only have a few days to check things out and make a decision. If you do end up purchasing the year, remember that the price shoots up to $70 when it runs out. Make sure to cancel ahead of time, unless you're fine with paying full price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-one-year-of-headspace-for-40-percent-off-170017814.html?src=rss

A steady stream (sorry) of expansions has helped keep the terrific PowerWash Simulatorin the zeitgeist over the last couple of years, but developer FuturLab has been beavering away on a sequel as well. You won't have to wait too long for it either, as PowerWash Simulator 2 is slated to debut later this year.The follow-up has a fresh campaign mode that picks up from where the first game left off, new locations to make scum-free, enhanced soap(!) and the option to customize your home base, which your friends can visit. Also new is the ability to share campaign progress when you play online with your buds. Best of all, there will be a two-player split-screen mode this time around. It's always great to have more couch co-op games to play.The supremely relaxing and satisfying PowerWash Simulator was a surprise hit. FuturLab says more than 17 million players have adjusted their nozzles to spray away virtual grime in a wide variety of locations.PowerWash Simulator 2 is set to hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC in late 2025 (sidenote: have you cleaned your system lately?). More details will be revealed next month.Eurogamerreports that the game is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 as well, but no Nintendo platforms were mentioned in FuturLab's press release. The studio told Engadget that "Whilst we would like to release on Switch 2, there are no current firm plans. We have no timeframe or news there." That said, Nintendo plans to reveal much more about its new console on April 2, so perhaps we'll hear about a Switch 2 edition of PowerWash Simulator 2 then.Meanwhile, there are no plans for a VR version this time, FuturLab told Eurogamer. The studio ended support for PowerWash Simulator VR in January, with CEO Kirsty Rigden saying that version was running at a loss. FuturLab reassigned members of its VR team to other roles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/powerwash-simulator-2-will-arrive-later-this-year-164534571.html?src=rss

Dear Apple, As you know, your Apple Watch SE is not new. The second generation came out in September 2022 alongside the Series 8 and the first iteration of the Ultra. You've given the iPhone, all models of the iPad, AirPods, MacBooks and both the flagship and premium smartwatches updates since then - but not the budget smartwatch. Last month, my editors asked me to see how the Watch SE stacks up in 2025 and I was happy to oblige. I love getting my hands on novel tech, analyzing, evaluating and experiencing a device (then giving it back when I'm done so I don't have to accumulate more stuff). But this review left me cold. The Apple Watch SE feels bland and decidedly lesser-than in 2025. It's a fairly safe bet we'll see a new model of the SE soon. There are, of course, rumors. Plus, the launch of the iPhone 16e suggests you are still interested in churning out more affordable versions of your devices. There's about a $150 price difference between the SE and the base Apple Watch Series 10. The latter goes for $399 at full price and as low as $329 on sale. The SE costs $249 and has gone for as little as $149. While I don't expect a budget watch to have everything the flagship does, there are a few features that feel non-negotiable in 2025 as well as some reasonable compromises that most budget-conscious buyers will probably be willing to accept. As a daily smartwatch wearer and consumer gadget reviewer, I'm offering you my completely free advice on what I'd like to see on the next Apple Watch SE. Give us a bigger (not better) display I usually wear an Apple Watch Series 9 but before that, I sported a hand-me-down Apple Watch Series 4 with a scratched screen. Apart from the scuff, the screen on the 40mm Apple Watch SE I reviewed feels identical to the one on that wearable from 2018. In fact, both have the same size display areas, which is cramped and dinky compared to the generous real estate on the 42mm Series 10. Of course, the newest Apple Watch received a 2mm size bump, so a more direct comparison would be to the 40mm 9th-generation watch, which has 150 sq mm more room, thanks to thinner bezels. Considering the growing amount of information our watches handle, I'd like a bigger panel to view it on. The brightness and overall clarity of the SE's OLED Retina display is perfectly adequate. There's no need for the higher-end LTPO 3 technology the latest watches have. And the SE's 1000 nits of brightness is plenty, too. Even in bright sunlight, the screen is legible. True, it can't get down to a single nit of brightness like the newer watches can and, while that's distracting in a dark room, using sleep focus at bedtime turns the screen off completely. When I upgraded to the Series 9, the feature I most looked forward to was the always-on display (AOD). That's because my Series 4 required me to lift my wrist repeatedly before finally lighting up. It was irritating to simply check the time. But when I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 7, I turned off the AOD for much of the testing and didn't miss it a bit. Turns out, if the watch reliably and quickly snaps to attention when I flick my wrist, AOD isn't as crucial. So if losing that feature can keep the cost down, that'd be an acceptable tradeoff. Currently, checking the time on the SE is slightly, but not significantly better than my experience with my older watch. Which could be solved by a more advanced processor. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Let's have a faster (not the fastest) chip I realize when I say the processing power of the Apple Watch SE feels sluggish, I'm dishonoring my 14-year-old self whose pipe dream was owning a Casio calculator watch. But still, compared to my experience with current models, the SE lags. Opening apps, controlling music playback, starting workouts and talking with Siri is just slower than it should be. A budget watch doesn't need to pack the zenith of Apple's system-in-package (SiP), but stepping up to 2023's S9 chip would make the watch feel satisfyingly zippy. A processor bump could also enable double tap, which debuted with the Series 9. But that's not critical - I could take or leave the gesture control feature. It doesn't feel as accurate or as integrated with the OS as, say, Samsung's version on the Galaxy Watch. Though I have to admit, with my Series 9, it does feel a little magical when I can double pinch to start a suggested walking workout - especially when I'm grappling with the leash of a crazy puppy. The S9 chip also enables on-board processing of Siri requests, which means those don't have to borrow a connected phone's internet. If I'm on a bike ride and want to log it as such, I can just ask Siri, even if I left my phone at home. (True, the cellular-enabled SE can complete those requests without a phone, but the price bump and monthly service fee for that configuration starts to muddy the idea of a budget watch.) Siri requests are also completed much faster when they're handled on the watch itself. When I want Siri to quickly set a two minute timer for steeping green tea, the process with the SE just takes too long. For Pete's sake, make it charge faster My dad's name is Pete. And if he had an Apple Watch SE (instead of his Series 7), I know he'd want it to recharge in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, the battery performance on the SE is surprisingly good. I can get through a full day that includes tracking a run, a Fitness+ workout, setting timers, obsessively checking the weather, logging meds and taking a couple of dog walks - all with enough juice left to track my sleep. By the time I wake up, it's usually time to stick the watch on the charger. That's a similar experience to my Apple Watch Series 9. But instead of getting the battery refilled while I shower and get ready for the day, the SE takes over two hours to go from around ten percent to a hundred. That's too long to wait. Keep your titanium and sapphire crystal Budget models always get handed the less-expensive materials and that's OK. The aluminum alloy Apple uses in its non-premium watches strikes a good balance between durability and lightness. The Ion-X glass on the front isn't as robust as sapphire glass, but it's less expensive. I'm not trying to speak for all budget-conscious folk, but I and every other frugal person I know tends to swaddle all expensive tech in screen protectors, cases and all manner of other protective measures the moment it leaves the box. So if slightly less robust materials can shave dollars off the asking price, by all means, Apple, do so. We've seen rumors that your next SE might be housed in a plastic case with brighter colors on the watch bands, possibly in an effort to appeal to kids. I'd need to see what type of plastic you feel is strong enough to stand up to the chaos of children, but if it can last a few years without failing while also keeping the price down, I'm open to the idea. It's OK if my watch isn't a doctor's office Fitness tracking is high on my list of non-negotiable features. And accuracy for that requires a suite of sensors - a gyroscope, accelerometer, GPS, altimeter and an optical heart rate readeran optical heart sensor, gyroscope and accelerometer, GPS connection and an altimeter. The SE has all of those and the data collected from my tracked workouts and runs were on par with what my newer watch would gather. The SE lacks an electrical heart rate sensor so it can't take an ECG reading. There's also no temperature sensor, which the Series 10 uses to help predict ovulation and menstrual cycles. If and when your company ever works out the patent dispute over its blood oxygen sensor, I imagine a new Apple Watch SE won't get that capability either. That's fine. I've used the ECG reading exactly once - to test it out for comparison on another smartwatch review. I was hyper-obsessed with my ovulation cycle for a total of six months, approximately eight years before my now seven-year-old kid was born. While it's neat that our watches can compile so much data, I think it's more important to cover the basics: tell me when I'm really hauling on a run and when my heart rate gets up to 170 on a HIIT workout. We can get those more specialized, seldom-used health assessments elsewhere. The SE doesn't have a depth gauge or a water temperature sensor either. That's also fine. I don't think anyone in the market for a budget wearable will mind terribly that it isn't designed to go scuba diving with them. Newer flagship Apple Watches have an ultra wideband (UWB) chip inside to help with more precise finding of a misplaced iPhone and supports additional interactions with a nearby HomePod. I use my watch to find my phone up to three times per day. The UWB enables a more precise way to locate devices, and that interface pops up on my Series 9 each time I ping my phone, offering a cute little game of hot and cold, pointing an arrow in the direction of my missing handset. But I mostly ignore the directions and just listen for the da-ta-da-ta-ding-da-ding of the phone's ringer. Which is to say, I didn't miss the lack of UWB in the least on the SE. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Wrap-up When the Apple Watch SE came out in 2022, Engadget's Cherlynn Low called it the best smartwatch $250 can buy. That was certainly the case at the time. But two and a half years later, it's reasonable to expect more from your budget timepiece. I remember the decade or so post-college when $250 represented more than my monthly food allotment. For many, even an affordable" Apple purchase is still a significant one. For the same money, people can get a lot more if they step outside of your walled ecosystem. Samsung's Galaxy Watch FE is just $200. Not only does it have the same sensors as the company's flagship wearable, it can also perform an ECG. For $200, we could also get a Fitbit Versa 4 instead. True, it doesn't pack nearly as many features as the Pixel Watch 3, but it covers the basics well, tracking activity, delivering notifications and going for up to six days on a charge. It'll even pair with an iPhone. And then there's the Garmin Forerunner 165. Right now it's our editors' favorite running watch and it can be had for $250. Making a quality $250 smartwatch isn't outside the realm of possibility. Apple, you can save your premium materials, super specialized sensors and nice-to-have extras like UWB connections for your flagship and premium models. That way, people who are willing to pay more will still feel like they're getting their money's worth. Just focus on the features that make a difference to everyday users, and forget those inessential perks. There's still room for you to make a reasonably priced watch that doesn't feel like a second-class accessory.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/revisiting-the-apple-watch-se-in-2025-left-me-with-a-long-list-of-update-requests-163046835.html?src=rss

Finding the perfect laptop without breaking the bank isn't as hard as you might think. These days, the best cheap laptops still pack a lot of punch, offering great features without a premium price tag. Whether you need a laptop for work, school, streaming or just staying connected, there are plenty of affordable options that can handle your everyday needs. You don't have to settle for outdated tech, either - many budget laptops now come with decent processors, long battery life and even sleek designs that won't cramp your style.

After being one of the first companies to roll out a Deep Research feature at the end of last year, Google is now making that same tool available to everyone. Starting today, Gemini users can try Deep Research for free in more than 45 languages - no Gemini Advanced subscription necessary. For the uninitiated, Deep Research allows you to ask Gemini to create comprehensive but easy-to-read reports on complex topics.Compared to say Google's new AI Mode, Deep Research works slower than your typical chatbot, and that's by design. Gemini will first create a research plan before it begins searching the web for information that may be relevant to your prompt. When Google first announced Deep Research, it was powered by the company's powerful but expensive Gemini 1.5 Pro model. With today's expansion, Google has upgraded Deep Research to run on its new Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental model - that's mouthful of a name that just means it's a chain-of-thought system that can break down problems into a series of intermediate steps."This enhances Gemini's capabilities across all research stages - from planning and searching to reasoning, analyzing and reporting - creating higher-quality, multi-page reports that are more detailed and insightful," Google says of the upgrade.If Deep Research sounds familiar, it's because of a variety of chatbots now offer the feature, including ChatGPT. Google, however, has been ahead of the curve. Not only was it one of the first to offer the tool, but it's now also making it widely available to all of its users ahead of competitors like OpenAI.Separately, Google announced today the rollout of a new experimental feature it calls Gemini with personalization. The same Flash Thinking model that is allowing the company to bring Deep Research to more people will also allow Gemini to inform its responses based on information from Google apps and services you use."With your permission, Gemini can now tailor its responses based on your past searches, saving you time and delivering more precise answers," says Google. In the coming months, Gemini will be able to pull context from additional Google services, including Photos and YouTube. "This will enable Gemini to provide more personalized insights, drawing from a broader understanding of your activities and preferences to deliver responses that truly resonate with you."To enable the feature, select "Personalization (experimental)" from the model drop-down menu in the Gemini Apps interface. Google explains Gemini will only leverage your Search history when it determines that information may be useful. A banner with a link will allow you to easily turn off the feature if you find it's invasive. Gemini and Gemini Advanced users can begin using this feature on the web starting today, with mobile availability to follow.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-gemini-deep-research-is-now-available-to-everyone-160043485.html?src=rss

Your digital life can get just as cluttered and chaotic as your "IRL" life if you're not too careful. And if you work remote even some of the time, that can add to the massive amount of online information you're juggling on a regular basis. That's why many of us on the Engadget team have done a lot of trial and error with a bunch of digital tools to see if any of them can help us keep things organized personally and professionally. Thankfully, there are tons of good productivity tools out there - these are some of our favorites, many of which are free or have free tiers that you can dive into if you're keen on trying them out. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/the-engadget-teams-favorite-productivity-tools-to-get-things-done-160025276.html?src=rss

Meta has notched an early victory in its attempt to halt a surprise tell-all memoir from a former policy executive turned whistleblower. An arbitrator has sided with the social media company, saying that the book's author should stop selling and publicizing the book, which went on sale earlier this week.The drama stems from Careless People, a new book by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former policy official at Facebook who Meta says was fired in 2017. Described by its publisher as an explosive insider account," Wynn-Williams reveals some new details about Mark Zuckerberg's push to bring Facebook to China a decade ago. She also alleges that Meta's current policy chief, Joel Kaplan, acted inappropriately, and reveals embarrassing details about Zuckerberg's awkward encounters with world leaders.The book was only announced last week, and Meta has waged a forceful PR campaign against it, calling it a new book of old news." Numerous former employees have publicly disputed Wynn-Williams' account of events that transpired while she worked at Facebook.Meta also filed an emergency motion with an arbitrator in an attempt to block the book, arguing that Wynn-Williams violated a non-disparagement agreement with the company. In a decision, the arbitrator said that she should immediately stop making disparaging comments about Meta and stop further publishing or distributing" the book. It's unclear what exactly this means for the memoir, which is already on sale. In a statement, the publisher Flatiron Books, which was also named in Meta's complaint, said that "the arbitration order has no impact on Macmillan," which owns Flatiron.Meta claimed the decision as a victory. This ruling affirms that Sarah Wynn Williams' false and defamatory book should never have been published," Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. This urgent legal action was made necessary by Williams, who more than eight years after being terminated by the company, deliberately concealed the existence of her book project and avoided the industry's standard fact-checking process in order to rush it to shelves after waiting for eight years."In a statement, Flatiron Books said it was "appalled" by Meta's actions and had no plans to stop promoting the book. "We are appalled by Meta's tactics to silence our author through the use of a non-disparagement clause in a severance agreement," a spokesperson said. "To be clear, the arbitrator's order makes no reference to the claims within Careless People. The book went through a thorough editing and vetting process, and we remain committed to publishing important books such as this. We will absolutely continue to support and promote it."Update March 13, 2025, 8:55 AM PT: This story has been updated to add a statement from Flatiron Books.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-trying-to-stop-a-former-employee-from-promoting-her-book-about-facebook-004938899.html?src=rss

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 earbuds are on sale for just $170 via Amazon. This essentially ties a previous record-low price for 2025, which was $169. This purchase comes with the earbuds, four pairs of silicone tips in different sizes, a charging case, a lanyard loop and a USB-C cable. We heaped a fair amount of praise on these earbuds in our official review, calling them "a worthwhile update." The sound is better-than-ever, thanks to new drivers, amplifiers, transducers and audio algorithms. The transparency mode is absolutely stellar, largely helped by the company's proprietary H2 chip. The ANC is solid, particularly for earbuds. This is also thanks to that H2 chip, which allows the AirPods Pro to cancel twice as much noise as the first-gen model. These earbuds are made for Apple devices, so there's seamless switching between, say, iPhones, iPads and Macs. The touch gesture controls are neat, but there's a learning curve. Give it a few days before throwing in the towel. The battery life is just average, but the charging case helps keep the music going. The primary downside here is age. The AirPods 2 Pro earbuds came out in 2022, so a refresh is likely on the horizon. If you're looking to spend a little less, both AirPods 4 models are on sale now, too. The standard AirPods 4 are down to $100, while the AirPods 4 with ANC have dropped to $149. Those are the best prices we've seen on both sets of buds all year. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-pro-2-are-79-off-right-now-180055548.html?src=rss

The Samsung Evo Select microSD card is on sale via Amazon. The 512GB model is down to just $33, which is a record-low price and one heck of a deal. This is the newest iteration of this card, with read/write speeds up to 160 MB/s. It's worth noting that only the 512GB version is on sale right now, and the other sizes range from $15 for 64GB to $80 for 1TB. We love this thing and it easily found a place on our list of the best SD cards. It offers a ten-year warranty, which is nice, and the price range is typically on the lower side. We called the sequential and random read speeds respectable" in our benchmark tests. This isn't the absolute fastest SD card on the market, but it's a near-perfect storage solution. To that end, the 512GB model can fit over 200,000 photos in 4K and over 300,000 images in smaller formats. As for video, it holds 80 hours of FHD footage and around 24 hours in 4K. This is also a durable card, with added protection against water damage, extreme temperatures and accidental falls. On the downside, we come back to the question of speed. The sequential write speeds fall just under 70MB/s, via benchmark tests on CrystalDiskMark. This means that we can't really recommend this card for use inside of a camera. For simple storage expansion, however, the price can't be beat. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-samsung-microsd-cards-drops-to-an-all-time-low-price-151637426.html?src=rss

Meta will start testing its Community Notes model, with which it's replacing human fact checkers, on Facebook, Instagram and Threads in the US on March 18. Notes won't appear publicly on posts right away. The company wants to make sure the writing and rating system is working as intended before the notes start showing up for everyone.Things will work in a similar way to Community Notes on X, Meta says, with the idea that users bring extra context to posts that could use more explanation, clarity or perhaps a correction. In fact, Meta will initially base its ratings system on X's open-source algorithm. "This will allow us to build on what X has created and improve it for our own platforms over time," the company said in its announcement.Meta notes that it will adapt X's algorithm and Community Notes program for its own platforms. It may change the algorithm to modify how Community Notes are ranked and rated. "We're building this in the open while learning from contributors and seeing how it works in practice in our products," Meta wrote. "We don't expect this process to be perfect but we'll continue to improve as we learn."Around 200,000 people have signed up as potential Community Notes contributors so far across Facebook, Instagram and Threads. The system will consider the rating history of each contributor and take into account those who tend to disagree with each other. It won't necessarily matter how many contributors approve a note - Meta will only include one on a post when "people who normally disagree decide that it provides helpful context." This, the company claims, is intended as a safeguard against bias.MetaMeta spun up its fact-checking program in 2016 with the idea that it would rely on expert third-party fact-checking teams to assess posts because it didn't want to be the arbiter of truth itself. The company contends that experts have their own perspectives and political biases, which impacted choices about what and how to fact check.Of course, Community Notes contributors will have their own biases but not necessarily the knowledge of subject matter experts. Still, Meta says that a consensus from people with a range of viewpoints will be enough for a Community Note to be published.Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, said back in January that President Donald Trump's reelection was part of the reason the company changed its approach, claiming that it was "a cultural tipping point" for free speech. For many years, conservatives have accused social media platforms of censoring their voices."Community Notes allow more people with more perspectives to add context to more types of content, and because publishing a note requires agreement between different people, we believe it will be less prone to bias," Meta claims. "This requirement is also a safeguard against organized campaigns attempting to game the system and influence what notes get published or what they say."Fact-checked posts were often downranked in Meta's algorithms but notes won't affect a post's visibility on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Notes will be limited to 500 characters and will require a link. They won't include author names, at least at first. It won't be possible to submit notes on ads at the outset, though contributors can write them for just about any other posts, including those from the company and its leaders, as well as other public figures.To begin with, Community Notes will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French and Portuguese. More languages will be added down the line.Meta intends to roll out Community Notes in the US once it's content that the program is more or less working as intended. When the notes start to show up publicly, the company will no longer show new fact-check labels from third-party fact checkers in the US. Meta plans to adopt this approach around the world, but in the meantime it will maintain its fact-checking program in other countries.However Meta talks up Community Notes, the system is unlikely to be a silver bullet for stemming the spread of falsehoods. Community Notes have not stopped the flow of misinformation on X, according to studies. Last month, X owner Elon Musk (now a "special government employee") said he was trying to "fix" Community Notes, claiming that they were "increasingly being gamed by governments and legacy media."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-instagram-and-threads-will-start-testing-community-notes-on-march-18-151144820.html?src=rss

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined that the country's mobile browser markets are "not working well for consumers and businesses" and "holding back innovation." Most of the watchdog's ire is directed at Apple for policies such as requiring mobile browsers to use its engine, WebKit and, thus, limiting competitor's abilities to differentiate from Apple. The report also points out that Safari has received access to key functions of WebKit and the operating system, earlier or to a greater extent than its competitors. This final report ends an investigation that began nearly four years ago.The CMA released a preliminary report in November, but has since removed two issues, thanks to updates from Apple, along with Google. In December, a software update at Apple changed how people can swap their default browser, while Google shared new evidence around its prompts created to encourage Android users to have Chrome as their default browser.The concerns around limiting innovation and growth remain. The independent inquiry group in charge of the final report, however, pulls its recommendation from another ongoing probe. In January, the CMA began investigating whether Apple and Google's mobile ecosystems, including their mobile browsers, should be given Strategic Market Status (SMS). This designation would allow the CMA to have greater regulatory powers over Apple and Google, as well as issuing pro-competition directives.If Apple and Google do receive an SMS designation, then the inquiry group recommends the CMA imposes "measures which could enhance the ability of other browsers to compete by offering new, innovative features to consumers, as well as enabling users actively to choose their preferred mobile browser which could drive competition." It could take until the fall for the CMA to make a decision on Apple and Google's SMS status. It's unclear what, if any, steps the watchdog might take in the meantime to mitigate this report's concerns.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-watchdog-finds-apples-mobile-browser-policies-are-restricting-innovation-140049033.html?src=rss

WhatsApp never waits long between updates and this time it's reportedly changing how replies look. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is currently working on a feature that would put all replies to the same message in one thread. A look at it appeared in an Android update available through the Google Play Beta Program.Right now, WhatsApp allows users to reply directly to a message and shows the original on top of the new message. However, users have to click through each response to see any earlier replies or the first message quoted. The new update would instead show every message in the thread in one place, making the flow of conversation clearer.WABetaInfoThe update is currently under development, but should be available in individual or group chats, communities and channels. It would especially be beneficial for those latter ones, considering it's always impossible to keep track of an ongoing conversation between multiple people. In the meantime, there's no word yet of when this will roll out, though it probably won't be too long if it's already showing up in a beta.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-is-reportedly-developing-reply-threads-134516511.html?src=rss

Snapchat's future includes generative AI video Lenses, wherein users can watch themselves cuddling with virtual animals on screen. The first three Lenses the app has launched include the Racoon and Fox, which animate the animals into a Snap. Meanwhile, the third one called Spring Flowers will generate a bouquet of flowers and use a zoom-out effect to reveal who's holding it. All three Lenses, as well as future ones Snapchat releases, are powered by a generative video model the company built in-house. Snap says it will be adding more every week to expand users' options."We have a long history of being first movers to bring advanced AR, ML and AI tools directly to our community, and we're excited to see what Snapchatters create," Snap said in its announcement. The company added an OpenAI-powered chatbot to its app back in 2023, and it has released more AI features since then. Last year, Snap introduced an AI video-generation tool for creators that allow users to create videos from text prompts. The tool was released to a small subset of users, but it showed that the company was working on AI video for the app.For now, only users paying for the $16-per-month Snapchat Platinum subscription tier will have access to the app's new AI video Lenses. The new Lenses will show up first in the carousel for subscribers and will work with both front and rear cameras. Any AI video a user creates will be automatically saved to Memories, and they can then share them directly with friends, to their Stories and with the public through Spotlight.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/snapchat-launches-generative-ai-video-lenses-130056731.html?src=rss

Samsung is changing its revenue-sharing policy and reducing its cut for certain apps so that developers and publishers can get more money from sales. As part of its announcements ahead of this year's upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC), the company said that it's implementing an 80/20 revenue share model for games on the Galaxy Store. Previously, Samsung had a 70/30 sharing model, wherein it took 30 percent of an app's revenue. The new model also applies to games built on the company's cloud gaming platform, which allows players to stream games without downloading them.By adopting the new model, Samsung is undercutting Google, which implements a 70/30 split. However, it's worth noting that Google only takes a 15 percent cut for the first $1 million dollars in revenue that the developer earns each year. The company will only take a 30 percent cut for earnings in excess of $1 million. Google also takes 15 percent for automatically renewing subscription purchases.Samsung's Galaxy Store is nowhere near as big Google's Play Store, but it still comes pre-installed on Samsung phones and could still be used to purchase games by millions of users around the world. An 80/20 structure would still benefit a developer even if they mainly get their business from the Play Store on Android devices. The new revenue-sharing model will take effect on May 15, 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/samsung-will-cut-its-galaxy-store-commission-to-8020-for-games-130008053.html?src=rss

The Mac Studio is Apple's ultimate performance computer, but this year's model came with a twist: It's equipped with either an M4 Max or an M3 Ultra processor. The latter might seem like a step backward, since nearly all Macs (except the Mac Pro) are now equipped with M4 chips. However, the M3 Ultra is indeed Apple's best-performing processor, which makes the new Mac Studio its fastest computer ever. While the M3 Ultra model appears highly capable for creative pros and engineers, it starts at $4,000 and goes way up from there. I'm intrigued by that model based on benchmarks I saw elsewhere, of course. However, the M4 Max model I received for this review is the one that most people will want, as the base configuration is half the price. For power users doing tasks like video editing or designing games, it's the Mac of choice, and it's even a decent deal by Apple's standards. Hardware The Mac Studio's design hasn't changed since the original M1 Ultra version from 2022. That isn't a bad thing since the aesthetic has aged well and it takes up very little desk space. It's about the size of two old Mac minis (prior to the recent update that made them even smaller) stacked together and has the same polished aluminum case. Everything has a premium feel, even the environmentally friendly packaging and flexible power cable. Up front, there's an SDXC card slot that supports UHS-II speeds (300 MB/s), along with a pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports (they're Thunderbolt 5 on the M3 Ultra version). Around back, you'll find four Thunderbolt 5 ports that now offer up to 15 GB/s throughput (capital B), triple the speeds of the 2023 Mac Studio with Thunderbolt 4. You also get a 10Gbps ethernet port and two USB 3.1 (Type A) slots, along with an HDMI port and 3.5mm headphone jack. All of that is enough to connect plenty of disk drives, monitors and peripherals. Inside, the M3 Ultra version is arguably overkill with up to a 32-core CPU, eight more than the Mac Studio M2 Ultra. The GPU comes with 80 cores, another record for Apple Silicon, along with a 32-core Neural Engine for on-device AI and machine learning. Unified memory starts at 96GB and goes up to a massive 512GB (with up to 819 GB/s of bandwidth) and 16TB of SSD storage. With all those items maxed out, the Mac Studio costs a hair-raising $14,099. Steve Dent for Engadget The M4 Max model is more modest but still impressive. The top-end configuration comes with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, over 546 GB/s of unified memory bandwidth and up to 8TB of storage. These specs align pretty closely with the MacBook Pro M4 Max but at a lower price, by the way. At the $1,999 base price, you get a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core neural engine. All M4 Max models start with a decent 36GB of unified memory, though my test unit came with the maximum 128GB in a $3,699 configuration. The processor, memory and storage aren't upgradeable after purchase, so you'll want to choose wisely when ordering. That's a challenge in itself, as Apple isn't very flexible with the system configurations. For example, the base $1,999 14-core M4 Max Mac Studio can only be configured with 36GB of RAM. If you want more, you need the 16-core version which automatically bumps memory up to 48GB and adds $500 to the price. I'd say the latter option is the sweet spot at $2,499, netting you the faster processor and enough unified memory for most content creation. Engineers and others looking for even more performance may want the M3 Ultra version, as it allows for up to 512GB of RAM and puts two additional Thunderbolt 5 slots up front. In-use: A rocketship for content creators Mignon Alphonso for Engadget The Mac Studio with M4 Max destroyed most synthetic benchmarks, showing the highest single-core Geekbench 6 CPU score for any PC we've tested. It falls just below the Mac Studio with M2 Ultra on the multicore Geekbench 6 test. It even beats the latest Mac Studio M3 Ultra in single-core performance, though it's topped by that model in multicore tests. GPU scores are similarly impressive and the ATTO disk peak throughput is the best we've seen to date with write speeds up to 8 GB/s. However, the best way to evaluate a machine like this is to feed it some content creation jobs and see how quickly it chews through them. Video editing is the sternest test for most machines, so I tried Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve with a mix of 4K, 6K and 8K video (RAW and MP4) to challenge it. All of those files easily played through in their native formats with no hiccups on a 4K timeline, thanks to the M4 Max's ability to decode RAW and 10-bit H.264 or H.265 files on the fly. It was still able to handle real-time playback of a single layer of 8K video with color correction added and only struggled when I tried to play two or more 8K video tracks at the same time. Overall, it provides a smooth and glitch-free editing experience that enables power users to get work done quickly. Geekbench 6 CPU Geekbench 6 GPU Cinebench 2024 Mac Studio (M4 Max, 2025) 4,090/26,394 116,028 190/2066 | GPU 16,598 Mac Studio (M2 Ultra, 2023) 2,013/28,402 121,938 N/A iMac (M4, 2024) 3,751/15,093 35,520 171/881 GPU 4,425 Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch

I went to CES with Engadget for the first time this year and, among the robots, laptops, TVs and more robots, the most exciting products I saw were ones trying to make our homes more eco-friendly in the most low-effort ways possible. I saw an induction stove, a window-mounted heat pump, a battery back-up system and a few other promising appliances - these are user installable, work with standard 120V outlets and do their part in lowering a home's carbon footprint. A couple are coming to market this year, while others are still on the road towards wide availability. When I first thought of decarbonizing my home, solar panels on the roof immediately came to mind. So I took out a loan and did exactly that. Well, I didn't do it - it took many months of the solar company filing permits on my behalf and two days of skilled technicians crawling all over my roof and installing complicated-looking boxes and tubes on the side of my house to get it done. Last month, my electric bill was $6, but it wasn't a low-effort process. In contrast, these new appliances I checked out don't require calling a contractor for installation and you'll be able to get your hands on some of them later this year. Since there's no installation, people who live in apartments and condos or otherwise can't permanently install appliances where they live can use them. But these products aren't cheap. The hope is, as the popularity of accessible, user-installable green tech grows, the prices go down. In the meantime, I will keep daydreaming. Amy Skorheim for Engadget The first thing to really catch my eye at CES was a plug-in backup battery from BioLite, a brand I knew from making camp stoves that can recharge your phone. The Backup by BioLite is the company's first non-outdoor item and comes in either a 1.5kWh size or a dual-unit 3kWh system. The single unit houses an inverter and a battery, while the Complete" configuration adds an additional battery bank to the inverter/battery set. It mounts on a wall either vertically or horizontally and sticks out less than three inches so it can live behind a fridge - which a BioLite rep told me is a primary place the company sees it being used. To use it, you plug the Backup into your wall and plug the fridge (or any other appliance) into the Backup. The battery steadily fills itself while also passing power to the appliance. If the power goes out, the battery automatically kicks on to power your icebox, sending an alert to the app to tell you about the outage. So far, this probably sounds more like power security as opposed to an eco solution, but because the app allows you to schedule the Backup to come on at a regular time, you can actually take one of your biggest energy hogs off the grid during peak usage times. The Backup should start shipping this summer and it's something I'm seriously considering. While I have solar panels, I didn't pay the (considerable) upcharge to get batteries. With the Backup, I could schedule the fridge to run on battery power at night, then swap to direct power during the day while the sun feeds the roof panels and refills the battery. The dual-unit, Complete Backup configuration costs $3,000, but currently qualifies for a 30 percent tax credit due to its watt-hour size and the fact that you mount it on the wall (but I don't think anyone is counting on that perk to still be a thing for long). Plus, if you reserve now, you'll get a 10 percent discount. Amy Skorheim for Engadget When I checked out the Backup at CES, I was introduced to two other companies BioLite had invited to share its booth, Copper and Gradient. Copper was showing off the Charlie plug-in induction stove. While researching indoor air quality for our air purifier guide, I learned that natural gas stoves aren't just less-than-stellar in terms of ecological impact - they can also be pretty bad for our lungs. That prompted me to look into induction cooking, but I was worried my cotton-wrapped, nearly one-hundred-year-old copper wiring would not be up to the task of an upgrade. Yes, all induction stoves are plug-ins - but nearly all of them require a 240V outlet, like a dryer uses. If you're replacing a gas stove, chances are there's a 120V outlet behind it. If you want to switch off of gas, you need to call an electrician to run the new wiring. That could be a simple operation - I've seen estimates online for as little as a couple hundred bucks. But if you have older wiring (that's me) or if you're renting or otherwise can't upgrade your electrical, you might just be stuck with gas. But the Copper Charlie can run on a standard outlet thanks to the (big!) 5kWh battery inside. In short, the battery fills itself when you're not cooking. When you fire up a burner or the oven, the battery kicks in to make up the difference between what a standard outlet can supply and what the induction appliance needs. In a power outage, it can cook three to five meals. It also looks swanky, with deep blue enamel inside the oven and reclaimed wood on the knobs and handle. The price tag is swanky too; Like the Backup, the Charlie currently qualifies for a tax credit to bring the cost as low as $4,200, but if you don't count on that, you'll pay around $6,000. That's not unheard of for an induction cooker, but it's not cheap. Still, if it's between that and never getting off gas, I'd consider it. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Biolite's other booth-mate at CES, Gradient, showed off their own plug-in appliance, the Gradient All-Weather window heat pump. I've been curious about heat pumps after learning that heating represents the biggest energy demand for most homes. Surprisingly, cooling requires significantly less energy (though it's often the largest electricity draw as many homes use a gas or fuel oil for heat). Heat pumps work similarly to AC units, running a refrigerant (Gradient uses a more eco-friendly one) that travels through compression coils, absorbing and releasing heat as it moves from indoors to outdoors. To heat a home, the coils draw heat from the outdoor air (yes, even when it's cold outside) and release the heat inside. To cool the air, the heat pump performs that process in reverse. Gradient claims a 30 percent higher efficiency over window air units. When it comes to heating, that ratio could go significantly higher, especially if it's replacing fossil fuel combustion. Again, no professional installation is required, any standard 120V outlet will work and it also looks far more attractive than window AC units. Instead of replacing your view with a grille and some vents, the saddle bag design hangs down on either side of a window and creates a nice shelf for plants or other bric-a-brac. But here's the bad news: Despite being at the Consumer Electronics Show, these window units aren't yet available to consumers. Gradient told me they're currently focusing on business-to-business sales to help grow the company and have a bigger impact on greenhouse emissions. But there's still hope that a direct-to-consumer, plug-and-play heat pump will one day come to be. Zoltux Of course, all of this electrification is less beneficial if your area relies on non-renewable resources for grid power, so I was curious to see if any solar generation products at CES had the same user-instalable ease. One company, Zoltux, is working on a plug-in solar kit for US homes based on the balcony solar" technology that's popular in parts of the EU, particularly Germany. Basically, you clamp a solar panel on a balcony, or any other sun-facing spot outside your home, and plug it into a microinverter which syncs the PV energy to the grid, allowing a standard outlet to feed power to your home. Zoltux is only in the launch phase and the company will have plenty of regulatory and technical issues to overcome in bringing plug-and-play solar kits to homes in the US, but I'm wishing them all the luck. Jackery As for what currently exists, companies like Jackery, Anker and EcoFlow - all of which were also at CES - have made user-friendly solar panel/portable power station combos for years. The power stations combine the battery, inverter and charge controller in one and have a simple plug for the panels which can be daisy chained to expand how much power you can generate. You can use the slew of outlets on the power stations to recharge electronics, power lights and even run small appliances. It's not as elegant as something that feeds into your existing electrical system, but it's one low-effort way to stir in a little solar to your power mix.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/sister-can-you-spare-12000-to-help-me-decarbonize-my-home-120041774.html?src=rss

Google is pushing back on a bill that would make Utah the first state in the US to have a law requiring app stores to conduct age verification of their users. The company has formally requested the state's governor to veto the bill, passed by the state legislature last week, as it urges states to consider a different approach to app safety.In a blog post from Google public policy director Kareem Ghanem, the company said the Utah law poses real privacy and safety risks" and that states shouldn't rush to pass laws pushed by Meta" and other social media companies. Instead, Ghanethe says that Google has proposed an alternative legislative framework" that would allow the developers of potentially risky" apps to request age signals" from app store owners like Google.The statement is the first time Google has publicly opposed the bill, which would make Apple and Google responsible for age verification and parental permission features for children under 18. A spokesperson also confirmed that the company requested that Utah Governor Spencer Cox veto the bill. Cox has previously signed off on laws that imposed age verification and parental permission requirements on social media companies, though the measures were revised and later blocked by a judge. A spokesperson for Cox didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.While it's not surprising that Google is opposing the law and others like it (there are at least eight other states considering similar measures), it's notable that the company is proposing its own parameters for a law that would take into account what kind of content is available in a given app, which would place more of a burden on social media companies.Ghanem argues that not all apps should be subject to age verification. This level of data sharing isn't necessary - a weather app doesn't need to know if a user is a kid," he writes. By contrast, a social media app does need to make significant decisions about age-appropriate content and features." He also argues that app store safety proposals should come with a ban on all personalized ads to anyone under 18, pointedly noting that "other companies" should follow Google's lead on the issue.Google obviously has a vested interest in not being responsible for age verification of its users, which would impose significant logistical and legal risks for the company. But many other privacy and digital rights groups have also opposed age verification laws.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-asks-utahs-governor-to-veto-the-states-app-store-age-verification-bill-233733280.html?src=rss