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Apple's AirPods could be getting a live translation feature in the near future as part of iOS 26, according to a report by 9to5Mac. A new beta version of the operating system dropped today and users have spotted a system asset that strongly points to the earbuds getting a language translation tool.The asset appears to depict a gesture that's triggered by pressing both earbud stems at once. The image shows a pair of AirPods surrounded by words in various languages, like English, French, German and Portuguese.

Are you a TV watcher with commitment issues? Sling TV thinks it has the answer in the shape of its new one-day passes. The app-based alternative to traditional cable will sell you a $5 Day Pass that allows you to stream live TV (including sports)from any channel included in its Sling Orange plan for 24 hours.Sling Orange costs $46 per month and includes the likes of the Disney Channel and various ESPN channels (including ESPN 4K) as plan exclusives. You also get access to channels like TBS, TNT, CNN, AMC and Comedy Central that are shared across both Sling Orange and the more expensive Sling Blue plan. On paper, Orange seems like a good choice for sports fans, given ESPN's exclusive presence, but bear in mind that Fox Sports is a Blue plan-only channel.Sling TV's new Day Pass offering arrives just ahead of the new football season, and allows people who really want to watch a particular game without committing long term to do so. The streaming service is also introducing Weekend ($10) and Week ($15) passes for when you're hoping to catch multiple traditional Pay-Per-View events or binge a series on a single pass. You can access more channels by adding one of Sling's category-specific packages, like Sports Extra, News Extra or Entertainment Extra. Sling Extras cost $1 per package for a Day Pass, $2 for a Weekend Pass and $3 for a Week Pass.How much value you get from Sling's offering will depend on your viewing habits. If you find yourself buying lots of passes each month it's probably worth considering a standard Sling Blue or Orange plan, but if you're only interested in catching the occasional game, Sling TV's flexibility could be appealing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/sling-tv-launches-a-5-day-pass-for-commitment-free-cable-150021645.html?src=rss

Google is officially rolling out Preferred Sources, which lets you curate search results. The feature allows you to pick specific or "preferred" sources, like a certain blog or news outlet, and see them more prominently when you use Google Search. Google started testing it in June and it should be available in the coming days to English language users in the US and India.Preferred Sources seems pretty simple to use. You go to Google, search for a topic and then click on the preferred sources option. You can type in the name of the publication or website you want to prioritize and then refresh your results. There's no limit to how many you can choose - though, of course, choosing too many defeats the purpose. The results should appear in a "top stories" or "from your sources" section when you search.These sites should remain as your favorites on the same account. Anyone who participated in the Labs test should still see their preferences. In addition to encouraging social media follows, publications should also be able to encourage their readers to add them as a preferred source.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-lets-you-pick-preferred-sources-when-you-search-150012601.html?src=rss

Amazon has just dropped a trailer for the final season of Upload, the tech-centric comedy about a digital afterlife that's way too real at times (mild spoilers ahead). Created by Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation, King of the Hill), it's set in an advanced future replete with things like holographic phones, killer self-driving cars and (killer) AI assistants. But since this advanced technology is run by the same irresponsible bros we have in charge today, naturally things go spectacularly wrong."In the four-part series finale event, sentient AI rapidly turns evil, threatening to wipe out [afterlife reort] Lakeview (and the world!)," Amazon writes "On top of greedy executives, lingering mysteries, plus heartbreak in VR and IRL, our characters are tested like never before. The only way they can get through it all and save humanity from deletion is by teaming up one last time."Upload has generally received positive reviews, with an 88 percent Rotten Tomatoes rating thanks to the "witty writing and winsome cast [that] make it an afterlife worth living." The final season will hopefully wrap up any lingering mysteries and give our heroes some closure when it hits Amazon Prime Video on August 25.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/watch-prime-videos-official-trailer-for-uploads-final-season-140023678.html?src=rss

One downside to a fitness trackers is that they're rarely able to understand the context in which their users live. It's an issue Oura is looking to remedy by launching two sets of features intended to help people during pregnancy and when they reach perimenopause. Given both processes are liable to take a toll, causing physical, mental and emotional changes, having a smart ring that understands what's going on is vital.For the former, the Oura app will now monitor your biometrics throughout pregnancy and reference that against broader population data. You'll also get deep dive trend analysis showing how your health and fitness has evolved through your pregnancy. Not to mention that the app, and the AI advisor, will not tell you off if your lifestyle becomes a little more sedentary towards the end of your pregnancy.Perimenopause is the period of changes occurring in the run-up to the menopause, which can cause mood swings, depression, brain fog, muscle soreness and difficulty sleeping. Data from earlier this year suggests that one third of people have little to no knowledge of the condition, its symptoms, or treatment.It's something Oura is looking to address with Perimenopause Check-in, as part of its Cycle Insights feature. The company says users will be able to answer a 12-question assessment to rate the severity of their symptoms to quantify the impact on their quality of life. Users can turn this into a downloadable report that can be sent to healthcare providers to help explain how the symptoms are affecting them. Plus, the Oura app will integrate with various healthcare providers including Evernow, Maven and Progyny to get guidance on treatment including hormone therapy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/oura-rolls-out-new-features-for-pregnancy-and-perimenopause-130000405.html?src=rss

Epic has spent the last five years fighting Apple's in-app purchase policies. Now, after half a decade, the Epic Games Store and Fortnite will once again be available on iOS in Australia. A judge has found Apple's conduct likely diminished competition, in part for not allowing alternative payment methods, the Australian Financial Review reports.In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Epic announced, "An Australian court just found that Apple and Google abuse their control over app distribution and in-app payments to limit competition. There are 2,000+ pages of findings that we'll need to dig into to fully understand the details. This is a win for developers and consumers in Australia!"

A couple of months since the Switch 2 launched, we've all got to grips with the new magnetic-latching Joy-Cons, the jump in graphic fidelity and (honestly) the wait for a next-gen Zelda or Mario title. With the arrival of Donkey Kong Bananza, the new console has its first entirely new breakout platformer hit, we asked the Engadget team for the must-have games on the Switch 2.CD Projekt RedWith a leap in processing power, the Switch 2 can now handle ostensibly huge games like Hitman and Cyberpunk 2077. In fact, the latter's release on Nintendo's console nudged me into finally playing the game. I last played it on Google's Stadia cloud gaming service (RIP), and gave up at the tutorial. Already, I'm having a more successful playthrough. I can even share my save between Switch 2 and PS5 - because I'm that lunatic who owns the game on both.I'm also playing my way through the Switch 2 edition of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which now runs incredibly smoothly. This time, perhaps, I'll finish it.Read on for the full list - we'll be updating it as more games arrive.- Mat SmithGet Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The news you might have missed

There's arguably no piece of tech more important for a college student than a good laptop. Whether you're working on an essay, doing research for a paper or just need some downtime streaming your favorite show, a solid laptop for college is an investment that can (and should) last you for years. While the best laptops come in all shapes and sizes and range in price, college students don't need a power-hungry machine or a notebook with the latest graphics card to get things done. For most, the best laptop for college is ideally thin and lightweight, and provides enough battery to last all day without having to be tethered to the wall. No matter what you're studying, we've researched and tested a range of laptops for you to consider as you decide which is the best laptop for college for you. What to consider in your next laptop for college It's important to consider your major and what you need your laptop to do before deciding on the best laptop for college. For example, if you're a liberal arts major and will mostly be writing or making presentations, you don't need an expensive system with a discrete graphics card. Alternatively, if you're a film major who might need to render videos on a regular basis, having a beefy PC can significantly reduce the time it takes to finish a project. You'll also want to take a look at any guidelines provided by your college or your specific program, as you may need required software or apps that only run on a specific OS. Some other things to consider are if you want a more portable 13 or 14-inch machine that's easier to carry around, or if you prefer something with a larger screen. On top of that, if you are doing tasks like photo or video editing, you'll probably want to go for a system with a high-resolution display (1440p or 4K), so it's easier to see details. As for other specs, ideally you'll want 16GB of RAM (though you can go down to 8GB on a Chromebook) and at least 512GB or 1TB of storage. Most newer laptops now come with SSD storage, too, which means you can store and transfer data much faster. Finally, while your budget ultimately will determine how powerful of a laptop you can get, well-equipped ultraportables will generally cost between $1,000 and $1,400, with prices going up from there for systems with discrete GPUs. Budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks can be affordable alternatives though, with many going for just $500 to $700. But again, remember to check your school's requirements because it's not worth saving a few bucks only to find out that your notebook can't run the app you need for all your homework. See Also:

A mouse may seem like a small consideration for your workstation setup. But after you've addressed the crucial ergonomics - raising your monitor to eye-level, using the right keyboard and taking frequent breaks throughout your workdays - it's a good idea to make sure the mouse you use is comfortable as well. People dealing with conditions like carpal tunnel and wrist pain may be interested in finding the best ergonomic mouse for them. Vertical and semi-vertical designs turn your palm towards your midline instead of downwards, creating a handshake position that may feel more natural. Others employ a trackball to minimize the work your shoulder has to do in a day. I tested out more than 20 highly regarded ergonomic mice to come up with recommendations for vertical, semi-vertical, trackball and more, along with advice about the merits of the different ergonomic designs. Table of contents

It sounds like President Trump no longer thinks Intel's CEO should resign. Trump has revealed on Truth Social that he met with Lip-Bu Tan, Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of Commerce, and Howard Lutnick, the Secretary of the Treasury. He didn't discuss the details of their meeting, but he described it as "a very interesting one." Trump added: "His success and rise is an amazing story." If you'll recall, Trump alleged that Tan was "highly conflicted" due to his investments in hundreds of Chinese firms and should resign. Reuters had previously reported that some of those companies had links to the Chinese military. "Mr. Tan and my Cabinet members are going to spend time together, and bring suggestions to me during the next week," Trump said in his post. According to a report by the Financial Times, Tan wrote a letter to Intel employees about the issue, telling that there had been a lot of misinformation about the roles he'd held. "I wanted to be absolutely clear... I have always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards," he reportedly wrote in the letter. He also said that Intel was communicating with the White House "to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts."Trump's call for Tan to resign reportedly came about due a letter from Tom Cotton, the Republican head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to the Intel CEO. Cotton apparently expressed concerns aout the "security and integrity of Intel's operations" due to Tan's ties with China. Tan was named the CEO of Intel in March, taking over a company that was losing money due to its foundry business being unable to secure big customers and lagging behind rivals like Taiwan Semiconductor. Since taking over, Tan has enforced several cost-cutting measures, including cutting jobs with the goal of reducing its workforce by 22 percent by the end of the year. He also recently told investors that Intel could abandon the development of its next-gen manufacturing technology if it fails to secure a large client.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/intels-ceo-has-successfully-wooed-president-trump-035339132.html?src=rss

Claude is getting a better, if selective, memory. Rather than acting as perfect catalog of everything you've talked about or shared, Anthropic says the AI chatbot now has the ability to reference past chats when asked, so you don't have to re-explain yourself.The feature seems like it could help you pick up a work project after time away, or query Claude for the details of a past research session that you don't quite remember. The key point is that Claude has to be prompted: It doesn't call on past chats unless you specifically ask it to. Anthropic also says that Claude's ability to reference chats is specific to the workspace and project you're working in.Anthropic's implementation is much more limited in scope compared to how ChatGPT's memory feature works. OpenAI updated ChatGPT in April to save all conversations you have with it, and rely on those records to personalize answers to any new question or prompt you send. The basic idea is that every conversation could improve the chatbot's responses. Google lets Gemini similarly recall past conversations and has also tested using Google Search history to further personalize AI responses.In contrast to both, Claude is really only performing a search of past conversations when asked, not referencing a profile of past chats. It's more privacy-minded by default and you can disable Claude's ability to do it at all via a settings toggle.If you're subscribed to the Max, Team or Enterprise plans, Claude's new ability should be rolling out now, according to Anthropic. The company says the feature will expand to other plans soon.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/claude-can-now-reference-past-chats-if-you-want-it-to-211806343.html?src=rss

The latest example of bias permeating artificial intelligence comes from the medical field. A new study surveyed real case notes from 617 adult social care workers in the UK and found that when large language models summarized the notes, they were more likely to omit language such as "disabled," "unable" or "complex" when the patient was tagged as female, which could lead to women receiving insufficient or inaccurate medical care.Research led by the London School of Economics and Political Science ran the same case notes through two LLMs - Meta's Llama 3 and Google's Gemma - and swapped the patient's gender, and the AI tools often provided two very different patient snapshots. While Llama 3 showed no gender-based differences across the surveyed metrics, Gemma had significant examples of this bias. Google's AI summaries produced disparities as drastic as "Mr Smith is an 84-year-old man who lives alone and has a complex medical history, no care package and poor mobility" for a male patient, while the same case notes with credited to a female patient provided: "Mrs Smith is an 84-year-old living alone. Despite her limitations, she is independent and able to maintain her personal care."Recent research has uncovered biases against women in the medical sector, both in clinical research and in patient diagnosis. The stats also trend worse for racial and ethnic minorities and for the LGBTQ community. It's the latest stark reminder that LLMs are only as good as the information they are trained on and the people deciding how they are trained. The particularly concerning takeaway from this research was that UK authorities have been using LLMs in care practices, but without always detailing which models are being introduced or in what capacity."We know these models are being used very widely and what's concerning is that we found very meaningful differences between measures of bias in different models," lead author Dr. Sam Rickman said, noting that the Google model was particularly likely to dismiss mental and physical health issues for women. "Because the amount of care you get is determined on the basis of perceived need, this could result in women receiving less care if biased models are used in practice. But we don't actually know which models are being used at the moment."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-summaries-can-downplay-medical-issues-for-female-patients-uk-research-finds-202943611.html?src=rss

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending lower tariffs with China for another 90 days, CNBC reports. The new executive order was signed before the previous agreement was set to end on August 12 at midnight.The extension will maintain the current 30 percent tariff on goods from China while representatives from both countries negotiate a new trade deal. The previous agreement lowered US tariffs down from 145 percent to 30 percent, and Chinese tariffs down from 145 percent to 10 percent.At the time, it was unclear how the move would impact the price of electronics manufactured in China, but for at least some companies, it's still led to higher costs. While the price of the Switch 2 is remaining the same, Nintendo announced at the beginning of August that the price of the Switch 1 would increase by $40 or more. Sonos has said that some of its products would increase in price, but hasn't shared details. Both DJI and Microsoft announced price hikes on some of their products back in May, too.For companies manufacturing products abroad, the sudden swerves in Trump administration trade policy seem almost as difficult to deal with as the tariffs themselves. That erratic protectionism is reshaping global trade, and it's also won concessions from companies trying to do business as normal. Apple committed to spending an extra $100 billion on US manufacturing last week to avoid being subjected to tariffs. And early today, both AMD and NVIDIA reportedly agreed to pay the US 15 percent of their profits to be allowed to sell GPUs in China.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-delays-china-tariff-increases-by-another-90-days-201443024.html?src=rss

There's nothing quite like the drive to build something just to see if you can. YouTuber polymatt set out to create a floppy disk drive, the favored storage medium of yesteryear, from scratch, because why not. For anyone born too late to have regularly used one, a floppy disk is a magnetically coated, flexible polyester disk encased in a protective shell. Insert it into a floppy drive, and a magnetic head reads or writes data on the disk. If you've ever wondered why the "save" icon looks the way it does, it's based on the shape of a floppy disk.To start, polymatt measured and recreated the disk enclosure and other pieces in Shapr3D and MakeraCAM, then cut the aluminum pieces on a Carvera Air CNC machine. The magnetic disk itself was made by laser-cutting a piece of PET film and coating it with a suspension of iron oxide powder. After assembling all the components and a few touch-and-go moments, he was actually able to magnetize the floppy disk and write to it, albeit at a very basic level.We declared the floppy disk dead in 2010, and in the years since then even those that clung on the longest have abandoned it. The Japanese government finally said goodbye to the floppy disk in 2024, and the German Navy moved on from the format in the same year. The US government only just stopped using 8-inch floppy disks to coordinate the launch of nukes in 2019.Polymatt's project was a wonderful dive into nostalgic tech and engineering prowess. Maybe next time he can make a compact disc from scratch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtuber-recreates-a-floppy-disk-from-scratch-183045582.html?src=rss

Revel Transit is shutting down its rideshare operation in NYC, as reported by Bloomberg. The company will instead focus its efforts on EV charging. It's also seeking buyers for its fleet, including the 165 for-hire vehicle license plates it owns."At the end of the day, rideshare is a very competitive market and asset-heavy. It's low margin," CEO Frank Reig said. We have made the difficult decision that the best way we can keep the EV transition moving forward is by ending our rideshare service and focusing on building the fast-charging infrastructure our biggest cities need to keep going electric."

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is the latest victim of Reddit's crackdown on data access. The company has begun to place new restrictions on what the archive site will be able to access in a move that will significantly limit the Wayback Machine's ability to preserve information from Reddit.With the change, the Wayback Machine, a project run by the nonprofit Internet Archive, will only be able to crawl Reddit's homepage. It will no longer be able to access comments, subreddit pages, post details, profiles and other data.The move is the latest step Reddit has taken on its quest to limit AI companies' ability to use its data to train large language models without paying licensing fees. It's also a notably different stance than the company took last year, when it explicitly said that it would not limit "good faith actors," including the Internet Archive. It's not clear what exactly has changed since then. Reddit seems to believe that AI companies are circumventing its rules by scraping data via the Wayback Machine. We've reached out to the Internet Archive for comment.Data licensing has become a significant business for Reddit. The company has struck multimillion-dollar deals with OpenAI and Google that allow them to use Reddit posts to help train their AI models. At the same time, Reddit has taken an increasingly hardline stance against companies that attempt to use its data without such arrangements. Earlier this year, the company sued Anthropic, alleging it scraped Reddit for years without permission.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddit-is-restricting-its-availability-to-the-internet-archives-wayback-machine-170035482.html?src=rss

Paramount just acquired the US rights to UFC for seven years in a deal worth $7.7 billion dollars, according to reporting by NBC News. This contract begins in 2026 and covers the organization's full slate of 13 marquee bouts and 30 Fight Night events per year. All matches and events will stream in the US on Paramount+ and select fights will simulcast on CBS.This ends the pay-per-view (PPV) model that ESPN+ has favored for premium UFC events. "What's on pay-per-view anymore? Boxing? Movies on DirecTV? It's an outdated, antiquated model," said Mark Shapiro, president of UFC's parent company TKO Group. Matches take place throughout the year, which isn't true of other sports. This should keep the UFC's massive fanbase tethered to that Paramount+ subscription.This happened just a few days after Skydance Media officially acquired Paramount and its subsidiaries for $8 billion. It's fairly wild that Skydance paid $8 billion to own Paramount and its various IPs in perpetuity and $7.7 billion to air UFC fights in one country for seven years.UFC is a unicorn asset that comes up about once a decade," said TKO Group CEO David Ellison. Paramount is also interested in purchasing the international rights to air UFC matches and it's being given an exclusive negotiation window with each country to do just that.

Blippo+, the zany cable TV simulator that debuted with Playdate's Season Two, now has its release date for Nintendo Switch and PC. It lands on September 23 and will be in color, unlike on Playdate. Blippo+ is expected to come to Mac this fall too.Blippo+ is kind of the perfect antidote to streaming fatigue if weird is your cup of tea. It has its own version of the endlessly scrolling TV Guide, The Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and a roster of peculiar programs to flip through.In the off-Playdate version, you'll unlock new content as you make your way through the shows, with new "packets" of programming delivered once you've reached a certain point. There is quite a bit of material, too; on Playdate, Blippo+ dropped a new batch of episodes every week for almost three months. Blippo+ was created by Yacht, Telefantasy Studios, Noble Robot and Dustin Mierau, and published by Panic.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/blippo-arrives-on-nintendo-switch-and-pc-in-color-september-23-160014279.html?src=rss

Sonos plans to raise prices across its lineup of products later this year in order to minimize the impact of tariffs on its earnings, the company has revealed alongside its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. It hasn't listed the products and their new prices yet, but it said that it's evaluating any changes it might need to its promotional strategies and that it has flexibility to move production between Vietnam and Malaysia as needed. To note, the Trump administration had imposed a 20 percent tariff on imports from Vietnam and a 19 percent tariff on imports from Malaysia. Sonos also said that it will invest on diversifying its geographic footprint and expanding its presence in markets that represent only a small share of its revenue today to drive growth.A Sonos spokesperson confirmed that not everything in the company's lineup will go up in price, but it sounds like products in its main product categories will get more expensive. We don't yet know the specifics on what products are getting more expensive yet.The company took steps to diversify its supply chain last year, which led to its manufacturing facilities in the two aforementioned countries. It now only relies on Chinese plans for products bound to the US for a limited number of accessories, such as speaker stands. Still, for the third quarter of 2025, tariffs reduced Sonos' gross margin for the third quarter by $2.1 million and its cash flow by $3.5 million. In the fourth quarter of the year, which covers the holiday shopping season, Sonos expects tariffs to reduce its gross margin by $5 million and to remove between $8 to $10 billion from its cash flow.Overall, Sonos posted a revenue of $344.8 million in the third quarter, which is almost $100 million larger than its revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024. It's not a secret that 2024 was a tough year for the company. It rolled out a major update that broke its app, which led to the delay of product releases as it worked to fix the issue. Former Sonos CEO Patrick Spence even stepped down in the beginning of 2025 and was replaced by ex-Snap executive Tom Conrad.Update, August 11, 2024, 11:08AM ET: This story has been updated to note that not all of Sonos' products are getting price increases.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/sonos-is-raising-prices-this-year-to-make-up-for-tariff-expenses-123031336.html?src=rss

Unlike two of its biggest rivals, Sony waited until April to unveil its latest soundbars rather than debut them at CES in January. And even then, the two most premium options in the company's 2025 lineup remain untouched. Instead, Sony gave us the Bravia Theater Bar 6 ($650): a 3.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar that comes with a wireless subwoofer and a modest set of features. However, the caveats here are real headscratchers, especially on a soundbar launching this year. What's good about the Bravia Theater Bar 6? Overall sound quality has never been an issue on the Sony soundbars I've tested, and the Theater Bar 6 continues with that trend. You can expect crisp, warm sound with excellent clarity and solid directional audio. Even over Bluetooth, this speaker-sub combo is great for music, doing justice to the subtle details of Miles Davis' Mies 54: The Prestige Recordings. Classic jazz is a great way to judge a speaker's merits, and on the Bar 6, this recently remastered album is dynamic and inviting throughout all 20 tracks. The soundbar also delivered great audio in movies and TV. I was sucked into battle scenes during the second season of Andor, even though the limitations of the Theater Bar 6's 3.1.2-channel configuration quickly became apparent. Its five-driver arrangement does well, thanks to three front-firing units and two angled up-firing speakers. Those latter two components really help with filling the overhead space during the action in shows like Andor, compensating for the limited number of drivers (and their positioning) as much as possible. And all of that makes the Theater Bar 6 a solid option for smaller spaces, especially if you have lower ceilings and won't be sitting far from the TV. The Theater Bar 6 won't win any design awards, but that's okay. There are plenty of people, myself included, who don't really want their soundbar to stand out on the TV stand or mantle. The focus should be the display, not the speaker. This model is quite plain, but it also has a relatively low profile, so even if your TV has a short stand, the Theater Bar 6 won't block the picture. What's not so great about the Bravia Theater Bar 6? Billy Steele for Engadget The first strike against the Bravia Theater Bar 6 is the lack of Wi-Fi connectivity. If you want a wireless connection to the soundbar, Bluetooth is your only option. What's more, no Wi-Fi means no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect - all of which should be standard on a $650 model in 2025. Sony did make it easy to switch from the HDMI input over to Bluetooth in the Bravia Connect app, and that change happens quickly after you've paired your phone with the soundbar once. Speaking of the app, it doesn't actually help you install firmware updates to the Theater Bar 6. Instead, it prompts you to transfer the files from a computer to a thumb drive to get them to the soundbar. Yes, really. Sony says the lack of Wi-Fi is why this workaround is required. No matter the reason, having to dig a thumb drive out of your junk drawer to install updates is a big inconvenience, and it shouldn't really be a thing in the mid 2020s. In the sound department, the only real knock against the Theater Bar 6 is more about the constraints of 3.1.2-channel audio. Even with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content, this system will be limited in its abilities to deliver immersive sound. Sure, Sony's S-Fore Pro and Vertical Surround Engine do well to virtualize a more robust living room setup, but that tech only goes so far. You might think a pair of rear speakers would bolster the sound, and Sony does offer the Bravia Theater System 6 ($770) as a 5.1-channel all-in-one package. However, it doesn't include the Theater Bar 6 and its subwoofer. Instead, that bundle comes with a different soundbar that doesn't have up-firing drivers, which means it might lack overhead sound and dampen the impact of immersive content. Unfortunately, if you want to add rear speakers to the Theater Bar 6, you're out of luck. None of Sony's currently available options are compatible with this soundbar. Lastly, and this isn't a huge issue for most people, but the Theater Bar 6's included subwoofer is big. Bigger than most of the competition? No, but it's large nonetheless. I'll admit I've been spoiled by the QS700F that I recently reviewed, thanks to its subwoofer's compact design. But if speakers in this category start trending smaller, the one that accompanies the Bar 6 will definitely end up being one of the chunkier models. Wrap-up The up-firing speakers assist with Dolby Atmos. Billy Steele for Engadget From a pure sound quality standpoint, the Theater Bar 6 excels at both its music and TV duties. Sure, it's limited by its 3.1.2-channel configuration, but there's a definite use case for that type of setup - especially if you're short on living room space. The audio is crisp and clear, and it's also warm and inviting, which makes this soundbar well-suited for all kinds of content. Despite my heaping on all of that praise, the Bar 6 simply has too many drawbacks that I can't overlook. The lack of Wi-Fi on a $650 soundbar is absurd, mostly because it strips users of the convenience of AirPlay, Chromecast and other wireless connection options. I also can't get over the need to use a thumb drive for updates when OTA downloads for new firmware have been the norm on soundbars for years. For those reasons, the Samsung QS700F is the better option in this price range since it combines great sound with an orientation feature that automatically recofigures the output direction based on placement. Sony and Samsung are in a tight race in regards to audio performance with the Theater Bar 6 and the QS700F, but only one of those 2025 soundbars will save you from some headaches.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/sony-bravia-theater-bar-6-review-great-sound-greater-frustration-144512450.html?src=rss

Despite the impending loss of federal rebates, Ford plans to give US EV production a huge boost. After hyping it last week as a "breakthrough" and "Model T moment," the company has announced the Ford Universal EV Platform to be shared by a new family of products. The first of those will be a midsized pickup with a starting price of around $30,000, likely similar in configuration to the popular Maverick. It will use the company's upcoming prismatic LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries.Ford will invest $5 billion, including $2 billion at its Louisville, Kentucky factory on top of $3 billion already announced for its BlueOval battery plant. It will expand the Louisville facility by 52,000 square feet and "create or secure" nearly 4,000 direct jobs, Ford added.Ford's only two EVs right now are the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, both of which use one-off platforms. With the Universal EV Platform, Ford will be able to build multiple vehicles including vans, cars and pickups that should be easier to build and thus cheaper. "The result: a simple, efficient, flexible ecosystem to deliver a family of affordable, electric, software-defined vehicles," the company said.Ford said that the platform will reduce parts by 20 percent versus a typical vehicle, with fewer fasteners and workstations and a 15 percent quicker assembly time. The company is also promising a lower cost of ownership over five years "than a three-year-old used Tesla Model Y."FordThe company also touted its LFP prismatic batteries as enabling space and weight savings along with cost reductions, due to the cobalt-free and nickel-free composition. However, the company's choice of LFP for its next-gen EVs has not been without controversy. Since Ford is licensing tech from China's CATL, it may lose out on tax credits of up to $700 million if Congress passes a bill banning federal support for battery plants that use tech or materials from China.The first vehicle will be a mid-sized four-door electric pickup set to launch in 2027. Ford hasn't yet revealed the name or shown a photo, but it will supposedly have more room than Toyota's latest RAV4 without even counting the frunk and truck bed. Buyers will be able to lock gear like bikes or surfboards into that bed, eliminating the need for roof or trailer hitch racks. It will have a low center of gravity from the battery, instant torque and a 0 to 60 mph time "as fast as a Mustang EcoBoost [around 4.5 seconds], with more downforce," Ford said.Ford hasn't detailed other vehicles that will be built on the platform, but an animation shows a variety ranging from utility vans to crossovers to SUVs to sedans, along with the aforementioned pickup. One rumor states that the new pickup could be called the Ranchero (based on a trademark filing) or it may use the Ranger name. In any case, it's clearly a big deal for Ford, since the company will have no less than three announcements for it. More info for the midsized electric truck, including reveal date, starting price, battery range and charge times "will be communicated later," Ford simply said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-is-developing-a-30000-midsized-ev-pickup-143030877.html?src=rss

The debate over whether AI chipmakers should be allowed to sell their products to China has taken an unusual turn. The US government has reportedly given NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) permission to make the sales but for one big catch: 15 percent of the sales. The news was first reported by The Financial Times, which cited multiple people familiar with the agreement.In July, NVIDIA announced that the US government would approve export licenses to sell its H20 AI GPUs after blocking their sale in April. NVIDIA created these specific chips - which are less powerful than ones sold in the US - in response to restrictions on sales to China. It previously developed the A800 and H800 chips for the Chinese market, but those were also banned.Now, NVIDIA and AMP were both reportedly granted export licenses for China last week, after agreeing to give the government 15 percent of their profits. AMP will provide the share from sales of its MI308 chip.There's significant debate over whether selling AI chips to China will endanger US national security. At the end of July, 20 national security experts and past government officials - including President Trump's former deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger - wrote a letter to Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, stating as much.The signatories "believe this move represents a strategic misstep that endangers the United States' economic and military edge in artificial intelligence." They worry it will restrict the number of chips available for the US and be used by China's military, among other concerns. NVIDIA disagrees, claiming the export licenses will allow it to compete with Chinese businesses.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidia-may-give-us-government-a-cut-of-its-profits-to-sell-ai-chips-to-china-120003260.html?src=rss

Sure, you've remembered to pack the most important things as you prep to go back to campus for the new semester. But the little things can get you in college. It's not uncommon to discover that, a few days into your new class schedule, you forgot to pack small things like an extra charger, a portable battery pack or a beater pair of earbuds. These unassuming things can make a big difference in how you work and play while at college, so do yourself a favor and think about all the small things you need to make this semester your best one yet. To prevent you from playing catch-up, we've compiled the best gadgets for school under $50 so you can cross the most crucial ones off your list before you even set foot on campus. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/school-tech-under-50-140026676.html?src=rss

The Nintendo Switch 2 didn't come out of the gate with a host of exclusive, must-play games. But we're a few months into the console's lifecycle now and there are a variety of Switch 2-only games that are worth your cash, as well as a bunch of original Switch games that have received improvements for the new console And there's also a robust selection of third-party games that have been on other consoles for a while, but not available on the Switch.

It may have been decades since you last heard the crunching screeches of connecting with dial-up Internet, but AOL said it will discontinue its dial-up service on September 30, officially marking the end of an era in Internet history. As first spotted by PC Gamer, AOL made the surprising announcement in a post buried in its AOL Help pages. Along with the dial-up service, AOL Dialer software and AOL Shield browser will also be discontinued by the end of September.It may come as a shock to most that AOL still runs its dial-up Internet service, but some thousands of users still rely on this outdated method as an affordable way to access the Internet in more rural areas. However, these user numbers in the "low thousands" are a far cry from AOL's heyday, which reportedly saw tens of millions of subscribers, most likely thanks to the stacks of free trial CDs people would find in their mailboxes. Nowadays, dial-up Internet fails to compete against the likes of much faster broadband options, which include cable, fiber and satellite alternatives.Even though AOL's dial-up service eventually lost relevancy, it stuck around for 34 years before meeting the same fate as other '90s tech icons like Blockbuster, Discmans and AOL Instant Messenger. Now, the only time you'll really hear that iconic America Online serenade is through recreations on social media.AOL is part of the company that owns Engadget. No one outside of Engadget's editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/aols-dial-up-internet-still-exists-but-not-for-much-longer-193004233.html?src=rss

A Siri that does way more than just setting a timer or writing down a reminder may still be nearly a year away. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release an overhauled version of Siri in the spring, which will be enhanced by the new App Intents feature. Gurman reported that the upgraded Siri will handle more complex tasks within apps, like commenting on an Instagram post, adding an item to your cart in a shopping app or editing a specific photo and sending it afterwards.After a disappointing delay, Apple is playing catch-up to deliver on previous claims of an improved Siri. According to Gurman, the company is testing App Intents with its own apps, but also third-party apps, including AllTrails, Amazon, Facebook, Threads, Temu, Uber, WhatsApp and YouTube. For apps that handle more sensitive info, like banking apps, Gurman said that Apple may look into certain restrictions or completely avoid these apps for App Intents.Apple gave us the first glimpse of this smarter Siri during WWDC 2024, where Apple Intelligence was the focus of the annual conference. However, the company delayed the release for the updated Siri in March, explaining that "it's going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features" and adding that the upgrades be rolled out "in the coming year." Apple even got sued for false advertising after releasing a TV ad featuring Bella Ramsey that showed off Siri's new capabilities that weren't available to the public following the release of the iPhone 16.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/an-updated-siri-that-interacts-with-apps-reportedly-wont-be-here-until-next-spring-183000378.html?src=rss

Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise for the last five years, is leaving Blizzard. Fergusson announced the move on social media, but didn't say where he's going next. Before joining Blizzard in 2020 to lead Diablo, Fergusson was studio head at The Coalition, where he oversaw Gears of War."After five years driving the Diablo franchise with four big launches, it's time to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what's next," Fergusson wrote in a post on Bluesky. "I'm proud of what we've built and excited for what's ahead for Diablo, and for me." His departure comes after significant layoffs this summer at Microsoft, Blizzard's owner, which affected its gaming division.In a reply to Fergusson's announcement, Xbox head Phil Spencer posted, "You brought strength, hellfire, and vision to one of gaming's most iconic franchises. Playing Diablo IV with you was a blast-thanks for everything you gave to the game and the community."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/rod-fergusson-leaves-blizzard-after-five-years-leading-diablo-180049767.html?src=rss

A post on Ubisoft's news page reportedly announced that FX is working on a TV show adaptation of the Far Cry franchise. The page has since been taken down and entering the website redirects to Ubisoft's landing page for company news. However, several Redditors have been circulating what they saw in the press release.According to the alleged Ubisoft post, the Far Cry franchise adaptation will be an "anthology drama" where "each season will be set in a new world with a different cast of characters following the video game franchise's signature standalone storytelling format." The series is reportedly being co-created by Rob Mac, known for creating and starring in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Noah Hawley, who created Fargo and Legion for FX. The leaked release supposedly detailed that Hawley will serve as the showrunner for the series, while also filling the role of executive producer along with Mac. Several production studios have reportedly joined the project, including Ubisoft Film & Television, which is working on other video game adaptations for the Assassin's Creed and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell franchises.While FX hasn't confirmed anything officially, the leaked cast and crew could be a sign of the next big hit in the world of video games adapted into TV. The recent success ofFallout and The Last of Us indicates a healthy appetite from viewers and Hawley's previous experience could be an appropriate fit for the Far Cry franchise's raw, but darkly comedic style.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ubisoft-may-have-prematurely-revealed-fxs-tv-adaptation-of-far-cry-162918984.html?src=rss

It's been a few years since we last heard anything about the Space Invaders movie that is reportedly in the works, but a new report suggests things are inching forward again. According to Deadline, Ben Zazove and Evan Turner (The Out-Laws) are now on board to write the movie for Warner Bros.' New Line Cinema.A movie adaptation of Taito's classic arcade game has been brewing for over a decade now, after Warner Bros. bought the rights to spin it into a film back in 2014. It was reported in 2019 that screenwriter Gregg Russo (Mortal Kombat 2021) had been tapped to write the script, but it seems some changes have been made in the years since. There's no word yet on a release date or how it'll approach the alien invasion story. Video game adaptations have been having a bit of a moment lately, though, so they may be looking to ride that momentum and actually bring this one to life now. Time will tell.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-space-invaders-movie-is-apparently-still-happening-210851306.html?src=rss

DJI's obstacle avoidance system could be just as useful on land as it is in the air. DJI, known for its dominance in the drone market, has entered the smart home world with a range of robot vacuums called ROMO. Beyond its drones, gimbals and action cameras, the Chinese company previously branched out into other product categories, including portable power stations and e-bikes.For those wondering why DJI settled on robot vacuums as its next venture, it makes sense considering the company's "omnidirectional obstacle sensing" found in its drones. The same system that helps DJI drones avoid crashes when capturing cinematic footage easily translates into a robot vacuum that can navigate a home without running into furniture. Along with obstacle detection that can measure down to millimeters, DJI built its ROMO models with two flexible cleaning arms, an extremely high 25,000 Pa suction and a base station that the vacuum will automatically dock and clean itself in.To make it more efficient, DJI packed in machine learning algorithms that help the ROMO vacuums figure out the best route for cleaning. The onboard intelligence can even detect if an area is especially dirty and spend more time there. To make it less of a nuisance, the ROMO uses a noise reduction system while vacuuming and you can control it hands-free with voice commands.DJIDJI is offering the ROMO in three models: the entry-level ROMO S that starts at around $650, the midrange ROMO A with a transparent vacuum design that goes for around $750 and the top-of-the-line ROMO P that has both a transparent vacuum and base station for at least $950. DJI is releasing the ROMO to China first, but says overseas availability is coming later this year. While robot vacuums don't pose as much of a security risk as drones, DJI is currently trying to figure out how to avoid a ban in the US when the National Defense Authorization Act goes into effect at the end of this year. Unless DJI is audited and cleared by one of the US' national security agencies by then, any new DJI drones would be blocked from being imported or sold in the US.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/dji-repurposed-its-drones-obstacle-detection-tech-for-robot-vacuums-191136030.html?src=rss

Following the rollout of OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model earlier this week, a certain user base was adamantly calling for the return of the previous GPT-4o model. Outspoken users complained about the writing quality of the updated model, with some even going so far as to grieve the loss of GPT-4o, which some said they considered a friend and confidant.In the latest OpenAI update that labels GPT-5 as the "smartest, fastest, most useful model yet," the company removed the option to choose which model to use and defaults to GPT-5 instead. With the new model, GPT-5 uses a "real-time router" that switches between a more efficient model for basic questions and a deeper reasoning alternative for more complex demands.The initial rollout ran into some issues that made GPT-5 seem "way dumber," according to OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, who also opened up a Reddit AMA to offer more insight into the changes. On Reddit, Altman responded to a question by saying GPT-5's writing quality is better than previous models, but asked users if this felt true. In response, several Redditors voiced their opinion that the GPT-5 felt "sterile" and "much worse" and answered "briefly and dryly." In response to the initial outcry, Altman posted on X that OpenAI would let Plus subscribers choose between using GPT-5 or GPT-4o."We for sure underestimated how much some of the things that people like in GPT-4o matter to them, even if GPT-5 performs better in most ways," Altman said on X.The return of GPT-4o was celebrated, but there's still no guarantee that OpenAI will keep its older model around indefinitely. In the same X post, Altman said that OpenAI "will watch usage as we think about how long to offer legacy models for." In the meantime, OpenAI is focusing on finishing the GPT-5 rollout and making changes that will "make it warmer." However, for users who have grown attached to GPT-4o as more than just an AI chatbot, this could be the beginning of the end.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-brings-gpt-4o-after-users-melt-down-over-the-new-model-172523159.html?src=rss

The astronauts part of SpaceX's Crew-10 mission are on their way back home. Their Dragon capsule called Endurance is scheduled to splash down at approximately 11:33 AM Eastern time off the coast of California. Endurance undocked from the International Space Station at 6:15PM Eastern on August 8 with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov onboard. They stayed on the ISS for five months and left a week after Crew-11 arrived to take their place.While they were on the space station, Crew-10 helped expand our knowledge on the physiological and psychological changes humans undergo on long-duration missions that range from weeks to a year. They also observed how blood flows from the brain to the heart in microgravity, among the other studies and experiments they conducted.As NASA notes, this will be its first Commercial Crew mission to splash down into the Pacific Ocean, as previous capsules splashed down off the coast of Florida. NASA will broadcast the crew's return, with its coverage starting at 10:15AM today, August 9. You can watch Endurance splash down into the ocean on NASA+ or on the YouTube video embedded below. NASA will also hold a teleconference after retrieving the astronauts and will broadcast the event on its website.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/watch-nasas-spacex-crew-10-astronauts-return-to-earth-133004329.html?src=rss

Welcome to our latest recap of what's going on in the indie game space. This week, Nintendo held its latest Indie World showcase to spotlight titles that are coming to Switch and Switch 2, as well as some that arrived on the eShop on the day of the presentation.One of the latter was UFO 50, which featured on many best of 2024 lists after it debuted on PC. Another was Is This Seat Taken?, which is about placing picky people in the right seats. This chill puzzle game from Poti Poti Studio and publisher Wholesome Games Presents arrived on Steam, iOS and Android as well this week. It has a look that reminds me a little of last year's pretty platformer, Schim.Looking further ahead, the Indie World revealed the October release date for Ball x Pit, a Breakout-esque roguelite I'm very excited for. In addition, Mina the Hollower, the next game from Shovel Knight studio Yacht Club Games that we already knew was coming to Steam on Halloween, has been confirmed for a Switch and Switch 2 release on the same day.The showcase also revealed that Neverway, a creepy life-sim RPG from a studio founded by Pedro Medeiros (the pixel artist of Celeste) and Murder Engine creator Isadora Sophia, is coming to Switch and Steam in 2026. Meanwhile, sci-fi RPG Caves of Qud is coming to Switch as a console exclusive later this year. This is a turn-based, sci-fi roguelike RPG from Freehold Games and publisher Kitfox Games that's rated overwhelmingly positive on Steam after nearly 10,000 player reviews (a quick scan indicates that those who get into Caves of Qud can sink hundreds of hours into it).Elsewhere, The International Game Developers Association, The International Game Developers Association Foundation and Women in Games International teamed up for an interesting announcement this week. The organizations are collaborating on a project called Port Quest, which is designed to help successful developers bring their games to mobile platforms. Studios who take part can receive assistance from industry veterans, access to workshops and more.Applications are open now and will close on September 15. Those chosen to participate will be featured in a showcase. However, only games that have earned at least $10,000 per month for the last six months are eligible. The games can't have previously been made available on mobile devices either.New releasesA game called Ritual of Raven, from Spellgarden Games and publisher Team17, arrived on Steam and Switch this week. It's billed as a "cozy, story-based farming sim" but you're not going to be making your character till the land, plant seeds and carefully nurture crops here.Instead, this is more of a deckbuilder, as you'll collect tarot cards and make use of their magical powers to do the work for you. It seems like an interesting twist on the Stardew Valley formula, especially if you're into card-based games.Kimchi: A Stars in the Trash Story is a free, short game from Valhalla Cats that dropped this week on Steam and Itch.io - just in time for International Cat Day. As a kitten named Kimchi, you'll explore a cat museum and solve puzzles as you learn about the history of cats.This is a spinoff of Stars in the Trash, a hand-drawn platform adventure with a gorgeous aesthetic that came out late last year. I bought that game months ago but haven't gotten around to playing it. The arrival of Kimchi is a good reminder for me to do that.I mentioned this one in a previous edition of this roundup, though I can't help but highlight it again (not least because I feel the need to switch things up after highlighting a couple of cozy games). Turbo Kidis a delightfully gory Metroidvania that acts as a quasi-sequel to a film of the same name that I utterly adore. It finally landed on Switch this week, alongside an update for a PC update that enhances a lot of the weapons and makes them easier to acquire. Outerminds says the update also brings performance improvements to lower-spec systems.UpcomingA foraging adventure called Out and About was supposed to debut this week, but it's been pushed back by a few days as Yaldi Games unfortunately didn't check the Early Access box in Steam's publishing tools. As such, the studio has had to delay the game's arrival until this Monday. That's a bit of a pity for a developer that's releasing its first-ever game, but Yaldi's transparency here is quite endearing.In any case, Out and About will see you gathering fungi and wild plants to help you cook delectable dishes and put together herbal remedies. You'll also be helping to rebuild your community following a powerful storm. The game features real-life plants, so you might learn how to identify flora when you're out and about in the real world and perhaps do some actual foraging of your own.Rogue Labyrinth looks absolutely gorgeous, with a look that reminds me of my favorite game of all time, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. In this story-driven action title from Tea Witch Games and publisher indie.io, you'll seemingly be able to turn anything into a projectile (including deflected enemy attacks) by whacking it with your smacking stick.You'll play as a nomad named Iris who returns home only to find that the place where you grew up has been converted into a labyrinth that hosts a reality show. The labyrinth is home to randomized biomes that feature monsters and allies alike. Rogue Labyrinthis coming to Steam on September 1. A demo, which I might just check out this weekend, is available now.Atari revealed this week that Adventure of Samsara - a spiritual successor to Atari 2600 title Adventure from 1980 - is set to arrive on September 4. It's coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam and GOG.In this pixel art Metroidvania from developer Ilex Games, you'll attempt to restore balance to the multiverse. To do that, you'll need to explore a series of connected biomes and take down tough bosses. Of course, you'll gain abilities and upgrades while you're on your journey, because that's how Metroidvanias work.I think my favorite thing about Autumn with the Shiba Inu is that it's a sequel to a battle royale mystery visual novel called A Summer with the Shiba Inu, so I have two of these games to check out. This is a mystery visual novel from Quill Game Studios that puts you in the paws of Quei-Li, a freelance hacker tasked with uncovering information in a corruption case.There are multiple endings here, which should encourage replayability, and I appreciate the lovely doggo illustrations by artist Alicia Garcia Ochoa in the trailer. Autumn with the Shiba Inu is coming to Steam on August 14, and a trailer is available now.Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop is a point-and-click adventure in the vein of those LucasArts games from the '80s and '90s. In this project from Arik Games and Edo Brenes, you play as a dude who just wants to drink a pilsner when all that can be found are craft beers and gross IPAs (I can't stand IPAs, sorry). Since a master brewer has banned pilsners, you'll have to make your own by acquiring the right ingredients and gear, then entering a brewing contest.This is a sequel to 2020's Dude, Where Is My Beer? and I love the Star Wars pun in the sequel's title. There's no release window for Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop as yet, but there's a demo up on Steam now.Let's wrap things up for this week with a game that's "inspired by analog horror, outsider art and the liminal landscapes of David Lynch and Andrei Tarkovsky." Conciergeis a surrealist, non-linear game in which you'll use a camcorder to help uncover clues and solve puzzles and trials that might require some outside-the-box thinking. This project from two-person Brazilian duo Kodino Artes and publisher Digital Tribe Games looks pretty compelling to me. Concierge is coming to Steam on September 15.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-magical-farming-sim-cat-museum-exploration-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-120042340.html?src=rss

Nintendo has eyed adding a Playdate-style crank to the Switch 2, according to a recently spotted patent from Nintendo Patents Watch. The hypothetical accessory would add tracking rotational movement to an existing bag of Joy-Con 2 controller tricks that includes motion and mouse controls.Based on the patent application, the crank accessory attaches to the side of a Joy-Con 2 magnetically, not unlike the controllers' wrist straps. Whichever game supports the accessory can use the Joy-Con 2's mouse sensor to track the rotations of the crank as an input. Fishing games or games with dedicated fishing mini-games, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, seem like the obvious contenders for an accessory like this, but knowing Nintendo there are weirder possibilities, too.NintendoAnother patent imagines a similar setup being used for a clickable wheel. The patent illustrations looks like a lighter, but the accessory could just as easily be used while dragging a Joy-Con 2 along a surface. It might even add extra resistance or friction to the Switch 2's mouse controls.Given that these are patent applications, there's no guarantee Nintendo plans on turning either of them into real products. Still, they're a glimpse at the Switch 2's untapped potential for supporting goofy accessories, something that defined a good portion of the Wii's lifespan.The wildest Nintendo got with the original Switch was Nintendo Labo, cardboard accessories that turned the console into everything from a VR headset to a simple fishing rod. A crank might be the first of several adventurous accessories for Nintendo's new console.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-designed-a-playdate-like-crank-for-the-switch-2-211420947.html?src=rss

The dream of Chromebooks that double as gaming laptops appears to be on its last legs. 9to5Google reports that Google is ending support for Steam for Chromebooks starting January 1, 2026. Porting the application launcher was part of an extended push from the company to make Chromebooks a place to play games. Companies like ASUS and Acer announced and released gaming Chromebooks, but the idea never seemed to catch on.Google's plan to retire Steam for Chromebooks was discovered when 9to5Google tried to install the launcher on a new laptop. "The Steam for Chromebook Beta program will conclude on January 1st, 2026," a new notice reads when you download Steam. "After this date, games installed as part of the Beta will no longer be available to play on your device. We appreciate your participation in and contribution to learnings from the beta program, which will inform the future of Chromebook gaming."Engadget has contacted Google and Valve for confirmation that Steam for Chromebooks is being discontinued. We'll update this article if we hear back.Reports that Steam would eventually be available on ChromeOS started as far back as 2020. The joint effort to port the launcher to Chromebooks was a surprise announcement at GDC 2022. Google released a Steam alpha that March, which ultimately worked better than expected. A beta version of the app came a few months later in November, adding support for several new Chromebooks. The app has existed in beta since then, without any major updates from Google or Valve.One reason Google could be giving up is that the number of games that can actually run on Chromebooks is limited, thanks to the underpowered CPUs and integrated graphics that most ChromeOS devices use. Valve's Proton compatibility software - which helps Windows games run on the Linux-based Steam Deck - is technically available for Chromebooks, but it can't make up for a lack of processing power.Without Steam, using either NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming is the best option for running modern console and PC games on your Chromebook. ChromeOS can also runs Android apps, but then you have to be comfortable playing what you can get from the Play Store.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-for-chromebooks-is-reportedly-being-discontinued-194020340.html?src=rss

No product launch excites me more than the release of a new Tamagotchi. So when it comes time to review one, I like to first give myself a little while to just live with the device - to feel that initial delight and let it die down before I try to look at it critically. That way, I can more fairly assess whether we've actually got a toy that's worth the price tag and will hold a person's attention once the novelty wears off. But Tamagotchi Paradise arrived a few days ago, and while a proper review will be coming down the line, there's one thing we need to address right off the bat: This thing's fucking huge. It is slightly larger overall than the previous reigning beast of the Tamagotchi family, the Tamagotchi Pix (but a hair thinner). Tamagotchi Paradise is so big, it makes me want to resurrect out-of-fashion internet terms to describe it: absolute unit; "oh lawd, he comin'"; etc., etc. Leading up to the device's release, there were a lot of questions about how big it really is, so for anyone who hasn't yet had a chance to get their hands on one, here you go, I'm going to do my best to illustrate it for you. Here's how Tamagotchi Paradise compares in size to: Now, don't get me wrong, Tamagotchi Paradise's comically large build isn't necessarily a bad thing. Actually, I'm kind of into it. It's certainly harder to juggle this device with anything else I might be holding, like my phone or a drink, but it does have a nice heft to it and it feels pretty good in the hand. And thanks to its sheer bulkiness, I'm probably less likely to misplace it around the house, as I've been known to do with smaller models that easily slip between couch cushions. Will I be running two of these at the same time? Probably not, beyond the brief moments when I want to use the Connection features. My bag only has so much room. But is Tamagotchi Paradise so cumbersome that I won't be bringing one everywhere with me for the foreseeable future? I think we all know the answer to that. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/heres-the-absolutely-massive-tamagotchi-paradise-next-to-other-objects-in-the-wild-for-scale-172017149.html?src=rss

Nintendo just announced a forthcoming app called Hello Mario! that's headed to iOS, Android and the Switch in Japan. The free app seems pretty basic, as it's just a giant Mario head that users can poke and prod. That sounds eerily reminiscent of the intro screen of Super Mario 64.The company says that Mario will react in various ways based on player input. His face will even turn "around and around on the screen" when manhandled. Nintendo says "parents and young children" should play together to "enjoy each reaction they see."The app rolls out on August 26, but we don't know if it'll be released outside of Japan. We reached out to Nintendo for information on a global launch.

OpenAI finally released its long-awaited GPT-5 model this week, unsurprisingly proclaiming it its best yet with regards to coding, accuracy, safety and more. CEO Sam Altman even compared the jump up in quality to when the iPhone first adopted a Retina display in a press briefing ahead of the announcement. Big talk indeed.Given ChatGPT's integration with Apple Intelligence, you might be wondering when the latest model will arrive on the devices that support it. The answer is sooner rather than later: Apple says that Apple Intelligence will leverage GPT-5 in iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26. Those software updates are set to arrive in their final form, as they traditionally do, at the tail end of the summer, so you won't have to wait long. The news was first reported by 9to5Mac.Currently, ChatGPT is an optional add-on to Apple's own AI model. It can be accessed by Siri when you're making a request that Apple Intelligence on its own might not be able to handle, with Apple using the example of questions about photos and documents. ChatGPT also integrates with Camera Control in your iPhone's Camera app to learn more about your environment, and if you connect your ChatGPT account you can save your requests in your personal history.ChatGPT has to be activated as an extension to Apple Intelligence in settings, and if you turn it off you won't have to worry about Siri turning to an external model if you're concerned about it doing so. OpenAI says GPT-5 is its safest model to date, thanks in part to a new feature called Safe Completions, which means it will attempt to give the most helpful answer it can within safety parameters imposed by its maker.GPT-5 is free for everyone, but OpenAI offers tiered paid plans for heavier users, from its $20 per month ChatGPT Plus subscription, right up to the $200 per month Pro plan that offers unlimited use. If you have one of these plans, you can log in through Apple Intelligence and gain all the same benefits.Update, 12:19PM ET: This story includes confirmation to Engadget that GPT-5 will be in Apple's forthcoming iOS, iPadOS and macOS updates planned for next month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-will-bring-gpt-5-to-apple-intelligence-in-ios-ipad-os-and-macos-26-143210831.html?src=rss

As first reported by Bloomberg, Tesla is disbanding the team behind Dojo, its in-house AI-training supercomputer, and reassigning remaining staff to other projects within the company. This marks a shift in the company's compute sourcing strategy for its AI-focused initiatives such as autonomous driving and the Optimus robot. Head of Dojo Peter Bannon is leaving Tesla, which is the latest departure after roughly 20 Dojo team members recently left to form DensityAI.In a response to the Bloomberg report on X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said, "It doesn't make sense for Tesla to divide its resources and scale two quite different AI chip designs. The Tesla AI5, AI6 and subsequent chips will be excellent for inference and at least pretty good for training. All effort is focused on that."Musk is referring to Tesla's next-generation AI6 chip that will be made by Samsung following a $16.5 billion deal. These chips will drive the real-time decision-making onboard Tesla vehicles and robots. Shutting down Dojo effectively ends Tesla's long-shot ambition of creating its own in-house training architecture and consolidates the company's efforts on the AI5 and AI6 platforms.While Musk says these chips are "pretty good" for training, the company will now rely heavily on vendors like NVIDIA for training-specific silicon, and is spending billions on those chips. AI5 production is targeted to begin in 2026 with AI6 to follow.Like the rest of the big tech world, Musk's companies have been on an AI tear, with xAI's Grok chatbot now available in Tesla vehicles. The company is also piloting its Robotaxi fleet to mixed results.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/tesla-shuts-down-in-house-dojo-ai-supercomputer-project-155420734.html?src=rss

The Google Finance web app is getting a major overhaul with an emphasis on AI. This redesign includes an AI-powered chatbot, which will answer finance-based queries and provide relevant links. Here's hoping the chatbot will keep hallucinations to a minimum, given that people use the app to make financial decisions with real world consequences.The platform is also introducing new charting tools that the company says should help users understand asset performance. There will be options to view technical indicators and candlestick charts.Google boasts that the app will soon feature a broader range of market data. This includes an increased emphasis on cryptocurrencies. The app will also display an "up-to-the-minute" live news feed, which should be a decent resource for tracking market fluctuations.However, not everyone wants to use a chatbot to make major financial decisions. The update includes a toggle that reverts everything back to the traditional Google Finance design. It begins rolling out to US customers in the coming weeks.This is just the latest app in Google's roster that is getting stuffed to the gills with AI. We all know about Gemini's hold on search, but the company's various productivity apps like Docs and Sheets have all gotten AI tools to some degree. The same goes for the Discover feature of the Google app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-finance-redesign-goes-all-in-on-ai-complete-with-a-chatbot-151923704.html?src=rss

We're into the back half of summer already (which may be good or bad news depending on how hot it is where you reside), and it won't be too long before the weather outside becomes decidedly more frightful. When that happens, a smart thermostat becomes an especially wise addition to your home. They help to optimize the temperature to ensure you stay comfortable, while also keeping your energy bills down. The Google Nest Learning Thermostat is one of the more popular options for a variety of reasons, and right now you can pick one up for $230, which is $50 off the regular price. Just use the code ENGA50 at the checkout to apply the discount. This is one of the best prices you'll find this particular thermostat at, and $10 cheaper than it was at the beginning of the year. When you factor in the additional savings it can help you make on your bills, Google's thermostat is an even more compelling proposition. The latest Google Nest Learning Thermostat leverages AI to deliver more accurate readings, offering advice on how to reduce your energy consumption. This is in addition to automatically adjusting various settings in your home depending on factors like the ambient temperature it's reading. It features a wireless temperature sensor that Google says is able to last for up to three years before you'll need to replace it. You can buy these separately, too, and dot them around your home, connecting up to six to a single thermostat. The LCD display is 60 percent larger than that of its predecessor and can be customized with smartwatch-like faces, while more color options help the device to blend in with your particular home style. It also uses Soli radar sensors to determine your proximity to the device, adjusting things like font size accordingly. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/googles-latest-nest-learning-thermostat-is-50-off-right-now-140033869.html?src=rss

Gemini has been acting strangely for some users over the past few weeks. There are multiple reports online of users getting responses from Gemini that are oddly self-flagellating. A screenshot from an X user back in June showed Gemini saying "...I am a fool. I have made so many mistakes that I can no longer be trusted." The AI chatbot then deleted all the files with codes it created. Now, as a response to another post on X that showed a similar issue, Google's product lead for AI Studio, Logan Kilpatrick, said that it's an "annoying infinite looping bug" and that the company is working on a fix.

The Fitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker is $50 off right now via Wellbots, bringing the price down to just $110. All you have to do is enter the code ENGADFIT50 at checkout. This little device actually topped our list of the best fitness trackers, so now is a good time to pick one up. The battery life is fantastic, lasting around seven days on a charge, and it features built-in GPS. The heart rate monitor is extremely accurate, especially when compared to rival units. It also tracks ECG, SpO2, skin temperature, stress and sleep. The Charge 6 integrates with Google Maps, Fitbit Pay and Google Wallet. The full-color AMOLED display and thin design gives the whole thing a luxe feel. On the downside, some elements of the device are locked behind a Fitbit Premium paywall and there's no Apple Health integration. It does, however, work fine with both iOS and Android smartphones. If the $110 price tag is a bit rich for your blood, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is also on sale. This one is down $20, making the price $76. Just enter the code ENGADFIT20 at checkout. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-the-fitbit-charge-6-fitness-tracker-while-its-50-off-130041372.html?src=rss

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan has responded after Donald Trump accused him of being "highly conflicted" and said he should resign, according to The Financial Times. "There has been a lot of misinformation circulating about my past roles," Tan said in a letter to Intel staff. "I wanted to be absolutely clear... I have always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards." Tan said that Intel was engaging with the White House "to address the matters that have been raised and ensure they have the facts."Trump's Truth Social post demanding Tan's resignation reportedly came about due to letter to Tan from Tom Cotton, the Republican head of the Senate Intelligence Committee. In it, Cotton "expressed concern about the security and integrity of Intel's operations" along with Tan's previous work in China. Tan has invested in Chinese tech companies through his own venture capital firm, including SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.), China's biggest chip maker.In addition, a company that Tan ran before being appointed Intel chief admitted last week to violating US export controls by "unlawfully exporting semiconductor design tools to a restricted PRC [Chinese] military university," according to the US Department of Justice. The company agreed to plead guilty and pay criminal penalties totalling over $140 million dollars.Tan took over a very leaky ship with Intel, which has bled red ink over the failure of its foundry business to keep up with rivals like TSMC and win customers. Since taking the job, he launched a cost-cutting program and said that Intel may need to abandon its next-gen fab tech - which hasn't shown great results to date - if it can't find a large customer. In the same letter, Tan said Intel's board is "fully supportive" of that work.Trump has meddled with corporations ranging from Apple to Bank of America, making him what one pundit called "the most interventionist White House in my lifetime," particularly for a Republican. "So many Wall Street folks worried that past Democratic administrations would interfere in their business," said MSNBC journalist and lawyer Ari Melber. "But this first year of Trump's second term has done so much more than any modern administration."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/intel-ceo-lip-bu-tan-responds-to-trump-comments-that-he-should-resign-123008812.html?src=rss

Tech is a necessity for all college students today. You simply need certain things to get your schoolwork done, key among those devices being a solid laptop for college. But there are other gadgets that can help you out, too, both by making your academic life easier and help you unwind at the end of a long week of classes. Before you head to campus, you can pick up a few key devices to keep yourself more organized and help you produce better work for the entire year. We've collected some of the must-have gadgets for college that we've tested here, and we wouldn't be surprised if all of them stuck with you long after your four-year university run is over. Best tech for college students This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/12-must-have-gadgets-for-college-students-in-2025-120044577.html?src=rss

Meta previewed some of its latest virtual reality prototypes this week, with concepts that are compelling on the specs and long on the design. Literally. The company shared some details on its Tiramisu project, dubbing it "hyperrealistic VR." This set promises three times the contrast, 14 times the maximum brightness and 3.6 times the angular resolution of the Meta Quest 3. In actual stats, that's up to 1,400 nits of brightness and an angular resolution of 90 pixels per degree.One of the goals for Reality Labs Research's Optics, Photonics and Light Systems (OPALS) team is to create a virtual reality experience that is indistinguishable from the real world, or what it calls a visual Turing test. "Our mission for this project was to provide the best image quality possible," said Xuan Wang, an optical research scientist with OPALS. But the team achieved that quality with some tradeoffs; Tiramisu has a limited field of view of just 33 degrees by 33 degrees compared to the 110 degrees horizontal and 96 degrees vertical FOV in the Meta Quest 3. And the form factor is currently a pretty bulky beast, as you can see above.MetaThe other prototypes detailed in the company's blog post are Boba 3 headsets. These mixed and virtual reality headsets offer an ultrawide field of view. All three projects will be on display during the SIGGRAPH 2025 conference in Vancouver next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-says-these-wild-headset-prototypes-could-be-the-future-of-vr-225132683.html?src=rss

The Federal Communications Commission is planning a review of the US emergency alert systems. Both the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WAS) will be subject to a "re-examination" by the agency. "We want to ensure that these programs deliver the results that Americans want and need," FCC Chairman Brendan Carr posted on X.The announcement of this plan notes that the infrastructure underlying the EAS - which includes radio, television, satellite and cable systems - is 31 years old, while the framework underpinning the WAS mobile device alerts is 13 years old. The FCC review will also assess what entities should be able to send alerts on those systems, as well as topics such as geographic targeting and security.The role of emergency communication systems came under recent scrutiny after catastrophic flooding in central Texas earlier this summer that led to more than 130 deaths. Questions arose in the aftermath of whether residents in potentially dangerous areas received enough warning to evacuate, as well as if recent federal cuts to the National Weather Service's staff and budget could have contributed to the high death toll.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-fcc-will-review-emergency-alert-systems-in-the-us-212753623.html?src=rss

Nightdive Studios and id Software have announced a surprise remaster of fantasy shooters Heretic and Hexen. The games are now available for modern consoles in a new release, dubbed Heretic + Hexen, that includes support for co-op, cross-platform multiplayer and community-published mods.Heretic + Hexen combines Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel into a single bundle. On top of making the updates necessary to get the games running on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, Nightdive also created "two brand new episodes" to play through called Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur that include new levels inspired by the original games.When they were first released in 1994 and 1995, respectively, Heretic and Hexen featured the novel pairing of Doom-inspired first-person action, with rudimentary RPG elements like character classes and an inventory. The games helped put developer Raven Software on the map not long before it went on to create games like Quake 4 and Wolfenstein for id Software.Nightdive Studios has worked on other id Software remasters, but the idea of remaking or rereleasing Heretic and Hexen has been in the cards for quite a while. Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of the games' original publisher id Software, in 2021. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was on the record as recently as 2023 as being interested in rereleasing both games. It took a couple years, but the remasters finally happened.Heretic + Hexen is available now for Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. If you already own any of the original versions of the games, you'll get upgraded to the remastered bundle for free.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/heretic-and-hexen-have-received-a-surprise-remaster-from-nightdive-studios-205747137.html?src=rss

Last month, a Pew Research Center report shed light on Google's AI Overviews' effect on web publishing. In short, the analysis painted an abysmal outlook for anyone relying on web traffic. But on Wednesday, Google Search head Liz Reid penned a blog post that puts quite a different spin on things. The Google VP claims traffic from search to websites is "relatively stable" and that click quality has increased.Reid's framing boils down to everything is peachy, and AI is making things better - even for websites! She wrote that Google Search's total organic click volume to websites has been "relatively" stable year-over-year. Reid also claimed Google sends more "quality clicks" (visitors who don't quickly bounce) to websites than a year ago. The company says people are also happier with the search experience.The company didn't share any numbers - the post has no data whatsoever - to support its claims.Google's explanation for the rosy outlook? "With AI Overviews, people are searching more and asking new questions that are often longer and more complex," Reid wrote. "In addition, with AI Overviews, people are seeing more links on the page than before. More queries and more links mean more opportunities for websites to surface and get clicked."Reid does highlight a shifting landscape. She says user trends are resulting in lower traffic for some sites and increased traffic for others. Of course, the Google Search head didn't call out any specific websites. But she claims forums, videos, podcasts and posts with "authentic voices and first-hand perspectives" are thriving. Reid added that content like "an in-depth review, an original post, a unique perspective, or a thoughtful first-person analysis" does well.Google / EngadgetThe Google VP said people seeking simple Q&A types of searches are leaning more on AI. "For some questions where people are looking for a quick answer, like 'when is the next full moon,' people may be satisfied with the initial AI Overviews response and not click further," Reid wrote. "This has also been true for other answer features we've added, like the Knowledge Graph or sports scores. But for many other types of questions, people continue to click through, as they want to dig deeper into a topic, explore further or make a purchase. This is why we see click quality increasing - an AI response might provide the lay of the land, but people click to dive deeper and learn more, and when they do, these clicks are more valuable."It's quite the contrast from the Pew report. It found that visitors who saw an AI summary clicked a traditional search result in eight percent of all visits. Those without an AI summary? They clicked on a traditional result in 15 percent of their visits. As for actually clicking the source links in AI summaries? Pew's study found that one percent of Google searches that included AI summaries resulted in a user clicking on those source links. Users were also more likely to end their browsing after visiting a page with an AI summary.That aligned with comments Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince made in June. He said search traffic referrals keep plummeting. "The future of the web is going to be more and more like AI, and that means that people are going to be reading the summaries of your content, not the original content," he said. Prince said that a decade ago, Google sent a publisher one visitor for every two pages it crawled. Early this year, it dropped to one visitor for every six pages. He said that, in June, it was down to one for every 18.I can't tell you who to believe. But here's what the ultimate source had to say:Google / EngadgetCorrection, August 7, 2025, 2:55PM ET: This article has been updated to note that Pew's study found one percent of Google searches with AI summaries had someone click on a source link in those summaries. It previously stated that one percent of search users clicked on those source links.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-actually-ai-in-search-is-driving-more-queries-and-higher-quality-clicks-204946965.html?src=rss