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An oddball new app called Palmsy lets you post to a social media network full of adoring followers who only exist in your imagination. Whether used as a journaling app with a fresh twist or a nicotine patch equivalent for social media addiction, Palmsy prevents the real world from ever seeing your posts," storing them on-device, offline and private.Palmsy's App Store description says it lets you make little posts for yourself." And, at its core, that's all you're doing. As for why you'd want to do such a thing, people who have trouble with typical journaling or mind-mapping apps may find it a more inspiring framework. Or, if your social posting habit has gotten out of hand (or you want a break from it for any other reason), it could serve as a way to wean yourself off and give you the dopamine hit without sharing anything publicly.One clever wrinkle from developer Pat Nakajima is that the app imports your contacts to generate fake likes from them. As pointed out by TechCrunch, Nakajima wrote on Threads that nothing leaves your device or is posted to your contacts, the app's servers or anywhere else. It's just pretend," he clarified.If seeing fake likes from real contacts feels a bit too weird, a recent update added the ability to limit the number of faux likes your posts get. You can also set caps on how long you receive them, ranging from a few seconds to a few days.The app is free and iOS-only, including iPhone and iPad variants.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/journaling-app-palmsy-offers-fake-likes-from-real-friends-194059136.html?src=rss

Instagram is working on a feature that would recommend Reels to you and a friend based on videos you've shared with each other and your individual interests. Reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi unearthed the feature, which is called Blend. Instagram confirmed to TechCrunch that it's testing Blend internally and it hasn't started trialing it publicly. It may be the case that Blend never sees the light of day, though it's always intriguing to find out about the ideas Instagram is toying with.The platform hasn't revealed more details about how Blend will work, though the idea seems to be that Instagram users and one of their besties will discover new Reels together instead of one of them finding a video they like and DMing it to the other. It would make sense for Blend to have an indicator that the other person has already seen a particular Reel so that the two people who have access to the feed can start chatting about it.TikTok doesn't have a feature along these lines, as TechCrunch notes, so Blend could give Instagram an advantage when it comes to folks who like to check out short-form videos together. As with many of the other features platforms of this ilk introduce, Blend fundamentally seems to be about increasing engagement.

OpenAI just announced that it recently conducted a small-scale preview of a new tool called Voice Engine. This is a voice cloning technology that can mimic any speaker by analyzing a 15-second audio sample. The company says it generates natural-sounding speech" with emotive and realistic voices."The technology is based on the company's pre-existing text-to-speech API and it has been in the works since 2022. OpenAI has already been using a version of the toolset to power the preset voices available in the current text-to-speech API and the Read Aloud feature. There are a bunch of samples on the company's official blog and they sound eerily close to the real thing. I encourage you to give them a listen and imagine the possibilities, both good and bad.OpenAI says they see this technology being useful for reading assistance, language translation and helping those who suffer from sudden or degenerative speech conditions. The company brought up a Brown University pilot program that helped a patient with speech impairment issues by creating a Voice Engine clone pulled from audio recorded for a school project.Despite the potential benefits, bad actors would certainly abuse this technology to engage in some serious deepfake tomfoolery, which is already a problem. With this in mind, Voice Engine isn't quite ready for prime time, as there are serious privacy concerns that must be met before a full rollout.OpenAI acknowledges that this tech has serious risks, which are especially top of mind in an election year." The company says its incorporating feedback from US and international partners from across government, media, entertainment, education, civil society and beyond" to ensure the product launches with a minimal amount of risk. All preview testers agreed to OpenAI's usage policies, which ban the impersonation of another individual without consent or legal right.Additionally, anybody using the tech will have to disclose to their audience that the voices are AI-generated. OpenAI implemented safety measures, like watermarking to trace the origin of any audio and proactive monitoring" of how the system is being used. When the product officially rolls out there will be a no-go voice list" that detects and prevents AI-generated speakers that are too similar to prominent figures.As for when that rollout will occur, OpenAI remains tight-lipped. TechCrunch uncovered some potential pricing data and it looks like it will undercut competitors in the space like ElevenLabs. Voice Engine could cost $15 per one million characters, which works out to around 162,500 words. This is about the length of Stephen King's The Shining. It certainly sounds like a budget-friendly way to get an audiobook done. The marketing materials also make reference to an HD" version that costs twice as much, but the company hasn't detailed how that will work.OpenAI has been making big moves this week. It just announced another partnership with its bestie Microsoft to build an AI-based supercomputer called Stargate." The project will reportedly cost a whopping $100 billion, according to The Information.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-says-it-can-clone-a-voice-from-just-15-seconds-of-audio-190356431.html?src=rss

X is working on features that will allow admins of Communities," the platform's tool for subreddit-like groups, to designate the spaces as containing adult content." The change was confirmed by an engineer at X amid reports that the Elon Musk-owned company was working on enabling NSFW groups.In a post on X, engineer Dong Wook Chung noted that soon" NSFW content would be automatically filtered in the app's Communities feature. Admins can now set 'Adult content' in Settings to avoid auto-filtering of the content," Chung said.As Bloomberg reported, researchers had previously spotted clues that X planned to enable settings for adult-sensitive" content. X permits users to share nudity and other graphic" content, but doesn't allow it to appear in certain parts of the app, like profile photos and cover images for Communities.X's Communities feature predates Musk's takeover of the company. Twitter began experimenting with the idea in 2021, saying it would provide a more intimate space for conversations" on the platform. Though Twitter never publicly discussed enabling NSFW features for Communities, the app allowed adult content, unlike most of its social media peers. The company reportedly looked into creating an OnlyFans competitor with its creator subscription product in 2022. The plan was eventually scrapped, according to the Platformer newsletter, due to concerns it would worsen" the company's problems with illegal child exploitation content.It's not clear if X's current leadership has addressed those concerns. In a separate post, Chung, the X engineer, stated that the new filtering settings is about making Communities safer for everyone by automatically filtering out" adult content. Only users who have specified their age will be able to search Communities with NSFW content."X didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-is-working-on-nsfw-communities-for-adult-content-184629839.html?src=rss

Gig work predates the internet. Besides traditional forms of self-employment, like plumbing, offers for ad-hoc services have long been found in the Yellow Pages and newspaper classified ads, and later Craigslist and Backpage which supplanted them. Low-cost broadband internet allowed for the proliferation of computer-based gig platforms like Mechanical Turk, Fiverr and Elance, which offered just about anyone some extra pocket change. But once smartphones took off, everywhere could be an office, and everything could be a gig - and thus the gig economy was born.Maybe it was a confluence of technological advancement and broad financial anxiety from the 2008 recession, but prospects were bad, people needed money and many had no freedom to be picky about how. This was the same era in which the phrase "the sharing economy" proliferated - at once sold as an antidote to overconsumption, but that freedom from ownership belied the more worrying commoditization of any skill or asset. Of all the companies to take advantage of this climate, none went further or have held on harder than Uber.Uber became infamous for railroading its way into new markets without getting approval from regulators. It cemented its reputation as a corporate ne'er-do-well through a byzantine scandal to avoid regulatory scrutiny, several smaller ones over user privacy and minimally-beneficial surcharges as well as, in its infancy, an internal reputation for sexual harassment and discrimination. Early on, the company used its deep reserves of venture capital to subsidize its own rides, eating away at the traditional cab industry in a given market, only to eventually increase prices and try to minimize driver pay once it reached a dominant position. Those same reserves were spent aggressively recruiting drivers with signup bonuses and convincing them they could be their own boss.Self-employment has a whiff of something liberatory, but Uber effectively turned a traditionally employee-based industry into one that was contractor-based. This meant that one of the first casualties of the ride-sharing boom were taxi medallions. For decades, cab drivers in many locales effectively saw these licenses as retirement plans, as they'd be able to sell them on to newcomers when it was time to hang up their flat cap. But in large part due to the influx of ride-sharing services, the value of medallions has plummeted over the last decade or so - in New York, for instance, the value of a medallion dropped from around $1 million in 2014 to $100,000 in 2021. That's in tandem with a drop in earnings, leaving many struggling to pay off enormous loans they took out to buy a medallion.Some jurisdictions have sought to offset that collapse in medallion value. Quebec pledged $250 million CAD in 2018 to compensate cab drivers. Other regulators, particularly in Australia, applied a per-ride fee to ride-sharing services as part of efforts to replace taxi licenses and compensate medallion holders. In each of those cases, taxpayers and riders, not rideshare companies, bore the brunt of the impact on medallion holders.At first it was just cab drivers that were hurting, but over the years, compensation for this new class of non-employee app drivers dried up too. In 2017, Uber paid $20 million to settle allegations from the Federal Trade Commission that it used false promises about potential earnings to entice drivers to join its platform. Late last year, Uber and Lyft agreed to pay $328 million to New York drivers after the state conducted a wage theft investigation. The settlement also guaranteed a minimum hourly rate for drivers outside of New York City, where drivers were already subject to minimum rates under Taxi & Limousine Commission rules.Many rideshare drivers have also sought recognition as employees rather than contractors, so they can have a consistent hourly wage, overtime pay and benefits - efforts that the likes of Uber and rival Lyft have been fighting against. In January, the Department of Labor issued a final rule that aims to make it more difficult for gig economy companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. The EU is also weighing a provisional deal to reclassify millions of app workers as employees.Of course, the partial erosion of an entire industry's labor market wasn't always the end goal. At one point, Uber wanted to zero out labor costs by getting rid of drivers entirely. It planned to do so by rolling out a fleet of self-driving vehicles and flying taxis."The reason Uber could be expensive is because you're not just paying for the car - you're paying for the other dude in the car," former CEO Travis Kalanick said in 2014, a day after Uber suggested drivers could make $90,000 per year on the platform. "When there's no other dude in the car, the cost of taking an Uber anywhere becomes cheaper than owning a vehicle. So the magic there is, you basically bring the cost below the cost of ownership for everybody, and then car ownership goes away."Uber's grand automation plans didn't work out as intended, however. The company, under current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, sold its self-driving car and flying taxi units in late 2020.Uber's success had second-order effects too: despite a business model best described as "set money on fire until (fingers crossed!) a monopoly is established" a whole slew of startups were born, taking their cues from Uber or explicitly pitching themselves as "Uber for X." Sure, you might find a place to stay on Airbnb or Vrbo that's nicer and less expensive than a hotel room. But studies have shown that such companies have harmed the affordability and availability of housing in some markets, as many landlords and real-estate developers opt for more profitable short-term rentals instead of offering units for long-term rentals or sale. Airbnb has faced plenty of other issues over the years, from a string of lawsuits to a mass shooting at a rental home.Increasingly, this is becoming the blueprint. Goods and services are exchanged by third parties, facilitated by a semi-automated platform rather than a human being. The platform's algorithm creates the thinnest veneer between choice and control for the workers who perform identical labor to the industry that platform came to replace, but that veneer allows the platform to avoid traditionally pesky things like legal liability and labor laws. Meanwhile, customers with fewer alternative options find themselves held captive by these once-cheap platforms that are now coming to collect their dues. Dazzled by the promise of innovation, regulators rolled over or signed a deal with the devil. It's everyone else who's paying the cost.To celebrate Engadget's 20th anniversary, we're taking a look back at the products and services that have changed the industry since March 2, 2004.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-uber-and-the-gig-economy-changed-the-way-we-live-and-work-164528738.html?src=rss

Amazon's Big Spring Sale ended earlier this week, but a handful of the better tech discounts we saw during the event are still kicking. We've also found a few new deals of note, including all-time lows on the newest MacBook Air, the best price to date for an Apple AirTags four-pack, a larger-than-usual drop for the top pick in our webcam buying guide and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-macbook-air-m3-hits-an-all-time-low-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-163049166.html?src=rss

I had a favorite version of Mulan growing up (Anita Yuen in the 1998 Taiwanese TV series). I obsessed over Chinese period TV series like Legend of the Condor Heroes, My Fair Princess and The Book and the Sword. I consider myself fairly well-versed in Chinese historical figures, especially those represented in 90s and 2000s entertainment in Asia. So when I found out that a UK-based studio had made a VR game called The Pirate Queen based on a forgotten female leader who was prolific in the South China Sea, I was shocked. How had I never heard of her? How had the Asian film and TV industry never covered her?I got to play a bit of the game this week, which was released on the Meta Quest store and Steam on March 7th. The titular character Cheng Shih is voiced by actor Lucy Liu, who also executive produced this version of the game with UK-based Singer Studios' CEO and founder Eloise Singer. Liu and Singer sat with me for an interview discussing The Pirate Queen, Cheng Shih, VR's strengths and the importance of cultural and historical accuracy in games and films.Cheng Shih, which translates to Madam Cheng" or Mrs Cheng," was born Shi Yang. After she married the pirate Cheng Yi (usually romanized as Zheng Yi), she became known as Cheng Yi Sao, which translates to wife of Cheng Yi." Together they led the Guangdong Pirate Confederation in the 1800s. Upon her husband's death in 1807, she took over the reins and went on to become what South China Morning Post described as history's greatest pirate."Singer StudiosHow did Singer Studios learn about Cheng Shih and decide to build a game (and upcoming franchise including a film, podcast and graphic novels) around her? According to Singer, it was through word of mouth. It was a friend of mine who first told me the story," Singer said. She said, Did you know that the most famous pirate in history was a woman?'"Cheng Shih had been loosely referenced in various films and games before this, like the character Mistress Ching in the 2007 film Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and Jing Lang in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. As Singer pointed out, Cheng Shih had also appeared in a recent episode of Doctor Who.Singer said that her team started developing the project as a film at the end of 2018. But the pandemic disrupted their plans, causing Singer to adapt it into a game. A short version of The Pirate Queen later debuted at Raindance Film Festival, and shortly after, Meta came onboard and provided funding to complete development of the game. Liu was then approached when the full version was ready and about to make its appearance at Tribeca Film Festival 2023.The rest is history," Liu said, But not forgotten history." She said Cheng Shih was never really recognized for being the most powerful pirate. It seems so crazy that in the 19th century, this woman who started as a courtesan would then rise to power and then have this fleet of pirates that she commanded," Liu added. She went on to talk about how Cheng Shih was ahead of the time and also represented a bit of an underdog story." For the full 15-minute interview, you can watch the video in this article or listen to this week's episode of The Engadget Podcast and learn more about Liu and Singer's thoughts on VR and technology over the last 20 years.Capturing the historical and cultural details of Cheng Shih's life was paramount to Liu and Singer. They said the team had to create women's hands from scratch to be represented from the player's perspective in VR, and a dialect coach was hired to help Liu nail the pronunciation for the Cantonese words that Cheng Shih speaks in the game. Though I'm not completely certain if Cheng Shih spoke Mandarin or Cantonese, the latter seems like the more accurate choice given it's the lingua franca in the Guangdong region.Singer StudiosAll that added to the immersiveness of The Pirate Queen, in which players find themselves in an atmospheric maritime environment. The Meta Quest 3's controllers served as my hands in the game, and I rowed boats, climbed rope ladders and picked up items with relative ease. Some of the mechanics, especially the idea of teleportation" as moving around, were a little clunky, but after about five minutes I got used to how things worked. You'll have to point the left controller and push the joystick when you've chosen a spot, and the scene changes around you. This probably minimizes the possibility of nausea, since you're not standing still while watching your surroundings move. It's also pretty typical of VR games, so those who have experience playing in headsets will likely be familiar with the movement.You can still walk around and explore, of course. I scrutinized the corners of rooms, inspected the insides of cabinets and more, while hunting for keys that would unlock boxes containing clues. A lot of this is pretty standard for a puzzle or room escape game, which is what I used to play the most in my teens. But I was particularly taken by sequences like rowing a boat across the sea and climbing up a rope ladder, both of which caused me to break a mild sweat. Inside Cheng Shih's cabin, I lit a joss stick and placed it in an incense holder - an action I repeated every week at my grandfather's altar when I was growing up. It felt so realistic that I tried to wave the joss stick to put out the flame and could almost smell the smoke.It's these types of activities that make VR games great vehicles for education and empathy. We didn't want to have these combat elements that traditional VR games do have," Singer said, adding that it was one of the challenges in creating The Pirate Queen.It's nice to see and to learn and be part of that, as opposed to Let's turn to page 48,'" Liu said. That's not as exciting as doing something and being actively part of something." When you play as a historical character in a game, and one that's as immersive as a VR game, you're living that person's life or that moment in time," Liu added.While The Pirate Queen is currently only available on Quest devices, Singer said there are plans to bring it to as many headsets as we possibly can." Singer Studios also said it is extending The Pirate Queen franchise beyond VR into a graphic novel, film and television series."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-pirate-queen-interview-how-singer-studios-and-lucy-liu-brought-forgotten-history-to-life-160007029.html?src=rss

Last year, Polestar announced its most practical EV yet in the Polestar 4. But this week, during the vehicle's North American debut at the New York International Auto Show, we finally got an official launch price and a chance to check out its most controversial feature.Positioned as a slightly smaller and more affordable version of the Polestar 3, the company's latest EV SUV has a lot riding on it as it looks to be Polestar's most appealing mainstream offering to date. The good news is that while the cost was initially said to be around $60,000, launch pricing actually comes in slightly below that. The Polestar 4 starts at $56,300 (including destination) for the standard long-range single-motor version with around 300 miles of range while the dual-motor AWD variant with around 270 miles will set you back $64,300.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetGranted, that's still significantly higher than many of its rivals including the Tesla Model Y which starts at $43,900 (before federal incentives) or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 at $47,400. But after talking to Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath, I got the sense that the company is kind of OK with that, as they view the 4 as a more approachable but still very premium offering among EV SUVs.On the outside, the Polestar 4 retains the rakish good looks we've seen on its larger sibling but with a few twists. Its nose is a bit pointier and more sloped, and it's a bit less complicated too as it doesn't have a front wing like the 3. The Polestar 4 is still based on the low-slung coupe-like SUV shape that's all the rage right now. However, to ensure that rear-seat passengers have ample room, Polestar has forgone a rear window entirely, opting instead for a simple sheet of metal along with cameras and a rearview mirror with an embedded display.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAt first, this might seem like a step too far, even for an EV that might not be beholden to the same burden of tradition as gas cars. But Ingenlath explained that there are a lot of advantages that come from this design change. By not having a rear window, Polestar was able to push the rear seats back further while maintaining ample headroom despite the sloping roofline, which creates a spacious cabin. I had no trouble climbing in and out and even with the front seats pushed as far back as possible, I still had ample legroom in the back. Furthermore, unlike most cars, the Polestar 4's rear seats can recline, which adds even more of a loungey feel.Another major advantage is one of practicality. As it is, the rear windows on a lot of coupe SUVs are so small they don't provide much in the way of useful visibility. And that's before you consider any passengers or luggage that might further obstruct your view. By replacing the rear window and mirror with a camera and a display, the Polestar 4 can offer an unobstructed perspective out of the back of the car. But perhaps most importantly, the idea of a car not having a rear window isn't really unheard of, as there are thousands of cargo vans on the road today without a viewport in back.So while the idea might still seem nerve-wracking, Ingenlath remains confident. He simply asked customers to try it." He added There's so much about psychology and people being naturally opposed to change. But innovation is about asking what have been the rules in the past that don't necessarily need to be the rules in the future."The company's Scandinavian heritage shows through with a streamlined interior. That said, Ingenlath said the goal isn't minimalism for minimalism's sake. By creating a new fabric made from recycled plastic bottles called Soft Tech, Polestar was able to line the cabin with a sustainable 3D material that allows ambient lighting to shine through while still being quite durable. Up top, the fixed glass roof is electrochromic, which allows it to switch from transparent to opaque with the touch of a button.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetOne thing that stuck out to me was that like all of Polestar's vehicles, the 4 feels like a designer's car. As someone who got his start in the industry creating cars for VW, Audi and others before becoming the CEO of Polestar, Ingenlath said the company really cares about small details like the font and typography. You can see this in things like the text on the driver's side door, which features both the name of the car and the size of its battery, resulting in a label that's both pretty and informative. Alternatively, there are features like the ambient lighting, which uses a naming standard based on planets in the solar system (blue with a hint of green for Earth, red for Mars, etc.). Ingenlath said We simply love what we're doing, and we love indulging that passion. And we have to find the people who share the same passion for that type of quality and technology."Unfortunately, we haven't had the chance to take the 4 out for a drive just yet. But as the competition among EVs continues to increase, it's clear Polestar is carving out a niche as a manufacturer that embraces innovation through its vehicles. With pre-orders going live sometime in April and deliveries slated for Q4 2024, it shouldn't be long until we get a chance to experience how the Polestar 4 feels on the road.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/polestar-4-first-look-when-no-rear-window-makes-for-a-better-car-150052884.html?src=rss

In 2014, WIRED asked me to write a few lines about my most-used app as part of an internship application. I wrote about WhatsApp because it was a no-brainer. I was an international student from India, and it was my lifeline to my family and to my girlfriend, now my wife, who lived on the other side of the world. This cross-platform messenger gets all the credit for my long-distance relationship of two years, which is still going strong," I wrote in my application. Skype is great, Google+ Hangouts are the best thing to have happened since Gmail but nothing says I love you' like a WhatsApp text message."A few months into that internship, Facebook announced it was buying WhatsApp for a staggering $19 billion. In WIRED's newsroom, there were audible gasps at this seemingly minor player's price tag. American journalists weren't exactly unfamiliar with WhatsApp. Much of the country was still locked in a battle between green and blue bubbles, even as the rest of the world had switched to an app created by two former Yahoo! engineers in WIRED's Mountain View backyard.Text messaging was one of the few things you could do on WhatsApp in 2014. There were no emoji you could react with, no high-definition videos you could send, no GIFs or stickers, no read receipts until the end of that year and certainly no voice or video calling. And yet, more than 500 million people around the world were hooked, reveling in the freedom of using nascent cellular data to swap unlimited messages with friends and family instead of paying mobile carriers per text.WhatsApp's founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, launched the app in 2009 simply to display status messages next to people's names in a phone's contact book. But after Apple introduced push notifications on the iPhone later that year, it evolved into a full-blown messaging service. Now, 15 years later, WhatsApp has become a lot more - an integral part of the propaganda machinery of political parties in India and Brazil, a way for millions of businesses to reach customers, a way to send money to people and merchants, a distribution platform for publications, brands and influencers, a video conferencing system and a private social network for older adults. And it is still a great way for long-distance lovers to stay connected.WhatsApp is kind of like a media platform and kind of like a messaging platform, but it's also not quite those things," Surya Mattu, a researcher at Princeton who runs the university's Digital Witness Lab, which studies how information flows through WhatsApp, told Engadget. It has the scale of a social media platform, but it doesn't have the traditional problems of one because there are no recommendations and no social graph."Indeed, WhatsApp's scale dwarfs nearly every social network and messaging app out there. In 2020, WhatsApp announced it had more than two billion users around the world. It's bigger than iMessage (1.3 billion users), TikTok (1 billion), Telegram (800 million), Snap (400 million) and Signal (40 million.) It stands head and shoulders above fellow Meta platform Instagram, which captures around 1.4 billion users. The only thing bigger than WhatsApp is Facebook itself, with more than three billion users .WhatsApp has become the world's default communications platform. Ten years after it was acquired, its growth shows no sign of stopping. Even in the US, it is finally beginning to break through the green and blue bubble battles and is reportedly one of Meta's fastest-growing services. As Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the New York Times last year, WhatsApp is the next chapter" for the company.Will Cathcart, a longtime Meta executive, who took over WhatsApp in 2019 after its original founders departed the company, credits WhatsApp's early global growth to it being free (or nearly free - at one point, WhatsApp charged people $1 a year), running on almost any phone, including the world's millions of low-end Android devices, reliably delivering messages even in large swathes of the planet with suboptimal network conditions and, most importantly, was dead simple, free of the bells and whistles that bloat most other messaging apps. In 2013, a year before Facebook acquired it, WhatsApp added the ability to send short audio messages.That was really powerful," Cathcart told Engadget, People who don't have high rates of literacy or someone new to the internet could spin up WhatsApp, use it for the first time and understand it."In 2016, WhatsApp added end-to-end encryption, something Cathcart said was a huge selling point. The feature made WhatsApp a black box, hiding the contents of messages from everyone - even WhatsApp - except the sender and the receiver. The same year, WhatsApp announced that one billion people were using the service every month.That explosive growth came with a huge flip side: As hundreds of millions of people in heavily populated regions, like Brazil and India, came online for the first time, thanks to inexpensive smartphone and data prices, WhatsApp became a conduit for hoaxes and misinformation to flow freely. In India, currently WhatsApp's largest market with more than 700 million users, the app overflowed with propaganda and disinformation against opposition political parties, cheerleading Narendra Modi, the country's nationalist Prime Minister accused of destroying its secular fabric.Then people started dying. In 2017 and 2018, frenzied mobs in remote parts of the country high on baseless rumors about child abductors forwarded through WhatsApp, lynched nearly two dozen people in 13 separate incidents. In response to the crisis, WhatsApp swung into action. Among other things, it made significant product changes, such as clearly labeling forwarded messages - the primary way misformation spread across the service - as well as severely restricting the number of people and groups users could forward content to at the same time.In Brazil, the app is widely seen as a key tool in the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro's 2018 win. Bolsonaro, a far-right strongman, was accused of getting his supporters to circumvent WhatsApp's spam controls to run elaborate misinformation campaigns, blasting thousands of WhatsApp messages attacking his opponent, Fernando Haddad.Since these incidents, WhatsApp has established fact-checking partnerships with more than 50 fact-checking organizations globally (because WhatsApp is encrypted, fact-checkers depend on users reporting messages to their WhatsApp hotlines and respond with fact checks). It also made additional product changes, like letting users quickly Google a forwarded message to fact-check it within the app. Over time, there might be more things we can do," said Cathcart, including potentially using AI to help with WhatsApp's fact-checking. There's a bunch of interesting things we could do there, I don't think we're done," he said.Recently, WhatsApp has rapidly added new features, such as the ability to share large files, messages that auto-destruct after they're viewed, Instagram-like Stories (called Statuses) and larger group calls, among other things. But a brand new feature rolled out globally in fall 2023 called Channels points to WhatsApp's ambitions to become more than a messaging app. WhatsApp described Channels, in a blog post announcing the launch, as a one-way broadcast tool for admins to send text, photos, videos, stickers and polls." They're a bit like a Twitter feed from brands, publishers and people you choose to follow. It has a dedicated tab in WhatsApp, although interaction with content is limited to responding with emoji - no replies. There are currently thousands of Channels on WhatsApp and 250-plus have more than a million followers each, WhatsApp told Engadget. They include Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny (18.9 million followers), Narendra Modi (13.8 million followers), FC Barcelona (27.7 million followers) and the WWE (10.9 million followers). And even though it's early days, Channels is fast becoming a way for publishers to distribute their content and build an audience.It took a year for us to grow to an audience of 35,000 on Telegram," Rachel Banning-Lover, the head of social media and development at the Financial Times (155,000 followers) told Nieman Lab in November. Comparatively, we [grew] a similar-sized following [on WhatsApp] in two weeks."WhatsApp's success at consistently adding new functionality without succumbing to feature sprawl has allowed it to thrive, both with its core audience and also, more recently, with users in the US. According to data that analytics firm Data.ai shared with Engadget, WhatsApp had nearly 83 million users in the US in January 2024, compared to 80 million a year before. A couple of years ago, WhatsApp ran an advertising campaign in the US - its first in the country - where billboards and TV spots touted the app's focus on privacy.It's a sentiment shared by Zuckerberg himself, who, in 2021, shared a privacy-focused vision for social networking" on his Facebook page. I believe the future of communication will increasingly shift to private, encrypted services where people can be confident that what they say to each other stays secure and their messages and content won't stick around," he wrote. This is the future I hope we will help bring about."Meta has now begun using WhatsApp's sheer scale to generate revenue, although it's unclear so far how much money, if any, the app makes. The business model we're really excited about and one that we've been growing for a couple of years successfully is helping people talk to businesses on WhatsApp," Cathcart said. That's a great experience." Meta monetizes WhatsApp by charging large businesses to integrate the platform directly into existing systems they use to manage interactions with customers. And it integrates the whole system with Facebook, allowing businesses to place ads on Facebook that, when clicked, open directly to a WhatsApp chat with the business. These have become the fastest-growing ad format across Meta, the company told The New York Times.A few years ago, a configuration change in Facebook's internal network knocked multiple Facebook services, including WhatsApp, off the internet for more than six hours and ground the world to a halt.It's like the equivalent of your phone and the phones of all of your loved ones being turned off without warning. [WhatsApp] essentially functions as an unregulated utility," journalist Aura Bogado reportedly wrote on then-Twitter. In New Delhi and Brazil, gig workers were unable to reach customers and lost out on wages. In London, crypto trades stopped as traders were unable to communicate with clients. One firm claimed a drop of 15 percent. In Russia, oil markets were hit after traders were unable to get in touch with buyers in Europe and Asia placing orders.Fifteen years after it was created, the messaging app runs the world.To celebrate Engadget's 20th anniversary, we're taking a look back at the products and services that have changed the industry since March 2, 2004.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-whatsapp-became-the-worlds-default-communication-app-144520113.html?src=rss

This week, it's all about cars and Lucy Liu in VR. Devindra chats with Senior Writer Sam Rutherford about his visit to the New York International Auto Show, where he saw the Polestar 4, a unique new EV without a rear window. Also, Cherlynn pops in to chat with Lucy Liu about her new VR game, The Pirate Queen. We also explore the issues around Florida's bill banning young kids from social media sites, and Sam tells us why he likes Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender adaptation.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!Topics

Elon Musk's answer to ChatGPT is getting an update to make it better at math, coding and more. Musk's xAI has launched Grok-1.5 to early testers with "improved capabilities and reasoning" and the ability to process longer contexts. The company claims it now stacks up against GPT-4, Gemini Pro 1.5 and Claude 3 Opus in several areas.Going by xAI's numbers, Grok-1.5 appears to be a large improvement over Grok-1. It shot up to 50.6 percent in the MATH benchmark, over double the previous score. It also climbed to 90 percent and 74.1 percent in GSM8K (math word problems) and HumanEval (coding), respectively, compared to 62.9 percent and 63.2 percent before. Those numbers are within shouting distance of Gemini Pro 1.5, GPT-4 and Claude 3 Opus - in fact, the HumanEval coding score beats all rivals except Claude 3 Opus.xAIIt can also process long contexts of up to 128K tokens within its context window, meaning it can amalgamate data from more sources to understand a situation. "This allows Grok to have an increased memory capacity of up to 16 times the previous context length, enabling it to utilize information from substantially longer documents," the company said.xAI didn't detail Grok's progress in other areas, though, where it still may be lagging (academic scores, multimodal and others). And Grok-1.5 may not keep its position for long. ChatGPT 5 is set to arrive sometime this summer, promising a feature set that "makes it feel like you are communicating with a person rather than a machine," according to OpenAI.Currently, Grok is only available for users of the Premium+ tier on X (formerly Twitter), though Elon Musk recently promised to open it up to X's regular Premium users. The company also recently open sourced its Grok chatbot, after Musk sued OpenAI and Sam Altman for allegedly abandoning its non-profit mission.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elon-musks-updated-grok-ai-claims-to-be-better-at-coding-and-math-120056776.html?src=rss

Snapchat has a new AI-powered perk for subscribers: Bitmoji versions of your pet. The feature, which is unfortunately not called petmoji," allows users to snap a photo of their four-legged friend to create a cartoon-like avatar to accompany their Bitmoji in the Snap Map.Based on screenshots shared by the company, it seems users will be able to choose from a few different variations of the AI-generated images after sharing a photo of their pet. That's considerably less customization than what you can do with your own human-inspired Bitmoji,though it should allow users to create something that looks similar to their IRL pet. (No word on if Snap could one day introduce branded pet accessories for animal avatars like they do for human Bitmoji.)The addition is also the latest example of how Snap has embraced AI features in its subscription offering. Since debuting Snapchat+ in 2022, the company has used the premium service to experiment with generative AI features, including its MyAI assistant as well as camera-powered features like Dreams and AI-generated snaps. Snapchat+ has more than 7 million subscribers, the company announced in December.Elsewhere, Snap added some updates for non-subscribers, too. The app is adding a new template feature to make it easier to edit clips, and new swipe-based gestures to send and edit snaps more quickly. Snapchat will also support longer video uploads for Stories and Spotlight. In-app captures can now be three minutes long, while the app will support uploads of up to five minutes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchats-latest-paid-perk-is-an-ai-bitmoji-of-your-pet-235027028.html?src=rss

Apple will finally launch new iPads in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Expected are a new iPad Pro with an OLED display and a faster iPad Air, including a 12.9-inch model for the first time in that lineup. The details of the upcoming iPad models have been consistent, circulating through the rumor mill since last year.The new iPad Pro models will reportedly add OLED displays (offering deeper blacks and richer colors) and run on the new M3 chip, already found in several Macs. The new tablets are said to launch alongside a redesigned Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Other than a white color option, the latter has remained unchanged since its arrival four years ago.Meanwhile, the iPad Air will supposedly run on a new processor. Bloomberg didn't specify which, but - considering the current model uses the M1, and Apple likely wants to reserve the M3 for the more expensive Pro -the M2 sounds like a safe bet. The 12.9-inch screen option would mark the first time the iPad Air line has offered a display larger than 10.9 inches. Although Apple will charge more for that model than the smaller sibling expected alongside it, that would be the cheapest way yet to get a supersized iPad screen.Gurman said early this month that the new tablets would launch alongside the M3 MacBook Air, but the laptop arrived without any iPads in tow. He now reports that Apple's release schedule was pushed back to finish working on the devices' software and ironing out the kinks from the complex new manufacturing techniques" they require.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/an-oled-ipad-pro-and-the-first-big-screen-ipad-air-will-reportedly-arrive-in-may-204056132.html?src=rss

A $3 iOS app now records higher-resolution spatial videos than Apple's native camera app. Spatialify, available on the App Store, lets iPhone 15 Pro owners record 3D videos for Apple's Vision Pro in either 1080p at 60fps or 4K at 30fps - with HDR. Apple's native recording only supports 1080p / 30fps without HDR, so your immersive clips will be noticeably sharper using Spatialify than the camera app on the same phone. UploadVR first reported on the app update.Spatialify launched earlier this year as a tool for converting Apple's spatial videos (HEVC format) for playback on non-Apple VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3. But with Meta later adding native HEVC conversion to its headsets (the best-selling on the market), Spatialify's superior recording could give the third-party app a new lease on life.Engadget senior editor Devindra Hardawar confirmed that Spatialify produces files in 4K / 30fps when set accordingly. He also verified that Spatialify's videos look much sharper on the Vision Pro than those shot in Apple's camera app. HDR also makes the videos' lighting look more realistic. Not bad for three bucks.It's somewhat surprising Apple is holding back its native camera app from exploiting the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max's full hardware capabilities, but it isn't unheard of. Halide, a popular iOS camera app, beat Apple to the punch with iOS photography features like shooting in RAW, manual controls and portrait photos for pets. Based on that history, I wouldn't be shocked if Apple soon added similar advanced spatial recording to its camera,especially now that we know its current hardware has no problem with it.Spatialify is available on the App Store for $3. It requires an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture spatial videos.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-3-app-shoots-better-spatial-videos-than-the-iphones-native-camera-193055951.html?src=rss

Amazon just launched an app that lets people sign up for its palm recognition service without having to head to an in-store kiosk. The Amazon One app uses a smartphone's camera to take a photo of a palm print to set up an account. Once signed up, you can pay for stuff by using just your hand, ending the tyranny of having to carry a smartphone, cash or a burdensome plastic card.The tech uses generative AI to analyze a palm's vein structure, turning the data into a unique numerical, vector representation" which is recognized by scanning machines at retail locations. You'll have to add a payment method within the app to get started and upload a photo of your ID for the purpose of age verification.The app launches today for iOS and Android. Previously, you'd have to go to a physical location to sign up for Amazon One. Beyond payments, the tech is also used as an age verification tool and as a way to enter concerts and sporting events without having to bring along a ticket.Once you hand over your palm-print to the completely benevolent Amazon corporation, you'll have unfettered access to each and every Whole Foods grocery store throughout the country. Amazon, after all, owns Whole Foods. Amazon One payments are also accepted at some Panera Bread locations, in addition to certain airports, stadiums and convenience stores.There are obvious privacy concerns here, as passwords can change but palms cannot. Amazon says that all uploaded palm images are encrypted and sent to a secure Amazon One domain" in the Amazon Web Service cloud. The company also says the app includes additional layers of spoof detection," noting that it's not possible to save or download palm images to the phone itself.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/you-can-now-use-your-phone-to-get-started-with-amazons-palm-reading-tech-184814302.html?src=rss

Walmart ag 'd have to sell a kidney to afford a giant 4K TV for the living room. That is no longer true, as television prices continue to decline. Case in point? Vizio just announced a new 86-inch 4K smart TV that costs just $999.The first thing worth mentioning about the latest member of Vizio's lineup of 4K televisions is its size. The next-biggest model is 75 inches and that's already large enough to absolutely take over most spaces. This thing will be like having a Times Square billboard in your living room. That's not a bad thing, particularly for home theater buffs.We don't know how this set will look in action yet, but it does offer a serious batch of features. Vizio says it boasts the same powerful picture quality as its predecessors", thanks to the inclusion of Dolby Vision HDR and HDR10+. The company also promises the TV can run games at 120 fps once you switch to 1080p. Here's hoping the product can make good on this claim. Other features include dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and DTS:X audio.Walmart agreed to buy Vizio last month for $23 billion, though the deal still faces regulatory approval. The 86-inch 4K TV officially goes on sale April 29 at both brick-and-mortar and digital retailers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/vizio-just-announced-a-999-86-inch-4k-tv-160030764.html?src=rss

Disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was just sentenced to 25 years behind bars in a ruling handed forth New York's Southern District Court. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan announced the decision this morning.As posted by CNN, Bankman-Fried expressed regret for his actions and the people he harmed. "It's been excruciating to watch," he said. "Customers don't deserve any of that pain." He also acknowledged the serious time he was likely to spend behind bars. "My useful life is probably over," he said. "It's been over for a while now."Judge Kaplan laid out his reasoning for delivering such a harsh sentence to the one-time golden boy of the crypto community, suggesting that Bankman-Fried could be in "position to do something very bad in the future." The sentence was issued "for the purpose of disabling him to the extend that can appropriately be done for a significant period of time."Bankman-Fried is expected to appeal the decision. His defense team asked for a sentence of five to 6.5 years, citing his charitable works and demonstrated commitment to others." The team also suggested lenience on the grounds that victims would be made whole, referring to a January bankruptcy court hearing showing that customers and creditors will get their money back. Prosecutors, on the other hand, wanted something much harsher. They asked for a sentence of 40 to 50 years "to reflect the seriousness of the defendant's crimes," US Attorney Damian Williams told the court earlier this month. The maximum possible sentence was 110 years.SBF, as he's now infamously known, was arrested in the Bahamas back in December of 2022. He faced seven charges, including wire fraud against FTX customers, wire fraud against Alameda Research lenders, conspiracy to commit wire fraud against both entities, conspiracy to commit securities and commodities fraud on FTX customers and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was found guilty of all charges.The trial lasted one month, with prosecutors arguing that he used FTX funds to keep sibling company Alameda Research afloat. Caroline Ellison, his one-time girlfriend and CEO of Alameda, confirmed this to be true and admitted that she committed fraud on behalf of Bankman-Fried. The defendant's lawyers, on the other hand, tried to portray him as a hapless math nerd who wrestled with forces largely outside of his control."Alameda borrowed more than $8 billion from FTX, money that was taken from accounts belonging to FTX customers. Bankman-Fried claims he only learned of this in 2020 but performed no actions to safeguard the funds. He took the stand during the trial and said that he deeply regrets not taking a deeper look into" what was going on with both companies. FTX collapsed and filed for bankruptcy in 2022.Clearly, I made a lot of mistakes. There are things I would give anything to be able to do over again," he told the New York Times before the trial started.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sam-bankman-fried-just-got-sentenced-to-25-years-in-prison-155021840.html?src=rss

Google will bring Gemini, the company's new large language model, to Pixel 8 smartphones after all. The phone will incorporate Gemini Nano, a version of the model built to run locally on personal devices. This follows a successful rollout to the Pixel 8 Pro late last year and the Samsung Galaxy S24 in January.The Pixel 8 features the same proprietary Tensor G3 chip as the Pro, which was designed to speed up AI performance. So the overall experience should be similar with both gadgets. It'll be coming in the next Pixel Feature Drop, but only as a developer preview for now. Google wants to collect feedback and make sure everything is running smoothly on the slightly lower-specced phone.This is a fairly sudden change for Google. The company originally said that the Pixel 8 couldn't handle on-device Gemini because of "hardware limitations", despite having the same chip as the Pro model. The main difference between the two phones is the RAM allotment, which doesn't seem like a deal-breaker when it comes to running an on-device AI. It looks like Google also came around to that line of thinking.So what can you do with this thing? The company's expanding two features that make use of the LLM, and both of these tools have been available for Pro users. The Recorder app will get an improved Gemini-powered summarize feature that works locally on the device. A similar tool already exists, but requires a network connection. Once Gemini Nano is on-board, the data will no longer have to get sent to a server. As one might surmise, this feature creates summaries of recorded conversations.Gemini Nano will also power Gboard's Smart Reply toolset. This software suggests responses to messages and is even aware of context in conversations. It started as an exclusive to WhatsApp but recently expanded to Line and KakaoTalk. Google promises more messaging apps" will add support in the coming months. It's pretty odd that Google Messages isn't one of the early adopters of this platform. Gemini Nano is used to power on-device Magic Compose in Messages on the Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung S24, but Google hasn't announced if this particular tool is coming to the standard Pixel 8.This has been a big week for Gemini, as Apple is reportedly in talks to bring Google's AI to iPhones. That's like Coke and Pepsi suddenly opening up a soda shop together. However, Gemini recently came under fire for creating wildly inaccurate historical images. The image generation feature is still on pause as the company continues to iron out those kinks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-reverses-course-and-brings-its-gemini-ai-to-the-regular-pixel-8-154329980.html?src=rss

More major changes are afoot on the business side of the video game world, as a notable name is changing hands once again. Take-Two Interactive (the parent company of Grand Theft Auto publisher Rockstar and others) has agreed to buy Gearbox Entertainment from the embattled Embracer Group. The deal is worth $460 million in stock and is expected to close by June 30. It had been rumored for several months that Embracer was planning to sell off Gearbox.Take-Two is acquiring three studios: Gearbox Software, Gearbox Montreal and Gearbox Studio Quebec. It will fully own the Borderlands, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Homeworld, Risk of Rain, Brothers in Arms and Duke Nukem franchises, along with Gearbox's future pipeline." Gearbox will operate under the umbrella of 2K, which already publishes Borderlands and Tiny Tina games. Gearbox founder and CEO Randy Pitchford will remain at the helm.Embracer is hanging onto Gearbox Publishing San Francisco, which will be renamed. That holds the publishing rights for the Remnant series, Hyper Light Breaker and unannounced games. Embracer will also keep Cryptic Studios (Neverwinter Online and Star Trek Online), Lost Boys Interactive and Captured Dimensions.Take-Two notes that Gearbox has six key interactive entertainment projects in various stages of development." Those include five sequels, among them Homeworld 3 and the next Borderlands game.Embracer bought Gearbox in 2021 for an initial $363 million. If Gearbox met certain targets, the deal would have been worth just over an extra $1 billion over six years.Since it bought Gearbox, Embracer has gone through rough times. Last year, it announced a major restructuring after a $2 billion investment deal (said to be from a group backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund) fell apart. Since then, Embracer has has closed several studios and sold off others. It laid off 1,387 people in the second half of last year and canceled 29 unannounced games over a six-month period in 2023.Elsewhere in the business of video games, Sega has sold Relic Entertainment (Warhammer 40,000 and Company of Heroes), which is now an independent studio thanks to the help of a mystery investor. Sega is also cutting around 240 jobs in Europe, adding to the extensive video game layoffs so far this year. Sega Europe, Creative Assembly (Total War) and Hardlight Studios (Two Point Hospital) are said to have been impacted.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/take-two-is-buying-gearbox-from-embracer-for-460-million-145711528.html?src=rss

Ever since Tamagotchi Uni became globally available last summer, it's felt like a product with a lot of unrealized potential.Bear in mind, I say this as someone who loves this device and has run it daily since launch. But on top of all the basic activities one would expect at this point from the digital pet toy, the Wi-Fi capable Tamagotchi Uni promised users the Tamaverse" - a virtual playground that would broaden the Tamagotchi experience like never before. So far, it hasn't, really.Sure, players could send their characters there to meet" others, go on little vacations and buy outfits, but those small activities don't really add much substance. The travel" experience involved watching short animation, and occasionally getting a special food dish, item or achievement badge. Even the aspect of mingling was sorely limited, allowing players to send just one Heart (a like" to acknowledge another player's Tamagotchi) per day.The Tamaverse has been slow to live up to the expectations Bandai set, despite it being the Uni's biggest selling point. That seems to be changing in a big way.With an update that rolled out on March 19 - version 1.6.0 - Bandai opened the Tama Portal, an area of the Tamaverse that's been cordoned off all this time. A few days after, it dropped the first two DLC packs for Tamagotchi Uni in the form of Tamaverse Tickets," which allow users to travel to new locations through that portal. In a bonus, non-Tamaverse-related move, the update also answers players' desperate pleas for more item storage by adding My Box," where surplus items can be stowed so you no longer need to delete older goodies to make room for new ones.BandaiThe first two Tamaverse Tickets, as the DLCs are being called, are available now. One, which takes you to Very Berry Land, is free, while the other, for the LoveMelo Concert, costs $6. Each new area comes with a slew of additional characters you can raise (including some that are brand new for the franchise), an on-theme mini-game and a shop with new food, items, accessories and furniture you can buy with Gotchi Points.This is the kind of depth the virtual space always seemed to imply. Now it feels like we're finally seeing what the Tamaverse can really be. Hopefully, it's just the start.There will undoubtedly be some who balk at having to pay for DLC beyond the one freebie, and while I can't say I'd blame them for that, it doesn't bother me for what we're getting. Purchasing a ticket gives you access to a download code that can be used three times. Once the code is registered to a device, you can visit that location as much as you want, and switch freely between the different locations you've downloaded. That means I was able to use the same codes to download Very Berry Land and LoveMelo Concert on both of my Tamagotchi Uni devices, and still have one use left for each ticket in case I ever have to do a reset.As was the case with the Tamagotchi Smart's DLC, the physical TamaSma cards, only one Tamaverse Ticket can be active at a time, so switching will wipe out any location-specific items or food in your inventory, but you won't need to reenter the code in order to switch back. All of a person's downloaded locations can be found in a new list called DL Area when you visit the Tama Portal.BandaiIt's not just one or two characters that come with each location, either - you get six. Some people buy whole new devices for that kind of expansion (definitely not me... haha...). And the free Very Berry Land brings back the fan-favorite adorable strawberry, Ichigotchi, which feels like a win for everyone.The DLC also reintroduces the method of obtaining specific characters by feeding your fledgling Tamagotchis certain meals or playing with a particular item three times before they reach adulthood. I was excited to try and get the new character, Tanghulutchi, that comes with Very Berry Land, and fed my teen Tama an abundance of Fruit Candy snacks in hopes that it would make her appear. It worked! (I'm now also fiending for the real candied fruit treat of its namesake, Tanghulu. Thanks Bandai).Once I'm strong enough to part with Memetchi on my other device, which is running LoveMelo Concert, I'll probably try to get Drumcrubitchi, a new character that's literally a drum kit with a face.Photo by Cheyenne MacDonald / EngadgetAll of the things you can purchase in the Tama Portal locations are as of now much cheaper than the usual Tama Mall offerings, with furniture and accessories falling between 200 and 500 Gotchi Points. It's really nice to have some new mini-games to freshen up the daily routine, since there aren't many built into the device when it's offline, and the ones they've added to the first Tamaverse locations are great.In Very Berry Land, you can play Cake Factory, where you have to move your character around to place strawberries on top of cake slices as they come down the conveyor belt. It's a game style we've seen before, but is slightly more exciting than other similar versions because the pace really picks up in the second half of the round.LoveMelo Concert brings back the popular Guitar-Hero-style rhythm game format we saw (twice) in the Tama Arena's Nyanoe Dance, but the new Happy Happy Harmony features a different song for you to try and keep up with. It's actually pretty challenging, and is the type of game I'll have to obsessively revisit until I've perfected it. Nyanoe Dance was clearly well received, and I'm sure a lot of fans will be happy that a version of it has found a permanent home in the Uni one way or another.Photo by Cheyenne MacDonald / EngadgetOne of the best things about previous versions of the modern Tamagotchi, like the Tamagotchi On, was the joy of discovery when you unlocked a new location. The new Tama Portal destinations garner that same feeling, and I can only hope Bandai will keep it going even beyond the additional expansions it teased with update 1.6.0.The announcement materials indicated that there are at least three more DL Areas on the way, including the Tamamori Fashion Show that's set to drop at the end of May. That world introduces some more absolutely unhinged Tamagotchi character designs - like a pair of anthropomorphic work boots named, I kid you not, Bootsbrothers - and I truly cannot wait. The other areas haven't yet been revealed.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tamagotchi-uni-finally-feels-complete-after-its-biggest-update-yet-140041168.html?src=rss

A new report found Meta and Google are restricting reproductive health information in Asia, Africa and Latin America. MSI Reproductive Choices and the Center for Countering Digital Hate, which partnered on the report, claim that the companies have restricted local abortion providers' ads and allowed misinformation to fester, among other misdoings.Take Mexico, which decriminalized abortion in 2023 but where services are not yet legal in all 32 of its states. Meta won't allow MSI to share abortion-related ad content in the country due to remaining bans. However, the local team reported that other sexual and reproductive health content has also received blocks. MSI's teams in Nepal and Vietnam echoed this issue, with Meta allegedly removing ads promoting cervical cancer screenings and information on IUDs and contraceptive pills, respectively. MSI now has a "blanket advertising ban" from Meta in the two countries and claims the company provided no clear justification. Ghana's team reported Google blocked their ads with the phrase "pregnancy options.""Women and girls are being neglected by these major tech platforms who are putting their bottom lines above the public good," Whitney Chinogwenya, marketing specialist at MSI Reproductive Choices, said in a statement. "Accurate online information is a lifeline for those seeking timely care and facts about their reproductive options. Yet anti-choice groups are able to spread disinformation and toxic narratives online with impunity. And what is worse, platforms like Google and Meta are currently enabling, and profiting from this dangerous propaganda."MSI's teams in Ghana, Kenya and Nepal expressed difficulty connecting with Meta and receiving information on why their ads were limited - though Bangladesh's team was able to get in contact and resolve their issues. Kenya, Nigeria and Vietnam faced another problem: imitation Facebook pages and websites, sometimes with nothing different than a phone number. MSI requested that Meta and Google remove these scammers (some of which requested money from prospective clients) but claims the companies delayed action or took none.Researchers gathered evidence through correspondence and interviews with MSI's teams in locations such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam. Further information came from an analysis of Meta's Ad Library, which the report claims showed evidence of the company displaying and profiting from false or misleading anti-abortion ads in Ghana and Mexico. Users reportedly in these two countries viewed these ads up to one million times between 2019 and 2024. Approved ads included claims that "global powers and international companies" paid for decriminalizing abortion movements to "eliminate the Mexican population."The report also looks at abuse directed at MSI's workers in Kenya, which the organization claimed Meta turns a "blind eye" towards. Ghana's team reported anti-choice organizations have used WhatsApp, a Meta-owned platform, to pedal conspiracies around family planning being a method to depopulate Africa and MSI's workers "introducing 'satanic' sexual education in schools to 'destroy the youth.'"The Center for Countering Digital Hate's CEO and founder, Imran Ahmed, accuses social media companies of mining "users' personal data in the Global South but take little care to protect local human rights and civil liberties. It reeks of colonialism - the greed, arrogance and double standards in how they treat less-wealthy markets. They have little regard or understanding of the complex cultural and political factors that can deprive people of their legal right to reproductive healthcare, nor do they grasp that the uneven application of their own content moderation policies greatly exacerbates these problems."According to Google, it can't say why any ad or campaign was blocked without seeing the specific ad or advertiser account. It also said that ads targeting the term pregnancy options in Ghana and the other countries listed aren't prohibited. This report does not include a single example of policy violating content on Google's platform, nor any examples of inconsistent enforcement," a Google spokesperson told Engadget. "Without evidence, it claims that some ads were blocked in Ghana for referencing pregnancy options'. To be clear, these types of ads are not prohibited from running in Ghana - if the ads were restricted, it was likely due to our longstanding policies against targeting people based on sensitive health categories, which includes pregnancy."Meta is reviewing the findings, but spokesperson, Ryan Daniels told The Guardian: "We allow posts and ads promoting healthcare services, as well as discussion and debate around them. Content about reproductive health must follow our rules, including those on prescription drugs and misinformation, and ads promoting reproductive health products or services may only be targeted to people 18-plus. We prohibit ads that include misinformation or mislead people about services a business provides, and we will review the content of this report."Engadget has reached out to Meta for further comment.Update, March 28 2024, 10:20PM ET: This article has been updated to include a statement and further information from Google.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-and-google-face-claims-of-restricting-reproductive-health-ads-and-fueling-misinformation-132913618.html?src=rss

Microsoft's Copilot AI service is set to run locally on PCs, Intel told Tom's Hardware. The company also said that next-gen AI PCs would require built-in neural processing units (NPUs) with over 40 TOPS (trillion operations per second) of power - beyond the capabilities of any consumer processor on the market.Intel said that the AI PCs would be able to run "more elements of Copilot" locally. Currently, Copilot runs nearly everything in the cloud, even small requests. That creates a fair amount of lag that's fine for larger jobs, but not ideal for smaller jobs. Adding local compute capability would decrease that lag, while potentially improving performance and privacy as well.Microsoft was previously rumored to require 40 TOPS on next-gen AI PCs (along with a modest 16GB of RAM). Right now, Windows doesn't make much use of NPUs, apart from running video effects like background blurring for Surface Studio webcams. ChromeOS and macOS both use NPU power for more video and audio processing features, though, along with OCR, translation, live transcription and more, Ars Technica noted.So far, the processor with the fastest NPU speed is Apple M3, which offers 18 TOPS across the lineup (M3, M3 Pro and M3 Ultra). AMD's Ryzen 8040 and 7040 laptop chips are next with 16 and 10 TOPS respectively, while Intel's Meteor Lake laptop hits 10 TOPS as well. Qualcomm may offer the first processor with enough power for Copilot via the Snapdragon X Elite, which will offer 45 TOPS of AI compute speed.Intel's Lunar Lake chips, set to arrive in 2025, will ship with triple its current NPU speeds. Yesterday, the company introduced 300 new AI features optimized specifically for its own OpenVino platform. The chip giant also announced an AI PC development kit based on the the ASUS NUC Pro that uses its current Meteor Lake silicon."From a desktop standpoint, we have plans on the desktop side, what we would say [is an] AI PC. And then there's also the next-gen AI PC, the 40 TOPS requirements; we have all of our different steps in our roadmap on how we cover all the different segments," the company told Tom's Hardware.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-copilot-ai-will-soon-run-locally-on-pcs-130642514.html?src=rss

If you're part of the intersection of virtual reality enthusiasts and major league baseball fans, then there's good news for you. MLB has launched Home Run Derby VR on the Meta Quest Store, making it available for Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro users. The game was previously on Meta's App Lab.MLB Home Run Derby VR gives gamers the chance to explore 30 different ballparks and play up to 100 different levels. "This upgraded game offers an exciting opportunity to experience each venue like never before and utilizing advanced motion controls and realistic batting mechanics, users can step into the virtual batter's box to emulate their favorite sluggers from anywhere in the world," MLB shared in its announcement.The game also offers multiplayer mode for up to four people or tournaments for up to eight. Users can choose winners by score, fastest exit velocity or longest home run. Plus, achievements can unlock bat skins, batting gloves and more for their Meta avatars. MLB Home Run Derby VR is available for $30 in the Meta Quest Store, but non-Meta users can pick it up on Rift or Steam VR platforms.This launch isn't MLB's first foray into VR: The organization hosted its first "virtual ballpark" regular-season game in September. The experience allowed viewers to "enter" the stadium and watch avatars correspond to real-time gameplay between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Angels.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mlbs-home-run-derby-vr-launches-on-the-meta-quest-store-130036093.html?src=rss

Classic JRPGs are sort of having a moment. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas brought new life and a new generation of gamers to one of the most iconic franchises around. More recently Unicorn Overlord has given us a spiritual sequel to Ogre Battle that's so good even series creator Yasumi Matsuno (and director of Final Fantasy Tactics) has been telling people to play it. And later this summer, Square Enix has challenged itself with reimagining one of the most beloved SNES titles of all time after more than 15 years. But now I've had the chance to play a preview of Visions of Mana, it feels like the developers have retained the spirit of the franchise but in a game that feels much more at home in 2024.One of the biggest challenges for Visions is the transition from classic 2D sprites to a much richer and more expansive 3D world. And while there are some visual similarities to recent Dragon Quest games, I think Square Enix has done a wonderful job of maintaining the franchise's identity. The game's color palette is bright and energetic, recreating many of the pastel hues seen in previous games. Character designs skew more towards cute and adorable unlike some of its darker and edgier rivals, which gives the title a playful vibe, just like Secret of Mana did more than two decades ago.In combat, the Sylphid Boomerang can be used to trap enemies, deal damage and knock away foes outside of the tornado.Square EnixAnother thing that has translated quite well is its gameplay. Back in 1993, Secret of Mana's ring menu was lauded for making it easy to switch between weapons and items (or even characters) without making combat feel stilted or clunky. And with the Mana franchise having made the jump to action-orientated gameplay (instead of turn-based) way before mainline Final Fantasy games did, Visions' assortment of speedy combo-based attacks, spells and class strikes (which are sort of like limit breaks) are a great fit. You can even launch enemies in the sky and rain down blows while they're suspended, which is a real treat as I'm a sucker for any game with air juggles.Each of the four main characters (Val, Hinna, Careena and Morley) also have distinct classes like Rune Knight or Oracle, so they all have a unique style and feel in combat. I found myself gravitating towards the thief/catdude Morley, whose katana felt extremely fast and fluid. My only small complaint is that with Square also bringing back the concept of three-person parties, things can get kind of hectic when you're trying to keep tabs on people performing multi-hit combos against large groups of foes.Pikuls are friendly creatures that characters in Visions of Mana can ride to speed up travel.Square EnixThe most important addition to Visions is the introduction of Elemental Vessels, which give you new abilities both in and out of combat. When you're simply running around the map, similar to items like the hookshot in Legend of Zelda, vessels provide important traversal abilities. For example, the Sylphid Bommering allows you to create floating platforms so you can cross valleys and chasms or summon gusts of wind so you can jump to a faraway ledge. Meanwhile in battle, you can use the boomerang to trap enemies in the air, deal damage and blow away surrounding foes that might want to interrupt your attack. So while it's not a groundbreaking feature, I appreciate how Visions is using new mechanics to add an extra layer of depth to multiple facets of the game.Unfortunately, one trait of previous Mana games that hasn't carried over to Visions is the use of a big roster with branching storylines. For longtime fans, this might be a bit of a bummer, but when asked about this change, Visions of Mana producer Masaru Oyamada told me (via an interpreter) that one of the team's goals for this installment was a more focused story. So while I couldn't glean much about the game's plot during my one-hour demo, there's still hope that Visions will still deliver an engaging narrative.Square EnixBut my biggest takeaway from the preview is how Oyamada is trying to respect the legacy of such a storied franchise while also delivering fresh and exciting experiences for new and old players alike. Oyamada said I really thought about the elements that I loved when I was a child, so I leaned into those feelings in order to drive decision making for the latest installment in this series."On top of that, I like how mechanics like the Ring menu are pulling double duty in this game. Oyamada told me that not only does this system act as a nod toward players familiar with the franchise, it also serves as an important accessibility tool that makes it easy to switch items and plan your attacks in the heat of battle. Meanwhile, to help the series grow and evolve, Oyamada said We thought about the elemental aspect as something that was kind of under-utilized and under-appreciated in previous Mana games."Square EnixAnd with Oyamada having been in charge of the remasters for Secret of Mana, Trials of Mana (AKA Seiken Densetsu 3) and others in recent years, even though much of the original development team for the series has moved on, it's clear Square Enix has preserved a lot of the DNA that made previous Mana games so great all those years ago.In some ways, I wish this game was called Spirit of Mana, as that feels like a more appropriate title for a series whose last entry was released in 1995. Regardless, I can't wait to play more when Visions of Mana officially goes on sale sometime this summer.One final note is that Visions of Mana is slated to be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC. Currently, Square Enix says that while "We are looking to support Steam Deck compatibility, we cannot confirm at this time as we are still optimizing the game."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/visions-of-mana-preview-a-faithful-reimagination-of-a-classic-130022297.html?src=rss

YouTube's TikTok competitor, Shorts, is becoming a more significant part of the company's monetization program. The company announced that more than a quarter of channels in its Partner Program are now earning money from the short-form videos.The milestone comes a little more than a year after YouTube began sharing ad revenue with creators making Shorts. YouTube says it currently has more than 3 million creators around the world in the Partner Program, which would imply the number of Shorts creators making money from the platform is somewhere in the hundreds of thousands.Because ads on Shorts appear between clips in a feed, revenue sharing for Shorts is structured differently than for longer-form content on YouTube. Ad revenue is pooled and divided among eligible creators based on factors like views and music licensing. The company has said this arrangement is far more lucrative for individuals than traditional creator funds.So far though, it's unclear just how much creators are making from Shorts compared with the platform's other monetization programs. YouTube declined to share details but said the company has paid out $70 billion to creators over the last three years.Shorts' momentum could grow even more in the coming months. TikTok, which itself has been trying to compete more directly with YouTube by encouraging longer videos, is facing a nonzero chance that its app could be banned in the United States. Though that outcome is far from certain, YouTube would almost certainly attract former TikTok users and creators.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/more-youtube-creators-are-now-making-money-from-shorts-the-companys-tiktok-competitor-130017537.html?src=rss

Apple's AirTag is the top pick for iPhone owners in our Bluetooth tracker buying guide (unsurprisingly), and right now a four-pack of the little devices is down to a record low of $75 at Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. The pack previously fell to $80 earlier this week, a deal we've seen numerous times since the holiday shopping season. This new discount, however, matches the best price we've tracked, coming in $24 below Apple's list price. As long as you want to keep tabs on several items, it's also cheaper than buying four single AirTags separately, as those are currently going for $24 each.We highlight the AirTag in our guide because it can utilize Apple's giant network of devices to locate items. If you misplace an AirTag-equipped bookbag, for instance, nearby Apple devices can anonymously alert Apple's Find My network when the bag is close, then the Find My app will report that location back to you. Since there are more than two billion iPhones, iPads, Macs and other Apple gadgets active in the wild, the odds of finding something are generally better here than with other trackers that use much smaller crowd-finding networks.Once you're in the vicinity of a lost item, the AirTag uses a wireless connection called ultrawideband (UWB) to more precisely lead you in the right direction, displaying an arrow and distance estimate when you're nearby. The tracker has an IP67 rating, so it can survive a brief dip underwater, and it's one of the few Apple gadgets with an easily replaceable battery. On its own, Apple says the battery is designed to last "more than a year" before it needs changing.The biggest disadvantage the AirTag has compared to competitors like Tile is that it's only available in one shape. Its coin-like design is easy to tuck away but doesn't come with a built-in keyring hole or adhesive. If you want to actually attach it to an item, you need to pay for a separate accessory.It's also worth noting that AirTags aren't designed to find stolen items. They could help with that, but if your AirTag is found moving with someone else, that person will receive an alert telling them so. This feature is meant to hinder those who might use AirTags for stalking, which has been an unfortunate side effect of the device's effectiveness. That said, both Apple and Google have issued updates to further combat bad actors. As a bit of extra security against losing your stuff, the AirTag works well, and this deal makes it a little more accessible. There should be no worry about a new model coming anytime soon, either, as a Bloomberg report earlier this year said a second-generation device isn't expected until 2025.If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone, meanwhile, we'll note that a four-pack of Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 is also on sale for an all-time low of $70 at Amazon and B&H. This is another pick in our buying guide: It's not quite as precise as an AirTag and only works with Samsung phones, but it's easy to setup, it has a built-in cutout and it works similarly if you're a committed Galaxy user.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-down-to-its-lowest-price-yet-of-75-161510542.html?src=rss

A month after taking full ownership of Hulu last November, Disney started beta testing integration with Disney+. Today, Hulu on Disney+ is officially out of beta, making it easy for subscribers to access content for both services. It's also a way for Disney to push its Hulu bundle, which starts at $9.99 a month with ads. And if you want to go ad-free and download content for offline viewing, there's the Duo Premium bundle for $19.99 a month.All your favorite Hulu content is in its own tab, but the big shows (like Shogun) will feature in the main show carousel too. However, if you're a long-running Hulu viewer, you'll lose your viewing progress on things you've already watched or half-watched.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedOregon's Right to Repair bill is now a lawSamsung Galaxy S24 phones are on sale for record-low prices at AmazonThe White House lays out extensive AI guidelines for the federal governmentYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Anti-trans hate is widespread' on Facebook, Instagram and Threads, report warnsGLAAD found plenty of policy violations where Meta took no action.Surprise! Meta is failing to enforce its own rules against anti-trans hate speech on its platforms. GLAAD warns that extreme anti-trans hate content remains widespread across Instagram, Facebook and Threads." It reported on dozens of examples of hate speech from Meta's apps, between June 2023 and March 2024. Despite the posts clearly violating Meta's policies, the company either claimed posts were not violative or simply did not take action on them," according to GLAAD. The group also shared two examples of posts from Threads, Meta's newest app where the company has tried to tamp down political" content and other potentially sensitive" topics.GLAAD's report isn't the first time Meta's been criticized for not protecting LGBTQIA+ users. Last year, its own Oversight Board urged Meta to improve the accuracy of its enforcement on hate speech towards the LGBTQIA+ community."Continue reading.Marvel Rivals is a new Overwatch-like team shooterYou can play as Black Panther, Spider-Man, Magneto and more.Marvel GamesMarvel Rivals is a third-person 6v6 team-based shooter that sounds very Overwatch-like. It'll be free to play, and it's set inside of a continually evolving universe," which probably means new levels, new characters and new gameplay modes over time. Testers will be able to play as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Magneto, Magik and eight or nine more unannounced characters. The developers added Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Hulk and Iron Man would also eventually be playable. The alpha will be available in May for PC players. There's no word on a console release.Continue reading.No Man's Sky gets computer-generated space stationsEight years after launch.Yes, No Man's Sky is still getting major updates. Developer Hello Games' next update, due Wednesday, adds procedurally generated space stations (so they'll be different every time), a ship editor and a Guild system to the nearly eight-year-old space exploration sim. The stations' broader scale will be evident from the outside, while their interiors will include new shops, gameplay and things to do, including interacting with all those guilds.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-hulu-officially-joins-disney-plus-111523594.html?src=rss

Microsoft may be working on a white version of its current all-digital Xbox Series X console, according to leaked images reported by Exputerand documents seen by The Verge. The design appears to be identical to the current black disc version (sans the disc slot) and has the same "robot white" finish as the white Xbox Series S. If accurate, the news may mean delays to a rumored Xbox Series X refresh that carriesas a different design.It's not the first time rumors of a white all-digital Xbox Series X have leaked out. Last month, Exputer also reported that Microsoft planned to release a white, all-digital Xbox Series X sometime between June and July 2024, with a retail price $50 to $100 lower than the current Xbox Series X.Last year, a large leak indicated that Microsoft would launch an all-digital Xbox Series X with a new cylindrical design, arriving in November of 2024 for $500. The device, code-named Brooklin, was tipped to come with Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C front port, an all-new southbridge and a 6-nanometer die shrink. That would allow for a reduced (15 percent) power draw, a new low-power standby mode and increased use of recycled plastic.Much of the news around Brooklin was effectively refuted by Xbox boss Phil Spencer shortly after the leak, though. He implied that it was based on early planning and no longer accurate. "It's hard to see our team's work shared in this way because so much has changed and there's so much to be excited about right now and in the future," he stated in an X post. "We will share the real plans when we are ready."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-may-be-working-on-a-cheaper-disc-free-xbox-series-x-104021193.html?src=rss

No more Fortnite Twitch streams on butts. I said what I said. If you're out of the loop on all things Twitch, there's a trend going around of streamers projecting their gameplays on green-screened body parts, usually intimate ones like butts and breasts. Because normal picture-in-picture is now apparently too boring. Twitch is putting a stop to its streamers' shenanigans, though, and will officially prohibit "content that focuses on clothed intimate body parts such as the buttocks, groin, or breasts for extended periods of time" starting on March 29.

It's been five months since President Joe Biden signed an executive order (EO) to address the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The White House is today taking another step forward in implementing the EO with a policy that aims to regulate the federal government's use of AI. Safeguards that the agencies must have in place include, among other things, ways to mitigate the risk of algorithmic bias."I believe that all leaders from government, civil society and the private sector have a moral, ethical and societal duty to make sure that artificial intelligence is adopted and advanced in a way that protects the public from potential harm while ensuring everyone is able to enjoy its benefits," Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on a press call.Harris announced three binding requirements under a new Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy. First, agencies will need to ensure that any AI tools they use "do not endanger the rights and safety of the American people." They have until December 1 to make sure they have in place "concrete safeguards" to make sure that AI systems they're employing don't impact Americans' safety or rights. Otherwise, the agency will have to stop using an AI product unless its leaders can justify that scrapping the system would have an "unacceptable" impact on critical operations.Impact on Americans' rights and safetyPer the policy, an AI system is deemed to impact safety if it "is used or expected to be used, in real-world conditions, to control or significantly influence the outcomes of" certain activities and decisions. Those include maintaining election integrity and voting infrastructure; controlling critical safety functions of infrastructure like water systems, emergency services and electrical grids; autonomous vehicles; and operating the physical movements of robots in "a workplace, school, housing, transportation, medical or law enforcement setting."Unless they have appropriate safeguards in place or can otherwise justify their use, agencies will also have to ditch AI systems that infringe on the rights of Americans. Purposes that the policy presumes to impact rights defines include predictive policing; social media monitoring for law enforcement; detecting plagiarism in schools; blocking or limiting protected speech; detecting or measuring human emotions and thoughts; pre-employment screening; and "replicating a person's likeness or voice without express consent."When it comes to generative AI, the policy stipulates that agencies should assess potential benefits. They all also need to "establish adequate safeguards and oversight mechanisms that allow generative AI to be used in the agency without posing undue risk."Transparency requirementsThe second requirement will force agencies to be transparent about the AI systems they're using. "Today, President Biden and I are requiring that every year, US government agencies publish online a list of their AI systems, an assessment of the risks those systems might pose and how those risks are being managed," Harris said.As part of this effort, agencies will need to publish government-owned AI code, models and data, as long as doing so won't harm the public or government operations. If an agency can't disclose specific AI use cases for sensitivity reasons, they'll still have to report metricsASSOCIATED PRESSLast but not least, federal agencies will need to have internal oversight of their AI use. That includes each department appointing a chief AI officer to oversee all of an agency's use of AI. "This is to make sure that AI is used responsibly, understanding that we must have senior leaders across our government who are specifically tasked with overseeing AI adoption and use," Harris noted. Many agencies will also need to have AI governance boards in place by May 27.The vice president added that prominent figures from the public and private sectors (including civil rights leaders and computer scientists) helped shape the policy along with business leaders and legal scholars.The OMB suggests that, by adopting the safeguards, the Transportation Security Administration may have to let airline travelers opt out of facial recognition scans without losing their place in line or face a delay. It also suggests that there should be human oversight over things like AI fraud detection and diagnostics decisions in the federal healthcare system.As you might imagine, government agencies are already using AI systems in a variety of ways. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working on artificial intelligence models to help it more accurately forecast extreme weather, floods and wildfires, while the Federal Aviation Administration is using a system to help manage air traffic in major metropolitan areas to improve travel time."AI presents not only risk, but also a tremendous opportunity to improve public services and make progress on societal challenges like addressing climate change, improving public health and advancing equitable economic opportunity," OMB Director Shalanda Young told reporters. "When used and overseen responsibly, AI can help agencies to reduce wait times for critical government services to improve accuracy and expand access to essential public services."This policy is the latest in a string of efforts to regulate the fast-evolving realm of AI. While the European Union has passed a sweeping set of rules for AI use in the bloc, and there are federal bills in the pipeline, efforts to regulate AI in the US have taken more of a patchwork approach at state level. This month, Utah enacted a law to protect consumers from AI fraud. In Tennessee, the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act (aka the Elvis Act - seriously) is an attempt to protect musicians from deepfakes i.e. having their voices cloned without permission.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-white-house-lays-out-extensive-ai-guidelines-for-the-federal-government-090058684.html?src=rss

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has signed the state's Right to Repair bill into law, and it even comes with a provision that potentially makes it stronger than California's and Minnesota's versions. It's the first to prohibit (PDF) a practice called "parts pairing," which requires the use of certain proprietary components for repair. Parts pairing prevents third-party repair services from replacing a broken component with one that didn't come from the brand itself, because it wouldn't work with the company's software. People would usually get error messages if they try to install an unauthorized part, forcing them to buy from the company itself.Under the new rules, preventing an independent provider from installing off-brand parts is prohibited. As is reducing the performance of a device that had been fixed with an unauthorized component. Even those error messages and warnings are not allowed. The ban on parts pairing doesn't cover devices that are already out, though, and will only be applicate for anything manufactured after January 1, 2025.While manufacturers like Apple seem to have changed their tune in recent years and now generally support the Right to Repair movement, Oregon's parts pairing provision was still a point of contention. Apple senior manager John Perry told lawmakers in a testimony that his company "agrees with the vast majority of Senate Bill 1596." However, it's also worried about the security implications of allowing the use of unauthorized parts, such as biometric sensors, for replacement.Regardless, the ban on parts pairing is now a rule under Oregon's law, along with making compatible parts available to device owners through the company or authorized service providers for favorable prices and without any "substantial" conditions. Companies are also required to make documentation on how to fix their devices, as well as any special tools needed to repair them, available to repair shops. These rules will apply to all phones sold after July 1, 2021 and to other consumer electronic devices sold after July 1, 2015.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/oregons-right-to-repair-bill-is-now-a-law-064955635.html?src=rss

Meta is failing to enforce its own rules against anti-trans hate speech on its platform, a new report from GLAAD warns. The LGBTQ advocacy group found that extreme anti-trans hate content remains widespread across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads."The report documents dozens of examples of hate speech from Meta's apps, which GLAAD says were reported to the company between June 2023 and March 2024. But though the posts appeared to be clear violations of the company's policies, Meta either replied that posts were not violative or simply did not take action on them," GLAAD says.The reported content included posts with anti-trans slurs, violent and dehumanizing language and promotions for conversion therapy, all of which are barred under Meta's rules. GLAAD also notes that some of the posts it reported came from influential accounts with large audiences on Facebook and Instagram. GLAAD also shared two examples of posts from Threads, Meta's newest app where the company has tried to tamp down political" content and other potentially sensitive" topics.The company's ongoing failure to enforce their own policies against anti-LGBTQ, and especially anti-trans hate, is simply unacceptable," GLAAD's CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.Meta didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. But GLAAD's report isn't the first time the company has faced criticism for its handling of content targeting the LGBTQ community. Last year the Oversight Board urged Meta to improve the accuracy of its enforcement on hate speech towards the LGBTQIA+ community."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anti-trans-hate-is-widespread-on-facebook-instagram-and-threads-report-warns-215538151.html?src=rss

The New York Times reports that Israel's military intelligence has been using an experimental facial recognition program in Gaza that's misidentified Palestinian civilians as having ties to Hamas. Google Photos allegedly plays a part in the chilling program's implementation, although it appears not to be through any direct collaboration with the company.The surveillance program reportedly started as a way to search for Israeli hostages in Gaza. However, as often happens with new wartime technology, the initiative was quickly expanded to root out anyone with ties to Hamas or other militant groups," according to The NYT. The technology is flawed, but Israeli soldiers reportedly haven't treated it as such when detaining civilians flagged by the system.According to intelligence officers who spoke to The NYT, the program uses tech from the private Israeli company Corsight. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, it promises its surveillance systems can accurately recognize people with less than half of their faces exposed. It can supposedly be effective even with extreme angles, (even from drones) darkness, and poor quality."But an officer in Israel's Unit 8200 learned that, in reality, it often struggled with grainy, obscured or injured faces. According to the official, Corsight's tech included false positives and cases where an accurately identified Palestinian was incorrectly flagged as having Hamas ties.Three Israeli officers told The NYT that its military used Google Photos to supplement Corsight's tech. Intelligence officials allegedly uploaded data containing known persons of interest to Google's service, allowing them to use the app's photo search feature to flag them among its surveillance materials. One officer said Google's ability to match partially obscured faces was superior to Corsight's, but they continued using the latter because it was customizable."When contacted for a statement, a Google spokesperson reiterated to Engadget that the product only groups faces from images you've added to your library. Google Photos is a free product which is widely available to the public that helps you organize photos by grouping similar faces, so you can label people to easily find old photos. It does not provide identities for unknown people in photographs," they wrote.One man erroneously detained through the surveillance program was poet Mosab Abu Toha, who told The NYT he was pulled aside at a military checkpoint in northern Gaza as his family tried to flee to Egypt. He was then allegedly handcuffed and blindfolded, and then beaten and interrogated for two days before finally being returned. He said soldiers told him before his release that his questioning (and then some) had been a mistake."The Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems From Gaza scribe said he has no connection to Hamas and wasn't aware of an Israeli facial recognition program in Gaza. However, during his detention, he said he overheard someone saying the Israeli army had used a new technology" on the group with whom he was incarcerated.Update, March 27, 2024, 4:32 PM ET: This story has been updated to add a statement to Engadget from Google.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/israels-military-reportedly-used-google-photos-to-identify-civilians-in-gaza-200843298.html?src=rss

We consider Apple's newest MacBook Air to be the best laptop for most people, and it's now dropped to a new low of $999 at Amazon and B&H. This discount is for the entry-level 13-inch model, so you'll have to make do with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, but it's $100 less than buying from Apple directly and $50 less than the sale price we've seen on Amazon for the past couple of weeks. Just note that the deal only applies to the Midnight and Space Gray finishes, and that Amazon's listing is showing a shipping delay. B&H says the offer will run through March 28.A few other configurations are also on sale. For one, B&H has a model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for $1,399, which is another $100 discount. If you'd prefer a bigger display, Amazon is also selling the 15-inch version of the M3 Air for $1,204. That deal has been around for the past few days, but it's still a $95 discount and the best price we've tracked for this entry-level config since the new notebooks were released earlier this month.If you can accept an older processor, meanwhile, B&H has the last-gen MacBook Air with Apple's M2 chip on sale for $849. That's another all-time low and $150 off Apple's list price. Again, the retailer says this deal will only run through March 28. Lastly, a config of the 15-inch M2 Air with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is down to a low of $1,499 as well.We gave the both versions of the M3-powered MacBook Air a score of 90 in our review. Like the M2 Airs before them, they're slim, light and sturdy slabs, with comfortable keyboards and trackpads, accurate displays, 1080p webcams and more than enough battery life for a typical workday. Now, they each have a slightly faster chip, Wi-Fi 6E support and the option to connect to two external monitors (albeit only when the laptop itself is closed). Between the two sizes on sale, the 15-inch model has a slightly stronger GPU and more robust speakers alongside its roomier display. The port selection isn't great on either, but there are two Thunderbolt USB-C ports, a MagSafe charging port and a headphone jack.As my colleague Daniel Cooper has noted, though, the best thing about the new notebooks might be that they've made the M2 versions cheaper. The difference between the M2 and M3 Airs isn't hugely noticeable in day-to-day use, so if you really want to save $150, the older model might be the better deal, especially if you're upgrading from a more dated Air with an Intel chip. (Those coming from an M1 model will probably be better off jumping to the M3.) The base M3 Air technically has a faster SSD than its predecessor, however, so it may be worth it if you often work with large files. That said, you should only get these 8GB RAM/256GB SSD configurations if you'll mostly stick to less demanding tasks. Go beyond that and they can start to run hot.It's worth noting that 2020 M1 version of the notebook is now going for $699 at Walmart, which is a great price. Unless you just want a competent MacBook for as little as possible, though, the M2 version is enough of an upgrade to be worth the extra cost for most. We'll also highlight a hardware-level security exploit that was recently discovered for all M-series Macs, though the real-world risk of falling victim to that flaw is generally low. In any case, if you're looking to make a MacBook upgrade, this looks like a decent time to take advantage.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-m3-and-m2-macbook-airs-have-never-been-cheaper-195132686.html?src=rss

Samsung makes some of the best Android phones you can get right now and the latest models have dropped to all-time-low prices. If you've been waiting for a good deal on the high-end Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, you're in luck - the handset with 256GB of storage is $150 off and down to $1,150. The Galaxy S24+ is also on sale for $850 right now.We gave the Galaxy S24 Ultra a score of 89 in our review. We found it to be very expensive (this discount helps mitigate that!) and the design and lack of Qi 2 support were drawbacks. However, we appreciated the camera upgrades and felt the S24 Ultra delivered great performance and offered terrific battery life. It often had a 50 percent charge remaining after 24 hours of regular use, thanks to the large battery and power efficiency gains afforded by the new processor.One other major thing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powers is a host of on-device generative AI (GAI) features, the big selling point for the Galaxy lineup this year as Samsung tries to compete with Google Pixel devices on that front. An interpreter mode can translate languages during calls, while the Chat Assist tool can check the grammar, spelling and tone of your messages before sending them. There are also AI-powered options for image editing and search. While the AI tools more or less work as expected, we felt that they're not quite as polished as Google's versions. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is our pick for the best premium Android phone.The Galaxy S24+ also has a $150 discount right now. That too marks a record low for a version with 256GB of storage - the handset currently costs $850. Like its smaller sibling, the S24, the S24+ earned a score of 87 in our review. We appreciated the battery life and (for the most part) the GAI tools, though we felt that low-light photography performance was somewhat lacking. Those who prefer foldables may be more interested in the Galaxy Z Flip 5. Again, that's $150 off at $850 for 256GB of storage. However, it's $50 more than the lowest price we've seen for the handset thus far.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-galaxy-s24-phones-are-on-sale-for-record-low-prices-at-amazon-144742331.html?src=rss

Workers at Sega of America, a division of Sega Sammy Holdings Inc., have officially ratified their union contract, as reported by Bloomberg. This makes it one of the first major North American video-game companies to take this step, which could bode well for future organized labor pushes in the industry.The contract was ratified after workers overwhelmingly voted to unionize last year. It covers around 150 people working in various departments throughout the company, including brand marketing, games as a service, localization, sales and quality assurance. The union is called the Allied Employees Guild Improving Sega (AEGIS-CWA) and it organizes with the Communications Workers of America.There are already some provisions in place for workers as part of the contract, including a minimum pay increase of 4 percent in 2024, 3 percent in 2025 and 2.5 percent in 2026. There are also layoff protections, codified benefits like health insurance, a severance inclusion and a commitment to credit all workers on games.We're hopeful that in the midst of extensive layoffs, workers across the video game industry will see organizing as a pathway to improve working conditions for all of us," wrote Jasmin Hernandez, a member of AEGIS-CWA, in a statement provided to Engadget.Sega wasn't exactly happy about the push toward labor rights and unionization. The company faced an unfair labor practice complaint after it announced plans to lay off 40 percent of the union's bargaining unit. The company did lay off some of these people, as promised, but the union was able to reach an agreement to keep many workers employed.Labor is having a moment in the games industry. ZeniMax Workers United joined with the CWA last year to offer union protection to 300 quality assurance workers. Over 600 Activision QA testers have joined a union, making it the biggest worker-formed organization in video games. Avalanche Studios, Raven Software and several small development studios have all also unionized in the past year or so.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sega-of-america-workers-have-ratified-their-union-contract-185906593.html?src=rss

Sony unveiled April's PlayStation Plus monthly games on Wednesday. The batch includes Immortals of Aveum, Minecraft Legends, Skul: The Hero Slayer and an Overwatch 2 skins-and-skips bundle. Subscribers on PS Plus' Essential, Extra and Premium tiers can claim the titles starting Tuesday, April 2.Immortals of Aveum (PS5) showed promise, but its first-person shooter with magic instead of guns" formula didn't fare incredibly well commercially. The EA-published game was met with mixed reviews, and its release date -competing against the likes of Baldur's Gate III, Armored Core VI and Starfield - likely didn't help. That led to indie developer Ascendant Studios laying off nearly half its staff a few weeks after launch. Still, despite its suspiciously smooth mechanics and too-sparse crowds, we liked its cinematics and satisfyingly powerful magical attacks, so it could be worth checking out risk-free with your subscription.Minecraft Legends (PS5 / PS4) takes the best-selling game of all time and spins it off into a real-time action-strategy game. In the franchise's blocky style, players form alliances to defeat invading piglins from the Nether dimension. The game includes a single-player story mode and multiplayer for up to eight players.Skul: The Hero Slayer (PS4) is a retro 2D side-scrolling roguelike. You play as a skeleton who can swap skulls - and, in turn, abilities - with his slain enemies. (Convenient!) The game lets you select two ability types and encourages quick-switching during combat.In addition to those three games, all PlayStation Plus subscribers can snag an exclusive Overwatch 2 Mega Bundle in April. The pack includes nine skins and five Battle Pass Tier Skips. You'll first need to download Overwatch 2 from the PlayStation Store, and the bundle should show up in-game immediately (whether you're a new or returning player).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/immortals-of-aveum-headlines-aprils-ps-plus-monthly-games-183924174.html?src=rss

Google just announced that it's expanding its recently-launched Circle to Search tool to include language translation, as part of an update to various core services. Circle to Search, as the name suggests, already lets some Android users research stuff by drawing a circle around an object.The forthcoming language translation component won't even require a drawn circle. Google says people will just have to long press the home button or the navigation bar and look for the translate icon. It'll do the rest. The company showed the tech quickly translating an entire menu with one long press. Google Translate can already do this, though in a slightly different way, but this update means users won't have to pop out of one app and into another just to check on something.The translation tool begins rolling out in the coming weeks", though only to Android devices that can run Circle to Search. This list currently includes Pixel 7 devices, Pixel 8 devices and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, though Google says it's coming to more phones and tablets this week, including some foldables.Google Maps is also getting a refresh, with an emphasis on AI. When you pull up a place on Maps, like a restaurant, artificial intelligence will display a summary that describes unique points of interest and what people love" about the business. The AI will also analyze photos of food and identify what the dish is called, in addition to the cost and whether it's vegetarian or vegan. The company hopes this will make it easier to make reservations and book trips.GoogleOn the non-AI side of things, Maps is getting an updated lists feature in select cities throughout the US and Canada. This will aggregate lists of must-visit destinations pulled from members of the community and local publishers. There will be tools to customize these lists as you see fit.These will be joined by lists created by Google and its algorithm, including a weekly trending list to discover the latest hot spots" and something called Gems that chronicles under-the-radar spots. All of these Maps updates are coming to both Android and iOS devices later this month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-circle-to-search-feature-will-soon-handle-language-translation-174802558.html?src=rss

Disney didn't waste much absorbing Hulu into its multimedia maw. After taking full ownership of Hulu last November, the company started beta testing integration with Disney+ a month later. Today, Hulu on Disney+ is officially coming out of beta, making it easy for subscribers to access content for both services. Really, though, it's a way for Disney to push the value of its Hulu bundle, which starts at $9.99 a month with ads. If you want to go ad-free and download content for offline viewing, there's the Duo Premium bundle for $19.99 a month. And if you don't have a Hulu subscription, you'll get a notification that you can join within Disney+ for $2 more a month.Existing bundle subscribers can hop into Hulu's shows using a new tab on Disney+, and the company says Hulu content like Shogun and The Handmaid's Tale will also be highlighted in the main carousel of shows and content recommendations. If you're old school (like me) and subscribe to Disney+ and Hulu separately, you can also start viewing Hulu content easily (assuming you're using the same e-mail address for both services).I didn't have any trouble launching Shogun on my Disney+ app, but I was disappointed to find that my existing Hulu viewing progress didn't carry over. That'll be particularly annoying for people catching up on older multi-season shows, since they'll have to manually figure out where they left off.This marks the most significant technical, operational, and product evolution for Disney+ since its launch - one that reflects a wider technology transformation that we have been undertaking," said Aaron LaBerge, President & CTO, Disney Entertainment & ESPN, in a statement. "That work is going to drive an enhanced, more engaging user experience with Disney+ and lays the foundation for the innovations and enhancements we are planning for the future."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hulu-on-disney-officially-launches-bringing-together-mickey-mouse-and-the-handmaids-tale-152114434.html?src=rss

Portable speakers can come in handy in all kinds of situations, from camping trips to simply keeping one with you as you move throughout your home (just don't use one on public transit unless you like being hated with the fire of a thousand suns). JBL makes some of our top picks for portable Bluetooth speakers, and several models are currently on sale for up to 34 percent off. The JBL Charge 5 has dropped by $50 (or 28 percent) to $130, just $10 more than the lowest price we've seen for it to date.This is one of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers. It has a battery life of up to 20 hours and, handily, you can use it to charge other devices via USB-C. The Charge 5 is IP67-rated for water and dust resistance too.There are less expensive and still-capable options out there, but the Charge 5 delivers bigger audio than many rivals. The sound quality is good too, thanks to its bright output and solid low end. What's more, you can pair two Charge 5 units for stereo listening.Elsewhere as part of a broader sale on JBL products, the Xtreme 3 has dropped from $380 down to $250. That's 34 percent off and just $20 more than a record low.This is another of our picks for the best portable Bluetooth speakers. It too is IP67-rated and while it won't run as long as the Charge 5 before you need to top up the battery (it'll run for up to 15 hours on a single charge), the Xtreme 3 offers more volume. That could make it a solid choice for a picnic or a backyard get together. However, we reckon it sounds best in close proximity or even indoors, where you can get the most of the bass tones.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/some-of-our-favorite-portable-jbl-bluetooth-speakers-are-up-to-34-percent-off-150938467.html?src=rss

Marvel Games and NetEase just announced a new Overwatch-like team shooter called Marvel Rivals. As the name suggests, playable characters will be pulled from throughout the Marvel Multiverse, including members of the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men.Marvel Rivals is a third-person 6v6 team-based shooter. It'll be free to play and it's set inside of a continually evolving universe." In other words, expect plenty of seasonal updates that introduce new heroes, villains, maps and challenges.As for those heroes and villains, the developers promise a vast array" of characters to choose from, but that roster will be limited to about a dozen upon the alpha launch in May. Early testers will be able to play as Spider-Man, Black Panther, Magneto, Magik and eight or nine more unannounced characters. The developers did mention that Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Hulk and Iron Man would be playable, but didn't confirm that they'll be available with the alpha. Screenshots show Dr. Strange, Storm and Scarlet Witch, among other heroes. It looks like the creators have access to the entire Marvel roster. That's quite literally more than 80,000 potential playable characters.Team-based shooters live or die by their maps. The devs didn't say how many maps would be available when the alpha build hits, but did tease Asgard and Tokyo of 2099. NetEase also suggested that these environments will be destructible, with certain heroes being able to reshape the terrain" with their powers.Marvel GamesThe story involves various Doctor Dooms, multiple timelines and colliding universes. It's the usual cosmic Marvel tomfoolery. At any rate, it's likely to be better than the Secret Invasion TV show. Again, the alpha will be available in May for PC players. There's no word on a console release.This isn't the only big Marvel game announced this week. Former Naughty Dog and Visceral Games writer and creative director Amy Hennig is working on a story-driven action game called Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra. You'll be able to play that next year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/marvel-rivals-is-a-new-overwatch-like-team-shooter-150021430.html?src=rss

No Man's Sky is still getting major updates. Developer Hello Games' Orbital" update, due Wednesday, adds procedurally generated space stations (so they'll be different every time), a ship editor and a Guild system to the nearly eight-year-old space exploration sim.Up until now, space stations have been one of the few parts of No Man's Sky that weren't created and randomized by algorithms as something truly unique. That changes with today's update, which uses game engine upgrades to create vast interior spaces and exterior spaces, with improved reflection and metallic surfaces."The stations' broader scale will be evident from the outside, while their interiors will include new shops, gameplay and things to do. Hello Games describes them as being uniquely customized" based on their virtual inhabitants' system, race and locale.Hello GamesInside the stations, you'll find the new ship editor. Hello Games says it previously withheld ship customization to maintain the title's focus on exploration. (If players could build any ship they wanted at any time, it could ruin some of the fun of scouting out existing ones to buy in-game.) In that spirit, you'll still need to collect, trade and salvage the parts to build yours how you like it.The game's upgraded Guild system, also in today's update, makes factions a bigger part of the experience. You can find new Guild envoys on space stations, where you can join the club, get supplies and precious commodities and donate to boost your status in the group.Fleets are getting better, too. With today's update, you can send your frigate fleet on away missions- and if they run into trouble, you can swoop in and save the day. It sounds like a fun nuance to help scratch anyone's space fantasy itch.No Man's Sky owners can install the Orbital update - alsoincluding engine improvements, a UI refresh and much more" -today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eight-years-after-launch-no-mans-sky-gets-computer-generated-space-stations-that-are-different-each-time-140030734.html?src=rss

There's good news for anyone looking to upgrade their phone as the Google Pixel 8 is currently down to a record-low price. Woot is running a 33 percent discount on the new Google Pixel 8 - one of our picks for 2024's best smartphones - dropping its cost to $470 from $700. The sale is on for the next five days or until the smartphone sells out.The new Google Pixel 8 launched last October and scored a 90 in our review due to features like its Tensor G3 chip. Google claims the chip allows the Pixel 8 to support more text and natural voice recognition. Plus, the company boasts that the G3 chip has twice the number of machine learning models as the G1 in the Pixel 6. This strength is more important than ever with AI's growth and the recent launch of Magic Editor, a content-aware fill and lasso hybrid.Externally, the Google Pixel 8 looks a little different. The screen has shrunk a tad to 6.2 inches from 6.3 inches screen on the Pixel 7 - a small but noticeable change. Also visible on the smartphone are a 50MP primary camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-8-is-230-off-and-down-to-a-new-record-low-price-131621967.html?src=rss

It never blocked competitors' apps and services, and it doesn't employ anticompetitive tactics preventing users from breaking out of its "walled garden," Apple said in response to the antitrust lawsuit filed against it by the Department of Justice. The company refuted the agency's claims in statements shared with Apple Insider, expanding upon its earlier response that the lawsuit would hinder its ability to create devices and software that made it one of the most valuable companies in the world.The DOJ accused Apple of illegally monopolizing the software app market by imposing limitations on iOS that degrade the compatibility of innovative apps and cloud streaming services with the mobile platform. But the company claimed it only selectively restricts the APIs app developers have access to in order to protect user privacy and security. It gave the same reason for why it implements limitations for third-party digital wallets. The company also said that it never blocked "super apps" from its platforms, pointing out that Facebook, WeChat and Line are available for iOS users. Game streaming services, it clarified, have always been welcome in the App Store, as well.In response to the accusation that it is anticompetitive for the Apple Watch to be capable of deeper integration with the iPhone compared to rival wearables', the company explained that offering wide support for all smartwatches means having to develop products with every OS and model in mind. Most importantly, Apple denied that it's making it difficult for users to switch to competing products, whether it's because of iMessage's lack of interoperability with Android or any other reason. Users can easily transfer data from iPhone to Android devices, it reportedly said while suggesting that people may not be switching to its competitors because they simply love its products.Apple previously said that the lawsuit, if successful, would "set a dangerous precedent, empowering government to take a heavy hand in designing people's technology." It vowed to "vigorously defend against it." US Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote in a press release, however, that "Apple undermines apps, products, and services that would otherwise make users less reliant on the iPhone" and that it's "discouraging innovation" that threatens its monopoly by stifling innovation.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-refutes-every-claim-made-in-dojs-antitrust-lawsuit-123223870.html?src=rss

Apple's 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is June 10 to 14. WWDC is typically a software-centric event, so it's highly likely we'll get our first look at iOS 18, iPadOS 18, tvOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 11. It may also be a good chance for Apple to upgrade its visionOS software for Vision Pro.EngadgetThere may be hardware too. Last year's WWDC included a detailed presentation on the Vision Pro and the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air. This year? Another Vision Pro? A Mac Mini? Place your bets.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedMeta limits political' content recommendations on Instagram and ThreadsMicrosoft is finally adding keyboard and mouse support to Xbox Cloud Gaming titlesMy quest for the perfect productivity mouseYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!PS5's Game Help feature will source videos from other playersIt was pretty useless.Game Help shared developer-created tips and videos for PS5 games, bubbling up advice depending on where you were in a game. Unfortunately, in my experience, it was rarely useful advice. That might improve soon, as Sony adds videos from other gamers for those tricky bosses and segments. Community tips will be accessible in the same way as Game Help: click the PS button, launch the Control Center and find an Action Card labeled Hints Inside. Any card with gamer videos will have a Community Game Help label and players will be able to rate tips' usefulness.Continue reading.Microsoft merges its Windows and Surface teams under one leaderPavan Davuluri has been with Microsoft for 23 years.EngadgetMicrosoft is bringing together its Windows experiences and devices teams into one division. Pavan Davuluri, who's been head of the Surface team since last year, will now also lead Windows experiences after Mikhail Parakhin's departure. Perhaps interestingly, Parakhin vacated his role a week after Microsoft hired DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, who apparently asked Parakhin to report to him directly.Continue reading.This camera captures 156.3 trillion frames per secondSuper super super super slow mo.EngadgetScientists have created a scientific camera that shoots images at an encoding rate of 156.3 terahertz (THz) to individual pixels - equivalent to 156.3 trillion frames per second. Dubbed SCARF (swept-coded aperture real-time femtophotography), the research-grade camera could lead to breakthroughs in fields studying micro-events impossible to capture on existing scientific imaging equipment. SCARF could open new frontiers in areas as diverse as shock wave mechanics or the development of more effective medicine.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apples-wwdc-2024-kicks-off-june-10-111519275.html?src=rss

xAI's Grok chatbot, the Elon Musk-helmed company's answer to OpenAI's ChatGPT, will be available to X's Premium subscribers later this week. Musk has announced Grok's expanded availability in a tweet, along with an instructional video on how to post a conversation with the chatbot directly on the X website. Grok has been available to X's Premium+ subscribers since it exited early beta, but that paid tier on the social network costs $16 a month or $168 for the full year when billed annually. Since the Premium tier costs half that much at $8 a month or $84 a year, this rollout makes Grok a bit more accessible.

TikTok, already fighting a proposed law that could lead to a ban of the app in the United States, may soon also find itself in the crosshairs of the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is close to wrapping up a multiyear investigation into the company, which could result in a lawsuit or major fine, Politico reports.The investigation is reportedly centered around the app's privacy and security practices, including its handling of children's user data. According to Politico, the FTC is looking into potential violations of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), as well as allegations that the company misled its users by stating falsely that individuals in China do not have access to U.S. user data." TikTok could also be penalized for violating the terms of its 2019 settlement with regulators over data privacy.While it's not clear if the FTC's investigation will result in a lawsuit or other action, the investigation is yet another source of pressure for the company as it tries to secure its future in its largest market.. After a quick passage in the House, the Senate is considering a bill that would force TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app or face an outright ban in the US. The Biden Administration, which has also tried to pressure ByteDance to divest TikTok, is backing the measure and US intelligence officials have briefed lawmakers on the alleged national security risks posed by the app.TikTok didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ftc-might-sue-tiktok-over-its-handling-of-users-privacy-and-security-224911806.html?src=rss

It's taken much longer than expected but Microsoft is finally bringing keyboard and mouse (KBM) support to certain Xbox Cloud Gaming titles. We first heard that the company planned to do so in March 2022 and it was suggested that the option might be available by that June, but evidently that did not happen. It's only now that Microsoft is starting to let testers on the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring check out KBM functions on web browsers (Edge and Chrome) and the Xbox PC app. The feature should be available more broadly soon.To try out the KBM support, you'll need to be a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber (unless you want to check it out on Fortnite, which is totally free to play via Xbox Cloud Gaming). You'll also need to enroll in the PC Gaming Preview program. If you're testing out KBM support on a web browser, there's one more step - you'll have to switch on Preview features on your browser. To do that, click on your profile picture at xbox.com/play, select Settings and then turn on Preview features."Some supported games might still show controller elements on screen at first. You might be prompted to press A to start the game or some such. However, the game should switch to the KBM user interface as soon as you move the cursor or press a button. On browsers, KBM will only work when you're playing in full screen mode and you've clicked on the game stream for it to recognize your mouse input. You can exit KBM use by pressing F9 or hold the ESC button to leave full-screen mode.The first Xbox Cloud Gaming titles to gain KBM support are Fortnite (browsers only), Ark Survival Evolved, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Halo Infinite, Atomic Heart, Sniper Elite 5, Deep Rock Galactic, High on Life, Zombie Army 4 Dead War, Gears Tactics, Pentiment, Doom 64 and Age of Empires 2. There is a known issue for Atomic Heart at the minute. Microsoft notes that there's some difficulty switching between a controller and KBM while streaming that game.This is a welcome update, especially for those who want to play first-person shooters with a KBM setup but don't have a PC with enough oomph to run current games natively. It's a good step forward for accessibility too. Xbox's cloud gaming tech is pretty solid, but here's hoping it can keep up with Fortnite players who can build elaborate structures in nanoseconds.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-is-finally-bringing-keyboard-and-mouse-support-to-xbox-cloud-gaming-titles-200148150.html?src=rss

Scientists have created a blazing-fast scientific camera that shoots images at an encoding rate of 156.3 terahertz (THz) to individual pixels - equivalent to 156.3 trillion frames per second. Dubbed SCARF (swept-coded aperture real-time femtophotography), the research-grade camera could lead to breakthroughs in fields studying micro-events that come and go too quickly for today's most expensive scientific sensors.SCARF has successfully captured ultrafast events like absorption in a semiconductor and the demagnetization of a metal alloy. The research could open new frontiers in areas as diverse as shock wave mechanics or developing more effective medicine.Leading the research team was Professor Jinyang Liang of Canada's Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS). He's a globally recognized pioneer in ultrafast photography who built on his breakthroughs from a separate study six years ago. The current research was published in Nature, summarized in a press release from INRS and first reported on by Science Daily.Professor Liang and company tailored their research as a fresh take on ultrafast cameras. Typically, these systems use a sequential approach: capture frames one at a time and piece them together to observe the objects in motion. But that approach has limitations. For example, phenomena such as femtosecond laser ablation, shock-wave interaction with living cells, and optical chaos cannot be studied this way," Liang said.SCARFInstitut national de la recherche scientifiqueThe new camera builds on Liang's previous research to upend traditional ultrafast camera logic. SCARF overcomes these challenges," INRS communication officer Julie Robert wrote in a statement. Its imaging modality enables ultrafast sweeping of a static coded aperture while not shearing the ultrafast phenomenon. This provides full-sequence encoding rates of up to 156.3 THz to individual pixels on a camera with a charge-coupled device (CCD). These results can be obtained in a single shot at tunable frame rates and spatial scales in both reflection and transmission modes."In extremely simplified terms, that means the camera uses a computational imaging modality to capture spatial information by letting light enter its sensor at slightly different times. Not having to process the spatial data at the moment is part of what frees the camera to capture those extremely quick chirped" laser pulses at up to 156.3 trillion times per second. The images' raw data can then be processed by a computer algorithm that decodes the time-staggered inputs, transforming each of the trillions of frames into a complete picture.Remarkably, it did so using off-the-shelf and passive optical components," as the paper describes. The team describes SCARF as low-cost with low power consumption and high measurement quality compared to existing techniques.Although SCARF is focused more on research than consumers, the team is already working with two companies, Axis Photonique and Few-Cycle, to develop commercial versions, presumably for peers at other higher learning or scientific institutions.For a more technical explanation of the camera and its potential applications, you can view the full paper in Nature.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-camera-captures-1563-trillion-frames-per-second-184651322.html?src=rss

Google has a new version of Chrome for Windows laptops that run Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The two companies say the Snapdragon version of Chrome shows a dramatic performance improvement." The new Chrome variant is available for download today.Although there are already Snapdragon Windows laptops you can buy, today's announcement is mainly about paving the way for upcoming devices running on the Snapdragon X Elite. Qualcomm says the chip will far surpass the speed of its Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 line. (But if you have a currently available Snapdragon-running computer, the new Chrome for Snapdragon will work there, too.)Google sees the companies' long history of working together on Android (dating back 16 years) as a perk as Qualcomm tries to eat into Intel's PC market share. Our close collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies will help ensure that Chrome users get the best possible experience while browsing the Web on current ARM-compatible PCs," Google Senior Vice President Hiroshi Lockheimer wrote in a press release.The first Snapdragon X Elite PCs are scheduled to launch in the middle of this year. The chip is powered by 12 Oryon cores and has what Qualcomm says is double the CPU performance of Intel's 13th-gen Core i7-1360P and i7-1355U -while using 68 percent less power. The chip is based on a 4nm design fabricated by TSMC. Typical clock speeds range from 3.8GHz to a dual-core boost of up to 4.3GHz.Qualcomm even says most Windows games will run at nearly full speed without any need to tweak code or change assets.Although Intel is Qualcomm's most direct competitor in Windows, it's also trying to match or surpass what Apple has done with its M-series silicon. Qualcomm's challenge is doing that on different hardware from various companies -something Apple doesn't have to worry about with its integrated model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-says-its-new-version-of-chrome-for-windows-laptops-with-snapdragon-chips-is-much-faster-160041692.html?src=rss