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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

The Amazon Big Spring Sale might be over, but there are still plenty of deals worth shopping across the site. Anyone looking to upgrade their meals will want to check out the 20 percent discounts on Breville's Smart Ovens, including the Air Fryer Pro. Our pick for 2024's best air fryer toaster oven is down to $320 from $400 - its Black Friday low.Breville's Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro allows you to cook almost anything you want. It has 13 cooking settings, ranging from typical ones like broil, bake and warm to more specific options like cookies, proof and dehydrate. Taking up one cubic foot of space, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is basically a second oven that can make perfectly crispy fries. In fact, it's so big you could fit a 14-pound turkey, 9x13 sheets or a Dutch Oven inside it.Worth noting: Despite having the title "Smart Oven," Breville's Air Fryer Pro, it's not smart in the way most things these days are. Breville's Joule Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the one to go with if you want an actual "smart" device - as in one that can talk to Alexa. It will notify you when your food is done and offer guided recipes in an app, among other perks. Plus, it's also 20 percent off right now, down to $440 from $550.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/brevilles-smart-oven-air-fryer-pro-is-20-percent-off-on-amazon-151007320.html?src=rss

Microsoft is continuing on its mission to inject AI into more of its products and features. For one thing, Copilot is coming to more parts of Teams in the coming months, including the meeting chat and the chat compose box.The AI will soon be able to offer you insights and information from the meeting chat and the transcript, so if something was either written or spoken, Copilot will be able to pull from it. Microsoft says that when you open Copilot in a meeting chat, you'll have a more comprehensive and inclusive view" of what you and your collaborators discussed.As far as bringing Copilot to the message compose box goes, the AI can now help you rewrite a drafted message based on a custom prompt. So if you'd like to add a call to action or a joke, you can ask Copilot to do that. In the near future, the AI will be able to generate a new message by pulling from context in the Teams chat. That should at least give you a jumping-off point and you can tweak the suggested message as you see fit.In addition, an intelligent call recap feature is coming to Teams. This automatically generates notes and action items from within the Calls app. This will be available for both Teams Premium and Copilot next quarter.Elsewhere, Microsoft is rolling out some features aimed at improving hybrid meetings. IntelliFrame taps into CloudAI to create an individual video feed for each person who's physically attending a Teams Rooms meeting, so that everyone has a similar panel. The feature will now be enabled by default on Teams Rooms devices.On top of that, Microsoft is planning to roll out an option for IntelliFrame called automatic camera switching. This will use AI to present the best view of each person in a meeting room, whether that's from the front-of-room camera or their own laptop's webcam. If someone's obstructed in one camera view, IntelliFrame will try to switch to a clearer look at them.On a similar note, speaker recognition tech will aim to improve the accuracy of transcripts and Copilot insights. Microsoft says this feature will be available as a preview in Teams Rooms in April.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-is-bringing-more-copilot-smarts-to-teams-143058238.html?src=rss

Game Help, which provides developer-created tips and videos to help you progress without leaving the game, has been a staple of players' PlayStation 5 experience since it launched in 2020. Now, Sony has announced Community Game Help, an expansion of the feature allowing you to view hint videos of other users' gameplay across select titles.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. In addition to using these tips, Sony encourages players to rate how helpful each tip is to inform which videos will show up in the future.You can opt-in or out of allowing Sony to use clips from your gameplay as hints for other players. If you choose to share, then Sony will automatically capture videos while you play certain parts of a game. However, any streaming or other personal info appearing on your screen won't be shown in the shared videos. You should also receive a notification if Sony shares your gameplay as a hint. Moderators will reportedly sort through all the videos and determine which should be included in the Community Game Help cards - though the feature won't be available for another few months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-ps5s-game-help-feature-will-start-sourcing-videos-from-other-players-132115286.html?src=rss

Back when I was a kid (puts on old man glasses) we had the Casio SK-1. We'd spend all day making samples of burps and turning them into stupid little songs, but that's about as far as it went. You couldn't layer tracks or anything. Modern children, however, are about to get an actual full-featured groovebox, thanks to Playtime Engineering.The Blipblox myTRACKS is a complete music production studio, according to Playtime. It features a built-in microphone for sampling (just like the Casio SK-1) but also 50 instrument sounds and 25 pads to play them on. These sounds can be arranged into five tracks, resembling many grooveboxes intended for adults, and there are two FX processors and a range of effects. Sure, it looks like a toy and probably feels like a toy, but it's not really a toy. To that end, the announcement video shows an adult going to town on the thing once the kids are asleep.You can transform sounds and add effects via two bright purple levers on the side, which work just like typical mod wheels. You'll be able to buy sound packs online and upload them via USB-C. There's even a MIDI port. It's a groovebox, though not as high-tech as something like the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field, or the Roland MC-707.Downloading sound packs and modulating effects may be a bit too complicated for the younger kids in your life, but the myTRACKS also includes hundreds of built-in melodies and drum loops to play around with and have fun. There's also a randomization feature that the company says instantly creates new songs for unlimited fun and inspiration." These songs are likely to annoy you as you go about household chores, but it's better than a child staring at a tablet all day, right?Playtime EngineeringNow the bad news. The kid-centric groovebox is just a Kickstarter project, for now, with shipments eventually going out in November. However, this isn't Playtime Engineering's first rodeo with this type of gadget. The company has released numerous child-friendly synthesizers and music-making devices in its Blipblox line. There's the original Blipblox synth and the more recent Blipblox After Dark. We praised both of these instruments for being appropriate for children, but still enjoyable for adults. The myTRACKS Kickstarter goes live on April 9 and pricing will range from $250 to $300 for backers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-blipblox-mytracks-groovebox-is-a-complete-music-production-studio-for-kids-130046515.html?src=rss

Meta's relationship with politics and political content on its platforms has been a source of enormous controversy, with the platform routinely accused of highlighting material designed to rile up users in the name of engagement. The company has, in recent years, tried to distance itself from its reputation and is now allowing users to restrict algorithmically-suggested political content on both Threads and Instagram. Meta defines political content as "likely to mention governments, elections, or social topics that affect a group of people and/or society at large" - so, in reality, almost everything. The option to limit this far from narrow set of posts is now rolling out to users with the setting automatically set to on by default, the company confirmed to The Verge.Meta first announced the feature in February, sharing that the company wants "Instagram and Threads to be a great experience for everyone." The statement continued, "If you decide to follow accounts that post political content, we don't want to get between you and their posts, but we also don't want to proactively recommend political content from accounts you don't follow." Basically, if you turn on this feature, it will limit political content visibility through Explore, Reels, in-feed recommendations, and suggested users. Political posts from accounts you follow should appear in your feed as usual.You can check if the feature has reached your account or turn it off in Instagram's settings. Just go to suggested content, and you'll see a tab called political content. Click on that, and there will be two options: limit or don't limit political content from accounts you don't follow. However, choosing to restrict it doesn't necessarily mean a total embargo. A note under the open specifies, "You might see less political or social topics in your suggested content." Whichever you choose will apply to both Instagram and Threads.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-limits-political-content-recommendations-on-instagram-and-threads-123033533.html?src=rss

There's a huge range of Android tablets out there. Some are great for reading comics, while others can double as laptop replacements. However, with devices starting at under $200 and going up to well over $1,000, picking the right one for your needs can be kind of tricky. We've tested dozens of tablets over the years from companies like Samsung, Lenovo and Google. So to help you select a device that fits your life, we've collected our top picks for the best Android tablets across various prices and use cases.What we look for in a good Android tabletAside from cost, there are several specs and features we check out when evaluating new devices. One of the most important factors is the kind of display a tablet has. Not only its size (from less than seven inches to over 14), but also how bright it gets (ideally upwards of 400 nits) and what type of panel it uses (LCD, Mini LED, OLED, etc.). But it doesn't stop there: it's also crucial to consider things like refresh rate (the higher the better in most cases) as well as color saturation and accuracy, as those can help determine if a tablet is suitable for tasks like photo or video editing.Performance is also a major benchmark. After all, no one likes to deal with hiccups or lag, especially if you're a gamer as that can make or break your experience. That said, it takes more than a beefy chip to make a device feel truly speedy. If a tablet has sluggish storage or slow wireless connectivity, downloading files or launching apps can become a chore. Generally, we're looking for at least 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with microSD expandability being a major bonus.Battery life is another major concern because many tablets are designed for use when traveling or working on the go. This means it's critical to consider not just the size of a device's battery, but also how fast it can recharge and if it supports bonuses like wireless power sharing or docking options.Finally, there are more-specialized features such as stylus support, dedicated desktop modes, and expandable storage that can help tailor a tablet for specific use cases like sketching or productivity. And last but not least, there are design-related factors like dust- and water-resistance that go a long way toward making a device more durable.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-android-tablet-120007530.html?src=rss

Amazon's Big Spring Sale has officially ended but a few deals are still going strong. While this latest event wasn't on the level of a Prime Day or a Black Friday sale, over the past week we found decent savings on some of the gadgets and devices we recommend. Now that the sale is done, the pickings are a little slimmer, but that doesn't mean you're out of luck completely. If you didn't take advantage of the sale while it was live, or if you've still got some shopping left to do, consider this list your last chance to reap the discounts from Amazon's latest sale. (Of course, if you miss out now, Prime Day typically comes back around in July every year.) Here are the best Amazon Spring Sale discounts on tech we love that you can still get today.Best Spring Sale deals under $50Best Spring Sale deals on Amazon devicesBest Spring Sale deals on Apple devicesBest Spring Sale deals on headphones, earbuds and speakersBest Spring Sale deals on smartphonesBest Spring Sale deals on gaming gearBest Spring Sale deals on smart home techBest Spring Sale deals on other techBest tech deals available elsewhere on the webYour Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon's Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog's car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-big-spring-sale-all-of-the-best-tech-deals-still-available-today-115547005.html?src=rss

We had the first wave of changes and tweaks to Apple, Google and other big tech companies' policies and services just before the EU's sweeping Digital Markets Act (DMA) took a harder line against monopolistic behaviors and practices. See: third-party app stores with Apple, the option to pay for Facebook (haha!), the ability to choose your own default browser, search engine, and more.But the EU isn't quite satisfied. Alphabet and Apple, says the European Commission, have not sufficiently allowed app developers to steer' consumers to offers outside the gatekeepers' app stores, free of charge."The EC says Alphabet might still be leading users to Google-owned services like Google Flights. Apple may not be allowing users meaningful choice in selecting alternatives to default iOS services or preferences, such as the ability to uninstall any preloaded app.In January, Apple announced changes to the App Store to comply with the DMA, including the ability to use alternative app marketplaces on iOS in the EU. Included in Apple's updates was a new core technology fee" of 0.50 developers will have to pay per user per year after the first million installs of an app - even if a user downloads the software from a third-party marketplace. Many of Apple's rivals aren't happy about the App Store changes. Some criticized the company's fees for third-party payments in the US too.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedSAG-AFTRA ratifies TV animation contracts with AI protections for voice actorsIt's almost time for T-Mobile customers to claim their free year of MLB.TVThe best projectors for 2024Final Fantasy XIV Online's Dawntrail expansion arrives on July 2Judge dismisses X's lawsuit against anti-hate groupYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Florida will require parental consent for kids to join social mediaUnder-14s are completely banned.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just signed a bill into law with far stricter rules on how kids under 16 can use and access social media. The bill requires a parent or guardian's consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to make an account or use a pre-existing account on a social media platform. The companies behind these platforms must also abide by requests to delete these accounts within five business days. Failing to do so could rack up major fines, as much as $10,000 for each violation. The bill doesn't name any specific social media platforms but suggests any service that promotes infinite scrolling" will have to follow the new rules. So yeah, the usual suspects.Continue reading.Spotify trials educational video courses in the UKYou will still have to pay for them.Spotify has teamed up with content partners BBC Maestro, PLAYvirtuoso, Thinkific Labs Inc. and Skillshare to offer content in making music, getting creative, learning business and living healthily. The test courses are available only to UK users, with free and premium subscribers receiving at least two free lessons per course. The series will range from 20 ($25) to 80 ($101), regardless of a person's subscription tier. The course content seems to be somewhere between Masterclass and LinkedIn Learning - make of that what you will.Continue reading.TikTok turns to its teenage youth council' 15 teens will advise the company.GettyLast summer, TikTok said it planned to form a youth council" of teens to advise the company as part of a broader push to beef up safety features for the app's youngest users. That group is now official, just as TikTok contends with a bill that would force parent-company ByteDance to sell the app or face a ban in the United States. While it's unclear how much influence TikTok's youth council will ultimately wield over the company's policies, it underscores just how important teens are to the platform. The company has tried to mobilize its users, many of them teens, to oppose the bill being discussed by the US government.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-the-eu-is-already-investigating-apple-meta-and-google-over-fees-and-defensive-policies-113558285.html?src=rss

Microsoft is bringing together its Windows experiences and its Windows devices teams to form one division, and it has appointed company veteran Pavan Davuluri with the task of leading it. As The Verge notes, Davuluri has been serving as head of the Surface team since last year, after Microsoft split up Windows experiences and devices following Panos Panay's departure. The company is expanding his role again after another departure, this time of former Windows experiences lead Mikhail Parakhin, who was in charge of the Bing search engine and its advertising business.In a letter written by Rajesh Jha and obtained by the publication, the company's technology chief said Parakhin "has decided to explore new roles." It's not quite clear if he's leaving Microsoft altogether or is still exploring for new opportunities within the company. But it's worth noting that he decided to vacate his role a week after Microsoft hired Deepmind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, who apparently asked Parakhin to report to him directly. For now, Parakhin is still with Microsoft and will report to company CTO Kevin Scott during the transition period.Jha wrote in his letter that merging the two teams will enable the company to "take a holistic approach to building silicon, systems, experiences, and devices that span Windows client and cloud for this AI era." While Davuluri now heads both web experiences and devices team, the former is still required to report to Suleyman, who's in charge of Microsoft's AI efforts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-merges-its-windows-and-surface-teams-under-one-leader-103204076.html?src=rss

The Oversight Board is urging Meta to change the way it moderates the word shaheed," an Arabic term that has led to more takedowns than any other word or phrase on the company's platforms. Meta asked the group for help crafting new rules last year after attempts to revamp it internally stalled.The Arabic word shaheed" is often translated as martyr," though the board notes that this isn't an exact definition and the word can have multiple meanings." But Meta's current rules are based only on the martyr" definition, which the company says implies praise. This has led to a blanket ban" on the word when used in conjunction with people designated as dangerous individuals" by the company.However, this policy ignores the linguistic complexity" of the word, which is often used, even with reference to dangerous individuals, in reporting and neutral commentary, academic discussion, human rights debates and even more passive ways," the Oversight Board says in its opinion. There is strong reason to believe the multiple meanings of shaheed' result in the removal of a substantial amount of material not intended as praise of terrorists or their violent actions."In their recommendations to Meta, the Oversight Board says that the company should end its blanket ban" on the word being used to reference dangerous individuals," and that posts should only be removed if there are other clear signals of violence" or if the content breaks other policies. The board also wants Meta to better explain how it uses automated systems to enforce these rules.If Meta adopts the Oversight Board's recommendations, it could have a significant impact on the platform's Arabic-speaking users. The board notes that the word, because it is so common, likely accounts for more content removals under the Community Standards than any other single word or phrase," across the company's apps.Meta has been operating under the assumption that censorship can and will improve safety, but the evidence suggests that censorship can marginalize whole populations while not improving safety at all," the board's co-chair (and former Danish prime minister) Helle Thorning-Schmidt said in a statement. The Board is especially concerned that Meta's approach impacts journalism and civic discourse because media organizations and commentators might shy away from reporting on designated entities to avoid content removals."This is hardly the first time Meta has been criticized for moderation policies that disproportionately impact Arabic-speaking users. A 2022 report commissioned by the company found that Meta's moderators were less accurate when assessing Palestinian Arabic, resulting in false strikes" on users' accounts. The company apologized last year after Instagram's automated translations began inserting the word terrorist" into the profiles of some Palestinian users.The opinion is also yet another example of how long it can take for Meta's Oversight Board to influence the social network's policies. The company first asked the board to weigh in on the rules more than a year ago (the Oversight Board said it paused" the publication of the policy after October 7 attacks in Israel to ensure its rules held up" to the extreme stress" of the conflict in Gaza). Meta will now have two months to respond to the recommendations, though actual changes to the company's policies and practices could take several more weeks or months to implement.We want people to be able to use our platforms to share their views, and have a set of policies to help them do so safely," a Meta spokesperson said in a statement. We aim to apply these policies fairly but doing so at scale brings global challenges, which is why in February 2023 we sought the Oversight Board's guidance on how we treat the word shaheed' when referring to designated individuals or organizations. We will review the Board's feedback and respond within 60 days."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-oversight-board-weighs-in-on-metas-most-moderated-word-100003625.html?src=rss

If you're in North America, a Tesla staff member will show you how the automaker's Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology works before you can take your car home, according to Bloomberg. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reportedly issued a memo that requires Tesla stores in the region to install and activate its latest Full Self-Driving software and then take customers on a short test ride before handing over a vehicle. He added that "almost no one actually realizes how well (supervised) FSD actually works" and that he's making the demonstration a "hard requirement," even though he knows it will slow down delivery.

T-Mobile's annual deal for baseball fans is back. From Tuesday through Sunday, the carrier's customers can claim a free yearlong subscription to MLB.TV for live and on-demand streaming access to the entire Major League Baseball season.This is the ninth straight year T-Mobile has offered the deal, which the companies have extended through 2028. MLB.TV lets you watch all out-of-market regular-season games and select Spring Training games. (Unfortunately, blackout restrictions, universally loathed by everyone not profiting from them, apply to in-market games.) They stream in HD, and the service supports DVR and in-game playback controls.The streaming package usually costs $150 for the season or $30 per month, so this is a nice perk for baseball fans. You can claim the offer in the T Life (formerly T-Mobile Tuesdays) app (iOS and Android) from tomorrow through Sunday only, so don't forget to claim it during that short window.As a promotional gimmick to help plug the deal, T-Mobile is introducing a Secret Baseball Button." The Bluetooth device connects to your computer and can be set to discreetly switch from baseball to work' with the literal click of a button." (It's the same idea as the March Madness Boss Button, only in physical form.) If you care about such things, you can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/its-almost-time-for-t-mobile-customers-to-claim-their-free-year-of-mlbtv-204327276.html?src=rss

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just signed into law a bill named HB 3 that creates much stricter guidelines about how kids under 16 can use and access social media. To that end, the law completely bans children younger than 14 from participating in these platforms.The bill requires parent or guardian consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to make an account or use a pre-existing account on a social media platform. Additionally, the companies behind these platforms must abide by requests to delete these accounts within five business days. Failing to do so could rack up major fines, as much as $10,000 for each violation. These penalties increase to $50,000 per instance if it is ruled that the company participated in a knowing or reckless" violation of the law.As previously mentioned, anyone under the age of 14 will no longer be able to create or use social media accounts in Florida. The platforms must delete pre-existing accounts and any associated personal information. The bill doesn't name any specific social media platforms, but suggests that any service that promotes infinite scrolling" will have to follow these new rules, as will those that feature display reaction metrics, live-streaming and auto-play videos. Email platforms are exempt.This isn't just going to change the online habits of kids. There's also a mandated age verification component, though that only kicks in if the website or app contains a substantial portion of material" deemed harmful to users under 18. Under the language of this law, Floridians visiting a porn site, for instance, will have to verify their age via a proprietary platform on the site itself or use a third party system. News agencies are exempt from this part of the bill, even if they meet the materials threshold.Obviously, that brings up some very real privacy concerns. Nobody wants to enter their private information to look at, ahem, adult content. There's a provision that gives websites the option to route users to an anonymous age verification" system, which is defined as a third party that isn't allowed to retain identifying information. Once again, any platform that doesn't abide by this restriction could be subject to a $50,000 civil penalty for each instance.This follows DeSantis vetoing a similar bill earlier this month. That law would have banned teens under 16 from using social media apps and there was no option for parental consent.NetChoice, a trade association that represents social media platforms, has come out against the law, calling it unconstitutional. The group says that HB 3 will essentially impose an ID for the internet", arguing that the age verification component will have to widen to adequately track whether or not children under 14 are signing up for social media apps. NetChoice says this level of data collection will put Floridians' privacy and security at risk."Paul Renner, the state's Republican House Speaker, said at a press conference for the bill signing that a child in their brain development doesn't have the ability to know that they're being sucked in to these addictive technologies, and to see the harm, and step away from it. And because of that, we have to step in for them."The new law goes into effect on January 1, but it could face some legal challenges. Renner said he expects social media companies to sue the second after this is signed" and DeSantis acknowledged that the law will likely be challenged on First Amendment issues, according to Associated Press.Florida isn't the first state to try to separate kids from their screens. In Arkansas, a federal judge recently blocked enforcement of a law that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts. The same thing happened in California. A similar law passed in Utah, but was hit with a pair of lawsuits that forced state reps back to the drawing board. On the federal side of things, the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act would require parental consent for kids under 18 to use social media and, yeah, there's that whole TikTok ban thing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ron-desantis-signs-bill-requiring-parental-consent-for-kids-to-join-social-media-platforms-in-florida-192116891.html?src=rss

Night City is looking for new residents - even if they're only temporary ones who happen to be in the neighborhood for a few hours. CD Projekt Red is offering PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S players the chance to check out Cyberpunk 2077 for free over the Easter weekend.You'll be able to play up to five hours of the sprawling first-person RPG at no extra cost between 11AM ET on March 28 and 2:59AM ET on April 1. PlayStation Plus Premium members also have access to a five-hour trial of the base game, but CDPR notes that no subscription is necessary to hop in this weekend.

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit from X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit that researches hate speech on the Elon Musk-owned platform. In the decision, the judge said that the lawsuit was an attempt to punish" the organization for criticizing the company.X sued the CCDH last summer, accusing the group of scraping" its platform as part of a scare campaign" to hurt its advertising business. The group had published research claiming X was failing to act on reports of hate speech, and was in some cases boosting such content.In a ruling, federal judge Charles Breyer said that this case is about punishing" CCDH for publishing unflattering research. It is clear to the Court that if X Corp. was indeed motived to spend money in response to CCDH's scraping in 2023, it was not because of the harm such scraping posed to the X platform, but because of the harm it posed to X Corp.'s image," Breyer wrote. X Corp.'s motivation in bringing this case is evident. X Corp. has brought this case in order to punish CCDH for CCDH publications that criticized X Corp.-and perhaps in order to dissuade others."X said it planned to appeal the decision.In a statement, CCDH CEO Imram Ahmed said that the ruling affirmed our fundamental right to research, to speak, to advocate, and to hold accountable social media companies for decisions they make behind closed doors." He added that it is now abundantly clear that we need federal transparency laws" that would require online platforms to make data available to independent researchers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/judge-dismisses-xs-lawsuit-against-anti-hate-group-173048754.html?src=rss

It's a busy spell for fans of Final Fantasy, and fantasy RPGs in general. Many folks are still working through Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but Dragon's Dogma 2 just dropped and Elden Ring expansion Shadow of the Erdtree arrives in June. The second Final Fantasy XVI DLC, The Rising Tide, will drop on April 18. On top of all that, Square Enix has revealed that Dawntrail, the fifth expansion for Final Fantasy XIV Online, will arrive on July 2. Phew.Dawntrail arrives just over 19 months after the last major expansion, Endwalker. You'll be able to check out a new storyline, try two fresh classes or jobs (Pictomancer and Viper) and tackle more dungeons. Square Enix is also increasing the level cap to 100 and there are several other additions to delve into.Pre-orders for the $40 expansion open on Tuesday. Those who buy it in advance will be able to check out Dawntrail several days early, likely starting on June 28. Digital and physical collector's editions will also be available. Snap up either of those and you'll get access to several in-game items, including an Ark mount based on the eidolon from Final Fantasy IX. All editions include access to the previous expansions, Shadowbringers and Endwalker.Meanwhile, a crossover questline with Final Fantasy XVI will run from April 2 until May 8. Those who complete quests in The Path Infernal will receive several Final Fantasy XVI-themed in-game rewards.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-xiv-onlines-dawntrail-expansion-arrives-on-july-2-170227638.html?src=rss

Today marks the end of the Amazon Big Spring Sale and there are still a few tech deals still worth checking out, including this bundle of an Echo Show 8 paired with an Amazon Basics smart bulb. If you bought them at full price and separately, you'd pay $163, but now the set is down to $100. That amounts to a 38 percent discount. If you want the smart display on its own, it's the same $100. That's about $10 more than its record low price and a 33 percent savings.If you're just starting on the path towards smart home grandeur, you can think of the set as a starter kit, as the Echo Show gives you voice and routine control over your new bulb. We named the previous generation of the Echo Show 8 the best Amazon display in our guide. It strikes a good balance between not taking up too much space and offering a sizable enough viewing area with its 8-inch screen. We also liked how adept it is at handling video calls.We were able to get a look at this latest version of the display at a demo during Amazon's hardware event last fall. It has a new edge-to-edge glass front and a more refined design overall. But perhaps the most interesting update is the introduction of the adaptive content feature. Depending on where you are in the room, the display will show different content: large-font time and weather info when you're far away, and more personalized calendar and news articles when you get closer.The bulb lets you change its brightness and color just by talking to your smart display. You can also use the Alexa app to set up routines that will, for example, turn off the light when you say "goodnight" or turn it on an hour before sunset.Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon's Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog's car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/pick-up-the-2023-echo-show-8-with-a-free-smart-bulb-for-100-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-160940079.html?src=rss

Amazon is selling a two-pack of SanDisk microSD cards for $25 as part of the company's Big Spring Sale. Each card is 128GB, totaling 256GB of sweet, sweet game storage. These are drives that have been designed and pre-formatted for Nintendo Switch systems, though they'll work with just about any microSD reader. This deal, however, is only for Prime members.The Nintendo Switch is notoriously stingy when it comes to integrated storage, offering just 32GB, so microSD cards are an absolute must for AAA titles. Nintendo may be wizards when it comes to compressing its games, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is only 16GB, but that space is still gonna fill up fast.As a Switch-friendly bonus, each card comes emblazoned with a Mario-esque mushroom logo. We've always liked these SanDisk drives and gave them a call out in our list of the best microSD cards. They come with a lifetime warranty and boast read/write speeds that are, more or less, comparable to rival products. The max write speed is 90MB/s and the max read speed is 100MB/s. This isn't as fast as something like the Samsung Pro Ultimate, but it's a whole lot cheaper.Looking for more than 128GB of storage? The above deal is part of a larger sale on SanDisk and Western Digital products. There are microSD drives up to 1TB, plenty of USB stick drives and external storage solutions. Also, if Mushroom Kingdom iconography is not your bag, you can pick up a 1TB SanDisk card that has been stamped with the Triforce from Zelda for $95.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/prime-members-can-get-two-switch-ready-sandisk-microsd-cards-for-25-in-the-amazon-spring-sale-151356052.html?src=rss

The Amazon Big Spring Sale isn't over yet, and new deals are still popping up all over the site on everything from outdoor cameras to smartwatches-including our favorite budget Apple Watch for 2024. The second-generation Apple Watch SE is 24 percent off, dropping to $189 from $249. It's not the device's record-low price, but the $60 off brings it pretty close.The second-gen Apple Watch SE garnered an 89 in our review thanks to the comprehensive features it offers for much less money than the company's alternatives. The smartwatch has all the usual options, like heart-rate monitoring, crash detection, and emergency calling. The retina display offers up to 1,000 nits brightness, and the battery lasts 18 hours.If you're considering buying an Apple Watch SE, one thing to keep in mind is that it's not IPX6 rated for dust resistance like the Series 8 and Ultra. However, it is water resistant up to 50 meters.Your Spring Sales Shopping Guide: Spring sales are in the air, headlined by Amazon's Big Spring sale event. Our expert editors are curating all the best spring sales right here. Follow Engadget to shop the best tech deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale, hear from Autoblog's car experts on the best spring auto deals on Amazon, and find spring sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-apple-watch-se-is-back-on-sale-for-189-during-the-amazon-spring-sale-144728862.html?src=rss