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If you own one of Victrola's high-end, Sonos-ready turntables from the last few years, your techie record player is about to get more versatile. The company said on Thursday that all of its "Works with Sonos" vinyl turntables will support Bluetooth, Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and hi-fi Roon streaming through a software update. The update will dramatically increase the streaming versatility of the Stream Carbon, Pearl and Onyx turntables. Meanwhile, Victrola says the ultra-premium Sapphire player, which also supports those standards, has already received the update. The company says it will install automatically, and the new options will appear in the section of the app where you previously only saw the option to pick a default Sonos speaker. Nathan Ingraham for Engadget While the new capabilities are good news for anyone who spent anywhere from $600 to $1,500 on a hi-tech vinyl player, it seems curious (if not infuriating) that the premium gear launched without these capabilities despite having all the requisite hardware. And while the company framed the update as a natural continuation of its mission to help vinyl lovers, you could look at Sonos' calamitous year and speculate that Victrola calculated that hitching too many horses to that post might not be the best idea. An incomprehensibly botched Sonos app update in May led to months of downward spiraling. Despite numerous attempts to plug holes, the debacle culminated in two rounds of layoffs and the departure of its CEO and chief product officer in January. Although Victrola launched cheaper Sonos-less alternatives to the same turntables months before Sonos' plummet began, it's easy to imagine it nervously eyeing that mess and deciding now is a good time to awaken the Sonos variants' dormant wireless capabilities. "This update is a major step forward in our mission to blend the warmth of vinyl with the convenience of modern wireless audio," Victrola Scott Hagen wrote in a press release. "The Victrola Stream turntables have been the best option for Sonos users, and now we're extending that same effortless streaming experience to even more audio ecosystems. Vinyl lovers can now enjoy premium wireless flexibility without compromise." This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/victrola-adds-more-wireless-options-to-its-sonos-compatible-turntables-181634084.html?src=rss

It's Thursday, which means there are some more PC games that Amazon Prime members can claim for free. Amazon has also revealed the entire slate of freebies that subscribers can snag throughout March, as well as the games they can stream at no extra cost on Amazon Luna.Arguably the highest-profile additions of the month are available today in the form of Saints Row: The Third Remasteredand Mafia II: Definitive Edition. As ever, nearly every game on the list is for PC, but since Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is claimable via the Microsoft Store, you'll be able to play that one on Xbox as well.Mortal Shell is an RPG from a few years back that I'd been meaning to check out, so I'll be sure to pick that one up. Elsewhere, The Forgotten Cityis a mystery RPG that was originally a Skyrim mod. The standalone version debuted a few years ago to critical acclaim.You typically have about a month to claim each of the games before they leave the lineup (meaning that you can still snag many of the February additions) Here's what you can snap up and when, along with the launcher you can play each game on:Now

The Nintendo DS is one of the toughest consoles to emulate, for an obvious reason. It's the two screens. This is even an issue with ports. Some developers avoid the problem by mushing everything together onto a single traditional screen, like the recently-released Castlevania Dominus Collection. However, gamers may finally have an affordable emulation solution, thanks to the MagicX Zero 40 handheld console.On its surface, it's yet another handheld emulator, but this one features a four-inch vertically-oriented 800x480 touchscreen display. This should allow players to accurately recreate the experience of playing DS games. That's great news, as replacement parts for any of the DS's iterations are difficult to come by these days.The MagicX Zero 40 runs on a 64-bit Android operating system and features 2GB of RAM and a battery that lasts for four to seven hours. As for storage, it supports flash cards up to 512GB. What about 3DS emulation? The specs sheet indicates there's no support for Nintendo's follow-up dual-screen handheld, but the Zero 40 will emulate games from all of the standard single-screen systems. These include the PSP, NES, SNES, Dreamcast and many more.The Zero 40 is expected to be released this April, with an asking price of $75. Pre-orders were open, but are sold out for the time being. There's another option for a dual-screen emulation, if you have deep pockets. The Ayaneo Flip DS will run Nintendo DS, 3DS and Wii U games, but starts at $739.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-magicx-zero-40-handheld-features-a-vertical-display-for-ds-emulation-175820385.html?src=rss

Everything about Sorry We're Closed sets my little punk heart ablaze, from its low-poly 3D graphics and banging original soundtrack, to its casually epic storyline starring heartbroken club kids and horny demons. Sorry We're Closed takes place around a bustling city of neon-splattered nightmares, and if I could, I'd move there immediately. Michelle, an existentially lost and effortlessly cool twenty-something, is introduced to the spiritual world by The Duchess, an archdemon with thigh-high boots and a threatening allure. Michelle is marked as The Duchess' love interest and cursed with a powerful Third Eye. The Duchess is cruel and desperate for love, and Michelle - still reeling from a breakup that rocked her world three years ago - has a limited amount of time to discover why she's been chosen and how to escape the curse with her life intact. The characters in Sorry We're Closed are raw, funny and authentic, and their relationships are relatably messy. There's Oakley, the diner owner; Marty, the record shop manager; Clarissa, the dancer; Robyn, the local adventurer; Darrel, Oakley's boyfriend and resident douchebag; and of course a cast of otherworldly beings. I feel like I know some of these people in my real life, and as for the rest, I'd love to meet them and help them chase their weird fantasies. Everything in this game is super stylish, from the blocky 3D avatars to the detailed, painterly icons that accompany their dialogue boxes. The city is populated by a diverse blend of genders and sexualities, and it feels both perfectly natural and deeply welcoming, like a stunning fever dream of what could be if The Gay Agenda finally got its way.

If your subscriptions are getting out of control, you're not alone. I feel it too: I pay for news sites, video streaming, music services, online magazines, my cat's special food, charities and lots more - and that's not including the stuff I'm forgetting about. Companies love the subscription model because it's a reliable revenue stream. On the consumer side, auto-payments are certainly more convenient than sitting down with a checkbook to pay bills each month like a homemaker in the olden times. But in exchange for that convenience, everything you signed up for slowly and silently carves away at your bank account each month, possibly without you noticing.It's true that signing up for something is far easier than canceling - that's by design. The FTC passed a rule that went into effect in January of 2025 requiring companies to make cancelling a subscription as easy as it was to sign up for it. It won't go into effect until May 2025, and telecom companies immediately fired back with a lawsuit, so whether the rule will actually be enforced is anyone's guess. That means it will still take some effort to get rid of the services you don't use, but there are a couple of tactics that might make your efforts more effective. Here's our advice on finding and cancelling your unneeded subscriptions.First things first: Find out what subscriptions you haveBefore putting this post together, I had no idea how many subscriptions I was paying for. Surprises included a coding game for my kid (that he no longer plays) and a British streaming app I'd gotten for one show (that I finished nearly a year ago). You, too, may not know what subscriptions are stealthily subtracting dollars from your accounts. One of the most comprehensive ways to see what you're paying for is to look at your bank and credit card transactions, generating a search that includes every transaction in the previous full month. It may be a lot to scroll through, but each monthly subscription will appear at least once in that time frame.Annual subscriptions can be tricker to track down. I was able to find most by searching for introductory emails, since most services send out an initial message confirming a new subscription. You can use the advanced search with the words welcome" or thank you" in the subject field, plus variations on the words annual" subscribing" and membership" in the general or keyword search fields. You should get a decent idea of the things you've signed up for, but may have to wade through lots of promotional emails before you find the services you actually subscribed to. It could save you some time over searching through a year of bank statements.Sometimes it's helpful to simply see a list of common subscriptions people pay for (and often forget about). Here are a few:Entertainment

Apple's recently-released M4 Mac mini has dropped to a new record-low price. You can scoop one up for $529 via Amazon, which is a discount of 12 percent. This version ships with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Other models are also on sale, as the one with 16GB/512GB now costs $700 and the beefy 24GB/512GB will now set you back $900 instead of $1,000. We called the M4 Mac mini "shockingly small" and "incredibly powerful" in our official review, and that stands today. The chip is fast, which makes sense as it's Apple's latest effort, and the smaller design doesn't take up much desk space. That leaves plenty of room for a monitor, mouse and keyboard. We like that these desktops don't go any lower than 16GB of RAM, so any version will excel with music production, light video editing and other creative tasks. For real-deal video editing, you may want to pony up for the extra RAM or go with a model that's been outfitted with the M4 Pro (which aren't on sale.) There are front-facing USB-C and headphone ports, which are nice, and plenty more connection options on the rear. On the downside, there's no SD card reader, which is something that many teensy PCs include. The fan can also get pretty loud during heavy workloads. 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/deals/apples-m4-mac-mini-drops-to-a-new-record-low-price-161333489.html?src=rss

Reddit has announced several new tools that seem like they were designed to encourage more lurkers to participate in discussions on the website. One of the new tools called Rules Check will make it easy to see if what you're posting potentially goes against a subreddit's rules. Before submitting your post, you can click the wand icon in the lower right-hand corner of the post composer, which you can see in the photo above. Doing that will highlight anything in your post that may be breaking a subreddit's rules. Reddit will start testing the feature on iOS and Android before giving it a wider release.Another new tool called Post Recovery will show you a prompt if your post has been removed due to community rules. The prompt will contain a notice of removal, along with a link that will enable you to quickly share your deleted post to a more appropriate subreddit. To make sure you're posting in the right community in the first place, Reddit will now suggest relevant communities based on what you write through a drop-down menu on the upper left corner of the composer screen. It will now also show you if a community has requirements, such as account age or minimum karma points, before you can post.The last tool is perhaps most useful if you promote products and services on Reddit. Post Insights will show you how many views, upvotes, shares and crossposts your posts have gotten, giving you an idea on what works when it comes to post engagement. All these tools other than Rules Check are now available on Reddit's website and mobile app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/reddits-rule-check-feature-will-help-users-avoid-breaking-subreddit-rules-160001398.html?src=rss

We love a good deal on a great laptop around these parts and that's exactly the case with Apple's M3-powered MacBook Air. The 2024 machine is on sale at Amazon with discounts of up to $300. The base model can be yours for $899, which is $200 off and close to a record-low price. This 13-inch variant has 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. You'll find the steepest discount on an M3 MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM and double the SSD storage at 512GB. That's $300 off at $1,199. The M3 MacBook Air is our pick for the best MacBook and our top recommendation for the best laptop overall. (I own one personally and am very happy with it.) We gave the system a score of 90 in our review, lauding it for fast performance, as well as the sleek and study design (including a great trackpad and keyboard). It looks and sounds great too thanks to the Liquid Retina display and quad-speaker array. What's more, the M3 MacBook Air supports Apple Intelligence features. Ultimately, the blend of performance and portability is hard to beat. While this is an attractive deal, there's one important factor to bear in mind. Apple just this week announced the M4 MacBook Air. We've yet to review the latest system, so we can't say for sure how it stacks up against last year's model. But it's worth considering that an upgraded model is right around the corner before you take the plunge on this deal - especially given that Apple has dropped the starting price of the base M4 Air to $999. That's $100 less than the current regular price of the M3 and $100 more than you can get the laptop for through this deal. 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/deals/apples-m3-macbook-air-is-up-to-300-off-right-now-153346492.html?src=rss

Nearly 50 years after they were first launched, Voyager 1 and 2 are still traveling around interstellar space - though they've faced some setbacks over the years. Now, NASA has announced that the twin Voyager spacecraft are losing some of their features in a bid to extend their lifespans in the face of a diminishing power supply.On February 25, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) turned off Voyager 1's cosmic ray subsystem experiment and on March 25, it will shut down Voyager 2's low-energy charged particle instrument."The Voyagers have been deep space rock stars since launch, and we want to keep it that way as long as possible," said Suzanne Dodd, Voyager project manager at the JPL. "But electrical power is running low. If we don't turn off an instrument on each Voyager now, they would probably have only a few more months of power before we would need to declare end of mission."Each probe will continue to run three science instruments, but hold another seven instruments which have turned off over time. Just last October, NASA shut down Voyager 2's plasma science instrument. However, both spacecraft have experienced recent issues. Last June, Voyager 1 finally starting running properly again, following seven months of technical issues, including unreadable data. It had a similar issue two years prior. In 2023, Voyager 2 went dark for two weeks after requiring technical assistance three years earlier.NASA still puts a lot of value in the Voyager probes. "Every minute of every day, the Voyagers explore a region where no spacecraft has gone before," said Linda Spilker, Voyager project scientist at JPL. "That also means every day could be our last. But that day could also bring another interstellar revelation. So, we're pulling out all the stops, doing what we can to make sure Voyagers 1 and 2 continue their trailblazing for the maximum time possible." Maybe at least until they hit 50 years in 2027?The slightly more cynical take on NASA pulling out all the stops" to keep them going is that they'd certainly love for the probes to be functional for their 50th anniversary in 2027 - which feels like a tall order despite the agency's best efforts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-is-shutting-down-parts-of-voyager-1-and-2-to-extend-their-lifespan-151322570.html?src=rss

1Password has added a new feature that allows users to tag their entries with physical locations. That way, when the user is close by a credential's location, that information will be surfaced in the password manager's mobile app. This 'nearby items' feature makes the most relevant information quickly available to 1Password customers and cuts out the need to search for the correct details or remember exactly what you'd named an account.Location information can be added to any new or existing item in a 1Password vault. The app has also been updated with a map view for setting and viewing the locations of your items. In the blog post announcing the feature, the company cited examples such as door codes for a workplace, health records at a doctor's office, WiFi access at the gym and rewards membership information for local shops as potential uses for location data.Privacy and security are paramount for a password manager, and 1Password confirmed that a user's location coordinates are only used locally and do not leave the device. Nearby items is available to 1Password customers starting today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/1password-introduces-nearby-items-tying-passwords-to-physical-locations-140040723.html?src=rss

Another day, another move from the Trump administration that will benefit Elon Musk - shocking. The US Department of Commerce has announced an overhaul of 2021's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and its $42.5 billion that will funnel work to Musk's Starlink.The BEAD program was originally designed to give states funding for fiber-optic cable installation, increase Wi-Fi networks and free broadband internet access for some individuals. Fiber-optic broadband provides the fastest internet speeds, but the new mandate will get rid of BEAD's preference for it."The Department is ripping out the Biden Administration's pointless requirements," said US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in a statement. "It is revamping the BEAD program to take a tech-neutral approach that is rigorously driven by outcomes, so states can provide internet access for the lowest cost."The writing on the wall is clear: Musk, the richest person in the world, leader of a department to reduce government waste (read: cut many critical jobs and programs) and an unelected right hand to what can best be described as an authoritarian government, is about to make even more money.Under the Biden administration in 2023, Starlink received a rejection from the Federal Communications Commission for nearly $900 million in subsidies. The FCC stated that Starlink's application, which was part of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund program, failed to meet the program's requirements.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/musks-starlink-stands-to-benefit-from-changes-to-a-broadband-equity-program-132521582.html?src=rss

If you're into kite surfing, skiing, rock climbing or other adventure sports and want to film your activities, an action camera is the only way to go. In the past, GoPro was uniquely associated with this type of first-person action filming. But now, buyers now have more choice, with models also available from DJI and Insta360. Each company has its own strength, with Insta360 specializing in 360-degree video, DJI known for low-light video quality and GoPro making solid all-around cams with a wide choice of accessories.

The longer you use anything - your Mac included - the more cluttered it's likely to become. One solution is to upgrade to a new machine, but the more economical move is to make what you have already work better. To help your computer feel almost like new, or at least cleaner and less chaotic, we put together this guide with techniques and useful apps that have helped us maintain a more civilized computer. I've been using these tips since I first published this guide in 2021, and they've helped keep my 2018 MacBook Air looking and running (almost) like brand new. How to clean your Mac's screen and body While there are many products specially made to help you with cleaning your computer, I've found the simplest approach works best - and it's the one Apple recommends. To start, you need some water in a spray bottle and a clean microfiber cloth. You can use either regular or distilled water; the advantage of the latter is that it's far less likely to leave residue on your Mac, particularly on the display. You can buy distilled water at a grocery store or make it yourself with some simple cookware. Either way, it's more affordable than dedicated cleaning solutions. If you don't already own any microfiber cloths, Amazon sells affordable 24-packs you can get for about $11. One other product I've found that can make the job easier is a Giottos Rocket Blower. I can't say enough good things about this little tool. It will save you from buying expensive and wasteful cans of compressed air. As for the process of cleaning your Mac, the most important tip to remember is to start with a clean cloth (that's part of the reason we recommend buying them in bulk). You'll save yourself time and frustration this way. Begin by turning off your computer and unplugging it. If you bought a Rocket Blower, use it now to remove any dust. If not, take a dry microfiber cloth and go over your computer. Take special care around the keys, particularly if you own an older Mac with a butterfly keyboard. Next, dampen one side of your cleaning cloth with water. Never spray any liquid directly on your computer. You'll have more control this way and you'll avoid getting any moisture into your Mac's internals. I always clean the display first since the last thing I want to do is create more work for myself by transferring dirt from some other part of my computer to the screen. The last step is to buff and polish your computer with the dry side of the cloth. Be gentle here as you don't want to scratch the screen or any other part of. That's it. Your Mac should be looking clean again. How to organize your hard drive Igor Bonifacic / Engadget One of the hardest parts of cleaning your Mac's hard drive is knowing where to start. After all, most of us have apps on our computers we don't even remember installing in the first place. The good news is that macOS comes with a tool to help you with that exact issue. Navigate to System Settings > General > Storage. Here you'll find a tool that separates your storage into broad categories like Applications," Documents," Music," Photos" and so on. Double-click on an item in the list, such as Applications, to see the last time you used an app and how much space it's taking up. You can delete the apps from the same window. The applications section is particularly helpful since you can see the last time you used a program, as well as if it's no longer supported by the operating system or if it's outdated thanks to a more recent release. Igor Bonifacic / Engadget You don't need me to tell you to uninstall programs you don't use, but what you might not know is that there's a better way to erase them than simply dragging them to the trash can. A free program called AppCleaner will help you track down any files and folders that would get left behind if you were just to delete an application. After deleting any apps you don't need, move to the Documents section. The name is somewhat misleading here since you'll find more than just text files and excel spreadsheets. Documents, in this case, turns out to be the tool's catch-all term for a variety of files, including ones that take up a large amount of space. You can also safely delete any DMGs (disc image files with the extension .dmg) for which you've installed the related app. The other sections in the storage space are self-explanatory. The only other thing I'll mention is if you've been using an iPhone for a while, there's a good chance you'll have old iOS backups stored on your computer. You can safely delete those, too. Tips and tricks for keeping a neat Desktop and Finder Igor Bonifacic Let's start with the menu bar. It may not technically be part of the desktop, but a tidy one can go a long way toward making everything else look less cluttered. My recommendation here is to download an app called Bartender. At first glance, it's a simple program allowing you to hide unwanted menu bar items behind a three-dots icon. However, the strength of Bartender is that you get a lot of customization options. For example, you can set a trigger that will automatically move the battery status icon out from hiding when your computer isn't connected to a power outlet. While we're on the subject of the menu bar, take a second to navigate to System Settings > General > Login Items and look at all the apps that launch when you boot up your system. You can speed up your system by paring down this list to only the programs you use frequently. When it comes to the desktop itself, the best advice is less is more. Nothing will make your computer look like a cluttered mess more than a busy desktop. Folders and stacks can help, but for most people, I suspect part of the problem is they use their desktop as a way to quickly and easily find files that are important to them. If you've ever struggled to find a specific file or folder on your computer, try using your Mac's tagging capabilities instead. Start by opening the Finder Settings menu (Command + ,) and click the Tags tab. You can use the default ones provided by macOS or make your own. Drag the ones you think you'll use most often to the favorites areas at the bottom of the preferences window. This will make it so that they're easily accessible when you want to use them. To append a tag to a file or folder, click on it while holding the ctrl key and select the one you want from the dropdown menu. You can also tag a file while working on it within an app. Keep in mind you can apply multiple tags to a single file or folder, and you can even apply them to applications. Igor Bonifacic / Engadget What makes tags so useful in macOS is that they can appear in the sidebar of the Finder window, and are easily searchable either directly with Finder or using Siri. As long as you have a system for organizing your files, even a simple one, you'll find it easier to keep track of them. As one example, I like to apply an Engadget tag to any files related to my work. I'll add an Important" tag if it's something that's critical and I want to find quickly. One tool that can help supercharge your Finder experience is Alfred. It's effectively a more powerful version of Apple's Spotlight feature. Among other things, you can use Alfred to find and launch apps quickly. There's a bit of a learning curve, but once you get a hang of it, Alfred will change how you use your Mac for the better. How to organize your windows and tabs Igor Bonifacic / Engadget If you've used both macOS and Windows 10, you'll know that Apple's operating system doesn't come with the best window management tools. You can click and hold on the green full-screen button to tile a window to either the left or right side of your screen, but that's about it and the feature has always felt less precise than its Windows counterpart. My suggestion is to download an app that replicates Windows 10's snapping feature. You have several competing options that more or less offer the same functionality. My go-to is a $5 program called Magnet. If you want a free alternative, check out Rectangle. Another option is BetterSnapTool, which offers more functionality than Magnet but doesn't have as clean of an interface. All three apps give you far more ways to configure your windows than what you get through the built-in tool in macOS. They also come with shortcut support, which means you can quickly set up your windows and get to work.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-clean-your-mac-macbook-cleaning-supplies-digital-organization-153007592.html?src=rss

Utah has once again passed a bill that attempts to place new limits on children's ability to access social media and other apps. The state legislature passed a bill that requires app store makers to verify the ages of users and get parental consent for the downloading of apps. Should the governor sign the bill into law, it would be (as The Verge points out) the first such measure in the country.The Beehive State has previously attempted to restrict how children can use social media. The state passed two laws in 2023 that imposed age verification and parental permission requirements onto social media companies. Those laws were later revised amid legal challenges, and a Utah judge blocked them from taking effect last fall.The App Store Accountability Act" takes a different approach. It puts the burden on app stores (namely, Apple and Google) to conduct age verification and parental permission rather than individual social media platforms. Unsurprisingly, Meta and other social media companies have long preferred the app store-centric approach to age verification.On Wednesday, Meta, Snap and X issued a rare joint statement praising the Utah measure. Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way," the companies said. The app store is the best place for it, and more than a quarter of states have introduced bills recognizing the central role app stores play. We applaud Utah for putting parents in charge with its landmark legislation and urge Congress to follow suit."Apple and Google so far haven't publicly weighed in on Utah's bill, though we've reached out to both for comment.Given the controversy surrounding previous attempts to impose age verification requirements on platforms, the Utah bill will likely face legal challenges if and when it's signed into law. Even so, other states are likely to follow Utah's lead on this issue. At least eight more states are considering similar measures.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/utah-is-poised-to-pass-an-age-verification-law-for-app-stores-000542476.html?src=rss

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dropped its lawsuit over peer-to-peer payment system Zelle, the latest in a series of dismissals from this department under President Donald Trump's administration. The agency had only just announced the suit - filed against Zelle's operating entity Early Warning Services and partner banks JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo - in December. According to the initial action, the CFPB said that customers of the three banks had lost more than $870 million during the seven years Zelle has been active.A spokesperson for Zelle said the company welcomed the CFPB's decision, and reiterated that it believes the lawsuit was without merit, and legally and factually flawed." A JPMorgan Chase representative called scam prevention and consumer education a national security problem" and stated the bank's commitment to working "across the public and private sectors" toward solutions.The CFPB made several moves to increase oversight on the financial products offered by tech companies under its previous director, Rohit Chopra. However, the agency is now overseen by Acting Director Russell Vought, who ordered the CFPB to cease all "supervision and examination activity" last month. While employees of the bureau have sued to try to keep the CFPB alive, there have been conflicting messages from government leadership about the agency's status.Since taking office, Trump and ally Elon Musk have taken sweeping actions to control and close federal government departments. Agencies that have historically regulated Musk's business activities have been among those with reduced powers, as have federal operations for cybersecurity, digital services and personnel management.Update, March 5, 2025, 4:41PM ET: Added official statements from Zelle and JPMorgan Chase.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/cfpb-drops-zelle-lawsuit-in-latest-reversal-under-trump-administration-204639032.html?src=rss

The latest chapter in the troubled tale of Cities: Skylines II won't be ending any time soon. The game has still not launched on consoles, despite an initial launch date of October 2023 for the PC version. Developer Colossal Order delayed the console version to spring 2024, but the latest post on the forums for publisher Paradox Interactive revealed that the city-building sequel still isn't ready for its PlayStation and Xbox debut."We know many of you are eagerly awaiting the console release, but to set expectations clearly: we will not have a release before summer. We want to avoid any premature estimates and instead commit to providing you with reliable information when we're closer to a launch-ready state," the team said in the official notice. "Our goal remains unchanged: to bring Cities: Skylines II to console in the best possible shape."In addition to the console port needing more time, the planned asset editor for Cities: Skylines II is also not ready yet. The studio is working to resolve technical issues that are impacting game performance and stability with this editor.After creating a strong and mostly positive community around the original Cities: Skylines game, tensions have run high between the players and the studio surrounding this sequel. The community was vocal in their disappointments about technical issues and a rough first DLC rollout. On the side of the developers, those disappointments devolved into personal attacks on team members. The toxic situation will hopefully calm on both sides once the game reaches a more stable state.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/cities-skylines-ii-will-not-have-a-release-before-summer-on-console-team-says-214053248.html?src=rss

As promised, Volkswagen unveiled its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle at an event on Wednesday in Wolfsburg, Germany. The automaker describes the ID.EVERY1 concept car as a "smart, flexible and affordable" EV for the masses... as long as those masses live in Europe. The production version is expected to start at around 20,000 (US$21,583) when it arrives in 2027.The car joins the ID.2all and sport version of the ID.GTI in using Volkswagen's MEB modular platform, which is designed to be flexible enough to support everything from compact cars like the wee ID.EVERY1 to bulkier SUVs. The company plans to roll out four electric models (including this one) based on the front-wheel drive version of the platform by 2027.In addition, Volkswagen says the ID.EVERY1 will be its first model to run on a "fundamentally new, particularly powerful software architecture," which sounds like the fruit of its $5 billion partnership with Rivian, announced last year. The automaker describes the (unconfirmed but probably Rivian-based) platform as making the concept car more future-proof, allowing it to be "equipped with new functions throughout its entire life cycle."VolkswagenAs a budget EV, its specs won't make your jaw drop but could still hit a nice balance point for price-conscious buyers. The concept car can reach over 80 mph (130 km/h), thanks to its 70 kW (94 horsepower) electric drive motor. Volkswagen rates it for a range of at least 155 miles (250 km). The compact EV is a mere 12.7 ft. long, placing it between the automaker's now-retired up! (11.8 ft.) and the ID.2all (13.3 ft.). The ID.EVERY1 has room for four and a cargo volume of 10.8 cubic feet.As for its cute appearance, Volkswagen Head of Design Andreas Mindt said, "Our ambition was to create something bold yet accessible. The ID. EVERY1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likeable - thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the 'smiling' rear. These design elements make it more than just a car: they give it character and an identity that people can relate to."If this sounds like the budget car of your dreams, well, you'd better live in Europe, or you're probably out of luck. Volkswagen describes the ID.EVERY1 as being "from Europe for Europe," which sure doesn't like it translates to America-bound.You can get a better look for yourself in the gallery below.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-previews-its-%E2%82%AC20000-ev-for-everyone-211053623.html?src=rss

We already knew that the aerospace company Firefly successfully maneuvered its Blue Ghost lander onto the surface of the Moon, but now we have some gorgeous video proof. The lander captured footage throughout the touchdown, complete with a cinematic finale. Check it out below.The POV footage shows the lander descending toward the Moon and the subsequent landing. It ends with a striking view of Blue Ghost emerging from a cloud of dust as its shadow stretches across the lunar surface. It's pretty darn cool, with surprisingly-crisp HD visuals.The touchdown happened Sunday at 3:30 AM ET and Blue Ghost made its home in a region known as Mare Crisium. This isn't the first commercial lander to make its way to the Moon, but was the first one to land properly. The mission was a joint effort between Firefly and NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, an organization that hopes to pave the way for an increased commercial presence on good ole Luna.Since landing, Blue Ghost has begun its surface operations. These include deploying payloads, sampling local regolith and capturing a bevy of images. The stationary lander will spend around two weeks on the lunar surface as it conducts various tests. It's packed with ten NASA instruments designed to probe the ground and to test subsurface drilling methods.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/aerospace-company-firefly-released-fantastic-pov-footage-of-blue-ghost-landing-on-the-moon-195821368.html?src=rss

In an effort to make movies and TV shows more accessible on Prime Video, Amazon announced that it's testing an AI dubbing system that will translate select content on the company's streaming service into other languages.Amazon says that "AI-aided dubbing" will be available in English and Latin American Spanish on 12 licensed movies and series available through Prime Video, including "El Cid: La Leyenda, Mi Mama Lora and Long Lost." That the company describes it as "AI-aided dubbing" rather than just AI dubbing appears to be key here. Amazon says it's taking a hybrid approach where "localization professionals collaborate with AI." A safe guess would be that Amazon's AI system takes a first pass at generating dubs and then professionals edit them for accuracy and fit.Creating captions, subtitles and dubs is a fairly big business, especially now that streaming has increased the number of films and series that are made every year and licensed to be viewed around the world. It makes sense that streamlining the process of making content more accessible would be of interest to Amazon. The possible problem is, at least for film and television, dubbing is done by professional actors. AI-generated voices have gotten more lifelike over the years, but it remains to be seen whether the average person will be okay with a large portion of their media diet being delivered by something human-adjacent rather than the real deal.Of course, maybe we'll be trained to accept it because it will be all over social media first. Amazon isn't alone in leveraging AI to squeeze more out of the videos on its platform. YouTube released a tool in 2024 that lets creators automatically dub their videos in other languages when they upload them, and more recently, Meta announced plans to automatically dub and lip-sync Reels on Instagram into other languages.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/prime-video-is-beginning-an-ai-dubbing-pilot-program-for-select-movies-and-series-190252188.html?src=rss

The first time you make anything, it probably won't come out perfect, so it wasn't a huge surprise when MSI's debut gaming handheld struggled out of the gate. And that's before you consider the unorthodox choice to go with an Intel chip instead of one from AMD like practically all of its rivals. However, MSI didn't give up, and now it's back with not one but two versions of its second-gen handheld, headlined by the Claw 8 AI+. Not only is it bigger than before, it has twice as many Thunderbolt 4 ports, a way bigger battery and some of the best performance we've seen from any device in this category. But more importantly, as the follow-up to a device plagued by lackluster software and unfinished drivers, it feels like the Claw got its bite back.Design and display: The desert catWith its 8-inch screen, the Claw 8 AI+ is bigger than its predecessor and a number of its rivals like the ROG Ally X, though it's still smaller than Lenovo's chunky 8.8-inch Legion Go. MSI also zagged by giving it a two-toned black and sandstone chassis. Ergonomics are generally fine, but if I'm nitpicking, I would prefer slightly larger grips for increased comfort. But aside from that, the handheld features a relatively straightforward mix of premium components strewn across a familiar blueprint.It has Hall Effect sensors for its joysticks and triggers along with some embedded RGB lighting, the latter of which has become sort of an unspoken requirement among portable gaming PCs these days. You also get two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support both data and charging - which are especially handy if you ever plan on using this thing for productivity - and a microSD card slot for expandable storage. I appreciate that unlike Lenovo's handhelds, MSI included a built-in fingerprint reader that makes unlocking Windows-based devices like the Claw a lot more convenient. That said, you don't get a touchpad, though MSI's software does let you control your cursor with the joysticks, so it's not a complete pain in the butt anytime you have to switch between games and apps. And finally, around back, there's a single pair of paddles.As for the display, while it's an IPS panel instead of the super-rich OLEDs on some handhelds, the Claw's screen offers above-average brightness (up to 500 nits), a solid 120Hz refresh rate (with VRR) and the perfect resolution for a system this size (1,920 x 1,200). So all told, there's very little to gripe about when it comes to its visuals. Plus, thanks to some surprisingly punchy front-facing speakers, it has solid audio too.Performance and software: A low-key beastSam Rutherford for EngadgetPerhaps the biggest surprise is that after lackluster results from MSI's first attempt, the Claw 8 AI+ pumped out strong performance that was easily able to keep up with and sometimes surpass what I've seen from its competitors. Some of that is assuredly due to more polished software and recent driver updates from Intel, but still, between its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V chip, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage, the Claw produced framerates that were often 10 to 15 percent higher than what we got from the Ally X.For example, when set to its 30-watt preset, in Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p on medium settings the Claw hit 75 fps versus 65 fps for the ROG Ally X at the same TDP (thermal design power). Meanwhile, in Returnal at 800p on medium, the Claw also bested the Legion Go by reaching 56 fps compared to just 46 fps for the Lenovo. Now it's important to note that MSI's midrange power for the preset on the Claw (which is what I used to get those figures in Returnal) is 17 watts instead of 15 watts like on most of its rivals, which may be MSI's attempt to skew benchmarks in its favor. But even after you account for that, the Claw still comes out ahead.Another nice thing about the Claw is that if you don't want to fiddle around with settings all the time, there's what MSI is calling its AI Engine mode, which will automatically adjust things to optimize performance or battery life depending on what you want. It's a nice option for quickly changing how much horsepower you need, though as always, you're going to need to tweak things manually for the best results.The rest of the MSI Center app feels somewhat spartan. There are sections for launching games, performing software updates, changing the RGB lighting and more. You can even install game stores like Steam directly inside the program. But aside from that, the app isn't very fancy or all that pretty to look at. All the important stuff is there though, which is what really counts since Windows 11 as a whole still feels way clunkier to use than more bespoke platforms like Valve's SteamOS.Battery life: Surprisingly goodSam Rutherford for EngadgetThe Claw 8 AI+ features an 80Whr cell, which is one of the largest battery packs in this category and allows for prodigious longevity. In Elden Ring on medium settings, the handheld lasted just over three hours on a single charge. That ain't too shabby, especially after my recent testing with the Lenovo Legion Go, which only lasted for two and a half hours at best, and that was when playing a much less demanding game in Metal Slug Tactics.Wrap-upAfter the original bombed, a lot of companies would have simply called it quits. Sure, a lot of the first system's issues may have been caused by Intel's chip and unpolished drivers more than anything MSI did (or didn't do). But with the Claw 8 AI+, MSI came back and totally redeemed itself. Not only is it a very competent gaming handheld, this cat offers a solid design, great performance and above-average battery life.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetHowever, even though it pushes out slightly fewer frames, the $800 ROG Ally X remains a better value (especially if you can find it on sale) and its smaller screen makes it a more portable pick for people planning to game on the go. When it comes to larger competitors, Lenovo's Legion Go offers similar horsepower for even less money with starting prices of $700 (or less, now that it regularly receives discounts). But if you're looking for top-notch performance from a portable PC with an assortment of premium components, the Claw 8 AI+ makes an interesting case as an upgrade pick among gaming handhelds.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/msi-claw-8-ai-review-this-cat-got-its-bite-back-184526430.html?src=rss

We knew John Mulaney was getting his own live Netflix talk show after the success of last year's Everybody's in LA, but now we have more details. Mulaney dropped a trailer for the show and reconfirmed a March 12 air date.The trailer absolutely captures the anarchic spirit of last year's specials, which is fitting for a guy who has said he never wanted to host a talk show." The whole thing is basically a drone shot of Mulaney in a darkened parking lot, as he complains about filming the promo. Finally, he declares that Everybodys Live is on Wednesdays live," then puts on a pair of sunglasses. He's also calling Everybody's Live with John Mulaney the first ever celebrity sit-down talk show."There's probably one question on the minds of anyone who watched Everybody's in LA. Will co-host Richard Kind be returning? He sure will, along with everyone's favorite delivery robot Saymo.Everybody's Live with John Mulaney will run for 12 weeks, airing on Wednesdays. It's already been picked up for a second season, which will presumably air later in 2025 or early next year. As for Netflix, it's been steadily building out its livestreaming infrastructure. It aired that Mike Tyson/Jake Paul fight last year, along with Mulaney's previous show. It has also aired live coverage of golf matches, awards ceremonies and will stream its own Tudum event.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/theres-an-appropriately-ridiculous-trailer-for-john-mulaneys-live-netflix-talk-show-182510750.html?src=rss

Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision letting US states legalize gambling, related content has been hard to miss, whether it's odds tickers flashed during sports broadcasts, superstar athletes and celebrities hawking betting sites during commercial breaks or YouTube videos promising that you won't lose if you only use this gambling service. Although the first two won't change anytime soon, the latter could become scarcer, thanks to some upcoming changes Google announced on Tuesday.YouTube said it will prohibit content (URLs, embedded links, logos or spoken references) that directs viewers to unapproved gambling sites or apps. The company defines authorized services as those that meet local legal requirements (a large number, post-2018) and are certified by Google Ads or reviewed by YouTube.But even if a site or app meets those requirements, its content could still be removed if it promises guaranteed returns. Of course, if any truly did offer that, it would cease to be gambling and simply be a service handing out free money. (I believe the technical term is "horseshit.")Meanwhile, even if content does meet YouTube's requirements, it could still be age-gated for users under 18. However, one gargantuan exception the company carved out of that part is online sports betting. Another omission is the depiction of in-person gambling, which would rule out a healthy swath of Hollywood TV and movies and even some music videos or news reports.The changes will take effect on March 19. "We've strengthened our policies that prohibit content directing viewers to unapproved gambling websites or applications," YouTube spokesperson Boot Bullwinkle told CNN. "We will also begin age-restricting content that promotes online casinos."Twitch made a similar move in 2022, banning streams featuring specific types of gambling content. When the Amazon-owned platform expanded its prohibition the following year, it said views for betting-related streams were down by 75 percent.YouTube's changes aren't likely to stem the highly visible onslaught of gambling content in modern culture, which includes betting on esports (something younger users are more likely to engage in). Gambling companies and gaming trade organizations insist that legal gambling content pushes those who would be betting illegally into more regulated areas - a fair point in at least some cases.On the other hand, Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), told CNN last year that his organization believes the risk of harmful gambling has risen by about 30 percent since SCOTUS and 38 states (plus Washington, DC) decided to open the floodgates. "I'm in the District of Columbia right now," Whyte said. "The mayor recently cut every single penny of public funding to prevent and treat gambling problems. So right where the [American Gaming Association] and the [NCPG] is located - the nation's capital - they abolished all public funds for problem gambling."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/youtube-will-tighten-its-policies-on-illegal-gambling-content-180703194.html?src=rss

We're over four years into the current generation of consoles (which is probably past the halfway point) and while Sony is still selling tons of PlayStation 5 units, the price of the system means it remains out of reach for many. To help address that, Sony has teamed up with a leasing company called Raylo to offer a PS5 rental service in the UK via the country's PlayStation Direct website.Leases for the PS5 Digital Edition, the version with a disc drive and the PS5 Pro are available on 12-, 24- or 36-month agreements or a rolling monthly contract. The longer a term you lock in, the lower the monthly price will be. For instance, a 36-month agreement for a PS5 Digital Edition costs 11 (around $14) per month. A rolling contract for the PS5 Pro, however, will run you a whopping 35.59 (nearly $46) per month. There are also leasing options available for the PlayStation Portal and the PS VR2 headset, which just got a price cut.As The Standard points out, there's a lifetime warranty on each device. Raylo won't force customers to pay extra if they return one at the end of a lease with minor dents, scratches or discoloration (though there will be penalties for "significant damage"). You can cancel at any point, but you'll need to pay a fee if you change your mind before 18 months have passed, though there is a 14-day grace period.While there are some benefits to leasing, particularly for those who want to play a PS5 but can't afford the initial cost of buying one upfront, there are drawbacks. Depending on the lease term and length of the plan, renting a PS5 can cost more than buying one. There are options to buy a device at the end of a lease, or to continue renting or upgrade (a three-year contract would take you up around the time the PS6 is rumored to arrive in 2028). Otherwise, you won't own the thing you've been paying for over the last several months.On the other hand, Xbox has offered monthly payment plans for the Xbox Series X/S from the outset with Game Pass Ultimate included. And yes, you do get to keep that console at the end of the financing period.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-opens-an-official-ps5-rental-service-in-the-uk-174653347.html?src=rss

Apple has issued a legal challenge against the British government over a demand to create a backdoor for encrypted iCloud accounts, as reported by Financial Times. The company has filed a complaint in the hopes to reverse the order. The iPhone maker made its appeal to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), which is an independent judicial body.This comes after a leak revealed the order from the UK government, which tasked Apple with building the aforementioned backdoor for iCloud encrypted backups. This was an attempt by the government to try to force the company to make data available to law enforcement. Apple didn't acquiesce. Instead, the iPhone maker announced that it would end national access to the strongly encrypted version of iCloud storage, also known as Advanced Data Protection.The 2016 Investigatory Powers Act is what allows UK authorities to demand access to encrypted accounts in this way, but it's believed that this is the first time it has faced a legal challenge. The IPT has accepted Apple's case and will consider whether the UK's demands were lawful.The case could be heard as soon as this month. It remains unclear if the hearing will be open to the public, as the UK government is likely to argue that the case should be restricted on the grounds of national security.Apple hasn't commented on its legal action against the UK government, merely pointing to a statement it made last month. This statement read, in part, that "we have never built a back door or master key to any of our products or services and we never will."UK security minister Dan Jarvis has defended the demand for access to encrypted accounts on a case-by-case basis, saying that "the Investigatory Powers Act contains robust safeguards and independent oversight to protect privacy and ensure that data is obtained only on an exceptional basis, and only when it is necessary and proportionate to do so."The original request would have allowed UK law enforcement access to an encrypted iCloud account after obtaining a warrant that was approved by a judge. It's worth noting that not even Apple has access to this data.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-now-fighting-the-uk-over-its-demand-for-backdoor-access-to-icloud-accounts-171234908.html?src=rss

Google is shaking up Search. Again. Nearly a year after the company rolled out AI Overviews to everyone in the US, it's preparing to add a dedicated AI tab to its search engine. AI Mode is powered by a Gemini 2.0 model Google has trained to find and organize information out on the web. Its findings are then presented in an interface designed to make it easier to ask follow-up questions. In short, it's a proper response to ChatGPT Search."The goal and vision for [AI Mode] is to empower people to search for anything effortlessly," says Robby Stein, vice president of product for Google Search. According to Stein, AI Mode came out of feedback Google received related to AI Overviews. Since rolling out that feature to more than 1 billion users, he says people have told Google they want more AI-generated summaries from Search; in fact, some people are apparently adding "AI" to the end of their searches to prompt Google to respond with an AI Overview.AI Mode gives those people exactly that. When you go to use the feature, Gemini employs a "query fan-out" technique to conduct multiple concurrent searches across a variety of topics and data sources. It will also make use of Google's proprietary information systems, including the company's Knowledge Graph, to supplement information it finds online.In the version of AI Mode Google is making available to Google One AI Premium subscribers today, not every interface element the company has planned for the feature is in place just yet, but the idea is that the tool will create a rich visual experience. For instance, if you ask AI Mode to compare different sleep trackers, in the future you might see Gemini generate a comparison chart. Notably, Google displays sources more prominently in AI Mode than it does currently with AI Overviews. As you can see from the screenshots the company shared, links to websites feature prominent images. Additionally, in cases where AI Mode isn't confident it can produce an authoritative answer, the tool will default to displaying a regular list of search results.GoogleIn testing, Stein says Google has seen people use AI Mode differently than they do a traditional search engine. On average, testers wrote queries that were about twice as long and asked follow-up questions about a quarter of the time. "We're seeing people bring more complicated questions to this surface and also go back and forth to clarify, learn and go deeper."If you have a sense of deja vu reading about AI Mode, it's because it offers some of the same utility you'll find through Google's Deep Research tool. Like that feature, AI Mode will create a plan before it attempts to tackle your query, but you won't need to wait half-an-hour or even a few minutes for a response. "I think our intent for this version is to offer an experience people can use everyday, in the movement, and be able to get a response while they wait, relatively quickly," says Stein.If you're a Google One AI Premium subscriber, you can begin testing AI Mode starting today on desktop and mobile. For everyone else, Google has a few enhancements to AI Overviews to tide you over.When it announced Gemini 2.0 at the end of last year, the company said enhancing AI Overviews with the new model was a priority. If you live in the US, the next time you use Search to find the answer to a math or coding question, the platform will turn to Gemini 2.0 to generate the accompanying AI Overview. It will also use the system for multi-modal inputs. Stein says users can expect faster and better responses as a result, and in the future the company will enable the model for a broader variety of queries.Separately, Google is making AI Overviews available to more people. In nearly every market where it's available, teens can now start using the feature, and you no longer need to sign in to your Google account to see the summaries.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-mode-adds-a-dedicated-search-chatbot-to-google-170016310.html?src=rss

Digg is getting another reboot with two of the most prominent names of the Web 2.0 era leading the charge. Founder Kevin Rose has bought it back for an undisclosed sum. Rose's partner in this endeavor is a very interesting one. Alexis Ohanian, a co-founder of Reddit - which was at one point the site's biggest rival - acquired Digg alongside Rose.They surely have hopes that Digg can go toe-to-toe with Ohanian's former company once again. According to a press release, Rose and Ohanian have teamed up to revive the social platform with a fresh vision to restore the spirit of discovery and genuine community that made the early web a fun and exciting place to be."The former rivals plan to tap into their knowledge of what did and didn't work at Digg and Reddit over the years to help make the relaunch a success. Rose and Ohanian, both now venture capitalists, have also been meeting with community leaders from online forums (including Reddit) to try and better understand what gets in their way or frustrates them in order to address those factors in the new Digg. The new Digg will have a mobile-first approach too.Since this is 2025, of course there's an AI element here. The plan is to make Digg distinct from other services by focusing on AI innovations designed to enhance the user experience and build a human-centered alternative." Rose suggested to The New York Times that AI could help with moderation and allow for fun quirks, like translating a discussion among sci-fi enthusiasts into Klingon."At various times over the years I had been approached to repurchase Digg; it never felt right. The technologies to solve our biggest pain points didn't exist," Rose said. "Just recently we've hit an inflection point where AI can become a helpful co-pilot to users and moderators, not replacing human conversation, but rather augmenting it, allowing users to dig deeper, while at the same time removing a lot of the repetitive burden for community moderators".Justin Mezzell, an experienced product design exec and a longtime collaborator of Rose's, is CEO of Digg. Rose is the company's board chair and key advisor. Ohanian also sits on Digg's board and will be an advisor.Digg has had a long and winding road to get to this point. It was an early darling of the social media era as it went toe-to-toe with Reddit to curate the best of the internet through submissions from users, who would upvote (or Digg) the things they liked to push it further up the homepage - similar to how Reddit works. However, Digg's early success gave way to attempts to game the system, while a contentious 2010 redesign caused a mass exodus of users to Reddit.The company was sold off in parts in 2012, with LinkedIn and The Washington Post Company buying some aspects. A startup studio and venture capital company called Betaworks bought the Digg brand and relaunched it as a site where editors curated the content.That approach continued on until now, even after Digg was sold to an advertising company in 2018. The most recent version of Digg was still pretty solid, as it continued to offer a nice blend of curated material from around the web as well as some original writing from its editors.There were some hints that Rose was getting back in the Digg mix. After several years away, Rose and co-host Alex Albrecht resumed their Diggnation podcast last year. In December, a post on the Digg X account showed a screenshot of the app's icon with a bubble indicating that there were 3825 notifications. The same number is in the X account's header image. Some have taken that as a hint that the relaunch will take place on March 8 (3/8/25). In any case, Rose suggested the plan is to start small and ramp up Digg's features in the coming months.Here's hoping that, as part of this revival, the company reanimates Digg Reader, a much-missed RSS reader from the Betaworks era. And while we're bringing new life to staples of the Web 2.0 era, for the love of all that is well and good in this world, can someone please bring back StumbleUpon too?This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/digg-is-getting-another-revival-this-time-with-an-injection-of-ai-161205428.html?src=rss

YouTube has introduced a new subscription option for viewing with reduced ads compared with its pricey but ad-free Premium plans. This Premium Lite plan is rolling out in the US starting today. It costs $8 per month, compared with $14 per month for Premium. All users in YouTube's pilot markets of Australia, Germany and Thailand will gain access to Premium Lite in the coming weeks.Most videos will be available without ads under this subscription, such as podcasts, gaming, fashion, beauty and news content. But the company is treating music content differently since its YouTube Music service is baked into the full YouTube Premium offering. There will still be ads on music and music videos, as well as on Shorts."When we talk to our users what we found is there's a whole swath of people who want an ad-free, uninterrupted streaming service but they don't necessarily want a music service. That's where we got the idea of Premium Lite," YouTube's chief product officer, Johanna Voolich, said in a video regarding the news. "It's really cool because it allows us to give these kinds of viewers more choice, but it also unlocks a new revenue stream for our creators."You'll likely see ads as you browse and search YouTube as well. Downloads and background play, two other key features of the Premium plan, won't be available to Premium Lite subscribers.YouTube began testing a lower-cost subscription plan in several markets in October 2024. Similarly, during that trial, the company offered users most content without advertisements, although it did show "video ads on music content and Shorts, and non-interruptive ads when you search and browse."The platform is still treating Premium Lite as a pilot. YouTube plans to expand the tier to more countries later this year. It will also "introduce more ways for our users to get the most from their subscriptions."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/youtubes-new-premium-lite-offers-ad-free-viewing-on-most-videos-for-8-per-month-153142844.html?src=rss

Elon Musk discovered a simple 30-second fridge trick" that can reverse diabetes, but the discovery has spooked pharmaceutical companies so much they put a $78 million bounty on his head, forcing the Tesla CEO to flee the country. At least, that's what a collection of AI-generated Facebook ads claim.Facebook ads depicting deepfakes of Elon Musk and Fox News personalities claiming that the Tesla CEO has discovered the cure for diabetes have been circulating on the platform for weeks. The ads seem to be part of a wider scam that uses the deepfakes to sell unproven supplements.Engadget has identified scores of pages running versions of these ads since early February. Though many of the ads don't stay up for very long, the same pages have repeatedly run dozens or even hundreds of versions of the videos, all of which follow a similar format. The vast majority feature Elon Musk and Fox News hosts, but there are also versions with other notable figures, including Oprah Winfrey, former Utah Senator Mitt Romney and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Using social media to hawk sketchy supplements isn't exactly new. AFP Fact Check detailed a similar ring of scammy Facebook ads promoting supplements that purported to cure high blood pressure last year. But the addition of AI-manipulated video and deepfaked audio of Musk adds a new layer to such scams.While this particular scam has apparently gone largely undetected by Meta, the company is well aware that fraudsters often use celebrities and other public figures to lure in unsuspecting users. A Polish billionaire recently won a legal battle with the company over deepfake ads that used his likeness. Last fall, the company announced that it would bring back facial recognition technology in an effort to fight celeb bait" scams.Musk, of course, is no stranger to impersonation scams. Crypto scammers have impersonated him across social media for years. His new position as a close lieutenant of President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency," however, makes him an even more attractive target to fraudsters hoping to capitalize on his newfound authority. Several of the ads identified by Engadget feature video clips of Musk's recent public appearances and speeches. These include ads with AI-generated audio overlaid onto video from an onstage interview this month at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC, and a photo opp in the Oval Office.There are a lot of different blood sugar support,' type 2 diabetes, reverse diabetes, sort of scams out there these days," says Jordan Liles, a senior reporter at Snopes who has debunked some of these videos on his YouTube channel. It's the same sort of process you might see with other scams in that they start with an ad, they go to a long video on a website, and then they want you to order the product. And they want you to believe everything that you just saw is real."These ads seem to violate multiple policies of Meta, including its rules around medical misinformation and requirements for advertisers to disclose the use of AI-manipulated media. And many of the ads identified by Engadget appear to have been removed within a day or two. But many of the Facebook pages behind these ads, which have names like Mindful Medicine," Your health compass" and The Wellbeing Spot" remain active. Several pages repeatedly ran dozens of new ads with similar content shortly after the old ones were removed.Because ads that are taken down are removed from Meta's Ad Library along with their associated analytics, it's hard to know just how many accounts they are reaching. But the few that remain viewable offer some clues. One such ad, from a page called Healthy Style," was active on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger for three days, according to the company's Ad Library. The advertiser paid Meta between $300 and $399 for the ad, which generated 5,000 - 6,000 impressions. At one point in February, the page was running 177 versions of a similar ad. Another, from a page called Hydromeduoside" also ran for two days, generating between 10,000 and 15,000 impressions across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. It cost between $400 and $499, according to the Ad Library. Both ads were removed by Meta because they ran without the required disclaimer" for ads about social and political issues, according to a notice in the Ad Library, despite likely breaking other rules and having no particular relation to politics.Meta removed the "Healthy Style" page after an inquiry from Engadget. The company said in a statement it was investigating the ads and taking action on other pages. "The ad review system reviews ads for violations of our policies," a spokesperson said. "This review process may include the specific components of an ad, such as images, video, text and targeting information, as well as an ad's associated landing page or other destinations, among other information."The ads follow a similar script. They often open with deepfakes of Fox News personalities discussing how Musk recently blew up the internet" with his discovery that big pharma" doesn't want you to see. The ads then cut to an AI-manipulated video clip of him from a podcast or other public appearance. Many of the ads refer to the MAHA" website, an apparent reference to Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again" movement.The ads never disclose the actual trick" for reversing diabetes. In one version, Musk says all you need is a common fruit." In another, Kennedy says it requires a frozen lemon." Another suggests that all you need is a lemon and a pair of socks." The ads urge viewers to visit a linked website to find a guide before it's wiped from the internet." Bizarrely, the videos end with several minutes of silence that show a still image of a random object like a clock, calculator or blood pressure cuff.Most of these ads link to websites that attempt to spoof mainstream news sites like Fox News, CNN or Yahoo (Engadget's parent company). These websites typically don't have obvious links to supplements, but feature additional lengthy videos with AI-manipulated clips of cable news personalities. These videos, which can run upward of 20 minutes, often feature old video clips with AI-generated audio of Barbra O'Neill, an Australian naturopath who was permanently banned from offering health-related services in her home country after claiming that cancer could be cured with baking soda.(There's no evidence that O'Neill, who has emerged as a popular wellness influencer in the US in recent years, is actually associated with these websites. As The Guardian reported last year, O'Neill is often impersonated by scammers using AI-generated content to sell unproven remedies on Facebook and TikTok. Her official Facebook page often warns followers about scammers who impersonate her on and off Facebook. A representative for O'Neill didn't respond to a request for comment.)Once you make it to the end of the video, a link appears offering a time-limited deal" on a supplement called Gluco Revive." The supplement, which is also available from third-party sellers on Amazon and walmart.com, doesn't actually claim to treat any condition related to diabetes in its marketing. Instead, it suggests it offers blood support" that boosts energy levels" and "supports healthy weight." According to its label, it has a proprietary blend" of ingredients like juniper berry powder and bitter melon extract.An example of one of the websites linked from a Facebook ad that attempts to spoof Fox News.The FDA has previously warned consumers about companies selling over the counter diabetes treatments and supplements. There are no dietary supplements that treat or cure diabetes," the agency wrote in a warning published in December. Some all-natural' diabetes products contain hidden active ingredients found in approved prescription drugs used to treat diabetes ... these products may interact in dangerous ways with other medications."While it's impossible to know just how many people have been duped by these ads, there are dozens of listings for Gluco Revive on Amazon, some of which indicate there have been thousands of sales in the last month. The reviews on Amazon, where it's sold for anywhere from $22 - $70, suggest that some people may have purchased the supplements after seeing one of the ads described above. It's not working. I thought someone from the company was going to call me on what to do. Dr. O'Neil [sic] said that we might feel a change in about 17 hours. It's been 7 days and I feel no difference."This does not work and in fact raised my blood sugar," another reviewer reports, noting they found the product via Facebook. When contacting the suppler [sic] they did send me a Return authorization number and address to send the unused bottles ...I boxed them up [and] sent priority shipping and it's being returned as no such address. I called USPS and they let me know that it was a scam and they have had 100s of returns to that address [and] that they do not exist."Though Gluco Revive appears to be the most prevalent supplement sold via this scam, some linked pages from the Facebook ads sell similar products, like Gluco Control," which purports to be a a 100% natural, safe, and effective blood sugar management product." The website says it's made up of gymnema sylvestre, grape seed extract, green tea extract and African mango extract." The website features a list of scientific references and media endorsements that appear to be entirely made up. Another page promotes something called Gluco Freedom," which has a similar ingredient list, and offers a 180-day supply for $294.Liles, the Snopes reporter who identified the Gluco Revive ads on Facebook in early February, and has researched many similar scams on social media, suspects the ads are having some success. If the same product gets weeks and weeks, or months or longer of advertising, that means that it's something that they're seeing results with," he says.Have a tip? Get in touch with the author at karissa.bell [at] engadget.com or message securely on Signal: karissabe.51This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-scammers-want-you-to-think-elon-musk-can-cure-diabetes-153042842.html?src=rss

I wasn't impressed by the last pair of Technics earbuds I reviewed. The AZ70W was the first set to carry the iconic turntable brand's logo after Panasonic relaunched it in 2014. The 2020 model did some things well for $250, but inconsistent audio performance kept them from being a serious contender. The company followed up in 2021 with two more wireless earbud options, and 2023's AZ80 was well-regarded by many reviewers for its sound quality. For its 2025 model, Technics dug into its bag of tricks to improve the already mighty AZ80, resulting in the AZ100 ($300). These flagship earbuds offer all-new drivers, adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC), AI-tinged voice tools, Dolby Atmos spatial sound and one neat tool none of the competition does. And thankfully, the AZ100 makes good on the promise of epic, reference-quality high-resolution audio." Sound quality I'm well aware that I'm skipping a few generations of Technics earbuds since the AZ70W, but that also means I have a much clearer picture of how much the company has improved since the beginning. The AZ100 is a sonic marvel compared to that first model, offering some of the best sound quality in any of the hundreds of earbuds I've tested over the years. The technology behind the audio boost is new magnetic fluid drivers. Technics says they offer low distortion, accurate bass and high resolution." These parts were developed with the company's know-how from its $1,200 EAH-TZ700 in-ear monitors (IEMs), which also pack in 10mm magnetic fluid drivers. The fluid is integrated into the voice coil of the driver to ensure precise movement of the diaphragm, leading to minimal distortion and excellent clarity across the soundstage. Technics also took care to improve bass performance on the AZ100. Those drivers help with that, but the earbuds also have a new acoustic control chamber and harmonizer to expand the low-end capabilities. It also doesn't hurt that the AZ100 supports both Dolby Atmos for spatial audio and Sony's LDAC high-res wireless audio codec. While the former is common on flagship sets, the latter is rare outside of Sony's own earbuds and headphones. The AZ100 is at its best with high-res tunes like Apple Music's Dolby Atmos catalog. With L.S. Dunes' alt-rock/post-hardcore Violet, the earbuds deliver big, punchy bass that remains tight and detailed. The kick drum, for example, has a thunderous cadence and serves as a prime canvas for the refinements Technics made to the audio platform on the AZ100. Even older albums from the early aughts, like The Appleseed Cast's Mare Vitalis, envelop you with drums, dueling guitars and the atmosphere of a live performance rather than a recorded album. That's impressive when you consider this is streaming lossless on Apple Music, not Dolby Atmos. Speaking of spatial audio, that's the one area where the AZ100 stumbles in terms of sound quality. That immersive mode is available with or without Dolby dynamic head tracking, and when it's toggled on, the sound gets too thin for my liking. The energy that the improved bass brings to the stock tuning is gone, leaving a more sterile audio profile that's a bit boring. ANC performance Billy Steele for Engadget Despite Technics' use of its most advanced" noise-canceling tech, the AZ100 lags behind the best in that regard. These earbuds do employ adaptive ANC that automatically adjusts to your environment, but it's not as good as what Bose offers on the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. The AZ100 will serve you well in some situations, but like much of the competition, they don't handle chatty neighbors in the office well and don't silence constant noise sources like fans and white noise machines. App and features Every earbud company offers a companion app nowadays, although their utility can vary greatly. Technics has packed a lot into its software, and most of what you need frequently is right on the home screen. Once the AZ100 is paired with your phone, the app shows battery life for the earbuds individually and the case up top. You then get a usage guide, noise cancelling controls, EQ presets and a Voice Focus AI Test. Along the bottom, there's quick access to ambient sound, EQ and the more detailed settings menu. That settings menu is where things start to get confusing. Simply put, there are so many options here that it can all be overwhelming. And in some cases, items that should be higher up are closer to the bottom - like customizing the touch controls. Spatial audio can only be activated from this menu, which I'd argue should be an item on the home screen. There's a lot here to help you configure the AZ100 to your liking, but it will take some time to find everything you need. One unique feature that Technics offers is multipoint Bluetooth connectivity for up to three devices. I haven't experienced this on any other earbuds, but the feature isn't without caveats. First, LDAC audio can't be used when three devices are connected, most likely due to the constraints of Bluetooth. In fact, Technics recommends disabling multipoint if you want to listen to LDAC-quality tunes. With the app, the company allows you to select whether multipoint will switch devices during media playback or when a call comes in. I mostly used multipoint with just my phone and laptop, but if a tablet is also part of your daily workflow, or you have a dedicated work phone, I can see the utility of a triple threat. Call quality Billy Steele for Engadget The Voice Focus AI Test is a tool that allows you to hear what you'll sound like on calls using the AZ100. It's a nice feature to have so you can determine if the earbuds are good enough for important calls or virtual presentations. And to that end, the AZ100 sounds clear and somewhat natural when you're in a quiet spot. When you move to a louder location and the Voice Focus AI kicks in, you're going to sound more robotic and processed. The folks on the other side will hear you and none of the background noise, but voice quality noticeably suffers. There are two options for ambient sound - Transparent and Attention - but neither assist much with voice and video calls. The AZ100 doesn't pipe your voice back through the earbuds, so you do have to speak up to hear yourself. When in ambient mode, Transparent allows all sound through the earbuds with no changes while Attention focuses more on voices. I actually found Transparent to be the better of the two in all instances, even when I was trying to listen to someone talking. Battery life Technics promises up to 10 hours of battery life with ANC enabled, plus another 18 hours when you factor in the wireless charging case. If you opt for LDAC audio, those figures drop to seven hours and 11 hours respectively. After 10 hours of use with noise cancellation turned on, the AZ100 still had 20 percent battery left. Based on the rate of depletion I experienced, that would be enough for about two more hours. And when you find yourself in a pinch, a 15-minute charge will give you up to 90 minutes of use. Design updates Billy Steele for Engadget You have to get pretty far down the spec sheet on the AZ100 for a discussion of the design updates. That's because the sound and tech upgrades are the real story here. But, Technics did make some changes to the look of these earbuds compared to the AZ80, including reducing the size and weight. The company says a revised shape allows the IPX4-rated AZ100 to better hug the curves of your ears for increased comfort and stability. That holds true as the earbuds always stayed in place and I never felt any irritation, even after hours of use. Both the earbuds' touch panel and the lid of the case are emblazoned with the iconic Technics logo in gold on textured metal (on both the black and silver color options). This definitely gives the whole set a premium look, although I'm sure not everyone will be thrilled with the gold. None of the design changes are a huge departure from the AZ100's predecessor, but the thoughtful refinements, especially to the shape and fit, are notable. The competition Before the AZ100 arrived, Bowers & Wilkins stood atop Engadget's best wireless earbuds list in the best sound category for a long time. Recently, the company was relegated to number two at the hands of the incredible but pricey FoKus Rex5 from Noble Audio. Neither Bowers & Wilkins nor Technics can compete with the five-driver setup that Noble offers, but the two companies offer excellent audio quality for less than the $449 price tag on the FoKus Rex5. Since the competition is now for second place, I give the edge to the AZ100. There's a lot to like about Bowers & Wilkins' Pi8, and if you prefer a more natural sound with less boomy low-end tone, they're probably the pick for you. For me, I like the added bass the new Technics drivers provide and there's a longer list of features for the AZ100. In terms of ANC performance, I also give the nod to Technics, plus the AZ100 is $100 less than the Pi8. Wrap-up It's hard to follow a highly regarded product with another great one. Perhaps that's why a lot of audio companies rarely make huge changes to earbuds and headphones for new models, choosing instead to keep sound quality and ANC performance consistent. If it ain't broke..." and all that. Technics thought it could make its well-reviewed AZ80 even better by borrowing tech from another entry in its portfolio and the gamble has definitively paid off. Sure, you can find better noise-canceling performance with Bose and more modern features with Sony, but Technics has formulated excellent sound quality that few can challenge. I'd say that Best of CES award was well-earned. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/technics-az100-review-supreme-sound-quality-and-a-unique-bluetooth-tool-150038587.html?src=rss

Roku is continuing its relationship with Phillips, with the launch of a new cross-branded television. The Phillips OLED Roku TV is available starting today and retails starting at $1,299 online and in stores at Sam's Club. The 65-inch screen has a 4K UHD display and OLED technology, which has become pretty standard for a premium TV model. It's also equipped with Dolby Vision IQ, which adjusts picture quality settings based on the current lighting setup. And this Phillips OLED Roku TV includes a potential audio upgrade with the addition of a built-in Dolby Atmos 2.1 speaker system. The announcement highlighted the screen's gaming potential, with a native 120Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync Premium to prevent screen-tearing. Roku started making its own brand of televisions last year with the Pro Series, but it's also still maintaining collaborations with more established hardware manufacturers. The Phillips model will support all the latest Roku features, such as Backdrops. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/phillips-expands-its-roku-tv-range-with-a-1300-65-inch-oled-140047071.html?src=rss

AMD has finally done it. For years it's tried to undercut NVIDIA with slightly cheaper, but less capable, video cards like the Radeon 6700 XT and 7900 XT. And sure, it's still following that same strategy with the new Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT. This time around, though, AMD has produced far more capable hardware, especially when it comes to 4K and ray tracing performance. And there's hope that it could finally catch up to NVIDIA's DLSS AI upscaling with its new FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR4) technology. These aren't perfect video cards, to be clear. But for $549 and $599, the Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT are far more compelling than AMD's previous lineup. That's particularly true since the 9070 XT is $150 less than NVIDIA's RTX 5070 Ti, and in our testing it's sometimes faster than that card. AMD still has to prove that it can catch up to NVIDIA's DLSS, which has had several years to steadily improve its AI upscaling capabilities. In particular, AMD needs to match the performance of NVIDIA's multi-frame generation in DLSS 4, which has led to some surprisingly high fps figures while testing the RTX 50-series GPUs. AMD's Fluid Motion Frames technology is a start, but it's not nearly enough at this point. Hardware The Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are AMD's first RDNA 4 GPUs, a new platform sporting more powerful and efficient compute units, third-generation ray tracing accelerators and second-generation AI accelerators. There isn't a huge technical difference between the two cards: The RX 9070 features 56 compute units, 56 ray accelerators and 112 AI accelerators, whereas the 9070 XT has eight more compute accelerators and 16 additional AI processors. The XT model is clocked slightly higher, as you'd expect, and it also draws more power (304W vs 220W). Notably, both cards also ship with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, whereas NVIDIA skimped a bit and only put 12GB of RAM in the $549 RTX 5070. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget As I was comparing our XFX-built review units, though, it was practically impossible to tell the RX 9070 and 9070 XT apart without reading the fine print on their labels. This is fairly typical for AMD cards with XT variants, and it makes sense since they're technically so similar. The XFX Swift GPUs I tested came in an elegant frost white case, with three large fans and surprisingly massive heatsinks. They're both 3.5-slot cards, so they also take up more room than the RTX 5090, which is a dense two-slot beast. Thanks to AMD's efficient RDNA design, you also don't need to rely on complex power dongles to drive these cards. They both take two PSU connections directly, and XFX recommends 800-watt power supplies at a minimum. That's significantly higher than AMD's minimum 650W spec though, so it could be that XFX is just trying to play it safe with its massive cooling setup. (If you're planning to overclock these cards, though, you'll likely want more than a mere 650W PSU.) Devindra Hardawar for Engadget In use: A big step up for AMD I knew AMD was onto something special when I learned the Radeon RX 9070 averaged 60 fps in Cyberpunk 2077 in 4K Ray Tracing Overdrive mode. Sure, it needed FSR 3 upscaling to get there, but it was still better than the 50 fps I saw on the Radeon 7900XT a few years ago. The game occasionally dipped below 60 fps, but it was still very playable. 1440p was much smoother overall, averaging 117 fps. The Radeon 9070 XT, meanwhile, averaged 68 fps in 4K and 130 fps in 1440p. Sure, these numbers are far behind the raw figures from NVIDIA's RTX 5070, which used the magic of multi-frame generation to deliver 115 fps in 4K with ray tracing and maxed out graphics. That card also hit 205 fps in 1440p. But as impressed as I was by the 5070, most of those frames were just meant to deliver the illusion of smoothness. During actual gameplay, I had a hard time seeing much slowdown with either Radeon card in 4K, and the difference between the NVIDIA card was practically erased in 1440p. Remember, fps figures aren't the entire story, even though NVIDIA wants you to believe otherwise. I kept that idea in mind as I tested FSR 4, which surprised me when it averaged around 20 fps less than FSR 3 in Call of Duty: Warzone on both GPUs. The Radeon 9070 XT reached 250 fps in 4K with FSR 3, cranked up graphics and frame generation, whereas it hit 229 fps in FSR 4. AMD tells me that's no error, it's to be expected since FSR 4's AI upscaling is more focused on delivering higher quality graphics rather than a pure frame boost. I couldn't really see a huge difference while dodging bullets in CoD, but I did notice that finer textures like chain-link fences looked a bit clearer in FSR 4. (I also saw a few random glitched textures, something that was common in DLSS upscaled games early on. They weren't a major problem, but AMD clearly has to refine its upscaling model further.) At the moment, enabling FSR 4 is a bit counter-intuitive as well. You have to turn it on in AMD's driver software, and then flip on FSR 3.1 in a compatible game. Warzone also required a reboot to fully enable the feature, but the game didn't prompt me to do so. And if you want frame generation, that's another option that has to be toggled on outside of the game. Hopefully this process will be smoothed out over time, along with wider availability for FSR 4. In addition to Black Ops 6, it's supported in the newly launched FragPunk, Civilization 7, Marvel Rivals and a handful of PlayStation 5 ports like the Spider-Man games. But it's nowhere to be found in Avowed or Dragon Age: The Veilguard, where you'll be stuck with FSR 3. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget For games that don't work with FSR at all, AMD's Adrenaline software also has a HYPR-RX" mode that enables features like Radeon Super Resolution upscaling (a separate driver-level technology) and AMD's Fluid Motion Frames generation. Altogether, they led to me seeing 200 fps in Forza Horizon 5 using the RX 9070 XT in 4K with maxed out graphics settings, up from 85 fps natively. But again, those are just fps figures - AMD points out Radeon Super Resolution may not look as clear as FSR alternatives. (I didn't notice any weirdness in Forza, but I may have been distracted by the beautiful racing vistas in Mexico.) GPU 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Geekbench 6 GPU Cyberpunk (4K RT Overdrive DLSS) Port Royal ray tracing AMD Radeon 9070 10,997 113,012 60 fps (DLSS 3 w/ frame gen) 15,888 AMD Radeon 9070 XT 13,060 130,474 68fps (DLSS 3 w/ frame gen) 17,959 NVIDIA RTX 5070 10,343 178,795 115 fps (4x frame gen) 13,920 NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti 12,675 238,417 153 fps (4X frame gen) 19,309 AMD Radeon 7900XTX 12,969 N/A 55 fps (DLSS 3) 14,696 When it comes to benchmarks, the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT hold their own against NVIDIA's 5070 and 5070 Ti in most of 3DMark's tests. In the Steel Nomad benchmark, the 9070 scored 1,100 points higher than the 5070, and the 9070 XT beat out the more expensive 5070 Ti by almost 3,000 points in Timespy Extreme. I was also surprised to see the RX 9070 scoring almost 2,000 points higher than the RTX 5070 in the Port Royal ray tracing benchmark. Previously, ray tracing of any kind was AMD's Achilles heel. Both of our XFX cards also stayed surprisingly cool during benchmarks and extended gaming sessions. They never went beyond 65C under load, and they typically idled below 40C. And since they never got very hot, I could barely hear their fans spinning up. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Should you buy the Radeon RX 9070 or RX 9070 XT? On paper, both of AMD's new GPUs are compelling alternatives to NVIDIA's midrange cards for 1440p gamers who occasionally dabble in 4K. The RX 9070 XT is particularly interesting, since it's noticeably faster and still comes in $150 less than the RTX 5070 Ti. But we're also dealing with a chaotic time in the PC gaming world, where GPU stock can disappear quickly and prices can rocket up quickly. If you can nab either Radeon card at their listed prices, they'll be good deals. But it's not worth overpaying by too much for now. It also remains to be seen how the Trump administration's combative tariffs will affect pricing for PC hardware and electronics. Prices could easily jump by 20 percent or more to cover those costs. While NVIDIA's DLSS 4 technology is more mature and leads to higher interpolated frame rates, there's also a good argument for going with AMD's cards since they have 16GB of VRAM. They'll be better suited to handling larger textures in games down the line, and there's also the potential for FSR 4 to improve as well. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Wrap-up It's clear now why AMD was focused on upgrading its mid-range Radeon cards first. There's not much point competing with NVIDIA at the extreme high end, like it did with Radeon RX 7900 XT and XTX. It makes more sense to focus on cards people can actually buy. The Radeon 9070 and 9070 XT also solve many of the problems I've had with AMD's GPUs in the past. They can go toe-to-toe with NVIDIA's cards, they have better ray tracing support and finally, they have AI upscaling. It remains to be seen if AMD will actually build on the promise of those features, but these cards are a hopeful start.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-radeon-rx-9070-and-9070-xt-review-hitting-nvidia-where-it-hurts-140014376.html?src=rss

Apple has introduced its latest update to the MacBook Air, bringing the M4 chip to its lightweight laptops at long last. Even though the Air lineup is getting more powerful, it's also getting cheaper. The smaller base model of the M4 MacBook Air will retail at $999, down $100 from the previous starting price. Pre-orders begin today, and the machines will be available starting on March 12. Last year's Air models were quite good but didn't do anything revolutionary, and the same seems true for the 2025 versions. There are still two size choices, 13-inch and 15-inch. RAM for the M2 and M3 laptops is 16GB by default, and the M4 model matches that standard. Apple is promising up to 18 hours of battery life, and the Airs will have support for Apple Intelligence. There's also a new look in the lineup, with the addition of a sky blue color to the now-familiar choices of silver, midnight and starlight. The company's current chip has been available in MacBook Pros, the Mac mini and the iMac for awhile now, so the power levels of the M4 have been pretty well established. But the boost for Apple's ultralights is still welcome. Apple says the new chip can make the latest Airs up to twice as fast as the M1 versions. The M4 is kitted out with a 10-core CPU and a GPU with up to 10 cores. It supports up to 32GB of unified memory. The new prices might be the most exciting part of today's Air announcements. The 13-inch M4 Air starts at $999, or $899 for buyers in education, while the 15-inch model starts at $1,199, or $1,099 for education. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/apple-unveils-the-m4-macbook-air-with-a-price-drop-140012109.html?src=rss

Apple just unveiled its latest Mac Studio desktop PC promising improved performance over the previous model thanks to the long awaited M3 Ultra, the company's highest performing processor to date. The new machine is primarily aimed at content creators, so on top of the faster chips, it offers the latest high-speed SSD storage, Thunderbolt 5 technology and an updated Neural Engine. It's been a bit of a wait for a new Mac Studio as the last one came out at WWDC 2023, nearly two years ago. As before, you can think of it as like a Mac mini Pro," a bigger and significantly more powerful version of Apple's budget desktop. Like the last two models, it comes in two configurations with either the M3 Ultra or M4 Max chips and physically looks the same as the previous M2 model. Apple The M4 Max version is aimed at "video editors, colorists, developers, engineers, photographers and creative pros," according to Apple. To that end, it comes with up to a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU, from 36GB to 128GB of RAM, four Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15 GB/s throughput (triple the previous model's speed) and over 500 GB/s of unified memory bandwidth. It also includes Two USB-A ports (up to 5Gb/s), an HDMI port, 10Gb ethernet and a 3.5mm headphone jack. All that makes it up to 3.5 times faster than the original Mac Studio M1 Max. Apple noted that with the M4 Max chip, the latest Mac Studio is the first with Apple's advanced graphics architecture that allows features like hardware-accelerated mesh rendering and a second-generation ray-tracing engine to boost content creation and gaming. For AI processing, it offers triple the speed of the M1 Max version. The M3 Ultra model ups the ante considerably with a 32-core CPU with 24 performance cores, "50 percent more than any previous Ultra chip and the most CPU cores ever in a Mac," Apple said. Meanwhile, the GPU packs up to 80 cores, another record for Apple silicon, along with a 32-core Neural Engine for on-device AI and machine learning. It also supports from 96GB to a record 512GB of unified memory, plus up to 16TB of SSD storage. Apple You may be wondering why Apple is just now releasing the M3 Ultra chip when every other Mac (including the all-new MacBook Air) has some kind of M4 processor. The answer is that it's apparently not easy to design and build the Ultra processors because they're effectively two chips mated together using Apple's "Ultrafusion" bridge technology. Despite not having "M4" in the name, though, the M3 Ultra is still approximately twice as fast as the best M4 Max processor under taxing workloads and 2.5 times quicker than the Mac Ultra M1, according to Apple. Considering its power, the Mac Studio with an M4 Max chip is reasonably priced starting at $1,999 with 32GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The Mac Studio with M3 Ultra is another story, though, doubling that to $3,999 base, with 96GB of unified memory (up from 64GB before) and 1TB of storage. Orders are now open with shipping set to start on March 12th. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/apples-new-mac-studio-comes-with-the-long-awaited-m3-ultra-chip-140005216.html?src=rss

US federal judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has denied Elon Musk's request for an injunction that would have immediately stopped OpenAI's conversion into a for-profit entity. Musk filed for an injunction late last year after suing OpenAI and Microsoft and accusing them of telling investors not to fund rival AI companies, such as his own xAI. According to the Financial Times, the judge dismissed his request based on that claim of anticompetitive behavior. Gonzalez Rogers cited a previous statement by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, saying that the company only warned certain investors who were granted access to sensitive information that their rights would be terminated if they made a non-passive investment in rival companies.The judge also reportedly rejected the request based on Musk's claim that OpenAI and Altman broke their contract with him and violated the company's founding mission of building AI "for the benefit of humanity." Musk, who helped found OpenAI and funded it when it was just starting out, said Altman and his fellow OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman "took advantage of [his] altruism in order to lure him into funding the venture." In a statement sent to Bloomberg, OpenAI said that the lawsuit has "always been about the competition." The company added that "Elon's own emails show that he wanted to merge a for-profit OpenAI into Tesla. That would have been great for his personal benefit, but not for [OpenAI's] mission or US interests."After Musk filed his original lawsuit against OpenAI last year, the company published old emails between Musk and other people in the company. OpenAI revealed that Musk was not only aware that it was taking the for-profit route, he wanted majority equity, control of the initial board of directors and the CEO position. Anoter email from Musk suggested making the organization a part of Tesla. In February this year, Musk launched a bid to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion, but the company gave him a firm "no thank you" in response.As Bloomberg noted, the judge's rejection of Musk's request is significant, because OpenAI is already in the process of talking with government officials about taking on a more typical corporate structure. While the judge has rejected Musk's request, she is fast-tracking his lawsuit and will hold an expedited trial later this year on the basis of public interest and on his claim that OpenAI's transformation has a "potential for harm if a conversion contrary to law occurred."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/court-denies-elon-musks-attempt-to-block-openais-for-profit-transformation-133025600.html?src=rss

Old-school, upright vacuums left a lot to be desired, and cordless models are here to right many of those wrongs. These types of vacuums tend to be thinner, lighter and easy to maneuver around a home, and you don't really have to sacrifice suction power anymore to get those benefits. Dyson isn't your only option anymore either - like the robot vacuum space, there are dozens of cordless vacuums to choose from today.

As much money as Big Tech is sinking into generative AI, it's no surprise to see more AI-powered tools materializing to valiantly assist you in spending your hard-earned cash. (Yay?) Snark aside, the shopping tools Google began rolling out on Wednesday might make it a bit easier to find the clothing and makeup you'd have been searching for anyway.Vision MatchGoogleOnce a wee Google Labs experiment, Vision Match has graduated into the mainstream. The AI feature, which arrived for testers in 2023, lets you describe a garment you're picturing in your own words and find the best available matches. If that sounds like "googling it with extra steps," well, it is. But AI-generated images serve as a bridge between your words and the products you may eventually buy - one that hopefully produces results that better fit what you had in mind.Say you're looking for a specific piece of clothing you saw a stranger wearing in public. With Vision Match, describe the garment as vividly as possible (Google's example: "colorful midi dress with big daisies"), and the Gemini-powered AI tool will then spit out a few images that fit the description. You can refine it from there if what you see doesn't quite match. After you pick one, you'll see real-world products you can order.You can find Vision Match in a couple of places, but only on your smartphone. One option is to google the piece of clothing (like any other search term) and then scroll to the "Can't nd it? Create it" prompt in the results. You can also find it in the left-hand panel of the Google Shopping tab under "Create & shop."Expanded AR makeupGoogleGoogle's AR beauty features let you "try on" makeup by showing a digital representation of it on your face in real time. Today, the company added the ability to sift through how multiple makeup products would look on you (rather than just one specific brand) when searching for terms like "spring makeup" or celebrity looks."For example, searching 'soft glam' might offer you a selection of neutral eyelash, a rosy blush and a subtle lip gloss, all applied virtually to your face," Google explained.You can try the expanded AR try-ons by tapping "See the looks on you" when searching for makeup trends or those inspired by celebrities or influencers.Virtual try-on: Pants and skirtsGoogleFinally, Google's virtual try-on tool, which launched in 2023 with tops, now supports pants and skirts. Instead of showing an augmented real-time view of you, this feature shows how the clothing would look on models. Fortunately, they cover the entire human spectrum of shapes and sizes - from XXS to XXL."Whether you need flattering skinny jeans for a night out, a silk skirt for the office or comfortable linen pants for summer, finding the right style is only a few clicks away," Google said.You can try the feature by searching for specific pants or skirts on your mobile device or desktop. Look for results that include a "try on" badge. From there, you can choose the model that looks the most like you (or the person you're shopping for) to get a clearer picture of how it might look when it arrives at your door.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-stuffs-even-more-ai-tools-into-online-shopping-120026444.html?src=rss

Volvo has officially launched the ES90, the fully electrified version of its S60 sedan. While the vehicle can technically be considered a sedan, Volvo says it has the "adaptability of a fastback, and the spacious interior and higher ground clearance associated with SUVs." It's the first Volvo EV with an 800-volt system, which promises faster charging times. Since Volvo's 800-volt technology uses lighter components to reduce the vehicle's overall weight, it could also lead to a longer range and better acceleration.For the ES90, specifically, Volvo promises a driving range of 700 kilometers or 435 miles, though the official EPA range could be shorter. When plugged into a 350 kW fast charger, the model can add 300 kilometers (186 miles) of range in just 10 minutes, and its 106 kWh battery can go from 10 to 80 percent full in just 20 minutes. All the vehicle's variants have a top speed of 112 mph, but the Twin Motor Performance (all-wheel drive) version has the fastest acceleration and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds.The ES90 was built on top of the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack, just like the EX90 SUV. That's a single set of hardware and software that will serve as the base for all of Volvo's electric vehicles and will make it possible to simultaneously roll out over-the-air updates for all its EVs as needed. ES90, however, is the first Volvo model to be powered by dual NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Orin configuration, which the company's chief engineering and technology officer says makes it the "most powerful car [Volvo has] ever created in terms of core computing capacity."Volvo gave the ES90 a slightly raised ride height and its Thor's Hammer headlight design, along with its new C-shaped LED rear lamps. It also equipped the vehicle with an array of sensors that include one lidar, five radars, seven cameras and twelve ultrasonic sensors for its active safety systems that can help drivers avoid collision and hazards. Inside, owners can individually fold down its three rear seats for more space. And while the panoramic roof provides 99.9 percent UV protection, buyers can choose the electrochromic version that will allow them to darken the glass and reduce glare at the touch of a button. Owners can access the model's infotainment system on its 14.5-inch center screen display, which comes with built-in Google apps, including Maps and Assistant.Interested buyers can now order the ES90 in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Volvo will release it in more markets later this year and into 2026.VolvoThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volvo-reveals-its-es90-ev-with-an-800-volt-charging-system-101006882.html?src=rss

The MacBook Air and Pro are great all-in-one computers. The excellent trackpad and keyboard on the latest MacBook Air is part of why we named it the best laptop you can buy. The bright screen and long lasting battery on the Pro model helped it earn a high score of 92 in our review. But to really get the most out of a MacBook, we recommend adding a few accessories - both for your stay-put command center and your on-the-go setup. External keyboards and mice can improve your ergonomics, a webcam can enhance your video calls and a docking station lets you connect more than the built-in ports will allow. Here are the best MacBook accessories we've used that may work for you too. Best MacBook accessories for 2025 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-macbook-accessories-150014737.html?src=rss

PC players of Grand Theft Auto V have at long last reached parity with their console brethren. Following an announcement last month, today Rockstar Games has released a PC update with features that for several years had only been available to the latest console generation.It's a free update for anyone who already owned a copy of the hugely popular game. The original version of GTA V has been delisted from PC storefronts in favor of the new Expanded & Enhanced iteration of the game, which includes a copy of the old Legacy edition. Both Story Mode and Online progress can be migrated to the most recent version. The update includes technical improvements that debuted on the consoles, as well as some PC-specific ray tracing features if the recommended specs are met. There are also some minor additions on content, such as ambient wildlife, photography challenges, new vehicles and access to the GTA+ subscription service.Rockstar Games has been spiffing up several entries in its GTA franchise over the years. It released a trilogy of remasters for Grand Theft Auto III, GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas in addition to providing these upgrades to GTA V and Grand Theft Auto Online. And while fans of the series might enjoy all the nostalgia, it's safe to say that expectations are sky high for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/gta-v-finally-gets-its-next-gen-update-on-pc-three-years-after-consoles-234614209.html?src=rss

Sony has run a number of PlayStation beta programs over the years, including one that lets folks try new PS5 features before they go live for everyone. The company is now making it easier to sign up for the chance to be invited to future beta tests as you'll only need to register once.The creatively named Beta Program at PlayStation allows you to log your interest in beta tests for PS5 and PC games, new console features, PlayStation App updates and changes to the brand's website. You can sign up for the free initiative starting today, but there are a few provisos.You'll need a PlayStation Network account that has a current email address (invites to betas will land in your inbox) and is in good standing. If your account has been suspended or it has other restrictions, you may be ineligible. In addition, you'll need to meet your region's legal age requirement and live in a part of the world where the program is actually available.Signing up doesn't guarantee that you'll get access to a beta test since there's bound to be interest from more people than Sony is able to accommodate. You'll need to sign a nondisclosure agreement before taking part in a beta and there's no obligation to participate if you're invited to one.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-streamlining-its-playstation-beta-programs-with-a-single-sign-up-202628072.html?src=rss

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has once again promised to end the province's $100 million contract with Elon Musk's Starlink after reversing course back in February, according to reporting by the CBC. The reasoning behind this reversal is fairly obvious. The long-threatened Trump tariffs have officially gone into effect, which pops a 25 percent tariff on most Canadian goods and a 10 percent tariff on energy exports.The contract was signed in November of last year and tasked Starlink with providing internet service to remote parts of Ontario. Ford, a former staunch supporter of President Trump, is prepared to go even further to protect Canada's interests. He said that if the tariffs persist that the region will be forced to issue its own 25 percent surcharge on electricity exported to the US. He also said he would shut off electricity with a smile" on his face to US customers if things aren't resolved, according to the Toronto Sun."We also need to be ready to dig in for a long fight," Ford said. "We need to be ready to escalate using every tool in our tool kit."It's worth noting that Canada provides electricity to US residents in Michigan, New York and Minnesota, and a shutdown would impact over 1.5 million people. Ford has also floated the idea of issuing a surcharge to mineral exports or ending them entirely.Ontario's primary liquor wholesaler, the LCBO, has confirmed that it will stop purchasing and selling US-made alcohol. Additionally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would be issuing its own retaliatory matching tariffs on US goods."Today the US launched a trade war against Canada, their closest ally and their closest friend. At the same time, they're talking about working positively with Russia, appeasing Vladimir Putin, a lying, murderous dictator. Make that make sense," Trudeau said during a news conference. He also suggested that Trump was trying to weaken the Canadian economy as an annexation strategy, but that "Canada will never be the 51st state."Trump's stated boogeyman behind these tariffs continues to be fentanyl, even though less than one percent of the drug arrives in this country via Canadian routes. This data has been confirmed by both Trudeau and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.Don't worry about SpaceX and Starlink's financials. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just announced a partnership to install Starlink terminals at various airports, which seems like auspicious timing. The agency also reportedly ordered staffers to begin finding tens of millions of dollars for a Starlink deal." Government efficiency at its finest. In any event, we've reached out to Ontario's Ministry of Infrastructure for details regarding the the contract cancellation and will update this post when we find out more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ontario-once-again-promises-to-nix-100-million-starlink-deal-over-trump-tariffs-194512098.html?src=rss

Dotemu, the developer behind beat-'em-ups like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, is back with another slice of side-scrolling retro goodness. This time, however, the company's eschewing a tried-and-true franchise in favor of an original IP. Absolum is a fantasy beat-'em-up that's being co-developed by Guard Crush Games and Supamonk.The game looks to retain the core beat-'em-up mechanics the developer has become known for, but with some flourishes. Dotemu boasts of "branching paths to explore," which is giving me Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse vibes. The developer has also implemented roguelike mechanics of some kind, with it going so far as to describe the game as a "rogue-em-up." We don't know the details of these mechanics just yet.We do know that Absolum will be playable as a solo campaign or in a co-op mode, offering both local and online play. Gamers will be able to choose from four different fantasy-themed characters. Also, the animation looks pretty dang gorgeous. It'll be available for Switch, PlayStation and PC later this year.Just because Absolum is a brand-new IP, doesn't mean that Dotemu has given up on reviving classics for modern audiences. The company is also publishing Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a game that's actually set during the events of the NES original.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-dev-behind-tmnt-shredders-revenge-is-making-an-original-beat-em-up-180518331.html?src=rss

After weeks of teasers from Activision and Tony Hawk, the video game publisher has officially announced that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be available on July 11. Iron Galaxy Studios remade the old skateboarding games from the ground up to create an updated version of the classics. The remake includes the original games' content, along with cross-platform online multiplayer for up to eight skaters. Activision says it picks up from where Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 left off, but it didn't mention whether the new title would also come with local multiplayer like its predecessor does.The new game was developed by a different studio than the one that remade the first two games even though Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 was pretty well-received. Hawk previously revealed that Vicarious Visions, the studio that developed the first remake, was supposed to work on the third and fourth installments, as well. However, that plan was scrapped after the studio got absorbed into Blizzard. The new game will feature new skaters, tricks and brand-new parks. Its skater selection will include legends in the sport - though Bam Margera was notably absent in the roster we were given - as well as newer names, like two-time Olympics champion Yuto Horigome.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. For the PC, it can be purchased through Steam, Battle.net and Microsoft Store. Finally, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will be able to play it at launch through the game streaming service. Pre-orders will be available starting today, and those who do purchase in advance will be able to access the Foundry Demo in June. Those willing to pay extra and pre-order the Digital Deluxe and Collector's Editions will be able to access the game earlier on July 8. The Digital Deluxe Edition comes with extra content, while the Collector's Edition comes with a full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck and a printed Tony Hawk autograph.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tony-hawks-pro-skater-3--4-arrives-on-july-11-180029571.html?src=rss

Google has just announced the four latest features of its Android 15 operating system.First up, Google Messages now uses AI to detect scam messages in real time. Scam Detection will notify you if it detects suspicious writing patterns from the messages you're receiving and will give you the option to report and/or block the conversation. For the privacy-minded, Scam Detection runs locally on your device, keeping your messages safe from prying eyes.Find My Device can now let you share your location live with your friends, and you can see each other on a map while trying to meet up. It's a handy feature for those who want to watch their loved ones, ensuring they end up where they should be. This feature was already part of Google Maps (and Apple's own Find My app) but is now rolled into Find My Device.New games are coming to Android Auto, including Candy Crush Soda Saga, Angry Birds 2, and Beach Buggy Racing. After downloading them to your phone, you can play them in your car while parked. The Chrome app for Android will also now track price comparisons for products and potentially send you alerts when an item is on sale.You can click here to learn more about the latest Android updates. Pixel smartphone owners can also check out the newest features exclusive to these devices.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-latest-android-update-includes-live-scam-message-detection-170040545.html?src=rss

The latest Pixel feature drop is here with Google rolling updates across its family of smartphones and wearables. If you're a Pixel 9 owner in the US, you'll soon have access to a new version of Pixel Studio capable of creating stickers and images of people. As a refresher, Pixel Studio is an AI image app that is exclusive to Pixel devices. "Just type a description of a person or scene you'd like to see, or choose the style you want, like 'video game' or '3D cartoon,'" Google says of the new feature. The approach Google taking here is similar to the one Apple currently employs with Image Playground. Photorealistic images are off the table so that you can't use Pixel Studio to confuse your friends and family.Beyond Pixel Studio, Google is bringing other AI features to the Pixel family in the US and beyond. Most notably, the company's live scam protection, which Google brought to testers last fall, is expanding to more devices, with additional functionality for those with Pixel 9 handsets in the US.If you own a Pixel 9, it will start screening English calls to protect you from scams. On the Pixel 6 and newer, Google is expanding the availability of scam text detection, with the feature rolling out to phones in the US, Canada and United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 Pro users in Japan can look forward to a large portion of the brand's AI suite, including Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio, rolling out to their devices. Similarly, Google is making many of those same features available to Pixel 9 users in Germany.GoogleIf AI features aren't your thing, this month's Pixel drop won't leave you disappointed. To start, Google is updating its Find My Device app to allow users to send and receive the location of friends and family, "so you can rest easy knowing where they are, or that they got where they were going safely." This is rolling out to recent Pixel devices, and more broadly the wider Android ecosystem. One other nifty new feature allows Pixel 9 owners to connect their phone to a recent GoPro camera or another Pixel phone to stream video from multiple angles.Google hasn't forgotten about Pixel Watch users. If you're running the latest model, the company has obtained clearance from the FDA to offer its Loss of Pulse Detection feature. "This first-of-its-kind feature can detect when you've experienced a loss of pulse," Google explains. A loss of pulse can occur due to a cardiac arrest, a respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose or poisoning. Whatever the case, the Pixel Watch 3 will automatically call emergency services if the user is unresponsive.Google is also rolling out on-device menstrual tracking to the Pixel Watch 3, and the entire Watch family will start tracking steps with greater precision and accuracy. This is due to the fact Google has made the underlying algorithm better at recognizing when you deviate from your usual walking pattern to go do something like push a shopping cart or wheelchair. "The improved algorithm ensures that not only are your steps accurately counted toward your daily goal, but that you'll get reliable insights into your daily activities."The March Pixel drop is starting to roll out today. As usual, it may take a few days before the update is available to download on your device.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-pixel-studio-can-now-generate-images-and-stickers-of-people-170032821.html?src=rss

Acclaim was one of the biggest gaming brands in the '80s and '90s, but the company ran into trouble in the the early 2000s. It filed for bankruptcy in 2004 and it was sold off in parts. Now, more than twenty years later, a group of industry veterans has revived the publisher with the aim of supporting indie developers and revitalizing its own gaming franchises.The company will help indie studios on the funding, marketing and PR fronts. That's very welcome news, especially at a time when funding is tougher to come by.Acclaim's plan to revive its own catalog of gaming IP is pretty exciting too. The company, which was founded in 1987, published the console and PC versions of the NBA Jam and Mortal Kombat series, as well as a string of licensed games, including WWF titles, The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare, Spider-Man games, Alien 3, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Space Jam and many more. Acclaim also published the first games in the Burnout and Turok franchises.CEO Alex Josef said in a press release that Acclaim has already signed some indie games and it plans to reveal those soon. But here's hoping the publisher gives the people what they really want: a modern take on NBA Jam.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/acclaim-is-back-from-the-ashes-to-support-indie-games-and-revive-its-own-classic-franchises-165005620.html?src=rss

Shure just revealed the MoveMic 88+ wireless direct-to-phone microphone with four selectable polar patterns. The company says this is the first-ever microphone of its type to offer this feature. For the uninitiated, polar patterns dictate where a microphone picks up sound. Most of the mics in this category offer just an omnidirectional polar pattern, which records equally from all sides. Some companies swap that out for a cardioid pattern, which picks up audio from a single direction. The MoveMic 88+ offers access to both of the aforementioned polar patterns, in addition to bi-directional and raw mid-side. Why does any of this matter? It increases the versatility of the microphone. The cardioid pattern is perfect for, say, a TikTok video or an acoustic performance. The bi-directional pattern would be the go-to choice for a two-person interview and the omnidirectional pattern is the one to select for a field recording. The microphone also offers a bevy of mounting options. It attaches to most popular tripods and mic stands with included mic clips and can be used as a handheld microphone. It pairs directly with a mobile phone via Shure's MOTIV app, without the need for the company's MoveMic Receiver. It can, however, integrate with the receiver if you want to use it with a regular camera or a computer. The app also gives users controls over the audio signal, with settings like gain, EQ, high pass filter and more. The wireless range maxes out at 100 feet and the battery lasts around eight hours per charge. The MoveMic 88+ is available right now for $299 and comes with a cold shoe mic clip, 5/8" mic clip and USB-C charging cable. Shure Shure introduced another wireless direct-to-phone microphone last year, but that one didn't feature selectable polar patterns. It also recently unveiled a pretty nifty condenser mic that includes a built-in two-channel audio interface. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/shures-movemic-88-is-the-first-wireless-direct-to-phone-microphone-with-selectable-polar-patterns-164052767.html?src=rss

Late last year, Australia passed a law banning social media for all people under 16 years old. Now, some of those companies - namely Meta, TikTok and Snap - are not happy at one exception: YouTube. Australia has deemed YouTube as a critical education tool and is allowing use, despite an original assumption that the Google-owned platform would be included, Reuters and The Guardian reports.This follows last month's report from Australia's eSafety Commissioner, which found that YouTube is the most popular platform with 13 to 15-year-olds - with just under three-fourths of that age range using it in 2024. Notably, anyone under 16 needs to be part of a family account that offers parental supervision rights to use YouTube.Remarks from big tech were pointed. "It is illogical to restrict two platforms while exempting the third. It would be akin to banning the sale of soft drinks to minors but exempting Coca-Cola," said TikTok's director of public policy in Australia and New Zealand, Ella Woods-Joyce. Meanwhile, Meta called out the Australian government for failed transparency and making "a mockery of the government's stated intention, when passing the age ban law, to protect young people."Snap reiterated its fellow platforms' concerns, stating, "There must be a fair and impartial application of exclusions and all services should be held to the same standard." At the same time, Snap is arguing that it's a messaging service and thus shouldn't be part of the ban.Australia's ban on social media for under 16-year-olds should go into effect towards the end of this year. Time will tell whether big tech's outrage will change its impact on YouTube.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-tiktok-argue-youtube-should-be-included-in-australias-under-16-social-media-ban-160220248.html?src=rss

Repairing your iPhone without shelling out lots of money to Apple has long felt impossible. But, with recent Right to Repair laws in the likes of Colorado and Oregon, the new iPhones are a bit easier to repair without ever setting foot in an Apple store. This shift includes Apple's latest product, the iPhone 16e, which debuted last month. It received a provisional 7/10 rating from iFixit thanks to features like a new repair guide for the USB-C port and its easy-release battery adhesive.The charging port repair guide is a big deal and something even the other iPhone 16s don't offer. However, that's not to say it's a simple process. First, you have to remove the back glass, selfie camera, top earpiece speaker, battery, Taptic Engine and the list goes on. Then you have to lift up the logic board to access the port replacement bit. So, it's still a bit of a mess, but at least you now know you're taking the right steps as you go along it.The iPhone also offers the same electrically released battery adhesive as its fellow iPhone 16 models. It replaces the stretch-release adhesive which never worked as well as you'd hope. This is also the first time an iPhone has Apple's C1 modem after a decade of rumored development. iFixit got down and dirty with the logic board to explore the C1 modem. The team went so far as to run the C1 through a CT scanner, which revealed that there's not a trace of Qualcomm tech in the package.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ifixit-tears-down-the-iphone-16e-now-with-repairable-usb-c-charging-port-151558784.html?src=rss