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Given how the smartphone market has evolved over the last few years, it's little surprise that Apple is looking into the possibility of making foldable iPhones. The company surely has all kinds of weird and wacky devices in its research lab, but a new report has shed some light on what Apple's doing with foldables there.According to The Information, Apple has created two clamshell-style foldable iPhone prototypes, though its work on the form factor is in the early stages of development. If Apple were to move forward with foldable iPhones, they likely wouldn't come to market until at least 2026 - seven years after the Galaxy Fold debuted.There are two main issues that could prevent Apple from selling foldable iPhones, according to the report. First, its engineers have so far been unable to address the technical issues of foldable smartphones. For what it's worth, the first Samsung Fold notoriously had a gap between the two halves of the screen into which debris could enter. Second, Apple's designers are said to have found it tough to create features for a foldable iPhone that would make it a compelling enough option for consumers. That's critical, given the higher prices of foldables compared with phones that have a more traditional form factor.Another concern for engineers is that they are said to have wanted to make each side half as thin as a regular iPhone so it would be roughly the same thickness when folded. But the tech isn't quite there yet, given battery sizes and display constraints.Apple has been tinkering with making a foldable smartphone for several years. It seems more likely that Apple's first foldable device, should it choose to release one, would be an iPad. That would carry less risk for the company than making a foldable version of its most important product first. Apple wouldn't need to be as concerned about the thickness of a foldable iPad. Nor would the tablet need to meet as high standards in drop tests. Apple is said to have been developing a foldable iPad since at least 2020.There are still some challenges when it comes to a foldable iPad, however. Engineers are said to be working on a solution for the crease that emerges in the center of the display after repeated folds. Apple is also reportedly trying to make sure the screen is totally flat when it's opened and that there's no bump in the middle. It took Samsung several years and multiple iterations of foldables to develop a hinge that gets rid of the gap between the two halves of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-has-reportedly-made-foldable-iphone-prototypes-152804263.html?src=rss

Chinese hackers have been hiding in US critical infrastructure for at least the last five years, CNN reported on Wednesday. By lurking behind the scenes of transportation, water, electricity and other important systems, the hackers have the opportunity to strike whenever they deem the time is right, US officials say in a 50-page report on the subject. A public version of the full document is set to be released next week.Officials from the FBI and the Justice Department previously issued a court order to update software that could succumb to Chinese hacking. The effort aimed to fight Chinese hacking by remotely disabling certain affected systems. According to the department, it was able to remove code from hundreds of internet routers that could have let Chinese hackers in.The forthcoming report reveals just how long this has been going on, and how bad a potential cyberattack could be. It's set to detail hackers' techniques, while providing guidance to companies behind critical infrastructure systems on how to find Chinese hackers in their systems. There are no signs in the report that hackers have acted maliciously against US infrastructure yet.Hackers started by getting into IT systems and, from there, working their way into more important tech behind US infrastructure. They also broke into security cameras at some of the facilities and, in another case, accessed water treatment plants, the report says.Last week, FBI director Christopher Wray warned Congress that Chinese hackers were preparing to wreck havoc on US critical infrastructure systems. "Cyber threats to our critical infrastructure represent real world threats to our physical safety," he said at the hearing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/us-officials-believe-chinese-hackers-lurk-in-critical-infrastructure-150319581.html?src=rss

Ring has announced a refresh of its popular Battery Doorbell Plus outdoor camera. The Battery Doorbell Pro is an upgrade in nearly every way, as is usually the case when companies slap Pro" at the end of a name.Ring says this new model is its most advanced battery powered doorbell" ever and that it's packed with features that exceed even its wired doorbells. It boasts radar-powered 3D motion detection, which was also included with the company's Stick Up Cam Pro. Otherwise called Bird's Eye View", this technology tracks an object's path through the camera's field of view so you can monitor where visitors are going and the route they took to get there.This is paired with an algorithm that sets more nuanced and discrete motion alerts, so you won't get pinged every time a cat or shadow crosses your yard. You also get something called Bird's Eye View" that translates this information into a series of dots on an aerial image of your property.The visuals have received an upgrade. The camera records 1546p HD+ video and there's some upscaling features to make the image more crisp. Ring says the doorbell's dynamic image processing and high-efficiency compression delivers life-like color and sharpness whether you're watching in Live View or a video recording from the night before." To the latter point, there's a new tool called Low-Light Sight that provides clear color" videos even in the dark.The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro also includes a noise-canceling algorithm so you can actually hear who's at the door, and not just a truck passing by. As the name suggests, it's powered by a rechargeable battery and not by splicing into your home's electrical system. Ring is owned by Amazon, so you get Alexa functionality and Echo Show integration. The company would also very much like you to sign up to its Ring Alarm Pro subscription plan for cloud storage, package alerts and backup internet for when the power goes out.If you've been hesitant about Ring products because of where your data might go, the company recently walked back its police-friendly stance regarding video sharing. Amazon says that Ring's home doorbell unit would stop acquiescing to warrantless police requests for footage from users' video doorbells and surveillance cameras.The doorbell goes on sale on March 6 for $230, with pre-orders going live today. A Ring Alarm Pro subscription costs $20 per month or $200 per year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ring-announces-a-new-battery-powered-doorbell-with-3d-motion-detection-and-improved-visuals-141521388.html?src=rss

Porsche first debuted its first EV line, Taycan, in 2019, and now it's giving the series a revamp. The high-end car manufacturer has announced the 2025 Taycan sports sedan, Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo models, featuring "a particularly extensive update."The 2025 Taycan EVs have "reached new heights in terms of performance, with exceptional driving dynamics and driving pleasure," Kevin Giek, head of the Taycan model line, said in a statement. "At the same time, we were able to significantly improve efficiency, range, day-to-day usability and comfort." Updates include faster acceleration, with the rear-wheel drive Taycan sedan shooting from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds - 0.6 seconds faster than its predecessor. The Turbo S sedan makes the same jump in 2.3 seconds, an improvement of 0.3 seconds.In terms of power, there's 430 bhp behind the base Taycan, while the Turbo reaches 872 bhp. The top-spec Turbo S, however, hits a mighty 940 bhp (up from 750 bhp in previous models).Porsche also claims its 2025 Taycan line has a 35 percent better range with up to 422 miles between charges, helped by improved regeneration. Juicing up should also be quicker as it can charge using up to 320kW (that's 50kW more than previous models) via an 800-volt DC charging station. Other new standard features include adaptive air suspension, Lane Change Assist and a heated steering wheel. On the outside, Taycan models have been given a slight design refresh, which include high-resolution matrix headlights.The 2025 Taycan line starts at $99,400 for the entry-level model and reaches $211,700 for the Turbo S Cross Turismo. Porsche adds another $1,995 to each order for delivery, processing and handling. Porsche says the new Taycan models will be available starting in the spring, and it looks like they'll hit the United States in the summer or fall.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/porsches-new-taycan-evs-have-more-range-faster-acceleration-and-a-higher-price-123514002.html?src=rss

Bluesky, the open-source Twitter alternative, is now open to anyone. After being in beta for a little less than a year and with just over three million users, the social media platform is an option if the ruins of X (formerly Twitter) or Threads aren't doing it for you.Bluesky began life as an internal project at Jack Dorsey's Twitter, but it ended its association with the entity now known as X after Elon Musk's takeover. We really believe that the future of social is, and should be, open and decentralized," Bluesky CEO Jay Graber tells Engadget. This is something that we think is good for the public conversation overall."Decentralized status aside, the service is functionally similar to X and Threads. Posts aren't tweets but skeets.' There's a chronological timeline, but you can also follow numerous other algorithmic feeds created by fellow users. (I'm intrigued by the feed for quiet friends - users you follow who don't post that often.)You can find me on there @thatmatsmith.bsky.social. I'm probably going to be one of those quiet friends.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedHow security experts unravel ransomwareFormer Mandalorian actor Gina Carano sues Disney - with X's helpFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth adds an addictive card game and some familiar social mechanicsYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Disney+ starts cracking down on password sharingThe streaming service has reportedly warned US subscribers in an email.If it worked for Netflix... Disney+ is emailing its subscribers, notifying them about a change in its terms of service. Its service agreement now states users may not share their passwords outside of their household unless otherwise permitted by [their] service tier," suggesting new subscription options in the future. It might be time for Mom and Dad to buy their own subscription. I say Mom and Dad, I mean you.Continue reading.Taylor Swift also doesn't like her private jets being trackedShe threatened legal action against the same guy who ran the ElonJet account.Taylor Swift has threatened legal action against a Florida student who set up multiple social media accounts that release real-time information of her personal aircraft's whereabouts. The student facing legal action by Swift's team is the same guy who ran the ElonJet account that tracked Elon Musk's jet. Facebook and Instagram banned Sweeney's accounts that track Swift's air travel late last year, but they're still live on Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram and other sites.Continue reading.Nintendo thinks it'll sell more Switch consoles than it predicted this yearAnd the Switch is old.EngadgetAt almost seven years old, the Nintendo Switch is proving there's still life in the hybrid console. Enough life for Nintendo to up its predicted sales figures for its current fiscal year. In its third-quarter earnings release, the company announced it was increasing the Switch's projected sales from 15 million to 15.5 million. That's great and all, but where's the Switch 2?Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-twitter-alternative-bluesky-is-no-longer-invitation-only-121534911.html?src=rss

Back in 2022, the European Commission released a proposal for a directive on how to combat domestic violence and violence against women in other forms. Now, the European Council and Parliament have agreed with the proposal to criminalize, among other things, different types of cyber-violence. The proposed rules will criminalize the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including deepfakes made by AI tools, which could help deter revenge porn. Cyber-stalking, online harassment, misogynous hate speech and "cyber-flashing," or the sending of unsolicited nudes, will also be recognized as criminal offenses.The commission says that having a directive for the whole European Union that specifically addresses those particular acts will help victims in Member States that haven't criminalized them yet. "This is an urgent issue to address, given the exponential spread and dramatic impact of violence online," it wrote in its announcement. In addition, the directive will require member states to develop measures that can help users more easily identify cyber-violence and to know how to prevent it from happening if possible or how to seek help. It will require them to provide their residents with an online portal where they can send in reports, as well.In its reporting, Politico suggested that the recent spread of pornographic deepfake images using Taylor Swift's face urged EU officials to move forward with the proposal. If you'll recall, X even had to temporarily block searches for the musician's name after the images went viral. "The latest disgusting way of humiliating women is by sharing intimate images generated by AI in a couple of minutes by anybody," European Commission Vice President Vra Jourova told the publication. "Such pictures can do huge harm, not only to popstars but to every woman who would have to prove at work or at home that it was a deepfake." At the moment, though, the aforementioned rules are just part of a bill that representatives of EU member states still need to approve. "The final law is also pending adoption in Council and European Parliament," the EU Council said. According to Politico, if all goes well and the bill becomes a law soon, EU states will have until 2027 to enforce the new rules.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-eu-wants-to-criminalize-ai-generated-porn-images-and-deepfakes-105037524.html?src=rss

In an age where fraudsters are using generative AI to scam money or tarnish one's reputation, tech firms are coming up with methods to help users verify content - at least still images, to begin with. As teased in its 2024 misinformation strategy, OpenAI is now including provenance metadata in images generated with ChatGPT on the web and DALL-E 3 API, with their mobile counterparts receiving the same upgrade by February 12.The metadata follows the C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) open standard, and when one such image is uploaded to the Content Credentials Verify tool, you'll be able to trace its provenance lineage. For instance, an image generated using ChatGPT will show an initial metadata manifest indicating its DALL-E 3 API origin, followed by a second metadata manifest showing that it surfaced in ChatGPT.Despite the fancy cryptographic tech behind the C2PA standard, this verification method only works when the metadata is intact; the tool is of no use if you upload an AI-generated image sans metadata - as is the case with any screenshot or uploaded image on social media. Unsurprisingly, the current sample images on the official DALL-E 3 page returned blank as well. On its FAQ page, OpenAI admits that this isn't a silver bullet to addressing the misinformation war, but it believes that the key is to encourage users to actively look for such signals.While OpenAI's latest effort on thwarting fake content is currently limited to still images, Google's DeepMind already has SynthID for digitally watermarking both images and audio generated by AI. Meanwhile, Meta has been testing invisible watermarking via its AI image generator, which may be less prone to tampering.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-will-digitally-tag-images-generated-by-dall-e-3-to-help-battle-misinformation-102514822.html?src=rss

YouTube TV users are getting a higher-quality video option for everything from binging their favorite shows to catching a live game. Google is rolling out a new setting called 1080p Enhanced for YouTube TV and Primetime Channels subscribers. The 1080p Enhanced setting improves on the existing 1080p60 resolution with its upgraded bitrate.Google confirmed the update after a Reddit user posted about it on the platform. The 1080p Enhanced setting "delivers our highest video quality," according to the response. Reddit users who already have access to 1080p Enhanced report that the resolution is available for all of the same channels as 1080p60, such as Paramount and Syfy. The 1080p Enhanced option also follows YouTube Premium, which boosted video quality for subscribers on the company's original platform.In this case, any YouTube TV and Primetime Channels subscribers with an updated 4K-compatible streaming device should gain access to the option by accessing video quality settings. However, Google has discovered a bug that stops users from manually choosing 1080p Enhanced. However, the company reports that the bug doesn't impact picture quality and that it is working to fix the problem.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-tv-gets-a-1080p-enhanced-option-that-offers-better-video-quality-100505656.html?src=rss

Disney+ started getting strict about password sharing in Canada last year, and now it's expanding the restriction to the US. According to The Verge, the streaming service has been sending out emails to its subscribers in the country, notifying them about a change in its terms of service. Its service agreement now states that users may not share their passwords outside of their household "unless otherwise permitted by [their] service tier," suggesting the arrival of new subscription options in the future.The Verge says Disney+ told subscribers that they can analyze the use of their account to "determine compliance," though it didn't elaborate on how its methods work exactly. "We're adding limitations on sharing your account outside of your household, and explaining how we may assess your compliance with these limitations," Disney+ reportedly wrote in its email. In its Service Agreement, the service describes "household" as "the collection of devices associated with [subscribers'] primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside therein." The rule already applies to new subscribers, but old ones have until March 14 to feel its effects.Disney's other streaming service, Hulu, also recently announced that it's clamping down on password sharing outside the subscriber's "primary personal residence." It used the same language in its its warning to users, also telling them that their accounts will be analyzed for compliance and that it will start enforcing the new rule on March 14.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/disney-has-started-cracking-down-on-password-sharing-in-the-us-070317512.html?src=rss

Just one more hand. Just one more attempt to win at the card game, Queen's Blood. In my limited preview time with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, weeks before the game is due to be released, I may have spent a little too long learning the rules of this companion card game, introduced relatively early into the game. And I regret nothing. (For one, because I previewed most of the changes to the battle system a few months ago.)This early addiction bodes well for the wider game. It's a sign that the team behind this sequel-of-a-remake is making a world bigger and richer than the occasionally on-the-rails one in Remake. I'm hoping for a more open-world experience, now that the characters have finally escaped Midgar. (See: the plot of Final Fantasy 7 Remake) A change of location, too, shakes up the look of Rebirth. It has plants! Nature, everywhere! At least once you're out of a satellite town called Kalm in Chapter 2.Square EnixFirst, I played through Chapter 1, which also acts as a tutorial. It's a flashback to Nibelheim, which explains how protagonist Cloud and antagonist Sephiroth worked together before; well, the latter seemingly lost his mind and slaughtered everyone in town.It's a more story-weighted version of my earlier demo, but I could now explore the town that multiple party members grew up in. When Cloud explores his friend Tifa's house - without her permission - it sets up some entertaining criticisms of his lack of boundaries. Still, it was all predicated on me choosing to be awful and barge into Tifa's room, play her piano, and just be a bit of a creep.The chapter also raises some unanswered questions around Cloud and his fuzzy memories of Nibelheim. Anyone who's played the original knows where this is going, but given how some characters in the first third of the game didn't die, I'm waiting to see how the developers further shake up the plot for new and old fans. There should be a significant death during this middle chapter of the game: Will they twist the knife?Let's go back to the new card game. Queen's Blood follows on from Triple Triad, Tetra Master and that weird pinball-ish game in Final Fantasy XV that might best be forgotten. You'll be able to customize your deck of cards, each with a different layout of tiles and occasional special effects. It's almost Risk-like, aiming to dominate the board and rack up the highest score on three rows. Cards can reclaim territory, lower stats, and all the usual videogame card antics, and yes, I am struggling to explain it in words. But it's fun. And I should have stopped playing to explore more of the grasslands than I did.Square EnixOnce you've wrapped up your card games and stepped out from Kalm, I could explore in most directions. In the time I had leftover, I saw points of interest packed with treasure, unique monster packs, resources to collect, weapons with skills to master, chocobos to tame and race, chocobo stops to repair (which add fast-travel spots to the map); and the return of the terribly-named Chad with virtual battles and tasks for you to help unlock more materia for extra spells and abilities. I then ate dirt in a battle to unlock the summon spell for Titan.I liked this pick-and-choose busy-ness, but some diversions felt like they were there for the sake of killing time, a la Assassin's Creed. I hope the developers remember to pare down travel time where they can, because traversing an area can get boring, even when riding a giant bird.Fortunately, getting from A to B is interrupted by entertaining, occasionally challenging, battles. One new addition to Rebirth is an enemy detection radar that shows enemies' aggression level, helping you avoid fights when you just want to get going.Another new dynamic is the party's bonds with each other, which are now integrated with your movesets and stats. This presented itself in dialogue choices and side quests, adding a popular social mechanic seen in so many JRPGs into this remake sequel. What's notable is that the more you deepen this friendship, a separate skill tree improves characters' stats and even unlocks new synergy attacks (which I elaborated on here) to use in battle. Square Enix teased that the level of bonds could affect the story too - but that could just reflect the theme park date' that Cloud goes on, later, in the original game. We'll find out in a few weeks.You can test out some of this for yourself now. Square Enix has launched a two-part demo, including the Nibelheim incident, available to download now. Just 49GB! A second section will unlock on February 21.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches on the PS5 on February 29, 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-7-rebirth-adds-an-addictive-card-game-and-some-familiar-social-mechanics-000156550.html?src=rss

Three of the biggest sports TV companies in the US - ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery - will launch a streaming sports service in the fall of 2024, the companies said in a joint statement on Tuesday. It will stream sporting events from networks that all three companies own, including games from the NFL, MLB, NHL, and the NBA. Importantly, subscribers will also be able to stream linear channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV, and ESPN+, helpful for anyone thinking about canceling cable.

Four days after the death of former costar Carl Weathers, onetime The Mandalorian actor Gina Carano is suing Disney and Lucasfilm for her departure from the series - with Elon Musk's help. Carano, whose post-Disney credits include a film produced by conspiracy theorist Ben Shapiro, posted Tuesday on X, The truth is I was being hunted down from everything I posted to every post I liked because I was not in line with the acceptable narrative of the time." X confirmed its assistance in a statement to Engadget.Carano shared news of the lawsuit in a 694-word post on X. In the essay, she claims never to have used aggressive language, compared Republicans to Jewish people during the Holocaust or written anything racist or transphobic. She insists her male costars were permitted to speak without harassment & re-education courses or termination," but she was not afforded the same right to exercise my freedom of speech."Artists do not sign away our rights as American citizens when we enter into employment," Carano wrote Tuesday. However, since she wasn't arrested or detained for her views, her rights as an American citizen appear fully intact. Meanwhile, American businesses like Disney have the right not to employ actors whose views clash with their brand.The actor and former mixed martial arts competitor thanked Musk and X on Tuesday for giving me an opportunity to bring my case to light" by helping fund her lawsuit. Musk previously said he would pay the legal costs of users who got in trouble for their posts on the platform.X confirmed its monetary assistance in a statement to Engadget. As a sign of X Corp's commitment to free speech, we're proud to provide financial support for Gina Carano's lawsuit, empowering her to seek vindication of her free speech rights on X and the ability to work without bullying, harassment, or discrimination," a company spokesperson wrote.Carano as Cara Dune in season two of The Mandalorian'Disney+Carano's troubles with Disney arose from social media posts on X (Twitter at the time) and Instagram. In her posts, she questioned the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, blamed the Biden administration for the deaths of vaccinated people, claimed Jeffrey Epstein didn't kill himself and added boop/bop/beep" as her pronouns.The final straw for Disney was when she shared a post on Instagram implying that the treatment of conservatives in Trump-era America had parallels to the targeting of Jews in Nazi-era Germany. The following day, Disney dropped Carano from The Mandalorian and the (since canceled) Rangers of the New Republic series.Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future," a spokesperson wrote in a statement at the time. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable." Carano's agency, United Talent Agency, dropped her around the same time.Carano's post-Star Wars career has included Terror on the Prairie, produced by Ben Shapiro's The Daily Wire. She also starred in the 2022 film My Son Hunter, a fictional retelling of the lifestyle and scandals of Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/former-mandalorian-actor-gina-carano-sues-disney--with-xs-help-220039820.html?src=rss

Two companies based in Texas have been linked to a spate of robocalls that used artificial intelligence to mimic President Joe Biden. The audio deepfake was used to urge New Hampshire voters not to participate in the state's presidential primary. New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said as many as 25,000 of the calls were made to residents of the state in January.Formella says an investigation has linked the source of the robocalls to Texan companies Life Corporation and Lingo Telecom. No charges have yet been filed against either company or Life Corporation's owner, a person named Walter Monk. The probe is ongoing and other entities are believed to be involved. Federal law enforcement officials are said to be looking into the case too.We have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Life Corporation that orders the company to immediately desist violating New Hampshire election laws," Formella said at a press conference, according to CNN. "We have also opened a criminal investigation, and we are taking next steps in that investigation, sending document preservation notices and subpoenas to Life Corporation, Lingo Telecom and any other individual or entity."The Federal Communications Commission also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Lingo Telecom. The agency said (PDF) it has warned both companies about robocalls in the past.The deepfake was created using tools from AI voice cloning company ElevenLabs, which banned the user responsible. The company says it is "dedicated to preventing the misuse of audio AI tools and [that it takes] any incidents of misuse extremely seriously."Meanwhile, the FCC is seeking to ban robocalls that use AI-generated voices. Under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the agency is responsible for making rules regarding robocalls. Commissioners are to vote on the issue in the coming weeks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/phony-ai-biden-robocalls-reached-up-to-25000-voters-says-new-hampshire-ag-205253966.html?src=rss

Akai just officially announced the MPC Key 37, a standalone workstation and groovebox. This is the latest standalone MPC device, following last year's larger Key 61. The Key 37 has everything you need to make a beat or song from scratch without having to use an actual computer and DAW, with some limitations.There are 37 full-size keys, complete with aftertouch. There aren't that many standalone devices out there with a full keybed, so this should excite musicians who lack experience with Akai-style pads. This device does have 16 velocity-sensitive pads for laying down drum parts and triggering samples, so it's a best of both worlds" type situation.The Key 37 ships with 32GB of on-board storage, though 10GB is used up by the OS and included sound packs. Thankfully, there's a slot for an SD card to expand the storage - these standalone devices fill up fast.You get the same color 7-inch multi-touch display and four assignable Q-Link knobs as the company's Key 61 workstation. This is great for making system adjustments and for controlling effects plugins and the like. As a matter of fact, the entire layout recalls the Key 61, though this new release is slightly less powerful.Akai The Key 37 features 2GB of RAM, compared to 4GB with the Key 61. This is going to hamper the number of tracks that will play simultaneously without any hiccups. It also lacks the two microphone inputs and associated preamps. There are, however, stereo 1/4-inch inputs and outputs, USB Midi, 5-pin MIDI In/MIDI Out, 4 TRS CV/Gate output jacks and a USB host port. This keyboard also boasts Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity for wireless streaming with platforms like Ableton Link.Beyond the iconic 16 pad layout, the highlight of any MPC machine is the software. To that end, the Key 37 ships with Akai's MPC2 desktop software and its standalone suite. You get eight instrument plugins out of the box and a voucher for a premium plug from the company's ever-growing collection. You even get that cool stem separation software, though it's not available on the Key 37 yet.Akai's latest and greatest may not be as full-featured as 2022's Key 61, but it's around half the price. The Key 37 costs $900 and is available to order right now via parent company inMusic and authorized retailers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/akai-adds-a-37-key-standalone-workstation-to-its-mpc-lineup-191246047.html?src=rss

Hackers use ransomware to go after every industry, charging as much money as they can to return access to a victim's files. It's a lucrative business to be in. In the first six months of 2023, ransomware gangs bilked $449 million from their targets, even though most governments advise against paying ransoms. Increasingly, security professionals are coming together with law enforcement to provide free decryption tools - freeing locked files and eliminating the temptation for victims to pony up.There are a couple main ways that ransomware decryptors go about coming up with tools: reverse engineering for mistakes, working with law enforcement and gathering publicly available encryption keys. The length of the process varies depending on how complex the code is, but it usually requires information on the encrypted files, unencrypted versions of the files and server information from the hacking group. Just having the output encrypted file is usually useless. You need the sample itself, the executable file," said Jakub Kroustek, malware research director at antivirus business Avast. It's not easy, but does pay dividends to the impacted victims when it works.First, we have to understand how encryption works. For a very basic example, let's say a piece of data might have started as a cognizable sentence, but appears like "J qsfgfs dbut up epht" once it's been encrypted. If we know that one of the unencrypted words in "J qsfgfs dbut up epht" is supposed to be "cats," we can start to determine what pattern was applied to the original text to get the encrypted result. In this case, it's just the standard English alphabet with each letter moved forward one place: A becomes B, B becomes C, and "I prefer cats to dogs" becomes the string of nonsense above. It's much more complex for the sorts of encryption used by ransomware gangs, but the principle remains the same. The pattern of encryption is also known as the 'key', and by deducing the key, researchers can create a tool that can decrypt the files.Some forms of encryption, like the Advanced Encryption Standard of 128, 192 or 256 bit keys, are virtually unbreakable. At its most advanced level, bits of unencrypted "plaintext" data, divided into chunks called "blocks," are put through 14 rounds of transformation, and then output in their encrypted - or "ciphertext" - form. We don't have the quantum computing technology yet that can break encryption technology," said Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at security software company Trend Micro. But luckily for victims, hackers don't always use strong methods like AES to encrypt files.While some cryptographic schemes are virtually uncrackable it's a difficult science to perfect, and inexperienced hackers will likely make mistakes. If the hackers don't apply a standard scheme, like AES, and instead opt to build their own, the researchers can then dig around for errors. Why would they do this? Mostly ego. They want to do something themselves because they like it or they think it's better for speed purposes," Jornt van der Wiel, a cybersecurity researcher at Kaspersky, said.For example, here's how Kaspersky decrypted the Yanluowang ransomware strain. It was a targeted strain aimed at specific companies, with an unknown list of victims. Yanluowang used the Sosemanuk stream cipher to encrypt data: a free-for-use process that encrypts the plaintext file one digit at a time. Then, it encrypted the key using an RSA algorithm, another type of encryption standard. But there was a flaw in the pattern. The researchers were able to compare the plaintext to the encrypted version, as explained above, and reverse engineer a decryption tool now made available for free. In fact, there are tons that have already been cracked by the No More Ransom project.Ransomware decryptors will use their knowledge of software engineering and cryptography to get the ransomware key and, from there, create a decryption tool, according to Kroustek. More advanced cryptographic processes may require either brute forcing, or making educated guesses based on the information available. Sometimes hackers use a pseudo-random number generator to create the key. A true RNG will be random, duh, but that means it won't be easily predicted. A pseudo-RNG, as explained by van der Wiel, may rely on an existing pattern in order to appear random when it's actually not - the pattern might be based on the time it was created, for example. If researchers know a portion of that, they can try different time values until they deduce the key.But getting that key often relies on working with law enforcement to get more information about how the hacking groups work. If researchers are able to get the hacker's IP address, they can request the local police to seize servers and get a memory dump of their contents. Or, if hackers have used a proxy server to obscure their location, police might use traffic analyzers like NetFlow to determine where the traffic goes and get the information from there, according to van der Wiel. The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime makes this possible across international borders because it lets police request an image of a server in another country urgently while they wait for the official request to go through.The server provides information on the hacker's activities, like who they might be targeting or their process for extorting a ransom. This can tell ransomware decryptors the process the hackers went through in order to encrypt the data, details about the encryption key or access to files that can help them reverse engineer the process. The researchers comb through the server logs for details in the same way you may help your friend dig up details on their Tinder date to make sure they're legit, looking for clues or details about malicious patterns that can help suss out true intentions. Researchers may, for example, discover part of the plaintext file to compare to the encrypted file to begin the process of reverse engineering the key, or maybe they'll find parts of the pseudo-RNG that can begin to explain the encryption pattern.Working with law enforcement helped Cisco Talos create a decryption tool for the Babuk Tortilla ransomware. This version of ransomware targeted healthcare, manufacturing and national infrastructure, encrypting victims' devices and deleting valuable backups. Avast had already created a generic Babuk decryptor, but the Tortilla strain proved difficult to crack. The Dutch Police and Cisco Talos worked together to apprehend the person behind the strain, and gained access to the Tortilla decryptor in the process.But often the easiest way to come up with these decryption tools stems from the ransomware gangs themselves. Maybe they're retiring, or just feeling generous, but attackers will sometimes publicly release their encryption key. Security experts can then use the key to make a decryption tool and release that for victims to use going forward.Generally, experts can't share a lot about the process without giving ransomware gangs a leg up. If they divulge common mistakes, hackers can use that to easily improve their next ransomware attempts. If researchers tell us what encrypted files they're working on now, gangs will know they're on to them. But the best way to avoid paying is to be proactive. If you've done a good job of backing up your data, you have a much higher opportunity to not have to pay," said Clay.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-security-experts-unravel-ransomware-184531451.html?src=rss

This may be a good time to buy one of Amazon's latest tablets as many of them are on sale, with discounts of up to 35 percent. The sale brings the 2023 Fire HD 10 down to $95, which is only $15 more than its record low and 32 percent off the $140 list price. This model comes with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a speedier processor than the last time around. The 1080p HD screen is touch- and stylus-compatible and there's a 5 megapixel camera up front and another in back. Note that this model displays ads on the lockscreen. If you'd rather not see those promos, the ad-free version is also on sale and currently $15 more at $110.All Fire tablets are budget slates that let you browse the web, watch shows and play casual games; They probably aren't the best pick if you're looking for a workhorse productivity tablet, which tend to cost significantly more. You won't be able to run Apple apps, which seems obvious, but Fire tablets also don't natively support the Google Play store - even though Fire OS is a fork of Android. Readily available apps come from the Amazon app store, which include most major streamers like Netflix, Max, Peacock, social apps like TikTok and Instagram, and plenty of casual games. If you're just looking for a way to entertain yourself after a day of being productive, Fire tablets offer one of the few ways to do so for under $100. And like all Amazon devices, Alexa is built in to answer questions and control your smart home lights, cameras and doorbells.Elsewhere in the sale, the Fire HD 8 is down to $65, which is 35 percent off and around $10 more than its record low. This is an 8-inch version of Amazon's tablet, with 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and a 1280 x 800 screen at 189 ppi. There's a 2MP front camera and a claimed battery life of 13 hours. This is also a model with lockscreen promos, the ad-free version is $80.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/amazon-fire-tablets-are-up-to-35-percent-off-right-now-181542666.html?src=rss

GoPro is going back to desktops with a new editing app for Mac. While the company has long offered GoPro Studio and Player + ReelSteady desktop apps, much of its attention has been on mobile since it bought Replay and Splice in 2016. It rebranded the former to Quik.The latest desktop program is based on Quik and it ties into the GoPro mobile apps. You'll be able to start editing in the Quik mobile app and finish up on your Mac - or vice-versa. Features include a beat sync tool that matches your edit to the rhythm of the backing track. There's an auto-highlight editing function too. Although the Mac editing suite could certainly use more features, GoPro says all the key tools from the Quik mobile app will make their way to desktop by the time a Windows version arrives later this year.GoPro charges those who don't use its devices $10 per year to use the Quik mobile app. Subscribers to its other tiers will get access to the desktop app at no extra cost. On that note, the company is rebranding its GoPro Subscription to GoPro Premium. It still costs $50 per year (though newcomers get a 50 percent discount for the first year) and it includes perks such as unlimited cloud backups, livestreaming, discounts on equipment and guaranteed camera replacements.The company is adding a higher subscription tier as well, GoPro Premium+. It includes all of the perks of Premium, along with HyperSmooth Pro video stabilization and up to 500GB of cloud storage for footage captured with non-GoPro cameras (compared with 25GB for Premium). Premium+ costs $100 per year, and Premium users can upgrade for $50.Update 2/6 1:07PM ET: Clarifying that GoPro bought Replay and rebranded it as Quik.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gopro-rolls-out-a-mac-editing-app-and-a-high-end-premium-subscription-tier-173838600.html?src=rss

If you're already onboard with Alexa and have decided you want a smart display, a new deal on Amazon's latest Echo Show 8 may be of interest. The 8-inch display is currently down to $90 at Amazon, Target, Best Buy and other retailers, which matches the lowest price we've seen since the device was unveiled last September. Amazon normally sells the smart display for $150, though we saw it drop to $105 for much of the holiday season. Amazon's offer also includes a Sengled color smart bulb for no extra cost. That bulb is compatible with the Matter smart home standard, and we recommend a similar model in our guide to the best smart lights.We haven't formally reviewed the latest Echo Show 8, but it's largely similar to the second-gen model from 2021, which we previously called the best smart display for Alexa users. It still offers a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel and a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. The design is mostly the same, though the new model's rounded back is a little less pronounced, and the glass on its front stretches edge-to-edge. Its front camera is also located in the center of the top edge, not off to the right, so it's a bit more convenient for framing yourself during video calls. Internally, there's an upgraded octa-core processor that should make it faster to complete Alexa requests, and the new model can work with other smart home devices using the Zigbee and Thread protocols in addition to Matter. Amazon promises improved sound quality, too, though you still shouldn't expect deep sub-bass or ultra-spaciousness with a smallish speaker like this.All of this should keep the Echo Show 8 as the sweet spot in Amazon's smart display lineup. It's not as affordable as the Echo Show 5, but it's faster and louder, with a superior camera and more spacious display for showing photos and making video calls. It's not as big as the Echo Show 10, but it's significantly less expensive and easier to fit in more rooms around the house. Either way, you can use it to check the weather, pull up recipes or stream music, among other typical Alexa tasks. And while no smart display like this will truly be comfortable for those protective of their privacy, the Echo Show 8 at least has a camera cover and mic mute button built in. Google's Nest Hub remains a better buy for those who heavily use services like Gmail, Google Calendar and YouTube - and there are still questions regarding Alexa's long-term outlook - but this should be a solid deal if you're looking to build a smart home through Amazon's assistant.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-amazon-echo-show-8-returns-to-an-all-time-low-of-90-165936914.html?src=rss

Ever since the Vision Pro went on sale last week, Apple's pricey AR/VR headset has been spotted in all sorts of unusual places: from the gym to airplanes and everywhere in between. However, after one owner was seen wearing it while driving down the highway in a Tesla Cybertruck, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg issued a warning reminding people to use some common sense.In a post on X alongside a snippet from the original video, Buttigieg reiterated that "ALL advanced driver assistance systems available today require the human driver to be in control and fully engaged in the driving task at all times." Similarly, Apple's headset ships with multiple warnings advising users not to use it while "operating a moving vehicle" or in "any other situations requiring attention to safety."

It looks like Elon Musk isn't the only billionaire who doesn't like having their private jet tracked. Pop star Taylor Swift has threatened legal action against a Florida student who set up multiple social media accounts that release real-time information as to the whereabouts of her personal aircraft, according to The Washington Post.This is eerily reminiscent of the whole ElonJet scandal of late 2022, in which Twitter banned an account that was tracking Musk's jet. As a matter of fact, the student facing legal action by Swift's team is the same guy who ran that account. Jack Sweeney, 21, runs various social media pages that log the takeoffs and landings of aircraft owned by billionaires, politicians and, of course, pop stars.Back in December, Swift's attorneys wrote Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter that said the pop star would have no choice but to pursue any and all legal remedies" if he did not stop publishing details as to her jet's whereabouts, likening it to stalking and harassing behavior."The letter went on to say that Sweeney's actions had caused Swift and her family direct and irreparable harm, as well as emotional and physical distress," and had heightened her constant state of fear for her personal safety." It's worth noting that Swift has had numerous stalkers and harassers throughout her career. Just last month, a man was arrested for stalking her at home on several occasions.While this may be a game to you, or an avenue that you hope will earn you wealth or fame, it is a life-or-death matter for our client," the legal team wrote. The letter added that there is no legitimate interest in or public need for this information, other than to stalk, harass, and exert dominion and control."Tree Paine, a spokesperson for Swift, made a direct line from Sweeney's social media accounts to Swift's harassers, saying that the pop star's team couldn't comment on any ongoing police investigation but can confirm the timing of stalkers suggests a connection."Sweeney told The Washington Post that this is just an attempt to scare him away from sharing public data, noting that all of his jet-tracking accounts draw location information from the Federal Aviation Administration and volunteer hobbyists. Aircraft regularly broadcast their locations via transponders so air traffic controllers can see what's going on. Anyone on the ground can pick up these signals by using a device called an ADS-B receiver, which are widely available online. This information is already out there," Sweeney said. Her team thinks they can control the world."Swift's team wrote that Sweeney is notorious for disregarding the personal safety of others in exchange for public attention and/or requests for financial gain", citing an incident in which he asked Elon Musk for $50,000 to take down the ElonJet account.Facebook and Instagram banned Sweeney's accounts that track Swift's air travel late last year, but they're still live on Bluesky, Mastodon, Telegram and other social media sites. His live-tracking accounts have been banned on X, but he's allowed to post location data with a 24-hour delay. In addition to the world's biggest pop star, Sweeney also tracks people like Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian and Mark Zuckerberg.It doesn't look like Sweeney's planning to stop tracking the pop star's jet anytime soon. He's lawyered up to defend himself from legal action.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/add-taylor-swift-to-the-list-of-famous-people-who-dont-like-their-private-jets-being-tracked-163326648.html?src=rss

The tech industry has been reeling from the combination of a rough economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and some obvious business missteps. And while that led to job cuts in 2022, the headcount reductions unfortunately ramped up in 2023 and so far, seem to be accelerating in 2024. It can be tough to keep track of these moves, so we've compiled all the major layoffs in one place and will continue to update this story as the situation evolves.February 2024DocuSign layoffsDocuSign slashed its headcount by six percent. Staff in the sales and marketing departments were most heavily affected. Bloomberg notes that the company had 7,336 employees at the end of 2023.Snap layoffsSnap is once again reducing its headcount, this time by another 10 percent, or some 540 workers. The company claimed the layoffs were required to reduce hierarchy and promote in-person collaboration."January 2024Duolingo layoffsDuolingo cut 10 percent of its contractors, and said that it is instead able to use generative AI to accomplish some of the tasks that its human workers used to perform.Unity layoffsUnity laid off 1,800 people, or a quarter of its workforce. This is in addition to more than 1,110 other layoffs at the company over the past two years.Humane AI layoffsHumane cut 4 percent of its workforce even before its flagship product, the Ai pin, hit the market.Twitch layoffsAmazon-owned Twitch is laying off a sobering 35 percent of its workforce, just over 500 people. In a note to staff, CEO Dan Clancy said "our organization is still meaningfully larger than it needs to be given the size of our business."Amazon layoffsOn the same day that Amazon-owned Twitch confirmed it would be laying off 500 workers, Variety reported that Amazon itself would lay off "several hundred" people at Prime Video and MGM Studios. Later in January, Amazon also cut 5 percent of the staff behind its Buy with Prime program.Meta layoffsMeta's layoffs are continuing into 2024. The company has reportedly let go 60 technical program managers at Instagram.Google layoffsIn another round of belt tightening, Google has reportedly laid off hundreds of workers in its Assistant and hardware divisions, among other departments. Alongside the cuts, Google is said to have reorganized its Pixel, Nest and Fitbit divisions, which led to Fitbit's co-founders departing the company. Just days later, Google laid off hundreds of workers in its ads business. CEO Sundar Pichai later said in an internal memo that even more cuts would be coming throughout the year, while parent company Alphabet cut dozens of jobs from its X moonshot lab.Discord layoffsDiscord has reportedly laid off 170 workers, or 17 percent of its workforce. In a memo first reported by The Verge, CEO Jason Citron said the company had hired too many people back in 2020.Riot Games layoffsFollowing the gaming industry's crisis level of loss in 2023, Riot Games announced that it laid off 11 percent of its workforce globally, impacting 530 people.eBay layoffsE-commerce giant eBay is reducing its workforce by around 1,000 roles, or roughly 9 percent of its full-time employees. The company also plans to scale back the number of contractors over the coming months.TikTok layoffsTikTok confirmed it let go 60 employees, mostly in its sales and advertising division.Microsoft layoffsMicrosoft cut 1,900 jobs across Activision and Blizzard. This marks a bleak beginning to the new year for gaming, with 6,000 layoffs across the industry so far in 2024 alone.iRobot layoffsRoomba maker iRobot slashed 31 percent of its workforce following Amazon's decision to terminate its proposed acquisition of the company.Block layoffsBlock reportedly laid off around 1,000 workers, with the Cash App and Square teams among those most heavily affected. CEO Jack Dorsey told staff that Block was becoming a leaner company.PayPal layoffsPayPal cut nine percent of its workforce - approximately 2,500 employees - despite reporting strong revenue growth in 2023.Sega layoffsSega announced plans to lay off 61 workers in March. The employees are based at two offices in Irvine, California.December 2023Spotify layoffsSpotify is laying off 17 percent of its workforce, CEO Daniel Ek announced in a pre-holiday press release.New World InteractiveThe developer behind the Insurgency series and Day of Infamy laid off an undisclosed number of employees in December.TinybuildIndie game developer Tinybuild also laid off an undisclosed number of employees, citing cost restructuring.CodemastersThe EA-owned studio cut some jobs in December. Here, too, it is unclear how many employees lost their jobs.TidalThe music streamer announced in December that it is laying off 10 percent of its workforce. This follows an announcement in November from parent company Block Inc. that it would cap its workforce at 12,000 employees.EtsyEtsy is laying off 11 percent of its staff, or around 225 employees. The company is also reshuffling its c-suite, with two executives departing in early 2024.November 2023Ubisoft Montreal layoffsIn early November, Ubisoft laid off 98 people from its Montreal office, considered the home of the company's biggest in-house development team. The majority of those who lost their jobs were in business administration and IT. Overall, the company said in its latest quarterly earnings report that it had cut about 1,000 jobs over the last 12 months, including layoffs and not replacing employees who left voluntarily.Cruise layoffsCruise, General Motors' driverless car subsidiary, reportedly told employees in November that it plans to lay off some employees. The news came the same week that GM recalled Cruise's entire fleet of 950 robotaxis following a pedestrian collision. Cruise confirmed in December that the layoffs would include about 900 employees, or 24 percent of its workforce.Snap layoffsSnap laid off 20 product managers in a move it claims will enable faster decision making.Amazon layoffsAmazon cut 180 jobs from its gaming division, according to several reputable news outlets including Reuters and Bloomberg. The cuts included the entire staff working on Crown, an Amazon-backed Twitch channel. Separately, later in November Amazon laid off several hundred employees working on Alexa. On AI, the company is widely perceived to have fallen behind competitors such as OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT.ByteDance layoffsByteDance, TikTok's parent company, has reportedly eliminated hundreds of roles across its gaming division. Nuverse, the publisher it acquired back in 2017, was said to be gutted in the process.Unity layoffsUnity Software cut 265 jobs, or 3.8 percent of its workforce, as part of a company "reset."October 2023ASSOCIATED PRESSLinkedIn layoffsIn its second round of layoffs this year, LinkedIn said it is letting go around 668 workers from across its engineering, product, talent and finance teams. In May, LinkedIn said it would lay off 716 people and close its job search app in China. Between the two rounds of layoffs, LinkedIn will have cut nearly 1,400 jobs in 2023.September 2023ASSOCIATED PRESSEpic Games layoffsEpic Games laid off 16 percent of its employees, or about 830 employees. In an open letter to employees, CEO Tim Sweeney said the company was spending "way more money" than it earns, and that "we concluded that layoffs are the only way." Previously, the company had attempted to reduce costs by freezing hiring and cutting its marketing spending.Roku layoffsRoku's second round of 2023 layoffs is seeing another 300 people leaving the company, on top of 200 it let go in March and another 200 folks it dismissed in late 2022. Roku is once again looking to reduce costs and, along with lowering its headcount, it's trying to do that by axing shows and movies from its platform, consolidating office space and spending less on outside services.July 2023Chesnot/Getty ImagesGoogle layoffsGoogle drew attention in July when is contracting partner Accenture laid off 80 Help subcontractors who voted to form the Alphabet Workers Union-CWA the month before. Accenture attributed the move to cost-cutting. While the company said it respected the subcontractors' right to join a union, the former teams accused Google of retaliating against labor organizers.CD Projekt Red layoffsThe creator of Cyberpunk 2077 isn't immune to business challenges. CD Projekt Red warned in July that it would lay off about 100 people over the next several months, or about nine percent of the workforce. Employees will be let go as late as the first quarter of 2024. CEO Adam Kiciski was frank about the reasoning: CDPR was "overstaffed" for a reorganization meant to better handle the game developer's widening product roadmap, which includes new Cyberpunk and Witcher titles.June 2023Dado Ruvic / reutersSpotify layoffsSpotify followed up its January layoff plans with word in June that it would cut 200 jobs in its podcast unit. The move is part of a more targeted approach to fostering podcasts with optimized resources for creators and shows. The company is also combining its Gimlet and Parcast production teams into a renewed Spotify Studios division.GrubHub layoffsGrubHub has faced intense pressure from both the economy and competitors like Uber, and that led it to lay off 15 percent of its workforce in June, or roughly 400 staff. This came just weeks after outgoing CEO Adam DeWitt officially left the food delivery service. New chief executive Howard Migdal claims the job cuts will help the company remain "competitive."Embracer Group layoffsGame publishing giant Embracer Group announced plans for layoffs in June as part of a major restructuring effort meant to cut costs. The company didn't say how many of its 17,000 employees would be effected, but expected the overhaul to continue through March. The news came soon after Embracer revealed that it lost a $2 billion deal with an unnamed partner despite a verbal agreement.Sonos layoffsSonos has struggled to turn a profit as of late, and it's cutting costs to get back on track. The company said in June that it would lay off 7 percent of staff, or roughly 130 jobs. It also planned to offload real estate and rethink program spending. CEO Patrick Spence said there were "continued headwinds" that included shrinking sales.Plex layoffsPlex may be many users' go-to app for streaming both local and online media, but that hasn't helped its fortunes. The company laid off roughly 20 percent of employees in June, or 37 people. The cuts affect all areas. Plex is reportedly feeling the blow from an ad market slowdown, and is eager to cut costs and turn a profit.May 2023REUTERS/Chris WattieShopify layoffsShopify's e-commerce platform played an important role at the height of the pandemic, but the Canadian company is scaling back now that the rush is over. In May, the company laid off 20 percent of its workforce and sold its logistics business to Flexport. Founder Tobi Lutke characterized the job cuts as necessary to "pay unshared attention" to Shopify's core mission, and an acknowledgment that the firm needed to be more efficient now that the "stable economic boom times" were over.Polestar layoffsPolestar delayed production of its first electric SUV (the Polestar 3) in May, and that had repercussions for its workforce. The Volvo spinoff brand said in May that it would cut 10 percent of its workforce to lower costs as it faced reduced manufacturing expectations and a rough economy. Volvo needed more time for software development and testing that also pushed back the EX90, Polestar said.SoundCloud layoffsSoundCloud followed up last year's extensive layoffs with more this May. The streaming audio service said it would shed 8 percent of its staff in a bid to become profitable in 2023. Billboard sources claim the company hopes to be profitable by the fourth quarter of the year.April 2023Dado Ruvic / reutersLyft layoffsLyft laid off 13 percent of staff in November 2022, but took further steps in April. The ridesharing company said it was laying off 1,072 workers, or about 26 percent of its headcount. It comes just weeks after an executive shuffle that replaced CEO Logan Green with former Amazon exec David Risher, who said the company needed to streamline its business and refocus on drivers and passengers. Green previously said Lyft needed to boost its spending to compete with Uber.Dropbox layoffsCloud storage companies aren't immune to the current financial climate. In April, Dropbox said it would lay off 500 employees, or roughly 16 percent of its team. Co-founder Drew Houston pinned the cuts on the combination of a rough economy, a maturing business and the "urgency" to hop on the growing interest in AI. While the company is profitable, its growth is slowing and some investments are "no longer sustainable," Houston said.March 2023Roku layoffsRoku shed 200 jobs at the end of 2022, but it wasn't done. The streaming platform creator laid off another 200 employees in March 2023. As before, the company argued that it needed to curb growing expenses and concentrate on those projects that would have the most impact. Roku has been struggling with the one-two combination of a rough economy and the end of a pandemic-fueled boom in streaming video.Lucid Motors layoffsIf you thought luxury EV makers would be particularly susceptible to economic turmoil, you guessed correctly. Lucid Motors said in March that it would lay off 18 percent of its workforce, or about 1,300 people. The marque is still falling short of production targets, and these cuts reportedly help deal with "evolving business needs and productivity improvements." The cuts are across the board, too, and include both executives as well as contractors.Meta (Facebook) layoffsMeta slashed 11,000 jobs in fall 2022, but it wasn't finished. In March 2023, the company unveiled plans to lay off another 10,000 workers in a further bid to cut costs. The first layoffs affected its recruiting team, but it shrank its technology teams in late April and its business groups in late May. The Facebook owner is hoping to streamline its operations by reducing management layers and asking some leaders to take on work previously reserved for the rank and file. It may take a while before Meta's staff count grows again - it doesn't expect to lift a hiring freeze until sometime after it completes its restructuring effort in late 2023.February 2023Rivian layoffsRivian conducted layoffs in 2022, but that wasn't enough to help the fledgling EV brand's bottom line. The company laid off another six percent of its employees in February, or about 840 workers. It's still fighting to achieve profitability, and the production shortfall from supply chain issues hasn't helped matters. CEO RJ Scaringe says the job cuts will help Rivian focus on the "highest impact" aspects of its business.Zoom layoffsZoom was a staple of remote work culture at the pandemic's peak, so it's no surprise that the company is cutting back now that people are returning to offices. The video calling firm said in February it was laying off roughly 1,300 employees, or 15 percent of its personnel. As CEO Eric Yuan put it, the company didn't hire "sustainably" as it dealt with its sudden success. The layoffs are reportedly necessary to help survive a difficult economy. The management team is offering more than just apologies, too. Yuan is cutting his salary by 98 percent for the next fiscal year, while all other executives are losing 20 percent of their base salaries as well as their fiscal 2023 bonuses.Yahoo layoffsEngadget's parent company Yahoo isn't immune to layoffs. The internet brand said in February that it would lay off over 20 percent of its workforce throughout 2023, or more than 1,600 people. Most of those cuts, or about 1,000 positions, took place immediately. CEO Jim Lanzone didn't blame the layoffs on economic conditions, however. He instead pitched it as a restructuring of the advertising technology unit as it shed an unprofitable business in favor of a successful one. Effectively, Yahoo is bowing out of direct competition in with Google and Meta in the ad market.Dell layoffsThe pandemic recovery and a grim economy have hit PC makers particularly hard, and Dell is feeling the pain more than most. It laid off five percent of its workforce in early February, or about 6,650 employees, after a brutal fourth quarter where computer shipments plunged an estimated 37 percent. Past cost-cutting efforts weren't enough, Dell said - the layoffs and a streamlined organization were reportedly needed to get back on track.Deliveroo layoffsFood delivery services flourished while COVID-19 kept people away from restaurants, and at least some are feeling the sting now that people are willing to dine out again. Deliveroo is laying off about 350 workers, or nine percent of its workforce. "Redeployments" will bring this closer to 300, according to founder Will Shu. The justification is familiar: Deliveroo hired rapidly to handle "unprecedented" pandemic-related growth, according to Shu, but reportedly has to cut costs as it deals with a troublesome economy.DocuSign layoffsDocuSign may be familiar to many people who've signed documents online, but that hasn't spared it from the impact of a harsh economic climate. The company said in mid-February that it was laying off 10 percent of its workforce. While it didn't disclose how many people that represented, the company had 7,461 employees at the start of 2022. Most of those losing their jobs work in DocuSign's worldwide field organization.GitLab layoffsYou may not know GitLab, but its DevOps (development and operations) platform underpins work at tech brands like NVIDIA and T-Mobile - and shrinking business at its clients is affecting its bottom line. GitLab is laying off seven percent of employees, or roughly 114 people. Company chief Sid Sijbrandij said the problematic economy meant customers were taking a "more conservative approach" to software investment, and that his company's previous attempts to refocus spending weren't enough to counter these challenges.GoDaddy layoffsGoDaddy conducted layoffs early in the pandemic, when it cut over 800 workers for its retail-oriented Social platform. In February this year, however, it took broader action. The web service provider laid off eight percent of its workforce, or more than 500 people, across all divisions. Chief Aman Bhutani claimed other forms of cost-cutting hadn't been enough to help the company navigate an "uncertain" economy, and that this reflected efforts to further integrate acquisitions like Main Street Hub.Twilio layoffsTwilio eliminated over 800 jobs in September 2022, but it made deeper cuts as 2023 got started. The cloud communications brand laid off 17 percent of staff, or roughly 1,500 people, in mid-February. Like so many other tech firms, Twillio said that past cost reduction efforts weren't enough to endure an unforgiving environment. It also rationalized the layoffs as necessary for a streamlined organization.January 2023REUTERS/Peter DaSilvaGoogle (Alphabet) layoffsGoogle's parent company Alphabet has been cutting costs for a while, including shutting down Stadia, but it took those efforts one step further in late January when it said it would lay off 12,000 employees. CEO Sundar Pichai wasn't shy about the reasoning: Alphabet had been hiring for a "different economic reality," and was restructuring to focus on the internet giant's most important businesses. The decision hit the company's Area 120 incubator particularly hard, with the majority of the unit's workers losing their jobs. Sub-brands like Intrinsic (robotics) and Verily (health) also shed significant portions of their workforce in the days before the mass layoffs. Waymo has conducted two rounds of layoffs that shed 209 people, or eight percent of its force.Amazon layoffsAmazon had already outlined layoff plans last fall, but expanded those cuts in early January when it said it would eliminate 18,000 jobs, most of them coming from retail and recruiting teams. It added another 9,000 people to the layoffs in March, and in April said over 100 gaming employees were leaving. To no one's surprise, CEO Andy Jassy blamed both an "uncertain economy" and rapid hiring in recent years. Amazon benefited tremendously from the pandemic as people shifted to online shopping, but its growth is slowing as people return to in-person stores.Coinbase layoffsCoinbase was one of the larger companies impacted by the crypto market's 2022 downturn, and that carried over into the new year. The cryptocurrency exchange laid off 950 people in mid-January, just months after it slashed 1,100 roles. This is one of the steepest proportionate cuts among larger tech brands - Coinbase offloaded about a fifth of its staff. Chief Brian Armstrong said his outfit needed the layoffs to shrink operating expenses and survive what he previously described as a "crypto winter," but that also meant canceling some projects that were less likely to succeed.IBM layoffsLayoffs sometimes stem more from corporate strategy shifts than financial hardship, and IBM provided a classic example of this in 2023. The computing pioneer axed 3,900 jobs in late January after offloading both its AI-driven Watson Health business and its infrastructure management division (now Kyndryl) in the fall. Simply put, those employees had nothing to work on as IBM pivoted toward cloud computing.Microsoft layoffsMicrosoft started its second-largest wave of layoffs in company history when it signaled it would cut 10,000 jobs between mid-January and the end of March. Like many other tech heavyweights, it was trimming costs as customers scaled back their spending (particularly on Windows and devices) during the pandemic recovery. The reductions were especially painful for some divisions - they reportedly gutted the HoloLens and mixed reality teams, while 343 Industries is believed to be rebooting Halo development after losing dozens of workers. GitHub is cutting 10 percent of its team, or roughly 300 people.PayPal layoffsPayPal has been one of the healthier large tech companies, having beaten expectations in its third quarter last year. Still, it hasn't been immune to a tough economy. The online payment firm unveiled plans at the end of January to lay off 2,000 employees, or seven percent of its total worker base. CEO Dan Schulman claimed the downsizing would keep costs in check and help PayPal focus on "core strategic priorities."Salesforce layoffsSalesforce set the tone for 2023 when it warned it would lay off 8,000 employees, or about 10 percent of its workforce, just four days into the new year. While the cloud software brand thrived during the pandemic with rapidly growing revenue, it admitted that it hired too aggressively during the boom and couldn't maintain that staffing level while the economy was in decline.SAP layoffsBusiness software powerhouse SAP saw a steep 68 percent drop in profit at the end of 2022, and it started 2023 by laying off 2,800 staff to keep its business healthy. Unlike some big names in tech, though, SAP didn't blame excessive pandemic-era hiring for the cutback. Instead, it characterized the initiative as a "targeted restructuring" for a company that still expected accelerating growth in 2023.Spotify layoffsSpotify spent aggressively in recent years as it expanded its podcast empire, but it quickly put a stop to that practice as 2023 began. The streaming music service said in late January that it would lay off 6 percent of its workforce (9,800 people worked at Spotify as of the third quarter) alongside a restructuring effort that included the departure of content chief Dawn Ostroff. While there were more Premium subscribers than ever in 2022, the company also suffered steep losses - CEO Daniel Ek said he was "too ambitious" investing before the revenue existed to support it.Wayfair layoffsAmazon isn't the only major online retailer scaling back in 2023. Wayfair said in late January that it would lay off 1,750 team members, or 10 percent of its global headcount. About 1,200 of those were corporate staff cut in a bid to "eliminate management layers" and otherwise help the company become leaner and nimbler. Wayfair had been cutting costs since August 2022 (including 870 positions), but saw the layoffs as helping it reach break-even earnings sooner than expected.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech-layoffs-2023-152856197.html?src=rss

Meta plans to ramp up its labeling of AI-generated images across Facebook, Instagram and Threads to help make it clear that the visuals are artificial. It's part of a broader push to tamp down misinformation and disinformation, which is particularly significant as we wrangle with the ramifications of generative AI (GAI) in a major election year in the US and other countries.According to Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, the company has been working with partners from across the industry to develop standards that include signifiers that an image, video or audio clip has been generated using AI. "Being able to detect these signals will make it possible for us to label AI-generated images that users post to Facebook, Instagram and Threads," Clegg wrote in a Meta Newsroom post. "We're building this capability now, and in the coming months we'll start applying labels in all languages supported by each app." Clegg added that, as it expands these capabilities over the next year, Meta expects to learn more about "how people are creating and sharing AI content, what sort of transparency people find most valuable and how these technologies evolve." These will help inform both industry best practices and Meta's own policies, he wrote.Meta says the tools it's working on will be able to detect invisible signals - namely AI generated information that aligns with the C2PA and IPTC technical standards - at scale. As such, it expects to be able to pinpoint and label images from Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, Adobe, Midjourney and Shutterstock, all of which are incorporating GAI metadata into images that their products whip up.As for GAI video and audio, Clegg points out that companies in the space haven't started incorporating invisible signals into those at the same scale that they have images. As such, Meta isn't yet able to detect video and audio that's generated by third-party AI tools. In the meantime, Meta expects users to label such content themselves."While the industry works towards this capability, we're adding a feature for people to disclose when they share AI-generated video or audio so we can add a label to it," Clegg wrote. "We'll require people to use this disclosure and label tool when they post organic content with a photorealistic video or realistic-sounding audio that was digitally created or altered, and we may apply penalties if they fail to do so. If we determine that digitally created or altered image, video or audio content creates a particularly high risk of materially deceiving the public on a matter of importance, we may add a more prominent label if appropriate, so people have more information and context."That said, putting the onus on users to add disclosures and labels to AI-generated video and audio seems like a non-starter. Many of those people will be trying to intentionally deceive others. On top of that, others likely just won't bother or won't be aware of the GAI policies.In addition, Meta is looking to make it harder for people to alter or remove invisible markers from GAI content. The company's FAIR AI research lab has developed tech that "integrates the watermarking mechanism directly into the image generation process for some types of image generators, which could be valuable for open source models so the watermarking can't be disabled," Clegg wrote. Meta is also working on ways to automatically detect AI-generated material that doesn't have invisible markers.Meta plans to continue collaborating with industry partners and "remain in a dialogue with governments and civil society" as GAI becomes more prevalent. It believes this is the right approach to handling content that's shared on Facebook, Instagram and Threads for the time being, though it will adjust things if necessary.One key issue with Meta's approach - at least while it works on ways to automatically detect GAI content that doesn't use the industry-standard invisible markers - is that it requires buy-in from partners. For instance, C2PA has a ledger-style method of authentication. For that to work, both the tools used to create images and the platforms on which they're hosted both need to buy into C2PA.Meta shared the update on its approach to labeling AI-generated content just a few days after CEO Mark Zuckerberg shed some more light on his company's plans to build general artificial intelligence. He noted that training data is one major advantage Meta has. The company estimates that the photos and videos shared on Facebook and Instagram amount to a dataset that's greater than the Common Crawl. That's a dataset of some 250 billion web pages that has been used to train other AI models. Meta will be able to tap into both, and it doesn't have to share the data it has vacuumed up through Facebook and Instagram with anyone else.The pledge to more broadly label AI-generated content also comes just one day after Meta's Oversight Board determined that a video that was misleadingly edited to suggest that President Joe Biden repeatedly touched the chest of his granddaughter could stay on the company's platforms. In fact, Biden simply placed an "I voted" sticker on her shirt after she voted in person for the first time. The board determined that the video was permissible under Meta's rules on manipulated media, but it urged the company to update those community guidelines.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-plans-to-ramp-up-labeling-of-ai-generated-images-across-its-platforms-160234038.html?src=rss

Bluesky, the open-source Twitter alternative, is getting rid of its waitlist and opening its decentralized platform to everyone. The service, which opened in beta last spring, currently has a little over 3 million users, though that number could rise quickly now that prospective users don't need an invitation to join.It's a significant moment for Bluesky, which began as an internal project at Jack Dorsey's Twitter (Bluesky ended its association with the entity now known as X after Elon Musk's takeover, though Dorsey is on Bluesky's board.) The company is part of a growing movement for decentralized social media, which proponents say could address many of the shortcomings of centrally-controlled platforms like Facebook, X and TikTok.We really believe that the future of social is, and should be, open and decentralized," Bluesky CEO Jay Graber tells Engadget. This is something that we think is good for the public conversation overall."For those who missed Bluesky's first hype cycle last spring, the service is functionally similar to X and Threads. Its posts - lovingly referred to by some early users as skeets" - default to a chronological timeline, though users can also follow numerous other algorithmic feeds created by fellow users. Soon, the company will take a similar approach to content moderation, allowing third-parties to create their own labeling services" for Bluesky content.The service is still much smaller than most of its counterparts and doesn't yet have a direct messaging feature. But it has become a haven for a number of once high-profile Twitter users and others looking for more Weird Twitter vibes and less Elon Musk.Much like how Mastodon and other services in the fediverse are built on the ActivityPub protocol, Bluesky runs on its own open-source standard called AT Protocol.Right now, the only Bluesky is the version of the service created by Bluesky, the company. But that will soon change, as the company plans to start experimenting with federation, which will allow other developers and groups to create their own instances of Bluesky.The protocol is like an API that's permanently open," Graber says. And that means that developer creativity can kind of go wild."Of course, the world of Twitter alternatives looks considerably different since Bluesky first launched. Meta's Threads app has grown to 130 million users since last summer. Meta has also started to make some Threads posts available on Mastodon, the first step toward making it compatible with the rest of the fediverse.But while Threads may be showing some support for open-source protocols, that's not the same as decentralization, Graber argues. If they integrate with ActivityPub, you would still be on a Facebook-owned app with this little window into a more open world, and it wouldn't be as easy to leave. We hope that the AT Protocol universe lets people get in between different apps, different services a lot easier."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/bluesky-is-ditching-its-waitlist-and-opening-to-everyone-140026198.html?src=rss

Mozilla is rolling out a tool that can automatically monitor data brokers for your personal information and scrub any of your exposed details from them. Mozilla Monitor Plus expands on the Mozilla Monitor (formerly Firefox Monitor) service, which lets you know when your email address is included in a data breach.This new paid service, which costs $9 per month or $107.88 per year, aims to proactively make sure your personal information stays off more than 190 data broker sites. Mozilla says that's double the number of data brokers that its competitors monitor. Subscribers will receive data breach alerts too.MozillaTo get a better understanding of how prevalent the issue is, you can get a free one-time scan that can show you if and where your data has been exposed. To do so, you'll need to sign up for a Mozilla account and provide your name, current city and state, date of birth and your email address. Mozilla says it will encrypt this data, which it notes is the least amount of information needed to obtain the most accurate results. The tool will also highlight information from "high-risk data breaches" - such as social security numbers, credit card details and banking information - along with advice on how to have that data scrubbed.Mozilla Monitor and Monitor Plus are only available to folks based in the US for now. Google offers a similar tool. If you sign up for Mozilla's version, you can also get access to features including two-factor authentication, email alias tool Firefox Relay and Mozilla VPN.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mozilla-monitor-scrubs-your-leaked-personal-information-from-the-web-for-a-fee-140021466.html?src=rss

Anker makes some of the most-recommended charging products out there, but the extra quality comes at a price. If you've been waiting for a sale, you can now grab a number of Anker chargers and other smartphone accessories at Amazon with discounts of up to 52 percent. Standout products include the Anker Prime Power Bank ($90, the lowest price we've seen by far), iPhone 15 portable charger ($20 instead of $30), Nano II 30W fast charger ($16, 33 percent off) and a USB-C Cable 3-pack for $18, saving you 40 percent.To start with, the Anker Prime 20,000mAh 200W power bank is our pick for the best premium power bank. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port capable of delivering a total charging output of 200W. That means you can charge two laptops at 100W each simultaneously. That 100W charging goes the other way too, so you can fully recharge the power bank in just 75 minutes.Another great deal is on the iPhone 15 portable charger (Nano Power Bank), so called because of the USB-C connector. It attaches to the bottom and offers 5,000mAh hours of charging at a relatively quick 22.5W and of course works with other USB-C devices including iPad Pro/Air, AirPods, Android smartphones and more.The Anker Power Bank 10,000mAh portable charger can charge an iPhone 14 twice and an iPad Mini up to 1.3 times, according to the company. It also has the benefit of two ports, so it can charge two devices at once. Meanwhile, the Anker Nano II 30W GaN II compact fast charger has enough juice to charge a 2020 MacBook Air at full speed and apply a relatively quick charge to smartphones, tablets and more.Finally, if it's cables you're after, Anker has those, too. You can grab the Anker 333 USB-C to USB-C 3-pack (3.3-, 6-, and 10-feet lengths, 100W limit) for just $18, for a savings of 40 percent. This is one of the better off-season Anker sales we've seen, but it's always best to act soon if you're looking to buy.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/anker-charging-accessories-are-up-to-52-percent-off-132013414.html?src=rss

Tencent is in the midst of developing an Elden Ring game for mobile phones, according to Reuters. Apparently, if the Shenzhen-based tech company's plan pushes through, fans are getting a free-to-play title with in-app purchases, similar to the gacha game Genshin Impact. That's a complete departure from the original Elden Ring action RPG, which sells for $60 from the get-go and isn't loaded up with microtransactions.That's pretty much all the details Reuters has reported - according to the news organization's sources, progress on the project has been slow, so it may take a while before we see the game. That is, if the game even gets released: Tencent recently shut down the development of much-awaited Nier mobile game that had been in the works for two years. Tencent reportedly couldn't find a monetization model that would allow it to recoup what it cost the company to license the franchise from Square Enix, along with what it's going to spend to bring the project to completion.Tencent and Sony purchased a 30 percent share of FromSoftware, the Japanese developer behind Elden Ring, back in 2022. The Chinese company also acquired the licensing rights to develop the game back then and put together a team with a "few dozen people" to work on a prototype. Reuters says Tencent is hoping to give its aging library of games a boost with a new title, and one based on a wildly successful game like Elden Ring has the potential to become a hit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/an-elden-ring-mobile-game-is-reportedly-in-the-works-at-tencent-131229933.html?src=rss

Apple Pay is one of the most popular digital payment services in the world, allowing users to buy stuff on iOS apps, the web and in real life. You can use it to pay with your iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac, and it's accepted by thousands upon thousands of retailers. The cool thing about Apple Pay is that it actually digitizes debit/credit card chips, giving people the option of contactless payments. All you have to do is put your phone or watch up to the terminal.However, you can't do any of that stuff until you set up Apple Pay on your device. Here's how to do just that.How to set up Apple Pay on an iPhoneApple Pay was originally envisioned as a mobile-only platform, so getting it set up on your iPhone will help you with every other device you own. To set up Apple Pay on your phone, add a debit or credit card to the Wallet app.1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone. Look for a colorful wallet icon or search the phone's contents to find it.Engadget/Lawrence Bonk2. Tap the Add Card button. You may be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID, so do that.3. Select the card. The app will ask you what kind of card you're entering, so click on Debit or Credit.4. Enter the card information. You can do this manually or by positioning the card so that it appears in the camera frame. This enables the phone to snap a photo of the card.5. You can also click on Previous Cards. Clicking on Previous Cards lets you choose any cards you've used in the past to bring them into Apple Pay. You'll get a list of possible cards via purchases made with your Apple ID and Safari AutoFill. Once you tap on a card, authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.Apple6. Consider other options. Apple Pay also lets you enter driver's licenses, state IDs and transit cards.7. Finish up. Once finished, head to Settings to make final adjustments. Tap your preferred option as to how you want your card to appear. You can make it so cards show up on the screen when you double-click the side button or the home button.8. That's it. Now you can buy stuff by pulling up a digital replica of your card.How to set up Apple Pay on an Apple WatchApple Watch integrates with Apple Pay for an incredibly convenient payment option, as you don't even need your phone nearby. Here's how to get set up on your smartwatch.1. Grab your phone. This process is quicker if you already have a card entered into your iPhone, but we'll walk you through both procedures.2. Head to the Watch app. If you already have a card stored, open up the Watch app. Tap My Watch and then Wallet & Apple Pay.Apple3. You should see a list of available cards. Tap Add next to the card you want and then enter the CVV, which is the number on the back. That's it. You should be able to use your watch to make payments.4. Open the Wallet app on your watch. If you're entering a card manually on the actual watch, start by opening up the Wallet app. Tap the More Options button and then Add Card.5. Enter card details. Follow on the on-screen prompts to enter your various card details.6. Finish up. Once finished, head back into the Wallet app. Tap More Options, followed by Default Card. Look for the card you just entered and tap it to set it as the default. You're good to go.How to set up Apple Pay on an iPadThe iPad is basically a big iPhone, so the set-up process is similar. You can't use Apple's tablet at a physical payment terminal, but it's a great option for making online purchases.1. Open up Settings. Head to Settings and tap Wallet & Apple Pay.Engadget/Lawrence Bonk2. Tap Add Card. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Have your login credentials handy.3. Tap Debit or Credit Card and then Continue. Just like with the iPhone, you can enter card details manually or let the tablet's camera snap a photo of the card.4. Consider previously-used cards. You can also click on Previous Cards and select cards that you've used in the past. This will bring up a list of possible cards. Tap on a card and authenticate with Touch ID.How to set up Apple Pay on a MacMac laptops and desktops are also a no-go for physical sales terminals, for obvious reasons. However, it's still useful to have Apple Pay as an option when buying stuff online. Here's how to get set up.Engadget/Lawrence Bonk1. Head to System Settings. On your Mac, head to System Settings. Next, click Wallet & Apple Pay.2. Click on Add Card. You'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your credentials and then return to Wallet & Apple Pay.3. Enter card details. Click Enter Card Details Manually and input your payment information in the appropriate fields, or position the card in front of your computer's camera so it appears in frame. The computer will snap a photo and record all relevant data. Double-check to make sure everything looks right.4. You can also use a card that's already on file with Apple. You should see a list of cards you previously entered for use on the iTunes Store or the App Store. Click on the desired card and enter the security code when asked.5. That's all there is to it. Keep an eye on your Apple ID account. If you sign out of your account to let someone else use the computer, you may have to set up Apple Pay again.That's it. Apple Pay is set up and ready to go. We also whipped up a guide on how to use the service once set up.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-set-up-apple-pay-on-your-iphone-plus-all-other-apple-devices-130011932.html?src=rss

Whether you're looking for a last-minute Valentine's Day gift for your special someone or a pick-me-up as winter rages, discounted AirPods are a solid option. Right now, Apple's third-generation AirPods are down from $169 to $140 - a 17 percent discount. The sale brings these earbuds down to the lowest we've seen them this year.The third-gen Apple AirPods came on the scene in 2021 as a major upgrade to their predecessor. For starters, they have a comfier design and IPX4-level sweat and water resistance. The third-gen AirPods also offer six hours of playtime (30 overall with the case), wireless charging with a Qicertified wireless charger and one hour of juice in just five minutes in the case. Plus, this model has always-on Siri and more accurately detects when the AirPods are in your ear.Are you looking for just the basics in your AirPods purchase? The second-generation model AirPods are also on sale, with a 30 percent discount dropping the price from $129 to $90. However, they don't have wireless charging and last only five hours, or 24 hours with the case.If noise canceling is vital to you, then the second-gen AirPods Pro might be the right call instead. They're currently 24 percent off, dropping from $249 to $190 - not far off from the standard price for the classic third-gen AirPods. In addition to noise canceling, the second-gen AirPods Pro offer transparency mode and Adaptive Audio. They also have six hours of battery life and 30 hours with the case. Plus, both the AirPods and the MagSafe case are IP54 sweat, dust and water resistant.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-third-generation-airpods-fall-back-to-140-122555116.html?src=rss

Meta's Oversight Board wants the company to update its manipulated media policy, calling the current rules incoherent." This follows the board's decision about a misleadingly edited video of President Joe Biden.The video featured footage from October 2022, when the president accompanied his granddaughter, who was voting in person for the first time. News footage shows him placing an I voted" sticker on her shirt. A Facebook user later shared an edited version that looped the moment, so it appeared as if he repeatedly touched her chest, adding the caption that Biden was a sick pedophile."The Oversight Board said the video did not violate Meta's manipulated media policy because it wasn't edited with AI tools, and because the edits were obvious and therefore unlikely to mislead." (Has the board been on Facebook?)The board said it was concerned about the current manipulated media policy in many ways, including how it was overly focused on how content has been created rather than on which specific harms it prevents (like damaging electoral processes). It wrote Meta should reconsider this policy quickly, given the number of elections in 2024."- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedFinal Fantasy 14 will require two subscriptions on XboxHow to watch Super Bowl 2024The best air fryersYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Microsoft may bring Bethesda's Starfield and Indiana Jones games to the PS5 after allThe company may reveal more details' next week.MicrosoftMicrosoft's gaming division appears to be considering a significant shift in its major-exclusives strategy. Rumors have been swirling for a while about the company bringing Hi-Fi Rush, a well-received game from last year, and Sea of Thieves to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. But the company could add some of its more recent blockbuster Xbox exclusives to the PS5 as well, which would mark a monumental change in policy. Multiple publications suggested several games could make the jump, including the Gears of War series, Indiana Jones and Starfield. We're listening and we hear you," Xbox boss Phil Spencer wrote on X: We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned."Continue reading.Microsoft is teaming up with Semafor on AI-assisted news storiesSignals will be written entirely by journalists, using Microsoft's chatbot as a research tool.Microsoft is teaming up with media website Semafor on a new project that uses ChatGPT to aid the creation of news stories, called signals. It's one of several journalism collaborations Microsoft is announcing, conveniently following that New York Times lawsuit filed against the company and OpenAI for copyright infringement.Continue reading.YouTube may have an Apple Vision Pro app on its roadmapGoogle said in January it had no immediate plans to support Apple's headset.EngadgetGoogle reportedly plans to develop a YouTube app for the Apple Vision Pro. A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that the company plans to make a native Vision Pro app while optimizing YouTube for Safari as a stopgap solution. Despite Vision Pro launching with over 600 native apps, YouTube said on January 19 it had no plans for a Vision Pro app. Netflix is another high-profile holdout, while Disney+ went all in.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-meta-oversight-board-says-manipulated-biden-video-can-stay-on-facebook-121507105.html?src=rss

The latest beta update for the PlayStation 5 will make it easier to hear what's going on in your game. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has announced the software update, which will enable DualSense and DualSense Edge wireless controllers to produce louder audio so that you can hear in-game sounds and audio chats more clearly.In addition to giving controllers the ability to produce louder sounds, the update also gives their noise cancellation feature a boost. Sony's announcement says the controllers now have better mic input, thanks to a new AI machine learning model. It'll give PS5's system the ability to suppress background noises, such as the game audio itself, allowing your voice to go through clearly and improving the quality of voice chats as a whole.The update brings non-sound-related improvements to the PS5, as well, including the option to adjust the console's power indicator under "Beep and Light" in System Settings. Plus, it will give you access to Share Screen tools that you can use as a viewer to interact with the host's gameplay. Want to catch the host's attention and make them notice a certain element in the game? There's a pointer you can move around or use to draw a line on the display and highlight objects in game. You'll also be able to send the host's screen emoji reactions. These new interactive tools for the Share Screen are enabled by default, but you can always switch them off in settings. Take note that they will only work if both you and the host already have access to the beta features. At the moment, the upgrades are only rolling out to select users in certain countries, but SIE plans to release them to all PS5 gamers around the world in the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sonys-latest-ps5-beta-update-gives-dualsense-controllers-better-audio-113529372.html?src=rss

Apple's latest Pencil with a USB-C charging port, which has only been available since November, is currently on sale for the lowest price we've seen yet. You can grab it at Amazon for $69, saving you $10 (13 percent) off the regular $79 price.The USB-C model is Apple's most budget-friendly pencil to date, priced at $20 less than the original model and $40 cheaper than the second-gen Apple pencil. Despite the lower price, it offers the same accuracy as those models, along with low latency and tilt sensitivity. It even includes support for a hover feature for M2 iPads, letting you preview any lines before applying them to your sketch or notes. You can also magnetically attach the USB-C Apple Pencil to the side of supported iPads.It doesn't have pressure sensitivity, so serious artists may want to stick with the 2nd-generation model. It also lacks wireless charging and you can't double tap it to change drawing tools. Still, it's Apple's first all-USB-C Pencil and has plenty on offer for most users - particularly at the $69 price.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-latest-apple-pencil-with-usb-c-charging-falls-to-a-new-low-price-103005962.html?src=rss

At almost seven years old, the Nintendo Switch still has life left in it - so much so that Nintendo has upped its predicted sales figures for its current fiscal year. In its third-quarter earnings release, the company announced that it was increasing Switch's projected sales from 15 million to 15.5 million. The boost follows overall third-quarter net sales that were 29.9 billion Japanese yen ($201.1 million) higher and net profits of 6.4 billion Japanese yen ($43.1 million) higher than Nintendo's projections. However, it's worth noting that despite better than expected third-quarter net sales, the figure was still six percent lower than in the same period in 2022.A few long-standing favorites and new games are likely fuelling additional Switch sales. Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Wonder game came out in October and hit 11.96 million units sold. Then there was The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which had an April release in theaters and piqued interest in older titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 2023 launches like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the company reported.The Switch's improved sales forecast comes as gamers eagerly await the Switch's successor. While Nintendo hasn't released any substantial information yet, the gaming system will reportedly launch sometime this year (and will face a much more crowded market than its predecessor when it does). Developers allegedly got a peek at the Switch 2 (for lack of a concrete name) behind closed doors at Gamescom in August 2023. They were said to view a version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwith a higher frame rate and resolution than the original Switch offers. The demo also reportedly showcased the Unreal Engine 5 for the upcoming Switch, ray-tracing, NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling tech, and visual quality similar to that of the PS5 and Series X.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-believes-itll-sell-more-switch-consoles-than-first-thought-095017928.html?src=rss

Can you imagine having to mail in a $3,499 gadget because you forgot the passcode you nominated to be able to use it? Customers who purchased the Apple Vision Pro may have to do just that if they forget their device's passcode. According to Bloomberg, the company has been telling buyers that the only way to reset their codes is to go to an Apple Store or to mail their mixed reality headset to AppleCare customer support. Apple will then reset their codes so they could use their device again.As Bloomberg notes, if a user enters an incorrect code too many times, their device will be disabled and they'll have to sit through a waiting period to be able to try again. They'll have to get Apple to reset their code if they still can't recall it after that waiting period, and getting the company to do will erase all the content on their headset.It's worth noting that some users on the Apple discussion forum still got locked out even though they entered the correct passcode - it's unclear if it's a bug affecting some units - so the issue could happen to anyone. Based on some other posts, Apple's Genius Bar personnel use an accessory called the Developer Strap that the company is selling to developers for $299 to connect the headset to iPads or laptops to be able to reset it. In at least one instance, Apple Geniuses reportedly failed to reset the user's headset and had to replace it altogether.The process to change the headset's passcode could still change in the future - the recently released Vision Pro, after all, is the first iteration of a brand new product category. For the sake of those who've already purchased one, we hope it's introduced through a software update instead of as an improvement in the next version.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-users-will-have-to-go-to-a-store-to-reset-forgotten-passcodes-070101287.html?src=rss

Currently serving over 70 million daily active users, Roblox is still going strong since its September 2006 launch - almost 18 years ago. The development team is now taking one step further to boost the platform's massive community, by way of providing real-time AI chat translation to connect gamers around the world. According to CTO Daniel Sturman, his team needed to build their own "unified, transformer-based translation LLM (large language model)" in order to seamlessly handle all 16 languages supported on Roblox, as well as to recognize Roblox-specific slangs and abbreviations (this writer just learned that "obby" refers to an obstacle course in the game).As a result, the chat window always displays the conversation in the user's own tongue - with a small latency of around 100 milliseconds, so it's pretty much real time. You can also click on the translation icon on the left of each line to see it in its original language. Sturman claims that thanks to the language model's efficient architecture and iterative training, it "outperforms commercial translation APIs on Roblox content." The development team will later roll out a feedback tool to help improve translation quality, in addition to its ongoing updates with whatever new catchphrases it picks up on the platform.RobloxRoblox's translation efforts don't stop there. Sturman adds that his team is already looking into automatically translating "text on images, textures, 3D models" and more. As Roblox supports voice chat, the exec also teases the possibility of automatic voice chat translations, so gamers from around the world can seamlessly talk to one another in their own tongue on the platform. Given that Samsung already offers a similar feature via Galaxy AI, it probably won't be long before we hear another update from Roblox on this end.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roblox-adds-real-time-ai-chat-translation-using-its-own-language-model-061929902.html?src=rss

Google reportedly plans to develop a YouTube app for the Apple Vision Pro. The Verge says a YouTube spokesperson confirmed the company's plans to make a native Vision Pro app, while it optimizes YouTube for Safari as a stopgap. The U-turn comes after developer Christian Selig (creator of the popular Apollo app that Reddit killed in 2023) launched an unofficial YouTube app for Apple's $3,500 headset.We're excited to see Vision Pro launch and we're supporting it by ensuring YouTube users have a great experience in Safari," YouTube spokesperson Jessica Gibby reportedly wrote in an email to The Verge's Nilay Patel. We do not have any specific plans to share at this time, but can confirm that a Vision Pro app is on our roadmap."Despite Vision Pro launching with over 600 native apps, YouTube said as recently as January 19 that it had no plans for a Vision Pro app. (Netflix is another high-profile holdout.) In addition, a YouTube company spokesperson told Engadget at the time it also had no plans to make its iPad app available on the visionOS App Store. Porting iPad apps is the (relatively) quick and easy way for developers to get their software onto Apple's spatial computing" device.Juno, developer Christian Selig's unofficial YouTube app for Vision ProChristian Selig / JunoSomething changed the company's mind in the last two-and-a-half weeks. One theory is, despite its staggering $3,500 price, Apple's mixed reality headset appears to be off to a strong start as the company's most loyal and deep-pocketed fans quickly scooped up pre-orders. Well-sourced analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimated Apple sold somewhere between 160,000 and 180,000 headsets during its opening weekend.Another theory is that YouTube noticed an independent developer picking up its slack. Christian Selig, the maker of the now-defunct Apollo for Reddit app, launched an unofficial third-party YouTube app called Juno that was available at launch. Selig has significant trust and stature among Apple device users: He's a former Apple developer and creator of one of iOS users' favorite Reddit apps (before the company's controversial API rules effectively killed most third-party Reddit apps).YouTube is probably one of the parts of the internet I consume the most, so I was more than a little sad when YouTube announced that they don't have plans to build a visionOS app, and disabled the option to load the iPad app," Selig explained last week in a blog post. This leaves you with Safari, and the website is okay, but definitely doesn't feel like a visionOS app."YouTube supports 3D and 360-degree videos, but neither currently works on Vision Pro. It isn't yet clear if the company plans to incorporate those into its app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/youtube-reportedly-has-an-apple-vision-pro-app-on-its-roadmap-210710272.html?src=rss

The popular MMO game Final Fantasy 14 is finally heading to Xbox Series X/S consoles, but there's a major caveat. The full release will require an Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate subscription, according to publisher Square Enix. This will be in addition to the monthly fee to actually play the game.Let's break down the cost. A 30-day subscription to the game will set you back $15, while 90 days costs $42 and 180 days comes out to $78. Xbox Game Pass Core costs $10 per month or $60 for a year. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $17 per month. So Xbox players will have to shell out a minimum of $18 each month and a maximum of $32 per month to travel the magical world of Eorzea. The download itself is free, for whatever that's worth.This is slightly unusual for a couple of reasons. Back in April of 2021, Microsoft removed subscription requirements for free-to-play multiplayer games. Final Fantasy 14, however, is not quite free-to-play, though it's free-to-download. Also, PlayStation players have long been able to adventure through the game without having to purchase a PlayStation Plus Subscription. To Sony, the game falls into the free-to-play category, but not for Microsoft.It's worth noting that the subscription requirement has been lifted for beta players. The open beta test for the Xbox Series X|S version of Final Fantasy 14 starts on February 21 at 12AM PT.The full game will be released when the beta finishes up, but there's no concrete information yet. It should be available by the time this summer's Dawntrail expansion hits. The open beta's reserved for new players, so you won't be able to participate if you've already had access to a free trial or a license registered to your Square Enix account.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/final-fantasy-14-will-require-two-subscriptions-on-xbox-200108998.html?src=rss

Rivian will reveal the R2 on March 7. The company confirmed on Monday in a post on X (Twitter) that customers should get ready to meet R2 on March 7th." Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe previously said the next-generation platform would be smaller and cheaper than the R1 lineup.The automaker hasn't yet said where the event will take place, but it will all but certainly be in Laguna Beach, CA. Last month, its city council publicly posted an approved request in its minutes for a Rivian R2 Launch," part of a worldwide product launch event at the Rivian Theater" on the same date. If that wasn't enough of a clue, Rivian's X teaser included audio of waves crashing, beachgoers playing and seagulls squawking.Rivian representatives reportedly plan to hold the event at the Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach. The automaker bought the cinema (which opened in 1937 and closed in 2015) in 2021 before renovating and reopening it this past December. The company asked the council for permission to display six vehicles on a grassy public area near the theater, which sounds ideal for a media hands-on area after a formal presentation inside.

The Google Chromecast with Google TV is the top pick in our guide to the best streaming devices, as it provides an attractive, detailed interface for navigating apps at an affordable price. If you find the smart platform built into your TV slow or unwieldy and are looking to make a switch, Google has kicked off a new sale that brings the 4K streamer back down to $40.Google has run this discount several times in the past: It's a few bucks more than the lowest price we've ever seen, but it's still $10 off the device's typical going rate. It's also the first major discount the Chromecast has received in the new year. The offer is available at several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, B&H and the Google Store. According to Google's listing, it'll last through February 11.The 4K Chromecast was released way back in 2020 and doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 (or 6E), so we wouldn't be surprised to see a refresh at some point. That said, the existing model is still snappy enough to navigate apps and load up content. It supports all the major streaming services and the most-used HDR formats (Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+), as well as Dolby Atmos audio via HDMI passthrough. The dongle itself plugs directly to a TV's HDMI port, and it comes with a simple remote that can also control volume and power for your TV (though it lacks a dedicated play/pause button).But you'd mainly buy the Chromecast for its UI. Instead of presenting a grid of apps like a Roku device, Google TV takes a more content-centric approach, proactively recommending shows and movies you may like based on your viewing history. This works well: Recommendations are pulled from a wide range of services, and series you've been watching recently are usually placed toward the top, so it's easy to jump into the next episode. It can also integrate with certain live TV services like YouTube TV and Sling TV to show what's on right from the menu. You can create separate personalized profiles for different people, and contextual searches through the Google Assistant typically work great. You'll still see sponsored content, as with most streamers, but the advertising here generally isn't egregious as it is on, say, Amazon's Fire TV Sticks.The Roku Streaming Stick 4K is another affordable option that we recommend in our buying guide; it's currently available for $39 as well, though that deal has been around for most of the last two months. Its app-based interface is more basic than Google TV, and it's generally not as precise as the Chromecast when searching for content. But if you want a streamer that just shows you apps and gets out of the way, it might be a better fit. Roku's streamer also supports Apple AirPlay, so you can beam content to it right from an iPhone. If you've got much more cash to burn, meanwhile, the $129 Apple TV 4K is faster and less ad-filled than either device, but that one isn't significantly discounted right now.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-4k-google-chromecast-is-back-on-sale-for-40-162511339.html?src=rss

Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, is laying off 10 percent of its workforce, according to an SEC filingand confirmed by a company spokesperson. The company reported a total number of 5,367 employees at the end of 2023's third quarter, so the layoffs should impact around 540 people.Snap discussed the decision in the SEC filing, saying the layoffs would best position our business to execute our highest priorities" and ensure it has the capacity to invest incrementally" over time. The company told us the layoffs were necessary to reduce hierarchy and promote in-person collaboration." None of those sentences really mean anything, so let's just go with "corporate restructuring."Snap said in the filing that it would be issuing severance packages to the impacted employees, but there's no specific information regarding package details. A Snap spokesperson confirmed to Engadget that it's focused on supporting our departing team members."These layoffs are happening just one day before Snap is scheduled to report fourth-quarter earnings for 2023. The company actually did pretty well in Q3, beating out Wall Street expectations by about five percent, according to Variety.If tomorrow's earnings report is bad, it'll show why these layoffs are necessary. On the other hand, if it's better than expected, Snap may be announcing these layoffs now to avoid doing so after a quarter of financial gains. Nobody likes to see a big company massively reduce its headcount after bragging about earnings. Snap told us the company's in a quiet period" until tomorrow's Q4 financial report drops.This follows another round of layoffs in November, in which Snap let go of 20 product managers. However, both of these news items pale in comparison to Snap's massive culling in 2022, which eliminated over 1,300 employees.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snap-is-laying-off-10-percent-of-its-workforce-161146546.html?src=rss

Microsoft's gaming division appears to be considering a significant shift in its strategy when it comes to major exclusives. Rumors have been swirling for a while that the company is bringing Hi-Fi Rush, a well-received game from last year, and Sea of Thieves to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. But the company is said to be bringing some of its blockbuster Xbox exclusives to PS5 as well, which would mark a monumental change in policy.Over the weekend, XboxEra reported that Microsoft will bring Bethesda's Starfield(its tentpole game for 2023) to PS5 later this year, sometime after the release of the Shattered Space expansion. The report suggests that Microsoft has acquired more PS5 dev kits to help port its games to Sony's console.MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could be bound for PlayStation 5 as well. According to The Verge, the action-adventure game is slated to hit Sony's platform just a few months after it debuts on PC, Xbox and Game Pass later this year.Amid the Federal Trade Commission's failed attempt to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, then-Bethesda vice president Pete Hines confirmed in court last year that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was initially going to be released on multiple consoles. However, after Microsoft purchased Bethesda parent ZeniMax Media, it changed the agreement to make the game an Xbox console exclusive. The FTC was also under the belief that fellow Bethesda titles Starfield and Redfall were at one point bound for PS5 before those versions of the games were canned.Hi-Fi Rush is reportedly coming to Switch and PlayStation as soon as this quarter. The Gears of War series could be on the way to PS5 too, according to GamesBeat's Jeff Grubb (via Video Games Chronicle).There's really only one reason why Microsoft would even begin to consider bringing more of its exclusives to PlayStation: money. It may be the case that the Game Pass model can't really sustain multiple games with nine-figure budgets and Microsoft could feel as though it's leaving money on the table by not having certain titles on PS5, as XboxEra put it.It's clear that Microsoft is looking to make its gaming division more profitable. It recently laid off around 1,900 workers in that unit, just a few months after closing the $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard takeover.When Microsoft bought ZeniMax, Microsoft Gaming CEO Spencer said his team would decide platform availability on a case-by-case basis. However, he said that Starfield would only be available on Xbox, PC and Game Pass.Some Xbox games are already available on PlayStation and Switch, such as Minecraft Dungeons. As part of its 10-year deal to release Call of Duty titles on Nintendo consoles, Microsoft suggested it would bring other Xbox games to Switch and/or its successor.The change in strategy could call into question Xbox's place in the games industry. While console wars are by and large nonsense, some players may feel aggrieved that Starfield and the Indy game are seemingly bound for PS5, especially if they decided to make Xbox Series X/S their sole console. Certain gamers who might only be able to afford one of the flagship consoles and tend to trade in games may feel that they're missing out if they plumped for an Xbox but Microsoft's titles are hitting PS5 alongside the likes of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarok.It might not be too long until we learn more details about Microsoft's possible shift in multi-platform strategy. "We're listening and we hear you," Spencer wrote on X. "We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned."Update 2/5 12:31PM ET: Added a note about the rumor of Gears of War coming to PlayStation.Update 2/5 3:28PM ET: Added Spencer's statement.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-may-bring-bethesdas-starfield-and-indiana-jones-games-to-the-ps5-after-all-154823503.html?src=rss

Yandex, often described as Russia's Google, has sold its domestic businesses at a knock-down price. Bloomberg reports the search and services giant, now headquartered in the Netherlands, has handed off its Russian operations for 475 billion rubles ($5.2 billion) in cash and shares. The new owners include the management group, as well as Russia's biggest domestic energy company, Lukoil, and Russian businessman and a former executive at Gazprom, Alexander Ryazanov, among others. Now that Yandex has cut ties with Russia, it will be able to grow and partner more freely given the sanctions affecting businesses with Russian ties following the invasion of Ukraine.Since the war, Yandex has faced repercussions such as removal from Nasdaq. Its founder, Arkady Volozh, faced European Union sanctions in the summer of 2022 due to the company reportedly supporting Russian propaganda. The company soon sold its news aggregation service, and Volozh openly condemned the war.Reports that Yandex would cut ties with Russia first emerged in late 2022. At the time, the company was facing sanction repercussions and was rumored to have no path forward to grow projects without Western technology. However, it took a year and a half of negotiations between Yandex and the Kremlin (a necessary step) for Yandex NV to be allowed to separate from its Russian businesses. The final deal came with at least a 50 percent discount, a customary practice when the Kremlin deems the registered country - in this case, the Netherlands - unfriendly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/yandex-sells-its-russian-operations-to-local-executives-for-52-billion-131554719.html?src=rss

Microsoft is teaming up with media website Semafor on a new project that uses ChatGPT to aid in the creation of news stories, The Financial Times has reported. It's one of several journalistic collaborations Microsoft is set to announce today, and follows a New York Times lawsuit filed against the software giant and its partner, OpenAI, for copyright infringement.Semafor, co-founded by former Buzzfeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, will create a feed called "Signals" that will be sponsored by Microsoft for an undisclosed but "substantial" sum, the report states. It will highlight breaking news and analysis, offering a dozen or so posts per day. All stories will be written entirely by journalists, with the AI effectively acting as a research tool.

The biggest podcast in the world makes many people furious, but it's still the biggest podcast in the world. Now, Joe Rogan has signed another deal with Spotify for his eponymous The Joe Rogan Experience show, this one worth an estimated $250 million. The deal allows the streamer to distribute Rogan's podcasts on additional platforms, including a video version for YouTube, but it also includes a revenue-sharing agreement based on ad sales, in case Rogan burns through those hundreds of millions too quickly.Rogan has been a regular source of controversy since signing up, in particular with uninformed COVID opinions, which prompted doctors and scientists to demand Spotify update its misinformation policy. Spotify claimed it wasn't responsible for Rogan, that it was a platform, not a publisher. Now Spotify will be publishing Rogan's projects elsewhere, what will be its defense next time?- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedYou won't be able to use a Bluetooth mouse with Apple Vision ProSamsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ review: A taste of generative AI in everyday use20 years later, Facebook is a supporting character in the Mark Zuckerberg universeYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!iFixit tears down the Apple Vision ProIts lenticular optics make ghostly 3D avatars.iFixitApple uses a stereoscopic 3D effect to make your virtual eyes look more lifelike on the Vision Pro's EyeSight outer display. It has a widening optical layer and a lenticular lens layer over the OLED screen, so exposing the panel shows some very oddly pinched eyes." The optical nature of the added layers also explains the EyeSight display's dim output. iFixit is unraveling the headset to figure out how Apple does it all.Continue reading.Google might rename its chatbot, alreadyAnd there may be a dedicated app soon.According to a leak, Google may change the name of its AI chatbot from Bard to Gemini. It would make sense for Google to do so - the company introduced its new multimodal AI model, Gemini, at the end of 2023. The changelog, shared by Android app developer Dylan Roussel and dated February 7, notes a paid Gemini Advanced tier will be available. It also mentions a Gemini app for Android.Continue reading.Japan's Moon lander took this eerie photo before being enveloped by lunar nightThe SLIM lander has since gone dormant.JAXAJapan's SLIM lander managed to turn back on more than a week after it plopped upside down onto the surface of the Moon - but now, it's gone dormant for the duration of the lunar night, and it may not wake up again. Lunar night lasts the equivalent of two Earth weeks and can get colder than -200 degrees Fahrenheit. Its chances of resuming operations aren't great, but then again, it's already surprised us once.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-joe-rogans-new-spotify-deal-121541070.html?src=rss

Samsung chairman Jay Y. Lee's legal troubles may be in the rearview mirror as a Korean court acquitted him of stock manipulation and accounting fraud charges over a 2015 merger, The Financial Times has reported. The ruling allows Lee to continue leading Samsung, which saw a sharp decline in revenue last year.Seeking a five year jail term, prosecutors accused Lee of manipulating the share price of two Samsung subsidiaries to smooth the way for a merger that allowed him to consolidate his power. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the prosecutors failed to prove that. "It is hard to say that Lee Jae-yong [aka Jay Y. Lee]... spearheaded the merger, and that the merger was done just for the sake of Lee's succession," the judge stated in the ruling.The verdict will allow Lee and Samsung to focus on its declining smartphone and memory chip businesses. Samsung recently lost its smartphone sales crown to Apple, and is now behind SK Hynix in the new and hot market of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used by NVIDIA and others to create artificial intelligence (AI) models.The decision was heralded by business groups including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but not everyone in the country agreed. "The ruling will free Lee of legal risks, but I am at a loss for words in terms of the country's economic justice," Park Ju-geun, head of corporate thinktank Leaders Index, told the FT. "This goes totally against all previous court rulings on the merger."Lee was originally sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 after being found guilty of bribing public officials over the same merger. He walked free after a year in detention, but the South Korean Supreme Court overturned that decision and ordered the case to be retried.While Lee was sentenced with two-and-a-half years of prison time in early 2021 in that retrial, he was paroled half a year later in a development that civic groups had described as another example of the justice system being lenient towards the country's elite. (Korea's former president Park Geun-hye also went to jail for her role in the same affair.)In 2022, Lee was given a pardon by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, ostensibly so he could help the country overcome its economic crisis. Ironically, Yoon is the country's former chief prosecutor and oversaw the original convictions of Lee and Park.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-chair-acquitted-in-korean-stock-manipulation-case-114530368.html?src=rss

The Oversight Board is urging Meta to update its manipulated media policy, calling the current rules incoherent." The admonishment comes in a closely watched decision about a misleadingly edited video of President Joe Biden.The board ultimately sided with Meta regarding its decision to not remove the clip at the center of the case. The video featured footage from October 2022, when the president accompanied his granddaughter who was voting in person for the first time. News footage shows that after voting, he placed an I voted" sticker on her shirt. A Facebook user later shared an edited version that looped the moment so it appeared as if he repeatedly touched her chest. The caption accompanying the clip called him a sick pedophile," and said those who voted for him were mentally unwell."In its decision, the Oversight Board said that the video was not a violation of Meta's narrowly-written manipulated media policy because it was not edited with AI tools, and because the edits were obvious and therefore unlikely to mislead" most users. Nevertheless, the Board is concerned about the Manipulated media policy in its current form, finding it to be incoherent, lacking in persuasive justification and inappropriately focused on how content has been created rather than on which specific harms it aims to prevent (for example, to electoral processes)," the board wrote. Meta should reconsider this policy quickly , given the number of elections in 2024."The company's current rules only apply to videos that are edited with AI, but don't cover other types of editing that could be misleading. In its policy recommendations to Meta, the Oversight Board says it should write new rules that cover audio and video content. The policy should apply not just to misleading speech but content showing people doing things they did not do." The board says these rules should apply regardless of the method of creation." Furthermore, the board recommends that Meta should no longer remove posts with manipulated media if the content itself isn't breaking any other rules. Instead, the board suggests Meta apply a label indicating the content is significantly layered and may mislead."The recommendations underscore mounting concern among researchers and civil society groups about how the surge in AI tools could enable a new wave of viral election misinformation. In a statement, a Meta spokesperson said the company is reviewing the Oversight Board's guidance and will respond publicly" within the next 60 days. While that response would come well before the 2024 presidential election, it's unclear when, or if, any policy changes may come. The Oversight Board writes in its decision that Meta representatives indicated the company plans to update the Manipulated Media policy to respond to the evolution of new and increasingly realistic AI."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/maliciously-edited-joe-biden-video-can-stay-on-facebook-metas-oversight-board-says-110042024.html?src=rss

Bad actors keep using deepfakes for everything from impersonating celebrities to scamming people out of money. The latest instance is out of Hong Kong, where a finance worker for an undisclosed multinational company was tricked into remitting $200 million Hong Kong dollars ($25.6 million).According to Hong Kong police, scammers contacted the employee posing as the company's United Kingdom-based chief financial officer. He was initially suspicious, as the email called for secret transactions, but that's where the deepfakes came in. The worker attended a video call with the "CFO" and other recognizable members of the company. In reality, each "person" he interacted with was a deepfake - likely created using public video clips of the actual individuals.The deepfakes asked the employee to introduce himself and then quickly instructed him to make 15 transfers comprising the $25.6 million to five local bank accounts. They created a sense of urgency for the task, and then the call abruptly ended. A week later, the employee checked up on the request within the company, discovering the truth.Hong Kong police have arrested six people so far in connection with the scam. The individuals involved stole eight identification cards and had filed 54 bank account registrations and 90 loan applications in 2023. They had also used deepfakes to trick facial recognition software in at least 20 cases.The widespread use of deepfakes is one of the growing concerns of evolving AI technology. In January, Taylor Swift and President Joe Biden were among those whose identities were forged with deepfakes. In Swift's case, it was nonconsensual pornographic images of her and a financial scam targeting potential Le Creuset shoppers. President Biden's voice could be heard in some robocalls to New Hampshire constituents, imploring them not to vote in their state's primary.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/scammers-use-deepfakes-to-steal-256-million-from-a-multinational-firm-034033977.html?src=rss

One of Vision Pro's most intriguing features is undoubtedly the EyeSight display, which projects a visual feed of your own eyes to better connect with people in the real world - because eye contact matters, be it real or virtual. As iFixit discovered in its teardown, it turns out that Apple leveraged stereoscopic 3D effect as an attempt to make your virtual eyes look more life-like, as opposed to a conventional "flat" output on the curved OLED panel. This is achieved by stacking a widening optical layer and a lenticular lens layer over the OLED screen, which is why exposing the panel will show "some very oddly pinched eyes." The optical nature of the added layers also explain the EyeSight display's dim output. Feel free to check out the scientific details in the article.While iFixit has yet to do more analysis before it can give the Vision Pro a repairability score, so far we already know that the front glass panel "took a lot of heat and time" to detach from the main body. That said, the overall modular design - especially the speakers and the external battery - should win some points. As always, head over to iFixit for some lovely close-up shots of the teardown process.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-vision-pro-teardown-deconstructs-the-weird-looking-eyesight-display-083426548.html?src=rss

Apple's new plan to give a higher cut of royalties to artists who offer spatial audio has pissed off some indie labels, who argue it will take potential earnings away from them in favor of companies with more resources at their disposal, according to a report from the Financial Times. Apple last month started offering 10 percent higher royalties to artists who release spatial audio tracks on Apple Music. But, this comes out of the same fixed pool of money also used to pay artists who do not offer the format.Spatial audio is produced using Dolby Atmos technology and, according to executives who spoke with FT, costs roughly $1,000 more per song. A whole album would cost about 10 times as much - now multiply that to account for the hundreds or thousands of albums a label may have in its back catalog. The Financial Times spoke with executives from Beggars Group, Secretly and Partisan Records, which house labels representing artists including Vampire Weekend, Phoebe Bridgers and others.One executive told FT, If [this policy] takes between 5 and 10 percent off of your global revenues, and not even because the songs aren't performing but because you lose that money and it goes to Universal, the biggest player in the market, we're definitely concerned. It's hard enough to make money off of streaming." They plan to take it up with Apple in hopes of working out a better deal.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/indie-labels-say-apple-musics-spatial-audio-royalties-only-benefit-the-biggest-player-211730447.html?src=rss

Thanks to a sale on Amazon right now, you can pick up a few extra Apple AirTags at a discount. A four-pack of the Bluetooth trackers is $20 off the normal price of $99, dropping them down to just $79. It's the best price for a pack of AirTags we've seen yet this year. For iPhone owners, there's no better option than AirTags for keeping track of your things, as they're able to make use of Apple's massive Find My network to help pinpoint lost objects.AirTags' ability to use crowd-sourced location information from the millions of Apple devices currently in operation means you have a really good shot at tracking whatever it is that's gone missing. But we often lose items somewhere within our own homes, too, and Find My has a Precision Finding feature on compatible iPhones for those instances where the object is somewhere close by. Using the Find My app, you can ping the tracker so it plays a sound, and the app will lead you to the lost item with directional arrows, even showing you about how many feet away it is.The battery in the tracker lasts roughly a year, so you generally don't need to worry about it running out. Once it is ready to be changed, it only takes one CR2032 coin battery. There is one downside to the AirTags design, though - there's no built-in key loop or method of attaching to another item, so if you want to clip it onto something, you'll need to buy an accessory. And there are plenty of great AirTags accessories out there.AirTags are IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, and you can use them to track as many as 32 items in the Find My app. You just need to have an Apple device to make use of their tracking capabilities.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-back-on-sale-for-79-155353925.html?src=rss

It's been 20 years since Mark Zuckerberg first brought thefacebook.com online from his dorm room. What happened next has been endlessly documented: the Harvard-only social network took over college campuses and, eventually, the world.The social network occupies an increasingly awkward space in Meta's family" of apps. A majority of American adults still use the service, but three out of four believe Facebook - perhaps because it fueled a global misinformation crises and promoted genocidal hate speech - is making society worse." Facebook still generates billions of dollars in ad revenue for Meta, but user growth has slowed to the point where the company just announced it will no longer share how many people use it.Amen spam" regularly appears in Facebook's list of most-viewed posts. The most prolific users on its game-streaming service are spammers. Faced with increased pressure from TikTok, Meta rejiggered its feed, yet again, to emphasize recommendations over posts from people you know. But the shift hasn't made Facebook feel like TikTok as much as a strange window into what Meta's algorithms deem most engaging and least offensive.My own Facebook feed is inundated with posts from groups I don't belong to dedicated to anodyne topics like home remodeling, cast iron pan enthusiasts and something called the Dull Men's Club." I haven't shared anything to my own page in more than a year, despite logging in almost daily. I'm hardly an outlier. A majority of adults now say they are pickier" than they used to be about what they post on social media.Unsurprisingly, teens have almost no interest in the social network of their parents and grandparents. Just 33 percent of US teens report ever" using the service, compared with 71 percent in 2015. These dynamics, in which Facebook's user base is aging faster than its product, has led some academics to conclude that the social network will one day have more profiles for dead people than alive.Today, Facebook has more than 3 billion users and remains the workhorse of the Mark Zuckerberg cinematic universe, even if it's no longer the title character. Instead, it's just one of his company's family" of apps. In 2021, it was formally demoted when Zuckerberg rebranded the company as Meta. "Our brand is so tightly linked to one product that it can't possibly represent everything that we're doing today, let alone in the future," Zuckerberg said of Facebook. "From now on, we're going to be metaverse-first, not Facebook-first."Whether Meta has succeeded in becoming a metaverse-first" company is, at best, debatable. But few would argue it's anything close to Facebook-first." More recently, Zuckerberg has tried to pitch Meta as a metaverse company and an AI company, joining the race to create human-level superintelligence.At the same time, the only reason Zuckerberg's ambitions are even possible is because of Facebook's success. Meta has lost tens of billions of dollars on its metaverse investments, and expects to lose even more for the foreseeable future. The company also plans to spend billions more on AI infrastructure (AGI doesn't come cheap).These investments will determine whether Zuckerberg's bet on the future of social media is correct. And if he realizes his vision for an AI chatbot, metaverse-enabled future, it will have been possible largely because of the unparalleled financial success of the oldest and dullest part of his empire.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/20-years-later-facebook-is-a-supporting-character-in-the-mark-zuckerberg-universe-140044870.html?src=rss