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OpenAI is making GPT-4.1, the latest addition to its collection of AI models, available to all of its paid users. The rollout to ChatGPT Plus, Pro and Team members begins today, while Enterprise and Edu subscriptions will have to wait a few weeks to get access. Once available, GPT-4.1 can be chosen from the "more models" dropdown menu in the model picker.This version of the ChatGPT AI chatbot rolled out to the company's developer API last month, offering upgrades in speed and efficiency over the GPT-4.5 model that it replaced (yes, that is a slightly convoluted numbering system). OpenAI is iterating models at a breakneck speed this year; GPT-4.5 just debuted in February and is already being outpaced in stats by a new version.The company also has a GPT-4.1 mini option that will replace the current small model of GPT-4o mini. That upgrade will happen for all tiers, including the free one. GPT-4.1 mini will be the fallback option for free users once they reach the cap on their access to the heftier GPT-4o model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-rolls-out-gpt-41-to-all-chatgpt-paying-subscribers-200049384.html?src=rss

The Mission: Impossible film franchise has always dabbled in the, well, impossible. We've seen Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt climb his way up the Burj Khalifa, have a motorcycle joust to prevent the spread of a bioweapon and hang off the side of an airplane. Even the most grounded entry, Brian DePalma's 1996 Mission: Impossible, featured Cruise leaping off of an exploding helicopter onto a train in the Chunnel. But with the previous film, Dead Reckoning, and this year's follow-up Final Reckoning, the series has jumped completely into science-fiction territory with an AI villain called The Entity. It has the power to control anything that touches the internet, manipulate digital information to suit its needs and potentially wipe out humanity through a global nuclear annihilation.Stopping the Entity is a mission Ethan Hunt has no choice but to accept. But as a fan of this series from the start - hell, I even like John Woo's gloriously operatic Mission: Impossible 2 -I can't help but see the move into true sci-fi as a huge mistake. It makes both Reckoning films far too plot-heavy and impenetrable (Final Reckoning clocks in at three hours!), and they also just don't have much to say about AI beyond a Terminator-esque extinction scenario. But perhaps worst of all, the shift towards sci-fi inadvertently (or perhaps purposefully) turns Ethan Hunt into some sort of Messiah. Apparently, only Scientology's greatest son can save us.The best M:I films are the ones that don't get bogged down in the intricacies of plot mechanics. That's a trend that truly kicked off with the JJ Abrams-directed Mission: Impossible 3, which relied on a standard MacGuffin (the "Rabbit's Foot") and a powerhouse Philip Seymour Hoffman villain performance to send Ethan and his team gallivanting around the world. With Ghost Protocol, director Brad Bird used his experience in animation and love of silent film to turn Cruise into a modern-day Buster Keaton, hopping from one elaborate set-piece to another.Paramount PicturesThe series found a new life when writer/director Christopher McQuarrie hopped aboard for Rogue Nation, which introduced Rebecca Ferguson's enigmatic Ilsa Faust. McQuarrie has previously likened his approach to the franchise as something like action film jazz, wherein he and Cruise would develop some set piece ideas and build a narrative around that. At the same time, they also sought to develop Hunt's inner-life and team dynamics more than previous films. Plot, once again, was mostly a vehicle to reach those spectacular action set pieces and character-defining moments (which were often one and the same).McQuarrie mostly repeated his formula for success with 2018's Mission: Impossible - Fallout, which was notable for featuring a real-time high altitude skydiving sequence. But with 2023's Dead Reckoning, he faced the limits of trying to improvise a movie as it was being shot. Production was significantly delayed by the pandemic, and the film also had to go through several reshoots. Perhaps not surprisingly, it also became increasingly more complex and plot-heavy.Paramount PicturesThat movie couldn't just treat The Entity's AI like another plot MacGuffin, instead it practically became an anchor for the film's momentum. We had to learn what the Entity was, why it could be bad and also introduce new characters who were devoted to its ambitions. The final film feels like a hodgepodge of ideas trying to string together a few notable action sequences, like that aforementioned motorcycle jump. The prolonged production also led to the departure of Ilsa Faust, who was immediately replaced by Hayley Atwell's Grace, an expert thief who's so thinly sketched she doesn't even get a last name.I had hoped that McQuarrie, Cruise and co-writer Erik Jendresen would learn from the sloppiness of the last film and refocus on the characters and action we love in The Final Reckoning, but unfortunately things get even more convoluted. We're presented with a world where the Entity has already taken over most information systems, can easily reshape digital reality at will and is in the process of taking over nuclear weapons systems around the world. There is no hope but Ethan Hunt, who must seek out the Entity's source code in a sunken Russian submarine and try to stop it from annihilating humanity (while also trying to survive the apocalypse in an underground data bunker). And if that all sounds tiring as you read it, it's even harder to swallow as you sit through the film's three-hour runtime.Paramount PicturesOnce the film actually starts moving around the half-way point, it delivers some of the most complex set pieces we've seen yet. Hunt's dive into Arctic waters feels as claustrophobic as some of the best scenes from The Abyss, and it's still thrilling to see Cruise hang onto bi-planes during the climactic chase. I just wish it actually did something interesting with the AI at the center of the story, instead of giving us a basic-ass Terminator/Wargames scenario. We're told that the Entity has inspired a cult-like following, and that it can completely reshape the idea of truth, but we don't actually see how it affects people around the world.That's a particular shame since the Mission: Impossible series' has always been about genuine human effort, you'd think McQuarrie and crew would actually have more to say about the impact of AI. Fans want to see practical stunt work being accomplished by a movie star who's desperate for attention. Now with real-world AI threatening to dumb down the act of creativity and recycle existing content, turning the film's AI into a simplistic villain just seems like a total waste.Paramount PicturesThe Final Reckoning also wastes far too much time extolling Ethan Hunt's virtues as humanity's savior. No government can be trusted, no elected leaders - just one man who never follows orders. The one man who has given up love and bled for an ungrateful world. Even the people whose lives he has ostensibly ruined can't help but love him.The Mission: Impossible franchise has always been a vanity project for Cruise, but he also balanced out his ego by working with talented directors who pushed him and the series in new directions. Now, in his fourth film with McQuarrie, and possibly his last as the main character, Cruise can't help but remind us how much he's suffered. And it's as dull as yet another world-ending AI villain.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/mission-impossible-should-never-have-gone-full-sci-fi-200043337.html?src=rss

OpenAI has launched a new web page called the safety evaluations hub to publicly share information related to things like the hallucination rates of its models. The hub will also highlight if a model produces harmful content, how well it behaves as instructed and attempted jailbreaks.The tech company claims this new page will provide additional transparency on OpenAI, a company that, for context, has faced multiple lawsuits alleging it illegally used copyrighted material to train its AI models. Oh, yeah, and it's worth mentioning that The New York Times claims the tech company accidentally deleted evidence in the newspaper's plagiarism case against it.The safety evaluations hub is meant to expand on OpenAI's system cards. They only outline a development's safety measures at launch, whereas the hub should provide ongoing updates."As the science of AI evaluation evolves, we aim to share our progress on developing more scalable ways to measure model capability and safety," OpenAI states in its announcement. "By sharing a subset of our safety evaluation results here, we hope this will not only make it easier to understand the safety performance of OpenAI systems over time, but also support community efforts to increase transparency across the field." OpenAI adds that its working to have more proactive communication in this area throughout the company.

A successful co-op shooter feels like a bottomless tub of popcorn, hot and smothered in golden butter, built for bite-sized consumption and impossible to resist. Smooth mechanics and a satisfying, repeatable loop should draw you in for one more bite, one more round, over and over again. FBC: Firebreak, Remedy Entertainment's co-op shooter set in the universe of Control, almost hits these marks. It just needs a little more salt. Remedy is a AA studio best known for crafting single-player games like Alan Wake and Control, which feature Lynchian mysteries and hellish twists, and Firebreak is the studio's first attempt at crafting an online, cooperative, first-person shooter. Firebreak supports up to three players at a time, and it pits your team against hordes of otherworldly Hiss monsters in the bowels of The Oldest House, the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Control. The building was locked up with a bunch of Hiss inside at the end of Control, and Firebreak takes place six years later. You're a government employee who's volunteered to eradicate the Hiss in The Oldest House - or try to, at least - and you're sent inside with some improvised weapons, no extra training and a hearty pat on the back. Remedy Entertainment We broke down the specifics of Firebreak's gameplay loop and upgrade cycles after the developer walkthrough in March, but here are the basics:

Uber is introducing a few new options for riders that it claims will save you money. These choices include Route Share, which can only be described as if Uber Pool and buses had a love child (though Uber has already tried to reinvent shuttle buses a few times). It offers pickups in certain spots "along busy corridors" every 20 minutes - though only during weekday rush hours.Basically, you can save "up to" 50 percent off UberX by treating Uber like a bus, walking to a pickup location and then getting dropped off at another designated spot near your destination. The Pool bit is that there might be up to two other riders with you.Route Share will let you book a seat between seven days and 10 minutes before you need it. The option is now available from 6AM to 10AM and 4PM to 8PM on weekdays in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, and Baltimore, with more cities coming.UberUber is also rolling out two different ride passes, a price lock and a prepaid option. The price lock pass lets you pay $3 to reserve a set cost for a specific ride. It seems to be pretty low risk, as if the ride ends up being cheaper when you use it, Uber won't charge you the difference. You can use a price lock pass on up to 10 different routes each month. This pass is now available in cities like Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Miami and San Francisco - but should roll out to the rest of the US soon.Then there's the prepaid pass, which lets you pay for multiple trips at a time. So, say you take an Uber to work or your partners place regularly, you can buy a set of trips along that route. The passes will work for 30 days or up to $50 in savings, whichever you hit first. You do have to buy either five, 10, 15 or 20 rides at a time, so Uber gets a guarantee you'll use their service and you get a discount in return. Both types of passes will also be available on teen accounts this fall.Update, May 14 2025, 2:17PM ET: An earlier version of this article's headline referred to Uber's new offering as "Ride Shares" instead of "Route Share."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-introduces-route-share-a-rush-hour-version-of-pool-161059274.html?src=rss

The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for May includes some heavy hitters like Sand Land and Battlefield V. All of the following games will be available to play on May 20.First up, there's the gorgeous Sand Land. This is an adaptation of an Akira Toriyama manga, the guy who created the Dragon Ball franchise. He also designed many of the monsters and characters in Chrono Trigger and the Dragon Quest series. The game is, more or less, a beat-for-beat recreation of the manga, wrapped up in a fast-paced action RPG package. There's also an emphasis on vehicular combat. The game will be playable on PS4 and PS5.Battlefield V brought the long-standing franchise back to WWII. The FPS also features a battle royale mode that can handle up to 64 simultaneous players. It's a fun time, particularly for those sick of Call of Duty. It's only available for PS4.Soul Hackers 2 is a turn-based RPG developed by Atlus, who most recently made the absolutely fantastic Metaphor: ReFantazio. If you've played that, along with every Persona and Shin Megami Tensei game, this could scratch a very particular dungeon-crawling itch. It's just for PS5.The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. trilogy is also getting a remaster that drops on May 20, so this will be a day one release for PS Plus. The trilogy features updated graphics, keyboard and mouse support and gameplay modes specifically for PS5 Pro. The games will be playable on both PS4 and PS5.Other titles for the month include Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Humankind, Gloomhaven and Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. That's a pretty stacked lineup. Again, these will all be available on May 20.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/ps-plus-game-catalog-additions-for-may-include-sand-land-and-battlefield-v-180504708.html?src=rss

Toyota has announced the return of the C-HR to the United States, but this time as an all-electric model built on its e-TNGA platform. The crossover electric vehicle will now be the second Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) model sold by Toyota in the United States, along with the new bZ, which was also announced this week.The reimagined C-HR will offer up to 290 miles of range and will offer crossover utility with 60/40-fold-flat seats and over 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.The C-HR will lean toward performance in some aspects, sporting 338 horsepower, standard all-wheel drive, and a 0 to 60 time of around five seconds. The wheel will also feature paddle shifters that control the regenerative braking.Like the recently announced bZ, the C-HR will come equipped with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug type, first developed at Tesla and now open source to other EV manufacturers. In the press release for the vehicle, Toyota said the NACS-equipped vehicle would allow it "access to thousands of DC charging stations nationwide," though it does not specify if this means access to Tesla's Supercharger network.The C-HR will be available in SE and XSE trims, though both will feature a 14-inch touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster, power liftgate, wireless phone chargers, and Toyota's Safety Sense 3.0 driver assistance system.Toyota expects the C-HR to arrive at US dealerships in 2026, though further specifics, including pricing, have not been announced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyota-is-bringing-the-c-hr-back-to-the-us-as-an-all-electric-crossover-170728601.html?src=rss

Warner Bros. Discovery announced today that its streaming service is undergoing yet another branding change. This would mark its second name change in three years, and even more if you count the days of HBO's subscriber-exclusive streamer. The streamer previously known as HBO Max (2018-2022), then as Max (2022-2025), will henceforth be known as... checks notes ...HBO Max, again.The rebrand will take place this summer and is part of a push by Warner Bros. Discovery to grow subscriber counts globally. The company's statement shares its belief that returning the HBO branding to the Max streaming service will help signal to its customers the type of quality content they can expect from their subscription. The new (see: old) name makes more pointed use of the brand's iconic name. It reads in part: "This evolution has also been influenced by changing consumer needs, and the fact that no consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content."Bullish on the brand power of HBO, Zaslav said, "The powerful growth we have seen in our global streaming service is built around the quality of our programming. Today, we are bringing back HBO, the brand that represents the highest quality in media, to further accelerate that growth in the years ahead."Warner Bros. Discovery reported earnings last week and mentioned the Max platform nearly 30 times in its nine-page letter to shareholders, touting subscriber and profitability milestones. The company clearly sees HBO Max as a core component to future growth, and HBO as the most valuable branding asset in its expanded portfolio since AT&T's merger with Discovery, Inc. in 2022. Look, as long as you keep making White Lotus, I don't care what you call it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/max-which-was-once-hbo-reverts-to-hbo-max-154149241.html?src=rss

Marvel's long-awaited Ironheart series premieres June 24 on Disney+. We also finally have a legitimate trailer, which looks gritty and fun. This should come as no surprise, as Black Panther and Sinners director Ryan Coogler is on board as an executive producer.The show follows Riri Williams, who was first introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She's a mechanical genius in the vein of Tony Stark who also builds her own armored suit. Iron Man. Ironheart. Get it? In the comics, it's an AI version of Stark that suggests the name, but we doubt Robert Downey Jr's new contract extends to vocal work on a Disney+ series.The footage suggests a season-long battle against an underrated villain in the comics called The Hood, who is a magic user with loose connections to the Dr. Strange villain Dormammu. We can look forward to plenty of tech vs. magic tomfoolery.Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Alden Ehrenreich, Lyric Ross and Anji White, among others. Chinaka Hodge is the head writer, who penned scripts for Snowpiercer and Mike Flanagan's The Midnight Club.We get three episodes on June 24, followed by installments each Tuesday. Ironheart runs for six episodes. The show's followed by the premiere of the animated anthology series Eyes of Wakanda on August 6.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/marvels-ironheart-series-now-has-a-trailer-152824616.html?src=rss

We know Cassian Andor is doomed. 2016's Rogue One makes clear he will meet an untimely death in a massive explosion. That sense of inevitable destruction lingered in the background of the first season of Andor,the prequel series that follows his journey from a low-rent criminal to a rebel spy. But his fate is even more crushing in Andor's second (and final) season, where the cost of fighting against the seemingly all-powerful Empire chips away at his soul."Rebellions are built on hope," was an iconic line from Rogue One, first uttered by Andor and then repeated triumphantly by that film's lead, Jyn Erso. In the streaming series' second season, we see how that idea is formed and inspires many people. Rebellions aren't just about massive space battles, and Death Star trench runs. They don't rely on an untrained kid hopping into a spaceship and scoring a major victory thanks to the Force and destiny. Rebellions start with small decisions by normal people, and through collective action they evolve into something powerful enough to take down empires. Read into that what you will.Lucasfilm LtdaAndor always seemed like an odd series for Disney, which spent the last decade milking the Star Wars franchise for all it's worth. Created by Tony Gilroy, the Bourne Identity screenwriter who reportedly swooped in to save Rogue One at the last minute, Andor has no lightsabers and minimal references to the Force. While it's filling in the gaps for a storyline that leads to A New Hope, the series also feels refreshingly free of the stifling mythology that has plagued shows like The Mandalorianand Ahsoka(and Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi). Andor takes its time, building up its characters and laying out complex ideas, instead of rushing between action set pieces. It's Star Wars for grownups, something I never thought we'd see for a franchise so devoted to kids.In season one, we're introduced to Andor as he's searching for his sister, who disappeared years ago. After being targeted by two local police officers, he ends up killing them both and is forced to hide out in his home planet of Ferrix. There he meets up with his friend Bix (Adria Arjona), who is working for Luthen Rael, a mysterious man who has devoted his life to taking down the Empire. It doesn't take long before Luthen sees potential in Andor, and begins to court him for his rebel cause.Lucasfilm LtdaMinor spoilers ahead for Andor season two.Taking place over the course of a few years (and counting down to the Battle of Yavin, where the Death Star was destroyed in A New Hope), season two follows Andor and Bix as they delve further into the rebellion. Bix is still recovering from the events of the first season, where she was imprisoned and tortured. And Andor splits his time caring for Bix and going on spy missions to help rebels on other planets.I won't say too much about what happens in the season specifically, but in general it builds on everything that made Gilroy's first stab such a refreshing Star Wars entry. We see how the heartless machinations of the Empire affect real people, and how it can push entire populations to fight against tyranny. Small moments, like a hotel bellhop revealing his true thoughts about the Empire to Andor, can lead to more profound acts of rebellion.Lucasfilm LtdaStar Wars has always been about the battle between good and evil. But Andor breaks down what that means for ordinary people, not hyper-powerful space wizards with laser swords. An average citizen could be killed on the spot if they decide to speak up against the Empire. Or, with self-preservation in mind, they could keep their heads down or even volunteer to be a cog in the fascist machine. Not everyone can be Han Solo (though Andor himself is a bit close). But when living under an authoritarian regime, there comes a time for everyone to draw a line. Resist, or lose your soul.Andor also spends plenty of time on Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) before she eventually becomes the leader of the Rebel Alliance. We see her dealing with the difficulty of funding Luthen's rebel activities, especially as they lead to explosive outcomes. But after the Empire massacres thousands of civilians on the planet Ghorman, an event that's been referenced in recent Star Wars books, Mothma and other rebel leaders conclude that violent rebellion is the only way to fight back against the fascist Empire.Lucasfilm Ltda"The Empire has been choking us so slowly, we're starting not to notice. The time has come to force their hand," Luthen tells Senator Mothma in Andor's first season. When she notes that people will suffer, he replies "That's the plan. You're not angry at me. I'm just saying out loud what you already know. There will be no rules going forward. If you're not willing to risk your conscience, then surrender and be done with it."Even though this is Andor's final season, I have a feeling this series will live on in viewer's minds far longer than whatever the hell happened in The Book of Boba Fett. It forces you to think about how the Empire directly affects everyone, from civilians on remote planets to the bureaucratic stooges devoting their lives to fascism. In many ways, it's practically a blueprint for rebellion. And not to put too much on a Disney TV show, but that feels like something we could use right now.Update, May 14: This review has been slightly updated since its original April 21 publish date and republished to coincide with Andor's season two finale.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/andor-season-2-review-a-star-wars-miracle-worth-binging-190057284.html?src=rss

There's about to be a new online movie rental site in town. Letterboxd is introducing a transactional video-on-demand service for its users, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The social media platform for movie lovers announced the news during the Cannes Film Festival.The Letterboxd Video Store will have curated rental categories such as up-and-coming filmmakers, under-appreciated movies and more on demand. There will also be areas that highlight the movies premiering at different film festivals, many of which will be available for a set amount of time. Plus, the rental service could offer some movies that only have a limited distribution, getting them in front of a wider audience.Letterboxd pitches its Video Store it as a natural next step for the company. Every day, we see members recommending films to each other, adding to their watchlists and hungry to discover more," Letterboxd CEO Matthew Buchanan stated. Letterboxd Video Store is our way of delivering for those film lovers, creating a dedicated space for films that deserve an audience."However, while we know it should be coming, that's about all the logistical information we have. Letterboxd has yet to release pricing, launch dates or countries where rentals will be available. These finer points should all arrive in the upcoming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/letterboxd-will-launch-a-curated-online-rental-service-for-films-145056220.html?src=rss

We already know that Illumination and Shigeru Miyamoto are working away on the sequel to the absurdly successful The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Now we might also know its title, even if we aren't supposed to.According to The Verge, NBCUniversal (parent company of Illumination via Universal Pictures) name-dropped the upcoming movie in a press release regarding its 2025 and 2026 content slate, before swiftly removing it. Super Mario World was reportedly included in a section that listed a number of films that will stream on Peacock following their theatrical release in the next year.Other films mentioned include M3gan 2.0, Nobody 2, The Bad Guys 2 and the upcoming live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon. The original post also listed the next Shrek and Minion movies, but like Super Mario World, they're absent from the amended version.Of course, there's always a possibility that NBCUniversal used the wrong name, or that Super Mario World is just a working title. But it does seem like an obvious choice. For one, the "World" part suggests a larger-scale adventure for Nintendo's mustachioed mascot this time around, and (spoilers for the first film) the post-credits scene in The Super Mario Bros. Movie hinted at Yoshi's involvement in the sequel. Nobody who owned a Super Nintendo Entertainment System in the 90s will need reminding which game the little green dinosaur made his debut in.The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which Engadget's Devindra Hardawar called "a fun but safe Mushroom Kingdom romp" when it released in 2023, made over $1.36 billion at the global box office, and is currently the highest-grossing movie based on a video game of all time. A release date of April 3, 2026 was confirmed last year for the officially as-yet untitled sequel.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-next-mario-movie-may-share-its-name-with-an-snes-classic-141146941.html?src=rss

Eight Sleep has launched a new sleep system called the Pod 5, which uses the power of artificial intelligence, as one would expect from a lot of new products these days. The Pod 5 system consist of a cover, a hub, a blanket and a base that works with any mattress you already have. Its cover and hydro-powered blanket cool down or heat up from 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit across your whole body, adjusting their temperatures based on the biometric reading from the cover's embedded sensors.If the system detects that you're snoring through vibrations, the base automatically but gently elevates your head in response, which had been clinically proven to reduce snoring. The base is supposed to go in between your mattress and the bed frame, but it can also be used freestanding with an optional leg kit. Pod 5's base comes with a built-in surround-sound speaker that plays audio, which the company says was designed to support relaxation and recovery. The company has added a guided meditation technique to its audio options, as well as a curated selection of white noise and calming sounds. Finally, the Hub contains the water that the system uses to regulate the cover's and blanket's temperatures. It also contains tech like the WiFi that connects the Pod 5 to the internet.The company says the whole experience is powered by its proprietary AI engine Autopilot that's trained on almost 10 million hours of sleep data. It also learns from your own biometrics and sleep patterns, so it can adjust the system as needed. In addition, Eight Sleep has launched a set of AI-powered algorithms called Health Check that monitors your heart and respiratory rates while you sleep through the sensors in the cover. If your heart rate or breathing shows some abnormality, for instance, you'll see a report in the system's accompanying app notifying you of the reading.The Pod 5 system is now available for purchase in the US, the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Switzerland. Prices begin at $2,849, and you can get up to a 30-night trial and free returns in case you change your mind.Eight SleepThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/eight-sleep-launches-the-ai-powered-pod-5-sleep-system-130014472.html?src=rss

Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi service is making its debut in Europe later this year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Chinese company is reportedly negotiating with Switzerland's PostAuto, a Swiss Post subsidiary that offers rural bus services throughout the country, to start testing Apollo Go in Switzerland. To be able to test its technology in Switzerland before the year ends, Baidu is setting up a local entity in the coming months.Back in March, the company announced that it was deploying 100 fully autonomous cars in Dubai, with plans to expand its fleet to 1,000 vehicles in the city by 2028. It's also expanding its trials in Hong Kong and reportedly has plans to test its vehicles in Turkey in the future. Baidu launched Apollo Go in all "first-tier" Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, in 2022. As The Journal notes, Baidu, like its Chinese competitors, is likely looking to expand in Europe instead of the US, because Chinese companies could be subject to more scrutiny in the country.One of the companies Baidu will be competing with in Europe is Uber, which signed a deal with Chinese self-driving startup Momenta earlier this month. Uber and Momenta are launching robotaxi services in the continent sometime in 2026. When Baidu does start testing its vehicles its Switzerland, they'll most likely have drivers behind the wheel before the company progresses to fully driverless trials.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/baidu-could-start-testing-its-apollo-go-robotaxi-service-in-europe-this-year-123054998.html?src=rss

If you've been waiting to pick up Apple's latest MacBook Air M4 then your patience has paid off. Right now, the 13-inch model is down to $849 from $999 - a 15 percent discount. It's an all-time low for the 13-inch MacBook Air M4, and the deal is available for the laptop in Starlight, Midnight and Sky Blue. Note that this price applies to the entry-level model with 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. If you're willing to pay extra for more storage space, a version with a 512GB SSD is also $150 off at $1,049. If you want more memory, a variant with 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is similarly discounted at $1,249. Both of those deals represent all-time lows as well. Apple only released the MacBook Air M4 in mid-March and we've since named it 2025's best MacBook overall. We gave it in a 92 in our review, as it still packs an accurate (albeit 60Hz) display and excellent keyboard in a slim, sturdy build that weighs 2.7 pounds and measures 0.44 inches thick. But it's the M4 chip that really gives the Air a boost; the 13-inch model has a 10-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, all of which are more than fast enough for most everyday tasks. Battery life is another plus: The notebook lasted over 18 hours while playing HD video in our testing. If you're looking for something a little bigger, then it might be worth getting the 15-inch MacBook Air M4. That one is also $150 off in several configurations, starting at $1,049 for 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD and moving up to $1,449 for 24GB of RAM and double the storage. Again, each of these deals mark new lows. Apart from its larger display, the 15-inch MacBook Air has a larger trackpad and better speakers than its 13-inch counterpart but is largely identical otherwise. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-macbook-air-drops-to-a-record-low-price-144625537.html?src=rss

As people continue to move away from sedans to larger vehicles, the distinction between SUVs, crossovers and MPVs has become even blurrier. But make no mistake, if you're looking for a big car with tons of power, excellent handling and a true seven-person capacity, the Lucid Gravity might be the coolest three-row EV on sale today. Just don't call it a minivan.Not that you would be incorrect. Between its extra-long dimensions (198 inches, three inches longer than a LWB VW ID. Buzz), a smooth, sloping front end and an emphasis on aerodynamics, the Gravity certainly looks more like a Chrysler Pacifica than a brawny Rivian R1S. But as one Lucid representative told me, minivans have gotten a bad rap in recent times, due to their focus on basic practicality while eschewing anything in the way of engaging driving dynamics. This makes slapping the minivan tag on a car feel almost like a death sentence, even if the biggest difference between the Gravity and some of its cross-category rivals is the lack of sliding doors.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetWith the Gravity's Grand Touring spec (which starts at $94,900) packing a whopping 828 horsepower along with fancy features like standard air suspension and optional rear-wheel steering, this thing is anything but pokey. And that's before you consider a 0 to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds, which puts most sports cars (especially gas-powered ones) to shame. So despite how it looks, there's no doubt the Gravity offers better performance than any minivan on the planet.The speed continues when it's time to charge. Thanks to its 926 volt architecture, the Gravity can suck down up to 400 kW of juice, which makes this the fastest charging EV outside of China. Lucid's charging tech is also capable of adding 200 miles of driving distance in under 11 minutes. When combined with up to 450 miles of range, this vehicle is almost single-handedly upending the idea that electric cars are bad for long road trips.The sky was cloudy that day.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetMeanwhile, for those who want to travel in luxury, the Gravity has more creature comforts than minivans too, even for a class of vehicle that can often be judged by its number of cupholders. Not only are the front and second row seats heated, Lucid's glass panoramic roof runs nearly the entire length of the car. That means unlike most rivals where the driver is stuck without a view, all you see is sky when you look up from behind the wheel. There's even a screen for second row occupants to control music and climate (among other things).Lucid also makes great use of the Gravity's length. While I wouldn't want to ride back there as an adult all the time, it has one of the most spacious third rows I've ever sat in. Alternatively, if you need extra cargo space, the rearmost seats fold into the floor, providing you with a flat load space featuring 56.2 cubic feet of room (and that's with the second row still up). And while it's not something you'll use all the time, I love the company's optional folding cushion that transforms the frunk into a loveseat - complete with cupholders on each side. It's a fun little feature that makes me sad that drive-in movie theaters are becoming extinct.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThe most enchanting contradiction about the Gravity is what it feels like to drive. After getting into the pilot's seat, you're greeted by a massive 34-inch 6K OLED display. And unlike some of its competitors, it's not two or three screens sandwiched together. It's all a single panel that's an absolute treat to look at. This expansiveness is only reinforced by Lucid's squircle-shaped wheel. It's a touch smaller than you might expect on a vehicle this size, but it also gives you increased visibility at its giant infotainment system.The hard thing to wrap your head around though, is that for a long SUV with three rows of seats, it doesn't drive like a big car. The cabin is spacious and airy and it feels like you could fit a pickleball court between its mirrors. And yet, thanks to features like the optional rear-wheel steering on my demo vehicle, it almost felt petite during a quick drive around New York City.Now, I will admit that my route down the West Side Highway wasn't the best place to really test out its driving dynamics. But there were a few spots where I got a sense of how good the Gravity will be on the open road. For example, I had to make a U-turn down near Battery Park and I thought there was no way I was going to make it without committing to a three-point maneuver. But to my delight, it just darted around the divider in a way that defies its dimensions.Lucid's suspension is also a work of art. For a car that weighs around 6000 pounds (depending on spec), it doesn't lumber or bounce when it goes over bumps. It just kind of floats. You can still feel the road, but it's just more of a gentle reminder that its surface texture is constantly changing rather than a jolt up your backside. Granted, my test vehicle was equipped with Lucid's Dynamic Handling Package, which includes three-chamber air suspension instead of the standard two. But, honestly, that extra $2,900 feels well worth it, especially when that option also adds the rear-wheel steering.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetI also appreciate how the car automatically hunkers down when you set it to sport mode to improve performance. Even without room to get it up to top speed, it's impossible to escape the feeling of immense power the car gets from its dual motors (a single-motor RWD is slated to come out later). The Gravity might just have the best ride quality of any EV SUV currently on sale.However, I do have some complaints. The most obvious one is that this thing ain't cheap at just shy of $95,000 for the initial Grand Touring version. And even when the base model eventually comes out at around $80,000, that's still a far cry from mainstream affordability. It really makes me wonder why Lucid didn't jump straight to making its rumored (and almost certainly more affordable) mid-size SUV.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetI don't love Lucid's current color options either, which seem aimed more at boomers than younger, more EV-friendly drivers. (Though I guess that's where the money is.) The most vibrant paint choice is either a brownish bronze or a faded olive green. I was hoping that the company had learned something from the stunning blue it uses on the Air Sapphire and carried over some of that styling to the Gravity. But here we are.Finally, Lucid won't have its version of Dream Drive 2 Pro hands-free driving tech available at launch. Furthermore, the company is running into issues sourcing components for its HUD system, which means you'll have to wait a bit longer for that option. The good news is that when (or if) Lucid eventually figures out its hand-free tech, all the hardware needed to support it will already be in the Gravity, so all you'll need is an OTA update to turn it on.Regardless, as Lucid continues ramping production throughout the year, the Gravity already feels like the coolest big EV SUV on sale today and an immediate top contender for anyone looking for a luxurious three-row people carrier.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-lucid-gravity-is-the-coolest-three-row-ev-on-the-market-120024089.html?src=rss

Sony has sold 77.8 million PlayStation 5s since the console first went on sale in 2020 after shipping 2.8 million units in its latest quarter, the company announced. That figure lines up remarkably well with PlayStation 4 sales which hit 79.1 million units in approximately the same amount of time. However, Sony's full year fiscal 2024 PS5 sales of 18.5 million were down compared to the 20.8 million it sold in 2023.Game sales more than made up for that though, rising nine percent and helping push the division's operating income up 43 percent year over year. That was largely due to third-party sales, as first-party sales actually fell a bit. Sony has only released one first-party game so far this year with key titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Ytei still to come.Sony doesn't expect this growth to continue, though. The company is predicting a 100 billion ($700 million) hit to sales next year due to tariffs, given that most of its sales occur in the US - and the company had already forecast flat revenue for 2025. Another key blow was the delay of Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto VI launch that was just pushed back to May 2026.During its earnings call, Sony said that it was considering "passing on" tariff hikes to consumers, though it didn't mention the PS5 or US specifically. The company has already raised the price of the console in other territories including Europe, but US increases are extremely rare. Sony CEO HIroki Totoki also brought up the possibility of building the PlayStation 5 in the US, saying it's something that "has to be considered going forward."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-sold-778-million-ps5s-to-date-but-expects-a-downturn-due-to-tariffs-120013001.html?src=rss

Smartwatches do more than just track your steps and deliver phone alerts to your wrist. The best smartwatches go even further, giving you the ability to pay for a cup of coffee, take calls and connect to apps like Spotify all without whipping out your smartphone.

Steam announced this week that it will offer a compatibility rating that will designate when a game is supported on the company's operating system. The SteamOS Compatibility assessment is slated to roll out "in the next few weeks."This metric is an extension of the Steam Deck Verified program, and it will award a checkmark to games based on a data subset within that vetting process. In other words, game developers won't have to take any additional steps if they're already completing Steam Deck Verified. On the player end, compatible games will show a blue checkmark when viewed in the Steam Store and Steam Client while running the operating system on a device other than the Steam Deck.The announcement is mostly a future-proofing move. Right now, the Lenovo Legion Go S is the only handheld besides the Steam Deck that's officially running Valve's operating system. But Lenovo was already teasing a second iteration of the hardware at CES this year and Valve clearly has plans for the number of SteamOS platforms to grow. The landscape for handheld gaming could start looking quite different if SteamOS really takes off as a standalone service.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/valve-made-a-steam-deck-verified-program-for-things-that-arent-steam-decks-224535134.html?src=rss

Buried in the blog posts and videos that accompanied Google's The Android Show: I/O Edition announcements was a nugget of Nothing news: The Nothing Phone 3 is going to be expensive. In an Android marketing video showcasing the company's phones, Nothing CEO Carl Pei shared that the new phone will cost around 800 when it launches this summer.That new cost is thanks to Nothing's decision to go "all-in" on the new device by including "premium materials, major performance upgrades and software that really levels things up," according to Pei. The Nothing Phone 2 launched at 580 in the UK and $600 in the US, so selling the Phone 3 at 800 is a noticeable price jump. Assuming Nothing follows through on the premium upgrades it's promising, though, maybe it'll make sense that the Phone 3 costs as much as a Pixel 9 or iPhone 16.Nothing made its name on affordable phones that have unique, premium designs. For example, the company launched the Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro in March 2025, the budget and mid-range counterparts to the Phone 3. Both phones use mid-range chips and camera sensors, but feature a futuristic design and clever AI features that you'd expect out of a much more expensive device.Switching to trying to compete with Apple and Samsung in terms of price suggests Nothing is confident, at the very least. We'll have to wait until this summer when the Phone 3 is actually released to see if that confidence is justified.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/carl-pei-teases-the-all-in-nothing-phone-3-with-a-flagship-price-213023983.html?src=rss

In the early days of President Donald Trump's second administration, federal agencies including the US Department of Agriculture were ordered to remove information about climate change from their websites. Now, the USDA has committed to reinstating the deleted content following a lawsuit on behalf of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, the National Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group. According to a letter sent yesterday to a district court judge, the agency has already begun the restoration process and expects to "substantially complete" the effort in about two weeks.The material removed from USDA sites in February included content about climate-smart agriculture, forest conservation, climate change adaptation and clean energy project investments in rural areas. The trio of plaintiffs sued on the basis that removing that information violated the Freedom of Information Act that allows public access to important federal records, as well as failing to provide advanced notice required by the Paperwork Reduction Act and without the reasoned decision-making of the Administrative Procedure act. The USDA said that it "will restore the climate-change-related web content that was removed post-Inauguration, including all USDA webpages and interactive tools enumerated in plaintiffs' complaint.""This is a major victory and an important first step. Members of the public, including our clients, rely on information from USDA to understand how climate change is affecting our nation's forests, food supply, and energy systems," said Stephanie Krent, staff attorney with Knight First Amendment Institute, which helped file the lawsuit. "USDA was wrong to remove these webpages in the first place, and it must comply with federal law going forward."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/the-usda-will-republish-climate-change-information-online-following-farmer-lawsuit-211907357.html?src=rss

A conservation program in Kenya that tech companies like Netflix and Meta rely on for carbon credits is in conflict with local herders, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The issue led to the program run by The Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project to be put on hold, and could ultimately invalidate credits the organization has already sold.This specific carbon capture program uses grass spread across 4.7 million acres of land communally owned by groups like the Maasai, to trap carbon in the soil. The project gets to use the land, and in exchange, the herders get a portion of the revenue from carbon credit sales. The issue that's put the whole program at risk is a conflict over the herders' farming practices. The local agricultural community has used the same grazing techniques for generations without issue, but the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project wants them to "rotate livestock grazing so grasses can recover and lock more carbon into the soil," The Wall Street Journal writes. Some herders frustrated with the rules have gone as far as to claim that they were misled when they originally agreed to participate in the conservation program.Many tech companies rely on purchasing carbon credits to help offset the negative environmental impacts of rapid technological development. You don't get to run servers streaming movies or training AI models 24 hours a day without consuming a lot of electricity and water. Carbon offset projects plant trees or run agricultural programs like the one in Kenya to pull carbon from the atmosphere, selling credits to companies to absolve them of their sins.Clearly, these carbon projects haven't always been actually beneficial for the people who live on the land they impact. The Wall Street Journal report is worth a read and gets into what the fallout of all of this could be, but at the very least, tech companies' branding themselves as "carbon neutral" seems like its going to get trickier.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/one-of-the-tech-industrys-sources-of-carbon-credits-is-in-conflict-with-kenyan-herders-201056081.html?src=rss

Kia has introduced a wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) iteration of its first electric van. The PV5 WAV offers several accessibility features, such as a side-entry system so a wheelchair user can board the van from the sidewalk, and a quick-use entry ramp rated for 300kg (661 lbs). It's equipped with a tip-up seat in the third row so other riders can assist a wheelchair passenger from the side. The PV5 WAV also has a wheelchair-specific belt fastening system.The brand collaborated with Motability Operations on the debut of the PV5 WAV. Motability Operations is a long-term partner of the UK's vehicle leasing plan that helps people with disabilities to have an accessible mode of transportation.Kia"By integrating cutting-edge Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) technology with thoughtful design, we are paving the way for a future where everyone can enjoy the benefits of sustainable mobility, and our partnership with Motability Operations is a testament to our commitment to making this vision a reality," Sangdae Kim, executive vice president and head of Kia's PBV Division, said. The PBV tech has been the foundation for a few of Kia's new vehicle announcements over the past year, including at CES 2024.The standard model of the PV5, Kia's first electric van, recently began pre-orders in the UK. Kia hasn't shared pricing information yet about the WAV model, but the non-WAV version retails starting at 32,995 (about $44,000).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/kia-debuts-the-pv5-wav-a-wheelchair-ready-electric-van-200554987.html?src=rss

YouTube will be streaming an exclusive NFL game in its entirety for free worldwide for the first time ever. After becoming the official home of NFL Sunday Ticket in 2023, YouTube has been pushing to expand its reach in the high-stakes, multibillion-dollar world of NFL coverage and broadcast rights.The Google-owned streaming company has secured the exclusive rights to broadcast one of the NFL's opening week games on Friday September 5 live from Brazil. The Sao Paulo spectacle will take place the day after the Thursday night NFL KickOff game between the Eagles and the Cowboys. The 2025 NFL regular season will feature seven international games, a record for the league.In an NFL press release, YouTube's chief business officer Mary Ellen Choe said, "Streaming the Friday night game to fans for free around the world will mark YouTube's first time as a live NFL broadcaster - and we'll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience."Last year, fellow streaming giant Netflix streamed its first live NFL games on Christmas Day as part of a three-year deal with the league, though Netflix doesn't have a NFL specific product to sell its customers like YouTube has with NFL Sunday Ticket.In the press release announcing YouTube's coverage of Week 1 from Brazil, Mary Ellen Choe discussed the reach of NFL games on YouTube, saying, "Last year, people spent over 350 million hours watching official NFL content on YouTube, so it's both fitting and thrilling to continue to build our relationship with our partners at the NFL."This expanded partnership comes against the backdrop of other team-ups between YouTube and the NFL aside from NFL Sunday Ticket, namely a multi-year deal for the annual Super Bowl Flag Football game as well as additional international flag football games.The exact cost for the broadcast rights to the Brazil game is not known at this time, though it's known that YouTube is paying over $2 billion per year over a seven-year deal for NFL Sunday Ticket.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-will-exclusively-stream-an-nfl-game-for-free-191519460.html?src=rss

The adventure game Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra has been delayed until 2026, according to a statement by publisher Skydance Games. The title was supposed to come out sometime this year.What's the reason for the delay? The publisher says it's to "add more polish," which is never a bad thing. I'd rather a fully-finished game upon release than a buggy mess. The company does say it'll be available in the early part of 2026, so that isn't too long to wait. Still, it's disappointing news for eager Marvel fans.Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is a narrative-driven adventure game with four playable characters, including long-time icons like Black Panther and Captain America. As the name suggests, it's set during World War II in occupied Paris.It's being developed by Amy Hennig and her new studio, which is a subsidiary of Skydance. If her name sounds familiar, that's because she's best known for being a creative director and writer at Naughty Dog. Hennig was the lead writer on all three Uncharted games and was creative director for the Legacy of Kain franchise. She's got a fantastic pedigree, so this new Marvel game could be a heavy hitter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/amy-hennigs-marvel-1943-rise-of-hydra-is-delayed-to-2026-185945301.html?src=rss

TikTok hasn't shoved generative AI features into every corner of its app the way Meta has with Instagram, but the company has still experimented with the tech in some interesting - if slightly unsettling - ways. Now, TikTok is introducing a new AI-powered feature that feels even more meme-worthy. It's called AI Alive and it allows users to create short, stylized video clips from a static image.Right now, the feature only exists for TikTok's Stories feature, so it's meant for more ephemeral sharing than what you might typically post on the app. You start with a still image Stories post (accessed from the app's inbox) and choose the new "AI Alive" option, which prompts you to "make this photo come alive." TikTok will surface suggested prompts, but you can also come up with your own.You can see the feature in action in the video below. In all three cases, I started with an image of my cat standing on a railing and used prompts suggested by TikTok. The first was "bring this to life as an anime," the second was for him to walk "carefully" along the railing and the last was "style this like a retro game." As you can see in the clip, the results were somewhat mixed. The anime-esque effect came out a bit creepy and erased my cat's tabby stripes, though I suppose it more or less aligned with the prompt. The second animation also looks a bit odd: there are numerous AI artifacts and my cat's tail and paws look unnatural. The final "retro game" style clip, though, is downright baffling. Why did TikTok's AI decide that my cat should hold up two comically huge wine glasses? Nothing about it evokes any video game I've ever played.Still, like many generative AI features, it's a fun novelty and I can see TikTok users having a lot of fun coming up with their own, probably bizarre, creations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-just-added-an-ai-powered-image-to-video-feature-and-it-did-some-weird-things-to-my-cat-184630740.html?src=rss

President Donald Trump's administration has undone one of the last regulations set by his predecessor. Today, the Department of Commerce rescinded the AI Diffusion Rule implemented by former President Joe Biden, a policy that restricted the export of US-made AI chips to select international markets. The rule was introduced by Biden's administration in January and slated to take effect on May 15. Trump had previously walked back the broader AI guidelines adopted by Biden in October 2023 as part of his initial wave of executive orders upon taking office.Although the Department of Commerce is not enforcing the previous AI Diffusion Rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security said it will release a replacement policy at a later date. The press release included three additional actions from the BIS:

In an increasingly competitive EV landscape, Toyota hopes its newly redesigned and renamed Toyota bZ can stand out. As brands from Subaru to Volkswagen continue to expand all-electric offerings, Toyota is placing its bets on a single EV model for the American market.The change in name may be partly in hopes of distancing the new model in consumers' minds from the original bZ4X, which began stateside sales in 2022, only to be met with recalls and buybacks.Toyota, for its part, states in a press release that the branding change is just simplifying the name for customers." Toyota is hoping for a fresh start and has brought several key improvements to the table.The new bZ will have an estimated range of 314 miles, up from just 252 in the previous model. There is also a significant horsepower boost for all-wheel drive models, reaching 338 hp, and a modest 20-hp boost for front-wheel drive models, measuring in at 221 hp.This model will come equipped with the now-standardized North American Charging Standard (NACS) outlet, first developed by Tesla. This brings fast-charging capability to the new bZ, which Toyota says will allow it to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.Toyota has also brought a number of other improved creature comforts and new features to this second-gen model including an updated XMODE system with GripControl for improved offroad traction.The bZ's price at launch is set to be somewhere between $37,000 and $42,000, depending on the trim and configuration. This positions the model to compete with other smaller all-electric SUVs like the Tesla Model Y.Toyota expects the new bZ to begin arriving at Toyota dealerships in the back half of 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/toyota-hopes-for-a-smoother-start-with-its-redesigned-bz-all-electric-suv-182426253.html?src=rss

The UK's House of Lords just voted to add an amendment to a data bill that mandates that tech companies disclose which copyright-protected works were used to train AI models, as reported by The Guardian. The amendment faced government opposition but resoundingly passed with 272 votes to 125.The vote came just a few days after hundreds of artists and organizations joined together to urge the government not to "give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies." The artists involved in this push included Paul McCartney, Elton John and Dua Lipa, among many others.

Google I/O 2025 is still a week out, but Google shared a taste of the updates coming to Android and the larger Android Ecosystem at a separate event today, dubbed The Android Show: I/O Edition.Engadget followed along with the announcements as they happened in our liveblog, but for an overview, here are the changes Google has planned for Android, its visual design and Gemini.Material 3 Expressive is making Android and Wear OS more funGoogleMaterial Design, Google's design language for Android and Android apps, has been slowly evolving for years at this point, but Material 3 Expressive should be the biggest departure yet, adding new animations, typography and colors.Google believes these changes make Android and apps easier to understand, while making them more appealing to young people. Based on the screenshots and clips Google shared, using Material 3 Expressive on Android 16 and Wear OS 6 has made the OSes look bouncier, more playful and fun. On Android, that also comes with the ability to add more tools to Quick Settings and apps and widgets to your home screen app grid. How much of a difference the new design language actually makes in your day-to-day life will depend on how quickly developers adopt the new style.Google says you'll be able to check out the new look yourself when the Android 16 beta becomes available on select Android devices in June.Gemini is coming to even more placesGoogleGoogle made Gemini the default assistant on Android and offered the multimodal generative AI's smarts on the web and iOS. Now the assistant is making the jump to even more of the surfaces Google already controls, including Wear OS, the wearable operating system used by Samsung's Galaxy Watches and Google's Pixel Watches, Google TV and Android Auto.Gemini will be able to do all of the things Google Assistant could do, like setting timers or creating reminders, but with much more flexible, natural language interactions. In Android Auto and cars with Google Built-in, you'll also be able to use Gemini Live, Google's tool for having live conversations with the AI about whatever topic you choose.Google TV will leverage Gemini for TV and movie recommendations across your favorite genres, along with the AI assistant's basic ability to answer questions. You could, for example, ask it for recommendations for kid shows and get information about your favorite actor. Gemini will also be available on Google's new Android XR platform, but Google suggested that more information about its mixed-reality plans are being saved for I/O on May 20.Android is getting new security features and the Find HubGoogleA major component of each new version of Android is improved security features, and Google has a few new features planned for Android 16. The company says it's expanding its AI model for detecting spam texts and calls to account for new types of scams, like road toll scams.The next version of Android will also make it possible to grant accessibility privileges on a call with an unknown contact, and a new Key Verifier tool makes it possible to swap encryption keys to verify the person you're talking to is who they say they are.On top of those changes, Google is expanding its Find My Device network into the new Find Hub, which can track your Android devices, compatible accessories and trackers, all in one location. The big change in the move from Find My Device to Find Hub is broad support for devices with ultra-wideband radios, which offer more precise tracking. Devices in Find Hub will also be able to use your phone's satellite connectivity to make themselves findable even when you don't have cell service.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-google-announced-at-the-android-show-174155773.html?src=rss

Well, the leaks were right. Google is updating the look of Android and Wear OS to make its mobile and wearable operating systems more visually expressive and animated.Google has dubbed its new design system Material 3 Expressive, and plans to introduce it when Android 16 and Wear OS 6 launch later this year. Material 3 Expressive builds on the Material You design changes Google made with the introduction of Android 12 by adding "more natural, springy animations," a greater sense of depth, updated "dynamic color themes" and "emphasized typography." If you're familiar with Apple's approach to animation in iOS, Google seems to be using a similar philosophy here, making software elements more reactive to each other and your input, and layering in haptics so you can feel them react, too.GoogleThe company specifically calls out the way other notifications bounce and jiggle when you pull one out of a stack in the notification shade and the haptics you feel dismissing apps in the recent apps menu, but new animations should be noticeable throughout Android 16. That's along with what looks like an even more playful use of typography and color theming in Google's stock apps, and a tasteful blur in the background of contextual menus. For even more personalization options, Google says the Quick Settings menu can now be customized to fit more actions, not unlike iOS 18's Control Center. On the lock screen, apps will also have the option to display a live-updating notification, a feature Google calls "Live Updates" that is equivalent to Live Activities in iOS.GoogleGiven the smaller screen real estate, Material 3 Expressive comes across as less of a major change on Wear OS, but there are still visual changes that should be noticeable once you update. That includes new animations when you scroll through lists and glances, dynamic color-theming that matches the rest of your watch to your watch face and tweaks to notifications that make them easier to interact with. That's on top of performance improvements that are supposed to give Wear OS 6 smartwatches up to 10 percent more battery life, according to Google.Material 3 Expressive adds more of the quirky pizazz that has made the company's software stand out in the last few years, but Google claims these changes are backed up by research, too. Material 3 Expressive is "the most researched update to Google's design system, ever," according to the company. There's a blog digging into some of Google's findings, but of particular note is the idea that Material 3 Expressive apps are attractive to young people - the company claims up to 87 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds prefer expressive design - while being easier to understand for people over the age of 45.It remains to be seen whether developers take these changes in stride, but at the very least Android 16 and Wear OS 6 will be more visually exciting than anything Google's released in years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-gives-android-an-animated-makeover-with-material-3-expressive-170045667.html?src=rss

Android 16's new Advanced Protection feature simplifies the task of managing your phone's security settings.GoogleThis summer's Android 16 release will add several new and updated security measures that should make it more difficult for criminals to scam Android users or take advantage of stolen Android phones. After introducing AI features in March that detect fraudulent messages based on common language patterns, Google is working on teaching its models to recognize a wider range of text scams, such as those unpaid road toll scams you've probably seen this year. It's also adding faster pattern analysis to Google Play Protect so it can unmask malicious apps more quickly.Starting in Android 16, it will be impossible to grant certain accessibility privileges while on a call with an unknown contact. Meanwhile, the new Key Verifier feature prevents scammers from co-opting your known contacts, letting you and a trusted contact swap public encryption keys to confirm each other's identities.Android 16 also adds new ways to protect your phone against thieves. The Identity Check feature requires extra biometric verification to change sensitive settings outside user-designated safe locations. It launched on some Pixel and Galaxy devices in January, but Android 16 will widen the rollout. These upgrades should help protect against "shoulder surfing" device thefts and bank account breaches, in which thieves learn passcodes by watching targets unlock their phones, then steal and unlock the devices themselves. Such attacks have been vexing smartphone owners in bars and other crowded venues for years.New anti-theft features include a security question for deactivating remote locks and more restrictions on what can be done to a device after a factory reset. If a phone running Android 16 is not unlocked or connected to Wi-Fi for a while, the lock screen will hide two-factor authentication codes received through texts.Along with the new security features, Android 16 will centralize security under a single device-level feature called Advanced Protection. While the Advanced Protection switch is active, no feature under its umbrella can be turned off.As a final complement to the Android 16 security updates, Google is expanding its Find My Device feature into Find Hub, a dashboard that can locate basically any object with smart capabilities or a bluetooth tag. Find Hub can use ultra-wide band (UWB) on compatible devices to narrow down more precise locations, and can also communicate via satellite so its features work outside cell range.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/android-16-adds-new-features-for-scam-detection-and-device-finding-170037778.html?src=rss

Google is bringing Gemini to more devices. During Tuesday's airing of The Android Show: I/O Edition, the company said its family of AI models would soon power the conversational experiences on Android Auto, Wear OS, Google TV and beyond. I know what you're thinking: don't those platforms already come with Google Assistant? They do, but Google is promising Gemini will make every device it comes to more conversational.For instance, once Gemini arrives on Wear OS, Google says you won't need to get the wording of your request just right for the software to understand you. Instead, you can say something like "Remember I'm using locker 43 today," and Gemini will know to set a reminder for you. Google is promising similar enhancements on Android Auto, where Google Assistant has been an important part of the experience for years."Soon, Gemini will upgrade that experience by understanding what you want while you're driving, through natural conversations," the company says. "So instead of focusing on the perfect prompt or tapping the right button, you can stay focused on the road ahead."In practice, that means Gemini will be able to do things like summarize text messages for you and translate them into more than 40 languages. With its ability to "remember" things, you can do things like tell Gemini to always send messages to a specific friend in Spanish, even though you might not speak the language. Google will start rolling out Gemini to Android Auto in the coming months, with cars with Google built-in to follow later this year.Elsewhere, Google is building Android XR from the ground up with Gemini built-in. "When the first headset from Samsung launches later this year, Gemini can help you do things like plan a vacation by surrounding you with videos, maps and local tips, creating an entire itinerary in minutes while providing a more realistic feel for the place you're researching," the company says.In the coming months, Google will also bring Gemini to Google TV. As you can probably guess, here Gemini will augment recommendations. Specifically, you can expect better age-appropriate suggestions for your kids. The model will also give Google TV the capability to answer any questions your children might have about what they're watching.Last but not least, Google says Sony and Samsung will bring Gemini to some of the new earbuds the two companies plan to release this year and into the future. No details yet on what to expect there, but like on Wear OS and Android Auto, presumably the addition of Gemini will help make those earbuds better at understanding what you say to them.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-is-bringing-gemini-to-wear-os-android-auto-and-more-170028033.html?src=rss

Disney isn't quite ready to reveal exactly when you'll be able to start using ESPN's long-awaited standalone streaming service, but it has announced some key details. For one thing, the company isn't rocking the boat in terms of branding. The service will simply be called ESPN.That was the best and most obvious option, especially considering that the unlimited plan includes all of ESPN's offerings, albeit via the internet instead of satellite or cable. "As we thought about the name, we kept returning to the fact that, across every generation, ESPN is the most trusted, loved and recognized name in sports, and that we should keep it simple and double down on the power of ESPN," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.There are two plans that will be available through the revamped ESPN app: an unlimited subscription for $30 per month and a select plan for $12 per month. The former includes all of ESPN's linear networks. You'll be able to watch (deep breath) ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS and ESPN Deportes live, as well as ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+ and ACCNX. ESPN's press release does not mention the inclusion of ESPN8 The Ocho, a free ad-supported streaming channel that features all kinds of strange and wonderful sports.Along with studio shows and original programming like the 30 for 30 films, the unlimited plan offers access to 47,000 live events every year plus on-demand replays, ESPN says. That includes games from the big four North American sports leagues, along with the NWSL, PGA Tour, UFC, Big 12, the College Football Playoff, dozens of NCAA championships, major European soccer leagues, three of the tennis grand slam tournaments and much more. The select plan, meanwhile, is basically what ESPN+ is now.There are other payment options available. An annual unlimited membership will run you $300. If you also use Disney+ and/or Hulu, though, a bundle will likely be the best way to go. Disney is trying to sweeten the deal for newcomers with a launch offer that includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN unlimited for $30 per month for 12 months. That effectively gets you Disney+ and Hulu for free for a year, but it'll be the ad-supported version of each. After that, the bundle will cost you $36 per month for a plan with ads on Disney+ and Hulu. To go ad-free on those services, you'll pay $45 per month for the bundle.As for the select plan, that's $120 for an annual subscription. The bundle of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN select will be $17 per month with ads on Disney+ and Hulu, and $27 to go ad-free. Bundle subscribers will be able to access ESPN content from the Disney+ app.Current ESPN+ subscribers will be moved over to the ESPN service on the select plan (but expect a lot of attempts to upsell you on the unlimited offering). If you have a bundle with Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+, you'll soon find yourself with the ESPN select bundle.The transition will happen when the ESPN streaming service debuts sometime in early fall. Disney will announce more details, including the date when the service goes live, later this summer as the cable-ization of streaming TV continues.The standalone ESPN service had been in the works for years, but it's not the only sports streaming platform Disney had been putting together. The company teamed up with Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox with the intention to start a joint offering called Venu Sports, but that plan vaporized earlier this year amid legal challenges from competitors. Still, Fubo agreed to drop its case against Venu Sports after it reached a deal with Disney on a joint venture that combines FuboTV with Hulu + Live TV.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/espns-streaming-service-will-cost-up-to-30-per-month-and-be-called-espn-164532920.html?src=rss

We finally have some actual footage of the upcoming Spider-Noir series, thanks to a teaser trailer. This is a real boon for fans of the original Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, as the show brings back Nicolas Cage as Spider-Man: Noir.It's also live action, so we get to see a real-life Nic Cage kicking butt as a down-on-his-luck private detective that's bitten by a magical spider. You can likely guess what happens to him after that. Amazon says that the character will be "forced to grapple with his past life as the city's one and only superhero."This is a short trailer, but it's positively soaked in retro vibes. After all, the show's called Spider-Noir. The teaser is in black-and-white, but it's worth noting that the actual series will be available in both black-and-white and color. It's all up to personal preference, but I'm digging the black-and-white.Spider-Noir will first air on MGM+ before heading to Prime Video the next day. We don't have a release date yet. In addition to Cage, the show stars Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Li Jun Li and Karen Rodriguez, among others. Harry Bradbeer, who helmed most episodes of Fleabag, is directing the first two installments.Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the pair behind the Spiderverse franchise, are on-hand as executive producers. The show's based on the comic book Spider-Man: Noir, which was first released back in 2009.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/watch-nicolas-cage-kick-black-and-white-butt-in-this-trailer-for-spider-noir-163332837.html?src=rss

This Thursday is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), and as has been its custom for the last few years, Apple's accessibility team is taking this time to share some new assistive features that will be coming to its ecosystem of products. In addition to bringing "Accessibility Nutrition Labels" to the App Store, it's announcing the new Magnifier for Mac, an Accessibility Reader, enhanced Braille Access as well as a veritable cornucopia of other updates to existing tools.According to the company's press release, this year in particular marks "40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple." It's also 20 years since the company first launched its screen reader, and a significant amount of this year's updates are designed to help those with vision impairments.Magnifier for MacOne of the most noteworthy is the arrival of Magnifier on Macs. The camera-based assistive feature has been available on iPhones and iPads since 2016, letting people point their phones at things around them and getting auditory readouts of what's in the scene. Magnifier can also make hard-to-read things easier to see, by giving you the option to increase brightness, zoom in, add color filters and adjust the perspective.With Magnifier for Mac, you can use any USB-connected camera or your iPhone (via Continuity Camera) to get feedback on things around you. In a video, Apple showed how a student in a large lecture hall was able to use their iPhone, attached to the top of their MacBook, to make out what was written on a distant whiteboard. Magnifier for Mac also works with Desk View, so you can use it to more easily read documents in front of you. Multiple live session windows will be available, so you can keep up with a presentation through your webcam while using Desk View to, say, read a textbook at the same time.Accessibility ReaderMagnifier for Mac also works with another new tool Apple is unveiling today - Accessibility Reader. It's a "new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision." Accessibility Reader will be available on iPhones, iPads, Macs and the Apple Vision Pro, and it's pretty much the part of Magnifier that lets you customize your text, with "extensive options for font, color and spacing." It can help minimize distractions by getting rid of clutter, for instance.Accessibility Reader also supports Spoken Content, and as it's built into the Magnifier app, can be used to make real-world text like signs or menus easier to read as well. You can also launch it from any app, as it's a mode available at the OS level.AppleBraille AccessFor people who are most comfortable writing in Braille, Apple has supported Braille input for years, and more recently started working with Braille displays. This year, the company is bringing Braille Access to iPhones, iPads, Macs and Vision Pros, and it's designed to make taking notes in Braille easier. It will come with a dedicated app launcher that allows people to "open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device." Braille Access also enables users to take notes in braille format and use Nemeth code for their math and science calculations. Braille Access can open files in the Braille Ready Format (BRF), so you can return to your existing documents from other devices. Finally, "an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays."Brain Computer Interface (BCI) support for controlling devices with your mindIn an earlier version of this story, I noted the following:Speaking of connected devices, Apple is also adding a new protocol to Switch Control that would enable support for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs). Theoretically, that would mean brainwave-based control of your devices, and Apple lists iOS, iPadOS and visionOS as those on deck to support this new protocol. Again, it's uncertain whether we can go as far as to say brainwave-based control is coming, and I've also asked Apple for more information on this.As it turns out, the Wall Street Journal published an exclusive story this morning detailing how "Apple wants people to control devices with their thoughts." Basically, the company is working with Synchron, a brain computer interface startup, to bring BCI-powered Switch input support to its products. More in our article here: Apple has teamed up with Synchron to develop tech that lets people control its devices with thoughts.Apple Watch gets Live Captions; Vision Pro gets Live RecognitionWrapping up the vision-related updates is an expansion of such accessibility features in visionOS. The Zoom function, for instance, is getting enhanced to allow wearers to magnify what they see in both virtual reality and, well, actual reality. This uses the Vision Pro's cameras to see what's in your surroundings, and Apple will make a new API available that will "enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes." Finally, Live Recognition is coming to VoiceOver in the Vision Pro, using on-device machine learning to identify and describe things in your surroundings. It can also read flyers or invitations, for example, and tell you what's on them.For those who have hearing loss, the Live Listen feature that's already on iPhones will be complemented by controls on the Apple Watch, plus some bonus features. When you start a Live Listen session on your iPhone, which would stream what its microphone picks up to your connected AirPods, Beats headphones or compatible hearing aids, you'll soon be able to see Live Captions on your paired Apple Watch. You'll also get controls on your wrist, so you can start, stop or rewind a session. This means you can stay on your couch and start Live Listen sessions without having to go all the way over to the kitchen to pick up your iPhone and hear what your partner might be saying while they're cooking. Live Listen also works with the hearing health and hearing aid features introduced on the AirPods Pro 2.Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues and Eye Tracking get updatesWhile we're on the topic of sound, Apple is updating its Background Sounds feature that can help those with tinnitus by playing white noise (or other types of audio) to combat symptoms. Later this year, Background Sounds will offer automatic timers to stop after a set amount of time, automation actions in Shortcuts and a new EQ settings option to personalize the sounds.Personal Voice, which helps those who are at risk of losing their voice preserve their vocal identity, is also getting a major improvement. When I tested the feature to write a tutorial on how to create your personal voice on your iPhone, I was shocked that it required the user to read out 150 phrases. Not only that, the system needed to percolate overnight to create the personal voice. With the upcoming update, Personal Voices can be generated in under a minute, with only 10 phrases needing to be recorded. The resulting voice also sounds smoother and with less clipping and artifacts. Apple is also adding Spanish language support for the US and Mexico.Last year, Apple introduced eye-tracking built into iPhones and iPads, as well as vehicle motion cues to alleviate car sickness. This year, it continues to improve those features by bringing the motion cues to Macs, as well as adding new ways to customize the onscreen dots. Meanwhile, eye-tracking is getting an option to allow users to dwell or use a switch to confirm selections, among other keyboard typing updates.More across Apple TV, CarPlay, Head Tracking and SettingsApple's ecosystem is so vast that it's almost impossible to list all the individual accessibility-related changes coming to all the products. I'll quickly shout out Head Tracking, which Apple says will enable people to more easily control their iPhones and iPads by moving their heads "similar to Eye Tracking." Not much else was shared about this, though currently head-tracking on iPhones and iPads is supported through connected devices. The idea that it would be "similar to Eye Tracking" seems to imply integrated support, but we don't know if that is true yet. I've asked Apple for more info and will update this piece with what I find out.For those who use Apple TV, Assistive Access is getting a new custom Apple TV app featuring a "simplified media player," while Music Haptics on the iPhone will offer the option to turn on haptics for an entire track or just the vocals, as well as general settings to fine-tune the intensity of taps, textures and vibrations.The Sound Recognition feature that alerts those who are deaf or hard of hearing to concerning sounds (like alarms or crying babies) will add Name Recognition to let users know when they are being called. Sound Recognition for CarPlay, in particular, will inform users when it identifies crying children (in addition to the existing support for external noises like horns and sirens). CarPlay will also get support for large text, which should make getting glanceable information easier.Other updates include greater language support in Live Captions and Voice Control, as well as the ability to share accessibility settings quickly and temporarily across iPads and iPhones so you can use a friend's device without having to painstakingly customize it to your needs.There are plenty more accessibility rollouts from Apple across its retail locations, Music playlists, Books, Podcasts, TV, News, Fitness+ and the App Store, mostly around greater representation and inclusion. There isn't much by way of exact release window for most of the new features and updates I've covered here, though they have usually showed up in the next release of iOS, iPadOS, macOS and visionOS.We'll probably have to wait until the public rollout of iOS 19, iPadOS 19 and more to try these on our own, but for now, most of these seem potentially very helpful. And as always, it's good to see companies design inclusively and consider a wider range of needs.Update, May 13 2025, 12:28PM ET: This story has been updated to create a new section for brain computer interface input and add details from a Wall Street Journal report and move the earlier mention of this feature to that section.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/apple-brings-magnifier-to-macs-and-introduces-a-new-accessibility-reader-mode-120054992.html?src=rss

As first reported by CNBC, Microsoft will be laying off 3 percent of its global workforce in an aim to streamline its operations and thin out its management structure. The layoffs will be felt across all teams, levels and regions within the company and are not performance-based.In a statement to CNBC, a Microsoft spokesperson said, "We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace." This latest round of layoffs follows deep cuts in 2023, when Microsoft laid off over 10,000 employees.Microsoft and other large tech companies are doing all they can lately to weather a shaky economic environment, made more challenging by on-and-off-again tariffs, a bevy of FTC anti-trust activity, and the demand to burn billions in cash vying for pole position in the AI race.Huge layoffs have become a regular occurrence over the last few years as giant companies seek to right-size from pandemic-era overhiring. Microsoft also recently raised prices on its Xbox consoles and removed entry-level Surface laptops to drive more profits.Last quarter, Microsoft reported earnings that outperformed expectations for both revenue and profit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-is-laying-off-3-percent-of-its-global-workforce-154755787.html?src=rss

Apple has partnered with brain-computer interface maker Synchron to develop tech that lets consumers control devices like iPhones with their thoughts, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. This is primarily intended to help people with medical conditions that limit hand use, such as spinal cord injuries or diseases like ALS.Here's the gist. Synchron has been developing a stent-like implant that's placed in a vein on top of the brain's motor cortex. It's called the Stentrode and it reads brain signals before translating them into the selection of icons on a screen. People can use the implant to select icons on Apple devices thanks to software called switch control, which is a feature in Apple's OS that allows for the addition of new input devices.

Before heading out on your vacations and road trips this summer, make sure you have all of the tech you need to keep you going. A non-negotiable is a good portable charger for you phone, and now you can get exactly that for only $22. This Anker 321 MagGo magnetic battery pack is 15 percent off and down to $22 right now, but only for a limited time. We generally like Anker charging gear, and a different MagSafe-compatible item topped out list of the best power banks. This one has the advantage of being ultra affordable, and it's available at the sale price in multiple colors. Once attached, the 5,000mAh battery provides up to 19 hours of additional battery life. It offers simultaneous charging, so the bank can charge as the phone juices up. It's also light and compact, with a design that easily fits in a pocket or bag. It does connect via USB-C, so it's not really ideal for older iPhones with the dreaded Lightning port. This one doesn't include a kickstand, which could be a dealbreaker for some. We got you covered. The Anker 621 MagGo is also heavily discounted on Amazon. This price is down to $32 from $48. The 621 includes a kickstand, while still retaining the ability to magnetically attach to the back of a smartphone. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-this-anker-5k-magnetic-battery-pack-while-its-on-sale-for-22-180728140.html?src=rss

Nothing says "please, leave me alone" while you're in public like a good pair of over-ear, noise-canceling headphones. The Beats Studio Pro - which are, coincidentally, a good pair of over-ear, noise-canceling headphones - are on sale right now. You can snap up a pair for $170. That's a discount of 51 percent (or $180) and only $10 more than the lowest price we've seen to date for them. The Beats Studio Pro arrived in 2023 and we gave them a score of 81 in our review. While they aren't among our top picks for the best wireless headphones or the best noise-canceling headphones, they're still a decent option - especially at this price. Thanks in large part to Beats' second-gen chipset, the Beats Studio Pro deliver notably better audio quality than the brand's earlier over-ear headphones. Beats upgraded the active noise cancellation (ANC), while the addition of spatial audio with dynamic head tracking is welcome. So too is the USB-C wired mode if you'd like to listen to high-resolution and lossless audio. The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are also on sale. They can be yours for $200, which is $50 off and a record low price. We gave these a score of 79 in our review. These are Apple's first earbuds with built-in sensors that can track your heart rate, making them an intriguing option for fitness enthusiasts. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have Apple's H2 chip, which enables them to offer many of the same features that you'd find on the AirPods Pro 2, such as Hearing Protection - but not the hearing aid or hearing test options. The earbuds are comfortable to wear (though the hook design may not be for everyone) and deliver generally solid audio including powerful, balanced performance on the low end. However, we felt the ANC performance was so-so. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-beats-studio-pro-headphones-are-half-off-right-now-144737501.html?src=rss

The second season of the Fallout TV series doesn't even have a concrete release date in December yet, but Amazon has already renewed the show for a third season. Amazon has announced that it has greenlit the new season at its annual presentation in New York City. The company said Fallout has had more than 100 million viewers since it dropped on Prime Video in April 2024 and remains one of its top-three most watched titles ever.If you'll recall, the live adaptation was so well-received, Fallout 4 enjoyed a resurgence in sales nearly a decade after its release. Amazon also renewed the series for a second season just a few days after the first season debuted on its streaming service. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Fallout is set 200 years into the future after an apocalyptic event. In the story, the humans who survived the apocalypse hid in luxury fallout shelters where their descendants remained for hundreds of years. The show follows Lucy as she leaves her shelter after an attack by outsiders to find her father who'd been kidnapped. Along the way, she meets more characters, including a squire from the Brotherhood of Steel and a ghoul bounty hunter.Amazon has yet to reveal season 3's story, which doesn't come as a surprise, seeing as the second season has yet to drop. But season 2 will pick up from where the first one had left off and will take viewers from the Mojave wastelands to New Vegas.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazon-renews-fallout-months-before-season-2s-premiere-143028657.html?src=rss

Google's annual I/O developer conference is kicking off on May 20, and for the first time, the company is hosting a dedicated showcase a week earlier on May 13, which indicates it might have too much news for its typical hours-long keynote at I/O. The Android Show: I/O Edition, a dedicated showcase for the Android ecosystem, takes place today and we're liveblogging it right here.The event will start at 1PM ET / 10AM PT, and it'll stream at that time on Google's Android YouTube channel. Since it appears to be pre-recorded, we've embedded it below, so you can watch it right here. Or, if you don't like watching a video while you work, our text-and-image-based liveblog is below, so scroll right down.Android is developed partially in the open, so there's already some indication of what could be coming with Android 16. So far, that's a visual redesign of some of the operating system's core features, like the notification shade, a take on Apple's Live Activities for tracking ongoing events and possibly a Samsung DeX-like "Desktop Mode" for Android phones. Google even appeared to accidentally publish its own blog post detailing its research around user interfaces and Material 3 Expressive, only to take it down quickly after. Unfortunately (or fortunately for Android enthusiasts), the internet never forgets.Before we forget, I/O 2025 starts on May 20 at 1PM ET / 10AM PT with Google's keynote, typically a series of updates on Android, Search, Google Workspace and Gemini. It's worth noting: Google typically doesn't set aside separate time for Android announcements. The company said there will be some Android news at I/O, but the safe bet is that Gemini will be the star. We expect Google to share Gemini updates, along with Android XR news and maybe further demonstrations of experimental projects like Project Astra.Google's I/O keynote will be available to watch on Google's YouTube channel and right here on Engadget once the livestream is up on May 20 at 1PM ET.Update, May 8 2025, 10:30PM ET: This story has been updated to include information on Engadget's liveblog of the Android Show, as well as additional information on what we expect to be announced based on leaks around Material 3 Expressive.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/android-show-2025-live-updates-material-3-expressive-gemini-and-more-from-google-ahead-of-io-213327320.html?src=rss

After dropping a rare photography-oriented camera recently with the S1R II, Panasonic is going back to its creator roots. The company just unveiled the S1 II, a 24-megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera with a partially-stacked sensor (like the Nikon Z6 III) that can capture 6K ProRes RAW video internally with minimal rolling shutter wobble. At the same time, Panasonic is pitching it as a relative value next to full stacked sensor cameras. With the same body as the S1R II, the S1 II is considerably smaller and lighter than the original S1 while still offering a large grip and full complement of manual controls. It also comes with a display that both tilts and flips out, a high-resolution 5.76 million-dot electronic viewfinder, CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II card slots and optional support for Panasonic's 32-bit float audio. Steve Dent for Engadget Photographers get up to 70 fps burst shooting speeds in electronic shutter mode and 10 fps with the mechanical shutter (along with 1.5s pre-burst capture). They can also take 96MP high resolution shots (with no tripod needed), along with live view composites, multiple exposures and timelapse animations. Autofocus is via Panasonic's latest AI Phase Hybrid AF with Eye/Face AF, AF tracking and detection of animals, vehicles and a new category, "urban sports" (ie breakdancing). On paper, though, this is more of a video-oriented camera camera. You can shoot ProRes and ProRes RAW video at up to 5.8K and 3:2 "open-gate" video at 5,952 x 3,968 resolution, along with 4K at 120 fps. It supports V-Log / V-Gamut capture with dual native ISO at 640/5000 and up to 15 stops of dynamic range. In addition, you get anamorphic video modes plus external RAW HDMI recording in either ProRes or Blackmagic formats. Panasonic boosted in-body stabilization to 8.0 stops via it's Dual I.S.2 system, while also offering the cropless IBS mode introduced on the S1R II. Optical smoothing can can be enhanced with electronic stabilization when more aggressive smoothing is required for walking or quick camera movements. Panasonic Other key features include video monitoring tools like false color and exposure review, live streaming, wired webcam supports via USB-UVC/UAC (a first for Panasonic) and support for the Lumix Flow app that lets you do things like creator storyboards and shot lists for quicker editing. And as with other recent models, the S1 II supports real time LUTs and the Lumix Lab app, letting you download creator designed film looks that can be baked in to your video or added later in post. Panasonic will also introduce ARRI LogC3 so that the S1 II, S1R II and S1 IIE can be used in conjunction with ARRI digital cinema cameras. The Panasonic S1 II is now available for pre-order at $3,199 (body only) with shipping set to start on June 16th. That price is high next to its main competition, the Nikon Z6 III, which retails for $2,497 and is often on sale. Panasonic Panasonic does have an answer to that: the $2,499 S1 IIE that has the body and features of the S1 II but lacks the stacked sensor and high-speed photo bursts. Panasonic also introduced an interesting lens, the Lumix S 24-60mm f/2.8. It offers the features and most of the range of its $2,000 Lumix S 24-70mm f/2.8 lens but in a smaller and lighter size and at a lower $1,200 price tag. I've had the S1 II for a short time now and have been impressed so far with its speed and capabilities, so stay tuned for a full review with final firmware. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/panasonics-s1-ii-is-its-most-powerful-creator-camera-yet-140039445.html?src=rss

Notion is coming for Otter.ai. On Tuesday, the company announced an update for Notion AI, the suite of generative AI features available through its popular note-taking app. Among the new tools included in the package is AI Meeting Notes, a feature that can transcribe and summarize any conversation directly within Notion. No need to turn to dedicated software like the aforementioned Otter.ai.If you use Notion Calendar, your meeting notifications will include the option to start an AI Meeting Note page. Alternatively, you can write "/meeting" to add a transcription block to an existing note. Any conversation Notion AI transcribes for you is searchable through the app, and you can add what you get to any of your projects.NotionSpeaking of search, you can now use Notion AI to comb through a number of different productivity apps, including Slack, Google Workspace and Github. As long as you've connected those platforms to Notion, the app can resolve natural language queries, like, "What's the latest on our upcoming brand campaign?" and sort results by source.Separately, Notion is adding a Research Mode. Similar to Deep Research modes from Google and OpenAI, you can ask Notion's built-in AI to write reports for you. The difference here being that Notion AI will pull information from your projects, in addition to what it finds online. The company is pitching this as a real time-saver. "Create project updates, research reports, and internal best practices in minutes with one prompt," Notion says. "We've already seen this save days worth of time."Last but not least, if you would rather prompt with GPT-4.1 or Claude 3.7 than Notion's own chatbot, you can now do that directly within the app courtesy of a new model picker. OpenAI and Anthropic's models won't have access to your workspace data, but they're there for users who prefer their responses for general questions and in case you want to turn to a reasoning system in the form of Claude 3.7 Sonnet.As part of today's announcement, Notion is changing how it bills for its AI features. Instead of a separate $10 per month plan, unlimited access to Notion AI is now part of the company's Business plan, which is increasing from $15 per month and per member to $20 per month and per member. Notion's justification for the increase is that it's giving users access to several different tools, including GPT-4.1 and Claude 3.7, for the price of an all-in-one package. Of course, it's not quite a one-to-one comparison. For example, if you decide to skip out on ChatGPT Plus, you miss out on expanded limits on Advanced Voice mode and Deep Research. Still, for Notion users that might be a tradeoff well worth making.If you're a current Notion AI subscriber, you'll keep access to all the AI features you had before today's announcement. For Free and Plus users, you get limited trial access to all the new features.Update 9:54AM ET: Notion initially said the price of its Business plan was going up to $30, but it actually going up to $20 per month and per member.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/notion-ai-can-transcribe-conversations-and-write-reports-but-itll-cost-you-130018464.html?src=rss

Sony's smartphones probably haven't made much money in a long time, but they do provide a showcase for the company's latest camera and AV tech. A case in point is the new Xperia 1 VII flagship, a model that borrows Sony's Alpha camera and Bravia TV tricks and now features Walkman audio technology for the first time as well. On the camera side, Sony introduced a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (16mm full-frame equivalent) with a good-sized 1/1.56-inch sensor, significantly improving the specs of the Xperia 1 VI's ultrawide. That's on top of the main 48MP 1/1.35-inch 24mm camera and 12MP 85-170mm telephoto zoom. Another new camera feature is AI-powered Auto Framing. It lets you capture an entire scene with a wide angle, while automatically creating a closeup crop (vertical or horizontal) of a subject within the frame. That matches technology already available on Sony's Alpha camera lineup. Other key camera features include an improved Bokeh mode, real-time tracking and real-time eye autofocus, "telemacro" photography via the 120mm equivalent lens (with focus as close as 4cm), pro controls, a dedicated shutter button, live streaming and "low-light capability in line with full-frame cameras," Sony claims. As for audio, Sony has upgraded the Xperia 1 VII considerably from the previous model. It now uses the high-end Walkman components in key areas like sound resistors. Unlike other smartphone makers, Sony has kept its headphone jack and improved wired sound via a premium-grade integrated circuit, while also improving its LDAC wireless audio quality. Plus, the Xperia 1 VII supports Sony's DSEE Ultimate AI sound upscaling technology, along with 360 Reality audio or Dolby Atmos formats. The Xperia 1 VII is also taking a cue from Sony's Bravia displays with a new adaptive brightness feature for the 6.5-inch OLED display. It now has light sensors both front and back to better gauge environmental light levels and adjust brightness, contrast and color accordingly. Other key features include a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (expandable to 2TB with microSD), WiFi 7, FPS gaming optimizer, two days of battery life via the new 5,000mAh battery, a vapour chamber cooler and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for environmental protection. Sony is even throwing in a free set of its top-end WH-1000XM5 headphones worth around $300. Unfortunately there's no sign that the Xperia 1 VII is coming to the United States. It's now available to order in Europe and the UK for 1,499 and 1,399 respectively, or around $1,700. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/sonys-new-xperia-1-vii-borrows-hi-fi-sound-tech-from-its-walkman-133017552.html?src=rss

xMEMS has launched the Sycamore-W, which it claims is the "world's thinnest speaker designed specifically for wrist-worn wearables." The Sycamore-W is only 1 mm thin and weighs only 150 mg, making it approximately 70 percent smaller than the speakers typically used for smart watches. xMEMS took the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology used in cell phones' microphones and developed drivers based on it for use in earphones instead. Last year, it launched the Sycamore speakers, based on the same platform as its original product, for open-fit earbuds, smart glasses and smart watches.While the original Sycamore could already be used in smartwatches, the Sycamore-W was engineered specifically for wrist-based wearables. Since it's very thin, companies can fit larger batteries or more biometric sensors into their products. The speakers are also water, dust and shock-resistant. "Sycamore-W redefines audio for smart watches, combining compact design with robust performance to meet the demands of next-generation wearables," said Mike Housholder, xMEMS VP of Marketing and Business Development. "As the wrist becomes a key interface for ears-free, hands-free AI interactions, Sycamore-W empowers manufacturers to deliver premium audio in smaller, lighter, more durable devices."The company is planning to start volume production for the Sycamore-W in the second quarter of 2026, so we won't be seeing products that use the component until sometime next year. xMEMS will continue producing the original Sycamore speakers for smart glasses, open-fit earbuds and laptops, but it will announce more models for more specific applications in the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/xmems-launches-a-tiny-speaker-for-smartwatches-130026711.html?src=rss

Spotify's AI DJ is taking requests. Starting on Tuesday, Premium subscribers can ask it to play something that fits the mood. Although the company added a Spanish-speaking version last year, requests are only available in English at launch.The AI DJ will respond to verbal requests for a specific artist, genre, mood or something that fits an activity. Spotify suggests phrases like "DJ, morning motivation needed ASAP," "Surprise me with some indie tracks" or "Play me something with a Y2K vibe."You can find it by heading to the search tab and entering "DJ." After it starts spinning, press and hold the DJ button in the lower right-hand corner. Once you hear a beep, you can tell your synthetic disc jockey about your insatiable thirst for A Flock of Seagulls deep cuts.Spotify's AI DJ launched in 2023, aiming to strike a balance between today's ultra-personalized streaming algorithms and old-school radio. The company says none of its dialog is pre-recorded. It's all generated on the fly via OpenAI.Whether you love or hate the DJ, it can make for unintentional comedy as it butchers names and falls prey to AI's inevitable awkwardness. When I tried it with a classic blues mix, it consistently pronounced Howlin' Wolf as "Hole-in' Wolf." Some gems from a 2024 Reddit thread include "Blink One Hundred Eighty-Two" and "Here are some of your typical Sunday morning vibes, starting off with Shitfucker."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/spotifys-ai-dj-now-takes-requests-130005706.html?src=rss

Google is set to debut a new feature that The Information describes as "Pinterest-like" at its annual I/O developer conference next week. It reportedly shows users image results, based on their queries, that can give them ideas for fashion and interior design. Users can then save the images in different folders of their choice if they want to keep them separated based on certain themes. While The Information has likened it to Pinterest, it could be more similar to Cosmos, which is a more pared-down version of the idea. Cosmos lets users curate anything they saved from the web into clusters, which they can then share with other people.As the publication has noted, Google might be debuting a Pinterest competitor in order to secure its ads revenue from commercial queries. Google has been losing searches in homework and math from ChatGPT, a company executive told the court during a hearing related to a previous court decision that the company maintains an illegal monopoly in search. While those queries don't typically generate ads revenue, Google knows that it's inevitable for the company lose earnings from ads for commercial inquiries. Giving users a more interesting way to get search results that an AI couldn't provide through a new feature or a new product could help Google retain revenue from advertisements.In addition to the Pinterest-like competitor, Google could also introduce a "software development lifecycle agent" that could help software engineers identify bugs or flag security vulnerabilities while they're developing programs. It could also demonstrate the voice-powered integration of the Gemini AI chatbot into its Android XR glasses and headset. Previous clues point to Google launching the integration of Gemini Live inside the Chrome desktop browser, as well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-is-reportedly-planning-to-unveil-a-pinterest-alternative-at-io-2025-123033887.html?src=rss

For decades, the legacy Hollywood studios have made money by slicing and dicing the licenses to their ever-growing vaults of movies and TV shows to as many channels and streamers as possible in as many countries and territories as you can count. That's why shows available on Max in one country might switch to Netflix in another, and disappear altogether in a third. And savvy viewers have long used VPNs - virtual private networks - to expand their streaming options. Change your location from the US to the UK and, voila, you suddenly have access to Friends and The Office on Netflix again.That's great if you're watching on a phone, tablet or PC, where installing and activating a VPN is as generally as simple as visiting the device's app store. But streaming through a VPN is a bit more challenging on a TV. Thankfully, there are quite a few ways to get that VPN-filtered content on the biggest screen in your home. Below, we'll walk you through unlocking geo-blocked content on your TV.If you don't already have a VPN subscription, we'd suggest choosing a service from our list of best VPNs. And with the notable exception of Proton VPN, we'd strongly recommend avoiding any free VPN options.How to stream video to your smart TV using a VPNThe easiest way to install a VPN on your smart TV is to download it from the built-in app store - if your preferred VPN is available. Not all smart TV operating systems support VPN apps. Amazon Fire TV has the best selection, but you can also install any VPN's Android app on Android TV or Google TV from the Google Play Store. In this section, we'll explain how to use a VPN on every smart TV model that supports them.If your smart TV doesn't support native VPNs (for example, if it's a Roku or an older Apple TV model), you can use it with a box or dongle from an OS that does. This also has the benefit of being cheaper than a whole new TV.Fire TVAmazon's Fire TV operating system has a wide range of content to binge-watch, as it comes with access to Prime Video's expansive catalog. Thankfully, its user interface is easy to navigate, making installing a VPN a breeze.Amazon's Fire TV Stick line is a very VPN-friendly streaming platform. AmazonTo set up a VPN, navigate to the Fire TV app store and search for the VPN service to which you're subscribed. Fire TV has multiple options on the app store, including most of the services on our aforementioned best VPNs list.From there, the process is pretty simple: Download the app, log in, and connect to the VPN. Scroll through the server list and pick a location in the country whose Prime Video library you want to unlock. You can also watch any other streaming service by downloading its app and logging in. Read How to add a VPN on Fire TV for complete instructions.Google TVGoogle TV is a smart TV operating system with a sleek user interface that supports thousands of apps, including VPNs and streaming platforms. As with Fire TV, just download your VPN app of choice, input your credentials and run it before activating the streaming service you'd like to check out. Read How to stream using a VPN on your Google TV or Chromecast for more details.Apple TVIf you want to install a VPN on your Apple TV directly, you'll need tvOS 17 or later. If not, you can follow our alternative workarounds with AirPlay or Google Cast.Apple TV boxes have become more VPN-friendly with recent OS updates.Devindra Hardawar/EngadgetFor those with tvOS 17 and later, setting up a VPN on your Apple TV is simple. However, it doesn't support many services, so you'll have to double-check that the VPN you subscribe to has Apple TV compatibility. Read How to use a VPN on your Apple TV for more details.AirPlay or Google Cast from a VPN-enabled deviceThe simplest way to use a VPN on any TV is to connect your TV to a phone, tablet, or laptop, then use the VPN on that device instead. You've got two ways to do this - screen casting and mirroring.Screencasting is when you set content on a device to play on your TV, then continue using that device for other purposes while you stream. Mirroring is when you show everything you're doing on your device on your TV. For example, if you're streaming a movie and close your browser tab, your smart TV will stop streaming the movie as well.Apple and Google each have their own flavor of screencasting: AirPlay and Google Cast, respectively. (The latter is basically same digital protocol that works on Chromecast hardware.) In each case, you start by running your VPN of choice on your phone or tablet, then fire up your streaming app and start your movie or TV show. Finally, click the AirPlay or Google Cast icon once you start streaming. If your TV doesn't have AirPlay or Google Cast built-in, you can buy a set-top box or dongle that supports one or the other.AirPlay is probably the most well-known casting and mirroring technology, and it currently works on a wide range of smart TVs and set-top boxes. I screencasted from my iPhone XR with a VPN enabled to my Samsung UHD TV and everything worked without a hitch.On the Google side, click the icon with a TV and Wi-Fi rays to start casting your content to the big screen. Amazon is working on a rival screencasting platform called Matter Casting, but it's not widely supported yet. Read How to stream via a VPN on Roku for more details on all of this.HDMI from a VPN-enabled deviceIf you don't want to fiddle with wireless protocols, an underrated and lesser-known way to stream video to your TV using a VPN is via an HDMI cable. You'll need an HDMI cable and (for some devices) an HDMI dongle, such as one that converts a USB-C port to HDMI. Once connected, your laptop, phone or tablet screen should be displayed on your TV's screen. At that point, just use the source device to fire up your VPN, start your streaming app (or browser) and maximize the window.Whole-house VPN access: Set up a VPN on your routerThe sections above describe ways to get VPN streaming access on a single TV. But if you want a whole-house approach - in which you could, for instance, watch UK Netflix on every device on your home network - you'll want to investigate accessing the VPN at the router level. Just note this is for advanced users only, and is far and away the most challenging method of the bunch.Whole-house VPN access requires installing a new router, or making major modifications to your existing one. It generally also requires installing custom firmware on a router, which usually voids the hardware manufacturer's warranty. Even then, you'll need an expert user in the household who knows how to engage and disengage the VPN and customize its settings, as leaving it turned on all the time can interfere with non-streaming activities, including simple things like shopping online.All that said, a more streamlined whole-home option is to try out the AirCove router models from ExpressVPN. (Engadget has not yet tested these routers.) Because they are ExpressVPN's own hardware, they include warranty coverage and support through the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-add-vpn-to-your-tv-143736648.html?src=rss