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X Corp (aka Twitter) may take legal action against one of its more outspoken critics. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) says in a letter that X threatened a lawsuit against the anti-hate group on July 20th for allegedly making "false or misleading" claims against the social media giant and trying to scare advertisers. The Center published a research article in June asserting that X allowed explicitly racist and homophobic posts despite policies to the contrary, even days after they'd been reported.X accused CCDH of using poor methodology, and not studying the 500 million posts on the service each day. It also maintained that the Center was taking funding from competitors or foreign governments as part of an "ulterior agenda," according to The New York Times. CCDH rejects the allegations. It notes that it never claimed to be conducting a comprehensive study, and points to its documented methodology. It adds that X never said just what was inaccurate, and that it doesn't accept any funding from companies or governments.The researchers further maintain that X is being hypocritical for attacking supposedly limited research while simultaneously curbing the ability to conduct those studies. The platform recently instituted reading rate limits in what it says is a temporary measure to thwart excessive data scraping. The company believes some scrapers are abusing their tools to train AI models and conduct manipulation campaigns. Even Blue subscribers are capped at viewing 8,000 posts per day, making it impractical to conduct extensive research.X has disbanded its communications team and isn't available for comment. CCDH says it "will not be bullied" and will continue publishing its research. It also intends to post the original letter, and believes a lawsuit with "frivolous" claims could prove risky.Reports indicate that X's ad sales have plunged by half since Musk bought the company last year. The executive pinned the exodus on European and North American marketers trying to deliberately bankrupt the firm, but employees talking to the NYT maintained that advertisers were balking at the surges in hate speech and porn after Musk's acquisition. Brands like GM and Volkswagen have frozen ad spending on X, while others are believed to have scaled back their efforts.X has been threatening legal action against others in recent weeks. It accused Microsoft of violating data use policy, and threatened to sue Meta for purportedly duping key features with Threads. The tech giant has also sued a law firm for supposedly taking excess funds during the previous management's handover to Musk.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitter-threatens-to-sue-anti-hate-group-over-its-research-125645342.html?src=rss

Your PS5 might have some fresh features coming its way, with Sony announcing a new PS5 software beta update with Dolby Atmos support, more accessibility components, and greater M.2 SSD storage. The addition of Dolby Atmos support should let you play the PS5's 3D Audio powered by Tempest 3D AudioTech on any compatible Dolby Atmos-enabled HDMI device, like your home theater or soundbar. Storage-wise, the beta increases M.2 SSD limits from 4GB to 8GB - giving your PS5 more storage space.

It looks like the Mark Zuckerberg vs Elon Musk cage match isn't happening, according to audio exclusively heard by Reuters. In the recording, the now surprisingly buff Zuckerberg told Meta employees at a company town hall he's not sure if it's going to come together."Zuck didn't actually say the match is off, just unlikely. For those of us excited by the prospects of billionaires punching each other in the face, let's hold out hope. Musk hasn't issued a response - which is odd when he responds to so much - but given Zuckerberg's continued training in jiu jitsu (and some competition success), Musk could be relieved.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missed

As we slowly shift towards electric vehicles, there's a growing number of big, fancy battery-powered SUVs. However, for those looking for something smaller, the options are a lot more limited. But with the upcoming EX30, Volvo has created a compact electric SUV with a ton of premium features and a surprisingly affordable price. After getting to check one out in person at its North American debut, it's clear we need more electric vehicles like this in the market.Due out sometime in the summer of 2024, a base EX30 will start at just $35,000 for a single-motor setup with around 275 miles of range. Granted, that's a bit more than a gas-powered alternative like a Honda CR-V (which starts at just under $30,000) or a Subaru Crosstrek (around $25,000). But when you consider the average price of a new electric vehicle is over $53,000, Volvo is definitely helping make EVs a bit more affordable.On top of that, a base EX30 appears to be well-equipped, with Volvo including things like a 12.3-inch touchscreen based on Android Automotive (with support for wireless Apple CarPlay), cyclist detection, Pilot Assist and rear passenger detection as standard. And as you'd expect from Volvo, you get a very Scandinavian minimalist interior made from a range of recycled and sustainable materials. Now some may take issue with a few of the components Volvo is using like the speckled panels on the dash - which kind of remind me of a fancy gym mat. But in a car sporting a slick modern design, I think it works.That said, if you don't mind spending a bit more, the EX30 is also available with an upgraded dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration that boasts a 0 to 60 time of just 3.4 seconds. Not only does that make the EX30 faster than bigger and more expensive electric SUVs like a Tesla Model Y Performance, it's also the fastest Volvo ever (across both electric and ICE vehicles).The EX30 feels rather roomy in the front, with Volvo simplifying its interior by using a soundbar that runs the width of the windshield instead of multiple individual speakers. The company has also moved a lot of common controls for stuff like the windows to the center console to help streamline the interior. And Volvo put an emphasis on storage, with the EX30 featuring a lot of handy cubby holes including a center-mounted glove box and a dishwasher-safe removable tray (with a cute little moose graphic) for rear seat passengers. Thankfully, there's no shortage of power options for your devices with two USB-C ports in the front, another two in back, and a built-in dual phone wireless charging pad between the driver and passenger seats.When sitting in the rear, things do feel a bit tighter, though that's somewhat expected for a car that, at 166 inches long and 61 inches tall, is very similar in size to a Chevy Bolt. As someone who's six feet tall, there's very little legroom if the front seats are pushed all the way back. And in the truck, you get a surprising amount of cargo space at 31.9 cubic feet if you include the extra room underneath the load flat floor.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetSo while I haven't had a chance to take it for a drive, all told the EX30 looks to offer a great blend of premium features and decent range in a compact size. Not to mention excellent performance, just so long as you're willing to pay for it. And coming from someone who lives in the city, the EX30 seems like a great EV for getting around town while still being easy to park on the streets, which is something we need more of among electric SUVs.Reservations for the EX30 in the U.S. are available today with a $500 refundable deposit before the car arrives at dealerships sometime next summer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/volvo-ex30-first-look-the-compact-electric-suv-we-need-100013835.html?src=rss

We're one step closer to getting a complete picture of Apple's upcoming iPhone 15. New information on the iPhone 15 has leaked, and with it comes insight into everything from bezel size to a new charging port. For starters, the classic iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are allegedly bidding farewell to the top notch in favor of the Dynamic Island, an interactive pill-shaped cutout first released with the iPhone 14 Pro, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are likely getting a new look up top all together, with low-injection pressure over-molding (LIPO) shrinking the iPhone's border from 2.2 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters. Apple first used LIPO in its Watch Series 7.The iPhone 15 might also finally swap out its lightning charger for a USB-C port, limiting the number of cords you need to carry around at once. Even if the change doesn't happen for this generation, it's only a matter of time. Last year, the European Union announced that all smartphones and tablets sold in the region must have a USB-C charging port starting in 2024. The European Parliament called the measure, which will extend to laptops two years later, "beneficial for the environment and for consumers."Other updates to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might include camera upgrades and the A16 processor, first seen in the iPhone 14 Pro. The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will reportedly have titanium edges instead of stainless steel and a 3-nanometer chip. There are also rumors of an iPhone "Ultra" hitting the market as a higher-end option. Apple will likely release at least the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro in September - based on the company's usual schedule - and potentially at a more expensive price than previous generations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/iphone-15-pro-set-to-feature-a-thinner-bezel-titanium-frame-and-usb-c-charging-094118389.html?src=rss

X, formerly known as Twitter, has reinstated Kanye West after he was banned last December for tweeting an image of a swastika, The Wall Street Journal has reported. Elon Musk's platform only made the move after being assured that West would not post antisemitic or other harmful content. In addition, ads won't appear next to his posts and he won't be able to monetize the account.Kanye has had multiple run-ins with Twitter/X. In October, Elon Musk welcomed him back after he went two years without tweeting - but he stayed just a short time before being banned again for saying he would go "def con 3 on Jewish people." Shortly after that Ye entered a deal to acquire the "free speech" social media app Parler, but that fell through soon after. West has paid a price for past comments, with major brands including Adidas and Gap cutting ties.Shortly after acquiring Twitter last fall, Musk - who calls himself a "free-speech absolutist" - vowed to rethink permanent bans based on the site's rules, unless laws were broken. Since then, he has restored the account of Donald Trump (who has not subsequently tweeted), along with other controversial personalities, including avowed neo-Nazis. Earlier this year Israel's Foreign Ministry said that Musk was responsible for a rise of antisemitism on the site, adding that Twitter is now filled with antisemitic conspiracies and hate speech targeting Jews all over the world."The news comes after Musk changed Twitter's name and logo to X. He recently placed a strobing X sign on the roof of the company's San Francisco headquarters. X subsequently told the city's building inspectors that the sign was temporary for an event. Yesterday, Musk tweeted that X's HQ would remain in "beautiful" San Francisco despite the city being in a "death spiral."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/kanye-wests-twitterx-account-has-been-unbanned-again-075206407.html?src=rss

Apple has promised to fix a bug in iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices that may affect Screen Time restrictions for kids, The Wall Street Journal has reported. It affects a function called Downtime that allows parents to remotely set hours when kids can't use their devices."We are aware that some users may be experiencing an issue where Screen Time settings are unexpectedly reset," a spokesperson told the WSJ. "We take these reports very seriously and we have been, and will continue, making updates to improve the situation."Parents checking the feature have found that scheduled times have either reverted to older settings or been removed altogether - allowing kids to use their devices at will. One user changed his passcode to be sure his kids hadn't guessed it, but found he needed to reset the feature "two or three times a week." Suffice to say, kids don't always report the issue in a timely fashion either. Around 2,300 people on an Apple discussion page on the subject said they experienced the same bug.Apple knew about the issue before, but reported it fixed with the release of iOS 16.5 in May. However, WSJ reporters found the issue in subsequent releases and even in the iOS 17 beta.Screen time was introduced in 2018 at Apple's developer's conference, allowing parents to remotely check their kid's Activity Report and manage their app use time. They can also set a custom amount of time per app that kids can't extend, or create a Downtime to block everything but selected software and phone calls for a set hourly range. Apple has yet to say when it will release a fix.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-says-its-aware-of-a-bug-that-may-affect-screen-time-restrictions-for-kids-052057086.html?src=rss

If reality television has taught us anything, it's there's not much people won't do if offered enough money and attention. Sometimes, even just the latter. Unfortunately for the future prospects of our civilization, modern social media has focused upon those same character foibles and optimized them at a global scale, sacrifices at the altar of audience growth and engagement. In Outrage Machine, writer and technologist Tobias Rose-Stockwell, walks readers through the inner workings of these modern technologies, illustrating how they're designed to capture and keep our attention, regardless of what they have to do in order to do it. In the excerpt below, Rose-Stockwell examines the human cost of feeding the content machine through a discussion on YouTube personality Nikocado Avocado's rise to internet stardom.Legacy LitExcerpted from OUTRAGE MACHINE: How Tech Amplifies Discontent, Disrupts Democracy-And What We Can Do About It by Tobias Rose-Stockwell. Copyright (C) 2023 by Tobias Rose-Stockwell. Reprinted with permission of Legacy Lit. All rights reserved.This Game Is Not Just a GameSocial media can seem like a game. When we open our apps and craft a post, the way we look to score points in the form of likes and followers distinctly resembles a strange new playful competition. But while it feels like a game, it is unlike any other game we might play in our spare time.The academic C. Thi Nguyen has explained how games are different: Actions in games are screened off, in important ways, from ordinary life. When we are playing basketball, and you block my pass, I do not take this to be a sign of your long-term hostility towards me. When we are playing at having an insult contest, we don't take each other's speech to be indicative of our actual attitudes or beliefs about the world." Games happen in what the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga famously called the magic circle"- where the players take on alternate roles, and our actions take on alternate meanings.With social media we never exit the game. Our phones are always with us. We don't extricate ourselves from the mechanics. And since the goal of the game designers of social media is to keep us there as long as possible, it's an active competition with real life. With a constant type of habituated attention being pulled into the metrics, we never leave these digital spaces. In doing so, social media has colonized our world with its game mechanics.Metrics are MoneyWhile we are paid in the small rushes of dopamine that come from accumulating abstract numbers, metrics also translate into hard cash. Acquiring these metrics don't just provide us with hits of emotional validation. They are transferable into economic value that is quantifiable and very real.It's no secret that the ability to consistently capture attention is an asset that brands will pay for. A follower is a tangible, monetizable asset worth money. If you're trying to purchase followers, Twitter will charge you between $2 and $4 to acquire a new one using their promoted accounts feature.If you have a significant enough following, brands will pay you to post sponsored items on their behalf. Depending on the size of your following in Instagram, for instance, these payouts can range from $75 per post (to an account with two thousand followers), up to hundreds of thousands of dollars per post (for accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers).Between 2017 and 2021, the average cost for reaching a thousand Twitter users (the metric advertisers use is CPM, or cost per mille) was between $5 and $7. It costs that much to get a thousand eyeballs on your post. Any strategies that increase how much your content is shared also have a financial value.Let's now bring this economic incentive back to Billy Brady's accounting of the engagement value of moral outrage. He found that adding a single moral or emotional word to a post on Twitter increased the viral spread of that content by 17 percent per word. All of our posts to social media exist in a marketplace for attention - they vie for the top of our followers' feeds. Our posts are always competing against other people's posts. If outraged posts have an advantage in this competition, they are literally worth more money.For a brand or an individual, if you want to increase the value of a post, then including moral outrage, or linking to a larger movement that signals its moral conviction, might increase the reach of that content by at least that much. Moreover, it might actually improve the perception and brand affinity by appealing to the moral foundations of the brand's consumers and employees, increasing sales and burnishing their reputation. This can be an inherently polarizing strategy, as a company that picks a cause to support, whose audience is morally diverse, might then alienate a sizable percentage of their customer base who disagree with that cause. But these economics can also make sense - if a company knows enough about its consumers' and employees' moral affiliations - it can make sure to pick a cause-sector that's in line with its customers.Since moral content is a reliable tool for capturing attention, it can also be used for psychographic profiling for future marketing opportunities. Many major brands do this with tremendous success - creating viral campaigns that utilize moral righteousness and outrage to gain traction and attention among core consumers who have a similar moral disposition. These campaigns also often get a secondary boost due to the proliferation of pile- ons and think pieces discussing these ad spots. Brands that moralize their products often succeed in the attention marketplace.This basic economic incentive can help to explain how and why so many brands have begun to link themselves with online cause-related issues. While it may make strong moral sense to those decision-makers, it can make clear economic sense to the company as a whole as well. Social media provides measurable financial incentives for companies to include moral language in their quest to burnish their brands and perceptions.But as nefarious as this sounds, moralization of content is not always the result of callous manipulation and greed. Social metrics do something else that influences our behavior in pernicious ways.Audience CaptureIn the latter days of 2016, I wrote an article about how social media was diminishing our capacity for empathy. In the wake of that year's presidential election, the article went hugely viral, and was shared with several million people. At the time I was working on other projects full time. When the article took off, I shifted my focus away from the consulting work I had been doing for years, and began focusing instead on writing full time. One of the by-products of that tremendous signal from this new audience is the book you're reading right now.A sizable new audience of strangers had given me a clear message: This was important. Do more of it. When many people we care about tell us what we should be doing, we listen.This is the result of audience capture": how we influence, and are influenced by those who observe us. We don't just capture an audience - we are also captured by their feedback. This is often a wonderful thing, provoking us to produce more useful and interesting works. As creators, the signal from our audience is a huge part of why we do what we do.But it also has a dark side. The writer Gurwinder Boghal has explained the phenomena of audience capture for influencers illustrating the story of a young YouTuber named Nicholas Perry. In 2016, Perry began a You- Tube channel as a skinny vegan violinist. After a year of getting little traction online, he abandoned veganism, citing health concerns, and shifted to uploading mukbang (eating show) videos of him trying different foods for his followers. These followers began demanding more and more extreme feats of food consumption. Before long, in an attempt to appease his increasingly demanding audience, he was posting videos of himself eating whole fast-food menus in a single sitting.He found a large audience with this new format. In terms of metrics, this new format was overwhelmingly successful. After several years of following his audience's continued requests, he amassed millions of followers, and over a billion total views. But in the process, his online identity and physical character changed dramatically as well. Nicholas Perry became the personality Nikocado - an obese parody of himself, ballooning to more than four hundred pounds, voraciously consuming anything his audience asked him to eat. Following his audience's desires caused him to pursue increasingly extreme feats at the expense of his mental and physical health.Legacy LitNicholas Perry, left, and Nikocado, right, after several years of building a following on YouTube. Source: Nikocado Avocado YouTube Channel.Boghal summarizes this cross-directional influence.

Meta has just launched a new game for Horizon Worlds called Super Rumble, and it's unlike any other game released for the social VR application. Previously known as Titanborne in beta, Super Rumble is the the first game out of Meta's in-house studio, Ouro Interactive. It could also herald a new era for the Horizon Worlds platform, one embodied by experiences with better graphics and more complex gameplay. Vishal Shah, Meta's VP of Metaverse, called the shooter "more than just a new world" and described it as "the next generation of Horizon Worlds" to Janko Roettgers of LowpassRoettgers said everyone he played the beta version with "seemed awestruck by the level of fidelity the game offered." Apparently, that's because it was built using imported objects, assets and textures, which wasn't possible in the past. Shah said Meta rebuilt the VR platform's underlying technology to give it the ability to support higher-quality games and to allow developers to import assets created using third-party tools. The company has reportedly given Ouro and select partners the capability to use the import feature so they could develop new Horizon Worlds games to be released over the next six months.Shah told Lowpass that the company's metaverse team has been working on improvements for Horizon Worlds over the past year. "As consumers come to Horizon, we want to make sure there's a bunch of compelling content that they can find on day one. We're going to seed the ecosystem, bootstrap it with stuff that we build both in-house, but also with some studios that we're working with," he said.In addition to building an improved version of the platform, the Horizon team has also apparently been developing a mobile app. They'd reportedly finished creating one a year ago but weren't happy with the result, so they chose to build it again. Super Rumble will be one of the first titles to be available when the mobile app comes out, and Shah said it will feature cross-platform play.A mobile app with cross-platform capabilities could help Meta reach new audiences who can't afford or aren't interested enough to get a VR headset. The company's VR business unit, Reality Labs, posted a $3.7 billion operating loss in the second quarter of 2023. In all, the division has lost $21 billion since the beginning of 2022 and had to axe some projects last year. A mobile app could make Horizon Worlds more accessible, which in turn could translate into greater revenue.Shah's team has been working on other improvements for the VR platform, as well, including investing in generative AI tools for creation. The idea is to give more creators the ability to build new worlds even if they don't know how to use professional 3D tools. He didn't tell Lowpass when the mobile app or generative AI tools will be available, though, so we'll have to wait for their official announcements.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-meta-super-rumble-game-is-the-first-of-many-next-gen-horizon-worlds-vr-titles-130141631.html?src=rss

'Twitters swift rebrand to X is generating yet another issue. As reported by Bleeping Computer, the social media platform is causing Microsoft's Edge browser to throw up a warning, indicating some sort of security problem.It seems to be related to how Edge and other Chromium-based web browsers deal with favicons (or 'Progressive Web App Icon Change', if you want to get super technical about it). With the Twitter rebrand being so sudden, Edge likely thinks X is a scam. The security alert prompts users to review the icon update and reads, "If this web app is trying to trick you into thinking it's a different app, uninstall it."But as Bleeping Computer points out, PWA is working as intended. It is supposed to alert you when a website suddenly changes its favicon as that could indicate a potential redirect to a scam website. Presumably, this is temporary and will be fixed quickly. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and will update this story once we've heard back.Florian / XThis is similar to an incident earlier this week, where X was blocked in Indonesia as it has laws forbidding gambling or porn. The X.com domain's previous owners broke the country's content laws.Still, this is yet another indicator of how sudden the Twitter-to-X transition was. Other companies such as Meta and Microsoft already own trademarks on variations of X, which could land Musk's company some lawsuits. X even ran into trouble when attempting to change its signage at its San Francisco headquarters, as it didn't have the required permits. The company had to abandon its would-be facelift and leave the old bird logo and the letters "er" intact for a day or so.The sudden name change is part of a larger plan to turn Twitter into a "super app" that's similar to China's popular WeChat. The platform could theoretically be used for payments, messaging and calls in the future.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitters-rebrand-to-x-is-causing-scam-alerts-on-microsoft-edge-203531493.html?src=rss

Sad news for fans of billionaires beating the paste out of one another. It looks like the Mark Zuckerberg vs Elon Musk cage match isn't happening, according to exclusive audio heard by Reuters. In an audio recording exclusively provided to the publication, the surprisingly buff Zuckerberg told Meta employees at a company town hall that he's not sure if it's going to come together."Zuckerberg's comments on the match occurred during a company-wide discussion regarding Meta's recently-launched Twitter rival, Threads, which has been stuttering a bit in the weeks since blasting onto the scene.Zuck didn't actually say the match is off, just that it remains unlikely. So keep that glass half full, fight fans. Musk, who loves the letter X" more than most people love clean air, hasn't issued a response, but given Zuckerberg's recent penchant for jiu jitsu, he could be relieved.The cage fight was supposed to be a glitzy Las Vegas affair, with the pair of billionaires dancing around the topics of date and venue for the past month or so. Zuckerberg has seemed pretty serious about the fight from the get-go, and Musk eventually relented, tweeting (x-ing?) that he was up for a cage match" if the Meta CEO was. Musk also said he has this great move" called "the walrus" where he lays on top of opponents and does nothing.Zuck certainly seemed ready to take on the challenge, according to trainer and MMA legend Alex Volkanovski. And though he generally treated the whole thing as a joke, Musk did sort of prepare for the fight by accepting a training offer from UFC champ Georges St-Pierre and sparring with podcaster Lex Fridman. Of course, that's when he's taking a break from retweeting (re-xing?) hateful anti-trans content and changing the site's rules to allow for misgendering. Dana White, president of the UFC, has also told reporters that the organization was ready to assist with the event.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/looks-like-the-zuck-vs-musk-fight-isnt-happening-195538503.html?src=rss

It took a decade, but Square Enix's premier massively multiplayer online role-playing game is finally coming to Xbox consoles. The developer has revealed that Final Fantasy XIV will be available for Xbox Series X/S in spring 2024. Like its PS5 counterpart, this version will support 4K visuals on Series X and faster loading times. It's not yet clear if there will be Xbox-only upgrades.An open beta is expected for patch 6.5X. In other words, the Xbox port should be ready in time for the Dawntrail expansion due in summer next year.

This week, the biggest event in tech took place in Seoul with Samsung's Unpacked showcase. Among other announcements, the company officially unveiled its latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5. It's not even available yet, but Amazon is offering a $200 gift card if you pre-order from its site. This week also saw a bunch of continued video game sales from sites like Xbox, Playstation and Epic Games. Other site-wide sales include 20 percent off at Otterbox and a sale on music equipment at Reverb. Plenty of single items are seeing discounts as well, like the always popular Apple AirPods Pro and the Kids Kindle (which isn't just for kids). Dell is offering a $50 discount on the Xbox Series X, though we don't expect that deal to stick around long. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today.Apple AirPods ProThe latest generation AirPods Pro are back to their all-time low price of $199. That's the same as they went for during Amazon's Prime Day. The buds have one of the best transparency modes of all the buds we've tried, and we think they're the best pick for people who use iPhones. They pair quickly with other Apple devices and make great use of Siri for hands-free commands. A good battery life and a wireless charging case are just two more points in the buds' favor.Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5Earlier this week, Samsung announced its latest flagship foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 during its Unpacked event. The folks at Amazon are hoping you'll pre-order the handset from them - and are offering a $200 Amazon gift card plus a storage upgrade if you do so. The base configuration of the Z Fold 5 retails for $1,800, which comes with 256GB of storage. Amazon's deal gets you the 512GB model plus a physical gift card shipped separately from the phone.Engadget's Sam Rutherford spent some time with the new foldable recently. The most notable upgrade from last year's model is Samsung's new Flex Hinge, which eliminates most of the gap between the two screen halves when folded. A second-generation Snapdragon 8 chip and support for new gestures round out the new features.Samsung Galaxy Watch 6Samsung also revealed two new wearables during Unpacked. If you pre-order the Galaxy Watch 6 from Amazon, the company will throw in a $50 Amazon gift card. The offer only applies to the Bluetooth models, not the LTE or Watch 6 Classic variants. To help you take advantage of Samsung's new one-click mechanism, Amazon will also include a fabric band to swap out with the included strap.The watch starts at $300 for the 40mm case size and bumps to $330 for the 44mm size. Engadget's Cherlynn Low had a chance to check out the watch during a hands on event and you can check out her thoughts here. This latest generation has a sharper and brighter display and has an updated processor and larger battery that offers a claimed eight hours of use after just eight minutes of charging.Kindle KidsThe Kindle Kids ereader is a top pick in our guide to educational toys for kids. Though, to be fair, this isn't a toy. The internal tech is identical to a standard Kindle, with a 300 ppi screen, adjustable front light, 16GB of storage and weeks of battery life. But the kids version throws in a colorful case and includes a year of Amazon Kids+, a subscription that grants access to thousands of kid-appropriate books and hundreds of audiobooks. It usually goes for $120, which is $20 more than the standard Kindle, but the sale is knocking it down to just $80, making it a good buy for a kid or even a full-grown adult who enjoys saving money.Xbox Series XIt's been tough to find the new Xbox console in stock, let alone at a discount, but right now the Xbox Series X is $50 off at Dell. It comes in a bundle with a copy of the open-world racing game Forza Horizon 5 for a total of $450. The game usually retails for $45 on its own. Dell did this discount before, but didn't offer a game. Even if you don't care about racing, this may be a good time to buy, considering the Xbox Series X console (or its cheaper, digital-only Series S sibling) will be a required purchase for the upcoming Bethesda game Starfield, unless you plan to play on a PC. This deal has already gone out of stock once, so you may want to jump now if you're interested.Otterbox Back to School saleWe often recommend products from Otterbox in our guides and from now through July 29th, the site is running a site-wide, 20 percent off sale. One of their battery banks, the Fast Charge, is among our top picks in our portable battery guide. The 15,000mAh capacity model usually goes for $45, but is $36 after the discount. The bank packs enough charge to fill a late-model iPhone or a Galaxy S-series twice, with a little left over. It also recharges quickly and looks nice, something not all charging accessories manage to do.Apple Air Tags (4-pack)We recommend Apple's AirTag Bluetooth trackers to iPhone users in our guide to those devices. Right now a four-pack is down to $85 at Amazon, which is the lowest price we've tracked. Of all the finding networks out there, Apple's FindMy is by far the most comprehensive as it uses every iPhone in an area (unless the owner has opted out) to ping nearby AirTags and help find them when they're lost. They'll also ring when you tap a button in the app so you can find your lost keys.Apple PencilIf you have a recent model of an iPad Air, Mini or Pro and have been considering adding a stylus to your setup, you may want to consider grabbing the second-gen Apple Pencil while its on sale for $89. The 23 percent discount is the steepest discount so far, matching the Prime Day sale price. But now you can get it from Walmart or target as well as from Amazon. The Pencil makes drawing and hand-writing on your tablet easier and it even magnetically attaches and charges to the side of compatible devices. Just note that the current generation standard iPad curiously only pairs with the first-gen Apple Pencil.Xbox's Ultimate Game SaleVideo game companies and retailers often celebrate the summer months with some sort of sale on popular titles - maybe because gaming indoors beats heat-fusing to the pavement outside. Right now Xbox is hosting an Ultimate Game Sale with deals up to 80 percent off. Not all of the discounts are best-ever prices, and the steepest savings are typically reserved for older titles, but a decent selection of games we like are on sale right now, such as Halo: The Master Chief Collection($10 off), Star Wars Jedi: Survivor ($17 off) and Elden Ring($18 off).Some of our recommended Xbox exclusives are going for less than $10, including Gears 5, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Rare Replay. Of course, many sale items are also available with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, so if you already subscribe, check that availability first.PlayStation Summer SalePlayStation's Summer Sale is discounting exclusives like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ($40 off) and Horizon Forbidden West ($30 off). The PS5 remake of the original The Last of Us is on sale for $50, while the well-reviewed puzzler Humanity is $24. Non-PS exclusives are also on sale, like the time-bending FPS Deathloop ($15), the sci-fi RPG Cyberpunk 2077 ($25) and one of our favorite co-ops, It Takes Two ($16).Epic Games Store Summer SaleIf you don't play on a console, you can still save on some good PC titles with the sale at Epic Games. Red Dead Redemption 2 is down to $20, for one, while the remasters Mass Effect Legendary Edition and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 are available for $15 and $16, respectively. Elsewhere, the action-game-meets-delivery-sim Death Stranding: Director's Cut is on sale for $20, and Dead Island 2, the zombie action-RPG that was released in April, is available for $45.Outside of Epic's sale, two more of our favorite games from 2022 are discounted. Nintendo has the fast-paced first-person shooter (but with cards for weapons) Neon White for 30 percent off and the rollerblading, '70s drenched shooter, Rollerdrome is half price at Steam.Reverb Summer of SavingsThe music equipment marketplace Reverb is also having a summer sale right now, with discounts on instruments and music production gadgets site-wide. A few deals worth calling out include the Novation Summit synth for $460 off of $2,300 and Universal Audio's Volt 276 studio pack for $130 off of $429. That brings the studio pack down to $299, which is the usual price of the interface on its own, which means you're getting the included Volt condenser mic and Volt headphones for free.The Volt 276 is one of our top picks in our audio interface guide and we gave it a 90 in our review. Engadget's Terrance O'Brian appreciates its all-analog emulation of "one of the most iconic compressors of all time" and said most other interfaces at this price point can't match the 276's stylish and ergonomic design.Samsung PRO Plus microSDSamsung's Pro Plus microSD card is what we recommend for most people, based on our tests. It offers nearly the best sequential write performance of the cards we tested and bested all cards for for random read/write speeds. Usually $19, the 128GB size is currently down to $12 at Amazon, which nearly matches its Prime Day low. If you've got a camera, tablet or gaming handheld that could use more space, this is a good time to grab some extra storage.Bose SoundLink FlexOne of our top Bluetooth speakers, the Bose SoundLink Flex, is down to $129 at Adoramam, Target and directly from Bose right now. That matches the price it hit during Amazon's recent sale. The Flex is compact, but manages to give bright, dynamic sound and offers a surprising amount of bass for its size. It plays for 12 hours on a charge and can even pair with other Bose speakers for stereo sound.Kasa Matter Smart PlugA few different Kasa smart plugs are currently on sale at Amazon, including the Kasa KP125M, which is our pick for a Matter-enabled plug in our guide to smart plugs. Usually $40 for a two-pack, the sale drops it to $30 after a discount and a clickable coupon. Matter connectivity means it'll work with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Google Home, so whichever voice assistant you prefer should be supported. In our tests it paired easily (though required a few extra steps for Apple's system) and stayed reliably connected.The Kasa EP25 plug is our top pick overall and also connects to all four major smart home eco systems. It's currently $38 for a four-pack after a 24 percent discount.Apple MacBook Air M1The lowest price on a MacBook in Apple's current lineup is on the 2020 MacBook Air with the M1 chip, which is down to just $750 at both Amazon and at Best Buy for the 256GB base model. That matches the lowest price we've seen, including what it went for during Amazon's Prime Day. It's the budget pick in our MacBook buyer's guide, and the one we recommend to students or anyone who needs a reliable machine for casual computing. It earned a high score of 94 in our review in part thanks to the performance of the M1 chip, which is responsive, launching and running apps effortlessly while conserving the battery life.Apple MacBook Air M2If you want the newer M2 chip in your MacBook Air, you can grab the base model of that machine from B&H Photo for $999. That matches the lowest price we've tracked for the 256GB base model and $100 savings. We gave the ultraportable an impressive 96 in our review, calling it a near-perfect Mac." It has a Liquid Retina display, a quad speaker array and a battery that lasted over 16 hours in our video tests. For ports, you get two Thunderbolt ports, a headphone jack and a MagSafe charging port.Samsung Smart Monitor M8Samsung's 32-inch M8 Smart Monitor is part computer monitor and part smart TV, meaning it can do everything a monitor can do when hooked up to a PC, but you may never need to do that. All on its own, it can stream Netflix, Disney+, Peacock and other services just by connecting to your WiFi. The included Microsoft 365 programs means you can compose and edit docs, browse the web and build some Excel sheets with no additional computer required. It can also act as your smart home display to control your smart devices and keep tabs on your connected cams and doorbells.This is a refreshed version of the M8 that Samsung launched at CES in 2022 and right now it's $100 off at Amazon, making it $600 instead of $700.Bose QuietComfort Earbuds IIWe think the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer the best noise cancellation you can buy and recommend them in our guide. The buds are back down to $249 at both Amazon and directly from Bose. That's a price they've hit many times before, but matches their all time low. Just remember that they don't offer wireless charging and don't have multipoint connectivity, meaning you can only pair with one device at a time.Powerbeats ProWe named the Powerbeats Pro the most comfortable option in our guide to workout headphones. The controls are intuitive, iOS integration is great and the comfortable, behind-the-ear hooks are easy to get in place and stay put (though they can interfere with sunglasses). We gave them an Engadget score of 86 when they came out in 2019. They're a little older at this point and the over-ear design doesn't block out any noise but they're currently $90 off the MSRP, which is around $40 less than what they've been going for lately and matches their Prime Day sale price on Amazon.HeadspaceWe've recommended Headspace a few times in our guides because it's an intuitive app that can actually help you relax. If you take a minute out of your day and cue up a breathing exercise or guided meditation you may very well find that your shoulders release back down from up around your ears. Right now a year-long subscription is 30 percent off, making it $49 instead of $70. There's far more content than any typical person will get through and new sessions are added continuously.TP-Link Deco AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Mesh SystemIf your WiFi connectivity could use a boost, it may be time to invest in an mesh router system. The top pick from our guide, TP-Link's Deco XE75, is currently down to $330 for the three-pack instead of its usual $400. That's not quite an all time low, as it went for $10 less during last year's Black Friday deals and the most recent Prime Day sale, but is still a tidy discount. The set will cover up to 7,200 square feet but if you don't need that much coverage, the single unit and two-unit packs are also on sale, though aren't as steeply discounted. We like the Deco XE75 because the WiFi 6E routers support all three wireless bands (including the 6GHz band) and offers a great mix of power, user-friendliness and affordability - particularly when it's discounted. You can read our full review here.iRobot Roomba s9+Our top pick for a premium robot vacuum, the iRobot Roomba s9+, has returned to it's record low of $600 at Amazon. That's a 40 percent discount and matches the sale price from Prime Day. Engadget's Valentina Palladino found it to be a powerful machine that was better than most at navigating around furniture and other objects and despite having excellent suction, it actually moves faster than its cheaper sibling, the j7. It also looks pretty premium, with its copper accents and sleek design. The self-emptying base means less involvement from you and the setup only takes a few minutes so it can quickly get to work making your floors cleaner.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-airpods-pro-drop-back-to-an-all-time-low-plus-the-rest-of-this-weeks-best-tech-deals-183317049.html?src=rss

Reverb is hosting a summer sale from now until August 7th, allowing you to nab great music gear at a discount. The Summer of Savings sale boasts products from hundreds of well-regarded manufacturers, including Universal Audio, Novation, Gibson, Warm Audio and plenty more.So what are the best deals? This depends on what you're into and whether you are more of a practicing musician or a bedroom studio producer. For budding engineers, nab the Universal Audio Volt 276 Studio Pack for $300 instead of $430, which features the well-reviewed Volt 256 audio interface, a condenser microphone and a pair of headphones. You also get a month of access to Universal Audio's Spark subscription plug-in service.For synth-heads, there's the ultra-premium Novation Summit polyphonic synthesizer, which you can pick up for $430 off the regular price of $2,300. Novation makes plenty of well-regarded pieces of gear, but the Summit is the company's flagship keyboard, with 61 keys, 16 simultaneous voices, a semi-weighted keybed and the ability to combine two patches to create unique multitimbral sounds.You can also pick up entry-level Fender Squier electric guitars for $100 off and more Korg synthesizers and workstations than you can shake an oscillating stick at. There are also deals on pedals, midi controllers, bass guitars, audio interfaces and, well, just about everything else. Peruse the full list at your leisure.Just like Cinderella and her punk rock pumpkin, these deals have an expiration date. The sale ends on August 7th. In other words, make haste if you plan on beating the heat by fiddling with musical instruments behind air conditioned doors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/reverbs-summer-sale-brings-deals-from-korg-uad-and-more-180322955.html?src=rss

For anyone with an eye on video game news, it's been hard to ignore the recent rise of names like Annapurna Interactive, Devolver Digital, Private Division, Humble, Epic Games and Netflix tied to independent projects. The distribution process for indie developers has shifted over the past few years from a self-publishing-first model, to one that prioritizes deal-making and acquisitions. For the moment, this shift is powering a small but highly visible boom in the world of indie games.I don't think I ever want to self-publish again."Ben Ruiz has been a game developer since 2005, and in that time, he's pretty much done it all. He founded two studios, he did contract work on titles including Super Meat Boy and Overland, and he independently published a tentpole original project, the monochromatic brawler Aztez. Nowadays, Ruiz is running a five-person studio called Dinogod and he's building Bounty Star, a game that blends mech combat with life-sim mechanics. Bounty Star is being published by Annapurna Interactive and it's due out in early 2024.Bounty StarAnnapurna InteractiveEverything favors a publisher relationship, seemingly, because self-publishing has become this extraordinarily difficult thing," Ruiz said. It's possible, but without help, I just don't know how anyone's doing it ... I got a lot of friends in the same boat."Ruiz's career is a microcosm of the shifting landscape for indie developers over the past 10 years. He began working on Aztez in 2010, when Steam was a curated marketplace where Valve employees hand-selected individual games for the platform. This system had fully imploded by 2012: On the heels of breakout hits like Braid, Super Meat Boy and Fez, the indie market was overrun by new games and developers, and Steam dropped its curation efforts. It shifted to a community-voting approach called Greenlight, before eventually landing on the everything-goes Early Access model we know today.Ruiz and his business partner built Aztez in between contract projects, and by the time it was ready to debut on Steam in 2017, the indie market was saturated. There were 309 games added to Steam in 2010; in 2017, there were 6,306. Even with a hefty amount of hype behind it, Aztez had trouble standing out, and that was the last time Ruiz tried self-publishing.Ruiz did contract work for a while after Aztez, and in 2018 he pitched Bounty Star to people he knew at Annapurna. The game has a complex premise - it stars Clem, a desert bounty hunter with plenty of baggage, and it involves mech battles, emotional narrative scenes and home-management mechanics, including some light gardening. Annapurna bit, and Ruiz landed a publishing deal.StrayAnnapurna InteractiveAnnapurna Interactive is one of the most prominent publishers of indie games today, with titles like Stray, Outer Wilds, Neon White, Donut County and What Remains of Edith Finch on its books. It was founded in 2016 as an offshoot of Annapurna Pictures and quickly established its brand as an arthouse publisher, focused on visually innovative and emotionally driven experiences. Its showcases are now a staple of the gaming calendar.Annapurna is handling the marketing for Bounty Star, and it's also financially supporting Ruiz's studio, Dinogod. When Ruiz pitched the game, he was clear that he'd need a team of five or six people to bring his vision to life, and Annapurna gave him the funding to hire up.The fact that Dinogod has five full time people, that was a part of the partnership," Ruiz said. When everything was greenlit, that was the first step, to bring in these five or six people.... If [Annapurna is] into a thing that they think is a good move, and it needs more people, that seems to be fully okay. Like, they're not averse to scale."It's not just Annapurna making these types of deals with indies nowadays. Devolver Digital is the granddaddy of indie publishers, and since 2009 it's released hits including Hotline Miami, Hatoful Boyfriend, The Talos Principle, Gris, Fall Guys, Inscryption, Weird West and Cult of the Lamb, all in collaboration with small development teams. There's also Humble, Private Division, Raw Fury, Epic Games, Finji, Gearbox, EA and Netflix, all of which have stepped up their indie publishing efforts in recent years. Meanwhile, Microsoft's strategy is to simply acquire the studios it likes, and today it has 23 developers under the Xbox Game Studios banner. Sony is taking a similar approach, though it owns fewer studios than Microsoft. Microsoft and Sony are also signing hundreds of one-off deals with indies as they attempt to fill their streaming libraries - Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Premium - with a steady stream of new experiences.This is the new standard for indie developers: Identify the publisher that best matches your game's tone, pitch it, and pray. Even established studios, such as Device 6 creator Simogo, have swapped to a publisher-first model. Simogo's latest projects, Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, are the result of its partnership with Annapurna.Sayonara Wild HeartsAnnapurna InteractiveI think for us as a studio, the biggest change is working with a publisher, something which we would see as completely uninteresting and impractical ten years ago," Simogo co-founder Simor Flesser told Engadget earlier this month.And then there's Netflix. The streaming company officially entered the game-distribution business in 2021, and it's on track to have 100 titles in its library by the end of 2023, all freely available to anyone with a Netflix subscription. It's already brought a number of high-profile titles to mobile devices, including Kentucky Route Zero, Poinpy, Into the Breach, Spiritfarer, Lucky Luna and Oxenfree II, and it's purchased a few studios outright - notably, Alphabear developer Spry Fox and Oxenfree house Night School Studio. The first of these purchases was Night School, which Netflix acquired in 2021.Consolidation - I didn't really have my finger as much on the pulse of that, because when we joined Netflix, it didn't feel like that was happening so rapidly," Night School co-founder Sean Krankel told Engadget. And now in the last few years, literally, it's non-stop."The acquisition allowed Night School to move into the Netflix offices and it provided stability for the studio overall, Krankel said. With Netflix's resources, the Night School team was able to add day-one support for 32 languages in Oxenfree II, and they were able to fly in remote collaborators as needed.All that's really exciting," Oxenfree II lead developer Bryant Cannon said just ahead of the game's July 12th release. I think the game is going to be better because we have this battery in our back."Oxenfree IINetflixOutside of acquisitions, Netflix is also signing individual deals with developers. Snowman is best known as the name behind Alto's Adventure and Alto's Odyssey, and its latest project is Laya's Horizon, a serene wingsuit experience exclusive to Netflix. There are two big benefits of working with Netflix, according to Snowman creative director Jason Medeiros: The instant access to an audience of more than 230 million people, and the freedom to build a game without worrying about monetization.You'll notice real quick that the game that you've been playing can't be free-to-play," Medeiros told Engadget in April. Like, where would the ads go? It's this fantasy world with no currency, even, and all that's intentional. As the creative director, I didn't want any of that stuff. Because I mean, I liked games before all that stuff happened. So having a platform like Netflix, it's just like, none of that matters. You don't have to do that stuff. It's a breath of fresh air; we jump on opportunities to make games that way."Of course, there are still developers self-publishing their projects - Vampire Survivors, Phasmophobia, Celeste and Among Us are all standout examples - but there's a murkier path to success with this model, one based on timing, trends and a hefty amount of luck. There are more than 90,000 games on Steam today; Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus Premium libraries each have more than 400 titles (and counting). In this marketplace, it's hard to stand out without a little help.It's taken 10 years to get here, but it's now a solid, quantifiable fact: There's a lot of money in indie games. So much money that outside companies are popping up and trying to get a piece of the pie - and for now, it's created a shiny bubble of pretty PR packages and bespoke showcases dedicated to small teams and their games.GrisDevolver DigitalIt's difficult to ignore the potential for exploitation down the line, especially with Netflix in the mix. Amid the ongoing writers' and actors' strike, the company is facing accusations that it instituted wildly unfair compensation deals for creatives, paying out one-time, minimal wages even as projects became massive hits on the streaming service. Annapurna, for its part, was accused of mishandling claims of abuse at three prominent studios on its publishing roster - Mountains, Funomena and Fullbright - in a March 2022 documentary by People Make Games. Meanwhile, the current consolidation craze is shrinking the video game industry overall, even as the market caps of the biggest companies continue to rise.For now, bespoke publishing is the name of the indie game. This system has already distributed innovative and important games to huge audiences - Tchia, Tunic, Sea of Solitude, Gris - and it's offered stability to a lot of independent artists. Like, for instance, Ben Ruiz.I hope Annapurna's success means more Annapurnas in the future," Ruiz said. It doesn't feel like they're just trying to grab a thing that will make money or collaborate with people that are just going to make them money. They clearly have a brand and an aesthetic directive ... if I can keep making games for them for a long time, I will."The new normal works for Ruiz - and Flesser, Krankel, Medeiros and plenty of others. For now, it's a functional system, even if it ultimately leaves publishers, rather than independent developers, with most of the power.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/indie-games-have-entered-the-era-of-bespoke-publishing-170639414.html?src=rss

The Primetime Emmys won't take place on September 18th, according toVariety. The publication reported on Thursday that vendors scheduled to work the event have been told the ceremony is delayed because of the writers' and actors' strikes that have shut down all Hollywood productions and promotions. The TV Academy hasn't yet announced a replacement date, but Variety previously reported that broadcast partner Fox tentatively wants to shoot for January 2024. HBO's Successionleads this year's field with 27 nominations, while The Last of Us made history with an impressive 24 nods for the video game adaptation.Hollywood writers began striking in early May, while actors joined them earlier this month. Artificial intelligence figures prominently in both cases: Scribes and performers fear producers will increasingly use AI-generated content to diminish humans' ability to make a living in the already-brutal show business industry. Perhaps the most startling revelation was the report that studios offered a groundbreaking AI proposal" to pay performers for one day of work to use their digital likeness for eternity. As generative AI advances quicker than most people could have imagined, it now threatens to annihilate content creators' careers inside and outside of Hollywood.Disney / LucasfilmAlthough The Last of Us marked a milestone for gaming adaptations (including acting nominations for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey), season three of Disney's The Mandalorian received an impressive nine nominations. At the same time, Andor picked up eight nods - including Outstanding Drama Series. It recounts the journey of spy Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), one of the fallen heroes of 2016's Rogue One, in the period building up to the Rebel Alliance's rise against the Galactic Empire. Obi-Wan Kenobi, also on Disney+, received five more nominations, including Best Limited or Anthology Series.In addition to The Last of Us and Andor, Outstanding Drama Series nominees include Better Call Saul, House of the Dragon, Succession, The White Lotus and Yellowjackets.AppleApple TV+ also fared well in nominations, with 52. Ted Lasso is up for Best Comedy Series among its 21 nominations, which also include Best Actor in a Comedy Series for lead Jason Sudeikis, Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for Hannah Waddingham and Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Phil Dunster. Apple's mesmerizing sci-fi adaptationSilo debuted too late for consideration this year, but don't be shocked if it features prominently in the 2024 list.Elsewhere, Amazon's colossally ambitious The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power received six nods (mostly in technical categories). Netflix's Stranger Things picked up six, Peacock's Poker Face nabbed four and Star Trek: Picard got two makeup nominations. HBO led all platforms with 127 nods, while Netflix led streaming-only networks with 103, followed by Apple (52) and Amazon (46).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-emmys-are-reportedly-delayed-due-to-ongoing-strikes-164958589.html?src=rss

If you've wanted a top-tier robot vacuum but were put off by the sometimes outlandish prices, now's your time to act. Amazon is once more selling iRobot's Roomba s9+ at a record low of $600, or 40 percent off. That's the best we've seen since Prime Day, and puts it at the same price as a mid-range model like the Roomba j7 or Shark's AI Ultra.The Roomba s9+ is still our pick for the best premium robot vacuum. It's powerful, good at navigating floors (both carpet and hardwood), tackles corners well and empties itself relatively quietly. The slick design also makes it look right at home in an upscale abode. You shouldn't have to worry about it getting stuck or missing an important mess.It's not flawless. The Roomba s9+ isn't specifically geared to avoid pet poop, so you may need to look elsewhere if your cat or dog routinely leaves unwanted surprises. It's also louder than newer (if less effective) options like the j7. At this price, though, it's an easy choice - you'll get efficient cleaning that frees you for more important tasks.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/irobots-roomba-s9-robot-vacuum-is-back-down-to-a-record-low-price-152658325.html?src=rss

If you've been thinking of picking up an Xbox Series X, here's a rare chance to grab Microsoft's console at a discount: Dell is selling a bundle that pairs the device with a copy of the open-world racing game Forza Horizon 5 for $450. That's $50 off the console's usual going rate. Dell offered a similar deal earlier this month, but that didn't come bundled with a game. Forza Horizon 5, meanwhile, is included with an Xbox Game Pass subscription but typically retails for around $45 on its own (though it's currently available for $30 at Xbox's online store). As of this writing, the deal appears to be going in and out of stock, so you may need to act quickly.As a refresher, the Series X is the higher-performing option in Microsoft's Xbox lineup. It has a beefier GPU and more RAM compared to the $300 Xbox Series S, which allows it to more consistently play demanding games at higher resolutions and frame rates. Broadly speaking, the Series X is designed to play games in 4K at 60 fps (though some games can go further), while the Series S is aimed more at 1440p or 1080p displays. The Series X also has a disc drive, unlike the all-digital Series S, and it comes with twice as much storage by default at 1TB. You still have to use a proprietary card to fully expand that storage, however, and the console itself is much larger than its lower-cost counterpart. We gave the Series X a review score of 87 when it arrived in late 2020.Microsoft itself has had its share of struggles producing blockbuster exclusives, particularly when compared to Sony's first-party output on the PlayStation 5. Still, after a few years on the market, the latest Xbox has built up a fairly diverse lineup of quality titles, with big-budget hits like Forza Horizon 5 joined by smaller-scale gems like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentimenton our list of the best Xbox games. You still have access to most major third-party titles as well.Looking forward, Starfield, the latest RPG from the studio behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout,will arrive in September. And while a recent price increase has somewhat dented its value, Xbox Game Pass still pairs well with the console if you tend to hop from game to game. If nothing else, Microsoft's looming merger with Activision Blizzard (owner of Call of Duty, Diablo and Warcraft, among others)will presumably add to that service, as the company's prior acquisition of Bethesda Softworks has.Whether you should buy the Xbox Series X over the PS5 largely comes down to how much stock you put in Game Pass, how much PlayStation-exclusive series like God of War, Horizon and Spider-Man appeal to you, and which platform your friends and family use most often. If you're already settled on Xbox, though, this is a good chance to save on the best console Microsoft makes.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-xbox-series-x-is-50-off-at-dell-150920162.html?src=rss

It's now easy to show your WhatsApp friends what you're doing without putting in the effort to create a Story or a similar clip. The service is rolling out Telegram-like instant video messages that let you respond in chat with videos up to a minute long. You just have to tap and hold a button to capture footage, and you can swipe up to keep the recording going while hands-off.Videos will automatically play on mute, so you shouldn't startle anyone until you're ready to turn on sound with a tap. Like most anything else in WhatApp, the instant messages are end-to-end encrypted to add a layer of privacy. The feature should be available to all users in the "coming weeks," the company says.This likely won't replace Telegram Snapchat for many people. WhatsApp is still dominant in the messaging space, and driven largely by calls and texts. Even so, the feature might be appreciated if you'd rather not switch apps just to send rapid-fire videos. You can quickly share news when text or an audio message won't cut it, or simply react to a friend with something more personal than a sticker.There's an incentive for parent company Meta to act. While WhatsApp has over 2 billion active users as of last year, Telegram is expanding quickly with an estimated 700 million active users each month. Snapchat is still growing despite fierce competition from other social platforms. Apple's iOS 17 will introduce FaceTime video voicemail to iPhone users, too. While instant video messages might not persuade users to sign up, it might keep WhatsApp fans from drifting toward the competition.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/whatsapp-adds-telegram-style-video-messages-141005605.html?src=rss

Tor" evokes an image of the dark web; a place to hire hitmen or buy drugs that, at this point, is overrun by feds trying to catch you in the act. The reality, however, is a lot more boring than that - but it's also more secure.The Onion Router, now called Tor, is a privacy-focused web browser run by a nonprofit group. You can download it for free and use it to shop online or browse social media, just like you would on Chrome or Firefox or Safari, but with additional access to unlisted websites ending in .onion. This is what people think of as the dark web," because the sites aren't indexed by search engines. But those sites aren't an inherently criminal endeavor.This is not a hacker tool," said Pavel Zoneff, director of strategic communications at The Tor Project. It is a browser just as easy to use as any other browser that people are used to."That's right, despite common misconceptions, Tor can be used for any internet browsing you usually do. The key difference with Tor is that the network hides your IP address and other system information for full anonymity. This may sound familiar, because it's how a lot of people approach VPNs, but the difference is in the details.VPNs are just encrypted tunnels hiding your traffic from one hop to another. The company behind a VPN can still access your information, sell it or pass it along to law enforcement. With Tor, there's no link between you and your traffic, according to Jed Crandall, an associate professor at Arizona State University. Tor is built in the higher layers" of the network and routes your traffic through separate tunnels, instead of a single encrypted tunnel. While the first tunnel may know some personal information and the last one may know the sites you visited, there is virtually nothing connecting those data points because your IP address and other identifying information are bounced from server to server into obscurity.In simpler terms: using regular browsers directly connects you and your traffic, adding a VPN routes that information through an encrypted tunnel so that your internet service provider can't see it and Tor scatters your identity and your search traffic until it becomes almost anonymous, and very difficult to identify.Accessing unindexed websites adds extra perks, like secure communication. While a platform like WhatsApp offers encrypted conversations, there could be traces that the conversation happened left on the device if it's ever investigated, according to Crandall. Tor's communication tunnels are secure and much harder to trace that the conversation ever happened.Other use cases may include keeping the identities of sensitive populations like undocumented immigrants anonymous, trying to unionize a workplace without the company shutting it down, victims of domestic violence looking for resources without their abuser finding out or, as Crandall said, wanting to make embarrassing Google searches without related targeted ads following you around forever.Still, with added layers of security can come some additional hiccups, like lag or longer loading times. That could be true for some users depending on what they do online, but anecdotally it's gotten a lot faster in recent years, and users have said they barely notice a difference compared to other browsers. Sameer Patil, associate professor at the School of Computing at the University of Utah, studied this by having students and staff try out Tor as their main browser. I was personally very surprised at how many sites and things just work fine in the Tor browser. So not only did they work as intended, but they also were fast enough," Patil said.But even if online privacy isn't your main concern personally, using Tor can help support industries that heavily rely on it. By using the anonymous and secure browser, you're supporting activists, journalists and everyone else's privacy because the more people that use it, the more secure it gets, according to Patil. If only certain sensitive groups use it, it'll be easier to deanonymize and ultimately track down identities. When you're one in a billion using it, that task becomes nearly impossible.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tor-dark-web-privacy-secure-browser-anonymous-130048839.html?src=rss

Samsung made a huge flex this week by hosting its first Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea (sorry NYC!). In this episode, Cherlynn, Devindra and Senior Writer Sam Rutherford dive into all of Samsung's news: The Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5, Watch 6 and Tab S9. Is Samsung playing it safe this year, or is it actually bringing something new to the world of foldables? Also, we discuss Twitter's rebrand to X" (sigh), as well as why astrophysicist Avi Loeb is likely wrong about his extraterrestrial alien balls.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcasts, the Morning After and Engadget News!Subscribe!

From mattresses to scales, it's commonplace now for even the most basic products to be app-connected. Electric toothbrushes are one of the more curious entries in the smart" device space. But, smart or not, toothbrushes serve one purpose: cleaning your teeth. The American Dental Association says both powered and manual brushes will lead to good oral health, as long as you are in the habit of brushing twice a day, for two minutes each, with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste.People who find it easy to hit those marks can probably save themselves the money, but others might benefit from the encouragement provided by advanced brushes. We wanted to test out some of these fancy electric toothbrushes to see just how useful their smarts are. After testing multiple brushes for a few weeks, I've come to the conclusion that they aren't a necessity for everyone, but they could benefit certain folks - particularly those who respond to the gamification of their daily habits.What to look for in a smart electric toothbrushAppsFor our purposes, any brush that communicates with a companion smartphone app is one we consider smart." Nearly all such apps track your brushing duration and frequency, and can do so whether you have the app open or not. The apps present historical data in graphs, calendars and other easy-to-digest visualizations. Most apps also let you set goals, access tips on better habits and reorder brush heads directly from the manufacturer.More advanced devices let you adjust the settings and modes within the app and also guide you through brushing sessions with real-time feedback on where the brush is in your mouth. Other apps grant real-life rewards, such as gift cards, for keeping up consistent habits. Teledentistry is even part of the Quip app's repertoire.Most people will probably get the most out of the visualization offered by the tracking and history features. I found it satisfying to see a long string of properly executed morning and night brushing sessions, like I had hit some sort of personal milestone. The apps also make it easy to auto-ship brush heads, which could help ensure you replace them more regularly. The ADA recommends getting new bristles every three or four months and I, for one, am terrible at remembering to do that.At first, I liked brushing along with the apps that were capable of visualizing my movements, but the novelty wore off after a week or so. Stopping to go find my phone just added another step, and I'd always end up sucked into the new notification abyss before I'd remember, oh yeah, I was going to brush my teeth. While the apps' simple progress tracking is great, the added goals and awards lost their power to motivate me after a few weeks. Many of us are already setting countless objectives for ourselves; worrying about one more virtual award felt like homework for a class I didn't have to take.The timer feature is what ultimately helped me brush better. My impulse is to put down the brush after about 45 seconds, which is nowhere near the ideal time. To use that you don't even need the app though, as all smart brushes include a timer in the brush itself.Photo by Amy Skorheim / EngadgetBrush mechanicsWhether they're round or rectangular, all the brush heads vibrate, producing tens of thousands of movements per minute. All the handles emit haptic shakes and pauses to tell you to move to another section of teeth and when your session is done. Most of these electric toothbrushes have batteries that last a few weeks on a charge, or in the case of the non-rechargeable Quip, a few months on a set of disposable cells.Advanced brushes, usually ones that cost more than $200, also include internal sensors that can detect the orientation of the brush in your mouth as well as the movement and pressure you apply. The brushes use that info to warn you if you're pushing too hard, moving too fast or missing certain areas, with feedback in the form of lights, vibrations or in-app communication. Some brushes even have tiny, built-in screens that can give you a lot of the same info as an app, such as mode selection, timer duration and simple session assessments, so you don't have to keep your phone beside you.PriceA manual toothbrush from your local CVS will run you $4; smart electric toothbrushes can cost between $50 and $400 - quite the price jump. Even the least expensive smart brush offers app-based data tracking, plus haptic feedback and sonic vibrations from the brush itself. More expensive versions incorporate features like specialized heads, LED screens and internal sensors such as gyroscopes - all of which push up the price.Best overall: Oral-B iO Series 7Including manual and electric models, Oral-B makes around 75 different toothbrushes. Their latest and most advanced are the Oral-B iO toothbrushes, which include a whopping seven different models - with another on the way. Most of the iO series came out in 2020, which means the iO Series 9 isn't a newer iteration of the iO Series 5, it's just a more tricked out brush. The iO Series 7 has a good combination of app features and brush capabilities, and at $200, it sits in the middle of the smart electric toothbrush price spectrumWhile using the iO Series 7, an internal gyroscope and accelerometer detects where the brush is in your mouth. If you use the app to guide a session, a 3D illustration of your teeth gradually turns from blue to white as you clean different areas. I was impressed by how accurately it detected exactly where I was brushing, especially since I can't stick to one area for too long before moving on to the next. But by the end of two minutes, it had pointed me to areas I'd missed and left me with teeth that felt noticeably cleaner.The iO Series 7 has five different brushing modes, including Gum Health, Sensitive and Daily Clean. I mostly stuck to that last one, but when my six-year-old wanted to try it, I swapped in a new brush head and used the Sensitive setting, which worked great for him. The fact that it made a kindergartener want to brush his teeth might be worth the price right there.The app accurately tracked unguided sessions, too, adding the time and duration to my stats whenever I synced the brush with my phone. Even without the app, the built-in LED screen on the handle provides a good amount of info, giving you mode selection and displaying a timer as you brush. Haptic shakes let you know when to switch to another quadrant of your mouth.A ring of light at the base of the brush head will flash red if you're pushing too hard and glows green when you're using the correct amount of pressure. At the end of a session, you'll get a smiley face on the display if you went the whole two minutes, got good coverage and didn't push too hard. You'll get a smiley with stars for eyes if you really nailed it.Oral-B's top-end iO Series 9 is nearly identical to the Series 7 but costs $100 more. The pricier version comes with a full color LED screen, two extra modes (Tongue Clean and Super Sensitive) and adds another element to app-guided brushing, showing dots that you gradually erase as you brush. Both devices have hard travel cases, but the one for the Series 9 also acts as a charging case. Those are small luxuries that I don't think justify the price bump though, especially considering the Series 7 did a great job getting my teeth cleaner than they've ever felt outside of a trip to the dentist.Best budget: Quip Smart Electric ToothbrushIf proper motivation stands between you and better dental health, Quip's Smart Electric Toothbrush might be all you need. It costs $50 if you opt for the brush head subscription or $55 without it. Either way, that's significantly cheaper than many other smart toothbrushes. The vibrations aren't as intense as our top pick, nor are the internal sensors as precise, but the app is loaded with ways to track your teeth cleaning and inspire you to do it more often.One of those is through gamified awards granted for simple achievements like completing 50 sessions or brushing twice a day, three days in a row. It also awards points for good habits, which can be redeemed for real-world perks like discounts on Quip products and $5 Target or Walmart e-gift cards. With its relatively reasonable price and IRL rewards system, Quip's smart brush might make a nice option for parents who want to help their kids brush better and more often. It's also handy that the Quip app allows you to pair more than one brush per account, so you can track the whole family's dental hygiene - something you can't do with either Oral-B or Philips.Quip divides sessions into 30 second segments and gives the handle an extra buzz when it's time to move to the next quadrant. A run lasts for the gold-standard two minutes and the sonic vibrations help clean better than the same strokes with a manual brush. The app gives you feedback on coverage, strokes per minute and average back-and-forth movement, providing tips for improvement with each session tracked. Like with fitness apps, seeing your trends and history can be motivating in itself. Combined with virtual achievements and real-world rewards, the Quip might be enough for some people to reach that two-minute, twice-per-day goal without the high price or flashy features.Honorable mention: Philips Sonicare 9900 PrestigeI don't much care for things marketed as luxe," but I have to admit I really enjoyed using the $380 Philips Sonicare 9900. Don't get me wrong, that's an insane price to pay for a toothbrush. Before I started working on this guide, my daily driver was a $2.29 job I got from Trader Joe's - and I'd like to add that I've only had one adult cavity (which I blame on the charcoal toothpaste fad).With its sleek design and premium materials," Philips' Sonicare toothbrush made me feel like some overly monied influencer doing a #GRWM (get ready with me) routine. The faux leather and gold travel case looks like a cross between a jewelry gift box and an expensive clutch - complete with a cute little strap. The brush itself has a pearlized finish and a decidedly smooth feel.The app has a clean layout with a detailed history of your past brushing sessions. If you really want to see how consistently you apply the correct amount of pressure, you can. The app is also fairly accurate in identifying areas of your mouth that you skipped or didn't focus on enough. As for the actual brushing experience, I love the brush head. The bristles are soft and the thin neck is super comfortable to close your mouth around, which helps prevent spillage. I also enjoyed the brush mechanics. Instead of scrubbing back and forth like some commoner, you simply guide the bristles around the surfaces of your teeth, letting the vibrations do the work for you. It took a little getting used to, with the app cautioning me: don't scrub!" but once I had it down, it offered the autonomous functionality you'd expect from such an expensive device.The first few times using the Philips Sonicare toothbrush, however, nearly broke the fairytale spell. The vibrations are intense. I didn't realize you were supposed to put the brush in your mouth before you turned it on, and the shaking flung my toothpaste clean off even when I shoved it down into the bristles. Once I finally got it right, I brushed for the full two minutes and afterwards felt like I had just gone to the dentist - not because my mouth felt clean (though it did), but because my lips were numb like I'd been given Novocain. After setting the brush to the lowest vibration setting, I was able to appreciate it fully without losing sensation in my lips. Maybe I should have expected that much power in a nearly $400 toothbrush, but it took me by surprise.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-electric-toothbrush-133036339.html?src=rss

Tesla is facing allegations that it's trying to minimize complaints about performance. Reuters sources claim the company had a secret Diversion Team in the Las Vegas area to cancel range-related service appointments.If a customer complained the range didn't live up to marketing claims, advisors would tell owners that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range figures were just predictions and battery degradation would reduce range. Tesla supposedly began tinkering with range estimates a decade ago to exaggerate figures when an EV was fully charged. Cars would only begin showing more accurate range numbers below a 50 percent charge. The company also used a 15-mile range buffer when the estimate reached zero, much as combustion engine cars still have fuel in the tank when the gauge reads empty.Tesla isn't the only EV company accused of inflating its range estimates, but it may be worse than most. The standards body SAE International recently published a study indicating EVs typically fall 12.5 percent short of their official range in highway driving. One of the co-authors, Gregory Pannone, told Reuters Tesla's shortfall was 26 percent - over double that average. It's also faced accusations of exaggerating EV driving range in the past.- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest stories you might have missedReddit is testing verification labels for brandsMycle Cargo is almost the cargo bike I've been waiting forGoodRx now offers an iOS Medicine Cabinet for managing prescription meds Apple AirTag 4-pack falls back to $85The best PC games for 2023Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' probes the limits of redemption Nintendo drops two classic Zelda titles for Switch Online subscribers How to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5Nicki Minaj will be playable in Call of DutySnoop Dogg is already in the game.ActivisionI'm not sure how much the Venn diagram of Barbz and Call of Duty players overlap, but here we are. Call of Duty Season 5 will feature Nicki Minaj as the first ever playable female celebrity Operator character. She'll appear in Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 as part of CoD's "50 Years of Hip Hop Celebration," along with Snoop Dogg and 21 Savage. She'll arrive with her own storefront later this year, with items for sale, likely including the hot pink rifle you see above.Continue reading.Sony has sold over 40 million PS5 consolesIt may take a long while to catch up to the PS4.Sony has sold over 40 million PS5 consoles since the system's debut in November 2020. That's roughly eight million units sold since the start of the year. That unsurprisingly doesn't top last year's holiday sales, when Sony moved 7.1 million PS5s in one quarter, but the company says inventory is finally "well-stocked." It became Sony's fastest-selling console to date, but if it wants to beat the PS4, it has a way to go. The company had shipped over 117 million PS4s as of early 2022.Continue reading.Microsoft faces an EU antitrust probe over its bundling of TeamsThe investigation stems from Slack's 2020 complaint about Teams' inclusion in Microsoft 365.Maybe everything Microsoft does deserves an antitrust lawsuit? The European Commission has announced a probe into whether Microsoft bundling Teams with its product suites violated EU competition rules. Slack, a rival messaging and communications app, filed its own antitrust complaint in 2020, alleging Microsoft's decision to include Teams with Microsoft 365 or Office 365 is illegal. In April, Microsoft agreed to remove Teams from its Office suite to prevent a probe, but said it was unclear how it would do so. The European Commission said it "is concerned that Microsoft may grant Teams a distribution advantage."Continue reading.Photoshop can now use generative AI to expand imagesText prompts for AI are also available in over 100 languages.AdobeAdobe has updated its Photoshop beta release with a Generative Expand feature that grows an image using AI-made content. Drag the crop tool beyond the original picture size and you can add material with or without a text prompt. This can help when an image is simply too small, of course, but Adobe also believes it can help when you want to change aspect ratios. This is likely just the start: Adobe is teasing more generative AI features arriving this fall.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-tesla-reportedly-formed-a-secret-team-to-quash-driving-range-complaints-111516812.html?src=rss

Ford will take just a bit longer to reach the electric vehicle production goal it set for itself. As The Washington Post reports, Ford CEO Jim Farley now expects the automaker to be able to start producing 600,000 EV units per year sometime in 2024. The company was originally aiming to reach that production level in late 2023 with the help of lithium iron phosphate battery packs, which will help Ford cut manufacturing costs and reduce its dependence on nickel and other materials prone to shortage.In the company's earnings report, (PDF) Farley explained that the "[t]he near-term pace of EV adoption will be a little slower than expected," but that he believes it's going to "benefit early movers like Ford." He added: "EV customers are brand loyal and we're winning lots of them with our high-volume, first-generation products." The automaker's all-electric division did well in the second quarter of the year, with revenue from the first generation F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E vehicles increasing by 39 percent.Ford was inundated with pre-orders for the F-150 Lightning after it was announced and had to temporarily stop taking reservations due to the demand. The company has recently slashed the vehicle's prices citing increased production capacity, though it could also be because it's looking to entice more customers who are also eyeing models by rivals like Tesla and General Motors.Ford CFO John Lawler said "[t]he transition to EVs is happening, it just may take a little longer" and "it will be a little slower than the industry expected." The automaker was also aiming to manufacture 2 million EVs a year by 2026, but this delay affects that goal, as well. CNBC said Ford now doesn't know when it can reach that level of production, but Lawler assured that the company will still invest the same amount of money into its EV endeavors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ford-expects-to-reach-its-ev-production-goal-a-year-later-than-planned-101804539.html?src=rss

Apple will soon start cracking down on Apps that collect data on users' devices in order to track them (aka "fingerprinting"), according to an article on its developer site spotted by 9to5Mac. Starting with the release of iOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma, developers will be required to explain why they're using so-called required reason APIs. Apps failing to provide a valid reason will be rejected started in spring of 2024."Some APIs... have the potential of being misused to access device signals to try to identify the device or user, also known as fingerprinting. Regardless of whether a user gives your app permission to track, fingerprinting is not allowed," Apple wrote. "To prevent the misuse of certain APIs that can be used to collect data about users' devices through fingerprinting, you'll need to declare the reasons for using these APIs in your app's privacy manifest."The new rules could increase the rate of app rejections, some developers told 9to5Mac. For instance, an API called UserDefaults falls into the "required reason" category, but since it stores user preferences, it's used by a lot of apps. At the same time, it sounds like Apple will basically need to take a developer's word for reason declarations. If those prove to be false, though, it would certainly have a paper trail for any potential penalties.Fingerprinting apps can use API calls to retrieve characteristics of your smartphone or PC, including the screen resolution, model, OS and more. It can then take all this information and create a unique "fingerprint," so it can identify you when you go to other apps or websites.Apple effectively declared war on tracking when it released iOS 14.5 in 2021, requiring developers to ask users' permission before tracking them. Since that feature arrived, only 4 percent of US iPhone users have agreed to app tracking. Now, it's trying to stop fingerprinting (also called canvas fingerprinting), which first appeared in the digital zeitgeist a decade ago. Back in 2018, Apple said it would address fingerprinting on macOS by limiting the data that websites can access on its Safari browser, and now, it's addressing the issue with apps as well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-cracking-down-on-fingerprinting-with-new-app-store-api-rules-080007498.html?src=rss

NASA is launching its very own streaming platform called NASA+ sometime this summer. While the space agency already livestreams launches and other events on its website, NASA+ will feature not just live broadcasts, but also collections of original video series. A handful of the first shows on the platform will even be new titles launching with the service, and what's even better is that it will be free and will not be interrupting shows with ads. In other words, it's where you should go if you want to binge watch NASA and space content.The streaming service will be available through the agency's iOS and Android apps on mobile devices. You'll also be able to access it on desktop and mobile browsers, as well as stream shows on demand through media players, such as Roku, Apple TV and Fire TV.Marc Etkind from NASA's Office of Communications said:"We're putting space on demand and at your fingertips with NASA's new streaming platform. Transforming our digital presence will help us better tell the stories of how NASA explores the unknown in air and space, inspires through discovery, and innovates for the benefit of humanity."In addition to introducing its own streaming service, NASA is also giving its whole digital presence an overhaul. It's currently working on a new web (and app) experience that can better consolidate information about its missions, research projects and updates about the Artemis program, among other things. NASA has numerous websites for different programs and divisions, but the new experience will include content from several of them. It will also feature integrated navigation and search function for easier access to information across NASA websites. You can visit the beta version of the upgraded web experience right now, but take note that the agency plans to connect more libraries and websites to it even after it's been fully launched.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasa-is-the-space-agencys-very-own-streaming-platform-063042960.html?src=rss

Call of Duty Season 5 will feature Nicki Minaj as the first ever female celebrity "Operator" playable character, Activision announced. She'll appear in Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 as part of CoD's "50 Years of Hip Hop Celebration," along with Snoop Dogg and 21 Savage.Other celebrities including Lionel Messi, Kevin Durant and Snoop Dogg (multiple times now) have appeared in CoD in the past. Minaj, however is "Call of Duty's first-ever self-named female Operator," the developer noted. "Playtime is over; this is not 'Chill Nicki'; this is Red Ruby Da Sleeze," it added, referencing Minaj's track and video released earlier this year.Minaj will appear and have her own storefront later in Season 5, with items for sale likely including the hot pink rifle pictured above. Minaj's appearance was previewed last year in a YouTube video called Squad Up, which also featured Lil Baby, Bukayo Saka, and Pete Davidson - though there's no word if those people will also appear in CoD at some point.The Season 5 website also shows information on the 9mm ISO sub machine, the AN-94 assault rifle and other weapons. CoD also previewed multiplayer additions like new maps for Livestock and Petrov Oil Rig. Meanwhile, Warzone 2.0 adds new locations like Verdansk Stadium. Season 5 will also include a reveal of the upcoming Call of Duty 2023 (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3) - in Warzone. Season 05 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone are set to launch on August 2 at 9 AM PT across all platforms.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nicki-minaj-will-be-a-playable-character-in-call-of-duty-051544179.html?src=rss

Ahead of the final two races of Season 9 in London, Formula E showed off the "unlocked" potential of its Gen3 electric race car. The EV series has claimed the world record for indoor land speed, clocking in at 135.9 MPH (218.71 KPH) in a GenBeta development car. The run took place on a .176-mile straight on the London E-Prix circuit, a portion of which is inside the ExCeL London arena. The car, piloted by NEOM McLaren Formula E driver Jake Hughes, beat the previous record of 102.7 MPH (165.2 KPH) by 33 MPH.Hughes went head-to-head with fellow driver Lucas di Grassi (Mahindra Racing) in a modified version of Formula E's duels format typically used for qualifying. Each one was given a chance to set the fasted speed on the indoor section of track and both bested the former world record on all three of their practice runs before making official attempts. Neither Hughes nor di Grassi had driven the GenBeta car prior to this exhibition.Formula E says the GenBeta car has a number of upgrades to make it faster and more powerful than the Gen3 car used in race events. First, it has an enhanced power output of 400kW, up from 350kW in race trim. The added power comes via all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car through "activation of the front powertrain kit" for more traction while accelerating.The GenBeta is the first time that four-wheel drive has been activated in a single-seater race car for both acceleration and braking regeneration," explains Alessandra Ciliberti, Formula E's technical manager. "The GenBeta showcases what will be possible for Formula E racing in the near future."The GenBeta car was also running softer Hankook tires which afforded "faster warm-up and better peak grip." The harder race-day tires are currently designed for all conditions and to offer low degradation over the course of an E-Prix. Additionally, 3D-printed wing endplates, wheel fins and a wind deflector were installed for enhanced aerodynamics and peak straight-line speed. Al was also used to analyze the drivers' runs, powered by Google's Vertex platform and McKinsey & Company's QuantumBlack, helping interpret telemetry and fine-tune strategy.In order to make the record official, the drivers had to start from a standstill and completely stop inside the convention center. This meant taking a 130-degree turn at about 25 MPH before going flat out along the straight. Speeds were captured 16.4 feet before the drivers hit the breaking zone, or the section of the circuit needed for them to stop and remain inside the building.The regular Gen3 car is already the fastest and most efficient electric racer ever built. It's capable of over 200 MPH at top speed and generates 40 percent of the power it needs to complete an E-Prix through braking. Formula E describes GenBeta as "an innovation platform" that was created by the racing series, the FIA, Sabic and Hankook. Projects with the vehicle are meant to experiment with new materials and technology in a bid to increase performance, efficiency and sustainability.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/formula-e-breaks-indoor-land-speed-world-record-in-unlocked-gen3-car-040005749.html?src=rss

AMD has revealed its first mobile gaming processor with 3D V-Cache. As the name suggests, 3D V-Cache enables AMD to stack more cache on top of the CPU. The tech arrived on desktop processors last year, and soon you'll be able to pick up a laptop with a 3D V-Cache CPU.This approach allows AMD to cram extra 64MB of L3 cache onto the Ryzen 9 7945X3D. For a total of 144MB. That helps mitigate the chances of cache miss. If your system can't find information it's looking for in the cache, it has to go to system memory. That could result in processes taking 10 times longer to carry out, according to AMD. The company claims its 3D V-cache approach can help increase the frame rates of games.By moving vertically instead of padding more cache onto a CPU's typical 2D plane, AMD is able to increase the size of the cache without having to make the chip wider or longer. In essence, the company can get more performance out of a CPU while avoiding any increase to the horizontal real estate it takes up on a motherboard.The company claims this is the fastest mobile gaming processor on the planet, and that it's more than 15 percent faster than the Ryzen 9 7945HX on average. It has 16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.4 Ghz boost speeds and 55W+ TDP. The CPU is built on the Zen 4 architecture.You won't have to wait too long to get your hands on a laptop that uses the Ryzen 9 7945X3D. ROG's Strix Scar 17 X3D machine will be available on August 22nd.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amd-unveils-its-first-laptop-processor-with-3d-v-cache-010028830.html?src=rss

Nearly three years ago Meta announced it was partnering with more than a dozen independent researchers to study the impact Facebook and Instagram had on the 2020 election. Both Meta and the researchers promised the project, which would rely on troves of internal data, would deliver an independent look at issues like polarization and misinformation.Now, we have the first results of that research in the form of four peer-reviewed papers published in the journals Science and Nature. The studies offer an intriguing new look at how Facebook and Instagram's algorithms affected what users saw in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election.The papers are also a notable milestone for Meta. The company has at times had a strainedrelationship with independent researchers and been accused of "transparency theater" in its efforts to make more data available to those wishing to understand what's happening on this platform. In a statement, Meta's policy chief Nick Clegg said that the research suggests Facebook may not be as influential in shaping its users' political beliefs as many believe. The experimental studies add to a growing body of research showing there is little evidence that key features of Meta's platforms alone cause harmful affective' polarization, or have meaningful effects on key political attitudes, beliefs or behaviors," he wrote.The researchers' initial findings, however, appear to paint a more complex picture.One study in Nature looked at the effect of so-called echo chambers," or when users are exposed to a large amount of like-minded" sources. While the researchers confirm that most users in the US see a majority of content from like-minded friends, Pages and groups," they note all of it isn't explicitly political or news-related. They also found that decreasing the amount of like-minded" content reduced engagement, but didn't measurably change user's beliefs or attitudes.While the authors note the results don't account for the cumulative effects" years of social media use may have had on their subjects, they do suggest the effects of echo chambers are often mischaracterized.Another study in Nature looked at the effect of chronological feeds compared with algorithmically-generated ones. That issue gained particular prominence in 2021, thanks to revelations from whistleblower Frances Haugen, who has advocated for a return to chronological feeds. Unsurprisingly, the researchers concluded that Facebook and Instagram's algorithmic feeds strongly influenced users' experiences."The Chronological Feed dramatically reduced the amount of time users spent on the platform, reduced how much users engaged with content when they were on the platform, and altered the mix of content they were served," the authors write. Users saw more content from ideologically moderate friends and sources with mixed audiences; more political content; more content from untrustworthy sources; and less content classified as uncivil or containing slur words than they would have on the Algorithmic Feed."At the same time, the researchers say that a chronological feed did not cause detectable changes in downstream political attitudes, knowledge, or offline behavior."Likewise, another study, also in Science, on the effects of reshared content in the run-up to the 2020 election found that removing reshared content substantially decreases the amount of political news, including content from untrustworthy sources" but didn't significantly affect political polarization or any measure of individual-level political attitudes.'Finally, researchers analyzed the political news stories that appeared in users' feeds in the context of whether they were liberal or conservative. They concluded that Facebook is substantially segregated ideologically" but that ideological segregation manifests far more in content posted by Pages and Groups than in content posted by friends." They also found conservative users were far more likely to see content from untrustworthy" sources, as well as articles rated false by the company's third-party fact checkers.The researchers said the results were a manifestation of how Pages and Groups provide a very powerful curation and dissemination machine that is used especially effectively by sources with predominantly conservative audiences."While some of the findings look good for Meta, which has long argued that political content is only a small minority of what most users see, one of the most notable takeaways from the research is that there aren't obvious solutions for addressing the polarization that does on social media. The results of these experiments do not show that the platforms are not the problem, but they show that they are not the solution," University of Konstanz' David Garcia, who was part of the research team, told Science.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-research-shows-how-metas-algorithms-shaped-users-2020-election-feeds-213002211.html?src=rss

Google's earthquake warning system for Android is supposed to provide notices in time to reach safety, but that might not have happened following the quake in Turkey on February 6th. BBC investigators claim that none of the hundreds of people they talked to in three Turkish cities received an alert before the first tremor hit. Only a "limited number" got an alert for a second tremor, investigators say.We've asked Google for comment. Product lead Micah Berman tells the BBC millions of people in Turkey received earthquake alerts, although the company hasn't shared data indicating widespread notifications. Google did show a handful of social media posts from people who said they received a warning, but only one was for the first quake. Berman says he doesn't have a "resounding answer" as to why social networks were quiet about alerts, but does note the nature of a quake and the reliability of internet access can affect the system.The Android Earthquake Alert System uses the accelerometer (that is, motion sensing) in phones to effectively crowdsource warnings. If many phones vibrate at the same time, Google can use the collective data to find the epicenter and magnitude of the quake, automatically sending a warning to people who are likely to feel the brunt of the shaking. While there's no more than a minute's notice, that can be enough time to find cover or evacuate. The technology can theoretically help people in areas where conventional warnings are unavailable.The concern is that the system might have failed during a strong (7.8-magnitude) earthquake. Even if it worked, it's not clear how many people should and do receive warnings in cases like this, not to mention milder incidents. Without more data, it's not certain that Android's quake alerts are reliable substitutes for traditional warnings over radio and TV.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/androids-earthquake-warning-system-failed-in-turkey-according-to-the-bbc-210612253.html?src=rss

X (formerly Twitter) continues to struggle to keep advertisers on board, and the brands that have stuck around are seeing ads show up in unexpected places. As reported by Media Matters, brands such as Honeywell, Discovery, Showtime and USA Today are having their ads placed alongside tweets from The National Socialist Network account, a neo-Nazi group that actively advocates for violence and terrorism. A job recruitment ad for the U.S. Border Patrol also appeared on the page.It's clear that not only is X still allowing hate groups to exist on the platform, it's allowing them to monetize their tweets. The National Socialist Group's leader Thomas Sewell was found guilty of "recklessly causing injury and array" following a 2021 attack. Other members of the group have pleaded guilty to "possessing documents and records of information for terrorist acts." Yet, the group's Twitter account is still active.Media Matters also reports that the account joined shortly after owner Elon Musk purchased Twitter. It has been "verified since July 2023," and according to Musk, all verified accounts are eligible to receive a share of ad revenue on the platform.Earlier this week, Twitter started slashing new ad booking prices by 50 percent through the end of the month. The company says that the discount is necessary to allow advertisers to "gain reach during crucial moments" such as sporting events. Twitter was also asking brands to spend at least $1,000 per month on ads or verification in order to retain their verified badge on the platform.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-placed-ads-from-discovery-showtime-and-usa-today-on-a-neo-nazi-account-202133800.html?src=rss

Google's anti-stalking measures are rolling out. The company's unknown tracker alerts and other safety measures, announced at Google I/O in May, should start appearing on Android 6.0+ devices beginning today. The initiative aims to reduce the unfortunate rise in digital stalking that materialized soon after Apple's AirTag launch in 2021.Android's unknown tracker alerts tell you if an unknown Bluetooth tracker is traveling with you but not its owner. If your Android phone notifies you about a discovered tracking accessory, you can tap on the alert to learn more about it, including a map of where it traveled with you and (in some cases) a serial number and info about the device's owner. You can also tap a Play sound" option to make the accessory chirp to help you locate it. If it turns out to be something suspicious, it will provide instructions on deactivating it so its owner will no longer receive updates. (In the case of AirTag, that means twisting its top off and removing its battery.)The Android rollout also allows you to manually scan for nearby trackers rather than waiting for an alert. Once your phone receives the update, navigate to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Unknown Tracker Alerts, and select the Scan now" button. Google says the manual search only takes about ten seconds, and if it finds one, you'll see the same options as if you received an automatic alert.Google and Apple are partnering to address concerns about unwanted tracker stalking; they're working on an industry standard that will enable other third-party trackers to work with the system. In addition, Google announced today that its Find My Device network (equivalent to Apple's Find My), also announced at Google I/O, is delayed. Google decided to wait for Apple to implement its full unknown tracking protections into iOS before rolling out the new feature.Note that Google's anti-stalking measures may reduce the effectiveness of following tracked stolen items on a map since enterprising thieves can soon quickly discover hidden trackers, no matter which phone they use. However, it's understandable that reducing stalking would override that concern in Google and Apple's security balancing act.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-rolls-out-anti-stalking-measures-for-airtag-and-other-bluetooth-trackers-194936293.html?src=rss

Mesh router systems are a great way to beef up your home's WiFi network and one of the best-reviewed units out there is the TP-Link's Deco XE75. You can now pick up this tri-band system for 30 percent off, from $450 down to $330. For the price, you get three units, or nodes, to place throughout the home. This isn't the lowest price ever for this system, but it's just $10 more than this year's Prime Day deal.So what's so special about this system? It's just solid on all fronts, offering an easy installation, seamless integration with the three major wireless bands (2.4, 5 and 6), connectivity with up to 200 devices and enough coverage to handle 7,200 square feet. You also get three analog ports for each node, totaling nine possible wired connections for gaming consoles, computers and other devices that demand ultra-high speeds.In our round-up of the best mesh wireless systems, we wrote that TP-Link's offering expertly balances raw power and user-friendliness." As a matter of fact, the only negatives we found were minor nitpicks, like shorter-than-average power cables and an app that could use a bit more polish.There's one potential downside for some consumers. This system comes with three units, making this the perfect set-up for larger-than-average homes of four bedrooms or more. If you live in a smaller home, you probably don't need all of this mesh goodness. You'd be fine with one or two units, depending on the size of your space. These smaller packs are also on sale, but just 18 to 23 percent off, depending on which combo you go with.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/one-of-our-favorite-mesh-wifi-systems-tp-links-deco-is-30-percent-off-180716707.html?src=rss

Reddit has started testing its version of verification badges on its platform with a new "Official" label. According to a post by a Reddit admin, the new label is in early testing and is only available to a small group of organizations ("in the double digits") that already have existing relationships with Reddit. The company says that the label will appear next to their usernames, similar to how flairs are currently implemented.Reddit clarifies that this should not be taken as an endorsement or promotion on its part and that it's simply there to identify authentic brand accounts. "The label is a visual indicator of an authenticated profile, and it does not unlock any special privileges or protections. This new 'Official' label should not be mistaken for our existing 'Promoted' label, which continues to be our (only) indicator of a paid ad," Reddit says.It's worth noting that this is a test on Reddit's part and it's unclear if or when the company plans on expanding the program to cover more than just businesses. Reddit seems to be taking the classic Twitter approach, manually verifying brands at this time. This is in contrast to other platforms such as Instagram, which allow users to pay for their respective verification badges. Though, it's possible that Reddit shifts to the latter method down the line when it needs to start verifying both users and brands.Reddit has had a rough last several months as the company has changed its API rules. Third-party developers used Reddit's APIs to build thousands of apps that hook into the social media platform. With the shutdown, many subreddits closed or restricted access in order to protest the change. And of the subreddits that were forced to open back up, some started marking all new posts as NSFW, which prevented Reddit from monetizing them.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/reddit-is-testing-verification-labels-for-brands-174640320.html?src=rss

Tesla has been accused of exaggerating EV driving range in the past, but it's now facing allegations that it's trying to minimize complaints about performance. Reuterssources claim Tesla had a secret "Diversion Team" in the Las Vegas area that aims to cancel range-related service appointments. If a customer complained that the range didn't live up to marketing claims, advisors in the team would tell owners that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) range figures were just predictions, and that battery degradation would reduce range. The unit initially ran remote diagnostics and called customers, but wouldn't share non-range issues and eventually stopped testing altogether.The aim was reportedly to both save money (about $1,000 per appointment, according to managers) and reduce strain on service centers already facing long appointment queues. Tesla updated its mobile app to remove appointment options for users asking about range, and instead gave them the choice of asking a company representative to call.The complaints don't stem from technical flaws, the insiders claim. Instead, Tesla supposedly began tinkering with range estimates roughly a decade ago to exaggerate figures when an EV was fully charged. Cars would only begin showing more accurate range numbers below a 50 percent charge. The company also gave vehicles a 15-mile range buffer when the estimate reached zero, much as combustion engine cars still have fuel in the tank when the gauge reads "empty."It's not certain if Tesla continues to rely on code to exaggerate range, if the report is accurate. Tesla has disbanded its public relations team and isn't available for comment. However, the company has already faced criticism and legal trouble over range concerns. The EPA asked Tesla to slightly reduce its range estimates from the 2020 model year onward, and South Korea fined Tesla $2.2 million in January for allegedly failing to disclose that range can drop in cold weather.Tesla isn't alone in embellishing range, but may be worse than most. The standards body SAE International recently published a study indicating that EVs typically fall 12.5 percent short of their official range in highway driving. One of the co-authors, Gregory Pannone, tells Reuters that Tesla's shortfall was a much higher 26 percent. Brands like Ford, Mercedes and Porsche also offer more conservative estimates by using an EPA formula instead of running extra tests.Elon Musk's firm isn't necessarily cheating, as Pannone explains. Instead, it may be exploiting EPA range procedures more aggressively than its peers. If true, though, that's still problematic for buyers who might never come close to the range they expected.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-allegedly-formed-a-team-to-quash-driving-range-complaints-164750696.html?src=rss

Researchers at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering and Grossman School of Medicine have created an app to help people with visual impairments navigate New York City's subway system. Commute Booster uses a smartphone camera to recognize relevant signs along a transit route, guiding the user to their destination while ignoring nonessential signs and posters.Commute Booster is designed for the middle mile," where passengers trawl through turnstiles, busy passageways and terminals to stay on the correct route. The app combines general transit feed specification (GTFS), a standardized and publicly available database about public transportation routes, with optical character recognition (OCR) to interpret signs and guide the user accordingly. By integrating these two components, Commute Booster provides real-time feedback to users regarding the presence or absence of relevant navigation signs within the field of view of their phone camera during their journey," an NYU press release published today reads.A study that used the app on three NYC stations - Jay Street-Metrotech, Dekalb Avenue and Canal Street - had a 97 percent success rate in identifying the relevant signs needed to reach a mock destination. It managed to read" the signs at a distance and from various angles expected from a typical commute.The middle mile' often involves negotiating a complex network of underground corridors, ticket booths and subway platforms. It can be treacherous for people who cannot rely on sight," said John-Ross Rizzo, MD, an NYU professor (and co-author of the paper) known for his engineering work that helps people with disabilities. Most GPS-enabled navigation apps address first' and last' miles only, so they fall short of meeting the needs of blind or low-vision commuters. Commute Booster is meant to fill that gap."Next is a planned human subject study to see how well the app holds up in real-world navigation scenarios. After that, the researchers hope to make it available for public use in the near term." Commute Booster is a simple smartphone app using a modern handset's standard sensors, but that means users need to hold their phones' cameras up as they navigate New York's subway system -still well worth it, but less than an ideal setup. One can easily imagine this or a similar app running on AR smartglasses if or when they ever find broader consumer appeal. (Some companies have already tried.)This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-app-could-help-people-with-visual-impairments-navigate-the-nyc-subway-163456689.html?src=rss

It's been two months since The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomknocked our socks off, so if you've saved Hyrule and are looking for something else to play, Nintendo may have you covered. The company just dropped two classic Zelda titles onto its Nintendo Switch Online platform.The games include The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, both released for the Game Boy Color way back in 2001. Despite sharing similar names and original release dates, these are separate titles with unique power ups, gimmicks, overworlds, NPCs, dungeons and more, though they do connect in certain spoilery ways.Both of these classics are top-down adventures in the style of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and feature charming pixel-based graphics of the era. These are the original releases and have not been remade in any way, so you won't get the same graphical flourishes seen in 2019's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. However, that remake was $60 and these are (sort of) free. Also, many consider this pair to be some of the best games in the franchise's storied history.You need a Nintendo Online subscription to play both games, which costs $20 per year or $4 per month, with a seven day free trial available for newbies. You don't, however, need one of those fancy Expansion Pack subscriptions. For the price, you also get access to plenty of other iconic Zelda titles from the NES and SNES days.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-drops-two-classic-zelda-titles-for-switch-online-subscribers-160801831.html?src=rss

It didn't take long for Sony to cross another PlayStation 5 milestone. The company confirms it has sold over 40 million PS5 consoles since the system's debut in November 2020. That's roughly 8 million units sold since the start of the year. That unsurprisingly doesn't top last year's holiday sales, when Sony moved 7.1 million PS5s in one quarter. However, the company says inventory is finally "well-stocked" and keeping up with demand - you might not have to wait for stores to get fresh supplies.The PS5 reached the 10 million mark in its first eight months. However, it also had the benefit of launching during a holiday when many people were stuck at home during the early pandemic - it became Sony's fastest-selling console to date. The tech giant is now is getting closer to that pace even in the post-holiday period, when demand tends to drop.The company had shipped over 117 million PS4s as of early 2022, and nearly 157 million PS2s as of 2013. Nintendo, meanwhile had moved nearly 123 million Switches as of the end of 2022. Those leads aren't surprising given the extra years of sales involved, but they suggest Sony has a while to go before it eclipses both its all-time best figures as well as the current-gen competition.How that momentum changes isn't clear. A redesigned or upgraded console isn't guaranteed to arrive in the near future. At the same time, the game catalog is improving. More PlayStation games are PS5-only, including upcoming blockbusters like Spider-Man 2. Sony is also going into late 2023 with a few potential system-selling accessories, including PlayStation VR2 and the Project Q streaming device. There's no guarantee Sony will continue to enjoy rosy sales, but the ingredients are there for a strong year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/sony-has-sold-over-40-million-ps5-consoles-150040065.html?src=rss

Last year, I asked if we'd ever see an e-cargo bike for the people," with powerful electric assist, generous cargo capacity and an affordable price. Soon after, Mycle got in touch to say its own offering, the Mycle Cargo, was exactly the bike I was looking for. It added that the struggles I'd had with heavy loads and steep hills wouldn't be a problem for its affordable cargo longtail. After spending the better part of three months riding this thing around, I can heartily agree that it ticks many of the boxes I was hoping for. I may not have fallen head-over-heels in love with it in the way I had hoped, or expected to, but I'm sure it could find a place in the homes of many cyclists.Mycle is a British-built e-bike which fits into the same category as Tern's GSD, with a step through frame and beefy longtail. Support struts and plastic panels enclose the thick rear wheel, which houses the surprisingly-powerful 250W hub motor. Now, I won't bang this drum too much, but this thing is less than half the price of some of its competitors in the cargo longtail space. Here in the UK, a Tern GSD or Yuba's Spicy Curry will set you back around 5,000 before you start picking optional extras. By comparison, the Cargo's retail price is 1,999, which will get you the standard setup, including integrated front and rear lights.Daniel CooperThe model I tested, meanwhile, had a few luxuries added on, including an LCD display which adds 150 to the price. My model also had a front basket (89) and a caboose to enclose the rear deck to help keep my kids safe (129). The only other mainstream e-cargo bike in this price bracket is Rad Power'sRadWagon 4, which I'm looking to test in the future to offer a good head-to-head comparison. On paper, the RadWagon has a far lower center of gravity and a bigger payload weight, but a far shorter promised range.Every issue I could raise about the Mycle Cargo, and I have a few, can likely be answered by its price. These bikes need to be affordable to win over would-be buyers who can quite reasonably say that five grand would get you a decent second-hand car and cover a year's running costs. And while two thousand pounds is no small investment for a lot of people right now, it may wind up saving them cash if it helps them get around without a car. You can certainly carry at least two kids on the rear deck, and can probably mount a third seat up front should you need.Daniel CooperMycle Cargo measures in at 187cm (73.6in) long and 73cm (28.7in) wide, with a quoted kerb weight of around 80 pounds. Even in my fairly spacious house, it took up a lot of room, and it requires a decent amount of effort to get it up my front steps. Which is a euphemistic way of saying that if you're in a small space, or don't have great upper body strength, you might need to look for an alternative. I found that, the longer I rode it, the easier it became to handle, so I think my time with the bike has contributed to some minor enswolening of my arms.The bike arrives half-assembled, and you'll need to get a hex key to screw in the footplates, caboose, front basket and fit the handlebars. This requires a decent amount of patience, since there's so much engineering going on that your fingers won't have much room to maneuver. If you can, get a bike store to do the finishing off for you, especially if you've got chunky hands and a tendency to swear in frustration after the screw falls out three times in a row.Daniel CooperThe bike is fitted with a wonderfully comfortable seat, and is equipped with a modest, but solid, set of components. There's Tektro mechanical disc brakes and a 7-speed Shimano Altus set, which might provoke a sniff or two from higher-minded cycling types. Both are what I'd call modestly priced, and aside from the odd stiff gear change, neither felt out of place, with good braking even on steep hills. It's also clear that cost savings in this area help get the overall price down without causing too much pain for the rider on a daily basis. One nitpick I do have is that the built-in double-sided kickstand is sturdy, it still feels a little weak and I wish it was a bit thicker.Now, from here on out, we'll be talking about my experience of riding Mycle Cargo, and I'd say that I'm a general-purpose cyclist at best. Certainly, I'm open about my deficiencies, and hope that I can offer a better perspective for would-be riders than a road-hardened professional. If you're a novice rider looking for a cargo bike, then these are the issues you'll probably want to be mindful of, whereas more experienced riders can probably just look at the price, what you get for that chunk of cash, and head to the Mycle website to pre-order one.Daniel CooperThe issue with weight, for instance, is going to be harder for novices to deal with compared to people who already own more than one pair of waterproof trousers. Mycle Cargo is heavy and, in my early rides, proved to be more than I could handle in terms of its balance issues. Even with fat tyres, which are designed to improve balance, I found it very easy to lose control of this thing at lower speeds. I tried to take the kids to school in rush-hour traffic, and pushed off in a quiet moment, only to find the bike started to wobble. I tried to correct it, but in doing so nearly pitched sideways into a van coming the other way.Fortunately, this problem did eventually go away, but it took me a lot of (solo) trial-and-error and some counterintuitive tyre-deflating before I put the kids back on it again. Once I'd got the Mycle set up the way I did, riding became a lot easier and I had some fairly glorious runs around the local area. But don't expect to climb on this in the first hour or two and expect to be zooming around your town without a care in the world. The learning curve is there, and it is steep, and I found the damped steering - designed to prevent you making risky, aggressive turns - was a bit of a pain in my early trips.Daniel CooperOnce you get past the slow-speed wobbles, however, do you find Mycle Cargo's comfort zone, which is unleashing its vast reserves of power. Accelerate a bit, and you'll find riding the bike is easy and comfortable, but if you only run it on flat ground, you'll miss out on its party piece. My kids' school is at the top of a hill that measures around 11 degrees (or more) at its gentlest point. And I've ridden a few 250W hub motor bikes up there with varying levels of comfort, and even a light single-seater can sometimes struggle.This thing? With all the added weight in its frame and two kids in the back? I have never seen a bike move this fast. It shot up the hill faster than the car I was passing, and I very quickly had to dial down the assistance level to stop feeling uncomfortable. When that pedal assist kicks in after a second or so's delay, you feel as if you're being towed by a car. It ships with a throttle but I don't think I was ever compelled to use it outside of trying to intentionally test it, because one full turn of the pedal and this thing moves like a rocket.Daniel CooperI cannot overstate how much power Mycle has managed to wring out of this motor, to the point where I'd almost want to joke that it's really a 500W motor with the wrong label. I cannot imagine anyone riding this thing and thinking that it'll do anything but conquer any terrain you put in front of it. If I had infinite time and money, I'd take this to France and irritate everyone doing a mountain cycle climb as I lap them while lazily pedaling my way to lunch. The downside is the lack of refinement; dial down the electric assist and you'll very quickly feel a lurch as the motor steps down a notch.That's really where your money isn't going with a bike like this - into the refinements that would see it go from a two grand bike to a five grand one. I can think of plenty of tweaks I'd like to see, including a lighter weight, lower center of gravity and better handling. But if the choice is this bike or one that'll cost more than twice the price, I'd rather keep my cash in the bank.You can pre-order the Mycle Cargo now, with deliveries slated for some point in August. That will come with a few tweaks, including upgraded brakes - hydraulic, rather than mechanical - and fittings for a new rear-caboose. The new model will also be able to use a new clubhouse-style weather tent to keep your kids dry on windier days, but there's no word on how much that'll cost you at present.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mycle-cargo-is-almost-the-longtail-of-the-people-ive-been-waiting-for-130046591.html?src=rss

Generative AI in Photoshop is now useful for more than filling in gaps. Adobe has updated the Photoshop beta with a Generative Expand feature that grows an image using AI-made content. Drag the crop tool beyond the original picture size and you can add material with or without a text prompt. This can help when an image is simply too small, of course, but Adobe also believes it can help when you want to change aspect ratios, fix a cut-off subject or otherwise touch up artwork.At the same time, generative AI text prompts in the beta now work in over 100 languages. You won't have to use a very common language like English to produce content.Generative Expand and the wider text prompt support should be available once you've updated the Photoshop beta app. Adobe is teasing more generative AI features arriving this fall, so you'll have more creative tools before long.As with Generative Fill, Expand is meant primarily for creators who are more interested in artistic expression than accuracy. The catch, of course, is that you can also distort or exaggerate images. You can create a dramatic panorama of a pristine beach when the reality is far uglier, for instance. While manipulating images in editors like Photoshop is nothing new, the AI makes it easier to spread misinformation or otherwise mislead viewers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/photoshop-can-now-use-generative-ai-to-expand-images-133421406.html?src=rss

The following contains spoilers for Under the Cloak of War."Some things break in a way that can never be repaired, only managed." It's the final line in a powerhouse episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Under the Cloak of War" lays out a host of questions about memory, grief and redemption - reiterating the key obsessions of this season - none of which it could possibly answer. For some shows, this would be a bad thing, but Strange New Worlds is becoming increasingly comfortable living with ambiguity. Much as I may be flush with recency bias, I already feel it may be the standout of the season.The Enterprise has been asked to carry Dak'Rah (An unrecognizable Robert Wisdom), a successful, but deeply controversial, Federation ambassador to the Prospero system. Controversial because he's a Klingon who defected during the recent war, who is also known as the Butcher of J'Gal." Not just because of the orders he gave, including massacring his own civilians, but because he killed all of his generals just before he defected. Dak'Rah is embraced by Pike, Una and Uhura as a beacon of hope for a more peaceful future. But Ortegas, who fought in the war, and M'Benga and Chapel, who actually served in a field hospital on J'Gal, can't get over the past, or their own pain.We flash back to Chapel's arrival on J'Gal, where she's greeted by Trek good luck charm Clint Howard's commanding officer. Her orientation lasts for all of a minute before she's picking up casualties from the transporter pad and trying to save them without key medical tech. One soldier gets loaded into the pattern buffer to keep him alive until rescue arrives, while others get operated on the old-fashioned way. M'Benga and Chapel quickly bond over their rough time in the medical trenches, and develop a shorthand to help each other along.Paramount+In the present, Pike asks all three to quell their objections and come to dinner with Dak'Rah, who is trying to hold court over the captain's table. None of them are able to make nice for too long, and Ortegas quickly leaves, with Chapel following behind. Pike notices that while M'Benga remains, he's gripping the arms of his seat so tightly that he's about to rip them off, and asks him to go look after the absent pair. But not before Ra, knowing that M'Benga loves martial arts, asks to set up a session between the two with an arm grip that's a little too aggressive.Back on J'Gal, M'Benga treats a wounded soldier who wonders what the point of this battle really is. The doctor gives a rousing speech, bringing to mind the you want me on that wall" speech from Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. He says the risk of Klingon expansionism is too great, and that Starfleet fights so that others can live their lives in peace. But while the speech is effective, it's delivered a little too convincingly, especially given we soon learn that M'Benga used to be the guy wielding the knife rather than the scalpel.Soon after, a special forces commander asks M'Benga for some Protocol 12, the green steroids M'Benga and Chapel used in The Broken Circle." As annoyed as I was that M'Benga himself created it - I'm never a fan of secret origin stories where the same five characters are at the center of literally everything in the universe - I was pleased we didn't get an over-explanation of its genesis. The doctor refuses, so the commander asks if M'Benga himself, under his old guise of The Ghost" will join the team on its daring mission given how effective his murder skills are, or were.The military is planning to send a small unit to try and wipe out J'Gal's leaders once and for all, while committing the bulk of its forces to a grand frontal assault as a distraction. The soldier M'Benga previously patched up is going back out there to get chopped up, everyone knowing ahead of time they're being sent to the meat grinder. But the Klingons are ready for them, disabling the field hospital's power generators, preventing them from saving the casualties as they pile up. Chapel gets a transporter online, but can't activate it without wiping the soldier who was kept in the pattern buffer earlier, something M'Benga does with little hesitation.Back on the ship, M'Benga and Dak'Rah start their sparring session, with Dak'Rah doing his best to try and make nice with the doctor. He talks about how good the symbolism of two former enemies, quite literally on the opposite sides of the same battle, standing side-by-side would be. But M'Benga can't bring himself to be friends, just allies, and soon starts to ask Dak'Rah which of his generals fought the hardest during his final day on J'Gal. Dak'Rah can't answer, because it wasn't Dak'Rah that killed them, but M'Benga, hopped up on his own fury steroids and looking for revenge.The Enterprise takes a shortcut to get their unwanted Klingon off the ship before someone gets hurt, but not before Dak'Rah once again goes to M'Benga. The Doctor is looking at his little personal effects case, which includes a D'k tahg he kept as a reminder from J'Gal. They discuss the fallout from their prior discussion, with M'Benga angry that Dak'Rah has used the deaths M'Benga caused to launder his own reputation. We cut, then, to the other side of the doctor's office, through partially-opaque glass, as the pair scuffle, before cutting back to Dak'Rahdead on the floor with a dagger in his chest.Chapel provides cover for M'Benga, saying Dak'Rah caused the fight, which M'Benga agrees to, despite Pike pressing him for an off-the-record admission of guilt. He tells his captain he's not responsible, but he's glad his old enemy is he kept as a reminder from J'Gal. They discuss the fallout from their prior discussion, with M'Benga angry that Dak'Rah has used the deaths M'Benga caused to launder his own reputation. We cut, then, to the other side of the doctor's office, through partially-opaque glass, as the pair scuffle, before cutting back to Dak'Rah dead on the floor with a dagger in his chest.Michael Gibson/Paramount+If there's one thing that Star Trek (both back in the day and now) can sometimes forget, it's that history doesn't just happen to other people. As much as it focuses on the great people of history making soliloquies on the bridge of their starships, that's the start of things, not the end. Despite its apparent progressivism, it rarely engages with the material concerns of the ordinary people living and serving in Starfleet on that sort of level. That's why the fact we got to see the Klingon war from something approaching the ground is a refreshing change.And at the start of the season, I talked about how confident Strange New Worlds' storytelling had become. Bursting out of the gate, even its weaker episodes were elevated by a production team pulling their hardest in the same direction. With a strong script, credited to writer/producer Davy Perez and directed by Jeff W. Boyd, there's not much that can go wrong. It helps, too, that Strange New Worlds this year has restrained its urge to explain, and over-explain, every facet of what's going on. But what really makes this episode is the towering, blockbuster performance by Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M'Benga who, once again, demonstrates he's this series secret weapon.It's Olusanmokun who holds the broad tangle of ideas in this script together, including the key issues around memory, grief and forgiveness. There's a clear dichotomy between those in the crew who are motivated for revenge and those who are looking toward a better future. I'm sure that particular conflict can be mapped over several real-world fault lines, for better or worse. The episode, wisely, doesn't necessarily take one side over the other, although the fact M'Benga and Chapel are our POV characters this week means we're already on side.It's a shame that there's less emphasis on making Dak'Rah as fully rounded-out a character as he could, or should be. He's not given space to justify Pike's faith in him, and it's clear pretty much as soon as he arrives that he's ever so slightly phony. Much of this can be attributed to our old enemy running time, and the fact that Strange New Worlds' storytelling is that much more ambitious this time out. But I'm never going to criticize a series for having too many ideas and not enough time to explore all of them in enough detail.Oh, and I wanted to draw attention to Strange New Worlds' excellent use of virtual stages both here and for much of the season. The world of J'Gal feels pretty believable, rendered as a living backdrop behind the field hospital in the flashback sequences. Given the cost and logistical demands of trying to set up a series of night shoots on rough terrain, I can understand why the team opted to shoot the scene in the studio. But while keen-eyed fans will be looking for the edges of the stage, the atmosphere feels a lot more real than if they were acting in front of a green screen.It's clear now that each season of Strange New Worlds conforms to a similar shape across its run. After a mission-setting premiere, you get three episodes exploring standard Trek tropes, with a focus on Una and La'an. Episode five is a Spock-heavy romantic comedy romp, followed by a heavy episode that emphasizes the season's overall theme. Seven is a lighter episode, while eight is primarily focused on Dr. M'Benga, while nine is one of two big showcase episodes to cap the season. And I'm hoping I get some credit for clocking - last year - that we were going to see a musical episode, which is what we're getting next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-probes-the-limits-of-redemption-130025700.html?src=rss

GoodRx, best known for its prescription drug price comparison tool, has launched a new free offering called Medicine Cabinet." The tool will allow GoodRx app users to manage their prescription medications on a single platform. This comes on the heels of the news that the company is working with CVS Health to develop the Caremark Cost Saver, which could lower pharmacy out-of-pocket drug costs for shoppers.Medicine Cabinet will automatically integrate within the GoodRx app and will feature tools like a prescriptions dashboard" where a consumer can set up refill reminders and find the best pharmacies to pick up their medications at the lowest price. At the heart of the app are daily pill reminders that are customizable to any treatment plan that is uploaded into the app. GoodRx Chief Product Officer Mark Hull said the reminders feature is huge because 50 percent of the time, Americans are struggling to take their medications as prescribed for reasons as simple as forgetfulness or cost.The Medicine Cabinet also includes a dashboard for GoodRx's rewards program which offers users monetary perks like e-gift cards for staying on top of medication refills. Nobody's integrating or rewarding people for having those healthy habits," Hull said.

Our phones can replace a lot of things we used to need on the regular - our wallets, our car keys and now even scanners. Thanks to your handset's camera, the power to scan things is built into your iPhone. You can use it to scan documents, QR codes and more, allowing you to save IRL files in a pinch, pull up menus at restaurants and even check grocery prices on the fly. Here's how to scan almost anything with your iPhone.How to scan documents with an iPhoneThe default way to scan a document with an iPhone lives within iOS' native Notes app. Open it and open a new note. Tap the camera icon on the bottom menu bar, tap Scan Documents and then hold your phone to frame the document you want to scan.Photo by Julia Mercado / EngadgetThe camera will scan the document automatically. But, just like taking a photo, you also have the option to do it manually by tapping the white button at the bottom of the screen or pressing the volume button.If your document is more than one page, repeat the process for each page and hit the Save button at the bottom right corner when you're done. If you need to redo or edit a scan, tap the stack icon at the bottom left corner. Once saved, all of the pages will be attached to the same note in your library.Photo by Julia Mercado / EngadgetYour iPhone also has the ability to scan the text in your document and make a note from it as well. Just tap and hold on text in your scanned document and highlight the portion you want to extract. You can then make a new note from that, or copy and paste the text into an existing note.How to scan a QR code with an iPhoneOpen the Camera and hold it up to the QR code. Tap the link that generates beneath the code and it will take you straight to your browser. You will automatically be sent to the site or PDF that the QR code links to.Another way to scan a QR code is by using iOS' built in Code Scanner. First, go to settings and tap Control Center. Then, tap the green plus icon next to Code Scanner to add it to your Control Center. Swipe down from the top right corner of your home screen and tap the Code Scanner. The icon is represented with a small QR code inside four corners framing it.Photo by Julia Mercado / EngadgetThat option will take you to another form of your camera. This time, there's no need to click a link: just frame the code in the four white corners and wait. Code Scanner will automatically show you what's linked in your browser.How to scan a barcode with an iPhoneUnfortunately, iPhones can't handle barcodes on their own just yet, but there are third-party apps that can. Depending on the barcode, each app can help you do something different. If you are looking to keep track of books in your library, you can rely on Goodreads. If you just want to shop smart, ShopSavvy can help you find coupons on items you're thinking of buying. And if you need a basic scanner, Barcode Scanner can look up anything and add it to your history, plus it even lets you make your own QR codes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-scan-with-iphone-120030667.html?src=rss

An investigation into Microsoft's potential antitrust practices is underway nearly three years after Slack first filed a complaint against the company. The European Commission has announced a probe into if Microsoft bundling Teams with its product suites violated EU competition rules. Slack filed its antitrust complaint in 2020, alleging that Microsoft's decision to include Teams with Microsoft 365 or Office 365 is illegal and that the company blocked some users from removing the software.In April, Microsoft agreed to remove Teams from its Office suite in an attempt to prevent a probe, but said it was unclear how it would do so. The effort wasn't enough to avoid concerns and make a deal. In its announcement opening the investigation, the European Commission said it "is concerned that Microsoft may grant Teams a distribution advantage by not giving customers a choice on whether or not to include access to that product when they subscribe to their productivity suites and may have limited the interoperability between its productivity suites and competing offerings."A Microsoft spokesperson responded to the news: "We respect the European Commission's work on this case and take our own responsibilities very seriously. We will continue to cooperate with the Commission and remain committed to finding solutions that will address its concerns."This isn't the first time Microsoft has found itself in hot water with the European Commission. In 2009, the company agreed to offer EU users different browser options instead of forcing them to use Internet Explorer in Windows. Four years later, the European Commission fined Microsoft 561 million ($625 million) after a "glitch" stopped the browser choice screen from consistently appearing. The current investigation has no decision deadline, so it might be some time before the European Commission announces Microsoft's fate.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-faces-an-eu-antitrust-probe-over-its-bundling-of-teams-114147712.html?src=rss

Cruelly timed for just after The Morning After newsletter yesterday, Samsung's latest Unpacked media event was a first for the company. It's the first time the company has launched over five devices in a single day. Ah wait, no. Was it the first time K-Pop superstars BTS helped promote Samsung's latest smartphone? Nope, that's been done before, too. No, this July event was the first Unpacked in the company's native South Korea, in Seoul.The move speaks to the confidence Samsung has about its newest smartphones, which includes its fourth-generation foldables. For me, those devices are the exciting part, even though the company is bringing back the bezel to its wearables and has made its premium tablets water resistant.EngadgetThe Galaxy Z Flip 4 ($999) gets the most evolutionary treatment this year, with a far more expansive external display, new widgets and features. At this point, it has to match what we saw on Motorola's Razr+, but it initially doesn't seem as versatile as Moto's take on the secondary screen. Expect our review to put those new features through their paces.The Galaxy Z Fold 4 ($1,800, yikes), meanwhile, is slightly slimmer, slightly more powerful and a little too similar to last year's Fold 3 at first blush. Samsung's new Flex Hinge - said to have a more streamlined design while still boasting IPX8 water resistance - erases that jarring gap between the screen halves while decreasing its overall thickness to 13.5mm. (Note: That's still thicker than its rival foldable, the Pixel Fold.)I've corralled the other highlights from Samsung - is this the year you'll buy a foldable?- Mat SmithYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Samsung Unpacked July 2023 highlightsSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 hands-on: A larger external display holds promiseSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on: Is Samsung squandering its head start?Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Moto Razr+: A clamshell comparison Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Pixel Fold: Did Samsung rise to Google's challenge?Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 hands-on: The spinning bezel's triumphant returnSamsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra hands-on: A premium tablet with water protection Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 pre-orders on Amazon include a $200 gift card The other biggest stories you might have missedThe $9,995 Fuell Fllow electric motorcycle is available for pre-order todayAugust's PlayStation Plus monthly games include Death's Door' and Dreams' Xbox home screen revamp provides quicker access to gamesThe best wireless headphones for 2023Meta had its best quarter since 2021 despite losing more money on the metaverseMeta is fully committed' to the metaverse.Meta just had its best quarter since 2021, even as it continues to lose massive amounts of money on the metaverse. In fact, the company said it expects to lose even more money on its efforts in the year to come. I mean, the company changed its name - it's not going to give up so easily.Reality Labs, the Meta division overseeing its virtual and augmented reality projects, lost $3.7 billion during the second quarter of 2023 and generated just $276 million in revenue, according to the company's latest earnings report. Aside from the metaverse, it was an otherwise strong quarter for Meta, which reported $32 billion in revenue, an 11 percent increase from last year.Continue reading.Amazon Prime members can now get pre-approved for new Boost Infinite cellular plansThere's a storefront selling Boost Infinite's SIM kits.Amazon has teamed up with Boost Infinite, a wireless carrier owned by Dish Wireless, and has launched a storefront to make the latter's SIM kits more accessible. While Amazon sells SIM cards from a variety of providers, this is a genuine tie-up that automatically pre-qualifies Prime members for the carrier's $25-per-month postpaid wireless plan. Subscribers can purchase Boost Infinite's Unlimited $25 SIM kit from the Amazon store with a 20 percent discount. It's not quite the free cellular service rumors we've heard about, but a discount is a discount...Continue reading.X threatens to drop verification status for advertisers spending under $1,000 per monthMusk says it's to prevent scammers from creating millions of accounts.EngadgetTwitter, now X, is reportedly hardballing advertisers to increase its bottom line. Reports earlier this month suggested X's revenue had dropped by a staggering 50 percent. The company's latest strategy, according to The Wall Street Journal, is asking brands to spend at least $1,000 per month on ads to maintain their verified status on the platform. Musk says the "moderately high" cost is a preventative measure to help reduce the number of scammers creating "millions of accounts" on the platform. Millions!Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-everything-announced-at-samsungs-summer-unpacked-2023-event-111543940.html?src=rss

If you want to keep track of your luggage or if you have items you need to protect from theft or loss, Apple's AirTags are the answer. You can now pick up a four-pack at Amazon and Walmart for $85 (14 percent off) - just slightly higher than the lowest price we've ever seen. The deal is ideal if you have multiple items to keep safe.If you're in Apple's ecosystem, AirTags give you some big advantages over rival trackers from Tile and others. The ultra-wideband functionality offers precise tracking with iPhone 11 (and up) devices when you get close, so you can tell whether your missing object is under a couch cushion or behind a chair, for example. Meanwhile, the AirTag network enabled by all Apple device users allows you to find a missing bag that might be a longer distance away.The coin-sized design is nice and simple and you'll get a seamless experience thanks to the Find My App. You can also force the AirTag to emit a chime to help you more easily locate your item if you're close to it. However, it doesn't have a built-in keyring like rival devices, so you'll need to buy additional accessories - luckily, Engadget just released a buyer's guide for AirTag keyrings, straps and more.The main drawback is that it only works with Apple devices, so Android users will have to look elsewhere, and battery life is also limited. Still, Apple users can now grab a four pack at one of the lowest prices we've seen.Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-airtag-4-pack-falls-back-to-85-075538136.html?src=rss

Samsung has reported KRW 0.67 trillion ($527 million) in operating profit for the second quarter of 2023, which is just slightly higher than last quarter's, thanks to its memory business posting a narrower loss. That figure is also, however, much, much smaller than the KRW 14.1 trillion ($10.8 billion) operating profit it posted in July 2022. In its latest earnings report, the tech giant also revealed a consolidated revenue of KRW 60.01 trillion ($47 billion), which represents a 6 percent decline from the previous quarter's and a far cry from last year's record-breaking KRW 77.2 trillion ($59.4 billion).The company blames the drop in revenue mostly to a decline in smartphone shipments "as the effect of the Galaxy S23 launch" in the first quarter faded. If you'll recall, Samsung's mobile division performed well the previous earning period due to the strong sales of the Galaxy S23 series, specifically the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Now, the division's consolidated revenue has slipped from KRW 31.82 trillion ($23.7 billion) to KRW 25.55 trillion ($20 billion), while its operating profit dropped by $500 billion.Samsung expects the overall smartphone market to pick back up in the second half of the year, especially in the premium market. Unsurprisingly, it plans to focus its efforts on the newly launched Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5 series. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 boasts a 3.6-inch external display - the previous model had a 1.9-inch one - while the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a new hinge that gets rid of the gap between the two screen halves.Meanwhile, Samsung's DS Division or memory business experienced a slight recovery in revenue from KRW 13.73 trillion ($10.2 billion) in Q1 to KRW 14.73 trillion ($11.53 billion). Its operating loss, while still massive at KRW 4.58 trillion ($3.4 billion), is at least a bit smaller at KRW 4.36 trillion ($3.4 billion). Going forward, the company plans to focus on the sale of what it calls "high-value-added products," such as DDR5 and LPDDR5x components.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/samsung-blames-q3s-drop-in-revenue-to-decline-in-smartphone-shipments-055356695.html?src=rss

Meta just had its best quarter since 2021, even as it continues to lose massive amounts of money on the metaverse. In fact, the company said it expects to lose even more money on its efforts in the year to come.Reality Labs, the Meta division overseeing its virtual and augmented reality projects, lost $3.7 billion during the second quarter of 2023 and generated just $276 million in revenue, according to the company's latest earnings report. And the company, once again, said it expects its metaverse spending to accelerate. CFO Susan Li said that Meta is expecting Reality Labs' losses to increase meaningfully" compared with last year, when it lost more than $13 billion on the efforts.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to downplay the significance of the losses. We remain fully committed to the metaverse vision," he said during the company's earnings call. When pressed for more details on the company's metaverse spending, he pointed to the upcoming Quest 3 headset, which he said would launch at Meta's Connect event in September. This is going to be the biggest headset that we've released since 2020," he said. There are just a lot of expenses related to bring that to market."Aside from the metaverse, it was an otherwise a strong quarter for Meta, which reported $32 billion in revenue, an 11 percent increase from last year. Zuckerberg touted Reels, which are now drawing 200 billion views a day across Facebook and Instagram, thanks to the company's renewed emphasis on AI-driven recommendations. He also highlighted the recent launch of Threads and the company's Llama 2 large language model.Though early analytics data has suggested Threads engagement has declined substantially since its launch, Zuckerberg said the company is seeing more people coming back daily than I'd expected" and that he sees a path for the app to eventually reach hundreds of millions" of users.Meta also confirmed that the bulk of its layoffs, which resulted in the company shedding more than 20,000 jobs since last fall, have been substantially completed." Zuckerberg previously dubbed 2023 as Meta's year of efficiency" as he cut staff and attempted to streamline the company's management structure. Zuckerberg pointed to Threads' launch, which he said was overseen by a relatively small team, as proof that cultural changes" at Meta are working.Zuckerberg didn't, however, offer a timeline of when he thought the company's metaverse spending might start to pay off. This is a very long term bet," he said, You know, on a deep level, I understand the discomfort that a lot of investors have with it. And look, I mean, I can't guarantee you that I'm gonna be right about this bet -I do think that this is the direction that the world is going in."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-had-its-best-quarter-since-2021-despite-losing-more-money-on-the-metaverse-231925266.html?src=rss

Erik Buell, best known for founding Buell Motorcycles, announced Fuell, his new electric motorcycle venture, back in 2019. In that same announcement, he said that Fuell would begin work on its first electric motorcycle: the Fuell Fllow. Following though a few years later, Fuell is giving us more details on the Fllow and opening pre-orders today.The Fllow is a mid-sized motorcycle that claims to have the capacity of a larger bike, with 10 gallons of total storage in addition to space for a passenger. It features 150 miles of city range on a full charge and uses the CCS connector for charging. You can expect to fully charge in about 30 minutes with a Level 2 charger and between one and a half to two and a half hours for a standard home charger. In a pinch, you're looking at around eight hours when plugged into a standard 110/220V home outlet. While the bike's standard CCS connector is widely available in North America, we've seen a recent uptick in major car brands adopting Tesla's NACS connector - fortunately, adapters are common. The bike has a top speed of 85 miles per hour with a speedy 0-60MPH time of 3.5 seconds.Buell says that one of the main focuses with the Fuell brand is integrated and interchangeable battery packs. This technology would enable the ability to swap some components as the technology improves in the future. The company calls it the battery pack module" and enables components such as the charger, rear wheel motor and fast charging socket to be swapped out and upgraded over time.While Buell has a history with Harley-Davidson, Fuell is its own independent company, separate from the Buell Motorcycles brand. Founded in 1983, the brand ran for a decade before Harley-Davidson acquired 49 percent of the company in 1993, followed by full ownership in 2003. In 2009, Harley-Davidson announced the discontinuation of the Buell product line. While the brand has been resurrected since then Buell himself is solely focused on Fuell going forward.Harley-Davidson hasn't been sitting quietly on the sidelines, either. The company's LiveWire division announced its S2 Del Mar electric bike in early 2023. The bike features a 110 mile range and a 0-60MPH time of 3.1 seconds. While the S2 Del Mar has a faster 0-60 time, the Fuell has longer range and faster charging. The Fllow is also prioritizing cargo capacity and modularity in its design.The Fuell Fllow is available now for pre-order at $9,995, with an MSRP of $12,995.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-9995-fuell-fllow-electric-motorcycle-is-available-for-pre-order-today-220016821.html?src=rss