Apple currently has four different Apple Pencil models, and if you aren't sure which one to get, try reading this guide first. But if the USB-C Apple Pencil seems like the best option for your needs, it's now back on sale for $69 from its list price of $79. That's only $4 more expensive than the lowest price we've seen it listed for. The USB-C Apple Pencil is currently the most affordable Apple Pencil that you can use with all current-generation iPads, like the M2 iPad Air, M4 iPad Pro, 10th gen iPad and 6th gen iPad mini. It also works with some older devices, like the 3rd to 6th gen 12.9-inch iPad Pros, 1st to 4th gen iPad Pros and 4th and 5th gen iPad Airs. Whew, what a mouthful. It's a standard stylus and has low-latency input, perfect for artists who prefer drawing using an iPad. Unlike the Apple Pencil Pro, it doesn't have pressure sensitivity or wireless charging capabilities, though you can also connect the pen to the iPad using a cable. However, it does support the hover feature if you own an M2-powered iPad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-usb-c-apple-pencil-is-back-on-sale-for-69-140710599.html?src=rss
It's France's turn to get in on the AI boom. On Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron announced private investments into the country's AI ecosystem totaling 109 billion ($112.5 billion). The announcement came ahead of Paris hosting the AI Action Summit on Monday and Tuesday."I can tell you this evening, Europe is going to speed up, France is going to speed up," Macron stated during a TV interview on France 2 and India's First Post. He further explained that the investment is "exactly the equivalent for France of what the United States announced with Stargate - $500 billion - it's the same ratio," when accounting for France's significantly smaller population.Today, France will also reportedly pledge a gigawatt of nuclear power to create an AI computing project, the The Wall Street Journal reports. France has nuclear power to spare, with 57 reactors in 18 plants and exporting about a fifth of the electricity it produced last year -despite using nuclear power for over two-thirds of its electricity.The project's lead, FluidStack, aims to start work in the third quarter of 2024. By the end of 2026, the goal is to have 250 megawatts of power linked to AI-computing chips. Most of these chips are made by Nvidia, which FluidStack claims will send chips over when they need them. It also states that there's potential to expand to a 10 gigawatt facility by 2030.The news follows Macron and United Arab Emirates leader Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's February 6 announcement to put between 30 million and 50 million ($31 million to $51.6 million) towards a one-gigawatt AI center.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/france-pledges-to-build-one-gigawatt-of-new-nuclear-to-speed-up-its-ai-ambitions-140021069.html?src=rss
T-Mobile's Starlink satellite texting feature is now available in beta for anyone with a compatible iPhone or Android device to try out, the company announced in a Super Bowl ad. The new feature provides mobile 4G or 5G coverage in areas not covered by regular cell phone towers, and you can sign up for it even if you're on another carrier like Verizon or AT&T.The service will be available for free until July to approved beta testers, though limited spots are available. After that, customers of T-Mobile's high-end offerings like the $180 Go5G Next plan will receive the feature at no cost. Other T-Mobile customers can add the service for $15 per month, or $10 per month if they sign up before the end of February. Users of other carriers will be charged $20 per month starting in July (T-Mobile didn't explain exactly how that would work).In August last year, T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX announced a collaboration that would allow the carrier's subscribers to connect to Starlink's second-gen satellites for coverage even from the most remote locations. The service works with standard mobile phones, but only recent, compatible models including the Apple iPhone 14 series and later, all Google Pixel 9 models, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and later, Galaxy Flip3 and Fold3 or later and others.If you have such a device, are enrolled in the T-Mobile Starlink beta and find yourself in an area of the US without regular cell phone coverage, you should be able to connect to a satellite and send someone a simple text message. Starlink support for voice calls and data is coming later, T-Mobile said.T-Mobile and Starlink sent and received the first text messages using satellites back in January 2024. In the months that followed, the FCC had given them permission to enable satellite texting in certain locations so that people could stay connected in hurricane-hit areas. Now, anyone can try it, but it would be best to apply soon given the limited spots.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/t-mobile-is-offering-its-starlink-satellite-texting-feature-for-free-until-july-130044054.html?src=rss
Social platform Discord announced a new feature today called Ignore. This allows a person to hide any new messages, DMs, server notifications, profiles and activity from selected users without alerting them. In unveiling the update, Discord noted that this type of softer approach to limiting interactions had been requested by its community. It's a less stark way to tune out a person compared with blocking them.In practice, DMs received from an Ignored person will appear in the inbox with an icon and a grayed-out name, so they are available if the ignorer chooses to look at them. The same applies to messages in a If somebody who chose to Ignore an account joins a voice or video chat where that ignored person is present, Discord will show a warning alerting them before they hop into the call.Ignore can be activated from several places, including the drop-down menu that appears when clicking on an account's avatar. A list of all ignored and blocked accounts is visible within the Content & Social tab of User Settings. You can stop ignoring a profile from that full list, from your Friends list or by going to the person's profile. Discord has complete details about using the Ignore feature in a Help Center article for any additional information.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/discord-introduces-a-feature-to-ignore-rather-than-block-users-125515521.html?src=rss
Camera launches have been plentiful as of late, with Canon, Nikon, Sony and other major brands releasing important new models recently. In 2024, we saw some notable improvements in areas like autofocus and video, along with some new trends in creating interesting looks for videos and photos in-camera.
Civilization VII is getting a VR port soon, but it'll be exclusive to Meta's most recent headsets. Meta, 2K and Firaxis Games announced this weekend that the franchise's latest entry will be available on Meta Quest 3 and 3S in Spring 2025. Players will have the option to freely switch" between virtual and mixed reality as they wish. Per the release:
The Caesars Superdome will host Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9. Here's how to tune in to the big game! (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Chris Graythen via Getty Images The big day has arrived, and Super Bowl LIX is imminent. The Kansas City Chiefs are shooting for an unprecedented (for the NFL) third championship win in a row, while the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to play the spoiler - and avenge their narrow 38-35 loss to the Chiefs in the 2023 Super Bowl. The kickoff for the big game will be today - Sunday, February 9 - at 6:30PM ET at Caesars Superdome. It's the eighth time the storied New Orleans venue has hosted. The Kendrick Lamar, riding high on the five new Grammys he snagged just last Sunday, headlines the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, where he'll be joined by SZA. Taylor Swift is expected to be at the game to cheer on beau Travis Kelce, but the cameras pointed at the luxury boxes will be splitting time between her and President Trump, who is also slated to attend the game in person. The championship game will be broadcast nationally on Fox this year and will be available on platforms like DirecTV Stream and Fubo. Looking for a free way to tune in? The Super Bowl will also be livestreamed on Tubi - in 4K, no less! Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Super Bowl. When is Super Bowl LIX? The 2025 Super Bowl will be held today - Sunday, Feb. 9. What time does the Super Bowl start? Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30PM ET/3:30PM PT, but the pregame show is already well underway. How to watch the Super Bowl live Super Bowl LIX is airing nationally on Fox and streaming live on Tubi. How to stream the Super Bowl for free this year Tubi is livestreaming Fox's coverage of the Super Bowl this year - the first time the free platform has done so. It will also be available in the Fox Sports app on mobile platforms. Beyond that, you can also sign up for free trials of DirecTV Stream, Fubo, YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, each of which carry Fox in most locations. Two important caveats: Verify that your locality includes a Fox stream by inputting your ZIP code on their respective sites. And make sure to set a reminder to cancel before the trial subscription before you get billed if you don't want to keep these paid services. How to watch the 2025 Super Bowl without cable The Tubi option above is the easiest go-to starting point for free Super Bowl streaming - but no one knows how the service will hold up under what's certain to be its most intensive influx of concurrent users. There are plenty of worthwhile backups, each of which offer more comprehensive options for cordcutters beyond the game itself - say, watching SportsCenter on ESPN before or after the game. And most of our picks for best live TV streaming services offer free trials, so you can check them out risk-free. If you time it right, your free trial can include the Super Bowl broadcast, too. Where is the 2025 Super Bowl? The 2025 Super Bowl will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The venue has been host to seven previous Super Bowl games. Who is performing in the Super Bowl 59 halftime show? Kendrick Lamar is headlining Super Bowl LIX, with a guest appearance by SZA. Who is playing in the Super Bowl 2025? AFC champions the Kansas City Chiefs will play NFC champs the Philadelphia Eagles. More ways to watch Super Bowl LIX Thanks to the wide array of streaming options detailed above, you'll be able to watch the Super Bowl on nearly any current device with a screen. There are plenty of Super Bowl TV deals ahead of the game if you need to upgrade that aging 40-inch screen with the dead pixels in the corner. Live close to a broadcast tower of a Fox station? Attach a good old-fashioned over-the-air antenna (like the Channel Master linked above), and you can get the game for free. Have a fast Internet connection but don't have access to the latest and greatest streaming apps on your TV? For as little as $25 or less, a new Roku or Fire TV device will ensure that you have all of these apps (including Tubi). See our list of best streaming devices for the full range of options. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/how-to-watch-super-bowl-2025-on-tubi-for-free-chiefs-vs-eagles-214817888.html?src=rss
Apple may have set aside its rumored plans for Mac-tethered augmented reality glasses, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's done with AR glasses altogether. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman - who reported last month that Apple was working on, but ultimately shelved, an AR glasses project - sources have told him that Apple's long-term goal of standalone AR glasses remains intact." Rather than creating a stopgap product" in the meantime that would need to be connected to a Mac, though, Gurman reports that the team is taking a slower, more cautious approach.It'll instead keep working on underlying technology - like screens and silicon" to make a standalone device work, he writes. As described in earlier reports, the AR glasses Apple is rumored to be developing wouldn't be another headset-style device like the Vision Pro, but would likely take a form more like the Xreal One, which look like regular glasses.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/apples-plans-for-ar-glasses-may-not-have-been-scrapped-entirely-200127426.html?src=rss
Trump and the company formerly known as Twitter appear to have ended their legal fight over the suspension of the president's account back in 2021. In a filing spotted by Bloomberg, lawyers for both parties asked the court to dismiss the case. Trump sued Twitter arguing that his First Amendment rights were violated after he was banned from the social media platform due to the risk of further incitement of violence" in the wake of the January 6 riot at the Capitol. A judge dismissed his lawsuit the following year, but Trump later appealed the decision.Of course, Twitter has since been taken over by Elon Musk and renamed X, and Musk has become a key Trump ally in the president's second term. There are no further details in the motion about the decision to dismiss. It comes shortly after Meta settled a lawsuit with Trump over the same issue, agreeing to pay $25 million after suspending his Facebook account in 2021.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-drops-his-appeal-in-legal-battle-over-2021-twitter-ban-175109968.html?src=rss
We may bit a post-CES news lull some days, but the reviews are coming in hot and heavy as February begins. Samsung has already debuted its latest premium phones and we've published a few long-term reviews of devices we've been testing for months. In this installment of the reviews roundup, we've got phones, a wearable, a robot vacuum and a smart grill. There's something for everyone this week. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Samsung has given us the first flagship phones of 2025 and they rely heavily on AI features to lure users. Sam notes that the company has improved those tools, but the Galaxy S25 Ultra feels like an iterative update due to the limited hardware upgrades. "This means a lot of what Samsung focused on in this generation feels more like a bonus rather than a must-have feature," he writes. "And when you can get around 90 percent of the phone's capabilities from previous models, the most dangerous thing Samsung is asking buyers to consider is why they need to upgrade at all." Samsung Galaxy S25 Like the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Samsung leaned heavily into the AI features on the regular S25. However, the company didn't spend a lot of time updating the design and major components of this model either. As Mat explains, this makes for a boring release for the long-running flagship line. "Unless you're desperate for a bump in processing power and battery life, it would be wise to see how heavily last year's models get discounted in the coming months," he says. Anker Eufy E20 The Eufy E20 is a first-of-its-kind transforming robot vacuum. While it works best in its core function as a robo vac, you do have the option of cordless stick and handheld vac configurations in the same device. "While Eufy isn't a stranger to making solid robot vacuums, this device is still a first-gen product in my mind - and a solid one at that," Valentina notes. "But you have to know what you're buying upfront: an above-average robot vacuum that can turn into a just-average stick and hand vacuum." Oura Ring 4 Smart rings may still be niche, but there's one company that stands above the rest. With the Ring 4, Oura fixed flaws of the previous model to ensure its crown is safe for the time being. "If there's a downside, it's that Oura remains forever constrained by the limitations a smart ring imposes," Dan explains. "If you want something more comprehensive, then it's likely a smartwatch is a better option, but for everything else, there's this." OnePlus 13 While most phone companies are focused on AI features, OnePlus decided to build a compelling, flagship-level handset that isn't overloaded with bloat. "Throughout the years, OnePlus has used taglines like 'flagship killer' and 'ultra in every way' as a means of taking shots at its biggest rivals from Samsung, Google and more," Sam writes. "But for the OnePlus 13, it feels like the company just went and made a really solid premium handset without a bunch of AI fluff." Weber Searwood Weber's first pellet grill, the SmokeFire, was a learning experience for the company. Thankfully, the longstanding brand learned from those missteps when it built the Searwood. The company's second smart pellet grill offers more reliable performance, excelling at low-and-slow smoking. Weber opted for an all-new design for this model, from the cooking area to the new display. There's also a manual mode that allows for open-lid griddling and searing. And while there are some caveats, the Searwood is a much-improved grill compared to its predecessor. Upcoming reviews: Apple, Beats, Technics and more According to Bloomberg, Apple will debut a new iPhone SE next week. This will be the first update to that model since 2022, and will reportedly nix the home button. The report also details specifics like a camera notch, USB-C and the use of Apple's first in-house cellular modem. If the timing holds true, we'll expect to begin our testing shortly after the news drops. In that same report, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman explains that Beats' PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds are expected to debut next week as well. The Apple-owned brand first teased an update to its fitness-focused model with a over-the-ear hook design last September. Gurman reports that the new model will have heart rate monitoring, which will be a first for a set of Apple earbuds. If the PowerBeats Pro 2 are indeed announced soon, we'll expect to have a review ready shortly after. I've got the Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds in for testing too. These buds won one of Engadget's Best of CES awards last month and I've been eager to get my hands... er, ears... on them ever since. During a brief hands-on in Las Vegas, the company's newly designed Magnetic Fluid drivers offered impressive sound, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this set holds up during a full gamut of tests.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-samsungs-galaxy-s25-phones-oneplus-13-and-oura-ring-4-180039298.html?src=rss
As soon as late February, a lunar lander will depart from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on its way to the moon carrying instruments that could investigate what's just beneath the surface. Barely two months into the year, it'll be the third mission to have set out on a journey toward the moon so far in 2025. If 2024 was all about establishing a commercial presence on the moon, 2025 is the year of doubling down. Well, unless Trump decides to deprioritize moon missions and shift the focus to Mars under Elon Musk's direction, throwing off the whole timeline. But as it stands, it should be a busy year for the moon.Last year kicked off with the launch of Astrobotics' Peregrine lander, marking the first of several missions led by companies working under multimillion-dollar contracts as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Peregrine ultimately didn't make it to its destination after suffering a propellant leak post-launch, but only a few weeks later, Intuitive Machines launched and successfully landed its Odysseus spacecraft on the moon - a first for a private spacecraft. (Odysseus tipped over when it hit the ground, but its payloads were still able to collect and transmit some data).Now, fast-forward to this year, and NASA has half a dozen CLPS missions on its schedule. The first of these, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, launched on January 15 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. That same rocket also carried a lunar lander made by the Japanese company ispace, which is making a second attempt for its own commercial exploration endeavor, Hakuto-R.Firefly's lander, Blue Ghost, is expected to arrive at the moon first, with a target landing date of March 2 in an area called Mare Crisium. The 6.6-foot-tall solar-powered spacecraft is carrying 10 science payloads for NASA and other partners. That includes a new dust shield system to demonstrate how future missions might prevent particulates from accumulating on spacecraft, instruments for testing sample collection and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based navigation and a radiation tolerant computer. The objectives of the mission are to investigate heat flow from the lunar interior, plume-surface interactions, [and] crustal electric and magnetic fields," according to NASA. It will also take X-ray images of the Earth's magnetosphere."Resilience, the ispace lander, is taking a different, low-energy path to the moon and won't reach its site, Mare Frigoris, until late May or June. That craft has a micro rover called Tenacious on board that is designed to explore, collect surface material and relay data. In addition to a camera and shovel, Tenacious has a tiny model house mounted on it - specifically the Moonhouse," by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg. The lander is carrying water electrolyzer equipment, a deep space radiation probe and a food production experiment module. (And how could we forget, it also contains a commemorative alloy plate from Bandai Namco Research Institute made in the style of the Gundam franchise's Charter of the Universal Century").ispaceIntuitive Machines, the company that pulled off the first-ever commercial moon landing with its Odysseus craft last year, is slated to launch its second CLPS mission in the next month or so, around the end of February. The IM-2 Nova-C lander dubbed Athena is headed to the lunar south pole with a meter-long drill and a mass spectrometer for NASA's Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1). Its goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of drilling for samples and analyzing those samples on-site for things like water. IM-2 will also serve as a rideshare for NASA's Lunar Trailblazer, a small orbiter that will study the form, abundance and distribution of lunar water and its relation to geology."Besides the PRIME-1 instruments, Athena will transport a laser retroreflector array, an Intuitive Machines Micro-Nova Hopper - described as a propulsive drone that deploys off of a Nova-C lander and hops across the lunar surface" - and a Lunar Surface Communication System network in a box" made by Nokia. The two companies plan to set up the moon's first cellular network, which is engineered to handle surface connectivity between the lander and vehicles, carrying high-definition video streaming, command-and-control communications and telemetry data."Intuitive MachinesThere's a chance Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander will take its first trip to the moon as soon as this spring or summer. John Couluris, a senior VP at Blue Origin, said in an interview with 60 Minutes last March that we're expecting to land on the moon between 12 and 16 months from today." At the time, the company hadn't yet launched its New Glenn rocket - which would be the vehicle for this mission - even once, so that claim didn't hold much weight. But after many, many delays, New Glenn finally took its maiden flight in mid-January.NASA revealed, in an FCC filing spotted by SpaceNews back in August, that it had selected Blue Origin's lander to bring a camera system, the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS), to the moon's south pole this year under the CLPS program. In the filing, NASA notes that this needs to be done before 2025 is over, as the data collected by the instrument at landing will help inform plans for the first crewed Artemis moon landing. SCALPSS payloads have flown on other CLPS missions, but the thrust level of Blue Origin's Mark 1 lander is closer to the scale of the Human Landing System NASA will use for astronauts.Blue Origin said in another FCC filing the same month that its demonstration lunar mission, Pathfinder, could launch as early as March 2025, SpaceNews reported. Don't be surprised if it actually happens much later.The next CLPS mission after that isn't expected to take off until the fall, when Astrobotic will get another shot at landing on the moon. This time, it'll be sending its larger Griffin lander to a region near the south pole. Griffin Mission 1 was initially supposed to carry NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), but the space agency canceled development of that project late last year due to delays and rising costs. Astrobotic's lander won't show up to the moon empty-handed, though. It'll have a tiny solar-powered CubeRover in tow, as well as a laser retroreflector array to pinpoint the lander's location.AstroboticWe may see a third Intuitive Machines mission before the end of this year. The company and NASA are eyeing late 2025 or early 2026 for the launch of IM-3, which will deliver a suite of instruments focused on studying the magnetic and plasma properties of the Reiner Gamma lunar swirl, an area with its own mini-magnetosphere." A rover called the Mobile Autonomous Prospecting Platform (MAPP) will also be on board, plus a trio of small rovers from the Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration (CADRE) project that will demonstrate mostly autonomous robots working together. The European Space Agency's MoonLIGHT laser retroreflector will fly with IM-3 too, along with and the Lunar Space Environment Monitor, from South Korea's Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).While this year is certain to bring a lot of activity on and around the moon, there's one thing we won't see there just yet - humans. NASA has adjusted the timeline of the Artemis missions a few times since the program's announcement, and most recently said in December that it's pushing the first crewed flight, Artemis II, to April 2026. The agency previously said it was shooting for September 2025. Artemis III, the mission in which two astronauts will go to the lunar surface, now isn't expected to launch until mid-2027.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/2025-is-going-to-be-another-big-year-for-commercial-moon-missions-160038622.html?src=rss
If you need to download and install TikTok in the US, you can do so on Android even though the app isn't back on the Play Store yet. In a tweet, the TikTok Policy account has announced that the service has made Android Package Kits available for download through its official web site. Companies don't typically endorse sideloading, but Tiktok is, of course, a special case.The app briefly went offline on January 19 before a law banning it in the US - unless its parent company ByteDance sells it to an owner based in the country - took effect. Under that law, the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store are required to remove its listing if they don't want to get slapped with a fine amounting to $5,000 for every user in the US who downloads the app. It didn't take a full day before TikTok restored access to its service, but its app has yet to reappear on Google's and Apple's stores in the US.
The PlayStation Network is experiencing issues right now. Its network status page was updated at 7PM Eastern time with a warning that you may not be able to log in, access and edit your accounts, no matter what console you use. We're also unable to log into the network on our computer or our phone. "We're working to resolve the issue as soon as possible," the notice reads. "Thank you for your patience." It's not possible to create an account at the moment. The service has also warned that you may "have difficulty" firing up games and apps on your consoles and the web, so you may not be able to play some titles or access certain features that need an internet connection.The network outage, unsurprisingly, affects the PlayStation Store. You'll have to do your shopping another time - you can't purchase and redeem vouchers, and you won't even be able to browse titles and search for specific ones. You can't start downloading new games and updates either, and if you were downloading anything before the issue began, it may not show any progress until the issue is fixed.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-playstation-network-is-down-012237477.html?src=rss
A group of House Democrats are pushing Mark Zuckerberg on Meta's recent policy changes, saying they are deeply concerned" about the company's move to loosen its content moderation rules, end corporate diversity programs and ditch third-party fact checking. In a letter addressed to the Meta CEO, four members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee demanded details about the sweeping changes Zuckerberg announced last month.These policy changes, the timing of which gives the inescapable appearance of currying favor with the Trump Administration, are abhorrent, inconsistent, and dangerous," the lawmakers wrote.Meta so far hasn't provided many specifics about how it will implement its new policies, which were announced shortly before President Donald Trump took office. The letter asks Zuckerberg to describe how Trump's threats of retribution against you" may have influenced the decision to end fact-checking on the platform. It also asks if the Facebook founder has had discussions with anyone representing the Trump Administration regarding the Federal Trade Commission's antitrust case against Meta."The letter further notes that Zuckerberg's recent statements seem to directly contradict previous remarks he made when the Oversight Board was first created. The Oversight Board, once touted as a beacon of accountability, is rendered toothless when Meta itself refuses to adhere to the principles of trust and safety,'" it says.Lawmakers also questioned Zuckerberg about his public statements that corporations need more "masculine energy" calling it particularly strange in light of the fact that Meta's long time Chief Legal Officer and its current Chief Financial Officer are both women and the three most important committees of your Board of Directors are chaired by women."Zuckerberg was given a February 21, 2025, deadline to respond. We don't have anything further to say beyond all we've already communicated over the last weeks," a Meta spokesperson told Engadget when asked about the letter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/house-democrats-press-mark-zuckerberg-on-metas-policy-changes-235229672.html?src=rss
The Trump administration has ordered states to stop a program to build fast EV chargers on highways throughout the country, according to a memo released by the Federal Highway Administration. The letter informs state transportation directors, who are in charge of instituting the program, that any plans approved by the Biden administration are now suspended until new guidance is issued."The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program was approved by Congress as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It was intended to fill gaps in America's EV charging network and was supported by $5 billion in grants. President Trump has long decried the program and regularly lied about the specifics during the 2024 campaign.
The latest edition of our weekly deal roundup includes a range of discounts on Apple's AirPods. The standard AirPods 4 are down to $100, which ties their lowest price to date, while ANC version of those earbuds and the higher-end AirPods Pro 2 are cheaper than usual at $149 and $169, respectively. If you don't need new headphones, we're also seeing discounts on Peacock and Apple Music subscriptions, our favorite robot vacuum and microSD card for those on a budget, Sonos speakers and more. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. Spotlight deal The rest of the best tech deals this week
It may be too late to get new gear in time for the Super Bowl, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't consider the tech sales that are available thanks to the big game. Key among them is a Sonos sale on Amazon and the company's own site. Speakers and soundbars are up to $250 off this time around, and one of our favorite Sonos products, the Era 100, has dropped to an all-time-low price of $199. The speaker will typically run you $249. The Era 100 is our pick for the best midrange smart speaker and we gave it a score of 88 in our review. It delivers great audio and can reach loud volumes, while Bluetooth and line-in support are certainly welcome. With the Era 100, Sonos has simplified its Trueplay tuning feature by making use of built-in microphones to optimize audio output for the room the speaker is in. On the downside, while the Era 100 works with Alexa and Sonos' own voice assistant, it doesn't support Google Assistant. Like other Sonos speakers, the Era 100 can be used as part of a whole home audio system. So you'll be able to set up units in other rooms so that even when they're away from the TV, your guests can still hear all of the action at the same time as everyone else. It's also possible to set up two Era 100 units as rear speakers in a home theater setup. If that's the route you wish to go down, you might want to have a soundbar in place too. As it happens, several of Sonos' models are on sale. The original Arc soundbar is down to $649, which is $250 off. As for the Beam Gen 2, that can be yours for $100 less than usual at $399. We reckon the Beam is the best midrange soundbar. However, the Arc Ultra, our recommendation for the best premium soundbar, isn't on sale this time, unfortunately. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonos-speakers-and-soundbars-are-on-sale-for-record-low-prices-155920437.html?src=rss
Here's another chance to get a discount on Amazon's first ereader with a color display. The Kindle Colorsoft has dropped back down to $230. That's $50, or 18 percent, off. The deal brings the Kindle Colorsoft back down to a record low price. We saw the Kindle Colorsoft hit $230 for the first time in January. However, that discount was only available to Prime subscribers. There's no such restriction this time around, as you don't need a membership to take advantage of this deal. There's one additional perk here: the Colorsoft comes with three free months of access to Kindle Unlimited. As such, you'll have access to more than 4 million ebooks during that time. After the free access period is over, your Kindle Unlimited access will automatically renew. The service costs $12 per month, so be sure to cancel before your three-month freebie expires if you don't want to pay for it. A number of early Kindle Colorsofts, including our initial review unit, developed a yellow bar across the bottom. However, Amazon said it was resolving the issue, and it offered refunds and replacements to those affected. Although we haven't encountered the problem on our replacement, we have removed the score from our review until we've tested the ereader for a longer period of time and made sure the issue doesn't re-occur. That said, we appreciate the quick load times and page turns of the Kindle Colorsoft. The auto-adjusting front light is a plus, while it was very welcome to see that, by default, this model does not have ads on the lock screen. A pinch-to-zoom feature is also handy, especially when it comes to reading graphic novels. The ereader has 32GB of built-in storage and it supports Audible audiobooks. It should run for up to weight weeks on a single charge. You can recharge the battery wirelessly or via USB-C. The big selling point is, of course, the color screen. The Colorsoft has a seven-inch display with a 300 pixel-per-inch (ppi) density for black-and-white material and 150 ppi for color content. Last but not least, the ereader has an IPX8 rating, meaning it can withstand immersion in up to two meters of freshwater for up to 60 minutes and 0.25 meters of seawater for three minutes, per Amazon. As such, you won't have to worry too much about getting the Colorsoft wet when you take it to the pool or beach. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-kindle-colorsoft-is-back-on-sale-for-50-off-160601607.html?src=rss
We're a few days from Super Bowl LIX, and it remains a decent time to grab a new TV at a discount. At this point, you'll likely have to buy in-store if you want to make a living room upgrade in time to watch Chiefs and Eagles go at it (again), as shipping times for most sets have stretched beyond Sunday. However, if you don't care so much about football (or Super Bowl commercials) and just want a quality TV at a reasonable price, there are still a number of discounts worth checking out. To save you some time, we've searched through Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers to find a few Super Bowl 2025 TV deals that are actually solid value.To be candid, many of the better offers stem from TVs naturally falling in price this time of year rather than Super Bowl-specific sales. In general, most TVs follow a similar pricing timeline: arrive in the spring, drop a little over the summer, receive a larger price cut around the holidays, then gradually fall cheaper until being discontinued the following year. We're in the last stage of this pattern now, and with TV makers like Samsung and LG unveiling their 2025 lineups during CES last month, last year's models are likely to drop even further in the months ahead.That said, if you need to make a change today, a number of well-regarded TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, TCL and Hisense are back down to the prices we saw around Black Friday. In some cases, they're even cheaper. We're also seeing a couple deals on streamers and soundbars we like from Roku and Sonos. Though we at Engadget do not formally review TVs, we've scoured feedback from other reviewers we trust and checked price histories to ensure everything below is a genuine deal.
When Weber launched a smart grilling platform, a connected grilling hub and its first pellet grill in 2020, the company's new era hit a few speedbumps. The Weber Connect technology was a solid foundation for aspiring outdoor cooks at any skill level, but the SmokeFire grill suffered from big temperature fluctuations, pellet feeding issues and was prone to grease fires. Those problems led to inconsistent performance for a lot of people. In 2024, the company debuted an all-new model as it sought to move past the troubles of its first. The Searwood ($899 and up) offers a new design with a reworked internal construction for a more direct auger path for those pellets. It's still a smart grill, so Weber Connect is onboard once again. But the biggest changes are a lower price and a manual mode that allows you to cook with the lid open without sacrificing performance. The design of the Weber Searwood While the Searwood has a similar overall barrel shape to the SmokeFire, there are some notable changes. First, the pellet hopper was moved from the back to the side, with the new location being what a lot of the competition offers. This simplifies the auger path too, which should remedy some of the problems users encountered on the previous version. The display and controller is now on the front edge of the grill instead of toward the back which makes for easier access. The hopper was relocated where the small shelf was, but you can use the top of the pellet holder to rest any tools or pans. Another big change on the Searwood is its legs and wheels. Where the SmokeFire had sturdy legs with durable casters on each one, this version has two regular wheels on one end and just legs on the other. This makes the Searwood more difficult to move, and it means you'll have to pick up one end to relocate it. All the heavy stuff is on the wheeled side, so this isn't a big lift, but the lack of casters means you'll need more room to maneuver. Billy Steele for Engadget The new wheels are entirely plastic and the legs aren't as robust as what was on the SmokeFire. Perhaps this is one area where Weber felt it could save money to lower the price of Searwood. If you're not moving the grill a lot, this probably won't be a concern, but the lack of quality here stood out to me. You do gain a large shelf under the grill, which is something the SmokeFire didn't offer. Going back to the controller and display, Weber did an excellent job with the update there. The numbers are bolder and easier to read from a distance and the single-knob controls are simple to use. The display can show you set temperature, actual temperature, probe temperature and timers, plus there are mode indicators and a fuel gauge that keeps tabs on pellets. All around, the new display and controller is an upgrade over what was on the SmokeFire. Inside, rows of the company's Flavorizer bars were replaced with a single, larger deflector that shields the fire pot from grease and food debris. All of that waste and pellet dust can be scraped to the bottom of the grill for easy removal via the slide-out pan underneath. You'll still probably want to use a shop vac for deep cleaning, but you can get rid of a lot of waste with just a scraper. Cooking with the Weber Searwood Billy Steele for Engadget Like all pellet grills, the Searwood has a wide temperature range that allows you to use it for slow smoking and quick searing. More specifically, those numbers go from 180-600 degrees Fahrenheit, so baking, roasting and more are also possible. I mostly use pellet grills for hands-off, low-and-slow barbeque of large cuts like brisket, pork shoulders and ribs. That's where I focused most of my testing, although I made sure to give this grill's open-lid feature a few trial runs. For slow smoking, the Searwood is a reliable machine, maintaining heat throughout the cook and recovering quickly each time I open the lid. That latter feature is thanks to the grill's Rapid React system that also preheats the device in 15 minutes or less. The Searwood imparts lovely smoke flavor in various foods, but pork shoulders (Boston Butts) and our Thanksgiving turkey were my two favorites. My wife no longer allows me to cook our holiday bird any other way after I smoked it on a Searwood. Most pellet grills have a setting that allows you to enhance flavor with more smoke at certain temperatures. Weber calls this SmokeBoost, but it only works at 180 degrees. I would've liked for this to be available at any temperature under 225 degrees, like Traeger offers on its products, for some more versatility. Weber recommends that you use SmokeBoost at the beginning of your cook for extra smokiness before raising the temperature to your desired level. To be clear, the grill puts plenty of smoke into your food without this, so if the low starting temperature is off-putting, you certainly don't have to use SmokeBoost. Billy Steele for Engadget A big addition to the Searwood is the manual mode that allows you to use the grill with the lid open. This means you can use it for direct-flame searing or as a griddle, if you have the proper insert to do the latter. Unlike a lot of pellet grills, the Searwood's manual mode keeps fuel and fan speed constant with the lid up, so it can maintain output at times when other grills would pause. You just select a level of 1-10 corresponding to how hot you need to cook and the grill does the rest. This works well, but you'll probably still want a charcoal kettle for live-fire searing in most cases. During my tests, I preferred to use the Searwood as a griddle rather than a sear machine. The Searwood's smart features come through a Wi-Fi connection to the Weber Connect app. This is the software the company debuted in 2020 when it first launched its smart grilling platform. However, Weber has significantly updated the app over the last few years and the current version offers a smooth experience. With Weber Connect, you can monitor temperatures and control the grill remotely, plus there are live graphs that plot out your progress, notifications to tell you when food is ready and there's a ton of recipes when you need some ideas. Weber Searwood accessories The degree to which you can customize a new grill is almost as important as its factory features. Weber has been providing add-ons via its Weber Crafted collection for a while now, and some of those items are compatible with the Searwood. Once you have the required frame kit, you can utilize a smaller griddle insert, dual-sided sear grate, pizza stone and grilling basket. My favorite accessories for this grill are the rotisserie and the full-size griddle insert for $130 and $149 respectively. If you need more shelf space, you'll have to buy extra pieces. There are folding options that attach to both the front and side of the Searwood, and they're both $75. You'll need to replace the side handle with the shelf if you go that route. The competition Billy Steele for Engadget At $899, the Searwood 600 is $100 cheaper than the SmokeFire EX4 was at launch. Like its predecessor, the Searwood comes in two sizes, with the larger XL 600 starting at $1,199. The SmokeFire is no longer available, but Weber just announced the Smoque and Smoque XL at $699 and $899, respectively, if you want alternatives from the same company. Those new grills have a simplified controller and other streamlined changes, but the overall design is similar to the Searwood. I expect to review the Smoque sometime this spring. Traeger recently announced its Woodridge lineup and the mid-level option in that trio is a solid alternative to the Searwood. The Woodridge Pro is more expensive than the Searwood 600 at $1,000, but it's also a larger grill. The entry-level, $800 Woodridge is a workhorse that handles the basics without some of Traeger's handy features. Jump to the Woodridge Pro and you get shelves, Super Smoke mode and a pellet sensor in the hopper. Wrap-up Don't call it a comeback, but Weber's Searwood is a good rebound from the stumbles of the SmokeFire. The grill is definitely more reliable than its predecessor and most of the changes enhance the overall cooking experience. Manual mode is a nice bonus, as is the addition of a fuel sensor in the pellet hopper. My biggest gripe is the base, where I wish the company had gone with something sturdier like Traeger implemented on the base-model Woodridge. Still, the Searwood is a versatile smart grill without the headaches, and that's exactly what you want when you're spending precious time cooking outdoors. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/weber-searwood-review-second-times-the-charm-153037440.html?src=rss
Spring cleaning (it'll be here before we know it!) sure is easier when your faithful robot servant handles the floors. Wellbots has iRobot's Roomba j9+ on sale for 46 percent off. The robovac typically costs a whopping $900, but you can use our exclusive code ENGAD415 at checkout to cut its price to $485, a record low. The Roomba j9+ has a three-stage cleaning system, multi-surface rubber brushes and suction that iRobot says is 100 percent stronger than its Combo i Series robovacs. Although this model doesn't mop like its more expensive sibling, the Combo j9+, it will suck up dirt and debris on your carpets and hard floors. Once you set it up, the vacuum creates a map of your home, letting you pinpoint the areas you want it to target. It also has a nifty feature called Dirt Detective that automatically figures out which rooms are the dirtiest and adjusts its suction and cleaning passes accordingly. The Roomba j9+ self-empties dirt into its charging dock, which has an advanced bag" inside that stores up to 60 days of debris. That means less emptying for you compared to entry-level robovacs. iRobot Its PrecisionVision navigation system can steer around obstacles like shoes, socks, cords, toys and - thankfully - pet waste. If it somehow manages to run into an unfortunate present from your pooch, iRobot will replace your j9+ for free through its cleverly named P.O.O.P. (Pet Owner Official Promise). The Roomba j9+ is compatible with all the major voice assistants: Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. So, you can bark at it to clean your kitchen while you kick back in your recliner. Not a bad way to spring-clean. To get the iRobot Roomba j9+ for the $485 sale price, be sure to use our exclusive coupon code ENGAD415. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/irobots-roomba-j9-is-over-400-off-right-now-150041303.html?src=rss
Looking to upgrade to newer earbuds? The recently-released Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 earbuds are on sale via Wellbots for $189. That's a discount of $40, which isn't bad for a product that's barely six months old. Just remember to pop in the code ENGAD40" at checkout. That's right. This one's an exclusive. The Pixel Buds Pro 2 easily found a spot on our list of the best wireless earbuds. We appreciated the tiny, yet comfortable, design and the fantastic battery life. The earbuds get around eight hours of use per charge, but the included charging case allows for 30 hours of juice. We were complimentary to these earbuds in our official review, saying that the improved fit and sound quality alone are worth the upgrade." Speaking of sound quality, these buds produce booming bass, full mids and crisp highs. Your playlists are gonna sound great. The earbuds have also been built to work with Google Gemini, thanks to an integrated Tensor A1 chip. However, this integration works best when paired with a modern Google Pixel phone. Other techy features include active noise cancellation, multipoint Bluetooth, conversation detection and more. On the downside, the touch panel is extremely small, making it somewhat difficult to make adjustments on the fly. Luckily, there's an app for that kind of thing. The original price is on the higher side, but this sale alleviates a bit of that frustration. If $189 is still a bit too rich for your blood (no judgment), Wellbots is also selling a pair of the standard Google Pixel Buds for just $59. Just enter the code ENGAD30" at checkout. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/googles-pixel-buds-pro-2-are-40-off-right-now-140100404.html?src=rss
OnePlus has been a bit up and down since it merged with Oppo back in 2021. It gained greater access to powerful components and partnerships with brands like Hasselblad, while its software and product lineup took a few steps back before finding its stride again. But now, three generations after the merger, OnePlus' latest flagship phone - the OnePlus 13 - feels like a fantastic return to form. In some areas, the company is even pushing the limits of hardware and gadget design in ways that rivals from Samsung and Google aren't. And with a starting price of $900, OnePlus has managed to undercut its closest competitor too, which makes this phone a great choice for anyone who cares more about getting hardware upgrades than fancy new AI tricks. Design and display: Peak brightness and style In a time when Apple, Google and Samsung's top phones all sport minor twists on practically the same formula, I love that OnePlus is doing its own thing. Instead of a completely boxy design, the OP13 has tapered edges that curve gently to meet its metal frame. You still get the company's signature Alert Slider which makes it a cinch to set your phone's ringer to silent, vibrate or fully audible. But my favorite design feature is that if you opt for the Midnight Ocean or Artic Dawn colors, the phone comes with a micro-fiber vegan leather back. And in a world full of glass bricks, OnePlus' organic upholstery is simply a joy to touch. This is the kind of handset I'd feel sad to throw in a case. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Meanwhile, the OP13's 6.8-inch OLED panel dazzles thanks to bright, vivid colors and a silky 120Hz refresh rate. With a peak of up to 4,500 nits, it gets even brighter than other Android flagships including Samsung's new Galaxy S25 Ultra (2,600 nits). The one aesthetic choice I'm still not sure about is the gigantic circular camera module on the back. Between its pearlescent finish and the four circles for its lenses and the flash/autofocus system, it almost looks like OnePlus smashed a chronograph watch into the rear of the phone. But maybe that's just me. Performance and software: So much memory The OnePlus 13 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip along with 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. However, unlike the processors used in Samsung's Galaxy S25 family, the chip in the OP13 doesn't feature any additional customizations or overclocking. This leads to benchmark results that are about five percent lower (9,267 for the OP13 vs 9,828 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra in Geekbench 6 multi-core). In the real world, though, the phone still feels blisteringly fast. I'd even argue that due to the OP13's greater amount of memory, it's a better choice for multitaskers or anyone who likes keeping a bunch of apps open in the background. Furthermore, over the past few years, OnePlus has refined Oxygen OS so that it feels smoother and more responsive than it did when it became a fork of Oppo's ColorOS back in 2022. Sam Rutherford for Engadget On the AI front, OnePlus is keeping things refreshingly lowkey. The phone supports Google Gemini and Circle to Search for all your summarizing and question-asking needs. There's also an improved search feature inside the phone itself that makes it a bit easier to find specific files and a smarter Notes app that uses machine learning to polish up, elaborate or condense quick thoughts. But that's about it aside from an AI-powered translation feature that arrived shortly after launch, which is generally competent but not especially novel or exciting. So while AI is definitely present, it isn't nearly as big of a focus as it is on the Galaxy S25 family, which isn't a bad thing. Cameras: Nearly top tier Sam Rutherford for Engadget The OnePlus 13 features a trio of 50-megapixel sensors for its main, ultra-wide and 3x telephoto lenses, plus a laser-detect autofocus system for increased sharpness. Altogether, it's a solid package that can capture great-looking images at a variety of distances and viewing angles, with OnePlus adding things like its dual exposure Clear Burst tech to help make snapping fast-moving subjects a bit easier. In terms of image quality, the OP13 does a good job of splitting the difference between having rich, saturated colors and crisp details, but without exaggerating things like you often see on Samsung phones, which tend to oversharpen or push warm tones a bit too hard. OnePlus' 3x optical zoom lens matches those on similarly priced rivals like the S25+, though it's still short of the 5x lenses found on the Pixel 9 Pro and S25 Ultra. One small issue is that in low light, the OP13's Night Mode sometimes struggled to keep up with the Pixel 9's Night Sight, resulting in photos that aren't quite as sharp or detailed as you'd like them to be. It's close, but to me, OnePlus' cameras remain a half-tier below Samsung, Google and Apple when shooting pics in darker environments. Battery life and charging: Super fast, but it's proprietary It feels like every high-end Android phone has been stuck with 5,000mAh batteries for the past half-decade. But for this go around, the OnePlus 13 has smashed past that barrier with a 6,000mAh cell, resulting in class-leading longevity. On our local video rundown test, it posted a time of 30 hours and 18 minutes, which is almost an hour longer than the Galaxy S25 Ultra (29:27) and nearly three hours better than a basic Pixel 9 (27:32). Sam Rutherford for Engadget Meanwhile when it comes to recharging, the OnePlus 13 leads the way too with wired speeds of up to 100 watts or an impressive 50 watts wirelessly. However, the major caveat is that because OnePlus relies on its proprietary SUPERVOOC tech, you'll only get those blistering rates when using the company's first-party peripherals. Thankfully, an 80-watt charger comes in the box, though if you want to hit max power, you'll need to upgrade to OnePlus' 100W Dual Port adapter. It's a similar situation for wireless charging, which requires the company's 50W AIRVOOC puck. That said, the OP13 recharges more than twice as fast as a Galaxy S25 when using a cable and more than three times quicker wirelessly. Plus, you can still use universal power adapters in a pinch, you'll just have to live with greatly reduced wattages. Another small wrinkle is that though OnePlus says the 13 supports Qi2 charging, it doesn't play nicely with magnetic third-party accessories without some help. In my testing, while the phone provides a weak magnetic connection, every Qi2 peripheral I tried slid off with the slightest movement. Like Samsung did with the Galaxy S25, OnePlus' solution was to make a case with its own set of magnets that allows add-ons to attach with much greater security. Wrap-up Sam Rutherford for Engadget Throughout the years, OnePlus has used taglines like flagship killer" and ultra in every way" as a means of taking shots at its biggest rivals from Samsung, Google and more. But for the OnePlus 13, it feels like the company just went and made a really solid premium handset without a bunch of AI fluff. The phone has excellent performance, a massive battery and a gorgeous screen that can hang with the displays on any of its competitors. It also sports a unique design with some down-to-earth touches like its optional faux leather back. Granted, camera quality could be a touch better, especially in low light, and I really wish OnePlus had just included full magnetic Qi2 compatibility instead of forcing people to rely on a case. But hey, at least you get a superfast wired power adapter (which, unlike a lot of phones, comes in the box) and the option to use the company's blazing charging puck if you want to go cable-free. Sam Rutherford for Engadget But most importantly, for a starting price of $900, you get longer battery life, a brighter screen, more RAM, greater storage and the same 3x zoom as a base Galaxy S25+ - all for $100 less. There's no other way to put it, that's just a good deal, even if OnePlus' software support only lasts for six years instead of the seven you get from Samsung and Google. The OnePlus 13 is an example of how to keep things simple in an increasingly complex and AI-obsessed world while delivering on all the essentials.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/oneplus-13-review-a-focused-flagship-that-ignores-the-ai-hype-140013418.html?src=rss
The week has been a mixed bag for Apple. First, it launched a new iPhone app for organizing events and being actually social; then, it had to contend with a third-party app store offering a porn app in the European Union. And there's nothing like an Apple-pornography headline to draw the eye.But first, Apple Invites, where you can host an unlimited number of events, each one limited to 100 participants. It's also possible to invite non-iPhone users. What?!You can use your own photos or backgrounds in the app as an image for the invite and even arrange a communal playlist through Apple Music.Of course, there's some Apple Intelligence shoehorned in. Image Playground is built into Invites to generate images for your events when there aren't any appropriate photos.EngadgetWhat about the future for existing invite apps, like Evite, Partiful, Luma and the rest? Well, all isn't lost: Only paid iCloud subscribers can create invites in the app - and prices start there at 99 cents a month, while rival apps offer free basic event invites. Also, the web experience for non-iPhone people is pretty clunky and painful. At least for now.Meanwhile, a third-party app store called AltStore PAL announced a porn app called Hot Tub was now available to iOS users in the European Union. The marketplace described it as the first Apple-approved porn app" - which probably isn't entirely accurate.It's seemingly the first time a porn app has been available natively for the iPhone. Apple said it was deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids."And just to add further corporate spice: Longtime Apple App Store foe Epic gave the alternative app store a MegaGrant last year to help fund the core technology fees" third-party app stores are required to pay Apple. Not that it's directly affiliated with this adult entertainment portal. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney took to X to say, the Epic Games Store doesn't carry this app, doesn't carry any porn apps, and has never carried porn apps."- Mat SmithGet this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!How to use Apple Invites to plan your next eventThe biggest tech stories you missed
Sports Interactive has officially cancelled Football Manager 25 after its release was delayed by months from the series' usual launch window. In its announcement, the developer said that it made the decision after an extensive discussion with Sega, its publisher, and that it's skipping this version to focus on the next installment instead. Football Manager is a football (or soccer) management SIM game series that typically gets a yearly release. The last one, Football Manager 2024, came out in 2023, and this particular installment was supposed to be released in November last year before it was pushed back to March 2025.The developer explained that it truly believed it would be able to reach the level of quality it was aiming for when it announced the March release date, but it encountered "challenges" that made it unable to reach its goal. Sports Interactive previously said that things were moving slower than it predicted to be able to produce the game it wanted. It was "rushing too much and in danger of compromising [its] usual standards," it added.It sounds like the company got close to being able to release the game, as "many areas" had hit its targets. However, the "overarching player experience and interface" are "not where [the company] need it to be." The developer promised "the biggest technical and visual advancement in the series" with Football Manager 25, and it would not be able to deliver on that if it pushes through with its plan to launch the game this March. It was also unwilling to move the release date again, since the next version is already scheduled for launch later this year. Those who've already pre-ordered the game will get a refund for their purchase.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/football-manager-25-has-been-cancelled-133053048.html?src=rss
Meta has partnered with UNESCO on a new plan to improve translation and speech recognition AI, Techcrunch reported. As part of its Language Technology Partner Program, Meta is seeking collaborators willing to donate at least 10 hours of speech recordings with transcriptions, large written texts (200-plus sentences) and sets of translated sentences. The aim is to focus on "underserved languages, in support of UNESCO's work," Meta wrote in a blog post.So far, Meta and UNESCO have signed on the government of Nunavut, a northern Canadian territory. The aim is to develop translation systems for the Intuit languages used there, Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun. "Our efforts are especially focused on underserved languages, in support of UNESCO's work as part of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages," Meta said.As part of the program, Meta is releasing an open source translation benchmark called BOUQuET - a standard test to evaluate performance of AI models that do translation. It'll be composed of sentences "carefully crafted by linguistic experts," and is seeking contributions on a dedicated site.Meta has taken a strong interest in AI translation for both text and speech, a logical move for a company that connects users around the world. Last year, it showed off a tool that uses AI to automatically dub Reels into other languages, complete with lip-sync, promising it would roll out to some creators videos in English and Spanish in the US first. The company has gradually expanded its Meta AI assistant around the world and it's now available in 43 countries and over a dozen languages.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-and-unesco-team-up-to-improve-translation-ai-130050762.html?src=rss
This week, Devindra chats with Volvo Group CTO Lars Stenqvist about the company's progress developing zero emissions trucks, both of the electric variety and experimental hydrogen options. While it's a completely different company from Volvo Cars, Volvo Group still impacts consumers as one of the largest producers of heavy trucks. Stenqvist dives into how Volvo is thinking about new technology, and we chat a bit about how it's approaching completely autonomous vehicles. (Note: This interview was recorded in early January, so we didn't have a chance to talk about this week's partnership between Volvo and the self-driving truck startup Waabi.)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 podcast, Engadget News!Subscribe!
In just few days, Apple could finally unveil a new iPhone SE. According to Bloomberg, the company will announce its latest lower-cost model as soon as next week before it goes on sale later this month. The last iPhone SE was released back in 2022, and the publication says that Apple Stores have been running low on stocks in recent weeks. A few days ago, a Twitter user who goes by "Majin Bu" posted a video of a device that's supposedly Apple's upcoming low-cost iPhone model. Unlike the current version, it no longer has a home button marking the death of a feature that once identified the company's mobile devices.The upcoming iPhone SE will reportedly have a camera notch at the top, which Apple had removed from its latest phones in favor of its Dynamic Island design. It's also expected to have a USB-C port, which will allow Apple to sell it in the European Union, where all mobile devices are required to have USB-C charging capability. Apple had to stop selling the 2022 version and the iPhone 14 in the region late last year when the rule came into effect.Bloomberg previously reported that the new iPhone SE will be the first Apple device to use the company's in-house cellular modem, replacing the Qualcomm chips it's been using up until now. The phone is also expected to have Face ID and Apple Intelligence, made possible by the company's A18 processor. The publication's sources said Apple isn't likely to hold a launch event for the device and will simply just start selling it on its website. At launch, the older version carried a retail price of $429, but that was two years ago - you can probably expect the new model with its more modern specs to cost a bit more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-reportedly-announce-a-new-iphone-se-next-week-120006642.html?src=rss
UK officials have ordered Apple to create a backdoor that would allow them to see what users worldwide have saved on their iCloud accounts, according to The Washington Post. Their order reportedly demands blanket capability to view all of a user's fully encrypted material whenever they want, wherever the target is located.While only certain iCloud data is end-to-end encrypted by default, users can choose to activate Advanced Data Protection for better security. With the optional setting enabled, the majority of a user's data is protected by encryption, including their iCloud Backup, Photos and Notes. Except encryption won't do users any good if authorities in the UK decide to take a look at their iCloud content.Apple will likely stop offering encrypted storage to users in the UK, The Post's sources said, so it wouldn't have to promise them greater security knowing that authorities will be able to access their account. As the publication notes, though, it doesn't solve the issue of authorities demanding a backdoor entrance for all accounts, even for users outside the region.Authorities issued the order under the UK Investigatory Powers Act of 2016, which covers how they can get their hands on data and information for law enforcement purposes. When the UK government made changes to the Act last year, it said they were meant to "ensure the intelligence services and law enforcement have the powers they need to keep pace with a range of evolving threats from terrorists, hostile state actors, child abusers and criminal gangs." The company won't be able to confirm receiving the order, because it would be a criminal offense to do so. But it if did indeed get one, then Google, which has more users around the world, might also receive one soon if it hasn't gotten one yet.Apple received a draft of the order when those changes were being debated by government officials last year. In a written submission protesting them, it said that the planned provisions "could be used to force a company like Apple, that would never build a back door into its products, to publicly withdraw critical security features from the UK market." The Post says the company can still appeal the notice, but it can't use that appeal to put off its compliance.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-officials-are-reportedly-demanding-backdoor-access-to-apple-icloud-accounts-113556534.html?src=rss
Virtual reality has come a long way, and VR headsets are now more exciting and accessible than ever. These devices transport you to entirely new worlds, whether you're slaying dragons in VR gaming, exploring distant planets or even attending virtual meetings. They're designed to immerse you in lifelike visuals and interactive experiences, making them perfect for gamers, tech enthusiasts and even people looking for creative new ways to stay connected.
Acer just revealed two new gaming laptops at IEM Katowice, a Counter-Strike tournament in Poland. These are entries in the company's Predator Helios Neo AI line of laptops, so they are filled to the brim with both bells and whistles. The Helios Neo 16 AI and 18 AI can be outfitted with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU.Both of these computers also boast sleek, minimalist designs, with RGB logos on the lid and dynamic 4-zone" RGB keyboards. They support up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of internal storage. The laptops also come with Intel Killer Ethernet and integrate with Wi-Fi 6E, so online gaming sessions should be zippy as can be. Both models support NVIDIA G-SYNC, Advanced Optimus and MUX Switch.AcerThe Neo 16 AI includes an OLED WQXGA display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time. The Helios Neo 18 AI features a Mini LED WQXGA panel with a 250Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. The Neo 16 is being advertised as a great option for portable gaming, while the Neo 18 is being marketed as a desktop replacement.The Predator Helios Neo 16 AI will be available in the US sometime in April, with prices starting at $1,900. The Neo 18 AI goes on sale this May, with prices starting at $2,200. Acer has been busy lately. The company announced a trio of new laptops at CES 2025, in addition to a nifty-looking (and chonky) handheld gaming machine.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/acer-just-announced-two-new-gaming-laptops-with-great-specs-and-sleek-designs-090051373.html?src=rss
Gaming can get expensive fast, but you don't need to spend a fortune to level up your setup. Whether you're playing on PC, console or even mobile, the best gaming accessories can improve your experience without emptying your wallet. From responsive controllers and comfy headsets to high-speed mousepads and budget-friendly mechanical keyboards, you can still get that pro-gamer feel without breaking the bank.
Hasbro Entertainment and Legendary Entertainment have joined forces to bring Magic: The Gathering to the big and small screens. The pair have signed a licensing deal to create "a live-action feature film and television universe" inspired by the card game. First up will be a movie, with other media to follow, but that's all that's been revealed so far.Longtime MTG fans might feel skeptical about this announcement, because this isn't the first time the intellectual property has been promised some kind of film or television adaptation. The card game's Fandom wiki page lists many of the proposed movie projects over the years. First up was a plan for multiple movies with Universal all the way back in 2008, which never yielded anything. Then Hasbro made an attempt at a movie with Twentieth Century Fox in 2014, but that was also never heard from again. Netflix has also been attached to two different rumored Magic projects, but it seems like the streamer's animated TV series might really come to pass, with a post on Tudum from September 2024 promising that it's really happening and in production.Legendary Entertainment has had several projects drawing on geek culture, usually bringing a big budget and a dark edge to their work. Most recently the studio worked on Dune and Dune: Part Two, and it also was involved in Christopher Nolan's take on Batman in The Dark Knight movies as well as the Warcraft movie. MTG has a lot of lore to draw on, so there's plenty of fodder for a cinematic universe. Here's hoping the producers and talent have the understanding to turn all that potential into a good movie.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/magic-the-gathering-lands-deal-for-film-and-tv-adaptions-with-legendary-entertainment-000159168.html?src=rss
Researchers from Kaspersky have identified malware being distributed within apps on both Android and iOS mobile storefronts. Dmitry Kalinin and Sergey Puzan shared their investigation into a malware campaign, which they have dubbed SparkCat, that has likely been active since March 2024."We cannot confirm with certainty whether the infection was a result of a supply chain attack or deliberate action by the developers," the pair wrote. "Some of the apps, such as food delivery services, appeared to be legitimate, whereas others apparently had been built to lure victims." They said SparkCat is a stealthy operation that at a glance appears to be requesting normal or harmless permissions.On February 6, Kaspersky updated its report to note that the affected apps had been deleted from the App Store. Apple confirmed that it had removed the 11 apps, adding that the applications shared code with 89 apps that previously had been rejected or removed from the store.The malware in question uses optical character recognition (OCR) to review a device's photo library, seeking screenshots of recovery phrases for crypto wallets. Based on their assessment, infected Google Play apps have been downloaded more than 242,000 times. Kaspersky says "This is the first known case of an app infected with OCR spyware being found in Apple's official app marketplace."Apple often promotes the rigorous security of the App Store, and while instances of malware appearing have been rare, this discovery is a reminder that the walled garden is not impervious to attacks.Update, February 6, 2025, 5:15PM ET: Revised to note an update from the Kaspersky report about the apps being removed from the App Store, as well as additional context from Apple.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/kaspersky-researchers-find-screenshot-reading-malware-on-the-app-store-and-google-play-211011103.html?src=rss
Two US Congress members plan to introduce bipartisan legislation to ban China's DeepSeek AI chatbot from government devices. The bill's announcement came after a security expert said DeepSeek not only poses a threat to US AI stocks; it's also a national security risk. The chatbot has recently been the most downloaded app in the US.U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Darin LaHood (R-IL), each party's senior-most member on the House Select Committee on Intelligence, plan to introduce the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act." If all of this sounds familiar, the move echoes Congress' blocking of TikTok from government devices in 2022. That was the opening salvo in a saga that culminated in the US-wide ban the app is now staring down.The alarm follows an independent analysis from Feroot Security claiming that DeepSeek's code sends user data directly to the Chinese government-owned China Mobile. We see direct links to servers and companies in China that are under control of the Chinese government," Feroot analyst Ivan Tsarynny said in an interview with ABC News. This is something we've never seen before."Our personal information is being sent to China, there is no denial, and the DeepSeek tool is collecting everything that American users connect to it," Tsarynny told the Wall Street Journal. ABC reported on Wednesday that multiple cybersecurity experts verified Feroot's findings.The US Navy and NASA have already banned DeepSeek from their employees' devices. Texas is the only state to have blocked the app from government devices. Three other countries have already beat the US to the punch in banning the app: Italy, South Korea and Australia.LaHood warned of the app's dangers. The national security threat that DeepSeek - a CCP-affiliated company - poses to the United States is alarming," the Representative wrote in a press release. DeepSeek's generative AI program acquires the data of US users and stores the information for unidentified use by the CCP. Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data."We must get to the bottom of DeepSeek's malign activities," Gottheimer wrote. We simply can't risk the CCP infiltrating the devices of our government officials and jeopardizing our national security."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/us-lawmakers-want-deepseek-banned-from-government-devices-212230100.html?src=rss
Members of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are being forced to choose between staying at their jobs or taking a government buyout, NPR reports. The buyout program is one of several methods the current administration is deploying to shrink the federal government under the guidance of the "Department of Governmental Efficiency" (DOGE), an advisory group lead by Elon Musk.CISA was creating during the first Trump Administration in 2018 to protect key infrastructure from cyber attacks and advise the government and its partners on building more secure infrastructure in the future. The agency played an important role in investigating Salt Typhoon in 2024, the hacking group that breached US telecom companies to get at government officials. Considering cybersecurity is becoming more critical, not less, short-staffing the agency could lead to problems.The consequences of hollowing out or effectively eliminating key government agencies and departments don't seem to be a concern of DOGE or the Trump Administration, however. Along with CISA, staff at the IRS, CIA and Department of Education have also reportedly received the buyout ultimatum. The offer gives government employees until midnight on February 6 to accept a buyout and receive pay through October, or come back to work in-person, agree to new performance standards and promise to be "reliable, loyal and trustworthy," according to USA Today.The deal mirrors a similar offer Musk made to Twitter employees after he acquired the social media platform in 2022, even down to language describing it as a "Fork in the Road." A key difference between then and now is budget. The government hasn't set aside money to pay a bunch of employees to do nothing for eight months, and its not clear it plans to, because Congress ultimately controls government spending. Beyond that, a legal fight might make the whole thing moot. A US district judge in Boston has already ruled against the buyout deal, giving government employees until at least Monday to make a decision, Reuters writes, and there's the possibility of another extension still on the table.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/protecting-the-us-from-hackers-apparently-isnt-in-trumps-budget-195915036.html?src=rss
The Entertainment Software Association is making a fresh attempt to launch a gaming event. The new project is called iicon, or the "interactive innovation conference." It's not as catchy a name as E3, and sadly for the average gaming fan, it's probably not an event they'll care about as much as E3.On the positive side, most of the big businesses in games that would have hosted sprawling booths at Los Angeles Convention Center back in the day have already signed on to this new endeavor. Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Disney, EA, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Take Two Interactive, Amazon Games and Warner Bros. Games are all named as participants.However, the announcements on social media promote iicon as being for "visionaries," "changemakers" and "innovators," so our best guess is that this event will swing more toward the corporate side of gaming where people might use that language unironically. If that's the case, this won't really be a replacement for the heyday of E3, when studios big and small would showcase their upcoming projects and drop internet-breaking surprises. Instead, the inaugural event in April 2026 sounds like it will focus more on moving the needle, brand alignments and synergy.Since the old ESA event's decline and eventual demise in 2023, the consumer side of gaming is mostly being served by splashy events run by Geoff Keighley: the Summer Game Fest and the Game Awards. Both have already announced their 2025 dates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-esa-wants-to-replace-e3-with-a-bunch-of-buzzwords-191544789.html?src=rss
Amazon has shared a list of video games that Prime members can snag for free this month, and there are some real gems. It's a nice mix of AAA and indie titles. Additionally, the company revealed some new titles coming to the cloud-gaming platform Luna.BioShock Infinite Complete Edition is available right now. This version includes the full game, as originally released back in 2013, plus all of the various DLC and add-ons that came after. We called it an easy story to fall in love with" in our official review, and that certainly stands to this day.The Talos Principle: Gold Edition is also ready to play right now. Just like Bioshock, this is the full game plus all of the DLC. We loved this story-driven puzzle title upon its release in 2015, calling it mysterious and haunting, creative and beautiful." It's also super fun. Incidentally, there's a remake coming sometime this year.Other titles coming to Prime Gaming this month include Wolfenstein: Youngblood on February 20 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut on February 27. On the indie front, the co-op shooter AK-xolotl: Together is available right now and the pixelated roguelike western Colt Canyon drops on February 20.Prime Gaming members in many parts of the world, including the US and much of Europe, also have access to the company's cloud-gaming platform Luna. A bunch of new titles have hit the service this month, all of which are available to play right now.These include Devil May Cry 5, Batora: Lost Haven, Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition and Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition. Other freshly-dropped games include the fantastic action RPG Nobody Saves the World Complete and Batora: Lost Haven.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/prime-gamings-february-freebies-include-bioshock-infinite-and-wolfenstein-youngblood-182321261.html?src=rss
Less than a year into his tenure at the company, OpenAI co-founder John Schulman is leaving Anthropic. The startup confirmed Schulman's departure after The Information, Reuters and other publications reported on the exit."We are sad to see John go but fully support his decision to pursue new opportunities and wish him all the very best," said Jared Kaplan, Anthropic's chief science officer, in a statement the company shared with Engadget. Schulman left OpenAI last August alongside Peter Deng, the company's former vice-president of consumer product. Schulman is considered one of the original architects of ChatGPT.Following his departure from OpenAI, Schulman said he was joining Anthropic to focus on AI alignment - the process of making machine learning models safe to use - and a desire to return to more hands-on technical work." Schulman hasn't publicly said why he decided to leave Anthropic, nor what he plans to do next. His X profile still says he recently joined" Anthropic.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-co-founder-john-schulman-has-left-anthropic-after-less-than-a-year-171124425.html?src=rss
Spotting AI's work can be increasingly difficult as its capabilities and subtleties continue to improve. This continued shift makes labeling AI generated work all the more critical - something that is being done in bits and pieces. The latest development to do so comes from Google, which will now use SynthID technology to mark mages edited using Reimagine in Magic Editor.Google DeepMind launched SynthID in 2023, a technology that allows for imperceptible digital watermarks within any content created with generative AI. The company has previously used it in AI-powered programs such as Lyria, Imagen and Gemini.Now, SynthID will be making its literal mark on Magic Editor. The tool allows users to reimagine their photos by moving, erasing or adding special effects to different aspects of the image. The Reimagine feature is available for anyone 18 or older and on the Pixel 9 or later. Users who click Reimagine can enter a prompt to change bits of the image. Google recommends entering specific, simple phrases, such as "autumn leaves," and then explore potential options before picking one. The only difference is now that image will have a watermark from SynthID. It's available for anyone to see by clicking "About this image."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-magic-editor-will-watermark-its-ai-tweaked-photos-170009281.html?src=rss
The release date for arguably one of the most anticipated games around has emerged, albeit in low-key fashion. According to an apparent leak on the PlayStation Store - perhaps about as official as you can get without a splashy announcement elsewhere - Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set to arrive on August 28. It's scheduled to hit PC and Xbox Series X/S as well as PS5.Sony had scrubbed the release date from the game's store page (which now only bears a release window of 2025) by the time of publication. A trailer for the remake of Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid 3 was hosted on Sony's servers and also leaked. That featured the August 28 date too.It's not the first time that a game or its release date have come to light in exactly this way. We first received official word of The Last of Us Part 1, a remake of the first game in the series for PS5 and PC, in similar fashion a few years ago. The same thing happened with the remaster of the sequel.It's possible that Sony was preparing things behind the scenes ahead of a coordinated release date announcement for MGS Delta: Snake Eater. Given that a State of Play showcase is rumored to be taking place next week, it seems likely that the reveal was scheduled to take place then. But a release date that temporarily appeared on the PS Store - which was backed up by a trailer - is as clear an indicator as any that the remake will arrive this summer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/metal-gear-solid-delta-snake-eater-release-date-leaks-on-the-playstation-store-153046876.html?src=rss
When you click on an early access game on Steam, you might see a new note that could give an idea whether its developer has already abandoned the project. As SteamDB first reported, Steam has started adding notes on games' official pages if they haven't been updated in a while.Steam's early access program allows you to purchase work-in-progress titles to play on your PC. Each participating title has an information box, where developers answer questions, such as how long they expect the game to be in early access. That's where you can find the new warning, which tells you when a title was last updated. Not every game has a note that tells you when its last update was rolled out, though. Valve told PCGamer that it will only add the notice for an early access game if it hasn't been updated for a year.Specifically, the note will show up if it's been 12 months since a new build has been added to the game's default branch in Steamworks, or if it's been 12 months since the developer has notified players about an "update type event," which includes major updates, regular updates and patch notes. In the end, it's still up to you whether you want to download and play a game that hasn't had a recent update. But the warning could help you avoid projects that are pretty much dead if you don't want to waste your time and money on games that may never be fully released.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/steam-will-label-early-access-games-that-havent-been-updated-in-a-year-160018685.html?src=rss
DeepSeek recent explosion in popularity continues to be a problem for the AI startup. In a notification spotted by Bloomberg, the company said it was temporarily limiting access to its application programming interface service in response to a shortage of server capacity."Due to current server resource constraints, we have temporarily suspended API service recharges to prevent any potential impact on your operations," DeepSeek said. "Existing balances can still be used for calls. We appreciate your understanding!" Separately, DeepSeek announced pricing for its chat model would increase to $0.27 per million input tokens and $1.10 per million output tokens starting February 8.DeepSeek has been dealing with overwhelming demand for its services since the debut of its R1 model on January 20. The company's emergence as a leading premier AI provider, and the fact it was able to train R1 for a fraction of the price it cost OpenAI to develop its o1 reasoning model, sent US investors into a panic. Major tech stocks, including NVIDIA, shed $1 trillion of value the Monday after DeepSeek's chatbot hit the top of the App Store. Since then, OpenAI has released its o3-mini model and Deep Research feature for ChatGPT.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/deepseek-limits-model-access-due-to-overwhelming-server-demand-151339342.html?src=rss
Fighting games fans thought it would never happen. But then the first Capcom Fighting Game Collection came out last fall with remasters for some of the most important titles from the mid to late 90s (plus one from the 2000s) - all in the same package. We're talking about absolute classics like X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes and most importantly, Marvel vs. Capcom 2. But the goodness doesn't stop there because in a few months, another anthology is due out - the Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - which features an arguably even stronger lineup of brawlers from the early 2000s. And after getting the chance to preview the game prior to its official release on May 16, this assemblage is both a tribute to fighting game history and a great way to waste time smashing buttons.Before we get in too deep, I should mention that only three out of the eight total titles were playable during my demo (Capcom vs SNK 2: Mark of the Millenium 2001, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper and Project Justice). Regardless, here is the complete lineup of games in Capcom Fighting Collection 2:
If you're constantly losing your stuff, Bluetooth trackers can help. Now's a good time to invest in some AirTags if you're an iPhone user, because you can get a four-pack of the trackers for only $70. This is a record-low price for the bundle, and represents a 29 percent discount. It also breaks down to around $17.50 per AirTag. Apple AirTags easily made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, and this is especially true if you use an iPhone. The finding network is comprehensive and works just about anywhere. Just imagine all of those other Apple devices out there in the world helping to create this network. The end result? You'll likely find what you're looking for. These trackers can also use the ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless protocol, which gamifies finding lost objects. As long as the object is within 25 feet of your smartphone, the screen will display directional arrows and a distance meter. You use this data to zero in on the object, all without constantly ringing the AirTag. Of course, AirTags aren't perfect. They are designed to work with iPhones and other Apple products, so Android users should keep scrolling. Also, the ringer only pings for seven seconds at a time. Sometimes that's enough to find a lost item, but not always. Finally, Apple decided to not include attachment points with these trackers, so they can't connect to a keychain or a related accessory. However, there are plenty of amazing accessories for AirTags that get the job done. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-on-sale-for-70-161335322.html?src=rss
Volkswagen is working on an entry-level electric vehicle that will sell for a base price of 20,000 ($21,000). The company has already given its own employees a look at its initial design during a meeting in Wolfsburg, Germany, where it announced the new model. Volkswagen plans to unveil the model to the public in early March, though its production version won't be ready until sometime in 2027.The automaker has yet to reveal the upcoming model's details or specs, but it will be part of an upcoming lineup of small electric cars that includes the ID.2all. Volkswagen, which first revealed the ID.2all concept in 2023, said its production version is scheduled to reach dealerships in 2026. While the 20,000 model is slated to become Volkswagen's most affordable EV, the ID.2all will be the brand's first small all-electric car. It will have a base price of 25,000 when it becomes available. It's not quite clear if the upcoming entry-level model will be released around the world, though, since Volkswagen's Thomas Schafer called it an "affordable, high-quality, and profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe."Volkswagen has sold more than 1.35 million ID vehicles around the world since it launched the ID product family in 2019. That number includes the 500,000 ID.3 it sold last year. One of the company's latest releases is the long-awaited ID.Buzz, an electric van with a retro aesthetic that currently has a starting price of $59,995 in the US.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-is-unveiling-a-21000-entry-level-ev-in-march-150057140.html?src=rss
Leica is mainly known for its high-end cameras, but it also makes smartphone camera lenses. Today, the company is announcing its new LUX grip for iPhone, designed to mimic the feel of a Leica camera. It weighs 120 grams and is designed for ambidextrous use.The Leica LUX grip has a two-stage shutter for precise shots. There's a button to change between shooting modes and another to choose from frequently-used functions that you can select using the Leica LUX app. A control dial is also there to make it easier to switch between settings like zoom, aperture and shutter speed. After 1,000 shots, the Leica LUX grip's battery must be recharged via USB-C for two hours.As mentioned, the app works with the grip, which communicates with the iPhone via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). In addition to customizing the button, the app includes bokeh effects from the Summilux-M and Noctilux-M lenses, Leica Looks (preset effects that don't require post-processing) and more.The Leica LUX grip is now available for 260/300, including VAT. An additional case is available for 50. Each grip purchase includes a yearlong premium Leica LUX app subscription.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/leicas-lux-grip-is-a-pricey-way-to-add-camera-controls-to-your-iphone-140031130.html?src=rss
Lyft is partnering with Anthropic to bring the startup's AI tech to its platform. "Anthropic, known for its human-centric approach to AI, will work with Lyft to build smart, safe, and empathetic AI-powered products that put riders and drivers first," the two said in a joint press release.If you're a frequent Lyft rider, you can see the early results of that collaboration when you go through the company's customer care AI assistant, which features integration with Anthrophic's Claude chatbot. According to Lyft, the tool is already helping to resolve thousands of customer issues every day, and has reduced average resolution times by 87 percent.Moving forward, Lyft plans to integrate Anthropic's tech across its business. As part of the partnership, Lyft will get early access to the startup's products and models, and will in turn assist Anthropic with testing those capabilities. Lyft says this will allow it to integrate Anthropic's AI models in a way that aligns with the needs of its drivers and customers. Last but not least, Anthropic will provide training and education to Lyft's software engineers."Lyft is using Claude to both reimagine the future of ridesharing, and at the same time deliver tangible benefits to their community today," said Michael Gerstenhaber, vice president of product management at Anthropic. "This approach, combined with their deep collaboration with our team of experts, creates a blueprint for how companies can successfully bring AI into their business."Lyft is no stranger to working with other companies, particularly when it involves AI technology. At the end of last year, it partnered with three companies in the autonomous vehicle space - Mobileye, May Mobility and Nexar. Lyft plans to start introducing their technologies into its network starting this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/lyft-uses-anthropics-claude-chatbot-to-handle-user-complaints-140026067.html?src=rss
Workday, the HR and finance management company, is the latest tech giant to lay off a mass of employees in the name of AI. In a Wednesday announcement titled "Changes to Position Workday for the Future," the organization shared that it's eliminating 1,750 employees, about 8.5 percent of its workforce. The public statement from CEO Carl Eschenbach was initially emailed to employees.Within a series of paragraphs in which Eschenbach acted really torn up about choosing AI over people, he summed up this trend pretty clearly: "Companies everywhere are reimagining how work gets done, and the increasing demand for AI has the potential to drive a new era of growth for Workday."Eschenbach later adds that Workday will be "prioritizing innovation investments like AI and platform development, and rigorously evaluating the ROI of others across the board." Though, he claims the company will also "hire in key strategic areas and locations" this year.According to the announcement, Workday tried to meet with as many impacted employees as possible on Wednesday, so some individuals might not immediately know their fate. US-based employees will receive at least 12 weeks of pay, while employees in other countries (with potentially stronger protections for workers) will receive benefits based on local regulations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/workday-lays-off-1750-employees-citing-demand-for-ai-134922398.html?src=rss
Anker made a number of announcements at CES 2025, including new chargers and power banks. We saw a couple of them get early discounts immediately after the show, and now those sales are back. The Anker Charger (140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1) is $10 off again and down to $80 on Amazon, and the 100W Laptop Power Bank has the same discount and is down to $90. The Anker Charger has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Two USB-C ports can charge a 15-inch MacBook Air to 50 percent within 30 minutes. The built-in display also shows temperature, port-specific wattage and current maximum output. At less than 10 ounces, it's a brick you can take anywhere. As for the laptop power bank, it has a maximum single output of 100W and charges up to four devices at once thanks to its 25,000 mAh capacity. The retractable cables prevent the possibility of a tangled mess of wires. While capable of charging a MacBook Pro to 50 percent in 33 minutes, this power bank can be recharged to 30 percent in 20 minutes, allowing for frequent use. While those are the main Anker devices from CES on sale at the moment, the company has a slew of other discounts available. The Anker 621 5K magnetic power bank has dropped to $30, while the Anker Zolo 10K portable charger is 40 percent off and down to $16, just to name a few. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-latest-charger-and-power-bank-are-back-on-sale-for-record-low-prices-151555322.html?src=rss
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