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Though the Apple Watch announcements may have paled in comparison to the iPhone news at Apple's "Awe dropping" event today, there were still some noteworthy updates to the smartwatch lineup to talk about. This year, we're getting the Watch Series 11, Watch SE 3 and Watch Ultra 3, and each of them have some interesting features. At a hands-on session here at Apple Park, I spent some time with the devices, and believe the most intriguing is the Series 11. At first glance, the Series 11 is no different from the Series 10 I wore to the event. They're the same thinness and have pretty much the same dimensions, and the main change is that the new smartwatch has an IonX coating that's two times more scratch resistant. There's also a new space grey case option that looked nice, though I was a bigger fan of the rose gold band and case pairing. I especially like the loop band that was on the unit I checked out. I put the Series 11 on my wrist next to my Series 10 and truly could not tell them apart. There might not be much reason to upgrade from last year's model to this, which isn't a bad thing. We don't want to be too wasteful, anyway. The real updates coming to the Series 11 include the new "Possible hypertension" alerts, using data gathered from the existing optical heart rate sensors to study patterns in the constriction and expansion of your blood vessels in relation to your heart rate. This tells the watch whether there are differences in your blood pressure - keyword: differences. Cherlynn Low for Engadget This tool isn't meant to give you readings of your blood pressure like "130 / 80," for example. It's more meant to tell if there are concerning variations and alert you to see a medical professional if so. This is similar to many other Apple Watch features like sleep apnea detection or high heart rate alerts, and since it requires data trends to work, wasn't something I could just test here at Apple Park. I also didn't get to test the sleep score feature that's coming watchOS 26, but that isn't exclusive to the Series 11, and any Apple Watch compatible with the latest software will be able to get it. I did like how you'll get scores once you've worn the watch to bed, and don't have to wait for a required number of nights for the insights to surface. Hypertension and sleep score were among the more interesting updates coming to the Series 11, along with the promise of better battery life. Apple said the wearable should last up to 24 hours on a charge now, with eight of those meant to power through overnight sleep tracking. That's not something I can really test here at a hands-on event, so we'll have to wait for a review unit to properly measure. Hands-on with the Apple Watch SE 3 I was more intrigued by the Apple Watch SE 3, and will readily admit that I cheered when the company announced its entry-level smartwatch will be getting an Always On Display. When I picked up the Watch SE 3, I immediately noticed its relatively chunky bezels, but by and large it felt quite similar to my Series 10. Sure, the cheaper watch is slightly thicker, heavier and more sluggish, but for $250 it's a very solid device. It comes with a skin-temperature sensor to support cycle-tracking, and will now charge twice as fast as the last Watch SE. That's closer to the speeds of the Series 9 and later, which is a huge improvement considering how slow the older Apple Watches used to charge. Again, like with the Series 11, a lot of the Watch SE's improvements weren't things I could check out at a brief preview like today. And most of them are features that already exist on other devices coming down to a smartwatch that costs $249. I think what Apple is offering for the price is very compelling, though, since you'll really only be missing ECG and blood oxygen features by opting for the SE 3 over the Series 11. The latter is a bit thinner and lighter, but the SE 3 is plenty comfortable and small anyway. Quick look at the Apple Watch Ultra 3 I did take a quick look at the Watch Ultra 3, which has a slightly larger screen that Apple says is the biggest ever in an Apple Watch. That display also refreshes more quickly than its predecessor, enabling some nice-looking animations on the Always On screen, like a ticking second hand on an analog clock face. There's also 5G and satellite communication support, but these weren't things I could check out. We hope to spend more time with these devices soon and share more meaningful impressions and evaluations, but for now, it's been nice to see refreshes across Apple's entire smartwatch lineup. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-hands-on-feels-and-looks-the-same-but-real-changes-are-deeper-200438367.html?src=rss

Surprising absolutely no one, Apple has unveiled the new iPhone 17 series, including the iPhone Air, which CEO Tim Cook said at the launch event today freed the company up to make the Pro handsets the most Pro ever. Is that claim true or mostly hyperbole? Here at Apple Park, I was able to take a high speed hands-on demo of the iPhone 17 Pro, and though obviously I can't answer that question based on a brief preview of the new phones, I'm certainly intrigued.I made a beeline for the new Cosmic Orange model, which by the way reminds me strongly of the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultras. I'm already very taken with the way the iPhone 17 Pro looks and feels, and I don't even mind the new camera plateau, but maybe that's just because I'm a sucker for change.This isn't just a shiny new thing, to be clear. Far from it. The iPhone 17 Pro that I played with was the orange version and it has a sort of matte finish and a vague "soft touch" feel compared to the iPhone 16 Pro I've been using for about a year. I also liked the blue color option, which is slightly richer than it appears in photos. Regardless of the color, I found that the aluminum frame and matte finish around the edges lent a sturdier feel overall, and I say this as someone whose iPhone 16 Pro has a large, nasty series of cracks because it fell and landed on its edge.I definitely think that though there's a slight tradeoff in the overall premium vibe to the Pro phones, the possible improvement in durability should be worth it. Importantly, the back of the iPhone 17 Pro also features Ceramic Shield in the paler-hued rounded rectangle part, so it should be more scratch resistant than its predecessor.In spite of the new unibody design, I found the camera control button on the right still reasonably easy to press, although I think I'm more used to the one on the iPhone 16 Pro and find it a bit easier to click at the moment.More importantly, and this is something I'll have to spend more than an hour with an iPhone 17 Pro to verify, the redesign should help with battery life. The camera plateau now houses many components, freeing up space in the rest of the iPhone's body for the battery. That, together with the A19 Pro processor's improved power efficiency, is supposed to make the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max last longer than before.Cherlynn Low for EngadgetI both loathe and am appreciative of Apple's tendency to come up with new terms for its features, and while I cringed slightly at the word "plateau" to describe the rounded rectangle module on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro, I certainly find it convenient to use as a reference. The camera plateau contains the three 48-megapixel Fusion cameras that Apple described during the keynote, and I can verify that I saw camera zoom options that went up to 8x in the viewfinder. I tested some of them out briefly at Apple's Observatory space, zooming up closer to the Infinity building further away. Without much closer looks at the resulting pictures, I can't vouch for the quality, so all I can say is that the interface remains familiar to use.I also had a chance to quickly check out the new Center Stage selfie camera, and I have to say it now makes sense why Apple had to redesign the camera app with iOS 26. To enable new features like the auto-rotating aspect ratio or the dual-camera video capture, you'll have to dive deeper into menus by tapping buttons near the top of the screen. I didn't immediately know where to find these but I'm sure I'll learn over time. For now, a helpful Apple representative standing next to the phone showed me where everything was.Many of the other interesting things about the iPhone 17 Pro weren't easy to quickly test, so we'll have to wait till we can review them to see if the claims Apple makes hold up. That's things like improved performance with the A19 Pro, better thermal management with the onboard vapor chamber, as well as that touted battery life. I'd be curious to see what we learn over time about the redesign and whether it has any impact on call performance and repairability, too.Though I'm quite taken by the new look and color of the iPhone 17 Pros, I have to admit I'm a little envious of my colleague Sam Rutherford, who got to spend some hands on time with the new iPhone Air. While the colors aren't as appealing in that line, the extreme thinness is certainly very seductive. Based on my limited experience, the iPhone Air has slightly more rounded edges compared to Samsung's super thin Galaxy S25 Edge, but you should definitely check out Sam's impressions for more details.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-17-pro-hands-on-the-unibody-and-camera-plateau-feel-more-significant-in-person-185553855.html?src=rss

Finding a laptop that balances work and play can feel tricky, but the best gaming laptops are built to handle more than fast frame rates. A solid machine should let you jump into class projects, run productivity apps and still deliver the gaming performance you expect when it's time to unwind.

Beats has launched a new collection of cases to go with Apple's latest iPhones, including one with a removable lanyard that doubles as a kickstand. Lanyards and cross-body straps for phones are becoming pretty common these days. If you're someone who travels every now and then, they can help protect you from pickpockets or from accidentally leaving your phone behind while you struggle with your luggage. The lanyard on Beats' case comes with something extra: It has an adaptor at the end that slides open and attaches to a magnetic part on the side of the case so that it can act as a kickstand for hands-free phone use. The Beats iPhone 17 Kickstand Case with MagSafe & Camera Control is available in Granite Gray, Bedrock Blue, Lime Stone and Pebble Pink. You can get it from Apple's website for $59.The new collection also includes a basic case that Beats describes as "thin, light, and precisely crafted." It's available in the same colors, with the same matte hard outer shell that prevents fingerprints and an interior microfiber lining. This model will set you back $45 and is the only one in the collection that you can get for the iPhone Air.Finally, the Beats iPhone 17 Rugged Case with MagSafe & Camera Control will give you some extra protection if you tend to drop your devices. Beats designed it with a rugged polymer backing that's complemented by impact-absorbing sidewalls. It has an enclosed bottom for enhanced protection and a textured matte exterior to give you a good grip on your phone. The manufacturer said it put the case through repeated drop and scratch tests, as well as multiple thermal, mechanical and chemical tests to simulate real world use. Beats' rugged case is available in Everest Black, Rocky Blue, Alpine Gray and Sierra Orange for $79.BeatsThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/beats-new-iphone-17-case-has-a-lanyard-that-turns-into-a-kickstand-035044992.html?src=rss

We've survived Apple's iPhone 17 event and we're here to dive into all of the news. In this bonus episode, Devindra and Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham recap all of Apple's new hardware and try to determine if the iPhone Air has any substance behind all that style. It's certainly more attractive than we thought, but is that alone worth giving up on multiple cameras and better battery life from the iPhone 17 Pro?Subscribe!

iPhone Air is much thinner compared to the iPhone 17 Pro. (Apple) Now that we've seen the actual iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models - they were revealed at the Apple iPhone event today - it's time to decide if you're ready to upgrade to one of the newer devices. If you watched Apple's keynote or pored through Engadget's liveblog, you probably noticed the Air and 17 Pro share quite a few similarities - many of the specs are identical, or nearly so. For starters, both run the new A19 Pro chip, giving each of them a performance edge over the non-Pro A19 in the baseline iPhone 17. And their screens, bodies and basic feature sets - high-refresh ProMotion screens, Apple Intelligence, scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield front and back, Camera Control button, MagSafe wireless charging - are all largely aligned, too. And there's only a $100 delta in their price tags, with the iPhone Air starting at $999 and the iPhone 17 Pro at $1,099. But these two phones have two very different audiences. The Pro, as usual, is designed to be the no-compromise iPhone, while the Air is much more of a fashion statement. It's the thinnest iPhone ever, and that comes with some notable compromises. To that end, let's take a deep dive on the key areas where the newly introduced iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro diverge. (For more of today's Apple releases, check out our hands-on with the new AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11.) Size and weight The iPhone Air is Apple's thinnest phone yet, at just 5.6mm thick. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro is 8.75mm thick - that's more than 3mm thicker than the Air! I'm almost certain the Air would get lost between my couch cushions on day one. When it comes to the screen size, the iPhone Air has a 6.5-inch display, which is larger than the 17 Pro's 6.3-inch screen. (If you want larger still, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a whopping 6.9 inches diagonally). But the screen tech uses the identical Super Retina XDR technology with all the same bells and whistles - ProMotion high refresh rate, P3 color gamut, True Tone. They should look pretty much identical. As for weight, the Air with its titanium casing tips the scales at just 5.82 ounces (165 grams), while the iPhone 17 Pro weighs 7.27 ounces (206 grams) with an aluminum chassis. That's a tad more than the iPhone 16 Pro's weight of 7.03 ounces (199 grams), probably due to the newer model's larger battery. If you decide to upgrade to the 17 Pro Max instead, it has a larger 6.9-inch display and weighs a whopping 8.22 ounces (233 grams). But long story short, the Air's superthin design and wispier weight is pretty much the reason you're buying this phone. The Air is pretty light and thin in comparison to all other iPhones. (Apple) Cameras Here's where the biggest differences lie: the cameras. While the iPhone 17 Pro has three rear 48MP cameras, the iPhone Air has just one (also 48MP, though it serves as two cameras in one). Here's what they include: iPhone 17 Pro rear cameras: The Pro boasts a triple array "Pro Fusion camera system," where the three 48MP cameras combine to offer .5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x optical zoom options. The Pro also offers macro photography, spatial photos and can shoot in ProRAW image mode. Video offerings are also full-tilt, with 4K Dolby Vision video recording up to 120fps, along with a litany of sophisticated options that will appeal to more serious video shooters (ProRES Raw, Genlock support, cinematic mode and more). iPhone Air rear camera: By comparison, the Air has a single 48MP Fusion camera system that delivers only 2x optical zoom in addition to standard. That also means it lacks even the ultrawide (.5x) mode found in the baseline iPhone. Video recording is similarly limited to just half the Pro's framerate, albeit still in 4K Dolby Vision. Both phones have the new Center Stage 18MP front-facing "selfie" camera, which eliminates the need to rotate your phone to take a landscape photo. You instead just tap to expand the field of view. And when others join the photo, the camera automatically expands the view. And when you're on a video call, the camera uses artificial intelligence to adjust the frame. They also both offer Dual Capture, so you can shoot from the front and back cameras simultaneously. The iPhone 17 Pro has three rear-facing cameras. (Apple) Still, the camera compromises are arguably the Air's biggest shortfall. Don't get this phone if you like long zooms, ultrawide shots or top-notch video quality. Battery life Battery life ratings should always be taken with a grain of salt. That said, Apple claims the Air will deliver up to 27 hours of video playback and can get up to a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The good news is that basically matches the battery claims of last year's iPhone 16 Pro. The bad news is that it falls well short of the new and improved battery specs on this year's 17 Pro. That model is rated up to 33 hours of video playback and up to a 50% charge in just 20 minutes with a 40-watt charger. Apple Now, unlike the cameras, there's a workaround for the Air's shorter battery life. Apple offers an add-on iPhone Air MagSafe battery which snaps on to the Air's backside and gets you up to 40 hours of video playback. But it costs $99 and fattens up your superthin phone - doesn't that kinda get you back to square one? Price The iPhone Air starts at $999, which matches the price at the 256GB tier of the iPhone Plus model it's replacing (which just so happens to be my favorite). So that's $100 more than the starting price of last year's 128GB Plus, but with the storage doubled, I guess I can't complain too much. For 512GB, it'll cost you $1,199; and if you splurge on 1TB, you'll be paying $1,399. And the Air is available in four lighter color palettes. On the other hand, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 with 256GB, which is just $100 more. You can also choose 512GB for $1,299 or 1TB for $1,499. (The iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 for 256GB and goes up to $1,999 for 2TB.) The Pro comes in only three colors, though the Cosmic Orange is unusually bold for the iPhone Pro line. iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 Pro: How to choose As I suggested above, the iPhone Air is certainly eye-catching, but you really need to make sure you're ready to accept those camera and battery compromises. The iPhone 17 Pro is much more of a "no compromise" choice, albeit one that's less of a looker (depending on how you feel about that new "camera plateau" at the top). That said, remember you can always default to the baseline iPhone 17, which is arguably better than ever - and has some nice feature one-ups on the Air, to boot. If I were choosing between the Air and the Pro, I know which one would be the clear winner for me - but I'll leave that decision up to you because I'm holding out (and hopeful) for a foldable iPhone in 2026. In the meantime, you can check out Engadget's initial hands-on impressions of the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and baseline iPhone 17, as well as our full reviews of those models coming in the near future. $100 more for a Pro model really isn't that bad. (Apple) Full specs comparison iPhone Air iPhone 17 Pro Starting price $999 $1,099 Dimensions 6.15 x 2.94 x 0.22 inch 5.91 x 2.83 x 0.34 inch Weight 5.82 ounces (165 grams) 7.27 ounces (206 grams) Processor A19 Pro chip A19 Pro chip Display 6.5-inch Super Retina XDR display 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display Storage 256GB / 512GB / 1TB 256GB / 512GB / 1TB Battery Up to 27 hours Up to 33 hours Camera Main: 48MP Fusion camera system / 48MP Fusion Main

There's a lot to like about the new iPhone lineup: new selfie cameras, a new unibody frame and a even a super-thin iPhone, if that's your thing. All of the new phones share one important upgrade you might have missed during Apple's 72-minute livestream, though: they all start at 256GB of storage.For the first time in four years, Apple raised the base-level storage on its entire iPhone lineup. Since the iPhone 13, Apple's phones have started at 128GB for the cheapest configuration. Now, the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and iPhone Air will start with double that capacity.It's about time.While 128GB may sound like a decent amount of storage, it hasn't made sense as a base amount of storage for some time, particularly for Pro-level phones, which have much more powerful cameras. Apple has seemingly understood this for a while: for the last two years (when the iPhone 15 lineup launched), the Pro Max versions have started at 256GB. But there's absolutely no reason that only people buying the most expensive iPhone should get a storage bump.Because I write about tech, my friends and family often ask me for help "fixing" various problems with their phones. (I spend most of my time reporting on the social media industry, so usually this involves me just Googling their specific issue and muddling through.) I've lost track of the times friends have asked me for help fixing things that boil down to the fact that they simply don't have enough storage left on their phone. And, almost every time, they only have the minimum 128GB of storage that's come standard since the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 13 line.But no one wants to hear: "you don't have enough storage, you need to delete stuff." One of my friends recently vowed to never buy the cheapest iPhone again, after I explained that paying for extra iCloud wouldn't address her issues around local storage.But if you can afford it, paying for a storage upgrade is still worth it. Yes, paying the $200 extra for 512GB for $400 more for 1TB on the Pro series (which now maxes out at $1999 for 2TB) stings. It makes an already-expensive phone feel like an even bigger investment. But as someone who shelled out for a 512GB iPhone 14 Pro three years ago, I have no regrets about paying that extra premium.I'm currently using about 295GB of my allotted storage and have never once had to think about whether I need to clear out my downloaded media or if I have enough storage to shoot photos of my nephew in ProRAW Max or record cinematic videos on vacation. I plan on keeping this phone at least another year and I expect I'll still have plenty of storage left by the time I do decide to upgrade (extra storage also helps a bit with resale or trade-in value).But, if you just can't bring yourself to pay extra for more capacity - and I get it, I really do - jumping from 128GB to 256GB will still be a meaningful bump. You might not notice it right away, but it should give most people a lot of extra time before they start seeing those dreaded "storage almost full" pop-ups.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/all-of-the-new-iphones-start-with-256gb-of-storage-finally-222415353.html?src=rss

Earlier this year, I typed up an open letter to Apple, giving the company my unsolicited (but completely free of charge!) suggestions on what it could do to improve its entry-level smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE. Now that the iPhone event has concluded I wanted to see if anyone over in Cupertino took my advice.I asked for a bigger screen, a faster processor and faster charging. I said flashier materials weren't necessary, nor was an always-on display. I also didn't think the watch needed to have every last health sensor. But on-board Siri would be nice. The Apple Watch SE 3 has some of what I asked for, but not everything. Still, at the same $250, this is looking like a pretty tempting budget smartwatch.The screen is still small but the processor is top of the lineI compared the display on the SE Gen 2 to my old Apple Watch Series 4 and they were about the same size. It's usable, but after wearing the Series 10, or even the Series 9 for a while, the screen feels dinky. Down to the pixel, the size on the SE 3 is the exact same on the Apple Watch SE gen 2, with a 759 square millimeter display area. Sigh.The Apple Watch SE second generationAmy Skorheim for EngadgetBut! The same S10 chip that's going into the new Series 11 will ship inside the Apple Watch SE 3, too. That means the budget smartwatch will be able to handle watchOS 26 features like Workout Buddy and Live Translation, just like its pricier siblings (an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone still needs to be nearby, as it does with the other wearables).That new chip will also enable the useful double tap gesture as well as the new wrist flick move that dismisses notifications - something I find surprisingly useful as an inveterate notification-clearer. You also get on-board processing of Siri requests. No more excessive tapping just to start a timer. Both the gesture and Siri support are things I'd hoped a new SE would have. So, yay!The Apple Watch SE 3 can give you a sleep score, just like its pricier siblingsAppleAOD isn't critical, but faster charging isIn my experience with smartwatches, an always-on-display is a nice to have, but not crucial if the screen lights up quickly enough when I lift my wrist. But Apple went ahead and added the feature. So that's a bonus.I also said we could do without a brighter screen, and Apple agreed. Like the SE Gen 2, the SE 3 has a maximum brightness of 1000 nits - that's plenty. I can easily read the time and other pertinent info in bright sunlight on such a screen, and feel no need for the extra blaze of the Series 11's 2000 nits.The most critical ask was faster charging. The SE Gen 2 charged... so... slowly... It took over two hours to juice up. Which, for me, made it completely unusable as a sleep tracker, since I couldn't recharge it while I got ready for the day (something I could do with every other recent smartwatch I've tested). Thankfully, Apple fixed the problem. The SE 3 can go for 8 hours after just 15 minutes on the charger. Hallelujah.The Apple Watch SE second generation charged too slowly.Amy Skorheim for EngadgetSensors, case materials and the restThe big news for the flagship Series 11 watch was a feature that can detect hypertension. The Apple Watch SE 3 can't do that. Nor does it have the sensors for the ECG app. As I said in my letter, it's OK if my watch isn't a doctor's office. The SE 3 can track your heart rate during workouts and can deliver the new sleep score if you wear it to bed. Plus Apple added temperature sensors that can help with ovulation predictions and the like. That's more than enough health data gathering for a budget smartwatch.While there was talk of a plastic version of the SE, that didn't happen. Instead, the SE 3 is made from an aluminum alloy, just like the base model Series 11 - similar durability is a nice consideration for any budget model.And it's still just $250! When the Apple Watch SE Gen 2 came out back in 2022, Engadget's Cherlynn Low called it "the best smartwatch $250 can buy." With all the improvements Apple has added, that praise may now be an understatement.So maybe the Apple folk didn't read my letter. But enough good stuff came to be that I'll pretend they did. It's always nice to feel heard.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-acquiesced-to-my-apple-watch-se-3-demands-mostly-220726287.html?src=rss

Tucked away in Apple's iPhone 17 press releases was a bonus for off-grid owners of older models. The company gave iPhone 14 and 15 owners free access to satellite features for another year. This is Apple's third extension since Emergency SOS via satellite launched with the iPhone 14."The free trial will be extended for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users who have activated their device in a country that supports Apple's satellite features prior to 12AM PT on September 9, 2025," the company's copy reads. An Apple support page lists Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia as unsupported countries.Apple's off-grid feature set began in 2022 with Emergency SOS via satellite. In iOS 18, it expanded to include Messages via satellite, Find My access and roadside assistance. The features work through a partnership with Globalstar.AppleAs for why Apple keeps extending the free access, a Redditor floated a logical-sounding theory after last year's announcement. "I can't see Apple ever charging for [Emergency SOS via satellite]," u/rotates-potatoes posted. "The positive PR of 'saved by Apple' is too good, and the negative PR of 'died because they didn't pay $3' is too bad." (It's worth noting that the pricing was speculative. Apple hasn't said how much it plans to charge.)You can demo the features on your iPhone right now. To test Emergency SOS, head to Settings > Emergency SOS, and scroll down to "Try Demo" (at the bottom). For the texting feature, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, and scroll down to "Satellite Connection Demo."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-gives-iphone-14-and-15-owners-an-extra-free-year-of-satellite-connectivity-202434416.html?src=rss

Microsoft reportedly plans to begin using Anthropic's latest Claude models to power some of the Copilot features in its Office 365 apps. In a report published Tuesday, The Information said the tech giant would announce the change "in the coming weeks." Microsoft currently relies on OpenAI's tech to power the majority of AI features found inside of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.As an outsider looking in, Microsoft's embrace of Anthropic's models would appear to signal a deepening split between the company and OpenAI. Microsoft is the AI lab's largest investor, and was integral to Sam Altman's rehiring as CEO following his brief ouster in 2023. However, in recent months reports of a growing impasse between the two in negotiations over OpenAI's plan to restructure its for-profit division as a public benefit corporation have bubbled up.For its part, Microsoft denied the move is motivated by animosity. "As we've said, OpenAI will continue to be our partner on frontier models and we remain committed to our long-term partnership," a company spokesperson told The Information.Still, the decision likely comes as unwelcome news for OpenAI. The Information reports Microsoft is at least partly motivated by the fact it believes Claude 4 Sonnet "performs better in subtle but important ways" than GPT-5. For example, The Information's source said Anthropic's model tends to generate "more aesthetically pleasing" PowerPoint presentations. Notably, that's coming from an older model, and one that isn't even Anthropic's flagship offering.Anthropic did not immediately respond to Engadget's comment request. According to The Information, Microsoft does not plan to charge more for access to Anthropic models in Office 365, with Copilot pricing set to remain at $30 per user per month. That's notable because the company will pay Amazon to access Claude Sonnet 4 through AWS, Anthropic's primary cloud provider. As part of its investment in OpenAI, Microsoft can access the company's models at no additional cost.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-reportedly-plans-to-start-using-anthropic-models-to-power-some-of-office-365s-copilot-features-202017205.html?src=rss

The announcement of the iPhone Air surprised exactly nobody during today's Apple "Awe dropping" event. As we finally get officiall details about this lightweight smartphone model, one of the biggest questions is about the battery. Thin devices mean thinner batteries, so we've been curious to see how the iPhone Air will stack up. One thing we now know is that it's less beefy than standard smartphones when it comes to wireless charging. According to the tech specs provided by Apple on its website, the iPhone Air charges at 20W on both MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, whereas the other iPhones announced today charge a little faster at 25W. Apple also shared fast-charging capabilities for the iPhone Air: "Up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (available separately) paired with USBC charging cable, or 30W adapter or higher paired with MagSafe Charger (both available separately)." The spec sheet also says that the iPhone Air on its own offers up to 27 hours of video playback or up to 22 hours of streaming video. When coupled with a dedicated iPhone Air MagSafe battery pack, those figures jump to up to 40 hours and up to 35 hours, respectively. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-airs-top-wireless-charging-speed-is-20w-201804255.html?src=rss

There's a marketing practice called Anchoring, where a mediocre product is offered at a similar price to the one the manufacturer actually wants to sell. Sure, you can buy the base model but the next model up, for just $50 more, offers so much more that buying the cheaper one feels like a bad deal. Apple is no stranger to this practice, but I do think that the iPhone Air is a fairly extreme example of it.Apple's iPhone strategy has, in recent years, centered on four models: That year's model, its Pro sibling, and then larger-screened variants of both. This year, the Plus size version of the base model was ditched in favor of the iPhone Air. It's a dramatically thinner phone, coming in at 5.64mm deep compared to the regular iPhone 17's 7.95mm. It has a more powerful chip, packing Apple's flagship A19 Pro compared to the regular iPhone 17's A19. Oh, and it has a 6.5-inch display, slightly bigger than the 17's 6.3-inch panel. But those are its only advantages.Phones have been getting larger and larger for well over a decade and every time, consumers have bought them. The demise of the iPhone SE killed the idea a large number of people were clamoring for a handset smaller than five inches. But I've never heard anyone grouse about the thickness of their handset, given these objects also need to be held comfortably in the hand. Consequently, the Air's main reason for existing is, fundamentally, one that offers a bunch of compromises to reach a target no-one asked it to.In fact, it becomes embarrassing when you put the Air in a side-by-side comparison with the base model iPhone 17. The handset has a slightly smaller screen and is only" using the regular A19 chip but, in every other metric, it's a far better phone. It has a bigger battery and a longer promised runtime, dual 48-megapixel cameras over the Air's single lens. But while the Air retails from $999, you can pick up an iPhone 17 for $799 with 256GB storage, which I think is a steal. In any logical world, the iPhone Air wouldn't even get a second glance with 99 percent of buyers.Of course, much like the MacBook Air this is going to be the shape of iPhones to come. You can already see Apple's desire to slim down the form factor and ditch legacy technologies like physical SIM cards. It won't be long before these changes come across to the rest of the iPhone line as users acquiesce to Apple's desire to trim things down. It's doubly obvious the Air is laying the groundwork for any planned Apple foldable, too, given that Samsung and Honor are releasing foldables that measure 9mm thick when closed.But I'd urge everyone else to restrain the desire to spend $999 of their hard-earned to be a beta tester for Apple's hardware roadmap. Sure, I'll probably buy the iPhone Air 5 (or 22) but probably only because I don't have any other choice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-air-is-a-great-advertisement-for-the-iphone-17-201318112.html?src=rss

If you're trying to decide whether to buy a new iPhone 17 model and looking at the camera updates, there's mostly good news and a little bad following today's big event. Apple did upgrade the telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models and introduced some new pro video features. It also boosted resolution on the base iPhone 17's ultra wide camera - but that model still lacks a dedicated telephoto camera now available on rivals like the Pixel 10.However, the most welcome change across the lineup is the new front facing camera. It not only has a higher resolution square sensor, but a nice Center Stage feature that makes it far easier to switch between portrait and group photos. Video is also much improved on that camera. Here are all the details on camera changes across the lineup.iPhone 17 Pro and Pro MaxAppleThe iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cameras received a major upgrade with a new telephoto sensor that's 56 percent larger and boosts resolution from 12MP to 48MP - meaning all three Fusion Cameras now share that resolution. Zoom has also been expanded on the telephoto camera from 5x to 8x thanks to a new tetraprism lens. However, true optical zoom is 4x and the 8x is an "optical quality," (ie partially digital) 12MP zoom. The larger hump that runs across the back of the phone (a camera "plateau") is there to accommodate the new optics and sensor.The other major upgrade is in the front-facing camera. All iPhone 17 models including the Pro models have a square-sensor "Center Stage" 18MP selfie camera, up from 12MP on the three previous generations. The lens has been updated as well with six elements instead of five as before. That will make for sharper selfie photos and more detailed video, a big plus for a camera that hasn't got much love in past versions.The square front camera sensor will also change the way you take selfies. Instead of turning the phone sideways for wide group shots, you simply tap a setting to expand the field of view and orientation. Apple says that's not only simpler but more likely to prevent mishaps since it's easier to grip the phone vertically. In video mode, meanwhile, the front camera now offers ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video. The one drawback is that it's harder to see details, as the image on the screen is much smaller when held vertically.Apple also made some key video changes to tempt filmmakers toward iPhones instead of dedicated cameras. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a new photonic engine to preserve detail and color fidelity. Apple also introduced ProRes RAW capture, Apple Log 2 and genlock. The first two features will allow for improved dynamic range and easier grading, while genlock will make it easier to sync footage shot with multiple iPhone 17 Pros. Another key feature is Dual Capture that lets you film with both the front and rear cameras at the same time, so you can capture footage and vlog your reaction to it simultaneously.iPhone 17AppleCompared to the Pro models, the base iPhone 17 received a milder camera boost. Primarily, the company has upgraded the Fusion Ultra Wide camera to 48MP, matching the 48MP Fusion Main Camera. That will deliver more detailed photos and video when shooting group and other wide shots. However, optical zoom on the telephoto camera is still limited to 2x, compared to 5x on Samsung and Google's latest Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 base models, something buyers are likely to notice. That said, the boosted resolution will allow for clearer pictures when zooming digitally.The base model now records 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision with creative features like Cinematic and Action modes, along with Spatial Audio. The Audio Mix function automatically boosts voices and reduces ambient noise, while providing a wind noise reduction feature.The iPhone 17 gets the same front camera upgrade as the Pro models, including the square 18MP sensor and Center Stage tricks that let you should wide or portrait shots without turning the camera, along with ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video.iPhone 17 AirAppleApple kept the iPhone 17 Air so thin by using a single 48MP Fusion Camera, but it did try to make it as versatile as possible. It has a large 2 micrometer quad-pixel sensor that excels in low light, along with an optical quality 2x telephoto. That gives users "the equivalent of four lenses in their pocket," Apple said, including wide and telephoto models, via digital and optical zoom.Like the other models, you can capture 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision HDR video, and get support for Action mode, Spatial Audio capture and Audio Mix mode to boost voices and reduce ambient noise. The new Photonic Engine improves image detail and color accuracy and a new Bright style adds clarity to skin tones and increases vibrance.The iPhone 17 Air also has the 18MP Center Stage front square sensor camera as the other models, with all the benefits that entails. Those include switching from wide to portrait photos without rotating the camera, 4K HDR video capture with ultra stabilization and Dual Capture to take video from both the front and rear cameras at the same time. Center Stage can also be used during video calls to keep you stable and positioned in the frame.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-17s-new-selfie-camera-lets-you-take-group-shots-without-rotating-your-phone-195345475.html?src=rss

Apple introduced two new wireless chips in the iPhone Air, a preview of a world where all the key components of the company's products are custom-designed. The C1X and N1 chips enable wireless features like 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 7, building on the original C1 modem the company introduced in the iPhone 16e.At least one reason Apple was able to pull off the thin design of the iPhone Air was the power-efficiency these new chips offer. The C1X modem supports sub-6Ghz 5G and 4G LTE and is up to two times faster than the C1 modem, according to Apple. It's also faster than the Qualcomm-designed modem in the iPhone 16 Pro "for the same cellular technologies." Apple says the chip is able to achieve these performance improvements while "using 30 percent less energy overall," which seems key for a phone with a smaller battery than normal.Whereas the C1 on the iPhone 16e also enabled Wi-Fi 6, Apple's offloaded Wi-Fi support to the new N1 chip on the iPhone Air. The N1 chip enables Bluetooth 6 for connecting to accessories, Wi-Fi 7 and Thread for controlling your smart home. Both these chips combine with the new A19 Pro, which has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, to give the iPhone Air pro-level power in a thinner profile.While Apple is using these new components to pull off a radical redesign this year, all-custom-everything is also where the company is headed overall, Bloomberg reported in 2024. That's both to avoid paying Qualcomm for components, and to enable new features and efficiencies in its products. Apple would even like to combine its modem and processor into a single chip at some point, though that's reportedly still a few years off.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-new-wireless-chips-give-it-even-more-control-of-the-iphone-194820274.html?src=rss

Apple might not admit it (at least not yet), but the iPhone Air is more than just a slimmed-down version of the company's latest handset or a more sophisticated take on its usual Plus model. It's a super sleek preview of its upcoming foldable.Now this might seem like a stretch and there's something to be said about the difference between a traditional OLED display and one that's meant to be bent. However, the arrival of a foldable iPhone has become one of the tech world's worst-kept secrets. Still not convinced? Well, consider this. If you were in charge at Apple and were faced with the task of figuring out how to engineer and design the company's first phone with a flexible display, how would you do it? Would you try to re-invent the wheel? No, you'd check out your competitors to see if there was a formula that you could re-purpose for your needs. Enter Samsung, which is not only one of Apple's biggest rivals but also a foldable phone maker that's already seven generations deep.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetFurthermore, if we look back to this spring when Samsung released the Galaxy S25 Edge, you might already be noticing some similarities. Just like the iPhone Air, the S25 Edge is a thinner and more elegant take on Samsung's middle-child flagship phone: the S25+. It has a lot of the same shortcomings like a smaller battery and fewer cameras than you'd otherwise expect on a premium device that costs around $1,000.But the biggest clue that Apple might be taking a page out of Samsung's playbook is the iPhone Air's thinness. The idea of simply making a slimmer iPhone with worse specs without lowering its price doesn't really make sense in 2025. Unless you're doing so in preparation for a future product. So if we consider the S25 Edge again (which measures just 5.88mm thick) and then compare that to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (which came out just a couple months later and measures 4.2mm thick when unfolded), suddenly an unmistakable pattern begins to form. The iPhone 17 Air is one half of Apple's upcoming foldable and if the rumors are correct, next year Apple is essentially going to smash two of them together while adding a hinge and a flexible screen. Voila, there's your iPhone Fold (or whatever Apple ends up calling it).When viewed side-by-side next to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, it's not hard to see how the iPhone Air's design might translate into a foldable iPhone.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetOK, enough speculation, what about the iPhone Air itself? In short, this thing is deliciously thin at just 5.6mm. It really is one of those things that you can't fully appreciate until you hold it in your hand. It has beautifully polished edges and while I don't love the term "camera plateau," there's a lot of engineering that went into creating the subtle slope that rises up to meet the phone's lone 48MP rear camera.In front, the Air's 6.5-inch display looks as colorful and vibrant as you'd expect and I'm delighted to see it get ProMotion support as well. And for selfies, I really like Apple's new Center Stage system which uses a square 18MP sensor so you can smoothly transition between typical portrait style shots to landscape photos. Plus, if you don't want to control things manually, there's also an automatic setting which could seriously streamline future social media photo and video shoots.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThe shiny finish on the Air's titanium frame is a rather nice, though if Apple hadn't said so, I might have thought it was stainless steel. That said, at just 165 grams, titanium was one of the few ways to get the Air's weight down that low while increasing durability. I also want to add that the sky blue model is my favorite color for the Air because depending on the light, its hue shifts from bright robin's egg to a more understated gray. The only downside to its overall design is that the chassis is a bit of a fingerprint magnet.However, I still have a few remaining questions that will need to be answered after further testing. The addition of a A19 Pro chip and a ProMotion screen should give the phone a big boost in power efficiency. But it remains to be seen how the Air's battery life will hold up in real life. Apple is claiming continuous video playback of up to 27 hours, but it's sort of telling that during the keynote, the company showed a new super sleek MagSafe battery pack, which may end up being a must-have accessory for people who push their phones hard.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetAdditionally, from the handful of camera samples I've seen, the iPhone Air's 48MP rear camera has excellent image quality, though I'm still not sure about the move to a single lens system, even if it does support up to a 4x zoom.Regardless, with the iPhone Air filling in the gap where the standard Plus model would normally be, Apple has taken its traditionally under-appreciated middle child and turned it into the most sleek and stylish handset the company has ever made. Unfortunately, all that sophistication does come with a slightly higher price of $999, up from the $899 for last year's iPhone 16 Plus.The iPhone Air will start at $999 with 256GB of storage. Pre-orders begin this Friday, September 12 at 8AM ET followed by official sales slated for September 19.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-air-hands-on-the-super-sleek-precursor-to-apples-upcoming-foldable-185851102.html?src=rss

As expected, Apple's September 9 "awe-dropping" event brought a tsunami of new hardware, including the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. But those long-awaited models weren't the only launches worth noting - the event also debuted three new Apple Watches: the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3. Now that the livestream is over, these three new Apple wearables are all available for pre-order. All three will ship out on September 19. Apple Watch Ultra 3 This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-pre-order-the-apple-watch-ultra-3-apple-watch-series-11-and-apple-watch-se-3-175645177.html?src=rss

The iPhone Air may get most of the attention at today's Apple event, but the "regular" iPhone 17 is the one a lot of the iOS faithful will buy. This year's new model may not look like a massive overhaul since the design is mostly the same, but don't let that fool you. The company has massively upgraded the display to include ProMotion and a 120Hz refresh rate. There's more power under the hood, ready to harness all of the features that Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 provide. Plus, there's eight more hours of battery life and faster charging when you need it. And I haven't even mentioned the camera updates yet, which are highlighted by the Center Stage front camera.With the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple nixed the iPhone 17 Plus. Now you're left to decide between the 6.3-inch iPhone 17, 6.5-inch iPhone Air or the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 6.3-inch Pro) - if you're primarily concerned with size. I was worried the company would leave us with a 6.1-inch base iPhone, a handset that feels incredibly small after I finally got used to the iPhone 16 Plus. I'm happy to report that the iPhone 17 bridges the gap nicely, and I don't think the smaller "regular" model will be a strain on my delicate sensibilities.Developing...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-17-hands-on-no-plus-no-problem-192747122.html?src=rss

In an absolute shocker, an early September Apple event included the official reveal of the iPhone 17. Who could have seen that coming? Arguably the biggest change this time around - in the most literal sense - concerns the display. At 6.3 inches, it's larger than the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch screen. Sorry to iPhone users with smaller hands and anyone else who is fed up of every phone becoming a phablet. The bezels are thinner too. Not only is the iPhone 17 screen larger than the one on its predecessor, it boasts a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, meaning it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling (you can perhaps thank my colleague Igor Bonifacic for willing that into existence). It's an always-on screen. When you aren't using your iPhone 17, the refresh rate dips to 1Hz to help optimize battery life. The front of the device boasts Ceramic Shield 2, which improves scratch resistance by three times, Apple claims. There's also a seven-layer anti-glare coating that's designed to improve readability, and there's a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits (1,000 nits more than the iPhone 16). No prizes for guessing that there's an upgraded processor in the iPhone 17. An A19 processor with a 3nm design is powering this year's base model. Apple says it has more memory bandwidth to bolster on-device large language model processing (the 16-core neural engine will help with that). The A19 has a five-core GPU as well. That, plus the 120Hz display, should bolster gaming on the iPhone 17. Unfortunately, Apple is sticking with a dual camera system on the rear. Apple is calling this a Dual Fusion camera system which merges the capabilities of both lenses. The main camera is a 48MP lens with integrated optical-quality 2x telephoto and a 26mm focal length. There's also a 48MP ultrawide sensor - Apple says this can capture up to four times the resolution of the previous-gen camera. Apple As for the front-facing camera, it has a much larger sensor than on previous models, according to Apple. It's also square instead of rectangular. One big benefit of that change is that you'll be able to snap landscape selfies in any orientation - no need to rotate your phone to do that. Your iPhone 17 will automatically switch between landscape and portrait orientations if, for instance, AI detects more people in the photo to make sure everyone is included. The selfie camera can take 18MP snaps, which is an upgrade on the 12MP resolution that the iPhone 16's front-facing lens topped out at. The Center Stage camera offers improved stabilization for videos (which you can capture in 4K HDR), FaceTime calls and video calls in third-party apps, Apple says. There's also support for a feature called Dual Capture. This allows you to record video using both the front and rear cameras at the same time. On the battery front, Apple says the iPhone 17 will deliver up to 30 hours of continuous video playback on a single charge, which is eight hours more than on the iPhone 16. The Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 can learn your typical battery consumption levels and conserve power when needed. In addition, the company claims you can top the battery up to 50 percent in 20 minutes thanks to faster charging. You'll need a powerful enough USB-C charger for that, of course, and it just so happens Apple is starting to sell a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max, which will do the trick. That costs $39. Apple's MagSafe compatible cases include the $49 clear case, $59 FineWoven wallet and $49 silicone case (available in black, neon yellow, light moss, anchor blue, and purple fog). The latter works with Apple's new crossbody strap, which is pretty self-explanatory. It could help keep your iPhone secure while freeing up space in your pocket. It's made with 100 percent recycled yarns and comes in 10 colors. The strap has an adjustable length. Oh, and it costs $59. Elsewhere, Apple is promising improved performance and reliability for features such as Personal Hotspot and AirDrop thanks to the N1 networking chip it designed in house. As you might expect, this supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity too. The dimensions are slightly different from the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 is 0.1mm narrower at 71.5mm (2.81 inches) and 2mm taller at 147.6mm (5.89 inches). It's a hair thicker too, adding 0.15mm. Moreover, the iPhone 17 is seven grams heavier than its predecessor at 177 grams (6.24 ounces). The iPhone 17 runs iOS 26, which boasts Apple's new Liquid Glass design language. It features the expansion of Apple's Visual Intelligence - the company's answer to Google Lens - to screenshots, as well as overhauled Camera and Phone apps. Moreover, iOS 26 brings live translation to the Phone, FaceTime and Messages apps, along with polls to group chats, additional lock screen options and much more. The iPhone 17 will be available in black, lavender, mist blue, sage and white. In a very welcome update, Apple is doubling the base storage to 256GB. There's no price increase this year, as the iPhone 17 starts at $799. Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 (and the other models) start this Friday, September 12 at 8AM ET. The iPhone 17 will hit shelves on September 19 in more than 63 countries, including the US. It will become available in 22 more countries and regions a week later. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-17-boasts-a-larger-display-with-promotion-support-and-a-120hz-refresh-rate-173429663.html?src=rss

Apple has taken the wraps off its latest crop of iPhones, introducing four devices in total: the standard iPhone 17, the high-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max and an all-new ultra-thin model called the iPhone Air. We have hands-on previews for the Air and Pro models already, but as always, most people should hold off on making a purchase until we can fully review the phones in the coming days. If you're already sure you want to upgrade, however, we've broken down what you should know about each new iPhone before you pre-order. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-iphone-air-iphone-17-and-iphone-17-pro-ahead-of-their-september-19-release-date-185943747.html?src=rss

Apple announced three new smartwatches at its Awe Dropping" event today. Along with new iPhone 17 models, we now have the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and (finally) a new Apple Watch SE - much as the rumors predicted. The Apple Watch Series 11 is available for pre-order today with a starting price of $399 and will ship out September 19. Engadget's Cherlynn Low, Sam Rutherford and Billy Steele are on the ground at the event, so we'll have hands-on coverage soon, followed by full reviews in a week or so. In the meantime, here's everything we know about the newest flagship series Apple Watch. The Apple Watch Series 11 can deliver hypertension alerts The keynote speech started off with dramatic testimonials of how the Apple Watch has helped people with their health and well being, alerting them to health issues and calling for help that saved their lives. The new model will now help identify another health woe: hypertension. Apple's VP of health, Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, introduced a feature that can help detect hypertension (high blood pressure), a condition which affects over a billion people worldwide and often has no obvious symptoms. The feature relies on the same optical heart sensor the Apple Watch has had for years, but now a new algorithm informed by both machine learning and a study involving more than 100,000 participants looks for high blood pressure. It works in the background over the course of a month to identify patterns associated with hypertension. Desai made sure to state that it can't detect all cases of hypertension, but that Apple expects to notify more than one million people that they may have undiagnosed hypertension in the first year of the feature's availability - though, that's dependent on FDA clearance. (Apple expects to gain that soon.) Apple A screen that's twice as scratch resistant As for what else is new this year, we heard from Stan Ng, VP of Apple Watch and health product marketing, who called the Series 11 the thinnest and most comfortable ever. The Ion-X glass now has a ceramic coating bonded at an atomic level making it two times more scratch-resistant than before. There's a new color (Space Grey to go along with the Rose Gold, Jet Black and Silver from prior models) and the case is now made from 100 percent recycled aluminum, up from 95 percent on the Series 10. There's also a slate of colors in polished, 100 percent recycled titanium. Battery life is now up to 24 hours, thanks to a battery redesign, meaning you can wear it all day and night. The Apple Watch will now award you a sleep score If you wear your watch all night, you'll be rewarded with a new sleep score (much like you already get from a Galaxy watch or a Pixel Watch/Fitbit). The sleep score analyzes the quality of your sleep based on duration, consistency, time awake and other metrics. You'll also get details on what affected your score and what you can do to get better sleep next time. The Apple Heart and Movement study provided sleep data to help inform how the sleep score works. Cellular models now get 5G connectivity If you opt for the cellular model, you'll get access to 5G networks, instead of just LTE. That'll allow for speedier data connections on your wrist even if you leave your phone at home. The modem and antenna architecture should provide wider coverage as well, while being more power efficient. 5G cellular connection will be available from most carriers at launch. The wearable will ship with watchOS 26, which showcases the new Liquid Glass design - and the Apple Watch is getting a new watch face to showcase a translucent look called Flow. There's also a new Exactograph watch face, which Ng described as a "modern reinterpretation of a traditional regulator clock." Apple What's stayed the same on the Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch announcements usually lavish much praise on the new processor chip ("system in a package" or SiP). There was no mention on that front for the Series 11 - because it's using the same S10 chip as last year. We found the performance was plenty capable last time around, so that's not necessarily a bad thing. Last year, Apple gave its flagship wearable the biggest hardware update since the Series 4, so it's not surprising the new model retains that general design. Like the Series 10, the Apple Watch Series 11 comes in a 42mm or 46mm case size. Strangely, the company is touting it as the thinnest ever - though the tech specs list it at the same 9.7mm as the Series 10. We did indeed find the Series 10 to be comfortably thin, so again, not a complaint. The best thing that hasn't changed is the price. Last year, the Series 10 started at $399 - exactly how much the base model Series 11 costs. There was plenty of speculation as to whether tariffs would up the prices of the new Apple hardware, but at least for the company's flagship wearable, any increased costs didn't get passed on to the customer. Apple Watch Series 11 pricing and availability The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 for the 42mm aluminum case and GPS-only connectivity. The larger 46mm case starts at $429. Adding 5G cellular connectivity tacks on $100 to both models. The titanium case bumps the starting price to $699, but cellular is included. Of course, there are also a slew of new bands you can pick that'll add more dollars to your Apple Watch purchase - and the Hermes variant goes for as much as $1,950 (but comes with a custom watch face). All Apple Watches are available for pre-order today and will be available September 19. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-includes-5g-and-a-hypertension-tracking-feature-172451506.html?src=rss

With the start of September comes the promise of crisp, fall-like weather and, like clockwork, new iPhones. Apple's "awe dropping" iPhone 17 event this year had execs showing off the latest iPhones from Cupertino and reminding folks of the changes Liquid Glass and iOS 26 will bring to their handsets in the coming week. New Apple Watches and AirPods are expected to be revealed as well. If you're unable to watch the event live or follow along with Engadget's liveblog, here are all of the biggest announcements coming out of Apple's iPhone 17 event. iPhone 17 The handsets in the standard iPhone 17 lineup have 6.3-inch, 120Hz displays with ProMotion and thinner borders. Apple's touting improved durability thanks in part to Ceramic Shield 2, which has three times the scratch resistance as previous Ceramic Shield tech. The iPhone 17 is powered by the new A19 chipset, which is faster and more efficient than the previous processor thanks in part to an improved neural engine, a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU. Improvements in power efficiency will also get you eight additional hours of battery life on the iPhone 17. As for the rear camera array, iPhone 17 has a 48MP main Fusion ultra wide camera and a 12MP telephoto lens. The selfie camera has been improved to be a "center stage" front camera, with better stabilization, a wider field of view and a new larger, square sensor that lets you take higher quality images and videos more easily. You also won't have to rotate your iPhone when you want to take a photo or video in landscape mode. iPhone Air Apple As expected, Apple announced a new member of the iPhone family during the event. The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone yet, measuring just 5.6mm thick, and made of spacecraft-level titanium. Ceramic Shield 2 surrounds the iPhone Air on both sides, which helps make it more durable than any previous iPhone. The screen measures 6.5-inches, and the Air's always-on display supports ProMotion and up to 3,000 nits of brightness. Powering the iPhone Air is the A19 Pro chipset, which features a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU that features new neural accelerators built in. The new N1 chip enables the latest wireless technologies including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the updated C1X modem is twice as fast as the previous C1 chipset. The rear camera setup appears to just have one shooter, but actually includes a 48MP Fusion lens and a 12MP 2x telephoto lens built in. The front-facing camera is the new center stage camera that features improved stabilization and software that makes it so you don't have to rotate your phone to take landscape photos and videos anymore. As far as battery life goes, Apple claims the iPhone Air will get "all-day" battery life thanks in part to hardware features and software perks like Adaptive Power Mode, which learns your habits to intelligently manage battery life. The iPhone Air will work with MagSafe battery packs like the new, super slim one Apple designed specifically to work with the Air. AirPods Pro 3 Apple After three years, we now have a new version of the AirPods Pro. Apple's latest premium earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, look much the same as the Pro 2, but now they have heart rate monitoring thanks to new built-in biometric sensors. The Fitness app has new experiences to accompany this, including new workouts you can track while wearing just AirPods Pro 3 and carrying your iPhone. Apple's also touting improved audio with spatial listening, better active noise cancellation (four times as effective as the ANC in the original AirPods Pro) and foam-infused eartips. Live translation is another new feature which is, unsurprisingly, powered by Apple Intelligence. A new gesture will activate live translation when you're wearing the new buds, and it will translate words spoken to you in another language to your preferred language. To reply, all you have to do is speak naturally in your own native language, and a translation will show up on your iPhone screen for the person you're talking with to see. As far as battery life goes, they should get at least eight hours on a single charge. AirPods Pro 3 are available to order today for $249, and will be widely available on September 19. Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE Apple Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 11 as its thinnest and most durable smartwatch yet. It's twice as scratch resistant as previous watches, and it now supports 5G for the first time thanks to a new modem and improved internal tech that make it more power efficient. The watch will also be able to monitor for hypertension, or high blood pressure, using improved algorithms and the built-in heart rate monitor. If the watch identifies patterns of hypertension, you'll get an alert in the Health app. Series 11 watches will also now get up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, an improvement from the previous model. It's been two years since we got an updated Apple Watch Ultra, and that's been remedied now with the Ultra 3. The new watch has a bigger, better display thanks to LTPO 3 technology. A big new feature is satellite connectivity, allowing you to stay connected wherever you may go and Emergency SOS is included with all Ultra 3 watches. On the entry-level side of the spectrum, the Apple Watch SE is getting an update with a new always-on display, optional 5G, the improved S10 chip and support for gestures like Double Tab and wrist-flick. The Apple Watch SE will also get sleep apnea notifications and the new Sleep Score feature that's also available on the Series 11 watches. However, it's battery life remains the same as before - up to 18 hours - although you will now get fast-charging support. Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399; the Ultra 3 starts at $799 and the SE starts at $249. You can pre-order them today and they'll be widely available on September 19. This story is developing; please refresh for updates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-apple-revealed-at-the-iphone-17-launch-event-171028231.html?src=rss

The worst kept secret of 2025 is official. At its Awe Dropping event on Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone Air, its thinnest iPhone to date.Just how thin is the iPhone Air? At its thinnest point, the new model is 5.6mm thick. To put those measurements in perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, making the Air nearly 2mm thinner than Apple's 2024 flagship. Prior to today, the 6.9mm thick iPhone 6 was the company's thinnest smartphone to date. Since then, newer iPhones have been thicker to accommodate larger batteries, Face ID, multi-camera arrays and other components. The iPhone Air reverses that trend.At the same time, Apple claims the Air is its most durable phone yet, with a frame made from recycled titanium. Additionally, the Air is encased in the company's Ceramic Shield material, which Apple says is now 3x more scratch resistant than previous iterations. As for the display, it's a 6.5-inch screen with ProMotion support up to 120Hz, and always-on functionality.AppleInternally, the iPhone Air features Apple's new A19 Pro chipset. Tim Millet, vice president of platform architecture at Apple, said the new chip, with its six-core CPU, is the fastest smartphone processor on the market.Developing...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-air-is-apples-thinnest-phone-yet-174342422.html?src=rss

AirPods Pro 3, Apple's high-end earbuds, joined the iPhone Air and new Apple Watches in the spotlight at Apple's September 9 "awe-dropping" launch event. Pre-orders won't be open until the livestream ends, but they'll be live today, and the first AirPods Pro 3 will ship on September 19. Check back soon to learn how to get your hands on a pair of the new AirPods to go with your iPhone Air.AirPods Pro 3This is a developing story. Check back soon for updates.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-airpods-pro-3-173916856.html?src=rss

It's been two years since Apple updated its rugged, ultra-premium Watch Ultra line, so it was long overdue for a replacement. Today, at its Awe Dropping event to launch the iPhone 17, the company has unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple was naturally delighted to show off a broad number of tweaks that, in aggregate, more than make up for that additional year delay. The most notable new feature is satellite communication, letting you stay in touch no matter where you are in the world.Watch Ultra 3 is equipped with a 5G modem, matching the change to both the Watch Series 11 and SE Series 3. But those other timepieces do not get the built-in, two-way satellite communication offering Emergency SOS and Find My, letting you share your location if you're in trouble in a remote area. With the Watch's existing fall detection capabilities, it'll also raise the alarm on your behalf if you're not able to respond to it in time. Find My will share your location once every 15 minutes, and users can even send and receive texts and tapbacks with contacts via satellites.The Watch Ultra 3's new 3D printed case has had its display bezels shrunk to accommodate the "largest screen of any Apple Watch ever." More importantly, the display technology has been tweaked (LTPO3) with wide-angle OLEDs to improve off-angle viewing. So, if you want to check the time without making it obvious that you're checking the time, you won't be faced with an illegible screen any more. LTPO3 also is efficient enough that even in always-on mode, you'll be able to see a ticking seconds hand without activating the display.An even more welcome improvement (at least, for me) is in battery life, with Apple claiming Ultra 3 will survive for 42 hours on a single charge. Put the device into Low Power Mode and you will apparently be able to eke its life to 72 hours, which is unprecedented for an Apple Watch. The company says that the greater efficiency of its display, system-on-chip and new 5G modem has also helped improve the watch's longevity.Naturally, you'll also get all of the software bells and whistles announced with the other Watch models today. That includes Hypertension alerts, so if the system detects a possible spike in your blood pressure you can get advice to get it checked out long before it becomes an issue. Similarly, the company is adding a Fitbit/Garmin/Oura/Insert-Other-Fitness-Provider-Of-Choice-esque Sleep Score feature to the Watch. Wear it to bed, and it will monitor your heart rate, temperature, blood oxygenation and respiratory rate (keeping an eye on possible sleep apnea) to score your sleep in the morning.Apple commonly updates its devices annually, but the Ultra 2 has been top of the list for two years. It's likely that the bulk of the company's design focus in the previous cycle was on the top down redesign of the regular Watch. After all, the Watch 10 got a thinner case and, in the 46mm version, a display slightly bigger than the Watch Ultra. Plus, those in the know say that the S10 system-on-chip found in the 2024 models was just a smaller version of the S9 found in the Ultra 2. Consequently, there was little reason to upgrade the Ultra to the newer package since it already had plenty of room inside its beefy, rugged case.The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available to pre-order today for $799, with shipments beginning on September 19. You can pick it up in "natural" or black titanium, with a new selection of bandsThis breaking news story is developing, please refresh for more information.Apple Watch Ultra 3Apple Watch Ultra 2Apple Watch 10Case Size49mm49mm42mm, 46mmDisplay Resolution410 x 502374 x 446, 416x496Max Brightness3,000 nits2,000 nitsSoCApple S9Apple S10Battery Size564 mAh327mAhThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-ultra-3-has-satellite-connectivity-and-larger-display-173046366.html?src=rss

The Plex streaming platform has experienced a security breach and is telling customers to change their passwords "immediately." They also suggest that users enable two-factor authentication and sign out of any connected devices that are currently logged in.The company says a database was accessed by an an unauthorized third party" and that some customers had their emails, usernames and hashed passwords exposed. As indicated, the breach involved hashed passwords, which are scrambled through an algorithm, so it's unlikely the bad actor could read them. However, this is an absolute case of "better safe than sorry."

AI summaries seem to be everywhere, with the latest entry into the mix coming courtesy of Mozilla. The company has announced that its web browser, Firefox, is rolling out page summaries on mobile devices. Notably, this feature is only available for English-language iOS users in the US right now.Unlike other major summary tools from Google and the like, Firefox's page summaries are available when you shake your device. If you feel a bit weird doing that then you can, instead, tap the thunderbolt icon on the right side of the address bar. There's also the option to click the three-dot menu icon and then tap summarize page.You should be able to get a summary of any webpage with 5,000 words or less - though, that might require a lot of guesstimating if the word count is anywhere close. You can also turn off summaries in settings.Firefox will use Apple Intelligence for the summary if you have an iPhone 15 or newer once iOS 26 drops. Otherwise, Mozilla's cloud-based AI should securely receive the page text and then create a summary.The latest summary feature follows Firefox's Link Previews, launched in May. The experimental feature used AI to preview a link's content, including a list of key points.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/firefox-provides-ai-page-summaries-if-you-shake-your-iphone-145837557.html?src=rss

Anthropic has begun rolling out a small but significant update to Claude. Starting today you can use the chatbot to create and edit Excel spreadsheets, documents, PowerPoint slide decks and PDFs. In the past, Claude offered rudimentary file support, but now you can interact with any documents you need to modify directly through the chatbot. The new functionality is part of a feature preview you can try out as long as you have a Max, Team or Enterprise subscription. Sorry, Pro and free users, you'll have to wait. The preview will roll out to Pro subscribers "in the coming weeks," with no timeline yet for when free users can expect access."We've given Claude access to a private computer environment where it can write code and run programs to produce the files and analyses you need. This transforms Claude from an advisor into an active collaborator. You bring the context and strategy; Claude handles the technical implementation behind the scenes," says Anthropic of how it built the feature. "This shows where we're headed: making sophisticated multi-step work accessible through conversation. As these capabilities expand, the gap between idea and execution will keep shrinking."To check out the preview, toggle "Upgraded file creation and analysis" in the settings menu, which you can find by first selecting "Features" and then "Experimental." You can then upload or describe the file you'd like Claude to create or edit for you, and download Claude's creation once you're happy with the result.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/claude-can-now-edit-and-create-files-including-excel-spreadsheets-143043937.html?src=rss

Video game difficulty is a real balancing act. You want to be challenged and earn each new level, but when it's too hard there's more frustration than fun. Apparently, a number of players have found the new Hollow Knight: Silksong game a bit too hard, struggling to defeat some of the bosses.Now, Team Cherry, the indie studio behind the Hollow Knight series, is making things a bit easier. Team Cherry has announced Hollow Knight: Silksong's first patch, which includes a "slight difficulty reduction in early game bosses." This update includes the bosses Moorwing and Sister Splinter.Otherwise, the patch mostly includes bug fixes, such as gamers remaining cloakless or getting stuck floating. It also brings an increase in rosary rewards from relics and psalm cylinders, as well as for courier deliveries. These retroactive updates should come by mid next week, but eager players can join the public-beta to get the fix. Team Cherry notes that its already working on more fixes in a second patch.The long awaited sequel to Hollow Knight finally launched on September 4, with eager fans crashing Steam, the Nintendo eshop and the Xbox Store. It's available now for $20.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollow-knight-silksongs-first-patch-should-give-you-a-chance-against-its-early-bosses-134125593.html?src=rss

LG's in-vehicle entertainment platform will soon come integrated with an Xbox app for select internet-connected vehicles. Yes, people will be able to play full games on their infotainment systems, as long as they have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription so that they can stream titles available on the service, as well as games they already own. They'll, of course, need to switch on internet access on their cars and to use a compatible Bluetooth controller to be able to play games, including Don't Starve, Mafia: The Old Country and Forza Horizon 5.The companies didn't say how they're ensuring that drivers themselves don't play games while on the road, such as during traffic stops. A 2020 study revealed that drivers are increasingly playing games behind the wheel, while an earlier study showed that advanced infotainment systems can take a driver's attention off the road. Both LG and Xbox, however, specifically mentioned that the feature is for passengers. "Whether you're waiting at an EV charging station or trying to entertain your passengers on an extended road trip, pass the time by playing games keeping everyone entertained and making the journey feel more fun," Xbox wrote in its announcement.Back in 2021, reports came out that Tesla allowed drivers to play a selection of games on their cars' infotainment system even while they're in motion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the so-called "Passenger Play" function, which previously only allowed games to run while the vehicle is parked until an update changed it. Tesla responded by quickly disabling the feature if a car is on the move.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-and-lg-are-bringing-cloud-gaming-to-cars-133016305.html?src=rss

Canon has announced the EOS C50, its smallest cinema camera yet with features designed to appeal to social media creators and filmmakers alike. It has an RF mirrorless mount and all-new full-frame sensor that supports up to 7K 60p internal RAW recording and 32MP photo capture, making it a do-it-all camera for working pros.Despite the small size and light 1.5 pound weight, the EOS C50 is feature-rich. The full-frame CMOS sensor has a dual ISO system that operates in Canon Log 2 (C-Log 2) at ISO 800 and 6400 for better low-light performance. It also allows up to 12-bit Cinema RAW Light recording at up to 7K 60p and RAW HQ at 7K 30p, plus high-bitrate XF-AVC S and XF -HEV C modes. The C50 is also the company's first cinema camera with 3:2 open gate recording that allows for lossless conversion to other formats - finally matching a feature found in Panasonic's mirrorless cameras.CanonCanon stretched that capability with something it calls simultaneous crop recording. When shooting 4K, you can output 2K social media video at the same time in 9:17, 9:16 or 1:1 formats. That will be handy for YouTube creators who also use Instagram or TikTok to promote videos.Since it's part of Canon's Cinema lineup, the C50 offers pro features like two full-size XLR audio inputs (via an optional top handle), a zoom rocker, waveform/peaking displays, C-Log3 support and a dedicated start-stop button. It also comes with Canon's excellent Dual Pixel autofocus system and AI subject tracking that detects the eyes, face, head and body of people or animals. Other key features include SD-UHS II and CFexpress slots and a time code terminal. However, the C50 lacks in-body stabilization, relying instead on optical lens and electronic stabilization.CanonThe C50 may be Canon's best hybrid cinema camera yet as well, with 32MB photos and burst shooting at up to 40 fps. Canon also introduced the new RF 85mm F/1.4 L VCM Hybrid Lens designed for portrait shooting for video and photos. Finally, for compact camera enthusiasts, Canon has released an updated version of its 2016 Elpha 360 HS, the Elpha 360 HS A, with a microSD slot in place of the original SD slot.The Canon EOS C50 camera will ship toward the end of Q4 2025 for $3,899 and the new RF85mm F/1.4 L VCM lens will arrive this month for $1,649. The PowerShot Elph 360 HS A hits stores in October 2025 for $380.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/canons-tiny-c50-cinema-camera-can-shoot-widescreen-and-vertical-video-simultaneously-130001859.html?src=rss

We're now just hours away from setting our eyes on the iPhone 17 lineup. Apple will reveal the newest smartphones during its big September "Awe dropping" iPhone event this afternoon at 1PM ET. The Engadget team will be liveblogging the iPhone event from Cupertino in real-time if you want to follow along. (You can watch the iPhone 17 event on YouTube, too.) The newest phones will come equipped with the latest iOS 26 features preinstalled, along with any new features Apple reveals today. So what can we expect to see? While Apple keeps all the details under lock and key, we actually have a very strong idea as to what we'll be seeing, thanks to leaks from Asian supply chains, case manufacturers and some credible media reports. Oh, and there are plenty of more fanciful rumors, too. Here's our best bet as to what will be coming out of Cupertino next in just a few days.What are the latest iPhone 17 rumors?Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is the industry's best-known Apple whisperer, and his event preview offers a tidy overview of what to expect on Tuesday. That includes four new iPhone 17 models, with an all-new superthin model, dubbed the iPhone Air, leading the pack. We'll also likely see the baseline iPhone 17, as well as the usual Pro and big-screen Pro Max models, which will offer the line's best cameras and extras.Additionally, expect up to three new Apple Watch models, with the satellite-connected Apple Watch Ultra 3 and a possible new entry-level Apple Watch SE flanking the Apple Watch Series 11. Rounding out the new products should be the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, which are said to add heart-rate monitoring and a live translation feature.While all of those reports largely jibe with earlier rumors, Gurman's report includes screen sizes and handset sizes down to the millimeter. In fact, he had previously outlined most of the same expectations in a recent appearance on the Engadget Podcast.But he's not the only one with exact measurements: Plenty of case makers, including Dbrand, have unveiled their cases for the complete iPhone 17 line (including the 17 Pro case shown above), further solidifying expectations on dimensions and screen sizes for the new models. That said, we're still treating everything as unconfirmed until Apple's official announcements hit on Tuesday.While we don't expect any big leaps forward on the Apple Intelligence front at Tuesday's event, Gurman's subsequent report notes that Apple is continuing to experiment with AI models from Google, Anthropic and OpenAI, and may license technology from one or more of them ahead of a major Siri upgrade that could arrive as soon as March 2026.In addition, supposed battery capacities for the iPhone 17 models have appeared in a Chinese regulatory database, as shared on X by account ShrimpApplePro (via MacRumors). If the numbers are accurate, the iPhone 17 will get a 3.7 percent increase in battery capacity versus last year's model, the 17 Pro will gain a whopping 18.7 percent and the Pro Max gets an 8.6 percent improvement over the already strong 16 Pro Max battery. Not surprisingly, the leak lists the iPhone Air at around 3,100 mAh, or about 16 percent under the capacity of the iPhone 17 number. It will be interesting to see how Apple addresses that power shortfall if and when the company shares these numbers during or after its announcement.How much will the iPhone 17 cost?Apple's announced plan to expand US-based manufacturing partners seems to give it at least some shielding from the steepest Trump administration tariffs that have already triggered price increases on everything from PlayStations to Switch consoles to high-end cameras to Sonos speakers. But given that President Trump's trade policies can change from week to week, and Apple's continuing reliance on Asia-based supply chains, price shocks remain an ongoing possibility. The bigger question is: Will Apple absorb any higher costs, or pass them on to consumers?If prices do creep up, Apple may choose to pair it with an "upgrade." Consider this recent rumor posted by MacRumorsfrom a leaker known as "Instant Digital," suggesting that the default storage of the iPhone 17 line may start at 256GB, doubling the current 128GB baseline. While that could be accompanied by a price increase of $50, Apple could at least pitch it as a "better value." That said, the company doubled the default RAM of its Mac computers from 8GB to 16GB at no extra cost in 2024 - but that was before the current Trump tariff cycle started.Now, on the eve of the iPhone announcement, a report from JPMorgan mixes and matches the rumors above. As recounted in 9to5Mac, the iPhone line's starting prices will still stretch from $799 to $1,199 - just as they do now - with the Air possibly getting a $50 increase versus the iPhone Plus model it's replacing, and the 17 Pro costing an additional $100, but including more storage.Again, these prices are only projections and haven't been confirmed by Apple.When will the iPhone 17 series be announced?As noted above, the date has been confirmed for Tuesday, September 9. That lines up with Apple's traditional schedule, and the earlier report from iphone-ticker.de (via MacRumors).This generation of Apple smartphones may be the last to be fully released in September, however. There have been hints that the introduction of the iPhone 18 collection in 2026 will be split into a pro-tier announcement in the fall and a standard model announcement the following spring.What will the new iPhone 17 lineup include?Design leaks suggest that Apple is building an ultra-thin smartphone, likely to be named the iPhone 17 Air to match Apple's ultralight laptop designation. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in January (and reaffirmed in his September event preview) that the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a basic A19 chip and will only have a single camera lens. It will also supposedly use Apple's new in-house modem, which was introduced in February on the iPhone 16e.As a guest on the latest Engadget Podcast, Gurman told Engadget's Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic the rumored iPhone Air will be rough around the edges at first. He believes the 17 Air will "lag in both" when it comes to camera and battery performance. "The battery life is going to be subpar compared to a base-level 17 or Pro model," he says. The ultimate goal, he notes, is to get all the functionality of the Pro models into the Air models.An investor note from Apple analyst Jeff Pu indicated that the Air will have a titanium frame. If his reports are accurate, the lightweight smartphone will be the only entry in the iPhone 17 lineup to use that metal; the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to be made of aluminum, which is lighter. Other speculation had suggested that the Air would use a blend of aluminum and titanium, so the exact materials may not be known until the official announcement.Additionally, an August 4 MacRumors report said the internal battery pack of the iPhone Air is just 2.49mm thick - half the thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro battery. The leak was posted on the Korean-language Naver blog, where they show the alleged batteries of the iPhone 17 Air and 17 Pro side by side. The same account claimed the 17 Air's battery capacity was a mere 2,800 mAh, MacRumors noted. (That's below the battery capacity of current iPhone 16 models.)At the very least, it sounds like the iPhone 17 Air won't take away the charging port and rely only on wireless connectivity. Bloomberg said that while Apple had investigated making the iPhone 17 Air without a single port, the company (fortunately) changed plans. He also says that the rumored phone will have a 6.6-inch screen and include the Dynamic Island and Camera Control button.On a similar topic, an iPhone 17 Pro production leak appears to have revealed an all-aluminum chassis, according to MacRumors. Originally posted by leaker Majin Bu, the image shows a shell that has a large round hole on the back (where the Apple logo typically is) to allow for MagSafe charging. MacRumors says this could just be a molding but notes that the aluminum frame (versus the current titanium in Pro iPhone models) would yield a significantly lower weight.That same leaker (Majin Bu), whom MacRumors classifies as a "hit-or-miss leaker," suggests the iPhone 17 Pro will have better wireless signal strength thanks to an updated antenna design. The individual posted a render on X that shows a new antenna system that wraps around the iPhone 17 Pro's supposedly wider rear camera bump. Again, this is a render, not a real-world photo. That said, we can't knock the goal of better wireless reception, so we're hoping this one has a degree of truth to it.Leaker Majin Bu also claims "TechWoven" cases could be introduced, per a MacRumors report. The cases match the rumored design on the iPhone 17 models, with the wide camera bump. The leaker noted there are two lanyard holes for "convenient and secure carrying," so it could be worn around your neck. The colors would come in grey/black, blue, green, purple and orange. Additionally, he said there will be new Liquid Silicone cases in eight colors, including Deep Orange, Pale Orange, Grass Green, Celadon, Fog Purple, Grey Blue, Dark Blue and Midnight Black. He also recently showed a clear iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max case with the large rear camera bump cutout. The case isn't fully transparent and instead has a white rectangular piece that covers the MagSafe area.The new Pro iPhones are said to have a full-width "camera island" on the rear, which would mark the first time an Apple model opted for that design. This feature can be seen in the purported iPhone 17 "spotted in the wild." The pics, highlighted on MacRumors, show a black cased iPhone (17 Pro?) with the distinct back panel. Is it the real deal? The dual angles lend a degree of credibility in a social media landscape increasingly polluted with AI-enhanced fakes, but your guess is as good as ours.

The day has finally arrived: Today at 1PM ET, Apple is all but certain to unveil the iPhone 17 line. This year is shaping up to be a departure from recent September product rollouts, with the strong possibility of an all-new superthin iPhone (dubbed "iPhone Air") expected to join the company's lineup. Also on tap could be new Apple Watch models - including the first truly new Ultra model in two years - and (maybe) the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3. Intrigued? You can watch the Apple iPhone 17 event unspool in real-time, livestreamed on YouTube from Cupertino. Even better, Engadget is liveblogging the iPhone 17 launch, with three team members on-site at Apple Park to provide their hands-on impressions.Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman confirmed his expectation for all of the above products to arrive as expected today in his recent event preview story. Gurman had previously reported many of those details, including the expected battery and camera compromises of that rumored thin iPhone Air. You can hear him share his full analysis of the upcoming lineup - and even a peek at some 2026 iPhone models - during his recent guest appearance on the Engadget Podcast.Expected to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air would be the thinnest iPhone yet, besting 2014's iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the previous svelteness champ. And they've only gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Pro has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would also give Apple a direct rival to Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge, which we found to be more than a gimmick.Apple (screenshot)But the iPhone Air's thin design will likely lead to some compromises. It's rumored to have only a single 48 MP camera and a smaller battery - one that's about 16% less capacious than the iPhone 17's power source, if a late-breaking leak on X is to be believed. That said, Taiwan's TrendForce, a market research firm quoted in a recent MacRumors story, suggests that the Air will sport a high-density "silicon anode battery" that could theoretically provide more power from a smaller frame.The Pro lineup could offer some design tweaks and performance improvements. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to switch from titanium to aluminum. And that heat-mapped Apple logo featured in Apple's "Awe dropping" invitations may be indicative of better thermal cooling in the new Pro models, too. They could also see the rear camera array expand to an entire "island" that extends across most of the phone's backside. It's expected to house three cameras (as before), but multiple rumors have suggested it will have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens could jump to 48MP, which would strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The phones may also add an anti-glare coating, similar to those found on iPads.The standard iPhone 17 could see some welcome display upgrades. At least one supply chain source claimed it will add a 120Hz variable refresh rate (ProMotion) display, which the Pro series has used since 2021.AppleOne thing we know without a doubt is that the new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple's biggest design refresh in years. It's easy to imagine the company highlighting the new model's displays as the best way to experience the new Liquid Glass visual language. As for the naming scheme, there haven't been any leaks pointing to a similar hardware rebranding ("iPhone 26," "iPhone 26 Pro," etc.). But hey, Apple does like surprises.Engadget's iPhone 17 rumor roundup gives you a deeper dive into what to expect from the new models.Cherlynn Low for EngadgetApple's fall event isn't just for iPhones. The company is also expected to roll out new Apple Watch models. 5G and a processor upgrade are expected for the Apple Watch Ultra 3. It may also let you send texts via satellite, handy for those who use it out in the wilderness. Regardless of the details, Apple hasn't launched a new rugged and premium model since 2023 (apart from a new color), so it's due for an upgrade.The Series 11 model is unlikely to depart dramatically from the Series 10. After all, that model introduced a new design, with a thinner body and larger screen. (And Apple has historically kept those around in three-year cycles.). But a faster chip also seems logical. Perhaps we'll see 5G arrive on the standard wearable, too.The Apple Watch lineup and the company's Fitness team has been in the news of late too. In addition to ongoing legal battles over the wearable's blood oxygen monitoring feature, Apple's vice president of fitness technologies Jay Blahnik has been accused of creating a toxic workplace environment, according to a New York Times report. It's unlikely that the company even mentions either of these situations at its event on September 9, but it is interesting background information for the fitness and wearable portions of its presentation.We may also see the AirPods Pro 3 at the event. It's been about three years since Apple last upgraded its premium earbuds. The new model could also bring some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (maybe) temperature sensing. Live translation is also rumored, although that may not be exclusive to the third-gen model. But don't expect major design changes, if the latest reports from leaker Majin Bu (via MacRumors) are to be believed: In addition to a "slight reduction in size," Bu notes the case will lose the physical pairing button, while gaining capacitive controls.We aren't holding our breath for any major developments around Apple's AI or its overhauled Siri, which was announced last summer. Mark Gurman reported ahead of Tuesday's event that Apple is working on an AI search product that it plans to launch with the new Siri, but these aren't scheduled to arrive until March.Will there be other announcements? Time will tell, but now we know we won't have to wait long to find out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the answers are just days away.Update, September 9, 2025, 8:35AM ET: Added final details and link to Engadget's liveblog.Update, September 8, 2025, 5:49PM ET: Added a new leak that appears to confirm a lower battery capacity for the iPhone Air.Update, September 7, 2025, 1:53PM ET: Added a new report from Mark Gurman about the timeline for Apple's upgraded Siri and AI search.Update, September 6, 2025, 10:20AM ET: Added a link to Mark Gurman's latest Bloomberg story, which confirms and expands on his months of previous reporting on the imminent new Apple hardware.Update, September 4, 2025, 7:20PM ET: Added a new report that the iPhone Air may feature a high-density battery.Update, September 3, 2025, 2:20PM ET: Included a reference and link to the theory that the invitation graphic suggests a new cooling system for the upcoming iPhones.Update, September 2, 2025, 11:15AM ET: Tweaked the intro to accurately reflect how far we are from the event at this point in time, and added a paragraph on recent happenings around Apple's Watch and Fitness products.Update, August 29, 2025, 2:32PM ET: Added insights from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman based on his appearance on the Engadget Podcast.Update, August 28, 2025, 10:45AM ET: Added new report on AirPods 3 case details.Update, August 26, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added confirmation of official event invitation, date and time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-will-unveil-iphone-17-and-more-at-the-awe-dropping-event-today-heres-everything-we-know-090059199.html?src=rss

We've officially made it to iPhone season (it comes around every September), and today, Apple is finally going to showcase its latest iPhone 17 lineup. That means we'll get to separate fact from rumor once and for all. Apple has dubbed the upcoming event "Awe dropping," so we're hoping for several big announcements that'll warrant the tagline. The show starts at 1PM ET/10AM PT.If you want to tune in to hear what Tim Cook and crew have to say about the presumed iPhone 17, you can stream the show on Apple's website or YouTube channel. We've also got the livestream embedded below, and you can split-screen it with our Apple liveblog for real-time news and analysis.With just hours until the "Awe dropping" event, it seems like we've already gotten a lot of advanced insights about what the iPhone 17 lineup has in store. Apple introduced the software side of the equation with the iOS 26 unveil at WWDC this summer, and since then we've gotten some pretty reliable insights on the hardware.The big reveal is expected to be an ultralight smartphone, likely called the iPhone 17 Air. This would be Apple's first application of its Air nomenclature for mobile, and when we had Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on the Engadget Podcast at the end of August, he suggested that the first iteration of the smartphone might come with some compromises - specifically, a smaller battery and fewer cameras, to better accommodate its svelte frame. We also anticipate seeing a base iPhone 17, an iPhone 17 Pro, and an iPhone 17 Pro Max, all of which should offer more iterative upgrades to last year's iPhone 16 line.Beyond the smartphones, the "Awe dropping" event could also include three new Apple Watches and updated AirPods Pro earbuds. Gurman, again reporting for Bloomberg, notes that Apple has several other devices in the works as well, including a new AirTag, Apple TV and iPad Pro, but it's not as certain if those will pop up at this specific event. Either way, you can tune in shortly to hear about all the new product launches.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-watch-apple-debut-the-iphone-17-lineup-today-at-its-awe-dropping-event-130040406.html?src=rss

It's still back-to-school season and, regardless of whether you've picked up a textbook recently, that will always mean its time to pick up new supplies. Thankfully, there are some great deals currently running, including a new all-time low price for the USB-C Apple Pencil. Right now, you can pick up the USB-C Apple Pencil for $50, down from $79. The 37 percent discount is available as part of Woot's warehouse clean out and will run for six more days or until the accessory sells out. Notably, Woot states that it will deliver the new Pencils in non-retail packaging and that they don't qualify for AppleCare. Apple released its USB-C Pencil in 2023 as part of its switchover from Lightning ports. It's compatible with iPad models including the Pro 11- and 13-inch (M4), Air 11- and 13-inch (M2), mini (A17 Pro and sixth-generation) and 10th-generation iPad. It works really well as a standard option for writing, navigating an iPad and other casual uses. However, it doesn't offer some of the same perks as its more expensive counterparts, such as handling pressure sensitivity and magnetic charging. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-usb-c-apple-pencil-drops-to-a-new-all-time-low-123045887.html?src=rss

Nepal's government has lifted its ban on social media apps including Facebook and X after at least 19 people were killed yesterday during protests, The Guardian reported. "We have withdrawn the shutdown of the social media. They are working now," said communications minister Prithvi Subba Gurung. In a new development, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has resigned due to the unrest, his aide told Reuters.Last week, the government announced it was blocking 26 social media platforms due to noncompliance with a new law requiring them to register in the nation. That action led to criticism from groups like the Federation of Nepali Journalists and Digital Rights Nepal, which called the sudden closure "controlling."Then on Monday, thousands of Nepalese youths started "Gen Z" protests across the country. While triggered by the social media ban, they were fueled by perceived corruption among elites in the nation and the lack of economic opportunities for young people. One site that wasn't banned, TikTok, showed videos featuring children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and pricy vacations, in contrast to the struggles of regular people. "We are protesting against corruption that has been institutionalized in Nepal," a 24-year-old student told The Guardian.During the demonstrations, protesters attempted to enter a Kathmandu parliament building and were repelled by police using water cannon, batons and rubber bullets. However, Amnesty International said live ammunition was also used and police confirmed that 19 people had died in the protests and hundreds were injured.The unrest has continued despite the ban being lifted, with reports of protesters setting fire to the homes of some politicians and ministers being rescued by military helicopters, according to local media. "We are still standing here for our future ... We want this country corruption-free so that everyone can easily access education, hospitals, medical [facilities] ... for a bright future," protester Robin Sreshtha told Reuters.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/nepal-lifts-social-media-ban-after-19-people-were-killed-during-protests-120007652.html?src=rss

Apple's annual iPhone event kicks off later today, and we may finally see the iPhone Air. That would appear alongside the usual iPhone refresh, with an array of iPhone 17 devices. We're expecting four models again: iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.Some reports suggest bigger batteries will appear across the series. Still, the rumored iPhone Air will be the technical star, expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever, even slimmer than the iPhone 6. However, there may be some compromises, such as a single 48-megapixel camera and a smaller battery.EngadgetThe Air may be the only entry in the iPhone 17 lineup to use titanium this year. The iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to be made of aluminum, which is lighter. That could have some users concerned with toughness, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, which had a titanium frame. Talking of the iPhone Pro, multiple rumors have suggested it will have an improved telephoto camera, with the zoom lens jumping to 48MP resolution, which would strengthen its digital zooming abilities.Peripheral-wise, TechWoven cases could also appear. These cases match the rumored design on the iPhone 17 models, with the wide camera bump. The leaks suggest the cases will have two lanyard holes for carrying around your new phone.We're also expecting to see new Apple Watch models, including a Watch Ultra 3. That would be the first major update to the rugged series in two years. It may include 5G connectivity and satellite texting. A new Apple Watch Series 11 is also likely, but it's not expected to shake things up.Rounding out the Apple hardware barrage, we might see the AirPods Pro 3. These could introduce new biometric sensors, like an in-ear heart-rate monitor. While the new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, we don't expect any major announcements about Apple's AI endeavors or an overhauled Siri. At least, for now.The Apple Awe Dropping event kicks off at 1PM ET/ 10AM PT. Will we be there? Yes, of course we will. Check out Engadget's iPhone 17 event liveblog right here.- Mat SmithGet Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The news you might have missed

A fast, reliable SSD can make a huge difference to how your computer feels day to day. From quicker boot times to near-instant file transfers, solid-state drives outpace traditional hard drives in almost every way. They're also more durable, run silently and use less power, making them a smart upgrade for laptops, desktops and even gaming consoles.

Judge William Alsup has rejected the record-breaking $1.5 billion settlement Anthropic has agreed to for a piracy lawsuit filed by writers. According to Bloomberg Law, the federal judge is concerned that the class lawyers struck a deal that will be forced "down the throat of authors." Alsup reportedly felt misled by the deal and said it was "nowhere close to complete." In his order, he said he was "disappointed that counsel have left important questions to be answered in the future," including the list of works involved in the case, the list of authors, the process of notifying members of the class and the claim form class members can use to get their part of the settlement.If you'll recall, the plaintiffs sued Anthropic over the company's use of pirated copies of their works to train its large language models. Around 500,000 authors are involved in the lawsuit, and they're expected to receive $3,000 per work. "This landmark settlement far surpasses any other known copyright recovery," one of the lawyers representing the authors said in a statement. However, Alsup had an "uneasy feeling about hangers on with all [that] money on the table." He explained that class members "get the shaft" in a lot of class actions once the monetary settlement has been established and lawyers stopped caring.Alsup told the lawyers that they must give the class members "very good notice" about the settlement and design a claim form that gives them the choice to opt in or out. They also have to ensure that Anthropic cannot be sued for the same issue in the future. The judge gave the lawyers until September 15 to submit a final list of works involved in the lawsuit. He also wrote in his order that the works list, class members list and the claim form all have to be examined and approved by the court by October 10 before he grants the settlement his preliminary approval.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/judge-rejects-anthropics-record-breaking-15-billion-settlement-for-ai-copyright-lawsuit-033512498.html?src=rss

Bluesky has added a built-in bookmarking feature so users finally have a way to privately save posts on the platform. The update is out now on Bluesky's website and app.Bookmarks on Bluesky work pretty much like they do on any other service. Save a post and you can revisit it later from the "saved posts" section of the app and website. It's overall a basic feature - there's currently no way to organize your saves into folders, for example - but it's a very long overdue addition to the platform.Up to now, Bluesky users have technically been able to save posts via a workaround. Bluesky developer Jaz created a custom "pinned" feed that allowed subscribers to save posts by replying with a emoji. But while this provided a handy way to save posts in the absence of an official bookmarking feature, it wasn't private since it created a public reply for every save. Now, though, there's a handy tool to convert your previously "pinned" posts into private bookmarks. You can also opt to delete your public "pins" or leave them as is.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/bluesky-finally-has-a-private-bookmarking-feature-224110038.html?src=rss

Rimac Technology has unveiled a new battery pack platform for electric vehicles that uses only solid-state batteries. The company has been an EV supplier for notable car brands including Aston Martin and Koenigsegg, as well as making electric supercar Nevara. Rimac collaborated with ProLogium and Mitsubishi Chemical Group on the product, which it claims will offer a lighter, safer and more energy-dense EV battery. It introduced this tech, alongside new composite and hybrid battery EV developments, at the IAA Mobility 2025 event.Solid-state batteries are being touted as an important new development for EVs. European R&D operation Imec released a study into this tech last year that backed claims that these batteries did indeed have the potential to improve efficiency while bringing down costs.However, the commercial development of solid-state batteries has been slow going. Despite a flurry of partnerships several years ago, the targets for getting EVs fully powered by the tech onto the road may still be some time away. For instance, Nissan said it aims to have its first EV solely using solid-state batteries released by its 2028 fiscal year. Rimac didn't offer even a rough timeline for when it might have its new battery tech available for customers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/rimac-introduces-its-take-on-solid-state-batteries-for-electric-vehicles-215915664.html?src=rss

Google is opening up AI Mode to more languages. Starting today, the AI chatbot the company is integrating into Google Search is available in Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese.The company has been rapidly expanding access to the search experience. In May, Google started offering it to everyone in the US (and later the UK and India) after starting public tests just two months earlier.Google added more features to AI Mode in July, including support for the Gemini 2.5 Pro model and Deep Search. As of last month, AI Mode has been present in more than 180 countries. But until now, AI Mode had only been available in English. This is the first language support expansion for the chatbot."Building a truly global Search goes far beyond translation - it requires a nuanced understanding of local information," Hema Budaraju, Google's vice president of search product management wrote in a blog post. "With the advanced multimodal and reasoning capabilities of our custom version of Gemini 2.5 in Search, we've made huge strides in language understanding, so our most advanced AI search capabilities are locally relevant and useful in each new language we support."Google has been claiming recently that traffic to websites from Search is "relatively stable" since the rollout of AI Overviews and that "the web is thriving." However, the company admitted something very different in a court filing last week. Its lawyers stated that "the open web is already in rapid decline." That, plus the expansion of AI Mode, will surely be welcomed with open arms by publishers who are seriously feeling the pinch of declining web traffic.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-expands-ai-mode-beyond-english-for-the-first-time-192245955.html?src=rss

Vodafone made a commercial starring an AI avatar posing as a real lady. This is interesting because Vodafone is a major global brand and not a fly-by-night TikTok company using a ridiculous deepfake of Jackson Galaxy to sell cat toys.The tells in the commercial are obvious and what one would expect. The AI avatar's hair is a bit off, which ruins the charade that this is a real person. The physical mannerisms and speaking tone are also wonky. A facial mole moves around at one point. It's AI. You know the drill. The company responded to a question on a message board as to why it couldn't put "a real person in front of the camera" by saying this is simply an experiment. It said it was testing different styles of advertising - this time with AI," and that AI is so much a part of everyday life these days that we also try it out in advertising."This isn't the first Vodafone ad to feature generative AI. It released a fully AI-generated commercial last year that spurred a bit of controversy, despite looking absolutely awful. Social media platforms are also becoming increasingly littered with AI-generated virtual influencers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/vodafone-is-testing-an-ai-actor-to-sell-its-products-instead-of-paying-a-human-to-do-it-185301360.html?src=rss

Amazon Music has just launched new AI-powered weekly playlists based on the "preferences and mood" of listeners. This just means it scrapes what you've already been listening to and extrapolates further. It doesn't apply modern technology to gauge the actual mood of users.The company says the playlists include "a curated mix of familiar favorites from their most listened-to artists and latest favorites to new discoveries." I'm not exactly sure how this is different from what music streaming platforms have always done to create personalized playlists, other than these are made using Amazon's Bedrock generative AI platform.AmazonThey do arrive with snappy names to suggest the type of songs included, like "Empowerment Anthems" and "Melodic Flex." This seems similar to Spotify's Daylists, which also use cute little names. The Amazon playlists can be saved to the library or shared with friends via text or social media.The feature represents another way we're harnessing AI to help fans connect with more music that resonates with them," said Ryan Redington, General Manager of Amazon Music. He also said this brings a "new dimension" to the service by "creating personalized playlists celebrating their favorite artists while introducing new music that matches their unique tastes." Again, personalized playlists are nothing new.Download the latest update to the app to get started. These weekly playlists are currently only available to US listeners and drop on Mondays.This is just the latest AI-forward move by a music-streaming platform. Spotify recently introduced prompt-driven playlists and an AI DJ that takes requests. This isn't even Amazon Music's first dip into AI-infested waters. The platform already uses AI-enhanced search results that can be used to create playlists.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/amazon-music-launches-ai-powered-weekly-playlists-based-on-preferences-and-mood-174239246.html?src=rss

Meta allegedly suppressed research that suggested kids were exposed to certain dangers when using its VR headsets, according to a report by The Washington Post. Current and former employees have presented documents to Congress that describe incidents in which children were groomed by adult predators in VR, but allege that internal reports were edited to omit the worst of these offenses. Meta has denied these allegations.Two of these researchers claim they met with a German family in which a child younger than ten had been approached by strangers online while using a Meta VR headset. Some of these strangers allegedly sexually propositioned the child. When the employees issued the harrowing report, their boss allegedly ordered that the aforementioned claims be deleted. When the internal report was eventually published, it spoke of some parents being scared of this type of thing but didn't mention the above incident.The trove of documents presented to Congress reportedly indicate guidance from Meta's legal team instructing researchers to avoid collecting data about children using VR devices. The memo suggests this is "due to regulatory concerns," likely referring to fallout from congressional hearings that took place in 2021.The documents also include warnings from employees that children younger than 13 were bypassing age restrictions to use VR headsets. However, Meta has since lowered the minimum age down to ten.Meta spokeswoman Dani Lever told The Post that the documents were "stitched together to fit a predetermined and false narrative" and that the company doesn't prohibit research about children under 13. We stand by our research team's excellent work and are dismayed by these mischaracterizations of the team's efforts," she said.The company didn't confirm or deny the events regarding the family in Germany, but said that if the anecdote was deleted from the official record it was to ensure compliance with a US federal law governing the handling of children's personal data or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) from the EU.That one prohibits companies from collecting personal information without consent, but the researchers maintain they received consent from the child's mother. They also say they received a signed contract from the mother at the start of the interview.A Senate Judiciary subcommittee is scheduled to discuss these allegations at a hearing later in the week. This particular subcommittee examines laws and regulations regarding online safety.

OpenAI is throwing its resources behind a mostly AI-generated animated film that was the brainchild of one of the company's employees. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the film will be called Critterz and will follow forest creatures who go on an adventure after their village is disrupted by a stranger. Chad Nelson, a creative specialist at OpenAI, started designing the characters three years ago with the intention of making a short film using OpenAI's DALL-E image-generation tool.The goal of the film is, in part, to show that animated films can be made for less money and in less time with AI. The team behind the film has set a budget of less than $30 million and a production schedule of only nine months. Both are a fraction of what it takes to produce a typical Hollywood animated picture. According to Nelson, OpenAI is hoping that if Critterz is successful, it might pave the way for adoption of more AI in the industry.London-based Vertigo Films will produce the film along with Native Foreign, a studio in Los Angeles that specializes in using AI alongside more traditional video production methods. Native Foreign previously produced a faux Planet Earth-style short film, also titled Critterz, written and directed by Nelson. It used DALL-E to create all the visuals for the short, which Native Foreign then brought to life with (limited) animation.The production team will hire human voice actors for the film's characters and will hire artists to draw sketches that will then be fed into OpenAI's chat and image-generating tools. The script for Critterz was penned by some of the same writers behind Paddington in Peru. The team aims to premiere the film at next year's Cannes Film Festival in May.Over the last few years, many Hollywood workers have fought to protect their livelihoods against AI encroachment. In 2023, after a protracted strike, SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement that would require "informed consent and compensation" should a studio wish to use AI-generated likenesses of any current or deceased SAG-AFTRA members. All of this comes against the backdrop of enormous lawsuits against AI companies by creatives and studios alike.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-tech-to-be-used-to-in-a-full-length-animated-film-155921502.html?src=rss

You don't necessarily have to break the bank to pick up a cordless vacuum and avoid the scourge of cables while you're cleaning up debris from your floors. Our favorite budget cordless vacuum already delivered good value for money, and now it's on sale, making it an even more enticing proposition. The Levoit LVAC-300 has dropped down to $270. This cordless vacuum's list price is $350, meaning that you're getting a discount of $80 or 23 percent. It's not quite a record-low price (we've seen it drop to $250 in the past), but it's still a good deal. The Levoit LVAC-300 is our pick for the best budget cordless vacuum. It offers good suction power for a model in this price range, and it has easier handling and a more polished design compared with our previous recommendation in that subcategory. It feels fairly smooth when you move it across your floors as well. It's easy to assemble and take apart the LVAC-300. Removing the battery is a cinch too (alas, there's no charging dock for this one). You can turn on this vacuum with a single button press. Another button switches between Eco, Mid and Turbo modes. The latter of those can drain your battery quite rapidly if you use it a lot, though you can keep an eye on the battery level using the digital display. Levoit says the battery will run for up to 60 minutes on a single charge in Eco mode but just 12 minutes in Turbo mode. At 0.75 liters, the bin size is pretty decent. The LVAC-300 has a HEPA filter and Levoit says it can capture "99.99 percent of particles as small as 0.3m with air purifier-level efficiency." In our testing, we felt that it did a solid job of vacuuming up dirt, dust bunnies, pet hair and coffee grounds. Overall, we reckon the LVAC-300 is a good, budget-friendly cordless vacuum that might be best suited for apartment dwellers and those with small- to medium-sized homes (or if you just want such a device on hand to take care of a quick clean up). Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/one-of-our-favorite-cordless-vacuums-is-23-percent-off-right-now-144255672.html?src=rss

Ford has unveiled a new F-150 Lightning variant called the STX that brings extra range and a rugged attitude to the lineup. The model is likely a response to slipping F-150 Lightning sales and was designed based on customer feedback, the company said. It will replace the current XLT model at the same starting price.Slotting in near the bottom of the lineup after the Lightning Pro, the STX trim offers an upgrade in range and power over the XLT. The new dual motor system delivers 536 horsepower while retaining 775 pound-feet of torque, up from the XLT's 452 horsepower. Range will go up substantially to 290 miles compared to 240 miles on the current model.FordThere are also cosmetic changes for those who want their pick-ups to look rugged. The STX trim adds new off-road wheels, all-terrain tires and running boards borrowed from the F-150 Tremor. It features a new grille, optional black vinyl floor, blue accent lines and STX badging everywhere you look including on the seats. On top of the regular paint options, it will come in two new colors: Argon Blue and Marsh Gray.Ford expects the F-150 Lightning STX to be its top seller next year, according to internal sales projections. "Customers have been asking for a rugged F-150 Lightning with more range than the standard range XLT," said marketing manager Will Marchand in a press release. "Until now, if these owners wanted a rugged F-150 Lightning, they had to turn to the aftermarket to build the truck they wanted." The new model will appear in Ford dealerships early next year starting at $63,345, not including destination charges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/fords-f-150-lightning-stx-replaces-the-xlt-while-boosting-range-and-power-130846462.html?src=rss

Uber and its new partner Momenta will start testing an autonomous ride-sharing service in Europe in 2026, Momenta announced. The service will kick off in Munich, Germany using Momenta's self-driving tech and Uber's ride-sharing platform, with the goal of future European expansion. The companies chose Munich to kick off the operation due to the city's "deep-rooted engineering heritage, top-tier automotive ecosystem and openness to innovation," Momenta said.Momenta and Uber announced a "strategic agreement" in May this year to launch a robotaxi service with safety drivers aboard to start with. Momenta was one of China's first autonomous vehicle companies and has been testing self-driving cars in the nation since 2018, with plans to roll out a commercial operation at its base in Shanghai next year. It also builds ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) for major automakers including Mercedes-Benz and Audi, with over 400,000 installed to date.Europe has been slower than the US and China to adopt self-driving taxis, but that has started to change. Uber will be competing with Baidu, which announced plans to start testing its Apollo Go self-driving service in Switzerland as early as this year. Another company, WeRide, launched its own pilot program in Switzerland in January 2025 and started testing a driverless shuttle system in France shortly after that.Elsewhere, Uber has partnered with other self-driving vehicle companies including WeRide, Pony.AI and Momenta in the Middle East. It also has a deal with UK-based Wayve to launch self-driving ride sharing trials in London next year, and recently said it would offer ride-sharing services in Los Angeles using an autonomous version of Volkswagen's ID. Buzz.Uber and Momenta's Munich service will use Level 4 self-driving vehicles that can be operated without a safety driver in preset geographical areas. The companies will need to obtain certification from the German government and approval for the "geofenced zones" where it's allowed to operate.Uber originally planned to build its own self-driving cars but abandoned the idea in 2020 following the death of a pedestrian and scandal around alleged trade secret theft from Waymo. Since then, it has taken the route of partnering with autonomous vehicle manufacturers, including the aforementioned Waymo in Austin and Atlanta.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-and-partner-momenta-will-start-testing-robotaxis-in-europe-next-year-123058509.html?src=rss