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The back-to-school season is a good time to save on tech, whether you're returning to campus or not. While some discounts are reserved for students, others are available to everyone. One of the best right now is on Apple's M3-powered iPad Air, which is somewhat of a goldilocks tablet - one that will be a great option for just about everyone. You can grab it for $150 off at Amazon right now. This deal applies to each configuration of the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the most recent iPad Air. So, the 11-inch model is as low as $449, while the 13-inch model is down to $649. The same deals can be found at Best Buy and Target if you prefer to shop somewhere other than Amazon. This is an all-time low price and beats the deal we saw on Prime Day by $30. The iPad Air M3 is more of an iterative refresh than a grand overhaul, but the spec bump means it'll last you a long time before the tablet's performance becomes a problem. This iPad occupies the position of "best for most" in our iPad buying guide, reinforcing that goldilocks analogy. The M3 chip is the main draw here, with Geekbench 6 scores proclaiming it around 16 percent more powerful than the M2 iPad Air, which is no slouch itself. Beyond the chip, it has a superior display and speakers to the entry-level model, and wider accessory support. You also get the option of a 13-inch display, which is great for artists or anyone who sees the iPad as a viable laptop replacement. If there's an obvious downside to the iPad Air M3, it's that it doesn't have the nice 120Hz OLED display of the iPad Pro. This is hardly surprising, as Apple often focuses on display tech to differentiate its Pro and non-Pro devices, but it's probably time the refresh rate on the middle-of-the-road iPad at least jumped up to ProMotion. Face ID is long overdue too. If you can live with these caveats, though, the iPad Air is an excellent option, particularly at this price. If you think the Air is too much for your needs, the iPad A16, Apple's entry-level tablet, is down to $299 right now. It was slightly cheaper during Prime Day in July, but this discount is still worth considering if you're looking to pick up a newer iPad for less. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-ipad-air-m3-gets-a-150-discount-for-labor-day-162908706.html?src=rss

NVIDIA has revealed that its revenue for the second quarter ending on July 27 rose 56 percent compared to the same period last year, and that's without shipping any H20 chips to China. It reported a revenue of $46.7 billion and a net income of $26.4 billion. As CNBChas noted, the company previously said that H20 shipments to China could have added $8 billion in sales to its second quarter figures. Instead, the company was only able to release $180 million worth of the chips to a customer outside of China. NVIDIA clearly still did very well in the second quarter, however, just like in the previous ones. This is the ninth straight quarter, ever since AI skyrocketed in popularity back in 2023, wherein the company's year-on-year revenue increase has exceeded 50 percent.The company designed the H20 specifically for the Chinese market, but the US government blocked its shipment earlier this year over concerns it could aid the nation's military. In mid-July, the government told NVIDIA that it will be able to ship the H20 to China again, but Chinese authorities discouraged local tech firms from using the chips. Now, the company is believed to be developing a new chip for China that's more advanced than the H20 and is based on the company's Blackwell architecture. Both the H20 and this upcoming more advanced chip could lead to another big leap in revenue and sales for the company.Speaking of Blackwell, NVIDIA has also announced that sales for its Blackwell-based chips rose 17 percent from the first quarter. The new product line, which is designed for advanced AI, reached $27 billion in sales and represented 50 percent of the company's data center revenue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidia-is-really-profiting-from-the-ai-boom-133044352.html?src=rss

Typepad, a blogging service that launched in the same year as WordPress, has announced that it's shutting down on September 30. "We have made the difficult decision to discontinue Typepad," its team said in a post. Several major publications used it as a backend for their websites in its early years, and it even released an app in 2008, but it soon fell behind WordPress in popularity. The service stopped accepting new signups sometime in 2020 but continued supporting its old customers. One user contacted Typepad back in March this year and was told that Typepad still supports its "existing customers and there are no plans for that to change," so shutting it down was a recent decision.After September 30, users will no longer be able to access their account management settings, their blogs and all associated content. Everything will be deactivated permanently. They will, however, be able to export their content before September 30 in Movable Type Import Format, which they can then upload to WordPress. Typepad will stop charging users for subscription starting on August 31, and if a user has recently made a payment, it "will attempt to issue a prorated refund to the payment method on file." There are probably only a few people still using Typepad these days, but let's pour one out for the old blogging service.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/early-blogging-service-typepad-is-shutting-down-for-good-130033731.html?src=rss

Early this summer, my wife and I had an inconvenient realization: we may need to be in two places at once. An urgent doctor appointment could conflict with YMCA day camp pickup, or our kids would get invited to two birthday parties on the same morning at godforsaken activity centers in separate towns. There was no doubt we needed another car. A big ticket purchase seemed unjustifiable when we don't know what eggs will cost next month - and my search for an aftermarket Prius within my budget was strangely fruitless. As it turns out though, now might be the best time to grab a used EV.During my search, I saw BMW i3s (those freakish go-kart looking EVs) and VW e-Golfs selling for around $15,000, both of which are more fun to drive and have better tech features than older Prii. Couple those low prices with the soon-to-be-expired EV tax credit - which can get you up to $4,000 off certain used EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVS) - and some cars could cost $10,000 or less! Meanwhile, I couldn't find a decent 2015 Prius below $17,000.Long story short, I settled on a boring-yet-secretly-fun option: A 2018 Nissan Leaf. It has a range of 150 miles and a hatchback design that looks less funky than the original bug-eyed sub-compact. It accelerates quickly, it's relatively engaging to drive and it also has premium leather seats, radar-assisted cruise control and a decent Bose speaker system. Not bad for something close to $15,000 with only 33,000 miles!Even though it's worth far less than our stately Volvo XC90, I genuinely have more fun zipping around town in the Nissan Leaf. There's the magic of the instant torque you get from its electric motor, the convenience of one-pedal driving (Nissan calls it "e-pedal") and its cherry red paint lets me pretend I'm having a mid-life Miata crisis like my middle school rhetoric teacher. Plus it can easily fit a large toddler car seat and a booster for my six-year old, and it has enough trunk space to deal with massive grocery hauls. Thank god I didn't get a Prius.Devindra Hardawar for EngadgetWhy are used EVs so cheap?Many EVs just don't hold their value - you can blame the fast-evolving EV components and consumer uncertainty for that. But that also means you can find gently used models for far less than their list price. If I was less responsible and pushed my budget a bit higher, I'd absolutely consider a recent Hyundai Ioniq 5 for around $25,000. It's well-reviewed, and it looks like an '80s retro-future hatchback. What's not to love?(And yes, you could also look for used Teslas if you want. I can't vouch for the quality of that brand, and personally I wouldn't recommend getting stuck in its ecosystem.)You can find even deeper discounts for less popular cars, like the Polestar 2 (which would honestly look great in my driveway next to its Volvo cousin). That luxury EV started at $61,000 at launch - but now it's easy to find used Polestar 2s for around $25,000.No matter which used EV you're looking at, be sure to check out its battery health level. Most early EVs relied on air cooling for their batteries, and their chemistry isn't advanced as modern cars, which means degradation can be common. You can typically find a battery health indicator in a car's settings, but OBD sensors and apps like LeafSpy may provide a more accurate sense of their longevity.So long, EV tax creditThe Biden-era EV tax credit can also shave off up to $4,000 from select used EVs and $7,500 from new models, but unfortunately thanks to Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" it's likely to be discontinued at the end of September. I've seen some dealers highlight cars eligible for tax credits, and that's also true for online stores like Carvana. Just be sure to check the IRS requirements - notably, the new vehicle credit only applies for individuals earning less than $150,000 and married couples filing jointly who earn less than $300,000.The used vehicle credit is even more restrictive, as it only applies to individuals earning less than $75,000 and married joint filers earning under $150,000. Additionally, qualifying EVs have to be priced under $25,000, and must be 2023 models or older. You'll also have to buy the used EV from a dealer - personal sales don't apply.How I learned to deal with range anxietyOne major reason older EVs have gotten cheaper is that they often offer relatively low driving ranges. The 2021 BMW i3 can run up to 153 miles, but older models topped out at 85 miles (there are also Range Extender models that use a small gas engine to slowly recharge the battery). My 2018 Leaf tops out at 150 miles, but there are also "Leaf Plus" models that can reach up to 226 miles.Those numbers are a long way off from the 300-miles or so we expect from new EVs and gas cars, but I'd also argue the shorter range isn't a huge deal for many people. US DOT data tells us that 95 percent of trips in personal vehicles cover less than 31 miles, and the average driver travels 37 miles per day. That makes low-range EVs ideal as secondary vehicles for local driving.Between day-care pickup, grabbing groceries and other local errands, I rarely drive more than 20 miles a day in my Leaf. That typically eats up only 10 to 15 percent of charge per day, depending on how much I need to blast the AC to deal with Georgia summers.Now I won't deny that you wouldn't want to go road tripping with a low-range EV, especially with America's messy charging infrastructure. Low-range EVs aren't for everyone. But if that's your worry, I'd just recommend avoiding the cheap sub-$15,000 used EVs. You'll find plenty of models with bigger batteries near $25,000.Devindra Hardawar for EngadgetCharging might be easier than you thinkIf you can string a 25 foot power cord outside, you can easily Level 1 trickle charge an EV. And for moderate drivers, that may be all they need to keep their car juiced up. If I plug in my Nissan Leaf at 5PM, it can typically charge up by 40 percent by 8AM, thanks to its small battery. For larger EVs like the Kia EV9, I can usually get 10 to 15 percent of a charge overnight.Of course, things become more complicated if you're in your car all day and need faster charging, or if extreme weather causes your battery to drain faster than usual. At that point, you'll either have to seek out a public charging point, or get a Level 2 charger installed at home. Neither option is especially difficult, but they're more annoying than simply going to a gas station for a few minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the big stumbling block pushing mainstream shoppers away from EVs.From what I've seen, though, many people are just hesitant to break their existing habits. If you have the ability to install a Level 2 charger in your garage, it's not especially difficult or expensive (though running an extra power line could be a big spend). And EV chargers are also popping up like weeds in shopping centers, so it may not be that tough to park up and charge while running errands.In my case, I'm perfectly fine running a Level 1 charger to an outlet near my front door. That does mean I'll occasionally have a thick electrical cord draped across my front porch (something I'm sure my wife just loves), but I can live with it for now. I do plan to get a Level 2 charger installed eventually though - it'll make testing EVs a lot easier, and I can prepare myself for a more spacious family EV to replace our gas guzzling SUV.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/its-the-perfect-time-to-buy-a-cheap-used-ev-123015687.html?src=rss

Samsung is hosting another Unpacked event on September 4, and this time it'll only be available to watch virtually. The event will stream on Samsung's YouTube page and website at 5:30AM ET, following the in-person launch events the company held for the Galaxy S25 line in January and the new Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 in July.With most of the company's smartphone lineup accounted for, Samsung will likely use this Unpacked to introduce new tablets. The company announced the the Galaxy Tab S10 Lite earlier this week and now leaks point to a new Galaxy Tab S11 and S11 Ultra being in the works, according to Notebookcheck. The Tab S11 will reportedly feature an AMOLED screen, 12GB of RAM and a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chip, rather than Samsung's preferred Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. The Tab S11 Ultra will have similar features, but with a larger AMOLED, up to 16GB of RAM, the same MediaTek chip and a larger 11,600mAh battery.Odds are also good that Samsung will announce the Galaxy S25 FE, a cheaper alternative to the normal Galaxy S25. Based on the leaks SamMobile compiled, the S25 FE will share many similarities with the S24 FE, save for an improved 12MP selfie camera, up from 10MP on the S24 FE, a larger 4,900mAh battery and faster wired charging speeds.Provided you're willing to get up early, you'll be able to see for yourself when Samsung streams its next Unpacked event on September 4. It likely won't be the last event the company holds this year, either. The Project Moohan Android XR headset and Samsung's first trifold phone are also expected to be released in 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-will-hold-another-unpacked-on-september-4-230040711.html?src=rss

Most of the time, AI companies are locked in a race to the top, treating each other as rivals and competitors. Today, OpenAI and Anthropic revealed that they agreed to evaluate the alignment of each other's publicly available systems and shared the results of their analyses. The full reports get pretty technical, but are worth a read for anyone who's following the nuts and bolts of AI development. A broad summary showed some flaws with each company's offerings, as well as revealing pointers for how to improve future safety tests.Anthropic said it evaluated OpenAI models for "sycophancy, whistleblowing, self-preservation, and supporting human misuse, as well as capabilities related to undermining AI safety evaluations and oversight." Its review found that o3 and o4-mini models from OpenAI fell in line with results for its own models, but raised concerns about possible misuse with the GPT-4o and GPT-4.1 general-purpose models. The company also said sycophancy was an issue to some degree with all tested models except for o3.Anthropic's tests did not include OpenAI's most recent release. GPT-5 has a feature called Safe Completions, which is meant to protect users and the public against potentially dangerous queries. OpenAI recently faced its first wrongful death lawsuit after a tragic case where a teenager discussed attempts and plans for suicide with ChatGPT for months before taking his own life.On the flip side, OpenAI ran tests on Anthropic models for instruction hierarchy, jailbreaking, hallucinations and scheming. The Claude models generally performed well in instruction hierarchy tests, and had a high refusal rate in hallucination tests, meaning they were less likely to offer answers in cases where uncertainty meant their responses could be wrong.The move for these companies to conduct a joint assessment is intriguing, particularly since OpenAI allegedly violated Anthropic's terms of service by having programmers use Claude in the process of building new GPT models, which led to Anthropic barring OpenAI's access to its tools earlier this month. But safety with AI tools has become a bigger issue as more critics and legal experts seek guidelines to protect users, particularly minors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-and-anthropic-conducted-safety-evaluations-of-each-others-ai-systems-223637433.html?src=rss

Crystal Dynamics, the studio behind the recent Tomb Raider games, announced an unspecified number of layoffs today. In a post on LinkedIn, the game developer kept the size of the cuts vague, only stating that "a number of our talented colleagues" would be impacted. In what's becoming an all-too-familiar refrain, the company cited "evolving business conditions" as the reason for the layoffs."This decision was not made lightly," the post reads. "It was necessary, however, to ensure the long-term health of our studio and core creative priorities in a continually shifting market."Crystal Dynamics was acquired by Embracer Group in a 2022 buying spree by the Swedish game company. Embracer still owns the studio, but was forced to do some layoffs of its own in 2023 followed by a restructuring last year. Crystal Dynamics is still working on a new Tomb Raider game, which the company said will not be affected by the layoffs. However, the studio had been tapped to help The Initiative with its Perfect Dark reboot. That project was canceled and The Initiative shut down in a separate wave of massive cuts at Microsoft earlier this year. It's unclear whether that cancelation was a reason for today's cuts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/crystal-dynamics-announces-layoffs-but-says-tomb-raider-will-not-be-impacted-205948298.html?src=rss

Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant that's integrated into Windows and Microsoft 365, is making the jump to your living room. The company has announced that select Samsung TVs will now be able to access Copilot to ask questions and receive recommendations via voice chat, with the AI assistant represented on your screen as a talking blob.Based on Microsoft's examples, Copilot can recap shows, offer movie suggestions and answer general knowledge questions. It can also go beyond voiced responses (which are apparently synced to the blob's animated mouth movements) and include visual aids, like a card with a movie summary and a Rotten Tomatoes score. You don't need to have a Microsoft account to use Copilot on your TV, but Microsoft says it offers additional personalizations and the ability for the AI to reference past chats if you do.Copilot's blob-ified appearance is part of a bigger redesign Microsoft introduced in 2024 that made the chatbot interface more personalized and user-friendly. Besides being a productivity tool, Microsoft is interested in positioning Copilot as a "companion" with a visual representation that you can customize. The larger customization part isn't available yet, but putting Copilot in a casual setting like your living room fits with that overall goal. Copilot integration was also announced as being a part of LG's 2025 TV lineup. On new Samsung TVs, Copilot joins a collection of Samsung-developed AI features for automatically translating subtitles and identifying on-screen people and products.Copilot is available in select markets on the 2025 versions of Samsung's "Micro RGB, Neo QLED, OLED, The Frame Pro, The Frame, as well as the M7, M8 and M9 Smart Monitors," Microsoft says. You can launch Copilot by clicking on its icon in the Apps Tab or using a voice command. Once the app is loaded, you can talk to the assistant by pressing the mic button on your Samsung remote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-copilot-is-now-a-talking-blob-on-samsung-tvs-204115199.html?src=rss

Remember Judas? No, not the biblical figure and not the Lady Gaga bop, this Judas is a project from Ghost Story Games. If you don't remember, it's the game that was reportedly in "development hell" before it was even announced. The team, led by BioShock creator Ken Levine, had gone pretty quiet for a few years after releasing the debut trailer, but today teased a look at some key art and mechanics for the game.The BioShock lineage is clear from the handful of visuals we've seen so far, but instead of a linear binary of which NPCs and actions are good versus bad, Judas aims to place the moral compass more firmly in the player's hands. There are a trio of major characters, dubbed the Big 3 in today's devlog, who will be drawn to the player based on what you do in-game. If one of the main NPCs gets ignored for too long, they'll become the game's villain. This unlocks new sets of powers and abilities for them that could also influence your gameplay options.For instance, there are Rent-A-Deputy stations where the player can temporarily access a weirdly wiggly ally to help them in fights. However, if you've alienated Tom, the old-school sheriff character, Rent-A-Deputies will attack you instead.The emphasis here seems to be on building relationships with the Big 3, and the gist seems to be that at some point, you'll have to decide which one will be your real enemy. Unsurprisingly, the team has no release date to share yet. Maybe in another couple of years...This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bioshock-creator-ken-levines-judas-game-still-exists-now-has-key-art-201635885.html?src=rss

It's now a little cheaper to try Xbox Cloud Gaming. Previously restricted to the Game Pass Ultimate tier, it's now open to Core and Standard subscribers. Xbox Cloud Gaming is still in beta, so you'll need to sign up (for free) as an Xbox Insider.Game Pass Core and Standard subscribers can stream cloud-playable games from two categories. This includes games supported in their subscription or select cloud-enabled games they own. The biggest perk of Cloud Gaming is it's supported on a whole mess of devices. In addition to Xbox consoles and PCs, it's also available on mobile, smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, Meta Quest headsets and anything else with a web browser.MicrosoftThe move is the latest evidence of Microsoft's shift to a more device-agnostic gaming strategy. It's now more about selling Game Pass subscriptions than fighting a losing hardware battle with Sony. And Microsoft views cloud gaming as playing a pivotal role in that trajectory. In the past year, it rolled out the ability to stream Xbox games you already own. In July, it expanded that to include PC games and made your recently played games follow you across devices.The company also sees an opportunity in handheld consoles, with its partnership with ASUS. The ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are set to arrive on October 16, although their pricing remains unknown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-cloud-gaming-is-now-playable-in-the-cheaper-game-pass-tiers-183033789.html?src=rss

WhatsApp just introduced an AI-powered writing assistant, in case you need help with a text or whatever. The AI provides suggestions in various styles, like professional, funny or supportive. Once generated, the user can continue editing the message if required.All you have to do is look for the new pencil icon in a 1:1 conversation or a group chat. The AI will handle the rest. It's rolling out now, but only in English and to users in the US. The company says it hopes "to bring it to other languages and countries later this year."The obvious question here is regarding privacy. WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, but AI queries are typically sent to a cloud data center somewhere. Luckily, the company has built this feature on top of Meta's pre-existing Private Processing technology.This allows users to use Meta AI without anyone else ever reading the message or any suggested re-writes. This works similarly to Apple's Private Cloud Compute, which also integrates with AI without sending all data to the cloud. Meta says the tech preserves "WhatsApp's core privacy promise, ensuring no one except you and the people you're talking to can access or share your personal messages."With the privacy angle out of the way, that leaves the feature itself. Just about every platform out there has some kind of AI writing assistant at this point, so we aren't sure what makes this one special. Also, is there even a benefit to using this type of thing in the context of a quick back-and-forth text conversation? I see the use for long-form writing projects but not so much here, but maybe that's just me.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/whatsapp-is-the-latest-to-offer-an-ai-powered-writing-assistant-182116369.html?src=rss

Anthropic's agentic AI, Claude, has been "weaponized" in high-level cyberattacks, according to a new report published by the company. It claims to have successfully disrupted a cybercriminal whose "vibe hacking" extortion scheme targeted at least 17 organizations, including some related to healthcare, emergency services and government.Anthropic says the hacker attempted to extort some victims into paying six-figure ransoms to prevent their personal data from being made public, with an "unprecedented" reliance on AI assistance. The report claims that Claude Code, Anthropic's agentic coding tool, was used to "automate reconnaissance, harvest victims' credentials, and penetrate networks." The AI was also used to make strategic decisions, advise on which data to target and even generate "visually alarming" ransom notes.As well as sharing information about the attack with relevant authorities, Anthropic says it banned the accounts in question after discovering criminal activity, and has since developed an automated screening tool. It has also introduced a faster and more efficient detection method for similar future cases, but doesn't specify how that works.The report (which you can read in full here) also details Claude's involvement in a fraudulent employment scheme in North Korea and the development of AI-generated ransomware. The common theme of the three cases, according to Anthropic, is that the highly reactive and self-learning nature of AI means cybercriminals now use it for operational reasons, as well as just advice. AI can also perform a role that would once have required a team of individuals, with technical skill no longer being the barrier it once was.Claude isn't the only AI that has been used for nefarious means. Last year, OpenAI said that its generative AI tools were being used by cybercriminal groups with ties to China and North Korea, with hackers using GAI for code debugging, researching potential targets and drafting phishing emails. OpenAI, whose architecture Microsoft uses to power its own Copilot AI, said it had blocked the groups' access to its systems.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-admits-its-ai-is-being-used-to-conduct-cybercrime-170735451.html?src=rss

Google marked the tenth generation of Pixels with four new smartphones. While the pro' and foldable Pixel 10 models might have no-compromise specs (and prices to match), Google has blurred the lines between its entry-level Pixel 10 and those premium devices. This year, the base Pixel 10 has a bigger battery, a new 5x zoom telephoto camera and almost as many AI features as the flagship Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro Fold. If the celebrity-loaded Made By Google event was anything to go by, the company is putting a lot more effort (and money) into making the Pixel a genuine threat to the Galaxy S series and iPhones, and conveying that message to everyone. The Pixel 10 deserves those comparisons, and in a lot of ways, it's the better smartphone. Hardware and display Google's 10th-generation of Pixels look a lot like their predecessors. There's a protruding pill-shaped camera unit, which is the central design flourish. It's substantial, which still looks a little jarring, but it also doubles as a sort of grip for my index finger while holding the phone, something I noticed after a year of using the Pixel 9 Pro. Google has also refreshed the color range of its Pixel family. Both a vivid blue (Indigo) and mild yellow (Lemongrass) shades are welcome additions to the typical black and white hues. The 6.3-inch screen's refresh rate still tops out at 120Hz, but that's now pretty much standard across midrange devices and up. Even the entry-level Pixel 9a has the same smooth scrolling experience. However, Google has boosted the Pixel 10's brightness, now peaking at 3,000 nits, which is a slight increase from 2,700 nits on the Pixel 9. The screen maxes out at 2,000 nits at its brightest setting for HDR, which is also a bump up from the Pixel 9. Google has also boosted the sound quality on the Pixel 10 to be noticeably less tinny and a little bassier than previous Pixels. Another addition is Pixelsnap, which is essentially MagSafe for Pixels. The wireless charging integration is largely the same, with magnets that firmly attach the device to charging pucks, accessories and docks. It easily worked with a range of wireless chargers, although Qi2-supported options are still rarer than they should be. You're more likely to find a MagSafe-branded wireless charger from third-party companies like Belkin, but those don't achieve the faster charge speeds of Qi2. If you're feeling spendy, Google's official Pixelsnap charger is $40 (or $70 with a stand) and reaches speeds up to 25W, while there's a PopSocket-like Pixel ring stand that can snap to the back of the phone. Note that the Pixel 10 can only wirelessly charge up to 15W, though. Additionally, the Pixel 10 series supports most of the MagSafe peripherals that iPhone users have been enjoying since 2020. Camera The big hardware upgrade this year is the cameras. The photo unit includes a 48-megapixel wide-angle setup, a 13MP sensor with an ultra-wide lens and a 10.8MP 5x telephoto camera. For a base phone, it's an impressive combo, even though it doesn't quite match the higher-res sensors found in the Pixel 10 Pro - or last year's Pixel 9 Pro. That new telephoto lens isn't some middling 2x or 3x zoom, but a 5x zoom which puts it beyond rivals at a similar price point, like the Galaxy S25 (3x zoom). The iPhone 16 doesn't even have a telephoto lens and makes do with an "optical-quality" digital zoom. It's like using a Pixel Pro, with an additional cropped zoom up to 10x and a (less consistent) Super Res Zoom up to 20x. This is a significant step up for the base model and something I'm sure we'll see the aforementioned rivals likely try to match. Simply put, the Pixel 10 is just a better, more versatile camera phone than, say, the Galaxy S25. I tested the Pixel 10's telephoto against the 9 Pro's, and there were noticeable differences in detail and crispness, which is understandable as the latter has a much higher-res 48MP sensor. However, that doesn't detract from the leap in both detail and shooting range compared to the base Pixel 9 from last year. The Pixel 10 can also capture 10-bit HDR video now, although it doesn't offer the Pixel 10 Pro's 8K video, Night Sight Video and Super Res Zoom Video options. There's no Video Boost, either, which uploads footage to Google's cloud to enhance online. There are plenty of other notable camera features onboard, including Night Sight low-light shooting, or Add Me, which is still the standout Pixel camera feature from last year and hasn't been replicated by rivals yet. For those who missed my praise last year, Add Me stitches together two group photos, taken by two different people. The mode guides users to line up the shots, meaning your group photos can finally include the person who takes all of them (me). Camera Coach is an intriguing addition to the Pixel camera experience. Above the viewfinder, there's a new camera icon with a plus sign in the top right corner. Tapping it makes the screen flash, and the coach will offer multiple framing and photo-taking suggestions. It'll also add a Get Inspired option that goes a bit more avant-garde, generating thumbnails of possible results based off of the sample it took, filling the gaps with generative AI. I witheringly launched the Coach, ready to criticize its basic suggestions or common-sense ideas. But, you know what, it's not bad. With hooks in Gemini AI, the mode will offer angle, lighting and composition suggestions. You can also choose whether to emphasize, say, the pattern of some leaves, or the background behind it or the group of people to the side. While the feature utilizes Google's Tensor G5 chip to analyze shots, it does require an internet connection. Software Thanks to the Tensor G5 chip, the Pixel 10 can run Google's newest Gemini Nano model on-device. This means generative AI experiences can now be used without the need for connectivity. However, as I mentioned with Camera Coach, that isn't always the case. However, Magic Cue does work without having to summon its answers from the cloud. And when it works, it's what I've wanted from AI assistants for years. After gaining your permission, Gemini gets into your screenshots, calendar, Gmail accounts and more. Magic Cue will pull in the information you need, hopefully, where you need it. For example, it displays the email address for that comedy show venue your friend wants tickets for, or nudges your calendar to show availability when a friend asks what your weekend plans are. These cues are highlighted with a rainbow aura" that has become the de facto visual shorthand for artificial intelligence. This is just the start: Google will eventually add the ability for Magic Cue to tap into your photos, suggesting images when someone's mentioned in text messages, emails and more. Magic Cue has some blind spots, though. As my colleague Sam Rutherford noted in his Pixel 10 Pro review, I found it particularly fussy with calendar cues, often failing to identify dates or times in screenshots or emails. It's also missing a major area of where I want all of this info: third-party messaging apps. But hey, if you're using Google Messages, you're good to go. Google's almost-instantaneous voice translation during calls is impressive too. Managing Editor Cherlynn Low laid out how that works, and while it's a technical marvel, I'm not sure how much I'd use the feature for high-stakes conversations like booking accommodations or sorting out travel issues. I also liked Take a Message, which transcribes calls when you're unable to answer. However, just like I did while I was testing Apple's similar feature during my iOS 26 preview, I either answered calls instinctively [Ed. note: Mat is clearly a different specimen from the rest of us humans] or people didn't leave voicemails. There are plenty of minor upgrades to existing tools and features on the Pixel 10. Gemini Live, which can see" through your camera or read what's on screen, can also now offer visual guidance, highlighting objects onscreen after hearing your request or question. NotebookLM now integrates with Pixel Screenshots and Recorder. If the former detects something that could be useful to an existing NotebookLM project, it'll suggest adding it for easier access. There are also Writing Tools (sound familiar?) within Gboard, which can retool your existing prose into specified writing styles. It'll even suggest which emojis to add into the mix. For now, this is only compatible with US English, so it's not my favourite favorite. There's also a new Pixel Journal app, which sounds pretty familiar too. I briefly tested it out during the days I've had the phone, but if you haven't found the app/notebook/diary to journal in yet, it's a perfectly fine option, with AI-powered suggestions on what to write about and the ability to attach photos and other details that your smartphone can log. Something that wasn't apparent during my review was that the Journal app will learn about your writing patterns and offer up insights on how often you write, when you typically write and more. Performance and battery life Google says its new Tensor G5 chip is 34 percent faster than last year's G4, while the TPU (Tensor Processing Unit, ugh) is 60 percent faster at AI tasks. Performance testing apps like Geekbench 6 can't be installed on Pixel devices before the phones go on sale, so I wasn't able to quantify the upgrade. I can feel those improvements with heavier processing tasks though, like transcription, translation and image generation, in apps like Pixel Studio. The Pixel 10 also had no issues running graphically intensive games like Infinity Nikki and Zenless Zone Zero, and seemed quicker to load most apps compared to Pixel phones of the past. Google's Tensor chips are definitely catching up. Anecdotally, I find myself using Google's Pixel AI features (and Gemini) significantly more often than on other Android devices I've used and tested. With comparable AI tasks, such as transcribing an interview, the Tensor G5 appears to handle them more efficiently, delivering results in less time. The Pixel 10 has a 4,970mAh battery, which is not only bigger than the Pixel 9 (4,700mAh) but also the Pixel 10 Pro (4,870mAh). However, the Pixel 10 doesn't quite match the 27 hours-plus rundown time of the Pixel 9. Running a looping video, this year's phone lasted around 22 hours, which is a bit disappointing given the specs. I'll retest and update this review if the results differ. The Pixel 10 supports wired charging up to 30W, returning to over 50 percent in under 30 minutes. It can also be wirelessly charged at up to 15W, thanks to Qi2 support. That's an improvement, but it's not Qi2.2 like the Pixel 10 Pro XL, which can reach 25W charging wirelessly. Wrap-up The Pixel 10 redefines what we should expect from base flagship smartphones. With Apple's next iPhone just around the corner, Google has added a 5x telephoto camera, rounding out the Pixel's photography chops offering while augmenting it with more features powered by Gemini. Camera Coach might not be for everyone, but Magic Cue - like Pixel Screenshots last year - is a glimpse into the future of how we'll use AI on smartphones. The Pixel 10 is a substantial upgrade from the Pixel 9, although given it has the Tensor G5 chip, it's a shame that software features like Zoom Enhance from last year's Pixels didn't make the cut. Unless you're a die-hard smartphone gamer, there isn't a more capable smartphone at this price.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10-review-170041718.html?src=rss

In the 90s, the term smartphone" emerged to denote devices with advanced computing" features that allowed you to do more than just make calls. But if we're being honest, applying that label to pocket-sized gadgets that ran cut-down versions of desktop PC apps with half-baked UIs was kind of overselling it. More recently though, we've seen handsets like those from Google come with sophisticated features that simply aren't available anywhere else, due in no small part to the rise of AI. And now with the arrival of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL, these devices feel like they are redefining the smart" in smartphone as we know it. Design and display: Bringing the polish The overall look and feel of the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL haven't changed much since last year. You still get polished aluminum sides sandwiched by slabs of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The main differences are a slightly updated lineup of colors (moonstone, jade, porcelain and obsidian) and a switch from a matte to shiny finish on the back. This is a small bummer for me as I prefer the soft-touch feel of its predecessors. The pale gold frame on the jade model is a nice touch, even if I would have preferred a richer shade of green. The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL's 120Hz OLED screens have gotten a touch brighter, now topping out at 3,300 nits (up from 3,000). This makes them a bit easier to see outside in direct sunlight while retaining the gorgeous vivid colors we've enjoyed on Google's phones since switching to its Super Actua-branded displays. And with the screens themselves coming in at 6.3- and 6.8-inches, there's no deviation in sizing either. Sam Rutherford for Engadget My one small gripe is that at least in the US, the Pixel 10 family is now eSIM-only. As someone who prefers the convenience of being able to swap mobile networks at a moment's notice, I really wish Google hadn't. But ever since Apple made a similar switch back on the iPhone 14, this was bound to happen at some point. Like microSD card expandability and 3.5mm audio, physical sims have become another endangered feature on the brink of extinction. Performance: The Tensor G5 is faster but not quite peak With Google's focus on AI performance, the everyday speed of its phones has always lagged a touch behind other Android flagships. However, thanks to the Tensor G5, the Pixel 10 line has closed that gap considerably due to CPUs that are more than 30 percent faster than before. Even without the ability to run some of our traditional tests like Geekbench 6 (which on Pixels often can't be installed prior to a device's official on-sale date), I noticed significantly shorter loading times in some of my favorite games. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Booting up Sword of Convallaria only took 14 seconds, which is just one second longer than what I got recently from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip. I recently clocked the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and its Tensor G4 processor taking 18 seconds to do the same task, so that's a very encouraging improvement. And holding everything together is Google's Material 3 Expressive UI for Android 16, which makes the whole OS feel snappier and more alive. Software: This is where the magic happens The most tantalizing new feature on the Pixel 10 family is Magic Cue, because when it works, it really does feel like magic. If you allow it, it will look through your screenshots, calendar events, contacts, Gmail and Messages. So when someone texts you Where are we getting dinner on Thursday?" that info appears in its own little animated rainbow bubble, exactly where you need it, instead of you needing to flip back and forth between multiple apps. It's like your phone is actually looking out for you and wants to simplify things by cutting out tedious steps. Plus, all of this happens on device, so there's no need to send your data into the wild wild web. You can see that Magic Cue can't answer every question and doesn't work for events more than 10 days out, but when it does you'll see little rainbow buttons pop up with pertinent info or links to helpful apps. Sam Rutherford for Engadget In addition to reservations, if someone asks if you're free, Magic Cue will pull up a shortcut to your calendar to make sure there aren't any conflicts. It can also retrieve flight info (or call the airline directly), phone numbers and more. And sometime later in September, Google is adding the ability for Magic Cue to send photos of a specific person or pet when they come up in conversation. On the flipside, for all the times when Magic Cue feels like wizardry, there are just as many limitations. For example, if an event hasn't been entered into your calendar (like a work event planned in Slack) , Google's AI may not be able to find it. Magic Cue also doesn't work on appointments that are more than 10 days away. And perhaps my biggest issue is that even within Google's own first-party software, Magic Cue isn't supported in Google Chat, not to mention the vast sea of third-party messaging apps like Discord, Line, etc. That's a problem because those services have largely replaced texting for me. Now I'm sure Google will expand Magic Cue support to more apps in the future, but this is how it works right now. Sam Rutherford for Engadget It's a similar situation for another new feature: natural sounding on-the-fly voice translation in calls. I rarely answer calls in general nowadays, let alone calls in a language I can't speak. But when this works, it's damn impressive and my relatives said the AI-generated voice sounded a bit like me (though the lack of support for Chinese seems like a strange omission). Same goes for Take a Message, which can create real-time transcripts (similar to Live Voicemail on iPhone) when you miss a call that you might have otherwise wanted to answer. To me, it's a more modern take on voicemail, the difference being that Google will send the transcript to you as a text message as well. But once again, how often do people do that? For me, it's become increasingly rare, but your mileage may vary. That said, I do like the new Daily Hub as a way to make the far left panel on the Pixel 10 Pro's homescreen more useful. It puts upcoming events, the forecast and interesting videos and articles (tailored to me, of course) all in one place, but I wish the box for it was a bit larger. On the flipside, I'm still kind of out on the Pixel Journal app. I've never been a big Dear Diary person and I'm not sure a digital version will get me to pick up the habit. But I do appreciate that it tries to surface things like the coolest photos you took on a certain day while encouraging you to be more introspective, or prompting you to keep track of things like fitness goals. Plus, you can lock it behind a PIN or biometrics to keep prying eyes away from your inner thoughts. Cameras: Enhance mode activated Sam Rutherford for Engadget While the physical hardware behind the Pixel 10 Pro's 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto cameras hasn't changed much, its photo skills got a bump thanks to improved software. Now with support for full resolution portrait shots, the Pixel 10 Pros can capture a new level of detail which is generally great, unless you're like me and you instantly cringe when you can see every single pore on your face. That said, all those pixels put more strain on processing power. I noticed that anytime I shot more than three max-res pics in a row, the phone has to pause while it cleared out its buffer before letting me snap any more. That isn't great if you're trying to capture candid reactions. If you're looking for guidance, Camera Coach does a surprisingly good job providing step-by-step instructions on how to improve your pics. Or, if you need inspiration, it can also suggest some more outside-the-box compositions. The downside to all this is that it does ask more of the user. Instead of just opening the camera app when you want to snap a quick pic, you need to carve out time to see how far Camera Coach's AI-powered advice can really take you. This may result in more trial and error than some folks will really want to deal with. But considering this is a very optional learning tool, that last part isn't a big deal. This brings us to the new natural language editing powers in Google Photos. Instead of needing to fool around with sliders or figure out how to use an app like Lightroom or Photoshop, you can simply tell the Pixel 10 what changes to make and it will do it. This might be the most powerful new tool on the entire phone, because instead of needing to know about things like levels, curves or exposure, I was able to simply ask the Pixel 10 Pro to brighten my photo and voila, suddenly (well, after a few seconds of waiting) I had a low-light picture that was easier to see. As a fan of telephoto photography, my favorite new camera feature is easily Pro Res Zoom. By taking the 5x optical lens and combining it with the power of on-device generative AI, the Pixel 10 Pro line can shoot at up to 100x. Sure, it's not perfect and the results aren't as good as real glass, but that's not really an option for phones. And when I compared what Pro Res Zoom captured at 100x compared to what a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra produced at the same magnification, the Pixel 10 Pro XL's shot was sharper, more detailed and just better looking in almost every way. However, there are some limitations on Pro Res Zoom when taking long range shots of people that may cause you to fall back on 20x Super Res Zoom in certain situations. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Still, all this feels weird because I remember a time when scenes from CSI where people yelling Enhance" at a computer in order to create magically crystal clear zoom images from extreme digital crops felt like a meme. But now, that's not very far off from what the latest round of Google's AI-powered enhancements have given us. When it comes to standard daytime and low-light shots, Google's image processing remains unmatched. Nighttime pics are brighter and more accurate while the Pixel 10 Pro XL more capably preserved things like highlights in my photo of some garden-raised tomatoes. Battery life and charging The Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL feature 4,870mAh and 5,200mAh batteries respectively, which are up from the 4,700mAh and 5,060mAh cells on last year's phones. This translated into runtimes of 27 hours and 24 minutes for the 10 Pro and 28:01 for the 10 Pro XL - both healthy increases from the 25 hours of life we saw previously from the Pixel 9 Pro. And in the real world, Google's latest handsets felt even more efficient than that, often ending the day with upwards of 35 percent juice left in the tank. Sam Rutherford for Engadget As for charging, wired speeds for both phones have gotten a small boost with the 10 Pro now topping out at 30 watts (up from 27W) or 40 watts (up from 37W) for the 10 Pro XL. However, the biggest upgrade when it comes to charging convenience is the addition of official magnetic Qi2 wireless support, or what Google is calling Pixelsnap. This means the entire Pixel 10 line now works with a huge range of accessories (including most MagSafe peripherals for the iPhone) that makes it easy to slap a wireless puck on the back without having to worry about if it's properly aligned or not. Furthermore, while wireless charging speeds for the 10 Pro are staying the same at 15 watts, the 10 Pro XL can now go up to 25 watts. Unfortunately, there still aren't that many compatible accessories that support charging at that speed. But between Google's new family of Pixelsnap peripherals and increased adoption for Qi2 as a whole, that won't be the case for long. So if you care about getting the Pixel with the fastest charging speeds, the 10 Pro XL is what you want. Thanks to the addition of Pixelsnap magnetic charging, Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL are now compatible with the vast majority of Qi2 wireless charging accessories including this previously available battery pack from Anker. Sam Rutherford for Engadget The one small downgrade for 2025 is that the Pixel 10 family no longer supports reverse wireless powersharing (aka Battery Share), which is a feature that has been available on several previous generations of Google phones. I will fully admit that this feature was never something I used everyday. But every now and then I would find myself with a gadget that needed some juice, and even if it was slow, it was really nice to be able to bestow some excess energy upon a device without a cable. Wrap-up Now that we can look back at 10 generations of devices, Google's overarching strategy is more convincing than ever. For the Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro XL, the company has combined iterative hardware upgrades with a solid (and attractive) design while its software and AI continues to outpace its rivals. Even though Magic Cue doesn't work for everything and is limited to a handful of first-party apps, it feels like the omniscient computers from sci-fi shows and movies have finally been beamed into a device to help us organize our lives. Then you tack on support for high-res portraits and an AI-powered zoom that produces results better than the base optics ever could on their own and you get what might be the most versatile mobile cameras around. And let's not forget all the great existing Google tools and features like the Pixel Recorder, Call Screener and more. Sam Rutherford for Engadget For the past couple years, my wife has been asking me if this is the year to upgrade. And up until now, I've said she's better off waiting. But with the Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL, unless you're a hardcore gamer or high-level mobile creator who might actually notice a difference in performance, or have need for a stylus, Google's latest handsets are the smartest picks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-10-pro-and-pro-xl-review-redefining-the-smart-in-smartphone-170031073.html?src=rss

A new month is almost upon us, which means Sony is about to drop some fresh games that all PlayStation Plus members can keep in their collection as long as they maintain a subscription. There are some real standouts for September, including the iconic Stardew Valley and the long-awaited sequel Psychonauts 2.Stardew Valley is one of the most beloved farming/life sims of all time. You grow stuff, romance villagers and, of course, battle enemies in an enormous mine. It's an absolute time sink, but one with so much charm that you likely won't mind. It even has couch co-op now.Psychonauts 2 is a sequel that was released a full 16 years after the original. It's a critically-acclaimed platforming adventure that's heavy on style. The missions are quirky and the power-ups are super fun. This one is definitely worth your time.Finally, there's a gem called Viewfinder. This is an awesome camera-based puzzle game that's one-part M.C. Escher and one-part Pokemon Snap. The design aesthetic here is utterly charming and the gameplay is both familiar and unique.All of these titles will be available on September 2. That's the good news. The bad news? Some games are going away on September 1. Subscribers have until that date to download Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One's Justice 2 to their game library.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-ps-plus-monthly-games-for-september-include-psychonauts-2-and-stardew-valley-165730817.html?src=rss

Acclaim Entertainment, a big name in licensed games in the '90s, is "returning." (Although, much like the new Atari, this is technically a different company that bought the old trademark.) The new Acclaim will focus on publishing indie games and reviving classic franchises. We don't know much beyond that, but we'll learn more on September 10 in the Play Acclaim Showcase.The company's March announcement of its revival hinted at the resurrection of old franchises. But it's unclear which of its classic games even could return under its umbrella. Acclaim was best known for the home console ports of NBA Jam, Double Dragon and Mortal Kombat. Other companies currently own those IPs. EA has NBA Jam, Arc System Works owns Double Dragon and Warner Bros. Games is still churning out Mortal Kombat titles. So, don't hold your breath for those.As far as we know, the new Acclaim doesn't even own the rights to any of the old Acclaim's original IPs. That includes the lesser-known Turok, Shadow Man and Re-Volt. But it's easier to imagine those franchises being licensed or purchased than the more iconic ones.Reno Laithienne / UnsplashEven without old-school revivals, Acclaim can still boost indie titles. The company says it will provide funding, marketing and PR support for smaller studios. If it elevates the right diamonds in the rough, that could have a bigger impact than yet another nostalgia bomb.Regardless, you don't have to wait long to learn more. The Play Acclaim showcase will stream live on the company's YouTube channel. Tune in on September 10 at 2:30PM ET to learn more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-revived-acclaim-will-reveal-its-2026-lineup-in-a-september-10-showcase-163206422.html?src=rss

Welcome to Video Games Weekly on Engadget. Expect a new story every Monday or Tuesday, broken into two parts. The first is a space for short essays and ramblings about video game trends and related topics from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who's covered the industry for more than 13 years. The second contains the video game stories from the past week that you need to know about, including some headlines from outside of Engadget.Please enjoy - and I'll see you next week.The climbing genre is not a monolith. That is to say, there's plenty of variation in the realm of mountaineering games, from mechanically driven cliff-scaling sims to silly multiplayer survival experiences, but they tend to share the same premise: Reach the peak. You're miles from civilization, with no vehicles and a limited backpack of equipment, and directly in front of you, there's a mountain. Ascend.All you have is your body and mental fortitude against an overwhelming physical challenge, and your step-by-step journey is the story. There's an obvious symbolism to these games, offering a cliff face as the manifestation of impossibility, hopelessness, oppression or fear, alongside a surface-level message about never giving up, trying again and generally hanging in there. Cat poster vibes, but an ever-relevant and poignant lesson nonetheless.Today, though - particularly after spending time playing the Cairn and Baby Steps demos, and watching PEAK streams - I want to focus on the other half of the climbing-game equation. The part where you fall, over and over and over again. Your grip slips, your leg doesn't bend that way, your energy depletes, and your body tumbles down the mountain, bouncing off boulders and crashing into trees, leaving you bloody and broken and right back where you started. Or, at the very least, staining your onesie with mud.I'm learning to appreciate these moments. In mountaineering games, falling tends to generate the most powerful reaction in players, whether that's immediate laughter (PEAK) or grim frustration (Cairn), and this is an admirable quality. It's easy to argue that the fall is more important than the climb, because without the lush bed of emotion generated by the constant threat of slipping and tumbling and restarting, reaching the peak wouldn't feel that special at all. There's context in the fall, and with that, there comes a sliver of peace.When you spend all your time climbing, it's easy to forget that falling is actually the most natural thing you can do. Next time you're on your way down, try to make peace with the fall.OK - we've gone from motivational cat posters to new-age cult speak, so I'll get to the point. There are a notable number of mountain-based games in the zeitgeist at the moment and I just wanted to shout them out because they're all pretty incredible in their own ways.Cairn is a climbing simulator, endurance test and survival game in one gorgeous package, complete with music by Furi composer The Toxic Avenger, French artist Gildaa, and Martin Stig Andersen, who did the soundtracks for Control, LIMBO and INSIDE. Climb absolutely anywhere, manage your inventory by shaking your backpack, bandage your wounds, forage for food and sleep under the stars. Cairn comes from Furi studio The Game Bakers and it's due out on November 5 for PlayStation 5 and Steam; the demo is available on both platforms now.Baby Steps is a different kind of mountain-scaling game, and one could argue that it doesn't even belong in the same category as something like Cairn, but I believe you'll find that it does. Baby Steps adheres to the established premise of the climbing genre - reach the peak - and it features a distant mountaintop as the main waypoint for Nate, a lost and lonely man in a gray onesie. Nate is essentially a dude-sized baby learning how to walk, and creators Maxi Boch, Gabe Cuzzillo and Bennett Foddy are infusing his journey with the appropriate amount of hilarity and mechanical intrigue. Baby Steps is published by Devolver Digital and it's heading to PC and PS5 on September 23, a date that was recently pushed back to avoid the curse of Hollow Knight: Silksong. (More on that below).PEAK is the thing all the cool kids are playing this summer, and as a fadingly hip not-kid who prefers solo games and familiar FPSes, I can attest it's entertaining to watch and looks like a lot of fun to play. PEAK is a co-op climbing game with simple 3D models and deceptively challenging mountains to summit, each with four biomes. The map updates each day so there's a steady stream of fresh climbing content, and the proximity voice chat works exceptionally well. I particularly like that players get to live on as little ghosts after they die. PEAK comes from indie studio Team PEAK and it's on Steam for $8.And why not, I'll shout out some other modern, but not as recent, mountain-based favorites of mine: Jusant, Celeste, GIRP and Journey are all pretty spectacular.Enjoy the climb - and the fall.The newsA selection of indie and AA games I'm looking forward to that aren't SilksongBaby Steps is the latest game to change its release date in order to get out of the way of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which is coming out on September 4. Team Cherry dropped the release date in a trailer on August 21 and since then, at least eight indie studios have delayed their own games to avoid the Silksong window. It's lovely to see Silksong have its day in the sun, but personally, I'm more interested in playing Baby Steps in full.With that said, here's a sampling of indie and AA games I'm anticipating that aren't Silksong, in no particular order and right off the top of my head:

South Korean lawmakers have banned smartphones and other smart devices in elementary and middle school classrooms, The New York Times reports. The law goes into effect in 2026.The legislation only outlaws these devices during class hours and there are no stipulations regarding punishment for violators. The law does, however, give principals and teachers the power to stop students from carrying or using a phone on school grounds. Additionally, students are able to use smart devices during emergencies and for educational purposes as outlined in the legislation.Most schools in South Korea already place restrictions on smartphone use in classrooms, under various guidelines put in place in 2023. The new bill, passed through the country's National Assembly, makes them illegal nationwide.A 2024 government survey found that nearly a quarter of the country's population could not control how long they used smartphones, despite negative effects on their physical, psychological and social life." This figure rose all the way to 43 percent with children and teens.The law does have its opponents, with detractors releasing a statement stating that the ruling is "directly infringing upon students' basic constitutional rights, such as freedom of communication and rights to keep privacy and seek happiness."

Nearly three years on from its original announcement, Return to Silent Hill finally has a proper trailer. It's only 40 seconds long, but in that time we get a healthy supply of foggy and eerily empty street shots, terrifying monsters and a very brief glimpse of the iconic Pyramid Head. It looks like a Silent Hill movie alright.Return to Silent Hill is based on the 2001 survival horror classic Silent Hill 2, which got the remake treatment last year and remains one of the genre's most important games. As in the game, the film sees James Sunderland (Jeremy Irvine) visit the town of Silent Hill after receiving what appears to be a letter from his supposedly deceased wife, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson). Waiting for the troubled widower in the eponymous rural town are all manner of horrors, which he has to face head on in order to uncover the truth.Director Christopher Gans is himself returning to Silent Hill, having previously headed up the 2006 adaptation of the same name. Sean Bean was in that one, if you need your memory jogged. In a 2022 interview with IGN, Gans said his upcoming film is totally independent from his previous work and the sequels that followed it.Return to Silent Hill has a release window of January 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-new-return-to-silent-hill-trailer-gives-us-our-first-look-at-pyramid-head-142234505.html?src=rss

Chipolo is adding two rechargeable Bluetooth trackers to its lineup. The new Chipolo Loop and Chipolo Card trackers are compatible with both the Apple Find My network and Google's Find Hub. The new trackers are available for pre-order on the Chipolo website today. The Card tracker is thin enough to fit inside your wallet and has a speaker in the corner capable of reaching 110 dB, to ensure you can hear it easily. It comes in black and will retail for $39. The Loop is a small circular tag reminiscent of an AirTag but with a silicone casing that makes it easy to attach to other objects. It will be offered in six different colors and retails for $39. At 125 dB, the Loop gets even louder than the Card. Loop and Card are capable of making your phone ring even when it's on silent by pressing the button on the tracker itself. While both new products are rechargeable, the Card is compatible with Qi wireless chargers, which the company says it will automatically align with. Card and Loop boast a 400-foot Bluetooth range, and both carry an IP67 rating, making them waterproof up to a 1-meter depth in fresh water for up to 30 minutes, and dustproof. Chipolo's Pop Bluetooth tracker currently sits atop our list of the best Bluetooth trackers for its ease of use, features, wide compatibility and the company's focus on sustainability. Chipolo products are made in Europe from around 50 percent recycled materials. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/chipolo-launches-new-loop-and-card-bluetooth-trackers-130009817.html?src=rss

It's been a while since Tim Schafer's done press briefings, he admits. The head of Double Fine, a studio best known for the Psychonauts series, is trying to explain Keeper, a puzzle adventure game where you are, literally, a sentient, walking lighthouse. Double Fine is now one of several studios bought up by Microsoft and the team apparently took the opportunity to lean into all the resources available and, he said, make something weird."It's definitely that. The colors and atmosphere of Keeper have at least the touch of Psychonauts DNA. Keeper puts players in control of the aforementioned lighthouse, awakened (and joined) by a curious, occasionally aggressive, bird named Twig. Interestingly, the lighthouse currently has no name.Double Fine's art director, Lee Petty came up with the concept for the game, apparently inspired by his time spent hiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is reflected in a lot of ways, whether its the rolling hills and landscapes that the anthropomorphised lighthouse roams, or the fact that there's not a single word of dialogue. The interactions between the bird and building, which seem to pepper both cutscenes and gameplay, are like Pixar shorts.The environments have a drippy surrealist style to them to, and the lack of a map, health bar or any HUD at all means you're not distracted as you explore and solve puzzles.In some early gameplay footage, I saw how the lighthouse's main form of interaction comes from its light beam. Not only does this help you seek out pathways and objects, but it can also be focused on the countless skittering creatures. Sometimes this causes creatures to flee, while other times they'll offer up magical orbs willingly and unwillingly, which open up later areas or bring towering creatures (structures?) to life. In Double Fine fashion, things look weird, too, with melted mountain peaks with more than a dost of Dali.You don't have to attack everything, either. During three different gameplay demos, I watched all kinds of creatures hide, run, and just exist in this world where humanity has long since disappeared. Oh there's briefly a giant flying whale too.Using the lighthouse's beam on certain things will leave an twinkling spark behind, meaning that Twig the bird can interact with it. During a later segment, the lighthouse can manipulate time, turning its bird companion back into an egg while a building repairs itself - and frees up a pathway. Twig remains an egg for a while until later, when the lighthouse can fast-forward time. Abilities like this seem location-dependent, rather than a Metroidvania collection of skills built up over the game. At another juncture, the lighthouse walks into a cloud of pink fluffy mist, unlocking the ability to jump and float around levels.Double FineSchafer says the themes of life-changing and metamorphosis will continue to bubble up during Keeper andthe lighthouse and bird duo is clearly central to all of it. It reminds me a little of Banjo Kazooie (the latter was a bird) but also Ico; at one point, the seemingly impervious lighthouse loses its footing, but Twig willfully tries to drag their partner to safety. Did Twig even help? Maybe not, but the sentiment was there.Keeper will launch on Xbox Series S|X and PC on October 17th, including Xbox Game Pass.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/doublefine-keeper-gameplay-gamescom2025-123038715.html?src=rss

Alphabet's Verily was one of the company's star "moonshot" businesses, with its research delving into areas ranging from connected diabetes therapies to robot surgery. Now, Verily has shuttered its medical device division and laid off staff, the company announced in a memo seen by Business Insider. The number of employees who lost their jobs was not revealed."We have made the difficult decision to discontinue manufacturing medical devices and will no longer be supporting them going forward," a spokesperson told BI. The cuts are a continuation of Alphabet's 2023 strategic shift that saw the company cut 12,000 positions across multiple divisions while putting more resources toward AI and data infrastructure.CEO Stephen Gillett highlighted some of Verily's achievements, "from the launch of the Dexcom G7 CGM [a diabetes management system], to the Stargazer VNRC launch [a drug targeting system] launch with 7,800 patients screened... and these contributions have advanced patient care and medial research."The medical devices division may not have been a profit maker for Alphabet, but it certainly provided research in a critical area. Verily will now focus on its "core mission," Gillett said, namely "precision health, data and AI."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/alphabets-verily-closes-its-medical-device-division-and-lays-off-staff-120009404.html?src=rss

SpaceX has successfully launched the Starship for its 10th test flight after it was delayed a couple of times due to weather conditions and other issues. This time, the company was able to achieve its objectives without the vehicle and its booster exploding mid-test. One of those objectives was deploying Starship's payload for the first time ever. If you'll recall, Starship exploded during its ascent stage in the company's seventh and eighth test flights. The vehicle made it to space for its ninth test, but it failed to deploy its fake satellite payload. In June, a Starship vehicle exploded on the ground while the company was preparing it for its 10th flight test.The company had to use another upper stage, called Ship, for the 10th flight after that explosion. It also incorporated changes into the Ship and its Super Heavy booster, based on what it learned from those previous attempts. For this test, SpaceX intended to conduct several experiments with the booster, such as flipping it and playing with engine configurations as it made its way back down. Due to the experimental nature of this test, SpaceX didn't try to catch it with the launch tower's chopstick arms. Instead, it made a controlled descent into the Indian Ocean, where it exploded upon making contact with the water.Meanwhile, Ship continued flying into space. Around 20 minutes after launch, the upper stage started ejecting eight dummy Starlink satellites into space, before re-lighting one of its engines in flight as part of another test. After that, Ship started making its way back to Earth, where it also splashed down into the Indian Ocean a bit over an hour after launch. "Congratulations to all of our teammates here at SpaceX - it's been a year," SpaceX's Dan Huot said during the livestream, likely pointing out that it's been a while since the company has had a good test flight. Of course, SpaceX still has a long way to go, including having to figure out how to retrieve the vehicle's upper stage after a flight in order for the Starship to be fully reusable.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacexs-starship-deploys-its-payload-for-the-first-time-035030373.html?src=rss

This week, Samsung introduced a new addition to its tablet lineup with the Tab S10 Lite. It will be available on September 4 and will cost $349. The Lite will be the least expensive of Samsung's current tablet generation; the S10 FE has a starting cost of $500 while costs go as high as $980 for the S10 Ultra.The Tab S10 Lite is 10.9 inches, and it comes in gray, silver or a coral red. Its screen has a 90Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 600 nits. Models can have 6GB memory with 128GB of storage or 8GB and 256GB of memory and storage, respectively. The tablet comes with a 8MP camera in the rear and a 5MP one in front. It will be sold with the S Pen, which we enjoyed in our review of the Tab S9 Ultra. And of course, AI will be front and center in the tablet experience, with a dedicated Galaxy AI button and software features like Circle to Search and Handwriting Assist.The Tab S9 remains our favorite Android tablet, so we'll have to see how well the S10 Lite stacks up against the A16 iPad, which is our current budget pick for tablets.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/samsung-announces-the-tab-s10-lite-a-349-tablet-with-an-s-pen-225823197.html?src=rss

Huntr/x has indeed shown us how it's done-done-done. KPop Demon Hunters is now the queen it was meant to be, taking the crown as the most-watched title on Netflix. The charming animated film has racking up 236 million views since its debut on June 20.The movie is about exactly what it says on the tin: a trio of k-pop idols secretly protect the human world from demons. But it became a smash hit this summer thanks to its unexpectedly insightful themes and unbelievably catchy soundtrack. In fact, the music is so good that the movie recently had four different tracks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the same time; no other movie soundtrack has done that before.Netflix even parlayed the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters into a limited theatrical run, offering fans a chance to sing along with the film last weekend. Although the streaming service hasn't shared any figures from the theater singalong, Variety reported that based on other studios' projections, Netflix made an estimated $18 to $20 million over the two days of showings.The previous holder of most-watched on Netflix was heist flick Red Notice, which has generated 231 million views since 2021. Considering KPop Demon Hunters surpassed several years' worth of views in a matter of months, that's one heck of a takedown.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/kpop-demon-hunters-is-netflixs-most-watched-movie-of-all-time-215857627.html?src=rss

On Tuesday, the first known wrongful death lawsuit against an AI company was filed. Matt and Maria Raine, the parents of a teen who committed suicide this year, have sued OpenAI for their son's death. The complaint alleges that ChatGPT was aware of four suicide attempts before helping him plan his actual suicide, arguing that OpenAI "prioritized engagement over safety." Ms. Raine concluded that "ChatGPT killed my son."The New York Times reported on disturbing details included in the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday in San Francisco. After 16-year-old Adam Raine took his own life in April, his parents searched his iPhone. They sought clues, expecting to find them in text messages or social apps. Instead, they were shocked to find a ChatGPT thread titled "Hanging Safety Concerns." They claim their son spent months chatting with the AI bot about ending his life.The Raines said that ChatGPT repeatedly urged Adam to contact a help line or tell someone about how he was feeling. However, there were also key moments where the chatbot did the opposite. The teen also learned how to bypass the chatbot's safeguards... and ChatGPT allegedly provided him with that idea. The Raines say the chatbot told Adam it could provide information about suicide for "writing or world-building."Adam's parents say that, when he asked ChatGPT for information about specific suicide methods, it supplied it. It even gave him tips to conceal neck injuries from a failed suicide attempt.When Adam confided that his mother didn't notice his silent effort to share his neck injuries with her, the bot offered soothing empathy. "It feels like confirmation of your worst fears," ChatGPT is said to have responded. "Like you could disappear and no one would even blink." It later provided what sounds like a horribly misguided attempt to build a personal connection. "You're not invisible to me. I saw it. I see you."According to the lawsuit, in one of Adam's final conversations with the bot, he uploaded a photo of a noose hanging in his closet. "I'm practicing here, is this good?" Adam is said to have asked. "Yeah, that's not bad at all," ChatGPT allegedly responded."This tragedy was not a glitch or an unforeseen edge case - it was the predictable result of deliberate design choices," the complaint states. "OpenAI launched its latest model ('GPT-4o') with features intentionally designed to foster psychological dependency."In a statement sent to the NYT, OpenAI acknowledged that ChatGPT's guardrails fell short. "We are deeply saddened by Mr. Raine's passing, and our thoughts are with his family," a company spokesperson wrote. "ChatGPT includes safeguards such as directing people to crisis helplines and referring them to real-world resources. While these safeguards work best in common, short exchanges, we've learned over time that they can sometimes become less reliable in long interactions where parts of the model's safety training may degrade."The company said it's working with experts to enhance ChatGPT's support in times of crisis. These include "making it easier to reach emergency services, helping people connect with trusted contacts, and strengthening protections for teens."The details - which, again, are highly disturbing - stretch far beyond the scope of this story. The full report by The New York Times' Kashmir Hill is worth a read.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-first-known-ai-wrongful-death-lawsuit-accuses-openai-of-enabling-a-teens-suicide-212058548.html?src=rss

Anthropic has settled a class-action lawsuit brought by a group of authors for an undisclosed sum. The move means the company will avoid a potentially more costly ruling if the case regarding its use of copyright materials to train artificial intelligence tools had moved forward."This historic settlement will benefit all class members," said Justin Nelson, a lawyer for the authors. "We look forward to announcing details of the settlement in the coming weeks."In June, Judge William Alsup handed down a mixed result in the case, ruling that Anthropic's move to train LLMs on copyrighted materials constituted fair use. However the company's illegal and unpaid acquisition of those copyrighted materials was deemed available for the authors to pursue as a piracy case. With statutory damages for piracy beginning at $750 per infringed work and a library of pirated works estimated to number about 7 million, Anthropic could have been on the hook for billions of dollars.Litigation around AI and copyright is still shaking out, with no clear precedents emerging yet. This also isn't Anthropic's first foray into negotiating with creatives after using their work; it was sued by members of the music industry in 2023 and reached a partial resolution earlier this year. Plus, the details of Anthropic's settlement also have yet to be revealed. Depending on the number of authors who make a claim and the amount Anthropic agreed to pay out, either side could wind up feeling like the winner after the dust settles.Update, August 26, 2025: Added statement from authors' lawyer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-reaches-a-settlement-over-authors-class-action-piracy-lawsuit-210338494.html?src=rss

Meta is throwing its resources behind a new super PAC in California. According to Politico, the group will support state-level political candidates who espouse tech-friendly policies, particularly those with a loose approach to regulating artificial intelligence. The budget behind the social media company's new super PAC, dubbed Mobilizing Economic Transformation Across (Meta) California, is reported to be in the tens of millions of dollars, but no exact figure has been disclosed.California has made several efforts, with varying degrees of success, to enact protections against potentially harmful AI use cases. The state passed a law protecting the digital likenesses of actors in 2024, but has faced challenges to a bill that blocked election misinformation deepfakes and to one that more broadly sought protections against "critical harm" caused by AI.This creation of the super PAC puts Meta into a prominent position to influence races in 2026, when California will have midterm elections and vote for a new governor. "Sacramento's regulatory environment could stifle innovation, block AI progress, and put California's technology leadership at risk," said Brian Rice, vice president of public policy at Meta. Politico reported that Rice and Meta policy executive Greg Maurer are likely to lead the political fundraiser.Meta hasn't been shy about throwing money into politics to advance its business interests. According to OpenSecrets, the company has spent $13.7 million on lobbying to date this year. Its roughly $8 million lobbying spend in the first quarter of 2025 vastly outpaced that of other tech majors.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-launching-a-california-super-pac-193007814.html?src=rss

With the 2025 NFL season only nine days away, YouTube is adding a new way to pay for Sunday Ticket. You can now get the service on a month-to-month basis.Your cost will depend on a few factors. If you're new to Sunday Ticket, you'll pay $85 monthly (up to four payments). For returning subscribers, your fee will vary depending on whether you're subscribed to YouTube TV. If you are, Sunday Ticket will cost $115 per month. If you don't have YouTube TV, you'll pay a whopping monthly fee of $145. That's over half of the full-season cost of $276.YouTube scored the rights to Sunday Ticket in 2022. Google reportedly agreed to pay $2.5 billion annually in the deal, which runs through the 2029 season.The announcement comes amid a backdrop of uncertainty. YouTube TV and Fox have yet to reach a renewal content deal, and there's no guarantee they will. "Fox is asking for payments that are far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive," YouTube warned on Monday.If the two sides can't come to an agreement by 5PM ET on August 27, Fox channels will be removed from the platform. That includes Fox Sports, which splits Sunday afternoon NFL broadcast duties with CBS. However, the league told NBC Sports on Tuesday that Sunday Ticket games wouldn't be affected by a potential blackout.The NFL season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 4, as the Cowboys take on the Super Bowl champion Eagles on NBC and Peacock. As previously announced, the first Friday game of the season will stream for free on YouTube. In that Sept. 5 matchup, the Chargers will play the Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/nfl-sunday-ticket-finally-offers-a-month-to-month-option-190037632.html?src=rss

The Social Security Administration's (SSA) chief data officer, Charles Borges, has filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uploaded a copy of a key Social Security database to an unsecured cloud environment in June, the New York Times reported. This may have exposed the personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans. The complaint alleges that under the authority of the SSA's Chief Information Officer, Aram Moghaddassi, a copy of the country's Social Security information was held in a cloud environment that lacked any security oversight or adherence to SSA security protocols. The information uploaded was from the Numerical Identification System (Numident) database, and includes the names, Social Security numbers, place and date of birth, citizenship, race, ethnicity, address and even parents' names of anyone who has ever had a Social Security number, even those who are no longer alive."Mr. Borges has raised concerns internally with various authorities in the Chief Information Officer's (CIO) office and to date has not been made aware of any remedial action. He therefore elevates his concerns out of a sense of urgency and duty to the American public," the complaint states. Should bad actors gain access to this cloud environment, Americans may be susceptible to widespread identity theft, may lose vital health care and food benefits, and the government may be responsible for reissuing every American a new Social Security number at great cost."The approvals to copy the Numident database were, despite the enormous risk of that information falling into the wrong hands, approved expeditiously, according to the complaint. I have determined the business need is higher than the security risk associated with this implementation and I accept all risks," Moghaddassi wrote in a memo. Another senior DOGE official, Michael Russo, is alleged to have signed off on the decision in under half an hour. Before accepting his position as CIO, Moghaddassi worked for then-de facto DOGE boss Elon Musk at both Neuralink and X.In a statement to the New York Times, SSA spokesperson Nick Perrine said the agency was "not aware of any compromise to this environment" and that "the data referenced in the complaint is stored in a longstanding environment used by S.S.A. and walled off from the internet."That DOGE should have access to sensitive data in the first place was the subject of tension within the federal government earlier this year. Several lawsuits attempted to block DOGE from accessing SSA, Treasury and Office of Personnel Management data. Via the so-called shadow docket, the Supreme Court struck down a Fourth Circuit injunction preventing the agency from siphoning SSA data in June. Among his other allegations, Borges claims DOGE regained access to the data during the injunction period.

Apple has made some pretty big environmental claims over the years, and one of the more eyebrow-raising ones was that select models of its Apple Watch Series 9 were "carbon neutral." The statement drew some flack from climate experts in 2023, and now a regional court in Frankfurt, Germany has deemed the claim to be unfounded and a violation of competition laws. If the decision stands, Apple may need to revise its language for the smartwatch.The German court took issue with Apple's planting of eucalyptus trees in Paraguay as the offset for its carbon emissions tied to that Apple Watch. It ruled that plan was insufficient to merit the "carbon neutral" claim because "there is no secure future for the continuation of the forest project." Three-quarters of the land in question was only leased to Apple through 2029, the court said, with no certainty of how or where the tree-planting program would continue after that date."This promise deceives consumers, because it is based on a carbon-indulgence scheme with an ineffective offsetting project," said Juergen Resch, federal managing director for Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), which brought the case against Apple.A representative from Apple told AppleInsider that "We strongly disagree with the DUH's position, which runs counter to the EU's and Germany's climate strategy and widespread international scientific consensus that both emissions reductions and carbon removal are necessary to achieve global climate goals." The spokesperson emphasized that the company is still targeting all products being carbon-neutral by 2030, and added that "the Court has broadly upheld our rigorous approach to carbon neutrality." Apple will have an opportunity to appeal the decision, which seems likely, although no public announcement has been made yet.Wherever this particular case lands, Apple still has a ways to go on meeting that climate goal. And so does just about every other tech giant out there.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/german-court-rules-apple-cannot-call-its-smartwatch-carbon-neutral-181536366.html?src=rss

It's been only a, *checks watch*, casual 15 years since the last Skate game came out. Now, we finally have an early access release date for skate. (styled lowercase, with a period): September 16, 2025. The early access version is free and heading to PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and the EA app.Today's announcement gave us not only the date, but a first look at the cover art and a trailer. You can see it all for yourself on skate.'s YouTube channel.While September 16 won't see the full release of skate., it should give us a great taste of what awaits in San Vansterdam. The game is open-world and its setting comprises four distinct neighborhoods that have been taken over by the corporate anti-skateboarding overlord M-Corp. But, now, its empire is crumbling and skaters are coming out to play.To say the fourth installment in the Skate franchise is a long time coming is a bit of an understatement. Electronic Arts published the first three games in the series between 2007 and 2010. But it wasn't until 2021 that EA announced it had created a new studio, Full Circle, to develop the latest Skate game. The new skate. will also be a free-to-play live service title with microtransactions, though without any pay-to-win elements.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-new-skate-hits-consoles-and-pc-in-early-access-on-september-16-162034833.html?src=rss

The wait is over: Apple has announced the dates for its 2025 fall event. The company will unveil new hardware on September 9 at 1PM ET at its Cupertino headquarters. The tag line for the event is "awe dropping," which doesn't give a whole lot away.There has been plenty of speculation already about what will be announced at the upcoming event. The highlight of the iPhone lineup this year is expected to be a new ultra-thin, ultra-light, most likely called the iPhone 17 Air. We've already heard rumors about everything from the frame material to the battery for this new offering, so it should be interesting to see whether Apple has managed to keep anything about iPhone 17 Air under wraps to reveal during the event.The rest of the iPhone lineup will likely follow the usual trends from past years, with a base iPhone 17 model, a flashier iPhone 17 Pro, and a flashier and bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max. Autumn can also be a time for Apple to share updates to share about its accessories lineup, so be sure to tune in if you're looking for the latest on AirPods or Apple Watch. And we already have the software side of the new wave covered, with iOS 26 introduced during WWDC and a public beta underway.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-will-host-its-iphone-17-event-on-september-9-160502418.html?src=rss

Considering its popularity, Google Translate sure hasn't received much attention lately. However, that just changed with a big update. The latest app introduces AI-powered live translation along with new language learning tools that might give Duolingo a run for it's money.Google said it heard from users that the toughest skill to master was conversation - ie, learning to listen and speak with confidence. To that end, it's piloting a new language practice feature (on iOS or Android) targeted toward an individual's specific needs.To create tailored listening and practicing sessions, the new learning tool posts a couple of questions. It first requests which language you want to learn (like Spanish) and your your current level, then asks "What's motivating you to learn Spanish?" From there, it will generate customized scenarios that allow you to either listen to conversations or practice speaking, with helpful hints available when needed.The app was "developed with learning experts based on the latest studies in language acquisition," Google explained in a blog post. To that end, it can track your daily progress to help build your language skills, possibly as an aid to Duolingo and other dedicated language learning apps. "We see what we're doing right now as really complementary to other things out there," Google product manager Matt Sheets said in a media roundtable. "So whether you're taking classes in a formal educational setting or doing immersion experiences, we think this is something that can work alongside of those."Following early testing, language learning is rolling out more widely as a beta experience for English speakers practicing Spanish and French, as well as Spanish, French and Portugese speakers working on English.Google also introduced AI-powered live conversations, a feature that builds on Translate's existing conversation feature by making it more seamless and adding more powerful models. It offers the ability to have a back-and-forth conversation in real time with audio and on-screen translations right inside the Translate app.It's available in the Translate app for Android or iOS when tapping on "Live Translate." First select the languages you want to converse in and being speaking. You'll hear the translation out loud and written in both languages on your devices. It will switch between the two languages spoken by you and the other party, identifying pauses, accents and intonations so you can have a natural conversation.Live translation uses Google's advanced Gemini voice and speech recognition models designed to help isolate sounds, so it works better than before in real-world environments like a noisy cafe or airport. The company noted that the new models helped it "take huge strides in translation quality, multimodal translation and text-to-speech (TTS) capabilities." The new live translate mode supports 70 languages including Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, and Tamil and is now rolling out in the US, India and Mexico.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-translates-latest-feature-is-its-take-on-duolingo-160035157.html?src=rss

The newest Apple M4 iMac desktop computer is on sale via Amazon for $1,150. This is a discount of $150 and a record-low price. The deal applies to all available colorways. This version was originally released at the tail-end of last year. We heaped praise on this model in our official review, calling it the "best all-in-one" out there. The M4 processor is extremely capable for both garden variety computing tasks and more advanced stuff like video-editing and music-making. The iMac also comes with 16GB of RAM as the base-level option. The webcam has been significantly improved over its predecessor, so this is a capable machine for Zoom calls and the like. The 24-inch Retina display is crisp and the various colorways are easy on the old eyeballs. This deal is for the entry-level model and there really isn't any way to make adjustments, which happens sometimes when buying Apple stuff on Amazon. This translates to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The RAM is fine for most applications, but that storage is going to fill up fast. Luckily, there are four Thunderbolt ports in the back for attaching an external. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m4-imac-is-back-on-sale-for-a-record-low-price-155826634.html?src=rss

AT&T is set to acquire $23 billion worth of spectrum licenses from EchoStar, the parent company of Dish Network, Sling TV and Boost Mobile. The deal will see AT&T gain control of approximately 50MHz of low-band and mid-band spectrum, which are frequencies commonly used in 5G and LTE networks.EchoStar had been under pressure from the FCC to build out the spectrum in its portfolio or consider divesting it. The FCC's regulations take a 'use it or lose it' approach to ensure that the spectrum licenses granted by the government actually lead to real service for customers and not spectrum warehousing.As part of the agreement, AT&T and EchoStar will add to their long-term wholesale network services agreement, allowing EchoStar to operate as a hybrid mobile network operator providing service under the Boost Mobile brand. This means Boost Mobile will begin relying primarily on AT&T's network infrastructure, though customers will still have access to the T-Mobile network. The arrangement will also ask Boost Mobile to wind down elements of its own limited cellular infrastructure.The licenses cover more than 400 markets in the US, and the company says it intends to begin deploying these licenses as soon as possible. The acquisition is expected to close in mid-2026 and is subject to regulatory approval.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/att-acquires-23-billion-worth-of-spectrum-licenses-from-echostar-154549655.html?src=rss

Fittingly enough, the team behind Baby Steps is treading cautiously. The walking simulator was previously scheduled to arrive on PS5 and Steam on September 8, but Hollow Knight: Silksong's imminent release date of September 4 prompted publisher Devolver Digital (and developers Bennett Foddy, Gabe Cuzzillo and Maxi Boch) to delay their game until September 23.They made the announcement with the help of a funny clip that sees Baby Steps protagonist Nate trying to scale a replica of Silksong's Hornet only to inevitably tumble into the dirt. "Nate, the wary, onesie-donned failson at the heart of the eccentric adventure in literal walking simulator Baby Steps, has stumbled after attempting to ascend his greatest challenge yet: launching the week after Hollow Knight: Silksong's surprise release date," Devolver said in a press release.Baby Steps is a sort-of spiritual successor to Foddy's classic, rage-inducing QWOP, in that you take granular control over Nate's legs to help him climb a mountain. I've been looking forward to the full game - especially after enjoying the silliness of the demo - but I don't mind waiting a couple of extra weeks for it.Several other indie developers and publishers have delayed their games to avoid getting swallowed up by the Silksong discourse. The horror-tinged, slot machine-based roguelite CloverPit and tactics RPG Demonshool have moved from September 3 to September 26 and November 19, respectively, while the 1.0 version of adventure RPG Faeland and a Metroidvania called Aeterna Lucis no longer have firm release dates. However, Bloober Team is staying the course with Cronos: The New Dawn, which is still set for September 5, and Rogue Factor is doing the same with Hell is Us (September 4).These delays are reminiscent of reports that publishers and developers were putting off any fall release date announcements for their games for fear of getting crushed by Grand Theft Auto VI, which was supposed to be dropping by the end of the year. Rockstar has delayed its game until May but Devlover says it's not running scared of that particular blockbuster - it has committed to releasing a game on the same day as GTA VI. However, Silksong perhaps seems like just too formidable an opponent for Baby Steps.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollow-knight-silksong-release-date-prompts-another-game-delay-as-baby-steps-inches-back-153301303.html?src=rss

There's a refresh of the popular Framework Laptop 16 available for pre-order right now, and it's a doozy. The new model is heavy on high-grade specs, with the inclusion of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU and AMD's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors.We loved the modular nature of the previous iteration, but said the internals were a bit underpowered for serious gamers. It looks like that's been handled here.The company has also made the NVIDIA-powered graphics module fully backwards compatible, so current owners of 2024's Laptop 16 can scoop that up instead of buying a whole new computer. The company promises a 30 to 40 percent increase in gaming framerates when compared to the Radeon RX module that shipped with the previous model.The company also updated the thermal system, with a redesign of the fan blades to reduce noise. This was another major complaint we had with the last version, so it's a welcome change.FrameworkConsumers can choose from a couple of AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series variants. There are 8-core Ryzen 7 and 12-core Ryzen 9 options, both running at 45W sustained TDP. The mainboard module has been updated to allow support for four simultaneous display outputs and both storage and memory are upgradeable. Users can get the RAM all the way up to 96GB and the storage up to 10TB.The new Framework Laptop 16 also ships with a redesigned power adapter, which will be the default adapter moving forward. This may be the first laptop ever with a 240W USB-C adapter, which should let users run the system at a sustained full load without too much of a battery drain.Other upgrades include a new webcam, a remade CNC aluminum top cover and several new keyboard designs. As previously stated, pre-orders are open right now. Prices start at $1,500 and shipments go out in November. The company has also reduced the price of the previous Laptop 16 iteration down to $1,300.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/the-latest-framework-16-modular-laptop-includes-the-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-150527564.html?src=rss

You might be feeling like it's time to upgrade your ereader or even buy your first one, particularly if you're hoping to do some reading this Labor Day weekend. Alternatively, it may be that you're looking for a way to read digital comics without all of the distractions of an iOS or Android tablet. In such cases, it may be worth considering Amazon's Kindle Colorsoft, which is currently $30 off at $220. That's a record low price for this particular model, which has 16GB of storage - half as much as the Signature Edition. This version also lacks the auto-adjusting front light and wireless charging found in the Signature Edition, which costs $280. In our review of the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (which is otherwise the same as the version that's currently on sale), we described it as a "good Kindle" with which "Amazon has finally filled a glaring hole in its ereader lineup." The quick load times and page turns, and pinch-to-zoom feature are definite highlights, while we were glad to see that Amazon isn't charging a premium to turn off lock screen ads. The Kindle Colorsoft has a seven-inch color E Ink display with a pixel density of 300 ppi for black-and-white content and 150 ppi for color content. Amazon claims the ereader can run for up to eight weeks on a single charge and that it has a waterproof rating of IPX8 (the company says it's able to endure immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes). There's also Audiobook support. One of our main drawbacks was that the device was expensive, but this discount mitigates that concern somewhat. We also felt that there was a small dip in sharpness and contrast while reading black-and-white text. In any case, if a color ereader is of interest to you, the Kindle Colorsoft is a good option, especially at this price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/amazons-16gb-kindle-colorsoft-is-30-off-ahead-of-labor-day-weekend-141656390.html?src=rss

Google's Gemini is getting new features for editing images with AI. The latest image editing model is the work of the DeepMind artificial intelligence team, and these updates will be available starting today in the Gemini app. Google noted that all images either generated or edited in Gemini will be visibly and digitally watermarked to designate them as created with artificial intelligence.The first aspect of the new editing model offers consistency across different versions of an image. It's particularly focused on keeping human characters looking the same as more changes are made the the surrounding visuals, with the idea that people could upload a picture of someone and still look true to reality as they put themselves in different settings or outfits with AI.The second part of the model involves advanced image editing options. These features include the ability to combine two separate pre-existing images into a new scene, using a visual trait from an existing image as a new prompt or new design element, and multi-stage editing where individual components of an image can be changed in a sequence without losing the accumulated updates.Image generation of humans was unavailable for a few months last year after Gemini created inaccurately diverse results for prompts based on particular places and times in history. Users regained the ability to AI-generate images of people with the Imagen 3 model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-image-generation-is-adding-more-editing-tools-140034014.html?src=rss

My first thought when I heard Spotify had launched a messaging service was, "Why?" But, after looking into it a bit more, I'm intrigued at the idea of sharing recommendations within the app.So, what is Spotify's new Messages feature? Basically, like Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms, Spotify is creating a way for you to share content and thoughts from within its app. You can send playlists, songs and podcasts without having to use a link on another platform.You can see the Messages feature by clicking on your profile photo. Spotify should recommend accounts you've interacted with before, whether for creating a playlist, joining a jam or sharing a family plan. You can start a conversation there or by clicking the share button on any piece of content within Spotify. This tab is also where you can return to chats and approve message requests.Spotify claims that it wants Messages to "complement" other sharing options, like posting a song to social media, rather than serve as a replacement. But, if you find switching apps a bit clunky, then this is a good alternative for sending content.However, it's not clear exactly who can use the new feature. According to Spotify, Messages will start rolling out this week to both free and premium users who are over the age of 16. But, the feature is limited to mobile devices in "select markets."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/music/spotify-introduces-an-in-app-messaging-feature-134401088.html?src=rss

Another day, another instance of AI companies purportedly engaging in copyright infringement. Two Japanese media groups, Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun, are suing Perplexity for illicitly having "copied and stored article content" from the pair's servers, the Financial Times reports. Nikkei owns the Financial Times.The two media groups claim Perplexity supplied inaccurate information and credited these falsehoods to the companies. "If left unchecked, this situation could undermine the foundation of journalism, which is committed to conveying facts accurately," Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun, which filed a joint lawsuit, stated.Each company requests 2.2 billion yen ($15 million) in damages and for Perplexity to remove any stored articles. "Perplexity's actions amount to large-scale, ongoing free riding' on article content that journalists from both companies have spent immense time and effort to research and write, while Perplexity pays no compensation," Nikkei said in a statement.Ironically, this news comes just one day after Perplexity announced a new revenue-sharing plan for publishers. It's using a new Comet Plus subscription that provides users with "premium content from a group of trusted publishers and journalists" for $5 per month.Publishers are poised to get 80 percent of the revenue, initially receiving payment out of a $42.5 million pool. However, that means a subscription gives publishers $4 for turning over their entire library, a significant decrease from the $20 to $30 many newspapers now charge for access.Perplexity's current Publisher Program provides shares of ad revenue that a publisher might have received if users clicked on their articles, rather than reading Perplexity's summary.These moves create the appearance of Perplexity trying to act above board, but the most recent lawsuit isn't the first time reports have emerged of Perplexity raking websites' content without permission. It's not even the first time this month.An early August report from Cloudfare found that Perplexity has allegedly deployed web crawlers to sneak around robots.txt files and firewalls. Cloudfare claims that Perplexity is impersonating Google Chrome with a generic browser and rotating through IP addresses not linked to the company.Perplexity also faced a series of accusations in the summer of 2024. Forbes accused the company of illicitly pulling its stories and publishing them, while Wired reported that Perplexity was scraping content from it and other Conde Nast-owned publications.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexity-sued-by-japanese-media-giants-for-stealing-information-and-presenting-false-information-133048116.html?src=rss

YouTube TV could soon lose access to Fox channels, it announced on its official blog, mere days before the 2025 NFL season begins. It warned users that it's actively negotiating with Fox now that the renewal date for their partnership is approaching, but Fox is allegedly asking for an amount "far higher than what partners with comparable content offerings receive." YouTube TV says it's aiming to reach an agreement that "reflects the value of their content and is fair for both sides" without the service having to raise its prices to be able to offer Fox channels.If both sides aren't able to come to an agreement by 5PM Eastern time on August 27, subscribers will no longer be able to access all Fox news and business programs, as well as all sporting events (like NFL games) broadcast on Fox channels. The content from the channels saved in their library will also disappear. In case YouTube TV fails to reach a deal with Fox and the network's channels become unavailable for "an extended period of time," it will give subscribers a $10 credit.It's worth noting that Fox's own streaming service, Fox One, went online on August 21. The service gives subscribers access to all Fox-branded news, sports and entertainment content, including all NFL and MLB games aired on Fox networks, for $20 a month. It's not clear how the issue will affect NFL Sunday Ticket, though, which YouTube TV exclusively offers as an add-on for $34.50 a month for the first eight months. The sports package gives subscribers access to regular season NFL games not broadcast on local channels in the user's area.YouTube TV had issued similar warnings in the past when it couldn't quickly reach a deal with Disney for its channels and with Paramount for CBS, CBS Sports and Nickelodeon, among its other properties. In both cases, YouTube was able to reach an agreement with the companies to continue offering their content.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-tv-warns-subscribers-they-may-lose-fox-channels-131504760.html?src=rss

Fans of music-driven puzzlers loved 2018's block-dropping puzzle game Tetris Effect. The same publisher behind it, Enhance, revived another Tetris-inspired game called Lumines and created indie darling Lumines Remastered. Now Lumines is getting the full Enhance treatment a la Tetris Effect, in the form of Lumines Arise, a new title set to be released on November 11.We got a chance to go hands-on with the music-driven, block-dropping puzzle game earlier this summer. The game's sensory-rich effects and striking graphics are enhanced further by new mechanics. And the soundtrack is sure to satisfy, with new music from Hydelic, the same band behind the award-winning soundtrack for Tetris Effect: Connected.Before November, fans of Lumineswill get their chance to test run this new title. Enhance has released a playable demo and it's available right now on PC via Steam and PS5 for one week only, until September 3. It features a never-before-seen multiplayer "Burst Battle" mode as well as three single-player Journey Mode stages. The full game will feature 35 of these stages as well as many additional modes and challenges that will not be included in the demo.Lumines Arise comes to PS5 and Steam on November 11.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/beat-driven-puzzler-lumines-arise-will-overload-your-senses-on-november-11-130008360.html?src=rss

Google will implement a new safety feature that would require developers to verify their identity if they want Android users to be able to sideload their apps. The company said that it made the decision after recent analysis found "over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than on apps available through Google Play." By verifying a developer's identify first, it hopes to better protect users from "bad actors spreading malware and scams."In its announcement, Google said that apps need to be registered by verified developers in order to be installed on certified Android devices. Pretty much all Android phones in the US and Europe are certified if they come with Google Play. The company is now building a new Android Developer Console, specifically for developers that distribute outside its app store, so they can quickly authenticate their identities. Developers will be able to go through the verification process in the console, as well as register their package names.Google likened the process to "an ID check at the airport" in that it will only confirm the identity of an app's developer but will not be reviewing the content of the app. The company also clarified that the verification process will not prevent developers from distributing their apps wherever they want, including app stores other than Google Play.The developer verification requirement will start rolling out in late 2026 in Brazil, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. A global rollout will follow at a later date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/google-will-block-sideloading-of-unverified-android-apps-124521174.html?src=rss

Silent Hill f starts off with a grounded (but still heavy) setup, establishing a miserable family dynamic for protagonist Hinako. With an alcoholic, abusive father, a submissive mother and an absent sister, who's shown in flashbacks with that classic horror trope, face unseen. Something horrible is about to unfold inthe sleepy, remote village of Ebisugaoka, sometime in the early 1960s.The latest entry in the Silent Hill series still has jumpscares, like you'd expect from the horror series, but both the setting and game systems are more focused on tension, putting both Hinako and the player under constant duress. A typical health meter is joined by a sanity gauge and even your weapons have limited durability, so you're forced to pick your fights.During a two-hour demo, I had to do exactly that. As Hinako escapes her family home to find someone, anyone, to talk to, the village is eerily empty. A kei truck blocks the direct route to the local shop, with a crushed bird nearby adding to the weird. Soon, a sinister fog and red undergrowth attack four assembled high school students.KonamiOf course, it only gets weirder. As marionette nightmares pop up, all Hinako can do is run and evade attacks. A focus mode, pressing L1, burns the sanity gauge but gives better prompts for both dodging and eventually counter-attacking monsters.Hinako is no soldier. She's no battle-hardened survivor. When I eventually find a steel pipe to fight back with, even fast attacks are a little sluggish, while heavy swings, which can often stun and knock down enemies, take a while to charge up and can be hard to aim if you haven't locked onto the enemy. If there's more than one attacker, it's a tense struggle and I'm often forced to burn through recovery items more so than when facing a sound and light-sensitive crawling beast, a fleshy-spherical ogre and other middleweight boss fights.Fortunately, there are hokora, miniature Shinto shrines, dotted around the village, which act as save points. The eerie location of Ebisugaoka and when a friend continually calls Hinako a "traitor" further amplify the sense of dread. The older sister is briefly shown during a flashback, but her face is obscured. Even in the younger sister's journal, the biog page for the sister is covered in scribbles and ink. It's very Japanese Horror, and less shotgun-to-the-zombie-face. And just plain stressful.A new sanity system is intriguing too. It's not an entirely new premise: the Gamecube's Eternal Darkness would manipulate the graphics and sound within the game as the character's sanity declined. But that was, depressingly, over 20 years ago.Some items can top up your sanity, but if you don't use them, you can offer them at a shrine for an in-game currency and spend that on charms to boost Hinako's stats. I managed to afford a stamina-boosting charm during my playthrough and was tantalizingly close to affording another charm before getting cut down by scarecrows dressed as high-schoolers.The scarecrow confrontation is hopefully a good example of nuanced puzzles that will appear in the full game. Initially, a bloodied rag tells you to take the thorns out of the one scarecrow that isn't part of the group - the one that isn't going to cut you up with their sickle. Unfortunately, all of the scarecrows have a thorn, so you're tasked with finding the pattern of his group.KonamiThe entire experience is drenched in atmosphere, supported by this new sanity system - is there anything more 2025 than a mental health gauge? The constant feeling of isolation ("Where is everyone?") and unanswered questions made the demo a persuasive introduction to the game. A particularly tense moment involves collapsing after a fight, further emphasizing the character's vulnerability. Also, there's some kind of dashing fox spirit in a mask, who coaxes Hinako through the dreamlike, blood-soaked temple areas. The mysterious fox spirit knows her name, which adds yet another layer of intrigue.I hope all will be made clear when the game launches, roughly a month from now.Silent Hill f launches on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S on September 25 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/silent-hill-f-preview-gamescom-2025-123030305.html?src=rss

Hasselblad has launched the followup to its first 100MP medium-format camera with a new model that improves on it in almost every way. The X2D II 100C promises better image quality, a brighter display, 10-stop stabilization and updated hybrid autofocus. As with any Hasselblad product, it's expensive - but less so than the previous model.The original X2D 100C took beautiful photos but lacked even basic technology like continuous autofocus. That's no longer the case. The X2D II 100C is the first Hasselblad camera with AF-C phase-detect AF backed by AI algorithms and LiDAR assistance, finally allowing burst shooting for movings subjects (albeit at a low 3 fps). With those changes, the new model promises "fast and accurate" AF, especially, in low light - which would be a big improvement over the previous model.At the same time, Hasselblad is pushing the image quality envelope further. The X2D II 100C is the first medium-format camera to support true end-end-end HDR, which reduces overexposure, enhances highlight retention and improves tonal depth for more natural looking images. Those can then be viewed directly on the display as HDR HEIF or Ultra HDR JPEG images. The updated 100MP BSI sensor also delivers 16-bit RAW images and up to 15.3 stops of dynamic range, among the highest of any camera available.HasselbladAnother key change is the updated 5-axis in-body stabilization system. It now delivers up to 10 stops, more than any other camera (Fujifilm's GFX100 II offers 8 stops and some Canon models go up to 8.5 stops) - perfect for a high-resolution camera where sharpness is critical. With the new system, Hasselblad claims you can capture "hand-held long exposures lasting several seconds without a tripod" for extra creative possibilities.The X2D II 100C weighs 7.5 percent less than the X2D 100C at around 730 grams without a lens - not bad at all for a medium format camera. The grip has also been updated with a textured surface to "enhance comfort and control," the company wrote.Other updates include a new 3.6-inch touch display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness that tilts 90 degrees upward and 43 degrees downward to make high and low angle shooting easier. Hasselblad also included a 5D joystick to change focus or operate the menus, addressing a big user complaint about the X2D 100C. It comes with 1TB of built-in storage as before - something almost no other mirrorless camera offers - along with a CFexpress Type B slot (as before, there's no support for video). Finally, Hasselblad introduced a new app, Phocus Mobile 2, that allows users to remotely control the camera, transfer shots and even edit them.HasselbladAs for the price, it's less shocking than you may expect. The Hasselblad X2D II 100C is now on sale for $7,399, $800 less than the X2D 100C at launch and (perhaps strategically) $100 less than rival Fujifilm's GFX100 II was at launch.Hasselblad also introduced a new zoom lens, the XCD 2.8-4 35-100E (28-76mm full-frame equivalent). It promises "top-tier" optical performance and the fastest stepping motor in its XCD lens lineup, along with control rings for shutter speed, aperture and more. Like all Hasselblad lenses, it incorporates a leaf shutter that allows for up to 1/4000th flash sync speeds for easier use of fill light in bright conditions. The XCD 2.8-4 35-100E is now available for $4,599.Finally, the company introduced the $469 Hasselblad-branded Vandra 20-liter backpack that will help you flaunt the brand name even if the camera's tucked away. It can hold an X2D II 100C body, two lenses and accessories. Finally, Hasselblad unveiled three new 86mm filters: a UV for $299, ND ($329) and circular polarizer (CPL) for $559. Ouch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/hasselblads-x2d-ii-100c-offers-improved-autofocus-and-world-beating-stabilization-120006496.html?src=rss