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HBO has released the first teaser for The Last of Us season two and while short, it offers clues as to what we can expect when the series debuts in 2025. It starts off with Joel (Pedro Pascal) in conversation with a new character played by Catherine O'Hara (seemingly his therapist), reckoning with his past actions. "Did you hurt her?" she asks. "I saved her," he replies.On top of O'Hara's unknown role, we see other characters for the first time including Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, Jeffrey Wright reprising his video game voice role as Isaac, and Dina, played by Isabela Merced. Meanwhile with returning cast, Joel's brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna) as well as Ellie (Bella Ramsey) appear briefly in some intense action scenes.As revealed last year, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann decided to split the events from The Last of Us Part IIvideo game into two seasons, since the story was far more complex than the original. The second season will be just seven episodes to create a natural break, while the third season will be "significantly larger," they said.The original series mostly followed the events of the game, with some smart deviations and changes. Expect more of the same for season two, though the teaser already shows one significant divergence. In the game, Joel only confesses the events that occurred at the hospital to his brother, but here, he's telling Catherine O'Hara's character.The teaser appeared as part of HBO's Coming to Max trailer, along with previews for The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy, It: Welcome to Derry, and our first peak at A Knight of the Seven Kingdom, the next Game of Thrones spinoff.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hbo-drops-the-first-teaser-for-the-last-of-us-season-two-120035871.html?src=rss

According to Bloomberg and The New York Times, Meta is in talks with the likes of Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina and Dame Judi Dench, among others, for its AI projects. The company apparently intends to incorporate their voices into a conversational generative AI-slash-digital assistant called MetaAI, which is rumored to be like Siri and Google Assistant, which could live within Facebook, Meta hardware, and all the other parts of the multimillion-dollar social network company.The actors' representatives are still negotiating for stricter limits, though SAG-AFTRA has reportedly agreed on terms with Meta. SAG-AFTRA, if you recall, fought for provisions to protect actors from the threat of job loss due to AI.Didn't Meta already do something like this? Yes. During its Connect event last year, the company also introduced a chatbot platform with 28 characters" voiced by celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Dwyane Wade and Kendall Jenner. However, those celebrity chatbots' pages have since disappeared, and The Information reports that Meta has just quietly scrapped that project.This appears to be more central to Meta's AI ambitions.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedWhat to expect from Google's Pixel 2024 eventApple apologizes for another ad that missed the markOpenAI is looking into text watermarking for ChatGPT, which could expose cheating studentsNintendo profits fall 55 percent as people save their cash for the Switch 2Say goodbye to Boomerang, the streaming service dedicated to classic cartoonsYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Apple has finally started sending out payments from its butterfly keyboard settlementIt agreed to pay $50 million.Payments relating to a class action lawsuit filed in 2018 over Apple's butterfly MacBook keyboards have reportedly begun. The settlement website now states that payments for approved claims will go out in August, and claimants will receive checks. For some, it could mean a check of up to $395.After Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard in 2015, complaints arose over sticky" and unresponsive keys. A lawsuit filed in 2018 accused Apple of knowing its keyboards had problems and concealing this from consumers. While Apple denied the lawsuit's allegations of defective keyboards, it agreed to pay $50 million as part of a settlement. It also started phasing out the keyboard design in 2019.Continue reading.Instagram scammer faces felony charges after bragging on a podcastIdriss Qibaa is being charged over death threats in social media extortion.A guest who appeared on a podcast to boast about a hack-and-payback scheme involving his victims' social media accounts is now facing the wrath of the FBI. It received a tip about Qibaa's alleged extortion scheme on April 1, pointing to his appearance on the No Jumper podcast. Qibaa outlined a financial scheme using over 200 victims' social media accounts, in which he would lock them out of their pages and charge them to regain access. He added he made about $600,000 a month.Continue reading.Game Informer magazine is shutting downAfter 33 years.Game InformerGame Informer announced its parent company, GameStop, is shutting the magazine after 33 years in the business. The entire website and its archives are gone, redirecting to the magazine's final statement of thanks to its readers. The publication's content director, Kyle Hilliard, said on X the bad news about the mass staff layoffs landed right when they were in the middle of creating an issue. Game Informer launched in August 1991 with Sonic the Hedgehog sprinting across its cover.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-meta-is-reportedly-offering-millions-to-get-hollywood-voices-into-its-ai-projects-111549125.html?src=rss

Root Bear is one of those games that seems to get recommended all the time to new Playdate owners looking for somewhere to start. After months of encountering the title on the internet and vaguely wondering what could be so great about a game where all you do is pour root beer for bears, I finally decided to give it a go this weekend. And, yup, I totally get it now. Root Bear is ridiculously fun - emphasis on ridiculous.Root Bear is a $3 Catalog game in which your goal is to achieve the perfect pour from the root beer tap while picky customers (all bears, of course) judge your work. You can also get it on itch.io. The game requires precise use of the crank to get the root beer flowing at just the right rate, and cut it off at just the right time so it doesn't go above or fall short of the desired fill line. There's foam to consider too, and how it settles can really mess you up if you aren't careful. The closer you get to a perfect pour, the more money you'll earn.Alex Sussman/Cole O'Brien/Andrea Cabral/Beau QPIt's exactly the kind of design to bring out a person's competitive streak. But the best part about Root Bear is the bears themselves. Or, their reactions. The first time I royally messed up a customer's order, the bear let loose a Howie Scream that I was in no way prepared for - with a facial expression to match - and I was completely floored. So yes, Root Bear is a really good, really silly time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/i-finally-understand-the-hype-around-the-playdate-game-root-bear-002037850.html?src=rss

Following a report from The Wall Street Journal that claims OpenAI has been sitting on a tool that can spot essays written by ChatGPT with a high degree of accuracy, the company has shared a bit of information about its research into text watermarking - and why it hasn't released its detection method. According to The Wall Street Journal's report, debate over whether the tool should be released has kept it from seeing the light of day, despite it being ready." In an update published on Sunday to a May blog post, spotted by TechCrunch, OpenAI said, Our teams have developed a text watermarking method that we continue to consider as we research alternatives."The company said watermarking is one of multiple solutions, including classifiers and metadata, that it has looked into as part of extensive research on the area of text provenance." According to OpenAI, it has been highly accurate" in some situations, but doesn't perform as well when faced with certain forms of tampering, like using translation systems, rewording with another generative model, or asking the model to insert a special character in between every word and then deleting that character." And text watermarking could disproportionately impact some groups," OpenAI wrote. For example, it could stigmatize use of AI as a useful writing tool for non-native English speakers."Per the blog post, OpenAI has been weighing these risks. The company also wrote that it has prioritized the release of authentication tools for audiovisual content. In a statement to TechCrunch, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company is taking a deliberate approach" to text provenance because of the complexities involved and its likely impact on the broader ecosystem beyond OpenAI."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-confirms-its-looking-into-text-watermarking-for-chatgpt-that-could-expose-cheating-students-223920531.html?src=rss

In this installment of What We're Listening To, Engadget's Weekend Editor Cheyenne MacDonald dives into the new releases she's been enjoying lately.Francesca Wexler - I Dreamt I Found a Red RubyEvery once in a while, the algorithm" actually does right by me. While scrolling through my Instagram feed sometime in the last month or so, a suggested Reel from artist Francesca Wexler popped up, and I couldn't help but get pulled in by her captivating flow. Her style isn't so easy to nail down to a single genre, but would fit under the alt hip-hop umbrella - she described her work in one instance as psychedelic rap."Some songs on Wexler's latest album, I Dreamt I Found a Red Ruby, have almost an ethereal quality to them, like its opening and closing tracks, Heaven on Earth" and Moonwalking." The upbeat and catchy Ain't I" hits like a sunny day. But there are darker, harder moments too in songs like Amphetamine Man" that really show off Wexler's depth as a rapper. With I Dreamt I Found a Red Ruby, it's evident that Wexler is an artist that shouldn't be slept on.Orville Peck - StampedeOrville Peck didn't make us wait long for a full album after dropping Stampede: Volume 1 in May. On Friday, the country artist released the duets album in its entirety, and even though it hasn't been a full three days yet since it came out, I can already tell it's going to dominate my Most Listened playlists for the foreseeable future.Stampede sees Peck collaborating with country legends and emerging artists alike, and genre-wise, there's a little of everything in there. On top of the songs I shouted out from the first half, the rest of Stampede brings a bunch of new bangers, my favorites including Back At Your Door" featuring Debbii Dawson, Papa Was a Rodeo" featuring Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, and You're an Asshole, I Can't Stand You (and I Want a Divorce)" featuring Margo Price.Honorable mention: Street CleanerI recently set out looking for music that sounds like it could be straight out of an 80s horror/thriller movie, and Reddit pointed me to Street Cleaner. Well let me tell you, I was not disappointed. Street Cleaner, whose style is described on Bandcamp as being a theatrical and grimey take on synth music," has become my go-to artist to pop on when I need to get some work done or otherwise be locked in.There isn't a particular song or album I've latched onto - I just throw the entire discography on and let it get me in the zone. Street Cleaner released some new music in April, though, and that's as good a place as any to start your listening journey. The artist apparently also made a video game, which I fully plan on checking out.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-were-listening-to-i-dreamt-i-found-a-red-ruby-stampede-and-more-205000229.html?src=rss

There's a new hand-drawn platformer coming to PC and consoles, and it looks absolutely breathtaking. The Eternal Life of Goldman, announced on Friday during THQ Nordic's Digital Showcase, is an upcoming title from Weappy Studio that's inspired by ancient fables and depicted in classic frame-by-frame animation." There's no release date just yet, but when it does come out, it'll be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch.Weappy describes The Eternal Life of Goldman as a vibrant yet dark platformer adventure that weaves together legends, fairy tales and myths."Its protagonist is an old man who uses his cane to fight off legendary creatures in a land known as the Archipelago. The trailer gives us a glimpse at some gameplay footage, revealing a sprawling and gorgeously animated fantasy world. The developers say it's designed to be challenging but not grueling, and encourages exploration to uncover all the secrets of the Archipelago.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-eternal-life-of-goldman-is-a-gorgeous-platformer-that-looks-like-a-hand-drawn-cartoon-173751928.html?src=rss

Apple's AirTags are the best item trackers an iPhone user can get, and they're going for cheap right now in a deal on Amazon. A four pack of AirTags - normally $100 - is 23 percent off, making it just $76. That's only $1 more than the pack was selling for during Amazon Prime Day. AirTags tap into Apple's Find My network, sending out a signal that can be picked up by nearby devices to guide you to your lost item. AirTags work seamlessly with other devices in the Apple ecosystem and have a battery life of over a year. In addition to helping locate belongings you may have left somewhere outside the home, AirTags can also help you track down items you've misplaced in your immediate surroundings thanks to the Precision Finding feature in the Find My app. You can also ping the AirTag so it'll play a sound that you can follow. AirTags don't have a loop or clip that would allow you to attach them to a keyring, so you'll need to pick up a case if you want to do so. There are all sorts of accessories available for AirTags to secure them to your belongings, including keyring holders and cases designed to adhere to fabric so you can securely stick them in the lining of a jacket or purse. AirTags have an IP67 rating, meaning they'll withstand dust and brief exposure to water, and the CR2032 battery is easily replaceable. The Find My app supports tracking up to 32 items. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-back-on-sale-for-76-150547693.html?src=rss

Payments relating to a class action lawsuit filed in 2018 over Apple's butterfly MacBook keyboards have reportedly begun to arrive. The settlement website now states that payments for approved claims will go out in August - and sure enough, 9to5Mac's Michael Burkhardt reports that he received two settlement checks in the mail on Saturday. Just how much eligible MacBook owners will get varies depending on the extent of the repairs their devices needed. But for some, it could mean a check (or multiple) of up to $395.After Apple introduced the butterfly keyboard in 2015, complaints arose over sticky" and unresponsive keys, susceptibility to debris and other major issues. The company ultimately started phasing out the design in 2019. The lawsuit filed in 2018 accused Apple of knowing that its keyboards had problems and concealing this from consumers. While Apple denied the lawsuit's allegations of defective keyboards and did not admit to any wrongdoing, it agreed to pay $50 million as part of a settlement.Per the settlement website, people who got two or more topcase replacements within four years of purchasing one of the affected MacBooks are expected to get between $300-$395. MacBook owners who got just one topcase replacement could get up to $125. Claimants who only needed keycap replacements will get a maximum of $50. Of course, to receive a payment, you'd need to have filed any claims by the deadlines outlined in the settlement. And, when the settlement was first reached in 2022, Reuters reported that it will only apply to customers who bought the affected laptops in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Washington. You can find the full details in the case's FAQ.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-has-finally-started-sending-out-payments-from-its-butterfly-keyboard-settlement-210754935.html?src=rss

New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention.Toward Eternity by Anton HurToward Eternity does not waste any time in getting to the drama. The novel by Anton Hur begins in the not-so-far-off future, and opens with a moment of crisis: a patient in a nanotherapy research clinic has seemingly vanished into thin air. This patient had been undergoing a new type of treatment that uses android cells (dubbed nanites") to cure cancer by replacing the body's own cells. In doing so, however, it transforms the body entirely into a nanodroid, giving rise to nano humans" that are no longer subjected to mortality.The story jumps through time and different perspectives, exploring what it means to be human in a world where technology is quickly catching up to biology." From the second I started reading this one, I did not want to put it down.Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere by Rob JacksonIt can be hard not to get swept up in the doom and gloom of climate change, especially amid reports marking Earth's hottest years on record and still-rising emissions from fossil fuels. Stanford climate scientist Rob Jackson's new book Into the Clear Blue Sky: The Path to Restoring Our Atmosphere aims to foster a more optimistic outlook by calling attention to the courses of action that could lead us to a better future for our planet and its inhabitants.I view my book as a home repair manual for the planet," Jackson said in a recent interview published by the scientific journal ACS Central Science. It highlights the people and the ideas needed to solve the climate crisis. I want most of all to give people hope, a sense of optimism. Yes, climate change is already bad, but we can still fix this problem."Epitaphs from the Abyss #1Legendary comic book publisher EC Comics, which brought us series like Tales from the Crypt and Weird Science more than 70 years ago, is making a comeback with its first new series in decades: Epitaphs from the Abyss. The first issue of the horror series was released at the end of July and features four tales - which are introduced by a ghoulish narrator dubbed The Grave-Digger.Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 has stories by Brian Azzarello, J. Holtham, Stephanie Phillips and Chris Condon, with art by Lee Bermejo, Phil Hester, Peter Krause and Jorge Fornes. There's something about those old EC Comics that just hits different, and Epitaphs faithfully slips back into that vibe to deliver spooky new stories that have a classic feel.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-to-read-books-existential-sci-fi-ai-technology-climate-crisis-solutions-ec-comics-horror-183058573.html?src=rss

Prison Architect 2, the sequel to the 2015 cult hit, isn't coming out this year as its creators had planned. The prison construction simulator's publisher, Paradox Interactive, has announced that its release has been delayed indefinitely. In its post, Paradox has admitted that its internal reviews and beta testing feedbacks surfaced the areas that need more attention, mainly the game's performance and content. "We need to raise the quality a bit more to meet the standards we'd like to achieve with this sequel," it wrote.This latest development comes after a series of delays. Prison Architect 2 was supposed to come out on March 26, but it was pushed back a couple of times so that its developers at Double Eleven and Kokku could resolve issues concerning memory usage and minimum spec configuration. This time, Paradox decided not to set a new release date. It says it will announce a new one once the Prison Architect 2 teams are done reworking the game's scope.Earlier this year, Paradox Interactive also had to deal with the overwhelmingly negative reception for Cities: Skylines 2's Beach Properties asset pack. Players weren't happy with the $10 DLC's contents, especially since they're still waiting for patches for the main game that was riddled with visual and mechanical bugs when it was released in 2023. Prison Architect 2's delay could prevent a repeat of what happened to Cities: Skylines.Paradox explained that improving the game will take time, because it has "deep systems that all interact with each other." If one area is fixed, other parts of the game need to be fixed or adjusted, as well. For now, the publisher and the developers will refund all pre-orders. Those who purchased from Paradox directly will automatically be reimbursed, but those who purchased from the Xbox, PlayStation or Steam stores will have to go through those platforms to get their refund. Paradox will remove the option to pre-order the game entirely and will add the supposed pre-order bonus to the base game instead.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/prison-architect-2-is-delayed-indefinitely-160038125.html?src=rss

NVIDIA has discovered design flaws" in its upcoming series of AI chips that may push their release back at least three months, The Information reports. The company has reportedly started notifying customers of the delay, including Microsoft. Large orders of the new Blackwell chips were initially slated to start shipping sometime this year, but sources told The Information that they're now not expected until early 2025. In addition to Microsoft, the publication reports that Google, Meta and other major companies have placed bulk orders of the Blackwell chips that are collectively worth tens of billions of dollars."NVIDIA announced the Blackwell series chips back in March, touting performance boosts of up to 30 times what's achieved by its flagship H100, which serves as the backbone for some of today's biggest AI systems. The company at the time also said the Blackwell chips could reduce cost and energy consumption by up to 25x." But according to The Information, citing sources involved with the Blackwell chip, design problems arose unusually late in the production process."NVIDIA and its chip manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, are now doing test production runs to get to the bottom of the issues, according to The Information, which reports that the first big shipments may not go out until the first quarter.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nvidias-blackwell-ai-chips-have-reportedly-hit-a-snag-and-may-arrive-months-late-163009474.html?src=rss

A future artificial intelligence product by Meta could have you chatting with celebrities. According to Bloomberg and The New York Times, the company is in talks with Awkwafina, Judi Dench and Keegan-Michael Key, among other celebrities from various Hollywood agencies for its AI projects. The company apparently intends to incorporate their voices into a conversational generative AI-slash-digital assistant called MetaAI, which is similar to Siri and Google Assistant.Meta plans to record their voices and to secure the right to use them for as many situations as possible across Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp and even the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Bloomberg says negotiations have started and stopped many times, because both sides can't seem to agree with the terms for use. For now, they seemed to have settled on a time limit, meaning any voice the company records can only be used over a set period. However, the deals with the actors could be renewed or extended by the time their contract is up.The actors' representatives are still looking to negotiate for stricter limits, though SAG-AFTRA has reportedly reached an agreement with Meta on terms. SAG-AFTRA, if you'll recall, fought for the establishment of provisions to protect actors from the threat of job loss due to AI when it went on strike last year. Under those terms, a company will have to pay actors and obtain their consent before it can use their AI-generated likeness. If Meta reaches a deal with the actors it's talking to, it could pay them millions of dollars in fees.Meta is looking to finalize deals before its Connect conference in September, The Times says, where it's expected to launch a bunch of AI products. During the same event last year, the company also introduced a chatbot platform with 28 "characters" voiced by celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Dwyane Wade and Kendall Jenner. The Information reports that Meta has just quietly scrapped that project, and the celebrity chatbots' pages on Facebook and Instagram are no longer available.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-is-reportedly-offering-millions-to-use-hollywood-voices-in-ai-projects-121019385.html?src=rss

Apple pulled the latest short film in its The Underdogs: OOO (Out of Office) series set in Thailand. The tech giant scrubbed it over complaints about stereotypical portrayals of Thailand and its people in certain scenes.The Bangkok Post reports that Apple issued an apology to the people of Thailand for the fifth film in its Underdogs series. The ad series features a group of travel weary office workers navigating the world using Apple's various products.Several viewers posted comments criticizing the film's use of a sepia filter to make Thailand seem underdeveloped. The comments also called out the costuming and scenery decisions in its airport scene using outdated representations of Thailand's citizens.Sattra Sripan, the spokesman for the Thai House of Representatives' committee on tourism, called for a boycott over the ad.Thai people are deeply unhappy with the advertisement," Sripan said in a statement. I encourage Thai people to stop using Apple products and change to other brands."Apple issued an apology for the ad shortly after pulling it off of YouTube. Lawmakers have also invited Apple representatives to visit with them to discuss the ads and how they portray Thailand on film.Our intent was to celebrate the country's optimism and culture, and we apologize for not fully capturing the vibrancy of Thailand today," the statement read.This is the second time this year that Apple has apologized for a commercial. Apple pulled an ad back in May that it told AdAge missed the mark" for its new thin iPad Pro. The commercial features a giant pneumatic press crushing a large collection of items used in or to represent creative endeavors such musical instruments, paints, a generic arcade cabinet, and camera equipment. The steel crusher smooshes everything flat and lifts up to reveal an intact iPad sitting on the lower steel block that a voiceover describes as the most powerful iPad ever is also the thinnest."Artists, musicians and other creators took offense to the ad's implied tone that generative AI would replace human artistic endeavors. Apple vowed not to air the ad on TV but it's still on its YouTube page with the comments section disabled.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-apologizes-for-another-ad-that-missed-the-mark-220045564.html?src=rss

A guest who appeared on the No Jumper podcast to boast about a hack and payback scheme involving his victims' social media accounts could face federal charges. Idriss Qibaa, also known as Dani" and Unlocked" who authorities allege ran the social media hacking site Unlocked4Life.com, faces two criminal felony counts filed by the US Attorney's Office in Nevada for allegedly violating interstate communications laws for threats he issued in text messages to two victims and members of their families, according to documents obtained by 404 Media.Investigators filed the sealed complaint against Qibaa on July 25 and issued a warrant the following Monday when also made his first initial appearance in court, according to federal court records.The criminal complaint states that the FBI received a tip about Qibaa's alleged extortion scheme on April 1 pointing to an appearance he made on the No Jumper podcast hosted by Adam22, also known as Adam Grandmaison, back in January under his pseudonym Dani." Qibaa outlined a financial scheme using over 200 victims' social media accounts in which he would lock them out of their pages and charge them to regain access.He also boasted that he made about $600,000 a month from his activities and hired two security guards to follow him.You're making $2 million a month off your Instagram and Telegraph," Qibaa says on the podcast. I come and I take it away and make you pay for it back and I make it public and I post it and I expose you."Qibaa even said on the podcast episode that he pulled the scheme on celebrities who unknowingly kept paying him to get their social media back. He later noted I'm very petty" followed by a menacing laugh.I've talked to stars who have told me that they've paid to get it back 20 times over and over and over they just have to keep paying to get it back," Qibaa says, and I'm like you realize what's happening to you right like the same that's getting you it back is...you're getting extorted."The criminal complaint tells the story of eight victims' encounters with Qibaa and his services. One identified as J.T." operated two Instagram accounts: a cannabis news aggregate account called theblacklistxyz" and a cannabis merchandising store under caliplug," both of which are currently set to private. J.T. reached out to Qibaa asking if he could obtain a username. Qibaa quoted a price back between $4,000-$5,000. J.T. refused to take Qibaa up on the offer and Qibaa responded with threats.Qibba told J.T. that J.T. had wasted Qibaa's time, blocked J.T.'s Instagram pages and demanded $10,000 to reinstate it," the complaint reads. J.T. offered Qibaa $8,500 to reinstate the account, an offer Qibaa accepted."The complaint asserts that Qibba reached out to J.T. two more times. The first time, Qibba asked if J.T. would promote his Instagram page under the username unlocked4life" that's since been taken down. J.T. agreed but when he learned Qibaa had been threatening and extorting other victims, he confronted Qibaa and Qibaa was irate."A few months later, Qibaa apparently increased the scope of his threats to J.T. and members of his family. He sent threats to call the victim's ex-wife's lawyer and child protective services on his kids. Screenshots of the victims' phone show Qibaa allegedly identifying the address and phone number of the victim's sister. He texted another family member and introduced himself as The guy that's gonna murder your drug dealer brother. Tell him Unlocked says hi though. We have your entire family's info."Another victim identified as a journalist and comedian with the initials E.H." learned they were a target of Qibaa's illegal services. Qibaa blocked their Instagram account, the name of which was redacted, at the request of a dentist in California who treated them. E.H. reached out to the Unlocked4Life account and received a reply that read, Yo its Idriss." He then told E.H. to pull up the No Jumper podcast episode featuring his interview. Qibaa not only took the victim's Instagram account access away but also threatened to take their Social Security number and blast it out" if they didn't pay him $20,000.According to the complaint, not even restraining orders could make Qibaa leave his victims alone. One named R.B." received a restraining order from Los Angeles County Superior Court in July but Unblocked" responded, Cute restraining order..last I checked you're still gonna die." Then UNLOCKED UNCENSORED" posted on Telegram, $50,000 reward for whoever sleeps BO this week."Perhaps the most disturbing threats happened to several victims in which Qibaa claimed he'd happily go to jail if payments weren't made to him. Screenshots of the text chains show a person named Dani" and Daniel" telling his victims, I will come and shoot you myself," I'm going to bury you for this shit" and D., L., J., T., Children-Main Targets" referring to the victims' children.Another text chain shows Qibaa allegedly threatening someone that he would rather take a life sentence for murdering you then this," Idc if I have to shoot you my self [sic]" and I'll go to jail happily." He follows the text with the threat Here's the last guy that came to take photos / came near my home" and sends three pictures of an unidentified bearded man, his car and a photo of his badly bruised and bloodied on the ground."Adam22 concluded his podcast interview with Dani" saying he was very excited to see the fallout from this" and I respect the hustle even though I can't justify it on a moral level."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hack-and-payback-instagram-scammer-gets-nabbed-after-bragging-about-it-on-a-podcast-202509349.html?src=rss

Google is phasing out an Olympics ad for its AI-powered chatbot, Gemini, after receiving widespread criticism for showing a father using AI to help his daughter write a fan letter to her favorite athlete. In the 60-second commercial, which is still available on YouTube, a father uses Gemini to write a fan letter to Olympic track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, on behalf of his young daughter.She wants to show Sydney some love and I am pretty good with words, but this has to be just right," the dad says in the commercial. So Gemini, help my daughter write a letter telling Sydney how inspiring she is." The ad ends with the words: A little help from Gemini."A Google spokesperson told CNBC that although the ad tested well before it aired, given the feedback, we have decided to phase the ad out of our Olympics rotation." The spokesperson added that the ad's goal was to create an authentic story to celebrate Team USA. We believe that AI can be a great tool for enhancing human creativity, but can never replace it," they added.The commercial showing somebody having a child use AI to write a fan letter to her hero SUCKS," wrote Linda Holmes, the host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, on Threads. Obviously there are special circumstances and people who need help, but as a general look how cool, she didn't even have to write anything herself!' story, it SUCKS. Who wants an AI-written fan letter??"Shelley Palmer, a professor of advanced media at Syracuse University's communications school, strongly criticized the ad in a widely-shared post on her blog. She argued that the commercial's approach could lead to a monocultural future where original human thoughts become increasingly rare" and expressed concern for the ads's implications for parenting and education.The backlash reflects the broader debates around the role of AI in creative processes and its potential impact on the quality of human expression. As AI technologies continue to advance, companies are facing increasing scrutiny not only over how they portray and promote these tools but also about using the work of creative professionals without permission to train AI models.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-will-no-longer-air-an-olympics-ad-that-showed-a-child-using-ai-to-write-a-fan-letter-201214273.html?src=rss

The US Department of Justice is suing TikTok for violating a child privacy law and violating a 2019 agreement with the Federal Trade Commission for previous privacy violations. The lawsuit stems from an earlier investigation into the company by the Federal Trade Commission, which referred its privacy case to the DoJ earlier this year.The FTC had been looking into whether TikTok had violated the terms of an earlier privacy settlement with Musical.ly, which was acquired by ByteDance prior to the launch of TikTok. According to the FTC, the investigation found that TikTok had flagrantly" violated both the 2019 settlement and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).In a statement, the Justice Department also cited TikTok's collection of personal information about children on its platform and its failure to comply with the requests for the information to be deleted.

Warner Bros. Discovery is shuttering Boomerang, a streaming service dedicated to classic cartoons, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The platform started as a digital cable channel back in 2000 before expanding to a streaming platform in 2017.Boomerang will officially cease operations on September 30, giving subscribers around two months to quickly binge every Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry and Scooby-Doo cartoon. However, some content will be folded into Max. The linear channel will continue to operate via cable and satellite providers, reaching an estimated 26 million homes.Additionally, Boomerang subscribers will be grandfathered into Max's ad-free tier with no change" to the subscription price until further notice," according to an email sent to users. That's a dang good deal, as Boomerang costs $6 per month and Max's ad-free plan currently costs $17 per month.MaxMax, however, is already home to much of the same programming as Boomerang. This includes Looney Tunes shorts, several Scooby-Doo shows, Tom and Jerry and The Flintstones, among others. It's also home to the entire catalog of Cartoon Network shows and plenty of DC animated series, like Harley Quinn.The company hasn't specified which shows and movies would be making the move to Max, simply telling subscribers that some Boomerang content may not be available" after September 30.Boomerang isn't the only cartoon-adjacent streaming platform on the chopping block. Kid-friendly Noggin shut down earlier this year after layoffs at parent company Paramount Global. On the upside, Disney+ has plenty of cartoons, given the pedigree, and the same goes for Netflix and Prime Video.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/say-goodbye-to-boomerang-the-streaming-service-dedicated-to-classic-cartoons-182127381.html?src=rss

Another giant name in the gaming press is shutting down its operations. Game Informer announced today that it's been shut down by its parent company GameStop after 33 years in the business. The entire website and its archives have also been removed and now redirect to the magazine's final statement of thanks to its readers.After 33 thrilling years of bringing you the latest news, reviews and insights from the ever-evolving world of gaming, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closure of Game Informer," the publication's statement reads.

Instagram is blocked in Turkey amid a dispute over Hamas-related content on the platform. The app has been inaccessible in the country since Friday morning. Netblocks, an organization that tracks internet and social media outages, confirmed that Instagram had been restricted in the country.Turkish regulators didn't specify why the block was in place but, as Bloomberg reports, the crackdown on Instagram appears to be related to its handling of Hamas-related posts on the platform. On Friday, Turkey's head of communications Fahrettin Altun, said in a post on X that Instagram is actively preventing people from posting messages of condolences" for Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader who was killed earlier this week.Meta hasn't publicly commented on the block.It's not the first time Turkish authorities have blocked a major social media service. Twitter was briefly blocked in the country last year following a devastating earthquake that killed thousands of people. YouTube and Twitter were also blocked in 2014.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/turkey-has-blocked-instagram-amid-a-dispute-over-hamas-related-content-175934777.html?src=rss

It's Friday, which means it's time for another roundup of good tech deals. Our latest edition is headed up by a few notable discounts from the PlayStation Store's Summer Sale. Both the standard and digital versions of the PS5 are $50 off, for one - not a huge price drop, but still about as low as we usually see the consoles fall. The soon-to-be-improved PlayStation VR2 is down to $349, a $200 discount, while a number of our favorite PS5 games are also on sale. Beyond that, Apple's entry-level AirPods are back down to a low of $70, several Amazon Echo devices are available for the prices we saw during Prime Day and Google's Pixel 8a is at a new low ahead of the company's big Pixel hardware event later this month. Here are the best tech deals from this week you can still buy today. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-playstation-5-is-50-off-plus-the-rest-of-the-weeks-best-tech-deals-170024467.html?src=rss

Tesla is facing yet more legal action over Autopilot after the parents of a motorcyclist who was killed in a crash involving a Model 3 sued the company. The plaintiffs, who also sued the driver of the Tesla, claimed that the car's driver assistant tech and other safety measures are defective and inadequate."The plaintiffs argued in the complaint, which was obtained by Reuters, that Autopilot sensors and cameras should have identified the hazard posed by" the motorcycle. Autopilot was engaged when the Model 3 struck the back of Landon Embry's motorcycle at 75-80 miles per hour in Utah in 2022. Embry died at the scene.His parents also claim the Model 3 driver was tired and that "a reasonably prudent driver, or adequate auto braking system, would have, and could have slowed or stopped without colliding with the motorcycle." Tesla does not have a public relations department that can be reached for comment.This is the latest in a long line of legal and regulatory issues that Tesla has contended with over the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. Just this week, Washington state investigators determined that a Tesla Model S involved in a fatal crash with a motorcycle in April had Full Self-Driving engaged at the time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tesla-sued-over-fatal-autopilot-crash-164723952.html?src=rss

THQ Nordic is holding a livestream showcase event at 3PM ET and you can watch it live via the YouTube embed placed below. If YouTube isn't your bag, the event will also stream on the company's Twitch channel and its Steam page.The company says the digital showcase will offer updates on a bunch of games, like Titan Quest II, Way of the Hunter, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and the upcoming remake of Gothic 1. The press release does suggest that there will be more games spotlighted during the event, but didn't name names. It also says there will be new announcements."There's a car-shaped elephant in the room here. The press release advertising the event is titled The day of (W)reckoning is at hand." This is almost certainly a reference to the company's long-gestating racing franchise Wreckfest. Are we getting a sequel or maybe a remake? Time will tell.Not that much time though. The stream officially starts at 3PM ET, but there's a pre-show at 2:45 ET hosted by HandyGames. This subsidiary of THQ Nordic is responsible for titles like Lock's Quest and Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt, among others.One final thing. If you're into puzzles or internet-based mysteries, THQ Nordic did drop a hint about something else that would be covered during the event. The Wheel of Fortune-esque teaser simply says _ _ e E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _." Make of that what you will.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/watch-thq-nordics-digital-showcase-at-3pm-et-164018041.html?src=rss

After a couple of months of beta testing on consoles to iron out some bugs, Valorantis now properly available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in some regions. You can dive into the free-to-play tactical shooter on the consoles if you're in the US, Canada, Europe, Japan or Brazil. Riot plans to open up the game to console players in other regions down the line.Riot says it optimized the gameplay for consoles, which included the addition of a new Focus shooting mode that's a bit like hipfire, but with lower sensitivity for greater precision. There won't be any support for crossplay between PC and consoles so as to maintain competitive integrity, but you will have access to all your purchased or earned cosmetics and there will be shared progression across all platforms. Riot also notes that there will be parity between all platforms in terms of balance changes and added agents, maps, premium content and other features."We believe there are millions of players that would love to play Valorant, but currently can't, and we hope to change that with bringing Valorant to consoles," Valorant production designer Arnar Gylfason said in a statement. "We aim to provide them the joy of the Valorant experience and all it entails: a core tactical shooter gameplay focused on mastery and player expression, a team-based competitive environment where match quality and fairness comes first, our amazing ecosystem with a unique style, high-quality cosmetics and a thriving community that values personal and competitive identity."This is a significant step for Riot as Valorant is its first live-service game on console - the likes of League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics remain PC-only. However, the publisher plans to bring its upcoming LoL-based fighting game 2XKOto PlayStation and Xbox as well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valorant-is-now-out-of-beta-on-playstation-5-and-xbox-series-xs-160016521.html?src=rss

Apple has been pressuring ByteDance and Tencent to close loopholes in China that funnel customers to external payment systems for making in-app purchases, according to a report by Bloomberg. Anyone living in the West knows the drill here. Apple wants that 30 percent commission.Reporting indicates this pressure campaign began in May. Apple allegedly warned Tencent that it would reject crucial WeChat updates if it didn't eliminate the ability for users to make payments outside of Apple's ecosystem. Tencent complied with the original request, issuing an update in July, but Apple went one step further.WeChat is home to thousands of third-party mini-games and experiences. Apple asked Tencent to disable in-game chat between creators and players, as that's another theoretical loophole that could funnel users to third-party payment systems. Tencent has yet to agree to this request.Back in June, Apple reportedly did something similar with ByteDance. It threatened to withhold updates of Douyin, which is basically the Chinese version of TikTok, unless it plugged any gaps that steer users away from that much-coveted 30 percent commission. According to Bloomberg, ByteDance has yet to issue a formal response.These are aggressive moves on the part of Apple. China is the world's largest smartphone market, sure, but the iPhone isn't the dominant brand throughout the country. As a matter of fact, the phone failed to crack the top five in sales last quarter and the company recently experienced a 6.5 percent decline in profits.It's also worth noting that both ByteDance and Tencent aren't happy corporate warriors looking out for the little guy. These massive companies levy their own commissions on creators and likely didn't want Apple cutting into their bottom lines.An Apple spokesperson was unusually blunt in a statement to Bloomberg, simply saying that company guidelines dictate that the sale of all digital goods must go through its system and that the review team has the power to reject app submissions that violate that policy. Neither Tencent or ByteDance issued a comment to Bloomberg.China, like the rest of the world, has been cracking down on walled gardens like Apple's App Store. Despite the country's hesitance to continue allowing closed ecosystems controlled by a single entity, Apple CEO Tim Cook is bullish about its prospects in China. We continue to be confident in the long-term opportunity in China," he said during a recent earnings call. I don't know how every chapter of the book reads, but we're very confident in the long term."Apple is facing numerous legal hurdles all over the world regarding its Hungry Hungry Hippos approach to gobbling up commission fees. The European Commission issued a ruling that dictates it must allow app developers to steer users to payment systems and offers outside of the App Store. The company also faces potential fines from the EU, to the tune of ten percent of global annual revenue. As for the US, Epic sued Apple over its developer transaction fee policy and many other companies have expressed their own concerns. It's also worth nothing that Tencent owns a 40 percent stake in Epic Games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-fighting-tencent-and-bytedance-over-in-app-payments-in-china-155949462.html?src=rss

People are so excited for the next-gen Switch, they're likely holding off on buying Nintendo's current consoles and games. At least that's what the company's latest earnings report seems to indicate. For the quarter ending on June 30, Nintendo posted a net profit of 80.9 billion Japanese Yen, which is higher than its forecast but over 50 percent lower than its net profit for the same period last fiscal year. In addition, the company said it only sold 2.1 million Switch consoles for the quarter. That means it experienced a 46.3 percent decline on unit sales year-on-year. Even its games didn't sell well, seeing as Nintendo posted a software sales figure that's 41.3 percent lower than last fiscal year's at 30.64 million units sold.In its report, Nintendo admits that the low sales figures for games was caused by the lack of big releases, such as the previous year's The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The Super Mario Bros. Movie also helped "energize" its business back then. But since hardware sales for this quarter are similar to the previous one's, Nintendo considers its Switch sales to be stable.Nintendo is expected to launch its "Switch 2" console soon. It was expected to come out sometime this year, but according to reports published in the previous months, it will be released in early 2025 instead. There's still very little known about the upcoming console, but rumors say it will have backwards compatibility, as well as 4K capabilities.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-profits-fall-55-percent-as-people-save-their-cash-for-the-switch-2-140019403.html?src=rss

Our pick for the best budget Android phone is looking even better right now as the Google Pixel 8a has dropped to a new all-time-low price. You can pick up the device for $399. That's 20 percent off the regular price, and it's even lower than any of the deals we saw for it during Prime Day. The Pixel 8a has the same Tensor G3 chip as the rest of the Pixel 8 lineup, which means you get access to the same AI features that its higher-end siblings have. We're fans of the cameras, 120Hz OLED display and battery life too (it lasted 20-and-a-half hours on our video rundown test). IP67 dust and water resistance is definitely welcome as is Qi wireless charging, even if it's not the fastest at a max capacity of 7.5 watts. Add all of that up and it's little surprise that the Google Pixel 8a earned a score of 90 in our review. But that's not all, folks. The rest of the Pixel lineup is on sale too. The standard Pixel 8 with 128GB of storage is $499, which is $200 off the regular price. We gave that model a score of 90 in our review. The Pixel 8 Pro pipped that, however, with a score of 93. That's our pick for the best Android phone on the market right now, and you can pick up one with 128GB of storage for $699, or $300 off. This all comes with one key caveat in that Google is set to unveil the Pixel 9 lineup later this month. Those are expected to have more fancy features (some of which will come to Pixel 8 devices eventually), a more deeply integrated Gemini AI chatbot, an upgraded chipset and a revamped camera system. If you want the latest Pixel device - which will come with an extra year of software support - it'll be worth holding off for a couple of weeks. However, if you need a new phone of the Android variety right now, you can't really go wrong with any of the above options. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-google-pixel-8a-drops-to-a-new-low-of-399-135125969.html?src=rss

Intel is extending the warranties for its controversial Core 13th and 14th-gen processors by two years, it has announced in a community post. The company says it will share more details in coming days, but for now, customers just waiting for their computers to conk out can at least know that they may not have to spend money to replace their processors. Intel revealed in July that after extensive analysis, it found that elevated operating voltage was causing these particular processor models' instability issues for a lot of people.A microcode algorithm has apparently been sending incorrect voltage requests to the processor, causing users' computers to crash. The company is working on a patch that it plans to release in mid-August, but for some people, it may be too late: As Tom's Hardware notes, the patch will not fix processors that are already crashing. An indie gaming studio called Alderon Games reported that based on its personnel's observations, the processors' failure rate is 100 percent. Even CPUs that work well deteriorate and fail in the end. That's why an extended warranty is very much welcome, especially since some models only have a year-long warranty."Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process," the company wrote in its announcement. It also admitted that "this has been a challenging issue to unravel and definitively root cause." For now, Intel advises those who purchased systems from computer manufacturers to reach out to the brand's support team. Meanwhile, people who purchased boxed CPUs for their PCs can contact Intel's customer support.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/intel-makes-good-on-cpu-instability-issues-by-extending-warranties-by-two-years-130010567.html?src=rss

The Federal Communications Commission's voted to restore net neutrality protections back in April, but the process isn't as smooth-sailing as its proponents would like. According to Reuters and Fast Company, the Sixth Circuit US Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect because the broadband providers' legal case challenging their reinstatement will likely succeed. A group of cable, telecom and mobile internet providers sued the FCC shortly after its three Democrat commissioners voted to restore net neutrality protectionsUnder net neutrality rules, broadband services are classified as essential communications resources. That gives the FCC the power to regulate broadband internet and to prohibit providers from offering paid prioritization, which some ISPs have been using to charge bandwidth-heavy companies like Netflix additional fees. It will also prevent ISPs from blocking or slowing down traffic to specific websites.Net neutrality's opponents have long argued that the rules will put off investors. The group of providers that filed this recent case against the FCC said the rules' reinstatement would force them to "forego valuable new services, incur prohibitive compliance costs and pay more to obtain capital." In its decision, the court wrote that the "commission has failed to satisfy the high bar for imposing such regulations and that "net neutrality is likely a major question requiring clear congressional authorization."The commission originally approved net neutrality rules back in 2015, though they have been in the works for years before that. Under the Trump administration, however, the FCC had voted to roll back the rules and to reclassify broadband internet services back to Title I, which means the agency would have less oversight on the industry. The rules were supposed to take effect on July 22 after the FCC voted to reinstate them, but a court blocked them from taking effect until August 5. Now, net neutrality's proponents will have to wait even longer. The appeals court has scheduled oral arguments discussing the issue for late October or early November, before or during the 2024 US presidential election.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/court-blocks-the-fccs-efforts-to-restore-net-neutrality-again-123029311.html?src=rss

The surprise 2022 hit PowerWash Simulator has already seen loads of extra content like a DeLorean car washing DLC and even a special edition to aid mental health research. However, the latest update gave users more than developer FuturLab bargained for, according to a recent post on X.The company released a cruise ship DLC yesterday (Summer Seasonal 2024), but multiple users on Steam complained that they couldn't play it. While a fix was being readied, an upcoming level called "Muckingham Files 4" was somehow released for free onto Steam. Consequently, users on that platform (and no others) can now play both both levels.

When most tech companies are challenged with a lawsuit, the expected defense is to deny wrongdoing. To give a reasonable explanation of why the business' actions were not breaking any laws. Music AI startups Udio and Suno have gone for a different approach: admit to doing exactly what you were sued for.Udio and Suno were sued in June, with music labels Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Group claiming they trained their AI models by scraping copyrighted materials from the Internet. In a court filing today, Suno acknowledged that its neural networks do in fact scrape copyrighted material: "It is no secret that the tens of millions of recordings that Suno's model was trained on presumably included recordings whose rights are owned by the Plaintiffs in this case." And that's because its training data "includes essentially all music files of reasonable quality that are accessible on the open internet," which likely include millions of illegal copies of songs.But the company is taking the line that its scraping falls under the umbrella of fair use. "It is fair use under copyright law to make a copy of a protected work as part of a back-end technological process, invisible to the public, in the service of creating an ultimately non-infringing new product," the statement reads. Its argument seems to be that since the AI-generated tracks it creates don't include samples, illegally obtaining all of those tracks to train the AI model isn't a problem.Calling the defendants' actions "evading and misleading," the RIAA, which initiated the lawsuit, had an unsurprisingly harsh response to the filing. "Their industrial scale infringement does not qualify as fair use'. There's nothing fair about stealing an artist's life's work, extracting its core value, and repackaging it to compete directly with the originals," a spokesperson for the organization said. "Defendants had a ready lawful path to bring their products and tools to the market - obtain consent before using their work, as many of their competitors already have. That unfair competition is directly at issue in these cases."Whatever the next phase of this litigation entails, prepare your popcorn. It should be wild.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-startup-argues-scraping-every-song-on-the-internet-is-fair-use-233132459.html?src=rss

Admit it. You kind of knew this was coming. Late last month, a new DLC pack called the Summer Road Trip bundle offered players a chance to drive the Tesla Cybertruck in games like Fortnite and Rocket League. Now a week later, several Fortnite players have posted videos of a glitch that occured when they used the Cybertruck during a match.Posts about the Cybertruck glitch appeared on Reddit and YouTube. The glitch happens when you morph a truck into Elon Musk's boxy behemoth. On exiting the vehicle, a bug rendered your Nitro Fists, the melee weapon that's pretty much exactly how it sounds, completely useless.YouTube creator Tabor Hill tested out the glitch when he morphed a truck into the Cybertruck and drove it around for a few seconds. Instead of gently gliding forward into an opponent's soft face with the Nitro Fists, the gelignite gauntlets caused his character to go into a loud, repetitive twitch.Of course, this glitch wouldn't be deliciously ironic if Tesla's real world Cybertruck didn't have more glitches than a Max Headroom monologue. Right now, Tesla's truck is under its latest recall because of issues with a windshield wiper that could reduce the driver's visibility. That's on top of the infamous stuck accelerator pedal recall that happened back in April.We reached out to an Epic Games representative by email for a chance to comment, and they informed us that the bug was identified and fixed at around 1PM ET today.Update, July 31, 7:28PM ET: This story and its headline was updated after publish to include information from Epic Games about the fix that was pushed out earlier today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-cybertruck-is-causing-fortnite-players-to-get-cyberstuck-224015466.html?src=rss

In a crushing quarterly update, Intel disclosed that it will cut more than 15 percent of its workforce. The layoffs, which could impact over 15,000 jobs, are part of the company's $10 billion cost-reduction plan to recover financial stability. Intel posted a second-quarter net loss of $1.6 billion, plunging from the net income of $1.5 billion it reported in the same period of 2023.CEO Pat Gelsinger addressed employees with a memo acknowledging the scope of today's announcements. "This is painful news for me to share," he said. "I know it will be even more difficult for you to read. This is an incredibly hard day for Intel as we are making some of the most consequential changes in our company's history."As well as the job cuts, the cost-reduction plan includes creating separate financial reporting for Intel Products and Intel Foundry. The Intel Foundry branch saw an operating loss of $2.8 billion in Q2, even more than the $1.8 billion operating loss it saw during the second quarter last year. Intel has been in the process of overhauling its foundries to make them more competitive. In the interim, it has had to rely on other companies for some production. TSMC, the same manufacturer used by Apple, Qualcomm and AMD, is producing its new Lunar Lake chips.The company took an additional hit in the public eye when its 13th- and 14th-generation desktop CPUs began experiencing instability issues. While a fix is expected this month to prevent any further problems, any damage that the microcode errors caused to CPUs appears to be permanent.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/intel-will-cut-over-15000-jobs-in-a-sweeping-cost-cutting-effort-220951016.html?src=rss

If you live in Ohio and constantly forget your wallet when you head out for a drive, we've got some good news for you: The state of Ohio became the fifth US state to accept driver's licenses and official state IDs in the iPhone's Apple Wallet app.Digital identification in Apple's wallet app can now be used across Ohio at Traffic Safety Administration (TSA) airport security checkpoints and select businesses and apps. The state is also working on implementing a free age verification app for businesses that require checking customers' ID, according to WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati.The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has also created an instructional video that shows you how to add your license or state ID to your Apple Wallet if you're a resident of the Buckeye State.Ohio now joins Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland as states that accept and recognize digital licenses and IDs in the iPhone wallet app. If you're not in one of those states, you may be joining that list soon since 24 other states and Washington DC and Puerto Rico are exploring or in the process of implementing mobile digital license regulations. Seven of those states are currently committed to implementing digital wallet access, according to 9to5Mac.Google Wallet is also accepted in four states including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland. Phone users with Android 8 or high can save their IDs to Google Wallet. This feature is not yet available for foldable devices, according to Google's help section.Apple added the ability to store driver's licenses in the digital wallet app with iOS 15 in 2021. Apple Wallet is also recognized as an accepted form of identification or access in other societal sectors. Residents of the UK received an update last year that allows them to see their bank account totals from the Apple Wallet App. The Apple Wallet also allows hotel guests to store their room key cards in the app starting in 2021 with the Hyatt hotel chain.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ohio-becomes-the-fifth-us-state-to-recognize-ids-in-apple-wallet-211807995.html?src=rss

The Threads app has passed the 200 million user mark, according to Meta exec Adam Mosseri. The milestone comes one day after Mark Zuckerberg said that the service was about" to hit 200 million users during the company's latest earnings call.While Threads is still relatively tiny compared to Meta's other apps, it has grown at a much faster clip. Zuckerberg previously announced 175 million users last month as Threads marked its one-year anniversary, and the Meta CEO has repeatedly speculated that it could be the company's next one-billion-user app.We've been building this company for 20 years, and there just are not that many opportunities that come around to grow a billion-person app," Zuckerberg said. Obviously, there's a ton of work between now and there."Continuing to grow the app's user base will be key to Meta's ability to eventually monetize Threads, which currently has no ads or business model. All these new products, we ship them, and then there's a multi-year time horizon between scaling them and then scaling them into not just consumer experiences but very large businesses," Zuckerberg said.While Threads has so far been able to capitalize on the chaos and controversy surrounding X, Meta is still grappling with how to position its app that's widely viewed as an alternative to X. Mosseri and Zuckerberg have said they don't want the app to promote political content to users that don't explicitly ask for it. This policy has even raised questions among some Meta employees, The Information recently reported.Thread's for you" algorithm is also widely viewed as slow to keep up with breaking news and current events. Mosseri recently acknowledged the issue. We're definitely not fast enough yet, and we're actively working to get better there," he wrote in a post on Threads.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/metas-threads-has-200-million-users-211656147.html?src=rss

Google is adding support for its School time feature to more hardware. School time allows parents to limit functionalities on a child's devices during predetermined hours. That might be the time they are in classes or for any period where an adult wants to limit screen time. Parents will be able to use the Family Link parental controls app to set School time hours on their kids' select Android phones, tablets and Samsung Galaxy Watches. However, Google hasn't shared any further specifics about which devices in those categories will receive this update. The tool was originally launched on the Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatches in May.School time is designed to help limit a mobile device's distractions for a young user. When enabled, it sets a dedicated home page with limited notifications. Parents can select which apps remain available, and can allow texts and calls to come through from particular individuals. This encourages focus when it's needed, while still allowing for emergency contact if needed.Family Link, Google's portal for parents to manage their kids' mobile activity, received a redesign in 2022. And if you're looking for similar features in the Apple ecosystem, check out the Schooltime feature.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/googles-school-time-feature-is-coming-to-android-smartphones-204621597.html?src=rss

TCL's massive 115-inch QD-Mini LED TV is finally available to consumers, after being unveiled back in January. This is officially the world's largest QD-Mini LED TV and can be purchased directly from TCL or via select retailers throughout the country.The thing costs $20,000, which is around the price of 8,000 cups of coffee, but it does come with the option for some truly unique add-ons. Early buyers can choose from a selection of bonuses, which include a ticket to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.There's no airfare included, but Super Bowl tickets don't come cheap. The promotion also provides just a single ticket, so there will be no loved ones to enjoy the experience with. On the plus side, you'll get to hang out with a bunch of strangers who also spent $20,000 on a TV. TCL promises shared unique experiences" with other financially irresponsible people who attend the championship game, but didn't get into any details.If football isn't your bag, the company has a selection of other perks available. Purchasers can attend a movie premiere at the famous TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's Chinese Theatre) which includes two round-trip plane tickets and hotel accommodations. This also features a walk on the red carpet and a private opera box.Other options include a concert at SoFi stadium and a trip to LA to visit Activision to see how the Call of Duty sausage gets made. Finally, there's an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to attend the Consumer Electronics Show (CES.) We head there every year and it's a sweaty, anxiety-filled mess. Go for the Super Bowl or movie premiere if you have $20,000 to drop.As for actual TV specs, the TCL 115QM89 boasts Quantum Dot technology, a 6.2.2 channel speaker system and an AIPQ ULTRA processor for high-quality and crisp images. It also features 20,000 dimming zones to help shadows and highlights appear more defined. For the math wizards out there, that amounts to $1 per dimming zone.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tcls-20000-115-inch-qd-mini-led-tv-comes-with-a-ticket-to-the-super-bowl-191507877.html?src=rss

ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery announced in February that they would jointly launch a sports-focused streaming service, and today they've shared some pertinent details. Subscriptions to the Venu service will cost $43 a month. The platform will have three broad categories of content: live games and events, on-demand sports programming and talk content such as studio shows. Venu will launch at an unspecified time this fall.The linear networks included in Venu are ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, FOX, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV and ESPN+. Viewers will have access to lots of major events across the world of athletics. The World Series of Major League Baseball, the four Grand Slams of tennis, the Stanley Cup finals for the National Hockey League, and a wide spread of college athletics will all be represented in Venu's programming.When people sign up at the launch price, that monthly cost will be locked in for twelve months. Considering how often we see prices going up in the streaming landscape, it's safe to assume that $43 won't be the fee indefinitely.Watching sports is a fragmented and expensive activity today. Different leagues might have media rights deals with multiple different networks and streaming platforms, meaning fans have to check carefully where to find their favorite teams each night. Having so many providers together under one umbrella would streamline the experience, especially for people who like to follow multiple sports. But the joint effort has drawn criticism. FuboTV filed a lawsuit after the initial announcement, claiming the new streaming package would violate antitrust practices.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/venu-is-the-new-sports-streaming-service-likely-to-drain-your-bank-account-190011555.html?src=rss

A federal judge dismissed a case brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) against Google over its Gmail service. The suit alleged that Google's email platform labeled GOP fundraising emails as spam at a higher rate than those from the other side of the aisle.District Court Judge Daniel Calabretta from the Eastern California District Court dismissed the case with prejudice, preventing the Republican party from bringing its case against Google back to court. The dismissal with prejudice means it cannot bring the case to another court but can still file an appeal to Calabretta's decision, according to The Verge.Calabretta wrote in his dismissal order that the RNC failed to state a claim under any legislative policy" or prove there was sufficient harm to users of Gmail."The RNC has not shown Google's alleged conduct has violated any other law, which is a necessary element of intentional interference with economic relations," Calabretta wrote in his dismissal order. Accordingly, the court grants Google's motion to dismiss, this time with prejudice." Calabretta had previously dismissed the case without prejudice.Thursday's ruling marks the second case that the RNC has lost over allegations of unfair filtering by Gmail. The RNC filed a lawsuit in the same court in 2022 seeking damages from Google for donations it allegedly lost as a result" of labeling fundraising emails as spam. Calabretta called the lawsuit a close case" but ultimately ruled that the RNC failed to plausibly allege its claims" that Google's spam filtering was committed in bad faith, according to court filings.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-republican-national-committee-loses-its-legal-challenge-to-gmail-184122392.html?src=rss

The US Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced plans to turn land that previously housed aspects of the Manhattan Project into a 1 GW solar farm. For the uninitiated, the Manhattan Project was a top-secret and successful effort to develop nuclear weapons during the 1940s.This particular renovation is being conducted at the former home of the Hanford nuclear testing facility, otherwise known as Site W, which is in Washington state. This site housed the world's first full-scale plutonium production reactor. Plutonium made at this location was used in the very first atomic bomb and the Fat Man bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.The location certainly is intriguing, but so is the transformation project. This 580-square mile section of semi-arid desert could end up housing the largest solar project in the country, if built to the announced capacity. This record currently belongs to the Edwards Sanborn Solar and Energy Storage project in California, which generates 875 megawatts of solar power.The DOE has teamed up with Hecate Energy to repurpose the 8,000-acre site. This is part of the Biden-Harris administration's Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative that launched last year. This program is tasked with repurposing DOE-owned land for clean energy generation. This program has already added around 90 GW of solar capacity to the grid, which is enough to power 13 million homes.This isn't quite a done deal yet. The DOE and Hecate Energy still have to negotiate for a realty agreement and the government could cancel these negotiations at any time.This is good news, but we still have some catching up to do with regard to Europe. The US produces around 5.6 percent of its energy via solar, but the EU recently shot up to 9.1 percent. However, trends are moving upward in both regions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-manhattan-project-nuclear-weapons-site-is-being-turned-into-a-giant-solar-farm-173047830.html?src=rss

When Don Lemon's "premium" video hosting deal on X was canceled in March, a representative for the former CNN anchor threatened legal action. Nearly five months later, he's taking Musk and his platform to court, claiming he hasn't been paid.The former CNN anchor filed a lawsuit on Thursday against Musk and X, the New York Times reports. The suit pertains to an alleged payment agreement Lemon says Musk refuses to honor. Lemon filed his case in California Superior Court in San Francisco.Lemon claims that he agreed to produce a news and interview show on the X platform back in January. Lemon would receive $1.5 million a year and part of the advertising revenue for producing premium content for X. However, Lemon states in the filing that he never signed a contract because Musk told him he didn't need to fill out paperwork" and that he'd back his show regardless of his views or interview topics.Lemon kicked off his first episode by interviewing Musk, asking questions about Musk's alleged ketamine use, his views on transgender individuals and his stance on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring initiatives. Lemon also interrogated Musk for tweets which appeared to support the racist belief known as the great replacement theory." Hours after the interview, Musk texted Lemon to tell him their deal was done.X chief executive officer Linda Yaccarino says the company was focused on becoming a video first" platform and inked similar deals with famous names like former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, former Democratic lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard and sports commentator Jim Rome. Many of these shows have yet to materialize on X.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/don-lemon-is-suing-elon-musk-and-x-171526672.html?src=rss

When the Mustang Mach-E first hit the streets at the end of 2021, people were so up in arms about its name that it felt like you couldn't have a serious discussion about the vehicle itself. How dare Ford tarnish the legacy of its iconic pony car with *gasp* a crossover SUV?! And an all-electric one at that. But now that Ford has had a few years to refine the platform, it's a great time to take another look at what is still the company's most engaging EV to date. What's new for 2024 Ford has made several tweaks and adjustments to the Mach-E over the past few years, like streamlining the UI for its infotainment system, offering a wider range of colors and switching to LFP batteries (lithium ferrophosphate), which offer longer lifespans and better range than lithium-ion. But for 2024, there are a few additional updates such as a new rear motor (which Ford says was developed in-house) that deliver a touch more torque and slightly faster charging speeds. The 72kWh standard range model can now go from 10 to 80 percent in 32 minutes or around 36 minutes for specs with the larger 91kWh extended range battery pack. That's about six minutes faster compared to previous model year vehicles. The Mach-E GT now also receives Ford's MagneRide suspension tech as standard. This feature was only available on the top-spec GT Performance Edition, which now exists as a Performance upgrade package (and is what I reviewed here), instead of being a full standalone trim. It offers an extra 100 pound-feet of torque and improved tuning. This year, there are yet more color options headlined by Eruption green and Ford's optional Bronze appearance pack (which you can see in photos of our loaner vehicle), alongside a brand new Rally model. It features some exclusive design touches including a larger rear spoiler and a bunch of tweaks for better off-road performance and handling. Finally, earlier this spring, Ford announced that its EVs in the US can use Tesla's Supercharging network and created a program that provides one free adapter to Mustang Mach-E and Ford 150 Lightning owners. (Envision a giant USB dongle that allows Ford's CCS charging ports to use Tesla's NACS plugs. Starting in 2025, new Mach-Es will come with an NACS plug from the factory.) Design: A family-friendly muscle car for the EV age Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget One of the biggest issues Mustang die-hards have with the Mach-E is that it represents diametrically opposed objectives. Muscle cars are supposed to be simple, low-slung affairs that are big on power and light on weight (and often practicality). But this thing has two rows of usable seats, a large cargo area and a curb weight of between 4,400 and 5,000 pounds depending on the spec. That's about 1,000 pounds heavier than an equivalent gas-powered Mustang. Factor in that the Mach-E has a frunk where the engine ought to be and you're basically looking at something that sits on the complete other end of the spectrum from where Mustang landed when it first hit the roads back in the 1960s. And often, when a product is being pulled in multiple directions, it ends up stuck in the middle. But on the Mach-E, Ford has artfully balanced nods to previous Mustangs while embracing a more accommodating crossover EV design. The car's long hood and vertical taillights give it an unmistakable familial resemblance while the clever use of black panels on its roof, below its doors and elsewhere make the crossover look sleeker than it actually is. (Admittedly, they're hard to see on a black car like the one I tested, but check out some other colors to see what I mean.) And in an ever growing sea of vaguely teardrop-shaped EV SUVs, the Mach-E stands out as a striking homage to a classic. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Perhaps the most contentious aspect of the Mach-E's design is its door handles, or lack thereof. Instead, you get a button mounted on the pillar behind each window. In front, there's also a small tab nearby you can pull to open, while in back, Ford expects you to simply grab the inside of the door when climbing in, because that's what people tend to do anyway. And Ford is right. Buttons are good and don't need any explanation. Plus, they're a lot simpler than handles that have to pop out just so you can yank on them. Even my toddler (who isn't even three yet) can open the doors by himself. Plus, they still deliver on the original purpose of getting rid of handles to reduce drag. It seems Ferrari agrees, because the Italian supercar maker opted for a similar tabbed design (albeit without the button) for the rear doors on the new Purosangue. Another nifty feature inspired by the cars of yesteryear is the numeric touch controls on the driver's side door. Just like the buttons on old Explorers, you can create a PIN that lets you unlock the car with a handful of taps. This lets you hide your keys inside the car if you're at the beach or going on a hike and don't want to risk losing them in the wild. It's a bit of simple tech mixed with basic practicality that I wish more carmakers would support. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget That delicate blend between new and old continues inside as well. In the center of the dash is a large 15.5-inch touchscreen that controls most of the vehicle's functions. But unlike other EV makers (most notably Tesla), Ford stopped short of making everything so streamlined that it's hard to use. At the bottom of the screen, the touch buttons for the heated seats and temperature are frozen in place, so they're always easy to reach. And then smack in the middle is a big control wheel that adjusts dynamically to handle whatever you need. By default, it handles volume, but if you touch something like the fan button first, you can simply twist the dial to increase or decrease the speed. It's a wonderful blend between digital and analog controls that means you're never more than two gestures away from turning something off or setting it to full blast. It's endearing that Ford is so committed to its transitional philosophy between new and old that in addition to a built-in wireless charger, the Mach-E has USB-A and USB-C jacks positioned side-by-side. Usually, automakers just pick one and stick with it, sometimes resulting in cars saddled with only Type-A slots. Meanwhile, over on the driver's side, Ford skews a bit more traditional, where controls for the blinkers and wipers are just stalks. It's a tried and true setup that makes the Mach-E feel immediately familiar, which is not something all EVs can claim. There's even an on/off button for the car, which almost feels quaint in a time when so many electric cars let you just walk up, put your foot on the brake and go. But as I said before, buttons are good, so unless you really feel like tapping one is a drag, I don't see an issue with Ford's approach. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget As for the rest of the interior, it's easy to tell that the Mach-E was built with expertise. There's a nice mix of premium textures (with very little piano black trim to call attention to fingerprints) and no cracks or loose ends to speak of. The cabin is also very quiet, with not even a hint of an EV's usual faint electric motor whine (unless you're really gunning it). Compared to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Mach-E has a slightly higher seating position (as befits a proper SUV) and larger cargo area (29.7 cubic feet versus 27.2), with the trade-off being slightly less rear-seat legroom for passengers in the second row. That said, I'm six feet tall and there's still plenty of room in the back for me. However, if you want to really maximize storage, Tesla's Model Y beats out both with large cubby spaces throughout. The one thing I wish Ford offered - even if it had been strictly an optional extra - is ventilated seats. It's something you can get on other similarly priced rivals or even the F-150 Lightning. And as I was testing this during the peak of a heatwave, it would have been the cherry on top of an otherwise already solid interior. Tech and infotainment: A big screen with a much-appreciated analog touch Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget The Mach-E's infotainment is powered by Ford's Sync 4A system which is generally fine. You have all the basics for adjusting car settings, navigation and more. But most people are probably going to augment that with support for both wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which makes the whole setup feel much more complete. Pairing was a cinch and connecting was fast enough that generally by the time I got into the car and put my seatbelt on, Android Auto was ready to go. From the main screen, you get a big window for mapping and some smaller panes for music and recent apps. In the settings, you can adjust things like the propulsion sounds or one-pedal driving, the latter of which I think is tuned perfectly for the Mach-E. It offers plenty of deceleration when you lift off but not so much that your head jerks around if you let it slow all the way to a full stop. Meanwhile, thanks to the FordPass app, you get some additional controls on your phone, though things are a bit spartan compared to rivals like Tesla. All the basics are there like being able to lock the car, roll down the windows and activate the climate control remotely. But there are a lot of little things it can't do too. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget There's no option to see the view from the Mach-E's cameras on your phone like on a Model Y, and you can't even adjust individual climate settings. You can either let the car pick a temperature or let it default to whatever it was the last time you were driving. However, one thing the Mach-E offers that a Model Y doesn't is a top-down 360-degree camera. That thing is a lifesaver when you need to squeeze into a tight space while parallel parking and should be a standard feature on every new car. I just wish Ford's execution was a touch more polished, as it applies little black outlines around the car that add the tiniest bit of guesswork. You can also use your phone as a key, which is great for anyone who doesn't want to carry Ford's egg-shaped fob around. But I wish Ford would steal another page out of Tesla's playbook and let you use the car's sensors as a built-in dash cam. All the necessary equipment is already in place and there are plenty of USB ports for anyone who wants to plug in an external storage drive. Unfortunately, there are still a few infotainment menus like the one for Sirius XM radio that take too long to appear. In 2024, I simply do not understand how a minimum $40,000 car has a screen that's occasionally slower than a smartphone. And while Sync and Android Auto/CarPlay are usually quite responsive, there are a handful of situations where the display can't keep up. Performance: Pony power Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Mustang or not, with a 0 to 60 time of just 3.3 seconds for a GT with the Performance upgrade pack, the Mach-E is seriously quick. And even if you opt for a more affordable Premium model with dual motors and AWD, you're still hitting 60 in 5.2 seconds, which is more than respectable. However, the real star of the GT's kit is its MagneRide damping system. It makes the car feel more confident and planted in the corners. The downside is that it makes the ride even firmer, which is great when you want to really push the pace while maintaining control. But around me, where the roads exist in a superposition of being either freshly paved or filled with so many potholes you might as well be driving on the moon, you will feel every bump just a bit more. Regardless, compared to the bouncier feel from the standard suspension in Mach-Es with Select and Premium trims, I'll take that extra bit of sporty rigidity every time. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget The Mach-E also offers a few different performance modes: Whisper, Engaged and Unbridled, which roughly translates to relaxed, sport and full power. In Whisper, which I used the most for driving around town, the car is relatively chilled out. There's still a lot of performance to tap into, you just have to be a little more deliberate with your foot before it arrives. But that's just fine when you're out getting groceries and don't want to crack all your eggs before you get home. Engaged offers a good balance between speed and comfort, and Unbridled doesn't need much explanation. At this point, most people know that EVs can deliver peak torque at all times unlike cars powered by internal combustion. So while classic Mustang fans might not like to admit it, in the real world, the Mach-E is every bit as quick as its gas-powered predecessors. There's a sense that there's always excess power waiting to be unleashed and it's absolutely exhilarating. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget On the flip side, when you don't feel like driving, Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving tech is among the best in the business. Granted, it's a bit more restricted than something like Tesla's Enhanced Autopilot as its only available on approved highways. But according to Ford, that covers over 130,000 miles of roads across North America, so it wasn't hard to find somewhere I could use it. And when it's activated, you can just sit back and let the car do the work, which is a true stress reliever when you're stuck in highway traffic. BlueCruise neatly stayed in the middle of the lane without needing to bounce between the lines. When you want to change lanes, you can simply flick the blinker stalk in the proper direction and let BlueCruise do the rest. I also appreciate that when it's on, the entire screen on the driver's side display turns blue, so there's no confusion about what's going on. Meanwhile, the small sensor bank behind the wheels monitors your eyes to ensure you're still paying attention. And when BlueCruise needs to revert back to good ole adaptive cruise control, that's really obvious too. Range and charging: Underpromise but over-deliver Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget The Mach-E offers between 250 and 320 miles of range depending on the spec, with the GT falling in the middle with 280 miles of juice. (Note: all GTs come standard with AWD and Ford's extended range battery pack). Those figures are more than solid and pretty much the same as a Tesla Model Y (Ford's long-range RWD model can hit 320 miles per charge, while the Model Y Performance delivers 279 miles). However, I noticed that Ford's in-car range estimates are on the more conservative side, but in a good way. It feels like the Mach-E engineers were living by the mantra of underpromising and over-delivering. That's because unlike every Tesla I've driven - which often served up overly optimistic calculations before updating to more realistic estimates halfway through the trip - what you see on the Mach-E's display is pretty much what you get. And especially for first-time EV buyers who might be suffering from range anxiety, this predictability makes for more confidence on longer journeys. Earlier this year, Ford announced that it would give Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owners a free CCS to NACS charging adapter. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget On the other hand, perhaps the Mach-E's biggest weakness is its charging time, which lags behind almost all of its rivals even with the six-minute decrease for 2024 models. This is because it maxes out with 150kW DC fast charging (or 110kW for standard range models) compared to 250kW for a Model Y or 350kW on a Hyundai Ioniq 5. Granted, if you have the luxury of being able to install a charger in your garage, that difference might not be a big deal. But for those who regularly need to charge mid-trip, you're looking at between 10 and 15 minutes of extra time spent plugged in compared to its rivals. So while it's not a deal breaker, faster DC charging would be the biggest upgrade Ford could add to the Mach-E. Still, even for me, who lives in the city and can't charge in my building or the lot I rent when testing cars, it's not that bad. There are at least six public chargers within a five-block radius, all of which are significantly closer than the nearest gas station. This makes it easy to recharge the car when needed, which probably won't be very often unless you have a major commute thanks to the Mach-E's above-average range. Wrap-up Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget So is the Mach-E a real Mustang? Ford certainly believes so because almost every badge on the outside of the car is a Mustang logo instead of the classic blue oval. However, methinks the lady doth protest too much. I suspect Ford will never admit to attaching the Mustang name to the Mach-E in hopes of attracting buyers to its first mainstream EV. (I'm not counting the electric Ranger from the 90s.) But you know what? The Mach-E is a great name for a car in its own right and it represents an incredibly thoughtful marriage of Ford's legacy with forward-thinking design. (Though if we're borrowing inspiration from the past, I kind of wish Ford had revived the Thunderbird name instead). Sure, it's not quite as techy as a Model Y and I hope Ford will incorporate some of Tesla's more advanced features into future vehicles (a UWB-based car key would be really nice too). But at the same time, the Mach-E is welcoming to all sorts of drivers, including folks who may have never driven an EV, while also delivering tight handling and spirited performance. And unlike an old-fashioned Mustang, its size and two full rows of seats means the whole family can enjoy it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/2024-ford-mustang-mach-e-gt-review-a-thrilling-mix-of-pedigree-and-electricity-170015532.html?src=rss

You're neck deep in a research project but the finish line is in sight. You hit the close button on your browser. It vanishes and takes the dozens of tabs you had open with it. You heave a sigh of relief - and then remember that you need to verify just one more detail from one of the web pages you had open. The problem is that you have no idea which one it was or how to get back there. You start digging through your browser's history, feverishly clicking on any pages that look familiar, but the page that you knew you looked at seems to have vanished.If this sounds familiar, a new feature coming to Google Chrome on the desktop in the next few weeks might be just what you need. With it, you'll be able to ask questions of your browsing history in natural language using Gemini, Google's family of large language models that power its AI systems. You can type a question like What was that ice cream shop I looked at last week?" into your address bar after accessing your history and Chrome will show relevant pages from whatever you've browsed so far.GoogleThe high level is really wanting to introduce a more conversational interface to Chrome's history so people don't have to remember URLs," said Parisa Tabriz, vice president of Chrome, in a conversation with reporters ahead of the announcement.The feature will only be available to Chrome's desktop users in the US for now and will be opt-in by default. It also won't work with websites you browsed in Incognito mode. And the company says that it is aware of the implications of having Google's AI parse through your browsing history to give you an answer. Tabriz said that the company does not directly use your browsing history or tabs to train its large language models. Anything related to browsing history is super personal, sensitive data," she said. We want to be really thoughtful and make sure that we're thinking about privacy from the start and by design."In addition to making wading through your search history more conversational, Google is also adding two new AI-powered features to Chrome. It's finally bringing Google Lens, which is already on both Android and iPhones, to Chrome on the desktop in the US. This means you'll be able to easily select, search and ask questions about anything you see on the web, all without leaving your current tab," according to Google's blog post about the feature.You can search with Google Lens in Chrome on the desktop by selecting its icon on the address bar and then clicking on anything on a web page that you want to search. Clicking on a picture of a plant on a web page with Google Lens, for instance, will open a sidebar directly on the web page and identify it. You can then ask follow-up questions such as how much sunlight does this plant need to stay alive?" and get AI-generated responses inline without leaving the page you're on.Lens is also capable of parsing text within videos, which means you can hit pause and directly select any text displayed in the frame (such as a math equation) and quickly get a description in a sidebar with more AI-generated information about it.GoogleFinally, Google is adding Tab Compare, a feature that will present you with an AI-generated overview of products across multiple tabs in a single place By bringing all the essential details - product specs, features, price, ratings - into one tab, you'll be able to easily compare and make an informed decision without the endless tab switching," Google says.GoogleFor now, the feature is restricted to products, but Tabriz imagines a future when it might evolve to let you compare multiple schools, universities, daycares, or anything that might make it easier for people to make decisions that are comparisons."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-will-let-you-search-your-chrome-browsing-history-by-asking-questions-like-a-human-160058575.html?src=rss

SiriusXM just announced a standalone podcast subscription service called SiriusXM Podcasts+. The platform will be available via Apple Podcasts starting August 5 and will offer a premium listening experience" for some of the biggest shows across the SiriusXM Podcast Network."Subscribers will enjoy an ad-free experience, bonus content and early access to new episodes of popular shows. None of the content is exclusive, however, as you'll still be able to check out these podcasts via numerous other platforms.At launch, the platform will be home to some of the bigger names in the space. There's Smartless, the one with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, and other programs from the same production team. Other included podcasts include Literally! with Rob Lowe, Andy Cohen's Daddy Diaries Podcast and Last Podcast on the Left. The company says that more programs will join the platform later this year.Though tied to Apple Podcasts at first, the company says it expects the subscription will expand to other platforms in the coming weeks." At launch, it'll be available in over 60 countries. SiriusXM Podcasts+ will cost $6 per month or $45 per year.SiriusXM has become a major player in the podcast space, which makes sense given that satellite radio talk shows are basically podcasts by another name. This move could continue that trend.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/siriusxm-is-launching-a-standalone-podcast-subscription-service-152534504.html?src=rss

Netflix has announced plans for its Geeked Week 2024 event. The festivities will take place on the week of September 16. As in previous years, it's sure to include a ton of news and updates for Netflix TV shows, films and games. One thing that's new this year is an in-person fan event that will take place in Atlanta on September 19.A teaser gives some idea of what's in store. Among other projects, you can expect updates on Wednesday, Squid Game (which will return in December), Arcane, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Tomb Raider, One Piece and a little show called Stranger Things. The clip also suggests there will be some news on the Monument Valley front - that series is slated to hit Netflix's games library this year, while a sequel has been teased.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/netflix-geeked-week-2024-starts-on-september-16-150024143.html?src=rss

The Beats Fit Pro are a great set of earbuds, especially if you have various Apple devices. Now is a better time than ever to pick up a set as they've dropped to their lowest price ever. The white variant is available for $140 from Woot. That's $60 off the regular price and $10 less than we saw them going for during Prime Day. This is our pick for the best headphones for running and we gave the earbuds a positive review. Our main takeaway is that they offer all of the major features of Apple AirPods (Apple owns Beats) without having to be stuck with the questionable stem design. Instead, the Beats Fit Pro have a wingtip design to help them stay securely in your ears even during strenuous workouts. The IPX4 rating helps protect them from sweat and splashing water from any angle. The Beats Fit Pro have solid sound quality with punchy bass, while spatial audio support is a neat feature. Although you can't really fully customize the equalizer settings, the Adaptive EQ function helps the audio quality remain good no matter what you're listening to. The active noise cancellation and transparency modes are also winners in our book. Battery life is not too shabby at up to six hours, with the charging case adding up to an extra 21 hours. Apple aficionados might get the most out of these since the earbuds pair almost instantly with iPhones and other products from the company. The earbuds will automatically switch between your iPhone, iPad and Mac depending on which device you're using at the time. You can control the earbuds from the system settings too - there's no need for Apple users to download a separate app. However, Android users can get a lot out of the Beats Fit Pro too. Thanks to a companion app, there's support for quick pairing and control customizations, and you'll get a battery status indicator too. On the downside, the controls can be overly sensitive. They're too easy to accidentally press when simply adjusting the earbuds, which is an annoyance. The charging case feels relatively cheap as well in comparison with the solid build quality of the earbuds. Those quibbles aside, the Beats Fit Pro are a strong option for anyone looking for a great set of running headphones - or earbuds in general. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-beats-fit-pro-earbuds-drop-to-a-new-low-of-140-143422646.html?src=rss

Next time you're craving a chalupa supreme, you might not be ordering from a person. Taco Bell is expanding its program for using AI voice recognition in drive-thrus. After testing the technology in more than 100 locations in 13 states, the fast food chain's parent company aims to add voice-powered AI capabilities to hundreds more Taco Bell drive-thrus in the US by the end of the year."With over two years of fine tuning and testing the drive-thru Voice AI technology, we're confident in its effectiveness in optimizing operations and enhancing customer satisfaction," said Lawrence Kim, chief innovation officer for Yum! Brands. The company also owns KFC and is currently testing Voice AI in five locations for that chain in Australia.It sounds a little goofy, but in practice, this is an application of AI that people who aren't early adopters might encounter in the wild. There are lots of splashy headlines about chatbots that sound like celebrities, but this type of practical use case shows where and how voice AI might appear in a person's routine and workplace. The press release centers the employee experience as one of the reasons for pursuing the technology. "Tapping into AI gives us the ability to ease team members' workloads, freeing them to focus on front-of-house hospitality. It also enables us to unlock new and meaningful ways to engage with our customers," Taco Bell Chief Digital & Technology Officer Dane Mathews said.That's the positive side. On the negative side, there are still plenty of imperfections yet to be resolved in the tech. McDonald's ran a similar effort exploring drive-thrus powered by AI, but called off its program earlier this summer. Customers had encounters that were equal parts frustrating and hilarious with the AI ordering options during the testing phase. There's also a concern that if the kinks in these AI systems do get worked out, the easing of team members' workloads could turn into losing some team members' jobs.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/taco-bell-will-add-voice-ai-ordering-to-hundreds-of-drive-thrus-this-year-141110768.html?src=rss

Boeing has revealed that it has taken another $125 million in losses as a result of its Starliner spacecraft's delayed return from the ISS. As SpaceNews reports, the company has revealed the losses in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, along with more details about its earnings for the second quarter of the year. The company already posted $288 million in losses "primarily as a result of delaying" the Crew Flight Test mission in 2023.The first crewed Starliner flight took off in June with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams on board. Boeing's spacecraft was only supposed to stay docked to the ISS for eight days before ferrying the astronauts back to Earth, but issues with its hardware prevented the mission from sticking to its original timeline.The company had to examine and find what caused the Starliner's degraded maneuvering thrusters while it was approaching the ISS. In addition, the helium leak that caused several delays to the spacecraft's launch seemed to have worsened, as well. Since June, the company has been putting the spacecraft through a series of tests. Just a few days ago, on July 27, it completed a hot fire test of the Starliner's reaction control system jets and made sure that the vehicle's helium leak rates remain within the acceptable margin. The tests were conducted with Williams and Wilmore onboard, because they're part of the preparations for the spacecraft's flight back home.NASA said the tests' results are still being reviewed. But once Boeing and the agency ensure that the Starliner is ready, they will set a date for the Starliner and the astronauts' return flight.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/boeing-eats-another-125-million-loss-over-starliner-woes-130027376.html?src=rss

After the live experiences, TV shows based on TV shows and a boom in childhood South Korean games and hobbies, Squid Game returns for season two. Almost three years after the bleak, lightly anti-capitalism drama became a massive hit in the US. Season two will hit Netflix December 26, with a final third season coming sometime in 2025.In a letter, series director and writer, Hwang Dong-hyuk, teased the continuation of Seong Gi-hun's revenge, facing off against Front Man. We're expecting more death, betrayal and enough delicious Korean food to make me want to take a trip to Seoul.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedTesla involved in fatal Washington crash was using self-driving modeEtsy just announced a loyalty program that's (sort of) similar to Amazon PrimeAyaneo's take on the Game Boy Micro is available to order starting at $190You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Reddit CEO wants Microsoft to pay for its contentSteve Huffman called out Microsoft for scraping data from Reddit.Reddit boss Steve Huffman called out Microsoft and other AI search engines, like Anthropic and Perplexity, for not paying for the information their AI models have seemingly scraped from Reddit. Without these agreements, we don't have any say or knowledge of how our data is displayed and what it's used for, which has put us in a position now of blocking folks who haven't been willing to come to terms with how we'd like our data to be used or not used," Huffman said in an interview with The Verge. Reddit said it's blocking unauthorized data scraping by updating its Robots Exclusion Protocol (robots.txt), and it's already stopped Microsoft's Bing from accessing the social site's data.Continue reading.Twelve South's AirFly Duo Bluetooth dongle drops to $30The best way to listen to your inflight movie with wireless headphones.EngadgetTwelve South's AirFly Duo is a dongle that connects Bluetooth earbuds and headphones to in-flight entertainment systems. The device is currently on sale for $30, and I swear by it. It plugs into any 3.5mm audio jack, so you can use it with gym equipment, older gaming systems or even TVs. I used it with my Switch before Nintendo finally enabled Bluetooth audio.Continue reading.Senators introduce bill to protect individuals against AI-generated deepfakesOpenAI joined several entertainment industry groups in backing the NO FAKES Act.US senators have introduced a bill to combat the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. The legislation would hold online platforms accountable for deepfake content by requiring them to label the material. If it passes, the NO FAKES Act would create an option for people to seek damages when their voice, face or body are recreated by AI. Both individuals and companies would be held liable for producing, hosting or sharing unauthorized digital replicas.It follows the Senate's recent passage of the DEFIANCE Act, which would enable victims of sexual deepfakes to sue for damages.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-squid-game-returns-on-december-26-111550905.html?src=rss

OpenAI will give the US AI Safety Institute early access to its next model as part of its safety efforts, Sam Altman has revealed in a tweet. Apparently, the company has been working with the consortium "to push forward the science of AI evaluations." The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has formally established the Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute earlier this year, though Vice President Kamala Harris announced it back in 2023 at the UK AI Safety Summit. Based on the NIST's description of the consortium, it's meant "to develop science-based and empirically backed guidelines and standards for AI measurement and policy, laying the foundation for AI safety across the world."The company, along with DeepMind, similarly pledged to share AI models with the UK government last year. As TechCrunch notes, there have been growing concerns that OpenAI is making safety less of a priority as it seeks to develop more powerful AI models. There were speculations that the board decided to kick Sam Altman out of the company - he was very quickly reinstated - due to safety and security concerns. However, the company told staff members in an internal memo back then, that it was because of "a breakdown in communication."In May this year, OpenAI admitted that it disbanded the Superalignment team it created to ensure that humanity remains safe as the company advances its work on generative artificial intelligence. Before that, OpenAI co-founder and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, who was one of the team's leaders, left the company. Jan Leike, who was also one of the team's leaders, quit, as well. He said in a series of tweets that he had been disagreeing with OpenAI's leadership about the core priorities of the company for quite some time and that "safety culture and processes have taken a backseat to shiny products." OpenAI created a new safety group by the end of May, but it's led by board members that include Altman, prompting concerns about self-policing.

Netflix has finally set a date for the next season of Squid Game, almost three years after the Korean drama became a massive hit in the US. Season 2 is set to hit Netflix December 26, with a final third season coming sometime in 2025, the streamer announced.While the initial teaser for Season 2 doesn't reveal much about what to expect in the next installment, Netflix shared a few more details about the plot in a letter from Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series' director and writer.