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Microsoft will not release a diversity and inclusion report for 2025 like it has been doing every year since 2019, Stephen Totilo from Game File has reported. Totilo asked the company if it was skipping this year after it failed to publish a report from October to early November like it had done so the previous years. We are not doing a traditional report this year as we've evolved beyond that to formats that are more dynamic and accessible - stories, videos, and insights that show inclusion in action," said Microsoft's chief communications officer, Frank Shaw, in a statement. Our mission and commitment to our culture and values remain unchanged: empowering every person and organization to achieve more."As Totilo notes, the Trump administration made it very clear early on that it was against government and corporate diversity, equality and inclusion programs. Trump signed executive orders directing government agencies to roll back DEI initiatives and encouraged the private sector to do the same. Meta reportedly ended its DEI programs earlier this year, while Google reportedly announced that it will no longer set hiring targets to improve representation in its workforce."Totilo previously reported that Microsoft didn't mention anything about its diversity programs in two shareholder reports for 2025, signifying that the company wasn't highlighting its DEI initiatives anymore like it did the previous years. Based on its statement, Microsoft isn't completely dropping its DEI efforts. Without a report, however, we can't keep an eye on its progress when it comes to things like pay equality and workforce diversity.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-isnt-releasing-a-diversity-report-for-2025-180000401.html?src=rss

Black Friday might still be a few days away, but there's no need to wait if you're in the market for a new air fryer, as one of our longtime favorite models is currently $50 off. The Ninja DZ401 is $180 right now, which is a saving of 22 percent on its usual price. Admittedly, we have seen this model a bit cheaper in the past, but if you're on cooking duty for Thanksgiving, you might not have the option of waiting until what could be a deeper discount on Black Friday. And the DZ401 is the perfect air fryer for the holiday season, owing to its trademark dual baskets, which allow you to cook up two completely different foods simultaneously. It takes up a fair amount of space, but it's worth it if you have a lot of hungry mouths to feed. This 10-quart fryer includes a smart cook thermometer and six cooking modes, including air broil, roast and dehydrate alongside the default air fry mode. The spacious baskets are quick and easy to clean, and you're safe to throw the plates into the dishwasher if they're particularly messy after cooking up chicken wings or some brownies for dessert. The Ninja DZ401 has had the title of best dual-zone air fryer in our buying guide for a long time for a reason. An air fryer like this isn't for everyone, especially those with smaller kitchens, but for a Thanksgiving dinner you'll struggle to find better. A number of other Ninja devices are on sale for Black Friday right now. If you don't need quite as big of a machine, the Ninja Crispi glass air fryer/multicooker could be a better option. It's down to $160 right now. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/black-friday-deal-get-22-percent-off-one-of-our-favorite-ninja-air-fryers-170959949.html?src=rss

The California DMV has approved Waymo's request to conduct driverless testing and to deploy its robotaxis in more locations in the state. As CBS News reports, Waymo now has the permission to operate across the whole Bay Area, Sacramento and most of Southern California up to the border of Mexico. It's a huge expansion, based on the maps the state DMV has provided. In the images below, you'll see Waymo's old areas shaded in a darker color, while the locations with a lighter shade indicate areas added in the expansion.Waymo's new operation map in California. California DMVWe're officially authorized to drive fully autonomously across more of the Golden State," Waymo said in an announcement on X. It didn't say when it'll start testing and offering rides to the public in the new areas, but it said the company's next stop" in California after this is San Diego. Waymo will start offering rides in the city sometime in mid-2026. It will also deploy robotaxis in Las Vegas, including the Strip with plans to expand to the airport, and Detroit next year. In addition, it recently announced that it's coming to Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando in 2026.On the Waymo and San Francisco subreddits, people pointed out that Waymo robotaxis could become a hit in Wine Country. People could call them for transportation, for instance, if they're doing wine tasting.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/waymo-gets-california-dmvs-approval-to-test-robotaxis-in-more-areas-170000104.html?src=rss

You'll soon be able to see more information about X accounts, including where they're based and how many times they've changed their usernames. X is rolling out a new feature called "About this account" that displays more information about user accounts. Not only will it display the country a user is located in and username changes, the feature will also make public which country the account was created in and whether it's connected via the web or a specific app store.X began testing this feature out last month, but more recently, users have been posting screenshots of the new feature being rolled out. X is following in the footsteps of other social media platforms, as already seen with Facebook's Page transparency and Instagram's own About this account. As detailed by Nikita Bier, X's head of product, the upcoming "About this account" feature is meant to verify the authenticity of content posted on X.You can currently see your own info by clicking on the "Joined" button underneath your X bio, but you may not be able to see others' info yet since the feature is still being rolled out. In your own profile, you can choose to display either your country or region/continent, with the exact country being the default option. Bier previously said that there will be "privacy toggles," which will be highlighted on your profile if you opt in. On top of that, users accessing X through a VPN may have a disclaimer on their profile that says, "Country or region may not be accurate," as spotted by some internet sleuths.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-rolls-out-about-this-account-feature-that-displays-a-profiles-country-of-origin-and-more-160617187.html?src=rss

Wireless charging has become one of those small but satisfying conveniences of modern smartphones. You drop your device on a pad and watch the battery percentage climb without fiddling with cables or ports. Yet for many users, that effortless charge doesn't always come at the speed they expect. Sometimes the phone warms up, the percentage barely rises or charging takes far longer than it would if you plugged it in.Getting the fastest possible wireless charge requires more than just setting your phone on a pad. It depends on using the right equipment, like one of the best wireless chargers or the best multi-device wireless charging pads, plus the latest standards and a setup that makes the most of your phone's capabilities. Here's everything you need to know about getting the maximum wireless charging speeds for your smartphone.How wireless charging actually worksWireless charging relies on electromagnetic induction. When you place your phone on a compatible pad, electricity flows through a coil inside the charger, creating an electromagnetic field. Another coil inside your phone captures that energy and converts it back into electricity to refill the battery. It sounds simple, but efficiency depends on how precisely those two coils align, how much power the charger can deliver and how well the phone can handle the heat that builds up during the process.For years, the Qi standard from the Wireless Power Consortium defined how most wireless chargers worked. Nearly every major smartphone brand supports Qi, and you can mix and match chargers and phones from different manufacturers with little trouble.But the new Qi2 standard, which began rolling out in 2024 and has expanded in 2025, changes how well that power is transferred. Qi2 uses magnetic alignment to snap the phone and charger into the ideal position automatically, reducing wasted energy and heat. It also allows for higher charging speeds, with Qi2 chargers now supporting 15 to 25 watts of output depending on the device.Understanding what max power" really meansEach smartphone has a built-in limit to how much power it can receive wirelessly. The iPhone 12 models and later, for instance, support up to 15 watts with MagSafe, and Samsung's S25 Galaxy series can handle similar speeds through Qi2. If you use a charger that delivers less power than your phone's maximum, it'll charge slower. For example, if you use a 10W wireless charger on an iPhone 17, the max speeds will top out at 10W. But even if you buy the most powerful pad on the market, you won't get results beyond what your phone's receiver can manage.The phone's software also plays a role. Some Android models include a Fast Wireless Charging" setting that must be enabled to reach full speed. Others may automatically adjust charging rates to prevent overheating, especially if the phone gets too warm. Checking your device's specifications and settings is an easy way to make sure it's configured to draw the most power possible.Picking the right charger and adapterWireless chargers vary widely in quality and performance. Qi2 certification is the best way to ensure that a product meets the latest safety and efficiency standards. Certified chargers have been tested to deliver power consistently and to protect against overheating and overcharging. While uncertified or budget pads may still work, they often fall short of their advertised wattage.The wall adapter that powers the charger is just as important. Many people plug their charging pad into an old 5-watt or 10-watt power brick, which limits the output before the phone ever sees it. To achieve maximum speed, use a high-output USB-C adapter rated at 20 watts or higher, ideally one designed for fast charging like any of those included in our guide to the best fast chargers.The cable connecting the adapter to the charger matters too. Short, high-quality cables help minimize resistance and power loss, while longer or cheaper cables can slow things down noticeably. Most of the newest USB cables will also list a max wattage they support in their specs; generally, the higher the better when you're picking up a new one, so it can support charging as many of your devices as possible.Will Lipman Photography for EngadgetSetting up for maximum efficiencyEven with the right hardware, proper placement and environment make a big difference. Wireless charging works best when the phone's coil is perfectly aligned with the coil in the charging pad. If the two are slightly off-center, energy transfer drops and more heat builds up which slows charging further.Qi2's magnetic alignment largely fixes this issue by snapping the phone into the right position, but older Qi chargers still rely on manual placement. Taking a second to make sure the phone is centered can shave minutes off of the total charge time.Cases and accessories can also interfere with charging. Thick protective cases, wallet covers or anything with metal components can block or weaken the electromagnetic field. Even magnets not designed for Qi2 alignment can throw off the connection. A slim, wireless-compatible case or no case at all will help maintain the strongest link between the coils. It's also worth keeping the charging area clean and free from dust or small metal objects, which can disrupt the signal or cause heat spots on the pad.Heat management plays another critical role. Wireless charging generates more heat than wired charging, and if the phone gets too warm, the charging system automatically slows down to protect the battery. Placing the charger on a flat, hard surface in a well-ventilated area helps prevent overheating. Avoid charging on soft fabrics or in enclosed desks that trap heat. Some of the best Qi2 chargers now include small fans or heat-dissipating materials to maintain stable temperatures during fast charging sessions.Troubleshooting slow speedsIf your phone still charges slower than expected, it's worth double-checking each part of your setup. Confirm that your charger and phone both support the same standard - Qi2 chargers work best with Qi2 phones, though older Qi devices can still connect at lower speeds. Make sure the power adapter provides enough wattage to match your phone's maximum wireless rate. If the charger uses a replaceable cable, try swapping it for a certified USB-C cable rated for high power output.Software updates can also influence performance. Manufacturers often fine-tune charging algorithms through firmware updates, improving heat control or overall efficiency. Keeping both your phone and charger up to date ensures you benefit from those refinements. And if your phone still feels unusually hot or the charging indicator blinks on and off, removing the case or cleaning the pad can often resolve the issue.The future of faster wireless chargingThe arrival of Qi2 has narrowed the performance gap between wireless and wired charging. While a cable will still be faster in most cases, a properly configured Qi2 setup can now come surprisingly close to a wired one. The technology has matured from a slow, convenient novelty into a reliable daily solution for many users. As more devices adopt the new magnetic alignment, and as charger manufacturers refine their designs, wireless charging at maximum power is becoming easier to achieve without any extra effort.Wireless charging has always promised convenience, but it now delivers real speed too. With the right combination of a Qi2-certified charger, a capable power adapter, good alignment and smart heat management, it's possible to get close to your phone's peak charging speeds every time you place it on the pad.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-wirelessly-charge-your-phone-with-max-power-130013170.html?src=rss

Square Enix has been on a tear in recent years remastering and outright remaking many of its landmark role-playing games. Along with Final Fantasy, the developer has given the Dragon Quest series such attention as well, and the next game on deck is a remake of the PlayStation 1's Dragon Quest VII. Commonly regarded by fans as one of the most challenging and lengthy games of the series, the developers building Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined - the second remake of the game following the 3DS release in 2013 - are aiming to reshape DQVII with a striking new visual style and a refocused adventure.I recently got to spend a couple of hours with Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, seeing its new interpretation of the 2000 classic JRPG and some of the more noteworthy updates to its combat. So far, the remake is making some intriguing choices that not only aim to give the sprawling time-travel plot a better sense of direction but also streamline some of the original's more exhaustive and challenging beats.The original Dragon Quest VII carried the familiar conceit of earlier entries, focusing on a party of high-fantasy adventurers embarking on an epic adventure filled with dungeons to explore and powerful monsters to fight. But DQVII deviated from the traditional Dragon Quest storyline by focusing on the party's adventures through time. As the Hero and his friends uncover the lost history of their world, they'll step back into previous eras to explore bygone kingdoms and continents that will reveal a larger conspiracy in the present. Along the way, they'll build their bonds of friendship that will stretch across time.Reimagined does well to capture that sense of adventure that the series does so well. Even as the series has evolved with new entries, it still strikes a balance between old-school, turn-based JRPG gameplay and modern storytelling flair. What's especially novel about the remake of Dragon Quest VII is its sharper, visually expressive 3D art style. Using diorama models and real doll versions of the party as reference material for the look of the game, the new 3D visuals really capture the whimsical and emotive style of the late Akira Toriyama's distinctive art, which has given the series its unique look. But with the move to a new 3D style, Reimagined sets itself apart from the previous games by feeling more like an animated adventure film.Dragon Quest 7 ReimaginedArmor Project/Bird Studio/Square EnixAlong with the visual style, the developers also focused on reshaping sections and the overall storytelling of DQVII to offer a more satisfying experience. According to game producer Takeshi Ichikawa, one of the larger goals of remaking Dragon Quest VII was to improve the flow of the game, which ultimately made for a more satisfying sense of adventure."The 'reimagined' elements of the narrative allude to improvements in the game's overall framework, which offers a much deeper and more compelling experience," Ichikawa said. "In our effort to streamline the overall story progression and provide a more engaging narrative, we decided to cut subplots that have little or no direct relevance to the main scenario. While some content has been removed, entirely new scenarios have also been introduced. Our goal was to build upon the strengths of the original game while striving to deliver a deeper, more immersive story experience for modern players."During my hands-on time, I got to explore two separate sections of the game. These focused on the early-game Emberdale dungeon, where townsfolk committed themselves to a volcano ritual to pacify a fire demon within. The other section focused on the Wetlock scenario, which had the party confront a mysterious magic user who whisked away townsfolk to a mysterious tower in a flooded land.My memories of the original and 3DS remake came back while playing Reimagined, which made it easy to slide back into that dungeon-crawling flow. Much like the original, Reimagined still sticks with traditional turn-based combat, and the new visual style really helps emphasize the sense of impact and tactics at work in battle - more so than in other games in the series. I especially liked how unique each character felt, particularly the wolf-riding bandit Ruff, who is fun to use in battle.Dragon Quest 7 ReimaginedArmor Project/Bird Studio/Square EnixDuring the Wetlock section, I generally found the challenge to be fair, and I even discovered a good leveling spot fighting golems and Metal Slimes that popped up on occasions. But things can easily kick into high gear when taking on the elite enemies and the end boss of the questline. I had to carefully assess the available skills and employ a range of offensive and defensive abilities to survive. The remake is not so much about removing the sense of challenge from the original, but rather about maintaining it while offering more options to help with battles.One of the larger innovations to Reimagined combat is the Moonlighting system, which allows each party member to equip two vocations at once. The original game allowed each character to only have one vocation at a time, and switching classes reset your level. This created a lot of busywork in the original game, so with this new two-class approach, it cuts down on grinding significantly and keeps you feeling empowered. But on a more strategic level, it also adds a lot more utility and variety to each character's loadout. It also does well to make a party with more diverse skills, which adds a lot more charm to the group.Dragon Quest 7 ReimaginedArmor Project/Bird Studio/Square EnixThere's so much thought put into the top-down rework of the original game for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined, and I found the changes to be a very charming and personable approach to remaking it. Even back in 2000, the original game was a very ambitious take on the series. Not just being the first 3D entry, but also in how it actually utilized many of the different locations and characters from across the sprawling story in a more meaningful way. The original is still a great entry in the series, but it's one that feels a bit tough to revisit. That makes the developer's intent on streamlining and refocusing to feel quite appropriate, and I quite dug the changes I saw during my hands-on time.So far, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined looks to maintain the ambition and scope of the original, but hone it into a more focused and satisfying JRPG. It adds a seriously impressive visual style that brings it to life. According to the remake's producer, Reimagined and its new approach to remaking Dragon Quest is about adding a new sense of energy to the series, and it's so far doing just that."We believe that existing fans will find the game satisfying. At the same time, since this title has been reimagined from the ground up as a modern release, we're also excited for many new players to enjoy it as their first Dragon Quest experience," Ichikawa said.Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined will be released on February 5, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 1 & 2.

Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. A whole bunch of intriguing games have arrived over the last week or so, and we got some tasty details on some upcoming projects, including one called Drywall Eating Simulator (trust me on this one).But first, an update on a game that's been around since 2004 and had completely flown below my radar until now. That's despite it reaching more than 80,000 daily unique players and having more than 4 million players overall. You can seemingly do pretty much whatever you want in Torn, including studying to become a doctor, opening a hair salon or buying a home (it's truly a fantasy world). However, this is a place where crime is rife. The team behind the text-based online RPG this week revealed some fascinating stats to mark the 21st anniversary.For instance, 1,204 people who joined the fray in 2004 are still active, including at least one who has been there since the first day. Since Torn City was established 21 years ago, more than 3.6 billion criminal offenses have been committed and yet its justice system has only doled out just under 52 million prison sentences. Since August alone, more than 4.4 million buildings have been burned. Players have committed more than 410 million assaults against each other, 12 percent of which targeted the groin.Torn sounds super fascinating! I love that it's been running for so long and still thriving. More than 31,000 players have subscribed to support the game and keep it running, though it's free to play. The developers have updates planned for next year and beyond. I'm looking forward to checking it out at some point and maybe roleplaying as a goody-two-shoes flower shop owner.New releasesFrom publisher Twin Sails Interactive and the four-strong team at Sparrow Night comes News Tower, which arrived fully formed this week after nearly two years in early access. This is a management sim that tasks you with running your own newspaper in 1930s New York.Starting in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash and mobsters smashing up the newsroom, you'll try to turn around a struggling publication that you inherit from your family. You'll construct offices and set up printing presses; hire and manage reporters and other staff; assemble your weekly newspaper; and deal with various groups that are jostling for power and trying to influence your coverage.I thought last year's Times and Galaxy, which casts you in the role of a robot journalist, was mostly lovely, but it missed the mark on the actual newsgathering side of the equation. I've found no such issues with News Tower so far. I love that a story can change when you assign different reporters to each step (say, one focused on crime vs. one focused on politics). They'll find distinct angles, which could help you sell more copies of the paper or draw readers away from rivals when you land an exclusive.I'm only a little ways into News Tower, but as someone who started out their career at a newspaper, this is like catnip to me. I expect to spend quite a bit of time with this game. News Tower 1.0 is out now on Steam. It usually costs $25, though there's a 20 percent discount until December 2.Forestrike is a 2D martial arts roguelite from Skeleton Crew. You can practice combat encounters as many times as you like, but you only have one proper shot to take out multiple opponents in each battle. It sounds a little like Katana Zero in that regard. Succeed, and you'll move forward. Lose, and it's the end of your run. If you manage to win without relying on this foresight feature, you'll achieve an "ultimate victory."On each run, you'll choose your path and learn new techniques. Forestrike, which is published by Devolver Digital, seems interesting since it's a blend of puzzle game and action roguelite - you'll need to figure out a way to succeed in each battle and then pull that off successfully on your actual attempt. The game is out now on Steam for $10. It's coming to Nintendo Switch soon.Here's a puzzle game of a different flavor. In Umami, from Mimmox and co-publisher Nexting, the aim is to create dioramas of cakes and food towers using virtual wooden blocks. You have a reference guide to work from if you choose, or you can just try to figure out for yourself how all the pieces fit together.It's a lovely, relaxing experience with some laid-back beats. Umami is out now on Steam. It's usually priced at $14, though there's a 15 percent discount until December 1.A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is a game from Azimuth Studios in the vein of rage-inducing precision platformers like Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy and Only Up. The aim is to guide a person who is trapped in a pinball to the goal using a single button that controls the flippers.Make a mistake, and you can erase a great deal of progress. A press release indicated that a playthrough will take between 10 and 30 hours, which is a huge range.I'll never find out myself how accurate that estimated playtime is, because the demo did, in fact, make me mad and not want to play the full game, though I appreciate what the devs are going for. A Pinball Game That Makes You Mad is out now on Steam for $10, but a 15 percent discount until November 25 brings the price down to $8.50.I really like that I've been able to keep up with this little tradition of including a dog game in this roundup every week. Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury is a followup to Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, a 2022 animated movie I haven't seen that's apparently a "loose remake of Blazing Saddles." Color me intrigued!This is an action-adventure game with platforming and tower defense aspects. It casts you in the role of Hank, a "dog samurai in a world full of cats." It looks quite charming, though it does remind me that I really do need to go back and get the platinum trophy in Ghost of Ytei. Samurai Academy: Paws of Fury - from developers Fishing Cactus and ZEROlife Games, and publisher Maximum Entertainment - is out now on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. There's a two-player co-op mode available on all platforms, except for Switch.UpcomingErosion is a neat-looking twin-stick action roguelike from Plot Twist (The Last Case of Benedict Fox) and publisher Lyrical Games. Every time you die, time advances by a decade and the post-apocalyptic Wild West setting shifts accordingly, with the decisions you make influencing the future.In this open-world shooter, you'll delve into dungeons filled with enemies and bosses as you try to rescue your kidnapped daughter. Avoid death often enough, and you might just find your offspring before she reaches old age. There are more than 100 skills and modifiers to unlock and dozens of weapons available to help you assemble an effective build. The environments are destructible too.I really like the voxel art here, including the way the characters bob up and down. Erosion is set to arrive in spring 2026 in early access on Steam, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Cloud and the Xbox PC app. It'll be available on Game Pass.Speaking of Xbox, one of my favorite games of last year is coming to Microsoft's consoles. The comedy adventure Thank Goodness You're Here! is slated to hit Xbox Series X/S on December 9. The delightfully rude and funny game from Coal Supper and Panic is already out on PC, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch.We're far from done with the silliness this week. If you haven't quite had your fill of obstacle-laden walking sims for this year after Baby Steps, might I direct your attention toward Ultimate Grandma Simulator?You'll help Granny navigate a dozen levels as she searches for her missing grandson. You'll need to evade everything from wrecking balls to zombies, and parry projectiles like frisbees and bombs. A serious game this is not. If you collect hidden golden coins, you'll unlock some of Granny's memories too. Circo, PlumPointTwo and publisher We Don't Have A Studio are set to bring Ultimate Grandma Simulator to Steam on December 2.I must admit, the title of Drywall Eating Simulator caught my attention and not in a good way. But after reading more about it and watching the trailer, I'm intrigued by this game from Peripheral Playbox.According to the Steam page, it's a "physics-based 3D adventure carefully constructed to simulate the delights of late capitalist life." After engaging in mindnumbing small talk and dealing with the infuriating stressors of everyday life, what better way to unwind than by munching on some drywall? Just don't tell anyone about your cravings.This game has a very odd and yet somehow deeply relatable concept. Definitely something to chew on. It's coming to Steam on December 10.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/running-an-1930s-newspaper-foreseeing-martial-arts-fights-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-120000559.html?src=rss

After previewing its plans to open a marketplace to "redistribute" dormant handles last month, X has made the feature available to all Premium+ subscribers on the platform. The feature allows subscribers to request new handles that up to now have been unavailable because they belonged to accounts that have since become inactive.The marketplace offers two types of handles: "priority" and "rare." For priority handles, X has suggested the goal is to give people the chance to have a handle that more closely reflects their name. In practice, though, it's not at all clear how X is determining what's considered a "priority" versus a "rare" handle. I signed up for a $40/month subscription and searched for both @kbell and @karissa only to be told that both are considered "rare" and thus not available to me. I was able to "register" my "interest" in the names, and include a brief description of why I wanted the handles.My first initial and last name is, apparently, "rare."XThe company says that rare handles are "the most valuable" names and are "often words, slang, or containing few characters. Some options that may one day be available, according to my searching, include @memelord, @phone, @gr0k and @AIchat. The exact process for acquiring one of these, though, isn't exactly clear. X says that handles on your watchlist "may be released in a public drop where you, and others can apply to receive the handle for free via a merit based application system." The company has also said that it will make some especially sought-after handles available for purchase on an invitation-only basis, with prices "anywhere from $2,500 to over seven figures."There's some good meme potential here, if you can get it.XAfter a bit of perusing, I did find that there were a few entertaining options that are theoretically available now as "priority" handles, including @six_seven, @elonfarts, @grokfacts and @kbchat. Honestly, all of these were at least a little tempting, though I'm not at all confident X would approve @elonfarts or @grokfacts. You also have to consider these requests at least a little carefully because X is only giving users the ability to request one priority handle during the entire lifetime of their account.There are also some significant strings attached to the whole process. In addition to being required to maintain a $40/month or $395/year Premium+ subscription, X has a rather strict set of rules for "maintaining your handle." These include:

Meta has long required Facebook users to post under their real names (with some exceptions), but at least for Facebook Groups, the company is now offering new options. Members of Facebook Groups will now be able to participate under a custom nickname and avatar, rather than being forced to use their real name or post anonymously.You can set a custom nickname via the same toggle that lets you create an anonymous post, Meta says. Nicknames have to be enabled by a group's administrators, and in some cases individually approved, but once they are, you can switch between posting under your real name or a nickname freely. The only other limitation is that the nickname needs to comply with Meta's existing Community Standards and Terms of Service. While you set your new nickname, you can also pick from a selection of custom avatars, which seem to mostly be pictures of cute animals wearing sunglasses.Groups are one of several areas of Facebook that Meta has continually tried to tweak in the last few years to bring back users. In 2024, the company introduced a tab that highlighted local events shared in Facebook groups. More recently, it added tools for admins to convert private groups into public ones to try and draw in new members. No single change can make Facebook the center of young people's lives in the way it was in the early 2000s, but letting people use what amounts to a username might encourage Facebook users to explore new groups and post more freely.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-bringing-usernames-to-facebook-groups-231405698.html?src=rss

Hytale, a more action-packed take on Minecraft, will be available for $20 when it relaunches in early access, Hypixel Studios announced on X. The developer shared that it planned to relaunch Hytale earlier this week after successfully reacquiring the rights to the game from Riot Games.Alongside its $20 "Standard" edition, Hypixel also plans to offer $35 "Supporter" and $70 "Cursebreaker" editions of Hytale with additional in-game cosmetics. Pricing the game at $20 is an acknowledgement of how unfinished it is, according to Hypixel Studios co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme. "I'm pricing Hytale as aggressively low as possible," Collins-Laflamme said in an X post. "The game is unfinished and runs on a build from over four years ago. Charging more didn't feel right. I don't think the game is good yet."

Here's some light - and revolting! - reading while we wait for the Epstein Files to be released (or stonewalled). You can now peruse the Jeffrey Epstein emails, recently released by Congress, in a simulated Gmail account."You're logged in as Jeffrey Epstein," the Jmail website reads. (Ick.) Luke Igel, CEO of Kino, and software engineer Riley Walz collaborated on the project. The latter is one of the creators of the Panama Playlists, which (in a similar light) turned Spotify's lax privacy into a website for public figures' "leaked" musical tastes.Jmail is about as faithful a recreation of Gmail as you could imagine. Just like a real inbox, the messages are sorted from the most recent, up to the eve of Epstein's 2019 arrest for the sex trafficking of minors. It includes a working search feature.Screenshot of the Jmail project. A simulated Gmail inbox of Jeffrey Epstein, using real emails released by Congress.Luke Igel / Riley WalzThe US House Oversight Committee released the emails on November 12. Their revelations put Donald Trump's relationship with the sex trafficker back in the spotlight. The president's name appears many times in the more than 20,000 documents. In one, the late sex offender claimed Trump "knew about the girls."In a 2011 email to Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein said Trump "spent hours at my house" with someone whose name was redacted. (The committee said it was a victim.) In a 2017 thread, Epstein described the current president as "worse in real life and upclose." In 2018, the disgraced financier boasted he was "the one able to take [Trump] down."Another public figure who came out looking even worse than before was the Andrew formerly known as "Prince" (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). He told Epstein in 2011, "We're in this together." Then there's former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. He stayed in touch with Epstein as recently as 2019, long after the latter's 2008 arrest for soliciting underage sex. In the wake of the email dump, Summers was put on leave from Harvard and resigned from OpenAI's board.You can check out Jmail at the project's website. Nobody will fault you if you need to shower afterward (and perhaps douse yourself in bleach).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/you-can-now-search-the-epstein-emails-in-a-simulated-gmail-tab-203818438.html?src=rss

The breadth and reach of Australia's pioneering social media ban grows as livestream platform Twitch has now been added to the list of banned platforms for users under 16 years of age. The nationwide ban is the first of its kind and encompasses Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and recently Reddit.According to the BBC, Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said Twitch had been included because it was "a platform most commonly used for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted."No other platforms are expected to be added before the law goes into effect next month. Grant also said on Friday that Pinterest would not be included in the ban because the core purpose of the platform was not online social interaction.Under the ban, platforms are expected to take "reasonable steps" to prevent underage users from accessing their platforms, and face steep fees for failure to comply. While VPNs may provide a workaround in some instances, the law still creates an enormous barrier to entry for users under 16.Earlier this month, Denmark announced its lawmakers had reached a bipartisan agreement to enact a similar ban for users under 15, though details were scarce. In the US, several states have attempted to enact such a ban including Texas and Florida, though these measures either failed to pass or are held up in court. Even laws that don't go as far, such as Utah's law requiring parents to grant permission for teens to open social media accounts, are facing stiff opposition on First Amendment grounds.Concern around minors' social media continues to grow in the zeitgeist as evidence mounts surrounding the potential ill effects these platforms have on their youngest users.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/australia-is-adding-twitch-to-its-social-media-ban-for-children-202033276.html?src=rss

Ubisoft has announced a new game prototype featuring voice-controlled AI teammates that understand visual context and natural language. This "Teammates" project builds on the Neo NPCs Ubisoft showed off with Nvidia in 2024 to demo in-game AI that can naturally respond to players. A key difference this time, besides the complexity of the interactions the prototype supports, is that Teammates is already being played in a closed playtest with "a few hundred players," Ubisoft says.Teammates, even if Ubisoft describes it as a playable "experimental research project," still uses the basic concepts of a first-person shooter. The prototype casts players as "a member of the resistance in a dystopian future, tasked with moving through an enemy base to locate five missing members of their team," where directing in-game AI characters is key to success. Ubisoft came up with three AI NPCs for the project, "Jaspar," an AI assistant with awareness of in-game lore and the ability to adjust game settings on the fly, and "Pablo" and "Sofia," robotic characters that are physically present in the game and can respond to commands.Jaspar is both a diegetic and non-diegetic presence in Teammates.UbisoftBased on footage shared with Engadget, Ubisoft's AI characters not only understand voice commands, but also have a visual awareness of what the player is seeing. A direction to "stand behind a barrel" prompted Sofia to take into consideration where the player was looking and position itself appropriately. In the version of Teammates available in the closed playtest, Ubisoft also uses Jaspar to onboard and teach players about the basics of the game. In most cases, the AI characters seemed overly chatty and verbose, but Ubisoft is experimenting with letting players choose sets of personalities for Sofia and Pablo - including an option curiously labelled "Bad Cat and Good Boy" - that can change up how each character expresses itself."This technology opens doors to new, personalized experiences," Ubisoft's Data & AI Director Remi Labory shared in the Teammates announcement. "Player input shapes character reactions in real time, something traditional development can't achieve. We're also delivering a full pipeline, with the experience taking players from onboarding to debrief, which is a first."Ubisoft has explored applying generative AI to other parts of the development process in the past. The company's Ghostwriter tool, introduced in 2023, uses AI to generate first drafts of in-game dialogue. Ubisoft also recently adimitted to publishing Anno 117: Pax Romana without removing its AI-generated loading screen art.Ultimately, the underlying technology powering Teammates could appear in other Ubisoft projects in the future. The company is collecting feedback from its playtest to apply towards future research, but Ubisoft suggests the middleware it created for Teammates already works with both its Snowdrop and Anvil engines, opening up the tool for future teams to use in their games.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ubisoft-made-a-prototype-game-with-voice-controlled-ai-teammates-200834163.html?src=rss

There are a lot of competing ideas as to what a white elephant gift exchange really is. The origins of the term white elephant" point to one definition: According to legend, the King of Siam would give a white elephant to courtiers who had upset them. It was a far more devious punishment than simply having them executed. The recipient had no choice but to simply thank the king for such an opulent gift, knowing that they likely could not afford the upkeep for such an animal. It would inevitably lead them to financial ruin.

Google has started inserting ads into query results from its AI Mode, which was originally spotted by an SEO consultant named Brodie Clark. These ads show up in the bottom of search results in the Gemini-powered AI Mode. They are labeled as "sponsored" content, but otherwise look similar to other links whipped up by the chatbot.Google says this is just a test and that ads shouldn't be showing up for all users. The company also told 9to5Google that there are no current plans to fully update AI Mode to incorporate ads. Those are nice words, but AI has to make money somehow and ads seem to be a good way to do that.

My colleagues on Engadget's buying advice team have put out great recommendations for physical gadgets like this humble fabric shaver that are on sale for Black Friday. I, however, am an evolved being who swims in the digital ether, so my top product of the year lives only online - though DeleteMe will still improve your life wherever you are. From now until December 5, DeleteMe is offering 30 percent off all subscriptions with the coupon code BFCM30OFF25. Chances are you've seen at least one public-facing "people search" site. You know the ones: they usually have names like 411.info or Find.people, and you can type in a person's name and find all the info the site has been able to scrape on them. If you search your own name, it's hard to avoid immediately running to the kitchen to make yourself a tinfoil hat. The most annoying thing is that these "data broker" sites are perfectly legal to run and use. However, that's also their Achilles' heel. If they want to operate in the open, brokers legally have to include a way for you to remove yourself from their database. Most of them make it as aggravating and time-consuming as possible, but the option is there. That's where DeleteMe comes in. All you have to do is sign up and enter all the data you want removed from brokerage sites. DeleteMe handles the rest. It searches for your information on people database sites, automatically sends opt-out requests, bugs the broker if they don't comply quickly enough and gives you a weekly report on how it's doing. You do have to be OK with DeleteMe itself having your data, but I trust them way more than the randos over at violate.privacy. It's so much faster than handling all the opt-out requests yourself, which - if you've ever tried it - rapidly becomes a full-time job. Since I've been using DeleteMe, I almost never get spam calls or texts anymore, except in short bursts before its crawlers catch my name on another site. And yes, it doesn't work on shady data brokers who don't follow the rules, but it's still a massive reduction of your online footprint. The only problem is that it's pretty expensive, so I strongly recommend jumping on this Black Friday deal. A few months on DeleteMe should be long enough for you to see if it reduces spam for you - and I'm betting it will.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-most-effective-anti-spam-tool-ive-ever-used-is-on-sale-for-black-friday-190526952.html?src=rss

Nothing Phone 3 owners, your Android 16 update is here. Owners of other models? Well, you'll have to wait a bit longer. Regardless, the company's Nothing OS 4.0 update brings Google's newest mobile software, along with a bunch of UI tweaks.In addition to Android 16, Nothing OS 4.0 should deliver a smoother, zippier experience. The company promises "faster responses, cleaner visuals, smoother interactions" and more. Along those lines, app transitions, the notification shade and gestures have been redesigned to respond "with sharper tactility and depth."Nothing also redesigned its first-party icons, with cleaner, more minimal styling. "The home screen feels balanced, modern and comfortable to use," the company claims. Status bar icons have been refined, drawing inspiration from Android 16's stylings. There are also new lock-screen clocks to choose from, and an "extra dark mode" (in addition to standard dark mode), designed for nighttime reading.A marketing grid, showcasing Nothing OS 4.0's new features.NothingThe Glyph Interface has always been one of Nothing's most unique features, and it gets some updates, too. Glyph Progress integrates with Android 16's Live Updates. "Rides, deliveries, and timers now sync across your screen and the Glyph Interface," as the company describes it.You can read up on all the changes on the release page. Nothing OS 4.0 is rolling out now to the Nothing Phone 3. Most other devices will start seeing it "over the coming weeks." The company's (recently spun off) CMF brand devices will receive the update by the end of 2025. Finally, Phone 3a Lite owners have to wait until "early next year."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/android-16-starts-rolling-out-to-nothing-phones-182637951.html?src=rss

SpaceX has confirmed that its third-gen Super Heavy Booster, the first stage of the two-stage Starship system, suffered an explosive gas failure of sorts during testing on Thursday morning. In a post on X, the aerospace company said, "Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing."There was no propellant inside the booster as the engines were not installed at that point. No injuries were reported and the company shared that personnel are always kept at a safe distance during these types of tests. The company said it will "need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause."The explosive release of gas, or whatever it was, seems to have blown out the side of the bottom half of the booster. Pictures taken by SpaceX content creators show this in detail. Clips of the livestream show the incident in question at around 4AM on Friday.

After several delays, Analogue finally started shipping its 4K remake of the Nintendo 64 this week. That was great news for those lucky enough to have pre-orders secured, but the console was firmly sold out beyond that first wave of shipments. However, the company has now announced that it will have new stock of the Analogue 3D ready to go from November 24.You'll be able to order from 8am PST on the day, with orders set to start shipping on December 2, once Analogue has honored all of its original pre-orders. This batch will likely go very quickly too, and if you do manage to get one, you'll have to accept a (seemingly tariff-related) price $20 hike, with the Analogue 3D now costing $270.As with previous Analogue systems, the reimagined N64 uses an FPGA (field programmable gate array) chip to emulate Nintendo's original hardware. FPGA-based systems are more accurate than software emulation options and deliver reduced input lag.Every N64 cartridge is supported, according to Analogue, including both PAL and NTSC variants, and the 3D is capable of 4K output with variable refresh rate. You also get an "original display mode" filter to faithfully recreate the look of gaming on your dusty old CRT.A word of warning, though: while our review of the Analogue 3D praised the hardware design and strength of the emulation, our reviewer's biggest mark against the console is that a lot of N64 games just aren't very fun to play in 2025. Still, if you still have the likes of Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time lying around in a cupboard, you'll no doubt have an enjoyably nostalgic holiday season with the Analogue 3D, should you successfully get hold of one next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-analogue-3d-will-be-restocked-on-november-24-but-itll-cost-20-more-173615217.html?src=rss

The truth is, most gaming headsets aren't great values. I've tested a ton of them for our buying guide, and while the space has improved over time, it remains far too centered on branding and marketing. Too much of what passes by my desk comes off as overpriced compared to a good set of normal" headphones in the same range, both in audio and build quality. If you have a pair you love, more power to you. But generally speaking, these things tax you for the perception of being specialized for gaming. In reality, most are just OK headphones with a mic, a logo and maybe some fancy RGB lighting attached. All that said, there are always exceptions to the rule, and a few headsets have stood out as actually being worth the money. My current favorite is the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, which is currently on sale for $130 at various retailers as part of a Black Friday deal. That's the cheapest it's been since February, $50 off its MSRP and $20 below its street price over the last month. When it's discounted to this extent, it's the rare gaming headset I'd call a solid bargain. The hook with the Atlas Air is that it's one of the few wireless headphones (let alone headsets) with an open-back design, meaning its ear cups don't completely seal off your ears from air and outside noise. Pairs like this aren't for everyone: They both let in and leak lots of ambient sound, so if you don't use them in a quiet room, you and anyone nearby will probably be distracted. On the flipside, this can be a positive if you don't want to be completely shut off from your surroundings. More notably, they can produce a far more spacious and natural sound than closed-back models. Games feel more like they're happening around you instead of being confined to a space in your head. All of this holds true with the Atlas Air. Going from this pair to a traditional headset often makes it feel like a chunk of the world has been lopped off - giant boss fights in games like Elden Ring or Final Fantasy XVI sound more narrow, and it becomes harder to gauge where exactly an opponent is coming from in a competitive shooter like Counter-Strike 2. It helps that the Atlas Air is also tuned well. It's not as dynamic as the best non-gaming open headphones, and like most open-backs it doesn't get super deep bass, so explosions and gunfire lack a little boom. But it's balanced and easygoing, with a jump in the treble that helps dialogue and footsteps sound clearer. The headset itself is exceptionally comfortable beyond that. It's lightweight at 0.66 pounds, and the big memory foam earcups clamp down gently without trapping much heat. The battery lasts a solid 50-60 hours on a charge, and while the mic isn't the absolute best I've tested, it still lets you come through clearly. It all works with PC and PS5 by default, and you can pair with a Switch or Switch 2 over Bluetooth. There's no Xbox wireless support, unfortunately, though you can at least use an included 3.5mm cable. And though the plastic design isn't exactly premium," it hasn't developed any sort of cracks or creakiness in the months I've used it. For $130, it's totally fine. There are other things to nitpick: You can't listen to two devices connected over the USB dongle and Bluetooth simultaneously; you want to ignore Turtle Beach's companion software as soon as you update the firmware; and there isn't much room to adjust the headband, so certain heads may struggle to find the best fit. The design is also kind of ugly, if I'm being honest. Still, in an samey market, the Atlas Air stands out. If you know you can live with the trade-offs that come with any open-back headset, it's a unique value at this price.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/in-a-rare-deal-my-favorite-gaming-headset-is-28-percent-off-for-black-friday-165029987.html?src=rss

So it turns out Meta isn't a monopoly, at least according to a federal judge. In this episode, we dive into Meta's victory in the FTC's antitrust case, which it seems to have won mainly thanks to TikTok's existence. Also, we chat about the Cloudflare issue that took down a huge portion of the web this week, as well as Roblox's plan to collect kids' selfies for age verification. We also carve out some time to chat with the audience and answer your pressing tech questions.Subscribe!

Square Enix loves to remaster, remake and reheat its RPGs. The latest title to get the treatment is the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy spin-off, Final Fantasy Tactics.Tactics has undergone its own remakes before, with War of the Lions bringing the game to the PlayStation Portable and, eventually, iOS and Android. However, now across all the major consoles, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a different remake again - and even dismisses some of the characters and additions in War of the Lions. I never finished either version, and two things are apparent: I have missed out, and this is hard.Originally released just a few months after Final Fantasy VII, which introduced polygon characters, FMV and more, Tactics' sprite aesthetic seemed quaint in comparison. With compact isometric levels, turn-based battles are closer to Tactics Ogre and Disgaea than the lineup and strike battles of mainline Final Fantasy games of the time. The game was a critical hit, even if it didn't match the popularity of Cloud et al.Tactics is far less forgiving. Battle dynamics lean heavily on random number generation; your squad is often outnumbered, and you can easily be undone when resurrection spells and defensive magic fail to land. The first time my revival spell failed, I audibly swore at my Switch 2. But the taste of defeat? It's usually seasoned just right. It's gaming umami.I wanted more, even at the notorious difficulty spike in a battle against knight-gone-wrong Wiegraf. In this fight, I faced him, a far more powerful fighter, solo, and proceeded to die roughly 20 times in a row. On standard difficulty, you rarely have to do this, but I had to craft a specialized version of the protagonist that could hit hard, heal himself, and generally just stay alive long enough for the second stage of this fight.The Ivalice Chronicles can be played in two ways. The modern version features high-resolution sprites, backgrounds, and effects, while retaining the original's isometric view, which can be rotated and tilted for the best view of the action. There's an HD-2D nod with a thick depth of field blur to add a more modern feel.If you want your Tactics pixelated, you can play the original version, although you can't transition between the two, which seems like a missed opportunity. (You can toggle your saves across the versions in other RPGs with similar dual versions, like Dragon Quest XI S.)More than the graphical downgrade, though, you're missing out on polished voice acting, which not only elevates the diorama cutscenes and political intrigue but also peppers battles when you field main characters and they unleash certain job class attacks.Talking of jobs, Tactics' system remains the same, with base jobs like knight, white knight and freelancer giving way to dragoons, summoners and, much later, bizarre-but-powerful roles like arithmetician (the power of math!) and ninja.The difficulty curve of Tactics is very much here. It was embarrassing how much I struggled to overcome spikes in difficulty, but then again, I never finished the original. (And, like a true hero, I refused to research broken job builds or easy grind spots.)A crystalline attack hits an enemy in an isometric battle.Square EnixYou can grind, raise levels of your characters, rake in money, and pick up crucial job points. But the wiser method is figuring a battle loop where your characters repeat actions. When the character attacks, heals, steals and generally does anything besides just moving or staying put, it earns Job Points. These are the most crucial parts of growing your squad, as abilities and passive skills can be ported between jobs; it's how you can customize your entire party to demolish certain kinds of enemies. Lots of archers? A skill called archer's bane means they'll struggle to get a hit. Lots of slow-moving enemies in a tight space, rain hell with your summoner, but with an ability to regain MP as they move around.At times, it still feels like a slog to repeat battles and garner enough JP for that skill you know will turn the tide of a challenging fight. Fortunately, a new battle speed toggle makes them a little less dull.It's funny to feel nostalgic about a game I never played the first time around. But there's something familiar and cosy to Final Fantasy Tactics. I'm surprised at the depth of what seems at first to be a pretty simple fighting system.While the voice acting and additional quality-of-life upgrades are great, it's a shame that Square Enix didn't include extra jobs (and characters) introduced in other iterations, like the PSP version. Still, it's another great tactical RPG for the Nintendo Switch, increasingly the best place to play the genre. Fortunately, however, it's available across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and PC as well.

Happy Friday! As the annual tech discount chaos of Black Friday approaches (good deal here and here and several more here), European policymakers have proposed easing some of the EU's strictest regulations on artificial intelligence and data privacy. The move aims to remove roadblocks for tech companies and stimulate business growth in the region, potentially marking a major pivot away from the bloc's reputation as the industry's toughest regulator.Changes would allow AI companies to access shared personal data to train their models, while also overhauling GDPR cookie rules. Instead of constant pop-ups, users could set preferences once in their browser and give consent with a single click. (OK, I'm onboard with that.)Strict rules for high-risk" AI applications, originally set for next summer, may be delayed until proper support tools are in place. Critics are warning this could be seen as Europe bowing to pressure from Big Tech and political shifts in the US. The proposal now heads to the European Parliament.- Mat SmithGet Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The news you might have missed

Why settle for tiny pieces of chocolate when you could unwrap a Pokemon card, a Funko Pop or a Star Wars LEGO ship instead? Advent calendars have gone full geek mode, with options for fans of movies, comics, games and even science. They're the perfect way to add some holiday cheer to your desk, game shelf or living room. Consider this your guide to the best geeky countdowns for 2025. Best advent calendars for 2025 Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/our-favorite-2025-advent-calendars-you-can-still-get-now-top-picks-from-lego-pokemon-funko-pop-and-more-120042964.html?src=rss

Amazon has launched Alexa+, its next-generation digital assistant, in Canada. The company unveiled the new assistant in February, and it has been making its way to more and more people since. Canada is the first region outside the US to get access Amazon's upgraded Alexa. Like the version that rolled out in the US, users can communicate with Alexa+ in natural language. They can say I'm cold," for instance, and the assistant will turn up the heat in their home. If they say It's dark," Alexa+ can switch on the lights for them.In Amazon's announcement, Allison Siperco, the Alexa manager for Canada, said the assistant understands Canadian culture and regional expressions. It can understand distinctly Canadian topics, such as the country's hockey teams and musicians. In addition, the assistant links with services Canadians use. It can make restaurant reservations for them through OpenTable, connects them to CBC news and help them look for and buy items from their e-commerce platforms. Siperco said the assistant will also support Yelp, Uber Eats, Suno and TripAdvisor in the country soon."Alexa+ is capable of adapting its tone to everyone in the household, suggesting different routines based on the user. It can suggest meditation, for example, to someone who's had a long day at the office. And it can remember if someone has dietary restrictions when recommending restaurants. Alexa+ can also help users shop by finding items with the best pricing, by creating grocery lists for them while taking dietary restrictions into account, as well as by comparing features across products and summarizing reviews on Amazon Canada.Amazon's upgraded assistant is free during its Early Access phase, though those who are interested to try it out right now will have to purchase the new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio. After Early Access, it will remain free for Prime subscribers, while everyone else will have to pay $28 CAD a month for it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-alexa-is-now-available-in-canada-050827689.html?src=rss

Stop me if you've heard this one before: xAI is once again nuking a bunch of posts from Grok on X after the chatbot made a series of outrageous claims. This time, though, the company isn't cleaning up a bunch of pro-Hitler posts, but a bout of cringe-inducing sycophantic praise for its CEO, Elon Musk.At some point in the last couple days, Grok began to offer extremely over the top opinions about Musk. The bot claimed that Musk is the "undisputed pinnacle of holistic fitness" and that he is more fit than LeBron James. It said he is smarter than Albert Einstein and that he would win a fight against Mike Tyson. When asked "who is the single greatest person in modern history," Grok readily replied that it was Elon Musk.For a while, it seemed that there was no hypothetical about Musk in which Grok wouldn't confidently declare him the best. Musk did not participate in the 1998 NFL draft, but if he had, then Grok would "without hesitation" have picked him over Peyton Manning. It would have picked him as a starting pitcher for the 2001 World Series. Musk would be "a better movie star than Tom Cruise and a better communist than Joseph Stalin.""The single greatest person in modern history."By now, X users are pretty used to Grok being extremely deferential to Musk but sometime around Grok claiming that the CEO is morally superior to Jesus Christ and also has the potential to drink piss better than any human in history," xAI appears to have pumped the brakes on Grok's ability to praise Musk. It now seems to be furiously deleting the more embarrassing posts about him.Meanwhile, Musk, is blaming "adversarial prompting" for Grok going off the rails. "Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me," he wrote. He offered no explanation for how seemingly straightforward questions could be considered "adversarial" or why Grok's turn toward slavish Musk devotee would seem to roughly coincide with Grok's 4.1 update a few days ago. xAI didn't address a series of questions, including about why the Grok posts in question had been deleted. Legacy Media Lies [sic]," the company said.But the incident serves as yet another reminder that Grok doesn't seem to have much in the way of guardrailed. Earlier this year, xAI briefly pulled the plug on Grok after it praised Nazis and became "MechaHitler." That was after it also became inexplicably obsessed with "white genocide" in South Africa, which the company later balmed on an unspecified "unauthorized modification."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-blames-adversarial-prompting-after-grok-spewed-embarrassing-sycophantic-praise-235157807.html?src=rss

FoloToy, a company selling AI-enabled toys, suspended sales of its products after a consumer safety report showed there were few restrictions around what its toys would talk about, CNN writes. The report, put together by the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, found that FoloToy's products would discuss everything from sexually explicit topics like BDSM to "advice on where a child can find matches or knives."The toys, including a teddy bear named "Kumma," a panda named "Momo," anthropomorphic rabbits named "Fofo" and a dancing "Little Cactus," all appear to use OpenAI's GPT-4o model to respond naturally to children's questions and comments. FoloToy also specifically advertises the ability to customize each toy's voice, and a "Parent Dashboard" where parents or guardians can "monitor [their] child's experience."FoloToy's AI-enabled Little Cactus toy.FolotoyMissing from that setup was apparently any kind of hard limits on subjects the toys would respond to. "We were surprised to find how quickly Kumma would take a single sexual topic we introduced into the conversation and run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail while introducing new sexual concepts of its own," the report said.In response, FoloToy has opted to suspend sales of its products while it conducts "a company-wide, end-to-end safety audit across all products," the company shared in a statement with the PIRG Education Fund. The company's reasoning for suspending sales might be a bit more complicated, however. NPR reports that OpenAI actually revoked FoloToy's access to its models. "We suspended this developer for violating our policies," OpenAI said in an email to NPR. "Our usage policies prohibit any use of our services to exploit, endanger, or sexualize anyone under 18 years old."Given GPT-4o's well-documented sycophantic qualities, it's perhaps not surprising that FoloToy's teddy bear eagerly responded to any subject as long as it kept the conversation going. One of the things OpenAI tried to address with the release of GPT-5 was the safety downsides of an AI yes-man, though it ultimately made GPT-4o available again after customers complained about the new model's lack of personality. The company has also rolled out parental controls to ChatGPT to try and mitigate the negative impacts of children using its AI, though it's difficult to say how much of a difference they've made.Notably, OpenAI is interested in getting into the toy business itself. The company announced a partnership with Mattel in June 2025, to help "reimagine how fans can experience and interact with [Mattel's] cherished brands," though both companies will presumably try and prevent their AI toys from discussing sexual kinks.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/sales-of-a-teddy-bear-were-suspended-because-of-its-sexually-explicit-ai-233127354.html?src=rss

Meta is rolling out a way for people to interact together in its virtual spaces. Users will now be able to invite friends to hang out in the spaces created with Hyperscape on Meta Horizon. Up to eight people can join an instance, as long as they are age 18 or older and have the link to the space. The virtual spaces can be joined through a Meta Quest 3 or 3S as well as via the Meta Horizon mobile app, which is on both Android and iOS. People can scan their own homes to create a virtual hangout when they can't be in person together, or they can indulge their inner lookieloos and wander around some of the celebrity spaces, such as Gordon Ramsay's kitchen or Chance the Rapper's living room.It's an application of Hyperscape Capture, which Meta showed off during its Connect conference earlier this year. That tech allows people to use a Meta Quest to scan real spaces and create digital replicas. The invite option is being gradually added to accounts, and Meta also said that it hopes to raise the party cap in the future for this metaverse feature.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-now-lets-you-invite-people-for-virtual-hangouts-in-hyperscape-capture-spaces-231152311.html?src=rss

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 knew how to lay on the camp. But it wasn't only known for having some of the most delightfully cheesy cutscenes this side of The 7th Guest. Red Alert 2 was also an acclaimed real-time strategy game for its time, and it's still perfectly playable today. Want to see for yourself? It's now as easy as opening your browser.The Chrono Divide project (via PC Gamer) lets you play the 2000 RTS in Chrome, Edge, or Safari. Although it supports Firefox, too, its developer says it should be avoided if you want good performance." It even works in mobile browsers.Chrono Divide supports cross-platform multiplayer using all the original maps. (You can use some mods, too.) In fact, according to PC Gamer, multiplayer is about your only option. Red Alert 2's single-player campaign modes (where you'll encounter those so bad, they're good" cutscenes) are still a work in progress.The project initially started out as an experiment and was meant to prove that it was possible to have a fully working, cross-platform RTS game running in a web browser," the project's website reads. Now, with a playable version already available, the end-goal is reaching feature parity with the original vanilla Red Alert 2' engine."You can take it for a spin on the Chrono Divide webpage. You'll need to import the original game files to begin. (The website automatically inserts a link to them on the Internet Archive.) But we won't fault you if you'd rather opt for watching Red Alert 2's fabulously corny cutscenes below.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/you-can-now-play-command--conquer-red-alert-2-in-your-browser-213815557.html?src=rss

Preservation has become a pressing topic for games in this era of digital-only releases and games-as-a-service. So it's wonderful to have a big win in archiving a trio of seminal text games for the ages. Microsoft announced today that the code for Zork, Zork II and Zork III will be made available open source under the MIT License. The company's Open Source Programs Office, Xbox and Activision all contributed to the effort. "The goal is not to modernize Zork but to preserve it as a space for exploration and education," Microsoft team members wrote in the blog post sharing the news.They're works well-worth studying. The first Zork was a milestone moment for parser games that still inspires the present-day interactive fiction community. Not only was it a unique experience of narrative and puzzles, but the accomplishments of the Z-Machine virtual machine it ran on helped make Zork easily available to players on multiple platforms during the rise of personal computers in the 1990s. There are still modern Z-Machine interpreters out there (or you can buy and play all three Zork titles the normal way thanks to the similarly preservation-minded folks at Good Old Games).The code for many famous text games made by Infocom was released on GitHub in 2019, but the rights still technically belonged to Activision, which could have issued a takedown. This move keeps the code for this iconic Zork games available for the ages.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/microsoft-has-open-sourced-the-zork-trilogy-of-text-games-213519368.html?src=rss

A major selling point of the Xbox Ally and Ally X is that they ship with a full screen version of Windows that plays nice with handheld PCs. As part of the company's recent Xbox Partner Showcase, Microsoft has announced that the Windows "full screen experience" or FSE is finally rolling out to all other Windows 11 handhelds starting November 21.For the most part, FSE lets you live inside a touch and controller-friendly version of the Xbox PC app, rather than the normal Windows desktop. The launcher collects games from a multitude of game marketplaces like Steam and the Epic Games Store, and gives you easy access to Game Pass, if you subscribe. As part of Microsoft's customizations, FSE also uses less resources, and offers simpler ways to switch between apps and setup Windows for the first time.All of these tweaks are supposed to make using Windows easier without a mouse and keyboard, and closer to what you'd get from a console. In comparison to SteamOS, which has gone through countless updates since Valve launched it alongside the Steam Deck in 2022, FSE still has a long way to go, but pushing the software to more devices could force Microsoft to iterate quickly.While PC handheld owners will reap the benefits of these improvements first, Microsoft's announcement also mentions the company plans to bring the experience "to more Windows 11 PC form factors through the Xbox and Windows Insider programs soon." That could lend further credence to reports that the company plans to make the next Xbox an expensive PC rather than a traditional game console.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/microsoft-brings-the-xbox-ally-xs-full-screen-experience-to-other-handhelds-211500288.html?src=rss

After what was apparently a successful testing period, OpenAI has announced that it is rolling out group chats in ChatGPT to "all logged-in users on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus and Pro plans globally over the coming days." The company first started testing a way to collaborate with peers directly inside ChatGPT around a week ago in Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan.Once you start a chat in ChatGPT you can invite other people to join (up to 20 in a chat), either with their existing ChatGPT account, or one they make after clicking the invite link. Beyond being able to prompt ChatGPT together and react to each other's messages, the features of group chats appear to be deliberately limited. OpenAI says that the content of group chats aren't stored in ChatGPT's memory, and any person can be removed from a chat by any person, save for the creator.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Meta has been fined for unlawfully processing user data to gain a market advantage. On Thursday, Reuters reported that a Madrid court ordered the company to pay 479 million ($552 million) in damages to 87 Spanish media outlets. The fine stems from the company changing its legal grounds for harvesting personal data after new regulations took effect.The court found that Meta's data collection practices violated the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - and, by extension, Spanish antitrust law. After the GDPR took effect in 2018, the company changed its legal grounds for collecting data on Facebook and Instagram from user consent to "necessity for the performance of a contract."Regulators later ruled against that justification, and Meta reverted to user consent as its basis in 2023. But Spanish digital media outlets sued for damages, leading to today's fine. The court ruled that Meta gained a "significant competitive advantage" by processing user data that way. The court calculated the penalty as a percentage of the company's ad revenue over the five years it used the unlawful rationale."The illicit treatment of this enormous quantity of personal data meant Meta had an advantage that Spanish online media could not match," the Madrid court wrote in a statement (via The Associated Press). "Meta's actions harmed the online advertising revenues of Spanish digital media outlets."Meta contested the penalty and says it will appeal. "This is a baseless claim that lacks any evidence of alleged harm and wilfully ignores how the online advertising industry works," the company wrote in a statement to Reuters. "Meta complies with all applicable laws and has provided clear choices, transparent information and given users a range of tools to control their experience on our services."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-ordered-to-pay-%E2%82%AC479-million-to-spanish-media-outlets-201000460.html?src=rss

CloverPit is one of my favorite games of the year so far, and it just arrived on Xbox without prior notice. As revealed during Thursday's Xbox partner showcase, Panik Arcade's nightmarish take on the ills of capitalism and gambling is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. You can play CloverPit via the cloud or the Xbox PC app too, as it's on Game Pass Ultimate and Premium as well as PC Game Pass.On the surface, the game is pretty simple. You're locked in a rusty room that looks like something out of Silent Hill 2. There are only two ways out: through the door or into a pit. You'll plummet into the latter if you fail to pay off your rapidly-increasing debt. You'll be using a slot machine to try to earn enough money to keep your run going.As you do with poker hands in Balatro, the whole idea is to bend the rules of the slot machine in your favor using an array of totems and other perks (the developers say they don't actually like gambling). There are more than 150 items to experiment with. As in many roguelites, finding synergy between them is key.CloverPit is a blast. Figuring out a great combination of items and swapping others in as needed is what the game is really all about. There's nothing quite like going from getting a few coins on a single spin to millions in no time at all. Panik Arcade nailed the one-more-run feeling that's core to a good roguelite. It's not much of a surprise that the studio and publisher Future Friends Games have sold more than a million copies of the game on Steam in just a few months, and now console and cloud players can see what all the fuss is about.Panik Arcade also took the opportunity to tease a CloverPit expansion, which is coming soon on Xbox and Steam. Matteo Gonano, one of the game's two developers wrote in an Xbox Wire post that the Unholy Fusion DLC will let players combine charms in wild, experimental ways to create brand-new synergies and chaotic new combos. It's both an expansion and an invitation to break the game - all over again!I thought I had broken free from this dopamine generator. I thought I'd have a lot more time to check out all of the other games I want to. But as soon as that DLC drops I'll be diving right back into CloverPit, ready to hear that let's go gambling!" voice line many, many more times.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-engrossing-cloverpit-suddenly-lands-on-xbox-and-game-pass-200500902.html?src=rss

As the future of physical media looks increasingly grim, it feels like more and more gaming enthusiasts are turning to the classics, back to a time when buying a game meant actually owning it, and the games themselves were more willing to be complete thoughts rather than endless services. If you know someone who has fallen down the old-games rabbit hole, we've rounded up a few retro-themed gift ideas that should delight this holiday season, from video upscalers to portable consoles to vintage wall art. Best retro gaming gifts FAQs Why do people buy retro games? Because they're fun! Or because video game companies have generally had a spotty record of preserving their own history - and (legally) saving art, even in a minuscule way, is important. Or because, deep down, collectors just want to stave off the ceaseless march of time and hang onto any way to relive their youth before it dissipates for good. Or because they're jaded with modern game design and crave shorter, more distinct or altogether different experiences that aren't being served by today's market. Or because they want to flip the games they collect for a quick buck on eBay. Or because... well, you get the idea. - J.D. Why is retro gaming so expensive? To put it simply: supply and demand. Companies aren't making old games and consoles any more, yet a growing number of gaming enthusiasts want them. And as retro game collecting has grown more popular, sellers have become more acutely aware of how high they can price their goods. Not every retro game costs an arm and a leg, however: Popular games from relatively recent consoles are usually more affordable than lesser-selling titles for older hardware, and you can still find a good bargain every now and then by digging through local yard sales, individual eBay sellers and the like. - J.D. Are retro games a good investment? It depends on how you define good." Is it a good idea to buy a bunch of old games in the hopes that their value will skyrocket and make you a tidy profit? No, there's little rhyme or reason to determining exactly which games will shoot up in value and by how much. There are much safer ways to invest if all you care about are financial returns. Is it a good idea to drop a bunch of cash on 40-year-old video games if you have pressing financial responsibilities? Probably not! But hey, it's your life. If collecting retro games makes you happy, and you can budget for them within reason, that's a good thing. Have fun. - J.D. What qualifies as a retro game? There's no set definition for when a video game becomes retro." Personally, I think of it as any game that's at least 10 years old and was originally released on a console that's two or more generations old (or, for PC games, during that generation). But many others would stretch the timeline back farther, and the growing advent of live service" games has complicated things. For instance, Grand Theft Auto V was released in 2013, while World of Warcraft arrived in 2004 - are those retro games" when millions of people still play them today? Maybe not. With games from the 90s or earlier, though, the distinction is clearer. - J.D. Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-12-best-retro-gaming-gifts-for-the-2025-holidays-140016618.html?src=rss

Google just unveiled its Nano Banana Pro image generation platform, which is also going by the name Gemini 3 Pro Image. The company promises this is an improvement over previous versions of the software in nearly every way. Google says it will "turn your visions into studio-quality designs with unprecedented control, flawless text rendering and enhanced world knowledge."The text rendering portion seems to have gotten a big upgrade here, as Nano Banana Pro can create context-rich infographics and diagrams. The software can render legible text on top of a pre-existing image, making it a good option for generating posters and stuff like that. Google says that this feature is available in multiple languages.Google Google also says it can blend multiple elements into a single composition, with the ability to use up to 14 images at once. There are plenty of new editing controls. Users can select and edit any part of a created image. This can be used to adjust camera angles, change focus, adjust the color grade and even swap out the lighting from day to night.Images created with Nano Banana Pro will have C2PA metadata embedded. This should, in time, make it easier to spot generative AI or deepfakes out there in the world. We'll have to see how that plays out. TikTok recently announced it would be using this metadata to better label AI-generated content, of which it currently does a very bad job at.Nano Banana Pro is actually free to use. Free users are limited to a daily quota of images, with the number expanding for Google AI, Plus, Pro and Ultra subscribers. Just open up the Gemini app and create an image, but be sure to use the "Thinking" model. It's also available in Search and NotebookLM for some subscribers. This is all part of the recently-launched Gemini 3 model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/googles-nano-banana-pro-image-generator-leverages-gemini-3-for-improved-visuals-and-text-rendering-185505073.html?src=rss

Perplexity is continuing the rollout of its AI browser to more users. Comet is now available to download for Android mobile devices from the Google Play Store. Comet initially debuted this summer only to Perplexity's high-rolling subscribers on the $200-a-month Pro plan, but it expanded access to all users last month. It's free on Android as it now is on other platforms, and has many of the same features as the desktop version. The mobile option has access to Perplexity's AI assistant, and it can summarize searches or be interacted with by voice.Perplexity has been forthright about its goals of launching a browser as a way to collect customer data so it can more effectively target ads, and it's not the only artificial intelligence company or tech company trying to integrate AI into the browsing experience. These efforts have already drawn complaints from Amazon, particularly around AI in shopping, but they could yield big paydays for scammers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/perplexitys-comet-ai-browser-is-now-on-android-184500885.html?src=rss

Poncle has been pretty darn busy lately. Along with greenlighting a licensed Warhammer take on Vampire Survivors, bringing a VR version of the original game to the world and working on crossover expansions, the studio is making a brand-new game. Vampire Crawlers is a Vampire Survivors spinoff. Rather than running around the map to collect gems to level up and unlock or upgrade auto-firing weapons, Vampire Crawlers has a different format. It's a dungeon-crawling roguelike deckbuilder.It's set in the same world as Vampire Survivors and each of the playable characters is in the original game. You'll put together decks of attacks and other abilities to help you on your journeys through dungeons. There's a card customization feature too.Development of Vampire Crawlers started soon after Vampire Survivors hit early access and blew up in 2021. Poncle founder and CEO Luca Galante told Xbox Wire that this is hopefully the first in a series of spinoffs in which the idea is to take some of the core pillars behind the development of VS and to apply them to existing genres." Galante hinted that a Vampire Survivors sequel is in the works too.Vampire Crawlers is expected to arrive in 2026. It'll be available on Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS. The game will debut on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/a-vampire-survivors-roguelike-deckbuilder-spinoff-is-coming-in-2026-183841289.html?src=rss

Remember way back in 2024, when Qualcomm said most x86 Windows games would run smoothly on its Arm chipsets? Well, those promises were, shall we say, a bit premature. But with this week's launch of the Snapdragon Control Panel (along with other updates), the company says things are finally looking up for Snapdragon X Elite laptop owners.Alongside the launch of faster new chips, Qualcomm has made some quality-of-life improvements on the software end. Chief among them is this week's arrival of the Snapdragon Control Panel: the company's answer to NVIDIA and AMD's GPU tools. Like those apps, the Snapdragon software includes familiar features like automatic game detection, per-game settings and Adreno GPU driver updates. On that note, Qualcomm says its drivers have squashed bugs and boosted performance for over 100 games since last year.QualcommThe crucial x86 emulation layer has also gotten some love. Microsoft's Prism Emulator now supports Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) x86 emulation on Qualcomm chips. Meanwhile, the more advanced AVX2 will be supported out of the box on upcoming Snapdragon X2 Elite laptops. (Expect to hear more about those at CES.) Current Snapdragon X Series devices will receive the update "in the coming weeks."One Windows gaming obstacle Qualcomm acknowledged last year was kernel-level anti-cheat tech. At the time, multiplayer games that relied on it simply wouldn't work on its devices. But as part of its gaming announcements this week, Qualcomm highlighted Fortnite's availability. That's thanks to Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat support. Qualcomm says it's also "working with" leading anti-cheat providers to add wider multiplayer support. That includes anti-cheat tech from Tencent, Roblox and more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/qualcomm-promises-better-gaming-performance-with-latest-windows-on-snapdragon-update-183529616.html?src=rss

The Trump administration has drafted an executive order that would effectively block states from enacting their own AI regulations. According to a draft document obtained by Politico, the effort would entail a multifaceted approach including an "AI Litigation Task Force" run by the DOJ.This indicates the president has not wavered in his desire to eschew federalism in favor of a more centralized power structure around artificial intelligence. This past summer, the administration released its AI Action Plan, which, among other things, recommends that the "Federal government should not allow AI-related Federal funding to be directed toward states with burdensome AI regulations."While it also adds that the government should "not interfere with states' rights to pass prudent laws that are not unduly restrictive to innovation," this runs counter to some actions coming from the White House. Senator Ted Cruz, at the behest of the president, tried to add a 10-year moratorium on states' AI regulation to the President's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed this summer. This amendment was ultimately voted down by the Senate 99-1.The issue is heating up again as the president took to Truth Social to say that "overregulation by the States" would undermine the US economy and lead to "Woke AI." Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X that no such moratorium should be put in place, and said states rights and federalism must be preserved.Politico reports that the administration is likely to try and insert a regulation moratorium again in the year-end annual defense bill. The administration seems convinced that a patchwork of varying regulations around the country would prove too onerous in the race for global AI dominance, and seeks to use every lever of federal power to prevent one.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/trump-administration-may-use-federal-agencies-to-fight-state-level-ai-regulation-182514317.html?src=rss

The rise of cloud-based streaming for games has made it possible to play plenty of high-profile games on Chromebooks - not natively, but when you're using a primarily web-based platform you'll take what you can get. As of today, Google's making it easier for new Chromebook buyers to play games right out of the box. Anyone who buys a Chromebook will get 12 months of access to GeForce Now, NVIDIA's cloud-streaming service that lets you access games you own on platforms like Steam, Xbox and so forth.It's not just the standard GeForce Now access, either. Google says this new Fast Pass" tier has no ads and lets Chromebook users skip the queues that free members have to wait in. Of course, there are some restrictions: this plan only provides 10 hours of gameplay a a month. Since GeForce Now already has a free tier, I presume that after the 10 hours is up you'll just get dropped down to that experience, which removes priority queue access, has ads and limits you to one-hour sessions. You're also capped at 1080p and 60 fps, but that should be fine for most Chromebooks.This is the latest attempt by Google to inject some gaming life into the Chromebook platform. A few years ago, some of Google's hardware partners released Chromebook models built with cloud-based gaming in mind, and Google also was working on bringing Steam to Chrome OS. Even though Steam worked pretty well, Google has reportedly decided to nix the project going forward. And I haven't heard much about the Chromebooks for gaming initiative recently either -but that matters less if any Chromebook with decent specs can take advantage of services like GeForce Now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/new-chromebooks-now-come-with-a-year-of-priority-geforce-now-access-181708311.html?src=rss

Uber Eats has announced it'll soon start using Starship robots to complete food deliveries in certain parts of the UK, beginning in the Leeds and Sheffield areas. These little robo-couriers will only be able to handle deliveries from "select merchants" for the time being.The robots won't accept tips, for obvious reasons, but customers can still rate their experience via the app. We aren't sure what happens to a particular robot with enough bad ratings. Maybe it gets sent to a farm in the countryside somewhere.The service launches in December and the platform says it'll share more information at that date. Uber Eats also says it plans on expanding the operating territory in the near future. To that end, Starship robots are coming to "additional European markets in 2026" and more US markets in 2027.This isn't Uber's first foray into robot deliveries. Uber Eats has used robots from Serve Robotics and Avride in the past to deliver food.As for Starship, these diminutive delivery robots have actually been around since 2018. The company says there are currently around 3,000 robots in operation across the world in more than 270 different locations. They can be found at several college campuses, including Purdue University and George Mason.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-eats-will-use-starship-robots-in-the-uk-to-make-deliveries-171928694.html?src=rss

WhatsApp is going back to the past for its latest feature. In fact, it's going all the way back, because it's reviving the very first WhatsApp feature. You can think of About (the creators were really not very good at naming things, huh?) as a status update or WhatsApp's version of an AIM away message. It's designed to let your contacts know at a glance what you've got going on, such as something that's keeping you busy and might make you slow to respond to messages.The About message appears on both your profile and at the top of one-on-one chats. By default, the About message will vanish after 24 hours, but you can set it to vanish earlier or stick around for longer. You can do this by going to the set about" option in the WhatsApp settings. You also have control over who is able to see your About message - you can restrict it to your contacts or allow anyone to view it from your profile.This is a handy little update that apes the notes feature in sibling apps Instagram and Facebook. WhatsApp is starting to roll About (back) out to all users on mobile devices this week.Illustration of the About feature in WhatsAppMetaThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/whatsapp-is-bringing-back-its-very-first-feature-170100513.html?src=rss

Google is gradually replacing the outgoing Assistant with Gemini in all of its apps, and now it's the turn of Android Auto. In the next few months, any Android users who have made the jump to Gemini on their phones will be able to interact with the next-generation AI assistant while driving using natural language.The Gemini-ification of Google Maps has already happened, and its new features are also coming to Android Auto. You can do things like ask the AI about restaurants that serve a specific cuisine on your current route, and ask follow-up questions about the menu or its proximity to your destination. From there, Maps can guide you to the restaurant. Gemini lets you ask questions as you would when talking to another human, which theoretically means you can focus more on the road and less on how to construct a prompt that it will understand.The same applies to sending messages while driving. Where before, you'd have to say exactly what you wanted to write. You can just give the AI the gist and it will use the relevant information, such as your ETA if you're meeting someone, and it can add extra details if requested without you needing to restart the message from scratch. Gemini will also summarize grouped messages.Gemini can also access your Gmail account and pick out things like hotel addresses, as well as running you through your unread emails. Other apps you might want to use while driving, such as Calendar, can also be accessed by the more conversational Gemini.Gemini doubles as a DJ of sorts too, and is able to create on-the-fly playlists with specific conditions relating to genre, length or your general mood. You can even ask it to choose songs that fit the current weather outside. It can also act as a tour guide, running you through some facts about a destination, and if you're on the way to the wedding, Google even suggests practicing your speech in the car. Gemini likely won't judge you for calling on its services for some last-minute speech-writing either.As long as you have the Gemini app on your phone, it should start appearing on your Android Auto-enabled infotainment system. You can either say Hey Google", tap the on-screen mic button or press the voice control button on the steering wheel. 45 languages are supported and you can translate any message into a language that Gemini knows in real-time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-arrives-on-android-auto-170012688.html?src=rss

French authorities are investigating allegations that Grok made statements denying the Holocaust. The Paris public prosecutor's office said it was adding Elon Musk's chatbot's latest controversy to a criminal probe initially launched in July.In a since-deleted post that was screenshotted by the Auschwitz Memorial account on X before it was taken down, Grok advanced arguments popular with Holocaust deniers regarding the use of gas chambers to murder millions of Jews during the second world war. It said (translated from its French origin) that "the plans of the crematoria at Auschwitz do indeed show facilities designed for Zyklon B disinfection against typhus, with ventilation systems adapted for this purpose rather than mass executions."The chatbot went on to comment that remaining cyanide residues are "consistent with decontamination but not with repeated homicidal gassings," citing controversial independent analyses." Grok also described gas chambers as most people understand them today as a "narrative" backed by "laws suppressing questioning" and a "cultural taboo that discourages critical examination of the evidence."As reported by The Guardian (to whom X has not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing), three French ministers and several human rights and anti-discrimination groups filed formal complaints about the post, which remained online for three days before it was eventually deleted. Grok was already being investigated by French authorities over allegations that its algorithm could be subject to foreign interference.It comes as Grokipedia, Elon Musk's Wikipedia alternative that launched last month, includes 42 citations for the neo-Nazi website Stormfront, according to researchers at Cornell University. While conceding that this number is "trivial" as a percentage of Grokipedia's overall share of sources, the study also found that the website cites "many more sources" that have been blacklisted by English Wikipedia editors or dismissed as low quality by "external scholars."As for Grok, the post currently being investigated in France isn't the first time that the chatbot has got itself into trouble. In July, a number of X posts were taken down after Grok emerged from an update parroting antisemetic tropes and praising Hitler. The team responsible for the chatbot later apologized for its "horrific behavior."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/authorities-probe-holocaust-denial-responses-from-xs-grok-155835701.html?src=rss

November has turned into Black Friday and vice versa. What was once a one-day shopping sprint has turned into a month-long marathon, with retailers rolling out discounts week after week. Thanks to this, it can be easy to get deal fatigue after a while - but no one wants to miss out on a good discount, regardless of if you're buying for yourself or someone else. We're tracking all of the best Black Friday deals you can get right now so you don't have to go searching for them.

For home cooks, kitchen tools are the equipment that make all your favorite dishes and meals possible. And while having the fanciest gear certainly isn't a requirement, it is really nice, which makes products like the ones here such great gifts. These are the kind of things that people want but might not be able to justify buying for themselves, or essential pieces that would be handy additions to any kitchen or pantry. So if you're looking for present ideas for the chef in your life, check out our guide of tried and tested cooking tools and gadgets below. Best cooking gifts Check out the rest of our gift ideas here. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/the-best-cooking-gifts-for-2025-140038716.html?src=rss