Temperature is a crucial aspect of grilling. Whether you're searing steaks and burgers or slow smoking brisket, you need an accurate reading of both your grill's heat levels and the internal temperature of your food. There are tons of options, from instant-read thermometers to probe-based devices that keep tabs on your cook the entire time. Of the latter, some are wired and some are wireless, and the lack of cords criss-crossing your grates can be a real upgrade. Wireless grilling probes aren't new, but they are for a big name in grill thermometers that only launched one this year. ThermoWorks, the company behind the popular Thermapen, finally debuted its take on wireless temperature tracking with the RFX Meat ($159). For the sake of supreme accuracy, the company takes a different approach than many of its competitors, giving both backyard and commercial grill masters a reliable and versatile sous chef. The RFX technology ThermoWorks' RFX series relies on sub-GHz radio frequency (RF) wireless tech instead of solely using Bluetooth. This enables 1,500 feet of line-of-sight range between the probe and the receiver, although you'll likely want to keep the latter close to your grill just to be safe. Like previous ThermoWorks probe-based grilling thermometer sets, there are magnets on the back of the probe's charging cradle and receiver, so they'll stick on a cool side of your grill with ease. The RF signal is strong enough to consistently beam though the thick walls of an offset smoker or the confines of a Dutch oven even when it's inside the grill. Beyond the wireless tech, ThermoWorks offers some key features that stack up well with the wireless probe competition. For example, by charging the RFX Meat probe in its skinny charging block for just 10 minutes, you'll get up to 52 hours of cook time. The Gateway receiver provides the necessary Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to monitor the grill remotely from anywhere. It also can connect to up to 70 wireless probes at once, which makes it suitable for commercial environments. The RFX Meat is IP69K rated, so it's dishwasher safe and built for deep frying and sous vide cooking. The probe can also withstand temperatures up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you can use it to precisely monitor steaks during a high-heat sear. Lastly, the RFX Gateway supports ThermoWorks' Billows BBQ temperature control fan. This device turns smokers - offset, ceramic, barrel or drum - into smart grills by maintaining the desired temperature. Billows gets temperature updates from the Pro-Series Air Probe via the RFX receiver. It's great when you prefer to use wood or charcoal for low-and-slow cooking instead of a pellet grill and still want a slightly hands-off workflow. The RFX starter kit and standalone options Since you need both the RFX Meat and the RFX Gateway to get started, the best initial option is to get one of ThermoWorks' bundles. Dubbed the RFX Starter Kit, this package includes the Gateway receiver and the wireless probe. It also includes a Pro-Series Air Probe for ambient grill temperatures, a grate clip, charger (for the Gateway) and colored probe rings. The company gives you the choice of one, two or four-probe bundles, all of which will save you money over buying each item separately. They currently cost $159, $239 and $349 respectively, but ThermoWorks notes these are the introductory lowest price," so I expect everything to get slightly more expensive soon. If you really need to purchase the RFX Meat or RFX Gateway separately - if you lose one or encounter some other culinary tragedy - the wireless probe is $89 while the receiver is $79. Again, those are initial prices that I anticipate will go up. Using the RFX Meat on the grill Billy Steele for Engadget The RFX Meat is the fourth ThermoWorks product I've tested. I've used two models of the Thermapen instant-read thermometers as well as the Smoke X. The Thermapen One remains a kitchen and patio staple at my house, especially for checking the internal temperatures of meat and fish. I'm consistently amazed by how the company builds devices that are reliable, easy to use and highly accurate. All three of those traits also apply to the RFX duo. Like some of the competition, ThermoWorks put multiple sensors in the shaft of the probe. Those four components give you a more accurate reading for the internal temperature of your food within 0.9 degrees. The company opted for the separate, wired Pro-Series ambient temperature probe that plugs into the RFX Gateway receiver for keeping tabs on the grill. There are a couple of benefits to this. First, the separate probe moves the sensor away from your meat, so that the initial cool zone or evaporation around larger cuts of meat doesn't skew your readings. Second, you have the freedom to move the probe around since it's not attached to the main wireless device. Even if your grill has a built-in sensor inside the cooking chamber, ThermoWorks' Pro-Series option is a good secondary sanity check because most grill companies don't position their probes level with the cooking grates where food sits. The RFX system provided a consistent connection during my test sessions, which included an all-day, low-and-slow smoke for a pork butt and a quicker, three-hour cook for my Thanksgiving turkey. I didn't experience any drop-outs, and in the case of that bird, I was able to keep the RFX Meat probe in place during the rest phase. This was crucial since I pulled the turkey off the grill at 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the breast, so I needed to make sure that it hit 165 with carryover cooking before I carved it up. ThermoWorks ThermoWorks' app won't win any design awards, but it gets the job done. Frankly, I'll take reliability and ease of use over aesthetic polish any day. There are plenty of grilling apps that look better but don't work as well, and when you're trying to cook a $100 brisket, any source of uncertainty can be stressful. Similar to the competition, ThermoWorks' app lets you set high and low alarms for any of the probes, and you can also choose how often the app updates its readings. This means that when you're searing a steak, you can track every degree, but for longer cooks you can opt for three-degree intervals. RFX sends updates based on temperature changes, not time, so you'll want to give this some attention. True grilling nerds will also appreciate temperature graphs and the ability to add notes as needed. The company recently added an Advanced Mode that plots temperature data for all four internal RFX Meat sensors on a graph. Each line is a different color, giving you an in-depth look at changes over time during the entire session. One of the first things I noticed about the app's main (Devices) screen is that a carousel of the company's products and cooking tips appears by default. This was off-putting to me, taking up space in an area where I just wanted my valuable cooking data. Thankfully, you can hide that box, and I'm sure I won't be alone in desiring to do so. The competition There are a few companies that make wireless grilling probes, but the brand I've spent the most time with is Meater. The Traeger-owned company has several different options with the Meater Pro ($99.95), formerly the Meater 2 Pro, being the best Bluetooth tool for most backyard cooks. It has multiple sensors for internal meat temperatures as well as an embedded ambient sensor on the opposite end. The Meater Pro is extremely durable and can withstand both high-heat searing and deep frying. It's also dishwasher safe like the RFX Meat, which is a big perk. If you want Wi-Fi built in though, you'll need to splurge for the two-probe Pro Duo, which is $100 more. Meater's app also provides estimated completion times, which is nice to have, but the guesses are not always accurate. Wrap-up Meater 2 Plus and RFX went head-to-head on my Thanksgiving turkey. Billy Steele for Engadget ThermoWorks' initial RFX bundle is a reliable and simple way to keep tabs on your grill without standing right in front of it. The devices ensure that you're cooking at the correct temperature and that you achieve the exact doneness you desire. I like the separate wired ambient probe for the RFX gateway for its increased accuracy, and it's easy enough to route the cable out of the way. Sure, the RFX starter kit is more expensive than the likes of the Meater Pro, but ThermoWorks has already confirmed that more products that work with the Gateway are coming soon. The company does need to deliver on its promise to offer an offline mode via Bluetooth quickly though, so grillers who aren't in range of a Wi-Fi network can still use the RFX to cook. But having both is a key advantage over some of the company's rivals. And no matter how you connect to it, the RFX starter kit is further proof why chefs and pitmasters rely on ThermoWorks' accuracy for their cooking needs. The company simply does not miss.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/thermoworks-rfx-review-a-wireless-grilling-tool-with-unparalleled-accuracy-140056393.html?src=rss
A much-awaited feature is coming to the Pokemon TCG Pocket app sometime this month: Trading. In the game, which The Pokemon Company brought to mobile late last year, players can collect cards by opening digital booster packs. They can then use the Pokemon cards they get to battle each other. When the trading feature goes live, they'll also be able to improve their decks by trading with other people, though the feature will come with a set of limitations.Players will only be able to trade cards with their friends, and the cards must be of the same rarity. Both criteria potentially limit the cards players can obtain. To note, the game has eight rarity levels, and cards from the three highest tiers - the ones most difficult to draw - cannot be traded for now. In addition, The Pokemon Company has revealed that "items must be consumed in order to trade," though it didn't specify what those items are and how many will be expended per transaction. Finally, while only certain cards from the Genetic Apex and Mythical Island booster packs can be traded at launch, the company said that it's planning to expand the pack selection players can trade from.There's no specific release date for trading yet, but the company seems to be open to suggestions when it comes to improving the feature. It's inviting everyone to try the feature and send in feedback when it becomes available, so that "the game can continue to evolve in an enjoyable way for everyone."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/card-trading-is-coming-to-the-pokemon-tcg-app-133009689.html?src=rss
Sony has canceled two more live-service games, one from its remake and remaster studio Bluepoint and another from Days Gone developer Bend Studio in Oregon, the company confirmed to Bloomberg. Neither studio will be closed, though the company has yet to say if any layoffs will occur. "We are working closely with each studio to determine what are the next projects," a spokesperson said.Bluepoint is the studio that created the much-lauded remakes of Demon's Souls and Shadow of the Colossus. The company reportedly helped with God of War Ragnarok from 2022-2022, and following that, was working on the live-service project canceled yesterday, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier said in a post on BlueSky. Bend Studio has been a first-party developer for Sony since 2000, with its most recent project being the action-adventure game Days Gone, released for PS4 in 2019.The cancelations are the latest failures for Sony in the GaaS (games as a service) arena, following the spectacular flameout of Concord in September 2024. While the company did have a hit with Helldivers II last year, it reportedly canceled several other live-service games in the last several years, including one based on Spider-Man. Sony Interactive Entertainment cut around 1,120 jobs in 2024 across various studios, including Bungie, Naughty Dog and Insomniac - part of an unfortunate trend in the industry.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-axes-two-more-live-service-games-130048000.html?src=rss
So it looks like the TikTok ban may actually be happening, barring a last-minute Supreme Court decision. In this episode, Senior Writer Karissa Bell joins Devindra and Ben to discuss the potential finale of TikTok in America, as well as why some users are finding refuge in RedNote, a Chinese Instagram clone. They also dive into why Meta is giving up on third-party fact checkers, and how this relates to Mark Zuckerberg's descent into the right-wing world. Finally, we explore the tidbits of information from Nintendo's Switch 2 unveiling.Stay tuned to the end of this episode for Devindra's chat with Dan Erickson, the creator of Severance, about season two of his hit show.Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!Subscribe!
The Starship's seventh test flight ended in an explosion when the vehicle's upper stage "experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn" over the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX chief Elon Musk posted a video of the event, with debris streaking across and lighting up the sky. During the company's webcast, Dan Huot from SpaceX's communications team said they "saw engines dropping out on telemetry" by the end of the ascent burn and that they ultimately lost contact with the Ship, which is what the company calls the vehicle's upper stage. SpaceX said in a tweet that it will continue reviewing data from the test to understand the explosion's root cause.
Pre-orders are now open for four new PlayStation 5 accessories in a new colorway: Midnight Black. That's better than other types of black because it stays up past bedtime. The collection includes the DualSense Edge wireless controller, the Portal remote player and the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds - each going for $200 - and the Pulse Elite wireless headset, which is selling for $150. All four are expected to ship February 20.Sony announced the collection earlier this month and the new accessories join the already-available Midnight Black standard Dual Sense controller ($75) and PS5 console cover ($55). Like PlayStation's 30th Anniversary collection, the Midnight Black accessories let you add a bit of personalized flair to your gaming setup, but these are far more sleek and brooding. If previous PlayStation releases are any indicator, there's a chance these new accessories will sell out before everyone gets one, so if Midnight Black feels as sexy to you as the video makes it look, you might want to start adding things to your cart.Pre-order the DualSense Edge wireless controller for $200: Compared to the standard DualSense controller, the Edge model gives you a few more features and options for customization. Buttons below the sticks change button assignments while switches adjust the triggers' pull length. It comes with two sets of rear paddles as well as extra joysticks, all magnetically swappable. A matching case is also included. Also direct from PlayStation.Pre-order the Portal remote player for $200: The Portal remote player got a lukewarm assessment from us back in 2023, but we started to come around once Sony started cloud gaming. The gateway has an 8-inch LCD screen (1080p at 60fps), haptic feedback and connects to your PS5 over Wi-Fi.Pre-order the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds for $200: The earbuds connect both via Bluetooth and Sony's own PlayStation Link tech, that promises ultra-low latency connection to a PS5, PC, Mac and the Portal remote player. AI-powered noise rejection technology will make sure your banter is heard clearly. A Midnight Black charging case is included. Also direct from PlayStation.Pre-order the Pulse Elite wireless headset $150: The Elite headset comes with a headset charging stand so you can show off your new accessory properly, while making sure it's ready for next time (and yes, the stand is the same late-night hue). These have the same dual-connection tech and AI-powered noise cancellation as the earbuds. Also direct from PlayStation.Most of the accessories are limited to one per customer from Sony's site.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/heres-how-to-pre-order-the-ps5-midnight-black-accessories-012150262.html?src=rss
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against General Motors and OnStar for allegedly sharing details about drivers to third parties without their consent. The agency launched an investigation into the automotive company after The New York Times found that GM had collected data about customers' vehicle use and sold it to third-party platforms used by insurance companies.The information came from the OnStar Smart Driver program, which customers with GM vehicles were encouraged to participate in or didn't realize they had agreed to join. The program gathered data about behaviors such as hard braking, late night driving and speeding and reportedly sold the information to LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk, which in turn sold that data to insurance companies. Shortly after the Times report, GM said it had stopped sharing the sensitive information with the two data brokers.Today, the FTC proposed a settlement that will see both GM and OnStar banned from disclosing consumers' geolocation and driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies for five years. These companies will also be ordered to take additional steps to increase the transparency and choice for customers surrounding the information they collect and share."GM monitored and sold people's precise geolocation data and driver behavior information, sometimes as often as every three seconds," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said. "With this action, the FTC is safeguarding Americans' privacy and protecting people from unchecked surveillance."Update, Jan 17, 4:14am ET: In a statement, GM said its Smart Driver program was ended last year due to customer feedback and ended its relationships with third-party platforms. It added it would also seek affirmative customer consent to collect and use connected vehicle data. In addition, it has pledged to give drivers "more transparency and control," allowing affected users the chance to access their personal information and request its deletion.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/ftc-bans-general-motors-from-selling-driver-data-for-five-years-000019615.html?src=rss
With a TikTok ban seemingly imminent, TikTok users have spent the last few days fleeing to Chinese social media app RedNote," trying to learn Mandarin, and bidding heartfelt farewells to their Chinese spy." But it's looking increasingly unlikely that TikTok will actually disappear on January 19.Most Supreme Court watchers expect the court to uphold the law that requires ByteDance to sell TikTok's US business or face a ban on January 19. But it seems there's little appetite to actually enforce the law that was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support last year. Incoming President Donald Trump, who formally asked the Supreme Court to delay the ban, has said he wants to save" the app.Yesterday, The Washington Post reported that Trump was considering" signing an executive order shortly after taking office on January 20, that would suspend enforcement of the TikTok ban-or-sale law for 60 to 90 days." Now, NBC News reports that unnamed White House officials" are saying they don't want TikTok to be banned on their watch, either.
Awesome Games Done Quick has already wrapped up for 2025 (with a cool $2.5 million raised for the Prevent Cancer Foundation), but the philanthropic group has other programs year-round that raise money for worthy causes. Two of those are hosted by the Frame Fatales, a community for women and femmes in speedrunning under the GDQ umbrella. The group's Frost Fatales event runs from March 9-16 and will raise money for the National Women's Law Center. The schedule just dropped today and here are a few of the highlights.The event starts with a pair of my personal favorite games to watch: the punishing 2D platformer Cuphead followed by the wahoos of Super Mario Odyssey. I'm also amused that Lanaruse will run Coffee Caravan, but with the category "Any% No Coffee." That kicks of the show on March 13 at 1 PM ET. The March 14 lineup looks particularly exciting, with Jaypeg tackling Snufkin: Melody of Moomin-valley, GretaIceVixen and Corvimae showing off Pokemon Sword & Shield, and Bloupeuh playing Undertale Yellow. Frost Fatales is set to close out with SawaYoshi tackling a one-handed run of Celeste, which sounds like required viewing.And if you can't wait until March to see some excellent gamer philanthropy, then be sure to tune in during Back to Black, GDQ's event highlighting Black speedrunners. This year, the showcase will be raising money for Race Forward, a racial justice nonprofit, from February 6-9.It's only a few days long, but Back to Black has a bunch of great talent in the lineup. Bobbeigh running any Castlevania game is a must-watch, and he'll play Rondo of Blood on Feb. 6 at 7:08 PM ET. Super Smash Bros. pro-turned-speedrunner Ryan Ford is on the schedule twice, with The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX on Feb. 8 at 4:05 PM ET and Super Metroid on Feb. 9 at 8:04 PM ET. Check out the full Back to Black schedule of games, runners and hosts here.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/agdq-just-ended-but-theres-already-a-schedule-for-frost-fatales-and-it-owns-212907587.html?src=rss
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced today that's it's ordering Block, the creator of Cash App and parent company of Square, to pay up to $120 million in "refunds and other redress to consumers" and a $55 million fine over how the company handled fraud on its payment platform.Per the CFPB, Cash App's Terms of Service at one point claimed that any bank linked to an account for transferring funds was responsible for addressing disputes around fraudulent charges, something that's not generally true under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act. Block would use that claim to avoid assuming responsibility, and when it would investigate a complaint, it relied on "intentionally shoddy investigation practices to close reports of unauthorized transactions in the company's favor," CFPB's statement explains.Accessing any kind of customer service for Cash App was a challenge, too, according to the CFPB. Block included a customer service number on Cash App cards and in the app's Terms of Service, but calling it would it ultimately lead users to "a pre-recorded message directing consumers to contact customer support through the app." And reaching out to the company through the app or physical mail often led to delayed or confusing responses.Besides the up to $175 million in fees Block owes, the CFPB is also directing the company to set up a live 24/7 customer support line. Block has agreed to comply with the order. "While we strongly disagree with the CFPB's mischaracterizations," the company shared on its blog, "we made the decision to settle this matter in the interest of putting it behind us and focusing on what's best for our customers and our business."The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has taken an increasingly aggressive approach towards regulating payment apps and digital wallets in the last year of the Biden Administration. The CFPB expanded its purview from just banks to wallets and payments apps in November 2024, and came after the payment app Zelle not even a month later.These attempts at regulation are facing pushback, too. NetChoice, a trade association for online companies, and TechNet, "a bipartisan network of technology CEOs," are both suing the CFPB over its efforts to clean up digital payments, with familiar claims of government overreach and that the CFPB failed to explain the risks it was addressing when it decided to regulate payment apps in the first place.Update, January 16, 5:36PM ET: This story was updated after publishing to clarify that the cost of Block's combined CFPB fine is up to $175 million, rather than $175 million.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/cfpb-fines-block-175m-over-cash-apps-lax-fraud-controls-210749768.html?src=rss
Google has told the EU it will not comply with a forthcoming fact-checking law, according to a copy of a letter obtained by Axios. The company states that it will not be adding fact checks to search results or YouTube videos and will not use fact-checking data when ranking or removing content.It's important to note that Google has never really participated in fact-checking as part of its content moderation policies. The company did, however, invest in a European fact-checking database ahead of recent EU elections.The upcoming fact-checking requirement was originally implemented by the European Commission's new Code of Practice on Disinformation. It started as a voluntary set of self-regulatory standards to fight disinformation" but will soon become mandatory.Google's global affairs president Kent Walker said the fact-checking integration "simply isn't appropriate or effective for our services" in a letter to the European Commission. The company also touted its current approach to content moderation, suggesting it did a bang-up job during last year's unprecedented cycle of global elections."Google also points to a new feature added to YouTube last year that enables certain users to add contextual notes to videos, saying that it has significant potential." This program is similar to X's Community Notes and, likely, whatever fresh hell Meta is cooking up.Walker went on to say that Google will continue to invest in current content moderation technologies, like Synth ID watermarking and AI disclosures on YouTube. We have no idea what the EU will do in response to Google once digital fact-checking practices become law.This is happening just after Meta announced it would be ending its fact-checking program in the US, so who knows if Mark Zuckerberg will comply with EU laws. X scaled back its professional fact checkers a while ago. Big tech certainly seems to have a big problem with, um, facts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-decides-it-wont-comply-with-eu-fact-checking-law-201514781.html?src=rss
Some significant changes are coming to Apple Intelligence notification summaries. With the latest slate of developer previews for iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, Apple has suspended the system's aggregated notifications, specifically from news and entertainment apps, while it works on improvements to the alerts.The company has also added a new disclosure that appears when users first enable notification summaries. It states that the notifications are a beta feature and that they may produce unexpected results. Separately, the betas add a new option that allows users to decide from the lock screen whether they want notifications from an app summarized. Lastly, the AI-generated alerts use italicized text to further distinguish them from their non-summarized counterparts.Last week, Apple told Engadget it was working on an update to notification summaries. "Apple Intelligence features are in beta and we are continuously making improvements with the help of user feedback," Apple said. "A software update in the coming weeks will further clarify when the text being displayed is summarization provided by Apple Intelligence. We encourage users to report a concern if they view an unexpected notification summary."Notification summaries are one of the features that arrived alongside the initial release of Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Shortly after rolling out to regular users, they quickly led to bad press for Apple. Notably, the BBC published multiple reports accusing the blurbs of spreading misinformation. One especially unflattering example saw a summary claim that Luigi Mangione, the alleged murderer of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, had shot himself.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-pauses-ai-notification-summaries-of-news-alerts-in-latest-ios-beta-195900023.html?src=rss
Austrian privacy advocate NOYB has launched its first GDPR complaints against Chinese businesses. The organization has filed complaints against TikTok, Xiaomi, Shein, AliExpress, Temu and WeChat, alleging that these companies unlawfully shared information about European users with parties in China. The group is seeking suspension of data transfers to China as well as fines of up to four percent of a firm's global revenue. NOYB is an acronym for "none of your business" and is led by activist Max Schrems, known for his campaigns against Facebook.The General Data Protection Regulation is a rule covering information privacy in the EU. Under that regulation, data transfers outside of the EU are only allowed if the destination country doesn't undermine data protection. Calling China an "authoritarian surveillance state," NOYB is arguing that data transfers should not be allowed to the country."According to their privacy policy, AliExpress, SHEIN, TikTok and Xiaomi transfer data to China," NOYB said in a release announcing the action. "Temu and WeChat mention transfers to third countries. According to Temu and WeChat's corporate structure, this most likely includes China."NOYB has previously filed complaints against American big tech firms, including Apple and Meta, for potential GDPR violations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/tiktok-temu-and-more-face-complaints-alleging-gdpr-violations-in-eu-195115567.html?src=rss
If you're a cinephile who misses the old Apple TV app for movie trailers, MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes knows your pain. So he decided to build a trailer app of his own, one that could easily help viewers keep track of upcoming films. But the MoviePass Screening Room isn't heading to Apple TV devices and set-top boxes - instead, Spikes quietly launched it in VR for the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro."I'm in VR all the time," Spikes told Engadget in an interview. "And when I saw how beautiful the imagery was in the Vision Pro, and I know Meta is going to catch up pretty quick on optics, I just said 'This is a great way to watch movie trailers.'"When he tried to actually watch trailers in VR, though, it involved searching through YouTube and hoping he actually landed on a high quality version of what he was looking for. So why not launch a trailer app of his own? One that could help everyone keep tabs on upcoming films, as well as eventually make it easier for MoviePass subscribers to book tickets. "We wanted to be top of mind," Spikes said, as people determined which films to watch.MoviePassIn its current form on the Vision Pro, the MoviePass Screening Room is fairly straightforward. Once you launch the app, you're presented with a list of trailers for recent and upcoming films like Sonic 3 and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. Select a title, and it begins playing almost instantly. Spikes says he acquires trailers from Nielsen, directly from studios and from the marketing agency PaperAirplane. The goal is to get the highest quality possible - in many cases that's just 1080p, but some studios offer 4K options.After perusing several trailers, I noticed that the bitrate and encoding quality looked better than most YouTube offerings (it's particularly easy to see when you're blowing screens up to the size of cinemas in VR). Mostly, though, I just appreciated having a single place to go to find high quality trailers. Exploring YouTube on the Vision Pro is still a clunky browser-based affair, and it's also filled with tons of low-quality videos and fan edits.MoviePassWhen I asked if there's some sort of data collection play with this app, especially since Nielsen is a source, Spikes replied, "We do not intend to go down that path. We see it much more as expanding our own ecosystem. And, you know, when you get into the data world, you're really getting into the advertising world. And that's not the space that we're headed into."Watching trailers has always been a way for me to wind down after a long day. The best of them are more than just ads, they give us a brief glimpse of cinematic magic coming on the horizon. Spikes himself admits that he used to check the Apple TV trailer app "religiously," so it's not a huge surprise he essentially wants to replicate that experience. While the MoviePass Screening Room is only available on the Vision Pro and Meta Quest at the moment, Spikes says he intends to retool it for the Apple TV, Roku and other platforms eventually, as well as add trailers directly into the MoviePass app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/moviepass-made-a-film-trailer-app-for-the-oculus-quest-and-apple-vision-pro-190822710.html?src=rss
If your gaming plans for this weekend somehow don't involve stomping around as Godzilla in Fortnite, I don't know what to tell you. The legendary titan is dropping onto the island for a limited time starting on January 17, and you even might get the opportunity to take control of him.According to developer Epic Games, there's a small chance that a portal will pop up on the map during Battle Royale matches. The first player to locate and jump into it will emerge as the magnificent beast. Godzilla can use a roar ability to reveal nearby players, use a stomp attack to send 'em flying and tear through buildings with a heat ray.Godzilla is also a de facto boss for other players. They can attack weak spots to deliver extra damage and chip off collectible fragments that provide a health boost and dash charges. Epic has also brought the rail gun back into the game to help players take down the colossal critter. It appears that the event will run until the current season ends on February 21.It wouldn't be Fortnite if there weren't a bunch of cosmetics that tie into the event. Players who have the current battle pass can unlock a reactive Godzilla skin by completing quests. The outfit will start glowing after you secure your first kill in a match and grow brighter after each elimination - so it might actually punish you for playing too well if you become more visible to enemies.There's also a Kong and Mechagodzilla outfit bundle coming to the shop. The latter glows when you attack enemy players. The unveiling of that outfit in the event trailer is very funny, with Mechagodzilla stomping buildings until the camera zooms out to reveal a miniature city. I truly hope that's part of a new emote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fortnite-will-let-you-play-as-godzilla-if-youre-lucky-170615837.html?src=rss
Leica has unveiled its latest full-frame mirrorless camera, the 24-megapixel SL3-S with improved performance and video compared to its predecessor, the SL2-S. It largely resembles the photo-centric 60-megapixel SL3 unveiled in March last year, but is geared toward hybrid users who shoot both stills and video. Spec-wise, it resembles Panasonic's $2,200 S5 IIX mirrorless camera and may use a similar sensor. The L-mount SL3-S has a much chunkier body than the Leica rangefinder cameras you may be used to. It does offer front and rear dials to control key functions, along with a pair of mode dials, a joystick and several more buttons. However, it lacks some controls found on models like the S5 IIX - so you may need to wade into the menus to change some settings. Leica Luckily, the rear touchscreen is large and very high in resolution (5.7-million dots), though it only tilts and doesn't fully articulate which is unfortunate for a hybrid camera. The electronic viewfinder (EVF) offers 5.76-million dots of resolution, which is solid but a bit low compared to similarly priced rivals. A key improvement is faster autofocus, thanks to the updated 24-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor. That allows burst shooting at up to 30fps with continuous phase-detect AF, with fairly long capture times thanks to support for fast CFexpress Type B memory cards. The company is also promising 15 stops of dynamic range that should allow for fine adjustments when shooting RAW files. Leica Another key new feature is on the video side, with 6K 3:2 "open-gate" capture (5,952 x 3,968 to be exact) recording, or 5,888 x 3,312 RAW 10-bit (to an external recorder), along with 4K 60p. The SL3-S also supports ProRes recording to a USB-C device or CFexpress B cards. (It's not clear if internal RAW video recording is supported, though a spec sheet from B&H Photo Video shows that to be the case.) Those video specs line up closely with Panasonic's S5 IIX, though the latter lacks a CFexpress card slot. The main benefit of a Leica camera is Leica's sharp (and expensive) lenses, though the SL3-S can also use glass from L-Mount partners, Panasonic and Sigma. The only big advantage over the S5 IIx is the addition of a CFexpress card slot, but otherwise the two models have similar specs - so whether that red Leica dot is worth an extra $3,100 is up to buyers to decide. Leica's SL3-S is now on sale for $5,295 at B&H Photo Video and elsewhere. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/leicas-sl3-s-mirrorless-cameras-boasts-6k-prores-video-and-faster-autofocus-164600817.html?src=rss
If you're in the market for a power bank, one of our favorite models is back down to its Black Friday price. Amazon has discounted Anker's 20,000mAh Prime Power Bank - with optional base included - to $110 or 41 percent off its regular $185 price. As mentioned, the last time the Anker Prime was $110, its current all-time low price, was during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Anker Prime is Engadget's favorite premium power bank. Outside of its sleek design, the primary reason to consider the Prime over other, more affordable models is the ease of use you get when you pair the power bank with its optional base. The accessory features magnets that make it easy to align the charging pins, so you never need to fiddle around with a cable to start the recharging process. What's more, the base, with one USB-A and two USB-C connections, doubles the number of ports the Anker Prime offers. As for charging speeds, they're in line with what you can expect from other 20,000mAh power banks. In our testing, the Prime charged an iPhone 11 from dead to 75 percent in 47 minutes and to full in an hour and 48 minutes. With a phone that features a 3,110mAh capacity like the iPhone 11, you can expect the Prime to fully charge your device three to four times before it needs a recharge of its own. The one downside of the Anker Prime is how expensive it is at its regular price. At $110, it's a much better purchase. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-20k-power-bank-with-charging-base-is-down-to-a-record-low-price-163833147.html?src=rss
The long wait is finally over. In a YouTube video with little fanfare, Nintendo officially introduced the long-awaited Switch 2. The first true next-gen follow-up to the original Switch includes backwards-compatibility for owners of existing Switch games. We'll learn more about the console in a Nintendo Direct presentation on April 2, 2025. There's still no firm release date, though.Nintendo is also planning to host first-look experience events in cities around the globe starting in April, the first of which take place in New York City and Paris from April 4 to April 6. More cities around North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia will follow.This trailer and accompanying press release are truly light on details. We see how the Switch 2 evolves from the original, with a larger screen and accompanying Joy-Con controllers that do appear to be attachable via magnets and a tiny port on the side of the controller. That's it, though - no price, specs or any details on what games are coming to the Switch 2.That said, we did see a few shots of a Mario Kart game running on the Switch 2 - so all the rumors surrounding a Mario Kart 9 launching alongside the Switch 2 got another shot in the arm today.The announcement of the Switch 2 has been a long time coming. Today's news caps off months of speculation about when the company would unveil new hardware. The community interest in a Switch 2 was vocal enough that president Shuntaro Furukawa posted on X ahead of the June 2024 Nintendo Direct not to expect any new console news, although he did confirm that the Switch's successor would be introduced by March 2025.Nintendo has given players some minor upgrades over the years since the Switch first arrived on the scene in 2017. The Switch Lite offered a more compact handheld ideal for gaming on the go, and the Switch OLED delivered a premium screen. But even within the limitations of a portable gaming device, the Switch has lagged far behind other consoles when it comes to power and performance. Of course, trying to compete with Sony and Microsoft's consoles on pure power hasn't been Nintendo's concern for decades at this point. Once we get our hands on the Switch 2, we'll know whether it delivers enough oomph to feel worth the wait.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-is-official-with-more-details-coming-on-april-2-2025-131325484.html?src=rss
Sony just dropped a full-fledged trailer for the Until Dawn movie, just days after releasing a shorter teaser. The new footage gives us a proper introduction to the Groundhog Day-style gimmick that separates the film from the game.The game is known for permadeath, as any of the eight main characters can die and the narrative will just barrel along without them. The movie, however, takes a different approach. When these characters die, they wake up to start the night over again. This is like Groundhog Day, sure, but also Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day and more Star Trek episodes than you can shake a stick at. Time loops are fun!Sony says that the movie will connect to the game universe, despite the differing storytelling mechanic. For instance, Peter Stormare voices Dr. Hill in the game, but shows up in the trailer working at a gas station. The film will delve into his character's involvement in the events of the game, raising questions for fans to explore."The film's directed by David F. Sandberg, who also helmed Shazam! and Lights Out. It's written by Gary Dauberman and Blair Butler. Dauberman is best known for writing films in The Conjuring universe, like Annabelle, Annabelle: Creation, The Nun and Annabelle Comes Home.Until Dawn stars the aforementioned Peter Stormare, but also younger actors like Ella Rubin, Ji-young Yoo, Michael Cimino and Maia Mitchell. It hits theaters on April 25. In the meantime, a remake of the game arrived on PS5 and PC in October.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/until-dawn-trailer-shows-the-movies-groundhog-day-style-gimmick-in-action-162626389.html?src=rss
Well, it finally happened. After years of waiting and requests, Amazon debuted the $280 Kindle Colorsoft, its first ereader with a color display. The company's ereaders have dominated this space since the original Kindle came out 17 years ago, but in this case, it feels like Amazon is playing catch-up. Color E Ink displays aren't novel: we've tested and reviewed a number of color ereaders and E Ink tablets from Kobo, Boox and reMarkable in recent years. But Amazon is essentially trying to pull an Apple with the Colorsoft: with claims that color E Ink technology just wasn't good enough to put into a Kindle until now, Amazon's promising the Colorsoft gets this implementation right thanks in part to the custom tweaks it made to the display. And, unsurprisingly, Amazon's ready to charge you a premium for it. So is it all it's cracked up to be? As you might suspect, the answer isn't as simple as yes or no. Update 1/16/25: Following the multiple reports of Kindle Colorsoft owners seeing a yellow band at the bottom of their ereader's display (myself included), I reached out to Amazon to receive a new review unit. I did so after the company stated publicly that it would make appropriate adjustments" to resolve the issue. Amazon sent me a second Colorsoft review unit at the end of 2024 and, in short, the new one did not have the yellow-band issue and the display appeared warmer overall. An Amazon spokesperson told me that a combination of software and display adjustments" was implemented to fix the yellow-band issue, and those are the only differences between my original review unit's display and that of the new one. The difference in warmth between the Kobo Libra Colour's screen and the Kindle Colorsoft's screen was dramatically reduced on my second review unit. That's a good thing for the Colorsoft because its screen now better mimics the look of actual, physical book pages. I've adjusted our pros and cons list to reflect my experience with the new review unit, and what follows is our original review. Update 11/5/24: There have been multiple reports of Kindle Colorsoft owners seeing a yellow band at the bottom of their ereader's display. My review unit was not affected during the time I spent testing the Colorsoft, but upon checking on the morning of November 4, 2024, it appeared for me, too. Upon reaching out to Amazon for comment, a spokesperson told Engadget: "A small number of customers have reported a yellow band along the bottom of the display. We take the quality of our products seriously - customers who notice this can reach out to our customer service team for a replacement or refund, and we're making the appropriate adjustments to ensure that new devices will not experience this issue moving forward." In the meantime, we've removed our score and recommended labeling until we're able to get a replacement Colorsoft and test it for a longer period of time to ensure this issue has been fully resolved. Screen technology and comparisons Let's get the tech details squared away first. The Kindle Colorsoft's seven-inch screen is based on E Ink Kaleido 3 technology, but a representative from the Kindle team explained to me that they developed a custom display stack for this device. That means they made quite a few changes to the tech in order to achieve things like higher-contrast pigments and improved speeds overall. The Colorsoft's custom oxide backplane uses 24 driving volts to move pigments around more quickly and it helps those pigments appear with better contrast. Nitride LEDs enhance colors and brightness, and a custom coating in between the display's layers helps focus light through each pigment so there's less color mixing. Some of the same tech helps make page-turns quicker and supposedly reduces excessively noticeable screen refreshing when you go from one color page to another, or pinch-and-zoom on an image. That's all to say that Amazon would like you to believe that this E Ink Kaleido 3 screen is not like the other girls in this space, and while I do not doubt the Kindle team's efforts, the differences are not as dramatic as the story would suggest. Until Kobo updates the Sage with color, the closest competitor to the $280 Kindle Colorsoft is the $220 Kobo Libra Colour (in size, platform and overall experience), so I did a lot of side-by-side comparisons of the two. The biggest difference I saw was that the Kobo's screen skews warmer than the Kindle's; I kicked the brightness up to the maximum and turned all warm/natural light settings down to zero on both devices and the difference was noticeable, regardless of if the displays were showing color images, black-and-white text or a mix of the two. This would suggest that the Kindle will show more accurate colors more often since there's less of a warm lean to its display. But on the flip side, the Kindle screen's blue tint was just as noticeable, particularly in low-light situations (like a dark office or a dimly lit living room). At max brightness with warmth down to zero, the Kindle's screen was borderline uncomfortable to read in those environments - but all it took was a slight adjustment to warmth level four (out of 24) to get it to match the Kobo's display in warmth almost exactly (at least to my eyes). That made it more comfortable to stare at in dark spaces. I also compared the Colorsoft's screen to my personal Kindle Paperwhite (previous generation) and the blue skew was noticeable there too. Ultimately, how much warm or cool light you prefer while reading is up to personal taste. My preferences would lead me to adjust the warmth on the Kindle to be a bit higher than zero, mimicking that of the Kobo. In an unscientific poll of the Engadget staff, both in person and with device photos, everybody preferred the screen on the Kobo. I think the slight added warmth in Kobo's screen makes colors appear a bit more saturated and more inviting overall. It also gets close to mimicking the look of actual physical pages (as much as one of these devices could, at least), and that's the experience I'm going for when I read pretty much anything. But I could understand why some hardcore comic fans would want to start off with the most color-accurate baseline as possible, and then adjust from there to fit their preferences. In addition to adjusting the warm light, the Kindle Colorsoft has vivid mode, which enhances color in less saturated images." For the sake of efficacy, most of my time was spent in standard mode when testing the Colorsoft. But in trying out vivid mode, I noticed that its enhanced saturation was most noticeable in warm-toned images: reds appeared ever-so-slightly more striking, while oranges and yellows had a more bronze effect and the like. But I had to turn vivid mode on and off a few times to clock the effect because it's quite subtle. Then there's the question of actually reading words on the Colorsoft. Even the Kindle team representative I spoke with acknowledged that, due to the extra physical layer in the screen that enables color, one might notice a bit less sharpness and contrast in black-and-white text on the Colorsoft's screen. That's not unique to this particular Kindle - every color ereader will have this issue to some degree. When comparing the text-only experience of the Kindle Colorsoft to that of the Kobo Libra Colour, I found both to be quite good and comparable to one another. Where there's a bigger possibility for discrepancies is in a comparison of the Colorsoft to, say, the new Kindle Paperwhite. I did not have the latter device to compare to, but I did have my personal, previous-generation Paperwhite, and the difference was ever so slight, with the standard Paperwhite having the (small) upper hand in the contrast and sharpness departments. Reading experience Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget The color screen is the most consequential thing about the Kindle Colorsoft, and chances are if you've had a Kindle in the past, the reading experience on this new device will feel quite familiar. The Kindle UI hasn't changed much, still dividing the main screen into Home and Library options. The former is basically a space for Amazon to serve you personalized book recommendations and promote new Kindle releases, while the latter shows your entire digital library including books, documents, Audible audiobooks and library loans. The Library page is striking in color and there is something undeniably satisfying about seeing all of your title covers in full-color glory. While reading a book, you can still customize and save different themes with fonts, font sizes and page layouts that best suit your preferences. You still have the option to quickly navigate within a title by page, location, chapter and even popular highlights. Page turns are speedy and will likely be an improvement for anyone coming from an older Kindle or other ereader. Annotations and your own highlights are collected in the same place for easy reference, and with the latter, you can filter by highlight color as well. You have four colors to choose from on the Colorsoft - orange, yellow, blue and pink - so if you use the yellow highlighter to mark favorite quotes, you can then filter by just that color. Note that all highlighting and note-taking must be done with your fingers because, unlike the Kindle Scribe, the Colorsoft has no stylus support. The pinch-to-zoom feature on the Colorsoft is good for those who read a lot of graphic novels and comics. Amazon developed a custom algorithm to make this motion as smooth as possible, and it's a pretty good experience, albeit not a unique one. You can also pinch to zoom on the Kobo Libra Colour, which mostly helps get in closer to comic panels to read small text or better see minute details. On both devices, there are full-screen refreshes when you pinch to zoom on color images and the speed of completion is roughly the same. I also found image quality to be quite similar as well, and it's worth noting that art style can skew your impression of an image's quality. A comic that employs clean, distinct lines compared to one that's more grungy and watercolor-like will always come off more crisp. The Colorsoft, like the regular Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, also has an auto-adjusting front light that promises to illuminate the display just right depending on if you're reading outside on a sunny day, in the dark cabin of an airplane or anywhere else. It's a nice hardware perk to have and, with the feature turned on, removes much of manual fiddling that some might find annoying to do when they take their Kindle into different environments. The competition Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget While we already went through the screen comparisons for the $280 Kindle Colorsoft and the $220 Kobo Libra Colour, there are plenty of other differences between the two that you should consider when picking your next ereader. I've added a spec list below to break down the basics, and the most consequential to me are the fact that the Kobo has page-turn buttons and stylus support. The former is really a matter of preference - you either love physical buttons or you find no use for them - but the latter is pure added value even if you do have to purchase the $70 Kobo stylus separately. It essentially allows you to turn the Libra Colour into a makeshift Kobo Sage or Kindle Scribe, which could be useful for anyone in academia (students and educators alike) or anyone who just loves the feeling of putting pen to paper." Meanwhile, the Kindle has the upper hand in its wireless charging capabilities and its slightly cleaner flush-front design. When it comes to actual content available on Kindle and Kobo devices, the libraries you can purchase from on both are vast: both have ebooks and audiobooks available, and both the Colorsoft and Libra Colour support Bluetooth, so you can listen to audiobooks directly from the device with your wireless headphones. At the time of writing this review, all of the top five New York Times bestseller titles were available on both platforms at the same prices, with the only discrepancies being one that was on sale as a Kindle ebook and one that was available to read for free for Kindle Unlimited and Kobo Plus subscribers. Both of those monthly subscriptions give you unlimited reading access to thousands of titles, but I would give the advantage to Amazon on this one since Kindle Unlimited has been around for much longer. Amazon also has Prime Reading and Kids+ subscriptions that work with Kindle devices and provide even more content to paying subscribers. As far as borrowing ebooks from your local library goes, it might be a draw. Kobo integrates elegantly with Overdrive, making it nearly seamless to get borrowed books on your ereader. Simply connect your Overdrive account and library card in the settings menu and you can then either browse your library's offerings directly on device, or use the Libby mobile app to borrow titles and those will appear automatically on your Kobo. My only gripe with this system is that it works best if you have just one library card, since you can only connect one at a time. I'm a unique case where I have at least three library cards and I switch among them in Libby depending on which has the title I'm looking for. Those like me might prefer the send to Kindle" option in Libby, which just takes a couple more clicks to get any book from any library network to your Kindle device. The biggest downside here is that my Colorsoft review unit did not show all of my library book covers in full-color glory on the lock screen. After troubleshooting with a representative from Amazon, it was determined to be a title-specific issue. According to Amazon: "For library books, the lock screen is taken from the designated marketing cover for the book used by the library, which may not be the same as the actual book cover." So just know that if you get most of your reading material from your local library, there's a chance some of the covers may not display properly on the Colorsoft. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the $250 Boox Go Color 7, which earned a spot in our best ereaders guide after my colleague Amy Skorheim tested it. First, it's imperative to know that Boox devices require a bit more tech-savvy than a Kindle or a Kobo, as well as a willingness to experiment. They are full-blown Android tablets after all, and that might be exactly what you're looking for if you get your reading material from many different sources, since it offers access to the Google Play Store and all of its apps. As for specs, the Go Color 7 has a seven-inch Kaleido 3 display with 300 ppi in black and white and 150 ppi in color (similar to the Colorsoft), along with a warm light, page-turn buttons, a splash-resistant design and 64GB of storage (and a microSD card slot for more space!). It's even more similar to the Kobo Libra Colour in feature set and price, so it's another option for anyone willing to think a bit outside the standard ereader box. The decision between Kindle, Kobo and Boox is infinitely more complicated than choosing between the Colorsoft or the standard Kindle Paperwhite - and that's precisely because of the stark price difference. The Colorsoft is $120 more than the regular Kindle Paperwhite ($100 more if you pay to remove the lock screen ads from the Paperwhite, and $80 more than the Signature Edition) and aside from the color panel, it only adds wireless charging, the auto-adjusting front light sensor and doubles the storage. Remove color from the equation, and arguably the most useful of all of those is the extra storage but, make no mistake, 16GB of space on the Kindle Paperwhite is nothing to scoff at and will be just fine for most people. Unless you're 100-percent certain that color will make a huge difference in your day-to-day reading experience, the standard Paperwhite is the better value. Wrap-up Photo by Valentina Palladino / Engadget While it's very late to the color E Ink party, the Kindle Colorsoft is a solid premium ereader that provides an excellent experience both in color and black and white. I focused a lot on comparisons in this review because most people will not have the opportunity to have the Colorsoft and any of its contemporaries side by side (unless you're my dad, who buys almost every ereader and small tablet under the sun). But to be clear, the Colorsoft is a good Kindle, and in many ways, Amazon did pull an Apple here. If you're already heavily entrenched in the Kindle ecosystem and have been holding out for a color ereader, this is the device to get - just be prepared to pay a premium for it. Also, like Apple and its various operating systems, there's something to be said about the convenience and ubiquity of the Kindle ecosystem. The library is seemingly endless (with discounts galore), supplemented by Prime Reading and Kindle Unlimited, so it's easy to get sucked in when you're already shopping on Amazon for household goods and holiday gifts. But when it comes to value for your money (and a pure spec breakdown), you can get more from Kobo and Boox devices. Kindle isn't the only name in town anymore for ereaders, and it hasn't been for a long time, and that seems to be a more pronounced fact now with the introduction of the Colorsoft. If nothing else, Amazon has finally filled a glaring hole in its ereader lineup with this device. Amazon Kindle Colorsoft vs. the competition Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kobo Libra Colour Boox Go Color 7 Price $280 $220 $250 Display size 7-inch color E Ink Kalaido 3 (with custom display stack) 7-inch color E Ink Kalaido 3 7-inch color E Ink Kalaido 3 Pixel density 300 ppi (black-and-white), 150 ppi (color content) 300 ppi (black-and-white), 150 ppi (color content) 300 ppi (black-and-white), 150 ppi (color content) Storage 32GB 32GB 64GB Battery life Up to 8 weeks Up to 6 weeks 2,300 mAh capacity; "long-lasting" battery life Page-turn buttons No Yes Yes Adjustable warm light Yes Yes Yes Auto brightness adjustments Yes No No Auto warm light adjustments No Yes No Waterproof rating IPX8 IPX8 Not provided Pinch-to-zoom support Yes Yes Not provided Stylus support No Yes No Audiobook support Yes, Audible audiobooks Yes, Kobo audiobooks Yes, via Android apps Library support Yes, via Overdrive's "Send to Kindle" option Yes, via built-in Overdrive integration Yes, via Android apps Wireless charging Yes No No USB-C charging Yes Yes Yes Wi-Fi Yes Yes Yes Bluetooth Yes Yes Yes This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/kindle-colorsoft-review-the-missing-link-in-amazons-ereader-lineup-131529685.html?src=rss
Grill companies are taking a different approach in 2025. Instead of refining premium smart pellet models and adding even more features, they're aiming to provide a solid outdoor cooking experience for less money than usual. Weber did so with the Smoque earlier this week and now Traeger is following suit. With the Woodridge series, Traeger offers an all-new look and simplified controls, and even the most affordable option is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity. Plus, you can upgrade them all with additional accessories. The regular Woodridge is the cheapest option of the new trio. At $800, it's the same price as the smallest Pro series model, the Pro 575, and $1,000 less than the mid-range Ironwood grill. The entire Woodridge series has a novel design that differs from the pricier Timberline and Ironwood grills, and Traeger ditched the touchscreen for a simplified setup. But don't let the price fool you, the company didn't cut many corners to keep costs down. The Woodridge is a workhorse, and in some ways it's better to cook on than Traeger's more expensive grills. Design The first thing I noticed about the Woodridge is that Traeger got rid of the touchscreen controls. I don't doubt that component was expensive, and in my opinion it was unnecessary. Instead, there's a simple set of buttons for timers, food probes, ignition and menu. Next to them is a multi-color display with large numbers that make temperature, time and other stats easy to see, even from a distance. On the far right of the panel, a single knob allows you to scroll through and adjust temperature settings and more. Like other Traeger models, the controller is installed on the pellet hopper, which doubles as a small side shelf. On the Woodridge, the hopper has a 24 pound capacity, more than enough for most low-and-slow smoke sessions. These new grills also have Traeger's Pop-And-Lock (PAL) rail system around the outside. These allow you to customize your grills with things like shelves, paper towel holders and condiment baskets. There's also ample rack storage built in, with spots to store both the longer top rack and the smaller bottom ones, too. The Woodridge is the most basic of the new grills, and it doesn't have any kind of shelf or cabinet underneath. Instead, there's just an X-shaped bracket that keeps the legs snug and tight. On the hopper end, there are two wheels with rubber tread and two legs on the other. There's no handle to lift the grill to move it, so you have to use the side-mounted PAL rail. On the underbelly, you'll get Traeger's so-called EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg that collects all the waste from the cook chamber for easy removal. Even the lid and cook box on the Woodridge have a new shape. The lid is flatter and looks more like a gas grill than the oval tops of the Timberline, Ironwood and Pro series. You still get two levels of grates inside covering 860 square inches of cooking area, but there's less vertical space to stack food. Traeger redesigned the components under the cooking surface too, installing handles on the drip tray for easy removal and a cover for the grease keg. The path for grease is now more enclosed, so errant embers should be less of a concern. Overall, I'm impressed with the build quality on the entry-level Woodridge. It would've been easy for Traeger to use cheap materials to reduce cost, but the grill is sturdy and should last for years. The legs are rock solid and everything feels hefty and strong, which is a welcome surprise compared to other budget friendly options. Cooking with the Woodridge Billy Steele for Engadget If you're looking for a straightforward pellet grill that gets the job done, the Woodridge is a great option. It isn't loaded down with features you might not use, but does everything from low-and-slow barbecue to high-heat searing with a temperature range of 180-500 degrees Fahrenheit. I typically use pellet grills for smoking, so most of my testing focused on that, but I can vouch for the Woodridge's ability to maintain temperatures of 500 (and slightly above). The Woodridge doesn't have Traeger's signature Super Smoke mode, but the grill still imparts lots of smoke into your food. I particularly enjoyed the layered flavor on a double-smoked, glazed ham over the holidays. The convection air flow inside the cooking chamber moves smoke around to blanket your food with the nuance of the wood pellets. Even at higher smoking" temperatures of 300 degrees and above, the grill was still producing significant amounts of smoke. A big feature on the Woodridge is Traeger's WiFire tech. This Wi-Fi connectivity sends vital cooking stats to the company's app on your phone, allowing you to keep tabs on the process from anywhere. For the Woodridge, this means you can see data from wired or wireless food probes, adjust grill temperature, set timers, activate Keep Warm mode and shut down the grill on your phone. As always, the Traeger app has a wealth of recipes when you need some inspiration, complete with guidance for beginners. The app is one of the best tools on Traeger's grills, so it's nice to see the core features from the software are available on this base model. Other Woodridge options The regular Woodridge is the base model in the new trio with the Woodridge Pro and the Woodridge Elite above it. The Pro has 970 square inches of cooking space, Super Smoke mode, a folding side shelf and a bottom storage shelf. It also offers an upgraded controller with a pellet-monitoring sensor inside the hopper. Those upgrades cost $200, as the Woodridge Pro is $1,000. On the Woodridge Elite, you get some of the best aspects of Traeger's most expensive grills - the Timberline and Timberline XL. Those conveniences include insulated construction for better heat retention, a 1,100-watt infrared side burner and an enclosed cabinet base. The additions come on top of the 970-square-inch cooking area and other key specs from the Woodridge Pro. You'll pay a lot more for this grill, though, as the Elite is $1,600. So, it's much less attractive than the other Woodridge options. The Woodridge, Woodridge Pro and Woodridge Elite were just announced today, but the first two are available now at Traeger's website or from retailers in the US and Canada. Final thoughts on the Woodridge After Traeger went even more premium with its Ironwood makeover in 2023, the company had a big gap between its most affordable models and its more expensive ones. The original Ironwood was a nice bridge between the Pro series and the Timberline, but all of those upgrades killed that value proposition. The new Woodridge series reclaims some of that territory, and even the base trim gives you everything you'd want in a basic pellet grill. In fact, I'd argue it goes beyond that. The Woodridge and Woodridge Pro are massive upgrades compared to the Pro 575 and Pro 780. Every time I use the Woodridge I'm amazed by the sturdy build quality Traeger delivered while keeping the cost down. The new look is certainly a departure from the company's other grills, so it'll take some getting used to. But, when you're using it, that doesn't matter. I prefer the new simplified controls to Traeger's affinity for a touchscreen and the Woodridge performed well every time I cooked on it. If you think most of Traeger's lineup is too expensive, and that the Pro series has been around too long to invest in one, the Woodridge might be right for you. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/traeger-woodridge-review-a-big-upgrade-for-the-entry-level-pellet-grill-160010591.html?src=rss
The UK has spent over a decade attempting to regulate who can access adult content online and has failed, again and again. But things might just change, as OfCom, the country's government-approved communication services regulator, has finally published its age checks guidance. How exactly, they'll enforce that guidance is unclear, but baby steps.The new obligations stem from the October 2023 Online Safety Act, which requires services to stop children from accessing pornographic content. Ofcom released an initial draft of expectations for services in late 2023, stating it would publish its final guidance in early 2025 - so, we're right on time."For too long, many online services which allow porn and other harmful material have ignored the fact that children are accessing their services," said Melanie Dawes, Ofcom's chief executive, in a release. "Either they don't ask or, when they do, the checks are minimal and easy to avoid. That means companies have effectively been treating all users as if they're adults, leaving children potentially exposed to porn and other types of harmful content. Today, this starts to change."First off, Ofcom is requiring all applicable services to determine if children are likely to access any part of their offerings by April 16. That same month, Ofcom will publish its Protection of Children Codes and guidance on conducting a children's risk assessment. Any service likely to be used by children will need to conduct said assessment by July. They also need to have protective measures in place if children try to use their services, such as age checks. Any site that has pornography (whether created by the service, users or generative AI) must introduce strict age checks as soon as possible.As Ofcom puts it, "age-checking methods deployed by services must be technically accurate, robust, reliable and fair in order to be considered highly effective." These techniques can include photo ID matching, facial age estimation, digital identity services, and mobile network operator age checks, to name a few. Users self-declaring their age and online payments in which a person doesn't have to be 18 are not acceptable methods. Pornography shouldn't be at all visible before or while these checks are occurring. However, the regulator stresses that services must balance protecting adult users' privacy and access rights.Ofcom states it will contact many adult services about these requirements and "will not hesitate" to act against or investigate services that ignore their obligations. Again, these exact actions are unclear, so we'll see how well these regulations will be enforced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-demands-adult-content-sites-introduce-effective-age-verification-methods-150057997.html?src=rss
Not to be cliche, but if losing things was an Olympic sport then I'd at least get a bronze. To that end, I rely on Find My programs to keep track of my devices, but I've put off dishing out money on a Bluetooth trackers. Now, I don't have an Android but, if you do, then it might be time to learn from my mistakes and tag all your items. Right now, the Chipolo One Point four pack - our favorite Bluetooth tracker for Android - is on sale for $63, down from $79. The 20 percent discount brings this set down to a new all-time low price. The Chipolo One Point uses Google's Find My Device to keep track of items. We liked how easy it was to set up and how loud it rings. Plus, unlike AirTags, it comes with a hole in it so attaching the tracker to a key ring is simple. However, the One Point isn't as accurate as an AirTag and Find My Device doesn't offer left behind notifications. But, it's still a great option for Android users. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-our-favorite-bluetooth-trackers-for-android-devices-is-cheaper-than-ever-143719990.html?src=rss
In a few days, TikTok could be banned in the US, rendering the app unusable and removing it from app stores. Instead of making do with Instagram Reels, people looked for a closer alternative and found Chinese social media app "RedNote" or Xiaohongshu, which translates to "little red book." It shot to the top of the Apple App Store download list, and according to Reuters, more than 700,000 users joined the service within just a couple of days. Apparently, though, RedNote isn't the only app that has benefited from TikTok's looming ban. The language learning app Duolingo has revealed that it has seen a "216 percent growth in new Chinese (Mandarin) learners in the US compared to this time last year."
Insta360 is back with another smartphone gimbal and it looks pretty darn great. The Flow Pro 2 is an upgrade over its predecessor in nearly every major way, and we already loved the original. This is another great tool for any content creator to have at the ready. First of all, the Flow 2 Pro offers a sturdier build, for enhanced durability, and a much stronger tripod. The unit also includes an exterior selfie mirror, so users can quickly get a fit check in the middle of a vlog or whatever. Insta360 The new design allows for something called Free Tilt Mode, which means that users can angle the gimbal in unique ways to get creative shots. The company says folks will be able to use this mode to get crane shots, tilt shots and multiple combinations thereof. The stabilizer also supports 360-degree pan tracking. The software suite has received a major upgrade. Just like the original iteration, the Flow 2 Pro integrates with Apple DockKit for automatic tracking. However, there's also something called Active Zoom Tracking, which can close in up to 15x while following a moving subject. The company says this will ensure that shots are crystal clear and perfectly framed, no matter the distance" The company's Deep Track AI-powered tech has also gotten an update. Deep Track 4.0 brings new capabilities and quality-of-life features to make sure that all shots are perfectly framed and effortlessly smooth." The software even allows for multi-person tracking. The gimbal can be controlled via an Apple Watch or a secondary smartphone and the battery lasts around ten hours per charge. The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is available right now for $160, with availability in gray and white. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/insta360s-flow-pro-2-gimbal-offers-a-sturdier-build-and-a-selfie-mirror-130016865.html?src=rss
The last few years have brought a barrage of cozy games," video games expressly designed to generate good vibes. That said, coziness isn't a virtue in and of itself. If you're looking for games to help you wind down, allow us to help. We've curated a selection of our favorite chill titles, ones that purposefully deemphasize fail states, grinding, intense violence and other aggressive urges, but aren't insufferably twee, dull or same-y. Yes, these include the Stardew Valleys and Animal Crossingsof the world, but we've also highlighted a number of lesser-known gems that span across genres. Here's a few of the best relaxing games for your Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox, PC or mobile device. Recent updates January 2025: We've added Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley and Little Kitty, Big City to the list. Check out our entire Best Games series including the best Nintendo Switch games, the best PS5 games, the best Xbox games, the best PC games and the best free games you can play today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-relaxing-video-games-140048572.html?src=rss
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has successfully made it to space for its maiden flight, a few days after its planned January 13 launch was scrubbed. The vehicle passed the Karman line, the internationally recognized boundary of space, shortly after 2AM Eastern time on January 16. New Glenn's booster separated from the rest of the rocket to make its way back to Earth towards a landing platform in the ocean by 2:10 AM, while its second stage and payload went on to reach orbit. The company has just announced on its live feed that it failed to land New Glenn's booster, but it was never the launch's primary purpose.Dave Limp, the company's CEO, previously stressed that the mission's objective is to reach orbit. "Anything beyond that is a bonus," he wrote in a tweet. He said that landing the booster was "ambitious" but that Blue Origin is still going for it and expects to "learn a lot" from the effort. Notably, it took SpaceX three years of landing tests before it was successfully able to land Falcon 9's first stage on a drone ship in the ocean.New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle with a booster that was designed to be reused for a minimum of 25 flights. Blue Origin describes it as its "giant, reusable rocket built for bigger things." It has a massive payload capacity and can carry more than 13 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). For its maiden flight, the vehicle carried the company's Blue Ring Pathfinder, which is part of its Blue Ring platform that will offer spacecraft services to clients like the Pentagon. The mission is meant to test Blue Ring's core flight and ground systems, as well as its operational capabilities.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/blue-origins-new-glenn-rocket-launches-into-orbit-on-its-maiden-flight-073451555.html?src=rss
LG Display is introducing its 4th-generation OLED TV displays today, which manage to not only be brighter than what it showed off in 2024, but also more power-efficient and less reflective. The LG OLED evo M5 was one of Engadget's favorite announcements from CES 2025, thanks in part to the LG Display panels it uses.LG Display's new 4th-generation OLED TV panel can reach a maximum brightness "as high as 4,000 nits," according to the company, which is 33 percent brighter than the previous generation panel. It's worth noting maximum brightness is not the same thing as uniform brightness across the same display panel, but it's still a notable improvement when OLEDs can struggle with brightness. Especially when those gains are paired with better energy efficiency, which LG Display says is "around 20 percent greater" on a 65-inch 4th-generation panel.LG DisplayThe changes to the new OLED's efficiency are due to enhancements to the panel's "structure and power supply system" while the brightness improvements have to do with a clever to tweak to how LG is arranging the LEDs in the panel. The 4th-generation OLED uses a "Primary RGB Tandem structure" which stacks independent layers of red and green light elements with two blue layers. Each layer produces more light which helps improve brightness and "color purity."LG Display is also aiding color reproduction (and presumably purity) with a new film coating that reduces the amount of light reflected from the surface of the panel and light absorbed and reflected inside the panel. The company says all of these developments are in service of making better "AI TVs" but if that doesn't sway you, it sounds like TVs with these new panels should just look better too.The 4th-generation OLED panel will appear in "top-of-the-line mass-produced" TVs this year, and LG Display says the "Primary RGB Tandem structure" will be gradually introduced into Gaming OLED monitors in the future, as well.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/lg-displays-new-oleds-are-even-brighter-and-more-power-efficient-020010221.html?src=rss
The Super Bowl tends to be a cultural moment, even for people who don't know an extra point from a safety. This year, if you want to see the whole program, including the halftime show by Kendrick Lamar, there will be a free streaming option. The broadcast will be available in 4K on Tubi, the free ad-supported streaming TV platform owned by Fox.This year marks the first time Tubi will have the NFL's final matchup as part of its programming. Fox Sports announced its plans to mark the occasion of Super Bowl LIX with a "takeover" of Tubi, including not just the livestream of the game, but also a special red carpet pre-show. Tubi will also have a Countdown to the Super Bowl on the NFL channel starting January 28 that will highlight big moments from the championship's history.Super Bowl LIX will be available to watch on FOX, FOX Deportes, Tubi and Telemundo, as well as on NFL digital properties, without requiring any paid-TV authentication. The game takes place on February 9.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/tubi-will-livestream-the-2025-super-bowl-for-free-in-4k-232831563.html?src=rss
Sonos is continuing to clean house as the company recovers from the hits it took following a disastrous mobile app redesign last year. Just a day after CEO Patrick Spence departed the company, chief product officer Maxime Bouvat-Merlin is also leaving. He will act as an advisor to interim CEO Tom Conrad during the leadership transition before fully exiting Sonos.According to The Verge, Conrad informed Sonos employees about the latest leadership change in a company-wide email today. The CPO role is being made redundant, with Sonos' product team reporting directly to Conrad for the time being.A day after Bouvat-Merlin was let go, The Verge reported that chief commercial officer Deirdre Findlay was also leaving the company. However, an internal email from Conrad clarified that Findlay has no timeline yet for her departure and her reasons for leaving Sonos are not related to the recent leadership changes.Sonos has been in a tailspin since releasing a mobile app update in May that contained many bugs and was missing key features. The company's financial results took a dive, and it laid off about 100 employees in August. Sonos has made several efforts to keep customers aware of its plans to recover from the app launch, and the decision to replace top leadership seems like the latest move to win back public trust in the business.Update, January 15 2025, 4:50PM ET: This story was updated to include details of Sonos' chief commercial officer also leaving the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sonos-chief-product-officer-is-also-leaving-the-company-223256031.html?src=rss
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a suit against John Deere, accusing it of unfair" practices that force farmers to pay higher-than-average repair costs. The federal organization, along with attorneys general for Illinois and Minnesota, are alleging that the company engages in practices that keep farmers from being able to make repairs on equipment they own.In other words, this is another salvo in the ongoing right-to-repair battle. The complaint states that John Deere engages in dubious practices, like incorporating software into farm equipment, to dissuade people from trying to fix stuff on their own. Additionally, the suit points to decades" of unlawful behavior that pushes farmers to the company's authorized network of dealers for repairs.
Sony is set to freshen up the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra and Premium subscribers with a bunch of new additions in January. The obvious headliner here is God of War Ragnarok(PS4 and PS5), one of PlayStation's biggest blockbusters from the last few years.The epic 2022 adventure sees Kratos and his son Atreus attempting to prevent an event that could bring about the end of the world. Studio Santa Monica expanded on the core game in late 2023 with the free addition of a roguelite mode that acts as an epilogue. Kratos can wield permanent upgrades as well as temporary ones that only last for the duration of a given run.If you haven't done so already, we'd highly recommend playing through God of War before delving into Ragnarok. The story of the 2018 game feeds directly into that of the sequel (and it's a darn good game too). Thankfully, God of War is also in the Game Catalog.Another new addition that's well worth checking out is the brilliant rhythm action title Sayonara Wild Hearts(PS4). It tells the story of a young woman attempting to repair her broken heart through a series of imaginative levels, all set to an absolutely banging pop music soundtrack. Sayonara Wild Hearts was an Apple Arcade launch title, but it left that service a few months ago. It's one of my two favorite games of all time, and I can't recommend it enough.The highly regarded sci-fi RPG Citizen Sleeper is in the mix as well. It'll hit the Game Catalog a week and a half before the sequel, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, drops on January 31.Other newcomers to the Extra tier include the 2023 Like A Dragon spinoff, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS4 and PS5), action RPGs Atlas Fallen: Reign Of Sand (PS5) and SD Gundam Battle Alliance (PS4 and PS5), action-adventure title ANNO: Mutationem (PS4 and PS5), tower defense game Orcs Must Die! 3 (PS4 and PS5) and Poker Club (PS4).Premium subscribers will get access to another two games on top of all of those. Those are Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (PS4 and PS5), which debuted on PS2 in 2009, and Medievil II (PS4 and PS5), which originally hit the PS1 in 2000.These games will hit the PS Plus Game Catalog on January 21. As a reminder, PlayStation Portal owners can now stream certain PS5 games in the catalog from the cloud.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/god-of-war-ragnarok-headlines-the-playstation-plus-game-catalog-additions-for-january-191024729.html?src=rss
Google is partnering with The Associated Press to bring real-time information from the news agency to its Gemini app, the search giant announced on Wednesday. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal builds on an existing partnership Google had with The Associated Press to source real-time information for its search engine. This will be particularly helpful to [Gemini app] users looking for up-to-date information," Google says of the deal.AP and Google's longstanding relationship is based on working together to provide timely, accurate news and information to global audiences," said Kristin Heitmann, The Associated Press senior vice president and chief revenue officer. We are pleased Google recognizes the value of AP's journalism as well as our commitment to nonpartisan reporting, in the development of its generative AI products."In 2023, The Associated Press was among the first news publishers to forge a partnership with an AI firm, signing a two-year deal with OpenAI that gave the company access to select news content dating back to 1985. Since then, many other publishers have followed suit with their own agreements. In fact, just earlier today, Axios announced a three-year deal with OpenAI that will see the AI startup fund four new local newsrooms. Last year, OpenAI partnered with People publisher Dotdash Meredith, a deal that has since been reported to be worth at least $16 million annually.Correction 6:23PM ET: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that The Associated Press was following other publishers in signing agreements with AI firms. We regret the error.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-brings-real-time-information-from-the-associated-press-to-gemini-190317150.html?src=rss
Xbox has announced a few more sustainability efforts, including an expansion of its repairability program. You'll be able to buy official replacement parts for Xbox Series X/S systems from the Microsoft Store and iFixit so you can repair your console yourself, even if it's out of warranty. Until now, Microsoft had only offered controller parts through its own store, but now you can buy components for the Series S and both the all-digital and disc drive editions of the Series X. Along with various parts and step-by-step repair guides, iFixit also has an Xbox toolkit for sale.Meanwhile, as of January 20, uBreakiFix by Asurion will be the first Xbox Authorized Service Provider. It will repair the consoles at nearly 700 participating locations in the US. Previously, authorized in-person Xbox repairs were only available at the Microsoft Store, so gamers will have many more places where they can go to get their console fixed without breaking the warranty.These are positive steps forward for the right-to-repair movement. They should help reduce the number of games consoles that are consigned to the scrapheap."By expanding the number of ways players can get support and repair for their Xbox consoles, we also help extend the longevity of Xbox devices, reduce waste, promote re-use and ultimately reduce our environmental impact," Trista Patterson, director of gaming sustainability at Xbox, wrote in an Xbox Wire post. In addition, there are no longer any single-use plastics in Xbox Series X/S packaging following a switch to fully paper- and fiber-based materials.Elsewhere on the sustainability front, Microsoft says that, through recent efficiencies in how the Xbox Series S handles video content, there's been an average power reduction of 10 percent while media apps are in use. As for the company's game studios, they've been using the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit to make more energy-efficient games, Microsoft says.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/microsoft-and-ifixit-now-sell-official-xbox-series-xs-replacement-parts-for-diy-repairs-173948884.html?src=rss
It's been a long wait, but Daredevil: Born Again premieres on March 4 via Disney+. The streamer just dropped another trailer that's filled with new footage, much of it proving that the pseudo-sequel series will stay true to its violent roots.The trailer's anchored around Matt Murdock sitting at a diner with arch-nemesis Wilson Fisk, calling to mind that famous scene in Heat between Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. The relationship between these two was one of the main reasons that the Netflix series worked so well, and the actors still have plenty of chemistry.The footage is also ultra-violent, which should please fans of the original show. The bone-crunching looks to be extra, uh, visceral. Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot a bearded and disoriented Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, likely on his way to mow down 400 gangsters.Daredevil's best buds Karen and Foggy are in the footage, but briefly and without any speaking lines. We know they were only recently added to the show after a complete retool, which leaves me wondering how much we'll see of the pair.Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jon Bernthal, Ayelet Zurer and Wilson Bethel, among others. It's been over six years since the final season of the Netflix show premiered, so we are more than ready to go back to Hell's Kitchen. As previously mentioned, this show has been in the works for a while. Disney+ actually filmed a large portion of the season before scrapping it all and starting over.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/daredevils-new-trailer-is-heavy-on-violence-and-nostalgia-164430782.html?src=rss
Honda has announced that its first original EV design, the Acura RSX, will use its proprietary Asimo operating system, according to The Verge. If those names sound familiar it's because RSX is a Honda nameplate from the early 2000s, and Asimo was a Honda project to build humanoid robots from the area, which was finally mothballed in 2018. Everything old is new again.Asimo OS was mentioned at CES 2025 alongside its 0 Series SUV and Saloon sedan EV concepts, but the Acura RSX will be the first production vehicle to get it. The operating system uses technology similar to its namesake robot to recognize external environments and understand people's intentions, according to the company. It will also assist in the vehicle's automated and advanced assisted driving functions.The company's current EVs - the Acura ZDX and the Honda Prologue - are both based on the General Motors Ultium platform. Production of the Acura RSX will take place in Honda's new Fayette County, Ohio factory. The final beams of the plant were only erected a little less than a year ago, and it's projected to have battery and RSX production up and running by the end of this year. Consumers should be able to get their hands on the new vehicle sometime in 2026.While Honda is working hard on its EVs, its plans to merge with Nissan, announced at the end of last year, continue. The two companies have been collaborating on making EV components and software since August.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/the-acura-rsx-calls-dibs-on-hondas-proprietary-asimo-os-162231318.html?src=rss
We recommend several Dyson models in our guide to the best cordless vacuums. While the Digital Slim isn't on the list per se, it's still an option perhaps worth considering if you're in the market for a new vacuum - not least because that model is half off right now. You can snap it up from both Amazon and Dyson directly for $250. This isn't quite a record low price for this model. The Dyson Digital Slim was $270 off for Black Friday back in November. Still, half off is a decent deal by just about any metric. At 4.4 pounds, the Dyson Digital Slim cordless stick vacuum is about a third lighter than the company's popular V11 model. That should make it relatively easier to handle. On the downside, the Digital Slim will run for about 40 minutes on a single charge. That means it's probably best suited for smaller homes. That said, there is an LCD display that shows how much battery life is left, so you shouldn't be caught unaware before it runs out of juice. The Digital Slim offers three power modes so you can balance power and runtime. The vacuum has a capacity of 0.1 gallons and there's a no-touch emptying mechanism. It also turns into a handheld with a single click for those hard-to-reach places and to help with cleaning the couch or your car. Dyson says the vacuum has a fully sealed, whole machine filtration system that captures dust and seals in 99.99 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-dyson-cordless-stick-vacuum-is-half-off-right-now-153116755.html?src=rss
It's an understatement to say that cell phones have evolved in the 30-plus years since they entered mainstream society. But, despite all the stuff our smart phones offer, they'll never hit the same way those early models did. Now, there's an opportunity to step back in time, thanks to the new digital Nokia Design Archive sharing sketches, photos, interviews and videos spanning from the mid-1990s to 2017.Aalto University, in Nokia's home country of Finland, is responsible for the Nokia Design Archive. Its team of researchers curated 700 entries and included a repository with another 20,000 items and 959GB of born-digital file. The never-before-seen content from Nokia, which released its first GSM hand-portable phone in 1992, doesn't disappoint. Anyone feeling extra nerdy (ahem, me) can even read through presentations with mood boards and concept designs.The ensuing nostalgia dive provides not only an ode to the classic Nokia devices (and their very 90s styling), but also an interesting look into how technology evolves. "In the early ages of Nokia, there was a genuine wish to understand people, how they live, what makes them tick. Now we're at a similar point of societal transformation with AI. Nobody has concretised what it is yet, but we need to get people thinking about what could be," said lead researcher Professor Anna Valtonen in a release. The Archive reveals how designers made visions concrete so that they could be properly explored long before they became reality. It reminds us that we do have agency and we can shape our world - by revealing the work of many people who did just that."NokiaThe Design Archive looks a bit like a word graph floating through space, with topics including Mobile Games and Gaming - which provides an overview of the infamous Snake game's creation - and Phones Fashion and Accessories. The free platform offers four topic filters: products, aesthetics, design process and design strategy. Plus, you can narrow in on specific years for a better look at your favorite model's time period. The team hopes to continue adding more content as the project develops further.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/the-nokia-design-archive-has-20-plus-years-of-never-before-seen-images-sketches-and-strategy-150044971.html?src=rss
Axios is expanding its local newsletter presence from 30 to 34 cities. The catch? OpenAI is funding it. In its continued pretense of benefiting newsrooms, OpenAI has partnered with Axiosin a three-year deal to cover Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri; Boulder, Colorado; and Huntsville, Alabama. What does OpenAI get in exchange for its funding? Oh, just the ability to use Axios content to answer users' questions.Like the close to 20 newsrooms that OpenAI has already partnered with, Axios seems to have forgotten that the scorpion did end up stinging the frog. Instead, we have this starry-eyed statement from Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei: "We launched Axios Local nearly four years ago with the bold goal of bringing local news to communities across the country. OpenAI's investment allows us to continue our expansion and aid us in bringing essential local news to deserving audiences."Axios will be able to use OpenAI's technology to create its own AI-powered systems and products. However, VandeHei issued a memo to employees stating the aforementioned technology won't be used for reporting stories (sure, because no one has been laid off in favor of AI before - oh wait, wait some more and the list continues). The Axios announcementdoes, however, point out that The New York Times is currently suing both OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, so maybe there's some awareness of what its entering into.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/axios-partners-with-openai-forgetting-the-scorpion-stung-the-frog-144242204.html?src=rss
The rise of AI NPCs has felt like a looming threat for years, as if developers couldn't wait to dump human writers and offload NPC conversations to generative AI models. At CES 2025, NVIDIA made it plainly clear the technology was right around the corner. PUBG developer Krafton, for instance, plans to use NVIDIA's ACE (Avatar Cloud Engine) to power AI companions, which will assist and banter with you during matches. Krafton isn't just stopping there - it's also using ACE in its life simulation title InZOI to make characters smarter and generate objects.While the use of generative AI in games seems almost inevitable, as the medium has always toyed with new methods for making enemies and NPCs seem smarter and more realistic, seeing several NVIDIA ACE demos back-to-back made me genuinely sick to my stomach. This wasn't just slightly smarter enemy AI - ACE can craft entire conversations out of thin air, simulate voices and try to give NPCs a sense of personality. It's also doing that work locally on your PC, powered by NVIDIA's RTX GPUs. But while all of that that might sound cool on paper, I hated almost every second I saw the AI NPCs in action.TiGames' ZooPunk is a prime example: It relies on NVIDIA ACE to generate dialog, a virtual voice and lip syncing for an NPC named Buck. But as you can see in the video above, Buck sounds like a stilted robot with a slight country accent. If he's supposed to have some sort of relationship with the main character, you couldn't tell from the performance.I think my visceral aversion to NVIDIA's ACE-powered AI comes down to this: There's simply nothing compelling about it. No joy, no warmth, no humanity. Every ACE AI character feels like a developer cutting corners in the worst way possible, as if you're seeing their contempt for the audience manifested a boring NPC. I'd much rather scroll through some on-screen text, at least I wouldn't have to have conversations with uncanny robot voices.During NVIDIA's Editor's Day at CES, a gathering for media to learn more about the new RTX 5000-series GPUs and their related technology, I was also underwhelmed by a demo of PUBG's AI Ally. Its responses were akin to what you'd hear from a pre-recorded phone tree. The Ally also failed to find a gun when the player asked, which could have been a deadly mistake in a crowded map. At one point, the PUBG companion also spent around 15 seconds attacking enemies while the demo player was shouting for it to get into a car. What good is an AI helper if it plays like a noob?Poke around NVIDIA's YouTube channel and you'll find other disappointing ACE examples, like the basic speaking animations in the MMO World of Jade Dynasty (above) and Alien: Rogue Incursion. I'm sure many devs would love to skip the chore of developing decent lip syncing technology, or adopting someone else's, but for these games leaning on AI just looks awful.To be clear, I don't think NVIDIA's AI efforts are all pointless. I've loved seeing DLSS get steadily better over the years, and I'm intrigued to see how DLSS 4's multi-frame generation could improve 4K and ray-tracing performance for demanding games. The company's neural shader technology also seems compelling, in particular its ability to apply a realistic sheen to material like silk, or evoke the slight transparency you'd see from skin. These aren't enormous visual leaps, to be clear, but they could help deliver a better sense of immersion.Now I'm sure some AI boosters will say that the technology will get better from here, and at some undefinable point in the future, it could approach the quality of human ingenuity. Maybe. But I'm personally tired of being sold on AI fantasies, when we know the key to great writing and performances is to give human talent the time and resources to refine their craft. And on a certain level, I think I'll always feel like the director Hayao Miyazaki, who described an early example of an AI CG creature as, "an affront to life itself."AI, like any new technology, is a tool that could be deployed in many ways. For things like graphics and gameplay (like the intelligent enemies in F.E.A.R. and The Last of Us), it makes sense. But when it comes to communicating with NPCs, writing their dialog and crafting their performances, I've grown to appreciate human effort more than anything else. Replacing that with lifeless AI doesn't seem like a step forward in any way.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/nvidias-ai-npcs-are-a-nightmare-140313701.html?src=rss
If you know anyone in the job market right now, then you've probably heard stories about just how tough it can be to even land an interview. Part of the problem, according to LinkedIn, is that too many people are applying for jobs they aren't actually qualified for, which makes it harder for good candidates to stand out.The company is hoping its new AI-powered Job Match" feature can help address some of that disconnect. The feature, which is beginning to roll out today, uses AI to provide detailed summaries alongside job listings that let users know how qualified they actually are for a given role.LinkedIn product manager Rohan Rajiv says that the AI-powered feature goes beyond the kind of simple keyword matching that job hunters may already rely on. Instead, it attempts to understand the breadth of your experience and how it aligns with the qualifications outlined in the job description.The goal, Rajiv tells Engadget, is to help surface the jobs a person is most qualified for and discourage people from applying to roles they aren't. When you're qualified, we'll be able to help you, but also, when you're not qualified, we can hopefully find you other places where you are qualified," Rajv told Engadget.While Job Match" will be available to all LinkedIn users, there are some added benefits for subscribers to LinkedIn Premium, including more granular information about their job match level. Eventually, Rajiv says, LinkedIn will also be able to surface more qualified applicants on the recruiter side as well, to make it less likely for good candidates to be overlooked.Whether any of this will actually ease the pain of would-be job seekers is less clear. The tech industry lost tens of thousands of jobs to layoffs in 2024. So did the video game industry. Media and entertainment hasn't fared much better, either.All that would seemingly create even more competition for the same job openings - a dynamic AI seems ill-equipped to fully address. I think there's a portion of this that will always be labor market dynamics, but I would argue that there's a significant portion of this that is just pure lack of transparency," Rajiv says. He notes that early tests of the feature have suggested that a non-trivial chunk" of the problem is more solvable than we think."On their part, recruiters seem to be endorsing LinkedIn's latest advice regarding applying for fewer jobs. The company's blog post features testimonials from recruiters practically begging unqualified applicants to stop flooding their inboxes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/linkedin-wants-you-to-apply-for-fewer-jobs-140049139.html?src=rss
The United States, Japan and South Korea have issued a warning against North Korean threat actors, who are actively and aggressively targeting the cryptocurrency industry. In their joint advisory, the countries said threat actor groups affiliated with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to stage numerous cybercrime campaigns to steal cryptocurrency. Those bad actors - including the Lazarus hacking group, which the US believes has been deploying cyber attacks all over the world since 2009 - target "exchanges, digital asset custodians and individual users." And apparently, they stole $659 million in crypto assets in 2024 alone.North Korean hackers have been using "well-disguised social engineering attacks" to infiltrate their targets' systems, the countries said. They also warned that the actors could get access to systems owned by the private sector by posing as freelance IT workers. Back in 2022, the US issued guidelines on how to identify potential workers from North Korea, such as how they'd typically log in from multiple IP addresses, transfer money to accounts based in the People's Republic of China, ask for crypto payments, have inconsistencies with their background information and be unreachable at times during their supposed business hours.Once the bad actors are in, they then usually deploy malware, such as keyloggers and remote access tools, to be able to steal login credentials and, ultimately, virtual currency they can control and sell. As for where the stolen funds go: The UN issued a report in 2022, revealing its investigators' discovery that North Korea uses money stolen by affiliated threat actors for its missile programs. "Our three governments strive together to prevent thefts, including from private industry, by the DPRK and to recover stolen funds with the ultimate goal of denying the DPRK illicit revenue for its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs," the US, Japan and South Korea said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/north-korea-stole-659-million-in-crypto-assets-last-year-the-us-says-133029741.html?src=rss
DJI has lifted its geofence that prevents users in the US from flying over restricted areas like nuclear power plants, airports and wildfires, the company wrote in a blog post on Monday. As of January 13th, areas previously called "restricted zones" or no-fly zones will be shown as "enhanced warning zones" that correspond to designated Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) areas. DJI's Fly app will display a warning about those areas but will no longer stop users from flying inside them, the company said.In the article, DJI wrote that the "in-app alerts will notify operators flying near FAA designated controlled airspace, placing control back in the hands of the drone operators, in line with regulatory principles of the operator bearing final responsibility." It added that technologies like Remote ID [introduced after DJI implemented geofencing] gives authorities "the tools needed to enforce existing rules," DJI's global policy chief Adam Welsh told The Verge.Still, the update is an odd one, given that DJI is already on shaky ground in the US and could be banned from selling its products stateside as early as next year. DJI's former head of policy, Brendon Schulman, criticized the move on Twitter in a series of posts. "There was substantial evidence over the years that automatic drone geofencing, implemented using a risk-based approach, contributed significantly to aviation safety," he wrote.
After a more than two-year investigation, the Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Elon Musk over his delayed disclosure of the Twitter stock he amassed before announcing his intention to acquire the company in 2022.In a court filing, the SEC says that Musk filed paperwork with the SEC disclosing his purchase of Twitter shares 11 days after an SEC-mandated deadline to do so. (Federal law, as the SEC notes in its statement, requires investors to publicly report when they have acquired a more than 5 percent stake in a company.) This delay, according to the regulator, allowed Musk to buy up even more Twitter stock at a time when other investors were unaware of his involvement with the company.From the lawsuit:
Pixelfed is now available as a mobile apps for both iOS and Android. The open source, decentralized platform offers image sharing similar to Instagram. However, Pixelfed has no advertisements and does not share user data with third parties. The platform launched in 2018, but was only available on the web or through third-party app clients. The Android app debuted on January 9 and the iOS app released today.Creator Daniel Supernault posted on Mastodon Monday evening that the platform had 11,000 users join over the preceding 24 hours and that more than 78,000 posts have been shared to Pixelfed to date. The platform runs on ActivityPub, the same protocol that powers several other decentralized social networks in the fediverse, such as Mastodon and Flipboard.Many Instagram users have been seeking out alternatives to the Meta-owned platform after the company said it would eliminate third-party fact checking and revised its "Hateful Content" policy to allow denigrating comments against women and trans people, among other changes. Meta also blocked some links to Pixelfed on Facebook, treating them as spam and deleting those posts. A representative from the company said this was an error and that the posts would be reinstated.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/pixelfed-instagrams-decentralized-competitor-is-now-on-ios-and-android-205059236.html?src=rss
We've been hearing about the latest animated movie based on The Witcher franchise for a while now, but we've only ever gotten a short teaser and an equally short clip. Now, finally, there's a legit full-fledged trailer. This is opportune timing, as The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep hits Netflix on February 11.The big hook here? Geralt is voiced by Doug Cockle, reprising his role from the video games. Anya Chalotra and Joey Batey (Yennefer of Vengerberg and Jaskier in the live action show) are also reprising their roles. It's set in the universe of the TV show, surrounding events that occurred during the first season, but is based on a short story by franchise creator Andrzej Sapkowski.The original story, called A Little Sacrifice," involves Geralt investigating a series of attacks in a seaside village, leading to a conflict between humans and merpeople. It's generally considered one of the better short stories in the canon. There's an underwater city, which is always a good time.The movie is directed by Kang Hei Chul. He was a storyboard artist for The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, which was a prequel that followed Geralt's mentor Vesemir. Studio Mir is on animation duties, the same South Korean studio that worked on Nightmare of the Wolf.This company has an absolutely amazing pedigree. It animated the hit cartoon X-Men 97, but also stuff like The Legend of Korra, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, My Adventures with Superman and Voltron: Legendary Defender, among many others. The studio is currently finishing up the upcoming Devil May Cry anime, also for Netflix.A fourth game in The Witcher franchise is coming, but this one stars Ciri instead of Geralt. The fifth and final season of The Witcher TV show is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/the-new-witcher-animated-film-finally-has-a-legit-trailer-195457579.html?src=rss
ChatGPT has had support for voice conversations since the end of 2023, but if you're new to OpenAI's chatbot, figuring out how to converse with it can be tricky since there are a couple of ways to go about it. In this guide, I'll explain the main differences between ChatGPT's two voice modes and how to use both of them.What is ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode?As of the writing of this article, OpenAI offers two different ways of interacting with ChatGPT using your voice: Standard" and Advanced." The former is available to all users, with usage counting against one's message limit. Advanced," meanwhile, has more granular restrictions.As a free user, OpenAI offers a monthly preview of the tool. Subscribing to the company's $20 per month Plus plan allows you to use Advanced Voice daily. OpenAI notes daily limits may change, but either way, the company promises to notify users 15 minutes before they're about to hit their usage cap. Pro users can use Advanced Voice as much as they want, provided they do so in a way that's reasonable" and complies with the company's policies.Outside of those limits, the primary difference between the two modes is the sophistication of the underlying models powering them. Per OpenAI, Advanced Voice is natively multi-modal, meaning it can process more than just text input. In practice, this translates to Advanced Voice offering capabilities that aren't possible with Standard Mode, which is limited to reading a transcript of what you say to your phone. In addition to hearing" your voice, ChatGPT in Advanced Voice can simultaneously process video and images. It's even possible to screen share with the chatbot, making it possible for it to guide you through using an app on your phone.Additionally, OpenAI says Advanced Voice's multi-modality means ChatGPT can produce a more natural voice and is better able to pick up non-verbal cues.How do you start a voice conversation with ChatGPT?Igor Bonifacic for EngadgetAs mentioned above, OpenAI offers two different ways of interacting with ChatGPT using your voice. The steps below will show you how to access them on your iPhone or Android device.First, you need to download the ChatGPT app (Android, iOS). The features detailed in this guide aren't available through the ChatGPT integration offered by Apple through its AI suite.To use Standard mode, tap the microphone icon to the right of the Message bar. If you need to grant the ChatGPT app access to your phone's microphone, you can do so through its settings menu.After ChatGPT begins recording your prompt, tap the checkmark icon for the chatbot to start processing your question. If you want it to discard what you said, press the x icon.To use Advanced Mode, tap the waveform icon to the right of the Message bar. Tap the microphone icon if you want to mute your phone's mic. You can exit Advanced Mode at any time by pressing the x icon.How do you share a photo of your screen with ChatGPT while having a voice conversation?If you want to screen share with ChatGPT or share a photo or video with it, tap the three-dots icon and select Share Screen, Upload Photo or Take Photo.If you don't see those options, update to the latest version of the ChatGPT app. You may also live in a country where OpenAI isn't offering those features yet. See below for more information.How many voice options are available?The first time you use Advanced Voice Mode, you'll be prompted to select a tone of voice for ChatGPT. Right now, OpenAI offers nine different options. I've listed them below, along with the company's descriptions of each one.
The Department of Justice and the FBI shared today that they have completed a project to remove malware used by Chinese hackers from computers in the US. The effort was essentially a court-approved counter-hack that remotely deleted malware known as PlugX from more than 4,200 computers. The agencies will notify the US owners of those impacted machines about the operation through their internet service providers.According to the DOJ press release, hacker groups known as Mustang Panda and Twill Typhoon received backing from the Chinese government to use PlugX to infect, control and gather information from computers outside China. The action to delete the PlugX malware from US computers began in August 2024. It was conducted in cooperation with French law enforcement and with Sekoia.io, a France-based private cybersecurity company. Sekoia.io has found PlugX malware in more than 170 countries.The Mustang Panda group has been conducting infiltration efforts around the world since at least 2014. For instance, cybersecurity firm ESET found that Mustang Panda gained access to cargo shipping companies' computers in Norway, Greece and the Netherlands in March. And the group was one of several China-linked hacking organizations identified as compromising telecommunications systems across the Asia-Pacific region in reports last summer.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/doj-remotely-cleaned-thousands-of-computers-infected-with-chinese-malware-191837967.html?src=rss
Meta is preparing for even more layoffs, according to reporting by Bloomberg. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a company memo that he plans on cutting about five percent of its "low-performers."I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster," Zuckerberg said in the memo. We typically manage out people who aren't meeting expectations over the course of a year, but now we're going to do more extensive performance-based cuts during this cycle."All told, this could result in 10 percent fewer staff at Meta, once attrition is accounted for. Bloomberg suggested that the forthcoming pink slips will focus on people who have been with the company long enough to receive a performance rating."Between increased layoffs and attrition, nearly 7,000 Meta staff might be leaving the company in the near future. This follows a firing spree that began in late 2022, eventually impacting over 20,000 workers. The company also laid off 60 technical program managers earlier this month."A leaner org will execute its highest priorities faster. People will be more productive, and their work will be more fun and fulfilling," Zuckerberg said in 2024. Nothing says fun and fulfilling" like living in constant fear of being fired.Meta has had an unusual year so far. We are only halfway through January and the Zuck has already ended third-party fact checking across Meta platforms, appointed UFC CEO Dana White to Meta's board and took a trip to Mar-a-lago to bend the knee. The company also changed its "Hateful Content" policy to make it safer for homophobes and it came out that Instagram had been shadowbanning common LGBTQ hashtags.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/mark-zuckerberg-plans-to-lay-off-an-additional-five-percent-of-metas-workforce-182651886.html?src=rss
Last week, Meta decided it would replace its professional fact-checking program with X-style "Community Notes" and it looks like a version of the feature is already being tested on Threads. Alessandro Paluzzi, a developer who frequently posts leaked details on Meta's apps, shared three screenshots that show an early look of what the Community Notes might look like in Threads.In a statement, a Meta spokesperson described the screenshots as an "internal prototype" and said the feature wasn't being tested outside of the company.Paluzzi's images show a new "Write Community Note" option in the menu you can access in the corner of a Threads post. If you select it, it looks like you'll be able to anonymously submit your note, and if it's rated as helpful, it will appear under the post. The whole setup is not dissimilar from how X uses Community Notes, which started as a feature called "Birdwatch" on Twitter before Elon Musk acquired and renamed the company.Alessandro Paluzzi Community Notes are just one of the ways Threads is changing under Meta's new approach to moderation. The app, which was against the sharing and promoting of "political" content, will now also suggest political posts. Instagram and Threads head Adam Mosseri demonstrated how you can adjust the amount of political content you see in your feed in a short video shared to Threads today. Meta is giving users three options to choose from: "See less," which attempts to weed out political content, "Standard," which suggests some political content and "See more," which treats political content like everything else on the app.It's not clear that Community Notes or toggles for political content address the actual issues users have with Threads, or if they'll make anyone happier. They do fit with the "free speech warrior" image Meta is trying to project, though.Update January 14, 2025, 12:26 PM ET: This story has been updated to add more information from a Meta spokesperson.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/threads-is-starting-to-test-community-notes-232150151.html?src=rss
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