Behavior Interactive just announced another Dead by Daylight crossover that brings everyone's favorite looter/archeologist Lara Croft into the game. The Tomb Raider expansion launches on July 16 and features the younger and grittier version of the character as seen in the newer titles collected in the Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy.
Waymo is now available for anyone in San Francisco to fire up the app and hail a robotaxi. The Alphabet-owned company has had government approval to operate paid driverless cars in the city since last August but had been working its way through a waitlist in the months since. Following Cruise's unceremonious exit from California (after dragging a pedestrian 20 feet and concealing evidence from regulators), Waymo is now the only company with autonomous commercial cars in the state.Waymo says its cars have logged over 3.8 million driverless miles in San Francisco, and the company claims its vehicles tally tens of thousands of weekly trips" there. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Waymo's fleet in the city has about 300 cars, up from around 250 in January. However, despite the wider availability, it reportedly doesn't plan to aggressively expand its San Francisco lineup in the near future.San Francisco is Waymo's second city to offer rides to the general public, following Phoenix. The service was exclusive to Waymo One members (and their invitees) starting in 2020, and expanded to anyone in the city two years later.Cruise may have flamed out spectacularly, but Waymo hasn't been without its own troubles. Earlier this month, it pushed a software update for its fleet after one of its driverless cars hit a telephone pole in Phoenix. That followed a bizarre incident earlier this year when two Waymo robotaxis made contact" with the same backward-facing pickup truck being towed. The company later said its software had incorrectly predicted the truck's movements due to a persistent orientation mismatch" between the towed vehicle and the one pulling it.If you're in San Francisco (or Phoenix), you can book a Waymo ride through the iOS or Android app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/waymos-robotaxis-are-now-open-to-anyone-in-san-francisco-181326362.html?src=rss
Tesla's Cybertruck is being recalled yet again, according to reporting by The Verge. The company issued a physical recall that could impact nearly 12,000 owners of the controversial vehicle.Here's how it breaks down. The company's recalling 11,688 Cybertrucks due to a faulty windshield wiper that could significantly reduce visibility while driving. It's also recalling 11,383 electric pickups because of trim in the bed that could come loose and create a road hazard for other people on the road. Tesla said that it's not aware of any injuries or deaths" related to either issue, according to Quartz.The NHTSA's recall notice for the wiper indicates that Tesla will replace the wiper motor once the owner brings it in for service. As for the potentially loose trim, the company will apply adhesion promoter and pressure sensitive tape or replace missing applique as necessary." Both of these fixes will be free of charge.This follows another significant recall from earlier this year. That one involved a faulty accelerator pedal that could get stuck during use. The accelerator pedal issue impacted nearly 4,000 vehicles.It's tough to figure out what percentage of sales these recalls impact, but it could be just about all of them. Back during the accelerator pedal fiasco in April, Tesla revealed it had manufactured and sold 3,878 units to date. The company hasn't released updated sales figures but these latest recalls account for nearly 12,000 vehicles. How many more could it have sold since April? Maybe people are snatching them up just for the purpose of spray painting anti-Elon graffiti.The Cybertruck has been plagued by issues since launch, though most of them didn't reach the level of a recall. Consumers have complained about an overall lack of visibility, difficulty in off-road conditions, costly repairs, an inability to drive on snow, poor mileage and all kinds of other frustrations. It also starts at nearly $82,000.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/teslas-cybertruck-has-been-recalled-again-174632424.html?src=rss
Amazon made it official this morning: Amazon Prime Day 2024 will be on July 16 and 17 this year. The shopping event will start at 12:01AM PT/3:01AM ET on Tuesday, July 16, and conclude at the end of the day on Wednesday, July 17. As it has been for the past few years, Prime Day will actually last two full days, and it will bring thousands of exclusive, members-only deals on everything from electronics to household goods to fashion. If you can't wait a few more weeks, there are some Prime Day deals you can already shop now.In addition to spurring a large number of sales in a short period of time, Amazon Prime Day has always been a way for the online retail giant to increase the overall number of Prime subscribers. Prime Day isn't necessarily a perk of the service like access to Prime Video content or free two-day shipping are, but it certainly helps that most deals you'll find on Amazon during the two-day event are exclusively available to Prime members. However, it's worth noting that the cost of Prime has increased significantly since the service debuted in 2005: an annual membership will set you back $139 right now, nearly double the price it was at launch ($79 per year).Prime Day in July has been the main shopping event for Amazon for a decade now, but that hasn't stopped the company from expanding the event's reach. For the past couple of years, we've seen a fall Prime Day" of sorts pop up in October, presumably as Amazon's official kickoff for the holiday shopping season. There's no word on if October Prime Day will return for 2024, but since most online retailers have started their holiday sales earlier and earlier since 2020, we think there's a good chance it'll return this year as well.If you do plan on putting that Prime membership to use next month, you can turn to Engadget to find the tech deals worth your month during the two-day event. Unsurprisingly, Amazon Prime Day is one of the best times of the year to get Amazon devices, since most of them will likely be down to all-time-low prices. But we also expect to see worthwhile sales on headphones, robot vacuums, laptops, SSDs and much more. You can also follow Engadget Deals on Twitter for the latest news during Prime Day, and sign up for the new Engadget Deals newsletter to get the best deals delivered right to your inbox.Your Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Hear from Autoblog's experts on the best Amazon Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/amazon-prime-day-2024-dates-announced-shop-the-summer-sale-on-july-16-and-17-050559496.html?src=rss
Typically, Google shows off its next generation of devices in the fall. But this year it seems that time frame has moved up: the company's next Made by Google event will be August 13 at 1PM ET.While Google didn't share any specific details regarding upcoming announcements, the invite says the company will "showcase the best of Google AI, Android software and the Pixel portfolio of devices." In another break from tradition, this year's event will take place at Google's headquarters in Mountain View, CA instead of New York City, which has been the typical host location for Pixel launches.Based on rumors and the release cadence of Google's existing devices, we're expecting to learn more about the Pixel 9, the next version of the Pixel Fold, a new Tensor chip, a third-gen Pixel Watch and possibly an update to the Pixel Buds. And based on the amount of attention the company gave to AI during Google I/O earlier this spring, it's basically a guarantee that we'll see some new machine learning-based features as well.While it remains unclear what prompted Google to move its next product launch up to August 13, between this event and rumors of an upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, it's shaping up to be a busy summer for gadget fans.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/made-by-googles-next-event-will-be-august-13-165538940.html?src=rss
Snapchat is, once again, beefing up its safety features to make it harder for strangers to contact teens in the app. The company is adding new warnings about "suspicious" contacts and preemptively blocking friend requests from accounts that may be linked to scams.It's not the first time Snap has tried to dissuade teen users from connecting with strangers in the app. The company says the latest warnings go a step further in that the alerts rely on new and advanced signals" that indicate an account may be tied to a scammer. Likewise, Snap says it will block friend requests sent by users who lack mutual friends with the requestee, and "a history of accessing Snapchat in locations often associated with scamming activity." The app's block feature is also getting an upgrade so that users who block someone will also automatically block new accounts made on the same device.These updates, according to the company, will help address sextortion scams that often target teens across social media platforms, as well as other safety and privacy concerns. Snap, like many of its social media peers, has come under fire from lawmakers over teen safety issues, including sextortion scams and the ease with which drug dealers have been able to contact teens in the app. The latest update also just happens to come shortly after Rolling Stone published an exhaustive investigation into how Snapchat helped fuel a teen-overdose epidemic across the country."The article cited specific features like Snapchat's Snap Map, which allows users to share their current location with friends, and quick add" suggestions, which surfaced friend recommendations. (The company began limiting quick add" suggestions between teen and adult accounts in 2022.) And while teens can still opt-in to the Snap Map location sharing, the company says it's simplifying these settings so they're easier to change and surfacing more frequent reminders" about how they are sharing their whereabouts in the app.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/snapchat-is-making-it-harder-for-strangers-to-contact-teens--again-163824048.html?src=rss
ChatGPT is now available with many Volkswagen models, including all vehicles in the electric ID family, the new Golf, Tiguan and Passat. This integration is only in Europe, for now, with North America coming soon.What does this mean exactly? ChatGPT has been integrated into Volkswagen's own voice assistant IDA to complement the service and add more features, sort of like how Apple is handling its own partnership with OpenAI's platform. This means that customers can better communicate with the vehicle using natural language, which allows the assistant to answer questions about various topics." IDA could already handle voice-controlled climate adjustments and navigation, but the addition of ChatGPT should make everything run a bit smoother.Volkswagen also says that the updated voice assistant can provide information on tourist attractions, report on football games and help solve math problems. You know, all of the stuff that regular ChatGPT is used for, only in a car. To that end, Volkswagen touts that drivers won't have to ever take their eyes off the road when using this service.As for privacy, the company says that a query is only sent to the cloud if IDA can't handle it, just like how Apple Intelligence works. The query is sent anonymously so ChatGPT doesn't get any of your vehicle data. It can also be deactivated entirely via the settings area of the Volkswagen app.We tried this feature a few months back at CES and came away slightly confused but also intrigued. We found that the system didn't add much to the whole driving experience but could be a great tool for passengers. It told us a cute story about a dinosaur, though struggled with up-to-date queries like basketball scores. In short, it should keep the kids busy during road trips.ChatGPT integration is heading to the US with 2025 vehicles, with a global release coming shortly after that. It's also available in languages other than English, which is always a nice surprise. The system can handle Spanish, Czech and German.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chatgpt-is-now-available-in-many-volkswagen-models-161547310.html?src=rss
The original Razr was always sort of a style icon. It was super thin (almost to a fault) and looked more like a prop from a sci-fi movie than all its brick-shaped rivals at the time. And with the launch of a new generation of its signature flip phone later this summer, it feels like Moto is trying to recapture some of that magic with the 2024 Razr family. Just like last year, the Razr line is split between two devices: the flagship Razr+, which starts at $1,000, and a more affordable non-plus model that starts at $700. That said, Motorola has made some significant changes to help close the gap between the two phones. Both of them feature a 6.9-inch flexible OLED interior display with a 165Hz refresh rate for the Razr+ and a 120Hz panel on the standard version. Meanwhile, on the outside, Moto created a new hinge it claims is 30 percent smaller, while also increasing the size of the front display (which is covered by Gorilla Glass Victus for added durability). Both versions of the 2024 Razr have larger exterior displays. The easiest way to tell them apart is that the standard Razr (left) has a small body-colored strip below its screen while the Razr+ (right) has a larger 4-inch panel. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget The Razr+'s exterior OLED screen now measures 4 inches across, which is up from 3.6 inches on last year's model. However, the basic Razr has made an even bigger jump by replacing the tiny 1.5-inch panel on its predecessor with a new 3.6-inch display. But Moto didn't stop there. Thanks to an update to its Panels UI, you can open basically any app on the Razrs' front display, with the only exceptions being apps that require specific (i.e. larger) resolutions. But perhaps the biggest improvement for overall usability is that both handsets now also feature IPX8 ratings for water-resistance (up from IP52), which is tested to withstand dunks of up to 5 feet for 30 minutes. Of course, it wouldn't be a Razr without some fashionable color options and for 2024, Motorola is definitely delivering on that. The Razr+ will be available in Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Hot Pink (which is an homage to the vibrant magenta version of the OG Razr) and Peach Fuzz, with the latter being Pantone's 2024 color of the year. Meanwhile, the standard Razr comes in three colors: Koala Gray, Beach Sand and a particularly eye-catching hue that Moto is calling Spritz Orange. Notably, every one of those options features a vegan leather back aside from the gray model. That comes in vegan suede instead, which sort of feels like silicone but with an ever softer finish. Whichever finish you choose, both options are a nice departure from the glass backs you get on pretty much every other phone these days. For snapping photos, both devices feature a 32-MP punch-hole selfie camera on the inside along with a 50-MP main camera on the outside and either a 2x telephoto cam on the Razr+ or an ultra-wide lens on the standard Razr. Moto says it also updated the Camcorder feature so that it automatically activates when you bend the screen and rotate the phone 90 degrees, which should make switching between photo and video a bit more seamless. As for software, Moto is jumping on the AI bandwagon with its own series of AI-powered features. The Razr supports Google Gemini (including three free months of Gemini Advanced with purchase) along with the company's own Moto AI tools. This includes things like Magic Canvas, which allows you to generate images using text prompts and the nifty Style Sync mode, which lets you take a photo of your clothing so you can create a matching wallpaper for use on the device, which feels like a small but thoughtful addition for fashionistas that don't want their phone to clash with their outfit. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Later this year, Moto is adding even more AI tools including Catch Me Up which can summarize all your notifications so you don't have to swipe through everything individually after being away for a while. But the feature that might have the most impact is Remember This. With it, you can ask Moto AI to record a photo, screenshot or audio and then repeat important details back to you later when you ask. That said, you have to first prompt the Razrs to do this, and unlike Microsoft's Copilot feature Recall, the phones only save what you tell them to instead of saving and tracking everything you do. Finally, powering the Razr+ is a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip along with 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a 4,000 mAh battery, the latter of which is slightly larger than the 3,700mAh cell in a Galaxy Z Flip 5. Meanwhile, the vanilla Razr features still solid but less impressive specs, including a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It does come with a slightly larger 4,200 mAh power pack, though. First impressions of the Moto Razr and Razr+ Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget While I only had a short while to play around with both devices, I really like what Moto has done with the Razr's design and software. The exterior feels more luxurious thanks to that vegan leather/suede back and the larger front display supports a wider range of apps and makes better use of space. And while AI has become a bit of a buzzword these days, it feels like Moto is taking a more considered approach with features like Style Sync and Remember This, which are fun or helpful additions that don't feel too intrusive. However, I do have some small complaints as well. I wish the Razr's main cameras were positioned on the left instead of the right. The reason is that if you're right-handed (which accounts for around 90 percent of people), the way the lens housing protrudes can sometimes get in the way of your thumb. I also think the Razr's hinge could be a touch stiffer, as its screen doesn't feel quite as stable as rivals like the Z Flip 5. And while Motorola says the phone will receive three major Android OS upgrades and four years of software support, that's still way short of the seven years you get from recent Samsung and Google phones. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget Lastly, while there is still a crease in the internal display, it's so faint that it's really more of a shallow ripple that you only see at acute angles. Motorola says the Razr's new hinge creates more of a waterdrop-shaped fold when closed, which helps reduce the appearance of creases. After seeing the devices up close, I have to say it's not distracting at all. But the best part is that with the basic Razr starting at just $700 and the flagship model going for $1,000, we're getting more foldable phones with solid water resistance and good builds for a reasonable price. The Razr and Razr+ will be available for pre-order starting on July 10 with official sales slated for July 24. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/motorolas-2024-razr-and-razr-might-be-the-most-stylish-and-affordable-foldables-of-the-year-160024366.html?src=rss
The first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon have touched down on Earth. China's Chang'e 6 capsule landed on Tuesday in Inner Mongolia, carrying rocks that could confirm or debunk scientists' current theories about the Moon's origin.The samples could help scientists confirm the current hypothesis about the Moon's origin: that molten Earth collided with a body around the size of Mars, ripping off material that took orbit next to us and created the Moon.Think about the geology of the Earth: If you only landed in North America, you'd be missing a big part of the story, right?" Richard Carlson, director emeritus of the Earth and Planets Laboratory at Carnegie Science, told NPR.Researchers believe that if China's rock samples show the same age as what NASA's Apollo program brought home last century, it would confirm the hypothesis. If it doesn't, it would throw a wrench into the works, forcing us to revise our understanding of the Moon's birth.It's pretty clear that the far side and the near side have many, many differences," Jim Head, a planetary scientist at Brown University, said to NPR. It's a really critical issue. You can't understand the origin of a planet with one hemisphere."Chang'e 6 landed on the Moon's far side early this month, only the second successful mission to the end of Earth's neighbor that always faces away from it. The pair rotates synchronously, keeping one side perpetually hidden from our view. This makes landings difficult because Earth has no direct line of communication with the far side, forcing China's space program to rely on a satellite relay instead.China has offered to share some of the samples with American scientists in a sign of cooperation during otherwise tense times between the two nations. NASA has given the green light for US researchers to submit proposals to study the historical samples.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/chinas-rock-samples-from-the-far-side-of-the-moon-have-returned-to-earth-154645797.html?src=rss
Atari pretty much started this whole home console gaming thing with the 2600, a precursor to the NES. That console is 45 years old and Atari itself was formed well over 50 years ago. To originally commemorate its 50th birthday, the company released a robust collection of games called Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. Now, it's getting a hefty update with nearly 40 additional games, though Atari has yet to release a full list of the new titles.This brings the total of games available with this collection to almost 130, derived from multiple home and portable consoles. Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition also adds two new timelines to the software. Basically, these timelines are interactive history lessons about the company, complete with video segments and playable games.One of the timelines is a deep dive into the company's history, called The Wider World of Atari. This features retrospectives into the classic arcade cabinet Berzerk, Pong creator Al Alcorn and artist Evelyn Seto, who designed the company's iconic logo. The First Console War timeline gets into the battle between the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision, which was a prelude to Nintendo versus Sega. Incidentally, Atari just bought Intellivision, officially ending the rivalry.The update rolls out this fall. It'll also be the definitive version moving forward. For new buyers, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition costs $40, with a Steelbook edition retailing for $50. It'll be available on just about every platform, including the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC. The physical Steelbook edition, which is just for the Switch and PS5, comes with art cards, arcade marquee signs, replica business cards and more.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ataris-50th-anniversary-collection-is-getting-a-hefty-update-with-nearly-40-additional-games-150827022.html?src=rss
Like other browser makers, Mozilla is looking to bring more AI features into Firefox. The organization's latest effort is an experimental one for the Nightly build of the browser. Starting this week, you'll be able to add ChatGPT, Google Gemini, HuggingChat or Le Chat Mistral to the sidebar. Highlight some text on the web and you can right click to ask your preferred chatbot to summarize the information, simplify the language or test your memory and knowledge of the excerpt.Mozilla says any chatbot use is entirely optional and none of them are integrated into Firefox's core functions. If you'd like to try one in Firefox, you'll need the experimental Nightly version of the browser (note that Mozilla describes this as a "unstable testing and development platform," so exercise caution). Go to Settings > Nightly Experiments and switch on the AI Chatbot Integration option, then pick a chatbot.To add the chatbot to your sidebar permanently, select Customize toolbar after right clicking on the toolbar. After that, you should drag the sidebar icon to your toolbar.Mozilla is pitching this as a way for you to try out chatbots and see which one works best for you (or find out if you want to use one at all). "All of these models are still being developed and improved," the organization noted in a blog post. "None are perfect, and they're each good at some things and not at others." Mozilla added that it will refine the chatbot experience before bringing it to the beta and release builds of Firefox.The organization is following several other browser makers in bringing chatbots to their products. Of course, Microsoft and Google have brought Copilot and Gemini to Edge and Chrome, respectively. The likes of Opera and DuckDuckGo have waded into these waters too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/firefox-starts-letting-you-use-ai-chatbots-in-the-sidebar-144218734.html?src=rss
In 2022, Beats discontinued the Pill+, the company's last remaining Bluetooth speaker. Prior to the move, Beats had decent run of smaller, portable speakers, including its original Pill and Pill XL models. Of course, that period wasn't without some headaches and there hadn't been a new model since 2015. Now it's time for a revival. Beats reintroduced its Pill speaker today with a new design that's been re-engineered from the inside out.The first change you'll likely notice is the 20-degree upward tilt of the new Beats Pill, which the company says gives the unit improved sound projection. Beats is promising "more powerful, room-filling sound, bigger bass and improved tonality" thanks to an updated woofer and tweeter combo that should also minimize distortion. The new Pill is 10 percent lighter than the Pill+ and comes with a removable lanyard for carrying. The speaker is also IP67 rated for dust and water resistance, which should be good enough to protect the device if it accidentally takes a quick dip in the pool.BeatsSimilar to previous models, you can sync two Pill speakers together for more robust sound. The company gives you the option of Amplify Mode, which is louder, or Stereo Mode that divides the left and right channels. Beats explains that it improved the speakerphone capabilities of the Pill, mostly thanks to the company's noise-learning algorithm. By combating environmental noise, the company says it can better pick up your voice during calls.The Pill still has on-device controls for music, volume, pairing and power, and the speaker charges via USB-C. That wired connection can also be used to charge your phone from the speaker's battery or to send lossless audio from a laptop or other device. Beats says you can expect up to 24 hours of battery life, plus there's a Fast Fuel feature that gives you two ours of use in 10 minutes. One-touch pairing is available on iOS and Android and there's compatibility for both Find My and Find My Device when you need it.The new Beats Pill is available for pre-order today in black, red and gold color options for $150. Beats says it will start shipping the speaker on June 27.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beats-pill-speakers-are-back-and-have-been-redesigned-from-the-inside-out-140055874.html?src=rss
One of the more compelling features Apple showed off for macOS at Worldwide Developers Conference 2024 earlier this month is the ability to mirror your iPhone to your desktop. Brave souls who don't mind installing developer betas on their devices can now check that out for themselves, as it's available in the latest iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia builds.The first public betas of both operating systems are expected to arrive in July, but it's unclear whether the feature will be available in those at the outset. Folks in the EU will also have to wait longer to try the feature as Apple is delaying the rollout of iPhone mirroring, Apple Intelligence and SharePlay Screen Sharing. The company has pinned the blame on potential Digital Markets Act compliance concerns and how that "could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security."Still, if you can't wait to check this out and you have a developer account with Apple, you can install the betas now (bearing in mind the usual risks that come with beta versions of operating systems). If you do, you'll be able to control your iPhone from your Mac while the former remains locked and in StandBy mode. You'll also get notifications from your iOS apps on your desktop.Naturally, you'll need to be signed into the same Apple Account on both devices for this to work. You'll need to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on too.The virtual iPhone will run at 60 fps. It will typically operate in vertical mode unless you launch a game that runs horizontally, in which case it will flip to its side. Mirroring is said to use about the same amount of battery life as physically using your iPhone. If you unlock your handset, the mirroring window on your Mac will close instantly.Apple has some other iPhone mirroring features planned for the future, such as the ability to drag and drop files and other things between your phone and Mac. This is expected to include support for third-party apps.Per the iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia developer beta release notes, there are some known issues when it comes to the iPhone mirroring feature. For instance, you may not be able to launch lock screen apps or use Universal Clipboard on your iPhone while it's enabled, but those are bugs Apple will be attempting to iron out. It's also worth noting that it won't be possible (at least at first) to mirror your iPhone while mirroring your mac on Apple Vision Pro.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-latest-os-betas-enable-iphone-mirroring-on-mac-133017417.html?src=rss
Audio gear maker JLab has revealed its latest set of budget-friendly sport earbuds. The Sport ANC 4 buds are said to deliver over 14 hours of listening time on a single charge, with the charging case adding an extra 47 hours if active noise cancellation (ANC) is switched off - so over 60 hours in total. With ANC on, you'll get over 40 hours of use before having to juice up the USB-C charging case, JLab says. The earbuds have many of the features you'd expect, including multipoint Bluetooth connectivity, an IP66 rating for sweat resistance, sound customization through an app and a few different gel tips to help you get the right fit. They employ a hook design to help keep them securely in your ears too. JLab There are some new features as well. One is called Hybrid Active Noise Cancelation. There are three noise control modes and "optimal noise reduction for up to 25 dB," JLab says. The idea here is to help you stay more aware of your surroundings during outdoor workouts or to filter out noise in loud gyms. Another first for JLab is the introduction of combo swipe and touch controls. Along with controlling media playback, you can use these to cycle between three equalizer presets. Last but not least, the earbuds support Google Fast Pair and Find My Device for Android. JLab makes some of the best budget-friendly earbuds around, so a new model with some intriguing features is worth paying attention to. The Sport ANC 4 buds are available now from the brand's website for $70. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/jlabs-new-70-sport-earbuds-let-you-change-equalizer-presets-with-a-few-taps-130100674.html?src=rss
Patreon is continuing its push to expand beyond its roots as a paid membership platform. The company, which added new chat features and free membership options last year, is giving creators more ways to interact with their fans even if they aren't paying subscribers.The company says its creators have already seen more than 30 million sign-ups for free memberships, which allow fans to get updates and follow the work of creators and artists they like without committing to a monthly subscription. Now, creators will also be able to add non-paying members to Patreon's Discord-like chats. Additionally, creators will be able to offer a live chat and custom countdown timer to tease new work.For fans who aren't yet paying for a membership, Patreon will add the ability for creators to sell access to past posts and collections so people will have a way to access previously paywalled content without committing to a recurring subscription. (The company added one-time purchases for digital products like podcast episodes last year.) Creators will also have the ability to offer limited-time gift subscriptions to fans.PatreonFor Patreon, the changes are meant to help creators become less reliant on platforms like Instagram, YouTube and TikTok where engagement and views are often dependent on another company's algorithm. At a time when platforms' payouts to creators are reportedly dwindling - The Wall Street Journal reported last week that making a living as a creator has gotten significantly harder over the last year as dedicated creator funds shrink - Patreon is spinning its platform as place where creators can connect with their real fans" and actually make money.Creators want a place where people can sign up to see their future work... and then actually see it," the company explains in a blog post. They don't want to keep chasing likes or follower counts in a constantly changing system they have no control over."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/patreon-is-giving-creators-more-tools-to-attract-free-subscribers-130049968.html?src=rss
Wellbots has Google's highly rated Nest Learning Thermostat on sale for $85 off. This elegant circular gizmo learns your heating and cooling habits and adjusts accordingly, making home temperature maintenance about as effortless as you could expect. Typically $249, Engadget's exclusive coupon code ENGDTNLT85 brings the third-generation model down to $164. The Nest Learning Thermostat helps reduce energy usage (and time spent thinking about your home's temperature) by automating climate adjustments to fit your habits. After a week or so of studying your tendencies, it creates a schedule to maintain what it observed. If you want to make changes, you can still do that through the Nest app (available for iOS and Android). The thermostat can also adjust automatically depending on whether anyone is at home. It uses sensors and your phone to determine when everyone is away, setting temperatures accordingly for energy savings until someone returns. If needed, the Nest app lets you make changes from afar. Optionally, you can fine-tune the system even more with separate $39 temperature sensors. Place these in rooms throughout your home, and the Nest will balance their temperatures if your home's heating and cooling system is compatible. Its setup is pretty straightforward, and you install it similarly to other thermostats. On top of that, the thing looks pretty dang sleek with a 2.08-inch round display with 480 x 480 resolution (229 PPI) surrounded by a steel adjustment dial. 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/googles-nest-learning-thermostat-is-85-off-right-now-130012270.html?src=rss
I have to admit that the fact nerd in me is partial to a good guessing game, so I'm intrigued by Roku's newest offering. The streaming system has launched a new feature for US users called Roku Weekly Trivia, featuring pop culture questions you can answer right on your TV screen.Roku Weekly Trivia should now exist in the options list at the left of your screen alongside categories like Live TV and Streaming Store. There, you can access a multiple-choice quiz with ten questions on topics such as movie and television premieres, the Summer Olympics, holidays, and more cultural moments. You can test your own knowledge or go up against friends and family - at the very least, it's an easy way to decide who picks the movie.A new quiz should appear on Roku every Tuesday. I tried a few sample questions ahead of its release, including "What was the first feature-length animated movie ever released?" and "Which movie franchise has the most films?" The first one I got, while the second surprised me, but I've never been a big REDACTED fan (I don't want to give you all the answers!).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/roku-launches-a-weekly-pop-culture-quiz-130005360.html?src=rss
It has been nearly a year since the European Commission opened its investigation into Microsoft and there's finally a preliminary finding. The European Union's executive body announced its "view" that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by tying Microsoft Teams to its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 business suites. Last October, Microsoft unbundled Teams for users in the European Union and Switzerland, but the European Commission's Statement of Objections calls it "insufficient."The European Commission used its statement to detail its concern "that Microsoft may have granted Teams a distribution advantage by not giving customers the choice whether or not to acquire access to Teams when they subscribe to their SaaS productivity applications. This advantage may have been further exacerbated by interoperability limitations between Teams' competitors and Microsoft's offerings. The conduct may have prevented Teams' rivals from competing, and in turn innovating, to the detriment of customers in the European Economic Area."Microsoft faces a fine equal to 10 percent of its annual worldwide turnover if the EU confirms its preliminary findings, so it's no surprise the company is being cordial. "Having unbundled Teams and taken initial interoperability steps, we appreciate the additional clarity provided today and will work to find solutions to address the Commission's remaining concerns," said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, in a statement shared with Engadget.This ordeal began in 2020 when Slack - now owned by Salesforce - filed an antitrust complaint against Microsoft, claiming it broke the EU's competition rules in bundling Teams to its suites. In April 2023, Microsoft declared its intention to offer Teams on its own (albeit without a clear plan), but the European Commission still formally opened an investigation just three months later. Following October's unbundling, Microsoft announced this past April that Teams would be available separately from Microsoft 365 and Office 365 to customers worldwide - current users could also switch plans.The European Commission's Statement of Objections also mentions a complaint by Alfaview, another video-conferencing software, which filed a similar grievance to Slack in July 2023 and notes it has open proceedings based on that complaint.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/eu-finds-microsoft-violated-antirust-laws-by-bundling-teams-121520916.html?src=rss
Skullcandy has revealed a trio of earbud models it says were designed with the "most active and adventurous consumers" in mind. The Active Collection lineup ranges from $60 to $100 and were engineered to deliver reliable performance in any conditions, according to Skullcandy. The Push Play Active, Push ANC Active and Sesh ANC Active all have a few common features. They all support multipoint pairing and rapid charging - a 10-minute charge will allow two hours of playback time. A Sidetone feature is said to counteract occlusion and make it easier to hear our own voice. Meanwhile, the adjustable stay-aware mode lets you tweak things so that it's easier for you to remain alert and hear what's going on around you. Skullcandy The $60 Push Play Active buds have over-the-ear hooks and an IP55 rating for sweat and water resistance. Skullcandy claims that a smart mic will reduce background noise for "crystal clear" calls. The Push Play Active earbuds have several equalizer presets and you'll be able to set up your own custom five-band EQ as well. They offer up to 34 hours of battery life, according to Skullcandy, with the earbuds running for up to 10 hours on a single charge and the charging case adding an extra 24 hours of use. The other two models have some shared features as well. Push ANC Active and Sesh ANC Active are IP67 rated, meaning they're sweatproof and waterproof. Both models use a four-mic array for adjustable active noise cancellation (ANC). The earbuds are compatible with the Skullcandy app, which will allow you to customize the onboard controls and equalizer levels. There's a personal sound feature too - you'll be able to take a real-time audio test to create a profile for optimized sound levels. Skullcandy The Push ANC Active earbuds are the most expensive option of the three at $100. Skullcandy claims you'll get up to 37 hours of use with ANC on (seven hours from the earbuds and 30 extra from the charging case) and as much as 58 hours of use with ANC off. The brand says you'll be able to use the earbuds for up to 12 hours before having to return them to the charging case. In addition, the case supports wireless charging. It's worth noting that while the Push ANC Active option has an over-the-ear hook, there's a more traditional true wireless design for the Sesh ANC Active. Skullcandy says these earbuds have a "fit grip" to keep them in your ears. They have a promised battery life of up to 28 hours with ANC on (seven hours in the earbuds, 21 in the charging case) and up to 48 hours with ANC off (12 hours and 36 hours, respectively). The Sech ANC Active earbuds will run you $90. Skullcandy Skullcandy has earned a reputation for offering solid products at relatively budget-friendly prices, so these are options worth considering if you're on the lookout for a set of earbuds to use while you're working out. All three models will be available on Skullcandy's website starting on June 25. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/skullcandy-expands-its-earbud-lineup-with-three-sport-models-all-under-100-120049446.html?src=rss
The European Union isn't entirely happy with Apple's approach to its Digital Markets Act and there could be financial consequences. In preliminary findings of its investigation, the European Commission says the company breached Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules by failing to let App Store developers freely tell users about alternate payment options outside of Apple's ecosystem, what it calls anti-steering rules.It has been investigating Apple's behavior since March. Regulators added that although Apple is entitled to receive a payment for helping developers find new customers through the App Store, the fees charged by Apple go beyond what is strictly necessary for such remuneration."Apple told Engadget in a statement, We are confident our plan complies with the law and estimate more than 99 percent of developers would pay the same or less in fees to Apple under the new business terms we created."There are wider repercussions: Apple is reportedly planning to withhold those intriguing new AI features in Europe due to regulations and the possibility that they could affect privacy rules.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedParamount+ is raising prices again for all of the Tulsa King fans out thereGoogle is reportedly building AI chatbots based on celebrities and influencersUber is locking New York drivers out of its apps and blaming a city pay ruleNew difficulty mod in Stardew Valley will purge your saves if you use a guideYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Government workers are told to immediately update their Pixel phonesPhone gets mandatory update.The US government has issued a warning to employees with Pixel phones, mandating a security update by July 4. It's a high-severity firmware vulnerability in the Android operating system that could open up devices to limited, targeted exploitation." Government employees who do not install the security update by July 4 must discontinue use of the product." However, patch notes and comments aren't specific about how it works.Continue reading.Julian Assange has been released from prison in a plea deal with the USThe deal will be finalized in a US court on June 26.WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act. According to a letter from the US Department of Justice obtained by The Washington Post, Assange is specifically pleading guilty to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States."He will return to Australia, his country of citizenship, right after the proceedings. The Justice Department prosecutors are reportedly recommending a sentence of 62 months, and as Assange already spent more than five years in a UK prison, he won't be spending any time behind bars in the US.Continue reading.Elden Ring's terrifying dancing lion boss is two men under a fancy sheetPantomime horse plus death.FromSoftwareElden Ring's giant Shadow of the Erdtree expansion dropped on Friday, and the first big bad you'll face is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a fearsome creature that uses wind, lightning and ice attacks. But it's not really a lion. It's two giants in a costume, a la traditional Chinese dance lions. That information, however, probably won't help you beat it. The DLC is even more punishing than the base game.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-apple-may-face-another-huge-eu-fine-114236055.html?src=rss
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been released from prison and has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act. The WikiLeaks account on X, formerly Twitter, has announced his release after being granted bail by the High Court in London. It also tweeted a video that appears to show Assange boarding a plane at Stansted Airport. The WikiLeaks founder and former editor-in-chief is expected to appear in a courtroom in the US Northern Mariana Islands on June 26 in order to finalize his plea deal with the US government.
Google is reportedly building new AI-powered chatbots based on celebrities and YouTube influencers. The idea isn't groundbreaking - startups like Character.ai and companies like Meta have already launched products like this - but neither is Google's AI strategy so far.Google's celebrity chatbots will be powered by the company's Gemini family of large language models according to The Information, which broke the story on Monday. The company is trying to strike partnerships with influencers as well as celebrities, and is also working on a feature that will let people create their own chatbots simply by describing their personalities and appearance - something that Character.ai already lets you do. A fun fact: Noam Shazeer, one of the co-founders of Character.ai, is a former Google engineer and one of the creators of transformers," the fundamental tech that made today's generative AI possible.It isn't yet clear which celebrities or influencers Google might partner with. Meta's chatbots, for instance, are based on personalities like TikTok star Charli D'Amelio, YouTube phenomenon Mr. Beast, Snoop Dogg, Tom Brady and Paris Hilton among others, while Character.ai's characters include politicians, philosophers, fictional characters, and even objects like a block of cheese that talks. Google's project is reportedly being led by a longtime executive called Ryan Germick who works on Google Doodles, and a team of ten.It also sounds like Google's bots could be just an experiment - according to the report, the bots might only show up on Google Labs, the company's website for experimental products, instead of being available more broadly.It isn't clear why Google's doing this. Meta's AI chatbots based on celebrities never really took off despite the company stuffing them in every product it makes. As The Information pointed out, the company's chatbot based on Snoop Dogg has only 15,000 followers on Instagram compared with 87.5 million followers who follow the human rapper.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/google-is-reportedly-building-ai-chatbots-based-on-celebrities-and-influencers-235731655.html?src=rss
For the last month, Uber has been locking New York City drivers out of its apps during low-demand periods, and Lyft has threatened to do so, too. Bloomberg reports that the ride-hailing companies blame a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rule for their behavior. At least one drivers' union says it may consider striking if the lockouts continue.The mid-shift lockouts stem from a six-year-old NYC pay rule that requires ride-sharing companies to pay drivers for idle time between fares. Capping how long drivers without passengers can be paid means Uber pays less, but it also means drivers are taking home much less money for the same amount of time on the clock. And they can't predict when they'll lose access to the app.Drivers are understandably angry. I used to work 10 hours and make $300 to $350," Nikoloz Tsulukidze, a full-time Uber driver, told Bloomberg. Now, I just worked 10 hours and barely made $170. I was so disappointed. I'm paying for my gas and cannot make money."Uber and Lyft are deploying the Look what you made me do!" strategy, pointing fingers at the TLC's pay rule (and each other) while trying to turn drivers into lobbyists against the regulation. An Uber email to its drivers from last month, viewed by Bloomberg, encouraged drivers to let the TLC know the effect their rules have had" on their wages.The way the rule affects the companies differently is also a factor in their blame games. Uber's drivers have been busier this year, meaning its numbers have more weight on the city's averages, which determine the minimum-pay limits. The city's rule bizarrely holds Uber responsible for Lyft's failures," Uber spokesperson Freddi Goldstein told Bloomberg. With Lyft struggling to keep drivers busy, we don't have other options."Meanwhile, Lyft (naturally) views the situation in reverse. Uber wants to change the rules so that Lyft is penalized," the company wrote in a June email to drivers. The current NYC pay formula is broken," Lyft spokesperson CJ Macklin told Bloomberg. It forces rideshare companies to limit when drivers can earn, and therefore how much they can earn."A drivers' union says Uber's over-hiring is the root cause of the ordeal. Bhairavi Desai, president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, told Bloomberg that the company mismanaged" hiring by allowing too many drivers to join its ranks - and the workers are now left to foot the bill. She accused Uber of gaming the system" by using the TLC's rule to withhold time that should be paid under the law and making it unpaid." Desai says the union will consider striking if necessary.Although Lyft hasn't yet begun locking out drivers, it might. A June email to the company's drivers warned that it would soon have to" adopt a similar practice.The current mess in NYC follows a long trail of ugly fights across the country between ride-sharing companies and city regulations. Uber and Lyft staged similar lockouts in 2019 in response to a flat minimum wage requirement for drivers that continued until the following spring. Earlier this year, the two companies threatened to pull out of Minneapolis after the city tried to force a driver pay raise that would push their rates up to the equivalent of minimum wage.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/uber-is-locking-new-york-drivers-out-of-its-apps-and-blaming-a-city-pay-rule-204737818.html?src=rss
Apple will release its first premium podcast with early access available to Apple TV+ subscribers. The company made the announcement in a press release today that its first dual-language podcast, My Divo, will be the first podcast tied to an Apple TV+ subscription.All eight episodes of My Divo will be available in English and Spanish for Apple TV+ subscribers when they connect their subscriptions to Apple Podcasts starting July 1. Non-subscribers will listen to new episodes every week. However, they will get access to the first two episodes on launch day. Apple indicated that My Divo will serve as an example of its new business model for podcast distribution going forward, saying that all upcoming Apple TV+ podcasts will also be made available in full to subscribers."My Divo is a podcast about Mexican singer Juan Gabriel, also known as El Divo de Juarez (hence the title), hosted by award-winning journalist Maria Garcia as she tries to reconcile her identity with the legacy of the flamboyant Latino performer. She reexamines similarities within their Mexican heritage, including their sexualities and their upbringing in Ciudad Juarez.Apple releasing a podcast behind an Apple TV+ paywall is similar to its plan of producing companion podcasts to Apple TV+ shows, which happened shortly after the launch of the streaming service four years ago. My Divo is the first Apple podcast not tied to an Apple TV+ show of the same name.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-tv-subscribers-will-get-early-access-to-the-companys-latest-original-podcast-195756992.html?src=rss
Valve isn't waiting for the beginning of its Steam Summer Sale to kick off the festivities. On Monday, the company posted 15 percent off deals on two discontinued Steam Deck LCD models, offering the 64GB variant for under $300 and the 512GB edition for under $400. The sale lasts until July 11 at 10AM PDT or - the key bit - while supplies last."The star of the fire sale is the 512GB (NVMe SSD) LCD Steam Deck model. Initially, it was $449, but the handheld is available for only $381.65. Its OLED equivalent retails for $549, letting you save big if you can live with the cheaper (but still high-quality) LCD screen technology. Meanwhile, the 64GB (eMMC SSD) LCD model, which initially sold for $349, is on sale for $296.65.Both devices have seven-inch displays with 1280 x 800 LCDs, 60Hz refresh rates and 400 nits brightness, but the 512GB model includes anti-glare etched glass. They have 40Wh batteries with a theoretical eight-hour runtime, but they will likely average around 4.5 hours. Each model ships with a standard carrying case.ValveEngadget re-reviewed the LCD Steam Deck last fall after the OLED variants launched. Although the handheld's chunky size, weight and mediocre battery life hold it back to a degree (especially for those with smaller hands), it's still a solid choice for home-based gamers invested in Steam's ecosystem. The bottom line: If you have the extra cash, go ahead and grab the OLED version," as Jessica Conditt wrote, but compared with the wider handheld sector, the Steam Deck LCD offers a fantastic return on investment."You can check out the sale for all the details. Meanwhile, to save on games galore, you can mark your calendar for the Steam Summer Sale, which begins on Thursday.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/valve-is-selling-the-512gb-lcd-steam-deck-for-less-than-400-185918912.html?src=rss
It's about to get a bit more expensive to watch Tulsa King, Star Trek shows and that Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff. Paramount Global is once again raising prices for its streaming service, Paramount+, as reported by CNBC. This will bring the price of the Paramount+ with Showtime plan to $13 a month, up from $12, and the bare-bones Paramount+ Essential plan to $8 a month, which is an increase from $6.The increase takes effect on August 20 for new customers, though pre-existing users will have until around September 20. There is a silver lining. Pre-existing customers who subscribe to the Essential plan will avoid a price increase, for now. So only current Paramount+ with Showtime users and all new subscribers will see the uptick. This follows another fee increase just last year.Paramount Global has been trying to find a buyer for Paramount+ for months now, with no success. Most recently, a proposed merger with Skydance and National Amusements collapsed. The company, however, recently boasted that the streamer had amassed 71 million paying customers, though it still operates at a loss. As a reference point, Peacock has around 31 million subscribers and Max has just over 97 million.That puts Paramount+ right in the middle of the pack. It does have a lot going for it in the IP department. Knuckles was well-received and my dad has had Tulsa King on continuous repeat for over a year. I subscribe, though I'm there exclusively for Star Trek. Once that well runs dry, which seems to be happening, I'm out.Of course, Paramount+ is by no means sitting alone at the streamflation lunch table. Price increases have been running rampant the past year or two, and just about every major platform has been involved. Max raised subscription costs earlier this month and Peacock announced a similar move for later this summer. Disney+, Apple TV+ and Netflix have all recently raised prices.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/paramount-is-raising-prices-again-for-all-of-the-tulsa-king-stans-out-there-183720943.html?src=rss
A great number of us have played games in extra-difficult modes (or in the case of Kingdom Hearts, Proud Mode) to challenge ourselves. Now, a Stardew Valley player has created a hardcore" option for the otherwise chill game, one that will delete the save files of any player who uses a guide while playing the game on PC.According to GamesRadar, software engineer Sylvie Nightshade created the high difficulty mod on June 21 after reading an article published the day before on the satirical website Hard Drive, the gaming version of The Onion. The article in question joked about a hardcore mode" in Stardew Valley that will delete players' hard grown farms if they dare read the wiki at any point during gameplay. That same day, Nightshade quote-tweeted the article on X with the link to the mod in GitHub announcing that she turned the joke into reality.The mod works by scanning the title of every window or tab that is open while Stardew Valley is running. If any window title includes Stardew Valley Wiki" in the title, it erases everything the player has worked hard to achieve, forcing them to start from square one without using the guide. Nightshade even updated the mod so that it not only deletes the player's save file but also closes the browser window the wiki was found in just to add insult to injury."Hardcore mode being programmed into Stardew Valley is another case of life imitating art after Hello Kitty Island Adventure launched on Apple Arcade 17 years after it was mentioned as a joke in the South Park episode Make Love, Not Warcraft." Here's a tip: If you play Stardew Valley on hardcore mode on your computer but use the guide on your phone, you should be safe.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/new-difficulty-mod-in-stardew-valley-will-purge-your-saves-if-you-use-a-guide-175521779.html?src=rss
Woot is selling iPhone 15 models for up to $120 off, with various configuration and color options. This discount makes the 128GB version just $680 and brings the 256GB model down to $800. Those are some good prices for one of Apple's latest and greatest smartphones. There are some caveats. This sale is just for the standard iPhone 15, so don't go looking for Pro or Pro Max versions. These are brand-new smartphones, but they don't come with official Apple packaging. Instead, you get a sleek custom black box." Finally, these handsets aren't eligible for AppleCare, though they do ship with a one-year vendor warranty. There's also the ghost of Christmas future. It's late June right now and Apple typically unveils new smartphones in September. This means that in a few short months, that iPhone 15 will likely get outshined by the iPhone 16. Still, modern updates tend to be iterative, so you probably won't be missing that much, outside of Apple Intelligence integration. On the upside, this is the iPhone 15. It's one of the best smartphones money can buy. We gave the standard iPhone 13 the award for best budget-friendly smartphone, but the Woot deal brings the two models much closer in price. With that in mind, the 15 is a major step up in just about every way. It features a better chip, improved cameras, longer battery life and, at long last, USB-C integration. We called it "the most substantial update to the regular iPhone in years" in our official review. If you want a reliable and powerful smartphone that should keep on ticking for a few years, don't sleep on this deal. 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/apples-iphone-15-is-up-to-120-off-at-woot-right-now-174040952.html?src=rss
Major music labels are taking on AI startups that they believe trained on their songs without paying. Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Group sued the music generators Suno and Udio for allegedly infringing on copyrighted works on a massive scale."The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) initiated the lawsuits and wants to establish that nothing that exempts AI technology from copyright law or that excuses AI companies from playing by the rules."The music labels' lawsuits in US federal court accuse Suno and Udio of scraping their copyrighted tracks from the internet. The filings against the AI companies reportedly demand injunctions against future use and damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work. (That sounds like it could add up to a monumental sum if the court finds them liable.) The suits appear aimed at establishing licensed training as the only acceptable industry framework for AI moving forward - while instilling fear in companies that train their models without consent.UdioSuno AI and Udio AI (Uncharted Labs run the latter) are startups with software that generates music based on text inputs. The former is a partner of Microsoft for its CoPilot music generation tool. The RIAA claims the services' reproduced tracks are uncannily similar to existing works to the degree that they must have been trained on copyrighted songs. It also claims the companies didn't deny that they trained on copyright works, instead shielding themselves behind their training being confidential business information" and standard industry practices.According to The Wall Street Journal, the lawsuits accuse the AI generators of creating songs that sounded remarkably similar to The Temptations' My Girl," Green Day's American Idiot," and Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You," among others. They also claim the AI services produced indistinguishable vocals from artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson and ABBA.Wired reports that one example cited in the lawsuit details how one of the AI tools reproduced a song that sounded nearly identical to Chuck Berry's pioneering classic Johnny B. Goode," using the prompt, 1950s rock and roll, rhythm & blues, 12 bar blues, rockabilly, energetic male vocalist, singer guitarist," along with some of Berry's lyrics. The suit claims the generator almost perfectly generated the original track's Go, Johnny, go, go" chorus.SunoTo be clear, the RIAA isn't advocating based on the principle that all AI training on copyrighted works is wrong. Instead, it's saying it's illegal to do so without licensing and consent, i.e., when the labels (and, likely to a lesser degree, the artists) don't make any money off of it.The recording industry is working on AI deals of its own that license music in a way that it believes is fair for its bottom line. These include an agreement between Universal and SoundLabs, which allows the latter to create vocal models for artists while still allowing the singers to control ownership and output. The label also partnered with YouTube on an AI licensing and royalties deal. Universal also represents Drake, whose diss track against Kendrick Lamar from earlier this year used AI-generated copies of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg's voices.There is room for AI and human creators to forge a sustainable, complementary relationship," the filing against Suno reads. This can and should be achieved through the well-established mechanism of free-market licensing that ensures proper respect for copyright owners."According to Bloomberg, Suno co-founder Mikey Shulman said in April that the company's practices are legal" and fairly in line with what other people are doing." The AI industry at large appears to be attempting to race towards a threshold where its tools are considered too ubiquitous to be held accountable before anyone can do anything about how it trained its models.We work very closely with lawyers to make sure that what we're doing is legal and industry standard," Suno's founder said in April. If the law changes, obviously we would change our business one way or the other."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/record-labels-sue-ai-music-generators-for-massive-infringement-of-recorded-music-172915925.html?src=rss
The US government has issued a dire warning to employees with Pixel phones, mandating a security update by July 4, as originally reported by Forbes. This is due to a high-severity firmware vulnerability within the Android operating system that could open up devices to limited, targeted exploitation."There's already a patch for the zero-day exploit but it requires a visit to the settings app to make sure the device is up to date. Government employees who do not install the security update by July 4 must discontinue use of the product." It should go without saying that the rest of us should also heed these warnings, particularly those who connect to enterprise servers.Google has remained mum as to the actual details of the vulnerability, but government involvement makes it seem a bit more serious than your average exploit. The federal mandate is directed exclusively at Pixel devices, but it looks like the exploit could extend to other Android phones.The folks behind GrapheneOS, an operating system based on Android, note that the vulnerability is not exclusive to Pixel phones. The organization says a fix will be part of any update to Android 15, which releases in August, but that it hasn't been backported. So, if you opt not to update the OS, you likely won't get the patch. It remains unclear if there are any other options for mitigation. We reached out to Google and will update this post when we know more.
Calling all current or aspiring streamers: The Elgato Stream Deck XL is on sale right now. A 20 percent discount brings the device down from $250 to $200 - just $10 more than its all-time low price. The Elgato Stream Deck XL isn't just any old model - it has 32 macro keys. You can customize each LCD key to include controls such as changing scenes, switching cameras and adjusting the audio. Plus, it offers integration with platforms like Twitch, Discord, YouTube and Spotify. A non-slip magnetic stand allows it to sit easily on your desk, and you can connect to it with a USB cord. If you're looking for something a little smaller (and cheaper), then check out Elgato's Stream Deck MK.2. This model is one of our picks for tools that let you game-stream like a pro. Its biggest difference from the XL is that it comes with 15 keys, which still gives you a solid amount of customizable options. Pick one up for $125, down from $150 - a 17 percent discount. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-elgato-stream-deck-xl-is-20-percent-off-at-amazon-143044421.html?src=rss
Several audio companies have been hopping on the open-ear earbuds bandwagon, a headphone design where the speaker rests outside the listener's ear rather than inside it. Beyerdynamic is the latest to offer this listening option with the VERIO 200, the brand's first set of open-ear true wireless headphones. The set retails for $220 and is available to order today.Open-ear headphones can come with some sacrifices to audio quality, but this set features a custom 16.22mm graphene driver. Using the lightweight graphene in speakers can cut down on sound distortion, so the high-end material could help negate that usual performance tradeoff with this style. The open-ear approach can also be more comfortable if you don't enjoy the usual in-ear earbud experience. And you'll be able to hear your surroundings much better with this design, something that can be important for people wearing these in outdoor settings. VERIO 200 has a hook design that is intended to keep the headset secure even during physical activity.BeyerdynamicBattery life is always a concern with true wireless devices, but Beyerdynamic claims pretty solid longevity. The company says that the VERIO 200 has up to eight hours of battery life, and its charging case adds another 27 hours. The buds are Bluetooth 5.3-compatible and can pair with both iOS and Android devices. They can be controlled by voice or through Beyerdynamic's new mobile app, which offers full custom EQ capabilities and sound tuning.The company has secured several firsts in its recent product launches, including its first wireless gaming headset in 2023 and its first true wireless earbuds in 2022.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beyerdynamic-debuts-its-first-open-ear-true-wireless-headphones-140008310.html?src=rss
There is something about summer that always seems to bring extra dirt and mess into the home, but, between the heat and many daily activities, I know the last thing I want to do is vacuum. While robot vacuums can be quite costly, right now, the Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with Matrix Clean Navigation is half off on Amazon, dropping its price to $300 from $599. It's a version of one of our favorite robot vacuums, the Shark RV2502AE AI Ultra - which also retails for $599. That one is 40 percent off right now, down to $360. Shark's AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum with Matrix Clean Navigation is a great option if you're looking for a robovac that offers a bit of everything. As the name suggests, it offers features like voice control, which lets you start or schedule a clean through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It also uses Matrix Clean to create a precise grid, ensuring it hits every corner of your home. Plus, 360 LiDAR vision allows it to avoid any objects in its way, so it can continue on even if you can't be bothered to tidy up. The vacuum empties itself into a base with a 60-day capacity for dirt and debris (and the sale actually makes it cheaper than the 45-day option). Shark also bills it as skilled at collecting pet hair, thanks to powerful suction and a self-cleaning brushroll. 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/this-shark-ai-ultra-robot-vacuum-is-half-off-right-now-132425919.html?src=rss
Elden Ring's giant Shadow of the Erdtree expansion dropped on Friday and it didn't take long for players to poke under the hood and discover some fascinating things. The first big bad of the DLC is the Divine Beast Dancing Lion, a fearsome creature that uses wind, lightning, ice and its own hulking body to decimate foul Tarnished. But the mandatory boss suddenly seems a bit less terrifying after YouTuber BonfireVN found out that it's basically just two large dudes in a suit.BonfireVN's video shows one person wearing the lion's head and another one hunched over in the rear - a little like a pantomime horse. The video shows the front end of the near-nude boss firing off elemental attacks and twisting through the air to lunge at the player, while the back half just sorta tags along as if connected by magnets.Game developers use all kinds of tricks just to make things work, but this one actually makes sense on a conceptual level. As 80 Level points out, it keeps in with the Chinese tradition of the lion dance, wherein two people wear a costume and mimic the movements of the big cat. One person controls the head and the other takes charge of the body, albeit with less flip flopping than the namesake Elden Ring boss.FromSoftware/Bandai Namco/BonfireVNMeanwhile, the $40 Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is evidently a hit already. Elden Ring (which includes the DLC) reached a simultaneous player count of 780,000 on Steam alone over the weekend. It hadn't seen those kinds of numbers since it neared a million concurrent Steam players when it debuted in early 2022. Elden Ring has now sold more than 25 million copies, making it one of the best-selling games of all time.Shadow of the Erdtree has earned near-unanimous praise from critics, but many players felt it was too difficult and review bombed it on Steam as a result. Elden Ring's creators have a clear message to naysayers, though: get good, scrubs.If we really wanted the whole world to play the game, we could just crank the difficulty down more and more. But that wasn't the right approach," From president and Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki told The Guardian. Had we taken that approach, I don't think the game would have done what it did, because the sense of achievement that players gain from overcoming these hurdles is such a fundamental part of the experience. Turning down difficulty would strip the game of that joy - which, in my eyes, would break the game itself."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elden-ring-dlcs-fearsome-dancing-lion-boss-is-just-two-big-dudes-in-a-suit-124451502.html?src=rss
Apple may be on the hook for a fine of up to 10 percent of its global annual revenue following a regulatory action from European Union officials. In the preliminary findings of its investigation, the bloc says the company breached Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules by failing to let App Store developers freely tell users about alternate payment options away from Apple's ecosystem.If Apple is found guilty, it could face a fine of tens of billions of dollars under the DMA's severe penalties. Should a DMA violation be repeated, fines can reach up to 20 percent of global annual revenue.The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, opened this investigation into Apple in March. From that start date, it has 12 months to finalize the preliminary findings. This also marks the first regulatory action under the DMA, as The Financial Times notes.The EC preliminarily found that Apple has broken so-called anti-steering rules. Major tech companies that are subject to the DMA are required to let third-party developers inform users about alternative ways to make purchases without charging developers to do so.In their preliminary findings, officials determined that none of Apple's updated terms let developers freely nudge customers toward alternative payment options. The EC notes that Apple doesn't let developers tell users how much less they could pay elsewhere.Apple by and large only allows developers to use link-outs, the Commission said - in other words, they can include a link to a web page to carry out a payment. "The link-out process is subject to several restrictions imposed by Apple that prevent app developers from communicating, promoting offers and concluding contracts through the distribution channel of their choice," the EC said.Regulators added that although Apple is entitled to receive a payment for helping developers find new customers through the App Store, "the fees charged by Apple go beyond what is strictly necessary for such remuneration." For example, they point out, developers have to pay Apple a fee for any purchase of digital services or goods that someone makes within seven days of an app link-out.Developers have to fork over up to 30 percent of any purchases made via the App Store (Google charges similar fees for Play Store purchases). As such, developers are able to offer consumers cheaper prices if they make purchases away from the App Store.In 2020, Epic Games informed Fortnite players through the game's mobile apps that they could pay less for V-Bucks by purchasing the in-game currency directly from the developer. Apple and Google swiftly booted the game off their app marketplaces, prompting legal battles that are still ongoing. However, thanks to the DMA, Epic plans to launch its own mobile app store in the EU and re-release a mobile version of Fortnite in the bloc later this year.Reuters / ReutersThroughout the past several months, Apple has made a number of changes to comply with the DMA in response to feedback from developers and the European Commission," Apple told Engadget in a statement. "We are confident our plan complies with the law, and estimate more than 99 percent of developers would pay the same or less in fees to Apple under the new business terms we created. All developers doing business in the EU on the App Store have the opportunity to utilize the capabilities that we have introduced, including the ability to direct app users to the web to complete purchases at a very competitive rate. As we have done routinely, we will continue to listen and engage with the European Commission."The company recently found itself in hot water with the EU on a similar front - the bloc fined it 1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) earlier this year over violations of anti-steering rules. The Commission claimed that Apple prohibited third-party developers of music streaming apps from telling iOS users that they could pay less for subscriptions if they sign up away from Apple's ecosystem. Apple has formally challenged the fine.The EC has also opened a fresh investigation into Apple over another potential DMA violation. The bloc has taken issue with new fees Apple is charging developers to access some of the new features enabled by the DMA," such as the ability to offer a third-party app marketplace as well as app downloads through other means, such as the web. The EC notes that Apple still allows developers to keep operating under a previous agreement, which doesn't let them make use of alternative distribution channels.Devs who sign up for the new terms are subject to what Apple calls a core technology fee. This equates to a payment of 0.50 per user per year after the first million users. The fee, which Apple announced in January, applies even to downloads from third-party app marketplaces. Many of Apple's rivals slammed the company over the new terms (as well as over updated rules for third-party payments in the US). Last month, Apple granted non-commercial and small developers an exemption from the core technology fee.The EC is also looking into whether Apple is making it too complicated for users to install third-party app marketplaces and apps. The third part of the investigation concerns "the eligibility requirements for developers related to the ability to offer alternative app stores or directly distribute apps from the web on iPhones," such as needing to have a developer account that's in good standing.Meanwhile, Apple said on Friday that it was delaying the rollout of Apple Intelligence - the company's name for a suite of generative AI features that will debut in iOS 18 - and some other features in the EU. We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security," the company told Bloomberg.Update 6/24 10:19AM ET: Added Apple's statement and details about the core technology fee exemption.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-may-face-a-mammoth-fine-after-the-eu-said-it-violated-competition-rules-120019892.html?src=rss
It's been a weekend of crypto scams, hacks and deepfake chaos. Late on Friday, someone hacked 50 Cent's accounts to push memecoin GUNIT and made off with millions. The exact amount is unclear; Fiddy himself wrote on Instagram, whoever did this made $3,000,000 in 30 minutes." The rapper's X account and website were hacked at the same time.Then, multiple deepfakes of Elon Musk were spotted on YouTube, telling viewers to deposit their crypto on a suspicious website, promising free crypto in return. Now taken down, the looped video showed Musk at what looked like a livestream from a Tesla event, with an AI-generated version of his voice instructing viewers to visit a website and deposit their Bitcoin, Ethereum or Dogecoin to enter the competition. Over 30,000 viewers tuned into the stream at one point, pushing it to the top of YouTube's Live Now recommendations.Don't take investment advice from rappers and social media network owners.- Mat SmithThe biggest stories you might have missedDoctor Who: Empire of Death review: Take your dog for a walkWatch our BTS guide to Summer Games Fest 2024Amazon Prime Day 2024: The best deals ahead of Prime DayYou can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!Starliner astronauts' return trip has been pushed back even furtherOh no, more time in space.Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew on the heavily delayed first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner craft, won't be returning from the International Space Station until sometime next month, instead of, well, earlier this month. NASA announced last night that it's pushing the date of their return trip even further to review problems with Starliner's first flight.Continue reading.How to stream video to your TV using a VPNYou're not just limited to a phone or laptop.I love it when an Engadget writer solves a problem I have. You might be used to using VPNs to stream video content from other regions, but it falls apart a bit if you're trying to view it on your TV. That's where this guide comes in. Alongside guides for smart TVs and TV dongles, there's a great tip I hadn't thought of: using an HDMI cable to pipe video directly from your phone. Smart!Continue reading.Five men face jail time for running illegal streaming service JetflicksA federal jury in Las Vegas found five defendants guilty.Jetflicks once boasted visitors could watch just about any TV show or movie Anytime. Anywhere." A jury in a Las Vegas federal court found the people behind the site guilty of conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. Jetflicks used computer scripts and software to scour the internet for illegal copies of movies and television shows and posted hundreds of thousands of illegal copies as far back as 2007 from torrent and Usenet sites - back when illegally watching shows and movies was a little more challenging.Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-morning-after-elon-musk-deepfakes-are-pushing-crypto-giveaways-111500963.html?src=rss
Apple is apparently looking to take all the help it can get to integrate generative AI into its recently announced Apple Intelligence. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, citing sources with knowledge of the discussions, Apple has held talks with Meta about the possibility of using the company's generative AI model. It also reportedly had similar discussions with startups Anthropic and Perplexity. As of now, though, nothing has been finalized, WSJ reports.At WWDC earlier this month, Apple officially announced its much-rumored partnership with OpenAI that will bring ChatGPT to newer iPhones, iPads and Macs with the upcoming generation of the devices' OS. During the event, Apple's senior VP of software engineering, Craig Federighi, also name-dropped Google's Gemini as something that could be added to Apple Intelligence in the future. We want to enable users ultimately to choose the models they want," Federighi said. It would make sense, then, for Apple to be shopping around.But for the time being, only OpenAI has been confirmed as a partner. OpenAI's GPT-4o will be integrated into Apple Intelligence to bolster Siri and other tools, with some features expected to arrive later this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-reportedly-even-held-talks-with-meta-about-an-ai-partnership-as-it-plays-catch-up-212741746.html?src=rss
A YouTube Live broadcast that ran for five hours today used a deepfake of Elon Musk to push a cryptocurrency scam, in the latest of a series of similar bogus streams. The video, which has has since been taken down, showed a clip of Musk that was meant to look like a livestream from a Tesla event, with an AI-generated version of his voice instructing viewers to visit a website and deposit their bitcoin, Ethereum or Dogecoin in order to participate in a giveaway. The message, playing on a loop, promised the system would then automatically send back double the amount of the cryptocurrency you deposited."Over 30,000 viewers were tuned into the stream at one point (though we can't discount the possibility these numbers were inflated by bots), pushing it to the top of YouTube's Live Now recommendations. The account masquerading as Tesla, @elon.teslastream, had the Official Artist Channel verification badge, so we may be looking at an account hack. Both the video and the channel were removed after Engadget reached out to Google. We'll update this article if we hear back with any more information.Screenshot by Cheyenne MacDonald/EngadgetThese Elon Musk deepfake scams seem to have surged over the past couple of months, in each instance using an account posing as one of Musk's companies. This one was titled Tesla's [sic] unveils a masterpiece: The Tesla that will change the car industry forever." Earlier in June, Cointelegraph reported on similar scams run by 35 accounts pretending to be SpaceX around the time of the Starship launch. Scammers in April attempted to get in on the eclipse hype using the same tactic, as Mashable reported at the time. And there have been numerous reports of fake Musk livestreams posted on Reddit recently.Crypto scams targeting Musk's followers on social media have been a problem for years, as have those involving celebrities in general. Just this Friday, 50 Cent was hit by a hack that used his accounts to carry out a pump-and-dump scheme.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deepfakes-of-elon-musk-are-pushing-crypto-giveaway-scams-on-youtube-live-200700886.html?src=rss
Sometimes we all need to just turn off the ol' brain for a bit and have some dumb fun. That's the kind vibe I was after when searching the Playdate Catalog for a new game to play this weekend, and let's just say I got more than I could ever ask for in Touch Egg. The game, made by Joelle Tindall, is simple: crank wildly to extend a finger Pinocchio-style and poke the egg as many times as you can, but don't let the horrifying man in the room see you or you'll lose said finger. It's all about chasing the high score, and you have 60 seconds to try and get those pokes in.There is no story (well, none beyond He lays the eggs and doesn't want you to touch them"), so no explanation as to who the man is, what sort of creature would hatch from the egg, why you're bothering it and why everything is so creepy. Don't worry about any of that, just crank.You can only touch the egg when the man's eyes are closed. Three exclamation points will appear in succession to signal that his eyes are about to open and you need to stop cranking. You can also put him to sleep for a few seconds by hitting the A' button, but this can make it so there's no warning when he's going to open his eyes. All the while, the unusually wide cat clock is ticking.The visuals are wonderfully unsettling, and, just to add to the absurdity of it all, you can unlock little accessories like sunglasses that are worn on the thumb. There are also a few secrets to uncover as you play and - I'm sorry - Egg-Chievements to be earned. I clicked on Egg Touch solely because it made me think of the I Think You Should Leave egg game, and ended up being unable to put it down for a solid hour. (Unlike in ITYSL, there are no NSFW surprises here).Egg Touch is only $1 on the Playdate Catalog and free on itch.io. Now get outta here and go touch that egg.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/touch-egg-is-the-most-ridiculous-playdate-game-ive-tried-yet-and-im-hooked-173155394.html?src=rss
Apple's third-generation AirPods have dropped back down to the lowest price we've seen thanks to a deal on Amazon right now. The AirPods, which normally go for $170, are 17 percent off, making them just $140. Apple overhauled the design of the standard AirPods with this model, which was introduced in 2021. The third-gen AirPods have a shorter stem to look more like the AirPods Pro (but without the eartips), a contoured design for comfort and are rated for sweat and water resistance. Previous models of the non-Pro AirPods weren't sweat and water resistant, but the third-generation carries an IPX4 rating, which should be adequate for workouts. They also boast an improved method of automatic pausing over the earlier versions, using both an accelerometer and a sensor that detects skin so they can better sense when they've been removed from your ear. The third-generation AirPods run on Apple's H1 chip, which allows for one-touch fast pairing and always-on Siri. They offer Adaptive EQ, spatial audio and dynamic head-tracking - but no active noise-cancellation, that's for the AirPods Pro only - and produce much better sound compared to the earlier models. In Engadget's review, the third-generation AirPods scored an 88 for their comfort-focused design, audio quality and battery life. The battery life is noticeably longer in the third-generation AirPods. Apple says these AirPods get about 6 hours of battery life on a charge, but in our tests, they lasted over an hour beyond than that. With the charging case, they can get about 30 hours of life in all. If you need to top them up while you're out, you only need to pop them in the case for five minutes to get another hour of playtime. If you're not concerned about features like active noise cancellation, the third-generation AirPods are a great bet, especially at their reduced price. 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/apples-third-gen-airpods-are-back-on-sale-for-their-lowest-price-yet-144041181.html?src=rss
50 Cent and his millions of social media followers were reportedly the targets of a pump-and-dump crypto scam on Friday that resulted in hackers pocketing a good chunk of change before it was all shut down. The exact amount they made is unclear; the rapper initially wrote on Instagram that whoever did this made $300,000,000 in 30 minutes" (per Cointelegraph), but the post has since been edited to say $3,000,000 as of this afternoon. I will not make a Get Rich or Die Tryin' pun, I will not make a Get Rich or Die Tryin' pun...The scammers used 50 Cent's X account and website, Thisis50, to push $GUNIT. My Twitter & Thisis 50.com was hacked I have no association with this Crypto," 50 Cent wrote in an Instagram post containing screenshots of the unfolding mess. Twitter worked quickly to lock my account back down," he added. His X account and Thisis50.com still appear to be unavailable. Stay safe out there, and be wary of celebrities shilling crypto.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who flew on the much-delayed first crewed flight of Boeing's Starliner craft, won't be coming home from the International Space Station until sometime next month, well past their originally planned return date of June 14. NASA announced last night that it's pushing the date of their return trip back even further in order to allow for more reviews into problems that arose with Starliner during its flight, and to avoid conflicts with upcoming spacewalks. As of now, there's no date set for the flight back to Earth.Starliner launched on June 5 and delivered Wilmore and Williams to the ISS about a day later. Their stay was only supposed to last a week or so. During the flight, however, four small helium leaks sprung in the propulsion system, on top of the one that had already been identified prior to launch. And, when Starliner first attempted to approach the ISS on June 6 and begin docking, five of its 28 thrusters went offline. Boeing was able to get four of them back up and running. NASA also revealed a few days after launch that the teams were looking into an issue with a valve in the service module that was not properly closed."The space agency had already pushed the date of the return trip back a few times over the last week and most recently landed on June 26, but now says the flight won't take place until after the spacewalks planned for June 24 and July 2 have been completed. We are letting the data drive our decision making relative to managing the small helium system leaks and thruster performance we observed during rendezvous and docking," said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, on Friday.
Summer Game Fest 2024 officially wrapped up on June 10, after a long weekend of game previews, developer interviews and unlimited cold brew - but we just published our final stories from the show this week (held under embargo, of course). Those were Mat Smith's impressions of Black Myth: Wukong and Tales of the Shire, and they capped off a month of juicy video game news out of the summer's biggest show.No, Silksong did not make an appearance.There were, however, plenty of bright and shiny games at the show, and many of them were available to play for the first time ever. Our hands-on and first-look stories include Assassin's Creed Shadows, Astro Bot, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Lego Horizon Adventures, Marvel Rivals, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Nevaand Skate Story.On top of the playable previews, Day of the Devs, Devolver, Xbox and Ubisoft held their own showcases brimming with new information and game reveals, and the big Summer Game Fest kickoff event was similarly stacked. Just to name a few of the hits: There's a new Doomwith a medieval flair (and flail), Civilization VII is coming out in 2025, Slitterheadwill land on November 8, Heart Machine is building a gorgeous-looking platformer called Possessor(s), and the Fablereboot is due out in 2025. There are also new Xbox Series consoles coming out this fall - and as it turns out, Microsoft's mid-cycle refresh says a lot about the Xbox hardware business as a whole, especially when compared to the company's internal roadmap that leaked in October 2022.After E3 collapsed on itself like a sad souffle, Summer Game Fest has emerged as the home of mid-year video game goodness, offering a little more room for smaller studios and plenty of space to grow. It's been four years of digital and physical Summer Game Fest events at this point, and the show just keeps getting better.Catch up on all of the news from Summer Game Fest 2024 right here!This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/take-a-behind-the-scenes-tour-of-summer-game-fest-play-days-2024-153009861.html?src=rss
Perplexity, a company that describes its product as "a free AI search engine," has been under fire over the past few days. Shortly after Forbes accused it of stealing its story and republishing it across multiple platforms, Wired reported that Perplexity has been ignoring the Robots Exclusion Protocol, or robots.txt, and has been scraping its website and other Conde Nast publications. Technology website The Shortcut also accused the company of scraping its articles. Now, Reuters has reported that Perplexity isn't the only AI company that's bypassing robots.txt files and scraping websites to get content that's then used to train their technologies.Reuters said it saw a letter addressed to publishers from TollBit, a startup that pairs them up with AI firms so they can reach licensing deals, warning them that "AI agents from multiple sources (not just one company) are opting to bypass the robots.txt protocol to retrieve content from sites." The robots.txt file contains instructions for web crawlers on which pages they can and can't access. Web developers have been using the protocol since 1994, but compliance is completely voluntary.TollBit's letter didn't name any company, but Business Insider says it has learned that OpenAI and Anthropic - the creators of the ChatGPT and Claude chatbots, respectively - are also bypassing robots.txt signals. Both companies previously proclaimed that they respect "do not crawl" instructions websites put in their robots.txt files.During its investigation, Wired discovered that a machine on an Amazon server "certainly operated by Perplexity" was bypassing its website's robots.txt instructions. To confirm whether Perplexity was scraping its content, Wired provided the company's tool with headlines from its articles or short prompts describing its stories. The tool reportedly came up with results that closely paraphrased its articles "with minimal attribution." And at times, it even generated inaccurate summaries for its stories - Wired says the chatbot falsely claimed that it reported about a specific California cop committing a crime in one instance.In an interview with Fast Company, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas told the publication that his company "is not ignoring the Robot Exclusions Protocol and then lying about it." That doesn't mean, however, that it isn't benefiting from crawlers that do ignore the protocol. Srinivas explained that the company uses third-party web crawlers on top of its own, and that the crawler Wired identified was one of them. When Fast Company asked if Perplexity told the crawler provider to stop scraping Wired's website, he only replied that "it's complicated."Srinivas defended his company's practices, telling the publication that the Robots Exclusion Protocol is "not a legal framework" and suggesting that publishers and companies like his may have to establish a new kind of relationship. He also reportedly insinuated that Wired deliberately used prompts to make Perplexity's chatbot behave the way it did, so ordinary users will not get the same results. As for the inaccurate summaries that the tool had generated, Srinivas said: "We have never said that we have never hallucinated."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai-companies-are-reportedly-still-scraping-websites-despite-protocols-meant-to-block-them-132308524.html?src=rss
In this installment of What We're Listening To, Engadget editors dive into some of the recent music releases we've been playing on repeat. Yes, Brat has us in a chokehold, too.Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats - Nell' Ora BluWhen I first heard Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats was putting out an album inspired by 1960s-70s giallo films, I felt like my interests, personally, were being targeted. It's the kind of crossover that now seems like it had to happen at some point, but I never realized my need for it until this moment. (One person on Reddit, though, was really onto something with the idea last year). Lo and behold, Nell' Ora Blu dropped last month and it scratches a very specific itch in my brain.It is not at all the usual fare you'd expect from Uncle Acid, very much taking on the structure of a soundtrack with a lot of ambient instrumentals and short dialogue tracks voiced by genre regulars Edwige Fenech, Franco Nero and Luc Merenda (it pulls influence from the poliziotteschi crime/action films as well). The scores in these movies often feel like psychedelic horror experiences in themselves - with heavy moments that really drag you in, only to be offset by something so delicate it's almost disorienting - and unsurprisingly, Uncle Acid absolutely nails this. This is the perfect album to pop on in the background while you're trying to get some art or writing done, ideally as a thunderstorm rolls in. It's pretty long, coming in at around an hour and 17 minutes, but I almost always replay it at least once per sitting.Nell' Ora Blu isn't necessarily going to be an automatic hit with Uncle Acid fans. It's more for the person who watched Deep Red or The Bird with the Crystal Plumage or anything of that ilk and immediately sought out the soundtrack afterward. Still, I expect there's a fair amount of overlap between those groups, considering the band does generally have the whole sleaze horror vibe going anyway. Honestly, I want more. We don't need to stop at giallo - give me Uncle Acid's take on Jean Rollin and the fantastique next (please).- Cheyenne MacDonald, Weekend EditorNathy Peluso - GrasaAdmittedly, I'm late to the Nathy Peluso bandwagon. I was first introduced to her after falling down a rabbit hole of BZRP Music Sessions (collab tracks made by Argentine producer Bizarrap and various Latin music heavyweights) and listened to hers (#36). Her second album, Grasa, just dropped and represents her latest full body of work released since the Grammy-nominated Calambre came out in 2020. Grasa is likely my album of the summer - and certainly a top pick for the whole year - thanks to its engaging experimentation and its marriage of a bunch of different styles including hip hop, latin trap, bolero, salsa and straight-up pop. There are no skips on this album, at least half a dozen bangers and I personally love the transitions from the snarling, fast-paced tracks to the few ballads and slower songs peppered throughout.Peluso already proved she was a great singer on Calambre, but I think her vocal performances on this album, particularly in ballads like Envidia" and El Dia Que Perdi Mi Juvendtud," standout as high points. And then there are the bangers, as it were: Aprender a Amar" gets in your face with fierce rapping and blaring horns; Legendario" might be the most obvious potential single off the whole album thanks to its signature pop tempo and sound; and La Presa" is basically a salsa IV straight to your veins. There are plenty of others I'm not naming here, but anyone who has even a passing appreciation for Latin pop (regardless of if you speak Spanish or not - I don't) shouldn't sleep on Grasa.Young Miko - att.Puerto Rican artist Young Miko's first full-length album, att., is the definition of a vibe." After collaborating with Karol G, Bad Bunny and other Latin superstars, Miko has solidified her space in the Latin pop scene with this project. While I don't think it's a career-defining album, it's a great showcase of her laid-back, Spanglish-style rapping that marries genres like reggaeton and Latin trap, and her ability to create a clear mood with such fusion, plus a healthy dose of great beats. Ultimately, it's simply easy listening from front to back. Personal highlights include arcoiris," tamagotchi" and Feid collab offline."Charli XCX - bratBrat is 100 percent worth the hype. Eloquent music critics and writers have bestowed a lot of praise onto this album already, so suffice to say that I agree with most of them (and you should go read their analyses). Standouts include Club classics," Sympathy is a knife," So I," and B2b," but arguably my favorite is the closer 365." A riff off of the opener 360," this track ups the ante in every way, and the transition to it from the penultimate I think about it all the time" is so satisfying and euphoric.- Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor, Buying AdviceTodd Terje - It's Album TimeIt's been 10 years since Norwegian producer and DJ Todd Terje declared that it was, finally, album time. He had made a name for himself as a DJ and remixer in the 2000s, but It's Album Time marked his first (and sadly, only) full-length collection on which he is the singular driving force. It's a gloriously oddball collection that flips between dramatic, movie score-style symphonic pieces and true dance-disco bangers. (After a recent listen, I convinced myself that Terje could help Dua Lipa make the best album of her career.)For my money, the 10-minutes combo of "Straandbar" and "Delorean Dynamite" encapsulate the best things about the album. It's a gloriously funky build-up with intricate percussion, fat synths, bouncing bass lines and a ridiculously simple but incredibly infectious guitar lick that comes in halfway through "Delorean Dynamite" that makes me want to run through a brick wall. You'll know it when you hear it.And, of course, there's "Inspector Norse," a song that caught fire in 2012 and paved the way for the rest of It's Album Time. If Terje never makes another album (he's only 43, so there's plenty of time!), "Inspector Norse" serves as seven perfect minutes of his career. Maybe he'll swing by and take us to his planet again, but it's hard to be sad about his lack of output when It's Album Time is so damn perfect.- Nathan Ingraham, Deputy Editor, NewsXG - Woke Up Cocona shaves her head in this video. Just because she wanted to. This song is great. XG is life.- Aaron Souppouris, Executive EditorThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/what-were-listening-to-nell-ora-blu-grasa-brat-and-more-130028558.html?src=rss
The following contains spoilers for Empire of Death."Empire of Death" is the typical Russell T. Davies series finale: It's bombastic, dense and totally uninterested in resolving its own story. The episode bounces around for the requisite amount of time before leaping to its climax with an arresting visual of little substance. Because what Davies is really interested in is the scenes afterward, and the all-too-brief moment where Ruby Sunday gets coffee.Bad Wolf / BBC StudiosAt the end of The Legend of Ruby Sunday," the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and (classic-series companion) Mel (Bonnie Langford) are face to face with Sutekh's minion (Susan Twist). Sutekh begins spraying its dust of death, a cloud of dust that turns whoever it touches into a pile of dust themselves. The Doctor and Mel outrun the cloud on Mel's scooter in an action sequence that feels like it ate the bulk of the episode's budget.The pair head back to UNIT HQ to reunite with Ruby at the time window. Sutekh's dog form is still clutching the TARDIS as a prized possession and wipes out the rest of the UNIT staff, including Kate (Jemma Redgrave), Rose (Yasmin Finney) and Morris (Lenny Rush). (Three deaths you just know won't last for longer than half an hour.)Sutekh explains to the Doctor he clung to the TARDIS (at some point) and followed it around on every step of the Doctor's journey. Every planet the Doctor landed on, he planted a Susan Twist character there, each one lingering both as a trap for the Doctor and to sow Sutekh's murderous dust. And he used the TARDIS' perception filter to hide what he was doing. Did you know the filter operates at a distance of 73 yards? It's a callback!The Doctor, Ruby and Mel hightail it into the memory window's TARDIS, which turns out to be the Memory TARDIS (which is just a regular TARDIS). This was a small, cobbled-together set from the 60th anniversary framing series Tales of the TARDIS, in which classic series actors introduced classic series episodes to new viewers. While in flight, the trio see what Sutekh has done to the universe, rendering it cold and empty, and giving Ncuti Gatwa a chance to scream his frustration into the literal void.It's now very important to uncover the identity of Ruby Sunday's mother, especially given that Sutekh is interested in the answer. The trio take the Memory TARDIS on one final voyage to the dystopian future as shown in 73 Yards." That's where evil prime minister Roger ap Gwillam has instituted compulsory DNA testing to ensure the UK is a racially-pure nation. (Yes, it is a bit yikes.) But it'll also give the Doctor the chance to identify who Ruby's mother is from the records.Once the information is on screen, they're all pulled back to UNIT HQ in 2024 by Sutekh who is similarly curious. Sutekh uses his power to pull the Doctor to the floor, threatening his life, unless Ruby shares the information held on the gizmo she's holding. But as she gets close to the pooch, she smashes the screen with the data on it and clips a piece of smart rope to Sutekh's collar to ensnare him.The Doctor then whistles for the TARDIS to come back to him, where he and Ruby clip the other end of the lead to the console and dematerialize. They then take this giant, evil alien dog on a walk through the time vortex which, uh, ah, something something brings everyone back to life. Try not to think too hard about it and enjoy the arresting visual of the TARDIS dragging a giant evil dog through some nice CGI.There's then some words about the Doctor having to become a killer in order to stop Sutekh killing. He casts Sutekh into the vortex. Given that's what he did last time, I'm not sure why it's more successful now but, as I said, coherence was never the focus of the episode.Back at UNIT HQ, with everyone revived and eating pizza, they're able to track down Ruby's mother. She got pregnant at 15 and gave her daughter up to avoid the reprisals from some sinister stepfather who may have harmed the child. But she never sought to track down her daughter afterward, and didn't even tell the father of the child that she'd had a baby. As for why Sutekh was interested in Ruby's mother, the Doctor says it's because people had invested time and emotion into her. Which feels like Davies chiding the audience for focusing on questions he himself laced into the series for this purpose.And while I can see what Davies was trying to say, it's not as if he's played fair here - pointing a neon sign at Ruby saying that she was important. We don't know why she can bend reality to her will, or make it snow whenever she thinks about her abandonment. We didn't obsess over this question because we apply meaning to meaningless things, but because the show and its characters ascribed meaning to them.The Doctor and Ruby stand outside a coffee shop where Ruby's mother is now sitting, drinking and staring at her phone. The Doctor suggests that, since her mother never cared enough to look for her, she isn't interested in connecting. But Ruby is undeterred and walks in, orders a coffee and sits on a big bench across from her mother, so that when the waiter calls her name, her mother looks up.From there, we see the Sundays catching up. But for all the wonders of the universe the Doctor wishes to see, this apparently joyful reunion isn't one of them, choosing to leave Ruby there. He says they'll meet again but, given he left his own granddaughter, it's just as likely he'll forget all about her.And so the TARDIS sets off for pastures new.Bad Wolf / BBC StudiosI don't think Empire of Death" paid off the previous episodes with any degree of satisfaction but I never expected it to, either. Davies's modus operandi is to ignore the mechanics of storytelling in favor of vibes and those brief moments of touching character drama. The whole giant dog in space is weightless compared to the scene where Ruby sits across from her mother. Ironically, it was here that we should have dragged things out - the anticipation of if she would speak up would have been a better use of the show's time than a lot of what happened last week.But the ending did make me wonder about who in this world gets the privilege of a happy ending. Davies nearly died of a drug overdose in the mid 90s and then lost his partner to a brain tumor in 2018. He's a cynical, nihilistic writer who feels humanity is only ever one or two missed meals away from the most evil forms of fascism. And yet, it's rare that he ever plays a minor note at the conclusion of an episode of Doctor Who.No companion leaves without a parting gift big enough to sooth the pain of being separated from the Doctor. In fact, on two separate occasions, a companion gets their own personal clone of David Tennant. Here, does Ruby get a happy ending by being reunited with her mother, or is it her mother who gets the greatest of absolutions? She never sought her daughter out, never looked to remedy the rupture, yet here she's welcomed with love.In fact, this episode provokes plenty of questions for me, including if it's okay for the people who abandon you to get to live their lives with the comfort of moving on? What about the weird twist that the Doctor kills Sutekh but allows his wave of resurrection to reanimate planets full of evil beings? After all, Telos - one of the Cybermen's hangouts - gets namechecked as a place that has been saved. Maybe it's just better to remember that, sometimes, you need to turn your brain off and just feel Doctor Who. See you for the Holiday special.Mrs Flood CornerMrs. Flood is disconnected from Sutekh, breaking the fourth wall at the end of the episode while dressed as a glam rock Mary Poppins. She tells the audience that the Doctor's ending is on the way and is delighted by the idea, further stoking thoughts that she's playing a longstanding villain. The obvious guesses - given Mrs. Flood is played by a woman - is that it'll be some future incarnation of Missy or The Rani. Fine?This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/doctor-who-empire-of-death-review-take-your-dog-for-a-walk-004516577.html?src=rss
Replacing a talent like the late Kevin Conroy, the man who voiced Batman in fan favorites like Batman: The Animated Series and the Arkham game trilogy, must be a monumental feat. Conroy's deep, steady voice defined the character for decades - it's a challenge just to think of a cartoon Batman and not hear Conroy's voice behind the mic. Sadly, Conroy passed away in 2022 and Batman must carry on without him.A new series is coming to Amazon Prime starting on August 1 called Batman: Caped Crusader and Vanity Fairrevealed that actor Hamish Linklater will provide the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne on the new noirish animated series. Linklater is best known for roles in movies including The Big Short and Midnight Mass, and shows like the recent Apple+ limited series Manhunt,where he played President Abraham Lincoln.Batman: Caped Crusader aims to be more of an old-fashioned detective story with the art style of the original 1939 comics. Linklater's take on the character seems more subdued to match the tone, and it'll be interesting to see how a Batman show will work in the style of a Mickey Spillane-esque story.No Batman movie or show is complete without his menagerie of villains. Only three of the voice actors have been revealed so far: Christina Ricci will voice Catwoman/Selina Kyle, Diedrich Bader will voice Two-Face/Harvey Dent and Jamie Chung will play Harley Quinn.Based on the full cast list, there should be more villains on the roster. The series will also feature the voices of McKenna Grace, Minnie Driver, Gary Anthony Williams, Tom Kenny, John DiMaggio and Michelle C. Bonilla, according to the Internet Movie Database.Fans of Batman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Brave and the Bold will also be happy to know that some of those shows' original writers and creators are joining the new Amazon Prime series. Bruce Timm, the artist and co-creator of Batman: The Animated Series, and James Tucker, the producer and one of the writers of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, are the showrunners and executive producers of Batman: Caped Crusader.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/hamish-linklater-is-the-new-voice-of-batman-214608627.html?src=rss
Months after Apple opened the App Store to game-streaming apps, the iPhone is about to get its first one. Retro gaming platform Antstream will arrive on iOS on June 27. Cult of Mac first reported on the news.Antstream Arcade offers over 1,300 retro games from old-school platforms like Atari consoles, Commodore 64, DOS and arcade. It even has a few PS1 games, but its fare is less Metal Gear Solid and more... Hogs of War. You can browse Antstream's current library here.Although Apple cited developer feedback for its loosening of rules, you can likely thank the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). Designed to boost competition and prevent the all-too-common consumer-hostile practices in Big Tech, the DMA's regulations went into effect in 2023. Earlier this year, Apple said it would begin allowing developers to submit single apps that stream entire libraries of games, something it had previously resisted.Antstream typically costs $5 monthly or $40 annually, but Cult of Mac reports that it will launch with an introductory offer of $4 per month or $30 for a year. You can check out the company's website to see if it's worth it before it launches next week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/antstream-will-be-the-iphones-first-official-game-streaming-app-204617575.html?src=rss
The illegal streaming service Jetflicks once boasted on its website that visitors could watch just about any TV show or movie Anytime. Anywhere." Now the five people behind the bootleg streaming service are facing some serious jail time.A jury found Kristopher Dallman, Douglas Courson, Felipe Garcia, Jared Jaurequi and Peter Huber guilty in a Las Vegas federal court on Friday for conspiracy to commit criminal copyright infringement. Dallmann was also found guilty on two counts of money laundering and three counts of misdemeanor criminal copyright infringement for leading the Jetflicks operation, according to court documents and a US Department of Justice press release.Jetflicks used computer scripts and software to scour the internet for illegal copies of movies and television shows and posted hundreds of thousands of illegal copies as far back as 2007 from torrent and Usenet sites. The defendants created a catalog of bootleg shows and movies bigger than the combined collections of streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Amazon Prime, according to the Department of Justice.Users could pay a subscription fee to access the site on pretty much any media streaming device with a web browser. Jetflicks claimed to offer more than 183,200 television episodes and have more than 37,000 subscribers," according to the initial indictment filed in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2019.Dallmann, the leader of the group, and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars streaming and distributing this catalog of stolen content," according to the press release.At one point, operators and employees of Jetflicks were making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year from its subscription service. Dallman wrote in an online chat that his site made $750,000 in one year, according to the indictment.The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) took notice of Jetflicks in 2012 and sent cease and desist letters to the site's operators. Four years later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) started its undercover operation of the site by paying for a six-month subscription. Undercover agents recorded multiple instances of illegal uploads of shows like Shameless, Ray Donovan, The OA and SyFy's 12 Monkeys alongside charges for accessing them. Then the agents traced those charges back to the defendants' bank accounts, according to court records.A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled. The Department of Justice says Dallman could face up to 48 years in prison and the four remaining defendants could each face five years in prison.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/five-men-face-jail-time-for-running-the-illegal-streaming-service-jetflicks-202758485.html?src=rss
X will soon be moving the ability to live stream behind its premium paywall, the company announced. The change will make X the only major social platform to charge for the feature, which is currently free on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch and TikTok.Starting soon, only Premium subscribers will be able to livestream (create live video streams) on X," the company said. This includes going live from an encoder with X integration," an apparent reference to X's game streaming capabilities.X didn't offer an explanation for the change. The company has used additional features, like post editing, longform writing, and ad-free feeds to lure users to its paid subscriptions, but hasn't typically moved existing, widely available, features behind its paywall. X Premium subscriptions start at $3/month for the "basic" tier, and rise to $8/month for Premium and $16/month for Premium+.There are, however, other signs that the Elon Musk-owned platform wants to charge for other simple features. The company introduced a $1 annual charge for new accounts to have posting privileges in New Zealand and the Philippines. Though the company still describes the scheme as a test, Musk has suggested he wants to expand the fees to all new users.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/x-is-making-live-streaming-a-premium-feature-185151147.html?src=rss
Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics