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Dead smartphones aren't so smart. If you travel, stay away from home for extended periods of time or simply forget to charge your phone occasionally, it might be wise to keep a portable charger in your bag. Over the past few years, I've tested over fifty different models to find the best power banks for different life situations. I looked at price, capacity, design and wattage to pick the candidates, then used each one to charge up a slew of different devices to see how they compare. This guide also includes info on what to look for in a battery as well the latest regulations on flying with a power bank. Here are the best portable chargers you can buy right now. Table of contents

The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a one-year limited warranty that covers the cost of repairing unexpected defects, but any damage that falls outside that coverage will cost you. Avoiding that could be key, because based on Nintendo's customer repair portal, paying to fix a Switch 2 is noticeably more expensive than repairing an older Switch.Now, prices could vary depending on how your Switch 2 or its accessories are damaged. Just looking at repairing water damage specifically, though, here's how prices break down:

It's a big day for everyone who has successfully acquired their Nintendo Switch 2, but few hardware launches go off without a single hitch. In addition to some surprising hidden costs to finishing the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, players have also discovered a compatibility problem in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.The conditions for this issue to occur, luckily, appear to be pretty narrow. It's happening in online matches of the fighting game where one person is on a Switch 1 and the other is on a Switch 2. If one of the players choses the Mii Fighters as their character, the match may immediately end. Also, thumbnails aren't always saving correctly for the Mii Fighters, which are customizable for each person.Nintendo is aware of the problem, according to a translation posted on X by user OatmealDome. The game company said that an update for this Smash compatibility issue will be released "soon," although no more specific date has been provided. Basically, if you're going to spend launch day with your Switch 2 playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, just don't pick Mii Fighters.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/mii-fighters-are-breaking-super-smash-bros-ultimate-matches-on-the-switch-2-212304774.html?src=rss

Walmart just announced a major expansion of its drone delivery service to five new cities. These areas include Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando, Charlotte and Houston. This makes it the first retailer to offer drone-based deliveries across five states, as the service has already been operating in Arkansas.This isn't a small beta test, like some of Amazon's pilot programs. Walmart says the service is launching at 100 stores. This is thanks to a partnership with Wing, which operates its drones within FAA guidelines.This is real drone delivery at scale," said Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing. People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year. Now we're excited to share this ultra-fast delivery experience with millions more people across many more US cities."WalmartThese drones can deliver up to six miles from the retail location. Walmart says it's building out the service right now, but it could take up to a year to reach every store. Customers are encouraged to sign up for notifications as to when drone deliveries open up in their area. The company notes that it has made over 150,000 drone deliveries so far, with an average fulfillment time of 19 minutes. There is a weight limit, however, and Wing drones will only deliver certain items.Rival Amazon recently experienced a hiccup with its in-house drone delivery program. There were two crashes, which forced the company to put the project on hold for a bit. It's back now, and can now deliver new items like smartphones and video doorbells.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/walmart-expands-drone-deliveries-to-five-new-cities-including-atlanta-200030301.html?src=rss

Scams using AI deepfakes of celebrities have become an increasingly prominent issue for Meta over the last couple of years. Now, the Oversight Board has weighed in and has seemingly confirmed what other critics have said: Meta isn't doing enough to enforce its own rules, and makes it far too easy for scammers to get away with these schemes."Meta is likely allowing significant amounts of scam content on its platforms to avoid potentially overenforcing a small subset of genuine celebrity endorsements," the board wrote in its latest decision. "At-scale reviewers are not empowered to enforce this prohibition on content that establishes a fake persona or pretends to be a famous person in order to scam or defraud."That conclusion came as the result of a case involving an ad for an online casino-style game called Plinko that used an AI-manipulated video of Ronaldo Nazario, a retired Brazilian soccer player. The ad, which according to the board showed obvious signs of being fake, was not removed by Meta even after it was reported as a scam more than 50 times. Meta later removed the ad, but not the underlying Facebook post behind it until the Oversight Board agreed to review the case. It was viewed more than 600,000 times.The board says that the case highlights fundamental flaws in how Meta approaches content moderation for reported scams involving celebrities and public figures. The board says that Meta told its members that "it enforces the policy only on escalation to ensure the person depicted in the content did not actually endorse the product" and that individual reviewers' "interpretation of what constitutes a fake persona' could vary across regions and introduce inconsistencies in enforcement." The result, according to the Oversight Board, is that a "significant" amount of scam content is likely slipping through the cracks.In its sole recommendation to Meta, the board urged the company should update its internal guidelines, empower content reviewers to identify such scams and train them on "indicators" of AI-manipulated content. In a statement, a spokesperson for Meta said that "many of the Board's claims are simply inaccurate" and pointed to a test it began last year that uses facial recognition technology to fight "celeb-bait" scams.Scams have grown in scale and complexity in recent years, driven by ruthless cross-border criminal networks," the spokesperson said. "As this activity has become more persistent and sophisticated, so have our efforts to combat it. We're testing the use of facial recognition technology, enforcing aggressively against scams, and empowering people to protect themselves through many different on platform safety tools and warnings. While we appreciate the Oversight Board's views in this case, many of the Board's claims are simply inaccurate and we will respond to the full recommendation in 60 days in accordance with the bylaws."Scams using AI deepfakes of celebrities has become a major problem for Meta as AI tech gets cheaper and more easily accessible. Earlier this year, I reported that dozens of pages were running ads featuring deepfakes of Elon Musk and Fox News personalities promoting supplements that claimed to cure diabetes. Some of these pages repeatedly ran hundreds of versions of these ads with seemingly few repercussions. Meta disabled some of the pages after my reporting, but similar scam ads persist on Facebook to this day. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis also recently publicly slammed Mark Zuckerberg for not removing a deepfaked Facebook ad that featured her (Meta removed the ad after her public posts).The Oversight Board similarly highlighted the scale of the problem in this case, noting that it found thousands of video ads promoting the Plinko app in Meta's Ad Library. It said that several of these featured AI deepfakes, including ads featuring another Brazilian soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Meta's own CEO Mark Zuckerberg.The Oversight Board isn't the only group that's raised the alarm about scams on Meta's platforms. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Meta "accounted for nearly half of all reported scams on Zelle for JPMorgan Chase between the summers of 2023 and 2024" and that "British and Australian regulators have found similar levels of fraud originating on Meta's platforms." The paper noted that Meta is "reluctant" to add friction to its ad-buying process and that the company "balks" at banning advertisers, even those with a history of conducting scams.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/the-oversight-board-says-meta-isnt-doing-enough-to-fight-celeb-deepfake-scams-194636203.html?src=rss

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a $10 museum-like experience dedicated to playfully explaining features of the Nintendo Switch 2, and technically, it costs a lot more than $10 to truly finish. As Eurogamer writes and multiple Nintendo webpages note, you can't actually finish the game without using all of the Switch 2's many accessories.All 12 of the different areas in Welcome Tour are accessible whether you're plugging in a camera or not, but to play and beat every minigame, "additional accessories [are] required," according to Nintendo. Those accessories include a USB camera, a controller with GL and GR buttons (the kind in the Switch 2 Pro Controller's grips) and a 4K-compatible TV. If you wanted to go the official route and use Nintendo accessories, that means paying $55 for the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera and $85 for the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, assuming you already own a 4K TV.No one needs to 100-percent complete Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, of course, but it is funny that price was one of the biggest complaints about the Switch 2's answer to Wii Sports, and now to totally complete it you might have to pay even more.The patient among us (who didn't pre-order) can wait and see if the hidden secrets of Welcome Tour are truly worth spending the extra cash on accessories. For the rest, you might be better off spending your time unlocking characters in Mario Kart World.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/truly-completing-nintendo-switch-2-welcome-tour-will-cost-you-192255868.html?src=rss

As if early June wasn't already going to be a wild enough time in the gaming world with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, that's also when a whole host of showcases takes place as part of Summer Game Fest. Along with three main events - Sony State of Play, Summer Game Fest Live and the Xbox Games Showcase - there are a bunch of other ones in store, including the always-delightful Day of the Devs.There some brand-new showcases this year as well, while others are missing. For instance, Ubisoft won't be running its Forward event this time - perhaps because it has delayed a bunch of big games and isn't ready to talk about them. However, Ubisoft has teased that something Splinter Cell-related is in the pipeline and it's set to participate in IGN Live and PC Gaming Show.Meanwhile, CD Projekt Red popped up at Epic Games' State of Unreal event earlier in the week. To show off the capabilities of Unreal Engine, CDPR offered up a very pretty tech demo set in the world of The Witcher 4. It ranat 60 fps with ray-tracing enabled on a base PS5. Quite impressive.Anyway, as things stand, SGF is slated to run from June 4 until June 9. With E3 officially dead (that show's organizer, the Entertainment Software Association, is planning an industry-focused event for next April instead), SGF is now the de-facto replacement and the biggest event for announcements and updates this side of Gamescom in August.We'll update this preview as more details about the showcases emerge, including additional events in the SGF nebula. We'll embed videos for each stream as they become available as well.Engadget will be on the ground in Los Angeles for the in-person side of SGF, which is for media and creators. We'll be bringing you hands-on impressions of many of the games that are featured during SGF Live.Most folks will be keeping up with everything from home, though. To that end, here's a breakdown of how to watch Summer Game Fest 2025 and what to expect from the extravaganza (we're bound to get a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date this time, right?!?!).Summer Game Fest 2025 schedule

In space, no one can hear you, uh, stream. We finally have a real trailer for the upcoming Alien: Earth TV series and it looks extremely cool. FX dropped a teaser a few months back, but that was just vibes. This is an actual two-minute trailer that's absolutely packed with footage.For the uninitiated, Alien: Earth is the first TV series in the franchise's long history and is being helmed by Noah Hawley. That's the guy who made the Fargo TV series and the criminally underrated Marvel show Legion. Franchise creator Ridley Scott is also on board as an executive producer.This is a prequel that's set just two years before the original film. As the name suggests, it takes place on Earth. The trailer indicates the story will involve a ship crashing into a large corporate-controlled city. This vessel may or may not have a fearsome Xenomorph aboard, among other notable alien species.A character in the clip says that the ship "collected five different life forms from the darkest corners of the universe," going on to suggest that one is "predatory." That's right. We could be getting a dang Predator in our Alien TV show.Alien: Earth premieres on August 12 on FX and will be available to stream on Hulu. The show stars Sydney Chandler as a hybrid robot/human lifeform tasked with investigating the crash. The rest of the cast includes Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther and Samuel Blenkin, among others.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-full-alien-earth-trailer-is-finally-here-and-its-a-doozy-184921361.html?src=rss

Whatever your opinion of X, you probably don't think of it as a platform known for fostering agreement. The company is apparently trying to change that, though, and is in the early stages of an experiment that aims to boost posts that are widely agreeable to the site's users.With a new test, described by X as an "experimental pilot," the app will begin asking a small subset of users what they think of a particular post in their timeline. A screenshot shared by X shows that people can respond with a range of positive or negative opinions, like "it makes a meaningful point," "it's funny" or "it doesn't interest me." X will then use those responses to help it "develop an open source algorithm that could effectively identify posts liked by people from different perspectives."The concept is somewhat similar to Community Notes, which already attempts to take differing perspectives into account when ranking fact checks. The new program, though, isn't about surfacing fact-checked content but boosting posts that are likely to be, well, liked.X's post about the test suggests it has lofty goals. "This experimental new feature seeks to uncover ideas, insights, and opinions that bridge perspectives," the company wrote. "It can bring awareness to what resonates broadly. It could motivate people to share those ideas in the first place."Whether an open source algorithm based on data about users' likes can actually accomplish that, though, is unclear. A report published today by Pew Research shows that there is still a significant partisan divide in terms of how X is perceived and experienced by users. Overcoming that could be more difficult than boosting a few extra posts.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/x-tests-centrism-170939276.html?src=rss

After years of leaks and months of teasers, the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here. We've long known what the Switch 2 will look like, and when it'll arrive. We've told you how tariffs have affected Nintendo's launch plans, we've given you a step-by-step guide to pre-ordering and told you where to buy a Switch 2 on launch day. We gave you our first hands-on preview back in early April, told you how good of a first impression Mario Kart World makes and dug even deeper with our final preview earlier this week.All that's left now is our full review, and reviews take time. While we put Nintendo's latest through its paces, you can catch up on everything you need to know about the Switch 2 below. If you want to follow the Engadget team's experiences with it on launch day, you can check out our Nintendo Switch 2 launch day live blog.What are the key new features of the Nintendo Switch 2?Display and dockThe Nintendo Switch 2 has a 1080p 7.9-inch display with a 120Hz refresh and HDR compatibility. It also supports up to 4K output at 120Hz (with variable refresh rates) when docked.Joy-Con and Pro ControllerThe new Joy-Con 2 for Nintendo Switch 2 attaches magnetically with a button to release them. They have larger SL and SR buttons (the ones hidden when the Joy-Con are attached) to make playing multiplayer games on individual Joy-Cons more feasible. These buttons are also made of steel and attach to the Switch 2's magnets.The analog sticks are no longer tiny nubs, and are closer in size to the ones you might find on a PS5 or Xbox controller. However, they do not have Hall effect sensors, the use of which can minimize the risk of the "stick drift" issue that plagued the original Joy-Cons.The Joy-Con 2 have what Nintendo is calling HD Rumble 2" built in, which seems to be a refinement of the original (and still very good) vibration function. Finally, each Joy-Con 2 has an optical sensor that allows you to use it as a mouse, and a C button, which we'll get to in a minute.NintendoThe new Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 comes with everything you'd expect based on the refreshed Joy-Con 2: Namely HD Rumble 2 and the C button. There are also remappable GL/GR buttons around the back and a standard audio jack for connecting a headset.Both options come with Amiibo support built in. The Switch 2 comes with two Joy-Con 2, as you'd expect, and additional pairs are priced at $95. The Pro Controller will cost $85.The C button stands for "chat"The new C button is a dedicated way to enter a chat session with friends. As well as the standard features you'd expect from voice chat, Nintendo has built a Discord-like video-sharing feature, which lets you show your gameplay to others and see other people's screens while you're playing.The GameChat function works with a mic built into the console, though headsets are also supported. Nintendo will also sell a $55 camera that plugs into the USB-C port on the top of the console, which will allow you to stream your face along with your game.NintendoGameCube supportThe Switch 2 will work with GameCube games via the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. The three titles available at launch will be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II.Improved specsPerhaps the biggest feature, though, is one you can't see: The Switch 2 has an all-new processor and GPU and significantly more storage (256GB vs 64GB in the Switch OLED), along with support for faster and more capacious microSD cards. This will obviously lead to better first-party games and upgraded Switch experiences, but more importantly it will mean multi-platform games that had to skip the original, underpowered Switch will be able to be ported over. With games like Cyberpunk 2077 coming to the Switch 2 at launch, it seems like far more ports will be feasible than on the original console.Digital Foundry has been able to confirm a bunch of the details of the Switch 2's specsthat Nintendo hasn't explained publicly, but the highlights are the consoles custom chip and faster storage. The Switch 2 uses a NVIDIA chip with eight ARM Cortex A78C cores, six of which are available to developers, and a GPU with the company's Ampere architecture. That's alongside 12GB of LPDDRX RAM and a custom FDE (file decompression engine) that decompresses game files without drawing power from the Switch 2's CPU.Another major improvement comes in the form of networking - the Switch 2 supports Wi-Fi 6, which will improve the original's often glacial download speeds. Similarly, the new dock sports an Ethernet port for a rock-solid connection.Virtual game cardsVirtual Game Cards are Nintendo's way of making digital games replicate the experience of physical copies. They let you lend digital games to friends and family, letting them enjoy the game on their system without buying a separate copy.Of course, there are caveats. Much like a physical cartridge, only one system can play each Virtual Game Card at a time. You can only loan games to up to eight people, and each will need to be on the same Nintendo Family Account and local network. Finally, you can only share one game at a time, and the lending period lasts only two weeks. Although that's a healthy list of limitations, the feature is still more than other consoles have offered - and, if we're lucky, it will be something Sony and Microsoft are pressured to adopt.Perhaps best of all, the feature isn't exclusive to the Switch 2. It's already available for the first Switch.Game-Key cardsGame-Key cards are physical Switch 2 games that only contain a portion of their game data. The first time you slot one in, your Switch 2 will download the rest of the game to your local storage and the Game-Key card becomes the "key" you need to use anytime you want to play it.Nintendo says you'll have to have an internet connection the first time you boot up the game, but afterwards the card itself should be enough to let you play. You'll also be able to resell your Game-Key card in the same way you would a normal cartridge or disc.This fusion of digital and physical has become fairly common on other consoles as the size of games has grown larger, but it's relatively novel for Nintendo. Since the Switch 2 is going to be running more demanding, high-fidelity games, though, it's a compromise that lets people still enjoy the common-sense benefits of physical game cards.What's it like to play?Nintendo gave the press a chance to check out the Switch 2 and a few of the games it highlighted. You can read our impressions of Mario Kart Worldas well as more general thoughts on how the Switch 2 feels in person. Right off the bat, Mario Kart World feels like an outstanding launch title, with more depth and better visuals than we've ever seen from a Mario Kart game. The core formula is intact, but there are a lot of new features and play styles to dig into.As for the Switch 2 hardware, it feels like a major step forward from the original Switch - it has grown up a lot and feels far more polished and refined. And while it may not have an OLED screen, the 7.9-inch LED display Nintendo did use is outstanding.When did the Nintendo Switch 2 come out?Nintendo scheduled its launch for June 5, 2025. From a US perspective, the first consoles reached gamers' hands on June 4, with Australians and New Zealanders sharing images online and some streaming their experiences on Twitch and YouTube.When did pre-orders open for Nintendo Switch 2?Switch 2 pre-orders were initially set to begin on April 9, but the following week, Nintendo said it was suspending pre-order plans in the US "indefinitely" in reaction to a slate of tariffs imposed by President Trump.Finally, when pre-orders opened on April 24, a hot mess ensued. Those who stayed up late trying to snag a Switch 2 were often left empty-handed as Walmart, Best Buy and Target's websites weren't fully equipped for the demand. Many customers were left with unmoving queues and error messages - a familiar process for many who've tried to pre-order a hot gaming or tech product in recent years. (Folks who pre-ordered a PS5 during the pandemic caught the nastiest case of deja vu.)No retailers are currently taking Switch 2 pre-orders. Although there's always the chance one will drop an unexpected stock refresh, your best option right now is to register your interest with Nintendo. That may not lead to a launch-day console, as Nintendo has warned, but it won't likely be a crazy delay like those familiar to GPU buyers. And if your Nintendo cred ticks the right boxes (you have been subscribed to Switch Online for at least 12 months, have opted in to share gameplay data, and have at least 50 total gameplay hours), your odds will improve.Costco is a dark-horse candidate for day-one availability. The retailer doesn't appear to have taken any Switch 2 pre-orders, but a product listing claims it will have Mario Kart World console bundles in stock on launch day.In any case, Nintendo says the console's June 5 release date is unchanged.In a somewhat disappointing update, Nintendo appears to be shipping "sold out" signs to retailers so that they can quickly let people know the Switch 2 isn't in stock. We can only read so much into that, but it seems likely that if you can't grab one on launch day from a retailer, you'll be waiting a while for them to come back in stock.How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost?On April 2, Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 would cost $450 standalone, or $500 with a bundled digital copy of the new Mario Kart game, Mario Kart World. That's significantly more expensive than the original Switch, which launched at $300, and has remained at that price ever since. It's also more expensive than the entry-level current-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.The comparison looks a little better up against Valve's Steam Deck, which costs $400 for the LCD model or $550 for the basic OLED model. The Steam Deck is more affordable than most PC handhelds.When Nintendo delayed the pre-orders from the original date of April 9, it said it was doing so "in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions." With heavy US tariffs levied on Nintendo's Asian production centers, the implication was that would have little choice but to pass at least some of those costs on to American consumers. But Trump's April 9 tariff pivot - reverting to 10 percent across the board for 90 days for all countries except China, which now gets a triple-digit hit - further muddied the waters. That's because it's unclear how much, if any, of the components and assembly of US-bound Switch 2 consoles will originate in China.The administration exempted some electronics from reciprocal tariffs, but they'll soon be subject to new levies on semiconductors. Some analysts suggest that Nintendo will be selling consoles at a loss in the US with even a 10 percent tariff.Nevertheless, the company is keeping the price of the Switch 2 at $450 and the Mario Kart World bundle at $450. However, it noted that it had to increase the prices of Switch 2 accessories "due to changing market conditions" and added that other price modifications may occur in the future for a similar reason.How much do the Nintendo Switch 2 accessories cost?When Nintendo announced the rescheduled Switch 2 pre-order date for the US and Canada, it confirmed price increases for many of the console's accessories. The current US prices for the accessories are as follows:

Anker's latest sale on Amazon includes a bunch of solid power banks and charging accessories. Key among them is the Anker 737 portable laptop charger, which is 41 percent off and down to $88. That's the best price we've seen all year so far, and it's only about $8 more than its record-low price. The 737 is a 24,000mAh charger that can juice up a laptop, but also works with other devices like smartphones, tablets and virtual reality headsets. The design is similar to our favorite premium power bank. This one, however, includes a trio of ports, making it a great option for multi-device charging. Anker says the battery is large enough to charge an iPhone 16 Pro over four times before requiring a refill. Beefier devices, like the newest iPad Pro or MacBook Pro, will get just over a single charge. This is a portable device, with a nice form factor that makes it easy to pack. However, it is on the heavier side. The Anker MagGo 621 magnetic charger is also on sale for $30, which is a discount of 25 percent. This one attaches to the back of a smartphone to provide more juice. The deal applies to multiple colorways. Alternatively, you can pick up this Anker 10K power bank for only $13, or half off its usual price. It's roughly the size of a credit card and has a built-in USB-C cable - both of which make it an excellent option for on-the-go power ups. This is a lightning deal, though, so you'll want to grab it while you can. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/anker-portable-chargers-are-on-sale-for-up-to-50-percent-off-152352617.html?src=rss

Tesla has asked a judge to block a request for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to disclose certain data related to crashes involving vehicles that have self-driving features, as Reuters reports. The company claimed in a filing the information is confidential, and that releasing it publicly would give competitors the ability to analyze the effectiveness of each version of the self-driving tech and potentially figure out the number of crashes that are linked to various systems.The Washington Post last year filed a lawsuit against the NHTSA last year to obtain access to more details about crashes that happened while driver-assistance systems, such as Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), were engaged. The agency has said the data being requested is exempt from public records laws. The Post contended that while the NHTSA does publish information regarding crashes, it "withholds critical details about the technologies in use and the circumstances and locations of the crashes."Tesla has argued that the company and the NHTSA should be able to keep certain information related to crashes private. This includes details about driver behavior and road conditions, as well as specific versions of driver-assistance tech that may have been in use.However, the Post's lawyers claimed that information about the versions of hardware and software that may have been in use at the time of crashes isn't confidential information, since drivers can access that through their vehicle dashboards. Tesla argued in its filing this week that, "Even where Tesla's individual vehicle owners might know certain information about their own vehicles, such as the version of the ADAS software installed, where a safety incident occurred, the conditions of the road during the accident, and what they were doing leading up to the accident, this information is shared with Tesla with the expectation that it will be kept private."According to Electrek, Tesla takes advantage of NHTSA loopholes to have most data relating to crashes involving its vehicles redacted. The company contends that its "self-driving" tech doesn't make its cars autonomous and that drivers are required to actively supervise its use. In other news, Tesla expects to start deploying its first Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, this month.Until late May, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency. That initiative is said to have cut about 10 percent of the NHTSA's staff at the beginning of this year - including about half of a small team that oversees the safety of autonomous vehicles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/tesla-is-trying-to-stop-certain-self-driving-crash-data-becoming-public-150946549.html?src=rss

If you're already planning a bunch of outdoor getaways ahead of summer's official start, you may also want a new wearable that can keep up with all your activities. The Apple Watch Series 10 is arguably the best option for most people (iPhone users, for sure), and now it's back on sale for its best price yet. You can grab one for $299, which is $100 off its regular price. There are a few variants on sale for this price at Amazon, but they all have a 42mm case and are GPS models with no LTE connectivity. If you'd rather have the larger 46mm case, several Apple Watch Series 10 configurations with that are also $100 off at $329. Not only is the Apple Watch Series 10 a darn good fitness (and wellness) tracker, it's our pick for the best smartwatch overall. Android wielders need not apply, unfortunately, since you need a paired iPhone to set up and use any Apple Watch. If you're not looking for one for yourself, the Apple Watch Series 10 would also make for a great Father's Day gift. We gave this smartwatch a score of 90 in our review. It's a fairly iterative update, so if you already have an Apple Watch Series 8 or 9 already, it might not be worth upgrading. At least in the US, the blood oxygen feature that was available in previous versions isn't present in the Apple Watch Series 10 following a patent dispute. Some of the Apple Watch Series 10's major features are found in other models too - the sleep apnea detection function is also available on the Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. However, if you're looking for your first Apple Watch or upgrading from a Series 7 or earlier, the Series 10 is probably the best way to go. It has a larger screen than its predecessors, so it'll be easier to see notifications and such. The thinner frame looks rather fetching, too. If you're eager for an even more affordable option, the Apple Watch SE is also on sale right now for $169. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/pick-up-the-apple-watch-series-10-while-its-on-sale-for-100-off-142236753.html?src=rss

If you have an old iPad and you're interested in externalizing some of the thousands of photos in your iCloud account, this guide's for you. Instead of buying a new digital picture frame, you can turn your retired iPad into a dedicated photo display without much effort. You'll need to change a few settings, download a photo frame app and decide how you want to prop up your new display - which can be as simple as using a stand or as complicated as getting out the drill and modding an analog frame. Here's how (and why) to upcycle your old iPad into a digital picture frame.Upcycled iPad versus a digital picture frameAn actual digital picture frame has a few obvious advantages: the necessary software is already there, it's display-ready, complete with a frame and matted display, and, as a unitasker, it won't display Gmail notifications over your photos. But the resolution for most smart frames tops out at 1,280 by 800 pixels. Even the standard iPad (9th gen) from 2021 has a resolution of 2,160 by 1,620. Plus, your old iPad is already yours. A decent digital frame will cost you around $100. And, since your iPad is certainly not a single-purpose device - it can take a FaceTime call or play an episode of Poker Face if the need arises.Amy Skorheim for EngadgetHow to turn your old iPad into a digital picture frameI figured I'd be able to use Apple's built-in software to do something as simple as creating a looping slideshow of images, but the experience wasn't quite what I was looking for. Playing a slideshow within the Photos app does so as a Memory, complete with music, and there's no way to turn that music off (though you can mute it). You can loop a Memory, but you can't randomize the images and the interval between images is far too short (anything less than ten minutes feels like yet another screen blinking at you). So, to turn an iPad into a randomized, always-on and silent digital picture frame with a decent display length, you'll have better luck with a third-party app.I tried a few and my favorite is Synched Photo Frame by Re-frame ($10, lifetime access). It doesn't pack a ton of features - no transitions, no image effects, no time and date overlay options and it'll only access images from your Photos app - but it does the best job of making photos look good on an iPad.It lets you set the viewing interval from 10 seconds to 24 hours and there's a programmable sleep function so it doesn't beam smiling pictures into the 3AM void of your living room. If your iPad is oriented differently than a photo, it shows two side-by-side images (i.e., two portrait images next to each other if your iPad is in landscape or two stacked horizontal pics if your tablet is vertical). A clean white border surrounds each split image; full-screen images go edge to edge. Images are cropped slightly to fit, which means they may lose a few details around the borders, but I think the effect is more attractive than blurred extended edges or black bars. The two-up solution is how our top pick for a digital photo frame, the Aura Carver, handles images with different aspect ratios - but you can't set that device in portrait mode.LiveFrame is another option and it's actually cheaper at $5 for lifetime access. It has more features like transitions and image filters, but there's no option for having two images up at the same time like in Re-Frame. Instead it can blur the edges, add bars or (hideously) stretch the image. I also experienced a number of glitches with the app and found the navigation a little tougher than it should be. I also tried Digital Photo Frame Slideshow but, at $30 annually, it's too expensive for my taste and it doesn't have a sleep function.How to prepare your iPad for photo frame modeStep one: Create an albumMost photo display apps will pull from albums you select in Photos. You probably already know how to make a new album, but there are a couple of elements to consider as you create one for a digital photo frame app on an iPad. All instructions are for iPadOS 18. If you're working with an older version, the steps may be slightly different.Select the Aspect Ratio Grid in the View Options menu of the Photos app so you can see which images are horizontal and which are vertical to more easily create your album. Amy Skorheim for Engadget

Team Asobi is releasing five new levels for Astro Bot, and you can get all of them for free. The developer has announced that the brand new levels will drop on July 10 at 9AM Eastern time. Like the speedrun levels and the previous levels the developer released at no cost, the new ones will be part of the Vicious Void Galaxy. Four of the new levels are called Twin-Frog Trouble, Suck It Up, Handhold Havoc and High Inflation, but Team Asobi is keeping the last one a secret. Each one will come with its own Special Bot, including a "revengeful newcomer." The developer also hinted that finishing all five levels will lead to "something really cool."Astro Bot is a 3D platformer, wherein you control a small robot named Astro across levels set in different galaxies and planets. It features unique and creative uses of the DualSense controller, such as having to hold down the analog triggers and physically tilting the device in order to move Astro's spaceship. Team Asobi has released several free levels before these new ones since the game launched in late 2024, and so far, Astro Bot has over 90 levels that you can play.In addition to announcing the freebies at PlayStation State of Play, Team Asobi has also revealed that it's launching an updated version of the Astro Bot Limited Edition DualSense wireless controller later this year. The developer promised more details in the future, but for now, you can see that the controller will come with Astro's smiling eyes on its touchpad.Team Asobi / SonyThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/astro-bot-is-getting-five-new-and-free-levels-this-july-123008291.html?src=rss

Giant Squid has announced that it's latest game, Sword of the Sea, will come to PlayStation 5 and PC on August 19. It'll also appear on PlayStation Plus from day one for Extra and Premium Subscribers. The fantasy adventure game marries surfing mechanics with the atmospherics of the developer's previous games like Abzu and Journey.Giant Squid showed off more gameplay in a new trailer as part of PlayStation's June 4 State of Play. "At its core, Sword of the Sea is all about surfing," the developer wrote. "You'll be carving your way across mysterious moving waves of sand on the ancient and powerful hoversword." Other scenarios include dreamy ice-scapes and oceans full of flying dolphins.Giant Squid again teamed with creative director Matt Nava and composer Austin Wintory, who also worked on Abzu and Pathless. "As a surfer and snowboarder myself, I have felt the rush of movement and seen the beauty of nature in a way that only these extreme sports can deliver," Nava wrote about Sword of the Sea.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/sword-of-the-sea-launches-august-19-120037636.html?src=rss

Sony has just unveiled the first wireless fight stick designed by the company itself. It doesn't have an official product name yet, but it's currently codenamed Project Defiant. The arcade-style controller uses the PlayStation Link wireless technology to connect to the PS5 and the PC. Sony says the technology provides an ultra-low latency connection that enables "precise in-game response" to every press on its buttons and every movement on its joystick. Players can also plug the device into their PC or their console via a USB-C connection if they want to ensure that there's no lagThe company said it custom designed its controls and used "toolless interchangeable restrictor gates (square, circle, and octagon)," as well as mechanical switches for its buttons. Sony also used the same touch pad on the fight stick as the one found on the DualSense wireless controller. In addition to being able to control the action on screen, the stick has the ability to wirelessly wake up the PS5 by pressing the PS button in the same way a DualSense controller can.The fight stick has a storage compartment for its restrictor gates and the PS Link USB adapter. It also sounds like the device will ship with a sturdy carrying case, so you can take it safely with you when needed. Sony has yet to announce Project Defiant's pricing and release date, but it's planning to make the fight stick available for purchase sometime in 2026, perhaps in time for players to be able to use it to play Marvel Tkon: Fighting Souls. The tag fighting game, which is also coming out next year, was developed by the studio behind the Guilty Gear franchise.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/project-defiant-is-sonys-first-wireless-fight-stick-for-ps5-and-pc-113009444.html?src=rss

If you have a Switch or are a big Nintendo fan, chances are you already have your favorite games on lock. But Nintendo has a wide variety of titles with something for everyone, from casual players to hardcore fans. If you're on the hunt for what to tackle next, we've compiled a list of our favorite Nintendo Switch games here to give you some inspiration.

Volvo has introduced a new seatbelt technology that can customize the protection it provides in real time. The "multi-adaptive safety belt" system, as the automaker is calling it, uses data input from both interior and exterior sensors to change protection settings based on various factors. It can take a person's height, weight, body shape and seating position into account, as well as the direction and speed of the vehicle. The system can communicate all those information to the seatbelt "in the blink of an eye" so that it can optimize protection for the passenger.If the passenger is on the larger side, for instance, they will receive a higher belt load setting to reduce the risk of a head injury in the event of a serious crash. For milder crashes, someone with a smaller frame will receive a lower belt load setting to prevent rib injuries. Volvo didn't specifically say if the system also takes the position of a seatbelt on women into account, since it doesn't always fit right over a woman's chest. However, the automaker explained that the system expands the number of load-limiting profiles to 11. Load limiters control how much force a seatbelt applies on the body during a crash. Typically, seatbelts only have three load-limiting profiles, but Volvo expanding them to 11 means the system can better optimize the protection a passenger gets.Volvo used information from five decades of safety research and from a database of over 80,000 people involved in real-life accidents to design the new safety belt. The system was also created to incorporate improvements rolled out via over the-air software updates, which the company expects to release as it gets more data and insights."The world first multi-adaptive safety belt is another milestone for automotive safety and a great example of how we leverage real-time data with the ambition to help save millions of more lives," said Asa Haglund, head of Volvo Cars Safety Centre. "This marks a major upgrade to the modern three-point safety belt, a Volvo invention introduced in 1959, estimated to have saved over a million lives."Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin designed the modern three-point seatbelt and made its patent available for use by other automakers. The company didn't say whether it'll be as generous with the multi-adaptive safety belt, but the new system will debut in the all-electric Volvo EX60 midsize SUV sometime next year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/volvo-is-introducing-the-first-multi-adaptive-seatbelt-technology-on-the-ex60-ev-070017403.html?src=rss

Belkin is best known for high-quality smartphone accessories, but just like everyone else, it appears it has a case of Nintendo Switch 2 fever. The company has announced that it will be selling several Switch 2 accessories in time for the console's launch, including screen protectors and a charging case that comes with a power bank.The Charging Case for Nintendo Switch 2 is the thicker of Belkin's two case options, primarily because it has a designated spot for an included 10K external battery. The case also includes a flap for storing Switch 2 game cartridges, a hidden pocket for slotting an AirTag so you can track the case if it's lost and slots on either side of the battery for cables and other accessories. When you need to prop up your Switch 2 with its kickstand while it's charging, there's also a groove in the case that's specifically designed to hold it.BelkinIf you're looking for something more compact and portable, the Travel Case for Nintendo Switch 2 is only moderately thicker than the console itself. Like the charging case, the travel case includes a built-in sleeve for Switch 2 game cartridges and a spot to hide an AirTag. It also has a built-in handle and a wrist strap so you have multiple ways to carry it when you're out and about.For an extra layer of protection, Belkin is also selling two different screen protector options: a Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector and a Tempered Glass Blue Light Screen Protector. Both will shield your Switch 2's screen from major scratches and can be applied in a few steps. In the case of the blue light screen protector, Belkin is also claiming that it'll help reduce eye strain if you use your console for an extended period of time. Whichever you pick, just don't remove the Switch 2's pre-installed protective film before you apply.All of Belkin's new accessories are available to order today from Belkin's website and Amazon. You can get either the Charging Case or Travel Case in gray, tan or green, and the cases cost $70 or $30, respectively. The Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector costs $25 and the Tempered Glass Blue Light Screen Protector costs $30.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/belkins-new-line-of-switch-2-accessories-include-a-simple-but-effective-charging-case-230019750.html?src=rss

"Avengers assemble" isn't just a call to action for superheroes; it's also the basis for a new tag fighting game. The reveal of Marvel Tkon: Fighting Souls closed out PlayStation's State of Play presentation ahead of Summer Games Fest 2025. PlayStation Studios and Marvel Games are teaming up with Arc System Works, the studio behind the Guilty Gear fighting game series, for this project. The game is scheduled to launch some time in 2026 on PlayStation 5 and on PC through the Steam and Epic stores.The trailer shows several members of the Marvel roster - Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Doom, Storm, Ms. Marvel, Star-Lord and Ghost Rider - cycling on screen and showing off their abilities. Team-based fighting games have a long lineage, but those are commonly trios of characters controlled by a single competitor. Marvel Tkon ups the ante with a 4v4 team system.The additional team member creates even more potential for flashy combination attacks. "One of the appeals of Marvel comics is seeing the vast cast of characters coming together to create all kinds of unique team-ups," Game Director and Lead Battle Designer Kazuto Sekine said of the design choice. "With these two ideas in mind, we concluded that creating a 4v4 team VS system would be the best way to not only create those over-the-top moments, but to further evolve the tag fighting genre."Marvel is having a bit of a moment in gaming, with the team shooter Marvel Rivals becoming a surprise sensation in recent months despite heavy competition from established titles. (Unfortunately, that success didn't save several members of the North American dev team from being laid off in February.) It should be fascinating to compare how the two genres interpret the iconic characters and their powers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-is-a-new-tag-fighting-game-from-the-devs-of-guilty-gear-223633976.html?src=rss

Nioh 3 is heading to PlayStation 5 and PC in 2026 and you can get a taste of its Sengoku setting and dark samurai action on Sony's console right now. A demo for the game is live today on PS5 and it'll be available through June 18, courtesy of developer Team Ninja and publisher Koei Tecmo.The game reveal was a nice surprise during Sony's State of Play event today, and it came with a trailer showcasing big, demonic creatures and frantic action scenes. Much like its predecessors, Nioh 3 is a dark fantasy action RPG set in 15-century Japan. The original Nioh came out in 2017 and its sequel landed in 2020, with a handful of Dead or Alive installments released in between.Nioh 3 introduces a new combat system to the series that lets players swap between two distinct fighting styles, Samurai and Ninja. Samurai is similar to previous Nioh titles with a focus on close-range martial arts, while Ninja enables quick reactions like dodging and aerial moves. Players will be able to change combat styles on the fly. Nioh 3 features an open world - Team Ninja calls it an "open field," actually - to explore, as well."Aside from the new battle styles, Nioh 3 also enables players to enjoy an open field that offers a new freedom of exploration to the unique tension and confrontations that have become a defining characteristic of the Nioh series," Team Ninja head Fumihiko Yasuda said on the PlayStation Blog. "Experience unexpected encounters with formidable yokai, explore suspicious villages riddled in violent secrets, and take on the daunting challenges of The Crucible."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/nioh-3-is-heading-to-ps5-and-pc-in-2026-complete-with-two-distinct-combat-styles-222458806.html?src=rss

Cairn, a survival climbing game from The Game Bakers, is one we've had our eye on for a while, so it was nice to get a release date for it during Sony's State of Play stream on Wednesday. It's coming to PS5 and PC on November 5. But you don't have to wait that long to try out Cairn - a demo is now available on PS5.Looking like the more intense cousin of the enjoyably peaceful Jusant, you'll be able to climb anywhere in Cairn. However, maintaining your balance and stamina levels will be critical. Get too tired or make a wrong move and your climber, Aava, will fall, letting out a scream of anguish as they dangle from their tethered rope.There's no UI feedback to speak of, so you'll need to pay attention to your character's breathing and body language, as well as the controller vibrations. The developers say they kept the controls simple, so it certainly seems like the type of game that's easy to pick up, but difficult to master.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/survival-climber-cairn-ascends-to-ps5-and-pc-on-november-5-215529242.html?src=rss

The developer of Hitman: World of Assassination, IO Interactive, is finally showing off its take on a James Bond with a new trailer that debuted during Sony's summer State of Play on June 4. IO Interactive originally announced it was working on "Project 007" back in November 2020, and only recently shared that the game was called 007 First Light and would be a "James Bond origin story."Given how much of a Hitman level can be defined by 007-esque antics like using disguises, infiltrating enemy bases and using gadgets, IO Interactive seemed like a natural fit to make the next game in the franchise. IO Interactive's first trailer is unfortunately narrative-focused, depicting early moments from this new Bond's career, including his training in the Navy.Many of the most memorable Bond games have hewed closely to existing plots or visual depictions from from the franchise's over-60-year history, whether the single-player story of GoldenEye 007 adapting key moments of the film, or Pierce Brosnan's likeness being used in James Bond 007: NightFire. IO Interactive is taking a deliberately different approach, telling a Bond origin story and creating an original version of the character that isn't based on one of the films.To be clear, the future of the James Bond film franchise is still a little uncertain in its own right. Longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handed off creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman in March 2025. They've yet to announce a new film or recast James Bond, who was most recently played by Daniel Craig.IO Interactive has confirmed that 007 First Light will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X /S and PC in 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/io-interactives-james-bond-game-007-first-light-is-coming-in-2026-215517819.html?src=rss

Remasters and remakes seem like they're a dime a dozen these days, but here's one I'm selfishly pretty stoked for. Square Enix announced during PlayStation's State of Play event that is revisiting the 1997 strategy RPG chapter from its famous franchise. Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is due out on September 25, 2025 for both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.This updated version of the turn-based strategy game introduces some welcome additions to the original. You'll find new graphics, an updated user interface and voiced dialogue in the enhanced version. It also brings some quality of life improvements, such as a more beginner-friendly Squire difficulty level. But if you want to immerse in the nostalgia and the challenge, you can swap back to the original graphics, gameplay and English translation. The original version also boasts a few modern upgrades, like an auto-save system.As someone who has clocked several hundred hours in the Fire Emblem series, I've always had Final Fantasy Tactics hovering in my to-play queue. Whether you're a first-timer like me or are already well versed in the political intrigues of Tactics, this fall seems like an excellent change to check out the game.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/final-fantasy-tactics-is-getting-a-remake-in-the-ivalice-chronicles-215000718.html?src=rss

Grasshopper Manufacture founder Suda51 made an appearance at Sony's State of Play showcase to reveal Romeo is a Dead Man - a game that has no relation to the 2000 action masterpiece Romeo Must Die, as far as we can tell. Romeo is a Dead Man stars Romeo Stargazer, a dude who was pulled back from the brink of death, gained time-shattering powers, and became a universe-hopping special agent for the FBI. Using a sword and guns, Romeo battles various sci-fi robots and beasts across multiple universes, featuring hyper-bloody gameplay.By the time I finished watching the debut trailer for Romeo is a Dead Man, I'd completely forgotten that it started out with a hand-drawn cartoon family enjoying a nice curry dinner. It quickly devolves into a black-, white- and red-splattered fever dream of exploding heads and doorway demons, providing the first hint that this is definitely a Suda51 project. Grasshopper Manufacture's previous games include Killer7, No More Heroes, Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer is Dead, and its latest release seems to fit right in with these titles.Romeo is a Dead Man is a third-person action game, and it's due to hit PlayStation 5 in 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/suda51-returns-with-a-sword-swinging-gun-slinging-sci-fi-action-game-214628508.html?src=rss

Baby Steps, a absurdist walking simulator, has been under construction for a long while now. But at today's PlayStation State of Play event, the game finally got a release date: September 8, 2025. The game stars the hapless, chubby, bodysuit-wearing Nate (sigh), who, judging from the release date trailer, appears to be perpetually in search of a toilet? At one point, he knocks a porta-potty off the edge of a cliff. Tragedy abounds.We checked out Baby Steps a few years ago, and a big part of the fun is in figuring out how to control Nate -each controller trigger moves one of his limbs, and keeping him upright is apparently quite the challenge. That's part of the fun, I presume; watching your baby-man flop around the screen and fall over while doing the seemingly simple task of walking sounds a lot more amusing than I think.The game was originally supposed to come out for PS5 and PC in 2023, followed by a delay to 2024 that the team obviously didn't hit. But now, we've got a real release date for this exceedingly goofy-looking game.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/baby-steps-finally-has-a-release-date-two-years-after-it-was-originally-slated-to-arrive-214025574.html?src=rss

Pragmata, a new sci-fi, third-person action game from Capcom, finally has a new release date. As part of Sony's summer State of Play on June 4, Capacom shared a new trailer showing off gameplay from Pragmata and revealing that the game is now targeting a 2026 release.Based on the trailer and a blog post on the Playstation Blog, you'll play as two characters in Pragmata: Hugh, a spacesuit-wearing lunk, and Diana, a young robot who appears to be able to hack into the lunar station you'll spend the game navigating. You apparently have to use both characters' abilities at the same time to get through rogue robots and other obstacles. In the trailer it look like a lot of hacking and smashing, but it'll presumably have more variety in its final release.Pragmata was announced all the way back in 2020, before the release of the PlayStation 5, targeting a 2022 release. The game has been delayed multiple different times since then, most recently in 2023 when Capcom delayed the game indefinitely. It's not clear how much of Pragmata has been reworked since then.Pragmata will be available in 2026 on PS5, presumably alongside releases on Xbox Series X / S and PC, as previously announced.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/pragmata-capcoms-long-delayed-ps5-game-is-probably-coming-in-2026-214011185.html?src=rss

It had only been a few months since our last look at Silent Hill f, so it was perhaps a little surprising to see the first Japan-set game in the series pop up during Sony's latest State of Play stream on Wednesday. The trailer provided another chance to see some gameplay and those gorgeously grotesque visuals, but the key information was saved for the end: a release date. You'll be able to experience the terrors of Silent Hill f yourself on September 25 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.In this '60s-set installment, you'll take on the guise of high schooler Shimizu Hinako, who has to survive the horrors that plague her fog-ridden hometown of Ebisugaoka. You will have to solve puzzles (some of which involve scarecrows) and fend off enemies, including some creepy mannequin-like monsters. Producer Motoi Okamoto wrote on the PlayStation Blog that "the combat will have a heavier focus on melee and be more action-oriented compared to last year's Silent Hill 2."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/silent-hill-f-is-coming-to-ps5-xbox-series-xs-and-pc-on-september-25-213338755.html?src=rss

The summer State of Play presentation form PlayStation kicked off with the announcement of Lumines Arise. It's a gorgeous puzzle game being made by the same team as Tetris Effect, Enhance, so for the many of us who fell in love that game, this is a banger development from Sony.The trailer shows the same dynamic blend between block drops, music and visuals that were the hallmarks of Tetris Effect. However, Lumines Arise is ditching the tetriminos for the slightly different box-dropping mechanics of Lumines. Bringing a new take on the core puzzle mechanics should make this feel like a nice blend of fresh and familiar. And considering how well their first go at reimagining a spatial puzzle game went, I have high hopes for this project.The game is slated for release in fall 2025, but we may get a chance for a sneak peak with both single and multiplayer demos later this summer. It's coming to the PlayStation 5 with optional PS VR2 support for those who want the ultimate immersion experience. (And yes, you really do want that.)This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/the-tetris-effect-team-is-back-with-lumines-arise-211729116.html?src=rss

Epic has yet to find a platform it hasn't wanted to put Fortnite on - only ones it wasn't allowed to put the game on - so its not surprising the developer is going all out with the Nintendo Switch 2. Not only will the Switch 2 version of Fortnite support both graphical and performance improvements that bring it in line with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X / S, it'll also offer mouse controls if you're playing with the Joy-Con 2.Mouse control will let you aim with one or both Joy-Con 2 and navigate the UI with a cursor, bringing the console experience closer to how the game works on PC. "With mouse controls, the right analog stick will be disabled, and you'll rotate your character by using the selected Joy-Con 2 controller(s) as a mouse," Epic says. The primary click will be assigned to the ZR button unless you're using the left Joy-Con 2, and you can swap which analog stick controls movements to accommodate whichever controller you want to use.EpicWithout an extended period of time to try mouse control out, its hard to say whether it'll make Switch 2 Fortnite players more accurate, but there's other benefits to running the game on Nintendo's new console. For example, Fortnite on Switch 2 will run at 60 fps, at a 2,176 x 1,224 resolution while docked and a 1,600 x 900 resolution while undocked. The game will also support things like greater view distances, clothing physics and Nintendo's new GameChat social feature for streaming what you're playing to friends.The game, as ever, remains completely free. If you managed to secure a Switch 2, though, you'll want to delete your old copy of Fortnite for Nintendo Switch after transferring your data from your old console to your new one. Graphical improvements and mouse control are only available from the Switch 2 version of the game, which you can download directly from the Nintendo eShop on June 5.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fortnite-will-support-mouse-controls-on-switch-2-190623477.html?src=rss

Reddit had filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging that the AI company behind the Claude chatbot has been using its data for years without permission. The lawsuit comes after Reedit has increasingly taken a hardline stance against scrapers and companies that use its data to train AI models.In their filing, Reddit alleges that Anthropic was training its Claude chatbot on Reddit data as early as December 2021. The lawsuit also includes a screenshot in which Claude seems to acknowledge it was trained on Reddit data. In a statement to Engadget, a Reddit spokesperson said the lawsuit was the company's "final option to force Anthropic to stop its unlawful practices" after repeated warnings."We believe in the Open Internet-that does not give Anthropic the right to scrape Reddit content unlawfully, exploit it for billions of dollars in profit, and disregard the rights and privacy of our users," the spokesperson said. "In clear violation of Reddit's terms and despite repeated requests to stop, Anthropic has been caught accessing or attempting to access Reddit content via automated bots at least 100,000 times. This isn't a misunderstanding, it's a sustained effort to extract value from Reddit while ignoring legal and ethical boundaries."Reddit's vast archive of online discussions has become a particularly valuable commodity for the company as generative AI companies race to train new models. The company has struck lucrative licensing deals with companies like Google and OpenAI for access to its data. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has previously called out Anthropic (along with other AI firms) for scraping Reddit. Last year, the company took steps to limit automated scraping and warned AI companies that they would need to pay up.In their lawsuit, Reddit says that "Anthropic refused to engage" in discussions about licensing. "Unlike its competitors, Anthropic has refused to agree to respect Reddit users' basic privacy rights, including removing deleted posts from its systems," it says. "This case is about the two faces of Anthropic: the public face that attempts to ingratiate itself into the consumer's consciousness with claims of righteousness and respect for boundaries and the law, and the private face that ignores any rules that interfere with its attempts to further line its pockets."In a statement, a spokesperson for Anthropic said, we disagree with Reddit's claims and will defend ourselves vigorously."Update, June 4, 2025 12:03 PM ET: This post was updated to include a statement from Anthropic.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/reddit-is-suing-anthropic-for-allegedly-scraping-its-data-without-permission-185833267.html?src=rss

The Voxel Agents has significantly expanded its indie hit game, The Gardens Between, and has remade it for virtual reality. It has debuted the new version of the time-bending puzzler at the Shacknews E4 Indie Showcase, which featured 15 game developers showing off content for their upcoming titles. The new game, now called Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between, still revolves around childhood best friends Arina and Frendt. But now the story begins two decades after the original one when Frendt finds Arina's old diary in the midst of moving.Frendt is transported back into the events in the original The Gardens Between, but he's now guided by Arina's diary, which will show her perspective as they traverse the dreamlike landscapes of the game. The new version comes with 40 new puzzles across levels with immersive interactions made specifically for virtual reality. Players will be able to reach out to assemble toy parts, for instance, lift a brush to paint and even craft a friendship bracelet with their hands."We wanted to tap into something relatable, familiar, and nostalgic through the lens of VR. The magic of being a kid is fleeting, but the story of Arina and Frendt captures that enchantment in a beautiful package," said Simon Joslin, co-founder of The Voxel Agents.The developer will be releasing a demo of the game at Steam Next Fest, which will take place from June 9 to June 16, 2025. Hidden Memories of the Gardens Between has no release date yet, but it will be available sometime this year for the Meta Quest and SteamVR.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/indie-hit-the-gardens-between-has-been-reworked-for-virtual-reality-193050098.html?src=rss

TikTok no longer shows search results for the hashtag #SkinnyTok. Critics who supported this block said some videos with that label were promoting disordered eating and other unhealthy or risky diet behaviors. We've reached out to TikTok for comment on this development.France's Minister of State for Digital Affairs Clara Chappaz was one of the politicians leading the pushback against this particular hashtag. She has been campaigning against #SkinnyTok with both French and EU regulators since April. "These videos promoting extreme thinness are revolting and absolutely unacceptable," Chappaz said. "Digital tools are marvellous in terms of progress and freedom, but badly used they can shatter lives ... the social networks cannot escape their responsibility."A TikTok spokesperson provided Engadget with the following statement: "We regularly review our safety measures to address evolving risks and have blocked search results for #skinnytok since it has become linked to unhealthy weight loss content. We continue to restrict videos from teen accounts and provide health experts and information in TikTok Search."The company also notes that when people search for the term now, no results are displayed and users are instead directed to resources. As for when this content started cropping up, Tiktok says that it detected an increase of usage earlier in the year, but things spiked in March in April, at which it started taking more action like the aforementioned search changes and direction to resource content. It also started limiting related search suggestions and made the content ineligible for teen users.While blocking search results for potentially harmful hashtags is a positive step, it only places hurdles in the path of people who want to seek out similar videos. "Users are savvy," Cornell University professor Brooke Erin Duffy told The New York Times. "They know how to work these platforms and how to evade their content moderation systems."A block on one hashtag is just the latest in TikTok's piecemeal approach toward content that could encourage eating disorders. In 2020 it placed restrictions on ads that might "promote a negative or harmful body image," such as fasting apps and weight loss supplements. TikTok began a partnership with the National Eating Disorder Association in 2021 to offer more resources for users with eating disorders. Later that year, it also introduced a new approach to the For You page in an effort to reduce the impact of watching too many repeated clips on a negative topic.Update, June 4, 2025, 2:41PM ET: This story was updated with a statement and additional details from TikTok.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/tiktok-now-blocks-search-results-for-skinnytok-222836828.html?src=rss

Maybe you've camped out all night, or you've refreshed furiously at the risk of breaking your F5 key, but tomorrow you are finally getting your hands on the Nintendo Switch 2. After tearing it open and booting it up, you might quickly realize that the console's functionality out of the box is basically non-existent. You have just purchased a very expensive paperweight.This is all by design, as Nintendo wanted the console as locked down as possible in order to prevent leaks ahead of time. They didn't even send review units to press ahead of launch this time around (it's fine, I'm not bitter). Now that the Switch 2 is out in parts of the world where it's already June 5, we're getting our first look at the patch notes for the console's day one update.The Version 20.1.1 update for the Switch 2 basically turns the console on. The day one update enables support for Switch 1 games, virtual game cards, the Nintendo eShop and those Game-Key cards where the physical card you bought doesn't actually contain the game, but allows you to download it. The patch notes themselves include some fairly important features like "use of Nintendo Switch Software" and "Nintendo Switch Online." You can read the full patch notes at nintendolife.Users will be prompted to update their consoles during initial setup, so it should be a seamless experience. I won't give them the clicks by linking here, but suffice to say seeing leakers and hackers get their hands on the console early only to realize they can't do much of anything was strangely satisfying.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-day-one-update-for-the-switch-2-is-just-a-big-on-switch-175136898.html?src=rss

As promised, Nintendo has updated a bunch of Switch games to support the Switch 2. Unlike Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, these don't cost a dime. Just install them on your new console when it arrives, and enjoy next-gen enhancements.The list includes Mario's greatest hits from the Switch era. Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe are all there. Ditto for the top-down Zelda titles: Echoes of Wisdom and Link's Awakening.The Switch 2 versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom may require a purchase. They'll set you back $70 or $80 new, but if you already own the games, it's only $10 each. (And Switch Online Expansion Pack members get the enhanced updates for free.) Regardless, at least you have a sharper-looking open world to explore for paying a second time.Here's the complete list of (free) updated games, which also includes Pokemon and Captain Toad.

Snapchat has been experimenting with generative AI-powered augmented reality lenses in its app for the last couple years. Now, the company is allowing users to make their own with a new standalone app for making AR effects.Snap is introducing a new version of its Lens Studio software that allows anyone to create AR lenses through text prompts and other simple editing tools, and publish them directly to Snapchat. Up to now, Lens Studio has only been available as a desktop app meant for developers and AR professionals. And while the new iOS app and web version aren't nearly as powerful, it offers a wide range of face-altering and body-morphing effects thanks to generative AI."These are experimental new tools that make it easier than ever to create, publish, and play with Snapchat Lenses made by you," the company explains in a blog post. "Now, you can generate your own AI effects, add your dancing Bitmoji to the fun, and express yourself with Lenses that reflect your mood or an inside joke-whether you're on the go or near your computer. "Snap gave me an early look at the Lens Studio iOS app, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much flexibility it offered. There are AI-powered tools for transforming your face, body and background via detailed text prompts (the app also offers suggestions of the kinds of prompts that work well, like "detailed zombie head with big eyes and nose, lots of details.")There's a bit of a learning curve to figuring out what works well for each type of effect, and some of the generative AI prompts can take up to 20 minutes to render. But the app also offers dozens of templates that you can use as a starting point and remix with your own ideas. You can also make simpler face-altering filters that don't rely as heavily AI but take advantage of popular Snapchat effects like face cutouts or Bitmoji animations. (A few examples of my creations are below, both used AI to create a background I overlaid other effects onto.)Screenshots via SnapSnap already has hundreds of thousands of lens creators, some of whom have been making effects for the app for years. But I can easily see this new, simpler version of Lens Studio opening the door for many more. There could also be some upside for creators hoping to take advantage of Snapchat's monetization programs: the company confirmed that users who publish lenses from the new app will be eligible to participate in its Lens Creator Rewards program, which pays creators who make popular AR effects.A more accessible version of Lens Studio could also help Snap compete with Meta for AR talent. (Meta shut down Spark AR, its platform that allowed creators to make AR for Instagram last year.) In addition to Snapchat's in-app effects, the company is now on its second generation of standalone AR glasses. More recently, Snap has focused on big-name developers to make glasses-ready effects, but the company has previously leaned on Lens Creators to come up with interesting use cases for AR glasses. Those types of integrations will likely require much more than what's currently available in the new pared-down version of Lens Studio, but making AR creation more accessible (with the help of AI) raises some interesting possibilities for what might one day be possible for the company.Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Engadget's parent company Yahoo, joined the board of directors at Snap on September 12, 2024. No one outside of Engadget's editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/snapchat-now-has-a-standalone-app-for-making-gen-ai-augmented-reality-effects-170036214.html?src=rss

Paranormal horror game Phasmophobia is being adapted into a movie by Blumhouse Productions and Atomic Monster, in partnership with the games developer Kinetic Games. Blumhouse is a major player in the horror genre, having produced the Purge and Paranormal Activity franchises as well as Get Out, The Invisible Man and many more. Atomic Monster produced all the films in The Conjuring universe since 2016's The Conjuring Two.First released on PCs in 2020, Phasmophobia quickly became a pandemic-era hit, with YouTubers and streamers racking up millions of views playing the multiplayer survival game. The game follows one to four players as they work to complete a contract requiring them to identify the type of ghost haunting a specific site.The horror genre has risen in popularity over recent years in both video games and the film business. In 2023 Blumhouse adapted the video game horror series Five Nights at Freddy's into a film, which went on to be the highest grossing film in its history. Blumhouse has also begun making video games in-house, and released its first game, Fear the Spotlight, last year.Blumhouse Productions announced the Phasmophobia adaptation at its first-ever Business of Fear" event in Hollywood, where founder and CEO Jason Blum and Atomic Monster founder and CEO James Wan spoke about the business of horror movies. No distributor or release date has been announced yet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/phasmophobia-is-getting-the-hollywood-treatment-155654171.html?src=rss

Apple's big 2025 software reveal is nearly upon us. On June 9, the Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWDC) keynote will showcase the changes coming with its 2025 software. That includes - deep breath - iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS.If you'd like to watch the WWDC 2025 keynote, that's happening at 1PM ET / 10AM PT next week, and Apple will offer several options for livestreams. But if you prefer a text-and-image-based format as opposed to video, you can follow along on our liveblog, which will kick off on Monday morning. Our liveblog team includes Cherlynn Low and Nathan Ingraham, who will be covering the event in Cupertino.Leaks suggest this year will be a biggie. In addition to the requisite Craig Federighi gags and a California-themed name for the latest macOS update, expect a significant visual overhaul - one of Apple's biggest ever - and (shocker) new Apple Intelligence features.Visual redesignThe company is reportedly set to unveil a platform-wide visual overhaul. The revamp is said to be a dramatic change, drawing inspiration from Apple's mixed reality headset.AppleAccording to Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser, that may even include (nearly) round icons on the home screen and in Control Center. He also noted subtler changes, like a redesigned tab view within apps and the search box in Messages being moved to the bottom of the screen.One of Apple's core goals with the new software is to unify the design language of its operating systems. The idea is to make it less visually jarring to hop between devices. If executed well, jumping from iPhone to iPad to Mac (and so on) will feel like touring different flavors of the same OS.Apple's last big macOS makeover was with 2020's Big Sur. For the iPhone's software, you have to go all the wayback to 2013. That's when iOS 7 kicked skeuomorphic design to the curb, replacing it with a flat, minimalistic look. Minus some iterative changes, it's still the UI you see today.A new naming schemeAlong with the big visual refresh, Apple is also rumored to be changing how it names its operating systems. Instead of having random version numbers at the end, the company is apparently planning to unify the names by year - so iOS 19 would become iOS 26, as it'll be Apple's platform for the coming year. The same goes for all of Apple's other software, so we're looking at iPadOS 26, macOS 26 and so forth.Of course, it goes without saying that macOS should still get a California-themed name; hopefully Apple won't be throwing that tradition in the bin just yet. It'll stick around, according to Bloomberg: the current rumor is that the next version of macOS will be named Tahoe.The iPad goes to workNathan Ingraham for EngadgetCould 2025 be the year the iPad Pro starts to feel... Pro? The high-end versions of Apple's tablet have been more than capable on a hardware level for generations. (Especially when they switched to M-series chips.) But the software has held it back. That's presumably because the company doesn't want to cannibalize Mac sales. After all, if the iPad Pro can truly replace a laptop, then fewer people would buy both.The bad news for those wanting a full-on Mac experience: The iPad won't switch to macOS. The good news: iPadOS may get much more Mac-like. This year's update will reportedly focus on productivity, featuring improved multitasking and app window management.It's not that Apple hasn't inched the iPad's software in that direction. It incrementally did so with Stage Manager in iPadOS 16. The year before, it added the multitasking menu at the top of app windows. But for many, those tweaks fell far short of the full-on productivity overhaul they craved. Will it be enough this time? Bloomberg's Mark Gurman thinks it will "likely go far enough" for most power users. (Is that a "Hallelujah!" I hear?)Apple IntelligenceAppleEven if leaks hadn't already suggested as much, this one would be a no-brainer. After all, AI has been every tech company's obsession since ChatGPT took the world by storm over two years ago. Expect a healthy portion of the keynote to be devoted to Apple's AI advances. These will reportedly include improvements to existing features and a few new ones.SiriRemember when Apple promised a more personalized Siri at last year's conference? The one that many wished would come ahead of the visual overhaul? Well, we're still waiting on that. The last official update we heard was in March, when the company told Daring Fireball, "It's going to take us longer than we thought." (Oops!) Apple expects the new Siri features to arrive "in the coming year," a clear-as-mud description if ever there was one.A report from The Information last month hinted that the upgraded Siri was nowhere near ready. The 2024 demo, where Siri condensed minutes of multi-app planning into mere seconds, reportedly came as a surprise to team members working on Siri. (Never an encouraging sign.)AppleSeparate reporting this month from Bloomberg sheds a bit more light, adding that we probably won't hear much about those Siri upgrades at WWDC 2025. The publication described those updates as being months away from shipping. The company is also reportedly separating its Apple Intelligence and Siri marketing. The logic behind this is that users are so fed up with Apple's assistant that it's hurting Apple's AI push.The company's 2024 presentation was undoubtedly impressive. It showed a more context-sensitive Siri that better understands what you're doing. It pulled info from various apps and spliced them together in a seamless flow. It recorded a specific type of video in a third-party app. It shared a meeting summary via email with a teammate. And it found missing information the user remembered reading... somewhere. It even controlled system settings and explained them when needed.The bottom line: If or when Apple pulls off what it promised last year, that's big news for Siri. But don't hold your breath for it to show up at WWDC 2025.According to Bloomberg, the Siri updates we do see will be much subtler. These would include adding the option to use Gemini instead of ChatGPT with the assistant.AI battery managementAppleAnother iOS 19 scoop points to an Apple Intelligence feature that's easy to get behind. A new AI-powered battery management mode will reportedly analyze how you use your phone. It can then use that to make power-saving adjustments on the fly. If it works well, that could be pretty nifty.It may also be a key ingredient to a new device: the "iPhone Air." Whatever Apple calls it, the rumored ultra-slim handset is expected to join Apple's lineup this year. Without this feature, the phone's smaller battery might struggle to make it through a typical day. (According to Gurman, it would last several hours less than Apple's other iPhones.) But with the AI battery feature activated, the svelte iPhone could become more practical.Will we see this slim-jim iPhone at WWDC? Well, let's say you have as good a chance of Valve randomly showing up to announce Half Life 3 at Apple's conference. First, the svelte handset is expected to be part of the iPhone 17 lineup, which typically arrives around September. Second, Apple hasn't unveiled a new iPhone at WWDC since Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone 4 in 2010. So, in short, nope.Virtual health coachAppleApple is reportedly working on a virtual health coach. Allegedly codenamed Project Mulberry, the AI feature would pair a refreshed Health app with an AI-powered coach. Bloomberg says the feature would, to some degree, give you advice you'd usually seek from a doctor.The virtual coach would collect data from your Apple devices and use AI to provide personalized health advice, chatbot-style. Apple is reportedly training the AI agent with data from company physicians. Meanwhile, outside experts would shoot educational videos.In March, Bloomberg's Gurman said the virtual coach could arrive as early as iOS 19.4, which wouldn't likely come until early to mid-2026. But a quick aside in a report this month from Gurman and Drake Bennett mentioned that it could be a point of focus at WWDC.A new gaming appBloomberg's Mark Gurman is predicting that Apple will introduce a centralized, pre-installed app for gaming on the Mac, iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. It'll include some of the features in the long-neglected Game Center service like leaderboards and matchmaking and pair them with a dedicated game launcher and editorial content including recommendations -including a push towards the Apple Arcade service.Hair Force OneAppleIt wouldn't be an Apple keynote without some wacky Craig Federighi hijinks. Last year, Apple's software lead strapped on a hair-shaped helmet and skydived into Apple Park. At previous events, he showed off his parkour skills, summoned an iPad like he's a Jedi and jammed out on a three-necked guitar.Say what you will about "Hair Force One." Federighi knows how to sell a sight gag. (With maybe just a teensy bit of help from Apple's visual effects artists.)Betas and release datesFollowing Apple's typical schedule, you can expect the first developer betas to arrive after the conference ends. (Likely the same day!) Public betas would follow early this summer. And you can expect the final versions of iOS 19, iPadOS 19, macOS 16 and so on to arrive alongside new iPhones this fall.What not to expect at WWDCWhile Apple's developer conference will be jam-packed if they serve up even a fraction of the expectations above, there are a few things we can pretty confidently take off the board, too.With the possible exception of the Mac Pro, nearly all of Apple's hardware lines have either just finished an upgrade cycle (consumer Macs, most iPads) or are going to get updated in the fall as usual (iPhone, Apple Watch). As such, we're not expecting any major hardware announcements. Apple has talked about the Mac Pro at past WWDC events, but that computer is updated so infrequently that it's hard to say with any confidence that we'll see any changes.Update, June 4 2025, 11:40AM ET: This story has been updated to include details on how to watch Apple's livestream and follow Engadget's liveblog of the WWDC 2025 keynote.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-wwdc-2025-preview-ios-updates-macos-ai-and-other-news-we-expect-next-week-210051033.html?src=rss

Here's another game to play on that shiny, new Switch 2 console. Hello Games just announced that it's releasing a free update for No Man's Sky to launch alongside Nintendo's new device. It includes many features that the original Switch version lacked, like 4K texture support.The update also finally brings full multiplayer to this version of the game, along with cross-play and cross-save. In other words, players can save the game on the Switch 2 and pick it up on another device. Spoiler alert: No Man's Sky is on just about every platform imaginable.The developer promises DLSS and DLR support, a better UI, touch controls and a resolution boost for both handheld and TV modes. Hello Games says this update took a full year to make, after receiving development kits around 12 months ago.The Switch 2 version will also include the latest big update for the game, called Beacons. This brings a town management mechanic to the title, with plenty of new homesteads to discover. Players can design their own hangout locations within these towns, like bars or fishing ponds. Beacons is available on all platforms.This is just the latest refresh for No Man's Sky. Recent updates have added archeology, freighter combat and black holes. The game has come a long way in nine years.No Man's Sky isn't the only game getting a software refresh for the Switch 2. The console launches alongside several Switch 2 editions that feature graphical overhauls, like both recent mainline Zelda titles.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/no-mans-skys-free-switch-2-update-adds-full-multiplayer-and-4k-support-153124323.html?src=rss

Marketing teams and pre-visualization artists working with AMC Networks might need to be on their toes. The company has reached an agreement to generate marketing images and pre-visualize projects before they enter production using Runway's AI tech.Some other Hollywood companies - such as Lionsgate and Harmony Korine's unfortunately named EDGELRD - have agreed deals with Runway. Other studios are said to be testing models from various gen AI companies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, however, AMC is the first cable company to agree a deal with Runway.The publication notes that AMC's profits dropped by nearly half to $63 million in its most recent earnings report. It's been suggested that the company is looking to reduce the costs of producing and marketing projects without letting quality drop.At least for the time being, AMC is not planning to include AI-generated imagery in its shows. However, the company that brought the likes of Mad Men and Breaking Bad to the world thinks it'll be able to sell viewers on shows and films using AI-generated images. This is seen as a way for the company's networks to "trot out a range of promotional material without the need to spend added time and money trying to capture images with a physical shoot," per THR. AI imagery will also be used in pre-production, ostensibly to help showrunners determine what may or may not work in their projects before filming starts.In both use cases, AMC will be looking to lower costs by reducing the level of human labor that's traditionally needed in those arenas. To do so, it will be relying on tech from a company that reportedly trained its AI models on thousands of YouTube videos - as well as pirated versions of copyrighted movies - without first obtaining permission. It is not clear whether AMC has given Runway the green light to use its shows and films for AI training purposes, as Lionsgate has.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amc-networks-is-teaming-up-with-ai-company-runway-141959898.html?src=rss

Amazon's MGM Studios is fast-tracking a movie called Artificial about OpenAI's 2023 boardroom drama that saw CEO Sam Altman fired and then rehired, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Luca Guadagnino (Challengers, After the Hunt) is in talks to direct and A-list actors including Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbero are reportedly interested. Shooting may start as soon as this summer in Italy and San Francisco.The timeline of OpenAI's travails took place over just a week and unfolded like a telenovela. It commenced with the shocking termination of Altman on November 17, 2024, reportedly for not being "consistently candid" with the board. Microsoft, a close OpenAI partner, was furious with the decision and announced shortly afterward that it was starting its own AI division with Altman at the head.Later, the entire OpenAI staff told the board in an open letter that it would resign and join the new Microsoft subsidiary if Altman didn't return to the company as CEO. Things were looking dire until the last minute when the board finally caved and hired Altman back. OpenAI's original board was also disbanded and replaced with a temporary three-man board.With that level of corporate intrigue and hundreds of billions of dollars at stake, it's easy to see why Amazon wants to be first with a movie on the subject. The movie could star Garfield as Altman, Barbero as CTO Mira Murati and Yura Borisov (Anora) as Ilya Sutskever, an OpenAI co-founder who spearheaded the charge to fire Altman.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/amazon-is-already-making-a-movie-about-the-2023-openai-and-sam-altman-boardroom-drama-133030837.html?src=rss

NVIDIA releases a brand new video card and AMD follows up with a cheaper one. That's basically been the cycle of the GPU industry for the last decade, with NVIDIA typically leading the pack and AMD rushing to keep up. But with the recent Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT, AMD finally found a winning formula with GPUs that were both cheaper than NVIDIA's and, in many cases, more powerful. The new Radeon RX 9060 XT, which is meant to take on NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti in 1080p and 1440p gaming, mostly repeats that formula. Starting at $350 with 16GB of RAM (and $300 with a paltry 8GB), it's launching for much less than the $429 RTX 5060 Ti while delivering a similar level of performance. Once again, the key for AMD is offering much more RAM than NVIDIA for far less money. Sure, AMD is using slower GDDR6 RAM with 320 GB/s of memory bandwidth, compared to NVIDIAs' 448 GB/s GDDR7. But in practice, actually having a larger memory pool is more useful when you're dealing with massive textures and 3D models in modern games. So if you're looking for the best gaming bang for the buck under $400, the 16GB Radeon RX 9060 XT is undoubtedly a winner. What is the Radeon RX 9060 Ti? The least powerful member of AMD's Radeon RX 9000 family (so far), the RX 9060 XT is basically the card you'd get if you can't stomach spending more than $500 on a GPU. Just remember that video cards tend to jump up in cost once they actually hit stores, depending on availability and the whims of retailers. The RX 9060 XT sports 32 RDNA 4 compute units, 32 RT accelerators and 64 AI accelerators. It can reach up to 3.1GHz speeds with its boost clock and consumes up to 180W of power. In comparison, the $549 MSRP RX 9070 has 56 compute units, while the $599 RX 9070 XT has eight more. AMD is pitching this GPU as a replacement for the RX 7600 XT, which launched at $329 last year. That card also had 16GB of VRAM, but it had a slower 288 GB/s bandwidth. While the 7600 XT was more focused on entry-level 1440p gaming, the 9060 XT's hardware improvements make it far more capable. AMD claims it's 46 percent faster than the 7600 XT across more than 40 games, and in my testing that figure checks out. For this review, I tested Gigabyte's RX 9060 XT GPU, which has three cooling fans pointed at a typical copper heatsink. There's no fancy vapor cooling chamber or any extravagant materials on the card, but at this price range I didn't expect much. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget What's good about the Radeon RX 9060 Ti? Across games and benchmarks, the 9060 XT clocked in just about where I expected: noticeably slower than the RX 9070, and either on-par or slightly slower than the NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti. In 3DMark's Steel Nomad benchmark, the 9060 XT scored 200 more points than that NVIDIA card, and it was also 90 points ahead in Timespy Extreme. But NVIDIA had a 1,000 point lead in the Speedway benchmark and it was more than 2,000 points ahead in the Luxmark HDR 4 test. Despite those figures, I'm still impressed that the 9060 XT can stay in the same league as NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti while costing a lot less. AMD's ray tracing performance has also improved quite a bit from its previous generations, scoring 45 percent faster in the 3DMark Port Royal benchmark. NVIDIA still has the lead in ray tracing in games though, especially with the one-two punch of DLSS 4 AI upscaling and multi-frame generation. NVIDIA's RTX 5000-series cards can produce up to three interpolate frames for every natively rendered frame, while AMD is still stuck with generating a single extra frame with its FSR 3 and 4 (Fidelity Super Resolution 4) upscaling. None 3DMark TimeSpy Extreme Geekbench 6 GPU Cyberpunk (1440p RT Overdrive DLSS/FSR 3) Blender AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 8,192 91,617 80fps 1,560 NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) 8,100 139,756 136 fps (4X frame gen) 4,220 AMD Radeon RX 9070 10,997 113,012 117 fps N/A AMD Radeon RX 7600 5,526 N/A 20 fps 1,013 The Radeon RX 9060 XT was able to run Cyberpunk 2077 in 1440p ray tracing "overdrive" mode at a respectable 80 fps, whereas NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti hit 136 fps thanks to multi-frame generation. Still, there's plenty of wiggle room to crank out more frames: Stepping down to 1080p got me 120 fps, and I saw 90 fps while using the less demanding ray tracing "ultra" preset in 1440p. In terms of raw performance, without any upscaling fanciness, the 9060 XT hit 114 fps in 1080p and 90 fps in 1440p. The Radeon RX 9060 XT didn't run very hot during my testing, but that makes sense since it's purely focused on 1080p and 1440p gaming, During 3DMark's Steel Nomad stress test, which repeats the benchmark 20 times in succession, the card only topped out at 54 Celsius. I'm used to seeing video cards reaching upwards of 70C under load, so the 9060 XT was a nice surprise. While idling, it sits at 42 Celsius. That's higher than cards with vapor chamber cooling, but it's about average for cards in this price range. I didn't hear any annoying fan noise under load either, since it barely broke a sweat. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget What's bad about the Radeon RX 9060 XT? There isn't really much to complain about with the Radeon RX 9060 XT, so long as you're not expecting too much from a sub-$400 GPU. Still, it would be nice to see support for AMD's new FSR 4 AI upscaling spread out more quickly. When the RX 9070 XT launched, the feature was only available in a handful of games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and now it's supported over 60 games. That's still about half of the games that NVIDIA's DLSS 4 supports (which so far includes over 125 titles). On the RX 9060 XT, the FSR 4 user experience still isn't as simple as activating DLSS on NVIDIA cards. I had to enable it manually in AMD's Adrenaline software, then flip it on in Call of Duty: Warzone to activate it. On the bright side, I saw an average of 254 fps while playing a match in 1440p with extreme graphics settings, FSR 4 and frame generation flipped on. With frame gen enabled, but no FSR 4, performance dipped to 174fps. And if I removed both of those features, it fell to 110 fps. Clearly, FSR 4 and frame gen helps quite a bit, I just wish it were in more games. Should you buy the Radeon RX 9060 XT? Assuming retailers don't go wild by overpricing the Radeon RX 9060 XT, it's a solid option if you're looking for an affordable GPU that's dedicated to 1080p and 1440p gameplay. At $350, the 9060 XT is well below the RTX 5060 Ti's $429 retail price, and certainly much cheaper than models being sold for more than $500. To reach a lower $300 price point, AMD also unveiled an RX 9060 Ti with 8GB of RAM. But honestly, I'd recommend avoiding that entirely unless you only play ancient games in 1080p. It's worth spending a bit more so you can play newer games with less headaches, and it's practically a requirement if you want to play in 1440p. Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Wrap-up The Radeon RX 9060 XT is a reminder of a world where we didn't have to pay more than $400 to get a capable GPU. We already know more than 80 percent of PC gamers play at 1440p or lower resolutions, according to Steam's data. So for the vast majority of players out there - the ones who aren't using monitors with crazy high refresh rates or 4K+ resolutions - it's all the GPU you really need.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/amd-radeon-rx-9060-xt-16gb-review-finally-a-powerful-350-gpu-130037952.html?src=rss

Uber just announced dedicated account profiles for senior citizens, bringing a streamlined app design and features aimed at older adults. This is part of the pre-existing "family profile" feature that also allows for teen accounts.As for these senior accounts, the biggest draw is the design. The company promises "larger text, fewer steps and easy-to-follow screens." To that end, there are fewer buttons and larger text throughout. This should make it easier for seniors, or anyone with minor eyesight issues, to book rides.Loved ones and caregivers can book rides on behalf of the account holder. They can also help with stuff like adjusting payment methods and checking in during trips. Family members can track rides in real time or receive text updates upon arrival. In the case of an emergency, the app offers the ability for caregivers to contact the driver.Frequent destinations, such as the doctor's office, can be stored for easy access. There are even some unique payment options here, like the ability to accept Medicare Flex.UberIf older adults don't have access to a family profile, they can still experience a streamlined version of the app via the platform's Simple mode. This provides the same interface, with larger text and easier navigation.Rival Lyft recently introduced a similar suite of features, called Lyft Silver. However, Lyft's service will match older riders with cars that are easier to get in and out of, which is something Uber doesn't seem to be offering at this moment. Senior accounts on Uber are rolling out now throughout the US, with global availability coming at a later date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-now-offers-a-streamlined-app-for-seniors-complete-with-flexible-payment-options-130013443.html?src=rss

The iPad we consider to be the best iPad for most people is on sale for a record-low price at the moment. You can pick up the new iPad Air M3 for $499 right now, which is $100 off its regular price. You'll find the 17-percent discount on the 128GB models of the M3 Air in all color options. We gave the new iPad Air (M3) an 89 in our review, thanks, in part, to that M3 chip. Its single- and multi-core scores came in 16 percent higher compared to its predecessor when tested with Geekbench. The iPad Air M3 also has a much better screen and multitasking abilities this time around. Plus, it's compatible with a much improved Magic Keyboard. The add-on is akin to the one you'd get with Apple's iPad Pro M4 while also dropping by $30 from the previous model. But, it will still cost you $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch one. Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-ipad-air-m3-is-cheaper-than-ever-right-now-133932572.html?src=rss

A federal judge has temporarily blocked Florida's new law that bans some children from using social media and requires parental consent for others, according to court documents. Judge Mark Walker ruled in favor of two tech organizations (NetChoice and the CCIA) representing social media organizations like Meta, Snap and X, saying that the state's bill HB3 signed into law in March this year is "likely unconstitutional."The law requires parent or guardian consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to make an account or use a pre-existing account on a social media platform, while children under 14 are banned altogether. Platforms must abide by requests to delete these accounts within five business days and each violation could result in a $10,000 fine. That increases to $50,000 per instance if it is ruled that the company participated in a knowing or reckless" violation of the law.

If you spend a good portion of your waking hours behind a desk, simply slapping an ergonomic mouse and keyboard on your desk won't solve the real problem, which is sitting still for too long. But after you've peppered in a few walks and added some stretches for good measure, your workstation ergonomics is the next thing to consider. Hunching, twisting and contorting are all likely to lead to discomfort in the long run.

Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune will have a new streaming home this fall. Sony Pictures Television has inked multi-year deals for the pair of iconic game shows to stream on Peacock, Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the US. The agreement includes both in-season syndicated episodes and library episodes. It's a next-day deal, so broadcast channels are still the first spot to see the newest content. However, this remains a very exciting development for Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune fans, since it's the first time currently syndicated seasons will be available on the major national streaming platforms.Both shows will begin this new streaming arrangement in September, when Jeopardy! will start its 42nd season in syndication. The quiz show has amassed a whopping 45 Emmy Awards and was also honored with a Peabody Award. Wheel of Fortune will be going into its 43rd season in syndication this fall.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/jeopardy-and-wheel-of-fortune-will-stream-next-day-on-hulu-and-peacock-225901653.html?src=rss

Summer Game Fest week just got even busier. Sony is throwing its own party on Wednesday, June 4 at 5PM ET in the form of a State of Play. The stream will showcase "must-play" PS5 games from developers based around the world and you can watch it on on YouTube or Twitch. To make things even easier, you can watch it right here by clicking the big red button above when the time is right. (English subtitled and Japanese versions of the State of Play will be available too.)The State of Play will run for over 40 minutes, so there should be a bunch of games included. Sony hasn't given any hints as to what it will show off as yet, but it'll surely be worth checking out the stream. Wednesday's event will be Sony's third State of Play of the year. The first was in February, which included the reveal of the very tasty-sounding Soros from Returnal studio Housemarque, a PS5 remaster of Days Goneand a release date for Borderlands 4. In April, the company hosted a brief State of Play entirely focused on Borderlands 4where it showed off gameplay and some new multiplayer mechanics.With this State of Play, Sony is padding out a packed SGF schedule that includes what is routinely Xbox's biggest showcase of the year on Sunday, June 8. And then there's also the little matter of the Nintendo Switch 2's arrival on June 5. It's shaping up to be a fun, if very busy, week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/how-to-watch-sonys-playstation-state-of-play-at-summer-game-fest-143012697.html?src=rss

A deck-building game with soulslike elements is an odd genre mashup, to say the least. But that's what the three-person Danish studio The Outer Zone is creating with Death Howl. The second demo for the indie PC title launches next week on Steam.The unusual blend of genres isn't the game's only hallmark. Death Howl also has a gorgeous art style and music to match its rich themes. You play as Ro, a hunter from a small tribe, who is grieving her son's death. Mystical voices beckon her toward a spirit realm as she tries to bring him back. Ro's adventure leads her on a journey of "love, loss and the slow path toward acceptance."The game's deck-based combat will unlock various melee and ranged spell attacks. As you progress, you'll craft cards built around your preferred tactical style. Meanwhile, shamanic totems will enhance your deck and buff up your strikes.The Outer Zone / 11 Bit StudiosWhat makes it soulslike, besides being hard? Publisher 11 Bit Studios offered some insight on Reddit. "Initially, we thought about a different label for Death Howl," the publisher wrote. "But as we played it more and brought in random testers, we noticed something surprising. The game, despite not being an action RPG, does feel like a soulslike. It evoked emotions similar to what you experience in a soulslike." Meanwhile, the game's difficulty reveals itself most in boss battles and side quests.Death Howl doesn't arrive until sometime later this year. But the second demo will be playable from June 9 to 16. Head to the game's Steam page to check it out. In the meantime, you can watch its new trailer below.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-gorgeous-indie-game-death-howl-will-have-a-new-demo-on-june-9-205057519.html?src=rss