Lenovo's 10th-generation Legion 9i has a novel wrinkle that complements its powerhouse specs. The 18-inch gaming laptop can be fitted with a 2D / 3D screen that switches between standard (flat) graphics and glasses-free 3D. It's available first in China and will come to the US "sometime this fall." To be fair to Lenovo, that vague-ass window is about as much clarity as an overseas company could realistically offer in this tariff-infused climate.The Legion 9i has an 18-inch display that supports up to 4K resolution in 2D. But through a combination of eye-tracking and lenticular lenses, the optional configuration supports 2K 3D without any need for special glasses. The effect works with side-by-side and top-down arrangements and supports 30 (as yet unnamed) games. Although it supports viewing video, images and streaming in three dimensions, Lenovo is pitching the machine to designers who work with 3D modeling.For 2D viewing, the laptop's screen has a dual-mode feature that switches between a 240Hz refresh rate at up to 4K and a 440Hz one at 1080p. The Legion 9i has a 93-percent screen-to-body ratio.LenovoThe laptop's chassis is made from eight layers of aviation-grade carbon fiber. Lenovo says this makes it lighter and stronger than aluminum, and the forging process makes each one unique. (Just like you, champ!)Elsewhere, the specs include up to an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU, Intel Core Ultra 275HX processor, 192GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM and an 8TB SSD. Its cooling system combines a vapor chamber and a quad-fan system. Although Lenovo hasn't announced pricing yet, its specs (and the 9i's history as a top-of-the-line device) leave no room to doubt that it will cost at least several thousand dollars, even before accounting for whatever tariff madness we're caught in come fall.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/the-18-inch-lenovo-legion-9i-can-switch-between-2d-and-3d-without-glasses-100002661.html?src=rss
Tesla has scrapped its plans to sell a range extender for the Cybertruck, the automaker has notified customers who have previously paid a $2,000 reservation fee for the $16,000 add-on. Based on copies of the email people have been posting on social networks and forums, Tesla will be refunding their deposits in full. It didn't say why it's no longer planning to sell the accessory, but the emails come a month after the company quietly pulled the option to add it to the vehicle from its website configurator.The range extender is a battery pack that was supposed to be installed on the bed of the Cybertruck. It was Tesla's answer to releasing vehicles that had shorter ranges than it originally promised. When the company first unveiled the model, it said different versions would have different ranges, including one that has a 500-mile range. Instead, the long-range Cybertruck, which has the longest range, can only last for 350 miles on a single charge. As Electrek noted late last year, the battery pack was supposed to start shipping in early 2025, but Tesla pushed back its release to mid-2025 and also reduced its promised range from 470 miles to 445 miles.Elon Musk previously said that he expects Tesla to sell between 250,000 to 500,000 Cybertrucks a year. However, a recent recall showed that the automaker sold fewer than 50,000 units over a 15-month period. It's unclear whether the company decided to pull the plug on the range extender because it's not worth manufacturing a new product for a model that's performing far below expectations, or if it has another reason altogether. Either way, the Cybertruck's battery add-on has been cancelled and won't be seeing the light of day.
Samsung will host a virtual Unpacked event on May 12 at 8PM ET. It streams live at the Samsung Newsroom and on the company's official YouTube page.The company promises a look at "the next evolution of Galaxy" devices and that it'll unveil "more about the latest addition to the Galaxy S series." This means we'll get more juicy tidbits about that slim Galaxy S25 Edge smartphone that was first teased at an Unpacked event in January.What to expect: Samsung Galaxy S25 EdgeThe company has confirmed via a blog post that the event will shine a light on the Galaxy S25 Edge, which was a long-rumored device before the official tease a few months ago. Samsung did give us a bit of information regarding specs. It offers a slimmer form factor than the standard S25 and includes an impressive 200MP wide camera lens.The company also boasts that the phone will integrate with Galaxy AI to help the camera transform "into a smart lens that helps recognize what matters to create new memories." We don't know if that translates to brand-new camera software or if the company's referring to the pre-existing suite of AI tools available with its newer handsets.
The US Patent and Trademark Office has refused one of Tesla's initial attempts to trademark the term "Robotaxi" because it believes the name is generic and already in use by other companies, according to a filing spotted by TechCrunch. Tesla was hoping to trademark the term in connection to its planned self-driving car service, but now it'll have to reply with more evidence to change the office's mind.The main issue outlined in the USPTO decision is that "Robotaxi" is "merely descriptive," as in its an already commonly used term. A robotaxi typically refers to the self-driving cars used in services like Waymo. As long as Silicon Valley has believed money could be made selling autonomous vehicles (and the rides you can take in them), the term has been in use. That means Tesla can't trademark "robotaxi" because the "term is used to describe similar goods and services by other companies," the USPTO writes. Like, Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary mentioned in the filing, which already refers to its product as a "robotaxi."The application the USPTO refused was for "land vehicles; electric vehicles, namely automobiles; automobiles; and structural parts therefor." As TechCrunch notes, Tesla has trademark applications out for other names, like "Robobus," that might get a different response. The company is also apparently facing difficulties locking down trademarks for "Cybercab," the name of the self-driving car designed to be used in Tesla's robotaxi service.The company formally introduced the Cybercab and the loose outline of its robotaxi service at an event in October 2024 called "We, Robot." The Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals, and is supposed to rely on inductive charging for power in between rides. The event also featured the introduction of the Robobus and another appearance from Tesla's in-development Optimus robot.Tesla needs to provide "fact sheets, instruction manuals, brochures, advertisements and pertinent screenshots of [its] website" to help make the case for how it'll use the "robotaxi" trademark, should the USPTO change its ruling. Considering the difficulty of pulling off a self-driving car service, though, not being able to trademark names seems like the least of Tesla's challenges.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/teslas-robotaxi-brand-might-be-too-generic-to-trademark-220429561.html?src=rss
The Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court's ruling that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard did not violate antitrust laws. The Federal Trade Commission had sued to block the merger of these large gaming brands on claims that the new entity would fall afoul of antitrust laws. In the court's ruling, released today, the FTC failed to prove that Microsoft would have blocked access to popular titles such as Call of Duty on hardware owned by other gaming brands. The appeals court was also unswayed by the FTC's arguments that the deal would have lessened competition in gaming subscription services and cloud streaming.The issue of platform-exclusive titles was one of the core tenets of the FTC's latest charge against this acquisition. However, the opinion written by Judge Daniel P. Collins observed that "all major manufacturers have engaged in this practice." And as Microsoft has been making more and more of its once-exclusive titles available on new hardware, this may mean that the competition agency will finally accept the deal as done.The $68.7 billion deal for Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard closed in October 2023, but the acquisition has faced multiple challenges from the FTC at varying stages of the process. In fact, this isn't the first time the Ninth Circuit Court has rejected the agency's efforts to block the merger. The competition agency also raised alarms about layoffs after the merger closed.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/appeals-court-once-again-upholds-microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-211008049.html?src=rss
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned the National Weather Service of possible attacks from an armed conspiracy group targeting Doppler radar stations, according to a report from CNN. The group, Veterans on Patrol, is going after government radars because it believes they're being used as "weather weapons."CNN learned of the possible attacks through NOAA emails warning NWS staff that Veterans on Patrol was planning to conduct "penetration drills on NEXRAD sites to identify weaknesses," with the ultimate goal of destroying NEXRAD. Despite its cooler-than-average name, the NWS uses NEXRAD or "Next Generation Weather Radar" for a fairly mundane purpose: detecting precipitation in the atmosphere. NEXRAD plays a vital role in locating thunderstorms and tornados, making it easier to evacuate vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.It's not clear what Veterans on Patrol sees as threatening about radar - the group was previously focused on white nationalism and Pizzagate-style government conspiracies - but concern over the effects of being exposed to radio waves is a common bugbear for conspiracy-types. For example, groups set fire to cell towers early in the COVID-19 pandemic because of a belief that 5G somehow spread the virus. Viewing radar as a weapon could originate from some similar misconceptions.NWS staff have been advised to use the buddy system when working at remote radar sites and report anything suspicious to the authorities. Even without the threat of physical violence, though, the NWS and NOAA at large have already been devastated in 2025. Hundreds of weather forecasters were fired because of the cuts made by the Trump administration, just one of many attempts to dismantle government services.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/noaa-warns-staff-a-militia-group-thinks-its-radars-are-weather-weapons-202236953.html?src=rss
Diminished tech privacy appears to be another ripple effect from Trump 2.0. The Information reported on Wednesday that Meta has changed its tune on facial recognition. After considering but ultimately bailing on the technology for the first version of its smart glasses, the company is now actively working on wearables that can identify nearby faces. Remember when being a "Glasshole" was considered a faux pas?According to The Information, Meta has recently discussed adding software to its smart glasses that scans bystanders' faces and identifies people by name. The company has also reportedly considered adding the tech to future AI-powered earphones with built-in cameras.Facial recognition tech would be part of a Meta feature dubbed internally as "super sensing." The feature would build on the glasses' live AI feature, which can only remain active for around half an hour (thanks to its battery). But in future devices, expected in 2026, it could run for hours.Sam Rutherford for EngadgetThe Information says the super-sensing mode wouldn't likely be the default mode for the glasses. The glasses owner would have to opt in. But the person's nearby company - those having their faces scanned and named - wouldn't.Making matters worse, bystanders might not even know they're being scanned. The current Ray-Ban Meta glasses turn on a light while recording. It's a privacy-focused feature likely spawned from Big Tech's lessons from the Google Glass social backlash.But Meta is reportedly questioning whether future glasses should activate the light when the device is "super-sensing" them. Uh oh.Putting on a pair of glasses that gives you AI-powered superhuman memory might sound pretty cool. No need to remember things - just let the AI scan your environment and remind you! But the tech sounds a lot less fun when you think about the poor souls in proximity to one of these, uh, Metaholes.Karissa Bell for EngadgetAlongside the revival of facial recognition, Meta has updated its privacy policies. In April, the company changed its terms so that its current smart glasses will activate AI by default. The only way to opt out is to deactivate the "Hey Meta!" trigger phrase. Adding to the fun is a change that no longer lets glasses owners opt out of allowing the company to store and train on their voice recordings.The Information draws a line from Trump's reelection to Meta's ethically dubious changes. The current Federal Trade Commission (FTC) isn't keen on regulations that slow big businesses' profits. Last month, FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak promised a "flexible, risk-based approach to privacy enforcement." The agency has also stopped using labels like "surveillance advertising."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-is-reportedly-working-on-facial-recognition-for-its-ai-glasses-195502788.html?src=rss
Google is once again crossing the great divide between rival tech giants, at least with artificial intelligence. The company has launched a dedicated iPad app for its Gemini AI assistant. In addition to natively running on Apple hardware, Gemini's iPad app can take advantage of the tablet's split view, so that the AI assistant is open on the screen at the same time as another program for easier use. The app is available today from the App Store in all countries where Gemini is currently available.Gemini has been a huge focus for Google's recent announcements as it works to put its service in front of more and more potential users. iPhones got their first native Gemini app last November. The company recently introduced a program for children to explore the AI assistant and it opened the Deep Research capability to all Gemini users. With Google I/O 2025 right around the corner, it's a safe bet that we'll be hearing about more features and integrations for the AI assistant later this month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/google-launches-a-gemini-app-for-ipad-194047388.html?src=rss
AI services like Perplexity or OpenAI's SearchGPT could be search engine options in a future version of Safari, Bloomberg reports. The tentative plans were shared by Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of services, while on the stand for Google's ongoing search antitrust case. Cue was called to testify because of the deal Google and Apple have to keep Google Search as the default search engine on the iPhone.Cue claims Apple has discussed a possible Safari-integration with Perplexity, but didn't share any definitive plans during his testimony. It's clear that he believes AI assistants will inevitably supplant traditional search engines, though. "Prior to AI, my feeling around this was, none of the others were valid choices," Cue said. "I think today there is much greater potential because there are new entrants attacking the problem in a different way."Whatever AI search Apple ultimately adds likely won't be the default at first, according to Cue, but "there's enough money now, enough large players, that I don't see how it doesn't happen." There's some evidence to back up the idea that things are changing, too. According to The Verge, Cue shared that the number of Google searches in Safari fell for the first time last month, something "that has never happened in 22 years." It's entirely possible those missing searches went to ChatGPT or Gemini.Google pays Apple $18 billion or more a year to keep Google Search as the default, possibly on top of other financial incentives. Cue's threading a very fine needle acknowledging the popularity of AI without suggesting that Google's deals have gotten in the way of other search options growing. Clearly, both companies would like their mutually beneficial relationship to stay the same.Of course, Apple's also had its own public issues with AI in the last few months. After presenting big plans for how Apple Intelligence would work in 2024, Apple had to delay its updated Siri, the centerpiece of its pitch, until later this year. The company ultimately made the decision to work with third-party AI models because its systems weren't up to snuff. That change could be how conversations about adding AI search engines to Safari came about in the first place.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-is-considering-adding-ai-search-engines-to-safari-180502229.html?src=rss
"We welcome the addition of body-worn cameras and appreciate the enhanced transparency and assurance they provide," a then-DEA official wrote in a 2021 press release. So much for that. ProPublica published an investigative report on Tuesday that details how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Trump administration has abandoned its bodycam program.The DEA announced the change internally through an email, viewed by ProPublica. However, the agency never made a formal announcement or any public acknowledgment of its about-face.The DEA's email said it made the change to be "consistent" with Trump's "Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions" order, signed on Inauguration Day. The action rescinded 78 Biden-era executive orders, including the one that expanded federal law enforcement's use of body cameras.ProPublica notes that the "consistent" rationale for bailing on the program is questionable. Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) beat the DEA to the punch in abandoning bodycams - shocker! - other DOJ agencies still use them. These include the US Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).AxonThe common sentiment is that bodycams' sole purpose is to keep law enforcement officers from abusing power. But that's only part of the equation. It also protects them. "The vast majority of times I viewed body camera footage is based on allegations from a defense attorney about what a cop did," David DeVillers, a former US attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, told ProPublica. "And I would say 95 percent of the time it absolves the cop of wrongdoing."Studies have consistently found that body cameras correlate with reduced complaints against officers. However, it isn't clear whether that's from people filing fewer frivolous complaints or because officers with cameras behave better. Regardless, the DEA's positive framing of the devices from four years ago is backed by data.The DOJ began requiring federal agents to wear bodycams in 2021. At that time, George Floyd's murder and the resulting protests were still fresh on people's minds. "Law enforcement is at its most effective when there is accountability and trust between law enforcement and the community," then-Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote that September.Meanwhile, a lucrative contract suggests the DEA's abandonment flies in the face of one of the Trump administration's stated priorities. In 2021, the DOJ inked a $30.4 million deal with Axon to use its cameras and software for the federal program. Axon says the contract is still active, and around five-sixths of the sum is still due. Funny how selective one can be in pursuing "government efficiency."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/the-dea-abandons-bodycams-after-only-four-years-172843162.html?src=rss
It's earnings season, and automakers are warning investors about the impact tariffs will have on vehicle pricing. As first reported by Reuters, the cost of Ford's Mustang Mach-E, Ford's electric SUV, could rise by as much as $2,000 on some models.Ford manufactures the Mach-E as well as other non-electric models in Mexico, which are now tariffed when sold in the United States. Aside from the Mach-E, Ford estimates that it will take a $1.5 billion hit from current tariff policy.The Trump administration has long insisted that tariffs are not paid for by the American consumer, and while the company made clear it was absorbing some of the increased cost, it could not absorb all of it.A Ford spokesperson told Reuters that the price increase is partly due to typical mid-year repricing "combined with some tariffs we are facing. We have not passed on the full cost of tariffs to our customers."Despite the administration's partial acquiescence to automakers last week in softening the blow on auto tariffs, EV makers Rivian and Lucid have said higher costs are coming. Rivian's CEO shared that he expects vehicle pricing to rise by "a couple of thousand dollars," while Lucid's interim CEO said the company was expecting an 8 to 15 percent increase in overall costs due to tariffs.While EVs have not specifically been the target of these tariffs, this administration has been unusually hostile towards them, and has worked to reverse government-funded EV initiatives, like subsidized expansions to charging infrastructure. Making matters worse, Speaker of the House Brian Johnson all but confirmed to Bloomberg recently that Congress is likely to end the EV tax credit saying, I think there is a better chance we kill it than save it, but we'll see how it comes out."It's been posited by industry analysts that Tesla may have the least to lose (and could perhaps even gain) from the current administration's anti-EV stance, with Elon Musk even saying as such. This is in part due to the outsized effect tariffs will have on competing EV manufacturers like Ford, while Tesla's substantial domestic production keeps the company mostly insulated.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/ford-will-raise-mustang-mach-e-prices-in-part-due-to-tariffs-164323546.html?src=rss
A four-pack of Samsung SmartTag 2 Bluetooth trackers is available for just $52 at Woot. That's a record low price and a discount of 38 percent. This pack includes two white and two black trackers. There's a limit of two packs per customer. This particular model made our list of the best Bluetooth trackers, and this is particularly true for those already tied into the Samsung ecosystem. We love the design. It's an oblong fob with a big hole for attaching directly to keys and the like. This is something that Apple AirTags don't offer out of the box, as you need a case for the purposes of attaching. These Samsung trackers are also louder when pinged than the AirTag or the Tile Pro. This makes it a bit easier to find something when the time comes. You can also change the tag's ringtone or double squeeze it to ring the handset, both things that aren't possible with AirTags. Setup is simple and we came away impressed with how easy it was to locate lost items out in the wild. The companion app, SmartThings Find, offers an intuitive Google Maps-based interface. We found that alerts triggered reliably when we got around three to eight blocks away from the lost item. These may be the best trackers for Samsung users, but they are also exclusively tied to the company's ecosystem. Don't buy these if you use an iPhone. The finding network isn't as vast as Google's Find My Device or Apple's Find My, but it gets the job done. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-samsung-smarttag-2-bluetooth-trackers-is-down-to-52-at-woot-164134673.html?src=rss
Electronic Arts has confirmed that the next Battlefield game will be revealed this summer, ahead of a launch date some time before April 2026. The news was shared in the company's Q4 and and financial year 2025 results, published this week.EA CEO Andrew Wilson called the latest installment in the long-running first-person shooter series a pivotal step in delivering on our next generation of blockbuster entertainment" and recommitted to a previously announced FY26 release window for the currently untitled game. That means it can't launch any later than March 2026, when EA's fiscal year ends.A launch date before April next year would mean the new Battlefield game will get a bit of room to breathe before the recently delayed Grand Theft Auto 6, which is supposed to arrive on May 26, 2026. Like every other publisher on the planet, EA has likely factored GTA 6 into its own upcoming launch plans for a number of titles. Eurogamerreported earlier this year that Wilson had admitted a willingness to delay games in order to get out of the way of the (unnamed, but heavily implied) competition.The most recent Battlefield game was 2021's Battlefield 2042, to which EA has steadily added new content. Back in February, EA launched Battlefield Labs, a community testing initiative that allows registered fans to playtest and give feedback on series fundamentals such as combat, destruction, vehicles and map designs.EA also confirmed in an investor call that it currently has no plans to increase the price of its games, following the recent Xbox price hike and Nintendo making the decision to charge a whopping $80 for Mario Kart Worldon its upcoming Switch 2.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-next-battlefield-game-will-launch-sometime-before-april-2026-161521602.html?src=rss
The Golden Globes is expanding beyond film and TV with a new category. It will dole out an award for the best podcast of the year starting at next January's ceremony. Organizers told Varietythat the idea was to recognize the influence and reach of podcasts within the spectrum of entertainment.Six finalists will be selected from the 25 most popular podcasts across audio and video formats (sorry, middle-aged dads who spent hundreds of dollars on recording gear to grouse about their team in their basement studios). So it's likely that more celebrities could appear on the show.Amy Poehler and Trevor Noah have podcasts that are among the 25 largest in the US on Spotify. SmartLess - the show hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes - is on the list too. As such, the best podcast award feels like a ploy by the Golden Globes to get more stars on the show, which would make it quite funny if, say, The Daily won instead.It feels like an odd move for the Golden Globes (which started handing out an award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement last year) to wade into the podcasting world. Still, it's nice to see a mainstream awards ceremony shining a spotlight on podcasts. There are dedicated awards shows for podcasts, but the Golden Globes is putting them on a bigger stage.Other awards shows have been refining their category lineups. We'll soon start seeing a long-overdue category for stunt work at the Oscars. On the other hand, it was a little disappointing to see the Emmy for short-form animated program being cut last year due to a drop in submissions.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/the-golden-globes-will-start-giving-an-award-to-the-best-podcast-of-the-year-154905589.html?src=rss
Netflix has been gradually culling its library of interactive content for a while now, but Black Mirror's Emmy award winning Bandersnatchwas one of the few survivors. Until now. As spotted by What's on Netflix, the choose-your-own-adventure film set in a fictional game development studio will be leaving the service globally on May 12.At the beginning of December 2024, only four of Netflix's Interactive Specials" remained, of which Bandersnatch was one. As of today there are only two left. The other is Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend, which first debuted back in 2020 and is also being removed imminently.Netflix's first interactive effort was 2017's Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale, but Bandersnatch, which arrived the following year,was the first to be targeted at an adult audience, and arguably the company's most successful of these experiments. Set in the UK in the mid-80s, it follows a young programmer who sets out to adapt a dark fantasy novel into a story-driven video game, before things inevitably take a dark turn. The film featured multiple endings and branching paths based on the decisions you made, and went on to win two Primetime Emmy Awards.Which probably leaves you wondering why Netflix is getting rid of it. Back in December, company spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher told The Vergethat the technology had served its purpose, but is now limiting as we focus on technological efforts in other areas."Actual video games still feature prominently in the overhauled Netflix TV app, which the company has been working on since last year and will roll out over the coming weeks and months. It is also experimenting with a vertical video feature on mobile that will include clips and trailers, presumably to appeal more to the native TikTok audience. Just don't expect to see Bandersnatch in there.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/black-mirrors-bandersnatch-is-leaving-netflix-for-good-144518207.html?src=rss
Sony has expanded its PlayStation Studios roster with teamLFG, which spun out from Bungie and is working on an "ambitious" incubation project. The studio is based in Bellevue, Washington (where Bungie's HQ is), though some team members work remotely elsewhere in the US and Canada. The crew includes a mix of industry newcomers and veterans who have worked on the likes of Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite and Roblox.The focus of teamLFG will be on immersive multiplayer games. That's perhaps not too much of a surprise given the veterans' experience and that "LFG" stands for "looking for group," a phrase used by players who are seeking teammates for multiplayer games.Its first project takes place in "a lighthearted, comedic world set in [a] brand new mythic, science-fantasy universe." The studio is taking inspiration from platformers, MOBAs, life sims, fighting games and elsewhere for its team-based action title. Since it's an incubation project, the game is likely quite some time away from seeing the light of day.Bungie went through a restructuring process last summer, which included 220 people being laid off as it narrowed its focus on Destiny and Marathon. To that end, the company spun out an incubation project to be housed under Sony's umbrella, which turned out to be this.The new studio aims to make "action games that players can learn, play and master for countless hours." That certainly sounds like a live-service game, an area where Sony hasn't had much luck over the last few years despite trying to focus on such titles. The company has canned several live-service games that were in development, including The Last of Us Online. And then there was the whole Concord disaster. Here's hoping, for the sake of the workers at teamLFG, things go more smoothly this time around.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/new-playstation-studio-teamlfg-is-working-on-a-multiplayer-action-game-143020198.html?src=rss
LinkedIn is still on a mission to persuade job hunters to apply for fewer roles. But the company is rolling out a new set of AI-powered upgrades to its job-searching features it hopes will make that prospect more appealing.The company is introducing a revamped search tool that aims to make it easier for job seekers to find relevant roles. Up to now, LinkedIn's job search feature relied mostly on matching keywords. With the update, though, LinkedIn is ditching the keywords in favor of AI so its system is able to understand job listings on a much deeper level. This should, according to the company, allow job hunters to search postings using more natural language.Search used to be [a] very specific couple of boxes, and the box that really mattered was the box that said, show me a title or a keyword or skill,' and you basically had to hope that you will find a title or keyword or skill that the system understands," LinkedIn product manager Rohan Rajiv explains. Now, though, he says, job searchers should be able to just say what you want and the system will understand you."That may sound like a subtle change but it's a potentially powerful one because it allows people to get much more specific with their queries. Users can still search for roles based on job tiles like product manager" but LinkedIn will also be able to understand more complex searches like "business development roles in the video game industry."As an extra layer of transparency, LinkedIn will also surface indicators when the company behind a given posting is actively reviewing applications. Premium subscribers will also get access to AI-powered job coaching," with the ability to practice interview questions, pitches and other tasks.LinkedInStill, AI-powered tools can only go so far. The reality is that we have a marketplace where the number of job seekers year-over-year is growing faster than the number of jobs year-over-year," Rajiv says. And he's aware that his pleas that job hunters stop applying to as many open roles as possible isn't the kind of advice many people want to hear, though he stands by it.The truth is that volume is not your friend in the job search," he tells Engadget. It's only one extra apply, but you multiply that with 500 people, and suddenly the poster has got 500 new applicants that they are going to need to screen. That's only making it worse."He does, however, think that LinkedIn can do even more to guide people to the right" roles. You can imagine the possibilities of this: for us to say, hey, this job probably [is] not a fit, but based on your skills, let me construct a search that will help you find what you are looking for.' And I think that that is the future."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/linkedin-wants-you-to-tell-its-ai-about-your-dream-job-133046457.html?src=rss
Harman International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung, is purchasing the audio business of health technology company Masimo for $350 million in cash. The deal is expected to finalized by the end of 2025, though it's still subject to regulatory approvals. Samsung purchased Harman International back in 2017 for $8 billion, though it allowed the company to operate as an independent subsidiary. Harman's brands include JBL, Harman Kardon, AKG, Mark Levinson, Arcam and Revel. If and when the acquisition pushes through, Masimo's audio brands under Sound United will be added to the list, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz and Polk Audio.It is unclear if the purchase will lead to layoffs, but it sounds like Harman is taking on Sound United's employees. "Built on a shared legacy of innovation and excellence in audio technology, this combined family of brands, together with the talented employees of both companies, will deliver complementary audio products, strengthen our value proposition and offer more choices to consumers," said Dave Rogers, the President of Harman's Lifestyle division.As noted by The Verge, Samsung published a press release, where it briefly talked about the history of the brands it's acquiring. It mentioned some of Bowers & Wilkins' most iconic products, such as the Nautilus loudspeaker (pictured above) and its Zeppelin wireless speaker, as well as Denon's history as an early adopter of the CD player. Harman had a 60 percent market share in portable audio devices last year, and the company is looking to maintain that position with this purchase. "By combining the audio business of Masimo, which is being acquired this time, with Harman's lifestyle business division, the company plans to solidify its global No. 1 position in the consumer audio market," Samsung said. Samsung also plans to apply the new brands' audio technologies to its smartphones, TVs, wireless earphones, soundbars and other devices in the future.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/samsung-is-paying-350-million-for-audio-brands-bowers--wilkins-denon-marantz-and-polk-131514754.html?src=rss
Sonos and IKEA are ending their partnership and phasing out existing products. The duo collaborated on the Symfonisk lineup, which included lamp speakers, picture frame speakers and bookshelf speakers. Software updates will still be available for Symfonisk products.Over the past eight years, we've had the pleasure of working closely with IKEA and are proud of what we've achieved," Sonos told Engadget. "Although our work together has largely wound down and we won't be releasing new products as partners, we'll continue to support every existing SYMFONISK product so customers can keep enjoying great sound in their homes for many years to come."The Symfonisk lineup offered Sonos technology at a cheaper price point than buying its speakers outright. The cheapest speaker directly from Sonos is just under $200, with other models easily doubling or tripling that. Symfonisk speakers, however, are available for as low as $120, while a floor lamp with a speaker - and IKEA's classic bamboo top - is the most expensive item at $300. Items could become even more discounted now that they're being cleared out.Sonos has struggled recently, canceling the release of its streaming video device in March and launching a simply terrible new app in Spring 2024. The latter led to CEO Patrick Spence's ousting and hundreds of workers being let go.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/sonos-and-ikea-end-their-partnership-130052348.html?src=rss
Tesla has started offering a cheaper configuration of its refreshed 2025 Model Y electric vehicle in the US. As first noticed by Electrek, you can now get a Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y in the US with prices starting at $37,490 if it's with $7,500 in tax credits. Without tax credits, prices start at $44,990. The automaker was only previously offering the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version in the country for at least $48,990 without tax credits.The updated Model Y retains the old version's proportions, but it has rounder edges and smaller headlights, as well as taillights bookending a redesigned lightbar. It has ambient lighting wrapping around most of the car inside, and it also comes with ventilated seats and a 15.4-inch touchscreen display in the front. Passengers in the backseat have access to a Bluetooth-enabled 8-inch display. The new rear-wheel drive model has an EPA-estimated range of 357 miles on a single charge, 30 miles longer than the all-wheel drive's 327-mile range. They have the same top speed of 125 mph, but the all-wheel drive has a faster acceleration rate and can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. It will take the rear-wheel drive 5.4 seconds to reach 60 mph.Delivery for the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y in the US starts in the next three to five weeks. As Electrek noted, the automaker has already started deliveries in China and Europe. Tesla's sales continue to plunge across Europe, however, and have plummeted to their lowest in years for certain regions, including the UK and Germany. Elon Musk's politics and his backing of far-right political candidates in the continent have sparked backlash and inspired protests against the company. In addition, Tesla is facing increasing competition from Chinese rivals, such as BYD, which is the best-selling EV car brand from the country.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/tesla-starts-selling-cheaper-model-y-evs-in-the-us-124506011.html?src=rss
New photos leaked from the FCC appear to confirm that an Xbox-branded handheld gaming console is coming soon. A listing shows two versions of ASUS's ROG Ally 2 handheld, a dark model with a dedicated Xbox labeled button at the top left and a white version with the same button blacked out. The latter could carry a different function or be removed altogether from the production model, according to the leak (related to Wi-Fi modules) from Videocardz seen by The Verge.The models otherwise look identical but carry different specs, according to other parts of the listing. Both have 7-inch 120Hz displays, but the ROG Ally 2 Xbox version (RC73X1) will come with an AMD 8-Core 36W Ryzen Z2 Extreme and 64GB LPDDR5X memory, while the regular model (RC73YA) will pack an AMD 4-core 20W AMD Aeirth Plus chip (memory unknown). Compared to the ROG Ally, the Rog Ally 2 has a thicker design and more rounded grips. It also offers a pair of USB-C controllers, along with HDMI and 3.5mm connectors, according to the rear view.It's not yet known what the Xbox button will do, but Microsoft is expected to add features like support for the Xbox Game Bar, Play Anywhere functionality and Game Pass Ultimate. It could go even deeper, possibly launching the Xbox app on Windows, according to Videocardz. Some peripherals like the Backbone One already carry an Xbox button to open up the Xbox guide, show available games and more.We'll have to wait and see more details, but as Engadget's Sam Rutherford put it, "the case for an Xbox handheld seems so obvious it's kind of surprising Microsoft didn't announce one years ago."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/asus-and-microsofts-xbox-branded-handheld-appears-in-leaked-fcc-photos-123021510.html?src=rss
Netflix is giving its TV user interface a major overhaul. Alongside a fresh, cleaner look, you'll see recommendations that adapt to your activity as Netflix tries to better gauge what you might be in the mood to watch. The company plans to roll out the update over the coming weeks and months.It seems that the aim here, as has long been a goal for Netflix, is to help you find something you want to watch faster. That way, you won't spend an eternity scrolling through the various options while struggling to figure out what to start streaming.Netflix originally designed its TV user interface for shows and movies, but it had to evolve to better handle new entertainment offerings, such as live events and cloud gaming. The company has been working on the new TV experience since last year, according to Eunice Kim, Netflix's chief product officer. "Our redesigned TV home page is simpler, more intuitive and better represents the breadth of entertainment on Netflix today," Kim said on a call with reporters.The new tiles for each show, movie and so on are much larger. Rather than having information about a highlighted title appear at the top of the screen, the redesign brings everything together.Each tile includes more at-a-glance contextual details as to why you might want to watch something. It might indicate that a show or movie was recently added, is in Netflix's top 10 list of the most-watched titles, has won awards or is leaving the service soon. Otherwise, Netflix might believe that you'll love the suggestion.As you move between tiles, the animations will look snappier and more fluid than at present, Kim said. The new UI also makes it easier for Netflix to highlight live events - such as Christmas Day NFL games, WWE programming and Everybody's Live with John Mulaney - at the top of the home screen.The main navigation bar is now at the top of the screen, with tabs including including home, shows, movies, games and My Netflix (where you'll find your "continue watching" row, My List, reminders and so on). The search function, which is where you can still browse through categories, is up there too. Handily, you'll be able to switch to the top navigation bar by simply tapping the back button on your TV remote.As you browse, Netflix will adapt its recommendations on the fly. So, if you happen to give Squid Gamea double thumbs-up to indicate you love the show, Netflix might on the fly add a row filled with similar titles a little further down the home screen. Trailers you watch and your searches will affect these responsive recommendations too. This all happens behind the scenes in the hope of making everything feel seamless.Netflix has long integrated factors like viewing habits into personalized suggestions. "What's new about the responsive recommendations is active browsing behavior," Elizabeth Stone, the company's chief technology officer, said. "It could also include things like time of day, as one example. It may also, over time, include situations where a member's able to give an explicit input in terms of what they're looking for."NetflixElsewhere, Netflix recently started testing a generative AI search feature powered by OpenAI. The idea here is to let you search for titles depending on your mood. So, you might ask for something that's both a little scary and a little funny, but not too much of either (horror comedy is the best film genre after all), and you'll get some relevant suggestions. Some users in Australia and New Zealand were the first to get access to this tool. Netflix is rolling it out to more subscribers starting this week as an opt-in beta.The company will also start a global test of a vertical video feature on mobile in the coming weeks. The feed will include clips and trailers, and it will be accessible from a row on the app's home screen. You'll be able to tap to watch the show or movie right away or add it to My List. There's an option to share the clip too. Netflix has tried similar feeds of comedy clips and snippets from kids shows over the last few years.Meanwhile, when asked if Netflix will follow the likes of Spotify in allowing signups from its iOS app after Apple was forced to change its App Store payment policies, Kim said the company is keeping a close eye on the situation but didn't have any updates to share for now. In the meantime, Netflix will "continue to abide by the App Store policies until we hear more about how to best implement any changes going forward."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/netflix-overhauls-its-tv-app-with-a-fresh-ui-and-responsive-recommendations-121511958.html?src=rss
Amazon has deployed over 750,000 robots to its fulfillment centers over the last decade or so, but now there's a new, shall we say, more sensitive addition. The company has announced Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch. It's one in a series of new robots introduced today at Amazon's Delivering the Future event in Germany.Vulcan uses force feedback sensors to monitor how much it's pushing or holding on to an object and, ideally, not damage it. In the past, when industrial robots have unexpected contact, they either emergency stop or smash through that contact. They often don't even know they have hit something because they cannot sense it." Aaron Parness, Amazon director, applied science, stated in the release. "Vulcan represents a fundamental leap forward in robotics. It's not just seeing the world, it's feeling it, enabling capabilities that were impossible for Amazon robots until now."Of course, there's an AI component, with Amazon training Vulcan's AI on physical data around touch and force. Vulcan also uses algorithms to determine what it can handle, identify different products and find space in the fulfillment center. The machine has "tackled thousands" of objects and tasks, like moving electronics and picking up socks. The system can also learn from its mistakes, with Amazon stating the robot will become more capable as time goes on.Amazon, which has faced continual reports of endangering worker safety, also claims it's introducing Vulcan for efficiency and worker safety. The robot should focus on inventory in the top rows of storage pods, about eight feet in the air, and just above floor level. Theoretically, this means less time employees need to spend on ladders or crouching down, and more time working with product at their level. Amazon says the robot is already in use in Spokane, Washington and Hamburg, Germany.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazons-newest-fulfillment-robot-has-a-sense-of-touch-120050449.html?src=rss
Making your first apartment after college a little smarter doesn't have to cost a ton of money - and it shouldn't take a lot of effort, either. If you're just getting settled in your new place or are ready to give your long-term digs some automated tricks, this list can help.
Minecraft is no longer (officially) available on virtual and mixed reality platforms. The change was confirmed in today's patch notes for the game's Bedrock edition following an announcement from developer Mojang in October. Those fall patch notes suggested that the platforms would be removed in March, so players who favored VR wound up getting a few extra weeks to fully immerse themselves in their blocky worlds.Removing entire platforms isn't a choice game devs make lightly. Especially when Minecraft's player base still numbers in the hundreds of millions at any given time, it seems unlikely that Mojang would take away virtual and mixed reality unless it wouldn't cause a serious disruption for its many fans. There are still plenty of critically received games that make VR ownership worthwhile (Beat Saber, anyone?), but a title as major as Minecraft abandoning the hardware isn't a great look.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/minecraft-ended-virtual-reality-support-today-224649126.html?src=rss
Bungie laid out its plans for the next year of Destiny 2 content, and the back half of 2025 could be particularly exciting for Star Wars fans. The studio teased an expansion titled Renegades that draws inspiration from the sci-fi universe. Destiny has always featured classic space opera themes about battles between the light and the darkness, so maybe it was inevitable that the game would one day pay homage to Star Wars.If you fear that there will suddenly be Skywalkers and Fetts running around your game a la Fortnite or Call of Duty, that does seem like a possibility. The teaser video features a guardian wielding an iconic green light saber, and there are some recognizable nods to the Imperial alarm sounds and uniforms in a few close-up shots. And if you really want to embrace the dark side, the most expensive pre-order option for this year's content includes armor ornaments that can turn your guardian into Darth Vader, Kylo Ren or General Grievous.BungieMore information about the Renegades expansion will be announced on September 9 ahead of the update's arrival this December.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/destiny-2-will-get-a-star-wars-expansion-this-december-220446525.html?src=rss
A jury has ruled that the company behind the infamous Pegasus spyware must pay Meta more than $167 million in damages for spreading malware via WhatsApp. The ruling is a major victory for Meta after a years-long legal battle with NSO Group.Meta sued the NSO Group in 2019 over its Pegasus spyware. Meta said at the time that more than 1,400 people in 20 countries had been targeted, including journalists and human rights activists. The company said that the highly sophisticated cyber attack" spread malware via video calls even when the calls went unanswered. Last year, a judge sided with Meta and found the Israeli company had violated the US Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Tuesday's verdict followed a week-long jury trial to determine just how much NSO should pay in damages to Meta.The jury ultimately awarded Meta $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167,254,000 in punitive damages. In a statement, WhatsApp's VP of Global Communications Carl Woog called the verdict a critical deterrent to this malicious industry against their illegal acts aimed at American companies and the privacy and security of the people we serve."NSO Group, which describes itself as a cyber intelligence" firm, has said that it's not possible to use Pegasus on US phone numbers. In court, lawyers for the firm argued that WhatsApp wasn't harmed in any way by Pegasus, according to Courthouse News Service.In a statement, NSO's Gil Lainer said the verdict was another step in a lengthy judicial process" and said it would pursue further proceedings" or an appeal. We firmly believe that our technology plays a critical role in preventing serious crime and terrorism and is deployed responsibly by authorized government agencies," Lainer said. This perspective, validated by extensive real-world evidence and numerous security operations that have saved many lives, including American lives, was excluded from the jury's consideration in this case."WhatsApp's Woog said Meta knows it has a long road ahead" to collect damages from NSO. Ultimately, we would like to make a donation to digital rights organizations that are working to defend people against such attacks around the world," he said. He added that Meta plans to pursue a court order to prevent NSO from targeting WhatsApp in the future.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/meta-wins-more-than-167-million-in-damages-from-spyware-maker-that-targeted-whatsapp-215459438.html?src=rss
Zoox, the Amazon-owned robotaxi company, announced a voluntary software recall for 270 of its vehicles. The company had paused its driverless vehicle operations for a review following an incident last month where a Zoox car and a passenger car collided in Las Vegas. According to the report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the crash did not cause any injuries. CNBC reports that Zoox has resumed usual operations following the software update."After analysis and rigorous testing, Zoox identified the root cause," the company said in a blog post today. "We issued a software update that was implemented across all Zoox vehicles. All Zoox vehicles on the road today, including our purpose-built robotaxi and test fleet, have the updated software."Last year, the NHTSA investigated issues with Toyota Highlander cars equipped with Zoox's automated driving system exhibiting unexpected braking. Car models retrofitted with the Zoox system recently began testing and mapping in Los Angeles.Update, May 6, 2025, 4:54PM ET: Revised to state exact number of vehicles impacted by the recall.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/zoox-issues-software-recall-for-all-robotaxis-following-las-vegas-collision-195501061.html?src=rss
If you're suffering from Netflix fatigue and are looking to cancel your subscription, the process is relatively simple. In fact, depending on how you initially signed up for the service, you'll typically be able to end your membership in just a few steps. It's also worth noting that Netflix allows you to downgrade or upgrade your plan if you want to keep your account but pay less. This guide covers how to cancel Netflix, how to switch your plan and what to know before doing either.How to cancel your Netflix subscriptionNetflix offers a fairly straightforward cancellation process, but the steps to do so vary slightly depending on how you're subscribed. If you signed up directly through Netflix, you can cancel via the website or mobile app. However, if you subscribed through a third-party service such as Apple, Google or your cable provider, the process may be slightly different.Cancel Netflix via the webIf you signed up through Netflix.com, these are the steps for canceling your subscription from a desktop or mobile browser:
OpenAI has abandoned its controversial restructuring plan. In a dramatic reversal, the company said Monday it would no longer try to separate control of its for-profit arm from the non-profit board that currently oversees operations. "We made the decision for the nonprofit to retain control of OpenAI after hearing from civic leaders and engaging in constructive dialogue with the offices of the Attorney General of Delaware and the Attorney General of California," said Bret Taylor, the chairman of OpenAI.OpenAI had originally argued its existing structure would not allow its nonprofit to "easily do more than control the for-profit." It also said it needed more money, a mere two months after securing $6.6 billion in new investment. "We once again need to raise more capital than we'd imagined," the company wrote in December. "Investors want to back us but, at this scale of capital, need conventional equity and less structural bespokeness."OpenAI's previous plan called for the nonprofit to cede absolute control of the for-profit, in return for whatever degree of control came with the amount of stock it was granted through the reorganization process.This was the controversial part of OpenAI's plan, with many, including former employees, labor and nonprofit groups and even Elon Musk, voicing opposition to the proposal. Now, the company says its nonprofit will retain control and become a "big shareholder in the PBC.""How is the nonprofit going to maintain control? How will that purpose be advanced?" asks Jill Horwitz, a visiting professor of law at Northwestern University. "We know from the press that OpenAI plans to appoint all the board members of the operating entity. Will that happen forever? Who will they be? Will it be self-perpetuating? Will the for-profit investors have a say in who those board members are?"Put another way, OpenAI hasn't said the exact structure that it intends to implement. According to Professor Michael Dorff, executive director of the Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy at UCLA, the company could adopt one of a few different options."If you had one class of stock, one vote per share, they would elect a board. You could just give the nonprofit the majority of the shares, and then they would then elect a majority of the board. They would therefore be in charge, at least for a while," he says."More stable governance arrangements could be done by having dual class shares, where the nonprofit would have a class of stock and they would be the only owners of that class of the stock that is either super voting shares, again, giving it a majority, or even better, you can define a class of stock and say it has the right to elect a majority of the board."In short, the company hasn't said how it plans to ensure its nonprofit maintains control. The nonprofit may have a "big" stake to start, but there are a few different ways that stake could be diluted. Even if you set aside the idea of an IPO for now, the company could still issue new shares or carry out a stock split. In those scenarios, if OpenAI's non-profit doesn't own special shares, its control of the company would be weakened.According to Bloomberg, Microsoft has yet to sign off on OpenAI's proposal. The company has invested nearly $14 billion into OpenAI. Under the terms of its October funding round, OpenAI had two years to transform itself into a for-profit business. If it failed to do so, the $6.6 billion it secured would turn into debt. We don't know for sure, but the question of control is likely front and center in the negotiations between Microsoft and OpenAI, with the company's financial future at stake. Complicating matters is that whatever arrangement the two come to, it needs to be rubber stamped by the state attorneys general of California and Delaware."We look forward to advancing the details of this plan in continued conversation with [the state AGs], Microsoft, and our newly appointed nonprofit commissioners," Altman wrote in his letter.Parts of OpenAI's previous plan remain unchanged. As before, the company will reorganize its for-profit subsidiary into a public benefit corporation. In doing so, OpenAI still plans to eliminate the current capped profit structure that limits investor returns to 100x, with excess profits reserved for the nonprofit. OpenAI has yet to record a profit; as of last year, the company recorded around $5 billion in losses."This is not a sale, but a change of structure to something simpler," wrote OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a letter to employees shared by the company. "Instead of our current complex capped-profit structure-which made sense when it looked like there might be one dominant AGI effort but doesn't in a world of many great AGI companies-we are moving to a normal capital structure where everyone has stock."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-new-for-profit-plan-leaves-many-unanswered-questions-193942365.html?src=rss
The Trump administration has announced plans to eliminate the Energy Star program, as originally reported by The Washington Post. This announcement occurred during an all-hands meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Atmospheric Protection, in which the department was shuttered.As for Energy Star, this program started all the way back in 1992 under the first Bush administration. This is the department that's responsible for the iconic yellow stickers on home appliances. The long-standing public-private partnership certifies energy efficient appliances and helps consumers find tax credits for these fixtures.Data indicates that the program has helped Americans save more than $500 billion in energy costs in the past 33 years. The organization states that the average American saves about $450 per year on energy bills by choosing appliances that have been Energy Star-certified.The EPA hasn't said when this would go into effect and when consumers would stop seeing Energy Star certifications on home appliances. It's technically illegal for a presidential administration to end this program without Congress, but the same goes for many of Trump's pronouncements and executive orders."Eliminating the Energy Star program would directly contradict this administration's promise to reduce household energy costs," Paula Glover, president of the nonprofit coalition Alliance to Save Energy, told CNN. "For just $32 million a year, Energy Star helps American families save over $40 billion in annual energy costs. That's a return of $350 for every federal dollar invested."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/trump-admin-announces-plans-to-shut-down-the-energy-star-program-184846271.html?src=rss
Microsoft announced a series of upcoming new features for Copilot+ PCs and Windows 11. One of the most compelling updates for Copilot+ PCs is agent, which provides on-device AI assistance for adjusting a PC's settings. Some of the example tweaks Microsoft gave for this application are issues such as "how to control my PC by voice" and "my mouse pointer is too small."Not only can the agent answer these types of queries, but if the necessary permissions are granted, the AI can also make the requested changes for a user. The blog post specifies that only questions in English are "initially" supported, which hints that more languages will be added at a later date. This feature will first roll out to Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chips, while thoe computers powered by Intel and AMD will get agents "soon."Microsoft is also adding more actions to the Click to Do capability for Copilot AI assistance with whatever is currently active on a computer's screen. Copilot will be able to act on text or an image, including creating a bulleted list from selected text or drafting copy into Microsoft Word. Other new actions include scheduling a meeting, sending a message to Microsoft Teams and sending data to Microsoft Excel. Click to Do will also support engaging a computer's Reading Coach and Immersive Reader modes.While most of Microsoft's recent messaging about Windows 11 has put Copilot+ PCs at front and center, but there will be some new goodies for the owners of other machines coming to the operating system. Users will be able to customize the Start menu and use AI-focused features in File Explorer. The Copilot app will also be getting support for sharing a screen with the AI assistant thanks to Copilot Vision on Windows.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/microsoft-introduces-agent-for-ai-powered-settings-controls-in-copilot-pcs-182056293.html?src=rss
You can save today on our top security camera pick for Alexa users. Amazon has the Blink Outdoor 4 for half price. A single camera (usually $100) only costs $50, which is only $10 more than its all-time low for Black Friday. And the half-off savings also apply to multi-camera bundles. The Blink Outdoor 4's name is somewhat deceiving because it works just as well for indoor use. The weather-resistant camera records in up to 1080p and supports black-and-white infrared for nighttime recording. The wireless camera is powered by a pair of AA batteries. If the impressive Blink Outdoor 4 has an asterisk, it's the company's subscription scheme. First, you can cover the fundamentals without one. These include motion alerts, full HD recording, two-way audio, night vision, customizable motion sensitivity, activity zones and privacy zones. But advanced features like person detection, 60 days of cloud storage, motion event recording and an extended live view require a Blink Basic ($3 monthly or $30 annually) or Blink Plus ($10 monthly or $100 annually) plan. The more expensive one adds unlimited cameras, the ability to snooze notifications and an extended warranty. Otherwise, they're the same. Fortunately, if storage and multi-camera support are the only things pulling you toward a monthly fee, there's a subscription-free workaround. Pop a cheap USB drive into the Blink Sync Module 2 (included) and store your clips locally. This option loads your recordings a tad slower than cloud storage, but it isn't a dramatic difference. Amazon's sale ranges from $50 for a single camera to $315 for an eight-pack. Every bundle (which also includes two-, three-, four-, five- and six-camera systems) is half off. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/blink-outdoor-4-security-cameras-are-half-price-right-now-173641806.html?src=rss
You might know the story by now: Framework makes repairable, modular laptops where you can sub in new components for old or broken ones. It's been two years since the company debuted an AMD mainboard for the Laptop 13 and so it's time for the first replacement to arrive. The new model gets AMD's Ryzen AI 300, a series of power-efficient chips for notebooks that can do all the Copilot+ AI nonsense the industry insists people need and want. Framework sent me the new AMD mainboard to slot into the existing chassis, along with a new bezel and input cover. Rather than the usual solid colors, the company is now offering translucent plastic versions for all those late 90s kids who owned Game Boy Colors. I prefer the tinted translucent version over the clear transparent one, but you can judge for yourself in the pictures. Mainboard with AMD Ryzen AI 300 Daniel Cooper for Engadget Would-be buyers have three options: They can buy a new pre-built laptop with Ryzen AI 300, a DIY edition to assemble or just get the mainboard on its own. Either way, you get the pick of a Ryzen 5 340, Ryzen 7 350 or the flagship Ryzen 9 HX 370 capable of harnessing up to 96GB of RAM. Naturally, the price will start to climb the greater your technological ambitions. I was supplied with the midrange Ryzen 7 350, which took me about 11 minutes or so to swap into the existing AMD model. It's amusing to think it took me the better part of an hour the first time I did this but once you're fluent, it becomes effortless. If you, like me, lost the muscle memory to swap components at the turn of the millennium, don't feel like this is beyond you. The Ryzen 7 350's performance is fine for the sort of tasks you'd expect to do with a 13-inch notebook. I didn't find there was a clear, epoch-shifting leap between what I got out of this and the 7840U it replaced. If you're using it for the usual stuff - work, browsing and watching videos - then it'll handle that all with aplomb. As usual, the best reason to recommend the AMD model over its Intel equivalent is for its greater strength in gaming. After all, you can easily get 50 to 60 fps in titles like Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto V, making this an effective all-rounder. There are two downsides to Framework's modular approach, one of which is that the hardware will always look more functional than its rivals. The second, and more critical, is that all of the CPU cooling has to be integrated onto the mainboard itself. Whereas a lot of machines can be designed around thermal management, this one can't because everything is modular. So the fan on top of the mainboard has to do all of the work with one hand tied behind its back. Consequently both the Intel and AMD versions of Framework's laptops are noisy in ways more modern machines aren't. Framework says it addressed the noise issue by redesigning the heatpipe, improving the fan algorithm and switching to Honeywell's PTM7958 thermal paste. Sadly, as many hours as the company may have put in here, you're still going to have to deal with plenty of fan noise and heat under heavy load. And while AMD promised the 300 AI was designed to be more power-efficient, the new processor further dents this thing's battery life. I didn't get anything close to a full day on a charge here, but that seems to be the way with so many laptops these days. Input cover (Second generation) Daniel Cooper for Engadget I've always commended Framework for its commitment to improving every hardware component as it goes. This time around, the company worked with manufacturing partner Lite-On to give its keyboard a makeover. It focused on hard-to-spot improvements like printing the caps in a slightly thinner weight, replacing the fingerprint sensor and redesigning the Shift and Enter keys. Thankfully, what hasn't changed is the 1.5mm key travel, and founder Nirav Patel told me years ago that he had no interest in trying to fix what wasn't broken. This means the keyboard itself remains as easy to use as it was before, albeit with a slightly quieter typing action. The keys aren't as loose in their housing as they were on the older model, which is another sign of higher quality. Users can also pick from keyboards with a dedicated Windows Copilot key or the Framework key, depending on your operating system loyalties. More importantly, the company addressed feedback that the wide keys would rattle when the speaker played at high volumes. There's a new scaffold supporting the Shift and spacebar to reduce vibration when the sound gets loud. I think the original problem was overstated, but perhaps my audio picks aren't as bass-heavy as some other folks. Regardless, the changes here are welcome and when I've watched explosion-heavy audio, I found little to no rattle at all. The compromises Framework It's not as simple to swap an Intel mainboard for an AMD one as there are issues with hardware compatibility. Similarly, the AMD boards support different USB standards for different expansion card slots, as you can see in the picture. This is true for AMD boards no matter the manufacturer, but it's one thing to remember before you make your purchase. In summary Daniel Cooper for Engadget If you are already inside Framework's ecosystem then feel free to sleep on this upgrade. Yes, the AI 300 is better than the chip it replaces but not to the extent I'd suggest you shell out several hundred dollars on one. If you aren't, then you'll probably be swayed by Framework's broader pitch rather than this specific update. My suspicion is that the company's maturing ecosystem is ideally placed to take advantage of the current geopolitical brouhaha. After all, if the cost of every notebook is at risk of leaping through the roof, being able to keep one machine running for longer is compelling. And, if you're looking to leap in, you should grab one of the discounted Ryzen 7040 machines before they go. After all, if you find the performance a little slow in a few years' time, you'll be well-placed to take advantage of the next generation upgrade when it arrives. I know there are some who feel Framework's underlying platform is getting a little stale, which I do understand. Tech consumers are constantly clamoring for a newer, flashier doodad, and when the Laptop 13 first launched, it already looked a generation behind rival 13-inch notebooks in the same class. When the Laptop 13 first launched, it already looked a generation behind rival 13-inch notebooks in the same class. Five years down the line, it won't beat any machines from Dell, Acer or ASUS in look or feel. But while it may not have the razzle or dazzle, it does have the staying power, and that's going to be a bigger asset in the next few years. If you're the sort of person who would buy a Lenovo Thinkpad and run it until it falls apart, then this is a better option. After all, with a Framework, you won't even have to worry about it falling apart.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/framework-laptop-13-2025-with-amd-ryzen-ai-300-review-the-usual-iterative-upgrade-172031005.html?src=rss
High-end Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen has announced the third generation of its Beosound A1 Bluetooth speaker. The updated A1 remains as portable as its predecessor, retaining its puck-shaped design and minimalist appearance, but there are some key upgrades under its pearl-blasted aluminum shell.Arguably the most important of these is the larger woofer, which delivers a bass of 64dB, a 2dB improvement on the second-generation model. While that admittedly sounds modest on paper, B&O claims it's one that makes the speaker capable of comfortably filling a room with meaty sound. If you happen to have an older A1 around, you can form a stereo pair with the latest model for even more sonic muscle.Battery life has also been increased to 24 hours, which is a sizable six hours more than its predecessor. And while it uses the slightly older Bluetooth 5.1 standard, the new A1 supports Microsoft Swift Pair and Google Fast Pair, both of which cut down on the steps required to pair devices. The previous speaker's three-microphone setup also makes its way to the A1 3rd Gen, allowing you to take calls from the device itself.The updated speaker has an IP67 dust and waterproof rating, and sports a modular design that allows you to replace or upgrade broken or outdated components over time. Bang & Olufsen say it's the first speaker in the world to get a Bronze certification from Cradle to Cradle. The C2C is a globally recognized sustainability standard that assesses a product from its supply chain through to production, and coaches companies in minimizing waste. The Bronze level awarded to the Beosound A1 is the lowest on C2C's scale, but it's evidence that Bang & Olufsen is paying mind to sustainability.The Bang & Olufsen A1 3rd Gen can be purchased in the same Natural Aluminium finish as its predecessor, as well as the two new nature-inspired" colorways of Honey Tone and Eucalyptus Green. It's available to buy today and costs $349.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/speakers/bang--olufsens-third-gen-beosound-a1-bluetooth-speaker-has-more-battery-life-and-bass-164546063.html?src=rss
Recteq makes pellet grills, but those can't do it all when it comes to backyard cooking. So when the company sought to create an alternative for gas grillers, without making an actual gas grill, it needed to do something radically different.With its newly launched X-Fire Pro, Recteq may have done that. The company says that its Dual Mode Cooking combines the best of wood pellets and gas, offering a temperature range between 225 and 1,250 degrees Fahrenheit. But it wasn't just about getting to that high level of heat. For Recteq, harmonizing the dual capabilities with an intuitive design was most important.Part of our development process was going after the gas grill market, attracting new users to the pellet grill universe," Recteq's VP of products Ben Lesshafft said. We really felt the best way to do that was to meet them on their turf."Gas grills are very easy to use. They feel more familiar to most people because they function a lot like a stove and light with the press of a button. Primarily designed for higher-heat cooking, these are the grills you want for burgers, steaks and other cookout essentials when you don't want to futz with the extra care and clean up of charcoal. Turn it on, cook your food, turn it off. What's more, gas grills have multiple burners, which allow backyard cooks to adjust and maintain multiple temperature zones as needed.RecteqWith the X-Fire Pro Recteq needed to create a similar two-burner/fire pot setup. Just one of those wouldn't be enough to adequately cover the 825 square inches of cooking space on such a large grill. That's especially true when there's a direct heat option involved. However, the dual fire pots aren't what's necessary for the 1,250-degree performance. For that, the company utilizes the fire pots from its Bullseye Deluxe model that's also capable of 1,000-degree searing.Lesshafft walked me through how Recteq achieves this, employing a specially designed, gasification-style" fire pot that ignites the wood gas that's produced when the pellets burn. With a double-walled construction for this crucial component, something that works similarly to the airflow channels on a Solo Stove fire pit, the company can ignite that wood gas at temperatures above 500-600 degrees for an accelerated amount of heat."Now that Recteq can reach an extreme amount of heat by fully exploiting the pellets, it needs to allow food to come in direct contact with the flames. That's the adjustable damper," Lesshafft said. You can go fully closed, partially open, almost all the way open and wide open." The damper and an Adaptive Sear Control feature are only available on the right-side fire pot though.On the left, there's a perforated steel deflector covering the heat source. This allows for the hot and cold sides of the grill, or hot and not-so-hot, both of which are common cooking setups for gas grilling. You'll need higher heat for searing a steak, but more indirect heat for bringing it fully to temperature. Or maybe you have people over who all like their steaks cooked differently. Either way, gas grills allow you to have varied heat zones and so does the X-Fire Pro's Grill Mode.RecteqOf course, the X-Fire Pro also had to be a pellet grill, and that brings us back to Recteq's area of expertise. Nobody with a gas grill brags about pork butt, brisket and ribs," Lesshafft quipped.Pellet grills are better at low-and-slow smoking. Sure, you can do baking, roasting and limited searing on most models, but the bread and butter here is smoked meat, seafood and other dishes. Most pellet grills these days offer some form of connectivity - Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or both - so that you can keep tabs on progress without standing outside the entire time. This is typically done with an app that also allows you to to adjust the cooking temperature of the grill, activate certain modes or shut it down from afar.For Smoke Mode on the X-Fire Pro, only the left fire pot runs. That perforated deflector I mentioned is designed in such a way that the heat is pushed towards the middle of the grill. It's similar to how an offset smoker (stick burner) works. Even though the active fire pot is on the left side of the cooking chamber, the temperature balance is remarkably stable," Lesshafft noted.To completely synthesize the two types of grills into a single unit, Recteq also had to design controls that would be easy to understand for both gas and pellet grill users. We wanted to create a lot of things that were familiar to the gas consumer," he explained. That's the knobs on the front, a lot of stainless [steel], and even when you turn it on, that's the LED rings around the lights."There are four knobs in total. The one on the left controls the two grill modes: Smoke and Grill. When you select the latter, all of the LEDs around those knobs light up red. There are two knobs for burner/fire pot control, allowing you to select low, medium, high or maximum. There's also an Adaptive Sear Control knob which allows you to adjust how much direct flame is coming in contact with your food.RecteqWhen it's time for Smoke Mode, turn that far left knob and the X-Fire Pro's controls transform the machine into a traditional pellet grill. The LEDs around the four center knobs change from red to white, and the controller that's mounted on the side shelf turns on. Here, you'll adjust settings for those low-and-slow cooks and monitor temperatures. If you're unfamiliar with pellet grilling, the controller's display will help with tips like a reminder to keep the lid closed while smoking.Most people who've cooked with a pellet grill are familiar with using a phone app to track temperatures and access remote controls. Recteq offers that in Smoke Mode on the X-Fire Pro, which means no one will be babysitting a pork shoulder or brisket grillside for 8-12 hours. Like much of the competition, this runs on your home Wi-Fi network.While the grill is designed to run in two completely separate modes, you can switch between them with ease. If you wanted to reverse sear a steak, for example, you could just smoke it first at 225 and then open the lid and change to Grill Mode. The left fire pot is already going, but this would activate the one on the right for the desired exterior finish. Going from Grill Mode to Smoke Mode requires a little bit more patience," Lesshafft said, since the metal chamber has gotten hot and it will take a while for the grill to cool down to the appropriate temperature.We really tried to design it with the ultimate amount of versatility," he said.RecteqAnd in the end, that appears to be what Recteq did. The company put two separate grills in one machine, catering to backyard cooks who are familiar with each one individually. And in doing so, it built a unique grill that stands out from most of the competition. The X-Fire Pro isn't a pellet grill with enough searing performance to make it passable, it's a high-heat beast. It offers a lot more flavor than gas by burning pellets, and it's much easier to check your fuel levels here than when you're dealing with a tank.We want to deliver what they need [in a gas grill]," Lessshafft concluded. Should you want to dip your toe in the water of some food you can't get on a gas grill, this gives you the vehicle to do that too."I'll be putting an X-Fire Pro to the test soon so see if it's worth the steep $1,550 investment. Yes, you can find a decent gas grill to pair with a solid pellet grill for less than that. But you'd have two cooking appliances on your deck or patio, and you'd still have to contend with the anxiety of propane tank levels before each grilling session. Recteq's new model should remedy that, and if the performance claims hold up, it will also put a novel piece of grilling gear in your backyard.Time will tell if Recteq has truly merged the two styles of cooking.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/best-of-both-worlds-how-recteq-designed-a-pellet-grill-for-gas-grillers-163047921.html?src=rss
NVIDIA's RTX 5060 finally has a release date. When the company announced the budget 50-series graphics cards last month, it gave the higher-end Ti model a firm April 19 launch but limited the base 5060 model to a vague "May" window. On Tuesday, we learned that the card with a $299 MSRP arrives on May 19.The RTX 5060 has 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, 19 TFLOPS Blackwell shader cores, 5th-gen tensor cores with 614 AI TOPS performance and 4th-gen RT (ray tracing) cores that can reach 58 TFLOPS. It also has 3,840 CUDA Cores.According to NVIDIA's benchmarks, the RTX 5060 reaches 234 fps in Hogwarts Legacy, 148 fps in Cyberpunk 2077, 220 fps in Avowed and 330 fps in Marvel Rivals. Those numbers are all set for 1080p with maxed-out graphics and 4x frame generation.NVIDIABased on today's prices, those are impressive numbers for a $299 card. But if you can snag one at all, you'll likely be hard-pressed to find one at that price. For that, you can thank Donald Trump. The Verge notes that retailers jacked up graphics card prices even before his tariffs kicked in. In addition, the US president recently killed the de minimis exemption, which spared goods under $800 from extra taxes. (Remember when he said he would make America affordable again?) So, consider yourself one of the lucky few if you find one on launch day for anything close to $299.The GeForce RTX 5060 will go on sale on May 19 at noon ET from NVIDIA's retail partners. In addition to the standalone desktop card, the laptops with the mobile version of the RTX 5060 will launch at the same time, starting at $1,099.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/nvidias-geforce-rtx-5060-gpu-arrives-on-may-19-160939549.html?src=rss
If you've been looking to grab a new set of AirPods, good news: The AirPods 4 are on sale via Amazon for $99. That's $30 off Apple's list price, and it ties the largest discount we've seen for the entry-level earbuds. This particular deal is also available at Walmart, Target and Best Buy (though it technically costs $1 more at the last two). We highlight this base model as a nice value in our guide to the best AirPods. The sound quality has been improved over the previous generation, for one, with richer bass and better separation. The big selling point to me, however, is the refined design. The AirPods 4 feature a legitimately comfortable fit, which is pretty rare in the earbud space. They don't even fall out when moving around, which is something we noted in our official review. This model features the H2 chip that was originally introduced with the AirPods Pro. The chip allows for some advanced features, like Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. The earbuds also offer Adaptive EQ and 48kHz audio for video calls. Apple has even included the newly-developed Voice Isolation feature that removes ambient noise when talking on the phone. Generally speaking, if you hate the feeling of earphones that jut into your ear canal, this is a fine choice. That said, this version of the AirPods 4 lacks onboard volume controls and any option for wireless charging. It also doesn't include active noise cancellation. If you need that, the ANC-equipped version is still on sale for $149, which isn't an all-time low but takes 17 percent off Apple's MSRP. The higher-end AirPods Pro 2, meanwhile, are also on sale right now for $169. Again, we saw that pair go for $15 less over the holidays, but this is still a 32 percent discount compared to buying from Apple direct. 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-airpods-4-drop-back-to-a-record-low-of-99-152310767.html?src=rss
Mother's Day is this Sunday and the window to get presents delivered is dangerously close to shutting. But there are plenty of great subscription gifts to buy your mom, including a year of MasterClass. Even better, the learning site is currently running a Mother's Day sale - though you can also use it to pick up a subscription for yourself. If you're not familiar, MasterClass offers video lessons by more than 200 experts everything from cooking to music. For Mother's Day, you can gift a 12 month Standard MasterClass subscription for $60, down from $120. This tier allows your mom to use MasterClass on one device, but doesn't include offline mode. There are two other tiers - also half off (or there about) during the sale. The Plus tier is down to $96 from $180 and offers two devices with the ability to watch videos while offline. Then there's the Premium level, which is available for $120, down from $240. It allows for six devices and offline mode. There's no clear end date for the sale, with the offer simply saying "ends soon." Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-masterclass-mothers-day-sale-takes-half-off-annual-subscriptions-144422002.html?src=rss
Samsung's Tap to Transfer" payment feature will come to the US this month, following a preview of the feature in January when it launched the Galaxy S25 series. This will allow you to make payments to friends and family via the Samsung Wallet app on Galaxy smartphones by tapping your devices together, bypassing the need to manually transfer funds from your online banking app. Samsung says payments will land in the bank account of the recipient within minutes.Samsung's partnership with Visa and Mastercard means that as long as you have a debit card stored in your Samsung Wallet, you can use Tap to Transfer without needing to download a separate app. Like when you make payments in a store, Samsung Wallet uses NFC to connect the respective debit card chips of the users making or receiving a payment, and if one party would rather use a physical debit card to make the transfer, it works just the same provided the card itself has tap-to-pay functionality.You can also make payments Venmo-style between Samsung Wallets by searching for the recipient's phone number and making the transfer remotely, but this obviously isn't as fast as the person-to-person phone bump method. Apple has its own version of this, called Tap to Cash, but it requires you to use its Apple Cash service and, as you'd expect, only works with compatible Apple devices. As reported by Android Central, the new feature was first spotted in a beta version of the app last month, along with Samsung's version of the many emerging buy now, pay later services such as Affirm.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsungs-tap-to-transfer-cash-feature-is-coming-to-the-wallet-app-this-month-144100575.html?src=rss
YouTube has launched an experimental Premium plan that would let you and another person in your household share one discounted subscription. First reported by Moneycontrol, the online video platform is currently piloting the test option in India, Taiwan, Hong Kong and France. To be able to opt for the subscription tier, you and your companion have to be 13-years-old and above and have Google accounts that are part of one Google family group.The plan's pricing will, of course, cost you less than if you're paying for two Premium accounts. In India, the two-person plan costs Rs 219 per month ($2.60), which is less than the Rs 298 ($3.53) you'd pay for two individual plans and the Rs 299 ($3.54) you'd pay for a 5-person Family subscription. YouTube has been pushing for the adoption of its paid Premium plans in recent years by offering perks like enhanced 1080p for full-priced subscriptions and launching a cheaper Premium Lite option with reduced ads. The full-priced, ad-free Premium plan costs at least $14 a month in the US.To prevent viewers from being able to watch videos ad-free without paying, and to urge them to sign up for Premium subscriptions, YouTube even launched "a global effort" to crack down on ad blockers back in 2023. This experimental plan puts Premium subscriptions within reach for a lot more people, especially those in two-person households who've been hesitating to sign up due to pricing concerns. Obviously, though, it'll be a lot more expensive in the US than in India if it does get a wide release."We're experimenting with new ways to provide greater flexibility and value to our YouTube Premium subscribers, including offering a two-person Premium plan option, allowing two people to share a subscription at a reduced cost," a spokesperson told Moneycontrol and Android Authority.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/youtube-is-testing-out-a-premium-plan-you-can-share-with-one-household-member-143038942.html?src=rss
It's so annoying when publishers release a trailer for a game that's ages away. What's even the point of getting folks excited for something that won't come out for over a year? I'm sure no one's going to be interested in a fresh look at Grand Theft Auto 6, indisputably the most anticipated game on the planet. No one at all. [/s]Just a few days after Rockstar Games said it was delaying the blockbuster from this fall to next May, it has surprised everyone by dropping the second trailer for GTA 6. It's our first proper peek at the game in nearly 18 months. This one is more story focused than the first trailer. It highlights the relationship between the dual protagonists, Lucia and Jason, and (of course) some of their law-flouting escapades."Vice City, USA. Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," a description of the story reads. "But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida - forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive." The game's website has more screenshots and details about the characters shown in the trailer too.GTA 6 marks a return to an old favorite location, but you've never seen Vice City (Rockstar's version of Miami) quite like this. The visuals here are quite stunning, even if they all appear to be from cutscenes. Rockstar says the footage was captured on a PlayStation 5 too, not a PS5 Pro. The game will also debut on Xbox Series X/S when it arrives on May 26, 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/second-gta-6-trailer-sheds-more-light-on-the-story-140452729.html?src=rss
AmazonWho needs cable TV anymore? Thanks to the wealth of streaming apps, you have more on-demand viewing options than ever before. And those streaming apps like Disney+, Netflix and Max are available on a wide range of hardware, too. Roku, Apple TV and Google TV (aka Chromecast) let you view thousands of movies and TV shows at the touch of a button, though we'd argue that seeing all your favorites on a big-screen TV is way better than watching it on a smaller laptop or smartphone screen.But there's at least one big reason to go with Amazon's Fire TV instead. Unlike archrival Roku, Amazon's Fire TV system offers VPN apps straight through its built-in app store. That's important if you want to watch a show or movie that's otherwise unavailable in your country. Fire up a VPN, set your virtual location and you'll likely get a different set of viewing options on many streaming services - or the ability to access ones to which you otherwise didn't have access. We'll explain the details and tell you how it works.Choose the right VPN for your Fire TVFor starters, we're going to assume you have a Fire TV device. If you don't, we have good news: If your TV doesn't already have Fire TV streaming built-in, the add-on devices are frequently on sale at Amazon for as little as $25 or less. Grab the Fire Stick 4K Max if you want a good balance of price versus performance - just make sure it's on sale for $40 or less. (See how the Fire TV streamers compare to rivals from Roku, Google, Apple and more by checking out our list of best streaming devices.)Once you have your Fire TV hardware set up, it's time to choose a VPN - and that's where the Fire TV operating system shines. A long list of VPNs, including all of our current top picks for the best VPNs, are available on the platform and they're as easy to download and install as any of the video apps.The Engadget-approved VPNs currently available on Fire TV include:
In April, a US District Court ruled that Google monopolized open-web digital ad markets. Now, the tech giant and the US Justice Department are at odds about what Google must do about it. The DOJ argues that Google should sell AdX, or Ad Exchange, a platform for publishers to sell unused ad space in real-time. It also wants the company to offload Google Ad Manager, previously DoubleClick for Publishers (Google DFP).The DOJ claims that both platforms minimize competition and contribute to Google's monopoly in the advertising space. The executive department has also pushed Google to sell Chrome due to a separate ruling that the company held a monopoly on search engines.Unsurprisingly, Google has no interest in getting rid of its products -it also plans to appeal the Court's ruling on Google Ad Manager. Google has announced "a proposal that fully addresses the Court's findings." These changes include allowing all rival publisher ad servers to make real-time bids on AdX and letting publishers set different price floors for each bidder."In contrast, the DOJ is seeking remedies that go significantly beyond the Court's narrow ruling by forcing a divestiture of Google Ad Manager," Google stated in its announcement. "This would risk breaking a tool advertisers use to connect with publishers and efficiently reach their customers, and that app and video publishers use to monetize their content - businesses that aren't even part of the narrow market of 'open web display ads' at issue in this case."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/doj-pushes-for-google-to-sell-its-advertising-platforms-134250436.html?src=rss
Roku's streaming player lineup is a little easier to understand in 2025 than ever - but it's still a bit confusing. With the release of the Roku Streaming Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, there are now three streaming sticks and one set-top box in the company's streaming player family. Express models and ones with the plus symbols are no longer in the mix. The Roku Ultra set-top box is the most expensive at $100. The 2021 Streaming Stick 4K goes for $50, while the Streaming Stick and the Streaming Stick Plus cost $30 and $40, respectively. After reviewing the Streaming Stick Plus and comparing it to other streamers, I think it packs a decent amount of power (and Roku's convenient interface) into a small dongle. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus vs the Roku Streaming Stick 4K Arguably the Streaming Stick Plus' biggest competition comes from within its family. The Streaming Stick 4K and the Streaming Stick Plus both support 4K image quality, despite the Plus not having the term in its name. The Stick 4K also supports Dolby Vision and has a longer-range Wi-Fi connection. Both connect through the Wi-Fi 5 standard, but the 4K" model has a built-in Wi-Fi extender within its USB power cable. At this point, the Stick 4K is four years older than the Plus, and the new stick benefits from a few technological upgrades. For one, the Plus streamier is smaller thanks to the lack of Wi-Fi extender and power adapter. Roku's math claims the dongle itself is 35 percent smaller than the competition - but honestly none of these sticks are particularly large. I found that it was indeed smaller than the Amazon Fire TV Stick I tested. But the size reduction doesn't make a huge difference in everyday use - especially since they hide behind most TVs. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K (left) with it's cable, Wi-Fi extender and dongle. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus (right) with it's cable and dongle. Amy Skorheim for Engadget Another upgrade is a little more significant: better power efficiency. Now you can use your TV's USB port to power the device instead of a wall adapter. The Plus doesn't even come with an adapter in the box, making it a more travel-ready package. Older Roku sticks allowed you to do this (and the 4K model can use USB power on some TVs) but this is the first 4K-enabled device that Roku actually recommends using without a power adapter. Since you don't need an open wall outlet nearby, the dongle will prove more flexible. It certainly would have come in handy during a recent trip in which my hotel room's TV was about 12 feet from the nearest available plug. Both Sticks support Apple AirPlay and are compatible with Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant. They come with the same remote, which packs features like voice input and the ability to control the power and volume of your TV. They both showcase the same OS, with Roku's playful, purple interface, which I particularly like for live and free programming - as I outlined in our streaming devices guide. Performance Amy Skorheim for Engadget The Streaming Stick Plus is pretty fast for a $40 device. I have a Roku Ultra hooked up to another TV in my house and, when I performed the same actions on both, the Streaming Stick Plus was only a bit slower than the Ultra. For instance, Disney+ took a second or two to start on the Ultra, and just a half second or so longer on the Plus. Yes, there was a time difference, but the Streaming Stick Plus was never frustratingly slow. I don't think anyone honestly expects a streaming stick to perform at the same level as most recent smart TVs. My set is relatively new and side-by-side comparisons showed a minor disparity between a dongle and a bigger, built-in CPU. Take the Netflix menu, for example. It's clear and crisp and vibrant via my TV's native Netflix app, but the same page was markedly fuzzier and more pixelated when I opened it on the Roku device. That said, I only noted a slight difference in quality between the two when a show was actually playing. Sweeping shots of the sumptuous-yet-blood-stained White House interiors in The Residence were only the slightest bit grainier on the Roku. True video connoisseurs may note the disparity, but those who are just here to see Detective Cupp unnerve all the suspects won't likely notice. Should you get the Roku Streaming Stick Plus? Amy Skorheim for Engadget Something the size of a tube of squashed lipstick can't rival a good smart TV. But if you have an older screen or a cheaper set with a tedious interface, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus could make TV time more enjoyable. Comparable streaming sticks include Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K, which is $10 more at full price (though it's often on sale). Between the two, I'd go with Roku's Streaming Stick Plus, as Roku's interface is far more helpful. This is also the stick I want to take with me on my next trip. I can plug it in at the Airbnb and, instead of logging in to whatever random apps the TV happens to have, I can watch more Doctor Who. I won't have to worry about where the nearest outlet is and I'll be spared the effort of typing in my stupidly long Disney+ password. As for whether you should get this or Roku's other 4K-enabled streaming stick, I'd go with this one. The Roku Streaming Stick Plus is $10 cheaper and four years newer. The fact that it's powered by the TV means the dongle and the USB power cable fit out of sight so if you, like me, are opposed to the look of snaking wires everywhere, you'll be pleased. Of course, if you have a TV that supports Dolby Vision or your Wi-Fi router is really far away from your TV, then you can go with the Streaming Stick 4K - that's really the only major advantage that model has. Otherwise, the Streaming Stick Plus is a good pick for a cheap but modern streaming player. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/home-theater/roku-streaming-stick-plus-review-powered-by-the-tv-and-perfect-for-travel-130047601.html?src=rss
Since arriving in 2020, the Backbone One has helped popularize dedicated mobile game controllers, the kind you might use for streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now, remote play apps, emulators or any smartphone game you'd rather play with buttons and joysticks instead of your fingers. While you can always clip your phone to a PlayStation or Xbox controller paired over Bluetooth, telescopic gamepads like the One tend to be more ergonomic, creating a Nintendo Switch-style shape by clamping around your device at both ends. Backbone is far from the only company making these things now, but the One is still among the most frequently recommended options on the market - Engadget's own Mat Smith gave it a favorable review back in 2022.After releasing several iterations of the One, Backbone is now unveiling its first real follow-up: the Backbone Pro. The new device comes with many of the design upgrades you might expect, from comfier grips and smoother joysticks to larger triggers and quieter face buttons. But it also supports Bluetooth, which means it can unhook from your phone entirely and work with PCs, iPads, smart TVs and the like. Backbone has built a few new features for its companion app as well, including one called FlowState" that lets you quickly connect to previously paired devices from one menu.[The Pro] is meant to be a premium device for anyone who wants to play games on any screen," Backbone CEO Maneet Khaira said during a briefing in New York City last month. Our idea was really, we want to make one device for all of gaming."After using the Backbone Pro for the past few days, I can squint and see the future Khaira has in mind, and the controller itself clearly feels more premium than its predecessor (which will remain available). But at $170, the device will be prohibitively expensive for some. That's Xbox Elite territory for a controller still mainly aimed at smartphones. Plus, as with the One, some the gamepad's perks are locked behind a Backbone+ subscription, which tacks on another $40 per year.A better BackboneJeff Dunn for EngadgetYou really need to buy the Backbone Pro as a multi-device controller for it to make the most sense as a purchase. Used strictly with a phone, however, it's a definitive upgrade over the Backbone One. This is most obvious in the grips, which are considerably thicker and more grooved than before. They fill out and hug your palms much more naturally as a result, which keeps the design comfier to hold over time. They're also coated in a soft, lightly textured matte plastic that seems better at fending off sweat.The concave joysticks are significantly taller and have a grippier ring" around the top. They don't use magnetic Hall effect sensors to resist drift long-term, which is annoying at this price, but they're tight and tangibly smoother. Khaira says the Pro uses the same joystick component as Microsoft's Xbox Elite controller and Sony's DualSense Edge; indeed, the sticks don't feel all that different than the ones on a full-size gamepad. Like other pro" controllers, you can also remap buttons and fine-tune the joysticks' and triggers' dead zones in the Backbone app, then assign those tweaks to different profiles.BackboneThe face buttons still aren't super quiet but feel distinctly less clicky and stiff, with a smoother finish and deeper sense of travel. Along those lines, the triggers are wider and fuller - my large-ish fingers can rest on them without hanging off, which wasn't the case with the One. The shoulder buttons are longer as well, while the menu buttons are less flush and easier to reach. The D-pad is similarly firm and precise but now has a glossier coating. There's also a pair of customizable back buttons, which rest right against your ring fingers but haven't caused any accidental presses in my testing.The fatter grips make the design taller than the One, but not much wider, and it's still about 80 grams lighter than a typical Xbox or PlayStation pad at 199g. As before, the Pro comes with adapters that hold different-sized phones steady in place, with or without a case. I've experienced no wobbling using an iPhone 15 Plus with Apple's Clear Case on. There's still a built-in headphone jack and pass-through charging port, though the actual connector is USB-C only, so the controller won't work with older Lightning-based iPhones. Since the Pro needs its own battery to play wirelessly, it sips a small amount of power to recharge whenever you top up a connected phone. Overall, Backbone says the Pro can last up to 40 hours; I haven't been able to perform a full rundown test yet, but the battery hasn't given me reason to doubt that estimate over the few days I've spent with the device.Looking past the phoneYou can quickly connect the Backbone Pro to new devices from this menu in Backbone's app.Jeff Dunn for Engadget / BackbonePairing the Backbone Pro with other devices wirelessly is largely straightforward. There's a dedicated button at the bottom of the controller that puts it into pairing mode, and the app prompts you to connect to all your other gear upon setup. Once you connect to a new device for the first time, the Pro remembers it, and that information is relayed in the app. When you want to connect to one of those devices again, you simply tap a menu in the app, select the device you want and hit "connect." As long as that device has Bluetooth active, it'll immediately reconnect. You need to have your phone hooked into the Pro's USB-C port to swap devices via the app, but I've had few hiccups bouncing from screen to screen otherwise.You can see how the Pro lines up with the multi-screen vision brands like Xbox are pushing. I can launch a Game Pass stream of Clair Obscur on my phone while my wife has the TV, then move it to the Fire TV Stick when she's all set. I can start a Balatrosession on my PC and carry it to my iPad through Steam Link. I don't have to change my controller at any point. I don't have to fiddle with any buttons to pair with the next thing I want to use - I just pop in my phone, select the device and go. I can even pick up right where I left off in a cloud stream, provided I swap devices within a few minutes. The Pro isn't the only controller that lets you game like this, of course, but its phone-friendly design and fast pairing tech make it especially inviting to this sort of play anywhere" approach.Top to bottom: an Xbox Series X/S controller, the Backbone Pro and the Backbone One.Jeff Dunn for EngadgetThere are a few issues once you look closer, though. One is simply that the Pro lacks the proprietary tech needed to pair with an Xbox, PS5 or Switch. That's not necessarily Backbone's fault, but when it pitches the Pro as a controller for all of gaming," it has to ignore the main way tons of people actually play video games.Second, for as much as I like the Pro compared to other mobile gamepads, it still can't help but feel cramped next to more traditional alternatives. The right joystick constantly brushes up against the bottom of my thumb, for instance, because it has to sit right below the face buttons. The triggers may be deeper, but they don't have the same travel as a standard console pad. The Pro is still comfy, still capital-N Nice, and it's great if you use your phone for gaming often. But an Xbox or PlayStation controller just has more room to work with.Third, all of this can get expensive in a hurry. The Pro's price tag is already steep. To take full advantage of cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now, you have to pay a subscription fee. Same goes for Apple Arcade. You can't remote play without owning a console or gaming PC. And Backbone restricts some app features to its own membership program, most notably the ability to launch cloud-based games directly from the app. So there are questions of what the market for a device like this actually is: Just how much do hardcore gamers, the people who'd buy a $170 controller, play on their phone? How much do they need a multi-device controller when they likely own an Xbox or PS5 pad already? Who really wants a subscription for a video game controller?You can organize and start up games from the Backbone app, but the ability to launch games from cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now directly in the app (annoyingly) requires a subscription fee.Jeff Dunn for Engadget / BackboneThat aside, the app still looks clean, and it still lets you organize your games or streaming apps in one central hub. The search function works well, allowing you to filter games by different platforms. When you select a game, it helpfully shows you which platforms you can play it through.Backbone is also adding a new built-in emulator with its next update. It can run NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 games today, though the company says it's testing PlayStation 1 and PlayStation Portable cores as well. Opening a ROM in the app is simple enough, and once you do, it'll appear in your hub alongside the rest of your library. That said, you need a Backbone+ subscription to use the emulator, and it's fairly barebones compared to an app like RetroArch, with no way to rewind, adjust resolution or manage multiple save states. I also experienced a few bugs with certain games, with one title not loading entirely. This is still a neat idea, but given that other more featured emulators are available for free, I can't say it's worth paying for today.In an ideal world, the Backbone Pro would be a next-gen version of One rather than a step-up model priced $70 higher. The hardware is better in meaningful ways, and being able to use it across devices is genuinely convenient. But it's certainly not cheap. There's a decent chance the price was influenced by the looming effects of President Trump's tariff policy, but that still leaves the device well above other capable mobile gamepads today. If you've got the cash and spend hours gaming across your phone and other screens, the Pro is still well worth a look. It's one of the best in its niche. It's just hard to call it a great value.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/backbone-pro-hands-on-a-pricey-controller-for-more-than-just-your-phone-130034399.html?src=rss
Last year was a major one for Microsoft's Surface lineup, thanks to the launch of Copilot+ AI PC initiative, as well as surprisingly capable Arm-powered Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models. But aside from the addition of OLED and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon chips, the overall design for those Surface machines didn't really evolve much. That changes this year, as Microsoft has announced smaller versions of its Surface family: A 12-inch Surface Pro hybrid tablet and a 13-inch Surface Laptop. To be clear, they won't be replacing the existing Surface devices, instead they're more like compact siblings. While they may sound only a bit smaller than the existing 13-inch Surface Pro and 13.8-inch Surface Laptop, Microsoft managed to cut off plenty of excess weight. The new 12-inch Surface Pro is a half-pound lighter than the 13-inch model, clocking in at 1.5 pounds, and the revised Surface Laptop is 0.3 pounds lighter (2.7 pounds). Notably, the Surface Pro is coming in 0.2 pounds lighter than the Surface Pro X, a device we praised for having "gorgeous" hardware that was betrayed by Windows' terrible Arm support in 2019. Microsoft Both new Surface devices are powered by an eight-core version of the Snapdragon X Plus chip, which includes a 45 TOPS NPU and Adreno GPU, as well as 16GB RAM. As for storage, you can choose from either 256GB of 512GB UFS (Universal Flash Storage) options. Unlike the SSDs in other Surface devices, you won't be able to upgrade the UFS storage down the line. That's not the only downgrade, either: The smaller screens of both devices are a significant step down from their larger siblings. The Surface Pro's 12-inch LCD sports a 2,196 by 1,464 resolution, which is only slightly better than 1080p, and maxes out at a 90Hz refresh rate. The 13-inch Surface Pro, meanwhile, offers more pixels per inch with a 2,880 by 1,920 resolution, up to 120Hz refresh rate, and an optional OLED upgrade. As for the smaller Surface Laptop, it sports a simple 1080p 60Hz LCD. The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop has a sharper 2,304 by 1,536 LCD that can hit up to 120Hz. Microsoft Microsoft has also given up on using the Surface Connect port with these devices, opting instead to rely on USB-C charging alone. The Surface Pro and Surface Laptop both have two USB-C/USB 3.2 ports, which support 45W and 60W fast charging, respectively. There's no USB power adapter bundled with the Surface Pro, unfortunately, but the Surface Laptop still comes with a 45W charger of its own. Similarly, the Laptop is the only new machine with a USB Type-A connection and a headphone jack. The 12-inch Surface Pro starts at $800, which is technically $200 less than the retail price of the 13-inch model, but oddly enough that version is currently on sale for $800 as well. As usual, you'll have to buy the Surface Keyboard separately, which tacks on another $149 to your Surface Pro purchase. Microsoft says it's reimagined the Surface Keyboard for the 12-inch tablet, so its typing experience may be different this time around. The 13-inch Surface Laptop starts at $900, but in another curious twist the larger model is also currently on sale for $800 (down from $1,000). Perhaps Microsoft is betting some people will opt for the new hardware simply because it's more compact. We'll have to test both machines to see if their spec downgrades are worth the lighter weight. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsoft-unveils-smaller-surfaces-a-12-inch-surface-pro-tablet-and-a-13-inch-surface-laptop-130030983.html?src=rss
DoorDash has agreed to purchase British food and grocery delivery service Deliveroo for $3.9 billion, the companies have revealed in a filing with the London Stock Exchange. The acquisition will "strengthen DoorDash's position as a leading global platform," the filing said. Deliveroo operates in nine regions, namely Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. All those regions are new for DoorDash and will give the combined companies access to a total population that exceeds 1 billion people.It doesn't sound like DoorDash is erasing Deliveroo's brand after it takes over. Instead, they'll both be part of an "Enlarged Group" operating in multiple regions around the world, giving DoorDash an expanded presence in Europe and giving it an entry into the Middle Eastern market. "Both companies are highly complementary, whether in their geographic footprints or their missions, and I am confident that being part of the Enlarged Group will accelerate the realisation of Deliveroo's full potential," Deliveroo chair Claudia Arney said in a statement.The acquisition is still subject to regulatory and antitrust approvals. As CNBC noted, though, this marks the end of Deliveroo's problems as a public company. It has faced a lot of competition and legal challenges after a period of abundance for food delivery services during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and its share prices have plummeted since it went public in 2021. Before the company went public, Amazon took on the UK's Competition and Markets Authority to become a major investor in Deliveroo. The e-commerce company was the leading investor in a funding round worth $575 million and owned a 16 percent stake in the food delivery service.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-is-buying-british-rival-deliveroo-for-39-billion-123005055.html?src=rss
Whether your grad plans to schlep it to the office every day or needs to build their own workspace at home, chances are they could use some help prepping their desk for the professional world. If you know a recent graduate and want to make their first days on the job a little more convenient, we've rounded up a few of our favorite office essentials - gadgets and accessories that should prove useful in anyone's day-to-day life. Have a look below if you need help jogging your brain for a gift idea. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-work-from-home-office-gifts-for-graduates-123015003.html?src=rss
Apple may see further fallout over its failure to comply with a court order that led to last week's contempt ruling. A class action suit filed on behalf of developers claims that Apple's actions cost Pure Sweat Basketball (and other developers) revenue during the period it was found to have violated the original court order. "Had Apple complied with the injunction, as required, Pure Sweat would have been able to sell subscriptions to its app directly to its customers," the law firm, Hagens Berman, alleges.The original 2021 court ruling forced Apple to allow App Store developers to direct user to other payments systems so that they could bypass the 30 percent of of in-app payments taken by Apple. The App Store was supposed to stop preventing developers from including buttons or links in their apps and metadata that would allow allow users to make purchases outside the App Store environment.However, developer Epic Games accused Apple of "malicious compliance" with the ruling because it still charged a commission of up to 27 percent on any sales made through links to external payment systems. It also said Apple came up with onerous restrictions on external buttons, among other violations.In her ruling last week, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said Apple "chose the most anticompetitive option" at every turn. She even alleged that Apple lied under oath to hide the truth about its actions and referred the case to a US attorney for a criminal contempt investigation."The court ultimately held that Apple willfully violated the injunction to protect its revenues, and then reverse engineered' justifications to proffer to the court, often with lies on the witness stand," the class action lawsuit states. "The evidence showed that while one senior Apple executive [Phil Schiller] advocated that Apple comply with the injunction,' Mr. Cook ignored this advice and allowed others in his finance team to convince him otherwise. Cook chose poorly."The class action seeks to recover lost revenue for up to 100,000 or more developers forced to pay Apple commissions that shouldn't have existed. Hagens Berman obtained a $100 million settlement for iOS developers in a previous App Store class action suit.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/apple-hit-with-class-action-suit-from-developers-after-app-store-ruling-120058208.html?src=rss
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