Apple is far from saintly, but, compared to its fellow tech giants, it did something right. The company's shareholders have voted to keep its diversity, equity and inclusion policies, following a push by conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), to remove them, Reuters reports. The Center's proposal, Request to Cease DEI Efforts, failed 8.84 billion votes to 210.45 million votes - or about 2.3 percent of the vote.Many of these programs emerged or expanded when the Black Lives Matter movement exploded onto the global stage in 2020. However, President Trump's criticisms and threats that DEIs could violate the law - along with spineless greed from executives - has seen companies like Meta and Google reduce or even fully remove these programs. Those in favor of the proposal at Apple argued that the company could face an uptick in discrimination cases if current policies remain.At the meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that "strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration, one where people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate."Now, none of this is to say that Apple has incredible DEI efforts. Previously, its shareholders rejected greater transparency about its racial and gender gaps. They also voted down a measure that would require Apple to further investigate the risks of its AI efforts.Cook is also doing plenty of appeasing when it comes to Trump. The pair reportedly met last week and Apple has announced $500 billion in US-based spending over the next four years. He also donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration and attended it alongside Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and other tech executives.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-is-keeping-its-dei-program-130033491.html?src=rss
by Cherlynn Low,Jeff Dunn,Sam Rutherford on (#6VGAP)
It's sort of out of character for Amazon to be hosting a devices event in February, as opposed to its usual Fall launch. But this morning (February 26) at 10am ET, the company is holding a presentation in New York City. As it's done in the past, Amazon won't be livestreaming this event, and you won't be able to watch Panos Panay and his colleagues present to members of the media. Don't worry about FOMO, though. Engadget will be attending and liveblogging the event, so if you follow our updates it'll almost feel like you're right there with us!We'll have commentary and contextualization on the announcements, as well as the in-person vibes and quality of snacks. Our Sam Rutherford will be sharing pictures, too, so you won't miss a thing. Scroll down to see what we've posted so far, and keep this page open all day for the latest updates! I recommend having drinks or snacks handy while you follow along with us.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-follow-the-amazons-alexa-event-today-200022694.html?src=rss
Microsoft announced that it is making some features available for free in its Copilot AI assistant. Everyone now has unlimited access to Voice and Think Deeper, which is powered by OpenAI's o1 model.Copilot got the Voice feature, which allows users to have conversations with the AI assistant, in October 2024. Think Deeper is intended to parse complicated queries, such as assessing the pros and cons of major home purchases, taking cost and long-term value into account."We are working hard to scale unlimited access to advanced features to as many people as possible, as quickly as possible," the blog post noted. Microsoft noted that users could experience delays or interruptions during times of high usage for these newly free Copilot applications. Members of the Copilot Pro subscription will still have preferred access to the company's latest AI models at those peak usage times, as well as to new features that are still in the experimental stage.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-copilot-offers-voice-and-o1-powered-think-deeper-for-free-232723768.html?src=rss
A bizarre bug is causing iPhones to automatically change the word racist" to Trump" when using the built-in dictation feature in iOS. The issue, which seems to have been discovered by TikTok users, crops up when using the voice-to-text feature in Apple apps like Messages.When speaking the word racist," iOS briefly transcribes the text as Trump" before changing it back to the intended word. It's not clear what could cause this behavior. Engadget was able to replicate the issue, as you can see in the GIF below.Apple told The New York Timesit was due to phonetic overlap between the two words," despite the fact that the two words do not sound similar. That also doesn't explain why "racist," with a lowercase "r" would transcribe as "Trump" - seemingly a reference to our current president - and not "trump," the noun. An AI expert who once worked on Siri told the paper it could be a serious prank" on the part of an Apple employee.Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.Whether it's a bug or prank, it surfaced at a particularly embarrassing time for the iPhone maker, which announced on Monday that it planned to invest $500 billion in manufacturing facilities for AI servers. The investment, most of which was already planned, came after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with President Donald Trump at the White House last week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/iphones-are-briefly-changing-racist-to-trump-due-to-an-ios-dictation-issue-230712021.html?src=rss
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is one of my favorite games of the year, so you'll forgive me if I spend the next 300 words or so writing about a limited-edition plush the game's creator, Gareth Damian Martin, is producing with the help of crowdfunding platform Makeship. Starting today, you can pledge $30 to support Martin's campaign, and if enough other people do as well, everyone will get a cute cat plush sometime later this year. The toy was designed by French illustrator Guillaume Singelin, who also did the character designs for the game. Right now, the campaign is sitting at 45 percent funded with 90 toys sold, and the better part of 22 days to go. And I mean look at the plush, isn't it one of the cutest things you've seen? For the uninitiated, the Stray, not to be confused with another cyberpunk cat, is one of the characters Citizen Sleeper 2's protagonist can encounter during their journey. As far as I'm aware, they only appear in one scene throughout the entire runtime of the game (how very cat-like of them, I know), but it's a moment that's emblematic of so many of Citizen Sleeper 2's strengths. "This cat, the one on your ship, was born here. That much is obvious," writes Martin in the scene. "It is a creature of zero-gravity, a being that orbits and glides, not one that leaps and stalks." Without spoiling anything, what follows is a touching and thoughtful meditation on memory, and how we can choose whether our memories define us. If you haven't played Citizen Sleeper 2 yet, consider this a recommendation. It is easily worth your time and more. You can play the game on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. As for the Stray, they're expected to start shipping on June 12, 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/im-writing-about-this-cute-cat-plush-so-you-play-one-of-2025s-best-games-223325680.html?src=rss
The Federal Aviation Agency has started testing Starlink terminals for upgrades to the networks that manage airspace, creating the latest conflict of interest between the US government and Elon Musk. The FAA posted (fittingly on the social network Musk also owns) that it is testing a Starlink terminal in Atlantic City, NJ, and two terminals in Alaska. The post claims that the department had been considering using the SpaceX tech since the prior presidential administration.The agency, which oversees all areas of civil aviation, has levied fines and required reviews over the years related to various SpaceX operations. Most recently, the agency ordered SpaceX to investigate what caused a mid-flight explosion with its Starship rocket last month.A source told Bloomberg that Musk had approved a shipment of 4,000 Starlink terminals to the FAA last week. The agency has an existing contract with Verizon Communications, worth $2 billion, for supporting and maintaining its infrastructure. Bloomberg's sources were unsure how the Starlink tests would impact the Verizon deal.This isn't the first time a Musk-owned business has benefited since the South African billionaire inserted himself into the US political landscape. He and his so-called DOGE group has been leading cuts within the federal ranks, including at the FAA and at other departments that oversee his companies. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration saw about a 10 percent reduction to its staff this month, including cuts to the small division overseeing autonomous vehicles such as those from Tesla.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/amid-a-musk-led-overhaul-the-faa-starts-doing-business-with-spacex-221900620.html?src=rss
Samsung's new 9100 PRO Series solid-state drives (SSDs) include the company's first consumer-grade 8TB NVMe SSD. The latest models use the speedy PCIe 5.0 standard, which - unless you train AI models for a living - is almost certainly overkill for your PC needs.The Samsung 9100 PRO series offers up to double the storage of its predecessor, the 990 PRO line. It launches in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB models, with the 8TB ones not arriving until later this year. Each tier ships in models with and without a heatsink (whether you need that will depend on whether your motherboard includes one for NVMe drives).SamsungThe company says the 9100 PRO SSDs have sequential read speeds of up to 14,800 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 13,400 MB/s. Their random read speeds are as fast as 2,200K IOPS (input-output per second), with random write speeds up to 2,600K IOPS. The company says the 9100 PRO SSDs are up to 49 percent more power-efficient than the 990 PRO line and have a profile as slim as 0.35 inches (around 8.9mm).But as Engadget's Igor Bonifacic wrote in our SSD buying guide, very few real-world use cases demand those speeds. (Think people training large-scale AI models and the like.) As it stands, PCIe 4.0 drives already benchmark far beyond what most gamers and other consumer uses require. They also cost about half as much.The first 9100 PRO SSDs arrive in March: 1TB ($200), 2TB ($300) and 4TB ($550). Variants with a heatsink tack an extra $20 onto those prices. As for the 8TB tier, which Samsung hasn't announced pricing for, it doesn't arrive until the second half of the year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/samsungs-9100-pro-ssd-line-includes-its-first-8tb-nvme-model-for-consumers-205727818.html?src=rss
Warner Bros Discovery made sweeping cuts to its games division today, closing three studios and ending development on its planned Wonder Woman project. Monolith Productions, Player First Games and WB Games San Diego will be shuttered due to a disappointing 2024" for WB's gaming business, according to an internal memo from JB Perrette, the company's CEO and president of global streaming and games. Bloomberg broke the news of the restructuring.Monolith Productions made two well-regarded Lord of the Rings games, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. The studio was going to apply its popular Nemesis system from those titles to a Wonder Woman game, which was announced back in 2021.WB acquired Player First Games last year. The team was responsible for MultiVersus, a platform fighting game that reached 20 million players in its early days before dwindling to a planned shutdown of the online services when its fifth season ends this May.WB Games San Diego was working on AAA free-to-play gaming. In December, Warner Bros Games also announced that it would lay off employees at WB Games Montreal as well as pulling back on the studio's game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.According to the internal email from Perrette, WB's gaming efforts will be focused on four of its properties: Harry Potter (including Hogwarts Legacy), Mortal Kombat, the DC universe and Game of Thrones. "We need to make some substantial changes to our portfolio/team structure if we are to commit the necessary resources to get back to a fewer but bigger franchises' strategy," Perette said.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/warner-bros-discovery-slashes-gaming-business-closing-three-studios-204344213.html?src=rss
Razer just announced a refresh to the popular Blade 18 gaming laptop. This model uses those newly-released Intel Core Ultra 200HX series processors and can be purchased with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. As the name suggests, it also boasts a ginormous display, which Razer describes as the world's first 18-inch dual mode display." This means that users can instantly switch between UHD+ at 240Hz for appreciating the finer details of AAA games and FHD+ at 440Hz for absolute speed. The keyboard has been fully redesigned, with a new scissor switch that allows for 35 percent more travel distance versus the previous generation, along with a 63g actuation force. There's a 10-key numeric keypad and dual-LED backlighting per key. Otherwise, the design remains mostly unchanged since the first Razer Blade 18 hit store shelves back in 2023. Razer Razer also promises desktop levels of connectivity." To that end, there are a pair of Thunderbolt ports, including a Thunderbolt 5 port. It supports Wi-Fi 7, HDMI 2.1, Bluetooth 5.4 and Gigabit LAN. Each Blade 18 includes a six-speaker virtual surround sound system that supports THX Spatial Audio and a 5MP camera with a privacy shutter. The good news? Pre-orders are open right now. The bad news? This is a Razer Blade 18, so it's a real wallet-buster. Pricing starts at $3,200, but can shoot all the way up to $4,900 depending on RAM and storage configurations. Early adopters do get a free skin and a laptop stand. The company has also opened up pre-orders for the slightly smaller Razer Blade 16. This ultra-thin laptop starts at $2,800, which is a $100 bump over its predecessor. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/razer-announced-a-refreshed-blade-18-laptop-with-a-dual-mode-display-200943604.html?src=rss
When OpenAI announced Deep Research at start of February, the company promised to bring the tool to Plus users "in about a month," and now it's doing exactly that. Starting today, the feature, which you can use to prompt ChatGPT to create in-depth reports on nearly any subject, is rolling out to Plus, Team, Edu and Enterprise users. Previously, you needed a $200 per month Pro plan to try out Deep Research.For the time being, Plus users will get 10 Deep Research queries per month included with their plan. For Pro subscribers, OpenAI is increasing the monthly limit to 120, up from 100 previously. Additionally, the company has made a couple of improvements to how the tool works. ChatGPT will now embed images alongside citations to provide "richer insights." The system also has a better understanding of file types, which should translate to better document analysis.OpenAIIf you want to give the new feature a try, write a prompt as you normally would but then tap the Deep Research icon before sending your request through to OpenAI. Depending on the complexity of question, it can take ChatGPT anywhere between five and 30 minutes to compile an answer. OpenAI has said Deep Research is currently "very compute intensive," so it be a while before Free users get to try the capability out for themselves.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-expands-deep-research-to-all-paying-chatgpt-users-200045108.html?src=rss
Upheavals within the US government continued today as a group of technology experts announced their resignations. These federal employees had originally worked for the United States Digital Service, a tech-focused department created under the Obama administration. About 40 people from the original Digital Service staff were fired by the Elon Musk-led team known as DOGE earlier this year, and the remaining 65 employees were incorporated into his unit. Today, 21 of those people resigned."We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services," the former employees wrote in a resignation letter obtained by the Associated Press. "We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions."The Digital Services director, Anne Marshall, also resigned from her post last week, stating in a public letter that "This is not the mission I came to serve."Both Marshall and the participants in today's group resignation raised concerns that people from Musk's outfit do not have the knowledge or desire to continue Digital Services' mission of developing and maintaining digital resources for Americans.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/doge-workers-quit-rather-than-help-musk-dismantle-critical-public-services-194237479.html?src=rss
Framework, the company making an ever-wider range of modular, endlessly repairable machines is showing off its next big project. Today, it previewed the Laptop 12, an affordable 12.2-inch touchscreen convertible built with the same ethos as its bigger siblings. Laptop 12 is targeted as an entry-level machine for young people, students and folks on low incomes. But, rather than the usual compromises inherent in such a machine, it will be just as repairable, modular and crucially upgradeable as the rest of the Framework lineup.FrameworkFew categories are as emblematic of the problems with consumer electronics as entry-level laptops," explained founder Nirav Patel, they tend to be janky, locked-down, disposable, underpowered and frankly, boring." Laptop 12 takes the general design language of the Laptop 13, but trimmed to suit the smaller footprint and screen. It ships in five colors, with an optional color matched stylus, each one clad in TPU with a metal skeleton for rigidity. Patel said if users are able to break it, repairs are even easier than on the Laptop 13.FrameworkThe company emphasized the Laptop 12 won't use the same sort of no-name bargain-bin parts you often find on entry-level machines. It hasn't released a full spec list yet, but said you will see options for a 13th-generation i3 or i5 Core Processor supporting up to 48GB DDR5 RAM. You can also opt for an NVMe SSD up to 2TB and Wi-Fi 6E, with the usual pick of Windows 11 or Linux. Patel added the 1,920 x 1,200 display has been customized to push out 400 nits of peak brightness with touch and stylus support.Framework says we're likely to see all of the gory details arriving at some point in April, which is also when pre-orders will open. Shipments are expected to begin at some point in the summer, and we're looking forward to seeing how this operates out in the real world.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/framework-teases-a-low-cost-2-in-1-convertible-version-of-its-modular-laptop-191231244.html?src=rss
Framework is today announcing a raft of new products, the most intriguing of which has to be the Framework Desktop. Like the rest of the company's wares, it's a modular desktop PC with a focus on modularity, upgradeability and repairability. Naturally, the first question is why, given PCs are already modular, upgradeable and repairable, but the focus here is on making it accessible for the sorts of folks who might see the words thermal" and paste" and need an urgent trip to the ER. It's not the first time something like this has been mooted: In 2014, Razer pitched Project Christine, a gaming PC with standalone components clad in cartridges that could be swapped in and out.FrameworkThe second reason for this machine existing was AMD's new Ryzen AI Max chip, which was shown to the public at CES in January. Ryzen AI Max is an all-in-one APU, packing a CPU and GPU in the same package mirroring how Apple Silicon chips are designed. Ryzen AI Max promises some fairly spectacular performance despite the lack of a discrete GPU, like 1440p gaming and local AI. But there is one downside to all of these gains - the RAM is soldered to the mainboard to enable its staggering 256GB/s memory bandwidth, which Framework says isn't feasible with standard RAM. To compensate, Framework has pledged to ensure to play fair with memory pricing, making it more reasonable than you might find with other brands," i.e. Apple.Framework knows it's swimming in different waters with this product, and so has pledged to use as many standard components as possible. Inside that Mini-ITX case you'll find a custom mainboard with ATX headers, a PCIe x4 slot, two USB4, two DisplayPort, one HDMI and 5G ethernet ports. The PCIe NVME slots will let you spec up to 16TB storage, and the case has two forward-facing expansion card slots that will let you plug in your own Framework Expansion Cards. The case is equipped with a semi-custom 400W power supply that uses standard 120mm CPU fans or, again, you can bring your own fans if you'd prefer. The case has either black or clear sides, and the front is made up with 21 tiles you can design yourself, or 3D-print an alternative if you'd prefer.Of course, you can also just buy the mainboard and cram it into your own case, should you prefer to roll your own.FrameworkPre-orders for the Framework Desktop are opening now, but shipping won't begin until Q3 of 2025. You can order the mainboard on its own for $799, or get the base model with an AI Max 385 and 32GB RAM for just $1,099. Should you want the flagship AI Max+ 395 with 128GB RAM, you'll need to fork over $1,999. All of the systems are sold as DIY Editions" with users able to grab their storage and OS from whatever supplier they prefer, too.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-builds-its-own-modular-desktop-191211936.html?src=rss
It's a little weird to talk about Framework launching" a new laptop given it just makes the same machine over and over again. That, of course, is the point, since it's building a fleet of modular, upgradeable and repairable machines that eliminate unnecessary e-waste. Let's agree that while launching isn't the right word, it is how we'll describe the advent of the updated AMD edition of the Framework 13, which now comes with the Ryzen AI 300 on board.Naturally, the big news is the fancier AMD unit welded to the mainboard, which boasts dramatically improved AI performance for Microsoft Copilot+. But Framework has made its usual series of nips and tucks, adding Wi-Fi 7, a new thermal system, improved keyboard and new color options. As usual, all of these features can be bolted onto any existing Framework 13 when required.One of the biggest issues for every Framework 13 so far has been the cooling - the tiny fans have to work overtime whenever the system gets taxed. So the advent of the new mainboard also sees a(nother) attempt at keeping the silicon far cooler than it has been before. Open this up and you'll find a new single 10mm heat pipe paired with Honeywell's PTM7958 thermal paste which, it's hoped, will ensure you can hear yourself think over your laptop.If you recall from the previous AMD Framework 13, there was an issue with what standards each port supported. The situation is a little clearer here, since the rear ports support USB 4, while the forward ones both have USB 3.2 plus DisplayPort. We explored this in greater detail at the time, but the situation remains mildly annoying if you forget what can go where.Framework has also very gently tweaked the keyboard to address an issue with rigidity with the wide keys, like shift and the spacebar. If you buy a Windows 11 model, you'll also have a Copilot key printed on it - but Framework reminds you it's possible to buy a DIY edition without one, too.FrameworkRounding out the changes is the advent of injection molded packaging, which enables Framework to sell you transparent hardware. It will now sell you a transparent bezel, as well as translucent purple, green and black options for greater customization. Plus, you'll be able to pick up many of the expansion cards clad in transparent plastic, too, not just the ethernet expansion card - letting you relive your dream of owning the coolest Game Boy ever made.The new Framework Laptop 13 with AMD's Ryzen AI 300 series starts at $800 for the DIY edition and $1,099 for pre-built. Naturally, that price can go all sorts of places depending on how much gear you choose to throw on top of what comes as standard. Pre-orders are open today with shipments due to begin in April. Plus, the company will sell you the older Ryzen 7040 model for $749 - with CEO Nirav Patel saying this isn't just a while stocks last deal, but as a way to lower the entry price for new buyers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/framework-updates-its-13-inch-laptop-with-amds-ryzen-300-ai-series-chips-191128145.html?src=rss
Researchers just discovered evidence to suggest that Mars was once home to oceans and sandy beaches on the red planet, according to data published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This is a far cry from the arid, freezing and radiation-filled conditions of modern Mars.Scientists discovered evidence of buried beaches after they analyzed below-ground imaging data from China's Zhurong rover. This data from the northern lowlands of Mars is extremely similar to what researchers find when using similar ground-penetrating radar here on Earth, as indicated by The Guardian. They found subsurface material that's angled and tilted toward a lowland, which likely was an ocean at some point.
Microsoft is delaying one of the major first-party games it had lined up for 2025. The company said during its big annual Xbox showcase last June that its Fable reboot would arrive this year. But that's no longer the case as Xbox has pushed back the fantasy RPG to 2026."We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time and it's going to ship in 2026 now," Craig Duncan, the new head of Xbox Game Studios, said on the latest edition of the Official Xbox Podcast. "While I know that's not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it's definitely worth the wait."The reboot, which is being developed by Forza Horizon studio Playground Games, was announced all the way back in 2020 and there have been a few teasers since then. While the delay might be disappointing to those who have been waiting for Fable - especially since it's been 15 years since the last mainline game in the series - Xbox can afford to give it a little more time.Microsoft's games division has a pretty healthy slate for the coming months. Avowed only just came out, the promising South of Midnightis not too far away and then Doom: The Dark Agesand its ridiculous shield-saw is slated to arrive in May. The Outer Worlds 2 and Ninja Gaiden 4are also on the docket for this year, and there are likely others in the pipeline (such as the inevitable annual Call of Duty entry). That's not to mention all the third-party titles coming to Game Pass and Microsoft selling more of its games on PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. So Xbox is probably going to be okay while Playground keeps Fable simmering away.Duncan claims that the studio is crafting "the most beautifully realized version of Albion you've ever seen" but with its own spin and British humor. The Xbox Game Studios chief visited Playground to play some of Fable and see how things were going. Duncan brought back some new, early footage to show on the video version of the podcast, which you can see below starting at 15:55. Even the pre-alpha versions of these environments look very pretty, so here's hoping Playground makes good use of that extra time to make the most of the game.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-has-delayed-its-fable-reboot-until-2026-173118802.html?src=rss
One thing writers and multinational consumer electronics corporations have in common is we both need a good editor. Or, failing that, at least a good spell-checker. OnePlus somehow missed that step when launching the OnePlus Watch 3, which had its scheduled Tuesday launch abruptly halted because of an embarrassing typo. On the back of the watch, early buyers discovered that their $330 smartwatch was "meda in China." As a result, you'll now have to wait until April to buy the device. At least someone on OnePlus' social team saw an opportunity. "Oops, we've meda mistake!" the company posted on X on Friday. "A typo slipped through and made its way onto your shiny new OnePlus Watch 3." The acknowledgment came three days after a post showing photo evidence of the flub gained traction in the OnePlus subreddit. "Yikes lol how did this pass QC?" u/kbtech wondered in the comments. The OnePlus Watch 3's new release date is sometime in April, with the order page currently estimating an April 9 ship date. On the bright side, the company is extending its $30 pre-order discount. (For those shopping in Canada, it's $50 off.) You can use code TIME1010 to get the lower price, which lasts until April. Those who already got one of the "Meda in China" models can either keep it or return it with no questions asked. (Not that the answers would be too difficult to guess.) OnePlus says the Watch 3 can run for an estimated 16 days in power saver mode, five days in smart mode and up to 72 hours for heavy users. The Wear OS watch also has a new titanium bezel and a sapphire crystal screen. All in all, it sounds like a well-meda piece of gear. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/oneplus-is-delaying-the-watch-3-launch-because-of-a-typo-171009126.html?src=rss
First announced at CES 2024, the Clicks physical keyboard add-on for iPhones has proven to be a modest hit. Soon, some Android users will be able to get in on the action. That's right. The company just announced a redesign specifically for certain Android handsets.The overall design doesn't look too different from the iPhone version. It's a sleeve that you pop the phone into. Once connected, you can type with physical keys via a free Android companion app. There's backlit keys, USB-C charging and support for shortcuts. By their very nature, Clicks keyboards also provide more screen real estate, which is always nice.The company says these new versions feature brushed metal side keys, a microfibre interior and precision moulded enclosures that are custom-engineered to fit each Android smartphone." With that said, the Android-based Clicks keyboard only integrates with the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, the Galaxy S25 and the Moto Razr+. That last one actually requires a unique design, given that the Razr+ is a flip-style foldable.ClicksThe Pixel 9 versions will be out first, at the end of April, with an introductory pre-order price of $99. That promotion ends on March 21 and the cost goes up to $139. The Razr+ case will be available in May, with the same $99 pre-order campaign running until March 21. The Samsung Galaxy model starts shipping out in June and features the same $99/$139 pre-order pricing model with a March 21 cutoff date.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/clicks-is-finally-releasing-its-keyboard-add-on-for-some-android-phones-170006160.html?src=rss
The Philips Hue Sync app is now available for many LG televisions, allowing synchronization between smart lights and TV screens. This eliminates the need for one of those dedicated sync boxes, as everything gets handled through the app.For the uninitiated, Philips Hue smart lights dynamically adjust color and brightness to match the content playing on-screen. The app, along with an associated Hue lighting system, works with content from set-top boxes, streaming sticks, platforms like Netflix and, of course, gaming consoles. You haven't really played Balatro until you've played it with matching lighting effects.The Philips Hue Sync TV app supports multiple image formats, including 8K, 4K, HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. It uses a proprietary syncing algorithm" to create the ultimate surround lighting experience." It's available worldwide for compatible LG smart TVs right now. Just make sure the TV is running webOS 24 or later.There's a major caveat here. This is one expensive app. It costs around $130 (depending on where you live) and that only covers a single TV. However, folks can opt for a monthly subscription of $3 that can handle up to three televisions. That's a bit more palatable.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/philips-hue-sync-now-available-on-lg-smart-tvs-eliminating-the-need-for-a-control-box-162004241.html?src=rss
British creatives are speaking out against the government's proposed changes to copyright law. Take Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Ben Howard, who join over 1,000 musicians in releasing a protest album called Is This What We Want?.Currently, AI developers must follow the same copyright laws as anyone else, meaning they can't use creative material to train models without permission. However, the December 2024 proposal would provide them with a copyright exemption that requires creatives to "opt out" of their materials being used. Tuesday, February 25 is the government's last day seeking views on the change."The musicians on this album came together to protest this," reads the release statement. "The album consists of recordings of empty studios and performance spaces, representing the impact we expect the government's proposals would have on musicians' livelihoods."The album consists of 12 songs with their titles spelling out, "The British government must not legalise music theft to benefit AI companies." The record's profits go toward UK-based charity Help Musicians.Tuesday also saw the UK News Media Association and publications including The Guardian protest the copyright exemption proposal through the Make It Fair campaign. "The creative works of British artists, authors, journalists, illustrators, photographers, film-makers, scriptwriters, singers and songwriters are being scraped from the internet by tech companies, big and small, to build and maintain AI products that have the potential to reshape our world," the campaign argues. "Without fair reward, our creative industries simply won't survive. The government must stand behind its creative industries. It's time to fairly compensate the creators."On Monday, a range of creatives wrote an open letter to The Times in protest. "There is no moral or economic argument for stealing our copyright. Taking it away will devastate the industry and steal the future of the next generation," it stated. Signatories included Paul McCartney, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Helen Fielding and Ed Sheeran.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/uk-creatives-protest-ai-copyright-law-changes-with-silent-album-and-campaign-160555065.html?src=rss
If you're a music fan of a certain age, there's a good chance MTV Unplugged has special place in your heart. With the first episode airing in 1989, over the decades the series has produced some of the most memorable live performances in history. Who could forget Nirvana's set, recorded less than a year before Kurt Cobain would tragically take his own life in 1994, or when Alice in Chains played one of its final shows with former lead vocalist Layne Staley. There are too many memorable episodes to count, and now you can watch more than 50 of them, including the two I just mentioned, on Paramount+.As Paramount notes, many of the episodes haven't been available to watch in more than 20 years. From that perspective, the most interesting release is Oasis' (in)famous 1996 set. For the uninitiated, it's an episode that almost didn't happen. In the days leading up to the performance, the story goes that lead singer Liam Gallagher complained of a sore throat. On the day the band was scheduled to tape the episode, he showed up an hour before "absolutely sh**faced," according to his brother Noel, who went on to sing the entire set on his own. Despite its place in music history, before today it was nearly impossible to find a high-quality video of the performance. On YouTube, for instance, you can find a bootleg recording or two, but as you can imagine, the fidelity isn't there.This isn't the first the Paramount+ has dug into the MTV archives to expand its catalog. Earlier this year, the streamer had an entire special program around Eric Clapton's 1992 set. If you want to check out the performances for yourself, Paramount+ offers a seven-day free trial.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/paramount-adds-50-classic-mtv-unplugged-episodes-155004134.html?src=rss
Proving that truly no IP is safe from modern reboot culture, Atari's Breakout is back. The upcoming version of the simple 1976 brick-smashing hit rotates the playing field by 90 degrees and adds auto-scrolling, neon effects, power-ups and local co-op. In other words, Breakout Beyond is the Tetris Effect formula applied to the Led Zeppelin-era arcade classic.The original Breakout was a product of dramatically more limited 1970s hardware, but its simplicity was part of its magic. Rows of bricks sat up top, a player-controlled paddle lived down below and a ball" (actually a square, thanks to 70s graphics) bounced in between. Move paddle, hit ball, smash bricks, wow bellbottom-wearing arcadegoers.The core formula - moving a paddle to bounce projectiles against bricks - remains intact in Breakout Beyond. But the game's landscape perspective, while better suited for today's televisions and monitors, may be hard for old-school gamers to get used to. Ditto for auto-scrolling, as this version pans left-to-right toward a goal rather than simply requiring you to break all the bricks on a fixed screen.AtariVisually, the new version's ball is more like a comet, with a long neon tail trailing off behind its round head. Seizure-inducing effects abound. And there are multiple balls to contend with, not just one. (However, Super Breakout, the original game's direct sequel, had two modes with extra balls.)Like Tetris Effect, Breakout Beyond introduces combos, rewarding you with intensified visual and sound effects for stringing together streams of broken bricks. You can also break special blocks that unlock power-ups: bombs that clear out everything from a set radius, a force field to shield the ball and a freakin' laser cannon that lets you blast bricks out of your way, a la Space Invaders.The game supports two-player local co-op so you can smash bricks with a couch buddy. It has 72 levels and an optional focus mode that slows down time (at the expense of higher scores).Breakout Beyond will arrive on PC, Switch, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, PlayStation 5/4 and Atari's rebooted VCS console on March 25. It costs $15, but there's a 10 percent discount if you pre-order.Update February 25, 2025, 10:41AM ET: Updated the headline and last paragraph to reflect the release date and pricing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ataris-side-scrolling-breakout-reboot-arrives-on-march-25-154136006.html?src=rss
Last year's Silent Hill 2 remake worked out pretty well for Konami and the studio that took on the project, Bloober Team. The two sides have decided to continue their partnership, as Bloober is making a new title based on Konami's intellectual property. Since the studio develops horror games, it's likely that this will be a fresh entry in the Silent Hill series. There is a possibility that it could be a Castlevania game instead. But I'm hoping the companies decide to get really weird and make a spooky Bomberman or something."The trust built upon the success of Silent Hill 2 laid the foundation for signing another agreement for a new project," the companies said. "The deal aligns with Bloober Team's strategic plan to expand its internal development division within a first-party framework." Konami will publish the upcoming game and retain the rights to it.The Silent Hill 2 remake arrived in early October and sold well, moving over 2 million copies by the end of January It was critically acclaimed and received several nominations at The Game Awards. The remake was also one of Engadget's favorite games of 2024.If, indeed, Bloober is making a completely new Silent Hill game, it won't be the only such title that's in the works. Two Silent Hill games that were announced in 2022 have yet to arrive: Silent Hill Townfall from Annapurna Interactive and No Code, and Silent Hill f from Rykishi07.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bloober-team-is-making-another-game-with-konami-following-silent-hill-2s-success-152602170.html?src=rss
The iPhone 16 might just finally be coming to Indonesia. The island nation has reached an agreement with Apple to lift the country's ban on iPhone 16 sales, Bloomberg reports, citing familiar sources. Apple must invest $1 billion in Indonesia and train locals in the company's research and development to create their own products.Indonesia banned the iPhone 16 in October, following Apple's failure to meet its 1.71 trillion rupiah ($109 million) local infrastructure investment by about $15 million. Since then, Apple has pledged more and more money to overturn it. First, the company offered $10 million, before raising it to $100 million. By December, Indonesia's investment minister, Rosan Roeslani, reported Apple had increased that number to the current sum of $1 billion.Yet, the government continued to push, rejecting the $1 billion and pushing for further benefits, such as the addition of R&D training. Apple would also create a plant on Batam to make AirTags, eventually equating to 20 percent of the world's production. Indonesia's industry minister, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, also recently announced that Apple paid a $10 million debt it owed for violations between 2020 to 2023.Despite the reported agreement, nothing is certain until the phones start being sold. However, Indonesia has made an impressive push from a payment deficit to an extra $1 billion and training.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/indonesia-might-lift-its-iphone-ban-for-1-billion-150050471.html?src=rss
US-based employee screening services provider DISA Global Solutions said it was breached by hackers, putting the personally identifiable information of 3.3 million people at risk.While DISA informed Maine's attorney general of the data breach yesterday (thanks, TechCrunch) and reported the hack to Massachusetts's Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation earlier on February 22, the attack began over a year ago, on February 9, 2024. The unidentified hacker accessed DISA's network for two months before the company noticed on April 22, 2024. However, there's allegedly no evidence of actual or attempted misuse" of personal information.In a sample notification letter sent to those affected by the hack, DISA claimed it could not definitively conclude the specific data procured" even after an investigation with third-party assistance. However, the Massachusetts filing listed what the attackers accessed: Social Security numbers, financial accounts, driver's licenses and credit and debit numbers. DISA didn't share other details on the attack.DISA serves over 55,000 customers, including 30 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The company offers drug, alcohol and background checks. This allows it to collect sensitive information, making it a prime target for cybercriminals.It's unknown why DISA took almost a year to notify anyone, especially when employee screening is a highly sensitive industry. Those affected can enroll for 12 months of credit monitoring and identity restoration services, a common act of apology companies often take after a cybersecurity incident.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/us-employee-screening-firm-disa-hit-with-data-breach-affecting-over-33-million-people-145658681.html?src=rss
DoorDash has reached an agreement with the New York Attorney General over an old practice wherein the company used customers' tips to subsidize its drivers' pay. As the office of New York AG Letitia James explained, its investigation had revealed that DoorDash wasn't giving its drivers the tips customers sent them through the app from May 2017 through September 2019. Now, the company will pay $16.75 million in restitution that will be divided between 63,000 drivers. The Attorney General told The New York Times that a lot of drivers will receive payments in the low thousands, but some will get as much as $14,000.Within the two-year period mentioned above, the service promised Dashers a guaranteed pay for each delivery. When customers checked out an order, they saw a message that said: "Dashers will always receive 100 percent of the tip." Most customers reading that would take it as their driver will get what they were tipping them on top of their payment. Instead, the service used their tips to cover the drivers' guaranteed pay. If a customer tipped $6 for an order with a guaranteed payment of $10, for instance, DoorDash would only pay $4 out of its own pocket. That means the driver would still only get $10 instead of $16."DoorDash misled customers who generously tipped and deceived Dashers who deserved to be paid in full. This settlement returns millions to the pockets of hardworking Dashers and ensures transparency in DoorDash's payment practices going forward," James said in a statement. In 2020, DoorDash also settled a similar lawsuit in Washington, DC for $2.5 million. It settled another lawsuit of the same nature in Illinois last year for $11.25 million.The company ended its unfair tipping practices in 2019. In New York, app-based delivery companies are now required to pay their drivers a minimum wage that's currently set to $19.56 per hour, not including the tips they get from customers.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/doordash-to-settle-new-york-lawsuit-over-misleading-tipping-practices-by-paying-17-million-143018965.html?src=rss
A free version of Microsoft Office for Windows might be on its way. Microsoft has been silently testing an ad-supported version of Office reported Beebom. Free versions are currently only available on the web.The update would allow users to access PowerPoint, Word, Excel and more for free. There appears to be a few conditions for the fee-free option. It appears to include an ever-present banner on the righthand side and 15-second videos that play every few hours. Any documents must also be stored in One Drive rather than in local files.Each system also comes with limitations. For example, Word wouldn't have drawing and design tools or dictation. Excel foregoes conditional formatting, recommended charts and more. PowerPoint loses all draw, animation and record tools, among other features."Microsoft has been conducting some limited testing," a representative for the company told Engadget in an email. "Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office desktop apps." The statement was first seen in PC Mag.Update, February 25 2024, 9:25AM ET: This story has been updated to include a direct quote from Microsoft to Engadget.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-is-testing-a-free-with-ads-version-of-office-140030345.html?src=rss
Panasonic's mirrorless cameras are best known for their video powers, but with its latest model, the company is finally getting serious about photography as well. The $3,300 full-frame Lumix S1R II is not only the company's first camera capable of 8K video but can fire off 40 fps bursts of high-resolution (45 megapixel) RAW photos. It also offers a more advanced autofocus system, putting it squarely into the conversation with Sony, Canon and Nikon. I've had a pre-production unit for several days now and so far, I'm impressed. The original S1R was a chunky 2.24 pound monster, but the S1R II is much lighter at 1.75 pounds and considerably smaller in size. That makes it less burdensome than before - though still a bit bigger than the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. It also has one of the fattest grips I've ever seen that gave me a firm, secure hold on the camera. Panasonic made other substantial changes to the body, removing the top display and shifting the mode dial from top left to top right. In the latter's place a dedicated burst mode dial and photo/video/S&Q switch was introduced, while a new autofocus dial was placed at the back. Handling is now near the top among high-end full-frame cameras in my book, matching or even beating my favorite, the Sony A1 II. Panasonic The rear 1.8-million-dot display was also overhauled and not only flips out for content creators but also tilts up and down for photographers - putting it on par with the excellent screen on Sony's A1 II. The electronic viewfinder has the same 5.76-million-dot resolution and 120Hz refresh rate as before, but now offers a more natural 100 percent magnification. The S1R II supports both SD UHS II and fast CFexpress Type B cards (rather than XQD as before) with a slot for each, while also allowing SSD recording via the USB-C port like the S5 IIX and GH7. Other inputs include mic, headphone and a full-size HDMI slot, along with a 10Gbps USB-C port. The battery is the same as the one on the GH7 and G9 III but delivers just 350 shots max on a charge, unless you buy the optional DMW-BLK22 battery grip. The S1R II will also offer full-float 32-bit audio recording, but only with the optional DMW-XLR2 audio accessory. Steve Dent for Engadget Shooting performance is dramatically better with up to 40 fps (RAW 12-bit) burst speeds with continuous autofocus enabled, compared to a rather pitiful 6 fps on the previous model. It can also hit 10 fps speeds in mechanical mode or 9 fps with 14-bit RAW output. That matches the lower-resolution Canon R1 (though that model does it in 14-bit RAW mode) and is only below Sony's A9 III that can hit a mind-boggling 120 fps burst speeds in RAW mode. Panasonic also overhauled the phase-detect autofocus system to add more speed and AI smarts. It can now lock onto a subject's face and eyes quicker and follow their movements more smoothly, but also detect and automatically switch between humans, animals, cars, motorcycles, bikes, trains and airplanes. From my observations so far, it's not quite up to the speed and fluidity of Sony and Canon's latest models, but Panasonic is nearly there. Panasonic When it comes to image quality, JPEG photos look natural with realistic colors, though I wasn't able to open RAW files on this pre-production camera. One big improvement is at high ISOs in low light thanks to the dual ISO sensor that keeps noise under control all the way up to about ISO 12800. On the video side, the S1R II now supports internal ProRes RAW and 8K video capture, but not both at the same time. ProRes RAW captured to CFexpress or USB-C is limited to 5.8K but uses the full width of the sensor, so it's a good solution for 4K productions. As with other Panasonic cameras, the S1R II can also shoot 6.4K open gate using the entire sensor. 8K, meanwhile, can only be captured in 4:2:0 10-bit LongGOP MP4 formats at 30 fps (4K tops out at 120 fps in Slow & Quick mode). That compares to 60 fps max on the Canon EOS R5 II and Nikon Z8, and both of those cameras can do that format in RAW. Sony's A1 II, by contrast, can also do 8K 30 fps video but doesn't support RAW recording at all. And of course, the S1R II supports 10-bit V-Log recording and promises up to 14 stops of dynamic range, slightly less than the S1R. It'll also allow for external ProRes RAW recording at up to 8K to Atomos recorders via a firmware update coming after the initial launch. Panasonic Panasonic's updated stabilization system promises up to 8 stops of shake reduction, but there are a few significant updates. It reduces edge distortion for video without cropping, though there's a small amount of vignetting if you do that. As before, it supports e-stabilization at regular and high strengths, and now offers the high-strength mode for anamorphic lenses. That raises the issue of rolling shutter, since the S1R II doesn't use a stacked sensor like its main competitors, the Nikon Z8 and Canon R5 II. Distortion is definitely more prominent than on those models, but readout speeds are relatively quick so it's not offensive except when doing whip pans or filming very fast moving subjects. At $3,300, the S1R II is priced well below the $4,300 Canon R5 II but nearly on par with the Nikon Z8, which can currently be found at $3,400. It's now on pre-order at B&H Photo and elsewhere, with shipping set to start at the end of March 2025. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/panasonic-takes-on-canon-with-the-full-frame-45-megapixel-s1r-ii-mirrorless-camera-140048286.html?src=rss
Adobe has launched a brand new Photoshop app for iPhones, which it's also releasing for Android later this year. While there's already a Photoshop Express for mobile, the company says the new app was "designed from the ground up" with more features and has an easy-to-use mobile interface. The app, which is free to download and use, comes with Photoshop's core imaging and design tools. Users can make selections, layers and masks in the app to combine or blend images. They can also replace parts of an image with the Tap Select tool, remove elements from a photo with the Spot Healing Brush and add new elements by using its generative AI tools, such as Generative Fill and Generative Expand.Users will have access to free Adobe Stock assets and can link their apps with other Adobe applications, including Express, Lightroom and Fresco. Adobe is, as expected, offering premium upgrades to the app's capabilities for those willing to pay for the new Photoshop Mobile and Web plan. The $8-a-month service will add features to the app on mobile and iPad and will also include access to Photoshop on the web. Users who already have an existing Photoshop subscription, however, will also be able to enjoy the new Photoshop app's premium features.The premium features included with the new plan include the ability to transition editing from Photoshop mobile to the web if a user needs a bigger screen or more precise controls. Users are also getting extra generative AI features, including Adobe Firefly's Generate Similar, which allows users to create new variations of an existing image. Subscribers will get access to 20,000 fonts, be able to make precise selections of people and objects with the Object Select too, isolate objects with the Magic Wand, erase elements with the Remove Tool, copy and clone certain elements with the Clone Stamp and fill portions of an image with Content-Aware Fill. They will also be able to control an image's transparency and lighten or darken certain areas of an image. The new app for iPhones is already available from the App Store worldwide.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/a-new-adobe-photoshop-app-is-coming-to-iphones-140003461.html?src=rss
Educational tech company Chegg has sued Google in federal court claiming that its "AI Overviews" that appear ahead of search results have hurt its traffic and revenue. In order to be included in Google's search results, Chegg alleges, it must "supply content that Google republishes without permission in AI-generated answers that unfairly compete for the attention of users on the internet in violation of antitrust laws of the United States."Previously, publishers like The New York Times have sued AI companies over copyright infringement, accusing them of training large language models (LLMs) on IP material without permission. However, Chegg is taking another approach, instead accusing Google of abusing its monopoly position to force companies to supply materials for its "AI Overviews" on its search page. Failing to do so, it says, means it could effectively be excluded from Google Search altogether.Chegg included a screenshot of a Google AI Overview that takes details from Chegg's website without attribution, though the page in question appears lower down in the search results.Google told CNBC that it would defend itself against the suit. "Every day, Google sends billions of clicks to sites across the web, and AI Overviews send traffic to a greater diversity of sites," a spokesperson said.Google's use of its monopoly power in this way "amounts to a form of unlawful reciprocal dealing that harms competition in violation of the Sherman Act," Chegg claimed, while citing a federal judge's ruling from last year that Google is a monopolist in search. The tech-ed company said that it is particularly affected by these practices because the "breadth, depth, quality and volume of Chegg's educational content holds enormous value for artificial intelligence applications."Chegg is the latest in a long list of companies suing Google over alleged misappropriation of IP content, though as mentioned, using the Sherman Act is a novel approach. As of January 2025, 38 copyright lawsuits related to AI have been filed in the US, according to a site keeping track of the claims - so far with mixed results.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/educational-tech-company-chegg-sues-google-over-ai-overviews-133017759.html?src=rss
If you're currently in the market for a music streaming subscription, have we got a deal for you. Pick up six months of Apple Music for just $3. That's not a typo. This discount brings the price down to, checks math, $0.50 per month. The cost is typically $11 per month, so this sale represents a savings of more than $60. You've got a few more days to grab it as well, since the deal runs through February 27. The usual caveats apply. This is an enticement to bring in new subscribers, so current members are out of luck (myself included.) It's also not available for those who currently qualify for a three-month free trial of the service. Finally, this deal must be redeemed on an Apple device, and only iPhones running iOS 16 and later, Mac computers running MacOS 13 and later and the Vision Pro headset are applicable here. Apple Music is a fine little streaming platform. The audio quality is on point, with lossless streaming available at no charge, and the UI is easy-to-navigate. It may not allow exclusive access to Joe Rogan episodes, like Spotify, but that's because Apple Music seems dedicated to, well, music. To that end, the app places a heavy emphasis on curation. There are all kinds of playlists that were created by actual humans, and they receive regular updates. Many artist pages include playlists of deep cuts, essential hits and more. Albums are often accompanied by a review or synopsis, which is a nice touch. The app also gives access to several live radio stations that are hosted by actual DJs, and not AI simulacrums. Apple Music still uses an algorithm for many of its custom playlists unique to each user, but the human touch is still appreciated. The Spotify algorithm for discovering new music is a bit more adventurous, but the Apple algo gets the job done. On the downside, the service works best on Apple devices. There's also no free tier, which is something of a bummer. To that end, make sure you cancel before the six months runs out, if it's not your bag. Otherwise, you'll start getting charged $11 each month. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-music-deal-get-six-months-of-access-for-only-3-130027527.html?src=rss
Amazon doesn't usually do device events in February, but in a year of turbulence, why not? The company is holding a presentation in New York, and, like in the past, Amazon won't be livestreaming anything.Engadget will attend, however, and liveblog the event so you'll know what's happening. Amazon has teased its next-gen Alexa for what feels like years, promising a conversational vibe and the ability to process and execute complex requests. Is it ready to chat? And what random tech will Amazon cram it into? Clocks? Microwave ovens?Here's what we're expecting.- Mat SmithGet this delivered directly to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The biggest tech stories you missed
Despelote is heading to Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 1. Despelote is a super stylish soccer game that's secretly about life in the Ecuadorian city of Quito in 2001, and it comes from local developers Julian Cordero and Sebastian Valbuena, and published by Panic.You play as 8-year-old Julian, and spend your time kicking the ball, meeting people and exploring life during Ecuador's economic recovery just ahead of the unifying 2002 World Cup. The in-game city comprises actual photographs of places around Quito, but the backgrounds are covered in a layer of high-contrast grit, while people and the soccer ball stand out as stark line drawings. The audio was recorded on location, too, and the result is a game that looks and sounds like a soothing memory.Despelote was announced in 2023 and originally due to land in 2024, but it now has a firm date of May 1. It's already picked up a handful of accolades, including four nominations at the 2025 Independent Games Festival. There's a demo on Steam, if you're intrigued.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/slice-of-life-soccer-game-despelote-kicks-off-on-may-1-234256915.html?src=rss
Sigma has announced the BF, a new 24.6-megapixel full-frame, mirrorless camera that has a built-in SSD rather than an a CFexpress or SD card slot. The company is known for making lenses and unconventional cameras, and the BF's design and unique approach to storage definitely fit the bill.The Sigma BF is milled from a single block of aluminum, and looks it, with mostly flat, angular edges that don't seem entirely designed for human hands, save for a thumb rest on the back. This is all part of the BF's deliberately minimalist approach, which extends to the lack of text on the body of the camera and the camera's haptic buttons. Besides the thumb rest, the back of the BF features a high-resolution display, pill-shaped status monitor for highlighting whatever setting you're adjusting, a dial for navigating menus, an option button, a power button and a playback button. The top of the BF is even simpler: there's just two microphones and a shutter button.The BF is compatible with L-mount lenses, and on top of photos, its 35mm full-frame sensor can capture 6K video, and supports things like HEVC encoding and recording at up to 120 frames per second. The built-in 230GB SSD in the BF is "capable of storing more than 14,000 JPEG files, 4,300 uncompressed RAW images or 2.5 hours of video at the highest-quality setting," according to Sigma. Like plenty of modern mirrorless cameras, the BF also comes with several different color modes that can tweak the look of your photo. Options include modes like standard and rich, and color specific settings like powder blue, forest green and sunset red.SigmaAll of that sounds cool in theory, especially if you're interested in a camera with an idiosyncratic design, but you have to be willing to pay for it. PetaPixel writes that the Sigma BF will be available body-only for $1,999 in April 2025, in either black or silver.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/sigmas-latest-camera-is-so-minimalist-it-doesnt-have-a-memory-card-slot-223502411.html?src=rss
Monday's ID@Xbox indie showcase included release dates for a few upcoming games we've been tracking. 33 Immortals, which lets you round up 32 pals to try to escape hell with, arrives next month, with the escape room mansion game Blue Prince coming in April and the quirky shooter Revenge of the Savage Planet following in May. All three will be on Game Pass on day one.33 ImmortalsThunder Lotus GamesGet ready to run like hell in 33 Immortals, which Engadget's Mat Smith previewed at Summer Game Fest 2023. The multiplayer roguelike top-down action game inspired by Dante's Inferno and has charmingly retro graphics - not pixel art but more like old-school animation, a la Space Ghost. (Yes!)It supports up to 33 players per 25-minute raid. But because developer Thunder Lotus Games isn't scaling down the difficulty for smaller squads, you may need the help of 32 friends to get the hell out of hell.33 Immortals arrives in Early Access on March 18 for PC, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. It will be a day-one title for Game Pass.Blue PrinceDogubombMeanwhile, Blue Prince is a puzzler that drops you into a sprawling mansion; its room configuration is up to you. You'll explore the manor's (changing daily!) 44 rooms with a limited number of movements, trying to find the mysterious 45th room to get your inheritance. If you can't find it before using up your turns, then no easy money for you."Blue Prince feels like a build-your-own escape room wrapped up in a strategy game and tied together with home-renovation sim twine," Engadget's Jessica Conditt wrote in our preview. "Even though it supports a broad mix of unrelated concepts, Blue Prince feels a lot like home. And it will be, once I find that 46th room."Blue Prince launches on April 10. It will be available on PC (via Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It will be a day-one title for Xbox Game Pass and the PS Plus Game Catalog.Revenge of the Savage PlanetRaccoon Logic StudiosArriving a bit later is Raccoon Logic's delightfully zany Revenge of the Savage Planet. The sequel to 2020's Journey to the Savage Planet is another satirical adventure shooter with plenty of wacky new gadgets to take down the planet's hostile beasties.You can use the goo cannon to create slick surfaces to trip up enemies. There's also a whip to do your enemies like Devo. Or swing across otherwise inaccessible points with a grapple. You can also try your hand at a lasso that lets you capture creatures like Pokemon. (But hopefully, not too much like Pokemon.)Revenge of the Savage Planet comes to PC, PS5/4 and Xbox Series X/S on March 18. It will be on Game Pass on day one.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox-showcase-gave-release-dates-for-three-indie-games-were-looking-forward-to-212015408.html?src=rss
Tron: Catalyst, the follow-up to Tron: Identity and the next game from Bithell Games, is set to launch on June 17, 2025. The game is technically standalone, but builds on Identity's narrative and tackles the world of Tron from a new isometric perspective.Paired with the release date, Bithell Games and publisher Big Fan also showed off a new trailer at the ID@Xbox Showcase that offers a glimpse of how combat and narrative work in the game. You play as Exo, a program from the "Arq Grid" with an ability called "The Glitch," that lets you exploit time loops in the game, replaying levels with new knowledge to uncover secret and shortcuts. Exo will of course be challenged by the leaders of the Grid throughout, forcing you to fight through enemies on foot or a Light Cycle. As Engadget learned in an early preview of the game, you'll also be able to upgrade your combat abilities to suit your preferred style of play.Tron: Identity is a visual novel, so Catalyst represents a bit of a departure in terms of gameplay, but that's one of the things that makes the game intriguing. Some amount of narrative choice is still there based off the trailer, it's just sandwiched between new, exciting, action-adventure bread.Tron: Catalyst will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC on June 17, 2025.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tron-catalyst-hits-consoles-and-pc-on-june-17-205146866.html?src=rss
Another week, and there's another new AI model ready for public use. This time, it's Anthropic with the introduction of Claude 3.7 Sonnet. The company describes its latest release as the market's first "hybrid reasoning model," meaning the new version of Claude can both answer a question nearly instantaneously or take its time to work through it step by step. As the user you can decide what approach Claude takes, with a dropdown menu allowing you to select the "thinking mode" you want it to take."We've developed Claude 3.7 Sonnet with a different philosophy from other reasoning models on the market. Just as humans use a single brain for both quick responses and deep reflection, we believe reasoning should be an integrated capability of frontier models rather than a separate model entirely," writes Anthropic. "This unified approach also creates a more seamless experience for users."Anthropic doesn't name OpenAI explicitly, but the company is clearly taking a shot at its rival. Between GPT-4, o1, o1-mini and now o3-mini, OpenAI offers many different models, but unless you follow the company closely, the number of systems on offer can be overwhelming; in fact, Sam Altman recently admitted as much. "We hate the model picker as much as you do and want to return to magic unified intelligence," he posted on X earlier this month.Anthropic says it also took a different approach to developing Claude's reasoning capabilities. "We've optimized somewhat less for math and computer science competition problems, and instead shifted focus towards real-world tasks that better reflect how businesses actually use LLMs," the company writes. To that point, current Claude users can look forward to "particularly strong improvements in coding and front-end web development."Claude 3.7 Sonnet is available to use starting today across all Claude plans, including Anthropic's free tier. Developers, meanwhile, can access the new model through the company's API, Amazon Bedrock and Google Cloud's Vertex AI.Speaking of developers, Anthropic is also introducing Claude Code, a new "agentic" tool that allows you to delegate coding tasks to Claude directly from a terminal interface. Available currently as a limited research preview, Anthropic says Claude Code can read code, edit files, write and run tests, and even push commits to GitHub.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropics-new-claude-model-can-think-both-fast-and-slow-203307140.html?src=rss
The Apple iPhone 16e looks like a solid handset for most consumers. It's got plenty of power, a gorgeous display and the Action button that first debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro series. It doesn't, however, offer any way to wirelessly charge the device using MagSafe. Just because Apple excluded the feature doesn't mean you're completely out of luck. Here are a couple of options for using MagSafe charging on an iPhone 16e. The easiest way to get this going is to pick up a MagSafe-compatible smartphone case that has been specifically designed for Apple's latest handset. This ESR case seems like a solid entry, and it's on the cheaper side. We haven't gotten a chance to review it yet, but an older ESR release with MagSafe functionality easily made our list of the best iPhone cases. The second option is to go with a simple adapter ring. We recommend this one from PopSockets. It's budget-friendly, easy to use and allows integration with other MagSafe accessories. Just pop it on a pre-existing case. It's not compatible with silicone, textured or anti-fingerprint coated cases. The final option? Charge your phone the old-fashioned way, via USB-C, and just tuck the cable out of the way. This may not fool anyone, but it'll juice the phone up quicker. The iPhone 16e uses the older Qi1 wireless charging standard and maxes out at 7.5w, while the other iPhone 16 models support Qi2 at speeds up to 25w, provided you have the right charger.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/heres-how-to-get-magsafe-charging-on-an-iphone-16e-201026681.html?src=rss
Everyone's favorite sorta-poker game Balatro is set to cause yet another dip in global productivity levels. The roguelike - which encourages you to bend and twist the rules of poker in all kinds of wild ways - is available on Game Pass Ultimate, PC and Standard. Apple Arcade subscribers also have access to it at no extra cost.A trailer that premiered during Monday's ID@Xbox showcase also revealed the latest batch of cosmetic crossover card decks that are now available on all platforms. They include tie-ins with Critical Role, Dead by Daylight, Assassin's Creed, Fallout, Bugsnaxand Rust. Those follow collabs with the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, Stardew Valley, The Witcher 3 and Vampire Survivors. Seems like everyone wants to be pals with Balatro developer LocalThunk!Meanwhile, it emerged on Monday that PEGI, the body that runs the age rating system for games in Europe, has reclassified Balatro after determining it is suitable for players aged 12 and older. The board upped the age rating from 3+ to 18+ shortly after Balatro was released just over a year ago due to it containing "prominent gambling imagery and material that instructs about gambling," per publisher Playstack. The game was also temporarily removed from digital console storefronts in some markets.Playstack contended at the time that "Balatro does not allow or encourage gambling." Following an appeal, PEGI's complaints board has at last lowered the age rating to 12+. "Although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating," the complaints board concluded. Following that and a separate successful appeal for Luck Be A Landlord (which is also now rated 12+), PEGI plans to revise its guidelines for games that have gambling-related elements. "At this moment, any teaching or glamorization of simulated gambling automatically leads to a PEGI 18 rating," it said in a statement on Monday. "On the basis of these appeals, the PEGI Experts Group will develop a more granular set of classification criteria to handle gambling themes and the simulation, teaching and glamorization of gambling in different age categories, which will now include 12 but also keep 18 as an age category for games that simulate gambling typically played in casinos and betting halls."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-about-to-hook-a-lot-more-players-now-that-its-on-game-pass-192958603.html?src=rss
Google is planning to end support for SMS-based two-factor authentication in Gmail, Forbes reports. Sending a code to your personal phone via text message has long been an option Google offered to verify your identity, but it has unavoidable security issues the company wants to address.The goal is to "reduce the impact of rampant, global SMS abuse," Gmail spokesperson Ross Richendrfer tells Forbes, and the solution, at least for now, is QR codes. Instead of entering your number and receiving a text with a code you need to enter, Google will throw up a QR code you need to scan with your phone. The reliance on your smartphone is still present, but now you don't have to rely on the lax security of SMS messages.Using SMS two-factor authentication is better than nothing, but text messages aren't as secure as other methods. Criminals can intercept your message just by convincing your carrier to port your number to a new phone. By tricking a provider to send multiple SMS messages to a number a criminal operation controls in a process called "traffic pumping," they can even make money on each text, Google says. Considering the volume of SMS messages the company sends to both verify users and make sure people aren't bulk-creating accounts to send spam, it's not hard to see how SMS could be problem.Ultimately, the goal for Google and other companies like it is to use passkeys and move away from passwords entirely, but adoption is slow, and making the current, much more familiar process secure is still meaningful.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/gmail-will-stop-using-sms-for-two-factor-authentication-185615193.html?src=rss
It's been well over two years, but the wait is almost over. The second season of Andor hits Disney+ on April 22. The platform just dropped a juicy trailer to get all of us Star Wars fans pumped and ready.The footage shows plenty of cool stuff, including the return of Rogue One's chief antagonist Orson Crennic and the beloved droid K-2SO. The Death Star makes an appearance, which isn't surprising given the ending of the first season. Mon Mothma also attends an extravagant let them eat cake" type of party.There are a few bombastic explosions and several shots of the titular Cassian Andor walking down hallways. One thing this trailer doesn't spoil is the plot. The footage is just a hodgepodge of cool moments, so we still have no idea what our favorite rebel spy will be getting up to in season two. To me, this is a good thing.For the uninitiated, Andor is a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and is set after the rise of the empire but before the events of the original Star Wars movie. It's very good, with a tone that can only be described as prestige Star Wars." It stars Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgard, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough and, sometimes, Forest Whitaker. Season two brings new actors into the fold, like Adria Arjona.Disney+ is doing something unique with the release schedule here. Three episodes premiere on April 22, followed by another trio each week for a month. That adds up to 12 episodes. April is a big month for returning genre TV, as season two of The Last of Us premieres on April 13.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/disney-just-dropped-an-explosive-trailer-for-andor-season-2-184842360.html?src=rss
Apple plans to ramp up its US hiring and investments. On Monday, the company said it will hire around 20,000 workers and spend over $500 billion in the US over the next four years.In 2021, several months after former President Biden took office, Apple said it would invest $430 billion domestically over the following five years. Bloomberg notes today's announcement marks an added $39 billion in spending and an extra 1,000 jobs annually over its previous numbers.The newly announced package will include a new manufacturing facility in Houston to build servers for Apple Intelligence, which has increasingly become central to the company's plans and advertising campaigns. The Private Cloud Compute servers that handle Apple Intelligence's more complex server-AI queries use Apple M-series chips, which are still produced in Taiwan.Apple said most of the 20,000 new jobs will focus on R&D, AI and machine learning, silicon engineering and software development. The company will also expand its data center capacity in North Carolina, Iowa, Oregon, Arizona and Nevada to help meet Apple Intelligence's growing backend needs.The company will also open an Apple Manufacturing Academy in Detroit, where its engineers will work alongside "experts from top universities such as Michigan State" to consult with small and medium-sized businesses on implementing AI and smart manufacturing techniques. Apple will also offer free in-person and online skills development courses. It already runs a Developer Academy in the Motor City.The announcement follows a meeting between Tim Cook and President Donald Trump last week at the White House. Trump implied that Apple was making additional investments to avoid tariffs due to the iPhone maker's heavy reliance on manufacturing in China. "They don't want to be in the tariffs," Trump said after the meeting.Apple hasn't said whether investments are related to tariffs, instead framing them as a sign of confidence in the nation's ability to innovate. "We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we're proud to build on our long-standing US investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country's future," Cook said in a press release.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-plans-to-invest-500-billion-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years-181217017.html?src=rss
My dream of a Sayonara Wild Heartssequel might never be fulfilled, but the sudden arrival of an enhanced version for PS5 just filled my heart on a dreary Monday. Publisher Annapurna Interactive announced the upgrade for the 2019 rhythm action game during its latest showcase.The PS5 edition includes support for 4K visuals, 120 fps gameplay and haptic feedback via the DualSense controller. There's also a new unlockable mode called Remix Arcade that's only available on this PS5 version. Here, you'll try to nail high scores across random chunks of levels with no loading time between each. Developer Simogo notes that the mode will get progressively faster to add to the challenge.Simogo had some downtime while figuring out its next big project after Lorelai and the Laser Eyesand the opportunity came up to bring Sayonara Wild Hearts to PS5. The PS4 version already works on the console and the team wasn't really interested in only upgrading the fidelity.However, the studio "thought about the hardware and what type of experience that would only be possible on it and remembered that PlayStation 5 has a very fast SSD, which would allow for the type of quick loading we needed for our long lost Infinite Shuffle mode." Along with adding some new art and sound assets, the renamed Remix Arcade has "a random element that [will] sometimes mirror the level visually to keep players on their toes," the studio said.Best of all, the enhanced edition for PS5 is a free upgrade from the PS4 version. Sayonara Wild Hearts is also available in the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Otherwise, it costs $13.Sayonara Wild Hearts is one of my favorite games of all time, so I'm more than happy to have an excuse to play through its riotously fun, heart-mending story yet again. I'm tempted to plug my PS VR2 headset back in to let the stylized art and signature neon purple wash over my eyes as the dreamy pop soundtrack fills my ears.Here's hoping Annapurna brings the game back to iOS as well - it left Apple Arcade a few months ago. I need to have Sayonara Wild Hearts available at all times. It's not enough to have it on PS5, Steam Deck, Switch and PC (can you tell I like this game a whole lot?).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/an-enhanced-version-of-sayonara-wild-hearts-for-ps5-is-out-now-174752837.html?src=rss
Blendo Games' latest installment of interactive weirdness, Skin Deep,is due to hit Steam on April 30, after nearly seven years of development. Skin Deep is a first-person sci-fi shooter, but it doesn't look (or smell?) like any of the dramatic space operas or realistic, precision-based games that generally flood this genre.Skin Deep takes place on a futuristic cargo starship managed by an insurance corporation and filled with its clients' valuables, and you're the cryogenically frozen security officer kept on board in case something goes awry. Space pirates ambush the ship, your body thaws, and a non-linear game of shooting, sneaking, sabotaging and smelling ensues, all presented in Blendo's signature blocky 3D style.Skin Deep features a mix of puzzles, madcap comedy and action scenes, and alongside the first-person gunplay, there's a sneeze mechanic and a stink system that sometimes leaves little smelly clouds in your wake, alerting nearby pirates to your presence. It's like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, but with fewer medieval peasants and way more space cats. Did we mention there are a bunch of cats that you have to save on the ship? Because there are, and some of them are dressed in little cowboy outfits.For the odor mechanics, players become stinky only when it makes sense narratively, like when they're expelled from the ship's trash shoot alongside all the fish bones and rotten things. Your smell clouds subside once you figure out how to wash up. Sneezing follows a similar in-game logic.Blendo Games"If you're crawling through a dusty vent your little sneezy air level will increase, then you'll do a big sneeze noise," Chung told Engadget in 2021. "And there's a bag of pepper that we have. If you shoot it, a big cloud of pepper flies out. You can pick up a pepper bag and throw it at someone and they'll start sneezing."Skin Deep is the most action-focused game that Blendo has ever made. The independent studio, led by Brendon Chung, has a lineup of award-winning titles under its belt, including Quadrilateral Cowboy, Gravity Bone and Thirty Flights of Loving. These titles tend to highlight clever puzzles and polygonal oddities, and Skin Deep is the first Blendo project to feature first-person shooter mechanics.That's not to say FPS development is a new idea for Chung. He got his start in game development by customizing levels in Doom, Quake, Half-Life, Quake 2 and Doom 3 when he was a kid, and FPS games are often what he's drawn to as a player. He's still using a modified port of id Software's Doom 3 engine, idTech4, to make Skin Deep."I've played like a bazillion FPS games because I just really enjoy them," Chung said in 2021, "but I feel like there's so much that can be explored and that I wish these games would explore." You know, like well-dressed cats and stink systems.Blendo GamesWhen we talked with Chung four years ago, the Skin Deep FAQ page read, "Is Skin Deep going to take 4+ years of development time like your previous game Quadrilateral Cowboy?" And the answer was, "I hope not." Today, there's an "(update: oops...)" added to that response. Development on Skin Deep started around July 2018, according to the FAQ.Skin Deep is published by Annapurna Interactive and it's heading to Steam on April 30. A new demo is live now on Steam, as part of the Steam Next Fest hullaballoo. Steam Next Fest runs from February 24 at 1PM ET to March 3 at 1PM ET, showcasing a ton of fresh game demos and developer insights on the storefront.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/blendo-games-oddball-sci-fi-shooter-skin-deep-hits-pc-on-april-30-173010803.html?src=rss
The 8BitDo M Edition Retro Mechanical Keyboard is now 40 percent off at Woot, down to $60, the lowest it's ever been. It's a newer version of the Retro 108 Mechanical Keyboard (without the numpad) that ships with a pair of programmable "Super Buttons" which resemble gigantic versions of the A and B buttons on an old game controller. This 87-key keyboard has top-mounted hot-swappable PCBs, making it perfect for enthusiasts who like to tinker with their keyboards. It boasts three connection modes: wired, wireless 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth, and you can use the top left knob to swap between them. For users who want to do some custom key mapping, 8BitDo offers its Ultimate Software V2. However, it's only available on Windows. You can still use this keyboard on Mac, but the software won't work. Woot has more discounted products as part of its video game sale. Aside from some peripherals, many games are also on sale. Of note, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is down to $45, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is discounted to $42. The sale will only last five days, or until supplies run out. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/8bitdos-m-edition-retro-mechanical-keyboard-is-40-percent-off-right-now-164852149.html?src=rss
In another sign that the Trump administration will be friendlier toward the cryptocurrency industry, the Securities and Exchange Commission is dropping an investigation into Robinhood. The agency has informed the company that it won't move forward with any enforcement action, Robinhood said on Monday.In May last year, Robinhood received a Wells Notice from the SEC indicating that the agency's staff was going to recommend enforcement action against it. The company had faced potential charges of violating securities law through its crypto listings and sales. Under the Biden administration, there was some momentum for cryptocurrency to be considered and regulated as securities; Trump's policy goals seem to signal the opposite."Robinhood Crypto always has and will always respect federal securities laws and never allowed transactions in securities," Dan Gallagher, Robinhood's chief legal, compliance and corporate affairs officer, said in a statement. "As we explained to the SEC, any case against Robinhood Crypto would have failed. We appreciate the formal closing of this investigation, and we are happy to see a return to the rule of law and commitment to fairness at the SEC."Robinhood added that it was looking forward to working with the SEC to develop a clearer and more "tailored" regulatory framework for digital assets. The company introduced its crypto wallet in 2022, but it has faced regulatory trouble. New York officials handed the crypto side of Robinhood's business a $30 million fine in 2022 and in 2024, the company reached a $3.9 million settlement with California over crypto withdrawal claims. Meanwhile, just last month, Robinhood agreed to pay $45 million to settle SEC charges related to record keeping, trade reporting and other alleged rule violations.Last week, Coinbase said the SEC was dropping a case against it. In a lawsuit filed during the Biden administration, the agency had accused that company of running an unregistered securities exchange.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-sec-is-dropping-an-investigation-into-robinhood-160629179.html?src=rss
Google's Veo 2 model was announced last December, and now we have an idea of what using it will cost. According to its pricing page: 50 cents per second of footage.Veo 2 is presently limited to two-minute clips in up to 4K resolution -a fair sight more than the 20-second, 1080p clips generated by ChatGPT's Sora model. It's somewhat more difficult to compare the two on pricing as Sora uses a subscription-based approach. The staggering $200 ChatGPT Pro plan entitles a user to 500 videos per month, while the Plus plan caps things at 50 videos and hobbles the maximum quality and length to 720p and five seconds, respectively. Veo 2 users, meanwhile, just pay piecemeal whenever they choose.Big-budget feature films cost many multiples of Veo's pricing per second to produce, but that's not really what the model is currently seeking or able to compete with. Google is already testing Veo 2 as a means to quickly generate backgrounds for YouTube Shorts through its Dream Screen feature. It (and Sora) are also likely to take a bite out of the stock footage industry, where high-quality clips can cost 100 times what a Veo 2 clip would. Of course, those clips are typically free of weird artifacts and mangled hands.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/each-second-of-googles-veo-2-ai-video-footage-will-cost-50-cents-155419146.html?src=rss
Apple introduced its first in-house cellular modem, the C1, last week with the announcement of the not-so-budget iPhone 16e, and while it didn't get into too much detail about it, the company reportedly has some big plans for future iterations. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple intends to eventually meld the modem component into the main processor." Integrating the modem into the main processor could have energy and cost benefits, but that design is still a ways off. We'll likely see the C2 and C3 without it first, which the company is already testing according to Gurman, and the integrated design won't follow until 2028 at the earliestDuring its unveiling, Apple called the new C1 modem its most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone." The $599 iPhone 16e also has an A18 chip (but with four GPU cores) and supports Apple Intelligence, even if that's not what people actually wanted out of it.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-reportedly-plans-to-combine-its-modem-with-future-processors-as-a-single-package-225159519.html?src=rss
Netflix dropped a blooper reel this weekend from the first season of its live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender show, giving fans a look at some cute behind the scenes antics while they wait for the next season. The first season was released a year ago, and Netflix announced shortly after that the show had been renewed for two more. There's no release date yet for the new episodes, but the streaming service said on Saturday that production for the second season is underway. The third season will be its last.
You've heard of roguelike, you've heard of Soulslike, but have you ever heard of Rootlike? Root Bear is one of those games that just perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Playdate; it's silly as hell, uses the crank and will engage your competitive side as you rack up tips from soda-drinking bears and try to beat your own high score. The game has been a massive success, so it's no surprise to see it's now inspired the development of other games in its style. Well, one game at least. Pup Cup, which recently arrived on the Playdate Catalog from developer Ledbetter Games, is a Root-like score-chaser" where instead of serving soda to bears, you're making delicious sweet treats for dogs (and a few other surprise guests). In Pup Cup, you have 60 seconds to earn as many tail-wags as possible from the dogs who show up to your whipped cream stand. Some might want a towering heap, while others just want a little taste. The key is to fill the pup cup only to the height of the little box hovering over it, or the Good Boy Zone," by putting the crank in the forward position. If you serve too much, whipped cream is going to splat all over the place. But too little will leave the dogs disappointed, and who wants that? There's also Bork Mode, in which you can pet the dogs and add toppings, like a squeaky rubber duck, to earn yourself some more time. This makes things a little more complicated, though, as you have to pay attention to the D-pad icon that will briefly flash next to the dog in order to know which button to press, and you have to coordinate this correctly with the timing of your pour. Pup Cup is a feel-good take on Root Bear. The gameplay is a little more relaxed, and it's hard not to smile at the rotation of cute dogs popping up on your screen. Some of them wear outfits and accessories, and they may end up with a swirl of whipped cream on their nose. Each dog has its own little anxiously waiting animation, and happy customers will give you heart eyes when their orders have been fulfilled. It's adorably goofy. You might even encounter a familiar knife-wielding goose or robotic dog. As if all that wasn't wholesome enough, the team also went out and served pup cups to dogs IRL during the Puppy Bowl. You can get Pup Cup on the Playdate Catalog for $3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/if-you-liked-the-playdate-game-root-bear-you-should-check-out-pup-cup-201408441.html?src=rss
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