Back in December, Sony announced the limited availability of PS5 themes that captured the retro-goodness of old-school PlayStation consoles. That availability window closes at the end of January, which is a bummer, but the company just said that the classic PlayStation, PS2, PS3 and PS4 limited-time console themes" will be coming back in the months ahead."There's no specific time frame here, as Sony notes that it has to do some work behind the scenes" to make this happen. However, it's good to know that January 31 will not spell the end for these nostalgic themes.
Over a year since it dipped into generative artificial intelligence, Samsung's Galaxy S-series phones are now the vanguard for its gen-AI features. This year, we're getting even deeper hooks into Google's Gemini AI assistant and more built-in software tricks than ever before. At the same time, however, the Galaxy S25 arrives with marginal hardware upgrades over last year's S24. While there's a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it," you'll need to stare hard at the spec sheets to spot the differences between this year's phone and the 2024 model. With the Galaxy S25, there's a triple-camera system, a 6.2-inch Full HD+ screen and support for the ever-improving Galaxy AI, which the company seems to be prioritizing this year - even if it isn't quite enough to carry an entirely new device. Hardware and design Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget Barring a powerful new chip, the S25 is a massive serving of deja vu from a hardware perspective. You could revisit last year's S24 review to get the gist. Samsung decided thinner is the new direction this time around. Galaxy S25 Edge aside, this year's range has been slimmed down. I think the S25 is tangibly thinner - but that's because I was able to compare it with a Galaxy S24 side-by-side. It's less of a selling point when measuring a change of 0.4 millimeters. After several years of carrying around and testing phones with screens over 6.5 inches, having the S25 with me is refreshing. Even if the 6.2-inch screen is a little small for extensive Netflix or YouTube watching, like the 6.3-inch Pixel 9 Pro, it remains plenty big for pretty much everything else. The 2X AMOLED screen tops out at 2,600 nits, which is plenty bright enough, with variable refresh rates that top out at 120Hz. I received the Silver Shadow S25 with a frosted sheen, which I love. It's not the most eye-catching option, however. I think the rich Navy blue is my pick. But who are we kidding? Most of us throw our phones into cases - and I'll do the same once my case gets here. Oddly enough, one of the upgrades with the S25 involves adding a case: support for faster Qi2 charging (and magnetic latching) is only possible through compatible cases. Those cases, however, weren't available for this review. My colleague Sam Rutherford explains it all here; but at least there's some compatibility, which was lacking in last year's Galaxy phones. Cameras Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget Samsung makes some of the best smartphones for photography, which is lucky because the S25's camera sensors appear identical to last year's. Which themselves are the same as the year before. Hmm. As a refresher, that includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide shooter and a 10MP 3x telephoto camera with a front-facing 12MP camera. if you're looking for 5x zoom and high-res sensors, you should check out the Galaxy S25 Ultra (or the Pixel 9 Pro) - but the setup on the base S25 still works well, despite the aging sensors. I was pleasantly surprised with the S25's sheer consistency. Most of my photos were crisp and objects were in focus, although I preferred the iPhone 16's results in darker conditions. I found that the Galaxy S25 tends to process images differently between the telephoto and primary sensor, with some night-time shots coming out a bit amber-hued. Samsung's claims that the new Snapdragon 8 Elite would help low-light performance are also accurate. The company says that with the chip's power, the S25 series can better analyze noise, even detecting moving and static objects and processing them differently. Samsung's computational photography has also improved when it comes to difficult shooting conditions. Digital zoom, at 10x, seems crisper and offers more usable photos than its predecessors. If you're willing to dip into a separate camera app, Samsung's Expert RAW features another new option: virtual aperture. I've struggled to discern a tangible difference while shooting with the S25. It appears to be a more advanced version of Portrait mode, without requiring the phone to identify a person or subject to apply a soft bokeh to the background. The effect is moderately successful, but demands a good level of light. I found it struggled to apply a virtual aperture effect in dark environments. Unfortunately, the feature is hidden away in the experimental section of Samsung's Expert RAW camera app, which needs to be downloaded separately. This camera app is for power users who demand manual controls, and it's great that it's available. However, lots of (maybe most) prospective S25 buyers won't need it, or even know it exists Another under-the-hood improvement is within S25's gallery, where the search feature has improved categorization and makes it generally easier to find what you're looking for. As I typed, it'd suggest WhatsApp images, locations and more. Samsung says it's added 2.7 times more keywords, which is delightfully specific. While photography is still similar, spec-wise, on the S25, Samsung has substantially improved video for more seasoned cinematographers. This year's phones will also capture video in HDR by default, while a new Galaxy Log mode means you can capture log video for improved dynamic range. It'll also mean you can apply more accurate color grading if you like to edit videos and get in deep. Video is also recorded in 10-bit color, offering more latitude for editors. Still, like I said, this is for folks already neck-deep in using LUTs, with a compatible editing app at the ready. With Audio Eraser. Samsung has caught up with Apple and Google. This is its own post-processing feature for recording video in louder environments. It taps into AI to nix specific environmental noises, like wind, water and traffic. The effect isn't quite as impressive in real life as during Samsung's S25 launch keynote, however. When faced with the erratic street traffic noise, Audio Eraser's automatic setting compressed the audio pretty severely, leaving my voice sounding a little gurgly and crunchy. It's similar to audio with noise cancellation on Google Meet and WhatsApp voice notes. I was definitely more audible - but it wasn't easy listening. The upgrades are welcome, but given the iPhone 16's Camera Control button and the Pixel 9's latest software tricks like Add Me, Samsung's cameras have had a weaker showing than the competition. Software Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget Software additions don't stop at the camera app. There's a scattering of new features across the board with the S25. The most immediately noticeable update is more of a duo: Now Bar and Now Brief. The Now Bar is a new lockscreen tile - part contextual info panel and part notification banner. With rolling Google Maps navigation instructions and media playing functions, we've seen many of these ideas on the iPhone's Dynamic Island. Samsung's version is more limited, at least for now. Embarrassingly, only eight apps (or features) can appear on the Now Bar, including the clock, sports notifications from Google and a voice recorder. It's underwhelming. If third-party app makers (or more Google apps) can make their way into the Bar, it could be more helpful, but as it is, it's barely more than a lock-screen widget. The Now Brief, similarly, could use a little more meat. I hate to make another Apple comparison, but it's a more accessible version of the iPhone's summaries generated in Notifications. The Now Brief populates with relevant notifications, weather summaries and even traffic guidance, all of which is possibly most valuable in the mornings. It will also generate daily summaries accessible from a widget on the S25's home screen. I'll be strapping on a Galaxy Watch to see how these interact with fitness goals and wellness, so stay tuned for more insight here. (Sidenote: Google Discover, a swipe-left-from-home screen also offers a similar stream of news, notifications and other smartphone info. It has been around for years.) Changes elsewhere seem more like rebranded features. AI Select (once called Smart Select) resides in the pull-out Edge Panel (and the screenshot toolbar) and will offer up suggested actions once you select or circle something onscreen. It can offer clever suggestions when it contextually detects an event to add to your calendar or something that needs translating. I'm not sure AI Select is noticeably better than Smart Select, but it's at least on by default. You had to enable the former in Settings for it to appear in the Edge Panel. While it's not completely straightforward, AI Select does work well as a shortcut, suggesting translation with foreign languages or offering to pull dates into your calendar with a tap. This ties into Gemini AI upgrades, which appear first on the S25 series but will be coming to other Android phones that can run Gemini AI. With a long press of a button, your voice commands to Gemini can pull in information and then apply them to make a reminder, plan a route or send details through text message to a friend, or even a WhatsApp message. I'm looking forward to Android adding further third-party apps and services, but I've been waiting for more effortless uses for AI assistants. This is a step in that direction. I'm also not entirely writing off the Now Brief. It could improve over time, especially with Samsung's Personal Data Engine, which will attempt to join the dots between your smartphone interactions. As I finished this review, the Now Brief began offering audio highlights from The Guardian, even though I hadn't yet installed the news organization's app. However, Galaxy AI figured it out, it was the right choice: I don't read the Daily Mail Online. I wish Google and Apple News would work that out without me having to actively block news sources. Performance and battery life Has Samsung solved our smartphone battery life woes? The Galaxy S25 clocked in at over 28 hours of video playback. That's almost four hours more than last year's S24, and given the hardware parity with the S25, it's a testament to the processor efficiency upgrades this year. With more typical use, I was recharging the phone every two days. That's not how often I usually have to charge smartphones during reviews - I'm very impressed. With the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, those gains aren't just in efficiency. The CPU multi-core performance hit 8,950 (up from 7,049 on the S24), while GPU scored 19,158, up from 15,082 last year. Not that there was that much need for such a leap. Once again, the Galaxy S25 is fast and handled everything I threw at it effortlessly. However, back-to-back generative AI requests and shooting and uploading 4K video made the S25 heat up - it lacks the expanded vapor chamber that Samsung added to the S25 Ultra. Wrap up Photo by Mat Smith for Engadget With the Galaxy S25, never has a Galaxy S series seemed more iterative. Fortunately, Samsung's premium smartphones are in a commanding position, so even with a screen (an cameras) that are now two years old, the Galaxy S25 isn't a bad smartphone. In fact, it's a very good one. I described the S25's cameras as consistent and I think that applies to the entire phone. The screen is bright, smooth and rich, the battery life is, frankly, incredible, while both performance scores and my experience with it prove this is a powerful flagship phone. I love the streamlined Gemini AI capabilities, which can take a voice command and easily turn it into a calendar entry, reminder and even plan my route. Even Galaxy AI diversions like the Portrait Studio offered more refined (and consistent) 3D cartoons and sketches of my portrait photos. I'm not sure Samsung's features would warrant an AI subscription - I doubt many would pay for them as they stand. And that brings me to a bigger point: Besides a powerful new chip and AI tricks, why isn't the S25 cheaper? The Galaxy S25 is priced at $799 at launch, the same as the S24 and even the S23. The comparison you have to make isn't only with the latest iPhone, but also cheaper Android phones, like the $499 Pixel 8a. Or, unfortunately, the year-old Galaxy S24. Unless you're desperate for a bump in processing power and battery life, it would be wise to see how heavily last year's models get discounted in the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-review-170040665.html?src=rss
The generative intelligence platform DeepSeek has set the world on fire this week, but with great popularity comes increased scrutiny. Analysts with Wiz Research have found a fairly substantial hole in the software's security. The research shows that DeepSeek left one of its critical databases exposed.This means that whoever came across the database would be allowed access to more than one million records, including user data, system logs, API keys and even prompt submissions. The researchers also noted that they were able to find the database almost immediately, without too much scanning or probing.
You won't have to wait too much longer to find out how the story of Squid Game wraps up. Only a month after the second season premiered, Netflix has revealed that the final episodes of its biggest non-English language series ever will arrive on June 27. That's a remarkably short window, especially considering that there was a gap of over three years between the first and second seasons.As was the case the last time around, the third season will pick up right where the previous one ended (no spoilers here, but season two ended on a cliffhanger). Meanwhile, Netflix has revealed that season two of Squid Game is already its third most-downloaded series of all time, behind the first season in top spot and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.Netflix announced the Squid Game season three release date as part of an expansive look at its 2025 film and TV slate. On the movie side, there's another Knives Out murder mystery to look forward to in the fall, as well as Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein this November. As for Netflix's shows, the animated adaptation ofDevil May Cry will debut on April 3.The company reaffirmed that the next seasons of Black Mirror, Wednesday, The Witcherand Stranger Things will arrive this year, but no dates have been confirmed for those as yet. To speculate for a moment, a fall premiere date for Stranger Things season five seems likely. Both that and Squid Game are among the company's franchises and putting some distance between their final installments makes sense.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/squid-game-season-three-will-hit-netflix-on-june-27-162235783.html?src=rss
Nothing is launching a new device, the Phone 3a Series, on March 4. That's a year after the London-based company launched the Phone 2a, which is a budget version of the brand's Phone 2 model released in 2023. Nothing models with "a" in them are typically the less expensive versions of those without - its Ear a earbuds are also cheaper than the Ear, for instance, - but there's no Phone 3 for which the 3a would serve as a budget alternative. Most likely, the Phone 3a is simply named as such, because it would be in the same price range as the 2a that sold for at least $349 at launch."For the (a) Series we have a different set of users," Nothing co-founder Akis Evangelidis said. "When people buy a smartphone some are looking for the greatest specs, they want the latest innovations and processors. Yet there are some other users that are equally excited about tech, but are happy with just a great user experience - that's who the (a) Series is for. We're really focused on the core user needs in terms of camera, screen, processor, and of course design."If you want to be notified when Nothing unveils the Phone 3a on March 4 at 5AM ET, you can sign up to get an alert on the company's website. We'll, of course, keep you updated, as well. In addition to announcing the Phone 3a's upcoming launch, the company has also revealed that it has surpassed $1 billion in lifetime revenue since it was founded in October 2020, half of which Nothing earned in 2024.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/nothing-is-launching-the-phone-3a-series-on-march-4-150026313.html?src=rss
What a difference a year makes. When Microsoft announced the Surface Pro 10 and Laptop 6 for Business last March, it almost seemed as if the company was giving up on the consumer PC market entirely. Of course, just a few months later, we got the new Surface Pro and Laptop Copilot+ systems, which was also the debut of Microsoft's AI PC initiative. Now, the company is rounding out its Surface family by updating its Business machines - those meant for corporate customers - with Intel's new Core Ultra 200V AI PC processors. Say hello to the new Intel-equipped Surface Pro (11th Edition) and Surface Laptop (7th Edition) for Business.If you've been eagerly awaiting a cellular-equipped Surface Laptop, Microsoft also says it'll launch a 5G model later this year. Aside from that, the big change with Intel's new Core Ultra chips is their larger 48 TOPS NPU, which will allow them to handle more complex AI tasks than before. In comparison, the original Core Ultra chips had much smaller 10 TOPS NPUs. The upgrade will particularly relevant for advanced AI features like Windows Recall, which requires a 40 TOPS NPU at the very least (the minimum requirement for all Copilot+ systems).MicrosoftAside from better AI performance, you can expect Intel's Core Ultra 200V chips on the Surface Laptop 7 to be around 26 percent faster than the Laptop 5 when it comes to multitasking, while also delivering double the graphics performance and three times better battery life. We haven't seen performance metrics for the new Surface Pro, but Microsoft claims it offers double the battery life in Teams calls compared to the Surface Pro 9.MicrosoftJust like other Copilot+ systems, the new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop also come with Microsoft's Pluton chip for security. The company says Pluton hardware will also get an update with a Key Storage Provider (KSP) feature later this year. It will "allow for more secure storage and management of cryptographic keys," according to Microsoft.As for accessories, there's also a new $200 Surface USB 4 Dock, which includes two USB-C connections, USB-A, Ethernet and HDMI. It also supports fast charging for both new systems - and for that price, it damn well better.MicrosoftThe new Intel Core Ultra 200V-equipped Surface Pro and Surface Laptop will be available on February 18, starting at $1,500. And if you're looking for better battery life, you can opt for the Qualcomm Snapdragon variants as well (though be ready to deal with slower emulated apps and potential software and driver incompatibility).This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/microsofts-surface-pro-and-laptop-for-business-are-getting-intels-new-ai-pc-chips-150001906.html?src=rss
In November, Transport for London (TfL) announced new steps to regulate e-bikes, but a lack of legislation or power meant that most of the onus fell to e-bike services to do the right thing. Now, Lime CEO Wayne Ting has announced a 20 million ($24.8 million) five-point London Action Plan to help with overcrowding and poor parking, multiple publications report, including UKTN."The feedback we've received from London residents, community groups and elected officials is why we're launching our London Action Plan," Ting stated. "We recognise the need for meaningful investments to accelerate change and improve parking, starting with more funding for dedicated e-bike parking, and additional operational capacity and processes."An investment of 5 million ($6.2 million) will go into creating 2,500 additional e-bike parking spaces. Part of the plan will also include expanding Lime's on-street team to 400 people and aiming to move or collect about 4,000 bikes daily. Plus, Lime intends to use improved AI to confirm proper parking in end of trip photos.The action plan directly responds to TfL's statement at the end of last year. "The new policy sets out that TfL will consider taking action against operators who allow their bikes to be parked outside of designated places on red routes and on TfL land, which includes areas such as station forecourts and bus garages," the organization said. "Operators are ultimately responsible for ensuring their bikes are deployed and parked bikes appropriately."As someone living in London, I can certaintly attest that Lime bikes are scattered everywhere around the city. Lime claims that 49 percent of 18 to 34 year olds in London rent an e-bike weekly. The company also states that 2024 saw an 85 percent increase in annual journeys.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/lime-announces-25-million-action-plan-to-help-fix-londons-e-bike-chaos-141559309.html?src=rss
If there are two things Netflix has been pushing over the last couple years its live sports and games. A large part of this initiative has come through its partnership with WWE to stream live shows. But, starting fall 2025, Netflix subscribers will also be getting exclusive access to WWE 2K video games on mobile.The WWE 2K series first launched 25 years ago and has remained extremely popular. Now, the organization is leaning further into its partnership with Netflix to give the streamer unique access.This announcement comes shortly after Monday Night Raw, WWE's flagship show, began weekly live streams on Netflix in the US, UK, Latin America, Canada and more. It's the first time in over 30 years that the show hasn't aired on a linear TV network. Netflix is reportedly paying WWE $5 billion over 10 years for the ability to air Monday Night Raw and other WWE programs.WWE 2K will join over 100 games currently available in Netflix's library. It also won't require ads or in-app purchases. Subscribers can also check out some of the best games on Netflix include Kentucky Route Zero, Triviaverse and Before Your Eyes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/netflix-is-the-exclusive-home-of-wwes-2k-fighting-game-on-mobile-140059055.html?src=rss
GrubHub is partnering with Avride, an autonomous robot delivery company, to expand its offerings on college campuses. The pair have launched 100 robots on The Ohio State University's campus, but have plans to expand further.Our robots have already proven their value in campus environments, delivering convenience and delight to students," said Dmitry Polishchuk, CEO of Avride, in a release. We're thrilled to be working with Grubhub to scale this success and expect to see hundreds of our robots serving campuses already in 2025."Avride launched a new model last October, notably ditching its six wheels for a more efficient four. The robots can hold a decent amount of food, such as an assortment of pizza and drinks, the company states. They also have customizable LED panels that offer animated designs, such as the college's colors. The robots can also make 180-degree turns instantly, thanks to a new mechanical connection between each side's wheel pairs. Plus, they can move faster than their predecessor and can park on inclines.This partnership adds to GrubHub's existing robot delivery presence on campuses. Since 2021, the company claims it has delivered hundreds of thousands of orders using robots on dozens of schools. That year, it partnered with Russian tech company Yandex - which used to house what is now Avride in its autonomous driving wing. However, that bit of the company spun-off as its own entity, divested its Russian assets following the country's invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 and rebranded as Avride.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/grubhub-is-bringing-new-delivery-robots-to-college-campuses-140028029.html?src=rss
It feels like every major tech company is totally convinced that AI is the future. And for all I know, they may be right. But while we're waiting for someone to develop our seemingly inevitable AGI-based overlords, we have to suffer through every baby step to get today's machine learning-powered features. Unfortunately, that's a problem for gadgets like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra - because when the biggest focus of a new $1,300 flagship smartphone is iterative AI updates, the device can feel a bit underwhelming. Combine that with hardware that seems like it's been frozen in time for the last couple of years and you get something that leaves you wanting more.Design and display: Rounded corners, Gorilla Armor 2 and not much elseFor this year's Ultra, Samsung wanted to give the phone a softer, more curvy appearance to reinforce the familial resemblance between it and its less expensive siblings. And by rounding off the S25 Ultra's corners, I'd say mission accomplished. Elsewhere, its front and back glass are now made of Corning Gorilla Armor 2, which features a new version of the company's anti-reflective coating and looks great. When combined with bezels that are 15 percent smaller than before, you get a phone with super clean lines and a slightly larger 6.9-inch display (up from 6.8 inches) without an increase in its physical size.But make no mistake, the S25U still feels a lot like the last two Ultras that came before it. Its flat edges give it a very boxy feel, and even though the Note line is dead, there's still the requisite cubby hole for the S Pen. However, for 2025 the included stylus has gotten a minor downgrade now that Samsung has removed support for Bluetooth Low Energy. This means it no longer supports Air action gestures, so you can't use it as a remote camera trigger or to do things like switch cameras or change photo modes.Samsung claims this loss of functionality shouldn't be a big deal as a tiny fraction of people actually used the feature. Plus, if you want a way to remotely snap a photo, there are other methods like holding your hand up to the camera or using a Galaxy Ring or Watch. But if you're one of the few who did enjoy Air actions, it's an unfortunate step backward. Thankfully, for those who absolutely need a stylus with gesture support, you can still get that functionality from Samsung's optional S Pen Pro.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetOne small thing I do want to call out is the improved anti-reflective coating on the S25 Ultra's screen. It strikes an almost perfect balance between typical glossy displays and the matte texture used on traditional desktop monitors. Colors remain vivid while still cutting out the most distracting forms of glare, and with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, the screen dazzles in practically any environment.Performance: More speed than you'll know what to do withThe Galaxy S Ultra has never lacked power, but that didn't stop Samsung from adding even more speed thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. This thing absolutely flies and there's not much you can do to slow it down. Samsung has even tightened up the animations in One UI so that the phone feels as responsive as its benchmarks suggest, which are up as much as 30 to 40 percent depending on the task (or closer to 15 percent while gaming). The one wrinkle to this is that, when under heavy loads, the S25 Ultra does become a bit power-hungry, which can result in slightly faster-than-expected battery drain when doing heavy multitasking or running demanding apps.Software: Just what you wanted, more AIPhoto by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe S25 Ultra's main focus for this year is on improved AI. This can be seen across a number of new and improved features (and some obvious inspiration from rivals like Apple and Google) with the general goal of making all of its tools more powerful, more intuitive and in many cases, easier to use with your voice.The first major addition is Samsung's Now Brief, which adds a personalized feed filled with things like the weather, local traffic, upcoming calendar appointments, the news and more. It gets refreshed periodically throughout the day (morning, midday, afternoon, etc.) and by using what Samsung calls its Personal Data Engine, it will attempt to learn what you like instead of having you check off a list of tickboxes. It's a handy tool, though for anyone already familiar with the Android ecosystem, it's not especially groundbreaking. And it does take time for the phone to understand what you do and don't care about, which adds a bit of a learning curve to the process.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetNow Briefs also works with Samsung's Now bar to surface relevant events in other areas of the phone - specifically your lock screen and notification shade. It's meant to help you keep tabs on apps you're using (like how long you've let the Voice Recorder app run) or stuff like sports scores, with the ability to toggle between different things simply by swiping left and right. It's helpful, but forgive me if this is becoming repetitive, because many of these look like duplicate versions of stuff like Google's Live Notifications.Meanwhile, if you open the Edge Panel by swiping in on the tab on the right side of the screen, you'll see even more AI features. AI Select is a revamped take on Smart Select, which helps you take screenshots, turn videos into gifs and more. Drawing Assist is the tool formerly known as Sketch to Image, which lets you create art by doodling with the S Pen or using text inputs. And then there's the self-explanatory Interpreter app, plus an icon for Now Brief in case you don't like using the widget. All of these sort of work just like you expect them to, and in some cases like when drawing, the resulting images are a touch more detailed and realistic than before. But to me, the biggest upgrade across Samsung's second-gen AI suite is a slightly more cohesive UI that makes learning what each tool can do a bit easier.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetPerhaps my favorite new use of AI is improved natural language commands throughout the phone. For example in the Gallery app, you can search for specific subjects just by hitting the asking Gemini (or Bixby too, if you're into that). It's a convenient way to quickly find a specific photo amongst thousands of shots - though once again, there's similar functionality in Google Photos. But more importantly, you can use voice commands to do stuff like change device settings or even add events to your calendar. And you don't even need to be very specific. When I asked the phone to add the next Knicks game to my calendar, I didn't need to give it any more information than that. It all feels slightly magical, even if it's not an essential part of my day.Cameras: A new ultra-wide sensor but that's about itPhoto by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetLike its predecessors, the S25 Ultra features a 200-megapixel main camera and a 50MP telephoto with a 5x zoom. The one upgrade is a new 50MP sensor for its ultra-wide lens (up from 12MP). As you'd expect, expansive landscape pics look a touch sharper thanks to the increased resolution, though aside from that, there aren't a ton of immediately obvious improvements to the rest of the phone's general image quality.As you'd expect, in bright light the S25 Ultra captures lovely images with rich details and vibrant colors. However, I did notice that Samsung's penchant for going slightly overboard on sharpening can still be an issue. The new ultra-wide sensor also provides a noticeable upgrade in image quality to the point where I prefer it over what the Pixel 9 Pro can do. But I must admit, compared to the main camera or even the 5x zoom, that lens is the one I use the least, so it doesn't have as much of an impact on my overall photography.In low light, the S25 Ultra nearly kept pace with Google's Night Sight mode on the Pixel 9 Pro, and in a few situations, it pulled ahead. However, I had a hard time spotting how much of an effect Samsung's improved noise reduction had on nighttime graininess. Regardless, even with a few hiccups, the S25 Ultra proved it can hang with other top-tier shooters from Google and others.Meanwhile, in the Camera and Gallery apps, there are some handy tweaks including the new Audio Eraser feature. It uses AI to identify a handful of different sound types (such as speech, wind noise and more) before creating a custom EQ that lets you adjust things on the fly. This is great for those times when you're shooting video and ambient sounds make it hard to hear what people are saying. You can also create and save custom photo filters to ensure all your pics on social media have a unique and consistent look.Additionally, for more advanced users, there's a virtual aperture setting that gives you a bit more control over depth of field, though it's still not nearly as good as being able to physically switch lenses like you can on a proper camera. And for even more demanding content creators, Samsung created a new Galaxy Log video format that allows you to more easily edit and color grade your footage. That said, unless you're a YouTuber or hardcore video junkie, you may not get a ton of use out of these tools, especially with the latter of the two being restricted to Samsung's Expert Raw app (which doesn't come pre-installed).Battery life and charging: Samsung is cutting corners with its Qi2 readiness"Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetThe size of the Galaxy S25 Ultra's 5,000 mAh power pack hasn't changed in five years, but that's OK because you still get great battery life. On our local video rundown test, it lasted an incredible 29 hours and 27 minutes, which is up almost two hours compared to last year's phone. That said, it's important to note that the S25U loses in both capacity and longevity to the OnePlus 13, whose 6,000 mAh cell posted an even better time of 30:18.Wired charging is staying put at up to 45 watts and annoyingly it's a very similar story when using wireless pads as well. That's because while technically the S25 Ultra supports version 2.1 of the WPC's Qi charging spec and is said to be Qi2 ready", because Samsung didn't include magnets inside the phone, it won't work with the wide variety of Qi2 accessories on sale today. At least not without some help. For that, you need to rely on a Qi2 charging case to add the proper alignment and mounting point needed to attach magnetic peripherals.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetFor a lot of Android phones users, this is really disappointing after seeing the wealth of MagSafe gadgets that iPhone users have enjoyed for several generations. As the biggest phone maker on the planet, Samsung has a lot of sway when it comes to fostering the adoption of useful protocols like Qi2 and seeing them stop short of truly supporting the spec is a bit bewildering.Wrap upThe S25 Ultra is a hugely versatile phone, but this edition of Samsung's flagship is hard to get excited about. That's because while it's one of the few handsets with an included stylus and a long 5x telephoto zoom, its general hardware and capabilities haven't changed much since the previous generation. Or even two models back for that matter. Even so, the screens on Samsung phones are unrivaled while camera quality remains among the best. And while its battery hasn't gotten bigger in years, longevity remains strong. Then you add in a new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with blazing performance and you get a phone that's good at pretty much everything. But for $1,300, it better be able to deliver on all that and more.Photo by Sam Rutherford/EngadgetAnd it's that and more" where the S25 Ultra's value proposition gets a bit awkward. The phone's biggest advancements are more powerful software and AI. Features like AI Select, Now Brief and improved natural language commands make the phone smarter and easier to use. But consider this: If you could pay for those tools separately, how much extra would you fork over to get more sophisticated AI on your phone? For many, that number might be zero, or at the very least a way less than the price of upgrading and the hassle of setting up a new phone and then figuring out how to use it.This means a lot of what Samsung focused on in this generation feels more like a bonus rather than a must-have feature. And when you can get around 90 percent of the phone's capabilities from previous models, the most dangerous thing Samsung is asking buyers to consider is why they need to upgrade at all.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s25-ultra-review-too-much-ai-not-enough-ultra-140022798.html?src=rss
Vodafone has demonstrated the capabilities of a new satellite network by making what it calls the "world's first" satellite video call, albeit with some caveats. The company used partner AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites specifically designed to transmit 4G/5G mobile broadband signals from space. That technology will give users broadband cellular capability with any 4G/5G smartphone in remote areas lacking traditional mobile coverage.In its demonstration, Vodafone Group's chief executive Margherita Della Valle explained that the BlueBird satellites can connect directly with a regular smartphone, then transmit the signal back to Vodafone's terrestrial network via a satellite link. She then took a call from an engineer in a remote mountain region of Wales, a "nought spot" with no cellular coverage. The quality was a bit low-res and had substantial lag, but was decent otherwise.AST SpaceMobile's five BlueBird satellites have onboard communications arrays that give off-the-shelf smartphones the same voice, data and video speeds as a broadband tower, up to 120 megabits per second. Once operational, the satellites will provide "non-continuous cellular broadband service across the United States and in select markets globally." That will allow cell users to communicate even in areas with limited broadband tower coverage, like rural communities or national parks.SpaceX's Starlink has already made a satellite video call using a regular mobile phone, so Vodafone hedged its claim substantially. Specifically, the company said it made the "world's first space video call from an area of no coverage using a standard mobile phone and commercial satellites built to offer a full mobile broadband experience."T-Mobile is working on a similar US network in partnership with Starlink's Direct-to-Cell service, but it will be limited to text messages at first. It's also possible right now to connect to dedicated satellite phone networks using specific iPhone and Google Pixel models that have custom modems - but that's limited to low-data communications like SMS messages and emergency alerts.Vodafone's network, by contrast, would allow a full-fat broadband cellular experience when it launches in Europe, likely by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, AT&T, Verizon and AST SpaceMobile will begin testing in the US this spring, but no launch date (or pricing) for stateside service has been announced yet.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/vodafone-demonstrates-worlds-first-satellite-video-call-with-a-standard-mobile-phone-134509766.html?src=rss
You'll finally be able to download all the episodes in an entire season on Netflix with just one tap if you're on iOS. The streaming service introduced the capability on Android years ago, but it remained a "much-requested" feature for users on iPhone and iPad until now. It's not unusual for Netflix to give Android users access to a certain capability first - it took a year for Smart Downloads, which automatically deletes downloaded episodes you've already seen and then downloads the next one in a series, to be available on iOS."We've heard that downloading episodes one-by-one has been a pain point for iOS members - something we're now addressing with this rollout," a Netflix spokesperson told Variety. It's certainly great to have if you like stocking up on shows you can watch for long flights or cross-country road trips.The option to download entire seasons is available for all the shows currently on the streaming service. To download multiple episodes all at once, find the button for the new feature next to the Share option on the series' page in the Netflix app. While tapping the button will download all the episodes in a season automatically, you can still manage individual episodes under the Downloads section in the My Netflix tab.NetflixThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/netflix-finally-lets-ios-users-download-an-entire-season-with-one-tap-133025196.html?src=rss
Microsoft is closely associated with OpenAI's ChatGPT AI model, but the software giant has no qualms about playing the field. Microsoft announced that it's bringing the DeepSeek-R1 AI model to Copilot+ PCs soon, starting with Snapdragon X devices and following later with Intel Lunar Lake and AMD Ryzen AI 9 PCs. The DeepSeek-R1-Distill-Qwen-1.5B model will arrive "soon" on Microsoft AI Tookit for developers, with more powerful 7B and 14B variants coming later.The 1.5B (base) model isn't powerful compared to the higher-tier 32B and 70B models, but MIcrosoft points out that the models are "NPU-optimized" for Copilot+ PCs. The minimum configuration for such computers is 256GB of storage, 16GB of RAM and an NPU with at least 40 TOPS (trillions of operations per second)."These optimized models let developers build and deploy AI-powered applications that run efficiently on-device, taking full advantage of the powerful NPUs in Copilot+ PCs," Microsoft wrote. It added that it implemented systems to take advantage of low-bit processing to ensure the R1 models could run locally on NPU hardware.At the same time, Microsoft is bringing DeepSeek's R1 model to its Azure AI Foundry platform, The Verge reported. It joins other AI models on that service, including GPT-4, Mistral AI, Meta-Llama 3 and others. That comes as a bit of a surprise, given that Microsoft is reportedly probing whether DeepSeek used OpenAI's technology in an unauthorized manner.AI pundits have also expressed concerns about privacy issues around China-based DeepSeek, something that Microsoft addressed in a Marketplace Community post. "DeepSeek R1 has undergone rigorous red teaming and safety evaluations, including automated assessments of model behavior and extensive security reviews to mitigate potential risks," wrote Microsoft senior product marketing manager, Justin Royal.DeepSeek shook up the AI world with its R1 model, which doesn't require nearly as much computing power as competing models. That spooked markets yesterday, causing a selloff in chip giant NVIDIA and other AI-adjacent stocks. OpenAI, which has been sued by multiple newspapers and publishers around the world for copyright infringement, recently accused DeepSeek and other Chinese AI startups of "distilling" its models.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/deepseek-is-coming-to-windows-copilot-pcs-130041096.html?src=rss
Tesla will introduce a paid autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin, Elon Musk said during an earnings call discussing the automaker's financial results for 2024. As TechCrunch reports, he said the company will use cars with no human driver behind the wheel and with the unsupervised version of its Full Self-Driving software, which Tesla has yet to release. The service will launch with the company's internal fleet in Austin this June before expanding to other locations in the US. And then next year, Tesla owners will be able to add their cars to the fleet whenever they want, kind of like how people can list and unlist their properties on Airbnb, Musk said. He explained that the automaker wants to iron out any kinks first, such as making sure billing works well and that the robotaxis will stop at the right spot when they're ordered.Since the plan is to allow vehicle owners to add their Teslas to the company's robotaxi fleet, the automaker is also planning to release its unsupervised FSD software in California and other regions in the US before the year ends. Knowing Musk's tendency to overpromise on timelines, though we'd take that announcement with a (huge) grain of salt.Musk has been talking about robotaxis for a while now and said back in 2019 that Tesla will "have over a million robotaxis on the road" within a year. When he launched the Cybercab in 2024, he said he envisions a future wherein people own several robotaxis that they can then earn money from through a ridesharing network. It's worth noting that Waymo started offering fully autonomous rides to select users in Austin in late 2024 and will be launching the service fully in the city sometime this year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/elon-musk-says-tesla-will-launch-a-robotaxi-service-in-austin-this-june-044745591.html?src=rss
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has only been in his post for a day and already making it clear that the agency will be ignoring the role vehicle pollution plays in worsening climate change. Duffy sent a memo to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calling for a review of fuel economy standards to align with President Donald Trump's goals of promoting the use of oil, natural gas and biofuels. The memo claims that "artificially high" fuel economy standards have made new cars prohibitively expensive for US buyers and could negatively impact the US auto industry.It's the latest swing of the pendulum as the country's leadership changes hands once again. Trump's first presidency saw a rollback of fuel efficiency standards that had been enacted by Barack Obama, followed by the EPA introducing its strictest standards to date when Joe Biden assumed office. President Donald Trump's transition team had already signaled in December that he would walk back moves by previous administration to strengthen fuel efficiency standards and promote electric vehicle adoption. Today's development isn't a surprise, but it's still bad news considering multiple international reports have demonstrated that the planet's rising temperature will cause extreme and catastrophic weather events.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/us-department-of-transportation-moves-to-cut-fuel-efficiency-standards-235205073.html?src=rss
Meta has agreed to pay President Donald Trump $25 million to settle a 2021 lawsuit stemming from the social network's decision to suspend Trump's Facebook account following the riots at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.According to The Wall Street Journal, there had been little activity" surrounding the lawsuit until Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg flew to Mar-a-Lago following the election. Toward the end of the November dinner, Trump raised the matter of the lawsuit," The Journal reports. The president signaled that the litigation had to be resolved before Zuckerberg could be brought into the tent.'" Much of the settlement will reportedly go toward funding Trump's presidential library.Settling the lawsuit is the latest step Zuckerberg and Meta have taken to appease Trump, who at one point during the campaign threatened to imprison the Facebook founder for plotting" against him. Following the election, Zuckerberg ended Meta's longtime fact-checking program and rolled back content moderation standards that prohibited dehumanizing language and slurs targeting immigrants and LGBTQ people. He also ended corporate diversity programs and added Trump backer and UFC CEO Dana White to Meta's board. Zuckerberg had a prominent seat at Trump's inauguration, alongside other tech CEOs.News of Meta's settlement broke just as the company released its latest earnings results. During a call with analysts, Zuckerberg said that 2025 was going to be a big year for redefining our relationship with governments." Though he didn't mention Trump by name, he said that we now have a US Administration that is proud of our leading companies, prioritizes American technology winning, and that will defend our values and interests abroad."Zuckerberg, who earlier this week said the company would spend as much as $65 billion on AI investments this year, predicted that Meta AI would reach 1 billion users in 2025. He also commented on the rise of DeepSeek, an open-source AI assistant from China, saying that it's strengthened our conviction" about open source AI. One of the things that we're talking about, is there's going to be an open source standard globally," he said. And I think for own national advantage, it's important that it's an American standard."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-will-pay-25-million-to-settle-a-lawsuit-with-donald-trump-over-his-2021-facebook-suspension-234046291.html?src=rss
NASA and its partners have published the first wave of information about the samples collected in the OSIRIS-REx mission. "The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons," NASA said in a press release.The OSIRIS-REx mission used some pretty fascinating tech to autonomously acquire rocks and dust from an asteroid called Bennu. Asteroids can act as time capsules, and Bennu reflects what was happening in the solar system roughly 4.5 billion years ago. After a total journey of 3.9 billion miles, the capsule returned safely to Earth on September 24, 2023.One paper about Bennu, appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy, revealed that the samples contained 14 amino acids and five nucleobases also found in life forms on Earth. They also uncovered high levels of ammonia in the Bennu samples, as well as formaldehyde; when those two combine in the proper conditions, they can form complex molecules such as amino acids.The second publication appeared in Nature, and it detailed the environment those molecules formed in. Their assessment found evidence of a "brine," identifying a set of minerals that could have been left behind as salt water evaporated."Data from OSIRIS-REx adds major brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life," said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard. "Why we, so far, only see life on Earth and not elsewhere, that's the truly tantalizing question."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nasas-osiris-rex-mission-teases-new-insights-on-how-life-began-223527954.html?src=rss
NASA and its partners have published the first wave of information about the samples collected in the OSIRIS-REx mission. "The findings do not show evidence for life itself, but they do suggest the conditions necessary for the emergence of life were widespread across the early solar system, increasing the odds life could have formed on other planets and moons," NASA said in a press release.The OSIRIS-REx mission used some pretty fascinating tech to autonomously acquire rocks and dust from an asteroid called Bennu. Asteroids can act as time capsules, and Bennu reflects what was happening in the solar system roughly 4.5 billion years ago. After a total journey of 3.9 billion miles, the capsule returned safely to Earth on September 24, 2023.One paper about Bennu, appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy, revealed that the samples contained 14 amino acids and five nucleobases also found in life forms on Earth. They also uncovered high levels of ammonia in the Bennu samples, as well as formaldehyde; when those two combine in the proper conditions, they can form complex molecules such as amino acids.The second publication appeared in Nature, and it detailed the environment those molecules formed in. Their assessment found evidence of a "brine," identifying a set of minerals that could have been left behind as salt water evaporated."Data from OSIRIS-REx adds major brushstrokes to a picture of a solar system teeming with the potential for life," said Jason Dworkin, OSIRIS-REx project scientist at NASA Goddard. "Why we, so far, only see life on Earth and not elsewhere, that's the truly tantalizing question."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/preview-nasas-osiris-rex-mission-teases-new-insights-on-how-life-began-223033717.html?src=rss
As Los Angeles reels from the loss of lives and homes to the Easton and Palisades fires, scientists are asking why the events of this January have been so catastrophic. Climate change very likely played a part in setting the stage that caused multiple fires to sweep through the region, according to analysis from the World Weather Attribution, an international research initiative."Eight of the eleven models examined also show an increase in extreme January [Fire Weather Index], increasing our confidence that climate change is driving this trend," the group said of their investigation.Earth is currently 1.3C hotter than it was before the industrial era began. The WWA found that extreme Fire Weather Index conditions are 35 percent more likely to occur in the LA area at this temperature. If the planet increases 2.6C from its pre-industrial temperature, extreme conditions become another 35 percent more likely. Based on current policies, a 2.6C higher temperature is the minimum increase the Earth is projected to reach by the year 2100.The researchers noted, however, that the growing odds of those peak conditions is not a linear progression. Other factors also contributed to the widespread devastation across the Los Angeles area, including lack of rain; the region had not received significant rainfall since May 2024. This type of drought condition is 2.4 times more likely at the Earth's current temperature than at its pre-industrial level. Santa Ana winds also caused the rapid spread and difficulties containing the blazes. The team said that the impact of wind is not always reflected well in climate models.The World Weather Attribution conducts rapid studies into extreme weather events to analyze whether climate change was a factor. The international team of researchers aim to address the impact of climate in natural disasters "while the impacts of the extreme weather event are still fresh in the minds of the public and policymakers, and decisions about rebuilding are being made."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/climate-change-increased-the-odds-of-los-angeles-devastating-fires-researchers-say-211652200.html?src=rss
A day after the plight of Garmin users whose devices have been stuck in a boot error gained media attention, the company says it has found a solution. We have resolved the underlying issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start up screen," a Garmin spokesperson told Engadget, pointing us to a support page the company recently updated. Unfortunately, if your wearable or cycling computer is displaying a blue triangle of death," the potential fix may involve losing some data in the process.Depending on the device, Garmin says a factory reset is required. In other cases, you may only need to reset the power on your wearable and sync it with either the Garmin Connect app on your phone or via Garmin Express on a PC. Garmin has provided additional troubleshooting information for those with devices that are still malfunctioning after a power reset, with the required steps varying by product line.For instance, in the case of the company's popular Forerunner family of running watches, you'll need to power off your device, then press down and hold the Start/Stop and Back buttons until you hear a beep. At that point, release the Start/Stop button, but continue holding the Back button until you hear a second beep. Your watch will then display Garmin's language selection screen. If it was previously paired with your phone, you'll need to remove the device from your Bluetooth settings before you can continue the reset process.If it's been a while since you've synced your watch, Garmin warns a factory reset will result in the loss of some data, including information relating to Garmin Wallet, Connect IQ content such as watch faces and, most notably, Body Battery insights. However, once you sync your device with Garmin Connect, most (if not all) of that data should be restored.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/garmin-says-it-has-fixed-the-blue-triangle-boot-error-that-was-bricking-some-devices-204919328.html?src=rss
Yet another video game is being adapted into a different medium. Quantic Dream's Beyond: Two Soulsis bound for TV screens. There's one interesting wrinkle this time around, as one of the game's stars is behind the adaptation.Elliot Page, who played protagonist Jodie Holmes in the 2013 action-adventure, will produce the series, which is in early development. His production company, Pageboy Productions, has scooped up the TV adaptation rights from Quantic Dream. The game's writer and director, David Cage, said he is collaborating with Page on the project.As Deadline reports, the show will likely hew close to the non-linear storytelling format of the game. This adaptation will honor the game's legacy while inviting fresh perspectives," Matt Jordan Smith, Pageboy's head of development and production, said. Delving into questions of survival and how split-second decisions can alter not just our lives, but the lives of others, are key to telling the story."The sci-fi plot of Beyond: Two Souls should be a good fit for television. Jodie possesses supernatural powers via her lifelong psychic link to a spiritual entity named Aiden.Although Jodie can die in Beyond: Two Souls, there's no game over screen if she does, so it will be interesting to see how that translates into a TV show. "It's a game about death, so you can imagine that death plays a role in all of this," Cage told Engadget in 2013. "Actually, it's one of the big discoveries - one of the big mysteries in the game is to discover what's on the other side. And it's definitely not a black screen."The story's rich narrative and emotional depth offer us a fantastic foundation," Page told Deadline. "We want to create a unique vision of the characters and their journeys that resonates with fans and newcomers."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/beyond-two-souls-is-becoming-a-tv-show-with-help-from-star-elliot-page-202544852.html?src=rss
Waymo is planning on bringing vehicles to ten new cities in 2025, according to a report by The Verge. This new testing phase starts in Las Vegas and San Diego. These won't be pure robotaxis, as they'll have a manual operator.It's basically a small-scale experiment by the company to collect data and see how the self-driving system adapts to new locations, regional driving habits and unique weather patterns. All told, the company will be sending around ten vehicles to each new city. So what we're looking for is places that are going to challenge our system and look very, very different," said Nick Rose, product manager for Waymo's expansion efforts.
If you love nothing more than good data visualization, Google's latest Sheets update will be right up your alley. The company has begun rolling out an upgrade to the app's Gemini side panel, a feature it introduced this past summer, to give its AI agent the ability to generate more in-depth insights about the data in your spreadsheets.Tapping the new Analyze for insights" shortcut in Sheets will prompt Gemini to offer insights on contextual trends, patterns, and correlations between different variables in your data," according to Google. The agent will also create charts based on your data, which you can insert as static images in your document. Depending on the complexity of the prompt, Gemini will use Python code to complete the request.GoogleThere are a few notable limitations to the feature's current implementation. For instance, Google notes that once you've inserted a chart it cannot be modified. Additionally, any charts Gemini generates won't be directly linked to your data, so they won't automatically update after you make changes.Separately, Google recommends users be as specific as possible when prompting Gemini to provide data insights. For the most accurate results, ensure your data is in a consistent format, with clear headers and no missing values," the company adds.You can use the updated Gemini side panel in Sheets if you pay for Google One AI Premium, or if your company is a Business or Enterprise Workspace customer with a Standard or Plus plan. Anyone with a Gemini Education, Gemini Education Premium, Gemini Business or Gemini Enterprise add-on will also receive access. Google expects to complete the rollout of this feature by February 20, so you might not see in your version of Sheets right away.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-can-now-do-more-complex-data-analysis-in-google-sheets-191218214.html?src=rss
Sony just revealed some new games available for PlayStation Plus subscribers in February. The lineup isn't particularly exciting, but does include some solid entries like Payday 3 and High on Life.The company also made an announcement that could impact current PS4 owners, saying that PS4 games will no longer be a key benefit and will only be occasionally offered" starting in 2026. This is something of a bummer, but understandable given that the PS4 came out in 2013. Heck, even the PS5 is approaching its fifth birthday.This won't impact titles that have already been downloaded, as subscribers will continue to have access to games" as long as they remain a PS Plus member. Sony says it may still provide titles that can be playable on both PS4 and PS5 consoles" after next year.Now onto the games. Payday 3, available for PS5 only, is a great entry in the co-op bank-robbing franchise. This is a four-player title that's set several years after the events of Payday 2. Players get to rob banks and even take hostages. It's a good and bloody time.High on Life is another FPS, but with tongue firmly planted in cheek. All of the weapons talk, for one, and most of them are voiced by Justin Roiland (who originally voiced both Rick and Morty of Rick and Morty.) Roiland has been mired in a sexual assault scandal, but there's an option to turn off the chatty guns. It'll be available for both PS4 and PS5.Pac-Man World Re-Pac is a remake (or Re-Pac) of a 2004 platformer. This refresh offers an improved UI, fine-tuned mechanics and updated visuals. It's actually a pretty solid platformer. It's no Mario Odyssey or Astro Bot, but it gets the job done. It also includes the original arcade game, though it must be unlocked. This one will also be available for PS4 and PS5.All three of the aforementioned titles will be available for download on February 4. Of course, PlayStation Plus both gives and takes each month. Some games are about to leave the service. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe will disappear on February 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/februarys-modest-playstation-plus-selection-includes-high-on-life-and-payday-3-184559839.html?src=rss
Sony is making a PlayStation Network login optional for several of its single-player games on PC. The company says that you'll no longer need one for God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (which arrives on Steam and the Epic Games Store this Thursday) or The Last of Us Part II Remastered (which hits PC on April 3).However, those who do sign in with a PSN account while playing those titles will get some in-game goodies such as cosmetic outfits, early unlocks of certain gear and other resources. They'll also be able to unlock trophies and have access to a friends management feature.For months, players have been protesting the need to link their PSN account to their Steam or Epic Games Store purchases to play single-player games. It at least to some degree makes sense for multiplayer elements of games like Ghost of Tsushima. But as evidenced by Sony swiftly dropping the requirement from Helldivers 2 after a major backlash from players, the PSN account linking strategy has by and large been a mess.Meanwhile, Sony has revealed more details about what you can expect from Marvel's Spider-Man 2 on PC. The port from Nixxes includes multiple ray-tracing options, along with upscaling and frame generation. The game also has pretty modest minimum specs, so it might still run decently on a laptop that you've been rocking for several years.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/sony-is-ditching-the-psn-login-requirement-on-some-of-its-pc-games-183259677.html?src=rss
NVIDIA just warned consumers that it might be pretty difficult for gamers to get their hands on its upcoming high-end RTX 5090 and 5080 graphics cards. The company says it expects significant demand" for the cards and that stock-outs may happen." The term stock-out" is business speak for we ran out of the thing you want."The official launch is January 30, so many gamers could find themselves out of luck on release day. Several distributors have revealed they won't even have the cards on January 30. MSI says it won't be selling the GPUs in the US until February 6 and PC maker PowerGPU told its customers that availability will be the worst" for the first three months."
Sony is once again shaking up its leadership ranks. Effective April 1, Hideaki Nishino will be president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE). Nishino was appointed CEO of the division's Platform Business Group last year. He ran SIE in partnership with Hermen Hulst, who will remain in his role as the head of PlayStation's studios but now report to Nishino. The pair replaced former SIE CEO Jim Ryan."I am truly honored to take the helm at Sony Interactive Entertainment," Nishino said in a statement. "Technology and creativity are two of our biggest strengths as we continue to focus on developing experiences that deliver entertainment for everyone. We will continue to grow the PlayStation community in new ways, such as IP expansion, while also delivering the best in technology innovation."Hulst, meanwhile, will continue to oversee Sony's first-party games. He's also responsible for helping adapt the company's video game franchises into other mediums via PlayStation Productions.The pair have had a tumultuous first year in charge of SIE. Just before they took the reins, Ryan announced that the division was laying off 900 staff and shutting down London Studio.Since then, Nishino and Hulst have been dealing with the fallout of Ryan's deeply misguided efforts to focus on live-service games. After the disastrous debut of Concord- a hero shooter that vanished within just two weeks, never to return - Sony shut down the game's developer Firewalk Studios, as well as Neon Koi. A subsequent review of Sony's live-service efforts led to the company canning two other projects that were in development at Bluepoint and Bend Studio, with the former said to be a God of War title.Elsewhere within the company, SIE Chairman Hiroki Totoki is giving up that post to become the new CEO of Sony. He'll succeed Kenichiro Yoshida, who will remain the company's chairman. Totoki is also the current president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Sony. Replacing him as CFO is Lin Tao, a senior vice-president of finance, corporate strategy and development at SIE.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sonys-playstation-division-will-once-again-have-a-single-ceo-170758830.html?src=rss
No Man's Sky is back with Worlds Part II, expanding the universe in new ways as only games can. Hello Games, the studio behind No Man's Sky, has announced the release of its newest iteration and the billions of stars and trillions of planets added to its universe.In a statement about the release, Sean Murphy, founder of Hello Games, explained, "This allows us to push the boundaries of our engine and technology without changing the things people love about the game already. If you settled on your home planet with a beautiful base that you lovingly crafted, that is safe - but now there are new worlds to explore with a level of variety no one has seen before."This shift includes the addition of Gas Giants, which Hello Games claims are up to 10 times bigger than any planets previously included in the game. The developers have also improved things under the sea, with better fishing and deep sea diving. Plus, the lighting should be better, with more detailed shadows, sharper sunlight and, of course, those shining starry skies.Hello Games also says Worlds Part II offers quests that connect existing storylines and mysteries. A lot of this development comes from work on Hello Game's new fantasy game Light No Fire.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/no-mans-sky-update-adds-billions-of-stars-and-even-more-planets-165102362.html?src=rss
NordVPN is known for developing its own VPN protocol, NordLynx, based on the popular and reliable WireGuard protocol. It also supports the tried-and-true OpenVPN protocol. Today, Nord Security is adding NordWhisper as its latest encryption offering.Some countries like China, India, Pakistan, and Russia prevent their citizens and visitors within their borders from using VPNs. Even if you visit these countries with a VPN app preinstalled, these governments have anti-VPN solutions to prevent you from using them. That's where NordWhisper comes in. The company claims that instead of relying on standard obfuscation techniques, NordWhisper mimics regular internet traffic, which makes it harder for governments to tell if you're using a VPN, though it's not foolproof.All VPN protocols introduce lag and latency, and Nord Security also mentioned that NordWhisper will likely be slower than other protocols due to its technology. Even so, the company has promised to make it smarter, faster, and more effective at its job.NordWhisper will gradually roll out to users, starting with the Windows, Android and Linux apps. The other apps will receive support at a later date, though Nord Security hasn't mentioned any specific days or timeframes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/nordvpns-nordwhisper-protocol-can-get-around-vpn-blockers-162525626.html?src=rss
OpenAI claims that Chinese startups are persistently trying to copy the technology of American AI companies. Aligned with that, OpenAI says it and partner Microsoft have been banning accounts suspected of distilling" its models. The two are trying to identify those behind such efforts and, per The Wall Street Journal, buzzy upstart DeepSeek is among the entities OpenAI is looking into.Distillation refers to the process of bolstering smaller and more efficient AI models by tapping into responses from more advanced ones. The aim is to achieve similar results in certain circumstances by aping larger models' reasoning. OpenAI permits business users to distill its models on its platform, as the Journal notes, but under the company's terms of service, users aren't allowed to train their own models on the output of its systems. DeepSeek has said that it uses distillation on R1, its most capable model, to train smaller ones.We know [China]-based companies - and others - are constantly trying to distill the models of leading US AI companies," an OpenAI spokesperson told The Guardian. They added it was critically important" for OpenAI to work with the government to best protect the most capable models from efforts by adversaries and competitors to take US technology."The company didn't explicitly mention DeepSeek in its statement, but the Chinese startup's open-source chatbot has blown up in recent days. For one thing, it hit the top of the free apps list in Apple's App Store. Its success wiped $1 trillion of stock market value from publicly listed tech companies that are neck deep in the AI sector. It's been claimed that DeepSeek's chatbot performs about as well as AI systems from the likes of OpenAI and Google but at a fraction of the cost and with less-powerful chips, undercutting the belief that such technology is very expensive to develop and run.There have been reports that DeepSeek cites OpenAI policies in its outputs. Meanwhile, David Sacks, who is President Donald Trump's AI advisor, claimed there's "substantial evidence" that DeepSeek "distilled the knowledge out of OpenAI's models."Still, all of this concern seems extremely rich from OpenAI, a company that has faced a swathe of lawsuits from authors, comedians, news organizations and others who accused it of using their copyrighted work without consent to train its models. Indeed, the company admitted last year that it would be "impossible to train today's leading AI models without using copyrighted materials." It seems OpenAI would have you believe that what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-suddenly-thinks-intellectual-property-theft-is-not-cool-actually-amid-deepseeks-rise-154249605.html?src=rss
Comcast has announced new technology for ultra-low lag Internet on its Xfinity service. According to the company's release, users of select products and software from its partners will experience less delay in situations with bi-directional traffic. The first wave of supported applications include select games from Valve's Steam platform, GeForce Now from NVIDIA, select apps on mixed reality headsets from Meta, and FaceTime on Apple hardware.The reduction in latency comes from the Internet Engineering Task Force's L4S open standard. The tech is complex - here's a whitepaper on L4S if you're interested - but broadly if a packet traveling between your device and the server experiences congestion, it will report that on arrival, which can improve future packets' journeys.A rep from Comcast told Engadget that the products from Apple, Meta, NVIDIA and Valve are the first to support the tech because they were initial partners for testing this low-latency connectivity. Other developers can choose to take advantage of the open standard technology once Comcast has fully rolled out the low lag option and it will be available to all Xfinity customers then. Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Philadelphia, Rockville (Maryland) and San Francisco are among the first cities to receive the low latency tech. Comcast said in its release that it plans to deploy to additional locations in the coming months.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/comcast-unveils-ultra-low-lag-internet-connection-150034901.html?src=rss
China's DeepSeek AI has already caught the eye of a data protection watchdog, shortly after it went viral and became the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store in the US and other regions. As TechCrunch reports, Garante, or the Italian Data Protection Authority, has written DeepSeek to ask for information about the AI chatbot due to the "possible risk for the data of millions of people in Italy." The watchdog is in charge of monitoring the application of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules in the country.In an announcement about the information request on its website, Garante said it contacted both the Hangzhou and the Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence offices to ask them what kind of personal data the AI chatbot collects. It also asked them to clarify their purposes for the data they collect and whether the information they gather is stored on servers physically located in China. In its privacy policy, DeepSeek admitted that it transfers personal information of the country where the user lives and that it keeps them "in secure servers located in the People's Republic of China." However, it said that the service will "do so in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws."In addition, Garante is asking DeepSeek what type of information is used to train its AI system. And, in case web scraping is involved, it wants the service to clarify how both registered and non-registered users are informed about the processing of their data. Notably, Bloomberg has published a report that Microsoft and OpenAI are already investigating whether DeepSeek took OpenAI data and possibly used it for training. Apparently, a group of users exfiltrated a large amount of data using OpenAI's API back in the fall of 2024, and Microsoft's security researchers reportedly believe that they have a connection to DeepSeek.The chatbot service now has 20 days to respond to Garante's request. In the US, Reuters said authorities have started looking into the national security implications of the China-based AI chatbot.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/chinas-deepseek-ai-hit-by-information-request-from-italys-data-protection-watchdog-133025226.html?src=rss
The latest update Apple rolled out for the iPhone allows T-Mobile customers - a select few, for now - to be able to send text messages even in locations where they have no coverage. iOS 18.3 adds support for SpaceX and T-Mobile's direct-to-cell satellite service, which is currently being trialed after the companies opened signups for beta testing in December. As Bloomberg notes, the service used to be only compatible with certain Android phones, including Samsung models like the Z Fold and S24 along with select devices running Android 15. Meanwhile, Apple already has a partnership with Globalstar that provides users with texting capabilities when they're out of coverage.Users who've signed up to participate in the fledgling service's beta trials have reportedly started receiving texts. "You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere," the message reads, according to Bloomberg. And for iPhone users, it asks them to "update to iOS 18.3" to "start experiencing coverage beyond." Once they do download the update, they'll see a toggle in their cellular data settings to activate the capability.At the moment, the direct-to-cell service only offers text messaging. If a beta tester finds themselves in rural areas and other locations that typically don't have coverage, they'll be able to use Starlink's satellite network to send a text. In the future, the plan is to add voice and data connectivity to give people more options in far-flung locations.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/apple-enables-support-for-t-mobile-and-starlink-satellite-network-on-the-iphone-130022775.html?src=rss
Old-school Doom fans have something new to chew on until The Dark Ages arrives. Doom + Doom II, the latest in a long line of rereleases of the two id Software classics, was updated on Tuesday with multiplayer mod support. And balance was restored in Hades. At launch in August, the bundle - available for PC, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Switch - supported mods and multiplayer, but not the two together. The game's second update, which Bethesda pushed on Tuesday, only adds multiplayer mod support if everyone in your match does a little planning. First, hosts need to activate each mod before entering the multiplayer menu. In addition, all players in the match have to subscribe to the same mod before joining. Only mods authored with Vanilla DOOM, DeHackEd, MBF21 or BOOM are compatible. Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch on May 15. It takes place in the medieval wastelands of Hell and adds new goodies like mech battles and a ridable cyber dragon. If that isn't an elevator pitch for a Doom game, I don't know what is. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/doom--doom-ii-now-supports-multiplayers-mods-214215269.html?src=rss
Jack Dorsey's Block has created its own open-source AI agent. Called codename goose," the tool allows users to complete tasks using popular large language models.You can think of Goose as an assistant that is ready to take your instructions, and do the work for you," Block explains in a blog post. According to the company, the agent can autonomously complete engineering tasks like looking for bugs or making code changes.Users can configure goose to run on their preferred LLM. Iit supports Anthropic, Gemini, OpenAI and others, though the company says it works best" with Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI's o1 model. It's also compatible with extensions, which allows it to plug into popular developer tools, like GitHub and Google Drive,Block is, of course, known for its financial apps, Square and Cash App, as well as the music streaming service Tidal, which it acquired in 2021. Those may not be industries you immediately associate with AI development, but Block founder Jack Dorsey is a longtime advocate for open-source software. The company also notes that goose could eventually extend to non-engineering use cases" as well. Block engineer Brad Axen told ZDNET that the company envisions more creative' uses for goose, like music generation.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/jack-dorseys-block-has-an-ai-agent-too-212706083.html?src=rss
Here's one for the fashion-conscious retro gamers out there. Atari has teamed up with watchmaker Nubeo to release an Asteroids-themed watch to celebrate the game's 45th anniversary (even though it came out in 1979). The watch has a multi-layered disc system that's designed to reflect the gameplay of Asteroids. Atari says it's powered by "a Japanese automatic movement." The watch has a stainless steel 50mm case and a sapphire lens. It also has a 20 ATM rating for water resistance at depths of up to 200 meters, so it should be sturdy enough if you want to wear it while scuba diving. The timepiece even comes in a case that looks like an Atari VCS. Atari and Nubeo created five colorways for it: nebula blue, supernova red, nova nightfall, plasma pumpkin and celestial citrine. Best of all, the watch glows in the dark. Atari/Nubeo Actually telling what time it is on this thing might take you a moment or two, though. A pair of UFOs indicate the time in hours and minutes. As for the A-shaped spaceship in the center and the shots it fires, that's your second hand. But the display looks quite chaotic, as a number of asteroids spin around on the discs as well. Look, I really like my Apple Watch for lots of reasons, not least because I can actually play some video games on it, like the absorbing Galaxy Mix (there's an Asteroids clone that's apparently playable on the device too). Maybe I'll just need to become one of those people who wear two watches, since I want the Asteroids timepiece as well. You'll likely need to act quickly if you want one, though. Nubeo only made 125 of each variant. The colorways are listed for $499 each on the Atari and Nubeo websites. Good luck! This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/good-luck-figuring-out-what-time-it-is-on-this-cool-asteroids-watch-205505602.html?src=rss
If you own a Garmin GPS watch, you may want to power it down for a while. Users on Reddit and Garmin's forums (via The Verge) report that a botched software update is leaving the wearables in a blue triangle" boot loop, putting them out of commission until further notice.In a statement to Engadget, Garmin acknowledged the issue. We are aware of an issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start-up screen or a blue triangle." The company points readers to its support webpage for updates.A pinned message from the company on its forums details a possible fix that some users claim is only temporary. We are aware of an issue causing some devices to be stuck on the start up screen or a blue triangle," the message reads. To resolve this, press and hold the power button until the device turns off, then power it back on, and sync with the Garmin Connect app or Garmin Express."GarminSome crafty Redditors claim to have traced the issue to a file related to GPS functionality. Although some reported that following Garmin's reset instructions worked, others said it was only temporary, with the issue returning later. The problem appears to affect various models, including the Forerunner, Venu, Fenix, Vivoactive and Epix lines.If your Garmin smartwatch has no problems (... so far), you may save yourself a headache by powering it down and waiting for an official solution from Garmin. If you've encountered the issue and want to roll the dice, this Reddit thread includes some unofficial - and untested by Engadget - fixes and workarounds.Update, January 28, 2025, 3:40PM ET: This story has been updated to add a statement from Garmin.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/some-garmin-gps-watches-are-stuck-in-a-blue-triangle-boot-loop-193920555.html?src=rss
CVS is launching a new app today and it could address one of the more obnoxious elements of in-person drugstore shopping: locked cabinets. One way the CVS Health app can expedite the store experience is by letting select users access products behind those clear plastic panels through their phones, without asking for assistance from an employee.This tool is being tested in just three stores for now and is only available to loyalty program members. And within those limits, shoppers will need to log into the app, join the store's Wi-Fi and enable Bluetooth on their phones to unlock cabinets on their own.For any irritated customer who has been delayed by the clear plastic cage, or for any busy store employee called away just for their keys, the addition of a mobile tool for accessing locked cabinets sounds like a welcome idea. Tilak Mandadi, executive vice president at CVS Health, told The Wall Street Journal that the pilot program has gone well so far, and the company's next step will be expanding the feature to 10-15 stores.The app, which is a successor to the company's CVS Pharmacy app, also includes resources for managing prescriptions and immunizations. And because it's a software product in the year 2025, CVS Health uses some artificial intelligence. The app is launching with AI-powered search options and is expected to add an AI chat tool for checking medication refills and order status later in the year.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/cvs-tries-to-juice-app-signups-with-cabinet-unlocking-feature-203954391.html?src=rss
Looking to upgrade your gaming rig? Dell is selling one of its most popular Alienware gaming monitors at a deep discount. The 32-inch model is more than $400 off, now costing $765 instead of $1,200. The display is on sale for $900 outright, but enter "MONITORS15" at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. The 34-inch model is $250 off, but there's no available coupon code. This is one of our favorite gaming monitors and we called it an incredible ultrawide OLED." It boasts a curved QD-OLED panel. It also features 4K resolution and a max refresh rate of 240Hz, which is a fantastic metric for gaming. These monitors allow access to Dolby Vision, NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD Free-Sync. The ports are also on point. These displays include a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, a single USB-B upstream port, four USB-A downstream ports and a single USB-C port. One of the USB-A ports also supports BC1.2 power-charging. Dell The 34-inch model is actually cheaper, at $650, but there are some trade offs. This one doesn't support G-Sync and offers a max refresh rate of 165Hz. The 25-inch and 27-inch variants aren't on sale, and aren't even curved, but the coupon code does work. Respectively, this brings the price down to $300 and $510. 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/get-more-than-400-off-one-of-our-favorite-alienware-gaming-monitors-195620194.html?src=rss
Waymo posted on X today that it has opened fully autonomous rides on LA freeways to its employees. The company noted that this is a preliminary step toward bringing its vehicle fleet onto highways for all passengers in the city.
Heads up, Animal Crossing fans: if you haven't yet bought the paid version of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and plan to do so, it might be a good idea to snap it up in the next day or so. The mobile game for iOS and Android is currently $10, but the price will double to $20 after 1AM ET on January 31. That's when the introductory offer comes to an end.Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete arrived in December, a few days after Nintendo shut down the free-to-play edition. Folks who played the original version can still transfer their save data via their Nintendo account and continue from where they left off. The deadline transferring the data is 2AM ET on June 2.Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp debuted in 2017. It employed a freemium model with microtransactions, but Nintendo has since decided to ditch that approach. While you'll now need to pay for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete upfront, the current iteration of the game doesn't have any in-app purchases.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/heads-up-animal-crossing-pocket-camp-complete-will-only-be-10-for-a-couple-more-days-183525135.html?src=rss
It seems that X is getting ready to finally roll out the payments app the company's leaders have long been promising The company will introduce X Money later this year with Visa as partner, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced.According to Yaccarino, X Money will support person-to-person payments via users' debit cards with the ability to transfer funds to a bank account, much like Venmo. The service will also allow you to deposit money into an X Wallet."
A majority of workers at a Whole Foods location in Philadelphia have voted to unionize, as reported by Reuters. This makes the Pennsylvania store the first to unionize under Amazon's ownership, and the second time overall.Workers voted 130 to 100 for representation, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which translates to nearly 60 percent of workers choosing to unionize. Workers at this particular location filed to hold a union election back in November. A successful vote is just the beginning of this process, however, as a contract has yet to be ratified and accepted by both parties."We are ready to bring Whole Foods to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair first contract that reflects the workers' needs and priorities," Wendell Young IV, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, said in an email.
Ooni, the Scottish company known for its innovative outdoor pizza ovens, is expanding into a new product category - without sacrificing the brand's pizza theme. The Halo Pro is a $799 mixer that tries to do the same for pizza dough as the company did for pizza ovens: bring restaurant-quality baking to the home kitchen.The Ooni Halo Pro uses spiral mixing technology, which is better for dough (including thicker ones, like for pizza). Their gentle, more efficient approach minimizes temperature increases and optimizes hydration, combining to create stronger gluten strands.Although you can buy commercial-grade spiral mixers for the home, they tend to have industrial-chic designs (so, not chic at all). And those from trusted brands like Haussler and Famag cost thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, Ooni's model has a sleek design - more eye-catching than an eyesore - that would look right at home in the modern kitchen. It will be available in two colors: polar white and charcoal gray.OoniThe Halo Pro has a removable 7.3-quart bowl and a digital interface. Twisting a dial lets you cycle through its 58 mixing speeds. Ooni says its bowl can mix 11 pounds of dough at once - enough for 20 pizzas or six loaves of bread.The mixer specializes in dough but is hardly limited to it. It ships with a spiral hook, removable breaker bar, geared whisk and flexible beater. That toolset opens the door to things like whipped cream, egg whites or batters.The Ooni Halo Pro will cost a lot of dough compared to traditional planetary mixers. (But not compared to many industrial spiral mixers.) It launches for $799 on April 8. You can sign up on Ooni's website to be alerted when it's available.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/oonis-first-departure-from-pizza-ovens-is-a-799-spiral-mixer-174510926.html?src=rss
Boom, the startup developing a new generation of supersonic aircraft, has achieved a major milestone after its test plane broke the sound barrier for the first time. The XB-1 Baby Boom" piloted by Tristan Gepetto" Brandenburg, flew through the Bell X-1 Supersonic Corridor over the Mojave Desert. XB-1 reached a speed of Mach 1.1 at an altitude of 35,000 feet for a few minutes before running out of airspace authorized for supersonic travel. The plane would go on to break the sound barrier a total of three times before it returned to base. It's the first time a civilian aircraft has broken the sound barrier while flying over the United States.Engadget covered Boom in an extensive profile back in 2020, where the company was gearing up to unveil XB-1 and make preparations for test flights. Since then, it has been undergoing a barrage of tests, with a series of subsonic test flights starting from March 2024 through the end of the year. In the background, the company has been signing deals with major airlines including United and American, to supply passenger jets for civilian service. This craft, dubbed Overture, has a planned top speed of Mach 1.7 - equivalent of 1,305 miles per hour - which would cut existing travel times in half. At least, for the folks who could afford a ticket.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/booms-xb-1-jet-breaks-the-sound-barrier-for-the-first-time-164930546.html?src=rss
The Google Nest WiFi Pro 6E mesh router is on sale for $120 via Amazon. That's a discount of 40 percent, which is one heck of a deal. This discount only applies to the light green model. This unit easily made our list of the best mesh routers, and for good reason. It's a reliable and easy-to-use device. The installation process is simple, which can't always be said of mesh systems. We called it the perfect router for folks who want to set their network up and then forget about it." That's me. I'm that folk. The Nest WiFi Pro provides reliable tri-band Wi-Fi, so it's great for streaming movies, gaming, web browsing and just about everything else. It also offers various useful integrations. It supports Matter, Thread and Google Assistant, as a start. We recommended this router at the full price, so we definitely like it at half the cost. There are a couple of minor caveats here. This sale provides just a single unit, which offers 2,200 square feet of coverage. However, those with larger homes and multiple dead zones will likely need to pick up a second router to add to the system. Also, it's not quite as fast or powerful as some rival Wi-Fi 6E routers. 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/googles-nest-wifi-pro-6e-is-cheaper-than-ever-with-a-40-percent-discount-163456635.html?src=rss
OpenAI has begun offering a version of ChatGPT designed for US government agencies. ChatGPT Gov includes many of the same features found in the Enterprise offering of the chatbot, including access to the company's GPT-4o model. By making our products available to the US government, we aim to ensure AI serves the national interest and the public good, aligned with democratic values, while empowering policymakers to responsibly integrate these capabilities to deliver better services to the American people," OpenAI said in a blog post published Tuesday.Before today, US government employees were already using ChatGPT in their day-to-day work. According to the company, federal, state and local government workers at 3,500 agencies across the country have sent more than 18 million messages since 2024. With today's announcement, those same agencies can now self-host ChatGPT within their own Microsoft Azure commercial or government cloud environment. In practice, that should make it easier for government IT heads to ensure the tool is used safely.OpenAI's move to offer ChatGPT Gov comes after the company announced it was partnering with SoftBank to build $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure within the United States over the next four years. Many immediately questioned whether OpenAI had the money to fund Stargate to the level it said it would. After the announcement, The Information reported that SoftBank and OpenAI would each commit about $19 billion to the project to start, far less than the $100 billion the two had said they would deploy immediately."More broadly, the arrival of ChatGPT Gov comes amid uncertainty about the strength of the American AI industry. On Monday, US tech stocks dropped dramatically after DeepSeek, an AI assistant from a Chinese startup, unseated ChatGPT as the top free app in the App Store over the weekend. DeepSeek purportedly spent less than $6 million to develop its R1 model.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/openai-debuts-a-version-of-chatgpt-for-us-government-agencies-162809443.html?src=rss
You'll only need to remember the name Incention for the brief moment you're reading this post, because you'll likely never have to think about it again. As Variety reports, it's a new platform for building new Hollywood IP using the combined power of AI tools, fan contributions and the blockchain. Incention describes itself as "a new blueprint for building modern franchises, where IP holders, communities, and agents collaborate seamlessly in an endless playground rooted in real IP." Because, of course, the real problem plaguing Hollywood today is the inability to build franchises with user-generated content, unproven AI tools and blockchain hype.Incention's first franchise - the modern Hollywood term for "story" - is Emergence, a sci-fi premise from Blade and The Dark Knight writer David S. Goyer. It centers on a universe where a white hole appears (my god, the opposite of a black hole!) and spews out mysterious high tech objects. Goyer describes it as a "creative sandbox" for artists and fans to build "limitless narratives" across multiple genres and mediums. (The name is also confounding. It sounds far too similar to Christopher Nolan's Inception, a movie that Goyer had no hand in. And what does it even mean? Incentive prevention?)Atlas, an AI agent that's meant to be a "creative partner," serves as Incention's main AI tool for developing content. It'll be able to come up with ideas, help story direction and even generate full videos, according to the company. Incention also claims that Atlas can post autonomously to social media platforms to improve itself, perhaps because social media engagement for real franchises is too dangerous for humans these days.Incention is powered by the Story blockchain, which will help to track the content produced by fans and creators across all of its franchises. Again, a major problem that needed to be solved. The NFT grift is over, and we've yet to see any product outside of Bitcoin and other digital currencies tapping into the blockchain effectively.A couple of years ago, I realized that it's [AI] not going away, it's going to completely embed itself within society," Goyer told Variety. "So I tried to learn as much about it as I could, whether it be ChatGPT or Midjourney or the various other tools, and I think those have useful applications that don't necessarily put people out of a job - although there are a lot of potential AI applications that could. But in this instance, we're not putting anyone out of a job. If anything, this is a tool to allow people that normally wouldn't have an entry point into Hollywood or publishing houses or things like that."The big problem Incention faces, though, is that it's not actually fixing anything in Hollywood. Similar to the short-lived Quibi, the entire impetus behind Incention is driven by technology, instead of genuine demands from creators or a franchise-hungry public. And unlike Quibi, Incention isn't launching with nearly $2 billion in funding (though it has raised an undisclosed amount from the a16z crypto fund) or the Hollywood bonafides of someone like DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg.Incention also seems to fundamentally misunderstand how fan-produced content works. People aren't spending hours on their fanfic, fanart and cosplay simply because they want to get paid. They're doing it because someone created a story and characters that genuinely moved them. Good luck getting the same sort of support from a generic-sounding franchise like Emergence."The entertainment industry stands at a crossroads," Incention wrote in a "manifesto" of its vision. "As AI generates an endless stream of content, traditional entertainment grapples with an existential crisis: How do we preserve human creativity while harnessing the power of modern technology? The answer is not in resistance, but in collaboration and shared upside."I give it a month.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/incention-is-a-desperate-attempt-to-make-new-hollywood-ip-with-ai-fans-and-the-blockchain-162024019.html?src=rss
Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) are re-introducing a bill that aims to ban social media platforms from knowingly letting kids aged under 13 from using them. The bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) was introduced last year, but it didn't progress beyond the committee stage. However, KOSMA may pick up more momentum this time around given the current political landscape.I'm going to do everything I can to get it passed out of committee and advanced on the floor [...] and signed into law," Cruz told The Washington Post. Ted and I are in the middle of about two dozen different disagreements and disputes, but the one thing that seems to unite the political parties is that we need to protect small children from the negative outcomes of being on social media," Schatz said.Cruz is now the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee (which has become a prominent battleground for social media-related issues in recent years). Not only that, Republicans are in control of both houses of Congress while Lina Khan is no longer head of the Federal Trade Commission.Under KOSMA, that agency would have extra regulatory power over social media platforms. Some Republicans were reluctant to hand Khan those reins. I think that [Khan's stint as FTC chair] understandably caused significant reluctance on the part of Congress to entrust any additional authority on the FTC," Cruz said.If KOSMA becomes law as it stands, social media platforms would have to delete any accounts held by users aged under 13 as well as any data collected from those children. It would also block them from using data collected from users aged under 17 to algorithmically suggest or promote content. Furthermore, it stipulates that schools would have to block students from accessing social media services on school devices and networks in order to keep receiving certain subsidies.Schatz was among a bipartisan group of senators that introduced the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act in 2023. That bill aimed to set 13 as the minimum age for using social media, and require parental consent for under 18s to access such platforms. However, the bill did not pass through the Commerce Committee.Last July, two online safety bills that ostensibly sought to protect minors, the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act and the much-derided Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), passed the Senate in a 91-3 vote. However, neither passed through the House before the previous Congress ended on January 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/senators-again-attempt-to-ban-pre-teens-from-social-media-160535890.html?src=rss
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced its preliminary findings that the cloud services market "is not working as well as it could be." That relatively vague statement follows a 16-month investigation into the UK's cloud services market, especially its two largest providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft. Both companies hold between a 30 and 40 percent market share, followed by Google at five to 10 percent.Despite the vague thesis statement, the CMA's investigation has so far raised a few critical points and recommendations. It found that there are alternative cloud suppliers face significant barriers to enter and expand in the market. Also, that "technical and commercial barriers" limit customers' ability to switch providers, such as data transfer charges. Specific to Microsoft, the CMA stated that the company uses its large software presence to limit how effectively AWS and Google can compete when it comes to customers who want to use that software while on the cloud.The CMA reports that UK businesses and organizations have increased their spending on cloud services by 30 percent each year - hitting 9 billion ($11 million) in 2023. Given this 9 billion spend, the CMA stated that paying just five percent more than prices in a "well-functioning market," would cumulatively cost another 430 million ($535 million) annually - more if the growth continues."Given the size of capital investment and economies of scale required to provide cloud infrastructure services, there may be a natural limit to the number of providers who can compete effectively in these markets," the CMA's states in its release. "For this reason, it is vital that competition between even a small number of providers works well for customers."The inquiry group points to a new solution: Strategic Market Status (SMS) designation for AWS and Microsoft's cloud services. The label comes courtesy of the UK's new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act and would allow the CMA to enforce greater regulation and pro-competition directives on the two services. "Should AWS and Microsoft be designated as having SMS, the CMA would be able to consider the interventions we have considered in this inquiry relating to egress fees, technical barriers and Microsoft's licensing practices," the release further states.Earlier this month, the CMA opened investigations into whether Google's search practices and mobile ecosystems should receive SMS designation. The regulator is also probing Apple in the second instance.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/uk-seeks-greater-regulatory-power-over-microsoft-and-amazon-web-services-cloud-computing-services-155757650.html?src=rss
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